House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 29 March 1645

Die Sabbati, Martii 29, 1645.

Prayers.

Ordered, That the Four thousand Pounds, appointed for the Forces at Redding and Farneham, be forthwith, all of it, sent down thither by the Treasurer at Wars: And that none of it, upon any Occasion, Pretence, or Warrant, whatsoever, be detained here in Town, or paid here, or to any other Purpose, than for the Forces at Redding and Farneham: And that if any of it be detained here, and not sent thither, that it be forthwith repaid and restored to the respective Persons and Committee that, upon this Occasion, advanced the same.

The House being informed, That divers Divines of the Assembly were at the Door;

They were called in: And Mr. Marshall delivered, from the Assembly, the Answer to that Order they received from this House, concerning the competent Measure of Knowledge which is requisite to be in such as are to be admitted to the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper: The which was read; and ordered to be referred to the Consideration of the Committee of the whole House appointed to consider of the Matters of Religion: And they are to meet upon it on Tuesday next, in the Morning.

An Ordinance for cutting Wood and Timber for the Fortifying and Service of the Garison of Christchurch in Hantshire, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Ordered, Upon Colonel Stapeleye's own Motion, That the Articles, delivered in to the Committee of Examinations against him by Captain Higgins, be referred to that Committee; to examine; and to report to this House.

Colonel Mitton was called in to the Bar: And the House took Notice of his very good Service; and returned him the Thanks of this House, in Acknowledgment thereof.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of the Exchange of the Earl of Cleveland, Prisoner to the Parliament, for Colonel Stephens and Mr. Jones, of Urske, Prisoners to the King's Forces, if Mr. Jones be not already exchanged.

Ordered, That the Committee of this House, named in the Ordinance for securing the Eighty thousand Pounds lent by divers Persons of the City, be injoined to meet this Afternoon, in the Duchy-Court, at Two of Clock, to sign Warrants for Payment of Monies upon such Contracts, as are already made by the Committee for the Army.

Ordered, That Sir Walth. Erle, Lieutenant of the Ordnance, do receive into the publick Stores the GrenadoShells remaining at present in the Custody of Mr. Browne Gun-Founder: And that it be referred unto him to consider of providing Two Months Pay for the Munster Officers, according to an Order of the Committee of both Kingdoms, of March 8, 1644; and reported by Sir Philip Stapilton, March 29, 1645, upon the Credit of these Shells; or otherwise.

Sir Robert Pye went up to the Lords, to desire them to sit awhile, in regard this House shall have Occasion to come to them, upon important Matters concerning the new Army.

He likewise carried to the Lords, for their Concurrence, the Order, Yesterday passed, for a Thousand Pounds, lent by the Committee for Wood, to be sent to Redding, upon the present Occasion of paying the Forces there; and likewise the Order for providing Monies for the Garison of Christ-Church, by Sale of Delinquents Woods.

Sir Jo. Evelyn reports, from the Committee, the Reasons to be offered to the Lords at a Conference, for adhering to the Ordinance or Commission to Sir Tho. Fairefaxe, as it went from hence: The which were read; and the First Reason, upon the Question, laid aside; the Second assented unto (fn. 1).

I. "Inserting it here must either suppose the King's coming in the Head of an Army to fight against us, for the Preservation and Defence of the true Protestant Religion, &c., and so we must preserve him; or, if we suppose he cometh not to preserve, but to fight to oppose Those (as we know he doth), it seemeth rather a Mockery, than a Reality."

II. "That the King should not think us obliged; by our Covenant, to preserve his Person, if he appear in the Head of an Army against the Parliament; not the Soldier to forbear his Duty, by reason of his Presence."

Against the Second Alteration.

I. "The Word "adjacent" is liable to much Dispute, What Garison shall be said to be so; and, if there happen to be Two or Three small Garisons which are not able to supply him, and another, beyond those, be able; they may dispute whether They be adjacent; when his Design may lie Forty of Fifty Miles from the Place where he is, and he send beforehand to prepare for him, they are not adjacent: So as for fear of granting too great a Power, we shall streighten him so in what is necessary, as may destroy the Army."

Mr. Jeanour went up to Sir Robert Pye, now staying at the Lords Door, to require him to desire a Conference, by Committees of both Houses, so soon as may stand with their Lordships Conveniency, concerning the Commission to Sir Tho. Fairfax.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms, advising with the Committee of the Militia in London, the Gentlemen of Surry and Hants, to nominate a Governor for the Castle of Farneham, to be approved of by this House.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. Jennings and Sir Charles Shirley be forthwith sent for in safe Custody.

Sir Robert Pye brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to the Order for Repayment of the Thousand Pounds lent by the Committee for Wood, for the Service of the Forces at Redding and Farneham; and, as to the Ordinance concerning the Raising of Monies, by Sale of Delinquents Woods, for the Garison of Christ-Church in Hampshire, they will send a speedy Answer by Messengers of their own; and do agree to a present Conference, in the Painted Chamber, as is desired.

Sir John Eveling, Sir Peter Wentworth, Mr. Stroade, and Mr. Recorder, are appointed Managers of this Conference.

Upon a Report from the Committee of both Kingdoms;

It is Ordered, That whereas, by Order of this House, of the Fourteenth Instant, the Committee of the Militia were appointed to make Payment of Two thousand Pounds out of the Ordinance for the Thirty-two thousand Pounds for the Garison of Abington, that they do pay the same Two thousand Pounds, as aforesaid, to Colonel Payne's Regiment of Auxiliaries, and Colonel Underwood's Troop of Horse, now at Abington.

Ordered, That the Committee of Lords and Commons for Advance of Monies, at Haberdashers-Hall, do pay unto Colonel Sam. Jones all such Monies as shall appear to be due unto him, upon the Making up of his Accounts, for Arms furnished by him to the State, in its Course, next after the Assignments already made upon that Committee be first satisfied.

Ordered, That the whole Matter concerning the Arrears to the Governor; Officers, and Soldiers, of Farneham-Castle, be referred to the Consideration of the Committee of both Kingdoms; to consider, What is fit to be done in that Matter.

Ordered, That the Petition and Demands of Colonel Wm. Herbert be referred to Auditor Broad, to audit and perfect.

A Letter from the Committee at Shrewesbury, of March 24; and a Letter, inclosed, from Prince Rupert's Secretary, concerning the Hanging of some Prisoners, after Quarter given; were both this Day read. And

It is Ordered, That it be referred to Mr. Reynolds, Sir Philip Stapilton, Sir Arth. Hesilrig, Mr. Pury, Mr. Holland, Sir Jo. Clottworthy, to prepare a Letter, in the Form of a Declaration, to be sent to Prince Rupert, touching this Business: Mr. Reynolds is to take care herein: And they they are to bring it in on Monday Morning next.

Ordered, That Colonel Pindar shall have Leave, for a Month, to go into the Country, to Weymouth or Plymouth, if he shall find Cause: And that his Service in the Army shall be dispensed with in the mean time.

Ordered, That Sir Jo. Holland, a Member of this House, shall have Leave to be absent from the Service of the House in the Parts beyond the Seas, until October next: And that his Absence from the Service of the House shall be no Prejudice unto him in the mean time.

Ordered, That the Committee of Accounts do, on Thursday next, attend this House.

Ordered, That the Extraordinary upon the Castles of Walmer, Deale, and Sandowne, of Ten Men in each Castle, for the Securing of those Castles, be continued: And that their Pay be ascertained to them from the First of October 1643, and for the Time to come, until other Order be taken; and paid by the Committee of the Revenue: And that the like Extraordinary of Ten Men be established for Sandgate-Castle; and paid, from time to time, by the Committee of the Revenue.

Ordered, That Mr. Robert Glancors, Postmaster of the Stages between Carlisle and Port-Patrick, shall have an Hundred Pounds paid unto him, upon Account, out of the first Monies that shall come in at the Committee of Examinations, or that shall be by himself discovered, to be deducted out of the Arrears due to him for this Service, since the Post was settled by Order of this House: And that for the future, that he receive Satisfaction for the Service to be done, out of such Sums of Money, as shall arise and be payable for the Postage and Carriage of such Things, as shall happen in all the said Stages.

Ordered, That the humble Petition of Sir Tho. Walsingham, a Member of this House, be referred to the Consideration of the Committee for Examinations; and to report their Opinions, What is fit to be done thereupon, to the House.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of the Propositions made by the Sub-Committee, Commissioners of the Navy, and Gentlemen of Monmouth and Glamorgan, concerning Bristol; and doth order, That it be referred to the Committee of the Navy, to put the said Propositions in Execution; and to consider of raising Monies for the Effecting thereof; and to bring in an Ordinance for the same; and to consider, if the said Service may be done by any of the Ships already appointed for that Coast: And have Power to grant all Encouragement to this Service, by Letters of Mart, or otherwise.

Ordered, That Mr. Reynalds do report the Ordinance touching Offices the first on Monday Morning.

Ordered, by the Lords and Commons, assembled in Parliament, That the Thousand Pounds voted to Sir John Meldrum by the House of Commons, in Testimony of his good and faithful Service, shall be paid out of the readiest Monies that, by the Committee of Accounts, is, or shall shall be found due from any Accomptant; the Order of both Houses of Parliament, of the Twenty-sixth of November last, for the Payment of the Money to the Town of Southampton, and other Monies therein expressed; and the Order of the Thirtieth of January last, for paying of several Arrears due to several Owners of Shipping set forth in the State's Service; being observed.