House of Lords Journal Volume 5: 2 November 1642

DIE Mercurii, videlicet, 2 die Novembris.

PRAYERS.

Lord Grey de Warke, Speaker.

The Messengers return this Answer:

Answer from the H. C.

That they have delivered the Bill concerning the Innovations.

Means of bringing about a Peace to be considered.

It was moved, "That this House might sit this Afternoon, and take into Consideration what Course is best, to prevent the further Effusion of Blood, if the Armies should meet again and fight, and to settle the present Distractions of the Times:" And this House Resolved, To send to the House of Commons, to desire them to sit this Afternoon.

Message to the H. C. to sit P. M.

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

To desire that the House of Commons would sit this Afternoon, about the pressing Affairs of this Kingdom.

Dr. Hackett, a Pass to the King.

Ordered, That Mr. Doctor Hackett shall have a Pass, to the King, being his Waiting Month.

Justice Foster Leave to be absent.

Ordered, That Mr. Justice Foster hath Leave to be absent from this House for a little Time.

Order for Support of the King's Children.

The Order brought up Yesterday from the House of Commons, concerning the Payment of Eight Hundred Pounds a Month, by Sir Ralph Freeman, for the Maintenance of the King's Children: It is approved of.

(Here enter it.)

Michell sent for, for disobeying an Order about paying Money to Mr. Osbalston.

Upon Affidavit read of John Howard, "That Thomas Michell, of Curricoate, in the County of Hartford, hath disobeyed the (fn. 1) Order of this House, dated the 7th of July, 1641, concerning Monies to be paid to Mr. Osbalston, which were received out of the Profits of Whethamsteed:" It is Ordered, That the said Tho. Michell shall be sent for, as a Delinquent, for disobeying the said Order.

The Messengers return with this Answer:

Answer from the H. C.

That the House of Commons will sit at Three a Clock this Afternoon.

Order for 800l. a Month, for Maintenance of the King's Younger Children.

"Whereas Sir Ralph Freeman, and other the Officers of the Mint, in whose Charge and Custody the Monies growing due unto His Majesty (fn. 2) are, were Ordered, the 25th of October last, to pay unto Cornelius Holland, late Pay-master for the Household of the Prince his Highness and the rest of His Majesty's Children, for and towards the Expence of the Household of His Majesty's Two Youngest Children, the Duke of Gloucester and Princess Elizabeth, the Sum of Eight Hundred Pounds for the Month of October last past, and so the like Sum of Eight Hundred Pounds for each ensuing Month, until they should receive Order from both Houses of Parliament to the contrary: It is this Day further Ordered, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, for the more orderly Payment of the said Monies, That the said Sir Ralph Freeman and Sir Wm. Parkhurst, and all other the Officers or Ministers belonging unto the said Office of the Mint whom the same may concern, shall pay the said Eight Hundred Pounds Monthly into His Majesty's Exchequer; and that Sir Rob't Pye, Sir Edward Warder, and the several Tellers of His Majesty's Exchequer, shall thence pay, or cause to be paid, the said several Sums of Eight Hundred Pounds Monthly, in Manner aforesaid, unto the said Cornelius Holland, for and towards the Expence of His Majesty's said Two Youngest Children; and for so doing, this, together with an Acquittance under the Hand of the said Cornelius Holland, shall be a sufficient Discharge unto the said Sir Rob't Pye, Sir Edward Warder, and all other the Officers of His Majesty's Exchequer whom it may concern."

Adjourn.

Adjourn to 3^a hora post meridiem.

Post meridiem.

PRAYERS.

Lord Grey, Speaker.

Propositions for bringing about a Peace.

The House took into Consideration what Course to take, to make an Address to His Majesty, for the staying the Effusion of more Blood, and settling the present Distractions; and the Committee for the Safety produced a Letter written from the Lord General, in Answer to a Letter written from the said Committee to his Lordship, which Letter was read, in hæc verba:

E. of Essex's Letter to the Committee of Safety about it.

"My Lords and Gentlemen,

"I have received a Letter from you, that mentions an humble Petition to be directed to His Majesty, to save the Effusion of more Blood. In the First Place, I am to acknowledge your Favour of desiring to hear from me before you send it. In the Second Place, to declare that a happy Accommodation, for the Advancement of Religion, the Flourishing of this Kingdom with the ancient Rights, and saving the Effusion of more Blood, and the uniting of His Majesty to His Parliament, none shall pray more, nor receive it with more Joy than myself. If I had not, by the Commands of the Parliament, been here to govern this Army, I should have given my Attendance upon you, and should have discharged my Conscience (to the best of my Abilities) honestly and clearly; but, being absent, and not hearing the Debates, or from whence this hath risen, I must submit myself to their greater Judgements, and shall, with all Obedience, submit both to what they shall do, and to obey the former Commands, to advance towards London, to interpose with my utmost between them and all Dangers.

"Your Lordships Servant,

North'ton, the 1st Novemb. 1642.

"Essex."

To be communicated to the H. C.

This Letter being read, it was Resolved, To have a Conference with the House of Commons, and communicate this Letter unto them; and to desire that Committees of both Houses might be appointed, to consider of some fitting Way and Accommodation to be presented to His Majesty, for the preventing and staying the Effusion of more Blood, and for the settling Religion, and the Peace of the Kingdom, and Liberty of the Subject, &c. and to present the same to be approved of by this House.

Then this House Ordered, That the preparing of this Petition and Address to His Majesty shall be referred to the Committee for the Safety of the Kingdom, to join with the Committee of the House of Commons, and that the Earl of Exon and the Lord Bruce are added to this Committee.

Message to the H. C. for a Conference about these Matters.

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

To desire a present Conference, with the House of Commons, in the Painted Chamber, concerning the present Affairs and Condition of this Kingdom.

The Answer was:

Answer.

That the House of Commons will give a present Conference, as is desired, in the Painted Chamber.

Message from the H. C. for a Conference on some Propositions for the Safety of the Kingdom.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Sir John Wray, Knight:

To desire that, at this next Conference, the House of Commons may have a Free Conference, touching some Propositions concerning the Safety of this Kingdom.

Answer:

Answer.

That this House will give a present Free Conference, as is desired.

Paviours Petition, for paving Old Palace Yard.

Upon the humble Petition of the Paviours and others employed about the Work of Paving The Old Palace, desiring, "That One Hundred Pounds may be delivered, by Way of Impress, to the Hands of the Officers of His Majesty's Works, whereby they may be paid for their Work in the said Palace:" It is Ordered, That Inigo Jones, the Pay-master, and other the Officers of the Works, shall disburse the Sum of One Hundred Pounds, by Way of Impress, for paying the poor Workmen.

House adjourned during Pleasure, and the Lords went to the Conference; which being ended, the House was resumed.

Conference reported.

And the Speaker reported, "That, at this Conference, the House of Commons presented a Declaration, which is to be sent to the Kingdom of Scotland, wherein they desire their Lordships Concurrence; and that the Care of sending of it to Scotland may be referred to the Committee of the Defence of the Kingdom."

The Declaration was read, as follows: videlicet, (Here enter it.)

Parliament's Declaration to the Kingdom of Scotland.

(fn. 1) "We, the Lords and Commons assembled in the Parliament of England, considering with what Wisdom and Public Affection our Brethren of the Kingdom of Scotland did concur with the Endeavours of this Parliament, and the Desires of the whole Kingdom, in procuring and establishing a firm Peace and Amity betwixt the Two Nations, and how lovingly they have since invited us to a nearer and higher Degree of Union, in Matters concerning Religion and Church Government, which we have most willingly and affectionately embraced, and intend to pursue, cannot doubt but they will with as much Forwardness and Affection concur with us, in settling Peace in this Kingdom, and preserving it in their own, that so we may mutually reap the Benefit of that Amity and Alliance so happily made, and strongly confirmed, betwixt the Two Nations: Wherefore, as we did about a Year since, in the First Appearance of Trouble then beginning among us, actually declare that, in our Sense and Apprehension of the National Alliance betwixt us, we were thereby bound to apply the Authority of Parliament and Power of this Kingdom to the Preservation and Maintenance of their Peace; and seeing now that the Troubles of this Kingdom are grown to a greater Height, and subtile Practices of the common Enemy of the Religion and Liberty of both Nations do appear with more Evidence, Strength, and Danger, than they did at that Time, we hold it necessary to Declare, That, in our Judgement, the same Obligation lies upon our Brethren, by the aforementioned Act, with the Power and Force of that Kingdom, to assist us in repressing those amongst us who are now in Arms, and make War not only without Consent of Parliament, but even against the Parliament, and for the Destruction thereof.

"Wherefore, we have thought good to make known to our Brethren, that His Majesty hath given Commissions to divers eminent and known Papists, to raise Forces, and to compose an Army, in the North and other Parts of this Kingdom, which is to join with divers Foreign Forces, intended to be transported from beyond the Seas, for the Destruction of this Parliament, and of the Religion and Liberty of this Kingdom; and that the Prelatical Part of the Clergy, and their Adherents, have likewise incited His Majesty to raise another Army, which in His own Person He doth conduct against the Parliament and the City of London, plundering and robbing sundry well-affected Towns within their Power; and that, in Prosecution of their Malice, they are so presumptuous and predominant over His Majesty's Resolutions, that they forbear not those Outrages in Places to which His Majesty hath given His Royal Word and Protection; a great Cause and Incentive of which Malice proceeds from the Design they have to hinder the Reformation of Ecclesiastical Government in this Kingdom, so much longed for by all the true Lovers of the Protestant Religion.

"And hereupon we further desire our Brethren of the Nation of Scotland to raise such Forces as they shall judge sufficient for the securing the Peace of their own Borders against the ill-affected Persons there; as likewise to assist us in suppressing the Army of Papists and Foreigners, which, as we expect, will shortly be on Foot here, and, if they be not timely prevented, may prove as mischievous and destructive to that Kingdom as to ourselves.

"And though we seek nothing from His Majesty that may diminish either His just Authority or Honour, and have by many humble Petitions endeavoured to put an End to this dangerous and unnatural War and Combustion in the Kingdom, and to procure His Majesty's Protection and Security for our Religion, Liberty, and Persons, according to that great Trust to which His Majesty is bound by the Laws of the Land, and shall still continue to renew our Petitions in that Kind; yet, to our great Grief, we see the Papistical and Malignant Counsel so prevalent with His Majesty, and His Person so engaged to their Power, that we have little Hope of any better Success of our Petitions than we formerly had, and are hereby necessitated to stand upon our just Defence, and to seek the speedy and powerful Assistance of our Brethren of Scotland, according to the Act agreed upon in the Parliament of both Kingdoms, the common Duty of Christianity, and the particular Interest of their own Kingdom; to which we hope God will give such a Blessing, that it may produce the Preservation of Religion, the Honour, Safety, and Peace of His Majesty and all His Subjects, and a more strict Conjunction of the Counsels, Designs, and Endeavours of both Nations, for the Comfort and Relief of the Reformed Churches beyond the Sea."

Ordered, That the Resolution in (fn. 4) this be respited for a Time.

Message from the H. C. for the Lords Concurrence in the following Declaration.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Mr. Pym:

To let their Lordships know, that the Commons do concur with their Lordships in the Matter of the last Conference; and have referred the Consideration of the Address to His Majesty for curing of these Distractions; but, lest the Affections of the People should grow cold, they have made a short Declaration, to be published, in which they desire their Lordships Concurrence: videlicet,

Declaration, that an Address is preparing to the King, to conciliate Matters; but the Preparations to go on in the mean Time.

"Whereas we, the Lords and Commons, have Ordered, That it shall be referred to the Committee for the Safety of the Kingdom, to prepare Heads of an humble Address to be made unto His Majesty, for composing the present Differences and Distractions, and settling the Peace of the Kingdom, and to present them to the House; yet, to prevent all Misconstructions or Neglects whereby our just Defence may be hindered, we do Declare, That the Preparations of Forces, and all other necessary Means for the Defence of the Protestant Religion, the Privileges of Parliament, the Laws and Liberties of the Subject, shall be prosecuted with all Vigour."

To be printed.

Ordered, That this House agrees with the House of Commons in this Declaration; and that it be forthwith printed and published.

The Answer returned was:

Answer to the H. C.

That this House agrees with the House of Commons in this Declaration.