House of Lords Journal Volume 6: 18 May 1643

DIE (fn. 1) Jovis, videlicet, 18 die Maii.

PRAYERS.

Earl of Manchester, Speaker.

Message from the H. C. with Orders, &c. for Concurrence.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Mr. Morley; who brought up several Orders, wherein they did desire their Lordships Concurrence, with as much Expedition as may stand with their Lordships other Occasions:

1. An Order concerning the sequestering of the Earl of St. Albans Estate. (Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

2. An Order for adding some Names to the Committee for sequestering the Estates of Malignants, &c. in the County of Kent. (Here enter it).

Agreed to.

3. An Order for adding some Names to the Committee of Sussex, for the sequestering of Malignants Estates.

(Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

4. An Order for adding some Names to the Committee in Sussex, for the Weekly Assessment.

(Here enter.)

Agreed to.

5. An Order for providing Monies, to maintain the Forces in the associated Counties of Essex, &c.

(Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

6. An Order for the better raising of Monies, in the County of Devon and City of Exon, for the maintaining of the Army there.

7. An Ordinance touching the Usage and Exchange of Prisoners taken by both Armies.

Committee to consider of the Two last.

Ordered, That this Ordinance, and the Order concerning the raising of Monies in the County of Devon, be referred to the Consideration of these Lords following:

Any Three, to meet To-morrow Morning, at Nine of the Clock.

Answer to the H. C.

The Answer returned to the Messengers was:

[ (fn. 2) That their Lordships do agree] to all the Orders now brought, excepting the Order concerning the County of Devon, and the Ordinance concerning the using of Prisoners, to which their Lordships will send an Answer by Messengers of their own.

Message from the H. C. to sit a while.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Sir Anthony Erby:

To desire their Lordships would please to sit a while, for they have some Business of Importance to communicate to their Lordships.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That their Lordships will sit a while, as is desired.

Mrs. Lannier; a Pass.

Ordered, That Mrs. Eliz. Lannier shall have a Pass, with One Man Servant and Two Maids, to go into Flanders.

E. of Newport's Servant, a Pass.

Ordered, That a Servant of the Earl of Newport shall have a Pass, to Newarke, to fetch some Cloaths of the Earl of Newport's.

Sandall, a Pass to Flanders.

Ordered, That Will. Sandall and Elizabeth his Wife, a little Child, and a Maid Servant, shall have a Pass, to go to Mastrike, in Flanders.

Dr. Merrick, Judge of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, gone to Oxford:

The House was this Day informed, "That Doctor Merrick, Judge of the Prerogative Court of Cant. for the Probate of Wills, and disposing the Administrations of Intestates Estates, is gone to Oxford, and hath made a Declaration, as followeth:

His Declaration to cancel all Acts by his Substitutes in his Absence.

"I do, by these Presents, revoke all the Substitutions I have made; and I will not approve or allow of any Act whatsover, that shall be done, by any Man that was formerly my Substitute, post diem Mercurii, videlicet, decimum instantem Maii finitum; and I do disannul and declare void all Acts that shall be done by any of my Substitutes after the said Day. Witness my Hand and Seal, Oxon, the 8 Maii, 1643.

"Will. Mericke."

Committee to consider of it.

The House conceiving this to be a Business of very great Consequence, and will be much Prejudice to the Subject if some speedy Course be not taken herein; this House Ordered, That the Consideration of this Business is hereby referred to the Committee appointed to consider of the Ordinance for Exchange of Prisoners To-morrow Morning, at Nine of the Clock, who are to consider what is fit to be done hereupon, and to report the same to this House; and the Civilians of this House, and Sir Nath. Brent, to attend at the Time aforesaid.

Gisbrough in Error.

Ordered, That Gisbrough shall assign Errors peremptorily by this Day Sevennight; and timely Notice to be given.

Ld. Macguire, Read, and M'Mahone's Petition for an Allowance.

Upon reading the Petition of the Lord Macgwire, Colonel Reade, and Mac Mahowne, close Prisoners in Newgate, desiring, "That some Allowance may be given them, to keep them from starving; and that they may be allowed a Man to attend them, by the Permission of their Keeper:" And, because they were committed by the Order of both Houses, it is Ordered, To send this Petition to the House of Commons, with Recommendations.

Mac Carta's Petition, for an Allowance to support his Family.

The Petition of Mr. Mac Carta was read; desiring, "That he might have some Allowance given him, to maintain his Wife and Children, or to be permitted to go beyond the Seas."

Ordered, To recommend this Petition to the House of Commons.

Archbp. of Cashell's Petition, for Money, and Leave to go to Leyden.

The Petition of the Archbishop of Cassells, in Ireland, was read; desiring, "(considering all his Means be seized by the Rebels in Ireland) that he might have some Monies given him, to pay some Debts he owes here in England, and to have a Pass to go to Leyden."

Ordered, To be recommended to the House of Commons.

Message from the H. C. for a Conference about England and Ireland;

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

To desire a present Conference, touching the great Affairs of England and Ireland.

and with a Letter to the Council of Scotland.

2. To desire their Lordships Concurrence in a Letter of Credence, to be given to Mr. Michaell Wedon, to be sent unto the Council of Scotland. (Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That this House will give a present Conference, in the Painted Chamber, as is desired; and that their Lordships do agree to the Letter of Credence now brought up, to be sent into Scotland.

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

Report of the Conference, concerning the Affairs of England and Ireland.

And the Speaker reported the Effect of this Conference:

"1. A Letter was communicated, concerning the burning of Swanbourne, in the County of Bucks.

( (fn. 3) Here enter the Letter.)

"Upon this Letter, the House of Commons have made some Votes, wherein they desire their Lordships Concurrence; and that the said Letter may be speedily printed and published. ( (fn. 3) Here enter the Votes.)

"Next, it was desired by the House of Commons, that Mr. Jepson might make a Narrative to their Lordships of some Passages that came to his Knowledge at Oxford, when he was there:

"That, when he was at Oxford, he did see the Lord Dillon and the Lord Taffe near about His Majesty, being great Papists, and keeping Correspondency with the Rebels in Ireland; and he calling to Mind what Letters he had seen in Munster in Ireland, written to the Earl of Muskerry, a chief Rebel, under their Hands-writing, which was to this Effect, "To encourage him to encourage the Rebels there to go on; and, though the King's Affairs were now that He could not be seen in it, yet in the End He will thank them for it:" Upon this, Mr. Jepson said, he went to the Lord Viscount Falkland, to acquaint him with it, and told him of this particular Business, and what dangerous Persons they were to be near the King. He said, "He that writ this deserved to be hanged." But nothing is done to remove them from the King's Council; but the Lord Taffe is since sent into Ireland, about the Affairs there.

"The House of Commons, taking these Particulars in Consideration, see the same Spirit here against the Protestant Religion, and the rooting out of Protestants, as in Ireland; (fn. 4) and have made a Vote, wherein they desire their Lordships Concurrence:

Papists, who have been in Arms against the Parliament, to be proceeded against as Traitors.

"That Proceedings shall be had against all Papists whatsoever, as Traitors, that have been in Arms, or actual War against the Parliament, or have furnished the King with Horse, Arms, Ammunition, or Money, to the Maintenance of this War."

Ordered, That this House agrees with the House of Commons in this Vote, leaving out the Word ["whatsoever"].

"The First Vote wherein the House of Commons desires their Lordships Concurrence:

Counties to unite in Defence of the Protestan Religion.

"That this House shall invite the several Counties under the Power of the Parliament, at the moving of my Lord General, to rise and join with his Excellency, with all their Force and Strength, in the Maintenance of this Cause of Religion, for the Preservation of the Protestant Religion, and to prevent the setting-up of Popery in England and Ireland, and to redeem themselves from the Rapines, Cruelties, Spoils, and Murders, committed upon them by the King's Forces; and that Letters be sent from both Houses to this Purpose."

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

Message to the H. C. that the Lords agree to these Votes.

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

To let them know, that their Lordships do agree with them in the Two Votes brought up at the last Conference, leaving out the Word ["whatsoever"] in the Second Vote.

Letter of Credence to Mr. Welden, going to Scotland.

"Our very good Lords,

"We are commanded, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, to acquaint your Lordships, that the Bearer hereof, Michaell Welden Esquire, is by both Houses of Parliament sent into the Kingdom of Scotland, to deliver to your Lordships, and the Lords of Secret Council, such Things as he hath in Charge by his Instructions from the said Houses; and therefore we are commanded to desire your Lordships to give him Credence, and Admittance from Time to Time, and vouchsafe him such further Favour as your Lordships shall think fit, for which we shall remain."

E. of Berks not to go to Oxford.

Ordered, That the Earl of Berk shall pass his Word to the Speaker of this House, not to go to Oxford when he goes into the Country, according to the Order of the 30th of March last.

Letter from the Committee at Aylesbury, about the Ravages of the King's Forces.

"SIR,

"We cannot but acquaint you, that you may make it known to the House of Commons if you please, in what miserable Condition this County is at this Time: The King hath sent into these Parts about Twelve or Fourteen Hundred of His Forces, commanded, as we are informed, by the Earl of Cleaveland, who is accompanied with the Lord Chandoys, the Lord Craford, Sir John Byron, and others of Note, who, according to the known Laws of the Land, pillage and plunder all the Towns where they come: They murder our Neighbours, that make but any Defence to preserve their Goods; One Woman (among the rest) big with Child, who could make no great Resistance, they cut in Pieces; what Household Goods they [ (fn. 5) can they] carry away; they sweep clean divers of our Pastures, leaving no Cattle behind them; and, that no Cruelty might be left unexercised by them, they have this Day fired a Country Village, called Swanborne, in Seven Places of the Town, for no other Reason but because they were not willing to be plundered of all they had; and guarded the Fire so carefully, with all their Forces, divided into several Parts, that no Neighbours durst adventure to come to quench it, all the while it burned. Our Forces in this Garrison consisting only of Foot, saving One Troop of Horse, we were not able to encounter with the Enemy, nor relieve our Neighbours thus despoiled; but yet, to interrupt that which to them is a Sport, we drew out some Forces in their Sight as far as with Safety we could, whereby they have not acted this Day all the Mischief they intended to execute before Night; but what they have left undone To-day, we expect they will ere they leave us make up, for they are now so strong that they quarter at Buckingham, and where they please in those Parts, without Resistance. We wish the Parliament's Army were so accommodated, that this County, which hath hitherto been, and yet is, most ready to serve and obey the Orders of the Houses, might not be destroyed, and made utterly unable to contribute unto it, before we can be relieved by it; but, relying upon God's Providence, and the best Means which may be afforded to preserve it, we rest,

"Your very loving Friends to serve you,

Aylesbury, the 16th of May, 1643.

"John Wittewronge.
"Thomas Tyrrill.

"For his Much-honoured Friend, Colonel Hampden; or, in his Absence, to Colonel Goodwin, or Bolstrode Whittlocke Esquire."

E. of St. Alban's Estate not to be sequestered.

"Whereas, by an Ordinance of both Houses of Parliament, Two Parts into Three, to be divided, of every Papist's Estate, is to be seized upon; and whereas the Earl of St. Albans and Clanricard, being a Papist, is within the said Ordinance, and consequently Two Parts of his Estate to be sequestered: Now, forasmuch as the said Earl of St. Albans and Clanricard is, and for a long Time hath been, upon the Service of this State, against the Rebels of Ireland, where he hath done good and faithful Service, and where, by Reason of that Rebellion, he hath lost a great Part of his Estate, it is therefore Ordered, by the Lords and Commons, That the Estate of the said Earl of St. Albans and Clanricard shall not be seized or sequestered; but that he and his Agents shall enjoy and receive his Rents and Estate quietly, without Interruption; any Thing contained in the said Ordinance notwithstanding."

Additional Committees for Kent.

"It is this Day Ordered, by the Lords and Commons, That Sir Edward Partricke, Sir Norton Knachebull, Sir Thomas Peyton, Sir Francis Barnham, be added to the Committees named in the Ordinances for the Weekly Assessments for Sequestrations, and for assessing such as have not contributed, or not in Proportion to their Estates, in the County of Kent; and that they shall have as full and ample Power, to all Intents and Purposes, as the other Committees named in the said Ordinances have, might, or ought to have; and that the said Persons be enjoined forthwith to go down into the County of Kent, to put the said Ordinances in Execution."

Additional Committees for Sussex.

"Whereas, in the Ordinance of both Houses of Parliament, for the seizing and sequestering of the Estates of certain Kinds of notorious Delinquents, for the Maintenance of the Army raised by the Parliament, the Names of divers Persons were omitted, to be a Committee for the County of Sussex, videlicet, Sir John Chapman Knight, Anthony Fowle, Lawrence Ashburneham, Thomas Middleton, Peter Farnden, Sir William Culpeper Baronet, William Michelbourne, John Busbridge, Stephen Humphrey, Thomas Collins, Captain Carleton, Captain Everden, Edward Higgons, William Cawley, Robert Spence: Be it therefore Ordained, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, That the Parties before named shall be added to the said Committee for sequestering Malignants Estates in the said County of Sussex; and that they shall have as full and ample Power, to all Intents, as the other Committees named in the said Ordinance have, might, or ought to have."

Committee added to the Weekly Assessment for Sussex.

"It is this Day Ordered, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, That Sir William Goreing Baronet, Sir Thomas Parker, Sir Tho. Henly, Sir Thomas Eversfeild, Knights, John Alford, Henry Goreing, Thomas Sherley, Edward Goreing, Thomas Challoner, Henry Sherley, Henry Pecke, Francis Sellwyn, Herbert Board, Nicholas Gildrege, John Board, George Churcher, William Hay, Henry Bridger, Thomas Anscombe, William Marlott, Thomas Jeffery, William Thomas, Esquires, be added to the Committees named in the Ordinances for the Weekly Assessments, and for seizing and sequestering the Estates of Papists, notorious Delinquents, &c. in the County of Sussex; and that they shall have as full and ample Power, to all Intents, as the other Committees named in the said Ordinances have, might, or ought to have."

Ordinance for raising Money, for Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, &c.

"Whereas the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament have made an Ordinance, for the speedy raising and levying of Money, throughout the whole Kingdom of England and Dominion of Wales, for the Relief of the Commonwealth, by taxing such as have not (fn. 6) at all contributed or lent, or not according to their Estates and Abilities; and whereas the associate Counties of Essex, Suff. Norffolke, Cambridge, Isle of Ely, Hertford, and the County and City of Norwich, out of their good and ready Affections, have lately sent Forces, with Arms, Powder, Bullet, and other Ammunition, out of their several Counties, for the Defence of the King, Parliament, and Kingdom, which they have paid, with all the Officers belonging to the said Forces, for Two Months; but, having many Charges lying upon them, cannot pay the said Forces and Officers any longer, without their great Impoverishment: The said Lords and Commons do therefore Ordain, That such Sum and Sums of Money as are and shall be assessed upon such Person and Persons as are of Ability, and have not contributed and lent, and have contributed and lent, yet not according to their Abilities, by virtue of the said Ordinance, in the said respective Counties, shall be employed to the Use, and for the Maintaining, of the said Forces, sent out of the said Counties respectively; and that all such Sums of Money, so assessed and rated as aforesaid, as shall be received by the Collectors nominated for that Purpose, shall be paid by the said Collectors to such Treasurers as shall be appointed by the Committees named in the said Ordinance, in their respective Counties, or any Three or more of them; and that the said Treasurers shall dispose of the same to the Use aforesaid, upon (fn. 7) Warrant directed to them under the Hands of the Lieutenant or Deputy Lieutenants of the said respective Counties, or any Two or more of them."

Adjourn.

House adjourned till 10 ^a cras.