Die Veneris, 8 Maii, 1646.
Prayers.
The Grand Committee sat, to take into Consideration the Ordinance concerning the Court of Wards
and Liveries.
Mr. Bacon in the Chair.
Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.
Ordered, That a Letter be written from the House,
and signed by Mr. Speaker, to the Committee at Redding;
to acquaint them with the Information this House has received of their keeping Sir Francis Knollis, a Member of
this House, out of his Estate; and to require them to put
him into his Possession; and to make him Restitution for
his Damages.
Mr. Wheeler is appointed to bring in this Letter.
An Ordinance for allowing to the Garison of Dover
Two hundred Pounds Eighteen Shillings and Eight-pence
per mensem, for the Maintenance thereof, out of the Receipts of the Grand Excise of Dover, and the CinquePorts, in the County of Kent, was this Day read the First
and Second time:
And the Question for the Commitment being put;
It passed with the Negative.
And then the Question being put, For passing the Ordinance;
The Ordinance, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.
Sir Edward Boys is appointed to carry it to the Lords.
Sir Thomas Dacres is appointed to go to the Lords, to
desire them to expedite their Answer to the Votes, Yesterday sent to the Lords, concerning the Disposal of the
King's Person.
Mr. Speaker acquainted the House, That, the last Night,
between Eleven and Twelve of Clock, after he was in Bed,
some of the Committee of the Militia of London, and one
of the Captains of the Guards, brought unto him a Box
full of Letters (some of which were opened by some of
the Soldiers of the Guards): The which Letters he caused
all to be put up into the Box; and sealed up the Box with
his own Seal; and delivered it, so sealed, to the Gentlemen of the Committee of the Militia; and desired them
to be at the House this Morning with them: Which accordingly they are.
They were thereupon called in; and declared the Manner of these Letters coming to their Hands; and delivered
the Box, sealed up.
Resolved, &c. That the Door be kept locked: And
that no Member go out without Leave.
Ordered, That Mr. Recorder have Leave to go out.
Ordered, That Mr. Dove have Leave to go out.
The Box was opened. And
It is Resolved, &c. That the Letter, subscribed "John
Cheislie," shall be now read.
A Letter, superscribed, "For my Noble Lord the Lord
Balcarres," dated from Worcester-House, 7 Maii 1646,
and signed, "Your Lordship's most humble Servant, John
Cheislie," was read.
Resolved, &c. That forthwith a Message be sent to the
Commissioners of Scotland, to desire them to secure the
Person of John Cheislie, to answer such Things as shall
be objected against him by this House, of high Concernment.
Sir Christopher Yelverton and Sir John Danvers are
commanded to deliver this Vote to the Commissioners of
Scotland: And are injoined not to speak any thing of this
Message, or of this Business, to any Person, but according to the Message; and not That, till they come to the
Commissioners.
Resolved, &c. That the other Letters, that are open,
shall be now read.
An open Letter, directed, "For the Right Honourable
the Committee of Estates of the Kingdom of Scotland,
at Edinburgh," upon reading this Superscription, was laid
aside; and not opened in the House, nor read.
An open Letter, directed, "To Lieutenant-Colonel
Wm. Hamilton, in the Scotts Army, to be lest for him at
Quartermaster General Ennis his Quarters," dated from
the Christopher in Russell-street, 8 Maii 1646, and subscribed, "Nat. Hewell," was read.
An open Letter, directed, "For his loving Brother
Routemaster Andrew Hay, in General-Lieutenant Lestie
his Regiment," dated Edinburgh 10 April 1646, and
signed, "Jo. Hay," was read.
Resolved, &c. That this Paper, without Superscription
or Subscription, shall be now read.
The Paper was read; and was dated, Worcester-House,
7 Maii 1646; and was a great Part of it in Characters or
Cyphers.
The Question was propounded, Whether this Paper,
without Superscription or Subscription, shall be appointed
to be now forthwith decyphered:
And the Question being put, Whether this Question
should be now put;
The House was divided.
The Noes went forth.
|
|
Sir Arthur Hesilrige,
|
Tellers for the Yea:
|
118. |
| Sir John Evelyn of Wiltes, |
With the Yea, |
| Mr. Holles,
|
Tellers for the Noe:
|
151. |
| Sir Walter Erle, |
With the Noe, |
So that the Question passed with the Negative.
Resolved, &c. That Paul Best be remanded to the Gatehouse to Prison, until further Order of this House.
A Letter from the Scotts Commissioners, from Worcester-House, of 8 Maii 1646, was this Day read.
Resolved, &c. That the Scotts Commissioners be desired,
that Mr. John Cheislie may be examined by a Committee
appointed by this House, concerning the Letter, superscribed, "To the Lord Balcarres;" and signed, "John
Cheistie."
Resolved, &c. That a Committee be nominated to examine the Manner of the Staying of the Messenger who had
the Box of Letters, and of the Seizing of these Letters,
and all Circumstances concerning the same.
Mr. Samuel Browne, Mr. Holles, Sir Arthur Hesilrige,
Mr. Rigby, Sir William Waller, Sir John Evelyn of
Wiltes, Mr. Prideaux, Mr. Marten, Sir William Lewes,
Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Long, Sir Philip Stapleton, Mr. Knightley, Mr. Tate, Mr. Crewe, Sir Peter Wentworth, Mr.
Selden, Sir Simmons D'Ewes, Mr. Baynton, Mr. Nathanael Fiennes, Mr. Gourdon, Mr. White, Mr. Edward Stephens, Mr. Salwey junior, Major-General Browne;
This Committee, or any Five of them, is appointed by
this House the Committee by whom the Scotts Commissioners are to be desired, that Mr. John Cheislie may be examined concerning the Letter, superscribed, "To the
Lord Balcarres;" and signed, "John Cheislie."
They are likewise to examine the Manner of the staying
the Messenger who had the Box of Letters, and of the
Seizing of those Letters, and all Circumstances concerning
the same: And are to meet this Afternoon at Six of
the Clock, in the Queen's Court, and so from time to
time, as they shall think fit: And have Power to send for
Parties, Papers, Witnesses, and Records.
Resolved, &c. That the Gentleman, that had the Box of
Letters taken from him, be now called in.
Resolved, &c. That the Captain of the Guard, who
staid the Messenger at the Court of Guard, and seized on
the Box of Letters, be now called in.
Resolved, &c. That the Gentleman, that had the Box
of Letters taken from him, be now called in again.
He was called in again accordingly; and delivered in a
Pass to the House.
Resolved, &c. That a Copy of the Pass, delivered in
to the House by Mr. Haliburtonn, be taken by the Clerk;
and the Pass delivered back to him again.
Resolved, &c. That Mr. George Haliburtonn, upon
whom the Box of Letters was taken, be discharged from
any Restraint or Custody.
Resolved, &c. That the Captain of the Guard, that staid
the Messenger Mr. Haliburtonn, and seized the Letters,
be discharged from any further Attendance.
Resolved, &c. That Candles shall be brought in.
Resolved, &c. That such Letters as the Commissioners
of Scotland shall particularly own, by a Note under their
own Hands, as written from themselves, or any of them,
Mr. Speaker shall have Liberty, and is hereby injoined, to
deliver unto them, or any of them.