House of Commons Journal Volume 2: 22 April 1640

Mercurii, 22 Aprilis, 16 Car. Regis.

PRAYERS.

Leave of Absence.

MR. Pimme asked Leave for Sir Tho. Cheeke, for Ten Days.-Assented unto.

Committee for Perusal of Records.

The Committee for Perusal of the Records, to meet at Two of Clock post Meridiem, in the Exchequer Chamber.

Smart's Petition.

The Petition from Peter Smart, was read.

Mr. Secretary Windebank, Mr. Pimme, Sir Rob. Harloe, Sir Jo. Hotham, Mr. Hampden, Mr. Kirton, Mr. Crew, Mr. Ramsey, Sir Wm. Masham, Sir Miles Fleetwood;

This select Committee is to peruse the whole Matter of Mr. Smart's Petition; has Power to send for Parties and Witnesses; to view all such Orders or Decrees, that may any way conduce to the Proof of the Particulars alleged in the Petition; to examine and consider, by what Authority he is committed, and upon what Cause he is so restrained; to meet this Afternoon, at Five of Clock, in the Court of Wards.

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Report to be considered.

Ordered, This Business of the Report this Day made by Mr. Speaker, to be referred for a Debate To-morrow Morning; [and the House then] to be resolved into a Committee; and to pursue [it with all convenient] Expedition.

Fast Day.

Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench, and Judge Foster, bring down a Message from the Lords;

That their Lordships have attended the King, to know his Pleasure concerning a Fast.-He is well pleased to concur with us in our Desire.

Their Lordships desire a Conference, concerning the Time, with a Committee of this House, at Three of Clock this Afternoon, in the Painted Chamber.-Their Number Twelve.

The Messengers, after they had a while retired themselves, were again called it, and Answer returned by them, That this House will meet their Lordships, at the Time and Place, with a double Number, as the usual Custom is.

Mr. Treasurer, Mr. Secretary Windebank, Mr. Comptroller, Sir W. Erle, Mr. Hampden, Ld. Dungarvon, Sir Rob. Harley, Sir Miles Fleetewood, Mr. Kirton, Sir Tho. Barrington, Mr. Capell, Ld. Digby, Ld. Herbert, Mr. Purefrey, Sir Wm. Masham, Sir H. Martin, Sir Anthony Ereby, Sir Francis Seymour, Lord Russell, Sir H. Mildmay, Mr. H. Piercy, Ld. Cramborne, Mr. Perpoint, Ld. Wentworth;

This Committee is to meet the Lords at a Conference, this Afternoon at Three of Clock, in the Painted Chamber; and Mr. Secretary Windebank is to make Report to the House.

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Commission to Convocation.

Report from the Committee that was Yesterday appointed to view the Commission that was lately granted to the Convocation.-That this Commission was not inrolled, nor went forth by Order from the Signet, or Privy Seal, but by an immediate Command of his Majesty, signified unto the Lord Keeper: That they found the Docket [of it] remaining with the Clerk of the Crown, by which it appeared, that, by this Commission, Power is given unto them to alter or amend the old Constitutions and Canons, and to make [new].

Exceptions to a Member's Words.

Mr. Dell, a Member of this House, saying, that a Member of this House did say, that the Churches beyond Seas were about to fall from us, because we were about to leave our Religion; there were great Exceptions taken at this, and he was much urged to name the Man: At last, he named Mr. Pimme.

Upon Question, it was resolved, that Mr. Pimme never, since the beginning of this Parliament, has at any time let fall any unfitting Speeches.

The whole House also seemed generally to be of Opinion, that there were no such Words spoken by any Man.

Mr. Dell does acknowledge, he was mistaken; and will rest rather upon the Sense of this House than his own.

But it was further moved, That, if in any Place, or before any Company, he had reported these Words, he should in the same Place, and before the same Company, retract and disavow them:

Upon this Motion, he professed, upon his Credit, that, to the best of his Remembrance, he had never reported them any where, nor to any Person; but if it should appear that he had, he was ready to retract and disavow them.

Resolved, upon the Question, That upon the Matter of the Petitions that come from the Country, and the Information we have had concerning the Commission lately directed to the Convocation, we shall send a Message to the Lords, to desire a Conference with them, to prevent any Innovation in Matter of Religion.

Mr. Holborne, Mr. E. Hide, Mr. St. Johns, Dr. Jones, Dr. Eden, Sir Ro. Harley, Mr. Vaughan, Sir Ben. Rudyar, Sir M. Fleetewood, Mr. Pimme, Mr. Hampden, Sir Tho. Barrington, Sir F. Seymour, Mr. Crew, Sir H. Martyn, Mr. Bridgman, Mr. Grimston;

This Committee is to take View of the Commission (if they can) lately granted to the Convocation; and to prepare the Heads of the Conference ordered to be desired with the Lords, concerning this Matter, and concerning the Matter of the Petitions that come from the Country.