DIE Veneris, 28 die Julii.
PRAYERS.
Earl of Manchester, Speaker.
Conference about Sir Kenelm Digby.
It was moved, "To have a Conference with the House
of Commons, to let them know the Request of the
Queen of France, concerning Sir Kenelme Digby; and
that this House thinks it fit to grant it as a Civility to
the Queen of France."
Message to the H. C. for it.
A Message to this Purpose was sent to the House of
Commons, by Sir Rob't Rich and Mr. Page.
Horses of the Assistants of this House not to be listed.
Upon Information to this House, "That there is a
General Commission come from the Lord General,
for the listing of Horses, whereby the Horses of the
Assistants of this House are listed:" Hereupon this
House Ordered, That a Letter be written by the
Speaker, as from this House, to desire him to give Order to exempt their Horses; in the mean Time, their
Horses are not to be listed.
Sequestration of the Profits of Henningford Abbats from Paige.
Next, this House heard the Charge and Articles exhibited against Symon Paige, Parson of Henningford Abbatts, in the County of Huntingdon, by the Parishioners of
the said Parish.
The Articles were read, as followeth:
"1. That he is a common Alehouse-haunter, and
that he hath sat drinking Two Days and Two Nights
together; and his Use hath been to go to the Alehouse commonly on the Sabbath-day; the Parishioners
generally having formerly (fn. *) presented a Petition to
the Honourable House of Commons against the said
Paige, for the same Misdemeanors.
"2. That, on the Sabbath-day, he gave Liberty to
the young People for Sports, as namely, Foot-ballplay, and Cudgel-play, and would go and see the same
himself, and said "Well done!" as he looked on.
"3. That formerly he hath not preached for many
Years together, and now but once on the Sabbathday; when he doth preach, he is very forward in officiating the late Innovations, and hath read the Second
Service at the Altar.
"4. That he hath preached in his Sermons, "That
they must bow at the Name of Jesus, and stand up at
Gloria Patri, &c." And, for not doing so, Two of
his Neighbours were put into the High Commission
Court, to their great Charges."
To all these Articles he pleaded not Guilty; only he
confessed he discontinued from his Living for a while,
but preached Four or Five Times a Year, and placed a
Curate in his Stead.
Then this House heard what the Witnesses could say
by Oath, to prove the Charge against him.
Hereupon this House, upon serious Consideration of
the whole Business, Ordered and Adjudged, "That the
said Paige shall, for his Offence, be sequestered from
his Living at Henningford Abbatts, for the Space of
Two Months; and the Rents and the Tithes and
Profits to be paid to the said Page, who is to pay a
Quarter of a Year's Profits to an able Godly Minister, that shall be appointed to officiate the Cure
for Two Months; and, after the Expiration of the
Two Months, then the said Page is to be restored to
his Living again."
E. of Kingston, a Pass.
Ordered, That the now Earl of Kingston shall have
a Pass, to go from Oxford into Nottinghamshire, to the
Funeral of his Father, lately dead; and to stay there
for Ten Days, and afterwards to return to Oxford.
Bringest, & al. a Pass.
Ordered, That Mr. Richard Bringest and his Man,
and Two other of the Duke of Buckingham's Servants,
with a Pair of Sumpters and Sumpter-cloth, Gloves,
and Black Ribbons, and Six Shirts for the Lords, Four
Suits of Cloth for the Grooms and Footman, and some
other small Linen for Servants, shall have a Pass, to go to
Oxford, and return again to London, without Molestation.
E. of Portland's Petition, for his Releasement;
Upon reading the Petition of the Earl of Portland;
shewing, "That he hath been almost Seven Weeks a
Prisoner, at the Desire of the House of Commons,
upon the unjust Accusation of Mr. Waller to them,
without any Charge brought up to their Lordships
against (fn. *) him, whereby he hath been as much prejudiced in his Estate as if he had been convicted of
the highest Crimes, and is left without any Means to
support himself and his Family.
"Humbly, therefore, prayeth their Lordships,
there being no Prosecution against him, that
he may be released of his Imprisonment, and
have his Estate restored to him, or that he
may have the Liberty of the Town, upon
Bail."
and Lord Conway's.
Likewise the Petition of the Lord Viscount Conway
was read; shewing, "That he being a Prisoner by the
Space of Seven Weeks, by reason of Mr. Waller's
Accusation, of which he is no Way guilty: In regard
whereof, and for that his Lordship's Estate in Ireland
and England (being by reason of the Wars and Troubles therein totally ruined) affords him no Means of
Subsistence, and the Charge of Imprisonment is very
excessive;
"He humbly, therefore, prayeth their Lordships
would be pleased to take such Order for his
speedy Enlargement, as may seem most agreeable to Justice and Equity, &c."
Message to the H. C. that the Lords will release them, if no Charge is brought up against them.
Ordered, To send a Message to the House of Commons, to let them know, that their Lordships have received Two Petitions, one from the Earl of Portland,
and the other from the Lord Viscount Conway; and, in
regard of the great Charge they are now at, which they
are not able to bear, and that they suffer very much in
their Estates, their Lordships are Resolved, in Case no
further Accusation be brought up against them within
Two or Three Days, to give them such an Enlargement as they may be ready at any Time to answer any
Charge as shall be alledged against them.
And accordingly a Message was sent to the House of
Commons, by Mr. Serjeant Whitfeild and Mr. Serjeant
Fynch.
Their Goods to be restored.
Ordered, That the Goods and Horses of the Earl
of Portland and the Lord Viscount Conway, now deposited, shall be restored to them.
E. of Lindsey's Exchange.
Ordered, That it be referred to the Lord General,
to do what he thinks fit about the Exchange of the Earl
of Lyndsey.
The Messengers sent to the House of Commons return
with this Answer:
Answer from the H. C.
That they will give a present Conference, as is desired.
Countess of Leicester, a Pass.
Ordered, That the Countess of Leycester shall have
a Pass, with herself, Children, and Servants, Coach,
and Horses, to go to Penshurst, and return back again to
London.
Chickley, committed for Deer-stealing, released.
Ordered, That Chickley, committed formerly for
Stealing of Deer, shall be released.
The Messengers return with this Answer:
That they have delivered their Message to the House
of Commons, concerning the Earl of Portland, and the
Lord Viscount Conway.
Adjourn.
House adjourned till 10a cras.