House of Lords Journal Volume 6: 16 June 1643

DIE Veneris, 16 die Junii.

PRAYERS.

Earl of Manchester was appointed to be Speaker this Day.

Sir John Manwood, a Pass.

Ordered, That Sir John Manwood shall have a Pass, to go into The Low Countries.

L. Conway's Servant not to carry Letters to him.

Ordered, That this House explains the Meaning of their Order to be concerning the Lord Viscount Conway, "That his Servant shall not convey any Letters to him, but only such Necessaries as his Lordship hath Occasion of."

Possession of the E. Exeter's Woods, in Heaston, quieted.

Upon reading a Petition of the Countess of Exon, in the Behalf of the Earl of Exon; and upon reading an Affidavit, "That the Possession of Woods in Easton, in the County of North'ton, is disturbed:" Hereupon this House Ordered, That an Order shall be granted, to quiet the Possession of the said Woods, until the same shall be evicted by due Course of Law. (Here enter the Petition and Affidavit.)

Sir Robert Mansel's Petition for Relief from the Assessments.

Upon reading the Petition of Sir Rob't Mansell Knight, shewing, "That he is assessed in London at Two Hundred and Fifty Pounds for the Twentieth Part of his Estates, and Six Pounds by the Week, besides his Assessment in the Country, which he is no Way able to pay, because the Benefit of his Glass-house fails: therefore he desires their Lordships to give such Order, for his Relief in the Premises, as their Lordships in their Wisdom shall think fit." Hereupon this House Ordered, That the Speaker of this House shall recommend this Business from this House, to the Committee at Haberdashers Hall, to give him Relief herein.

E. of Suffolk's Possession of Somersham quieted.

Upon Information, "That divers Persons have, in riotous Manner, disturbed the quiet Possession of the Earl of Suffolke, in the Park, and Chace, and Woods, in the Manor of Somersham, in the County of Hunt." It is Ordered, That the Earl of Suff. shall have the Protection of this House, for preserving the said Park, Chace, Woods, Houses, Grounds, and Cattle, and preserving the Mounds and Hedges, &c.

Declaration concerning Ireland.

Next, the Declaration concerning the miserable Condition and Estate of the Kingdom of Ireland was read, and Agreed to. (Here enter it.)

And the same to be printed and published.

Calamy and Herle, to publish their Sermons preached at the Thanksgiving.

Ordered, That Mr. Calamy and Mr. Herle (fn. 1) are desired to print and publish their Sermons, preached before the Lords in Parliament, in the Abbey of Westm. Yesterday, being the Day of Thanksgiving for the late Discovery, and great Deliverance from the Plot.

E. of Suffolk took the Covenant.

This Day the Earl of Suffolke took the Covenant.

Delinquents sent for, for disturbing Newstead, in the Parsonage of Stysted.

Upon reading the Petition of Mr. Newsteed, Minister of the Parsonage of Stysestead, in the County of Essex; complaining, "That whereas this House made an Order for his quiet officiating and enjoying the Possession of the said Living; yet, notwithstanding, the said Order is disobeyed, and he not suffered to come into the Church; and the Women threw Stones at him, and reviled him and his Friends, &c." Hereupon this House Ordered, That Thomas French, and the Constable, and the Sexton, shall be sent for, as Delinquents, to answer the said Offences.

Flower versus Sir John Lambe.

Ordered, That this House remits Mr. Flower, to proceed in the ordinary (fn. 2) Course at the Common Law, against Sir John Lambe, and such others as he shall proceed against.

Report of the Declaration of Loyalty to the King.

The Earl of Northumb. reported from the Committee, a Draught of what the Committee thinks fit to be taken, to declare their Lordships Loyalty to the King's Person, His Crown, and Dignity; which being read as followeth: videlicet,

"Whereas there hath been a treacherous and horrid Design lately discovered, which might have endangered His Majesty's Person, and the Persons of His Royal Issue; the Lords and Commons, in Discharge of their Duties, have entered into an Oath and Covenant, declaring their hearty Sorrow for their Sins, and the Sins of the Nation, &c.

"We the Lords and Commons do further Declare, That our Intentions have been, and still are, to our Power, to maintain, preserve, and defend His Majesty's Person, and just Rights of the Crown, together with the Persons of His Royal Issue; and that we shall use our uttermost Endeavours in Pursuance of the same."

To be communicated to the H. C. and offer Propositions for settling Peace.

(fn. 3) Ordered, To communicate this to the House of Commons, at a Conference, To-morrow Morning; and, at the same Conference, to offer something to the House of Commons, for composing the Distractions, and settling of Peace between the King and the Parliament.

Message from thence, about sending Committees to Scotland;

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

To desire their Lordships to take into Consideration, that the Time of sending Committees into Scotland is much elapsed; therefore the House of Commons desires their Lordships to take into Consideration the adding of some Persons more to the Lord first named, to go, with what convenient Speed may be, into Scotland; and they desire a Resolution herein this Day, if it may stand with their Lordships Occasions.

and about the Horses and Goods of the E. of Portland and L. Conway being secured.

2dly, To acquaint their Lordships, that Captain Washburne did take the Horses of the Lord Viscount Conway by virtue of the Lord General's Warrant, and with the Privity of Two Deputy Lieutenants, Members of the House of Commons, as conceiving him to be within the Ordinance; but, in regard there is some Question of it, they desire their (fn. 4) Lordships would appoint that the Goods and Horses of the Lord Viscount Conway, and likewise the Goods and Horses of the Earl of Portland, may be put and deposited into some safe Hands, until further Examination of the Business.

and to expedite the Ordinance for raising Horses within Ten Miles of London.

3dly, To desire their Lordships to expedite the Ordinance formerly brought, touching the listing of Horses (fn. 5) within Ten Miles of London.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That this House approves not of the Manner of taking the Horses of the Lord Viscount Conway; but, in regard that he is committed to safe Custody by this House, their Lordships do appoint that the Goods and Horses of the Lord Viscount Conway shall be deposited in the Hands and safe Custody of Sir Rob't Harley; and the Goods and Horses of the Earl of Portland to be deposited in the safe Custody of Wm. Fitz-Williams Esquire; to be safely kept for their Use, and to be forthcoming as their Lordships shall appoint (when the Business is further examined); and that Mr. Captain Washburne shall deliver the Horses of the Lord Viscount Conway to Sir Rob't Harley; and concerning the adding of some Persons more to be sent into Scotland, and the Ordinance for listing of Horses, their Lordships will send an Answer by Messengers of their own.

Phillips and Burnaby to be released.

Ordered, That Phillips and Burniby, committed formerly by this House to (fn. 4) The Fleete, shall be brought To-morrow Morning to this House; and, upon acknowledging of their Offence, to be released of their present Imprisonment.

Ordinance for a Contibution, to relieve the distressed Condition of Ireland.

"We, theLords and Commons assembled in Parliament, being by several Letters fully informed, both from the Lords Justices and Council at Dublin, and also from other Parts of the Kingdom of Ireland, of the extremely necessitous Condition of the whole Army, and the rest of the distressed Protestants of that Kingdom; out of a compassionate Sense of the Miseries of their Brethren there, and their tender Care to prevent the Extirpation of the Protestant Religion, so generally aimed at, have thought fit to publish to the View of all piously-affected Persons, the lamentable Estate of that distressed Kingdom, which is now, by the unhappy Influence of our Distractions here, reduced to that Extremity, that, in most Parts of the Army, our Soldiers want Bread for their Bellies, Cloaths for their Backs, and Shoes for their Feet, to give them a necessary Subsistence; and in some Parts they have been forced to kill their Horses, to satisfy their Hunger; very many of the poor English in several Places having perished by Famine.

"Nevertheless it hath pleased Almighty God to imprint such special Marks of His unlimited Favours upon the Endeavours of our several Armies there, that we have more than probable Cause to hope that, if we shall chearfully address ourselves to send them seasonable Supply, He will not yet permit the Ruin of our Religion and Countrymen in that Kingdom; which we are the more induced to believe, since we are credibly informed that the Wants of our Adversaries do in most Parts equalize, in many far exceed ours, where they have been forced to eat not the Flesh only, but the very Hides of their Horses, to keep them from starving, which have brought very many of them to such a Condition of Weakness, that they appear rather like walking Anatomies than fighting Men; so that we have no Reason to suspect but that our Armies there (if not suffered first to starve) may by God's Blessing yet soon reduce that Kingdom.

"Nor can it be unknown to any understanding and judicious Observer, that whatsoever be pretended by the Rebels, yet the true Causes heightening them to such a Degree of Barbarousness are the inveterate Hatred they bear to the true Religion, and their ambitious Desires, as is most evident by the several Commissions from the Rebels, stiling themselves The Supreme Council of the Confederate Catholics of Ireland, issued to Men of War, whom they maintained at Sea, to spoil the Trade of this Kingdom, making themselves absolute, and independent (fn. 6) of this Kingdom; and which is not a little fomented by all the Popish Party throughout Christendom, as appears by the large Contributions sent from all Parts thither, of Money, Arms, Ammunition, and experienced Commanders. And can it be that God's Enemies should be more violent and indefatigable for restoring Idolatry in a Kingdom foreign to theirs, than we zealous in propugning God's Truth in our own, against both barbarous Traitors and monstrous Idolators? Shall the common Incendiaries of both Kingdoms strip themselves of all they have, to accomplish our Destruction, by devouring that rich and fruitful Island? and shall the good People of this Nation, of the same Blood and Religion with them, think any (fn. 7) Thing too dear for redeeming them whom we ought to our Powers to preserve? seeing hereby we also secure our own both Religion and Liberties, preventing the Access of the Rebels from thence by enabling our Army to continue there, which will consequently contain them within that Kingdom, a Thing earnestly to be intended, considering what Courses are set on Foot at Oxford, for bringing them into this Kingdom; not to insist how much imports all the Adventurers, Lenders, and Contributors, all Merchants, and indeed the whole Nation, to advance a considerable Sum to what they have applied unto that Work, for the now compleating thereof; nor to be more particular in laying before the World how the King (seduced by evil Counsels) doth deny His Concurrence to the Bill lately sent Him, as a most necessary Expedient for that Work?

"We have therefore thought fit to appoint a special Committee for that Purpose, and have Resolved, in the Midst of our Distractions here (as a Thing wherein the Welfare of our Religion, the Honour of our English Nation, and the Safety of this Kingdom, is so nearly concerned) to contribute by all possible Means to the Preservation of that Kingdom.

"And, although the great Burthens which lie upon the Subjects, for Maintenance of the Armies raised for the necessary Defence of this Kingdom, will not suffer us to lay any present Charge upon them; yet our tender Care of Ireland is such, that, in Pursuance of a Vote of the House of Commons, an Ordinance is now ready to pass, whereby a Charge shall be set of Two Hundred Thousand Pounds upon this Kingdom, to be assessed upon the several Counties, according to the Proportion of the Bill of Four Hundred Thousand Pounds, and to be paid in Two Years, by which Time, we hope, the Distractions of this Kingdom, by God's Mercy, may be so settled, that the Subjects shall with Ease and Chearfulness bear this necessary Burthen; and by this Means, we conceive, this future Charge will give present Credit for the Relief of the starving Condition of Ireland, which is intended to be laid upon this Kingdom, as an Adventure for Land in Ireland, for the Benefit of the several Counties, proportionable to the Sums that shall be raised in the particular Counties, to be employed to the Ease of their Public Charge; and do likewise earnestly (fn. 8) recommend the Care of that Work to all such as are really affected to our Religion, and the Cause we have in Hand, to advance Monies for that Use, either by Way of Adventure, Loan, or Weekly Contribution, in such Manner as shall be agreed on by the Committee, and approved by the Parliament, wherein both Houses of Parliament intend to shew that good Example, which they hope all others will follow.

"For what may be advanced by Way of Adventure, it is already provided, in a late Ordinance of Parliament, that all new Adventurers shall receive the same Advantages granted to the former in the Act of Parliament for the Adventurers of Ireland; and, in the same Ordinance, Provision is made for the Security of all such as shall voluntarily lend to so pious a Work; all which Monies now proposed to be advanced shall only have their Aspect forwards (without Consideration of former Arrears), and be disposed of, with all possible Care, to the best Advantage of this present Summer's Service; and for what hath been formerly raised to that Purpose, it shall most evidently appear to all the World, that it hath been, with a great Overplus, disposed of for the Use of Ireland; and that all Aspersions of that Nature cast upon the Parliament have been but the malicious Pretence of disaffected Persons, to excuse their own Backwardness, and dishearten such as Desire to prevent the Ruin of our Religion, which we hope, by our cordial and seasonable Endeavours, may speedily be prevented, and this War soon brought to happy Conclusion; and herein the Concurrence of most of the Officers of that Kingdom administers great Encouragement, who are desirous (so well they affect that Work) to underwrite the One Half of their Arrears due by Way of Adventure for Land, and also take the One Half of what shall grow due, and is to come likewise on the Condition of the Subscribers at the Reducing of that Kingdom, desiring only to subsist until the Work be finished.

"We have so just Reason, upon these many and convincing Grounds, to be sensible of the extraordinary Care and pious Intentions of the well-affected Party in this Kingdom, as we must not or cannot doubt of their ready Zeal in the setting forward of so pious, so charitable a Work, wherein the Religion we profess lies at the Stake, and the Lives of so many Thousands of our poor Protestant Brethren are in apparent Danger, unless by present Relief their approaching Ruin be timely prevented; nor can we well expect that God will long bless us, if we be wanting to our Brethren, whose Preservation is so immediately linked to our own Safety, that we have much Cause to suspect this Kingdom is much endangered, when we have once absolutely lost that of Ireland; for such is the Malice of the Rebels to our Nation, that, if they once root us out of that Kingdom, they will not despair, by themselves and their Confederates, wholly to extirpate both us and our Religion out of the Christian World.

"For Remedy whereof, in so much as the general Ways observed on the last Act of Contribution hath not procured such Means of Relief as are necessary (though divers, both Persons and Parishes, have been very bountiful), several of that Kingdom, with others, are therefore directed to solicit the Business by such particular Applications as may be hoped (in a Work so earnestly crying for Relief) will beget competent Supplies, for giving that Kingdom a Being, and in all Likelihood preserving this from final Undoing; which, as it must be acknowledged to the already Contributors, so is and shall be esteemed by those who hereafter put Hand to the Work, as a most acceptable Service to this and that Kingdom.

"These Things considered, we desire that all wellaffected People would heartily apply themselves to prevent such Mischiefs, by chearful contributing to so pious a Work, which will be an Act in the Esteem of all the World very commendable, and extremely acceptable to God and all good Men."

Adjourn.

House adjourned till 10^a cras.