House of Lords Journal Volume 6: 5 March 1644

DIE Martis, 5 die Martii.

PRAYERS, by Mr. Greene.

Lords present this Day:

Ds. Grey de Warke, Speaker.

Letter from the Earl of Forth, with One inclosed from the King.

The Lord General acquainted this House, "That a Trumpeter brought a Letter to him, which was a Letter from the Earl of Foorth, directed to his Lordship, wherein there was a Letter signed by Charles R. and thus directed, "To the Lords and Commons of Parliament assembled at Westminster."

Message to the H. C. for Committees to open it.

And because this is an unusual Direction to the Parliament, this House Ordered, To send to the House of Commons, to desire them to join with this House, that the former Committees, which were appointed to open former Letters, may meet presently, to consider what is fit to be done with it, and to report the same to this House.

And accordingly a Message was sent, by Sir Rob't Rich and Mr. Page.

Ordered, That the Earls of Lyncolne and Sarum are added to the Committee that is to meet with the Committee of the House of Commons about this Letter.

Earl of Suffolk's Cause.

Ordered, That the Lord General, the Earls of Lyncolne, Sarum, Kent, Bolingbrooke, are added to the Committee for the Earl of Suffolke's Business, touching his Recovery; Mr. Baron Trevor and Mr. Justice Reeve are added to be Assistants.

Committee for the Journal.

Ordered, That the Earls of Rutland, Pembrooke, Sarum, Kent, Stamford, and Bolingbrooke, and the Lord Howard, are hereby to be added to the Committee for the Journal Book. Any Four, to meet when they please.

Message from the H. C. for a Conference about the Oath of Secrecy; and concerning the King's Children.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Sir Henry Mildmay and others:

To desire a Conference, so soon as may stand with their Lordships Conveniency, touching the Oath of Secrecy to be taken by the Committees of both Kingdoms; [ (fn. 1) and they] will be ready to receive from their Lordships what their Lordships intend to communicate unto them concerning the Business of St. James.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That their Lordships will give a present Conference, as is desired.

Message from the H. C. with Ordinances.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Mr. Millington;

To desire their Lordships Concurrence in Two Ordinances:

1st. For respiting the Payment of Ten [ (fn. 2) Thousand Pounds,] which is to be paid them in July next, until September following.

The said Ordinance was read Twice, and committed to a Committee of the whole House.

And accordingly the House was adjourned into a Committee during Pleasure, to consider of the said Ordinance.

The House being resumed;

The said Ordinance was read the Third Time, and Agreed to. (Here enter it.)

Another Ordinance was Twice read, now brought up from the House of Commons, for paying Ten [ (fn. 2) Thousand Pounds,] out of the Excise, to Mr. White, for the Use of the Lord Fairefaix.

Ordered, To be committed to a Committee of the whole House. And accordingly the House was adjourned into a Committee of the whole House, during Pleasure; and the said Ordinance was taken into Consideration.

And the House being resumed;

The said Ordinance was read the Third Time, and Agreed to. (Here enter it.)

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That this House agrees to both the Ordinances now brought up.

Answer from the H. C.

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

The Committee of their House shall meet the Committee of Lords presently, to open the Letter.

Message to them, with the Ordinance for paying Money to Col. Carr.

The Order for paying Monies to Colonel Carr, &c. was read, according to the Alteration made by this House Yesterday, and Ordered to be presently sent down to the House of Commons, to desire their Concurrence in the said Alteration; which accordingly was sent down, by Sir Rob't Rich and Mr. Page.

Ordered, That the Lord Wharton is appointed to report this Conference; and the Speaker is appointed to desire that the Matter of this next Conference may be delivered in Writing.

The House was adjourned during Pleasure, and the Lords went to the Conference; which being ended, the House was resumed.

Ordered, That the Report of this Conference shall be made To-morrow Morning.

E. of Middlesex's Assessment.

Ordered, That the Committee concerning the Earl of Midd's Business shall meet To-morrow Morning, at Nine of the Clock.

Answer from the H. C.

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

That to the Alteration in the Ordinance concerning Colonel Carr, they will send an Answer by Messengers of their own.

Committees to open the Letter from the King.

The Lord General reported, "That the Lords Committees have met with the Committee of the House of Commons, and considered of the Letter sent to the Lord General; and they think it fit to return it again to their Lordships, to (fn. 3) consider what is fit to be done upon it, they having no Power given them to open it."

Hereupon this House Ordered, That the Lords Committees have Power to open the said Letter; and to meet To-morrow Morning, at Eight of the Clock, with the Committee of the House of Commons.

Message to the H. C. about it.

And this House sent a Message to the House of Commons, by Sir Rob't Rich and Mr. Page, to desire that their Committee may have the like (fn. 3) Power given them, and meet at the Time aforesaid.

Ordinance concerning the Re-payment of Money to the Merchant Adventurers.

"Whereas the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament (having, for the Service of the Commonwealth, treated with the Fellowship of Merchants Adventurers of England for the Loan of Thirty Thousand Pounds, upon the Security of the Income of Excise or new Impost) did the 7th of October last Ordain, That, for the Re-payment of the said Thirty Thousand Pounds, Ten Thousand Pounds with Interest should be re-paid unto the Treasurer of the said Fellowship of Merchants Adventurers, on the 10th Day of January last; a Second Ten Thousand Pounds, with like Allowance of Interest, on the 11th Day of April following; and the last Ten Thousand Pounds, with the Remainder of like Interest, on the 12th Day of July next, as by the said recited Ordinance more fully appeareth: Forasmuch as, upon further Treaty with the said Fellowship of Merchants Adventurers, they are willing, for the further Accommodation of the Commonwealth, to respite the Receipt of their said last Ten Thousand Pounds until the First Day of September next ensuing, the Interest thereof being paid on the said 12th of July: It is thereupon hereby Ordained, by the said Lords and Commons, That Ten Thousand Pounds, with Interest after the Rate of Eight Pounds per Cent. shall be re-paid unto the Treasurer of the said Fellowship of Merchants Adventurers of England for the Time being, residing in London, on the First Day of September next ensuing; which said Ten Thousand Pounds, with Interest, the Commissioners of Excise are hereby authorized and required to make due Payment of accordingly, at the Day aforesaid; the Seal of the said Fellowship witnessing the Receipt of all or any Part thereof to be a sufficient Discharge from Time to Time to the said Commissioners: And the said Lords and Commons do hereby Declare, That they will not pass or permit any other Assignment, upon the said Security of Excise and new Impost, to precede the said Fellowship in their Receipts; and if, in the Interim, the said Income of Excise and new Impost should fall short, or otherwise surcease, the said Lords and Commons will nevertheless provide for the Re-payment of the said Fellowship, according to the true Intent of this Ordinance."

Ordinance for 10,000 l. for L. Fairfax's Army.

It is this Day Ordained, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That Ten Thousand Pounds, with Interest after the Rate of Eight Pounds per Cent. payable by virtue of an Ordinance of the Seventh of October last, from the Commissioners of Excise, out of the Income of the Excise, or new Impost, unto the Treasurer of the Fellowship of Merchants Adventurers of England, on the Twelfth Day of July next, shall be paid (fn. 4) towards the Maintenance of the Northern Army under the Command of the Right Honourable Ferdinando Lord Fairefax, and of the Forces under the Command of Sir Thomas Fairefax, unto William White Esquire, his Lordship's Agent, or unto such Persons or Persons as shall have Order from him, under his Hand and Seal, to receive the same, or any Part or Portion thereof; which said Ten Thousand Pounds, with Interest, the said Commissioners of the Excise are hereby authorized and required duly to pay, at the Time aforesaid, accordingly; and the Receipt of the said Wm. White, or any other Person or Persons by his Order, under his Hand and Seal, as aforesaid, of all or any Part of the said Sum of Ten Thousand Pounds, with Interest, shall be unto the said Commissioners a sufficient Discharge; any Thing in the aforesaid Ordinance of the Seventh of October to the contrary thereof in any Wise notwithstanding; Provision being made, by and with the Consent and Approbation of the said Fellowship of the Merchant Adventurers, for the making good of the said former Payment unto them at a further Time, as by an Ordinance in that Behalf, bearing Date herewith, appeareth.

Adjourn.

House adjourned till 9^a cras.