House of Commons Journal Volume 3: 07 April 1643

Die Veneris, 7 Aprilis, 1643.

PRAYERS.

Prisoner discharged.

RESOLVED, &c. That Mr. Tremaine, a Prisoner in the King's Bench, by Order of both or either House, who was formerly ordered to be exchanged for Mr. Maynard a Prisoner in Cornwall, (the House being this Day informed, that Mr. Maynard, upon that Order, is discharged) be forthwith discharged from any further Restraint or Imprisonment, upon any Order of both or either House of Parliament.

Wingate's Arrears, &c.

A Petition from divers of the Inhabitants of the County of Herts, preferred to the Committee for that County, and this Day from them exhibited to this House; desiring that the Arrears due to Captain Wingate may be paid;

Ordered, That the Arrears due to Captain Wingate, as Captain of a Troop of Horse, by him raised at the Command of both Houses for the Defence of the Parliament, be paid unto Mrs. Wingate, or her Assignees, out of the monthly Collections as shall be raised out of the Hundreds of Broadwater and Hitchin, in the County of Herts; and that Acquittances, under the Hands of the Assignees of the said Captain Wingate, be allowed to Sir Gilb. Gerard, as so much Money paid by him; and the Collectors discharged thereof.

Ordered, That Captain Wingate's Tenants be required to pay such Rents as are due unto him; and that such as shall refuse shall be accounted as ill-affected, and answer their Contempt to this House.

Tumult at Dartford.

A Letter from Rochester, of the Fifth of April, from the Deputy Lieutenants of Kent, concerning one Sommers of Dartford, &c. was read.

Resolved, &c. That Sommers of Dartford, a Brewer, be forthwith sent for, as a Delinquent, for making a Tumult, and disturbing the Peace of the Town of Dartford.

Prisoners of War.

A Letter from Oxon from the Committee there, of the Fifth of April, was this Day read; relating, that there would be no Exchange of Captain Wingate for Sir Wm. Fleming.

Resolved, &c. That Sir Wm. Fleming be forthwith sent Prisoner to Windesore Castle; and that Colonel Ven take care hereof.

Transactions with Holland.

A Letter from the Hagh, of the Ninth of April 1643, Stilo Loci, from Mr. Walth. Strickland, relating the State of the Affairs there, was this Day read.

Ordered, That Mr. Walth. Strickland shall have Letters of Credence to the several particular States of the United Provinces; and that Mr. Pym do prepare these Letters.

Agents to Hamborough, &c.

Resolved, That a Committee shall be named, to prepare Instructions for an Agent to be sent to Hamborough, and the State and Council of Denmarke, to acquaint them with the Proceedings of the Parliament, and to prevent any thing that may be acted there to the Prejudice of the Proceedings of the Parliament.

Mr. Solicitor, Mr. Pym, Mr. Holles, Mr. Glyn, Sir H. Vane;

This Committee is to prepare these Instructions; and to consider of some Agents, and some Instructions for them, to be sent into Scotland.

Agent in Holland.

Ordered, That Mr. Pym do intimate unto Mr. Strickland, that such Letters as shall be merely of general Concernment, that he will address them to Mr. Speaker: And that he give Order to Mr. Strickland, to complain to the States, that this House is informed, that Two Ships of the Dunkirke Fleet, contracted with to come hither with the King's Colours, came forth with a special Licence from the Prince of Orange.

Treaty with the King.

A Message from the Lords, by Serjeant Whittfield and Sir Edw. Leech;

The Lords do desire, if it may stand with the Conveniency of this House, that they may have a present free Conference, by Committees of both Houses, in the Painted Chamber, concerning the Instructions, that are to be sent to the Committees at Oxon.

Answer returned by the same Messengers, that this House has considered their Lordships Message; and will give a present Meeting, as is desired.

Mr. Pym, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Holles, Mr. Solicitor, are appointed Managers and Reporters of this Conference.

Mr. Pym reports from the Conference, that the Lords do agree to the Addition of Instructions sent up to the Lords Yesterday at the Conference, with the leaving out of this Clause at the latter End; (viz.) "which can admit no Alteration or Enlargement, without manifold Prejudice and Danger to the whole Kingdom."

They do agree to the Vote, that the Committees be enjoined to send Word to both Houses by Saturday Noon next, what shall have passed in the Treaty by Friday Night next.

As to the other Vote, "that the Letter, sent to the Committees, may be signed by the Speaker of both Houses, as hath been heretofore usual," they do not absolutely deny it; They are willing to agree with this House in all Things: They are not yet satisfied of the Practice of it, whether it has been usual or no: They will consider further of it; and return an Answer hereafter.

The Question being propounded, whether the last Clause of the Instructions, to be sent to the Committees at Oxon, should be left out, as the Lords desired;

The House was divided:

The Yeas went forth.

Sir Tho. Barrington is appointed to go to the Lords, to desire a free Conference upon the Matter of the last free Conference.

--brings Answer, that the Lords will give a present Meeting at a free Conference, by Committees of both Houses, as is desired, presently, at the Painted Chamber:

That it shall be insisted upon, at this Conference, that the Speakers of both Houses might sign the Letter to be sent to the Committees at Oxon: And that the Lords be acquainted, how frequently it hath been done this Parliament; and what the Inconveniencies might be, if it should be omitted.

Mr. Pym, Mr. Holles, Mr. Strode, Sir Walth. Erle, Mr. Reynolds, are appointed Managers and Reporters of this Conference.

Mr. Pym reports, that the Earl of Manchester acquainted them, that the Lords, upon the Reasons delivered them at this Conference, did agree that the last Clause of the Instructions, which, the last.., they desired might be left out, might stand in: And, as to the Signing of the Letter by the Speakers of both Houses, they were content, that it should be so at this time; and that they had made an Entry of it in their House; that, if it belong only to them, that they may not be prejudiced by this Act.

The Lords sent down the Letter to the Committees; The which was read here; and signed by Mr. Speaker.

Conference.

Mr. Holles reports the Conference had with the Lords:

That the Earl of Holland acquainted * * * *

Treaty with the King.

Ordered, That Mr. Pym shall have Copies of the Instructions to the Committees at Oxon, and the other Proceedings between the King and Parliament, to be sent to Mr. Strickland into Holland.

Delinquents Estates.

Ordered, That the Committee of this House for sequestring and seizing the Estates of notorious Delinquents and Papists, do meet this Afternoon, to prepare Things fit for the Execution of that Ordinance.

Conference concerning the Queen.

Ordered, That To-morrow, at Ten of Clock, the House resume the Debate of the Conference this Day reported by Mr. Holles, concerning the Queen.

Lord Inchiquin.

Ordered, That the House be To-morrow acquainted with the Letter, that Mr. Jepson brought from my Lord Inchiquin.

Transporting Calve Skins.

Ordered, That the Petition of James Croft and Matthew Holworthy, Merchants of Bristoll, concerning the Transportation of a Parcel of Calve Skins, be referred to the Consideration of the Committee for the Navy.

Ordered, That the Post Master at Charing Cross do send away (by Mr. Pym's Directions) the Letter to Bristoll.