Mercurii, 22 Aprilis, 16 Car. Regis.
PRAYERS.
Leave of Absence.
MR. Pimme asked Leave for Sir Tho. Cheeke, for
Ten Days.-Assented unto.
Committee for Perusal of Records.
The Committee for Perusal of the Records, to meet
at Two of Clock post Meridiem, in the Exchequer
Chamber.
Smart's Petition.
The Petition from Peter Smart, was read.
Mr. Secretary Windebank, Mr. Pimme, Sir Rob. Harloe, Sir Jo. Hotham, Mr. Hampden, Mr. Kirton, Mr.
Crew, Mr. Ramsey, Sir Wm. Masham, Sir Miles Fleetwood;
This select Committee is to peruse the whole Matter
of Mr. Smart's Petition; has Power to send for Parties
and Witnesses; to view all such Orders or Decrees, that
may any way conduce to the Proof of the Particulars
alleged in the Petition; to examine and consider, by
what Authority he is committed, and upon what Cause
he is so restrained; to meet this Afternoon, at Five of
Clock, in the Court of Wards.
* * * *
Report to be considered.
Ordered, This Business of the Report this Day made
by Mr. Speaker, to be referred for a Debate To-morrow
Morning; [and the House then] to be resolved into a
Committee; and to pursue [it with all convenient]
Expedition.
Fast Day.
Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench, and Judge
Foster, bring down a Message from the Lords;
That their Lordships have attended the King, to know
his Pleasure concerning a Fast.-He is well pleased to
concur with us in our Desire.
Their Lordships desire a Conference, concerning the
Time, with a Committee of this House, at Three of
Clock this Afternoon, in the Painted Chamber.-Their
Number Twelve.
The Messengers, after they had a while retired themselves, were again called it, and Answer returned by
them, That this House will meet their Lordships, at the
Time and Place, with a double Number, as the usual
Custom is.
Mr. Treasurer, Mr. Secretary Windebank, Mr. Comptroller, Sir W. Erle, Mr. Hampden, Ld. Dungarvon, Sir
Rob. Harley, Sir Miles Fleetewood, Mr. Kirton, Sir Tho.
Barrington, Mr. Capell, Ld. Digby, Ld. Herbert, Mr.
Purefrey, Sir Wm. Masham, Sir H. Martin, Sir Anthony Ereby, Sir Francis Seymour, Lord Russell, Sir
H. Mildmay, Mr. H. Piercy, Ld. Cramborne, Mr. Perpoint, Ld. Wentworth;
This Committee is to meet the Lords at a Conference,
this Afternoon at Three of Clock, in the Painted Chamber; and Mr. Secretary Windebank is to make Report
to the House.
* * * *
Commission to Convocation.
Report from the Committee that was Yesterday appointed to view the Commission that was lately granted
to the Convocation.-That this Commission was not inrolled, nor went forth by Order from the Signet, or Privy
Seal, but by an immediate Command of his Majesty,
signified unto the Lord Keeper: That they found the
Docket [of it] remaining with the Clerk of the Crown,
by which it appeared, that, by this Commission, Power
is given unto them to alter or amend the old Constitutions and Canons, and to make [new].
Exceptions to a Member's Words.
Mr. Dell, a Member of this House, saying, that a
Member of this House did say, that the Churches beyond
Seas were about to fall from us, because we were about
to leave our Religion; there were great Exceptions taken
at this, and he was much urged to name the Man: At
last, he named Mr. Pimme.
Upon Question, it was resolved, that Mr. Pimme
never, since the beginning of this Parliament, has at
any time let fall any unfitting Speeches.
The whole House also seemed generally to be of Opinion, that there were no such Words spoken by any Man.
Mr. Dell does acknowledge, he was mistaken; and will
rest rather upon the Sense of this House than his own.
But it was further moved, That, if in any Place, or
before any Company, he had reported these Words, he
should in the same Place, and before the same Company,
retract and disavow them:
Upon this Motion, he professed, upon his Credit, that,
to the best of his Remembrance, he had never reported
them any where, nor to any Person; but if it should
appear that he had, he was ready to retract and disavow
them.
Resolved, upon the Question, That upon the Matter of
the Petitions that come from the Country, and the Information we have had concerning the Commission lately
directed to the Convocation, we shall send a Message to
the Lords, to desire a Conference with them, to prevent
any Innovation in Matter of Religion.
Mr. Holborne, Mr. E. Hide, Mr. St. Johns, Dr.
Jones, Dr. Eden, Sir Ro. Harley, Mr. Vaughan, Sir
Ben. Rudyar, Sir M. Fleetewood, Mr. Pimme, Mr.
Hampden, Sir Tho. Barrington, Sir F. Seymour, Mr.
Crew, Sir H. Martyn, Mr. Bridgman, Mr. Grimston;
This Committee is to take View of the Commission (if
they can) lately granted to the Convocation; and to prepare the Heads of the Conference ordered to be desired
with the Lords, concerning this Matter, and concerning
the Matter of the Petitions that come from the Country.