House of Lords Journal Volume 9: 13 June 1647

DIE Dominico, 13 Junii.

Comes Manchester, Speaker.

E. of Monmouth, a Pass.

Ordered, That the Earl of Monmouth may have a Pass, for himself and his Family, Coach, Horses, and Saddle Horses, to go in and out at the Works, and the Guards thereunto belonging.

Letter from Sir T. Fairfax, with Petitions from Norf. &c.

A Letter from Sir Thomas Fairefax was read, with Two Petitions inclosed; One from Norff. and Suff. the other from Essex, to mediate with the Parliament for settling Peace. (Here enter them.)

Letter from the Commissioners.

A Letter from the Commissioners with the Army, was read. (Here enter it.)

"As many of your Lordships as are of Opinion to send down the Letter from the Commissioners before the House be adjourned, say "Content"; others, "Not Content"."

The Votes were even.

Letter from Sir T. Fairfax, with Petitions from Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex.

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

"My Lord,

"Having had these inclosed Petitions, in the Name of the Counties of Norff. Suff. and Essex, directed and delivered unto me, by the Hands of divers Inhabitants of the said Counties, together with their Desire, through my Mediation, to have their Grievances (contained therein) humbly presented to the Honourable Houses of Parliament; I assured them, that I would with all convenient Speed make them known unto you, and also use my uttermost Interest for the speedy obtaining their just Requests.

"And therefore, conceiving it my Duty, I thought fit to tender them unto your Lordship; not doubting but that, according to the Encouragement I have given them, you will please to consider and redress them herein as speedily as your other Affairs will permit.

"I remain

St. Albanes, June 12th, 1647.

"Your Lordship's
Humble Servant,
T. Fairefax."

Petition from Norfolk and Suffolk, to Sir T. Fairfax, to mediate with the Parliament, for settling the Peace of the Kingdom.

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

"The humble Petition of the Peaceable and Well-affected Inhabitants of the Counties of Norff. and Suffolke, together with the City and County of Norwich, earnestly endeavouring after the Prosperity of the Parliament and the Peace of the Kingdom;

"Sheweth,

"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 the uttermost of their Power 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 in the Hearts of the People, and 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 those sad Obstructions of our free Addresses to the Parliament, in representing our Grievances, and making humble Offers to their Wisdom of just Remedies;

"Which have imposed this Necessity upon us, humbly to implore your Excellency's Assistance, to mediate with the Parliament, in the Behalf of us and all the Free Commons of England, for the speedy and peaceable Establishment of those our native Liberties, which hath now cost the Kingdom such vast Expence of Blood and Treasure, that all Obstructions that lay in the Way to hinder the Addresses of the Free Subjects of England to the Parliament, in representing their Grievances, Fears, Jealousies, and Doubts, as also Offers of Remedy, might be so speedily removed; as that 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, &c."

Petition from Essex, to the same Effect; and that he would not admit of Disbanding, till Grievances were redressed.

"To the Right Honourable, Excellent, Worthy, and Pious Sir Thomas Fairefax, General over those Forces raised in Behalf of the Country's Rights and Liberties.

"The Petition of the Well-affected in the County of Essex;

"Humbly sheweth,

"That your Petitioners, being not a little sensible of the growing Evils that are like to overspread this Kingdom, unless the Mercy of God prevent, which, after so much exhausting our Estates, Loss of Lives, Engagement of our Persons, to regain this poor Nation to the Enjoyment of its Rights and Liberties, and yet like to flow upon us, either by those which have been our open Enemies, or else a Party of pretended Friends; insomuch that your poor Petitioners and all the Well-affected in the Country have just Cause to fear that, after we have, by the Blessing of The Almighty (fn. 1) from this Army, been rescued from many Oppressions which lay so heavy upon us, we are now like to be vassalaged and enslaved in the Normane (fn. 1) Jacees and Prerogative Clutches of an ambitious Party in the Nation; and likewise taking into Consideration, that there is no Remora to stop the Proceedings of violent Men against us, but this present Army under your Honourable Conduct, whose constant Fidelity, with faithful Resolutions, together with the Blessings from Above, have hitherto abashed the Enemies of our Peace and Safety, and gains the Favour of all those who are the true Friends to a Free Nation.

"These Things, Right Honourable, sinking deep into our Spirits, we thought it meet and convenient to represent our Thoughts unto you; and so much the rather, because the Petitions of the Free-born Subjects of this Nation have been rejected by those who we have intrusted for the receiving of them, (fn. 2) and ordered to be burnt by the Hands of the common Hangman; insomuch that we have now no whither else to appeal but unto your Excellency, from whom under God we expect some Redress of our Miseries.

"Our humble Desires to your Excellency therefore are,

"1. That, before you disband the Army, you would be pleased to consider the sad Condition which is like to befal the Free-born People of England, and likewise our present Vassalage we groan under.

"2. That you would be pleased to mediate with the Parliament in our Behalf, and to use all such Means which you in your Honourable Wisdom shall think convenient, to settle Affairs in a firm and peaceable Way; so that all that Renown which Providence hath hitherto crowned your Endeavours withal may not now at last be blasted, with the Intentions and crafty Machinations of yours and the Kingdom's Enemies.

"3. That you would be pleased in no Case to admit of Disbanding, till such Time till you see yours and the Kingdom's just and legal Requests embraced.

"If thus (Right Honourable) God shall draw forth your Heart to act for us, we shall for ever engage ourselves your Servants, in the Vindication of your just Proceedings; and ever pray for your Honourable Safety."

Letter from the Commissioners with the Army, that Sir T. Fairfax will inform them of the Motions of the Army; and desiring a supply of Money for it, to prevent their raising Contributions on the Country.

"For the special Service of the Parliament.

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

"Haste, Haste, Post Haste, with Speed.

"May it please your Lordship,

"We attended the General this Morning before Sermon, and presented him with a Copy of our additional Instructions; and did desire him with all convenient Speed to put the Business into a Way of effecting what was intrusted unto us by that Instruction: We did also desire (to prevent Misunderstandings, and your taking of sudden Alarms) that he would be pleased not to think of removing the Army, or a Part thereof, nearer the City, without giving us timely Notice, that we might advertise you.

"To the First, the General was pleased to tell us, "That he would call his Officers together as soon as might be, and put that Business into a Course, as was desired."

"And for the latter, he did assure us, "That he would give Notice to us, if he should remove all or any Part of his Army nearer towards London."

"At this Meeting the General did acquaint us, "That he was constrained to keep his Army close together; and that it was in great Want of Money, whereof he had by Two Letters desired a Supply from the Parliament; and if none came speedily, the Army would be inforced to levy Money upon the Country; which would be a sad Condition for the Country, and unacceptable to himself and the whole Army; and therefore did desire us to represent this to your Consideration:" Which, upon Advice, we did assure him we would not only represent, but recommend. Which we pray you to receive from us, as that which in our Judgement doth much conduce to the Business we are employed in here by you; which The Lord of Peace give a good Issue to. So rest

"Your Lordship's

St. Albons, 13th June, 1647, 2 of the Clock in the Afternoon.

"Most humble and faithful Servants,

"C. Nottingham.
La Warr."

Adjourn.

Adjourned, To-morrow 9.