< A Perfect Diurnall: Issue List 1642 | All Issues by Date: 1642 – 1643 – 1644 – 1645 – 1646 – 1647 – 1648 – 1649
Munday 27. of June, 1642.
In the Morning as was appointed, Sir Arthur Haslerig made report to the House of Commons, of the carriage of things on the Wednesday before.
The effect whereof was, that Henry Hastings came thither with an 100. Horse, and about 200. Foot, to put the Commission of Array in execution, which he had raised in Derbyshire, by a special Warrant from his Majesty, the greatest part thereof were Colliers and such like persons, none of them knowing (and afterwards as some of them upon examination confessed) the cause of their comming.
And being come into Leicester at which time there was a Messenger from the House of Parliament, that had brought a Declaration to shew the Illegality of that Commission, and also an Order of Parliament for the apprehending of the said Henry Hastings, and some others, for some abuses offered to the Lord of Stanford, in his executing of the Ordinance for the Militia; Of which the said Master Hastings having notice, privately stole away from his Company, and fled to Yorke.
Whereupon the Towne rising, by order of the Lord Lieutenants and Mayor, a great part of Master Hastings Company fled, and some left their Armes[?] behind them others were seized upon, and their Armes taken from them till further Order from the Parliament.
They also received Letters from the Committee, appointed to put the Militia in execution for Lancashire, Informing how that the L. Strange had raised a great force of Papists, and others, in that County, and seized upon a part of the Magazine, And how the Townesmen of Manchester put themselves into a posture, and stood upon their defence against the Lord Strange.
As also a Letter which was intercepted from Sir Edward Fitton to Sir Thomas Aston at Yorke, of a dangerous Conspiracy, for the stopping of the Subsidy mony, and for putting the Commissions of Array in execution.
Whereupon, upon debate of these Letters, it was Voted by the Commons, and also by the Lords, That the Lord Strange should be required to deliver backe that part of the Magazine which he had seised upon.
And that Sir Edward Fitton should be sent for as a Delinquent, And the high Sheriffe of Lancashire, and Sir George Middleton, for contemning the Orders of Parliament, and labouring with the County, to have the Commission of Array put in Execution.
There was then a great debate in the House of Commons, concerning two Proclamations, lately issued from his Majesty; the one for the free passing and convaiing of Horse, Armes, and other provisions to Yorke, or any other part of the Kingdome notwithstanding any order of Parliament.
And the other of the lawfulnes of the Commissions of Array, and to command due to obedience to the same upon their Execution.
Upon debate of which business Mr Seldon1 made an excellent Speech to shew the illegality of the said Commissions of Array, and to exasperate the Lord Stranges offence in the raising of forces to put the said commission in Execution, and seizing upon the Magazine.
Whereupon there was a committee appointed forthwith to frame a Declaration in answer to the said proclamations.
The Commons also received information by letters, that the Earle of Newcastle is gone to Newcastle by order from his Majesty, and hath put in about 500. men in Garrison, and is raising a Troope of Horse, and that there is the like provisions making at Carlisle, and fortifications.
Then the Message which his Majestie sent on the Saturday before in the answer to the 19, Propositions, was againe read and debated, it being generally conceived, to be of the highest nature of any that hath yet come in reflecting upon the proceedings of the Parliament.
Whereupon at a Conference with the Lords, there was a Committee of both Houses appointed, to frame a Declaration, to cleere the Houses from the imputations laid on them by that, and other his Majesties Messages, and to collect the chiefe passages of the said Messages, concerning His Majesties often and serious Protestations, against His Levying of Warr against the Parliament, and to declare the contrary proceedings, that have, and doe daily happen.
The Commons also againe fell into debate of Accomodation betweene his Majesty and them upon the 19. Propositions, although the last Message had so farre disheartned them, they had thought to have proceeded no further thereupon.
And having the last weeke waved the first for the present; for the batter satisfaction of his Majesty, they also omitted part of the second, and made some alterations in the third and fourth, whereby his Majesty might not make any further exception against His consenting unto them, for the reconciling of the Differences betweene Him and his Parliament.
This day also the Officers and Reformadoes for the Adventurers Forces went forwards for Ireland: The Lord Wharton being appointed Colonell Generall of the said Forces.
Tuesday
There was Information by Letter from France of a great Treason lately discovered; for the killing of the King, Queen, and Children, and Cardinall Richelieu; and after that, to destroy all the Protestants in France.
There was also Letters read in the House of Commons which came from Ireland, setting forth their great want of Ammunition and Ordnance, for the better securing of those Forts and Castles they have in custody; As also discovering a great attempt they lately made in taking of a Fort from the Rebels, which was very strongly mann’d and fortified; The valourous Courage of our Souldiers being so great, they would not leave the attempt, though it was great odds against them, and had lost neere upon 100 men, until they had tooke the Fort.
There was then a Post came to the House of Commons, with Letters from Leicester, Informing that the County was in a great feare and distraction, having received Intelligence that the King intends to send a 1000 Horse against them to put the Commission of Array in execution, and so seize upon their Magazine; And that there were 500 Horse under the command of the Lord Carnarvon, coming forwards from Yorke, and were expected there very suddenly.
And that the King hath granted a Writ to Master Henry Hastings to be high Sheriffe of that County in the room of the now Sheriffe: Wherupon the Lords being also acquainted herewith, It was Ordered, that the Earle of Stanford should give instructions to his Deputy Lieutenants to prepare the Traine Bands in readinesse, in case any such Forces should come against them.
There was a List brought to the House of Commons of such Lords and others at Yorke, as doe undertake to lend the King Horse, there being neere upon 2000 Horse underwritten for.
There was also Letters from Yorke, informing of the death of Sir Francis Worthley kill’d in a Duell, by a Scotchman, occasioned upon diverse Scandalous and Opprobatious Speeches, the said Sir Francis used against the Parliament.2
This day also the Commons went on with their Accommodation, and agreed upon the 5 6. 7. and 8. Propositions, with some omissions and alteration.
Wednesday
The Houses kept the Fast at Saint Margarets, Westminster, Doctor Gouge3 Preaching in the forenoone upon a Text in the 5. of Nehemiah last verse, And Master Will: Sedgwick4 in the afternoon, upon the 62. of Esay, and 7. Verse.
And after Evening Sermon, the Houses sate awhile in Parliament, but resolved to enter upon no businesse, but in case of some extraordinary necessity, for the safety of the Kingdome, if any such thing should happen
Thursday
The Houses received Letters, informing that the Queen is upon coming over from Holland, and intends to come to Newcastle, and brings great provisions of Warr along with Her, and some men, whereof the Lord Digby, Jermyn, and Piercy5 are much suspected.
Then there was a Declaration reported to the House from the Committee; in answer to the Kings Proclamation concerning the Commissions of Array, And to satisfie the Kingdome concerning the Statues alleaged by his Majestie, to maintaine the said Commissions; which after some debate, was approved off by the Commons, And sent up to the Lords for their assent.
The Lord Say sent a Message to the Commons that his Majesty had sent a letter commanding his present repaire to Yorke, and that he desired the Commons would joyne with the Lords, in advising him to return an answer to the said letter, to which they agreed.
This day also his Majesty sent a writ of Cessation to the Earle of Northumberland, of his place of Admirall, commanding him to deliver up his Commission.
There came also Letters from Hartford, informing that they had sent up twelve hundred pounds, and fiftie Horse, for the service of the King and Parliament. Whereupon it was ordered, there should be a Letter of thankes returned to them for the same.
Friday
There came more Letters to the House of Commons from Leicester informing, that Master Henry Hastings, with Colonell Lunsford,6 one Digby, and divers other Cavaliers, and a great number of Horse, were come to the Earle of Stamford, and demanded the Magazine of the said Earle, or else they threatned to burne his house.
And that one Master Ash a Minister7 sending a Letter to the said Earle to informe him of their coming, (having notice) the said M. Hastings arrested him, and hath since carried him by force to Yorke.
The Commons acquainted the Lords with this Letter, whereupon it was ordered, the Earle of Stamford and his Deputy Lieutenants should forthwith goe to Leycester, and raise the power of the County to suppresse them, if there were occasion.
And they ordered, that there should be a warrant for the taking of such quantitie of powder, shot, and Armes out of the Tower, to bee sent to Leycester, as should be thought fitting for that occasion.
There was also Letters read in the House from Lancashire, Informing, That the Deputie Lieutenants appointed by his Majestie upon the Commissions of Array, went on so vehemently in that County, that the Ordinance for the Militia could not take any place; and that the Lord Rivers was very briefe in setting the Country against the Parliament: and upon the day the Ordinance was to bee put in Execution, brought a thousand men into the Fields (but such as are no ways considerable in the Country,) crying out, For my Lord, and the King, &c.
Also from Manchester, That they are in great feare of the Lord Strange who threatned them, that unlesse they would deliver up the Magazine into his custody, hee would goe to Yorke and raise forces should reduce them to obedience; and that he is gone accordingly. They therefore desired the Lord Wharton, their Lord Lieutenant, might bee sent to them: which was ordered accordingly.
And upon debate of these Letters, Master Pym and some others made excellent speeches to the House, in laying open the dangers this Kingdome is falling into, unlesse Gods greater mercy towards us. As also declaring, how contrary his Majestie is carried in these his proceedings, (by his evill Councell) to his often Protestations in his Messages and Declarations; And there was a Conference with the Lords about these Letters, and the Earle of Northumberlands Commission: The Lords declaring their sensiblenesse of the great dangers that may ensue upon this Kingdome, by the taking away of the said Earles Commission, if some speedie remedie were not applied; for that by reason thereof, all the other Commissions to the Vice-Admirall and other Officers would become void.
Whereupon it was ordered, that there should bee a Committee of both Houses appointed to consider what is fitting to be done upon that businesse in Lancashire, Leycestershire, and the taking away of the Earle of Northumberlands Commission.
At that Conference also there were Letters read which came from Amsterdam, in further confirmation of the Queenes coming for England.
And that there is two of the Kings ships there which attend the Queen loaden with great store of Ammunition and provisions for Warre: and that they have taken in 80. or 90. Cavaliers into ships, amongst whom are the Lord Digby, Master Peircy, Jermyn, and Daniel O-Neale: and that they stay there but for the opportunitie of a faire winde. And that the Queen hath pawned, or proffered to pawn a Jewell valued worth 40000. Gilders.
There was also a Letter read in the House of Commons, which was intercepted, from Commissary Wilmott to the Cavaliers in Holland, informing them of the passages here, and in derision of the Parliament.
This evening the Commons ordered, that they would the next day proceed upon the propositions where they left last.
Saturday
The Commons sate in debate, whether they should insist upon the ninth proposition, for the accommodation betweene the King and them, which concerns the Militia.
The debate of which businesse, caused divers excellent Speeches to bee made in the House; as from M. Selden, M. Pym, M. Strode, M. Goodwin, M. Fines,8 and some others; all of them affirming and proving the said ordinance to bee agreeable to the Lawes of the Kingdome; and the Commissions of Array to bee altogether inconsistent and distructive with the Lawes.
And after them there were some short Speeches made on the contrary part, which were againe answeres.
And then some moved they might not further insist upon the Militia according to the Ordinance, in case, his Majestie would also lay down his Commissions of Array.
But that would not be granted, for that it was declared, the said Ordinance was a lawfull act; but the Commissions of Array altogether illegall.
Whereupon after a long time spent concerning it, It was put to the question, and voted by the whole House, That they shall insist upon the said ninth Proposition for the Militia, and actually goe on in the execution thereof.
This day also there was a Conference with the Lords about a Declaration from his Majestie of a very high concernment, concerning the raising of Horse by order of Parliament, and the Militia; which his Majestie declares to be unlawfull, and not consistent with the very constitution and essence of the Kingdome: and the businesse at Hull. In all which cases, His Majestie protesteth Hee will have Justice or loose his life in the requiting of it.
Upon the reading of which Declaration the Lords moved, the Commons would consider what condition those men are brought into that have obeyed the Ordinance, if this Declaration stand of force: and that they would therefore suddenly conclude of something concerning it.
Whereupon there was a great debate in the House of Commons, M. Fines moving, That he conceived, there needed more satisfaction concerning this Declaration, then the Question so often resolved, viz. Who must be the Judge of the Lawes? If the King, it must needs prove the destruction of all Parliament, by whom the Lawes are made. If the Parliament must bee Judge, then the King cannot legally contradict that which They have declared to bee Law.
Whereupon after some debate it was ordered, The said Declaration should be referred to a Committee.
The Lords sent a Message to the Commons that they had agreed the Lord Wharton should bee Lord Lieutenant for Buckingham-shire, in the roome of the Lord Pagett, which the Commons also approved of.
London Printed, 1642.
Source: British Library, E.202[13] Transcription: Gregg Archer Search tags: Arthur Goodwin MP (M. Goodwin), Buckinghamshire, Daniel O'Neill (O-Neale), Earl of Carnarvon (Lord Carnarvon), Earl of Newcastle, Earl of Northumberland, Earl Rivers (Lord Rivers), Earl of Stamford (Lord of Stanford), Lord Henry Percy (Piercy; Master Peircy), Hertford (Hartford), John Selden MP (Mr Seldon), Leicester (Leycester), Leicestershire (Leycestershire), Lord Henry Wilmot (Commissary Wilmott), Nathaniel Fiennes MP (M. Fines), Obadiah Sedgwick (Will: Sedgwick), Simeon Ashe (Master Ash), Sir Arthur Heselrige (Haslerig), Sir Francis Wortley (Worthley), ? Thomas Lunsford (Colonell Lunsford), William Gouge (Doctor Gouge), William Strode MP (M. Strode)
- John Selden MP
- A false story: Wortley died in 1665.
- William Gouge, member of the Westminster Assembly of Divines
- Obadiah Sedgwick
- Henry, Lord Percy
- Probably Sir Thomas Lunsford, who seems to have been the most active Lunsford brother at this time, having commanded a regiment in 1640; he was captured at Edgehill in October 1642, after which his brother Henry took over his regiment.
- Simeon Ashe, a member of the Westminster Assembly of Divines
- Nathaniel Fiennes MP; his younger brother John was not elected as an MP until 1645.