THE LADIES, A SECOND TIME, ASSEMBLED IN PARLIAMENT.  
A Continuation of the Parliament of LADIES.  
Their Votes, Orders, and Declarations.  

Die Martis August 2. 1647.  
Ordered by the Ladies assembled in Parliament, that these their Votes, Orders, and Declarations, be forthwith Printed and Published.  


T. Temple Cler.  
Mrs Martha Peele Messenger.     
Printed in the year 1647.   

The Parliament of Ladies.  

Secunda Pars  
THE Ladies well affected, whom in my first, I told you were Assembled at Spring Garden, and upon emergent occasion, had adjourned their House, for that while they were employed about the ●ff●yres of the publ●cke, their Lords had a 〈…〉 to hunt forbi●den G●me; and ta●●● 〈…〉 ure consideration, that it is a su●e axiom, 〈◊〉 begins at home, they held it convenient, to add 〈…〉 for a certain time; and h●ving reduced their L 〈…〉 to a privation to assemble 〈…〉 meet in Parliament a● b●fo●e: for that Ph●losophicall Lady, the Lady May had s●yd, that the acts of governors, cannot p●ssibly have any strong influence upon the public, so long as things were not punctually p●rformed at home; but no sooner had the Ladies effected their wishes, and having by their earnest allurements, constrained their Lords to hunt the game more often than they were willing to do, especially in their own (—) berries, so sufficiently abated their affections to that sport, that they began to be altogether weary and tired, vowing for the future, that to hunt their own game, was enough and more, than the state of their bodies required; the Ladies with a great deal of jucundity and contentment, assembled themselves together again.  
In the first place they took into consideration, the sale of the Bishops Lands, and upon the Question resolved:  
That the bishopric of Lincoln, of Worcester, of Ely, and Durham, should remain entire; for that though the Bishops of those Sees, had in other matters of concernment, showed themselves very averse, yet to the Ladies assembled, they had been very free and cordial, even to their utmost abilities, and had in some private performances, aided them more strongly than any secular man whatsoever. That the Lady Denbigh should have power to instate the Bishop of Lincoln in his See, the Lady Middlesex the B●shop of Ely the Lady Scot the Bishop of Durham, the Lady Stanford the B●shop of Worcester, each of these L●d●es to have power respectively, to settle the said Bishops in their first and full power; and in c●se of resistance, to arm the well affected of the Country against those that shall make opposition: but with this proviso, that for the future, the said Ladies shall not engross to themselves, all the performances of these Clergy men as before, but that their abilities shall be esteemed for the use of the whole House in general.  

Resolved upon the Question.  
That the Lands and revenues belonging to the Sees of Canterbury and York be sold, to a molehill, for that the Bishops of those dioceses, have from the beginning, been observed to be nothing well affected to the desires of the House; and that no notable thing is recorded that they have ever done demonstratively, showing their willingness and ability, but that they ever gathered money, and but seldom covered (—).  
That the Lady Oxford, the Lady May; and the Lady Tufton, be appointed and furnished with power to accomplish the Order of the house; and the rather, for that the extreme hate the said Ladies bear to those men, of what rank soever, that were not willing, to their utmost abilities, to accomplish the will of the House, would be a sufficient instigation to incite them to proceed with vigour.  
While these things were in agitation, in comes a Messenger from the House of Commons, desiring their Ladish●ps concurrence with an Order to be issued out by the authority of both Houses, viz. that all Malignant Ministers should be prohibited from entering into pulpits, for that many of them, contrary to a former express Order, preached each Sabbath day, both in City and Country, divulging doctrine of very dangerous consequence, and scandalous to the Houses; their ladyships hereupon, fell into debate, and had much controverting about the word En●er, the Lady Barrington affirming, that the Commons by this, made an absolute entrenchment on their privileges: for though to the Commons it would cause no detriment, yet to them the abridgement of Entrance, might occasion much sorrow and vexation, being one of their chief immunities; they therefore returned Answer, that they could not pass it, for that to divers of the Malignant Ministers, viz. Dr. Griffin, Mr. ●ieve, Mr. Cady, cum multis aliis, they were infinitely engaged, as to men that had entered their pulpits to their exceeding comforts, when as they were altogether destitute of consolation; the one at Abington, the other at Maidstone, the other at Stoke, upon which the business was waved, and proceeded no farther.  
The House then appointed Committees, viz. the Lady Newport, the Lady Buckingham, and the Lady Carlisle, to see to the compounding of Delinquents for their estates; the Lady Carlisle, notwithstanding her age, and ugliness, would not come to composition with Arundel, for his Delinquency in deserting and complying with the Lady Tuften: captain Edwards was also brought in for a Delinquent; but he ap●log●zed for himself, that he would not have forsaken the service of the State, and in particular of the Lady Newport, but that he observed that her (—) was like a well, always exhausted with two buckets, for that he was no sooner out but Waller was in, and therefore he was the more to be excused, for that he left not the said Lady altogether destitute of a— &c.  
This day a Petition came from the Lady Waller, desiring that she might be restored again to her place in the House, protesting that she was well affected, though her Knight were fled away with Maynard, and Massey; but it was alleged against her, that she was utterly ●ncapable of sitting in Parliament, for that while her Knight with Glin, and Stapleton, were endeavouring a new war, she also was found in arms under Col. Pointz; but upon her importunity, the business was put off for another days hearing.  
The House then took into consideration the impious act of the Lady Powland, who changing the English, for French air, had entered into a Monastery, & was become a nun: the House considering the great prejudice that this her example might produce, voted her guilty of high Tre●son, and that whensoever she should be taken, she should suffer as a traitor; and to prevent the like danger, for the future, made this ensuing Order, and then adjourned for that day.  
Die Veneris, August 6. 1647.  
The Ladies Assembled in Parliament, taking into consideration the late Act of the Lady Powland, who contrary to the Law of nature, and sense of the house, hath forsaken the society of men, to be a recluse, o● c●oistered nun, and not without grief beholding the effects, which such an example may occasion, do order, and decree, that the said Lady Powland for her fact so committed, shall suffer death without mercy, if she ever be taken: and for the future, they ordain that none shall be so hardy as to attempt the like, under pain of forfeiting life and estate; but shall to their u●most abilities strive to increase and multiply, and for their encouragement therein, it is by these presents ordained by the Ladies Assembled in Parliament, that the Females of great Britain sh●ll have free leave, and licence in case of their husband's disability, to use the performances of their eldest servant, and if he fail, of their near neighbour, and this without scruple or question.  
T. Temple Clarke.  
The Ladies assembling again the next day, The first business was a report from the Committee for Delinquents estates, who named in the first place, the right honourable, the Lord Montague, who was impeached for a Delinquent to the house, and had deserted the Lady Virrian, and had allied himself to the Lady Kirbe; but the house taking into consideration his former special services to many of them in general, and in particular to the Lady Bedford, and the Lady Stamford, the Lady Stamford avouching that he was a man well gifted, and had a large talent, and one that had endured many dangerous encounters in the service of the house, and had been in the chirurgeons hands, they therefore ordered that his delinquency should be taken off, and he to have free leave to be at the service of the Lady Kirbe, &c.  
It was moved then, by the learned Lady, the Lady May, that the day of humiliation might be appointed to implore a blessing on the endeavours of men, and that they might be enabled to go through stitch with their undertakings, and become every day more and more active, which was passed, and a Messenger sent to the Commons for their concurrence.  
Their ladyships then received word that a Messenger waited at the door, sent from the house of Commons, to wit, Mr. Howard, and Mrs. Glescoth, who being admitted in, delivered their bill, which was to desire their concurrence to a Petition with Propositions to be sent to his Majesty for a safe and well grounded peace, which their ladyships passed, and ordered the Lady thin and the Lady May, to join with two of the House of Commons, and they jointly to be urgent upon his Majesty to sign the Propositions, and so for that day adjourned their house.  
The next day the house being met, a Petition was delivered, entitled the humble Petition of many thousands of Citizens Wives, in and about the City of London, the substance of which was, that whereas divers weak persons were crept into places, beyond their ability, and had undertaken that which the Petitioners found by common experience, they were not able to perform, they therefore desired that men of abler parts, and greater abilities, might be put in their rooms; which would be to the Petitioners infinite advantage, the house having heard their Petition, ordered hearty thanks to be given them, for their good affections to the State, and that the Lady Devonshire, the Lady Middlesex, and the Lady Bullinbrooke, should be a Committee appointed to consider of this business.  
It was then moved by the Lady Norton, that a day of thanksgiving might be appointed for the Armies happy entrance into the City without tumult, for the exceeding great endeavours of the Commanders of the Army to pleasure the house, thanks returned to Sir Thomas Fairefax for his many able performances in the service of the Lady Denbigh, to Cromwell for his valiant charging performed in the service of the Lady Newport, which Order being sent to the Commons for their concurrence, they sent it back with their assent and additions; that thanks also should be given, that they had so fairly drawn their necks out of the collar, and had laid the weight of their own crimes, upon the backs of Waller, Massey, and Pointz, leaving those less interressed in the impeachment than themselves in the lurch; Mr. Craddock desired to preach in the forenoon▪ but the Sermon to be in English, and not in Welsh, and notice to be given him that he should have care not to blurt out the language of the Cambro-Brittanians, instead of the Romans, as he did once at St. Michael's Cornhill; Mr. Case to be in the afternoon, and that he be desired to pray with his eyes open, and not to offer up his orisons blindly, that is to say, with hypocritical confidence, and that Mrs. Cook be prohibited from accompanying him three days afore, lest he suffer some diminution of memory.  
Word was brought in that Mr. Peter's stood at the door, and had a message of import to relate to the house, who immediately commanded him to be brought in; who after obeisance told them, that he gave thanks to God, who had appointed him to be the happy Messenger of blissful news, to wit, that Digby was again reconciled to the Lady Tuften, and once more doted upon this painted face, which news because it highly pleased the house; they ordered Mr. Peter's twenty pounds for a gratuity, and that he should prepare himself to preach before them the next Fast day; for that they intended then to be very merry.  
A Paper was drawn up, and sent to the Synod, by especial order from the House, desiring them to give a speedy answer to the satisfaction of the house, to these following questions.  
F●rst, what is meant by that place where it is said, and Iud●h went in unto her, and lay with her, and why there is such a Tautology?  
Secondly, by what means came it to pass that Lot was able to perform the act of generation with his two Daughters, and to ply his business so notably, as to get them with child, and yet not know when they lay down, nor when they rose up?  
The Messenger bearing this Order to the Assembly, they returned answer, that they would give a solution to these Queries with all convenient speed.  
A complaint was brought in against one Paul Best, who had broached many damnable, and heretical Doctrines, amongst the rest one was, that women were uncapable of eternity, as wanting that immortal substance, which was injected into Adam, to wit the soul; and his reason was, for that he read that God breathed into Adam, and he became a living soul; but woman was made of man, participating only of his earthly substance, no mention of any soul infused into her; for he said woman was ordained only for the earth, but man only for heaven, and this he said was the reason that women were so sensual of such ravenous, and infatiate appetites, being like other creatures only of the earth, earthly: the house having heard the contents of the complaint, became greatly enraged, and ordered that the books or pamphlets, which the said Paul Best had compiled, and divulged, maintaining this error, should be gathered together, and openly burnt by the common hangman, himself to be kept close Prisoner till further order, and in the mean time a Declaration to be set forth evidently proving that women have souls; the chief argument to be this, that seeing the devil is a spirit without a body, and yet is c●p●ble of eternity; so women being bodies without souls, may also be capable of eternity.  
Then the Ladies took into consideration the great decay of Males, occasioned by the late unnatural war, and therefore ordered.  
Die Mercur. August 13. 1647.  
It is by these presents Ordered and Decreed, by the Ladies assembled in Parliament, That forasmuch, as by the late unnatural war, many men of great abilities and able performances, were cut off, not only to the prejudice of this House, but of the whole kingdom, as by several Petitions from many thousands of unsupplied Women, may appear: Be it therefore Ordered and ordained, for the more speedy replenishing of the kingdom, that it shall be lawful, for the time to come, for any Woman Venereously inclined, and capable of more than is put upon her, to use the aid and assistance, not only of the men of her own Nation, but also of any other foreigner, whether Frnchman, Spaniard, or German, to the end there may be aspeedy supply of Males for those were lately massacred, and the kingdom furnished with able and active men,  
T. Temple Cler. Parl.  
The H●use then adjourned for that day, and on the morrow assembled again, where the first thing they ●ell upon, was, a Complaint the was made against Players, who contrary to an Ordinance, had se● up shop again, and ●cted divers P●ayes, at the two hous●s, the Fortune, and Salisbury Court. Whereupon it was demanded what plays they were, and answer being given, that one of them was the scornful Lady, the house took it in high disdain, and as an absolute contempt of their power; and therefore ordered that Alderman Atkins should make a journey on purpose to suppress them; and also ordered that an Act sh●uld be passed to prohibit that Play to be hereafter acted; but divers Ladies were offended at this Order, intended for the supp●essing of plays, as the Lady Munmouth who liked Sir John Suck●ins play so well, that she p●wned her Jewels to maintain his back: and the Lady Stanford, Frank Beaumont's Play so well, setting his scornful Lady aside, she would often admit him in, when her Lord was kept at staff's end: a great confusion happening about this business of plays, they at length concluded, that a Committee of Ladies should be chosen on purpose to consider of this business.  
Their ladyships then taking into considerations, the many pressing affairs which they were like to lie under, Ordered, that Dr. Strickland, and Dr. Burges, (a man furnished with a large talon) and Doctor Chamber lain, should be Assistants to the House, that so the Ladies might receive such comfortable distillations, as those worthy men were able to afford them.  
In the last place, the Ladies being to adjourn, for some Months, sent to the Assembly of Divines, to know whether they had according to their desires, wrote any thing tending to the solution of the Questions by them propounded; but Answer being returned, that the Assembly of Divines were now in deep Consultation, to prove that the two lewd Elders, who tempted Susanna to wickedness, might have a Dispensation from the national Assembly; the Ladies were content to be resolved at their leisure: and having Ordered these their proceedings to be Printed and Published, adjourned their House.    
The End.