House of Lords Journal Volume 6: 11 December 1643

DIE Lunæ, videlicet, 11 die Decembris.

PRAYERS.

Lords present this Day:

Ds. Grey de Warke, Speaker this (fn. 1)

Answer from the H. C.

Mr. Serjeant Whitfeild and Mr. Serjeant Fynch returned this Answer from the House of Commons:

That they have nominated a Committee, to join with a Committee of Lords, to examine the Tin Business.

The Speaker acquainted this House, "That he hath received a Letter from the Lord General;" which was commanded to be read:

Lord General's Letter, about the Differences between the Earl of Denbigh and the Committee at Coventry.

"My Lord,

"When I gave my Attendance on the Lords House, I acquainted the Lords House with the unhappy Disferences between the Earl of Denbigh and the Com mittee of Coventry, which the Lords imparted to the House of Commons at a Conference; since when, I have received no Directions: Since my coming hither, I have received these Two Letters, which I likewise send your Lordships. My Lord, I am

St. Albanes, this 10th of December, 1643.

"Your humble Servant,

"Essex."

Colonel Mitton's Letter, desiring a Supply of Arms for Shropshire.

Next was read, a Letter of Colonel Mitton's and others, Gentlemen in Shropshire, to desire Supplies for their Defence; they desire Two Hundred Case of Pistols, Two Hundred Dragooners, and Six Hundred Muskets, and Fifty Barrels of Powder.

Letter from Coventry against the Earl of Denbigh.

Next was read, a Letter directed to the Lord General from the Committee at Coventry, complaining of their great Distractions since the coming thither of the Forces of the Earl of Denbigh, dated the 8th of December 1643.

Sent to the H. C.

Ordered, That these Letters shall be communicated to the House of Commons; and accordingly they were presently sent down to the House of Commons, by Message, by Sir Edward Leech and Doctor Ayliff.

Message from thence, about sending the Paper to the French Ambassador;

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Sir Henry Vane Junior; which consisted of these Particulars:

1. The House of Commons concur with their Lordships, in the Paper to be conveyed to Prince Harcourt; and they agree that it be communicated to him in a private Way, as is propounded. (Here enter it.)

and with Orders.

2. They desire Concurrence in these Orders following:

1. In an Order to pay Twelve Hundred Pounds, to the Garrison of Alsebury. (Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

2. An Order for re-paying of Billet-money to the County of Midd. Kent, and Surry.

3. An Order to pay Two Thousand Pounds for the Garrison at Windsor.

Quære, Whether this be the Two Thousand Pounds formerly Ordered, or Two Thousand more ?

4. An Order concerning the Town of Plymouth.

Agreed to with an Addition.

Also the Order was brought up, sent down to the House of Commons, concerning the Commissioners of the Great Seal to present to both Houses the Names of such Persons as they shall think fit, for such Officers as are attendant upon the Great Seal, and are not within the Gift of the Lord Keeper or the Master of the Rolls, that so they may be approved of by both Houses; to which Order the House of Commons (fn. 2) agrees.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That this House will send an Answer, by Messengers of their own, to the Order concerning the Billetmoney for Midd. Kent, and Surry, to the Order concerning the Garrison at Windsor, and the Order concerning the Town of Plymouth. To all the rest of the Particulars of this Message, this House (fn. 2) agrees.

Recruiting the Lord General's Army, to be considered.

It was moved, "That, in regard the Scotts Army hath appointed their Rendezvous the 29th of December 1643, and lest they should be retarded by Snows or Rain, which commonly falls about that Time of the Year in those Parts, and considering the Forces of the City now with the Lord General are shortly to return, that a Conference may be had presently with the House of Commons, to desire them that (fn. 3) they would speedily take some Course for the Recruiting of the Lord General's Army:" Which was Ordered accordingly.

Message to the H. C. for a Conference about it;

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Mr. Serjeant Fynch and Sir Rob't Rich:

To desire a Conference, concerning the recruiting of the Lord General's Army;

and with the Order about Plymouth, &c.

And to return the Order concerning the Towns of Plymouth, Poole, and Lyme; to which their Lordships agree with the Addition, wherein this House desires their Concurrence.

Sir Edward Leech, &c. return this Answer:

Answer from the H. C.

That they have delivered the Papers to the House of Commons, which came from the Lord General.

A House in London to be provided for Sir Wm. Fairfax.

Upon Information to this House, "That Sir Wm. Fairefaix (fn. 4) hath lost all his House and Estate, for adhering to the Parliament:" Therefore it (fn. 5) was moved, "That some Course may (fn. 5) be taken, that a House in London or Westm. may be provided for him to live in, ready furnished;" [ (fn. 6) It was] Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee for Sequestrations, to (fn. 7) provide a House ready furnished, for Sir Wm. Fairefaix to live (fn. 5) in, out of the Sequestrations.

Zinzan, alias Alexander, Petition for Leave to build a Ridingschool at Winchester House.

Upon reading the Petition of Joseph Zinzan, alias Alexander; shewing, "That he was bred up under his Father, who was One of His Majesty's Equerries, which Place your Petitioner had in Reversion by His Majesty's Grant; but because the Petitioner doth (as his Conscience leads him) adhere to the Parliament, he hath lost the Benefit of that Grant.

"That, the Petitioner's Skill in Horsemanship being approved by divers Nobles and Commanders, your Petitioner was earnestly desired to leave his Habitation in the Country, to come to this City, to do the State Service in that Way wherein he was bred; and, for his better Encouragement, they did procure him the Use of the Stables and Yard at Winchester House, being sequestered.

"That, at Midsummer last, the Petitioner came thither; and hath since taken constant daily Pains in managing the Horses of divers Nobles and Commanders, and fitting them for Service, and instructing divers Gentlemen in the Way of Horsemanship.

"That there is great Want of a Riding-house for this Winter Season, which may with great Conveniency be built there in the said Yard; and the said Commanders and Gentlemen have willed your Petitioner to sue to this Honourable House for the same, for his Use, and the Benefit and Good of the Commonwealth.

"Wherefore the Petitioner humbly prays he may have Leave and Power, from this House, to enjoy the said Stables and Yard, and to build a Riding-house, and to have the Use of the Room adjoining to his Chamber there, for his better Conveniency and Encouragement; the same being all without the said House, and not any whit prejudicial or disadvantageous to any Man."

Ordered, That this House grants the Desires of this Petition.

Concerning the French Ambassador's presenting Papers to the Houses.

"That, if the Prince D' Harcourt have any Thing to propound from the French King to the Lords and Commons assembled in the Parliament of England, the Houses have done nothing to bar or hinder the Prince D'Harcourt from the usual and fitting Ways of Address to them; that he may apply himself to the Speaker of either or both Houses, by himself or such Persons as he shall intrust to that Purpose, to desire that he may be heard in what he shall say, in the Name of the King his Master, to both or either Houses of the Parliament of England; or else what he hath to propound from the King his Master to the Houses, he may direct either to the Houses themselves or their Speakers, attested under his Hand; as is expected from the Ambassadors of England, and is practised by them in their Negociations with Foreign States: It is that also which the King Himself useth in the Messages to the Two Houses: It is that which the French Agent, Monsieur Boysivon, hath lately done to the Privy Council of Scotland, and which the Ministers of Foreign Estates have done and do to this Parliament, upon Occasion."

Message from the H. C. with Orders.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Walter Longe;

To desire their Lordships Concurrence in Two Orders:

1. An Order to send down the Committee of Bedfordshire, for putting the Ordinances of Parliament into Execution. (Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

2. An Order to pay One Thousand Pounds to Sir Wm. Waller, out of the Excise. (Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That this House agrees with the House of Commons in the Two Orders now brought up.

Message from thence, to sit P. M.

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

To let their Lordships know, that they intend to sit To-morrow Morning.

Ordered, That this House shall sit To-morrow Morning, at Ten of the Clock.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That this House intends to sit To-morrow Morning, at Ten of the Clock.

An Ordinance was made, and read by this House, concerning the putting of the Hartfordshire Regiment into Newport Pannell; which being approved of, it was Ordered to be sent to the House of Commons, to desire their Concurrence herein.

And accordingly it was sent by Message to the House of Commons, by Sir Edward Leech and Dr. Ayliff.

Order for 1200l. to the Garrison of Aylesbury.

"It is this Day Ordered, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, That Twelve Hundred Pounds of the Monies at Habberdashers Hall be forthwith paid to the Treasurers at Guildhall, London, and by them forthwith paid over to the Treasurer at Wars, notwithstanding the Ordinance for Mr. Eastwicke and Mr. Ashe, and by him paid over to the Governor of Alisbury, for the Garrison at Alesbury."

Order for the Committee of Bedfordshire to go down, to put the Ordinances in Execution.

"It is this Day Ordered, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That the Bedfordshire Committee do forthwith repair down into the Country; and that my Lord General be desired that he would take some Course that they may sit securely in the Execution of the Ordinances and Service of the Parliament; and that Sir Samuell Luke, Captain Harrison, and Captain Fenton, be added to the Committee of Bedfordshire, and join with them in putting in Execution the Ordinances of Sequestrations, and other Ordinances of Parliament; and that my Lord General be desired that these Gentlemen, being Officers of his Army, may sit, and reside with, and assist, the Committee of Bedd."

Order for the Commissioners of Excise to re-pay themselves 1000l. advanced to Sir W. Waller.

"Whereas John Towes Esquire, and Alderman of London, with the rest of the Commissioners of Excise, having this Day advanced One Thousand Pounds, for the Payment of the Brigade of the Soldiers of the Cities of London and Westm. the Suburbs thereof, and Hamlets adjoining, now under the Command of Sir Wm. Waller: It is hereby Ordained, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, That the said Commissioners of Excise shall and may re-pay themselves the said One Thousand Pounds, out of such Monies as shall first come in upon the Receipt of Excise, over and above such Monies as by former Ordinances were assigned to the Merchant Adventurers, or advanced by them the said Commissioners of Excise upon any former Ordinances, and to pay themselves after the Rate of Eight per Cent. Interest, for so long Time as the said Commissioners shall be out of the said Sum of One Thousand Pounds, or any Part thereof; and John Trenchard Esquire is hereby authorized to receive the said Thousand Pounds for the Use aforesaid, and to give Acquittance for the same accordingly."

Adjourn.

House adjourned till 10 ^a cras.