House of Commons Journal Volume 3: 27 June 1643

Die Martis, 27 Junii, 1643.

PRAYERS.

Hotham's Escape.

ALETTER of the Twenty-fourth of June, from Captain Hotham, from Lincolne, was this Day read; in which he relates his Escape, &c. And, it is Ordered, That Sir Jo. Wray and Sir H. Anderson do prepare a Letter, to be sent to Mr. Hotham, from Mr. Speaker, to come up to the Parliament.

Taking of Tamworth.

A Letter from Coventry, of the Twenty-fourth of June; and a Letter from Colonel Barker; of the taking of Tamworth, and divers other Prisoners of Quality and Consideration; were read: And it is Ordered, That the Treasurers for the Monies upon the weekly Assessments do, out of the Monies out of Kent assigned for providing and buying of Arms, or out of the Parliament Stores, pay for Thirty great Saddles, and Thirty Bridles, and Thirty Carabines, and Thirty Pair of Pistols; for the Service of the Town of Coventry.

The Protestation.

Sir Christ. Wray, Mr. George Searle of Taunton, Sir Wm. Strickland, Sir F. Barnham, this Day took the Protestation.

Ordered, That the Members of this House do peremptorily subscribe their Names to the Protestation, within these Three Days at the farthest.

Maimed Soldiers.

An Ordinance for providing for the sick and maimed Soldiers, by Collections upon the next publick Fast Day in London and Westminster, was this Day read; and assented unto, by Vote, upon the Question.

Weston's Contribution.

Upon the Report concerning Mr. Ben. Weston, it is referred to Mr. Blakiston's Committee, to see what Mr. Weston will contribute upon the Propositions; and to report it to the House.

Payment to Earl of Essex.

Ordered, By the and Commons, that Mr. Avery, Mr. Barnardiston, Mr. Hobson, and Mr. Hill, Treasurers for the Sequestrations, shall, out of the first Monies to them coming by the Ordinance for Sequestrations, pay unto his Excellency the Earl of Essex, or his Deputies, Two thousand Pounds; and One thousand Pounds, Monthly, afterwards; until Five thousand Pounds be fully paid him; in Satisfaction of the like Sum of Five thousand Pounds, appointed for him in November last.

Fortifying King's Lynne.

A Letter from King's Lynne, of the Two-and-twentieth of June, from the Committee there, concerning the Fortifying the Town, &c. was this Day read: And it is Ordered, That Mr. Corbett do prepare an Ordinance, according to the Desires of the said Letter.

King's Proclamation.

Mr. Hatcher is appointed to desire a Conference, concerning the Matter of the last Conference, upon Occasion of the late Proclamation from his Majesty.

Mr. Hatcher brings Answer, that the Lords will give a Meeting in a Committee of the whole House, presently, in the Painted Chamber, as is desired.

Ditto.

Mr. Pym reports from the Committee, the Introduction to this Conference with the Lords, in pursuance of the Declaration they Yesterday made upon his Majesty's Proclamation, of the Twentieth of June; and likewise, Heads for a Conference with the Lords, upon the Occasion of the said Proclamation; to this Effect; viz.

1. To desire their Consent to the making of a new Great Seal; in regard of the Prejudice the Commonwealth suffers, in respect the Great Seal does not attend the Parliament; by the Misapplication of it to the Commission for setting up a Council of War in this City to destroy the Forces raised by the Parliament; and, to this Proclamation, of which your Lordships have given such a Censure: It will be a means to gain Credit and Strength to the parliament, and to open a free Course for administring Justice.

2. That a Proclamation might forthwith issue, to summon the Queen to answer the Articles of Impeachment against her.

3. To take some Course to prevent the Impression this Proclamation might work in foreign Parts and States, by sending Committees into Scotland, and to other foreign States.

4. To take into Consideration, the Two Ordinances concerning Intelligence; the Ordinance concerning the Listing of Horses.

5. That the King, by this Proclamation, doth disenable the Houses to make any Proposition, or to offer him any thing by way of Advice; and that therefore they cannot proceed further in that Petition received from them.

6. That an Oath may be framed, by the Committee appointed to prepare the Declaration, upon the Occasion of this Proclamation; to be taken by all Commanders, and Officers, and Governors of Forts and Castles; to defend the Two Houses in this present Parliament against any Authority whatsoever.

The Heads, and the Reasons for them, much to this Purpose, were, by Vote, assented unto.

Mr. Pym, Sir H. Vane junior, Mr. Solicitor, Mr. Sam. Browne, are appointed Managers of this Conference.

Byron's Sequestration.

Resolved, &c. That the Committee in Lancashire shall sequester the Estate Sir John Byron has, by Right of his Wife; he being Committee to her Son, during his Minority.

Declaration to Scotland.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Rob. Riche and Mr. Page;

The Lords have sent down this Declaration, to be sent into Scotland, with one Alteration they have made: They do likewise agree to the Letter of Credit, and to the Instructions to the Messenger that is now to be sent into Scotland.

The Amendment was, instead of " Persons to be sent into Scotland," that "Members of both Houses of Parliament shall be forthwith sent into Scotland:" It was read; and assented unto.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; that this House hath considered their Lordships Message; and do agree to the Amendment brought down by them.

Letter to be prepared.

Ordered, That Mr. Reynolds do prepare a Letter, to be sent from the Speakers of both Houses. . . .

Trial of Conspirators.

Ordered, That the Conspirators in the late wicked Design against the Army, City, Parliament, and Kingdom, shall be brought to their Trial upon Friday next in Guildhall, London, before the Earl of Manchester Lord President of a Council of War there to be held: And the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs of London are hereby authorized and required to prepare such Conveniencies as are requisite, in the said Guildhall, for the said Trial, against the Day aforesaid: And Mr. Sheriffs Langltam is required to attend the said Trial: And this House doth declare, that what Expences shall be laid out in and about the said Service, according to the Direction aforesaid, this House will take care, that the same be fully discharged and paid.

Irish Affairs.

A Letter from Mr. Welden, of the Fifteenth of June; and divers other Letters from the Lord Niddisdail, and and divers other Letters from the Lord Niddisdail, and the Lord Aboyne, to the Earl of Antrim; and the Confession of the Servant of the Earl of Antrim, before he was hanged at Carrickfergus; and the Declaration from the Scots, discovering a horrid Plot contrived between the Earl of . . . Lord Niddisdail, and Lord Aboyne, for making a Peace with the Rebels in Ireland; and then to make War upon Scotland; and the Irish Army to come to help the King against the Parliament.

King's Proclamation.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Rob. Riche and Mr. Page;

The Lords have appointed Thursday next in the Afternoon, at Three of Clock, for the Committees to meet, in the Prince's Lodgings, touching the Declaration upon his Majesty's late Proclamation.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; that this House has considered their Lordships Message; and have ordered, that their Committee shall meet on Thursday, as is desired.

Fleete Rectory.

An Order for putting Mr. Tho. Lawe, a Master of Arts, a godly, learned, and orthodox Divine, into the Rectory of the Parsonage and Church of Fleete, in the County of Lincolne, in the stead of Mr. * Haselwood, Rector of the said Parsonage, who is now in actual War against the Parliament; and the said Lawe is thereby authorized to receive the Profits, and required to officiate the said Cure, and to preach diligently there; was this Day read; and, by Vote, upon the Question, assented unto.

Holy Island.

Ordered, That Captain John Sanderson (appointed Commander for Holy Island, and is forthwith to carry over Soldiers to secure that Place) shall have Power to raise Three hundred Soldiers in the City of London, Middlesex, Surry, Essex, and Kent, or elsewhere; to be under the Command of the said Captain Sanderson, and such others as by the Committee for reducing New Castle shall be appointed; and to be approved by the Lord General the Earl of Essex; and are to obey such Directions as his Excellency, or the said Committee, shall from time to time appoint.

Letters from Scotland.

Ordered, That Mr. Reynolds shall have the Perusal of the Letters from Scotland, to make use of them in his Declaration.

Arms, &c. to Strode.

Ordered, That the Committee for Sequestrations do furnish Mr. Strode, a Member of this House, with a complete Arms for Man and Horse; in lieu of such Horse and Arms as he lost in the Service of the Commonwealth.

French Exhibits, &c.

Ordered, That the Considerations upon the French Exhibits be brought in on Thursday Morning next by the Committee; and that the Letters of Credence to the particular Provinces be carried up to the Lords then.

Restoring Horses.

Ordered, That the Three Horses, belonging to Mr. Pinchon of Writtle, lately seized by Captain Rich, shall be forthwith restored to the said Mr. Pinchon; in regard it appears by a Note under Colonel Long's Hand that he hath paid him One hundred Pounds, for the Service of the Kingdom; and that this House is informed, the said Mr. Pinchon duly pays all Taxes and other Payments required of him by the Parliament.

Vow and Covenant.

* * That unto the Vow and Covenant, which shall be taken in all fortified Cities, Towns, Castles, and Forts, or other Garrisons, this following Clause shall be added, (to come in betwixt the Words "without their Consent," and the Words "will likewise assist;") "And particularly I will, with my Life and uttermost Power, maintain and defend this (naming the City, Town, Castle, or Fort) against the said Forces, and all foreign Forces: And I will neither directly, nor indirectly, give, or suffer to be given, any Intelligence prejudicial to the said Place, or to any Forces raised by the Authority of both Houses of Parliament."

Vow and Covenant.

Instructions for the taking of the Vow and Covenant through the Kingdom.

1. That all the Knights and Burgesses, now in Parliament, do take special Care, speedily to send down into their several Counties, a competent Number of the Copies of the Vow and Covenant, unto the Deputy Lieutenants, and Committees of Parliament, in their several Counties; and require a Certificate from them of the Day when they were received: Which they are to return unto the Clerk of the House of Commons; that so an Account may be given of it, as there shall be Occasion.

2. That the said Deputy Lieutenants and Committees do, within Six Days at the utmost, disperse the said Copies unto every Parish Church or Chapel in their several Counties; to be delivered unto the Ministers or Churchwardens of the said several Churches: Which they shall send (together with a Precept under some one or more of their Hands, commanding the several Ministers and Churchwardens to return a true Certificate, within Twenty Days, of the Names of those who shall not take it) unto such Person, within the said several Counties, as shall, by the said Deputy Lieutenants and Committees, or some of them, be appointed to receive the same.

3. That the Ministers of the several Churches or Chapels shall give publick Notice, upon the first Lord's Day after their Receipt of such Copies, &c. what Day the said Vow and Covenant shall be taken in their several Parishes; the Time not to exceed the Seventh Day after such Notice.

4. That, before the Day so appointed, the Constables of every Town within the said several Parishes, shall bring unto the Ministers the Names, fair written, of all Men, above the Age of Fifteen, residing within their several Towns or Villages; and the Churchwardens of every Parish shall, before the said Day so appointed, provide a Register Book; in the Beginning of which shall be the Vow and Covenant fair written; wherein every Man, after he hath taken the said Vow and Covenant, shall write his Name, or make his Mark, whereunto his Name shall be written.

5. That this Vow and Covenant shall be taken by all Men, in the Church, within the several Parishes where they do reside, in the Presence of the Ministers, Churchwardens, Sidesmen, and Constables of the said Parish, or Two of them at the least, jointly with the Minister; the Parties standing up, and either audibly pronouncing all the Words of the same; or else, some one having then solemnly read over the whole, and taken it in their Sight and Hearing, they shall take the Covenant in their Hand, saying, "And I A. B. take this Vow and Covenant, &c." as it is in the last Clause of the Covenant, unto the End thereof.

6. That if any, residing in the Parish, do not come and take the said Vow and Covenant, as aforesaid, at the First Day appointed for the same; then the Minister shall appoint another Day for it speedily after: And the Churchwardens, or some of them, are to go unto the Houses where they dwell, and give them personal Notice; and if they be not at home, then to leave the Notice with some of the House of the Day appointed for their taking of it; and if they shall not come and take it at that time, they may be returned for Refusers of it.

7. That the Ministers and Churchwardens of the several Parishes shall within Twenty Days after their Receipt of the said Copies of the Vow and Covenant, make a true Certificate of the Names of all such within their Parishes as do not take it, unto such Persons as shall be appointed for that Purpose; who shall speedily return them unto the Deputy Lieutenants or Committees of Parliament in that County, or any Three of them; together with the Names of all such Ministers as do not send in their Certificates within the Twenty Days as aforesaid; whereof the said Deputy Lieutenants, or Committees, are to make Duplicates; keeping one Part with them, and returning the other, sealed, unto the Clerk of the House of Commons.

8. That the said Deputy Lieutenants and Committees of Parliament, or some of them, do forthwith disarm or cause to be disarmed all those that shall not take the said Vow and Covenant: And if it can be proved, by any one Witness, that they had in their Custody any Arms whatsoever, at the time of the making of this Covenant, or at any time since, which they shall not then deliver unto those appointed for to secure the same; then they shall be forthwith committed to Prison, without Bail or Mainprize.

9. That no Soldiers entertained shall receive any Pay from the State, until they have, in the Presence of the Commander and some Minister, taken the Vow and Covenant.

Sequestrations, &c.

Mr. Trenchard informs the House of the State of the Accounts of Monies brought in by the Counties, and what is defective; and of Interruption given in the Sequestration, by Protection from the Lords, and from the Committee for Sequestrations.

Resolved, &c. That the Estate of the Bishop of Chichester shall be forthwith sequestred.

Resolved, &c. That the Estate of Sir Jo. Morley shall be forthwith sequestred; and also the Estate of Mr. Wolfe of Sussex.

Resolved, &c. That the Estate of the Lord Viscount Montague, a Papist, shall be forthwith sequestred.

Resolved, &c. That the Estate of Sir Tho. Bowyer shall be forthwith sequestred.

Resolved, &c. That no Protection, granted by any Committees or Members of both Houses, without Consent of both Houses, shall be of any Force to protect any Man's Goods or Estate from the Ordinance of Sequestration.

Countess of Stamford.

Ordered, That the Assessment on the Countess of Stamford be referred to the Committee for Sequestration.

Person sent for.

Resolved, &c. That Francis Holden shall be forthwith sent for, as a Delinquent, for discountenancing the raising of Monies upon the Assessments; and for speaking contemptuously of the Proceedings of Parliament.

Sussex Assessment.

Ordered, That the Members of this House that serve for Sussex, do give a speedy Account to this House of the weekly Assessment in that County.

Gilbert's Petition.

Ordered, That the Petition of Tho. Gilbert, a Minister in the Province of Connaught, in the Kingdom of Ireland, be referred to the Committee for plundered Ministers; that the Petitioner may be appointed to preach in some Parish, where their Minister is absent, or of scandalous Life; whereby he may be enabled to subsist; the Rebels having spoiled him of all his Estate in the World.