House of Lords Journal Volume 4: 19 December 1640

DIE Sabbati, videlicet, 19 die Decembris.

PRAYERS.

The Earl of Huntington excused for being absent.

A Message was sent from the House of Commons, by Mr. Hamden, to this Effect:

Bp. of Ely charged by the H. C. with Idolatry and Superstition.

That he was commanded by the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses of the House of Commons, to let their Lordships know, that they have received Informations of a very high Nature against Mathew Wren, Lord Bishop of Elie, for setting up of Idolatry and Superstition in divers Places, and exercising and acting some Things of that Nature in his own Person; and, because they hear the said Bishop of Ely endeavours to make an Escape out of the Kingdom, he was commanded to desire that their Lordships would think of some such Course that he may put in Security for his Forth-coming and to abide the Judgement of Parliament.

After this, the Bishop of Ely was commanded to withdraw.

And the House, taking the said Message into Consideration, did Order, That the said Lord Bishop of Ely should put in sufficient Bail for Ten Thousand Pounds, for his Forth-coming, and to appear at the Time of the Censure of Parliament.

Hereupon the Bishop of Ely was called to his Place again; and the Lord Keeper acquainted him with the Order that the House had made concerning him; which he consented to, hoping to get Friends to be bound with him.

To put in Bail.

Then it was moved, That the said Bishop of Ely might be bound, in a Recognizance of Ten Thousand Pounds, for his Appearance, until he put in such Security as this House shall approve of; which he consenting to, did immediately, before the Lord Keeper in the House, acknowledge as followeth: videlicet,

His Recognizance.

Mathæus Wren, Episcopus Eliensis, recognovit se debere Domino Regi Decem Mille Libras levari de Terris et Tenementis, Bonis, et Catallis suis, etc. ad usum Domini Regis, etc.

The Condition was, That he should appear from Day to Day, until Wednesday next, against which Day he is to provide sufficient Bail for Ten Thousand Pounds, such as this House shall approve of, to be bound for his Forth-coming, and his abiding the Judgement of Parliament.

Commons acquainted with these Proceedings.

The Commons were called in; and (fn. 1) the Lord Keeper told them what Order the House had made concerning Bishop Wren, upon their Information.

Lord Audley's Complaint against Mr. Davies, a Counsellor.

The Lord Awdley acquainted the House, That one Mr. Davies, a Counsellor, lately spoke some Things to his Lordship, which he thought his Honour was to be cleared in; which his Lordship protested upon his Honour to be true: Thereupon the House thought it fit that the Business should be respited until Monday next; in the mean Time, the Lord Awdley to consider whether he will prosecute it, yea or no; and further, in Case the Lord Awdley should resolve to prosecute the Business, their Lordships thought it fit that the Lord Cottington do give Intimation to the said Mr. Davies (but not as from this House), he being a Member of the House of Commons, that an Information hath been given to the Lords, by the Lord Awdley, concerning that Business.

Bishop of Bristol Leave to be absent.

The Lord Bishop of Bristoll moved the House for Leave to be absent for a few Days, upon some urgent Occasion; which the House was pleased to grant.

Bishop of Oxford Leave to speak with the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Bishop of Oxford desired Leave of the House to go speak with the Lord Archbishop of Cant. which was granted.

Riot in the Church at Halsted, in Essex.

Poole, et al. to be discharged upon their Submission.

This Day Jonathan Poole, Robert Haward, and John Sach, were brought to the Bar, as Delinquents, for the Riot committed in the Parish Church of Halsteed, in Essex; and Lancelott Carter the Curate, William Till the Clerk, Ben. Foster, Thomas Chadwick, and Grace Poole, being sworn and examined in Court as Witnesses, it did appear that the Delinquents were guilty of the Fact charged against them. Thereupon it was Ordered by the House, that Jonathan Poole, Robert Haward, and John Sach, being poor and silly Men, shall make public Submission and Acknowledgement for their foul and contemptuous Fact committed, on Simon and Jude's Day last past, in the Parish Church of Halsteed, in the County of Essex, in striking the Book of Common Prayer established and confirmed by Act of Parliament out of Mr. Carter the Curate's Hand, as he was baptizing a Child, and kicking the said Prayer Book about in the Church in a despiteful Manner; and likewise for taking William Till, the Clerk of the said Parish, by the Throat, forcing him to deliver the Surplice and Hood, which was by them torn in Pieces in the Church; and this Submission to be done before the Congregation, in the said Parish Church, in the Presence of the next Two Justices of Peace: And it was further Ordered, That the aforesaid Delinquents shall ask the Curate and Clerk Forgiveness for the Wrong and Injury done unto them; and that it be declared, That this House doth deeply condemn the Fact to be an Offence of a very high Nature; and that, if any Person whatsoever shall hereafter dare presume to commit the like Offence, he shall be severely and exemplarily punished; and the said Jonathan Poole, Robert Haward, and John Sach, shall forthwith be released from their Imprisonment in The Fleet; and, having made their Submission and Acknowledgement as aforesaid, then they are to be discharged of the Indictments preferred against them for the said Offence.

The said Delinquents being called in to the Bar, the Lord Keeper gave them a Reprehension, and told them what their Lordships had Ordered.

His Majesty to be informed of this, and the Commitment of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Earl Marshal and the Lord Chamberlain were appointed by the House to acquaint His Majesty what Order the House hath made concerning the aforesaid Riot in Essex; and likewise of the Sequestering and Commitment of the Lord Archbishop of Cant. upon the Accusation of the House of Commons.

Waferer to be discharged.

It was Ordered by the House, That Mirth Waferer, Parson of Compton, in Surrey, now in the Custody of the Serjeant at Arms, by Order of this House, that he should be now discharged of his present Attendance, and make his Appearance upon the 24th Day of January next, before their Lordships; and, in the mean Time, to enter into good Security to the aforesaid Serjeant at Arms for his Appearance accordingly.

Adjourn.

Dominus Custos Magni Sigilli declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque in diem Lunæ, videlicet, 21^m diem instantis Decembris, hora nona, Dominis sic decernentibus.