House of Lords Journal Volume 5: 3 November 1642

DIE Jovis, videlicet, 3 die Novembris.

PRAYERS.

Lord Grey, Speaker.

Parliament Petition to the King, for restoring Peace.

The Earl of Northumb. reported, "That the Committee for the Safety have considered of an Address to His Majesty, which they have thought fit to be by Way of Petition;" a Draught whereof they have made, and present it to this House; which was read, in these Words: videlicet, (Here enter it.)

This House approved of the said Petition; and Ordered, To communicate it to the House of Commons, by a Conference, to desire their Concurrence therein.

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

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Serjeant Whitfeilde and Serjeant Glanvile:

To desire a Conference, touching a Petition to be sent to the King.

The Petition.

"We, Your Majesty's most loyal Subjects, the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, being affected with a deep (fn. 1) and piercing Sense of the Miseries of this Kingdom, and of the Dangers to Your Majesty's Person, as the present Affairs now stand, and much quickened therein with the sad Consideration of the great Effusion of Blood at the late Battle, and of the Loss of so many eminent Persons; and further weighing the Addition of Loss, Misery, and Danger, to Your Majesty and Your Kingdom, which must ensue, if both Armies should again join in another Battle, as, without God's especial Blessing, and Your Majesty's Concurrence with Your Houses of Parliament, will not probably be avoided.

"We cannot but believe that a suitable Impression of Tenderness and Compassion is wrought in Your Majesty's Royal Heart, being Yourself an Eye Witness of the bloody and sorrowful Destruction of so many of Your Subjects; and that Your Majesty doth apprehend what Diminution of Your own Power and Greatness will follow; and that all Your Kingdoms will thereby be so weakened, as to become subject to the Attempts of any ill-affected to this State; in all which respects, we assure ourselves that Your Majesty will be inclined graciously to accept this our humble Petition, that the Misery and Desolation of this Kingdom may be speedily removed and prevented: For the effecting whereof, we most humbly beseech Your Majesty to appoint some convenient Place, not far from the City of London, where Your Majesty will be pleased to reside, until Com mittees of both Houses of Parliament may attend Your Majesty with some Propositions for the Removal of these bloody Distempers and Distractions, and settling the State of the Kingdom in such a Manner as may conduce to the Preservation of the true Protestant Religion, the Safety and Honour of Your Majesty's Royal Person, &c."

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

Message from the H. C. that they concur in it.

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

That the House of Commons do concur with their Lordships in this Petition, which is to be sent to the King.

For the Manner of the Delivery of this Petition to the King, the Earl of Northumb. reported, "That the Opinion of the Committee was, that a Committee of both Houses should be sent with it; and that a Letter be written to the Secretary, or some near the King, to desire Safe Conduct for those Persons; and that a Trumpet should be sent before the Messenger, to desire Safe Conduct, for the Delivery of the said Letter."

Committee to present a Petition to the King.

Which Proposition for the Manner of delivering it this House approved of; and Ordered, That the Earl of Northumberland and the Earl of Pembrooke shall be Committees for this House, to join with a proportionable Number of the House of Commons, to present the said Petition to the King.

The Letter to be sent to the Secretary was read, and approved of, as followeth: videlicet,

Letter to the King's Secretary, for Safe Conduct for them.

"My Lord,

"I am commanded, by my Lords the Peers, and Commons assembled in Parliament, to address by you their humble Desires to His Majesty, that He will be pleased to grant His Safe Conduct to a Committee of Lords and Commons, to pass and to re-pass unto His Majesty, that are directed to attend Him with an humble Petition from His Parliament. This being all I have in Commission, I rest,

"Your Lordship's Friend and Servant,

"Grey de Warke.

"For the Right Honourable the Lord Viscount Falkland, Principal Secretary of State to His Majesty; or, in his Absence, for Mr. Secretary Nicholas, or for any Lords the Peers attending His Majesty."

Message to the H. C. to acquaint them with this, and for a Committee of theirs to join the Lords who go with the Petition.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Serjeant Whitfeild and Serjeant Glanvile:

To let the House of Commons know, that this House hath Resolved, and think it fit, That a Committee of both Houses should be sent to His Majesty, to present the said Petition to Him; and that a Letter should be sent to the Secretary, or some Lord near the King, to desire Safe Conduct (fn. 2) for them: To that Purpose, this House hath nominated Two Lords, to join with a proportionable Number of the House of Commons, to go to the King; and have made a Draught of a Letter (a Copy whereof this House sends them, desiring their Concurrence therein) to be sent to the Secretary, to procure the Safe Conduct.

The Messengers return with this Answer:

Answer.

That the House of Commons do approve of this Way of sending to His Majesty; and have approved of the Letter to be sent with a Gentleman and a Trumpeter; and that the House of Commons have nominated Four of their Members, to go with the Committee of Lords, to present the Petition to His Majesty.

Adjourn.

Adjourn till 10^a cras.