House of Commons Journal Volume 3: 22 May 1643

Die Lunæ, 22 Maii, 1643.

PRAYERS.

Member admitted.

ORDERED, That Mr. Thomas Moore, a Member of this House, be forthwith admitted into the House.

Justice Foster.

Moved, That Mr. Justice Foster, who hath been with the King at Oxford ever since December, and is there still, (going with the Leave of the Lords) might have the Monies allowed him, as belonging to his Place, notwithstanding the Order of this House to stay the Payment of such Monies as are due to the Judges &c. that are absent: But the House laid it aside, and did nothing in it.

Payment to Lord General.

Whereas there is the Sum of Four hundred and nineteen Pounds, Six Shillings, in the Hands of the Committees for the Propositions for the City of Norwiche; which this House doth order shall be forthwith paid over to my Lord General.

It is further Ordered, That the Treasurers for the Proposition Money, in Guildhall London, shall give an Acquittance for the same to the said Committees; and that the same be immediately paid over to Sir Gilb. Gerard, Treasurer at Wars, to my Lord General; for the Use of Commissary Copley.

Making Gunpowder.

Ordinance for the better making of Gunpowder, and taking of Saltpetre, for the furnishing of the Navy, Forts, and Land Forces, with Stores of Powder; in regard foreign Nations have prohibited the Importation of Powder and Saltpetre; was read; and, upon the Question, assented unto; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Money levied by Soldiers.

Ordered, That the Committee appointed to consider what Monies have been raised by Soldiers &c. do consider of a Letter to be writ to my Lord General, concerning the Levying of Monies by Soldiers in Barkshire.

Plate seized.

Ordered, That the Treasurers of Guildhall, London, for Subscriptions of Plate and Money, do forthwith take an exact Weight of all the Plate, in their Possessions, seized upon as the Plate of one Mr. Marshall a Dyer; all the Plate seized upon in the House of one Mr. Lowe a Surgeon; as also, the Plate of Mr. Edward Pitts; and the Plate lying in one small Trunk, marked with H. J.; being the Plate of such as are ill-affected to the Parliament; and forthwith to make Sale of the same; and to keep a perfect Account of the several parcels, and what they amount unto; and to pay the Money to Sir Gilb. Gerard, Treasurer of the Army: Who is hereby required to make present Payment of the same again, unto Colonel Jo. Venne; towards Satisfaction of such Arrears as is due to him for his Regiment in Windsor Castle, upon Accounts already passed: And this shall be their Warrant for so doing.

Rate on Commodities.

Ordered, That after the Report of the Irish Business, the Report concerning the Rate upon Commodities shall be next taken into Consideration.

Bill for Ireland.

Mr. Goodwyn reports from the Committee appointed to consider of the King's Answer touching the Irish Bill presented to his Majesty by both Houses, to be passed, the Answer thereunto: Which was read.

The Question being put, Whether an Answer shall be given to his Majesty, to the Reasons given by Him concerning the Bill for Ireland;

It passed with the Negative.

Transactions with Scotland.

Sir Chr. Yelverton is appointed to go to the Lords, to desire a Conference, concerning a Paper received from the Scotts Commissioners: And about the naming of Commissioners to be sent into Scotland.

Which he went up withal accordingly.

Bill for Relief of Ireland.

Ordered, That Mr. Maynard do present an Ordinance to the House, concerning the Matter of the Bill, last presented to his Majesty, for the Relief of Ireland: And that it be re-committed to the same Committee, to consider of putting the Answer, this Day presented, concerning the said Bill, into a Declaration, to be published unto the Kingdom.

Ditto.

Ordered, That the several Treasurers or Receivers in London and Westminster, who have Relation to the Account mentioned in the King's Answer touching the Bill for Ireland; and the Treasurer at Wars, through whose Hands the Monies have been issued for the Army in Ireland; be required to avouch, under their Hands, their several Receipts, and respective Payments; and to deliver the same to Mr. Collins the Auditor: And that he be also required to subscribe to this general Account, that the same is true; to the end the same way be published.

Conference with Lords.

Message from the Lords, by Mr. Serjeant Whitfeilde and Serjeant Finch;

That the Lords do desire a present Conference, by a Committee of both Houses, in the Painted Chamber, if it may stand with the Conveniency of this House, concerning a Message this Day received from his Majesty.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; that this House will give a present Meeting, as is desired.

Sir Chr. Yelverton brings Answer, that the Lords will give a present Meeting, as is desired.

Mr. Pym, Sir Wm. Armyn, Sir Peter Wentworth, Mr. Glyn, are appointed Managers, and Reporters, of these two Conferences.

Transactions with Scotland.

Mr. Pym presents an Answer to the Paper presented on Saturday last, from the Scotts Commissioners: Which was read; and, upon the Question, assented unto; and ordered to be one Head of this Conference.

Charge against Berkley.

Ordered, That Mr. Prideaux, Mr. Hill, Mr. Nicholas, and Serjeant Cresswell, be added to the Committee appointed on Saturday last to manage the Charge against Mr. Justice Berkley: And are to meet this Afternoon, at Three Clock in the Court of Wards.

Countess Rivers.

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

That the Lords have commanded them to deliver a Petition, to this House, of the Countess Rivers, which was presented, on her Behalf, to the Lords House, concerning Goods of hers which are seized by Order of this House, which was carrying over with her beyond Sea. The Lords conceive, she hath not done any thing to give this House Offence; that she hath suffered very much by those Goods taken away from her in the Country by the People, to a very great Value; and that she desireth, for Peace and Quietness, to go into Foreign Parts: And the Lords have given her Leave to go, with her Apparel, and other Things necessary. The Lords do desire this House to join with them in the restoring of those Goods to her again.

King's Message.

Mr. Pym reports the Conference from the Lords;

That, in the first Place, they presented a Letter from the Lord Falkland, of the Nineteenth of this Month; and his Majesty's Message inclosed therein: Both which were read. And then he presented some Votes the Lords had passed thereupon: Which were read also; viz.

"That the Lords conceive it necessary to send the Reasons of the Two Houses of Parliament, why they cannot agree upon the Propositions offered in the King's Message of the Twelfth of April."

"To express in this Answer, now to be made unto his Majesty, That the Endeavours of both Houses have been, and ever shall be, to put an End to these unhappy Differences; so as our Religion, Laws, and Liberties may be secured."

That they would appoint the Committee formerly appointed, to meet with a Committee of the Lords this Afternoon; to consider the whole Message; and to prepare such an Answer as they think fit, to offer unto the Houses.

The Question being propounded, whether the Debate on the King's Message shall be now proceeded in;

The Question was put, whether this Question shall be now put;

And it passed with the Negative.

The Question being propounded, whether this shall be taken into Consideration To-morrow Morning.

The Question was put, whether it should be now put;

And so it passed with the Negative.

The Question being propounded, whether the Debate on this Report, and the Message of the King's shall be taken into Consideration next after the Business of Excise;

The Question was put, whether the Words "and Monies" should be added after the Word "Excise;"

The House was divided:

And the Yeas went out.

Resolved, upon the Question, That these Words "and Monies," shall be added to the Question.

Resolved, upon the Question, That the Debate upon this Report and the King's Message, shall be taken into Consideration next after the Business of Excise and Monies.

Excise.

Ordered, That the Committee for the Excise shall have Power to consider of any Propositions that shall be made for Monies for Payment of the Armies; or for giving Satisfaction to such as have or shall advance Monies for the Use of the Army; and to report the same to the House.

Person sent for.

Ordered, That Mr. Alexander Hampden, who is come from Oxford, shall be forthwith sent for, in safe Custody, to attend this House To-morrow Morning.

Maids Morton Curacy.

Ordered, That Mr. Evans do receive the Profits belonging to the Cure of Maids Morton, in the County of Bucks; which Cure Mr. Evans, by a former Order of this House, supplies, during the Vacancy of the said Cure: And all Persons, who are or ought to pay the same, are hereby required, from time to time, to pay the Monies and Duties belonging to the said Cure, to the said Mr. Evans, during such time as the said Church shall remain void.

Bristoll Conspirators.

The Examination of Robert Yeomans, one of the Conspirators at Bristoll, was read: And the Sentence of Death, passed upon him by the Council of War there, was read also: Whereupon it was

Resolved, upon the Question, That my Lord General shall be desired to give Directions to the Governor at Bristoll, that Execution may be done on the Conspirators, that have been sentenced by the Council of War, according to the Sentence passed upon them.

Ordered, That the Examination of Robert Yeomans, and the rest of the Examinations sent up from the Governor of Bristoll, together with the Sentence of the Council of War, shall be printed.

Making Gunpowder.

Whereas the great Expence of Gunpowder, occasioned by the present War within his Majesty's Dominions, hath well near consumed the old Store, and doth exhaust the Magazines so fast, as, without a larger Supply, the Navy, Forts, and Land Armies, cannot be furnished: And whereas foreign Saltpetre is not equal in Goodness with that of our own Country, and the foreign Gunpowder far worse conditioned, and less forcible than that which is made in England: And whereas divers foreign States have of late prohibited the Exportation of Saltpetre and Gunpowder out of their own Dominions and Countries; so that there can be little Hope of future Expectation of any Petre or Powder to be brought into this Kingdom, as in former Times; which will enforce us to make use of our own Materials: It is held most necessary, that the digging for Saltpetre, and the making of Gunpowder, should, by all fit Means, be encouraged at this time, when it so much concerns the publick Safety: Nevertheless, to prevent the reviving of those Oppressions and Vexations exercised upon the People, under the colourable Authority of Commissions granted to Saltpetre-men, which burden hath been eased since the Sitting of this Parliament; and to the end that there may not be any Pretence to interrupt this Work; it is Ordained, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, that such Persons as shall be nominated and allowed by the said Lords and Commons in Parliament, shall have Power and Authority, by this present Ordinance, to search and dig for Saltpetre, in all Places and Houses likely to afford that Earth, at fit Seasons and Hours, except all Halls, Parlours, Kitchens, Shops, and Milk Houses; the said Saltpetre-men, at their own Cost and Charges, levelling the Ground, and repairing any Damage which shall be done by them; wherein, if the said Petremen do fail to give Satisfaction, to the Contentment of the Owners, then, Notice being given, by the Parties grieved, unto the next Deputy Lieutenants, or other Committees appointed by Parliament: the said Deputy Lieutenants, Committees, or any one or more of them, shall have Power to compel the said Petre-men to lay the Ground in as good Order as before the breaking-up; working only excepted; and likewise, to give such reasonable Satisfaction for the Damage, as he or they, in his or their Discretion, shall think fit: Which not being obeyed, the Name and Offence of such Person or Persons refusing shall be returned to the Parliament. And forasmuch as the said Saltpetre-men, for the Provision of the State, are to bring in a Proportion of Saltpetre, weekly, which they can be in noways able to do, in case they should be denied to dig and work for Saltpetre; it is therefore Ordered, that in case any Person whatsoever shall refuse to suffer Saltpetre-men, allowed by Parliament, to dig and work for Saltpetre, according to the Rules and Limitations beforementioned; then the Saltpetre-men shall return the Names of such Persons so refusing, to be proceeded against according to their Demerits. And it is likewise Ordained, that the said Saltpetre-men, for the Carriage of the Liquor, Vessels, and other Utensils, from Place to Place, and delivering of the Saltpetre where the same shall be made into Gunpowder; it shall be lawful for the said Saltpetre-men to demand and take Carts, by the known Officers, so as the Lading shall not exceed Twenty hundred Weight; and the Journey not exceed Ten Miles; for Carriage whereof, the Owner shall be paid after the Rate of Eight Pence the Mile: By which means, the Work of making Powder in this Kingdom (which else will be let fall in this Time of Danger) may be continued and cherished; and the Subjects may have the Benefit of Powder at far easier Rates than now it is sold for. This Ordinance to continue only during the Pleasure of both Houses of Parliament.