House of Commons Journal Volume 3: 16 October 1644

Die Mercurii, Octobris 16, 1644.

PRAYERS.

Birch's Claims.

THE humble Petition of Colonel John Birch; relating, That he hath lent, for the Service of the State, Fifteen hundred Pounds; and desiring that he may have, upon Account, towards the Satisfaction of the said Fifteen hundred Pounds, such Estate of Henry Hudson, a Delinquent, in Arms against the Parliament, as is not already discovered.

It is Ordered, upon this Petition, That the Petitioner be referred to the Committee for Examinations, to enable him for the Seizing of such Estate as he can discover of the said Henry Hudson's, not yet discovered: And that he shall have the same, upon Account, towards the Payment of the Money by him lent, as aforesaid: And the Committee is desired to give him all Expedition, he being speedily to repair to his Charge in the publick Service.

Soldiers Widows.

An Ordinance for Payment unto the Widows of certain Soldiers slain in the Service of the Parliament, out of Two thousand Pounds from the Excise, was this Day read; and, upon Question, re-committed: and ordered to be reported again on Monday next: And in the mean time, Mr. Green and Mr. Prideaux are desired to treat with the Commissioners of Excise upon the Payment of this Two thousand Pounds.

Virginia Colony.

A Letter to be written from Mr. Speaker, to the Colony of Virginia, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, assented unto; and Mr. Speaker ordered to sign it.

Absent Member.

Mr. Bond reported the Case of the Absence of Mr. Hebblethwayte, a Member of this House; and, upon . . . thereof;

It is Ordered, upon the Question, That this Business be re-committed.

Exchange of Prisoners.

Mr. Bond reports the Case of the Absence of Sir Jo. Northcott, a Member of this House, a Prisoner to the King's Forces at Exon, and come up upon his Parole, to solicit his Exchange for Colonel Gibson, a Prisoner in the Tower.

The humble Petition of Sir Jo. Northcote was read; desiring, That the Report concerning him may be made, and his Exchange expedited.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth allow, that Sir Jo. Northcote, a Prisoner upon his Parole to the King's Forces, shall be exchanged.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth allow and approve of the Exchange of Sir Alexander Denton, a Prisoner to the Parliament, in the Tower, for Sir Jo. Northcote, a Prisoner to the King's Forces.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Prisoners, to take Caution of Sir Alexander Denton; and to limit him a Time to go to solicit his Exchange, not exceeding the Time limited and remaining to Sir Jo. Northcote.

Message to Lords.

Mr. Green is appointed to carry up to the Lords the Ordinance concerning Saltpetre: The Ordinance concerning the Captives of Algiers.

He likewise carried up the Message concerning the Exchange of Sir Jo. Mallett for Sir Jo. Temple, a Prisoner in Dublyn.

Exchange of Prisoners.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree, that Sir Jo. Mallett shall go, in his own Person, to solicit his Exchange for Sir Jo. Temple, a Prisoner at Dublyn; giving good Security to the Committee for Prisoners, to return at a Time limited by the said Committee, if he shall not, in that time, effect the Exchange.

Ordered, That the Lords be desired to agree, that Sir Jo.Mallett, a Prisoner to the Parliament, may be exchanged for Sir Jo. Temple, a Prisoner in Dublyn: And that he may have a Time set him to go to the King, to effect this Exchange; putting in good Caution to the Committee for Prisoners, to return, if he cannot effect the Exchange within the Time limited.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee for Prisoners, to consider of fit Persons, Prisoners to the Parliament, to be exchanged for Sir Adam Loftus, Sir Wm. Parsons, and Sir Jo. Meredith, Prisoners in Dublyn; and to offer them to the House.

Filling the House with Members.

Resolved, &c. That, on Friday next, peremptorily, the House do take into Consideration the Debate of filling the House with Members, by awarding of new Writs for Elections: And that Mr. Speaker put the House in mind hereof.

Military Affairs.

A Letter from Sir Wm. Waller, from Winterbourne Stoke, of Octobris 12, 1644, relating that the King is upon his Advance, was this Day read.

Committee of both Kingdoms.

Ordered, That Sir Hen. Vane junior do, To-morrow, make his Reports from the Committee of both Kingdoms.

Portesmouth.

Ordered, That the Business and Votes concerning Portesmouth be reported To-morrow Morning, at the first Sitting of the House.

Leigh's Composition.

Ordered, That the humble Petition of Sir F. Leigh Knight, be referred to the Consideration of the Committee at Goldsmiths Hall; to treat with the Petitioner upon his Composition; and to report their Opinions to the House.

Ship Saint Peter.

Ordered, That the Letter from Hamborough, of the Twenty-seventh of September, 1644, concerning a Ship, Saint Peter, of Rotterdam, whereof Peter Arens Roskamp is Master, taken by some Ships set forth by Authority of Parliament, and brought into Portsmouth, be referred unto the Consideration of the Committee of Lords and Commons, appointed to consider of Merchant Strangers Complaints.

Sussex Petition.

The House being informed, That divers Ministers, and other well-affected Persons, were at the Door; who desired to present a Petition to the House;

They were called in; and did prefer a Petition, intituled, The humble Petition of the well-affected Persons of the County of Sussex; with divers Articles against divers of the Committees in Sussex: Wherein they name Sir Tho. Pelham, and Sir Tho. Parker, Members of this House: The which were read; and referred to the Consideration and Examination of the Committee for Examinations: And

Mr. Holles, Sir Ric. Onsloe, Mr. Ash, Mr. Knightley, Mr. Purefoy, Mr. Whitlock, Mr. Lisle, Sir Symonds D'Ewes, Sir Jo. Franclyn, Mr. Browne, Sir Edw. Bois, Sir Edw. Partrich, Captain Lee, Mr. Cawley, Mr. Goodwyn, Mr. Hallowes, Sir Jo. Corbett, Mr. Ravenscroft, Mr. Prideaux, Mr. Gourdon, Sir Phil. Stapilton, Mr. Dunce, Sir Tho. Woodhouse, Mr. Heveningham, Sir Humfrey Tufton, Mr. Mountague, Mr. Trenchard, are added to this Committee.

Message from Lords.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Edward Leech and Doctor Aylett;

The Lords have returned the Ordinance for raising of Eighty thousand Pounds for Ireland: To which they agree, with some Amendments returned.

They have likewise received a Petition from the Commander of the Ship called The Golden Sun, belonging to the King's Majesty of Denmark; which they desire may be referred to the Committee of Lords and Commons appointed to receive the Complaints of the States Ambassadors: And desire to put you in mind of the Messageformerly sent, concerning the Duke of Lorraine's Agent.

Money for Ireland.

The Amendments to the Ordinance for Eighty thousand Pounds for Ireland were read: and assented unto.

Ship Golden Sun.

Ordered, That the House doth agree with the Lords in referring the Petition of Nicholas Ruyter, Commander of the Ship called The Golden Sun, belonging to the King's Majesty of Denmark, to the Committee of Lords and Commons appointed to receive the Complaints of the States Ambassadors, &c.

Fortescue's Goods, &c.

Ordered, That Mr. Anthony Fortescue shall have the Goods and Papers restored unto him, that hath been taken from him by any Committee, or any authorized by any Committee: And that his Servant be discharged from Restraint, and restored unto him: And he is hereby enjoined to quit the Kingdom within these Twenty Days at furthest.

Answer to Lords.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House has considered their Lordships Message; and do agree to the Amendments to the Ordinance for raising Eighty thousand Pounds for Ireland; and to the Referring of the Petition of one of the Commanders of the King of Denmark's Ships: And, as to the other Part of the Message, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Mistakes in Ordinance.

Whereas, in the Ordinance for paying for Colonel Cromwell's Pistols, by particular Allotment upon the associated Counties, the Sums are mistaken; It is Ordered, That the Sums be right summed up; and the Mistakes rectified.

Steward's Tenants.

Whereas this honourable House, by an Order of the Fifth of September, 1643, protected Wm. Steward Gentleman, from all Suits and Arrests; in regard that the greatest Part of his Estate (being Money) then was, and now is, in the Parliament's Hands; under Colour whereof, the Tenants of the said Mr. Steward refuse to pay him the Rents of his Lands due unto him, supposing his Estate to be in the Parliament's disposing: And for that the said Mr. Steward is now Tenant to the Parliament, as he was before to the Dean and Chapter of Ely: And being to pay great Rents for the same, which he cannot, unless the Rents be paid by the Tenants: It is therefore this Day Ordered, by the Commons assembled in Parliament (the said Mr. Steward being destitute of Means to recover his Right, or maintain himself,) That all the said Tenants forthwith, upon Demand, give present Satisfaction unto the said Mr. Steward, or whom he shall appoint, for his said Rents in Arrear, due, or to be from henceforth due.

Goods for Summer Islands.

Whereas a Schedule of Goods desired to be shipped out to the Summer Islands, in the Ship Dorsett, whereof Captain James Crannage is Master; videlicet, Forty Dozen of Shoes, Forty Hundred of hard Soap, One thousand Ells of Red Cotton, Ten thousand Ells of Lockram and Canvas, Five hundred Ells of Holland, Two hundred Pounds-worth of Haberdashers Wares, Fifty Pounds-worth of Grocers Ware, Twelve Barrels of Powder, Iron Ware of all Sorts, to the Value of Thirty Pounds, One Tun of Wine, Two Tun of Strong Waters, Thirty Dozen of Stockings, Fifty Dozen of Wool Cards, Two hundred Gross of Tobacco Pipes, Thirty Poundsworth of Silk-Ware, Twenty Dozen of Canvas Suits, Five Dozen of Hats, and Ten Dozen of Monmouth Caps, was this Day read in the House of Commons: And

Ordered, That they be freely transported to the Summer Islands, without paying any Custom or Excise; with Caution, that the above-named Commodities be not employed by way of Merchandize to any other Place: Provided, that the said Captain, and all other Officers and Passengers in the said Ship, do take the National Covenant before they be embarqued; to be given by Mr. Musgrave of Gravesend. And

It is also Ordered, That a Letter be written from the Committee of the Lords and Commons for the Summer Islands Plantations, to the Colony there.