House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 18 April 1645

Die Veneris, Aprilis 18, 1645.

Prayers.

AN Ordinance for satisfying Mr. Hill and Mr. Pennoyer, Debts due unto them from the Parliament, for Arms they have furnished the Parliament, by the Sale of certain Delinquents Estates, was this Day read the Second time; and, upon the Question, committed unto Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Recorder, Mr. Strode, Sir Jo. Evelyn, Mr. Bond, Sir Samuel Rolle, Mr. Wheler, Sir Christ. Yelverton, Sir Anth. Irby, Mr. Nicoll, Mr. Rous, Sir Jo. Hippisley, Mr. Dunch, Mr. Jennour, Mr. Whittacre, Mr. Green, Sir Martin Lumley, Mr. Rigby, Mr. Holland, Sir Hen. Cholmeley, Sir Jo. Potts, Sir Rich. Onslowe, Mr. Pym, Mr. Gerard, Sir Hen. Mildmay, Sir Wm. Massam, Sir Nath. Barnardiston, Sir Jo. Curson, Mr. Young, Sir Hen. Vane senior, Mr. Arundell, Sir Wm. Lewes, Mr. Buller, and all the Lawyers of the House: And have Power to send to the Committee at Goldsmiths-Hall, to assist them with the List of such Delinquents Estates as they have: And the Committee is to inquire into, and report to the House, In whom the Title remains, of such Estate as they design to be sold for the Payment of these Debts: And are to meet on Monday next, at Two post meridiem, in the Exchequer-Chamber: And have Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, Papers, Records.

Ordered, That the Petition of the Merchants of London, English and Strangers, and their Propositions, touching the poor Prisoners in Argier, be referred to the Committee of the Navy, to be taken into Consideration.

Ordered, That the humble Petition of Lieutenant-Colonel Dodson, Governor of Croyland in Lincolneshire, this Day read, be referred to the Committee of the Association late under the Earl of Manchester; to consider of paying the Garison there their Arrears, and of establishing a settled Pay unto them for the future: And That Committee is injoined to meet upon this Business To-morrow at Two of the Clock, in the Duchy-Chamber.

Resolved, &c. That all other Officers employed about the Affairs of the Customs or Excise, in any Port of this Kingdom, &c. shall take the like Oath; mutatis mutandis: And the Customers and Comptrollers of the several Ports are hereby authorized and required to administer the said respective Oaths to the respective Officers accordingly,

Mr. Nicoll was sent up to the Lords, to desire a Conference, by Committees of both Houses, in the Painted Chamber, forthwith, if it may stand with their Lordships Conveniencies, concerning the Amendments, sent down from their Lordships, touching the Ordinance for the Admiralty.

He carried up to the Lords the Waiters Oath: The Ordinance for improving the Allowance to the Minister of Howden in the County of Yorke: The Ordinance for continuing the Ordinance for Middlesex: The Ordinance for enabling the Committee of both Kingdoms to grant Commissions to military Officers: An Ordinance to settle a Ministry in the Northern Parts: An Ordinance for Sir Henry Vane senior to be added to the Commissioners of both Kingdoms residing in the Scotts Army.

An Ordinance for Repayment of the Arrears of Five hundred Pounds, granted out of the Excise, to the Garison of Portsmouth, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and carried up also by Mr. Nicoll: Also the Ordinance for Payment, to the Use of the Prince Elector, Two thousand Pounds, out of the first Monies that shall be brought in by the Committee of Accompts.

Mr. Rous reports, from the Committee for regulating the King's Childrens Family, That the Committee had reduced the Number of the Servants; and, by that means, had lessened the Expences: And have allotted a Proportion for a Subsistence to those Servants that are to be, and have been discharged: And do conceive, Three thousand Pounds per Annum Pension, . . . . unto the Earl of Northumberland, for his Subsistence. The whole Expence, as now ordered, amounts unto, yearly, about Twelve thousand Five hundred Pounds; and there will be remaining, of what was formerly expended, about Fifteen hundred Pounds.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Committee; and doth consent, that Three thousand Pounds per Annum be allowed to the Earl of Northumberland.

Resolved, &c. That the Lords Concurrence be desired herein.

Ordered, That the Accompt of Mr. Holland's be referred to the Committee of Accompts, to examine and certify.

Ordered, &c. That the Remainder of this Report be re-committed: And they are to bring in a List of such of the Servants as are now in, and of their particular Establishment; and a List of such as they intend to discharge, and what Proportions they intend to allow them for their Subsistence: And it is especially re-committed unto them, to have a regard to such as have been recommended, or voted by this House. They are likewise to inquire into, and to represent, the Names of such of the Servants as have been sworn at Oxon.

It is further Ordered, That the humble Petition of the Servants, attending the Royal Children in Houshold Offices, be referred to the Consideration of the same Committee.

Ordered, &c. That the Ordinance concerning Darbyshire be read on Monday Morning.

Ordered, &c. That the Clerk do, To-morrow, certify the House the State of such Orders as have been made concerning the Exempting of Sir Theodore Mayherne from Payments and Taxes.

Mr. Nicoll brings Answer, That the Lords do consent to give a Meeting at a Conference, by a Committee of the whole House, presently, in the Painted Chamber: And, as to the rest of the Orders and Ordinances carried up by him, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

The House being informed, That the Committee of Accompts were at the Door;

They were called in; and did first represent the Carriage of Alderman Foulke unto them; How he refused to answer, or to take an Oath, tendered by them: That, for his Contempt, they had set upon him the Fine of One hundred Pounds (but did forbear to imprison him, in regard he is Magistrate of the City, and employed in the publick Service of the State); which they desire may, according to the Directions of the Ordinance, be forthwith paid into the Treasury at Guildhall, London.

They likewise presented the Certificate of Mr. Waddon's Account; of Mr. Dolman's Account; of Mr. Dolman's Miscarriage and Misdemeanor; and the Certificate of Commissary Gilbert's Account: And desire the House to take into speedy Consideration the Case formerly presented by them, concerning Tobaccoes; in regard, great Sums of Monies depend upon it.

They further desired this House to expedite the Ordinance, formerly presented by them, for the better taking and expediting the Accompts of the whole Kingdom.

Mr. Samuel Browne, Mr. Hill, Mr. Holles, Sir Hen. Vane senior, Sir Wm. Lewes, Sir Walter Erle, Mr. Lisle, Mr. Ashhurst, Mr. Greene, Sir Wm. Litton, Mr. Wheeler, Sir Peter Wentworth, Sir Henry Cholmeley, Mr. Holland, Sir Christo. Wray, Sir Wm. Masham, Mr. Blackeston, Mr. Selden, Sir Philip Stapleton, Sir Thomas Dacres, Sir John Curson, Mr. Vassall, Mr. Prideaux, Sir Dudley North, Sir Arth. Haselrigge, Mr. Whitlocke, Mr. Nath. Stephens, Sir John Clotworthy, Mr. Gourdon, Mr. Erle, Sir John Coke, Sir Edw. Partheriche, Sir John Evelyn, Mr. Knightly.;

This Committee is to consider of the several Certificates and Cases, presented by the Committee of Accompts; and to hear the several Persons concerned; and to hear the Committee of Accompts; and to report to the House the State of the several Cases; together with their Opinions: And are to meet To-morrow at Two post meridiem, in the Exchequer-Chamber; and so from time to time, as they shall see Cause: And the Care hereof is especially recommended unto Mr. Samuel Browne: And they have Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, Papers, Records, &c.

Ordered, &c. That the Ordinance, presented by the Committee of Accompts, for the better taking and expediting the Accompts of the whole Kingdoms, be read To-morrow the first Business: And that Mr. Speaker put the House in mind hereof.

Ordered, &c. That the humble Petition of Major Richard Wollaston be referred to the Committee of Examinations, according as is desired by the Petitioner.

Ordered, &c. That Captain Plunkett be called in To-morrow Morning.

Ordered, &c. That the States Ambassadors Servants, with the Baggage, Provisions, and Goods, whatsoever, belonging unto the said Lords Ambassadors, their Retinue, and Servants, shall pass from London, by Water or Land, to any Place or Sea-Port of this Kingdom, for their Transportation for Holland, Custom and all Impositions free; and That without any Search, Lett, or Molestation, whatsoever.

Ordered, &c. That another Pass for the Lords Ambassadors, their Retinue, and Servants, with their Goods, to pass for Holland, by Water, or by Land, without any Search, Lett, or Molestation, whatsoever.

Whereas, by the Ordinance of the Lords and Commons, assembled in Parliament, of the Twenty-fifth of October last, for the Ordering of the Militia of the County of Middlesex, it is provided, That the said Ordinance shall continue, and be in Force, but for Six Months, and no longer: It is this Day Ordained and Declared, by the said Lords and Commons, That the said Ordinance shall still continue, and be in full Force and Power, for Six Months longer; any thing in the said Ordinance to the contrary thereof in anywise notwithstanding.

Whereas, by an Ordinance of Parliament, of the Second of August 1644, a Charge was laid upon the Excise of the County of Southampton, not formerly granted, of Five hundred Pounds per mensem (if the Excise of the said County should amount to so much) to continue for Six Months then next ensuring, for Support of the Charge of that Garison, increased by the Danger of these Times: And whereas, by reason of the great Power of the Enemy within That County, the said Excise hath not amounted to near that Proportion; which, being all the Support allotted for that Garison, except the old Establishment for one Company, hath much increased the Arrears of that Garison: It is this Day Ordered, by the Lords and Commons, assembled in Parliament, That the Excise, which shall be collected out of the said County of Southampton, not granted otherwise, be paid for the Use of the Garison of Portsmouth, until the Sum that was formerly ordered to be paid out of it to the said Garison be completed and made up: And the Commissioners of Excise are ordered to make Payment of the same accordingly: And the Receipt of the Treasurer, or his Assign, shall be their sufficient Discharge. Provided, That this Ordinance shall not extend to any Excise appropriated to the Use of the Navy.