House of Lords Journal Volume 5: 2 March 1643

DIE Jovis, 2 die Martii.

PRAYERS.

Earl Manchester, appointed Speaker this Day.

Glynn, Justice Reeve's Servant, a Pass.

Ordered, That Griffith Glynn, Mr. Justice Reeve's Servant, shall have a Pass, to go to Oxford, to carry some Letters to the Lord Keeper, concerning their not going the Assizes.

Portugal Agent's Petition, about Goods of Portugueze Merchants seized, in the Hands of Ricault.

Upon reading an Information of the Agent (fn. 1) of Portingall, complaining, "That divers Goods have been seized, in the Hands of Pietro Ricault, a Merchant, in London, as his Goods, whereas they appertain to divers Portingall Merchants, as is alledged:" Hereupon it is Ordered, To be referred to the Judge of the Court of Admiralty, who is to examine the Proofs that are to be produced to make it appear that (fn. 2) the said Goods belong to the Portingall Merchants; and, after such Examination, to certify the same to this House, and then this House will take the same further into Consideration.

Thorne and the Inhabitants of St. Cuthbert.

Ordered, That Mr. Thorne shall be brought before this House To-morrow, concerning the Petition of the Inhabitants of St. Cutbert, in Bedfordshire.

Countess of Westmoreland's Goods; a Pass.

Ordered, That a Pass shall be granted, to bring a Waggon laden with Goods to London, belonging to the Countess of Westm'land, against her Lying-in.

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

Message from the H. C. with an Ordinance.

To desire their Lordships Concurrence in an Order, which was concerning securing of Monies, which have been paid for the setting (fn. 3) forth of Sir Wm. Waller.

(Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That this House agrees with the House of Commons in the Ordinance now brought up.

Letter from L. Grey, about assessing L. Campden.

Upon reading a Letter of the Lord Grey, concerning the Lord Viscount Campden, desiring their Lordships Direction for his further proceeding concerning rating of him for Contributing: (Here enter the Letter.)

L. Campden to attend the House;

his Goods to be secured by L. Grey.

Ordered, That the Lord Viscount Campden shall be summoned for to come and give his Attendance on this House; and that a Letter be sent from the Speaker to the Lord Grey, to let him know, that the House hath summoned the Lord Viscount Campden to come up; and to desire him that he will take Order that such Goods of the Lord Viscount Campden's, and his Son Mr. Henry Noeell, which he hath taken, may be kept safely, until his Lordship hear further from this House.

Committee to assess Lords, in Northamptonshire and Rutland.

Ordered, That these Lords following shall cess such Lords, in North'tonshire and Rutland, (fn. 4) as the Lord Grey and the Committee of North'ton desired might be rated by their Lordships:

Sir Job Harby, a Pass.

Ordered, That Sir Job Harby shall have a Pass, to go to Oxford; and return again to London.

Message from the H. C. to sit a while.

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

To desire their Lordships would Please to sit a while, for they have some Business of Importance to bring up to their Lordships.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That this House will sit a while, as is desired.

Report from the Committee for assessing Lords in Northampton and Rutland.

The Earl of Warwicke reported from the Committee, That their Lordships have thought fit to rate these Lords following for the Twentieth Part, according to the Letter of the Committee at North'ton:

This House approved of these Rates; and Ordered, That the Speaker shall send these Rates to the Committees, in a Letter, according as they desire.

Message to the H. C. for a Conference about a late Proclamation of the King's.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Sir Christopher Yelverton, Knight and Baronet:

To desire a present Conference, touching a Proclamation of the King's, concerning the Counties of Kent, Sussex, Surrey, and Hamptshire.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That this House will give a present Conference, as is desired.

The House was adjourned during Pleasure, and the Lords went to the Conference; which being ended, the House was resumed.

Conference reported.

The Speaker reported the Effect of this Conference:

"That the House of Commons acquainted their Lordships with a Proclamation; which was read, in hæc verba: (Here enter it.)

"Next, the House of Commons desired their Lordships Concurrence in some Votes made by the House of Commons, touching this Proclamation:

"The Votes were read, as followeth:

Votes of the H. C. upon the King's Proclamation.

"Resolved,

"That, in this Proclamation, prohibiting the Association of divers Counties, and the Contributions to the Army under the Command of the Earl of Essex, there are contained divers false and scandalous Charges upon the Proceedings of the Parliament; and that it is Treason against the Commonwealth in those that advised His Majesty to the setting forth of this Proclamation, and likewise in all such as shall publish the same, or act any Thing upon it; and that the Houses will proceed against them according to Law.

"Resolved, &c.

"That whosoever did advise the setting (fn. 5) forth this Proclamation, did thereby express a malicious Intention to hinder the Treaty and the Peace, and happy Union to be hoped from thence, between the King and His People.

"Resolved, &c.

"That these several Counties of Kente, Surrey, Sussex, Hantshire, or any other Counties, notwithstanding any Thing in this Proclamation, may proceed to associate themselves.

"Resolved, &c.

"That the Lords be moved, That a Committee be nominated, of some Members of both Houses, for drawing a Declaration, for vindicating the Proceedings of Parliament from the Scandals in this Proclamation, and upon the other Matters contained in these Votes.

"That the House of Commons desired that the Time may be taken Notice of in the Declaration, when this Proclamation was made, which was presently after the King had sent an Answer to both Houses, desiring a Treaty and Cessation of Arms, that so all Differences may be settled between His Majesty and the Parliament."

Agreed to.

Ordered, That this House agrees with the House of Commons in all the aforesaid Votes, and nominates these Lords following to be Committees, to join with a proportionable Number of the House of Commons, to draw the Declaration:

Committee to draw up a Declaration concerning it.

Their Lordships, or any Three of them, to meet this Afternoon, at Four of the Clock, in the Painted Chamber.

Message to the H. C. to acquaint them with it.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir Rob't Rich and Mr. Page:

To let them know, that this House agrees with the House of Commons in all the Votes now brought up at the Conference concerning the King's Proclamation; and that their Lordships have appointed Seven Lords, to meet with a proportionable Number of the House of Commons, to draw up the Declaration.

"His Majesty's Proclamation, forbidding all His loving Subjects, of the Counties of Kent, Surrey, Sussex, and Hampshire, to raise any Forces without His Majesty's Consent, or to enter into any Association or Protestation, for the Assistance of the Rebellion against His Majesty.

The King's Proclamation, to prevent the Counties of Kent, Surrey, Sussex, and Hampshire, from entering into an Association against Him.

"Whereas We have been informed of certain Propositions, agreed upon by some seditious Persons of our several Counties of Kent, Surrey, or Sussex, and Hampshire, for an Association betwixt the said Counties, to raise an Army of Three Thousand Foot and Three Hundred Horse, and great Sums of Money for the Maintenance thereof, and an Invitation of Our good Subjects of that County to enter into a Protestation, to assist them in this odious and unnatural Rebellion; We do hereby Declare, for the Satisfaction of all Our loving Subjects of those Counties, and that they may not be seduced from their Obedience by the Cunning and Subtilty of those Men, that the entering into such an Association and Protestation, and raising of Men, or contributing Money unto the same, is an Act of High Treason, and an Endeavour to take away Our Life from Us: And We do therefore streightly charge and command all Our loving Subjects whatsoever, upon their Allegiance, not to enter into any such Association or Protestation; and such as, by Colour of such Authority, have assembled together, that they immediately disband, and repair to their Houses; and We do once more renew Our Offer, a Free and Gracious Pardon to all Our Subjects of Our said Four several Counties, excepting those whom We before excepted in Our several Proclamations concerning those Our Counties, against all which We shall proceed, according to the Rules of the Law, as against Persons guilty of High Treason; and whom We do hereby require all Our Officers and Ministers of Justice, and all Our loving Subjects whatsoever, to apprehend, and cause to be kept in safe Custody: And Our express Pleasure is, and We do hereby will and command all the several Tenants of the Persons excepted in Our Proclamation for those Four Counties of Kent, Surrey, Sussex, and Hampshire, and all other Persons who are any Ways indebted unto them, and all the Tenants to any other Person of any of the said Counties, who is now in actual and open Rebellion against Us, or who, after the Publishing of this Our Proclamation, shall contribute to the Maintenance of the Armies now in Rebellion against Us, under the Conduct of Robert Earl of Essex, or of any other Person or Persons, or that shall join in any such traiterous Association or Protestation, That they forbear to pay any Rents or Debts due (fn. 6) to the said several Persons, but detain the same in their Hands, towards the Maintenance of the Peace of the Counties, and the Reparation of such Men who have suffered by the Violence of the others; and if any Soldier or Soldiers, now under Command against Us, in either of Our said Four Counties, shall, within Six Days after the Publishing of this Our Proclamation, apprehend and bring before Us, or any Officers of Our Army, or any other Our Minister of Justice, so that the Person apprehended be kept in safe Custody, the Bodies of any of the Persons so excepted by Us, or of any of the Commanders or Officers now in Rebellion against Us, in any of the said Four several Counties, such Soldier or Soldiers, besides their Pardons, shall receive such liberal Rewards, by Pensions or otherwise, as their several Services, in respect of the Qualities of the Persons so apprehended, shall deserve; and, if any Commander or Officer (except the Persons before excepted) now in Rebellion against Us, in any of the said Four Counties, shall, within Five Days after this Our Proclamation published, being convinced in his Conscience of his damnable Offence against God, (fn. 7) and Us, in assisting this odious Rebellion, return to his Allegiance, and repair to Our Army, and commit no hostile Act in the mean while against Us, We shall not only pardon him, but so far employ him, as his Quality (fn. 7) and Demeanor shall deserve; and We do hereby require all Our loving Subjects, of what Degree or Quality soever, within Our said Four several Counties, upon their Allegiance, and as they tender the Cause of God (the Protestant Religion being invaded, and threatened to be rooted up, by Anabaptists, Brownists, and Atheists), of Us and Our Posterity (Our Life being sought after by this Rebellion); and of themselves, the Law and Liberty of the Subject being in apparent Hazard to be subjected to an arbitrary lawless Power of a few schismatical, factious, and ambitious Persons, to assist Us in Person, or with the Loan of Money, Plate, and Horses, in this Our great Necessity: And, having said thus much out of Our tender Regard of Our Subjects of those Our Counties, if they shall henceforward be guilty of the Premises, and shall, either by Loan or Contribution, assist the said Army of Rebels, assemble and muster themselves in Arms, without Authority derived from Us under Our Hand, or shall enter into any Oath of Association for opposing Us and Our Army, and so compel Us to send Part of Our Forces thither to reduce them to their Obedience, they must answer the Miseries that must follow, to God and their Country: And Our Pleasure is, That this Our Proclamation be read in all the Parish Churches and Chapels in the said Four several Counties.

"Given at Our Court at Oxford, this Sixteenth Day of February, in the 18th Year of Our Reign."

Order for 700l. to be paid to Mr. Stevens, and others, advanced for equipping Sir Wm. Waller's Army.

"Whereas Mr. Stephens, Mr. Hodges, Mr. Jenner, and Mr. Ashe, Members of the House of Commons, have, for the advancing and furnishing out of Forces into the County of Gloucester, and the other Western Counties, for the Public Service of the Kingdom, under the Command of Sir William Waller, Serjeant Major General of the Forces raised in the said County of Gloucester, and other Counties adjacent, taken up and provided at Interest, upon their particular Credits and Securities, the Sum of Seven Hundred Pounds, without which Sum the said Forces cannot march upon their present Expedition: It is therefore Ordered, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, That Sir Gilbert Gerrard, Treasurer of the Army, shall forthwith, and within Fourteen Days, issue and pay, out of his First Receipts upon Subscriptions, or otherwise, the said Sum of Seven Hundred Pounds, with the Interest of Eight Pounds per Cent. unto the said Members of the House of Commons."

L. Grey's Letter, about assessing L. Campden.

"My Lord,

"I received a Letter from your Lordship concerning my Lord Campden, wherein the Honourable House of Peers were pleased to command me to forbear the Assessment of my Lord Campden; therefore I do conceive it my Duty to give them an Account of my whole Proceedings in that Business. First, my Lord Campden sent a Gentleman to me, who offered me Fifty Pounds, for a Protection for him and his Sons; but withall desired that I would not esteem it as a Bribe: The which (fn. 8) I so much scorned, that I sent his Lordship Word back again, that it was not a Bribe that I expected from his Lordship; but that he would please to subscribe a Sum answerable to his Honour and Estate. He returned me again Fifty Pounds, by the same Gentleman; and (at that Time) [ (fn. 9) he and] both his Sons were preparing Arms and Ammunition (which I can very well prove), and have since found them to be used against the King and Parliament, at Mr. Henry Noell's, his Second Son's, House, which I have lately taken, and brought the Gentleman away as a Prisoner: And I returned him again my former Answer, with this Addition, That, if his Lordship would not subscribe, then I must take such Course as the Parliament should direct, by Assessment, or otherwise. Then his Lordship sent me another Message, to desire me that I would forbear till he had acquainted the Parliament; but I found the Coals kindle so fast in that Country, that, had I not suddenly quenched them, the whole Country would have been on a Flame. The Malignants flocked so fast, that, had I not entered Rutlandshire at that very Nick of Time, I am confident in One Week the whole County would have been drawn into a Body against the Parliament. My Lord, I had almost forgotten to acquaint Your Lordship, that I first went to my Lord Campden's House, where, as I was credibly informed, there was both Arms and Ammunition; but his Lordship was fled, and all his Arms conveyed away. Now, having given your Lordship a full Account concerning my Lord Campden, I desire to have Directions from the Honourable House for my further Proceedings in this Particular of my Lord Campden; and there shall be nobody readier to serve your Lordship than

North'ton, 28 Feb. 1642.

"Your Lordship's humble Servant,

"Tho. Grey.

"For the Right Honourable the Earl of Manchester, at the House of Peers, these."

Adjourn.

House adjourned till 10^a cras.