House of Lords Journal Volume 6: 10 February 1644

DIE Sabbati, 10 die Februarii.

PRAYERS, by Mr. Tho. Goodwin.

Lords present this Day:

Ds. Grey de Warke, Speaker.

Answer from the H. C.

Sir Rob't Rich and Mr. Page, sent with a Message Yesterday from the House of Commons, return with this Answer:

That they will send an Answer, by Messengers of their own, to the Alterations in the Ordinance for appointing Committees of both Houses to treat with the Scottish Commissioners.

Message from thence, with an Ordinance.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Sir Rob't Harley and others;

To desire their Lordships Concurrence in these Particulars:

to expedite others;

1. In an Ordinance concerning the Master of the Rolls; and that the Commissioners of the Great Seal may pass it under the Great Seal.

2. To desire Expedition;

1. To the Ordinance concerning Midd.

2. To the Ordinance for Accompts.

3. To the Ordinance for Mr. Rous to be Provost of Eaton.

4. To the Order for allowing Three Pounds per Week to Mr. John Hotham.

5. To the Ordinance concerning regulating St. James House.

6. To desire that their Lordships would concur with them, that Sir John Hotham shall have Five Pounds a Week allowed him out of his own Estate, till he come to his Trial.

Mr. Hotham to have an Allowance.

The Order for the allowing Three Pounds a Week to Mr. John Hotham was read; and this House thought it fit that he hath Three Pounds a Week allowed him, out of his own Estate or his Father's.

Sir J. Hotham, D°.

Ordered, That this House agrees to the Order for allowing of Five Pounds a Week to Sir Jo. Hotham, out of his own Estate.

The Answer returned was:

Answer to the H. C.

That this House agrees to the Order for allowing Five Pounds a Week to Sir John Hotham out of his own Estate; and to all the rest of the Particulars of this Message, this House will send an Answer by Messengers of their own.

E. of Bridgewater took the Covenant.

The Earl of Rutland and the Earl of Bolingbrooke reported to this House, "That the Earl of Bridgwater hath taken and subscribed the late Covenant."

Remonstrance from the Lord Admiral, concerning the Want of Supplies for the Navy.

The Lord Admiral reported to this House, "The great Backwardness of Preparation for setting forth the Navy this Spring, by reason of the Want of Monies and other Supplies; which being a Business of such great Consequence, he desired their Lordships to give him Leave to present to the Two Houses of Parliament a Remonstrance of the whole Business, for his own Discharge:" Which this House commanded to be read.

Which was done accordingly.

Hereupon this House Ordered, To have a Conference with the House of Commons, and communicate this Remonstrance to them; and desire that they would take this Business into speedy Consideration.

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

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

and that Mr. Hotham may have an Allowance.

To desire a Conference with the House of Commons, by a Committee of both Houses, at Three of the Clock this Afternoon, touching a Remonstrance of the Lord Admiral's, concerning the Navy; and to desire their Concurrence, that Captain Hotham may have Three Pounds a Week allowed him out of his own Estate or his Father's, until he come to his Trial.

Commission for the Master of the Rolls, & al. to hear Causes in Chancery.

Next was read, a Commission to the Master of the Rolls, and the Judges, to sit in Chancery, and hear Causes; and Ordered to be committed to the Consideration of these Lords following:

Any Three, to meet presently.

Sir Tho. Middleton's Ordinance.

The Earl of Denbigh reported, "That the Committee have considered of the Ordinance for Sir Tho. Middleton; and they think it fit to pass with some Amendments:" Which being read, was approved of, and Ordered to be sent to the House of Commons, to desire their Concurrence therein.

Ordinance for Mr. Rcus to be Provost of Eaton.

Next, the Ordinance formerly brought up from the House of Commons, for making Mr. Rous Provost of Eaton Colledge, was read Twice; and there being no Exceptions made to it, the House commanded it to be read the Third Time; and this House Agreed to it.

(Here enter it.)

Husbands & al. sent for, as Delinquents, for printing the Declaration of both Kingdoms.

Upon Information to this House, "That one Edward Husbands, a Printer, hath set the Declaration of both Kingdoms to be printed, at the House of Luke Norton and John Raweth, contrary to the Order of both Houses:" It is Ordered, That the said Husbands, Norton, and Raweth, shall be sent for, as Delinquents, to answer their Contempt to the Orders of both Houses.

"An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons, to remove Dr. Steward from being Provost of the College of Eaton, and to make Francis Rous Esquire, Provost in his room.

Ordinance for Mr. Rous to be Provost of Eaton College.

"Whereas Richard Steward, Doctor of the Law, and Provost of Eaton Colledge, hath neglected the Government of the said College, and joined himself to those that have levied War against the Parliament, whereupon the Rents, Profits, and Benefits, arising and formerly due to that Provostship, were sequestered; and whereas the said Dr. Steward, since the said Sequestration, hath continued in the same Neglect of the Government of the said College, and in adhering to the Enemies of the King and Parliament: For the better Supply of that Place of Provost of Eaton Colledge, and for the good Government thereof by a Person of Learning and Piety, the Lords and Commons in Parliament do Order and Ordain, That the said Dr. Steward, from henceforth, shall be removed and wholly discharged from being any longer Provost of Eaton Colledge; and they do wholly remove and discharge him thereof, to all Intents and Purposes: And they do hereby constitute and Ordain, Francis Rous of Brixham, within the County of Devon, Esquire, to be Provost of the said College of Eaton: And do further Ordain, Order, and Declare, That the said Francis Rous, for and during the Term of his Natural Life, shall have and enjoy the Place of Provost of Eaton Colledge aforesaid, with all Powers, Profits, Privileges, and Benefits, thereunto belonging and appertaining; and they do likewise Ordain, That the aforesaid Sequestration shall be from henceforth wholly taken off, and shall utterly cease and be annulled; and that the said Provostship of Eaton Colledge, with the Rents and Profits thereof, shall wholly remain and be to the said Francis Rouse, and to his Use, as if no such Sequestration had been made: And the Commissioners for the Great Seal of Engl. appointed by both Houses of Parliament, are hereby authorized and required, by Letters Patents under the Great Seal of Engl. to pass the said Place of Provost of the said College of Eaton unto the said Francis Rous, according to the Intent herein expressed; and for their so doing, this shall be their Warrant: And it is hereby Declared, That the said Francis Rous shall in the mean Time have and enjoy the said Provostship in such Manner as is before expressed."

"The humble Remonstrance of Ro. Earl of Warwick, Lord High Admiral of Engl. to both Houses of Parliament.

Earl of Warwick's Remonstrance, comcerning the Want of Supplies for the Navy.

"Though I know your present Affairs are many, and will not easily admit of Diversions, yet the Trust reposed in me, and the important Consequences depending upon my faithful Execution thereof, and your enabling me thereunto, require me to remonstrate the present State of our Dangers at Sea, and of the Preparations to resist them; which I represent as followeth:

"1. That, amongst the Things that have fallen into serious Debate before myself and others that have the managing of the Navy, we have considered the Proportion of Shipping belonging to the several Parts of this Kingdom now in Hostility against the Parliament; and find that, of Vessels from Fifty to Three Hundred Tons, the Enemy is able to make at least Two Hundred and Sixty Sail.

"2. That the Quantity of Shipping requisite for the necessary Guard of His Majesty's Dominions, and the securing of Trade, is at least Fifty Sail; for the sufficient Managing whereof, there is required at least Six Thousand Men, whereof Victuals are provided for Four Thousand only; and for the other Two Thousand, Order is not yet given.

"3. That the said Number of Fifty Ships must necessarily be distributed into so many small Squadrons, that, in Case of a Foreign Invasion, or that the Enemy have the Opportunity of setting forth a considerable Fleet, it will not answer the several Occasions of the Kingdom, without an Addition of at least Ten Sail more.

"4. That the Navy Stores of all Sorts are near totally exhausted; and will require not only great Sums of Money, but also a very considerable Time, to replenish them.

"5. That the Provision of Money for the Stores, Victualing, and other Services of the Navy, hath re ceived so small a Progress (notwithstanding my frequent Remembrances in that Behalf), that little Probability appears as yet of getting to Sea (within convenient Time) any Fleet that may bear Proportion to the manifold Necessities of the Kingdom; there being little more done now by Way of Preparation than there was done at the Beginning of December last, save that Order is taken for Flesh, and some Materials for Cordage.

"6. That divers Sums of Money are in Arrear for the former Services of Merchant Ships, and also for Stores; without Payment whereof, the Creditors will be discouraged, and disabled to assist the Public hereafter in the like Kind.

"7. That the Cause of the Slowness of such Preparations doth (as I am informed) partly arise from the little Respite of Time which the other great Affairs, that have from Time to Time fallen into Agitation before the Houses, have admitted to the Consideration of the Business of the Navy.

"8. That, if a speedy Course be not taken to quicken the Preparations to Sea according to the Proportions aforementioned, these Inconveniences will necessarily fall upon the Kingdom:

"1. First, it will be open to Invasion from Foreign States, where (as well as at Home) the Malice of the common Enemy is active enough to foment and improve (fn. 2) our Dangers; it being (in all Likelihood) raised to the Height, as to be content to sacrifice to itself the very Being of the Nation, and to think it a satisfactory Revenge if they may not perish alone.

"2. There will be no Means to prevent the Importation of Arms from Abroad (whereof great Quantities are already bought); without Prevention whereof, the Enemy will be able to reinforce himself, and so lay the Foundation of a continued War, and shedding much more Blood the next Summer.

"3. The Merchandize of the Kingdom will be ruined, and consequently the Custom and Excise (which are the Maintenance of the Navy and Army by Land) will be lost.

"4. The Trade of the Kingdom will be transferred to others, and not easily recovered; whereby will be also contracted the Decay of Navigation, having been hitherto the Strength and Honour of this Nation.

"5. The Mariners will be forced to seek Maintenance elsewhere; and if for Livelihood they should repair to the Enemy, a greater Advantage will be thereby given to man and set forth against the Parliament those Ships that be already under their Power.

"9. That, as our Dangers are great at Home, so are they not contemptible at a Distance; the Earl of Marlebrough being lately dispatched towards the West Indies, with Two Ships of good Force, and others are preparing to follow him, for the seizing of all English Ships found at the Western Islands, or any the English Plantations in America; which Design, if not prevented by sending some Ships of Strength after him, will not only furnish the Enemy with a very great Number of Ships and Men fitted for present Service, but will also put those Plantations into a distempered and distracted Condition, and thereby render them useless to the Parliament, they being now of special Importance, both in order to great and honourable Advantages attainable there, if the Parliament Interest in them be preserved; as also in respect of the great Income of Customs and Excise for Commodities imported thence, which will otherwise be totally diverted to the Service of the Enemy.

"10. That the Fleet now and heretofore abroad, in the Service of the King and Parliament, have been less serviceable to the Guard of the Seas, by their Confinement to the Attendance and Commands of particular Ports and Towns, upon Orders in that Behalf given by the Mayors and Sub-committees of Towns without my Privity; and if a Course be not taken, in Time to come, to secure such Ports as need Defence at Sea, by Garrisons, or some other Ways (which I humbly propose and desire), I shall not be able to dispose of the Fleet with that Advantage for the Service which is requisite: And I do further offer, that the limiting of Ships to such particular Attendances may not only leave the Seas less guarded, but also beget a prejudicial Security on Shore; and, by their lying still, enervate the Spirits of those on board, and make them less fit for Action when there is Occasion, and may also hazard the Loss of the Ordnance belonging to the Ships, in Case they should be taken from aboard for Defence of any such Town, as they were lately out of The Providence, for Defence of Mount Stamford at Plymouth, which falling into the Enemy's Hand, the said Ordnance were of great Use to the Enemy.

"11. That the transporting of Land Soldiers by Sea to any Port of His Majesty's Dominions, in the Ships belonging to the Fleet, will be of prejudicial Consequence; both by Consumption of the Ships Victuals (whereby they will be forced to come sooner into Port, and so the Sea less guarded), as also by endangering the Infection of the Ships.

"12. To these I shall add my humble Opinion, That it may be of special Use (to prevent the Importation of Arms against the Parliament from Foreign States) if a Public Declaration may speedily pass both Houses, giving Notice to all such States, that whatever Ships belonging to any Foreign States shall import or convey any Arms or Ammunition into any Ports or Place in Hostility against the Parliament, shall be reputed and seized on as the Ships and Goods belonging to the public and professed Enemies of this Kingdom.

"My humble Request therefore is, That you will please to afford some Time to hear, discuss, and speedily to conclude of these Particulars, and such others as may be further offered in this Behalf; they deserving to be reckoned amongst the public Occasions of the Kingdom, and (as Things now stand) of equal Importance (as I conceive) with any other: And if, upon Consideration thereof, you shall think fit to direct the putting of these Matters into an effectual Way of Accomplishment, I doubt not but (through God's Blessing) the Inconveniencies beforementioned will be prevented, yourselves and the Kingdom preserved in a State of Reputation and Safety; to which if my Life and utmost Endeavours may be any Ways contributory, I shall rest abundantly satisfied: However, if the great Streights and Exigency of the Kingdom shall not possibly allow a Transaction thereof, I must rest contented in this, that you who have intrusted me will (I am sure) do me the Honour and Justice not to expect my Service beyond the Proportion of my Enablings."

Captain Hotham, an Allowance.

Ordered, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, "That Captain Hotham shall have Three Pounds a Week out of Sir John Hotham's Estate, or out of his own Estate, until he shall be brought to his Trial."

Adjourn.

House adjourned till 4^a post meridiem.

Post meridiem.

PRAYERS, by Mr. Bolles.

Lords present this Day:

Ds. Grey de Warke, Speaker.

Answer from the H. C.

Sir Edward Leech and Dr. Aylett, sent on a Message to the House of Commons this Morning, return with this Answer:

That they agree with their Lordships in the Order for allowing Three Pounds per Week to Captain Hotham.

(Here enter it.)

2. That they will sit at Three a Clock this Afternoon.

3. That they will give a Conference concerning the Remonstrance to be made by the Lord Admiral concerning the Navy.

Message from thence, for a Conference on the Ordinance concerning the Committee of both Kingdoms.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Sir Walter Erle:

To desire, at the next Conference, they may have a Conference with their Lordships, about the joining of Counsels for carrying on the War of both the Kingdoms.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

This House will give a Conference, in the Painted Chamber, as is desired.

Ordered, That the Earls of Northumb. Sarum, and Manchester, shall assist the Speaker in reporting this Conference.

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

Ordered, That the Report of this Conference shall be made on Monday Morning next.

Adjourn.

House adjourned till 9^a, Monday Morning.