House of Commons Journal Volume 2: 30 October 1641

Die Sabbati, 30 Octobr. 1641.

PRAYERS .

Turkish, &c. Captives.

1² vice lecta est Billa, AN Act for the Relief of the Captives taken by Turkish, Moorish, and other Pirates; and to prevent the Taking of others in time to come.

Dover Petition.

The humble Petition of the Inhabitants of the Corporation of the Town and Port of Dover; and also of the Flanders Merchants and Factors, now residing and dwelling at Dover, ordered to be referred to the Committee appointed to take a Review of the true State of the Poll-money.

Preacher appointed.

Ordered, That Dr. Burgesse be desired, from this House to preach on the 5th of No. next, before the Members of this House: Who are ordered all to meet on the same Day, in St. Margarett's Church in Westminster, at Nine of the Clock: And Mr. Glyn, Sir Rob. Pye, Mr. Wheeler, and Mr. Bell, and the Justices of the Peace for Westminster, are desired at that time to preserve the Church free from Strangers.

Person sent for.

Resolved, upon the Question, That Wm. Roberts shall he forthwith sent for, as a Delinquent, by the Serjeant at Arms attending on this House, for abusing of Robert Burrows, One of the Collectors of the Poll-money for the City of Westminster, in the Execution of his Office.

Desiring Lords to sit.

Ordered, That Mr. Arth. Goodwyn do go up to the Lords with this Message;

To acquaint their Lordships that this House intends so sit this Afternoon; and desire their Lordships to be pleased to sit likewise, they having Business of Importance to acquaint them withal.

Star-chamber Proceedings.

Mr. King further reports the Case of the Soap Business: Whereupon it was

Resolved, upon the Question,

7. That all those who made the Decree in the Star-chamber are Delinquents.

Resolved, &c.

8. That the Proclamation, dated 26° Jan. 1633, made in pursuance of the Decree of Star-chamber of the 23th of August 1633, for regulating the Trade of Soapers; and Two other Proclamations, the One dated the 13th of July 1634, and the other dated 25° Jan. 1634, concerning Soapers; are illegal; and tend to the Subversion of the Laws of this Realm; and are against the Liberty of the Subject.

Resolved, &c.

9. That the Orders of the Council-board of the 29th of September 1634, of the 24th of November 1634, 29th of July 1635, concerning the Soapers; and of the 18th of December 1636, for a Commission to Sir John Hales Knight, and John Howe Esquire; and the dormant Warrant of the 31th of December 1636, to such as the Soapers of Westminster should nominate; were illegal, and against the Liberty of the Subject.

Resolved,

10. That all those who signed the Warrants, were Delinquents.

Resolved,

11. That the Restraining of the Subjects Persons; the Examination of them upon Oaths, against themselves; the Imposing of Fines upon them, and the Sharing of those Fines; by Colour of the Order of the Council-table, dated the 18th of December 1636; and a pretended Commission directed unto Sir John Hales Knight, and John Howe Esquire; are illegal, and a Grievance to the Subject; and the same were put in Execution by the said Sir John Hales, John Howe, and Corporation of Soapers of Westminster, and their Officers; and they, for the Doing thereof, are Delinquents, and ought to make Amends to the Parties damnified thereby.

Resolved, &c.

12. That the Matters agreed upon by the Indenture of Covenants, dated 12 April 1636, made between the King and Sir Henry Compton, and the rest of the Soapers of Westminster, were illegal; and a great Grievance to the Subject; and of dangerous Consequence in the Execution.

Resolved, &c.

13. That these several Parties, viz. that were Covenantees with the King, by the Indenture of Covenants dated the 12 of April 1636, are Delinquents, and ought to make Amends to the Commonwealth; and to all such as after those Covenants entered into, were restrained the Use of their Trades of making Soap, or susstained any Loss in their Vats, Pans, or otherwise, by Occasion of the Corporation of Westminster.

Resolved, &c.

14. That the Obligations entered into by the Soapers of London to his Majesty, upon their Deliverance out of Prison, upon the Sentence of Star-chamber, conditioned that they would not make any more Soap, without the Licence of the Corporation of Westminster, were illegal, and contrary to the Liberty of the Subject.

Ordered, That the Committee for the Soap Business do meet on Tuesday Morning at Eight of the Clock, in the Exchequer-chamber, and prepare a Charge against those Parties voted Delinquents in the Soap Business to be transmitted to the Lords; and also to take into Consideration the other Matters concerning the Soap Busisiness referred unto them: And to report the same to the House.

Resolved, upon the Question, That Sir Jo. Hales, Francis Plowden, Fitzwilliam Connisby, Edmund Windham, John Gifford, George Vaughan, Sir Edw. Stradlinge, shall be sent for, as Delinquents, by the Serjeant at Arms attending on this House.

Resolved, upon the Question, That Mr. Fitzwilliam Cognnisby is a Monopolist within the Intention of the Order of this House, made 9° No. last.

Hereford Writ.

Resolved, upon the Question, That a Warrant shall issue forth, under Mr. Speaker's Hand, for a Writ for the Election of a Knight of the Shire for the County of Hereford, in the Stead of Mr. Fitzwilliam Connisby.

Safety of the Prince.

Ordered, That a Conference be desired with the Lords, to desire them to injoin the Marquis of Hertford, to take the Prince into his Charge; and to give his personal Attendance on the Prince; and not to absent himself from his Person, till the Houses give further Order; and that he suffer no Servants to be about the Prince, but such as he will be answerable for.

Persons to attend.

Ordered, That Mr. Phillipps (commonly called Father Phillipps) and Monsieur Mon Siccott, be summoned to give their personal Appearance on Monday next at Ten of the Clock: And the Serjeant at Arms, attending on this House, is to send a Messenger of Purpose to give them the said Summons.

Safeguard of the Prince.

Mr. Hotham is to go up to the Lords with this Message;

To desire a Conference, by a Committee of both Houses, as soon as it may stand with their Lordships Conveniency, concerning the Safeguard of the Prince.

Person to attend.

Ordered, That Dr. William Fuller, Vicar of Cripplegate London, be summoned to give his personal Attendance on this House on Wednesday next.

Conference.

Mr. Hotham brings Answer from the Lords, that they will give a Meeting presently, in the Painted Chamber.

Committee for Money.

Ordered, That the Committee for Money do meet on Monday Morning at Eight.. Clock, in the Treasury-chamber: And Mr. Greene is added to that Committee.

Mr. Benson, a Member.

Ordered, That Mr. Reignolds do make his Report concerning Mr. Benson, a Member of this House, on Monday Morning next; who is required then to attend.

Scandalous Ministers.

Ordered, That the Committee for scandalous Ministers d meet on Tuesday Morning next at Eight of the Clock, in the Star-chamber: And Mr. Corbett is ordered to bring in a Report from that Committee, on Thursday Morning.

Ministers Maintenance.

2da vice lecta est Billa, An Act for the better Maintenance of the Ministry.

Safety of the Prince.

Mr. Pym, reports from the Committee of both Houses, at the last Conference, that he had delivered to the Lords.. he had in Charge from this House: Who desired them to stay a while; and returned this Answer; That they did agree with us, to enjoin the Marquis of Hertford forthwith to take the Prince into his Charge; and to admit of no Person to be about the Prince, but such as he will be answerable for to the King and Kingdom; and that he diligently attend the Person of the Prince: And had put the Substance of this in Writing.

Which being read, it was

Resolved, upon the Question, that That should be sent to the Marquis of Hartford, from both Houses.

He further reported, that the Lords had nominated a noble Person, to go and acquaint the Queen with the Desires of both Houses, lest Misconstructions should be made thereof.