House of Lords Journal Volume 10: 18 May 1648

Die Jovis, 18 die Maii.

PRAYERS, by Mr. Good.

Domini præsentes fuerunt:

Comes Manchester, Speaker.

Message from the H.C. with an Ordinance and Order.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Mr. Vasall and others, with Two Ordinances, wherein they desire their Lordships Concurrence; (videlicet),

Ordinance for the Militia of the City of Lond. 1^a & 2^a, 3^a vice lecta.

And being put to the Question, "Whether to agree to this Ordinance as it is now brought from the House of Commons?"

It was Resolved in the Affirmative.

(Here enter it.)

Order for putting Captain Skinner into the Possession of Bromley Howse, in Kent. (Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

This House agrees to the Ordinance and Order now brought up.

Protest against the London Militia Ordinance.

Memorandum, That, upon the putting of the Question for passing of the Ordinance for settling the Militia of the City of London, these Lords following, before the putting of the said Question, desired Leave to enter their Dissents.

"Co. Mulgrave."

Smith to be Minister of Corendin.

Upon reading the Petition of the Inhabitants of Corindin, in the County of Salope; desiring, "that Mr. Smyth may be their Minister:"

It is Ordered accordingly; and an Ordinance being presently read to that Purpose, was Agreed to.

London, &c. Militia, to be ready, to suppress an intended Insurrection:

Die Jovis, 18 Die Maii, 1648.

"At the Committee of Lords and Commons, at Derby House.

"Ordered, That it be reported to both Houses, That this Committee hath several Intelligences, that there is a Design of very dangerous Consequence ready to be put in Execution, against the Parliament, the City, and Kingdom, by Forces being listed for that Purpose, under Oath of Secrecy; more particular Account whereof this Committee will be able to give the Houses To-morrow: In the mean Time, to desire the Houses to give present Order to the several Militias of London and Parts adjacent, to be in a ready Posture, to prevent or resist the same; and that also present Order be forthwith given to all the Keepers of the Prisons, that all Prisoners committed for acting any Thing against the Parliament may be kept securely within said several Prisons."

Committee to go into the City about it.

Ordered, That this House approves of the Particulars of this Report; and that an Order be sent to the Lord Mayor of London, to order him to call a Common Council against To-morrow in the Afternoon, at Four of the Clock; and that then a Committee of both Houses may be appointed to go thither, and let them know how ready the Houses have been to grant their Desires; and to desire them, that they would take Care for the suppressing of Insurrections and Tumults, and Preservation of the Parliament: And the Concurrence of the House of Commons to be desired herein; and that they would appoint a proportionable Number of their House.

These Lords following were appointed Committees to go to the City To-morrow.

Any Two.

Ordered, To send to desire a Conference with the House of Commons To-morrow Morning, about the King's Children here; and the Earl of Manchester to draw up the Matter of the Conference.

Message to the H. C. to appoint a Committee to go with them; and for a Conference about the King's Children.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Doctor Heath and

To desire their Concurrence in the Order to be sent to the Lord Mayor, to call a Common Council To-morrow in the Afternoon, at Four of the Clock; and to let them know, that this House hath appointed a Committee to go thither; and desire them to appoint a Committee of their House, to join with their Lordships therein.

2. To desire a Conference, To-morrow Morning, at Eleven of the Clock, concerning something of Importance touching the King's Children here.

Message from thence, with a Vote and an Ordinance.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by John Crew Esquire; who brought up these Particulars:

1. A Vote made upon a Report from the Committee of Derby House. (Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

2. An Ordinance for making Major General Skyppon Major General of all the Forces within the late Lines of Communication. (Here enter it.)

Resolved, upon the Question, That this House agrees to this Ordinance.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That this House agrees to both the Particulars now brought up.

Message from the H. C. with an Ordinance.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Mr. Tate; who brought up an Ordinance, giving Power to the late Militia of London to act until the Militia now appointed be settled. (Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That this House agrees to the Ordinance now brought up.

A Report from Derby House was read, as followeth:

Sir R. Mereredith to be a Commissioner of the Great Seal.

Die Martis, 16 Maii, 1648.

"Ordered, That it be reported to both Houses, That Sir Rob't Meredith may be in the Place of Baron Hilton, that was formerly offered as One of the Three for the keeping of the Great Seal of Ireland, when Report was formerly made from this Committee for the Disposing (fn. 1) thereof."

Agreed to, according to this Report.

Letter to L. Fairfax, about altering the Governor of The Tower.

Ordered, That a Letter be written to the General, to let him know upon what Grounds the Houses have altered the Command of The Tower; and the Earl of Manchester and the Lord North are appointed to prepare a Letter, and offer it to the House To-morrow Morning.

Sir P. Pindar and E. of Mulgrave.

Ordered, That Sir Paul Pynder shall be heard, by his Counsel, this Day Sevennight.

Riggs' Ordinance.

An Ordinance concerning Riggs, was read, and Agreed to; and ordered to be sent to the House of Commons for their Concurrence.

Ordinance to settle the Militia of London; and for Colonel West to be Lieutenant of The Tower.

"The Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, taking into their serious Consideration the present State and Condition of the Kingdom of England, and particularly of the City of London, do ordain and declare, and be it Ordained and Declared by the Authority of the Parliament, That John Warner Lord Mayor of the City of London, Sir John Wollaston Knight and Alderman, Abraham Reynardson Alderman, Sir George Clarke Knight and Alderman, William Gibbs, Richard Chambers, Thomas Foote, Samuell Avery, John Byde, Thomas Viner, Alderman, Serjeant Major General Phillip Skippon, the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs of the City of London for the Time being, Colonel Francis West, Richard Glide, Edwin Browne, Peter Jones, Major Thomas Chamberlaine, Colonel Thomas Player, Colonel John Bellamy, Wm. Jesson, Lieutenant Colonel Jackson, Wm. Kendall, Thomas Arnold, Nathaniell Hall, Lieutenant Colonel Edward Bellamy, Francis Waterhouse, Anthony Bateman, Thomas Andrewes, Captain Richard Venner, Peter Mills, John Gace, John Juryn, Citizens, or any Nine or more of them, and no other Person or Persons whatsoever, be, and are hereby constituted and appointed, a Committee for the Militia of the City of London and Liberties thereof, and other Places within the same; and shall have Power, and are hereby authorized, to assemble and call together all and singular Person and Persons, within the said City of London and Liberties thereof, that are meet and fit for the Wars, and them to train, exercise, and put in Readiness, and them, after their Abilities and Faculties, well and sufficiently from Time to Time to cause to be arrayed and weaponed, and to take the Musters of them in Places most fit for that Purpose; and that they shall have Power to lead, conduct, and employ, the Persons aforesaid, arrayed and weaponed, for the Suppression of all Rebellions, Insurrections, and Invasions, that may happen, within the said City and Liberties thereof; and likewise shall have further Power and Authority to lead, conduct, and employ, the Persons aforesaid, arrayed and weaponed, as well within the said City as within any other Part of this Realm of England or Dominion of Wales, for the Suppression of all Rebellions, Insurrections, and Invasions, that may happen, according as they shall from Time to Time receive Directions from the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament; and that the said Committee, or any Nine or more of them as aforesaid, shall have Power, and are hereby authorized, to constitute and make Colonels, Captains, and other Officers, and shall have Power to remove and displace Colonels, Captains, and other Officers, from Time to Time, as they or any Nine of them as aforesaid shall see Cause and think fit; and that the said Committee, or any Nine or more of them as aforesaid, shall have the same Power and Authority, within the said City and Liberties thereof, as any Committee for the Militia of the City of London had, the Twentieth Day of July, Anno Domini 1647, by an Order or Ordinance of Parliament; and that all and every Person or Persons, who shall act or do any Thing whatsoever by virtue of this or any former Order or Ordinances of Parliament concerning the said Militia, shall be saved harmless and indemnified, for and concerning the same, by Authority of Parliament: And it is hereby further Ordained, That no Citizen of the City of London, nor any of the Forces of the said City or Liberties thereof, shall be drawn forth or compelled to go out of the said City, or Liberties thereof, for Military Service, without his or their free Consent: And further it is Ordained, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, That Colonel Francis West shall be Lieutenant of The Tower of London, and have the Command thereof as formerly he had; and that the Soldiers now remaining in the said Tower shall be forthwith removed from thence: Provided, That this Ordinance, or any Thing therein contained, do not extend unto The Rolls, or Liberties thereof, nor unto the Two Houses of Serjeants Inne, nor unto any of the Inns of Court or Chancery, nor unto The Doctors Commons. And this present Ordinance is to continue during the Pleasure of both Houses of Parliament."

Militia to be ready to prevent an Insurrection; and Prisoners to be secured.

"The Houses, being informed, by a Report from the Committee at Derby House, That there is a Design of very dangerous Consequence ready to be put in Execution, against the Parliament, the City, and Kingdom, by Forces being listed for that Purpose, under an Oath of Secrecy; do order, and it is Ordered by the Lords and Commons, That the several Militias of London and Parts adjacent be in a Posture to prevent or resist the same: It is further Ordered, by the Authority aforesaid, That all Keepers of Prisons, unto whose Custody any Persons are committed Prisoners for acting any Thing against the Parliament, be and are straightly enjoined, strictly and securely to keep all such Persons within their several Prisons."

Officers of the London Militia to act, till others are appointed.

"Ordered, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, That all the Commissioned Officers and others, within the City of London and Liberties thereof, be, and are hereby, required to act upon the Commissions they now have, until the Committee of the Militia now constituted shall think fit to appoint others, to the Intent no Prejudice may happen to the Parliament or City within the Interim till the Militia be settled; and that they do obey all such Orders and Directions as they shall from Time to Time receive from Major General Skippon."

General Skippon so command the Forces within the Bills of Mortality.

"Whereas the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons of the City of London, in Common Council assembled, did lately petition both Houses of Parliament, that Major General Phillip Skippon might be appointed Major General of all the Forces within the Lines of Communication and Weekly Bills of Mortality, for the better uniting of the said Forces, for the Defence of the Parliament, City, and Places adjacent: Be it therefore Ordained by the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament assembled, and it is Ordained by the Authority of the same, That Major General Phillip Skippon be, and is hereby, constituted and appointed Major General, and Commander in Chief over all the Forces, within the City of London and Liberties thereof, the said late Lines of Communication, and Weekly Bills of Mortality, raised, or to be raised, by the respective Committees for the Militia for the Places and Precincts aforesaid, for the Time being, within the several Limits and Jurisdictions aforesaid; and that the said Major General Phillip Skippon shall have Power, and is hereby authorized, from Time to Time, to command, lead, conduct, and employ, the Forces raised as aforesaid, for the Protection and safe Guarding of both Houses of Parliament from all Force and Violence, and likewise of the Cities of London and Westm'r, and Parts adjacent, within the said late Lines of Communication and Weekly Bills of Mortality; and for suppressing of all Tumults, Insurrections, Rebellions, and Invasions, and of all Forces which shall be raised without the Authority of both Houses of Parliament, within the Limits aforesaid; and shall and may sight with, kill, and slay, (fn. 2) all such as shall by Force oppose him and the Forces under his Command in the Execution of this Ordinance; and to observe and follow such other Directions which the said Major General Phillip Skippon shall from Time to Time receive from the respective Committees for the Militia aforesaid, or either of them, within their respective Limits and Jurisdictions, in order to the Peace and Safety of the Parliament, Cities, and Places aforesaid; and likewise to observe all such Orders and Directions as he shall from Time to Time receive from both Houses of Parliament: And it is hereby further Ordained, That whatsoever the said Major General Phillip Skippon shall do, or cause to be done, in Pursuance of this present Ordinance, he shall be saved harmless, by the Authority of both Houses of Parliament."

Captain Skinner to have Bromley House.

"Ordered, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That the Sheriff of Kent shall have Three Days longer, to put Captain Skinner into Possession of Bromley House, lately belonging to the Bishop of Rochester; and he is enjoined to put him into Possession by that Time, according to former Order made in that Behalf."

Sir J. Banatyne, Leave to raise 800 Men for Italy.

"Ordered, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, That Sir James Banatyne may entertain and transport Eight Hundred Men, such as will voluntarily go beyond Seas with him, upon the Con ditions and Securities offered them by him; and that it be referred to the Committee for Prisoners, to take Security for Performance of the Conditions tendered."

Adjourn.

House adjourned till 10^a cras.