House of Commons Journal Volume 3: 10 July 1644

Die Mercurii, Julii 10, 1644.

PRAYERS.

Lancashire Forces.

AN Ordinance for paying of Three thousand Pounds, out of the additional Excise, to the Forces of Lancashire, was this Day read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, assented unto; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Military Affairs.

A Letter from Colonel Massie, of Julii 6 1644, was this Day read; and ordered to be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms, as to that Part that concerns the carrying on the War; and to the Committee of Gloucester and Malmesbury, as to the Point of Taking in of Malmesbury, and the Pay of the Forces, and the Garison.

Sheriff of Gloucester.

Whereas Thomas Stephens Esquire is nominated and appointed High Sheriff of the County of Gloucester; and is injoined and required, by a certain Clause in the Oath to be taken by him the said Thomas Stepliens, for the Execution of the said Office, that he shall reside, and be dwelling, in his own proper Person, within his Bailiffwick, for the Time that he shall be in the said Office, unless he be otherwise licensed by the Lords and Commons in Parliament: Be it therefore Ordered and Ordained, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, That the said High Sheriff shall have, and hereby hath, full and free Leave and Licence, and is permitted, to be absent from his Bailiffwick, and to dwell and reside out of the said County of Gloucester; notwithstanding any Clause in the said Oath to the contrary.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Siege of Oswaldstre.

A Letter from Sir Tho. Middleton, from Oswaldstre, of July the 5th, 1644, concerning a great Defeat given the Enemy at the Siege of Oswaldstre, was this Day read.

Sir Rich. Newport, &c.

Resolved, &c. That Sir Tho. Middleton shall have Power to dispose of the Estate of Sir Rich. Newport, and his eldest Son Francis Newport, to the best Advantage; to be employed upon Account, for the Service of the Forces under his Command.

Ordered, That Sir Tho. Middleton be required forthwith to send up Mr. Francis Newport, in a very careful and secure manner, to this House.

Preacher appointed, &c.

Ordered, That, at the Desire of Mr. Newcomen, to be excused in regard of his want of Health, that Mr. Henderson shall be desired to preach at the next Day of the publick Thanksgiving before the Parliament.

The Lords to be acquainted herewith: And that the House having considered of the Abbey, appointed by their Lordships for the Place of the publick Thanksgiving, do find it very inconvenient for all the Members of this House, and the Assembly.

Message to Lords.

Sir Robt. Harley likewise carried up the Ordinance concerning Peate and Turff; and the Ordinance for licensing a Clause in the Oath of the High Sheriffs of Gloucestershire.

Letters read.

Two Letters from the Committee in Sunderland; the one of June the last, the other of July this Sixth; and a Letter, inclosed in the former, from the Earl of Calandar, near Blythenooke, relating, that Sir Lionel Maddison and Alderman Clavering, of Newcastle, were come in to the Parliament; were this Day read.

Successes in Yorkshire.

A Letter from the Leaguer before Yorke, of July the Fifth, 1644, directed to the Committee of both Kingdoms, from the Earl of Leven, the Lord Fairefaxe, and the Earl of Manchester, and from the Committee resideing in that Army; relating the whole Action of the total Routing the Forces of Prince Rupert, both Horse and Foot; and of their Sitting down again before Yorke; was this Day read; and presently carried to my Lord of Northumberland, to be reported to the Lords.

Sir H. Vane likewise reported, that they had from the Leaguer sent Six thousand Horse and mounted Musqueteers, to attend the Motions of Prince Rupert.

Resolved, &c. That a Month's Pay shall be forthwith prepared and sent down to the Scotts Army about Yorke.

Resolved, &c. That a Month's Pay shall be forthwith prepared and sent down to my Lord Fairefax his Army.

Army Affairs.

Resolved, &c. That a Letter be prepared and sent to the Committee of the associated Counties, from both Houses, to acquaint them with the Necessity of the Earl of Manchester's Forces continuing there; and to encourage them to send Supplies of Money to those Forces.

Thanks to Officers, &c.

Resolved, &c. That a Letter shall be prepared and sent to the Generals and Committees at Yorke, to take notice of their great Service, and to return them Thanks for it; and to encourage them in their Proceedings.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee, to prepare these Letters.

Letter to be printed.

Ordered, That the Letter from the Three Generals be forthwith printed.

Army Pay.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee at Goldsmiths Hall, to consider of raising a Month's Pay for the Scotts Army, out of Delinquents Estates, either by Sale of them, or otherwise; and to bring in a List of Delinquents Estates fit to be sold; and at how many Years Purchase the Sale is fit to be made; and all other Circumstances conducible to the raising of Monies by the Sale of Delinquents Estates.

Ordered, That it be referred in like Manner, to the Committee for my Lord Fairefaxe his Forces, to raise Monies for those Forces by Sale of Delinquents Estates.

Military Details.

Colonel Russell, who brought the Letter from the Three Generals, was called in to the Bar; and made Relation of the State of our Forces, of Prince Rupert's, of the City of Yorke, and of the Counties thereabouts: And then Mr. Speaker, by the Command of the House, acquainted him, that the House took notice of his particular good Service in this late great Action; and do return him Thanks, in Testimony of his Service.

Answer from Lords.

Sir Robt. Harley brings Answer; That the Lords do agree to the Exchange of Mr. Henderson for Mr. Newton, and to the Licence for the Sheriff of Gloucestershire: And, as to the rest, will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Message from Lords.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Robt. Riche and Mr. Page;

The Lords have thought fit to appoint St. Margaret's, Westminster, for the Place of the publick Thanksgiving for the great Victory in the North: Likewise to the Deputy Lieutenants for the County of Sussex; likewise to the Nomination of the Deputy Lieutenants for the County of Lincolne, only leaving out Edw. King Esquire; like-wise to the Ordinance concerning Brewers; likewise to the Ordinance concerning Colonel Cunningham; and likewise to the Ordinance concerning the New Excise: They agree to the Ordinance for Leicestershire, with some Amendments; and to the Ordinance touching Accounts, with Amendments.

Publick Thanks-giving.

Ordered, That this House doth agree to the Place to be at St. Margaret's, Westminster.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth adhere to Colonel

Deputy Lieutenant of Lincolne.

Edw. Kinge to be a Deputy Lieutenant of the County of Lincolne.

Leicestershire.

The Amendments to the Ordinance for Leicestershire were read; and, upon the Question, assented unto.

Publick Accompts.

The Amendments to the Ordinance for Explanation of a former Ordinance of Accounts were likewise read; and, by Vote upon the Question, assented unto.

Answer to Lords.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House has considered their Lordships Message; and do agree to the Place for the publick Thanksgiving; to the Amendments to the Ordinance for Leicestershire; to the Amendments to the Ordinance for Accounts: And, as to the Business concerning Colonel Edw. Kinge, they will send. Answer by Messengers of their own.

Person to be brought to Committee.

Ordered, That Mr. *, for refusing to appear upon the Summons of the Committee for Oxon, Bucks, and Berks, be brought to that Committee by a Serjeant's Man.

Langley's &c. Petition.

Ordered, That the humble Petition, and the former Letters from Sunderland. of Sir Wm. Langley Baronet, Geo. Lilburne, and Geo. Grey the younger, Gentlemen, be referred to the Consideration of the Committee of the Navy.

Msssage to Lords.

Mr. Ashherst is appointed to carry up to the Lords the Order for pressing Five hundred Men within the Cities of London and Westminster, and the Lines of Communication: And was to put the Lords in mind of the Ordinance for raising Forces within the associated Counties, to be employed near Oxon, and the Places adjacent; of the Oath for the Servants at St. James; of the Ordinance concerning the Isle of Wight; the Order for disposing of Three thousand Pounds to the Forces of Lancashire, out of the additional Excise.

Western Counties.

Ordered, That all the Gentlemen of the Western Counties that are Committees of those particular respective Counties, do forthwith repair into their particular and respective Counties, to advance the Service of the Parliament in those particular and respective Counties; And that they begin their Journey by this and Monday next, at farthest.

Ordered, That on Friday next, the Committee do bring in the Names of Two Members of this House, of each of the Western Counties, to be sent forthwith down into those Counties, to advance the Service of the Parliament.

County of Dorsett.

Ordered, That Mr. Jo. Browne be injoined forthwith to go down into the County of Dorsett, to advance the Service of the Parliament in that County.

Sir A. Cooper.

Resolved, &c. That Sir Anth. Ashley Cooper shall have Liberty to go down into his own Country.

Lord Lieutenants.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth nominate and approve of the Lord Roberts to be Lord Lieutenant of the County of Devon.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth nominate and approve of the Earl of Pembroke to be Lord Lieutenant of the County of Somersett.

Ordnance Stores.

Ordered, That the Lieutenant of the Ordnance do furnish the Committees for the County of Dorsett with Fifty Barrels of Powder, to be sent into that County, they paying for them.

Maimed Soldiers.

Ordered, That the Commissioners of Excise do forth-with comply with the Ordinance of both Houses, for the paying of Two hundred Pounds per Week for the maimed Soldiers:

And, That Mr. Holland do acquaint the Commissioners of Excise with this Order.

Letter to be read.

Ordered, That the Letter brought by the Commissioners out of Ireland, be read on Friday Morning.

Recruiting the Army.

Ordered, That the Furnishing and Supplying of Ten thousand Pounds for Recruiting of Sir Wm. Waller's Army, be taken into Consideration on Friday Morning next.

Reception of States Ambassadors.

The Manner of the Reception of the States Ambassadors by the House of Commons, reported by Mr. Wheeler.

1. The Master of the Ceremonies to be commanded by the House, to acquaint the Ambassadors, in the Name of the House, That they have appointed Friday, at Nine of the Clock in the Morning, to give the said Ambassadors Audience, according to their Desire expressed in a Paper, dated 5 Julii Instant; and to return their Answer unto the Speaker of the House.

2. That the said Master of the Ceremonies, on the Day of Audience, take with him Ten Coaches, with a convenient Number of Gentlemen of Quality, which shall be appointed by the House, to go along with him to accompany the Ambassadors to the Council Chamber of the Court of Wards, at the Hours appointed; and to give notice of their being there.

3. That the Guard place themselves from the outward Door of the Lobby of the House of Commons, to the outward Door entring into the Court of Wards; and to keep the Rooms and Way clear between the Court of Wards and House, suffering none to come in but the Members of the House, and those that are appointed to accompany the Ambassadors and their Train.

4. That three Chairs, with Arms, be placed some-what above the Middle of the House, for the Ambassadors.

5. That the Serjeant by the Command of the House, go with his Mace to give them notice, that the House is ready to receive them; and that he conduct them, in his usual Manner, to the House.

6. That the Master of the Ceremonies, and the Gentlemen appointed to accompany the Ambassadors, and the Ambassador's Train, do stay, and make a Lane in the Lobby; and none of them to follow the Ambassadors into the House beyond the Bar: And upon the Ambassadors going to their Chairs, all the Gentlemen to with-draw; and the Doors to be shut; and the Serjeant to lay down his Mace on the Table.

7. That, upon the Ambassadors coming within the Bar of the House, the Speaker to rise up in his Chair, and salute them; and all the Members of the House to put off their Hats, sitting in their Places; and then the Ambassadors to be heard what they have to impart.

8. Upon their Retiring to the Place of their Repose, the same Passages and Ceremonies to be observed, as in their First Coming up.

Resolved, &c. That a Copy of these Propositions, under the Clerk's Hand, shall be delivered to the Master of the Ceremonies; and he directed to take care in all the Particulars.

Ordered, That the Officers of the Wardrobe do furnish such Necessaries as shall be requisite for furnishing the Rooms appointed to entertain the States Ambassadors; and for furnishing the House of Commons with such things as are necessary for their Reception.

Ordered, That Mr. Holland and Mr. Oldisworth do take care that convenient Lodgings be furnished and made ready for the Lord Balmerino, in Worcester House, who is coming out of Scotland as a Commissioner from the Kingdom of Scotland.

Leicester Militia Committee, &c.

Whereas the County of Leicester is in very great Danger, by the frequent Incursions of the Enemy's Forces and Garisons in and near it; by reason whereof neither the Persons nor the Goods of the Inhabitants, and Well-affected to the Parliament, are secure in any Part of the County: For Prevention of further Danger and Mischief and the better securing of that County; by reducing and putting the same into a better Condition and Posture of Defence, the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, taking the Premises into their serious Consideration, have thought fit to Order and Ordain; and be it Ordered, Ordained, and Established, as followeth; That Thomas Lord Grey of Groby; Theophilus Grey Esquire; Sir Arthur Haselrig, Sir Martin Lister, and Sir Edward Hartop jun. Knights; Thomas Babington the elder, Wm. Bembridge, Peter Temple, Arthur Stavely, Henry Smyth of Withcock, Thomas Heslerig, Francis Hacker, John Goodman, and Wm. Hewett, Esquires; Wm. Stanley, Richard Ludham, and Edward Cradock, all of them Inhabitants of the said County of Leicester, shall be, and are hereby appointed to be, a Committee for the Militia of the said County: And that the said Committee, or any Five or more of them, shall have Power, from time to time, upon any emergent Occasion, as to them shall seem fit, to raise and continue such Forces of Horse and Foot out of the respective Towns, Townships, Liberties, and Places, in the said County, as shall appear to be needful for the necessary Defence of the Town and County, and also for the suppressing and destroying of the Enemy: And further, the said Committee, or any Five of them, shall have Power to nominate and appoint Commanders, Colonels, Captains, and Officers, over the said Forces: And further, to enable them to raise, maintain, and pay such Forces, the said Committee, or any Five of them, are hereby authorized to assess, tax, or nominate Assessors to take, tax, or levy, upon the respective Towns, Townships, Liberties, Persons, and Places, within the said County, in an equal Way, according to their Faculties and Abilities, or according to the most usual Proportions of Rates in the last Weekly Assessments, there weekly to be collected, or otherwise, such Sum or Sums of Money as they shall judge fit and requisite for the said Forces, not exceeding the Sum of Six hundred Pounds by the Week; and to nominate Collectors, and one or more Treasurer or Treasurers, which Collectors are by them to be appointed to levy the said Sums, together with the necessary Charges, which shall be expended in the collecting thereof, by way of Distress and Sale of the Goods of the Person or Persons so assessed, in case he or they refuse to pay the same within Three Days after Demand given, or left in Writeing at the usual Dwelling of him or them: And the said Collectors may call to their Assistance the Constables and Headboroughs, or any of the Companies of Volunteers, or other Officers in the said County; and to pay them reasonable Allowance, not exceeding Twelve-pence in the Pound, out of the Offenders Estates; who are hereby required to be aiding and assisting to the said Collectors in the Premises, as they will answer the contrary thereof. And be it Ordained, That every Person shall be rated for the Estate he hath in the several Places in the said County; and, if Land be let, or set, near the Value thereof, such Person or Persons to whom the Rent thereof belongeth, to be solely chargeable therewith: But, if the same be let under Value, then the Sum taxed to be apportioned betwixt the Party and him who receives the Rent, as the Taxers shall think fit: And if they, or any of them, shall do Injury in making the said Assessments, the same to be rectified by the said Committee, or any Five of them, according to their Discretions. And if any Assessors, Collectors, or Constables, shall refuse the said Service, or prove negligent or Faulty therein, the said Committee, or any Five of them, shall have Power to commitsuch Assessors, Collectors, or Constables, to Prison for one Month, or to set a Fine upon him or them, as they shall think fit, not exceeding the Sum of Ten Pounds for every Offence; the said Fine to be levied by Distress and Sale of the Offender's Goods. And it is Ordained, That the Treasurers appointed by the said Committee, shall keep a Register Book of the Sums received and paid out by them, so that they may give a just and perfect Account thereof unto the said Committee, when they shall be by them required. And, for the better Encouragement of the said Collectors and Treasurers, it is Ordained, That Two-pence in the Pound shall be allowed unto the said Collectors, for every Sum of Money collected and paid by them to the said Treasurer or Treasurers; and One Peny in the Pound for the said Treasurer and Treasurers, for every Sum of Money received and disbursed by them, according to this Ordinance. And it is also Ordained, That whatsoever Sums of Money are, or shall be, set or imposed, by virtue of this Ordinance, upon any Landlords, for or in respect of any Lands or Hereditaments held of them, the same Sums of Money shall be paid by their several respective Tenants; and they shall deduct and defalk the same out of the next Rents payable by them to their Landlords: And, for so doing, the said Tenants, their Heirs, Executors, Administrators, or Assigns, from any Grant, Covenant, Condition or Writing, Obligation, or other Matter what-soever made to the contrary, shall, by virtue of this Ordinance, be fully discharged. And be it Ordered and Ordained, by the Authority aforesaid, That the said Forces raised shall not be drawn forth, or kept, or continued forth, upon any Service, without the Knowledge and Consent of the said Committee, or the major Part of them, or without particular Directions of Parliament. And be it, lastly, Ordained, That the said Committee, Treasurers, Collectors, Assessors, and every of them, and every other Person that shall be aiding and assisting to them, or any of them, in doing any thing by virtue of this Ordinance, shall be defended, and saved harmless therein, by Authority of both Houses of Parliament.

Publick Accompts.

Whereas, upon the former Ordinance of both Houses, of Parliament, for taking the Accompts of the Kingdom, some Doubt doth arise, whether there be sufficient Power given to the Committee named in that Ordinance, by the express Words thereof, to determine any Accompts by them taken, and to receive and keep the Vouchers which concern the same Accompts: And whereas the Sub Committees to be appointed by them, by virtue of the said Ordinance, in any County, City, or Place, where they shall think meet, have the self-same Power given them, within their several Limits, as the said Committee hath; and are not appointed to receive any Directions from, or to return any Accounts unto, them, which will prove inconvenient, and hinder the orderly Taking of the said Accompts by the said Committee; Be it therefore Ordained, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, That the said Committee, or any Five or more of them, shall have Power and Authority to determine the Accompts by them taken; to give Discharges in Writing, under the Hands of any Five or more of them; and to receive and keep all Vouchers which concern the same: And that all and every Sub Committees appointed, or to be appointed by virtue of the said Ordinance, shall pursue such Directions as they shall, from time to time, receive from the said Committee of Accompts, for the better Ordering and Expediting of their Accompts; and likewise to return unto them all and singular Accompts which shall be taken by them, before the same shall be finally determined. And, because a true Account cannot be taken of such Monies as are paid unto the Armies, Officers, and Soldiers, in the several Garisons, Cities, and Counties, of the Kingdom, except exact Musters be duly made and kept of the said Forces, and Accounts taken of the Arms and Horse in the several Counties aforesaid; It is hereby further Ordained, That the several Committees of Parliament, or such or so many of them as have Power to execute the several Ordinances in the said Counties, Cities, and Garisons, shall, from time to time, hereafter every Month at the least, or oftner if they shall see Cause, take particular Musters, and keep true Muster Rolls, of all the Officers and Soldiers by Name, now being, or hereafter to be, raised within the said several Counties, Cities, and Garisons, where they are authorized as Committees of Parliament; and that all Colonels, Captains, and Officers, within the said Armies, Counties, Cities, and Garisons, raised or to be raised, shall, from time to time, make good all Horses and Arms, under their several Commands, unto the said several Committees of Parliament, in the said several Counties, Cities, and Garisons aforesaid, unless the same were lost in actual Service: And the said several Committees of Parliament shall return the said Muster Rolls, or true Notes of all the Musters aforesaid, and certify all the Defects therein, and of Arms and Horse aforesaid, unto the Committee for the Accompts of the Kingdom, or unto the several Sub Committees of Accompts in the several Counties of the Kingdom; which the same Sub Committees shall return up unto the said Committee of Accompts, in Manner and Form aforesaid, to the end that Satisfaction may be made unto the Commonwealth, for such Loss of Horse and Arms, out of the said Officers Pay: And that all Fines to be imposed by virtue of the said Ordinance of Accompts, and all such Sums of Money as the said Committee of Accompts, or any Two of them, shall certify to be due and owing by any Person or Persons upon their said Accompts, determined by them, shall be paid in to the Chamber of London, and shall not be issued out but by Orders of both Houses: Which Orders shall be first entered with the said Committee of Accompts, before any Money be paid upon the same, other than Arrears of such Monies as, by particular Acts of Parliament and Ordinances, are limited to particular Treasurers nominated in the said Acts of Parliament and Ordinances, which shall be paid in to the said Treasurers. And be it further Ordained, by the Authority aforesaid, That such Sum and Sums of Money, as the said Committee, or any Five of them, shall find necessary for the paying and satisfying of the Registers, Accomptants, Clerks, Agents, and Ministers, employed by them, or otherwise, for defraying of any Charges for taking the said Accompts, shall be paid out of the Chamber of London aforesaid, whensoever the said Committee, or any Five of them, shall require the same; for which they shall keep and give a true and perfect Account, under their Hands in Writing: And that, according to an Order of the 13th of March, Two hundred Pounds shall be forthwith paid unto the said Committee for Accompts.

Impressing Soldiers.

It is this Day Ordered, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That the Committee of the Militia of London, shall forthwith cause to be imprested Five hundred able Soldiers, within the Lines of Communication, and Parishes mentioned in the Weekly Bill of Mortality, according to an Ordinance dated the Tenth Day of August 1643, which Soldiers are to be under the Command of Captain Wm. Beale, for the Service of the King and Parliament; and to cause them to be shipped on such Ships as the said Captain shall appoint.