House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 22 April 1645

Die Martis, Aprilis 22, 1645.

Prayers.

Colonel Hutchinson, Governor of Nottingham, was called in; and acquainted the House, That the Enemy from the Garison of Newarke, and the Garisons thereabouts, drew out, to the Number of One thousand Six hundred, on Sabbathday last; and have possessed themselves of the Fort at the Bridge; and have put the Town into great Danger.

Ordered, That the Governor of Nottingham be forthwith sent down, with Order, That the Instructions made by the Committee of both Kingdoms, for the present, may be pursued: And that a Letter be written to the Committee resident there, to this Effect; and to acquaint them, That, upon their last Petition, the House had taken the whole Matter into Consideration.

Mr. Knightley and Mr. Millington are appointed to prepare this Letter, for Mr. Speaker to sign: And Mr. Millington is to apply himself to further a Reconcilement between the Governor and the Committee, and a Settlement of Matters for the present, for the Safety of the Place.

And, to that End, It is Ordered, That the Governor, and those of the Committee that are here, do come to the Committee of both Kingdoms this Afternoon, to whom it is referred to make a Reconcilement; and to persuade a Compliance, in the Committee of Nottingham, to the Instructions formerly made by the Committee of both Kingdoms: And it is left to the Committee of both Kingdoms, if they shall find That Committee to comply, to send Them down also.

It is further Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to take care of the Safety of the Place; and to give Order for the Sending of some considerable Assistance for the Preservation of the Town and Castle, and Regaining of the Fort.

An Ordinance for the Raising of a monthly Sum upon the County of Derby, for the Payment and Ordering of their Forces, and other Expences for the publick Service, was this Day read the First time; and ordered to be read, the first Business, To-morrow Morning.

Ordered, That, after all other Assignments, which are already charged upon the Excise, shall be satisfied, that One thousand Pounds shall be charged upon the Excise, for the present Service of the Forces in the County of Darby: And Sir John Curson, Sir John Coke, and Mr. Hallowes, are to take care hereof.

A Letter to the Duke of Vennis, on the Behalf of the East India Company, was this Day read; and approved of; and ordered to be sent to the Lords for their Concurrence.

Sir Peter Wentworth carried up to the Lords the Two Lists or Establishments for the Pays of the Officers of Sir Thomas Fairfax' Army: The Ordinance for Martial Law in Kent: The Vote for the Two Brass Demiculverins, and Two Brass Sacres, to be employed for the Train of Artillery for Sir Thomas Fairfax his Army: The Vote concerning the discharging the Sequestration of Sir John Hamilton's Park: And the Vote for the City of London to present a fit Person to the House to be Lieutenant of the Tower: And a Letter to the Duke of Vennice, on the Behalf of the East-India Company.

Ordered, That Sir Thomas Fairfax be desired to take care, that Colonel Fleetewood's and Colonel Rosseter's Regiments of Horse may be speedily mustered, and reduced; that they may have each Regiment a Fortnight's Pay of Advance, as the other Regiments, that are reduced, have.

Ordered, That the Regiment of Colonel Rosseter shall have a Fortnight's Pay of their Arrears, out of the Arrears of the Monies in the County of Lincolne, if it may be there had; otherwise, that the said Fortnight's Pay shall be charged upon the Excise: And the Gentlemen of the County of Lincolne are, for the present, to advance it, upon their personal Credit; and are to be repaid out of the Excise, with Consideration for the Forbearance.

Sir Peter Wentworth brings Answer from the Lords, That he received this Answer from my Lord Grey of Warke; That the Lords would take all those Particulars, carried up by him, into speedy Consideration; and send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Ordered, That all the Forces of Sir William Waller's, Lieutenant-General Cromwell, Sir Arthur Heselrig, Colonel Fleetwood's, and the rest of the Forces of that Brigade, as well those that are to be reduced; as those that shall go off upon the Reducement, shall have a Fortnight's Pay paid them, and charged upon the Excise.

Mr. Hodges, Mr. Edward Ashe, Mr. John Ash, and Sir Arthur Heselrig, are injoined to employ their best Endeavours with the Commissioners of Excise for the present raising this Fortnight's Pay.

Resolved, &c. That Sir Edward Hales shall be assessed for his Twentieth-Part.

Resolved, &c. That Sir Edward Hales shall be assessed Fifteen hundred Pounds for his Twentieth-Part: And that it be referred to the Committee at Haberdashers-Hall to levy the same; and to make Allowances and Deductions unto him of Monies by him formerly contributed, as is usual in other Cases.

Sir Thomas Widdrington reports the Amendments to the Ordinance for punishing such Soldiers as, being imprested, shall run from their Colours: The which were read; and, upon the Question, assented unto: And the Ordinance, with the Amendments, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent to the Lords for their Concurrence.

Sir Thomas Widdrington is appointed to carry it to the Lords.

A Letter from St. Albans, of Aprilis 18, from the Justices of Peace of that Liberty; shewing, That they had apprehended Twelve of those Soldiers, that were lately pressed out of the County of Hertford, which had committed divers Misdemeanors and Felonies, for which Two of them are condemned; and reprieved, till the Pleasure of this House be known; was this Day read. And

It is thereupon Ordered, That those Two Soldiers, which are condemned, shall be left to the Law: And that Execution be done, according to the Sentence passed upon them: And that Sir Thomas Dacres do prepare a Letter, to be signed by Mr. Speaker, to acquaint the Justices of Peace there with the Pleasure of this House, accordingly.

Ordered, &c. That the Collectors of the Monies for Sir Thomas Fairfax his Army within the City of London, and Lines of Communication, shall, upon the Warrant of the Committee of the Militia, out of the Monies collected within the City, and Lines of Communication, pay unto the said Committee, or such as they shall appoint to receive the same, such Monies as shall be necessary to defray the Charge of Coat and Conduct-Money of such Soldiers as are and shall be imprested by the said Committee, in such manner as is allowed to the respective Committees of the several Counties.

Mr. Scawen reported, from the Committee, the Business concerning the Earl of Essex's Life-Guard; and the Propositions made by those Gentlemen: The which Propositions were read. And

It is Ordered, That the Report be re-committed: And the Committee are further to consider, What will be the Charge of these Gentlemens Entertainments; and how the Charge may be raised.

Mr. Holles reports, from the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Admiralty and Cinque-Ports, the Opinion of That Committee touching the Command in Chief of the Fleet, now prepared for this Summer's Expedition, in hæc verba; viz.

"Resolved, upon the Question, That it be reported to both Houses, as the Opinion of this Committee, That it is most for the Advantage of the publick Service, that the Fleet, now prepared for this Summer's Expedition, be put under the Command of one Man, and not divided into many Hands: But the Ordinance lately passed, to put the Members of both Houses out of all Employment Military and Civil, concluding the Committee, that they may not (as hath been usual and never more necessary than now) nominate some Person of Honour, Quality, and Estate, to take upon him such a Charge; they cannot, for the present, think of any Person qualified for so high a Trust; which carries with it the Safety of all Three Kingdoms: They therefore humbly return it back to the Houses, as a Business of so great Difficulty, and of so high a Concernment, that it is fit only to be settled by their Wisdoms."

Resolved, &c. That the Consideration of this Report be resumed To-morrow Morning, the first Business.

Mr. Sollicitor reports, from the Committee of both Kingdoms, to whom it was referred to consider of the printing the Paper delivered in by the States Ambassadors, That they had examined the Business; and found, that one Gilbert Mabbott had given Order for the Printing of it, upon the Desire and Instances of the Secretary to the States Ambassadors; alleging, That it was the Ambassadors Order, That it should be printed. The Witnesses attested the same.

Ordered, That this Particular be taken notice of, and inserted in the Manifesto appointed to be made of the Proceedings and Transactions between the Houses and the States Ambassadors.

Ordered, That all the Petitions, Papers, and Reports, concerning the Scotts Officers and Soldiers, recommended from the Commissioners for the Kingdom of Scotland, be taken into Consideration To-morrow Morning.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth nominate and approve of Mr. Joseph Serjant, now Mayor of Northampton, and the Mayor for the Time being, and Mr. John Fisher, Alderman, to be Deputy-Lieutenants of the Town of Northampton.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.