House of Lords Journal Volume 5: 5 September 1642

DIE Lunæ, videlicet, 5 die Septembris.

PRAYERS.

Lord Kymbolton, Speaker this Day.

Earl of Berks to attend the House.

Ordered, That the Earl of Berks shall attend this House on Thursday Morning next, at Ten of the Clock.

Message from the King by Ld. Spencer.

The Speaker acquainted the House, "That the Lord Spencer told him, that he had a Message to deliver from His Majesty."

The House appointed the Gentleman (fn. 1) Usher to let the Lord Spencer know, that he should send the Message in by him; which accordingly was sent in, and delivered to the Speaker; and then the House commanded it to be read, in hæc verba: videlicet, (Here enter it.)

King's Letter.

(fn. 2) "CHARLES R.

"We will not repeat what Means We have used, to prevent the dangerous and distracted Estate of the Kingdom, nor how those Means have been interpreted; because, being desirous to avoid Effusion of Blood, We are willing to decline all Memory of former Bitterness, that might make Our Offer of a Treaty less readily accepted.

"We never did declare, nor ever intended to declare, both Our Houses of Parliament Traitors, or set up Our Standard against them, and much less to put them and this Kingdom out of Our Protection. We utterly profess against it, before God and the World; and, further to remove all possible Scruples which may hinder the Treaty so much desired by Us, We hereby promise, so that a Day be appointed by you for the revoking of your Declarations against all Persons, as Traitors, or otherwise, for assisting of Us, We shall, with all Chearfulness, upon the same Day, re-call Our Proclamations and Declarations, and take down Our Standard; in which Treaty, We shall be ready to grant any Thing that shall be really for the Good of Our Subjects; conjuring you to consider the bleeding Condition of Ireland, and the dangerous Condition of England, in as high a Degree as by these Our Offers We have declared Ourself to do; and assuring you, that Our chief Desire in this World is to beget a good Understanding and mutual Confidence betwixt Us and Our Two Houses of Parliament."

Committee to consider of an Answer.

The House, taking this Message into Consideration, appointed these Lords following, as Committees, to prepare an Answer, to be presented to His Majesty; and to present the same to this House; but resolved that the Lord General should proceed in his Forces, according to the former Resolutions:

Any Three to meet when they please.

Message from the H. C. for the Earl of Essex to be Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire;

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

1. That they have nominated the Earl of Essex to be Lord Lieutenant of the County of Salop, instead of the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England; and they desire their Lordships Concurrence therein.

Agreed to.

with Deputy Lieutenants Names for Cambridgeshire;

2. To desire Concurrence, in nominating some Deputy Lieutenants for the County of Cambridge:

Sir James Reynolds.
Sir Myles Sandys, Junior.
Tho. Duckett, Esquire.
Roger Part, Esquire.

Agreed to.

with an Order for One Thousand Men for Munster;

3. To desire Concurrence in an Order for sending, out of the Lord Conwaye's Command in Ulster, One Thousand Men into Munster, by Sea.

To be considered of farther.

and for a Conference on the King's Message, and Letters from Chester.

4. To desire a present Conference, touching a Message received from His Majesty, and some Letters received from Chester.

Agreed, To give a present Conference.

The Answer returned was:

Answer to the H. C.

That this House agrees with the House of Commons, that the Earl of Essex shall be Lord Lieutenant of the County of Salop; and approves of the Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Cambridge; and that this House will give a present Conference, in the Painted Chamber, as is desired; and concerning the Order for the sending of One Thousand Men of the Lord Conway into Munster, this House will send an Answer, by Messengers of their own.

Sir W. Balladyne, Killegrew, and Dawlman, apprehended for serving the King against the Parliament.

The Lord General acquainted this House, "That Sir Wm. Balladyne, Serjeant Major Killegrew, and Serjeant Major Dawlman, being apprehended in Lyncolneshire, near Boston, being come out of Holland, to serve the King in the Wars against the Parliament; and being brought up to the Committee for the Safety, and examined by them, they, being confronted with Letters, confessed, That they were sent for, to serve the King in the Wars; whereupon the Committee committed them:" Which Commitment this House approves of, and Orders the same accordingly.

Likewise his Lordship informed this House, "That Mr. Tho. Killgrew being taken about Wendover, in a Sailor's Habit, and brought before the said Committee, they committed him, and a Sailor taken with him, to The Kinge's Bench."

Lord Roper and Sir Peter Rycaut apprehended;

Also, "That the Lord Roper and Sir Peter Rychaut were brought out of Kent, and committed, by the said Committee, to the Custody of the Gentleman Usher attending this House."

and the Dean of Canterbury.

And further, "That the Dean of Cant. being apprehended in Kent, for being a Man that is very malignant and practical against the Parliament, and brought before the Committee, was committed by them to The Fleet."

All which aforesaid Commitments this House approved of; and Ordered, That they shall remain in the several Prisons where they are now, until the Pleasure of this House (fn. 3) be further known.

The House of Commons being come, in the Painted Chamber, the House was adjourned during Pleasure, and the Lords went to the Conference; which being ended, the House was resumed.

Conference about the King's Message, and a Letter from Chester, reported.

The Lord Kymbolton reported, "That, at this Conference, was delivered a Message from the King, sent to the House of Commons, which agrees verbatim with that read in this House this Day.

Upon this, the House of Commons offered some Votes, made by them, to their Lordships Consideration, wherein they desired their Lordships Concurrence. The Votes were these:

Votes upon the King's Message.

"1. That the King, in proclaiming and declaring the Earl of Essex Traitor, and all his Adherents, hath declared both Houses to be Traitors, who have published their Resolution to adhere to him, he having done nothing but by their Authority and Direction, and doth thereby put them and the whole Kingdom out of His Protection.

"To prove this, see the Proclamations, and the King's Instructions given to the Commissioners of Array, since the last Message.

"2. That, His Majesty not having removed those Impediments mentioned in our former Answer, we do resolve to adhere thereunto; that is, That so long as the Standard is up, and the Proclamations and Declarations unrevoked, we cannot make any other; only we desire it may be considered what a Dishonour and Scorn is cast upon us, in that we and the whole Kingdom are put into the same Balance with Traitors and Delinquents.

"In that Proposition, That when we shall appoint a Day to revoke our Declarations against all Persons, as Traitors, or otherwise, for assisting His Majesty, He will, upon the same Day, revoke His Proclamations and Declarations, and take down His Standard, which we cannot admit without the (fn. 4) greatest Danger and Dishonour of the Kingdom and Parliament, by consenting to the Preservation and Indemnity of those who have been so apparently active to the Destruction of both.

"3. That we are as desirous of a good Understanding betwixt His Majesty and His Subjects, as sensible of the bleeding and distempered Estate of England and Ireland, and as careful to settle a good Peace in both, as any Subjects of this Kingdom have ever been; and we do with much Grief remember, that many Things are done, which gives us just Cause to believe that there are not the like Intentions in His Majesty, and those who govern His Affairs; in that the Ships appointed for the Guard of Ireland have been re-called by His Majesty's Warrant; the Provisions of Cloaths, to be sent for the Army there, have been taken away by His Majesty's Troopers upon the Road, and the Horses and the Waggons, and other Necessaries, provided for Chester, sent for by His Majesty's Command; His Majesty so long keeping that Kingdom without the Chief Governor, whereby the Army at Dublin, maintained by the great Charge of this Kingdom, is made unprofitable; and the Rebels grown so insolent, as they exercise hostile Acts even to the very Walls of that City; besides many other Impediments given to the Affairs of Ireland, mentioned in an Answer of this House to a Message from His Majesty of the 13th of August.

Letter from Chester.

"After this, a Letter was read, written from a good Hand at Chester, to Mr. Fitz Gherrard." (Here enter it.)

Ordered, That this House agrees with the House of Commons in all these Votes.

Message to the H. C. in Answer to the Conference.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Dr. Aylett and Dr. Heath:

Conference.

To let the House of Commons know, that this House agrees with the House of Commons in all the Votes now brought up at this Conference.

Earl of Portland's Goods to be secured to him, and his Wife and Family removed from the Isle of Wight with Safety.

Upon the Petition of the Earl of Portland; it is Ordered, That the removing of his Countess out of the Isle of Wight shall be without any Danger or Hurt of the Countess and her Children; and that the Earl of Pembrooke shall give special Command, that the Goods of the said Earl of Portland shall be either safely kept and secured where they now are, to the Use of the said Earl, or that they be safely conveyed from thence to some other Place where he shall desire: And lastly it is Declared, That the Fees, or Dues, which are or shall be due to the Earl of Portland, shall not be abridged or detained from him, it being only the Intent of both Houses of Parliament to secure his Person, and the said Island, for a Time, in these perilous and dangerous Times.

His Petition.

"To the Right Honourable the Lords in the High House of Parliament assembled.

"The humble Petition of the Earl of Portland, Humbly sheweth,

"That your Petitioner is informed, that your Lordships have been pleased to Order, That your Peti tioner's Wife, Children, and Family, shall be turned out of Caresbrooke Castle, in the Isle of Wight, the only House and Freehold remaining to your Petitioner.

"And that he is likewise informed, that, if any such Order shall come from your Lordships, the common People of the Country threaten to execute it, by the Destruction of your Petitioner's Wife and Children, and by seizing and rifling his House and all his Goods.

"He also farther humbly sheweth your Lordships, That, though they escape those Threats, they will be left in no less Distress; your Petitioner having no other Place where to provide for either their Safety, Being, or Subsistance.

"He therefore humbly prayeth your Lordships, both in Consideration of the Premises, of the Right and Property of the Subject of England, and of the Privileges of Parliament, so to provide for the Preservation of your Petitioner's Right, for the Safety of his Wife, Children, and Family, as they may not be exposed to Ruin and Destruction, and as in Justice he doth verily presume you will do.

"And he shall ever pray for your Lordships, &c.

"Portland."

Earl of Berks Petition to be heard, and for his Releasement.

"The humble Petition of Thomas Earl of Berkshire,

"Humbly desiring your Lordships will be pleased to admit him unto your Presence, and give him Leave to speak for himself; or if, by Occasion of your important Affairs, your Lordships cannot be at Leisure to hear him, his humble Desire is, that your Lordships will be pleased, for his Health's sake, to permit him to remain at his House near St. James's, upon Promise of his Honour, or upon Bail, or any other Security your Lordships shall think fit, to appear whensoever your Lordships shall command.

"And he shall ever pray, &c.

"Berkshire."

Letter from Chester to Ld. Percival.

"My good Friend,

"Though slow, yet sure; I thank you for your Two Letters, which came safe to me from my Cousin. It is now almost a Month since I heard from you. This Morning came my Friend Sir Patrick from Nottingham, and went immediately for Ireland, with a Patent for my Lord of Ormond to be Marquis; and the Garter follows immediately. He tells me, That the King told him (when he took Leave), that my Lord Lieutenant must go for Ireland; but, howsoever, the King sent a Warrant, on Tuesday last, by my Lord's Gentleman of his Horse, to carry all my Lord's Waggons and Horses presently to Nottingham, and the Mayor and the Sheriff of the County to assist him. They are all preparing to go this Day. If the Money had come down, judge you what would become of it. Nich. Loftus went hence Five Days ago, carried both the Pinnaces with him; and, if they had staid longer, there was private Consultation to have got their Brass Pieces, to have done Service here, for the malignant Party (this I was told by One of themselves). Dr. Marott is gone to Court (who was indicted of High Treason at the King's Bench in Irel.), was brought to kiss the King's Hand by my Lord Costillo. Sir John Dungan (who was so indicted) is there also, who was presented to kiss the King's Hands by my Lord Taffe. They and Bryan O Neale are now as bold and impudent as they were in the Beginning of the Rebellion, when you and I saw them in Dublyn, as Sir Pattr. and Mr. Clayton tell me. They hope (they say) to see my Lord Parsons and divers of the Council punished, for they were the Cause of the Rebellion in Ireland. My Lord Costillo is made Captain of all the Irish about the King; Lord Taffe Cornet of my Lord Barnett's Troop. My Lord Costillo is preparing to get a Commission from His Majesty, with full Power to treat of an Accommodation with the Rebels, and speaks openly that neither the English nor Scotch can ever make it without the Help of him and his Countrymen. Judge you what ill Instruments are these, to abuse so good a King! When the News came to Court, that my Lord Brooke had given the Cavaliers the Overthrow, my Lord of Bristoll was ready to sink down; so were the rest that were of that Party. Ramynes is burned, whereby may be perceived the Care of the Commanders or Soldiers. It might easily have been made good against the Rebels, to the Preservation of all the Corn and Grass thereabouts. My Lord of Ormond's Children were there all Summer, and sent for thence to Dublyn Two Days before. Most of the Soldiers that had the Guard thereof were drinking in Dublyn. The Rebels have likewise burnt some Reeks of Corn near Dublyn. The common Soldiers are very willing to go forth on Service, but they want Commanders to encourage them. I hear for certain, that the King's Army is of only Two Thousand Horse, who were very scarce of Powder till of late some came from Newcastle; and their Money is almost spent, so that the Courtiers begin to be weary, and wish themselves taken, and carried to London. Amen, say I. I pray you, let Mr. Teayle have a Copy of my Lord Mountgarrett's Letter. My Service to my Lady Percivall, your Wife and Bearns. Adieu."

Chester, 3d September, 1642.

Adjourn.

Nona cras.