DIE Martis, 7 die Aprilis.

PRAYERS, by Mr. Delmy.

Comes Manchester, Speaker.

E. of Northton, a Pass, to come and take the Oath.

The Speaker acquainted this House, (fn. *) from the Committee of both Kingdoms, "That the Earl of North'ton Yesterday came to that Committee; and his Lordship hath a Pass from them, to lie without the Line of Communication, according to the Ordinance of Parliament; and his Lordship desired a Pass, that he might come this Day, and take the Negative Oath before the Commissioners of the Great Seal."

Hereupon it is Ordered, That his Lordship shall have the Pass of this House, to come within the Line of Communication, to take the said Oath before the said Commissioners, who are to tender the same to his Lordship.

Letter from the Scots Commissioners.

A Letter from the Commissioners of the Kingdom of Scotland, with an inclosed Paper, was read.

(Here enter them.)

Ordered, That the Scottch Paper be sent down to the House of Commons.

Answer from the H. C.

Sir Edward Leech and Mr. Page return with this Answer from the House of Commons:

That they agree to the Ordinance for Job Grey to be Master of the Hospital at Leycester: (Here enter it.) And to the Business of Mr. Southcote Surgeon: And to the Ordinance (fn. †) for presenting Mr. Ray to be Minister of Andrewe's in Hartford: (Here enter it.) And they have taken into Consideration the Petition of the Officers at Windsor.

Form of a Pardon for Delinquents.

The Form of the Pardon to be granted to Delinquents that compound, was read.

And the Question being put, "Whether to agree to this Pardon?"

It was Resolved in the Affirmative.

(Here enter it.)

Message to the H. C. with the Scots Paper;

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

1. To communicate to them the Scotts Paper received this Day.

with Ordinances;

2. To deliver to them the Ordinance for Gouldsmithes Hall, and desire their Concurrence therein.

3. To deliver to them the Ordinance concerning Henry Steward, and desire their Concurrence therein.

with the Paper from the Florentine Agent.

4. To deliver to them the Paper of the Desires of Amarigo Salvetti, Resident of the Great Duke of Toscany, and desire their Concurrence to the same.

Lord Lisle's Commission to be Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.

Next, the Commission for making the Lord Lilse Lieutenant General of the Forces in Ireland, was read.

And it was Resolved, upon the Question, That this Commission to the Lord Lilse shall pass, with this Addition, ["1 May, 1646"].

Ordered, That the Commissioners of the Great Seal of England, or any Three of them, (fn. *) do pass the Lord Lilse's Commission under the Great Seal of England.

Ordinance to continue the Army.

The House was adjourned into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Ordinance for continuing of the Army under the Command of Sir Thomas Fairefax for Four Months longer.

The House being resumed;

The Ordinance was read, with a small Alteration.

And it was Resolved, upon the Question, That this House agrees to this Ordinance now read, with the Alteration.

Col. Martin's Petition, to stay the Proceedings at the Sessions against him.

Upon reading the Petition of Colonel Robert Martin: It is Ordered, That this Petition be shewed to Mr. Recorder of London, who is desired to certify the Truth of the Matter of Fact therein contained to this House; and if he find the Matter of Fact to be true as is contained in the Petition, then he is desired to stay the Proceedings at the Sessions against the Petitioner until this House be certified thereof.

Examination concerning the Pamphlet called London's last Warning.

The House proceeded to examine the Business further, concerning the Printing and Publishing, and Maker (fn. †) of the scandalous Pamphlet, intituled, "The last Warning to the Citty of London."

And it was proved, upon Oath, "That one Overton made the Letter that printed the Book; and that one Smith paid him the Money for it; and that one Woodnott bought some of the Books of Larner; and that Larner intreated Smith to be bound for the Money."

Then Larner being asked (fn. ‡) what he could say for himself; he said, "The said Books were brought to his House, but knows not who received them."

And it being asked of whom he † had sent him the said Books, he refused to answer.

Hereupon this House Ordered, That the said Larner shall remain committed, wherein now he is, until further Directions of this House be given; and that John Larner, and Jane Servant to the said Larner, shall appear before this House on Thursday Morning next, at which Time this House will further examine this Business.

Pettit & al. and Rednes & al.

Ordered, That the Cause between Petit, &c. and Rednes shall be heard on Friday Morning next, at which Time Parties on both Sides (fn. ||) are to appear.

Form of a Pardon for Delinquents that compound.

"Whereas A. B. of C. in the County of D. hath, by both Houses of Parliament, been admitted to his Fine of, for that he hath been in Arms against the Parliament: The Lords and Commons in Parliament do hereby authorize and appoint the Commissioners of the Great Seal of England to pass a Pardon for the said A. B. in usual Form agreed by both Houses, and according to this Ordinance, with a Grant and Restitution of his Lands, Goods, and Chattels, and other Estate for which the said Fine was accepted, according to the Particular thereof made and entered with the Committee at Gouldsmiths Hall, and of all Mean Profits, from the Day of, with an Exception of the Right or Estate of the said A. B. in or to all Advowsons, Presentations, and Right of Patronage, to any Church or Chapel; and Oliver St. John Esquire His Majesty's Solicitor General is hereby required to prepare a Pardon accordingly: Provided always, That this Ordinance, and the said Pardon thereon to be passed, shall not extend to free the said A. B. from a farther Composition, for any other Lands; Goods, or Chattels, than what are contained in the Particular aforesaid; and that in case the said Lands mentioned in the said Particular were of greater Yearly Values than are therein expressed, during Three Years before the Year of our Lord 1640, then the said A. B. shall pay such further Fine, by Way of Composition for the same, as both Houses of Parliament shall appoint."

Order for Mr. Dawson to be Deputy Mayor of Newcastle.

"The Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled do approve of Mr. Henry Dawson, Alderman of the Town of Newcastle upon Tyne, to be Deputy Mayor of the said Town, during the Absence of Mr. Blakiston, a Member of the House of Commons, and Mayor there; and the said Mr. Dawson, as Deputy Mayor, shall have Power, and is enabled, to do, execute, and perform, all and all Manner of lawful Acts, Matters, and Things, belonging or appertaining to the Office of the Mayor of the said Town, as amply and as fully as the said Mr. Blakiston might or ought to do if he were there personally present."

Order for Job Grey to be Master of the Hospital at Leicester.

"Whereas John Meredith, Doctor in Divinity, was, for divers Misdemeanors, sequestered from the Church of Stamford Rivers, in the County of Essex, by Judgement of the House of Peers, the 6th of May, 1643, and notwithstanding is since preferred to be Master of the new Hospital or Alms-house in Leicester, founded by William Wigston Esquire, deceased; and also, since that Time, the said Dr. Merdith hath been active in the Army raised against the Parliament: It is therefore hereby Ordered and Ordained, That the aforesaid Dr. Meredith be forthwith sequestered, and that he is hereby sequestered, from being Master of the said Alms-house or Hospital, and from all Houses, Lodgings, Rents, Pensions, Fees, Annuities, Revenues, and Benefits whatsoever: And it is further hereby Ordered and Ordained, That Job Grey Clerk, Master of Arts, shall supply the said Place, and be Master of the said Hospital or Alms-house, and shall have a Patent thereof under the Seal of the Dutchy of Lancaster, in as full and ample Manner as hath been usually granted unto other Masters of the said Hospital; and the Lord Grey of Warke, and the Speaker of the House of Commons in whose Custody the said Seal remains, are to give Warrant unto the Clerk of the Dutchy, for the preparing the said Patent, and are hereby Ordered and authorized to seal the same."

Ray to be Rector of St. Andrew's, in Hertford.

"It is this Day Ordered, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, That the Lord Grey of Warke, and Mr. Speaker of the House of Commons, do, under the Seal of the Dutchy of Lancaster, constitute and appoint Clement Ray, Rector of the Church of St. Andrewe's, in the Town of Hertford, to have and enjoy the said Rectory, and all Rights and Profits thereunto belonging, during the Pleasure of both Houses; and that the Clerk of the Dutchy of Lancaster do prepare the said Grant accordingly."

Southcote's Sequestration taken off.

"Ordered, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That the Sequestration of the Estate of Edmond Southcote, Chirurgeon to the Garrison of Chichester, be taken off; and that all Committees, Sequestrators, and others whom it doth concern, do take Notice hereof, and yield Obedience thereunto accordingly."

Letter from the Scots Commissioners, with a Paper about the Propositions to be sent to the King.

"For the Right Honnorable the Speaker of the House of Peeres pro Tempore.

"My Lord,

"Our earnest Desire to come to a speedy Conclusion upon the Propositions of Peace to bee sent to His Majesty, hath moved us to present this inclosed to the Houses; the Reading whereof wee intreate you to expedite; and remaine

"Your Lordship's

"Very affectionate Freinds

Worcester House, the of Aprill, 1646.

"and humble Servaunts,

"Loudoun.

"Johnston.

Lauderdaile.

Hew Kennedy.

Ro. Barclay."

"The Honnorable Houses haveing after Nyne Moneths Deliberation framed, and upon the last of February delivered unto us, some of the Propositions of Peace, upon the 16th of March wee retourned our Answere; in the Close whereof wee expressed our earnest Desires and Readines to give and receave all Brotherly Sattisfaction concerning any Differences, and to concurre with the Houses in all such Things as upon a friendly Debate should bee found conduceable for procureinge and setlinge a happy Peace: Upon Consideration whereof, the Houses appointed a Committee to meete with us upon the 27th of March; but when wee expected that upon Debate their Lordships should have concurred with us in finding out Expedients for removeinge of all Differences, and reportinge of the Results to both Houses, that wee might come to a speedy Agreement, they declared unto us that they had only Power to argue with us, and were soe strictly bound up by the Votes of the Houses punctually to adhere to every Proposition, that they had not Power to consider of the Alteration of the least Circumstance, though only as preparatory, and in order to the further Consideration of the Houses. When wee have seriously thought upon this Way of Proceedinge, the Propositions being the Demaunds of both Kingdomes, to bee sent in the Name of both, as the best Meanes for setlinge a wel-grounded Peace; and in regard of the joynt Interest which both Nations have in the Matter and End of the Propositions; and, according to the Treaty made betweene the Kingdomes, both ought to have the Judgment and Advise in agreeinge unto and frameing of the Propositions; wee cannott but insist upon our former Desires, That the Honnorable Houses may bee pleased to authorise their Committee to conferre with us aboute the best Wayes and Meanes for removeing of our Differences, to propose Expedients, and heare what shal bee offered by us, and report the Results to the Houses, that soe wee may come to a speedy Agreement; which (if wee shall meete with the like Inclynations as wee shall bring with us, being resolved, as in other Things, soe especially in the Matter of the Militia, for the full Security of this Kingdome as of our owne, to give all possible Sattisfaction, soe farre as may consist with our Covenant and publique Declarations) wee hope may by God's Assistance in a very short Tyme bee effectuated; whereas otherwise, if wee shall spend Tyme in drawing upp all our Differences, with the Reasons thereof, to present in Writing to the Houses, receive their Answeres, and give in Replyes in like Manner, it must needs prove the Losse of a greate Deale of precious Tyme, may in this Conjuncture of Affaires bee of very dangerous Consequence to both Kingdomes, and will retard the sending of the Propositions; the Dispatch whereof, for many Reasons, would not bee longer delayed, especially since wee have soe often declared to the King, that they are speedily to bee sent, and the graunting of them wil bee an effectuall Meanes for giveing Sattisfaction to both Kingdomes. This wee have judged necessary for us to offer, as the most expeditious Way for attayninge those Ends, and that wee might cleere ourselves before God and the World that wee have neglected noe Meane in our Power which may procure a speedy Peace, desireinge much rather to come to a speedy Agreement by a freindly Conferrence, then with the Losse of Tyme to reckon upp our Differences in Writing; although, if the Posture of Affaires would have admitted of Delay, wee should have accounted it our Advantage first to have presented to the Houses in Writing the Reasons for the Difference of our Judgment in the Points controverted.

"Concerning the Proposition for Religion; when wee were ready to have debated with the Honnorable Committee upon the Perticulers communicated unto us by Direction of the Houses upon that Proposition, their Lordships did acquaint us, that they knew not whether it was the Intention of the Houses to send to the King the Ordinances past both Houses, or to send any other Particulars; and that the Houses themselves were to bee consulted herein; and therefore that the Proposition concerning Religion (the setling whereof should bee and is the cheifest of the Desires of both Kingdomes, and for which principally they entered in solemne League and Covenant) may, with as distinct Knowledge, and as full Assurance of the Particulers as is possible, bee in Name of both Kingdomes demaunded of the King, and with Knowledge graunted by His Majesty; and that, accordinge to the joynt Declaration of both Kingdomes, Truth and Peace may bee established upon a suer Foundation for the present and future Generations; our earnest Desire is, that a Committee may bee appointed, with whome wee may joyne, for considering such Articles of Reformation and Uniformity of Church Government as already agreed upon by both Houses, that haveing joynt Consent they may bee fitt Matter for the Proposition of Religion to bee sent to the King's Majesty, with such other Matters of Church Government as wee conceive may bee concluded in a Day or Two, they beinge long since offered to the Houses, and wherein there can bee little Difficulty; and the one and the other may bee formed upp in a Method for a Modell of Uniformity in Church Government. Without this Agreement in Particulers of Church Government, as well as in the Directory of Worshipp and Confession of Faith, wee are not answereable to our Covenant; our Engagments, and all our Labours and Sufferings, are in vaine; the very longe Consultations of the Divines of both Kingdomes are fruitlesse; the greate Expectation not only of the Church of England but of all the Reformed Churches is frustrated; wee shall not knowe what to answere to the Church and Kingdome of Scotland, which will not bee sattisfyed nor secured in their owne Religion with Generalls; nor can wee finde any Ground to sattisfy our owne Reason, for sending a generall Proposition of Religion to the Kinge: And therefore wee still desire the Honnorable Houses in their Wisdome to expede us of this Difficulty, that the Propositions may bee with all Speede brought to a comfortable and harmonious Conclusion.

"By Commaund of the Commissioners for the Parliament of Scotland.

6th of April, 1646.

"Jo. Cheisly.

"Wee doe earnestly desire that the Propositions concerning Delinquents, and the Militia of London, bee speedily sent unto us.

"Ex'r."

Adjourn.

House adjourned till 10^a cras.

Footnotes