Die Jovis, videlicet, 10 die Februarii.
PRAYERS.
The Lord Chief (fn. *) Justice of the Common Pleas
was appointed by the House to fit Speaker
this Day.
The Earl of Portland reported the King's Answer
to the Message from both Houses of Parliament: videlicet,
The King's Answer about Two Bills that are ready for the Royal Assent.
"That His Majesty, having read the Desire of both
Houses, returns this Answer, That one of the Bills
being of so great Weight, and the other not having
been yet seen either by His Majesty or His Counsel,
He will take yet some further Time; but is resolved
to return as speedy an Answer as the Importance of
the Business will permit.
Jo. Galpinge's Petition.
Ordered, That the Petition of John Galpinge, a
Minister, shall be received into this House, and be proceeded in when Private Petitions are to be taken into
Consideration.
E. of Cambridge Leave to be absent.
Ordered, That the Earl of Cambridge hath Leave
to be absent for a few Days.
Message to the H. C.
A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by
Sir Robert Rich and Mr. Page:
with the King's Answer about the Two Bills.
To deliver to them a Copy of the King's Answer
reported this Day by the Earl of Portland.
The Cleveland Petition.
The Lord Chamberlain, Lord Lieutenant for the
County of Yorke, delivered in a Petition from the
Gentry, Ministry, and Commonalty of Cleveland, in
the County of Yorke, which was read, as followeth:
"Whereas we know no other Means, under God,
to divert the just Judgements, which He hath executed against the Church of the Laodiceans for their
Lukewarmness in Religion, or against the Church of
Thyatyra for keeping Seducers, nor to prevent our
imminent Dangers, but by a most necessary and
speedy executing of the Laws of God and the King;
we do therefore desire to certify, that we are resolved
to live and die in the Faith of the Protestant Religion, knowing no other Means of Salvation; and
that we will defend it with our Life and Goods;
which that we may with our Abilities be encouraged
in performing,
"We humbly, above all Things, desire that we
may be secured, a happy Reformation afforded, and the Laws of God and the King
without Favour or Delay justly put in Execution against Papists.
"And your Petitioners shall pray, etc."
This Petition is subscribed by many Hundred Hands,
as may appear by the Original itself (vide the Petition).
After this, a Petition was delivered unto this House,
by divers Gentlemen of the County of Oxon, which was
read, in bæc verba: videlicet,
The Oxfordshire Petition.
"To the Right Honourable the Lords assembled in
Parliament.
"The humble Petition of the Knights, Gentlemen,
Freeholders, and Subsidy-men, of the best Rank
and Quality, in the County of Oxon,
"Sheweth,
"That your Petitioners have, for divers Years, groaned
under most heavy Pressures and Grievances both in our
Religion and Civil Rights and Liberties, which were
grown to such Height, that they became insupportable, and yet no Hopes of Redress appeared to the
Eye of Man, till it pleased Almighty God, of His
infinite Goodness, to stir up the King's Majesty to call
this present Parliament, whereby our dying Hopes
were raised to very great and confident Expectations
of a full and perfect Reformation: But they were soon
abated, to our exceeding great Discouragements, by
the Letts and Hindrances, which are largely expressed in the late Remonstrance of the State of the
Kingdom, set forth by the Honourable House of Commons, arising from the Endeavours of a malignant
Party within the Kingdom, and (as we humbly conceive) from the Popish Lords and Bishops voting in
the House of Peers: Nevertheless we cannot but entertain new Hopes of Comfort, and of the happy
Proceedings and Success of this Parliament, beholding with unspeakable Joy your late Concurrence with
that Honourable House of Commons, especially in
taking away the Votes of Prelates, and setting this
Kingdom in a Posture of Defence, which we do with
all possible Thankfulness acknowledge.
"Humbly beseeching your Lordships, that you would
keep up our Hopes, by proceeding, in your happy
Concurrence with the House of Commons, to a perfect Reformation, and particularly in vindicating the
Privileges of Parliament, discovering, punishing, and
removing evil Counsellors and Magistrates, taking
away from the Popish Lords their Votes in Parliament,
utterly abolishing that Kingdom destroying Sin of
Idolatry, together with Superstition and Arminianism,
so much professed and countenanced in our University,
passing the Bill against Pluralities, and joining in that
Order of the House of Commons for the demolishing
of Altars and scandalous Pictures: And your Petitioners shall still have Cause to look upon your Lordships with as high Esteem as ever our Forefathers did
upon your most Noble Progenitors; and also, with
our best Endeavours, will maintain you in your happy
Concurrence with the said House of Commons, in your
Persons, Honours and Dignities.
"And your Petitioners shall ever pray, etc."
Thanks given to the Petitioners.
This being read, the Gentlemen that presented it
were commanded to withdraw; and the House taking it
into their Consideration what Answer to give, they were
called in; and the Speaker, by Directions of the House,
gave them Thanks, for their Care of the Privileges of
Parliament and of the Kingdom; and their Lordships
will take their Petition into speedy Consideration.
This House was informed, "That divers Gentlemen
of the County of North'ton are at the Door, to present
a Petition to this House;" they were called in, and the
Petition was read, in their Presence, in bæc verba:
"To the Right Honourable the House of Peers
now assembled in Parliament.
The Northamptonshire Petition.
"The humble Petition of the Knights, Gentlemen, and Freeholders of the County of
North'ton,
"Sheweth,
"That your Petitioners, with all humble Thankfulness, acknowledge your good Affections to the Church
and Commonwealth, declared as well by your Concurrence with the Honourable House of Commons,
in passing the Bill against the Bishops Votes and Place
in your Honourable House, as also by your joint
Endeavours to His Majesty, to put the Forts and Militia of the Kingdom, for the Safeguard thereof, into
a Posture of Defence.
"But your Petitioners observing, to their Regret,
that many Endeavours of the House of Commons
have in great Part been made fruitless, through the
cunning Practices of the Papists and their Adherents,
with evil Counsels somenting (as your Petitioners
humbly conceive) a Misunderstanding betwixt the
King and His People, thereby hindering the passing
of divers good Bills, and occasioning Obstructions to
other good Proceedings, especially for the Settlement
of Religion, and Reformation of Church Government:
"They do therefore humbly pray there may be
still a Concurrence in your Lordships with the
House of Commons, in the Use of such Means
to His Majesty as may conduce to the Remedy
of those Evils, as well by removing evil Counsellors from His Royal Person, and barring
the Votes of Popish Lords your Honourable
House, as also by disarming and restraining
Recusants, securing the Cinque Ports, Tower
of London, Isles of Weight, Jarsey, and Garnesey, with all other Forts of the Kingdom,
punishing Delinquents, purging the Universities from Corruption in Doctrine and Manners, taking away Pluralities, settling competent Provision for deserving Ministers, establishing of Church Government according to the
Word of God, and speedy Relief to our distressed Brethren in Ireland: To which End
we desire to make Tender of our Persons and
Estates, by all due Means, for Defence of His
Majesty, and the Privileges of Parliament, with
Readiness to comply with all your just Commands and Proceedings, praying for a happy
Success and Issue thereof, further desiring your
Lordships to take into Consideration the distressed Estate of the poorer Sort of People,
who, for Want of Trade and Employment, are
brought to Extremity, which (without timely
Prevention) may prove of dangerous Consequence.
"And your Petitioners, as in Duty bound,
shall ever pray, etc.
Thanks given to the Petitioners.
This Petition being read, the Gentlemen that presented it were commanded to withdraw; and the House
taking 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 for their Care and Affections of the Public, the Privileges of Parliament, and their Care of Ireland; and to let them know, that this House will take
their Petition into a speedy Consideration.
Watkins, a Searcher, to seize all Popish Relicks, &c.
Ordered, etc. That Edward Watkins, Esquire, His
Majesty's Chief Searcher outwards, shall stay and attach
all Relicks of Popery, and Popish Books and Papers,
that are or shall come to his Hands, and present them
to a Committee of both Houses appointed purposely for
that Occasion; and that the said Mr. Watkins shall, from
Time to Time, attend the said Committee, as there shall
be Cause, concerning the said Business.
Suits to be stayed against Officers for executing Warrants, etc. of the Courts lately abolished.
Ordered, etc. That Mr. Serjeant Glanvile, Mr. Serjeant Whittfeild, or either of them, shall forthwith prepare
a Bill, for the preventing of Suits to be commenced after the 10th Day of February 1641, against any Sheriffs,
Constables, Gaolers, and other Ministers and Officers,
for executing or obeying any Warrant, Decree, Order,
or Process, from the High Commission, Star-chamber,
Court of Yorke, and Stanneries; and for the staying of all
Actions or Suits, brought before the said 10th Day of
February 1641, against any of the said Officers, or Ministers, for executing or obeying any such Order, Decree, Warrant, or Process, whereupon no Judgement
was had before the said 10th Day of February aforesaid.
Sir Edmond Plowden, Tho. Insley, and the Warden of The Fleet.
Ordered, etc. That a former Order of this House,
dated the 6th of August 1641, between Sir Edmond
Plowden, Knight, and Thomas Insley, Complainants, against
the Warden of The Fleet, Defendant, shall (by virtue
hereof) be void, and of none Effect.
A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir
Robert Rich and Mr. Page:
Message to the H. C. for a Committee to meet and peruse the Popish Relicks and Letters lately seized.
To let them know, that their Lordships are informed,
That the Searcher of London hath lately stayed some
Popish Relicks and Letters, which were going for Dunkerke; and that their Lordships have appointed a Committee of Lords, to join with a Committee of the House
of Commons, to peruse the Letters and the said Relicks.
The Messengers return with this Answer from the
House of Commons:
Answer.
That they have appointed a Committee to join with
the Lords Committees, to peruse the Letters and the
Popish Relicks.
Report about the Gunpowder sent to Mr. Draycott in Staffordshire.
Upon Report made by the Lord Pagett, "That his
Lordship hath examined the Business concerning the
Gunpowder, which was informed to be sent to Mr.
Dracott, of Painsly, in Staffordshire; and that his Lordship finds, upon Examination, that one Thomas Parnell,
a Tailor, dwelling in Bow-lane, in London, hath bought
great Quantity of Powder, and sent it down into
Staffordshire:" Hereupon this House Ordered, That
the said Tho. Parnell shall be sent for, to attend this House
forthwith, to be examined concerning this Business.
Bullion of Merchant Strangers.
The Lord Robartes reported from the Committee appointed to consider of the Petition of the Merchants trading for Bullion, "That the Merchants Strangers have
propounded some Propositions, which they desired some
Accomodations in.
"1. The First was a Doubt, that they feared, unless
some Course be taken to settle the Tumults, Distractions, and Fears of the Kingdom, Strangers will be
fearful to bring in their Bullion: To that their Lordships [ (fn. *) told them] that the Parliament hath made a
General Order to suppress Tumults and Disorders
through the whole Kingdom.
"2. The Merchants said, they could not be satisfied of
the Safety of their Bullion in The Tower, so long as
there was a Lieutenant as they knew not, and could not
confide in him; for that the Lords Committees told them,
that the Houses of Parliament have recommended Sir
John Conyers, Knight, to be Lieutenant of The Trever
of London, in whom the Parliament and the Kingdom
might confide.
"The Third Proposition was, that there be Three
Months Warning given them, to dispose of their
Bullion, in Case there should be a War between the
Two Kingdoms of England and Spaine.
"For this their Lordships told them, that they would
speak with some English Merchants trading for Spaine,
to hear what they can say to this Particular.
"Likewise that the Merchants hath informed the
Committee of a Letter, which was written from Antwerp, to a Merchant in London, containing Matters
that are fit to be considered of by this House, which
Letter shall be brought To-morrow, and communicated to this House.
Bishop of Armagh's Sermon at the Fast, false printed, called in.
Next, a Petition of the Archbishop of Armagh was
read; shewing, "That whereas, by the Command of
this House, he preached a Sermon at the Abbey of
Westm. before their Lordships, on the Fast Day,
at which Time some then present have taken certain
Notes, and printed them in a Book called Vox Hiberniæ, and published it, and printed it, in the Name of
one John Nicholson;" and because the said Sermon, as
it is printed, is in many Places Nonsense, and contrary
to the Scope as it was delivered; it is Ordered, by
this House, That the said Sermon thus printed shall
be suppressed and called in, and that, for this Purpose,
the Order is to be directed to the Master and Wardens
of the Company of Stationers in London.
Adjourn.
Dominus Capitalis Justiciarius de Communi Banco
declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque in diem Veneris, videlicet, 11m diem instantis Februarii, 1641, hora 1a post meridiem, Dominis sic decernentibus.