House of Lords Journal Volume 9: 16 February 1647

DIE Martis, 16 die Februarii.

PRAYERS, by Dr. Staunton.

Domini præsentes fuerunt:

Comes Manchester, Speaker.

Cooke and Harvey.

Ordered, That the Errors in the Writ of Error depending in this House between Cooke Plaintiff, and Harvy Defendant, shall be argued on Saturday next; and then this House will consider of the Affidavit concerning the Waste.

Confession of Faith.

The Confession of Faith was read the Second Time; and the House was adjourned into a Committee during Pleasure, to read it in Parts, and consider of it.

The First Chapter, being in Number 20th, was Agreed to.

The 21th, of Religious Worship and the Sabbathday, was Agreed to.

The 22th, of lawful Vows and Oaths, was Agreed to.

The 23th, of the Civil Magistrate, was Agreed to.

The 24th, of Marriage, Agreed to.

The 25th, of the Church, Agreed to.

The 26th, of the Communion of Saints, Agreed to.

The 27th, of the Sacraments, Agreed to.

The 28th, of Baptism, Agreed to.

The 29th, of the Lord's Supper, Agreed to.

The 30th, of Church Censures, Agreed to.

The 31th, of Synods and Councils, Agreed to.

The 32th, of the Resurrection, Agreed to.

The 33th, of the Day of Judgement, Agreed to.

The House was resumed; and the said Confession was read entirely; and Resolved, To pass, upon the Question.

Message from the H. C. with Ordinances.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Denzell Holles Esquire;

To desire their Lordships Concurrence in Two Ordinances:

1. An Ordinance for paying to Colonel Ceely, Governor of Lyme, in Part of his Arrears, Two Thousand Pounds. (Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

2. An Ordinance for a Rent Charge, out of Mr. Lingen's Estate, to be given to Anthony Barrow Gentleman, for his good Service in taking of Hereford.

Read, and committed to these Lords following, to consider of it, and report the same to this House:

Any Three, to meet when they please.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That this House agrees to the Ordinance concerning Colonel Thomas Ceely: To the Order concerning Anthony Barrow Gentleman, their Lordships will take it into Consideration, and will return an Answer by Messengers of their own.

Petition from Suffolk:

A Petition was this Day presented by divers Gentlemen, in Behalf of the County of Suffolke, which hath been subscribed by the Deputy Lieutenants, Committee, Grand Jury, and Four Thousand others of that County; which, being received, was read publicly, as follows.

(Here enter it.)

Ordered, That this Petition shall be printed and published.

The Answer returned was as follows:

Answer to it.

"The Lords acknowledge the constant Faithfulness and good Affections (fn. 1) which the County of Suff. hath upon all Occasions expressed to the Parliament and Kingdom; for which they have commanded me to return you Thanks, and to assure you, that they will be careful to make good their solemn League and Covenant, and to give you all Encouragements to go on in your Care for the true Worship of God, and for the Preservation of the Public Liberties. They are sorry to hear that the Directory, so long since ordered to be sent into the several Counties, is not yet come in a public Way into your County; and they will take Care that it shall not longer be neglected in the sending it to you.

"They give you Thanks for this your Petition; and the Particulars of it they will speedily take into their serious Consideration."

Order for 2000 l. to Ceely.

"Ordered, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That the Sum of Two Thousand Pounds be advanced and paid, by the Committee at Gouldsmiths Hall, unto Colonel Thomas Ceely, upon Accompt, out of the Fines and Compositions of such Delinquents as the said Colonel Thomas Ceely shall nominate unto the said Committee at Gouldsmiths Hall; and that the Acquittance of the said Colonel Thomas Ceely shall be a sufficient Warrant and Discharge to the Committee at Gouldsmiths Hall and the Treasurers there, for the Payment of the said Sum of Two Thousand Pounds accordingly."

Message to the H. C. with the Confession of Faith.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Dr. Aylett and Dr. Heath:

To deliver to them the Residue of the Confession of Faith, with this Sense, "That the Lords sent Part of the Confession of Faith long since to the House of Commons, and have now passed this; to both which the Lords desire their speedy Concurrence, in regard of the Fast appointed by both Houses for Heresies and Schisms, which is to be on the Tenth of March next, and would seem strange if before that Time a Confession of Faith agreed to by both Houses (fn. 2) be not published to the Kingdom."

Gery, a Pass.

Ordered, That Mr. George Gery shall have a Pass, to go beyond the Seas.

Ld. Loftus and Sir G. Wentworth.

Ordered, That Sir George Wentworth shall be heard, by his Counsel, To-morrow Morning, why he obeys not the Order of this House made in the Lord Loftus's Cause.

Prynn's Damages.

Ordered, That the Counsel of Mr. Prynn shall be heard, at this Bar, this Day Sevennight, concerning the Matters of his Damages.

Suffolk Petition, about Church Government;— for Preservation of the King;— disbanding the Armies;—regulating the Excise, &c.

"To the Right Honourable the House of Peers assembled in Parliament.

The humble Petition of the Inhabitants of the County of Suff.

"Sheweth,

"That, when we call to Mind your Honours large Expressions and deep Engagements in your many Declarations and most solemn Covenant for the Preservation of the Liberties of the Subject, and the Reformation of the Church and State, and consider how blessed an Opportunity to effect your Undertakings the Lord hath now afforded you by subduing your Enemies, and yet find our heavy Burthens so slowly taken off, and Reformation come more slowly on; we cannot but conceive that some great Obstructions (like those from the Bishops and others in the Beginning of this Parliament) do nip your godly Endeavours in the Bud, and call once more for a general Discovery of the Affections both of the City and Country, in this humble Way of Petitioning, for the removing thereof. Should we now therefore be wholly silent, we should shew ourselves too insensible of our present Condition, too forgetful of our solemn Covenant for the furthering Reformation to our Power, and too unmindful of your Honours former favourable Acceptations, and of that strengthening of your Hands, which you may in this Way justly expect from us, for the taking away those Incumbrances and redressing all those pernicious Evils, which dreadfully threaten the speedy Ruin of our dearest Religion and Country, the most principal whereof are feelingly expressed in the Petition and Representation of the famous City of London, for whose constant Fidelity and Zeal we have great Cause to bless the Lord: And we, being no less sensible, do humbly crave that you will be pleased to take into your most serious Consideration our following Requests; the granting whereof, we humbly conceive, will exceedingly conduce to the Welfare of the Church and State, and turn away God's heavy Judgements from us:

"1. We humbly pray, That the National Covenant may be solemnly sworn by all Men throughout the Kingdom, without Respect of Persons, under such Penalties in case of Refusal as to your Wisdoms shall seem fit; and that no Person be continued or employed in Public Trust or Service who shall not take the same; or that, having taken it, shall yet appear disaffected thereunto.

"2. That whereas you have long since declared for Church Government by Congregational Elderships, Classes, Provincial Synods, and National Assemblies, you will now be pleased to cause the same to be put in Execution amongst us, and in other Parts of the Kingdom; and to back it strongly, that it may be effectual for Public Reformation.

"3. That an Ordinance may be made, for the speedy suppressing of Blasphemies, Sects, and Heresies; that so no Hope may be left for an accursed Toleration of every one to do what he pleaseth in the Matters of God.

"4. That, for the happy settling of the Differences about Religion, a Directory for Church Government, a Confession of Faith, and a Catechism agreeable to the Word of God, may be made public by your Authority.

"5. That, for the firm settling of a well-grounded Peace, special Care may be had for the Preservation of His Majesty's Person and Authority, in the Maintenance of true Religion, Privileges of the Parliament, and Liberties of the Kingdom.

"6. That, for so much as divers Ministers want a sufficient Livelihood for themselves and Families, and very many Parishes are far short of a competent Means to maintain a Minister, whereby the People are destitute of Pastors, and subject to be corrupted by Seducers, some effectual Course may be taken for the Remedy hereof, out of the Estates of Bishops, Deans, and Chapters, or otherwise, as in your Wisdoms shall seem fit; that godly and orthodox Ministers may be encouraged, and such as are erroneous and scandalous removed; and that others intruding themselves into the Work of the Ministry may be punished and suppressed.

"7. That, since, by the Blessing of the Almighty upon the Industry of our valiant General and Soldiery, the common Enemies of our Peace are subdued, the Armies may now be disbanded; that so our exhausted Estates may be henceforth freed from Taxes, according to the Hopes formerly given us of their ending; and our poor Brethren in Ireland, even ready to perish, may be relieved with Aid suitable to their Necessities.

"8. That the Garrison in the Isle of Ely on the One Side of our Country, now as we humbly conceive of little Use, may be discharged; and the printed Design for putting a Garrison into the Hundred of Sothingland may be disappointed by your Wisdoms; that so we may enjoy our Estates and Families the freer from Oppression; and that, if Need shall so require, some Trustees of this County may yet receive Order from your Honours for the securing of the whole County as formerly.

"9. That the Estates of Papists and Delinquents may be faithfully improved, for the Re-payment of the Loans and other Debts of the Kingdom, according to several Orders; and that just Debts of Delinquents may be paid out of their Estates.

"10. That, so long as there shall be a Necessity of continuing the Excise, it may be better regulated; and (fn. 3) be trusted in the Hands of Persons of known Ability and Fidelity; and that the Poor may not be over burthened by the ill-managing of it.

"11. That condign Punishment may be inflicted upon all those that, by slanderous Reports or otherwise, shall endeavour to make Division between us and our Brethren of Scotland, so happily united by solemn League and Covenant.

"12. That the Authors, Licensers, and Printers, of Books and Pamphlets, containing Points contrary to the Doctrine professed in the Reformed Churches, or abusive lying Intelligence, may be severely censured.

"13. That your Honours utmost Endeavours may be improved, to the taking away of Divisions in the Church of God, that the Lord may be One, and His Name One, in the Three Kingdoms.

"And finally we humbly pray, That this Honourable House will be pleased to take in good Part these our humble Desires, as proceeding only from the deep Sense of the common Calamity, the Conscience of our Duty, and the Zeal we owe towards God, your Honours, and the Kingdom.

And your Petitioners shall pray."

Toupe to be instituted to Bradford Peneroll.

Ordered, &c. That Mr. Doctor Aylett is hereby authorized and required, upon Sight of this Order, to give Institution and Induction unto Onesipher Toupe Clerk, to the Rectory of Bradford Peneroll, in the County of Dorsett, void by Lapse, salvo Jure cujuscunque; the said Mr. Toupe taking the National League and Covenant, and producing his Presentation thereunto under the Great Seal of England.