House of Commons Journal Volume 5: 27 May 1648

Die Sabbati, 27 Maii, 1648.

Prayers.

Banbury Castle.

THE humble Petition of divers of the Well-affected of the County of Oxon, principally of the Inhabitants in and about Banbury, desiring the Dismantling and Demolishing of Banbury Castle, was read.

Resolved, &c. That Banbury Castle be forthwith demolished.

Resolved, &c. That it be referred to the Gentlemen of the Three Counties of Oxon, Warwicke, and Northamptonshiere, to contract with the Lord Say for the said Castle: And that the Sum that they shall contract for be reported to the House, and issued out of the Sequestrations of the said Counties of Oxon, Northampton, and Warwickshiere: And that the Materials of the said Castle be bestowed upon the Town of Banbury, to assist them in the Repair of the Ruins made in that Town, by the Enemy, in the late War.

Oxford University.

An Ordinance for giving Power to the Committee of Lords and Commons for regulating the University of Oxon, to send for such Doctors, and others, out of the University of Oxon, as are convicted for Contempt of the Authority of Parliament, was read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Mr. Rous is appointed to carry it to the Lords.

Westminster Militia.

Ordered, That the Ordinance for the Militia of Westminster be reported on Monday Morning next, the first Business.

Safety of Parliament, &c.

Mr. Swynfen reports from the Committee Yesterday appointed to advise with the Common Council, and Committee of the Militia, That, after the Committee had delivered the Order of the House to the Common Council, the Committee of the Militia were sent out to advise with them.

The Committee, upon Debate with the Committee of the Militia, had Four Things in Consideration:

1. What Forces the City could spare, to be a daily Guard to the Parliament at present.

2. The Obstruction to the embodying so considerable a Force as formerly, for the Defence of the Parliament and City, by the Militias of the Out Parts being divided at present from the Militia of the City.

3. The Necessity of some Force of Horse to be raised for the Service of the City and Parliament.

4. What Forces, in the Whole, the City can make for the Preservation of the Parliament, in Case of Danger by tumultuous Insurrections.

After the Committee had debated upon these with the Committee of the Militia, they withdrew for some time: And, upon their Return to us, they gave us these Answers respectively to the Particulars:

1. That the City would provide Two Foot Companies to be the daily Guard of the Parliament, as soon as they have Order and Power to march: And that, if the Militias of the Out Parts were now in as good a Condition as formerly they were, when the Forces of the Out Parts were conjoined with those of the City in their Militia; that then the Militias of the Out Parts might provide one Foot Company every Day, for the Guard of the Parliament which was their usual Proportion, to be a Third Part to the City's Two Parts of Forces: But this the Committee of the Militia refer to the Consideration of the Parliament, to inform themselves more certainly of the Condition of the Forces of the Out Parts, by their own Militias: And the Militia of the City are assured, that the Forces of the Out Parts will very well accord with the Forces of the City.

To the Second; the Committee of the Militia for the City have received a Petition from the Out Parts, which the Common Council commanded them to make known to us; that the Parliament may take it into Consideration, as far as they, in their Wisdoms, shall think fit.

To the Third; the Committee of the Militia did acquaint us, from the Common Council, That they were very sensible of their Necessity of having some Forces of Horse, for strengthening them to serve the Parliament, and Suppressing of Tumults: That the Common Council had referred it to their Consideration, to raise Horse: That they find they have, as yet, by their Ordinance, no Power to raise Horse: And, if they had the same Power for raising Horse, as formerly they had by their former Ordinances, which was sufficient, and would be so again, if it should be renewed; yet that they could not give a particular Answer, either to the Number, or Time, or Certainty of raising them; in regard they have been so employed upon the Ordering of their Foot, that they have had no Time to consider of raising Horse: And besides, the Charge of raising and maintaining Horse will make it the more difficult.

To the Fourth; the Committee of the Militia did acquaint us, That they would not give us a particular Account, What Forces they can provide for the Defence of the Parliament, in Danger by Insurrections; because the Manner of such Insurrections, as they may be, in one Part or another, in the City or Out Parts, may make them more or less able to defend the Parliament: But that they were appointed by the Common Council, by an unanimous Consent, to let us know, that they were ready, in case the Parliament should be in Danger, to devote themselves, and all their Forces, to the utmost, to defend the Parliament, according to the Covenant: And whatsoever the Committee have given us in Answer, is likewise the Sense of the Common Council.

He further delivered in, in Writing, the Answer of the Common Council, touching that Part of the Order for the Advance of present Monies, for the Marching of those Forces of the Mewes, Whitehall, and Tower, that are to be employed for suppressing the Risings in Kent: The which he also read; and was in hæc verba; viz.

Safety of Parliament, &c.

That the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council, had taken into Consideration the Desire of the Honourable House of Commons for the Loan of Five or Six thousand Pounds, for the present Necessity of the Forces here; the better to enable them for a speedy March; and condescended to furnish them with Six thousand Pounds, to be paid the next Morning to the Committee of the Army: Only their Request is, That the Tower of London may be delivered, according to the Ordinance, into the Hands of Colonel Francis West; and the Soldiers to march thence the next Morning; and also, that the Ordinance for the better enabling them in the more speedy Collecting of the last Assessment, may be passed by both Houses.

That they request not this to put any Condition upon the Parliament; but that they may be more enabled for the Settlement of the City.

Ordered, That this House doth approve of the Considerations and Proposals for the City, now reported: And that the Thanks of this House be returned unto them by the Gentlemen that serve for the City, for their very good Affections to the Safety and Service of the Parliament: Who are further to acquaint them with what this House has done, in order to the Marching of the Forces out of the Tower.

Westminster Milltia.

Sir Robert Pye, Mr. Wheeler, Mr. Snelling, Mr. Bell, Colonel Thomson, Mr. Oldesworth, Sir John Potts;

This Committee, or any Three of them, are appointed to examine and understand, In what State and Posture the Militia of Westminster, and the Parts adjacent, are now in; and to report their Condition on Monday Morning next; and what the Obstructions are; and the Remedies for them.

Soldiers in the Tower.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth declare, That they do intend, by their Order of 25 Maii 1648, That the Twelve Gunners employed in the Tower, by the General's Command, be paid off: And that the Foot Soldiers, put in there, be paid as the Army.

Capt. Rolfe.

Resolved, &c. That Captain Rolfe, in the Isle of Wight, have the Entertainment of Major added unto him.

Isle of Wight.

Resolved, &c. That the Desire of Colonel Hammond, Governor of the Isle of Wight, concerning the Addition of Two Companies to the Guards already there, be referred to the Consideration of the Committee at Derby House.

Resolved, &c. That the Desire of Colonel Hammond, Governor of the Isle of Wight, concerning a better Guard, by Shipping, for the Isle of Wight, be referred to the Consideration of the Committee of the Admiralty and Cinque Ports.

Berkshire Petition.

Ordered, That, on Tuesday Morning next, the first Business, the Petition in Sir Francis Pile's Hands, from the County of Berks, be taken into Consideration.

Dover Castle.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Navy do furnish the Garison of Dover Castle with Biscuit: And that the House will take care that they shall be reimbursed.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Army do furnish the Garison of Dover Castle with an Hundred of the Two hundred Beds that were provided for the Soldiers in the Tower.

Parliament Guards.

Sir Henry Vane junior reports, What the Committee had ordered, touching the Disposal of the Forces at the Mewes, Tower, and Whitehall, in order to the Suppressing of the Insurrections and Risings in Kent; and concerning the Guards of the Houses, and Beds for the Soldiers, in Windsore Castle.

Windsore Castle.

He further reported a Letter from the Lord General, of 27 Maii 1648, touching Fortifications, and other Necessaries, for the Garison of Windsore Castle.

Ordered, That the Sum of Fifteen hundred Pounds be charged upon the Sequestrations of Bucks and Berks; and paid, upon Accompt, by the Sequestrators and Treasurers for Sequestrations in the said Counties, to Colonel Whichcott, Governor of Windsore Castle; to be employed for furnishing it with Victuals, and making the necessary Fortifications of that Castle: And that the Acquittance of the said Colonel Whichcott, or his Assignee or Assignees, shall be a sufficient Discharge to the Treasurers and Sequestrators, for such Sums, as, from time to time, they shall pay upon this Order.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Army do take care to furnish the Garison of Windsore Castle with an Hundred Beds, of those that were provided for the Soldiers in the Tower of London.

Soldiers in the Tower.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the Army to give such Satisfaction to the Soldiers lately in the Tower, as they shall think fit, for the Time between the Third of November and the Fifteenth of January.

Militia.

Resolved, &c. That the Militia by Sea and Land be settled in the Two Houses of Parliament, according to the Proposition presented to the King at Hampton Court, for the Term of Ten Years.

Army, &c.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee at Derby House, and, in case they meet not, to the Members of this House that are of that Committee, to take effectual Course with the Officers of the Forces, to take care that the Soldiers carry themselves inoffensively to the People in the County of Surrey, as they march; the Inhabitants demeaning themselves quietly, and not disturbing the Peace of the Kingdom.

The Question being put, That there be an Addition to the Committee at Derby House;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So that the Question passed with the Negative.

Ordered, That Mr. Sherman, the Minister, do forthwith repair to the Committee at Derby House; and declare unto them the same thing concerning those that are risen about Greenwich and Debtford, as he did here.

And it is further referred to that Committee, if they shall think sit, to send the like Instructions, by Mr. Sherman, as were given to the Earl of Thanett; upon Condition that those that are risen do disband, and go quietly to their Houses, before Two of Clock To-morrow Morning.

Parliament Guard.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Militia of London, and Major General Skippon, be desired to send a Regiment of Foot, to be a Guard to the Houses of Parliament, on Monday next: And that they be desired they may be here by Eight of Clock in the Morning, at farthest.

Ordered, That it be referred to Colonel Rosseter, to confer with such Officers, or others, as he shall think fit; and to inlist, under his Command, to the Number of Sixscore Horse, to be a Guard to the Parliament, for the present.

Resolved, &c. That the Committee at Derby House do confer with Colonel Rosseter, for the Raising of a Troop of Horse, to be a Guard to the Parliament, under his Command.

Propositions to the King.

Resolved, &c. That the House do take into Consideration, on Monday Morning, the perfecting the Propositions.

Tumult in Greenwich, &c.

Mr. Samuell Browne reported from the Committee at Derby House, Instructions for Mr. Abraham Sherman, Minister: The which were read; and, upon the Question, assented unto; and ordered to be signed, and presently delivered to the said Mr. Sherman; and were in hæc verba; viz.

Instructions for Mr. Abraham Sherman, Minister at Lee.

YOU are desired to declare to those that are lately risen about Greenwich and Debtford, That the Houses have lately published a Declaration concerning Petitions to be brought to the Houses; That, when they have delivered up the Towns, Magazines, and Arms, that they have seized and shall be retired peaceably to their Houses, they may bring and present a Petition to the Houses, according to the said Declaration.

You shall also declare unto them, That, upon their Disbanding, and Departing home quietly to their Houses, before Two of the Clock To-morrow Morning, they shall have Indemnity for what is past.