House of Lords Journal Volume 8: 23 January 1646

DIE Veneris, 23 die Januarii.

PRAYERS, by Mr. Price.

Ds. Grey de Warke, Speaker.

A Letter, sent to the Speaker, was read:

L. Purbeck's Letter, desiring to be admitted to his Seat in the House.

"To the Right Honourable the Lord Grey of Warke, Speaker of the House of Peers.

"My Lord,

"I did formerly move the House of Peers, by my Nephew the Earl of Denbigh, to have Leave to enjoy my Right and Vote in Parliament; and because I was unfortunately, and against my Will, betrayed and conveyed into the Enemy's Garrisons at Newarke, I gave Notice of it, as well out of the Respect due to their Lordships, as a particular Care I had to clear all Misunderstandings and Doubts concerning mine own Innocence; which that I may be enabled to do, I understand that their Lordships have referred my Business to the Committee of Privileges. My humble Request to your Lordship is, That you will be pleased to move the House for a Day, that I may either attend their Lordships or that Committee, to give full Satisfaction to all that may raise the least Scruple or Shadow of Exception to my just Rights and Privileges; and I shall be ever ready to acknowledge myself

"Your Lordship's

Most humble Servant,

January the 22th, 1645.

"J. Pourbecke."

To attend the Committee of Privileges.

Ordered, That the Consideration of this Business be referred to the Committee of Privileges, to meet on Monday next, in the Afternoon, at Three of the Clock, at which Time the Lord Viscount Pourbecke is to attend; and the former Proxy of the said Viscount Pourbecke to be brought then.

Account of the Taking of Dartmouth.

Mr. Peters this Day was called in; and, at the Bar, gave this House an Account of the Taking-in of Dartmouth, and of the State of the Army in the West; and delivered a Letter to the Speaker, which was read, as follows. (Here enter it.)

Letter from the Committee with the Army.

The Speaker acquainted this House with Two Letters received from the Committee before Newarke, which were read. (Here enter them.)

Ordered, That these Letters be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms.

Letter of Thanks to be sent them.

Ordered, That a Letter be sent to the Earl of Rutland and the rest of the Commissioners with him, to give them Thanks for their Pains; and to let them know, that this House hath put their Letters into a Way of Dispatch.

Message to the H. C. to expedite the Letter to Flanders.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir Edward Leech and Mr. Page:

To desire they would give speedy Expedition in the Letter to be sent to the Governor of Flanders.

E of Thanet's Assessment.

Upon reading the Petition of the Earl of Thanett: It is Ordered, That an Order be sent to the Committee at Weavers-Hall, to let them know, that the Earl of Thanett is to enjoy the Privilege of Parliament, according (fn. 1) to the Ordinance for the Weekly Assessment; and that such Assessments as are made upon him are to be presented to this House for Approbation, before they be levied.

Wilkinson's Petition for Relief, on Account of his Losses.

Upon reading the Petition of Mr. Wilkinson, One of the Assembly of Divines; shewing, "That all his Goods and Living is wholly destroyed by the Enemy, whereby he is not able to subsist in his old Age: Therefore desires (fn. 2) some suitable Supply for his present Exigents."

It is Ordered, That this Petition be specially recommended to the House of Commons.

Birkhead to be instituted to Agnes Burton.

Ordered, That Dr. Aylett shall give Institution and Induction to James Birkehead Master of Arts, to the Vicarage and Parish Church of Annas Burton, alias Agnes Burton, in the County of Yorke; being presented thereunto by the Earl of Bridgwater.

Ordinances for Concurrence.

An Ordinance for paying One Hundred Pounds to Mr. Parker, out of Haberdashers Hall, was read, and Agreed to. (Here enter it.)

An Order for allowing Forty Shillings per Week, out of Haberdashers Hall, for Mr. Teise, was read, and Agreed to. (Here enter it.)

The Ordinance for Thirty-two Thousand Pounds to the City of London, out (fn. 1) of the Receipts of the Excise, was Once read.

Propositions for a Peace.

Ordered, That the Propositions shall be taken Tomorrow Morning into Consideration.

Letter from the Committee with the Army before Newark; that they have mustered the Scots Army; and concerning the Pressures on the County of Nottingham for their Support.

(fn. 3) "May it please your Lordships,

"I have made several Addresses to your Lordships, but as yet have not received any Answer. The extreme great Consequence of the Service against Newark requires your most extraordinary Care; and the Necessity such, as it must be speedy lest it be too late. On Saturday last, the Muster of the Horse, Foot, and Train of Artillery of the Scottish Army were taken all at One Time, by such as we appointed (we ourselves being present). The Horse was above Four Thousand, the Foot near Three Thousand, the Train small. The Particulars shall be transmitted to your Lordships with all Speed. Amongst the Horse, of the Lord Balcarr's newly come up, and Two Troops late of the Regiment of Colonel Devereux. We hear of Three Regiments of Horse more on this Side Yorke, the Lord Kirkudbright, the Lord Dalhowsie's, and Colonel Frizell's. These Parts are not able to maintain the Number of Horse here already. This Day Lieutenant General Lesly met us at Nottingham; and we are to expect the Committee from Scotland to join with us to order that Army. He demands of us Provisions for his Forces. We have given him an Account of what is done, which these Warrants inclosed will demonstrate; and have tendered to pay Weekly in Money Eight Hundred Thirty-three Pounds, Six Shillings, and Eight Pence, to whom he will appoint, being the Third Part of Two Thousand Five Hundred Pounds; the other Two Parts in Provisions, which he faith cannot make his Forces subsist: But we cannot possibly provide more. If your Lordships please to alter the Assessments we have made on the Counties, I beseech your Lordships it may be speedily done. If you approve of them, we desire the Houses to appoint some Persons immediately from themselves, to see those Provisions speedily sent.

"The County of Nottingham can little longer call upon your Lordships that they may subsist in their own Houses; their next Cries must be at your Doors: And the Ruin of that County ends not there, but their Sufferings and the Horse lying upon Darbysh'r (if not prevented) renders the Public Service to the whole Kingdom against Newarke infeazible. Whatsoever any Men may otherwise conceive, we on the Place know that Provisions in those Counties will be speedily spent; and that, if those Counties be exhausted, they cannot be brought from other Parts to be effectual. It is my Duty to be thus plain with your Lordships; and I doubt not but your Lordships, knowing thus much, will provide all possible Remedies; and not for the present to be compassionately taken, and after to let other Business retard this, which cannot stay. We pressed the Lieutenant General that Two Thousand Five Hundred Pounds Weekly, Two Parts in Provisions, the Third in Money (which we offered to pay), might be accepted until Wednesday the 28th of this Instant, by which Time the Directions of the Houses might be received; which we assured him our Letters should most earnestly beseech of you. He would have consented to that Time, if we would have given our Warrants for a Regiment of Horse and some Troops of his to go into Derbysh'r; which we had no Authority to do, and which would stop the Provisions assessed by us on that County for the Scotts Army. When we came from London, we were assured the Forces from the Eastern Association should be here before us; a Month is passed, not One Man come, nor on their March that we can hear of: And the Mortar-piece ordered by the Committee of both Kingdoms to come from Reading would, by God's Blessing, have made the Castle of Belvoyre yours be fore this, and thereby One Thousand Horse and Foot now there might be employed against Newark. If the Countries be not able to maintain the Scottish Army long where it is, and if the Houses find it difficult to get Provisions for their Stay there from other Places, we know no other Way than, though with extraordinary Charge, to finish this Service speedily. Money cannot more thriftily be expended, nor Forces better employed, to ease those Countries in their Persons and Estates. Your being told, when this Letter is read, that Men and the Mortar-piece is coming, will not do your Business. I beseech your Lordships that some from you may see the Men on their March, and the Mortar-piece on the Way. And certainly, my Lords, the Time spent in seeing the Premises performed for the South Side Trent, and the relieving the North Side, will make Newarke yours, and get the Prayers of many Thousands for you, who groan under the Burthen of Miseries.

"Your Lordships

"Most humble Servant,

Grantham, 19th Jan. 1645.

"Rutland.

"For the Lord Gray of Warke, Speaker of the House of Peers pro Tempore."

Assessments on several Counties, for Provisions for the Scots Army.

A Particular of Provisions assessed upon several Counties, by the Commissioners of Parliament, for Accommodation of the Scottish Army now before Newark.

Form of the Commissioners Warrant, for bringing them in.

"Gentlemen,

"Whereas we are authorized, by our Instructions from the Parliament, to send Warrants unto your County, for the furnishing Provisions and other Necessaries for the Scotts Army, and to call to our Assistance such Persons within your County to be Committees, for the better putting those Instructions in due Execution; and whereas we are also appointed to cause due Accompt to be made of those Provisions, that they may be discounted upon the Pay of that Army: These are therefore to desire, that with all Speed you will provide and send to the Town of, to, whom we have appointed to receive them, the several Provisions expressed in a Schedule hereunto annexed; the County of Darby being heavily burthened; and Nottinghamsh'r, where the Scotts Army now resides, near utterly exhausted, having paid to that Army, in Money and Provisions, Twenty Thousand Pounds in Five Weeks last past, as by their Remonstrance doth appear: And for that, if Provisions be not for them where they now are, their Army will remove where they may be had; we expect for the public Good and your own, you will not fail, or suffer any Delay to be herein. We also desire you, that due and exact Accompts, at the Rates in your Markets, may be taken of the Provisions you furnish, that so your Expences may be deducted out of the Pay to the Scotts Amy.

Given at, the Day of, 1645.

For the Committee of

"Rutland.

"W. Pierrepoint. W. Armyn.

"Edw. Ayscoghe. Tho. Hatcher."

Letter from the Commissioners with the Army, concerning their Offer of paying the Money to the Scots Army Weekly.

"May it please your Lordships,

"When we were ready to go for Boston, to meet with the Gentlemen and others of that Part of the County, for the speedy sending Provisions to the Scottish Army, and for raising Pioneers for the Service against Newark; this inclosed came to us from Lieutenant General Lesley, which, with our Answer, is herewith presented to your Lordships: The Houses have Ordained, That Six Thousand Pounds (fn. 6) be paid unto the Scottish Forces before Newark, in such Manner as we should think fit, for the preventing of Free Quarter and other Inconveniences, and for the better carrying on the Service against Newarke; in Pursuance whereof, we offered to pay unto whom he should appoint Eight Hundred Thirty-three Pounds, Six Shillings, and Eight Pence, Weekly, in Money, as in our former Letter is expressed; and if we should in any other Manner dispose of that Six Thousand Pounds, we could not discharge the Trust reposed in us by that Ordinance.

"Your Lordships

Most humble Servant,

Boston, this 20th January, 1645.

"Rutland.

"For the Lord Gray of Warke, Speaker of the House of Peers pro Tempore."

Letter from Gen. Lesly, desiring the 6000£. ordered for the Scots Army; and for clearing Aspersions on him, about the Muster of it.

"For the Right Honorable the Lords and others of the Honorable Commissioners of Parliament, at Grantham.

"Right Honorable,

"Concerning Six Thousand Pounds ordeyned by the Honorable Houses of Parliament to be delivered by your Lordships unto us after our Mustering; I have sent this Express, to desire your Lordships further Order from whome the foresaid shall be received; and withall humbly entreates your Lordships to nominate those Persons who are said to have forced the Country People to have mustered with us, whereby they may be made publiqe Examples, and such intollerable Scandalls removed from this Army, as your Lordships will oblige me to contynue,

"My Lords,

"Your Lordships most humble and faithfull Servant,

Nelham, this 20th of Jan. 1645.

"David Lesly."

Committee's Answer to him.

"SIR,

"We must needs marvel at your Letter of the 20th Instant, this Day received; having shewed unto you the Ordinance for our Payment of the Six Thousand Pounds at our First Meeting, and our Instructions Yesterday. We shall most really and clearly do every Thing for your Army that may consist with the Good of the Public Service, and (God willing) shall be most faithful to the Trust reposed in us. We offered unto you at Nottingham, to pay to whom you shall appoint, Weekly, on every Thursday, Eight Hundred Thirty-three Pounds, Six Shillings, and Eight Pence, in Money, the Third Part of Two Thousand Five Hundred Pounds, the other Two Parts to be served in Provisions; which we are ready to perform, and desire to know whom you will appoint to receive it, to give some Ease to the distressed County of Nottingham. Concerning those Country People we told you of, that were forced to muster with your Horse, we shall reduce those Reports to Certainties, and acquaint you with the same before we proceed any further; and in the mean Time acquaint the Houses and Committee of both Kingdoms with this your Letter and our Answers. Our Occasions are to be speedily at Boston, whither we are now going.

"Your affectionate Friends to serve you,

Grantham, this 20th Jan. 1645.

"Rutland.

"W. Pierrepoint, &c."

Order for 100 l. for Mr. Parker.

"Ordered, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That the Committee of Lords and Commons for Advance of Monies at Habberdashers Hall do pay unto Mr. Henry Parker, or his Assigns, the Sum of One Hundred Pounds, for the Pains he hath taken in the Service, and by the Command, of the Parliament."

Order for 40 s. per Week, for Mr. Treise.

"Ordered, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, That the Committee of Lords and Commons for Advance of Monies at Habberdashers Hall do Weekly pay unto Leonard Treise Esquire the Sum of Forty Shillings per Week, for the Subsistence of him and his Family."

Letter from Sir T. Fairfax, with an Account of the Taking of Dartmouth.

"For the Right Honourable the Speaker of the House of Peers pro Tempore. These, present.

"My Lords,

"After my coming to Totnes, the Enemy rising in great Disorder from their Siege at Plymouth, leaving their Guns and some Ammunition behind them, I considered with those about me of attempting upon Dartmouth; and it being concluded affirmatively, I caused Two Regiments of Foot to (fn. 7) march to Ditsam, and Two to Stoake Fleming, being on the West Side of Dart River. I, having (fn. 8) summoned the Place before, resolved upon Sunday Night to attempt it by Storm, which was agreed to be done in Three Places; the First End of the Town by Lieutenant Colonel Pride, and on Tunstall Church and Works by Colonel Fortescue. The Time resolved on was in Colonel Lambert's Regiment was a Reserve, and to alarum the Enemy elsewhere; Colonel Hamond entering The West Gate, where Four Guns were planted, and Two upon The Mill-poole upon his Flank, the Enemy firing his Great Guns but Once, his Men that had the Forlorn Hope did very gallantly (as indeed they did all), and went freely on, and beat off the Enemy, and possessed One Fort after another, videlicet, Mount Flagon, The West Gate, Paradice Fort, and beat off the Main Guard, where were taken Four Lieutenant Colonels, and so possessed the Town from The West Gate to Little Dartmouth. In the Interim, Lieutenant Colonel Pride attempted the North Part of the Town, called Harnesse; where beating off the Enemy, he entered it, and took about Eighty Prisoners in it, and by it possessed all the North Part of the Town, unto the Drawbridge which divided the North Part from the rest of the Town, where Colonel Hamond's Men and his met. Colonel Fortescue, with his Men, attempted Tonsell Church, which was very well manned; with his Men, after some Dispute, with good Resolution entered the Place and possessed it; so that by this Time the Enemy was beaten out of all, except the great Fort in the East Side of the River, called Kingsworth Fort, and the Castle, with the Fort which lay over the Castle, at the Mouth of the Harbour, called Gallants Bower; to which last the Governor, with the Earl of Newport and as many as escaped us, fled, after they were forced from their Strengths out of the Town. The Governor, coming back from the Castle to see in what Posture the Town was, had a remarkable Shot as he was in the Boat. One sitting by him, a Musket-shot was made at the Boat, which pierced the Boat, and through both the Thighs of One that was next unto him, and about Three Inches into his own Thigh; upon which he retreated to the Castle. Our Dragoons, with Two Companies of our Firelocks and some Seamen, were ordered only to alarum Kingsworth Fort, wherein was Sir Henry Carrey with his Regiment, having in it Twelve Guns, and Twelve Barrels of Powder, and convenient Proportion of Ammunition. This was a very strong Fort, with about Four good Bulwarks, strong enough to have made a troublesome Resistance; but the Enemy came willingly to Terms, and, to save Time, I willingly conditioned to let Sir Henry Carrey march away with the rest, leaving the Arms, Ordnance, Ammunition, with all Provisions in the Fort, to me, and all engaging themselves never to take up Arms more against the Parliament; which was accordingly performed next Morning. Being thus Master of all but the Castle and Gallants Bower, I summoned that. The Governor was willing to listen unto me, but I held him to those Terms; upon which, after some Dispute, he yielded; which was, to deliver himself and all Officers and Soldiers upon Quarter. He sent me out Colonel Seamor and Mr. Denham for Hostages, with whom came out the Earl of Newport; and all was this Day performed accordingly. In this Fort and Castle were Eleven Guns, with Proportion of Ammunition and Provisions. We have taken in the Harbour Two Men of War, One belonging to the Governor of Barnstaple, with Twelve Guns, Burthen Two Hundred Tuns; the other belonging to Newcastle, formerly Captain Johnson's, of Ten Guns; in the Town, One Hundred and Three Pieces of Ordnance, and about Six Hundred Prisoners, and One Hundred Horse, with good Proportion of Arms and Ammunition; an exact Particular whereof I am not able to give your Lordships at present an Account thereof. There being many of the Inhabitants of this Town Soldiers in Plymouth, and some Officers; and understanding that that Town has Two Thousand Five Hundred in Garrison, besides Townsmen; I have sent thither for Five Hundred Foot for this Place, who quickly will increase to more; and to this I desire your Approbation; for, having found more Work to do, I held not fit to weaken my Army, especially considering the Recruits designed by you, I doubt, will be too long before they come. I have given your Lordship a brief Account of this Service, which I desire may be accounted a sweet Mercy of God in a very fitting Season, and only ascribed to Him, who truly did direct and act it, and made all the Preparation to it, both in the ordering our Hearts, and in giving Health to the Army, which laboured Two Months ago extremely of Sickness, but is now in good Disposition generally to Health. I can say, I find it to be in the Hearts of all here, in all Integrity, to serve you; and that it is (fn. 9) still, the Mercy of God; for surely the Success of your Affairs only depends upon the Ordering of a gracious Providence, which is no less visible in your Councils (which we congratulate) than amongst us, that being the common Root and Spring of all, and which can and will carry you through the greatest Difficulties, and us in serving you, until God has finished His own Work, wherein to prosess the Obligation and Readiness of myself and the Army, by the same good Hand of God, in all the Undertakings of

Your Lordships

Dartmouth, Jan. 20th, 1645.

"Most humble Servant,

"T. Fairefax.

"For a further Relation of Particulars, I refer you to this Bearer Mr. Peters, who was present upon the Place, and did much encourage the Soldiers to do their Duties."