Die Martis, 18 Januarii, 1647.

Prayers.

Affairs in Bucking-hamshire.

A LETTER from Aylesbury, of 14 Januarii 1647, from Mr. West, Colonel Fleetwood, and Mr. Simon Mayne, was this Day read; with a Warrant inclosed, from one John Chapman, to the High Constable of the Hundreds of the County of Bucks, to draw the Country together, upon pretence of a Petition to be presented to the Parliament.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. John Chapman be forthwith sent for, as a Delinquent, by the Serjeant at Arms attending on this House: And that the Examination of this Business be referred to the Committee for Complaints: And that it be referred to the said Committee, upon Examination of the said Business, as they shall find Cause, either to bail, discharge, or imprison, the said John Chapman.

Ordered, That a Letter of Thanks be returned to Mr. West, and the rest that wrote this Letter; and by them to the Gentlemen of the County of Bucks, that have shewed their good Affections in this Business: And Mr. Scott is appointed to prepare this Letter, to be signed by Mr. Speaker.

Snell's Delinquency.

Mr. John Ashe reports from the Committee of Goldsmiths Hall, the Fine and Composition of George Snell; viz. as followeth;

Resolved, &c. That this House doth accept of the Sum of Three hundred and Thirty Pounds, for a Fine, for the Delinquency of George Snell, of Waverton in the County of Chester, Doctor in Divinity: His Offence, That he adhered unto and assisted . . . . . . the Parliament: He rendered in March 1645: His Estate, in Fee per Annum, Sixty-six Pounds: For which his Fine, at a Third, is Three hundred and Thirty Pounds.

An Ordinance for granting a Pardon unto George Snell, of Waverton in the County of Chester, Doctor of Divinity, for his Delinquency, and for taking off the Sequestration of his Estate, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Delinquents Fines.

Mr. John Stephens reports the Amendments to the Ordinance for discharging such Delinquents as are not worth Two hundred Pounds in Estate, real and personal, without paying any Fine: The which were twice read, and, upon the Question, recommitted; to be brought in Tomorrow Morning.

Comm rs of Assessment.

Resolved, &c. That Henry Walrond, Richard Duck, and John Torling, Esquires, be added to the Commissioners for the County of Devon, in the Ordinance for bringing in the Assessments of Sixty thousand Pounds per mensem.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Repair of Houses.

Ordered, That the Committee appointed to consider of Repair to be made for burning and destroying Houses, or any Five of them, shall have Power to meet.

Action against Rigby.

Ordered, That the Report concerning the Arrest and Imprisonment of Mr. Edward Rigby, the Son of Mr. Alexander Rigby, be made on Friday Morning next.

Whereas the Cause concerning the Arrests and Imprisonment of Mr. Edward Rigby, by Wm. Porter and Thomas Turner, hath depended before a Committee of this House, and hath long been ready for Report: It is Ordered, That the Actions at Law, brought by the said Porter and Turner against the said Edward Rigby, and all Proceedings at Law thereupon, be stayed, until Report of the said Cause be made to this House: And the Judges are to take notice hereof: And the Counsel, Attornies, and Solicitors, are likewise required to take notice hereof, and to yield Obedience accordingly.

Persons apprehended.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Complaints, to examine the Persons apprehended and seized by the Provost Marshal of the City of London; and, as they shall find cause, either to commit the said Persons, or to discharge them.

Payment to Clayton.

Ordered, That the Sum of Fifty Pounds be forthwith paid unto Commissary Thomas Clayton, upon Account, by the Committee for Irish Affairs, usually sitting in the Star Chamber, out of such Monies as are in their Power.

George's Accompts.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee at Haberdashers Hall, to peruse the Accompts of Captain St. George; and to pay him the Sum of Fifty Pounds, upon Account.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Payment to Bampfield.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the West, to pay to Colonel William Bampfield the Sum of One hundred Pounds, upon Account, in Part of a greater Sum of Monies due unto him: And that it be referred to the same Committee, to consider of some Way, How the Remainder of the Debt due unto him, may be satisfied; and to report it to the House.

Letters read.

According to the Order Yesterday made, the late Letters from the Commissioners of Scotland; Two of the Fifth of January 1647-8; One of the Sixth of January 1647-8; and another of 17 Januarii 1647-8; were read.

Arrears of Loans, &c.

By a List, this Day sent in from the Treasurer at Goldsmiths Hall, Mr. Michaell Herring, of 18 Januarii 1647, and read, it appears, There is yet unpaid, of the Two hundred thousand Pounds Loans for the Payment of the Scotts Army, the Sum of Nine thousand Seven hundred and Ninety Pounds: That there is also unpaid, of the Four Months Assessments for Payment of the Scotts Army, to begin the First of March 1644, and the Sixth of July 1645, due from the City, and the several Counties, the Sum of Fifty thousand Three hundred and Ninety-six Pounds: The whole Arrears are Sixty thousand One hundred and Eighty-six Pounds.

Lords desire a Conference.

A Message from the Lords, by Mr. Justice Bacon and Mr. Justice Godbolt;

The Lords desire a present Conference, by Committees of both Houses, in the Painted Chamber, if it may stand with the Conveniency of this House, to impart some Matters that concern the present Safety of the Kingdom.

Agreed to.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House has considered their Lordships Message; and will give a present Meeting, at a Conference, as is desired.

Message from Lords.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Edward Leech and Mr. Page;

The Lords have commanded us to deliver you this Order: It is for Removing of the King's Books and Manuscripts from Whitehall to St. James's:-An Order for the Payment of the Adventurers Money, for Lands in Ireland, to the Vice Treasurer there; in which they desire the Concurrence of this House:-A Petition of Mr. Thomas Pigott; which they refer to the Consideration of this House. And they desire to put this House in mind of a Petition of Mrs. Martha Pigott, Mother of the said Thomas Pigott; which they formerly sent to this House.

King's Library.

The Order for removing the King's Books and Manuscripts to St. James's was read; and, upon the Question, agreed unto; and was in hæc verba; viz.

It is Ordered, by the Lords and Commons, That Sir Symonds D' Ewes, Mr. Selden, and Mr. Wheeler, or any one of them, shall take care, with the Assistance of Mr. Patrick Younge, Keeper of his Majesty's Libraries, for the Removing of the Books, Manuscripts, and other Antiquities, in the Library, Chaire House, and his Majesty's Cabinet, at Whitehall, unto the Library at St. James's; there to remain for a publick Use: And that Colonel Baxter be required to give them all Furtherance and Assistance therein; and to secure the same, until they can be removed.

Irish Adventurers.

The Order for Payment of the Adventurers Money for Lands in Ireland to the Vice Treasurer, was read; and, upon the Question, agreed unto; and was in hæc verba; viz.

Ordered, by the Lords and Commons, assembled in Parliament, That the Monies that are or shall come in upon the late Ordinance, ordered to be printed 1 Decembris 1647, concerning Adventurers for Lands in Ireland, shall be paid, by the Treasurers in the said Ordinance named, unto Sir Adam Loftus Knight, Vice Treasurer for Ireland: Whose Acquittance shall be to the Treasurers a sufficient Discharge in that behalf: Which Money he the said Vice Treasurer shall issue forth by Order of both Houses.

Pygott's Petitions.

Ordered, That the Petitions of Mrs. Martha Pygott and Mr. Thomas Pygott be read, and considered of, on Saturday Morning next, the first Business.

Answer to Lords.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That to the Order for removing the Books and Manuscripts from the King's Library at Whitehall to St. James's, and to the Order for paying the Adventurers Money for Lands in Ireland to the Vice Treasurers, this House doth agree: To the rest they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Conference.

Sir John Evelyn of Wiltes, Mr. Nath. Fienis, Mr. Prideaux, Sir Arthur Hesilrige, are appointed Reporters of this Conference.

Proceedings concerning Lilbourne, &c.

Sir Arthur Hesilrige reports from the Conference, That the Minister of Shoreditch had made a Narrative of Matters of great Importance: Upon which the Lords desired this Conference, and did desire, That the said Minister might make the same Narrative at the Bar of this House.

Mr. George Masterson, Minister of Shoreditch, was called in; and did acquaint the House, That he was, Yesterday at Weld Close, desired by some of his Parishioners to judge of a Petition that was there read, of very strange Concernment: The Meeting was in the House of one Williams, a Gardener: That Lieutenant Colonel John Lilbourne was there, one Weldman, and others: That it was said by Lieutenant Colonel Lilbourne, the Petition was directed to this House, for a Colour and Cloak only; and that he gave such mean Terms of this House, that he would no ways express: That Ten Commissioners were chosen by the People of London to send their Agents with these Petitions to the several Counties: That Thirty thousand of these Petitions were to come forth in Print this Day; and delivered to the Mercuries that cry about Books, to be put into the Hands of all that could but read. Many other Particulars touching this Business, he related (and more particularly touching Treasurers and Collectors) and named the Treasurers; touching the Meetings of their Commissioners and Agents; touching the House of Peers; touching Lieutenant General Cromwell, and Commissary Ireton; and touching wearing Blue Ribbands in Hats.

Mr. Masterson being withdrawn;

Mr. Prideaux reported, That the Earl of Manchester said, that Lieutenant Colonel Lilburne was, by Sentence of the House of Peers, committed Prisoner to the Tower: That, observing he went Abroad, the Lords sent to the Lieutenant of the Tower, to have an Account hereof: That he answered, That he had received an Order from the House of Commons to permit him to go about upon his Occasions; and that very seldom he rendered himself to the Tower; and that thereupon he could give not Account of him. The Lords desire, That a good Correspondence may be continued and preserved between the Houses: and that some such Course may be taken, that such seditions Practices might be prevented, which did tend to the Destruction of the Government of this Kingdom: which had so long continued; and under which the People of this Kingdom had so long lived happy.

Resolved, &c. That the former Order, that gives Liberty to Lieutenant Colonel John Lilburne to go abroad to follow his Occasions, be hereby recalled and annulled.

Resolved, &c. That the Lieutenant of the Tower be hereby required to bring up to the Bar of this House, To-morrow Morning at Nine of Clock, Lieutenant Colonel Lilburne, his Prisoner.

Resolved, &c. That one Mr. Wildeman, alias Wenman, be forthwith sent for, in safe Custody, by the Serjeant at Arms attending on this House; and brought to the Bar of this House To-morrow Morning at Nine of Clock.

Mr. Masterson was again called in: And Mr. Speaker acquainted him, That the House had considered of this Relation made by him; and do require him to be here To-morrow Morning at Nine of Clock, together with his Witnesses.

Ordered, That Mr. Robert Malton and Mr. John Willison be forthwith summoned to attend this House, Tomorrow Morning at Nine of Clock, to testify their Knowledge in some Matters as are to be demanded of them.

Scotts Commissioners.

Ordered, That, To-morrow Morning, the first Business, the House do take into Consideration, What is fit to be done upon the Four Letters last delivered in from the Scotts Commissioners.

Assessments for Ireland.

Ordered, That the Grand Committee appointed to sit To-morrow Morning, the first Business, after Prayers, upon the Ordinance for the Assessments for Ireland, do meet on Thursday Morning next, the first Business after Prayers, upon that Ordinance.