House of Lords Journal Volume 9: 21 June 1647

DIE Lunæ, 21 die Junii.

PRAYERS, by Mr. Ash.

Domini præsentes fuerunt:

Comes Manchester, Speaker.

Letters from the Commissioners with the King.

A Letter directed to the Speaker, from the Lord Mountagu, brought by Sir Peter Killegrewe, was read, with some Papers inclosed. (Here enter them.)

Another Letter from the Lord Mountague, was read. (Here enter it.)

E. of Denbigh to attend Him.

Ordered, That the Earl of Denbigh shall repair to give his Attendance upon the King forthwith.

The Question being put, "Whether to have a Letter sent from both Houses to the King, with the Votes inclosed, for His coming to Richmond?"

And it was Resolved in the Affirmative.

Letter to be sent to the King, with the Votes for His going to Richmond.

Ordered, That a Letter be sent to the Commissioners with the King, to give them Thanks for what they have done in this Business; and to let them know, that this House thinks well of their shewing the Votes to the King. And the Speaker is appointed to draw this, and the Letter to the King.

Letter from Officers of the Army to the Masters of The Trinity House, and their Answer.

The Earl of Warwicke presented to the House some Papers from the Committee for the Admiralty, concerning a Letter sent to the Masters of The Trinity House, from some Officers of the Army; and the Answer of the Masters to it. (Here enter them.)

Ordered, That the Committee for the Admiralty do return Thanks, from this House, to the Master and Wardens and Brethren of The Trinity House, for their Faithfulness, and discreet Answer to the Letter from some of the Captains of the Army.

Letter to the King:

The Letter to be sent to the King, was read, and approved of by this House; and Ordered to be sent to the House of Commons, for their Concurrence therein.

Letter to the Commissioners with Him.

The Letter to be sent to the Lord Mountagu, was read, and Agreed to (Here enter it.)

Message to the H. C. with the Letter to the King; and about the following Particulars.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir Edward Leech and Mr. Page:

1. To deliver to them the Letter to be sent to the King, wherein to desire Concurrence.

2. To deliver the Report about The Charles Frigatt for a Packet Boat, being the Lord Inchequin's Frigate; and desire their Concurrence therein.

3. To put them in Mind of the Ordinance for putting down Committees.

Letter from the Commissioners with the King, with an Account of the Proceedings between the King and them and Col. Whalley, concerning the King's Removal to Richmond.; and that they now wait to hear from Sir T. Fairfax.

"For the Right Honourable the Earl of Manchester, Speaker of the House of Peers pro Tempore. These.

"My Lord,

"This Morning we received the inclosed, from the General; Colonel Hamon and Colonel Lambert being arrived here last Night. That which they gave me in Answer to the Letters we had written to his Excellency, concerning His Majesty's Remove to Richmond, according to the Votes of both Houses, is contained in the Paper inclosed, which was by our Secretary taken by themselves, and after assented to in our Presence; which, because it seemed not to express any Thing concerning the King's Person, in such Manner as your Votes require, we desired they would give us a more particular Answer thereunto But they replied only, "That we might have any such Mistake rectified by a new Letter to the General; for themselves, they had nothing else in Commission to say unto us, unless perhaps Colonel Whalley had some Order therein." Hereupon we spake with Colonel Whalley; who told us, "That he could not answer further until he knew the King's Pleasure and the General's, having received no new Orders as yet." And we pressing for further Satisfaction; he immediately went in to speak with the King about it; and His Majesty was pleased to send for us also; where it being recited what had already passed betwixt us and the Colonel, His Majesty asked him, "Whether, if He declared His Willingness to go to Richmond, He should not be by him hindered therein?" Colonel Whalley replied, "That, when he knew His Majesty's Pleasure, he should forthwith acquaint the General; and believed that He might march thither, or to any other Place He pleased." Then the King told us, "That there was not as yet any Address made to Him on this Behalf by the Houses; and it concerned His Honour, not to be in such Manner posted from Place to Place." We replied," That indeed we had no particular Address at this Time to His Majesty from the Parliament; but the Letter which we received with the late Votes from the Houses did require us to take Care to see them fully observed as far as in us lies. And since the Answer which we expected did depend upon His Majesty's Consent, by virtue and in Pursuance of that general Power given us by both Houses, we humbly took the Boldness to make our Address to Him there in, His Majesty having often declared His Desire of being at some of His Houses near the Parliament." The King replied, "That indeed He had often desired it of the Houses, and would always keep His Word; that He was very sensible of the present Distractions; and, in Hope to further the composing of them, and to settle a happy Peace in the Kingdom, He would accept of the Address we had made to Him by Authority from the Houses, and dispense with that Point of Civility which was due in more express and more particular Way, and which otherwise He would have stood upon;" and then declared to Colonel Whalley, "That He would willingly go along with us to Richmond." The Colonel desired His Majesty to name the Day; which the King appointed to be upon Thursday next: And Colonel Whalley undertook to give the General a speedy Account of His Majesty's Pleasure.

"We thought it also our Duty to give you present Notice hereof; and to desire that the House at Richmond may be fitted for His Majesty's Accommodation; and further to acquaint you, that we have sent into Lincolneshire, to command Colonel Rossiter's Regiment to attend upon this Service; having some Information that they are in those Parts. But because we are told that it is not known at the Army where that Regiment is, we hold it necessary to advertise you thereof, believing they will not be ready here by the Time prefixed for His Majesty's Remove.

"Thus, hoping you will allow of what we have done in the Premises for your Service, I remain

"Your Lordship's

Newmarkett, 20 Junii, 1647.

"Humble Servant,
Edw. Mountagu."

Letter from Sir T. Fairfax, that he has appointed some of his Officers to attend them.

"My Lords and Gentlemen,

"I received your Letter last Night; and shall not trouble you with any Answer as to the Particulars at present, having appointed some Officers of my Army to attend His Majesty and you at Newmarkett, from whom you will receive an Account more fully; and remain

"Your Lordships

St. Albones, June 19th, 1647.

Humble Servant,
T. Fairefax.

"For the Honourable the Commissioners attending His Majesty at Newmarkett.

"Vera Copia."

Col. Rossiter's Regiment to guard the King.

"That whereas Colonel Rossiter's Regiment of Horse was appointed by Parliament to be His Majesty's Guard, his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairefax did therefore conceive that it was not their Intentions that His Majesty should have any other Guard; neither could he appoint any other, except he had Directions for it.

"Vera Copia."

Letter from Ld. Mountague, Commissioner with the King, that he has not yet received Sir T. Fairfax's Answer about the King's Removal:

"For the Right Honourable the Earl of Manchester, Speaker of the House of Peers pro Tempore. These.

"My Lord,

"I have received your Letter of the 18th Instant, by Sir Peter Killigrew. Yesterday I acquainted your Lordship, that we had received the Votes of both Houses, concerning His Majesty's Remove to Richmond, and of our Proceedings thereupon, which I hope before this Time is come to your Hands. The Messenger we sent to attend the General for an Answer is not yet returned to us, so that I cannot as yet give your Lordships any farther Account; but shall not be wanting, as far as in me lies, to obey your Lordships Commands; being, besides the Duty that therein lies upon me, much encouraged by the Acceptance of my Service, and the Care you are pleased to express of me in your Letter, whereby I am obliged to remain

"Your Lordship's

Newmarkett, 19 Junii, 1647.

Most humble Servant,
Edw. Mountagu."

Letter of Thanks to him, inclosing One to the King about His Removal.

"My Lord,

"I am commanded, by the Lords in Parliament, to give your Lordship Thanks, for your great Care and constant Endeavours to give Observance to their Orders. They very well approve of that prudent Carriage, in communicating the Votes unto His Majesty, concerning His coming to Richmond. They have now written unto His Majesty, and have sent unto Him the Vote, that so the Application of the Houses to His Majesty may not be omitted. This they desire may be delivered unto Him by you and the rest of the Commissioners.

Westm. this 21th of June, 1647.

"This is all I have in Command, as
Your Lordship's
Most humble Servant."

Letter from some Officers is the Army, to the Masters of The Trinity House, impeaching the Justice of the Houses, and endeavouring to draw them over against the Parliament.

"Die Sabbati, 19 Junii, 1647.

"At the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Admiralty and Cinque Ports.

"Whereas a Letter, directed to the Masters of the Society of The Trinity House, and signed with the Names of divers Officers of the Army, was this Day transmitted to this Committee, from the said Corporation: Ordered, That the said Letter, together with the Papers left with this Committee by the Clerk of the said Corporation, be reported to both Houses of Parliament.

"Rob't Coytmore, Secretary."

"Honoured Friends,

"We have been long silent, but must now speak; because Silence may prejudice both you and us. We suppose you have heard (whether rightly or no we know not) of those Things which have fallen out amongst us, at and since our intended Petition to the Parliament, and their declaring against us for it; which, that you may know more fully, is as followeth:

"We were oppressed, and had a Way prepared by the Parliament in such Cases for our Ease, unto which we did address ourselves; (to wit,) by Way of Petition; not imagining that we should have been blamed for, much less declared against as Enemies, for doing that which we were allowed and directed to in case of Grievances. But thus it was; while our Petition was but only an Intention, we are declared Enemies to the State, Disturbers of the Peace, and Obstructers of the Relief of Ireland (if persisting); all very heavy Charges to be laid upon innocent Persons. And this necessitates us (being not, as we conceive, guilty of the Crimes aforesaid) to draw (fn. 1) up something by Way of Vindication; which proved but little useful to us, we lying still under the aforesaid Charges, and in this Condition, as Persons marked out for Destruction. Then we address ourselves, by Way of Letter, to our Three Chief Officers then in London; (videlicet,) the General, Lieutenant General Cromwell, and Major General Skippon, hoping that they might be heard to speak for us, when we might not be permitted to speak for ourselves: But this Letter was judged to be of a high Nature and dangerous Consequence by Major General Skippton, and by him was presented to the House, and divers Debates about it; the Results of which were, to send down Commissioners to the Army, to enquire after the Distempers reported to be in it, and to take a View of the Grievances of it, and present them to the House (as we thought) to the End that they might be redressed. But they who had begun to lay our Destruction (by getting us declared Enemies) now as much hasten the End and Execution of it, by getting us disbanded piece-meal, and apart one from another, so as never any faithful Army was, being still in that declared Condition of Enemies; and by this Means the Hearts of the People endeavoured to be stirred up against us, to execute the intended Malice of these our Enemies upon us: We, to preserve ourselves (thus designed to Ruin), drew a Petition to our General, for a Rendezvous, which was granted accordingly; at which we entered into a Contract (a Copy of which we have sent you). Since that, there hath been Commissioners sent down, with other Votes; for an Answer to which we refer you to our Declaration, dated 14 Junii, 1647, which expressed the Cause of our Dissatisfaction; and we the rather do it, because we know it is noised abroad, that great Things are done for us, especially calling in of the Declaration against us: But we desire such to consider, that, if the Effects be but removed, and that the Cause still remaining, that Cause will beget the like or worse Effect for the future; and we desire you to judge also what Safety we or any of the Free People of England can be in for the future, whilst these Persons that were the Cause of this Declaration are still remaining as our Judges, who can presently undo all they have or shall do for us, or do as much against us as they have in their foresaid Declaration; so that the Cry of the Army and Kingdom also is for Justice against them, and the removing of them, as the Petitions of several Counties brought in to the General have and do daily testify. So this is the Work that we are about; and hope that we shall have the concurrent Assistance of all rational Men, who love Justice and Freedom, and hate Tyranny, which is the Thing which both you by Sea, and we by Land, for these Five Years last past, have given sufficient Testimony of our Love to the one, and our Hatred to the other, by letting out our Bloods, and hazarding our Lives, in many a desperate Encounter; and all to oppose Tyranny, and to endeavour to set up and establish the just Rights and Freedoms of all Estates and Persons in this Kingdom, which are yet the Ends we seek after.

"Thus you have our Case before you. We beseech you, seriously weigh and consider Things; and God direct you to take Heed of all the false Suggestions of Men, given in by any to you against us; and be assured, that as we were, so we are, the Kingdom's and your real Friends, though unjustly declared to be the State's Enemies: And we shall never desire any to own us, or to adhere to us, any longer or further than we shall be acting to these Ends, (videlicet,) equal Right and Freedom, and common Safety to all.

"So, hoping we shall stand right in your Apprehensions, against all the false Suggestions of any, tending to divide between you and us, the better to raise themselves on the Ruins of both, we leave you to that God whom we hope will never leave you while you are prosecuting of that (which is pleasing to Him) which is Justice, and opposing that which is contrary to Him, namely, Tyranny and Injustice; which is the Desires, and shall be the Endeavours, of those who are yours and the Kingdom's innocent and faithful Servants, whose Names are here sub scribed, chosen to agitate in the Behalf of the Army.

Albones, June 18th, 1647.

"To our Honoured Friends the Masters of the Society of The Trinity House, these humbly present.

"Ex. Rob't Coytmor."

Answer of The Trinity House to them.

"The Answer of The Trinity House, as it was delivered by the Two Soldiers that brought the Letter, in these or the like Words.

"That it was not in the Capacity of the Corporation to give any Answer in Writing to the said Letter (though by the said Messengers it was earnestly desired), by reason Half the Corporation were not then present.

"That we were only a Private Corporation, to determine of Differences between Man and Man and Naval Affairs; and not in the same Condition as those of the City of London were (unto whom, as they said, they had made their Addresses.)

"That it shall be our earnest Prayers to God, to send a right Understanding between the Parliament and the Army; for the Settlement of the Privileges thereof, the Liberty of the Subject, the Administration of Justice, and Peace of the Kingdom.

"That what by us was from Time to Time done, in or concerning the Naval Affairs of the State, was by Order and Warrant from the Right Honourable Committee of the Admiralty, and not from any Power of our own.

"And when they urged, "That their Intentions by that Address by a Letter was but to clear themselves from all Misinterpretations and Misrepresentations (as in the Letter is set forth) which might be thrown upon them;" it was answered," That, so far as that or the like Address might consort and suit with the Judgement and Sense of the Parliament, it should be our Opinions also.

"And these or the like Words were delivered, or to this Effect.

19 June, 1647.

"Ex. Rob. Coytmor."

Officers of the Army desire The Trinity House will prevent Ships being sitted out against them.

"Besides the verbal reciting of divers Particulars mentioned in the Letter, these or the like Words were by One of the Messengers spoken:

"That, as they hoped, having fully satisfied the Corporation, as they had done those of London and others unto whom they had made the like Addresses, with their pious and just Intentions, they did likewise hope that the Corporation, being as they conceived intrusted with the Naval Affairs of the Kingdom, would, as much as in them lay, oppugn and resist the raising of any Naval Force which might be intended against them; or to this Effect.

"Jo. Kersey.
Ex. Rob. Coytmor."

Petit to be instituted to Whapload.

Ordered, &c. That Doctor Heath do give Institution and Induction unto Edmund Pettit Clerk, unto the Vicarage of Whapload, in the County of Lincolne, void by the Cession of the last Incumbent, salvo Jure cujuscunque; the said Mr. Pettit taking the National League and Covenant, and producing his Presentation thereunto under the Great Seal of England.