DIE Veneris, videlicet, 12 die Novembris.
PRAYERS.
Venetian Ambassador's Complaint about his Letters being opened.
The Lord Keeper signified to the House, "That the
Venetian Ambassador made a Complaint to the Lords
of the Council, that the Dispatches which were sent
to him this Week were opened, and the Seal of the
State of Venice broken open, by the Parliament,
whereby he accounts himself much grieved with it;
and for this he hath retired himself from the public
Affairs, as an Ambassador between this Kingdom and
that State, until he receives further Command from
his Masters." Then was read a Paper (being a Translation out of Italian) delivered from the Venetian Ambassador; the Contents was this: videlicet,
"Most Noble Lords,
His Memorial to the House about it.
"The Correspondency betwixt Princes (fn. †) there hath
always been the most immediate Ways of a true Interest of maintaining of Estates, and of Continuance
of Commerce, to the Benefit and Increase of the Commonwealth.
"To cultivate this, the most great King hath always used the most Industry; and to facilitate it, they
have introduced the Expedition of Ambassadors, to
confirm it betwixt the one and the other Kingdom.
"In this there hath been all Respect rendered to all
Princes, even in all Times, not only having made the
large Prerogatives and Liberties, and the very same
(as I may say) the very Princes and Patrons possessing
the same Dominions, amongst the remarkable and
equally necessary; and that by which we may receive
Letters, and send from the proper Prince, and whatsoever Person, without any Interruption, which is the
most principal Part of an Ambassador, which Practice
(most Noble Sirs) is not the Laws of our Nation alone,
but universal, and hath been maintained and inviolated of the King and the Public, and of all Christian
Governments, no less than amongst the most barbarous. I nevertheless cannot say but that I have enjoyed, in this great Court, that just Respect, until
the last Letters were opened which came from France
to me directed, although they were restored by my
Lord Feilding and Sir Henry Vane, upon whose Honour
they secured me, that it was a simple Error, and not
willingly committed, which I believed; yet could not
persuade myself that the Government of England, so
noble and generous, should have so inferior a Mind
as to open the Letters of an Ambassador, and by this
Means to violate the Laws, and to give an Example
to the World so damnable, and of so little Respect
towards the Ministers of the Serenissima Respublica,
which, after so many Ages, hath given a sincere
Testimony of Affection and Esteem to this Crown.
So now new Experience, with my Mortification, hath
given Testimony of the contrary, being Yesterday
all the Letters were opened coming from Venice, Antwerpe, and other Countries, and the very Letters writ
unto me from the Serenissima Respublica, the Regal
Seal being broken, and the Commission sent from my
Lords being published, and many of my own Letters
being taken. The Success of this cannot be approved
of by any. I have judged it not inconvenient to give
Notice unto your Excellencies, by which you may reflect of the Greatness of their Knowledge as much as
concerns them, taking that Resolution which they
judge most necessary to the sustaining of the Honour
of this Nation, of the Public Faith, under the Protection of whom the Ambassadors live, and make
themselves known to all Princes; that in England they
do not pretend to introduce new Laws, but that they
maintain constant Profession of the ancient, rendering
the Respects which they ought to the Ministers of the
Serenissima Respublica."
Satisfaction to be given him for it.
This House thought it fit, and agreed, That Satisfaction
for this shall be given to the State of Venice, and to the
Ambassador for the present.
Committee to draw up an Answer to his Memorial.
The House appointed the Earl of Bristoll, Earl of
Holland, Lord Viscount Say & Seale, the Lord Digby,
and the Lord Newnham, to draw up presently what was
fit to be given by Way of Answer to the Venetian Ambassador; and their Lordships presented a Draught unto
the House, which was read, in hæc verba: videlicet,
The Answer.
"That Four Members of the House of Peers be
forthwith sent to the Ambassador, to disavow the
Action, and to endeavour to give him all Satisfaction,
by declaring how sensible they are of it, as tending to
the Breach of Public Faith and the Law of Nations;
and to shew further how desirous they are to continue
the ancient Correspondency betwixt the King and that
State, the House of Peers are resolved to be humble
Suitors to His Majesty, to hasten the Departure of His
Ambassador, to make known to that State the same
Sense, with such other Expressions as may best declare
the tender Respect they have to the Honour of that
State, and the noble Usage their Ministers may expect, and shall find, in their Residence here, from the
King and Parliament."
Committee to deliver it to the Ambassador.
This being approved of by the House, the Lord Privy
Seal, the Lord Great Chamberlain, and the Lord Marquis Hertford, and the Lord Newnham, were appointed
by the House to deliver the aforesaid Paper to the Venetian Ambassador.
List of the King's Servants.
The Lord Chamberlain delivered into this House a
List of all the King's Servants, both in Ordinary and
Extraordinary.
Mr. Smart versus Dr. Cosens, & al.
Ordered, That the Cause of Peter Smart, Clerk,
against Doctor Cosins and others, upon an Impeachment
sent up from the House of Commons, shall be peremptorily heard further in this House, at the Bar, on the
Fifteenth of January next, at such Time as the House
shall sit; and then all the Parties and Witnesses concerning this Cause shall attend the said Hearing.
Thirteen Bishops required to put in their Answers.
After this, the Thirteen Bishops, which stand impeached in this House from the House of Commons for
Crimes, in making the late Canons and Constitutions,
and granting a Benevolence unto the King, being by
Order of this House to put in their Answers to the said
Impeachment, were required by the Speaker, in the
Name of this House, to put in their Answers.
Their Impeachment read.
Their Impeachment, brought up from the House of
Commons, was read; and then the Counsel assigned the
Bishops were called in, and demanded to give in the Answers of the Bishops: They answered, they had delivered in the said Answer to the Lords the Bishops.
Their several Answers put in.
The Bishop of Winton hereupon delivered his Answer,
with the rest of the impeached Bishops, in Writing,
subscribed with all their Hands (excepting the Lord
Bishop of Gloucester, who delivered in his by himself by
Word of Mouth).
Their Answer was read, which consisteth of a Plea and
a Demurrer. (Here enter it).
The Lord Bishop of Gloucester by himself pleaded
"Not Guilty, Modo et Forma, as is charged in the Impeachment."
This (fn. *) being done, the Counsel were commanded to
withdraw.
Message to the H. C. to impart their Answers to them.
The House, (fn. †) having taken this Answer into Consideration, thought it fit to communicate it to the House of
Commons, the Impeachment having proceeded from
them.
To this Purpose a Message was sent down to the House
of Commons, by Serjeant Whitfeild and Serjeant Glanvile:
To deliver to the House of Commons the Plea and
Demurrer of the Twelve Bishops that are impeached
by them; and also to let them know, that the Bishop of
Glocester joins not with the rest, but pleads not guilty of
that which he is impeached of Modo et Forma.
Soldiers levied for the King of Spain to take the Oaths.
Ordered, That the Lord Chief Justice of the King's
Bench shall administer the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance to those Soldiers that are taken up by Edmond
Moore, for the Service of the King of Spaine, and others
now in Saint Katherine's; and such as will take the
aforesaid Oaths shall be released; and those that refuse
shall be examined by the said Lord Chief Justice, who
shall report the said Examinations unto the Lords Committees for the Irish Affairs, and they to take such further
Course therein as they shall think fit.
Pluralities and Non-residency.
Ordered, That the Committee concerning the Bill
of Pluralities and Non-residency shall meet on Monday
Morning next.
Adjourn.
Dominus Custos Magni Sigilli declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque in diem crastinum,
videlicet, diem Sabbati, 13m diem instantis Novembris,
hora 11a, Dominis sic decernentibus.