House of Commons Journal Volume 3: 31 May 1644

Die Veneris, Maii 31, 1644.

PRAYERS.

Clerk of the Hanaper.

AN Ordinance for investing Sir Wm. Allenson Knight, in the Office of Clerk of the Hanaper, during Life.

Prisoners of War.

A Letter from my Lord Fairefaxe, from the Leaguer before Yorke, of Maii 24, 1644, concerning Mr. Jo. Bellassis and Sir Jo. Ramsden, sent up Prisoners by him.

Ordered, That Mr. Jo. Bellassys, and Sir Jo. Ramsden, Knight, taken Prisoners by the Lord Fairefaxe, shall be freely bestowed upon the Lord Fairefaxe, and not discharged or disposed of without the Privity and Consent of the Lord Fairefaxe, and the Order of this House.

Ordered, That Mr. Jo. Bellassys, and Sir Jo. Ramsden Knight, be forthwith delivered into the Custody of the Serjeant at Arms, to be brought hither to the Bar: And that Colonel Manwaring be aiding and assisting unto him in this Service.

Taking of Malmesbury.

A Letter from Colonel Massie, from Malmesbury, of the 25 Maii, concerning the taking of the Town of Malmesbury; and a Copy of the Summons sent to the Town; and the Answer of the Garison; were all read: And likewise a Letter, of the 27th of May, from Malmesbury, relating the same Particulars more at large, was likewise read; desiring that his Regiment might be recruited before any other Addition of Force; and likewise desiring to know, how that Town of Malmesbury shall be disposed of.

Ordered, That the Town of Malmesbury, and the Castle of Beverston, as to the Government of them, shall be left wholly to the Disposal of Colonel of Massie.

Ordered, That, before there be any Addition made of new Regiments for the Assistance of Colonel Massey, Colonel Masseye's own Regiment of Foot be first recruited; and that his Regiment of Horse may be completed for Men, Horse, and Arms, by such Supplies of Monies, as, by the Ordinance, may be procured for Gloucester.

Ordered, That after Colonel Masseye's Regiments of Foot and Horse shall be recruited and completed, that a Regiment of Horse shall be raised for Colonel Stephens, High Sheriff of the County of Gloucester, to be under the Command of Colonel Massie: And that my Lord General be desired to grant no Commission to any other, for raising any other Regiments for the County of Gloucester, and the other Counties mentioned in the Ordinance, but to such as shall be recommended by Colonel Massie unto the Committee of Gloucester, and by them to this House.

Supplies for Durham.

Ordered, That whatsoever Monies, or Estate, of Papists or Delinquents, to the Value of One thousand Pounds, shall be discovered by Sir Henry Vane sen. Sir Henry Vane jun. Mr. Blakeston, or either of them, or either of their Agents, shall be employed for the buying of Arms and Ammunition for the Defence for the County Palatine of Durham: And that such Musquet Barrels, and other Weapons of War, and Brass Mettals, as are or may be made serviceable, and in the Store at Foxhall, be forthwith delivered, and disposed of, for the Service of the Bishoprick of Durham: And that the Committee for the Safety, do grant a Warrant for Delivery of the said Musquet Barrels, and other Arms, to such Persons as Sir Henry Vane sen. Sir Henry Vane jun. and Mr. Blakeston, or any Two of them shall, under their Hands, appoint.

Hesketh's Petition.

Ordered, That the humble Petition of Frideswed Hesketh, Widow, be specially recommended to the Committee for Sequestrations in the County of Lancaster, for the Petitioner's Relief.

Corrupt Bibles.

The House being informed that divers Divines of the Assembly were at the Door;

They were called in; and acquainted the House, That there were divers gross Corruptions, besides Errors, in divers Bibles of an Impression from beyond the Seas, which, they desired, might be suppressed: And they had proceeded at the Assembly * * * *.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee for Printing, where Mr. White has the Chair, to take some Course for the seizing and suppressing of all those Bibles of the Impressions beyond the Seas, complained of by the Assembly of Divines; in which there are so many, not only gross Errors, but foul and dangerous Corruptions: And likewise, that they do consider of some effectual Course to prevent the Importation of such Bibles, or the Dispersing, Vent, or Sale of them.

Ordered, That this House doth like well, that the Assembly of Divines should proceed in the Course they are upon, for preventing the Mischiefs that come by the Impressions of Bibles, &c. beyond the Seas; and present it to the House.

The Divines were again called in: And Mr. Speaker acquainted them, That this House had taken Order for Suppression and Seizing those Bibles complained of; and that they well approve that they should proceed in that Course they were on, touching this Matter.

Massey's Brigade.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to consider what Troops of Horse, and other Forces, may be spared out of the several Counties; and imbodied and employed under the Command of Colonel Massey, to make him up a good Brigade.

Ordered, That Sir Roger Burgoyne do, by this Day Sevennight at farthest, pay in the Four hundred Pounds owing upon Bond to Captain Mathews, deceased, and assigned, by former Order, upon Colonel Massey.

Western Counties.

Ordered, That the Ordinance concerning the Association of the Six Western Counties, be brought in, and read To-morrow Morning.

Thanks and Grant to Massey.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee for Gloucester, to prepare a Letter, and to take Notice of the eminent and faithful Services done by Colonel Massey, and to return him Thanks for it.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee for Gloucester, to prepare an Ordinance, and bring it in on Tuesday Morning next, for settling upon Colonel Massey an Estate of Inheritance, to the Value of One thousand Pounds per Annum at least, out of some Papists and Delinquents Estates.

Collections in Holland.

Ordered, That Sir Jo. Clotworthy do prepare a Letter to be sent to Mr. Strickland in Holland, concerning the Collections and Contributions made in Holland, to prevent that they may not be misemployed.

Army Pay.

An Abstract of a Letter from my Lord General from Islip, of Maii 29, relating the good Condition of his Army; only desires, that the Pay to the Army may be duly supplied; was this Day read.

Ordered, That the Committee for Excise do confer with the Commissioners of Excise, and desire them from this House, that the Second Month's Pay for my Lord General's Army, assigned upon the Excise, may be brought in by Tuesday next at farthest; and that if so much shall not be come in upon the Collections by Tuesday next, that then they would advance it upon their own Credit, and the Credit of the Collections, as formerly: And herein the Committee is to deal effectually with the Commissioners. This Committee is likewise to take some Course with the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen, That the Two Months Pay, assigned by the Ordinance for my Lord General's Army, upon the City, may be brought in on Monday next, at farthest: They are likewise to take Order with the Sub Committees, that the Two Months Pay assigned upon the County of Middlesex, and the Suburbs, by the Ordinance for my Lord General's Army, may be brought in by Monday next, at furthest: They are further to treat and confer with the Committee for the Militia; and to desire them to take some effectual Course, that the City Forces may likewise be provided for The Care of this Order is especially recommended to Mr. Long, and Sir Gilb. Gerard: And they are to make Report on Monday Morning next.

Army Pay.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Four associated Counties, and of the West, do meet this Afternoon, and take effectual Course for the Payment of the Forces under Sir Wm. Waller: And that they make Report of their Doings herein on Monday Morning next.

Writs of Error.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Edw. Leech and Dr. Aylett;

The Lords have appointed To-morrow, at Eight of * their Committee for Writs of Error, to meet in the Queen's Court; and have appointed the Judges then to attend; and desire that the Committee of this House may then meet.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House has considered their Lordships Message; and do appoint, that their Committee shall then meet.

Proceedings against Bellassys, &c.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. Jo. Bellassys, and Sir Jo. Ramsden, Knight, shall be forthwith committed Prisoners to the Tower, being committed upon High Treason, for levying actual War against the King and Parliament; and shall there continue Prisoners until the House take further Order.

Mr. Bellassys, and Sir Jo. Ramsden, were both of them, one after another, called in to the Bar: And Mr. Speaker acquainted them "with the Horror and Grievousness of the Offence for which they were brought thither; which was no less than, at one Blow, to endeavour the Ruin of Religion, Liberty, the Privileges, and very Being of Parliaments, and the introducing of Popery and Slavery; the Consideration whereof should strike Terror and Amazement into you: And for these grievous Crimes, of High Treason, you are, by the Judgment of this House, committed as Traytors to the Tower, there to remain Prisoners during the Pleasure of this House."

Army.

Ordered, That the Clerk do examine the Establishment of my Lord General's Army; and deliver a Copy of it to the Treasurers at Wars.

Money for Army.

Ordered, That the Committee at Haberdashers Hall do pay unto the Treasurer at Wars, Four hundred Pounds, to be by him paid over and imprested to the Commissary for Victuals, and deducted out of the monthly Monies assigned out of Haberdashers Hall, to my Lord General's Army: And that the Treasurer at Wars do acquaint my Lord General herewith.

Committee to meet.

Ordered, That the Committee appointed for those that come in upon the Declaration, do meet To-morrow, at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the usual Place.

Army Provisions, &c.

Ordered, That the Carts employed to carry Provisions to the Army, be discharged as soon as they come to the Army, and have delivered their Carriages.

Ordered, That the Commissary for Provisions do take a Note under the Hand of some of the Field Officers of the Regiment, to whom he shall deliver any Victuals; and do therefore, from time . . . certify under his Hand, unto the Treasurer at Wars, to whom any Provisions shall be delivered; that so the Treasurer at Wars may defalk for the same out of the Pay of the Regiment.

Deeringe's Petition.

Ordered, That the Petition of Sir Edw. Deeringe be referred to the Committee in Kent, who sit at Knoll; who are to consider of the Particulars, and present their Opinions to the House, what they think fit to be done thereupon.

Tenants paying Rent to Parliament.

Ordered, That the Committee in Kent, who sit at Knoll, do inquire what Persons of that County have come in upon the Declaration; and have, since their coming, threatened their Tenants for paying their Rents to the Parliament.

Ordered, That the Committee for those that come in upon the Declaration, are to consider what instructions are fit to be given to the Committees, concerning the Estates of such as are come in upon the Declaration.

Bastwicke's Arrears.

Ordered, That the Petition of Mrs. Susanna Bastwicke, Wife to Dr. Bastwicke, close Prisoner in Knaresbrough Castle, be especially referred to the Committee at Haberdashers Hall, for Payment of the One hundred and Thirty Pounds, Arrear and due to her Husband, for the Relief of herself and Children, according to the Desire of her Petition.