House of Commons Journal Volume 3: 13 November 1643

Die Lunæ, 13 Novembris, 1643.

PRAYERS.

Major Purefoy, &c.

THE humble Petition of Serjeant Major Purefoy, and Captain Purefoy, Prisoners in the Lord Peter's House, was this Day read: And

It is Ordered, That the Petitioners, and the Petition, be referred and transmitted over to my Lord General, to be tried by a Council of War.

Adjournment.

Resolved, &c. That the House shall adjourn itself from Mondays to Wednesday, and from Wednesdays to Saturday, until the House take further Order: And that all Committees, especially the Committees for Monies, do sit on those Days, notwithstanding the Adjournment of the House upon those Days.

Ordered, That the Lords be acquainted with this Resolution of this House, for adjourning upon these several Days; and desired, that the Committee for the Safety may meet upon those Days, at Nine of Clock.

Ships to be examined.

Ordered, That the Two Ships, now riding in the Thames, laden with Tin, be stayed in the mean time until it can be examined, to whom those Tins do belong; and whether they do not belong to Mr. Masham, a Malignant: And that it be referred to the same Committee to whom it was referred to examine the Business of the Oils belonging to the said Mr. Masham: And that so much as shall appear to belong to the said Masham may be sold; and the Proceed of the Sale of those Tins shall be applied to satisfy the Bill of Exchange drawn upon the Treasurer at Wars, by Nich. Oliver Leechderse De Wic, and other Strangers of the like Nature.

Haberdashers Hall Committee.

Ordered, That Mr. Gurdon be added to the Committee at Haberdashers Hall, in the Place of Sir Peter Wentworth.

Governor of Gloucester.

Ordered, That Mr. Trenchard do deliver the Bonds, and the Monies, to make up Five hundred Pounds for the Governor of Gloucester, unto Mr. Pury, Mr. Hodges, and Mr. Stevens, for the Governor's Use.

Letter of Marque.

Resolved, &c. That it be referred to the Committee of the Navy, to consider of the Proposition for granting of a Letter of Marque or Reprisal unto Captain Marten; and to report the State and Condition of that Ship, and that Proposition; and their Opinions and Resolutions upon the whole Business.

Wardships, &c.

An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons in Parliament, touching the finding of Officers for the intitling of his Majesty to Wardships, Liveries, Primer Seisins, and Mean Rates, for want of Livery, with Directions touching the same; and for freeing the Heirs of such as die in the Service of the Parliament, from Wardships; was this Day read the First time; and a Brief delivered in with it; and the Ordinance opened by Mr. Speaker; and ordered to be read again the Second time on Wednesday Morning next, at the first Sitting of the House.

Lieutenant of the Tower.

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

The Lords have this Morning received a Petition from Sir Jo. Conicrs, Lieutenant of the Tower; and, upon Consideration of the Petition, they think fit to grant his Request; and desire this House to concur therein: His Request is, That he may have his Leave prolonged to be absent from his Place, as Lieutenant of the Tower of London, till the last of February next.

Resolved, That this House doth agree, That Sir Jo. Coniers shall have Leave to stay beyond Seas, until the last of February next; and that this Answer shall be returned to this Message from the Lords.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House has considered their Lordships Message; and do agree, that Sir Jo. Coniers shall have . . . . to stay beyond Seas until the last of February next.

Message to Lords.

Mr. Long went up to the Lords, to acquaint them with the Resolution of this House, concerning Adjourning; and with a Desire to the Lords, that the Committee may meet, and sit constantly, upon the Days of Adjournment, at Nine of Clock.

He likewise carried up the Ordinances for Preservation of Records and Manuscripts; the Ordinance for raising of One Tenth more upon Merchandize, to be allowed for the Safety of Plymouth.

Plymouth.

A Letter from the Earl of Warwick, from the Downs, of the Eleventh of November, concerning Plymouth, was this Day read; and referred to the Committee for Plymouth.

Weekly Assessments, &c.

Sir Jo. Curson, Mr. Beddingfield, Sir Edw. Hungerford, Sir F. Popham, Sir Jo. Hippisley, Sir Roger North, Sir Anth. Irby, Mr. Trenchard, Mr. Pury, Sir Tho. Dacres, Sir Gilb. Gerard, Mr. Knightley, Sir Jo. Francklyn, Mr. Noble, Sir Nevile Poole, Mr. Niclas, Mr. Strode, Mr. Fountaine, Mr. Cage, Sir Tho. Cheeke, Sir Tho. Wallsingham, Mr. Wheeler, Sir Arth. Heselrig, Sir Edw. Partheriche, Mr. Winwood, Mr. Jo. Goodwyn, Mr. Scawen;

This Committee, or any Five of them, is to advise with the Committee of the Militia, in London, to consider of the State of the weekly Assessments; and of the Obstructions that hinder the coming of them in; and of all Ways and Means to remove those Obstructions; and of bringing in the Arrears of the Assessment with all Speed: And likewise, to consider of the State and Condition of the Towns hereabouts, in the Counties of Middlesex, Herts, Surrey, Essex, and Kent, upon which Soldiers have had free Quarter; and what the several Billets amount unto; and of some Way for their Ease, and present Relief and Redress; and to prevent the like Inconveniences for the future; that they may be able to pay their Contributions and Taxes set upon them by the Parliament.

Army Affairs.

It is likewise referred to this Committee, to consider of some Order to prevent, that no Captains of new Levies may be inlisted into Pay, until their Companies be complete; and to consider, whether it be not fit to advise with my Lord General, that no Commission may be granted to any Person for new Levies, until it be known whether there be Money to sold and pay those Soldiers, and Arms to arm them: And have Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, Papers, Records, &c.: And are to meet To-morrow, at Nine of Clock in the Exchequer Chamber: And the Care of this Business recommended to the Care of Mr. Cage and Mr. Jo. Goodwyn.

Ordered, That no Captain, or other Officer, of Horse or Foot, of the new Levies, shall billet any Soldier upon Free Quarter, without the Order of this House, and the Consent of the Deputy Lieutenants of such Counties, in which they desire any Soldiers in any such Manner.

Proceedings not to be related.

Ordered, That no Member of this House, either in the House, or out of the House, do make any Repetition, or Relation of any thing that has passed or been spoken here, that may any way relate unto, or concern Mr. Blakiston, Sir Jo. Clottworthy, Mr. Jepson, or Sir H. Vane sen.

Escape of a Prisoner.

The humble Petition of Giovanni Nicolao de Franchi, Gent. of Genoua, was this Day read, concerning Monies entrusted by him to Capt. Walt. Steward, to be transported from the Groine in Spaine, to Dover; of which he was deceived by the said Capt. Walt. Steward; and, upon a Sentence in the Admiralty, and Court of Delegates, had the same Capt. Steward committed Prisoner to the Marshalsea; whence he since escaped: Desiring that he may have his legal Remedy, according to the Laws of this State, against the Keeper of the Marshalsea, or his Heirs, by whose Fault his Debtor hath made an Escape: It is hereupon

Ordered, That the Petitioner shall have free Liberty to proceed according to the Laws of this State, to obtain his legal Remedy against the Keeper of the Marshalsea, or his Heirs, by whose Fault the said Walt. Steward, his Debtor, escaped.

Loan from Excise.

An Ordinance for borrowing of Twenty-three thousand Pounds of the Commissioners of Excise; to be sent immediately to pay my Lord General's Army; and for the reimbursing the Commissioners out of the Monies as shall come in upon the Ordinance of Excise; was this Day read; and, by Vote upon the Question, assented unto; and sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence, by Mr. Nicoll, immediately.

Excise.

Sir H. Vane, sen.-jun. Sir Rob. Pye, Mr. Rolle, Mr. Cage, Mr. Green, Sir F. Popham, Mr. Hoyle, Mr. Bedingfield, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Vassall, Mr. Lisle;

This Committee or any Three of them, is appointed to consider what Way is best and fittest to be taken, for a Controul upon the Account for the Monies that come in upon the Ordinance of Excise; and to prepare In structions for that Purpose; and to report it to the House with all Speed: And the Care of this Business is referred especially to Sir Rob. Pye: And they are to meet To-morrow, at Nine of Clock, in the Court of Wards: And have Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, Papers, Records, &c.

Answers from Lords.

Col. Long reports, That he had acquainted the Lords with the Resolution of this House, concerning their Adjournment; and do agree to the Days of Adjournment: And as to the two Ordinances, concerning the Records and Plimouth, they will send an Answer by Messengers of their own.

Mr. Nicolls reports, The Lords do agree to the Ordinance concerning my Lord General's Army for Payment of Twenty-three thousand Pounds out of the Excise.

Army Affairs.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Safety do consider of the present State and Condition of my Lord General's Army, and how their Companies may be recruited and made complete, and how continued so; and how the Payment of them may be continued; and what Number of Horse and Foot are fit to be continued as a Standing Army; and how it may be done with the least Charge; and to consider what Number is fit to be in every Company and Regiment: And the Members of this House of that Committee are enjoined to meet: And it is specially recommended unto Sir Arth. Haselrigg to take care of this Order; and that it be reported unto the House, on Wednesday, peremptorily.

Waller's Forces.

Ordered, That the Committee for the Safety do take a special Care to enable the Four hundred Foot Soldiers, and the Horse, under the Command of Sir Arthur Haselrigg, to march speedily to the Assistance of Sir Wm. Waller; and to consider of a settled Way of Payment of the Forces under the Command of Sir W. Waller.

Baker's Debt.

Ordered, That Mr. Geo. Baker of Lothbury, London, Merchant, who is indebted unto Mr. Robert Skinner of Dorsettshire, a Delinquent to the Parliament, One hundred and Fifty Pounds, shall forthwith pay One hundred and Twenty Pounds thereof to Mr. Rose, a Member of this House, for the Use of Lyme; which said Sum of One hundred and Twenty Pounds is charged upon the said Mr. Baker, by Bill of Exchange from the said Skinner: And the said Mr. Baker is further ordered to make speedy Payment of the Thirty Pounds, Residue thereof, to the said Mr. Rose, for the Use aforesaid: And this House will save the said Mr. Baker harmless against the said Skinner.

Money seized.

Ordered, That the Monies found about one Henderson, a Priest, shall be disposed into the Hands of Mr. Prideaux, to be employed by him in the setting up of Post Stages between London and Yarmouth, for the better conveying Intelligence to Scotland, and to the Northern Parts.

And it is further Ordered, That Ten Pounds of the said Monies, so seized, shall be disposed of to Mr. Arnold, who seized the said Monies, and discovered the same.

French Merchants.

Ordered, That the Proposition, this Day made by Mr. Rose, concerning the French Merchants, be referred to the Committee for the West: And have Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, Charters, Writings, Papers, and Records, &c.

Conference.

Ordered, That Mr. Serjeant Wilde report, on Wednesday next, concerning the Conference with the Lords.

Lord Peters' Rents.

Ordered, That the Rents due to the Lord Peters, for his Lands in Essex, shall be paid unto Sir Henry Holcroft, Mr. Wm. Atwood, Mr. Carew Mildmay, Mr. Henry Mildmay of Graces, and Edward Birkhead: And they are to detain the same Rents in their Hands, till both Houses give further Order for the Disposal thereof.

Bedfordshire Sequestrations, &c.

Ordered, That the Committee for Bedfordshire, that are residing in these Parts, excepting the Members of this House, shall be enjoined forthwith to go down into Bedfordshire: And they, and the Committee in the Country, are to put in Execution the Ordinances, for Sequestration, Twentieth Part, and Weekly Assessments.

Ailesbury Garison.

Ordered, That the Committee appointed to go to Aylesbury, to consider of the State of the Garison there, shall have Power to muster the Horse and Foot in the Garison at Ailesbury: And that Sir John Burgoine, and Mr. Thomas Rolfe be added to that Committee: And are to make Return of their Proceedings to this House.

Scotts Affairs.

Ordered, That Sir David Watkins, Mr. Francis Allen, Mr. Richard Shute, and Mr. Samuel Moyer, be added to the Committee at Goldsmith's Hall, for the Scotts Affairs.

Admiralty Secretary, &c.

A Letter from the Earl of Warwick was read, dated 9 Novembris 1643, concerning Mr. Smyth, Secretary to the Admiralty.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. Joseph Pett, Mr. Warwick, and Mr. Morecock, shall be admitted into those Places at Chatham, which my Lord of Warwick hath designed them unto.

Sir Henry Vane, Mr. Rolls, Sir Symonds D' Ewes, Sir Anthony Irby, Mr. Scawen, Mr. Green, Sir Edward Hungerford, Mr. Douse, Mr. Cage, Mr. Vassall, Sir John Corbett, Sir Peter Wentworth, Mr. Holland, Sir Nevill Poole, Sir Rob. Pye, Sir Gilb. Gerard, Sir Henry Mildmay, Mr. Rose;

This Committee is to consider of the Matter informed of, concerning Mr. Smyth, mentioned in the Earl of Warwick's Letter; and to examine the same, and report their Opinions to the House: And are to meet To-morrow in the inner Star Chamber, at Three of Clock, in the Afternoon.