House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 8 May 1646

Die Veneris, 8 Maii, 1646.

Prayers.

The Grand Committee sat, to take into Consideration the Ordinance concerning the Court of Wards and Liveries.

Mr. Bacon in the Chair.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Ordered, That a Letter be written from the House, and signed by Mr. Speaker, to the Committee at Redding; to acquaint them with the Information this House has received of their keeping Sir Francis Knollis, a Member of this House, out of his Estate; and to require them to put him into his Possession; and to make him Restitution for his Damages.

Mr. Wheeler is appointed to bring in this Letter.

An Ordinance for allowing to the Garison of Dover Two hundred Pounds Eighteen Shillings and Eight-pence per mensem, for the Maintenance thereof, out of the Receipts of the Grand Excise of Dover, and the CinquePorts, in the County of Kent, was this Day read the First and Second time:

And the Question for the Commitment being put;

It passed with the Negative.

And then the Question being put, For passing the Ordinance;

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

Sir Edward Boys is appointed to carry it to the Lords.

Sir Thomas Dacres is appointed to go to the Lords, to desire them to expedite their Answer to the Votes, Yesterday sent to the Lords, concerning the Disposal of the King's Person.

Mr. Speaker acquainted the House, That, the last Night, between Eleven and Twelve of Clock, after he was in Bed, some of the Committee of the Militia of London, and one of the Captains of the Guards, brought unto him a Box full of Letters (some of which were opened by some of the Soldiers of the Guards): The which Letters he caused all to be put up into the Box; and sealed up the Box with his own Seal; and delivered it, so sealed, to the Gentlemen of the Committee of the Militia; and desired them to be at the House this Morning with them: Which accordingly they are.

They were thereupon called in; and declared the Manner of these Letters coming to their Hands; and delivered the Box, sealed up.

Resolved, &c. That the Door be kept locked: And that no Member go out without Leave.

Ordered, That Mr. Recorder have Leave to go out.

Ordered, That Mr. Dove have Leave to go out.

The Box was opened. And

It is Resolved, &c. That the Letter, subscribed "John Cheislie," shall be now read.

A Letter, superscribed, "For my Noble Lord the Lord Balcarres," dated from Worcester-House, 7 Maii 1646, and signed, "Your Lordship's most humble Servant, John Cheislie," was read.

Resolved, &c. That forthwith a Message be sent to the Commissioners of Scotland, to desire them to secure the Person of John Cheislie, to answer such Things as shall be objected against him by this House, of high Concernment.

Sir Christopher Yelverton and Sir John Danvers are commanded to deliver this Vote to the Commissioners of Scotland: And are injoined not to speak any thing of this Message, or of this Business, to any Person, but according to the Message; and not That, till they come to the Commissioners.

Resolved, &c. That the other Letters, that are open, shall be now read.

An open Letter, directed, "For the Right Honourable the Committee of Estates of the Kingdom of Scotland, at Edinburgh," upon reading this Superscription, was laid aside; and not opened in the House, nor read.

An open Letter, directed, "To Lieutenant-Colonel Wm. Hamilton, in the Scotts Army, to be lest for him at Quartermaster General Ennis his Quarters," dated from the Christopher in Russell-street, 8 Maii 1646, and subscribed, "Nat. Hewell," was read.

An open Letter, directed, "For his loving Brother Routemaster Andrew Hay, in General-Lieutenant Lestie his Regiment," dated Edinburgh 10 April 1646, and signed, "Jo. Hay," was read.

Resolved, &c. That this Paper, without Superscription or Subscription, shall be now read.

The Paper was read; and was dated, Worcester-House, 7 Maii 1646; and was a great Part of it in Characters or Cyphers.

The Question was propounded, Whether this Paper, without Superscription or Subscription, shall be appointed to be now forthwith decyphered:

And the Question being put, Whether this Question should be now put;

The House was divided.

The Noes went forth.

So that the Question passed with the Negative.

Resolved, &c. That Paul Best be remanded to the Gatehouse to Prison, until further Order of this House.

A Letter from the Scotts Commissioners, from Worcester-House, of 8 Maii 1646, was this Day read.

Resolved, &c. That the Scotts Commissioners be desired, that Mr. John Cheislie may be examined by a Committee appointed by this House, concerning the Letter, superscribed, "To the Lord Balcarres;" and signed, "John Cheistie."

Resolved, &c. That a Committee be nominated to examine the Manner of the Staying of the Messenger who had the Box of Letters, and of the Seizing of these Letters, and all Circumstances concerning the same.

Mr. Samuel Browne, Mr. Holles, Sir Arthur Hesilrige, Mr. Rigby, Sir William Waller, Sir John Evelyn of Wiltes, Mr. Prideaux, Mr. Marten, Sir William Lewes, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Long, Sir Philip Stapleton, Mr. Knightley, Mr. Tate, Mr. Crewe, Sir Peter Wentworth, Mr. Selden, Sir Simmons D'Ewes, Mr. Baynton, Mr. Nathanael Fiennes, Mr. Gourdon, Mr. White, Mr. Edward Stephens, Mr. Salwey junior, Major-General Browne;

This Committee, or any Five of them, is appointed by this House the Committee by whom the Scotts Commissioners are to be desired, that Mr. John Cheislie may be examined concerning the Letter, superscribed, "To the Lord Balcarres;" and signed, "John Cheislie."

They are likewise to examine the Manner of the staying the Messenger who had the Box of Letters, and of the Seizing of those Letters, and all Circumstances concerning the same: And are to meet this Afternoon at Six of the Clock, in the Queen's Court, and so from time to time, as they shall think fit: And have Power to send for Parties, Papers, Witnesses, and Records.

Resolved, &c. That the Gentleman, that had the Box of Letters taken from him, be now called in.

Resolved, &c. That the Captain of the Guard, who staid the Messenger at the Court of Guard, and seized on the Box of Letters, be now called in.

Resolved, &c. That the Gentleman, that had the Box of Letters taken from him, be now called in again.

He was called in again accordingly; and delivered in a Pass to the House.

Resolved, &c. That a Copy of the Pass, delivered in to the House by Mr. Haliburtonn, be taken by the Clerk; and the Pass delivered back to him again.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. George Haliburtonn, upon whom the Box of Letters was taken, be discharged from any Restraint or Custody.

Resolved, &c. That the Captain of the Guard, that staid the Messenger Mr. Haliburtonn, and seized the Letters, be discharged from any further Attendance.

Resolved, &c. That Candles shall be brought in.

Resolved, &c. That such Letters as the Commissioners of Scotland shall particularly own, by a Note under their own Hands, as written from themselves, or any of them, Mr. Speaker shall have Liberty, and is hereby injoined, to deliver unto them, or any of them.