House of Commons Journal Volume 3: 24 August 1643

Die Jovis, 24 Augusti, 1643.

PRAYERS.

Fortifying Levingland, &c.

AN Ordinance for raising and assessing Monies for fortifying Levingland, the Hundreds of East and West Flegg, and the Passages to and in the said Places, was this Day read; and, by Vote upon the Question, assented unto; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords, for their Concurrence.

Norfolk publick Meetings.

Ordered, That the publick Meetings of the Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Norfolk, upon any Service of the County or Parliament, be constantly at Norwich, unless it shall be thought fit to be elsewhere, by the major Part of the Deputy Lieutenants: And the Deputy Lieutenants are enjoined to attend the Service at Norwich accordingly.

Commissioners of Customs.

The Commissioners of the Customs, attending according to an Order Yesterday made, were called in: And Mr. Speaker, by the Command of the House, propounded unto them the same Propositions the House formerly propounded, to forbear their Salary till the End of the Year, and to forbear the taking up of the Profits of the East India Ships now come in, and upon coming in: And that they shall have the other Five Months for Reimbursement.

Mr. Foulke, in the Name of the rest, answered, that they were so ready to comply with the Desires of this House, that they are ready to grant more than is desired: That is, whereas Twenty thousand Pounds was by them lent and advanced, the One-and-twentieth of January 1642; to be repaid out of the Moiety of the Profits of the Receipts the One-and-twentieth of July; they are content to forbear the Repayment and Reimbursement of the said Twenty thousand Pounds for Six Months longer, if, for their Encouragement, Security, and Reimbursement, an Ordinance may pass both Houses, according to that which they presented in Writing for the continuing of them in the Receipts of the Customs for one Year longer, according to the former Ordinances for constituting them Collectors of the Customs.

The Ordinance was read.

Kent Sequestrations.

Ordered, That the Names of Sir Rich. Hardresse, Sir Wm. Man, Sir Edw. Master, Wm. James, and Mark Dixewell, Esquires, be added to the Ordinance for the Sequestration of the Estates of those that were Actors in the late Insurrection in Kent; and shall have as full Power and Authority, to all Intents and Purposes, as the other Committees, named in the said Ordinance, have, might, or ought to have.

Message to Lords.

Mr. Niclas carried up to the Lords, the Ordinance for One hundred Pounds to Sir James Barry, out of the Contribution Monies for Ireland: The Ordinance for fortifying of Lovingland, &c. in the County of Suffolk: The Ordinance for securing the Fifty thousand Pounds advanced by the City: The additional Ordinance to the Ordinance for raising of a Body of Horse, &c.: The additional Names to the Ordinance for sequestring the Estates of such as were Actors in the late Insurrection in Kent: The List and Order for Re-payment and securing, upon the publick Faith, such as have furnished any Money or Plate towards the Payment of the Garison at Warwick Castle.

Answer.

Mr. Niclas brings Answer, that the Lords do agree in all the Ordinances carried up by him; and the additional Names to the Ordinance for sequestring the Estates of those that were Actors in the late Insurrection in Kent.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Pierepont shall have the Leave of the House to go into the Country, upon divers Occasions that concern his Estate, upon the Decease of the Earl of Kingston, his Father.

Commissioners of Customs.

The Question was propounded, whether the now Commissioners and Collectors of the Customs shall continue any further Time, in the taking and receiving the Customs, than is already granted them by the Ordinance that constitutes them Commissioners and Collectors of the Customs.

And then the Question being put, whether this Question should be now put;

The House was divided:

The Noes went forth.

So that, the former Question being put,

It was Resolved, upon the Question, That the now Commissioners and Collectors of the Customs shall have further Time, in the taking and receiving the Customs, than is already granted them by the Ordinance that constitutes them Commissioners and Collectors of the Customs.

Excise, &c.

Ordered, That the Report, of the Ordinance concerning the Excise, be made To-morrow Morning, the first Business;-of the Navy be taken into Consideration the next Business.

Commissioners of Customs, &c.

The Customers were again called in: And Mr. Speaker, by the Command of the House, told them, That whereas Four thousand Pounds was paid unto them by the East India Company, Two thousand Pounds whereof belongs to the State; which you are required to pay in to Sir Henry Vane's Cashier this Afternoon: He further acquainted them, that the House had taken into Consideration the allowing them further Time; and have agreed on it, though not, as yet, upon the Conditions, or upon the Length of the Time.

Mr. Foulk answered, that, in Truth, Four thousand Pounds was not paid in to them, but deposited in their Hands; the Company refusing to pay it by way of Loan, as is directed by the Ordinance; but will pay it in by way of Subsidy. He propoundeth other Propositions, by Word of Mouth, as Means by them conceived of advancing the Customs.

Ordered, That the Treasurer of the Navy, or his Servant, shall this Afternoon take into his Custody Two thousand Pounds, Part of the Four thousand Pounds deposited by the East India Company, in the Hands of the Commissioners of the Customs.

Ordered, That the East India Company, and Mr. Courten, do, upon Sight of this Order, pay in all the Monies that arise and are due upon the Goods and Merchandize imported by them, according to the Ordinance; notwithstanding any Pretence of Restraint, or Directions to the contrary.

Harrison's Sequestration.

Ordered, That the whole Estate of Sir John Harrison, wheresoever it lies, be forthwith sequestred, according to the Ordinance for sequestring the Estates of certain notorious Delinquents; and that the Committee for Sequestrations take Care hereof.

Exception to Member's Words.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth declare, that Mr. Recorder did not speak the Words, to which the Exception hath been taken by Captain Wingate, and for which he demanded Reparation.

Whereupon, Captain Wingate was commanded to withdraw.

Resolved, &c. That Captain Wingate shall come down into his Place, and acknowledge that he is sorry he hath offended the House.

Captain Wingate came down accordingly; and made the same Acknowledgment.

Military Affairs.

Letters, dated 22 Augusti 1643, from Northampton and Warwick, were read; concerning a great Loss the King's Forces received before Glocester.

Proceedings against Evelyn.

Letters from Colonel Herb. Morley wese read; and, also, a Letter from Sir John Evelyn of Wiltshire, to Sir John Evelyn of Godston; of Concernment:

Whereupon it is Resolved, &c. That Colonel Morley do apprehend and send up, in safe Custody, Sir John Evelyn of Wiltshire; and that none be permitted to speak with him but in the Presence and Hearing of his Keeper: And that Mr. Pym do write a Letter to Colonel Herb Morley, that no Violence be offered to the Earl of Northumberland his House, so far forth as may stand with the Service of this House; and that he send up the original Letter, and the Messenger employed to carry the same.

Resolved, &c. That Sir John Evelyn of Godstone be sent for up, in safe Custody, by the Serjeant at Arms; and none permitted to speak with him, but in the Presence and Hearing of his Keeper: And that such Members of the House, as are there, be required forthwith to attend the House.

Fountaine's Bonds, &c.

Whereas Mr. Fountaine, a Member of this House, stands bound for Wm. Belclark, Minister at Huckett, and one of the Conspirators for the betraying of Aylesbury, in Bonds of One hundred Pounds principal Debt; and is indebted unto him, the said Mr. Fountaine, in other Sums:

It is this Day Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee for Sequestrations, in the County of Buck', to consider of the said Particulars, and examine the same; and to give Satisfaction to the said Mr. Fountaine out of the Estate of the said Mr. Belclark, if they find the said Debts and Engagements to be just.

Prisoner discharged.

Ordered, That Sir Alexander Ratcliff be forthwith discharged from any further Restraint, upon sufficient Bail.

Keeper of Newgate.

Whereas Henry Wollaston, Keeper of Newgate Gaol, was sent for by this House, and committed to safe Custody, upon a Misinformation given, that he had suffered one Butler, an Irish Rebel, to escape: And forasmuch as the said Butler was never committed to the said Gaol, but was released from some other Prison by the House of Peers; as by the Orders of that House, this Day read, appears:

It is therefore Ordered, That the said Mr. Henry Wolaston shall be forthwith discharged from any further Restraint, without paying any Fees.

And it is further Ordered, That he remain Keeper of the said Prison, as formerly he did; notwithstanding the said Order, dated 14 Augusti instant.

Persons to attend.

It was moved, that Sir Edw. Bainton and Mr. Rogers, lately gone to the Isle of Wight, might be summoned to attend the House: Whereupon, Mr. Bainton undertook to write unto them, to give them Notice of the Order of the House for their Attendance.