House of Commons Journal Volume 2: 18 February 1642

Die Veneris, 18 Feb. 1641.

PRAYERS.

Pemerton's Petition, &c.

T HE humble Petition of Michael Pemerton was read: And

It is Ordered, That the Committee where Mr. Corbett has the Chair, do prepare the Matter of Fact concerning Pemerton, by way of Charge, and present it to the House To-morrow Morning: And

It is farther Ordered, That That Committee, and the Committee where Mr. Whittacre has the Chair, be joined; and that they do prepare all the Informations that they have against any of those People that were either at the Door of the Parliament-house, or at the Abbey, or listed at Whitehall, &c.

Leave of Absence.

The Question being put, whether Mr. Rigby should have Leave to go into the Country;

It went with the Negative.

It was notwithstanding declared, that any Man might have Liberty to ask Leave for him, the next Week.

Ordered, That no Man shall have Leave asked for him to go into the Country, but between the Hours of Eleven and Four.

Isleworth Lecturer.

Ordered, That Mr. Grant, Parson of Isleworth in the County of Midd' shall be injoined by this House, to permit Mr. Edwards, chosen by the Parish with his Consent, the free Use of his Pulpit, to be a Lecturer every Sunday in the Afternoon, and every Wednesday in the Week.

Trained Bands.

Ordered, That Sir Gilb. Gerard do go to the Lords with this Message; To desire their Lordships to join with this House, to desire the Earl of Holland to give Directions for the Drawing forth of the Trained Bands of Midd', that are about the Town, on Shrove-Tuesday next, into some convenient Places here about the Town.

Deane Forest.

The Question being put, whether any Question should be put upon this Report now made from the Committees for the Forest of Deane, by Mr. Martin;

It passed with the Negative.

Earl of Salisbury, &c.

Resolved, That this House shall take no farther Cognizance of the Difference concerning the Precedency for the Payment of the Monies to the Earl of Salisbury and Mr. Browne.

Opening Queen's Letter.

The Message that came Yesterday from his Majesty, concerning a Letter addressed to the Queen, and opened by the Parliament, was read: And thereupon

Ld. Digby's Letters.

It was Resolved, upon the Question, That a Transcript of all the Three Letters sent from the Lord Digby to Mr. Secretary Niclas, Sir Lewis Dive, and the Queen's Majesty, should be made and sent unto his Majesty.

Answer to King's Message.

Mr. Pym, Mr. Martin, Sir Ph. Stapilton, Sir Wm. Lewis, Sir Hen. Vane junior, Sir Jo. Evelyn, Sir Ben. Rudyard;

This Committee, or any Three of Them, are presently to withdraw, to prepare an Answer to his Majesty's Message Yesterday.

Propositions concerning Ireland.

Message from the Lords, by Sir Edward Leeche and Dr. Bennett;

That the Lords do agree with this House in all those Propositions concerning Ireland.

Ordered, That Mr. Reignolds do go with this Message to the Lords; To desire their Lordships to appoint some Members of their House to go with a proportionable Number of this House to his Majesty, with the Propositions concerning Ireland, to move his Majesty for his Consent thereunto.

Declaration.

Ordered, That a Copy of the Declaration now read, shall be transcribed, so far as it is voted.

Propositions for Ireland.

Mr. Reynolds reports, that the Lords have appointed the Earl of Westmerland to wait upon his Majesty with the Propositions for Ireland; and desire this House to appoint a proportionable Number.

Ordered, That Sir Wm. Pennyman and Mr. Sutton do go with the Lord of Westmerland, with the Propositions concerning Ireland, unto his Majesty.

Trained Bands.

Sir Gilb. Gerard reporteth that the Lords do agree with this House, in desiring the Earl of Holland to appoint the Trained Bands of Midd', on Shrove Tuesday, to be drawn forth.

Dover Petition.

Ordered, That the Petition of the Mayor, Jurats, and Commonalty of the Town and Port of Dover in the County of Kent, be referred to the Consideration of the Committee for the Fort of Dover.

Answer to King's Message.

Mr. Pym reporteth the Answer of this House, concerning the King's Message about the Copy of the Lord Digbye's Letter: Which was read; and, upon the Question, assented unto; and ordered to be fair written over, to be presented to the Lords.

Ordered, That Sir Philip Stapleton do go to the Lords, To-morrow Morning, with this Answer to his Majesty's Message; and also to carry up at the same time, the Ordinance concerning the Navy.

Grievances.

Mr. Pym reporteth the Addition of the Grievances and Remedies, to be inserted into the Declaration: Which being read; passed the Question, and assented unto.

Grayes-inn Students.

Sir Gilb. Gerard, Lord Fairfaxe, Mr. Hampden, Mr. Cage, Mr. Rigby, Mr. Glyn, Sir Ben. Rudyard, Sir Gilb. Pickering, Mr. Corbett, Sir Sam. Roll, Sir Martyn Lumley, Mr. Perd, Sir Jo. Hotham, Sir Hen. Anderson, Sir Jo. Colpeper, Sir Tho. Barrington, Mr. Solicitor, Mr. Cromwell, Sir Rob. Cooke, Mr. White, Mr. Smith, Mr. Purye, Mr. Reignolds, Mr. Strode, Sir Ar. Haselrigg.

This Committee is appointed to take into Consideration the Petition of the Barristers and Students of Grayesinn: And are to meet on Tuesday next, at Eight.. Clock, in the Star-chamber.

Loans.

Ordered, That the One thousand Pounds heretofore lent by Sir Edward Powell, upon the Bill of Four Subsidies, and afterwards transferred, and still continued by way of Loan upon the Poll-money, for the Uses and Purposes in the said Act of Four Subsidies mentioned, shall now be repaid unto him, out of the said Subsidies, with Interest, in such sort as other Loans of that Nature are and have been paid: And the said Sir Edw. Powell intending to lend and continue the said Sum, for the Affairs of Ireland;

It is therefore Ordered, That the said One thousand Pounds, formerly advanced by Sir Edw. Powell; and the One thousand Pounds, by the Lord Capell; the Two thousand Pounds, by Mr. Martyn; and the One thousand Pounds, by Mr. Crew and others; and secured to be paid unto them out of the Poll-bill, and the Bill for Four Subsidies, and declared by them to be lent again for the Affairs of the Kingdom of Ireland; shall be secured to be paid unto them, out of the first Monies that come in upon the Bill of Four hundred thousand Pounds.

Ordered, That the like Order be made for Sir Jo. Potts, who is willing to lend the Five hundred Pounds he formerly lent; and for Sir Jo. Franklyn and Sir Gilb. Gerard who are willing to lend the One thousand Pounds they formerly lent.

Command of Forts, &c.

Ordered, That the Knights and Burgesses of every County wherein any Forts or Castles of Strength are, do bring in the Names of all such persons whom they hold fit for the Command of those Places, to the Committee for the Militia of the Kingdom; who are ordered to present the same to this House on Monday Morning: And Sir Hen. Vaine the younger is ordered to bring in the same.

Andevour Lecturer.

The Petition of the Parishioners of Andevour was read. Ordered, That Mr. Matkins, Vicar of the Town of Andevour in the County of Southampton, be injoined by this House to permit Mr. Symons the free Use of his Pulpit every Lord's Day in the Afternoon, and every Tuesday in the Week-day, to preach there, as a Lecturer, at the Charge and Maintenance of the Parishioners; this House holding the said Mr. Symons a Person fit to be a Lecturer for that Place.

Newcastle upon Tyne Lecturers.

Ordered, That Dr. Robert Jennison and Mr. William Morton, formerly Lecturers in the Churches and Chapelries of Alhallowes and St. Nicholas in the Town of Newcastle upon Tyne, be admitted as Lecturers for the said Parishes, as formerly, to preach the Forenoon and Afternoon Lectures at Alhallowes Chapel on the Lord's Day, and on the Afternoon on the Lord's Day at St. Nicho. Chapelry, and on the Week-day as formerly; and that they have a Pulpit free accordingly; having the Allowances and Stipends paid unto them, as formerly was given for those Lectures, according to the Desires of the Petitioners; this House holding the said Persons fit to be Lecturers there, in the said Town, as formerly.

Saint Margarett's Lecturers.

The humble Petition of the Inhabitants of the Parish of St. Margarett's, Westminster, read.

Ordered, That Mr. Stephen Marshall be recommended, by this House, to the Parishioners of St. Margarett's, Westminster, to be made Choice of as their Lecturer; this House holding the said Mr. Marshal a Person fit and able for the Discharge of that Place.

Supply Bill.

Resolved, upon the Question, That the House be resolved into a Committee, to take into Consideration the Bill for Four hundred thousand Pounds.

Mr. Reignolds was called into the Chair.

Mr. Speaker reassumed the Chair.

Resolved, upon the Question, That the House shall be again resolved into a Committee of the whole House, to take into Consideration the Bill for Four hundred thousand Pounds.

Mr. Serjeant Wilde was called to the Chair.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Army.

Ordered, That Mr. Jones a Member of this House, shall acquaint the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland with the Order of this House, that does enjoin the Officers of the Old and New Army to repair to their Charges by a Day limited in the said Order: And the Lord Lieutenant is to require them to depart accordingly.

Ordered, That Sir Tho. Wharton shall have Liberty to stay here, for Fourteen Days; notwithstanding the former Order of the House, requiring the Officers to repair to their Charges.

Answer to King's Message.

Most Gracious Sovereign, YOUR Majesty's most loyal and faithful Subjects, the Lords and Commons, in Parliament, have received Your Message of the Sixteenth of this Instant February sent at the Instance of the Queen's Majesty; and, upon Consideration thereof, do, to our great Joy and Content, find therein clear Expressions of Grace and Favour from both Your Majesties; for which we return our most humble Thanks: And have herewithal sent the Transcript of That Letter required by your Majesty; as likewise of Two other Letters directed to Mr. Secretary Nicholas, and Sir Lewis Dives: All which were brought to us under One Cover, indorsed to Mr. Secretary; with Information, that they were written by the Lord Digby; who being a Person fied from the Justice of Parliament, and one who had given many Evidences of his Disaffection to the Publick Good, we conceived it necessary to open them, the Two former: And finding sundry Expressions in them full of Asperity and Malignity to the Parliament, we thought it very probable that the like might be contained in That to her Majesty, and that it would be dishonourable to her Majesty, and dangerous for the Kingdom, if it should not be opened: Wherein we were no whit deceived; as Your Majesty may well perceive by the Contents thereof.

And although we cannot but be very sensible of the great Dishonour therein done to Your Majesty, and the malicious Endeavours of fomenting and increasing the Jealousy betwixt Your Majesty and Your People, yet we are far from reflecting any thing upon the Queen, or expecting any Satisfaction from her Majesty; but impute all to the bold and invenomed Spirit of the Man: Only we most earnestly beseech Your Majesty to persuade the Queen, that she will not vouchsafe any Countenance to, or Correspondency with, the Lord Digby, or any other of the Fugitives or Traitors, whose Offences now depend under the Examination and Judgment of Parliament; which we assure ourselves will be very effectual to further the Removal of all Jealousies and Discontents betwixt Your Majesty and Your People, and the Settling the great Affairs of Your Majesty and the Kingdom, in an assured State and Condition of Honour, Safety, and Prosperity.

Bullion from Spaine.

Whereas an Information hath been this Day presented to this House, on the Behalf of divers Merchants trading into Spaine, for Bullion, that they do shortly expect good Quantities of Treasure to be consigned unto them, by their Correspondents in Spaine; who, as they doubt, may take some Apprehension, upon the Message Yesterday sent to the Spanish Ambassador, concerning some Ships, with Supplies of Arms and Munition, now in Preparation in the Port of Dunkirk, to be conveyed to the Rebels in Ireland; lest the Peace between the Two Nations of England and Spaine might be broken; and they, thereupon, be discouraged to proceed in their former Resolutions, in transporting Bullion into this Kingdom; This House doth declare, That they do hope, that the King of Spaine and all his Ministers, will be careful to observe the League between the Two Crowns, according to the Treaty and Articles concluded upon; so, for their Parts, they intend to employ their humble Endeavours and Advice to his most Excellent Majesty, that the same Treaty may be justly observed on the Part of this Kingdom; which, they assure themselves, his Majesty, in his own Wisdom and Justice, doth really intend to perform: And that this House, likewise will further advise and consult with the House of Peers, that, by Authority of both Houses of Parliament, the Merchants of both Nations may receive all just and reasonable Encouragements; whereby they may be induced, with Security and Confidence, to consign their Bullion into this Kingdom, as formerly they intended.