Die Martis, Decembris 31, 1644.
Prayers.
The humble Petition of divers of the Inhabitants
of the County of Bucks of the Hundred of Stoke,
and Parts adjoining, complaining of the Miseries they
suffer by quartering Armies and Forces upon them, was
this Day read: And
It is Ordered, That it be referred and recommended
to the Committee of both Kingdoms: And the Members
of this House, that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms, are required to give an Account hereof to the House
To-morrow Morning.
According to an Order Yesterday made, the House
resumed the Report from the Committee of both Kingdoms, concerning the Scotts Armies in England and Ireland; and concerning the English Army in the North;
and resumed the Consideration of the Earl of Calendar's:
And found, that as to their Desire of a Proportion of their
Arrears to be forthwith provided, That Order was taken
for the present Raising of Ten thousand Pounds upon the
Credit of Excise, to be paid, upon Account, towards the
Payment of their Arrears: And, as to their further Entertainment, they have referred it to the Committee of
both Kingdoms; to consider how the Charge of the
Armies may, in the best manner, be contracted, and the
Kingdom better enabled to perform their Undertaking:
And, as to the Reservation of the Assessment upon the
Four most Northern Counties, the House has referred the
Consideration thereof, till the Ascertaining of the Pay of my
Lord Fairefaxe his Army come under their Consideration.
Concerning the Payment of the Thirty thousand Pounds
due to the Army in Ireland, the House is informed, That
Ten thousand Pounds, or thereabouts, is drawn upon the
Committee at Goldsmiths-Hall by Bills; and Mr. Jo. Ashe
is appointed to give an Account of the certain Sum to
the House. That Ten thousand Pounds in ready Money is
now lately sent to the Scotts Army in Ireland.
And to the end that the Remainder of the said Thirty
thousand Pounds may be the more speedily brought in, and
the Four thousand Pounds [ (fn. a) ] monthly more duly paid;
It is Ordered, That the Ordinance for removing and
clearing the Obstructions in bringing in the Sequestrations
be read, so soon as this Report shall be ended.
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of both
Kingdoms, to consider, Whether, out of the Eighty
thousand Pounds assigned by a late Ordinance for the
Armies in Ireland, Five thousand Arms can be provided
to be sent to the Scotts Army in Ireland.
Resolved, &c. That Three hundred Pair of Pistols,
with Holsters and Furniture, be forthwith provided and
furnished out of the publick Stores, to be sent to the
Regiment of Horse with the Scotts Army in Ireland.
Ordered, That it be referred to the Lord Admiral, and
the Committee of the Navy, to take care, that the Eight
Ships, according to the Treaty, may be set forth and
directed to guard the Northern Coasts of Scotland and
Ireland: And, if there be any Obstructions in the Business, to represent them to the Committee of both Kingdoms.
Ordered, That it be referred to the Lord Admiral, and
the Committee of the Navy, to give an Account to the
House, Wherefore the Ships appointed for the Guard
of the Northern Coasts, according to the Treaty, performed not their Duties upon those Coasts, but deserted
their Posts, and came in contrary to Directions; and to
represent unto the House where the Fault lay; and by
whose Occasion the Difference happened.
Ordered, That it be referred to Sir Thomas Widdrington and Mr. Recorder, to prepare, and forthwith to bring
in, an Ordinance for the Raising of Twenty-one thousand
Pounds monthly, by a weekly Assessment upon the
Counties, according to the Proportion of the Two Months
weekly Assessments assessed by the Ordinance of Augusti
3 1643.
Ordered, That That Part of the Report concerning
the Ascertaining of the Pay of the Lord Fairfax his
Army, be taken into Consideration To-morrow Morning
peremptorily, the first Business: And that Mr. Speaker
put the House in mind hereof.
Ordered, That in case the Lieutenant of the Tower
have received any Order or Warrant from either of the
Houses to reprieve the Execution of the Sentence given
against Sir John Hotham, that he send forthwith a Copy
of the said Order or Warrant to the House: And that he
do forthwith attend the House (if with Safety he can), to
give a further Account thereof.
Sir Rob. Pye is appointed to go to the Lords, to acquaint the Lords, That this House knows no Reason why
Justice should not proceed against Sir John Hotham.
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of
both Kingdoms, to consider, Whether, out of the Remainder of the Ordinance above the Eighty thousand
Pounds, Six hundred Suits may be provided for the
Troopers of the Regiments of Horse with the Scotts
Army in Ireland; and Two Months Pay for the Officers
of the said Regiment; and Twenty Shillings for each
Trooper.