House of Lords Journal Volume 5: 13 January 1643

DIE Veneris, videlicet, 13 Januarii.

PRAYERS.

Earl of Manchester, Speaker this Day.

Report from the Committee for the Vindication of the Parliament from the Aspersions thrown on them in the King's Answer to the London Petition, and about a further Subscription in London for Supply of the Army.

The Speaker reported, "That the Committee appointed last Night [ (fn. 1) had met] this Morning, to consider of somewhat to be delivered to the City at the Common Hall this Morning; and some were of Opinion to have the Heads and Particulars delivered to the City, as they were brought up last Night, and others were of Opinion to have them drawn up in generals, in which the Committee desires the further Direction of the House."

And the House thought fit to have an Introduction to be made, and then some Person should be appointed to read the Heads, which were delivered at the Conference last Night; and he to be tied and limited to those Words.

Then the Speaker read the Heads in the Paper brought up Yesterday from the House of Commons at the Conference.

The First and Second Observations was agreed to.

To the Third Observation, this House thought fit to leave out the First Part of it, to the Word [" "]; and that it run thus:

"The Design of bringing up the English Army, the gathering the Cavaliers to Whitehall, and violent coming to the House of Commons, the King's going into the North, and the raising Arms there, are clear Evidences that Violence was first intended, and diversly practised, against the Parliament, before they took any Course, or made any Preparation, to take up Arms for their Design."

In the Seventh Observation, this Alteration was made; instead of these Words ["not by an arbitrary Power"], make ["that this is done by a Power derived from both Houses of Parliament"].

In the Eighth Observation, this Alteration was made; videlicet, "His Majesty's Expressions in His Answer tends to the making of a Division in this City, and to the raising of a Party, which may make some Disturbance in that orderly Government which is now established; both which will certainly prove equally destructive to Him and both Houses of Parliament, and more prejudicial to His quiet Abode here than any Thing that hath ever been enacted by the Houses of Parliament, or the present Governors of that City."

In the Ninth Observation, instead of the Word ["Harshness"], make it ["Severity"].

Ordered, That the Lords Committees do presently meet with the Committee of the House of Commons, and acquaint them with these Alterations.

Ordered, That the Speaker of this House shall write a Letter to the Lord Viscount Falkland, to desire him to present the Petition to His Majesty, containing some Reasons to induce His Majesty for the Keeping of the English Courts this Term in London, and not at Oxford, according to the Proclamation, which accordingly was done as followeth:

Letter to Ld. Falkland, with the Petition against adjourning the Term to Oxford.

"My Lord,

"I am commanded, by the House of Peers, to desire your Lordship to present unto His Majesty this humble Petition from both Houses of Parliament. I have nothing else to trouble your Lordship with at this Time, but with the Offer of my Service as

Westm. this 13th of January, 1642.

"Your Lordship's humble Servant,

"Manchester,

"Speaker of the House of Peers pro Tempore."

The Lords Committees went into the Painted Chamber, to meet with the Committee of the House of Commons, and this House was adjourned during Pleasure; and the Lords being returned, the House was resumed.

Committee to go into the City.

Ordered, That the Committees of Ten Lords appointed last Night shall go to the City of London this Afternoon, with a proportionable Number of the House of Commons.

Ld. Lothian, a Pass into France.

Ordered, That the Lord Lothian shall have a Pass, to go into France, being employed by the Crown of Scotland about some Business there.

Sir Thomas Ailsbury, a Pass to Oxford.

Ordered, That Sir Thomas Alsebury shall have a Pass, quietly to go to Oxford, to attend the King in his Place of One of the Masters of the Court of Requests, it being now his Waiting Month.

Message from the H. C. about their Observations on the King's Answer to the London Petition.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Mr. Pym:

To let their Lordships know, that the House of Commons agrees with their (fn. 1) Lordships in all the Alterations made in the Observations; and that the Committee of the House of Commons are ready to attend and go along with their Lordships.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That the Committee of Lords are ready to go with the Committee of the House of Commons, to the Common Hall in London.

Adjourn.

House adjourned till 10^a cras.