House of Commons Journal Volume 3: 13 January 1644

Die Sabbati, 13 Januarii, 1643.

PRAYERS.

Ministers to the House.

RESOLVED, &c. That one of the Ministers of the Assembly shall be appointed to pray with-this House every Morning.

Mr. Solicitor and Mr. Rous are appointed to move the Assembly herein.

The Covenant.

Mr. Grimston, Sir Wm. Masham, Sir Humphry Tufton, Mr. Purefoy, took the Covenant this Day; and subscribed their Names.

Westminster Church.

Mr. Solicitor, Mr. Rous, Sir Walt. Erle, Mr. Wheeler, Sir Rob. Harley, Mr. Maynard, Sir Gilb. Gerard, Sir Wm. Strictland, Mr. Ashurste, Sir Jo. Clotworthy, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Gurdon, Mr. Lile, Mr. Recorder, Sir Wm. Masham, Sir Rob. Pye;

This Committee is appointed to inquire into the State of the Collegiate Church at Westminster, and into the Abuses; and to present unto the House what they think fit to be done upon the whole Matter.

Excise on Soap, &c.

Mr. Solicitor presents the Ordinance for increasing the Excise on Soap, from the Committee to whom it was recommitted; but nothing was done upon it.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Excise, to inquire into the Abuse in the Increase of the Price on Soap, and on Beer, and Ale; and to present their Opinions to this House.

Pym's Family.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee formerly appointed to consider of the Condition of Mr. Pym's Estate, to consider of some other Way, for a Recompence to the Posterity of Mr. Pym, and Payments of those Debts he hath contracted in the Service of the Commonwealth, than they have yet thought on: And that they use all Diligence to find out some fit Recompence, answerable to the Memory and Merit of so deserving a Man.

House to dine with City.

Mr. Recorder informing the House, that the Sheriffs of London, and divers of the Aldermen, and Common Council, were at the Door; they were called in.

Mr. Sheriff Foulke (the House giving him Leave to speak) acquainted the House, That the City of London, represented by the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council, have sent us hither, to present our humble Desire to this honourable Assembly * * * *

Mr. Recorder, Sir H. Vane jun. Mr. Solicitor, Mr. Hollis;

This Committee is appointed presently to withdraw; and to prepare an Answer, in Writing, for Mr. Speaker to deliver, as from this House, to the Desires of the City.

Mr. Hollis reports the Answer prepared by the Committee: Which was read; and, upon the Question, assented unto:

Whereupon the Sheriffs, Aldermen, and Common Council, were called in again: And Mr. Speaker accordingly read the Answer which was prepared by the Committee; which was immediately sent unto them, by Mr. Recorder, signed with the Hand of the Clerk; being in hæc Verba:

"The House hath considered of the Expressions delivered by you at the Bar, in the Name of the City, represented by the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council, manifesting their great Esteem of the Endeavours of this Parliament; and their Sense of the late Design of the Enemy, to divide the Parliament from Them, and Them from the Parliament, thereby to involve Both in one universal Calamity and Destruction; and to shew their Affection unto this House, and Resolution to continue in a faithful Compliance with all their good Endeavours, and to live and die with them in the Maintenance of this publick Cause; having now desired them, as a Testimony of This, and to deceive the Expectation of those who had plotted the contrary, that they would honour them with their Presence at a Dinner, upon Tuesday or Thursday, if their Occasions would give leave: In answer to which, I am commanded to take notice of the good Affections of this great City, testifyed upon all Occasions, which we look upon as one of the principal Blessings, which God hath been pleased to bestow upon this Parliament; and to observe, that all the Practices of the Adversaries, to divide us, have by your Faithfulness and Constancy, been made Occasions of more firmly uniting us: And the House looks upon this your Invitation, as a seasonable Demonstration thereof, and an Engagement of the Continuance; and for a more particular Answer, the House is resolved, upon Thursday next, to give you a Meeting according to your Desires: And, that both They and You may lay hold upon this Opportunity, jointly to acknowledge the continued Blessings of God, in preserving this Parliament and the City from the secret Practices, and malicious Designs, of their Enemies, and particularly in this late Discovery; they desire, that on Thursday Morning, at Eight of the Clock, there may be, in such Place as you shall think fit, and by such a Minister, as you shall make Choice of, a Sermon, for the Commemoration (amongst the rest of God's manifold Mercies) of this late, and not the least Deliverance: And, further I am expressly commanded, in the Name of the House, to assure you, That as your Resolution is to live and die with them, so they resolve never to desert you; but to make it their greatest Care, to watch all Opportunities to advance the Honour and Happiness of the City, which, under God, hath been the principal Means of the Preservation of this Parliament."

Message to Lords.

Sir Robert Pye carried up to the Lords the Ordinance for Ten thousand Pounds from the Merchant Adventurers; for Two thousand Pounds upon the Excise, for Payment of the City Forces; for Five hundred Pounds upon the Excise, for Southampton; and for Payment of Two thousand Pounds to certain Dutch Men, for Arms, out of the deposited Monies at Haberdashers Hall; and for Pay to Major Scott and Captain Cockeram out of the Twentieth Part.

He likewise carried up Duplicates of the Lord Goring's Letter; the Lord Digbie's Letters; and of a Letter from both Houses to the Prince D'Harecourt; and of Sieur Bosinon's Propositions in Scotland; of the Lord Goring's Letter, to Monsieur De Gressey, and his Son: And was appointed to desire the Lords Concurrence in the first Part of the Message; and their Concurrence to send to the Prince D'Harecourt the said Duplicates, to Mr. Molins, Agent to the French Ambassador; or by such other Way, as both Houses shall agree on.

Glocester Garison.

Resolved, &c. That the Overplus of the Currans, besides the Excise and Customs, shall be disposed of for the Use of the Garison at Glocester: And that the Lords Concurrence be desired herein.

Publick Thanksgiving.

Ordered, That the One-and-twentieth Day of January, being the Lord's Day, be kept as a Day of publick Thanksgiving, for the great Deliverances which God hath given to the Parliament and City, from the several Plots and Designs against them; and more particularly, in discovering the late Design: And that the Vote of both Houses, upon the late Design, be then read in the Churches.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Ordered, That the Relation of the whole Business of the late Design, communicated at a Common Hall on Monday last, be printed and published.

States Ambassadors.

Ordered, That the Committee appointed to go to the States Ambassadors do meet this Afternoon, to conclude of their going away speedily.

Countess of Sunderland.

A Message from the Lords, by Serjeant Whitfeild and Dr. Aylett:

That the Lords did formerly receive a Petition from the Countess of Sunderland, on her own behalf, and the Behalf of the young Earl her Son: They have seen the Conveyance mentioned; and that there was a Settlement of the Estate upon the Petitioner, upon Marriage, upon valuable Consideration of Eight thousand Pounds; and do find the Particulars mentioned in the Petition to be true; and do think it fit, that the Sequestration of the Estate should be taken off: And desire your Concurrence.

The Petition was read: And

It is Ordered, That this Petition, both as to the Person and the Matter therein contained, be referred unto Mr. Peirpont, Sir Henry Vane jun. Sir Arthur Hesilrig, Mr. Recorder, Lord Lisle, Sir John Clotworthy, Mr. Sam. Browne, Sir Peter Wentworth, Mr. Gourdon, Sir Phil. Stapleton, Sir Tho. Barrington, Mr. Hill, Mr. Prideaux, Mr. Lisle: And are to meet on Monday next, at Four of Clock, in the Court of Wards.

Answer from Lords.

Sir Rob. Pye brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to the Letter to Prince D'Harecourt, and to the several Orders carried up by him; and that he acquainted them, that Monsieur Du Molin had undertaken to send it; that there were Duplicates; and that this House desired, that, for the more Surety, they would send Doubles of all by another Way.

Warrant to Du Bois, &c.

Ordered, That Monsieur Du Bois the French Post, and his Man Monsieur De Verger, one of the Prince D'Harecourt's Servants, which he hath sent, and La Port a Footman, shall have Mr. Speaker's Warrant to go to Oxon, provided they carry with them nothing prejudicial to the Parliament.

Allowance to Hotham.

The humble Petition of Captain John Hotham was this Day read.

Resolved, &c. That Three Pounds by the Week shall be allowed to Captain Hotham, out of the King's Revenue, till he be brought to his Trial; and that the Committee for the King's Revenue do take care, and give Order, that this Order may be forthwith complied with, and duly performed.

That the Lords Concurrence be desired herein.

Hotham's Trial.

Ordered, That on Monday Morning next, the Committee do report, in what Readiness they are to bring Captain John Hotham to his Trial.

Mathews' Statue.

Ordered, That the Statue made in the Remembrance of Captain Mathews, be set up in Westminster, in such Place as the Committee shall think fit.

Sir John Clotworthy.

Ordered, That, on Wednesday Morning next peremptorily, the Business concerning Sir John Clotworthy, be resumed; and that Mr. Speaker put the House in mind hereof.

Answer to Lords.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House will send an Answer by Messengers of their own.

Austyn's Estate.

The Petition of Mrs. Austyn, Widow, was read; informing the House of the Loss of her Husband in the Parliament's Service; and that a good Estate was kept from her and her Child, the only Son of the said Captain, by Mrs. Austyn of London; and that a good Part of the Estate was embezzled, and sent beyond Sea; and that she was ordered by this House, not to make Probat of the Will at Oxford: Whereupon it was ordered to be referred unto Sir Peter Wentworth, Sir Nath. Barnardiston, Mr. Prideaux, Mr. Hill, Mr. Spurstoe, Alderman Soame, Lieutenant Tower, Colonel Walton, Mr. Gourdon, Sir Phil. Stapilton, Sir Tho. Barrington, Mr. Maynard, and Captain Wingate: Who have Power to call all Parties before them; and to see if they can accommodate the Business mentioned in the Petition; or, otherwise, to make a speedy Report to the House, to the end some Course may be taken for the Petitioner's Relief.

Member disabled to sit.

Resolved, &c. That Sir Richard Shugborowe be disabled for being any longer a Member of this House, during this Parliament; for neglecting the Service of the Parliament, and continuing for above Twelve Months in and about the Quarters of the Enemy, and refusing to aid and assist the Forces raised by the Parliament.

Salt-petre.

The Ordinance for the better making of Salt-petre was read the Second time; and re-committed to the same Committee, with the Addition of Mr. Cage, Mr. Browne, Sir Anthony Irby, Mr. Reynolds, and the Members of the associated Counties; who they are to call unto him upon this Business: And have Power to call the Salt-petre Men and other Persons before them: And are to meet, at Two of Clock, on Monday next, in the Star Chamber.

French Ambassador.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do send for Monsieur De Molins, and deliver unto him the Letter directed to the Prince De Harecourt; and to receive a Promise from him, that he will do his utmost Endeavours, to send it safely to the Prince D'Harecourt; and also, to deliver unto him the Mail with Letters.

Farthing Token Office.

Ordered, That Mr. Asherst be added to the Committee for the Farthing Token Office.