House of Lords Journal Volume 10: 15 December 1648

DIE Veneris, 15 die Decembris.

PRAYERS, by Mr. Corbett.

Domini præsentes fuerunt:

Comes Denbigh, Speaker.

Message from the H. C. with Orders.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Mr. Dove, &c.; who brought up several Orders, wherein they desire their Lordships Concurrence:

1. An Order to pay Two Hundred Pounds to Colonel Ayre, Governor of Hurst Castle.

(Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

2. An Order (fn. 1) for the Lord Grey of Groby, and others, (fn. 2) to be added to the Committee for the Army.

(Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

3. An Order for Mr. Pickeringe to be Sheriff of the Counties of Hunt. and Cambridge. (Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

4. An Order for the Sheriff of Hunt. and Cambridge [ (fn. 2) to have] Liberty to go out of his Counties.

(Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That this House agrees to all the Particulars now brought up.

Guard for this House.

The Earl of Denbigh acquainted the House, "That, according to their Lordships Command Yesterday, he hath delivered the Order to the General concerning Guards; and his Lordship expressed himself very willing to obey their Lordships Command; and accordingly hath given Directions, that Guards shall constantly attend this House."

Message from the H. C. to sit a while.

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

To desire their Lordships would please to sit a while, because they have some important Business to communicate to their Lordships.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That this House will sit awhile, as is desired.

Message from the H. C. with a Protestation of their secluded Members; and with an Order.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Mr. Purefoy, &c.; who brought up a Printed Paper, intituled, "A Solemn Protestation of the Imprisoned and secluded Members of the Commons House, &c.;" with the Sense of the House of Commons thereupon, wherein they desire their Lordships Concurrence.

The said printed Paper was read. (Here enter it.)

2. An Order for Mr. Anthony Moorewood to be Sheriff of the County of Derby. (Here enter it.)

Read, and Agreed to.

Declaration against the Protestation of the seeluded Members.

The Declaration brought from the House of Commons was read Twice;

And the Question being put, "Whether to agree to this Declaration now read?"

It was Resolved in the Affirmative, nemine contradicente.

Ordered, That this Declaration be printed and published.

The Answer returned was:

Answer to the H. C.

That this House agrees to the Declaration now brought up; and also to the Order for Mr. Anthony Moorewood to be Sheriff of Derbyshire.

Protestation of some Members of the H. C. secluded by the Army, against any Proceedings in that House during their Seclusion.

"A solemn Protestation of the imprisoned and secluded Members of the Commons House, against the horrid Force and Violence of the Officers and Soldiers of the Army, on Wednesday and Thursday last, being the Sixth and Seventh Days of December, 1648.

"We, the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, of the Commons House of Parliament (above One Hundred in Number), forcibly seized upon, violently kept out of, and driven from the House, by the Officers and Soldiers of the Army under Thomas Lord Fairefax, coming thither to discharge our Duties, on Wednesday and Thursday last, being the Sixth and Seventh of this Instant December, do hereby, in our own Names, and in the Names of the respective Counties, Cities, and Boroughs, for which we serve, and of all the Commons of England, solemnly protest and declare to the whole Kingdom, That this execrable Force and open Violence upon our Persons and the whole House of Commons, by the Officers and Army under their Command, in marching up against their Command, and placing strong armed Guards of Horse and Foot upon them, without and against their Order, is the highest and most detestable Force and Breach of Privilege and Freedom ever offered to any Parliament of England; and that all Acts, Ordinances, Votes, and Proceedings, of the said House, made since the Sixth of December aforesaid, or hereafter to be made during our Restraint and forcible Seclusion from the House and the Continuance of the Army's Force upon it, are no Way obligatory, but void and null to all Intents and Purposes; and that all Contrivers of, Actors in, and (fn. 3) Assistants to, this unparalleled Force and treasonable armed Violence, are open Enemies to, and prosessed Subverters of, the Privileges, Rights, and Freedom of Parliament, and Disturbers of the Peace and Settlement of the Kingdom, and ought to be proceeded against as such; and that all Members of Parliament and Commoners of England, by their solemn Covenant and Duty, under Pain of deepest Perjury and eternal Infamy, are obliged unanimously to oppose, and endeavour to their utmost Power to bring them to exemplary and condign Punishment, for this transcendent Offence, tending to the Dissolution of the present, and Subversion of all future Parliaments, and of the fundamental Government and Laws of this Realm.

"All which we held it our Duties to declare and publish to the World, for fear our stupid Silence should give any tacit Consent or Approbation to this most detestable Crime, and make us guilty of betraying the Privileges, Freedom, and Honour of this Parliament, to our perpetual Reproach, and the Prejudice of all succeeding Parliaments.

"Dated at Westm'r, December 11th, 1648."

Declaration for suppressing it, and for the Members of both Houses to disown it.

"The Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, taking into their Consideration a printed Paper, intituled, A Solemn Protestation of the imprisoned and secluded Members, &c.", wherein, amongst other Things, it is declared, ["That all Acts, Ordinances, Votes, and Proceedings of the House of Commons, made since the 6th of this Instant December, or hereafter to be made during their Restraint and forcible Seclusion from the House, and the Continuance of the Army's Force upon it, are no Way obligatory, but void and null to all Intents and Purposes:]" The said Lords and Commons do thereupon judge and declare the said printed Paper to be false, scandalous, and seditious, and tending to destroy the visible and fundamental Government of this Kingdom; and do therefore order and ordain the said Printed Paper to be suppressed; and that all Persons whatsoever, that have had any Hand in, or given Consent unto, the contriving, framing, printing, and publishing thereof, shall be adjudged, and hereby are adjudged, uncapable to bear any Office, or have any Place of Trust or Authority in this Kingdom, or to sit as Members of either House of Parliament; and do further order and ordain, That every Member of either House respectively now absent, upon his first coming to sit in that House whereof he is a Member, for the Manifestation of his Innocency, shall disavow and disclaim his having had any Hand in, or given Consent unto, the contriving, framing, printing, or publishing, of the said Paper, or the Matter therein contained."

Order for 200 l. to Col. Eyre.

"Ordered, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That the Treasurers at Gouldsmiths Hall be required forthwith to disburse and pay the Sum of Two Hundred Pounds to Colonel Eyre, Governor of Hurst Castle, or his Assigns; and that the said Treasurers do reimburse themselves of the said Sum out of the Remainder of the Fine of Sir Charles Keymish."

Committee for the Army.

"Ordered, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That the Lord Grey, Sir Henry Mildmay, Colonel Rigby, and Mr. Lisle, be added to the Committee for the Army."

Pickering to be Sheriff of Hunt, &c.

"Ordered, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That Henry Pickering Esquire, formerly nominated High Sheriff of the County of Hunt. be also High Sheriff of the County of Cambridge.

Leave for him to reside out of his Counties.

"Ordered, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That Henry Pickering Esquire, High Sheriff of the Counties of Hunt. and Cambridge, have Liberty to go out of his Counties to London, upon his Occasions, as he shall find Cause, so as he look carefully to his Charge in the said Counties."

Morewood to be Sheriff of Derby.

"The Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament do nominate and approve of Anthony Moorewood, of Alforton, in the County of Derby, Esquire, to be High Sheriff of the County of Derby; and that the Commissioners for the Great Seal of England do issue out a Commission to him, to be Sheriff of the said County, accordingly."

Adjourn.

House adjourned till 10^a cras.