House of Lords Journal Volume 6: 2 March 1644

DIE Sabbati, 2 die Martii.

PRAYERS, by Dr. Smith.

Lords present this Day:

Ds. Grey de Warke, Speaker.

Report of the Conference on the Letter from the Prince Elector.

The Speaker reported the Effect of the Conference with the House of Commons on Thursday last; which was, "That they communicated a Letter to their Lordships, written from the Prince Elector, to the Speaker of their House."

And this House caused the said Letter to be read, as followeth. (Here enter it.)

Ordinance for supplying the Navy with Provisions.

The Lord Admiral presented an Ordinance to this House, concerning the providing of Victuals for the Navy, which is of great Consequence, and requires speedy Expedition; and this House received the same, and commanded it to be read: Which was read Twice; and nothing being objected against it, it was read the Third Time, and Agreed to, and Ordered to be sent down to the House of Commons, to desire their Concurrence therein.

Ships to guard the Irish Seas.

The Earl of Northumb. presented to this House some Letters sent to the Scotch Commissioners, concerning the Affairs of the Scotch Army; with an Intimation, "That there is a Letter coming from the Estates of Scotland to the Parliament, and the Kingdom of Scotland expects a Storm from Ireland; therefore they desire that some Ships may be sent to guard the Irish Seas."

The Lord Admiral acquainted this House, "That there was Course already taken to send Ships speedily to guard the Irish Seas."

Ordered, To send these Letters to the House of Commons.

Letter from the Earl of Forth, that he will send up the Earl of Lothian, if the King's Children are sent to Oxford.

The Lord General acquainted this House with a Letter brought to him lately by a Trumpeter, from the Earl of Foorth, at Oxford; signifying, "That, if he will send the King's Children with a safe Conduct to Oxford, he will send the Earl of Lothian:" Which this House utterly disliked, that the King's Children should be sent to Oxford.

Sent to the H. C. with the Ordinance for victualing the Navy, and other Papers.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Serjeant Whitfeild and Mr. Page:

To desire their Concurrence in the Ordinance concerning the victualing of the Navy; to deliver to them the Letters concerning the Scotch Army; and to let them know, that the Lord Admiral hath taken Care to send Ships speedily, to guard the Irish Seas; and also to communicate unto them the Letter of the Earl of Foorth to the Lord General.

Dr. Burges's Report concerning the Sectaries at Hempstead.

Dr. Burges this Day gave this House an Account, That, according to their Lordships Directions, he hath preached at Hempsteed, in the County of Hertford; and he finds the People there much possessed with Anabaptism and Antinomianism, and other Sects; that, unless some speedy Course be taken, the Mischief will hardly be prevented; and the Minister of the Town, Mr. Kendall, refused to come to him, whereby he might acquaint him with the Order of Parliament: This Mr. Kendall, being set in there by both Houses of Parliament, hath been a chief Promoter of all the Distractions there; he refuseth to baptize any Infants; he hath openly maintained the Church of England to be no Church, and that a Parochial Congregation cannot be a true Church: It is generally conceived, that, so long as he is permitted there, it will never be better with the People, but rather worse; and that there is Labouring in that Town against the taking of the Covenant.

"That there are divers Ministers of that Country, who have promised to preach the Thursday Lecture at Hempsteed, according to an Order of this House, dated the 19th February, 1643; but, by reason of the great Distraction in those Parts, and the Boldness of Anabaptists and other Sectaries thereabouts, the Ministers dare not enter upon this Service, unless they be ordered by their several Names to perform it; videlicet,

Also (fn. 1) a Certificate was read, as followeth:

"We, being Inhabitants in the Town or Parish of Hempsteed, whose Names are here underwritten, do certify, That Mr. Kendall, now a Minister in our Town, hath from Time to Time denied to administer the Sacrament of Baptism unto our Infants, when we have earnestly desired it: This we are ready to testify.

Tho. Walker the Elder.
Wm. Arnot.
Tho. Walker.
Wm. Gregory.
Nathaniell Miles."

29 Feb.

Kendall, Minister there, sent for.

Hereupon this House Ordered, That the said Kendall shall be summoned to appear before the Lords in Parliament forthwith, to answer the said Offences; and that the Assembly be desired to take some Course that the said Parish may be supplied with a Minister, to preach there, until this House gives further Directions therein: And it is further Ordered, That this House appoints the Fifteen Preachers mentioned in the List read this Day, to preach on the Lecture-days at Hempsted, in their several Turns. And this House thought it fit to have a Conference with the House of Commons, after Kendall hath (fn. 1) been heard what he can say for himself.

Baldwin examined, touching his Opinions delivered there.

Next, Mr. Baldwin, that was attached as a Delinquent by Order of this House, upon a former Complaint against him, for endeavouring to stir up the People with seditious Opinions, was brought to the Bar; and a Letter was produced, which he wrote to Mr. Tutty, and read; videlicet,

"Mr. Tutty,

"I understand you desire a Dispute with me; but you would have the Points agreed upon which are to be disputed, that you might study upon them, to be furnished for the Dispute, although you would possess the World that you are a Teacher; which if you were, 'twere required that you should be so apt to teach, before you undertake to be a Teacher, that you should be first enabled both to maintain your own Doctrine and Practice, and also to answer the Gainsayer without Study: But I take you not for a Gospel Teacher, and therefore allow you (as you have Need) Study to fit yourself, being not otherwise fitted.

"Raise then Two Propositions out of my Doctrine and Practice; study thence to confute me. I have believed the Things I have delivered, therefore have I spoken. I have made the Word of Truth the Rule of what I yet practise, therefore shall I trust God for Ability to maintain both extempore. I think it also equally meet that your Doctrine and Practice should be brought to Trial; that therefore you may not say that I debar you your needful Study, I have raised to maintain against you what I have here sent you, in Contradiction both to your Doctrine and Practice.

"The First is in Contradiction to your Doctrine, which you wrested falsely from Paul's Words, 1 Cor. iv. 1. I thus proposing, that Believers are not so to account of the Ministry of the Church of England as the Ministers of Jesus Christ, and Stewards of the Mystery of the Gospel, and so to hear and follow them; but to account of them as the Members of Antichrist, and Stewards of the Mystery of Iniquity, and thereupon not to hear, but fly from them.

"Secondly, in Contradiction to your Practice, I thus propose to maintain, that Infants of Days are not fit Subjects of Baptism, and such Baptism upon such Subjects no true Baptism, and a Church constituted of such Members through such Baptism not built upon the Head Corner-stone, the Lord Christ.

"The Place for the Dispute requisite to be in Mimms Steeple House, in so much as our Difference arose from what were there delivered. The Time to be the Sixth Day of the First Month, being the Fourth Day of the Week, Anno 1643. Per me,

"Rob'^T Baldwin.

"This Paper was delivered to me by Mr. Baldwin, with his own Hand, at Ridge, in Hartfordshire, on Tuesday last, 27 Feb. 1643, Per me,

"W^M. Tutty."

This Letter being shewed to the said Rob't Baldwin, he confessed it to (fn. 2) be his own Hand-writing, and owned it.

Baldwin committed to The Gatehouse.

Hereupon this House taking this Business into Consideration, for the present Ordered, That the said Rob't Baldwin, for endeavouring to stir up Sedition, shall stand committed to the Prison of The Gatehouse in Westm. there to remain until the Pleasure of this House be further known; and that the Keeper of the Prison shall take special Care that no Company resort unto him, nor that he be permitted to preach, whereby to disperse his Sedition; and this Command to obey, as he will (fn. 2) answer the contrary at his Peril.

King's Children.

Ordered, That the Committee for St. James shall meet on Monday Morning next, at Eight of the Clock in the Morning.

Message to the H. C. with the Ordinance to exclude the Members from sitting, who have absented themselves; and to take off the Earl of Holland's Sequestration.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir Edward Leech and Sir Rob't Rich:

To desire their Concurrence in the Ordinance concerning the excluding of the Members of either House of Parliament, without the Consent of both Houses; and also to desire them to take off the Sequestration from the Earl of Holland's Estate.

"Mr. Speaker,

Prince Elector's Letter.

"Having observed, by the late Covenant taken by the Honourable Houses of Parliament in England, and the Estates of Scotland, a Confirmation of their pious, loyal, and generous Designs formerly expressed for the Establishment of the true Protestant Religion, the King's Honour and Happiness, and the perfect Peace in His Majesty's Dominions; I could not omit to desire you herewith to assure that Part wherein you have most Interest, of the Contentment I receive thereby, and of my constant and hearty Wishes, that the Effects of those their Professions may have a speedy and happy Issue. How much my Desires, Actions, and Interests, have ever concurred therewith, you have been sufficiently certified by my Servants, Letters, and my own Behaviour since these unhappy Troubles; and the public Notice which the Honourable House of Commons hath formerly taken of my Family's Sufferings, with the particular Consideration it hath lately had for the Supply of my present (notwithstanding its own urgent) Necessities, is so great a Tye, besides what my Blood oweth them, upon me, that I shall think myself happy whensoever I shall be enabled to answer it with some real and serviceable Gratitude. In the mean Time, I beseech the said House, that, in Pursuance of its Bounty, such Order may be taken in the settling of what hath been assigned me, as may render it as effectual to me as by the said House hath been ordered and intended; in Confidence that when it shall please God so to bless the Endeavours of both Kingdoms, as to settle Truth and Peace in all His Majesty's Dominions, the said House will, according to its former Declaration, with no less Favour and Affection, undertake the Re-establishment of my Public Interests abroad; not doubting but the Estates of Scotland will, according to my Request to them upon this Occasion, and their former Promise, willingly concur with the Parliament of England therein.

"This is all at this Time, which I desire you would be pleased to represent to the Honourable House of Commons from me; which will be no small Addition of what I owe you, for the like Favour, whereby you have obliged

"Your most affectionate Friend,

Hage, the 12 / 22 of February, 1644.

"Charles Lodovic.

"For Mr. William Lenthall Esquire, Speaker of the Honourable House of Commons."

Adjourn.

House adjourned till 9^a, Monday.