House of Commons Journal Volume 6: 23 October 1648

Die Lunæ, 23 Octobris, 1648.

Prayers.

Siege of Pontefract Castle.

COLONEL Copley reports the Draught of a Letter to be sent to the Lord General, touching a Commander in Chief, to command the Siege before Pontefract Castle: The which was read; and, after some Alterations, upon the Question, assented unto; and ordered to be signed by Mr. Speaker, and sent to the General accordingly.

Yorkshire Forces.

Sir John Danvers reports from the Committee at Derby House, a Letter from the General, of 14 Octobris 1648, directed to that Committee: And the Report of the Committee thereupon touching the Disbanding of the Forces of Yorkshire, and employing Forces of the Army for Reducement of the Castles of Pontefract and Scarborough.

Resolved, &c. That the Committee of the County of York do take care for the Disbanding of the new-raised Forces of Yorkshire, so soon as Forces shall come from the Army sufficient to do the Work of reducing the Castles of Pontefract and Scarborough.

The Question being put, for desiring the Lords Concurrence in this Vote;

It passed with the Negative.

Leave of Absence.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. Elford, a Member of this House, shall have Leave to go into the Country.

Nottingham Forces.

A Letter from the Committee of the County of Nottingham, of 10 Octobris 1648; and a Letter from the General from St. Albans, of 14 Octobris 1648, recommending the said Letter of the Committee ....

Resolved, &c. That the new-raised Forces of the County of Nottingham be forthwith disbanded: And that it be referred to the Gentlemen of the County of Nottingham, Members of this House, to consider of some Course, and report it to this House, How Monies may be raised for the Satisfying of them.

Disbanding Forces.

Mr. Swynfen reports a Paper, containing some Particulars presented to the Committee at Derby House, concerning the new-raised Forces and Supernumeraries associated under the Command of Colonel Alexander Popham: The which were read.

A Letter from the Lord General to Colonel Alexander Popham, from St. Alban's, 4 Octobris 1648, touching those Forces; a Paper signed by some Members of this House; the Opinion of the Committee for continuing the Forces associated in the Condition they are; and for keeping of the One hundred and Twenty Horse; and that there may be an Establishment settled upon that County for the Maintenance of those Men; were likewise all read.

Resolved, &c. That it be referred to the Committee of the County of Sommersett, to take care for the Payment of the Monies that have been disbursed for the Raising and Maintaining of new-raised Forces to this Day, deducting for the Free Quarter that has been taken by them upon the County.

Resolved, &c. That the new-raised Forces of the County of Somersett be disbanded: And that a Letter be written to the Lord General, either to take care that Bridgwater, Bathe, and Dunstar, may be slighted; or else speedily to put some Forces of the Army into those Places, to secure them from any Danger.

Resolved, &c. That the Committee of the County of Somersett do forthwith disband the new-raised Forces of that County; and pay them for what is due since their late Raising, to this Day; deducting for Free Quarter, either out of the Sequestrations of that County, or any other Monies within their Power.

Resolved, &c. That all the supernumerary Forces, lately raised, of the County of Northampton, except Fourscore Horse only, be forthwith disbanded: And that the Committee do pay them off their Arrears for their Service, since they were so lately raised; deducting for Free Quarter.

Resolved, &c. That all the supernumerary Forces, lately raised, of the County of Oxon, being no Part of the Army, be forthwith disbanded: And that the Committee do pay them off their Arrears for their Service, since they were so lately raised; deducting for Free Quarter.

Resolved, &c. That all the supernumerary Forces, lately raised, of the County of Hereford, being no Part of the Army, be forthwith disbanded: And that the Committee do pay them off their Arrear for their Service, since they were so lately raised, deducting for Free Quarter.

Resolved, &c. That the new-raised Forces of the County of Derby, being no Part of the Army, be forthwith disbanded by the Committee of the said County: And that the said Committee do forthwith pay them off their Arrears for what is due since their last Raising; deducting for Free Quarter.

Ordered, That Bolsover Castle be slighted, according to former Order of the Committee of both Kingdoms: And that the Forces put in there be forthwith disbanded, in like manner as the other Forces of that County.

Resolved, &c. That the new-raised Troop of the County of Southampton be forthwith disbanded: And that the Committee do forthwith pay them off the Arrears of their Service, since the late Taking of them on; deducting for Free Quarter.

Resolved, &c. That all the supernumerary Horse of the County of Gloucester, under the Command of Captain Roberts, Captain Wells, and Captain Castle, being no Part of the Army, be forthwith disbanded: And that the Committee do pay them off the Arrears for their Service, since they were so lately taken on; deducting for Free Quarter.

Ordered, That the Report touching the Town of Northampton be made on Thursday Morning next.

Resolved, &c. That the Committee of the County of Warwick do forthwith disband all the new-raised supernumerary Forces of that County; and pay them what is due since their late Raising to this Day; deducting for Free Quarter: And it is referred to the said Committee, to take Care of the Town of Coventry, and of the Garisons of Mackstock and Killingworth, for the Safeguard of the said County.

Ordered, That Mr. Swynfen do proceed in, and make an End of, his Report, To-morrow Morning, the first Business.

Message from Lords.

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

The Lords have commanded us to let you know, that they do concur with you in approving such to be Serjeants as you did nominate, and send to them: And do desire, that the Serjeants Feast, in respect of the Distraction of the Times, may be put off; and that a Writ may issue for calling Mr. Robert Hatton to be Serjeant at Law.

The Lords have sent you a Report from the Committee of Derby House, concerning the Lord Folyatt: Which the Lords desire this House to take into Consideration.

The Lords have returned unto you an Order for Payment of Fees to Officers and Under Clerks, for Commissions and Dedimus Potestatems to Justices of Peace, out of the Hanaper; with some Amendments; whereunto they desire your Concurrence.

Serjeant at Law.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Lords, That the Commissioners of the Great Seal of England do issue forth Writs for the Calling of Robert Hatton, of the Middle Temple, London, Esquire, to be a Serjeant at Law.

Lord Foliatt's Arrears, &c.

Whereas the Lord Foliatt stands indebted unto Alexander Boakin, and his two other Partners, Rebels in Ireland, in the Sum of Fifteen hundred Pounds; and a great Sum of Money is owing to the said Lord Foliatt for his Arrears: It is Ordered, That the said Debt of Fifteen hundred Pounds do go in Discharge of Part of the Arrears due and owing to the said Lord Foliatt.

Mr. Fynes is to bring in an Ordinance to this Purpose.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Irish Affairs, sitting in the Star Chamber, to state the Accompt of the said Lord Foliatt; and to present the same to the House; and to propose some way to the House for his Satisfaction.

Justices of Peace.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Commissioners of the Great Seal, to take care that the Justices of Peace do take their Oaths, and be sworn in usual Form.

Hanaper Office.

The Amendments to the Ordinance for Payment of Fees to Officers and Under Clerks for Commissions and Dedimus Potestatems to Justices of Peace, out of the Hanaper, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, agreed unto.

Serjeant at Law.

Ordered, That the Swearing of Mr. Whitelock, as a Serjeant at Law, be and is hereby suspended, until the House take further Order.

Answer to Lords.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That as to the Putting off of the Serjeants Feast; and that a Writ issue for the Calling of Mr. Hatton to be a Serjeant at Law; and to the Amendments of the Ordinance; this House doth agree: And, as to the Report concerning the Lord Foliatt, the House has taken the same into Consideration; and will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Serjeants Feast.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Lords, That there shall be no Serjeants Feast made this Call: But that the Serjeants Feast shall be, and is hereby, put off, by reason of the Distractions of the Times.