House of Commons Journal Volume 2: 13 April 1642

Mercurii, 13 Aprilis, 1642.

PRAYERS.

Tenterden Lecturer.

THE humble Petition of the Parishioners of Tenterden for * * * *

Ordered, That Mr. Barry shall be recommended to the said Parishioners to be their Lecturer, to preach every Lord's Day in the Afternoon, and every Friday in the Week: And that Dr. Peake do permit the said Mr. Barry the Use of his Pulpit every Sunday in the Afternoon, and every Friday, without any Let or Disturbance. And if the said Dr. Peake shall not forthwith yield Obedience to this Order, he is then required to attend the House, to give an Account thereof.

Letter referred.

Ordered, That this Letter from Mr. Aspinewall, of the Seventh of April, be forthwith sent to the Commissioners for Irish Affairs, by some Member of this House, that is a Commissioner; and that the said Commissioner give an Account To-morrow Morning what is done upon this Letter.

Forces for Ireland.

Ordered, that Mr. Jo. Moore be forthwith sent down with a Letter to Sir Wm. Brereton, to the Lord Lisle, the Sheriff of the County of Chester and the Mayor of Chester, and Mr. Moore, or any Two of them, to see that all possible Means be used in the Transporting the Horse Troops, that are in Lancashire and Cheshire, into Ireland: And that an Account be given unto this House, why they have been so long there, and not gone: And if there be any Defect of Shipping, that all cannot go, yet that so many of them shall be shipped as there are Shipping for: And if, upon Examination, they find an apparent Neglect in the Officers of the Troops, or otherwise, that they, or any Two of them, do forthwith certify this House of their Neglect, to the end that they may be discharged.

Mr. Vaughan, Sir H. Vane, and Sir Gil. Gerard, are forthwith to withdraw, and to prepare this Letter.

Judgment against Mr. Attorney.

Ordered, That a Message be sent to the Lords, to know of their Lordships when they shall be ready, that this House may come up to demand Judgment against Mr. Attorney.

Sir Peter Wentworth carried up this Message.

Earls of Essex and Holland not to attend the King.

Mr. Holles reports the Conference had with the Lords Yesterday:

That the Lord Admiral told them, That he was to acquaint them with some Things that passed, concerning some noble Members of their House.

That Four Lords of their House, prime Officers of his Majesty's Houshold, had received Letters from his Majesty, to require their personal Attendance upon his Majesty, at Yorke, who intended to celebrate his Easter and St. George's Feast there; That, directed to the Earl of Holland, from Yorke, of Twenty-third of March, (unto which all the rest, in all Particulars, were alike) was read. Upon the Receipt of these Letters, these Lords communicated them to their Lordships: And thereupon the Lords appointed the Lord Keeper to write a Letter to his Majesty; and thereby do give Reasons for Excuse of their not Attendance upon his Majesty, as was required. This Letter bears Date the Twenty-ninth of March 1642.

Then a Letter, of the Ninth of April, from his Majesty to the Earl of Holland (the like was sent to the Earl of Essex) was read; wherein his Majesty charges them of a former Disobedience; and commands them, That if they shall persist in their Disobedience, they are then commanded to deliver up the Ensigns of their Offices to the Lord Falkland, One of the principal Secretaries of State.

Then the Lord Admiral declared what that Disobedience was: That those Lords being commanded by his Majesty to attend his Majesty at Hampton-court, they were commanded by the Committee at Grocers-hall, to attend the Service of the Commonwealth, and the Affairs of the Kingdom in Parliament.

Next, an Order made in the Lords House, made in this Business, was read in hæc verba; viz.

Martis, 12°Aprilis, 1642 Ordered, That the Earl of Essex and the Earl of Holland shall attend this House, in regard of the great and urgent Affairs now depending in Parliament."

Then a Resolution of the Lords, upon that Business, was read in hæc verba; viz.

Martis, 12°Aprilis, 1642 post meridiem Resolved, &c. Nemine Contradicente, That the Attendance of the Lord Chamberlain, and the Earl of Holland, upon the Service of this House, according to the Order of this House, is no Disobedience to the King's Command."

Next, He said, That, after the Order made commanding the Earl of Essex, and the Earl of Holland, to attend the House, they have resigned their Places into the Hands of the Lord Falkland, One of the principal Secretaries of State.

That the Lords are very sensible of this Proceeding, as an Effect of dangerous and evil Counsel; which, as it concerns the whole Kingdom, they doubt not but you will have an equal Resentment of it with them, that Persons of their Merit have suffered for their good Affections to the Publick.

Ordered, That the Debate of this Business be resumed so soon as the Message shall be delivered.

Proceedings on King's Message.

A Message from the Lords, * * * *

The Lords have commanded us to let you know, That they have considered his Majesty's last Message; and have passed a Vote upon it Nemine contradicente: Which they have likewise sent, and desire your Concurrence; and, if you shall concur herein, they have then appointed a Committee of their House, of Sixteen Lords, to join with a proportionable Number of this House, to take this Vote into Consideration, and the King's Message in all Parts, except in the Militia; and to offer their Opinions and Reasons thereupon, as they shall think fit: And have appointed them to meet this Afternoon, at Two of Clock, in the Painted Chamber.

Resolved, upon the Question, Nemine contradicente, That it is most dangerous and unsafe, and that this House cannot consent unto his Majesty's going into Ireland.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That they have taken into Consideration your Message; and do agree to the Lords in their Vote: And have appointed a Committee of a proportionable Number to meet with a Committee of the Lords, with the like Power; and to meet this Afternoon, at Two of Clock, in the Painted Chamber.

The Members of the House are injoined not to go out of the House.

Mr. Pym, Mr. Holles, Sir Walth. Erle, Mr. Solicitor, Sir Sam. Rolle, Mr. Pierrepoint, Mr. Nath. Fienis, Sir Jo. Evelyn, Sir Peter Wentworth, Sir Henry Ludlow, Sir Ro. Coke, Mr. Marten, Sir Ph. Stapilton, Sir Hugh Cholmeley, Lord Dungarvan, Sir Arth. Hesilrig, Sir Martin Lumley, Mr. Long, Mr. Strode, Mr. Crue, Sir Jo. Corbett, Sir Sam. Owfield, Mr. Hotham, Sir Wm. Lewis, Mr. Morley, Sir Jo. Potts, Sir Wm. Strickland, Sir Wm. Litton, Sir Simonds D'Ewes, Mr. Whittacre, Sir Christ. Yelverton, Sir Tho. Barrington;

This Committee is appointed to join with a Committee of a proportionable Number of the Lords, to take this Vote into Consideration; and the King's Message, in all Parts, excepting the Militia; and to offer their Opinions and Reasons thereupon, as they shall think fit: And are to meet this Afternoon, at Two, in the Painted Chamber.

Earls of Essex and Holland not to attend the King.

Resolved, upon the Question, That the Attendance of the Lord Chamberlain, and the Earl of Holland, upon the Service of the House of Peers, according to the Order of that House, is no Disobedience to the King's Commands.

Resolved, upon the Question, That no Member of either House of Parliament ought to absent himself from the Service of that House whereof he is a Member, upon any Command from his Majesty, without Leave first had of that House whereof he is a Member.

Resolved, upon the Question, That the Licence or Dispensation sent by his Majesty to the Earl of Essex, and the Earl of Holland, to discharge them from their Attendance upon the Service of that House, contrary to the Order of that House, is a high Breach of Privilege.

Resolved, upon the Question, That the Displacing of the Earl of Essex, and the Earl of Holland, from their several Offices at this Time, and upon this Occasion, is an Injury to the Parliament, and the whole Kingdom.

Resolved, upon the Question, That what Person soever shall accept of either of these Offices thus taken away, until Satisfaction be given to both Houses of Parliament, shall be accounted to do an ignoble Act, and to offer an Affront to the Parliament, and thereby to render himself unworthy of any Place of Honour or Trust in the Commonwealth.

Resolved, upon the Question, That these Proceedings are the Effects of evil Council, to discourage good Men from doing their Duty, and tend to the Increase of the Division between the King and his People, and to the Disturbance of the Peace of the Kingdom.

Ordered, That a Message shall be sent to the Lords at their next Sitting, to desire a Conference, by a Committee of both Houses, concerning the Matter of the last Conference, touching the Letters sent to the Earl of Essex, and the Earl of Holland; and that these Votes shall be delivered at that Conference.

Mr. Rogers is to carry up this Message.

Ordered, That the Matter of these Proceedings, concerning the Earl of Essex, and the Earl of Holland, shall be referred to the Committee, to be added to the Declaration now under Commitment.

Mr. Pym, Sir Ph. Stapilton, Mr. Holles, are appointed Managers of this Conference.

Deputy Lieutenants.

The Lord Lieutenant of the County of Bucks did recommend to this House, that Sir Rich. Pigott, Sir Tho. Sanders, and Captain Stafford, be added to the Deputy Lieutenants of that County: Their Names were read, and approved of; and ordered to be returned to the Lords at the next Message.

Letter to Brereton, &c.

Mr. Vaughan presents from the Committee a Letter Commissionary, to be sent to Sir Wm. Brereton and others, to enable them to inquire after such Neglects as have been used, either by the Commissary, or the Officers, of those Troops of Horse that have lain long at Chester, and not transported over into Ireland: The which was read, and assented unto; and ordered to be fair written for Mr. Speaker to sign.

Earls Salisbury and Holland, &c. not to attend the King.

Die Martis, 29° Martii 1642 May it please Your Majesty,

I AM commanded, by the House of Lords, to represent unto Your Majesty, That whereas the Lord Chamberlain of Your Majesty's Household, the Earls of Salisbury and Holland, and the Lord Savill, have communicated unto that House several Letters, under your Privy Signet, requiring their Repair to Your Majesty at York, where You intended to celebrate both Easter and St. George's Feast; and this You expect from them, as great Officers of Your Household, and Counsellors of State; The Lords have seriously considered the Affairs of Your Kingdoms of England and Ireland to be in such Condition, as they cannot give Way to these Lords to be absent from Parliament, without prejudicing Your Majesty's Service, and the Affairs of the Kingdom, which, by Your Majesty's Writ, and the Law of the Land, being Counsellors of State, they are bound to attend.

These Reasons the House doth not doubt but Your Majesty will approve.

CHARLES, R.

King's Letters requiring Attendance.

Right Trusty and Well-beloved Consin and Counsellor, We greet you well. Whereas We are resolved to keep both Our Easter and St. George's Feast in this Our City of York; We hold it therefore very requisite and necessary, that, for Our Honour and Service, the chief Officers of Our House attend Us here in Person. Our Will and Command therefore is, That you repair hither to Our Court as soon as you may conveniently, to give your Attendance in the Place and Charge which you hold under Us, as a Prime Officer of Our House, and Counsellor of State: Wherein, as we doubt not your ready Observance of this Our Command, so We shall expect your present Answer thereunto.

Given at our Court at York, this

Twenty third of March 1641.

CHARLES, R.

Right Trusty and Well-beloved Cousin and Counsellor, We greet you well. We are so much unsatisfied with the Excuse you have made for not obeying Our Command for your Attendance on Us here, according to the Duty of your Place in Our Household, as we have thought good by these Our Letters to second a former Command: and, that you may be more inexcusable, We accompanied Our said Command with Our Licence, and Dispensation inclosed, for your Absence from Parliament; willing and commanding you (all Delays and Excuses set apart) to attend Us here before the Eighteenth of this Month, when We have appointed to keep St. George's Feast: Or, in case you shall persist in your Disobedience, We require and command you to deliver up into the Hands of the Lord Falkland, One of Our Principal Secretaries of State, for Our Use, the Ensign of your Office, which, when We last parted from Whitehall, you offered to resign to Us, rather than you would at that Time (as We had commanded you) wait upon Us so far as Hampton-court. But We did then, of Our Grace and Favour, wish you to consider better of it, in hope you would, upon further Consideration, not have seconded that Disobedience.

Given at our Court at York, the Ninth of April, 1642.