House of Lords Journal Volume 6: 7 March 1644

DIE Jovis 7 die Martii.

PRAYERS by Mr. Greene.

Lords present this Day:

Ds. Grey de Warke, Speaker.

Countess of Lindsey's Assessment.

Upon reading the Petition of Eliz. Countess Dowager of Lyndsey; shewing, "That she is assessed by the Committee of Haberdashers Hall to pay her Fifth and Twentieth Part: Now, forasmuch as the Petitioner is informed it is excepted in the Ordinance, that any Peer or their Assistants shall be assessed otherwise than by the House of Peers, she humbly prays that your (fn. 1) Lordships will be pleased to tender your Petitioner's Estate and Condition, and to relieve your Petitioner, that she may not be compelled to attend at Habberdashers Hall."

This House Ordered, That the Petitioner shall be rated by this House as a Peer, and not at Haberdashers Hall.

Sir William Middleton's Petition.

Upon reading the Petition of Sir Wm. Middleton, against Mr. Doctor Chamberlaine: It is Ordered, That the Business is referred to Mr. Justice Reeves, who is to call the Bail before him, and examine the Business, and report the same to this House.

Petition for Mr. Vine to be Minister of St. Clement Danes.

Upon reading the Petition of the (fn. 2) Parishioners of Clement Danes; shewing, "That the Rectory of the said Parish being lately sequestered, and Mr. Vynes and Mr. Evans appointed jointly to officiate the Cure, until further Order: Now, for that they do not mutually agree to officiate the general Offices of the said Cure, and Pastoral Charge thereunto belonging, jointly, according to Order; but, on the contrary, the same hath been refused to be done, whereby many necessary Duties have been neglected, and the Parish therein much unsatisfied; moreover, the Profits of the said Rectory (by reason of many deserted Houses, and also having divided into several Parts) cannot afford them both a sufficient Maintenance:

"The humble Request of the Petitioners is, to confirm Mr. Vynes solely in the Government and Pastoral Charge of the said Cure, and to have the Profits thereof (deducting the Stipend allowed to the Doctor's Wife) during Sequestration, or what Time this House please to Order, whose godly sincere Life and worthy Abilities is sufficiently known and deservedly approved amongst them; and that Mr. Evans may only continue his Lectures, as formerly he hath done."

Ordered, That this House approves of Mr. Vyne (fn. 3) to be solely appointed to (fn. 4) discharge the Pastoral Charge of the Cure of St. Clements Danes, as is desired; and that an Ordinance be drawn to this Purpose.

Message from the H. C. for a Conference about Scotch Affairs.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Sir Tho. Barrington Baronet:

1. To desire a Conference touching the Scottish Affairs.

Ordered, To give a present Conference, in the Painted Chamber, as is desired.

and with an Ordinance.

2. To desire Concurrence in an Ordinance concerning Currants.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That this House will give a present Conference, as is desired, in the Painted Chamber; and concerning the Ordinance touching Currants, this House will send an Answer by Messengers of their own.

Ordinance concerning the Levant Company.

The Lord Admiral reported, "That the Committee have considered of the Ordinance concerning the Levant Company; and their Opinion is, That it is fit to pass as it is, it being agreeable to their Patent.

Which Ordinance was read the Third Time, and Agreed to. (Here enter it.)

Message to the H. C. that the Lords agree to it; and about the King's Children.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir Rob't Rich and Mr. Page:

To let them know, that this House agrees with them in the Ordinance (fn. 5) for the Levant Company; and further, to desire a Conference, touching the Business of St. James.

Ordinance concerning Currants.

The Ordinance concerning Currants was read Twice, and committed to,

Any Three to (fn. 6) meet.

Ordinance concerning the Weekly Meal.

The Ordinance concerning the Weekly Meal was read Once, and Ordered to be read again To-morrow Morning.

Ordered, That the Lord Admiral is appointed to manage the Conference concerning the Servants to the King's Children at St. James; and to desire, from this House, that the select Committees of both Houses do meet, and consider concerning of the Persons in the List, before any final Determination be made by the Houses.

The Ordinance for the associated Counties of Kent, Sussex, &c. was read, and committed to a Committee of the whole House, to be taken into Consideration the next Time the House sits.

"An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, for upholding the Government and Fellowship of Merchants of England trading into the Levant Seas, for the Maintenance of Cloathing and Woolen Manufactures, the venting of Lead, Tin, and sundry other Commodities of this Kingdom.

Ordinance for Support of the Levant Company.

For the better Encouragement and Supportation of the Fellowship of Merchants of England trading into the Levant Seas, which, besides the building and maintaining of divers great Ships both for Defence and Burthen, the venting of Kerseys, Says, Perpetuans, and several other Commodities, hath been found very serviceable and profitable to this State, by advancing Navigation, and transporting into Foreign Parts for several Years together above Twenty Thousand Broad Cloths per Annum, besides other Commodities, dyed and dressed in their full Manufacture; and for the better Government and Regulating of Trade, especially that of Cloathing, whereby the poor People are set on Work, and the whole Kingdom receives Benefit: The Lords and Commons in Parliament do Ordain, That the said Fellowship of Merchants of England trading into the Levant Seas shall continue and be a Corporation; that they shall have the free Choice and Removal of all Ministers and Officers, which are to be by them maintained, either at Home or Abroad, whether they be dignified or called by the Title or Name of Ambassadors, Governors, Deputies, Consuls, or otherwise; and shall have Power to levy Monies on the Members of their Corporation and Strangers, upon all Goods that shall be shipped in English Bottoms, as also upon all the Goods of English shipped in Strangers Bottoms, which go into or come from the Levant Seas, for and towards the necessary Charge, Maintenance, and Support, of the Ministers, Officers, and Government; and that the said Fellowship shall have further Power to levy such Sum and Sums of Money on the Members of that Corporation, and their Goods, as shall be advanced for the Use and Benefit of the State, by the Approbation of both Houses of Parliament; and that no Persons shall bring from, or send Goods or Ships into, those Parts limited by their Incorporation, but such as are Free Brothers, or otherwise licensed by the aforesaid Corporation, on Forfeiture of the whole, or other lesser Penalty to be imposed by the said Corporation on their said Goods or Ships so sent or traded in unduly: Provided, That the said Fellowship shall not exclude any Person from his Freedom and Admission into the said Fellowship, who shall desire it by Way of Redemption, if such Person be a meer Merchant, and otherwise capable thereof, and shall pay Fifty Pounds for the same if he be above the Age of Twenty-seven Years, or Twenty-five Pounds if he be under that Age, or so much less as their Fellowship shall think sitting; and that the said Fellowship shall have Power to impose a Fine upon any Person or Persons wilfully contemning or disobeying their Order or Orders in Matter of Government, so as the Fine do not exceed the Sum of Twenty Pounds for any One Offence; and, in Default of Payment of such Fine, the said Fellowship shall have Power to distrain the Goods of such Person or Persons so fined; and if no sufficient Distress can be found, then the said Fellowship shall have Power to imprison the said Person or Persons for their said Contempt, until such Person or Persons shall pay such Fine or Fines, or otherwise conform themselves to the Acts and Government of the said Fellowship; and the said Fellowship shall have Power to give such an Oath or Oaths to the Officers and Members of their Corporation, as shall be approved of by both Houses of Parliament: Provided, That all Rights or Charters granted under the Broad Seal of England, or otherwise, shall be hereby saved.

"And the said Lords and Commons do further Ordain, That, with all convenient Expedition, a Bill shall be prepared, in Order to an Act of Parliament to be passed in this present Parliament, for the further settling and full Confirmation of the Privileges of the said Fellowship herein beforementioned, with such other Clauses and Provisions as shall be found expedient by both Houses of Parliament; this Ordinance to remain in full Force until a Bill or Act shall be prepared and passed, according to the Intent and true Meaning of this Ordinance.

And it is Ordered, That this Ordinance be forthwith printed and published that all Persons concerned may take Notice thereof as appertaineth.

Answer from the H. C.

The Messengers sent to the House of Commons return with this Answer:

That they will give a present Conference, as is desired.

The Lords went to the Conference.

Adjourn.

And the House was adjourned until To-morrow Morning, at Nine of the Clock, Dominis sic decernentibus.