Die Mercurii, 5 Maii, 1641.
PRAYERS.
Ecclesiastical Courts.
ORDERED, The Committee for the Bill for
Reformation of divers Abuses in Ecclesiastical
Courts shall sit this Afternoon, at Two of Clock, in the
Star-chamber.
Letter read.
A Letter from Lesley and others, unto Sir John Lowther, and the other Gentry of Cumberland, was this Day
twice read.
The Protestation.
Ordered, That the Protestation, made by the Members
of this House 3° Maii, with the Preamble, shall be
together printed; and the Copies printed to be brought to
the Clerk, to attest them; to the end, that the Knights,
Citizens, and Burgesses of the Shires may send them
down to the Sheriffs and Justices of Peace of the several
Shires, and to the Cities and Boroughs: And the Knights,
&c. are to intimate unto the Shires, &c. with what Willingness the Members of this House made this Protestation; and as they justify the Taking of it in themselves,
so they cannot but approve it in them that shall likewise
take it.
Members to attend.
. . . That all the Members of the House that are
about Town, and not sick, shall appear here To-morrow
at Eight of Clock: And their not Appearance shall be
accounted a Contempt to this House; upon which, this
House shall proceed as against a Person not worthy to
sit here; and that no Member shall go out of Town
without the special Leave of the House.
The Protestation.
Mr. Robert Reignolds, Sir Tho. Pelham, Mr. Valentine,
Sir Tho. Fanshawe, Mr. Matthew Cradocke, * Lloyd,
this Day made the Protestation.
Ditto.
The Committee for Preparing the Declaration and
Protestation made by this House, to sit this Afternoon,
at Two, in the Court of Wards.
Arms and Ammunition.
Ordered, That all the Knights of the Counties, and
Citizens and Burgesses of the Cities and Boroughs of every
County, do meet this Afternoon, to consider in what
State and Condition their Counties, Cities, and Boroughs
are, in respect of Arms and Ammunition; and in what
Condition, for Deputy Lieutenants, or Lord Lieutenants,
whether they be Persons well affected to the Religion, and
the publick Peace; and to present the Names of them
to this House: And likewise to consider what Want
there is of Arms and Ammunition; to the end they may
be supplied: And are further to consider what Forts
and Castles there are in their several Counties, &c. and
who are the Governors of them, and in whose Hands
they are; and who are the Governors of the Islands,
and of the Castles and Forts there.
Seducing the Army.
Mr. Hollis, Mr. Pymme, Mr. Hampden, Mr. Strode,
Mr. Nath. Fines, Sir John Clotworthy, are to retire into
the Committee-chamber; to prepare Heads for a Message to be sent to the Lords, concerning seducing the
King's Army, and other Matters of great Importance.
Persons to attend.
Sir John Sucklinge, Sir Edw. Wardourne, Captain Palmer, Captain Billingsley; these Persons are to be forthwith sent for to attend the Committee, in the Court
of Wards, at Two of the Clock this Afternoon.
Bringing in foreign Force.
Resolved, upon the Question, That this House doth
declare, that whosoever shall give any Counsel or Assistance, or join, in any Manner, to bring any foreign
Force into the Kingdom, unless it be by Command
of his Majesty, with the Consent of both Houses, in
Parliament, shall be adjudged and reputed a publick
Enemy to the King and Kingdom.
Message from Lords.
A Message from the Lords, by J. Reeves and J.
Heath;
The Lords sent them to acquaint this House, that the
Lords did Yesterday take the Protestation, that was sent
up by this House; and did severally subscribe it: And
next, desire, that this House would sit this Afternoon; for
it may be, they might have some Occasion to confer with
this House, about the Bill against the Earl of Straford.
Answer.
Answer returned by the same Messengers;
The House has taken into Consideration their Lordships Message; and is resolved to sit this Afternoon.
Clergy's Subsidies.
Moved, that his Majesty be again moved, that the
Clergy may bring in their Subsidies.
Mr. Hollis reports the Heads of the Message;
Proceedings concerning the Plot.
"That the House hath received such Information, as
doth give them just Cause to suspect, that there have
been and still are, secret Practices to discontent the
Army with the Proceedings of Parliament; and to
engage them in some Design of dangerous Consequence
to the State; and by some other mischievous Ways, to
prevent the happy Success and Conclusion of this Parliament: And, because the timely Discovery and Preventions of these dangerous Plots, doth so nearly concern
the Safety both of King and Kingdom, they desire your
Lordships would be pleased to appoint a select Committee, to take the Examinations, upon Oath, of such
Persons, and upon such Interrogatories, as shall be presented unto them by the Direction of the House of
Commons, and in the Presence of such of the Members
of that House, as shall be thereunto appointed; with
Injunction of such Secrecy, as a Business of this Nature
doth require.
They have ordered, that such Members of their
House, as shall be thought fit, shall, upon Notice, be
ready to be examined; and they desire your Lordships
will be pleased to order the like for the Members and
Assistants of your own House: And further it is desired,
that your Lordships will forthwith send to his Majesty,
to beseech him in the Name of the Parliament, upon
this great and weighty Occasion, that no Servant of his
Majesty, the Queen, or the Prince, may depart the
Kingdom, or otherwise absent himself, without Leave
from his Majesty, with the humble Advice of his Parliament, until these Examinations be perfected."
Preserving Order.
Resolved, upon the Question, That if any Man shall
whisper, or stir out of his Place, to the Disturbance of
the House, at any Message or Business of Importance,
Mr. Speaker is ordered to present his Name to the
House; for the House to proceed against him as they
shall think fit.
Seducing the Army.
A Letter from Yorke, directed to Mr. Darley, a
Member of this House, was this Day read; and referred
to the Committee, that was appointed to prepare Heads
for a Message, concerning the Information received,
touching the seducing the King's Army, &c.
Message to Lords.
Ordered, That the Committee, appointed to prepare
Heads for the Message, shall be appointed to be present
at the Examination of Witnesses above, with the Lords,
according to one Clause of the Message this Day sent to
them, and have Power to send for such Parties, Witnesses, Papers, Records, or any thing else as they shall
think fit; and to sit in such Places, and at such Times,
as they themselves shall agree on.-
Trial of Earl of Straford.
Mr. Solicitor is appointed to bring in his Argument
he made in Westminster-hall, at the Trial of the Earl
of Straford, on Monday next.-
Secrecy of Committee.
The Committee aforesaid made Protestation of Secrecy, not to discover or speak of any thing of the
Business committed to their Trust; further than they
shall, in their Consciences, think may conduce to the
Service of this House, and the Business.
The Protestation.
Mr. Endimion Porter, Mr. Philip Warricke, Mr.
Comptroller, this Day made the Protestation.
Lords Answer.
Mr. Hollis brings Answer, that the Lords had appointed a Committee of Ten, to take these Examinations, and to send to his Majesty, according to the
Desires of this House, expressed in this Message; and
will join with this House in any Way, that shall conduce to the Good and Safety of the Kingdom.
Post Meridiem.
Committee to sit.
ORDERED, That the Committee for the Customers, and the Convocation-men, do sit To-morrow in
the Afternoon, in their usual Places.
Privilege- Unauthorized Printing.
Ordered, That John Aston, the Printer or Stationer, be
forthwith sent for, by the Serjeant at Arms attending on
this House, as a Delinquent, to answer his Presumption
in printing, or causing to be printed, the Preamble and
Protestation made by the Members of this House 3°
Maii; and that he be injoined to suppress the further
Vent and Publishing of them: And also, that none but
the Printer appointed by this House shall print the same.
State of the Kingdom.
Ordered, That Intimation be given to the Committee
for the Remonstrance of the State of the Kingdom, and
the Petition; to bring in the said Remonstrance, and
Petition, To-morrow Morning, upon the Duty they owe
to the House.
Privilege- Unauthorized Printing.
Mr. Glyn, Mr. Maynard, Mr. Corbett, Sir John Colpeper, Sir Edw. Deeringe, Sir John Evelyn, Mr. Rich.
Moore, Mr. Nicholls;
This Committee is to take into Consideration the
Printing of the Preamble and Protestation; and the Lord
Digbye's last Speech; and other Speeches of Members
of this House, and have Power to send for Parties,
Witnesses, Books, and Papers; and to examine all such
Persons, as they shall think fit, for the Discovery of
the Business committed unto them.
Examining Sucklyn, &c.
Ordered, That the Committee appointed to examine
Sir John Sucklyn, Captain Billingsley, and others, shall
forthwith retire into the Court of Wards, to examine Sir
John Sucklyn, and others.
Advancing Money.
Ordered, That Sir John Harrison put his Proposition,
concerning the Advancing of Monies, in Writing; and
bring it to the House To-morrow Morning.
Continuance of Parliament.
Resolved, upon the Question, That a Bill shall be
prepared, to declare and assure the Continuance of his
present Parliament from adjourning, proroguing, or
dissolving without the Consent of both Houses.
Mr. Whittlocke is to prepare this Bill; and to bring
it in To-morrow Morning.
Loan from the City.
Ordered, That the Aldermen and Citizens, that serve
for the City, and Mr. Spurstow, shall repair to the Lord
Mayor, with a former Order, concerning the One hundred and Twenty thousand Pounds, promised to be lent
by the City; and likewise the Resolution of this House,
for a Bill to be prepared for the Continuance of this
present Parliament; and likewise the Order for a Committee to prepare Instructions, to raise the Subsidies to
a higher Proportion.
City Guard.
Ordered, That the Aldermen, and the Citizens that
serve for the City of London, intimate, from this House,
to the Lord Mayor, that he have an especial Care for
the Guard of the City.
Subsidies.
Ordered, That the Committee for the Instructions for
Raising of the Subsidies to a higher Proportion, do sit
To-morrow in the Afternoon, in the Court of Wards.
Letter read.
A Copy of my Lord General's Letter, to accompany
the Letters that came from this House, was read: And
Ld. General thanked.
Ordered, That Commissary Wilmott shall return
Thanks, from this House, to the Lord General.
Committee to sit.
Ordered, That the Committee for the Ministers Remonstrance, to which the Chester Petition is referred, do
sit To-morrow in the Afternoon, in the Star-chamber.
Message from Lords.
A Message from the Lords, by J. Reeve and J.
Foster;
That they give this House Thanks for sitting so long:
That they are still in Debate of the Bill against the Earl
of Strafford: So that this Night they cannot be ready
for a Conference.
Committees added, &c.
Ordered, That all those that are of the Committee
for the Ministers Remonstrance, be added to the Committee of Twenty-four, appointed to prepare the Remonstrance of the State of the Kingdom, and the
Petition: And are to meet presently, notwithstanding
that the House sit.