House of Commons Journal Volume 2: 28 March 1642

Lun; 28 Martii, 1642.

PRAYERS.

Leave of Absence.

RESOLVED , That Sir Wm. Brereton shall have Leave to go into the Country for Recovery of his Health.

Resolved, That Mr. Rich. Moore shall have Leave to go into the Country a Sevennight hence, and to stay a Month.

Grievances.

That the Petition of Leonard Tillott, Inhabitants of the Parish of St. Matthewe's, Friday-street, now Prisoner in the Compter in Woodstreet, be referred to the Committee appointed to consider of the Grievances presented by the Committee of the Common Council: And that Sir Ro. Harley, * Cromwell, * Elvelyn, * Buller, * Wray, * Pury, * Bond, * Middleton, * Hotham, * Gerard, Sir Jo. Bampfield, Alderman Soame, *Jo. Goodwyn, * Peard, * Bourgoyne, * Bagshaw, Sir Ben. Rudyard, added to the Committee appointed to consider of the Grievances presented by the Committee of the Common Council.

Merchants of Intercourse.

Ordered, That the Petition of the Merchants of Intercourse of the Netherlands this Day presented to the House, be referred to the Committee of [Lords and] Commons appointed to meet To-morrow, at Two post meridiem, to consider of a Petition of the like Nature presented unto the Lords by the said Merchants of Intercourse.

Foreign Post-master.

Mr. Glyn reports the Case concerning the foreign Postmaster's Office * * * *

Resolved, upon the Question, That this Sequestration of the Office for foreign Post-masters from the Possession of Mr. Wytherings is a Grievance, and illegal, and ought to be taken off and repealed.

Resolved, That the Proclamation for the Putting Mr. Wytherings out of Possession of the Exercise of his Place of Post-master for foreign Parts is a Grievance, and illegal, and ought not to be put in Execution.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. Wytherings ought to be restored unto the Possession of his Place as Post-master for foreign Parts, and to the mean Profits received since he was out of Possession, deducting the reasonable and usual Charges of Execution.

Resolved, &c. That for the Legality of this Patent it shall be referred to a Trial at Law.

Ordered, That the Committee concerning the Postmasters, where Mr. Prideaux hath the Chair, be revived, to sit on Friday next, at Two ... Clock, in the Chequerchamber: And the Petitions of the Earl of Warwicke and the Lord Stanhope, and Jo. Castlon, and Edw. Hutchins, &c. are referred to that Committee: And this Committee is to have Power to consider what Rates are fit to be set upon the inland Letters.

Reducing Irish Rebels.

Sir Walth. Erle (according to an Order of Saturday last) carried up the Bill for Explanation and Addition unto the Act for the speedy and effectual Reducing of the Rebels in Ireland.

Privilege-Printing Proceedings.

Resolved, That Jo. Franc the Printer shall be forthwith sent for as a Delinquent by the Serjeant at Arms attending on this House, for causing the Message of this House, sent in Reply to his Majesty's last Message, to be printed without any Licence.

Resolved, upon the Question, That Jo. Wright the Stationer shall be sent for as a Delinquent by the Serjeant at Arms attending on this House, for printing the humble Petition and Declaration of both Houses of 23° Martii without Licence.

Resolved, upon the Question, That Gregory Dexter shall be forthwith sent for, as a Delinquent, by the Serjeant at Arms attending on this House, for printing the said humble Petition and Declaration of both Houses, of 23° Martii, without Licence.

Resolved, upon the Question, That Wm. Humfreyvile be sent for, as a Delinquent, for feigning and making the Two Letters pretended to come from Hagh, and causing them to be printed.

Resolved, upon the Question, That the Diurnal from the Fourteenth of March last to the One-and-twentieth, printed by Robert Wood, is false and scandalous to the King's Majesty, and the Parliament; and contains in it divers seditious Passages, and of dangerous Consequence.

Resolved, That Robert Wood shall be forthwith sent for, as a Delinquent, by the Serjeant at Arms attending on this House, for printing the said Diurnal.

Resolved, upon the Question, That what Person soever shall print,.....sell any Act or Passages of this House under the Name of a Diurnal, or otherwise, without the particular Licence of this House, shall be reputed a high Contemner and Breaker of the Privilege of Parliament, and so punished accordingly.

Ordered, That this Vote shall be forthwith printed and published, and sent to the Master and Wardens of the

Stationers, to disperse them with all Care and Diligence; and that it be referred to the Committee for printing, to prepare an Order according to the Tenor of this Vote.

Answer from Lords.

Sir Walth. Erle brings Answer, That he had delivered the Bill.

Persons sent for.

Resolved, upon the Question, That Rich. Heren shall be forthwith sent for, as a Delinquent, by the Serjeant at Arms attending on this House, for causing Two Speeches to be printed, pretended to be spoken, One by Mr. Pym, another by Mr.Hollis, and * * *

Foreign Post-master.

Ordered, That a Conference shall be desired To-mor row Morning with the Lords, concerning the Master's Office, for the Postage of foreign Letters: And Mr. Glyn is to manage the Conference; and to prepare the Reasons and the Grounds, that induced this House to pass these Votes.

Kent Petition.

There was an Information given of one F. Jones, that had presented some Articles of a Petition that was presented at Maidston, to be read; and the Articles were read:

And then Jones, that gave in the Information, was called in; and did declare at the Bar the same Things as in the Information are contained.

Ordered, That a Message shall be sent to the Lords to desire a Conference concerning some Informations received out of Kent; and likewise to desire, that Mr. Justice Mallett may be present at the said Conference, to be examined touching the Truth of the said Business.

Sir Jo. Evelyn is appointed to desire this Conference. Mr. David Browne was called in; and presented an Information in Writing, with his Hand set unto it, the like with the former: Which was read unto him.

Mr. Pierrepoint, Mr.Pym, Mr. Glyn, Mr. Martin, are appointed to withdraw, to prepare Interrogatories to be propounded to Justice Mallett, and are to manage the Conference.

Mr. Glyn reports from the Committee to prepare Interrogatories, to examine Justice Mallett upon, concerning the Petition framed this last Assizes in Kent:

1. Do you know of a Petition publickly read at the Assizes at Maidston in Kent To whom was it directed

2. Who framed that Petition? Had you any Notice of it before it was publickly moved

3. Was there any thing expressed in it, concerning the Militia, or the King's Message of the 20th of January

4. Was there any Motion made to send this to the King's if yea, Who made that Motion? And what Speech was there of a former Petition to the Parliament? And what the Passages were

5. Was there any Speech of a Number of Persons to come with this Petition? And when?

6. Who was the Foreman of that Grand Inquest? And whether was that Jury returned by the Sheriff? Or, did you give Directions for some of them to be of that Jury?

Ordered, That the Committee shall have Power to propound such other Questions as they shall think fit; and to desire the Lords to join with this House, that Sir Edw. Deering, Sir Rog. Twisden, and Mr. Rich. Spencer, may be forthwith sent for, as Delinquents.

Sir Jo. Evelyn reports, The Lords will give a present Meeting, as is desired.

Resolved, That Sir Edw. Deering shall be forthwith sent for, as a Delinquent, by the Serjeant at Arms attending on this House.

The like was resolved upon Sir Roger Twisden, Mr. Rich. Spencer, and Sir Geo. Strode.

Ordered, That Mr. Pope, an Attorney of Kent, the Clerk of the Assizes of Kent, and the Under Sheriff, be forthwith summoned to appear before this House; and that they be required, all Excuses laid aside, not to fail forthwith to appear.

Sheriff of Northampton.

Sir Ch. Yelverton, Mr. Hollis, Sir Jo. Evelyn, are appointed to examine the High Sheriff of the County of Northampton, who is a Delinquent, under the Restraint of this House; but by reason of great Weakness, at

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Information against Arthur.

Ordered, That Sir Oliver Luke, do write to Tho. Rolt, and Chr Turner, Justices for the County of Bedford, to bind the Informants over to prosecute the Information this Day given to this House, of Words spoken by Wm. Arthur of Bidenham in the County of Bedford, at the next Assizes; and that he render Thanks to the Justices for their Care; and do take good Security of the said Arthur then to appear.

Benion's Impeachment.

Mr. Serjeant Wilde reports the Articles of Impeachment against Mr. Geo. Benion.The which were first read all together; and then one by one * * * *

Informations from Kent.

A Message from the Lords, by Serjeant Ayloffe and Sir Edw. Leech;

The Lords, according to the Desire of this House upon the last Conference, have agreed upon Twelve Lords, whereof Five to be of the Quorum, to meet with a proportionable Committee of this House, concerning the Informations from Kent.

Ditto.

Mr. Pym, Sir Arth. Haselrig, Sir Ro. Coke, Mr. Whittacre, Sir Tho. Dacres, Serjeant Wilde, Sir Sam. Rolle, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Jo. Moore, Sir Jo. Corbett, Sir H. Mildmay, Sir Ro. Harley, Mr. Trenchard, Sir Edw. Boyse, Sir Peter Heyman, Sir H. Vane junior, Sir Wm. Massam, Mr. Peard, Sir Hugh Cholmeley, Mr. Cage, Sir Peter Wentworth, Sir Jo. Holland, Mr. Ro. Goodwyn, Mr. Rowse;

This Committee is to meet with the Committee of the Lords, concerning the Business of Kent, informed of by this House at the last Conference.

Answer returned by the same Messengers, That this House has taken into Consideration their Lordships Message; and has appointed a Committee of a proportionable Number as is desired.

Duncannon Fort, &c.

That Sir H. Vane to move the Lord Admiral, that a Pinnace may be assigned for the Service of Duncannon Fort; to be commanded by the Governor of the Fort.

Ordered, That a Thousand Pounds shall be advanced by Nicholas Loftus, Deputy Treasurer at Wars for Ireland, upon the particular Warrant of the Lord Lieutenant, to the Governor of the Fort of Duncannon, or his Assignee, upon Account; to be employed for the Pay and Victualling of the Garison there, and Providing of such other Particulars as are necessary for that Fort, and agreed upon by the Committees for Irish Affairs of both Houses; viz.

Ordered, That Mr. Pym shall accept of the Bill of Exchange of Two hundred Pounds, returned from Mr. Frost: And that Mr. Nicho. Loftus shall discharge the said Bill.

Ordered, That Three thousand Pounds shall be forth- with imprest to Mr. Frost, Commissary for the Victuals at Chester, to be employed for the Provision of Victuals for Ireland.

That a Commissary be sent into the Counties of De- von, Cornewall, and Somersett, to make Provision of Victuals, to be sent into Ireland, for the Supply of the Army there, out of the Monies that shall come in upon the Act of Contribution, as soon as the House shall be informed, that a considerable Sum is collected upon the said Act, in either of these Counties.

Irish Affairs.

Ordered, That the Commissions upon the Act of Con- tribution be brought into the House; that it may appear what Commissions for Contributions are not yet sent into the several Counties, Cities and Boroughs.

Ordered, That by the Warrant of the Lord Lieute- nant for Ireland, the Deputy Treasurer at Wars for Ire- land shall have Power to imprest to the General of the Scotts Army Two thousand Pounds, for Fortifications, Intelligences, and other Incidents; so that there be not above the Sum of Two thousand Pounds in a Year im- prested upon these Occasions, without particular and special Warrant from this House.

Resolved, &c. That Twenty Last more of Powder shall be provided, to be sent to Carrickfergus.

Resolved, &c. That this House will undertake to take off, and pay for, One hundred and Thirty-two Last of Powder, if it shall be brought into the Kingdom: And Mr. Vassall, Mr. Spurstoe, and Mr. Roll, are desired to provide this Quantity of Powder upon the best Terms they can.

Resolved, &c. That this House holds it fit that the Comptroller and the Commissary of the Artillery, in the Scotts Army, be nominated by the English: And that the English Commissioners do move the Scotts Commis- sioners herein.

Command of the Fleet.

The Petition to be sent to his Majesty, concerning the Earl of Warwicke commanding this Summer's Fleet, was read; and resolved upon, that it should be forthwith sent to the Lords, to desire their Concurrence herein: And Mr. Whitlocke carried it up accordingly.

King's Declaration.

Ordered, That the last Declaration sent by his Majesty, shall be taken into. Consideration, the first Business To- morrow Morning.

Sheriff of Northampton.

Sir Jo. Evelyn brings Answer, That the Committee appointed to examine Sir Wm. Wilmore, High Sheriff of the County of Northampton, has been with him; and he denies every material Pass ... he hath been examined upon, though the Witnesses were there to confront him.

Ordered, That Sir Jo. Evelyn do go to the Lords, to de- sire them to appoint some of the Members of their House, in the Presence of some Members of this House, to examine the High Sheriff of the County of Northamp- ton, and the Witnesses upon Oath: He likewise carried up the Order concerning * * * *

Collectors of Subsidies.

Ordered, That the Order concerning the Collectors of the Subsidies, be forthwith printed.

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