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'The Incident' of 1641 -An historic letter delivered by Parliamentary Messenger









 The Letter from the House of Commons                                        'The Incident'

 The entire text of this letter is recorded in the 'Journals of the House of Commons' for   During  the  visit  of  King  Charles  I  to  Edinburgh  in  1641 ,  the  plot  known  as  The
 22nc1  October 1641  (17 Car.I, page 292).  The letter is also recorded  in the 'Calendar   Incident' was  discovered. The  loyalty to  the  King  of the  Earls of Argyll  and  Lanark,
 of State Papers' for 23rd October 1641 .   and the  Marquis of Hamilton (Secretary of State for Scotland) had been  brought into
                                           question.  It  was  discovered  that  a  plot  existed  in  which  these  three  were  to  be
 The record of this letter from the 'Journals of the House of Commons':   arrested  as  traitors  and  delivered  to  the  King's  ships  at  Leith,  and,  if  necessary,
                                           murdered.  On  the  night of 11th/12th  October the peers fled  the city to  Kenneil  House
                                           only to  return  after the  King  had  announced publicly that he  had  had  no  part in  the
                                           plot and that he regarded the three as completely loyal.
 17 CA.R. I.   Journals of the Hollie of Commons.
                                           However,  although  surviving  this  plot,  all  three  lords  did,  eventually,  meet  violent
 Ordered,  That Mr. Speaker do write a Letter unto Mr.   deaths ... Hamilton  was  executed  on  the  scaffold  at  Tower  Hill  on  gth  March  1649·
 Secretary Vaine;_ that,  if -in  cafe the Committee of both   Lanark died of wounds  after the  Battle of Worcester on  12 h  September 1651 ; Argyli
                                                                                                   1
 Houfes be come out of Scotland,  before  the Letters  and   was  beheaded  at the  cross in  Edinburgh  on  27 111   May  1661  after the  Restoration  of
 .  lnftruaions,  now to be fent,  can be ddivered  there unto
                                           the Monarchy.
 them, that then ·he fi;Wl  ~ defired, by this Hou:e,  to pre-
 fent  the fame unto his Majefty:  And Mr. Pym  is ordered   22"d  October  1641.  An  historic  letter  sent  by  Parliamentary
 to draw  this Letter :  .   Messenger from Edward Littleton, Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal,   Sir Edward Littleton, signatory of the letter
 at the  House of Commons to Edward, Lord Howard of Escrick in
 · THE Advertifement which you have given, in your.Let:
 ters of the Fourteenth of this Month,  concerning the   Edinburgh.   The letter ordered by the House of Commons to be drawn up by Mr Pym was signed
 Defign · againft the Perfons of the Lord Marquis Hamilton,   by Sir Edward Littleton, Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal.
 the Earls of Argile and Lanerick, hath been communicated   The  address  does  not  specif~ Edinburgh,  but  it  is  certain  that
 to both Houfes ;  who do very much commend your Wif-  was  the  destination. From  14  August to  18th  November 1641 ,
 dom and  Diligence,  in fending them timely Notice of an   King  Charles I was visiting Edinburgh to arrange an alliance with
 Accident. of fuch  great Confequence to the. Peace  both of   the Scots.
 this  and  that  Kingdom :  And . do  give you. Thanks for
 your Care therein :  And I am to let you know,  that  we   In  1641,  Parliament  had  named  Lord  Howard  as  one  of  a
 have received no other public:k Intelligence thereof: Where-
 fore the Delire of both Houfes is, that, fo  long as you ffi.y  I   committee  charged  with  observing  the  King's  Scottish
 there,  you continue to  inform  the Houfes of Parliament   negotiations.  As  a  Parliamentary  Commissioner  to  Scotland,
 of the further Proceedings in this  Matter,  and  fuch  o.ther   Lord  Howard  was  accompanying  the  King  on  the  visit  to
 Accidents,  as  may  any_ way  concern  the Safctj.of boch   Edinburgh.
 Kingdoms :  And  thereupon  they have thought go9d  to
 make  a  further  Addition  to  your  former  foftruaions,   Lord  Howard  was  an  ardent  Parliamentarian,  and  this  letter   Sir Edward Littleton became a famous historical
 touching fome  things, which they conceive fit to be repre-  thanks  him  for  providing  the  first  intelligence  to  the  Houses  of   character in his own right.
 fc:nced  co  his Majefty,  from  the Lords and Commons cif   Parliament concerning a major plot against several of the Lords.
 his Parliament here,  as you  may perceive by the Inclofed,   He  was  Lord  Keeper  of  the  Privy  Seal  and  it
 which  I am commanded  to fend  co  you, and  to commend   was  he  who,  in  January 1642, firmly  refused  to
 to  your Care  and  Wifdom ;  not  doubting  but  you  will   The plot later became known to history as The Incident'.   put  the  Great  Seal  to  the  King's  Proclamation
 herein fully anf wer their ExpcCl:acion and Confidence: And, ·  1
 for  chc  Performance  herc:of,  their  Pleafure . is,  chat  you   for the arrest of five Members of Parliament.
 fhould continue there,  to wait upon his Majefty,- tiU  you
 receive  funher Direction,  or  that  his  Maje!l:y  be. plcafed   This act of defiance was a key event in the  lead
 to come away  for  E11gla11d.   ·   := . .   · .. · ,,  '·   up to the Civil War .
 .  -~  ..  . :  . : ..... -


 References:
 'Journals of the House of Commons' Vol. 2,  1640- 1642
 'Calendar of State Papers' Vol. XVI/ & XVI/I, British National Archives
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