DIE Sabbati, videlicet, 9 die Januarii.
PRAYERS.
L. Clifford to speak with the E. of Strafford.
Lord Clifford hath Leave to speak with the Earl of
Strafford.
Witnesses sworn in the E. of Strafford's and Sir George Ratcliffe's Causes.
Witnesses sworn in the Cause of the Earl of Strafford and Sir George Ratcliffe: videlicet,
Sir John Nulls, Knight.
Mr. Kellaway.
And were enjoined to Secrecy, as formerly other
Witnesses have.
E. of Clare to speak with the E. of Strafford.
Earl of Clare hath Leave to speak with the Earl of
Strafford.
Clarke's Naturalizing Bill.
Hodie 3a
vice lecta est Billa, An Act for Naturalizing
of Symon Clarke; and, being put to the Question, it was
consented to, nemine contradicente, and immediately sent
down to the House of Commons, with another Bill of
Sir Nic. Crispe's, by Mr. Serjeant Glanvill and Mr.
Doctor Bennet.
Witness sworn in the E. of Strafford's Causes, &c.
Earl of Portland sworn at the Clerk's Table, in the
Cause of the Earl of Strafford and Sir George Ratcliffe;
and afterwards his Lordship had an Injunction for Secrecy, as former Witnesses had.
Counsel assigned to Bradly.
Ordered, That Ralph Bradly shall have Mr. Fountaine assigned for his Counsel, in his Cause depending
before the Lords Committees of Abuses in Courts of
Justice, etc. and if the said Bradly doth not make good
the Petition against Mr. Justice Barckley, that the
House be made acquainted therewith by the said Lords
Committees.
Answer of the Survey made of Coal and Wood.
This Day the Lord Mayor, Recorder, and Sheriffs
of the City of London, did appear before their Lordships, according to an Order Yesterday made by this
House, for giving their Lordships an Account what
Store of Coals and Wood are engrossed in the Hands
of Woodmongers and others, within the Liberties of
the City of London, and to give their Lordships a Reason why the excessive Rates and Prices are imposed upon
the said Commodities.
Whereunto the Recorder answered: "The Lord
Mayor and Sheriffs did, immediately upon the Order,
make such Survey as they could for the present, and
they find that there are about Twenty-five or Twentysix Wharfs belonging to the City of London, whereof
they have made a Survey but of Fifteen Wharfs;
and do find, that they have about Eight or Nine
Hundred Chaldron of Sea Coals; and the Reason, as
they for the present do conceive, of the excessive
Prices of Coals, is, an Agreement and Combination
made between the Masters of the Ships and Merchants
of Coals and Woodmongers, taking a Pretence from
the present Troubles at Newcastle."
Sophisticated Wines.
After this, the Lord Mayor was demanded, why he
took no better Care to prevent the vending of sophisticated Wines, which he ought to do, by the Law and
Custom of the City.
It was answered, "That he cannot now, on the sudden, make a perfect Answer thereunto of the Particuculars; but told their Lordships he did lately understand that a Cellar was broken open, and such sophisticated Wines taken away; and, upon Search and
Enquiry after the Actors in it, he hath taken some,
and bound them over to the Sessions to answer; and
that constantly such Wines are tried, according to the
Custom of the City of London; and if, upon Trial, the
Wines prove adulterated, then the Heads of the Vessels are beaten out."
Quantities of Coal and Wood in London and Westminster, and Reasons of the Dearness of those Articles.
Then the Lord Mayor, and the Recorder, and Sheriffs of London, withdrew; and the Justices of Peace for
Westm. gave, in Writing, an Account of what they were
enjoined; (fn. *) the Effect whereof was, a Particular of the
several Quantities of Coal and Wood, which every
Wharfinger in Westminster had in his Possession; and for
the Reason of the excessive Rates, they conceive the
Colliers, Lightermen, and Wharfingers, have made a
Combination among themselves, to keep up the Prices.
Next, the Justices of Peace for Midd. and Surrey
were called in; and desired further Time to make their
Certificate and Informations; whereupon the House did
Order, That they shall, upon Friday next, bring a
perfect Information, in Writing, what Store of Coals
and Wood there is in every Wharf in their Liberties
near London.
And likewise it was Ordered, That the Justices of
Peace for Kent shall, on Friday, give Account, and
survey the Wharfs, which are in their Liberties near
London, what Quantity of Coal and Wood there is, and
the Reason of the extreme Rates at this Time.
Coal and Wood to be brought to London.
Ordered, That the Lord Admiral is to take Order
presently, That Command be given, That all the Ships
lying upon the Coast, between Newcastle and London,
being bound for London, laden with Sea Coals, shall be
brought forthwith up to London.
And Ordered, That the further Consideration of
the whole Business concerning Coal and Wood, and the
excessive Abuses and Rates thereof, be referred to the
Examination of the Lords Committees for Trade.
L. Mayor, &c. of London to attend, concerning Coal and Wood.
Ordered, That the Lord Mayor, Recorder, and
Sheriffs of the City of London, do attend this House
on Wednesday next, and bring, in Writing, a full Information and Survey of all the Wharfs, and other
Places of Store, for Coal and Wood, within their Liberties; and likewise what Remedy they think fit to be
used therein; and to inform themselves, as much as
they can, concerning the Prices of the First Emption at
Newcastle, and what Rates in the Ships.
And further it was Ordered, That the Recorder
of London do attend the Lords Committees for Trade
this Afternoon, to inform their Lordships, as much as
he can, what Power the Lord Mayor of London hath
to set Prices upon Commodities, as Coal and Wood,
etc.
Visitants of E. Strafford.
The Lieutenant of The Tower brought in his Note of
Names of such as have visited the Earl of Strafford in
The Tower since this Day Sevennight; which was read
openly.
Visitants of Sir Geo. Ratcliffe.
Next, the Under-keeper of The Gatehouse presented
a List of Names, who have visited Sir George Ratcliffe
in The Gatehouse, since this Day Sevennight, which was
openly read.
E. of Strafford and Sir Geo. Ratcliffe's Counsel not to speak.
Ordered, That the Chief Keeper of The Gatehouse
do appear, and attend this House, upon Monday next;
and that none that are of Counsel or Solicitor for the
Earl of Strafford be admitted to speak with Sir Geo.
Ratcliffe.
E. of Newport versus Faucet.
Ordered, That the Earl of Newport's Business be
heard on Monday next; in the mean Time, Mr. Faucet
to remain upon his Security.
Commission for swearing the E. of Morton in the E. of Strafford's and Sir Geo. Ratcliffe's Causes.
It was moved, That the House of Commons doth desire that Earl Morton may be sworn as a Witness in the
Cause of the Earl of Strafford and Sir George Ratcliffe;
but, the House being acquainted that the said Earl of
Morton, by reason of Sickness at this Time, is not able
to come to the House to be sworn; it was Ordered
by the House, That a Commission, under the Great
Seal of England, be immediately prepared, for the
swearing of the said Earl of Morton, directed to the
Lords deputed for taking the Examinations in that Cause;
to them, or any Five of them, or more.
Ponder versus Sir John Lambe.
Dr. Reeves sworn to be examined before the Lords
Committees for Imprisonments, etc. in Ponder's Cause,
against Sir Jo. Lambe.
E. of Cleveland to speak with the Earl of Strafford.
Earl Cleveland had Leave granted him to speak with
the Earl of Strafford.
E. of Dorset to speak with the Abp. of Canterbury.
Earl Dorsett had Leave granted to speak with the
Archbishop of Cant.
Adjourn.
Dominus Capitalis Justiciarius de Communi Banco,
Locum tenens Domini Magni Sigilli, declaravit præsens
Parliamentum continuandum esse usque in diem Lunæ,
videlicet, 11m diem instantis Januarii, hora nona, Dominis sic decernentibus.