House of Lords Journal Volume 6: 9 February 1644

DIE Veneris, 9 die Februarii.

PRAYERS, said by Mr. Carryll.

Lords present this Day:

Ds. Grey de Warke, Speaker.

James, for arresting Middleton, while in Service under the Earl of Manchester.

Upon reading the Petition of John James, sent for as a Delinquent, for arresting Henry Middleton, now in Service of the Parliament, in Command under the Earl of Manchester: It is Ordered, That he shall be discharged of his present Restraint; and that the said Henry Middleton shall enjoy the Privilege of Parliament, being in their Service.

Ordinance for taking Ships belonging to the Irish Rebels.

The Lord Admiral presented to this House an Ordinance concerning the taking of Ships as appertain to the Rebels of Ireland; which being read Twice, was committed to these Lords following:

Any Three, to meet this Afternoon, at Three a Clock, in the Prince's Lodgings.

The Speaker acquainted this House with a Letter, and a Paper inclosed, which he received this Morning from the Scotts Commissioners; which was commanded to be read, as follows:

Scots Commissioners Letter.

"Right Honourable,

"Having bin here now Ten Dayes, we must for our owne Exoneration give an Accompt of our Dilligence to the Committees of Estates at Edingburgh, and the Army. We shall have an Occasion within Two Dayes; and therefore we would intreate your Lordship to communicate to the Right Honourable the House of Peeres this inclosed Paper, from

"Your Lordship's humble Servants,
Jo. Maitland,
A. Jhonston,
Robt. Barclay."

Worcester House, 9 Februarii, 1644.

Paper from them, to expedite the Manner of treating about Business.

"The Convention of the Estates of the Kingdome of Scotland, from their deepe Sence of the present Distresses and Dangers of both Kingdomes, now in Armes for their common Deliverance and Safety, and from their serious Acknowledgment of the Necessity of the present joyning the Counsells as well as the Forces of both Nations for these Endes, having sent us their Comissioners hither, with sufficient Power and Authority, conforme to the Meaning and Invitation of the Honourable Houses of Parliament; we did, by our Paper of the 5th of this Instante, earnestly represent and desire, that the Parliament, in their Wisdome, might be pleased to lay downe some speedy and constant Way of comunicating the Desires and joyning the Councells of both Kingdomes, in Pursuance of the Covenant and Treaty, and of supplying the Necessities of the Scottish Armies now in England and Ireland; and that the Forces of both Kingdomes may be soe employed, as they may be most usefull for the common Cause, and mutuall Comfort of both Kingedomes: The Honourable Houses of Parliament know, that the Matters trusted unto us, and to be mutually transacted, call for a speedy Dispatch, and cannot suffer Delay; that the Charge of the Armies is vast, and cannot long be borne; that the Enemy is restles and vigilant, and will neglect no Opportunities; and that not only the good People at Home are praying and waiting for a happy Issue of their manifold Troubles and Sufferings, but the Eyes of the World Abroad are upon both Kingdomes at this Tyme. Ten Dayes are now past since our Arrivall. We are bound to give Accompt of our Dilligence to those that sent us. The Comittees, both at Edinbrugh and at the Army, will be longing to heare from us; and we have the Occasion of a Shipp this Weeke; and therefore we are constreyned againe to intreate the Honourable Houses of Parliament, upon the Premises, to take such speedy Course as in their Wisedome they shall thinke convenient, for joyning the Councells of both Kingdomes, according to the Intent of those that sent us, upon the Desire of the Honourable Houses, which may be a Ground of Resolution and Exoneration unto us, and may be most conduceable for the Good of the Three Kingdomes.

"John Donn, Cler. Commiss."

Message from the H. C. that they have received the same;

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Sir Peter Wentworth Knight, and others:

To communicate to their Lordships a Letter sent to their Speaker from the Scotts Commissioners.

to consider of divulging the Declaration of both Kingdoms.

2. To desire that their Lordships would please to appoint a Committee, to join with a proportionable Number of the House of Commons, to consider of the divulging of the Declaration of the Two Kingdoms.

The Letter was read, and was the same that this House received this Morning from the Scotts Commissioners.

Committees to meet about it.

And it is Ordered, That the same Committee that were appointed to receive the Papers from the Scotts Commissioners are hereby appointed to join with the Committee of the House of Commons, to consider of the divulging of the said Declaration; and to meet this Afternoon, in the Painted Chamber, at Three of the Clock.

The Answer returned was:

Answer to the H. C.

That this House hath received a Letter from the Scotts Commissioners, of the same Contents as the Letter now brought up from the House of Commons; and that the Lords have nominated the same [ (fn. 1) Committee to] consider of the dispersing of the Declaration of the Two Kingdoms, as were appointed to receive the First Papers from the Scotts Commissioners.

Ordinance concerning the Committee of both Kingdoms.

Then the House was adjourned during Pleasure; and the Ordinance for the treating with the Scotts Commissioners was debated.

And the House being resumed;

The House appointed a Committee to word the Alterations in the Powers according to the Sense of the Debate of the Committee, and to report the same to the House:

And the Earl of Lyncolne reported from the Committee the Ordinance, with the Alterations; which being read, were Agreed to by this House.

And this House thought it fit to add more Lords to be of the Committee; videlicet,

And the Quorum to be Three Lords and Six Commoners.

And to all the rest of the said Ordinance this House (fn. 2) agrees, with these Alterations and Additions.

Message to the H. C. that the Lords agree to in.

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

To deliver the said Ordinance to them; and to let them know, that this House agrees to the said Ordinance, with the Alterations and Additions.

Earl of Middlesex's Assessment.

Ordered, That the Committee for the Earl of Midd. shall meet To-morrow Morning before this House sits, and hear what he can say concerning the assessing him One Thousand Pounds for the (fn. 3) Twentieth Part.

Personal Reflections to be avoided in Debate.

Ordered, That when any Thing is debated in this House, no Peer shall make any Personal Reflection upon another; and if any shall do so, the Speaker is to call him to the Matter in Debate.

Adjourn.

House adjourned till 9^a cras.