House of Commons Journal Volume 2: 20 May 1642

Die Veneris, 20 Maii, 1642.

PRAYERS.

Conference.

ORDERED, That Mr. Strode, so soon as the Lords are sit, shall acquaint them, that this House is now ready to give their Lordships the Conference desired Yesterday.

Lord Lieutenant.

Mr. Long reports, That he had acquainted the Lord Lieutenant with the Order of the House, concerning the Punishing the Neglect in the Officers that fail to do their Duties in the speedy Transporting of the Soldiers: The Lord Lieutenant returned Answer, That he would examine the Matter of Fact; but he could not understand, that there was any Fault in the Officers.

Army Affairs.

A Letter to be sent to some Gentlemen of Chester, to take care for the Transporting of the Soldiers; and for the well Ordering the Soldiers in their Billet, during their Abode there.

Ordered, That it shall be inserted into this Letter, that the Officers shall neither stay for the Completing of the Regiment, nor of a Company; but if Threescore of a Company shall be got together, that an Officer shall go over with them, and leave another Officer to bring over the rest.

The Countess Dowager of Oxon, and her Daughter, who desire to be naturalized, this Day took the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy.

Lord Lieutenant.

Sir Tho. Barrington is appointed to go to the Lord Lieutenant, to know whether he hath received any Warrant from * * * *

Money for Ireland.

Ordered, That the Treasurers for the Contributionmoney at London shall pay unto Mr. Nich. Loftus, Deputy Treasurer at Wars for Ireland, or his Assignee, Ten thousand Pounds out of the next Monies as shall come in upon the said Act; to be employed for the Affairs of Ireland.

Contribution for Ireland.

Ordered, That Mr. Ekins, the Under Sheriff of the County of Northampton, do collect the Monies come in upon the Act of Loan and Contribution for Ireland in the said County; and do take speedy Order for the Returning it to the Treasurers at London, appointed by the said Act to receive the same.

Loan from Merchant Adventurers.

Ordered, That Sir H. Mildmay, Sir Tho. Barrington, Sir Edw. Hales, Sir Edw. Hungerford, Sir Martin Lumley, Sir Arth. Ingram, Sir Ro. Harley, Mr. Long, Mr. Mathew, and the Gentlemen that serve for the City, or any Four of them, shall treat with these Merchant Adventurers:

That Mr. Ven shall give the Names of ... for the Borrowing of Monies; and that the said Persons shall be summoned to attend the said Committee; and shall have likewise Power to treat with any others, as they shall think fit: And are to meet when and where they please: And have Power to send for Parties.

Money for the Scotts.

Ordered, That Twenty thousand Pounds shall be forthwith provided for the Scotts.

Specie for Ireland.

* Mr. Mathew, Mr. Ven, Mr. Ash, Mr. Pury, Mr. Bedding field, do treat with some of the Merchants that trade in Bullion; and inform themselves upon what Conditions, and at what Rate, this House may take up Pieces of Eight, to be returned into Ireland in Specie.

Raising Men.

Sir Tho. Barrington reports, That the Lord Lieutenant .. has received an Instrument very lately for the Raising of Men: That he acquainted the Lords with it Yesterday Morning: And that they commanded him to shew it to the Commissioners for Irish Affairs, at their next Meeting; that those Commissioners, that are of this House, might relate unto this House the whole Circumstances of this Business.

Providing Money, &c.

That every Morning, presently after Prayers, the House consider of providing for Monies, from Eight till Nine: And that likewise, every Morning, the Chairmen that have any Reports in their Hands concerning Delinquents * * * *

Raising Money.

Upon Mr. Peard's Report from the Grand Committee appointed to consider of the Raising of present Monies;

It is Resolved, upon the Question, That a Bill shall be drawn and brought in, for Charging of the Papists with a present Sum, and with a yearly Payment for the future, during the Continuance of the Irish War.

Ordered, That Mr. Peard, and Mr. Lisle do bring in a Bill, to charge the Papists with present Monies and a yearly Payment: And that the Knights and Burgesses do inform themselves, by all the best Means they can, of all the Papists in the several Counties, Cities and Boroughs, and of their Estates; and that they give an Account hereof, on Tuesday Morning next.

Conference.

Mr. Strode brings Answer, That the Lords are ready to give a present Meeting.

Members fined.

Ordered, That those Members that are now in the Painted Chamber, shall pay their Five Shillings apiece: And Sir Arth. Heselrig and Mr. Wheeler are appointed to go to the Painted Chamber, to take the Names of such Members as are there.

Conference.

Mr. Hampden, Mr. Pym, Mr. Strode, Mr. Waller, Mr. Glyn, are appointed Reporters of this Conference.

Aqueduct Money.

Ordered, That Sir Walter Roberts shall presently pay in his Share of the Aqueduct Money: and that presently upon the Payment in of his Money, and the other Sharers Release from their Engagements, they likewise shall pay in their Shares.

Absens Members.

Mr. Pym reports from the Conference, That the Lords, finding the great Business of the Kingdom to lie upon a very few; and therefore had thought fit to send to call their several Members: Which, when they were sent for, received a Command from his Majesty not to come: The Absentees are of Three Sorts; absent with Leave; absent without Leave; and some that, contrary to the Commands of the House, have gone away: And have made an Order upon the Whole, which they offered to this House, in hæc verba, viz.

"That when Delinquents are sent for by the Parliament, we find, that through the ill Counsels that are now about the King, they are commanded, upon their Allegiance, not to appear: Which the Lords conceive so far to tend to the Overthrow of the Publick Justice of the Kingdom, that they desire a Committee of both Houses may be appointed, to consider of a Course to bring those Delinquents to deserved Punishment, in such manner as may best agree with publick Justice, and will be best for the Conservation of the Peace of the Kingdom: They have appointed Twelve of their House; and desire a proportionable Number of this House: And have appointed Two of Clock this Afternoon, in the Painted Chamber, to be the Time and Place."

Ordered, upon the Question, That a Committee of Four-and-twenty shall be appointed, to meet with a proportionable Committee of the Lords, to consider of a Course to bring such Delinquents who, being sent for by either of the Houses, have received Command, upon their Allegiance, not to appear, and have thereupon not appeared, to deserved Punishment; in such Manner as may best agree with publick Justice, and will be best for the Preservation of the Peace of the Kingdom: And to meet this Afternoon, at Two of Clock, in the Painted Chamber.

Ordered, That the Committee of Twenty-four appointed the last of April to consider of his Majesty's Messages, shall be the Committee appointed to treat with the Committee of the Lords, according to the abovesaid Order.

Message from Lords.

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

The Lords desire this House to sit awhile; in regard they are upon Business of great Importance, which they intend presently to communicate unto you.

Answer.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House is resolved to give a present Meeting.

Hunckes' Arrears.

Ordered, That Sir Ro. Pye shall forthwith pay unto Sir Wm. Uvedale, Treasurer at Wars in the late Northern Expedition, Ninety-six Pounds, to be paid unto Sir Foulke Hunckes; being the Arrears due unto him for his Employment in the North, as appears by a Certificate from the said Sir Wm. Uvedale.

Declaration.

The House proceeded with the Declaration.

Resolved, That the Copy of the Oath taken Out of the Record of Primo H. Quarti N° 17°, which was presented here; and that Clause of the Statute, De Provisiomibus, of 25° Ed. III. beginning with these Words, "Whereupon the said Commons," and ending with these Words, "thereupon Ordain Remedy," shall be inserted into this Declaration.

Message to Lords.

Mr. Arth. Goodwyn went up to the Lords, do acquaint them that this House doth agree to the Committee desired by the Lords: And carried up to the Lords the Order for Payment of Ten thousand Pounds to Mr. Loftus, out of the Contribution-money; and for Two hundred Pounds to Brandenbrigg, out of the said Monies.

Conference.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Edw. Leech and Dr. Aylett;

The Lords desire a Conference, by Committees of both Houses, presently, in the Painted Chamber, if it may stand with the Conveniency of this House, touching Matters of great Importance.

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

Not to be taken as a Precedent.

It was observed, and so declared, That this Message was so general, that the House was not bound to make Answer thereunto: And though, in this Streight of Time, they are content to give Answer to this; but have ordered not to be bound by this Precedent for the future.

Conference.

Mr. Fienis, Mr. Holles, Mr. Pym, Mr. Hampden, are appointed Reporters of this Conference.

Votes concerning the King making War.

Mr. Pym brings from the Conference Three Votes, and the Copy of a Petition to his Majesty: The which were read.

Resolved, upon the Question, That these Words, "seduced by wicked Counsel," shall be added to the First Vote brought from the Lords.

Resolved, upon the Question, That it appears, that the King, seduced by wicked Counsel, intends to make War against the Parliament; who, in all their Consultations and Actions, have proposed no other End unto themselves, but the Care of his Kingdoms and the Performance of all Duty and Loyalty to his Person.

Resolved, upon the Question, That whensoever the King maketh War upon the Parliament, it is a Breach of the Trust reposed in him by his People, contrary to his Oath, and tending to the Dissolution of this Government.

Resolved, upon the Question, That whosoever shall serve or assist him in such Wars are Traytors, by the fundamental Laws of this Kingdom; and have been so adjudged by Two Acts of Parliament; and ought to suffer as Traytors.

Petition to the King.

YOUR Majesty's Loyal Subjects, the Lords and Commons, in this Parliament, do humbly represent unto Your Majesty, that, notwithstanding your frequent Profession to Your Parliament and the Kingdom, and the late Expression in Your Answer of the Thirteenth of May, to the Petition of the County of York, that Your Desire and Intention is only the Preserving of the true Protestant Profession, the Laws of the Land, and Liberty of Your People, and the Peace of the Kingdom: Nevertheless, with great Grief, we perceive, by Your Speech of the Twelfth of May, and the Paper printed in Your Majesty's Name, in the Form of a Proclamation, bearing Date the Fourteenth of May, and other Evidences, That under Colour of raising a Guard to secure Your Person (of which Guard, considering the Fidelity and Care of Your Parliament, there can be no Use) Your Majesty doth command Troops, both of Horse and Foot, to assemble at York; the Beginnings whereof were apprehended, by the Inhabitants of that County, to be an Affrightment and Disturbance of Your Majesty's Liege People, as appears by their Petition presented to Your Majesty; the Continuing and Increase of which Forces is to Your Parliament, and must needs be, a just Cause of great Jealousy and Danger to your whole Kingdom:

Therefore we do humbly beseech Your Majesty to disband all such Forces as, by Your Command, are assembled; and relying for Your Security, as Your Predecessors have done, upon the Laws, and the Affections of Your People, You will be pleased to desist from any further Designs of this Nature, contenting Yourself with Your usual and ordinary Guards: Otherwise we shall hold ourselves bound in Duty towards God, and the Trust reposed in us by the People, and the fundamental Laws and Constitutions of this Kingdom, to employ our Care and utmost Power to secure the Parliament, and to preserve the Peace and Quiet of the Kingdom.

Conference.

Ordered, That a Conference shall be desired with the Lords To-morrow Morning; and the Votes and Petition brought from the Lords at the last Conference with the Lords, returned to their Lordships; with the Amendments; and the Reasons of the Amendments.

Persons to go to Hull.

Mr. Wharton and Mr. Alured are nominated to go to Hull, to be assistant to the Governor there.

Hull Committee.

Mr. Fynes and Mr. Pym are appointed to peruse the Instructions formerly given to the Committee at Hull; and, if they see any Occasion, to add to them.

Declaration.

Ordered, That the Declaration presented from the Committee by Mr. Fienis, shall be considered of Tomorrow Morning, the First Business.

Preparation of Swords.

Ordered, That the Information of great Preparation of Swords made ready in London, be referred to the Committee for Information.