House of Lords Journal Volume 8: 8 February 1647

Die Lunæ, 8 die Februarii.

PRAYERS, by Mr. Sedgwickee

Domini præsentes fuerunt:

Comes Manchester, Speaker.

Answer from the H. C.

Doctor Aylett and Doctor Heath return with this Answer:

That the House of Commons agrees in the Ordinance concerning Gouldsmithes Hall. (Here enter it.)

And to the Pardon to the Western Prisoners.

(Here enter it.)

Sale of the E. Rivers's Goods stayed.

Upon reading the Petition of the Earl Rivers: It is Ordered, That there shall be a Stop made of the Sale of his Goods, which are bought by one Ridges, a Broker in Long Lane, untill the Parliament shall further Order the disposing of those Goods, when the Earl hath finished his Composition.

Letters from the Commissioners with the King.

A Letter from the Earl of Pembrooke, &c. was read, with a Cypher of a Letter. (Here enter it.)

Committee to discover the Cypher.

It is Ordered, That it is referred to the Earl of Lyncolne, and the Earl of Warwicke, and the Lord Wharton, to endeavour to discover the Cypher.

Laurence & al. committed for a Disturbance at Streatham, released.

This Day Humphry Lawrance, Wm. Reade, and Rich. Bent, were brought to this Bar; and, upon their Submission, and an Admonition given them for their better Behaviour for the future, which they promising, they were released from the present Imprisonment.

Ordered, That Humphrey Lawrance is hereby disabled from keeping an Alehouse any more.

Clothiers, &c. of Gloucester, Petition for a Reparation from the E. of Northampton, for dispoiling them with his Forces.

Upon reading the Petition of the Clothiers and Carriers of the County of Gloucester; complaining, "That (fn. 1) he, with his Troops and Soldiers, issued forth to seize, take, and spoil from them, Cloths and other Commodities, to their great Impoverishing: Therefore desired Reparations from the said Earl, for their several Losses and Damages."

It is Ordered, That the Earl of North'ton shall have a Copy of this Petition, and return his Answer thereunto within Ten Days.

Declaration concerning the Commissioners for Sequestrations at Goldsmiths Hall.

Ordered, That it is referred to the Earl of Kent, Earl of Warwicke, Earl of Mulgrave, Lord North, and Lord Wharton, to draw up a Declaration, to be printed and published, upon the passing of the Ordinance concerning Gouldsmithes Hall, and report the same to this House.

Petition from the City.

Next, was read the Representation of the Commons of the City of London.

Declaration about the Commissioners at Goldsmiths Hall.

The Lord Wharton reported a Draught of a Declaration concerning the Commissioners at Gouldsmith Hall; which being read, was Ordered to be printed, and published in the same Manner as the Declaration of the First of February was. (Here enter it.)

Message from the H. C. with Ordinances, &c.; and to remind the Lords of the following Particulars.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Mr. Robert Reynolds, &c.

To desire Concurrence in divers Orders and Ordinances.

2. To put their Lordships in Mind of an Order formerly brought up, for Mr. Bence to be One of the Commissioners of the Navy.

3. To put their Lordships in Mind of some Reasons offered at a late Conference, concerning a Declaration concerning Gouldsmithes Hall.

4. To communicate a Letter to their Lordships, which was taken by Captain Willoughby, coming out of Ireland, directed to Monsieur Tillier at Paris.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That this House will take the several Particulars of this Message into Consideration, and will send an Answer by Messengers of their own.

Judges, &c. to go the Circuits.

The Question being put, "Whether Serjeant Clarke shall go this Circuit for Lyncolneshire:"

It was Resolved in the Affirmative.

Ordered, That it is referred to the Commissioners of the Great Seal, to transpose the Names of the Judges and others that are to go Circuits, that they may not go Circuit in their own Countries; and present the same to the Houses.

Ordinance for all Officers, Civil and Military, to take the Covenant.

Resolved, upon the Question, That an Ordinance shall be brought in, by a Committee, to this Purpose, "That all Persons who are, or shall be, employed in any Offices or Places of Trust, Military or Civil, within this Kingdom, shall take the solemn League and Covenant."

And these Lords following were named:

Any Three, to meet To-morrow Morning, at Nine of the Clock; and afterward to adjourn from Time to Time as they shall think fit.

Ordinance to be drawn up in Pursuance of the Answer to the Scots.

Ordered, That it is referred to this Committee to draw up an Ordinance in Pursuance of the Three Votes made upon the Declaration of the Parliament of Scotland, and to report the same to this House.

Ordinances concerning the Propositions about Religion, and the Militia.

Ordered, That these Lords following shall prepare Ordinances in Pursuance of the Propositions for Matters of Religion and the Militia, and present the same to this House:

Any Three, to meet when they please.

Ordinance to empower the Commissioners at Goldsmiths Hall to settle Sequestrations, and compound for Delinquencies.

"Be it Ordained, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, That Phillip Earl of Pembrooke and Mountg'mery, Robert Earl of Warwick, Theophilus Earl of Lincolne, Bazill Earl of Denbigh, Edward Earl of Manchester, James Earl of Middlesex, Edward Earl of Mulgrave, Henry Earl of Stanford, Phillip Lord Wharton, Francis Lord Willoughby, Dudly Lord North, William Lord Gray of Wark, John Lord Roberts, William Lord Maynard, Edward Lord Howard of Escrig, Members of the Lords House of Parliament; Sir Henry Vane Junior, Oliver St. John Esquire His Majesty's Solicitor General, Denzill Hollis Esquire, Sir Anthony Irby Baronet, Mr. Gurdon, Sir Arthur Hesilrig, Mr. Henry Darley, Mr. John Ash, Mr. John Stephens, Mr. Boyse, Mr. Robert Reynolds, Mr. Cornelius Holland, Mr. Robert Jenner, Sir Gilbert Gerrard Baronet, Sir Nathaniell Barnardiston, Sir John Yongue, Sir Thomas Soam, Mr. Thomas Hatcher, Mr. John Trenchard, Mr. Dennis Bond, Mr. John Browne, Mr. Alderman Pennington, Mr. Edward Ash, Mr. Alderman Hoyle, Mr. John Blackiston, Mr. Roger Hill, Mr. Francis Allen, Mr. Robert Goodwin, Sir John Clotworthy, Mr. John Salway, Members of the House of Commons; Sir David Watkins Knight, Mr. Richard Bateman, Mr. Christopher Pack, Mr. John Oldfeild, Mr. Samuell Moyer, Mr. William Tompson, Mr. Richard Shute, Captain Richard Venner, Mr. Geo. Tompson, Mr. Lawrence Bringley; or any Seven of them, whereof Three to be Members of Parliament, are hereby Commissioners, to sit at Gouldsmiths Hall, for compounding with Delinquents, and to act according to the several and respective Ordinances or Orders already made by both or either of the Houses of Parliament concerning the Committee at Goldsmiths Hall: And be it further Ordained, by the Authority aforesaid, That Richard Wareing and Michaell Herring are appointed Treasurers, to receive all such Sums of Money as shall be paid in by or for any Delinquent; and shall not issue out any Monies to be charged upon such Compositions without the Order or Ordinance of both Houses of Parliament: And it is lastly Ordered and Ordained, That the said Commissioners have Power to suspend the Sequestrations of such Delinquents as shall compound with the said Commissioners; and that such Suspensions as have been already made (fn. 2) by the Committee at Gouldsmiths Hall shall stand good, the Delinquents having paid the Moiety of the Fine compounded for, and given Security to the said Commissioners for Payment of the Remainder of such Fine, according to such Proportion as shall be set by both Houses of Parliament: Provided, That every such Person so compounding do pay the Remainder of his said Fine, and sue forth his Pardon under the Great Seal, within Six Weeks after his Composition shall be allowed by both Houses of Parliament; or otherwise the Suspension to be void."

Declaration concerning it.

"Whereas the Lords in Parliament assembled did, upon the First of this Instant February, order that a Declaration should be printed and published, wherein, amongst other Things, it was Declared, That the Committees of the several Counties of England and Dominion of Wales ought not to obey any Order, for the taking off or suspending any Sequestrations, until a Committee or Commissioners for that Purpose should be settled by Ordinance of Parliament: And whereas since that Time there is an Ordinance passed, upon the Sixth of this Instant February, giving Power to certain Lords and Commoners, Members of Parliament, with some others therein named, to be Commissioners, to sit at Gouldsmiths Hall, for compounding with Delinquents, and to act according to several Ordinances or Orders made before the Date of the said Ordinance by both or either of the Houses of Parliament concerning the Committee at Gouldsmiths Hall; and that the said Commissioners should have Power to suspend the Sequestration of such Delinquents as should compound with the said Commissioners; and that such Suspensions as have been already made by the Committee at Gouldsmiths Hall shall stand good: Now the said Lords in Parliament assembled (for the preventing any Scruple that may arise by reason of the said Declaration) do (upon the Settlement made in this Business as aforesaid by both Houses) think fit to Declare, That the Committees in the several Counties, and all others whom it may concern, do give Obedience to the said Ordinance, and every Part thereof."

To be published.

Ordered, by the Lords in Parliament assembled, That this Declaration be printed and published; and that the Sheriffs, or their Under-sheriffs, shall take care to carry down several printed Copies of this Declaration; and that they be delivered unto the several Committees for Sequestrations within the Counties of the Kingdom of England and Dominion of Wales, who are to take Notice hereof accordingly.

Letter from the Commissioners with the King, that He is at Durham;-with a Paper in Cyphers, which they observed the King give Mr. Murray; and that the Russia Company want the King to write to the Emperor of Russia.

"For the Right Honourable the Earl of Manchester, Speaker of the House of Peers pro Tempore.

"My Lord,

"Upon Monday last there fell out an Accident, whereof we think it very fit to give you this Account. One Mr. Mungoe Murrey, formerly His Majesty's Servant, but never in Arms, was permitted by us to take his Leave of the King in the Presence Chamber, and, being called aside, had a Paper put into his Hand by His Majesty; which being observed, upon Examination he denied it not, but willingly suffered the said Paper to be taken out of his Pocket, wherein were written some Lines all in Cyphers, and directed to be by him delivered to the French Agent. Hereupon, though by his own earnest Protestation, and by his Ingenuity in not denying it, we had Reason to believe that he was surprized by the King, and although we had no express Power of Imprisoning contained in our Instructions; yet, for deterring others from the like Boldness, and for the preventing of Inconveniencies, we thought fit to take upon us to commit him: But the Earl of Lothian giving a very good Testimony of him, and undertaking for his Appearance at the Command of the Parliament, and considering in all Likelihood he had no Foreknowledge of His Majesty's Intentions, or any other Design therein, we thought fit, after Two Days Imprisonment, to release him, upon Condition to render himself when and where you shall appoint. The King came this Day from Newcastle to Duresme, where He arrived by Two of the Clock in the Afternoon; and the Reason why we take not long Journies is, to avoid such Inconveniences as possibly might befal us in travelling late in the Evening. Some of the Muscovia Company have importuned us for Leave to move His Majesty, for a Letter in His Name to the Emperor of Rushia, the Effect whereof is here inclosed: They alledge it to concern their Trade very much, and to be no other than what hath been permitted in like Case to the Turky Company. But we have referred them to your further Directions; which shall be also observed by,

Duresme, 3 Feb. 1646.

"My Lord,

Your Lordship's Humble Servants,

Pembrook & Mountg.
B. Denbigh.
Ed. Mountague.

"We send your Lordship here inclosed the Copy of the Cypher we took from Mr. Murrey."

Substance of a Letter which the Russia Company wants the King to send to the Emperor of Russia.

"The Company of Merchants trading to Russia have prepared a Letter to be sent from the King's Majesty to that Emperor; the Contents whereof are,

"An Excuse of His Imperial Majesty's Messenger not having Access to the King, by reason of the Hostility in this Kingdom.

"To condole the Death of the late Emperor.

"To congratulate the happy Enthronement of His Son the present Emperor.

"To desire a Continuation of the ancient League and Amity betwixt the Two Crowns.

"To desire the Re-settlement of the ancient Privileges formerly enjoyed by the English Nation.

"To recommend the Person of Spencer Bretton, now Resident at the Emperor's Court, to be Agent there, until His Majesty shall send His Ambassador.

"This Letter being the same in Substance which the Parliament have expressed by Two several Letters to His Imperial Majesty; the Company humbly desires that the King's Majesty will be graciously pleased to sign the same."