House of Lords Journal Volume 4: 20 October 1641

DIE Mercurii, videlicet, 20 die Octobris.

PRAYERS.

Commissioners for rating the Peers in the Subsidy.

Ordered, That the Lords Commissioners appointed to rate the Peers of this Realm for the Two last Subsidies are to meet this Afternoon, at Three a Clock, and cess the Subsidies.

Guard of Soldiers for the Parliament.

It being moved, "That it might be known upon what Grounds and Reasons the Trained Band of Westminster were in the Old and New Palaces this Day assembled;" the Lord Chamberlain (being Captain General of the South Parts of this Kingdom during the King's Absence in Scotland), by Command of the House, signified, "That his Lordship received a Desire from the Committee of the House of Commons, which sat during the Time of the late Recess, that there might be a Guard of Soldiers about the Parliament, to prevent the Insolencies and Affronts of Soldiers at this Time about the Town, and to secure the Houses against other Designs which they have Reason to suspect, until the Parliament meets, and gives further Order therein:" Hereupon it is Ordered, That the Lord Chamberlain shall, by virtue of this Order, continue a Guard of Soldiers, to guard the Parliament Houses, until the further Pleasure of the Parliament be known; and that the Number of the said Soldiers shall be wholly left unto the Discretion and Management of the said Lord Chamberlain, Captain General.

Letter from the Lord Howard in Scotland.

After this, the Lord Keeper informed the House, "That he had received a Letter from the Lord Howard, in Scotland, dated the 14th of October; which was read, declaring, That, upon Monday Night last, there fell out a great Interruption in the Business there, by reason of an Information given to the Marquess Hamilton, the Earl of Argyle, and the Earl of Lannericke, that there was a Design to seize upon their Persons that Night, whereupon they removed from their Lodgings, and stayed in the City all Night; and Relation being made hereof next Day to the Parliament, the Earl of Crawford, Colonel Stewart, and Colonel Cockron, were restrained; and, after a further Examination, his Lordship will give this House a further Information."

Lords Leave to be absent.

The Earl of Bath and the Lord Coventry were excused for their Absence, and have Leave to be absent for a Week.

Order against printing Pamphlets.

Upon Complaint made to the House this Day of the great Abuse in printing and publishing of Pamphlets and unlicensed Books; it is Ordered, That the Committee formerly appointed by this House concerning (fn. 1) Printing shall meet on Monday next, in the Afternoon, at Three a Clock, and take the same into Consideration; and likewise to take Care to find out the Persons and Authors of those that make Libels, that they may be made exemplary; and also to consider how the Press may be regulated and ordered, that so the Printing of such Books may be suppressed.

These Lords following were added to the Committee for Printing: videlicet,

Order about keeping the Doors of this House.

Ordered, That none be suffered, by the Doorkeepers or others, to come into the Upper House of Parliament, or into the Rooms thereunto belonging, after the Adjournment of this House, but the Members of the same, and the Attendants thereof, during the Time of this Visitation of the Sickness, unless they are to attend some Committee, or be sent for by the Lords of Parliament.

Ordered, That Copies of the Orders of this House formerly made, for keeping of People from the Doors, and from coming into the Little Chamber and the Lobby, shall be given to the Lord Great Chamberlain, who is required by this House to see that the said Orders be put in Execution.

A Packet of Letters burnt.

A Packet of Letters being delivered to the House, the Lord Keeper was appointed to open them; and because it was conceived they were not fit to be read, it is Ordered, That they should be burned; which was accordingly done.

Orders made by the Committee during the Recess.

Next, the Lord Keeper reported certain Orders which have been made in the Time of the Recess, by the Committees of both Houses: videlicet,

"Die Mercurii, 14 Septem. 1641.

Ships to being up the Ammunition, from Berwick.

"By virtue of the several Orders, and respective Orders, of the Houses of the Lords and Commons in Parliament; it is Ordered, by the Committees of both Houses, That the Right Honourable the Lord High Admiral of England shall be desired to appoint so many Ships, of the Merchant Ships now in His Majesty's Pay, to go, with all possible Diligence, to The Holy Islands, and there to take in such Ordinance and Munition as shall be brought from the Town of Barwicke, which they are to transport from thence to The Tower of London, according to such particular Direction as they shall receive from the Master General of the Ordnance."

"Die Martis, 21 Septem. 1641.

Lords Committees in Scotland to return.

"The Lords Committees for the Lords in Parliament Ordered, That the Lord Howard of Escrick shall come home Four or Five Days before His Majesty's coming out of Scotland, according to the Desires expressed in his Lordship's Letters, unless some emergent Cause happen that may occasion the coutrary; and the Lord Keeper is to write his Letters to this Effect."

"At the Third Meeting, the 5th of October 1641.

"A Message was brought from the Committee of the House of Commons, by Mr. Rushworth:

"That they would give the Lords a Meeting this Afternoon (if they please), upon important Business.

Ld. Howard ordered Home.

"The Lords Committees, and the Committees of the House of Commons, met accordingly; and it was Ordered by the Lords Committees, That the Lord Howard of Escricke shall forthwith come Home out of Scotland, if he see no Cause to the contrary; and the Lord Keeper is to send his Letters accordingly."

"Then Two Orders were made, as followeth:

"At the Committees of both Houses of Parliament during the Recess:

Order about the Plague.

"The said Committees, upon Information that the Orders of the Lords and Commons in Parliament, for better preventing of the Increase of the Pestilence, have not been so duly observed, in the City of Westm. and the Liberty thereof, as they should have been, whereby great Danger is grown, and the Sickness much dispersed in the same, and other Parts of the Kingdom, do hereby specially recommend the Premises to the Care of the High Burgess, and the several Burgesses and Assistants within the said City and the Liberty thereof; and they are hereby strictly required, in their several Wards, to see the same Orders duly executed and observed, as they will answer the contrary at their Perils.

"This was subscribed by the Lord Keeper,

"Ed. Littleton, C. S."

About Disorders by the Soldiers.

It is this Day Ordered, by the Committees of both House of Parliament appointed to sit during the Recess, That good and strong Watches shall be set in all the Highways within Twenty Miles of London, and in all Villages upon or near thereunto, that Notice be taken of all loose and disorderly People which do keep in the said Highways, or lodge in any of the said Villages, that thereupon they may be apprehended, and sent to their several Dwellings, whereof the Justices of Peace for the Cities of London and Westm. and of the several Counties of Middlesex, Surrey, Essex, Kent, Hartfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Berkshire, are desired to take special Care; and that it be published by beating of a Drum, in the Cities of London and Westm. and in the Suburbs of the same, That all the Officers and Soldiers of the late disbanded Army, and all others which cannot give a good Account of the Cause of their Stay hereabouts, shall be commanded forthwith to leave the said City and Places adjoining, and to repair to their own Home, upon Pain of such Imprisonment, and other Punishments, as by the Laws and Statutes of the Land are to be inflicted upon such Offenders; and that all such as do voluntarily desire to pass beyond the Seas, in their own Persons, shall repair to the Custom House, where Order is taken that they may have Passes delivered unto them; and all Innkeepers, Alehousekeepers, and others his Majesty's Subjects, are required to receive or harbour none in their Houses but such as they know, and will answer for; and, if any other resort unto them that are suspicious Persons, they shall forthwith give Notice to the next Constable, that so they may be apprehended and carried before the next Justices of Peace, to be examined and disposed of as is formerly directed.

"It is further Ordered, That no Person whatsoever, upon Pretence of His Majesty's Service, shall be excused from the Watches and Wards appointed by this Order, but only for his own Person; and is to find another to serve in his Place, at his own Charge, according to a former Precedent."

Berry for printing seditious Books.

Likewise his Lordship reported, "That the 21st of September last he received Directions from some of the Lords Committees, during the Recess, about one Berry, in Blew-anchor-Alley, near Bunhill, who hath printed a scandalous Paper, tending to move Sedition, and revealing the Secrets of the Lords House, contrary to the fundamental Privileges of the said House; therefore desiring his Lordship would take Order, That the said Party be examined, and kept forthcoming, according to Law, to answer the same, at the next Access of this Parliament."

His Lordship signified, "That, accordingly, he hath made Enquiry after the said Berry; and the Return is, that he is shut up in (fn. 2) a House infected with the Plague."

Hereupon it is Ordered, That the said Berry be examined hereafter by the Committee for Printing.

Disbanding the Army.

The Lord General is to make his Relation to this House To-morrow Morning, concerning the disbanding of the Army.

Adjourn.

Dominus Custos Magni Sigilli declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque in diem crastinum, videlicet, diem Jovis, 21^m diem instantis Octobris, hora 9^a, Dominis sic decernentibus.