Die Lunæ, Aprilis 14, 1645.

Prayers.

AN Ordinance, for Execution of Martial Law, to continue for the Space of Two whole Months, and no longer, sent from the Lords, was this Day read the First and Second time; and, upon Question, committed unto Mr.Ellis, Sir Wm. Strickland, Sir Tho. Widdrington, Mr. Prideaux, Sir Jo. Corbett, Mr. Whitelock: And are presently to withdraw, to consider of it.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Consideration of the Gentlemen of Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire, and Shropshire, to consider and take care of sending Provisions to Sir Wm. Brereton's Forces: Mr. Ashherst, Sir Ralphe Asheton, and Sir Jo. Curson, are desired especially to take care of this Business.

Ordered, That the Gentlemen of Yorkeshire, Lincolneshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Bedfordshire, and the Counties late associated under the Earl of Manchester, do meet this Afternoon at Four of Clock, in the Exchequer-Chamber; to consider and advise of some Matters that will be much for the Advantage and Safety of those Counties.

A Paper, of April' 11, from the National Church of Scotland, representing the great Contentment the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scoland, and the Parliament of Scotland, received from the Directory for the publick Worship of God, and the Propositions concerning Church-Government, was this Day read; and ordered to be taken into further Consideration To-morrow Morning, by the Grand Committee for Church-Business.

An Ordinance for the Associating the several Counties of Yorke, Nottingham, Bishoprick of Durham, Northumberland, Cumberland, and Westmorland, was this Day read the Second time; and, upon the Question, committed unto the Northern Committee, where Sir Tho. Widdrington has the Chair, and to the Knights and Burgesses of the Associated Counties mentioned in this Ordinance, and to the Knights and Burgesses of Lancashire and Lincolneshire: And that the Committee of the West be joined to this Committee, as to this Business: And that all that will come shall have Voices: And are to meet on Wednesday next at Two post meridiem, in the Exchequer-Chamber: And have Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, Papers, Records.

An Ordinance for maintaining the Forces raised, and to be raised, under the Command of the Lord Fairefaxe, was this Day read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, committed, in the same manner as the former Ordinance, to the same Committee; to the End, that, out of both, one Ordinance may be framed.

It is further Ordered, That Sir Philip Stapilton do bring to this Committee the Model agreed upon by the Committee of both Kingdoms, of the Forces which they think fit to be maintained for the Safety of the Northern Counties.

An Ordinance for the better regulating and maintaining the Forces of Lancashire was this Day read the Second time; and, upon the Question, committed unto the same Committee as the Two former Ordinances.

A Letter from Yorke, of March 29, 1645, from the Committee there, was this Day read; and ordered to be referred to the Consideration of the Committee for the former Ordinances.

It is further Ordered, That the Letter of the same Date, from the Committee at Yorke, directed to Sir Wm. Constable, Sir Wm. Strickland, Sir Philip Stapilton, and divers other Members of this House, be referred to the Consideration of the same Committee.

Ordered, That Sir Tho. Widdrington do, on Wednesday next, report the Ordinance concerning the Ministers of Yorkeshire.

Mr. Ellys reports, from the Committee, the Amendments and Alterations to the Ordinance for Execution of Martial Law, sent from the Lords: The which were twice read; and, upon the Question, assented unto: And the Ordinance thus amended, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords, thus amended, by Mr. Ellys.

A Letter from the Committee of Coventry was this Day read; and referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to take care of.

It is thereupon further Ordered, That the Members of this House, that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms, do earnestly move the Commissioners of the Kingdom of Scotland, to give present Order to hasten the Advance of that commanded Party of the Scotts Army which were formerly with Sir Wm. Brereton, to march with all Speed again to his Assistance.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee of both Kingdoms concerning Nottingham, be taken into Consideration the first Business after the Speaker comes into the Chair; the Ordinance concerning Derbyshire next; the Business of Crowland, and the Report by Sir Robert Harley concerning the Army, next.

Two Ordinances, the One for securing the Two thousand Pounds, advanced by the Commissioners of Excise, for the Garison of Abingdon; the other, for charging Three thousand Pounds upon the Receipts of the Excise, for Major-General Langherne's Forces; were this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords, for their Concurrence, by Mr. Dunch.

Mr. Rolle reports, from the Committee, the Amendments to the Ordinance for constituting a Committee to manage the Places of the Lord Admiral and Lord Warden of the Cinque-Ports: The which were twice read; and, upon the Question, assented unto.

Ordered, That the Filling up the Blanks in this Ordinance, be taken into Consideration To-morrow Morning.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the Army this Afternoon, to consider how the Troop of Gentlemen, which were of the Lifeguard to the Earl of Essex, may be taken on in the new Model, and maintained; and to report their Opinions To-morrow Morning.

A Message from the Lords, by Doctor Aylett and Doctor Heath;

The Lords have received a Letter from the Committee of both Kingdoms, directed unto that Committee, from the Committee at Gloucester: The which the Lords think fit to recommend unto the Consideration of this House, it being a Matter of great Importance.

The Letter was, of April 8; and was read.

Ordered, That Mr. Prideaux, Mr. Bond, and Mr. Nicoll, do repair to the Commissioners of Excise, and see in what Condition and State the Money upon the Receipts of the Excise is in; and to see by what Means Monies may be provided and advanced, upon Interest, or otherwise, for the Service of the West: They are further to employ their Endeavours with those particular Persons to whom the Twenty-two thousand Pounds is payable very shortly out of the Receipts of the Excise, and to see how much of the said Twenty-two thousand Pounds may be forborne and continued, upon the same Security, and upon Interest, after the Rate of Eight Pounds per Cent.

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 the Sum of Two thousand Pounds for and towards the Relief of the Garison at Abindon, under the Command of Major-General Browne; Be it Ordained, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, That the said Commissioners of Excise, their Executors or Assigns, shall and may satisfy and reimburse themselves the said Two thousand Pounds, together with Interest for the same, after the Rate of Eight Pounds per Cent. for so long Time as the same, or any Part thereof, shall be forborne, out of such Intervals of Receipts as shall happen when other Payments already assigned upon the Office of Excise shall not happen to fall due; or, for want of such Intervals, 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 secluded from reimbursing themselves accordingly: And that the said Commissioners shall pay the said Two thousand Pounds unto Walter Frost Esquire, Secretary to the Committee of both Kingdoms; whose Receipt shall be their sufficient Discharge in that Behalf.

THE Lords and Commons, in Parliament assembled, taking into Consideration, that a timely Provision be made for Relief of Major-General Langherne's Forces, do Ordain, That Three thousand Pounds, formerly assigned, by Order of the Twenty-fourth of March last, to that Use and Purpose, be charged upon the Receipts of the Excise: And that the Commissioners of Excise do make Payment thereof out of the said Receipts, in such Course and Time, when as other Assignments already made on that Office shall be first satisfied, unto Charles Floyd Merchant, or Arthur Owen Esquire, for the Use aforesaid: Whose Receipt shall be a sufficient Discharge for the said Three thousand Pounds to the said Commissioners in that Behalf.