1647. February. Next, a Committee, confifting of the Earls of An. 23 Car. I. Northumberland, Kent, Denbigh, Mulgrave, and Salisbury, with the Lords North and Wharton, were appointed to confider which Way to vindicate the Honour of the Houfe; and to prevent, for the future, the like Contempt which Sir John Maynard had now offered at their Bar. Mr. Baron Atkins and Mr. Juftice Rolle were appointed to attend this Committee. Six of the im Feb. 8. This being the Day appointed for the feven Lords that were impeached by the House of Commons of High Treafon, &c. to hear and receive the faid Charge, they were called in one by one; and, after they had kneeled at the Bar, the Speaker told them, feverally, That this being the peach'd Lords Day ordered for them to receive the Charge brought admitted to Bail : up from, the Houfe of Commons against them, and to put in Bail, the Lords commanded the feveral Charges to be diftinctly read to each Lord; after which they all gave in Bail, themselves in 4000/ and their Sureties for 2000. to appear, upon Summons, whenever the Lords pleafe to call for them. Only the Lord Willoughby, instead of appearing at this Time, fent the following Letter, which was read: For the Right Honourable the SPEAKER of the Houfe of Peers pro Tempore, to be communicated to the Lords affembled in Parliament. My Lords, W Feb. 6, 1647. not appearing. ITH how much Zeal, and how difinter- But Lord Wileftedly, I have ferved the Public, fince loughby fends the very Beginning of this Parliament, as well his Reafons for ' with the Hazard of my Perfon as with the Ex'pence of my Fortune, is fo well known to your Lordships, the Parliament, and the Kingdom, as I need not wear out more Time on that Subject; knowing my Integrity to the Principles your Lordfhips went upon to be fuch as I need not 'make An. 23 Car. I. 1647. February. make a Recital of my paft Actions to justify my Proceedings; for I (who know myself beft) know I am still upon the fame Foundation I ever was, and am as pofitively refolved, by God's Affiftance, not to vary from it, what Afperfions foever my Enemies endeavour to blemish me with, or what Succefs my Conftancy to thofe Grounds in the Conclufion may meet with, I shall look no farther backwards than to my late Restraint, • under which I continued four Months, patiently expecting what could be proved against me by them upon whofe Impeachment I was by your Lordships committed; but, finding their Delays very much to exceed the ufual Time of Proceedings in Affairs of this Nature, upon Address to your Lordships I had my Liberty; refolving to have made no other Use of it than retire myself to Privacy, not being, by fome, thought longer fit for public Employment; but, whilft I was in Preparation for this my Intention, I find myself interrupted by a fresh Profecution of the former Impeachment; and apprehending the Reftraint which may confequently follow, hath enforced me to use fuch Means for my Liberty, which I defire may admit of an honourable Interpretation from your Lordships to Your faithful Servant, FR. WILLOUGHBY. Nothing was done at prefent upon this Letter, but is was ordered, That thofe Lords who had their Charges read this Day, fhould put in their respective Answers according to a former Order : And that the Committee, which examined the Bufinefs concerning the Force put upon the Parliament, fhall make Report of the faid Examinations on Friday Morning next, Feb. 9. Another Letter from Col. Hammond, brought to the House of Lords, was read: For For the Right Hon. the Earl of MANCHESTER, An. 23 Car. I. Speaker of the House of PEERS pro Tempore. 1647. February. My Lord, Carifbrook-Caftle, Feb. 2, 1647. I Shall acquaint your Lordship that, in pur- A Letter from fuance of your Commands, in order to the Colonel Hammond, relating Security of the Perfon of the King, I have, by to the Guard he the Approbation of the General, appointed four had fet upon the 'Gentlemen of approved Fidelity, viz. Mr. Her- King's Perfon. bert, Mr. Mildmay, Capt. Titus, and Capt. Prefton, conftantly to attend the Person of the King in their Course, by two at a Time; who are always to be in his Prefence, except when he retires himself into his Bed-Chamber; and then they are to repair, the one to the one Door, and the other to the other, and there to continue untill the King come forth again. "In this I thought good to make my Address to your Lordship, that I may also know your Lordhip's Pleasure; and, in cafe your Lordship please to approve what is done, I defire, if you fhall ❝ think fit, in order to the End aforefaid, and for the 'quickening their Care and Diligence, of which indeed I cannot yet complain, that your ftrict < Commands may be laid upon them in this their Duty; and that you will please to confider them in fome Way anfwerable to the great Care and • Burthen that lieth upon them in fuch an Em'ployment. What Commands your Lordship shall further 'please to lay upon me shall be most chearfully ob• ferved by, My Lord, Your Lordship's most faithful humble Servant, RO. HAMMOND. A Lift of the Parliament's Ships, to be fet forth for next Summer's Guard, was fent up from the 4 House Ships Names. Reformation, Garland, Lion, An. 23 Car. I. House of Commons, with feveral Orders relating 1647. February. they agreed. Convertine, Bonadventure, Antelope, [Affurance, Nonfuch, Elizabeth, Fourth Lank. Dragon, Prefident, Star, Tenth Whelp, Swan, ៖៖៖៖៖ ទទ 60 233 200 200 60 186 60 200 50 50 167 120 120 150 45 80 Ordered, by the Lords and Commons affembled in Parliament, that it be referred to the Committee of the Admiralty and Cinque-Ports, 1. To take speedy Course that the Ships, now voted, may be fitted and prepared to go forth to Sea for the next Summer's Guard. 2. To confider of the Names of the Commanders for the fame, and to report them to the Houfes with all Speed. 3. To take Course for the graving and fitting the reft of the Parliament's Ships with Victuals and other Neceffaries, ready to be fet forth to Sea if Occafion fhould require. About this Time a very fevere Ordinance paffed both Houfes against Stage Players, Players of Interludes, &c. The Preamble to this Ordinance is very remarkable, and fhews how widely different the Sentiments and Fashions of the present Age are from those of their Ancestors in the laft Century. It runs thus: Hereas the acting of Stage Plays, Inter- An Ordinance ludes, and common Plays, condemned for the abfolute by antient Heathens, and much lefs to be tolera- Suppreffion of all Stage Plays. ted amongst Profeffors of the Chriftian Religion, is the Occafion of many and fundry great Vices and Disorders, tending to the high Provocation of God's Wrath and Displeasure, which lies heavy upon this Kingdom, and to the Disturbance ' of the Peace thereof; in regard whereof the fame hath been prohibited by Ordinance of this prefent Parliament, and yet is ftill prefumed to be 6 practifed by divers in Contempt thereof.'- |