House of Lords Journal Volume 6: 22 May 1643

WHITSON Monday, die Lunæ, 22 die Maii.

PRAYERS.

Earl of Manchester, Speaker this Day.

The Speaker acquainted this House, "That he hath received a Letter from the Lord Viscount Falkland;" which the House commanded to be read, as followeth:

Lord Falkland's Letter, with a Message from the King.

"To the Right Honourable the Earl of Manchester, Speaker of the House of Peers pro Tempore.

"My Lord,

"I am commanded, by His Majesty, to convey to your Lordship this inclosed Message from His Majesty to both His Houses of Parliament; and, this being all that I have in Commission, I remain,

Oxford, 19th May, 1641.
My Lord,
Your Lordship's Very humble Servant,
Falkland."

The Message was read. (Here enter it.)

King's Message, desiring an Answer to His last, concerning Accommodation of Differences.

"CHARLES R.

"Since His Majesty's Message of the 12th April (in which He conceived He had made such an Overture for the immediate Disbanding of all Armies, and Composure of these present miserable Distractions, by a full and free Convention in Parliament, that a perfect and settled Peace would have ensued) hath in all this Time (above a full Month) procured no Answer from both Houses, His Majesty might well believe Himself absolved, before God and Man, from the least possible Charge of not having used His utmost Endeavour for Peace; yet, when He considers that the Scene of all this Calamity is in the Bowels of His own Kingdom, that all the Blood which is spilt is of His own Subjects, and that what Victory soever it shall please God to give Him must be over those who ought not to have lifted up their Hands against Him; when He considers that these desperate Civil Dissentions may encourage and invite a foreign Enemy to make a Prey of the whole Nation; that Ireland is in present Danger to be totally lost; that the heavy Judgements of God, Plague, Pestilence, and Famine, will be inevitable Attendants of this unnatural Contention; and that, in short Time, there will be so general a Habit of Uncharitableness and Cruelty contracted throughout the Kingdom, that even Peace itself will not restore His People to their old Temper and Security; His Majesty cannot but again call for an Answer to that His Message, which gives so fair a Rise to end these unnatural Distractions; and His Majesty doth this with the more Earnestness, because He doubts not, the Condition of His Armies in several Parts, His Strength of Horse, Foot, and Artillery, His Plenty of Ammunition (which some Men lately might conceive He wanted), is so well known and understood, that it must be confessed, that nothing but the Tenderness and Love to His People, and those Christian Impressions which always have, and He hopes always shall dwell in His Heart, could move Him Once more to hazard a Refusal; and He requires them, as they will answer to God, to Himself, and all the World, that they will no longer suffer their Fellow-Subjects to welter in each other's Blood, that they will remember by whose Authority, and to what End, they met in that Council, and send such an Answer to His Majesty as may open a Door to let in a firm Peace and Security to the whole Kingdom. If His Majesty shall again be disappointed of His Intentions herein, the Blood, Rapine, and Distraction, which must follow, in England and Ireland, will be cast upon the Accompt of those who are deaf to the Motion of Peace and Accommodation.'"

Ordered, That this Message shall be communicated to the House of Commons, by a Conference:

Committee to prepare Heads for a Conference on it.

And the Earls of Northumberland, Holland, and the Lord Viscount Say & Seale, and the Lord Viscount Conway,

Were appointed [ (fn. 1) to draw up] what is fit to be delivered to the House of Commons, as the Sense of this House.

Message to the H. C. for a Conference on Scotch Affairs.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Sir Christopher Yelverton Knight and Baronet:

To desire a Conference, touching the Affairs of Scotland.

Answer returned was:

Answer.

That their Lordships will give a present Conference, in the Painted Chamber, as is desired.

Packer and Mylles, a Pass.

Ordered, That Mr. Rob't Packer, and Mr. John Mylles, with their Horses and Two Servants, shall have a Pass, to go to Canterbury, and return to London, quietly.

Neale and Yardley, a Pass.

Ordered, That Mr. John Neale, and Mr. Ashton Yeardley, shall have a Pass, for themselves, Two Servants, and Four Horses, to go to Oxford, and return again to London.

Countess of Rivers's Petition, to have her Cloaths, &c. restored, which were taken away when she was preparing to go abroad.

Message to the H. C. to grant an Order to that Effect.

A Petition of the Countess Rivers was read; shewing, "That she having obtained Licence to go beyond the Seas by Order of this House, and having for her Journey provided Cloaths and other Necessaries; but the same are all stayed, with the Cloaths of her Children, and likewise the Goods in her House; therefore desires an Order for the freeing of the said Cloaths and Goods, and for her safe Passage beyond the Seas:" Hereupon this House sent down this Petition to the House of Commons, because they were stayed by the Order of that House; and to let them know, that, considering this Lady hath suffered great Losses, and hath not done any Thing to the Prejudice of the State, to desire them to grant an Order for the restoring of the Goods as soon as possible may be.

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

Report of the Heads for a Conference on the King's Message.

The Earl of Northumb. reported from the Committee, what they conceive fit to be offered to the House of Commons, as the Sense of this House, at the next Conference; which, being read, was approved of:

"That the Lords conceive it necessary to send the Reasons of the Two Houses of Parliament, why they cannot agree unto the Propositions offered in the King's Message of the Twelfth of April.

"To express, in this Answer to be made unto His Majesty, that our Endeavours have been, and ever shall (fn. 1) be, to put an End to these unhappy Differences, so as our Religion, Laws, and Liberties, may be secured.

"That they would appoint a Committee, to meet with a Committee of Lords this Afternoon, to consider of the whole Message, and to prepare such an Answer as they think fit to offer unto the Two Houses.

"The same Committee of Twelve Lords were appointed, that were nominated the 18 Maii, 1643."

Message to the H. C. for it.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Mr. Serjeant Whitfeild and Mr. Serjeant Fynch:

To desire a Conference, in the Painted Chamber, touching a Message received from the King.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That the House of Commons will give a present Conference, as is desired.

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

Ordered, That this House shall be adjourned till Three a Clock this Afternoon.

Sir Thomas Stanley and Family, a Pass to The Spa.

Ordered, That Sir Tho. Stanley, his Lady, Two young Daughters, and a Son, Three Men Servants, and a Maid Servant, shall have a Pass, quietly to go to any Port of this Kingdom, and embark themselves for their Transportation to such Parts in Germany as lye towards The Spaw; taking with them such Apparel and other Necessaries lawfully exportable, as shall (fn. 1) be necessary for their Journey; and that they shall have Liberty to have a Coach, with Horses and Saddle-horses, to bring them to the Sea-side.

Adjourn.

House adjourned till 3^a post meridiem.

Post meridiem.

PRAYERS.

Earl of Manchester, Speaker.

Answer from the H. C. about the Countess of Rivers.

The Messengers return with this Answer from the House of Commons:

That they have delivered their Message to the House of Commons, concerning the Countess of Rivers.

Mr. Mallevorer discharged.

Ordered, That Mr. Mallevorer shall be discharged from attending this House any longer; and the Collier that gave the Misinformation to this House shall attend this House, to answer the same.

Adjourn.

House adjourned till 10^a cras.