House of Lords Journal Volume 6: 16 May 1644

DIE Jovis, 16 die Maii.

PRAYERS, by Mr. Reynolds.

Domini præsentes fuerunt:

Ds. Grey de Warke, Speaker.

Archbishop of Cant's Trial to be heard every Monday.

Ordered, That this House will hear the Trial of the Archbishop of Canterbury (fn. 1) every Monday until it be ended; upon which Day no other Business shall be done, to put this Trial off.

Colonel King and Ld. Willoughby.

Next, Colonel Kinge delivered in his Answer, at this Bar, to the Charge of the Lord Willoughby; which was read, as followeth. (Here enter it.)

E. of Denbigh desires a Supply of Money.

The Earl of Northumb. and the Lord Viscount Say & Seale reported, "That, according to their Lordships Order Yesterday, they have opened the Letters from the Earl of Denbigh, and the Letters of the Earl of Denbigh are Matters of Supply of Monies; the rest are ordinary News of the Passages of Affairs."

Archbishop of Cant's Trial.

The House heard the further Trial of the Archbishop of Canterbury upon the Remainder of the Sixth Article, concerning the advancing of his Power over the King's.

And this House Ordered, The Archbishop should make Answer to this Evidence at Four a Clock this Afternoon.

"The Answer of Colonel Edward King to the Articles exhibited against him in the Right Honourable House of Peers.

Colonel King's Answer to Lord Willoughby's Charge.

"1. To the First he saith, That the Matters contained in the Remonstrance mentioned in this Article were, long before these Articles exhibited in this Honourable House, complained of in the House of Commons, and referred to a special Committee of that House in January last, which hath met about the same; in regard whereof, he humbly conceiveth that he neither safely can nor ought to give any Answer thereunto, without special Order from the Commons House, where the said Matters are yet under Examination; it being (as he is informed) a Breach of the Privilege of the House of Commons, which he is bound by his Protestation and Covenant to maintain.

"2. To the Second, he denyeth that he hath inveigled or seduced any of the Lord Willoughbye's Soldiers; but saith, he did receive a Foot Regiment of the Lord Willoughbye's to serve under the Earl of Manchester, according to a Vote of the House of Commons, and Directions from the said Earl upon the same.

"3. To the Third, he saith, he did take Wool, Horses, and other Goods, from Tattershall Castle, Bellue, and other Places, which was conveyed thither by the Lord Willoughbye's Officers, being the Goods of Malignants, by virtue of a Commission from the Earl of Manchester, in Pursuance of an Ordinance of both Houses for Sequestration of Malignants Estates.

"4. To the Fourth, he confesseth he did once break open the Lord Willoughbye's Letters, sent by one Sympson, a Spurrier, to Colonel Disny and other Officers, perceiving by the said Sympson's Relation, before he opened them, that they were of ill Consequence; which Letters when he had opened and read, he sent to the Earl of Manchester, and imprisoned the said Sympson for Two or Three Days, till the Earl of Manchester released him; which Act, being done only in Discharge of his Trust and Duty as a Commander under the said Earl, he humbly conceiveth to be justifiable. The rest of the Article he denieth.

"5. To the Fifth, he saith, That he was a Prisoner under the Enemy when the County of Lincolne was first lost; and that, when he was released, it was generally reported that Gainseborough and Lincolne (and by Consequence the greatest Part of that County) were lost by the Lord Willoughby and his Officers; whereupon it is possible he might affirm, that the County of Lincolne was lost by them, though he remembered not he spoke any such Words; the Loss where of being now in Examination before the Honourable House of Commons, he humbly conceiveth it ought not to be questioned elsewhere without their Privity and Assent.

"6. To the Sixth, he utterly denieth it, and humbly prayeth to be dismissed with Costs, and discharged from any further Attendance on this Honourable House, that so he may attend his Charge and Military Employments, where his Presence is necessary for the Public Service.

"Edw. King."

Adjourn.

House adjourned till 4^a post meridiem.

Post meridiem.

PRAYERS, by Mr. Reynolds.

Domini præsentes fuerunt:

Ds. Grey de Warke, Speaker.

Archbishop of Cant's Trial.

Then the House heard the Archbishop's Answer to the Evidence this Morning.

Ordered, This House will hear the Trial of the Archbishop again on Monday Morning next, and so every Monday until the Business be ended.

Adjourn.

House adjourned until 9^a cras.