DIE Mercurii, videlicet, 16 die Martii.
PRAYERS.
The Lord Keeper signified to the House, "That he
hath received a Letter from the King, to command
him to deliver a Message to the Parliament."
The House commanded it to be read; which accordingly was as followeth, videlicet,
"To Our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Counsellor, Edward Lord Littleton, Keeper of Our
Great Seal of England.
"CHARLES R.
Letter from the King to the Lord Keeper with a
"Right Trusty and Well-beloved Counsellor, We
Greet you well. Our Will and Command is, That,
at the next Sitting of Our House of Peers (after your
Receipt of these), you deliver Our Message (sent inclosed) to be read in Our said House, and afterwards
communicated to Our House of Commons. For
which this shall be your Warrant.
Given at Our Court at Huntingdon, this 15th of
March, 1641."
The Message:
Message about Ireland, and declaring against the Validity of any Act or Ordinance that has not received the Royal Assent.
His Majesty, being now in His Remove to His City
of Yorke, where He intends to make His Residence
for some Time, thinks fit to send this Message to both
Houses of Parliament, That He doth very earnestly
desire that they will use all possible Industry in expediting the Business of Ireland, in which they shall find
so chearful a Concurrence by His Majesty, that no
Inconvenience shall happen to that Service by His
Absence; He having all that Passion for the reducing
of that Kingdom, which He hath expressed in His
former Messages, and being unable by Words to
manifest more Affection to it than He hath endeavoured to do by those Messages; having likewise done
all such Acts as He hath been moved unto by His
Parliament: Therefore, if the Misfortunes and Calamities of His poor Protestant Subjects there shall
grow upon them, though His Majesty shall be deeply
concerned in, and sensible of their Sufferings, He
shall wash His Hands, before all the World, from
the least Imputation of Slackness in that most necessary and pious Work.
"And that His Majesty may leave no Way unattempted which may beget a good Understanding between
Him and His Parliament, He thinks it necessary to
declare, that, as He hath been so tender of the Privileges of Parliament, that He hath been ready and
forward to retract any Act of His own, which He
hath been informed hath trenched upon the Privileges; so He expects an equal Tenderness in them of
His Majesty's known and unquestionable Privileges
(which are the Privileges of the Kingdom); amongst
which, He is assured, it is a fundamental one, that
His Subjects cannot be obliged to obey any Act, Order, or Injunction, to which His Majesty hath not
given His Consent: And therefore He thinks it necessary to publish, That He expects, and hereby requires, Obedience from all His loving Subjects to the
Laws established; and that they presume not, upon
any Pretence of Orders or Ordinance (to which His
Majesty is no Party), concerning the Militia, (or any
other Thing), to do or execute what is not warranted
by those Laws; His Majesty being resolved to observe the Laws Himself, and to require Obedience
to them from all His Subjects.
And His Majesty once more recommends to His
Parliament the Substance of His Message of the 20th
of January last, That they compose and digest with
all Speed such Acts as they shall think fit for the present and future Establishment of their Privileges, the
free and quiet enjoying their Estates and Fortunes,
the Liberties of their Persons, the Security of the
true Religion now professed in the Church of England, the maintaining His Majesty's Regal and just Authority, and settling His Revenue; His Majesty being
most desirous to take all fitting and just Ways which
may beget a happy Understanding between Him and
His Parliament, in which He conceives His great
Power and Riches doth consist."
Huntingdon, 15 Martii,
1641.
This House, taking this Message into Consideration,
Resolved, To communicate the same to the House of
Commons presently, at a Conference.
A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by
Sir Edward Leech and Doctor Bennet:
Message to the H. C. for a Conference, about the King's Message.
To desire a present Free Conference, by a Committee
of both Houses, in the Painted Chamber, concerning a
Message lately sent from the King, touching the Privilege of Parliament, and the Good and Safety of the
Kingdoms of England and Ireland.
Committee to prepare Heads for it.
These Lords following were appointed Committees,
to draw up and consider of the Heads which shall be
propounded at this Conference with the House of Commons:
|
|
The L. Chamberlain.
Comes Pembrooke. |
Comes Leycester.
Comes Warwicke.
Ds. Robartes. |
These Lords withdrew themselves presently.
Messenger who brought the Letter to to attend.
Ordered, That the Messenger that brought this
Letter to the Lord Keeper shall be commanded to attend
this House, to be examined concerning the bringing of
this Letter.
The Lords Committees being come again into the
House; the Lord Robartes reported from the said Committee those Heads which they think fit to be spoken
of at this Conference:
Heads for a Conference upon the King's Message.
"1. That the Lords are of Opinion, according to
the Declaration that both Houses made to His Majesty, That His Majesty's Removal to Yorke will be a
very great Obstruction, if not a Destruction, to those
Affairs.
"2. That, if this Message came from the Court,
according to the Date, their Lordships conceive it to
be a prophetical Spirit; but this House thinks it fit
it be examined, whether it did so or no.
"3. To let the House of Commons know, that this
House conceive this Message to be a Breach of the
Privilege of Parliament, and the Law of the Land."
Ordered, That this House approves of these
Heads, to be spoken of this Conference with the
House of Commons; and that any Peer may speak
at this Free Conference, concerning these Three Heads.
Bill for raising Monies.
Hodie 3a
vice lecta est Billa, An Act for the raising
and levying of Monies, for the necessary and great Affairs of the Kingdoms of England and Ireland, etc.
Which being put to the Question, was Resolved to
pass as a Law.
Next, a Petition was presented to this House, by divers Knights and Gentlemen of the County of Bedford,
which the House received, and caused the same to be
read in their Presence, in hæc verba: videlicet,
The Petition of Bedfordshire.
"To the Right Honourable the Peers assembled
in Parliament.
"The humble Petition of the High Sheriff,
Knights, Esquires, Gentlemen, Ministers,
Freeholders, and others Inhabitants, of the
County of Bedford,
"Sheweth,
"That we are unable to express our Joys, or declare
the Thankfulness of all our Hearts, for the happy
Concurrence of your Lordships with the Honourable
House of Commons, upon which the Prosperity and
Welfare of our Church and State depends: Only in
this ye are able (by the Blessing of God) to effect
your great and high Atchievements, and to lay prostrate the desperate Plots and Devices of our wicked
Adversaries, whose chiefest Designs (as we have just
Cause to believe) hath been to cut in sunder this
Gordian Knot, and (by dividing) to triumph in our
Ruin and Confusion.
"We most humbly therefore supplicate your
Lordships, that this blessed Consent and Unity
may long continue, and at this present (being
a Time of great Distraction), for the perfecting of what you have so happily begun, for
a full and complete Reformation of the Government and Grievances of this Church and
Common-wealth. And we, to the last of our
Lives, and utmost of our Estates and Fortunes, are resolved to defend His Majesty's
Royal Person and State, and your Lordships,
in these your joint and honourable Proceedings. And though you should have no Cause
to need our Swords, yet for this happy Consent and Union, and for your Lordships Prosperity, shall ever be the daily and hearty
Prayers of your Petitioners, etc."
The Gentleman that delivered this Petition said,
"He had Commission from the County of Bedford to
give their Lordships humble Thanks, for Concurrence
with the House of Commons in the Ordinance for
settling the Militia of this Kingdom, to which they
will give Obedience, and be ready to put the
same into Execution whensoever they shall be commanded."
Thanks returned to the Petitioners.
After this, they withdrew; and this House taking
this Petition and Offer of that County into Consideration, and having resolved what Answer to return by
those that presented it, they were called in again; and
the Lord Keeper told them, "That he was commanded
by this House to return them Thanks, for their Care
of the public Good of England and Ireland; especially for their Readiness to give Obedience to the Ordinance of both Houses of Parliament, for settling
the Militia, and to let them know that this House is
putting the same into speedy Execution."
Answer from the H. C. about the Conference on the King's Message.
The Messengers sent to the House of Commons return
with this Answer:
That the House of Commons will give a present Free
Conference, as is desired, in the Painted Chamber.
The House of Commons being come, this House was
adjourned during Pleasure, and the Lords went to the
Conference; which being ended, the House was resumed.
Taylor, the Messenger, examined whom he had the King's Letter of.
Then Francis Taylor, a Messenger, was brought before this House, to be examined of whom he had the
Letter which was delivered to the Lords from the King;
and he said, "He had the said Letter from a Servant
of the Lord of Falklands last Night, at Nine of the
Clock; and he brought it, and delivered it to a Servant of the Lord Keeper."
Bill for clearing Lord Kymbolton, and others.
Ordered, That the Lords Committees for the Bill
concerning the clearing of the Lord Kymbolton, and the
Five Members of the House of Commons, shall meet
presently, and consider of the said Bill, and give Expedition therein; and accordingly they presently withdrew.
Petition of Merchant Strangers of Dover, to be exempted from Subsidies.
A Petition of the Merchant Strangers of Dover was
read, desiring they might be exempted from paying of
Subsidies, as formerly they have been.
Ordered, That the Consideration of this Petition
is referred to the Committee appointed to consider of
securing the Bullion of Merchants Strangers; and to
report the same to this House.
Next, a Petition was presented to this House, by
divers Knights and Gentlemen of the County of Cambridge, which this House receiving, was read in their
Presence, as followeth: videlicet,
The Petition of Cambridgeshire.
"To the Right Honourable the Lords in Parliament assembled.
"The humble Petition of the Knights, Esquires,
Gentlemen, and Commons, of the County of
Cambridge, and Isle of Elie,
"Sheweth,
"The many Pressures and heavy Grievances which
we for many Years past have groaned under, have of
late, by your pious and noble Endeavours, received a
comfortable Relief in Part, and your Petitioners much
cheared with the good Hopes conceived of your
Lordships further Care and Zeal for a perfect Cure
for the future, most graciously manifested to all by
your Lordships late happy Concurrence with the
Honourable House of Commons, who (to the great
Joy of us) have thereby hitherto gone on in a blessed Progress, towards a thorough Reformation in
Church and State; the serious Consideration whereof,
and of that great Blessing and Benefit we receive
thereby, your Petitioners, in the Duty of their Gratitude, humbly present themselves, their Lives and
Fortunes, in the Defence of your noble Persons.
"May it therefore please your Lordships to accept
this, though thus long-delayed, as a resolved
Assurance of our Fidelities to your Lordships,
proceeding in a happy Concurrence, for the
Glory of God and the public Good; which
your Petitioners, in all Humility, conceive
will not be a little advanced, if your Lordships please to speed the settling of God's
Worship according to His Word, placing of
a Religious Ministry, removing of unwarranted Orders and Dignities, the Steps unto Popery, purging the Universities, banishing of
Popish Clergy, excluding ill Counsellors, punishing Delinquents, relieving our distressed
Brethren abroad, and fortifying ourselves at
Home; wherein we beseech your Lordships
to go on, but with as much Zeal and Speed
as the pressing Necessity of the Times require.
"So shall we, as we are bound, pray for the
Increase of your Lordships Happiness
here, and the Fruition thereof hereafter."
Thanks returned to the Petitioners.
The Gentlemen withdrew; and the House having
resolved what Answer to return for the present, they
were called in again; and told by the Lord Keeper,
from this House, "That their Lordships do give them
Thanks, for their Care of the Public Good; and that
their Petition shall be taken into speedy Consideration."
No more Commissioners Names for Ireland to be added.
Resolved, upon the Question, That there shall no
more Commissioners Names be added to the Seven
Lords of this House, and the Fourteen Members of the
House of Commons, appointed Commissioners by both
Houses to manage the Affairs of Ireland.
A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by
Sir Edward Leech and Doctor Bennett:
Message to the H. C. with the Commission and Instructions for Commissioners for Ireland.
To let them know, that this House agrees with them
in the Commission and Instructions, which are to be given to the Commissioners of both Houses, for the managing of the Affairs of Ireland; and that this House approves of the Persons and Number of the said Commissioners, being Seven Lords, and Fourteen Members of
the House of Commons.
Sir Francis Popham's Bill.
The Earl of Warwicke reported from the Committee
the Bill of Sir Francis Popham, Knight, with the Amendments; which were read Thrice, and approved of
by this House.
Ditto.
Hodie 3a
vice lecta est Billa, An Act made for the
settling and establishing of the Remainder of a Term of
Eighty Years to come, in certain Manors and Lands, in
the County of Somersett, in Sir Francis Popham and his
Assigns.
And, being put to the Question, it was Resolved,
To pass as a Law.
Bill for clearing L. Kymbolton, &c.
The Lord Robartes
(fn. *) reported from the Committee,
That they think it fit, that the Bill for clearing the
Lord Kymbolton, and the Five Members of the House
of Commons, do pass as it is, without any Alterations."
Ditto.
Hodie 3a
vice lecta est Billa, An Act for the clearing
and vindicating of the Lord Kymbolton, Denzell Holles,
Esquire, Sir Arthur Haselrigg, Baronet, John Pym, John
Hampden, and William Strode, Esquires, from a late
feigned Charge or Accusation of High Treason.
And, it being put to the Question, it was Resolved, To pass as a Law, nemine contradicente.
Clerk of the Crown to prepare Two Commissions for Two Bills to pass.
Ordered, That the Clerk of the Crown in the
Chancery shall forthwith draw up Two Commissions,
and prepare them ready for the Great Seal, for His
Majesty's Royal Assent to be given unto an Act, for
the raising of Monies for the great Affairs of the Kingdoms of England and Ireland; and another Act, for the
clearing of the Lord Kymbolton, and the Five Members of
the House of Commons, of a feigned Charge of High
Treason: And further it is Ordered, That the Lord
Keeper shall give Order, that the said Commissions be
forthwith sent to the King, to be signed.
Private Business put off.
Ordered, That the former Order of this House
shall be renewed and re-printed, for putting off all Private Business until the First Day of the next Term, excepting the Cause of the Earl of Warwicke against Langhorne and others; and the Lord Viscount Loftus's Cause,
depending in this House; the Cause of the Lord St.
Johns against George Benyon.
E. Rivers and L. St. Johns versus Benyon.
Ordered, That the Cause of the Earl Rivers, and
the Lord St. Johns, against George Benyon, shall be
proceeded in, before the Lords Committees formerly
appointed for that Business, on Wednesday the 23d of
this Instant March, at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Painted Chamber; and that the Earl of Riverse and Lord St. Johns, or their Agents, shall have the
Perusal and Copies of Mr. Auditor Phillips Books of
Accompts, and likewise the Perusal and Copies of the
Books of Assignments and Deputations, resting with
Martyn Boothby, Anthony Banker, and Peter Duckett;
and lastly, that a Warrant shall be granted out, for the
summoning of the Witnesses of the said Earl Rivers and
Lord St. Johns, to attend the said Hearing; and that
the said George Benyon shall have Notice of the Time of
the said Hearing.
Adjourn.
Dominus Custos Magni Sigilli declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque in diem Jovis, videlicet, 17m diem instantis Martii, hora 1a post meridiem, Dominis sic decernentibus.