House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 3 February 1646

Die Martis, 3 Februarii, 1645.

Prayers.

A Message from the Lords, by Doctor Aylett and Doctor Heath;

The Lords have commanded us to deliver unto you this Petition of Mr. John Ward Clerk; with their Sense upon it; and Two Orders from the Committee of Lords and Commons for Sequestrations. They recommend the Petition unto you; and desire your Concurrence in the Sense they have expressed upon it. They desire likewise to put you in mind of the Lady Chaworth's Petition.

The Petition of Mr. Ward, and the Lords Order upon it, were both read: And

It is Ordered, upon the Question, That this House doth concurr with the Lords in the Order upon their said Petition; viz.

That this House thinks fit to refer to the Committee of Lords and Commons for Sequestrations, the Consideration of the Petition of Mr. John Ward; and that they may have Power to settle a Way, How the Two hundred Pounds per Annum, with the Arrears, may be paid him, if they can; or, otherwise, to make Report to the Houses respectively.

Ordered, That the humble Petition of the Lady Chaworth be taken into Consideration on Monday next, in the Afternoon.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House hath considered their Lordships Message; and doth agree with the Lords in their Order upon Mr. Ward's Petition; and will take the Lady Chaworth's Petition into speedy Consideration.

According to the Order Yesterday made, The House took into Consideration the King's last Letter.

Ordered, That it be left to the Committee that shall be appointed to prepare an Answer to this Letter, to observe the Contrarieties in this Letter to the King's former Professions and Proceedings, concerning Ireland; and to the Declaration he now holds forth, in this Letter, of leaving the War and Peace of Ireland to the Houses of Parliament.

Resolved, &c. That the Committee, in the Answer of this Letter, shall take notice of the King's avowing the granting a Commission for Raising and Bringing over of Rebels out of Ireland, to fight against the Parliament of England.

Resolved, &c. That, in this Answer, the Committee shall take notice both of the Uncertainty of the Clause concerning the Militia, and that it is conditional: And that, in Answer to it, the Houses are sending a Proposition, which does fully express their own Desires.

Ordered, That, as to the Clause of the General Officers, and Judges, the Answer shall take notice, That, in due time, the Houses will present such Things unto his Majesty as shall be convenient thereupon.

Resolved, &c. That this Letter of the King's gives no Satisfaction in point of Religion.

Resolved, &c. That a Committee be appointed to prepare a Declaration upon this Letter, and the other former Letters of the King, for the Undeceiving of the People.

The Question was propounded, Whether that, in this Declaration, this Committee shall express, A fitting Care shall be taken of tender Consciences, so far as may stand with the Word of God and Peace of the Kingdom:

The Question being put, Whether the Words "Church and" shall be added, after the Words "Peace of," and before the Words "the Kingdom;"

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So the Question passed with the Affirmative.

Mr. Nath. Fienis, Sir Henry Vane junior, Sir Phil. Stapilton, Mr. Sollicitor, Mr. Lisle, Mr. Samuel Browne, Sir Henry Vane, Sir John Evelyn of Wiltes, Mr. Holles, Mr. Recorder, Mr. Prideaux, Mr. Marten, Mr. Ellis, Sir Gilbert Gerard, Sir Peter Wentworth, Mr. Tate, Sir Thomas Widdrington, Mr. Stockdale:

This Committee, or any Three of them, are to prepare an Answer to this Letter from his Majesty, according to the several Votes of this House concerning the same: And are to meet thereupon this Afternoon, in the Queen's Court; and to bring in the same To-morrow Morning: And Mr. Lisle and Mr. Marten are to take care hereof.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee appointed to prepare the Answer to this Letter from the King, to prepare likewise a Declaration upon this Letter, and the other former Letters of the King, for the Undeceiving of the People.