DIE Lunæ, 29 die Decembris.
PRAYERS, by Mr. Vynes.
Ds. Grey de Warke, Speaker.
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Comes Kent.
Comes Essex.
Comes Warwicke.
Comes Manchester.
Comes Sarum.
Comes Denbigh.
L. Viscount Say & Scale.
Comes Pembrooke.
Comes Northumb. |
Ds. Robertes.
Ds. Howard.
Ds. Mountague.
Ds. Wharton.
Ds. Bruce. |
Letter from Sir T. Glemham, inclosing One from the King.
The Speaker acquainted this House, "That a Trumpeter on Saturday last brought him a Letter from
Sir Thomas Glembam, with an inclosed from the
King."
The Letters were read, as follow:
"For the Right Honourable and my Noble Lord,
the Speaker of the House of Peers pro Tempore.
"My Lord,
"By His Majesty's Command, I send (fn. *) the inclosed
to your Lordship, to be presented according to the
Directions; and so I rest,
"My Lord,
"Your Lordship's humble Servant,
Oxford, the 26th of December, 1645.
"Tho. Glemham."
King's Letter, containing Propositions for Peace, and proposing to come in Person to Westminster, to treat with the Two Houses and the Scots Commissioners for Forty Days.
"CHARLES R.
"Notwithstanding the strange and unexpected Delays
(which can be precedented by no former Times) to
His Majesty's Two former Messages, His Majesty will
lay aside all Expostulations, as rather serving to lose
Time, than to contribute any Remedy to the Evils
which for the present do afflict this distracted Kingdom: Therefore, without further Preamble, His Majesty thinks it most necessary to send those Propositions
this Way, which He intended to do by the Persons
mentioned in His former Messages; though He well
knows the great Disadvantage which Overtures of
this Kind have, by the Want of being accompanied
by well-instructed Messengers.
"His Majesty conceiving that the former Treaties
have hitherto proved ineffectual chiefly for Want of
Power in those Persons that treated, as likewise because those from whom their Power was derived (not
possibly having the particular Informations of every
several Debate) could not give so clear a Judgement
as was requifite in so important a Business: If therefore His Majesty may have the Engagement of the
Two Houses of Parliament at Westminster, the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland, the Mayor,
Aldermen, Common Council, and Militia of London,
of the Chief Commanders in Sir Tho. Fairefax' Army,
as also those in the Scotts Army, for His Majesty's
free and safe Coming to, and Abode in, London or
Westm. (with such of His Servants now attending
Him, and their Followers, not exceeding in all the
Number of Three Hundred), for the Space of Forty
Days; and, after the said Time, for His free and safe
Repair to any of His Garrisons of Oxon, Worcester, or
Newarke, which His Majesty shall nominate at any
Time before His going from London or Westm.; His
Majesty propounds to have a Personal Treaty with the
Two Houses of Parliament at Westm. and the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland, upon all
Matters which may conduce to the restoring of Peace
and Happiness to these miserably-distracted Kingdoms; and to begin with the Three Heads which were
treated on at Uxbridge: And for the better clearing
of His Majesty's earnest and sincere Intentions of
putting an End to these unnatural Distractions, knowing that Point of Security may prove the greatest
Obstacle to this most blessed Work, His Majesty therefore declares, That He is willing to commit the great
Trust of the Militia of this Kingdom, for such Time,
and with such Powers, as are expressed in the Paper
delivered by His Majesty's Commissioners at Uxbridge,
the 6th of February last, to these Persons following;
videlicet, the Lord Privy Seal, the Duke of Richmond,
the Marquis of Hartford, the Marquis of Dorchester,
the Earl of Dorsett Lord Chamberlain, the Earl of
Northumb. the Earl of Essex, Earl of Southampton, Earl
of Pembrooke, Earl of Sarum, Earl of Manchester,
Earl of Warwicke, Earl of Denbigh, Earl of Chichester,
Lord Say, Lord Seymour, Lord Lucas, Lord Lexington, Mr. Donzell Holles, Mr. Pierepont, Mr. Henry
Bellasis, Mr. Rich. Spencer, Sir Tho. Fairefax, Mr.
John Ashbournham, Sir Gervoise Clifton, Sir Henry
Vane Junior, Mr. Robert Wallop, Mr. Tho. Chicheley, Mr. Oliver Cromwell, and Mr. Phillip Skippon;
supposing that these are Persons against whom they
can take no just Exception: But, if this doth not satisfy, then His Majesty offers to name the One Half,
and leave the other to the Election of the Two Houses
of Parliament at Westm. with the Powers and Limitations before mentioned.
"Thus His Majesty calls God and the World to Witness of His sincere Intentions and real Endeavours for
the composing and settling of these miserable Distractions; which He doubts not but, by the Blessing
of God, will soon be put to a happy Conclusion, if
this His Majesty's Offer be accepted; otherwise He
leaves all the World to judge who are the Continuers of this unnatural War: And therefore He once
more conjures you, by all the Bonds of Duty you
owe to God and your King, to have so great a Compassion on the bleeding and miserable Estate of your
Country, that you join your most serious and hearty
Endeavours with His Majesty, to put a happy and
speedy End to these present Miseries.
"Given at the Court at Oxon, the 26th of December, 1645.
"For the Speaker of the House of Peers
pro Tempore, to be communicated to
the Two Houses of Parliament at
Westm. and the Commissioners of the
Parliament of Scotland."
Committee to prepare a Draught of the Sense of this House upon it:
Upon reading of these Letters, this House Resolved,
To communicate the same to the House of Commons;
and the Earl of Northumb. Earl of Manchester, Lord
Viscount Say & Seale, and the Lord Robertes, were appointed to draw up somewhat to be sent with them, as
the Sense of this House.
The Lord Robertes reported the Draught, as followeth:
Report of it.
"The Lords do think fit to refer this Letter unto
the Members of both Houses that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms, to communicate the same
unto the Scotts Commissioners, and to advise with
them, and prepare an Answer unto His Majesty's
Letter, especially to such Particulars as derogate from
the Honour of the Parliament; and containing Reasons why that which is propounded therein cannot
be assented to, and report the same unto both
Houses."
This House approved of this Report.
Message to the H. C. with it, and the Letter.
A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by
Sir Edward Leech and Mr. Page:
To deliver to them the King's Letter received this
Day, with the Sense of this House thereupon.
Message from thence, to continue the Committee of the Admiralty;
A Message was brought from the House of Commons,
by Sir Rob't Pye Knight, &c.
To desire their Lordships Concurrence in these Particulars:
1. That the Committee of Lords and Commons for
the Admiralty and Cinque Ports be continued, according to the Powers formerly granted unto them, for Six
Months longer; and that they be enjoined diligently to
attend that Service.
Agreed to.
and with Ordinances.
2. An Ordinance concerning Thirty Thousand Pounds,
out of the Excise, for Sir Tho. Fairefax' Army.
(Here enter it.)
Agreed to.
3. An Ordinance concerning the Treasurers of the
Army, and the Committee for the Army.
The Answer returned was:
Answer.
That this House will send an Answer, by Messengers
of their own, concerning the Treasurers at War: To
the rest, this House agrees.
March. of Winchester to be with her Husband in The Tower.
Ordered, That the Lieutenant of The Tower of
London do permit the Lady Marques of Winton, Wife
of the Lord Marquis of Winton, now Prisoner in The
Tower, to have Lodgings within the said Tower; and
that it is hereby specially recommended unto the said
Lieutenant, to accommodate the said Lady Marques in
this Particular.
Lords Leave to visit her.
Ordered, That any Lord of this House hath Liberty to go and visit the Lady Marques in The Tower.
Committee of the Admiralty desire the Papers delivered in by them, may be considered.
The Earl of Warwicke reported, "That the Committee for the Admiralty desires their Lordships to
be mindful of the Business about Captain Lockier to
have Command of The Weymouth Frigott, late Browne
Bushell's; and of signing the Letter to the Governor
of Flanders; and also the Payment of the Ships employed for Convoy of the Northern Fishermen, and
Defence of the Coasts of Norff.; and lastly, concerning the Business of paying for the Powder seized on
for the State's Use."
Ordered, To send to the House of Commons, by
the next Message, to put them in Mind of these Particulars.
His Lordship reported another Paper; which was read,
as follows:
"At the Committee of Lords and Commons for
the Admiralty and Cinque Ports.
Ordinance for their Establishment almost expired.
"Ordered, That it be represented from this Committee to both Houses of Parliament, That the Ordinance whereby this Committee is established determines on the last of this present December; that
further Provision may be made, for disposing the Admiralty and Cinque Ports."
Ordinance for 30,000l. for Sir T. Fairfax's Army.
"Be it Ordained, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, That Thirty Thousand Pounds shall
be paid, out of the Receipts of Excise, upon the Ordinance of 11 September 1643, either by Intervals when
other Ordinances become not payable, or otherwise in
Course, according as this Ordinance shall succeed in
its Date, for the Payment of the Army under the
Command of Sir Thomas Fairefax Knight, General
for the Parliament; which said Sum of Thirty Thousand Pounds the Commissioners of Excise for the
Time being are hereby authorized to pay accordingly,
unto Sir John Wollaston Knight, and the rest of the
Treasurers at War, for the Use aforesaid; whose
Receipt shall be their and every of their sufficient
Discharge: And this Ordinance shall be likewise
Security unto such Person or Persons as shall advance (fn. *) and lend the said Thirty Thousand Pounds,
or any Part thereof, for their Reimbursement, by
Intervals or Course as aforesaid, together with
Interest, after the Rate of Eight Pounds per Centum,
for so long Time as they shall be out of all or any
Part thereof; for Payment of which Principal or
Interest unto the Advancers or Lenders thereof respectively, this Ordinance shall be likewise a sufficient Warrant, together with the Receipt of every
of them, unto the Commissioners of Excise, and every
of them."
Adjourn.
House adjourned till 10a cras.