House of Commons Journal Volume 6: 22 May 1650

Die Mercurii, 22 Maii, 1650.

Prayers.

Representation and Elections.

THE House was this Day, according to former Order, resolved into a Grand Committee, touching an equal Representative, and for regulating Elections.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.
Mr. Say took the Chair.
Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Mr. Say reports from the Grand Committee, touching an equal Representative, and for regulating Elections, That the said Committee have adjourned until This-day-sevennight; and desire the Leave of the House to fit then.

Resolved, That the House be resolved into a Grand Committee on This-day-sevennight; to sit upon the Heads of a Bill for an equal Representative, and for regulating Elections: And that Mr. Speaker do then forbear to take the Chair.

Rainborowe's Widow.

Ordered, That the Act for Mrs. Rainborowe, Widow of Colonel Rainborowe, deceased, be read on Tuesday Morning next.

Army.

Colonel Ludlow reports from the Council of State;

"That it be reported to the Parliament, as the Opinion of the Council, That Two new Regiments of Foot be forthwith raised, to be added to the Field Forces appointed for the Guard of the West; to be continued Three Months, if there be Cause."

"That Colonel Bennett be authorised to raise one of those Regiments in the Counties of Devon and Cornwall; the said Regiment to consist of One thousand, besides Officers."

"That Major Heane, Governor of Weymouth, may have a Commission for Colonel; and be authorized to complete the Four Companies, now under his Command, into a Regiment, consisting of Ten Companies, and of Twelve hundred Men in the Regiment: And that Eight hundred of the said Regiment be employed for the Strengthening of the Field Forces."

"That Billet Money and additional Pay be continued as formerly to the Soldiers, as well in the Field, as in Garisons, for the Space of Six Months now next ensuing, or until the Parliament shall otherwise order."

"That the Officers of Horse have the same Number of Led Horses allowed them, which they formerly had when they were in actual Service, according to the first Establishment of this Army, for the Space of Six Months next ensuing, or until the Parliament take further Order."

"That the Surgeons of each Regiment of Horse may have Ten Pounds apiece to furnish themselves with Horses and Furniture, to carry their Chests; and that they may have the same Pay for each of the said Horses, upon Musters, as private Troopers have."

"That an additional Allowance of Five Pounds to each Surgeon, for their Furnishing of their Ches with Medicaments, the present Allowance being but Ten Pounds for each Chest."

"That Two new Companies be raised for the completing of Colonel Cox his Regiment."

"That the Governor of Dover's Company, and Major Gibbon's Company, and Captain Billiers' Company, be completed to the Number of One hundred and Thirty in each Company."

He also reports the Grounds and Reasons of the former Report, in these Words; viz.

"The Grounds and Reasons moving the Council to make the Reports following."

"Upon Consideration of the Dangers of the West, and that no further Supply of Foot can be spared out of the Standing Army, without exposing the Parts to Danger; and yet conceiving it necessary that there should be Two thousand Foot, at least, in a moving Body, to march from Place to Place, as Occasion shall require;"

"This Council think it fit, that it be repord to the Parliament, as their Opinion, That Two new Regiments, &c."

"Upon Consideration had of the Grounds and Reasons that occasioned Billet Money and additional Pay to be allowed to the established Forces of this Nation, being the Dearness of Corn, and other Provisions, far exceeding former Years; and the avoiding of Billetting Soldiers in private Houses; and finding the said Reasons still continue in Force, as well in respect of the Prices; Provisions, as of the Prejudice that would ensue to the People of this Nation, by necessitating the Soldiers to be billetted in private Houses; and that it would be great Discouragement to the Forces that are to be upo their March, to have their Pay abated at this Time, when they may probably expect an Engagement with an Enen;"

Army.

"And for that the Soldiers are engaged, during the Time they receive additional Pay and Billet Money to recruit themselves with Horses and Arms (except in case of Loss upon actual Service in Fight); so as the Commonwealth is not put to that Charge, while additional Pay and Billet Money continues.

"The Council think fit, that it be reported to the House, as their Opinion, that Billet Money, &c."

Resolved, by the Parliament, That Colonel Bennet be authorized to raise a Regiment of Foot in the Counties of Devon and Cornwall; the same Regiment to consist of One thousand, besides Officers.

Resolved, by the Parliament, That Major Haine, Governor of Weymouth, have a Commission for Colonel; and be authorized to complete the Four Companies now under his Command, into a Regiment, consisting of Ten Companies, and of Twelve hundred Men, in the Regiment: And that Eight hundred of the said Regiment be employed for the Strengthening of the Field Forces.

Resolved, That these Words, "besides Officers," be added to the last Vote; viz.

Resolved, by the Parliament, That Major Haine, Governor of Weymouth, have a Commission for Colonel; and be authorized to complete the Four Companies now under his Command, into a Regiment, consisting of Ten Companies, and of Twelve hundred Men, in the Regiment, besides Officers: And that Eight hundred of the said Regiment be employed for the Strengthening of the Field Forces.

Resolved, by the Parliament, That these Two Regiments shall be continued for Three Months, if the Parliament, or Council of State, shall think fit.

The Question being propounded, That this House doth concur with the Council of State in this Report touching Billet Money and additional Pay;

The Question was put, That that Question be now put;

It passed with the Negative.

Resolved, by the Parliament, That Billet Money and additional Pay be continued, as formerly, to the Soldiers, as well in the Field as in Garisons, for the Space of Six Months next ensuing, or until the Parliament take other Order.

The Question being propounded, That the Officers of Horse have the same Number of Led Horses allowed them they formerly had, so long as they shall be in actual Service;

And the Question being put, For the putting of that Question;

It passed with the Negative.

Resolved, by the Parliament, That the Officers of Horse have the same Number of Led Horses allowed them, which they formerly had, so long as they were in actual Service, according to the first Establishment of this Army, for the Space of Six Months next ensuing, or until the Parliament shall take further Order.

Resolved, by the Parliament, That the Surgeons of each Regiment of Horse shall have Ten Pounds apiece to furnish themselves with Horses and Furniture, to carry their Chests: And that they shall have the same Pay for each of their said Horses, upon Musters, as private Troopers have.

Resolved, by the Parliament, That an additional Allowance of Five Pounds be made to each Surgeon, for the Furnishing of their Chests with Medicaments, the present Allowance being but Ten Pounds for each Chest.

Resolved, by the Parliament, That the Governor of Dover's Company, and Major Gibbon's Company, and Captain Billier's Company, be completed to the Number of One hundred and Thirty in each Company.

East India Company.

Ordered, That the Report touching the East India Company, be made To-morrow Morning, the first Business.

Irish Ladies.

Ordered, That the Report touching the Irish Ladies be made on Tuesday Morning next.