Repairing the High-ways Bridges and Twenty Pounds yearly to the Poor as is aforesaid But over and besides the said yearly Revenues before mentioned the said Dean and Chapter of Gloucester although but of the last Foundation and one of the least Revenues in this Kingdom yet they have Eighteen goodly Mannors and also divers other Lands Tenements and Heriditaments besides the Mannors Houses and Premises the old Rent of Assize of one of the said Mannors being 80 Pound per annum out of which Mannors and Lands the said Cathedral being to be made a Parochial Church 200 Pound per annum or more may be allowed for a Learned Preaching Minister there and a Hundred Pound a year apiece for two such others to assist him which in few years one of the said Mannors will discharge and also sufficiently Repair the said Cathedral Church and then the rest of the said Mannors and Lands may be employed to other Godly Pious or Charitable uses as the Wisdom of the King and Parliament shall think fit and suitable to this but in a more ample proportion of maintenance will be the allowances of all other Deanaries in England Again this I conceive will answer another Objection raised by a Worthy Knight at the Bar touching the Poverty of the Clergy of England if this Bill should take effect surely my Opinion is quite contrary and to that purpose I call to mind the saying of a Learned Divine Chaplain to a Nobleman upon some Conference with him of our wished desire to remove Scandalous Ministers and to reduce the Impropriations of Bishops and Deans and Chapters to a Preaching Ministry if these things said he take effect the Universities will not be able to supply the Churches and surely Sir if these things take effect I am confident we shall be so far from having a Poor beggerly Clergy as that no Kingdom in the Christian World will have a more Rich and Flourishing Clergy both for Nurseries and Incouragements of Learning and for their maintenance in more plentiful manner then it is at this present Please you therefore to put the Question I am ready to give my aid thereunto Whereupon it was Debated and strongly Urged by the Faction That there should from henceforth be no more Deans and Chapiters Chancellors or Commissaries Arch-Deacons Deans Prebendaries Chanters Canons or Petty Canons or any other their Officers within this Church or Kingdom and that all Lands and Revenues belonging to them should be taken away and disposed of to the advancement of Learning and Piety and that such of them as have no other subsistence but those Places and not Delinquents should have a Competent allowance for the term of their Lives Thus did they cover their Covetous Designs of Devouring the Church Revenues with the specious pretences of advancing Learning and Piety But the Event proved their Hypocrisie for when they had taken these Lands from the Legal Possessors of them Piety and Learning found so little a share of the Booty that even their own Hirelings of the Presbytery who had assisted them with their mercenary Lungs to Rob the Church were so far from getting any thing by it that with much to do they Escaped having their own Skins their Tithes and Glebe pulled over their Ears making good the Apologue of the Lion and his Fellow Huntsmen by their Folly and Indiscretion not to call it Rapine and Sacriledg The House of Commons was this Day wholly taken up with the further Examination of Col. Goring about the matter of the Army Wednesday June 16. Upon reading of a Petition of the Inhabitants of St. Saviours Southwark complaining against William Sonyter William Shepheard The Lords Order about those who committed the disorders at St. Saviours and St. Olavis Southwark Toby Gratwick Hugh Barcock George Ewer George Pitcher Thomas Loe c. for their pressing into the Church of the said Parish and violent breaking and pulling down the Railes about the Communion Table in an Insolent and Tumultuous manner the Parties complained of were brought to the Barr and their Council were admitted to speak for them and after a full hearing of both Parties and several Witnesses Examined on either side it did appear unto the House that the said Parties were guilty of the said Complaints laid against them in the Petition Thereupon it is Ordered That new Railes shall be forthwith set up by the appointment of the Churchwardens of the said Parish about the Communion Table in the same manner as they have been for the space of Fifty Years last past but not as they were for four or five Years last past and this to be done at the Costs and Charges of the abovesaid Delinquents And further That they shall make a Publick Acknowledgment of their faults in the Body of the Church upon a Sabbath Day when the Congregation shall be present And lastly That they shall stand Committed to the Fleet during the Pleasure of this House Also upon reading of the Petition of the Minister and the Inhabitants of St. Olaves Parish in Southwark against Robert Wainman George Bonace Hugh Evans and John Moor for making and causing to be made a great Tumult and Disorder in the Church of the said Parish in the time of the Administration of the Blessed Sacrament and for the hinderance of the performing of the same and for the great abuse of the Minister that administred the same and for using irreverent speeches when the said Duty was performing the Parties aforesaid were brought to the Barr and admitted to speak for themselves and after a full hearing of both sides and Witnesses Examined it appeared to the House that the said Parties complained of were guilty of the Complaints laid against them Whereupon the House did think fit and Ordered That the said Robert Wainman and George Bonace for their said Offences shall stand committed unto the Prison of the Kings-Bench forthwith and there to continue for the space of Six Months without Bail or Mainprize And that they shall stand upon a High Stool in Cheapside and Southwark for two hours together upon two Market-Dayes and acknowledg their Faults publiquely And lastly That they shall pay 20 l. Fine to his Majesty and to be bound to their good Behaviour And it is further Ordered That the said Hugh Evans and John Moor shall forthwith stand Committed to the Kings-Bench until they find Sureties to answer at the next Assizes to be kept for the County of Surrey their Faults and Offences in the disturbing and hindering the Administration of the blessed Sacrament who are there to be proceeded against according to Law And that Robert Osbalston Gent. and Richard Cant shall enter into Recognizance before Sir John Lenthall Knight one of his Majesties Justices of the Peace for the County of Surrey to appear at the next Assizes and prosecute against the said Hugh Evans and John Moore for their Offences aforesaid The State of the Accounts of the English and Scottish Armies were brought into
between the Chair of State and the Lord Keeper's Woolsack and the House of Commons with their Speaker being come up the Clerk of the Parliament delivered the Commission whereunto the Bills were annexed upon his knee Then the Lord Privy-Seal declared to both Houses that his Majesty had an intent to have come himself this Day to have given his Royal Assent to these two Bills but some important Occasions had prevented him and so his Majesty had granted a Commission for giving the Royal Assent which was delivered to the Clerk of the Parliament who carried it to his Table and read it this being done the Clerk of the Crown read the Titles of the Bills and the Clerk of the Parliament pronounced the Royal Assent to them both severally The Bill of Attainder was as follows WHereas the Knights Citizens The Bill of Attainder against the Earl of Strafford passed May the 10th and Burgesses of the House of Commons in this present Parliament assembled have in the name of themselves and of all the Commons of England impeached Thomas Earl of Strafford of High-Treason for endeavouring to subvert the ancient and Fundamental Laws and Government of his Majesties Realms of England and Ireland and to introduce an Arbitrary and Tyrannical Government against Law in the said Kingdoms and for exercising a Tyrannous and exorbitant power over and against the Laws of the said Kingdoms over the Liberties Estates and Lives of his Majesties Subjects and likewise for having by his own Authority commanded the laying and asseising of Soldiers upon his Majesties Subjects in Ireland against their consents to compel them to obey his unlawful Commands and Orders made upon Paper-Petitions in causes between Party and Party which accordingly was executed upon divers of his Majesties Subjects in a Warlike manner within the said Realm of Ireland and in so doing did levy War against the Kings Majesty and his liege people in that Kingdom And also for that he upon the unhappy Dissolution of the last Parliament did slander the House of Commons to his Majesty and did counsel and advise his Majesty that he was loose and absolved from the rules of Government and that he had an Army in Ireland by which he might reduce this Kingdom for which he deserves to undergo the pains and forfeitures of High-Treason And the said Earl hath been also an incendiary of the Wars between the two Kingdoms of England and Scotland all which offences have been sufficiently proved against the said Earl upon his impeachment Be it therefore enacted by the Kings most excellent Majesty and by the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by authority of the same That the said Earl of Strafford for the haynous crimes and offences aforesaid stand and be adjudged and attainted of High-Treason and shall suffer such pain of Death and incur the forfeitures of his Goods and Chattels Lands Tenements and Hereditaments of any estate of Free-hold or Inheritance in the said Kingdoms of England and Ireland which the said Earl or any other to his use or in trust for him have or had the day of the first sitting of this present Parliament or at any time since Provided that no Judge or Judges Justice or Justices whatsoever shall adjudge or interpret any Act or thing to be Treason nor in any other manner than he or they should or ought to have done before the making of this Act and as if this Act had never been had or made Saving alwayes unto all and singular persons and bodies politick and corporal their Heirs and Successors others than the said Earl and his Heirs and such as claim by from or under him all such right title and interest of in and to all and singular such of the said Lands Tenements and Hereditaments as he they or any of them had before the first day of this present Parliament any thing herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding Provided that the passing of this present Act and his Majesties Assent thereunto shall not be any determination of this present Sessions of Parliament but that this present Sessions of Parliament and all Bills and matter whatsoever depending in Parliament and not fully enacted or determined And all Statutes and Acts of Parliament which have their continuance until the end of this present Session of Parliament shall remain continue and be in full force as if this Act had not been The Earl understanding that the Bill was passed did humbly Petition the House as follows SEeing it is the good Will and Pleasure of God The Earl of Strafford's Petition to the House of Peers that your Petitioner is now shortly to pay that Duty which we all owe to our frail Nature he shall in all Christian Patience and Charity conform and submit himself to your Justice in a comfortable assurance of the great hope laid up for us in the Mercy and Merits of our Saviour blessed for ever only he humbly craves to return your Lordships most humble thanks for your Noble Compassion towards those innocent Children whom now with his last blessing he must commit to the protection of Almighty God beseeching your Lordships to finish his Pious intention towards them and desiring that the Reward thereof may be fulfilled in you by him that is able to give above all that we are able ask or think wherein I trust the Honourable House of Commons will afford their Christian Assistance And so beseeching your Lordships charitably to forgive all his Omissions and infirmities he doth very heartily and truely recommend your Lordships to the Mercies of our Heavenly Father and that for his goodness he may perfect you in every good work Amen The next day being Tuesday May 11. Tuesday May 11. the King sent this Passionate Letter to the Lords in behalf of the Earl My Lords I Did yesterday satisfie the Justice of the Kingdom The Kings Letter to the Lords concerning the E. of Strafford by passing the Bill of Attainder against the Earl of Strafford but Mercy being as inherent and inseperable to a King as Justice I desire at this time in some measure to shew that likewise by suffering that unfortunate Man to fulfil the Natural Course of his Life in a Close Imprisonment Yet so if ever he make the least offer to escape or offer directly or indirectly to meddle in any sort of publick business especially with me either by Message or Letter it shall cost him his Life without further Process This if it may be done without the Discontentment of my People will be an unspeakable contentment to me to which end as in the first place I by this Letter do earnestly desire your Approbation and to endear it more have chosen him to carry it that of all your House is most dear to me So I desire that by a Conference you will endeavour to give the House of Commons Contentment assuring you that the Exercise of Mercy is no more pleasing to me than to see
Clergy-man no Dignitary whose Books have cost him a Thousand Pounds which when he dies may be worth to his Wife and Children about Two Hundred It will be a shameful reproach to so flourishing a Kingdom as this to have a poor beggarly Clergy For my part I think nothing too much nothing too good for a good Minister a good Clergy-man They ought least to want who best know how to abound Burning and shining Lights do well deserve to be set in good Candlesticks Mr. Hide I am as much for Reformation for purging and maintaining Religion as any man whatsoever but I profess I am not for Innovation Demolition nor Abolition Possibly the Reader will now be desirous to see this Bill which gave so much business to the Parliament and therefore I here present him with a Copy of it as I find it in the Paper-Office An Act for the Abolishing and taking away of all Arch-Bishops Bishops their Chancellours and Commissaries Deans Deacons and Chanters Arch-Deacons Prebendaries and Canons and all other their Under-Officers of the Church of England WHereas the Government of the Church of England by Arch-Bishops and Bishops The Bill against Episcopal Government and the Hierarchy of the Church their Chancellors and Commissaries Deans Arch-Deacons and others their Cathedral Officers have been found by lang experience to be a great Impediment to the perfect Reformation and Growth of Religion prejudicial to the Civâ—l Government of this Kingdom Be it therefore Enacted by the King 's most excellent Majesty the Lords and Commons Assembled in this present Parliament by the Authority of the same That from henceforth there shall be no Arch-Bishops Chancellors or Commissaries of any Bishopricks Deans Deans and Chapters Arch-Deacons Prebendaries Chanters Canons or Pety-Canons or any other of their Officers within this Church or Kingdom And every Parson that shall hereafter use or exercise any Power Iurisdiction Office or Authority Ecclesiastical or Civil by Collection of any such Name Title Dignity or Office or Iurisdiction to incur the Penalty and a Forfeiture contained in the Act of Premunires made in the 16 R. 2. That all which hereafter done by any Arch-Bishopricks their Chancellors Commissaries Deans Deans and Chapters Arch-Deacons Prevendaries Canons Petty-Canons or any other Office by Collection of any of their Dignities or Officers aforesaid shall be meérly void in Law any Statute or Ordinance heretofore made to the contrary any wise notwithstanding And that all Mannors Lands Territories Impropriations Houses Rents Services and other Hereditaments whatsoever of the said Arch-Bishopricks Deans Deans and Chapters Arch-Deacons Prebendaries Canons Petty-Canons which they or any of them have in Right of the said Churches or Dignities shall be disposed and ordered of in such manner sort and form as the King 's most excellent Majesty the Lords Temporal and Commons in this present Parliament Assembled shall appoint And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That all Ecclesiastical Iurisdiction fit to be exercised within this Church and Kingdom of England shall be committed to such a number of Persons and in such manner as by this present Parliament appointed Divers Papers were upon this occasion presented to the Consideration of the House of Commons and many even of the Presbyterians who were for altering some things yet were not for Extirpation of Root and Branch among the rest I find these two in the Paper-Office THe Agitation of change of Government in the Church A Proposition concerning Bishops and Ecclesiastical Affairs and Church Government in the House of Commons is a Business of so high a Consequence that it is necessary to prevent any Resolution by Voting their judgment alone lest that being brought up with prejudice to the Lords who are and ought to be equally interessed may also prejudice the Cause It is a doubtful Case in the heat of this dispute how farr the Commons may go in the Declaration of their Opinions in which if the Lords shall not concur it may prove a great Rock of offence between the two Houses Therefore 't is very requisite that the Lords of the Higher House do timely interest themselves in the discussion and before any Resolution in either House To this purpose the Lords may be pleased to make a Committee in their House for the Reformation of Church Affairs and Government and thereupon demand a Conference with the Committee of the House of Commons that the business may be handled by Consultation on both sides pari passu and gradu At this Conference the Lords may be pleased to propose these grounds 1. That neither by Example nor Reason in any Age or State Matters Ecclesiastical or Mutations in Church Affairs were ever alone determined by Lay-men 2. In the Primitive Church and most Ancient times matters of this nature were always debated in General Councils or National Synods in the blessed Reformation the business was agitated by a Choice number of Divines who communicated their proceeding with Reformed Divines abroad and admitted some Strangers into their Consultations for the satisfaction of their Brethren and Peace of the Church 3. The publick Enemy of our Religion will take infinite advantage at every Alteration and especially at any that shall be resolved above by Lay-men 4. It must of necessity produce a dangerous Schism in the Church if without all Respect of Edification and satisfaction to the Parties different in judgment any conclusion should be imposed upon both without their consent 5. It is impossible that any Resolution taken in Heat and Passion can be so permanent but that time will discover a Necessity of fresh alterations to the shame of the whole Reformation 6. It is necessary to proceed in such a way as may not be Scandalous to the Churches abroad and may give satisfaction to both Parties opposite and contending at Home and may be Honourable Durable Obliging and Fortified with the consent and agreement of the Ecclesiastick and the Authority of the Parliament To effect which it is most agreeable to true Wisdom and Policy that both Houses of Parliament determine and declare for the present that the Laws Established for Church Government shall be obeyed And because all things in the first Reformation could not be fore-seen or some things were necessarily for other respects overseen which Time and great Liberty and Light have discovered and which may now be more fitly taken into consideration That therefore both Houses may be pleased to move His Majesty for the calling of a National Synod I mean of a Select number of Divines of all three Nations subject to His Majesty equally and impartially chosen of Moderate and Learned Men of both sides in which may be discussed and resolved a setled and uniform Model of Government to be presented unto the Parliament of all the Kingdoms there to receive Strength and Approbation In which Assembly Godly Men and lovers of Peace assisted by the Spirit of God may doubtlessly be induced to receive satisfaction from one another in
Cohabit July 12. 1641. It was Resolved to pass as a Law Nemine Contradicente UPon Report this Day made unto the House from the Lords Committees for Petitions That William Walter was complained of by the Petition of Elizabeth Walter his Wife for refusing to Co-habit with her or allow her and her 3 Children Maintenance and Supportation for their Lively-hoods although he hath a Good and a Plentiful Estate It was thought fit and so ordered by the Lords in Parliament That the said William Walter shall settle Lands and Tenements cleared from all former Incumbrances other then Leases whereupon the usual Rent is reserved lying in the County of Pembroke upon such Trustees as the said Mrs. Walter shall Nominate to the use of her self and her said 3 Children during the time of her Life And Mr. Justice Foster and Mr Justice Heath's assistance to the said Lords Committees for Petitions are hereby desired by the Lords in Parliament to direct the Counsel of the said Mrs. Walter what security shall be taken in or out of the Premisses and how and in what manner an Estate of and in the Lands and Tenements or Tithes of the said William Walter shall be setled or charged and chargeable with the payment of sixty Pounds per An. to the use of the said Mrs. Walter and her 3 Children the first payment whereof to begin at Michaelmass next ensuing the Date hereof And in Case the said Mr. Walter 's Estate shall encrease by the Death of his Mother or Grandmother or otherwise it is their Lordships Pleasure that the Moiety of the same as it shall fall and accrew to him shall be settled and paid unto the said Feoffees to the use of the said Mrs. Walter and her 3 Children as aforesaid by the Advice of the Judges aforenamed And further that if the said William Walter shall refuse or delay by the space of a Month next ensuing to make such settlement in manner as aforesaid then it is their Lordships Pleasure that a Sequestration shall be awarded to such Person or Persons as the said Mrs. Walter shall nominate to take and receive so much of the Yearly Rent and Profits of the said Lands and Tenements of the said William Walter as shall amount to such proportions and allowances as aforesaid to be answered to the said Mrs. Walter or her Assigns half Yearly for the uses aforesaid UPon Report this Day made unto the House from the Lords Committees An Order of the Lords concerning a Vicaridge in Sir Peter Osborn's Case Plaintiff against Thomas Joyce Clerk July 12. 1641. for Petitions in the Cause of Sir Peter Osborn Knight Plaintiff and Thomas Joice Clerk it appeared unto their Lordships That Sir John Osborn Knight deceased Father of the said Sir Peter was seized in Fee of the Rectory of Hawnes in the County of Bedford to which the Advowson of the Vicaridge did consist only of eight Pounds per Ann. stipend That the said Sir John Osborn did in the 9th Year of King James convey the Inheritance of the said Rectory and Vicaridge together with a new House built upon his own Land to the now Bishop of Durham Sir Thomas Cheek and others for the Increase of Maintenance of such Vicar or Vicars as should be nominated by the said Sir John or his Heirs But before the Gift Sir John puts in Mr. Brightman and Mr. Wilson successively who injoyed the said House and Tythes and after the Gift nominated Mr. Sherley who was only Licensed by the Bishop but never Instituted or Inducted After the Death of the said Mr. Sherley the said Sir Peter Osborn nominated Mr. Buckley who was Licensed by the Bishop without being instituted or Inducted the Defendant Joyce obtains a Presentation by Lapse and gained a Decree in Chancery for the Rectory House and Tythes against which Decree Sir Peter Osborn objected that the Donor intended the said Rectory to him only that was to be nominated by himself or his Heirs and could not intend it to any that came in by Lapse it being then in Lapse when his Gift was made which was denied by the Defendant and affirmed that it was intended to the Incumbent whoever he was otherwise the Charity of the Donor would be overthrown Whereupon the Decree and Deed of the said Sir John Osborn was produced and read before the said Lords Committees who after long Debate by Councel on both Sides were fully satisfied That the Donor intended it to none but such as should come in by the Nomination of him or his Heirs Whereupon it is Ordered and Adjudged by the Lords in Parliament That the said Lay Fee Rectory and House together with all the said Donors Gift setled by the said Deed shall by virtue of this Order go to such Clergy-Man or Men as the said Sir Peter Osborne and his Heirs shall Nominate and Appoint according to the meaning of the said Donor and no other And that the Defendant Joyce that came into the vicaridge by Lapse shall have no Advantage of the Gift so made by Sir John Osborne but shall forthwith upon Notice hereof relinquish the same and shall also Answer to the Feoffees for all the Profits of the said House and Rectory by him taken ever since the said Decree and if the said Defendant Joyce conceives he hath any Right he is left to try the same at the Common Law without taking any advantage of the said Decree or of any thing done by Sir Peter Osborne in Obedience to the said Decree A Message was brought from the House of Commons by Sir Henry Vane Junior to desire that the Bill for Tonnage and Poundage may be delivered unto them to be brought up and presented by their Speaker with the Commission under the Great Seal annexed THeir Lordships taking this into Consideration Message from the Commons about the Bill of Tonage and Poundage and perusing the Commission found by the Tenor of the said Commission that the Bill of Tonnage and Poundage could not pass the Royal Assent by virtue of this Commission if they were separated therefore to avoid all Ambiguities Resolved to send some Lords to desire His Majesty would be pleased to come in Person to give the Royal Assent to the said Bill Hereupon the E. Bath E. Essex E. Cambridge E. Bristol Bill for Tonnage and Poundage passed the Royal Assent went presently to attend his Majesty therein who brought this Answer That the King will be here presently His Majesty being come and satt in the Chair of State the Commons were sent for who came and by their Speaker presented the Bill for Tonnage and Poundage then the Clerk of the Crown read the Title of the said Bill and the Clerk of the Parliament pronounced the Royal Assent thereunto in these words Le Roy remerciant ses bons Subjects accepte Leur Benevolence et ainsi le veult It was this day Ordered in the Commons House Munday July 12. Order for Aftornoon Sermons in all
time had a Petition depending in the House of Lords delivered Jan. 12 craving to be discharged of the Fine of Three thousand pounds imposed upon him by Decree of the Star-Chamber for Scandalous words against the Earl of Strafford Upon the 30th of Jan. a Day so Fatal to King Charles the First Saturday Jan. 30. the further Impeachment of the Earl of Strafford consisting in 28 Articles was by Mr. Pym carried up to the Lords which were as follow Articles of the Commons Assembled in Parliament The further Impeachment of the Earl of Strafford Jan. 30. against Thomas Earl of Strafford in maintenance of their Accusation whereby he stands Charged with High Treason WHereas the said Commons have already Exhibited Articles against the said Earl in haec verba c. Now the said Commons do further Impeach the said Earl as followeth That is to say I. That the said Earl of Strafford the 21 day of March in the Eighth Year of his Majesties Reign was President of the Kings Council in the Northern Parts of England That the said Earl being President of the said Council on the 21 of March a Commission under the Great Seal of England with certain Schedules of Instructions thereunto annexed was directed to the said Earl or others of the Commissioners therein named whereby among other things Power and Authority is limited to the said Earl and others the Commissioners therein named to hear and determine all Offences and Misdemeanors Suits Debates Controversies and Demands Causes Things and Matters whatsoever therein contained and within certain Precincts in the said Northern Parts therein specified and in such manner as by the said Schedule is limited and appointed That among other things in the said Instructions it is directed That the said President and others therein appointed shall hear and determine according to the Course of Proceedings in the Court of Star-Chamber divers Offences Deceits and Falsities therein mentioned Whether the same be provided for by Acts of Parliament or not so that the Fines imposed be not less than by the Act or Acts of Parliament provided against those offences is appointed That also amongst other things in the said Instructions it is directed that the said President and others therein appointed have power to examine hear and determine according to the course of proceedings in the Court of Chancery all manner of Complaints for any matter within the said Precincts as well concerning Lands Tenements and Hereditaments either Free-hold Customary or Copy-hold as Leases and other things therein mentioned and to stay proceedings in the Court of Common Law by Injunction or otherwise by all wayes and means as is used in the Court of Chancery And although the former Presidents of the said Councel had never put in practice such Instructions nor had they any such Instructions yet the said Earl in the Moneth of May in the said 8th Year and divers Years following did put in practice exercise and use and caused to be used and put in practice the said Commission and Instructions and did direct and exercise an exorbitant and unlawful power and jurisdiction on the persons and estates of his Majesties Subjects in those parts and did Disin-herit divers of his Majesties Subjects in those parts of their Inheritances sequestred their Possessions and did fine ransome punish and imprison them and caused them to be fined ransomed punished and imprisoned to their ruine and destruction and namely Sir Coniers Darcy Sir John Bourcher and divers others against the Laws and in subversion of the same And the said Commission and Instructions were procured and issued by the advice of the said Earl And he the said Earl to the intent that such illegal and unjust power might be exercised with the greater licence and will did advise Counsel procure further directions in and by the said instructions to be given that no prohibition be granted at all but in cases where the said Councel shall exceed the limits of the said instructions And that if any Writ of Habeas Corpus be granted the party be not discharged till the party perform the Decree and Order of the said Councel And the said Earl in the 13. year of his now Majesties Reign did procure a new Commission to himself and others therein appointed with the said Instructions and other unlawful additions That the said Commission and Instructions were procured by the solicitation and advice of the said Earl of Strafford 2. That shortly after the obtaining of the said Commission dated the 21 of March in the 8 year of his now Majesties Reign to wit the last day of August then next following he the said Earl to bring his Majesties liege People into a dislike of his Majesty and of his Government and to terrifie the Justices of the Peace from executing of the Laws He the said Earl being then President as aforesaid and a Justice of Peace did publickly at the Assizes held for the County of York in the City of York in and upon the said last day of August declare and publish before the People there attending for the administration of Justice according to the Law and in the presence of the Justices sitting That some of the Justices were all for Law but they should find that the Kings little finger should be heavier then the loyns of the Law 3. That the Realm of Ireland having been time out of mind annexed to the Imperial Crown of England and governed by the same Laws The said Earl being Lord Deputy of that Realm to bring his Majesties liege People of that Kingdom likewise into dislike of his Majesties Government and intending the Subversion of the Fundamental Laws and settled government of that Realm and the destruction of his Majesties liege People there did upon the 30. day of September in the ninth year of his now Majesties Reign in the City of Dublin the chief City of that Kingdom where his Majesties Privy Councel and Courts of Justice do ordinarily reside and whither the Nobility and Gentry of that Realm do usually resort for Justice in a publick Speech before divers of the Nobility and Gentry and before the Mayor Aldermen and Recorder and many Citizens of Dublin and other his Majesties Liege People declare and publish that Ireland was a conquered Nation and that the King might do with them what he pleased and speaking of the Charters of the former Kings of England made to that City he further said that their Charters were nothing worth and did bind the King no further then he pleased 4. That Richard Earl of Cork having sued out process in course of Law for recovery of his Possessions from which he was put by colour of an order made by the said Earl of Strafford and the Councel Table of the said Realm of Ireland The said Earl of Strafford upon a paper Petition without legal proceeding did the 20. day of February in the 11. year of his now Majesties Reign threaten the said Earl of Cork being
then a Peer of the said Realm to Imprison him unless he would surcease his suit and said That he would have neither Law nor Lawyers dispute or question any of his orders And the 20. day of March in the said 11. year the said Earl of Strafford speaking of an order of the said Councel Table of that Realm in the time of King James which concerned a Lease which the said Earl of Cork claimed in certain Rectories or Tithes which the said Earl of Cork alledged to be of no force said That he would make the said Earl and all Ireland know so long as he had the Government there any Act of State there made or to be made should be as binding to the Subjects of that Kingdome as an Act of Parliament And did question the said Earl of Corke in the Castle Chamber upon pretence of the breach of the said order of Councel Table and did sundry other times and upon sundry other occasions by his words and speeches arrogate to himself a power above the fundamental Laws and Established Government of that Kingdom and scorned the said Laws and established Government 5 That according to such his Declarations and Speeches the said Earl of Strafford did use and exercise a power above and against and to the Subversion of the said fundamental Laws and established Government of the said Realm of Ireland extending such his power to the Goods Free-holds Inheritances Liberties and Lives of his Majesties Subjects in the said Realm viz. The said Earl of Strafford the twtefth day of December Anno Domini 1635. in the time of full peace did in the said Realm of Ireland give and procure to be given against the Lord Mount Norris then and yet a Peer of Ireland and then Vice-Treasurer and receiver general of the Realm of Ireland and one of the principal Secretaries of State and Keeper of the Privy Signet of the said Kingdom a Sentence of death by a Councel of War called together by the said Earl of Strafford without any Warrant or Authority of Law or offence deserving any such punishment And he the said Earl did also at Dublin within the said Realm of Ireland in the Month of March in the fourteenth year of his Majesties Reign without any legal or due proceedings or Tryal give or cause to be given a Sentence of death against one other of his Majesties Subjects whose name is yet unknown and caused him to be put to death in execution of the said Sentence 6 That the said Earl of Strafford without any legal proceedings and upon a paper Petition of Richard Rolstone did cause the said Lord Mount-Norris to be disseized and put out of possession of his free-hold and inheritance of his Mannor and Tymore in the Countrey of Armagh in the Kingdom of Ireland the said Lord Mount-Norris having been two years before in quiet possession thereof 7. That the said Earl of Strafford in the Term of holy Trinity in the thirteenth year of his now Majesties Reign did cause a case commonly called the case of Tenures upon defective Titles to be made and drawn up without any Jury or Trial or other legal process and without the consent of parties and did then procure the Judges of the said Realm of Ireland to deliver their opinions and resolutions to that case and by colour of such opinion did without any legal proceeding cause Thomas Lord Dillon a Peer of the said Realm of Ireland to be put out of possession of divers Lands and Tenements being his Free-hold in the Countrey of Mago and Rosecomen in the said Kingdome and divers other of his Majesties Subjects to be also put out of Possession and Disseised of their Freehold by colour of the same resolution without legal proceedings whereby many hundreds of his Majesties Subjects were undone and their Families utterly ruinated 8. That the said Earl of Strafford upon a Petition of Sir John Gifford Knight the first day of February in the said Thirteenth Year of his Majesties Reign without any legal Process made a Decree or Order against Adam Viscount Loftus of Ely a Peer of the said Realm of Ireland and Lord Chancellor of Ireland and did cause the said Viscount to be Imprisoned and kept close Prisoner on pretence of Disobedience to the said Decree or Order And the said Earl without any Authority and contrary to his Commission required and commanded the said Lord Viscount to yield unto him the Great Seal of the Realm of Ireland which was then in his custody by his Majesties Command and Imprisoned the said Chancellour for not obeying such his Command And without any Legal Proceedings did in the same Thirteenth Year Imprison George Earl of Kildare a Peer of Ireland against Law thereby to enforce him to submit his Title to the Mannor and Lordship of Castle Leigh in the Queens County being of great yearly value to the said Earl of Strafford's Will and Pleasure and kept him a year prisoner for the said cause two moneths whereof he kept him close Prisoner and refused to enlarge him notwithstanding his Majesties Letters for his enlargement to the said Earl of Strafford directed And upon a Petition exhibited in October 1635. by Thomas Hibbots against Dame Mary Hibbots Widow to him the said Earl of Strafford the said Earl of Strafford recommended the said Petition to the Councel Table of Ireland where the most part of the Councel gave their Vote and Opinion for the said Lady but the said Earl finding fault herewith caused an Order to be entred against the said Lady and threatned her that if she refused to submit thereunto he would Imprison her and Fine her five hundred pounds that if she continued obstinate he would continue her Imprisonment and double her Fine every Moneth by means whereof she was enforced to relinquish her Estate in the Lands questioned in the said Petition which shortly was conveyed to Sir Robert Meredith to the use of the said Earl of Strafford And the said Earl in like manner did Imprison divers others of his Majesties Subjects upon pretence of Disobedience to his Orders and Decrees and other illegal Commands by him made for pretended Debts Titles of Lands and other Causes in an Arbitrary and Extrajudicial course upon Paper Petitions to him preferred and no other cause legally depending 9. That the said Earl of Strafford the Sixteenth day of February in the Twelfth Year of his now Majesties Reign assuming to himself a power above and against Law took upon him by a general Warrant under his hand to give power to the Lord Bishop of Down and Connor his Chancellor or Chancellors to their several Officers thereto to be appointed to attach and arrest the Bodies of all such of the meaner and poorer sort who after Citation should either refuse to appear before them or appearing should omit or deny to perform or undergoe all lawful Decrees Sentences and orders issued imposed or given out against them and them to commit and keep in the next
Subjects of the Scotish Nation inhabiting in Ireland for the Covenant sworn by some of their Countrey-men in Scotland without His Majesties Authority and Consent Their dislike thereof and the consideration that their causes of that action may be understood to reflect on the Petitioners though innocent They crave leave to vindicate themselves from so great a Contagion and desire his Lordship to prescribe a way by Oath or otherwise to free themselves from these proceedings to declare their acknowledgment of the King 's Regal Power and their dislike of that Covenant and of all other Covenants entred into c. without His Majesties Regal Authority which they are desirous to manifest by offering their Lives and Fortunes to vindicate the Honor c. of their Sovereign which they are ready to do in equal manner and measure with other His Majesties Subjects c. and divers names were to the said Petition subscribed In consideration of which Petition we cannot but commend the Wisdom of the Petitioners which we will not fail humbly to represent to His Majesty and for that we know many of this Kingdom have expressed good Affection to His Majesty and His Service and dislike those Disorders We hold it fit c. to free them the better from the Crimes and Scandals which their Countrey-men have gone into as also to free them from all prejudice and to approve to the King and to the whole World their Allegiance to him and his Regal Power and the dislike of that unlawful Oath and Covenant We do therefore Ordain That all and every Person of the Scotch Nation that inhabit or have Estates or any Houses Lands Tenements or Hereditaments within Ireland shall take the Oath herein expressed on the Holy Evangelists on pain of His Majesties High Displeasure The tenor of which Oath follows c. To several select persons c. Authorizing them to call before them and administer the Oath to every person of the Scotch Nation c. At such time and place c. And such Instructions as shall be in that behalf given by the Deputy and Council c. And to certifie the Names of all that take the Oath and if any refuse to certifie their Names Quality and Residences to the Lord Deputy c. And there is a Command That all of the Scotch Nation do appear before the said Commissioners at times by them to be appointed and to take the said Oath before them and that all persons may have due notice we think fit this be published Dated May 1639. To prove the Design of betraying Knockfergus Slingsby Mr. Slingsby Examined attested That it was Advertized that when the King was at Berwick one Trueman had writ a Letter for betraying the Castle there he was sent to Dublin and Examined remanded back Tryed found Guilty Condemned and Executed for the Fact My Lord added further That at the same time there was the like Oath and proceedings in England That what he did was for securing the Peace of Ireland and had it been done by himself solely as Deputy he humbly conceives it no Treason but he had the King's Letter of his own hand-writing which he produced as followeth WENTWORTH COnsidering the great number of Scots that are in Ireland The King's Letter to the Lord-Deputy about the Oath and the dangerous consequences may follow if they should joyn with the Covenanters in Scotland I hold it necessary you should use your best Endeavour to try them by an Oath not only to disclaim their Countreymens Proceedings but likewise never to joyn with any in Covenant or otherwise against Me To which purpose I Command you to frame and administer such an Oath to the abovesaid intent to my Scotish Subjects of that Kingdom that I may know the well from the ill-affected of that Nation of which fail not as you love my Service And so I rest Your assured Friend Ch. R. Dated 16 Jan. 1638. Whitehall That therefore having his Majesties Warrant he conceives doth justifie him and that he had rather suffer by his Obedience then dispute his Majestie 's Command As to the Fining of Stuart c. it was the Act of the whole Court of Castle-Chamber where he had but one Vote the greatness of the Fine was to shew the greatness of the Crime and that little of it was paid that to refuse the Oath of Allegiance is Praemunire in comparison of which this was a moderate Fine That there is nothing of Ecclesiastical concern but temporal Allegiance in the Oath To the words about the Scottish Nation he absolutely denied he ever spake them or thought them he owes more Honour to His Majestie 's Native Countrey and from his Soul wisheth it all Prosperity that he must be out of his Witts to call a whole Nation Traytors knowing many of them to be faithful Loyal Subjects whatever he spake was concerning the Faction in it as to the multitudes going away Sir John Clotworthy names not one of that multitude and if they did go rather then give that Pledg of their Allegiance who could help it As to the Schoolmaster 's Testimony he is positive that my Lord spoke the rancorous Words against the Scottish Nation Octob. 10. 1639. but he proved by Mr. Little and Mr. Ralton that he came from Ireland Sept. 12. 1639. a month before and was in London Sept. 21. 1639. and therefore being a single Witness and Evidently swearing false in the first part he hopes their Lordships will credit him accordingly As to the last he having not yet learned his Lesson perfectly that Loftus makes it another thing swearing the Earl said He hoped to root c. such as would not submit to the Ecclesiastical Orders whereas there are few of the Scottish Nation that do not submit He then produced Sir Philip Manwaring who attested Sir Philip Manwaring That he heard the whole Speech and that my Lord spoke only against a Faction of the Scottish Nation whom he would endeavour to bring to Obedience and that he Explained himself to speak of those of Ireland not of Scotland whose Laws and Customs he did not understand and that he heard not one word of Root and Branch or Stock and Branch but that he heard Mr. Wainsford Master of the Rolls commend my Lord for his Caution that he had reflected on the Faction not on the Nation Then my Lord concluded That he hoped nothing was proved against him of Treason for if Obeying Commands in this Case be so he confessed being not better informed if it were to do again he should be that Traitor over again Mr. Whitlock presently laid hold of this and said Managers Reply This justifying his Offence against Law in that Great Presence was a great aggravation of his Crime That it is well known a new Oath cannot be imposed without Assent in Parliament it is Legislativa Potestas That he obtained the King's Letter upon Mis-information As to Steward 's Sentence his fault is the
the said Counties respectively or otherwise sufficiently Armed and furnished as you in your discretion shall appoint and require And he did not send to pay money but to relieve them by turns and if they found it for their Ease they might do their duty which by Common Allegiance is due or be at the Charge to have it done for them And then he insisted upon another Clause which is according to the Statute of 11 H. 7. in these words And further Our pleasure is and we do give and grant for us our Heirs and Successors That whatsoever you or any other person or persons of what degree soever by your Commission Warrant or Command shall do by Virtue of this Our Commission or Letters Patents or according to the Instructions aforesaid or the purport of this Our Commission touching the Execution of the Premisses both you and the said persons in shewing forth these our Letters Patents or the Constat or Inrollment thereof shall be discharged and acquitted against Us Our Heirs and Successors and freed from all Impeachment and other molestation for the same And therefore if he erred he hopes he is to be Excused for this purpose citing part of the Statute of 11 H. 7. THe King our Soveraign Lord Part of the Statute of 11 H. 7. recalling to his Remembrance the Duty and Allegiance of His Subjects and that they by reason of the same are bound to serve the King for the time to come in His Wars against every Rebellion and Power and Might c. and whatsoever falls against the mind of the Prince and that it is against all Law Reason and Conscience that attending His Person or being in other places of His Command any should lose or forfeit for doing their true Service and Obedience Be it therefore Enacted c. That from henceforth no manner of Person or Persons whatsoever that attends the King in His Person and do Him true Allegiance in His Person or be in other places in His Wars for the said Deed or true Duty he and they shall be any way convicted and Attainted of Treason nor of any other Offence by any Process of Law whereby he shall forfeit Lands Goods Tenements c. and shall be for that Deed and Service utterly discharged of any Vexation c. So that as he conceives having done nothing but for the good of his Majestie 's Service the preservation of the Countrey whatever he may have offended he hopes by the Act of Parliament and his Commission he may appear to their Lordships Justice and Compassion to a man that may Err acquitted of the Charge of High Treason For the words That Refusers were guilty of little less then High-Treason that taking it as he said for a denial of Common Allegiance it is no small Crime but it is only a single Testimony for which he takes himself not to be accomptable Mr. Maynard replyed Managers Reply That he had in stating his Case encreased not diminished his Fault for that the consent of some Gentlemen and Free-holders could not bind the rest and it is no legal way to raise money by Warrant much less by Force That he had no consent of the Lords for what he did as he pretended His Commission speaks not of money and the Statute is not to his Case it being for service on their Allegiance due to the King and levying Money Illegally is no part of that service That he did not first require men to serve but first pay and if not menaces them with Service as appears by the Warrants And to the single testimony of Sir William Ingram concerning Treason for non-payment they produced Mr. Cholmley who deposed That his Lordship said Mr. Henry Cholmley We are all tyed to serve the King in our own Persons and they that refuse are in little better case then Treason and punishable in the Star-Chamber And as he sayes the Warrants were not his it is evident they were by his Command Mr. Whitlock observed That what my Lord pleads in his Justification are sufficient grounds for his Condemnation for affirming necessity absolves the King from Rules of Government and that subjects may be taxed without assent of Parliament are expressly against the Fundamental Laws and a Course to introduce Arbitrary Government My Lord desired to speak to Mr. Cholmley 's Evidence which was new matter which he said differed from Sir William Ingram 's One sayes if money were not paid it was little better c the other he that denies his Allegiance is in little better case than Treason and punishable and for the assuming by his Commission to raise Taxes God forbid he should say or think such a thing but only to call men to perform their Duty for preservation of the King and Countrey He offered then something as to Sir William Penyman 's Warrant which he said was issued by him and the Deputy-Lieutenants Mr. Maynard replyed This was no colour of answer because a Man must serve in person therefore money must be required else he must be brought by head and shoulders to serve in person and offered a Warrant of Sir Edward Osborn 's made upon peril of Life and that all that can be imprisonment levying money charging upon peril of life levying of Goods hath been put upon the Subject Mr. Glyn added That the direction was his the execution others that Gogan 5. R. 2. was accused of Treason for forcing a man to enter into Bond which is not so much as forcing payments on the King's Subjects Then Sir Edward Osborn 's Warrant was read attested by Mr. Cholmley to be the Original in these words VVHereas His Majesty is informed Sir Edward Osborn's Warrant for Levying money that the Regiment under Command of Colonel Cholmley is set forth with little Money which expresses great disaffection to His Majesties service and wilful neglect of your own and the whole Kingdoms safety the Scotch Army having taken Newcastle and being on their march towards these parts These are therefore to Will and require you in His Majestie 's Name and by His special Command to raise and cause to be raised by the Port Constable or otherwise as you shall think best the summ of 20 s. 8 d. at least for each common Soldier 's belonging to such Towns or Parishes to send the same immediately to York to be delivered to the Colonel for Pay and Supply of the said Soldiers and likewise to charge and command all and every person and persons who find private Arms or contribute thereunto for thwith to send the like summ at least to York to be disposed as aforesaid And in case any of them refuse to contribute you are required by like Command to certifie me the Names of such refusers that a Messenger may be sent to bring them hither to serve in person and be severely punished according to the Quality of so high an offence seeing the safety of His Majestie 's Person and the safety of
be the greater because it redounds unto the God of glory My Motion is that those Sheets last presented to you may be laid by and that we may proceed to reduce again the old Original Episcopacy If this Gentleman had thoroughly consulted the Church History he would have found both that Episcopacy was ever accounted a Distinct Order from and above Presbytery and that the most Primitive Bishops exercised the same Jurisdiction and Power in the Church even over Presbyters themselves as the present English Bishops did and for their Temporal Baronies and Lordships it was never esteemed any ways Essential to the Office but only a Concomitant Adjunct which by the Fundamental Constitution of the Government by the Kings annexing Temporal Baronies to their Spiritual Office rendred them one of the three Estates of the Realm And indeed it was this Temporal Honor and their Secular Estates Lands and Tenements which raised the envy of some and the Covetousness of others against not only the Persons but the Order it self Sir Benjamin Rudyard also spake as follows Mr. Hide WE are now upon a very great Business Sir Benjamin Rudyard's Speech concerning Bishops Deans and Chapters at a Committee of the whole House June 21. 1641. so great indeed as it requires our soundest our saddest consideration our best judgment for the present our utmost foresight for the future But Sir one thing doth exceedingly trouble me it turns me round about it makes my whole Reason vertiginous which is that so many do believe against the wisdom of all Ages that now there can be no Reformation without destruction as if every sick Body must be presently knockt in the Head as past hope of Cure Religion was first and best planted in Cities God did spread his Net where most might be caught Cities had Bishops and Presbyters were the Seminaries out of which were sent Labourers by the Bishops to propagate and cultivate the Gospel The Clergy then lived wholly upon the Freewill-Offering and Bounty of the People Afterwards when Kings and States grew to be Christians the outward settlement of the Church grew up with them They Erected Bishopricks Founded Cathedral Churches Endowed them with large Possessions Landlords built Parish Churches gleab'd them with some portion of Land for which they have still a Right of Presentation I do confess That some of our Bishops have had Ambitious Dangerous Aims and have so still that in their Government there are very great Enormities But I am not of their Opinion who believe that there is an Innate ill Quality in Episcopacy like a Specifical Property which is a Refuge not a Reason I hope there is not Original Sin in Episcopacy and though there were yet may the Calling be as well Reformed as the Person Regenerated Bishops have governed the Church for 1500 years without interruption And no man will say but that God hath saved Souls in all those times under their Government Let them be reduc'd according to the usage of Ancient Churches in the best times so restâ—â—â—â—d as they may not be able hereafter to shame the Calling I love not those that hate to be Reformed and do therefore think them worthy of the more strict the more close Reformation We have often complained That Bishops are too absolute too singular Although Cathedral Churches are now for the most part but Receptacles of Drones and Non-Residents yet some good Men may be found or placed there to be Assessors with the Bishops to assist them in Actions of moment in Causes of Importance there is maintenance already provided for them If either in Bishopricks or Cathedral Churches there be too much some may be pared off to relieve them that have too little If yet more may be spared it may be employed to the setting up of a Preaching Ministry through the whole Kingdom And untill this be done although we are Christians yet are we not a Christian State There are some places in England that are not in Christendom the people are so ignorant they live so without God in the World for which Parliaments are to answer both to God and Man Let us look to it for it lies like one of the Burdens of the Prophet Isaiah heavy and flat upon Parliaments I have often seriously considered with my self what strong concurrent Motives and Causes did meet together in that time when Abbies and Monasteries were overthrown Certainly God's hand was the greatest for he was most offended The profane Superstitions the abominable Idolatries the filthy nefandous wickedness of their Lives did stink in God's Noistrils did call down for Vengeance for Reformation A good Party of Religions Men were Zealous Instruments in that great work as likewise many Covetous Ambitious Persons gaping for fat Morsels did lustily drive it on But Mr. Hide there was a principal Parliamentary motive which did facilitate the rest for it was propounded in Parliament that the Accession of Abby-Lands would so inrich the Crown as the people should never be put to pay Subsidies again This was plausible both to Court and Countrey Besides with the Over-plus there should be maintained a standing Army of Forty Thousand Men for a perpetual defence of the Kingdom This was Safety at home Terrour and Honour abroad The Parliament would make all sure Gods part Religion by his blessing hath been reasonably well preserved but it hath been saved as by fire for the rest is consumed and vanished the people have payed Subsidies ever since and we are now in no very good Case to pay an Army Let us beware Mr. Hide that we do not look with a worldly carnal evil Eye upon Church Lands let us clear our Sight search our Hearts that we may have unmixt and sincere Ends without the least thought of saving of our own Purses Church Lands will still be fittest to maintain Church Men by a proportionable and orderly distribution We are very strict and curious to uphold our own Propriety and there is great reason for it Are the Clergy only a sort of Men who have no Propriety at all in that which is called theirs I am sure they are Englishmen they are Subjects If we pull down Bishopricks and pull down Cathedral Churches in a short time we must be forced 〈◊〉 pull Colledges too for Scholars will live and dye there as in Cells if there be not considerable Preferment to invite them abroad And the example we are making now will be an easie Temptation to the less pressing necessities of future times This is the next way to bring in Barbarism to make the Clergy an unlearned contemptible Vocation not to be desired but by the basest of the People and then where shall we find men able to convince an Adversary A Clergy-men ought to have a far greater proportion to live upon than any other Man of an equal Condition He is not bred to multiply Three-pences it becomes him not to live Mechanically and sordidly he must be given to Hospitality I do know my self a
Michaelmas-Term in the said fourth Year of His Majesties Reign His Majesties then Attorney General exhibited an Information by English Bill in the Exchequer against the said Samuel Vassal setting forth that King James by his Letters-Patents dated Tertio Novembr in the second Year of His Reign did command the said Imposition of five Shillings six Pence upon every hundred weight of Currants should be demanded and received And that His Majesty that now is by His Letters-Patents dated the six and twentieth Day of July in the second Year of His Reign did by advice of his Privy-Councel declare his Will and Pleasure to be That Subsidies Customs and Impost should be levyed in such manner as they were in the Time of King James and the same and the Farmers thereof to continue until it might receive a setling by Parliament and commanded the levying and receiving the same accordingly and that the said Samuel Vassal before the first Day of October then last before the said Information exhibited did bring into the Port of London in Ships four Thousand six Hundred thirty eight Hundred Weight of Currants Richard Carmarthen Surveyor in the said Port of London the said first Day of October demanded of the said Samuel Vassal the said Imposition of five Shillings six Pence for every hundred Weight of the said Currants and that the said Samuel Vassal refused to pay the said Imposition and unjustly detained it from the King To which Information the said Samuel Vassal appeared and pleaded the Statute of Magna Charta and the Statute of de Tallagio non concedendo and that he was a Subject born under the Kings Allegiance and a Merchant of London using that Trade and that the said Summ of five Shillings six Pence upon every hundred Weight of Currants was and is malum talentum and not antiqua seu recta consuetudo and that it was imposed without Assent of Parliament to which Plea the said Attorney General demurred in Law and the said Samuel Vassal joyned in Demurrer with him and when the said Cause came to be argued viz. in Trinity Term in the sixth Year of His Majesties Reign the said Sir Humphrey Davenport being then Lord Chief Baron of His Majesties said Court of Exchequer did contrary to his Oath and contrary to the Laws of this Realm and to the great impoverishment of the said Samuel Vassal publickly deny to hear the Councel of the said Samuel Vassal to argue for him and said that the Case of the said Samuel Vassal would fall under the same Rule with the Case of one Bates and therefore was already judged and when the Councel of the said Samuel Vassal answering that they had nothing to do with Bates his Case but desired to argue for Master Vassall the said Sir Humphrey Davenport replyed that they knew the Opinion of the Court and should be heard no further and said that the King was in Possession and that they meaning the said Court of Exchequer would keep him in Possession And the said Sir Humphrey Davenport shortly after did together with the rest of the then Barons of the said Court of Exchequer imprison the said Samuel Vassal for not paying such Summs of Money as were pretended by the said Officers of the Custom-House to be due to His Majesty and did delay the said Samuel Vassal from time to time from having restitution of his said Goods being often in Court moved thereto with intention to force the said Samuel Vassal to pay the said unlawful Imposition and did also give his Opinion and Judgment upon the said Information for the King and against the said Samuel Vassal and by several Orders for that purpose made did continue the Possession of the said Goods in the King and the said Samuel Vassal could never obtain any restitution at all of his said Goods 1. That whereas it was commanded to the Sheriff of the County of York by Writ under the Seal of His Majesties Court of Exchequer dated the sixteenth Day of May in the seventh Year of His Majesties Reign that now is That he should destrain James Maleverer Esquire to appear before the Barons of his Majesties said Court of Exchequer in the Octaves of the Holy Trinity then next following to make fine to the King for his Trespass and Contempt in not coming to the Presence of the King before the one and thirtieth Day of January in the first Year of his said Majesties Reign to take upon him the Order of Knighthood according to the Form of a Proclamation in that behalf formerly made at which Day of the said Octaves of the Holy Trinity the said James Maleverer did appear and pleaded to the said Writs that although His said Majesty the said one and thirtieth Day of January and for three Days next before the said one and thirtieth Day of January was resident and remaining at his Pallace at White-Hall in the County of Middlesex and that the said James Maleverer the said one and thirtieth Day of January and three Days next before the said one and thirtieth Day of January was resident and remaining at Ancliff in the said County of York which is distant from the said Pallace of White-Hall the space of one Hundred and fourscore Miles and that the said James Maleverer the said one and thirtieth Day of January aforesaid or at any time before had no Lands nor Rents in his own Hands or in the Hands of Feoffees to his use out of the said County of York and that that part of the said County of York which is nearest to the said Pallace of White-Hall is distant from the said Pallace of White-Hall the space of one hundred and thirty Miles and that no Proclamation by vertue of any Writ of Proclamation for the appearance of any Persons whatsoever to take the said Order of Knighthood was made in any Part of the said County of York before the thirtieth Day of January in the said first Year of His Majesties Reign by reason whereof the said James Maleverer could not personally come to the Presence of His said Majesty to take the said Order of Knighthood before the said one and thirtieth Day of January in the said first Year of His Majesties said Reign yet the said James Maleverer for his Fine in the Premisses did humbly submit himself to the said Court and demanded to be discharged of the said Issues returned and imposed upon him by reason of the Premisses yet notwithstanding the said Plea and Submission of the said James Maleverer and after the same was made as aforesaid and entred upon Record in His Majesties said Court of Exchequer and the said Court moved for stay of the Process and discharge of the Issues the said Sir Humphrey Davenport being then Lord Chief Baron of the said Court of Exchequer contrary to his Oath and contrary to the Laws of this Realm and to the great impoverishing of the said James Maleverer did together with the rest of the then Barons of the said
Court refuse to impose any Fine whatsoever upon the said James Maleverer and told him that the said Court had no Power to Fine him and that he must compound with certain Commissioners for that purpose appointed And did farther order and direct several other Writs of Distringas to issue forth of His Majesties said Court of Exchequer under the Seal of the said Court directed to the several High Sheriffs of the said County of York whereby the said Sheriffs were commanded further to distrain the said James Maleverer to appear as aforesaid upon which said Writs of Distringas several great and excessive Issues were returned upon the Lands of the said James Maleverer amounting to the Summ of two Thousand Pounds or thereabouts a great part whereof the said James Maleverer was inforced to pay and in like manner the said Sir Humphrey Davenport together with the rest of the then Barons of the said Court of Exchequer did order and direct such and the like unjust and undue Proceedings and the said Proceedings were had and made accordingly against Thomas Moyser Esquire and against several other Persons His Majesties Subjects in several Parts of this Realm to the utter undoing of many of them 2. That a Sentence of Degradation being given by the High Commissioners of the Province of York against Peter Smart Clerk one of the Prebends of the Church of Durham for a Sermon by him formerly Preached against some Innovations in the Church of Durham a Tryal was afterwards had viz. in August in the seventh Year of his said Majesties Reign before the said Sir Humphrey Davenport Knight then one of the Judges of Assizes and Nisi prius for the County Palatine of Durham concerning the Corps of the Prebend of the said Master Smart which was then pretended to be void by the said Sentence of Degradation the said Sir Humphrey Davenport contrary to his Oath and contrary to the Laws of this Realm and to the destruction of the said Master Smart upon reading the Writ de haeretico comburendo did publickly on the Bench in the presence of divers His Majesties Subjects then attending declare his Opinion to be That the said Prebends Place was void and gave directions to the Jury then at Bar to find accordingly and being then informed that although the said Master Smart had been dead or deprived yet the Profits of his Prebend had been due to his Executors till the Michaelmas following the said Sir Humphrey Davenport then answered That though the said Master Smart was not dead Yet if he had his desert he had been dead long ago for he deserved to have been hanged for the said Sermon and that he was as wicked a Man as any lived in the World call him no more Master Smart but plain Smart And when the said Jury had found against the said Master Smart the said Sir Humphrey Davenport in scandal of His Majesties Government and Justice and of the Proceedings of His Majesties Judges did publickly as aforesaid speak Words to this effect That the said Jury had well done and that the said Smart had no remedy save by appeal to the King and there he should find but cold Comfort for the King would not go against his own Prerogative upon which the Judges and High Commissioners did depend and therefore would not contradict one anothers Acts. That the said Sir Humphrey Davenport about the Month of November Anno Dom. 1635. then being Lord Chief Baron of his Majesties Court of Exchequer and having taken an Oath for the due Administration of Justice to His Majesties Liege People according to the Laws and Statutes of this Realm subscribed his Name to an Opinion in haec verba I am of Opinion That as where the benefit doth more particularly redound to the good of the Ports or Maritime Parts as in Case of Piracy or Depredations upon the Seas there the charge hath been and may be lawfully imposed upon them according to Presidents of former Times so where the good and safety of the Kingdom in general is concerned and the whole Kingdom in danger of which His Majesty is the only Judg there the Charge of the Defence ought to be borne by all the Realm in general this I hold agreeable both to Law and Reason That in or about the Month of February Anno Dom. 1636. the said Sir Humphrey Davenport then being Lord Chief Baron of the said Court of Exchequer subscribed an extrajudicial Opinion in Answer to Questions in a Letter from His Majesty ut supra in the Articles against Judge Bramston and Judge Berkley That whereas an Action of Battery was brought by one Richard Legge against Robert Hoblins to which the said Hoblins pleaded Justification de son assault de mesme and the said Cause came to Tryal at the Assizes holden for the County of Gloucester in Summer An. 1636. before the said Sir Humphrey Davenport then one of the Justices of Assize and Nisi prius for that County At the said Tryal the said Robert Hoblins did begin to make proof of his said Justification and produced one Robert Tilly a Witness in the Cause who proved upon Oath that the said Richard Legge did make the first Assault upon the said Robert Hoblins and that the occasion thereof was that the said Richard Legge and others came upon the Lands then in Possession of the said Hoblins and did take and drive away eighteen Cows of the said Hoblins pretending they had a Warrant from the Sheriff to distrain the same for forty Shillings assessed upon the said Hoblins for Ship-Money And when the said Hoblins being present endeavoured to hinder the said Legge and others from taking away his said Cattel the said Legge strook the said Hoblins with a Staff who after defended himself That upon the opening of the Matter the said Sir Humphrey Davenport would not suffer the said Hoblins to produce any more Witnesses on his behalf though the said Hoblins desired that other of his Witnesses then present and sworn might be heard nor his Councel to speak for him but being informed that the said Hoblins when Ship-Money was demanded of him answered that he would not pay the same because it was not granted by Parliament the said Sir Humphrey Davenport did then openly in the hearing of a great number of His Majesties Liege People then assembled and attending the Court in great Passion reprove the said Hoblins and told him that the King was not to call a Parliament to give him satisfaction and did then and there also falsly and of purpose to prevent His Majesties loving Subjects from the due and ordinary course of Law and contrary to his Oath and the Laws of the Realm Publish Declare and affirm that it was adjudged by all the Judges of England that Ship-money was due to the King and directed the Jury Sworn in that cause to find a Verdict for the said Richard Legge And the said Jury did accordingly and gave him twenty Pound damages And the said
his Opinion and Judgment upon the said Information for the King and against the said Samuel Vassall and by several Orders for that purpose did continue the possession of the said Goods in the King and the said Samuel Vassall could never obtain any restitution at all of the said Currants 4. Whereas it was commanded to the Sheriff of the County of York by Writ under the Seal of His Majesties Court of Exchequer Dated the sixteenth Day of May in the seventh year of His Majesties Reign that now is That he should distrain James Maleverer Esquire to appear before the Barons of His Majesties said Court of Exchequer in the Octaves of the Holy Trinity then next following to make fine to the King for his Trespass and Contempt in not coming to the presence of the King before the 31. Day of January in the first year of His said Majesties Reign to take upon him the Order of Knighthood according to the Form of a Proclamation in that behalf formerly made at which day of the said Octaves of the Holy Trinity the said James Maleverer did appear and Pleaded to the said Writ that although His said Majesty the said 31. Day of January and for three days next before the said 31. Day of January was resident and remaining at His Palace at White-Hall in the County of Middlesex and that the said James Maleverer the said 31. Day of January and three days next before the said one and thirtieth Day of January was resident and remaining at Ancliffe in the said County of York which is distant from the said Palace of White-Hall the space of one hundred and four-score Miles and that the said James Maleverer the said one and thirtieth Day of January aforesaid or at any time before had no Lands or Rents in his own hands or in the hands of Feoffees to his uses out of the said County of York and that that part of the said County of York which is nearest to the said Palace of White-Hall the space of one hundred and thirty Miles and that no Proclamation by vertue of any Writ or Proclamation for the appearance of any Persons whatsoever to take the said Order of Knighthood was made in any part of the said County of York before the thirtieth Day of January in the said first year of His Majesties Reign by reason whereof the said James Maleverer could not personally come to the presence of His said Majesty to take the said Order of Knighthood before the said one and thirtieth Day of January in the said first year of His said Majesties Reign yet the said James Maleverer for his Fine in the Premisses did humbly submit himself to the said Court and demanded to be discharged of the said Issues returned and imposed upon him by reason of the Premisses yet notwithstanding the said Plea and Submission of the said James Maleverer and after the same was made as aforesaid and entred upon Record in His Majesties said Court of Exchequer and the said Court moved for stay of the Process and discharge of the Issues the said Sir Thomas Trevor being then one of the Barons of the said Court of Exchequer contrary to his Oath and contrary to the Laws of this Realm and to the great Impoverishing the of said James Maleverer did together with the rest of the then Barons of the said Court refuse to Impose any Fine whatsoever upon the said James Malverer and told him that the said Court had no Power to Fine him and that the must Compound with certain Commissioners for that purpose appointed And did farther order and direct several other Writs of Distringas to Issue forth of His Majestie 's said Court of Exchequer under the Seal of the said Court directed to the several High Sheriffs of the said County of York whereby the said Sheriffs were commanded further to distrain the said James Maleverer to appear as aforesaid upon which said Writs of Distringas several great and excessive Issues were returned upon the Lands of the said James Maleverer amounting to the Summ of two thousand Pounds or thereabouts a great part whereof the said James Maleverer was enforced to pay and in like manner the said Sir Thomas Trevor together with the rest of the then Barons of the said Court of Exchequer did order and direct such and the like unjust and undue proceedings and the said proceedings were had and made accordingly against Thomas Moyser Esquire and against several other Persons His Majesties Subjects in several parts of this Realm to the utter undoing of many of them 5. That he the said Sir Thomas Trevor about the Month of November Anno Domini 1635. then being one of the Barons of His Majesties Court of Exchequer and having taken an Oath for the due Administration of Justice to His Majesties Liege People according to the Laws and Statutes of this Realm subscribed his Name to an Opinion in haec verba I am of Opinion c. ut suprà in Baron Davenport's Charge 6. That in or about the Month of February Anno Dom. 1636. the said Sir Thomas Trevor being then one of the Barons of the said Court of Exchequer subscribed an Extrajudicial Opinion in answer to Questions in a Letter from his Majesty in haec verba Charles R. When the Good and Safety of the Kingdom in general is Concerned c. ut suprà Subscribed ut priùs 7. That the said Sir Thomas Trevor being then one of the Barons of his Majesties Court of Exchequer did deliver his Opinion and Judgment in the Exchequer-Chamber against John Hampden Esq in the Case of Ship-Money That he the said John Hampden upon the matter and substance of the Case was chargeable with the Money then in question a Copy of which Proceedings and Judgment the Commons in this present Parliament have already delivered to your Lordships 8. That whereas in the Month of April 16 Caroli the Officers of the Custome-House having seised a Ship of one Samuel Warners laden with Tobacco being the Goods of the said Warner the Bulk of the said Ship not being broken and no Information exhibited for the King according to the course of the Exchequer for any Duty the Barons were moved that the said Ship might be restored to the Proprietor giving Security to pay such Duties as did belong to the King But upon the Allegation of the King's Attorney that there needed no Information because there was no Penalty the said Sir Thomas Trevor being then one of the Barons of His Majesties Court of Exchequer together with the rest of the then Barons of the said Court did contrary to his Oath and contrary to the Laws of this Realm deny the restitution of the said Ship unless all the Duties demanded by the Farmers of the Custom-House were first paid Hereupon the said Warner brought an Action of Trover upon the Case in the Office of Pleas in the Exchequer against the said Officers that seized his Ship and Goods whereupon the King's Attorney
Act declaring Vnlawful and Void the late Proceedings touching Ship-Money and for Vacating of all Records and Process concerning the same 4. An Act for the Certainty of Forrests and of the Meers Meets Limits and Bounds of the Forrests The Private Acts were these 1. Private Bills passed An Act for the Settling of Certain Mannors Lands Tenements c. on Katharine Countess Dowager of Bedford William now Earl of Bedford John Russell and Edward Russell Esquires Sons of Francis Earl of Bedford deceased 2. An Act to Enable Sir Alexander Denton to sell Lands to pay Debts and provide for his Younger Children 3. An Act to Settle the Mannor of Belgrave c. upon William Byarley Esquire c. to pay the Debts of William Davenport Esquire deceased 4. An Act for John Eggar 's Free School in Alton in Com. Southampton 5. An Act for the Alteration of the Tenure of certain Lands in Fulham Middlesex held of the Lord Bishop of London as of the Mannor of Fulham 6. An Act for making the Chappel of Hool in Com. Lancaster a Parish Church 7. An Act for Confirmation of his Majesties Letters Patents to the Town of Plymouth and for dividing the Parish and Building of a New Church To which the Clerk of the Parliament pronounced the Royal Assent in these words Soit fait comme il est desire After which his Majesty made a short Speech touching the Necessity of his going to Scotland adding That he had given Order to the Lord Keeper for the further declaring of his Mind therein Upon which the Lord Keeper spake Expressing his Majesties great forwardness hitherto in so readily and graciously complying with his Parliament in gratifying them in all their Requests more than any of the Kings his Royal Predecessors had ever done before him instancing in the several Bills for taking away the Star-Chamber Regulating the Council Board taking away the High Commission Court Ship-Money and the passing the Bill for the Judges to continue quam diu se bene gesserint and several other things After which his Majesty spoke some few words acquainting them That he had received an Account by a Nobleman lately come from Scotland of the absolute Necessity of his Journey and that it was impossible for him without great Inconvenience to his Affairs in that Kingdom to defer his Journey and so he took his Leave of their Lordships and bade the Parliament Farewell and so departed But the House of Commons returning to their House fell immediately upon the Debate of it and sent a Message by Mr. Hollis to the Lords Earnestly desiring the Lords to joyn with them to Petition his Majesty either to Substitute a Locum Tenens during his Absence or to stay 14 dayes Longer in regard it so nearly concerned the Quiet and Peace of the Kingdom The Lords sent them in Answer That they would move his Majesty to defer his Journey for two dayes longer but this gave the Commons little Satisfaction In this Debate both Houses sate till Ten of the Clock at Night but could not come to any Resolution but in the Commons House it was moved That in respect the Necessity was so great and his Majesty so firm in his Resolution to set forwards on Monday that both Houses might meet and Sit upon Sunday and a Message being sent up to the Lords to desire their Concurrence it was accordingly agreed There being many of the Members of the Commons House absent Order for the absent Members to repair to the House It was this day also Ordered by the Commons That all the Members of the House in regard of the Great and Weighty Affairs that import the Safety of the Kingdom do repair hither to attend the Service of the Common-wealth with all possible speed upon pain of incurring the Displeasure of this House for their neglect And it is further Ordered That the Knights of the several Counties and the Burgesses and Barons of the several Burroughs and Cinque-Ports that are now in Town shall send Copies of this Order to the Sheriffs of the several Counties to the End it may be published with all Care and Speed By Six of the Clock in the Morning there was a Sermon at St. Sunday August 8. Margarets Westminster before the Commons after which both the Houses Sate and the time was wholly spent in the morning in Debates Messages and Conferences between the Two Houses about Petitioning the King to stay yet 14 dayes longer the Lords inclining not to press his Majesty further in it and the Commons insisting upon their former Votes to that purpose The Earl of Bath reported the Conference with the House of Commons as follows Aug. 8. 1641. The Report of the Conserence about staying the Kings Journey 14 dayes THat the House of Commons gave their Lordships thanks for joining with them humbly to Petition His Majesty for deferring his Journey into Scotland for 14 days And to the end that it may be no prejudice to the Parliament of Scotland the House of Commons desires that some of the Lords Commissioners may acquaint the Scots Commissioners with these particulars following and desire their Answers 1. Propositions to the Scots Commissioners about the Kings stay 14 dayes That the Houses of Parliament have commanded them to express to the Scots Commissioners the great care that they have to keep a good Correspondency betwixt the Two Nations of England and Scotland and to take away the Objections which may be made in respect of the Publick engagements to submit to His Majesties pleasure in his present intended Journey 2. That they take notice of the often Meetings and Adjournments of the Parliament of Scotland and lest it might be a great inconvenience the States being now met there if they should stay long there together without doing any thing both the Houses of Parliament have Resolved that for the better satisfaction of the Parliament of Scotland they will humbly Petition His Majesty to send a Commissioner to Edinburgh that if there be pressing Occasions to dispatch any of their Publick Affairs there may be Authority for the same and if they think good to stay His Majesty's coming to them in Person the Houses of Parliament do hope that it will be within 14 days of that time wherein His Majesty was expected there and they shall take their consent thereunto as a great Argument of their Affection to this Kingdom 3. That the Houses likewise do intend to send Commissioners from hence to the Scottish Parliament to declare to them the great Reasons which moves them to Petition His Majesty's stay for 14 days which are such as do very much import the Peace and Safety of both Kingdoms as also their care to move His Most Excellent Majesty to send His Commissioner that the Parliament of Scotland may not be disappointed in respect of the dispatch of their own great Affairs in that Kingdom in the mean time 4. And lastly That the Houses do desire the
Majesty's said Letters or the said Act of State and not otherwise The Commons not being satisfied with these Sober and Calm Resolutions of the Judges fell to Voting their own Sense and to make Declarations of the Law upon their former Queries as followeth Questions propounded in Parliament And Declarations of the Law thereupon in Parliament Quest 1. The Declaration of the Commons in Ireland upon the Queries propounded to the Judges WHether the Subjects of this Kingdom be a Free People and to be Governed only by the Common Laws of England and Statutes of Force in this Kingdom Declarat The Subjects of this his Majesties Kingdom of Ireland are a free People and to be Governed only according the Common Law of England and Statutes made and established by Parliament in this Kingdom of Ireland and according to the Lawful Customs used in the same 2. Quest Whether the Judges of this Land do take the Oath of Judges And if so Whether under pretext of any Act of State Proclamation Writ Letter or Direction under the Seal or Privy Seal Signet or Letter or other Commandment from the Lord Lieutenant Lord Deputy Justice Justices or other Chief Governor or Governors of this Kingdom they may hinder stay or delay the Suit of any Subject or his Judgment or Execution thereupon If so in what Cases And whether if they do hinder stay or delay such Suit or Judgment or Execution thereupon what Punishment do they incur for their deviation and transgression therein Declarat That Judges in Ireland ought to take the Oath of the Justices or Judges declared and established in several Parliaments of Force in this Kingdom and the said Judges or any of them by Color or under Pretext of any Act of State or Proclamation or under Color or Protext of any Writ Letter or Direction under the Great Seal Privy Seal or Privy Signet from the King 's Most Excellent Majesty or by Color or Pretext of any Letter or Commandment from the Chief Governor or Governors of this Kingdom ought not to hinder or delay the Suit of any Subject or his Judgment or Execution thereupon and if any Letters Writs or Commands come from his Majesty or from any other or for any other Cause to the Justices or to the other deputed to do the Law and right according to the Usage of the Realm in disturbance of the Law or of the Execution of the same or of Right to the Party the Justices and others aforesaid ought to proceed and hold their Courts and Processes where the Pleas and Matters be depending before them as if no such Letters Writs or Commandments were come to them And in case any Judge or Judges Justice or Justices be found in default therein he or they so found in default ought to incur and undergo due Punishment according to the Law and former Declarations and Provisions in Parliament in that Case made and of Force in this Kingdom or as shall be Ordered Adjudged or Declared in Parliament And the Barons of the Exchequer Justices of the Assize and Goal-delivery if they be found in default as aforesaid It is hereby declared That they ought to undergo the Punishment aforesaid 3. Quest Whether the Kings Majesties Privy Council either with the Chief Governor or Governors of this Kingdom or without him or them be a Place of Judicature by the Commons Laws and wherein Causes between Party and Party for Debts Trespasses Accompts Possessions or Title of Lands or any of them or which of them may be heard and determined and of what Civil Causes they have Jurisdiction and by what Law And of what Force is their Order or Decree in such Cases or any of them Declarat The Council Table of this Realm either with the Chief Governor or Governors or without the Chief Governor or Governors is no Judicatory wherein any Action Real Personal Popular or Mixt or any Suit in the Nature of the said Actions or any of them can or ought to be Commenced Heard or Determined and all Proceedings at the Council Table in any Suit in the nature of any of the said Actions are void especially Causes particularly provided for by express Acts of Parliament of Force in this Kingdom only excepted 4. Quest The Like of the Chief Governor alone Declarat The Proceedings before the Chief Governor or Governors alone in any Action Real Personal Popular or Mixt or in any Suit in the Nature of any of the said Actions are Coram non Judice and void 5. Quest Whether Grants of Monopolies be warranted by the Law and of what and in what Cases and how and where and by whom are the pretended Transgressors against such Grants punishable and whether by Fine Mutilation of Members Imprisonment Loss and Forfeiture of Goods or otherwise and which of them Declarat All Grants of Monopolies are contrary to the Laws of this Realm and therefore void and no Subject of the said Realm ought to be Fined Imprisoned or otherwise Punished for exercising or using the Lawful Liberty of a Subject contrary to such Grants 6. Quest In what Cases the Lord Lieutenant Lord Deputy or other Chief Governor or Governors of this Kingdom and Council may punish by Fine Imprisonment Mutilation of Members Pillory or otherwise And whether they may Sentence any to such the same or the like punishment for infringing the Commands of or concerning any Proclamation of and concerning Monopolies and what punishment do they incur that Vote for the same Declarat The Lord Lieutenant Lord Deputy or other Chief Governor or Governors and Council of this Realm or any of them ought not to imprison any of his Majesties Subjects but only in Cases where the Common Laws or Statutes of the Realm do inable and warrant them so to do and they ought not to Fine or to Consure any Subject in mutilation of Member standing on the Pillory or other shameful Punishment in any Case at the Council Table and no Subject ought to be Imprisoned Fined or otherwise Punished for Infringing any Commands or Proclamation for the support or Countenance of Monopolies and if in any Case any Person or Persons shall be committed by the Command or Warrant of the Chief Governor or Governors and Privy Council of this Realm or any of them That in every such Case every Person or Persons so Committed restrained of his or their Liberty or suffering Imprisonment upon Demand or Motion made by his or their Counsel or other imployed by him or them for that purpose unto the Judges of the Court of Kings-Bench or Common-Pleas in open Court shall without delay upon any Pretence whatsoever for the ordinary Fees usually paid for the same have forthwith granted unto him or them a Writ or Writs of Habeas Corpus to be directed generally unto all and every Sheriff Goaler Minister Officer or other Person in whose Custody the Party or Parties so Committed or Restrained shall be shall at the Return of the said Writ or Writs and
delight in the present and succeeding Ages to dwell in this Land the freedom of Commerce and Trade may pass on more chearfully for the incouragement of your Petitioners and that the flourishing and peaceable Reign of your Majesty may be long continued and increased among us For all which your Petitioners shall ever Earnestly Pray c. James Freshwater John Page Henry Crewkern John Caudry Thomas Clement Will. Bently with a number of Markes and Names Mr. Quelch a Minister of St. Bennet Grace-Church sent for as a Delinquent A Petition of the Inhabitants of St. Bennets Grace-Church against Mr. Quelch their Minister was read whereupon it was Resolved c. That Mr. William Quelch be forthwith sent for as a Delinquent by the Serjeant at Arms attending the House And the Petition was referred to the Committee for Scandalous Ministers The City Petition of which before was also read ut supra in the Proceedings in the Lords House Friday Decemb. 24. This Day a Petition from some Citizens of London was presented to the House of Lords which was read in their presence viz. To the Right Honourable the Lords Assembled in this present Parliament The Humble Petition of divers Citizens Merchants and others of London Trading in the Realm of Ireland Sheweth unto your Lordships THat your Petitioners on the behalf of themselves The Petition of several Merchants to the Lords concerning Ireland and other Merchants Shop-Keepers and others Trading into the Realm of Ireland whose Estates to the value of above a Million of Money lie involved in the desperate Condition of that Kingdom as also on the behalf of the whole Protestant Party of that People reduced to unspeakable Extremity in their Lives and Fortunes as by our daily Letters from thence we are informed to our great Grief We most humbly beseech your Lordships That you will be pleased to consider the Sad Condition of them and us in our respective Interests and lay aside all things that may trouble the Way to the Relief of that Wretched State which without Speedy and Effectual Assistance will not be able to serve his Majesty in the resistance of the Rebels there nor shall we be able in our several Degrees and Conditions to do his Majesty your Lordships and the whole Realm that Service in our ready Compliance with the Great Affairs of this Kingdom as we should and would most willingly perform to the uttermost of our Abilities This My Lords we most humbly offer to your Lordships as a Consideration whereupon that Kingdom depends besides many Thousands depending upon us the Petitioners in our Trades that are here Equally concerned with them of Ireland in our Livelihoods And do beseech your Lordships in the End after the Long Suffering of that Vnfortunate Nation our long Expectation and the Wonder of all Neighbouring States occasioned by a Long and as we humbly conceive an Vnseasonable delay whilest the Life Liberties and Interests of the Protestants of that Kingdom are daily invaded and destroyed you will now give an instant dispatch for the Relief of that Miserable Realm and People And your Petitioners shall ever pray c. Signed Gilbert Harrison William Green Richard Whitaker John Stone Tho. Stone Edw. Claxton cum multis aliis The House taking the Petition into Consideration the Petitioners were called in and the Lord Keeper by direction of the House told them That their Lordships were taking into their Consideration and Care the Necessity and Affairs of Ireland and will use all Expedition therein and will take their Petition into Consideration Then a Message was brought up from the Commons by the Lord Gray of Ruthen To desire their Lordships to joyn with them to Petition the King for a Monthly Fast throughout the Kingdom during the Troubles of Ireland and for a Proclamation to that Effect 2. To Expedite the Answer to the Conference last Night concerning the Business of the Tower which is a Matter of great Importance The Answer was That this House joyns with the House of Commons in the first of this Message but concerning the matter of the late Conference concerning the Lieutenant of the Tower this House hath not thought fit to joyn with the House of Commons therein A Message was brought from the House of Commons by the Lord Herbert who brought up 3. Bills which had passed the Commons 3 Bills passed the House of Commons brought up to the Lords Intituled 1. An Act to restrain Barge-men 1. For the Lords day Lighter-men and others from labouring and working on the Lords Day commonly called Sunday 2. An Act for the better raising and levying of Marriners Sailors 2. For pressing Marriners c. and others for the present Guarding of the Seas and necessary Defence of the Realm and other his Majesties Dominions 3. An Act for the settling by Fitzwilliams Conningsby Esq 3. Fitzwilliams Coningsby's Bill a Rent-Charge of 200 l. per annum upon an Hospital in the Suburbs of the City of Hereford called Conningsbie's Company of Old Servitors c. and for the Settlement of Lands and Tenements for the payment of his Debts and raising of Portions for his Younger Children and for a new Joynture for his Wife and a New Settlement of his Estate The Lords then fell upon the Consideration of the 6. Resolution of the Lords upon the 6 Propositions of the Scots Commissioners Propositions of the Scots Commissioners To the First Resolved c. That 10000 Scots shall be sent into Ireland upon such Conditions as shall be agreed upon by the Parliament To the Second This House agrees with the House of Commons therein To the Third The House agrees unto it thus That there shall be delivered unto the Scots 5000 Arms within a short time after their carrying their Arms out of Scotland and 5000 Arms more within 5 or 6 Months consisting of Pikes Muskets and Swords which is conceived are the Arms they will convey out of Scotland into Ireland To the Fourth Agreed That some Ships of War shall be sent to secure the Transporting of the Scots into Ireland but because it will be some time before our Ships can come thither the Commissioners are to Treat with the Scots Commissioners either to Transport their Men without Ships of War or else to imploy some of their own Ships until ours can come and they shall be paid for the same To the Fifth This House agrees with the House of Commons and refers it to the English Commissioners to Treat about a smaller Number of Horse To the Sixth This House agrees with the House of Commons therein A Conference was had with the Commons L. Keeper reports Conference about the Tower and Lunsford which was thus Reported by the Lord Keeper That the House of Commons greatly desired That both Houses might have joyned together in an humble Petition to his Majesty for removing of Col. Lunsford from being Lieutenant of the Tower of London The House of Commons say