House of Lords Journal Volume 8: 11 May 1646

DIE Lunæ, 11 die Maii.

PRAYERS, by Mr. Taylor.

Comes Manchester, Speaker.

Ld. Mohun to attend, with his Bail.

The Speaker acquainted this House, "That the Lord Mohun did come on Saturday last to him, and tendered himself to him, and offers to submit himself to the Parliament."

Ordered, That the Lord Mohun do attend this House on Wednesday Morning next, with his Bail; and then this House will take the Business into further Consideration.

D. of Richmond and E. of Lindsey, to have Apartments at Windsor.

Ordered, That Colonel Whitchcott, Governor of Windsor Castle, do hang and fit some convenient Lodgingrooms at Windsor, for the Duke of Richmond and the Earl of Lyndsey.

E. of North'ton, Leave to remain within the Lines, to make his Composition.

Upon reading this Certificate; (videlicet,)

"At the Committee for compounding with Delinquents, sitting at Goldsmiths Hall.

"These are to certify, That the Right Honourable James Earl of North'ton did, upon the last Day of April last, exhibit his Petition unto this Committee, desiring to make Composition for his Estate.

"Dated this 9th of May, 1646.

"Jo. Leech, Cl."

Upon this, it is Ordered, That the Earl of North'ton hath Leave to reside within the Line of Communication, for to follow his Composition.

Capt. Somarster freed from an Arrest.

This Day Captain Somarster was brought to this Bar, and released from his Imprisonment, being arrested contrary to the Privilege of Parliament, being in actual Service of the Parliament, and Arrears due unto him.

Captain Somarster said, "That the Party that arrested him said, That the Lords granted Protections to cozen poor People of their Debts."

Whereupon the said Captain shall give in the Name of the Person that said so.

Marquis De Vieuville to export Horses.

Ordered, That the Marquis De Vieuville shall have the Benefit of a former Pass, granted him by this House, for transporting into France Ten Horses; which Pass was never made Use of.

Examination about Capt. Massy's stopping the Messenger of the Scots Commissioners, and taking away His Letters;

Colonel Manwayring gave this House an Account, "That he hath examined the Business referred unto him on Saturday last, and the Captain hath returned his Answer in Writing; which was read, as followeth:

"I Francis Maissy, One of the Captains of Colonel Bradlie's Regiment, having the Command of the Guard at Shorditch on Thursday Night last, being the 7th of this Instant May, a Scotch Gentleman was staid at the Passage, about Nine a Clock at Night; who being, as he said, going to the Scotch Army, and shewing no Pass under any Hand known to me, I caused him to be staid and searched; and finding divers Letters about (fn. 1) him, which he told me he knew not from whom he had them; upon which, Two of them were opened, the one by myself, the other by One of the Guard whom I know not; and conceiving the Matter of that Letter, which was not writ in Characters, to be prejudicial to the Parliament and Kingdom, to have the private Debates of the House of Commons published, my Conscience told me that I ought not to pass any such Letters without the Knowledge or Consent of the Parliament, which caused me to stay the Person and the Letters until the Morning; at which Time, I presented them both to the House of Commons, where the Letters are now remaining, but the Messenger discharged; which was done upon Friday last, being the 8th of this Instant May.

"Fra. Maissy."

to be sent to the Scots Commissioners.

Ordered, That a Copy of this Answer be sent to the Commissioners of the Kingdom of Scotland; and that Captain Maissy shall have Notice to attend this House on Wednesday Morning next; and then this House will take this Business into further Consideration.

Letter to the Prince of Wales, inviting him to come into the Parliament Quarters.

The Committee reported the Draught of a Letter to be sent to the Prince, in Answer to his Letter; which was read:

And the House was adjourned into a Committee, to debate it; which being resumed,

And the Question being put, "Whether this Letter shall be sent to the Prince, without any Addition?"

And it was Resolved in the Negative.

And the Question being put, "Whether it shall be referred to the Committee for drawing up the Letter to be sent to the Prince, for making an Addition to the said Letter, concerning the King's coming into the Quarters of the Parliament, and concerning Propositions which are preparing to be sent to the King?"

And it was Resolved in the Affirmative.

Denham freed from an Arrest.

This Day Mr. Denham was brought to this Bar, by a Habeas Corpus; he being a Prisoner of War, and exchanged, was arrested by his Creditors before he was out of the Parliament Quarters:

And it is Ordered, That he be released from his present Imprisonment.

Adjourn.

House adjourned till Wednesday next, 10, Morning.