House of Lords Journal Volume 4: 6 May 1641

DIE Jovis, videlicet, 6 die Maii.

PRAYERS.

Order for the Lord Cottington's Witnesies

Ordered, That the Lord Cottington shall have an Order of this House, for bringing in such Witnesses whose Names he shall give in Writing to appear at the Hearing of the Cause between Lord Awdley and his Lordship, on the 18th Day of this Instant May.

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Absent Lords excused.

A Message was sent from the House of Commons, by Sir Robert Harlow:

Message from the H. C. for a Conference touching the late discovered Plot.

To desire a Free Conference, by a Committee of both Houses, at such Time as their Lordships shall please to appoint, touching the Message they sent to their Lordships Yesterday, and other Business of important Affairs.

The Answer unto the said Message was:

Answer.

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

Lords appointed to report the Conference:

Lords Reporters appointed.

Conference reported.

The House was adjourned during Pleasure, and the Lords went to the Conference; which being ended, the House was resumed. The Lord Wharton reported the Conference, to this Effect:

"That the House of Commons having lately presented to their Lordships some Informations, which they received, concerning ill Practices and Counsels which have been given, to discontent the English Army with the Proceedings of Parliament, and to engage them in some Design of dangerous Consequence, etc. the Commons have now great Cause to increase their Jealousies; for they having sent for some certain Persons to be examined in that Business, they are not to be found; and the Answers returned are so various, that they have great Cause to believe they are fled; and in particular they named Henry Percy, Esquire, Henry Jermyn, Esquire, Sir John Sucklyn, William Davenant, and Captain Billingsly. Therefore they desire that their Lordships would join with them, that all the Ports may be stopt, and some Course taken to find them out. And whereas they are informed that the Queen intends to take a Journey to Portsmouth, they desire (out of the Service and Respect they owe to Her Majesty and the Safety of Her Person), that the King may be moved, To desire the Queen to defer Her Journey to Portsmouth until the Bottom of this Business be further known. And lastly, that some Course may be taken for satisfying the English Army; and, if there be any there who have been carried away with ill Counsel, to let it be known among them, that, if they will come in, and discover the rest, they shall (fn. 1) be spared."

Hereupon it was Ordered, That this House doth join with the House of Commons in all.

The Ports stopped.

Percy, Jermyn, et al. to be apprehended.

And it was Ordered, That all the Ports of England shall be forthwith stopped, until the Pleasure of this House be further known; and none to depart the Kingdom, except Sir Thomas Roe and such as he will be answerable for, who is to give in their Names into this House. And, in particular, Stay is to be made of Henry Percie, Esquire, Henry Jermyn, Esquire, Sir John Sucklyn, Knight, William Davenant, and Captain Billingsley, that they depart not out of this Kingdom, but are to be apprehended, and safely conducted with all Speed unto this House.

And this Order was directed,

"To the Right Honourable Algernon Earl of Northumb. Lord High Admiral of England."

"To James Earl of March, Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports."

"To Jerom Earl of Portland, Captain and Governor of the Isle of Wight;" and

"To George Goringe, Esquire, Governor of Portsmouth."

Lords deputed to acquaint the King with these Proceedings, and to move Him that the Queen's Journey to Portsmouth may be deferred.

The Earl of Bristoll and the Earl of Holland were appointed presently to go to the King, "To acquaint His Majesty with the stopping of the Ports, and to move His Majesty for the deferring of the Queen's Journey to Portsmouth."

L. Admiral's Jurisdiction saved.

Memorandum, That whereas an Order was sent to Colonel Goringe, for the stopping of the Ports, it shall be no way prejudicial to the Lord Admiral's Jurisdiction.

Committee to consider of Means to clear up any Misunderstandings that may arise in the Army.

Ordered, That the same Lords which were deputed by this House the 5th of this Instant May, for Examination of such Persons as shall be presented from the House of Commons, shall take into Consideration the forming of a Letter for the taking away of any Misunderstanding that may happen in the English Army; and their Lordships to meet at such Times as they shall please to appoint.

Sir Philip Carteret sent for.

Ordered, That Sir Phillip Carterett have Notice to attend this House presently, to give Information of the State of the Isle of Jarsey.

The Bill of Attainder voted.

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Adjourn.

Dominus Capitalls Justiciarius de Communi Banco, Locum tenens Domini Custodis Magni Sigilli, declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum usque in post meridiem hujus instantis diei, videlicet, 6^m diem Maii, 1641, hora 2^a, Dominis sic decernentibus.

Post meridiem.

PRAYERS.

E. of Clare excused.

The Earl of Clare excused for being absent.

Hitch versus Mallet.

Ordered, That the Cause between Robert Hitch and William Mallett be deferred until Thursday the 27th of this Instant May; and the said Mallet to have Notice of it.

Sir Philip Carteret to repair to the Isle of Jersey.

Then Sir Phillip Carterett, Lieutenant Governor under Sir Tho. Jermyn of the Island of Jarzey, was called in, to give an Account of the State of that Island, and in what Strength the Castles and Forts are there; which being done, he withdrew; and it was Ordered, That Sir Phillip Carterett shall forthwith repair to his Charge in the Isle of Jarzey, to secure that Island; and, if he find Henry Percy, Esquire, Henry Jermyn, Esquire, Sir Jo. Sucklyn, William Davenant, and Captain Billingsley, or any of them there, then he shall apprehend them, and cause them to be safely conducted unto this House, with all Speed; and that Sir Phillip Carterett and his Company shall have free Passage thither through all the Ports, notwithstanding any Order of this House for restraining others.

Clothiers Complaint against the Merchants.

Whereas Complaint was this Day made to this House, by the (fn. 2) Clothiers of Berks, Wilts, Som'settshire, Kente, Worcester, Glocester, Hampshire, and Suffolke, of the Deadness of their Trade in Lond. and that the Merchants would not take off their Cloth, or part with Monies owing unto them; it was thought fit, and so Ordered, That the Lord Mayor of the City of London shall send for the Merchants Adventurers, and advise them to take off the said Cloths from the Clothiers; or else their Lordships will take some present Course that it shall be free for other Men to buy, and transport the same.

The Votes in the E. of Strafford's Case.

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Absent Lords excused.

The Earl of Exeter and the Earl of Cambridge were excused for being absent, being sick.

Lord Mayor desires Power to suppress Commotions.

It was humbly prayed, That this Clause may be inserted in the Order lately made, "That my Lord Mayor may have Power, upon any sudden Commotion or Insurrection, to draw out so many of the Trained Bands within the City, as may be thought sufficient to suppress it."

Lords to acquaint the King therewith.

The Earl of Dorsett and the Earl of March were appointed to acquaint His Majesty therewith.

Adjourn.

Dominus Capitalis Justiciarius de Communi Banco, Locum tenens Domini Custodis Magni Sigilli, declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque in diem Veneris, videlicet, 7^m diem Maii, 1641, hora 9^a, Dominis sic decernentibus.