House of Lords Journal Volume 10: 22 May 1648

Die Lunæ, 22 die Maii.

PRAYERS, by Mr. Younge.

Domini præsentes fuerunt:

Comes Manchester, Speaker.

Answer from the H. C.

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

That they agree to the Instructions for Surrey, with the Alterations sent down. (Here enter them.)

Field Officers going to Ireland, Petition for Arrears.

The Petition of all the Field Officers and Captains of Colonel Harbert', Colonel Eyre's, Colonel Graye's, and Colonel Humfrey's Regiments, formerly designed for Ireland, desiring some Course may be taken for paying their Arrears.

Ordered, To be sent to the House of Commons, with Recommendations.

Belvoir Castle, to be disgarrisoned, and delivered to the E. of Rutland.

The Earl of Rutland making Complaint to the House, "That there is a Garrison put into his Castle "of Belvoier, which is contrary to his Desire;" and upon his Lordship's undertaking to keep the Castle from Surprizal:

It is Ordered, That a Letter be writ to the General, to remove the Garrison thence, and to deliver the Castle unto the Earl of Rutland.

Pretended P. of Wales to be sent up.

A Letter from the Mayor and Jurats of Sandwich, concerning One that calls himself the Prince of Wales.

Ordered, That he be sent for up by Land.

Message from the H. C. with an Ordinance.

A Message from the House of Commons, brought up by Sir Robert Pye & al.

An Ordinance concerning the Excise, brought up, and read, and Agreed to.

(Here enter.)

Lady E. Grey 200l.

Ordered, The Treasurers at Goldsmith' (fn. 1) Hall shall pay to the Lady Elizabeth Grey the Sum of Two Hundred Pounds, out of the Money assigned to the Earl of Ormound.

L. Caulfield's Petition.

The Lord Caulfield's Petition read.

Ordered, To be recommended to the House of Commons.

Sir J. Ogle, a Pass.

A Pass granted for Sir John Ogle, to go into Holland.

P. Philip, a Pass.

A Pass granted for Prince Philip, to go with his Retinue and Twelve Horse, over the Seas.

Daniel, Lord Craven's Servant, Petition.

A Petition of Henry Daniel Gentleman, Servant to the Lord Craven, read.

Ordered, To see the former Proceedings herein, before any Thing further be done.

Riot at Twickenham.

Ordered, That the Justices of Peace of Middlesex do examine the Riot lately committed at Twittenham, and to proceed therein according to the Laws of the Land.

Message to the H. C. about the following Petitions.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Mr. Hakewill and Mr. Page:

1. To recommend to them the Lord Cawfeild's Petition.

2. To put them in Mind of the Lord Crumwell's Petition.

3. To put them in Mind of the Lord Herbert's Petition.

4. To recommend to them the Petition of the Reduced Officers.

5. To put them in Mind of Mrs. Mary Piggott's Petition.

Ordinance for a Discharge for the Commissioners of Excise for the Year 1645.

"Whereas the Receipts of divers Rates of Excise and new Impost, set and imposed by Three several Ordinances of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament; that is to say, the First of the said Ordinances commencing the 11th September, which was in the Year of our Lord God 1643, and is commonly called The Grand Excise, the Second of the said Ordinances bearing Date the 9th Day of January, in the said Year 1643, and the Third of the said Ordinances bearing Date the 8th Day of July, which was in the Year of our Lord God 1644; to have Continuance for One whole Year from the Time of the Commencement of the said Three several Ordinances respectively, have sithence, by several other Ordinances of the said Lords and Commons, been continued in the Hands, and under the Regulation, Order, and Government, of the Commissioners in the said first-recited Ordinance of the 11th September, 1643, named and appointed, and the Survivors of them, in such Manner, and during such Time, as in and by the several Ordinances passed for their Continuance accordingly is expressed; and whereas, by One other Ordinance of the said Lords and Commons, bearing Date the 4th Day of October, which was in the Year of our Lord God 1645, it is ordered and appointed, That all and every the Accompts of the said Excise and new Impost should then all determine upon the 29th Day of September, 1645, and afterwards Quarterly, upon the Four usual Feast Days or Terms of the Year, as by the said last recited Ordinance (Relation being thereunto had) more fully may appear; and whereas, in Pursuance thereof, the Accompts of John Towse Esquire, and late Alderman of the City of London, deceased, Thomas Foote, John Kendricke, Thomas Cullum, and Symon Edmonds, Esquires, and Aldermen of the said City, John Lamott and Edward Claxton, of the same, Esquires, Chief Commissioners and Governors as aforesaid of all and every the said Receipts, for One whole Year and Eighteen Days, ended the 29th September, 1645, upon the said Ordinance of the 11th September, 1643, and for One whole Year and Half and Eighty-two Days, begun the 9th of January, 1643, and ended the 29th of September, 1645, upon the said Ordinance of the 9th of January, 1643, and for One whole Year and Eighty-one Days, ended the 29th of September, 1645, upon the said Ordinance of the 8th of July 1644, have been duly audited, examined, and pricked over, with the Vouchers, Entries, and Books of Accompts thereof, in the several Offices throughout the Kingdom, by William Bond Esquire, sole Auditor of the said Receipts in that Behalf appointed, according to the Directions prescribed in and by several Ordinances of Parliament; which said Accompts have been likewise presented by the said Auditor unto the Committee of Lords and Commons for regulating the Excise, and by them considered of, examined, and allowed: Be it therefore Ordained, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, That the Heirs and Executors of the said John Towse deceased, and also that the said Thomas Foote, John Kendricke, Thomas Cullum, Symon Edmonds, John Lamott, and Edward Claxton, surviving Commissioners of Excise, and every of them, their and every of their Heirs, Executors, and Administrators, respectively, hereby now are, and from Time to Time, and at all Times for ever hereafter, by Authority of Parliament, shall be, saved harmless and defended, for and concerning all and every Act and Acts whatsoever, by them or any of them, or by their or any of their Sub-commissioners, Deputies, or Under Officers whatsoever, by their Direction, or any of them, done or executed, in or concerning the collecting of the said Rates of Excise and new Impost, or in or concerning the ordering and governing thereof; and that the Heirs and Executors of the said John Towse deceased, and also the said Thomas Foote, John Kendricke, Thomas Cullum, Symon Edmonds, John Lamott, and Edward Claxton, and every of them, their Heirs, Executors, and Administrators, respectively, are, and hereby for ever hereafter shall be, acquitted and discharged, of and from all Receipts, Payments, Reckonings, Accompts, Questions, and Demands whatsoever, of, for, touching, and concerning the said Three several Ordinances of Parliament herein first recited, for the several Terms before specified respectively, ending the 29th September, 1645: And lastly be it Ordained, by Authority aforesaid, That the said Thomas Foote, John Kendricke, Thomas Cullum, Symon Edmonds, John Lamott, and Edward Claxton, and every of them, their Heirs, Executors, and Administrators, are, and shall be, liable for such Sums of Money, of the Debts and Surcharges set over insuper upon the Sub-commissioners and Debtors in the said Accompts named, and for all such other Sums of Money due for Excise by virtue of the said several Ordinances, until the said 29th Day of September, 1645, beforementioned, as already have, or hereafter shall, come to their or any of their Hands, and no more."

Letter from the Mayor, &c. of Sandwich, concerning a Person there, who calls himself the Prince of Wales.

"Right Honourable,

"A Gentleman, who affirms himself to be the Prince of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, and that he is the true and lawful Son of our Sovereign Lord King Charles, lodged this Night in this Town, and (being discovered this Morning to us) is now in Company with us. We never knew him; yet, by his own Words which he gives us, we assure ourselves he is our Prince; and therefore held it our Duty to give you the most timely Notice hereof that lay in us, whereby he may be disposed as the Honourable Houses of Parliament shall think meet; and in the Interim he shall safely be detained by us. The Bearer, our Town Clerk, will relate every Thing concerning his being here, in as full and faithful a Manner as can be related in Writing by

Sandwich, 20 Maii, 1648.

"Yours and the Kingdom's

Obliged Servants,

"The Mayor and Jurats of Sandwich."

Town Clerk's Information about it.

"20th May, 1648.

The Information of James Thurbarne, Town Clerk of Sandwich, in Kent;

"Informeth, That this Morning, about Three of the Clock, he was called out of his Bed, by the Watch of Sandwich, who told this Examinant, "That Prince Charles was at The Bell in Sandwich;" whereupon this Examinant went to the same House, and did enquire of a Widow, being the Woman's Daughter of the House, concerning that Matter; who affirmed, with strong Resolutions, that she did believe he was there; and withal said, "That Captain Foster, One of the Magistrates of Sandw'ch, had been with him in the Evening;" and thereupon this Examinant, taking Care that the House should be watched, went to Captain Foster, for to discourse with him; who acknowledged, "That he had been with that Gentleman, and made some Doubt whether it were the Prince or no; but yet withal told me, that peradventure it might be him:" Whereupon, after myself and the Watch had spent some Time about the House, I again went to Captain Foster's House, being the next Door, who, being then stirring, did go with me to The Bell aforesaid, and went into the Chamber where the Gentleman lay asleep; and, upon Sight of him, this Examinant was convinced it was not the Prince; yet, some small Time being spent, we went unto him; and he being awake, we asked him, "if he were the Man that over-Night he affirmed himself to be?" But seeing me a Stranger (as this Examinant conceives), he seemed to deny it; affirming, "That he was a Merchant." Then Captain Foster relating what he had said over-Night, he confessed he was the Prince, and the Son of King Charles; and withal rose, and further declared, "That he was landed on Thursday from France, out of a Fisher-boat in Deale; and that he came a-foot, in his Slippers, alone, till he came near the Town, and then called a Countryman and a Butcher to him, who at first slighted him; and then he declaring to them that he was Prince Charles, they came with him to the Town, where he had Two Chickens to Supper, and after Supper went to Bed: "And being a-bed, Captain Foster (as he told this Examinant) willed One to watch at his Chamber Door, which accordingly this Examinant believes was done. This Examinant further affirmeth, That this Morning the Mayor of Sandw'ch, being acquainted with the Business, sent for the Jurats his Brethren, to meet him at The Bell aforesaid; where the Gentleman did earnestly affirm, before the Mayor and Jurats, and divers other Gentlemen, that he was the Prince; and then the Mayor and Jurats, being still doubtful, desired him to declare the Truth, for that they resolved to acquaint the Parliament therewith; to which at first he seemed unwilling, yet at last gave Way thereunto, affirming that he was the Prince; and called the Mayor privately into another Chamber with him, and in that Chamber (the Mayor affirmed to this Examinant) that he desired the Parliament should be told he came in Peace and Love, though in his former Conference he often spake, "He hoped the Town and Country would stick for his Father and him; and that he did not intend to discover himself till he came to Greenw'ch, where his Father had a House, where he doubted not but he should have Friends." After all the Conference aforesaid, a poor Seaman came into the House where he was, and affirming he knew the Prince, was carried to him, and, seeing him, offered to affirm upon Oath, or engage himself in any other Way the Mayor and Jurats should think fit of, that that Gentleman was the Prince. He is of Stature about the ordinary Size of Men, somewhat Round Visage, his Lower Lip somewhat thick, his Hair rather Flaxen than Brown, his Complexion fair though somewhat tanned, his Cloaths very mean, his Shirt not only foul but very coarse. This Examinant faith, That the Mayor and Jurats, though they were doubtful whether he were the Man or no, thought good to acquaint the Houses of Parliament therewith; for that, if he should not be the Man, yet he presuming that upon him might cause the Country (the rather at this Time) to take special Notice thereof, for that there are divers Copies of a Petition, both in Town and Country, which at this Time is much endeavoured by many, to gain Subscriptions, and to be preferred by the County to the Parliament.

"James Thurbarne."

"Instructions for such Lords and Members of the House of Commons as shall be sent into the County of Surrey.

Instructions for the Commissioners going into Surry.

"That the Earl of Northumberland be desired to go suddenly down, with such other Gentlemen as the House shall please to nominate, into the County of Surrey.

"That they use their Endeavours, by the best Ways and Means they think fit, to inform the County of Surrey of the Disorders that were occasioned by the coming of great Numbers of that County, for the delivering a Petition to the Houses on Tuesday last; which drew together many dissaffected Persons in and about Westm'r, to the Danger and Interruption of the peaceable Sitting of the Houses.

"That the Houses cannot attribute those Disorders to that County; but do retain in Memory their many faithful Services and good Affections expressed to the Parliament; and doubt not but those Distempers that fell out were contrary to the Desires and Liking of that County.

"That they inform the Inhabitants of that County, That the Houses of Parliament intend not to hinder their presenting of Petitions in a due and sitting Way; but shall be ready to give all Encouragement and Answers thereunto, for the Satisfaction of their just Desires.

"That the Houses are upon the present Consideration of Matters of most weighty Concernment to the Settlement of the Kingdom in a safe and happy Peace; and expect to be free from tumultuous Interruptions therein.

"That the Houses have ordered the Restoring such Horses as were taken away from divers of the Petitioners that behaved themselves in a peaceable Manner at that Time; and they shall take Care that the whole Business be duly examined, and that all Witnesses be freely heard; and that no Misrepresentations may be made thereof in the mean Time."

Adjourn.

House adjourned till 10^a cras.