House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 20 February 1645

Die Jovis, Februarii 20, 1644.

Prayers.

AN Ordinance for reimbursing the Commissioners of Excise Three thousand Pounds advanced and lent by them, Two thousand Pounds whereof to be employed for the Relief of Wareham, Taunton, and Poole, and One thousand Pounds for Colonel John Fienis his Regiment, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Ordered, That Sir Tho. Rous Baronet, Thomas Greves Esquire, Wm. Lygon Esquire, John Egiocke Esquire, Wm. Brown Esquire, shall be added to the Committee of Worcestershire.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

An Ordinance for establishing Mr Sam. Avery, Mr. Rich. Bateman, Mr. Christ. Packe, Mr. Charles Lloyd, and Mr. Walt. Boothby, Commissioners and Collectors of the Customs, was this Day read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, committed unto the Committee of the Navy: And they are to report it To-morrow Morning.

An Ordinance for paying unto the present Commissioners of the Customs, all such Monies as are due unto them, and paying them their Salary until the Twenty-fifth of March, was this Day read the First and Second time; and, upon Question, committed unto the Committee of the Navy: Who are to meet upon it this Afternoon; and are to send for the present Commissioners of the Customs, and to acquaint them with this Ordinance, and their Discharge therein contained: And the Committee is to report this Ordinance To-morrow Morning.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee and Commissioners of the Navy, to take care for graving and fitting all the King's Ships, and Preservation of them; and to take care, that as many of the King's Ships, as can conveniently, may be employed in the next Summer's Service: And that they do bring in a List of all the Ships, Vessels, and Pinnaces, of the Navy, as well what were formerly, and what have since been, bought, or are come in upon Prize; and the State and Condition of them, their Burden and Strength; and to consider of some Course for the keeping up the Strength of the Navy; and to consider what unserviceable Ships there are; and to report what is fittest to be done with them, that they may not be a Charge only, and of no Service, to the the Publick: And it is likewise referred to the Committee and Commissioners of the Navy, to confer with my Lord Admiral, that such Course may be taken, that the Merchants may not fail of Convoys; and That without Exaction upon the Merchant.

Ordered, That the Votes formerly passed upon the Matter of Convoys be printed, and set upon the Exchange: And that the Committee of the Navy do take care, that the said former Votes and Resolutions may be observed, and put in due Execution: And that they confer with my Lord Admiral herein: And that such may receive condign Punishment, against whom just Complaints shall be brought in and proved; that the Merchants may receive all due Encouragement and Justice herein.

Ordered, That, for the present, it be referred to the Committee of the Navy, to take into Pay the Five Ships taken up for the Service of the King and Parliament by Captain Swanly or Captain Moulton, for the Guard of Milford Haven, and the Irish Coast; with this Proviso, That no Ships of War be taken into constant Pay by any Commander at Sea without the Consent of this House; and that, if any such shall be taken up without the Order or Consent of this House, such Ships shall not be paid by the State.

A Letter from Sir Wm. Waller, from Petersfield, of Februarii 19, 1644, was this Day read.

Mr. Green carried up to the Lords, the Concurrence with the Lords in the Proviso concerning Currans, with the Addition of One-Third to be appropriated to the Garison of Gloucester: The Order for Three thousand Pounds out of the Excise; Two thousand Pounds thereof for the Relief of Taunton, Poole, and Wareham: An Order for Four hundred Pounds out of the Excise for the Garison of Windesore; and for Two hundred and Fifty Pounds, out of Haberdashers-Hall, for Colonel Massie: And is to desire the Lords to expedite the Ordinance concerning Martial Law.

Ordered, That the Gentlemen of all the Counties, that are charged with any Payments by the Ordinance concerning the new Model, be added to the Committee for the new Model, where Mr. Scawen has the Chair.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to consider of the present State and Condition of Sir Wm. Waller's Forces; of the Forces upon the Line; and to take some Course for Returning of such Forces as are gone away without Leave, and making them serviceable to the Publick; and for the Enabling of such a Strength as may be able to prevent the Designs of the Enemy, and to provide for the Safety of Weymouth, both by Sea and Land; and further, to provide for the Safety of Uxbridge, to prevent any Design that may be upon it upon the Conclusion of the Treaty; and to take some Course, that the Horse, and other Forces, gone from the Line into Norfolk and Suffolk, may speedily be brought to the Line, and their Colours.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee, where Mr. Tate has the Chair, to examine and inquire, Whether there has been any Endeavour or Design in any Persons, in disaffecting the Armies or Garisons to the Service of this House; and that, if they shall discover, that the Mutinies and Disbandings that have been in the Armies, have been occasioned by the Practice or Combination of any Persons, that they examine the Business to the Bottom; and to report to the House.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Seven Associated Counties do meet this Afternoon; and give precise Order to the Treasurers of the Association, forthwith to send to Lieutenant-General Cromwell's Regiment of Horse the Fortnight's Pay, according to former Order; and likewise the Thousand Pounds to Colonel Fleetwood's Regiment in Lincolnshire; for which there is the Earl of Manchester's Warrant.

Ordered, That the Ordinance, enabling the City to raise Forces, be read To-morrow Morning.

Mr. Green brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to all the Orders for Money carried up by him: And, as to the Ordinance concerning Martial Law, they will take it into speedy Consideration; and send Answer by Messengers of their own.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Edw. Leech and Mr. Page;

That the Lords have sent down the Ordinance for raising Twenty-one thousand Pounds, monthly, for the Scotts Army; which they agree to, with a Proviso, and a small Alteration. They have also sent down the Name of George Devereux Esquire, whom they nominate and approve of to be a Deputy-Lieutenant for the County of Mountgomery: And desire this House to remember to take into Consideration the Petition formerly sent down in the Names of the Brothers of Major Grey.

The Proviso and Amendments were read; and, upon the Question, assented unto.

The Messengers were called in: And Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House doth agree with the Lords in the Proviso and Amendments: And, as to the Petition, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own: And do agree to Mr. Devereux to be DeputyLieutenant for the County of Mountgomery.

Ordered, That Sir Philip Stapilton do report, Tomorrow, the several Reports from the Committee of both Kingdoms.

Ordered, That Sir Henry Vane do report To-morrow.

Ordered, That the Gentlemen of Kent, Members of this House, do attend the Committee of both Kingdoms this Afternoon.

Ordered, That the Ordinance concerning the City's raising Horse for their Defence be read To-morrow Morning.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Navy do confer with the Lord Admiral, and Commissioners of the Navy, for the Employing of the Number of Four thousand Mariners, in this next Summer's Service, upon such of the King's Ships as shall be proper and serviceable, and such Frigates as have been bought, and such other Vessels as are Prize-Ships: And that, if there cannot be had of those Sorts of Ships so many as may complete the said Number of Four thousand Mariners, that then they do consider of the Taking of so many Merchants, as, together with the other, may employ the said Number: And that they bring in a List of the Names of all the Ships, and their Commanders, to be approved of by this House: And that no other Ship of War be taken, without Consent of this House, into constant Pay.

WHereas John Towse Esquire, Alderman of the City of London, and the rest of the Commissioners of Excise and New Impost, have advanced and lent the Sum of Three thousand Pounds, to be employed in Manner following; that is to say, Two thousand Pounds for the Service of Poole, Wareham, and Taunton; and One thousand Pounds more for the Regiment of Colonel John Fines: Be it therefore Ordained, by the Lords and Commons, in Parliament, That the said Commissioners of Excise shall and may satisfy and reimburse themselves the said Three thousand Pounds, together with Interest for the same, after the Rate of Eight Pounds per Cent. for so long time as the same, or any Part thereof, shall be forborn, out of such Intervals of Time, wherein other Payments, out of the Monies arising upon the Excise, shall not happen to fall due; or, for want of such Intervals, then as the same shall follow in Course; and shall not, by any other Order or Ordinance of one or both Houses of Parliament, be debarred from satisfying and reimbursing themselves accordingly: And the respective Receipts, as well of Michael Herring of London Merchant, for the said Two thousand Pounds, as of the said Michael Herring, for the other One thousand Pounds, as aforesaid, shall be a sufficient Discharge to the said Commissioners in that Behalf.