Die Sabbati, 27 Augusti, 1642;

PRAYERS.

Pass for Soubera, &c.

ORDERED, That Lawrence Soubera, a French Gentleman, and a Protestant, shall have Mr. Speaker's Warrant to transport himself beyond the Seas into France.

Ordered, That Jo. Aldersey, of London, Merchant, shall have Liberty to transport himself, One Horse of Barbary, of such a Price as is not saleable here, and One Servant, beyond the Seas, for the Exercising of his Profession of Merchandize.

Prayer said by Speaker.

Mr. Rous, Mr. Marten, Mr. Strode, Mr. Gourdon, Mr. Hatcher, Sir H. Ludlowe, are to consider of the Prayer said every Morning, by Mr. Speaker; and to add unto it, and to alter it as they shall think fit.

Proceedings concerning Colepeper.

Mr. Speaker informed the House, That he had received a Letter from Sir Jo. Colepeper, Chancellor of the Exchequer; which doth express, that he was coming with a Message from his Majesty: That, in regard of an Order of the House, he durst not presume to come to the House, until he had the Leave of the House.

The House fell into Debate of the Business: And after some Consideration thereupon;

The Question being put, Whether the Question for Disabling Sir Jo. Colepeper to sit as a Member, should be now put;

Instructions to Kent Committee, &c.

The Instructions for the Committees of the House of Commons, and Deputy Lieutenants for the County of Kent, and other Deputy Lieutenants of that County, for the Preservation of the Peace of that County; which were the same with those general ones for other Counties, except some small Alterations and Additions; were this Day read; and, by Vote upon the Question, assented unto; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Message to Lords.

Sir Ro. Harley is appointed to carry up to the Lords the Instructions for Kent; the Order concerning Cables to be sent to the Fleet; the Order concerning the Ship Clara, at Southampton; the Order for repressing the Disorders and Insolencies of Soldiers.

Members accede to Covenant.

Mr. Glyn, Captain Long, Sir F. Knollis, Sir Wm. Ogle, Sir H. Vane junior, Mr. Ven, Lord Cramborne, Sir Harbottle Grimston, Sir Sam. Luke, Sir Jo. Harrison.

Sir Tho. Bowyer declared himself in the Affirmative to the Question, in toto composito.

Sir Simonds D'Ewes declared himself in the Affirmative.

Mr. Jo. Alford, Mr. May, Sir Wm. Morley, Sir Ralph Verney.

The Vote of the 11th of August, concerning the Assisting the Earl of Essex with Life and Fortune, in the Defence of the true Protestant Religion, the King's Person, the Laws of the Land, the Liberties and Property of the Subject, &c. was read: And these Members before recited did all declare themselves in the Affirmative.

Message from the King.

Mr. Solicitor acquainted the House, That Sir Jo. Colpeper was without; and desired him to acquaint Mr. Speaker, and the House, That he had a Message from his Majesty to deliver to the House; which he could not deliver, but as a Member of the House.

The Serjeant is appointed to go to Sir Jo. Colpeper, to tell him, That the House is informed, that he has a Message to deliver to the House from his Majesty; and that he . . . sent by the House to bring him in.

Sir Jo. Colpeper being called in; Mr. Speaker told him, by the Command of the House, That the House has received Information, that he hath a Message from his Majesty: And the House gives you Leave to deliver it.

Sir Jo. Colpeper acquainted the House, He had received no other Commands or Instructions from his Majesty, than a Message in Writing: Which he delivered in; and then he withdrew.

And then the Message was read:

Sir Christ. Yelverton is appointed to go to the Lords, to desire them to sit awhile.

Sir Christ. Yelverton brings Answer, That the Lords will sit awhile, as is desired.

Resolved, upon the Question, That this House cannot give Answer to this Message from his Majesty, until the Proclamations and Declarations be recalled, whereby the Earl of Essex, and both Houses of Parliament, and their Adherents and Assistants, and such as have obeyed and executed their Commands and Directions, according to their Duties, are declared Traitors, or otherwise Delinquents; and until the Standard set up in pursuance of the Proclamations be taken down.

This to be a Head of the Conference.

Mr. Long went up to the Lords, to desire a Conference with the Lords, by Committees of both Houses, concerning a Message this Day received from his Majesty.

Another Head of the Conference to be, to desire the Lords to join with this House in a Direction to the Lord General, that he advance his Forces, with all possible Speed, for the Defence and Safety of the Kingdom. This the House doth not out of any Apprehension of any Backwardness in the Lord General; but to give Satisfaction, that this Message doth not render them any way slack in their Duties, for the Preservation and Safety of the Kingdom.

Mr. Pym, Mr. Glyn, Sir Ph. Stapilton, Mr. Strode, Mr. Marten, are appointed Managers of this Conference.

Leave of Absence.

Resolved, upon the Question, That Mr. Prideaux shall have Liberty to go into the Country.

Declaration, &c. from Scotland.

Ordered, That the Declaration, and other Instructions, from the Assembly in Scotland, be taken into Consideration on Monday Morning, the first Business.

Conference.

Mr. Long brings Answer, That the Lords will give a present Meeting, as is desired.

Removing a Prisoner.

Ordered, That Sir Basil Brooke shall be removed out of the Serjeant's Custody into the King's Bench.

Prisoners discharged.

The humble Petition of Tho. Melhevish, Francis Burroughes, and Wm. Speed Constables, was read;

Resolved, &c. That these Three Persons shall be forthwith discharged from any further Imprisonment or Restraint, without paying any Fees.

Member to reprehend them.

Resolved, &c. That Captain Venne do give these Three Men a Reprehension for their Carriage to Mr. Ash, a Member of the House.

Answer from Lords.

Sir Robert Harley brings Answer; the Lords do agree to all the Things he carried up; and to the Instructions for Kent, as to the other Counties.

Barking Lecturer.

Resolved, &c. These Words, "and in Orders," shall be omitted in the Order for Lecturing in Barking Church.

Preventing Pillage.

Message from the Lords, by Sir Robert Riche and Mr. Page;

That the Lords have conceived an Order for the Prevention of those that do, of their own Heads, plunder or pillage any Houses; and to bring them to condign Punishment: And desire the Concurrence of this House; and that it may be printed.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House will send an Answer by Messengers of their own.

The Order was read.

Whereupon it was committed unto Mr. Rigby, Sir Arthur Hasilrig, Sir Hugh Cholmley, and Sir Henry Mildmay, or any Two of them: And are to meet this Afternoon at Two of Clock, in the Court of Wards.

Conference.

Message from the Lords, by Dr. Aylett and Dr. Heath;

That the Lords do desire a present Conference, by a Committee of both Houses, touching the Matter of the last Conference.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That .. his House will give a present Meeting as is desired.

Answer to King's Message.

Mr. Pym reports the Conference; That the Lords have conceived the Form of an Answer to the King's Message: Which was read; and, upon the Question, assented unto; with the Amendments of Two Words, viz. "or with."

Ordered, That Mr. Pym do go with a Message, and carry it to the Lords, to desire their Concurrence; and that it be sent by Sir John Culpeper.

Preserving Houses from Plunder.

Ordered, That the High Sheriff of the County of Essex go down to preserve the Lady Mildmay's House in Danbery, from Plundering; and other Houses in that County.

Grant to O Connally.

IT is this Day Ordered, by the Lords and Commons, assembled in Parliament, That, in Discharge of the Promise made unto Owen O Connally, by the House of Commons, for Service done in Ireland, to give him Two hundred Pounds a Year, until the same were otherwise settled on him in Lands, the said Owen, or his Assigns, shall therefore underwrite Twelve hundred Pounds, as Money adventured for Ireland; for which Sum he shall have such a Proportion of Lands and other Benefits, as other Adventurers have for the like Sum of Money, by the last Act of Parliament in that Behalf made; and this to be in Lieu and Discharge of the said Two hundred Pounds a Year for ever, from Midsummer last past: And the Treasurers, and other Officers for the Subscription, are hereby required to pay unto Owen O Connally, or his Assigns, the said Sum of Twelve hundred Pounds; and to receive the same back again, for his Subscription Money.

Safety of Dorsett.

Ordered, That the Treasurers in the City of London, appointed to receive the Monies and Plate that come in upon the Propositions, shall forthwith pay unto Denzell Hollis Esquire, or to Sir Walter Earle Knight, or either of them, the Sum of Eight hundred Pounds, to be disbursed by them, or either of them, upon Account, for the Safety of the County of Dorsett, and the Town of Dorchester.

Message from the King.

WE have, with unspeakable Grief of Heart, long beheld the Distractions of this Our Kingdom: Our very Soul is full of Anguish, until We may find some Remedy to prevent the Miseries which are ready to overwhelm this whole Nation by a Civil War. And though all Our Endeavours tending to the Composing of those unhappy Differences betwixt Us and Our Two Houses of Parliament (though pursued by Us with all Zeal and Sincerity), have been hitherto without that Success We hoped for; yet such is Our constant and earnest Care to preserve the publick Peace, that We shall not be discouraged from using any Expedient, which, by the Blessing of the God of Mercy, may lay a firm Foundation of Peace and Happiness to all Our good Subjects. To this End, observing that many Mistakes have risen by the Messages, Petitions, and Answers, betwixt Us and Our Two Houses of Parliament, which happily may be prevented by some other Way of Treaty, wherein the Matters in Difference may be more clearly understood, and more freely transacted; We have thought fit to propound to you, that some fit Persons may be by you enabled to treat with the like Number to be authorized by Us, in such a Manner, and with such Freedom of Debate, as may best tend to that happy Conclusion which all good Men desire; the Peace of the Kingdom. Wherein as We promise, in the Word of a King, all Safety and Encouragement to such as shall be sent to Us, if you shall chuse the Place where We are for the Treaty, which We wholly leave to you, presuming of your like Care of the Safety of those We shall employ, if you shall name another Place; so We assure you, and all Our good Subjects, that, to the best of Our Understanding, nothing shall be therein wanting on Our Parts, which may advance the true Protestant Religion, oppose Popery and Superstition, secure the Law of the Land (upon .... is built as well Our just Prerogative, as the Propriety and Liberty of the Subject), confirm all just Power and Privileges of Parliament, and render Us and Our People truly happy, by a good Understanding betwixt Us and Our Two Houses of Parliament. Bring with you as firm Resolutions to do your Duty: And let all Our good People join with Us in Our Prayers to Almighty God for his Blessing upon the Work.

If this Proposition shall be rejected by you, We have done Our Duty so amply, that God will absolve Us from the Guilt of any of that Blood which must be spilt. And what Opinion other Men may have of Our Power, We assure you, nothing but Our Christian and pious Care to prevent the Effusion of Blood, hath begot this Motion; Our Provision of Men, Arms, and Money, being such, as may secure Us from further Violence, till it shall please God to open the Eyes of Our People.

May it please your Majesty,

Answer to the King.

THE Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, having received Your Majesty's Message of the 25th of August, do, with much Grief, resent the dangerous and distracted State of this Kingdom; which we have, by all Means, endeavoured to prevent, both by our several Advices and Petitions to Your Majesty, which have been not only without Success, but there hath followed that, which no ill Counsel in former Times hath produced, or any Age hath seen; namely, these several Proclamations, and Declarations, against both the Houses of Parliament, whereby their Actions are declared Treasonable, and their Persons Traitors: And thereupon Your Majesty hath set up Your Standard against them; whereby you have put the Two Houses of Parliament, and in them this whole Kingdom, out of Your Protection. So that, until Your Majesty shall recall those Proclamations and Declarations, whereby the Earl of Essex, and both Houses of Parliament, and their Adherents and Assistants, and such as have obeyed and executed their Commands and Directions, according to their Duties, are declared Traitors, or other Delinquents; and, until the Standard set up in pursuance of the said Proclamations, be taken down; Your Majesty hath put us into such a Condition, that whilst we so remain, we cannot, by the fundamental Privileges of Parliament, the publick Trust reposed in us, or with the general Good and Safety of this Kingdom, give Your Majesty any other Answer to this Message.