House of Lords Journal Volume 5: 11 November 1642

DIE Veneris, 11 die Novembris.

PRAYERS.

Lord Grey, Speaker.

Letter from the Committee who went to the King with the Petition.

A Letter was read, directed, "For the Right Honourable the Speaker of the House of Peers:" videlicet,

"When we were near Maydenhead, Sir Peter Killegrew met us, and told us His Majesty was on Horseback, on His Way towards Colbrooke; and that His Pleasure was, we should return thither, and attend him there; when, soon after His Arrival, His Majesty sent for us, and we presented the Petition as we were commanded.

"His Majesty returned the Answer here inclosed in the same Words as near as we can recollect them. This is all the Account for the present that can be given by

Uxebridge, the 10th of Novem. 1642.

"Your Lordship's Servants,

"A. Northumb.
Pembrook & Mountg."

King's Answer to the Petition.

"His Majesty's Answer to the Committees of both Houses, at their presenting the Petition to His Majesty:

"I know you do not expect that I should give you an Answer now, to this which is of so great Importance; but something I will say at this present to the Preamble, mentioning the saving of the Effusion of Blood. I have often professed, and do call God and Man to Witness, that, if other Men (whom a short Time will discover) had been as careful as Myself, this War had not happened. What I have done, was for My own Safety, and to maintain that Government with Honour, which My Father left me. I will not hinder your Return to London, but will in Part deliver My Answer to you To-morrow, and send it more fully by some Messengers of My own."

Countess Rivers Leave to travel.

Ordered, That the Countess of Rivers shall have Leave to go beyond the Seas, with a Physician and Servants.

Countess of Newport a Pass to go into the West.

Ordered, That the Countess of Newport shall have a Pass to go into the West Parts of this Kingdom, with Five or Six Servants.

Ordered, That this House shall sit this Afternoon, at Four of the Clock, because it is probable that the Earl of Northumb. may return with some Business as may require Expedition.

Message to the H. C. to sit P. M.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, to desire them to sit this Afternoon, at Four a Clock.

Next, a Letter written from the Earl of Stamford was read; videlicet,

Earl of Stamford's Letter from Hereford.

"My Lord,

"I have received a perfect Relation concerning the good People of Pembrookshire, the which I have sent here inclosed. I have taken the Boldness to send unto the City of Bristoll a Copy of that Relation, and have desired them that they would send out some few Ships to appear upon that Coast; and, if your Lordship would please to intimate so much to their Lordships, that the City of Bristoll might receive further Commands from the Parliament, to assist those good People in these their Distresses and Miseries. As for this Place, by God's Grace, I shall use my best Care and Vigilance to preserve (fn. 1) it, although I am much threatened since I brought away those Men of Power. I am further to desire your Lordship, that some Course may be taken, that we may have our Pay as constantly as heretofore; and that we may be furnished with Powder, Match, and other Materials of War, from Bristoll. I beseech your Lordship, let these Things be seriously taken into Consideration, and done with as much Expedition as may be; and so I shall cease to trouble your Lordship at this Time, beseeching the great God of Heaven to preserve the Honour and Persons of the Remnant of those noble Lords that remain amongst you, and of us that are employed by them. I shall remain,

"My Lord,

"Your Lordship's most humble Servant,

Hereford, the 7th of Nov. 1642.

"Stamford."

Phillips, Swens, and Wogan's Letter, of the Situation of Affairs in Pembrokeshire.

"Right Honourable,

"May it please your Lordship to be advertised, that this County wherein we live is only it amongst those of Wales which standeth firm and faithful to the Parliament's Cause, whereby we are so much environed with ill neighbouring Counties, that we cannot possibly address our Letters unto your Honour without Search and Discovery. We have therefore dictated our Estate to this Bearer, and directed him to draw it up in Form of a Letter when he finds himself in a secure Place, and so present it humbly unto you in our own Name. You shall first know, that we received several Letters from the Lord of Hertford, for our Repair unto him this Wednesday, at the Town of Carmarthen, where if we come, we all know we must either comply with him or part with our Liberties; we have therefore made Choice to disobey. And whereas our County is not able to raise such a considerable Number as can keep the Field against such Opposition as we are sure of, we have therefore garrisoned our Trained Bands in Hartford-West, Tynby, and Pembrocke, the only Towns of Consequence in this County, by which Course we shall be able to defend ourselves for some short Time. Now our humble Suit shall be unto your Lordship, that you will please to move the Parliament, or my Lord General, to send us speedy Aid; or otherwise our Lives and Goods will be made a Sacrifice to those malignant Spirits, for our Loyalty to the Public Good: And this your Lordship shall further know, touching the Situation of this County, that it is a Nook of Land that thrusteth itself into the Sea; and if any considerable Force fall upon them here, as they are Sheep in a Pinfold, Two Thousand Foot and Three Hundred Horse, with that we have, would beat them out of our Country and their own. If they plunder and reduce us, all Wales is theirs; and their next Attempt will be upon (fn. 2) Herefordshire. We humbly desire your Lordship to take our Case into your Consideration, and to procure us some speedy Assistance, who are ever

"Your Lordship's most humble Servants,

From Ha'rd West, in the County of Pembrock, 2d Nov. 1642.

"Rich. Phillips,

"Hugh Swens,

"Jo. Wogan."

Ordered, That the Consideration of the aforesaid Letter and Propositions are referred to the Consideration of the Committee for the Safety.

Adjourn.

Adjourn till 4^a post meridiem.

Post meridiem.

PRAYERS.

Lord Grey de Warke, Speaker.

Thanks from the Duke De Vendosme, for the Lords taking Notice of his House being rifled.

The Earl of Holland signified to this House, "That he hath been with the Duke of Vendosme, and Duke Espernon, and have excused the uncivil Carriage of the Pursuivants to them; and they give their Lordships humble Thanks for taking Notice hereof, which will encourage them to remain in this Kingdom, with such a Demeanor as shall be agreeable to their Lordships Expectations.

Sir Har. Waller's Petition, to be freed from an Arrest.

Upon reading the Petition of Sir Hardes Waller, Knight, and a Colonel in Ireland under the Service of the King and the Parliament, as is arrested upon a pretended Debt of Forty Pounds, as Surety for another, by the Procurement of one Bowes, desiring to be taken off from the said Arrest.

Ordered, To be referred to the Common Law.

Message from the H. C. for the Lord, Concurrence in the following Orders.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Sir Peter Wentworth:

To desire their Lordships Concurrence in these Orders following: videlicet,

1. A Form of Thanks, to be given to the Lord General the Earl of Essex, for his great Care, Pains, and Conduct of the Army, which he undertook by the Appointment of the Houses of Parliament. (Here enter it.)

Ordered, That this House approves of this Thanks to be given to the Lord General; and that the same be printed and published forthwith, and entered in the Journal Book.

2. An Order for beating of Drums, for Soldiers to repair to their Colours. (Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

3. An Order to pay Two Hundred Pounds to the Town of Maldon, in the County of Essex. (Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

4. An Order concerning the Safety of the Town of Watford, in the County of Hartford. (Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That this House agrees with the House of Commons, in all these Orders; and have Ordered the Thanks to the Lord General to be printed, and entered in the Journal Book.

Thanks to the Lord General.

"The Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament having, upon mature Deliberation, and assured Confidence in the Wisdom, Courage, and Fidelity, of Robert Earl of Essex, chosen and appointed him Captain General of the Forces raised by Authority of Parliament, for the Defence of the true Protestant Religion, the King, Parliament, and Kingdom, now in great and apparent Danger, do find that the said Earl hath managed this Service, of so high Importance, with so much Care, Valour, and Dexterity, as well by the extremest Hazard of his Life, in a bloody Battle, near Keinton, in Warwickshire, as by all the Actions of a most excellent and expert Commander, in the whole Course of the Employment, as doth deserve their best Acknowledgement; and do therefore declare and publish, to the lasting Honour of the said Earl, the great and acceptable Service which he hath herein done to the Commonwealth; and shall be willing and ready, upon all Occasions, to express the due Sense which they have of his Merit, by assisting and protecting him, and all others employed under his Command in this Service, with their Lives and Fortunes, to the uttermost of their Power; this to remain upon Record in both Houses of Parliament, for a Mark of Honour to his Person, Name, and Family, and for a Monument of his singular Virtue to Posterity."

Order for Two Hundred Pounds for Malden.

"Whereas it was Ordered, unto the Town of Maldon, in Essex, Two Hundred Pounds, for the Service of the said Town, namely, One Hundred Pounds of the Four Thousand Pounds which was in the Hands of Sir Thomas Barrington, and the other Hundred Pounds out of the Propositions-money received by the Receivers of the said Town of Malden: It is now Ordered, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament (by reason that the said Four Thousand Pounds is dis posed already, and so no Money left in Sir Thomas Barrington's Hands), That the Sum of Two Hundred Pounds shall be paid, out of The Guildhall, London, of the Proposition-money, to the Bailiffs of Maldon, or One of them, for the Service of the said Town."

Persons in Watford to consult of some Means to preserve the Town.

"Whereas the Inhabitants of the Town of Watford have been very forward and zealous to express their Affections for the Defence of the Parliament and Kingdom, and have, in the free Expression thereof, left themselves very naked, and open to the Violence of all Malignants, which have already done much Spoil to divers Towns near adjoining; and whereas it is informed, that the Constables of the said Town are Men of mean Quality, and not able to prevail to procure a competent Force of Persons well appointed for the Defence of the same: It is therefore Ordered, and Ordained, That Christopher Loves, Ralph King, Wm. Finch, Zacharie King, Nathaniell Mamisty, John Finch Tanner, and Lancelott Wells, or any One or more of them, together with the said Constables, or One of them, if he or they will be present, if not, then without them or either of them, have Power and Authority to call together the Inhabitants of the said Town and Parish, to consult and conclude of such Ways and Means as may tend to the Preservation of the Peace and Safety of the same, and equally to assess and charge the said Inhabitants, according to the Quality of their Estates and Abilities, to provide such competent Men and Arms, and Ammunition, for the Defence of the same Town and Parish, as Occasion shall require; and the same Men, so armed and arrayed, from Time to Time to appoint to watch and ward in such Places as they, or any Two of them, shall think meet: It is likewise Ordered, and Ordained, That such other Towns and Parishes, in the Counties of Herf. Midd. Essex, and Buck. as will confederate themselves together with the said Town and Parish of Watford, and join their Strength for the mutual Safety one of another, shall be hereby authorized, as aforesaid, to train and exercise their Men, together or severally, as they shall think fit; and the same to draw forth and employ to and in any Place, within the said County, for their best Defence and Preservation against any malignant Person or Persons, that shall seek to disturb the Peace of any the said Towns: And it is further Ordered, Ordained, and Declared, That if any Person or Persons, within the said Town of Watford, or other the Places which shall so confederate themselves as aforesaid, shall refuse to find the Arms on them imposed, or to be imposed, or to watch and ward in such Manner as is hereby intended (fn. 3) "

Order for all Officers and Soldiers of the Earl of Essex's Army to repair to their Colours.

"It is this Day Ordered, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, That a Search be made, in the City of London and Suburbs thereof, and Westm. and Southwarke, and Places adjacent, for all Officers and common Soldiers, belonging to the Army under the Command of his Excellency the Earl of Essex; and that they apprehend all such as they shall find, and bring them forthwith to The Palace Yard at Westm. that they may be sent thence to the Army: And it is further Ordered, That, if it shall be found that any Alehouse-keeper, or other Householder, shall presume to harbour any of the said Soldiers, after Tomorrow at Nine of the Clock, that they shall be forthwith sent for to the Parliament, to answer their Misdemeanor: And it is further Ordered, That this Order shall be published, by beating of the Drum, in the City and other Places aforesaid; and such Officers or Soldiers as shall be found here, after To-morrow, from their Colours, shall be sent to the Lord General, to receive Martial Law for their Offence: And the Lord Mayor of the City of London is desired to give Command, that this Order be published, by beating of the Drum, in the City and Suburbs thereof; and the Bailiffs of Westm. and the Captains of the Trained Bands of St. Martin's in the Fields, Southwarke, and other Places about London, are required likewise forthwith to publish the same, by beating of the Drum, as aforesaid."

Adjourn.

Adjourn till (fn. 4)