House of Commons Journal Volume 2: 14 March 1643

Die Martis, 14 Martii, 1642.

PRAYERS.

Hemell Hemstead Vicarage.

AN Ordinance for sequestring the Profits of the Parish Church of Hemell Hemstead in the County of Herts, whereof Mr. Jo. Taylor is Vicar, into the Hands of certain Sequestrators named in the said Sequestration, for the Use of Mr. Geo. Kendall, Master of Arts: who is hereby appointed and required to officiate as Vicar, and to take Care for the Discharge of the Cure of the said Church, in all the Duties thereof, until farther Order shall be taken by both Houses of Parliament; was this Day read; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Ship Dainty.

Ordered, That the Mayor of Dartmouth, Captain Worth, and Captain Chaldwicke, and all other Officers whom it may concern, be required, according to a former Order from the committee of the Navy, forthwith to set at Liberty the Barque Dainty, with all the Goods she brought with her into that Port, under the Conduct of Mr. Tho. Webber, the Master thereof; and permit the same to come to London: And the said Mayor and Captains, and all others, are required to send up to this House the Letters, Invoices, and Bills of Lading, that were in the said Barque, belonging to the said Merchants; together with all Examinations or Instructions, which have been taken in this Cause, for the Discovery of the true Property of the Lading of the said Ship.

Payments to Browne, &c.

Ordered, That, out of the Money raised, or to be raised, out of Goods seized and distrained for Assessments, within the City of London, and Suburbs thereof, by Force of an Ordinance made the Twenty-ninth of November last, there shall be paid, by the Treasurers of Guildhall, London, unto Mr. Tho. Browne, the Sum of Five hundred and Five Pounds Five Shillings Seven Pence; and unto Mr. Maximilian Barde the Sum of Five hundred Eightysix Pounds Five Shillings Ten Pence; for Monies disbursed by them, for raising Dragooners Horses, employed in the Service of the State, under the Command of the Lord General, at Windsor, and elsewhere: And that there shall be likewise paid unto them the Sum of Two hundred Ninety and Five Pounds One Shilling and Ten Pence, for Monies disbursed by them, for Meat, and Pad Saddles for Horses seized, and delivered for the Use of the Lord General's Army.

And it is further Ordered, That the said Monies be paid unto them immediately after the Payment of the Monies already ordered by both Houses, for the Use of Gloucester, and other Places.

Plot at Bristoll.

Divers Letters from Bristoll, of the 11th of March; one from the Mayor; another from Colonel Fienis to my Lord Say; and other Two Letters; were this Day ....; relating how it pleased God to discover a Plot of divers Conspirators of that Town, that endeavoured to betray that Town into the Hands of Prince Rupert's Forces, and for the Murdering and Destroying of all such as were not of their Party.

Resolved, upon the Question, That a Conference be desired with the Lords: And that these Letters from Bristoll be communicated at this Conference: And that the Lords be desired, that Declaration may pass from both Houses to set forth this Conspiracy to the whole Kingdom; and that an Ordinance may pass for the Seizing the Estates of all the Conspirators, to be employed for the Maintenance of the War there; and that a Time may be appointed for solemnizing this Deliverance in this City, and through the Kingdom; and that the Conspirators may be proceeded against by Directions from my Lord General, according to the Law of Armies: That Instructions may go to the Forces every where in all the Parts of the Kingdom, to quicken them for the Disarming of all Malignants; and for the Preventing of them to gather together to an Head.

Mr. Pym, Sir H. Vane junior, Mr. Glyn, Mr. Hill, are appointed Managers of this Conference.

Sir Jo. Wray went to the Lords, to desire a Conference by Committees of both Houses, so soon as may stand with their Lordships Conveniency, concerning the Discovery of a bloody and cruel Plot, for the Killing of many well-affected Soldiers and others in the said City; and for the Delivery of the said City up unto the Forces of Prince Rupert.

Providing Money.

Ordered, That, so soon as the Conference shall be ended, the House shall take into Consideration the Providing of Monies for the great Necessities of the Armies.

Weekly Assessments.

Ordered, That the Members of the several Counties do this Day, being the Post, send the Ordinances for the weekly Assessments into their several and respective Counties.

Capuchins.

A Request from the Agent to the French King, concerning an Order made for the Removal of the Capuchins.

Ordered, That this Business concerning the Capuchins shall be taken into Consideration after the Conference is ended, next after the Business that concerns the Collectors of the Customs shall be dispatched.

Heralds Office.

The humble Petition of the King's Heralds and Pursuivants of Arms, in Behalf of themselves, and their College within the City of London.

Ordered, That the Books of Record, Registers, Entries, Precedents, Arms, Pedigrees, and Dignities; and all such other Books, Monuments, and Papers, that belong to the Office and College of Heralds; be kept from demolishing, defacing, embezling, or purloining, notwithstanding any Pretence of Entring that may be made for any Distress.

Apprehending Okes.

Ordered, That * Okes, lately come out of Ireland, be forthwith apprehended, and brought in safe Custody to the Committee for the Affairs of Ireland; to answer a scandalous Imputation he has laid upon the Lord Inchiquin, who has deserved very well of this State.

Collections of Customs.

The Collectors of the Customs, who according to an Order of Yesterday, attended, were called in: And Mr. Speaker acquainted them with the Necessity of Setting forth of the Navy; and of Thirty thousand Pounds to be advanced, by Ten thousand Pounds the Week, for the present Setting forth of the said Navy; without which it cannot be conveniently set forth: "The House has considered of the Demands made by the Committee unto you for the Advance of this Thirty thousand Pounds; and your Answer; and the Reply of the Committee upon your Answer; and your Answer to that Reply: The House would know, Whether you do insist upon your former Answer; or, Whether you will advance the Twenty thousand Pounds upon the Demands made unto you by the Committee."

To give an Answer hereunto they withdrew.

Seizure of Malignants.

A Letter from Ipswich, from Captain Bedwell, directed to the Lord Grey of Warke, relating how, by the Direction of Colonel Cromwell, he went to Ipswich; and there, and in the Parts adjacent, seized and secured some Eight great Malignants; and seized their Horses; and has secured their Persons in Ipswich: Would know how they and their Horses should be disposed of: And

It is Ordered, That Mr. Cage, Mr. Gourdon, Mr. Corbett, or any Two of them, do repair to my Lord Grey of Warke, and confer with him, What is fittest to be done upon this Letter.

Proceedings concerning Bristoll, &c.

A Message from the Lords, by Serjeant Whittfield and Serjeant Glanvile;

The Lords have agreed to all the Votes that were brought unto them at the last Conference. And they have appointed a Committee of their House of Three, to prepare a Declaration, to be set forth, after the particular Proofs are come from Bristoll; and desire a Committee of a proportionable Number may be appointed.

That they have appointed the next Lord's Day to be the Day of Thanksgiving.

That the Lords will take Order, in the mean time, that the Letters shall be printed; and have ordered the Lord Speaker of their House to send the Third Article, concerning the Quarters, to my Lord General.

Mr. Pym, Sir H. Vane, Sir Tho. Barrington, Mr. Hill, Mr. Rous, Sir Wm. Armyn, are appointed to meet with a Committee of a proportionable Number of the Lords, to prepare a Declaration to set forth unto the Kingdom.

Prisoners in the Tower.

Ordered, That the Lieutenant of the Tower shall have Power, according to the ancient Custom, to appoint some such Servant or Servants, as he shall know faithful, and will answer for, to make Provisions of Victuals, and other Necessaries, for the Prisoners there.

The Demands of the Lieutenant of the Tower, concerning Mr. Conisbye, High Sheriff of the County of Herts, who is, by Order of this House, committed close Prisoner, concerning some Particulars that he desires to be satisfied in, touching his Treatment, was this Day read; and referred to the Committee for the Tower.

Letter to Fienis, &c.

A Message from the Lords, by Serjeant Whittfield and Serjeant Glanvile;

That the Lords have resolved to write a Letter to Mr. Nath. Fienis, to the Mayor, and to the Aldermen, to give them Thanks for this Service: And do desire, that the Speaker of this House might sign this Letter, with the Lord Speaker of that House: And they have resolved to send, inclosed, the Votes for seizing the Malignants Estates; and for proceeding against them according to Martial Law.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House doth agree, That Mr. Speaker of this House should sign a Letter to the same Effect you mentioned; and to the Sending, included, of the Orders for seizing the Conspirators Estates; and for proceeding against them according to Martial Law.

Affairs at Plymouth.

A Letter from Captain James Chudleigh, from Plymouth, of the Tenth of March, relating the State of those Parts with relation to the Treaty; and desiring that some Assistance might be given for the Raising of Three Regiments of Volunteers; and that Arms might be sent them down.

Weekly Assessments.

Ordered, That the Members appointed send into the several Counties the Books for the weekly Assessments; and to advance that Service in the several Counties, do send their Servants to Haberdashers Hall, where they may have so many of those Books as they shall desire.

Intercepted Letters.

Divers Letters from Secretary Niclas of the Seventh of March, to Sir Wm. Boswell; to the Lord Ambassador in Spain; to Mr. Browne, Resident at Paris; Mr. Gilbert Talbott, at Venice; with Three printed Pamphlets in each Pacquet; the One, intituled, "An Answer of the Earl of Newcastle, to an Imputation laid upon him by a Warrant of the Lord Fairfaxe;" "His Majesty's Answer to the Propositions of both Houses, concerning the Cessation:" A Pamphlet, intituled, "Mercurius Aulicus;" and a Letter without a Name, to Sir Wm. Boswell; and a Letter intercepted, all in Characters, from his Majesty to Walth. Montague; were all this Day read; and were all intercepted in Bedfordshire.

It is Ordered, That it be referred to Mr. Corbett, Mr. Glyn, Sir Peter Wentworth, Sir Walth. Erle, and Mr. Strode, to peruse these Letters; and to give Order for the Printing of them.

Affairs at Lichfield.

Two Letters from Lichfield, concerning the Taking of the Close at Lichfield, and the Earl of Chesterfield, and about Two hundred Prisoners; and relating the State of that Place, and the Parts adjoining; desiring some Supply of Monies, and some Troops of Horse, for the Assistance of those Parts; were this Day read.

Ordered, That the Committee for the Safety of the Kingdom do grant their Warrant to the Treasurer at Wars, to pay the Saddlers for the Saddles desired by the Gentlemen of Staffordshire, according to the Warrant of the Lord General.

Searching Trunks.

Ordered, That the Cart and Trunks belonging to the Countess of Devon, stayed at * *, be searched and stayed until this House take further Order: And it is referred to the Committee for Examinations, to take Care for the Searching of them.

Thanks to Lichfield Gentlemen.

Ordered, That Sir Edw. Littleton, and Mr. Noble, do write unto the Gentlemen at Lichfield, and return them

Thanks from this House, for their great Service they have done: And that Mr. Serjeant Wilde * * * *.

Commissioners of Customs.

The Commissioners and Collectors of the Customs were again called in; and did, in Substance, nothing at all very from their Answer they gave in to the Committee.

Thereupon they again withdrew * * * *.

Resolved, That the Time for the Continuance of the Commissioners of the Customs in the Employment of collecting the Customs, shall be for One intire Year, to begin from the Five and twentieth Day of March next.

Ordered, That the Ordinance, formerly presented by the Commissioners of the Customs, be recommitted to the Committee for the Navy; to make it conformable to the Votes passed in the House concerning them.

The Commissioners of the Customs were again called in: And Mr. Speaker, by the Command of the House, acquainted them with the Vote for the Time of their Continuance in the Employment, and with the Order to the Committee for drawing up an Ordinance for them accordingly; and told them, That the House did expect, that they should comply with the Propositions and Demands of the Committee last made.

Earl of Newport.

A Letter from the Committee at Coventry, of the 14th of March, touching the Staying of the Earl of Newport, by the Committee there, was this Day read: And

It is Ordered, That the Committee be written unto, to keep the Lord Newport in safe Custody, until they receive farther Order: And that the Committee have Thanks returned them for their Care: And Mr. Pym to write the Letter.

Tumult at Lambeth.

Ordered, That the Committee appointed to consider of the Business concerning the Tumult at Lambeth, shall have Power to sit, any Four of them.

Capuchins.

Ordered, That the Business concerning the Removal of the Capuchins, and the Remonstrance from the French King's Agent concerning the same Business, be taken into Consideration, the first Business, To-morrow Morning.

Malignants Estates.

Ordered, That the Names of the Persons to be nominated, in the Ordinance for Seizing the Estates of Malignants be read To-morrow Morning.

Boteler's Escape.

Ordered, That the Examination and Consideration of the Escape of Sir Wm. Boteler out of the Gatehowse be referred to the Committee for Prisoners where Sir Robert Harley has the Chair.

Norfolk Delinquents

Mr. Corbett moved the House, That there might be an Examination had of the Crimes committed by these Gentlemen of Norfolk, apprehended at Mr. Holl's House; and an Inquiry made into the Nature of their Offence, that there may be some Proceedings against them, and their Estates seized and sequestered, if the Nature and Quality of their Offence should merit it, in the Judgment and Opinion of the House; or otherwise, that they might be discharged. It was answered, That the Committee for Examinations had Power to examine the Business, without troubling the House with it.

Advance by Commissioners of Customs.

The Demands of the Committee for the Navy, made to the Commissioners and Collectors of the Customs, for the Advance of Thirty thousand Pounds, for the Setting forth of the Navy; and their Answer; the Reply of the Committee; and their Answer to that Reply, this Day reported to the House again, and read.

The Demands of the Committee:

That the Commissioners shall advance Thirty thousand Pounds.

Ten thousand Pounds thereof this Day Sevennight:

Ten thousand Pounds a Week after:

Ten thousand Pounds a Week after That.

That they shall have the Benefit of the Customs to reimburse themselves, until it cometh in; the former Order being performed.

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