House of Lords Journal Volume 8: 1 January 1647

DIE Veneris, 1 die Januarii.

PRAYERS, by Mr. Dury.

Domini præsentes fuerunt:

Comes Manchester, Speaker.

Letter from Sir T. Fairfax.

The Speaker acquainted the House with a Letter he hath received from Sir Thomas Fairefax, which was read.

(Here enter it.)

Message from the H. C. with an Ordinance.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Sir John Holland, &c.

To desire Concurrence in an Ordinance for giving Two Thousand Pounds to Mr. Whitlocke, and One Thousand Pounds to Sir Jo. Merricke, out (fn. 1) of the Debt owing by Sir Humphry Foster to Mr. George Mynn.

The said Ordinance was read Thrice, and Agreed to.

(Here enter it.)

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That this House agrees to the Ordinance now brought up.

Vote about disposing of the King's Person.

Next, the House took into Consideration how to order and dispose of the Vote passed Yesterday, for the King's coming to Holdenby.

It is Ordered, That the said Vote be communicated to the Scotts Commissioners, by the Members of this House that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms; and to let them know, that the Houses intend to send it to the King; and that the House of Commons be desired to concur therein, and appoint their Members to join in the communicating of it to the Scotts Commissioners.

The House agreed to a short Preface to be added to the Vote; videlicet,

"We, Your Majesty's loyal Subjects the Lords and Commons assembled in the Parliament of England, having agreed upon this following Vote, do humbly present it unto Your Majesty."

To be sent to the King.

Ordered, That the Vote, with this Preface, be sent to the King, at Newcastle, by Sir Peter Killegrewe.

Message to the H. C. about it; and for it to be communicated to to the Scots Commissioners.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Doctor Aylett and Doctor Heath;

To let them know, that their Lordships have made a Preface to the Vote to be sent to the King, concerning His coming to Holdenby, and desire their Concurrence to the same; and to acquaint them, that their Lordships have appointed the Members of this House that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms to communicate the said Vote to the Scotts Commissioners this Afternoon; and to let them know, that the Houses intend to send it to the King by Sir Peter Killegrew speedily; and to desire the House of Commons that they would appoint their Members of that Committee to join with the Lords herein; and that Sir Peter Killegrew do carry the said Vote to the King.

Reading committed, for Contempt of the Order to release Lord Rich.

This Day John Reading, the Secondary of Woodstreete Compter, was brought to this Bar, as a Delinquent, for saying, "The Order of this House for the releasing of the Lord Rich was illegal."

And he confessed, "That he unadvisedly told the Sheriffs of London, That the Order for the releasing of the Lord Rich did erronicè emanare; and that it was not pleadable in this Case."

Upon this his Confession, the House Ordered, That he be committed to the Prison of The Fleete, during the further Pleasure of this House.

Gosse & al. committed, for arresting Lord Rich.

Next, Samuell Gosse was called in; and he confessed, That he took a Writ, and hired Serjeants to arrest the Person of the Lord Rich, supposing he had not broke the Privilege of a Peer, because of the Judgement of this House against him."

Hereupon it is Ordered, That Sam. Gosse shall stand committed to the Prison of The Fleete, during the Pleasure of this House.

Then Edward Ridley, Ralph Hayes, Serjeants at Mace, and Clement Cole and John Hoton Yeomen, were called in.

And having confessed they did arrest the Lord Rich: It is Ordered, That they shall stand committed to the Prison of Newgate, during the Pleasure of this House.

Message from the H. C. with a Letter about the Management of the Excise; and to remind them of an Ordinance.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Doctor Aylett and Doctor Heath:

To deliver to them the Letter concerning the regulating some Things amiss in the managing the Excise; and to desire their Concurrence therein.

2. To put them in Mind of the Ordinance for bestowing the Library at Lambeth upon the University of Cambridge.

Letter from Sir T. Fairfax, about his Officers taking the Covenant.

"For the Right Honourable Edward Earl of Manchester, Speaker of the House of Peers pro Tempore.

"My Lord,

"I received your Lordship's Letter, dated the 23th of this Month, expecting an Account in Writing, what Officers and Soldiers of this Army have taken the National League and Covenant, and who not: And being desirous to give your Lordship Satisfaction in this your Command, I shall with the First Conveniency apply myself to be informed, what Proceeding have been made therein; of which at present I am not able to give your Lordship an Account, in regard Major General Skippon is now gone with a Convoy towards Newcastle, who, at the raising of the Army at Windsor, did, according to the Command of both Houses, tender the Covenant to divers of the Army; which I imagine could not be general, by reason of the Distance of Quarters, and the speedy Employment they were put upon: And as soon as I receive Satisfaction herein, I shall give your Lordship a further Account. I am

"Your Lordship's Most humble Servant,

Northampton, 28 Decembris, 1646.

"T. Fairfax."

Order for 2000l. to Mr. Whitlock, and 1000l. to Sir John Merrick, out of a Debt due by Sir H. Forster to Geo. Mynn.

"Whereas Sir Humphry Forster Baronet did, about Five Years last past, borrow of George Mynn Esquire Three Thousand Pounds, and secured the same by Mortgages, Statutes, and other Security; which Sum of Three Thousand Pounds, with the Interest now arrear, comes unto about Four Thousand Pounds: It is Ordered and Ordained by the Lords and Commons assembled in the Parliament of England, and be it Ordered and Ordained by the Authority of the same, That Bulstrode Whitelock Esquire, a Member of the House of Commons, towards his Satisfaction and Reparations of his Damages and Losses sustained by reason of the late Troubles, and for his special faithful Service in adhering to the Parliament, shall have the Sum of Two Thousand Pounds paid unto him, out of the said Debt payable unto the said George Mynn a Delinquent by Sir Humfrey Forster; and Sir Humphrey Forster is hereby enjoined to pay the said Two Thousand Pounds unto the said Bulstrode Whitlock accordingly: And it is further Ordered and Ordained, by the Authority aforesaid, That Sir John Merrick Knight, a Member of the House of Commons, shall have the Sum of One Thousand Pounds, Remainder of the said Debt payable to Mr. Mynn a Delinquent by Sir Humphrey Forster, paid unto him, upon Accompt, in Discharge of Part of his Arrears due unto him upon his Entertainment in the Service of the Parliament; and the said Sir Humphrey Forster is hereby also enjoined to pay the same unto the said Sir John Merrick accordingly: And the said Sir Humphrey Forster, upon Payment of the said Two Thousand Pounds unto Mr. Whitlock, and One Thousand Pounds unto Sir John Merricke, as well himself, his Heirs, Executors, and Administrators, as also all other Person and Persons as have or shall have any Estate, Title, or Interest, from, by, or under him or them, or any of them, shall be saved hurmless, and kept indemnified, of and from all Mortgages, Judgements, Statutes, Recognizances, Bonds, or other Securities or Incumbrances, concerning the said Debt, by Authority of Parliament; and that this Ordinance may be pleaded in any Court of Law or Equity, for Discharge thereof; and that Sir Humphrey Forster, his Heirs, Executors, and Administrators, shall be, upon Payment of the said Two several Sums of Money aforesaid, fully discharged of and from the said Debt due unto the said George Mynn, in regard the same Debt was increased by reason of Interest only: And be it further Ordered and Ordained, by the Authority aforesaid, That the said George Mynn do forthwith deliver, or cause to be delivered, unto the said Sir Humphrey Forster, or such as he shall appoint, all such Papers, Writings, Debts, Evidences, Mortgages, Bonds, Statutes, Recognizances, and Securities, which the said George Mynn received or had from the said Sir Humphrey Forster, which do concern the Person or Estate of the said Sir Humphrey Forster, and also such Statutes and Recognizances as were entered into by the said Sir Humphrey Forster unto the said George Mynn, or unto him with others, for the said Debt, or any Part thereof; which said Statutes, Recognizances, and Mortgages, for the said Debt, or any Part thereof, are hereby declared to be absolutely void to all Intents and Purposes: And it is hereby referred unto the Committee of Lords and Commons sitting at Habberdash'rs Hall, to take Care that this Ordinance, and every Part thereof, be put in due Execution, and to proceed for the effecting thereof by such Ways and Means as they are authorized to do in other Cases."

Adjourn.

House adjourned till 10^a cras.