House of Commons Journal Volume 3: 12 March 1644

Die Martis, 12 Martii, 1643.

PRAYERS.

Spanish Wools.

THE Question being put, whether * * Merchant should have Liberty to transport some Spanish Wools;

It was resolved Negatively.

Prisoners of War.

Ordered, That Sir Alexander Denton, and Colonel Wm. Smythe, and the rest of the Commanders, taken Prisoners at Hillsden House, shall not be exchanged without the Consent of this House.

Lydcott's Arrears.

Ordered, That Serjeant Major Lydcott, out of such Estates of Delinquents as be shall discover, that are not yet discovered, shall have to the Value of Five hundred Pounds, towards the satisfying of Part of his Arrears due for his Entertainment, in the Service of the Parliament; provided that the Delinquency of such Persons be made appear, and proved, before the Committee of Examinations.

Letter from Earl of Forth.

The Letter sent from the Earl of Forth, of the Twenty-eighth of February, to the Earl of Essex, concerning the Exchange of the Lord Louthian for Colonel Goringe; and touching the King's Children at Saint James's, sent down in a Message from the Lords on Saturday was Seven-night; was read: And this House doth concur with the Lords in Opinion, and hope they shall have as great a Care both of their Bodies and Souls here, as they at Oxon can have.

The Lord General is to be acquainted herewith; and to be desired to return an Answer to this Purpose.

Scotts Army, &c.

A Letter from aboard the Hector, before Birdlington, dated the Seventh of March; and another from Hull, dated 8 Martii; was read; informing the House of the Scotts Advance over Tine, and of their being at Durham and Sunderland; and that they had sent Two thousand against Hartlepvole: Also informing the House of the taking of Stanforde Bridge; and of Eleven Troops of Horse by Colonel Lambert; and that Scarborough was besieged by Sir Wm. Constable; and that Newarke was so close begirt, by Sir Jo. Meldrun, and other Forces, that they could shoot Granadoes into the Town.

Coal Trade.

Resolved, &c. That it be referred to the Committee of the Navy, to consider of the Ordinance inhibiting the Trade for Coals to Newcastle, Sunderland, and Blythe; and to bring in an Ordinance for the Opening of that Trade: And they are to bring it in To-morrow Morning.

Transporting Money.

Upon the humble Petition of David Sibald, of Lyven in Scotland, Master of the good Ship the Gabriel of Lyven, who had Four hundred and Twenty Cross Dollars seized on, the which he was transporting, was this Day read; and that, as the House was informed, this Petitioner has done it out of Ignorance; it is Ordered, That, notwithstanding the said Monies are forfeited, that it shall be restored to the said Petitioner, reserving only Ten Pounds to the Party that seized it: And this they do, not any way to discourage the Searchers in their Duty and diligent Service, of discovering and seizing of Money to be transported, which so much concerns the Good of the Commonwealth; but, as an Act of Charity to the poor Man, being a Scoche Man.

Lord Fairefaxe thanked.

Ordered, That Sir Philip Stapilton and Mr. Millington do prepare a Letter of Thanks, to be sent to the Lord Fairefaxe, and signed by Mr. Speaker, in Acknowledgment and Testimony of his great Services.

Scotts Army.

Ordered, That the Committee at Goldsmiths Hall do meet this Afternoon, to make Provisions of all Necessaries to be sent to the Scotts Army in the North.

Letter read.

A Letter from his Majesty, printed and signed on the Top Charles R., and signed at the Bottom Ed. Littleton, C. S. and Samp. Eure, directed to Mr. Rich. Sones, of Gately, of Southampton; for the borrowing of Twenty Pounds, was this Day read; and referred to Mr. Recorder, to make use of in the Declaration in preparing.

Isle of Wight.

The humble Petition of Captain Scofield, John Baskett, and Rich. Bury, Gentlemen, against Colonel Carne, the present Deputy Governor of the Isle of Wight, was this Day read: And

It is Ordered, That it be referred to the Consideration of the Committee appointed for the Safety of the Isle of Wight: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Two of Clock, in the Exchequer Chamber: And have Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, Papers, Records. And

It is further Ordered, That the said Committee do require Colonel Carne to attend here, to answer the said Petition: And that they take some Course for repressing the Petition now in preparing in the Isle of Wight: And that they do desire the Earl of Pembroke, Governor of the Isle of Wight, to write to the standing Committee there, to take care of the Safety of the Island, especially of Carisbrooke Castle, and Sandam Fort: And that James Millis and Captain Hunt may be secured, or sent out of the Island, by the Committee, that they may do no Prejudice to the Safety of the Isle.

Grant to Lord Howard.

A Message from the Lords, by Serjeant Whitfield and Dr. Aylett;

The Lords did formerly send down an Ordinance that concerns the Lord Edw. Howard, who deserves very well both of their House, and of the whole Kingdom: They desire this House would agree with them in it.

An Ordinance for the settling Fifteen hundred Pounds per Ann. out of certain Delinquents Estates, upon the Lord Edw. Howard of Escrigg, this Twenty-fourth Day of February 1643, as followeth, was this Day read the First time.

* * * *

Resolved, &c. That a Conference shall be desired with the Lords, upon this Business concerning the Lord Edw. Howard: And that the Lords be desired, that Wm. Lord Cravon may be assessed for his Twentieth Part; and that whatsoever shall be so assessed, may be conferred upon the Lord Edw. Howard: And that it be referred to the Committee at Haberdashers Hall to collect and levy the said Twentieth Part, so assessed; and that, after the Assessment so made, the Committee at Haberdashers Hall shall allow and pay, to the said Lord Edw. Howard, Fifty Pounds per Week, and reimburse themselves out of the said Twentieth Part.

Sir Wm. Lewes is appointed to desire this Conference: And Mr. Prideaux to manage it.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House has seriously considered their Lordships *; and will speedily send Answer by Mesengers of their own.

Foreign Reformed Churches.

The House being informed, that divers Divines of the Assembly were at the Door; being called in, Mr. Dr. Burgess informed the House, that he was commanded to acquaint this House with something imparted unto the Assembly, touching the bad Success of the Letter they sent, by the Commands of this House, to the Reformed Churches in France; which they conceive is fit for this House to take notice of.

Whereupon Monsieur De la Marche informed the House, that a Gentleman newly come out of France, doth affirm, that one of the Elders of the Reformed Church told him, that they had received a Letter from the Assembly of Divines in England; which before they did open, they called a Consistory, and acquainted them with it; who held it fit to acquaint the State and Council therewith: Whereupon their own Deputy did accuse them for having received former Letters, besides these, from the Assembly in England; and that they had held Intelligence with the State of England: They answered they were the first Letters they had received; and the Merchant who brought the Letters to them was accused for a Person that had formerly carried Letters in this Kind. That the Reformed Church is in a great Danger; and therefore the Assembly recommends it to your Consideration.

Dr. Burgesse concluded, That whereas the House had Copies of the Letters, delivered Yesterday to this House, which they sent to the Reformed Churches beyond Seas; and there begins to grow some Danger to our Brethren beyond Sea; therefore the Assembly desires this House, that those Letters may be published, that all the World may see, that nothing is contained in them that may endanger the Reformed Churches.

Ordered, That this Relation, made by the Divines at the Bar, be referred to the Consideration of the Committee of both Kingdoms.

Ordered, That the Letters of the Assembly to the Churches of Zealand, and their Answer to the said Letters, be read To-morrow, at Eight of Clock, the first Business.

Leicestershire.

Ordered, That the Leicestershire Business be reported To-morrow Morning.

Associated Counties.

Ordered, That the Report made by Mr. Lisle, of the Amendments to the Ordinance of the Four associated Counties, be taken into Consideration To-morrow Morning.

Army.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of Colonel Martyn, to be a Colonel in the Army under the immediate Command of my Lord General.

Resolved, &c. That Five Captains, and their Under Officers, more than now are, by the Ordinance for my Lord General's Army, that is now in passing, shall be allowed to my Lord General's Regiment.

Resolved, &c. That one Captain, and his Under Officers, more than are already allowed to every Regiment of Foot, shall be added to each Regiment, in the Army under the immediate Command of my Lord General.

Resolved, &c. That, out of the Reformadoes, two Troops shall be framed, and added to the Lord General's Regiment of Horse.

Resolved, &c. That every the Regiments of Horse shall consist of Five hundred, and be distributed into Six Troops, and the Colonel's Troop consist of an Hundred Horse, and the other of Fourscore apiece, besides Officers.

It is Ordered, That Mr. Scawen do frame the Ordinance, and the Establishment, according to this Vote.

PostMasters.

Ordered, That Protections be granted unto the several Post Masters, between London and Hull, for the Liberty and Freedom of themselves, their Servants, Horses, and Goods, used, kept, or employed, for that Service: And Mr. Speaker is hereby authorized to grant the same unto each of them, accordingly.

Coal Trade.

Whereas the Lords and Commons, assembled in Parliament, by an Ordinance of the Fourteenth January, 1642, did, for several Reasons in the said Ordinance mentioned, prohibit all Ships, and other Vessels, to carry Provisions of Victuals, Arms, or Money, into Newcastle, Sunderland, or Blyth; or make Return of any Coals or Salt from either the said Places; under pain of Seizure of the said Ships, Vessels, and their Lading: And whereas, by the good Providence and Blessing of Almighty God, and the Endeavours of our Brethren in Scotland, the Towns and Ports of Sunderland and Blyth are lately rescued out of the Hands of the Enemy, and reduced to the Obedience of the King and Parliament; the Inhabitants of which Places, by Reason of the Rapine and Spoil of the Enemy, have been probably brought to some Extremity of Want: It is this Day Ordered, by the said Lords and Commons, That it shall and may be lawful for any Person or Persons, under the Obedience of the King and Parliament, from henceforth, to trade and go with their Ships and Vessels unto either of the said Ports of Sunderland or Blyth; and to carry with them Arms, Ammunition, Corn, or any other Provision of Victuals, for the Relief of the said Inhabitants, of the Armies of our said Brethren of Scotland, or such other Forces as are or shall be employed in the Service of the King and Parliament, for the Defence of the King, Parliament, and Kingdom; and to make Returns of Coals, Salt, or other Merchandize, from the said several Ports, unto any Port or Place within this Kingdom, which are or shall be under the Power of the Parliament; any former Order or Ordinance to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.