House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 27 March 1645

Die Jovis, Martii 27, 1645.

Prayers.

THE Grand Committee of the House, according to former Order, took into Consideration the Business concerning such ignorant and scandalous Persons as are not to be admitted unto the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper: And

Mr. Whittacre was called to the Chair.
Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Ordered, That Sir Jo. Evelyn do To-morrow carry to the Lords the Ordinance for securing the Eighty thousand Pounds, advanced by the City, &c.; and likewise the other Orders and Ordinances passed.

Mr. Whittacre reports, from the Grand Committee: And it is thereupon.

Resolved, &c. That a Person, not having a competent Measure of Understanding in the Grounds and Principles of Religion, laid down in the Scriptures, concerning God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, shall not be admitted to the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.

Resolved, &c. That it be referred to the Assembly of Divines, to set down, in particular, What they conceive to be such a competent Measure of Understanding, concerning God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, without which none shall be admitted to the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.

Sir Rob. Harley and Mr. Tate are appointed to acquaint the Assembly with this Order.

Ordered, That the Committee of Plymouth do send some of their Members to the Commissioners of Excise; to acquaint them with the extreme Necessity, that Four thousand Pounds be forthwith provided and furnished for the Foot at Reading and Farnham; and to know of them, at what Day certain they will reimburse this Four thousand Pounds, if the Committee for Plymouth shall, for the present, considering the Necessity of it, procure it to be laid down.

Ordered, That Sir John Wollaston, and the rest of the Treasurers named in the Ordinance for Repayment of the Eighty thousand Pounds to be lent by divers Persons of the City, do advance Seven thousand Pounds, to be carried to the Army with Sir Thomas Fairfax, for the Pay of a Fortnight's Pay to such Soldiers as shall voluntarily come in to list themselves under him; to be issued by such as they shall send down upon Sir Thomas Fairfaxe's Warrant and Directions; this House engaging, that the same shall be repaid, or allowed, upon Account, to the said Treasurers, as Part of the said Eighty thousand Pounds.

Ordered, That the Earl . . Kent shall have the Duchy-House, if he shall think fit.

Upon the Petition of the Lady Grace Manners;

It is Resolved, &c. That this House doth accept of the Three hundred and Eighty Pounds, which she oweth to Sir Lewis Watson, and One hundred and Twenty Pounds more, to make up Five hundred Pounds, from the Lady Grace Manners; and doth remit unto her, and discharge her, from all Inconveniency and Prejudice that she hath or might incurr by paying of Seventeen hundred Pounds to divers Persons in London, by the Appointment of Sir Lewis Watson.

The Lords Concurrence is to be desired herein: And Mr. Peirpoint is to carry it up.

Ordered, That a Fortnight's Pay shall be forthwith provided for such Officers as shall go off upon the Reducing of the Army: And that this Five hundred Pounds from the Lady Grace Manners shall be employed to this Purpose, and paid to the Sub-Treasurers of the Army; to be issued by Warrant from Sir Thomas Fairfax: And that his Acquittance shall be a sufficient Discharge to the said Lady Manners.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. John Smyth shall be admitted to assist the Clerk, for the better performing the Service of the House, in the Absence of Mr. Rushworth.

Sir Henry Vane junior reported, from the Committee of both Kingdoms, the Propositions presented by Monsieur Movatt, Agent to the Crown of Swede; with a Letter to be signed by the Speakers of both Houses, and sent to the Crown of Swede, in Answer to the said Propositions: The which were all read: And the Letter, upon the Question, assented unto; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence, To-morrow, by Mr. Pierepoint.

Ordered, That a Month's Pay, upon Muster, by Poll, be forthwith paid, by the Treasurer of the Earl of Manchester's Association, out of the Arrears of that Association, to Colonel Pykering and Colonel Ayloff's Regiments: And that the common Soldiers of Colonel Ayloffs Regiment be disposed of to recruit Colonel Pykering's Regiment.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to consider of sending some Horse and Dragoons to Abbingdon: And that it be referred to the Committee for the Army, where Mr. Scawen has the Chair, to provide Horses and Arms for Three hundred Dragooners.

BE it Ordered, by the Lords and Commons, in Parliament assembled, That the Committee of the Militia of the City of London, and the several Sub-Committees of the Militia within the Line of Communication, the Parishes mentioned within the weekly Bills of Mortality, shall, by virtue of this present Ordinance, respectively have Power, and are hereby authorized, to put in Execution, within the said City, and their several Limits, aforesaid, an Ordinance, bearing Date the Twenty-seventh Day of February 1644, for the speedy Raising and Impresting of Men for the Recruiting of the Forces under the Command of Sir Thomas Fairfax.