House of Lords Journal Volume 8: 26 December 1645

DIE Veneris, 26 die Decembris.

PRAYERS, by Mr. Dury.

Ds. Grey de Warke, Speaker.

Answer from the H. C.

Sir Edw. Leech and Mr. Page return with this Answer from the House of Commons:

That to the Alterations in the Votes concerning Persons coming in out of the King's Quarters, and the Ordinance concerning Mr. Bond to (fn. 1) be Master of The Savoy, and the adding the Names to the Committee of Devon, and Colonel Layton to be Commander of the Plymouth Horse, and the Ordinance for Nine Hundred Ninety-four Pounds for Powder and Bullet, they will send an Answer by Messengers of their own.

Collection for Woburn.

Upon reading the Petition of the Inhabitants of Woborne; desiring "they may have Liberty to have a "Collection, for the repairing of their Losses:" It is Ordered, That this House grants the Desires in the said Petition.

Propositions for a Peace.

The House was adjourned during Pleasure, to take into Consideration the Propositions.

The House being resumed;

It is Ordered, To take them into Consideration Tomorrow Morning, in the House.

Ordinance for pressing Carriages.

Ordered, That the Committee concerning the Ordinance that concerns pressing of Carts shall meet on Monday next, in the Afternoon, at Three a Clock.

Petition of the Inhabitants of Woburn, for a Collection, on account of their Sufferings.

"To the Right Honourable the House of Peers.

"The humble Petition of the Inhabitants of the distressed Town of Woborne, in Bedd.

"Sheweth,

"That, besides the great Sufferings of the said Town, by divers Incursions of the King's Forces, plundering and spoiling us of our Estates and Goods, and more especially when His Majesty quartered with His Army at Woborne, in His Return to Oxford, in August last past, 1645 (the Particulars whereof we spare to mention), our Sufferings have now of late been augmented beyond our Ability to bear, or to silence any longer; for, upon Thursday Morning, being the 27th of November last past, a great Party of the King's Horse, consisting of about Six or Seven Hundred, made a sudden Assault upon our Town, first with a Forlorn Hope, who, being repulsed, afterward came on with a stronger Party; who being again encountered, and beaten back out of the Town Three several Times, with Loss of some considerable Men, besides many wounded on the Enemy's Party, through the great Valour and Resolution of a small Party of our Townsmen, out of the good Affection to the State, and Desire of the Preservation of themselves; the Enemy hereupon drew up their (fn. 2) whole Body, and forced them into the Town, whereby One little Handful of Men were so overpowered, that they were necessitated to draw off, and shift for themselves, which they did without Loss of any one fighting Man, only One taken Prisoner, and Six or Seven of the most active and forward Men wounded. The prevailing Enemy, provoked by the extraordinary and unexpected Opposition they met with, and Loss they received, being also by this Obstruction and Impediment defeated and disappointed of their further Design, for the surprizing the Committee at Bedd. and subjecting the Country to Contribution, as was discovered by their own Expressions, they forthwith fell to plandering of Houses, and, in great Rage and diabolical Fury, wilfully and maliciously set on Fire the Town in many Places of once, burnt down Seventeen or Eighteen Dwelling-houses, besides many Barns, Stables, Malt-houses, and other Out-houses, together with the Goods, Houshold Stuff, and Apparel, to the Value of Three Thousand Eight Hundred Sixty-nine Pounds, Seven Shillings, as appeareth by several Bills, and by the Estimation of Four sufficient Carpenters and Four Masons, chosen to that Purpose; whereby many Families are left harbourless, and utterly ruinated and undone, and many others brought into a very low and sad Condition.

"Wherefore may it please this Honourable House to take into their pious Consideration the Desolation and Misery of our said Town, and to grant a Collection, for the Charitable Benevolence of the Well-affected through the City and Suburbs of London and City of Westm. and Association Counties, for and towards the Relief of the distressed Inhabitants of the said Town, the Reparation of the Houses, and Encouragement of our Townsmen in their constant Fidelity to the State.

"So shall your poor Petitioners (fn. 3) be engaged to pray for your Honours Prosperity, and happy Proceedings of the Parliament, for speedy Establishment of Peace and Truth in the Church and State.

Adjourn.

House adjourned till 9^a cras.