House of Commons Journal Volume 5: 20 January 1648

Die Jovis, 20 Januarii, 1647.

Prayers.

Assessments for Ireland.

ORDERED, That the same Order for the Grand Committee to sit upon the Ordinance for the Assessments for Ireland, that was appointed for this Day, be appointed for To-morrow; to meet the first Business after Prayers.

Proceedings concerning Lilburne, &c.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee at Derby House, to take care, that some Declaration may be pubblished to the People, of the Proceedings that have been in the Prosecution of the Petition, intituled, "The earnest Petition of many freeborn People of England," carried on by Lieutenant Colonel Lilburne, one Mr. Wildman, and others; to undeceive the People, and satisfy them with the Dangers and Inconveniencies that will ensue thereupon; and to take course for the speedy divulging and dispersiug the said Declaration; and to take some Course to prevent any Assemblings or Actings upon the said Petition.

Resolved, &c. That the Serjeant at Arms do forthwith execute the Warrant upon Lieutenant Colonel Lilburne and Mr. Wildman, for their Commitment: And that the Captains and Officers that command the Guards, that attend the House, be hereby required to give Assistance to the Serjeant, and his Deputies, in the Execution of these Warrants, as Occasion shall be.

Ordered, That the Committee of Kent be required to take speedy and effectual Course to suppress and prevent any Meetings or Actings, upon the Petition, intituled, "The earnest Petition of many freeborn People of England;" and to prevent the Inconveniencies that may happen by any Proceedings upon the said Petition; more particularly the Meeting that this House is informed is to be on the next Lord's Day, at Dartford, or any-where else in Kent, where they shall be informed any such Meetings are, or shall be.

Ordered, That the respective Committees of the Militia of London, the Hamlets, the Borough of Southwark, and Westminster, do take speedy and effectual Course, in their several Jurisdictions, to suppress and prevent all Meetings and Actings upon the Petition, intituled, "The earnest Petition of many freeborn People of England;" and to prevent the Inconveniencies that may happen by any Proceedings or Actings upon the said Petition.

Ordered, That the General be desired, in all Places where any Part of his Forces comes, to give Order, That effectual Course be taken to suppress and prevent all Meetings and Actings upon the Petition of many freeborn People of England; and to prevent any Inconveniences that may happen by any Proceedings or Actings upon the said Petition.

Ordered, That the Committee at Derby House do meet this Afternoon: And that it be referred to that Committee, to examine and consider, Whether Mr. Highland, Captain Taylor, or any others, that are of any of the Committees of Militia of London, Hamlets, Borough of Southwark, or Westminster, have been Actors or Abettors in carrying on the Petition, intituled, "The earnest Petition of many freeborn People of England."

Parliament Guard.

Ordered, That the Colonel that Commands the Guards for Security of the Parliament, do, either in Person daily attend the Service so long as the Houses sit, or take Order, That some other Officers of Quality, under him, may be particularly appointed to that Service.

Message to Lords.

Colonel Jephson carried to the Lords for their Concurrence, Order for the Residue of Monies that came in upon the late Ordinance for Adventurers in Ireland, to make up the Ten thousand Pounds formerly assigned for Munster: Order for Fifteen hundred Pounds to the Lady Fairefax, Relict of Sir Wm. Fairefax, out of the Sequestration of Sir Henry Grissithe's Estate: An Order for Payment of Six Months Arrears to the Garison of Dover Castle: An Order for Payment of Fifty Pounds apiece to Three poor Widows, out of Sir John Hewett's Sequestration:-Was to put the Lords in mind of the Ordinance for Indemnity in the County of Kent; of an Order for Satisfaction of a Debt due to Mr. Peregrin Pelham, out of the Sale of Part of the Earl of Arundell's Woods in Sussex; and to desire that the Members of this House that are of the Committee at Derby House, may meet this Afternoon.

Declaration of Non-Addresses.

Ordered, That the Committee formerly appointed to prepare a Declaration to express the Grounds and Reasons of the Votes lately passed concerning the King, do meet this Afternoon: And that Mr. Weaver be added to this Committee.

Arrears to Scotts Army.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth Declare, That their Intention is, fully and really to perform, with our Bretheren of Scotland, to the utmost of their Powers, in the due Payment of One hundred thousand Pounds assigned to be paid unto them, on the Third of February next; And, in order thereunto, do require the Committee at Goldsmiths Hall, to employ their best Endeavours, that the Fifty thousand Pounds, Part thereof, charged upon those Receipts, may be complied with, and paid to the Persons named in the Ordinance appointing the Payment of the said Fifty thousand Pounds, in Course, as is directed by the said Ordinance: And in case the said several Sums cannot, in time, be paid to the said several Persons, that Interest, after the Rate of Eight Pounds per Cent. be allowed and paid to the said Persons, during the Time the said Sums, or any of them, shall be unpaid.

The said Committee is further required, from time to time, to represent any such Obstructions as they shall meet with: to the end they may be removed; and due Payment of the said Monies may be made, according to the Intentions and Order of this House.

It is further Ordered, That the Interest of the aforesaid whole Hundred thousand Pounds be charged upon the Receipts at Goldsmiths Hall, and paid by the Committee there, from time to time, for so long time as the same, or any part thereof, shall be unpaid.

It is likewise Ordered, That Power be, and is hereby, given to the Committee, to treat with such Persons, Citizens and others, as they shall think sit, for the present Borrowing of the Fifty thousand Pounds charged upon the Credit and Receipts of Goldsmiths Hall.

Ordered, That the Committee at Goldsmiths Hall be hereby required and enjoined to take the most effectual Course they can, for bringing in, from the several Counties, the Arrears of the Two hundred thousand Pounds Loan, for Payment of the Scotts Army; and also the Arrears of the Two Months Assessments for the said Army: And that they do prepare Letters to be sent to the respective Committees, in the several Counties where any of those Arrears are due, to be signed by Mr. Speaker; to satisfy them with the Necessity of bringing in the said Monies; and to quicken them in the bringing in the same.

Navy Supply.

Ordered, That, on Saturday Morning next, the first Business, the House do resume the Consideration of the Report made from the Grand Committee, for the more due and orderly bringing in the Sequestrations; and for providing and furnishing present Monies for the Service of the Navy.

Prerogative Court, &c.

Ordered, That, on Monday Morning next, the first Business, Mr. Hill do make his Reports concerning the Prerogative Court, and Probate of Wills.

Sheriffs.

Ordered, That Sir Robert Pye do go to the Lords Tomorrow, to desire a Conference concerning the Sheriffs.

Answer from Lords.

Colonel Jephson brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to the Four Orders carried by him; and have passed the Ordinance concerning the Indemuity in Kent; and have appointed the Members of their House, of the Committee at Derby House, to meet this Afternoon: And, as to the Order concerning the Satisfaction of a Debt due to Mr. Pelham, out of the Sale of Part of the Earl of Arundell's Woods, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Scotts Army in Ireland.

Resolved, &c. That, To-morrow at Eleven of Clock, the House do take into Consideration the Letter from the Scotts Commissioners, concerning the Scotts Army in Ireland.

Worcester House, &c.

Ordered, That Power be given to the Trustees, Contractors, and other Officers, employed in the Sale of Bishops Lands, to proceed in the same manner, in surveying, contracting for, making Sale of, and conveying after Sale, the Mansion House, situate and being in the Strand, commonly called Worcester House, together with the Gatehouse next the Street, and the other Tenements, situate and being between the said Gate house and Salisbury House, to the Earl of Salisbury, as they do observe and pursue, in the Sale and conveying of other Lands and Houses, late the Possessions of the late Archbishops and Bishops.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Thomas Middleton, a Member of this House, shall have Leave to go into the Country.