House of Commons Journal Volume 2: 11 June 1642

Die Sabbati, 11 Junii.

Answers of Members.

ORDERED, that the Committee appointed to consider of Propositions for the Defence of the Kingdom, or any Two of them, shall be the Standing Committee to receive the Answers of such Members of the House as did not declare themselves Yesterday: And are to meet this Afternoon, at Two of Clock, in the Inner Court of Wards; and so from time to time, as they shall think fit.

Lancashire Committee.

The Instructions to be given to the Members to be sent into Lancashire.

Mr. Cage, Mr. Hampden, Mr. Rigby, Sir Ro. Coke, Mr. Fienis, Mr. Serjeant Wilde, are presently to withdraw, to consider farther of these Instructions.

Preparations at Amsterdam.

Sir Walth. Erle reports, That there were Jewels brought to Amsterdam, certain Collars of Pearl; which were sold; and the Product of them is the Sixteen thousand Pounds sent over hither; and the Residue is kept there, to pay for the Arms and Ammunition bespoken there.

One great Collar of Rubies.

The Jewels called the Three Brethren; Four or Five great Diamonds; with divers other Parcels; but no Money got upon them yet.

Four Pieces of Battery, of Eighteen Pound Bullet.

One Piece, carrying Twelve Pounds Bullet.

One Piece, carrying Eight Pounds Bullet.

Six Field Pieces, carrying Six Pounds Bullet.

The Mortar-pieces are One Foot and half in Diameter, at the Mouth, Metal and all, shooting Granadoes of Eleven or Twelve Inches.

Sir Walter Erle, * Ashe, are appointed to go into the City; and to sit where they shall think convenient, to inquire after the Truth of this Information: And have Power to send for such Parties as they shall think fit, to give them Information in these or the like Particulars.

Mr. Dowse is appointed to go to the Lord Admiral, and acquaint him with this Information; and desire, that some Ships may be sent to guard the Coast about Newcastle, to prevent the Coming in of any Arms or Ammunition into Newcastle.

Ordered, That all the Ships and Pinnaces set forth by the Adventurers for additional Forces by Sea, be forthwith sent away to the Coasts of Ireland, to guard those Coasts, all but One Pinnace, which they are to leave behind, to bring after them their Commission or Ordinance; and that the Lord Admiral be moved to give Order accordingly.

Loan from Marleborough.

Whereas the House is informed, That the Town of Marleborough has collected Six hundred Pounds towards the Loan desired of them; They do Order That Mr. Francklyn, who serves for that Town, do return Thanks to the said Town, for their Forwardness in this Service.

Irish Commissioners.

Ordered, That the Commissioners for Irish Affairs do meet every Afternoon, at Three of Clock, notwithstanding the Sitting of the House.

Naval Affairs.

Mr. Dowse brings Answer, That the Lord Admiral will give Order for some Ships to ride about Newcastle, or elsewhere, to prevent the Coming in of any Ammunition to Newcastle.

Irish Commissioners.

Mr. Strode went up to the Lords, to desire, That the Commissioners for Irish Affairs might sit every Afternoon constantly, notwithstanding that the House may chance to sit.

Search for Arms.

Information was given, that there was a Ship lying at Billingsgate, bound for Berlington near Hull, laden with some Arms or Ammunition, as is suspected:

Ordered, That Mr. Bence do go to the Marshal of the Admiralty, and require him, in his Presence, to search the said Ship.

He is likewise to tell the Searchers at the Custom-house, That the House takes great Notice of their Neglect in Performance of their Duty.

Lords withdrawn from Parliament.

Mr. Holles reports a Part of the Conference had with the Lords, on Wednesday last; and delivered, from that Conference, a Letter from Yorke, of the Fifth of June, in hæc verba;

My Lord,

WE, whose Names are here under-written, have received a Summons, dated the Thirtieth of May, to appear the Eighth of June at the Bar. We are come hither to Yorke, at this Time, to pay a willing Obedience to his Majesty's Command, signified by Letters under his own Hand; which Command remains upon us still. And so we rest

To the Right Honourable the Speaker of the Lords House in Parliament.

The Lords having received this Letter from divers of their Members, who have withdrawn themselves from their Attendance in Parliament, contrary to the express Order and Commands of the House, Though this Affront be to their own House, and by their own Members; yet, as it concerns the Safety of the Kingdom, and the very Being of Parliaments, in the Consequence of it; the Lords, in that respect, thought it fit to communicate it with the House of Commons, that both Houses may jointly endeavour to prevent such Practices and Designs, as, by the malignant Party, and the ill-affected Members of both Houses, may be undertaken to the Dissolution of the Parliament, invalidating the Acts and Authority thereof, or raising a Power in Opposition thereunto: Which the Lords cannot but conceive these Lords are encouraged unto, by the Counsels now prevailing, and the Forces now raising at Yorke: Otherwise it is not imaginable, after a Vote passed by both Houses, "That it appeared, the King, seduced by wicked Counsel, intended to make War against the Parliament;" that they would have taken the Boldness to have left the House in Contempt of the Commands thereof; and have gone to Yorke; and, being summoned to appear, would have remained there notwithstanding, and have returned so slight and scornful an Answer.

Answer from Lords.

Mr. Strode brings Answer, That the Lords will return Answer by Messengers of their own.

Lords withdrawn from Parliament.

This Question was propounded;

Resolved, That the Departing of these Nine Lords from the Parliament, without Leave, after such Time as both Houses had declared, "That the King, seduced by wicked Counsels, intended to make War against the Parliament;" and their still Continuing at Yorke, notwithstanding their Commissions and Commands, is a high Affront and Contempt of both Houses: And that the said Lords therein did as much as in them lay, that the Service of Parliament might be deserted; and are justly suspected to promote a War against the Parliament:

And then the Question was put, whether this Question should be now put:

So that the former Question passed with the Affirmative.

Irish Commissioners.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Ro. Riche and Mr. Page;

The Lords return this Answer to the Message sent for the Commissioners for Irish Affairs to sit daily; They have appointed that they shall sit daily, as is desired.

Lords withdrawn from Parliament.

Resolved, That a Committee shall be named to draw an Impeachment against these Nine Lords now voted.

Mr. Glyn, Sir Jo. Evelyn, Sir Gilbert Gerard, Mr. Marten, Sir Ro. Coke, Mr. Prideaux, Mr. Nichollas, Mr. Hill, Mr. Browne, Mr. Reynolds, Serjeant Wilde, Mr. Peard;

This Committee is to draw an Impeachment against the Nine Lords now voted; and to consider of something to be offered to the Lords, for preventing the Carrying any Arms, Ammunition, Horse, or other warlike Preparations, to these Lords.

Mr. Cromwell went to the Lords, to desire that they would sit awhile.

That One Head of the Conference shall be to move the Lords, that they would take some Course to prevent the Carrying of any Horse, Arms, Ammunition, or any thing else, that may foment any War against the Parliament, towards Yorke, to these Nine Lords.

Sir Robert Harley went up to the Lords, to desire a Conference concerning the Letter delivered at a Conference the other Day, from the Nine Lords at Yorke.

Mr. Glyn, Mr. Pym, Mr. Marten, are appointed Managers.

Persons to be examined, &c.

That these Men of the Marquis Hamilton's, now in the Constable's Custody, be examined by the Committee for Informations: And that the Lord Admiral be acquainted with the Ship that they are to go in; and desired to have a care of it, that there may be no Ammunition carried in it, to Berlington, whither the Ship is bound.

Preparations at Amsterdam.

Mr. Beauchamp, being called in; was demanded what he knew of the warlike Provisions or Ammunition preparing at Amsterdam: He knew no more than what the Letter from his Brother saith.

He knew the Hand to be his Brother's.

The Letter speaks of a Storm he fears, from the North, in regard there is great warlike Preparation at Amsterdam now in preparing.

Thanks to the City.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Ro. Rich and Mr. Page;

The Lords do desire, that the Committee of this House that is to join with the Committee of the Lords, to go into the City this Afternoon, at Four of Clock, may have Power to join with the Lords, to give the City Thanks for their Readiness in the Loan.

Resolved, upon the Question, That this Committee shall have that Power, as it is desired.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House hath given Power to that Committee, as it is desired.

Lancashire Committees.

The Instructions to be given to the Committees of Lancashire, returned from the Re-commitment, were read; and assented unto; and ordered to be sent to the Lords.

Informations from Holland.

Mr. Arth. Goodwyn went up to the Lords, to desire a Conference concerning some Informations received from Holland.

Sir Walth. Erle, Mr. Fienis, and Mr. Ashe, are appointed Managers of this Conference.

Resolved, That One Head of the Conference shall be, to desire, That these Informations may be communicated to the City, by the Committees, this Afternoon.

Answers of Members, &c.

Resolved, upon the Question, That the Committee appointed to receive the Answers of such Members as have not yet declared themselves, to send to such Members, to desire their Answers; and likewise to consider of such Ways as they shall think fittest for the best Advancing of these Propositions; and to consult with such Gentlemen as they shall think fit to advise with herein; and to consider of some Course to put these Propositions into present Execution; and to advise likewise with such as they shall think ... herein.

Mr. Strode, Mr. Long, are added to this Committee.

Cheshire Committees.

Ordered, that the like Instructions as are given to the Committees that are sent into Lancashire, mutatis mutandis, shall be given for Cheshire, with the Addition of these Words following; viz.

"You shall also, in the Name of both Houses of Parliament, require all such Persons who have in their Custody any Part of the publick Magazine of the County, to deliver the same unto you, or some of you, to be employed for the Defence of the said County.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir Tho. Smyth shall have Leave to go, about a Fortnight hence, to the Bath.

Deputy Lieutenant.

Ordered, That Mr. Wm. Thomas shall go into the Country, being a Deputy Lieutenant of Two Counties.

Memorandum,

Scandalous Letter.

Mr. Rigby had of me the original scandalous Letter, written out of Ulster, which lays Imputations upon the Proceedings of the Scotts in that Province, to carry to the Scotts Commissioners.