DIE Jovis, videlicet, 10 die Martii.
PRAYERS.
The Earl of Leycester, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland,
was appointed by this House to be Speaker this
Day.
Justice Foster's Letter, with the Presentment of the Grand Jury of Southampton.
A Letter was read, written to the Lord Keeper, from
Mr. Justice Foster, who sent his Lordship the Presentment of the Grand Jury of South'ton, at the last Assizes
at Winchester.
Ordered, To be referred to the Committee for
the Safety of the Kingdom, who are to consider thereof, and report their Opinions to this House.
A Petition was presented to this House, by divers
Gentlemen, in their own Names, and the whole County
of South'ton, which the House received, and commanded
it to be read in their Presence, in hæc verba: videlicet,
Petition of the County of Southampton.
"To the Right Honourable the House of Peers
now assembled in Parliament.
"The humble Petition of the County of South'ton,
"Most humbly sheweth,
"That, according to God's (fn. *) Word, whereof one
Tittle shall not fail, A Kingdom or House divided cannot stand; Dissension and Discord subvert and ruin
the most potent Monarchs and flourishing Estates in
the World; but Peace and Religion are the Works
of absolute Perfection, which, being united, make a
State unconquerable: To finish this Work, is worthy
your Honours most serious Employment, which we
conceive cannot be effected whilst the Popish Lords
(who are manifest Enemies unto both) are admitted
to vote amongst you; and therefore their Consent
cannot be expected: They are Papists, who have
raised Rebellion in Ireland, and desire nothing more
than the utter Destruction of all that profess the
Protestant Religion, and have most mercilessly imbrued their Hands in the Blood of very many of
them; and we are confident that the Priests and Papists in this Kingdom are confederate with them, and
would do the like Execution here, and had prevailed
in their frequent Attempts, if God in His Mercy
had not prevented their devilish Plots, to our Preservation.
"Wherefore we earnestly pray (their Malice being
so apparently known) that the Popish Lords
Votes may be taken away, and all Papists
confined; for, while they are at Liberty, they
will be ever contriving of new Mischiefs, to
bring us to Confusion: We further beseech
you, that you will be pleased to join with
the House of Commons, in advising and petitioning His Sacred Majesty to reside near His
Parliament; and that Care be speedily taken
that the Prince may be near London, and have
Education answerable to his high Birth and
State; that Ireland may be relieved; the Seas
guarded with a strong Fleet; our Castles and
Forts prepared for Defence against Foreign
or Domestic Enemies; the Privileges of Parliament maintained, which are the chiefest
and most real Inheritance purchased and left
to us by the great Care and Prowess of our
Ancestors, which we with the like Zeal and
Affection intend to preserve to our Posterity
most inviolable from all Inforcements.
"And as we do acknowledge, with all Thankfulness, your indefatigable Labours in composing the distracted State of this Kingdom,
of which we have lately had very good Experience, especially in your Lordships noble
Concurrence with the Honourable House of
Commons in taking away the Votes of Bishops,
and settling many other Things of great Concernment; so we shall faithfully, according to
our Duty and Protestation, with our Lives and
Fortunes, defend His Royal Majesty, and (fn. *) your
Honours agreeing with the House of Commons, from all Dangers, with our utmost
Powers."
Thanks given to the Petitioners.
This being read, the Petitioners withdrew, and the
House took into Consideration what Answer to give
herein; which being resolved of, they were called in
again; and the Speaker, by the Directions of this House,
gave them Thanks, in the Name of the House, for their
Care of the Safety of this Kingdom, the Privileges of
Parliament, and their Care of the Kingdom of Ireland;
and for the rest of their Petition, this House will take
it into speedy Consideration. This being done, the Petitioners withdrew.
The House being informed that Mr. Attorney General was without; it is Ordered, That he shall be
called in, and asked whether he were ready to make his
Defence; if he be not now ready, their Lordships will
hear what he will desire further.
Other Counsel assigned to the Attorney General.
Mr. Attorney being called in, and told as aforesaid,
he made it his humble Suit to this House, "That he
might have Mr. Serjeant Greene and Mr. Serjeant
Pheasant to be assigned Counsel for him, instead of
Sir Tho. Beddingfeild and Mr. Recorder of London;
and that he might have some Time given him to instruct them in his Cause."
He withdrew; and the House taking Mr. Attorney's
Desires into Consideration, Ordered, That Mr. Serjeant Greene and Mr. Serjeant Pheasant shall be assigned
to be of Counsel with Mr. Attorney, with the other
Four formerly assigned; and that the Cause shall be
proceeded in on Saturday Morning next, at Nine of the
Clock peremptorily, without any further Delay.
Bill for clearing Ld. Kymbolton and others
Ordered, That the Committee for the Bill concerning the clearing of the Lord Kymbolton, and the
Five Members of the House of Commons, shall meet on
Monday next, in the Afternoon, at Two of the Clock,
and take the same into Consideration.
Wm. Geere's Levari facias against Earl Suffolk staid.
Upon Information this Day given to the House,
"That one William Geeres hath lately gotten out a Levari facias, to levy Money upon some of the Lands
of the Earl of Suffolke, a Peer of this Realm, contrary
to the Privileges of Parliament;" it is Ordered,
That the said Levari facias, and all other Proceedings in
the Exchequer by the said Geeres, or by his Procurement, at the Suit of Thomas Maysham, Esquire, against
the Earl of Suffolke's Lands, shall be forthwith staid,
and the said Levari facias superseded, until the Pleasure
of this House be further known; and that this House
will appoint a Day for the Hearing of this Cause, when
it shall be desired.
Adjourn.
Comes de Leycester declaravit præsens Parliamentum
continuandum esse usque in diem Sabbati, videlicet, 12m
diem instantis Martii, hora 9a Aurora, Dominis sic decernentibus.