House of Commons Journal Volume 3: 13 November 1644

Die Mercurii, Novembris 13, 1644.

PRAYERS.

Officers Widows.

ORDERED, That on Saturday next the House do take into Consideration the sad Condition of such Widows whose Husbands were slain in the Parliament's Service.

Court of Wards.

Ordered, That the Master, Attorney, and other Officers of the Court of Wards, to take care to find Offices, and to proceed to Composition upon such Wardships as are fallen, or shall fall, in such manner as formerly, until both Houses take further Order. Provided that this Order do no way prejudice such Heirs whose Ancestors have died in the Parliament's Service; or such who have compounded, and have been discharged by Ordinance of Parliament.

Appointing Sheriffs.

Ordered, That on Friday next the several Members of this House that serve for the several Counties, do bring in Three Names for each County; out of which one of them is to be elected by this House for Sheriff.

Affairs in Surry.

Upon Mr. Recorder's Report from the Committee of both Kingdoms, that the publick Service in the County of Surry was much prejudiced by the clashing Powers of the Two Committees in that County, that derived Authority from several Ordinances granted to that County;

It was Resolved, upon the Question, That it be referred to the Committee for the County of Surry, where Mr. Knighteley has the Chair, or any Six of them, to consider of all the Three Ordinances granted to the County of Surry; and, upon the Consideration and Perusal of them all, to represent the State of that County; and to bring in an Ordinance, if Occasion shall be, for settling the Powers and Commands in that County.

Message to Lords.

Mr. Strode carried up to the Lords the Letter to be sent into the several Counties, for the bringing in of the Arrears of the Two Months Assessments; and the Order for Five hundred Pounds out of Haberdashers Hall, for sending Forces into the West.

Arrears of Assessments.

An Ordinance for bringing in the Arrears of the weekly Assessments, was this Day read the First time.

Trade to Newcastle.

An Ordinance for opening the Trade to Newcastle, and annulling and revoking the Ordinance that prohibited the Trade to Newcastle, was this Day read; upon the Question passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence; and to be carried up by Mr. Blakiston.

Privilege.

Ordered, That the Business concerning Robert Warde and Robert Hurte, sent for as Delinquents, by Order of this House, to answer their Breach of Privilege, in entering upon the Possessions of Mr. Maynard, a Member of this House, be referred to the Consideration and Examination of the Committee for Privileges, where Sir Robert Harley has the Chair.

Letters concerning Portesmouth.

Ordered, That the Letter from Colonel Jephson to Mr. Speaker, and other Letters to Mr. Lisle, concerning Portesmouth, be referred to the Consideration of the Committee of both Kingdoms.

Grant to Vossius.

Resolved, &c. That the Monies assigned by former Order to be paid unto Mr. Gerardus Johannes Vossius by the Sequestrators in Kent, shall be paid into the Hands of Mr. Jo. Sadler of Lincoln's Inn, or any other whom he shall appoint, to the Use of the said Mr. Vossius.

Members to be examined.

Ordered, That Sir Christ. Yelverton, Sir Anth. Irby, and Sir Ralph Ashton, Members of this House, shall have Liberty to be examined as Witnesses at the Trial of John Hotham Esquire.

Proceedings against Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Archbishop of Canterbury was, according to an Order of Monday last, brought to the Bar: And Mr. Browne, by the Command of the House, in his Presence, summed up the Evidence, as it was given in against him at the Bar in the Lords House, and afterwards reported in this House by Mr. Browne; and his Answer to the Particulars of the said Evidence: Which being done, the * * * * .

An Ordinance for attainting of Wm. Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury, of High Treason; and for adjudging him the said Wm. Archbishop of Canterbury to suffer the Pains of Death, &c. was this Day read the Third time; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered, upon the Question, to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence, on Friday next, by Mr. Sam. Browne.

Answer from Lords.

Mr. Strode brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to the Order for Five hundred Pounds out of Haberdashers Hall for the West; and to the Letter to be sent into the several Counties, for bringing in the Arrears of the last Two Months Assessments; and that the Speakers shall have Power to send Copies of this Letter, upon all Occasions, into the several Counties, for the bringing in of the said Arrears.

Macguire's Answer.

Mr. Browne, Mr. Maynard, Mr. Solicitor, Mr. Recorder, Mr. Ellis, Mr. Selden, Sir Thomas Widdrington, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Serjeant Wilde, Mr. Hill, Mr. Nichlas, Mr. Whitelock, Mr. White, and all the Lawyers of the House, are appointed to go and confer with the Judges on Friday next, upon the Answer of Macguire; and his Desire to be tried by his Peers.

Dennington Castle.

Ordered, That the Members of this House that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms, do To-morrow give an Account to this House concerning the Carriage of the Business at the Relieving of Dennington Castle near Newbury by the King's Forces.

Money for Army.

Ordered, That To-morrow Morning Mr. Long do being in the Ordinance for the Monies to be sent to my Lord General.

Trade to Newcastle.

Whereas the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, by an Ordinance of the Fourteenth of January 1642, did for several Reasons in the said Ordinance mentioned, prohibit all Ships, and other Vessels, to carry Provision of Victual, Arms, or Money, unto Newcastle, Sunderland, or Blyth, or make Return of any Coals or Salt, from either the said Places, under Pain of Seizure of the said Ships, Vessels, and their Lading: And whereas, by the good Providence and Blessing of Almighty God, and the Endeavours of our Brethren of Scotland, the Town of Newcastle, and Port of Tynmouth, are lately rescued out of the Hands of the Enemy, and reduced to the Obedience of the King and Parliament; the Inhabitants of which Places, by Reason of the Rapine and Spoil of the Enemy, have been brought to Extremity of Want: It is this Day Ordered, by the said Lords and Commons, That the said Ordinance be repealed and annulled: And the said Lords and Commons do hereby repeal and annul the same.

Attainting Archbishop of Canterbury.

Whereas the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, of the House of Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, have in the Name of themselves, and of all the Commons of England, impeached William Laud Archbishop of Canterbury, for endeavouring to subvert the fundamental Laws and Government of the Kingdom of England; and, instead thereof, to introduce an arbitrary and tyrannical Government against Law; and to alter and subvert God's true Religion, by Law established in this Realm; and, instead thereof, to set up Popish Superstition and Idolatry; and to subvert the Rights of Parliaments, and the ancient Course of Parliamentary Proceedings; and, by false and malicious Slanders, to incense his Majesty against Parliaments: For which the said Archbishop deserves to undergo the Pains and Forfeitures of High Treason: Which said Offences have been sufficiently proved against the said Archbishop upon his Impeachment: Be it therefore Ordered and Ordained, by the Lords and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by Authority of the same, That the said Archbishop, for the Offences aforesaid, stand, and be adjudged attainted of High Treason; and shall suffer the Pains of Death; and shall incur all Forfeitures both of Lands and Goods, as a Person attainted of High Treason should or ought to do. Provided, that no Judge or Judges, Justice or Justices whatsoever, shall adjudge or interpret any Act or Thing to be Treason, or hear or determine any Treason, nor in any other Manner, than he or they should or ought to have done before the making of this Ordinance; and as if this Ordinance had never been had or made. Saving always, unto all and singular Persons, and Bodies Politick and Corporate, their Heirs and Successors (others than the said Archbishop, and his Heirs, and such as claim by, from, or under, him), all such Right, Title, and Interest, of, in, and to, all and singular such of the said Lands, Tenements, and Hereditaments, as he, they, or any of them, had before the First Day of this present Parliament; any thing herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding.