House of Lords Journal Volume 7: 10 March 1645

DIE Lunæ, 10 die Martii.

PRAYERS, by Mr. Gower.

Ds. Grey de Warke, Speaker.

Book called Britannicus to be examined.

Information being made to this House, "That there is a Book lately printed and published, called Brittanicus, wherein there are divers unfitting Expressions touching the King."

Hereupon the House referred the perusing of it to Justice Reeves and Serjeant Whitfield, who are to report what they find in the Book to that Purpose.

Paper from the Assembly, about admitting Persons to the Sacrament.

The Committee appointed to consider of the Paper brought from the Assembly, concerning admitting of Persons to the Sacrament, reported, "That they have drawn the same into an Ordinance, which they offer to their Lordships Consideration."

The same being read Thrice, was approved of, and Ordered to be presently sent to the House of Commons, to desire their Concurrence therein.

Petition from the Ministers of London.

Next, a Petition was presented (fn. 1) to this House, from the Ministers of the City of London assembled at Zion Colledge; which was commanded to be read, as followeth. (Here enter it).

Answer to them.

The Speaker, by the Directions of this House, gave them Thanks, for their great Care expressed in their Petition; and let them know, "That this House this Morning passed an Ordinance to this Purpose, and intend to send it down to the House of Commons to this Purpose."

Dowager Lady Campden's Petition, to protect her Goods from Seizure.

Upon reading the Petition of Julian Viscountess Campden Dowager; desiring, "That her Goods may be freed from the said Seizure, and all Proceedings in the mean Time against her touching the same suspended:" It is Ordered, That the Contents of this Petition is referred to the Committee of Lords and Commons for Sequestrations.

Message from the H. C. for Concurrence in the following Particulars.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Mr. Waddon;

To desire Concurrence in these Particulars:

1. A (fn. 2) Title for the Directory. (Here enter it).

Agreed to.

2. (fn. 3) To desire Concurrence in the mending of a Clause mistaken in the Ordinance concerning the new Commissioners for the Customs. (Here enter it.)

Read, and Agreed to.

3. An Order for a Collection to be made, on the Day of Thanksgiving for Weymouth, Melcombe Regis, and Plymouth.

Read, and Agreed.

4. To desire Expedition in the List for Officers.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That this House will send an Answer, by Messengers of their own, concerning the List of Soldiers: To all the rest of the Particulars, this House agrees to them.

Message to the H. C. that the Lords agree to the Ordinance about Essex, and Sir Tho. Fairfax's Officers; and with Two for Concurrence.

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

To desire their Concurrence in the Ordinance concerning admitting of Persons to the Sacrament.

2. To desire Concurrence in the Deputy Lieutenants for Essex.

3. To let them know, that this House agrees with them (fn. 4) in the Ordinance concerning Essex.

4. To deliver to them the List of the Names of the Officers which are to be employed in Sir Tho. Fairefaix' Army, with the Alterations.

Stavely & Uxor.

Upon reading the Petition of Arthur Staveley Esquire, desiring "a Day to be heard, to shew a legal Cause, such as this House shall approve of, why he should not pay the Money to his Wife, according to the Order of this House."

It is Ordered, That this House will hear Counsel, at this Bar, concerning the said Decree, on Thursday after Easter Week; and convenient Notice to be given hereof.

Colonel Keye's Petition, that his Commission, Cloaths, &c. are taken from him.

Upon reading the Petition of Colonel Robert Keyes, Prisoner in the King's Bench, "That the Officers of the Committee of The Savoy do detain from him his Commission, Horse, Cloaths, and other Things, which they took from him when he was brought before the Committee for Examinations."

It is Ordered, That Two of the Committee of The Savoy do attend this House To-morrow Morning, and give an Account thereof; and the Petitioner (fn. 5) to attend also.

Title of the Directory for Public Worship.

The Title:

"A Directory for the Public Worship of God, throughout the Three Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.

"Together with an Ordinance of Parliament, for the taking away of the Book of Common Prayer; and for establishing and observing of this present Directory throughout the Kingdom of England and Dominion of Wales."

Order for a Collection on the Thanksgiving-day for Plymouth, Weymouth, &c.

"The Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, taking into Consideration the great Distress and Calamity of the Town of Plymouth, Melcombe Regis, and Weymouth, Order, That the Collections on the General Thanksgiving-day, being the 12th Day of this present Month of March, be taken and employed for the Relief of the Widows, maimed Soldiers, and other poor and destitute, in and of the Town of Plymouth, Weymouth; and Melcombe, and commend the same to the charitable and tender Compassions of all good Men and Women; requiring the Ministers, in the several Congregations, to stir up and exhort their Auditors to all Readiness and Chearfulness in so good and godly a Work: The said Lords and Commons further Order, That the said Collections be taken by the several Churchwardens in the usual Manner, and then delivered and paid to Michaell Herring Merchant, at Goldsmiths-hall, giving his Acquittance for the Receipts; and the said Monies to be disposed of by the Committee for the Safety of the West, for the Ends aforesaid; and the said Collectors are, within Seven Days after their respective Receipts, to give Accompt in Writing to the said Michaell Herring, to the End the same may be speedily employed as aforesaid; and the Lord Mayor of London is hereby desired to distribute Copies hereof accordingly to the several Parishes within the Lines of Communication."

Petition of the London Ministers, about Church Government, and the Administration of the Sacrament.

"To the Right Honourable the Lords assembled in Parliament.

"The humble Petition of the Ministers of the City of London, assembled at Zion Colledge;

"Humbly sheweth,

"That your Petitioners heartily bless the Lord our God, who hath so graciously remembered us of this Kingdom, in our low Estate, as by His Providence to call and continue together in Parliament so many zealous and faithful Instruments of His Glory and the Public Weal, having lifted up your Hearts in the Ways of God so far above all the great Mountains of Difficulties and Discouragements you have met withall, as to give us some Taste of the intended Reformation, both in opening an happy Door for Ordination of Ministers, for the replenishing of the Lord's Harvest with faithful Labourers, as also in bringing the Directory for Public Worship so near the Birth; for which we return all humble and hearty Thanks, and from which First Fruits we are encouraged in our Expectation of our full Enjoyment of our Hopes.

"Nevertheless, Renowned Worthies, extreme Necessity doth enforce us, with sad Hearts, to present to your deep and pious Considerations the dangerous and unspeakable Mischiefs, which, like a Flood, break in upon us, and swell higher and higher every Day; every Man taking Liberty to do what is right in his own Eyes, because no Ecclesiastical Discipline or Government at all is yet settled, for the guarding of the precious Ordinances of Christ, especially that Holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, from Prophanation and Contempt; whence it comes to pass, that God is much dishonoured; the tender Consciences of many, both Ministers and People, are offended; Multitudes fall away into several and strange By-paths of Separation; our Parochial Congregations, both in City and Country, are woefully rent in Pieces, through Schisms and Faction; the Celebration of the Lord's Supper in many Congregations is wholly omitted, and likely to be so in many more, unless some sufficient Remedy against the Abuses of this sacred Ordinance be presently applied; the pious Ministers are extremely discouraged in their Ministerial Employments; many, that have formerly manifested good Affections, being much wearied with long Expectation, do daily withdraw both from the Parliament, their Orthodox Ministers, and from one another.

"For Removal of all such Evils, and the happy uniting of the well-affected both to you and one to another, may it please this Honourable House, according to your Wisdoms, with the Advice of the Assembly of Divines, to publish, with the Directory for Worship, some effectual Course to keep back ignorant and scandalous Persons from the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.

"And Your Petitioners shall ever pray, &c.

"Attested, in the Name of the Ministers aforesaid, by

"Immanuell Bourne.
James Naltons.
Tymothy Dod.
Elidad Blackwell.
Thomas Blake.
Francis Roberts.
Charles Ofspring."

Adjourn.

House adjourned till 9^a cras.