House of Lords Journal Volume 10: 7 July 1648

DIE Veneris, 7 die Julii.

Prayers, by Mr. Hickes.

Domini præsentes fuerunt:

Comes Manchester, Speaker.

Ld. Dunsemore's Horses taken away by Capt. Pretty.

Upon Information to this House, "That Captain Pretty hath taken away the Horses of the Lord Dunsemore, from his House at Dabbes Court, in the County of Surrey;" and in regard his Lordship is a Peer of this Realm, and hath compounded for his Delinquency:

It is Ordered, That Captain Pretty do certify to this House the Grounds wherefore they were taken away, and in the mean Time not to dispose of the Horses; and that the said Lord Dunsemore shall be protected, and his Family; he carrying himself quietly and peaceably, and yielding himself to the Obedience of the Parliament.

A Letter, directed thus, was read:

Letter from Dingley, with the following one.

"For his Honoured Friend John Browne Esquire, Clerk of the Parliament.

"SIR,

These Letters are of much Concernment for the Public Business: Therefore I desire the Packet may be delivered with all Speed; for that the timely Notice may prevent much Danger.

6 July.

"Your Servant,

Jo. Dingley."

In the Packet inclosed were these Papers:

A Letter directed to the Speaker of the House of Commons; which was sent to the Speaker.

Another Letter directed to the Earl of Manchester, and an inclosed Paper, being a Declaration; which were read. (Here enter them.)

Letter from the D. of Bucks and the E. of Holland and Peterborough, about their taking up Arms.

My Lord,

We do here take away your Jealousies, by giving you a clear Knowledge of our Designs; which if you shall be pleased to communicate to the House of Peers, we hope they will find we do not vary from those Principles and Grounds we have been engaged in, both from His Majesty and the Parliament; which God give them Grace so to think, and to advise upon it, as His Majesty may find His just Rights, according to our Covenant and Declaration; and the Parliament rise, and recover the Dignity due unto them, by a speedy Way of settling the Peace of this distracted Kingdom.

"Your Lordship's July 5th, 1648. Most humble Servants, "Holland. G. Buckingham. Peterburgh."

"For the Right Honourable the Earl of Manchester, Speaker of the House of Peers."

Maj. Ralph to be proceeded against by Indictment.

Upon the Report of Mr. Serjeant Finch, and hearing the Opinion of the Judges: It is Ordered, That the Proceedings against Major Edmund Rolph shall be put into a Way of Indictment.

And these Lords following are appointed to consider of some Things to offer to the House, concerning this Business:

Some of the Judges and Mr. Serjeant Finch to meet To-morrow Morning, at Nine a Clock; the Quorum to be any Two.

Heads for a Conference about a Treaty.

The Earl of Lyncolne reported from the Committee, the Reasons for adhering to the Vote of the 30th of June last, which are to (fn. 1) be communicated to the House of Commons at a Conference; which, being read, were approved, and ordered to be offered at a Conference, To-morrow Morning, at Eleven of the Clock.

(Here enter them.)

D of Richmond's Horses to be returned.

Upon Information, "That the Horses of the Duke of Richmond are stayed at Lambeth, as he was going to his House in Kent:"

It is Ordered, That his Horses shall be presently released; and a Pass to be granted him, to pass to his House without Molestation; and to have a Protection to reside in his House in Kent.

Ld. Petre, a Pass.

Ordered, That the Lord Petre shall have a Pass to go into Essex.

Reduced Officers Petition.

A Petition from the Reduced Officers was read, and ordered to be recommended to the House of Commons.

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

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Mr. Baron Trevor and Mr. Justice Goldbold:

To desire a Conference, To-morrow Morning, at Eleven of the Clock, concerning a Vote formerly sent to that House, for the not insisting upon the Three Propositions sent into Scotland, before a Treaty be had with the King.

Declaration of the D. of Bucks and the E. of Holland and Peterborough, containing their Reasons for taking up Arms.

"Finding this Conjucture to be the proper Time when this wearied Kingdom may be delivered from those Miseries it both hath and may apprehend yet to feel, by such Persons as are ill-affected to our Peace, who at this Time, without Authority or Commissions, disperse themselves into all Parts to raise Forces, with no other Intentions but to continue a bloody and intestine War, which may prove dangerous to the whole Kingdom, from the Assistance they find by the Committees of the several Counties, who have so abused their Power and the People, by an arbitrary Way of Government, as they shun and apprehend nothing more than what we shall endeavour and seek, Peace and a well-settled Government: And therefore, that the whole Kingdom may be satisfied upon what Grounds and Principles we go to oppose and prevent this Mischief and Danger, we do here declare, That we do take up Arms for the King and Parliament, Religion, and the known Laws and Peace of all His Majesty's Kingdoms; prosessing before Almighty God, we have no other Design in this Undertaking but to see this well and speedily established, and will with Readiness and Joy lay them down whensoever God shall give us the Enjoyment of this Blessing; prosessing that, whatsoever may be our Success and Prosperity in this good Cause, we shall not say, by Way of Menace to the Parliament, "That we will use the Power God hath put into our Hands;" but shall bless God, that He hath made us the Instruments to serve the King, the Parliament, and Kingdom, in the Way of Peace, in a just and equal Composure between them. And we hope the City and the Kingdom will well weigh and consider, whether they may not more reasonably and conscionably join with us in these pious and peaceable Resolutions, than with those Forces that have by their Breach of Faith and their Disobedience kept up the Sword, when those that delivered it into their Hands commanded the laying of it down; which Disobedience hath brought this fresh Storm of Blood that is now falling upon this Kingdom, and all those Fears and Confusion that Petitions daily shew to be in the Thoughts and Apprehensions both of the City and the whole Kingdom. We might add sad Circumstances, that are of late discovered and broken out, concerning His Majesty's Person; and likewise a confused and leveling Undertaking, to overthrow Monarchy, and to turn Order, that preserves all our Lives and Fortunes, into a wild and unlimited Confusion. But we desire not to express any Thing with Sharpness, since our End and Pursuit is only Peace; which shall appear to all the World, whensoever we may see a Personal Treaty so begun with His Majesty, as we may expect a happy Conclusion by it, that cannot follow but by a Cessation of Arms, which in all Parts of the World hath accompanied these Treaties, even between the bitterest Enemies, Christians and Turks, much more to be expected in these our Civil Divisions amongst ourselves; for the Sword should not be in Action as long as a Treaty of Peace is in Agitation, since Accidents of Hostility on both Sides will sharpen and divide us rather than close and unite us. This we thought fit both to desire and to declare, that the Discourses that may be raised upon our Actions may not have Power to abuse the Kingdom, as if we did only move in a Way to set up His Majesty in a Tyrannical Power, rather than in the just Regal Government; the which hath been always found in this Nation very well consistent with the due Rights and Freedoms of Parliament, the which we do here most faithfully protest the endeavouring a Preservation of, and call God to Witness of our Sincerity in this Intention."

Heads for a Conference, about a Treaty with the King.

"Reasons why the Lords adhere to their former Vote.

"Because the Condition of the Affairs of the Kingdom at this Time will not permit Delays; but require all possible Expedition, to satisfy the Expectation of the People, who insatiably thirst after Peace, as it's manifested by several Petitions, from the City, several Counties, and the Mariners; whereby it appears that they are impatient of Delays of a Personal Treaty, which they have expressed to be the only Means to obtain a Peace. But this is like to be a dilatory Way, in the Judgement of the House of Lords, if they should defer the Treaty with His Majesty until He had promised to pass these Three Bills, when all other Things are agreed on: For the King hath often expressly declared, that He will not consent to any Pre-engagement till all be concluded; and therefore it may well be expected, that the sending these Propositions as previous, may beget a Denial, which must needs protract Time.

2. It's against the Nature of all Treaties betwixt Nations, or betwixt Kings and their Subjects, for one Party to grant the greatest Part in Controversy, before he be assured that the other Party will yield to any Thing for his Security and Satisfaction.

3. It may make a Breach between the Two Kingdoms; for our Brethren of Scotland do insist upon a Personal Treaty with His Majesty, at some of His Houses, where He may be with Honour, Safety, and Freedom, that so both Kingdoms jointly may make their Applications to Him for a safe and well-grounded Peace. But there is no Certainty, nor much Probability, of their consenting to defer the Treaty till these Three Propositions be granted; therefore the Lords hold it best to proceed according to that they have already agreed on.

4. That both Houses thought fit to treat, both at Uxbridge and Oxford, without any precedent Propositions granted; though the King was provided at that Time with considerable Forces to balance that of the Parliament; whereas now the Case is far different: Wherefore the Lords think they may better do so now."

An additional Reason, to be added to these, is entered the Day following.

Dingley to be instituted to Brixton;

Ordered, That Dr. Aylett do give Institution and Induction unto Robert Dingley, an Orthodox, to the Rectory and Church of Brighteston, alias Brixton, in the Isle of Wight, in Com. South'ton, void by the Death of Hugh Thompson, the last Incumbent; salvo Jure cujuscunque: Presentation under the Great Seal.

Meredith to Llamder;

Ordered, That Dr. Aylett give Institution and Induction unto Reeves Meredith Clerk, Master of Arts, to the Rectory or Vicarage of Llamder, in Com. Cardigan; salvo Jure cujuscunque, &c.: Granted by the Great Seal.

Evans to Llanristeed;

Ordered, That Dr. Aylett give Institution and Induction unto Griffith Evans Clerk, Master of Arts, to the Rectory or Vicarage of Llanristeed, in Com. Cardigan, &c.; salvo Jure cujuscunque: Great Seal.

Osborne to Compton;

Ordered, That Dr. Aylett give Institution and Induction unto Jo. Osborne Clerk, to that Part of the Vicarage of Compton, in Com. Oxon, which lately Mr. Hodges had; salvo Jure, &c.: Great Seal.

Grigdale to Llanrewk;

Ordered, That Dr. Aylett give Institution and Induction unto Wm. Grigdale Clerk, Master of Arts, to the Rectory of Llanrewst, in Com. Denbigh, void by Death of the last Incumbent; salvo Jure cujuscunque, &c.: Great Seal.

Leake to Lyon Halls;

Ordered, That Dr. Heath give Institution and Induction unto Walter Leake Clerk, to the Vicarage of Lyon Halls, in Com. Hereford, void by Cession of the last Incumbent; salvo Jure cujuscunque, &c.: Great Seal.

and Mason to Stanely.

Ordered, That Dr. give Institution and Induction unto George Mason Clerk, Master of Arts, to the Rectory of Stanley, in Com. Derby; salvo Jure cujuscunque, &c.: Great Seal.