House of Lords Journal Volume 8: 16 February 1646

DIE Lunæ, 16 Februarii.

PRAYERS, by Dr. Gouge.

Comes Manchester, Speaker.

Propositions for Peace.

"Ordered, That the Propositions shall be taken into Consideration To-morrow Morning.

Votes concerning Church Government.

The House took into Consideration the Votes brought formerly from the House of Commons, concerning Church Government; and (fn. 1) this House agreed to these Votes following:

"1. That Renouncers of the true Protestant Religion professed in the Church of England, appearing to be such upon just Proof, shall be suspended from the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.

"2. That any Person that shall, either by Preaching or Writing, maintain any such Errors as do subvert any of those Articles the Ignorance whereof do exclude Men from the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, appearing to be such a one upon just Proof, shall be suspended from the said Sacrament.

"3. That all Persons guilty of notorious and scandalous Offences shall be suspended from the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.

"4. That the Tryers of Elections of Elders shall have Power to hear and determine all Exceptions brought unto them concerning undue Elections, as well as to receive them; and also to call before them all Persons elected to be Elders (and accepting such Election), against whom any Exceptions shall be brought in; and to send for such Witnesses as shall be nominated to them by such Persons as shall bring in the said Exceptions; and shall have Power to examine upon Oath both the Persons bringing in such Exceptions and the said Witnesses, concerning any undue Proceedings in the Manner of the said Election, and concerning all Matters of Ignorance and Scandal objected against the Person elected, and expressed in any Ordinance of Parliament to be a sufficient Cause of Suspension from the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, and of which any Eldership, by Ordinance of Parliament, hath Cognizance and Jurisdiction, and that shall be proved to have been committed within One whole Year before the Exceptions exhibited; and that the Person against whom the Exceptions are taken shall have the like Liberty to produce Witnesses to be examined in like Manner on his Behalf.

" (fn. 2) 5. That the Tryers shall have Power to examine whether the Elders that are to be chosen be so qualified as is expressed in the Ordinance which hath passed both Houses.

"6. That if any Person shall commit any scandalous Offence upon the Day of the Administration of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, in the Face of the Congregation after it is assembled, the Minister of the Congregation may forbear to administer the Sacrament to such a Person for that Time."

The rest of the Votes are to be taken into Consideration on Wednesday Morning next.

The House was adjourned during Pleasure into a Committee, to take into Consideration the Paper (fn. 3) concerning Church Government.

The House being resumed;

It is Ordered, That it shall be taken into further Consideration on Wednesday next.

Petition of The Tower Hamlets, Westminster, &c.

Next, a Petition was presented to this House, by Sir James Harrington Knight, and many others of the Inhabitants of The Tower Hamletts, Westm. and Southwarke, &c. (Here enter it.)

And it was read publicly; after which, they withdrew.

Ordered, That the Petitioners shall have Thanks returned them from this House, for their many good Services to the Parliament and Kingdom.

The Question was put, "Whether a general Answer shall be given unto the Petitioners, That this House will take their Petition into Consideration?"

And it was Resolved in the Affirmative.

Answer to the Petitioners.

Then the Petitioners were called in; and the Speaker returned them this Answer: "That this House sets a high Value and Esteem upon the many good Services done by them to the Parliament and Kingdom; for which their Lordships have commanded him to return them Thanks, and also for their hearty Expressions now at the Bar: And concerning their Petition, this House will take the same into Consideration."

Parishioners of St. Gregory's Petition, about the Materials of St. Paul's.

The Petition of the Inhabitants of Gregorie's Parish was read; and Ordered, The Lord Mayor and others, who are to make Certificate to this House according to a late Order, shall return it into this House by this Day Fortnight.

E. of Newport's Timber at Loddingion, &c. not to be cut down.

Upon reading the Petition of the Earl of Newport: (Here enter it.) It is Ordered, That no Timber Trees shall be cut down upon the Lands mentioned in the Petition, nor any Destruction of his Woods, only the cutting of usual Sales.

Letters from the Dutchess of Buck. to the Duke beyond Sea, to be sent to him.

The Earl of Denbigh acquainted this (fn. 4) House with a Letter, which he lately received from the Dutchess of Buckingham, from Oxford, wherein was inclosed Two Letters from the said Dutchess to the Duke of Bucks and his Brother, who are beyond the Seas; with a Desire that the Earl of Denbigh would convey the said Letters accordingly.

The Letters were read.

And this House gave Leave to the Earl of Denbigh to send a Messenger to the Duke of Bucks and his Brother beyond the Seas, with the said Letters.

Message to the H. C. that the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs of London may have Delinquents Houses there to live in.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Mr. Baron Trevor and Mr. Justice Pheasant:

To let them know, that the Lords, considering the Faithfulness that the City of London hath ever expressed to the Two Houses of Parliament, and the constant and great Charges that they are necessitated unto, do desire that Three Houses, that are of any Delinquents, within the City of London, may be appointed and set out for the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs of London for the Time being; and this to be done by the Committee of Lords and Commons for Sequestrations as soon as possible may be: And the Concurrence of the House of Commons desired herein.

Petition of the Military Sub committees of The Tower Hamlets, Westm. and Southwark, about the Difference between them and the City, concerning the Militia.

"To the Right Honourable the Lords in the High Court of Parliament assembled.

The humble Petition of the Three Military Sub-committees of The Tower Hambletts, Westm. and Southwarke, in the Behalf of themselves and the Inhabitants of the said Parts;

Who, with all Thankfulness, acknowledging the pious Endeavours of your Lordships, for Preservation of Public Liberty, humbly shew, that whereas, by the Wisdom of the Honourable House of Commons, the Difference between the City of London and your Petitioners, touching the Militia of those Parts, was referred to a Committee, to hear the Reasons on both Sides, and report (the City being by them ordered to begin); your Petitioners, in all Obedience, did several Days attend, prepared to answer what should be alledged: But the said City, refusing to give any Reasons at all, do nevertheless persist in their Endeavours to bring your Petitioners under their Command for Perpetuity.

"Now, forasmuch as it is a Business of high Concernment, and the said Out-parts have chearfully done more than a proportionable Part of Duty with the said City, both in Purse and Person, at Home and Abroad, as well before as since they were joined with the City; and the Power now desired cannot stand with general Safety, unless these Parts be totally joined and enfranchised with them into One Body, for the Reasons following:

"1. For that there can be no cordial or durable Assistance of Persons or Money expected, where there is not a mutual Enjoyment of Privileges.

2. They cannot be sensible of the Condition of these Parts, for that no Common-council-men are to be chosen out of the Liberties of the City; and they may lay what Burthens they please upon us, and we left in a remediless Condition, having none to appeal unto in the Vacancy of Parliament.

3. They are under an Oath of Secrecy; so that we, not knowing what is there in Agitation, though never so extreme against us, cannot either by Reason prevent, or by Petition qualify that Extremity: Besides, they have sworn to maintain their Charters and Privileges, which will not always suit with the Condition of these Parts.

4. They may command us out into all Parts of the Kingdom, and bear no Part of the Charge with us; and have provided, that themselves will not be sent out of the City without their own Consent.

5. The Military Part and the Civil Part (fn. 5) being separated, they cannot so readily assist each other; and we are left under Command of the City and Counties; both which is contrary to all other Parts of the Kingdom.

6. The City and Out-parts have, by their several and distinct Charges and Industry, formed and armed many Regiments, with which the Out-parts at their own Costs have done a Third Part of Duty at the Parliament, Tower, and Works: And of 27 Regiments sent forth in several Expeditions, your Petitioners have sent out Ten of those Regiments, and the City but 17 (our Regiments being much fuller); and in all Recruits for the Army, your Petitioners have sent out Double the Number with the City.

"All which Service, having been chearfully undertaken, and faithfully performed, by your Petitioners, for Defence of Parliament and Public Liberty; they humbly desire may be Reason sufficient to keep themselves as other Parts of the Kingdom from Servitude.

"And they, as in Duty bound, shall ever pray, &c.

E. of Newport's Petition, for the Preservation of his Timber at Loddington and Alexton.

"To the Right Honourable the Lords of the Upper House of Parliament.

"The humble Petition of Mountjoy Blount Earl of Newport;

"Sheweth,

"That, since his coming to London, Command and Order hath been given, by the Committees for the County of Leicester, for the cutting down and making Sale of all his Woods in Loddington and Alexton, which will be an titter Ruin to the said Manors; and for that your Petitioner's Lands are wholly sequestered, so that no Part of the Revenues or Rents do come to the Hands of your Petitioner for his present Maintenance;

"May your Lordships be pleased so far to consider of the Premises, as to order that a Stay thereof be made in the falling of the said Woods; and to allow your Petitioner such Means as in your Wisdoms shall best seem fitting for his present Subsistence.

"And your Petitioner shall ever have Cause to acknowledge your Favour herein.

"Mo. Newporte."