House of Lords Journal Volume 7: 1 January 1645

DIE Mercurii, 1 die Januarii.

PRAYERS, by Mr. Scudder.

Ds. Grey de Warke, Speaker.

Ordinance for disfranchising some Aldermen of York.

The Lord General reported, "That the Committee have (fn. 1) considered of the Ordinance concerning the disfranchising of some Aldermen of Yorke; and they think it fit to pass as it is, being made acquainted with a Letter concerning the Business, as being the Grounds thereof."

Hereupon the said Letter was read; and afterwards the Ordinance was read the Third Time, and Agreed to (fn. 2).

(Here enter them.)

Message from the Assembly, with the Remainder of the Directory.

A Message was brought from the Assembly of Divines, by Dr. Burges, One of the Assessors, and others:

To present to this House the last Part of the Directory of Worship, being concerning Fasting, and Holidays, and Thanksgivings, &c.

Which was received by this House, and read.

Message from the H. C. with an Ordinance for establishing the Directory.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Mr. Rous, &c.

To desire their Lordships Concurrence in an Ordinance, intituled, "An Ordinance of Parliament, for the taking away of the Book of Common Prayer, and for the establishing and putting in Execution of the Directory for the Public Worship of God."

Message from thence, with an Ordinance to continue the One for Martial Affairs.

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

To desire their Lordships Concurrence in an Ordinance for enlarging the Time of the Continuance of the Ordinance concerning Martial Affairs.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That this House will take this Ordinance into Consideration, and send an Answer by Messengers of their own.

Judge Advocate's Account of the Proceedings against Le Strange.

The Judge Advocate gave this Account, "That Yesterday he received an Order of this House, to certify this Morning the Proceedings of the Commissioners of Martial Affairs against Roger Le Strange; and the Court sitting, he acquainted the Commissioners with it; and they have made an Order, that the Commissioners will have the perusing of the Certificate before it be delivered, and that he shall make it ready against Two of the Clock this Afternoon, at which Time the Commissioners will fit." And further he informed their Lordships; "That the Commissioners have appointed To-morrow for the Execution of the said Roger Le Strange, on which Day the Commission doth expire."

Message from the H. C. to send to the Commissioners of Martial Law, for the Proceedings against him;

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Sir. John Evelyn Knight, and others:

To desire their Lordships Concurrence, to send to the Commissioners of Martial Law, to command them to give to the Houses an Account To-morrow of the Proceedings concerning Roger Le Strange.

to expedite the Ordinance to continue the One for Martial Law;

2. To desire their Lordships to give Expedition in the Ordinance concerning the continuing the Ordinance concerning Martial Law.

and for a Conference about the Archbishop of Cant.

3. To desire a Free Conference, concerning the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Message to the H. C. to respite Le Strange's Execution.

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

To let them know, that their Lordships are informed, That To-morrow is appointed for the Execution of Roger Le Strange; and to desire that they would join with this House, that he may be reprieved until Six Days after the bringing in of the Certificate.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That the House of Commons agrees to send to the Commissioners for reprieving of Roger Le Strange, as is desired.

Answer to the H. C.

The Answer returned to the Messengers of the House of Commons was:

That their Lordships agree, that the Commissioners for Martial Affairs be sent to, to give an Account of the Matter of Fact concerning the Proceedings of Roger Le Strange; and their Lordships will give a Free Conference To-morrow Morning, at Nine of the Clock, concerning the Archbishop of Canterbury; and concerning the Ordinance for Martial Law, their Lordships will send an Answer by Messengers of their own.

Directory for Public Worship.

Ordered, That the Directory be read To-morrow Morning; and the Lords to have Notice to be at the House.

L. Powis to be brought to London.

Ordered, That the Lord General be desired to give Order, that the Lord Powis be safely and civilly brought up to London.

Letter from York, concerning the Dissaffection of some Magistrates there.

"To our Honourable Friend William Lenthall Esquire, Speaker of the House of Commons. These, at Westm.

"SIR,

"According to the Trust reposed in us, and that Duty wherein we stand obliged to the general Good of the Kingdom and the Safety of these Parts, we find it necessary to represent to you and to the Parliament the Condition of the City of Yorke, in respect of the Magistrates and Ministers thereof, who, notwithstanding the Favours they have received, continue still very much disaffected to the Proceedings of Parliament; our Desire, therefore, in the Behalf of this City, is, that the Houses of Parliament will be pleased, by their Authority, to displace Sir Roger Jaques, Sir Robert Belt, Sir Edmond Cowper, Knights and Aldermen, as also Alderman Scott, Alderman Hemsworth, and Alderman Myers, whereof the First Five sat in the Execution of the Commission of Array, and the last hath expressed himself very odious against the Affairs of Parliament, particularly in his most forward promoting an Oath against the Justice and Proceedings of the Forces raised for the Defence of the Kingdom, that so the City may have Liberty to choose Men who may more faithfully respect the Good of the Kingdom and this Place, the accustomed Time of their Election being now at Hand: It is also further desired, that Mr. Cartwright and Mr. Stones, Two Ministers yet remaining in this City, who refuse and oppose the National Covenant, the former of which hath taken the Oath by the Earl of Newcastle, and the latter hath tendered it, and many other Ways expressed himself ill-affected, may by the same Authority be removed, not only from their Charge in the Ministry here, but also from this Place, to London or elsewhere, seeing they are so prejudicial to the Public Good of the City; and if these Desires, which we have no Reason to doubt, shall be speedily condescended to, we have good Hopes to reduce this City to a Condition advantageous both to the Kingdom and themselves. So we remain

"Your affectionate Friends and Servants,

"Ferdinando Fairefax.
Tho. Fairefax.
Tho. Hoyle.
Francis Peirpoint.
Wm. Constable.
Robert Goodwyn."

Ordinance to disfranchize Sir Roger Jaques, & al. Aldermen of York.

"Forasmuch as Sir Roger Jaques, Sir Robert Belt, and Sir Edmond Cowper, Knights, Wm. Scott, Robert Hemsworth, and John Myers, all of them Aldermen of the City of Yorke, are very much disaffected to the Service of the King and Parliament, and their several Delinquencies have been made known to the Commons assembled in Parliament, by the Lord Fairefax Governor of the City of Yorke, the Lord Mayor, and the Committee of Parliament residing there: It is therefore Ordained, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, That the said Sir Roger Jaques, Sir Robert Belt, Sir Edmond Cowper, Knights and Aldermen, and also William Scott, Robert Hemsworth, and John Myers, Aldermen, be forthwith disabled and removed from their respective Places of Aldermen, and disfranchised of the Liberties and Privileges of the said City; and that it shall and may be lawful to and for the Lord Mayor and Citizens of the said City, or of such of them in whom the Power of the Choice of Aldermen thereby, and according to the Charters of the said City, may or doth reside, to make Choice of other Freemen of the said City, for Aldermen of the said City, in the respective Rooms and Places of the said Sir Roger Jaques, Sir Robert Belt, Sir Edmond Cooper, Knights and Aldermen, Alderman Scott, Alderman Hemsworth, and Alderman Myers."

Adjourn.

House adjourned till 9^a cras.