House of Lords Journal Volume 10: 27 May 1648

DIE Sabbati, 27 die Maii.

PRAYERS, by Mr. Sallawey.

Domini præsentes fuerunt:

Comes Manchester, Speaker.

Answer from the H. C.

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

That they have delivered the Desires of the Gentlemen of the County of Surry, with their Lordships Sense thereupon; and they will send an Answer by Messengers of their own.

Countess of Kildare's Petition.

Upon reading the Petition of the Countess of Kildare:

It is Ordered, To be recommended to the House of Commons.

Rawleigh and Vivers.

Ordered, That the Cause between Rawleigh and Vivers, &c. shall be heard on Tuesday come Sevennight.

Letter from Vice Admiral Rainsborow.

A Letter of the Vice Admiral, reported from the Committee of the Admiralty, was read; and ordered to be sent down to the House of Commons.

(Here enter it.)

Officers and Soldiers Petition, offering to serve the Parliament.

A Petition from divers Officers and Soldiers was read; offering their Service, in this Time of Exigency, to defend the Parliament and the honest Party with their Lives and Fortunes.

It is Ordered, That they shall have Thanks given from this House; and that the Petition be sent down to the House of Commons.

Paper concerning the In urrection in Kent.

A Paper reported from Derby House was read, concerning the Business of Kent. (Here enter it.)

Letter from Colonel Hammond.

Another Paper from the Committee at Derby House, being a Letter from Colonel Hamond, was read, and ordered to be sent to the House of Commons.

(Here enter it.)

Message to the H. C. with these Papers.

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

1. To deliver to them the Report from Derby House.

2. The Report from the Committee of the Admiralty.

3. To deliver to them the Petition of the Officers.

Message from thence, with an Ordinance.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Mr. Rous; who brought up an Ordinance for giving Power to the Committee for the regulating of the University of Oxon to send for convicted Malignants that are Scholars; and their Lordships Concurrence is desired herein. (Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That this House (fn. 1) agrees to this Ordinance now brought up.

Lady Hatton, a Pass.

Ordered, That the Lady Hatton shall have a Pass, for herself, her Daughter, Two Maids, and Two Men Servants, to go into France.

Howard to be Surveyor General of London.

Upon Information to this House, "That Mr. Carmarden, Surveyor General of the Port of London, being dangerously sick, and not like to recover:"

It is Ordered, That it be recommended to the Committee of the Navy, and the Committee of the Revenue, or either of them, who have the disposing of that Place, "That Mr. Wm. Howard, Second Son to the Right Honourable the Lord Howard of Escricg, may have the said Place conferred upon him, in case the said Mr. Carmarden die."

Ordered, That the Cause between Mr. Eltonheade and Mr. Cockayne shall be heard on Thursday next.

Ordinance to enable the Committee for Oxford University to send for Delinquents.

"Whereas divers Doctors and others, in the University of Oxford, do still continue their Contempt to the Authority of Parliament, in acting contrary to the Votes and Commands of Parliament, notwithstanding they are some of them convicted, and cast out of their Places upon Conviction; besides, their Continuance in the University may be of dangerous Consequence, for moving of Sedition and Tumults: Be it Ordained, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That the Committee of Lords and Commons for regulating the University of Oxford shall have Power to send for in Custody, and to imprison, any such Persons as shall be found to be under Contempt of the Authority of Parliament, and to act contrary thereunto: Be it further Ordained, That the Visitors of the said University shall have Power to take away and to destroy all such Pictures, Relics, Crucifixes, and Images, as shall be found in Oxford, and be judged by them to be superstitious or idolatrous."

Report from the Admiralty Committee, with the following Letter.

"Die Sabbati, 27 Maii, 1648.

"By the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Admiralty and Cinque Ports.

"Ordered, That a Letter, directed to this Committee, from Colonel Rainborrow, bearing Date the 24th of this Instant May, be reported to both Houses of Parliament: And the Earl of Manchester, Speaker of the House of Peers, is desired to report the same to that House.

"W. Jessop, Secretary."

Letter from Vice Admiral Rainborow, concerning a Mutiny in the Fleet:

"For the Right Honourable the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Admiralty and Cinque Ports. These present.

"May it please your Lordships,

"The present Distemper of this County is such, as hath put as sad a Face on Things as ever England saw; and it hath begot a Distemper in the Fleet, which, I am confident, (though somewhat allayed at present) will be of as dangerous Consequence as any One Thing besides, if this Gathering be not by some Means or other speedily suppressed. That which is the greatest Motive to the Disturbance of the Seamen is, that these Parts are wholly for the King. The Swan set Sail Yesterday, being Convoy to The Hopewell and One small Vessel more, for Dublin. The Sattisfaction stays here, to convoy the rest; we wonder exceedingly they come not away. The Complaints from the North are so exceedingly great, that To-morrow (if the Men will be commanded to it) The Convertine and Providence go to the Northward. The Weymouth Pincke is now setting Sail, to be Convoy to the Ship Lady of London, laden with Ammunition, for Weymouth and Pendennys. A Line or Two from your Lordships at this Time might be of great Encouragement to many amongst us. Of all other Things, this Bearer will give your Lordships a perfect Account. I am, and shall be to Death,

May the 24th, 1648.

"Your Lordships

"Most humble and faithful Servant,

"Tho. Rainborowe."

Papers from the E. of Thanet & al. about the Insurrection in Kent.

"Upon Thursday Night, I shewed the Mayor and Aldermen the Instructions which the Honourable Committee of Lords and Commons at Derby House commanded me to offer to the County of Kent; which were dispersed with all Expedition into every several Lath.

"And a Meeting at Sittingburne, (fn. 2) whereof attend those Gentlemen that met, where they concluded of a Letter, which I have presented to the Honourable Committee that I received my Instructions from; and those Gentlemen that have subscribed the Letter have promised to return Answer, this Day at Five a Clock, from the main Bodies of the Petitioners.

Saturday, this 27th of May, 1648.

"Thanet."

"For the Right Honourable the Committee of Lords and Commons at Darby House. Present these.

"My Lords,

"Being streightened by the Time limited for the Return of the Right Honourable the Earl of Thanet, wherein it is not possible to have a Meeting of the Gentry of the County, being now so far distant in several Places, to make a satisfactory Answer concerning those Instructions communicated to us from your Lordships; we have desired the said Earl of Thanett to acquaint your Lordships with what Speed we have dispatched away several Posts, for a general Meeting of the whole County; and have in the mean Time desired his Lordships to present our Answer to your Lordships, which he shall receive by To-morrow Five a Clock. And so we rest,

"My Lords,

"Your Lordships most humble Servants,

Letter from Colonel Hammond, that he has apprehended one Weale, who came to get the King's Approbation for the Surry People to choose a Commander in Chief;-and defrring more Forces.

"My Lords and Gentlemen,

Weale's Letter, and the Surrey Petition inclosed. The Surrey Petition was presented to House 16th Instant, and there entered.

"The last Night there came hither one Job Weale, a Physician as he calls himself, living at Kingston upon Thames. He came hither upon Post Horses, pretending to come in great Haste from my Lord General, employed by him to me, on Business of highest Concernment. He counterfeited himself at the first in a Fainting Fit, by reason of hard Riding; and that he would not declare his Business to me till he had drank some hot Water to recover his Spirits; which Preamble (being ill managed) to his Business made me suspect him to be a Knave, as I afterwards more plainly found him. So soon as he feigned to come to himself, he began to tell me that his Business imported the Safety of my Life, and, that which was dearer to me, the great Charge in my Hands, the Security of the Person of the King; and that, to this End, I should immediately remove the King to Portsmouth, to Major Lobb, to whom he had Directions to receive Him; that otherwise the King would be violently taken hence the next Morning by Four of the Clock, and myself a dead Man; for, to his Knowledge, the Design was so laid, and it was thus: That there was a Fleet of Ships at Sea, near this Coast, that were to come in between the Island and the Land Shore that Evening, who were to land in the Night; and that great Numbers were to come out of the Main Land, pretending Occasions at a Fair which was to be kept at Newport on the Morrow, who should assist them; and at the same Time all the Beacons in the Island were to be set on Fire, and to raise the Country for the King; and if not, to amaze them with Fear, that so they might the better carry on their Design, which there was no Way to avoid but as he had given me Direction. When he had concluded his Tale, I enquired of him, "Whether he had any Thing in Writing to confirm it?" He told me, "That his Instructions to me were intrusted to him, to communicate only by Word of Mouth; but he had Instructions in Writing quilted up in his Waistcoat for Major Lobb." I desired him to let me see them. He told me, "His Order was only to communicate them to Major Lobb. "I said, "I must see them." He refusing, I told him, "I apprehended he had other Business here; and if he would not immediately let me know it, I must take another Course with him." Whereupon I caused him to be strictly searched, and found only these Papers about him. That Letter from him, without Superscription or Direction, he saith, was to my Lord of Dover; the rest Petitions, and some Notes of Instructions of his own. When he found his idle Plot would not take, and that he was discovered, he told me he would deal ingenuously with me, and would tell me truly, his Business was principally by this Means to gain an Interest with me, that so he might speak with the King, to procure Leave from Him, that the County of Surrey (from whom he was sent to that Purpose) might have His Majesty's Approbation to choose a Commander in Chief, under whom to put their Country in a Posture of Defence. Upon his Way, he stopped a Post going from Portesmouth to London, with this inclosed Packet, which, if your Lordship' please, may be speedily delivered, being about Victual for the Navy.

"I perceive, by Discourse with him, that he hath been a great Promoter of the late Surrey Petition, and an Agent of the Malignants there.

"My Lords, I take this Occasion to let your Lordships know, that I wrote formerly to the General, for a Company or Two of Foot more, for the better Security of this Island from any sudden Accident that may happen from Sea; which, it seems, he hath not thought fit to spare. I desire your Lordships, that, if you shall approve of it, there may be another Company or Two more raised and maintained, during this Occasion, some other Way; and that some Force may lie in Hampshire, near the Water-side, in the room of those lately removed thence, to be ready upon Occasion to be transported hither; the Two Companies to be paid out of the Remainder of the Thirty Pounds per Diem I am now a raising; but fear I shall be much troubled myself with them, and the Island more, by reason the Money comes not so constantly and duly as were to be wished; for there is no keeping Soldiers in very good Order without Money before-hand, where there is no Free Quarter. I desire also, that for the better ordering of those Companies here already, and to be raised, and for my own Ease, if you shall think fit, that I may have a Major under me, and Pay allowed for him during this Occasion: I desire it may be Captain Rolph, who hath a Company here already, who is an honest, faithful, and careful Man, and who taketh a great deal of Pains, and deserves Encouragement. The Addition of Major's Pay to him will be little, and not worth speaking of; but so much deserved by him, and such an Officer so necessary for me, that makes me beg of your Lordships it may be moved in the Houses, if it cannot otherwise be done. Here is now but One Ship riding before this Island for the Guard of it; and the Captain of her hath this Day sent me Word, that he is to go in to victual upon Wednesday next. I desire that Care may be taken, that we may not, in these Times of Trouble, be without a Sea Guard.

"My Lords, I am

Carisbrooke Castle, 22 Maii, 1648,

"Your Lordships

"Most faithful and humble Servant,

"Ro. Hammond."

Letter from Weale to the E. of Dover, to encourage the Meeting in Surry; and that he is gone to the King. for His Authority for it.

"My Lord,

"Since I spake with your Honour, I was with my Lord Fairefax at Windsor, and dispatched the Business with him; the particular Account whereof I will render, God willing, to the County at their next Meeting. I could not get from thence until about Four of the Clock on Saturday; and, for Want of good Horses and a Guide, I could not make Farnham until Six on Sunday Morning. I thought it fit, therefore, to take Post Horse and a Guide to Portsmouth. You shall have an Account as soon as I can dispatch the Business with His Majesty. In the mean Time, I desire your Lordship to communicate to Sir Edmund Boyer and Mr. Price as much, as soon as possible you can; and desire them to use their best Endeavours that Sir Richard Onslowe and Sir Ambrose Browne may be entreated to give a Meeting to the County in general, the next Wednesday at the farthest, on (fn. 3) Epham Common, by Ten of the Clock in the Morning; that the County advise with them, how they may give Satisfaction to the Parliament concerning the Petition, and what to do therein; and hereof that they would not fail: At which Time, God willing, I will be there, with Instructions from His Majesty for our safe and secure Proceedings, and Satisfaction to all those that shall make any Objections thereunto. And I beseech you, that Order may be taken, that the Examinations of the County for their Injuries, and the true Cause thereof, upon Oath, may be ready against the same Time. And so, in Post Haste, I remain, in the Oath of a Soldier, Fide & Taciturnitate,

"Your Lordship's

"Friend and Servant to command for my Country and County's Good.

"And the Word is the Anagram of my Name, Obey Lawe.

Farnham, 21th of May, 1648.

"Job Weale."

Adjourn.

House adjourned till 10^a, Monday Morning next.