House of Lords Journal Volume 3: 3 March 1621

DIE Sabbati, videlicet, 3 die Martii,

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales, quorum nomina subscribuntur, præsentes fuerunt:

p. Carolus Princeps Walliæ, etc.

Message from the Commons, about Sir Gyles Mompesson.

A MESSAGE from the Lower House, delivered by Sir Edward Cooke, with divers Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses:

That the House of Commons had entered into a due Consideration of divers heavy Grievances; and, about that Matter, they desired a Conference with their Lordships, leaving the Time, Number, and Place, to their Lordships Appointment: He further added, as Part of that which was enjoined him to say, That, whilst that House was thus amongst themselves in Treaty and Advice, the principal Offender, Sir Gyles Mompesson, is escaped; wherefore that House did desire a straight Scrutiny for finding him out within the Realm.

And, if their Lordships should grant this Conference, the Lower House would prepare themselves for the same.

Whereupon, after the said Messengers had withdrawn themselves, and the Lords a while advised of the Matter, Answer was returned, by the same Messengers,

The Lords Answer.

That the Lords are willing and do yield to such Conference as is desired; the Number to be the whole House; the Time and Place on Monday next, at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Painted Chamber.

And that, for the finding out and apprehending of the Offender, their Lordships will add their best Aid and Assistance; whereupon Sir Edward Coke, by way of Explanation of his former Words in Delivery of the said Message, declared, that the House of Commons is not yet fully provided and ripe for such Conference; but his Meaning was, that, if their Lordships should be pleased to yield thereunto, then that House would prepare the Business so as it might give least Interruption to their Lordships greater Affairs; which when they had done, they would attend their Lordships, to understand their Pleasure touching Time, Place, and Number of Committees, for such Conference; whereunto was answered by the Lord Chancellor, That this House doth not, by their said former Answer, define on the Time to be on Monday; but are well contented to respite the same until they hear again from the Lower House; with this, That, if the Commons shall not be ready for Monday, their Lordships do then expect to hear further from them.

Sir Gyles Mompesson.

After divers Propositions for the apprehending of this great Offender, Sir Gyles Mompesson, Message was sent to the Lower House, by the Lord Chief Baron and Mr. Baron Denham, That, according to their Desire, the Lords have considered of the Means for Apprehension of this great Offender; and, for that Purpose, will appoint Committees, to the Number of Forty, presently to confer with a competent Number of Committees of that House, touching that Point, in the Painted Chamber.

Committees.

Which Committees were agreed to be:

Sir Gyles Mompesson.

The Gentleman Usher of this House sent to the Lord Zouch, who was absent for Want of Health, to signify unto his Lordship the Order and Direction of the House, That his Lordship do speedily give Warrant into the Cinque Ports, for Search to be made for the Person of Sir Gyles Mompesson, and his Apprehension, if he may be there found, and for Stay of him hereafter, if he repair thither, and for bringing him before the Lords.

The same Direction is given to the Lord President of Wales, and the Lord President of the Council of Yorke, being both present in Court, That they, in their several Places of Charge, take like Order.

Committee for Privileges to meet on Thursdays.

The Lords Committees for the Orders and Customs of the House, and Privileges belonging to the Peers and Lords of Parliament, are every Week, on Thursday, at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon, to meet.

Touching the Judges for bearing to deliver Opinion in Prerogative.

Agreed, That the Lords Committees last abovementioned shall attend the King, to satisfy His Majesty concerning the Information lately given His Majesty, touching the Judges forbearing to yield unto their Lordships their Opinion, in Matter proposed and required of them by their Lordships.

Commons Answer.

The Messengers last sent to the Lower House returned; and, because they brought no Answer from that House, they were therefore sent back again, who afterwards returned secondly with Answer, That the Commons will, by their Committees, meet and attend their Lordships, as the Lords appointed.

Sir Gyles Mompesson.

Because divers Lords, whilst the Court remained in Business, did withdraw themselves into the Painted Chamber, before the Lords Committees were ready there to give Meeting to the Committees of the Lower House, touching the Business wherewith Sir Gyles Mompesson stood charged; the Lord Hunsdon therefore moved, That the Lords, in a careful Regard of the Orders of this House, would be pleased to send for the said Lords, so before-hand and unseasonably gone forth as aforesaid; and the said Lords here to abide untill the whole Committee aforesaid were ready, and pleased to go forth together for that Service. Which Motion was by general Assent allowed, and Order given accordingly.

Ordnance.

Upon Information by the Lord Treasurer, That no Time is agreed on for the Committees to meet on the Bill for Restraint of Transportation of Ordnance, whereby the same standeth sine Die; it is appointed, That those Lords Committees shall meet on Tuesday next, in the Morning, at Eight of the Clock, in the Painted Chamber.

Committee of Privileges.

Agreed, That the Lords Sub-Committees, for Consideration of the Customs and Orders, &c. and Privileges, &c. shall report to the Grand Committee their Proceeding in that Business, with their Opinion touching the same.

Proclamation to be sent to take Sir Gyles Mompesson.

The Prince his Highness, and other Committees for Conference with the Committees of the Lower House, touching Search and Apprehension of Sir Gyles Mompesson, being returned, the Lord Chancellor reported, That the Lords Committees of this House had declared unto the Committees of the other House, how willing the Lords were to aid and further the Search for Sir Gyles Mompesson, and his Apprehension. For effecting whereof, their Lordships held a Proclamation the swiftest Messenger; that the Lords had already given Order to the Lord Zouch, being Warden of the Cinque Ports, to take speedy and strict Course, within the said Ports, for the Stay and Apprehension of the said Offender, if he be now there, or shall hereafter resort thither.

That the like Direction hath, by their Lordships, been given to the Lord Treasurer, for like Care to be by his Means taken, by Customers, and other Officers within the Ports, Havens, and Creeks of the Realm; and unto the Lord Admiral, to command in like sort all Vice Admirals, and other Maritime Officers, under his Jurisdiction, unto whom it may appertain.

Which Honourable and Noble Purpose of the Lords, the Committees of the Lower House took (as his Lordship further declared) with great Alacrity and Thanks, and further desired only a privy Search for the Offender.

The Lord Admiral declared openly, how much he had been wronged, and abused by this Offender Sir Gyles Mompesson, who even lately wrote to his Lordship, protesting his Innocency, assirming, that whatsoever was objected against him, was but Matter of Cavil; and that he desired nothing but a legal Tryal, and to be proceeded withal by Course of Law.

Warrant for the Search of Sir Gyles Mompesson, and for Papers touching such Matters wherewith he standeth charged, to be directed only from the Lords of this House; wherein to be expressed, that such Warrant is made upon Conference and Agreement of both Houses, and the same to be signed by the Lord Chancellor only, as on the Behalf and for this Court, as their Speaker.

Rectory of Dorking.

Hodie 1^a vice lecta est Billa, An Act for Confirmation of a Bargain and Sale of the Rectory of Dorking, and certain Lands in Surrey, heretofore made by the Right Honourable Charles Earl of Nottingham, and William late Lord Howard of Essingham, deceased, unto Thomas Trevor and William Bryan, and their Heirs.

Reynolds and Wright.

The Earl of Oxford moved for the Enlargement and Discharge forth of Prison of the Serjeant at Arms attending this Court, who lately was by the Lord Chancellor committed to the Prison of The Fleet, for that he had not caused the Censure of this Court to have been fully performed and executed upon Richard Reynoldes and Robert Wright, in such sort as by the Lords, for their great Offence, aggravated by contemptuous Speeches against the State, Dignity, and Honour of this High Court, was adjudged. Whereupon the said Serjeant's humble Petition being by the Lords admitted and allowed, Order was by the House given for his Discharge; and by the Lords thought fit, that the said Reynoldes and Wright, shall, on Monday next, at Ten of the Clock in the Forenoon, undergo, do, and perform, all whatsoever was yet unperformed of the said Censure and Judgment, so given against them as aforesaid; and accordingly it was now Ordered; and, for the more convenient Execution hereof, the Serjeant at Arms aforesaid is to have Warrant of Assistance, to all Constables and other His Majesty's Officers and Ministers, to whom it may appertain.

Sir Gyles Mompesson.

The Warrant above agreed on, for Search for Sir Gyles Mompesson, and such Papers as abovesaid, being drawn by the Lord Chamberlain, the Earl of Arundell, the Earl of South'ton, the Lord Hunsdon, and the Lord Haughton, thereunto nominated Committees by the House, was presented by their Lordships, and read and allowed by the Lords; and appointed to be directed to the Deputy Clerk of the Crown, and the Clerk of the Parliament, and to all Mayors, Bailiffs, &c.

Order for old Bills.

All such Bills, as in the last Parliament passed both Houses, are now to be brought into the House; their several Titles read, and such as shall be thought meet are to have again Beginning, as new Bills; and with them are also to be brought in, and offered to the House, all other Bills the said last Parliament preferred, and now remaining with the Clerk.

Adjourn.

Dominus Cancellarius declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque in diem Lunæ, videlicet, 5^m diem Martii, hora 9^a, Dominis sic decernentibus.