House of Lords Journal Volume 9: 27 February 1647

DIE Saturni, 27 die Februarii.

PRAYERS, by Mr. Salwey.

Domini præsentes fuerunt:

Comes Manchester, Speaker.

Upon reading the Petition of Steward (fn. 1)

Letter, &c. from the Parl. of Ireland;

A Letter and Declaration of the Parliament of Ireland, was read. (Here enter it.)

Petition of poor Protestants there;

A Petition from the poor Protestants of Ireland, was read; and Ordered to be recommended to the House of Commons.

Message to the H. C. with it; —with the Reports from the Admiralty Committee— and with the Wisbich Petition, &c.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Doctor Heath, &c.

1. To deliver to them these Reports from the Committee of the Admiralty:

1. A Report about Sir George Aychough, with the Sense of the House upon it.

2. A Report about some Commanders of Ships going forth, with the Sense of the House upon it.

3. A Report about Admiralty Court, with the Sense of the House upon it.

4. A Report about Guernsey, with the Sense of the House upon it.

2. To deliver to them the Petition of the poor Protestants of Ireland.

3. To put them in Mind of adding Mr. Boulton to be One of the Assembly.

4. To deliver to them the Petition of the Inhabitants of the Isle of Wisbich, with Recommendations.

Ordinance concerning the E. I. Co.

The Earl of Warwicke reported from the Committee, the Ordinance concerning the East India Company; and they think it fit to pass as it is, without any Alterations.

Resolved, upon the Question, That this Ordinance shall be deferred until Tuesday next.

French Ambassadors Audience.

This Day Monsieur Bellieure, the French Ambassador, had Audience.

And after he had made his Speech, he withdrew into the Little Lobby, which was prepared for him.

And (fn. 2) the House took into Consideration what he said: But, for a more mature Debate of it; it was Ordered, That the said Ambassador should be admitted in again; and the Speaker to let him know, "That this House puts a high Value upon the great Friendship and Amity between the Two Crowns of England and France; and they will use all Means for the further Continuance of it; and that the Lords do, by Way of Civility, desire of him that he [ (fn. 3) would put] what he hath said into Writing, and they will take it into mature Consideration."

And the said Ambassador was called in accordingly.

Sir H. Tracy's Ordinance.

Ordered, That the Earl of Midd. Earl of Suffolke, Lord Maynard, Lord Berkley, are added to the Committee for Sir Humphrey Tracie's Business.

Packer's Petition, in Behalf of the Judge Advocate.

Upon reading the Petition of Phillip Packer, in Behalf of the Judge Advocate of the Army: It is Ordered, That the Party against whom the Petition is shall see the Petition, and return his Answer to this House on Tuesday Morning next; and an Affidavit to be made of the Truth of the Allegations contained in the Petition.

Letter from the Parliament of Ireland, desiring Assistance; and inclosing the following Declaration.

"Right Honourable,

"By Command of the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled in Ireland, we send your Lordships this inclosed Declaration and Address, to be presented to the Most Honourable the House of Peers now assembled in Parliament in England; and we are directed by the said Lords and Commons earnestly to desire your Lordships, in their Names, to vouchsafe us all the Favour and possible Assistance you may, to further and hasten a comfortable and speedy Return, by William Plunkett Esquire, Roger Brereton Esquire, Captain Theodore Schout, Captain Arthur Culme, and Walter Plunkett Esquire, Members of the House of Commons in this Kingdom, and Persons of approved Affections unto the Public Service, to this their important Address, which concerneth no less than the very Life and Existence of the Protestant Religion in this Kingdom, and the future Being of that small Remnant of Protestants which are left and preserved here. We are likewise to signify unto your Lordships, That the said Lords and Commons were not ignorant, at the making of the said Declaration, that this their Application in that high Manner against the Rebels (though there be nothing therein but known Truth, and far short of what Mischief they have and intend farther to do) is sufficient of itself (if there were no former Resolution in them, as there hath been, and yet is) to bring swift and inevitable Destruction upon the Protestants of this Kingdom, if the Power of the Most Honourable the Parliament of England do not interpose, and prevent them: Yet no Apprehension of any present or ensuing Danger could deter the said Lords and Commons from discharging this their Duty; being confident that the Most Honourable the Parliament of England will not leave the small Remnant of the Protestants of this Kingdom, who have already suffered so much, and have upon the Matter nothing left but their Lives and Religion, for a Prey to so merciless Rebels. All which we do, by Command of the Lords and Commons, with all (fn. 4) Earnestness recommend to your serious Consideration; and rest

Dublin Castle, this 15th of February, 1646.

"Your Lordships

"Very loving Friends and Servants,

"Ri. Bolton, Canc.

"Maurice Eupace, Speaker.

"To the Right Honourable the Lord Speaker of the Most Honourable the House of Peers of the Parliament of England. These present."

Declaration of the Parliament of Ireland, that they will maintain the Protestant Religion; and desiring Assistance.

Die Veneris, 12 Februarii, Anno Domini 1646.

The Declaration of the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled in Ireland, of the present Estate and distressed Condition of the Protestants in the said Kingdom, and their Address unto the Most Honourable the Parliament of England for Relief.

"We, the Lords and Commons of the Parliament of Ireland, having, by the Mercy of God, your Care of us, and the Industry of those intrusted by His Majesty with the Government here, preserved unto us the Means of sitting together, and of delivering freely our Thoughts concerning the Condition of this miserable Kingdom, whereof we are the Representative Body; and finding withall the Government, ourselves, and indeed the Protestants in the Kingdom, reduced to that final Point of Extremity, that, if not very speedily supported and preserved, all in these Parts must become a Prey unto the bloody and inhuman Rebels; and this City of Dublin, the chief Seat and Citadel of this Kingdom, with the other Garrisons depending thereupon, be turned into the prime Seats and Strengths of those who have given evident Proof that they aim at no less than the Extirpation of all Protestants, and the setting up the abominable Idol of the Mass, and Superstition, and at the shaking off of all Loyalty and Subjection to the Crown of England: We therefore hold it our Duty (as being also perhaps the last, which we, by reason of the near Approach of a powerful and per nicious Enemy, may have the Means to discharge in this Capacity) to make this present Address and Representation of our miserable Condition to the Most Honourable the Parliament of England, which as it hath in all Times of common Danger been the Fountain from whence the Power and Lustre of the Crown of England in this Kingdom hath sprung, so it is now the only Sanctuary unto which, in Behalf of ourselves and the distressed Interest thereof, we can fly for Succour and Preservation. We hold it unnecessary to particularize our present Wants and Miseries, and Impossibility of further Subsistence of ourselves, since they are too well known even to our Enemies; insomuch as it may be feared that the Benefit which we confidently expect by the great Diligence and Wisdom of the Most Honourable the Parliament of England may not arrive timely for our Relief and Preservation: Nor can we so misdoubt the Wisdom, Justice, and Piety of those Honourable Houses (whereof we have had heretofore very real and great Experience, which we do herewithall thankfully acknowledge), as to fear that they will suffer the Protestant Religion, the Interest of the Crown of England, and of the Protestants in these important Garrisons and Quarters, to be sacrificed unto the Fury of the merciless Rebels; but, on the contrary, as we do earnestly desire, so are we most confident that the Goodness and Wisdom of the Most Honourable the Parliament of England will so seasonably send over a sufficient Power, as well to subdue and suppress merciless and bloody Rebels, as to maintain these Places, accompanied with an Assurance from the Most Honourable the Parliament of England, for enjoying those Conditions of Honour, Subsistence, and Safety, which have been lately offered by their Commissioners, for and in the Name of the Most Honourable the Parliament of England, to those who have hitherto governed and preserved, and to His Majesty's Protestant Subjects, and those who have faithfully and constantly adhered unto them; unto which they may be pleased to join such further Additions of Grace and Bounty as to their Wisdoms and Goodness shall be thought fit, as that they and all the Protestants, and such others as have faithfully and constantly adhered unto them, may find Security and Preservation therein, whereby we may heartily join under those whom the said Most Honourable Parliament of England shall appoint, in prosecuting so pious a War, and in being God's Instruments for the (fn. 5) bringing just Vengeance upon the perfidious Rebels, and in restoring the Protestant Religion and Interest of the Crown of England in this Kingdom to its due and former Lustre, which we will ever strive with the Hazard of our Lives and Fortunes to maintain.

Ex'r per Wal. Savage,
"Dep. Cler. Parl.

Ex. per Phill. Ferneley,
Cler. Parl. Dom. Com."

Adjourn.

House adjourned till 9^a, Monday next, Aurora.