COBBETT'S Parliamentary History. 18 CHARLES I.-A. D. 1612. PROCEEDINGS towards a Peace.] vern this army, I should have given my attendance upon you; and should have discharged Oct. my conscience, to the best of my abilities, 29, 1642. Notwithstanding the military ex- honestly and clearly; but, being absent, and hortations to the citizens of London which not hearing the debates, nor from whence this concluded our last Volume, it was this day hath risen, I must submit myself to their greater moved in the house of lords, That it might be judgments; and shail, with all obedience, sub→ taken into consideration, how to prevent far-mit both to what they shall do, and to obey ther bloodshed between the two Armies, and their former commands to advance towards to consider of some means to beget a Peace.' London, to interpose, with my utmost, between them and all dangers, Your, &c, ESSEX. Northamptou, Nov. 1. 1642." Notwithstanding the last mentioned military preparations, and the earl of Essex's declaration of his readiness to march towards London, both houses thought fit to proceed in their pacitic measures; and ordered a Petition to the king to be drawn up: but, previous to this, 'lest the affections of the people should grow cold,' as Mr. Pym expressed himself at the conference, a Declaration was to be published to this purport: Nov. 2. Both houses had been busy in making Orders for opposing sir Ralph Hopton's armament in the west of England, and the other in Wales, mentioned in Mr. Secretary Nicholas's Letter, which had been communicated to the citizens of London at Guildhall, by the earl of Pembroke, on the 27th of the last month. (See vol 2. p. 1474). These two newly raised armies appeared so formidable to the parliament, that, in all probability, it stirred sp the above motion for settling a Peace, and brought on the further consideration of it this day. The result of which was, That to pre"Whereas the lords and commons have or. vent the further effusion of blood, and to settle dered, That it should be referred to the comthe present distractions of the kingdom, a con-mittee for the safety of the kingdom, to preference should be held, in which the following pare heads for an humble Address to his maj. Letter should be communicated to the com- for composing the present differences and dis mons, which the Committee of Safety had re-tractions, and settling the present peace of the ceived from their lord-general, in answer to one written to him on this occasion: kingdom, and to present it to the house: yet, to prevent all misconstructions or neglects, "My lords and gentlemen; I have received whereby our just defence may be hindered, we a Letter from you that mentions an humble do declare, That the preparations of forces, Petition to be directed to his maj. to save the and all other necessary means for the defence effusion of more blood. In the first place, I of the protestant religion, the privileges of parought to acknowledge the favour of your desir-liament, and the laws and liberties of the subing to hear from me before you send it. In the [ject, shall be prosecuted with all vigour." second place, to declare that an happy accommodation for the advancement of religion, the fourishing of this kingdom, with its antient rights, the saving the effusion of more blood, "We your majesty's most loyal subjects, the and the uniting his majesty to his parliament, lords and commons in parliament assembled, none shall pray for more, nor receive with being affected with a deep and piercing sense more joy than myself. If I had not, by the of the miseries of this kingdom, and of the dan commands of the parliament, been here to go-ger of his majesty's person, as the presenc VOL. III, Nov. 3. The Petition to the King was read by the lords, and agreed to by both houses, as follows: B affairs now stand; and much quickened therein and is still, ready to receive the humble Petition with the sad consideration of the great effusion of either or both houses of parliament; and of blood at the late battle,' (of Edgehill,) and shall take order, that a committee of lords and of the loss of so many eminent persons: and Commons may pass and repass to him, with the further weighing the addition of loss, misery, Petition of Loth houses, as is desired; so as and danger to your majesty and your kingdom, the said committee consists of persons that which must ensue, if both armies should again have not been by his majesty either by name, join in another battle; as, without God's espe- declared Traitors; or otherwise in some of Lis cial blessing, and your majesty's concurrence Declarations or Proclamations excepted against with your houses of parliament, will not pro- by name, with his intention declaring to probably be avoided; we cannot but believe that ceed against them as traitors; and so as the a suitable impression of tenderness and con- said committee come not with more than 30 passion is wrought in your majesty's royal persons in their company, and give notice heart, being yourself an eye-witness of the Lefore-hand of their coming and for the said bloody and sorrowful destruction of so many of committee's better security, his majesty, upon your subjects; and that your maj, doth appre- the receipt of their names, will give a Safehend what dimmunition of your own power and Conduct for them under his hand and signer. greatness will follow; and that all your king-Your, &c. ED. NICHOLAS. Reading, Novem doms will thereby be so weakened, as to be- ber 4, 1642." come subject to the attempts of any ill-affected to this state. In all which respects we assure ourselves, that your majesty will be inclined graciously to accept this our humble Petition, that the misery and desolation of this kingdom may be speedily removed and prevented; for the effecting whereof we most humbly beseech your majesty to appoint some convenient place, not far from London, where your majesty will be pleased to reside, until committees of both houses may attend your majesty, with some Propositions for the removal of these bloody distempers and distractions, and settling the state of the kingdom, in such a manner, as may conduce to the preservation of God's true Religion; your majesty's honour, safety, and prosperity; and to the peace, comfort, and secu rity of all your people.” The houses next considered of the manner of delivering this Petition to the king; and, since the way they sent their last was so disagreeable to him, it was thought proper, that a committee of lords and commons should be sent with it. But, first, that a Letter be written to one of the secretaries of state, or some peer near his majesty, to desire a safe-conduct for these persons; and that a trumpet should, be sent before the messenger, to desire a safeconduct for the delivery of their Letter. Accordingly the lord Grey of Werk, Speaker of the house of lords pro tempore, wrote the following Letter, to lord Falkland, principal secretary to his majesty, or, in his absence, for Mr. Secretary Nicholas, or any of the lords attending his majesty: "My lord, I am commanded by the lords the peers, and commons assembled in parliament, to address, by you, their humble desires to his majesty, that he would be pleased to grant his Safe-Conduct to a committee of lords and commons to pass and repass unto his maj. that are directed to attend him with an humble Petition from his parliament. I rest your, &c. GREY of Werk." Nov. 5. Lord Grey received an Answer to the above Letter as follows: "My lord; His majesty hath commanded me to signify to you, that he always hath been, To this Letter, the lord Grey was directed to return the following Answer; but since this Answer, and the consequent Rejoinders, were the chief business of some days, we shall put them altogether, for the reader's greater case in the perusal : To the right hon. the lord Falkland, Principal My lord, I have received a command from the lords and commous in parliament to send you the names of two lords; that it is to say, Algernon earl of Northumberland, Philip earl of Pembroke and Montgomery, and of four members of the house of commons, Mr. Pierrepoint, the lord Wenman, sir John Evelin of Wilts, and sir John Hippeslay, being the committees of both houses appointed to attend his majesty with an humble Petition directed from them to his majesty; desiring your lordship will be pleased to move his majesty to send a Safe-Conduct, to pass and repass, under his royal hand and signet, for the several persons aforementioned. I rest, &c. GREY of Werk, Nov. 5." I To the right honourable the lord Grey of Werk, Speaker of the House of Peers, pro tempore, &c. "My lord, Your lordship's letter, of the 5th, shewed his majesty,who hath expressly commanded me to return your lordship this Answer in these few words, That his majesty hath sent (which I have inclosed) a Safe-Conduct, under his royal hand and signet, for the earl of Northumberland and the earl of Pembroke and Montgomery, Mr. Pierrepoint, the lord Wenman, and sir John Hippesley; but bath not admitted sir John Evelin to attend him, as being included in the exception made by his majesty in the Letter sent by Mr. Secretary Nicholas to your lordship of the 4th, as by the inclosed Proclamation, proclaimed at his majesty's court at Oxford, and sent, with a writ sealed, into the county of Wilts, will appear. His majesty hath likewise commanded me to signify to your lordship, That in case the houses shall think fit to send any other person in the place of sir J. Evelin, that is not included in the exception made in Mr. Secretary's Letter beforementioned, his majesty bath commanded all his officers, soldiers and other subjects to suffer him as freely to pass and repass as if his name had been particularly comprised in this, Safe-Conduct. I rest, &c. FALKLAND. Reading, Nov. 6." His Majesty's SAFE CONDUCT. "C. R. Our will and pleasure is, and we do hereby strictly charge and command all the officers and soldiers of our present army, and all our ministers and subjects whatsoever, to suffer our right trusty and right well-beloved Couzins and counsellors Algernon earl of Northumberland, and Philop earl of Pembroke and Montgomery, and our right trusty and right well-beloved couzin Tho. lord Wenman, and our trusty and well-beloved Wm. Pierrepoint, esq, and sir John Hippesley, knight, (together with their attendants, not exceeding the num ber of 30) to pass and repass to and from us, they being now sent to attend us with a Petition from both our houses of parliament. This our Safe-Conduct under our royal hand and signet, we charge and command them, and every of them, punctually to observe and obey, as they will answer the contrary at their utter most perils. Given at our Court at Reading this 6th of Nov. 1642." The King ofjects to sir John Evelin's being one of the Committee for settling a Peace.] Then was read the Proclamation, mentioned in lord Falkland's Letter, as a reason why the king excepted against sir John Evelin as one of the commissioners; after which a debate ensued in the house of lords, and the question being put, Whether the lord Falkland's last Answer should be sent to the cominous with the sense of this house upon it, or without it? it passed for the latter, and was sent down accordingly. Both Houses send a Committee to acquaint the City of London, with the King's refusal of Peace. The commons sent up a Vote of their house, on the king's objection to sir John Evelin, to this purpose: Resolved, "That this house holds it to be a denial in his majesty, and a Refusal to grant a Treaty with the parliament, in excepting unto one of the messengers that were to present a Petition unto him from both houses, and denying to grant him a Safe-Conduct."-The question being put, by the lords, Whether this Safe-Conduct should be accepted upon these terins? It passed in the Negative. After this a Committee of both houses were appointed to go into the city of London, to acquaint the commnon-hall with all the ways the parliament had used to procure a Treaty for a Peace, without being able to effect it; and to quicken them to a resolu Sir John Evelin, sir Edw. Hungerford, sir Henry Ludlow, and Walter Long, esq. all of them members of the house of commons, were, by name, excepted in the king's Proclamation of Pardon to the county of Wilts, dated at Oxford, Nov. 2, 1642. Husband's Collections p. 730, tion of defending and maintaining their liberties and religion, with their lives and fortunes. Likewise, the committee of safety were ordered to prepare a Declaration, upon this denial of the ki g's to admit such members as were appointed by both houses to present their Petition; one of the heads of which was to be, the king's expressing a readiness to receive a Petition from the rebels in Ireland. Nov. 8. Two members of the Committee from the Parliament to the City, on the above occasion, were the lord Brooke and sir Henry Vane, junior; whose Speeches at the Guildhall, being yet preserved, we here subjoin them in their own words as follows: Lord Brooke said: " My lord mayor and aldermen, and the rest of the gentlemen here assembled; I aim to deliver a message to you from the lords and commons, now assembled in parliament. What I have to say to you is this: I doubt not but you have heard some whisperings of an Accommodation; and no man that is an honest man, a religious man, a free man, that loves religion and the kingdom, but would have an Accommodation; for nothing is more miserable, and nothing is more distracting than war: But that an Accommodation should come upon terms ignoble and disadvantageous, that never was in the thought of either house, and I hope never will be; and, I am to tell you never shall be. I am at this time to intreat you, in the name of both houses of parliament, to go on courageously, and fight, and prepare yourselves for that that is at hand.: we hear the enemies approach nearer every day, who aim at nothing else but to swallow up our religion, lives, liberties, and estates; and therefore it becomes you to labour to defend them all. I have more to say, but it is better said here in the Votes of the houses of lords and commons; I desire they should be read unto you,and therein you will fully understand what their sense is. Monday, Nov. 7 1642. The question being put, Whether a Safe Conduct shall be accepted upon these terms? It past with the negative.'--This was, first, in the house of commons. The meaning of this Vote is, There was a Safe-Conduct sent by his majesty to 6 persons, two of the house of lords, and 4 of the house of commons; among these there was one sir John Evelin, of Wiltshire: the king would not let him have a Safe-Conduct, because he was one that was named, by him, a Traitor the day before; and that was done, as is thought, on purpose to take him off from being one; therefore the commons did look upon that as a Denial, in that he could not have a Safe-Conduct. This Vote of theirs was presented to the lords; and they concurred with it, viz. Resolved upon the question, [Here follows the Resolutions.] "Here is one thing more, gentlemen, that is worth your taking notice of: in the latter end you see there is a committee appointed to come hither to give you an account of the Reasons moving them on to this action; and to shew you all the ways they have used, if it were possible, to have procured a Treaty for a Peace. There is another thing in the end is very remarkable: His majesty will not, but upon terms altogether unfitting, accept of any Treaty from us; yct at the same time, is willing to receive a Petition from the rebels in Ireland. We are no rebels; but dutiful in all we do: they are rebels and traitors in the judgment of all men; and yet he will receive no Petition from us : but he will receive a Petition from them." and properties, and all that is near and dear to you in this kingdom. The commons, therefore, have thought it fit to acquaint you with these proceedings; to let you know how careful they are, by all good ways, and by all good means, to present their loyalty and duty to his majesty, to take care of themselves, and all that belongs to you: but, when they see all will not take effect, they doubt not but you will join cordially, and join resolutely, with your purses, and with your endeavours, and with all that lies in your power, to acquit yourselves like men; to defend yourselves, to defend them that have laboured in your work, ip your cause and who are willing to spend their lives and blood in your service to the utmost man: therefore they desire this of you, that since they have taken this care, you will hearken to no reports that shall tend to the disparagement of their proceedings; but will unanimously concur to defend yourselves against that violence and oppression, that is now al most at your doors. And this is that we have to recommend to you." Sir Henry Vane spoke to this effect:" My lord mayor &c.; It is not unknown to you, with what difficulties, with what dangers, both houses of parliament have a long time conflicted, for to bring the liberties, and the religion, and the welfare of this kingdom into such a posture as might give all the inhabitants thereof full satisfaction. It is not unknown likewise, how busy the enemies of this great work have been, to cast scandals, to cast false aspersions, upon the proceedings, upon the carriage of parliament; they therefore thought fit (that they might undeceive all persons of the greatest malice, and of the greatest opposition to their endeavours) not long since to Then the Lord Brooke spoke again: Genframe a Petition; a Petition full of humility, tlemen; This hon. gentleman hath exprest so a Petition full of modesty, whereby they did fully all that was in the message, that, truly, desire his majesty that they might apply them- should wrong him and myself too, if I should selves to make such Propositions to him, as say any more; therefore, I shall now speak to might effect this great work. This Petition, you of another thing. It is not fit any thing that it might be delivered, they thought fit for that concerns you should be concealed from to name six persons; 2 of the lords house, and you. I came this day to this place, about 4 of the house of commons; men that they another business, which I have already com thought altogether without the least scruple, municated to my lord mayor and the alder without the least exception, knowing that no- men, and the committee. I think it will not thing in the carriage of these persons could be unfit you should know it. I have the con render them liable to exception, but their duty sent of some, that understand this business and observance to the commands of both very well, to what I now shall do. Gentlehouses. When the names of these persons men, the message was this, it was a message were sent to his majesty, for to have a Safe- from his excellency; it is to let you know how Conduct, immediately, there came out a Pro- near the danger is at hand, that so you may clamation against one of them, excepting him gird up the loins of your resolution, and act out of the grace and favour of his majesty, as like men of courage. Gentlemen, citizens of it is termed, and laying him in the condition London, (better than whom no man did in of a rebel and of a traitor against him, for that army we had lately in the field) the enehis obedience to, and observance of, the com- mies foot, as we understand, are very near mands of parliament. This being brought to Stains, their horse are about Kingstou. We both houses, they looked on it as a business of cannot say that all are there; but that there such great importance, that if they should suffer are both horse and foot, and it is certain our any one member, or any one person, that, foot are going to them: so that the question is through his dutifulness and observance of their now, What is to be done? This is a certain commands, should lie under a cloud with his truth among all soldiers, That you must keep majesty, so as not be admitted to his presence evil as far off you as you can; you must not but be looked at in such a condition, as this let it come near your doors: you must not Proclamation put him in They looked on it, think to fight in the sighs, and tears, and eyes, I say, as the greatest indignity, and the greatest and distractions of your wives and children; calumny that could betal a parliament; and but to go out and meet it valiantly as you have the greatest discouragement that should lie done.-God hath shewed himself a God of upon all men to stand to a parliament, if they love and mercy, and truly we must give him all should not be defended and protected; Here- the honour of that day; certainly it is the upon they resolved to declare, That the unwil-greatest victory that ever was gotten; near lingness lay not in them to make peace; but it lay in that ill-counsel, and that desperate counsel, that hath hemmed in his majesty; and will not suffer such points, will not suffer such Propositions as these, to take effect with him but will labour to destroy all your estates 2000 (I love to speak with the least) on their side slain, and, I am confident, not 100 on our side, unless you will take in women and children, carmen and dogs; for they slew the very dogs and all. If you take in women, children, carmen, and dogs, then they slew |