Die Sabbati, 19 Decembr. 1640.
PRAYERS.
Marolois', &c. Nat.
1a
vice lecta, AN Act for naturalizing of Peter Marolois,
and Peter Hoett, Merchants.
Oaths.
Geo. Smyth took the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, at the Clerk's Table.
Preaching Ministers.
The humble Petition of the Parishioners of the Parish
of St. Clement's Danes, without Temple Bar, was read.
John Drew and John Baxter were called in; and did
avow the Petition; and was referred to the Committee
following, concerning preaching Ministers.
Private Bill.
It was Declared by the House, upon Mr. Speaker's
acquainting the House with the Matter, that the Bill,
concerning the Fourteen Parishes, is a private Bill.
Preaching Ministers.
Alderman Pennington, Sir Tho. Hutcheson, Mr. Hampden, Sir Arthur Haselrigg, Mr. Stapeley, Sir Hen. Vane,
Sir Tho. Cheeke, Sir Walther Devoreux, Sir Gilbert Gerrard, Mr. Ashton, Mr. Rolls, Sir John Corbett, Mr.
Corbett, Sir Jo. Franklyn, Sir Hen. Anderson, Mr. Walton, Mr. Spurstow, Mr. Cromwell, Ld. Ruthyn, Mr. Glyn,
Sir Jo. Coke, Sir Gilbert Pickering, Mr. Noble, Sir Oliver
Luke, Mr. Pimme, Mr. Bamfield, Mr. Owfield, Mr.
Stevens, Sir Hen. Wallop, Mr. Wallop, Mr. Edw. Ash,
Mr. Jo. Ash, Mr. Tate, Mr. Lower, Sir Miles Fleetwood,
Sir William Massam, Sir Tho. Pelham, Mr. Arthur
Goodwyn, Mr. Roes, Mr. Heveningham;
This Committee is to take into Consideration the Petition of the Inhabitants of Hugenden, in the County of
Bucks, and all other Petitions of that Nature; and also
to consider, how there may be preaching Ministers set
up, where there are none; and how those preaching
Ministers may be maintained, where there is no Maintenance; and, when they are in, how they may be kept,
and continued; and to receive all other Petitions of the
like Nature. 'Tis further ordered, that this Committee
shall take into their Consideration so much of the Petition, preferred in the Name of the Inhabitants of the
County of Northumberland, as concerns the Nature of
the Matter referred to the Committee. And it is further
ordered, that this Committee shall have Power to send
for Parties, Witnesses, Writings, Records, that may conduce to the Matters in question before them:
This was a Sub-committee, made by the Grand Committee for Religion, Die Sabbati, 12° Decembris: And it
is this Day ordered, that this Sub-committee be made a
Committee from the House with the like Power it formerly had; and that this Committee shall likewise consider and inquire of the true Grounds and Causes of the
great Scarcity of preaching Ministers, through the whole
Kingdom; and to consider of some Way of removing
of scandalous Ministers, and putting others in their Places.
And it is further ordered, That all the Knights and Burgesses for every County, be required from this House,
upon their own Knowledge, and upon Information from
the several Counties, where they dwell, within Six Weeks,
to inform this House of the State and Condition of their
Counties, concerning preaching Ministers, and whence it
ariseth, that there is such a Want of preaching Ministers,
through the whole Kingdom: And Mr. Millington, Mr.
Perryn, Sir Edw. Hungerford, Mr. Rowse, Sir Peter
Hayman, Sir Robert Harley, Mr. Wheeler, Mr. Rivers,
Sir William Brereton, Sir Fr. Seymoar, Mr. White, Sir
Tho. Barrington, Sir Chr. Wray, Mr. Crue, Mr. Maynard, Mr. Cradock, Mr. Noell, Mr. Potts, Mr. Wingate,
Sir Tho. Widrington, Sir Jo: Wray, Sir Neville Poole,
and the Knights and Burgesses of Northumberland,
Wales, Lancashire, Cumberland, and the Burgesses of
Canterbury. are added to this Committee: And they
are to meet on Tuesday in the Afternoon, at Two of
Clock, in the Court of Wards.
Fisher's, &c. Petition.
The Petition of Peter Fisher, and Robert Duncon, on
the Behalf of themselves, and others, the Inhabitants of
the Town of Ipswich, in the County of Suffolk, read.
Proceedings against Bp. of Ely.
Ordered, That a Message be forthwith sent to the Lords,
to acquaint their Lordships, that there are certain Informations, of a high Nature, in this House, against Matthew
Wren, Bishop of Ely, concerning the Setting up of Idolatry and Superstition, in divers Places, and exercising
some Acts of it in his own Person; and divers other
Matters of great Importance; and that they have Informations likewise, that he endeavours an Escape; and
therefore to desire their Lordships, that there may be
some Care taken, that he may give good Security for
his abiding the Judgment of Parliament.
Mr. Hampden is appointed to go up with this Message.
Greenvile's Petition.
Ordered, That the Sub-committee appointed by the
Grand Committee, to consider of a Petition exhibited
there by Sir Ri. Greenvile, may be made a Committee
from the House; with Power to assign and hear Counsel:
And they are to meet on Monday in the Afternoon, at
Two of Clock, in the Duchy-chamber.
Heaton's, &c. Petitions.
The Petitions of Rich. Heaton and Lionell Farrington,
were read; and Farrington, called in, did avow his Petition: The Petitions are referred to the Committee appointed to draw up the Charge against the Earl of Straford, to make use of, if they shall see Cause.
Ship-money.
Mr. St. Johns reports from the Committee appointed
to prepare the Ship-money Business, &c.
* * * *
Ecclesiastical Canons, &c.
Ordered, That the Committee for the New Canons,
and the Ld. Archbishop of Cant', now sine die, do meet
this Afternoon at the wonted Time and Place.
Proceedings against Bp. of Ely.
Mr. Hampden reports, That, after some Stay, he received this Answer from their Lordships, delivered by
the Lord Keeper; that their Lordships had ordered that
the Bishop of Ely should give Bail of Ten thousand
Pounds, to abide the Judgment of Parliament; and for
the present had caused him to enter into a Recognizance
of Ten thousand Pounds, to appear on Wednesday next,
and put in the Bail aforesaid.
Lord Keeper, &c.
Ordered, That the Report concerning the Lord Keeper,
and the Judges, be resumed on Monday Morning next.