House of Lords Journal Volume 4: 10 February 1642

Die Jovis, videlicet, 10 die Februarii.

PRAYERS.

The Lord Chief (fn. 1) Justice of the Common Pleas was appointed by the House to fit Speaker this Day.

The Earl of Portland reported the King's Answer to the Message from both Houses of Parliament: videlicet,

The King's Answer about Two Bills that are ready for the Royal Assent.

"That His Majesty, having read the Desire of both Houses, returns this Answer, That one of the Bills being of so great Weight, and the other not having been yet seen either by His Majesty or His Counsel, He will take yet some further Time; but is resolved to return as speedy an Answer as the Importance of the Business will permit.

Jo. Galpinge's Petition.

Ordered, That the Petition of John Galpinge, a Minister, shall be received into this House, and be proceeded in when Private Petitions are to be taken into Consideration.

E. of Cambridge Leave to be absent.

Ordered, That the Earl of Cambridge hath Leave to be absent for a few Days.

Message to the H. C.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir Robert Rich and Mr. Page:

with the King's Answer about the Two Bills.

To deliver to them a Copy of the King's Answer reported this Day by the Earl of Portland.

The Cleveland Petition.

The Lord Chamberlain, Lord Lieutenant for the County of Yorke, delivered in a Petition from the Gentry, Ministry, and Commonalty of Cleveland, in the County of Yorke, which was read, as followeth:

"Whereas we know no other Means, under God, to divert the just Judgements, which He hath executed against the Church of the Laodiceans for their Lukewarmness in Religion, or against the Church of Thyatyra for keeping Seducers, nor to prevent our imminent Dangers, but by a most necessary and speedy executing of the Laws of God and the King; we do therefore desire to certify, that we are resolved to live and die in the Faith of the Protestant Religion, knowing no other Means of Salvation; and that we will defend it with our Life and Goods; which that we may with our Abilities be encouraged in performing,

"We humbly, above all Things, desire that we may be secured, a happy Reformation afforded, and the Laws of God and the King without Favour or Delay justly put in Execution against Papists.

"And your Petitioners shall pray, etc."

This Petition is subscribed by many Hundred Hands, as may appear by the Original itself (vide the Petition).

After this, a Petition was delivered unto this House, by divers Gentlemen of the County of Oxon, which was read, in bæc verba: videlicet,

The Oxfordshire Petition.

"To the Right Honourable the Lords assembled in Parliament.

"The humble Petition of the Knights, Gentlemen, Freeholders, and Subsidy-men, of the best Rank and Quality, in the County of Oxon,

"Sheweth,

"That your Petitioners have, for divers Years, groaned under most heavy Pressures and Grievances both in our Religion and Civil Rights and Liberties, which were grown to such Height, that they became insupportable, and yet no Hopes of Redress appeared to the Eye of Man, till it pleased Almighty God, of His infinite Goodness, to stir up the King's Majesty to call this present Parliament, whereby our dying Hopes were raised to very great and confident Expectations of a full and perfect Reformation: But they were soon abated, to our exceeding great Discouragements, by the Letts and Hindrances, which are largely expressed in the late Remonstrance of the State of the Kingdom, set forth by the Honourable House of Commons, arising from the Endeavours of a malignant Party within the Kingdom, and (as we humbly conceive) from the Popish Lords and Bishops voting in the House of Peers: Nevertheless we cannot but entertain new Hopes of Comfort, and of the happy Proceedings and Success of this Parliament, beholding with unspeakable Joy your late Concurrence with that Honourable House of Commons, especially in taking away the Votes of Prelates, and setting this Kingdom in a Posture of Defence, which we do with all possible Thankfulness acknowledge.

"Humbly beseeching your Lordships, that you would keep up our Hopes, by proceeding, in your happy Concurrence with the House of Commons, to a perfect Reformation, and particularly in vindicating the Privileges of Parliament, discovering, punishing, and removing evil Counsellors and Magistrates, taking away from the Popish Lords their Votes in Parliament, utterly abolishing that Kingdom destroying Sin of Idolatry, together with Superstition and Arminianism, so much professed and countenanced in our University, passing the Bill against Pluralities, and joining in that Order of the House of Commons for the demolishing of Altars and scandalous Pictures: And your Petitioners shall still have Cause to look upon your Lordships with as high Esteem as ever our Forefathers did upon your most Noble Progenitors; and also, with our best Endeavours, will maintain you in your happy Concurrence with the said House of Commons, in your Persons, Honours and Dignities.

"And your Petitioners shall ever pray, etc."

Thanks given to the Petitioners.

This being read, the Gentlemen that presented it were commanded to withdraw; and the House taking it into their Consideration what Answer to give, they were called in; and the Speaker, by Directions of the House, gave them Thanks, for their Care of the Privileges of Parliament and of the Kingdom; and their Lordships will take their Petition into speedy Consideration.

This House was informed, "That divers Gentlemen of the County of North'ton are at the Door, to present a Petition to this House;" they were called in, and the Petition was read, in their Presence, in bæc verba:

"To the Right Honourable the House of Peers now assembled in Parliament.

The Northamptonshire Petition.

"The humble Petition of the Knights, Gentlemen, and Freeholders of the County of North'ton,

"Sheweth,

"That your Petitioners, with all humble Thankfulness, acknowledge your good Affections to the Church and Commonwealth, declared as well by your Concurrence with the Honourable House of Commons, in passing the Bill against the Bishops Votes and Place in your Honourable House, as also by your joint Endeavours to His Majesty, to put the Forts and Militia of the Kingdom, for the Safeguard thereof, into a Posture of Defence.

"But your Petitioners observing, to their Regret, that many Endeavours of the House of Commons have in great Part been made fruitless, through the cunning Practices of the Papists and their Adherents, with evil Counsels somenting (as your Petitioners humbly conceive) a Misunderstanding betwixt the King and His People, thereby hindering the passing of divers good Bills, and occasioning Obstructions to other good Proceedings, especially for the Settlement of Religion, and Reformation of Church Government:

"They do therefore humbly pray there may be still a Concurrence in your Lordships with the House of Commons, in the Use of such Means to His Majesty as may conduce to the Remedy of those Evils, as well by removing evil Counsellors from His Royal Person, and barring the Votes of Popish Lords your Honourable House, as also by disarming and restraining Recusants, securing the Cinque Ports, Tower of London, Isles of Weight, Jarsey, and Garnesey, with all other Forts of the Kingdom, punishing Delinquents, purging the Universities from Corruption in Doctrine and Manners, taking away Pluralities, settling competent Provision for deserving Ministers, establishing of Church Government according to the Word of God, and speedy Relief to our distressed Brethren in Ireland: To which End we desire to make Tender of our Persons and Estates, by all due Means, for Defence of His Majesty, and the Privileges of Parliament, with Readiness to comply with all your just Commands and Proceedings, praying for a happy Success and Issue thereof, further desiring your Lordships to take into Consideration the distressed Estate of the poorer Sort of People, who, for Want of Trade and Employment, are brought to Extremity, which (without timely Prevention) may prove of dangerous Consequence.

"And your Petitioners, as in Duty bound, shall ever pray, etc.

Thanks given to the Petitioners.

This Petition being read, the Gentlemen that presented it were commanded to withdraw; and the House taking into Consideration what Answer to give herein; which being resolved of, they were called in again; and the Speaker, by the Directions of this House, gave them Thanks for their Care and Affections of the Public, the Privileges of Parliament, and their Care of Ireland; and to let them know, that this House will take their Petition into a speedy Consideration.

Watkins, a Searcher, to seize all Popish Relicks, &c.

Ordered, etc. That Edward Watkins, Esquire, His Majesty's Chief Searcher outwards, shall stay and attach all Relicks of Popery, and Popish Books and Papers, that are or shall come to his Hands, and present them to a Committee of both Houses appointed purposely for that Occasion; and that the said Mr. Watkins shall, from Time to Time, attend the said Committee, as there shall be Cause, concerning the said Business.

Suits to be stayed against Officers for executing Warrants, etc. of the Courts lately abolished.

Ordered, etc. That Mr. Serjeant Glanvile, Mr. Serjeant Whittfeild, or either of them, shall forthwith prepare a Bill, for the preventing of Suits to be commenced after the 10th Day of February 1641, against any Sheriffs, Constables, Gaolers, and other Ministers and Officers, for executing or obeying any Warrant, Decree, Order, or Process, from the High Commission, Star-chamber, Court of Yorke, and Stanneries; and for the staying of all Actions or Suits, brought before the said 10th Day of February 1641, against any of the said Officers, or Ministers, for executing or obeying any such Order, Decree, Warrant, or Process, whereupon no Judgement was had before the said 10th Day of February aforesaid.

Sir Edmond Plowden, Tho. Insley, and the Warden of The Fleet.

Ordered, etc. That a former Order of this House, dated the 6th of August 1641, between Sir Edmond Plowden, Knight, and Thomas Insley, Complainants, against the Warden of The Fleet, Defendant, shall (by virtue hereof) be void, and of none Effect.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir Robert Rich and Mr. Page:

Message to the H. C. for a Committee to meet and peruse the Popish Relicks and Letters lately seized.

To let them know, that their Lordships are informed, That the Searcher of London hath lately stayed some Popish Relicks and Letters, which were going for Dunkerke; and that their Lordships have appointed a Committee of Lords, to join with a Committee of the House of Commons, to peruse the Letters and the said Relicks.

The Messengers return with this Answer from the House of Commons:

Answer.

That they have appointed a Committee to join with the Lords Committees, to peruse the Letters and the Popish Relicks.

Report about the Gunpowder sent to Mr. Draycott in Staffordshire.

Upon Report made by the Lord Pagett, "That his Lordship hath examined the Business concerning the Gunpowder, which was informed to be sent to Mr. Dracott, of Painsly, in Staffordshire; and that his Lordship finds, upon Examination, that one Thomas Parnell, a Tailor, dwelling in Bow-lane, in London, hath bought great Quantity of Powder, and sent it down into Staffordshire:" Hereupon this House Ordered, That the said Tho. Parnell shall be sent for, to attend this House forthwith, to be examined concerning this Business.

Bullion of Merchant Strangers.

The Lord Robartes reported from the Committee appointed to consider of the Petition of the Merchants trading for Bullion, "That the Merchants Strangers have propounded some Propositions, which they desired some Accomodations in.

"1. The First was a Doubt, that they feared, unless some Course be taken to settle the Tumults, Distractions, and Fears of the Kingdom, Strangers will be fearful to bring in their Bullion: To that their Lordships [ (fn. 2) told them] that the Parliament hath made a General Order to suppress Tumults and Disorders through the whole Kingdom.

"2. The Merchants said, they could not be satisfied of the Safety of their Bullion in The Tower, so long as there was a Lieutenant as they knew not, and could not confide in him; for that the Lords Committees told them, that the Houses of Parliament have recommended Sir John Conyers, Knight, to be Lieutenant of The Trever of London, in whom the Parliament and the Kingdom might confide.

"The Third Proposition was, that there be Three Months Warning given them, to dispose of their Bullion, in Case there should be a War between the Two Kingdoms of England and Spaine.

"For this their Lordships told them, that they would speak with some English Merchants trading for Spaine, to hear what they can say to this Particular.

"Likewise that the Merchants hath informed the Committee of a Letter, which was written from Antwerp, to a Merchant in London, containing Matters that are fit to be considered of by this House, which Letter shall be brought To-morrow, and communicated to this House.

Bishop of Armagh's Sermon at the Fast, false printed, called in.

Next, a Petition of the Archbishop of Armagh was read; shewing, "That whereas, by the Command of this House, he preached a Sermon at the Abbey of Westm. before their Lordships, on the Fast Day, at which Time some then present have taken certain Notes, and printed them in a Book called Vox Hiberniæ, and published it, and printed it, in the Name of one John Nicholson;" and because the said Sermon, as it is printed, is in many Places Nonsense, and contrary to the Scope as it was delivered; it is Ordered, by this House, That the said Sermon thus printed shall be suppressed and called in, and that, for this Purpose, the Order is to be directed to the Master and Wardens of the Company of Stationers in London.

Adjourn.

Dominus Capitalis Justiciarius de Communi Banco declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque in diem Veneris, videlicet, 11^m diem instantis Februarii, 1641, hora 1^a post meridiem, Dominis sic decernentibus.