House of Commons Journal Volume 3: 17 February 1644

Die Sabbati, 17 Februarii, 1643.

PRAYERS.

Town of Ockingham.

ORDERED, That it be referred to the Committee of Examinations to furnish the Sum of Two hundred Pounds, to supply the Necessities of the Town of Ockingham; and to pay Part of the Arrears due unto them for Billet, as appears upon the Warrants under my Lord General's Hand; and to give a speedy Account hereof to the House.

Advance on Excise.

Resolved, &c. That the Credit of the Excise shall be offered to the West Country Gentlemen, to advance Twenty thousand Pounds upon; to be repaid at Twelve Months End: And that Mr. Prideaux do bring in an Ordinance to this Purpose.

Army.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committees of both Kingdoms, to dispatch and expedite away the Forces of Sir Wm. Waller's Brigade with all Diligence; and likewise to take some Course, that all the other Forces under my Lord General, and the Earl of Manchester, and the rest of the Forces of the Kingdom, may be put into a speedy Posture, to pursue the War for the best Advantage of the Kingdom.

Derby House.

Ordered, That Derby House, or so many Rooms of it as shall be useful and necessary, shall be assigned for the Committees of both Kingdoms to meet and sit in: And that it be referred to the Gentlemen mentioned in the late Ordinance for furnishing of Worcester House, to furnish Derby House with all things necessary for the Accommodation of that House, for the Committees, out of the King's Wardrobe, or otherwise, in like manner as it is referred unto them for Worcester House.

Letter from the Earl of Forth.

A Message from the Lords, by Serjeant Whittfield and Sir Edw. Leech.

The Lords have understood, from the Earl of Essex, that he hath lately received a Letter from the Earl of Forth, the Lord General of the King's Army, and do desire, that the same Committee as was appointed for Perusal of the last Letter that came from the Lords and Gentlemen at Oxon, may meet now, presently, to peruse This, in the Lord Keeper's Lodgings.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House has considered their Lordships Message; and have appointed their Committee formerly appointed, to meet, as is desired.

Publick Accounts.

The Amendments to the Ordinance for Accounts, as they came down from the Lords, were read; and That concerning the leaving out of Wm. Prynne Esquire, put to the *; and Resolved to adhere to the Ordinance as it went from hence, as to that Amendment.

Sir H. Vane sen. Mr. Cage, Mr. Crewe, Mr. Tate, Mr. Scawen, Mr. Niclas, Mr. Rous, Sir Walt. Erle, Sir P. Wentworth;

This Committee is appointed presently to withdraw, and to prepare Reasons for adhering to the Ordinance of Accounts as it went from hence, as to Mr. Wm. Prynne: and to consider of the other Amendments to that Ordinance; and to report their Opinions to the House.

Waters' Petition.

The humble Petition of Wm. Waters Gentleman, of the County of Northampton, was this Day read; whose Brother died in the Service of the Parliament; and has been undone by the Enemy's Forces; and has nothing to rely upon but the Favour of the Houses, in relieving him upon a Debt owing to Mr. George Lowe, a Delinquent, whose Estate is sequestrable: And

It is Ordered, That it be recommended to the Committee of Lords and Commons for Sequestrations for the Petitioner's Relief.

Message from Lords.

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

The Lords have returned the Ordinance for Woxbridge, with the Addition of one Proviso; and they do agree to it with that Proviso: They have thought fit to reduce the Assessment upon the Earl of Middlesex to Six hundred Pounds, for the Reasons expressed in the Paper sent down; to which they desire the Concurrence of this House: And do desire this House to take some other Course of supplying the Earl of Stamford with Four hundred Pounds.

Woxbridge Ordinance.

The Proviso to the Woxbridge Ordinance, which was "That the Assessments made upon any of the Members, Assistants or Attendants of either House of Parliament, might be allowed by the House whereof he is a Member, Assistant, or Attendant," was read; and, by Vote upon the Question, assented unto.

Earl of Middlesex's Assessment.

The Reasons of reducing the Earl of Middlesex his Assessment from a Thousand Pounds to Six hundred Pounds, were read; and the Abatement, made by the Lords, assented unto, by Vote upon the Question.

Earl of Arundell's Assessment.

Ordered, That a Message be sent unto the Lords, to desire that the Earl of Arundell and Surry, and the Lord Cravon, Members of their House, may be assessed for their Twentieth, and Fifth Part; and that, out of their Assessments, the Earl of Stamford may have Four hundred Pounds, to make up the Thousand Pounds formerly granted by Order of both Houses.

Sir H. Cholmely is appointed to go up with this Message.

Answer to Lords.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House has considered their Lordships Message; and do agree to the Proviso to be added to the Ordinance concerning Woxbridge; to the Abatement of the Earl of Middlesex's Assess. . . .

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Ellis shall have Leave to go into the Country, for a Month, upon special Occasions.

Message to Lords.

Sir H. Cholmely likewise carried up to the Lords, The Orders for appointing Derby House for the Committees of both Kingdoms; For Seven hundred Pounds for Hurst Castle, and for Newport Pagnall; The Committees for the Sequestrations of Yorkshire; The Order for Six hundred Pounds, out of Sir F. Willoughbye's Estate, in the Company of Goldsmith's Hands, for the Garison of Gloucester.

Letter from Earl of Forth.

The Lord General is desired to communicate the Letter, which he hath lately received from the Earl of Forth, to the Committees of Scotland.

Recruiting the Army.

Ordered, That the Ordinance for recruiting the Army under the immediate Command of the Lord General, be taken into Consideration, the first Business, on Monday Morning; and that no other Business intervene; and that Mr. Speaker put the House in mind hereof.

Pickworth Presentation.

Whereas the Church of Pickworth, in the County of Lincoln (the Patronage whereof belongeth unto Sir Wm. Armyn Baronet, now afar off, employed in the Service of the Kingdom) is, in his Absence become void, by the former Incumbent's Acceptance of another Benefice with Cure of Souls; of which the said Sir Wm. Armyn can have no Notice, to make a timely Presentation; whereby a Lapse is likely to incur: It is therefore this Day Ordered, That no Advantage shall be taken thereof, to the Prejudice of the said Sir Wm. Armyn, or of his Right and Title to the said Presentation.