House of Commons Journal Volume 3: 17 July 1644

Die Mercurii, Julii 17, 1644.

PRAYERS.

Exchange of Prisoners.

RESOLVED, &c. That this House doth allow of the Exchange of Mr. Lynne, a Prisoner to the Parliament, according to the Desire of my Lord General.

States Ambassadors.

Mr. Speaker presented to the House, by way of Report, according to former Order, the Letters of Credence from the States General of the United Provinces, their Ambassadors, the Proposition made by the States Ambassadors; the Memorandum presented by the States Ambassadors, concerning the Matter of some Ships taken.

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Raising Money.

Ordered, That Sir Tho. Widdrington do take the Chair at the Committee for raising of Monies for the Lord Fairefaxe his Army; and likewise the Chair of the Committee to join with the City, for the raising of Two hundred thousand Pounds.

Ordered, That the Committee for raising Monies for my Lord Fairefaxe, and the aforesaid Committee joined with the City, and the Committee at Goldsmiths Hall, do meet and confer together; and bring in, respectively, Ordinances for raising of Monies by Sale of Lands: And that they do present, in the said Ordinances, what Lands they think fit to be sold; and what Persons fit to be authorized to sell the same; and by what Rules and Instructions they are to proceed therein.

Nottingham Committees.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth nominate and approve of Colonel Francis Pierrepont and Gilbt. Millington Esquire, to be added to the several and respective Committees of the County of Nottingham, and of the County of the Town of Nottingham; and to the Committees with the Committee for the Kingdom of Scotland: And are to go down forthwith: And Mr. Millington to return with convenient Speed.

Recruiting the Army.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee where Mr. Scawen has the Chair, to consider of providing the Ten thousand Pounds for Recruit of Sir Wm. Waller's Army: And to report on Friday Morning.

States Ambassadors.

Ordered, That, on Saturday next, the House take into Consideration the Report this Day made, by Mr. Speaker, concerning the Letters of Credence, Proposition, and Memorandun, presented by the States Ambassadors.

French Merchants.

The humble Petition of the Merchants of London, trading for France, and of some French Merchants, Subjects of the Crown of France, inhabiting there, was this Day read; and ordered to be referred to the Consideration of the Committee of the Navy, to examine the Business, and to represent the Truth of the State of the Matter.

Somersetshire.

Ordered, That Colonel Popham shall have Leave to go into Somersetshire to raise Forces there, for the Defence of that County.

Military Affairs.

Sir Hen. Vane the younger presents, from the Committee of both Kingdoms, a Letter from his Excellency, dated at Tiverton, 10 Julii, 1644, concerning the takeing of Tanton Dean Castle; and also a List of the Ammunition, Ordnance, and Arms, there taken; also the Articles of Agreement for the Surrender of the Place; and the Copy of a Letter of News from one Wm. Francis, from Bristoll, July the Eighth, pretending to a great Victory that should be given, by Prince Rupert, to the Forces in the North, cujus contrarium verum.

He further reported a Letter from Sir Wm. Waller, to the Committee of both Kingdoms, from Buckingham, of July the Fifteenth, 1644, referring to Sir Arth. Hesilrig's Relation for the Condition of his Army, and for the Reasons that induced him to come to Bucks, and of the certain Informations received, that the King is gone Westward.

Ordered, That the Committee of both Kingdoms do prepare Letters to be sent to the several Committees of the several and respective Counties, upon which, Proportions of Horse and Foot are set for the raising of a constant Army, to encourage and hasten their Proceedings.

Ordered, That Sir Humphrey Tufton, Sir Hen. Heyman, Mr. Browne, and Sir F. Barnham, do take care of sending printed Copies of the Ordinance for raising a constant Army, &c. to the Committees in Kent, to the end the said Ordinance may be put into speedy Execution.

Ordered, That the Knights and Burgesses of the several and respective Counties, upon which Proportions of Foot and Horse are set, to raise the Body of a constant Army, &c. do take Care of sending down to their several and respective * *

Waller's Army.

Sir Wm. Waller's Letter was read; and the Votes upon the Consideration of it, reported from the Committee of both Kingdoms, by Sir Hen. Vane jun. were read, in hæc Verba; viz.

Resolved, upon the Question, That the Committee cannot, for the present, advise Sir Wm. Waller's going into the West, in pursuit of the King's Forces: That Sir Wm. Waller shall be directed to continue in such Parts as his Army may be most conveniently recruited, the Parts under the Power of the Parliament best protected and secured, and the Enemy most infested.

The Question being propounded, whether it should be left to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to give Directions for the Proceeding and Motion of Sir Wm. Waller's Army, to the best Advantage of the Publick;

The Question was put, whether this Question should be now put:

It was resolved Affirmative.

Resolved, &c. That it shall be left to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to give Directions for the Proceeding and Motion of Sir Wm. Waller's Army, to the best Advantage of the Publick.

Creation Money.

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

The Lords have commanded us to deliver unto you this Ordinance concerning Creation Money; which they have passed in their House; and desire the Concurrence of this House.

Ordered, That this Ordinance be read; and taken into Consideration on Monday Morning next.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House has resolved to take the Ordinance, brought by them from the Lords, into speedy Consideration; and will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Norfolk Petition.

Ordered, That the Petition from the County of Nor-folk, be read, and taken into Consideration on Friday Morning next, peremptorily: And that Sir Jo. Potts be injoined to stay till then; and then to go down to give an Account to the Country.

Hertfordshire.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee of both Kingdoms, concerning Hertfordshire, be made on Friday Morning next.

Naval Affairs.

A Letter from my Lord Admiral, from Torbay, of Julii 11, 1644, was this Day read; and referred to the Consideration of the Committee for the Navy.

Ordered, That Mr. Green do, on Saturday next, make Report from the Committee of the Navy, of the State of those Affairs, the first Business.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir Jo. Lee shall have the Leave of the House to go into the Country, and to stay for a Month.

Pressing Soldiers.

Be it Ordained, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, That the Committee of the Militia for the City of London shall be, and are hereby, authorized, speedily to press the Number of One thousand Soldiers, within the said City, and the Lines of Communication, to be employed for a Regiment for Serjeant Major General Browne, towards the reducing of the Counties of Oxon, Berks, and Bucks, with such Limitations and Restraints, touching the Persons that are to be pressed, as in former Ordinances for pressing of Soldiers, hath been appointed. And be it further Ordained, That the several Committees of the Counties of Buck', Berks, and Oxon, shall have Power, and are hereby authorized, to press, within such of the said Counties respectively, Five hundred Soldiers for the Service of the Parliament, within such Limitations and Restraints, touching the Persons that are to be pressed, as, in former Ordinances for pressing of Soldiers, hath been appointed.