House of Lords Journal Volume 5: 14 September 1642

DIE Mercurii, videlicet, 14 Septembris.

PRAYERS.

The Lord Grey was appointed to be Speaker this Day.

E. of Berks desires to be heard.

The House being informed, "That the Earl of Berks was without, and desired to be heard speak;" he was brought in, and, having kneeled at the Bar, the Speaker told him, "That the House is willing to hear what he can say."

And he said, "That he had expressed in his Petition his Request, which was, That he might have Leave to be bailed, and to retire to his own House at St. James's; and he will be ready to attend this House at Six Hours Warning; and he desired that (fn. 1) he might be heard further."

He withdrew; and the House, taking the same into Consideration, agreed to have him called in again, and to be told, "That this House hath been informed, by divers Circumstances, that he came into Oxfordshire with an Intent to put the Commission of Array into Execution;" and to hear what he will say.

At the Bar.

"The Earl of Berks was brought to the Bar, and told by the Speaker what the House directed; and his Lordship protested, before God Almighty, "That it was always in his Resolution, never to meddle with the Commission of Array; and protested to divers, that he never (fn. 2) would have any (fn. 2) Thing to do with it; saying, it was against the Service of the King; and that the Meeting at Watlington was only to meet with the Gentlemen of the Country, as the Lord Waineman, Mr. Whitlocke, to advise how to secure their Houses from plundering, by keeping of a Watch, or any other lawful Way." And further his Lordship protested, "That he had never any further Intent, and that he had no Arms in his House."

Released from The Tower, and confined to his own House.

He withdrew; (fn. 1) and the House taking the Business into Consideration, it was Resolved, upon the Question, That the Earl of Berks shall be released out of The Tower of London, and be confined to his own House at St. James's, there to be ready to make his Appearance before this House upon Six Hours Warning.

"The Earl of Berks was called in, and the Speaker told him, "That this House hath granted his humble Petition, for his Releasement out of The Tower, and and to be confined to his own House, there to remain, and be ready to appear before this House upon Six Hours Warning, for making good of which he is to engage his Honour."

Returns Thanks for it.

And the Earl of Berks gave their Lordships Thanks for the same, and protested, upon his Honour, "That he will be ready to attend this House, at any Time, within Six Hours Warning." (fn. 1) Of which Protestation this House accepted. And he withdrew.

The Lord Wharton reported from the Committee, the Declaration concerning the Eight Pence per Diem, which is paid to the Soldiers in the Army; which was approved of, and Ordered to be printed, and to be communicated to the House of Commons, for their Consent.

Book called The Earl of Essex's noble Resolution called in.

Ordered, That a printed Book, intituled, "A Declaration of the noble Resolution of the Earl of Essex his Excellency," shall be called in.

L. Lovelace submits, for going to York, and is received upon his Acknowledgment.

It was moved, as the humble Desire of the Lord Lovelace, a Member of this House, "That their Lordships would give him Leave to come and submit himself to this House, for his going to Yorke without Leave of this House, contrary to an Order:" And it was Ordered, That the Earl of Northumberland shall acquaint his Lordship, "That, seeing he comes voluntarily in, and offers himself to submit to this House, this (fn. 3) House hoping that he will hereafter be diligent in attending this House, that this House will receive him, upon his humble Acknowledgment of his Offence in going away contrary to the Orders and Resolutions of this House, which Acknowledgement he is to make in his Place."

Countess of Portland, and her Equipage, to go to France.

Ordered, That the Countess of Portland shall have Liberty to transport herself into France, in a Ship which she shall hire in a Port of the Isle of Wight, with her Coach and Six Horses.

Message from the H. C. with an Impeachment against Lord Strange.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Sir Rob't Harley, Knight of the Bath; who brought up an Impeachment of High Treason against James Lord Strange; which (fn. 3) was received by this House, and read, in hæc verba. (Here enter it.)

Answer.

"Ordered, That the Answer returned unto the House of Commons shall be, "That this House hath received the Impeachment against the Lord Strange; and they will take the best Course they can, to have the Lord Strange brought to (fn. 4) answer the Impeachment."

Message from the H. C. with Instructions for the Committee going to Ireland;

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Mr. Rob't Goodwin:

That the House of Commons have thought fit to send Sir Henry Mildmay and Mr. Rob't Reynolds into Ireland, as Committees; and have presented some Instructions, which they are to have with (fn. 3) them, wherein they desire their Lordships Approbation.

with a Letter to One of the Secretaries, for the Royal Assent to them;

And likewise desire Consent in a Letter, to be sent to One of the Secretaries, to move the King to consent to these Instructions.

To be considered of To-morrow.

and to desire the E. of Worcester may be sent for, to attend.

3. That the House of Commons having received some Informations against the Earl of Worcester, they desire their Lordships would send for the Earl of Worcester, to attend the Parliament.

Ordered, That the Earl of Worcester shall be sent for, to attend the Parliament.

Answer returned:

Answer.

That this House will take the Instructions and Letter into Consideration, and will send an Answer by Messengers of their own; and will send for the Earl of Worcester, as they desire.

L. Hastings and Mr. Poulton.

Ordered, That the Cause between the Lord Hastinges and Mr. Poulton shall be heard on the 21st of this Month.

Message from the H. C. for Concurrence in several Orders, etc.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Mr. Reynolds:

To desire their Lordships Concurrence in divers Particulars:

1. To expedite the Order for the transporting the Men out of Ulster into Munster.

2. That Mr. Rob't Goodwin may be Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Sussex.

Agreed to.

3. Order to pay Fifteen Thousand Pounds to Mr. Loftus, for Ireland.

To be considered of To-morrow.

4. An Order for raising of Horse and Men in Wor'ster, for the Defence of the King and Parliament.

To be considered of To-morrow.

Answer returned:

Answer.

That this House will return an Answer, by Messengers of their own.

Jackson to be bailed.

Ordered, That Mr. Jackson shall be bailed, in Five Hundred Pounds, to appear before this House de Die in Diem.

Declaration for the Soldiers Pay to be 8d. per Diem.

A Message was sent down to the House of Commons, by Dr. Aylett and Dr. Heath:

To desire their Concurrence in a Declaration, That the Soldiers shall have but Eight Pence per Diem; and that it may be printed and published.

"The Impeachment of James Lord Strange, and Son and Heir Apparent of Wm. Earl of Derby, by the Commons assembled in Parliament, in the Name of themselves and all the Commons of England, of High Treason.

Impeachment from the H. C. against Lord Strange.

"That the said James Lord Strange, to the Intent and Purpose to subvert the fundamental Laws and Liberties and very Being of Parliament, and to set Sedition between the King and His People, did, upon the 15th Day of July, in this present Year of our Lord God 1642, at Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, and at several other Times and Places, actually, maliciously, rebelliously, and traiterously, summon and call together great Numbers of His Majesty's Subjects, and incite, persuade, and encourage them, to take up Arms, and levy War, against the King, Parliament, and Kingdom: That the said James Lord Strange, in further Prosecution of his foresaid wicked, traiterous, and malicious Purposes, did, upon the said 15th Day of July, at Manchester aforesaid, and at several other Times and Places, actually, maliciously, rebelliously, and traiterously, raise great Forces of Men and Horse, and levied War against the King, Parliament, and Kingdom, and, in further Prosecution of the aforesaid wicked, traiterous, and malicious Purposes, the said James Lord Strange, and divers other Persons whom he had drawn into his Part and Faction, did also, upon the said 15th Day of July, at Manchester aforesaid, maliciously and traiterously, with Force and Arms, and in a Hostile and Warlike Manner, kill, murder, and destroy, Ric'd Parcivall, of Kirkemansholme, in the said County of Lancast. Linen-webster, and did then and there, and at divers other Times and Places, in like Hostile Manner as aforesaid, shoot, stab, hurt, and wounded, divers others of His Majesty's good Subjects, contrary to the Laws and Peace of this Kingdom of England, and contrary to His Majesty's Royal Crown and Dignity; and the said James Lord Strange hath set Sedition between the King and His People, and now is in open and actual Rebellion against the King, Parliament, and Kingdom: For which Matters and Things, the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses of the House of Commons, in Parliament assembled, do, in the Name of themselves, and of all the Commons of England, impeach the said James Lord Strange of High Treason.

"And the said Commons, by Protestation, saving to themselves the Liberty of exhibiting, at any Time hereafter, any other Accusation, or Impeachment, against the said James Lord Strange, and also of replying to the Answers that the said James Lord Strange shall make to the Premises, or any of them, or of any other Impeachment, or Accusation, that shall be exhibited by them, as the Cause, according to the Course and Proceedings of Parliament, shall require, do pray that the said James Lord Strange may be put to answer all and every the Premises, that such Proceedings, Examinations, Trials, and Judgements, may be upon them, and every One of them, had and used, as shall be agreeable to Law and Justice."

Adjourn.

Decima cras.