DIE Martis, 3 die Februarii.

PRAYERS, by Mr. Coleman.

Comes Manchester, Speaker.

Ordinance for pressing Mariners.

The Earl of Warwicke reported from the Committee for the Admiralty and Cinque Ports, "To desire their Lordships to send to the House of Commons, to quicken them for expediting the Ordinance for pressing of Mariners."

Ships recommended by the Committee of the Navy to cruize on the North Coast of England, and to be Part of the Summer Guard.

A Paper likewise was read, reported from the said Committee:

"Whereas Notice is taken, that many of the King's Frigates are plying on the North Coast of England; this Committee conceives it fit, that, to prevent their doing further Mischief, the Merchants Ships following, videlicet, The Harry under the Command of Captain John Ellison, The Defiance under Command of John Whitty, and The President under Command of Captain Peter Whitty, be, together with The Warwicke Frigate, employed with all Speed towards that Coast, for the Guard thereof; and because the List for the Summer Guard is not yet fully completed, and the Loss of any Time in this Business may be prejudicial, this Committee doth therefore recommend it to both Houses of Parliament, That the said Merchants Ships, The Harry, The Defiance, and The President, may be approved of, to be Part of the Merchants Ships for the Summer's Guard, they having been presented by the Commissioners of the Navy as very fit for the Parliament's Service.

"Wm. Jessop, Secretary."

Ordered, That this House agrees to this Report; and that the Concurrence of the House of Commons be desired herein.

Message to the H. C. about these Papers.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir Edward Leech and Mr. Page:

To communicate the Report to them from the Committee of the Admiralty, concerning the hiring of the Three Merchants Ships, and to desire their Concurrence therein.

2. To desire Expedition to the Ordinance formerly sent down to them for the pressing of Mariners.

Answer from thence.

Doctor Aylett and Doctor Heath return with this Answer to a former Message to the House of Commons:

That they agree in the Order concerning Mr. John Ward; and concerning the Lady Chaworth's Business, they will take it into Consideration, and send an Answer by Messengers of ther own.

The Speaker acquainted this House with a Letter received, directed thus:

Letter from the Committee with the Army, with an Account of the Surrender of Belvoir Castle.

"For the Lord Grey of Warke, Speaker of the House of Peers pro Tempore.

May it please your Lordship,

We thought it fit to summon Belvoyr Castle in our own Names, for sundry (fn. *) Reasons conducing to your Service. A Copy is here inclosed, and the Governor's Answer, together with the Articles of Surrender agreed on by those appointed to treat. The Bearer hereof, Captain Henry Markham, can fully relate all Particulars, who hath had his Share in this hard Duty; and truly I must needs say, that Colonel Grey and the Soldiers under his Command, as likewise the several Troops of Horse, have all of them performed their Duty with much Chearfulness; and for their Encouragement, and the better Furtherance of your Service, we have promised them One Week's Pay, which will be about Six Hundred Pounds; and shall now apply our whole Endeavour for the reducing of Newark.

Grantham, 31th of January, 1645, at Night.

"My Lords,

"Your Lordships

"most humble Servant,

"J. Rutland."

"The Summons.

Their Summons to the Governor of it, to surrender.

"SIR,

"We are sent down, and authorized by the Two Houses of Parliament, to use our best Endeavours for the finishing this bloody intestine War, wherewith this Kingdom hath been now for some Years miserably afflicted; and, in Pursuance of that Duty, we do hereby, in their Names, demand of you, that you surrender up into our Hands the Castle of Belvoyer, for their Use. We do further let you know the pious Care of the Parliament to prevent (as far as possibly may be) the Effusion of Christian Blood, and the Destruction of the Towns, Castles, and Houses in this Kingdom; and accordingly are willing to entertain a Treaty with you: Whereunto we shall only add, that if you shall refuse or neglect the Mercy of the Parliament at this Time while it may be had, and flatter yourself with vain Hopes that you may obtain as good and honourable Conditions hereafter as at present; we do most unfeignedly assure you, you will utterly deceive yourself. Besides, we do think good to advertise you, that it is not the Part of a Soldier, nor of a wise Man, to endeavour the holding of a Place not tenable, when there are not the least Hopes of being relieved; which Act in you will by all Men be interpreted rather an affected Obstinacy, than a Soldiery Resolution. Consider likewise seriously with yourself, that the exposing of so many Christians as are now under your Command to a manifest Destruction will undoubtedly be required of you. We will expect your Answer by Eight of the Clock To-morrow Morning.

Grantham, 29th Jan. 1645.

"J. Rutland.

"Wm. Pierepont.

"Wm. Armyne.

"Edw. Ayscoughe.

"Tho. Hatcher.

"For the Governor of Belvoyer Castle. These."

"The Answer.

The Governor's Answer to them.

"My Lords and Gentlemen,

I shall most chearfully meet you, in a pious Care for the preventing the Effusion of Christian Blood; and will assign Gentlemen to treat with such as you shall appoint; desiring to know the Persons, Time, and Place of Meeting. And rest

Belvoir Castle, the 30th January, 8 a Clock in the Morning.

Your humble Servant,

Gervase Lucas.

"For the Right Honourable the Committee of Lords and Commons, at Grantham. These."

Articles for the Surrender of Belvoir Castle.

"Articles agreed upon betwixt Sir John Pate Baronet, on the Behalf of Sir Gervas Lucas Governor of Belvoir Castle, on the one Part, and Lieutenant Colonel Candler, on the Behalf of the Committee of Lords and Commons now residing at Grantham, on the other Part, for the surrendering up of the Castle of Belvoir, to the Use of the Parliament.

1. Imprimis, it is concluded and agreed upon by the said Parties, That the Castle of Belvoir, with all the (fn. *) Arms, Ordnance, and Ammunition, and Goods therein (more than what is hereafter (fn. †) excepted), shall be delivered into the Hands of such as the said Committee of Lords and Commons shall appoint to receive them, for the Use of the Parliament, upon Tuesday next, being the Third of February, by Two of the Clock in the Afternoon, without any Manner of imbezzling any of the said Ammunition or Goods.

2. That Sir Gervas Lucas, and all the Officers, Gentlemen, and Soldiers, in the said Castle, shall have Liberty to march away to Litchfield, with their Horses and Arms, Colours flying, Drums beating, Matches lighted, and Muskets laden with Bullet; and to have a sufficient Convoy, and Six Days Time for their safe Passage; Thirty Hostages being given by Sir Gervas Lucas for their Return of the said Convoy.

"3. Item, That the Governor Sir Gervas Lucas, Sir John Pate, and all the Officers, Gentlemen, and Soldiers, now within the Castle of Belvoir, shall have Six (fn. ‡) Days Liberty for carrying away of all such Goods as are now within the said Castle, which are properly and shall clearly appear to be their own; and to have Carts and Carriages provided for the carrying away of the same.

4. Item, That all Prisoners whatsoever within the Castle of Belvoir shall forthwith, upon signing of these Articles, be set at Liberty, and are hereby declared to be at Liberty.

5. Lastly, That the Governor of Belvoir shall send forth of the Castle To-morrow Morning, by Nine of the Clock, Francis Leake Esquire, Major Bywater, Captain Wm. Colby, and Captain John Goodman, to be Hostages for the Performance of these Articles on his Part; and that Mr. Wm. Prescott, Captain Ruddocke, Captain Buckley, and Lieutenant Hard, shall be sent to Litchfeild, to remain there till these Articles be performed on the Behalf of the said Committee of Lords and Commons.

In (fn. *) Writing whereof, the said Sir John Pate and Lieutenant Colonel Candler have interchangeably set their Hands hereunto, this 31th of January, 1645.

"Jo. Pate."

Sir R. Carr and Mrs. Carr.

Ordered, That Robert Carr shall make good his Suggestions (fn. †) in his Petition on Behalf of Sir Rob't Carr, on the 18th of February next, at this Bar; and both Sides shall have Notice thereof.

And the House being informed, "That the said Sir Rob't Carr is not in a fit Condition to attend this House, in regard of his Distemper upon him:" It is Ordered, That Sir Theodore Mayherne, Doctor Clarke, and Doctor Wright, and Doctor Ente, with the Four Censors of the College of Physicians, shall visit the said Sir Rob't Carr some convenient Time before the Hearing of the Cause, and certify to this House whether he be in a fit Temper to attend this House.

E. of Warwick to export Horses.

Ordered, That the Earl of Warwicke shall have Liberty to transport Three Horses, for the Use of his own Servants, which he is to send over to Foreign Parts, for the Service of the State.

Propositions for Peace, which are to be immediately sent.

The House made a Progress into the Consideration of these Propositions which are to be presently sent to the King; and Ordered, To be further considered of Tomorrow Morning, the First (fn. ‡) Business.

Ordered, That the Order of this House formerly made, for putting Mr. Scroope into the First Qualification of the Fifteenth Proposition, is hereby revoked; and he left to make his Composition for his Delinquency according to the usual Way.

Gamages to be instituted to Lanharcy, &c.

Ordered, That Sir Nathaniell Brent shall institute and induct Edmund Gamage Clerk, to the Rectory of Lanharcy, in the County of Glamorgan; and (fn. |) likewise shall institute and induct Thomas Gamage to the Rectory of St. Brides Minor super Ogmore, in the said County; being presented by the Right Honourable the Earl of Leycester.

Order for 500 l. to Col. Fielder's Forces in Surry.

It is this Day Ordered, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That William Powell, Treasurer to the Sub-committee for Accompts in the County of Surrey, do pay unto Mr. Sackford Gonson the Sum of Five Hundred Pounds of the Money he hath received, by Order of the said Sub-committee, from several Officers and other Persons within the County of Surrey, and is remaining in his Hands; which Money shall be disposed of towards the paying of the Arrears due unto the Officers and Soldiers under the Command of Colonel Feilder."

Footnotes