House of Commons Journal Volume 3: 8 June 1643

Die Jovis, 8 Junii, 1643.

PRAYERS.

Proceedings on the Plot.

ORDERED, That the Committee, that took the Examination of this great Discovery, shall represent the State of those Examinations, and of the Design, to the City, assembled in the Common Hall, this Afternoon, in the same manner as it was represented to this House, and to the Lords; and that they take notice, at the nominating of the Members of this House named in the Examinations, to declare unto the City, that They have declared their Detestation of it; and entered into the Covenant with this House.

Ordered, That the Committee that took the Examinations of this great Discovery, shall have publick Thanks returned unto them, by this House, for their great Industry and Secrecy in this Business; and that they be desired, with the same Industry and Secrecy, to proceed in the further Examination of this Plot and Design: And that the Committee shall have Power to thank the Lord Mayor, and the particular Citizens, for their Care and Trouble in this Business; and to promise unto those particular Persons, that have the Prisoners of this Design in their Custody, that they shall have Consideration for their Charge, with respect to their Care and Industry.

Ordered, That Sir Anth. Irby and Mr. Hatcher shall repair to my Lord General, to acquaint his Excellency with the State of the whole Design, and the Discovery; and to desire his Excellency, that he would consider of some speedy Course to be taken in the Proceedings against the Conspirators by Martial Law; in regard the Design was against his Army, and Forces under his Command; and plotted in a Garrison Town.

Sir Anth. Irby, Mr. Hatche, * Peter Wentworth, Lord Ruthen, Sir Christ. Yelverton, are appointed to go to the City with the Committee; to be present at the representing unto the City the State of the Discovery of the late great Design.

The Covenant.

Mr. Maynard, Sir Guy Palmes, Sir Norton Knatchball, Sir Philip Parker, Sir Wm. Playters, Mr. George Buller, Mr. Simon Snow, Lord Cranborne, Mr. Wm. Bassett, Sir Rich. Onslow, Sir Edw. Partheriche, took the new Oath and Protestation, and entered into the Covenant.

Sir Tho. Pelham, Mr. Glanvile, Sir H. Mildmay, not being present on Tuesday when the Covenant was taken, desire time till To-morrow.

Ordered, That the Committee appointed to go into the City, shall read there, and make known to the City, the Covenant taken by this House; and likewise, to acquaint them, that this House has agreed upon a Covenant for the whole Kingdom, with some necessary Differences; which is sent up to the Lords.

Proceedings on the Plot.

Resolved, That a Message shall be sent to the Lords, to acquaint them, that this House intends to acquaint the City, this Afternoon, with the Examinations of the Discovery of the late Design; and that they thought fit first to acquaint their Lordships with so much; and to declare, that the Members of this House, named in those Examinations, have taken the new Oath and Protestation, and entered into the Covenant.

Sir Christ. Yelverton went to the Lords with this Message.

The Covenant.

Sir Ambrose Browne, Mr. Jo. Fettyplace, Sir F. Knollis, Mr. Edw. Wingate, Mr. Wm. Glanvile, Sir Jo. Coke, Sir Roger Burgoine, Sir Tho. Pelham; took the new Oath and Protestation, and entered into the new Covenant.

Commissioners of Assessments, &c.

Ordered, That Colonel Jo. Venn, Governor of Windesore Castle, and Daniel Blagrave Esquire, be added to the Commissioners named in the Ordinances, for weekly Assessments; for Sequestrations; for assessing such as have not contributed at all, or not proportionable to their Estates: And that, to all Intents and Purposes, they shall have the like Power and Authority, as any other Commissioners, already named in the said Ordinances, have, might, or ought to have.

Trade.

Ordered, That the Committee appointed to examine the Prohibition made by the States General, of coloured Cloths to be imported there; and to prevent the Exportation of Wool and Fullers Earth into Foreign Parts; be revived: And that they sit constantly, every Monday and Thursday in the Afternoon, in the Exchequer Chamber.

Letter referred.

Ordered, That the Letter from the Committee at Cambridge to my Lord General, dated the Thirteenth of May 1643, shall be referred to the Consideration of the Committee for the associating Counties.

The Covenant.

Sir Jo. Franklyn, Sir Henry Mildmy, Sir Tho. Hutchinson, Mr. Wynwood, took the new Oath and Protestation, and entered into the Covenant.

Irish Affairs.

Ordered, That the Irish Business be taken into Consideration To-morrow Morning.

Prisoners of War.

Mr. Recorder reports from the Conference, the Lords Amendments to the Ordinance concerning the Usage and Exchange of Prisoners: The which were read, in hæc verba, viz.;

Instead of the Preamble, this following to be inserted:

"Whereas divers Complaints, and Proofs, have been made, of the barbarous and cruel Usage of many of the Prisoners taken in the Service of the Parliament: For the avoiding and preventing the like Cruelties hereafter, to any of the Prisoners, of either Side; and that, on the contrary, they may be used with all fitting Accommodations: Be it Ordained, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament," &c.

This being debated; it was agreed, upon the Question, that the House should insist upon the Preamble, as it went from hence.

The next Alteration was, the Addition of an Article, to be the first Article and Clause after the Preamble: Which was read, in hæc verba; viz.

"1. That Allowance shall be given to any Prisoners, who can provide for themselves, that they may have Provision of Victuals, Bedding, and other Necessaries, at ordinary and reasonable Rates: And that they, and such other Prisoners, as cannot provide for themselves, may be permitted to receive such Monies as shall be sent them; and shall not be, in any ways, exacted upon; but shall be well used by their Keepers, in respect of their Victuals, or other Accommodations, according to their several Qualities."

This Clause being put to the Question; it passed with the Negative.

The next Alteration was, the Third Article, sent from hence, to be thus altered; viz.

"That none of the Parliament Prisoners, in the Cases aforesaid, shall be permitted to go out of his Chamber, nor shall any Person be permitted to speak with him, but in the Presence of his Keeper: And the Persons that shall so speak with the said Prisoners, shall be first allowed by one, or both Houses of Parliament; or by my Lord General; or such Person as commands in chief, where such Prisoners shall be; or by the Committee appointed for the Safety: And if any Gaoler or Keeper shall fail in Observance of the said Rules to any Prisoner, it shall be taken for an Escape of every such Prisoner; for which the said Gaoler or Keeper shall be punished, by both Houses of Parliament, or such Person as commands in chief, as aforesaid."

This Clause being debated, and put to the Question; it passed with the Negative: And

The House resolved to adhere to the Clause, as it was sent from hence.

Coal Trade.

Whereas by an Ordinance of both Houses of Parliament, dated the Fourteenth Day of January 1642, all Persons are prohibited to fetch Coals at Newcastle, Sunderland, and Blith, upon Pain of the Forfeiture of their Ships and Coals; notwithstanding which Ordinance, some pretending Ignorance, others, that in their Voyage for Scotland they were forced in by foul Weather, have presumed to lade Coals at the aforesaid Places: The Consideration of whose several Cases the Commons House of Parliament having referred to the Committee of the Navy, whose want of Time to examine the Truth of the said Allegations, have, in Favour to the several Persons offending in this kind, taken Bond of the Masters and Owners of the Ships and Coals; with Condition that they should be responsible to the Parliament for the true Value of their Ships and Coals, when they should be thereunto required; and not to sell their Coals above the Rate appointed by the said Ordinance: Notwithstanding which Care of the said Committee, it is informed that the said Masters and Owners, taking Advantage of the Times, and coveting excessive Gains, have sold their Coals at far greater Prices: For avoiding which Abuse, in time to come; it is Ordered, That the Lord Mayor of London, for the Time being, be desired to appoint Officers of Trust; who are commanded to attend on Board the Ships, and take Care that the said several Masters and Owners, who shall, upon Bond given to this Committee, have Leave to sell off their Coals, receiving for a Chaldron of Coals, the Sum of Twenty Shillings, and not above Twenty-three Shillings: And that the said Coals be not sold to any Woodmonger, Chandler, or others, who sell the same, but unto the Poor, and unto Housekeepers, and those of the meaner Sort; not sparing to any one Persons above the Quantity of One Chaldron. And it is further Ordered, That Mr. Solomon Smyth, Marshal of the Admiralty, do not permit any Master or Owner to sell off their said Coals, but in the Presence of some Persons deputed by the Lord Mayor of London, under his Lordship's Hand in Writing, to see the due Execution of this Order. Provided, that it shall be lawful for the Overseers of the Poor of any Parish, within the City of London, and the Suburbs thereof, to make Provisions of Coal, for the Use of the Poor of such Parishes, against the Winter, in some such indifferent Proportion as shall be thought fit by the Lord Mayor of the said City for the time being, signified under his Hand in Writing. The same Rule and Order to be observed in all other Towns. Ports, where Coals of Newcastle, Sunderland, or Blythe, are imported; to be sold by the Direction and Oversight of the chief Officer or Officers of the said Towns and Ports.

This Order being this Day presented from the Committee of the Navy to the House of Commons, it was approved of, and assented unto; and ordered to be printed, and sent unto the Lord Mayor.