House of Commons Journal Volume 2: 16 April 1640

Jovis, 16 Aprilis, 1640.

PRAYERS.

Petitions.

IT is ordered, these Petitions now offered, according to their Figuring, should have Precedency in the Committee, viz. 1. Bewdley. 2. Bedwin. 3. Estington. 4. Mynhead. 5. East Greensteed. 6. Sudbury. 7. Michell. 8. Edmond Hoskins, of the Inner Temple, Esquire.

Common Recoveries.

1^a vice lecta, An Act to avoid the Abuse of Common Recoveries to be suffered by Infants.

Members make Elections.

Mr. Stapeley, returned a Knight of the Shire for Sussex, and a Burgess for Lewis, chooses to serve as Knight for Sussex, and waves Lewis.

Mr. E. Hide, chosen for Shaftsbury and Wotton Bassett, chuses for Wotton Bassett.

Mr. A. Popham chooses for Bath, and waves Mynhead.

Mr. Harryson chooses for Lancaster, and waves Quinborough.

Sir R. Winne chooses Andever, and waves Bodmin and Newton.

Mr. White chooses Rye, and waves East Grinsteed.

Sir Jo. Packington waves Aylesbury, and chooses to serve as Knight for Worcestershire.

Writs to be issued.

Ordered, - Warrant to issue, under Mr. Speaker's Hand, to the Clerk of the Crown, for Writs for new Elections, in the room of all several Elections, waved as aforesaid.

Controverted Elections, &c.

Ordered also, That all such which will question any Elections returned, shall do the same by Petition within Ten Days. And it was motioned, That all doubly-returned, shall make choice for what Place they will serve within the same Time.

The City of Exon, a Town and County. - The Writ directed to the Sheriff. - The Mayor desires to know, whether he shall serve or no.

Ordered, This Case of the Mayor of Exon to be referred to the Committee for Privileges, to look into Precedents, and to take Order for the settling of it for hereafter. And,

Ordered, That if any sit here, that are returned by more Indentures than usual, that they shall withdraw themselves from sitting in the House, till the Committee for Privileges have further ordered it. And the Committee to be desired to expedite this Business, and that touching Mr. Bisse in particular.

Scotch Covenanters Letter to French King.

Mr. Secretary Windebanke delivered a Message from his Majesty, That he is commanded to give an Account of the Letter written by the Covenanters in Scotland to the French King- Produced the original Letter.-

Further informed, -Sir Fr. Cottington, himself, and Mr. Attorney, were sent to the Tower, to examine Ld. Lowdun. -With difficulty he acknowledges the same.- Excuses, that he understood not the French, and so misunderstood the Meaning of it.

Mr. Secretary read the Letter in the French First, and observed the Address (Au Roy) which can properly proceed from none but natural Subjects to their Prince; and then afterwards read it in English.

The Date being demanded,-answer,-there was none.

He further said, the Lord Lowdun, being demanded concerning the Subscription, said, he remembered both his own Hand and the others.

King's Speech, &c. reported.

Mr. Speaker acquainted the House of the King's Command for informing this House with what was delivered by the Keeper, and his Majesty, on Monday last, and Yesterday.

Committees for Religion, Grievances &c.

Ordered, a Committee of the whole House, for Religion, to sit in the House every Monday.

Ordered, a Committee of the whole House, for Grievances, to sit every Wednesday.

16°-17°Aprilis.

Ordered, a Committee of the whole House, for Courts of Justice, to sit every Friday, at Two of Clock in the Afternoon.

And these Committees to have the like Power as the Committee of Privileges hath.

Lord Keeper's Speech, &c.

Ordered, Mr. Speaker to make Report of what he was commanded by the King to deliver to this House concerning the Lord Keeper's Speech, To-morrow at Nine.

Fast Day.

A Conference to be desired with the Lords, and a Committee to be named;

Sir Fr. Seymour, Sir H. Mildmay, Sir M. Fleetewood, Mr. Treasurer, Mr. Comptroller, Mr. Secretary Windebank, Sir Wm. Howard, Lord Wentworth, Mr. Crew, Lord Russell, Mr. Charles Price, Sir Ro. Harley, Ld. Cranburne, Mr. Pimme, Sir Ro. Cooke, Mr. James Fines, Ld. Digby, Lord Dungarvon.

This Committee is to meet on Saturday Morning at Seven of Clock, in the Court of Wards, to prepare a Conference with the Lords, concerning a Fast of both Houses.

Committee of Privileges.

Motion made for settling a Committee for Privileges, -assented unto; - and nominated, viz.

Mr Treasurer, Sir Francis Seymour, Sir Guy Palmes, Sir Wm. Sangle, Sir Christopher Hatton, Sir Christopher Wray, Sir Miles Fleetewood, Sir Tho. Bowyer, Sir Edw. Bash, Sir Hen. Mildmay, Sir Tho. Aston, Sir Jo. Stranguage, Sir Rich. Onslowe, Sir Jo. Danvers, Mr. Pimme, Sir Gilbert Gerrard, Sir Walter Erle, Mr. Secretary Windebank, Sir Edw. Hungerford, Sir P. Hayman, Mr. Charles Jones, Sir Oliver Luke, Mr. Ed. Hide, Sir Rich. Winne, Mr. Hampden, Mr. Holborne, Mr. Hatcher, Sir Capel Bedles, Mr. St. John, Sir Roger Twisden, Mr. Mallory, Mr. Chadwell, Lord Digby, Sir Richard Buller, Mr. Moreton, Sir Henry Herbert, Mr. Ball Queen's Attorney, L. Dungarvon, Sir Wm. Penyman, Sir H. Wallop, Mr. Wandsford, Mr. Maynard, Mr. Solicitor, Sir Thomas Hatton, Mr. Pellham, Mr. Kirton, Sir Ben Rudyard, Mr. Tho. Coke, Sir Ro.Coke, Sir Tho. Peniston, Mr. Ro. Hide, Sir Jo. Evelyn, Mr. Norton Knatchbull, Sir Hugh Cholmley, Mr. Ro. Long, Sir Wm. Fleetwood, Sir Anthony Ereby, Mr. Baber, Sir Jo. Hotham, Mr. Wise, Sir Tho. Fanshaw, Mr. Comptroller, Mr. Francis Godolphin, Mr. Corbett, Ld. Cramborne, Mr. Bellassis, Sir Jo. Holland, Sir Wm. Masham, Mr. Purefrey, Sir Wm. Bower, Sir Wm. Litton, Sir Tho. Barrington, Mr. Pye, Mr. Peard, Mr. Whitehead, Serjeant Godbold, Mr. Lukenor, Serjeant Finch, Mr. Perpoint, Dr. Eden, Sir Ro. Harley, L. Russell, Sir Jo. Ramsden, Mr. Winne, Sir Ed. Stradling, Sir Dudley North, Ld. Andevor, Mr. Jo. Bellassis, Sir Ralph Hopton;

This Committee is appointed to examine and consider of all Questions to grow and arise this Parliament about Elections, Returns, or other Privileges of the House; and to report their Opinions, and Proceedings therein, to the House; and have Power to send for Records and Witnesses, and to hear Counsel; and are for this Service to meet this Afternoon, at Two of Clock, in the Court of Star Chamber, and afterwards, every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, during this Session of Parliament, at the same Hour and Place.

Memorandum. This is the Order of the last Parliament, which I was commanded to read out of that Journal; and then ordered, it should stand for the Order for this Committee too.