House of Lords Journal Volume 7: 1 November 1644

DIE Veneris, 1 die Novembris.

PRAYERS, by Dr. Staunton.

Ds. Grey de Warke, Speaker.

The humble (fn. 1) Petition of the Lord Pagett, directed "To the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament," [ (fn. 2) was read,] as followeth:

L. Pagett's Petition, to be received into Favour.

"Sheweth,

"That the Petitioner, being so unhappy as to be misled, hath contracted to himself a great Measure of Guilt, and justly merited your highest Displeasure; yet he rather chose to render himself to your Mercy with the Loss of the main Part of his Fortune, which is since destroyed by the Power of the Enemy, than to enjoy it and be out of your Protection, or longer to continue where the Design is carried on violently against our Religion and Laws, and the Security of both the Power and Privilege of Parliament, by a factious and ill-affected Party, that would build up their own Ends and Fortunes by the Ruin and Destruction of the Public. These Considerations resolved your Petitioner to renounce their Society, to return and prostrate his Life and Fortune at your Feet; humbly desiring your Honourable Pardon, and to be received into your Favour; and be fully assured, that it is his only Ambition, with all Zeal and Constancy, faithfully to serve you, and to obey all your Commands, and pray for the happy Success of all your great Councils and Armies, at Home and Abroad.

"Will. Pagett."

Ordered, That this Petition be sent to the House of Commons, with the Lord General's Letter to this House concerning the Lord Paget.

Message to the H. C. with it.

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

To deliver to them the Lord General's Letter, and the Lord Pagett's Petition.

L. Powis to be brought to London.

Ordered, That the Governor of Stafford do give Order, That the Lord Powis be brought to London, in safe Custody, as a Prisoner, and brought hither; and those that bring him up are to give all Respects and Accommodations, in regard of his Age and Infirmity.

Answer from the H. C.

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

That they have taken the Lord Pagett's Petition into Consideration.

Message from thence, with a Letter from Newcastle; and with Orders, &c.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Sir Thomas Witherington and others:

To desire their Lordships Concurrence in divers Particulars:

1. A Letter was read, dated from Newcastle, Octob. 22, 1644, from Sir Wm. Armyne and Rob't Fenwick, to the Speaker of the House of Commons.

(Here enter it.)

2. An Order to leave Sir John Morley to be tried by the Course of War. (Here enter it.)

Read, and Agreed to.

3. An Order to refer to the Committee of both Kingdoms the Consideration of the settling the Affairs and Government of Newcastle. (Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

4. An Order for paying One Hundred Pounds to the Lady Drake. (Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

5. An Order to pay One Hundred Pounds to Alexand. Bartley, in Part of his Arrears. (Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

6. To desire Concurrence, that Alexander Standish of Duxbury may be a Deputy (fn. 3) Lieutenant for Lanchashire. (Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

7. An Order to pay Two Hundred Pounds to Sir Robert Harley.

8. An Ordinance for appointing a Judge of the Prerogative Court of Cantcrbury.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That this House will send an Answer, to the Ordinance for appointing a Judge of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, by Messengers of their own. To all the rest of the Particulars, this House (fn. 4) agrees.

Next, these Letters, brought from the Committee of both Kingdoms by the Lord Wharton; were read, as followeth; subscribed by the Lord Sancleir and Sir Wm. Armyn. (Here enter them.)

Letter concerning Sects, &c. sent to the Assembly.

And it is Ordered, That that Letter concerning the Sects and Factions be presently communicated to the Assembly of Divines, by the Lord Admiral and the Earl of Pembrooke.

Justice Mallet released on Parole, to procure his Exchange for Sir John Temple.

This House being informed, "That Justice Mallet cannot procure any Security to be bound with him:" It is Ordered, That he (fn. 3) be brought to this House on Monday Morning; and, upon giving his Word faithfully to this House, that he will render himself, in case he cannot procure Sir John Temple to be exchanged, he shall have Liberty to go into the King's Quarters, to procure his Exchange.

Wharsingers, &c. about going through Palace Yard.

This Day the King's Counsel on the Behalf of the King, and the Counsel of the Wharsingers, were heard; and Witnesses produced on both Sides were heard; and this House will take the Business into Consideration some other Time.

Letter from the Committee at Newcastle, to have the Mayor punished, and about disposing of some Places there.

"SIR,

"In our last, we gave you an Account of the taking Nawcastle, by Assault, the 19th of October, which we hope is come to your Hands ere this. The Mayor and the rest in the Castle have rendered themselves into the Hands of his Excellency the Lord General Leven; and we hope, by the Help we shall receive from you, and the further Directions of the House, the Town may be put in a better Frame than ever it hath been. His Excellency the Lord General Leven is exceeding careful to do all that is just and honourable; and though the Town was won by Assault, yet there is as much remaining to tell you the contrary as ever was in any Town taken by Storm. This Day the proud and insolent Mayor and the rest of his Fellows, according to the Submission as above, cante forth of the Castle; and the People in the Town were ready to tear the Mayor in Pieces, having now discovered how much he had deluded them, and what Miseries he had brought them to. We earnestly desire the House would be pleased to think of some exemplary Punishment upon this wicked Mayor; otherwise all their Friends will be disheartened, and their Enemies still encouraged to upbraid them to their Faces; and the Blood and Loss of so many Men, besides the Undoing of many of the poorer Sort of the Inhabitants of this Town through his wicked Government, will cry up to Heaven against us. We desire the House may be put in Mind, that honest and deserving Men may be employed about the Custom-house here. There is one Mr. Charles Mitford, that was Water Serjeant for these many Years, and of late was interrupted in his Office by the Power of the Mayor; and there is one Mr. John Mettam lately dead, who was Collector of the Customs here, by Patent from the King, during Life. We desire to recommend Mr. George Fenwicke, who hath suffered very much, and been long banished from his Home in the Town of Newcastle, if the House and the Commissioners for the Customs have not otherwise disposed of that Place.

"We send you here inclosed the Letters and Answers which have passed from the Committees of both Kingdoms and the Mayor of the Town of Newcastle; and that hath passed from his Excellency the Lord General, Sir Henry Gibbe, or Mr. Henderson the General's Secretary, hath in a Readiness to shew; and, in regard of the Haste, we could not have Copies of them.

"Sir Henry Gibbe hath endeavoured to perform all good Offices, both for the Country People and the Army; of which we have been Witnesses, and desire that particular Notice may be taken thereof.

"Thus, desiring to hear from the House, and to receive their Commands in particular concerning the Town of Newcastle, we rest

"Your humble Servants,

Newcastle, October 22, 1644.

"W. Armyne.
"Rob't Fenwick.

"For our Honourable Friend, William Lenthall Esquire, Speaker of the House of Commons, London."

Sir John Morley to be dealt with according to the Course of War.

"Ordered, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That it be signified to the Commissioners of both Houses by Way of Answer to that Particular of the Letter concerning Sir John Morley, That the Houses have thought fit to except Sir John Morley from all Mercy and Pardon; and do therefore appoint and direct that he may be proceeded with according to the Course of War."

Settlement of the Affairs at Newcastle.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Lords and Commons appointed to treat with the Scotts Commissioners, who are likewise to confer with the Committee for the Northern Affairs, to consider what is fit to be done for the Settlement of the Affairs and Civil Government of Newcastle, to the best Advantage of the State; and to present their Opinions to the Houses.

Order for 100 l. to Lady Drake.

"It is this Day Ordered, by the Lords and Commons, &c. That the Committee of Lords and Com mons for Advance of Monies at Habberdashers Hall do forthwith advance and pay unto the Lady Ellen Drake One Hundred Pounds, for her Support in her great Necessities, being despoiled of all her whole Estate for her good Affections to the Parliament."

Order for 100 l. to Colonel Bartley.

"The like Order to that Committee, to pay to Sir Gilbert Gerrard, Treasurer at Wars, One Hundred Pounds, forthwith to be paid unto Colonel Alexander Bartley, upon Accompt, towards the Discharge of the Arrears due unto him, for his Entertainment in the Service of the Parliament, who is come to Town wounded in this last Fight near Newbury."

Order for 200 l. to Sir Robert Harley.

"Whereas it was Ordered, by the Commons assembled in Parliament, That Sir Robert Harley, a Member of the House of Commons, should be paid, out of the Monies at Habberdashers Hall, One Thousand Pounds, by him mentioned to be lent towards the Supply of the Army raised for the Defence of the King and Parliament, wherein the Concurrence of the Lords was desired; but, before that was obtained, the said Sir Robert Harley received Eight Hundred Pounds, out of the Proeeed of Wire sold at Habberdashers Hall: It is therefore this Day Ordered, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, That Two Hundred Pounds of the Monies at Habberdashers Hall be forthwith paid to Sir Robert Harley; and the Committee of Lords and Commons for Advance of Monies, that sits at Habberdashers Hall, are desired to take Care and give Order that the said Sum of Two Hundred Pounds be forthwith paid to the said Sir Robert Harley accordingly."

Letter from the Committee of both Kingdoms at Newcastle, about sequestering some Coal Estates there, to pay the Army; and recommending Sir H. Gibbs Reparation.

"My Lords and Gentlemen,

"It hath pleased God to give the Town of Newcastle into our Hands by Assault, after all Ways and Means were used to reduce the Inhabitants thereof unto the Obedience of the Parliament, as may appear by the Letters and their Answers here inclosed. It rests now, we should give all Glory and Praise unto God, for His great Blessing, in putting an End to this Siege; howbeit at a very dear Rate, by the Loss of many good Officers and Soldiers; and that we may make the best Use we can of this Opportunity, to supply the Army with Maintenance, and so much of their Pay as can be gotten: To that End we have thought sit to represent unto you, that the Coals in this Place, if rightly ordered and managed, will help very much; and therefore we desire that the Coals now above the Ground may be made Use of, for the Benefit of the Army and their Pay; and that, if we have any Friends that have suffered in our Cause, that may claim Interest in the Coals already gotten, that, according to their Condition and Merits, they may have Satisfaction for their Parts, out of the Delinquents Collieries, and that only of such Coals as shall hereafter be gotten out of them. We write this the rather, because, after the Committees of both Kingdoms had, upon mature Deliberation, settled a Course at Sunderland for the Coals, with which the House of Commons was acquainted, and hearing nothing from them to alter that Way we were in, we did continue it until Order and some Votes came from the House about the 15th of July last, which were very much in Favour of the Coal Owners, but little for the Army; the Cause thereof we suppose was, the Coal-masters did solicit their own Business, and brought it to a Conclusion, before any were heard either on our Parts or on the Behalf of the Army; which we now desire to prevent, and doubt not of all your Assistance therein, as Occasion shall offer itself, either to the Parliament or any of their Committees. As for the Particulars of this great Victory, we have desired Sir Harry Gibbe, One of our Number, to acquaint you therewith; in whose Behalf we do also intreat your Lordships to give your best Assistance, that the Order of the House of Commons made in his Favour, concerning the Reparation of his Losses, may have its effectual Execution.

"Signed in the Name, &c.

"Sinclare.

W. Armyne."

Letter from L. Sinclair there, about settling Church Government, and expediting the Propositions for a Peace.

"Right Honourable,

"We know no better Use you or we can make of the great Success wherewith it hath pleased God to bless our Attempts against this Town, than to make it evident to the World that Truth and Peace are the utmost of our Desires and Designs; for this Purpose, we must uncessantly renew our former Desires to you that, all other Affairs whatsoever set aside, you will so far take to Heart the settling of Matters of Religion, the Worship of God, and Government of His House in this Kingdom, as you may, in your own and our Names, become earnest Solicitors with the Assembly of Divines, to put that Business to a Period; and with the Parliament, that where the Foundation is laid by the Assembly, their Authority be not wanting for the compleating of the Work. No greater Encouragement than this can come to the Hearts of all those that are engaged in this Cause with you; nor can any Means be so powerful to remove those great Prejudices raised against our Cause, by the Abundance of Variety of Sectaries, Separatists, and Schismatics, living amongst us, to the great Scandal of the Gospel, and Professors thereof. This being done, we may with the greater Confidence expect a Blessing upon our Endeavours for Peace; for which as no Success can alter our Desires, so we are confident you are using all Expedition possible for expediting your Propositions thereof, that they may be dispatched to His Majesty, whose favourable Acceptance is earnestly prayed for thereunto, by

"Your affectionate Friends and Servants,

Newcastle, 23 October, 1644.

"Sinclare, J. P. D."