House of Commons Journal Volume 2: 05 January 1642

Die Mercurii, 5 Jan. 1641.

PRAYERS.

Door locked, &c.

ORDERED, That the Door be locked, and the Key brought up; and the outward Doors cleared of all Persons but Servants to Members of the House; and that no Member do offer to go out without Leave: And also, that some Members do send forth their Servants, to see what Numbers of People are repairing towards Westminster; and to bring notice to this House.

Vindicating Privileges.

Mr. Glyn, Sir Philip Stapilton, Mr. Whittlock, Sir H. Vane junior, Mr. Grimston, Sir John Hotham, Serjeant Wilde, Mr. Fienis, Mr. Bellassis, Sir Walth. Erle;

This Committee is presently to retire into the Committee Chamber, to consider of some way for vindicating the Privileges of Parliament; and for providing for the Safety of both Kingdoms; and present it to the House with all Speed.

Adjournment.

Resolved, upon the Question, That "Tuesday next" shall be inserted into the Order presented from the Committee, for the Time of the Adjournment of the House.

Guildhall Committee.

Upon the Question, Whether a Committee shall be named by this House to sit in Guildhall in London;

The House was divided.

Resolved, upon the Question, That a Committee shall be named, by this House, to sit in Guildhall, London: And all, that shall come, to have Voices at this Committee.

Ordered, That the Committee appointed to sit at Guildhall, London, shall have Power to direct and appoint such Monies to be paid, as shall be requisite for the Troops at Chester.

Irish Affairs.

Ordered, That the Committee for Munster shall have Power to sit when they will; and to put in Execution all such Propositions as are already agreed upon by both Houses of Parliament.

Vindicating Privilege-Committee to meet at Guildhall.

Whereas his Majesty, in his Royal Person, Yesterday, being the Fourth Day of January, 1641, did come to the House of Commons, attended with a great Multitude of Men, armed in a warlike Manner with Halberds, Swords, and Pistols; who came up to the very Door of this House, and placed themselves there, and in other Places and Passages near to the House, to the great Terror and Disturbance of the Members thereof, then sitting, and, according to their Duty, in a peaceable and orderly Manner, treating of the great Affairs of both the Kingdoms of England and Ireland: And his Majesty having placed himself in the Speaker's Chair, did demand the Persons of divers Members of That House to be delivered unto him: It is this Day declared by the House of Commons, That the same is a high Breach of the Rights and Privilege of Parliament, and inconsistent with the Liberties and Freedom thereof: And therefore this House doth conceive, they cannot, with the Safety of their own Persons or the Indemnity of the Rights and Privilege of Parliament, sit here any longer without a full Vindication of so high a Breach, and a sufficient Guard wherein they may confide; for which both Houses jointly, and this House by itself, have been humble Suitors to his Majesty, and cannot as yet obtain: Notwithstanding which, this House being very sensible of the great Trust reposed in them, and especially at this Time, of the manifold Distractions of this Kingdom, and the lamentable and distressed Condition of the Kingdom of Ire&lgrave;and, doth Order, That this House shall be adjourned until Tuesday next, at One of the Clock in the Afternoon: And that a Committee, to be named by this House (and all, that will come, to have Voices) shall sit at the Guildhall in the City of London, To-morrow Morning at Nine of Clock: And shall have Power to consider and resolve of all Things that may concern the Good and Safety of the City and Kingdom; and particularly, how our Privileges may be vindicated and our Persons secured: And to consider of the Affairs and Relief of Ireland: And shall have Power to advise and consult with any Person or Persons, touching the Premises: And shall have Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, Papers, and Records. And it is farther Ordered, That the Committee for Irish Affairs shall meet at the Guildhall aforesaid, at what time they shall think fit; and consult and do, touching the Affairs of Ireland, according to the Power formerly given them by this House: And that both the said Committees shall report the Results of their Considerations and Resolutions to the House.

Resolved, upon the Question, That it shall be thus ordered.

Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Glyn, Mr. Whitlock, Lord Falkland, Sir Ph. Stapilton, Mr. Fienis, Sir Ralph Hopton, Sir John Hotham, Sir Walth. Erle, Sir Ro. Coke, Sir Tho. Walsingham, Sir Sam. Rolle, Mr. Pierrepoint, Mr. Walth. Long, Sir Rich. Cave, Sir Edw. Hungerford, Mr. Grimston, Sir Christ. Wray, Sir Ben. Rudyard, Sir John Hippsley, Mr. Herbert Price, Sir John Wray, Sir Tho. Barrington, Mr. Wheeler, Sir Wm. Litton;

This is the Committee appointed by the former Order: And are to pursue the Directions of the former Order: And all, that will come, are to have Voices at this Committee.

Irish Affairs.

These Resolutions following, being the Sum of what was agreed upon by the Committees of both Houses for Irish Affairs, were this Day presented to the House; and read; and, by Vote, upon the Question, ordered accordingly:

1. That the Arms and Ammunition of all Sorts, with the Ordnance at Carlisle, be sent into Ireland to Carrickfergus, for Supply of those Parts of the North of Ireland; and the Arms to be ordered as my Lord Lieutenant shall direct.

2. That, for a farther Supply of those Parts, and for the Arming those Two Regiments under my Lord Conway and Sir John Clotworthy, that there be sent from the Tower, One thousand Musquets, with Bullet and Match proportionable; Fifteen hundred Swords; Ten Last of Powder: These Arms and Ammunition to be sent thither, to be ordered and disposed of as my Lord Lieutenant thinks fit.

That Ten Last of Powder, with Bullet and Match proportionable, be sent from the Tower to Munster, there to be delivered to the Lord President of Munster, or whom the Lord Lieutenant thinks fit.

That Two thousand Pounds be ordered to be delivered to Sir Wm. Brereton, upon Account, for Payment of the Three hundred Horse now at Chester, and for their Transportation, out of the Subsidy or Poll-money of that County.

That Three thousand Pounds be assigned, to be received in Cheshire or Wales, out of the Subsidy or Pollmoney, by the Victualler, for the present Relief of Dublin and Drogheda.

That Two thousand Pounds be delivered to the Victualler of Carrickfergus, who is ready to set on the Work here, having a Ship at his Charge in the River.

Message to Lords, vindicating Privileges.

Mr. Fynes is to go to the Lords with this Message; To acquaint their Lordships, that this House hath adjourned till Tuesday at One of the Clock, by reason the Privileges of Parliament hath been so highly broken by his Majesty, in coming Yesterday in Person to this House, and there demanding several Members of this House to be delivered, whom he had accused the other Day of High Treason, being accompanied with great Numbers of Soldiers and Commanders, armed with Swords and Pistols: And that they have given Power to a Committee to sit at Guildhall in London, to consider of the Privileges of Parliament; of the Affairs of Ireland; and of the Safety of the King, Kingdom, and City of London: And also to desire their Lordships again to move his Majesty for such a sufficient Guard about the Parliament, as his Majesty and both Houses of Parliament may approve of.