House of Lords Journal Volume 6: 22 April 1644

DIE Lunæ, 22 die Aprilis.

PRAYERS, by Mr. Gibbs.

Domini præsentes fuerunt:

Ds. Grey de Warke, Speaker.

Citizens and Garrison of Gloucester, Petition for Relief.

A Petition of the Citizens, Officers, and Soldiers, in the Garrison of Gloucester, was read; complaining of "the great Pressures of the Enemy's Violence and Power, which are inforced to present their sad Condition; desiring a speedy Consideration for the Relief of their great Necessities, and Want of Money, and a Regiment of Horse for the Defence of a Place of such great Consequence."

Hereupon this House Ordered, That the said Petition be sent down to the House of Commons, to let them (fn. 1) know, that their Lordships Opinion is, "That the City of Gloucester is a Place of great Importance, and the Officers and Soldiers there have done faithful Service; therefore to desire them to take some Course that they may be supplied with those Necessaries as they want for the Defence of that Place, and their Encouragement in their Service."

Abp. of Cant's Trial put off.

Ordered, That the Trial of the Archbishop of Canterbury is deferred until Thursday Morning next.

Message to the H. C. to acquaint them with it, and with the Gloucester Petition.

A Message was sent down to the House of Commons, by Sir Edw. and Mr. Page:

To recommend the Petition of the Officers and Soldiers of the Garrison at Gloucester unto their Consideration, with their Lordships Sense upon it.

And also to let them know, that this House hath deferred the Trial of the Archbishop of Cant. until Thursday Morning next.

The Speaker of the House acquainted this House, "That he had received a Letter; directed thus,

"For my Lords the Peers assembled in Parliament."

And the House commanded the same to be heard, as followeth:

E. of Holland's Letter, for Leave to attend the Army.

"My Lords,

"I do humbly acknowledge your Lordships Favour and Goodness to be very great, in my Admittance to attend your Lordships in the House of Peers; by the which, in your Opinions, I am freed from any Infidelity to the Public, who having been the nearest, and therefore the clearest, Beholders and Witnesses both of my Ways and Expressions, it is an Honour very opportune unto me; yet, since my Fortune hath not met with this Belief in other Places, and that my Attendance upon you at this Time might have occasioned (I will not say) a Division, but some Difference, where I wish an Agreement and a happy Unity, I shall beg your Lordships Leave for the present to attend our Army, whither my Affections to the Public Cause, and likewise my particular Respect and Relation to my Lord General's Person, carries me: and truly, my Lords, with no less Sincerity in this private Condition than when I had a Public Charge in the Command of an Army: The Prosperity of your Lordships Counsels and Resolutions are heartily prayed for, by

"Your Lordships

This 22th of April, 1644.

"Most humble and obedient Servant,

"Holland."

To receive the Thanks of the House.

Hereupon this House Ordered, That the Earl of Holland should have Notice, "That their Lordships do take his Addresses to the House of Peers very respectfully from him; and that their Lordships do give him Leave to attend the Army under the Lord General, according to his Desire; and the Lord General is hereby desired to give his Lordship Thanks from this House for the same."

Message from the H.C. with a Proclamation by the King;

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Mr. Whitlocke and others:

To acquaint their Lordships with a Proclamation of the King's which lately came to their Knowledge, upon which the House of Commons have made some Observations, wherein they desire their Lordships Concurrence; and that the same may be printed together, and published. (Here enter it.)

Read, and Agreed to; and Ordered to be printed and published.

and for a Conference on the Propositions for a Peace.

2. To desire a Conference, so soon as may stand with their Lordships Conveniency, touching the Propositions for Peace.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That their Lordships will give a present Conference, in the Painted Chamber, as is desired; and that their Lordships do agree to the Observations upon the King's Proclamation, and have ordered that the same may be printed and published.

Committee to examine the Reports against Lord Willoughby.

Ordered, That the Committee to examine the Business concerning the Lord Willoughby shall hereby have Power to send for Colonel King and Lieutenant Colonel Bury, to come before them, to be examined concerning that Business.

Lord Conway to consine himself to his House.

The Lord General acquainted this House, "That the Lord Viscount Conway came to St. Albans, to render himself to the Parliament, according to the Declaration of both Kingdoms, and desires the Benefit of the said Declaration; and the Lord Viscount Conway being come to London, his Lordship commanded him to keep his Lodging, until he had acquainted this House therewith:"

Hereupon this House Ordered, That the Lord Viscount Conway shall have Notice given him, by the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, from this House, "That it is the Pleasure of this House, that he keep his Lodgings until the Pleasure of this House be further signified to him."

Message from the H. C. with Two Orders.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Mr. Greene;

To desire their Lordships Concurrence in Two Orders:

1. That the Commissioners of the Excise do advance Ten Thousand Pounds, by Way of Loan, for the present setting forth of the Lord General's Army.

(Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

2. That the Commissioners of Excise do forthwith pay Ten Thousand Pounds, in Pursuance of an Ordinance made for the Monthly Pay of the Army under the Command of my Lord General. (Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That this House agrees to the Two Ordinances now brought.

Petition of the King's Servants, to be relieved from Taxes.

Upon reading the Petition of divers Servants of the King's, desiring "to have their (fn. 2) Discharge from paying of Taxes, or (fn. 3) else to have their Arrears paid them out of the King's Revenue:" It is Ordered, That this Petition be sent to the House of Commons.

Answer from the H. C.

The Messengers sent to the House of Commons return with this Answer:

That they have the like Petition from Gloucester, and they will take the same into speedy Consideration; and they take Notice of their Lordships Appointment Thursday next for the Trial of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Gentleman Usher, a Pass to take the Air.

Ordered, That the Gentleman Usher attending this House shall have a Pass, to take the Air, within Ten Miles of London, (fn. 4) without Interruption at the Court of Guards.

The Lords went to the Conference; and the House was adjourned till Thursday Morning next, at 9^a of the Clock.

Declaration of both Houses, concerning the King's Proclamation.

"The Lords and Commons assembled in the Parliament of England do observe, that the same Counsels, now predominate at Oxford, which have contrived and effected the Destruction of Ireland by Fire and Sword, do further labour to bring the like Desolation upon this Kingdom, and, in Pursuance thereof, have dared to publish this unparalleled Paper in the Form of a Proclamation, threatening Destruction by Fire and Sword, under the Title of preserving the Country. The Lords and Commons do thereupon Declare, That they will use their hearty Endeavours, with the Hazard of their Lives and Fortunes, to prevent these Miseries, whereof they are most sensible; and have taken Order, that considerable Forces shall speedily advance, for the Defence and Protection of the People, wherein they desire the Assistance of their Countrymen, and humbly pray to God for His Blessing."

"By the King:

"A Proclamation, for the better Preservation of the Country and the Garrison at Oxford, and securing of their Corn, and other Provision of Victuals, and Food for Men and Horse.

King's Proclamation, for supplying the Garrison and Country of Oxford, &c.

"Whereas, by Our Proclamation of the 29th of March now last past, We invited Our loving Subjects of the Counties of Oxford and Berks, and other Counties adjacent, who are Owners of Corn and Grain, and other Victuals, in a greater Proportion than is necessary for their own private Families, that, for their own Benefit, to secure the same against the sudden Incursion and Violence of the Rebels, and for the better Furnishing of Our Garrison at Oxford against a Time of Need, they should speedily bring the same into this City, and there store it up in such Places as themselves should provide, or as We in Our Care, by Our Commissioners, to whom they are to resort, have there provided for them, where the Owners thereof, by themselves or such as they should nominate and trust, should keep the same; and from thence, as the true Owners thereof, should issue the same, to furnish the Markets from Time to Time, for their best Advantage: Since which Time, We find that the Inhabitants of these Places, not being so sensible of their own Good as We expected they would have been, have been very negligent in applying themselves to Our Desires, but to expose themselves and that Part of their Estates to that Danger which may fall upon them We know not how soon; We therefore, by the Advice of the Lords and Gentlemen, Members of the Two Houses of Parliament, now assembled at Oxford, do admonish all Our loving Subjects whom it may concern, that, within Five Days now next ensuing at the furthest for such as live within Seven Miles from this Town, and for such as dwell further off within Eight Days after the Date hereof, they bring, or cause to be brought, into this City of Oxford, all such Corn of all Sorts, ready threshed, or in the Straw, and all such other Victuals serving for the Food of Men or Horse, which they can spare, here to be stored up by themselves, or sold at and for reasonable Prices, for ready Money; and also that they bring in hither all such Hay and Straw as they have, and may spare, here to be sold to Us, and to the Nobility and Gentry here residing, for ready Money, at reasonable Prices; and We, by the Advice aforesaid, do further let them know, and do hereby Declare, that if they fail herein, upon what Pretence soever, We shall esteem as Persons disaffected to Us and to Our Service; and, as the Course of War and the Necessity thereof requireth, upon the Approach of the Rebels, who are Enemies to Us and them, We must and will, by Our own Soldiers, fetch so much thereof away as We can, for the Provision of Our own Army, and the rest consume and destroy by Fire, rather than suffer the same to fall as a Prey into their Hands, who will thereby be the more enabled to annoy Us and Our good Subjects: Of all which We expect a strict Performance, and will require a severe Account. And all Horses, Carts, and Carriages which are employed for this Service, shall have free Passage in their going and coming, and not to be taken for any other Service.

"Given at Our Court at Oxford, this 15th Day of April, in the Twentieth Year of Our Reign."

Order for the Commissioners of Excise to reimburse themselves 10,000 l. advanced for the Lord General's Army.

"Whereas the Commissioners of Excise are desired, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, forthwith to advance Ten Thousand Pounds, by Way of Loan, for the present setting forth of my Lord General's Army: It is this Day Ordered, by the said Lords and Commons, That the said Commissioners of Excise, upon their Payment of the said Ten Thousand Pounds, by Way of Loan, as aforesaid, unto the Treasurer at Wars, for the Purposes aforesaid, shall be secured out of the Receipts of the Excise; and have Power to reimburse themselves out of the successive Monies that come in upon the said Receipts."

Order for them to pay 10,000 l. to the Lord General's Army.

"It is this Day Ordered, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, That the Commissioners of Excise do forthwith pay unto the Treasurer at Wars Ten Thousand Pounds, being in Pursuance of an Ordinance made for the Monthly Pay of the Army under the immediate Command of my Lord General the Earl of Essex; and that a Copy of this Order, together with an Acquittance under the Hand of the said Treasurer at Wars, shall be a sufficient Warrant and Discharge to the said Commissioners of Excise, for the Payment thereof."