House of Lords Journal Volume 4: 24 December 1641

DIE Veneris, videlicet, 24 die Decembris.

PRAYERS.

The Petition from some Citizens of London was presented to this House, which was read in their Presence: videlicet,

"To the Right Honourable the Lords assembled in this present Parliament.

"The humble Petition of divers Citizens, Merchants, and others of London, trading in the Realm of Ireland,

"Sheweth unto your Lordships,

Petition of Citizens trading into Ireland.

"That your Petitioners, on the Behalf of themselves and other Merchants, Shop-keepers, and others trading into the Realm of Ireland, whose Estates, to the Value of above a Million of Money, do lie involved in the desperate Question of that Kingdom; as also on the Behalf of the Protestant Party of that People, reduced to unspeakable Extremity in their Lives and Fortunes, as by our daily Letters from thence we are informed to our great Grief:

"We most humbly beseech your Lordships, That you will be pleased to consider the sad Condition of them and us in our respective Interests, and lay aside all Things that may trouble the Way to the Relief of that wretched State, who, without speedy and effectual Assistance, will not be able to serve His Majesty, in the Resistance of the Rebels there; nor shall we be able, in our several Degrees and Conditions, to do His Majesty, your Lordships, and the whole Realm, that Service, in our ready Compliance with the great Affairs of this Kingdom, as we should and will most willingly perform to the uttermost of our Abilities.

"This, my Lords, we most humbly offer to your Lordships, as a Consideration whereupon that Kingdom depends, besides many Thousands depending upon us the Petitioners in our Trades, that are here equally concerned with them of Ireland in our Livelihoods; and do beseech your Lordships in the End, after the long Suffering of that unfortunate Nation, our long Expectation, and the Wonder of all neighbouring States, occasioned by a long, and, as we humbly conceive, an unseasonable Delay, whilst the Life, Liberties, and Interest of the Protestants of that Kingdom are daily invaded and destroyed, you will now give an instant Dispatch, for the Relief of that miserable Realm and People.

"And your Petitioners shall ever pray, &c.

"Gilbert Harrison,
Ric. Whitaker,
Tho. Stone,
Wm. Greene,
Jo. Stouse,
Edw. Claxton."

With many other Names subscribed, as appears by the Petition.

Petition of the same Persons to the King, referred by him to the House.

A Petition of the same Effect, from the same Parties, was presented (fn. 1) to the King, which His Majesty, by the Lord Keeper, this Day, (fn. 2) recommended to the Consideration of this House.

These Petitions to be considered.

The House taking these Petitions into Consideration, for the present, the Petitioners were called in; and the Lord Keeper, by Direction of the House, told them, "That their Lordships are taking into their Consideration and Care the Necessity and Affairs of Ireland, and will use all Expedition therein, and will take their Petitions into Consideration."

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by the Lord Grey of Ruthin:

Message from the H. C. for the Lords to join in a Petition for a Monthly Fast.

To desire their Lordships to join with them in an humble Petition to His Majesty, that He will be pleased to give Way for the keeping a Monthly Fast through the Kingdom, during the Troubles in Ireland; and that a Proclamation may be issued out for the due Observation of the same, and likewise for the keeping of the Fast upon the 20th of January next through the Kingdom, except in those Places where it hath (fn. 1) been observed already.

And for an Answer concerning The Tower.

The House of Commons desires their Lordships to expedite the Answer to the Conference last Night, concerning the Business of The Tower, which is a Matter of great Importance.

The Answer hereunto returned is:

Answer.

That this House joins with the House of Commons in the First Part of this Message; but concerning the Matter of the late Conference, concerning the Lieutenant of The Tower, this House hath not thought it fit to join with the House of Commons therein.

Report concerning the 2500 Scots for Ireland.

The Earl of Bedford (fn. 1) reported, "That the Lords Commissioners have acquainted the Scotts Commissioners with the Order made Yesterday, concerning the Two Thousand and Five Hundred Men to be entertained for Ireland; and the Scotts Commissioners will send Word thereof to Scotland, and upon Monday next they will give in all their Propositions."

Letter from Sir J. Temple to L. Say and Seale about Ireland.

After this, a Letter was read, dated from Dublin, the 10th of this Instant December, written by Sir John Temple, to the Lord Viscount Say & Seale, setting forth the miserable Estate of the Kingdom of Ireland, by the Increasing of the Rebels, and their great Want of Supplies.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by the Lord Herbert, who brought up Three Bills, which had passed in the House of Commons:

Bills from the H. C.

1. Intituled, An Act to restrain Bargemen, Lightermen, and others, from labouring and working on the Lord's-day, commonly called Sunday.

2. An Act for the better raising and levying of Mariners, Sailors, and others, for the present Guarding of the Seas, and necessary Defence of the Realm, and other His Majesty's Dominions.

3. An Act for the settling, by Fitzwilliam Conningsby, Esquire, of a Rent-charge of Two Hundred Pounds per Annum upon an Hospital, in the Suburbs of the City of Hereford, commonly called Conningsbie's Company of Old Serviters, &c. and for the Settlement of Lands and Tenements, for the Payment of his Debts, and raising of Portions for his younger Children; and for a new Jointure to his Wife, and a new Settlement of his Estate.

Commons desire the Lords would sit a while.

Likewise the House of Commons desired their Lordships would sit a convenient Time, for the House of Commons shall have Occasion to come up to their Lordships about Business of Importance.

The Answer hereunto returned was:

Answer.

That their Lordships will sit a convenient Time, as is desired.

Bill for raising Mariners.

Hodie 1^a et 2^a vice lecta est Billa, An Act for the better raising and levying of Mariners, Sailors, and others, for the present Guarding of the Seas, and necessary Defence of the Realm, and other His Majesty's Dominions.

Committed to these Lords following: videlicet,

Their Lordships, or any Five of them, to meet on Monday, at Three post meridiem, in the Painted Chamber.

Propositions of the Scots agreed to.

The Resolutions of the Lords in Parliament to the Six Propositions of the Scotts Commissioners, concerning the sending of Men into Ireland out of Scotland.

To the First Proposition: Resolved, upon the Question, That Ten Thousand Scotts shall be sent into Ireland, upon such Conditions as shall be agreed upon by the Parliament.

To the Second Proposition: This House agrees with the House of Commons therein.

To the Third Proposition: That, for the Proposition, this House agrees unto it thus, that there shall be delivered unto the Scotts Five Thousand Arms, within a short Time after their carrying their Arms out of Scotland, and Five Thousand Arms more within Five or Six Months, consisting of Pikes, Muskets, and Swords, which we conceive are the Arms they will carry out of Scotland into Ireland.

To the Fourth Proposition: Agreed to, that some Ships of War be sent, to secure the Transporting of Scotts into Ireland, as is desired; but, because it will be some Time before our Ships can come thither, our Commissioners are to treat with the Scotts Commissioners, either to transport their Men with our Ships of War, or else to employ some of their own Ships, until ours can come, and they shall be paid for the same.

To the Fifth Proposition: This House agrees with the House of Commons, and refers it to the English Commissioners to treat about a smaller Number of Horse.

To the Sixth Proposition: This House agrees with the House of Commons therein.

Message from the H. C. for a Conference about the Safety of the King and Kingdom.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by the Lord Craneborne:

To desire a Conference, so soon as it may stand with their Lordships Conveniency, by a Committee of both Houses, touching the Safety of the King and Kingdom.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That their Lordships will give a present Meeting, in the Painted Chamber, as is desired.

The House was adjourned during Pleasure, and the Lords went to the Conference; which being ended, the House was resumed.

Then the Lord Keeper reported the Effect of the Conference:

Report of the Conference.

"That the House of Commons greatly desired that both Houses might have joined together, in an humble Petition to His Majesty, for removing of Colonel Lunsford from being Lieutenant of The Tower of London.

"The House of Commons say, they find ill Consequences already by his being Lieutenant; for Merchants have already withdrawn their Bullion out of the Mint, and Strangers that have Ships lately come with great Store of Bullion do forbear to bring it into the Mint because he is Lieutenant of The Tower, and by this Means Monies will be scarce to come by, which will be prejudicious and obstructive to the pressing Affairs of Ireland: The House of Commons took it much to Heart that their Lordships did not join with them to petition His Majesty: Hereupon they have made a Declaration for themselves, and desired that the same may be entered into the Journal Book of this House, as they have done the like in their House, which was read, in these Words: videlicet,

Declaration of the Commons for the Safety of the King and Kingdom.

"We, the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses of the Commons House of Parliament, being very sensible of the great and imminent Danger of the Kingdom, through the Design of the Papists and other Persons disaffected to the public Peace, and finding, by frequent and evident Symptoms, that the same groweth very near to Maturity, amongst which we reckon this not to be the least, that The Tower, being a Place of such Importance for the Safety of the City and of the whole Kingdom, should be put into the Hands of a Man so unworthy, and of so dangerous a Disposition, as by divers Testimonies Colonel Lunsford is affirmed to be, which caused (fn. 3) us Yesterday, upon the Petition of the Citizens of London, to desire your Lordships to join with us in an humble Suit to His Majesty, that a Place of that great Consequence might not be disposed in such a Manner as to hazard the Safety, Peace, and Content of the City and of the whole Kingdom; and, perceiving that your Lordships have refused to join with us in so important and necessary a Request, do hereby declare, before God and the whole Kingdom, That, from the Beginning of this Parliament, we have done our uttermost to preserve the State from Ruin; and having, through God's Blessing, prevailed so far, that the Design of the Irish Army of Papists, the other Designs of bringing up the English Army several Times attempted, a former Plot of possessing The Tower (without which Treason could not be so mischievous to the State), were all prevented, although strongly bent to the Destruction of Religion, the Parliament, and the Commonwealth, do now find themselves encountered with as great Difficulty as ever, the Papists Rebellion in Ireland giving such Encouragement to the malignant Party here, that they likewise receiving such Advantage by the Delays and Interruptions which we have received in the House of Peers, as we conceive, by the great Number of Bishops and Papists, notoriously disaffected to the common Good; and do therefore hold ourselves bound in Conscience to declare and protest, that we are innocent of the Blood which is like to be spilt, and of the Confusions which may overwhelm this State, if this Person be continued in his Charge; and do intend to resort to His Majesty in an humble Petition, that He will be pleased to afford us His Royal Protection, that the Kingdom and ourselves may be preserved from this wicked and dangerous Design; and that He will grant Commissions and Instructions as may enable us to defend His Royal Person and His loyal Subjects, from the Cruelty and Rage of the Papists, who have long plotted and endeavoured to bring in a bloody Change of Religion, to the apparent Ruin of the whole Kingdom; and if any of your Lordships have the same Apprehension that we have, we hope they likewise will take some Course to make the same known to His Majesty, and will further do what appertains to Persons of Honour and Fidelity for the common Good."

It was moved, that this House might be adjourned, and the Debate to be taken into Consideration on Monday next; but it was desired that this Business might be debated now.

There being several Opinions, the Question was put, whether the Debate upon this Report shall be put off till Monday next or not.

Debate of this Report deferred till Monday.

And it was Resolved, by the major Part, to be put off till Monday next.

Lords dissent to it.

These Lords following did disassent to this Vote; and, before the putting of the Question, did claim their Right to enter their Protestation against it: videlicet,

"The Protestation:

Their Protest.

"In respect the Conference brought up and reported from the House of Commons doth, as is thereby declared, concern the instant Good and Safety of the King and Kingdom, I do protest against the deferring of the Debate thereof until Monday, to the End to discharge myself of any ill Consequence that may happen:

Bishops Pollmoney.

Upon reading of the Petition of the Lord Bishop of London, William Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells, and Mathew Lord Bishop of Ely, shewing, "That they had (fn. 4) paid Three Score Pounds a-piece for the Poll-money, and deposited other Monies, according to a Proportion of the Double Tenths of their Bishopricks:" But, because their Bishopricks are freed, by Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England, from paying, or accounting for any Tenths; it is Ordered, by the Lords in Parliament, That Mr. Parramore, with whom the said Monies were deposited, shall forthwith, upon Sight hereof (if he hath so much in his Hands of the Pollmoney, and if not, then as soon as so much Money shall come in unto him), re-pay unto the said Lords the Bishops, their Assigns or Agents, all such Sums of Money as he hath received from their Lordships respectively, above the Sixty Pound a-piece as aforesaid.

Earl of Arundel, concerning a Pew in St. Clement's Church.

Ordered, That the Right Honourable the Earl of Arundell, Earl Marshal of England, shall quietly enjoy his Seat and Pew in the Parish Church of Saint Clements Danes, formerly appointed unto him by the Ordinary, as his Lordship hath done, until he shall be evicted by due Course of Law.

Lord Fauconbridge versus Harrison.

Ordered, That an Order formerly made by the Lords Committees for Petitions, dated the Tenth of July, One Thousand Six Hundred Forty and One, concerning a Decree in Chancery, between the Right Honourable the Lord Faulconbridge, and one Thomas Harrison, is hereby confirmed by this House; and that all Parties any Ways concerned therein are to take Notice thereof, and obey the same accordingly.

Sir Tho. Lake versus Lake.

Whereas the Cause between Sir Tho. Lake, Knight, and Lancelott Lake, Esquire, was referred unto the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England, and Three other Lords, whose Lordships have not had Leisure to meet all together for the Hearing of the the same, by reason of the great and public Affairs depending now in Parliament before their Lordships; it is therefore Ordered, That the Lord Keeper, with any one of those Lords appointed in the the said former Order, shall have Power, by virtue hereof, calling all Parties interested therein, to hear, arbitrate, and end the said Cause, if they can, or otherwise to certify the true State thereof unto this House, which will proceed therein according to Justice.

Adjourn.

Dominus Custos Magni Sigilli declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque in diem Lunæ, videlicet, 27^m diem instantis Decembris, hora 1^a post meridiem, Dominis sic decernentibus.