House of Commons Journal Volume 3: 10 September 1644

Die Martis, Septembris 10, 1644.

PRAYERS.

Contract for Arms, &c.

RESOLVED, &c. That this House doth agree with the Committee appointed to treat for Mr. Pennoyer's Arms, in the Bargain made with Mr. Pennoyer for the said Arms contracted for by them; and do appoint, That the said Committee do take care to send away the said Arms to Portesmouth, according as was formerly ordered, with all convenient Speed.

Resolved, &c. That the Committee appointed to treat for Mr. Penoyer's Arms, shall have Power to treat for English Musquets and Pistols, according to the Rates brought in by the Committee, and according to such Times as they shall agree for: And that One-third of the Monies contracted for, shall issue out of the Monies that come in upon the Excise.

It is further Ordered, That the same Committee shall have Power to contract for Swords and Belts: Also,

Resolved, &c. That so many of the Arms as are sent to Lyme for the Service of the West as shall be taken and made use of by the State, for this present Expedition into the West, shall be supplied and furnished again to the West by the State.

Army Commissioners.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the West, to consider what is fit to be done by the Houses for the Encouragement and enabling the Commissioners appointed formerly to reside in my Lord General's and Sir Wm. Waller's Army, to do Service for the State to the best Advantage.

The Plague.

Ordered, That Mr. Sallwey do come to the House, who has for a time forborne, out of his Respects to the House, one having fallen sick in his House; who, having been removed, happened to be sick of the Plague; but is since recovered, and abroad.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Sam. Browne, a Member of this House, shall have the Leave of the House to go into the Country, and to be absent for a Fortnight.

Leave to visit a Prisoner.

Ordered, That Mr. Hodges and Mr. Stevens shall have Leave to visit Sir Wm. Moreton, Prisoner in the Tower.

Spanish Ambassador.

Ordered, That Mr. Whittacre, Mr. Stevens, and Mr. Hodges, and the Lieutenant of the Tower, do repair to the Spanish Ambassador; and acquaint him, That this House is informed that there are some Goods of Enemies to the State, to a good Value, concealed in some Parts of his House; and to desire that he will give such Satisfaction herein, as it may be discovered whether there be any such or no: And they are further to carry with them the Names of such English Priests as the House is informed are under his Protection; and to desire they may be delivered: And likewise to desire a List of his Servants Names, such as he will allow to be his Servants; and to desire that they may have a View of them.

Apprehending Spies, &c.

Ordered, That the Commissioners for Martial Law, do appoint a Provost Martial to attend Westminster Hall, and the Places about the Houses, and in these Parts, to apprehend such as they shall have Information to be Spies and Enemies to the Proceedings of Parliament.

Members not to visit Prisoners.

Ordered, That the former Order that prohibits Members of the House to visit Prisoners, be renewed: And that the Keepers of the several and respective Prisoners, do give Notice of such Members as come to visit any of their Prisoners, either to the Committee of Examinations, or to Mr. Speaker.

Leave to visit Prisoners.

Ordered, That Sir Jo. Clottworthy shall have Leave to visit Colonel Monck, Prisoner in the Tower: And that Sir Gilbert Pykering shall have Leave to visit Mr. Bagshaw, Prisoner in the King's Bench.

Farthing Tokens.

The House being informed, that the Sheriffs, and divers of the Common Council, were at the Door, desirous to communicate something to the House;

They were called in: And Mr. Alderman Foulke, one of the Sheriffs of the City of London, spoke to this Purpose; That the Common Council had taken into Consideration an Order of this House concerning Farthing Tokens; which they conceive is a thing of that Consequence, that it is above them to present a Remedy: For the Inconvenience is great if they be suddenly decried; and the Inconvenience will be likewise great, if they be continued.

They offer this;

I. That Patentees formerly have had Proclamations for the Decrying of them, without Rechange.

II. Tradesmen are more willing to . . . . them now decried than continued.

III. The Patentees have One thousand Five hundred Pounds in Farthings; which, if melted, will go a good way to satisfy the Poor; besides, the Estates of the Patentees may contribute to the same: That the Poor are in great Streights, not knowing what to trust unto; and therefore, if decried, they desire Course be taken for the Coining of new Farthings, according to the intrinsick Value; and that, in the Tower, Penies and Twopences, and small Monies, may be coined.

Ireland Supply.

The Common Council have likewise taken into Consideration the Order for Supply of Ireland: They are informed, That a Committee have assented to lay Five hundred and Fifty Pounds a Week on the City; which the Common Council disavows, as not consenting thereto: But do humbly offer, they may be set a Proportion suitable to other Counties, if former Subscriptions and Ordinances in Agitation do not raise the Sum.

Militia.

They likewise present to this House, That the Committee for the Militia may have their Ordinance of the Fifteenth of June continued, the Time of Two Months being expired: Likewise, that they may have further Power to raise Horses; provided they charge no one Man with above Two Horses.

Readinge.

That Readinge being a considerable Place to be maintained, desire this House to take care for the Fortifying thereof; and humbly desire the Ordinance presented to this House for maintaining of Fortifications, may be speedily passed.

Ordered, That these several Particulars delivered from the Common Council, shall be taken into Consideration To-morrow Morning peremptorily.

The Sheriffs and Members of the Common Council were called in: And Mr. Speaker acquainted them, That they find that the Particulars brought in by them are Matters of great Importance; and do intend to take them into a due and serious Consideration, and with the most convenient Speed they can.

Irish Affairs.

Ordered, That the Business concerning Ireland be continued to be considered of To-morrow.

Relief of Captives.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Plymouth, and the Committee of the Navy, to confer and consider together, upon the whole Matter, of some way fit to be presented to the House, for settling some way of Relief for the Captives of Algiers, either upon the One per Cent. or otherwise, as they shall think fit.

Army Affairs.

A Letter from Sir Wm. Waller, from Wotton, of Septembris 9 1644, relating, that my Lord General's and Sir Wm. Waller's Horse and Dragoons, to the Number of Seven or Eight thousand, were joined, between Bridgewater and Taunton; and that my Lord General's Foot were of this Side Honniton; and that the Convoy, in Apprehension of the Parliament's Horse, had quitted them; was this Day read: And another, to the same Purpose, from Colonel Wm. Strode, from Dorchester, of Septembris 8.

Navy Commissioners.

Ordered, That the Ordinance concerning the Commissioners of the Navy, formerly sent down from the Lords, be read To-morrow Morning, the first Business.

Scotts Papers.

Ordered, That the Six Scotts Papers this Day delivered in by Sir Philip Stapilton, be taken into Consideration To-morrow Morning.

Scotts Army.

Ordered, That the Lieutenant of the Ordnance do make present Provision of Two hundred Barrels of Powder, Match and Bullet proportionable, to be sent to the Scotts Army to Newcastle: And that it be referred to the Committee at Goldsmiths Hall, to peruse the Treaty; and to consider upon what Conditions they are to be furnished with Ammunition, whether by this State or no; and, upon the whole Matter, to represent the State of it to the House; and to consider how this Proportion of Ammunition, now desired, may be paid for.

Remembrancer of Exchequer.

Whereas, by Ordinance of Parliament, the Office of the King's Treasurer's Remembrancer of and in the Exchequer, is conferred upon Thomas Hoyle Esquire, one of the Members of this House; and a Grant thereof is passed unto him under the Great Seal of England accordingly; It is this Day Ordered, That Mr. Baron Trevor shall forthwith, upon Sight hereof, administer unto the said Mr. Hoyle, the Oath of Master of that Office, in that Behalf used; whereby the said Mr. Hoyle may be enabled to proceed to the Execution of the said Place, and discharge the Duty thereof: And all Officers of the said Court of Exchequer whose Presence is requisite, are to attend at the Administration of the said Oath.

Ordnance Stores.

Whereas the Lieutenant of the Ordnance, at the Instance and Desire of this House, hath, upon his own Credit, lately procured one hundred and eighteen Barrels of Powder, to be sent into the Tower, for the necessary and present Supply of the Armies of the Lord General and Sir Wm. Waller, at the Price of Four hundred Ninety Pounds Seven Shillings and Six-pence; of which Powder, Seventy Barrels were made up, by Mr. John Berisford, of Saltpetre double refined, bought of Wm. Taxtath, Servant to Mr. Richard Hill of the City of London Merchant; the said Mr. Berisford being to have Allowance of Seventy Pounds, Part of the said Sum, for the Commixture and Manufacture of the same: It is Ordered, That the said One hundred and Eighteen Barrels of Powder be received into the Stores by the Officers of the Ordnance; and Entry thereof made, and Debentures thereupon granted to the said Mr. Berisford and Mr. Hill accordingly: And that the said Sums be paid them by the Lieutenant of the Ordnance, out of such Monies as he hath received since the Contract with them made, and such other Monies as he shall receive for the furnishing of Arms and Ammunition for the Army.