Durham The Bishop of Winchester The Bishop of Rochester The Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield The Bishop of Worcester The Bishop of Bath and Wells The Bishop of St. Davids The Bishop of Lincoln The Bishop of St. Assaph The Bishop of Chester The Bishop of Chichester The Bishop of Exeter The Bishop of Salisbury The Bishop of Ely The Bishop of Peterborough BARONS The Lord Zouche The Lord Cobham The Lord Stafford The Lord Grey de Wilton The Lord Dudley The Lord Lumley The Lord Sturton The Lord Windsore The Lord Mordant The Lord Wharton The Lord Rich. The L. Willoughby of Parham The Lord Sheffield The Lord Darcy of Chichester The Lord Chandois The Lord St. John of Bletsoe The Lord Compton The Lord Norreys The Lord Howard of Walden Sir Thomas Edgerton Kt. Lord Keeper of the great Seal of England made a Speech to this effect An. 1601. HE used strong perswasions both to Thankfulness and Obedience Lord Keeper's Speech and also shewed her Majesty desired the Parliament might end before Christmas He shewed the necessity we stand in and the means to prevent it the necessity of the Wars between Spain and England the means and treasure we had to oppose His advice was that Laws in force might be revised and explained and no new Laws made The causes of the Wars he laid down to be that they were Enemies to God the Queen and the Peace of this Kingdom that they conspired to overthrow Religion and to reduce us to a tyrannical Servitude These two Enemies he named to be the Bishop of Rome and the King of Spain Our Estate standing thus he advised us to be provident by reason we deal with circumspect Enemies and said he was confident of good success because God hath ever and he hoped ever would bless the Queen with successful fortune He shewed how apparent his providence was for by experience and judgment his tortering he giveth the means and courses he taketh for our instructions And secondly the success we had against him by Gods strong arm of defence in Anno 1588 and divers others times since You see to what effect the Queens support of the French Kings Estate hath brought him to even made him one of the greatest Princes in Europe yet when her Majesties Forces there left him how again he was fain to ransome a servile Peace at the hands of our Enemies the Spaniards with dishonourable and servile Conditions For the Low Countries how by her aid from a confused Government and Estate she brought them to an unity in Council and defended them with such success in her Attempts against the greatest power of the Spaniards tyrannical designes which have so much galled him that how many desperate practices have been both devised consented unto and set on foot by the late King his Father I need not shew you nor trouble you with Arguments for proof thereof being confessed by them that should have been Actors themselves thereof but De mortuis nil nisi bonum I would be loath to speak ill of the dead much more to slander the dead I have seen her Majesty wear at her Girdle the price of her own bloud I mean Jewels that have been given to her Physicians to have done that unto her which God will ever keep her from but she hath worn them rather in triumph than for the price that hath not been valuable Receivers of Petitions for England Receivers of Petitions Ireland Wales and Scotland Sir John Popham Kt. Lord Chief Justice Francis Gawdy one of the Justices of the Kings-bench George Kingsmell one of the Justices of the Common-Pleas Dr. Carewe and Dr. Stanhopp Receivers of Petitions for Gascoigne and other Lands and Countries beyond the Seas and of the Isles Sir Edm. Anderson Kt. Lord Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas Sir William Periam Kt. Lord Chief Baron Thomas Walmesly one of the Justices of the Common-Pleas Dr. Swale and Dr. Hene Triers of Petitions of England Ireland Wales and Scotland Triers of Petitions The Archbishop of Canterbury the Marquiss of Winchester the Earl of Sussex Lord Marshal of England the Earl of Nottingham Lord High Admiral of England and Steward of the Queens house the Earl of Hertford the Bishop of London the Bishop of Durham the Bishop of Winchester the Lord Zouche and the Lord Cobham All these or any four of them calling unto them the Lord Keeper of the great Seal and the Lord Treasurer and the Queens Serjeants at their leisures to meet and hold their place in the Chamberlain's chamber Triers of Petitions for Gascoigne and other Lands and Countries beyond the Seas and the Isles The Earl of Oxford High Chamberlain of England the Earl of Northumberland the Earl of Shrewsbury the Earl of Worcester the Earl of Huntingdon the Bishop of Rochester the Bishop of Lincoln the Lord Hunsdon Chamberlain to the Queen the Lord De-la-ware the Lord Lumley the Lord Burleigh All these or any four of them calling to them the Queens Serjeants and the Queens Atturney and Sollicitor to hold their place when their leisure did serve them to meet in the Treasurer's chamber Then the Lord Keeper continued the Parliament which is set down in the Original Journal-book in these words Dominus Custos Magni Sigilli ex mandato Dominae Reginae continuavit praesens Parliament usq in diem Veneris prox futur viz. 30 diem Octob. On Friday Octob. 30. about one of the clock in the afternoon her Majesty came by water to the Upper House and being apparelled in her Royal Robes and placed in her Chair of Estate divers of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal being present the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the House of Commons who had attended at the door with John Crooke Esq Recorder of London John Crooke Esq Recorder of London presented as Speaker their Speaker elect the full space of half an hour were at last as many as could be conveniently let in And the said Speaker was led up to the bar at the lower end of the said House by Sir William Knolls Kt. Controuler of her Majesties Houshold and Sir John Fortescue Chancellor of the Exchequer and presented to her Majesty to whom after he had made three low Reverences he spake in effect as followeth Most sacred and mighty Soveraign UPon your commandment His Speech your Majesties most dutiful and loving Commons the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the Lower House have chosen me your Majesties most humble servant a Member of the same House to be their Speaker but my self finding the weakness of my self and my ability too weak to undergo so great a burthen do most humbly beseech your sacred Majesty to continue your most gracious favour towards me and not to lay this Charge so unsupportable upon my unworthy and unable self And that it would please you to command your Commons to make a new Election of another more able and more sufficient to discharge the great Service to be
committed to the former Committees for erecting houses of Correction c. Also the Bill for setting the Poor on work was read the second time and dashed upon the third Question for the Committee and rejected upon the Question for ingrossing The Bill for relieving of the Poor out of Impropriations and other Church-livings was read the second time and after some speeches both with and against the Bill upon the doubtfulness of the double Question for the committing was upon the division of the House rejected with the difference of 29 voices with the Yea 117. and with the No 146. Three Bills were sent up to the Lords by Mr. Controuler Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer and others of which the two last were one for the establishing of the Town-lands of Wanting in the County of Berks to the relief of the Poor and the last was for a repeal of a Statute made 13 of her Majesties reign intituled An Act for the increase of Mariners and maintenance of Navigation The Bill concerning certain Lands of Sir John Spencer Kt. Dame Mary his Wife and Robert his Son was read prima vice Three other Bills had each of them one reading of which the second being the Bill for Arthur Hatch was uppon the second reading committed unto Mr. Sands Mr. Philips Mr. Finch Mr. Francis Popham Sir Robert Wroth and others who were appointed to meet on Thursday next at Two of the clock in the Afternoon in the Middle-Temple-hall On Wednesday Novemb. 23. Four Bills had each of them one reading of which the last being the Bill concerning Leases made by the Archbishops and Bishops was upon the second reading rejected upon the question for committing and so likewise upon the question for ingrossing The Bill for repealing part of the Charter granted to the Town of Yarmouth was upon the second reading committed to Sir Robert Wroth Mr. Fulk Grevil all the Burgesses of the Port-towns the Knights for Norfolk and Suffolk Mr. Nathaniel Bacon and others who were appointed to meet on Friday at Two of the clock in the Afternoon in the Exchequer-chamber On Thursday Novemb. 24. seven Bills had each of them one reading of which the last being the Bill for punishment of certain Felonies hereafter to be committed was upon the second reading committed unto the former Committees for the relief of the Poor c. and Mr. Wiseman Mr. Little and Mr. Let were added unto them and the Bill delivered to Mr. Wroth who with the rest were appointed to meet this Afternoon in the Middle-Temple-hall The Bill that Lessees many enjoy their Leases against certain Patentees in certain cases was read the first time The Bill concerning George Durant was read the third time and after many Speeches both with and against the Bill and some tending to amendments to be made in some parts of the same it was in the end deferred from being put to the Question until Saturday next upon some expectation that the parties concerned in the mean time might come to some good end among themselves without any further troubling of this House On Friday Novemb. 25. Four Bills had each of them one reading of which the last being the Bill concerning the Lands and Tenements of Sir John Spencer was upon the second reading committed unto Mr. Winch Sir Robert Wroth Mr. Rotheram Mr. Henry Yelverton Mr. Luke Sir Richard Knightley Mr. Henry Hubberd Mr. Robert Wingfield the Knights of Bedfordshire and Mr. Bourcher and the Bill was delivered to Sir Robert Wroth who with the rest were appointed to meet at the Middle-Temple-hall to morrow at Two of the clock in the Afternoon The Bill for assurance of certain Lands and Tenements unto Robert Cotton Esq was upon the second reading committed to the former Committees in the Bill concerning Sir John Spencer and at the same time and place and there were added unto them Sir John Hungerford Mr. William Cecil and others The Bill concerning the draining of certain Lands and Grounds in Norfolk was upon the second reading committed unto Mr. Nathaniel Bacon Sir Anthony Cope Mr. Henry Yelverton Mr. Henry Spilman Sir Robert Wroth and others who were appointed to meet upon Munday next at Two a clock in the Afternoon in the Exchequer-chamber The Bill for the increase of people for the service of the Realm was read the first time Mr. Secretary Cecil moved the second reading of this Bill to morrow and wished all the Members of this House to be present at the same and provided as they shall think fit to employ their endeavour and Speeches to the furtherance of the proceedings in the said Bill whereupon it was agreed that both this Bill and also that for increase of Tillage shall both of them be read to morrow On Saturday Nov. 26. four Bills had each of them one reading of which the last being the Bill for inrolling and exemplifying of Defeazances was upon the second reading committed unto Sir Edward Hobby Mr. Lieutenant of the Tower Mr. Francis Moore Mr. Edward Luknor and others who were appointed to meet on Tuesday next at two of the clock in the afternoon in the Exchequer-chamber The Bill concerning Transportation of Sheep-skins and Pelts over Seas was read the second time and committed to Sir Robert Carie the Burgesses of Newcastle Barwick Northampton and Lincoln Mr. Francis Moore and others who are appointed to meet on Tuesday next at two of the clock in the afternoon in the Exchequer-chamber The Bill for Husbandry and Tillage was upon the second reading committed to Mr. Francis Bacon Mr. Yelverton Mr. Tasborough the Citizens of all Cities Mr. Green and others who was appointed to meet on Tuesday next at two of the clock in the afternoon in this House Sunday Nov. 27. On Munday Nov. 28. two Bills had each of them one reading of which the second being the Bill for the City of Bristol was upon the second reading committed to Dr. James Mr. Francis Moore the Citizens of Bristol Gloucester Bath and Wells Mr. Green and others who were appointed to meet this afternoon at two of the clock in the Middle-Temple-hall Mr. Coombs and Mr. Henry Powle being Members of this House shewed They were this day served with a Subpoena ad testificand in the Star-chamber by Anne the wife of Thomas Wye Gent. and so moving for priviledge the Serjeant of the House was thereupon charged to bring in the said Anne to appear in this House to answer the Contempt The Bill for increase of people for the strength and defence of the Realm upon the second reading after many Speeches all tending to the good liking and furthering of the said Bill it was ordered to be committed unto the former Committees in the Bill of Tillage so with a Note of the Names of the Committees the Bill was delivered unto Mr. Controuler Mr. Atturney-General and Dr. Stanhopp brought from the Lords a Bill entituled An Act for the better explanation of a Statute made 13 Rginae cap. 4. concerning Tellers and Receivers
Court and the said Crayford having been heard in the presence of William Vaughan what he could say concerning the said Information wherein he protested that he was guiltless and that his said Son had not in any sort received such direction from him as was informed It was therefore by the Court thought meet and so ordered That the examination and determining of the Controversies and Suits depending between the said Crayford and Vaughan should be referred to the Earl of Worcester the Lord Bishop of London and the Lord Cobham and that they the said Crayford and Vaughan should enter into good and sufficient Bonds each to other to stand to observe and perform such Award and Arbitrament as the said Lords shall make and set down between them On Saturday Decemb. 19. a Motion was made in the House for the avoiding of all further Controversies between William Crayford and William Vaughan Gent. That forasmuch as each of them took mutual exceptions one to the other touching the Bonds whereinto they had entered by order of the Court the said William Crayford alleadging that it sufficed not for William Vaughan alone to be bound because his Heirs or some other claiming by and from him might trouble and molest him and that the said Vaughan is insufficient And the said William Vaughan alleadging that if the said William Crayford were bound alone his Sons and Heirs might trouble and molest the said Vaughan without hazard of the Bond some further order might thereupon be taken It is therefore this day ordered by the Court That the said William Crayford and his eldest Son Edward Crayford shall enter into sufficient Bond unto the said William Vaughan without hazard of the Bond for themselves and their Heirs that they and every of them shall stand to the Award of the Earl of Worcester the Lord Bishop of London and the Lord Cobham or any two of them And that also the said William Vaughan shall enter into the like Bond with a sufficient Surety for himself and his Heirs to stand to the said Award of the Lords before-mentioned or any two of them so as the said Award be made before the Feast of Easter next following And moreover it is ordered by the Court That if they or either of them shall refuse to enter into Bond according to the said Order that the Lord Keeper notwithstanding the ending of the Parliament and though it be after the same shall commit them or either of them to close Prison for refusing there to remain until the party refusing be conformable to the said Order Dominus Custos Magni Sigilli continuavit praesens Parliamentum usque ad horam secundam post meridiem hujus instantis diei About which hour in the afternoon The Qu. comes to the House the Queens Majesty was personally present being accompanied with the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury Sir Thomas Egerton Kt. Lord Keeper of the great Seal the Lord Buckhurst Lord Treasurer of England and with divers other Lords Spiritual and Temporal but what was there done is not mentioned in the Original Journal-book of the Upper House and therefore is supplied out of a very laborious and copious Journal of the House of Commons taken by Hayward Townsend Esq a Member thereof at this Parliament Her Majesty with divers Lords Spiritual and Temporal being set in the Upper House in their Parliament-Robes between two and three of the clock this afternoon the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the House of Commons had notice thereof and thereupon repaired thither with John Crooke Esq their Speaker who being placed at the Rail or Bar at the lower end of the said Upper House after he had made three Reverences to her Majesty sitting under a rich Cloath of Estate spake to the effect following THat Laws were not first made with humane Pen The Speaker's Speech but by divine Ordinance that Politick Laws were made according to the evil condition of men and that all Laws serves not at all times no more than one Medicine for all Diseases and said if he were asked what was the first and chiefest thing to be considered of he would say Religion for Religion is all in all for Religion breeds Devotion Devotion breeds Zeal and Piety to God which breedeth Obedience and Duty to the Prince and Obedience to the Laws breedeth Faithfulness Honesty and Love the three necessary and onely things to be wished and observed in a well-govern'd Commonwealth And that her Majesty by planting true Religion had laid such a foundation upon which all those Vertues were planted and builded that they could not easily be rooted up or extirpated and therefore acknowledged that we ought and do acknowledge that we will praise God and her Majesty for it And then he descended to speak of Governments and Laws of Nations amongst which principally and above all he preferr'd the Laws of this Land which he said were so many and so wise that there was almost no offence but was met with in a Law notwithstanding her Majesty being desirous for the good of her Land to call a Parliament for redress of some Laws and for making of new Her dutiful and loyal Subjects having considered of them have made some new and amended some old which they humbly desire may be made Laws by her Royal Assent which giveth life unto them And so after thanks given for the Pardon by which we dread your Justice and admire your Mercy and a Prayer unto her Majesty That she would accept as the testimony of our Loves and Duties offered unto her with a free heart and willing spirit four entire Subsidies and eight Fifteenths and Tenths to be collected of our Lands and Livelihoods in speaking whereof he mistook and said Four entire Fifteenths and eight Subsidies which he was advised of by some of the Counsel that stood neer unto him and so he spake it right and craving pardon for his offence if either he had forgotten himself either in word or action he ended his Speech The L. Keeper returns the Queens Answer To which the Lord Keeper answered thus in effect AS touching her Majesties proceeding in the Laws for her Royal Assent that should be as God directed her sacred spirit Secondly For your presentation of four Subsidies and eight Fifteens and Tenths And thirdly Your humble thank-fulness for them and your self I will deliver her Majesties Commandment with what brevity I may that I be not tedious to my most gracious Soveraign First She saith your proceeding in the matter of her Prerogative she is perswaded that Subjects did never more dutifully do it and that she understood you did but obiter touch her Prerogative and no otherwise but by humble Petition and therefore the thanks that a Prince may give to her Subjects she willingly yieldeth But she now well perceiveth that private respects are privately masked under publick pretences Secondly Touching the presentation of your Subsidies she specially regardeth two things both the persons and
Mr. Dier Mr. Grafton and others who were appointed to meet on Tuesday next at Serjeants-Inne-hall in Chancery-lane at two of the clock in the afternoon The Amendments in the Bill touching Informers and Informations were twice read and upon the Question ordered to be ingrossed On Saturday Feb. 22. two Bills had each of them one reading whereof the second being for the relief of George Orgnell Esq was upon the second reading and upon the Question committed unto Sir Henry Brooke Mr. Serjeant Walmesey the Knights of the Shire for the County of Warwick and others who were appointed to meet upon Munday next at two of the clock in the afternoon in the Star-chamber Three Bills which had passed the House upon the third reading were sent up to the Lords by Mr. Vicechamberlain Sir John Parrott and others with Commendations and request for their Lordships favourable expedition of which the two last were one touching Purveyors and the other touching Proclamations in Fines Two other Bills also had each of them one reading whereof the second being a Bill touching Mortmain was upon the second reading committed to Mr. Treasurer Sir John Parrott Sir Edw. Hobby Sir William Moore and others who were appointed to meet on Thursday next at two of the clock in the afternoon in the Exchequer-chamber Sir Thomas Palmer one of the Knights for the County of Sussex is for his special occasions of business licens'd by Mr. Speaker to repair home into his Country Feb. 23. Sunday On Munday Feb. 24. the Bill for four Fifteenths and Tenths and two entire Subsidies Subsidy-bill read Bill about Dover-Haven had its first reading The Bill for reviving and enlarging of a Statute made in the 23th year of her Majesties Reign for repairing of Dover-Haven was read the first time Upon a Motion made touching a Conference to be had in the Commitment of the Bill for relief of George Ognell Esq and that Trussell the adverse Party being now in Execution in one of the Counters of London might be heard before the said Committees without peril of an Escape if he should be brought to Westminster it is agreed That the Committees which were appointed to have met this day in the afternoon about that matter in the Star-chamber do meet in the Guild-hall where the said Trussell may be brought before them with his Keeper without danger as 't is thought of an escape in the Execution Tuesday Feb. 25. three Bills had each of them one reading of which the first Mr. Cradock offered to this House being for continuance and perfecting of divers Statutes and praying that the same might be read the same was read accordingly Mr. Davenport moved neither for making any new Laws nor for abrogating any old Laws but for due course of proceeding in Laws already established but executed he thinketh by some Ecclesiastical Governour contrary both to the purpose of the same Laws and also to the minde and meaning of the same Law-giver or maker to the great grief and hindrance and grievance of sundry of her Majesties good Subjects and so offered some particularities in writing to the effect he said of his motion praying the same might be read and committed to be further considered of and dealt in as this House should think good The Bill concerning Processes and Pleadings in the Exchequer passed this day in this House was sent up to the Lords by Sir John Parrott and others with request to be made unto their Lordships from this House for their good and favourable expediting of the Bill for reformation of certain Abuses by Purveyors lately sent unto their Lordships from this House Two other Bills had each of them one reading of which the second being the Bill touching secret Outlawries was read the first time and upon further motion read again the second time and committed to Serjeant Walmsley Sir Henry Knivit Mr. Cradock Mr. Coke and others who were appointed to meet at two of the clock in the afternoon at Serjeants-Inne in Fleet-street The Bill touching Mortmain with a Note of the names of the Committees in the same were delivered to Humphry Waring Servant to Mr. Aldersey one of the Committees in the same Bill to be delivered to the said Mr. Aldersey On Wednesday Feb. 26. the Bill concerning Captains and Souldiers was read the first time and argued upon by Mr. Outred Sir Edward Dymmock and others and afterwards was committed to Mr. Cromwel Mr. Outred Mr. Serjeant Walmsley and others who were appointed to article to the said Bill and to meet this afternoon at two of the clock in the Chequer-chamber Upon a Speech used by Mr. Alford purporting that some that had spoken to the same Bill had uttered some words of rejecting the said Bill and casting it out of the House where in very deed there was no such Speech used at all by any that had spoken to the said Bill nor yet any word tending to such effect It was upon the Question resolved by the judgment of the whole House that there had been no such Speech used by any of them that did speak On Thursday Feb. 27. the Bill for four Fifteenths and Tenths and two entire Subsidies had its first reading Mr. Recorder one of the Committees in the Bill for reformation of Disorders of common Innes and other Victualling-houses shewed the meeting and travel of the Committees and some causes which moved them to deal onely with that part thereof which concerneth Casks and the gaging of Vessels for Beer and Ale and so offered a new Bill for that purpose with request for good expediting thereof Mr. Apsloye moved this House touching the great inconvenience grown by the great number of Pluralities and non-Residents Bill against Pluralities and Non-Residents read and offered a Bill for reformation thereof and pray'd the same might be presently read which was so done accordingly On Friday Feb. 28. four Bills had each of them one reading of which the last being a Bill for the maintenance of the Poor of Hartlepool was upon the second reading committed unto Sir Edw. Hobby Mr. George Cary Mr. Stubbs Mr. Beal the Burgesses of Newcastle Lime and Yarmouth and others who were appointed to meet to morrow in the afternoon at two of the clock in the Exchequer-chamber and the Bill was delivered unto Sir Edward Hobby one of the Committees The Bill also touching Costs to be recovered against common Informers had its first reading and upon a further motion was read again and upon the Question ordered to be ingrossed On Saturday March 1. March 1. two Bills had each of them one reading of which the second being the Bill against Pluralities and Non-Residents was read the second time and after sundry Arguments many with the Bill and some against it was in the end committed to Mr. Treasurer Mr. Morice Mr. Beal Sir Robert Jermin Mr. Francis Hastings and others who were appointed to meet in the Exchequer-chamber this afternoon The Bill for Tunbridge-School with Amendments was
Proxies there was but that one set down in the Page before-going which made two Proctors all the rest naming three or but one all which see afterwards on the 22.24.27 days of February and on the 7. and 28. days of March Where also it may be noted That John Archbishop of Canterbury had this Parliament five Proxies Now follows next in order to be set down the continuing of this Parliament which in the original Journal-book it self followed immediately upon the names of the Lords foregoing being present this afternoon So that the substance of the Lord Keeper's Speech foregoing and this also that follows at the presentment of the Speaker was supplied by my self out of a very exact Journal which I had of the Passages of the Lower House this present Parliament conceiving those Speeches in all my Journals ought more fitly to be referred to the Passages of the Upper House than of the House of Commons Dominus Custos Magni Sigill ex mandato Dominae Reginae continuavit praesens Parliamentum usque in diem Jovis prox futur On Thursday Feb. 22. the Queens Majesty her self came about three of the clock in the afternoon accompanied with divers of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal there being present this day the Archbishop of Canterbury Sir John Puckering Kt. Lord Keeper of the Great Seal William Lord Burleigh Lord Treasurer of England the Marquiss of Winchester twelve Earls two Viscounts fifteen Bishops and twenty three Barons being for the most part the very same that are by name set down to have been present on Munday last The Queen and the Lords being thus sat the House of Commons having notice thereof Edw. Cooke the Queens Sollicitor chosen and presented immediately came up with Edward Coke Esq the Queens Sollicitor into the Upper House whom they had chosen for their Speaker who being led up to the Bar at the nether end of the said House between two of the most eminent Personages of the Lower House as soon as silence was made and the rest of the House of Commons had placed themselves below the Bar he spake as followeth The Speaker's Speech YOur Majesties most loving Subjects the Knights and Burgesses of the Lower House have nominated me your Graces poor Servant and Subject to be their Speaker This their Nomination hath hitherto proceeded that they present me to speak before your Majesty yet this their Nomination is onely a Nomination yet and no Election until your Majestie giveth allowance and approbation For as in the Heavens a Star is but opacum corpus until it hath received light from the Sun so stand I corpus opacum a mute body until your high bright shining wisdom hath looked upon me and allowed me How great a Charge this is The Speaker disables himself to be the Mouth of such a Body as your House of Commons represent to utter that is spoken Grandia Regni my small experience being a poor professor of the Law can tell but how unable I am to undergo this Office my present Speech doth tell that of a number of this House I am most unfit for amongst them are many grave many learned many deep wise men and those of ripe Judgments but I an untimely Fruit not ripe nay bud a but not scarce fully blossomed so as I fear your Majesty will say Neglecta fruge liguntur folia amongst so many fair fruits you have plucked a shaking leaf If I may be so bold to remember a Speech used the last Parliament in your Majesties own mouth Many come hither ad consulendum qui neseiunt quid sit consulendum a just reprehension to many as to my self also an untimely fruit my years and judgment ill befitting the gravity of this place But howsoever I know my self the meanest and inferiour unto all that ever were before me in this place yet in faithfulness of service and dutifulness of love I think not my self inferiour to any that ever were before me And amidst my many imperfections yet this is my comfort I never knew any in this place but if your Majesty gave him favour God who also called them to this place gave them also the blessing to discharge it The Lord Keeper having received Instructions from the Queen answered him Mr. Sollicitor HER Graces most Excellent Majesty hath willed me to signifie unto you that she hath ever well conceived of you since she first heard of you which will appear when her Highness selected you from others to serve her self but by this your modest wise and well-composed Speech you give her Majesty further occasion to conceive of you above that she ever thought was in you by endeavouring to deject and abase your self and your desert you have made known and discovered your worthiness and sufficiency to discharge the place you are called to And whereas you account your self corpus opacum her Majesty by the influence of her Vertue and Wisdom 〈◊〉 is commanded and aâ—â—â—â—â—ed by the Qs. order doth enlighten you and not onely alloweth and approveth you but much than keth the Lower House and commendeth their discretions in making such a Choise and electing so fit a man Wherefore Mr. Speaker proceed in your Office and go forward to your Commendation as you have begun The Lord Keepers Speech being ended the Speaker began a new Speech COnsidering the great and wonderful Blessings The second Speech of the Speaker besides the long Peaece we have enjoyed under your Graces most happy and victorious Reign and remembring withal the Wisdom and Justice your Grace hath reigned over us with we have cause to praise God that ever you were given us and the hazard that your Majesty hath adventured and the charge that you have born for us and our safety ought to make us ready to lay down our Lives and all our Living to do you service After this he related the great Attempts of her Majesties Enemies against us especially the Pope and the King of Spain adhering unto him how wonderfully were we delivered in 88 and what a favour therein God manifested unto her Majesty His Speech 〈…〉 after this tended wholly to shew out of the Histories of England and the old State how the Kings of England ever since Henry the third's time have maintained themselves to be Supream Head over all Causes in their own Dominions and recited the Laws that were made in his and other Kings times for maintaining their own Supremacy and excluding the Pope He drew down his Proofs by Statute in every Kings time since Hen. 3. 〈…〉 unto Edw. 6. This ended he came to speak of the Laws that were so great and so many already that they were fitly to be termed Elephaentinae Leges Wherefore to make more Laws it might seem superfluous Too great a multiplicity of our Laws and to him that might ask Quid Causa ut Crescunt tot magna volumina Legis it may be answered In promptu Causa est Crescit in orbe
the same the said Amendments were afterwards read by the Clerk and then upon the Question agreed to be inserted into the said Bill accordingly Two other Bills had each of them one reading of which the latter being a Bill for the better execution of Process was upon the second reading committed unto Mr. Lewis Sir Edward Dimmocke the Recorder and Citizens of York Mr. Recorder of London and others who were appointed to meet to morrow in the afternoon in this House Divers other Bills were the same day read On Friday March 16. the Bill for Mr. Anthony Coke was upon the second reading committed to Mr. Wroth Mr. Dalton Mr. Francis Bacon and others who were appointed to meet this afternoon at two of the clock in the Exchequer-chamber And the Bill was delivered unto Mr. Francis Hastings one of the Committees Four other Bills had each of them one reading of which the last being the Bill for speedy punishment of Felony called petty Larceny was upon the second reading committed unto Sir William Moore Mr. Hobard Mr. Sands and others and the Bill was delivered unto Mr. Hobard who with the rest were appointed to meet upon Tuesday next in the afternoon in the Exchequer-chamber Divers other Bills were this day also read On Saturday March 17. Richard Topcliffe and William Basset Esquires Sheriffs of the County of Darby and Mr. Moore being of Counsel with Mr. Basset were heard at large at the bar in this House in the Case of Tho. Fitz-herbert Esq returned a Member into this House and now a Prisoner in the custody and charge of the said Sheriffs and after long hearing of the said Parties it was in the end resolved by this House That this House being a House of Record would take no notice of any matter of Fact at all in the said Case but onely matter of Record And that Mr. Speaker on the behalf of this House shall move the Lord Keeper of the great Seal of England for return to be made into Chancery of the Writ of Hab. Corpus cum Causa in that Case lately awarded by his Lordship unto the said Sheriff upon motion to his Lordship from this House in that behalf according to the purport of the same Writ with such due expedition as they ought to have done being Indilate his Lordship will then at the request of this House assess a good round Fine upon the Sheriff for his Contempt Vide concerning this matter on Thursday 1. and Friday 2. of this instant March and also on March 30. and on April 3. and April 5. following Mr. Thomas Posthumus Hobby shewed That according to the appointment of this House he hath moved his brother Sir Edward Hobby for the two Bills that were in his hands viz. the Bill concerning Perpetuities and the Bill concerning the execution of Process And that Sir Edward Hobby saith he is a Committee amongst others in both the said Bills by appointment of this House and that the same Bills were in that respect delivered unto him by the Clerk of this House and that albeit he thinketh it reasonable he should be acquainted with the proceedings in the said Bills in the same Committee as one of the same Committees yet in regard of the dutiful good will he beareth to the Members of this House and being loath to offend any of the same he delivered the same Bills to the said Mr. Tho. Posthumus Hobby to be brought into this House accordingly and so the said Mr. Thomas Posthumus Hobby delivered the said Bills Divers Bills were this day read March 18. Sunday On Munday March 19. two Bills had each of them one reading of which the first being the Bill concerning Iron-wyer and Iron-wyer-works was read the first time Sir Francis Hastings one of the Committees in the Bill concerning the breadth of Plunkets Azures Blues and other colour'd Cloaths appointed on Friday the 16th of this instant March shewed That he and the rest of the Committees in the same Bill have met together and have thought good to make some addition to the said Bill and opening the Contents thereof to the House and after praying that the same might be read it was after the reading thereof ordered to be inserted into the said Bill Divers other Bills were this day read On Tuesday March 20. three Bills had each of them one reading of which A Bill for selling the Gray-fryers in Cambridge Sidney-Colledge built by 〈◊〉 of the said Bill the last being touching the sale of the Gray-fryers in the Town of Cambridge was twice read and ordered to be ingrossed by virtue of which said Bill the Colledge now called Sidney-Colledge was built in the said University Mr. Cradock one of the Committees in the Bill for the better execution of Process and against Rescues committed on Thursday March 15. shewed That he and the rest of the Committees have met together and upon good considerations have thought good to amend sundry things in the said Bill and opening to the House the Effects of the same Amendments the same being read to the House it was ordered upon the Question they should be inserted into the said Bill which was done accordingly Divers other Bills were this day likewise read On Thursday March 22. the Bill for the grant of three entire Subsidies 〈…〉 and six Fifteenths and Tenths was read the third time and passed upon the Question That this Bill of the Subsidy in respect of the greatness of the sum passed the House with very great difficulties as it may appear by those several days on which it was agitated viz. Feb. 26. March 2 3.6 7.9 10.12.16 and 19. This day the House was called over and those Members of this House which were then present did pay into the hands of Mr. Robert Wroth and Mr. Warren 〈…〉 their charitable Contributions to the relief of the Poor in such proportion as had been agreed upon March 19. viz. every Privy Counsellor of the House 30 s. every Knight in degree and every one returned a Knight of a Shire though not of that degree and every Serjeant at Law or Doctor of Law because I suppose they are in some respects accounted equal to Knights 20 s. every Baron of the Cinque-Ports and every Burgess 5 s. Divers other Bills were also this day read On Friday March 23. two Bills had each of them one reading of which the last being concerning Woollen-cloaths and Kersies made in the County of Devon out of Cities Towns Corporate and Market-towns was upon the second reading committed to Sir William Moore all the Knights and Burgesses of Norfolk York Surrey Kent Somerset Devon and Cornwall Mr. Serjeant Harris and others and the Bill delivered to Sir William Moore who with the rest were appointed to meet to morrow at two of the clock in the afternoon in this House Mr. Atturney of the Dutchie one of the Committees in the Bill for Mr. Anthony Cooke shewed That he and the residue of the Committee in that
Part of the Artificial Body but of Us the General Body when he hath his Free Voice as though he had never spoken before Then the Speaker stood up and said I will propound two Questions The First If when a man hath spoken against the Body of a Bill Speaker puts two Questions about the former Controversy he may be a Committee The Second If any Committee speak against a Bill at the Commitment yet whether he may speak again and have his free Voice Now quoth he I will propound the first Question All that will have a man that hath been against the Body of the Bill to be a Committee let them shew their Opinions by saying Yea. And not one said Yea. All that will not say No. And all said No. So he did for the second Question And not one said No but all Yea. Then he put it to the Question Whether they of London notwithstanding this Order in respect this Commitment so greatly concerned the State should be Committees And the Yeas were greater than the Noes Then he put it to the Question Whether the Two aforesaid Rules should be Entred for Orders of Record And all said Yea. On Thursday Novemb. 12. A Bill was Read for Confirming of Letters Patents made by King Edward Six to Sir Edward Seymor Knight A Bill for the Explanation of the Statutes made 3 4 5 Edv. 6. against Buyers of Butter and Cheese to sell again and against Ingrossers and Forestallers A Bill against the unlawful Hunting and Stealing of Deer in the Night-time was Read the first time A Bill for the Redressing of certain inconveniencies in a Stat. 21 Hen. 8. Cap. 13. Intituled An Act against Plurality of Benefices for taking of Farmes by Spiritual men and for Residence This Bill was drawn by Robert Eyre of Lincolns-Inn That the Proviso of that Statute might be Repealed A Bill for avoiding Frivolous Sutes in Court at Westminster To which Bill one Lashbrook an Attorney spake and shewed the Inconvenience of Scriveners being Atturnies and practising in their Names The Bill against Fraudulent Administration of Intestates Goods after Ingrosment Read and passed The Bill of VVrits of Error also Read after Ingrosment Passed VVhilst there were divers Disputes of this Bill Mr. Fleming the Queen's Solicitor took the Bill to look a word in it after he had done and laid it on the Board One Mr. Brown Clerk A Rule in the House about Bills Comptroller to the Queens Houshold stood up and said Mr. Speaker You should after a Bill is ingrossed hold it in your Hand and let no Man look into it which was confessed by all And so the Speaker took it The House was moved to send these two Bills to the Lords and they Chose Mr. Comptroller and he accompanied with divers others went with them and returned within half an hour The Bill for the Denization of certain Persons viz. Will. Millet Ann Pope George Chandlor Peter Eaton Nicholas Eaton Nicholas Taylor and others Denization of certain Persons was Read the second time and put to the Question to be Ingrossed And all said Yea and there was not one No and never Committed The Bill for Erecting of a Haven or Key on the North-part of Devon on the River of Severn The Officer that Arrested Mr. Cook 's man was brought to the Bar and upon his Submission after a sharp Exhortation was dismissed paying the Serjeant's Fees A Bill for Confirmation of Grants made to the Queens Majesty and of Letters Patents made by Her Majesty to others Read Secunda Vice and then it was Committed On Friday Novemb. 13. The Bill against the Covetousness of Butchers for Buying and Ingrossing of Lambskins out of Markets and Fairs And a Bill against Pedlars Petty-Chapmen and Hawkers A Bill against Hawkers c. And a Bill for Cloath-workers And a Bill against wilfull Absence from Church on Sundays which Bill Sir Rob. Wroth preferred The Effect whereof is for the better gathering of One Shilling for every Absence which is given by the Stat. of 1 Reginae and the Statute is limited to indure the Queens Reign which was greatly whispered at and Observed in the House The Bill for matters concerning Assurance used amongst Merchants being moved for a Commitment and put to the Question there was not one No. Sir Hugh Beeston stood up in the lower end of the House and said Sir Hugh Beeston We that be here cannot hear you that are above I would it would please them that speak there to speak Louder Also I am to Certify that I am here for a Town but not in mine own Countrey Denbyshire or for any part thereof but if I should not speak something in behalf of my Country I dare not go thither again Therefore I heartily beseech you A Motion about a new Writ Mr. Speaker that the House may be Resolved what course is taken according to the Order of the House for the Election of a Knight and Burgess for they can not but find themselves greatly grieved for want of the Election but what is done I know not Mr. Secretary Cecil said Secretary Cecil reports Because I am the Reporter of the Election as also of the Proceeding I will now also Certify you that there was Order taken for the sending out of a new Warrant for the Election but what is done therein I also know not Mr. Speaker said Mr. Speaker gives Account of it I gave Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown according to the Antient Form to send forth a new Writ who answered me That the Lord Keeper desired to have the Warrant directed to him to have a new Writ and for his Warrant for Sealing thereof So that nothing is done therein in until the Pleasure of the House be known Sir Edward Hobby said There is no Court that doth not observe its Rights and follow its Privileges Sir Edward Hobby Speaks to it Much more this High Court of Parliament being the Greatest and Commander of all other Courts doth and ought to Observe the same most strictly And all the Precedents that I have seen touching this Point have ever gon to the Clerk of the Crown and no other And therefore I take it that that Course ought inviolably to be Observed Sir George Moore said Sir George Moore c. I agree with the Gentleman that last spake That Precedents ought to be Observed yet to be altered upon urgent Occasions or by necessity of time Knowing this I take it as my duty to Inform you if any alteration hath been it proceeded from imperfection of the Speaker It was well Observed by an ancient Member of this House who is now with God that no Conference with the Lords touching a Subsidy should be had yet that Rule hath been altered in late Parliaments by reason of special Causes So I do think it would be more Honour to this House to direct a Warrant to the Lord-Keeper than to an Inferiour Minister
Parts of it may be Amended to every ones Satisfaction Mr. Lock said Mr. Lock seconds him Mr. Speaker I think bare Silence is not an Exoneration of a Man's Conscience The Similitude of Offices and Benefices made by the Doctor doth not hold under Favour For Non est incipiendum cum Laicis sed incipiendum a domo Dei Therefore if They begin first We shall follow in avoiding of Pluralities Dr. James said Dr. James against it That it had been said That Pluralities were the Cause of bringing in Corruption into the Church But for that under Favour said he I think the contrary because Corruption is commonly where Poverty is But if Competent Living be given to the Minister I see no Reason why Just Men should judge that to be Corruption Secondly It was said That it would be a Means that Preaching would be more frequent For that I answer That if Hope of Competent Living be taken away it will be a means to make the best Wits resuse the Study of Divinity And therefore an Historian said well Sublatis pramiis corruunt Artes. Consider besides That in England there are not above Eight Thousand Eight Hundred and odd Parish-Churches Six Hundred of which do but afford Competent Living for a Minister What then shall become of the Multitude of our Learned Men They have no other Preferments unless it be to get some Deanary Prebendary or such like which is no easie matter to do they being so few especially in this catching Age. To give the best Scholar but as great a Proportion as the Meanest Artizan or to give all alike there is no Equality For Inaequalibus aequalia dare absurdum And this will breed Poverty in the greatest Learned which is the Mother of Contempt A Thing both Dangerous and Odious unto Divinity This must needs make Preachers preach placentia which is a Thing abhorred even of God Himself A Preacher which is no Ordinary Person ought to have an Extraordinary Reward For the Canon saith He must be Ad minimum Artium Magister aut Publicus aut idoneus verbi Divini Concionator Mr. David Walterhouse said Mr. Speaker Because Mr. Walterhouse for the Bill my self am an Officer I mean only to speak to the Doctor 's Similitude of Pluralities of Offices By the Common-Law an Officer shall forfeit his Office for Non-Attendance So for a Benefice the Incumbent shall also forfeit But after the Statute came which made this Toleration upon Eighty Dayes Absence So that now if we set this Statute at liberty again this shall be no Innovation in us but a Renovation of the Common-Law I will end only with this Caution to the House That commonly the most Ignorant Divines of this Land are double Beneficed Serjeant Harries said Serj. Harries gives the House a Caution not to meddle in it We seem to Defend the Privileges and Customs of the House But if we proceed to determine of this Bill Mr. Speaker we shall not only infringe a Custom which we have ever observed viz. To medle with no Matter which toucheth Her Majesty's Prerogative but also procure Her great Displeasure Admit we should determine this Matter yet Her Majesty may grant Toleration Non Obstante And Mr Speaker the Last Parliament may be a Warning unto us when the like Bill was by us Preferred and the same not only Rejected but also Her Majesty commanded the Lord-Keeper to tell us That She hoped hereafter we would not meddle in Cases of this Nature so nearly touthing Her Prerogative Mr. Martin said I agree with him who said Mr. Martin Learning should have her Reward But I say more Our Souls should have their Spiritual Food And I do wish that Divines may have Promotion not only with good Convenience but also with good Abundance Though I be Zealous yet I hope to Refrain and Restrain my self from that Heat which the Heat of my Zeal and Love of my Country drave me into very lately for which I do not only acknowledge my self Guilty in your Censures but also crave Pardon of every particular Member of this House that heard me But most especially of him I offended So he spake to the Bill Vide His Words spoken in Heat to the Bill of Exeter Novemb. 10. After him an Old Doctor of the Civil-Law spake but because he spake too Long and too Low the House Hawked and Spit An old Doctor speaks so Low and so Long the House Hawk and Spit to make him end Sir Francis Hastings dislikes their Noise and moves against it He speaks to the Bill to make him make an End Which Speech finished Sir Francis Hastings stood up and said My Masters I utterly mislike this strange kind of Course in the House It is the Antient Usage that every Man here should speak his Conscience and that both Freely and with Attention Yea though he speaks never so Absurdly I beseech you therefore that this Way may be amended and this Troubling of any Man in his Speech no more used But to the Matter Mr. Speaker I protest that which I shall Speak I will Utter unto you All out of the Conscience of a Christian Loyalty of a Subject and Heart of an English-Man I know that Distributio Parochiarum est ex Jure Humano non Divino But he that said so must give me Leave to tell him That Distributio verbi Divini est ex Jure Divino Humano If then by the Distributing and Severing of Benefices to divers Learned Men the Word may be the better Distributed and Preached as God be thanked it hath been these Forty Three Years under Her Majesty's happy Government the Period of whose Dayes I beseech the Almighty may be Prolonged I see no reason why we should doubt of the Goodness of this Bill or make any question of the Committing thereof Mr. Roger Owen said Mr. Owen after particular Answers to divers particular Objections made by the Doctors That a Statute was but Privato Communis Juris and this Act will be made no Innovation because it Repeals only the Proviso and not the Body And whereas it was said by a Doctor That Honos alit Artes and much more to that Purpose And If you take away the Honour and Reward then you take away the Study it self For Answer thereunto I say under Favour Mr. Speaker This Statute takes away no Benefices from the Clergy but only better orders the Distribution of Benefices amongst the Clergy For that another Doctor alledged a Canon confirmed under the Great Seal of England I say under Favour That They of the Clergy not We of the Laiety are bound thereby for they are as they were by-Laws unto Them but not unto Us. Then the Speaker stood up The Bill Committed and put it to the Question for Commitment and it was Committed He also asked the House If they pleased to Sit to Morrow being the Queens Holy-day To which after a little Speech it was agreed They should Sit
after the Sermon was done at Westminster which would be ended by Ten of the Clock And that was affirmed to be the Antient Course On Tuesday Novemb. 17. A Bill was read for the Enabling of Edward Nevill of Berling in the County of Kent Esq and Sir Edward Nevil his Son and Heir apparent to Sell certain Coppy-hold Lands A Bill for the true payment of Tythes to the Parsons and Vicars of all Parishes within the Walls of the City of Norwich An Act against the unlawful Hunting and Stealing of Deer in the Night time A Bill to prevent Perjury Bill to prevent Perjury and subornation c. and Subornation of Perjury and to prevent unnecessary Suits in Law the Effect of which Bill is for Removing of Suits by Habeas Corpus or Certiorari before one Juror Sworn out of the petty Courts to Westminster I delivered this Bill viz. Mr. Heword Townssend the Collector of this Journal at the delivery whereof I said Mr. Speaker I take every man to be bound in Conscience to remove a little mischief from the Common-Wealth before it take Head and grow to a great inconveniency This Mischief is ordinary and general therefore though but small yet to be considered of and provided against And if a Heathen Philosopher could Admonish us Obstare principiis I see no reason That men Indued with Christianity should be of the least hurt growing in his Country either regardless or respectless For which purpose a Gentleman well experienced having found this grief common to the poorer sort like a good Subject tendering all the parts of this Common-wealth intreated me at my coming into this House this morning to offer unto your considerations this Bill It is Intituled An Act c. the Effect whereof is c. which if it please you to entertain with that willingness it is offer'd I doubt not but this inconvenience will be quickly Redressed So I Offered the Bill and prayed it might be Read A Bill for the Confirmation of Letters Pattents made by King Edward the sixth to Sir Edward Seymor Knight A Bill for strengthning an Act made by King Henry 8. for the maintenance of the Poor in St. Bartholomews London A Bill about St. Bartholomew Hospital according to a Covenant made by the said King was Read the second time And after a Speech made by Sir Stephen Some Alderman of London it was committed he alleadged Sir Stephen Some speaks to it That by the Foundation of the Hospital there were only One Hundred Poor maintained and by the Gifts of other Benefactors since One Hundred more besides Six Hundred which are there now in Cure of divers Diseases And the Good that comes by this as well as other Hospitals in London is very apparent For there are of Poor people besides the certain Number of Hospitallers the best part of Three Thousand daily in Cure Sir Edward Hobby said Sir Edward Hobby's consideration about the same I find this Bill to be put into this House to the end that some Contention touching the Limits of the Parish next adjoyning to St. Bartholmews may be adjusted I am ever jealous of private Bills of this Nature and dare not shew my self hasty in Assenting to Pass any without Commitment lest we might Infring the Liberties of some other Parish adjoyning Therefore I Pray it may be committed and the Parties on both sides Called before the Committees A Bill to Redress Adultery was Offer'd to the Speakers hands The Substance of the Bill was A Bill against Adultery That if a Woman or Man or both were Convicted of Adultery He should lose his Tenancy by Courtesy and she her Tenancy in Dower Read the first time Serjeant Harries stept up to this Bill Serjeant Harri Objects and said Mr. Speaker by the scope of this Bill the Determination of this Fact must be by two or three blind Witnesses in the Ecclesiastical Court which is no Reason that Judges Ecclesiastical should Determine of Lay-mens Inheritances Besides there is another gross fault in the Bill For if they be both Poor and have nothing but Goods they Forfeit nothing Now if a man be taken in Adultery he shall not be Punished because there is nothing of what he should be Tenant by the Courtesy But if the Woman be taken she is to lose the Third of the Goods or if it be in the City The House rejects it by Custome she loseth the half which is Jus inequale and not to be admitted in this House Then all the House Cryed Away with it Then the Speaker put it to the Question Whether it should be Read the second time And the House gave a very great No. On Wednesday Novemb. 18. The Bill concerning Cloth-workers was Committed and the time of Meeting appointed on Munday next in the afternoon in the Middle-Temple-Hall The Bill for Reforming the Abuses in Silk-Weavers A Bill for Reforming Abuses in Embroderers A Bill for the Repealing of certain Statutes made 5. Edward 6. and 2. 3. Phil. Marie touching the making of Cloth and for the Reforming of Abuses in Making of Cloth in the County of Somerset was committed to the Committee for Cloth-workers The Bill for Solicitors A Bill about Solicitors brought in by Mr. Jones the Effect whereof is That no person whatsoever shall Solicit other than those that will do the same without Fee or Reward also a Proviso that Utter-Barresters may Solicit in all Courts whatsoever the like for Attornies the like for them which may maintain any Suit by Law the like for Corporations that they may make a Sollicitor Also a Proviso that no Mechanick Trader may be a Sollicitor viz. Broker Scrivener Miller Smith c. and limited to continue to the end of the first Session of the next Parliament A Bill against Trifling Suits A Bill against Taincoring of Cloth brought in by Mr. Boyse The Bill touching Confirmation of Patents brought in by Mr. Francis Moore A Bill for Reformation of Abuses in making of Cloth Read Sir George Moor opposes the too great punishment and desires it may be Committed To which Sir George Moore stood up and said This Statute forbiddeth Clothiers to use Tayntors The first Offence Twenty Pounds the second Pillory too infamous a Punishment for so necessary a Member It pleased the Lords of her Majesties most Honourable Privy Council to direct their Letters to the Justices of the Peace in the Shire where I dwell for the Suppressing of Tayntors We sent our Warrants out to the Cloth-workers appointing them to attend us at a certain Day and Place Upon Examination of the Matter before us We found by those Reasons they alleadged that Cloth could not be made serviceable without Tayntors And though they Taintred it never so little it would stretch a little in breadth at least a quarter of a yard in length for which small fault being not voluntary methinks the punishment aforesaid is too too grievous I think it
Bellgrave I ever took him and so still do to be a man of very good Carriage To condemn him I do not mean but I humbly Pray that a course for his Honour may be taken and the matter so handled that the Honour of the Person may be saved the Gentleman freed from further Offence and this Cause ended with good conclusion Mr. Dale said Id possimus quod Jure possimus and therefore resting in doubt herein the safest course is a Conference Mr. Tate said It is not good to utter suddain Thoughts in great matters Our Dispute may seem to have this end either to Incur the danger of our Priviledges by not regarding this Cause or to pry too neer into Her Majesties Prerogative by Examining Informations exhibited into the Star-Chamber wherefore I think we ought to be Petitioners not verbum Petitioners or at least to shew our Griess to the Lords And if by an Order from them as was alledged this Information was put in methinks in Reason a Conference were good to Examine the Cause and inform this House truly thereof Mr. Skipwith the Pensioner Mr. Skipwith for Belgrave said If I knew or did think there were any Wrong done to the Earl of Huntington I would rather be a Petitioner for this Gentleman unto him than I would be a Protector of him against him I know Mr. Belgrave wrote his Letter to my Lord and that it pleased his Honour to answer him and that he offered to follow his Honour in that sort as is fitting for a Gentleman of his Worth and rather His Honour than any mans in England This I take it may satisfy the House for Answer to the first part of the Information which containeth a Dishonour offered to the Earl For the Second which is Deceiving of the Burgesses I do assure this House they were both willing and worthy to be deceived I know they had given their Voices and desired Mr. Bellgrave to undertake it For the Wrong to this Court I hope this Court hath wisdom enough to Right it self without any Course in the Star-Chamber yet by your Favours I may say thus much That if we should Punish him for coming Indirectly to this Place we should Punish three parts of the House for none ought to be Chosen but those that be resident and sworn Burgesses of the Town Sir Robert Wroth said Sir Robert Wroth brings a precedent This matter needs not so much Dispute In the last Year of Queen Mary in the Case between Pleadal and Pleadal it pleased the Lords of the Star-Chamber Sedente Parliamento to bind the one at the Suit of the other to appear 12 days after the Parliament and this was adjudged to be an Infringment of the Lberties of this House Mr. Davis said The Information savours more of Wit than Malice and therefore I think that upon Conference with the Lords the matter may be brought to a good end I therefore humbly pray it may be put to the Question and that the Bill may be sent for out of the Star-Chamber Mr. Cary said As I take it Mr. Speaker the Course hath been that if the House hath been desirous to see any Record you Mr Speaker should send a Warrant to the Lord-Keeper to grant forth a Certiorari to have the Record brought into this House And upon view thereof perhaps this matter of Dispute would have an end Sir Francis Hastings offer'd to speak again in this matter Sir France Hastings Speakes Again Mr. Bacon interrupts him And they contend a while with reproaches but Mr. Bacon interrupted him and told him It was against the Course of the House To which he Answered He was old enough to know when and how often to speak To which Mr. Bacon Answered It was no matter for that but he needed not to be so Hot in an ill Cause To which Sir Francis replied In several matters of Debate a man may speak often so I take it is the Order He pointing to Mr. Bacon talkes of Heat If I be so hot as he Was Yesterday then put me out of doores The only thing that I would say is this I wish a Conference may be had with the Lords because the matter may be brought to some friendly end For God knows what may lie in the Deck after the Parliament and I suspect it the more because the Information is filed and no Process sued out Mr. Greenvil said I wish that in our Conference A Conference agreed by the Lords we do not neglect our Privileges and that we may be a means of Mediation So Mr. Comptroller and others were sent to desire a Conference which was agreed unto by the Lords and the time appointed to be on Thursday Morning at Eight of the Clock Mr. Speaker said I am to certifie you from the Lords of a great disorder committed by the Pages and Servants as well of the Lords themselves as of your Servants So that not only Abuse is offer'd but Weapons and Blood drawn For remedy whereof the Lords have given strict Commandment That their Servants keep peaceable and quiet Order and that neither their Pages Attendants nor Servants do stand upon the Stairs or neerer the House than the Stair-foot They desire that every Member of the House would do the like to their Servants and so expresly to Charge and Command them And I would move you That you would be pleased the Serjeant might go forth and signify so much from you unto the Company without and all said I I I. Mr. Wiseman said The disorder Mr. Speaker speaks of is now grown so great that they have their Passes and Repasses and men dare not go down the Staires without a Conductor So the Serjeant went and delivered the Message and the Abuse was well Reformed The Bill for Assuring of a Joynture to the Countess of Sussex Mr. Serjeant Yelverton Dr. Cary and Dr. Stanhop came from the Lords and Serjeant Yelverton signified the Lords Desire of a Conference in the Bill for Patents made by the Queen and Grants to her c. Which the Lords did the more Respect because it was recommended to them from the House the time appointed to Morrow Morning at Eight of the Clock the Number 20. So after they went out it was agreed They should meet with a convenient Number and then they were called in again according to the Ceremony of the House and the Houses resolution deliver'd to them Mr. Serj. Harrts said Mr. Speaker The Ancient Use hath been always to double or treble the Number The last Committee were about Sixty I think by reason they were Committees and are best informed that they should attend the Lords And so it was agreed His conceipt was Sell the great Bell to buy the little Bell a Clapper In the afternoon in the House the Bill for Fustians was to be debated but by reason the Devonshire-Men made a Faction against it after small Dispute it was put to the Question whether it
in hoc bello Apostolica Authoritate à nobis Administrandum ut verum fatear possem sacillime convitia quod nobis objiciunt in ipsos retundere voluptatem quam maledicendo sumpsere illam male audiendo amittere Caeterum novimus ut debiles inermes Muliercola ad convitia fugere Sed hiis praetermissis ad objecta solida veritate ex Christiana Modestate respondere Imprimis Commoneamini nos velle subditos praetensos Reginae Angliae ab obedientia debita per dei legem servitute abducere ad nos aggregare Quod maximâ ex parte à veritate alienum est Neminem enim persuadere conamur ut debitam servitutem secundum dei Legem deneget suo Principi Sed hene nostis ante multos Annos ipsam Elizabetham for so said Mr. Secretary he bluntly called her that same Elizabeth privatam esse Regno subditosque omnes absolutos esse à Juramento Fidelitatis per supremum Pontificem cui Regnans in excelsis Bex Regum omnimodum potestatem tradidit ut evellat distruat plantet aedificet ita ut ipsos Reges temporales si ad spirituale aedificiem expediret eósque ad depositionem à Regno privat quod factum esse in Regnis Angliae Hiberniae à pluribus Pontificibus supremis viz. Pio quinto Gregorio decimo tertio nunc Clemento octavo omnibus notum est quorum Diplomata extant apud nos Catholicis Loquor non protervis Haereticis qui à Fide Romanae Ecclesiae declinaverunt nam cum Caeci sunt Caecorum Duces sundamenta veritatis prorsus ignorant etiam in hoc dissentire à nobis non mirum est Sed nostri fratres Catholici in simplicitate fidei Romanae ambulentes Ecclesia Catholica consentientes quod est columna fundamentum veritatis omnia ista facile percipiant Ergo restat quod Hiberni qui vobis adherent nil adversus legem Dei fidelitatem debitam imò secundum divina praecepta obedientiam quam supremo Pontifici debent cooperentur Secundo asseritis nos Hispanos blanditiis fictitiis adulationibus Hibernos demulcire atque multa beneficia in illos exhibere quod in nostram aversissimam est natura sed hoc m o in principio facere ut simplicium animos ad nos convertentes in posterum credulitatem circa illos exercentes sanguinolentam naturam nostram ostendemus Proh Deum immortalem quis non miretur acerbam indicibilem credulitatem audaciámque vestram in his verbis ostensam Quis est enim qui non novit crudelitatem maximam quam vos Angli adversus miseros Hibernicos exercivistis exercere non desistitis vos inquam ab ipsorum animis fidem Catholicam quam coluerunt Patris eorum in quo salus aeterna consistit auferre conamini crudeliores profectò Vrsis Leonibus qui tantum temporalem vitam auferent vos tamen aeternam spiritualem Quis temporalia omnia istius florentissimi Regni demolitus est nisi Anglus videte hoc confundamini Nos vero Patriam dulcissimam foelicissimam Hispaniam omnibus scilicet bonis refertam vicem Catholicorum dolentes relinquimus eorum Clamoribus incitati qui Coelum Terrámque attingunt aures supremi Pontificis Regis nostri Philippi pulsantes misericordia moti Ad vos Milites Argentum Aurum Arma liberali manu tandem mittere decreverunt non ut erga vos Hiberni Catholici crudelitatem ut isti singunt exercerunt sed ut foeliciter vos à Diaboli faucibus ereptos à Tyrannide liberos ad pristinam vestram ingenuitatem redigant ut libere positis fidem Catholicam profiteri Ergo dilectissimi in Christo postquam jam quod per tot ante annos desiderio desiderastis praecibus lacrimis efflagitastis impetrastis jamjam Supremus Pontifex Vicarius Christi in Terris vobis imperat ut Arma in Defensionem vestrae fidei sumatis vos omnes moveo horior atque contestor Omnes in quam ad quos istae Litterae pervenerint ut quam citissime in vestra fuerit potestate ad nos cum Amicis Armis conveniatis Qui hoc fecerit nos paratos inveniet Arma nostra ceteráque possidemus ipsis communicabimus Qui aliter enim spretis nostris Conciliis saluberrimis secerit in salibra Anglorum obedientia permanserit tanquam Haereticum Hostem Ecclesiae invisum usque ad necem prosequimur Doryum de Laguia After the Parliament at the end of Hillary-Term next following the Lord Keeper by her Majesties express Command made a Speech in the Star-chamber on the 13th of February all these Personages being present viz. Sir Thomas Egerton Lord Keeper of the great Seal The Archbishop of Canterbury The Lord Buckhurst Lord Treasurer of England The Earl of Shrewsbury The Earl of Worcester Sir William Knolls Controuler of her Majesties Houshold The Bishop of London Sir John Fortescue Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir John Popham Lord Chief Justice of England Mr. Secretary Herbert Sir Edmond Anderson Lord Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas Sir _____ Peryam Lord Chief Baron Mr. Baron Clarke Mr. Baron Savelle Mr. Justice Fenner Mr. Justice Kingsmell Mr. Justice Warberton After a silence made and some few Motions made by Mr. Atturney-General and the Queens Counsel and some others the Cryer of the Court again made silence and the Lord Keeper putting off his Hat and then putting it on again spake to this effect My Lords I Am by her Majesties commandment to deliver unto you her gracious pleasure The Lord Keeper's Speech in the Star-chamber and those things which out of her Princely wisdom and care she hath thought fit to be made known I scarce know how to enter into this matter and I am sorry that now in speaking I shall lay open the looseness of the times neither are her Majesties Proclamations regarded neither her Councils Letters respected neither her late-made Statutes and Decrees obeyed nor put in so due execution as they ought These things deserve to have a more round and strict course than have been used and we deserve not so gracious a Pardon as it hath pleased her most gracious Majesty out of her meer goodness lately to bestow upon us but this onely to divers persons and offences of those which live in degree of private men But I am to speak of Offences of Mayors Justices of Assize A Charge for the keeping of Lent strictly and men of that condition The time of Lent and abstinence from Flesh if it be not duely observed what Dearth and Penury will not almost ensue And therefore was the time of Lent well placed even in the Spring and the beginning of the increase of Beasts Her Majesties express command is That it be strictly observed and that with this caution That where fault shall be found that there extremity shall be inflicted and that no