House of Commons Journal Volume 3: 23 December 1644

Die Lunæ, Decembris 23, 1644.

PRAYERS.

Western Counties.

THE Lords and Commons, holding it very necessary, that further Supplies should be speedily sent into the Western Parts for Relief of those distressed Counties, and to reduce them from the being longer under the Power of the Enemy, as also to succour the Forces already sent thither, do Order, That the Committee at Haberdashers Hall shall forthwith advance, for the Service of the West, the Sum of Five thousand Pounds; to be paid unto such Persons, and to be disposed in such Manner, as by the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Western associated Counties shall be directed and appointed.

Ordered, That the House will charge no more Monies upon Haberdashers Hall for the Space of a Month.

Playters' Fine.

Ordered, That Sir Wm. Playters do forthwith pay in the Remainder of the Fine set upon his Son for his Delinquency; the which he undertook immediately to pay in.

Hebblethwayte's Fine.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of the Fine of Five hundred Pounds set upon Mr. Hebblethwayte for his Delinquency: And that, upon the Payment thereof, or giving Satisfaction, by way of Security, to the Committee at Goldsmiths Hall, for the due Payment thereof, that the Sequestration of his Estate shall be forthwith taken off, and he discharged of his Delinquency: And that an Ordinance be brought in accordingly.

Earl of Carllell's Fine.

Resolved, &c. That the House doth approve of the Fine of Eight hundred Pounds set upon the Earl of Carllell for his Delinquency: And that, upon the Payment thereof, the Sequestration of his Estate shall be forthwith taken off, and he discharged of his Delinquency: And that an Ordinance be brought in accordingly.

Corye's Delinquency.

Resolved, &c. That the Business concerning Mr. Corye's Delinquency be re-committed: And that Mr. Serjeant Wilde do To-morrow bring in a State of the Proofs of his Delinquency, as they appeared to the Committee for Sequestrations: And that Mr. Ashe do bring in the Certificate from the Committee of Norfolk, concerning his Delinquency.

Affairs in Kent.

A Letter from the Committee in Kent, from Aylisford, of Decembris 21, 1644, concerning a Plot upon Dover Castle, discovered; and Three Commissions of Array brought into the Country, not yet discovered; desiring their Propositions and Petitions may be taken into speedy Consideration; and that Consideration may be taken of the Forts, and put into the Hands of some Gentry of the Country; and that the Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Kent may act as Deputy Lieutenants in the County of the City of Canterbury; was this Day read.

A Letter likewise from the Committee of Canterbury, of Decembris 19, 1644, concerning the Desire of the Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Kent, to act as Deputy Lieutenants in the County of the City of Canterbury, was this Day read.

Ordered, That a Letter of Thanks be written to the Committee of the County of Kent, from this House; taking notice of their great Services for the Preservation of that County; and in particular for their great Care of the Publick, in endeavouring to discover the Commissions of Array, that are lately sent from Oxford into that County; and in discovering the Plot upon Dover; and to assure them, that they shall have all the Encouragement this House can give them: And, as to their Desire concerning the Forts, that it be referred to . . . Committee of both Kingdoms.

Mr. Browne, Sir Henry Heyman, Sir Peter Wentworth, Captain Skinner, and Sir H. Vane, are appointed to prepare this Letter; and to take care of the Particulars of the Letter referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms.

It is further Ordered, That the Committee proceed in the Consideration of the Petition and Propositions from the County of Kent, on Friday next.

Sandon's Composition.

Ordered, That Mr. Sandon of Sussex be referred to the Committee at Goldsmiths Hall; for Composition for his Delinquency; which is to be disposed of for the Payment of poor Widows.

Lancaster Duchy Seal.

Ordered, That Mr. Corbett, Sir Ralph Ashton, Mr. Gourdon, and Mr. Ashurst, or any Two of them, do presently repair to the House called the Duchy House, lately in the Possession of the Lord Newburgh, deceased; and there to demand the Seal of the Duchy of Lancaster; and the same to bring to this House, to be here kept, till this House take further Order: And, if it be denied to be delivered, then to break open Doors, Chests, or other Places, and to seize of the same.

Persons submitting to Parliament.

An Oath to be administered to such as come from the King's Quarters, and submit themselves to the Parliament, was this Day read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, committed unto . . Widdrington, . . Prideaux, . . Tate, . . Hodges, . . Reynolds, . . Holles, . . Yelverton, . . Wentworth, . . Heyman, . . Sam. Browne, . . Maynard, . . Lewes, . . Vane, . . Thelloall, . . D'Ewes, . . Corbett, . . Lisle, . . Vane, and the Committee that brought it in: And they are to meet upon it this Afternoon, at Two of Clock.

Merchant Adventurers.

Two Ordinances, for the Forbearance of Ten thousand Pounds by the Merchant Adventurers, payable out of the Excise; and securing the Repayment of the said Ten thousand Pounds out of the Excise; were this Day read; and, upon the Question, assented unto; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

And were immediately carried up by Mr. Nicoll.

Scotts Army Pay.

Ordered, That the Report of the Papers, brought in from the Committee of both Kingdoms, concerning the Ascertaining the Pay of the Scotts Armies, and the Northern Army, be resumed, and proceeded in, To-morrow Morning, at Nine of Clock, peremptorily.

Answer from Lords.

Mr. Nicoll reports, The Lords concur to the Ordinance for Ten thousand Pounds out of the Excise; the Ordinance for securing the Payment of Ten thousand Pounds to the Merchants Adventurers; Sir Thomas Allen's Ordinance for Composition; and Five thousand Pounds for the West.

Church Government.

The House being informed, That the Assembly of the Divines were at the Door;

They were called in: And Mr. Marshall delivered in the Reasons of the Dissenting Brethren against. Presbyterial Government; and the Solutions of the Assembly. He further informed, That the Dissenting Brethren had since delivered in the Reasons concerning Ordination in particular Congregations; and concerning Assemblies: The which they will bring up with the Solutions. They have no Relation to this Particular. They further informed, that all material Parts of Church Government are already brought up. There remains only the Point of Ex- communication. They have found, that there is That Point of Excommunication; but the Ubi is a Theological Dispute, which they have not yet agreed upon; but have thought upon some general Rules in the mean time; the which, they doubt not, will be generally agreed unto.

Resolved, &c. That Three hundred (and no more) of the Reasons of the Dissenting Brethren against the Third Proposition touching Presbyterial Government, and the Answer and Solution of the Assembly to the said Reasons, be forthwith printed: And that the Care of the exact Printing thereof be referred to Mr. Byfeild: And the Printer is enjoined to deliver the Copies printed to the Clerk of the House of Commons; and, upon his Peril, not to print more than Three hundred; who is to deliver them out to the particular Members of the House, taking a Note of the Names of such Members as receive them.

The Lords to be acquainted with this Vote.

Advance from Excise.

Whereas the Fellowship of Merchant Adventurers of England were, by Ordinance of both Houses of Parliament, dated the Tenth of August, 1644, to receive Ten thousand Pounds, with Interest at Eight Pounds per Cent. upon the Fourth Day of January next, coming out of the Receipts of the Excise; which Ten thousand Pounds the said Fellowship hath agreed and consented to forbear for Six Months longer, or to receive it as the same shall happen to fall due in Course, as by an Ordinance dated this present Three-and-twentieth of December appeareth: And whereas John Towse Esquire, Alderman of the City of London, and the rest of the Commissioners of Excise and New Impost, have for the Service of the Armies under the Command of his Excellency the Earl of Essex, and Sir Wm. Waller, advanced the like Sum of Ten thousand Pounds for the same Expedition; Be it Ordained, by the Lords and Commons, in Parliament assembled, That the said Commissioners of Excise shall and may satisfy and reimburse themselves the said Ten thousand Pounds, with Interest after the Rate of Eight per Cent. for such Time as they shall be satisfied the same, or any Part thereof, out of the First Receipts of the Excise coming in upon or after the Fourth of January next, in the place and stead of the said Fellowship of Merchants Adventurers of England, who were then to receive the same. And it is hereby further Ordained and Declared, That the said Commissioners shall not, by any Order or Ordinance of either or both Houses of Parliament, be excluded from reimbursing themselves the said Ten thousand Pounds, with Interest, as is before ordained; but shall be permitted fully to receive the same, until they be repaid the whole Sum of Ten thousand Pounds, with Interest, as is before-mentioned, according to the true Intent and Meaning of this Ordinance; which shall be their sufficient Discharge in this Behalf. And it is also hereby Ordained, That the Commissioners of Excise do pay Six thousand Five hundred Pounds, Part of the said Ten thousand Pounds by them advanced, as aforesaid unto Sir Gilbert Gerard Baronet, Treasurer at Wars; and Three thousand Five hundred Pounds, the Residue, unto John Trenchard Esquire; whose respective Receipt shall be a sufficient Discharge unto them, and every of them.

Merchant Adventurers.

Whereas the Fellowship of Merchant Adventurers of England, for the Service of the Parliament, and present Supply of the Armies, have again agreed to forbear the Receipt of Ten thousand Pounds to them assigned, and payable, with Interest after the Rate of Eight per Cent. for Six Months from the Fourth of January next, or until the same shall fall due in Course out of the Receipts of the Excise or New Impost; Be it Ordained, by the Lords and Commons, in Parliament assembled, That the said Fellowship shall receive the Interest due for the said Ten thousand Pounds, upon the Fourth of January next. And, for the Principal, with the following Interest, after the Rate of Eight Pounds per Cent.; It is further Ordained, That the same shall be paid upon the Sixth Day of July next, out of the Receipt of the Excise or New Impost, in case all other Payments, formerly assigned, be, upon that Day, first satisfied; and, if not, then as the same shall fall due in Course, with the like Interest, until the Whole be satisfied: All which several Payments of Interest, and Principal and Interest, as aforesaid, the Commissioners of Excise are hereby authorized to make due Payment of, from time to time, according to the true Intent and Meaning of this Ordinance, unto the Treasurer of the said Fellowship for the Time being; whose Receipt, testified by the said Common Seal thereof, shall be a sufficient Discharge unto the said Commissioners of Excise, and every of them. And the said Lords and Commons do hereby further Ordain and Declare, That the said Fellowship shall not, by any other Order or Ordinance of one or both Houses of Parliament, be excluded from the several Payments and Receipts in the Times and Form before-mentioned.