House of Lords Journal Volume 4: 25 March 1641

DIE Jovis, videlicet, 25 die Martii.

PRAYERS.

Both Houses to attend the King, about disbanding the Irish Army, &c. this Afternoon.

The Lord Chamberlain reported, That the Lords that were appointed by this House have moved His Majesty, to know when both Houses may wait upon Him, to petition His Majesty for the disbanding of the new Irish Army, for the disarming of Papists, according to the Law, and for removing of all English Papists from the Court, especially Mr. Walter Mountague, Sir Toby Mathewes, Sir Kenelme Digby, and Sir Jo. Winter; and His Majesty is pleased to appoint Saturday next, at Two a Clock in the Afternoon, in The Banqueting House.

Amendment of the Subsidy Bill to receive the Royal Assent this Afternoon.

It was signified to the House, That His Majesty will come this Afternoon, at Four a Clock, to pass His Royal Assent to a Bill for mending a Mistake in the Bill, intituled, "An Act for Relief of His Majesty's Army, and the Northern Parts of this Kingdom."

Adjourn to Westm. Hall.

The Lord Steward adjourned the House to Westm. Hall.

E. Strafford at the Bar.

The Prisoner was brought to the Bar; and then the Lord Steward signified to the Members of the House of Commons, That now they might go on in their Evidence.

Third Article.

Then Mr. Maynarde proceeded to the Third Charge. And, after he had opened the several Branches of it, he desired that Witnesses might be sworn, to prove the Charge.

Hereupon these Witnesses were sworn, and gave their Evidence; videlicet, Robert Kennedy, Richard Earl of Corke, Lord Gornston, Lord Kilmallocke, and Sir Peirce Crosebie.

This being done; Mr. Maynard desired, That the Earl of Strafford might now make his Answer to this Article.

E. Strafford's Answer.

The Earl of Strafford made his Answer, and these Witnesses he produced on his Part; videlicet, Mr. Slyngsby, Jo. Smith, Mr. Denham, and Mr. Leeke.

Reply. Fourth Article.

Then Mr. Maynard replied for the Commons; which being done, he opened the Fourth Article against the Earl of Strafford, and shewed how the Earl of Corke was dispossessed of his Freehold Land, by a Paper Petition, and told by the Earl of Strafford that Lawyers should not dispute his Orders made at Council Board.

To this the Lord Rannelaugh was deposed upon Oath.

Answer.

Debate about Lord Ranelaugh's Examination.

The Evidence being given for the Commons; the Earl of Strafford was commanded to make his Answer; who, in making his Defence, desired he might have Leave to cross-examine the Lord Rannelaugh, whether he (being President of Connaught) hath not heard Causes upon Paper Petitions for Title of Lands. Upon this there being some Scruples amongst the Peers, whether the Lord Rannelaugh should answer to this Question or not, being conceived he might thereby accuse himself of a Criminal Matter, one of the Peers stood up publicly, and desired that the Lord Steward might adjourn the House, that this Question might be debated above in the House.

Adjourn to the Chamber of Parliament.

The Lord Steward hereupon did adjourn the House to the usual Place above; and so the Peers went up, and the House was adjourned into a Committee during Pleasure, to consider whether the Lord Rannelaugh should be examined by the Earl of Strafford, whether he himself hath determined Titles of Lands upon Paper Petitions; which, being a Criminal Matter, were to accuse himself. And, after some Debate, the House was resumed; and it was Resolved, That the Earl of Straf ford is to examine whether it hath been done by the Custom of other Deputies of Ireland or no; but no Man to be examined against himself.

Adjourn to Westminster Hall.

This being settled; the Peers returned into Westm. Hall; and the Lord Steward declared what their Lordships Opinions were concerning the Lord Rannelaugh; (fn. 1) to which the Earl of Strafford submitting, proceeded in his Defence; and, after he had done, Mr. Glynn made a short Reply, and so concluded the Fourth Article.

Then the Lord Steward signified, That the Lords would sit again To-morrow Morning, by Eight a Clock.

Adjourn to the Chamber of Parliament.

The Lord Steward adjourned the House to the usual Place above.

Adjourn.

Dominus Senescallus declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque in post meridiem hujus diei, hora quarta, Dominis sic decernentibus.

Post meridiem.

PRAYERS.

King present.

His Majesty this Day came in Person to the House, the Lords sitting all in their Robes. The House of Commons (being sent for) came with their Speaker. Then the Clerk of the Crown reading the Title of a Bill, videlicet,

Royal Assent to the Act for amending the late Subsidy Bill.

An Act for the reforming of some Things mistaken in the late Act, made this present Parliament, for the granting of Four Subsidies, intituled, "An Act for the Relief of His Majesty's Army, and the Northern Parts of this Kingdom;" and to make good the Acts of the Commissioners, and other Officers by them authorized or appointed, and to be authorized or appointed; which being ended, the Clerk of the Parliaments read the Royal Assent to the aforesaid Act; videlicet,

Le Roy le veult.

This being done, His Majesty retired Himself, and the Commons went to their House.

Report of the Money received for the Scotch Army.

The Earl of Warwicke acquainted the House, That he hath received the Twenty-five Thousand Pounds, which he was appointed to receive of the House of Commons, and dispose of according to the Directions of the Scots Commissioners; for which he is to give an Account how he hath disposed of it, to some Members of the House of Commons.

After this, a Message was sent from the House of Commons, by Mr. Belasis:

Message from the H. C. for a Conference about the State of this Kingdom.

To desire a Free Conference, with a Committee of both Houses, presently, if it may stand with their Lordships Conveniency, touching the last Conference concerning the State and Affairs of this Kingdom.

Answer.

The Answer to the said Message was: That their Lordships will give a Free Conference, in the Painted Chamber, presently, with a Committee of both Houses, as is desired.

Lords to report the Conference.

Were appointed to report the Conference.

The House was adjourned during Pleasure, and the Lords went to the Conference; which being ended, the House was resumed; and the Earl of Bristoll reported the Result of the Free Conference, which was:

Conference reported.

That the House of Commons think it fit (if it stands with the Pleasure of this House), that both Houses do join, by a Committee of Eight of this House and Sixteen of theirs, to go to the City of London, for the procuring of One Hundred and Twenty Thousand Pounds, for the speedy Supply of the urgent Necessities of both Armies; and if that their Lordships resolve of this Course, they desire to know of the Time and Place, and where they shall meet to confer and advise of the Manner how and what they shall prepose unto the City; and that, in regard that both Houses on Saturday next are appointed to wait on His Majesty at Whitehall, they have propounded to meet presently after that Service is done, and so confer a little together, and then go immediately to the City; which this House approved of."

Hereupon a Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Mr. Justice Reeves and Mr. Baron Henden:

Message to the Commons, that the Lords have appointed a Committee to go with them to borrow Money from the City.

To let them know, that their Lordships have appointed Eight Lords, to join with Sixteen Members of their House, to go to the City, for to procure One Hundred and Twenty Thousand Pounds; and they have appointed the Time to be on Saturday next, in the Afternoon, after both Houses have waited on His Majesty, concerning the disbanding of the new Irish Army, the disarming of English Recusants according to Law, and the removing of all English Papists from the Court; especially Mr. Walter Mountague, Sir Toby Mathewes, Sir Kenelme Digby, and Sir John Winter.

The Lords that were appointed to go to the City were,

Committees to go into the City with the Commons, to borrow Money.

The Lord Privy Seal.
The Lord Chamberlain.
Earl of Bath.
Earl of Essex.
Earl of Sarum.
Earl of Warwicke.
Earl of Bristoll.
Lord Viscount Saye et Seale.

Answer from the H. C.

The Answer to the aforesaid Message from the House of Commons was:

That the House will attend on His Majesty at Whitehall, in The Banquetting (fn. 2) House, on Saturday next, at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon; and afterwards Sixteen Members of their House will be ready to go with Eight of their Lordships to the City.

Next, a Message was sent from the House of Commons, by Sir Jo. Evelyn:

Message from the H. C. for a Conference about E. of Strafford's Trial.

To desire a present Conference (if it stands with their Lordships Conveniency), with a Committee of both Houses, touching the Trial of the Earl of Strafford.

The Answer to the said Message was:

Answer.

That their Lordships will give a present Conference, in the Painted Chamber, as is desired.

Lords to report the Conference.

The Earl of Bath,
Earl of Essex,
Earl of Bristoll,
Lord Viscount Saye et Seale,

Were appointed to report the Conference.

The House was adjourned during Pleasure, and the Lords went to the Conference; which being ended, the House was resumed; and the Report of the Conference deferred until To-morrow Morning.

Then

Adjourn.

Dominus Capitalis Justiciarius de Communi Banco, Locum tenens Domini Custodis Magni Sigilli, declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque in diem Veneris, videlicet, 26^m diem instantis Martii, hora nona, Dominis sic decernentibus.