House of Lords Journal Volume 9: 28 December 1647

DIE Martis, 28 die Decembris.

PRAYERS, by Mr. Delmy.

Domini præsentes fuerunt:

Comes Manchester, Speaker.

Letter from the Commissioners with the King, and Paper delivered by the Scots Commissioners to Him.

A Letter from the Earl of Denbigh was read, with an inclosed Paper, being a Copy of the Paper presented to the King from the Scotts Commissioners.

(Here enter them.)

Ordered, That the Consideration of this Business, shall be upon Thursday Morning next.

Col. Rainsborough not to command the Winter Fleet.

Upon Perusal of the Letter of Sir Thomas Fairfax, from Hartford, concerning Colonel Raynsborough, and also the General's last Letter; this House adheres to their former Vote upon the whole Matter, "That Colonel Raynsborough should not command this Winter's Guard:" Therefore to let the House of Commons know so much at a Conference; and that their Lordships hold it not fit he should be put into a Place of so great Concernment, which concerns the Safety of this Kingdom, and to desire the Concurrence of the House of Commons in the Vote formerly sent down.

Message to the H. C. for a Conference about it.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Mr. Page and Doctor Bennett:

To desire a present Conference, in the Painted Chamber, concerning the Matter of the late Conference concerning Colonel Raynsborough.

Packet Boats between Dublin and Chester to be established.

A Report was read, from the Committee of the Admiralty and Cinque Ports, concerning the Packet Boats to attend the Affairs of Ireland. (Here enter it.)

Ordered, To be recommended to the House of Commons, for approving of the Contract; and that it may be settled in some Way, so as the Charges may be duly made good.

Message from the H. C. with Ordinances.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Mr. John Selden, &c.

To desire their Lordships Concurrence in these Particulars:

1. An Ordinance for Five Thousand Two Hundred and Seventy-four Pounds, Sixteen Shillings, Eleven Pence, due to Mr. Aldsworth of Bristoll, being so much Money lent the State.

2. An Ordinance for One Thousand Pounds to be paid to Mr. Patrick Young, out of the Moiety of the Compositions at Goldsmythes Hall. (Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

3. Another Ordinance for One Thousand Pounds to be paid to Mr. Patrick Younge, out of the Excise. (Here enter it.)

Read, and Agreed to.

Ordinance to pay Money to Aldsworth.

The Ordinance for paying Five Thousand Two Hundred and Seventy-four Pounds, Sixteen Shillings, and Eleven Pence, to Mr. Aldsworth, was read, and committed to these Lords following:

Any Two; to meet on Thursday Morning next, at Nine of the Clock.

The Answer returned was:

Answer to the H. C.

That this House agrees to the Two Ordinances concerning Mr. Young: To the Ordinance concerning Mr. Aldsworth, their Lordships will take the same into Consideration, and will send an Answer by Messengers of their own.

Sykes's Pet.

Upon reading the Petition of Wm. Sykes Merchant: It is Ordered, To be recommended to the House of Commons.

Answers from the H. C.

Sir Edward Leech, &c. return with this Answer:

That the House of Commons will send an Answer to all the Particulars, by Messengers of their own.

Mr. Doctor Bennett and Mr. Page return this Answer from the House of Commons:

That they will give a present Conference, in the Painted Chamber, as is desired.

Sir H. Mildmay and Sir T. Cheek.

Ordered, That the Cause between Sir Henry Mildmay and Sir Thomas Cheeke, concerning the Title of the Barony of the Lord Fitzwalter's, shall be heard, on Thursday come Sevennight, by Counsel on both Sides.

The House was adjourned during Pleasure, and the Lords went to the Conference; which being ended, the House was resumed.

Message from the H. C. with an Ordinance.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Mr. Bond; who brought up an Ordinance concerning Mr. John Stevens, wherein their Lordships Concurrence is desired. (Here enter it.)

Read, and Agreed to.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That this House (fn. 1) agrees to the Ordinance now brought up. (fn. 2)

Order for 1000l. to Pat. Young, towards printing a Manuscript Copy of the Greek Septuagint Bible, and other Greek Manuscripts, in the King's Library.

It is Ordered and Ordained, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, That, in Part of Satisfaction and Recompence to Patrick Yonge Esquire, for the great Pains, Study, and Expence, that he hath undergone, and is to (fn. 3) undergo, in the Edition in Print of a most ancient Manuscript Copy of the Greeke Septuagint Bible, and other Greeke Manuscripts, remaining in the King's Library, whereof he is Keeper, and in his own Hands, there shall be paid to him, his Executors or Assigns, the Sum of One Thousand Pounds, in Course, out of the Moiety of the Compositions at Gouldsmiths Hall not engaged, with Interest of Eight Pounds per Centum, also to be paid him at every Six Months End from the Time of passing this Ordinance, during the Time the said Sum shall remain unpaid; and the Treasurers of the said Compositions, and all others whom it may concern, are hereby warranted and required to make Payment accordingly; and the Acquittance of the said Patrick Younge, or his Executors or Assigns, shall be a sufficient Discharge herein to the said Treasurers, and all others whom it may as aforesaid concern."

Ordinance for 1000 l. more to him, for the same Purposes.

"It is Ordered and Ordained, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, That, in Part of Satisfaction and Recompence to Patrick Young Esquire, for the great Pains, Study, and Expence, that he hath undergone, and is to undergo, in the Edition in Print of a most ancient Manuscript Copy of the Greeke Septuagint Bible, and other (fn. 4) Greek Manuscripts, remaining in the King's Library, whereof he is Keeper, and in his own Hands, there shall be paid to him, his Executors or Assigns, the Sum of One Thousand Pounds, in Course, out of the Excise, with Interest of Eight per Centum also to be paid him at every Six Months End from the Time of passing this Ordinance, during the Time the said Sum shall remain unpaid; and the Commissioners of Excise, and all others whom it may concern, are hereby warranted and required to make Payment accordingly; and the Acquittance of the said Patrick Young, or his Executors or Assigns, shall be a sufficient Discharge herein to the said Commissioners of Excise and all others whom it may as aforesaid concern."

Ordinance for Mr. Stephens to have Sir Jacob Astley's Estate in Kent, for Reparation of his Losses sustained by him.

"Whereas Sir Jacob Astly, late of Melton Constable, in the County of Norffolke, Knight, hath traiterously and maliciously conspired to destroy the Parliament of England, and taken up Arms, and actually aided and assisted the King in this bloody and unnatural War, and, in Pursuance thereof, did, about the Month of January, in the Year of our Lord 1644, accompanied with many armed Soldiers under his Command, with Force and Arms assault and enter, and caused to be fired and burned, the Dwelling-house of John Stephens Esquire, at Over Lippiat, in the County of Gloucester, being then kept as a Garrison by the (fn. 5) Forces raised by the Parliament of England in their just Defence, and therewith burned a large Barn, and great Store of Corn therein; and he, and others of the said Soldiers raised by the King against the Parliament, did then rob, plunder, and take away, the Goods, Plate, Stock, and Cattle, of the said John Stephens, to his Damage in the Whole of Two Thousand Pounds, or thereabouts: Therefore, that the said John Stephens, who hath spent much of his Time and State in the Public Service, may receive Satisfaction for his said Losses and Damage, it is Ordered and Ordained, by the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament assembled, and be it Ordered and Ordained by Authority of the same, That the said John Stephens and his Heirs, in Satisfaction of his said Losses and Damage, shall from henceforth have, hold, and enjoy, to him the said John Stephens and his Heirs for ever, all and singular the Messuages, Lands, Tenements, and Hereditaments, of the said Sir Jacob Astley, in the County of Kent, situate, lying, and being, in the Town and Parish of Maidstone, and in the several Parishes, Hamlets, and Precincts, of Alington, Ailsford, and Boxley, or in any or either of them, in the said County; and all the Estate, Right, Title, and Interest, of the said Sir Jacob Astley, of and in the same, in Possession, Reversion, or Remainder; to have and to hold the said Messuages, Lands, Tenements, Hereditaments, and Premises, with their and every of their Appurtenances, unto him the said John Stephens, his Heirs and Assigns for ever; to be holden of the King's Majesty, His Heirs and Assigns, and Successors, as of His Manor of East Greenewich, in Free and Common Soccage, by Fealty only, for all Manner of Services: Saving to all and every Person and Persons (other than the said Sir Jacob Astley and his Heirs, and other than such as may, can, or shall, claim from, by, or under him, by any Act or Deed had, made, or done, by the said Sir Jacob Astley, at any Time since the First Day of May, in the Year of our Lord 1642, and other than such as have joined with, or adhered unto, the said Forces raised by the King against the Parliament, and are Delinquents within the Ordinance of Sequestration) all such Right, Title, Claim, or Interest, which he, they, or any of them, can or may justly have, make, or claim, in or to the Premises, or any Part thereof; and Oliver St. John Esquire, His Majesty's Solicitor General, is hereby required to prepare a Patent, and the Commissioners of the Great Seal of England are hereby authorized to grant the same by Patent, according to the Purport and true Meaning of this Ordinance, with such further Clauses usual in like Cases as shall be necessary for the Security of the said John Stephens; and in the Interim, and until the same shall be passed, all Committees of Sequestrations, and other Persons employed by the Parliament, or their Authority, are hereby enjoined to take Notice hereof, and quietly to permit and suffer the said John Stephens, his Heirs and Assigns, to have and receive the Rents, Issues, and Profits of the Premises, according to the true Meaning hereof; for which, this Ordinance, or the Duplicate thereof, shall be unto them a sufficient Warrant."

Report from the Admiralty Committee, for Packet Boats to be established between Dublin and Chester.

"Die Jovis, 23 Decembris, 1647.

By the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Admiralty and Cinque Ports.

"Whereas, in Pursuance of an Order of the House of Commons, dated 16 of March, 1646 (whereby it was referred to this Committee to provide and fit Two Packet Boats, to go between Chester and Dublin); and upon View of Certificates from Colonel Jones Governor of Dublin, and others, of Captain Stephen Rich's great Care and Charge, for the speedy Conveyance of Packets betwixt these Places, and Consideration of a special Recommendation from the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Affairs of Ireland sitting at Darby House, That the said Captain Rich might have a speedy Dispatch to the said Service; this Committee did, on the Seventh of this Instant December, refer it to the Commissioners of the Navy, to contract with the said Captain Rich for the Two Vessels by him employed in Attendance of that Service, and to cast up his Arrears from the Time he hath actually employed the same or either of them therein, and of the same to make Report to this Committee: Now, upon reading the said Commissioners Report, certifying, That they have contracted with the said Captain Rich, for the Continuance of Two Packet Boats, to attend this Service only, after the Rate of Eleven Pounds per Mensem for each, he covenanting to set Sail upon Receipt of any Packet to or from the State, and that One shall, for that Purpose, be constantly attending at Dublin, the other at Holyhead; as also that his Arrears for past Service amount for both unto Three Hundred Nineteen Pounds, Eight Shillings, and Five Pence: Ordered, That Report be made of this Matter to both Houses of Parliament; and that it be recommended unto them, that the said Contract may be confirmed, and as well the said Arrears as also the future Pay Quarterly satisfied, either by Order from the Committee of Revenue (the Allowance for this Service having been heretofore paid out of the Court of Wards, as this Committee is informed), or by Order from the Committee of the Navy, as they shall in their Wisdom think fit.

W. Jessop, Secretary."

Adjourn.

House adjourned till 10 ^a cras.