House of Lords Journal Volume 4: 10 March 1642

DIE Jovis, videlicet, 10 die Martii.

PRAYERS.

The Earl of Leycester, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, was appointed by this House to be Speaker this Day.

Justice Foster's Letter, with the Presentment of the Grand Jury of Southampton.

A Letter was read, written to the Lord Keeper, from Mr. Justice Foster, who sent his Lordship the Presentment of the Grand Jury of South'ton, at the last Assizes at Winchester.

Ordered, To be referred to the Committee for the Safety of the Kingdom, who are to consider thereof, and report their Opinions to this House.

A Petition was presented to this House, by divers Gentlemen, in their own Names, and the whole County of South'ton, which the House received, and commanded it to be read in their Presence, in hæc verba: videlicet,

Petition of the County of Southampton.

"To the Right Honourable the House of Peers now assembled in Parliament.

"The humble Petition of the County of South'ton,

"Most humbly sheweth,

"That, according to God's (fn. 1) Word, whereof one Tittle shall not fail, A Kingdom or House divided cannot stand; Dissension and Discord subvert and ruin the most potent Monarchs and flourishing Estates in the World; but Peace and Religion are the Works of absolute Perfection, which, being united, make a State unconquerable: To finish this Work, is worthy your Honours most serious Employment, which we conceive cannot be effected whilst the Popish Lords (who are manifest Enemies unto both) are admitted to vote amongst you; and therefore their Consent cannot be expected: They are Papists, who have raised Rebellion in Ireland, and desire nothing more than the utter Destruction of all that profess the Protestant Religion, and have most mercilessly imbrued their Hands in the Blood of very many of them; and we are confident that the Priests and Papists in this Kingdom are confederate with them, and would do the like Execution here, and had prevailed in their frequent Attempts, if God in His Mercy had not prevented their devilish Plots, to our Preservation.

"Wherefore we earnestly pray (their Malice being so apparently known) that the Popish Lords Votes may be taken away, and all Papists confined; for, while they are at Liberty, they will be ever contriving of new Mischiefs, to bring us to Confusion: We further beseech you, that you will be pleased to join with the House of Commons, in advising and petitioning His Sacred Majesty to reside near His Parliament; and that Care be speedily taken that the Prince may be near London, and have Education answerable to his high Birth and State; that Ireland may be relieved; the Seas guarded with a strong Fleet; our Castles and Forts prepared for Defence against Foreign or Domestic Enemies; the Privileges of Parliament maintained, which are the chiefest and most real Inheritance purchased and left to us by the great Care and Prowess of our Ancestors, which we with the like Zeal and Affection intend to preserve to our Posterity most inviolable from all Inforcements.

"And as we do acknowledge, with all Thankfulness, your indefatigable Labours in composing the distracted State of this Kingdom, of which we have lately had very good Experience, especially in your Lordships noble Concurrence with the Honourable House of Commons in taking away the Votes of Bishops, and settling many other Things of great Concernment; so we shall faithfully, according to our Duty and Protestation, with our Lives and Fortunes, defend His Royal Majesty, and (fn. 2) your Honours agreeing with the House of Commons, from all Dangers, with our utmost Powers."

Thanks given to the Petitioners.

This being read, the Petitioners withdrew, and the House took into Consideration what Answer to give herein; which being resolved of, they were called in again; and the Speaker, by the Directions of this House, gave them Thanks, in the Name of the House, for their Care of the Safety of this Kingdom, the Privileges of Parliament, and their Care of the Kingdom of Ireland; and for the rest of their Petition, this House will take it into speedy Consideration. This being done, the Petitioners withdrew.

The House being informed that Mr. Attorney General was without; it is Ordered, That he shall be called in, and asked whether he were ready to make his Defence; if he be not now ready, their Lordships will hear what he will desire further.

Other Counsel assigned to the Attorney General.

Mr. Attorney being called in, and told as aforesaid, he made it his humble Suit to this House, "That he might have Mr. Serjeant Greene and Mr. Serjeant Pheasant to be assigned Counsel for him, instead of Sir Tho. Beddingfeild and Mr. Recorder of London; and that he might have some Time given him to instruct them in his Cause."

He withdrew; and the House taking Mr. Attorney's Desires into Consideration, Ordered, That Mr. Serjeant Greene and Mr. Serjeant Pheasant shall be assigned to be of Counsel with Mr. Attorney, with the other Four formerly assigned; and that the Cause shall be proceeded in on Saturday Morning next, at Nine of the Clock peremptorily, without any further Delay.

Bill for clearing Ld. Kymbolton and others

Ordered, That the Committee for the Bill concerning the clearing of the Lord Kymbolton, and the Five Members of the House of Commons, shall meet on Monday next, in the Afternoon, at Two of the Clock, and take the same into Consideration.

Wm. Geere's Levari facias against Earl Suffolk staid.

Upon Information this Day given to the House, "That one William Geeres hath lately gotten out a Levari facias, to levy Money upon some of the Lands of the Earl of Suffolke, a Peer of this Realm, contrary to the Privileges of Parliament;" it is Ordered, That the said Levari facias, and all other Proceedings in the Exchequer by the said Geeres, or by his Procurement, at the Suit of Thomas Maysham, Esquire, against the Earl of Suffolke's Lands, shall be forthwith staid, and the said Levari facias superseded, until the Pleasure of this House be further known; and that this House will appoint a Day for the Hearing of this Cause, when it shall be desired.

Adjourn.

Comes de Leycester declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque in diem Sabbati, videlicet, 12^m diem instantis Martii, hora 9^a Aurora, Dominis sic decernentibus.