House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 16 October 1646

Die Veneris, 16 Octobris, 1646.

Prayers.

AN Ordinance made for the due Printing of the Holy Bible, and some other Books; and for the publishing, in Print, the Old Testament in Greek (commonly called the Septuagint Translation), out of a very ancient Copy in the Hands of Patrick Yonge Esquire; was this Day read the Second time; and, upon the Question, committed unto Mr. Whittacre, Sir William Allenson, Mr. Dennis Bond, Sir Walter Erle, Mr. Yonge, Mr. Selden, Mr. Holland, Mr. Venn, Mr. Bacon, Sir John Evelyn of Surrey, Sir Dudley North, Sir Thomas Dacres, Mr. Lane, Sir Richard Onslowe, Mr. Pury, Mr. Challoner, Sir John D'Anvers, Sir Henry Vane, Sir Robert Pye, Mr. Liegh, Mr. Corbett, Mr. John Ashe, Mr. Whitelock, Mr. Swinfen, Mr. Sandys, Mr. Maynard, Mr. Boys, Sir Edward Partherich, Mr. Hill, Mr. Tate, Sir Richard Skevington, Mr. Knightley, Sir Simmonds D'Ewes, Mr. Oldesworth, Mr. Lucas, Mr. Stephens, Mr. Harrington, Mr. Lisle, Mr. Kirkham, Mr. Nathanael Fiennes, Sir John Burgoine, Mr. Abbott; and the Committee formerly named for the University of Cambridge; and the Committee lately named for the University of Oxford: And they are to meet upon it To-morrow at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Exchequer Chamber: And have Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, Papers, Records.

And the Care of this Business is more particularly referred to Mr. Selden.

Ordered, That Mr. Oldesworth be added to the Committee for the Regulation of the University of Oxford.

Mr. Greene reports the Amendments to the Ordinance concerning Foreign Plantations: The which were twice read.

The Proviso, being put to the Question, amended, was assented unto, upon the Question.

The Amendments were assented unto, upon the Question.

Then the Ordinance, with the Amendments and Proviso, upon the Question, passed; and is ordered to be carried to the Lords for their Concurrence.

Ordered, That the Letter from the Grand Assembly in Virginia, of 17 Martii 1645, be referred to the Committee for Foreign Plantations: Who are to give an Answer thereunto, if they shall see Cause; or report it to the House.

Ordered, That the Ordinance for Sale of the Bishops Lands, upon the Loan of the Two hundred thousand Pounds, be brought in on Monday Morning next: And that the House do take the said Ordinance into Consideration, the first Business: And Mr. Speaker is to put the House in mind hereof.

Mr. Greene reports the Amendments to the Ordinance for upholding the Trade, and settling the Government, of the Fellowship of the Merchants of London trading to the East-Indies: The which were twice read.

Mr. Lisle reports Heads of a Conference to be had with the Lords, concerning the Printing of some Passages and Speeches of the Lord Lowden's, delivered at the late Conferences between the Committee of both Houses and the Scotts Commissioners: The which were read; and, upon the Question, approved of; and were as followeth; viz.

That the House having received Information, on the Fourteenth, of October instant, That several Speeches and Passages, delivered at the last Conference between a Committee of both Houses and the Scotts Commissioners, in the Painted Chamber, were sent to the Press, to be forthwith printed and published;

That the Report of that Conference having not yet been made to the Houses; but deferred, upon the Desires of the Scotts Commissioners; they having earnestly desired, That Report might not be made, until they have sent in a Paper to the Houses, which should clearly represent their Sense concerning the same;

That the House of Commons, having received these Informations; considering what Misinformations have been formerly printed and published to asperse the Parliament, and to disaffect the People; to prevent Designs of such dangerous Consequence, in Matters of so great Importance as were contained in that Conference, sent both for the Papers and Printers; and, upon Examination, found the Matter of Fact to be thus;

That Laurence Chapman, the Bookseller, produced a Warrant, under the Lord Chancellor's Hand, dated the Thirteenth of this Month; which Warrant is to be read: That the Warrant beareth Date the Thirteenth of this instant October; and directeth the Printers not to publish, or give out, any of those Speeches, being printed, until further Order from the Lord Lowden: But, when this Warrant was dated, and when written; and when these Speeches, with the Preface, were to be published; will appear by the following Examinations:

And then to read the Examinations of Laurence Chapman, Samuel Peck, and Anne Griffyth:

That the House received the Information on the Fourteenth of this Month, about Ten of the Clock in the Morning: Summoned the Printers about Twelve: The Printers confess, That they were to be published the next Day: But, about One of the Clock that Day, the Lord Chancellor gave him a Warrant, written the Fourteenth Day, but dated the Thirteenth Day, of this Month, not to publish them until further Order:

That the Preface, as it appears, by Chapman's Examination, to be printed with these Speeches, was delivered him by the Lord Chancellor's own Hand:

That these Observations be made upon it:

1. To have Arguments held forth to the Kingdom, against the Judgment of Parliament, in Matters of this Importance, is not for the Good of the Kingdom.

2. To have Arguments printed, all of the one Side, and none of the other, is not to deal fairly with the Kingdom.

3. To desire the Lords, That a Committee may be appointed to join with a Committee of this House; and to consider of some way of righting the Houses, and to prevent Inconveniences of the like Nature for the future.

Sir Robert Pye is appointed to go to the Lords, to desire a Conference, by Committees of both Houses, at such Time as their Lordships shall think fit, concerning Printing of several Speeches and Passages of late Conferences between Committees of both Houses and the Scotts Commissioners.

Ordered, &c. That, so soon as the House shall return from the Conference, that they do proceed to the Consideration of the Ordinance concerning the East-India Company, now reported, and in Debate whereof the House was, before their going to the Conference.

Sir Robert Pye brings Answer, That the Lords will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Edward Leech and Mr. Page;

The Lords have appointed to give you a present Conference, concerning the Scotts Papers, as is desired, in the Painted Chamber, by Committees of both Houses; and do desire, That, at the same Conference, they may communicate something touching the Matter of the last Conference concerning the Great Seal.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree, That the Lords may, at this Conference, communicate what they desire concerning the Great Seal.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House hath considered their Lordships Message; and do agree, That, at this Conference, they may communicate what they desire concerning the Great Seal.

Ordered, &c. That, on Monday Morning next, after the Ordinance for the Loan of Two hundred thousand Pounds, upon the Credit of the Sale of Bishops Lands, Sir Robert Harley do present the Petition in his Hands, concerning Herefordshire.

Ordered, &c. That, To-morrow Morning, the first Business, the Reports concerning Ireland be made: And that, immediately after those Reports, the House do proceed to the Consideration of private Petitions, and no other Business.

Ordered, &c. That, on Tuesday next, the first Business, the Reports concerning any Violations of the Articles of Oxon, Exon, and Truro, be made.

Mr. Lisle, Sir John Evelyn, Mr. Prideaux, Mr. Nath. Fiennis, Mr. Morley, Mr. Abbott, are appointed Managers and Reporters of this Conference.