DIE Mercurii, 4 die Junii.

PRAYERS, by Dr. Staunton.

Comes Manchester, Speaker this Day.

Porter's Ordinance, to be Vicar of Charles Church, Plymouth.

The Ordinance for the making of Francis Porter Vicar of Charles Church, in Plymouth, 1^a, 2^a, & 3^a vice lecta, & expedita.

Ordered, To be sent to the House of Commons, with a special Recommendation; and to desire their Concurrence therein with Expedition, else there may come some Inconveniency by the Distractions of that Place.

Message to the H. C. with it.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Mr. Serjeant Fynch and Dr. Heath:

To desire their Concurrence in the Ordinance for instituting and inducting Mr. Francis Porter to be Vicar of Charles Church, in Plymouth; and that they would give Expedition to it, in regard some Inconvenience will ensue, by reason of the Distractions there.

Puresoy's Information, concerning, the taking of Leicester.

The House was this Day acquainted with an Information of one Henry Purefoy, presented to the House by the Earl of Essex; which was read, as follows:

"That, about the 30th of April last, he being by Chance very early in the Chamber of the Lord Hawley, Governor of Bristoll, he heard the said Lord say to Mr. Bryan O'Neale, his then Bedfellow, "We were last Night upon a Consultation about the Taking of Leycester, which both the Town and Country have promised to deliver up to His Majesty; this being the most considerable Business hath a long Time befallen us." Whereupon the Deponent, being a Leycestershire Man, much grieving for Fear of his Country's Ruin, the next Morning, being May-day, sent away his Wife to London, to the Earl of Kent, his Kinsman, desiring him to take Order that some present Means might be used to put the said Town in a Posture of Defence: And he further saith, That he himself, upon Tuesday the 13th of May, took Occasion, upon the Exchange of Lieutenant Colonel Hudson, to come to Banbury, and from thence by Night to a Brother's near Leycester; and sending presently for Colonel Gray, his Kinsman, acquainted him with the extreme Danger the Town was in; desiring him not to fail immediately to provide for the Defence of the Town, assuring him, if they took it, (fn. *) it would be by Storm, and, as I conceived, about St. Margerett's Church; and after acquainted the Committee there at large with his Relation, and gave them [ (fn. †) this his] Information and Advice in Writing signed, with his voluntary Oath: And further he saith, That, coming to London, upon 15th May, he hath since acquainted Mr. Corbett, my Lord of Kent, and Sir Arthur Haselridge, with this Business; and his Advice, according to those poor Parts God hath enabled him with."

Then the Earl of Kent reported to the House his Knowledge herein.

Ordered, That this Information be communicated to the House of Commons, at a Conference; and let them know, that this House thinks it fit this Business be examined, in regard it may prevent the Loss of other Towns; therefore their Lordships recommend the Business to them.

Message to the H. C. for a Conference about it.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Mr. Serjeant Whitfield, &c.

To desire a Conference, in the Painted Chamber, so soon as it may stand with their Conveniency, touching a Business of great Importance, concerning the late Loss of the Town of Leycester.

Morris's Petition.

Upon reading the Petition of Henry Morris: It is Ordered, To be recommended to the House of Commons.

Petit's Order.

The Order concerning Peter De Petit was read, and approved of. (Here enter it.)

Horses, for the D. of Mecklenburgh, to be exported.

Ordered, That a Pass shall be granted to the Duke of Meckiinburgh's Servant, to transport Two Nags, and Four Horses, or Geldings, into Flanders, Custom-free.

Answers from the H. C.

Dr. Heath, &c. return with this Answer from the House of Commons:

That they will send an Answer by Messengers of their own, concerning the Ordinance for the Minister of Plymouth.

Mr. Serjeant Whitfield, &c. return with this Answer:

That the House of Commons will give a Conference presently, as is desired.

The House was adjourned during Pleasure, and the Lords went to the Conference; which being ended, the House was resumed.

Mr. Schloer to be Minister of Ould.

Upon reading the Petition of some Ministers of Northamptonshire; desiring, "That Mr. Frederick Schloer may be presented, to be Minister of Ould, in the County of North'ton:" (Here enter the Petition.)

It is Ordered, That, if the Disposal of this Living be in the Commissioners of the Great Seal, then the said Mr. Schloer be recommended to them, to have the said Living; if not, then he shall be made Minister by the Order of this House.

Mr. Stavely & Uxor.

The Counsel of Mr. Stavely, at Bar, desired to be heard, concerning the Business between him and his Wife: But, because the Orders of this House hath not been obeyed by Mr. Stavely, it is Ordered, That this House expects Obedience from Mr. Stavely to the Orders of this House.

Clark, Griffin, and Sparks, for the Paper called Mercurius Civicus, complained of by The States Ambassador.

Licensed by Mabbet, a Clerk of the H. C.

Next, Clcarke the Author, and Griffin the Printer, of Mercurius Civicus, were called to this Bar; and Griffin confessed he printed the said Pamphlet, which was delivered to him by Clarke: Clarke (fn. *) confessed he made the Book, excepting that of the Passage concerning The States Ambassadors, which was brought him by one Sparkes a Bookseller, dwelling in Greene Arbor. The Author and Printer also confessed, that one Mabbett, an Under Clerk of the House of Commons, did license the Printing of it.

Ordered, That the said Clarke, Griffin, and Sparkes, shall appear before this House To-morrow Morning; and then this House will take this Business into further Consideration.

Message from the H. C. with Ordinances, &c.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Mr. Whitlocke, &c.

To desire their Lordships Concurrence in these Particulars:

1. An Ordinance for paying Two Thousand Pounds, out of the Excise, to the Earl of Essex, in Part of his Arrears. (Here enter it.)

Read Thrice, and Agreed to.

2. An Order, That Mr. Nathaniell Stephens and Mr. Thomas Hodges be added to the Three Persons appointed on Monday last to have the Government of the Garrison of Glouc. according to the said Order; and any Three of them to be of the Quorum.

Agreed to.

3. An Ordinance for paying One Thousand Pounds, for the Isle of Ely, out of the Excise. (Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

4. An Ordinance for disposing Two Thousand Four Hundred Pounds, for the reducing of Oxford. (Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That this House agrees to all the Particulars now brought.

Order for 2000l. to the E. of Essex, in Part of his Arrears.

"It is this Day Ordained, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, That Two Thousand Pounds shall be paid in Course unto the Earl of Essex, out of the Receipts of the Excise or new Impost, by Ordinance of the Eleventh of September, 1643, in Part of his Arrears due unto him upon the Establishment of the Army; and the Commissioners of Excise or new Impost are hereby authorized to (fn. *) pay the said Sum of Two Thousand Pounds, according to its due Order and Course, unto the said Earl, his Order, or Assigns, next after other Assignments already made on the said Receipts shall be first satisfied; and the Receipts of the said Earl, or of his Assigns sufficiently by him authorized thereunto, shall be a sufficient Discharge unto the said Commissioners of Excise or new Impost, and every of them, in that Behalf."

Order for the Commissioners of Excise to re pay themselves 1000£. advanced for the Isle of Ely;

"Whereas Thomas Foote 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 One Thousand Pounds, for the Service of the Garrison of the Isle of Eley, under the Command of Colonel Oliver Cromwell: Be it Ordained, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, That the said Thomas Foote, and the rest of the Commissioners of Excise, their Executors, Administrators, or Assigns, 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 the same, or any Part thereof, shall be forborn, 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 debarred from satisfying and reimbursing themselves accordingly; and that the said Commissioners shall pay the said One Thousand Pounds to Walter Frost Esquire, to be by him paid over to Colonel Cromwell, or such as he shall appoint to receive the same, whose Receipt shall be their sufficient Discharge in that Behalf."

and 2400l. advanced for reducing Oxford.

"Whereas Ten Thousand Pounds, by Order of the House of Commons, dated the 20th of May last, were assigned upon the Receipts of the Excise, in Course, upon the Ordinance of Parliament dated 11 Septembris, 1643, for the reducing of Oxford; and whereas Thomas Foote Esquire, Alderman of the City of London, and the rest of the Commissioners of Excise or new Impost, have consented to advance and lend Four and Twenty Hundred Pounds, towards the Supply of that Service: Be it Ordained, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, That the said Commissioners of Excise shall and may reimburse themselves; and that their Executors, Administrators, and Assigns, shall be reimbursed of the said Four and Twenty Hundred Pounds, together with Interest after the Rate of Eight Pounds per Cent. for so long Time as they shall be out of the same, or any Part thereof, within the Intervals of Receipts when other Assignments already made shall not fall due, or, in Default thereof, in such Course and Order as this Ordinance according to the Date hereof shall succeed; for which Reimbursement of Principal and Interest, this Ordinance shall be their, the said Commissioners of Excise, or the Commissioners of Excise for the Time being, Warrant and sufficient Discharge: And it is further Ordained, That the said Twentyfour Hundred Pounds, by the Commissioners so advanced and lent, shall be paid unto Gualter Frost, Secretary to the Committee of both Kingdoms, whose Receipt shall be a sufficient Discharge unto the said Commissioners of Excise, and every of them, in that Behalf; and the said Two Thousand Four Hundred Pounds to be disposed of by the Committee of both Kingdoms, for the Service above specified."

Order for protecting Petit, De Liques, and Faucult, against Rednes & al. concerning their Invention of weighing Ships that were foundered.

"Whereas, by Order of the Lords and Commons in Parliament, of the 26th Day of August, 1643, Power was given to the Petitioners, Dominique Petite, Peter De Liques, and Claudius Fawcult, for the putting in Execution their new Inventions, of taking up Ships and their Lading, out of the Sea, at their own proper Cost and Charges, upon their enjoying of the Moiety thereof to themselves for their Pains, and the other Moiety to go to the Service of the State, as by the said Order appeareth; and whereas the said Inventors have spent much Time, and have been at great Charge, upon the said Service, but (being Strangers) have been much retarded and hindered by some Persons, namely, by Leonard Rednes and James Gardner, Masters of Two Ships, the one called The William and Sarah, and the other The Elizabeth, in the Harbour of Harwich, and by the Owners of the said Ships keeping the most Part of their Inventions and Engines upon the said Ships: It is therefore Ordered, by the Lords in Parliament assembled, since the said Inventions and Engines are already upon the said Ships, That Captain John Hunter, Governor of the said Town of Harwich, shall hereby have full Power from this House, for the promoting of the said Service, and for the Good of the Commonwealth, to press the said Ships, with all Things belonging to them, fit and needful for that Service, upon the Wages agreed upon; and also to constrain the said Leonard Rednes and James Gardner to perform their former Agreements made with the said Inventors, and to press such Mariners and others as shall be necessary for the Performance of the Work, they being reasonably satisfied for their Pains, lest the Season of the Year should be spent in Delay; and if the said Governor shall find any wilful Neglect or Disobedience in any touching the Premises, that he return the Names of such to this House; and that he take to his Assistance, in the Execution of this Order, the Vice Admiral and the Mayor of Harwich aforesaid, and such others as shall be in Authority in or near such Place or Places where any Ship or Ships shall be drawn out of the Sea, who are hereby required to give their Assistance accordingly: And it is further Ordered, That the Order of this House, of the 11th of January last, granted to the said Inventors, is hereby confirmed in all Points, both for them and for all such as shall be employed by them in the said Service, during the full Time therein expressed; and that neither the Owners of the said Ships nor any others shall trouble, molest, or hinder the said Inventors, nor any others employed by them in this Work, as they will answer the contrary to this House at their uttermost Perils."

Northamptonshire Ministers Petition, for Mr. Schloer to be Parson of Ould.

"To the Right Honourable the House of Peers assembled in Parliament.

"The humble Petition of some Ministers of North'tonshire;

"Shewing,

"That, by the Death of Mr. James Forsith, late Minister of Old, the Rectory there hath for the Space of these Two Years been destitute of an Incumbent, partly through the Default of Sir Christopher Hatton the Patron thereof, now in Arms against the Parliament, and partly by reason of the Disaffection of the People, the whole Town not affording One Man who hath the least Feeling of so great a Want, or Heart to seek out for such a one as will carefully break unto them the Bread of Life.

"We, therefore, the neighbouring Ministers, touched with a deep Sense of the sad Condition of that People, whose precious Souls, bought with the more precious Blood of Christ Jesus, are likely to perish for Lack of Vision, do most humbly represent the same to your noble and Christian Consideration; and crave Leave that we may take upon us the Boldness to commend to the Favours and Good-liking Mr. Fredrick Schloer, an able, orthodox, and painful Divine; upon whom if it shall please you to confer that Charge, we doubt not but you shall do a Work pleasing to God, and profitable to the Church.

"And we shall ever pray, &c.

"William Spencer.
John Baynard.
John Barcly.
Andr. Perne.
Moses Hodges."

His Testimonials.

"These may certify all whom it concerns, That we have for divers Years past known Frederick Schloer (Son to D. Schloer, heretofore Counsellor of State to the late King of Bohemia) to be a Man of godly and unblameable Conversation, a learned and orthodox Divine, a faithful and painful Minister of God's. Word, which he hath for divers Years past dispensed amongst us with good Approbation; fit to undertake a Pastoral Charge if it shall be committed unto him: In Testimony whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our Names, May 8, 1645.

"John White.
Andrew Perne.
T. Hill.
John Strickland."

Adjourn.

House adjourned till 9^a cras.

Footnotes