House of Commons Journal Volume 6: 13 February 1649

Die Martis, 13 Februarii, 1648.

Prayers.

* * * * (fn. 1).

Private Business.

ORDERED, That, till Monday Sevennight, no private Business shall be admitted to be debated in the House; but only the public Business of the Kingdom.

The Mint.

Ordered, That Mr. Allen, Mr. Holland, Mr. Blakiston, Mr. Bond, Sir Henry Myldmay, Alderman Penington, Colonel Venn, Sir William Constable, Mr. Gould, Mr. Scott, Mr. Darley, Mr. Boone, Mr. Trenchard, Mr. Love, or any Three of them, do consider of the Business of the Mint: And present to the House new Stamps for the Coin: And to consider of the Regulating of the Abuses of the Mint: And this Committee have Power to send for any Persons they shall think fit to advise with in this Business: And report the same to the House.

Council of State.

Mr. Scott reports from the Committee appointed to nominate a Council of State, and to prepare Instructions for the said Council, the Instructions for the Council of State: Which were read at large the First and Second time: And the said Instructions were afterwards, upon the Question, read in Parts: And every particular Instruction, being by itself put to the Question, was, upon the Question, assented unto; and are in hæc verba; viz.

1. You, or any of you, are hereby authorized and required to oppose and suppress whomsoever shall endeavour to go about to set up or maintain the pretended Title of Charles Stewart, eldest Son to the late King, or any other of the said late King's Issue, or claiming under him or them, or the pretended Title or Claim of any other Single Person whomsoever, to the Crown of England or Ireland, Dominion of Wales, or to any of the Dominions or Territories to them, or either of them, belonging.

2. You, or any * of you, are hereby authorized and impowered to order and direct all the Militias and Forces, both by Sea and Land, of England and Ireland, and the Dominions to them, or either of them, belonging, for preserving the Peace and Safety thereof, and for preventing, resisting, and suppressing, all Tumults and Insurrections that shall happen to rise in them, or either of them, or any Invasions of them from abroad: And also, upon any Emergencies, to raise and arm such Forces as you shall judge necessary for the Ends above expressed: And to give Commissions, under the Seal of the Council, to such Officers as you shall judge necessary for the Leading, Conducting, and Commanding of the said Forces; and for the Prosecution and Pursuance of these Instructions, or of any other Instructions you shall receive from the Parliament.

3. You are hereby authorized and required to use all good Ways and Means for the Reducing of Ireland, the Isles of Jersey, Guernsey, Silly, and the Isle of Man; and all other Parts and Places belonging to the Commonwealth of England, not yet reduced.

4. You, or any * of you, shall take care that the Stores and Magazines of all Military Provisions, both for the Land Service, and for the Sea, be, from time to time, well and sufficiently furnished: And that the same be issued, as you or any * of you, shall, by Warrant, direct: And you, or any * of you, are also, from time to time, to take care of the Repair of the Shipping belonging to the Commonwealth; and to build such others as you shall judge necessary for the Defence and Safety thereof.

5. You, or any * of you, are to use all good Ways and Means, for the Securing, Advancement, and Encouragement of the Trade of England and Ireland, and the Dominions to them belonging; and to promote the Good of all Foreign Plantations and Factories belonging to this Commonwealth, or any of the Natives thereof.

6. You, or any * of you, shall advise, order, and direct concerning the Entertaining, Keeping, Renewing, or Settling of Amity, and a good Correspondency, with Foreign Kingdoms and States; and for preserving the Rights of the People of this Nation in Foreign Parts, and Composing of their Differences there: And you are hereby authorized to send Ambassadors, Agents, or Messengers, to any Foreign Kingdom or State; and to receive Ambassadors, Agents, or Messengers, from them, for the Ends aforesaid.

7. You are to advise and consult of any thing concerning the Good of this Commonwealth: And report your Opinions concerning the same, as you find Occasion, to the Parliament.

8. You, or any * of you, are hereby authorized to send for any Person or Persons whatsoever, to advise with them, in pursuance of these or any other Instructions that shall be given unto you.

9. You, or any * of you, have hereby Power, and are authorized, to send for any Records, Writings, Accompts, Books, or Papers, that you shall think fit, for your Information, in any Cause, Matter, or Thing in Agitation before you, in pursuance of these or any other Instructions that shall be given you by the Parliament.

10. You, or any * of you, have hereby Power, and are authorized, in case of Danger to the Commonwealth, to administer an Oath to any Person or Persons for the Discovery of the Truth.

11. You, or any * of you, are hereby authorized and impowered to send for, and imprison, or otherwise to secure, by taking bound in Recognizance, any such Person or Persons as shall be Offenders against these or any other Instructions, which you shall receive from the Parliament; and all such as shall contemn or be refractory to any your Commands, Directions, or Orders, in pursuance of the said Instructions.

12. You, or any * of you, have hereby Power, and are authorized, to charge the publick Revenue, by Warrant under the Seal of the Council, with such Sum and Sums of Money, from time to time, as you shall find necessary for defraying all Charges of Foreign Negotiations, Intelligence, and other Incidencies; and for the Salary of such subordinate Officers and Attendants as you shall judge fit to employ; and for the effectual Carrying on of the Service by these Instructions committed to you, or by any other Instructions hereafter to be given you from the Parliament.

13. You are also, or any * of you, to observe, and put in Execution, such further Orders as you shall receive, from time to time, from the Parliament.

14. The Power hereby committed to this Council of State shall continue for the Space of One Year, from the Day of Passing hereof, unless it be otherwise ordered by the Parliament.

Invalid Soldiers, &c.

The Petition of wounded and sick Soldiers in the Hospitals, and about the City, with Widows and Orphans, was this Day read.

Ordered, That it be referred to Colonel Harrison, Mr. John Corbett, Mr. Holland, and Mr. Allen, or any Two of them, to treat with the Treasurers at Goldsmiths Hall; and of the Sequestrations at Guildhall: And to see, What Monies may be presently had, or how Money may be presently raised, for the sick and wounded Soldiers, and on what Security; and to examine, What Money is due and payable from Goldsmiths Hall to Weavers Hall: And report it to the House on Friday Morning.

Compositions.

Mr. Allen reports from the Committee of Goldsmiths Hall, the Particular of Monies yet unpaid to several Men out of particular Mens Compositions.

Council of State.

Mr. Scott reports the Form of an Obligation or Engagement, to be entered into by such Persons as shall be of the Council of State: Which was this Day read; and, upon the Question, assented unto.

Resolved, That this Engagement shall be signed and subscribed by every Person appointed to be of the Council of State, before he act therein.

Northern Circuit.

Ordered, That Mr. Serjeant Thorpe be appointed to go the Northern Circuit with Mr. Baron Gates, instead of Mr. Serjeant Puliston: And that his Commission be made accordingly.

Judges.

Ordered, That the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal, do forthwith present the Names of fit Persons for Judges to fill up the Benches.

Army.

A Letter from the General, of the * Day of *, was this Day read.

Ordered, That Colonel Fairefax his Regiment of Foot, Colonel Maleverer's Regiment of Foot, Colonel Wastell's Regiment of Foot, Colonel Rookbye's Regiment of Horse, Two Companies of Foot at Scarborough, with One Troop of Horse under Colonel Bethell, Two Troops more in the County of Durham, which are continued by Sir Arthur Haslerigg, under the Command of Captain Sharpe, and Captain Sheppeardson, and One Company of Foot in the Garison of Hartelepoole, and Captain Lillison's Company of Foot, be under the Command of the General; and paid according to the Establishment of the Army, until the Parliament order the contrary: And that the Committee of the Army do take care to pay them accordingly.

Army Accompts.

Mr. Pury reports from the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Army, the Opinion of the said Committee, touching the Stating of the Accompts of the Officers and Soldiers of the Northern Brigade, under the Command of Major General Lambert.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Commissioners of Assessments for the County of Yorke, to state the Accompt of the Officers and Soldiers in the Brigade under the Command of Major General Lambert: And to give Debentures, according to the Rules and Directions given by Parliament, the Twenty-fourth of December 1647; to the end they may have the same Security that other Soldiers have.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the Army, to take care that, in Colonel Rainborowe's Cause, the Money be paid, without Deduction of Free Quarter.

Ordered, That it be referred to that Committee, to consider of Certificates in like Cases; and to give Approbations to such as are to be paid, without Deduction of Free Quarter.

Army.

Colonel Harrison reports from the Committee of the Northern Association, How the Lancashire Forces to be disbanded may be satisfied their Arrears.

Ordered, That Three thousand Pounds of the Lord Willoughbie's be taken off from any Engagement to these Forces: And that the Treasurer of Goldsmiths Hall be discharged from Payment of the Four thousand Six hundred Pounds, of the Lord Molineux' Fine to the Lord Willoughby; and that they be required to pay it, for the disbanding the said Forces.

Ordered, That Letters be sent to Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cheshire, and Shropshire, and Cumberland, Northumberland, Westmorland, Bishoprick of Durham, and Town of Berwick, to make an Estimate of the Loss and Damage sustained by the Coming in of the Scottish Forces; and of the Forces necessitated to come down to them for their Defence.

And the Committee of the Army are to prepare the Letters, to be signed by Mr. Speaker, and sent to the Committees of the Militia in Yorkshire and Shropshire; and to the Commissioners for the Assessments of the Sixty thousand Pounds a Month, in the rest of the Counties.

Council of State.

Mr. Scott reports a List of the Names of Persons to be of the Council of State: Which were read; and, upon the Question, ordered to be proceeded upon To-morrow.

Cursitor Baron.

Ordered, That the Clerk of the Crown be required to prepare a Patent to be granted to the Cursitor Baron, and the Commissioners for the Great Seal of England be hereby authorized and required to prepare the same, under the Great Seal, accordingly.

Renewing Commissions, &c.

Ordered, That the Commissions, and Patents of Course, that are to be renewed upon the late Change, by reason of the King's Death, do pass without Fees: And that all the Charges, and due Fees thereof, be defrayed out of the Hanaper.

Oaths.

Ordered, That Serjeant Thorpe be added to the Committee for Oaths.

Dean and Chapters Lands.

An Act for Sale of Dean and Chapters Lands was this Day read the First time.

Oaths.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee appointed to present the Names of Justices of Peace, to consider of the Oaths to be administred to the Sheriffs, and Justices of Peace, and to the Commissioners of Oyer and Terminer; and what Alterations are fit to be made therein: And report it to the House.