House of Lords Journal Volume 9: 12 June 1647

DIE Saturni, 12 die Junii.

PRAYERS, by Mr. Sallawey.

Domini præsentes fuerunt:

Comes Manchester, Speaker.

Letter from the Commissioners with the King.

A Letter from the Earl of Nottingham, at Royston, was read, with the Papers inclosed. (Here enter them.)

Petition from Norff.

1. The Petition of the Well-affected in Norff.

Commissioners to enquire of the Arme what the Designs are that they complain of.

It is Ordered, That a Letter be written to the Commissioners, to let them signify to the Army, "That the Parliament is in a Way of settling the Peace of the Kingdom; and that it is desired that they would declare what the great Design is that they mention, and the Particulars of the Matter, and of the Persons; else the House will take it as a Reflection upon the whole House:"

And the Speaker is appointed to draw up a Draught of a Letter to this Purpose, and report the same to the Houses.

E. of Holland versus Young and Symonds, for keeping Possession of the Lodge at Windsor.

This Day Robert Ward, upon Oath, testified, "That the Earl of Holland came to lodge in the Great Park of Windsor, where Symonds lives, and holds it against his Right. The Earl of Holland desired the People in it to open the Doors: But it being denied, his Lordship did break open the Doors; which was done. And then a Gun was shot out of the House at the Earl of Holland; and the Bullet did narrowly miss his Lordship: That the Earl of Holland and Lieutenant Colonel Farr did see a Man that did shoot off the Gun."

Ric'd Moone, upon Oath, did swear to the same Effect.

Ellin Symonds confessed, "That a Gun was shot off out of the House, by her Younger Daughter: That she asked the Earl of Holland, "Whether he had an Order of Parliament?" And his Lordship said, "He would order her." That her Husband gave her Command, that the Earl of Holland should not come into the House."

It is Ordered, That Symonds shall do his Endeavour to produce his Man that shot off the Gun at the Earl of Holland on Tuesday next, to answer the same to this House; and that the Earl of Holland's Patent be produced before the Committee on Monday Morning, whereby his Lordship's Title to the Lodge wherein Symonds lives may appear.

Ordered, That Symonds and the Parties now at Bar shall put in good Bail, to appear before this House when he shall be summoned.

Message from the H. C. with the following additional Instruction for the Commissioners with the Army;

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Sir Rob't Pye Knight; who brought up an additional Instruction to be sent to the Commissioners with the Army, wherein they desire their Lordships Concurrence; and they desire another Lord may be appointed to go down, to assist the Earl of Nottingham.

The additional Instruction was read, and Agreed to.

to learn what the Desires of the Army are.

(fn. 1) "You shall use your Endeavours, by the best Way and Means you can or shall think fit, fully to know the Particulars which the Army desires, and will insist on, for their Satisfaction."

The Answer returned was:

Answer to the H. C.

That this House agrees to the additional Instruction: To the other Particular, their Lordships will send an Answer by Messengers of their own.

Committee to go to the Army.

The Lord Lawarr was appointed to go down to the Army.

Howard, a Pass.

Ordered, That Charles Howard Esquire and his Wife shall have a Pass, to go into Cumberland, with Horses and Coaches.

Whartons, a Pass.

Ordered, That the Whartons shall have a Pass, with their Coach and Horses, to go into the Country.

Count. of Cork, a Pass.

Ordered, That the Countess of Corke shall have a Pass, for herself and her Family, with their Coach and Horses, to go into the Country.

Lords to attend.

Ordered, That all the Lords shall have Order to attend this House, about the great Affairs of the Kingdom, on Monday Morning next, at which Time this House will begin to take into Consideration the settling the Peace of the Kingdom; and all Lords that have former Leave to be absent, their Leave is hereby revoked, except the Lord Bruce.

Letter from the Committee with the Army, that some of the Norfolk People had presented a Petition to Sir T. Fairfax; and that they will endeavour to keep a good Understanding between the Parliament and Army.

"For the special Service of the State.

"To the Right Honourable the Earl of Manchester, Speaker of the House of Peers. Present these.

"Haste, Haste, Post Haste.

"My Lords,

"Since the Resolution taken by this Committee the last Night to send Two of our Number to London, we find every Hour doth administer unto us fresh Occasion of Address unto you. This Morning we having been to hear a Sermon at Roysterne, where the General and his Officers were; we did observe, upon our return Home, many Persons, Ministers and others, about One Hundred in Number, on Horseback, styling themselves "The peaceable and well-affected Inhabitants of the County of Norffolke;" who meeting the General in the Street, One of the said Persons, in the Name of the rest, presented a Petition, after some Time spent in a Speech made to his Excellency. This Morning also Information came to us, That the last Night late a Letter was sent to the City of London, signed by the General and divers of his Chief Officers, declaring the Intentions of the Army unto the City; which so soon as we had Notice of, and were able to recover Copies of them, it was the Resolution of this Committee, That both Houses should be acquainted therewith; and I have accordingly here inclosed sent the Copies of them.

"The Copies of the Votes and Resolutions of both Houses, sent down unto us, we shall endeavour to see distributed the best we can to the several Regiments; though we find that they go off but slowly.

"I have no more to add, but that I shall (according to the Instructions given us) with all Faithfulness endeavour to preserve a right Understanding between the Parliament and the Army while I continue in this Service: and shall not be wanting to give your Lordships frequent Advertisements of what comes to our Knowledge, whereby you may with the more Certainty ground your Councils and Resolutions; as becomes

Roysterne, 11 June, 9 at Night.

"Your Lordship's humble Servant,

"C. Nottingham."

Petition from some Inhabitants of Norff. to Sir T. Fairfax, that there is a Design on Foot to ruin the Liberty of the Subject; and that they have not free Access to the Parliament with their Addresses.

"To his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairefax Knight, Captain General of the Parliament Forces.

"The humble Petition of the peaceable and well-affected Inhabitants of the County of Norff. earnestly endeavouring after the Prosperity of the Parliament, and the Peace of the Kingdom;

"Sheweth,

(fn. 2) Vide the Parliament's Declaration, April 17th, 1646.

"That whereas your Excellency hath been appointed Commander in Chief over those free Commons of England that have been invited by the Parliament to stand up in Defence of themselves and Fellow Subjects, in Time of imminent Danger, against all arbitrary Government, Tyranny, and Oppression; and that the Parliament hath, by divers Declarations, Remonstrances, and Protestations, engaged themselves, both to God and the Kingdom, to endeavour to their uttermost to maintain the ancient Government of this Kingdom, and to preserve the Rights and Liberties of the Subjects, and to lay hold on the First Opportunity of procuring a safe and well-grounded Peace: Notwithstanding all which, there is now an Appearance of a most abhorred Design to ruin the Native Liberties and Privileges of the Subjects, whereby Discontents are fomented, (fn. 3) and the Hearts of the People of the Kingdom like to be divided into Factions, to the imminent Danger of embroiling us yet again in Blood; and from the Policy of the Complotters of this Design, we humbly conceive, have already proceeded these sad (fn. 4) Obstructions of our Free Addresses to the Parliament, in representing our Grievances, and making humble Offers to your Wisdom of just Remedies; which have imposed a Necessity upon us humbly to implore, &c. your Excellency's Assistance, to mediate with the Parliament, in the Behalf (fn. 5) of all the Free Commons of England, for a speedy and peaceable Establishment of these our Native Liberties and Freedoms, which have now cost the Kingdom such vast Expences of Blood and Treasure; and all Obstructions that lie in the Way to hinder the Addresses of the Subjects of England to the Parliament, in representing their Grievances, Fears, Doubts, and Jealousies, as also Offers of Remedy, be so speedily removed, as a firm Peace and Union might be yet again enjoyed in our distracted Kingdom, according to the Intentions of the Parliament frequently declared, Engagements of the Army, and the ardent Expectations of all the Well-affected in the Kingdom:

"And your Petitioners shall ever pray."

"Additional Instructions to the Commissioners with the Army." (fn. 6)

Adjourn.

House adjourned till 4^a post Meridiem.

[ (fn. 7) Post Meridiem.]

PRAYERS.

Comes Manchester, Speaker.

L. Thomond, a Pass.

Ordered, That a Pass be granted to the Lord Toomont and his Lady, to go out of Town, into Northamptonsheire.

Message from the H. C. with an Ordinance, &c.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Mr. Tate and others:

1. To desire Concurrence in a Warrant for Ten Thousand Pounds.

2. An Ordinance that Ten Thousand Pounds shall be paid to the Forces that shall be sent for Ireland.

(Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

Betty and Baker.

An Answer of Michaell Baker, to a Petition of one Henry Betty, was read; desiring, "That he may have a Month's Time, to put in his Answer to the said Petition."

Ordered, That Betty shall have a Sight of the said Answer; and if he shew not Cause within One Week, then the said Baker shall have Time to put in his Answer a Month next after the Date hereof.

Message from the H. C. to add Commissioners to go to the Army; and with Letters from the Commissioners and Sir T. Fairfax.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Sir Walter Erle and others;

To desire the Lords Concurrence:

1. That they would add Two Commissioners more to go to the Army, which was passed by Vote.

(Here enter it.)

A Letter from Sir Thomas Fairefax, was read. (Here enter it.)

A Letter from the Earl of Nottingham, with Reasons from Sir Thomas Fairefax concerning the Removing the Army, and a Copy of a Letter from the Commissioners to Sir Thomas Fairefax, declaring their Dissent and Disapprobation of removing the Army, inclosed. (Here enter them.)

Letter from Sir T. Fairfax, that the Army is on the March, and that the Head Quarters are to be at St. Albans.

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

"My Lord,

"The Letter from both Houses, concerning the disposing of Quarters of the Army so as no Part may be within Forty Miles of London, I received but this Morning, between Nine and Ten a Clock. The Orders for removing to new Quarters about St. Albones were given out Yesterday, without Appointment of any Rendezvous for this Day, so as the several Regiments are already upon their March, in several Ways, from their last Quarters to their new; and it is not now possible to stop them. The Quarters now assigned (the nearest to London) are Twenty Miles distant; and of the Reasons pressing me to this Motion, besides what my last Letter to yourself does express, I have given the Commissioners here a further Account, to which I refer you. Since now the disposing of the Quarters otherwise at present cannot be, I shall, for the better Ordering of the Army, be this Night at St. Albans, appointed before for the Head Quarters, where I shall wait your further Resolutions on Monday.

"I shall, by the next, give your Lordship an Account of several Petitions I have received from some Counties. I remain

Royston, 12th June, 1647.

"Your Lordship's
Most humble Servant,
T. Fairefax."

Letter from the Commissioners, that they had dissented from the Army's coming near London.

"For the especial Service of the Parliament.

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

"Twelve of the Clock at Noon.

"Haste, Haste, Post Haste, with Speed.

"My Lord,

"Yesterday, after our Letters to both Houses were sealed, and ready to be sent up, private Information being given to the Committee, That Resolution was taken by the Council of War, that the Head Quarters should be this Day at St. Albons; Mr. Futter, our Messenger, was thereupon directed to give the said Information to yourself by Word of Mouth. We had no sooner received the said Information, but we repaired to the General's Quarters, who of himself declared unto us the said Resolution of the Council of War; unto which we presently objected, "That this was within the Five and Twenty Miles of London, which the Parliament did not formerly hold fit that the Quarters of the Army should be enlarged unto, for straitening the Provisions that are to come to the City; and that now must needs be the more unsatisfactory unto them, in respect of the Jealousy of the Times." To which the General replied, "That the Reasons of the said Resolutions should be communicated unto us, which he hoped would satisfy." Which Reasons we having received this Morning about Ten of the Clock, we thought good to send this inclosed Letter to his Excellency, to testify our Dissent thereunto, and to declare our Resolution to go to the Head Quarters of St. Albones, there to expect the Pleasure of the Houses, and pursue our Instructions, in endeavouring to preserve a right Understanding between the Parliament and the Army Having not heard One Word since we came out from the Houses for our Direction, I have no more to add, but that I am

Royston, the 12th of June, 1647, Twelve at Noon.

"Your Lordship's
Humble Servant,
C. Nottingham."

Reasons from Sir T. Fairfax and Council of War, for marching the Army to St. Albans.

"The Reasons for moving the Army nearer London.

"For a nearer Communication and Intercourse with the Parliament and City, the more readily to obtain Monies for the Satisfaction of the Soldiers, and keeping them under Discipline; and to prevent the raising of any new War, and procure the speedy Settlement of the Peace of the Kingdoms.

Dated June 12th, 1647.

"Received the same Day, about Ten of the Clock in the Morning, from the General and Council of War, as their Sense, by the Hands of General Adjutant Deane and Colonel Hewson."

Letter from the Commissioners to Sir T. Fairfax, dissenting to the Removal of the Army towards London.

"SIR,

"In regard we do Hourly expect the Pleasure of both Houses, and that nothing may be wanting in us to do our utmost Endeavours to keep a right Understanding between the Parliament and the Army, according to our Instructions, whilst we continue in this Service; we have resolved for the present to go to St. Albones, the Head Quarters: But we do withal declare our Dissent and Disapprobation unto the Removal of the Army so near London, not only for the Reasons exprest by us to your Excellency the last Night, but for the Reasons given unto (fn. 8) us this Morning, as the Sense of your Excellency and your Council of War; which we do not judge at all sufficient and warrantable for any such Action.

"All which, in Discharge of our Duty and Trust, we hold it necessary to acquaint your Excellency with; and remain

Royston, 12th June, 1647, 11 of the Clock in the Forenoon.

"Your humble Servants,

"C. Nottingham.
Ph. Skippon.
H. Vane.

"For his Excellency Sir Tho. Fairefax Knight, General of the Parliament's Forces."

Additional Commissioners to go to the Army.

"Resolved, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament,

"That Sir Thomas Widdrington be employed as a Commissioner to the Army.

"Resolved, &c.

"That Colonel William White be employed as a Commissioner to the Army."

Order for 10,000l. for paying and transporting Forces for Ireland.

"Be it Ordained, and it is hereby Ordained, by the Lords and Commons now assembled in Parliament, That James Bunce Alderman, Mr. Richard Glyde, and Mr. Lawrence Bromfeild, Treasurers appointed by Ordinance of Parliament for the receiving of the Two Hundred Thousand Pounds raised for the Service of England and Ireland, shall forthwith pay, out of the Treasure remaining in their Hands, the Sum of Ten Thousand Pounds, to such Person or Persons as the Committee for the Affairs of Ireland at Darby House shall, from Time to Time, by Warrant or Warrants under their Hands, appoint to receive the same, to be disposed of by Order of the said Committee, for the Paying and speedy Transporting of those Forces designed for the Service of Ireland; which Warrant or Warrants, together with the Acquittance or Acquittances of the Parties appointed to receive all or any Part of the said Monies, shall be a sufficient Warrant and Discharge to the abovesaid Treasurers."

Adjourn.

Adjourned till To-morrow, 5 post Meridiem.