House of Commons Journal Volume 3: 1 May 1643

Die Lunæ, 1 Maii, 1643.

PRAYERS.

Jasper's Pass.

ORDERED That John Jaspers, a Dutchman, and John Brooke his Guide, shall have Mr. Speaker's Warrant to pass to Oxon, or elsewhere, to his Majesty, with a Petition for a Ship which is stayed in the Silleyes.

Army Affairs.

Ordered, That this Letter, of the Twenty-eighth of April, from the Lord Tho. Grey from Leicester, concerning an Ordinance to enable him to draw the Forces of the associated Counties into a Body; and likewise, to command the Garison Towns of those Counties to keep strong and strict Garisons in all their Garison Towns in the mean time; be referred, and especially recommended, from this House, to the Committee for the Safety; to consider of, and take speedy Order in it; who are to meet upon it this Afternoon.

Londonderry Forces.

An Ordinance for instituting the Governors of the Forces of Londonderry was this Day read; and, by Vote, upon the Question, assented unto; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Examining Evelyn.

Mr. Marten, Mr. White, Colonel Moore, Mr. Whittacre, Mr. Bond, are appointed to examine Mrs. Evelyn, and all other Persons whom it may concern, concerning her Journey; and concerning Four hundred Pounds taken in a Soap Barrel; and, if it prove forfeited, to be paid to Mr. Steward, in Part of a greater Sum seized from him.

Examining Prisoners.

Mr. Corbett, Sir Walth. Erle, Mr. Millington, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Lisle, Mr. Gourdon, Sir Nath. Barnardiston, are appointed to examine those Gentlemen of Norfolk and Suffolk, that are now Prisoners in Custody; and that they do remain Prisoners committed by this House, till the House take further Order: And have Power to reward the Master of the Ship in such manner as they shall see Cause: And have Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, Papers, Records; and to meet when and where they please.

Loan from Merchants.

Mr. Pym, Sir Walth. Erle, Sir Gilb. Gerard, Mr. Green, Sir H. Vane, Mr. Jennour, Mr. Vassall, Mr. Rolle, Sir Rob. Harley, Sir Rob. Pye, or any four of them; are appointed to confer with the Merchants that are interested in the Rixdollars that are brought from Hamborough, concerning the Loan of them, upon what Conditions they may be borrowed for the Service of the State: And are to meet at such convenient times as they shall think fit, in the Treasury Chamber.

Delinquent's Estates.

An Ordinance for the further Enlargement of the Power of the Ordinance for sequestring the Estates of Papists, and notorious Delinquents, was this Day read; and re-committed.

Securing Redding.

Ordered, That the Consideration of securing the Town of Redding, upon my Lord General's Departure thence, be referred to the Committee for the Safety of the Kingdom; to meet upon it this Afternoon; and to report what they have done in it To-morrow Morning.

Weekly Assessments.

Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Solicitor, Mr. Green, Mr. Lisle, Mr. Waller, Sir Tho. Barrington, Sir H. Vane, Sir Gilb. Gerard, Mr. Selden;

This Committee is appointed to consider of, and prepare, an Ordinance for the better Execution of the Ordinance for the weekly Assessments, by appointing Two for the several Counties, to take care in this Business; and to give a weekly Account of their Proceedings herein; and of such Obstructions as they shall meet: And likewise to prepare an Ordinance for securing and protecting of such in their Estates, as shall willingly pay all such Assessments, as shall be set upon them, by Order of both Houses.

Mr. Reynolds is to take care hereof. And they are to meet this Afternoon, at One of Clock, in the Exchequer Chamber.

Dorsett Forces.

An Ordinance for raising of Forces in the County of Dorsett, under the Command of Sir Walth. Erle, was this Day read; and, by Vote, upon the Question, assented unto; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Defeat of Sir R. Hopton.

A Relation of the great Defeat given, by the Forces under the Command of Major General James Chudleigh, to the whole Body of Sir Ralph Hopton's Army; wherein the immediate Hand and Protection of God was wonderfully seen; was this Day read; and ordered to be forthwith printed.

Privilege.

Resolved, &c. That. Wm. Boothe, John Topsall, and William Bristoll, be forthwith sent for, as Delinquents, for cutting down and lopping the Timber-trees at Ivy in Sussex, belonging to the Land of Mr. Denzell Holles, a Member of this House, contrary to the Privilege of the Parliament; and that the cutting down the Timber Trees, or lopping any of the Trees, belonging to the said Land, be enjoined.

Naval Affairs.

Ordered, That the Letters from Mr. Strickland, from Holland, concerning some Informations of Ships, that come out of Daynkirke, with the King's Colours, be referred to the Consideration of the Committee appointed to prepare Instructions for Agents, to be sent into Scotland, France, Hamborough &c.: And they are to receive Informations of all Particulars and Proofs of this Business; and to consider of the whole State of it: And they are to meet upon it this Afternoon, at Two of Clock, in the inner Court of Wards.

Conference desired.

Resolved, upon the Question, That a Conference be desired with the Lords; and that one Head of that Conference shall be, to desire the Lords to join with this House, that Members of both Houses may be sent, as Committees of both Houses, into Scotland.

Rewarding public Services.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee for the Safety of the Kingdom, to consider how good and great Services, done to the Commonwealth by deserving People, may be gratified and rewarded.

Treaty at Oxon.

Ordered, That the Committee for preparing the State of the Treaty at Oxon do meet this Afternoon, in the Place formerly appointed: And that any Three of them shall have Power to meet: And they are to bring it in To-morrow Morning.

Evelyn's Forfeiture.

Resolved, upon the Question, (upon Mr. Whitacre's Report) That the Four hundred Pounds, which Mrs. Evelyn was carrying with her to Oxforde, and seized at the Court of Guard, is forfeited, according to the Ordinance of Parliament.

Dorsett Forces.

Whereas divers Papists, and others, ill-affected Persons, inhabiting the County of Dorsett, and the Parties adjoining, have lately associated themselves, and traiterously plotted and combined together to raise and levy great Forces, both of Horse and Foot, for the maintaining and supporting of a Rebellion, there already begun; and have likewise endeavoured to procure Forces from other Parts of the Kingdom, intending therewith, in hostile manner, to invade the said County, and to disturb the Peace of the same; whereby, the said County, together with the Town and County of Poole (environed therewith) is in Danger to be exposed to Rapine, Spoil, and Plundering: And forasmuch as the Forces there already raised, by Authority of Parliament, are not of Strength sufficient, whereby to withstand or suppress such rebellious and hostile Attempts, as aforesaid; or to put in Execution the several Ordinances and Commands of both Houses of Parliament, for and concerning the disarming or apprehending of Delinquents, and Persons ill-affected; or for the raising and levying of Money, or otherwise; The Lords and Commons do therefore think it requisite, and do accordingly order and ordain, that, by and with the Consent and Privity of the Earl of Essex, Lord General, and by Warrant from him, or from the Committee for the Safety of the Kingdom, such and so many more Forces shall be there raised, as he or they shall think fit. And it being no less necessary, that the said Forces, there raised and to be raised, as aforesaid, and other the Forces of the said County, should be ordered, led and conducted, by some Person there resiant; who, in the Absence of such as are already in that Behalf authorized, and under them, may command the said Forces in chief; the said Lords and Commons do therefore desire the said Lord General the Earl of Essex to grant a Commission to Sir Walter Erle Knight, which may authorize him, in the Absence of such Person or Persons, already so authorized, as aforesaid, and under them, within the Limits of the said County of Dorsett, and of the said Town and County of Poole, as Colonel, or otherwise, to command, order, lead and conduct all and every the said Forces, as well Horse as Foot, of the said County of Dorsett, and Town and County of Poole, to all such Intents and Purposes, as are before-mentioned; and to and for the common Safety and Defence of the Kingdom; and, with Authority likewise, by and with the Consent of the Lord Lieutenant, or of any one or more Deputy Lieutenants of the said County, to nominate and appoint all other Officers and Commanders under him; as also, to raise and levy Soldiers there, or in the Parts. adjoining, for the completing of the Troops and Companies there raised, or to be raised, as aforesaid. And the said Lords and Commons do further order and ordain, that he, the said Sir Walter Erle, shall, by both Houses of Parliament, be warranted, saved, and kept harmless, for and concerning all Things, that by Virtue and Authority of such Commission, as aforesaid, and in pursuance thereof, or of this, or any other Ordinance before-mentioned, shall be by him done, or put in Execution.