House of Commons Journal Volume 2: 19 December 1640

Die Sabbati, 19 Decembr. 1640.

PRAYERS.

Marolois', &c. Nat.

1^a vice lecta, AN Act for naturalizing of Peter Marolois, and Peter Hoett, Merchants.

Oaths.

Geo. Smyth took the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, at the Clerk's Table.

Preaching Ministers.

The humble Petition of the Parishioners of the Parish of St. Clement's Danes, without Temple Bar, was read.

John Drew and John Baxter were called in; and did avow the Petition; and was referred to the Committee following, concerning preaching Ministers.

Private Bill.

It was Declared by the House, upon Mr. Speaker's acquainting the House with the Matter, that the Bill, concerning the Fourteen Parishes, is a private Bill.

Preaching Ministers.

Alderman Pennington, Sir Tho. Hutcheson, Mr. Hampden, Sir Arthur Haselrigg, Mr. Stapeley, Sir Hen. Vane, Sir Tho. Cheeke, Sir Walther Devoreux, Sir Gilbert Gerrard, Mr. Ashton, Mr. Rolls, Sir John Corbett, Mr. Corbett, Sir Jo. Franklyn, Sir Hen. Anderson, Mr. Walton, Mr. Spurstow, Mr. Cromwell, Ld. Ruthyn, Mr. Glyn, Sir Jo. Coke, Sir Gilbert Pickering, Mr. Noble, Sir Oliver Luke, Mr. Pimme, Mr. Bamfield, Mr. Owfield, Mr. Stevens, Sir Hen. Wallop, Mr. Wallop, Mr. Edw. Ash, Mr. Jo. Ash, Mr. Tate, Mr. Lower, Sir Miles Fleetwood, Sir William Massam, Sir Tho. Pelham, Mr. Arthur Goodwyn, Mr. Roes, Mr. Heveningham;

This Committee is to take into Consideration the Petition of the Inhabitants of Hugenden, in the County of Bucks, and all other Petitions of that Nature; and also to consider, how there may be preaching Ministers set up, where there are none; and how those preaching Ministers may be maintained, where there is no Maintenance; and, when they are in, how they may be kept, and continued; and to receive all other Petitions of the like Nature. 'Tis further ordered, that this Committee shall take into their Consideration so much of the Petition, preferred in the Name of the Inhabitants of the County of Northumberland, as concerns the Nature of the Matter referred to the Committee. And it is further ordered, that this Committee shall have Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, Writings, Records, that may conduce to the Matters in question before them:

This was a Sub-committee, made by the Grand Committee for Religion, Die Sabbati, 12° Decembris: And it is this Day ordered, that this Sub-committee be made a Committee from the House with the like Power it formerly had; and that this Committee shall likewise consider and inquire of the true Grounds and Causes of the great Scarcity of preaching Ministers, through the whole Kingdom; and to consider of some Way of removing of scandalous Ministers, and putting others in their Places. And it is further ordered, That all the Knights and Burgesses for every County, be required from this House, upon their own Knowledge, and upon Information from the several Counties, where they dwell, within Six Weeks, to inform this House of the State and Condition of their Counties, concerning preaching Ministers, and whence it ariseth, that there is such a Want of preaching Ministers, through the whole Kingdom: And Mr. Millington, Mr. Perryn, Sir Edw. Hungerford, Mr. Rowse, Sir Peter Hayman, Sir Robert Harley, Mr. Wheeler, Mr. Rivers, Sir William Brereton, Sir Fr. Seymoar, Mr. White, Sir Tho. Barrington, Sir Chr. Wray, Mr. Crue, Mr. Maynard, Mr. Cradock, Mr. Noell, Mr. Potts, Mr. Wingate, Sir Tho. Widrington, Sir Jo: Wray, Sir Neville Poole, and the Knights and Burgesses of Northumberland, Wales, Lancashire, Cumberland, and the Burgesses of Canterbury. are added to this Committee: And they are to meet on Tuesday in the Afternoon, at Two of Clock, in the Court of Wards.

Fisher's, &c. Petition.

The Petition of Peter Fisher, and Robert Duncon, on the Behalf of themselves, and others, the Inhabitants of the Town of Ipswich, in the County of Suffolk, read.

Proceedings against Bp. of Ely.

Ordered, That a Message be forthwith sent to the Lords, to acquaint their Lordships, that there are certain Informations, of a high Nature, in this House, against Matthew Wren, Bishop of Ely, concerning the Setting up of Idolatry and Superstition, in divers Places, and exercising some Acts of it in his own Person; and divers other Matters of great Importance; and that they have Informations likewise, that he endeavours an Escape; and therefore to desire their Lordships, that there may be some Care taken, that he may give good Security for his abiding the Judgment of Parliament.

Mr. Hampden is appointed to go up with this Message.

Greenvile's Petition.

Ordered, That the Sub-committee appointed by the Grand Committee, to consider of a Petition exhibited there by Sir Ri. Greenvile, may be made a Committee from the House; with Power to assign and hear Counsel: And they are to meet on Monday in the Afternoon, at Two of Clock, in the Duchy-chamber.

Heaton's, &c. Petitions.

The Petitions of Rich. Heaton and Lionell Farrington, were read; and Farrington, called in, did avow his Petition: The Petitions are referred to the Committee appointed to draw up the Charge against the Earl of Straford, to make use of, if they shall see Cause.

Ship-money.

Mr. St. Johns reports from the Committee appointed to prepare the Ship-money Business, &c.

* * * *

Ecclesiastical Canons, &c.

Ordered, That the Committee for the New Canons, and the Ld. Archbishop of Cant', now sine die, do meet this Afternoon at the wonted Time and Place.

Proceedings against Bp. of Ely.

Mr. Hampden reports, That, after some Stay, he received this Answer from their Lordships, delivered by the Lord Keeper; that their Lordships had ordered that the Bishop of Ely should give Bail of Ten thousand Pounds, to abide the Judgment of Parliament; and for the present had caused him to enter into a Recognizance of Ten thousand Pounds, to appear on Wednesday next, and put in the Bail aforesaid.

Lord Keeper, &c.

Ordered, That the Report concerning the Lord Keeper, and the Judges, be resumed on Monday Morning next.