House of Commons Journal Volume 5: 14 July 1648

Die Veneris, 14Julii, 1648.

Prayers.

Scotch Invasion.

A LETTER from Penrith, of 10 Julii 1648, from Major General Lambert, signifying, That he was informed by Intelligence from divers Hands, That an Army of Scotts were come out of Scotland into England, under Duke Hamilton; and that he came to Carlisle on Saturday last in the Afternoon; and that his Forces now lie about Wighton.

Resolved, &c. That the Sum of Twenty thousand Pounds be charged upon the Receipts of the Grand Excise, in Course, for the Service of the Northern Forces, with Interest for the same, from the time the same, or any Part thereof, shall be advanced, after the Rate of Eight Pounds per Cent. payable every Six Months: And that Mr. Thorpe do bring in an Ordinance to this Purpose.

Ordered, That the King's, Queen's, and Prince's Revenues in the Northern Parts, not yet paid in, be paid by the Receiver General of that Revenue, to such Person or Persons as the House shall appoint, for the Service of the Forces in the Northern Parts; the Two thousand Pounds advanced by the Receiver General of that Revenue being first satisfied unto him out of those Receipts: And that Mr. Thorpe do prepare and bring in an Ordinance to this Purpose.

The Question being propounded, That this House doth declare, That the Forces which now are come out of Scotland into England, in a hostile manner, being without the Authority of the Parliament of England, are Enemies to the Kingdom of England; and that all Persons of the English or Irish Nation, that join with, or adhere unto, or voluntarily aid or assist them, are Rebels and Traitors to the Kingdom of England, and shall be proceeded against as Traitors and Rebels;

And the Question being put, That this Question be now put;

It passed with the Affirmative. And

It is Resolved, upon the Question, That this House doth Declare, That the Forces that now are come out of Scotland, into England, in a hostile manner, under the Command of Duke Hamilton (fn. 1), being without the Authority of the Parliament of England, are Enemies to the Kingdom of England: And that all Persons of the English or Irish Nation, that join with, or adhere unto, or voluntarily aid or assist them, are Rebels and Traitors to the Kingdom of England; and shall be proceeded against as Traitors and Rebels.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee at Derby House, forthwith to send this Vote to Major General Lambert.

Resolved, &c. That it be referred to the Committee at Derby House, to take Course, that Forces may speedily be sent to Colonel Lambert, for the Service of the Affairs of the North, out of the Garisons, or otherwise.

Resolved, &c. That it be referred to the Committee at Derby House, to consider, Whether there be a Necessity of raising further Forces; and to report their Opinions to the House.

Safety of King and Parliament.

Mr. Greene reports the Proceedings of the Committee appointed to treat with the Committee of the Common Council, and Officers of the Soldiery, touching their Engagement for the Safety of the King and Parliament, if the intended Treaty should be in the City of London; with the Papers that mutually passed: Which were delivered in by the Reporter; and the most material of them read.

Treaty with the King.

Mr. John Stephens reports the Conference had with the Lords the other Day, touching their Vote for not insisting upon the Three Propositions before a Treaty; and acquainted the House, That the Earl of Manchester at that Conference told them, That they had formerly sent a Vote, of the Thirtieth of June, for not insisting upon the Three Propositions before a Treaty; in which they desired the Concurrence of this House: And that, instead of an Answer to that Vote, they received another Vote, That these Propositions should be first signed by the King, and turned into Acts, when the King should come to Westminster: Which they conceived not to be Parliamentary: Yet to shew their Desire of keeping a good Correspondence between the Houses, they desired this Conference, to express their Reasons for their former Vote, for not insisting upon these Three Propositions: The which were read by the Reporter.

Ordered, That these Reports, now made by Mr. Greene and Mr. John Stephens, be taken into Consideration Tomorrow Morning, the first Business; and nothing to intervene; notwithstanding the former Order for the Committee to sit upon the Business of the Church: And that, in the first Place, the Report made by Mr. Stephens be taken into Consideration.

Church Government.

Ordered, That on Monday next the Committee of the whole House do sit, to proceed in the Consideration of the Ordinance touching Church Government: And that Mr. Speaker do not take the Chair.