House of Lords Journal Volume 5: 15 October 1642

DIE Sabbati, videlicet, 15 die Octobris.

PRAYERS.

Lord Grey, Speaker.

Lord Dacres's Absence excused.

Ordered, That the Lord Dacres, being sick, is excused for his Absence, and have Leave to go into the Country until he hath recovered his Health; and then this House expects he should give his Attendance on this House.

Tumults in St. Paul's in Service-time, to be prevented.

Ordered, That an Order be sent to the Lord Mayor and Two Sheriffs of London, from this House, to referit to their Care, to prevent that no Tumults nor Disorders be made in the Church of St. Paul's, in Time of Divine Service and Time of Preaching.

Sir Geo. Ratcliffe to enjoy his usual Liberty in The Gatehouse.

Ordered, That an Order be given to the now Keeper of The Gatehouse at Westm. to permit Sir George Ratcliffe to have the same Liberty as formerly was allowed him by this House.

Message from the H. C. with the following Bill.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Mr. Solicitor General; who was commanded, by the House of Commons, to present a Bill to their Lordships Consideration, which hath passed that House, intituled, "An Act for the Calling of an Assembly of Learned and Godly Divines, to be consulted with by the Parliament, for the settling of the Government and Liturgy of the Church; and for the vindicating and clearing of the Doctrine of the Church of England from false Aspersions and Interpretations." The House of Commons desires their Lordships to give Expedition herein, because the Bill commenceth the 5th of November next.

Bill for a Synod, to settle the Doctrine of the Church.

Hodie 1^a vice lecta est Billa, An Act, intituled, "An Act for the calling of an Assembly of Learned and Godly Divines, to be consulted with by the Parliament, for the settling the Government and Liturgy of the Church; and for the vindicating and clearing of the Doctrine of the Church of England from false Aspersions and Interpretations."

Message from the H.C. for the Lords to concur in the following Orders.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Sir Tho. Barrington, Knight and Baronet:

To desire their Lordships would be pleased to sit a while, and to concur with them in these Orders following:

1. An Order for stopping several Pensions, payable out of the Court of Wards. (Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

2. An Order, That Giles Greene be added to the Commissioners for the Customs. (Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

3. An Order for setting up Posts, Chains, and Rails, for the Defence and Safe Guarding, in several Parishes in London and Westm. (Here enter it.)

Agreed to, and Ordered to be printed and published.

The Answer returned to the Messengers was:

Answer to the H. C.

That this House agrees with the House of Commons, in these Orders (fn. 1) now brought up; and that their Lordships will sit a while, as is desired.

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

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

To desire a present Conference, touching the Safety of this Kingdom; and to desire their Lordships to expedite an Answer to their Resolution concerning the Committee for the Affairs of Ireland.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That this House will give a present Conference, as is desired; and that their Lordships will send an Answer, by Messengers of their own, concerning the Resolution of the House of Commons, touching the Affairs of Ireland.

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

Ordered, That the Report of this Conference shall be made at Three of the Clock this Afternoon.

Officers of the Court of Wards to make Stop of Pensions issued out of that Court.

"It is this Day Ordered, by the Lords and Commons, That the Master, Council, Receivers, Auditors, and other Officers, of the Court of Wards, whom it may concern, be required to make Stop of the Payment of these several Annual Pensions following, payable out of His Majesty's Revenues arising out of that Court; videlicet, Two Pensions to the Duke of Richmond, one of Two Thousand One Hundred Pounds per Annum, another of Fourteen Hundred Pounds per Annum; to the Lord Willoughby of Ersby, One Thousand Pounds per Annum; to the Lord Grandison, Five Hundred Pounds per Annum; to the Earl of Bristoll, Two Thousand Pounds per Annum; to Mr. Willmott, One Thousand Pounds per Annum; to the Treasurers of the Navy, Six Thousand Pounds per Annum."

Mr. Greene to be a Commissioner for the Customs.

"The Lords and Commons in Parliament, taking into their serious Consideration the State of the Customs and the Officers belonging thereunto, and finding that it will much conduce to the Advance of the Service of the Commonwealth, in the regulating of the said Customs, that some Persons of especial Trust and Confidence, and of Skill and Knowledge in those Affairs, should be added to the present Commissioners, especially in these Times of Distempers, which are found to have too great Influence into those Affairs: And the said Lords and Commons, reposing Trust and Confidence in the Wisdom, Integrity, and Care of Giles Greene, Esquire, One of the Members of the House of Commons, do therefore Order, and be it Ordained, That the said Giles Greene be a Commissioner for the managing of the said Customs, and be added to the present Commissioners and Collectors, who is hereby required and authorized, together with the said Commissioners, to give all Diligence to the Advancement of that Service, so nearly importing the Good and Safety of both King and Commonwealth."

Order for Courts of Guard, &c. in the Suburbs.

"It is this Day Ordered, by the Lords and Commons, in Parliament, That Houses for Court of Guard, and Posts, Bars, and Chains, be forthwith erected and set up, in such Places and By-lanes of the Parish of St. Margarett Westm'r, St. Martins in the Feilds (in the Confines of Westm'r), St. Clements Danes, St. Mary Savoy, St. Andrewes Holborne, St. Giles in the Feilds, Govin Garden, St. John Streete, St. James at Clarkenwell, St. Giles Cripplegate, Shoreditch, White-Chappell, Islington, Mile-end, Southwarke, Lambeth, or any other Place or Places, as shall be thought necessary and convenient, for the Defence and Safe Guarding of the said Parishes, Places, and By-lanes; the Charge thereof to be borne by the Inhabitants of the several Parishes aforesaid respectively, who shall be rated and assessed by such Persons respectively as the Lord Lieutenants of that County, or any Two of his Deputies, shall nominate for that Purpose; and if any shall refuse to contribute their Proportion, then the said Persons, so to be named to rate and assess, shall certify the Names of such Refusers to the Lord Lieutenant, or to any Two of his Deputies, who are to acquaint One or both Houses of Parliament therewith, that such further Order may be taken therein as to them shall be thought most convenient; and that a competent Number of the Trained Bands and Companies of Voluntiers, in and belonging to the said Parishes, shall Day and Night attend, with their Arms, in or near the said Court of Guard, who shall have Power and Authority hereby to apprehend, seize, and arrest all suspicious Persons, Ammunition, and Arms, passing through the said Parishes, Places, or By-lanes, or any Part of them, until either of the said Houses of Parliament be made acquainted therewith, and their Pleasure further known concerning the same; and the Captains and Officers of the Trained Bands and Voluntiers, and the Persons hereunder-named, are required to take Care that the Premises be carefully performed accordingly; which Persons are to be named by the Lord Lieutenant, or any Two or more of his Deputy Lieutenants."

Adjourn.

Adjourn till 3^a post meridiem.

Post meridiem.

PRAYERS.

The Lord Grey of Warke was appointed to be Speaker this Afternoon.

Conference about the Safety of the Kingdom reported.

The Lord Grey, Speaker, reported the Effect of the Conference with the House of Commons this Morning; which was, "To desire their Lordships Concurrence in these Particulars, which were read as followeth:

"1. Resolutions which have been made by the House of Commons. (Here enter them.)

"Resolved, upon the Question,

"That such Persons as shall not contribute to the Charge of the Commonwealth, in this Time of imminent Necessity, shall be held fit to be secured."

Ordered, That this House agrees with the House of Commons in this Resolution.

Houses to be searched, and Arms to be seized, of Persons in London, who have not contributed to the Charge of the Commonwealth.

"Ordered, by the Lords and Commons, That the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs of the City of London shall forthwith search the Houses, and seize the Arms, belonging unto Mr. Nathaniell Jefferson, Mr. Austen, Mr. John Bedle, Mr. John Batty, Mr. Ralph Longe, and Mr. Robert Lewis, all of Breadstreat Ward; Mr. John Blunt, of Lymestreat Ward; Mr. Alderman Wright, of Colemanstreate Ward; Mr. Roger Drake and Mr. John Walther, of Farrington Within; for that it appears, by the Report from the Committee, they have not contributed as they ought to the Charge of the Commonwealth, in this Time of imminent Necessity."

Ordered, That this House agrees with the House of Commons in this Order.

Estates of Actors in the Commissions of Array, and Bishops, Deans and Chapters, &c. to be sequestred.

"Resolved, upon the Question,

"That the Fines, Rents, and Profits, of Archbishops, Bishops, Deans, Deans and Chapters, and of such notorious Delinquents who have taken up Arms against the Parliament, or have been active in the Commission of Array, shall be sequestered, for the Use and Service of the Commonwealth."

Ordered, That this House agrees with the House of Commons in this Vote.

The Manner of Sequestration is referred to a Committee.

Agreed to.

King's Revenues not to be issued, but by Order of both Houses.

"Resolved, upon the Question,

"That the King's Revenue, arising out of Rents, Fines in Courts of Justice, Compositions for Wards, and the like, and all other His Majesty's Revenue, shall be brought into the several Courts and other Places where they ought to be paid in, and not issued forth, or passed out, until further Order shall be taken by both Houses of Parliament."

Ordered, That this House agrees with the House of Commons in this Resolution.

Next, was read a Declaration, That all the Trained Bands may be in a Readiness. (Here enter it.)

Ordered, That this House agrees with the House of Commons in this Declaration.

Message to the H. C. that the Lords agree with them in the Orders following.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir Rob't Rich and Mr. Page:

To let the House of Commons know, that this House agrees with them in the Declaration and Votes and Orders brought up this Morning at the Conference.

Ordered, That the Declaration and Votes shall be printed and published.

Order for the Trained Bands to be in Readiness.

"The Lords and Commons in Parliament, considering with much Tenderness and Compassion the miserable Condition of this Kingdom, distracted and distempered with many present Evils and imminent Dangers, and brought now to such an Height of Extremity of Misery, that Two English Armies are near together, even ready to join in a dreadful and bloody Encounter, through the violent and wicked Counsel of those who have captivated both the Person and the Power of the King to their own impious and traiterous Designs, do thereupon think good to publish and declare the same to the Kingdom, together with some Directions and Provisions, which may prevent that utter Desolation and Ruin, both of Religion and Liberty, already overwhelmed and suppressed in the Intention and Hope of those Rebels and Traitors about the King; to which Purpose it is desired by both Houses, that the well-affected Subjects may take Notice of these Particulars:

"That the King, by the Help and Assistance of the Papists, the Prelatical and corrupt Part of the Clergy, the Delinquent Nobility and Gentry, and by the Confluence of some notable Traitors from beyond the Seas, the Lord Digby, O Neale, and others, and of many desperate, mercenary, and ill-affected Persons from all Parts of the Kingdom, hath raised an Army, armed, cloathed, and fed for the most Part, with the Spoils of His Subjects, giving them Liberty to plunder and rob all Sorts of People, to exact Money and Plate from Corporations, by threatening Fire and Sword if they should refuse it.

"That this wicked Counsel doth not only hinder His Majesty from exercising the Justice and Protection of a King towards His People, but even that Honour which is observed betwixt Enemies; for, by a confident Instrument of His Majesty's, Sir John Hinderson (a Papist, as we are credibly informed), one David Alexander was urged to kill Sir John Hotham, telling him it would be a good Service both to God and the King; which he refused to do, saying, it was the Work of a Butcher and not of a Soldier. This Alexander being a Scotchman, of a very poor Fortune, and of a Mind fit for desperate Attempts, the King sent for him Twice, while He was at Beverley; and when he came to His Presence, He spoke to him publicly in the Field, and appointed a Sum of Money to be given him, which he received. After which, another Proposition was made to him, by the same Sir John Hinderson, that he would put Fire to the Magazine of the Army raised by the Parliament; and, to gain the better Opportunity to effect it, that he should labour to get some Employment in the Train of Artillery, which he accordingly undertook, and endeavoured to obtain; but, before he could effect his mischievous Intention, he was discovered, apprehended, and examined, and thereupon confessed the Practice and Undertaking, the Particulars whereof are referred to the Examinations thereupon taken.

"That the King doth send out Letters, to borrow great Sums, professing that those who will not lend Him Money do give Him just Cause to suspect their Duty to His Person, and the Peace of the Kingdom; and this will be a sufficient Reason to make them liable to be plundered and spoiled of all they have; but such is the Violence of the King's Army, that their Friends are in little better Case than they who oppose them, and those who escape best must yet feed and billet the Soldiers for nothing.

"In those Places where the Trained Bands are willing to go forth to serve in His Majesty's Army, yet for the most Part their Arms are taken from them, and put upon those who are more mercenary, and less interested in the Commonwealth, and so likely to be fitter Instruments of Rapine and Spoil.

"By these great Violences and Oppressions, they have so exhausted those Parts, that His Majesty cannot stay long about Shewrosbery; and it is the earnest Desire of the Cavaliers, that He would march forward towards London, those rich and fruitful Countries in the Way being like to yield them a Supply of their Necessities, and the Wealth of London a full Satisfaction of their Hope, where they likewise think to find a Party, which, upon His Majesty's Approach, may make some Disturbance, and facilitate their Designs upon the City.

"That, if the King's Army prevail, the good Subjects can expect nothing but that their Lives and Fortunes will be exposed to the Malice and Rapine of those ravenous Soldiers, who often talk of cutting the Throats of honest and religious Men, and have long expected the Goods and Estates as the Rewards of their Service; the Kingdom will again fall under the Government of those mischievous Counsels, who before this Parliament had even brought both Religion and Liberty to Ruin; and we shall have no Hope left of any more Parliaments, but such as shall be concurrent and subservient to these Ends.

"The Means of curing and preventing these Evils and Dangers we conceive to be these:

Order for Provision to be made for the Army.

"That good Provision be made, by Loan and Contribution, for the Army, by the Parliament, under the Lord General the Earl of Essex, which is no whit inferior in Horse and Foot to the King's Army, better armed, full paid, (fn. 2) restrained from Disorder and Rapine as much as may be, well provided of all outward Necessaries, but above all well encouraged and instructed in the Goodness of the Cause, by the Labour of many godly and painful Divines.

" (fn. 3) That this Army be always ready to attend the Removes of the King's Army, either in One Body or divided, as there shall be Occasion, according to the wise Conduct and Direction of the General; that so no Opportunity of fighting upon Advantage be lost, nor the greedy Soldiers of the King's Army suffered to range and spoil the Country at their Pleasure.

"That the Countries through which the King's Army is to pass do associate themselves, and draw all their Forces together, for the mutual Defence of their Persons and Goods from Oppression and Spoil.

"That the Countries be required to send in all their Horses fit for Carriage and for Dragoons, as well for the Assistance of the Lord General, for which in convenient Time they shall receive Satisfaction, as likewise that by such Means those Horses may be kept from being employed by the King's Army.

"That Command and Direction be given to all Lieutenants of Counties, and Deputy Lieutenants; and that all the Trained Bands, and all Voluntiers, be put into a Readiness to be brought to such Rendezvous, and to be obedient to such Commanders in chief, as shall be appointed by the Committee for the Safety of the Kingdom, or by the Lord General, that so the King's Army may find Opposition in every Place as they pass, and the Inhabitants may have at Hand a sufficient Protection and Defence, and the Lord General may strengthen his own Army with these Forces, as he shall see Cause.

"That Powder, Ammunition, and Ordnance, with all other Necessaries, be prepared for these Forces, that so, without any Trouble or Confusion, they may be brought together, and fitted for Service, upon all sudden Occurrences.

"That all those who, in the City of London, or any other Place, shall wear any Colours, or other Marks of Division, whereby they may be distinguished from others, and known to be of the malignant Party, shall be examined, searched, and disarmed; as likewise all others, who, being able, shall not lend or contribute towards the Public Safety of the Kingdom, in this Time of so great and imminent Danger.

"That it be recommended to the serious Consideration of those in the King's Army, and of all others that intend to assist and succour His Majesty in this impious and unnatural War (amongst whom it may (fn. 3) be hoped there are some honest Men and Protestants) what it is that moves them in this Quarrel.

"Is it for Fear of some Innovations and Alterations of Religion or Church Government? Let such as are possessed with this vain and causeless Apprehension know, that nothing is intended or desired, but to take away the Government of Bishops, which hath been so constantly, so evidently, mischievous and dangerous to the Church and State, and such other Things as shall be found to be justly offensive; and nothing to be settled and introduced but by Authority of Parliament, after Consultation first had with an Assembly of Learned and Reverend Divines.

"Is (fn. 4) it to uphold the Authority, Prerogative, and Honour of the King, and to preserve the Safety of His Royal Person? Surely the Parliament is, and ever hath been, ready to do any Thing that belongs to them, to secure all those; which they have often testified, by many humble Petitions to His Majesty.

"If there be no Cause, for any of these Respects, to seek the Destruction of the Parliament, and the Blood and Ruin of their Kindred, Friends, and Acquaintance, what remains then to be the Matter of the Quarrel, and the Motives of such great Combustions, and the Effects and Consequences of their Victory, if they should prevail? That the Priests, Jesuits, and the Pope's Nuncios, may domineer and govern in the King's Council, as heretofore; that the Archbishops of Canterbury and Yorke, and their Suffragans, may suppress diligent and powerful Preaching, and banish and oppress all the most pious and best-affected Subjects of the Kingdom, and introduce the Popish Religion under a Protestant Profession, till they have Strength and Boldness to cast off the Disguise, and openly appear that which indeed they are, and would not seem to be; that the Earl of Bristoll, and his Son the Lord Digby, Mr. Jermine, and other such Traitors, may possess the great Places and Government of this Kingdom, and be the Arbiters of the Affairs of the State, and Distributers of Preferments and Disgraces to such as shall further or oppose their Designs; that the Delinquents, Oppressors, and Destroyers of the Kingdom, may not only escape the Justice of the Parliament, but triumph in the Spoils of all honest Men and good Pa, and that (fn. 5) by our Troubles and Divisions the Rebels in Ireland may prevail; that we may cease to be a free Nation, and become the Object of Cruelty and Oppression at Home, and of Scorn and Infamy Abroad.

"And if there can be no other Fruit of their Hazard and Endeavours in that Side, let them then consider whether, by adhering to the Parliament, they may not expect Effects more suitable to the Desires of honest Men, the Glory of God, the Preservation of the Truth, the Peace of the Church, by securing it against the Pride, Avarice, and Ambition of the Clergy; the Honour, Greatness, and Security of the King, by freeing Him from false and traiterous Counsels, and establishing Him in the Hearts and Affections of His People; the Prosperity of the whole Kingdom, by the Blessing of good Laws and a righteous Government."

Adjourn.

Adjourn till Monday, to a Clock.