House of Lords Journal Volume 4: 7 January 1641

DIE Jovis, videlicet, 7 die Januarii.

PRAYERS.

Lady Wiseman's Petition.

The Lady Wiseman, Wise to Sir Richard Wiseman, Baronet, presented a Petition to this Honourable House; which was read, and Ordered to be referred to the Consideration of the Committee appointed for Sir Richard Wiseman's Cause.

Message from the King, touching a Complaint from the Commons of Ireland, relative to some Things there.

E. of Strafford desires to speak with Sir Geo. Ratcliffe, concerning this Complaint.

The Speaker acquainted the House, That he was commanded to let their Lordships know from His Majesty, That there was lately a Petition of Complaint presented to His Majesty, at the Council Table, by the Commissioners sent from the Commons House of Parliament of Ireland, touching some Things in Ireland; and the Lords of the Privy Council hereupon did Order, That the Earl of Strafford, Lord Lieutenant General of Ireland, shall give their Lordships a particular Account; unto which the Earl of Strafford returns this Answer, That he cannot, without speaking with Sir George Ratcliffe, make Answer fully; which His Majesty thinks it not convenient, in regard they both stand charged with an Accusation of High Treason in this House, to have private Discourse; yet His Majesty thinks it expedient, in regard it is a weighty Business, much importing the Preservation of the Kingdom of Ireland, that they speak together, provided it be in the Presence of the Earl of Corke, Privy Counsellor of Ireland and England, and the Lieutenant of The Tower: And the Earl of Strafford and Sir George Ratcliffe, Knight, to have Speech together, in their Presence, only concerning the Things in the Petition mentioned, but not to speak of any Matter else; neither is this Resolved of by His Majesty, but refers the Consideration hereof to the Wisdom of this House.

The Earl of Strafford's Letter was read, in hæc verba: videlicet,

E. of Strafford's Letter to the Privy Council, concerning Ireland, and his Impeachment there.

To the Right Honourable my Lords, and others, of His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council.

May it please your Lordships,

I have this Day, after Dinner, received by Mr. Pie, one of the Messengers of the Chamber, your Lordships Order, of the Third of this Month, together with a Duplicate inclosed, of a Petition preferred to His Majesty, by the Commissioners sent from the Commons House in the Parliament of Ireland.

It is a Matter of very great Consequence, wherein I shall stand in Need of the Advice and Counsel of the other His Majesty's Ministers of that Kingdom, whose Judgements and Integrity were very hard should be concluded by so single and weak a Defence as perchance I shall be able here (deprived of their Assistance) to make.

However, I am most confident there is no just Complaint to be made against the Proceedings of that State, and that there will appear very great and apparent Mistakes in their Remonstrance; and, if I may be admitted the Assistance of Sir George Radcliffe, I shall be able, I trust, to give a full and satisfactory Answer to all the Materials thereof; which, for your more speedy Satisfaction, I most humbly crave; but withall, that those Ministers of His Majesty's in that Kingdom may not be concluded at after, in Case we either mistake or omit any Thing materially to be informed your Lordships in that so great and important Affair. So, humbly beseeching to receive your further Pleasure therein, I rest,

Your Lordships most humbly to be commanded,

Tower of London, 4 January, 1640.

"Strafford."

Address the King for a Copy of the Complaint from Ireland.

Hereupon the House was adjourned into a Committee, during Pleasure, to consider whether it be fit to allow the Earl of Strafford and Sir George Ratcliffe to speak together in this Business. And, after some Debate, the House was resumed; and Ordered, That the Earl Marshal, Lord Chamberlain, and the Earl of Dorsett, shall present humble Thanks to His Majesty from this House, that He hath been pleased to ask the Advice of the House in this Business; and further to beseech His Majesty, that the Petition from Ireland may be read in Parliament, before their Lordships, that so they may be able to give His Majesty such Counsel as may be fit for their Lordships to give therein; and further their Lordships were desired by the House, to give His Majesty to understand, that, if in the Remonstrance from Ireland any Particular, charged against the Earl of Strafford, or Sir George Ratcliffe, do appear, for which they stand accused here, that they do humbly conceive that the Charges preferred against them before their Lordships ought to be kept entire, and that nothing that they are possessed of ought (fn. 1) to be taken out of their Hands.

Letter read about the Wants of the English Army.

This being ended, the Earl of Northumb. Lord General of the Army, signified, That he was commanded by His Majesty to give their Lordships an Account of a Letter, which his Lordship received lately out of the North, declaring the State and Want of His Majesty's Army at this Time; and his Lordship producing the Letter, it was read, in hæc verba:

"May it please your Excellency,

"We have thought fit to acquaint your Excellency with the Sickness of Sir Jacob Ashly, and the Opinion of the Physicians not to trouble him at all with any Business; which causes us humbly to inform your Excellency of the Estate of the Army and Soldiers, the Country generally denying further to give Credit to the Soldier. We have already employed our utmost Powers and Endeavours to help the Soldier, and satisfy the Country; all which comes so far short of Satisfaction, that, unless your Excellency shall please to take some speedy Order, either by the Supply of Monies or Letters of Credit to the Country, we fear it will produce the Disbanding of the Army, and Spoil of the Country. We have given what Ease we could to these Parts, by removing some Companies to other Places; but they also stand upon the same Terms of Distrust to the Soldier, by reason the former Trust is not yet satisfied, which is the Fourteen Days; we not having your Excellency's Answer to our former Letters, and finding the now-coming Supply of Monies to be far short to give Satisfaction to the Country for their Trust, their Discontent daily increasing, we, with a general Consent, have sent Lieutenant Colonel Ballard to have a speedy Answer; who also can inform your Excellency more at large. Thus, with Tender of our humble Service to your Excellency, we remain,

Your Excellency's most humble Servants to be commanded,

Rippon, 3 Januarii, 1640.

"H. Wentworth.
Tho. Kirke.
Wm. Davies.
Ric. Lawdry.
Brutus.
Buck."

The House, being sensible of this, resolved of a Conference, presently, with the House of Commons.

Hereupon a Message was sent, by Mr. Attorney General and Mr. Serjeant Whitfield, to the House of Commons:

Message to the H. C. for a Conference about it.

That their Lordships do desire a Conference, presently, in the Painted Chamber, with a Committee of both Houses, about a Business of great Consequence, concerning the Safety of the Kingdom of England.

Propositions for the Conference.

In the mean Time, their Lordships, considering what was fit to be proposed at the Conference, Agreed, That the Lord General should signify, That he hath received a Letter out of the North from the Army, declaring the State of the Army at this Time; and that, by Command from His Majesty, he is to acquaint both the Houses with it; and their Lordships thought it fit, that the Letter shall be read at the Conference. Next, that the Lords Commissioners acquaint them with the Proposition made with the Scottish Commissioners, touching the Addition to the Cessation of Arms, that each Side, in Case there should be a Breach of the Treaty, shall have Twenty Days Warning allowed them reciprocally, before any Act of Hostility be committed.

Earl Marshal, Lord General, Earl Hartford, and the Earl of Bristoll, appointed by the House to report the Conference.

E. of Newport versus Faucet.

Ordered, That the Earl of Newport's Business be heard on Saturday Morning next. In the mean Time, Faucett is to remain upon his Security.

The Answer which the House of Commons returned was:

Answer from the H. C. touching the Conference.

That they will give a Meeting, with a Committee of both Houses, presently, as is desired.

The Lords went to the Conference. Thereupon the House was adjourned, during Pleasure.

The Conference being ended, the House was resumed; and the Earl Marshal reported the Effect of the Conference:

Report of the Conference.

"That their Lordships did let the House of Commons know what Information the Lord General hath received concerning the King's Army in the North; and the Letter being read, the Lord General did further declare unto them the State of the Army, and how the Money hath been expended; and told them, that Lieutenant Colonel Ballard shall attend them, to give further Information therein. After this, the Earl of Bristoll did relate unto them the Proposition touching the Addition to the Cessation of Arms, that each Side shall have Twenty Days Warning, in Case there should be any Breach, before any Hostility be acted. Which the House of Commons embraced, and were very well satisfied therewith; but could not give any Answer, until they had reported it unto their House."

Adjourn.

Dominus Capitalis Justiciarius de Communi Banco, Locum tenens Domini Magni Sigilli, declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque in diem Veneris, videlicet, 8^m diem instantis Januarii, hora nona, Dominis sic decernentibus.