House of Lords Journal Volume 8: 30 December 1645

DIE Martis, 30 die Decembris.

PRAYERS.

Ds. Grey de Warke, Speaker.

Answer from the H. C.

Sir Edward Leech and Mr. Page return with this Answer from the House of Commons:

That they will (fn. 1) send an Answer, by Messengers of their own, concerning the King's Letter, and concerning Colonel Layton.

A Letter from the King was read, brought by Sir Peter Killegrew.

Another Letter from the King, proposing a Personal Treaty with the Two Houses and the Scots Commissioners at Westminster.

"For the Speaker of the House of Peers pro Tempore.

"CHARLES R.

"Although the Message sent by Sir Peter Killegrew may justly require an expostulatory Answer; yet His Majesty lays that aside, as not so proper for His present Endeavours; leaving all the World to judge, whether His Propositions for a Personal Treaty, or the flat Denial of a safe Conduct for Persons to begin a Treaty, be greater Signs of a real Intention to Peace; and shall now only insist upon His former Message of the 26th of this December, That, upon His Repair to Westminster, He doubts not but so to join His Endeavour with His Two Houses of Parliament, as to give just Satisfaction, not only concerning the Business of Ireland, but also for the settling of a Way for the Payment of the Public Debts, as well to the Scots and to the City of London as others; and as already He hath shewn a fair Way for the settling of the Militia, so He shall carefully endeavour in all other Particulars, that none shall have Cause to complain for Want of Security, whereby just Jealousies may arise, to hinder the Continuance of the desired Peace. And certainly this Proposition of a Personal Treaty could never have entered into His Majesty's Thoughts, if He had not resolved to make apparent to all the World, that the Public Good and Peace of this Kingdom is far dearer to Him than the Respect of any particular Interest; wherefore none can oppose this Motion, without a manifest Demonstration that he particularly envies His Majesty should be the chief Author in so blessed a Work, besides the declaring himself a direct Opposer of the happy Peace of these Nations.

"To conclude, whosoever will not be ashamed that his fair and specious Pretences should be brought to a true and public Test, and those who have a real Sense and do truly commiserate the Miseries of their bleeding Country; let them speedily and chearfully embrace His Majesty's Proposition, for His Personal Treaty at Westm. which (by the Blessing of God) will undoubtedly to these now-distracted Kingdoms restore the Happiness of a Long-wished-for and lasting Peace.

"Given at the Court at Oxon, the Nine and Twentieth Day of December, 1645.

"For the Speaker of the House of Peers pro Tempore; to be communicated to the Two Houses of Parliament at Westm. and the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland."

Message to the H. C. with it; and for an Answer to be prepared to it.

Ordered, That this Letter be communicated to the House of Commons; and desire that the Members of both Houses that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms may communicate the same to the Scotts Commissioners; and afterwards the said Members to prepare an Answer thereunto, and report the same to the Houses.

And accordingly it was sent down, with Sir Edward Leech and Mr. Page.

Propositions for a Peace.

The House took into Consideration the Remainder of the Propositions for Peace.

The Beginning of the Fifteenth Proposition; the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Qualifications to the Word ["Declaration"] respited; and the rest following, to the Fifth Qualification, is passed.

The Fifth Qualification in the Fifteenth Proposition to be totally omitted; and, instead thereof, another was agreed on, wherein the Concurrence of the House of Commons is to be desired.

The Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Eleventh, and Twelfth Qualifications. Agreed to.

Ordered, That if the Propositions do not pass in convenient Time, then this House thinks it fit to (fn. 2) grant further Time than the 25th Day of March next, for the Persons to come in that are comprized within the Qualifications.

In the Sixteenth Proposition, after the End of it, add these Words ["and the like for the Kingdom of Scotland, if the Estates of the Parliament there shall so think fit"].

The Seventeenth Proposition. Agreed to.

The Eighteenth Proposition, with the Three Heads or Branches. Agreed to.

The Nineteenth and Twentieth Propositions. Agreed to.

The One and Twentieth Proposition, after the Word ["State"], and before the Word ["Judges"], put in these Words ["Master of the Rolls]; and in the same Line, after the Word ["and"], put in the Word ["Barons"]. Respited.

The Two and Twentieh Proposition. Agreed to.

In the Three and Twentieth Proposition, after the Word ["Maurice"], put in these Words ["or the Children of either of them"].

The Twenty-fifth, Twenty-sixth, and Twenty-seventh Propositions. Agreed to.

Message from the H. C. with Ordinances, &c.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Sir Gilbert Gherrard Baronet;

To desire Concurrence in these Particulars:

1. An Ordinance concerning the Lady Harcourt.

Read Twice; and committed to the Earl Kent, Earl Warwicke, Earl Manchester, Lord Robertes, and Lord Mountague, or any Two; to meet on Thursday Morning next.

2. An Order to pay Fifteen Hundred Pounds to the Welch Drovers. (Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

3. An Ordinance for Mrs. Hellen Askwith to have Two Hundred Pounds, &c. (Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

4. An Ordinance concerning the Poor Widows. (Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

5. An Order for Mrs. Bassett to have One Hundred Pounds. (Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

6. An Order to pay Ten Pounds to the Widow Bassett. (Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

7. Articles concerning Wareham.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That concerning the Ordinance concerning the Lady Harcourt, and the Articles of Wareham, their Lordships will send an Answer by Messengers of their own: To all the rest of the Particulars, this House (fn. 3) agrees.

Message from thence, to fit a while;

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Sir Rob't Pye Knight, &c.

To desire their Lordships would sit a while.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That their Lordships will sit a while.

Message from thence, with a Vote to insist upon the Militia being in the Power of the Two Houses;

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

That, upon reading of the King's Letters, the House of Commons have made a Vote, wherein their Lordships Concurrence is desired.

"Resolved, &c. That this House, upon reading the King's Letters of the 26th and 29th of December, do find a greater Necessity to continue in their former Resolution, That the Militia of this Kingdom shall be put in the Power of both Houses of Parliament, and not otherwise, according to the Proposition concerning the Militia already sent from this House to the Lords; and that the Lords Concurrence be desired, both in the said Proposition and in this Vote: And that the Lords be desired, that, if they shall agree in the said Proposition and in this Vote, that they will concur with this House, That the said Proposition concerning the Militia and this Vote may, by the Members of both Houses that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms, be communicated to the Scotts Commissioners, and their Concurrence desired to both."

Agreed to.

and about referring the King's Letter.

2. To let their Lordships know, that they agree to the Message sent Yesterday, concerning the referring of the King's Letter.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That this House agrees with the House of Commons in this Vote.

Answer from the H. C.

Sir Edward Leech and Mr. Page returned with this Answer from the House of Commons:

That they agree with their Lordships in referring the King's Letter.

Order for 1500l. to Davies & al. Welch Drovers.

"Be it Ordained, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, That Fifteen Hundred Pounds, Part of the Debt of Two Thousand Six Hundred Fifty-three Pounds, due to Humfrey Davies and the rest of the Welch Drovers, from the State, shall be paid in Course, out of the Receipts of the Excise, on the Ordinance of the 11th September, 1643, unto John Glynn Esquire, Recorder of the City of London, or his Assigns, for the Purposes aforesaid, whose Receipts shall be a sufficient Discharge to the Commissioners of Excise, and every of them, for the said Fifteen Hundred Pounds, and every Part thereof, in that Behalf."

Order for 60l. per Ann. and 200l. to Mrs. Askwith.

"Ordered, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That Hellen Askw'th Widow, Relict of Captain John Askwith deceased, shall have and hold the Water Mill, in the Parish of Leeds, in the County of Yorke, which she now possesseth, and also the Lands therewith heretofore usually demised, being of the Estate of the Lord Savile, a Delinquent, and of the Value of Sixty Pounds per Annum, or thereabouts, upon Accompt, during the Pleasure of both Houses of Parliament; and that the Committee of Lords and Commons for Advance of Money at Habberdashers Hall do, for the present Subsistence of her and her Six Children, pay unto her, or her Assigns, the Sum of Two Hundred Pounds, towards the Satisfaction of the Debt of Nine Hundred and Sixty Pounds, or thereabouts, certified by the Committee of Accompts to be due to her, for One Troop of Horse raised by her late Husband: And it is further Ordered, That, for the Remainder of the Money due for the said Troop, (fn. 3) she may have the Public Faith."

Ordinance for Payment of the Money due to the Waggoners of the City Brigade.

"Whereas, by Ordinance of the 17th of November last, Three Thousand One Hundred Ninety-one Pounds, Five Shillings, and Eight Pence, together with Interest for the same, was charged in Course on the Receipts of the Excise, to be paid, upon Accompt, to divers Waggoners employed by the City in several Expeditions upon Service of the State: It is now Ordained, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, for the better Encouragement of such Person or Persons that shall advance and lend the same, or any Part thereof, and for the more speedy Supply of the pressing Necessities of the said Waggoners, That the said several and respective Person or Persons advancing and lending the same, or any Part thereof, their several and respective Executors, Administrators, Assignee, or Assigns, shall be re-paid the several and respective Sum or Sums of Money which he or they shall so advance of the said Three Thousand One Hundred Ninety-one Pounds, Five Shillings, and Eight Pence, at the Time formerly limited; but shall have their respective Interest paid unto them, by the Commissioners of Excise, at each Six Months End, until the whole Sum, with the remaining Interest, shall be fully satisfied; whose Receipt or Receipts thereof shall be a sufficient Discharge unto the said Commissioners of Excise; and the said Commissioners of Excise are hereby required and authorized accordingly to make Payment of the same; any Thing in the former Ordinance to the contrary notwithstanding."

Order for 100l. for Mrs. Basset, Part of her late Husband's Arrears.

"Ordered, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That the Sum of One Hundred Pounds be advanced and paid to Mrs. Susan Bassett Widow, the Relict of Major Bassett deceased, upon Accompt, in Part of the Arrears of Pay due to her Husband deceased; and that the Committee of Lords and Commons for Advance of Monies sitting at Habberdashers Hall do pay the said Sum of One Hundred Pounds unto the said Susan Bassett, or her Assigns, accordingly."

Order for 10l. for his Interment.

"Ordered, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That Ten Pounds be paid and advanced unto the Widow of Serjeant Major Bassett deceased, by the Committee of Lords and Commons for Advance of Monies at Habberdashers Hall, for the Interring of the said Serjeant Major Bassett."

Adjourn.

House adjourned till 10^a cras.