House of Commons Journal Volume 2: 18 August 1641

Die Mercurii, 18 Aug. 1641.

PRAYERS .

Valkenberg's Nat.

MATHEW Van Valkenberg, who has a Bill of Naturalization depending here, this Day took the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy.

Finsbury Church.

1^a vice lecta est Billa, An Act for the Erecting of a free Parish Church in the Lordship and Liberties of Finsbury, and Part of Winlox Barn in the County of Middlesex.

Earl of Stamford.

Ordered, That the like Order, that was made upon the Petition of Humphrey Walrond Esquire, shall be made now upon a Motion made in the Behalf of the Earl of Stamford.

Hinden Election.

Ordered, That Mr. Howe's Petition, concerning the Election of Hinden, shall be referred to Sir Lewis Dives Committee; to be considered of: And they are to meet on Wednesday next, at Two of Clock, in the Exchequercourt: And Mr. Howe, that is concerned herein, is to have Notice hereof.

Member not to sit.

Resolved, upon the Question, That Mr. Coryton shall not be admitted to sit as a Member in this Parliament.

Dunnevett Writ.

Resolved, upon the Question, That Mr. Speaker shall issue forth a Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery, for a new Writ, for Electing of another Burgess to serve for the Town of Dunnevett, instead of Mr. Coryton.

Commrs to Scotland.

Sir Wm. Armyn is appointed to go up to the Lords, to desire their Lordships, that they would be pleased to take into Consideration the last Conference, concerning the Commissioners to be sent into Scotland; and that they would give an Answer unto it, so soon as with their Lordships Conveniency they can.

Motion for a new Writ.

A Motion was made concerning the Sending of a new Writ, for the Electing of a Burgess to serve in the Stead of Mr. Cowcher, who is very infirm, by reason of great Age; but it would not be granted by the House.

Letter to Sheriff of Hants.

A Letter which Mr. Speaker was ordered to write to the Sheriff of Hants, unto Colonel Goring, for the Payment of Three thousand Pounds. &c. was read; and ordered to be written fair for Mr. Speaker's Hand.

Soap Business.

Ordered, That the Report concerning the Soap Business shall be resumed To-morrow Morning.

Defence of the Kingdom.

Mr. Hollis reports the Conference, last Night had with the Lords concerning the Defence of the Kingdom:

"That the Lord Chamberlain told us, his Majesty, before his going, had declared that he would.. a General for the South on this Side Trent; and that his Majesty was pleased to nominate him; and that, since his Majesty's going, a Commission had been delivered unto him, under the Great Seal: He apprehended this too great a Burden; and knew what Exceptions had been taken to the Proceedings of Lord Lieutenants and Deputy Lieutenants:"

"That by his Commission, in case of Tumults and Commotions, he is to raise Forces and Men for the Securing the Person.. the Queen, the Prince, and the rest of the Royal Issue: He objected these Difficulties; That, when these Forces were raised, he knew not how to levy Money for the Payment of them; and besides, he is to take a Care, if there were an Invasion from Abroad; for which he was ill prepared, having no Intelligence or Correspondency from Ambassadors Abroad, or from the Fleet: And so concluded with a Desire of the Directions of this House."

Commrs to Scotland.

Sir Wm. Armyn brings this Answer of the Message to the Lords; that the Lords are of Opinion, that the Commission and Instructions be presently prepared, together with a Petition to his Majesty; and that this be sent away with all Speed; and in the mean time those of the Lords House, and of this House, may be going on their Journey; and those Instructions and Commission may meet them upon the Way, if this House think so fit.

Ditto.

Mr. Hotham is appointed to go to the Lords, to desire a free Conference, by a Committee of both Houses, concerning the Commission, and Instructions, and Petition to his Majesty; and concerning the Members that are to go from both Houses into Scotland.

Lord Chamberlain's Commission.

Ordered, That the Clerk of the Crown shall be required to send a true and authentick Copy of the Commission granted to the Lord Chamberlain, for being his Majesty's Lieutenant General on this Side Trent.

Call of the House.

Resolved, upon the Question, That the House shall be called this Afternoon, at Two of Clock.

Conference.

Mr. Hotham brings Answer, that the Lords will give a Meeting presently, by a Committee of the whole House, as is desired.

Mr. Pym, Sir Jo. Colepeper, Sir Jo. Hotham, Mr. Hollis, Sir Walth. Erle, are appointed Reporters of this Conference.

The Tower.

Sir Christ. Yelverton is appointed to go up to the Lords with this Message; to desire a Conference, by a Committee of both Houses, so soon as it shall stand with the Conveniency of their House, concerning the Securing of the Tower.

Articles against Willmott; &c.

Ordered, That the Articles against Commissary Willmott, Colonel Ashbourneham, Captain Pollard, and the rest, shall be taken into Consideration, and proceeded in To-morrow Morning, at Nine of Clock.

Sir F. Hamilton, &c.

Ordered, That, on the next Thursday or Tuesday, (that the House shall not sit in the Afternoon,) the Committee for Irish Affairs shall sit, and hear and consider of the Petitions of Sir Fred. Hamilton and the Widow Linch.

Conference.

Sir Christ. Yelverton brings Answer, that the Lords will give a present Meeting, as is desired.

Sir Walth. Erle, Mr. Hollis, Mr. Strode, are * * * *

Sir W. Erle reports the Conference:

The Tower.

"That the Lord Newporte, being there in Person, did offer himself to reside in the Tower: That for the Hamlet Men, it was Harvest-time, a Difficulty to get them; besides, the Sickness is much where they inhabit: Therefore they did rather incline to leave it to his Lordship to chuse Forty such Men as he should think fit, and might confide in; and therefore were willing he might make Choice of them: And did refer it unto us, to consider how these Men shall have their Wages paid; it being affirmed, the Hamlet Men ever had an Allowance unto them, when they attended there in the King's Absence into Scotland."

Commrs to Scotland.

Mr. Pym reports from the Lords the Petition and Instructions.

To the King's Most Excellent Majesty.

The humble Petition of Your Majesty's loyal Subjects, the Lords and Commons, now assembled in Parliament:

Most Gracious Sovereign,

YOUR Majesty's Absence at this time (the Parliament sitting) doth not only afflict us with much Grief, but hinder us in making such Provision for the publick Necessities and Dangers of the Kingdom, as we desire to do: For the Supply whereof, we shall be often forced to resort to Your Majesty's Wisdom and Goodness: Whereupon both Houses of Parliament have agreed to send Wm. Earl Bedford, Edward Lord Howard, [^a Nathaniel Fines Esquire, Sir Wm. Armyn Baronet,] Sir Philip Stapleton Knight, and John Hampden Esquire, to attend Your Majesty, to convey to us Your Majesty's Commands and Directions; and to present to Your Majesty our humble Petitions and Desires; and likewise to see the Expediting of such Acts in the Parliament of Scotland, and other Affairs, as by the late Treaty, or otherwise, concern this Kingdom.

Wherefore our most humble Suit to your Majesty is, that You will be graciously pleased to admit the said Wm. Earl of Bedford, Edward Lord Howard, [Nathaniel Fines, Sir Wm. Armyn] Sir Philip Stapleton, and John Hampden, to be Your Majesty's Commissioners for the Dispatch of the Affairs afore-mentioned, according to such Instructions as they have now received, or shall from time to time receive from both Houses of Parliament, with Your Majesty's Consent and Approbation.

I NSTRUCTIONS .

1. You shall take care, that all those Acts that concern both Our Kingdoms of England and Scotland, and are already agreed upon in the Treaty between the Commissioners of both Nations, and which are confirmed by an Act of Parliament passed in this present Session, shall likewise be confirmed and ratified in the Parliament in Scotland; and you shall take an authentick Exemplification thereof, to bring Home with you.

2. You are to take care, that the Commissions agreed upon in the same Treaty concerning the Trade of both Kingdoms, and concerning the publick Peace and Correspondency betwixt the Two Nations, may be settled and dispatched accordingly.

3. You are to demand Satisfaction of such Debts, as ^a The Names of Nathanicl Fynes, and Sir Wm. Armyn, were inserted by a subsequent Order of this Day. shall remain due to the Northen Counties of England, for any Money for Provisions taken up by the Scottish Army.

4. You shall be careful to clear the Proceedings of the Parliament of England towards the Scotts, if you shall find any false Records; or Imputations cast on those Proceedings by Persons ill-affected to the Peace of both Kingdoms.

5. You shall, upon all fit Occasions, assure the Parliament in Scotland of the good Affections of his Majesty's Subjects, and of the Parliament of England; and all Things which shall concern the Service of his Majesty, and the Peace and Prosperity of both Nations.

6. You shall be careful to certify the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament, from time to time, of all Proceedings therein, and of all Occurrences, which shall concern the Good of this Kingdom.

7. You shall put in Execution such further Instructions, as you shall receive from the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament, with his Majesty's Approbation and Consent, signified under his Royal Hand.

Messenger to the King.

Ordered, That Mr. Antho. Nicholls shall be the Messenger appointed to go from this House to his Majesty to Edenbrough in Scotland, with the Petition, Commission, and Instructions, now read.

Commrs to Scotland.

Ordered, That in regard of any Mortality or Sickness that may befall those Members of this House, that are nominated Commissioners to go to Edenbrough in Scotland, that Sir Wm. Armyn and Mr. Nath. Fynes shall be inserted into that Commission.

Ordered, That Mr. Hollis and Sir Ph. Stapleton, do attend her Majesty, to know what Commands her Majesty will lay upon the Members of this House that are to go to his Majesty in Scotland.

Ordered, That One Thousand Pounds be advanced by Sir Ro. Pye, Mr. Wheeler, and those that are Treasurers for the Receipt of Money in Westminster, to the Commissioners of both Houses, appointed to go to his Majesty into Scotland: And an Acquittance, under their or any Two of their Hands, shall be a sufficient Discharge unto the said Treasurers for the Payment thereof.

Sir W. Bryer.

Ordered, That the Committee for Sir Wm. Bryer's Business shall sit this Afternoon, at Two of the Clock, in the usual Place: And Sir Jo. Jennings, Sir Oliver Luke, Mr. Thelwell, Mr. Cromwell, Sir Sam. Luke, Mr. Wheeler, Mr. Wyngate, Mr. Hoyle, are added to this Committee.

Post Meridiem.

Counsel in the Lords.

MR. Peard hath Leave to be of Counsel in the Lords House this Afternoon.

Reformado Officers.

The Petition of the Reformado Officers, being this Day read, is referred to the Committee for the King's Army: And Captain Barsey is required, from time to time, to attend this House; and not to depart till this House give further Order.

Disbanding the Army.

Ordered, That the Committee for the King's Army do meet To-morrow Morning at Seven of the Clock, in the inner Court of Wards; and take into Consideration the Letters this Day received from the Lord General and Sir Wm. Uvedall; as also former Letters received from the Lord General; and to consider what Answer is fit to be given to the Lord General: And further to take into Consideration the Accounts of Monies concerning the Disbanding of the King's Army, and to ascertain the same; and to consider of the former Orders and Resolutions of this House concerning the Disbanding of the Army: And, upon the whole Matter, to prepare Heads for a Conference with the Lords: And to present to this House any thing that may conduce to the instant and speedy Disbanding of the King's Army.

Sir H. Vane and Mr. Greene are added to this Committee.

Dawes' Creditors, &c.

Ordered, That Sir Thomas Dawes, and his Trustees, shall forthwith deliver into the Clerk's Custody of this House all the Tallies of Nineteen thousand Pounds, due from the King to Sir Tho. Dawes, to be kept here in safe Custody, for Security of Eight thousand Pounds, with the Interest, to the Old Farmer of the Customs, and the Remainder to the Creditors.

Call.

House called.