House of Lords Journal Volume 6: 27 November 1643

DIE Lunæ, videlicet, 27 die Novembris.

PRAYERS.

Lords present this Day:

Ds. Grey of Warke, Speaker.

The Earl of Northumb. acquainted this House, "That he received a Letter on Saturday last from the Earl of Warwicke, who desired him to present the same to this House;" which this House commanded to be read:

E. of Warwick's Letter, for a Reinforcement of Ships.

"My Lord,

"I am as desirous to perform my Charge faithfully as any Man living, which (by God's Grace) I shall ever endeavour to my uttermost to do; but, lest there may be more expected from me than I am able to perform with the Handful of Ships in respect of the Work under my Command, I have in Discharge of my Duty to the Houses sent up to your Lordships a List of all the Ships I have, and how they are employed; that so the Houses may judge what I am able to do with these few I have for so much Employment, and not think they have a Fleet on the Irish Coasts to keep off the Rebels, when they have none, or any to spare for Convoys for our Merchants, for which I am every Day importuned by them; that so, if any of them miscarry by the Enemies, I may not be blamed for it, having so often writ for more Ships ever since the First of August, as will appear by my Letters to the Committee of the Navy; nor have I any to send abroad, to intercept the daily Importation of Arms to your Adversaries, though I have continual Intelligence of them.

" (fn. 1) If my Lords will have their Business done as I desire thoroughly, they must be pleased to send me Means to do it, by more Shipping; else, if your Enemies get a considerable Fleet out, it will be hard restraining them again; and if the Mariners (fn. 2) again taste once the Pillaging of your Merchants, they will have Mariners enough, and you few enough; for it is easy to give Content to Men with other Mens Goods.

"My Lord, I shall desire the Houses to consider well what Ships of these can be spared from these present Employments, to guard the Irish Seas, or be a sufficient Guard for those Seas, considering you have never a Port in Ireland you can trust any of your Ships in, nor any Port in England or Wales for Ships of their Burthen, considering the Enemy have fitted at Bristoll and Barnstaple some Sixteen Sails, and are fitting more every (fn. 1) Day as fast as may be I have written the same to the House of Commons, to give them also an Account of your Strength abroad; and shall expect your Lordships Commands and theirs further in this Service; and so, praying God to direct your Lordships Counsels, I commit you to His Holy Protection, and humbly take Leave, and rest,

Downes, 22 Nov. 1643.

"My Lord,

"Your Lordship's humble Servant,

"Warwicke.

"I shall humbly desire your Lordship to acquaint the (fn. 1) House of Peers, or the Committee for the Safety, or Navy, which you shall judge most proper, with these, that they may see how their Business stands, and what is their Winter Guard; that more may not be expected than I can (fn. 3) do with these I have, and so many Places to guard."

Ordered, To be communicated to the House of Commons.

Message to the H. C. with it;

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

To communicate the Earl of Warwicke's Letter to them.

and for the E. of Stamford's Arrears to be paid.

2. That whereas there are Arrears due to the Earl of Stamford and his Officers, for Service in the West; their Lordships do recommend it unto them, that they may be paid their Arrears with what Conveniency may be.

Message from thence, to fit on Tuesday and Thursday;

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Mr. Strode, &c.

1. "To let their Lordships know, that the House of Commons are resolved, notwithstanding their Order lately made, to sit on Tuesday next until Twelve a Clock, and Thursday next; and they desire their Lordships would please to sit on those Days, if their Lordships shall so please.

Agreed to.

to expedite the Great Seal;

2. In regard of the Stop of Original Writs, which cannot be sealed in regard the Great Seal is not put into Execution; therefore they desire their Lordships Expedition to the Desires at the last Conference delivered concerning it.

and with Ordinances.

3. They desire their Lordships Concurrence in Two Orders:

1. An Ordinance against the Adjournment of this Term. (Here enter.)

Agreed to.

2. An Order, That the Five Thousand Pounds assigned to Sir Wm. Waller shall be raised upon the Credit of the Excise.

Agreed to.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That this House agrees with the House of Commons to all the Particulars of this Message, excepting to that Part concerning the Great Seal; which their Lordships will speedily take the same into Consideration, and send an Answer by Messengers of their own.

Ld. Wharton to be cleared from a scandalous Report of Sir Henry Mildmay's.

It was moved, "That a Message (fn. 4) may be sent to the House of Commons, to desire them that they would take into their Consideration the clearing and vindicating of the Honour of the Lord Wharton from the scandalous Report that was raised of him by Sir Henry Mildmay Knight, a Member of their House."

Message to the H. C. about it.

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

To desire them to take into Consideration the clearing the Honour of the Lord Wharton; and likewise to desire them to think of the Earl of Stamford's Paper against Mr. Nicolls, a Member of theirs.

Committee of Safety to meet, to hear what the Earl of Warwick has to say to them.

The Earl of Warwicke acquainted this House, "That he is come purposely from his Employment at Sea, to acquaint the Parliament with some Things concerning the Affairs of the Kingdom; and, because his Return speedily was necessary, his Lordship desired that the Committee for the Safety of the Kingdom may meet this Afternoon:" Hereupon this House Ordered, To send to the House of Commons, by the next Messengers, to desire them that the Committee for the Safety may meet this Afternoon.

French Ambassador remonstrates about the Manner of presenting Papers to the Houses.

The Earl of Northumberland acquainted this House, That he attended the Prince De Harcourt with the Answer of both Houses; and since sent to his Lordship Monsieur De Gressy, to acquaint him, that he understands of a Declaration made by both Houses of Parliament, that nothing shall be delivered to the Parliament from any Ambassador until it be subscribed by him; which will be a Prejudice to him in offering any Thing to the Parliament."

Hereupon this House referred the Consideration hereof to the Committee for the Safety of the Kingdom, to consider of some Expedient in this Business.

Lady Chandois's Petition, for a Maintenarce out of her Husband's Estate, which is sequestered.

Upon reading the humble Petition of the Lady Susana Chandois; shewing, "That, by reason the whole Estate of the Petitioner's Husband is liable to the Ordinance of both Houses for Sequestrations, and that so much thereof as lies under the Power of the Parliament is already sequestered, amounting to the Yearly Value of near Fourteen Hundred Pounds, as by Accompt delivered to the Commissioners for Sequestration for the County of Midd. may appear, whereby your Petitioner is deprived of all Means of present Subsistence and Support: Therefore the Petitioner humbly desires that (in regard all the aforesaid Revenue is made to her in Jointure, and that, by reason of Rent Charges upon the Estate, and other Defalcation out of it, which must needs be expected to be great, the Parliament's Army having always been quartered upon it, if the whole were, through their Lordships Favour, assigned to the particular Use and Benefit of the Petitioner, it would be but a convenient Allowance for her Maintenance and Support, in a Condition suitable to her Quality) their Lordships will be pleased to allow her, if not the whole Fourteen Hundred Pounds, yet such a considerable Proportion for her Maintenance, as in their Lordships Wisdom and Goodness shall seem meet."

Hereupon this House Ordered, To recommend the said Petition to the House of Commons, to be referred to the Committee for Sequestrations, to give her Ladyship such an Allowance as her Affections to the Parliament deserves.

Mr. Langhorne to remain in Custody.

Ordered, That Mr. Langhorne, now in the Custody of the Gentleman Usher attending this House, shall remain in the Custody of the Gentleman Usher, until he hath submitted to the Judgement of this House, and paid the Money according to the said Order.

Clotworthies and Middleton.

Ordered, That the Cause between the Clatworthies and others shall be heard on Thursday next; at which Time all Parties interested and the Referees shall attend.

Private Business put off.

Ordered, That all Private Business (excepting such as are now depending in this House) shall be put off until Our Lady-day next.

Order against adjourning the next Term.

"Ordered, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, That the Judges of the several Courts in Westm. and all Prothonotaries, Clerks, Attornies, Cryers, and all other Persons and Officers whatsoever, be required and enjoined not to adjourn the Term, or execute any Thing, upon any Writ, Letter, or other Direction whatsoever, sent from Oxon, or elsewhere, without the Order of both Houses of Parliament."

Adjourn.

House adjourned till 10 ^a cras.