House of Lords Journal Volume 5: 3 January 1643

DIE Martis, videlicet, 3 die Januarii.

PRAYERS.

Earl of Manchester, Speaker of this House this Day.

The Messengers return this Answer:

Answer from the H. C. about the Earl of Portland.

That they have delivered their Message to the House of Commons, concerning the Earl of Portland.

Scots Paper, about Arrears due to them in Ulster.

A Paper from the Scotts Commissioners, with the Answer concerning the Arrears due to the Scotts in Ulster, were read, brought formerly from the House of Commons; and this House agreed to the Answer. (Here enter them.)

Next, was read another Paper of the Scotts Commissioners; and the Answer was read, and agreed to. (Here enter them.)

Ordered, That these Answers be delivered to the Scotts Commissioners, by the Lords Commissioners of England.

Bill for settling the Admiralty.

Hodie 3^a vice lecta est Billa, An Act for the making Algernoone Earl of Northumberland High Admiral of England, Ireland, Wales, Callis, Normandy, Gascoigne, Aquitaine, and all other His Majesty's Dominions subject to the Crown of England; and General of the Navy and Sea; and for the well-ordering of the Navy.

And it being put to the Question;

It was Resolved, To pass as a Law.

Sent to the H. C. for their Concurrence.

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

To communicate this Bill to the House of Commons, and desire their Consent herein.

London Apprentices reprimanded for their disorderly Behaviour; but their Petition received.

It was moved, "That some Apprentices were at Door, to deliver their Petition;" and, upon this, the House was informed, "That, after they had received an Answer Yesterday, divers of them stayed the Coaches of some Peers of this House, and carried them in an insolent Manner:" Hereupon this House Ordered, They should be called in, and their Petition be received, and give them this Answer, "That their Lordships are contented to receive their Petition, and will give an Answer in due Time; but to let them know, that this House is much offended, that Yesterday, after they had received an Answer from this House, behaved themselves very rudely and insolently; and, if they commit any such Miscarriage and Insolencies again, they shall be brought to exemplary Punishment."

They were called in; this House received their Petition; and the Speaker gave them this Admonition, as aforesaid.

The Petition was read.

Michell's Cause.

Ordered, That the Cause of Mr. Michell shall be heard this Day Sevennight.

Lady Stanley, a Pass to Ensam.

Ordered, That the Lady Stanly shall have a Pass to go quietly to Ensam, to receive her Rents there, and return to London; provided she carry no Money with her, but what is necessary to defray her Expences in the Journey.

Committee to examine about procuring the Petition of the London Citizens.

Ordered, That the Committee for examining the Manner of procuring and managing the Petition of some Citizens of London shall have (fn. 1) Power to adjourn, and meet as often as they shall think fit.

No Carts to come through Old Palaceyard.

Ordered, That the Gentleman Usher attending this House shall have the appointing of a Man to keep the Key of the Chain in The Ould Pallace, for keeping Carts and Drays from coming through it; and shall hereby be commanded to see this Order put into Execution.

Paper from the Scots Commissioners, concerning the Arrears due to the Scots that are in Ireland.

"The hard and almost desperate Condition of our Army in Ireland, occasioned by the Want of their Pay, and all Provision of Victuals, these full Five Months past (although, by the Articles of the Treaty, they should have been duly paid from Month to Month, and a competent Magazine of Victuals laid up to them in Carickfergus Quarter I have often demanded), and the frequent Advertisements I receive from the Council of Scotland thereof, do constrain me again to desire your Lordships, and those noble Gentlemen of the House of Commons, to represent the same to both Houses of Parliament, that such a present Course may be taken for their Relief, and Provision of Money and Victuals for them, that they, being employed in the Parliament's Service, may not all starve therein through Hunger and Cold, as a great Part of them already has done.

Westm. 24 Decemb. 1642.

"Ja. Primrose."

Answer.

"By Virtue and Direction of both Houses of Parliament, we are to make this Answer to your Lordship's Proposition, concerning the Arrears due to the Scottish Army in Ireland: That the hard and necessitous Condition of that Army is to them most grievous and lamentable; and that, according to the Treaty and Agreement, they truly intended to pay that Army from Month to Month, and to provide a competent Magazine of Victuals, which they duly performed so long as they were able; and being now oppressed and exhausted by the most deplorable Necessity of a Civil War and Combustion raised here, by the Practice of the Papists, who are now likewise in Arms for Destruction of Religion in both the Kingdoms of England and Ireland, they cannot so timely and plentifully provide for the Distresses of Ireland, and particularly of the Scottish Army there, as otherwise they should have done; but they are endeavouring forthwith to procure Twenty Thousand Pounds towards the Satisfaction of that Army, and purpose as speedily as may be to discharge the rest, according to the Contract and Treaty in that Behalf; and in the mean Time are ready to do whatsoever else shall be in their Power, for the Relief and Encouragement of that Army, and just Satisfaction of the State and People of Scotland, whom they esteem as their assured Friends and Brethren, most nearly united to them in the Sense and Consequence of those Dangers and Miseries wherewith this Kingdom is afflicted."

Another Paper from them, about 40,000 l. Brotherly Assistance, due to them.

"I have often, these Three Moneths past, importuned your Lordships, and these noble Gentlemen of the House of Commons, for Payment of the Forty Thousand Pounds of the Brotherly Assistance which wes dew at Midsomer last; and although I have shewen you that by the Kingdome of Scotland these Moneyes were assigned to Merchants, who did advance the like Sommes for the Publique of that Kingdome; and that their Creditt (which is the Life of a Merchaunt) is much endangered thereby; neverthelesse, I have never received any Satisfaction thereanent; and therefore once again do desire your Lordships and those noble Gentlemen to represent the same to both Houses of Parliament, that I may give ane Account of thaire Resolution therein to those that sent me.

Westm. 24 Dec. 1642.

"Ja. Primrose."

Answer.

"By the Order and Direction of both Houses of Parliament, we are to make this Answer to your Lordship's Proposition, received in Writing the 24th of this Instant Month, concerning a Part of the Brotherly Assistance due and unpaid: That they are very much grieved and troubled that they have not hitherto nor can yet give Satisfaction to your Lordship, concerning the Forty Thousand Pounds of the Brotherly Assistance which is yet behind, and was due at Midsummer last, as they have earnestly desired and endeavoured; the great Troubles and Confusions of this Kingdom hindering them from levying and taxing Money for that Purpose, as they intend to do; all which they pray you to represent to the State and People of Scotland; not doubting but that with a Brotherly Compassion they will look upon the Afflictions of this State, and bear with this inevitable Necessity, until such Time as God shall enable them to pay this Money, which they will labour to the uttermost of their Power to procure very speedily, and to pay the same, together with Interest for the Forbearance thereof: And, for the better relieving and upholding the Credit of those Merchants who are therein interested, they are ready to do whatsoever shall be further requisite in their Power, according to that Truth, Justice, and Honour, which they desire to express to all Men, and in more especial and affectionate Manner to their Brethren of Scotland."

The Apprentices of London's Petition.

"To the Right Honourable the Lords and Commons in the High Court of Parliament now assembled.

"The humble Petition of divers Apprentices, and other young Men, in and about the City of London;

"In most humble Manner sheweth,

"That your former gracious Acceptation of Petitions from Persons of as mean Quality as ourselves, your late kind Embracement of that Petition from our Masters and others of eminent Quality, together with your constant Endeavours for a Pacification (for which we present our humble Thanks), hath concited us (though in regard of our present Condition not so much considerable) to address ourselves also in all Humility to this Honourable Assembly (whom we conceive the only Means under God for our Redress); beseeching you to persist (as you have honourably begun) in working a Period of these ruinating Distractions.

"And though the present Calamity doth not so immediately reflect on your Petitioners, yet we, considering the Loss of so many of our Fellows Lives, and the daily Hazards the rest are exposed to, and foreseeing the Face of our own Ruin in our Masters present Condition, as also prizing our Parents and Friends Lives and Livelihoods as dearly as (fn. 1) our own, hold ourselves engaged, by the Laws of Conscience and Nature, to be no less solicitous for the bleeding Miseries of the Church and State, in regard (though Servants) we are Subjects, and humbly conceive ourselves to be concerned herein.

"We come therefore (in the still Voice) to embowel our Grievances and zealous Desires before you, not presuming to dictate to your graver Judgements, but humbly desiring you to pardon our Boldness in petitioning, and the Errors of our Petition (if any be); and unanimously beseech you to consider these present Distractions, the continual and increasing Violation of our Religion by Papists and Sectaries, the Breach of our known Laws, the Invasion of the Subjects Liberties, and general Decay of Trade.

"Reflecting also with serious Thoughts upon those inevitable Dangers that now hover over our Heads, ushered in by a Civil, unnatural, bloody War; whose Effects are, the impartial Destruction of Christians, the Effusion of much innocent Blood, the Impoverishing and Dispeopling of the Kingdom, the Exposing the Body of the State to the merciless Tyranny of Famine, Sickness, and Invasion, the Forerunners of an universal Confusion.

"All which (better known to Apprehensions) we humbly desire you to ponder, and to prosecute your pious Intentions for Peace, leaving no just Way unattempted which may conduce to the Settlement of these Differences; that the undiscerning Sword be not Umpire, to decide Controversies of so near Concernment; neither give Audience to the Incendiaries of this War, whose only Aim (we fear) is to prey upon the Lives and Livings of His Majesty's loyal Subjects; that so the Gospel of Peace need not be maintained by War, but that these cemented Joints of Church and State may hold firmer the Bond of Unity, to the Glory of God, the Good of His Majesty, the Preservation of Parliaments, the only Happiness of this Kingdom, and Enablement of a Supply of the Necessaries of our distressed Brethren in Ireland.

"And your Petitioners (as in all Duty bound) shall daily pray for a Blessing upon all your Consultations.

"To which we subscribe our Hands and Hearts, each ready to sacrifice his Life for Accomplishment hereof."

Lord Balmerino and Lord Chief Justice Heath.

Ordered, That the Cause between the Lord Balmerino and the Lord Chief Justice Heath shall be heard on the 20th of January; and, if the said Order be served on the Agent or Solicitor of the Lord Chief Justice Heath, it shall be effectual.

Adjourn.

House adjourned till 10^a cras.