House of Lords Journal Volume 6: 4 April 1644

DIE Jovis, 4 die Aprilis.

PRAYERS, by Dr. Gouge.

Lords present this Day:

Ds. Grey de Warke, Speaker.

Archbishop of Canterbury's Trial.

Ordered, That the Trial of the Archbishop of Canterbury shall be put off until Monday next.

The Lord Viscount Say & Seale reported a Paper from the Scottish Commissioners, which was read:

Paper from the Scots Commissioners, for Supplies for their Armies in Ireland, and in the North.

"Whereas the Honourable Houses of Parliament, in their Answere of the 9th of March, to the Result of the Comittees of both Kingdomes of the 28th of November, and to our Paper of the 17th of Feb. doe earnestly desire the Kingdome of Scotland to continue their Army in Ireland, for the Prosecution of the Warr against the bloody Rebells, and doe assure us of their Willingnesse and Readinesse to apply themselves with all Care to hasten, by all possible Meanes, the Six Thousand Pounds to the Scottish Army in Ireland, and to settle a Course for their future Mantenance, as alsoe of their Hopes to get it done within a short Tyme, having referred the Consideration of the speedy effectuating thereof to the Comittee of both Kingdomes, who, after serious Debate among themselves, and Conference with other Comittees, have made their Reporte of the most probable Waies of providing the Scottish Army, according to the former Ingagements of the Parliament, and of subsequent manteyninge and regulating the whole Forces in Ulster; and whereas, by the Reporte of Mr. Traill, lately come from Ireland, and by the Letters of the Earle of Lowdown Lord High Chancellor of Scotland, sent unto us, and communicate to the Houses, the extreame Wants and great Miseries of that Army (having nether receved Mony, Victuall, Clothes, nor Amunition, from this Kingdome, these Twenty-two Monthes by-gone); and the uttermost Endeavours of the Kingdome of Scotland, by sending some Persons of Quality, with Mony, Victuall, and Clothes, in a Measure above their Power, especially at such a Tyme, for to continue them in Ireland, according to the Parliament's Desires, for the Prosecution of that Warr, untill they receaved their promised Supplyes from this; as alsoe the Army their, condescending yet for to stay and prosecute the Warr, in Expectation of these Supplies, and Waies of Maintenance (notwithstandinge their former Sufferings, which, all Circumstances being considered, cannot be paralelled in any Story, and, as dayly Experience here evidenceth, would not be undergone by any others): All these are now soe fully knowne to the Parliament, that we neede not trouble them with Repetition thereof; therefore we desire the Honourable Houses of Parliament to take some speedy Resolution upon that Report, to be dispatched unto the Committees in Scotland, and unto that Army (we having an Expresse ready waiting for it; and having no Power of ourselves to doe any more or otherwise then was in the Result, 28th of Nov.); and withall, in the meane Tyme, to take a reall and effectuall Care of performing whatsoever shall be promised unto them, for their present Supply, or future Maintenance, and of sending Directions unto them, according to the Fifth Result of the Comittees of both Kingdomes, in Case any emergent Necessities of Busines here should interrupt the Accomplishment thereof, which God forbid.

"The Letters from the Comittees of both Kingdomes with our Army in the North, directed to this Comittee, and others sent unto us, which are already, or are herewith, communicate to the Honourable Houses, doe soe fully demonstrate the Necessity of a present sending the Remainder of the Hundred Thousand Pounds, according to the Treaty, from this, unto them, in regard of the great Deficiency of all other Ways yet thought upon, as of the Sequestration of Coales and Excise in these Parts, to furnish dayly Maintenance to comon Souldiers, let be Monies to the Officers; that we must earnestly request the Parliament timeously to goe about the effectuall sending of these Monies, conforme to the Desire of these Letters, and to prevent least by any Obstructions the Necessities of that Army grow like these of our Army in Ireland.

"As by our Commission and Instructions presented to the Parliament the 5th of Feb. we did shew that we have Power to advise and consult with such Committees as the Houses should appointe, concerning the drawing up of such Propositions as should be thought necessary for the Peace of His Majesty's Dominions, according to the Article of the late Treaty betwixt the Kingdomes (soe well knowne unto the Parliament), and the Invitation of the Houses for our coming hither, to joyne the Councells of both Nations in the managing of this present Warr, and setling a Peace; soe doe we now conceive it necessary for us to shew our Willingnesse and ready Minde to contribute our best Councells and Endeavours with the Committees of the Parliament, whensoever the Honourable Houses shall give them Order, that we may joyntly consider of such Articles and Propositions as may be a sure and sufficient Ground of the Preservation of Religion, and the Peace of His Majesty's Dominions; that, being presented unto and agreed upon by the Houses of Parliament in England, and the Committees of the Estates of Scotland, they may ether be sent to His Majesty to receave His Approbation, or such Use made of them as by joynt Advise and Consente shall be thought most necessary for the Good of both Kingdomes.

"We doe earnestly intreate your Lordship, and these noble Gentlemen, to communicate these our Desires unto the Honourable Houses of Parliament, and, according to the present Exigence and Necessities of these Armies in England and Ireland, to procure with all convenient Speede their Resolutions and Supply.

3 Aprilis, 1644.

"Jo. Cheislie, Cler. Commiss."

Abuses in Sequestrations to be considered.

This House, taking into Consideration this Paper, was informed of the great Abuse committed in the Execution of the Ordinance for Sequestrations; that much Money was raised, and very little converted to the Use of the Public, as was intended: Hereupon this House Ordered and referred this Business to the Consideration of the Committee of Lords and Commons for Sequestrations, to consider of the great Abuse in the managing of the Sequestrations; and to consider what fit Course is to be taken, (fn. 1) for remedying of the Abuses, and to report the same to the Houses.

Message to the H. C. about it.

And a Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir Edw. Leech and Dr. Aylett:

To desire them to join with their Lordships in this, and give the same Power to their Committee, and to meet To-morrow in the Afternoon.

Report of the Conference concerning the Papers from the Dutch Ambassadors.

The Speaker reported the Effect of the Conference Yesterday with the House of Commons, concerning the Dutch Ambassador's Papers. (Here enter it.)

And because there was some Things in this Report which were mis-reported by the House of Commons, and mistaken from the Sense which was delivered at the Conference by the Lord General, his Lordship delivered in Writing the Effect what he said.

Committee to consider of reconciling the Difference in Opinion between the Houses upon it, and concerning the Oath of Secrecy, &c.

Hereupon this House Ordered, That it is referred to the Committee formerly appointed to consider of the late Conference delivered by Mr. Rous, concerning the Oath of Secrecy, to take into their Consideration so much of the Scottish Paper read this Day as concerns Peace, and also the Lord General's Paper, being the Effect of what he spake at a late Conference with the House of Commons; and likewise to take into Consideration the Report this Day made, concerning the Dutch Papers; and to draw up what Reasons they think fit, by Way of Answer to it, or by Way of Accommodation, to reconcile, if it may be, the Difference in Opinion betwixt the Two Houses.

Supplies for the Scotch Armies.

Ordered, That that Part of the Scottish Paper as concerns Money and Supplies is referred to the Con sideration of the Committee of Lords and Commons for Sequestrations.

Ordinance for supplying the Navy with Powder.

The Lord Admiral this Day presented an Ordinance to the House, for furnishing the Navy with Six Hundred Barrels of Powder presently; which was read Thrice, approved of, and sent down to the House of Commons, by Sir Rob't Rich and Mr. Page, to desire their Concurrence therein.

Ordinance for a strict Observation of the Sabbath.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Sir Rob't Harley, &c.

To desire their Lordships Concurrence in an Ordinance concerning the more stricter observing of the Lords-day.

The said Ordinance was read Twice, and committed to these Lords following; videlicet,

Kendall.

It was moved, "That George Kendall, a Minister, Prisoner in Newgate, might be released upon Bail;" but the House was informed, "That lately he hath written a Letter to Mr. Burroughes, One of the Assembly of Divines, wherein there are some Things which will induce their Lordships not to release him yet:" Hereupon this House Ordered, That Mr. Burroughes be desired, from this House, to bring the said Letter To-morrow Morning to this House.

Adjourn.

House adjourned till 9 ^a cras.