House of Lords Journal Volume 9: 18 June 1647

DIE Veneris, 18 Junii.

PRAYERS, by Mr. Calamy.

Domini præsentes fuerunt:

Comes Manchester, Speaker.

Letter from the Commissioners with the Army.

A Letter from the Earl of Nottingham, dated at St. Albans, 17th June, 1647, was read, with Copies of Two Petitions inclosed. (Here enter them.)

Petitions from Counties to be sent to them, to own.

Ordered, That Copies of these Petitions, and the former Petitions received from Sir Tho. Fairfax, shall be sent to the several Counties, inclosed in Letters, to know whether they do own them.

Answer from the H. C.

Mr. Hakewill and Mr. Dr. Heath return with this Answer from the House of Commons:

That they agree to the Governors of the Garrisons and Forts, fully, as their Lordships sent them down; and that Commissions be granted to them, as their Lordships desire; and they agree to the Pass for the Lord Lauderdaill.

Letter from Bristol.

The Earl of Manchester reported a Paper from the Committee at Darby House; which was read, as followeth:

"Die Jovis, 17 Junii, 1647.

"At a Committee for the Affairs of Ireland, at Darby House.

"Ordered,

"That the Letter from the Mayor, and some Aldermen and others, of Bristoll, of the 14th Instant, be reported to both Houses.

Capt. Fisher offers to raise a Troop for Ireland.

"That it be also reported to both Houses, That Captain Henry Fisher offers a Troop of Horse, to consist of Seventy, besides Officers, to march forthwith to the Water Side, to be transported for the Service of Ireland; and desires One Month's Pay and Twenty-eight Pair of Pistols, and to have Commissions for his Officers: To offer it to the Houses, for their Apprebation.

Col. Birch will raise supernumerary Horse for Ireland.

"That it be reported to both Houses, That whereas Colonel Birch hath some Horse more than the Two Troops (to consist of Two Hundred) for which he hath formerly contracted with this Committee, which Horse he is willing to bring to the Service of Ireland; and that all that he shall so bring shall consist of Sixty in each Troop, upon Condition that he may receive for all that he shall so bring (besides the Two Troops formerly contracted for, as aforesaid) One Month's Pay, according to the Establishment of that Kingdom: To desire to know the Pleasure of the Houses, whether they do approve it or not."

Ordered, That this House approves of these Offers of Captain Henry Fisher and Colonel Birch; and that the same be sent to the House of Commons for their Concurrence.

Letter from Scotland, for Satisfaction for their Officers in Ireland.

A Letter from Scotland was read, in Behalf of the Scotts Officers now in the Kingdom of Scotland, that have served the Parliament, and many Arrears due unto them.

And it is Ordered, To be sent down to the House of Commons, with Recommendations, that some Course may be taken to give them some Satisfaction.

Col. Midhope's Regiment for Ireland.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee at Derby House for Irish Affairs, to perfect the Contract made by the Committee for Affairs in the Star-chamber with Colonel Middupp, for his Regiment to go for Ireland.

Persons contracted with for Ireland, referred to the Committee at Derby House.

Ordered, That all such Persons as the Committee for the Affairs of Ireland sitting in the Star-chamber have contracted with, for the Service of Ireland, are hereby referred to the Committee for the Affairs of Ireland sitting at Derby House, to finish and perfect their Contracts; and either to give them Dispatch, or to disband them.

Servants of the King, Prince, &c. to be relieved.

Ordered, That it be recommended to the House of Commons, that some Course may be taken, for giving some Relief to such poor Servants of the King's, and the Prince's, and the Duke of Yorke's, that have not taken up Arms against the Parliament.

Letter to the Commissioners with the King.

A Letter to be sent to the Lord Mountague, by Sir Peter Killegrew, was read, and Agreed to. (Here enter it.)

Message from the H. C. with an Ordinance.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Mr. Wheeler:

To desire Concurrence in an Ordinance, for adding Treasurers to the issuing out of Monies for the Soldiers.

(Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That this House agrees to this Ordinance now read.

Ordinance to issue Money in the Isle of Wight.

The Ordinance concerning issuing Monies in the Isle of Wight, was read the Third Time, and Agreed to, with the adding of the Earl of Pembrooke.

Wood and Deer belonging to Delinquents to be preserved.

Ordered, That no Deer belonging to any Papist or Delinquent shall be killed by any Warrant from any Committees, nor their Wood felled.

King's Footmen to attend Him, and be considered.

Ordered, That the Petition of the King's Footmen shall be sent to the House of Commons, with a Recommendation; and that they may be permitted to go and attend the King.

Countess of Exeter, a Pass.

Ordered, That the Countess of Exeter shall have a Pass, to go to her Country-house, and back again, as often as she shall have Occasion, with her Coach and Horses, and her Company and Servants.

Letter from the Commissioners with the Army, with Petitions from Hertfordshire and Bucks to Sir T. Fairfax.

"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.

"May it please your Lordship,

"The General sent us last Night the Copies of Two Petitions that Day presented to him; the One from divers Knights, Commanders, Gentlemen, Freeholders, and others, in the County of Hertford; the other from the County of Buckingham; which here inclosed I send you. We shall endeavour, according to the Commands of Parliament, that the Army may remove their Quarters farther from the City; which, as soon as we can bring to any certain Resolution, shall be made known to you by

St. Albones, 17th June, 1647, Two in the Afternoon.

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

Petition from Hertfordshire, to Sir T. Fairfax, with a List of Grievances, which they desire he would see redressed before the Army be disbanded.

"To the Right Honourable his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairefax Knight, Captain General of the Forces raised for the Preservation of the Kingdom.

"The humble Petition of divers Knights, Gentlemen, Freeholders, and other Inhabitants, of the County of Hert.

"May it please your Excellency,

"We do with much Thankfulness acknowledge the great Care and Pains that have been undergone by these our faithful and well-betrusted Worthies of Parliament, who, even in the saddest of Times, when deserted by many of their own Members, have not spared the Hazard of their Lives, Estates, and Fortunes, for the Preservation of the just Liberties, Immunities; and Franchises, of the Free-born Subjects of this Kingdom, being desperately and strongly invaded by a powerful and malignant Party; and have also made many solemn Protestations and Declarations of their Aims, Intention, and Purposes, whereby we have been greatly encouraged to yield all chearful and due Assistance in so necessary a Work: Yet now to our great Grief observing, by reason, as we conceive, of the Machinations and Contrivances of some desperately ill-affected to the Weal and Quiet of the Public in general, and to the Honour of the everhonoured Army in particular, many Obstructions daily to intervene and fall in, whereby both they and we (notwithstanding the still real Intentions of the aforenamed Worthies) are as yet clearly debarred the Fruition of those our often-promised, muchwished-for, prayed-for, fought-for, Rights and Privileges, whereof we had well hoped long since to have been Partakers.

"Wherefore we your said Petitioners do most humbly entreat and beseech your Excellency, whom God hath eminently and highly honoured, and we well know to have a tender and compassionate Care over the Distresses of this miserable afflicted Kingdom, to use your utmost Endeavours, and with all Expedition, before the Disbanding of the Army now under your Excellency's Command, those Firebrands and Incendiaries who have endeavoured to raise new Divisions in the Kingdom, or by their slanderous Tongues to fix undeserved Reproaches on the Army, may be brought to condign Punishment; and that we your Petitioners, with the rest of your faithful Brethren in (fn. 2) your Kingdom, may have a certain Relief in our Grievances hereunto annexed.

"And, as in Duty bound, we shall not fail to yield our best Assistance, with our Persons, Purses, and Prayers.

"1. That divers Counties and Corporations in this Kingdom, videlicet, Devon, Cornwell, Wales, &c. formerly in open Hostility, and for the present wholly disaffected to the Proceeds of Parliament, have notwithstanding retained equally with the most cordial to the State their Privileges of electing Members; a Thing very destructive to the Safety of the Commonwealth, which is the chief Ends of Parliaments; and One main Cause of many present Grievances: Wherefore we desire that such Elections may be revoked, and the Places declared uncapable of any such Privilege during the Sessions of this Parliament, or until such Time as it shall appear that their former Enmity and Rancour be laid aside.

"2. That whereas the Honourable Houses have raised up the Expectations of the Well-affected, by promising the Improvement of their Time and Care to apply Remedies against their pressing Evils, as appears most fully in their Declaration of the 17th of April, 1646; yet the said Commons have, to their great Grief, been frustrated of their Hopes, and, instead of being relieved, have, to their great Grief, been vexed, imprisoned, and otherwise molested.

"3. Our Petitions to the Parliament are not, as in former Times, either received or answered, whereby no Redress can be had to our pressing Grievances; as in particular those against Tithes, that for the Enlargement of our Fellow Commoners, long and (as we humbly conceive) unduly detained in Prison.

"4. The putting in the Malignants, Neuters, and Persons who have not shewn any Affection or done any Service for the Parliament during these Troubles that have lain upon the Kingdom, unto Places of Honour, Trust, and Profit, as Governors of Towns, Castles, Forts, Justices of Peace, Commissioners of Excise, Committees of Accompts, &c.; whereby the most cordial Friends of the Parliament are slighted and disregarded; and, upon very slender Causes indicted, imprisoned.

"5. That the Body of the Kingdom, consisting much of Copyholders, who for the most have been very cordial and faithful to the Parliament, may not now be left finable at the Will of the Lord; in regard the Generality of them have been very malignant, and much disaffected to Parliamentary or thorough Reformation, and from whom they cannot but expect very severe Dealing.

"6. That all Men that have received any State's Money, as well Parliament Men as others, may be called to an Accompt for such Money; and that Committees (not as now for the most Part Neuters and Malignants) but of approved Fidelity, may be elected for that Purpose.

"7. That one Cordwell, a Man of a most notorious lewd Life and Conversation, and withal a most desperate Malignant, did procure a Warrant, for the apprehending Three Soldiers under the Command of Colonel Albon Cox; brought them before one Kinge at St. Albans, a Justice of Peace; where their said Colonel did appear with them, and made it very clear and apparent to the said Justice, that what they did was by Command from their Captain, and no more than what was expressly contained within their Ordinance; which the said Justice did acknowledge, and was fully satisfied in their Ordinance authorizing them thereunto: Yet, notwithstanding, the said King would have committed them to Hert. Gaol, had not their said Colonel and Captain became bound for their appearing at the next Sessions. And the said Cordwell did prefer a Bill of Indictment against them; and had it not been for Two or Three honest Men that served of the Grand Jury, the said Bill had been found, to the great Peril of the Lives of the said Soldiers; there being but little Favour or Mercy to be had for Parliament Soldiers by the Justices of our County."

Buckingham Petition to him, to mediate with the Parliament for a Redress of their Grievances, and that they will support him.

"To his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairefax Knight, Captain General of the Forces raised for the Defence of the Kingdom.

"The humble Petition of the Inhabitants of the County of Buckinham.

"May it please your Excellency,

"We bless God for you, as the Instrument whom He hath raised up and made eminent in putting an End to the sad and dreadful War wherein this Kingdom was involved not many Months since. Our Eyes are still upon you; and our Prayers for you, that God would crown your Labours with a happy Period of our Miseries, ending in the Enjoyment of our due and native Liberties, which are the Things we have chosen our Fellow Subjects serving in Parliament to obtain for us.

"They are the Things for which we have adventured our Lives and Estates freely, being the First County that appeared for them.

"They are the Things we have so often petitioned, and could not have so much as expected a Delay of Answer to these our just Desires.

"But, to our Grief we speak it, we have been rejected, and are become hopeless of Satisfaction, by some Men, who have not only prevailed in discountenancing our just Petitions (the proper Way of the Subjects Address), but have almost made it a Fault for the Subjects to petition even for Things that are due to them both by Common Birth-right and the Law of the Kingdom, and which frequently have been confirmed unto us by several Ordinances and Declarations of Parliament. We are not ignorant that even some Men amongst them, whom in due Time we shall not stick to name, are such as by their subtle Slights have endeavoured to render the Army odious to the Parliament and Kingdom; which rather than they shall not obtain, they will not stick to inflame the Kingdom in a Second unnecessary and unjust War; that being the only Obstacle to their wicked Designs, and the only Help under God left us of having a firm Peace settled in this Kingdom.

"These Things being come to this Pass, we take the Boldness to beseech your Excellency, you being a Person whom your Justice, Courage, Fidelity, and Zeal for the common Good, have made eminent, and given so great an Interest in the Hearts and Affections of all Men who have any Sense of their Common Good and just Liberties, that you will be pleased to mediate on our Behalf to the Honourable Court of Parliament, for the obtaining of our so dear and near Concernments; without the Enjoyment of which, even our Lives will be uncomfortable to us.

"And although this our Address may seem strange or hazardous unto you, we doubt not but the Justness of our Desires will preserve you. As for our own Parts, we are resolved, in the Mediation hereof, to assist you to the uttermost of our Powers, &c."

Letter to L. Mountagu Commissioner with the King to know if he is in Want of any Thing.

"My Lord,

"The Lords have commanded me to give you Thanks, for the great Care and Constancy which you have expressed, in the Discharge of the Trust reposed in you; and, in regard that they have not heard from you lately, they have sent this Gentleman, to enquire of you in what Condition you are; and to know whether you have received the Votes which were sent unto you upon the 15th of this Instant. This is all I have in Command.

"E. Manchester."

Ordinance for adding Treasurers for issuing out Monies for Soldiers.

"Whereas, by a former Ordinance, bearing Date the 16th of this Instant June, 1647, 'tis Ordained, That the Sum of Twenty-Two Thousand Pounds, to make the Five Thousand Pounds formerly charged upon Weavers Hall Twenty-seven Thousand Pounds, be paid, by Alderman Bunce and the rest of the Treasurers at Weavers Hall, unto Mr. Pocock, Mr. Greenhill, and the rest of the Treasurers at Christ Church, to be issued by the said Ordinance, is appointed; and whereas divers of the Treasurers aforesaid are not in Town, which hinders the Execution of the Service: It is therefore Ordained, by the Lords and Commons, That Mr. Blackwell and Mr. Ashurst, Citizens of London, shall be, and are hereby, added to be Treasurers, for the receiving and issuing the Money aforesaid, together with Mr. Greenhill and Mr. Pocock; and that the Acquittances of them, or any Two of them, shall be a sufficient Discharge unto the said Alderman Bunce and the rest of the Treasurers at Weavers Hall: And it is further Ordained, That the said Treasurers shall have the Allowance of One Penny in the Pound, for Performance of the said Service, and for Satisfaction of the Officers and such as they shall appoint under them in such Manner as they shall think fit.

"And whereas, by another Ordinance of the same Date, divers Field Officers and Auditors are nominated and appointed, to view and examine the general Accompts and Certificates of the Officers which are to receive any Monies from the said Treasurers; 'tis further Ordered and Ordained, That any Three Field Officers, with any One of the Auditors nominated in the Ordinance aforesaid, signing such Certificates, Tickets, or Accompts, it shall be a sufficient Warrant and Discharge unto the said Mr. Pocock and the rest of the Treasurers by this and the former Ordinance appointed, for the issuing out and paying the Money aforesaid unto the Officers, according unto the several Ordinances already passed in that Behalf.

"And whereas Mr. Pocock, Mr. Greenhill, and others, have formerly been appointed Treasurers, by an Ordinance of the Date aforesaid, for the receiving and issuing out of Ten Thousand Pounds to the Private Soldiers; forasmuch as, in regard of other Employments, they cannot conveniently attend that Service, it is therefore Ordained, That Colonel Gore, Mr. Anthony Bickerstaffe, Mr. James Storry, Mr. Maximillian Bard, Citizens of London, shall be, and are hereby, nominated and appointed Treasurers, for the receiving, issuing out, and paying, the Ten Thousand Pounds aforesaid; and that their or any Two of their Acquittances shall be a sufficient Discharge unto Mr. Alderman Bunce and the rest of the Treasurers at Weavers Hall.

"And it is further Ordained, That the said Colonel Gore and the rest of the Treasurers hereby appointed shall be allowed One Penny in the Pound, for themselves and their Officers employed in this Service, in such Manner as they shall think fit."

Order to quiet Col. Fox in the Possession of Middlemore's Estate, in Edgebaston &c. in Warwickshire.

Upon reading of the Petition of Colonel Fox; shewing, "That both Houses have granted him an Ordinance of Parliament, for enjoying the Estate of Mr. Midlemore, a Papist and Delinquent, in Edgebaston, Kingsnorton, Yardley, and Northfeild, in the County of Warwick and Worcester, in regard of his good Service to the State, until he should be satisfied his Arrears and such Monies as should be due to him from the Garrison of Edgebaston; notwithstanding which Ordinance of Parliament, one Robert Porter and others have put the Petitioner out of Possession of the said Premises: And further the Petitioner shews, That he cannot get his Accompts audited and transmitted by the Committee of the County of Warwicke, and therefore his just Debenture cannot be granted; which if his said Accompts were audited, there would appear due to him near Four Thousand Pounds:"

It is therefore Ordered, by the Lords in Parliament assembled, That the said Robert Porter, and others who have put the Petitioner out of Possession of the Premises, shall, upon Sight of this Order, yield up and restore to the Petitioner his former Possession of the said Premises; and if they shall refuse so to do, then the Sheriff of the County of Warrwick is hereby required to settle the Petitioner in Possession, and assist him in the quiet and peaceable Enjoyment thereof, until the contrary shall be ordered by this House: And it is further Ordered, That the said Porter, and others who put the Petitioner out of Possession, shall attend this House on the Day Fortnight after serving of this Order upon them, or leaving a Copy of it at their Houses, to shew Cause why the Petitioner was put out of his said Possession of the Premises: And it is lastly Ordered, That the said Committee of the County of Warwick shall state the Accompts of the Petitioner, and return the same to this House within a Fortnight after the Sight of this Order: And hereof all whom it may concern are to take Notice, and yield a ready Obedience hereunto, as the contrary will be answered to this House.

Thomas versus Goodeere and Deacon.

Whereas, upon the Petition of Mrs. Frances Thomas Widow, against Edmond Goodyere Esquire, and Thomas Deacon Merchant, Defendants, and their Answers thereunto, it appeareth upon the whole Matter, and by the Oath of John Catchmay Gentleman, "That the said Complainant was in actual Possession of Thirty-two Tons Eleven Hundred Three Quarters and Two Pounds of Lead, then lying near the River Dovey, in the County of Cardigan; and that the same Lead was taken and shipped away from Dovey aforesaid, as Delinquents Goods, by Major General Langherne:" Now, forasmuch as the said Frances Thomas is not convicted, or any Way charged with Delinquency, it is thought fit, and so Ordered, by the Right Honourable the Lords in Parliament assembled, That the said Major General Langherne shall forthwith, upon Sight of this Order, make Restitution of the said Lead, or the Value thereof in Money, to the said Frances Thomas, or otherwise shew Cause to the contrary to this House, within Twenty Days after Sight hereof.

Adjourn.

House adjourned till 9^a cras.