House of Lords Journal Volume 4: 10 February 1641

DIE Mercurii, videlicet, 10 die Februarii.

PRAYERS.

Lord de Grey introduced.

This Day Charles Lord de Grey was introduced, in his Robes; and his Writ of Summons, dated 6 Februarii, 16° Caroli Regis, being delivered to the Lord Keeper upon the Knee, was given to the Clerk, and read publicly; and afterwards he was brought, between the Lord Pagett and the Lord Grey de Werke, and placed, by the Lord Great Chamberlain, Earl Marshal, and the King of Arms, next below the Lord Dacres, with a Salvo.

King present.

His Majesty being present, sitting in His Royal Throne, and all the Peers being in their Robes, His Majesty spake as followeth:

His Majesty's Speech, about the Marriage of His Daughter with the Prince of Orange; and a Treaty with the States.

"My Lords,

"That free Trust and Confidence, which I expressed at the Beginning of this Parliament to have of your Fidelities and Affections to My Person and State, hath made Me think fit to acquaint you with that Alliance and Confederacy which I intend to make with the Prince of Orange and The States, which before this Time I thought not requisite to do; because that Point in which I have resolved to require your Assistances and Counsels was not ready to be treated on. I will not spend much Time in a long Description of the Steps of this Treaty; but leave you to be satisfied by those who under Me have managed this Affair. Only I will shew you the Considerations that have induced Me to it, and in what Way I expect your Assistance and Counsels.

"The Considerations are chiefly Three:

First, for Matter of Religion; there will need no Dispensation here; nor shall I fear the perverting of My Daughter's Conscience.

"Next, Secondly, I do esteem that a strict and firm Confederacy with The States of Holland, will prove as useful to this Kingdom as with any of our Neighbours; their Vicinity and the Way of their Strength being well considered:

In the last Place, that which with Me on all fitting Occasions must be always remembered, the Use which may be had of this Friendship towards the Reestablishment of My Sister and Nephews.

Now, to shew you in what Way I demand your Assistance, you must know that the Articles of Marriage are in a Manner concluded, but not to be ratified, or take Effect, until those of the Confederacy be ended and agreed; which before I would enter into, I thought fit to demand your Helps and Counsels.

"And that I may not leave you too much at large how to begin, I here present to you those Propositions which the States Ambassadors have delivered to Me for this Purpose, that you may take or leave as you shall see Cause; only recommending Expedition unto you. And so I leave you to your free Debate."

Propositions for the Treaty to be translated from the French.

This being ended; His Majesty departed, and the House took this Business into Consideration; and the Propositions being read in French by the Lord Keeper, he was appointed by the House to translate them into English against To-morrow.

After this, it was moved, That His Majesty might receive Thanks from this House, for this Favour; and to let His Majesty know, that their Lordships will give Him their Advice, in all the Propositions, with as great Expedition as such a weighty Business can require.

Committee to deliver His Majesty the Thanks of this House, for His Speech.

And these Lords were appointed by the House for that Purpose: videlicet,

The King's Ministers to give an Account to the House of their Proceedings concerning the Propositions.

Ordered, That, on Friday next, the Lords that have been already employed by His Majesty in the Business concerning the Propositions, are to give this House an Account thereof, how far they have proceeded therein; and then this House to resolve further therein; as their Lordships shall think fit.

Brownrigg's Petition.

Upon reading the Petition of Mathew Brownrigg, it was Ordered to be referred to the Committees for Petitions; and they to prepare it for the House; and appointed to be the First Cause to be heard the next Day.

Inhabitants of Chipping Campden Petition.

Upon reading the Petition of the Inhabitants of the Town of Chipping Campden, in Glostershire, it was referred to the Committee for Petitions; and Mr. Walter to have a Copy of the Petition.

Wright's Petition read.

The Petition of Richard Wright being read, was Ordered to be left to the Common Law, or any Course of Justice, as they shall be advised by Counsel.

Slingesby's Petition read.

Upon reading the Petition of the Lady Slingesby, it was Ordered, That Sir Faithfull Fortescue be sent for, and have a Copy of the Petition sent to him; and what Command he hath in His Majesty's Army in the North, his coming shall be no Cause of Prejudice therein to him, and so it is to be declared to the Justices.

E. of Chesterfield to be heard, concerning a former Order, between him and Mrs. Stanhope.

Ordered, That the Earl of Chesterfield's Cause be heard at the Committee for Petitions To-morrow, concerning a former Order made touching Mrs. Stanhope, which though he be willing to fulfil the said Order, yet is not able to do it, his Land being before so settled that he cannot make any Estate out of it.

Brandt's Petition read, and Nevill to be apprehended.

Upon the reading of Marke Brandt's Petition, It was Ordered, That Robert Nevill should be apprehended, and kept in the Serjeant at Arms his Custody, till he hath produced and brought forth William Umfrevile, who is conceived to have forged the Hand and Seal of the Lord Awdley.

Report concerning the Cause, Lee versus Levingston.

It was reported by the Lords Committees, "That, in the Cause depending before them between Richard Lee, Clerk, and Thomas Leveson, Esquire, that their Lordships have Ordered, by Consent of both the said Parties, That the said Tho. Leveston shall pay unto the said Richard Lee the Arrearages of Forty Pounds per Annum, without Prejudice to the Title for the Prebendary of Willenhall, in the Parish Church Collegiate of Wolverhampton, formerly submitted unto by the Committee of the said Thomas Leveston, His Majesty's Ward, during the Time of his Minority; the One Half of which Arrearages shall be paid in Easter Term next, and the other Half in Trinity Term following; and that the said Thomas Leveston shall not any longer pay the said Rent of Forty Pounds per Annum to the said Mr. Lee, or his Successors, Prebendaries of the said Prebendary; and that the Decree made in Chancery, 13° Jac. Regis, against Sir Walter Leveston, shall be set aside; and further, by Consent of the said Parties, that the said Richard Lee shall seal a Lease of a Piece of Ground, called Pepper Croft, for the Trial of the Right of the said Prebendary; and the said Thomas Leveston shall confess the same to be Parcel thereof; and the said Richard Lee, or his Lessee, may bring his Action of Trespass and Ejectment against the said Thomas Leveston, whereunto the said Tho. Leveston shall appear gratis, and plead Not Guilty, and confess the Entry and Ejectment, whereby a Trial may be had, that so the Right to the said Prebendary may be speedily determined."

Lady Puckering's Petition.

Ordered, That the Lady Puckering's Petition be referred to the Lords Committees for Petitions.

No Private Petitions to be presented till those in Hand be dispatched,

Lord Mowbray's and Lord Willoughby's excepted.

Ordered, That, after this Day, no more Private Petitions whatsoever shall be presented to this House, or to the Lords Committees, until their Lordships shall certify to this House that they have dispatched those Petitions already received, excepting Two Petitions which are to be brought in To-morrow by the Lord Mowbray, and one other Petition to be preferred by the Lord Willoughby of Earseby, concerning Ship-money.

Witnesses sworn to be examined in the Case of the Lord Fynch:

And to be examined this Afternoon.

Coggin's Petition.

Ordered, That Sir Tho. Coggin's Petition be referred to the Committee for Petitions.

E. of Nottingham's Petition.

Upon reading the Earl of Nottingham's Petition, it was Ordered to be referred to the Committee for Petitions; and the Earl of Middlesex to have a Copy of the Petition.

Wells versus Westrupp, for cheating at Dice.

Upon reading of the Petition of Gilbert Welles, Esquire, complaining, "That Mr. Thomas Westrup had cheated him of Five Hundred and Thirty Pounds, with false "Dice;" it was Ordered, That the said Welles shall have a new Trial in Law for that Cause, and Mr. Westrup to be bound in good Bonds to answer that Suit. The Order of the Proceedings of the said Trial is left to the Judges of that Assizes where the Cause is to be heard.

Committee to examine Abuses in Gaming.

Upon this Occasion, the Lords thought fit to appoint a Committee to examine the Abuses that have been committed by cheating with false Dice, and other such like unlawful Games: videlicet,

Wheeler's Damages against the High Commission Court.

Ordered, That Sir Jo. Lambe and Dr. Duck shall pay One Hundred Pounds, equally to be divided between them, unto Mary Wheeler, who complained of an unjust Warrant issued (fn. 1) out of the High Commission Court against her late Husband, deceased; which their Lordships Ordered should be added to that Order made Yesterday on the Behalf of the said Mary Wheeler, upon the Report made by the Lords Committees for Imprisonments and Abuses in Courts of Justice.

Adjourn.

Dominus Custos Magni Sigilli declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque in diem Jovis, videlicet, 11^m diem instantis Februarii, hora nona, Dominis sic decernentibus.