Die Jovis, 4 Feb. 1640.
PRAYERS.
Council in the Lords.
MR. Holborne has Leave to be of Counsel with the
Lord Maltravers, before the Lords.
Coventry Election.
The humble Petition of Wm. Josson Alderman, and
Fourteen other Citizens, of Coventry, his Witnesses, in
the Behalf of themselves, and many other Citizens of
Coventry.
Ordered, That this Cause concerning the Election at
Coventry, shall take its Course at the Committee for
Privileges.
Elias Beckz, who has a Bill to be naturalized, this Day
took the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy.
Seaford Borough restored.
Resolved, upon the Question, That Seaford, a Town
in the County of Sussex, that, to Three several Parliaments in former Times, sent Burgesses to Parliament, (as
appeared by the Records produced at the Committee for
Privileges) shall be restored to that its ancient Privilege of
sending Burgesses to Parliament; and that a Warrant
issue, under Mr. Speaker's Hand, to the Clerk of the
Crown in Chancery, for a Writ, for the Electing and
Returning of Two Burgesses to serve in this Parliament
for the said Town of Seaford aforesaid.
Privilege-Questioning Members for words spoken in the House.
Whereas the House of Commons was informed, That
Francis Neville Esquire, a Member of the said House the
last Parliament, presently after the Dissolution of the said
Parliament, being sent for to the Council-board, was there
demanded, whether, when Sir Wm. Saville, a Member
likewise of this House, spake in the House something for
the King's Service, Two Members of the said House did
not rise up immediately after him, and contradict that
which he had so said for the King's Service; the said
Francis Nevill did there, before the Lords, aver, that
those Two Members did rise up immediately after him,
and did contradict him in Manner as aforesaid: And
therefore, in regard the said Francis Nevill did testify
against Members of the House Words spoken by them
in Parliament, after the Parliament was broke, upon
which Words, they the said Members were committed
Prisoners; for this his great Offence, and Breach of
Privilege of Parliaments, the said House of Commons
sent for the said Francis Nevill, as a Delinquent, by the
Serjeant at Arms attending on this House: And he appearing at the Bar of the said House, as a Delinquent,
when Mr. Speaker had related unto him the Fact, for
which he was sent for, and that he had made his Answer
unto it; he was commanded to withdraw: And, after
some Debate in the House, it was
Ordered, upon the Question, That the said Francis
Nevill, for this his great Offence aforesaid, should be
forthwith committed Prisoner to the Tower; and there
remain a Prisoner during the Pleasure of the said
House.
He was again called in to the Bar; and, kneeling there,
Mr. Speaker pronounced this Sentence against him accordingly.
Resolved, upon the Question, That Sir Wm. Savile
shall be forthwith sent for, as a Delinquent, by the Serjeant at Arms attending on this House, upon a Complaint
made against him here, and avowed by Members of this
House, that he, to the absolute Breach of the Privilege of
this House, did, at the Council-board, testify against
Members of this House Words spoken by them in this
House, the last Parliament; for the which Words they
the said Members were committed Prisoners to the Fleet.
Message from the Queen.
Mr. Comptroller delivers a Message from her Majesty;
the which Message was, first by the Comptroller, and then
by the Clerk, read: And then Mr. Comptroller was desired to return from this House humble Thanks to her
Majesty, for her gracious Expressions in this her Message.
Committees joined.
Ordered, That the Committee concerning Mr. Mountague and Sir Kenelme Digby, and the Committee for the
Earl of Worcester, be joined, and made One Committee;
and proceed in the Examination of all the Matters committed to both the several Committees.
Ditto.
Ordered, That the Committee appointed to prepare
some fit Way of transferring the Four Irish Causes to the
Lords, and the Committee for the Lord Montnorris, be
joined, and made One Committee; and proceed together
in the Causes of both Committees.
Archbp. of Canterbury.
Ordered, That all those that sit in the several Chairs at
Committees, that have any thing before them that may
conduce to the Charge against the Lord of Cant', shall
acquaint that Committee with it To-morrow in the Afternoon, at Two of Clock, in the Treasury-chamber.
Treaty with Scotland.
Ordered, That Sir Tho. Barrington go up with a Message to the Lords, to desire a Conference with their Lordships presently, if it may stand with their Lordships Occasions, by a Committee of both Houses, concerning the
last Conference had with their Lordships, touching the
Treaty between the Two Kingdoms.
Mr. Treasurer is to manage this Conference.
Counsel in the Lords.
Mr. Whistler has Leave to be of Counsel in a Cause
before the Lords.
* * * *
Peterborough Election.
Upon Mr. Maynard's Report, of the Case of Peterborough, it was
Resolved, upon the Question, That Sir Robert Napier
is well elected to serve in this Parliament, as a Burgess for
the City of Peterborough in the County of Northampton;
and ought to sit as a Member in this House.
Conference with Lords.
Mr. Treasurer acquaints the House, that, according to
the Commands of this House, he had delivered to the
Lords, at the Conference, the Vote of this House, concerning the friendly Assistance thought fit to be given to
the Scots; and that, after the Vote was read, the Lords
desired them to hear something, that the Earl of Bristoll
had to say; but, because it was no free Conference, and
that it was a Conference prayed by this House, to which
this House conceived the Lords came only to hear, and
not to propound any thing, and at which no Reporters
were by this House appointed, it was thought, that,
according to the ancient Course of Parliaments, Mr. Treasurer had no Authority, nor could report any thing that
was at this Conference propounded by the Lords: And
therefore no Report was made.
Complaint against Danby.
The humble Petition of Eden Langdale Widow, late
Wife of Wm. Langdale, was read; and Matth. Langdale,
that preferred the Petition, was called in; and did avow
the Petition.
Ordered, That Sir Tho. Danby shall, To-morrow Morning, make Answer to such Matters as are charged upon
him, by a Petition preferred to this House by Matth.
Langdale; and that the Business concerning the Ministers Remonstrance, be then taken into farther Consideration; and likewise, that a Message be sent to the
Lords, to desire a Conference, concerning the new Irish
Army.