House of Lords Journal Volume 4: 31 December 1641

DIE Veneris, videlicet 31 die Decembris.

PRAYERS.

Bp. of Landaff committed.

This Day the Bishop of Landaph was brought to this Bar, in the same Manner as the rest of the Bishops Yesterday; and, after he was told his Charge, which the House of Commons had brought up against him, of High Treason, he said "That, on Wednesday last, One came to him with the Petition, about Four of the Clock in the Afternoon; and he only read the Beginning of it, and found fault with the Word ["whatsoever"]; but he blamed his own Indiscretion, that he did not read it all; and there being Eight Hands subscribed before him, and such as were his Ancients, whom he thought had understood themselves better than to commit an Offence of so high a Nature, he confessed he set his Hand thereunto likewise; but he said he could plead nothing but Ignorance, and Indiscretion, that he read not the Petition over; and professed that he had no Intention to overthrow the fundamental Laws of this Realm, nor to commit any of the other Offences he is accused of; therefore desired he might (fn. 1) not feel the Weight of their Lordships Justice, but Mercy; and he desired that he might be bailed, upon good Security."

The House, (fn. 1) having taken this into Consideration, Ordered, That the Bishop of Landaph shall be forthwith committed to The Tower of London, there to remain until the Pleasure of this House be further known.

Message to the H. C. that the Lords had committed the Twelve Bishops, and appointed them to put in their Answers.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir Edward Leech and Dr. Bennett:

To let them know, that this House hath committed the Twelve Bishops impeached by them for High Treason to safe Custody; and that their Lordships have appointed them to put in their Answers thereunto on this Day Sevennight.

Weapons about the Parliament.

The Lord Roberts reported, "That the Lords Committees have perused divers Records, against wearing of Weapons near the Houses of Parliament, and that Three are in the Point; so their Lordships have given Directions that one perfect one be extracted out of the rest; and, when it is compared and examined, the Lords Committees will (fn. 2) offer the same to the Consideration of this House."

Ordered, That the Bishops of Winton and London shall be added to the Committee for the Bill against Pluralities, etc.

Committee for keeping good Correspondency between the Houses.

Ordered, That the Committee to consider of the keeping good Correspondency between the Houses, shall meet on Monday next; and that the Earl Marshal shall be added to this Committee.

Answers to the Propositions of the H. C. concerning Munster.

Next, this House proceeded to consider of the Answer to be given to the Propositions of the House of Commons, concerning the Province of Munster, brought up to this House the 29th of this Instant December; and they were particularly read and considered of, and agreed to as followeth:

1. To the First Proposition: This House agrees with the House of Commons herein; and thinks it fit that the King be moved, to give forth Warrants accordingly.

2. To the Second Proposition: This House agrees with the House of Commons therein.

3. To the Third Proposition: This House agrees with the House of Commons, and thinks it fit that the King be moved to grant His Warrant herein.

4. To the Fourth Proposition: This House agrees with the House of Commons.

5. To the Fifth Proposition: This House agrees with the House of Commons.

6. To the Sixth Proposition: This House agrees with the House of Commons.

7. To the Seventh Proposition: This House agrees with the House of Commons, and thinks it fit that the King be moved herein.

8. To the Eighth Proposition: This House agrees with the House of Commons.

9. To the Ninth Proposition: This House agrees with the House of Commons.

To the Tenth Proposition: This House agrees with the House of Commons, and thinks it fit that the King be moved herein.

Committee to attend the King about some of these Articles.

Ordered, That the Duke of Richmond, the Lord Chamberlain, the Earls of Bristoll and Newport, do presently attend the King, and move Him from both Houses, concerning the First, Third, Seventh, and the Tenth Article aforesaid.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Mr. Peard:

Message from the H. C. concerning the Bill for depriving the Bishops of their Votes.

To let their Lordships know, that whereas, divers Months ago, the House of Commons sent a Bill for taking away the Votes of the Bishops out of this House, the House of Commons conceive, in regard of the many other Businesses, their Lordships have not yet taken it into Consideration, they desire their Lordships to take the same into Consideration with Expedition, because they conceive it to be a Matter of great Concernment.

The Answer hereunto returned was:

Answer.

That their Lordships will take it into Consideration in convenient Time.

The Messengers that went to the House of Commons return with this Answer:

Answer from the H. C.

That they have delivered their Message concerning the Bishops.

Committee for Gun-powder.

Ordered, That the Committee for Powder shall meet on Tuesday next, in the Afternoon, at Three a Clock, at which Time the Officers of the Ordnance and the Saltpetre Men are to attend the Lords Committees.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Serjeant Whitfeild and Serjeant Glanvile:

Message to the H. C. concerning their Propositions about Munster.

To let them know, that this House agrees with the House of Commons in all the Propositions brought up by Sir Jo. Culpepper, concerning the Province of Munster; and that this House hath appointed some Lords to move the King from both Houses, to grant Warrants accordingly.

Pluralities and Non-residency.

Ordered, That the Committee for the Bill of Pluralities do take into Consideration the Case of those Ministers that have been put out of their Livings, being their Freeholds, by the Bishops, for no other Cause but that they would not read the Book which gives Liberty for Sports on the Lords-day; and also to receive the Complaints of all other Ministers who have been unjustly put out of their Freeholds by the Bishops.

King and Queen's Declaration concerning Ireland.

The Declarations of the King and Queen concerning Ireland were read, and approved of by this (fn. 3) House; and it is Ordered, That the Lords Committees for this Business are to acquaint the Committees of the House of Commons therewith, that they may report the same to (fn. 4) their House.

The King's Answer concerning some Propositions about Munster.

The Lords that went to move the King concerning the Propositions touching Munster reported, "That the King returns this Answer for the present, that there shall be no Delay in the Business; but He will speak with the Earl of Newport, Master of the Ordnance, concerning the Stores, and [ (fn. 5) accordingly will] give Warrant for transporting of the Amunition, as is desired."

Conference to be had concerning Provision of Arms and Powder.

Memorandum, That this House intends to have a Conference with the House of Commons on Monday next, about setting of Armourers on Work, to make new Arms, for supplying the King's Store, and likewise about the Preservation of Salt-petre Mines, and Provision of Powder.

Adjourn.

Dominus Custos Magni Sigilli declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque in diem Lunæ, videlicet, 3^m diem Januarii, 1641, hora 1^a post meridiem, Dominis sic decernentibus.