House of Lords Journal Volume 8: 9 February 1646

DIE Lunæ, 9 die Februarii.

PRAYERS, by Mr. Salawey.

E. Manchester, Speaker.

Mrs. Cromwell and Sir H. Tracy.

Ordered, That the Cause between Mrs. Anne Cromwell and Sir Humphrey Tracy shall be heard on this Day Fortnight; and both Parties are to take Notice, and attend by their Counsel accordingly.

Tindall to be instituted to Wigborow.

Ordered, That Mr. Doctor Aylett shall institute and induct Thomas Tindall, Batchelor of Divinity, to the Rectory of Wigborow, in the County of Essex; the said Mr. Tindall producing his Presentation thereunto under the Hand and Seal of James Earl of Suff. Patron.

Gen. Skippon's Letter about Bristol.

A Letter of Serjeant Major General Skippon read, concerning the State of the Garrison of Bristoll.

(Here enter it.)

Ordered, That this Letter be communicated to the House of Commons, with this Sense sent down to that House; videlicet,

Additional Forces to be sent there.

"That the Letter of Serjeant Major Skippon be specially recommended to the House of Commons, in regard of the great Consequence of the City of Bristol, which appears, by the said Letter to the Lords in Parliament, to be in very great Danger, and especially by the great Increase of Forces in Ragland Castle: Therefore the Lords think it necessary that there be a present sufficient Strength provided for the Defence of that Place; and, until other Force be provided, that the Regiment of Major General Skippon be continued within the said City."

The Concurrence of the House of Commons to be desired herein.

City Petition about the Propositions.

The City Petition was now read again in the House publicly, and then taken into Consideration, according to former Appointment.

Ordered, That the Votes mentioned in the Petition shall be recorded in (fn. 1) this House, for the Indemnity of the City of London for what is past, as is desired in the Petition of the said City of London.

Ordered, That this House agrees to the Second Desire in the Petition of the City of London.

Concerning the Third Desire of the City of London: It is Ordered, The same Proposition concerning the Militia of the City of London, which was presented to the King at Oxford last, shall be sent next to the King, amongst the rest of the Propositions.

Message to the H. C. with Gen. Skippon's Letter about Bristol;

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

1. To communicate to them the Letter of Major General Skippon, with the Sense of this House thereupon.

for a Conference about the Propositions concerning the City;

2. To desire a Conference To-morrow Morning, at Ten a Clock, by a Committee of both Houses, concerning the Propositions which concern the City of London.

and with Ellison's Petition.

3. To recommend to them the Petition of Thomas Ellison.

Next, the Ordinance for One Thousand Pounds to be paid to the Train of Artillery, was read, and Agreed to. (Here enter it.)

Preachers for the next Thanksgiving.

Ordered, That Mr. Cawdrey and Mr. Carroll are appointed to preach before the Lords in Parliament on Thursday next come Sevennight, at Martin's Church in the Fields, being the Day of Thanksgiving for the taking-in of Chester.

A Letter was presented to this House, and read; videlicet,

Letter from the Scots Commissioners, about the Maintenance of their Army before Newark.

"For the Right Honorable the Speaker of the House of Peeres pro Tempore.

"My Lord,

"We have often represented to both Houses the Condition of the Scottish Army before Newarke, and desired that a speedy and solide Course might be taken for their Maintenance; but have receved no Answere. It is now our earnest Request, that we may knowe from the Honorable Houses, whether we are to expect any Answere at all; that the Quarter Master Generall of the Army may be dispatched, and we may understand what Account to returne to those that sent us. We are,

Worcester House, 9th Feb. 1645.

"My Lord,

"Your Lordship's affectionate Freinds and humble Servants,

"Lauderdaile. J. Balmerino.

"Charles Erskin.

"Hew Kennedy."

Paper from the French Agents, complaining of their Courier being stopped by the Governor of Rochester, and his Dispatches taken away.

A Paper was presented to this House, from the French Agent; which was read:

"Monsieur le Comte de Manchester, Orateur de la Maison des Seigneurs d'Angleterre, aura, sil luy plaist agreable, de representer À la ditte Maison la Violence qui a eté faitte par le Gouverneur de Rochester, en arrestant un Courrier du Roy nostre Maistre, et en se saisissant des Depesches de sa Majesté, en quoy l'on n'a pas seulement manqué de Respect envers elle, mais on a encore violé le Droit des Gens. Et il fera, s'il luy plaist, en sorte que l'on ait une prompte et entiere Reparation de cette Injure, et que l'on soit en suitte assuré du libre Passage des Courriers et de l'Envoy certain des Depesches.

"Sabran. Montereul.

"A Monsieur le Comte de Manchester, Orateur de la Maison des Seigneurs d'Angleterre."

Upon this, the Earl of Northumb. acquainted this House with the Carriage of Montreul, in taking away the Letters out of his Lordship's Chamber.

Lieutenant, who stayed the Courier, sent for.

Upon Consideration hereof: It is Ordered, That the Lieutenant that stayed the Courier at Rochester shall be sent for, to appear before this House, to answer the same.

Couriers of Foreign Agents to pass free.

Ordered, That this House declares, that the Couriers of those Agents from Foreign Nations as are owned here, are to pass free, without Stay and Interruption; and that the French Agent is to be acquainted with what now is done.

Col. Lilburn's Business.

Ordered, That Lieutenant Colonel Lilborne's Business be heard on Friday next, at this Bar.

The Earl of Manchester reported a Paper from the Committee of both Kingdoms:

Capt. Phipps's Troop to be reduced into Major Shelborn's.

"Ordered, That it be reported to both Houses, That it is the Desire of the Committee of Buckinghamshire, that Captain Phips's Troop may be reduced into Major Shelborne's Troop; and to desire the House to give Order for it, if they please."

E. of Denbigh, Leave to see L. Savill.

Ordered, That the Earl of Denbigh hath Leave to go to The Tower, to see the Lord Savill, so often as he hath Occasion.

Another Letter from the Scotts Commissioners was read:

Letter from the Scots Commissioners, that the concealed Authors of the scandalous Report of the Scots making a separate Peace with the King may be discovered.

"My Lord,

"Upon the 24th of Jan. last, we delivered in a Paper to both Houses, about some Matters which doe highly concerne the Kingdome of Scotland, the Scottish Army in this Kingdome, and ourselves who are Commissioners from that Kingdome, to which we have receved noe Answere; and therefore doe now, after so long Expectation, againe earnestly desire, that the Knight whose Name is still concealed from us may be made knowne; and that all Meanes may be used for Discovery of Robert Wright; that, the Truth appearing, we may no longer lye under such Aspersions as are by some malitious Persons with much Industry spread abroad against us; the Authors and Contrivors may receave their due Censure (which we expect from the Wisedome and Justice of the Honorable Houses); and for preventing Misinformations and Misunderstandings in the Kingdome of Scotland, which, notwithstanding all Discouragements, shall ever be the Endeavour of

Worcester House, Feb. 9th, 1645.

"Your Lordships

"Very affectionate Freinds and humble Servants,

"Lauderdaill. J. Balmerino.

"Cha. Erskin.

"Hew Kennedy."

Marquis of Winton to have the Liberty of The Tower.

Ordered, That the Lord Marquis of Winton shall have the Liberty of The Tower; and to send his Servants abroad, for such necessary Occasions as he needs.

E. of Oxford to export Horses.

Ordered, That the Earl of Oxford shall have a Pass, for transporting over to Holland to him Three Horses or Geldings, Custom-free; they being Horses of his own Breeding, and for his Lordship's own proper Use.

Gen. Skippon's Letter from Bristol, desiring a Reinforcement for the Garrison there.

"To the Right Honourable the Lord Grey of Warke, Speaker to the Right Honourable the House of Peers assembled in Parliament at Westm. These, with all Speed and Trust, humbly present.

"Right Honourable,

"I was exceeding unwilling, and hoped, having so often and fully advertised the Condition of this City, Garrison, and these Parts, to some worthy Members of the Honourable House of Commons, and the same having been divers Times remonstrated from the Committee here to the Honourable Committee of the West, that I should not (as now I am) have been necessitated to have troubled your Lordships therewith. I now crave your Leave truly (and as briefly as I can) to make the same known unto you; and do beseech you, with all Speed that may be, to make the same known to the Right Honourable the House of Peers, that some speedy Course may be settled, for the upholding and maintaining the established Garrison here, or else this Place is like suddenly to be in a very sad Condition; the Importance whereof, in respect of Ireland, Wales, these Western Parts, yea the whole Kingdom, you can better judge than I mention. So it is, Sir, that, though more than Three Months of the Six (according to Ordinance of Parment) for Contributions to supply the established Garrison here be already elapsed, whereby more than Nine Thousand Pounds is become due, there is not Nine Hundred Pounds come in, nor any Power in me or in the Committee here, except within the City of Bristoll, to raise any Part thereof; not One Penny as yet so much as settled, as far as I can understand, by the Committee of Gloucester; nothing as yet paid out of Wiltsheir; only about Seven Hundred Pounds paid in, out of Som'settsheir; and all for Want of a positive Command, where and how the same should be raised; whereby I am utterly disabled from raising the Regiment of Foot, and compleating and arming the Two Troops of Horse designed for this Place (according to the Establishment), and from paying those already raised. The Right Honourable the Committee of both Kingdoms hath commanded me to secure Bath. Monmouthsheir calls for a Succour from hence; so did the Counties of Wilts, Som'sett, and Gloucester, in this last plundering Voyage of the Enemy's Horse in those Parts, which (though I could not as I would, yet even beyond my Numbers, with respect to the Security of this Place) I afforded; it being my great Affliction not to be able to help our distressed Friends, and to advance the Public Service as my Heart desires. The General hath now commanded away my Regiment which belongs to the Army; and I am bound to obey. I have here about Seven Hundred (at most) of the new Regiment (raw Soldiers, and how fit for Service, I know not), which with very great Difficulty have been gotten together, Two Hundred of which I must send to Bath; how considerable a Number the rest will be to keep such a Multitude of illaffected Persons in Awe as are in this City (though for present quiet, yet it is likely upon Occasion may shew themselves otherwise), and to keep the absolute necessary Guards belonging to this Garrison, besides the utter Inability of relieving our distressed Friends (which Monmouthsheir now instantly calls for), I leave to your Lordship's judicious Consideration. This I assure you, Sir, that (by the blessed Help of God) no Care, no Industry, no Fidelity (though with never so much Hazard), shall be neglected by me: Yet with all Humbleness I beseech your Lordships give me Leave to say, and to beg it as an especial Favour from this Right Honourable House (unto many others they have vouchsafed me), that I may rather live in a most mean and contemptible Condition all the rest of my Days with unblemished Reputation, than (as I am at present here) to be in a Place of Eminency, and where much is expected from me, through Want of Means absolutely necessary, to be utterly disabled from rendering a good Account (as becomes a Man of Honour and Honesty) of the Trust reposed in me. Those worthy Members of the Honourable House of Commons, Mr. Prideaux and Mr. Ash, can fully inform you of many Things I have troubled them with more (fn. 2) at large. Oh! that I durst presume to beg an Answer of this Letter, that I might know how to behave myself, and what to trust unto! for, as the Case stands now, it is impossible for me to bear so intolerable a Burthen long. In all Humility, I crave Pardon for this Boldness, which nothing but Extremity should have compelled me unto. The Lord direct and prosper all your Consultations for His Glory, and His People's Good. So, with Heart and Hand, I subscribe myself.

"My Lord,

"Your Lordship's most faithful Servant,

Bristoll, 2d February, 1645.

"Ph. Skippon.

"In this Manner I have presumed to write to the Honourable House of Commons."

Order for 1000 l. for the Train of Artillery of the E. of Essex and Sir W. Waller.

"This Day Ordained, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That One Thousand Pounds, with Interest, for Payment of the Train of Artillery of the Earl of Essex and Sir William Waller, shall be paid, out of such Intervals of Receipts on the Excise, to come in upon the Ordinance of the 11th of September, 1643, as shall happen when other Payments already assigned on those Receipts shall not fall due, or, in Default thereof, then as the same shall follow in Course; and the Commissioners of Excise or new Impost are hereby authorized to pay the said Sum of One Thousand Pounds and Interest unto the Committee of Accompts (to be by them paid upon Accompt for the Use aforesaid), or to such other Person or Persons as shall be ordered of that Committee, or of any Five of them, be nominated or appointed to receive the same, or any Part thereof; and the Receipt or Receipts of such Person or Persons so appointed, or to be appointed, of such nominated as aforesaid, their Executors, Administrators, or Assigns, shall be the Commissioners of Excise their sufficient Warrant and Discharge, for Payment of the said One Thousand Pounds and Interest, and every Part and Parcel thereof accordingly.

"And it is further Ordained, That the Interest for the Sum aforesaid, and every Part thereof, shall be paid at the End of every Six Months, until the said One Thousand Pounds and Interest, and every Part and Parcel thereof, shall be fully satisfied."

Adjourn.

House adjourned till 10^a cras.