House of Lords Journal Volume 11: 2 May 1660

DIE Mercurii, videlicet, 2 die Maii.

PRAYERS, by Mr. Hodges.

Domini præsentes fuerunt:

18. Comes Manchest. Speaker.

Answer from the H. C.

The Messengers sent Yesterday to the House of Commons return with this Answer:

That they will send an Answer, by Messengers of their own, concerning the Vote for the Earl of Manchester to be One of the Commissioners of the Great Seal of England.

Committee for Petitions.

Lords Committees appointed to receive and hear Petitions, and report the same to this House:

Any Seven; to meet when they please, in the Painted Chamber; and to adjourn from Time to Time as (fn. 1) they shall see Cause.

Babington and Gunn, about Greenwich Park.

The Petition of Uriah Babington, was read; shewing, "That he having a Grant from the late King, to be Keeper of Greenwich House and Park, but is put out by one Gunn; and many Families are got in there; and make great Spoil:"

It is ORDERED, To be referred to the Committee of Petitions; and Report to be made to the House.

Ly. Jermin, Register in Chancery.

The Petition of the Lady Jermin was read, concerning her Claim to the Register's Office in the Chancery:

It is ORDERED, To be referred to the Committee for Petitions; and to meet presently:

Committee for settling the Nation, and preparing an Answer to the King's Letter, &c.

Lords Committees appointed to meet with a Committee of the House of Commons, to consider of an Answer to the King's Letter and Declaration; and to prepare those Things in order to those Ends mentioned Yesterday at the Conference.

Serj. Mallet, an Assistant.

ORDERED, That Serjeant Malett be required to attend this House, as an Assistant.

Baron Tomlins' Pet.

ORDERED, That Baron Tomlins' Petition be referred to the Committee of Petitions.

Rich and Eltonhead's.

ORDERED, That the Petition of Mr. Rich and Mr. Eltonhead be referred to the Consideration of the Committee for Privileges.

Ordinance for Gen. Monk to be Captain General.

An Ordinance for making George Monck Esquire; Captain General of all the Land Forces of England, Scotland, and Ireland, was read the First Time; being reported from the Committee.

The said Ordinance was read the Second Time, and committed to these Lords following:

Any Five; to meet when they please.

Message to the H. C. for Committees to meet, about settling the Nation, and to prepare an Answer to the King.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Mr. Rich and Mr. Eltonhead:

To let them know, that this House hath appointed a Committee of Eight Lords, to join with a Committee of the House of Commons, to consider of an Answer to the King's Gracious Letter and Declaration; and to prepare those Things in order to those Ends that were mentioned Yesterday at the Conference.

Settling the Militia.

The House was adjourned during Pleasure, to take into Consideration how to settle the Militia of this Kingdom.

The House was resumed.

The Messengers return with this Answer:

Answer from H. C.

That they have delivered their Message to the House (fn. 2), concerning Committees to consider of the King's Letter, &c.; and they will return an Answer by Messengers of their own.

Committee for settling the Militia.

Lords Committees appointed to consider of the Settling and Expediting of the Militia of this Kingdom, and to alter or add as they shall see Cause.

Any Five; to meet in the Prince's Lodgings Tomorrow, at 3 Afternoon.

Message to H. C. to appoint a Committee to meet with them.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Mr. Rich and Mr. Eltonhead:

To let them know, that the Lords have appointed a Committee of Twelve Lords, to consider of the Settling and Expediting of the Militia, and to alter or add as they shall see Cause; and to desire the House of Commons that they would appoint a proportionable Number of their House, to join therein.

Message from thence, with a Letter from the King;- and about settling the Nation, &c.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Sir Henry Chomeley; who communicated the King's Letter and Declaration sent to the House of Commons; and they also returned the King's Letter and Declaration which the King sent to this House, which was delivered Yesterday at the Conference.

2. To acquaint their Lordships, that the House of Commons hath concurred with the Lords, in their Vote touching the fundamental Government of this Kingdom.

3. To let their Lordships know, that the House of Commons have given an Answer to the King's Letter sent to them.

Violation of the Peerage.

It is ORDERED, That the Committee for Privileges do take into their Consideration the great Violation that hath been lately made upon the Peerage of this Kingdom.

ORDERED, That no new Business shall be begun after Twelve a Clock in this House.

King's Letter to the House of Commons.

The King's Letter to the House of Commons.

"To Our Trusty and Well-beloved the Speaker of the House of Commons.

"Charles R.

"Trusty and Well-beloved, We greet you well. In these great and unsupportable Afflictions and Calamities, under which the poor Nation hath been so long exercised, and by which it is so near exhausted, We cannot think of a more natural and proper Remedy, than to resort to those for Counsel and Advice, who have seen and observed the First Beginning of Our Miseries, the Progress from Bad to Worse, and the Mistakes and Misunderstandings which have produced and contributed to Inconveniences which were not intended, and, after so many Revolutions, and the Observation of what hath attended them, are now trusted by Our good Subjects to repair the Breaches which are made, and to provide proper Remedies for those Evils, and for the lasting Peace, Happiness, and Security of the Kingdom. We do assure you, upon Our Royal Word, that none of Our Predecessors have had a greater Esteem of Parliaments than We have, in Our Judgement, as well as from Our Obligation. We do believe them to be so vital a Part of the Constitution of the Kingdom, and so necessary for the Government of it, that We well know that neither Prince nor People can be in any tolerable Degree happy without them; and therefore, you may be confident, that We shall always look upon their Counsels as the best We can receive; and shall be as tender of their Privileges, and as careful to preserve and protect them, as of that which is most near to Ourself, and most necessary for Our own Preservation. And as this is Our Opinion of Parliaments, that their Authority is most necessary for the Government of the Kingdom, so We are most confident that you believe and find that the Preservation of the King's Authority is as necessary for the Preservation of Parliaments; and that it is not the Name, but the right Constitution of them, which can prepare and apply proper Remedies for those Evils which are grievous to the People, and which can thereby establish their Peace and Security; and therefore We have not the least Doubt, but that you will be as tender in, and as jealous of, any Thing that may infringe Our Honour, or impair Our Authority, as of your own Liberty and Property, which is best preserved by preserving the other. How far We have trusted you in this great Affair, and how much it is in your Power to restore the Nation to all that it hath lost, and to redeem it from any Infamy it hath undergone, and to make King and People as happy as they ought to be, you will find by our inclosed Declaration (a Copy of which We have likewise sent to the House of Peers): And you will easily believe, that We would not voluntarily, and of Ourself, have reposed so great a Trust in you, but upon an entire Confidence that you will not abuse it, and that you will proceed in such a Manner, and with such due Consideration of Us who have trusted you, that We shall not be ashamed of declining other Assistance (which we have Assurance of), and repairing to you for more natural and proper Remedies for the Evils We would be freed from; nor sorry that We have bound up Our own Interest so entirely with that of Our Subjects, as that We refer it to the same Persons to take Care of Us, who are trusted to provide for them. We look upon you as wise and dispassionate Men and good Patriots, who will raise up those Banks and Fences which have been cast down, and who will most reasonably hope that the same Prosperity will again spring from those Roots from which it hath heretofore and always grown; nor can We apprehend that you will propose any Thing to Us, or expect any Thing from Us, but what We are as ready to give as you to receive. If you desire the Advancement and Propagation of the Protestant Religion, We have by Our constant Profession and Practice of it given sufficient Testimony to the World, that neither the Unkindness of those of the same Faith towards Us, nor the Civilities and Obligations from those of a contrary Profession (of both which We have had abundant Evidence), could in the least Degree startle Us, or make Us swerve from it. And nothing can be proposed to manifest Our Zeal and Affection for it, to which We will not readily consent; and We hope in due Time, Ourself, to propose somewhat to you, for the Propagation of it, that shall satisfy the World, that We have always made it both Our Care and Our Study, and have enough observed what is most like to bring Disadvantage to it. If you desire Security for those who, in these calamitous Times, either wilfully or weakly have transgressed those Bounds which were prescribed, and have invaded each other's Right; We have left to you to provide for their Security and Indemnity, in such a Way as you shall think just and reasonable; and, by a just Computation of what Men have done and suffered as near as is possible, to take Care that all Men be satisfied, which is the surest Way to suppress and extirpate all such Uncharitableness and Animosity as might hereafter shake and threaten that Peace which for the present might seem established. If there be a crying Sin for which the Nation may be involved in the Infamy that attends it, We cannot doubt but that you will be as solicitous to redeem and vindicate the Nation from that Guilt and Infamy as We can be. If you desire that Reverence and Obedience may be paid to the fundamental Laws of the Land, and that Justice may be equally and impartially administered to all Men, it is that which We desire to be sworn to Ourself, and that all Persons in Power and Authority should be so too. In a Word, there is nothing that you can propose, that may make the Kingdom happy, which We will not contend with you to compass. And upon this Confidence and Assurance, We have thought fit to send you this Declaration, that you may, as much as is possible at this Distance, see Our Heart, which when God shall bring us nearer together (as We hope He will do shortly) will appear to you very agreeable to what we have professed: And We hope that We have made that right Christian Use of our Affliction, and that the Observation and Experience We have had in other Countries hath been such, as that We, and We hope all Our Subjects, shall be the better for what We have seen and suffered. We shall add no more, but Our Prayers to Almighty God, that He will so bless your Counsels, and direct your Endeavours, that His Glory and Worship may be provided for; and the Peace, Honour, and Happiness of the Nation may be established, upon those Foundations which can best support it. And so We bid you Farewel.

"Given at Our Court at Breda, this 4/14th Day of April, 1660, in the Twelfth Year of Our Reign."

Chamberlane, E. of Denbigh's Servant, Privilege.

ORDERED, &c. That the Gentleman Usher attending this House, or his Deputies, shall forthwith attach the Body of John Seagrave Taylor, who caused Thomas Chamberlane Gentleman, a menial Servant of the Earl of Denbigh, to be arrested and imprisoned, contrary to the Privileges of the Lords in Parliament; as also the said Gentleman Usher, or his Deputies, shall attach the

Seagrave & al. to be attached.

Bodies of John Dowell and John Osbourne, Two of the Serjeants of Woodstreet Compter, who made the said Arrest, to answer their several Contempts to this House: And this to be a sufficient Warrant in that Behalf.

To the Gentleman Usher attending this House, his Deputy and Deputies; and to all Mayors, Justices of Peace, Sheriffs, and all other Officers, to be aiding hereunto:

Adjourn.

House adjourned till 9 cras.