Die Sabbati, Maii 31, 1645.

Prayers.

According to former Order, the Grand Committee of the whole House proceeded to take into further Consideration the Business of the Church.

Mr. Whittacre in the Chair.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Ordered, That Sir John Potts shall have Leave to go into the Country.

Ordered, That Sir Anth. Irby shall have Leave to go into the Country.

Whereas Mr. Perne was desired to preach before the Commons on the next Day of Publick Humiliation; and, upon very pressing Occasions, doth desire to be excused at this time: It is Ordered, That Mr. Hodges be desired to preach at the same time: And that Sir Christ. Yelverton give notice of this Desire of the House unto Mr. Hodges.

Ordered, That the printed Petition of Sir Fred. Hamilton Knight be taken into Consideration on Monday Morning next, the first Business.

Ordered, That Mr. Whitelock and Mr. Nicoll do prepare Letters, to be written from Mr. Speaker to the Committees of the several Counties, to give all Encouragement and Assistance to the Sub-Commissioners of the Excise, and other the Officers of the Commissioners of Excise, in the several Counties and Places, and particularly to the Town of Hull.

An Ordinance for the better Regulation of the Excise of Flesh in the Country was this Day read the Second time; and, upon the Question, committed unto Mr. Green, Mr. Recorder, Sir Arth. Hesilrig, Mr. Jesson, Mr. Grimston, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Jennour, Mr. Holles, Mr. Nath. Stevens, Sir Harbottle Grimston, Mr. Gage, Sir Jo. Francklyn, Mr. Corbett, Sir Jo. Hippisley, Mr. Rolle, Sir Christ. Yelverton, Sir Tho. Dacres: And all that will come to have Voices: And they are to meet on Monday next at Two post meridiem, in the Exchequer-Chamber; and are to report it between the Hours of Ten and Twelve only: And the Petitions from Gloucestershire and Derbyshire are referred to the Consideration of this Committee: And they have Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, Papers, Records.

A Message from the Lords, by Serjeant Finche and Mr. *;

The Lords have taken into Consideration, That the Quorum of the Committee of Lords and Commons for Forts and Castles is so great, that they cannot meet; and therefore desire, That it may be reduced from Three Lords to Two, and from Six Commoners to Four.

They desire, That the Lord Robarts may be added to the Committee of the West.

They have formerly sent down an Ordinance concerning the Earl's Creation-Money: To which they have as yet received no Answer; and therefore they desire to put you in mind thereof.

They have received a Petition from Thomas May Esquire: Which they desire to recommend to the speedy Consideration of this House.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree, That the Quorum of the Committee of Lords and Commons for Forts and Garisons be reduced to the Number of Four Commoners, and Two Lords.

Ordered, That this House doth agree with the Lords, That the Lord Robarts be added to the Committee of the West.

The Petition of Tho. May Esquire was read: And

It is Ordered, That when the House shall take into Consideration the Disposal of Offices, that this Petition shall be taken into Consideration.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House has considered their Lordships Message; and do agree to the Reducing of the Quorum of the Committee for Forts and Garisons to the Number desired: They do agree, That the Lord Robarts be added to the Committee of the West: As to the Ordinance for Creation-Money, and the Petition of Mr. May, they will take them into speedy Consideration; and send Answer by Messengers of their own.

An Ordinance to make the Buyer liable to Excise, as well as the Seller, was this Day read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, committed unto the Committee appointed for the Ordinance for Regulation of the Excise of Flesh in the Country.

An Ordinance for securing Twelve thousand Pounds, advanced, upon the Credit of the Excise, for the Service of the West, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

An Ordinance for paying Three hundred Pounds by the Sub-Commissioners of the Excise in the County of Dorsett, for the Reparation and Pay of the Soldiers of BrunkseaCastle, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Ordered, That Mr. Niclas do report the Impeachment against the Earl of Stamford, &c. on Monday Morning next.

Sir Hen. Vane junior reported, from the Committee of both Kingdoms, a Letter to be sent from both Houses, and signed by the respective Speakers, to the several Counties through which the Scotts Army is to march in their Advance Southward, for the furnishing the said Army with all necessary Provisions for the Life of Man upon their March: The which was read; and, upon the Question, assented unto; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

An Ordinance to enable the Committee at GoldsmithsHall to manage the Ordinance for the levying the monthly Sum of Twenty-one thousand Pounds for the Pay of the Scotts Army; and for the more speedy bringing in the Monies upon that Ordinance; was this Day read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Admiralty and Cinque-Ports shall have Power to draw Instructions, and to give Directions, to Doctor Walker, for his Deportment in his Agency with the Governor and State of Flanders: And have Power to confer with the Master of the Ceremonies, or any other Persons, as they shall think fit, in this Business.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do grant his Warrant for a Pass to a Servant of the Duke of Gueldre's to go to his Majesty.

Sir Thomas Witherington reports an Ordinance for constituting a Committee for carrying on the Affairs of the Excise, with the Addition of several Names to be of That Committee: The which were read; and assented unto: And, after, the whole Ordinance passed, upon the Question. And

It is thereupon Ordered, That Mr. Nicoll do carry this Ordinance, and Two other Ordinances passed this Day, for securing and paying Monies out of the Excise, for the West, and Brunksea-Castle, to the Lords, on Monday Morning, for their Concurrence.

Mr. Scawen reports, from the Committee of the Army, the State of the Accompts of the Officers, as well English as Scotts, which have been laid aside upon Reducement of the several Armies; and also several Votes from the said Committee, concerning the said Officers, and Payment of Part of their Arrears. And

It is thereupon Ordered, That this Report be taken into Consideration on Monday Morning, the first Business.

A Letter, directed to the Committee of both Kingdoms, from Colonel Vermuyden, from Grantham, of Maii 29 1645; relating, That, with his Brigade, he was come between Grantham and Corby; and that he quartered the Night before near the King's Quarters, whose HeadQuarter was at Loughborough; was this Day read.

IT is Ordained, by the Lords and Commons, in Parliament assembled, That Twelve thousand Pounds shall be paid, in Course, unto the Committee for the West, out of the Receipts of the Excise and New Impost, by Ordinance of the Eleventh of September 1643, for the Service of the West: And the Commissioners of Excise and New Impost are hereby authorized to pay the said Sum of Twelve thousand Pounds, accordingly, in due Order and Course, unto the said Committee of the West, or to whom they shall appoint to receive the same, next after other Assignments, formerly made on those Receipts, shall be first satisfied: And the Order of That Committee shall be a sufficient Discharge unto the said Commissioners of Excise, and every of them, for the Payment of the said Twelve thousand Pounds, or any Part thereof.

WHereas Brunksea-Castle, in the County of Dorsett, being of special Concernment for the Preservation of the Town and Garison of Poole in these Times of Danger, is much decayed, and needs present Reparations; and the Soldiers there much behind of their Pay: It is Ordained, by the Lords and Commons, assembled in Parliament, That the Commissioners for the Excise do give Order unto their Sub-Commissioners in the said County of Dorsett, and Garison of Poole, to pay unto Henry Harding, Captain of the said Castle of Brunksea, out of the Moiety of the Excise which shall be collected in that County, and Town of Poole, and reserved to the State by an Ordinance of the Two-and-twentieth of April last, the Sum of Three hundred Pounds, for the Repairing of the said Castle, and for Payment of his Men: Whose Receipt, with this Order, shall be to them, and every of them, a sufficient Discharge.