Die Martis, 23 die Martii.
PRAYERS.
Act to amend the Subsidy Bill.
The Lords Committees reported the Bill for mending the Mistake in the Bill, intituled, "An Act for
Relief of His Majesty's Army, and the Northern
Parts of this Kingdom, &c." as fit to pass as it is;
and, being read the Third Time, it was put to the
Question, and consented to, nemine contradicente.
Lords to move the King for the Royal Assent to this Bill.
And the Lord Steward, Lord Chamberlain, Earl of
Holland, and the Earl of Berks, were appointed to move
His Majesty, to give His Royal Assent to this Bill.
Orders for the Trial of the Earl of Strafford.
Ordered, That the Earl of Strafford is not to be
admitted to speak at his Trial, before the House of Commons have fully managed their Evidence against him.
If a Witness gives in Evidence for the Commons;
after the Evidence, the Earl of Strafford may ask the
Witness Questions.
If the Earl of Strafford except against any Witness,
he is to be heard before the Witness gives in his
Evidence.
After this, the Lord Steward adjourned this House to
Westm. Hall. Being sat there, the Lord Steward called
for the Lieutenant of The Tower, to bring the Earl of
Strafforde to the Bar.
Earl Strafford brought to the Bar.
The Prisoner being at the Bar, the Lord Steward
told the Members of the Commons that managed the
Evidence, That now they might begin their Evidence.
Mr. Pym opens the Preamble of his Answer.
Then Mr. Pim did open the Preamble of the Earl
of Strafford's Answer, and signified, "That the Commons are ready to maintain their Charge against him,
and desired that Witnesses might be sworn and heard."
Witnesses examined for the Commons against him.
The Names of the Witnesses which were sworn, and
gave in Evidence, at the Instance of the House of Commons, against the Earl of Strafford:
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Sir Peirce Croseby.
Sir Jo. Clattworthy.
The Lord Rannclaugh.
The Lord Mountnorris.
Mr. Nic. Barnewell.
Iroms. |
Lord Balltinglasse.
Lord Digby.
Patrick Gough.
Sir Edward Wardor.
Sir Robert Pye.
Sir Adam Loftus. |
He excepts against Sir Peirce Croseby; who is laid aside for the present.
Sir Peirce Croseby being produced to give his Evidence, the Earl of Strafford excepted against him,
as not being a competent Witness, in regard it was alledged that he practised with others against him, for
which he was sentenced in the Star-chamber here in England; the Commons laid him aside (but not waved him),
and referred the Consideration of it unto the Lords; and
proceeded upon the Testimony of other Witnesses.
Remonstrances from Ireland against him.
In the Evidence, was produced a Remonstrance, or
Protestation, of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal of
the Lords House of Parliament in Ireland, touching
Part of the Preamble of the Act for Four Subsidies
granted to His Majesty at the last Parliament of Ireland.
Likewise a Protestation from the House of Commons
in Ireland, concerning the said Preamble to the Act,
which was pressed and alledged to be surreptitiously got
and procured by the Earl of Strafford, and produced by
the Members of the Commons at the Trial, to prove
that the Preamble was untrue; but not to charge it
against him as a Criminal Thing.
He desires Time to answer these Remonstrances as they are not expected.
After Mr. Pim had finished the Evidence concerning
this Particular, he desired, "That the Earl of Strafford
may bring forth presently his Witnesses, if he hath
any, to answer what hath been proved concerning the
Preamble."
But the Earl of Strafford desired to have a little Time
to consider of his Answer thereunto, pretending that
the Remonstrances are against his Expectations, as not
being in his Charge.
Whereunto Mr. Pim replied, "That it is concerning
Matter which is in the Preamble of his own Answer;
and therefore desired that, this being the proper Time
for him, he may now maintain his own Assertions."
Adjourn to the Chamber of Parliament.
Hereupon there being Diversity of Opinions, the
Lord Steward, by the Directions of the Peers, adjourned
the House to the usual Place above; where the Lords
fell into Debate, Whether the Earl of Strafford should
have further Time given him to answer to the said Evidence against his Preamble, or answer presently. And
it was Resolved by the Lords, That, if the Earl of
Strafforde will, he may answer to the Preamble; but, because the Lords conceive it was not urged by the House
of Commons by Way of Crime, but by Way of Truth,
to disprove his Preamble, he is to answer to it presently.
Adjourn to Westm Hall.
Then the Lord Steward adjourned the House to
Westm. Hall again.
No Lord to speak to the Prisoner at the Bar.
Ordered, That none of the Lords shall speak to the
Prisoner at the Bar.
Earl of Strafford proceeds to his Answer.
The Peers being returned to Westm. Hall, the Lord
Steward told the Earl of Strafford what their Lordships
had resolved of; and then he proceeded to his Answer:
The Commons to go on with their Evidence Tomorrow Morning.
After which, Mr. Pim replied, "That the Commons
do not doubt but to prove the Charge against the Earl
of Strafford in every Particular; and desired, that
they might go on to prove the Charge;" but, being
late, the Lord Steward told them, "That they might
go on To-morrow Morning; and their Lordships
would sit by Nine a Clock."
Adjourn to the Chamber of Parliament.
Then the Lord Steward adjourned the House to the
usual Place above.
Adjourn.
Dominus Capitalis Justicarius de Communi Banco,
Locum tenens Domini Custodis Magni Sigilli, declaravit
præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque in post
meridiem hujus diei, hora tertia, Dominis sic decernentibus.
Post meridiem.
PRAYERS.
Letter from the Commanders in the Army to the Lord General read.
The Letter, which was sent from the Commanders of
our Army, to the Lord General, was read; and the
House was adjourned during Pleasure, to debate it;
and, after some Consideration therein, the House was
resumed, and referred to be further thought of after
the Message.
A Message from the House of Commons, by Sir
Phillip Stapleton:
Message from the House of Commons, for a Conference about the Irish Army, disarming Recusants, &c.
To desire a Free Conference, presently, if it stands
with their Lordships Conveniency, with a Committee of
both Houses, touching the disbanding of the new Irish
Army, the disarming of Recusants, and the removing
of Papists from the Court.
Answer.
The Answer to the said Message was: That their
Lordships will give a Meeting in the Painted Chamber,
presently, as is desired.
Lords to report the Conference.
The Lord Privy Seal,
The Earl of Bath,
Earl of March,
Earl of Bristoll,
Lord Viscount Say & Seale.
The Lord Bishop of Lincolne,
Were appointed Reporters.
Conference reported.
The House was adjourned during Pleasure, and the
Lords went to the Conference; which being ended, the
House was resumed; and the Earl of Bath reported the
Effect of the Conference; which was: "To desire their
Lordships to join with the House of Commons, in
humble Petition to His Majesty, for the disbanding
the new Irish Army, the disarming of the Recusants,
and the removing of the Papists from the Court,
especially Four, Mr. Walter Mountague, Sir Kenelme
Digby, Sir Toby Mathews, and Sir Jo. Winter; and
the rather that, notwithstanding their Lordships had
promised to join with the Commons in these Particulars a Month ago, yet One of them Yesterday did
out-face both Houses of Parliament, which they
could not but take Notice of; and seeing their Lordships were pleased (at the late Conference for their
Advice about Monies for the supplying of the present urgent Necessities of both Armies) to tell them
their Lordships would join with them in removing any
Obstacle as may trouble and hinder the speedy effecting of so important a Business, which tends to the
Peace and Safety of this Kingdom; the House of
Commons doth think that this is a very great Impediment to their Desires of procuring Monies, and
therefore desires their Lordships to join with them in
humble Desire to His Majesty for the speedy effecting thereof."
Both Houses to address the King to disband the new Irish Army, &c.
Which said Message their Lordships taking into
Consideration, did resolve, To join with the House of
Commons in all the aforesaid Three Particulars, by way
of humble Request to His Majesty.
Lords to attend the King, to know when He will receive this Address.
And the Lord Chamberlain, Earl of Bristoll, Earl of
Holland, and the Lord Viscount Saye et Seale, were appointed to know of His Majesty what Day He will
please to appoint both Houses to wait on Him, concerning the said Message.
Next a Message was sent to the House of Commons,
by Sir Edward Leech and Doctor Bennett:
Message to the House of Commons, for a Conference concerning the Subject of the late one.
To desire a Free Conference, presently, concerning
the late Free Conference, and somewhat touching the
English Army.
The Effect of the Conference.
And the Effect of the Conference was to be:
That whereas the Commons do put their Lordships in Mind of what they promised, which was, to
join with them to remove all Obstacles that may lye
in the Way for procuring of Monies to supply the
urgent Occasions of both Armies; and that, seeing
the Commons do take the disbanding of the new Irish
Army, the disarming of English Recusants, and the
removing of Recusants from the Court, especially
Mr. Walt. Mountague, Sir Kenelme Digby, Sir Toby
Mathews, and Sir Jo. Winter, to be a Furtherance to
the getting of Monies, that their Lordships will join
with the Commons in humble Petition to His Majesty, concerning the said Three Particulars; which
their Lordships had in the General resolved on before, only did desire to consider de modo, how it might
be done, and to that Purpose have had Conference
with the Commissioners of Ireland about it; and that
now they are ready to join with them to His Majesty
therein: And to let them know their Lordships have
appointed some Lords to attend His Majesty, to
know what Time both Houses shall wait upon Him
for that Purpose. And lastly, the Earl of Holland
to deliver the Letter sent to the Lord General from
the Army, which was, by the Command of His
Majesty, to be communicated to both Houses of
Parliament."
Adjourn.
Dominus Capitalis Justicarius de Communi Banco,
Locum tenens Domini Custodis Magni Sigilli, declaravit
præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque in diem
Mercurii, videlicet, 24m diem instantis Martii, hora nona,
Dominis sic decernentibus.
Examinatur per nos Dominos,
Warwicke,
Hen. Dover,
Nich. Dunelm.
Phillip Wharton.