House of Lords Journal Volume 4: 16 November 1641

DIE Martis, videlicet, 16 die Novembris.

PRAYERS.

The Lord Keeper sat Speaker again.

Impeached Bishops Counsel.

Ordered, That Mr. Arthur Trevor is assigned to be of Counsel with the Lords the Bishops that are impeached.

Instructions to the Agent at Venice, about the Satisfaction given to the Venetian Ambassador, for opening his Letters.

It was moved, "That, lest the Merchants of Venice may suffer for the opening of the Venetian Ambassador's Letters here, That a Committee might be appointed, to consider of some Dispatch to be sent to the King's Agent at Venice, to let him know what Satisfaction this House hath given to the Ambassador here, that so he may be the better instructed how to apply himself to the State there, to give them Satisfaction;" which Motion was liked well of; and the same Lords that were appointed for this Business first, were directed to meet; and the Lord Newneham, being absent, was sent for.

Account of the Lords Pollmoney unpaid to be delivered in.

Ordered, That Mr. Parramour do give Account to this House, on Saturday next, what Monies are behind and unpaid for Poll-money and Subsidies; and the Names of the Lords and Dowagers.

Conference reported.

After this, the Lord Privy Seal reported the Effect of the Conference Yesterday, with the House of (fn. 1) Commons:

About securing Recusants;

"First, he delivered, That the House of Commons had presented to their Lordships divers Papers, containing the Names of such particular eminent Romish Recusants, in several Counties, which they desire their Persons may be secured, for the Safety of this Kingdom, in this Time of Danger.

"1. The First Paper was the Names of some Nobility and Knights, Recusants.

"2. The Names of the chiefest Recusants of Warwickshire.

"3. The Names of such as are in South'tonshire.

"4. Of Dorsettshire.

"5. Of Worcestershire.

"6. Of Buckinghamshire.

"7. Lancashire.

"8. Of Pembrookeshire.

"9. The Names of Recusants of Staffordshire."

All which were read particularly.

and for securing the King.

Next, his Lordship reported further, "That the House of Commons offered another Paper to their Lordships Consideration, desiring them to join with the House of Commons for securing of the King at this Time; which Paper was read, in hæc verba: videlicet,

"The Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, having received Informations of dangerous Designs and Practices by Priests and Jesuits, and ill-affected Persons, to disturb the Peace of this State, and the Proceedings of Parliament, and to attempt upon the Persons of many of the Members of both Houses; and well knowing that there is no Way to prevent the Mischief which the Malice of such Men may suddenly bring upon this Realm, to the utter Subversion of our Religion, Laws, and Liberties, but by putting the Kingdom into a Posture of Defence, and so to be ready upon all Occasions to oppose Force to Force; they the Lords and Commons have thought fit to appoint and ordain, and do hereby appoint and ordain, the Earl of Essex to have the Trained Bands of the several Counties in Readiness, and do hereby give him Power to command them, whensoever there shall be Need, to march, and gather themselves into a Body, and to oppose and set upon all those who shall attempt or do any Thing, which may be prejudicial to the public Peace, or dangerous to the Parliament in general, or to any of the Members of Parliament in particular; and they the said Lords and Commons do likewise hereby require and enjoin all the Trained Bands of the several Counties, and every particular Person who is Officer or Soldier of these Trained Bands, to be obedient to the Commands of the said Earl, as they will answer the contrary at their Perils.

Message from the H. C. for a Conference about the Safety of the Kingdom.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Sir William Armyn, Baronet:

To desire a Free Conference, by a Committee of both Houses, touching the Safety of the Kingdom.

The Answer hereunto returned was:

Answer.

That this House will give a Meeting presently, as is desired, in the Painted Chamber.

Lords not to depart till the House adjourns.

The Peers were enjoined not to depart the House until it be adjourned, without Leave of the House.

Conference reported.

Then this House was adjourned during Pleasure, and the Lords went to the Conference; which being ended, the House was resumed; and the Lord Keeper reported the Conference, to this Effect: videlicet,

"The House of Commons did acquaint their Lordships, That they have discovered some Things further

About Beale's Narration;

searching the Earl of Worcester's House.

concerning the Plot which was related by Beale; for, upon Examination, they are informed, that there are Two such Priests as Father Jones and Father Andrewes, Jones, they understand, is here in Town, at the Earl of Worcester's House; and Andrewes is described to be near Fifty Years of Age, and uses to come much to Sir Basill Brooke's House. And they let their Lordships (fn. 2) know, that the House of Commons have caused a Guard to be set about the Earl of Worcester's House; and have Ordered, That his House shall be searched; but, because he is a Peer of this House, they have first acquainted their Lordships therewith.

and for pardoning any of the Conspirators that will surrender.

"That the House of Commons thinks it fit, that a Declaration be made, that whosoever of the Hundred and Eight Men designed to do this Mischief shall come in, and discover the same, both Houses will be humble Suitors to the King, that they may be pardoned; and they shall be well rewarded.

Militia of both Sides Trent.

"That the House of Commons desires, that their Lordships would join with them in the Ordinance, concerning the Earl of Essex; and the like Ordinance they desire may be for the Earl of Hollande, that he may command the Trained Bands on the North Side of Trent; and that they may nominate particular Men of Trust in every County, to take Care of the Militia, that the People may know whom to resort unto.

Isle of Wight.

"That the House of Commons desires that the Isle of Wight may be secured, by sequestering it into another Hand for the present.

and the Forts of the Kingdom.

"And that the Forts and Castles of this Kingdom may be secured.

Priests and Jesuits.

"And lastly, the House of Commons desired that Search may be made in the City, and the Liberties, for all Priests and Jesuits, and for all suspected Persons; and that their Names and Conditions may be delivered into the Parliament."

Earl of Worcester's House to be searched.

Hereupon it is Ordered, That James Maxwell, Esquire, Gentleman Usher of this House, shall join with any such as the House of Commons shall appoint and employ, for the searching of the Earl of Worcester's House, and any other Recusants Houses, being the King's Subjects, for the apprehending and taking of any Romish Priests and Jesuits whatsoever.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir Edward Leech and Dr. Bennett:

Message to the H. C. to acquaint them with this Order.

To let them know, That this House agrees with the House of Commons, for searching the Earl of Worcester's House, for Priests and Jesuits. For this Purpose, they have assigned Mr. Maxwell to be joined with such others as the House of Commons shall employ in this Business; and that this House agrees for the searching of the House of any others of the King's Subjects that are Recusants, if there shall be Cause so to do.

Search for Jesuits.

Ordered, That Thomas Wall, and the Justices of the Peace for Midd, and London, to whom he delivered the Orders of this House (fn. 3) last Night, for the present searching for Priests, shall attend this House, at Two a Clock this Afternoon, to give an Account what they have done therein.

List of the Queen's Priests to be sent in.

Ordered, That the Earl of Dorsett, Chamberlain to the Queen, do move Her Majesty from this House, That She will be pleased to send a List of the Names of such Priests as belong to Her.

Adjourn.

Dominus Custos Magni Sigilli declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque in post meridiem hujus instantis diei, hora 2^a, Dominis sic decernentibus.

Post meridiem.

PRAYERS.

St. Germain and De Chair to be examined.

It was moved, "That the Committee of the House of Commons desires that Mr. St. Gemain, and Peter de Chair, may be sworn, and afterwards examined (fn. 4) by the deputed Lords:" And it was declared, "That any Peer of this House may be present at the said Examination, if he please."

Order concerning Examinations and Interrogatories.

Ordered, That when any Committee do return any Examinations into this House, they shall return the Interrogatories upon which the Witnesses were examined.

Ld. Strange's Letter about the State of Lancashire.

The Lord Wharton signified to this House, "That he had received a Letter from the Lord Strange, Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire, which had some Particulars in it fit for this House to know." Then the Letter was commanded to be read; wherein it was said, "That his Lordship was upon his Guard; that some in that County were stronger than he;" and said further, That, if ever Need was to look to Lancashire in our Time, it is now." Upon this, the Lord Wharton had Command to give the Lord Strange Thanks from this House, for his timely Information of the Danger of that County.

It being agreed, That the Lord Strange's Letter should be communicated to the House of Commons; it was presently sent down, by Sir Edward Leech and Dr. Littleton.

Wall, a Doorkeeper, committed for neglecting to deliver immediately an Order to the Justices about searching for Priests, &c.

and dismissed from his Place.

Thomas Wall, one of the Door-keepers of this House, being called in, to give an Account of the delivering of the Orders of this House to the Justices of Midd. and London, for the searching for Priests and Jesuits, last Night, confessed that he did not deliver them last Night, but early this Morning: For which Neglect of his, in a Matter of that Consequence, this House Ordered he shall be committed to the Prison of The Fleet, until the Pleasure of this House be further known; and that he shall never attend about this House any more.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Arthur Goodwin, Esquire:

Message from the H. C. for a Conference about Lord Strange's Letter, and the Command of the Trained Bands on both Sides Trent.

First, he was commanded to give their Lordships Thanks, for communicating the Lord Strange's Letter unto them. Next, that the House of Commons desire a Free Conference, touching that Letter, and other Informations which they have received of that Nature; and further, to know of their Lordships, whether they have resolved any Thing concerning the Ordinance of Parliament, to give Power to the Earls of Essex and Holland for the Command of the Trained Bands.

The Answer returned to the House of Commons was:

Answer.

That this House will give a present Meeting, in the Painted Chamber, as is desired; and touching the Ordinance of Parliament, it is not yet fell into Debate, being in the last Place; but, as soon as this House grows to any Resolution therein, their Lordships will acquaint the House of Commons with it.

Conference reported.

The House was adjourned during Pleasure; and the Lords returning from the Conference, the House was resumed; and the Lord Keeper reported the Effect of this Conference:

Propositions of the House of Commons.

"That the House of Commons gives their Lordships Thanks, for communicating to them the Lord Strange's Letter; by which, and other Relations from Members of their House, they hold that there may be just Causes of those Fears.

"1. Next, they desire their Lordships Expedition of the Ordinance, concerning the Earls of Essex and Holland.

"2. They desire an Answer concerning the securing the Persons of Recusants.

"3. They desire that the Isle of Wight may be secured, as they formerly desired; and that the Forts of the Kingdom may be fortified.

"4. That the Magazines in the County of Mountgomeryshire may be sequestered into other Hands, for better Security, they being now in the Hands of a Servant of a great Recusant.

"5. That they think it fit, that the fortifying of Milford Haven be taken into Consideration.

"6. They desire that Sir Simon Harcourt may have a Commission, to levy Soldiers for the Service of Ireland in the nearest Parts of (fn. 5); and that Thursday next may be the longest Time of his Stay there."

To these Particulars this House gave these Resolutions:

The Lords Answer to them.

1. To the First Proposition, it is Ordered, That the Paper concerning the Earls of Essex and Holland shall be debated To- (fn. 6) morrow.

2. Touching the securing of the Persons of Recusants. Agreed to by this House.

3. Touching the sequestering of the Isle of Wight into another Hand; their Lordships will take the same into Consideration when the House of Commons present their Reasons why it should be taken out of the Hand where it is now.

As for the Forts, to let the House of Commons know, That this House hath given them formerly an Account of the State of them, and of the Charge which will be requisite to repair them; and that the Money must proceed from them.

4. To the Fourth; agreed to.

5. To the Fifth; this House thinks it fit that Milford Haven be secured, by appointing some Ships to ride in the Haven.

6. To the Sixth; the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland is to bring the Commission To-morrow Morning, which he is to give Sir Symond Harcourt, for levying Men for the Service of Ireland.

This being done, the Lord Keeper was appointed to acquaint the House of Commons (who stayed in the Painted Chamber) with the aforesaid Answers to their Propositions.

These Answers delivered to the H. C.

Then this House was adjourned during Pleasure, and the Lords went to the Conference; which, being ended, the Lord Keeper reported, "That he had delivered to the House of Commons what he was directed."

House to be called Tomorrow.

Ordered, That this House shall be called To-morrow, at Twelve of the Clock at Noon; and such Lords as are absent are to be fined Twenty Shillings a-piece, unless they can give a good Reason of their Absence.

E. of Worcester's House searched.

Mr. Maxwell, the Gentleman Usher, gave this House an Account, "That, according to their Lordships Order, he had searched diligently the Earl of Worcester's House for Priests and Jesuits; but can find none."

Adjourn.

Dominus Custos Magni Sigilli declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque in diem crastinum, videlicet, diem Mercurii, 17^m diem instantis Novembris, hora 11^a Aurora, Dominis sic decernentibus.