House of Lords Journal Volume 5: 26 November 1642

DIE Sabbati, videlicet, 26 die Novembris.

Prayers.

Earl of Manchester, Speaker this Day.

Report from the Committee who went to the Common Hall to borrow Money.

The Earl of Manchester reported, "That the Committees of both Houses Yesterday went to the Common Hall in London, about the raising of Money, for the supplying of the Occasions for maintaining the Army; and the City desires, that Committees of (fn. 1) both Houses might be sent to them, with a Power to call some Citizens and others to their Assistance; and then they hope it will prove successful."

Message from the H. C. for a Conference about the Safety of the Western Parts, and dangerous Letters intercepted;

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Sir John Bamfeild:

To desire a present Conference, concerning the Safety of the Western Parts, and touching some dangerous Letters intercepted.

Agreed, To give a present Conference, in the Painted Chamber, as is desired.

and for the Lords Concurrence in Two Orders.

2. To desire Concurrence in Two Orders: videlicet,

1. An Order, That the Mayor of Exon shall not publish the King's Proclamation of the Ninth of November: videlicet,

Order for the Mayor of Exeter not to publish the King's Proclamation of November 9.

"It is this Day Ordered, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That the Mayor of the City of Exon shall not publish the Proclamation from His Majesty, dated the 9th of November; and that, for his yielding Obedience to this Order, he shall be saved harmless, by Authority of Parliament."

Agreed to.

2. An Order concerning the Defence of the Castle and City of Exon. (Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

The Answer returned was:

Answer to the H. C.

That this House will give a present Conference as is desired, in the Painted Chamber; and that their Lord ships do agree with the House of Commons in the Two Orders now brought up.

Message from the H. C. for the Lords Concurrence in Two Orders.

Another Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Mr. Samuell Browne:

To desire their Lordships Concurrence in these Particulars: videlicet,

1. An Ordinance for forcing some Persons to contribute towards the Public Charge, which yet have not; wherein the House of Commons desires Expedition. (Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

2. An Order for the Relief of the Town of Brainford: videlicet,

Order for Relief of Brentford.

"It is this Day Ordered, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, That the Ministers of Midd. and of the Parishes that are partly Midd. and partly of London, do, the next Fast-day, read in the several Parish Churches the Relation of the Sufferings of the Inhabitants of Old Brainford, on the 12th and 13th of this Instant Month, by His Majesty's Forces; and that they do excite the People to a compassionate Consideration of them; and whatsoever shall be collected upon the next Fast-day, within the Parishes aforesaid, may be employed for the Relief of the Inhabitants of Old Brainford aforesaid, and of such of the Inhabitants of New Brainford as have been plundered and ruined by the Forces aforesaid."

The Answer returned was:

Answer to the H. C.

That this House agrees with the House of Commons in the Ordinance and Order now brought up.

Order for the Committee who went into the City to call some Citizens to their Assistance for raising Money.

Ordered, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, "That the Earl of Manchester, the Lord Viscount Say & Seale, Lord Wharton, Lord Brooke, and the Lord Howard of Esc. or any Three of them, shall have Power to call such Persons of the City, or others, whom they shall think fit, to their Assistance, for the Advance of Monies, upon the Credit of the late Ordinance passed by both Houses, or otherwise; and to summon such Persons and Companies before them as they shall think fit for this Service; and to consider of and improve all other Ways for the procuring of Monies, and other Necessaries for the Army, as well within the City as other Parts of the Kingdom, and have Power to sit when and where they think fitting."

Ordered, That this Committee meet at Guildhall, at Five of the Clock this Afternoon.

Message to the H. C. to join in it.

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

To desire the House of Commons to join with their Lordships in this Order; and to appoint a Committee, of a proportionable Number, to go with the Lords Committees this Afternoon, at Five of the Clock, to Guildhall.

The Messengers return with this Answer:

Answer.

That the House of Commons do agree with their Lordships in the Order, and have named a Committee of their House, to go with the Lords Committees to Guildhall, as is appointed.

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

Conference about the Safety of the Western Parts, and dangerous Letters intercepted.

And the Speaker reported only, at this Time, "the Letter sent from The Hague to Secretary Nicholas, with a Desire of the House of Commons that the same may be printed; and that the House of Commons have received some Letters from Devonshire and Cornwaile, that the Malignants are come (fn. 2) in a Body, into Devonshire: Therefore the House of Commons desire that it may be referred to the Committee for the Safety, to consider of the securing of the City of Exon and the Western Parts."

Hereupon this House Ordered; That this Letter shall be printed; and that the preventing of landing and coming in of Foreign Forces may (fn. 3) be referred to the Care of the Committee for the Safety of the Kingdom; and also to consider of some present Means for securing the City of Exon and the Western Counties.

Ordered, That the rest of this Report shall be made on Monday next.

Letter from The Hague, to Secretary Nicholas, about Reinforcements for the King from thence.

"It is now long since I had the Opportunity of writing to you, and, since my First, have not heard any Thing from you at all. The Occasion of our long Stay here was, first, the Expectation of our Irish Ships; next, the raising Money, which the Proposition of Newcastle drew as fast as it could advance. The Failing of the Ships, had it not been supplied by the Reputation of the King's Success at Land, had given us a dangerous Blow here; but that hath so supported our Credit, that the Prince of Orange hath since played his Part, and advanced all those Sums we were to expect, of which Twenty Thousand Pounds is sent towards you, Twenty Thousand Pounds to Newcastle, and Twenty Thousand Pounds at least we bring with us, besides the great Business which we expect this Day a final End of, which will advance Threescore Thousand Pounds more, in which we are ascertained of the Prince of Orange's utmost Power: Such, nevertheless, we apprehend the Importance of the Queen's being in England, that we had gone this last Week, and expected the coming of that after, had not an unseasonable Compliment from your Side (fn. 4) stopped us till this Express sent to you. The Fleet is now ready; and this Week we certainly go, if those Counsels, or Chances, that move to dilatory Resolutions, move not more effectually than the certain Advantages of our Expedition and Dispatch from hence, all our Affairs now done, and nothing more to be expected. That you may know upon what Grounds we go, and what Security we expect there, and what Advantage you in the South are to derive from it, you must know we have sent over Ten Thousand Foot Arms besides the Garrison, near Two Thousand Horse Arms, and Twenty Pieces of Cannon; we bring over Waggons, and all Accommodation to march so soon as we arrive; we carry very considerable Officers from hence, and, by the Advices we receive from that Side, Eight Thousand Men are on Foot already, Six Troops of Horse, and the rest will not be long on raising after we come there. General Kinge is designed for Lieutenant General, hath been with the Queen, and will be suddenly there. From Denmarke, are likewise sent Arms for Ten Thousand Foot and Fifteen Hundred Horse, with a Train of Artillery, and every Thing proportionable, to the very Drums and Halberds. Two good Men of War come their Convoy, and in them an Ambassador to His Majesty, a Person of great Quality in Denmarke: I hope it will be a general Care there to see him nobly treated; for the Entertainment and Neglect of the last was much complained of, and is so much resented by the King, that it had like to have frustrated all our Expectations in that Court, had not Cochran very handsomely evaded it. He comes along with the Ambassador, with whom if you encounter, you will communicate some Propositions of great Importance, which in how much the fewer Hands they are carried, will be so much the better liked by them you are to deal with. If my Employment in this Affair may fall upon your Servant that writes to you, I know you will not be unmindful of him.

"We have great Apprehensions here, by something intimated from my Lord of Holland, of a Treaty further entered into than we have Advertisement of, or can well approve. We have confidently believed your approaching London (if you had not made too long Stay upon the Way) would have determined that Matter; and what the Difficulties are now, of that we cannot yet understand; for, if Intelligences from (fn. 5) thence came as freely to us, the King's Party there are very considerable, and full of that Expectation, and a Day or Two Loss of Time, by the late Example of Hull, may be judged of what contrary Consequences it may produce.

"We hear my Lord of Essex approaches London; but believe he will be so waited on by the King's Horse, not to let him join with their Forces there, being now so lame an Army, without Horse or Cannon, as the Relation you send hither makes (fn. 6) his to be. We believe the King's Horse likewise now so great a Body, that it will be as troublesome as necessary for them to subsist together, and think so many Troops might be well spared as might be sent into Kent, to countenance a Party to be set on Foot there, which, according to our Intelligence here, would undoubtedly be found very affectionate and considerable; so that, by sparing Five Hundred Horse, you might possibly add to your Army Five Thousand Foot, to be employed upon the River on that Side (fn. 7) the Town.

"If the unhappy Interception had not come of the last Week's Letters, we had undoubtedly been with you on the other Side in Norfolke and Essex within Three Weeks; in that Condition, having all the Kingdom behind us on every Side, it will not be hard to judge whether should have been better able to subsist, they within the Town, or the King's Army without; admit my Lord of Essex were gotten in, or that the Town had not yielded itself so soon as you had approached. You may yet certainly presume on this, that our being once on Foot, we shall be able to collect for you all the Four Hundred Thousand Pounds Subsidies universally throughout the Kingdom, which will make the King's Army subsist, and wear out theirs; besides which, the Money we bring, what we expect from Denmarke and France, are all Encouragements to make us expect no Treaties to be admitted but upon Terms of great Advantage and Honour to His Majesty: Those you are best able to judge of upon the Place. If the King have Use of them, I am confident you may expect from France (so soon as you set Footing in Kent, and shall intimate you desire the same) the Three Regiments of His Majesty's own Subjects there employed, under Colonel Hill, Colonel Fitzwilliams, and Colonel Beling. Your Letters directed to Newcastle will direct our Addresses to France; for I hope we shall yet be there before you can return any Answer to this."

Hage, November the 22d, 1642.

Order for the City of Exeter to cause Watches, &c. to be set up.

"Upon the humble Petition of the Mayor, Deputy Lieutenants, and Captains, of the City and County of Exon; shewing the great Importance of the Safety of that City to many of the Western Parts, and imminent Danger the same is now in, by Means of the present Insurrection in the County of Cornwaile, and their threatening an Invasion of the County of Devon, and the said City complaining of an ill-affected and malig nant Party in and about the said City, who, being Men of great and wealthy Estates, do not only refuse to contribute to the Public Works of Fortifications and Defence, but neglect to perform the ordinary Duties of Watching, which may be very dangerous to the Peace and Safety of that City, if some (fn. 8) Means of Redress be not timely directed therein; and having made known likewise their present Need of a Garrison to be put into the Castle of Exon, and that some of the Citizens, and others of the Trained Bands or Voluntiers of the County of Devon, may be listed and commanded, on all Summons, to repair thither, for Defence of the said Castle and City: It is Ordered, by the Lords and Commons now in Parliament assembled, That the said Mayor and Deputy Lieutenants of the City of Exon, or any Two of them, shall be, and they are hereby, authorized and required to place a Garrison of Soldiers in the said Castle of Exon, together with such Gunners, Engineers, and other Officers, as they shall think fit and necessary, for Defence and Security of the said Castle and City, and to list and appoint such Number of the Trained Bands, or Voluntiers, of the said City, as shall be needful, to attend that Service; and the Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Devon are hereby desired and required to design and appoint Two Hundred of the ablest and best experienced Soldiers, of the Trained Bands or Voluntiers of that County, and which live nigh, or not far distant from, the said City, to be ready to give their Assistance, for the Defence of the said Castle and City; and every of the said Soldiers or Voluntiers so to be listed and appointed, either in the said City of Exon, or County of Devon, are enjoined and commanded, by the Authority of both Houses of Parliament, upon all Alarms or Summons from any Two of the Deputy Lieutenants of the said City, to repair into the said City, there to be employed or used either for Defence or Security of the said Castle or City, as by Two of the Deputy Lieutenants there shall be directed, and not to depart thence without their Licence; and the said Lords and Commons do further Order and appoint the said Mayor and Deputy Lieutenants, or any Two of them, to cause such strong Watches and Wards to be set and kept, in all convenient Places in the said City, for the Peace and Safety thereof, and to design and appoint such Citizens and others Inhabitants of the said City to do and perform the same, as they in their Discretions shall think fitting and necessary; and in Case any Person that shall be required, by Authority of this Ordinance of Parliament, to do or perform any of the Services abovementioned, do not really and effectually attend the same, or shall be wilfully negligent or remiss in performing the same, the Lords and Commons do Declare and Ordain, That such Persons shall be committed unto Safe Custody, by the Mayor and Deputy Lieutenants of the said City, or any Two of them, there to remain until both Houses of Parliament shall give Direction concerning the same, to the End that some Course may be taken by them for such further Punishment, as to Law and Justice shall appertain; And forasmuch as, in Times of common Danger, and when the public Peace and Safety of each particular Man is equally threatened and concerned, the Charge and Expence for preventing and avoiding thereof ought to be defrayed and born by all, since the Benefit of Preservation and Safety (which, without timely Preparation for Defence, might probably be endangered) doth redound and come unto all; and being informed of a great Unwillingness and Refractoriness, in many of the wealthiest and ablest in Estate of the Inhabitants of that City of Exon, to contribute to the Public Charge of Fortification, and other needful Expences, for Defence of themselves and that Place, the Lords and Commons do, by the Authority of the High Court of Parliament, Declare, That, in this Time of imminent Danger, when their Neighbour County is in actual Commotion, and many of the Inhabitants thereof, His Majesty's good and faithful Subjects, by open Force and Violence expulsed and driven from their Dwellings and Places of Habitation; it is, by the established Laws and fundamental Constitutions of this Kingdom, legal and just, and in these Times most necessary, that a Public and General Rate, Taxation, and Assessment, be made in the said City and County of Exon, by taxing and assessing every Citizen and Inhabitant within the same to pay a certain Sum of Money, to be employed for the Uses aforesaid; and the Mayor and Deputy Lieutenants of that City are hereby required to cause the same to be speedily done, left, by such Neglect, and Want of Means to enable them to make Defence, that City may be surprized and possessed by the Malignants now in the County of Cornwall, or other ill-affected to the Peace of the Kingdom; and although, in Case any Person shall refuse or neglect to make Payment of the same, unto which he shall be assessed, by the ordinary Proceedings in the Course of Justice sufficient Remedy is provided for levying of the same; yet, in regard the Public Peace and Safety not only of that City, but of many of the Western Counties, is herein concerned, which the Lords and Commons have been and still are desirous to preserve, they do Declare, That they shall esteem every such Person, who shall not willingly and chearfully contribute and pay his Rate and Proportion, as Malignants, and ill-affected to the Peace of this Kingdom, and, upon Certificate thereof from any Two of the Deputy Lieutenants of that Place, shall accordingly proceed against him."

Ordinance to compel those Inhabitants of London, &c. to contribute for the Support of the Army, who have not already done it.

"Whereas the King, seduced by wicked Counsel, hath raised an Army, and levied War against the Parliament, and great Number of Forces are daily raised, under the Commands of Papists and other ill-affected Persons, by Commissions from His Majesty; and whereas divers Delinquents are protected from Public Justice by His Majesty's Army, and sundry Outrages and Rapines are daily committed by the Soldiers of the said Army, who have no Respect to the Laws of God or the Land, but burn and plunder the Houses, and seize and destroy the Persons and Goods, of divers of His Majesty's good Subjects; and whereas, for the Maintenance of the said Army, divers Assessments are made upon several Counties, and His Majesty's Subjects are compelled by the Soldiers to pay the same; which said Army, if it should continue, would soon ruin and waste the whole Kingdom, and overthrow Religion, Law, and Liberty: For suppressing of which said Army and ill-affected Persons, there is no probable Way, under God, but by the Army raised by Authority of the Parliament, which said Army, so raised, cannot be maintained without great Sums of Money; yet, for raising such Sums, by reason of His Majesty's withdrawing Himself from the Advice of the Parliament, there can be no Act of Parliament passed with His Majesty's Assent, albeit there is great Justice that the said Monies should be raised.

"The Lords and Commons in Parliament, having taken the same into their serious Consideration, and knowing that the said Army, so raised by them, hath been hitherto for the most Part maintained by the voluntary Contributions of divers well-affected Persons, who have freely contributed according to their Abilities; but considering there are divers others, within the Cities of London and Westm. and the Suburbs of the same, and also within the Borough of Southwarke, that have not contributed at all towards the Maintenance of the said Army, or, if they have, yet not answerable to their Estates, who notwithstanding receive Benefit and Protection by the same Army as well as any others, and therefore it is most just that they should, as well as others, be charged to contribute to the Maintenance thereof: Be it therefore Ordained, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, and by Authority thereof, That Isaack Penington Lord Mayor of the City of London, Sir John Woolaston Knight and Alderman, Alderman Towse, Alderman Warner, Alderman Andrews, Alderman Chambers, Alderman Fowke, Sir Thomas Soame Knight and Alderman, Samuell Vassall, John Venne, Moris Tompson, and Richard Waring, Citizens, or any Four of them, shall hereby have Power and Authority to nominate and appoint, in every Ward within the City of London, Six such Persons as they, or any Four of them, shall think fit; which said Six so nominated, or any Four of them, shall hereby have Power to require of any that shall remain or be within the said several Wards, that have not contributed upon the Propositions of both Houses of Parliament, concerning the raising of Money, Plate, Horse, Horsemen, and Arms, for Defence of the King and both Houses of Parliament; and also of such as are able Men that have contributed, yet not according to their Estates and Abilities; and the said Six Persons so nominated, or any Four of them, within their several and respective Wards and Limits, shall have Power to assess such Person and Persons as are of Ability, and have not contributed, and also such as have contributed, yet not according to their Ability, to pay such Sum or Sums of Money, according to their Estates, as the said Assessors, or any Four of them, shall think fit and reasonable, so as the same exceed not the Twentieth Part of their Estates; and to nominate and appoint fit Persons for the Collection thereof: And if any Person so assessed shall refuse to pay the Money assessed upon him, it shall be lawful to and for the said Assessors and Collectors, or any of them, to levy the said Sum so assessed, by Way of Distress and Sale of the Goods of the Person so assessed and refusing; and if any Person so distrained shall make Resistance, it shall be lawful to and for the respective Assessors and Collectors, or any of them, to call to their Assistance any the Trained Bands of the said City of London, or any other His Majesty's Subjects, who are hereby required to be aiding and assisting to the said Assessors and Collectors in the Premises: And it is hereby further Ordained, That the respective Burgesses of Westm. and Southwark, together with the several Committees appointed for the Subscriptions of Money, Plate, Horse, Horsemen, and Arms, within the said City and Borough, shall respectively have Power hereby to nominate Cessors for the same City and Borough, in such Manner as the Lord Mayor, &c. hath for the City of London; and the said Assessors, or any Four of them, to name Collectors as aforesaid, which said Assessors and Collectors shall have the same Power respectively, within their respective Limits, as those to be nominated within the said City of London have hereby limited to them: And for the Suburbs of London and Westm. the respective Knights of the Shire where the said Suburbs are shall have hereby the like Power to name Assessors; and they so named, or any Four of them, and the Collectors by them to be nominated or any of them, within their respective Limits, shall have the like Power respectively as the Assessors and Collectors for London have by virtue of this Ordinance: And be it Ordained, That the Sums so assessed and levied as aforesaid shall be paid in at Guildhall, London, to the Hands of Sir John Woolaston Knight, John Warner, John Towse, and Thomas Andrews, Aldermen, or any Two of them: And the Assessors and Collectors to be nominated by virtue hereof shall Weekly report to the Committee of the House of Commons for the Propositions aforesaid, what Sums of Money have been assessed, and what Sums have been levied Weekly, according to the Purport hereof; and the said Monies so levied and paid in shall be issued forth in such Sort as the other Monies raised upon the Propositions aforesaid, and not otherwise."