DIE Sabbati, videlicet, 11 die Decembris.
PRAYERS.
Message from His Majesty about the Eight Priests.
The Lord Keeper signified to this House, "That
His Majesty had commanded him to deliver this Message to both Houses: That whereas formerly He had
acquainted both Houses of the Desire of the French
Ambassador, that Eight Romish Priests, convicted at
the Sessions, might be reprieved and banished at this
Time, because it may concern the Business of Ireland; and that His (fn. *) Majesty had desired the Advice
of both Houses therein, of which His Majesty hath
not yet received any Answer; His Majesty therefore puts the Houses in Mind thereof, and desires
an Answer, in regard that (fn. †)
Monday next, is the
Day for executing of those that are convicted, which
are Seven Priests, One of the Eight being acquitted
upon the Trial."
Hereupon this House resolved to communicate this
to the House of Commons, by Way of Message.
Message to the H. C. to acquaint them with it.
To this Purpose Sir Edward Leech, Knight, and Dr.
Bennet, were presently sent to the House of Commons,
to let them know the King's Message as aforesaid.
The Messengers return this Answer:
Answer.
That they will sent an Answer to the said Message,
by Messengers of their own, in convenient Time.
Proger to be examined by Lord Chief Justice.
Whereas Arthur Proger hath been examined, and afterwards imprisoned at Chester, upon his Examination
touching the present Rebellion in Ireland, and since returned up to the Lords in Parliament, and by their
Lordships imprisoned in The Gatehouse at Westm. But,
by reason of the great and public Businesses now depending before their Lordships, who have not Time to
proceed in the further Examination of the said Progers;
it is Ordered, That the Cause of the said Progers
shall be referred to the Examination of the Chief Justice
of the King's (fn. ‡) Bench, who, having examined the
whole Business, shall report the same unto this House,
which will proceed therein as it shall think fit.
Act for the Metes and Bounds of Forests.
Ordered, That the Act for the Limits and Bounds
of the Forests shall be read on Monday next; and then
this House will consider of having a Conference with the
House of Commons, touching an Explanation of that Act,
whether it was not the Meaning of both Houses to
settle the Bounds of the Forests according to the Limits
and Bounds as it was actually enjoyed and used in the
20th Year of King James.
Bill for Relief of Captives.
The Bill concerning the Captives, &c. was reported
by the Committee as fit to pass, as it came from the
House of Commons.
D.
Hodie 3a
vice lecta est Billa, An Act for the Relief of
the Captives taken by Turkish, Moorish, and other Pirates; and to prevent the taking of others in Time to
come.
And, being put to the Question, it was Resolved
to pass as a Law.
Bill for punishing James.
The Lord Privy Seal reported, "That the Committee
have considered of the Bill for the Forfeiture of
the Lands and Hereditaments of John James, and
for the further Punishment of (fn. *) him, &c. And the
Committee are of Opinion, and think it fit, that the
Mutilation be omitted."
"And the House being informed, "That the said John
James formerly hath made Deeds to his Wife for her
Maintenance, they living asunder one from the
other;" it is Ordered, That the said Bill is re-committed; and the Proviso in the Bill is referred to the
Consideration of any Two of the Judges, to consider
(fn. †) if the said Proviso be sufficient to save her Estate
assured to her by Law; and that the Wife of the said
John James do bring her Conveyances to the Judges,
that they may (fn. †) consider the same, and report to this
House their Opinions therein.
Answer of the impeached Bishops.
This Day being appointed for the Thirteen Bishops
that are impeached by the House of Commons for
making Canons and Constitutions, and for granting a
Benevolence contrary to Law, to make their Answers
to the Impeachment; their Counsel were called in, and
the Impeachment was read: Then the Lord Keeper demanded of them, whether the Bishops will abide by
their Plea and Demurrer, or make their Answers. The
Counsel answered, That the Twelve Bishops do resolve
to adhere to their former Plea and Demurrer: only
they have waved One Branch of their Demurrer, which
was to the Generality of the Charge, which appears to
be particular.
To be heard by Counsel, concerning their Plea and Demurrer.
Hereupon the Counsel withdrew; and this House
Ordered, That the Lords the Bishops that are impeached shall be heard, by their Counsel, on Monday
next, touching the maintaining of their Plea and Demurrer; and that the House of Commons have Notice
herein, that they, or some of their Members whom they
shall appoint, may be present, if they please.
This being so settled, this House resolved to acquaint
the House of Commons with the Bishops Answer, and
the Order of this House thereupon.
To this Purpose a Message was sent to the House of
Commons, by Serjeant Whitfeild and Serjeant Glanvile:
Message to the H. C. to acquaint them with these Matters.
To desire a Free Conference, in the Painted Chamber,
by a Committee of both Houses, so soon as it may stand
with the Conveniency of their House, touching the Impeachment of the Bishops.
The Messengers return with this Answer:
Answer.
That the House of Commons are now in Debate of
Matters of great Consequence, which require speedy
Resolution; and they will return an Answer, by Messengers of their own, in convenient Time.
A Message was brought from the House of Commons,
by the Lord of Groby:
Message from the H. C. to desire the Lords would sit a while.
To let their Lordships know, that the House of
Commons are now in Debate of Matters of great Importance, which they think fit to impart to their Lordships; therefore they desire their Lordships would be
pleased to sit a while.
The Answer returned was:
Answer.
That their Lordships will sit a while, as is desired.
Concerning Ten Thousand Men to be sent out of Scotland into Ireland.
Then the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland reported,
"That the English Commissioners had received a Paper
from the Scotts Commissioners, shewing they have
Power to treat for sending of Ten Thousand Scotts
into Ireland." The Paper was read in these Words
as follows: videlicet,
"Out of the Sense of our Duty we owe unto His
Majesty, and the true Affection which the Kingdom
of Scotland bears to the Kingdom of England, we
are willing to contribute our best Assistance for a
speedy Relief of those distressed Parts of Ireland that
lie nearest us.
"Therefore, in the Name of the Kingdom of Scotland, we make Offer of Ten Thousand Men for that
Service, which is conceived to be the least Number
that can be, for securing themselves, and reducing
the Rebels in the North of Ireland to the due Obedience of His Majesty and the Crown of England.
"This Offer is upon such particular Conditions as,
in the Progress of this Treaty, we shall agree upon,
which may be for the Honour of our Nation, and
the Safety and Good of the Army employed in the
Service."
This being read, the Lord Lieutenant desired to
know the Pleasure of this House, whether the Commissioners shall have Power from this House to treat for
Ten Thousand Scotts, to be sent into Ireland; and also
declared, that he had made the King acquainted with
the Proposition of the Scotts; and His Majesty is willing
the Commissioners should treat for sending Ten Thousand
Scotts to Ireland.
Commissioners to treat about sending a smaller Number.
For the Debate hereof, this House was adjourned
into a Committee during Pleasure; and, after a long
Debate, it is Ordered, That the English Commissioners shall treat with the Scotts Commissioners about Ten
Thousand to be sent into Ireland; and that the Scotts
Commissioners be desired to send into Scotland, to have
Power to treat with the English Commissioners about
a lesser Number, if the King and Parliament here
shall think fit.
Scots Commissioners to be acquainted with this Order.
The English Commissioners were to acquaint the Scotts
Commissioners presently with this Order.
Ordered, That the Bishop of Peterborough be added
to the Sub-committee for Privileges.
Adjourn.
Dominus Custos Magni Sigilli declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque in diem Lunæ,
videlicet, 13m diem instantis Decembris, hora 1a post
meridiem, Dominis sic decernentibus.