House of Commons Journal Volume 2: 03 December 1641

Die Veneris, 3 Decembris, 1641.

PRAYERS.

Relief of Captives.

3^a vice lecta est Billa, A N 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: After long Debate, upon Question, passed.

Irish Affairs.

Ordered, That the Committee for Irish Affairs shall meet To-morrow Morning at Eight of Clock, to prepare the Declaration appointed them to prepare by Order of the last of November.

Disarming Recusants.

Ordered, That Mr. Solicitor, and Mr. Maynard, do prepare a Bill for Disarming of Recusants; with a Clause to injoin the Papists, or the Protestants that have any Arms of Papists, or any other that know where any Arms of Papists are, to bring them in, or give Notice where they are, at a Time and Place appointed: or else to forfeit their Lands for their Lives towards the Wars in Ireland.

They are likewise to prepare this Bill upon the whole Matter.

Offensive Words by a Member.

Ordered, That on Tuesday next, the House shall take into Consideration the Offence now given by Words spoken by Mr. Godolphin.

Reminding Lords of Bills.

Mr. Pimme, Mr. Nath. Fines, Sir Philip Stapleton, Mr. Strode, Sir Arthur Haselrig, Mr. Hollis, Sir Sam. Rolle, Mr. Hampden, Sir John Hotham, Sir Walt. Erle, Mr. Martin, Sir John Colpeper;

This Committee is appointed to prepare Heads for a Conference with the Lords; and to acquaint them, what Bills this House hath passed, and sent up to their Lordships, which much concern the Safety of the Kingdom; but have had no Consent of their Lordships unto them: And, that this House being the Representative Body of the whole Kingdom, and their Lordships being but as particular Persons, and coming to Parliament in a particular Capacity, that if they shall not be pleased to consent to the Passing of those Acts, and others necessary to the Preservation and Safety of the Kingdom, that then this House, together with such of the Lords, that are more sensible of the Safety of the Kingdom, may join together, and represent the same unto his Majesty: They are likewise to take into Consideration, some Course for the Guarding of the Towns of Hull and Newcastle: And they are for this Service, forthwith to withdraw into the Inner Court of Wards.

Irish Affairs.

A Message from the Lords, by Serjeant Ayloff and Serjeant Glanvile;

The Lords desire a present Conference, by a Committee of both Houses, if it may stand with the Conveniency of this House, touching the Troubles and Affairs of Ireland.

Answer returned by the same Messengers;

The House has taken their Lordships Message into Consideration; and will send an Answer by Messengers of their own.

Sir H. Mildmay is appointed to go to the Lords; To acquaint their Lordships, that this House is ready to give their Lordships a Meeting, at the Conference desired by their Lordships, touching the Troubles of Ireland: And likewise to desire a Conference on the Part of this House, touching the Ammunition transported from the Tower to West Chester; and touching an Information of Ships in Milford Haven, and Aberdonee in Caerdiganshire.

Sir Walth. Erle, Sir Ro. Harley, Sir Hugh Owen, Mr. Glyn, Mr. Strode, Sir Wm. Lewis, Mr. Pury, are appointed Managers and Reporters of this Conference.

Securing Recusants.

Mr. Serjeant Wilde, Mr. Reynolds, Sir Tho. Widdrington, Mr. Glyn, Mr. Pym, Mr. Hampden, Mr. Prideaus;

This Committee is to examine the Differences between the Lords and this House, upon the Bill for securing the Persons of Recusants; and to consider of Reasons for maintaining the Amendments offered by this House; and to present the same to the House.

Irish Affairs.

Mr. Glyn reports the Conference with the Lords, concerning the Troubles of Ireland: He delivered in a Paper, which he received from their Lordships; which was read, in hac Verba; "That the King having declared, Yesterday; to both Houses of Parliament, that there were Two Scotts Lords come, by his Assent, to treat with both Houses of Parliament, concerning the present Assistance for Ireland, and to settle all the Conditions and State of the War; his Majesty thought it fit, that there should be certain Commissioners appointed by himself and the Houses of Parliament to treat with them; and therefore he thought it necessary, that some Commissioners be presently named to treat with them (authorized by him and the Parliament); and that such as shall be nominated, may be authorized by the King's Commission, and the Order of both Houses, to treat with them; and from time to time to acquaint them with their Proceedings; and before they come to any Conclusion therewith, to give Account to his Majesty and both Houses, and to receive their Approbations.

Resolved, upon the Question, That Mr. Fienes, Sir Wm. Armyn, Sir Philip Stapilton, Mr. Hampden, shall be the Commissioners appointed by this House, to treat with the Commissioners of Scotland according to the King's Directions.

Mr. Glyn is appointed to go to the Lords; to acquaint their Lordships, that this House has appointed Commissioners, according to the last Conference, to treat with the Commissioners of Scotland concerning the Business of Ireland.

The King's Speech reported.

Mr. Speaker reports his Majesty's Speech, spoken Yesterday to both Houses of Parliament^a.

Ordered, That his Majesty's Speech shall be entered in the Journals of this House: And Mr. Solicitor is desired by this House to attend his Majesty for a Copy of his Speech; and present it to the House.

Printing.

Ordered, That the Committee for Printing do meet To-morrow at Eight of Clock, in the Inner Court of Wards: And the Printing of the Book of Queries is referred to this Committee.

Loan from the City.

The Ordinance of Parliament sent from this House to the Lords, for Securing of One hundred thousand Pounds to the City, and returned from the Lords with some Amendments, was put to the Question; and, upon the Question, assented unto, with the Amendments, as it came from the Lords.

Commrsh to treat with Scotland.

A Message from the Lords, by Serjeant Ayloff and Serjeant Glanvile;

That whereas this House hath sent up to their Lordships the Names of such as they have appointed to be Commissioners to treat with the Commissioners of Scotland; and that their Lordships have nominated the Earl of Bedford, the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and the Lord Howard of Eskrig, to join with the Commissioners of this House, to treat with the Commissioners of Scotland.

Safety of the Kingdom.

Ordered, That the Clerk do search his Books, this Night, and present to the Committee, a Note of such Bills and Propositions of Importance, concerning the Safety of the Kingdom, have been sent up to the Lords, and there rest: And that That Committee shall have Power to consider what is needful forthwith to be done for the Safety of the Kingdom; and to present it to the House.

Tumults about the House.

Ordered, That the former Debate of the Report of the Conference had with the Lords, touching the tumultuous Assembly of People about the Houses of Parliament; and the Petition from divers of the Inhabitants of the City and Suburbs of London; shall be resumed To-morrow.

Raising Soldiers.

3^a vice lecta est Billa, An Act for the better Raising and Levying of Soldiers for the present Defence of the Kingdoms of England and Ireland: Upon Question, passed.

Proceedings against the Bishops.

A Message from the Lords, by Serjeant Ayloff and Serjeant Glanvile;

The Lords have sent them to let this House know, that their Lordships have appointed Tuesday next to hear the Bishops Counsel what they can say in Maintenance of their Plea and Demurrer: And such as this House shall please to send may be present.

Parliamentary Protections.

A Message from the Lords, by J. Foster and J. Mallett;

The Lords desire a present Conference by a Committee of both Houses, in the Painted Chamber, if it may stand with the Conveniency of this House, concerning the Bill of Protections and Privileges of Parliament.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; that this House has taken their Lordships Message into Consideration; and will give a present Meeting, as is desired.

Turkish, &c. Captives.

Sir Wm. Lewis carried up to the Lords Two Bills:

1. An Act for the Relief of the Captives taken by Turkish, Moorish, and other Pirates, &c.

Raising Soldiers.

2. An Act for the better Raising and Levying of Soldiers, for the present Defence of the Kingdoms of England and Ireland.

Conference.

Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Lisle, Mr. Prideaux, are appointed Reporters of this Conference.

Commrs to treat with Scotland.

Resolved, upon the Question, That this House does assent to the Lords nominated by the Lords, to the Commissioners to join with the Commissioners of this House, to treat with the Commissioners of Scotland.

M. St. Germain.

Resolved, upon the Question, That this House does assent unto the Enlargement of Monsieur St. Germain.

Irish Affairs.

Ordered, That Mr. Pym shall make his Report concerning the Irish Affairs, To-morrow at Twelve of Clock.

Securing Recusants.

Ordered, That the Committee, or any Four of them, shall meet To-morrow at Eight of Clock, to consider of Reasons to maintain their Addition to the Bill for securing the Persons of Recusants.

Person to attend.

Ordered, That Elizabeth Purslow, who, as this House is informed, printed the Pamphlet, intituled, Certain Queries of some tender-conscienced Christians, be summoned to attend the Committee appointed to examine this Business.

^a The Speech is entered at the End of this Day's Proceedings.

The King's Speech.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

I T HINK it fit, after so long Absence, at this first Occasion, to speak a few Words unto you; but it is no ways in Answer to Mr. Speaker's learned Speech.

Albeit I have stayed longer than I expected to have done when I went away; yet in this I have kept my Promise with you, that I have made all the Haste back again, that the Settling of my Scotch Affairs could any ways permit: In which I have had so good Success, that I will confidently affirm to you, that I have left that Nation a most peaceable and contented People; so that although I have a little mis-reckoned in Time, yet I was not deceived in my end.

But if I have deceived your Expectations a little, in the Time of my Return, yet I am assured, that my Expectation is as much and more deceived, in the Condition wherein I hoped to have found Businesses at my Return: For, since that before my going I settled the Liberties of my Subjects, and gave the Laws a free and orderly Course, I expect to have found my People reaping the Fruits of these Benefits, by living in Quietness and Satisfaction of Mind: But instead of this, I find them disturbed with Jealousies, Frights, and Alarms of dangerous Designs, and Plots; in Consequence of which, Guards have been set to defend both Houses: I say not this, as in Doubt, that my Subjects Affections are any way lessened to me in this Time of my Absence: (for I cannot but remember, to my great Comfort, the joyful Reception I had now at my Entry into London;) but rather, as I hope, that my Presence will easily disperse those Fears: For I bring as perfect and true Affections to my People as ever Prince did, or as good Subjects can possibly desire ; and I am so far from repenting me of any Act I have done this Session for the good of my People, that I protest, if it were to do again, I would do it; and will yet grant what else can be justly desired for Satisfaction in point of Liberties, or in Maintenance of the true Religion that is here established.

Now I have but One Particular to recommend unto you at this Time: It is Ireland; for which, though I doubt not your Care, yet, methinks, the Preparations for it go but slowly on: The Occasion is the fitter for me now to mention it, because of the Arrival of Two Lords from Scotland, who come instructed from my Council there (who now, by Act of Parliament, hath full Power for that Purpose) to answer that Demand, which it pleased both Houses to make me, by Way of Petition, that met me at Barwick, and which the Duke of Richmont sent back, by my Command, to my Scotch Council. Therefore my Desire is, that both Houses would appoint a select Committee, to end this Business with these Noblemen.

I must conclude in telling you, that I seek my People's Happiness; for their Flourishing is my greatest Glory, and their Affections my greatest Strength.