House of Lords Journal Volume 6: 5 June 1644

DIE Mercurii, 5 die Junii.

PRAYERS; by Dr. Stanton.

Domini præsentes fuerunt:

Ds. Grey de Warke, Speaker.

The Speaker of this House signified, "That he hath received a Letter from the Lord General;" which was read, as followeth:

The Direction was thus,

E. of Essex's Letter, that Lord Conway had sent Intelligence to Oxford, that L. Chandois intended to leave the King.

For the Right Honourable the Lord Grey of Warke, Speaker of the House of Peers pro Tempore.

My Lord,

I have forborn all this while to give an Account of the Proceedings of this Army, having given it to the Committee of both Kingdoms, which I doubt not but they have acquainted your Lordships with.

A good while before I left the City, I was desired by my Lady Chandois and Two learned Divines (who are very well esteemed by the Parliament) to give my Lord Chandois a Pass to return to the Obedience of the Parliament, knowing he had great Power in his Country, and therefore thought I did good Service; but, since my Arrival here, I have been informed that my Lord Viscount Conway did give Notice, in a Letter to the Earl of Dorsett at Oxford, of his Lordship's Intention to come away; and I having the Honour to be a Member of the House, I thought it my Duty to acquaint your Lordships, and leave it to your Lordships Wisdom for the further Examination of it, it being a Business (if true) of so high a Nature, as that, besides the Breach of his Trust in keeping Correspondency with Oxford, it might have cost my Lord Chandois his Life,

Junii 2, 1644.

My Lord, I am
Your Lordship's humble Servant,
Essex.

Committee to examine Lord Conway about it.

The House taking this into Consideration; Ordered, That the Earls of Northumb. Pembrooke, Lyncolne, Sarum, Stamford, Viscount Say & Seale, Ds. Howard, and Ds. Grey, or any Three of them, shall examine the Lord Viscount Conway presently, concerning this Business; and that the Speaker do write a Letter to the Lord General, to be prepared by this Committee, to desire him to send what Informations he hath of this Business: And it is further Ordered, That the Gentleman Usher shall presently give Notice to the Lord Viscount Conway, to attend the said Committee this Morning.

Message from the H. C. to expedite Two Ordinances.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Sir Rob't Pye:

To desire their Lordships to take into Consideration the Ordinance formerly brought up, for regulating the Committee of both Kingdoms.

2. To desire their Lordships would give Expedition to the Ordinance for excluding such Members of both Houses as have deserted the Parliament.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That this House will send an Answer by Messengers of their own.

Message from thence, with Letters from Foreign Princes.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Sir Symeon D'Ewes and others:

To communicate to their Lordships divers Letters received from Foreign Princes, directed to both Houses of Parliament:

1. A Letter from Christianus Quartus, King of Denmark.

2. A Letter from Fredericus Archbishop of Bremen, &c.

3. Another Letter from Christianus Quartus, King of Denmark. (Here enter them.)

Which Letters being read; it is Ordered, That the Consideration of these Letters are referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms.

Ordinance for Commissioners of the Customs to advance 22,000 l.

Next, the Ordinance concerning the advancing of Twenty and Two Thousand Pounds by the Commissioners of the Customs, was read the Third Time; and Agreed (fn. 1) to, with a small Alteration.

Message to the H. C. that the Lords agree to it;

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir Edward Leech and Doctor Aylett:

1. To acquaint them, that this (fn. 1) House agrees with them in the Ordinance concerning the Advance of Money by the Commissioners of the Customs, for the Use of the Navy, leaving out the latter Clause; wherein their Lordships (fn. 1) desire their Concurrence.

to remind them of Two Petitions sent down;

2. To put them in Mind of Sir Henry Mervin's Petition.

3. Of Serjeant Fynche's Petition.

and of Mr. Fortescue's Order.

4. And of Anthony Fortescue's Order, Agent of the Duke of Lorraine.

Message from thence, to expedite the Ordinance for advancing 22,000 l.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Sir Rob't Pye and others:

1. To desire their Lordships to give Expedition to the Ordinance for advancing of Two and Twenty Thousand Pounds, for the Navy.

with others for Concurrence; and with Committees Names for Bedford.

2. To desire Concurrence in these Ordinances following:

1. An Ordinance for raising of Monies for the Maintenance of such Forces as are and shall be raised in the County of Salop, for the Service of the Parliament.

2. To desire Concurrence, that Sir Wm. Boteler and Saint John Tompson, be added to the Committees for the County of Bedford.

Agreed to.

3. An Ordinance to appoint Sir Wm. Allanson to be Clerk of the Hanaper. (Here enter it.)

Read Thrice, and Agreed to.

4. An Order to give to Mr. Hext, a plundered Minister, the Value of Thirty Pounds in Books, out of the Sequestrations.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That this House agrees to the Ordinance concerning Sir Tho. Alanson, and to the Names to be added to the Committees for Bedford; to the rest [ (fn. 2) of the] Particulars of this Message, this House will send an Answer by Messengers of their own.

Examination of L. Conway, touching his sending Intelligence to Oxford, that L. Chandois was coming away.

The Lord Viscount Conway being come, the Lords Committees were appointed to examine him presently; and the House was adjourned during Pleasure.

The Committee being returned, the Earl of Northumberland reported, "That the Committee have examined the Lord Viscount Conway, and he hath answered to such Questions as were asked him concerning the Business mentioned in the Lord General's Letter."

Which Answer was read, as followeth:

The Examination of the Lord Viscount Conway, taken the Fifth Day of June, 1644.

The Questions were these:

Q. 1. What Letters he hath written or received from the Enemy's Quarters, since his coming from Oxford?

Q. 2. Whether he hath not written to the Earl of Dorsett since then?

Q. 3. Whether he had any Knowledge of my Lord Chandoys Purpose to come from Oxford.

Q. 4. Whether he ever gave any Intimation of it, directly or indirectly, unto any Person within the Enemies Quarters?

The Answer:

1. To the First, he writ a merry Letter (by his Cook who left him) from Coventry, to my Lord of Dorsett, to give him Liberty to speak what he pleased of him upon his coming to the Parliament.

2. To the Second, answered before.

3. To the Third, he had no Knowledge of my Lord Chandoys's coming, till he heard he was in the Lord General's Quarters; nor did he believe it, till he had further Assurance of it.

4. To the Fourth, he loved not him so ill, nor them at Oxford so well, as to give them Advertisement of it; he neither gave Information directly nor indirectly concerning it.

"Conway.
Taken before us,
A. Northumb.
W. Say & Seale.
Gray of Warke.

The Speaker also reported a Draught of a Letter to be sent to the Lord General; which was read, as followeth:

Letter to the Lord General, with a Copy of his Examination.

My Lord,

A Committee of the Lords have examined my Lord Viscount Conway, and have sent your Lordship a Copy of his Examination. The Lords can proceed no further in this Business until they receive from your Lordship the Informations given unto you; I have nothing else in Command.

Y (fn. 3) humble Servant.

Ordered, That this House approves of this Letter and that it be subscribed by the Speaker, and sent to the Lord General, with a Copy of the Examination.

Committee to prepare Reasons for not agreeing with the H. C. in the Ordinance for excluding some Members.

Ordered, That the Committee for to draw up Reasons why this House agreed not with the House of Commons to the Ordinance for excluding such Members of both Houses as have deserted the Parliament, with their Alterations, shall meet this Afternoon, at Three a Clock.

Answer from the H. C.

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

That they agree with this House in the Ordinance for advancing Two and Twenty Thousand Pounds for the Navy, with the Alteration. (Here enter it.)

To the rest of the Particulars, they will send an Answer by Messengers of their own.

Letter from the King of Denmark to both Houses, in Answer to theirs, complaining of Oppressions on English Merchants.

Christianus Quartus, Dei Gratiâ, Daniæ, Norvegiæ, Vandalorum, Gothorumque Rex, Dux Slesvici, Holsatiæ, Stormariæ, & Dithmarsiæ, Comes in Oldenburg & Dellmenhorst.

Singulari Favore ac Gratiâ nostrâ Regiâ præmissis, illustres, generosi, nobiles, atque spectabiles, sincerè grateque Nobis dilecti. Quæ post nuperrimè missum Theodorum Haakum denuò ob prætensas multiplices Mercatorum vestrorum Querelas de impeditâ liberâ Navigatione, tam in Freto nostro Oresundano quam Albi Fluvio, a vobis, Viri spectabiles et discreti, Gulielmus Barcherus et Ric'us Jenksum quasi ad Nos melius informandos in Mandatis habuerunt, ea ipsa egregiâ Solertiâ et Dexteritate exposuerunt. Nos, prout superiorem Hakium benigno Responso jamdudum donavimus, ita etiam prædictos postea Ablegatos coram Deputatis nostris clementissimè audiri secimus; respondentes verò in præsentiarum quantum Res nostræ concessere Desideriis vestris, haud dubitamus quin post Reditum suum pari Industriâ et Fide Mentem nostram in Scriptis sibi exhibitam, vobis uberiùs sint explicaturi, velitis modò eorundem Relationi plenam vicissim Fidem accommodare. Nobis enim antiquiâs nihil est quam liberrimum communis Commercii Intercursum stabilire. De cætero Pacis Studium unicè vobis commendamus; omnibusque et singulis Regiam nostram Gratiam et Propensionem in hunc Finem benignissimè pollicemur.

Dabantur ex Regiâ nostrâ Haffnie, die xii Martii, Anno Md cxliiii.

"Christianus.

Illustribus, generosis, nobilibus, atque spectabilibus, sincerè gratéque Nobis dilectis, Proceribus atque Ordinibus Regni Angliæ.

Another Letter from Him, that He has appointed some Persons to settle the Differences.

Christianus Quartus, Dei Gratiâ, Daniæ, Norwegiæ, Vandalorum, Gothorumque Rex, Dux Slesvici, Holsatiæ, Stormariæ, & Ditmarsiæ, Comes in Oldenburg & Dellmenherst.

Singulari Favore ac Gratiâ nostrâ præmissis, illustres, generosi, nobiles, atque spectabiles, sincerè gratéque Nobis dilecti, Proceres atque Ordines Regni Angliæ, ad Instantiam vestro Nomine Nobis sactam, commisimus aliquibus ex Regni nostri Senatoribus, ut Deputatos quos hoc Tempore ad Nos mittendos duxistis audirent, et quæ ab illis percepissent sideliter ad Nos perferrent. Ex eorum Relatione ubi de Desideriis vestris plenè edocti suimus, Animi nostri Sententiam super iis vicissim ipsis aperuimus; atque ut eam scripto comprehensam vestris traderent voluimus. Cum igitur eam per ipsos quam primum vobis redditum iri non dubitemus, confidimus vos & nostram in vos Benevolentiam & quantopere Res vestras affictas meliori Loco positas videre cupiamus abundè inde perspecturas. Si quid etiam ad Scopum hunc obtinendum À Nobis conferri poterit, et super eo requisitique fuerimus, Officia nostra a vobis frustra desiderari non permittemus.

Dabantur ex Palatio nostro Othoniensi, die v Januarii, Anno MDCXLIIII.

"Christianus.

Illustribus, generosis, nobilibus, et spectabilibus, sincerè grateque Nobis dilectis, Proceribus atque Ordinibus Regni Angliæ.

Letter from the Archbishop of Bremen, to both Houses, on the foregoing Subject.

Fridericus, Dei Gratiâ, Archi & Episcopus Bremensis & Verdensis, Coadjutor Halberstadensis, Hæres Norvigiæ, Dux Schlesvicensis, Holsatiæ, Stormariæ, & Dithmarsiæ, Comes in Oldenborg & Delmenhorst.

Illustres, nobiles, ac spectabiles Proceres ac Ordines Parliamenti Angliæ conspicui, præmisâ Salute ac Gratiæ & Clementiæ nostræ Denunciatione, benevolè significamus, spectabiles Viros Theodorum Haakum & Robertum Lowtherum Literas vestras, in Palatio Parliamenti Westmonasteriensi xxiii die Septembris Anni elapsi exaratas, Nobis hesterno die primum exhibuisse, et ea quæ in Mandatis habuere disertè explicuisse.

Nos, cum ex horum Relatione singularem Fiduciam in Favore ac Benevolentiâ nostrâ jam antea Nobis perspectâ erga Nationem Anglicam repositam intellexerimus, Animi nostri Sententiam vicissim Legatis hisce vestris quoad præsens Negotium revelari curavimus, qui de Studio nostro Desideria hæc vestra pro Viribus promovendi apud Sacram Regiam Majestatem Daniæ ac Norvegiæ, Parentem nostrum honorandum, pluribus vos certiores reddent: Quibus & plenam in his adhibeatis Fidem benevolè rogamus, ac vos Divinæ Clementiæ committimus.

Dabantur in Civitate nostrâ Stada, xix Februarii, Anno Mdcxliiii.

"Friderick.

Illustribus, nobilibus, ac spectabilibus Proceribus ac Ordinibus Parliamenti Angliæ conspicuis benevoli Nobis dilectis.

Ordinance for Sir William Alanson to be Clerk of the Hanaper.

Whereas the Office of Keeper and Clerk of the Hanaper in the Chancery hath not been Personally attended and executed by any proper and known Officer, as by the Ordinances of Parliament of the 21th of September and the 30th of January last, for the Attendance of Officers upon their several Places, is expressly required, whereby much Detriment may come unto the Commonwealth, and for which, according to the forenamed Ordinances, the said Office is and now standeth sequestered: It is therefore Ordained and Declared, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, That Sir William Allenson Knight shall (fn. 4) have and execute the said Office of Keeper and Clerk of the Hanaper in the Chancery, during the Pleasure of both Houses, with all Fees, Powers, Privileges, and Profits, thereunto belonging, in as ample Manner as any other Keeper or Clerk of the Hanaper ought to have enjoyed the same: And it is further Ordained and Required, That Mr. Solicitor General do prepare a Bill, in due and usual Form of Law, to pass the Great Seal of England, containing a Grant of the said Office and Premises unto the said Sir William Allenson in Possession, during the Pleasure of both Houses, as amply as the same have been granted, either by His Majesty King James, or His Majesty that now is, unto any Person or Persons whatsoever, either in Possession or Reversion; and that the Commissioners for the Great Seal do accordingly pass the same under the said Great Seal; for which the said Bill, together with this Ordinance, or the Duplicate thereof, shall be their sufficient Warrant.

Ordinance to re-pay 22,000 l. to be advanced for the Navy.

Whereas Thomas Andrewes, John Fowke, Richard Chambers, and William Barkly, Aldermen of the City of London, Maurice Thompson, Francis Allein, James Russell, and Stephen Estwicke, Merchants, being constituted, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, to be Commissioners to receive all such Sums of Money as should be paid for Customs, or advanced by Way of Loan or otherwise, for Supply of the pressing Necessities of the Navy, in the Month of September last past did advance, by Way of Loan, the Sum of Thirty Thousand Pounds, to be re-paid unto them with Interest, by Way of Defalcation out of the One Half of the said Receipts, at the End of Six Months; and whereas the said Commissioners, being informed of the pressing Necessities of the Navy, for Supply thereof are contented to furnish the Sum of Two and Twenty Thousand Pounds, for paying of the Winter Guards as the Ships come in, Fifteen Thousand Pounds whereof they have already advanced: It is thereupon Ordained, by the said Lords and Commons, That the said Commissioners, immediately after they have defalked the said Thirty Thousand Pounds, with Interest, according to the Ordinance of the 18th of September last, shall re-pay unto themselves the said Two and Twenty Thousand Pounds, out of One Half of the said Receipts, by Way of Defalcation, together with Interest for the same, after the Rate of Eight Pounds per Cent. for a Year.

Adjourn.

House adjourned till 9^a cras.