House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 20 November 1645

Die Jovis, Novembris 20 , 1645.

Prayers.

ACcording to former Order, the Grand Committee of the whole House sat, to take into further Consideration the Propositions for a safe and well-grounded Peace.

Sir Thomas Widdrington in the Chair.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Sir Thomas Widdrington reports the Bill for demolishing Monuments of Superstition: The which is ordered to be read To-morrow Morning.

Ordered, That the Grand Committee of the House, for the Matter of the Propositions for a safe and well-grounded Peace, do meet on Saturday Morning next, at Eight of Clock.

Sir Robert Harley brings Answer, That, to the Message he carried to the Lords, concerning the receiving an Account of Doctor Walker's Negotiation, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

A Message from the Lords, by Doctor Heath and Mr. Page;

The Lords have made an Order touching a Clause to.. inserted in the Vicechancellor's Oath of Cambridge: In which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

The Lords formerly sent to this House a Petition of the Earl of Stamford's, who is in extreme Want of necessary Support: Their Lordships do again especially recommend it to the present Consideration of this House; and desire Dispatch with all convenient Speed.

The Lords have appointed a Committee of Seven Lords, and Three of the Quorum, and desire a proportionable Number to be appointed by this House, to meet this Afternoon, in the Prince's Lodgings, to consider of the intercepted Letters of the Lord Digby.

The Ordinance, touching a Clause to be inserted in the Vicechancellor's Oath, was read; and, upon the Question, passed; and was in hæc verba; viz.

"Be it Ordained, by the Lords and Commons, assembled in Parliament, That, for the present, till the Statutes of the University of Cambridge can be surveyed, that the Vicechancellor of the said University shall take Oath, with this Clause annexed: Hoc in me recipit in quantum Statutis et Ordinationibus Regni non repugnant."

Ordered, That Sir John Evelyn do go with a Message to the Lords; to desire them to proceed upon the Impeachment of the Earl of Stamford; to the end that Justice may be done, and the House may receive Satisfaction in the Point of their Privilege.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth nominate and approve of Sir Rivett Eldred Baronet to be High-Sheriff of the County of Suffolk: And that the Commissioners of the Great Seal do grant him a Patent for Sheriff, in Form usual, accordingly.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth nominate and approve of Francis Clinton, alias Fienis, to be High-Sheriff of the County of Lincoln: And that the Commissioners of the Great-Seal do grant him a Patent for Sheriff, in Form usual, accordingly.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth nominate and approve of Edward Clerke Esquire to be High-Sheriff of the County of Oxon: And that the Commissioners of the Great Seal do grant him a Patent for Sheriff, in Form usual, accordingly.

Sir John Evelin carried up likewise the Names of the Persons above-named to be High-Sheriffs of the respective Counties above-said.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth concurr with the Lords, in appointing a Committee to meet with a proportionable Number of the Lords, this Afternoon at Two of the Clock, in the Prince's Lodgings, to consider of the intercepted Letters of the Lord Digby: And have Ordered, That the first Fourteen of the Committee now present where Mr. Tate has the Chair, shall be the Committee: Mr. Tate to be one.

Mr. Pury brings Answer, That, to the Ordinances and other Messages carried up by him, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House has considered their Lordships Message: And, as to the Ordinance touching the Clause to be inserted into the Vicechancellor's Oath of Cambridge; and to the Committee to meet with a Committee of a proportionable Number of the Lords, concerning the Lord Digbie's intercepted Letters; they do agree: And, as to the Earl of Stamford's Petition, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

The House was informed, That a Servant of Mr. Gourdon's, a Member of this House, avowed by Mr. Gourdon to be his Servant, was apprehended and imprisoned, by Order of the House of Peers; though he informed the Messenger, that he was Mr. Gourdon's Servant:

Resolved, &c. That the Commissioners of the Great Seal do issue a Writ of Habeas corpus, to bring to the Bar of this House Thomas Grove, Servant to Mr. Gourdon, a Member of this House; with the Cause of his Commitment.

The House, according to an Order Yesterday, resumed the Consideration of the Ordinance for establishing and settling the Garison of Bristoll: The which Ordinance was Yesterday twice read.

Resolved, &c. That this Proviso be added to the Ordinance for Bristoll; viz. "Provided, That this Ordinance, nor any thing therein contained, shall not extend to the prejudicing or lessening any Power or Authority granted by any former Ordinance to Sir Thomas Fairfax General, or to Major-General Massie: And that this Ordinance shall continue for Six Months, and no longer."

Resolved, &c. That the Rates and Proportions, set down in the Ordinance for Bristoll, shall be the Rates and Proportions to be levied for the Maintenance of that Garison.

And then the Ordinance, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent to the Lords for their Concurrence.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee for the North, to consider of and bring in an Establishment for the Garison of Scarborough.

Ordered, &c. That it be referred to the Committee of the Army, with the Addition of the Knights and Burgesses for the County of Worcester and Hereford, to consider of the Condition of Gloucester; and what unnecessary Burdens are upon it, or otherwise; and how it may be relieved, and those Burdens taken off.