House of Commons Journal Volume 5: 20 June 1648

Die Martis, 20 Junii, 1648.

Prayers.

Plymouth Garison, &c.

ORDERED, That it be referred to the Lieutenant of the Ordnance, to make Provision of Guns, and Gunners Stores, for the Forts and Island at Plimouth: And that he have Power to issue them accordingly.

Ordered, That Colonel Ralph Weldon shall have Power, and is authorized, to expend the next Half-year's Salary that he shall receive from the Committee of the Revenue, upon the Repairs and Fortifications about Plimouth, the Forts, Castle, and Island there.

Ordered, That the Castle of the Town of Plimouth be put under the Command and Government of Colonel Ralph Weldon, Governor of Plimouth.

Ordered, That Colonel Weldon, Governor of Plimouth, shall have Power, and is hereby authorized, upon Occasion, as he shall see Cause, to command in, and put into, the Castle, an Hundred Men, out of the Town, or out of the County.

Ordered, That Colonel Weldon, Governor of Plimouth, shall have the Pay and Entertainment formerly allowed to the Governor of the Fort and Island, out of the Revenue; and likewise the Pay of a Colonel of Foot, in Course and Manner according to the Establishment of the Army.

Ordered, That the Sum of an Hundred Pounds be bestowed, as a Gratuity, upon Colonel Ralph Weldon, Governor of Plimouth, to buy him Horses: And that the said Sum of One hundred Pounds be paid unto him, or his Assigus, by the Committee of Kent.

Ordered, That, on Saturday Morning, the Petition from the Town of Plimouth be read.

Whereas there are divers Bonds entered into by Merchants, in the Name of John Hunt Esquire, Serjeant at Arms, late attending upon the House of Commons, for Payment of the Duty of One per Cent. assigned to the Garison of Plimouth: It is Ordered, That the Executor or Executors of the said John . . . . do perform and do all such Acts as shall be necessary for putting the said Bonds in Suit, and for Recovery of the Monies due thereupon.

Nottingham Castle.

A Letter from the Committee of Nottingham, of 10 Junii, 1648, with a Copy of a Declaration inclosed, were this Day read.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee at Derby House, to consider of the Castle of Nottingham, and for raising a Troop of Horse, and other Necessaries, as they shall think fit, for Safeguard of the said Castle, and preserving the Peace of those Parts; and report the same to the House.

Ordered, That the Sum of Two hundred Pounds be forthwith advanced and paid to the Governor of the Castle of Nottingham, out of the Estates of such Delinquents as have been engaged in the Design of surprising the Castle of Nottingham, and out of the first Monies thereby to be raised.

Ordered, That the Sum of Five hundred Pounds be forthwith advanced, for Victualling, Repairing, Fortifying, and Managing of the Castle of Nottingham: And it is referred to the Gentlemen of Nottingham, to present to the House; with some Ways or Means, How and where the said Money may be raised.

Lincolne Militia.

An Ordinance for settling the Militia in the County of Lincolne, and City and County of Lincolne, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Sir Wm. Armyn is appointed to carry it to the Lords.

Ordered, That the Gentlemen of the County of Lincolne, that are now in Town, and named in the Ordinance for settling the Militia in Lincolneshire, be desired and enjoined forthwith to go down into the County of Lincolne, to put the said Ordinance in Execution.

Delinquents Estates, &c.

Ordered, That an Ordinance be prepared, and brought in, for the Charging and Levying of Two thousand Pounds in present, and One thousand Pounds per mensem, for the providing of Saltpetre and Powder, out of the Estates of Delinquents in the late Insurrection in Kent and Essex: Provided that respect be had to the Acts of Indemnity given in Kent and Essex, and the Articles of Canterbury: And it is referred to the Committee of the Navy, to prepare and bring in this Ordinance.

Militia.

Ordered, That the Members of the House do this Afternoon attend the Committee to whom the Ordinance for settling the Militia of the Kingdom is referred.

Scotts Affairs.

Two Letters, from the Commissioners of Parliament, residing at Edinburgh, of the Ninth and Thirteenth of June 1648; with a Paper inclosed, from the Parliament of Scotland, of 7 Junii; and a Reply of our Commissioners of 9 Junii; were all read.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of what the Commissioners of the Parliament of England, residing in Scotland, have done there.

Message from Lords.

A Message from the Lords, by Dr. Bennett and Mr. Ellonhead;

The Lords have received a Letter from Richard Osborne: They think fit, that he have Liberty for his Person for Forty Days, to make * * * *.

The Lords have sent you the Votes in the Lords House, concerning such as take up Arms against the Parliament; wherein they desire the Concurrence of this House: An Ordinance for ratifying the Articles of Oxford: Two Letters, to be sent to the States General, concerning the Ships; with a Letter of Credence, from Dr. Dorislaw; which they desire Mr. Speaker * * * *: A Report concerning the Island of Guernesey, and dispatching away of Colonel Russell, the Governor of the said Isle, thither: The Consession of Faith, with some Alterations: The Countess of Kildare's Petition; to which they desire the Concurrence of this House: The Petition of Captain John Bowen, and others: An Ordinance concerning Mr. Ralph Riggs; in which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

Letter from Osborne.

Ordered, That the Letter from Richard Osborne, of 10 Junii 1648, directed to the Speaker of the House of Commons; and the Letter inclosed, from the said Richard Osborne, of 1 Junii, directed to the Lord Wharton; be communicated to the Lords. And

It is Ordered, That the said Richard Osborne may have Forty Days, after the Date hereof, to come, with Safety to his Person, to make good the Allegations mentioned in the said Letters, so long as he shall stay here for the Examination and Proof of the Business; and likewise shall have free Liberty to depart, without Molestation, Lett, or Hinderance.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Mr. Wheeler is appointed to go with this Message.

War against Parliament.

Whereas the Lords and Commons, in Parliament assembled, did, upon the Twentieth of May, 1642, for the preventing of the late War, pass these Three Votes:

1. That it appears the King, seduced by wicked Counsel, intends to make War against the Parliament; who, in all their Consultations and Actions, have proposed no other End unto themselves but the Care of the Kingdoms, and the Performance of all Duty and Loyalty to his Person:

2. That, whensoever the King maketh War upon the Parliament, it is a Breach of the Trust reposed in him by his People, contrary to the Oath, and tending to the Dissolution of this Government.

3. That whosoever shall serve or assist him in such Wars are Traitors by the fundamental Laws of this Kingdom; and have been so adjudged by Two Acts of Parliament, and ought to suffer as Traitors, 11 Rich. II. 1° Hen. IV.:

And whereas there are now, at this time, divers Persons in Arms, who endeavour to raise War against the Parliament:

The Lords and Commons, assembled in Parliament, for better informing of the Subjects of this Kingdom in their Duty, do now, at this time, Declare, That it doth appear, that divers, who have assisted the King in the late War against the Parliament, as also divers others do endeavour to seduce the People, and do actually levy War against the Parliament.

That whosoever shall make War against the Parliament of England, or assist in such War, are Traitors by the fundamental Laws of this Kingdom; and have been so adjudged by Two Acts of Parliament, and ought to suffer as Traitors, 11 R. II. 1° H. IV.:

That these Votes be printed and published by the Sheriffs in every Market Town in the several Counties, at the next Market Days after the Receipt hereof: And that the Judges do deliver them in their several Circuits.

Articles of Oxford.

Be it Declared and Ordained, by the Lords and Commons, in Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same, That all and every the Articles made and agreed on, upon the late Surrender of Oxford, do stand, and be confirmed; and shall be duly and effectually observed in all Things whatsoever, according to the true Intent and Meaning thereof: And that all and every Committees of Parliament, and all and every Judges, Officers, and others, whom it may concern, respectively, shall and ought acordingly to keep and observe the same.

Isle of Guernesey.

Ordered, by the Lords and Commons, in Parliament assembled, That, for the Preservation of the Isle of Guernesey, Colonel Russell, Governor thereof, be forthwith dispatched thither:

That, from this time, he shall receive and employ the Revenue of the said Isle, as formerly:

That the Commissioners appointed to go into Guernesey be sent thither with all Expedition:

That the disposing of the Revenue that hath been hitherto suspended, and the further settling of the Island, be respited till the Return of the Resolutions of the Commissioners.

Letters to Holland, &c.

The Three Letters, to be sent from the Two Houses of Parliament to the States General, and to the States of Zealand; and the Letter of Credence to Dr. Dorislaus; were read; and, upon the Question, assented unto.

Dr. Dorislaus.

Ordered, That Fifty Pounds be imprested, and advanced by the Committee of the Navy, to be paid to Dr. Dorislaus, for his present Service into Holland and Zealand, with Letters to the States there.

Confession of Faith.

Ordered, That the Articles of Christian Religion, sent from the Lords, with some Alterations, the which were this Day read, and upon the Question, agreed unto, be forthwith printed and published.

E. of Kildare's Arrears.

The humble Petition of the Lady Jane Countess of Kildare, recommended by the Lords to this House, was this Day read.

Ordered, That the Sum of Five hundred Pounds be allowed and advanced to the Earl of Kildare, in Part of his Arrears, out of concealed Delinquents Estates, not sequestered, such as he, or any for him, shall discover to the Committee usually sitting at Haberdashers Hall, and out of the Compositions or Surplusage of such Delinquents Estates as have compounded at Undervalues; those Undervalues to be discovered by the said Earl, or some for him. And

It is Ordered, That the Committee at Haberdashers Hall, do proceed upon such Discoveries, and use all effectual Means for bringing in the said Five hundred Pounds, and paying of it to the said Earl, or his Assigns.

Bowen's, &c. Petition.

The humble Petition of Captain John Bowen, and Lieutenant John Lisle, sent from the Lords, was this Day read: And

It is Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to the Consideration of the Committee of the Navy.

Fareham Manor.

An Ordinance touching a Lease, granted by the Bishop of Winton to Ralph Riggs, deceased, for the Lives of Thomas Riggs and Ogle Riggs, Sons of the said Ralph Riggs, and of Robert Riggs his Nephew, of the Manor of Fareham in the County of Southampton, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, committed unto Mr. Love, Mr. Hill, Mr. Wheeler, Sir John Danvers, Sir Antho. Irby, Mr. Miles Corbett, Mr. Strode, Colonel Norton, Mr. Povey, Mr. Holcroft, Mr. Long, Major General Skippon, Colonel Harvey, Mr. Lisle, Serjeant Wilde, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Rous, the Knights and Burgesses of Hampshire:

This Committee, or any Four of them, are to meet in the Court of Wards, this Afternoon; and to report their Opinions touching this Ordinance, forthwith.

Mr. Love is appointed to take care of it.

Ordered, That the Contractors for Bishops Lands do forbear to proceed in the Sale of the Manor of Fareham in the County of Southampton, whereof a Lease hath been granted to Ralph Riggs, deceased, for Three Lives, from the Bishop of Winton; until the House take further Order.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Vaughan have Leave to go into the Country.

Ordered, That Mr. Mackworth have Leave to go into the Country.

Officers' Petition.

Ordered, That, on Thursday Morning, the Petition of divers Officers of the Army, now delivered in by Major General Skippon, be read.

Payment of certain Monies.

Ordered, That Mr. Ellis do bring in an Ordinance for the Allowance of the Payment of certain Monies, issued upon the Command and Service of the Parliament, out of the Four hundred thousand Pounds Bill Monies, in the Northern Counties.

Scotts Affairs.

Ordered, That the Letters and Papers, from the Commissioners in Scotland, be taken into Consideration at Ten of Clock To-morrow Morning, next after the Ordinance for Church Government.

Answer to Lords.

Answer returned by the same Messengers;

This House has considered their Lordships Message: And, as to the Letter of Richard Osborne, the Petition of the Lady Kildare, and the Ordinance concerning Mr. Riggs, the House will send Answer by Messengers of their own: To all the other Particulars, they do agree.

Letter read.

A Letter from Lieutenant General Cromwell, from Pembroke Leaguer, of the Fourteenth of June 1648, was this Day read.

Answer from Lords.

Sir William Armyn brings Answer from the Lords, That, as to the Ordinance for settling the Militia in Lincolneshire, by him carried to the Lords, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Affairs in the North.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee at Derby House, to take the Business of the North into speedy Consideration; and to take care, that Forces be expedited into the North, for Defence and Safeguard of those Parts.

Col. Wogan.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee at Derby House, with Power to great a Commission to Colonel Wogan to be Governor of the Castle of Abaristwith, according to the Desire of Lieutenant General Cromwell.

Ordered, That Colonel Wogan be forthwith paid Three hundred Pounds, upon Accompt, in Part of his Arrears, out of the Estates of those that have been in the late Insurrection in South Wales: And it is referred to the Committee of the Army, to pay the same to the said Colonel Wogan, or his Assigns, accordingly.

Lancasheire Brigade.

Ordered, That Colonel Ralph Ashton, a Member of this House, do command in Chief the Brigade raised in Lancashire, to join with Major General Lambert; and do take his Orders from the said Major General in the present Service for the North: And the House doth approve of the Election of the said Colonel Ralph Ashton for that Service.

Governor of Lancaster.

Ordered, That the Committee for the Militia of Lancasheire do name to the General considerable Men, to be Governor of Lancaster; to be approved and allowed of by the General.

Guildford Return.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Priviliges, to consider of the Return for the Borough of Guildford in Surrey: And that the said Committee do sit this Afternoon: And neither of the Parties are to sit in the House until the Committee have reported their Opinion thereupon.