Bourne Archive: FNQ: 17th century

 http:// boar.org.uk /ariwxo3FNQ167.htm         Latest edit 7 Aug 2009.   

Interactive version ©2006 R.J.PENHEY

The Bourne Archive

FNQ

Fenland Notes and Queries. This was originally in the quarterly Part 8, January 1891. Edited by W.H. Bernard Saunders, F.R. Hist. Soc.

Articles 1 to 237 (April 1889 to October 1891) were re-published as Volume 1, in 1891, by Geo. C. Caster, Market Place, Peterborough.

This quarterly periodical which, from the second volume (part 12) became associated with the name of W.D. Sweeting, took the form of a forum in which people sent in questions about the history, ecology and so on of the Fens and the region’s environs and others replied with some sort of answer. Some ‘answers’ seem to have been spontaneous, so qualifying as ‘notes’. Editorial notes in the form [note] are those of FNQ; those in the form [note] are those of RJP.

My thanks to the trustees of the Willoughby Memorial Library for the loan of the copy from which the following was transcribed.

17th Century and Civil War

167 – Huntingdonshire Grievances in 1642. – The following petition is contained in a collection of papers left to the authorities of the British Museum by George III. It is dated A.D. 1642.

“To the Right Honourable, the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses of the House of Commons now assembled in Parliament.

“The Petition of the Countie of Huntingdon Sheweth, That your unwearied labours, and indefessive endevours for the publike good and safety of the whole Kingdome, have exstimulated us not onely to acknowledge obsequiously the same, but have respectively induced us to present our lives and estate at your command, and Order.

“The grievances, which for a long time hitherto have sorely oppressed us, have partly beene cleared by your endevours, and partly remain still to the molestation of us all: which we really suppose to be retarded by a malignant party, which are acknowledged to be the sole obstacles of your proceedings.

“Our humble addresse is therefore to your Honours, that you would bee gratiously pleased to devote the Popish Lords, Bishops, Councellours from the House of Peeres, and exeuterate [sic] those evill Councellours from that Illustrious Assembly. For wee finde that by their mischievous designes your endevours are not onely frustrated, but the very priviledges of the Parliament broken, and the liberty of the subjects debilitated, and the Members of both Houses unassured of their lives to the great preiudice of the whole Kingdom, especially a Religious member of the House of Peeres, the Lord of Kimbolton in our Shire, who was impeached by his Majestie of high treason; but wee are confident of his Loyaltie, and so absolute opinion of him that he is not guiltie of the least of these Articles wherein he  was arraigned.

“Wherefore we humbly implore your Honours, that hee, and other may enjoy the freedome and liberty of Parliament according to the legall progresses of Law, and the ancient customes and Rights of Parliamentarie tryalls.

“To the granting of which Petition, desire we recommend our Service and Zeale unto your Honours, humbly beseeching you to reflect upon our Petition.

“So your Petitioners will be bound to pray, &c.”

“The Lord of Kimbolton in our Shire” here mentioned, was Edward Montagu, the famous Parliamentary General. It is probable that he was born at Kimbolton Castle, as Collins alludes to him as a countryman of Cromwell’s. He was educated at Sidney College Cambridge, where he took the degree of Master of Arts. At the Coronation of Charles I., he was made a Knight of the Bath; and he afterwards represented Huntingdonshire in four Parliaments, till he was called by a writ to the House of Peers, as Baron of Kimbolton, his father being then living. In 1640 he was one of the Commissioners appointed to treat with the Scots at Ripon, and he now became extremely popular from his endeavours to support the sinking liberties of his country. In the following year, through the fatal counsel of the Queen, and Lord Digby, the King had him accused of High Treason, together with five leading members of the House of Commons. This act tended greatly to exasperate the nation, and caused the foregoing petition to be sent up from his native county. When the plots and counter-plots of both parties had driven them to appeal to arms, Lord Kimbolton, engaging in the service of Parliament, had the command of a regiment in the battle of Edgehill, October 23rd, 1642. On the 7th of the following November, he succeeded his father as Earl of Manchester. He was five times married. He died suddenly at Whitehall, in May, 1671, in his sixty-ninth year, and is buried in the Parish Church of Kimbolton.

Charles Dawes.

FNQ