House of Commons Journal Volume 3: 28 November 1643

Die Martis, 28 Novembris, 1643.

PRAYERS.

Debt to Sotheby.

THE humble Petition of James Sotheby, Merchant, desiring Monies due unto him for Arms sold by him for the Service of the State, was this Day read: And

It is Ordered, That this Petition be referred to the Committees of Suffolk and Essex, to take into their Consideration to satisty the Petitioner his just and due Debt.

Arms for the State.

Sir Gilb. Gerard, Sir Anth. Irby, Sir Walt. Erle, Sir Arth Heselrig, Mr. Nicoll;

This Committee is appointed to consider of some Course for satisfying such Persons as have furnished the State with Arms and Ammunition; and of some Way of furnishing the State with Arms for the future; and of an orderly and due Way of Payment for them: And are to meet when and where they please.

Affairs at Nottingham.

A Letter from the Committee at Nottingham Castle, of the Twenty-fourth of November, relating to the State of the Garison and Country there; and desiring the Consideration of this House; was this Day read: And

It is Ordered, That Sir John Curson and Mr. Millington do acquaint his Excellency my Lord General with this Letter, to desire his Assistance.

Press, &c. seized.

Ordered, That the Letters and Press seized in Herne's Hand the Printer, to which the Portugal Ambassador lays a Claim, be put into the Hands of Hunscott the Printer, to be employed for such Uses and Services as the Portugal Ambassador shall think fit and employ him in.

Military Affairs.

Two Letters from Sir Wm. Brereton, of the Eleventh and Fifteenth of November, from Hawardin Castle, within Three or Four Miles of Chester, relating the Manner of taking the Bridge at the Entry into Wales and Wrexham, &c.

Advance from Excise.

The Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, having by Ordinance, dated of the 27 present, assigned Five thousand Pounds for the Supply of Sir Wm. Waller, upon the Credit of Excise; and Jo. Towse Esquire and Alderman, with the first of the Commissioners of Excise, having advanced Two thousand Pounds of the said Five thousand Pounds for the Service aforesaid; it is hereby Ordained, by the said Lords and Commons, That the said Commissioners of Excise shall and may repay themselves out of such Monies, as shall first come in upon the Receipt of Excise, over and above such Monies, as, by former Ordinances, are assigned unto the Merchants Adventurers, or advanced by them the said Commissioners of Excise upon any former Ordinance; and to pay themselves after the Rate of Eight per Cent. Interest, for so long time as the said Commissioners shall be out of the said Sum of Two thousand Pounds, or any Part thereof.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Discovery of Money.

Ordered, That the humble Petition of Michael Cole Gentleman, concerning the Discovery of some Monies, be referred to the Examination and Consideration of the Committee for the Safety of the Western Parts.

Message to Lords.

Mr. Trenchard carried up to the Lords the additional Articles to the Ordinance of Excise: The Ordinance concerning the Payment of Two thousand Pounds to the Garison of Windesore Castle: The Ordinance for Repayment of Two thousand Pounds, advanced by the Commissioners of Excise, for the Service of Sir Wm. Waller: An Order for the Payment of Twenty Pounds to the Hart, for some Disbursements in Ireland.

He is likewise to desire the Lords to expedite the Business concerning the Great Seal, in regard of the Obstructions in the Proceedings of Law and Justice for Want of it.

Naval Affairs.

Mr. Green reports from the Committee, the Amendments to the Ordinance, enabling all Persons, approved of by Parliament, to set forth Ships in warlike Manner for the Guarding of the Seas, and Defence of his Majesty's Dominions;

Upon the Opening of these Amendments, Mr. Recorder reported the Opinion of the Committee for the Safety; That all Officers at Sea, as well as within Harbour, are to be disposed of, and put in, by my Lord of Warwick.

Earl of Warwick, Lord High Admiral.

Resolved, &c. That an Ordinance be brought in, for the constituting Rob. Earl of Warwick Lord High Admiral of England, and Warden of the Cinque Ports, with as large and ample Power, as any Lord Admiral of England, or Warden of the Cinque Ports, formerly has had.

Mr. Solicitor and Mr. Recorder are to prepare an Ordinance to this Purpose; and to bring it in.

Horses for Army.

Resolved, That the Horses, raised by the Hamlets, and in Middlesex, and not already with the Earl of Manchester, shall be assigned and sent to my Lord General, notwithstanding any former Ordinance.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein. Mr. Strode is appointed to carry this up to the Lords.

Answer from Lords.

Mr. Trenchard brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to the Four Ordinances carried up by him: And, as to the Business of the Great Seal, they will take it into a speedy Consideration; and send Answer by Messengers of their own.

City Forces.

The House being informed, That the Sheriffs of London, and some Aldermen, were at the Door, with a Message from the Lord Mayor, Court of Aldermen, and Committee for the Militia; they were called in: And Mr. Speaker, by the Command of the House, told them, that they had Liberty to propound what they had in Commission to deliver:

Whereupon Sheriff Foulke, after he had set forth the great Engagements the City lay under in divers Particulars, did, from the Lord Mayor, Court of Aldermen, and Committee of the Militia, desire, that those City Forces with my Lord General may be called home to the City.

That some considerable Sum of Money may be forthwith sent to the City Forces with Sir Wm. Waller; and they would use their best Arguments unto them for their Stay for a longer Time with him, upon the due Consideration they have of the important Necessity of their Stay.

Resolved, &c. That Five thousand Pounds shall be forth with raised upon the Credit of the Excise, and forthwith sent to pay the City Forces with my Lord General; out of which my Lord General is to be repaid the Three thousand Pounds be lent for Pay of the said City Forces, (if the said Three thousand Pounds be accordingly lent;) and to go on forthwith with his Recruit.

Mr. Recorder, Sir Philip Stapilton, Mr. Strode, Mr. Reynolds, Colonel Venne, Alderman Penington, Sir Christ. Yelverton, Mr. Trenchard, Mr. Lisle, Sir Walth. Erle, Sir Gilb. Gerard, Mr. Long;

This Committee is appointed to go to the Lord Mayor, Court of Aldermen, and the Committee for the Militia, this Afternoon, at Four of Clock, to let them know the Grounds and Reasons this House has to desire, that the City Forces may stay out yet longer; and are to use the best Arguments they can unto them, for their Stay accordingly.

This Committee has likewise Power to confer with them, about the raising of Monies for the City Forces, either by the way of Excise, or otherwise.

The Citizens were again called in: And Mr. Speaker, by the Command of the House. acquainted them, That the House had considered their Desires; and have appointed a Committee to go to the Lord Mayor, the Court of Aldermen, and Committee of the Militia, to give an Answer to both these Propositions: And do desire them, that they would desire the Lord Mayor, that the Court of Aldermen, and Committee of Militia, may meet this Afternoon, at Four of Clock, to this Purpose.

Military Supplies.

Ordered, That the Committee, appointed to sign off Warrants for the Payment of Monies, do sign the Warrant to Captain Canon, for providing of divers Particulars for the Artillery, and other Sorts of Ammunition; and that they take care, that the said Monies be not twice paid.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Navy do issue out, unto the Committee for the Safety, a Hundred Barrels of Powder: And that the Committee for the Safety do take care, that the said Hundred Barrels of Powder be carefully restored to the Committee of the Navy, within Two Months at furthest.

Ordered, That the Officers of the Stores at the Tower do forthwith furnish, by way of Loan, to Captain Tho. Blount, for the Defence and Safety of the County of Kent, Six Drakes, with all their Carriage, Tackle, and Furniture.

Message from Lords.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Edw. Leech and Dr. Aylett;

The Lords have commanded us to return unto you this Ordinance, concerning the putting the Great Seal in Execution; which they agree unto, with an Alteration of the Oath: The Earl of Rutland has excused himself: And thereupon the Lords have put in the Earl of Kent; and desire the Concurrence of this House therein. They have likewise sent down a Petition from the Lady Susanna Chandos; which they desire may be referred to the Committee of Lords and Commons for Sequestrations.

The Alteration of the Oath was thus:

Commissioners of Great Seal.

"Whereas, by Authority given you by Ordinance of both Houses of Parliament, you are made Commissioner of the Great Seal of England, you shall swear, that well and truly, according to your Skill and Knowledge, you will perform your Duty in the Execution of the said Office."

The Alteration of the Oath was read; and assented unto.

The Earl of Kent, assented unto, to be Commissioner of the Great Seal.

Allowance to Lady Chandois.

Ordered, That the humble Petition of the Lady Chandois, this Day read, be referred to the Committee of Lords and Commons for Sequestrations; and they to consider of her Allowance.

Reflections on Lord Wharton.

Sir Henry Mildmay was acquainted with the Words charged to be spoken by him concerning the Lord Wharton; and brought down by a Report of a Conference with the Lords, on the Third of November: To which Words he was required to give an Answer.

Whereupon the said Sir Henry Mildmay says, he never spake the Words concerning the Lord Wharton, or heard them spake, that are charged upon him by a Report from a Conference with the Lords; and does believe there is no Truth in them; and is sorry he should be the Occasion of any Dispute, or any Difference, between any Members of either House.

Ordered, That this shall be represented to the Lords, at a Conference, on Thursday Morning next.

Elliott's Petition.

Ordered, That the Commissioners of this House, of the Great Seal, unto whom the Petition of Mr. Elliott is referred, do meet, as a Committee, to consider of that Petition: And that Mr. Valentine, whom it concerns, do attend that Committee.

Recruiting the Army.

Ordered, That the Committee of the whole House do meet on Thursday, at Eight of Clock, to consider of the Ordinance for recruiting my Lord General's Army.

Letters of Marque.

Mr. Green reports the Amendments to the, Ordinance enabling all Persons, approved of by Parliament, to set forth Ships, in warlike Manner, for the Guarding of the Seas, and Defence of his Majesty's Dominions: The which Amendments were twice read; and, by Vote, upon the Question, assented unto; and the Ordinance appointed to be amended accordingly.