Catalogue description Main Papers: Includes undated items for 1640

19 December 1640 -- Petition of Richard Allibone and William Lyne, of Great Brinton [Brington], in the county of Northampton. Allibone and his wife having leased a house to Lyne, were called before Dr Clark, who and bade them lease it to Richard Moverill; in consequence of their refusal so to do they have been subjected to imprisonment.

19 December 1640 -- Petition of Richard Gittaway, constable of Broughton, Oxon; complains that he was violently seized and imprisoned by Lewis Harris, under sheriff to Sir Francis Norris, for refusing to pay ship-money for Broughton and Newnton.

21 December 1640 -- Petition of Katherine Hadley, spinster, a poor distressed prisoner in the common gaol in Old Bridewell, London; was servant to John Lilborne, and tended upon him when prisoner in the Fleet in his extraordinary sickness.

21 December 1640 -- Petition of Sir Robert Howard, for redress against the High Commission Court.

21 December 1640 -- Report from committee for abuses in imprisonments, etc., granting damages to Sir Robert Howard for unjust imprisonment by order of the High Commission Court.

21 December 1640 -- Petition of Thomas Westropp, was charged before the Court of Star Chamber for cheating one Gilbert Wells with false dice, and a verdict was obtained against him by an untrue report by Mr. Justice Crawley of a decision in the case at Winchester assizes; prays that Mr Justice Crawley may be called upon to answer, and that the verdict of the Court of Star Chamber may be quashed.

21 December 1640 -- Draft order that Mr Middleton, serjeant-at-arms, shall repay eleven pounds taken by him from Francis Sawyer upon a warrant from the Lords of the Council, and that Sir John Hanbury, or such as falsely gave information to the Council that Sawyer was a delinquent, shall pay the same to Mr Middleton.

21 December 1640 -- Copy of preceding.

21 December 1640 -- Petition of Gerard Wright; being employed between the late Earl and Countess of Argyll, he discovered that they had sent their daughter Anne, now wife to Mr. Bulleyn, the Earl of Lindsey's chaplain, to be popishly brought up abroad, thereupon petitioner brought an action against them, but whilst the Bill was before the grand jury, the petitioner and the said Anne were imprisoned by Wragg, a messenger, on a warrant from the Archbishop of Canterbury; prays for relief. Subjoined is a history of the case.

Annexed:

1 Statement of Gerrard Wright's damages.

2 Two copies of warrant to Wragg to attach Anne Browne alias Coriat alias Cambell, and George Wright.

3 Petition of John Wragg, one of the sworn messengers of His Majesty's Chamber.

21 December 1640 -- Petition of Richard Craycroft, for consideration of a petition lately rejected by their Lordships respecting certain proceedings in Chancery on a question of disputed accounts against Richard Pepps and others, and respecting a certificate of Mr Justice Crawley thereon.

Annexed:

1 Petition referred to in preceding.

21 December 1640 -- Order of committee for attendance of Mr Justice Crawley.

22 December 1640 -- Petition of Francis Lord Willoughby, of Parham, and Sir Christopher Wray, creditors of the Earl of Cleveland, for stay of all the proceedings for sale of his lands, until he has satisfied the claims of the petitioners.

22 December 1640 -- Petition of John Blanch of Guernsey. Thanks the House for setting him at liberty, and prays consideration of his former petition.

Annexed:

1 Petition of same. States complaints against jurats of Guernsey and others, and prays for redress.

22 December 1640 -- Petition of William Garfield and Enseby Woolfe, churchwardens of Upton, in the county of Northampton. Dr Samuel Clarke, parson of St Peter's, Northampton, sent one Pidgeon to Upton to cut the table, place it altar-wise in the chancel, and rail it in, and then directed them to pay Pidgeon for his trouble, which they declining to do, have suffered excommunication and loss.

22 December 1640 -- Draft order that Dr Clarke shall make a new table for the chapel of Upton at his own cost, and pay the petitioners' charges, or else appear to show cause to the contrary.

22 December 1640 -- Petition of John Mole and others, creditors of Thomas Bosse, deceased intestate for distribution of his personal estate for payment of his debts.

22 December 1640 -- Petition of Sir John Innes, Knight, now prisoner in the Gatehouse; was induced to talk about the affairs of Scotland by one Harris, who afterwards informed falsely against him, that he had spoken traitorous words, on which charge petitioner has been imprisoned; can get no relief from the Council, and prays the House to give order for his enlargement.

22 December 1640 -- Petition of Richard Catlyn for relief against the Earl of Cleveland, from whom petitioner cannot obtain payment of a debt due to his wife, a daughter of Sir Henry Nevill.

22 December 1640 -- Copy of preceding.

22 December 1640 -- Petition of Basset Cole and Dame Amy Mordaunt, his wife, late widow of Sir Robert Mordaunt, for payment of certain sums from Sir Charles Mordaunt, son of Sir Robert, for maintenance of Lady Mordaunt and her other children.

23 December 1640 -- Petition of William [Laud] Lord Archbishop of Canterbury. Expresses sorrow for words lately spoken before their Lordships, and prays for leave to take the air.

23 December 1640 -- List of persons who have visited the Earl of Strafford in the Tower, between the 7th and the 21st instant.

23 December 1640 -- Petition of Thomas Cavendish and Amy, his wife, formerly wife of John Scudamore. Have lent £100 on bond to Edward Turner and others, and cannot obtain repayment, as the parties liable are constantly in France or Ireland. Pray for relief.

23 December 1640 -- Three draft orders in the case of Roger North and Thomas Coningsby against Sir Robert Coningsby, touching the profits of the manor of North Mimms.

23 December 1640 to 6 August 1641 -- Orders on petitions on private causes.

24 December 1640 -- Petition of William Rowse against Dr Clarke, parson of Kingsthorpe, Upton, and St. Peter's, Northampton, etc. Complains of injustice and oppression practised by him as chaplain and principal feoffee in trust of the new hospital at Leicester, towards the tenants and inmates thereof.

24 December 1640 -- Copy of preceding.

Annexed:

1 Order of the House, referring the matter to certain justices and others of Leicester for examination.

2 Letter from Francis Thorndike, son of one of the tenants to the son of one of the Commissioners with reference to the case.

3 Examinations of the witnesses certified by the Commissioners.

24 December 1640 -- Petition of Wm. Pargiter to be relieved against a decree of the Court of the Star Chamber, touching the manor of Gretworth [Greatworth], in the county of Northampton.

24 December 1640 -- Draft order for the hearing of the cause.

24 December 1640 -- Petition of Ralph Bradley, victualler. Petitioner arrested Thomas Dikes for a debt of £20, but was summoned before Judge Berkeley, a kinsman of Dikes, and committed until he surrendered his claim. Prays for redress.

24 December 1640 -- Petition of Anthony Danvers. Has for four years past presented his son for election to Winchester College, as of kin to the founder, but has been constantly refused. Prays for consideration of his case.

Annexed:

1 Draft letter to the Warden of Winchester College, ordering him to appear before the committee for petitions, to answer the charge contained in preceding.

24 December 1640 -- Petition of John Godfrey, for relief against a decision of the Court of Star Chamber in his cause against John Scott and others, touching the non-enrolment of a deed of bargain and sale.

24 December 1640 -- Copy of order of the House of Commons for inquiry to be made after recusants.

24 December 1640 -- Order referring the case of William Tanner, who complains of unjust imprisonment, etc. to the consideration of Sir Peter Prideaux, Bart., and others.

26 December 1640 -- Draft orders of the committee on the northern business, for the appearance of certain persons before them, etc.

29 December 1640 -- Petition of Anne Hide, widow; her late husband took a lease of a house in Fleet Street for 21 years, from 25th March 1639, from Patrick Winch, who swore that he was of age. Winch was, however, not of age by fourteen days, as it now appears, and has since made another lease of the premises, from which petitioner is likely to be ejected, the letter of the law, as decided by the Court of King's Bench, being against her, has brought a writ of error, hoping thereby to gain time to show the true state of her cause in equity.

29 December 1640 -- Order of the House for assignment of errors in the cause Hyde against Lloyd.

29 December 1640 -- Draft of preceding.

29 December 1640 -- Petition of Montjoy Earl of Newport. Complains of insolent speeches against him by James Fawcett, tailor.

Annexed:

1 Petition of James Fawcett, in May 1639, about four hundred horses employed in drawing His Majesty's ordnance, were put to pasture on petitioner's grounds at Goswick, for each of which horses the King allowed 12d. for a day and night, but petitioner had only 3d. for a day and night, and half of that unpaid, and much damage was done to petitioner's corn by the horses; in turning them out of which, Wm. Davenant, the pay-master, alleges that some were hurt, for which petitioner has been vexatiously troubled by a suit in the Star Chamber, notwithstanding the desire of the Earl of Arundel, then Lord General of the forces, that petitioner should not be molested. Prays for redress.

2 Petition of Fawcett to the Earl of Arundel and Surrey. When the King lay at Goswick, petitioner furnished grass for horses. One Swan, Provost Marshal, has insulted and molested petitioner, saying that some of the horses were hurt, and has taken away his sword and belt. Noted with directions from the Earl, that Fawcett should not be further molested.

29 December 1640 -- "A balance of His Majesty's ordinary receipts and payments made by a medium of five years upon certificates from the officers of the revenue by several warrants, anno 1635."

29 December 1640 -- Petition of Alice Swalman, widow, late wife of Doctor Swalman. Her brother, John Yaxlie, having left all his property, except £100, away from petitioner and her children, chiefly to Robert Spicer, she disputed the will in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, where a decree was made for distribution of a sum of £900 amongst the testator's next of kin. Robert Spicer is dead, and his executor, Thomas Spicer, also, and one Nutting, his present representative, is excommunicated for not paying the £900 into Court. The proceedings have extended over sixteen years, her adversary trying to wear her out by delays of all kinds. Prays for relief.

Annexed:

1 Petition of same for a speedy hearing of her cause.

29 December 1640 -- Petition of George Harwood. John Hooker, a justice of the peace, and an attorney in the Court of Star Chamber, brought an action against him in that Court, charging him with saying words he had never said; but petitioner, fearing Hooker's greatness, and having already been put to much expense, gave Hooker £40 and a bond for £200 more, and thereupon was induced by Hooker to sign a petition for dismissal of the cause, on a promise that the money should be returned and the bond cancelled, instead of which Hooker has kept the £40, and sued petitioner on the bond and seized all his goods for payment: prays for redress.

29 December 1640 -- Petition of Mary Weely [to the King and the High Court of Parliament]. Is wife of Richard Weely, parish clerk of St Botolph, Bishopsgate. Can obtain no redress at law, as he has the purse and she the penury. Prays for redress of her injuries.

30 December 1640 -- Petition of John Turner, prisoner in the Gatehouse. About fifteen years ago was summoned before the "Comensarie" Court by Edward Henshaw, the minister, and the churchwardens of Sutton-Valence, in Kent, for not coming to evening prayer till the service was begun for the space of six weeks, though he was prevented by his duties as constable. Was excommunicated, even to the miller's refusing to grind his corn. Was imprisoned on a warrant in Maidstone gaol, but when brought before the judges, was found blameless, and Mr. Henshaw was ordered to procure an absolution without charge, which he never did. Prays for relief.

30 December 1640 -- Petition of John Barry, clerk; by license of the Court of Wards and Liveries was assigned the custody of Hammond Upton, and the benefit of his marriage, and paid £800 for the assignment, which sum should have been repaid him out of the marriage portion of the ward; but Sir John Browne, of East Kirkby, in the county of Lincoln, surreptitiously obtained the marriage of Upton with one of his daughters. Upon an information by petitioner, Sir John Browne, was ordered to pay a fine of 500 marks to the King, and the £800 to petitioner. This Sir John evaded by all manner of delays. He is now dead, and petitioner prays that Lady Browne and Sir John's heir may be called upon to satisfy his claims.

31 December 1640 -- MS. journal for this day.

31 December 1640 -- Draft report of committee for Privileges, that peers should answer only upon honour, and not upon oath.

Annexed:

1 Order from the King for a copy of the order, etc., of the House of Lords touching peers answering on honour (now in HL/PO/JO/10/4).

2 Copy of the order of the House of 6 May 1628, in pursuance of preceding. Certified by Thomas Knyvett, Clerk of the Parliaments (now in HL/PO/JO/10/4).

31 December 1640 -- Draft order referring to the Grand Committee for Privileges i) the question whether the servants of recusant peers should enjoy privilege; ii) the case of Lord Grey and Mr Longville.

31 December 1640 -- Copy of Resolutions in the House of Commons, that the proceedings of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Earl of Strafford, against Lord Mountmorris were illegal.

31 December 1640 -- Petition of George More, clerk, rector of Hackney. Having recovered from his illness, prays for appointment of a time for him to answer the charges of Dr. Calibut Downing.

31 December 1640 -- Draft order for reference of the matters in dispute between Lewis Rigault and Oliver Clobery to impartial merchants.

31 December 1640 -- Petition of Lewis Rigault, for a speedy decision of the case.

31 December 1640 -- Draft order that the Earl of Cleveland, and Philip Lord Herbert of Cardiff, and the other parties concerned, should agree before Thursday next upon a Bill for the sale of the manors of Stepney and Hackney, for the payment of the Earl's debts.

31 December 1640 -- Petition of William Dormer, creditor of the Earl of Cleveland, prays that if a Bill should pass for sale of the Earl's lands, he may receive payment of £300 due to him.

1640 -- Copy of "Intelligence from Sir John Conyers." States that on the last day of July Leslie came to the lodge of Chelsey Wood with certain enumerated forces. Lord Bathurst was there with other forces before the army came. Further details the warlike preparations in Edinburgh and elsewhere.

1640 -- Petition of Henry Bell Luther held discourses with Melancthon and others touching religion. These were collected, and after Luther's death printed in a book under the title of "Luther's last "Divine Discourses," and every parish church throughout Germany was ordered to receive a copy. The book, however, was burnt by order of Charles the V., one copy only escaping discovery, which was sent into England, where it came to petitioner's hands, who has spent some years in translating it into English, and prays that he may have sole license for printing the same, and that every church in England and Wales may be ordered to keep a copy.

1640 -- Petition of Mathewe Cooper ; for redress against Daniel Smith and others, who have persecuted petitioner in consequence of his performing his duty as constable of Barley, Herts, in arresting them, notorious and grand offenders.

Annexed:

1 Articles of grievance.

[1640] -- Petition of Richard Newte, clerk ; for redress against a decision of Sir John Lambe, in the Arches Court and an injunction in the Exchequer, touching the portion of Tidcombe, in the church of Tiverton, Devon.

[1640] -- Petition of Edward Ironside, of Lincoln's Inn, [to the House of Commons] on behalf of himself and his tenants and farmers of his manor of Thorpe next Waynflecte, in the county of Lincoln, against certain pretended decrees of sewers, under which Sir Anthony Thomas has obtained possession of a third of certain fen lands belonging to petitioner, Prays that the said pretended decrees may be declared void, and petitioner restored to his former possessions.

[1640] -- Petition of Joane Cooke, widow, prisoner in the Fleet, for consideration of articles of grievance. [Articles wanting.]

[1640] -- Petition of inhabitants of Barnsley, etc. pray that a weekly cloth market at Wakefield (but lately invented) may be put a stop to, and only the 15 cloth fairs, as allowed by charter at Barnsley, and elsewhere, be permitted in Yorkshire.

Annexed:

1 Certificate in support of preceding signed by "some of the best men of note and quality that lives in Barnsley, Pontefract, Ripon, Bradford, and Lee Ottley."

[1640] -- Petition of George, William, Elizabeth, and Jane Collyns, orphans: their chief subsistence depended on the proceeds of 35 acres in the parishes of St Giles and St Martin in the Fields, on which their father and grandfather had built houses, the lands being part of the Queen's jointure. They fully expected a renewal of the lease, but Mr Povey, the King's auditor, and one Christopher Vernon, an officer of the Court of Exchequer, have obtained a lease over petitioners' heads, and have entirely misrepresented the value of the ground to the ruin of petitioners. Pray for redress.

[1640] -- Answer of John Sparkes, master cook to the Prince His Highness, to the petition and complaint of Thomas Denne. The matters in dispute between them have been agitated in all the courts in the kingdom for the last 17 years. Prays for time to put in a full answer.

[1640] -- Petition of Sir Henry Ferrers, Bart., for inquiry into the proceedings of one John Stone in the matter of a mortgage of the manor of Skillingthorpe, in the county of Lincoln.

Annexed:

1 Articles of agreement made between Sir J. Ferrers and Stone.

[1640] -- Petition of Gregory Hockmore, grandchild and sole heir of Sir Bartholomewe Michell, Knight, [to the House of Commons], imprisoned in the Tower by order of the House, as a delinquent; is heartily sorry for any act done in disobedience to the House. Prays for enlargement.

Annexed:

1 Copy of preceding.

[1640] -- Statement of injuries done by the Dunkirkers to Jacob Braems and others.

[1640] -- Petition of the silkmen of London. Their trade consists of buying, dyeing, and vending silk, gold, and silver thread, and of several manufactures made thereof, and wrought and mixed with plate and spangles. They complain that Sir Wm Middleton and others have procured a patent and proclamation, by which an office has been established in London, at which every parcel of silk is required to be marked, and heavy fees charged thereon. Pray for redress.

[1640] -- Petition of Sir Thos. Bludder, Knight, and and Dame Jane, his wife. Complain of proceedings by the Stationers Company against Lady Bludder, as representative of John Bill, deceased, late of London, stationer. Pray for redress.

[1640] -- Petition of Anthony Wither, gent., and others. Mr Thomas Foxley, minister of God's word, heretofore preached a weekly lecture on Fridays, to petitioners and the rest of the inhabitants of St. Martin's in the Fields, until Dr Ducke, in the name of the Archbishop of Canterbury, commanded him to desist, Pray that Mr Foxley may be bailed and return to his lecture, petitioners becoming bound for his answering what shall be objected against him.

[1640] -- Abstract of a petition of William Palmer praying for the reversal of a decree in Chancery.

[1640] -- Petition of Richard Cosford and True, his wife, [to the House of Commons], praying for an examination of their cause against Arthur Yorth and others, touching certain messuages in Carter Lane, St Olave's, Southwark.

[1640] -- Petition of Osmund Gibbs, yeoman, for relief against John Farwell and others, by whose unjust practices he has been deprived of a copyhold at Westwood, in the county of Wilts, held by him under the Dean and Chapter of Winchester.

Annexed:

1 Articles of grievances of Osmund Gibbs.

[1640] -- Petition of the distressed soap boilers, praying that all patents and proclamations granting the monopoly of soap-making to the corporation of soapers may be called in, and the corporation punished for their oppressive and illegal proceedings against petitioners.

[1640] -- Petition of Thomas Langhorne, sergeant skinner, to the King's most excellent Majesty. Petitioner married the eldest daughter of Peter Bland, sergeant skinner to King James, about September 1618, when it was agreed that petitioner and Bland should share the profits of the office.

[1640] -- Petition of John Clampit, of Christow, in the county of Devon, yeoman, now prisoner in the King's Bench. Petitioner became bail for the appearance of Richard Peters (since deceased), before Richard John Bamfeild, high sheriff of the county of Devon; has in consequence, by most unjust courses, been put into prison, and there suffered great wrongs. Prays for redress against Thomas Orchard, Watts the jailer, and others.

[1640] -- Petition of Hugh Whyte, gent. leased a house in Covent Garden from Wm Bradshawe and Anne, his wife, with an agreement that Bradshawe should continue in part of the house for a few weeks. Bradshawe taking advantage of when petitioner had gone out locked the door, and would not allow petitioner to come in, and by the subsequent unjust proceedings of Mr Whitaker and Mr Hooker, two justices, petitioner has been forced to resign possession of the house.

[1640] -- Petition of Thomas Wolrick. Complains that he was refused the sacrament of the Holy Communion by Mr Warren, curate of the church of Cowlinge, Suffolk, for not coming up to receive, the same at the rails lately erected round the table. Petitioner was afterwards excommunicated, and forced to submit, whilst his son was also excommunicated for the same cause, and obliged, in order to obtain absolution, to take an oath of canonical obedience by Dr Eden, master of Trinity Hall, Cambridge, chancellor or surrogate of the Bishop of Norwich. Prays that Dr Eden and Mr Warren may be ordered to appear, and reparation be made to petitioner.

[1640] -- Petition of John Gilbert, His Majesty's servant [to the House of Commons]. Petitioner having invented and erected an engine for cleansing the River Thames, prays that an order may be made that all ships requiring ballast may be compelled to take the sand and gravel raised by his engine, in order that he may be rewarded for his great charges in bringing so good a work to perfection.

Annexed:

1 Petition of same.

[1640] -- Petition of George Griffith, merchant. In 1628 Thomas Littleton being arrested at the suit of Peter Marsh, Roger Glover, and Francis Soare became bail for him, but Marsh not being content petitioner became further bail: hereupon Littleton and Glover went beyond the seas, and Soare being unduly released by Sir Henry Marten, judge of the Admiralty Court, upon pretended privilege of being servant extraordinary to His Majesty, petitioner was taken in execution by Jeremy Drury, the pretended administrator of Peter Marsh. Prays for redress from their Lordships as the case is remediless by any ordinary course of justice.

[1640] -- Petition of Robert Nutting.

[1641] -- Draft report from the committee upon the cause between Thomas Georges, clerk, and Ezechial Pownall, rector of Wraxall.

Some documents may have been removed from this file to the Parchment Collection, the Large Parchments or the Parchment Main Papers. Where this has occurred it is noted in brackets in the descriptions above. Please see relevant entries in the Parchment Collection (HL/PO/JO/10/2), Large Parchments (HL/PO/JO/10/3) or Parchment Main Papers (HL/PO/JO/10/4) for further details.

See Journals of the House of Lords for the same date for entries relating to the laying of these papers.

Calendared in HMC 4th Report, pp 33-37