DIE Jovis, videlicet, 22 die Decembris.

PRAYERS.

Earl of Manchester, Speaker this Day.

Declaration for vindicating the Parliament from employing Papists in their Army.

The Report was this Day made of the Conference formerly had with the House of Commons, concerning a Declaration touching a Vindication of the Parliament in employing Papists in the Army.

The said Declaration was read, as followeth:

(Here enter it.)

To be printed.

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

It was further reported, "That, for the satisfying of such Lords as are unsatisfied, they have brought up some Papers as Evidence, to prove the Particulars."

Message to the H. C. to acquaint them with it.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir Rob't Rich and Mr. Page:

To let them know, that this House agrees with the House of Commons in the Declaration to vindicate the Parliament from the Imputation cast upon them, for employing Papists in the said Army; and have Ordered the same to be printed and published.

Talcott and Harrington.

Upon reading the Petition of Tho. Talcott, desiring, "That the Cause between him and (fn. *) Harrington may be referred to the Trial of the Common Law;" Ordered, That this House will hear what Harrington can say in this Particular on the next Tuesday after Twelfth-day.

Collection at the Fast to be distributed among Poor Clergymen.

Whereas divers Ministers now in London, that have been plundered by the King's Army, are now in Want: It is Ordered, That the Money which shall be collected at the next Fast-day in London and Westm. shall be distributed amongst them, for their present Relief.

Ordered, That the Speaker of this House shall write unto the Lord General, to desire him to send a Trumpet to Oxford, for the admitting such Persons to deliver a Petition to His Majesty, as the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and City of London, shall appoint to deliver their Petition to the King.

Capts. Slyngfby and Wake released at the Earl of Warwick's Request.

The Earl of Warwicke moved this House, "That whereas Captain Slyngsby and Captain Wake were sent for as Delinquents, upon his Lordship's Information, for being disobedient to his Commands (fn. †) at Sea, and misbehaving themselves in their Places; his Lordship made it his Suit to this House, That they may be released from any further Prosecution or Punishment for this Business;" which this House, at his Lordship's Request, granted: And this House Ordered, That they should be called in, and be discharged; and they being (fn. *) called in, and brought to the Bar as Delinquents, the Speaker, by Directions of this House, told them, "That they being sent for as Delinquents, for their Disobedience to the Commands of the Earl of Warwicke at Sea, at the earnest Desire and Mediation of the Earl of Warwicke on their Behalf, this House is content to remit all further Proceedings and Punishments concerning this Business; but their Lordships do expect that they shall engage their Words now, not to receive any Employment or Command against the Parliament:" Which they gave their Lordships Thanks for, and promised not to receive any Employment against the Parliament.

Ministers, whose Livings are plundered by the King's Army, to enjoy the Profits of those who are gone to the King.

It was moved, "That whereas divers Ministers, in several Counties, have left their Charges, and are gone into the King's Army, and yet receive their Profits of their Livings, that the said Profits of such Ministers may be sequestered; and [ (fn. †) that such Ministers] as are in London, which have been plundered by the King's Army, and have been forced to leave their Livings for their Safety, may supply the Livings of such Ministers as are in the King's Army, and receive the Profits, by virtue of the Sequestration, until the Peace of the Kingdom shall be settled:" Ordered, That the Names of the Ministers that are in the King's Army, and the Proofs thereof, shall be presented to this House.

Bedfordshire Petition.

A Petition from divers Knights, Gentlemen, &c. of the County of Bedford, was received and read, as followeth: (Here enter it). And that (fn. †) their Lordships would please to communicate it to the House of Commons.

They withdrew; and this House taking into Consideration what Answer to give to this Petition, and having Resolved of an Answer, the Petitioners were called in; and the Speaker, by the Directions of the House, told them as followeth:

Answer to it.

"That their Lordships have read their Petition, and do approve of the Matter of their Petition, which is, Peace and a happy Agreement between the King and Parliament; and that this House hath been always and is desirous of Peace, and is in a Way already to procure a good Peace and Agreement; but for the Manner of it, in prescribing this House what Course to take in their Proceedings, their Lordships do utterly dislike it; and for this House to communicate their Petition to the House of Commons, it is not the usual Way for this House to take; but, if they have any Petition to the House of Commons, they may deliver it themselves."

St. Andrews Petition.

Next, was received and read a Petition from the Inhabitants of St. Andrewes, &c. (Here enter it.)

Answer.

The Answer returned was, "That this House approves of the Desire of the Petitioners, which is, Peace and Agreement between the King and the Parliament, which was always, and is, desired and endeavoured by this House; and their Lordships are now about it, and hope of a good Success therein."

Michell and Osbaston.

Ordered, That Michell shall be bailed; and the Cause to be heard this Day Fortnight between him (fn. ‡) and Mr. Osbaston.

Lord Dumferling to have a Pass to Scotland.

It was moved, "That the Lord Dumferling, being stayed in his Journey into Scotland, might be released, and have a Pass to go to Yorke, to take his Leave of the King, and afterwards to go into Scotland quietly:" And this House Resolved, To communicate this Motion to the House of Commons; and to let them know, their Lordships know no Cause to the contrary, why this should not be granted, and desire their Answer, whether they have any Objection, why he should not have a Pass.

Message to the H. C. to acquaint them with it.

A Message to this Purpose was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir Rob't Rich and Mr. Page.

Gaolers to bring in an Account of their Prisoners committed by either House.

Ordered, That the Keepers of all Prisons shall bring in a Catalogue unto these Lords following, of what Prisoners they have committed to them by the Houses of Parliament, or by the Committees; and to express the Time when, and the Cause for which, they are committed:

E. of Stamford's Letter.

A Letter of the Earl of Stamford's was read.

(Here enter.)

Ordered, That the Speaker shall write a Letter, to give the Earl of Stamfords Thanks, for his Care of the Commonwealth; and the like to the Mayor and Aldermen and others; and the like to Colonel Essex.

Fenwick, who invented a Piece of Ordnance, referred to the Lord General.

It was moved, "That one Fenwicke hath invented a small Piece of Ordnance, which is of great Use in the Wars, and he desires to have the sole making of it:" Ordered, That he shall carry the same to the Lord General; and, as he approves of the same, this House will confirm.

The Earl of Stamford's Letter, directed "To the Right Honourable the Lord Speaker of the House of Peers:

E. of Stamford's Letter, about securing Bristol, increasing his Army, &c.

"My Lord,

"I hope, long before this Time, your Lordships hath heard of the securing of this important Place of Bristoll. Before my coming hither, I was informed, in my March from Hereford, that some Commotion had happened since the Arrival of my Forces there, under the Command of Colonel Essex; but such was his Diligence, that I found all Things in good Order. And truly, since my Abode here, I have employed my Industry to bring in all Men to be of One Mind; and I find this City infinitely well-affected to the good Cause. Now, my Lord, if (fn. *) I may take the Boldness, I could with that some Message, with an express Messenger, might be sent from the Parliament, to encourage these worthy Citizens to presevere in their good Intentions. I am sure it will be very well taken; therefore I take the Boldness to give this Intimation. I am this Day going to The Bath, to meet the Gentlemen of Somersettshire; the Morrow to The Devises, to meet the Gentlemen of Wiltshire; the next Day to Marshfeild, for those of Glocestershire; and I doubt not but, by God's Grace, to prepare a very considerable Army, to be drawn together within Three Days into a Body. I have given his Excellency an Account of my Proceedings more at large, which I am confident your Lordship shall receive from him. And so I beseech the Lord God to bless your Consultations; and remain,

Bristoll, this 19th of December, 1642.

"My Lord,
Your Lordship's
Most humble Servant,
Stanforde."

Bedfordshire Petition.

"To the Right Honourable the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled.

"The humble Petition of divers Knights, Esquires, Gentlemen, Ministers, Freeholders, and others of the abler Sort of Men, inhabiting the County of Bed'd, and amounting to the Number of Three Thousand Seven Hundred,

"Sheweth,

"That, being deeply afficted with a piercing Sense of the present Dangers and approaching Evils, which threaten the Ruin both of Church and State, we are constrained to become humble Petitioners to this Honourable Assembly, seriously to consider the lamentable Consequences of a Civil War; such as are, Decay of Trade and Tillage, Exhausting of Treasure, Violation of Laws, and Dispeopling of the Land, which will not only expose this Kingdom to inevitable Ruin, and utterly disable us to relieve our distressed Brethren in Ireland, but lay us open to a Foreign Invasion. We thankfully acknowledge that, through God's Goodness, His Majesty's Grace and Favour, and your indefatigable Pains and Industry, many excellent Acts have passed in this present Parliament, whereby we have been eased of many heavy Pressures under which we groaned: We have also taken a View of His Majesty's Writings and Declarations; and find several Expressions therein tending to an happy Peace and Reformation both in Church and Commonwealth.

"We therefore humbly beseech you to lay Hold on His Majesty's gracious Promises and Intimations, and to revive our languishing Hopes, by endeavouring to put a Period to the present War; as also to remove and discountenance all Suggestions that may tend to the Fomenting of Jealousies and Divisions between His Majesty and His Houses of Parliament; and that you will please speedily to tender such Propositions to His Majesty as may conduce to His Honour, the Establishment of the true Protestant Religion, the Freedom and Privilege of Parliament, and Safety of the whole Kingdom; for effecting whereof, we shall be ready to assist you with the utmost of our Abilities, and shall incessantly pray &c."

Citizens of London and Liberties Petition.

"To the Right Honourable the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament assembled.

"The humble Petition of divers Inhabitants (especially Citizens of the City) of London, and the Parishes within the Liberties thereof, whose Names are hereunto annexed.

"Your Petitioners, most sadly weighing the (fn. *) present wretched Condition of this divided Nation, and having (fn. *) too just Cause to fear (fn. *) the bitter and fatal Consequences of a Civil War already broken out amongst us, even to the Effusion of Abundance of Blood in several Parts of this Kingdom, are enforced, out of Piety towards God, and Pity towards Men, to make this humble Address unto your Honours; most heartily bewailing the great and unhappy Divisions both in Church and State (whereof the bloody Rebels in Ireland make so great Advantage). Alas! how is the Common Safety infested and endangered, the Face of Religion greatly disfigured, Commerce and Trade (the only Support of this City) exceedingly impaired, whereof none can be equally sensible with us; those with whom we deal, in most Parts of this and of the Kingdom of Ireland, much disabled and impoverished, by the Violence and Rapine of Soldiers; some of them totally dispoiled, others in a fearful Expectation of the like Measure; the Multitude of poor People in and about this City (who, by reason of the Cessation of Trade, want Employment, and consequently Bread) infinitely abound; Sadness of Heart, Famine, Misery, and utter Ruin, attend us and the whole Nation; in this Condition, besides, we see Two great Armies almost at an Interview, in the Bowels of the Kingdom, ready for another fearful Encounter, unless a happy mutual Concurrence of His Majesty and your Honours speedily intervene.

"The Duty, therefore, which we owe to God the Father of Peace, and to His Church the Mother of Peace, the Honour that we bear to our most Gracious King and His Great Council; and lastly, the Charity which is due from us to our native Christian Country (now ready, without the great Mercy of God, to be sacrificed), have importuned this most humble Petition from us:

"That your Honours, for the timely Prevention of those fearful approaching Evils, which inevitably wait upon (fn. *) such Times of Distemper, will be pleased (while the Opportunity is yet in your Hands) to use such Means for an Accommodation and Procurement of a happy Peace to this Kingdom, without further Effusion of Blood, as to your Honours Wisdom shall seem fit: To the effecting whereof, your Petitioners shall attend your Honourable Consultations with their most hearty Prayers; and not only we and ours, but Children unborn, shall have Cause to bless you, and your Memorial to the End of Time."

Row, Marquis of Winchester's Servant, Privilege.

Ordered, That one Row, a menial Servant of the Marquis of Winchester's, arrested contrary to the Privilege of Parliament, shall be released.

Footnotes