DIE Martis, videlicet, 1 die Martii.
PRAYERS.
The Lord Admiral reported, "That the Committee
appointed Yesterday to consider of the King's Answer
have prepared a Draught of a Message, which the
Committee have voted fit to be presented to the King;
which was read, in hæc verba: videlicet.
Draught of a Message to the King concerning the Militia and the Prince.
"Most Gracious Sovereign,
"Your Majesty's most loyal and obedient Subjects,
the Lords and Commons in Parliament, do find their
just Apprehensions of Sorrow and Fear, in respect
of the public Dangers and Miseries like to fall upon
His Majesty and the Kingdom, to be much increased
upon the Receipt of Your unexpected Denial of their
most humble and necessary Petition concerning the
Militia of the Kingdom; especially grieving that
wicked and mischievous Counsellors should still have
that Power with Your Majesty as, in this Time of
imminent and approaching Ruin, rather to incline
Your Resolutions to that which is apt to further the
Accomplishment of the Desires of the most malignant
Enemies of God's true Religion, and of the Peace
and Safety of Yourself and Your Kingdom, than to
the dutiful and faithful Counsels of Your Parliament.
"Wherefore they are enforced, in all Humility, to
protest, That, if Your Majesty shall persist in that
Denial, the Dangers and Distempers of the Kingdom
are such as will endure no Delay; but, unless You
shall be graciously pleased to assure to them by their
Messengers, that You will speedily apply Your Royal
Assent, to the Satisfaction of their former Desires,
they shall be inforced, for the Safety of Your Majesty and Your Kingdoms, to dispose of the Militia,
by the Authority of both Houses, in such Manner
as hath been propounded to Your Majesty; and they
resolve to do it accordingly.
"They likewise most humbly beseech your Majesty
to believe that the dangerous and desperate Design
upon the House of Commons, mentioned in their
Preamble, was not inserted with any Intention to cast
any Aspersion upon Your Majesty; but therein they
reflected upon that malignant Party, of whose bloody
and malicious Practices they have had so often Experience, and from which they can never be secure
unless Your Majesty will be pleased to put from You
those wicked and unfaithful Counsellors, who interpose their own corrupt and malicious Designs betwixt Your Majesty's Goodness and Wisdom, and the
Prosperity and Contentment of Yourself and of Your
People; and that, for the Dispatch of the great Affairs of the Kingdom, the Safety of Your Person,
the Protection and Comfort of such Subjects, You will
be pleased to continue Your Abode near to London
and the Parliament, and not to withdraw Yourself
to any the remoter Parts; which if Your Majesty
should do, must be a Cause of great Danger and Distraction.
"That Your Majesty will likewise be Graciously
pleased to continue the Prince his Highness in these
Parts, at St. James's, or any other of Your Houses
near London, whereby the Designs which the Enemies of the Religion and Peace of this Kingdom
may have upon his Person, and the Jealousies and
Fears of Your People, may be prevented.
"And they beseech Your Majesty to be informed
by them, that, by the Laws of the Kingdom, the
Power of raising, ordering, and disposing the Militia,
within any City, Town, or other Place, cannot be
granted to any Corporation, by Charter or otherwise, without the Authority and Consent of Parliament; and that those Parts of the Kingdom which
have put themselves in a Posture of Defence, against
the common Danger, have therein done nothing but
according to the Declaration and Direction of both
Houses, and what is justifiable by the Laws of this
Kingdom.
"All which their most humble Counsel and Desires
they pray Your Majesty to accept, as the Effect of
that Duty and Allegiance which they owe unto You,
and which will not suffer them to admit of any
Thoughts, Intentions, or Endeavours, but such as
are necessary and advantageous for Your Majesty's
Greatness, Honour, and the Safety and Prosperity
of the Kingdom, according to that Trust and Power
which the Laws have reposed in them."
Resolved, upon the Question,
That this Message now read shall be presented to the
King, from both Houses of Parliament.
Lords appointed to go to the King, with the Message.
Then this House appointed the Earl of Suffolke, Earl
of Warwicke, Earl of Clare, the Lord Paget, Lord
Brooke, and Lord Feilding, to join with a proportionable
Number of the House of Commons, to present this
Message to the King from both Houses; and to return
by Ten of the Clock To-morrow Morning, if the King
be at Theobalds; but, if His Majesty be gone further,
then the Lords are to return the next Day after they
have attended the King.
A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by
Sir Robert Rich and Mr. Page:
Message to the H. C. to appoint a Committee to go with them to the King.
To let them know, that this House hath voted this
Message to be presented to the King, from both Houses;
and that their Lordships have appointed Six Lords to attend the King with it, and do desire that the House of
Commons would join in the same Message, and appoint a
proportionable Number of their Members to go with
the Lords to the King; and that they be enjoined to
return To-morrow Morning, by Ten of the Clock;
but, if the King be not at Theobalds, then to return
the next Day after they have attended the King.
E. of Westmoreland Leave to be absent.
Ordered, That the Earl of Westm'land hath Leave
to be absent for a Week.
Bps. of Durham, and Co. & Litch. to Leave to Petition the H. C.
The Petition of the Bishops of Duresme and Cov.
& Litchfeild was presented to the House; shewing,
"That whereas the House of Commons have voted a
free Liberty unto them, and other Bishops impeached
before their Lordships, to answer for themselves, and
by themselves, without Counsel:
"Their humble Petition is, that, if it may consist
with their Lordships Wisdom and Favour, both of
them may be permitted the Liberty to present themselves before the House of Commons, to manifest unto
them the Truth of their Cause, according to the Sincerity of their Intentions, at such Time or Times as
they shall be pleased to appoint."
Hereupon their Lordships, taking this Petition into
Consideration, and considering that these Bishops are
Prisoners to this House; Ordered, That the Two
Bishops aforesaid shall have Leave to go to the House
of Commons, as they desire, if they will.
The Messengers sent to the House of Commons return with this Answer:
Answer from the H. C. about the Message to the King concerning the Prince and the Militia.
That the House of Commons do agree with their
Lordships, in the Draught of the Message to the King,
in every Part; and they have appointed a proportionable Number of their House, to join with the Committee of this House to present the said Message to
the King; and have assigned them the same Time for
their Return as their Lordships have.
Fitch's Privilege.
This House being informed, "That Gilbert Fitch,
One of the Marshals of His Majesty's Hall in Ordinary, is arrested, contrary to the Privilege of Parliament;" it is Ordered, That the said Gilbert
Fitch shall be released from his present Restraint, and
have the Privilege of Parliament allowed him, as the
King's menial Servant.
Adjourn.
Dominus Custos Magni Sigilli declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque in diem Mercurii,
videlicet, 2m diem Martii, (fn. *) 1641, hora 10a Aurora,
Dominis sic decernentibus.