Die Martis, 22 Decembr. 1640.

Starch Patent.

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ORDERED, That the Committee, formerly appointed to examine Witnesses concerning Starch, shall now take into Consideration the whole Business concerning that Matter; and have Power to send for Party, Witnesses, Papers, Records, or any thing else, that may conduce to the Business; and they are to meet on Thursday, at Two of Clock, in the Council-chamber of the Court of Wards.

Universities.

Ordered, That the Sub-committee, formerly appointed to consider of the Abuses of the Universities in Matters of Religion, be made a Committee from the House; with the like Power it formerly had; and with Power to consider of the Abuses in Matters of Religion and Civil Government, either done or suffered by the Universities; and they are to meet To-morrow in the Afternoon, at Two of Clock, in the Council-chamber of the Court of Wards.

Sir Tho. Widrington is added to this Committee.

Illegal Exactions.

Ordered, That the Examination of the Business, concerning the unlawful Levying of Money for Carriage of Ship-timber in the North Riding of the County of Yorke, be referred to the Committee for Deputy-Lieutenants: And that * Baites, * Faireside, and * Greene, be summoned to appear before the said Committee to be examined in this Business, and in the Business concerning Levying of Monies, under Pretence of the King's Provision.

Kent Marshes.

The Petition of Tho. Sommer, and William Sommer, on the Behalf of themselves, and others, Inhabitants of the Salt and inned Marsh Lands of Kent, being read; it was referred to the Committee for Sutton Marsh; with an Enlargement of their Power, to receive all Petitions of the like Nature, and to assign and hear Counsel: And all the Lawyers of the House, and the Barons and Burgesses of all the Ports, and Sea Towns, are added to this Committee.

Proceedings against Bp. of Elye.

Mr. Hollys, Sir W. Erle, Sir Wm. Litton, Sir Wm. Brereton, Mr. Greene, Sir H. Mildmay, Sir Edw. Deering, Sir Edw. Aiskew, Sir Oliver Luke, Sir Robert Crane, Sir Tho. Middleton, Sir Tho. Widrington, Sir Jo. Strangewayes, Mr. Owfield, Mr. Maynard, Mr. Bagshaw, Sir Peter Hayman, Mr. Cecill, Mr. Hodges, Sir Rich. Lewson, Sir Fr. Barnham, Sir Gilbert Pickering, Sir Arth. Haselrigg, Sir Robert Harley, Sir Tho. Bowyer, Mr. Roes, Mr. Rigby, Mr. White, Mr. Cromwell, Mr. Noell, Sir Tho. Barrington, Mr. Perd, Sir M. Fleetewood, and the Knights and Burgesses of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire;

This Committee is to consider of the Petition, exhibited from the Inhabitants of the Town of Ipswich; and to receive all Petitions and Complaints against the Bishop of Elye, and against the other Parties mentioned in the said Petition of Ipswich, and against all others that have been employed as Officers or Ministers under him: And they have likewise Power to stop all Proceedings upon a Decree made in Chancery, and in the Consistory-court within his Diocese, for the Payment of the Tythe of Twenty Pence upon a House: And they are to draw up the Charge against the said Bishop; and have Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, Records, Papers, Books, or any thing else, that may concern or conduce to the Business, and to assign and hear Counsel; and they are to meet this Afternoon, at Two of Clock, in the Exchequer-chamber.

Proceedings against the Judges.

Resolved, upon the Question, That a Message be forthwith sent to the Lords, to desire them, that the Lord Chief Justice Bramston, Lord Chief Baron Davenport, Justice Bartley, Justice Crawley, Baron Trevour, and Baron Weston, do, by themselves and others, put in good Security to abide the Judgment of Parliament; for that there are Informations, and several Proceedings in Examinations of Crimes of a high Nature, against them in this House.

Mr. Waller to go up with this Message.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Mr. Whistler assumed it.

Mr. Speaker reassumed the Chair.

Leave of Absence.

Mr. Noell has Leave to be absent for Eight Days.

Farmer's Petition.

The humble Petition of Rich. Farmer, on the Behalf of sundry of the Inhabitants of Rothers Thorpe, in the County of Northampton, read:

Billing's Petition.

The humble Petition of Jo. Billing the younger, of Weden Beck in the County of Northampton, Yeoman, read.

They were both called in; and did avow their Petitions.

Person sent for.

Ordered, That Tho. Preston, Vicar of Rothers Thorpe, in the County of Northampton, be forthwith sent for, as a Delinquent, by the Serjeant at Arms attending on this House, to answer such Matters as are objected against him, in the Petition exhibited by Rich. Farmer.

Ship-money.

Ordered, That the Petition exhibited by Jo. Billing, the younger, against Sir Robert Banaster, be referred to the Committee, that is appointed to consider of the rigorous Levying of Ship-money by Sheriffs; and Jo. Billing, who exhibited this Petition, is required to give Sir Robert Banaster Notice hereof.

Bp. of Bath and Welles.

Mr. Grimston, Mr. Whitlock, Mr. Palmer, Mr. Goodwyn, Sir Tho. Widdrington, Mr. Barker, Mr. St. Johns, Mr. Bagshaw, are added to the Committee for the Bishop of Bath and Welles, notwithstanding the Adjournment of that Committee Yesterday made: And they are to meet this Afternoon, at Two of Clock, in the Duchy-court.

Diocese of Lincolne.

The Sub-committee, formerly appointed by the Grand Committee for Religion, to examine the Matters of Complaints concerning Religion, in the Diocese of Lincolne, and the Abuses in the Ecclesiastical Courts of that Diocese, be made a Committee from this House; with Power to hear and examine all Matters, concerning the Ecclesiastical Courts and Officers within that Diocese.

Merchants Adventurers.

The humble Petition of the Governor, Assistant, and Fellowship of the Merchants Adventurers of England trading into Germany, and the Low Countries, referred to the Grand Committee for Trade.

Levant Company.

The humble Petition of the Merchants of the City of London, trading into the Levant, referred to the Grand Committee for Trade.

Christmas Recess.

Resolved, upon the Question, That the Recess for the Holidays shall be on Thursday next, being Christmas Eve, and the Access to be on the Tuesday after: And the House to be called on Thursday following.

Committees.

Ordered, That all the Committees shall have Liberty, if they will, to sit, during the Recess.

Earl of Straford.

Ordered, That the Committee concerning the Earl of Straford, shall have Power to examine Witnesses during this Recess.

Subsidies.

The Bill of Subsidies to be treated on Tomorrow Morning: And Mr. Speaker to put the House in mind of this Order.

King's Revenue, &c.

Ordered, That the House, on Tuesday Morning next, enter into the Debate of his Majesty's Revenue and Expences; and that Sir Robert Pye, and Sir Edw. Wardour, do attend the Lord Treasurer and the Lord Cottington; and, by Advice with them, do prepare a Balance, or bring in the Balance last made, and present it to the House at the same time.

Committee for Army.

Ordered, That the Committee for the King's Army, now sine die, do meet this Afternoon, at Four of Clock, in the Treasury-chamber.

Answers from Lords.

Mr. Waller brings in Answer of the Message to the Lords. * * * *

Lord Falkland brings Answer of the Message sent by him to the Lords. * * * *

Archbp. of Canterbury, &c.

Ordered, That the several Committees, that have or shall have any thing produced before them, that may tend to the Charge, either against the Lord of Cant', or the Judges, shall communicate it to the Committees respectively, that are appointed to draw up those several Charges.

Privilege.

Ordered, That the Proceedings in the Exchequer against Mr. Toll, a Member of this House, be stayed; and that Francis Ludlow, at whose Suit one Tho. Barnes served an Order under Mr. Baron Weston's Hand, out of the Exchequer, upon the said Mr. Toll, be both sent for, as Delinquents, by the Serjeant at Arms attending on this House, to answer their Contempts and Breaches of the Privilege of this House.

Naturalization.

James Boeve, Merchant, and Susannah his Wife, Matthew Boeve, Gent. Peter Marolois, and Peter Hoett, Merchants, and Peter Fountaine, Merchant, having Bills here of Naturalization, this Day, (as the Manner is, before their Bills can have a second Reading) took the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy.