House of Commons Journal Volume 3: 4 April 1644

Die Jovis, Aprilis 4, 1644.

PRAYERS.

Observing Lord's Day.

SIR Rob. Harley reports the Amendments to the Ordinance for observing the Lord's Day: The which were twice read; and, by Vote, assented unto; and the Ordinance with the Amendments passed, upon the Question; and ordered to be fair written; and sent to the Lords for their Concurrence.

Sir Rob. Harley is appointed to carry it up to the Lords.

Naval Officers.

Mr. Grimston reports the List of the Commanders and Officers of this next Summer's Fleet. And

It is Resolved, &c. That Captain Rich. Blythe sen. shall be wholly referred to my Lord Admiral; either to discharge them, or continue him, in his Employment and Service in this next Summer's Fleet.

Resolved, &c. That Captain Matthew Coachman and Captain Ralfe Dansk shall be discharged from their Employment and Service in this next Summer's Fleet.

Resolved, &c. That Captain Rich. Owen, Captain Wm. Summerster, Captain Jo. Bowen, Captain Tho. Plunkett, Captain Rich. Blythe jun. shall be referred to my Lord Admiral, either to discharge them, or continue them in the Employment and Service of this next Summer's Fleet.

Resolved, &c. That it be totally left to my Lord Admiral, to make and perfect the List of all the Officers and Commanders of this next Summer's Fleet; that the said Fleet may be dispatched with the Speed the Importance thereof requires.

Military Affairs.

A Letter from Leicester, of April 1, 1644, from the Committee there, was this Day read; concerning the managing of the Forces sent from Newarke and Leicester, against the Enemy gathered about Loughborough: And there was a Relation of that Business, and certain Testimonies inclosed, to make good the said Relation: And

It is Resolved, &c. That this Letter, Relation, Examinations, and the whole Business thereupon depending, be referred to the Committee where Mr. Tate has the Chair: And they have Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, Papers, Records: And are to meet upon it this Afternoon, at Two of Clock: And

It is Resolved, &c. That the Gentlemen of Leicestershire shall be added to this Committee, as to this Business.

Excluding Members.

Mr. Lisle reports the Amendments to the Ordinance for excluding the Members of either House, that have deserted the Parliament, and adhered unto those that levied War against the Parliament, without the Consent of both Houses: The which were twice read; and particularly, one by one, put to the Question; and assented unto: And then it was

Resolved, &c. That this House doth concur with the Lords in this Ordinance, with these Amendments: And

It is Ordered, That this Ordinance, and these Amendments, be delivered unto the Lords, at a Conference, To-morrow Morning.

And Mr. Lisle and Mr. Prideaux * * * *

Abuses in Sequestrations.

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

The Lords have taken notice of divers Abuses that have been committed by the inferior Officers, upon the Ordinance of Sequestrations; and they have thought fit to refer the Consideration thereof to the Committee of Lords and Commons for Sequestrations; and desire the Concurrence of this House therein.

Resolved, That this House doth concur with the Lords, in, referring the Abuses committed by the inferior Officers of the Sequestrations, to the Committee of Lords and Commons for Sequestrations.

Powder for Navy.

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

The Lords, have conceived an Order for furnishing the Fleet with Powder, by Exchange, for Salt-petre: In which they desire the speedy Concurrence of this House.

The Ordinance was read; and passed by Vote upon the Question.

Answers to Lords.

Answer returned by the First Messengers; That this House has considered their Lordships Message; and do agree to refer the Abuses of the inferior Officers of the Sequestrations, to the Committee of Lords and Commons for Sequestrations.

Answer returned by the Second Messengers; That this House has considered of their Lordships Message; and do agree to the Ordinance for supplying the Summer's Fleet with Powder, by way of Exchange for Salt-petre, &c.

Town of Poole.

Ordered, That the Committee at Haberdashers Hall do forthwith advance, by way of Loan, for the Use of the Town of Poole, Three hundred Pounds unto Mr. Hen. Bridges; whose Hand Writing, for the Receipt thereof, shall be a sufficient Discharge to the said Committee: And

It is further Ordered, That the said Three hundred Pounds shall be repaid out of the first Monies that shall come in, that are assigned for Poole.

Sequestrations.

Ordered, That Mr. Sam. Browne and Mr. Niclas be added to the Committee of Lords and Commons for Sequestrations.

Scotch Army, &c.

Sir Philip Stapilton presents, from the Committee of both Kingdoms, to be considered of by this House, a Letter from the Committee of both Kingdoms, with the Scottish Army of the Seventeenth of March, from Sunderland; a Letter, from Sunderland, of the Twenty-fifth of March, from the Marquis of Argyll to the Scottish Commissioners; and likewise, a Paper from the Scottish Commissioners, concerning the Scottish Army, in Ireland, in England; and Supplies for them both; and likewise, concerning settling the Peace of all the Three Kingdoms: The which were all read: And

It is Ordered, That the Business of Ireland, and these Letters, and Papers, now presented from the Committee of both Kingdoms, be taken into Consideration To-morrow Morning, the first Business; and that no other Business intervene: And that Mr. Speaker put the House in mind hereof.

Money for the Scotch.

Ordered, That Mr. Solicitor do prepare an Ordinance for raising One other Third Part of the Two hundred thousand Pounds promised to the Scotts; for laying an Imposition upon Coals, with a Blank for the Rate; for imposing a Penalty upon the Assessors that refuse or neglect to do their Duty.

Sussex, &c. Forces.

Upon Mr. Wallop's Report from the Committee of both Kingdoms;

It is Ordered, That the Gentlemen of the associated Counties of Sussex and Surry do, this Afternoon, inform the Committee of both Kingdoms concerning the Forces set upon their Counties to be under the Command of Sir Wm. Waller.

Irish Affairs.

Ordered, That Mr. Traile do inform the Committee for the Affairs of Ireland, fully, concerning the State of the Affairs of Ireland.

Report deferred.

Ordered, That Mr. Pelham do report, next after the Business of Ireland shall be concluded on.

Court of Wards.

An Ordinance for making Charles Fletewood Esquire, &c. Receiver of the Court of Wards, was this Day read; and, by Vote upon the Question, committed unto the Committee for his Majesty's Revenue.

Powder for Navy.

Whereas there has been Six hundred Barrels of Powder taken out of the Stores of the Navy, for supplying of the Army of the Parliament; whereof there is a present Want, to furnish the Fleet now ready to be set to Sea; It is this Day Ordered, by the Lords and Commons, in Parliament, That a proportionable Part of the Petre, bought of Mr. Courteen, to be made into Powder for the Use of the Army and the Navy, shall be, with all Speed, delivered unto Sir Walter Erle Knight, Lieutenant of the Ordnance, by the Committee of Lords and Commons, for the Safety of the Kingdom, as shall amount in Value for the providing of the said Six hundred Barrels of Powder, after the Rate of Four Pounds Ten Shillings the Barrel: And the said Lieutenant of the Ordinance is required, upon the Credit of the said Petre, to make present Provisions of the said Six hundred Barrels of Powder, for supplying of the Stores of the Navy; any former Ordinance to the contrary notwithstanding.