House of Lords Journal Volume 9: 21 May 1647

DIE Veneris, 21 Maii.

PRAYERS, by Mr. Ash.

Domini præsentes fuerunt:

Comes Manchester, Speaker.

Ordinance to continue the Admiralty Committee.

An Ordinance was brought in, for continuing the Committee for the Admiralty for Six Months, which was read, and Agreed to; and Ordered to be sent to the House of Commons for their Concurrence.

Murray, a Pass.

Ordered, That Mr. Wm. Murray shall have a Pass, to go into France, and return again.

Message from the Assembly, with a Certificate about Hall:

A Message was brought from the Assembly of Divines, by Dr. Burges, &c.; who delivered in a Paper concerning Mr. Hall, who was to be examined by them, by Order of this House, concerning his Fitness for the Ministry: Which was read, as follows.

(Here enter it.)

Hall to be heard about it.

Ordered, That Mr. Hall may have a Copy of this Certificate; and shall be heard what he can say, to clear himself from those Things which are charged against him, this Day Sevennight; and that the Assembly are to have Notice, that so they may appoint some for them to make good their Certificate.

Additional Ordinance for Reformation of Oxford University.

The Earl of Kent reported from the Committee the additional Ordinance for the Reformation of the University of Oxford, as fit to pass, with some Amendments; which Amendments were read, first by themselves, and then with the Ordinance; and Ordered to be re-committed.

And the Lord Viscount Say & Seale is added to be of this Committee; who are to meet on Tuesday Morning next.

Ordinance for Indemnity of Officers, &c. who have served in this War.

The Ordinance of Indemnity for Officers and Soldiers, was read the Second Time; and the House was adjourned into a Committee of the whole House, to read it in Parts, and to take it into Consideration.

The House being resumed; the said Ordinance was read the Third Time.

And the Question being put, "Whether to agree to this Ordinance as it is now read?"

It was Resolved in the Affirmative.

(Here enter it.)

Ordered, That this Ordinance be forthwith printed and published.

Answer from the H. C.

Doctor Aylett and Mr Sadler return with this Answer to the Message sent Yesterday to the House of Commons:

That they agree to the sending of a Letter to the Archduke; and that Sir Peter Killegrew do carry it: To all the rest of the Particulars, they will send an Answer by Messengers of their own.

Orders for additional Pay to the Forces.

Next, the Order for (fn. 1) additional Pay to the Army, was read, and Agreed to. (Here enter it.)

The Order for additional Pay to such as go into Ireland, was read, and Agreed to. (Here enter it.)

Message to the H. C. with an Ordinance, and that the Lords have passed others.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Doctor Aylett and Mr. Sadler:

1. To deliver to them the Ordinance for continuing the Committee of the Admiralty, and desire their Concurrence therein.

2. To let them know, that this House hath passed the Ordinance for Indemnity of Officers and Soldiers, and the Orders for Addition of Pay to such as go into Ireland, and the Addition of Pay to the Army.

Report of the Conference about sending the Scots Army in Ulster Home.

Ordered, That the Report of the late Conference with the House of Commons, concerning the Scotts Army in Ireland, shall be made on Tuesday Morning next.

Symonds to be bailed.

Ordered, That Thomas Symonds shall be bailed, giving Bond to the Gentleman Usher, of Two Hundred Pounds himself, and One Hundred Pounds apiece his Sureties, to appear before this House on Tuesday Morning next.

Message from the H. C. to sit P. M; with an Order; and to expedite the One for Indemnity.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Sir Rob't Pye Knight:

1. To desire their Lordships would please to sit this Afternoon, for they shall have Occasion to communicate some Things to them concerning the Army.

2. An Order for paying Nine Hunded Eighty-seven Pounds to Charles Pym. (Here enter it.)

Read, and Agreed to.

3. To put their Lordships in Mind of passing the Ordinance of Indemnity.

Many other Orders (fn. 2) now brought up.

Answer.

The Answer returned was:

That this House agrees to the Order concerning Mr. Pym; and that their Lordships are Resolved to sit this Afternoon, at Three of the Clock; and have passed the Ordinance of Indemnity: To all the rest of the Particulars, this House will send an Answer by Messengers of their own.

Silverlock to attend, about the forged Act.

Ordered, That James Silverlocke shall attend this House forthwith, to be examined as a Witness, in the Business concerning the forged Act of Parliament.

Order for an Addition of Pay to the Forces on their Disbanding;

"Ordered, by the Lords and Commons, assembled in Parliament, That a Fortnight's Pay more be added to the Six Weeks Pay formerly appointed to be paid to the Army, upon their Disbanding, to make the Sum that the Army shall receive upon their Disbanding Two Months Pay."

and for those who go to Ireland.

"Ordered, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That such of the Army as shall go into Ireland shall have a Fortnight's Pay of Advance more paid them than was formerly appointed, to make their Advance Six Weeks Pay."

Order for 987 l os. 2d. to Captain Charles Pym.

"Ordered, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That the Sum of Nine Hundred Eighty-seven Pounds, and Two Pence, including the Respite upon the Public Faith, certified by the Committee of Accompts to be due unto Captain Charles Pyme, for his Entertainment in the Service of the Parliament, be charged upon the Receipts at Habberdashers Hall, and paid unto the said Captain Charles Pym, or his Assigns, by Order of the Committee of Lords and Commons sitting at Habberdash'rs Hall, in full Discharge and Satisfaction of all Pay and Arrears of Pay demandable by him the said Captain Charles Pym upon his Entertainment in the Service of the Parliament as aforesaid."

Message from the Assembly, about Hall, who was referred to them for Examination.

"To the Right Honourable the House of Peers assembled in Parliament.

"The humble Return of the Assembly of Divines, touching the Examination of Mr. Samuell Hall Clerk, May 19th, 1647.

The Assembly having received an Order from this Honourable House, bearing Date the 18th of May Instant, forthwith to examine Mr. Samuell Hall Clerk, and to make Certificate without Delay of his Ability in the Ministry; we do humbly crave Leave to inform your Honours, That it hath ever been our Course, in Examination of Ministers, to consider first of their Lives, and to be fully satisfied touching their Conversation; which we hold to be of absolute Necessity at all Times, but especially now, when so many who have taken Part with the Enemy, or have been cast out for their scandalous and ungodly Conversation, do endeavour to get into Livings, to the great Hindrance of the Work of Reformation, and the Poisoning of the People by their corrupt Doctrine and Manners; to whom, should this Assembly give any Approbation, we should not only bring a great Guilt upon our own Souls, and an irreparable Mischief upon the Church, but much Dishonour upon your Lordships by whom we are trusted.

"We do further, in all Humility, certify this Honourable House, That this very Man, Mr. Samuell Hall, hath occasioned more Trouble to us, and more hindered the Public Service of this Assembly, than any Minister that ever was referred to us; having procured so many Orders to us from the Committee of the Honourable House of Commons for plundered Ministers to the same Purpose, that many Days al ready have been spent by us about him and his Business; and that we were, and still are, altogether unsatisfied concerning his Testimonials formerly brought unto us, touching his Life and Doctrine; we being credibly informed of sundry Miscarriages in his Preaching, and otherwise; and that he hath been imprisoned by the Committee of the Eastern Association, for preaching a malignant Sermon in Cambridge, against the Parliament, within these Two Years last past.

"And therefore we cannot think it safe for us to allow or examine him for his Abilities for the Ministry; for we do not hold him fit to be trusted with the Charge of Souls, or any Employment in the Ministry, until he give better Satisfaction in the Premises, whatsoever his Abilities may be:

"And do humbly pray, that he may not be permitted further to interrupt the Public Work of this Assembly.

"Charles Herle, Prolocutor.
Cornelius Burges, Assessor.
Herbert Palmer, Assessor.
Henry Robrough, Scriba.
Adoniram Byfeild, Scriba."

Whiting to be instituted to Luddington;

Ordered, That Doctor Aylett, or his lawful Deputy, are hereby authorized to give Institution and Induction unto Peter Whiting Clerk, Master of Arts, to the Vicarage of Luddington, in Com. Derby, void by the Death of the last Incumbent, salvo Jure cujuscunque; he taking the National League and Covenant, and producing his Presentation thereunto under the Great Seal.

Oxley to Wharton;

Ordered, That Doctor Heath give Institution unto Amor Oxley Clerk, to the Rectory of Whaton, in Com. Cumberland, salvo Jure cujusunque; he taking the National League and Covenant, and producing his Presentation thereunto under the Great Seal of England.

and Foot to Tollingham.

Ordered, That Dr. Aylett give Institution and Induction unto John Foote Clerk, to the Vicarage of Tollingham, in Com. Essex, void by the Death of the last Incumbent, salvo Jure cujuscunque; he taking the National League and Covenant, and producing his Presentation thereunto under the Great Seal of England.

Adjourn.

House adjourned till 3^a post Meridiem.

Post Meridiem.

PRAYERS, by Mr. Salwey.

Domini præsentes fuerunt:

Comes Manchester, Speaker.

Langham & al. and Lymbery & al.

The Question was put, "Whether to put off the Debate of the Business between Alderman Langham, &c. and Lymbery, &c. till Tuesday next, as it stood unresolved the 11th of May?"

It was Resolved in the Affirmative.

Letter from Mr. Ashburnham to the King decyphered.

The Letter in Figures, sent to the King, from Mr. Ashburnham, being decyphered, was read:

(Here enter it.)

And the Letter and Examination sent from the Commissioners at Holdenby were also read.

Not to be sent to this H. C.

The Question being put, "Whether this Letter of the Commissioners, with the Examinations, and the Decyphering, shall be now communicated to the House of Commons?"

And it was Resolved in the Negative.

Protest against this Resolution.

The Question being propounded, these Lords following desired to enter their Dissent, if the Question were carried in the Negative:

"And in Consideration that this Letter, being decyphered, importeth Matters of such high Consequence, and by Examination appears to have been sent from Mr. Ashburnham, who hath been much employed in the King's Designs against the Parliament, they conceived it fit to be communicated to the House of Commons, for the Good and Safety of the whole Kingdom; and, that they may be acquitted from any Inconvenience that may arise by the not sending of it down to the House of Commons, have accordingly entered their Protestation against it.

W. Say & Seale.
Grey of Werke.
B. Denbigh.
P. Wharton.
Lawarr."

Original Letter, and Examinations, &c. about it, to be sent to the H. C.

Then it was moved, "That the Letter of the Commissioners, with the Examinations and the Original Letter, might be sent down to the House of Commons."

And the House was adjourned into a Committee during Pleasure, to debate it.

The House being re-assumed;

This Question was put, "Whether this Original Letter, with the Examinations taken by the Commissioners, and their Letter, shall be now communicated to the House of Commons, or not?"

And it was Resolved in the Affirmative.

Message to the H. C. with them;

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

To communicate unto them the Commissioners Letter, with the Examinations, and Original Letter sent from the Commissioners at Holdenby.

and that the Lords will sit P. M.

2. To let them know, that this House hath sat this Afternoon, as was desired; and intends to adjourn till Ten of the Clock To-morrow.

Mr. Ashburnham's Letter to the King decyphered.

"Hague, Febr. May it please Your Majesty, 173 writ to You lately, by Parsons, at large. This is, in short, to tell Your Majesty, that my Soul is sorrowful to Death for Your Afflictions; and 389 doth confess the Weight to be greater than Mankind can suffer, unless Your Majesty look stedfastly upon Religion and Honour: Yet be not discouraged; if You continue constant to Your Principles, You will yet overcome all; for in all Probability You will see a good War for Your Recovery. 389 hath perfected his Negociation with Prince William. If the Peace between Spaine and The States be declared (which is confidently said here), he will certainly land a gallant Army for Your Relief; and 389 hopes You shall have the Irish Army and this meet successively: Therefore, as You tender the Good of You and Yours, be constant to Your Grounds. If Your Majesty make Laws to strengthen their usurped Power, or part with the Church Lands, there can be no Hope to restore You; and Your Posterity will be for ever (fn. 3). All that I or any of Your faithful Servants can say to You is, to beg Constancy from You, that God would fortify Your Resolutions, and enable You to go through Your unheard-of Trials with Piety and Reputation, is and shall still be the Prayer of Your humblest and faithfulest 389.

"389 hopes You have burnt all Your Letters and Cyphers. If You have not, for God's Sake do it. Your Majesty will still remember the Alphabet. In Confidence whereof, You see 389 hath only made Use of that Part."

Answer from the H. C.

Dr. Aylett and Mr. Sadler return with this Answer to the Message sent to the House of Commons:

That they agree to the Ordinance for Continuance of the Committee for the Admiralty and Cinque Ports.

(Here enter it.)

Ordinance to continue the Committee for the Admiralty and Cinque Ports.

"Ordered, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, That the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Admiralty and Cinque Ports shall be continued for Six Months from the Date hereof, according unto the Powers formerly granted; and that they may also appoint all Standing Officers for the several Yards belonging to the Navy, and the subordinate Officers of Vice Admiralties, as any of them are or shall happen to become vacant."