House of Commons Journal Volume 3: 25 December 1643

Die Lun&, 25 Die Decembris, 1643.

PRAYERS.

Excise on Flesh, &c.

ORDERED, That the Grand Committee of the whole House be adjourned till To-morrow, at Eight of Clock; and that they do then meet to consider of and sit upon the Ordinance touching the setting of an Excise upon Flesh and Salt.

Offices in Courts of Justice.

An Ordinance for making void all Offices of Officers and Clerks belonging unto his Majesty's several Courts of Records at Westminster, that have shewed any Disaffection to the Parliament, by contributing any Assistance to the Forces against the Parliament, was this Day read the First and Second time; and, by Vote upon the Question, assented unto; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Taking of Grafton House.

A Letter from Sir Sam. Luke, of this present Date, relating the taking of Grafton House by Serjeant Major Skippon; and a great Booty; and Eightscore Horses; and many Colonels (by Name, Sir Jo. Digby and Sir Edw. Longgvile); and Three hundred common Soldiers; was this Day read.

Naval Affairs.

A Letter of the Twelfth of December, from the Commissioners in Scotland, concerning some Ships to be sent to the Northern Coasts, was this Day read; and ordered to be referred to the Lord Admiral; with a Desire, from this House, that he would take Order, that the Ships agreed on by the Treaty may be forthwith sent to those Coasts.

Goodwyn Lights.

The humble Petition of Sir John Meldrum, desiring the continuing the Payment of the Duty formerly paid to the Lights for the Goodwyn Sands, was this Day read.

Kendall's, &c. Petition.

The humble Petition of Wm. Kendall and Tho. Noel, Citizens of London, was read; and nothing done upon it.

French Ambassador.

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

The Lords have sent down an Ordinance for Sir Peter Killigrewe's going with the Prince D'Harcourt, to Oxon, for his more safe and quiet Passage, and Accommodation upon the Way.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; that this House has considered their Lordships Message; and will send an Answer speedily by Messengers of their own.

Message to Lords.

Sir Walt. Erle is appointed to go up to the Lords, to desire a Conference, concerning the Matter of the late Message concerning the Prince D'Harcourt, by Committees of both Houses.

He likewise carried up the Ordinance for taking away and avoiding the Places and Offices of such Clerks and Officers as have shewed Disaffection to the Parliament.

Conference with Lords.

Sir H. Vane, Mr. Reynolds, Sir Christ. Yelverton, are appointed Managers of this Conference; and are to shew the Reasons, why this House cannot yield to this Order concerning the Prince D'Harcourt; or to the acknowledging of him Ambassador, which the House has ever hitherto declined; and to shew their Exceptions to Sir Peter Killigrew; and to acquaint them with the Letter from Mr. Jermyn to Sir Peter Killigrew; and to desire that the Prince D'Harcourt may have a Pass in the usual Manner, and under the Hands of the Speakers of both Houses; for which the Speaker of this House hath Order already.

Ordered, That this Letter from Mr. Jermyn to Sir Peter Killigrew be referred to the Committee for Examinations; who is to examine Sir Peter Killigrew herein; and to tender him the solemn League and Covenant.

Mr. Tate went to the Lords, to desire, that, at this Conference, they might communicate some Letters, concerning the Earl of Denbigh and Mr. Purefoy.

Answer from Lords.

Sir Walt. Erle brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to the Conference upon the Two Points desired; and do agree to the Ordinance for taking away the Offices from all such Officers as have contributed Assistance to the Forces raised against the Parliament.-

The House interpose in a Quarrel.

Sir Walth. Erle, Mr. Tate, Mr. Poole, Mr. Corbett, Mr. Hodges, Colonel Walton, Sir R. Harley, Mr. Lisle;

This Committee is to consider of, and examine the Quarrel between Colonel Strode, and Mr. Horner; and the Occasions and Grounds of it: And the said Colonel Strode and Mr. Horner are to be brought in safe Custody to the said Committee, this Afternoon in the Court of Wards. -

Earl of Denbigh.

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

The Lords desire, that, at this Conference, they may offer some Papers, which they have this Morning received from the Earl of Denbigh.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House has considered their Lordships Message; and do agree, that the Papers be offered at this Conference, as is desired.

Tuxebury Election.

Sir Robert Harley reports from the Committee of Privileges, the Business concerning the Election of Tuxebury:

That the first Election of Burgesses for Tuxebury was declared to be void, by a Vote of this House, 6 Augusti 1641: That, upon a Writ for a second Election, Sir Edw. Alsforde and Sir Rob. Cooke were chosen: At which time' Sir Ed. Alforde, viz. from 6 Augusti to the Eighteenth of October following, sat in the House, in Right of his Election at Arrundell; and declared he would serve for Arrundell.

That * * * *

Resolved, &c. That the Election of Sir Edw. Alsforde, upon the second Election, is void.

Resolved, &c. That the Election of Mr. Edw. Stevens, to serve in Parliament for the Town of Tuxebury, is good.

Ordered, That He that was Under Sheriff to Mr. Robert Pledwall, late High Sheriff of the County of Gloucester, be required forthwith to attend the House, and to come to the Bar, and amend the Return of the Indenture for the Election at Tukebury; and to return Mr. Edw. Stephens a Burgess to serve in Parliament for that Town.

Earl of Denbighe.

Sir Hen. Vane presents the Papers received from the Lords, at the Conference concerning the Earl of Denbighe.

Fast Day Collections.

Ordered, That the Collections in St. Margett's Church the next Fast Day, shall be disposed of for the Poor of that Parish.

Ordered, That the like Order be made for the Collections the next Fast Day, for maimed Soldiers, as was the last Fast Day, St. Margett's, Westminster, excepted.

Reducing Newcastle.

Ordered, That the Committee at Drapers Hall and Goldsmiths Hall, for Scotts Affairs, do meet and state the Business concerning the Adventure to reduce Newcastle; and to present their Resolutions to the House, what is fit to be done upon the whole Matter; and, that, as to the Matter of Account, it be referred to the Auditors for the Excise, to perfect the same, and present the same to the House.

Auditors of Excise.

Sir Robert Pye reports from the Committee appointed to consider of Instruction for the Auditors of the Excise . . .

Ordered, That the Auditors of Excise do attend the executing of their Offices according to the Ordinance; and that the Commissioners of Excise do permit the Auditors to execute their Office according to the Ordinance; and the Committee of this House for Excise do forthwith see the same performed by both Parties accordingly; and that they present to the House, what Allowance is fit to be given to the Auditors.

Message from Lords.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Robert Rich and Mr. Page;

The Lords do agree to the Order concerning the Prince D'Harcourt, as it was sent up at the last Conference; and also to the Order concerning Sir Peter Killigrewe: And have appointed a Committee of Seven of their House, to consider of the Papers of the Earl of Denby; and desire this House to appoint a proportionable Number; to meet To-morrow, in the Lord Keeper's Lodgings.

Earl of Denbigh.

Sir Hen. Vane, Mr. Recorder, Sir Arth. Haselrigge, Sir Gilbert Gerrard, Sir Peter Wentworth, Sir Wm. Strickland, Sir Gilbert Pickringe, Mr. Lisle, Mr. Prideauxe, Mr. Tate, Mr. Holland, Sir Rob. Harley, Sir Tho. Dacres, Sir Tho. Middleton;

This Committee is to meet with a proportionable Number of the Lords at Tuesday next, at Nine of the Clock, in the Lord Keeper's Lodgings in the Lords House, concerning the Earl of Denbigh's Business.

Nottingham Castle.

Letters from Colonel Jo. Hutchinson, from Nottingham Castle, dated 18 Decembris 1643, informing the House of the Marquis of Newcastle's great Proffers unto him, by Writing under his Hand, to betray the Castle and Garison into his Hands: And the Copy of Colonel Dacres his Letter to Colonel Hutchinson, to the same Purpose; and also, a Letter from Sir Marmaduke Langdale, concerning that Matter; was also read; and also, the several Answers of Colonel Hutchinson to Colonel Dacres, expressing his Scorn and Indignation to the embracing of any such Motion.

Ordered, That Mr. Millington do write a Letter of Thanks from this House to Colonel Hutchinson, for his Fidelity to Religion, and the Parliament; and to encourage him to persevere in his Resolutions therein; and that this House will not be unmindful of so deserving a Person: And that he be desired, that those Records, which are in Nottingham, be safely kept.

Ordered, That the Committee for the Safety do consider how the Garison in the Castle of Nottingham may be supplied with all Necessaries: And the Care of this is especially recommended to Mr. Millington.

Alisbury Garison.

Ordered, That the Committee for the Safety do forthwith consider of a speedy Supply of the Garison at Alisbury, being ready to disband for want of Money.

Members discharged, &c.

Resolved, That Mr. Sutton shall be forthwith discharged from being any longer a Member of this House, during this Parliament.

Resolved, That his Estate in all Parts of this Kingdom shall be forthwith sequestered.

Carpenter's Petition.

Ordered, That the Petition of Francis Carpenter be referred to the Committee of Examinations.

Superstitious Images.

Ordered, That Sir John Draydon, and Mr. George Serle, be added to the Committee for pulling down of superstitious Images in Churches.

Exchange of Prisoners.

Ordered, That it be especially recommended to my Lord General, from this House, to exchange Mr. Haslerigg, Captain Hacker, and Mr. Arthur Stavely, for Sir Wing field Bodenham, Lieutenant Colonel Sands; and for Tho. Violett, a Prisoner in the King's Bench, for the Twentieth Part; provided he be in Prison for no other Debt.

Southampton Garison.

Ordered, By the Commons, assembled in Parliament, That the Committee of Lords and Commons, at Haberdashers Hall, with all convenient Speed, do cause Three hundred Pounds to be sent to the Treasurers on the Propositions in Guildhall, out of the deposited Monies of the Twentieth Part: And that they pay the same over to Sir Gilb. Gerard, Treasurer at Wars: Who is hereby required and ordered, forthwith, upon Receipt of the Whole, or any Part thereof, to pay the same unto Colonel Norton, Governor of Southampton, or to such he shall appoint to receive the same, for and towards the providing of Arms and Necessaries for the Garison of Soldiers at Southampton.

Money seized.

Ordered, That the Residue of the Monies seized, belonging to one Tubbins that is fled, and hath conveyed Fullers Earth beyond Sea, shall be disposed of to Mr. Trenchard, for the Use of Sir Wm. Waller's Army; and that Care be taken, the Parties that discovered this, have some Consideration.

Much Parndon Parsonage.

Order for sequestring the Parsonage of Much Parndon, in the County.. Essex, whereof Wm. Osbalston, Doctor in Divinity, is Rector, to the Use and Benefit of Jeremy Dike Master of Arts, a godly, learned, and orthodox Divine; who is forthwith to officiate the said Cure, as Rector; and to preach diligently to the Parishioners of the said Parish, in the Church there; and to receive the Rents and Profits of the said Parsonage, paying all Duties to his Majesty; was this Day read; and, by Vote, upon the Question, assented unto; and ordered accordingly.