House of Lords Journal Volume 6: 22 December 1643

DIE Veneris, 22 die Decembris.

PRAYERS.

Lords present this Day:

Ds. Grey de Warke, Speaker this Day.

The Speaker acquainted this House, "That he had received a Letter from the Lord General, dated 18 Decembris, 1643;" which the House commanded to be read, as followeth:

E. of Essex's Letter about the E. of Holland's Return from Oxford.

"My Lord,

"I have received from you my Lord of Holland's Petition, and do acknowledge my Desire of his Return hither, and invited him to it: I hearing of his Unsatisfaction of their Carriage at Oxford, I was desirous to disengage him from thence; believing (as I confidently do) that his Return hither is really in his Affections to the Public, which in this as in all Things I have and shall study to preserve, as

"Your Lordship's humble Servant,

December 18, 1643.

"Essex.

"For the Right Honourable the Lord Grey of Warke, Speaker of the Lords House."

Ordered, To have a Conference with the House of Commons, and communicate this Letter and the Earl of Holland's Petition to them.

Message to the H. C. for a Conference about it, and the E. of Holland's Petition.

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

To desire a Conference, concerning a Petition of the Earl of Holland's, and a Letter received from the Lord General.

Mr. Bringhurst, a Pass.

Ordered, That Mr. Bringhurst shall have a Pass, to go to Oxford, and return again to London, with his necessary Servants, and their Horses.

French Ambassador, a Pass.

Ordered, That Prince Harcourt shall have a Pass, to go to Oxford, with such Attendants as he shall think fit to attend (fn. 1) him; and that in going and returning he pass quietly, without any Interruption and without Search.

Bennet and Ward, a Pass.

Ordered, That Edward Bennett Gentleman Waiter to the Duke of Yorke, and Mr. John Ward Servant to the Prince, shall (fn. 1) have a Pass, for themselves, with a Coach and Four Horses, and Wearing Apparel, to go to Oxford, and attend their Masters.

Lady Hatton versus Johnson, for building an Alehouse near her House.

Upon reading the Petition of the Lady Eliz. Hatton; complaining, "That one Thomas Johnson is erecting of a House upon a new Foundation near her House; which is a great Annoyance to her and to the Public, especially considering the Intent of making the said House an Ale-house:" Hereupon this House Ordered, That there shall be a present Stay made of the Building, until this House shall be further informed concerning the said House.

Billet-money to Kent, Middlesex, &c.

The Order for allowing of Billet-money to the Counties of Midd. Kent, Surry, and Hertford, was read, and Ordered to be rejected.

Message from the H. C. with a Letter from Sir William Waller.

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

To present to their Lordships a Letter from Sir Wm. Waller, which they desire may be referred to the Consideration of the Committee for the Safety.

The Letter was read, and Ordered to be referred to the Committee for the Safety. (Here enter it.)

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That this House hath read the said Letter of Sir Wm. Waller's, and hath referred it to the Committee for the Safety, with Recommendations.

Answer from the H. C.

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

That they will give a present Conference, as is desired.

Heads for the Conference about the E. of Holland.

The Lord Admiral was appointed by this House to let the House of Commons know, at the next Conference, "That, upon the receiving of the Petition of the Earl of Holland, this House sent a Letter to the Lord General, to know of him what passed between the Earl of Holland and him concerning the Return of the Earl of Holland, and what Invitation he gave him; and to acquaint them with the Lord General's Letter, being in Answer thereunto; And whereas this House Ordered that the Earl of Holland should reside within the Line of Communication, with Liberty to go Three Miles from the said Line of Communication for his Health's Sake, that the Lords, upon this Petition, have now Ordered, That the Earl of Holland may go any whither beyond the said Distance of Three Miles, that is within the Power of the Parliament; and to further acquaint (fn. 2) them, that this House desires them to join, that the Sequestration upon the Earl of Holland's Estate may be taken off; and that their Lordships conceive the Lord General hath the same Power as other Generals have, in receiving Persons that come to him, especially seeing the Earl of Holland came upon Invitation of the Lord General."

The Lords went to the Conference; and this House was adjourned until To-morrow Morning, at 10 ^a of the Clock.

Sir William Waller's Letter, that he had defeated the Enemy.

"My Lords,

"According to your Command, I advanced the last Lords-day from Farnham, towards this Place; I could not reach that Night past Haselmere: The next Day I marched to Cowdrey, where we understanding there were Four Troops of Horse and One Hundred Foot, I resolved to give them the good Night; and to that End I dispatched away Two Regiments of Horse, to lay the Passages round; but they were too nimble for me, and escaped hither, where I overtook them on Tuesday Night: The next Morning, after we had taken a View, and found out a Place where (fn. 2) we might flank their Line with our Ordnance, we fell on upon the North Side of the Works, which we did so scour a weedy Hill in the Park on the West Side of the Pond with our Pieces, that we made them too hot for them; which gave such Courage to our Men, that with the same Breath they assaulted a Retrenchment which they had newly cast up, and which was very strong; it was drawn from the Town Gate, down to the aforesaid Pond near the Mill; at the same Time we fell on upon a narrow Passage by the Mill, where they had likewise a Double Work, and very strong: In a short Time, by the good Hand of God, we forced both, and entered the Town with our Horse and Foot, notwithstanding a brave Sally made by their Horse; we beat them into the Castle, and entered the First Gate with them; the Second they made good, and barricadoed; and there they are Welcome. I am resolved to block them up; for I know they are in a necessitous Condition. God hath been pleased to bless me hitherto with a gracious Success; His great and holy Name be praised for it. But truly, my Lords, I am very weak in Foot, and my Horse so hacknied out that they are ready to lie down under us. I expect Colonel Beere here this Day, and Colonel Morley."