House of Commons Journal Volume 2: 31 December 1640

Die Jovis, 31 Decembr. 1640.

PRAYERS.

Farnfold's Petition.

ORDERED, That Sir Thomas Farnfold's Petition be referred to the Committee for Privileges; to take its Turn.

Dive's, &c. Petitions.

The humble Petition of Sir Lewis Dive, read.

Sir Jo. Hotham, Sir Beauch. St. Johns, Mr. Hollys, Mr. H. Bellasis, Ld. Digby, Sir Jo. Strangewayes, Sir Arth. Haselrigg, Sir Fr. Seymour, Mr. Trenchard, Mr. Kirton, Sir Hugh Cholmeley, Sir Oliver Luke, Sir Arth. Ingram, Mr. Capell, Sir Christopher Wray, Sir H. Herbert, Sir Tho. Barrington, Sir W. Erle, Sir Ro. Parker, Sir Nath. Barnardiston, Sir Rich. Buller, Mr. Strangewayes, Mr. Mountague, Ld. Ruthyn, Sir Nevill Poole, Sir Tho. Middleton, Mr. Gourdon;

This Committee is to take into Consideration the Petition of the Inhabitants of the County of Bedford, and the Petition of Sir Lewis Dives Knight; and have Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, Papers, Records, or any thing else, that may conduce to the Business; and are to meet this Afternoon, at Two of Clock, in the Exchequercourt.

It is likewise Ordered, That the Petition of Sir Tho. Littleton Knight and Baronet, be referred to the same Committee.

Leave to attend Lords.

Mr. Grimston, Mr. Hide, Mr. Glyn, have Licence to be of Counsel with the Lord Herbert, in the House of the Lords.

Mr. Bagshaw, has likewise Licence to be of Counsel, in the House of the Lords, with Dr. Downes.

* * * *

Upon this Report, it was

Resolved, upon the Question,

Proceedings against Lord Mountnorris.

1. That the several Proceedings, by the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, against the Lord Montnorris, concerning the Office of Secretary, the Office of the Privy Signet, and Fee of Two hundred Pounds per annum, are unjust and illegal.

Resolved, upon the Question,

2. That the Sentence given by the Council of War against my Lord Montnorris, and the Proceedings there upon, are illegal and unjust.

Resolved, upon the Question,

3. That the Commission, which issued forth during the Time of the Imprisonment of the Lord Montnorris, returnable at the Council-table in Ireland, and the Proceedings thereupon, are illegal and unjust.

Resolved, upon the Question,

4. That the Lord Montnorris is unjustly grieved and vexed, by the Information exhibited against him in the Castle-chamber at Dublyn, and by the Proceedings thereupon.

Resolved, upon the Question,

5. That the Proceedings against the Lord Montnorris, concerning the Manor of Temor, upon the Petition exhibited to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, is illegal and unjust.

Resolved, upon the Question,

6. That the Proceedings by the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, concerning the Petition of Peppard and Manwaring, against the Lord Montnorris, are illegal and unjust.

* * * *

Upon this Report, it was

Resolved, upon the Question,

Proceedings against Ld. Dillon.

1. That the Proceedings against the Lord Dillon, concerning those Lands of his that lie in the several Counties of Roscommen and Mayo, are illegal and unjust.

Resolved, upon the Question,

2. That the extrajudicial Opinion of the Judges, and the Proceedings thereupon, in the Case of the Lord Dillon, ought not to bind the Lord Dillon, or any other, in any sort.

Resolved, upon the Question,

3. That the Possession of those Lands ought to be settled upon the Lord Dillon, notwithstanding the former Proceedings.

Resolved, upon the Question,

4. That these several Judges, viz. Sir Rich. Bolton, Knight, now Lord Chancellor of Ireland, late Lord Chief Baron there, Sir Gerrard Lowther, Knight, Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, and Sir James Barry, Knight, One of the Barons of the Exchequer, are fit to be questioned, as criminous, for such their extrajudicial Opinions and Proceedings.

Rateliffe's Impeachment.

The Articles against Sir Geo. Ratcliffe, by former Order ingrossed, were twice read: And then it was

Resolved, upon the Question, That these Articles, thus ingrossed and read, shall be sent up to the Lords, by the Commons assembled in Parliament, in Maintenance of their Accusation of Sir Geo. Ratcliffe, whereby he standeth charged of High Treason.

And it is Ordered, That Mr. Pimme shall go up with these Articles.

Resolved, upon the Question, That a Message be forthwith sent to the Lords, to desire a conference with their Lordships, by a Committee of both Houses, concerning Articles to be exhibited, in Maintenance of the Charge against Sir Geo. Ratcliffe Knight.

Sir Jo. Strangeways went up with this Message.

Preaching Ministers, &c.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee concerning preaching Ministers, to consider of the Decree, made in the Exchequer, concerning the Impropriations; and to think of some fit Way, for the Reversing of the said Decree; and likewise to think of some fit Course, how to settle that good Work of the Feoffees, for the Propagation of Religion and Piety.

Charge against Spiller.

Ordered, That the Committee, to prepare the Charge against Sir H. Spiller, now sine die, do meet on Monday next in the Afternoon, at Two of Clock, in the wonted Place.

Ratcliffe's Impeachment.

Sir Jo. Strangewayes brings Answer, that their Lordships will give a present Meeting, in the Painted Chamber, as is desired by a Committee of their whole House.

Mr. Pimme declared unto the House, the Effect of what he intended to say at the Delivery of the Articles; and then went up with the Articles.

Mr. Pimme reports, that, according to the Command of this House, he had delivered to the Lords the Articles against Sir Jo. Ratcliffe; that they had received them, and would make Report of them to their House.

Ordered, That the same Course, and by the same Persons, shall be observed in the Examination of Witnesses in the Cause of Sir Geo. Ratcliffe, as was done in that of the Earl of Straford.

Letters read.

There were delivered in, by Mr. Treasurer, a Minute of a Letter, sent from Sir Jacob Ashley to the Lord Admiral; and a Letter, written from Mr. Carne to Sir Jacob Ashley; which were both read.

Business to be done.

Resolved, upon the Question, That the House shall sit To-morrow; and that the first Business To-morrow Morning shall be, to treat of the Bill of Subsidies, twice read, and committed to a Committee of the whole House: And that, next to that Business, the House shall consider of some Way, agreeable to the Laws of the Land, for preventing and restraining of Disorders in the King's Army; and of some Ways for providing Monies to supply the King's Army in the mean time, till Monies can be raised by Subsidies: And likewise, to think of some fit Way to move his Majesty for the Disbanding of the Army, lately raised in Ireland.

Reports deferred.

Ordered, That, on Saturday Morning next, Mr. Pimme shall go on with the other Two Reports, concerning the late Lord Chancellor of Ireland, and the Earl of Kildare.

Archbp. of Canterbury, &c.

It was moved, that the House would think of some Answer to the Lords, concerning the Charges, against the Lord Archbishop of Cant', and the Earl of Straford delivered from the Scotish Commissioners, by the English Lords Commissioners, at a Conference, by a Committee of both Houses.