House of Lords Journal Volume 5: 14 November 1642

DIE Lunæ, videlicet, 14 die Novembris.

PRAYERS.

Lord Grey, Speaker.

Lord General opened a Letter directed to the Speaker, Yesterday, as the House did not sit.

The Earl of Northumb. acquainted the Speaker, "That a Letter directed to the Speaker of this House was delivered Yesterday to the Lord General; and because the House sat not Yesterday, the Lord General and the rest of the Lords opened (fn. 1) it; and that, before and after the Delivery of it, the King's Forces gave an Alarm to Battle:" And his Lordship further reported, "That, before their Lordships coming from the King, Three Regiments of the Lord General's were at Brainford."

King's Letter and Message.

"CHARLES R.

"Right Trusty and Well-beloved, We greet you well. Our Will and Pleasure is, That you forthwith deliver, to be read in Our House of Commons, this Our Message sent inclosed; and for so doing, this shall be your sufficient Warrant.

"Given at Our Court at Colebrooke, this 12th of November, 1642.

"Whereas the last Night, the 11th of Nov. after the Departure of the Committee of both Our Houses, with Our gracious Answer to their Petition, We received certain Information (having till then heard nothing of it, either from the Houses, Committee, or otherwise) that the Lord of Essex had drawn his Forces out of London, towards Us, which hath necessitated Our sudden Resolution to march with Our Forces to Brainford; We have thought hereby fit to signify to both Our Houses of Parliament, that We are no less desirous of the Peace of the Kingdom than We expressed in Our aforesaid Answer, the Propositions for which We shall willingly receive whereever We are; and desire (if it may be) to receive them at Brainford this Night, or early To-morrow Morning; that all possible Speed may be made in so good a Work, and all Inconveniencies otherwise likely to intervene may be avoided."

Skirmish between the King's Forces and the Parliament's.

Likewise the Earl of Northumb. signified to this House, "That Sir Peter Killegrew, that was to carry the Letter from the Parliament to the King, went (fn. 2) as far as Brainford, where he found the King's Forces fighting with some Regiments of the Lord General's; and then, endeavouring to go by Uxbridge, was stopped there by some Dragoons that were there of the King's; and upon that he returned back, and hath the Letter, which he desires to know how he shall dispose of (fn. 3)."

Conference to be had about these Matters.

Upon Consideration hereof, this House Ordered, To have a Conference with the House of Commons, and communicate the King's Answer to them; and that the Letter intended to have been sent to the Lord Viscount Falkland, and the King's Answer thereunto, shall be printed and published; and to desire that the Houses may take into Consideration, how to dispose of the Letter which was intended to have (fn. 1) been sent to the King (fn. 4) by Sir Peter Killegrewe; and a Committee to be appointed, to make a Declaration thereupon of the Actions and Desires of both Houses, concerning Peace and Cessation of Arms.

Message to the H. C. for it.

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

To desire a Conference, concerning a Letter from the King.

Two Letters were read.

1. The Earl of Stamford's to the Speaker.

2. The Lord Herbert's to the Earl of Stamford.

Lord Herbert's Letter to the Earl of Stamford.

"My Lord,

"Your Letter in the Behalf of one Gwithin, justly arrested of Treason, mentions a War between the Protestants and Papists in England; which I understand not, finding that both are received on both Sides: The Quarrel (God knows) is otherwise; our lawful Prince requires due Obedience to the just Laws of his Kingdom; and if your Lordship follows the Way to resist it, that cannot release mine Allegiance, which Gwithin's Trial by the known Laws shall confirm; and, when I may see those flourish with your good Liking, I stile myself,

"My Lord,

"Your most affectionate

"Cousin and Servant,

Ragland, the 6th of November, 1642.

"Edw. Herbert."

"For the Right Honourable the Earl of Stamford, These, at Hereford."

E. Stamford's Letter to the Speaker.

"My Lord,

"I failed this Week of receiving an Answer from their Lordships; but I hope I shall be taken into serious Consideration, being at this Time placed in the most (fn. 5) considerable City and County of all this Kingdom; for I am confident, with this Handful of Men, which is no more than my own Regiment and Two Troops of Horse, hitherto I have secured and awed these Parts, that no Malignant dare appear that once left this Place; and further, they that were indifferent are now declared for us, and I hope very shortly I shall raise Five Hundred Dragooners for our better Security. This Night I held a Council of War; and we agreed that a Party should issue out some Four Miles distant from this Place upon the Confines of Wales, where some Foot Forces of the Enemy were quartered; and, if God bless us, we hope to do as good Service upon Angslott as we did at Presteyne, when we took away Price and his Adherents. Upon Tuesday next, the whole County, Gentry and Freeholders, are summoned in, to this End, that we may thoroughly know their Affections, and receive Assurance of their Bounty to the Cause; and, so soon as I shall dispatch that Work, I shall not fail, by God's Grace, to inform the Parliament of their Constitutions. I may not omit to let your Lordships know that I have found Sir Rob't Harley a mighty Operator in any Good that hath happened to me since I had the Honour to command in this Place. I have sent your Lordship here inclosed a Letter from the Lord Herbert, occasioned, as you may perceive by the Contents thereof, about an honest Protestant, taken out of his Bed by a Party of Horse, and carried away to Ragland, for no other Cause as we can judge but that he was a Protestant; and so many Ministers and others are carried away thither and to Monmouth, their Houses plundered, and their Wives and Children Vagabonds, I beseech God to change the Countenance of this miserable Time, and to bless the happy Proceedings of Parliament; and so I remain,

"My Lord,

Hereford, the 12th of Novemb. 1642, at Midnight.

"Your Lordship's most humble Servant,

"Stamford.

"I shall humbly beseech your Lordship, that his Excellence the Earl of Essex may have Notice of my Proceedings."

To be communicated to the H. C.

Ordered, That the Letters of the Earl of Stamford and the Lord Herbert shall be communicated to the House of Commons, at this Conference; and to desire that the Letter of the Lord Herbert's might be taken into Consideration, which concerns the Parliament and their Proceedings, because it agrees to what the King says in His last Declaration, concerning the admitting of Papists in Command in both Armies; and a Declaration to be made to clear the Parliament in this.

Message to the H. C. to do it at the next Conference.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Serjeant Whitfeild and Serjeant Glanvile:

To desire that, at the next Conference, they might impart unto them Letters from the Earl of Stamfored and the Lord Herbert.

The Messengers return with this Answer:

Answer.

That the House of Commons will give a present Conference as is desired.

House adjourned during Pleasure, and the Lords went to the Conference; which being ended, the (fn. 6) House was resumed.

Message to the H. C. to sit P. M.

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

To desire that the House of Commons would sit this Afternoon, at Three of the Clock.

Thanks to the French Ambassador for releasing a Ship at Calais, with Ammunition for Dublin.

The House being informed, "That the French Ambassador hath done a good Service for this Kingdom, in releasing a great Ship that (fn. 7) was brought into Callais Road from Holland, laden with Store of Powder and Ammunition, bound for Dublin:" It is Ordered, That the Earl of Holland shall send to the said Ambassador, and give him Thanks for the same from the Parliament.

Adjourn.

House adjourned till 3^a post meridiem.

Post meridiem.

PRAYERS.

Lord Grey, Speaker.

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

Answer from the H. C.

That they will sit this Afternoon, as is desired.

Message from thence, for the Lords to concur in the following Resolutions and Orders.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Sir Henry Mildmay, Knight:

To desire their Lordships Concurrence in these Particulars following:

"The Resolution of the House of Commons for drawing a Declaration of the Endeavours of the Parliament, in sending to His Majesty for a Peace.

"Resolved, upon the Question,

"1. That this House doth assent to refer it to a Committee of both Houses, to prepare a Declaration, to set forth to the World the Matter of Fact in the Proceedings that have been used by both Houses for a Peace; and likewise to prepare an Answer to His Majesty's Letter received, and to present them to the House."

Ordered, That this House agrees with the House of Commons in this Resolution; and refers the Drawing of the Declaration to the Committee for the Safety of the (fn. 8) Kingdom.

"Resolved, upon the Question,

"2. That this House doth approve of the Act of the Lord General's, in staying the Letter appointed to be sent unto His Majesty, concerning a Cessation."

Agreed to.

"3. Ordered, That it be recommended to my Lord General, to pursue the Enemy with all Advantage whatsoever."

Agreed to.

"Resolved,

"4. That the Lords be moved, that the Lord that received the Letter from the Earl of Stamford may return Thanks to the Lord Stamford, from both Houses, for his good Service."

Agreed to.

"Resolved,

"5. That this (fn. 9) House doth assent to refer it to a Committee of the Lords and Commons, to clear the Imputations laid upon the House of Parliament, in a Declaration of His Majesty's, and a Letter from the Lord Herbert, concerning the Parliament's employing of Papists; and concerning Promises made by some Members of the House to Papists, to take off the Laws that are prejudicial to them, if they would give their Assistance to the Service of the Parliament; and likewise to make an Answer to that whole Declaration (fn. 10) of His Majesty's."

Ordered, That this House agrees with the House of Commons in this Resolution, and refers the Drawing of the Declaration to the Committees for the Safety; and that the Speaker of this House do write a Letter to the Earl Stamford, to give him Thanks for his good Service.

6. An Order that Winchester House shall be used for Public Service. (Enter it here.)

Agreed to.

7. An Order for Public Faith to re-pay such Expences to Freeholders of Essex as will serve in the Army.

(Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

8. An Order of Public Faith, to re-pay the Monies to such of the City of London as shall find Horse, &c. for this Service. (Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That this House agrees with the House of Commons in all the Orders and Resolutions now brought up; and have referred the Drawing of the Declaration to the Committee for the Safety.

Order for Winchester-House in Southwark to be a Prison.

"The Lords and Commons in this present Parliament assembled, having taken into Consideration the great Want of a House to make a Place for the keeping of Prisoners, in these dangerous and troublesome Times; and being informed that Winchester House, in St. Mary Overyes, in Southwarke, is fit for such Employment, do this Day Order and Ordain, That the said House, and the Back Sides thereunto belonging, be forthwith delivered unto Thomas Devenish, who is appointed by this Order to be Master of the said House, and Keeper of the Prisoners; and there to keep all such Persons in Safe Custody as shall be sent to him, and committed to his Keeping; and for so doing, this shall be his sufficient Warrant."

Order for Public Faith for Essex Mens Expences, to supply the Desertion of the Mercenaries of that County.

"We, the Lords and Commons now assembled in Parliament, upon the King's First Approach towards the City of London, knowing that the Destruction of our Religion, Laws, and Liberties would follow, if His Army, consisting of Papists and all Sorts of Malignants, should prevail, thought it our Duties to give the Inhabitants of the Counties near adjoining, and in particular the County of Essex, Advertisement thereof; to the End that, by a timely Uniting of our Hearts and Forces, the Miseries intended us might be prevented; and for that Purpose, gave Directions to the Earl of Warwicke, Lord Lieutenant of that County, for the raising of the Trained Bands and other Companies of Voluntiers, and to bring them up to Islington, in the County of Midd. being the Place then appointed for their Rendezvous; which Service, with the Assistance of his Deputy Lieutenants, was very carefully performed: But we now find that a great Number of those Men, being People merely mercenary, neither respecting the Cause nor the Honour of the Nation, have most unworthily withdrawn themselves; whereby we are not only disappointed of a great Part of the Strength we depended upon, but also the honest well-affected Gentlemen, Freeholders, and Farmers, deceived and abused by them into whose (fn. 11) Hands they put their Arms and Monies, out of a Confidence (through God's Blessing) to have been thereby the more safe and secure at Home, with their Families and Estates: Therefore we have thought fit hereby to give Notice hereof, not doubting but all will immediately raise all the Power and Strength they can possible make, for the Preservation of the Kingdom from the Malice and Violence of those who labour for the Dissolution of our Government, and the Destruction of Religion; and for that Purpose, we think it very necessary, for the expediting of so acceptable Service of so much Importance, that the worthy Gentlemen and honest Freeholders of the County of Essex should forthwith assemble themselves, in the several Hundreds and Corporations of that County, as they shall think fit, and speedily to resolve upon the putting forth of their utmost Strength, as the only Remedy left them, under God, to preserve themselves and us; and to come to WarwickeHouse, in Holborne, where the Earl of Warwick, or in his Absence Sir Thomas Barrington, Sir William Massam, Sir Martin Lumley, Sir Henry Mildmay, or any One of them, will be ready to receive and list them, and provide such Commanders and other Officers as shall be wanting, to put them into Order for the Service; and the Deputy Lieutenants that now are, or shall be, in that County, together with the Commissioners for the Propositions, and all other Officers whatsoever, are hereby required to give the Gentlemen and Freeholders their best Direction, and their utmost Aid, Help, and Assistance, for their Furtherance of this Service: And it is hereby Declared, That all such as shall thus freely offer themselves in this Service, provided with Arms and Money for Two Months, shall from the Time they are listed, and during the Time they continue in the Service, be repaid again, according to the Pay established for the Army; and, in regard they are at the Charge of arming and furnishing themselves, there shall be further Consideration had thereof, for their Recompence, or Damage which they shall sustain by this Service: For which we do hereby engage the Public Faith."

Order for Public Faith to the Citizens of London, to reimburse their Expences.

"Whereas divers well-affected Persons, Citizens of the City of London, and others, have advanced several great Sums of Money, and other Supplies, for the Safety of the King, Parliament, and Kingdom, and also have set forth many Soldiers, under the several Commands of their Excellencies the Earls of Essex and Warwick; notwithstanding all which said former Advance, and for the better Supply of the said Forces, as also for the more sure Preservation and Safety of the King, Parliament, and City, which so much concerns the Public, and no Way to hinder or backward the said former Undertakings or Intentions, divers of the said well-affected Persons are, and do declare themselves, yet willing and ready further to undertake and advance a considerable Number of Soldiers, and them to arm, maintain, and pay, for several Months ensuing, or during these Times of Danger and Distractions, for the Purposes aforesaid; provided they may have the Public Faith of the Kingdom for Re-payment of all such Sums of Money which they shall so advance by Way of Loan: All which is declared, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, to be an acceptable Service to the King, Parliament, and Kingdom, and necessarily tending to the Preservation of them; and do therefore Order, That all such as shall furnish Men, Money, Horse, or Arms, for this Service, shall have the same fully repaid again, with Interest for the Forbearance thereof from the Times disbursed; and, for the true Payment thereof, do hereby engage, to all and every such Person and Persons, the Public Faith of the Kingdom; and do further Order, That the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs of London for the Time being shall, by themselves and such Sub-Committee as they shall appoint, (fn. 12) take the said Subscriptions, who are to order the Performance of this Service, for the Advancement thereof."

Adjourn.

Adjourn till 10^a cras.