House of Commons Journal Volume 2: 26 August 1642

Die Veneris, 26 Augusti, 1642.

PRAYERS.

Warrant to go to the King.

ORDERED, That Mr. Humphrey Rogers, and Mr. Hugh Hen, shall have Mr. Speaker's Warrant for their free Passage to the King, being his Houshold Servants, to perform their Service unto his Majesty.

Warrant to go abroad.

Upon the humble Petition of Tho. Smyth, Gentleman; It is Ordered, That the said Mr. Smyth shall have Mr. Speaker's Warrant to transport Himself, his Wife, a Child, and a Maid, into France, or the Low Countryes: to the end that he may repair to Leige, to a Brother he has there, that is a Merchant.

Privilege.

Mr. Ashe informed the House, That divers Constables and others came, and in a violent Manner, with great Multitudes, entered his House, and searched it, though he knew it to be the House of a Member; and ransacked it without any Order that they could shew for searching or entering his House in particular.

That Tho. Mahhewes of Devon, Factor in Basing Lane, Mr. Boroughes, a Haberdasher of Hats, at the Feathers in Fanchurch Street, and Wm. Speede, a Fishmonger, be forthwith sent for, as Delinquents, for entering into the House of Mr. Ashe, a Member of this House, violently, with Numbers of People, and ransacking it, without any Order of this House.

Preventing Pillage, &c.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to prepare an Order to prevent the Pillagings committed by Soldiers; and likewise to prevent the Abuses committed by the general Warrants for Searching of the Houses of illaffected Persons.

Mr. Hill, Mr. Ellis, Mr. Solicitor, Mr. Strode, Mr. Goodwyn.

Distressed Protestants.

Ordered, That the humble Petition of certain distressed English Protestants be referred to the Committee for Contributions; to consider of some way for their Relief [a].

Scott's House.

Ordered, That Mr. Humphrey Scott shall have Liberty to carry to his House in Kent * * * *

Prisoner discharged, &c.

Ordered, That Mr. Butler, the High Constable of Greenwich, be forthwith discharged; and that the Examination of this whole Business be referred to Mr. Blunt.

Restoring Arms.

And it is farther Ordered, That those poor Men, who had their Arms taken from them, shall have their Arms restored unto them again forthwith.

Search for Ordnance.

Ordered, That Sir Christopher Yelverton, and Mr. Spurstoe, shall search for a little Piece of Ordnance that this House is informed to be secretly conveyed into some private House.

Letter to Lds. Justices.

Mr. Reynolds carried up to the Lords the Letter to be sent to the Lords Justices.

Proceedings at Salop Assizes.

A Letter from many Aldermen and Common Council of the Town of Salop, of the 22th of August; and inclosed a Declaration and Protestation agreed upon by the Grand Jury, at the Assizes held for the County of Salop, the 8th Day of August, 1642; and assented unto by the High Sheriff, and divers of the Justices of Peace, Gentlemen and Freeholders then present; and likewise, the Indictment of Tho. Hunt of Salop, Gentleman, for Exercising [and Training,] according to an Ordinance of Parliament.

Mr. Glyn, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Ellis, Mr. Hill, Mr. White, Mr. Ro. Goodwyn, Mr. Browne, Sir Ro. Harley, Mr. Rous, Mr. Marten, Mr. Hatcher, Sir Martin Lumley, Mr. Darley, Mr. Smyth, Mr. Spurstoe, Mr. Salloway, Sir Wm. Armyn, Sir Ro. Pye, are appointed to examine the Proceedings and Carriages of all the Justices of Assize, and Sheriffs in their several Circuits, in Packing of Grand Juries; and the whole Business of the Protestation agreed upon by the Grand Jury of Salop, and endeavoured to be put upon the Inhabitants of the Town of Salop; and to consider what is fit to be done, to prevent these and the like Inconveniences arising from Grand Juries meddling with Matters they are not concerned in: And are to meet this Afternoon, at Four of Clock, in the Exchequer Chamber: And have Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, Papers, Records, &c.

Ordered, That the Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench do desired to remove, by Certiorari, the Indictment of Mr. Tho. Hunt, and others, for Training according to an Ordinance of both Houses; and that no more Proceedings be had upon this Indictment, until this House take farther Order herein.

Arms for Kent.

Ordered, That it be referred to Sir Edw. Hale, Sir Peter Wroth, Mr. Browne, Sir Tho. Walsingham, Mr. Aug. Skinner, Sir H. Vane junior, Sir H. Heyman, or any Two of them, to dispose of the Arms returned from the late Northern Expedition, into such Hands as they shall think fit, for the Use of the County of Kent.

Members disabled to sit.

Resolved, That Sir Wm. Widdrington shall be disabled to sit any longer a Member of this House, during this Parliament, for neglecting the Service of the House, and for raising Arms against the Parliament.

Resolved, That Sir Wm. Carnaby shall be disabled to sit any longer a Member of this ...., during this Parliament, for refusing to attend the Service of the House upon Summons, and for raising Arms against the Parliament.

Kent Militia.

A Letter from Mr. Sandys, to the Lord General his Excellence, of the 25th of this present August, desiring the Militia for the County of Kent may be forthwith put in Execution.

Not to publish King's Proclamations.

Ordered, That the Lord Mayor be required not to publish these Proclamations sent unto him; the One concerning the Setting up of the King's Standard; the other concerning Recusants not resorting to the King's Army.

Answer from Lords.

Sir Tho. Dacres brings Answer from the Lords, That they agree to the Deputy Lieutenants for Hertfordshire; and to the Order for Captain Lee of Rochester; and to the Ordinance to suppress Printing of false and scandalous Things; and the Ordinance for prohibiting the Importation of Currans.

Letter to Lds. Justices.

Mr. Reynolds brings Answer; The Lords do agree to the Letter to be sent from the Commissioners for Ireland to the Lords Justices.

Lords to sit.

Sir Ro. Harley went up to the Lords to desire them to sit awhile, in regard this House shall have Occasion to come unto them very suddenly, upon Matters of great Importance.

Loan from the City.

Mr. Vassall carried up to Sir Tho. Dacres the Propositions to be made to the Citizens of London, concerning the Borrowing of Monies, to be by him delivered to the Lords.

Soldiers pillaging Houses.

WHEREAS divers Soldiers have, in a tumultuous and violent Manner, broken into divers of the King's Subjects Houses, pillaged and ransacked them, under Pretence and Colour that they are Papists Houses, or the Houses of Persons disaffected; the Lords and Commons taking the Premises into Consideration, do Declare and Order, That whatsoever Soldier or Soldiers shall, without the Command of the Captains of their respective Companies, or the Officers of the Field, attempt upon, or break open, any House whatsoever, or pillage or ransack any House, shall be pursued and punished according to Law as a Felon: And the said Lords and Commons do require all Officers of the Armies to employ their best Endeavours for the Bringing of any such Soldiers that shall commit any of the Insolences aforesaid, to condign Punishment; that they may be severely and effectually proceeded against according to Law. And the Lord General is desired, that this Order may be duly published in the Army, in the Head of each particular Company.

Restoring Money.

Resolved, That the Monies seized at the Lord Cottington's House at Hanworth, and the Iron Chest now in Custody at Guildhall, be forthwith restored.

Declaration, &c. from Scotland.

A Message from the Lords by Dr. Aylett and Dr. Heath;

The Lords have commanded us to deliver to this House this Declaration from the General Assembly of Scotland; and this other, which is an Approbation of the Secret Council of Scotland.

Sir H. Vane junior reports, That the Lord Maitland told them, That th .. Fourscore Divines of theirs stayed together at St. Andrewes, till they had received some Answer from hence; and that they had pressed his Majesty to an Answer; and that he had refused to give it, 'till they had received the * * * *

Ordered, That this Business concerning the Declaration, and the Order of Approbation, received from the Scotts, be taken into Consideration.

Loan from the City.

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

The Lords do agree with this House in this Ordinance concerning Propositions to be made to the City of London, concerning the Borrowing of Monies, with the Addition of One Clause.

The Addition was read; and, by Vote upon the Question assented unto.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House doth agree * * * *

Arms, &c. at Camber Castle.

Ordered, That Mr. Morley do prepare an Order for removing the Ordnance, Musquets, Powder, and other warlike Ammunition, from the Castle of Camber, between Rye and Winchelsea, to the Town of Rye.

Loan from the City.

Mr. Vassall reports the Message from the Lords, That the Lords will send an Answer, by Messengers of their own, to the Propositions to be made to the Citizens, touching the Loan of Monies.

Pilton Lecturer.

Upon the humble Petition of the Parishioners of Pilton in the County of Devon; It is Ordered, That Mr. Nathanael Giles, an orthodox Divine, shall be recommended by this House, to be Lecturer to the said Parishioners, to preach there every Lord's Day twice, and once every. Wednesday: And the Parson or Curate of the said Parish, and Churchwardens, are hereby required to permit him the free Use of the Pulpit, to preach there accordingly.

Loan from the City.

IT is this Day Ordered, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, That for the more speedy and effectual Provision of sufficient Treasure, to be employed in quenching this unnatural War, now kindled in the Heart of this Kingdom, by Papists, Persons popishly affected, Traitors, and Delinquents about his Majesty, that the several Persons hereunder named, or any Three or more of them, do forthwith summon all the Inhabitants, as well Freemen, as other Resiants within the Ward of * in the City of London, which they, or any Three or more of them, shall think fit, shall be summoned; and do likewise repair unto the several Houses, and Places of Abode, of all the Inhabitants, as well Freemen, as other Resiants within the said Ward, which they, or any Three or more of them, shall think fit to be repaired unto; and in the Name of both Houses of Parliament, do give hearty Thanks to so many of them (whether summoned, or repaired unto), as have already contributed, by way of Loan or Gift, any Money, Plate, Horse, or Arms, according to the Propositions of both Houses of Parliament, heretofore published in that Behalf; assuring all and every of them, that the said Houses are very sensible of their Alacrity and Duty therein; and do resolve to be as careful of their Safety and Welfare as of their own; and to live and die with them in this Cause: And likewise, that the said Persons hereunder named, or any Three or more of them, do acquaint not only those, but especially the rest of the said Inhabitants, who have not yet contributed, with the Necessity of Subscriptions for Plate and Money, still pressing; and accordingly desire and stir up them, and every of them, to underwrite in a Book provided for that Purpose (and wherein their Names shall be registered, whether they underwrite or no) such Sums of Money and Plate, as may testify their real and full Performance of their late Protestation, and sacred Vow, to Almighty God, and of their Readiness to join with us, the and Commons; who are resolved to pursue this Work with their Lives, Persons, and Estates, for their Preservation, as well as for our own. And, because the Success of this necessary Design depends much upon the speedy Dispatch thereof; it is therefore further desired, That all such Persons as shall hereupon subscribe as aforesaid, be desired, by the Parties employed to take the Subscriptions, instantly to bring in One third Part of the said Money and Plate subscribed by each of them respectively, to the Treasurers for Money formerly appointed in the Guildhall, London; who shall thereupon give Receipts for the same, in Manner and Form already ordered and used: And that the Second third Part of their said Subscriptions be likewise brought in to the Persons and Place aforesaid, at the End of One Month next after their Subscriptions; and the last Payment at the End of the Second next after their said Subscription: For all which both Houses of Parliament do hereby engage the publick Faith of the Kingdom, that they shall be repaid, with Eight per Cent. Allowance for the same, according to the said former Propositions. And, because the Lords and Commons are very sensible of the good Affections of the City of London, and their Service for the Publick; they have directed the Lord General to levy Two Regiments of Foot, and Four Troops of Horse, under the Command of Serjeant Major General Scippon, for the Safety of the said City: Which Two Regiments and Four Troops, and the said Serjeant Major Scippon, shall be paid out of such Subscriptions as shall be made by the said City.

Ship laden with Bullion, &c.

WHEREAS the Lords and Commons now assembled in Parliament, are informed, That a Ship called The Cleare, of London, is lately arrived in the Port of Hampton (whereof Mr. Benedict Stafford is Master) from the West Indies, laden with Silver, and other Commodities of Value; which the said Master hath brought thither, without Consent of the Owners of the Silver, and other Goods; whereof Part or all is already landed, and carried to the House of Mr. Legay, Merchant, Owner of the same Ship; It is this Day Ordered, by the Lords and Commons, That the Committee and Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Southampton, shall forthwith, upon the Receipt hereof, send Two of their own Company to Southampton; and there, with the Assistance of Mr. Gallop and Mr. Exton, Burgesses serving in Parliament for that Town, shall call before them the said Mr. Legay, Benedict Stafford, and such others as shall be best able to inform them of the Truth of the Premises, and of the Value of the Bullion or Coin, and the Quantity and Quality of other Ladings; and to take the Bullion or Coin into their own Custody, to be brought up to London, with a sufficient Guard, that so it may be kept to the Use of the true Owners, to be restored as soon as the Parliament shall be informed to whom the same doth belong; it appertaining to the Honour and Justice of this High Court, to see that Right be done; and that no Subjects of any foreign State be wronged by the Miscarriage of any of his Majesty's Subjects in this Kingdom. Touching the other Goods, It is Ordered, That the Committee shall certify their Opinion what is best to be done with the same Goods, that a true Account may be made of them to all Parties which shall be justly interessed therein: Willing and Requiring the Mayors, and Sheriff or Sheriffs of the said Town of Southampton, and the County of the said Town, as likewise the Sheriff of the County of Southampton, with the Power of their several Counties, and of the said Town, and Justices of Peace, and Deputy Lieutenants of the said Counties, and Town, and all other his Majesty's loving Subjects, to be aiding and assisting thereunto: And, for their so doing, this shall be their sufficient Warrant.

Restraining Printing.

WHEREAS there have been of late great Disorders and Abuses by irregular Printing, to the great Scandal of Religion and Government; and a Bill is in Preparation for the Redress of those Mischiefs; which, by reason of the present Distractions, cannot be so speedily perfected and passed as is desired; It is Ordered, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, That no Person or Persons shall print, publish, or utter any Book or Pamphlet, false, or scandalous to the Proceedings of the Houses of Parliament, or either ... nor shall print, utter, or publish, with the Name of the Clerk of either House of Parliament set thereunto, or with any Expression, Pretence of Order from both or either of the said Houses, without special Order from both or either of the said Houses, without special Order from the said Houses, or either of them, or the Committees of them, or either of them, concerning Printing; and the same to be entered in the Register Book of the said Company, according to the ancient Custom: And the Master and Wardens of the Company of Stationers, London, and the Usher-of the Black Rod, and Serjeant of the Commons House of Parliament, and their Deputies, are hereby authorized and required to make diligent Search, from time to time, for all such Books and Pamphlets to be hereafter printed, and the same to seize and take, together with the Presses, and other Printing Materials wherewith the same shall be printed, and carry them to the Common Hall of the said Company; there to remain, till either House of Parliament shall otherwise dispose thereof: And all his Majesty's Officers shall, upon Request, aid and assist to apprehend Offenders in the Premises, and to bring them before the Lords or Commons House of Parliament, or the Committees appointed for Printing; upon whose Report of the Fact, such Course shall be taken with the said Offenders as shall be just: And, for that Purpose, the said Committee are to sit at such Times and Places as they shall think fit.