House of Lords Journal Volume 9: 15 November 1647

DIE Lunæ, 15 die Novembris.

PRAYERS, by Mr. Case.

Domini præsentes fuerunt:

Comes Manchester, Speaker.

Letter from Col. Hammond, that the King is in the Isle of Wight.

A Letter from Colonel Rob't Hamond, Governor of the Isle of Wight, was read; giving Information of the King being in the Isle of Wight. (Here enter it.)

Message from the H. C. for Committees to consider how to dispose of His Person.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Sir John Evelyn Knight, &c.; who brought up a Letter which was sent to them, from Colonel Hamond, concerning the King's being in the Isle of Wight: And they desire that a Committee of both Houses may be appointed, to consider what is fit to be done with the Person of the King; and accordingly to send Order to Colonel Hamond, and to report to the Houses:

Any Three; to meet this Afternoon, at Three a Clock, in the Lord Keeper's Lodgings.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That this House hath appointed Fourteen Lords to meet, with a proportionable Number of the House of Commons, this Afternoon, at Three a Clock, in the Lord Keeper's Lodgings, as is desired.

Clopton to be instituted to Markshall;

Ordered, That Dr. Aylett shall give Institution and Induction to Wm. Clopton Clerk, Master of Arts, to the Rectory of Markeshall, in Com. Essex, void by the voluntary Resignation of Gamaliell Carr; the said Clopton producing his Presentation thereunto under the Hand and Seal of Sir Thomas Honywood, the lawful Patron: And this with a Salvo Jure cujuscunque.

and Jones to Fawnhope.

Ordered, That Dr. Heath shall give Institution and Induction to Edward Jones, to the Vicarage of Eawenhope, in Com. Hereford; presented thereunto by Presentation under the Great Seal of England; salvo Jure cujuscunque.

Capt. Swain's Petition.

Upon reading the Petition of Captain Francis Swaine, of the City of Yorke: It is Ordered To be recommended to the House of Commons.

Lee and Grigg.

The Counsel were heard, to argue the Errors, in the Writ of Error depending in this House between Lee Plaintiff and Grigg Defendant.

And upon full Consideration of it by this House;

It is Ordered, That the Judgement in the King's Bench is hereby affirmed; and that the Record be transmitted into the Court of King's Bench, that so Execution may be taken out accordingly.

Letter from Col. Hammond, that the King is come into the Isle of Wight; and that he will take Care of Him.

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

"Newport, November 14th, Four in the Morning.

"My Lord,

"I hold it my Duty to give you an Account of the King's unexpected coming into this Island, and of the Manner of it; which was thus: This Morning, as I was on the Way, passing from Carrisbrooke Castle to Newport, Mr. Ashburnham and Sir John Berkley overtook me, and (after a short Discourse) told me, "That the King was near; and that He would be with me that Night: That He was come from Hampton Court, upon Information that there were some intended to destroy His Person, and that He could not with Safety continue any longer there; and that, finding His Case thus, chose rather to put Himself into my Hands, being a Member of the Army (whom He saith He would not have left, could He have had Security to His Person), than to go to any other Place." Being herewith exceedingly surprized at present, I knew not what Course to take But, upon serious Consideration, weighing the great Concernment the Person of the King is of, in this Juncture of Affairs, to the Settlement of the Peace of the Kingdom, resolved it my Duty to the King, to the Parliament, and Kingdom, to use the utmost of my Endeavours to preserve His Person from any such horrid Attempt, and to bring Him to a Place of Safety, where He may also be in a Capacity of answering the Expectation of Parliament and Kingdom, in agreeing to such Things as may tend to the Settlement of those great Divisions and Distractions abounding in every Corner thereof. Hereupon I went immediately with them over the Water, taking Captain Baskett (the Captain of Cowes Castle) with me, and found the King near the Waterside. And conceiving myself no Way able to secure Him there, I chose (He desiring it) to bring Him over into the Island, where He now is.

"My Lord, My Endeavours, as for my Life, shall be to preserve and secure His Person; and I humbly desire I may receive the Pleasure of the Parliament in this great and weighty Matter. And that the Lord will direct your Counsels, to His Glory, and the Kingdom's Good and Peace, shall be my Prayer; and my Endeavours shall ever be to express myself, in all Things in my Power,

Cowes, this 13 Nov. 1647.

"My Lord,
Your,
Ro. Hammond."