House of Lords Journal Volume 5: 16 December 1642

DIE Veneris, videlicet, 16 die Decembris.

Prayers.

Earl of Manchester, Speaker this Day.

Champagne, a Pass to carry a Horse to France.

Ordered, That Francis Champagne, Servant to Monsieur De Commanville, shall have a Pass, to carry a Horse into France.

Trunk to the King.

Ordered, That a Warrant be given, for the carrying down a Trunk with Cloaths for the King, provided the Trunk be searched.

Propositions to the King.

Next, the House proceeded in the Propositions for Peace to be presented to His Majesty.

Ordered, That this House be adjourned till Four of the Clock this Afternoon; and the Committee to meet at Three, to consider of the Names of such Judges as are fit to be recommended to be Judges, according to the Fifth Proposition.

Adjourn.

House adjourned till 4^a post meridiem.

Post meridiem.

PRAYERS.

Earl of Manchester, Speaker this Afternoon.

Message from the H. C. about the Members and Assistants of both Houses being exempted from the Ordinance for an Assessment;

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

That the House of Commons do agree with their Lordships in the Ordinance sent down to them Yesterday, of Explanation of the Ordinances concerning the assessing of Persons, with this Alteration, videlicet, ["but that the Members of either House shall be assessed by that House whereof they are Members, and the Assistants of the Peers by the House of Peers."]

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

and for a Conference about the Army in the North.

2. To desire a Conference, by a Committee of both Houses, concerning an Army in the North.

Agreed, To give a present Conference.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That this House agrees to the Addition in the Ordinance; and that their Lordships will give a present Conference, in the Painted Chamber, as is desired.

Browne to attend, about Lady Spencer's and Dr. Bennet's Horses being seized.

Ordered, That Thomas Browne shall attend this House To-morrow, to give an Account of the seizing of the Horses of the Lady Spencer Dowager, the Wife of a Peer; and Dr. Bennett, an Assistant to this House.

Delinquents concerning the Inland Post-office sent for.

Ordered, That all the Persons that have disobeyed the Orders of this House, concerning the Inland Letteroffice, shall be sent for as Delinquents.

House adjourned during Pleasure, and the Lords went to the Conference.

House resumed.

Conference about the Popish Army in the North reported.

The Speaker reported the Effect of this Conference: videlicet, "That the House of Commons have received Letters, which gives them Information of a Popish Army raised in the North, and that Foreign Forces are coming to New-Castle, to assist them; upon which the House of Commons have made some Votes, wherein they desire their Lordships Concurrence."

The Votes were read, as followeth:

Votes of the H. C. about it.

1. To the First; agreed to.

2. That the Letters be printed; agreed to.

3. To the Third; agreed to.

4. To the Fourth; agreed to, with an Addition.

5. To the Fifth; agreed to.

6. To the Sixth; agreed to.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Dr. Ayliff and Dr. Bennett:

To (fn. 1) let the House of Commons know, that this House agrees to all the Votes now brought up, excepting to the Fourth, wherein they have made some Alteration, and desire Concurrence therein.

Thanksgiving-day at Windsor, for the taking of Winchester.

A Messenger which came from the Lord General, made Relation to this House, "That the Forces of the Parliament have taken the Castle and City of Winchester, and have taken the Lord Grandison Prisoner, with Twenty-four Commanders, Seven Hundred Soldiers, Six Hundred Horse, and Six Hundred Arms, with the Loss of a few Men, for which the Lord General intends to give Public Thanks to God at Windsor, the next Lord's-day, for this great Success, without Loss of Blood; and his Lordship desires that their Lordships would please to give Order that Public Thanks may be likewise given the same Day in London and Westm."

Thanksgiving-day at London.

Hereupon this House Ordered, That the Lord Mayor of the City of London be hereby desired, to cause Public Thanks to be given, (fn. 2) within the said City and Liberties thereof, on Sunday next, for the great Victory lately obtained at the City of Winchester, by the Parliament Forces; and that usual Expressions of Joy, by ringing of Bells, may be in the mean Time.

The like Order to be directed to the Justices of Westm. and Midd. and Southwarke.

Letter from Lord Fairfax, of the Situation of Affairs in the North.

"May it please your Lordships,

"Upon Saturday last, I received a Declaration of Parliament, with a Commission from his Excellency the Earl of Essex, to command in Chief over the Forces of the North, and other adjacent Counties; which great Honour and Trust, far above my Ambition or Merit, by your Lordships conferred on me, I shall exercise with all Care and Fidelity; not doubting but that your Lordships will enable me therein with such other Supplies as the Necessity of the Service shall require, and that (fn. 3) are represented from hence. The State of the Affairs in these Parts since my last Dispatch of the 1st of this Month stand in this Manner: "The Earl of Newcastle is come to Yorke, and joined his Forces to the Earl of Cumberland's, making in all, as I am informed, about Eight Thousand Men, Horse and Foot, of which there is about Two Thousand Horse and Dragooners; a Strength far too potent here to be resisted by the small Power which I have, whereof I send a List inclosed. Our Strength was once estimated by ourselves far greater than now it appears; for, upon the Earl of Newcastle's coming over The Tees, Sir Edward Loftus with all the Richmondshire Men, and Sir Henry Anderson with all the Cleveland Men, and the rest of the North Riding, which were estimated at One Thousand Men, did all return to their own Houses, save about One Hundred and Thirty Men brought hither by Sir Matthew Boynton and some other Gentlemen, and One Troop of Horse raised by Sir Henry Forlis, and about Forty Horse more brought hither by Captain Anderson; and, besides this Desert, our Numbers are decreased by Sir Hugh Cholmeley, to whom I have sent divers Orders to march Northwards, to join with Captain Hotham and the rest, in resisting the Earl of Newcastle's Entry, before he come into Yorkeshire, and, since his Entry, to come to me and the rest of the Army at Todcaster; but he found such Impediments as he could do neither, and now I hear he is gone to Scarborough, and taken his Forces with him, which were about Seven Hundred Men: And Colonel Boynton, whose Regiment consisted of Eight Hundred Foot, is likewise marched towards Hull, although I sent him divers Orders to march up hither, to assist the Forces at Todcaster, giving me neither Reason of his not coming to me, nor of his March towards Hull: And I understand that Sir John Gell had raised Eight Hundred Men in Darbyshire: (fn. 3) I sent unto him, to march hither to our Succours; but I have received an Answer from him, that he is not able yet to stir from thence. From Sir Anthony Irby, nor the Lincolneshire Men, I hear nothing, though I have sent to them express Messengers. So our whole Strength here (upon Return of the (fn. 3) Forces formerly sent into the North) consisting of Twenty-one Companies of Foot and Seven Troops of Horse, and One Company of Dragooners, we did send of them Two Companies of Foot to secure Selby, and One Company to secure Cawood Castle, and quartered the rest, Part of them at Wetherby, under Command of Captain Hotham, whom I have nominated to be Lieu tenant General of the Army, and the rest at Todcaster, under my own Command; and upon Tuesday, receiving Intelligence that the Earl of Newcastle with his whole Forces intended to fall upon our Quarter at Todcaster, I sent to Captain Hotham, to bring up the Forces at Wetherby; which being done, and the Earl of Newcastle's Army come in Sight, we drew our Men into the uttermost Part of our Quarter, where we had raised some Breast Works for our Musketeers; and there the Fight began about Eleven a Clock, and so continued in sharp Dispute, until about Four of the Clock in the Evening, in which Time there was at least Forty Thousand Musket-shot discharged on both Sides, and great Numbers of Cannon-shot. The Enemy had once One Part of the Town, and beaten out our Men, and placed some of their Companies in Two or Three Houses, which did much endanger us; but, in the End, our Men with great Courage forced them out again, recovered and burnt the Houses, and killed many of the Enemies Men that were there placed; and, in Conclusion, forced the whole Army to retreat, leaving very many of their Men dead, and very great Numbers wounded; the certain Numbers nor Qualities of the Persons we could not take; but it is generally said, by the Country People, that there were at least One Hundred found killed and burnt, and we took Seventeen Prisoners in the Fight: And on our Part we lost Six Men, and Captain Will'm Lister, a valiant and gallant Gentleman, who was shot with a Musketbullet in the Head; and we had about Twenty more wounded, and lost not One Prisoner in the Battle, though divers of our Men, being negligent of their Duty, staid behind us, when we quit the Quarter, and so were taken the next Day there by the Enemies, and made Prisoners. In this Fight, our Men behaved themselves with very great Resolution, far beyond Expectation, in so much as I conceive we might have maintained the Place still, if we had been furnished with Powder and Shot; but, having spent in a Manner all our whole Store of Bullet, Match, and Powder, I advised with the Commanders, and, by general Consent, it was thought fit, to rise with our Forces, and march to Cawood and Selby, to secure those Places, and there receive Supplies of Ammunitions and Men, which was accordingly done; and now I am at Selby, with Part of the Army, and the rest with Captain Hotham at Cawood: And Yesterday I sent my Son, Sir Thomas Fairefax, with Five Companie of Foot, and Two Troops of Horse, to Leeds, intending he should continue there, to secure that Place, and the other Cloathing Towns, against the Earl of Newcastle's Forces, if it were possible; but the Enemies Forces were laid so strong in the Way, as he could not pass; so he only beat up a Quarter of the Enemies in a small Village, took Five Prisoners, and retreated to Selby.

"Thus, my Lords, I have briefly represented the Condition of this Army at present; which, I must confess, I fear will very suddenly grow worse, if not utterly broken up, and that especially for Want of Money, I having not above a Week's Pay provided before-hand, and no visible Means left to raise Maintenance for them, unless I should give the Soldiers Free Quarter upon the Country, a Cure in (fn. 4) my Conceit as dangerous as the Disease, and peradventure not possible to be effected, if the Enemy be still Master of the Field, and cut off our Men as they go abroad to levy Sustenance, which they may do, and yet not able to beat up our Quarters. I have hitherto supported this Army by the Loans and Contributions for the most Part of the Parishes of Leeds, Hallifax, and Bradford, and some other small Cloathing Towns adjacent, being the only wellaffected People of the Country, who, I much fear, may now suffer by this Popish Army of the North, merely for their good Affection to the Religion and Public Liberty. Out of the rest of the Country I was not able to draw any considerable Help, the Enemy having Garrisons in so many Places; who threatened to ruin any that should assist the Parliament and the Cause with Money or other Helps. My Lords, in Sum, the State of this Country is thus: The Enemy is mighty, and Master of the Field, plentifully supplied, from His Majesty and the Popish and malignant Party, with Monies and all Necessaries; the well-affected Party, as now it is divided, not considerable; the Aids from Lincolneshire, Darbyshire, and other Counties, very uncertain; the Want of Money here such, as will force us to disband within Ten Days; and, if the Enemy become once absolute Master of Yorkeshire, they will force Contributions and Succours from the Country, which will raise a very formidable Army, and put the whole Cause in Peril, if God [ (fn. 5) do not] miraculously defend it. I beseech your Lordships seriously to consider it, and send such speedy Supplies of Men and Money as may enable me to go forward in the Service, which I I shall not fail to do with a constant Fidelity: Your Lordships have heretofore assigned Two Thousand Pounds for our Succour; but the most Part of it is still at London, where it lies for Want of Exchange or Convoy; and therefore what shall now be sent must come either by sufficient Convoy of Forces by Land, or else by Sea to Hull, and so hither to me. The Scottish Officers are now come hither Yesterday; but now we are so streightened, that we can have no Men resort to us to put under Command, nor have no Money to pay them. The further Relation of these Affairs, I shall leave to Captain Hatcher, (fn. 6) who follows these Letters, purposely to give true Relation to the House of these Affairs, and hath been an Eye-witness of most of the Passages in this Country from the first Raising of Arms; to whose further Expression I shall leave it, with this Addition only, that, if the Country or Cause suffer, your Lordships will discern, by this Relation, in whom the Default hath been, and impute it accordingly; for nothing hath been omitted, possible to be effected by

"Your Lordships

"Most faithful and humble Servant,

Dated 10 Decembris, 1642, from Selby.

"Ferdinando Fairefax."

Letter to Mr. Blackston, from Rotterdam, of Forces preparing there, to be sent to the King's Assistance.

"In Rotterdam, the 16th of December, 1642, Stilo Novo.

"Worthy Sir,

"My last unto you was of the 12th present, which I sent by Ship, and, fearing lest that may be long before it come to your Hands, I thought fit to write unto you now by Post, and is to advise you, that there cometh hither frequently good and lusty Ships for Newcastle, which are sent hither by the Merchants of that Town, for the Service of the Queen; and there is continual Transportation of great Store of Men, Monies, and Ammunition, over in them: There came hither about Fourteen Days since Mr. Knowlis and that arch K Captain Archibald, who is very diligent and notorious in his Service for the betraying of his Country, and for that hath of late had that Honour to be conferred upon him to be made a Captain, and is about Three Days since gone from hence, with his Ship loaden with Men, Monies, and Ammunition, for Newcastle. I hear that Mr. Knowlis brought over Letters from His Majesty, that hath been the Occasion of the Queen's Stay here, which all that be well affected are very sorry for, who had rather She were elsewhere; upon the Receipt of which Letters from His Majesty, I hear that the Queen the next Day sent Mr. Jermin to The States General to acquaint them therewith; and that His Majesty ad vised the Queen to stay here for some Time longer, and that because His Majesty was upon a Treaty of Accommodation, and doubted not but that in short Time He should make all Things well; and that therefore the Queen gave them Thanks, for those Ships that had long Time waited upon Her Service, and desired that they might now be discharged, which was done accordingly; yet, notwithstanding, Her Majesty's Agents labour here exceedingly, in sending away of Men, Money, Horse, and Ammunition, unto Newcastle, for the advancing of Her Majesty's Army in those Parts. Upon Thursday last, I was at The Hage, and there saw Her Majesty's Standard, which was just then going away, to be sent for Newcastle; and Yesterday was Sevennight I heard that Colonel Goreing, and Mr. Crofts, and Mr. Slingsby, and Captain Brett, and Captain Mackworth, and divers other Cavaliers, went to Amsterdam, to take Shipping there, to go for England with all Speed, and it is thought for Newcastle; and that Colonel Goreing is to be Lord General of the King's Horse. I hear likewise that there is more going away from hence, to Newcastle, Four Hundred Officers and old Soldiers, and Four Hundred Horse; and a Thousand more are to follow, which are Her Majesty's Regiment, and should have been a Guard to Her Person if She had gone over. The Prince of Orange, I hear, suffers all his Officers to go that will; only under this Colour, that as many as go hence shall be constrained, although he can give them greater Honour as he pleases, and they expect for so good Service if they do return. It is very credibly reported here, that there is now sending away with all Speed to Newcastle One Hundred and Sixty Thousand Pounds Sterling, which, I am very credibly informed by some Dutchmen, is, by Way of Loan, raised by the Papists in these Parts (which are not a few), for the Queen; and that the Prince of Orange is engaged for the Repayment of it, which are most horrible Things. Therefore I can do no less, in Conscience to God and His Cause, and in Duty and Love unto the Kingdom and Parliament (hearing and seeing these Things), than give Notice of it [ (fn. 7) to you], who are a Member of that Honourable House; which I shall desire you, if you think fit, to communicate unto the House, but shall entreat you to do me the like Favour you have done, in concealing of my Name. Thus, desiring the Lord to be with you, and to bless and prosper your Proceedings, and the whole House, with the Tender of my Service and best Respects unto you, I humbly take my Leave, and rest

"Yours to love and serve you in the Lord.

"There are Two Newcastle Ships here, ready to go with the First Fair Wind, loaden as is beforementioned; and also Three great Dutch Hoys, loaden with Field-pieces and Carriages, and many Hollands Waggons, which are made strong and long, and covered overhead, such as usually attend the Leager.

"To his much-honoured Friend John Blackston, Esquire, and a Member of the House of Commons in the Honourable House of Parliament. These, present.

"London, ell."

The Votes of the House of Commons:

Votes of the H. C. upon these Two Letters.

"1. That the Armies and Forces raised against the Parliament are for the rooting out of the Protestant Religion and the Protestants out of England, and for the Advancement and Bringing-in of Popery."

Agreed to with the House of Commons in this Vote.

"2. Ordered, That the Letters from Yorke and Holland may be printed."

Agreed to.

"3. That the Persons of all Papists that are of Estate, or dangerous, be forthwith secured, and put in safe Custody, and their Estates and Offices sequestered."

Agreed to.

"4. Ordered, To be referred to the Committees of Lords and Commons appointed the Twenty-sixth of November, for the Advancement of Monies, and procuring of all other Necessaries for the Army, to see this Order for securing of Papists and sequestering their Estates effectually and speedily put in Execution, upon all such Papists, Lords or others, and their Estates and Offices, as shall be found within the Cities of London and Westm. and the Suburbs, and the Borough of Southwarke, Middlesex, and Places adjacent."

Agreed to.

"5. That the Earl of Warwicke and the Commissioners of the Admiralty be desired, from both Houses, to take some Care to send some Ships, to ride upon the Northern Coasts, to prevent the Arrival of any Forces or Ammunition that shall be sent into Newcastle, or any other Way as they shall think fit."

Agreed to.

"6. That, if any Colonel, Captain, or other Officer, of Scotland, shall bring in any Forces hither, of Horse or Foot, by Contract of our Agents in Scotland, to oppose the Army of Papists and their Adherents now raised, that they shall be entertained."

Agreed to.

Adjourn.

House adjourned till 10 ^a cras.