House of Commons Journal Volume 2: 16 April 1641

Die Veneris, 16 April',1641.

PRAYERS.

Lawrance's Nat.

1^a vice lecta AN Act for the Naturalizing of Adam est Billa, Lawrance and John Lawrance, Sons of Mark Lawrance.

Kirke's Nat.

1^a vice lecta est Billa, An Act for the Naturalizing of John Kirke and James Kirke, Merchants, and of Mary Kirke, now the Wife of Wm. Wise, Gent. Children of Gervase Kirke Merchant, deceased.

Customs.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee for the Customers, to consider what Party or Parties, in all Ports and Sea Towns, are fit to be authorized from this House, to take good Security of such as have their Tobaccoes, or other Goods, seized, or deposited for Customs or Impositions, in any Warehouse or Warehouses in any of the said Ports or Sea Towns.

Blachford's Nat.

1^a vice lecta est Billa, An Act for the Naturalizing of Wm. Blachford, Son of Wm. Blachford, of Dorchester, Merchant.

Abuses in Hospitals, &c.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee for scandalous Ministers, to consider of the State of all the Hospitals and Free-Schools within the Kingdom of England, and Wales; and to consider of the Misemployment and Abuses of the Revenues, and Government of them; and of some Way of Redress.

Chambers' Petition.

The humble Petition of Richard Chambers, of London, Merchant, was this Day read; and referred to the Committee of the Customers; to consider of the whole Business; and to report it to the House.

'Tis likewise Ordered, That the Barons of the Exchequer be required, from this House, forthwith to supersede and stay the Process against Mr. Chambers, upon the Extent of the Fine laid upon him by Sentence in the Star-chamber, until this House shall take farther Order in the Business.

Committees to meet.

Ordered, That the Committee of Twenty-four for the Remonstrance of the State of the Kingdom, and the Petition, do meet this Afternoon, at Two of Clock, in the Inner Court of Wards.

Ordered, That all Committees for public Bills be revived, to meet this Afternoon, in their usual Places.

Clergy's Secular Affairs.

Ordered, That the Committee for the Bill, that Clergymen shall not intermeddle with Secular Affairs, do meet this Afternoon, at Two of Clock, in the Court of Wards.

Proceedings against Earl of Straford.

Ordered, That the House shall first take into Consideration the Report of the Conference with the Lords, made Yesterday, concerning the Proceedings against the Earl of Straford.

Resolved, upon the Question, That it is sufficiently proved, that Tho. Earl of Straford hath endeavoured to subvert the ancient and fundamental Laws of these Realms of England and Ireland; and to introduce an arbitrary and tyrannical Government, against Law.

Mr. Perd went up to the Lords, with a Message to this Effect;

That this House is at present in the Debate of a great Business; and fear they cannot come to a Resolution so soon as to come to their Lordships for a Conference this Forenoon: If they cannot, they resolve to sit this Afternoon; and desire their Lordships would be pleased to do the like, if it may stand with their Conveniency.

Watermens Petition.

A Petition from the Generality of Watermen was this Day exhibited to the House, and ordered to be taken into Consideration, when the Bill for the Watermen shall be considered of by this House.

Lords to sit.

Mr. Perd brings Answer, that their Lordships will sit at Four of Clock.

Earl of Straford's Counsel.

Resolved, upon the Question, That a Committee of the whole House shall hear the Earl of Straford's Counsel, in Westminster-hall, concerning Matter in Law.

House to sit, &c.

Ordered, That the House sit this Afternoon, at Two of Clock; and that the House then take the Proceedings against the Earl of Straford into farther Consideration.

Post Meridiem

Brick-making.

1^a vice lecta est Billa, An Act for the better Making of Bricks.

Bays and Says making.

1^a vice lecta est Billa, An Act for the Regulating the Making of Bays and Says, commonly called the New Drapery.

Proceedings against Earl of Straford.

Mr. Maynard, Mr. Glynne, Mr. Pimme, Sir Jo. Colpeper, Mr. Hampden, Mr. Reignolds, Mr. Whistler, Sir Jo. Hotham, Sir Jo. Clotworthy, Mr. Strode, Mr. Hatcher, Mr. Fines, Mr. Prideaux;

This Committee is to retire presently into the Committee-chamber, to prepare Heads for a Conference to be desired with the Lords, concerning the farther Proceedings against the Earl of Straford.

Mr. Maynard reports the Heads of this Conference, to this Effect:

1. To take notice of their Lordships Resolution to hear the Earl of Straford's Counsel, in Matter of Law.

2. To put their Lordships in mind of the Saving of this House, in that Point; and farther, to tell them, that if, after his Counsel shall be heard, any Doubt shall remain with their Lordships, they shall be ready to satisfy them, in due Time.

3. That, to this End, they do intend to send a Committee of this House, only to hear what his Counsel shall say.

This Particular raised some Debate in the House: And, being put to the Question; the House was divided upon it: But yet, after the Tellers were appointed, the Noes yielded to the Yeas, without Telling.

4. To desire, that their Lordships would be pleased to use all Expedition to give an End to this Trial, as much as in Justice may be: To desire a Continuance of their Care, that the Counsel, under Colour of speaking to the Matter of Law, ravel not into the Matter of Fact.

Sir Ro. Harley went up to the Lords, to desire a free Conference with their Lordships, by a Committee of both Houses, upon the free Conference had Yesterday with their Lordships, concerning the farther Proceedings against the Earl of Straford.

Sir Ro. Harley brings Answer, that their Lordships will give a present Meeting, as is desired.

The Committee that was appointed to prepare Heads for the Conference, concerning the farther Proceedings against the Earl of Straford, are to manage this Conference; and to report it, if Occasion be.

Ordered, That the Committee formerly appointed to preserve Places for the Committee of the whole House in Westminster-hall, do employ their endeavours in that Service.

Sir Jo. Corbett, Mr. Moore, Sir Edmund Fowell, Mr. Cholmeley, Sir Arth. Heselrigg, Mr. Nicholls, are added to that Committee.

Earl of Straford's Counsel.

A Message from the Lords by J. Foster and J. Heath.

The Lords have sent this Message; That they will be set To-morrow Morning by Ten of Clock, in Westminster-hall, to hear the Lord of Straford's Counsel, in Matter of Law.

To meet at Westm-hall.

Ordered, That the House shall meet, as a Committee, To-morrow at Ten of Clock, at Westminster-hall: And that the House meet here at Two of Clock.