House of Commons Journal Volume 2: 04 January 1642

Die Martis, 4 Januarii, 1641.

PRAYERS.

Proceedings against Wood.

MR. Whittacre reporteth, that, by Order of the Committee that sat at Guildhall, London, he was commanded to apprehend Mr. Toby Wood, upon an Information of seditious and treasonable Words spoken by him; and that he should commit him, upon Accusation of Treason: And that he had accordingly committed him to Newgate; where he is.

The Information of John Bricker, who informed against the said Mr. Toby Wood, taken upon Oath, was read; and likewise the Examination of Wood himself.

Person to attend.

Ordered, That Sir Wm. Killigrew be forthwith summoned to attend this House.-

Respited for a while.

King's Answer to Message.

Lord Falkland reports the King's Answer to the Message of this House, delivered to his Majesty last Night: That his Majesty asked them, "Whether the House did expect an Answer;" They answered, "They had no more in Commission to say, but only to deliver the Message:" The King asked them, as private Persons, "What they thought of it;" They said, "They conceived the House did expect an Answer:" But his Majesty was informed, the House was up; so he said, "He would send an Answer this Morning, as soon as this House was set: But, in the mean time, he commanded them to acquaint the House, that the Serjeant at Arms did nothing but what he had Directions from himself to do."

Person sent for.

Resolved, upon the Question, That Sir Wm. Killigrew be forthwith sent for, as a Delinquent, by the Serjeant at Arms attending on this House.

Privilege-Scandalous Publication.

Ordered, That a Conference be desired with the Lords: And to acquaint their Lordships with a scandalous Paper against Members of both Houses, that Right may be done against the Publishers of it: And to inquire who are the Authors and Publishers of it; that they may receive condign Punishment: And that the Commonwealth may be secured against such Persons.

Inns of Court.

Mr. Smith, Mr. Ellis, Mr. Hill, Mr. Browne, Sir Rich. Vivian, are appointed to go to the several Inns o'Courts; and to acquaint them, That this House hath taken notice of the Practice of some Gentlemen, that have endeavoured to engage the Gentlemen of the Inns ... Court to be in a Readiness, upon all Occasions, to come down to the Court if they should be required: That this House has sent for the Gentlemen that were with them, as Delinquents; and do believe that their Crime will prove to be of a High Nature: And further to inform them, that the Parliament is, and will be, as ready upon all Occasions, to defend his Majesty's Person, as any other: And they are to inform them, that the Cause of sending unto them is not any Diffidence they have in them; but to advise them from any Practices that they shall be moved unto.

London Common Council.

Ordered, That Alderman Soames, Alderman Penington, and Mr. Venn, do repair to the Common Council of London when they are sitting; and to acquaint them with the [Information] this House received, what Practices have been used to the Inns of Court; and those other Informations of the like Nature, that have been given to this House, of the Preparation of armed Men about Whitehall, and those other Preparations at Tower: And to inform them, in what Danger the Parliament, the Kingdom, and City, is in.

Resolved, upon the Question, That it shall be thus ordered.

Guard at Whitehall, &c.

Ordered, That a Conference be desired with the Lords at their first Sitting; and to acquaint them what Order this House hath sent to the City, and upon what Grounds; and what Information is come, concerning armed Men at Whitehall, and Preparations at the Tower; and to desire them to join with this House in some way for the Safety of the Kingdom and Parliament, and removing those Dangers.

Mr. Fynes, Mr. Glyn, Sir Hen. Vane junior, Sir Philip Stapleton, Sir Jo. Hotham, are appointed Managers of this Conference.

One Head to be, That 'tis against the Privilege of Parliament to have a Guard so near the Parliament, without their Consent; and therefore to desire the Lords to join, that the Guard at Whitehall be removed; without which, the House cannot proceed freely in their Debates and Consultations.

Post Meridiem.

Marquis de Vieu Ville's House.

ORDERED, That Mr. Whittacre, and Sir Robert Pye, and Mr. Purye, do presently repair to the House of the Marquis de Vieu Ville; and see if his House be furnished with warlike Ammunition, as the House is informed.

The Five Members appear.

Memorandum, Mr. Hollis, Sir Arth. Haselrig, Mr. Pym, Mr. Hampden, Mr. Strode, appeared here To-day, according to the Injunction of this House.

Safety of the Kingdom.

Sir John Hotham is appointed to go to the Lords, to desire a free Conference concerning the Safety of the Kingdom and Parliament.

Parliament Guard.

A Message from the Lords, by Serjeant Ayloff and Serjeant Glanvile;

The Lords have sent us with this Message, That, according to the Agreement of both Houses last Night, they sent the Duke of Richmond and the Lord Chamberlain of His Majesty's Houshold, to his Majesty, concerning a Guard: That his Majesty's Answer was, That by reason of some weighty Affairs that were now upon his Majesty, he could not give a present Answer; but did believe that, either To-day or To-morrow he should give an Answer.

Conference.

Sir John Hotham brings Answer, that the Lords will give a present Meeting, as is desired.

Inns of Court.

Mr. Browne reports, that he, among the rest of the Members that were sent to the Inns of Court, he went to Lincoln's Inn: That the Gentlemen said, That they went to the Court; First, Upon a general Report that his Majesty's Person was in Danger * * * *

The King takes the Speaker's Chair.

His Majesty came into the House; and took Mr. Speaker's Chair.

"Gentlemen,"

"I AM sorry to have this Occasion to come unto you * * * *

Adjournment.

Resolved, upon the Question, That the House shall adjourn itself till To-morrow One of Clock.