House of Lords Journal Volume 3: 20 May 1626

DIE Sabbati, videlicet, 20 die Maii,

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales, quorum nomina subscribuntur, præsentes fuerunt:

Ld. Chamberlain excused.

THE Lord Chamberlain excused.

Martin et Ux. versus Blakiston in Error.

It was this Day Ordered, at the Petition of Roger Martine, of Long Melford, in the County of Suss. Gentleman, and Ann his Wife, That a Writ of Scire facias shall be awarded, out of the Office of the Petty bag in the Chancery, to be directed to the Lord Bishop of Durham, to give Warning to Marmaduke Blakiston, Clerk, returnable the 14th Day of June next, ad andiendum quosdam Errores in Recordo et Processu, ac etiam in Redditione Judicii, Loquelæ quæ fuerunt in Curia Domini Regis nunc, coram ipso Rege, inter ipsos Rogerum et Annam et prædictum Marmaducum, in Placito Debiti super Recognitione, et ad faciendum et recipiendum quod Curia Parliamenti Domini Regis considerabit super Præmissis.

His Majesty's Answer unto the Petition of the House, concerning the Earl of Arundell, on the 19th of this May, at Whithall: videlicet,

His Majesty's Answer to the Petition of the House, on Behalf of the E. of Arundel.

"My Lords,

"I see that, in your Petition, you acknowledge Me a King of as much Goodness as ever was; for which I thank you; and I will endeavour, by the Grace of God, never to deserve other. But in this I observe you contradict yourselves; for, if you believe Me to be such as you say, I am (fn. 1) sure you have no Reason to mistrust the Sincerity of My Promises; for whereas, upon often Petitions made by you to Me concerning this Business, I have promised to give you full Answer with all convenient Speed; by than again importuning of Me, you seem to distrust My former Promises. But it may be said there is an emergent Cause, for that I have delivered a Member of the House of Commons. In this, My Lords, by your Favours, you are mistaken; for the Causes do no Ways agree, for that he that was committed of the House of Commons was committed for Words spoken before both Houses; which being such as I had just Cause to commit him, yet because I found that they might be Words only misplaced, and not ill meant, and were so conceived by many honest Men, I was content, upon this Interpretation, to release him, without any Suit from the Lower House; whereas My Lord of Arundell's Fault was directly against Myself, having no Relation to the Parliament; yet, because I see you are so impatient, I will make you a fuller Answer than yet I have done; not doubting but you will rest contented with that.

"It is true, I committed him for a Cause which most of you know; and, though it had been no more, I had Reason to do it. Yet, My Lords, I assure you, I have Things of far greater Importance to lay to his Charge, which you must excuse Me to tell you at this Time, because it is not yet ripe; and it would much prejudice My Service to do it. And this, by the Word of a King, I do not speak out of a Desire to delay you; but, as soon as it is possible, you shall know the Cause; which is such as I know you will not judge to be any Breach of your Privilege; for, My Lords, by this I do not mean to shew the Power of a King, by diminishing of your Privileges."

This being read again;

Committee for Privileges.

It was Ordered, The Committees for Privileges to meet on Monday next, at Two in the Afternoon, and to consider how further to proceed with dutiful Respect to His Majesty; and yet so as may be for Preservation of the Privileges of the Peers of this Land, and the Liberties of the House of Parliament.

Dyed and Dressed Cloths.

The Earl of Westm'land reported the Bill for venting of Dyed and Dressed Cloths fit to pass, without any Alteration. But the Merchants of the Turkey Company had desired a Proviso to be added for them. Their Petition to that Purpose was read, and the Bill re-committed to the former Committee, with Addition of these Lords: videlicet, *

Newcastle Coal-trade to be secured.

The House being moved to consider of the maintaining of Eight Ships and Two Pinnaces to secure the Ships of Newcastle; and a Provision made by the Lord Admiral that (among other Things) the Measure of Sea-coals in London, which the City now claimeth, and (as was affirmed) did heretofore anciently belong unto the Admiralty, might be converted to that Purpose, in Case the Right thereof belongs to the Admiralty;

The Consideration hereof was referred to the Lords Committees for Defence and Safety of the Kingdom; and the City is to have Notice thereof, and to shew their Right unto the same.

Dungeness Light-house.

The House was also moved to consider of the Contribution to be paid to Denginesse, out of which an Allowance might be made for the said Eight Ships and Two Pinnaces; and yet the same Sufficiently maintained.

Building large Ships.

And also to consider of Five Shillings on the Ton to be allowed by His Majesty (as heretofore), towards the Building of every Ship of above an Hundred Ton as it may be settled again in such Sort as formerly it was, to encourage the Subjects to build Ships of the bigger Burthen; and that they might be ordered to build those Ships in such Manner as there might be Use made of them in Time of War.

And also to consider of the Building of Ships so as they may be fit for Pursuit as well as for Burthen; and the Ship-wrights to be called for that Purpose.

Committee for Safety and Defence of the Kingdom.

All which was referred to the Consideration of the Lords Committees for Defence and Safety of the Kingdom.

And these Lords were added to the said Committee; videlicet, Earl of Devon, Lord Viscount Wimbleton, and the Lord Conway.

To meet on Wednesday next, at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Painted Chamber.

Sir Francis Browne's Privilege.

This Day Sir Francis Browne was brought before the Lords, by virtue of the Habeas corpus cum causa granted Maii.

The Writ and Return being read; the Creditor Jervis Gore (who appeared also) denied Sir Francis to be a Privileged Man at the Time of the Arrest; but it was affirmed by some of the Lords to the contrary; and that he was then Servant to the late King. It appeared also that the said Sir Francis was arrested on the 16th Day of February 1624, on which Day that Parliament was prorogued.

Ordered, The said Sir Francis Browne to be remanded to The Fleet, and to be brought again by Habeas corpus before the Lords Committees for Privileges, etc. on Monday next, at Two after Dinner; and their Lordships to consider of his Enlargement. And for that the said Jervis Goore gave very contemptuous Speeches of their Lordships Order for him to appear here, when it was shewn him (as was affirmed this Day, upon the Oath of Francis Weston), he the said Jervis Gore was committed to The Fleet, during the Pleasure of the House.

Momorandum, That, upon the Reading of the Names of the Lords Sub-committees for Privileges, etc. and to peruse and perfect the Journal Book;

Every Order to be read, before it is entered.

It was this Day Ordered, The Clerk to read every Order first in the House, before it be entered.

Adjourn.

Dominus Custos Magni Sigilli declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque in diem Lunæ, 22^m diem instantis Maii, hora nona, Dominis sic decernentibus.