Die Martis, Februarii 25, 1644.

Prayers.

An Ordinance for reimbursing the Commissioners of Excise a Thousand Pounds, lent and advanced by the Commissioners of Excise for the Prince Elector, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, assented unto.

Ordered, That the Knights and Burgesses of the Counties of Bucks and Herts be added to the Committee for the Complaints of the Petitioners of Bedford, Bucks, &c.

A Letter from the Duke of Lorraine was presented to the House by Mr. Speaker, to be read; but being directed, A Messieurs Messieurs de la Chambre Basse du Parlement d' Angleterre, which was not the Stile of the Commons, assembled in the Parliament of England; and therefore, without Prejudice to themselves, they could not read, or consider of it.

The humble Petition of Rich. Sikes and Company, Owners of the Ship Exchange, late of Dartmouth, was this Day read; and ordered to be referred to the Consideration of the Committee for the Navy.

The humble Petition of Sir Edw. Rhodes Knight was this Day read: And

It is Ordered, That it be referred to the Consideration of the Committee at Hull; to consider and examine, What Goods, Money, or Plate, belonging to the Petitioner, were taken into Custody by the then Mayor and Committee, among the Goods of Sir John Hotham: And that they do restore unto the Petitioner Sir Edw. Rhodes all such Money, Plate, or Goods, as he shall make truly and properly to belong unto him.

An Ordinance for admitting, instituting, and inducting Mr. Wm. Blackwell into the Rectory of Merstham, in the County of Surry, become void by the Death of Tho. Buckner Doctor in Divinity, and in the Gift of the late Archbishop of Canterbury, convicted of High Treason, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

The humble Petition of Rob. Earl of Ancram, Gentleman of his . . . . . Bed-Chamber; desiring some Allowance of the Pension due unto him; was this Day read: And

It is Ordered, That it be recommended unto the Committee of the Revenue, to pay unto the Petitioner Five hundred Pounds, with all convenient Speed.

Upon a Report this Day made from the Committee of Lords and Commons for Sequestrations, by Mr. Serjeant Wilde (to which Committee the Petition of the Lord Herbert of Cherbury was referred, by Order of the Lords and Commons), That the said Committee was of Opinion, and so ordered on the First of January last, That the said Lord Herbert of Cherbury should forthwith have allowed unto him Twenty Pounds per Week for his present Subsistence; It is accordingly Resolved, &c. That Twenty Pounds per Week shall be allowed unto the Lord Cherbury for his present Subsistence; whereof Ten Pounds by the Week to be paid by the Committee of the Revenue; and Ten Pounds by the Week by the Committee of Lords and Commons for Advance of Monies at Haberdashers * *.

Ordered, That the Committee of Lords and Commons for Advance of Monies, at Haberdashers-Hall, do advance and pay unto the Lord Cherbury Ten Pounds weekly for his present Subsistence.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Resolved, &c. That the Committee for inquiring, What Offices have been bestowed upon any Members, and the Committee appointed to consider, by what Means to support the Necessities of the Members, be revived, and joined; and do meet on Thursday next, at Two post meridiem, in the Exchequer-Chamber.

Ordered, That the Committee that formerly was appointed, and did bring in the Ordinance for excluding Members of Parliament from Offices, Civil or Military Commands, during this Parliament, be revived; and do prepare and bring in another Ordinance to the same Purpose as the former: And the Care hereof is especially recommended unto Mr. Ellys.

An Ordinance for enabling the Committee of the Militia to search for Papists, ill-affected Persons; to impose the Finding of Foot-Soldiers and Horse upon any Person as they shall think fit, not exceeding Three Foot-Soldiers, or Two Horse, upon any one Man; was this Day read the Second time; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence; the Time being first ascertained for the Continuance thereof; which was ordered, upon the Question, to continue for Eight Months from the Time of the Publishing thereof.

Mr. Recorder is appointed to carry it up.

Sir Tho. Widdrington and Sir Wm. Strickland are appointed to go to Sir Tho. Fairefaxe, to desire him to hasten the List of his Officers.

An Ordinance for Impresting of Soldiers, Gunners, and Surgeons, to be under the Command of Sir Tho. Fairefaxe, was this Day read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, passed: It being first Resolved, upon the Question, That Watermen shall be expressed in this Ordinance to be exempted from impresting for Land-Service by this Ordinance.

Mr. Jo. Goodwyn to carry it up.

Ordered, That the several Members, appointed to use their Endeavours for Borrowing of Monies for the Advance of the Forces to be employed for the Defence of the Kingdom, under Sir Tho. Fairefaxe, do, peremptorily, meet this Afternoon at Three of Clock, in the Star-Chamber: And are to give an Account of this Service on Friday Morning next: And the Care of this Business is especially recommended unto Mr. Bond.

A Message from the Lords, by Serjeant Whitfield and Serjeant Finche;

The Lords have, Yesterday, received a Paper from the Dutch Ambassadors; which, their Lordships conceive, may be of dangerous Consequence; and do desire, That the Consideration thereof may be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms; and They to report to both Houses, what they conceive of it.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House has considered their Lordships Message; and do concurr to the Referring of the Paper, as is desired, to the Consideration of the Committee of both Kingdoms.

Ordered, That the Paper, Yesterday presented to this House by the States Ambassadors, be likewise referred to the Consideration of the Committee of both Kingdoms.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of Sir Tho. Pierce Baronet, Henry Oxenden of Deane, John Dixewell, Robert Hale, Esquires, and Sir Jo. Reyny Baronet, to be Deputy-Lieutenants and Committees of the County of Kent.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Mr. Nicoll brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to the Ordinance for a Thousand Pounds out of the Excise for the Prince Elector: To the Order for Twenty Pounds to the Messenger, that came from Scarborough: To the Order for Ten Pounds weekly to the Lord Cherbury, out of Haberdashers-Hall.

Mr. Recorder carried up to the Lords, for their Concurrence, the Ordinance for enabling the Committee of the Militia to search for Papists, &c. to raise Foot and Horse, &c.: The Ordinance for impresting Soldiers, to be under the Command of Sir Tho. Fairefaxe: The Names of divers Gentlemen to be Deputy-Lieutenants and Committees of the County of Kent.

Mr. Holles presents to the House the remaining Papers of the Treaty at Uxbridge.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of the Proceedings of the Commissioners at Uxbridge upon the Treaty.

Resolved, &c. That hearty Thanks be given to the Lord Wenman, Denzill Holles, Wm. Pierrepont, Esquires, Sir Henry Vane junior, Oliver St. John Esquire, his Majesty's Sollicitor-General, Bulstrode Whitelock, John Crewe, and Edmund Prideaux, Esquires, Commissioners nominated and employed by this House in the Treaty at Uxbridge, for their faithful, prudent, and very great Pains taken in the Discharge of that Service.

Mr. Speaker did, accordingly, by the Command of the House, return them very hearty and particular Thanks.

Resolved, &c. That hearty Thanks be likewise given to the Lords, that were employed as Commissioners upon the Treaty at Uxbridge, for their very great and faithful Pains taken in the Discharge of that Service.

Resolved, &c. That hearty Thanks be likewise given to the Commissioners of Scotland, that were employed in the Treaty at Uxbridge, for their very great and faithful Pains taken in the Discharge of that Service.

Mr. Strode, Sir Jo. Evelyn, Sir Hen. Mildmay, Sir Peter Wentworth, Sir Rob. Harley, are appointed to prepare Heads for a Conference, to be desired with the Lords on Thursday Morning next; to represent unto them, That this House has very well approved of the Proceedings of their Commissioners upon the Treaty at Uxbridge; and have given them hearty Thanks for their faithful, prudent, and discreet Discharge of that Service; and have likewise voted, That the like Thanks and Approbation should be given to the Lords that were employed upon this Treaty; and to the Commissioners of Scotland: And to desire their Lordships Concurrence herein.

WHereas the Rectory of the Parish-Church of Merstham, in the County of Surrey, is now become void, by the Death of Thomas Buckner Doctor in Divinity, the late Incumbent thereof; the Patronage of the said Rectory being in the Gift of the late Archbishop of Canterbury, who was, by Ordinance of Parliament, convicted of High Treason; It is Ordered, and be it Ordained, by the Lords and Commons, assembled in Parliament, That Mr. Wm. Blackwell, Batchelor in Divinity, a godly, learned, and orthodox Divine, be, and he is hereby, nominated and recommended forthwith, upon Sight hereof, to be admitted, instituted, and inducted, by Sir Nathaniel Brent Knight, into the said Rectory and Church of Merstham, in the County aforesaid; to have and enjoy the ParsonageHouse and Glebe-Lands, and all the Tythes, Rents, Duties, and Profits whatsoever, of the said Rectory; and to do and perform all Services to be done and performed by the Rector of the said Church: And all Person and Persons are hereby required quietly to permit the said Mr. Wm. Blackwell to officiate the said Cure; and to enter, possess, and enjoy, the said House and Glebe-Lands; and to have, receive, and take, to his Use, all the Tythes, Rents, Duties, and Profits whatsoever, of the said Rectory, as they will answer the contrary at their Peril.

WHereas John Towse Esquire, Alderman of the City of London, and the rest of the Commissioners of Excise and New Impost, have advanced and lent, for the Service of the Prince Elector Palatine upon Rhene, the Sum of One thousand Pounds: Be it hereby Ordained, by the Lords and Commons, assembled in Parliament, That the said Commissioners of Excise shall and may satisfy and reimburse themselves the said One thousand Pounds, together with Interest for the same, after the Rate of Eight Pounds per Cent. for so long time as they shall be out of the same, or any Part thereof, out of such Intervals of Time as shall happen when other Payments, already assigned upon the Excise, shall not happen to fall due; or, for Default thereof, then as the same shall follow in Course; and shall not, by any other Order or Ordinance of one or both Houses of Parliament, be debarred from satisfying and reimbursing themselves accordingly. And it is likewise further Ordained, That the said Commissioners of Excise shall and may pay the said One thousand Pounds unto James Harrington Esquire, Agent for the said Prince, for the Use aforesaid: Whose Receipt shall be a sufficient Discharge unto them, and every of them, in this Behalf.