House of Commons Journal Volume 2: 27 December 1641

Die Lunæ, 27 Dec. 1641.

PRAYERS.

Examinations concerning Hughes.

ORDERED, That the Examinations taken concerning Hen. Hughes, employed by this House for the Apprehending of Priests, and the Misdemeanours committed by him, be referred to the Consideration of the Committee appointed to consider of the Abuses committed by any of those Persons so employed.

Business of Money.

Ordered, That the House be presently resolved into a Committee, to take into Consideration the Business of Money.

Sir H. Vane, Sir Edw. Hungerford, Sir Edm. Montfort, Sir Gilbert Gerard, Mr. H. Bellassis, Sir Tho. Barrington, Sir John Hotham, Sir Sam. Rolle, Sir John Evelyn, Sir Arth. Ingram, Sir Walth. Erle, Mr. Glyn, Sir Martin Lumley, Sir Norton Knatchboll, Sir Peter Wroth, Sir Dud. North, Mr. Jesson, Sir Martin Lister, Mr. Peard, Sir John Wray, Sir Simonds D'Ewes, Sir John Northcott, Sir Tho. Bowyer, Alderman Penningtion, Mr. Vassal; (All, that will come, are to have Voices at this Committee;)

This Committee is appointed to take into Consideration, and make Inquiry, what Monies do remain in the Hands of Sheriffs, raised for Ship-money, and not paid in; and also to inquire what Monies do remain in the Hands of High Constables, or in the Hands of any other Persons, levied for Ship-money, Coat and Conductmoney, and not paid in; and all other Sums of Money, gathered for publick Services, and not paid in and satisfied; and to inform this House of the same: And the Knights, Citizens and Burgesses, are required to give such Information, concerning the Matters aforesaid, as comes within their Knowledge: And they are to meet on Thursday next at Eight of Clock, in the Star-chamber.

The Tower.

Sir Tho. Barrington reports, That, according to the Command of this House, not being able to meet with the Constable of the Tower, he wrote a Letter unto him; That Yesterday He came to him, and told him, that his Majesty was pleased to send for him, and to discharge him of the Constableship of the Tower; and to tell him he did it because it was Cause of Jealousy. The Earl of Newport desired, that the supernumerary Auxiliaries that were called into the Tower, upon Order of this House, might be paid, according to the Rates agreed on by this House.

State of Munster.

Mr. Jepson made a Narrative of the State of the Province of Munster in Ireland, &c.

Mr. Jepson, Sir H. Vane, Sir Ralph Hopton, Sir John Colpeper, Sir Rich. Cave, Sir Sam. Rolle, Sir Tho. Barrington, Sir H. Mildmay, Sir John Clotworthy, Sir Edw. Partheriche, Captain Charles Price, Mr. Jones, Mr. Bodevile, Sir Jo. Northcott, Sir Hugh Owen, Lord Falkland, Mr. Pierrepoint, Mr. Cary, Sir John Evelyn;

This Committee is to consider of the Report now made by Mr. Jepson, concerning the State of Munster; And to consider of such Propositions as shall be made by him, or any Man else, for the present Supplying and Securing the Province of Munster: And are to meet To-morrow at Eight of Clock, in the Court of Wards.

Irish Affairs.

A Letter from the Governor of the Province of Connaught, directed to Sir Jo. Clothworthy, of the Eleventh of December: And 'its Ordered, That this Relation, presented in this Letter, of the State of that Province, be referred to the Committee for Irish Affairs; to consider what present Supplies are fit to be sent into that Province.

Examination of Ld. Dillon.

Mr. Pym reports from the Committee appointed [to examine] the Lord Dillon, that he confessed, that he was designed to come over, to bring over some Acts that passed in the Parliament of Ireland; and that, according to the Order, among his Papers, they found the Instructions to the Lord Dillon, and some other Papers: The which were read; and delivered again to Sir Jo. Clothworthy. There were likewise many Letters directed to divers Members of this House: Which were delivered to the same Committee.

Resolved, upon the Question, That the Committee appointed to examine the Lord Dillon, shall peruse the Letters brought by him, and directed to Members of this House; and are to inform this House, if there be any thing contained in them that concerns the Publick: And they are presently, for that Purpose, to withdraw:

..Mr. Jepson is added to this Committee.

Loan from Merchant Adventurers.

The Governor of the Company of Merchant Adventurers, and the Deputy, were called in: And Mr. Speaker told them, That this House had been informed, by some Members of the House employed unto them, of their Chearfulness of supplying the publick Occasions with Fifty thousand Pounds; that they had already promised to furnish presently Twenty thousand Pounds; and taken Time to consider of the rest till Thursday next: That this House esteems it a great Service; and of great Concernment to the Commonwealth; and accepts very well of it; and returns Thanks for it.

Earl of Bristol.

Sir Gilbert Gerard, and Sir John Hotham, are to go to the Lords House to bring attested Copies of the Proceedings against the Earl of Bristoll in the Lords House.

Scandals concerning Members.

A Message from the Lords, by Baron Henden and Justice Mallett;

The Lords desire a Conference, by a Committee of both Houses, touching some Scandals raised, that concern Members of both Houses, presently, if it may stand with the Conveniency of this House.

Answer returned by the same Messengers: That this House has considered their Lordships Message; and will give a present Meeting, as is desired.

Sir H. Vane, Sir Walth. Erle, Mr. Hollis, Sir Sam. Rolle, Mr. Pym, Mr. Glyn, are appointed Reporters of this Conference.

Mr. Hollis reports the Conference:

The Lord Keeper told them, it was a Business concerning Members of both Houses, and therefore fit for a Conference; and read the Business in Writing.

Resolved, upon the Question, That this House does hold it fit to join with the Lords in searching this Business concerning the Scandal upon the Earl of Newport, and others, Members of both Houses, to the Bottom, as is desired by the Lords: And Sir Edw. Hungerford is to acquaint the Lords with thus much; and that this House, if their Lordships shall think fit, will join in a humble Petition to his Majesty, to discover the Informers of this Scandal: and that He would move the Queen to do the like.

Sir Edw. Hungerford brings Answer, that the Lords will join with this House in a Petition to his Majesty, and the Queen, to discover who have been the Informers unto their Majesties of this Scandal.

Persons to attend.

That Colonel Lunsford be summoned to attend this House To-morrow Morning at Ten of Clock; and that Mr. Thraile be required to be here at the same time; Captain Hide, Captain Schrimchire, Mr. Butler, Mr. Brookes, and Mr. Moore; and that the Citizens that gave the Information at [the Bar] against Colonel Lunsford, be required to be [here at] the same time.

Scandals concerning Members.

A Message from the Lords by Sir Ro. Rich and Sir Edw. Leech;

The Lords have received Two Letters, the One from the Lords Justices, the other to the Earl of Holland, concerning the Estate of the Distressed in Ireland. They have likewise appointed a Committee of Six, and desire this House to appoint a proportionable Number, to draw a Petition to be presented to both their Majesties, to discover the Informers of the Scandal upon some Members of both Houses; and desire that the Committees may meet To-morrow at Nine of Clock in the Painted Chamber.

Answer returned by the same Messengers: That this House has taken their Lordships Message into Consideration; and will send Answer by Messengers of their own, in convenient time.

Sir H. Vane senior, Mr. Glyn, Sir Edw. Hungerford, Sir Gilbert Gerard, Sir John Colpeper, Sir Tho. Barrington, Sir Philip Stapilton, Sir Ro. Coke, Mr. Strode, Mr. Long, Sir Ben. Rudyard, Mr. Hollis.

This Committee is to meet with a Committee of the Lords, To-morrow at Nine of Clock, in the Painted Chamber, to prepare a Petition to his Majesty, to discover the Informers of this Scandal; and to desire his Majesty to move her Majesty to do the like.

Propositions from Scotland.

Ordered, That these Propositions, now presented from the Scotts Commissioners, be taken into Consideration To-morrow Morning at Ten of Clock.

Message to Lords.

Mr. Hollis went to the Lords with this Message; That there was a Mistake in the Entry of the Message from this House: That their Intention was, That this House would join with their Lordships, if they thought fit, in a Petition to his Majesty, that he would be pleased to discover the Informers of this Scandal; and to beseech his Majesty to move the Queen to do the like.

Irish Affairs.

A Letter from the Earl of Corke to the Earl of Holland, of the Seventeenth of December; and another Letter from the Lords Justices of Ireland to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, of the Thirtieth of November.

Answer from Lords.

Mr. Hollis brings Answer, that the Lords will give Order, that the Entry of the Message in their Book shall be rectified.

Imprisonment of Citizens.

Sir Ro. Pye, Mr. Wheeler, Mr. Glyn, are to inquire, upon what Grounds those Citizens are committed to the Gatehouse, and by whose Authority; and to discharge them, if they shall see Cause.

Earl of Westmeath's Son.

A Letter from the Mayor of Beaumaris to Mr. Bodevile, a Member of this House, of the Twentieth of December, concerning the Stay of the Son of the Earl of Westmeath.

Ordered, That the Committees of both Houses for the Affairs of Ireland, do consider what Course is fit to be taken concerning the Earl of Westmeathe's Grandchild, and some others of his Train, staid by the Mayor of Beaumaris.

That Mr. Bodevile write to the said Mayor, and take Notice unto him, that this House likes well his Care expressed in this Service of staying the Earl of Westmeathe's Son.

Irish Affairs.

Ordered, That the Committee appointed to prepare the [Instructions] for a Commission to be granted to some Men, named by Parliament, for the Irish Affairs, do meet To-morrow at Eight of Clock, and consider of those Instructions.

Tumults about the House.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Ro. Rich and Dr. Bennett;

The Lords desire a Conference, by a Committee of both Houses; concerning the Multitudes that have been gathered together near and about both Houses of Parliament, presently, if it may stand with the Conveniency of this House.

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.

Mr. Hollis, Sir Edw. Hungerford, Sir H. Vane, Mr. Glyn, are appointed Reporters of this Conference.

Ld. Dillon, &c.

Resolved, upon the Question, That the Lord Dillon, and Colonel Taff, shall remain as Prisoners in the Serjeant's Custody, until this House shall take farther Order herein.

Tumults about the House.

Mr. Hollis reports the Conference: That the Lords, by the Lord Keeper, did desire this House to join with them in a Declaration to be printed and published, of their Dislike of the Assembling of the People in such Companies and Disorders about the Houses of Parliament; and to join with them in a Petition to his Majesty, that the Houses of Parliament may have a Guard. They desire an Answer with such Speed as the Necessity of the Business doth require.

That the Debate of this Business be resumed Tomorrow.