House of Commons Journal Volume 3: 23 February 1644

Die Veneris, 23 Februarii, 1643.

PRAYERS.

Recusants.

MR. Strode, Mr. Sam. Browne, Sir Tho. Barrington, Sir Hen. Cholineley, Sir Anth. Irby, Mr. Cage, Sir Peter Wentworth, Sir Marten Lumley, Sir Walt. Erle, Mr. Holland, Mr. Bond, Sir Wm. Massam, Sir Rob. Pye, Sir H. Mildmay, Mr. Knightley, Mr. Holles;

This Committee is appointed to inquire concerning such as are suspected Recusants; and what Recusants Estates have been discharged, and by whom; and to take care, that none of their Estates be discharged but by Vote of both Houses: And are to meet this Afternoon, at Two of Clock, in the Exchequer Chamber; and so de die in diem: And have Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, Papers, Records.

Aylisbury Garison.

Ordered, That the Report concerning Aylisbury Garison be made To-morrow Morning.

Associated Counties.

Mr. Lisle reports the Alterations to the Ordinance for raising, maintaining, paying, and regulating, of Three thousand Foot, twelve hundred Horse, and Five hundred Dragoons, to be raised in the associated Counties of Southampton, Surry, Sussex, and Kent; and to be commanded by Sir Wm. Waller, as Serjeant Major General of the said Forces: The which were read.

Resolved, &c. That the Sequestrations of Delinquents and Papists Estates, in the County of Southampton, shall pass, and be granted, in this Ordinance of the Four associated Counties.

Propounded, That one Third Part of the Sequestrations of Delinquents and Papists Estates in the County of Kent, paying in, first, two Parts to the Treasurers of the Sequestration, shall pass, and be granted, in this Ordinance of the Four associated Counties:

And the Question being put, whether this Question shall now be put;

It passed with the Negative.

Resolved, &c. That this Ordinance shall be re-committed to the same Committee, as to the Clauses of Sequestrations in the Counties of Kent and Surry: And are to meet upon it this Afternoon, at Three of Clock, in the usual Place.

The Clause, for commanding the Forces of the associated Counties out of their Counties, was this Day read; and, by Vote, upon the Question, assented unto.

M. Du Molin's Letters.

Ordered, That the Chairman of the Committee of Examinations do open the Cover of the Pacquet of Letters, taken with Monsieur Du Molin in his Passage from Oxon, in the Presence of Monsieur Du Molin.

Subscriptions for Army.

Ordered, That Mr. Millington do move the Assembly of Divines, to appoint Letters to be written to the Ministers of London, Westminster, and elsewhere, for the Encouragement of Subscriptions for the raising and maintaining of Sir Tho. Middleton's Forces.

Letters referred.

Ordered, That the Letters from Shropshire be referred to the Consideration of the Committee of both Kingdoms.

Money for Army Service.

Resolved, &c. That Two thousands Pounds due out of the Lord Petre's Rent, for his Wardship, at or about Michaelmas last, shall be consigned to Sir Tho. Middleton, towards the providing and furnishing of Fifteen hundred Foot-Arms, and Three hundred Horse-Arms, for the Service of reducing the Counties of North Wales.

Resolved, That One thousand Pounds shall be consigned to Sir Tho. Middleton, towards the providing of Fifteen hundred Foot-Arms, and Three hundred Horse-Arms; to be furnished out of the Monies of the Court of Wards, now in Arrear, and that shall come in at Four Months End.

Fantleye's, &c. Goods.

Ordered, That Madam Fantleye's, and Madam Arpe's Goods, sequestrable by Ordinance of Parliament, be forthwith sold to the best Advantage.

Navy.

Ordered, That the Letters from the Lord Admiral, concerning the Navy, be read To-morrow Morning, the First Business.

Merchant Adventurers Loan.

Upon Mr. Millington's Report from the Committee for the Lord Fairefaxe;

It is Ordered, That the Committee for the Lord Fairefaxe do treat with the Merchant Adventurers of England, for the Forbearance of the Ten thousand Pounds, payable unto them in March next out of the Monies upon the Excise, for Three Months longer; and that the said Ten thousand Pounds, so forborn, be forthwith paid by the Commissioners of Excise, to Mr. White, Agent to the Lord Fairefaxe, for the Service of the Army under the Lord Fairefaxe, including the Forces under Sir Tho. Fairefaxe.

Exception to Members Words.

Exceptions were taken at some Expressions of Mr. Erle's: Whereupon he was commanded to withdraw:

And after some Debate,

He was called down to his Place: And, therein, he acknowledged his Sorrow, that he had given any Offence to the House, or to the Person upon whom he replied: And then was admonished, by Mr. Speaker, to forbear the like Expressions for the future.

Impresting Soldiers.

An Ordinance to enable the Lord Fairefaxe to raise Men, by the way of Imprest, for the Service of the State, was this Day read; and, by Vote upon the Question, assented unto.

Ordered, That Mr. Vassall be added to the Committee for the Lord Fairefaxe.

Business deferred.

Ordered, That the Business concerning Windesore Garison; concerning the English and Scotts Reformadoes; concerning London; be considered of To-morrow Morning.

Money for Army.

Ordered, That Mr. White, Agent to the Lord Fairefaxe, do attend the Lord Saye, for the Payment of Two hundred and Fifty Pounds, for Goods of the Lord Cottington's, sequestered, and bought by him; and the Proceed, being Two hundred and Fifty Pounds, assigned to the Lord Fairefaxe: Otherwise, that the said Mr. White do take care, that the said Goods may be forthwith sold; and the Proceed received by him, upon Account, for the Service of the Forces under the Command of the Lord Fairefaxe.

Ministers in Yorkshire.

The Lords and Commons, assembled in Parliament, being credibly informed that many Ministers, in the County of York, are not only of scandalous Life and Conversation, but, leaving their Churches and Cures, have withdrawn themselves wilfully from the same, and have joined with such Forces as are raised against the Parliament and Kingdom; thereby giving evil Example to the People under their Charge; and have aided and assisted the said Forces with Men, Money, Horses, or Arms: The said Lords and Commons taking the Premises into Consideration, have Ordained and Authorized, and do hereby Ordain and Authorize, the Right honourable Ferdinando Lord Fairfax to nominate, appoint, and place, such able, learned, and godly Divines, as he shall think fit, unto all such Churches and Places, in the said County of York, as are or shall be void or destitute of Ministers, by their withdrawing themselves to the Forces raised against the Parliament; or are or shall be sequestered by virtue of any Ordinance or Order of Parliament; and shall or may cause the said Ministers so nominated, appointed, and placed, to be put into Possession accordingly: Which said Ministers, respectively, shall and may receive, perceive, and take to their own Use, the Profits and Revenues belonging to their Churches and Cures, in as large and ample Manner, as the Ministers thereof have formerly used to do.

Impresting Soldiers.

Forasmuch as the Northern Parts of this Kingdom have been, and are, cruelly wasted, plundered, and spoiled, and the well-affected Subjects thereof murdered or imprisoned by the Forces under the Command of the Earl of Newcastle, and of those that command under him, the Calamities of those Northern Counties being lately increased, and are still likely to increase, by the daily Access of Forces from Ireland, and the tyrannous Execution of illegal Commissions of Array; the Remedy and Prevention whereof, most probably, (by God's Assistance) will be, by raising suddenly a considerable Power and Forces: Be it therefore Ordained, by the Lords and Commons, assembled in Parliament, and by the Authority of the same, That the Deputy Lieutenants and Committees of Parliament, or any Two or more of them, within their several Limits and Jurisdictions, in the several Counties and Places under the Command of the Right honourable Ferdinando Lord Fairfax, by virtue of an Ordinance of both Houses of Parliament, of the Three-and-Twentieth of November 1642, and of the Lord General his Excellency's Commission, shall and are hereby authorized, from time to time, until other Order be taken by both Houses of Parliament, to raise, levy, and imprest such Number of Soldiers, Gunners, and Soldiers, for the Defence of the King, Kingdom, and Parliament, as shall be appointed by the said Lord Fairfax, or Sir Thomas Fairefax his Son, by Warrant under the Hand and Seal of either of them, respectively; and to command all Constables, and other Officers, to be aiding and assisting unto them in the said Service of impresting: All which Persons so to be imprested, and every of them, shall have such imprest Money, Coat and Conduct Money, Wages and Entertainment, and other necessary Charges and Allowances, as shall be fit and convenient, according to the Discretion of the Committees and Deputy Lieutenants, or any Two or more of them respectively. And if any Person or Persons shall wilfully refuse so to be imprested for the said Service, that then it shall and may be lawful to and for the said Persons authorized as aforesaid; to commit them to Prison, until they shall yield Obedience, or pay the Sum of Ten Pounds to the said Committees or Deputy Lieutenants, to be employed for the Supply of the said Service.

Provided always, That this Ordinance shall not extend to the pressing of any Clergyman, Scholar, or Student, in any the Universities, Inns of Court or Chancery, or Houses of Law; or any the Trained Bands; or of any Person rated in the last Subsidies, granted by the Parliament; or the Son of any Person rated at Five Pounds Goods, or Three Pounds Lands in the Subsidy Books; or of any Person of the Rank or Degree of an Esquire, or upwards, or the Son of any such Person, or the Son of the Widow of any such Person; or to the pressing of any Person under the Age of Eighteen Years, or above the Age of Fifty; or of the Members or Officers of either House of Parliament; or of the menial Servants of the Members or Officers of either of the said Houses; or any the Assistants of the Lords House, or any of their menial Servants; or of any Mariner, Seaman, or Fisherman.