House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 25 August 1646

Die Martis, 25 Augusti, 1646.

A Letter from Sir Thomas Fairfax, General, from Usk, of 17 Augusti 1646, together with the Articles for Surrender of Ragland-Castle inclosed, were this Day read.

Resolved, &c. That the Castle of Ragland, the Works about it, and the House and Buildings thereof, be forthwith pulled down and demolished.

And it is further Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the County of Monmouth, to take care, that the same may be totally demolished, and all the Materials thereof sold and disposed of for the best Advantage of the State; deducting the Charges for pulling it down; and a due Accompt rendered for the same.

Resolved, &c. That the Person of the Earl of Worcester be forthwith sent for: And that, upon his coming to London, he be forthwith committed Prisoner to the Tower.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Ordered, That Mr. Samuel Browne and Mr. Selden do, from this House, go to the Countess of Kent, and acquaint her with the Necessity of the Demolishing of GortherichCastle: And that, in case the same shall be demolished, Satisfaction shall be given to her for the Damage she shall sustain by Pulling down thereof: And that they report her Answer to the House.

Resolved, &c. That the Sum of One hundred Pounds be bestowed upon Major Blackmore: And that the Committee of Lords and Commons for Advance of Monies, sitting at Haberdashers-Hall, do pay unto the said Major Blackmore, or his Assigns, the said Sum of One hundred Pounds accordingly.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Resolved, &c. That the Sum of Fifty Pounds be bestowed upon Quartermaster-General Gravenor, for his Pains in bringing the good News of the Rendition of RaglandCastle: And that the Committee of Lords and Commons for Advance of Monies, sitting at Haberdashers-Hall, do pay the said Fifty Pounds accordingly.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Resolved, &c. That the Sum of Twenty Pounds be bestowed upon Mr. Heath and Mr. Curtis, that brought the News of the Taking of Ragland-Castle; and equally divided betwixt them: And that the Committee of Lords and Commons for Advance of Monies, sitting at HaberdashersHall, do pay the said Twenty Pounds to the said Messengers accordingly.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Resolved, &c. That the Sum of Fifty Pounds be bestowed upon Mr. Pitson, Deputy to the Scoutmaster-General, for his Pains in bringing the good News of the Takeing in of Wallingford-Castle: And that the Committee of Lords and Commons for Advance of Monies, sitting at Haberdashers-Hall, do pay unto him the said Fifty Pounds accordingly.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Resolved, &c. That the Power of the Committee at Haberdashers-Hall shall not extend, from henceforth, to any Person or Persons whatsoever for assessing them for any Fifth-Part, or for any Fifth, or Twentieth Part, save only unto such Person or Persons, as are, or have been, Delinquents to the Parliament, and unto such Person and Persons, as have not voluntarily contributed, in any Place whatsoever, to the Parliament.

Two Letters from Colonel Fortescue; one of 15 Augusti, with the Articles for Rendition of Pendennis-Castle inclosed; another of 18 Augusti 1646; a Particular of the Ammunition, Ordnance, and Arms, found in Pendennis-Castle, at the Surrender thereof; and a List of the Officers and Soldiers of the Enemy belonging to the said Castle; were all this Day read.

Resolved, &c. That the Five hundred Pounds, paid by the Commissioners, for Colonel Fortescue, unto the Commissioners, for the late Governor of Pendennis-Castle, upon the Rendition of the said Castle, shall be repaid: And that it be referred to the Committee of the West, to take care for the Repayment thereof, out of the Moiety of the Excise of the Western Associated Counties, or out of the Sequestrations, or otherwise.

Ordered, That the Sum of Five hundred and Twenty Pounds, disbursed by Captain Batten, Vice-Admiral, for the Reducing of Portland-Castle, be forthwith repaid to the said Captain Batten, or his Assigns: And that the Committee of the Navy do issue their Warrant unto the Treasurer of the Navy for the Payment of the said Five hundred and Twenty Pounds unto the said Captain Batten, or his Assigns, accordingly.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth nominate and approve of Colonel Richard Fortescue to be Governor of Pendennis-Castle.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the West, to confer with Sir Peter Killegrew concerning his Interest to Pendennis-Castle; and to consider of and bring in an Addition to the ancient Establishment; and how Colonel Fortescue may be settled in the Government of the said Castle, according to the Resolution of the House.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee for Irish Affairs, to confer with Sir Hardres Waller, for the speedy Carrying of the Three Regiments of Foot, videlicet, Colonel Bennett's, Colonel Ceelie's, and Colonel Rowse's, that were employed for the Reducing of Pendennis-Castle, into Mounster, for the Service of the Kingdom of Ireland.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the West, to consider of some Mark of Honour to be bestowed by this House upon Lieutenant-Colonel Buller; and to report the same to the House.

Resolved, &c. That the Sum of Threescore Pounds be bestowed upon the Three Messengers * * * *, that brought the News of the Rendering of Pendennis-Castle; to each of them Twenty Pounds apiece: And that the Committee of the West do pay the said Twenty Pounds apiece to each of them accordingly.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Navy do take an Accompt of all the Powder and Arms, sithence this War, delivered out, by any Order of this House, or otherwise, unto any Garison now demolished, or other Places not garisoned; and to take care of the Remain of such Powder and Arms; and to cause the same to be brought into the Tower of London.

Ordered, That the Committee of the West, and the Committee for Irish Affairs, do meet this Afternoon; and consider of the Sending of Colonel-General Massie's Forces, with all Speed, into Ireland: And are to report the same to the House on Thursday Morning next.

Ordered, That the Lord Broghill's Propositions, concerning Ireland, be taken into Consideration on Thursday Morning next.

Ordered, That the humble Petition of the Committe for the County of Derby be read on Thursday Morning next, the first Business.

Ordered, That Tuesday, being the Eighth Day of September now next coming, be set apart for a Day of Publick Thanksgiving within the Cities of London and Westminster, Lines of Communication, and Weekly Bills of Mortality, and Ten Miles about, for the great Blessing of God upon the Forces of the Parliament, in the Reducing of the several Castles and Garisons of Worcester, Wallingford, Ruthen, Ragland, and Pendennis: And that the Lord Mayor of the City of London do take care, that the Ministers of the several Churches and Chapels within the Cities of London . . . . . ., and Liberties thereof, may have timely Notice hereof.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Ordered, That Tuesday, being the Two-and-twentieth Day of September now next coming, be set apart for a Day of Publick Thanksgiving, to be observed and kept in all Churches and Chapels in the several Counties, Cities, and Places in the Kingdom of England, above Ten Miles distant from the City of London, for the great Mercy of God to the Forces of the Parliament, in the Reducing of the several Garisons and Castles of Worcester, Wallingford, Ruthen, Ragland, and Pendennis: And that the Members of this House that serve for the said several Counties, Cities, and Places, do take care, that timely Notice hereof may be given to the respective Ministers within the Places aforesaid.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Ordered, That Mr. Holles do, from this House, desire Mr. Obadiah Sedgwick to preach before the House of Commons, at the Parish-Church of St. Margaret's, Westminster, on the Publick Day of Thanksgiving, being Tuesday the Eighth Day of September now next coming.

Ordered, That Mr. Ball do, from this House, desire Mr. Thomas Goodwyn to preach before the House of Commons, at the Parish-Church of St. Margaret's, Westminster, on the Publick Day of Thanksgiving, being Tuesday the Eighth Day of September now next coming.

Ordered, That, To-morrow, being the Day of the monthly Fast, a Collection be made in the several Churches and Chapels within the Cities of London and Westminster, Lines of Communication, and Weekly Bills of Mortality; to be employed for the Relief and Maintenance of poor sick Persons within the Limits aforesaid, who are visited with the Pestilence.

And it is further Ordered, That it be referred to the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen of the City of London, to dispose and direct the Distribution of all such Sums of Money as shall be collected within the City of London, and the Liberties thereof, for the Relief of the poor, sick, visited Persons within the said City and Liberties; and to the Justices of the Peace in the City of Westminster and Out-Parishes, to dispose of and direct the Distribution of all such Sums of Money, as shall be collected within the said City of Westminster and Out-Parishes, to and for the Relief of the poor, sick, visited Persons within the said City of Westminster and Out-Parishes.

Ordered, That, Tuesday the Eighth Day of September now next coming being ordered to be set apart for a Day of Publick Thanksgiving, a Collection shall be made in the several Churches and Chapels within the Cities of London and Westminster, Lines of Communication, and Weekly Bills of Mortality; to be employed for the Relief of poor sick Persons infected with the Pestilence within the County of Devon, and distributed in such Manner, as the Committee of the West shall think fit.

Mr. Stockdale reports a general Estimate of the Accompts of the Scotts Army, since their coming into England: The which was read.

Mr. Knightley reports from the Committee appointed to consider how the first Hundred thousand Pounds for the Scotts Army may be raised within the Time, That the Governors of the East-India Company and Eastland Company were out of Town: That they had spoken with some of the Commissioners for the Customs, who were of the Company of Merchant-Adventurers; and that they had spoken with the Governor of that Company; who had summoned a Court; and that they had promised to use their utmost Endeavours to comply with the Desires of this House, for the Advancing of a considerable Proportion of the said One hundred thousand Pounds.

Ordered, That the Committee, appointed to consider how the first Hundred thousand Pounds for the Scotts Army may be raised within the Time, do send again to the Commissioners of the Customs, the Merchant-Adventurers, East-India Company, and Eastland Company, and such other Persons as they shall think fit, and confer and treat with them for the Advance of the said Monies, and upon what Security; and give the House a further Account thereof on Friday Morning next, at Ten of the Clock.

And it is further Ordered, That the Members of this House that are of the Company of Merchants-Adventurers, be some of them present at the Merchant-Adventurers-Court, to give them Satisfaction concerning the Security that shall be given for such Sum as shall be lent by the said Company.

Ordered, That the Ordinance for Ordination of Ministers be reported and read on Thursday Morning next.

Ordered, That the general Estimate of the Accompts of the Scotts Army, since their coming into England, reported this Day by Mr. Stockdale, be re-committed, upon the whole Debate had thereupon this Day in the House: And that the Committee do bring it in again on Thursday Morning next, in such Manner, as it may be fit to be communicated to the Scotts Commissioners.