House of Commons Journal Volume 3: 23 December 1643

Die Sabbati, 23 Decembris, 1643.

PRAYERS.

Salt-petre.

RESOLVED, &c. That the Salt-petre, belonging to Mr. Courten, shall be bought by the State.

Resolved, &c. That this Salt-petre shall be appraised by Four indifferent Men; Two to be chosen by Mr. Courten; and Two by the Committee for the Safety.

Resolved, &c. That none of this Salt-petre shall be transported.

Resolved, &c. That the Committee of the Safety shall take care to make Payments for this Salt-petre, according to such Rates, and Prices, and Times of Payment, as shall be contracted for, and agreed of, between the Committee and Mr. Courten.

An Ordinance for the digging for, and making of, Salt-petre, was this Day read the First . . . .

Excise on Soap.

An Ordinance for setting of Fifteen-pence more upon the Firkin of Soap, by way of Excise, than is already set upon it, was this Day read the First and Second time; and, upon Question, committed . . . . Mr. Maynard, * Holles, * Jennour, * Gerard, * Allanson, * Ashe, * Green, * Blakiston, * Solicitor, * Cage, * Nicoll: And are to meet on Tuesday next in the Afternoon, at Two of Clock in the Exchequer Chamber: And have Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, Papers, Records.

Army Surgeons.

Ordered, That Mr. Trenchard do forthwith pay unto the Surgeon, and his two Mates, of Sir Arth. Heselrig's Regiment of Foot, Twenty-three Pounds Eight Shillings, upon Account, for the speedy sending down of the said Surgeons to Sir Arth. Heselrig's Regiment, which is now with Sir Wm. Waller.

Assignment to Waller.

Ordered, That the Treasurers for Sequestrations do forthwith pay, out of the Monies that come in upon the Sequestrations, to Mr. Trenchard, upon Account, the Remainder, to make up the Five thousand Pounds, assigned by former Order to Sir Wm. Waller.

Haberdashers Hall Loans.

An Ordinance for giving Allowance to such Sums of Money, as have been lent and advanced by the Committee at Haberdashers Hall, was this Day read the First time; and ordered to be read the Second time, at the next Sitting of the House.

Train Bands, &c.

An Ordinance to enable the Committee of the Militia, to send Forces of the Train Bands and Auxiliaries, under the Command of Rich. Browne Esquire, Colonel, Major General of this Brigade, was this Day read; and by Vote upon the Question, assented unto; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence:

Message to Lords.

And was presently carried up to the Lords, for their Concurrence, by Sir Rob. Pye: Who likewise carried up to the Lords, the Ordinance for the Abatement of the Excise set upon Tobaccoes of the English Plantation: The Ordinance for collating Mr. Twisse to the Church of Horstley, in the County of Surry: An additional Ordinance concerning the King's Revenue: And was to desire them to sit awhile.

Associated Counties.

The House being informed, that the whole Committee of the Eight associated Counties was at the Door; they were called in: Who presented a Petition on the Behalf of themselves, and the whole Association.

The which was read; and the Petitioners again called in: And Mr. Speaker, by the Command of the House, acquainted them with the Sense this House has of the great Service done by them, and of their extreme good Affections expressed to the Publick: For which the House gives them great Thanks; and likewise for their great Care, Pains, and Cost, in providing for the Safety of their own Counties, and of the Publick: And have referred the Petition to the Committee for the Associated Counties.

Resolved, &c. That this Petition shall be committed unto the Committee for Associations: Who are to meet upon it this Afternoon in the inner Court of Wards; and to prepare an Answer unto it; and to present it to the House on Monday: And there are added unto it, as to this Business;

Mr. Recorder, Sir Arth. Hesilrig, Sir H. Vane jun. Mr. Nicholl, Mr. Holles, Sir Peter Wentworth, Mr. Tate, Mr. Noble.

Answer from Lords.

Sir Rob. Pye brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to all the Ordinances carried up by him; and will sit awhile, as is desired.

House to sit.

Resolved, &c. That the House shall sit upon Monday next.

Message from Lords.

A Message from the Lords, by Serjeant Finche and Dr. Aylett;

The Lords being informed of the great Want of the Town of Aylisbury, and of the Importance of that Town, they desire you to take their Wants into speedy Consideration. They have received a Paper from the Earl of Stamford, a Member of their House; which they desire this House to take into Consideration. They agree, that the Committee at Haberdashers Hall shall proceed with Baron Henden, according to the Ordinance. They have resolved to sit on Monday, at Ten of Clock.

Answer.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House has considered their Lordships Message; and, as to the Garison of Aylisbury, and That concerning the Earl of Stamford, they will take them into speedy Consideration: And are resolved to sit on Monday, at their usual Hour.

Berwick Garison.

A Letter from Edinburgh, of the Seventh of December, from the Commissioners in Scotland; and a Paper, inclosed, of the same Date; concerning the settling of the Garison of Berwick; were both read.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree to the Settlement of the Garison of Berwick for the present, according to the Paper of the Seventh of December, sent from the Commissioners in Scotland.

Scotch Affairs.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee for the Affairs of Scotland, to prepare such further Instructions and Ordinances, as shall be necessary for the Commissioners in Scotland, the better carrying on their Work; and to present them to the House.

French Ambassador.

Resolved, That the Prince D'Harcourt shall have Liberty to carry Four Ton of Wine to Oxon; the Wine being searched.

Regulating Passes.

Mr. Maynard, Mr. Sam. Browne, Mr. Holles, Mr. Recorder, Mr. Reynolds, Sir Tho. Barrington, Sir Arth. Hesselrig, Mr. Whittacre, Sir H. Vane, Mr. Bainton, Mr. Lisle, Sir Jo. Curson, Sir P. Wentworth, * Corbett, Mr. Browne;

This Committee, or any Four of them, is appointed to consider of some fit Expedient for regulating of Passes, in such a way as may prevent the Prejudice that comes to the State, by the Abuse of Passes: And are to meet on Tuesday next, at Two post Meridiem, in the Court of Wards: And the Care of this Order is especially recommended unto Mr. Maynard, and Mr. Sam. Browne.

Goldsmiths Hall Committee.

Ordered, That Mr. Hoyle and Mr. Blakiston shall be added to the Committee at Goldsmiths Hall.

French Ambassador.

Resolved, &c. That Sir Peter Killigrew shall have Mr. Speaker's Warrant to go to Oxon, with the Prince D'Harcourt, in the same Manner as formerly; and to return.

Rockingham Castle.

Letter from Captain Wayte, to my Lord Gray, about the Government of Rockingham Castle, was read:

Ordered, That a Letter be written to my Lord Gray, to continue Mr. Horseman in the Command of Rockingham Castle, till this House take further Order; this House being well informed of the Fidelity of the said Mr. Horseman: And that my Lord Gray do take care, that the usual and necessary Contributions and Supplies be not withdrawn from the Relief of the said Castle.

Ordered, That Mr. Wayte do give an Account to the Committee in Rutlandshire, what Monies or Horse he hath levied or raised, upon the Ordinance for Sequestrations, or otherwise; and how disposed the same: And that they certify the same to the House.

Persons sent for in Custody.

Ordered, That Colonel Strode, and Mr. Horner, be sent for, in safe Custody, by the Serjeant at Arms for * *

Seizing Money.

Ordered, That Sir Walter Earle do repair to the Committee of the Safety, for a Warrant to seize upon Five hundred and Fifty Pounds, or thereabouts, belonging unto one that is a Delinquent, and hath borne Arms against the Parliament; whose Name is to be expressed in the Warrant. And this House doth further Order, That the said Sum be paid unto Sir Walter Erle, for and towards the providing of Arms for the Defence of the Town of Wareham, in the County of Dorset, and the Garison there.

Compounding with Prisoners.

Ordered, That the Governor of Poole be left at Liberty to compound with those Prisoners he took at Dorchester; and also with Mr. Wyatte, that endeavoured to betray Poole; and to employ the Monies for which they are ransomed for the better Defence of the Town of Poole.

Taking of Gainsbrough.

Letter from Sir Jo. Meldrum, dated 21 Decembris, at Gainsbrough, was read; informing the House of his storming the Town of Gainsbrough, and taking of it, and near Three hundred Prisoners; the Lord Chaworth, and Twenty-six Captains and Lieutenants.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Safety do write a Letter of Thanks to Sir John Meldrum, for his great Service done to the Commonwealth.

Ordered, That Sir Jo. Meldrum's Petition be read on Monday next.

Greenevile's Petition.

Ordered, That Sir Richard Greenevile's Petition be read on Monday next.

Recruiting the Army.

Ordered, That the Ordinance for recruiting my Lord General's Army, be reported on Monday next.

Excise on Flesh, &c.

Ordered, That the Grand Committee, for Excise on Flesh and Salt, do meet on Monday, at Eight of the Clock.

Alisbury Garison.

Ordered, That the Thousand Pounds, lent by the Committee at Haberdashers Hall, to the Garison at Alisbury, shall be forborn: And that the Committee in Bedfordshire do forthwith pay the One thousand Six hundred Pounds Arrear to the Garison at Alisbury, by Assignment of both Houses: And, if they refuse to pay the same, that then this House will take Course the same be levied on the County by Force.

Colonel Strode.

Ordered, Colonel Strode his Word be taken to appear on Monday next.