Verney papers: notes of proceedings in the Long Parliament temp. Charles I. printed from original pencil memoranda taken in the House of Sir Ralph Verney, knight, member for the borough of Aylesbury, and now in the possession of Sir Harry Verney, Bart / Edited by John Bruce.

  • Sir Ralph Verney, 1st Baronet, of Middle Claydon
Date:
1845
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Verney papers: notes of proceedings in the Long Parliament temp. Charles I. printed from original pencil memoranda taken in the House of Sir Ralph Verney, knight, member for the borough of Aylesbury, and now in the possession of Sir Harry Verney, Bart / Edited by John Bruce. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    and in spite of his explanations he “ was commanded to withdraw.” The scene which ensued is worthy of being recorded on account of its dissimilarity to any thing we are now accustomed to. It was dusk, but the house being still in earnest debate, some members called aloud for “ candles ! ” The majority opposed their introduction, “ it being so very late,” but brought in they were, by a mistake of the serjeant. When that officer appeared, bearing the candles in his hands, he was instantly commanded to withdraw, and was in the act of doing so, when two members, sir William Widdrington and Mr. Herbert Price, vio¬ lently seized the obnoxious lights and bore them triumphantly into the house. A great uproar ensued, and in the midst of it the house adjourned. On the morrow thisgravede- linquency was made the subject of serious debate. The culprits explained, but in vain. They were commanded to withdraw, and a majority of 189 to 172 determined that they should be committed to the tower. Upon being called to the bar, they offered to kneel, but did not. Again they were “ caused to withdraw,” and after further debate were a second time called to the bar, where, “ they kneeling all the while,” the speaker communicated to them the judgment of the house. (Journals, ii. 171. Rush worth, part iii. vol. i. p. 283. Nalson, ii. 272.) After this amusing bye-play, the house resumed the business from which it had wandered, and passed a resolution vindicating the justice and honour of colonel Goring, (Journals, ii. 172,) and declaring that he deserved well of the commonwealth and of the house. On the day following they further supported his reputation by expelling lord Digby, his accuser, from the house, (Nalson, ii. 275,) and a month afterwards his lordship’s speech upon the bill of attainder was directed to be burnt by the hangman, and the house agreed to pray the king to forbear to confer upon him any honourable employment. (Journ. ii. 209.) The vote came too late, for Charles, with his usual indiscretion, had made a favourite of this vain and now unpopular person, and had called him up to the house of peers by a writ dated the day before the vote for his expulsion from the commons. It was by his advice that the sovereign afterwards went personally to the house of commons to seize the five members. Sir William Widdrington and Mr. Price were discharged after six days’ imprisonment. (Ibid. 175.)] WEDNESDAY, 9TH JUNE, 1641. [the ARMY PLOT.] Hollis reported from my lord Essex. Saves lord Northum¬ berland told him, Harry Percy had confessed the takinge the oath, and that others tooke it also, and expects a farther relation of the businesses a Hollis and Hampden were directed to return the thanks of the house to the earls of Northumberland and Essex for this communication, (Journ. ii. 172,) the purport of which is not entered on the journal. The “ farther relation” occurs afterwards at p. 94.
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