House of Lords Journal Volume 9: 9 April 1647

DIE Veneris, 9 die Aprilis.

PRAYERS, by Mr. Bridge.

Comes Manchester, Speaker.

L. Bruce to export a Horse.

Ordered, That the Lord Bruce hath Leave to transport out of this Kingdom One Gelding, Customfree.

Letter from the Commissioners with the King.

Bosevile sent for.

A Letter from the Commissioners with the King, at Holdenby, with an Examination of Bossevill, was read; and Ordered, To be communicated to the House of Commons; and that their Lordships do think it fit that the said Bossevill be sent for. (Here enter them.)

Ordinance for 4000 l. for Gloucester.

The Ordinance concerning the Four Thousand Pounds for Gloucester, was reported from the Committee, with a Saving of all Mens Rights; which was read, and Agreed to, and Ordered to be sent to the House of Commons for their Concurrence therein.

Lords Impost Order.

The Order to Mr. Lylse, concerning the Lords Impost, was read, and approved of. (Here enter it.)

Wilding to be instituted to Plumpton.

Ordered, That Doctor Heath shall give Institution and Induction to Wm. Wilding Clerk, to the Rectory of Plumpton, in the County of North'ton; being presented thereunto by Henry Delves Esquire, Patron; and that this to be with a salvo Jure cujuscunque; he first taking the Covenant.

Message from the H. C. about The States Ambassador's Pass; and with Ordinances. &c.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Sir Wm. Lewis Knight, &c.; who brought up divers Particulars, wherein their Lordships Concurrence is desired:

1. They agree to the Pass for the Dutch Ambassador, in the same Manner as it was sent down to the House of Commons.

2. An Ordinance for the raising of Monies, to be employed towards the Maintenance of Forces within this Kingdom, &c.

3. An Ordinance for renewing the Custody of the Great (fn. 1) Seal in the Hands of the Speakers of both Houses for Twenty Days longer, after the Expiration of the last Time limited. (Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

4. An Order for giving Power to the Committee at Derby House for the Affairs of Ireland, to give Commissions. (Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

5. An Order for allowing of Interest of Eight Pounds per Cent. for the advancing Twelve Thousand Five Hundred Pounds. (Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

6. A Contract for Twenty-six Thousand Five Hundred and Two Pounds, Two Shillings, and Two Pence, made with John Chester, Dennis Gawen, and Tho. Rodberd. (Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

7. An Order to pay Twenty Pounds for Captain Errington. (Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

8. A Contract for Six Thousand Pounds, for Victuals to be provided by Mr. Davies. (Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

9. An Order for making Colonel Jones to be Governor of Dublyn. (Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That this House will send an Answer to the Ordinance for raising of Monies for the Maintenance of the Forces here, by Messengers of their own: To all the rest of the Particulars now brought up, this House agrees to them.

Paper from the Irish Committee.

The Earl of Manchester reported a Paper from the Committee for the Affairs of Dublin at Derby House, which was read, as followeth: (Here enter it.) And Ordered, That the same be communicated to the House of Commons.

Walker, for printing Transactions of this House.

Ordered, That Walker (that hath printed some Passages of this House which were sent to the House of Commons for their Concurrence, before they were delivered to the House of Commons) shall attend this House on Tuesday Morning next.

Heads for the Conference on the Ordinance for regulating Oxford University;

The Matter of the Conference to be had now with the House of Commons, concerning the Ordinance for regulating the University of Oxford, shall be, "To let them know, that the Lords do not adhere to the Alterations which this House sent down to them; and that this House doth not agree with them in the adding of the Members of their House, because this House conceiving the Numbers of the Commissioners should be equal according to the ancient Custom of Parliament, else the Lords will be out-voted."

and on the One for dissolving County Committees.

As concerning the Matter of the Conference touching the Ordinance for putting down of Committees; the House Ordered, That this Sense following should be delivered:

"The Lords have long since desired your Concurrence, for the taking away of the Committees now settled in the several Counties; to the which they are now pressed further to urge your speedy Agreement, in regard of the great Cries that come to their Ears from all Parts of the Kingdom, where divers Persons lie under very great Pressures, by reason of the Partiality and Injustice that is used by those Committees.

"They are very sensible of the great Odium that this hath brought upon the Parliament, and how far it may alienate the Hearts of the Generality of the Kingdom from them, if such an arbitrary Power shall be still continued; from which the Hope of being delivered hath been One of the chiefest Motives for the engaging of their Lives and Fortunes in this dangerous and expensive War.

"And it would be now the more grievous unto the Kingdom, because that which was submitted unto in Time of War as necessary will now appear to be a continued Pressure, and only the Benefit of some Private Persons, without any considerable Advantage to the State; the Lords having offered a Means which they conceive will be of most Advantage to the Parliament, and more satisfactory to the Kingdom.

Sir H. Mildmay, a Habeas Corpus, to follow his Claim.

Ordered, That Sir Henry Mildmay shall have a Habeas Corpus to follow his Occasions, Fourteen Days before his Cause is heard in this House, and to continue Seven Days afterwards; and the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery is to issue out the same accordingly.

Petition from the City.

Ordered, That the Committee appointed to prepare something concerning the Covenant, and other Matters contained in the City Petition, shall meet and finish that Business, and to bring the same into this House on Tuesday Morning next.

Answers from the H. C.

Sir Edward Leech and Doctor Aylett return with this Answer:

As to the Conference and the Addition of Six Lords to the Committee at Derby House for the Affairs of Dublyn, they do agree: To all the rest, they will send an Answer by Messengers of their own.

Serjeant Fynch and Doctor Aylett return with this Answer:

That they (fn. 2)

Message from thence, about remitting 10,000 l. for the E. of Ormond;

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Sir Wm. Lewis Knight:

To desire Concurrence in an Order for giving Power to the Treasurers at Gouldsmithes Hall to treat about making over into Holland, by Way of Exchange, Ten Thousand Pounds for the Use of the Earl of Ormond, &c.

(Here enter it.)

Read, and Agreed to.

and for the Committee for Irish Affairs to dispose of the Forces raised for Ireland.

2. To desire Concurrence in this Vote following; videlicet,

"Whereas the Committee for the Affairs of Ireland at Darby House had, by former Order, Power given them to draw the Forces of the Army that shall engage to go for Ireland into a Body from the rest of the Army: It is this Day Ordered, That the said Committee shall have farther Power to dispose those Forces into Regiments, or otherwise, as shall be most convenient for the Advantage of that Service."

Ordinance to invest the Committee for Irish Affairs with Power of disposing of Monies, &c.

Ordered, That the Earl of Lyncolne, Earl of Suffolke, Earl of Midd. the Lord Dacres, Lord Willoughby, and Lord Maynard, shall prepare an Ordinance, and present the same to this House, for transferring the Power of disposing of Monies, formerly granted to the Committee for the Affairs of Ireland sitting at the Star-chamber, and to invest the said Power in the Committee for Irish Affairs sitting at Derby House.

Letter from the Commissioners with the King, that they had detected Bosevile delivering Letters to the King, from the Queen and Prince.

"To the Right Honourable the Earl of Manchester, Speaker of the House of Peers pro Tempore. Westm'r.

"My Lord,

"This Afternoon, as the King was riding from Holdenby to Boughton to bowl, He alighted (as usually He hath done) at a Narrow Bridge in the Way, at the End of which Bridge there stood one Humphry Bosevile (who had (fn. 3) been formerly a Major in His Majesty's Army), disguised in a Countryman's Habit, with an Angle in his Hand, as if he had been fishing; and privately conveyed into the King's Hand Letters from the Queen and Prince, as more particularly appears in the Examination which we send your Lordship here inclosed. We have committed him to the High Sheriff of this County, where he is to remain until your Lordship's Pleasure be known. In Discharge of our Duty, we thought fit to do this, and to give your Lordship a speedy Account thereof; remaining

Holdenby, 6 April. 1647.

"Your Lordship's
Most humble Servants,
B. Denbigh.
Edw. Mountagu."

Examination of Bosevile.

"Holdenby, 6 April. 1647.

"The Examination of Humph. Bosevile, some-time of Ensford in Kent, and late Major to Colonel Culpepper's Regiment, in the Lord Cleveland's Brigade, taken before the Commissioners.

"Who saith, That this present Day he did deliver to the King (as He was going to Bowls) a Packet of Letters, which he lately brought out of France from the Queen, with some inclosed from the Prince, as the King was walking over a Narrow Bridge near a Mill.

"That he heard it discoursed before he came over, That the Prince, having a Desire (from a Sense he has of his Honour) to accompany the Duke of Orleane in his Wars, hath in One of his Letters wrote to the King for Leave so to do; the Queen Regent of France being otherwise unwilling to give her Consent.

"That the Lord Culpepper did assure him the said Major Bosevile, before he came out of France, that the Letters he brought tended much to Peace; and which he is confident is true.

"That he was at Newcastle the same Day the King was delivered into the English Commissioners Hands; and that he went thence into France, and carried with him a Letter from the King to the Queen, which Letter he received from His Majesty in the Morning of the said Day.

"That it is about a Fortnight since he the said (fn. 4) Bodevile came into England; and that he hath lodged Two Nights in a Furze-bush, and Three Nights at a Countryman's House near this Place, waiting for an Opportunity to deliver the said Letters.

"That he borrowed the said Countryman's Cloaths for his Disguise (but his Name or Dwelling he refuseth to tell), in which he delivered the said Letters, with an Angle also in his Hand, as if he were fishing.

"That he was commanded to deliver the said Letters to the King's own Hand, which he undertook to do: And saith, That if he could have found an Opportunity otherwise, he was resolved to deliver them to the King before the Commissioners, although he had died for it; conceiving the Letters conduced to Peace, as is aforesaid.

"This Examination being read unto him the said Humphry Bosevile, he acknowledgeth the same to be true; but refuseth to set his Hand unto it.

"J. Burroughs (in Absence of the Secretary), by Order of the Commissioners."

Order for Monies arising from the Imposts allowed by the King to the Lords, &c. received by Leachland, to be paid by his Executors to Lyst.

Whereas the Lords assembled in Parliament were this Day informed, "That divers Bills of Impost, which His Majesty hath been graciously pleased to allow to Ambassadors and Agents of Foreign Princes, and also to the Nobility, Judges, and divers other Honourable Persons of several Ranks and Qualities of this Kingdom of England, (videlicet,) Fifteen Hundred Tons of Wine Impost-free Yearly, of Forty-two Shillings each Ton, which Bills have been usually signed by the Lord Treasurer of England, or by the Commissioners of the Exchequer for the Time being, and the Monies for Payment thereof have been constantly received, for many Years past, by one William Leachland Gentleman, deceased, upon Allowance made unto him of Three Shillings on each Ton for Payment of the said Monies due by the said Bills:"

And whereas the Lords were further informed, "That divers of the said Bills, signed in January, 1638, 1639, 1640, and 1641, according to the New Style, some of them by the late Lord Treasurer the Bishop of London, and some of them by the Earl of Manchester, the Lord Viscount Say, the Lord Newburgh, and Sir John Culpepper then Chancellor of the Exchequer, and now remaining in the Hands of Lawrence Lisle Gentleman, are yet unsatisfied by the said William Leachland, notwithstanding the Monies due thereupon have been received by him, as doth appear by Certificate from the Officers of the Exchequer and the Farmers of the Customs their Books, to the great Loss and Prejudice of such Honourable and other Worthy Persons as should receive the Benefit thereof:"

It is therefore this Day Ordered, by the Lords in Parliament assembled, That the Executors or Administrators of the said William Leachland shall, upon Demand, and shewing of the said Bills, satisfy and pay unto the said Lawrence Lyle the Monies due by the said Bills for the Four Years abovementioned, after the Rate of Forty-two Shillings on each Ton, according to the several Proportions of Tons in the said Bills mentioned, deducting out of each Ton Three Shillings, for the said Leachland's Fee, formerly granted unto him; and that the Acquittance under the Hand of the said Lawrence Lyle, upon the Back Side of every of the said Bills, together with the Bills, shall be unto the said William Leachland's Executors or Administrators a sufficient Discharge; and the said Lawrence Lyle is hereby required to pay the said Monies, so received, unto the several Persons, their Executors or Assigns, unto whom the said Bills did or do belong, he also deducting the Fees belonging unto him: And it is likewise Ordered, That the said Executors or Administrators of the said William Leachland shall in like Manner satisfy and pay all such other of the Bills of Impost, for the Four Years abovementioned, as are not in the Hands of the said Lawrence Lyle, and are yet unsatisfied, after the Rate of Forty-two Shillings for every Ton, unto such Person or Persons to whom the said Bills do properly belong, taking the several Agents Hands who are the Bringers of the said Bills, on the Back Side of the said Bills, which, together with the said Bills, shall be unto the said Executors or Administrators a sufficient Discharge, deducting only the said Three Shillings out of each Ton, for the Fee granted as aforesaid: And if the said Executors or Administrators shall fail in Performance of this Order, or any Part thereof, that then their Lordships will take such further Course therein as they shall think fit.

Commissioners for the Great Seal continued;

"Ordered, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That the Custody of the Great Seal of England shall be continued in the Hands of the same Commissioners as now it is, for Twenty Days longer, after the Expiration of the Time it is now continued for; and likewise the Commission for Hearing Causes in Chancery."

Committee for Irish Affairs at Derby House to give Commissions for Commanders for Ireland.

"Ordered, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That Power be given to the Committee for the Affairs of Ireland at Darby House, to give Commissions from Time to Time, as Occasion shall require, for the Service of Ireland, to such Officers and Commanders as are, or shall be, approved for that Service by both Houses of Parliament."

Allowance for such Persons as shall advance the Sum of 12,500 l. 1s. 7d. for Reduced Officers.

"Ordered, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That the Interest after the Rate of Eight Pounds per Centum for a Year, payable every Six Months, be allowed unto such Person or Persons as shall advance the Sum of Twelve Thousand Five Hundred Pounds, One Shilling, Seven Pence, charged upon Gouldsmiths Hall, for divers Years Reduced Officers, contained in Four Lists presented formerly to the House of Commons, or any Part thereof, payable as the said Sum of Twelve Thousand Five Hundred Pounds, One Shilling, Seven Pence, out of Gouldsmiths Hall."

Contract with Chester, & al. for Arms, Ammunition, and Provisions, for Ireland.

"Committee of Lords and Commons for Ireland.

"Whereas John Chester, Dennis Gawden, and Thomas Redberd, of London, for themselves and Partners, have propounded to this Committee, That they will, at their own Charge, provide, surnish, and ship for Ireland (Weather serving) the Provisions hereafter mentioned; (videlicet,) One Third Part thereof by the Eighteenth of February next, another Third Part thereof by the Eighteenth of March, and the Residue by the Tenth of April next ensuing; and will deliver them, at such Ports of Ireland as this Committee shall appoint, safe and well-conditioned (Danger of the Sea excepted to all but the Victual, the Hazard whereof they will take upon themselves); videlicet,

"For all which, according to those Prices, amounting to Twenty-six Thousand Five Hundred and Seven Pounds, Two Shillings, and Two Pence, they will accept of Payment out of the Twenty-five Thousand Pounds ordered for Ireland out of the Excise, by the Ordinance of the 10th of November, and out of the Monies coming in by all the Ordinances for Assessments for Ireland, after all Orders and Engagements made before the said 10th of November have taken Effect; that is to say, Two Thirds thereof out of the said Ordinances of Excise, and the Remainder out of those Assessments, so that they may receive the full Benefit of the Interest allowed by that Ordinance, in Proportion for so much as that upon the Excise shall amount unto.

"And if it shall appear that the said Persons, or their Partners, have, in Pursuance of any Order of this Committee, delivered already any Provisions of these Kinds, which have not been included in former Contracts, nor Payment already settled for them, that the same may be accounted as Part of these Particulars, and allowed of for Payment to be made amongst them, as is above expressed.

"This Committee have thought fit, and Resolved, in regard of the extreme Necessity of having those Provisions sent away at the Times limited, to accept thereof; and, upon Certificate of the said Contractors shipping those Provisions, from Time to Time, will give Warrants for Assignment or Payment of the Money proportionably, and respectively, unto them or their Assigns, both for the Provisions and Interest allowed by that Ordinance from the Date thereof.

"And Mr. Reynolds is desired to report this Contract to the House of Commons, for their Approbation hereof, as of other Contracts; and to move the House, That such Ordinance or Ordinances; as shall be brought, in Pursuance hereof, tending to the Contractors Security, may be passed for them."

Order for 20l. to Captain Errington.

"Ordered, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That Captain Errington shall have Twenty Pounds bestowed upon him, by the Committee for Advance of Monies at Habberdash'rs Hall, for his Service, employed in a Message to Edenburgh."

Colonel Jones to be Governor of Dublin.

"Ordered, by the Lords and Commons, That Colonel Jones be appointed and constituted Governor of the Town and Castle of Dublyn, in the Kingdom of Ireland; and that (fn. 6) the Committee for the Affairs of Ireland at Derby House do grant him a Commission accordingly."

Treasurers at Goldsmiths Hall to treat about remitting 10,000 l. to Holland, for the Earl of Ormond.

"Ordered, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That the Commissioners at Gouldsmiths Hall may confer with the Treasurers there, and, as they see Cause, to give them Order to furnish, by Way of Exchange, payable in Amsterdam, in Holland, the Sum of Ten Thousand Eight Hundred Seventyseven Pounds, Fourteen Shillings, and Nine Pence, formerly charged upon that Treasury, by an Ordinance of Three and Twentieth of February last, for the Use of the Lord of Ormond; and that the said Commissioners have Power to make such Allowance as they shall find necessary to effect the same; and that they do give Order to the Treasurers to make Payment of the same accordingly."

Contract with Davies, for Provisions for Ireland.

"Committee of Lords and Commons for Ireland.

"Whereas Mr. John Davies hath offered to this Committee, That, for the Supply of the Forces which shall be appointed to keep Dublin and the other Garrisons thereabouts, when they shall be put into the Power of the Parliament, or otherwise to be disposed of for the Service of that Kingdom, he will furnish and deliver there, as this Committee shall direct, Six Thousand Pounds-worth of Victuals, in their several Kinds, free of all Charges whatsoever; that is to say,

"For which he will take Payment in Manner following; that is to say, Four Thousand Pounds in Course out of the Twenty-five (fn. 7) Thousand Pounds last ordered out of the Excise for Ireland; and Two Thousand Pounds, the Residue thereof, out of the Ordinances for Assessments for Ireland, after all former Orders and Engagements have taken Effect.

"This Committee have thought fit, and Resolved, to accept thereof; and Mr. Reynolds is desired to report the same to the House, for their Approbation thereof, as soon as conveniently he may."