House of Commons Journal Volume 5: 16 January 1647

Die Sabbati, 16 Januarii, 1646.

Prayers.

Great Seal.

A MESSAGE from the Lords, by Dr. Aylett and Dr. Heath;

The Lords have commanded us to bring you this Ordinance concerning the Keeping of the Great Seal of England; and a Commission concerning the same; to both which they desire your Concurrence.

Mr. Samuel Browne brings Answer, That the Lords will send Answer to the Ordinance, concerning the Commissioners of the Great Seal, by Messengers of their own.

The Ordinance, this Day sent from the Lords, concerning the Keeping the Great Seal, was read the First time; and was for appointing the Earl of Manchester Keeper of the Great Seal; and was, upon the Question, rejected.

The Commission, sent from the Lords this Day, was read the First time; and was for appointing the Master of the Rolls, and others, to be Commissioners for Hearing of Causes in Chancery, in the Absence of the Lord Keeper; and was, upon the Question, rejected.

Answer returned by the same Messengers;

The House hath considered your Message; and will send Answer thereunto by Messengers of their own.

Ditto.

A Message from the Lords, by Dr. Heath and Mr Hackwell;

The Lords, in regard the Term is at hand, have sent you an Ordinance for continuing the Great Seal as it is, until Ten Days after the Term; unto which they desire your Concurrence.

The Ordinance for continuing the Great Seal as it is, until Ten Days after the Term, was read.

Resolved, &c. That this House will send Answer to this Ordinance by Messengers of their own.

Answer returned by the same Messengers;

The House hath considered your Message; and will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

The Question was propounded, That a Message should be sent to the Lords, to desire them to expedite the Ordinance lately sent unto them, concerning the Custody of the Great Seal.

And the Question being put, Whether this Question shall be now put;

It passed with the Affirmative: And

It is thereupon Resolved, &c. That a Message be forthwith sent to the Lords, to desire them to expedite the Ordinance lately sent unto them, concerning the Custody of the Great Seal.

Mr. Holles went accordingly to the Lords, with this Message.

Letters read.

A Letter from the Commissioners employed to Newcastle, of 15 Januarii 1646, from Northampton, was this Day read.

A Letter from the General Sir Thomas Fairfax, of the 12th of January 1646, from Northampton, directed to Mr. Scawen, was this Day read.

Army Arrears.

Resolved, &c. That the Members of this House, that are of the Committee of the Army, do fit de die in diem; and execute all such Powers as formerly they have done, to all Intents and Purposes, for Bringing-in the Arrears upon the Ordinances passed: And the Treasurers are hereby required to obey and comply with all such Orders for Issuing of Monies, as they shall receive from this Committee.

Commissioners for receiving the King.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Army do prepare Letters to be sent to the General, and to Major General Skippon, and signed by Mr. Speaker, to desire them to comply with such Directions as they shall receive from the Commissioners of both Houses, employed to receive the Person of the King, concerning Convoys and additional Forces, to be employed by them for the Safety of the King in his Journey to Holdenby.

Army Treasurers, &c.

Resolved, &c. That a Conference be desired with the Lords, by Committees of both Houses, concerning the Ordinances long sithence sent to their Lordships, for continuing the Committee and Treasurers of the Army; and for continuing the Assessments for maintaining the Army under the Command of Sir Thomas Fairfax.

Sir Thomas Wroth is appointed to go to the Lords, to desire this Conference, so soon as may stand with their Lordships Conveniency.

Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Scawen, are appointed Managers of this Conference.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Army do prepare Reasons to be offered to the Lords, at a Conference, to induce them to pass the Ordinances long since sent to their Lordships, for continuing the Committee and Treasurers of the Army; and for continuing the Assessments for the Army under the Command of Sir Thomas Fairfax; and to bring them in on Monday Morning next: And the more particular Care of this Business is referred to Mr. Reynolds.

Earl of Mulgrave.

A Message from the Lords, by Dr. Aylett and Dr. Heath;

In Consideration of the faithful Services done to the Parliament, by the now Earl of Mulgrave and his Family, the Lords do especially recommend this Petition of the Earl's to this House; and desire that you would take it into speedy Consideration upon the whole Matter, and to give a favourable Answer thereunto.

Ordered, That the Petition of the Earl of Mulgrave, this Day sent from the Lords, be read, and taken into Consideration on this Day Sevennight.

Answer returned by the same Messengers;

The House hath considered your Message; and will send Answer thereunto by Messengers of their own.

Great Seal.

Resolved, &c. That a Message be sent to the Lords, to desire a Conference by Committees of both Houses, so soon as it may stand with their Lordships Conveniency, concerning the Disposal of the Great Seal of England.

Sir Thomas Dacres went to the Lords with this Message.

Mr. Holles, Mr. Samuel Browne, Sir Philip Stapilton, are appointed Managers of this Conference.

Buller's Claims.

Upon Mr. Alderman Hoyle's Report from the Committee of the Northern Association, for the Payment of the Sum of One hundred Seventy-one Pound Sixteen Shillings, unto Elizabeth Buller Widow, Relict of Captain Buller, deceased, for the Arrears of Pay due to the said Captain for his Entertainment in the Service of the Parliament; and of the Sum of Nine-and-twenty Pounds, towards his Travel and Losses.

It is Ordered, upon the Question, That the Sum of Two hundred Pounds be paid unto Elizabeth Buller Widow, late Wife of Captain Buller, slain in the Service of the Parliament, out of the Remainder of the Fine of Mr. Francis Nevile, of Chete in the County of Yorke, set upon him for his Delinquency; in full Discharge of all Arrears demandable and due unto her said deceased Husband; and for Recompence of her Losses: And that the Committee at Goldsmiths Hall do pay the said Sum of Two hundred Pounds unto the said Elizabeth Buller: And that the Acquittance of the said Elizabeth Buller shall be a sufficient Warrant and Discharge to the said Committee and Treasurers, for the Payment of the said Two hundred Pounds accordingly.

Lady Fairefax.

Ordered, upon the Question, That the Sum of Fifteen hundred Pounds, out of the Fine and Composition of Sir Henry Griffith, for his Delinquency, be forthwith paid, upon Account, to the Lady Fairefaxe Widow, Relict of Sir Wm. Fairefax, slain in the Parliament's Service, or her Assignee, to be deducted out of the Arrears due to her said Husband upon his Entertainment in the Service of the Parliament: And that the Committee at Goldsmiths Hall do pay the said Sum of Fifteen hundred Pounds accordingly: And the Acquittance of the said Lady Fairefaxe, or her Assignee, shall be a sufficient Warrant and Discharge to the Committee and Treasurers at Goldsmiths Hall, for the Payment of the said Sum of Fifteen hundred Pounds accordingly.

Great Seal.

Sir Thomas Dacres brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to a Conference, concerning the Disposal of the Great Seal, on Monday Morning next, at Ten of Clock, in the Painted Chamber.

Prince Elector.

Ordered, &c. That the Report concerning the Prince Elector be made on Thursday Morning next, peremptorily, the first Business before the Reports from Goldsmiths Hall.

Fee Farm Rents.

Ordered, &c. That the Ordinance, in Mr. Lislebone Long's Hands, concerning the Arrears of Fee Farm Rents, and other Rents, be reported on Saturday Morning next, the first Business: And that the Committee do meet de die in diem in the mean time, to perfect the same.

Court of Wards.

Ordered, &c. That Mr. Thorpe do proceed in his Report, concerning the Officers of the Court of Wards, on Saturday Morning next.

Army Accompts.

An Ordinance for taking, examining, and determining the Accompts of all Officers and Soldiers, who have served in these Wars, under the Command of the Parliament, within the Kingdom of England, and Dominion of Wales, was this Day read the First time.

Instructions, to be observed in taking, examining, and determining, the Accompts of all Officers and Soldiers, who have actually and faithfully served the Parliament of England in the Kingdom of England, and Dominion of Wales, from or since the Beginning of these Wars, was this Day read.

Propositions for the Satisfaction of the Arrears due to the whole Soldiery, who have served the Parliament faithfully in the Kingdom of England, and Dominion of Wales, whose Accompts shall be made up according to an Ordinance for that Purpose, were this Day read.

Irish Commissioners.

A Message from the Lords, by Dr. Heath and Mr. Hakewell;

The Lords have received some Papers from the Commissioners that went into Ireland: They have perused them; and think fit the Commissioners should have Thanks; and have commanded us to communicate them unto you.

Resolved, &c. That the Answer to this Message shall be, That this House will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Answer returned by the same Messengers: That this House will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Army Accompts.

An Ordinance for taking, examining, and determining the Accompts of all Officers and Soldiers, who have served in these Wars, under the Command of the Parliament, within the Kingdom of England, and Dominion of Wales, was this Day read the Second time; and, upon the Question, committed unto a Committee of the whole House: And likewise the Propositions and Instructions, presented together with this Ordinance. And

It is Resolved, upon the Question, That the House do meet in a Grand Committee, on Saturday Morning next, the first Business, to take the said Ordinance, Propositions, and Instructions, into Consideration: And the Propositions are to be taken into Consideration in the First place.

And it is further Ordered, upon the Question, That the same Committee, after the Dispatch of the former Businesses, do take into Consideration, how the Debt, upon the Publick Faith of the Kingdom, may be satisfied.

Reduced Officers.

Ordered, &c. That the Ordinance concerning reduced Officers, brought in by Mr. Grimston, be read on Thursday Morning next, after the Report concerning the Prince Elector.

Portesmouth.

Ordered, &c. That the Business concerning Portesmouth, be taken into Consideration on Thursday Morning next, after the Ordinance concerning reduced Officers.

Widows.

Ordered, &c. That the Committee for the Widows, where Sir Thomas Dacres hath the Chair, do constantly sit.