House of Commons Journal Volume 3: 21 March 1643

Die Martis, 21 Martii, 1642.

PRAYERS.

Seizure of Plate, &c.

ORDERED, That the Eight hundred Pounds-worth of Plate, and Six hundred Pounds in Money, seized in Mr. Middleton's House; and the Four hundred Pounds of Mr. Halsted's; and brought to Sheriff Andrewes; that the Plate be sent to the Tower to be coined and melted down, to be disposed of for the Service of the Parliament; and the Monies likewise employed for the Service of the Parliament.

King's Printer.

The humble Petition of John Parker, and Miles Fletcher, Assigns of Rob. Barker, his Majesty's Printer, desiring that they may be free from the Payment of the Twentieth Part of the Weekly Assessments, in regard of their great Disbursements, for the Service of both Houses; and likewise, that the Importing of Bibles and Books of Psalms may be prohibited.

Conference with Lords.

Sir Christ. Yelverton went up to the Lords, to desire a Conference, concerning the Ordinance for seizing the Estates of such as have borne Arms against the Parliament; concerning Sir Edw. Berkeley, and Sir Hugh Pollard; touching the Letters from Coventry, concerning the Earl of Newporte; touching the Prisoners at Oxon.

He likewise * * * *

Instructions * * * * recommitted to Sir Walt. Erle, Mr. Glyn, Mr. Cage, and Mr. Maynard, and Mr. Rous: And are presently to withdraw.

Billeting Soldiers.

A Letter to be signed by Mr. Speaker, and sent to the Town of Hull, for the Billeting of the Soldiers of that Garrison, for a Month, upon Repayment, &c. was this Day read; and assented unto.

Assessment for Ireland.

The House being informed, that divers English Gentlemen, Inhabitants of Ireland, were at the Door, that desired to prefer a Petition to this House, they were called in; and did prefer their Petition; with this Expression, that this must be their last Petition, their Condition there was in so miserable and so desperate an Estate; and desiring for their Relief, that a Bill might pass for the Assessing of Two hundred thousand Pounds, by way of Subsidy, for the Use of Ireland.

Resolved, &c. That a Bill shall be brought in for the raising of Two hundred thousand Pounds, by way of Subsidy, for the Service of Ireland, as an Adventure of the Kingdom of England; to be repaid out of the Rebels Estates and Lands.

Mr. Maynard, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Grimston, and Sir Jo. Clotworthy, are appointed to prepare and bring in a Bill to that Purpose.-

Answer from Lords.

Sir Christ. Yelverton brings Answer, that the Lords do agree to a present Conference, upon the several Heads desired; and to the Addition of the Names of the Committees to several Counties, for the weekly Assessment.-

Assessment for Ireland.

The Gentlemen, that preferred the Petition, were again called in; and Mr. Speaker acquainted them with this Vote.

Mr. Pym, Sir Walth. Erle, Mr. Serjeant Wilde* *

Prisoners of War.

Resolved, &c. That the Petition and Articles, sent by the Prisoners from Oxon, shall be printed and published; together with a Declaration of both Houses, to be made; setting forth the several Messages, which have been sent to his Majesty; and all fair Means used to procure Ease and Relief for these Prisoners; and yet no Redress can be had:

That an Express be forthwith sent to the Lord General, to acquaint him with the Grievances of the Prisoners; and to desire his Majesty, that a speedy Course may be taken for their Relief; which, if it not be granted, and the Houses be certified thereof within Eight Days, under the Hands of the Prisoners, then such further Order be taken by the Houses, as shall be fit.

Lords to sit.

Mr. Hatcher is appointed to go to the Lords, so soon as the Conference is ended, to desire them to sit a while.

Affairs in Devon, &c.

The Instructions to Edm. Prideaux, and Anth. Nicoll, Esquires, upon the Occasion of the Treaty between the Counties of Devon and Cornwall, were this Day read.

Grant to Councell.

Resolved, That Alexander Councell Gentleman, who mounted himself, at his own Charge, with Two Horses, under the Command of Captain Ireton, and received many Wounds at Keynton Battle, and lost his Horses there; as appears by a Certificate from the Council of War, to whom the Petitioner's Petition was referred by his Excellency the Lord General; shall have Forty Pounds bestowed upon him, in Acknowledgment of his good Service: And that it be referred to the Committee, for the Safety of the Kingdom, to give Order for the Payment of the said Sum unto him; and likewise to confer on him some Place of Command in the next Troops to be raised, or where an Officer is wanting.

Island of Guernsey.

Two Letters from the Island of Guernsey, of the 17th and 18th of March, concerning Sir Peter Osborne's (the Governor of that Island) keeping that Castle against the Town, and against the Parliament, &c. were this Day read: And it is Ordered, That this Business be fully and clearly examined by the Committee for Examinations.

Resolved, &c. That the Estate of Sir Peter Osborne, in the Counties of Huntington, Bedford, or elsewhere, and likewise his Office, be sequestred; to be employed for the Service of the Commonwealth: And Serjeant Wilde is ordered to bring in this Order of Sequestration.

Ordered, That the Committee, for the Safety of the Kingdom, do return Thanks to the Inhabitants of the Isle of Guernsey, for their good Affections to the Parliament.

Prisoners of War.

Ordered, That Colonel Cromwell shall have Power to dispose of the Prisoners he has taken in the Isle of Lothingland, in the County of Suffolk, or Yermouth, or Places thereabouts, to such Place or Places of safe Custody, as he, in his Discretion, shall think fit: And that Thanks be returned unto him for his great Service.

Articles against Drake, &c.

Ordered, That the humble Petition of the Inhabitants of the Parish of Radwinter, in the County of Essex, complaining of their Parson Mr. Drake, and Tho. Garner his Curate, together with the Articles annexed to the said Petition, be referred to the Committee of plundered Ministers.

Boteler's, &c. Estates.

Ordered, That Mr. Jo. Goodwyn do bring in an Ordinance, giving Authority to the Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Kent, to seize the Estates of Sir Wm. Boteler, and Sir * St. Leger.

Weston Loiland Vicarage.

An Ordinance for the sequestring of the Rents and Profits of the Vicarage of Weston Loiland, in the County of Somersett, whereof Mr. Tho. Holt is Vicar, into the Hands of certain Sequestrators named in the said Ordinance, to the Use of Samuel Pretty Master of Arts, a godly, learned, and orthodox Divine; who is thereby appointed and required to preach every Lord's Day, and to officiate as Vicar, and to take care for the Discharge of the Cure of the said Church, in all the Duties thereof, until further Order shall be taken by both Houses of Parliament; was this Day read; and by Vote, upon the Question, assented unto; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Affairs in Devon, &c.

Instructions for Edmond Prideaux, and Anthony Nicoll, Esquires, Members of the House of Commons, for the present employed by the Parliament, as Committees in the County of Devon:

That whereas both Houses of Parliament have heretofore, in the Cases of the Counties of Yorke and Chester, declared the Danger, and their Dislike, that any particular County, sitting the Parliament, should, without their Consent and Authority, engage themselves in a Treaty of Peace or War; continue in the same Opinion, conceiving this Treaty now on Foot, in the Counties of Devon and Cornewall; and more especially, when both Houses of Parliament have, with the Advice of the Lord General, agreed upon Articles of Cessation to be presented to his Majesty, and sent their Committee accordingly for his Majesty's Consent thereunto: And whereas they have, by the Letters of the 15th and 18th of this Instant, and otherwise, received Advertisement, that no Treaty hath been, as yet, transacted and concluded between the Two Counties of Devon and Cornwall; they have thought fit to give you these ensuing Instructions:

1. You shall present, in such convenient Time as you shall think fit, unto the Committee of the Parliament for those Two Counties, the Opinion both Houses have of the Treaty.

2. That whereas the Houses are informed, that Sir Ralph Hopton, with his Adherents, are active, on their Part, in furnishing themselves with Ammunition, fortifying of Places, and recruiting their Forces, within the County of Cornwall, since the beginning of that Treaty; whereof we suppose you have Notice, tho' you make no mention thereof yourselves: We shall expect and do require, that the Committees use the like Vigilancy and Care, on their Part, that the Country be not exposed to Danger or Surprise, whatsoever the Event may be; and particularly, that they prevent the Enemies marching into or through the County of Devon.

3. In regard we expect a present Answer and Consent of his Majesty to the Cessation of Arms, both Houses do declare, that they think it not fit, that the Committees should proceed any further in this particular Treaty; but attend the Issue of the general Treaty, wherein those Counties are comprehended; and, in case of Agreement, their Forces intended to be first disbanded.

This we hold to be the best Way to save their Engagements; and, for their better Satisfaction herein, we have sent herewith a Copy of the Articles of Cessation.

Northampton Garison.

Whereas there are Five several Companies of the Regiment of Foot, under the Command of the Right Honourable Edward Earl of Manchester, now in Garrison at Northampton, in Arrear for their Pay; and likewise several Sums of Money laid out by the Captains of the said Companies, for the levying of their Soldiers, and for the buying of Drums, Colours, Partizans, and Halberts, yet unpaid; and there are several Assessments forthwith to be made in the County of Northampton, for the Service of the Parliament, It is this Day ordered and appointed by the and Commons, That the Committee for Northampton, out of the Monies, that are or shall be received by them out of the said Assessments, shall make Payment of such Arrears as shall appear to be due to the said Officers and Soldiers, upon their several Accounts; and from time to time to pay all such other Sums of Money, as shall be due to any of the said Captains, upon true and frequent Musters; and to give an Account thereof, when they shall be thereunto desired.