House of Lords Journal Volume 4: 1 May 1641

DIE Sabbati, videlicet, 1 die Maii.

PRAYERS.

Nash versus Kynaston in Error.

This Day the Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench brought into the House a Transcript, and the Record, concerning the Writ of Error depending in this House, between Nash and Kynnaston; which was delivered to the Clerk, who brought it to his Table; and, when the House was adjourned, did examine the Transcript with the Original.

The King will be present this Morning.

It was signisied to the House, by the Speaker, That he understands by some Lords that His Majesty intends to come to the House this Morning, between Ten and Eleven of the Clock.

Bills from the H. C.

A Message from the House of Commons, by Mr. Arthur Goodwin: who said, he was commanded by them to deliver to their Lordships Two Bills, which had passed that House; One, intituled, "An Act for suppressing and destroying all Turkish, Moorish, and other Pirates;" the Other, intituled, "An Act to restrain Bishops, and others in Holy Orders, from intermeddling with secular Affairs."

Suppressing of Pirates.

Hodie 1^a vice lecta est Billa, An Act for the suppressing and destroying of all Turkish, Moorish, and other Pirates.

Restraining Bishops from secular Affairs.

Hodie 1^a vice lecta est Billa, An Act for to restrain Bishops, and others in Holy Orders, from intermeddling with secular Affairs.

Paper sent from the Scots at Newcastle.

The Lords Commissioners signified to the House, That they had received from the Scotts Commissioners a Paper sent to them from the Scotts at Newcastle, which they desired the Lords Commissioners to present to the Parliament; and the House caused the said Paper to be read publicly, in these Words following: videlicet,

"Although we know the Wisdom and Care of the Parliament to be so great, that they consider wisely of the Weight of Matters which concerns both the Kingdoms, and affectionately of our present Case and Condition; and although, in the Midst of so many and important Affairs, we desire not to make the smallest Impediment or Interruption; yet the Necessity of our Affairs do so press us, that we are again constrained to represent our earnest Desires, that this Treaty of Peace may be brought, as to a happy, so to a speedy, Conclusion. Your Lordships know that the Time is long since the Treaty begun; and both Sides did expect that, long before this Time, it should have been ended. The Expence of the King and Kingdoms, for Maintenance of Armies within their own Bowels, is vast, and will be found greivous afterwards to all the Subjects. Our common Enemies will rejoice when they see the Kingdoms weakening and consuming themselves; and getting a large Time to work, may be quickened to Undertakings against us, which, by our speedy Peace, would lie dead. Our Friends abroad may, through this long Delay and Lingering, conceive just Fears that our Cessation of Arms shall turn (which God forbid) into a Combustion and intestine War, which would be the King's Danger and Dishonour, our Common Ruin, a Scandal and Wound to all the Reformed Churches, and a Joy and Triumph to the Enemies of God and ours. In our Country, the Laws are still silent, and the Courts of Justice sit not, that, except for Fear of God, and Hope of a settled Peace, every Man would do that which seemeth good in his own Eyes. Many of the Nobility and Gentry, to their great Loss, are detained from their weighty Affairs and Families; Ministers are kept from their Flocks; Commerce and Negociation doth but languish, and many Tradesmen and Labourers (fn. 1) hindered from providing for their Wives and Children: The Northern Counties are over-charged and spent; our Army, through Want of Monies expected by the Counties for their Relief, after long Patience, in Danger either to starve or provide for themselves in other Places, which may occasion the Evils, which we all desire may by all Means be avoided; and all the while the King Himself is daily vexed and disquieted with such Things as profit nothing. Upon the other Part, by an happy and speedy Peace, all these Evils shall be cured, all the Clouds of our Fear scattered, and the Rumours of unhappy Wars shall cease: All our Demands are answered except the last; and this also is fully debated, and all the Particulars thereof now a Month since are presented to be considered by the Parliament; and we all the Time doing nothing, but attending for an Answer, and waiting to satisfy any Doubt that shall arise concerning any of them, we do, therefore, upon the former Considerations, in all Earnestness intreat for an Answer; and that, the Act being framed and agreed upon for settling the Peace, and Satisfaction being given for the Arrears and Brotherly Assistance granted for our Relief, the Treaty may be closed, and we may return to our own Country in Peace.

28th April, 1641.

"Ad. Blair."

The King's Speech about the E. of Strafford to both Houses.

* * * * * * *

And it fell into Debate whether the Scotts Papers should be conveyed by a Conference to the House of Commons now or on Monday. The House was adjourned into a Committee during Pleasure; and being resumed, it was Resolved, That the Conference touching the said Papers should be on Monday next.

* * * * * * *

Adjourn.

Dominus Capitalis Justiciarius de Communi Banco, Locum tenens Domini Custodis Magni Sigilli, declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque in diem Lunæ, videlicet, 3^m diem instantis Maii, 1641, hora 9^a; Dominis sic decernentibus.