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Series

Committee of Both Kingdoms ("Derby House Committee"): Books

Catalogue reference: SP 21

What's it about?

SP 21

Records of the Committee of Both Kingdoms, often known by its meeting place, Derby House, in Cannon Row, Westminster.The series preserves the day books of the committee (draft and fair, with occasional gaps), Parliamentary order books, and entry...

Full description and record details

Reference

SP 21

Title
Committee of Both Kingdoms ("Derby House Committee"): Books
Date

1644-1650

Description

Records of the Committee of Both Kingdoms, often known by its meeting place, Derby House, in Cannon Row, Westminster.

The series preserves the day books of the committee (draft and fair, with occasional gaps), Parliamentary order books, and entry books of letters received and sent. The sub-committee on Irish affairs is represented by an order book, an entry book and two warrant (for payment) books.

The papers of the committee have not survived entire, though they appear to be intact for its first year. There is little material postdating the execution of King Charles I.

Separated material

Two 'alphabet books' of the committee for 1645-1646 are in SP 28/350 /3.

Held by
The National Archives, Kew
Legal status

Public Record(s)

Language

English

Creator(s)
Committee of Both Kingdoms, 1644-1649
Physical description

29 volume(s)

Administrative / biographical background

When the Scots' army entered England by invitation of the English Parliament in January 1644 the Parliamentary Committee of Safety was replaced by an ad hoc committee representative of both kingdoms which, by parliamentary ordinance of 16 February, was formally constituted the Committee of Both Kingdoms. The English contingent consisted of seven peers and 14 commoners. Its object was the management of peace overtures to or making war on the King. It was conveniently known as the Derby House Committee from 1647, when the Scots withdrew. Its influence long reduced by the growth of the army's, it was dissolved by Parliament soon after the King's execution on 7 February 1649, and replaced by the Council of State.

A sub-committee on Irish affairs met from 1646 to 1648. The sub-committee spent, in Ireland, money raised by the Committee of Both Houses.

Publication note(s)
Most pieces are calendared in Calendar of State Papers, Domestic Series, of the reign of Charles I, eds J Bruce, W Douglas Hamilton and S Crawford Lomas, 23 vols (London, 1858-1897). The letters from the Earl of Manchester to the committee, July-November 1644, were published in The Quarrel between the Earl of Manchester and Oliver Cromwell, (Camden Society New Series, XII, pp 1-58 (London, 1875)). The letters between the Earl of Warwick and the committee were published in Documents relating to the Civil War 1642-1648, ed J R Powell and E K Timings (London, 1963), in the Navy Records Society series.
Record URL
https://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/id/C13563/

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This record is held at The National Archives, Kew

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Within the department: SP

Records assembled by the State Paper Office, including papers of the Secretaries...

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Committee of Both Kingdoms ("Derby House Committee"): Books