House of Commons Journal Volume 2: 08 March 1642

Die Martis, 8 Martii, 1641.

PRAYERS.

The Protestation.

ORDERED, That it be referred to the Committee for scandalous Ministers, to receive the Certificates concerning the Receiving of the Protestation, and to consider what is fit to be done with those that refuse it: And all that will come are to have Voices at this Committee.

Leave of Absence.

Resolved, That Sir Ro. Napier shall have Leave to go into the Country.

Suffolk Cloth.

Ordered, That To-morrow Morning, Sir H. Vane shall report the Business concerning the Trade of the Suff' Cloth.

Trade in Currans.

Sir H. Vane reports the Business concerning the Trade of Currans: That for every Hundred Pounds in Money at Zante, for Currans which they fetch from thence, it costeth a Hundred Pounds; and, when they come hither, it costeth them Fifty Pounds more for Customs: So One hundred and fifty Pounds is raised upon One hundred Pounds-worth of Commodities of Currans. The Merchants were at the Committee; and are so sensible of this Mischief, that they are willing to... any Course to prevent it. Therefore they propounded this Remedy; That, from the First of August next, there should be a direct Inhibition by the King and Parliament, that no Currans of the Growth of the next Year shall be permitted to come into this Kingdom: And, by this means, the Venetians, who vent this Commodity no where else but here, will follow us to come and trade there again, upon reasonable Conditions. The Merchants trading thither say, if you make no Proceedings in this, and that with Expedition, it will be worse for the Merchant. At first these Currans were bought for Commodities of this Kingdom of small Value; but now they are so inriched with our Trade thither, that nothing but present Monies will buy That Commodity: And so the Kingdom loseth the Benefit of so much Money. The State of Venice do put a great Imposition on our Cloths, or else will not suffer us to unload the same at Zante; which is another thing fit to be taken into Consideration.

Ordered, That the Committee appointed to consider of the Trade of Suff' Cloth, where Sir H. Vane has the Chair, shall prepare an Order, and bring it in to the House To-morrow Morning, to be presented to the Lords and his Majesty, for inhibiting the Importation of Currans into the Kingdom, after the First of August next: They are likewise to provide in this Order, that, by this Inhibition, the Prince of Currans may not be inhanced to an unreasonable Rate, either by the Retailers, or the Merchants, in the mean time: And they are likewise to consider what Price is fit to be set upon Currans that are now in the Kingdom, or shall be brought in, in the mean time.

Resolved, upon the Question, That there shall be an Inhibition of the Importation of Currans, from the First of August next, it is order * * * *

Tumults in Durham.

Whereas by a Letter written by the Sheriff and divers Justices of Peace of the County of Durham, to an honourable Member of this House, and this Day read in this House, it doth appear that great Multitudes of People have of late assembled themselves, at several Times, in several Parts of that County, to the Number of Three hundred or Four hundred in One Company, in a warlike Manner, upon Pretence of pulling down some Inclosures; which they have already done, in a very dangerous Manner, in some Parts of the County; and threaten to do the like in other Parts: And for that this House conceiveth, that such tumultnous and disordely Meetings are altogether in themselves unlawful, and may, in these Times prove of very dangerous Consequence; It is therefore this Day Ordered, by the House of Commons, That the Justices of Peace of the said County, shall make diligent Inquiry after the Names of such Persons as were the chief Leaders in the said tumultuous Assemblies, or any of them; and certify their Names forthwith to this House, that such speedy and exemplary Course may be held against them, as to Law and Justice appertains. And, for the future, it is further Ordered, That if any tumultuous Assembly, or Rout of People, upon any Pretence whatsoever, shall, at any time hereafter, be made in any Part of the said County, that the said Justices of Peace and Sheriffs shall, by all Ways and Means possible, endeavour to suppress the same; and that if need be, the Sheriff shall go with the Power of the County to arrest such Offenders and Rioters; and shall arrest them: And the said Justices and Sheriffs shall record That which they shall so find done in their Presence against the Law: And if it happen that such Trespassers and Offenders shall be scattered and departed, before the. Coming of the said Justices and Sheriffs, that the said Justices, or any Three or Two of them, shall diligently enquire after such Assembly and Rout of People so made; and shall do therein what by the Statutes and Laws of this Kingdom they are enabled to do: And they are hereby further required to certify the Names of the Offenders, and their further Proceedings in the Premises, to this House; that in case such Offenders shall, by their Multitudes or otherwise, evade such Punishment as the Justices of Peace can inflict upon them, then this House may take the same into further Consideration, and take such Course for punishing the Offenders, as in Justice shall be thought meet. Nevertheless, this House doth further declare, that if any Person or Persons whatsoever be injured by any Inclosures of late made in that County, without just Warrant of Law, or Consent of Parties; upon their Address to this House, by Petition, or other of their just Complaints, this House will be careful to take such speedy Course for their Relief as shall be agreeable to Justice; and will also take into Consideration, in due time, the Petitions now remaining before them, against the Bishop of Durham and others, for their Inclosures. And the Sheriff of the County is likewise hereby required to publish this Order, that it may be taken notice of through the County.

Resolved, That it is thus Ordered.

Information against Edmonds, &c.

Mr. Tho. Crant was called to the Bar; and did inform the House, that he being, on Saturday Night last, at the Balcony Tavern in Covent Garden, one Colonel Fra. Edmonds spoke these Words, in the Presence of divers others, "That he was glad his Majesty gave no other Answer to the Militia; and that he did hope his Majesty and the House would never agree; and that he would be very glad his Majesty would display his Banner: And, if Strode, Pym, and Hampden, were in a convenient Place, they should not trouble his Majesty any longer;- He would dispatch them."

Geo. Parker being called in, spoke to the same Purpose:- And said further, That Sir Peirce Crosby, Mr. Baily and his Son, and Serjeant Major Hamilton:- And saith, that the said Colonel Edmonds is a Papist.

Persons sent for.

Resolved, upon the Question, That Colonel Francis Edmonds shall be forthwith sent for, as a Delinquent, by the Serjeant at Arms attending on this House, for Speaking of dangerous Words against the King and Parliament.

Ordered, That Sir Piers Crosby and Mr. Bayly be forthwith summoned to appear before this House.

Letter &c. from Oxford.

A Letter from Gentlemen of the County of Oxon, and the Copy of a Petition that is sent up and down the County of Oxon for Subscription; the which Petition lays Imputations upon the former Petition presented to this House from that County: And the Letter names Sir Wm. Walther to be a great Agent and Promoter of this latter Petition.

Person summoned.

Ordered, That Sir Wm. Walter be forthwith summoned to appear before this House, to answer unto such Matters as shall be objected against him.

Answer to the King.

Sir Arth. Haselrig reports from the Committee appointed to prepare an Answer to his Majesty's Reply concerning Persons passed over into Ireland by Licences under his Majesty's Hand, the Answer to his Majesty's Reply... was read: And

It is Ordered, That it be recommitted to the same Committee, with the Addition of Sir Simonds D'Ewes, Sir John Northcott, Mr. Solicitor, Mr. Crue, Sir Walth. Erle, Sir Jo. Coke, Mr. Rowse: And are to meet Tomorrow Morning, at Eight of Clock, in the Inner Court of Wards.

Trial of Mr. Attorney.

Resolved, upon the Question, That the Committee of this House, employed to manage the Evidence at the Trial of Mr. Attorney, in the Lords House, shall not continue there to hear any Counsel to plead to the Matter of Fact, or to the Privilege of Parliament.

Letter from the King- Trial of Mr. Attorney.

A Message from the Lord, by Sir Ro. Rich and Mr. Page;

The Lords have received this Letter, sent by the King to the Lord Keeper; and by him sent to the Lords. It is concerning Mr. Attorney: It is a Letter of great Concernment: They have sent it down hither to be perused: They have no Copy of it: and desire it may be sent up to them again. Notwithstanding, they resolve to proceed with the Trial of Mr. Attorney, if this House be ready [at this Time] this being the Work of the Day.

* * * *

Answer returned by the same Messengers; The House has taken their Lordships Message into Consideration; and have resolved to send some Members of their House to be present at the Trial of Mr. Attorney, at the Time appointed.

Resolved, upon the Question, That no further Question concerning the Trial of Mr. Attorney, shall be put at this Time.

Book of Rates.

Ordered, That the Committee of the whole House shall meet To-morrow Morning, at Eight of Clock, to consider of the Book of Rates.

Captains of the Fleet.

Ordered, That on Thursday Morning next, at Ten of Clock, the House peremptorily consider of the List of the Captains of the Fleet.

Searching Ships.

Ordered, That Sir Wm. Brereton shall repair to the Lord Admiral, and acquaint him with this Relation of the Two Barks that are stayed at Chester, come from France, and bound for Dublyn in Ireland; and to desire him to take some Course, that the Ships may be thoroughly searched; and that it may be examined, whether the Goods laden aboard the Ships be Rebels Goods; and if it shall appear that they are so, that they may be confiscate; and, in the mean Space, that the Ship may be stayed; and to take an especial Care of the Spanish Iron aboard the said Barks.

Obnoxious Publication.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee for Printing, where Mr. White has the Chair, especially to consider of the Printing of a Pamphlet, intituled, A Declaration of Sir Phelim Oneil Knight, General of Ireland, to the High Court of Parliament, &c.; and that they do take some speedy Course herein for repairing the Honour of the Earl of Ormond, much wounded by this Pamphlet; and for the corporal Punishment of the Printer, and the Contriver; and that they make a speedy Report hereof.

Beecher's Petition.

That the Petition of Henry Beecher, Gentleman, be referred to the Committee for Contributions, to consider of his Necessities.

Proceedings against Edmonds.

Colonel Francis Edmonds being demanded where he was in Service last; answered, In the Duke of Lorraine's: -Confesses that he was at a Tavern in the Covent Garden on Saturday last:- Colonel Gobreth, Serjeant Major Hamilton, Sir Piers Crosby, and Mr. Bayly a Minister, and his Father, and all Scotts:- He did protest he remembered not any such Words as were charged.

Ordered, That Colonel Francis Edmonds be forthwith committed Prisoner to the Gatehouse, till the House shall * * * *; and that the farther Examination of this Business be referred to the Committee for Informations.

Raising Soldiers for France.

Colonel Fitz Williams, being at the Bar, said, That he did raise these Recruits by virtue of an Order of the last of January: That the French Ambassador had received Letters from France, that those last Forty that he sent over were arrived at Calais, and are at this time in Colonel Hill's Regiment.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee for Examinations, to examine whether these Irish, thus raised by Colonel Fitz Williams, be really designed to be sent into France: and whether he can give good Security for the Delivering and Landing of them in France.

Sir G. Hambleton.

Ordered, That the Sheriff of Midd' shall deliver Sir Geo. Hambleton, Knight, into the Custody of the Serjeant of this House, (for which this shall be his Warrant) that he may be examined by the Committee of this House, where Sir Wm. Lewis has the Chair: And that Committee is to sit To-morrow, at Eight... Clock, in the Court of Wards, to examine that Business.

Letters read. Sir A. Loftus.

Divers Letters from Ireland were this Day read.

Resolved, upon the Question, That Sixpence in the Pound, demanded by Sir Adam Loftus out of the Soldiers Money, shall not be allowed unto him.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee for Irish Affairs, to consider what Allowance is fit to be given to Sir Adam Loftus, for his Pains as Treasurer at Wars for the Army of Ireland.

Supply Bill.

Ordered, That the Bill of Four hundred thousand Pounds shall be read the Third time To-morrow, peremptorily, at Ten of the Clock.

Transports.

Ordered, That the Lord Admiral be desired, from this House, to take into his Consideration, how there may be some speedy and constant Provision of Shipping for the Transporting of Men and Horses from Chester to Ireland, that they may not stay there when they come to be transported.

Contributions for Ireland.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee for the Contribution Money, to dispose, as they shall think fit, of such of the Contribution Monies as are in their Hands, for the Relief of such Persons as are come out of Ireland, and shall be made appear to that Committee to be in great Necessity: And that Committee has Power to receive all Petitions of that Nature; and to do therein, for their Relief, as they shall think fit.

Ordered, That Mr. Hollis do go to the Lords with this Message; to desire their Lordships to appoint a Committee of their House, to join with a Committee of this House, for the Disposing of the Contribution Money gathered in their Lordships House.

Soldiers raised for France.

Ordered, That the Irishmen, stayed in Milford-lane, raised by Colonel Fitz Williams, shall be forthwith discharged: And the Constable of that Place is required to see them imbarked in that Bark provided for their Transportation into France.

Irish Papists, &c.

Ordered, That Mr. Whittacres do prepare the Draught of an Order, and present it to the House, for the Preventing of the great Repair of Irish Papists, and suspected Persons, out of Ireland hither; and for the Staying and Apprehending of such as are here already.

Butterwicke's, &c. Petition.

Ordered, That the humble Petition of George Butterwicke; and the humble Petition of Edmond Sherwyn, late of Crenagh, in the County of Cavan, in Ireland; be referred to the Committee for the Contribution Money.