Presence of her Majesty the Lord Keeper and the Lords Spiritual and Temporal is not at all marked in the Original Journal Book of the Upper House although this entrance following of the said day be there thus Recorded viz. Die Mercurij 25. die Januarij proceres tain Spirituales quam Temporales quorum nomina subsequuntur presentes fuerunt But before this Title there is nothing specified touching the presence of her Majesty or of any of the Lords for the Letters which should be set at the beginning of the names of such Peers as this day attended her Majesty in the Upper House are not at all prefixed to any of them which doubtless happened through the great negligence of Francis Spilman Esq at this time Clerk of the Upper House Yet most certain it is that her Majesty Sir Nicholas Bacon the Lord Keeper the Duke of Norfolk and divers other Peers were present but the direct manner of the ranking of them in respect of the negligent omission of setting the Pr. as aforesaid at the beginning of every Lords name that was present could not be orderly and and directly entred in his place although this was the first day of this first Parliament of her Majesty nor on Saturday the 28th day of this instant January being the second day of the same because by like negligence of Francis Spilman Esq at this time Clerk of the Upper House there is no presence of any Lords there set down in the Original Journal Book of the same House nor any mention of the Speakers presentment by the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the House of Commons and therefore of necessity it could not be supplied until the third day of this foresaid first Parliament of her Majesty being Monday the 30th day of this instant January on which day the names of all the Lords Spiritual and Temporal being entred the Letters Pr. are prefixed before the name of the Lord Keeper and of such Peers as were then present as see at large on the said Monday next ensuing and therefore that President there so expresly Transcribed may serve as a Pattern for all the residue that follow in all the Journals of the Upper House during her Majesties Reign in which there are no other names inserted but of such Lords as were marked to be present unless it be upon Thursday the 21th day of March following in the afternoon in this present Journal and on Fryday the 15th day of January in the Session of Parliament A. 5. of her Majesty in the Journal of the Upper House And although the names of her Majesty and the Lords that attended could not be exactly set down yet it will not be impertinent in the next place to insert the manner of their sitting in the said House which being not at all mentioned in the aforesaid Original Journal Book of the same A. 1. Reg. Eliz. I have therefore partly supplied it according to 3 other Presidents in these ensuing Journals on which the first was on Thursday the 12th of Jan. in the Session of Parliament A. 5. Reg. Eliz. the second on Wednesday the 2d day of Octob. pomerid ' in the second and last Session of that Parliament being held in A. 8. Reg. 〈◊〉 and the third on Monday the 2d day of Apr. in the Parliament A. 13. Regin praedict ' all which do follow in the several Journals of the Upper House Annis praesatis and it is partly supplied also out the Printed Statute A. 31. H. 8. C. 10. and partly out of that elaborate written Treatise intituled Modus tenendi Parliament ' apud Anglos first confusedly gathered by Wil. Bowyer Esq as I conceive and now lately digested into a Methodical Treatise and enlarged by H. Essing Esq at this time Clerk of the Upper House viz. in A. 1630. L. 1. C. 3. de loco modo sedendi Sect. 3. of the manner of sitting in Parliament at this day Her Majesty sate in the Chair of Estate and when she stood up her Mantle was assisted and born up from her Arms by two Noblemen or others of Eminent Rank thereunto appointed The Two Seats on the right and left-hand of the Chair of Estate were void in respect that the first was Anciently for the King of Scots when he used to come to our Parliaments and the other on the left hand is for the Prince the immediate Heir of the Crown On the Form on the right side of the Chair of Estate which stands on the North-side of the Upper House sate the Spiritual Lords the Archbishop of York beginning the Form and the Abbot of Westminster ending it Who was the last Abbot that ever sate in the said House in England since this first Parliament of her Majesty But at this day the two Archbishops sit upon one Form by themselves and then the other Bishops in order upon two Forms on the right hand of the State the Bishop of London sits first the Bishop of Durham second and the Bishop of Winchester hath the third place and then all other Bishops according to the Antiquity of their Consecrations On the left side of the Chair of Estate which is on the South-side of the Upper House upon the foremost Form sate all the Temporal Lords above the degree of Barons The Marquess of Winchester Lord Treasurer of England beginning that Form and the Viscount Bindon ending it The Barons sate on the second Form on the left hand of the State and it should seem at this Parliament as it fell out also in the next Sessions following in A. 5. Regin Eliz. on Tuesday the 12th day of January that one Form held them all so as the Lord Clinton Lord Admiral of England began the said Form by reason of his Office and the Lord St. John of Bletsoe ended it But at this day the number of Peers being much encreased divers of the Barons do sit upon other Forms Places Cross-ways at the lower end of the House Sir Nicholas Bacon the Lord Keeper because he was under the degree of a Baron as also her Majesties chief Secretary being but a Knight were to have been placed at the uppermost part of the sack in the midst of the said House upon one Form by the fore recited Statute A. 3. H. 8. Cap. 10. But at this present Parliament as also at this day during her Majesties being present the Lord Keeper stood behind the Cloth of Estate on the right-hand and when her Majesty was absent then his Lordship sate on the first Woolsack which is placed athwart the House the Seal and Mace by him On the Woolsack on the North-side of the House and of the right-hand of the Estate sate the two Chief Justices and divers other Judges On the Woolsack on the left-hand of the Estate and on the South-side of the House sate the Master of the Rolls the Lord Chief Baron the Queen 's Learned Council and others And note That all these may properly besaid to sit on the Inner-side of
Mountague and Viscount Hereford present Then the Earls but nineteen present the Earl of Hertford the Earl of Pembroke Bedford Southampton Warwick Bath Huntington Sussex Cumberland Rutland Worcester Darby Shrewsbury Westmoreland Northumberland Oxford and Arundel their Robes of Scarlet with their Rows of Miniver Then the Marquess of Winchester but now as Lord Treasurer and the Marquess of Northampton the Duke of Norfolk went as Earl Marshal Then the Lord Keepers Serjeant and Seal and after Sir Nicholas Bacon Lord Keeper of the Great Seal in his Gown Here Clarenceux and Norroy Then the Queens Serjeant at Arms and after Garter Then the Duke of Norfolk with the gilt Rod as Marshal the Lord Treasurer with the Cap of Estate and the Earl of Worcester with the Sword Then the Queens Majesty on Horseback a little behind the Lord Chamberlain and Vice-Chamberlain her Grace Apparelled in her Mantle opened before furr'd with Ermines and her Kirtle of Crimson Velvet close before and close Sleeves but the Hands turned up with Ermines and a Hood hanging low round about her Neck of Ermins Over all a rich Coller set with Stones and other Jewels and on her Head a rich Caul And the next after Her the Lord Robert Dudley Master of the Horse leading the spare Horse And after all other Ladies two and two in their Ordinary Apparel By side the Queen went her Footmen and along on either side of her went the Pensioners with their Axes after the Ladies followed the Captain of the Guard Sir William St. Loe and after him the Guard In which Order Her Majesty proceeded to the North Door of the Church of Westminster where the Dean there and the Dean of the Chappel met her and the whole Chappel in Copes and S t Edwards Staff with the Inlet in the top was delivered unto her her Arm for the bearing thereof assisted by the Baron of Hunsdon the Canopy born over her by Charles Howard Esq Sir George Howard Sir Richard Blunt Sir Ed. Warner Sir John Perrott and Sir William Fitz-Williams Knights her Graces Train born up and assisted for the weight thereof from her Arms by the Lord Robert Dudley Master of the Horse and Sir Francis Knowles Vice-Chamberlain and so orderly proceeded to the Travers beside the Table of Administration Although other Princes have used to be placed in the Quire till the Offering but not now because there was neither Communion nor Offering and so she being placed all the Lords sate down on Forms besides the Travers the Spiritualty on the North side and the Temporalty on the South side the Sword and the Cap of Estate laid down on the Table Then the Quire sung the English Procession which ended M r Noell Dean of Pauls began his Sermon and first made his Prayer orderly for the Queens Majesty and the Universal Church and especially for that Honourable Assembly of three Estates there present that they might make such Laws as should be to Gods Glory and the good of the Realm The Sermon being ended and a Psalm sung her Majesty and the rest orderly on foot proceeded out of the South Door where she delivered the Dean the Scepter and so proceeded into the Parliament Chamber where the Queen stayed a while in her Privy Chamber till all the Lords and others were placed and then her Highness came forth and went and fate her down in her Royal Place and Chair of Estate the Sword and Cap of Maintenance born before her and when she stood up her Mantle was assisted and born up from her Arms by the Lord Robert Dudley Master of the Horse and Sir Francis Knowles Vice-Chamberlain The Lord Keeper sate alone upon the uppermost Sack until the Queen was sate and then went and stood without the Rail on the right hand the Cloth of Estate and the Lord Treasurer holding the Cap of Estate on the right hand before the Queen Garter standing by him and on the left hand standing the Earl of Worcester with the Sword and by him the Lord Chamberlain The Duke of Norfolk began the first Form and the Viscount Mountague for that the Viscount Bindon was not there ended it The Lord Clinton the Lord Admiral began the Form behind that of Barons and the Lord St. John of Bletsoe ended it The Archbishop of Canterbury began the Bishops Form and the Bishop of Glocester ended the same On the Woolsack on the right hand and Northside sate Sir Robert Catlin and Sir James Dyer Chief Justices Sir William Peter Anthony Browne Corbett Weston and M r Gerrard the Queens Attorney On the Sack on the left hand and Southside sate Sir William Cordall Master of the Rolls Sir Edward Saunders Chief Baron Justice Widdon Serjeant Carus and M r Russell the Queens Sollicitor and at their Backs sate Sir Richard Read Doctor Yale and Doctor Vaughan On the other Sack sate Doctor Huicke Spilman Clerk of the Parliament and M r Martin Clerk of the Crown and behind them kneeled M r 〈◊〉 Allen Dyeter Nicasius Cliffe and Permitter At the side hand of the Queen sate on the ground three or four Ladies and no more and at the back of the Rail behind the Cloth of Estate kneeled the Earls of Oxford and Rutland under Age the Earl of Desmond the Lord Roos the Lord Herbert of Cardiffe and divers other Noblemens Sons and Heirs Nota That these foregoing passages touching the solemn manner of her Majesties coming to the Upper House are not at all found in the Original Journal-Book of the same but are transcribed out of a written Copy or memorial of them I had by me as doth also the Lord Keepers Speech follow out of the same in the next place The Queens Majesty being set as aforesaid under the Cloth of Estate the House of Commons had notice thereof and thereupon the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the same repaired to the Upper House and being as many as conveniently could let in she Commanded Sir Nicholas Bacon the Lord Keeper to open the cause of Calling and Assembling this Parliament who thereupon spake as followeth My Lords and others of this Honourable Assembly YOU shall understand that my most Dread and Sovereign Lady the Queens Majesty here present hath Commanded me to declare the occasion of this Assembly which I am not able but unmeet to do as it ought to be done among such a noble wise and discreet Company Howbeit knowing the Experience of her Majesty bearing with such as do their good wills and your Honours Patience in bearing with me in the like afore this time it encourageth me the better herein not doubting of the like at this present Therefore my Lords the occasion is that necessary matters be provided for propounded and scanned and after agreed upon and ended which afterwards shall remain and continue which matters in my Judgment may well be divided into two parts one touching Religion for the setting forth of Gods Honour and Glory and the other concerning Policy for the Common-Wealth as
which is usual in other continuations of it But the reason why they met not till the Afternoon seemeth to be because then the Queens Majesty her self came thither to whom Richard Onslow Esq her Majesties Sollicitor having been Chosen Speaker for the House of Commons the day past was presented and admitted by her in manner and form as followeth About three of the Clock in the Afternoon this present Wednesday the second day of October the Queens Majesty took her Barge and Landed on the back-side of the Parliament-Chamber and so the Earl of Northumberland bearing the Sword the Lady Strainge her Trayn with the Lords in their daily Apparel and the Heralds attending on her she proceeded up into the Privy-Chamber to prepare her self during which time the Lords and Justices put on their Parliament Robes and took their places in manner and form following In which it is to be noted that no part of this days passages already set down is found in the Original Journal-Book of the Upper House but is either transcribed out of a certain Anonymous memorial I had by me in which the presentment of the Speaker this day is somewhat exactly set down or was supplied by my self upon the comparing of several things together Now follow the Names of the Lords and others as aforesaid First on the Form on the North-side together with the Upper Form at the nether end sate the Bishops as followeth Younge Archbishop of York Grindall Bishop of London Pilkington Bishop of Durham Sands Bishop of Winchester Birkley Bishop of Bath and Wells Bett. Bishop of Carlisle Barlow Bishop of Chichester Alleo Bishop of Exeter Gest. Bishop of Rochester Skamler Bishop of Peterburgh Horne Bishop of Worcester Bullingham Bishop of Lincoln Bentam Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield Denham Bishop of Chester Scorie Bishop of Hereford Davies Bishop of S t Davids Parkhurst Bishop of Norwich Cheyney Bishop of Gloucester Nota That these names with those that follow being transcribed in a different manner from all others in the residue of the Journals of the Queens time were so found with the Names of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal added to them in that before-mentioned Anonymous memorial of this present Wednesdays passages being the second day of October and were therefore transcribed out of it as is aforesaid rather than out of the Original Journal-Book of the Upper House although the Series of them that were present set down there did serve well to rectifie those foregoing and these also that next ensue At the foremost Form on the South-side sate these Peers viz. William Paulet Marquess of Winchester Lord Treasurer Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk Earl Marshall of England William Parre Marquess of Northampton Thomas Peircie Earl of Northumberland Charles Nevill Earl of Westmorland George Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury William Sommerset alias Plantagenet Earl of Worcester Thomas Ratcliff Earl of Sussex Henry Haistings Earl of Huntingdon Edward Seymor Earl of Hartford Robert Sutton alias Dudley Earl of Leicester and Master of the Horse Anthony Brown Viscount Mountague Nota That Edward de Vere Earl of Oxford Lord Great Chamberlain of England Edward Mannors Earl of Rutland William Bowrchier Earl of Bath and Henry Wriotheisly Earl of South-hampton were at this time under Age and in Ward to the Queen and therefore they were not admitted to take their places in the Uppermost House but if they were present did either stand besides the upper part of the Rail at the higher end of the said House or were admitted to kneel at the upper end of the same House near the Chair of State at this time and upon like solemn days for no Peer is admitted to have his free Voice or sit as a Member of that Great Council untill he have accomplished his full Age unless by the special Grace of the Prince At the Form at their back and the nether Form at the nether end sate these Peers Fynes Lord Clinton as Lord Admiral sate first amongst the Barons Howard Lord Effingham as Lord Chamberlain of her Majesties Houshold sate second Nevill Lord of Burgaveny sate in his due place of preheminence and so the rest that follow unless such as were misplaced by the Clerks error which is too frequent Zouch Lord Zouch Standley Lord Strange Birkley Lord Birkley Parker Lord Morley Brooke Lord Cobham Stafford Lord Stafford Gray Lord Gray of Wilton Sutton Lord Dudley Lumley Lord Lumley Blunt Lord Mountjoy Darcy Lord Darcy of Mevill Standley Lord Mounteagle Sands Lord Sands Vaux Lord Vaux Windsor Lord Windsor Wentworth Lord Wentworth Burrough Lord Borough Mordant Lord Mordant Cromwell Lord Cromwell Evers Lord Evers Willoughby Lord Willoughby Sheffeild Lord Sheffeild Paget Lord Paget Darcy de Chiche Dominus Darcy North Lord North of Carthelige Bridges Lord Shandois Haistings Lord Haistings of Loughborough Carey Lord Carey of Hunsdon S t John Lord S t John of Bletsoe Nota That Dutchet Lord Audley and the Lord Dacres of the North were under Age. All which Peers abovesaid had their Mantles Hood and Circots furred with Miniver their Arms put on the right side and the Duke of Norfolk had Bars of Miniver the Marquess of Winchester and Northampton had three Bars of Miniver the Earls likewise the Viscounts two and the Barons two Item On the upper Sack of Wooll sate the Lord Keeper till the Queen came and then went to his place at the Rail On the Woolsack on the Northside sate Sir Robert Catlin and Sir James Dyer the Queens two Chief Justices M r Corbet Weston and Southcote Justices of both Benches on the Woolsack on the Southside sate Sir William Cecill the Queens Principal Secretary Sir William Cordall Master of the Rolls Sir Thomas Sanders Chief Baron Baron Whiddon ..... Carus the Queens Serjeant ..... Gerrard the Queens Attorney and on the nether Sack sate M r Vaughan and Yale Masters of the Chancery M r Spilman Clerk of the Parliament M r Martin Clerk of the Crown and M r Peile his Joint Patentee And behind them kneeled Smith Clerk of the Council and Jones Clerk of the Signet Permiter and Dister Then the Queens Majesty being Apparelled in her Parliament Robes with a Caul on her Head came forth and took her Seat the Marquess of Northampton carrying the Cap of Maintenance and after stood on her right hand the Duke of Norfolk carrying his Marshals Rod and on her left hand the Earl of Northumberland with the Sword the Heralds also and Serjeants at Arms being before her her Majesties Mantle was born up on either side from her Shoulders by the Lord Chamberlain and the Lord of Hunsdon who also stood still by her for the assisting thereof when she stood up her Train was born by the Lady Strange assisted by Sir Francis Knolles Vice-Chamberlain at the left hand of the Queen and on the South-side kneeled the Ladies and at the Rail at the Queens back on the right hand stood the Lord Keeper and on the left hand the Lord Treasurer Then the Queen
stood up her Train born by the Lady Strange assisted by the Lord Chamberlain and Vice-Chamberlain At the left hand of the Queen and Southside kneeled the Ladies and behind the Queen at the Rail stood the Lord Keeper on the right hand the Lord Treasurer on the left hand with divers young Lords and Peers Eldest Sons Then all being placed M r Onslow the Speaker was brought in between Sir Francis Knolles Vice-Chamberlain and Sir Ambrose Cave Chancellor of the Dutchy and after Reverence done proceeded down to the Wall and from thence came up to the Rail in the way making three Reverences and standing there made other three like Reverences and then began his Oration as followeth MOST Excellent and Vertuous Princess c. Where I have been Elected by the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of this your nether House to be their Mouth or Speaker and thereunto appointed and allowed by your Majesty to supply the same room to the bewraying of my wants specially that thereby I shall be forced utterly to discover the barrenness of my learning before this Noble Assembly which not a little grieveth me and would gladly be excused considering the true saying How there is no difference between a wise Man and a Fool if they may keep silence which I require But again considering your Majesties Clemency taking in good part the good will of the party for want of ability which putteth me in remembrance and good hope perswading me that you will not take your said Clemency from me contrary to your Nature Again when I consider my Office as Speaker it is no great matter being but a Mouth to utter things appointed me to speak unto you and not otherwise which consisteth only in Speaking and not in any other Knowledge whereby I gather how it is necessary I speak simply and plainly according to the truth and trust reposed in me And thus considering whose Mouth I am which chose me to speak for them being the Knights Citizens and Burgesses who were not also by the Commons chosen for their Eloquence but for their Wisdom and discretion by this means being fit men to whom the Commons have committed the care and charge of themselves Wives and Children Lands and Goods and so in their behalf to foresee and take order for all things necessary Thus they being Chosen by the plain Commons it is necessary they Elect a plain Speaker fit for the plain matter and therefore well provided at first to have such a one as should use plain words and not either so fine that they cannot be understood or else so Eloquent that now and then they miss the Cushion But now upon occasion of beholding your Grace and this Noble Assembly I consider the manifold and great benefits which God suddenly hath sent unto this Country for although God hath granted the benefit of Creation and Conservation with many other Commodities to other Nations of the World yet this our Native Country he hath blessed not only with the like but also with much more fruitfulness than any other of which great and inestimable benefit of Gods preferment which appeareth better by the want that others have of the same I am occasioned now to speak the rather to move and stir up our hearts to give most hearty thanks to God for the same Now to speak of Government by Succession Election Religion or Policy First if the Body should want a Head it were a great Monster so it is likewise if it have many Heads as if upon every several Member were a Head And to speak of one Head although in the Body be divers Members which be made of Flesh Bones Sinews and Joints yet the one Head thereof governeth wisely the same which if it should want we should be worse than wild Beasts without a Shepherd and so worthily be called a Monstrous Beast Again If the Body should be Governed by many Heads then the same would soon come to destruction by reason of the Controversy amongst them who would never agree but be destroyed without any Foreign Invasion therefore God seeth it is needful that the people have a King and therefore a King is granted them and so therefore the best Government is to be ruled by one King and not many who may maintain and cherish the good and Godly and punish the Ungodly and Offenders As for Government by Election in that is great variance partiality strifes and part-takings As for Examples amongst the rest take out one which is called the most Holy as that of the Pope and weigh how holily and quietly it is done called indeed holy and quiet but utterly unholy and unquiet with great part-takings and strifes Now touching Religion To see the Divine Providence of God how that many Nations be Governed by one Prince which were impossible but that God Ordereth it so by whom the Order of Regiment is appointed and that in his Scriptures wherefore the Subjects ought to obey the same yea although they were evil and much more those that be good So God hath here appointed us not a Heathen or unbelieving Prince as he might but a Faithful and one of his own Children to govern us his Children in which Government the Prince serveth God two ways as a Man and as a King In that he is a Man he ought to live and serve God as one of his good Creatures And in that he is a King and so Gods special Creature he ought to make Laws whereby God may be truly worshipped and that his Subjects might do no injury one to another and specially to make quietness amongst the Ministers of the Church to extinguish and put away all hurtful and unprofitable Ceremonies in any Case contrary to Gods word in which point we have in your Majesties behalf great thanks to give unto God in setting forth unto us the Liberty of Gods word whereof before we were bereaved and that you have reformed the State of the corrupt Church now drawing Souls out of dangerous errors which afore by that Corruption they were led and brought unto And concerning Policy God hath Committed to your Highness two Swords the one of which may be called the Sword of War to punish outward Enemies withal and the other the Sword of Justice to Correct offending Subjects in which point of Policy your Majesty is not behind your Progenitors for although at your Entrance you found this Realm in War and ungarnished with Munition and that with such store as never was before yet you have dislodged our antient Enemies which were planted and placed even upon the Walls of this Realm And concerning Policy in Laws as Bones Sinews and Joints be the force of a Natural Body so are good Laws the strength of a Common-Wealth And your Laws be consisting of two points the Common Laws and the Statutes And for the Common Law it is so grounded on Gods Laws and Natures that three several Nations governing here have all allowed the same which is not inferior
comfortable words and commanded the Parliament to be dissolved Nota That this business had many and long Agitations in the House of Commons who were especially violent in that latter branch of it touching the Declaration of a Successor as see more at large on Monday the 25 th day of November foregoing and lastly I have thought good to give a short touch that all the foregoing passages of this Afternoon touching her Majesties Presence Royal Assent Speech and Dissolving the Parliament were thus Orderly set down in the Original Journal-Book of the House of Commons and have here received little Alterations THE JOURNAL OF THE House of LORDS The Journal of the Proceedings of the House of Lords in the Parliament holden at Westminster An. 13 Reg. Eliz. A. D. 1571 which began there on Monday the 2 d day of April and then and there continued until the Dissolution thereof on Tuesday the 29 th day of May ensuing THIS Journal of the Upper House continuing about the space of two Months was very carelesly entred in the Original Journal-Book of the Upper House by the Clerk thereof who as it seems was Anthony Mason Esq succeeding about this time in the said Office of Clerk of the Upper House unto Francis Spilman Esq who had formerly supplied that place But yet by means of a Copious Journal I had by me of the Passages of the House of Commons in this Parliament taken by some Anonymous Member thereof and also of some Copies I had of the Speeches of Sir Nicholas Bacon Lord Keeper at the beginning and conclusion of this said Parliament this ensuing Journal is much enlarged And therefore to avoid confusion whatsoever is here inserted out of the said private Journal is particularly distinguished from that which is taken out of the above-mentioned Journal-Book of the Upper House by some Animadversions or Expression thereof both before and after the inserting of it Neither doth the Original Journal-Book it self of the Upper House want some matter of variety besides the ordinary Reading Committing and passing of Bills in respect that Sir Robert Catlyn Knight Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench was appointed by her Majesties Commission under the Great Seal to supply the Lord Keepers place upon occasion of his sickness during some part of this said Parliament in the first entry whereof is set down out of the foresaid Anonymous Journal of the House of Commons her Majesties coming to the Upper House with the Order and manner of it the substance also of which is found though somewhat more briefly set down in the Original Journal-Book of the same House On Monday the second day of April the Parliament beginning according to the Writs of Summons sent forth her Majesty about eleven of the Clock came towards Westminster in the antient accustomed most honourable Passage having first riding before her the Gentlemen Sworn to attend her Person the Batchellors Knights after them the Knights of the Bath then the Barons of the Exchequer and Judges of either Bench with the Master of the Rolls her Majesties Attorney General and Sollicitor General whom followed in Order the Bishops and after them the Earls then the Archbishop of Canterbury The Hat of Maintenance was Carried by the Marquess of Northampton and the Sword by the Earl of Sussex The place of the Lord Steward for that day was supplied by the Lord Clinton Lord Admiral of England the Lord Great Chamberlain was the Earl of Oxenford And the Earl Marshal by Deputation from the Duke of Norfolk was the Earl of Worcester Her Majesty sate in her Coach in her Imperial Robes and a Wreath or Coronet of Gold set with rich Pearl and Stones over her Head her Coach drawn by two Palfries covered with Crimson Velvet drawn out imbossed and imbroidered very richly Next after her Chariot followed the Earl of Leicester in respect of his Office of the Master of the Horse leading her Majesties spare Horse And then forty seven Ladies and Women of Honour The Guard in their rich Coats going on every side of them The Trumpeters before the first sounding and the Heralds riding and keeping their rooms and places Orderly In Westminster Church the Bishop of Lincoln Preached before her Majesty whose Sermon-being done her Majesty came from the Church the Lords all on foot in order as afore and over her Head a rich Canopy was carried all the way She being entred into the Upper House of Parliament and there sate in Princely and seemly sort under a high and rich Cloth of Estate her Robe was supported by the Earl of Oxenford the Earl of Sussex kneeling holding the Sword on the left hand and the Earl of Huntingdon holding the Hat of Estate and the Lords all in their Rooms on each side of the Chamber that is to say the Lords Spiritual on the right hand and the Lords Temporal on the left Nota That whereas the presence of these Lords ought here according to the usual course to have been inserted out of the Original Journal-Book of the Upper House it must of necessity be omitted in respect that through the great negligence of Anthony Mason Esq at this time as it should seem Clerk of the said House there are none of the said Lords noted to have been present yet it may be probably guessed who they were by those who attended on Wednesday of this instant April ensuing Quod vide The Judges and her Learned Councel being at the Woollsacks in the midst of the Chamber and at her Highness Feet at each side of her kneeling one of the Grooms or Gentlemen of the Chamber their Faces towards her the Knights Citizens and Burgesses all standing below the Bar her Majesty then stood up in her Regal Seat and with a Princely Grace and singular good Countenance after a long stay spake a few words to this effect or thus Mr right Loving Lords and you our right faithful and Obedient Subjects we in the name of God for his Service and for the safety of this State are now here Assembled to his Glory I hope and pray that it may be to your Comfort and the common quiet of our yours and all ours for ever And then looking on the right side of her towards Sir Nicholas Bacon Knight Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England standing a little beside the Cloth of Estate and somewhat back and lower from the same she willed him to shew the cause of the Parliament who thereupon spake as followeth THE Queens most Excellent Majesty our most Dread and Gracious Soveraign hath Commanded me to declare unto you the Causes of your Calling and Assembly at this time which I mean to do as briefly as I can led thereunto as one very loth to be tedious to her Majesty and also because to wise men and well-disposed as I judge you be a few words do suffice The Causes be chiefly two The one to establish or dissolve Laws as best shall serve for the Governance of the Realm
vice Et nota that the same Bill was read the day following tertiâ vice conclus On Wednesday the 7. day of April Seven Bills were brought up to the Lords from the House of Commons of which the one was for Orders for Bankrupts their Goods and Chattels Lands and Tenements and another for Retailers of Worsted Wools in Norwich and the County of Norfolk with a Proviso added by the Commons Dominus Custos magni Sigilli continuavit praesens Parliamentum usque in horam secundam à Meridie On the aforesaid Wednesday in the Afternoon the Bill touching Orders for Bankrupts their Goods and Chattels Lands and Tenements was read primâ vice On Thursday the 8. day of April Three Bills were brought up to the Lords from the House of Commons of which the first being the Bill to take away the Misdemeanors of Purveyors and Takers was read primâ vice The Bill for divers Orders for Artificers Labourers Servants of Husbandry and Apprentices was read tertiâ vice conclus and sent down to the House of Commons by Serjeant Carus and D r Yale Two Bills were sent up to the Lords from the House of Commons the one that Sanctuary shall not be allowed to defraud any due Debt And the other was for the Paving of Kentish Town near Southwark The Proviso annex'd by the Commons to the Bill for Retailers of Worsted-Woolls in Norwich and the County of Norfolk was read tertiâ vice communi omnium Procerum assensu conclus The Proviso annex'd by the Commons to the Bill for the maintenance of Tillage And also one other Proviso annex'd to the same Bill by the Lords were each of them read primâ secundâ tertiâ vice On Friday the 9. day of April the Bill for Tillage was given to M r Attorney and M r Martin to be carried to the House of Commons The Bill touching Orders of Bankrupts their Goods and Chattels Lands and Tenements was read secundâ vice Three Bills were brought up to the Lords from the House of Commons conclus of which one was touching divers Orders for Artificers Labourers Servants of Husbandry and Apprentices And the second for the maintenance of Tillage And the third for the due Execution of the Writ de Excommunicato capiendo with a Proviso annex'd by the Commons and divers Amendments quae primâ secundâ vice lect sunt eadem Provis tertiâ vice lect a est conclus The Bill to take away the misdemeanors of Purveyors and Takers was read the second time and committed to Justice Southcot Quod nota The Bill for the destruction of Rooks Coughs and other Vermine was brought up to the Lords from the House of Commons which said Bill was on the day following in the Afternoon read primâ vice On Saturday the 10 th day of April the Bill for the reviving of a Statute made Anno xxiii o Hen. 8. touching the making of Goals with a Proviso thereunto annex'd by the Commons which said Proviso was read primâ secundâ tertiâ vice conclus The Bill for the Queens Majesties most free and General Pardon was read primâ vice communi omnium Procerum assensu conclusa Nota That this Bill for the general Pardon was concluded after the first reading whereas to all other Bills three readings are required before they can be passed The Bill also for Reformation of divers misdemeanors in Purveyors was read tertiâ vice with certain Amendments conclusa And then following the ordinary form the Parliament was continued in manner and order accustomed viz. Dominus Custos magni Sigilli continuavit praesens Parliamentum usque in horam primam à Mcridie In the Afternoon the Bill for destruction of Rooks and Coughs and other Vermin And the Bill touching buying and selling of course Woolls to make Cottons c. were each of them read tertiâ vice conclus Two Bills were returned from the House of Commons conclus One to take away the misdemeanors of Purveyors and Takers and the other touching Orders for Bankrupts their Goods and Chattels Lands and Tenements Nota That in the Original Journal-Book of the Upper House next after the setting down or entring of the two Bills aforesaid to have been returned up to the Lords from the House of Commons there followeth immediately the entrance of the Prorogation of this Session of Parliament which doubtless happened through the great negligence of Francis Spilman Esq at this time Clerk of the said Upper House For the Queens Majesty her self with the Lords both Spiritual and Temporal was present in her Robes and gave her Royal Assent to such Acts as passed Although no presence of any of the Lords or her Majesty be at all marked in the said Original Journal-Book And therefore I have caused the solemn and stately manner of the Queens coming to the Upper House with the several Interlocutory Speeches of the Speaker of the House of Commons and the Lord Keeper to be inserted at large out of a written Copy or Anonymous memorial thereof I had by me being doubtless the very Original Draught set down by some Member of one of the two Houses or at least by some other observant person then present while the said Speeches passed in the Upper House for it is written in a hand and language of that very time and in many places amended and interlined About three of the Clock this present Saturday in the Afternoon the Queens Majesty came by Water from Whitehall and landed on the backside of the Parliament Chamber and so the Earl of Northumberland bearing the Sword afore her the Dutchess of Norfolk the Train she proceeded up into her Privy-Chamber and there Apparell'd her self in her Parliament Robes during which time the Lords likewise put on their Robes and took their Places On the Upper Sack sate the Lord Keeper till the Queen came and then he went to his place at the Rail on the right hand to the Cloth of Estate On the Wooll-sack on the North-side sate Sir Robert Catlin and Sir James Dyer the two Chief Justices Sir John Mason and Serjeant Carus M r Ruswell the Queens Sollicitor and Doctor Yale On the Sack on the South-side sate Sir William Cecill Secretary Sir William Cordall Master of the Rolls Justice Weston Serjeant Southcott M r Gerrard the Queens Attorney and Doctor Lewes On the nether Sack sate M r Spilman Clerk of the Parliament M r Powle Deputy and joint Patentee with M r Martin Clerk of the Crown M r Heming and some Clerks of the Signet Dister and Permiter before which nether Sack stood a little Table Then the Queens Majesty being Apparell'd in her Parliament Robes with a Caul on her Head came forth and proceeded up and took the Seat the Duke of Norfolk as Earl Marshal with his gilt Rod before her with the Marquess of Northampton bearing the Cap of Maintenance and stood on her right hand and the Earl of Northumberland the Sword on her left hand the
Patents were each of them read secundâ vice The Bill lastly touching Cloth-Workers and Cloths ready wrought to be Shipped over the Seas was read tertiâ vice communi omnium Procerum assensu conclusa In the Original Journal-Book of the Upper House is no entrance or mention made of the continuance of the Parliament But it appeareth that the House did sit in the Afternoon for without entrance of the presence of any Lord in particular it appeareth that in the Afternoon two Bills were read viz. The Bill for the Almeshouse at Plymouth And the Bill for the Provision of Grain were each of them read primâ vice On Monday the 23 th day of December the Bill for the Confirmation of Fines and Recoveries notwithstanding the default of the Original Writs was read primâ vice cum additione provisione annex cum quâdam reformatione eidem annex Two Bills were brought up to the Lords from the House of Commons of which one being the Bill for Sea-Marks and Mariners And another against carrying over the Sea Rams Lambs or Sheep being alive were read each of them primâ vice The Bill lastly concerning Tonnage of Wares brought from beyond the Seas was read tertiâ vice communi omnium Procerum assensu conclusa Dominus Custos magni Sigilli continuavit praesens Parliamentum usque ad horam secundam in Pomeridiano About which hour the Lord Keeper and divers other Lords both Spiritual and Temporal meeting the Bill concerning Sea-Marks and Mariners And the Bill against the carrying over the Sea Rams Lambs or Sheep alive were each of them read secundâ tertiâ vice and thereupon concluded Two Bills also were sent from the Lords to the House of Commons of which the first was the Bill of her Majesties Free and General Pardon The Bill for making of Salt within her Majesties Dominions and the Bill for keeping a Market in the Mannor of Battell in Sussex upon Thursday were each of them read primâ secundâ vice Two Bills lastly had each of them their first reading of which the second was the Bill for the Inning of Plumstead-Marsh On Tuesday the 24 th day of December the Bill touching the transporting of Tann'd Leather made of Sheep-Skins and the Bill for Inning of Plumstead-Marsh being surrounded were each of them read secundâ tertiâ vice and thereupon concluded Three Bills also had each of them one reading of which the first being the Bill for keeping the Market in the Mannor of Battell in Sussex upon Thursday was read tertiâ vice conclusa The Bill finally for continuance of certain Statutes was read primâ secundâ tertiâ vice Quod nota that it had three readings together Dominus Custos magni Sigilli continuavit praesens Parliamentum usque ad diem Lunae tricesimum diem Decembris On Monday the 30 th day of December the Lord Keeper and divers other Lords both Spiritual and Temporal met but nothing was done save only the continuance of the Parliament by the Lord Keeper unto Thursday the 2 d day of January following upon which day in the Afternoon the Parliament was Dissolved On Thursday the 2 d day of January the Lord Keeper and divers other Lords both Spiritual and Temporal were present although through the negligence of Francis Spilman Esq at this time Clerk of the Upper House it doth not certainly appear who they were in the Original Journal-Book of the same House but no Bill as it seemeth was read or any thing else done but only the Parliament continued by the Lord Keeper which is there Entred in manner and form following viz. Dominus Custos magni Sigilli continuavit praesens Parliamentum usque ad horam primam in Pomeridiano Nota That it appears in the Original Journal-Book of the House of Commons that after the Parliament had been continued as aforesaid Doctor Huick was sent down to the said House from the Lord Keeper to give them notice thereof Nota also That in the Original Journal-Book of the Upper House there is no mention made of any thing that was done or of any Speech used nor touching the Dissolution of this present Session of Parliament but only that her Majesty was there present with divers Lords both Spiritual and Temporal and therefore I have supplyed the whole Proceedings of this Afternoon at large out of a very Copious and Elaborate Anonymous Memorial thereof I had by me which also I have in some places supplyed out of the Original Journal-Book of the House of Commons although it be so little and short as it may rather be called matter of Confirmation than Enlargement in which also it shall lastly suffice to touch briefly that I have always observed contrary to the ordinary course to insert all such Speeches and other passages as largely as by any good Authority I might into the Journal of the Upper House in which House they were agitated and uttered and to the Journal of which House they do most properly belong and do only for Order sake add some short expressions thereof in the Journals of the House of Commons The said Passages of this Afternoon do now next ensue out of the above-mentioned Manuscript Memorial The Queens Majesty between two or three of the Clock in the Afternoon of this present Thursday being the second day of January in the ninth year of her Reign came by Water from Whitehall and Landed on the backside of the Parliament-Chamber And so the Earl of Westmorland bearing the Sword afore her the Lady Strange the Train with the Lords in their daily Apparel and Heralds attending on her she proceeded up into the Privy-Chamber to prepare her self in her Parliament-Robes during which time the Lords and Justices put on their Parliament-Robes and took their places And upon the upper Woollsack sate the Lord Keeper till the Queen came and then went to his place at the Rail on the right hand of the Cloth of State On the Woollsack on the Northside sate Sir Robert Catlin and Sir James Dyer the two Chief Justices and Richard Read under and M r Gerrard the Queens Attorney On the Sack on the Southside sate Sir William Cordall Master of the Rolls Justice Brown Justice Welsh and Serjeant Carus On the Westside sate Vaughan and Talc Masters of the Chancery M r Spilman Clerk of the Parliament M r Powle Deputy and Joint-Patentec with M r Martin Clerk of the Crown afore which Sack stood a little Table Then the Queens Majesty being Apparelled in her Parliament-Robes with a Caul on her Head came forth and proceeded up and took her Seat the Marquess of Northampton carrying the Cap of Maintenance and stood on her right hand and the Earl of Westmorland the Sword at her left hand with the Heralds and Serjeants at Arms before her the Queens Mantle born up on either side from her Arms by the Earl of Leicester and the Lord of Hunsdon who always stood still by her for the assisting thereof when she
man comes into his Country will be better satisfied when they shall know they have spared no man nor made any disjunction It was said by a Member of the House that he knew some poor people pawn'd their Pots and Pans to pay the Subsidy It may be you dwell where you see and hear I dwell where I hear and believe And this I know that neither Pot nor Pan nor Dish nor Spoon should be spared when danger is at our Elbows But he that spake this in my Conscience spake it not to hinder the Subsidy or the greatness of the Gift but to shew the Poverty of some Sessed and by sparing them to yield them relief But by no means I would have the three pound men exempted because I do wish the King of Spain might know how willing we are to sell all in defence of Gods Religion our Prince and Country I have read when Hannibal resolved to sack Rome he dwelt in the Cities adjoining and never feared or doubted of his Enterprize till word was brought him that the Maidens Ladies and Women of Rome sold their Ear Rings Jewels and all their necessaries to maintain War against him I do take my self in duty bound to acquaint this House with the modesty of the Committee at the Proposition that where first this House never stuck to commit it they never stuck understanding the reasons to grant it I do perswade my self that the bonus genius of this House did not wish a more resolved unity than we had unity in resolution And of this great Committee it may be said de majoribus Principes consultant de minoribus omnes Thus by your Commandments have I undergone this Charge and will be ready to do the like duty whensoever you command me Then after Consultation had of the great occasions it was put to the Question whether the double Tenths and Fifteenths should be paid by the first day of February viz. for this fourth Subsidy before the third begin and that the first payment of the first three Subsidies should be brought in by the 10 th of June viz. half a Subsidy And all said Yea and not one No. Then was a Motion made by Sir Robert Wroth that this new Subsidy might be drawn in a Bill by it self to which should be annext a Preamble of the great necessities the willingness of the Subject and that it might be no Precedent but that would not be yielded unto Then M r Speaker asked the House if they would appoint Committees so they appointed the Queens Councel and all the Serjeants of the House and no more M r Francis Moore moved that that which was done might be compleatly done and the Subsidy gathered by Commission and not by the old Roll for peradventure some were dead others fallen to Poverty others Richer and so deserved to be inhansed c. And withal he said that the granting of this Subsidy seemed to be the Alpha and Omega of this Parliament M r Wingfield moved the Honourable of the Councel Members of this House That seeing the Subsidy was granted and they yet had done nothing it would please her Majesty not to dissolve the Parliament till some Acts were passed Serjeant Harris said The Motion of the Gentleman that last spake is not now to be discussed we are to speak touching the Subsidy M r Francis Bacon after a Repetition of some of what was done Yesterday that the three pound men might not be excluded he concluded that it was Dulcis tractus pari jugo therefore the Poor as well as the Rich not to be exempted Sir Walter Raleigh said I like not that the Spaniards our Enemies should know of our selling our Pots and Pans to pay Subsidies well may you call it Policy as an Honourable Person alledged but I am sure it argues Poverty in the State And for the Motion that was last made of Dulcis tractus pari Jugo Call you this par jugum when a poor man pays as much as a rich and peradventure his Estate is no better than he is set at or but little better when our Estates that be thirty pound or forty pound in the Queens Books are not the hundred part of our Wealth Therefore it is not Dulcis nor pari M r Secretary Cecill That now seeing one of the weightiest matters and causes of Calling this Parliament was agreed upon he doubted not but we should have both a quick Parliament and speedy payment But for that the Gentleman said on my right hand that the Subsidy was the Alpha and Omega of this Parliament I think he spoke it not simply out of humour but rather upon probability for I can assure you her Majesty is as respective over you touching her Laws which she desireth may be perused and amended that she meaneth not to Dissolve this Parliament till some things be amended For that that I said touching the Spaniards knowing of our sale of our Pots and Pans and all we have to keep him out which should be a matter of Policy to which the Gentleman on my left hand Sir Walter Raleigh took Exceptions I say it is true and yet I am mistaken I say it is good the Spaniards should know how willing we are to sell our Pots and Pans and all we have to keep him out Yet I do not say it is good he should know we do sell them that is I would have him know our willingness to sell though there be no need but not of out Poverty in selling or of any necessity we have to sell them which I think none will do neither shall need to do Then all the House cryed No No as much as to say no man did so Sir Arthur Gorge moved that it would please the Council that Order might be taken that Justices of the Peace might be Sessed according to the Statute viz. at twenty pound Lands whereas there be few Justices that be above eight or ten pound by M r Secretary noted in his Table Book Then Serjeant Heyle stood up and made a Motion saying M r Speaker I marvel much that the House will stand upon granting of a Subsidy or the time of payment when all we have is her Majesties and she may lawfully at her Pleasure take it from us Yea she hath as much right to all our Lands and Goods as to any Revenue of her Crown At which all the House hemm'd and laughed and talked Well quoth Serjeant Heyle all your Hemming shall not put me out of Countenance So M r Speaker stood up and said It is a great disorder that this should be used for it is the antient use of every man to be silent when any one speaketh and he that is speaking should be suffered to deliver his Mind without interruption So the said Serjeant proceeded and when he had spoken a little while the House hemm'd again and so he sate down In his latter Speech he said he could prove his former Position by Precedent in the times of
Amendments The Amendments in the Bill touching Subornation of Perjury were twice read and the Bill Ordered to be ingrossed The Bill for reformation of abuses in Sheriffs and other inferiour Officers for not executing Writs of Proclamation upon Exigents according to the Statute of 31 Eliz. was read the second time and committed unto M r Sollicitor M r Attorney of the Dutchy and others who were appointed to meet upon Monday next in the Middle-Temple Hall at two of the Clock in the Afternoon The Bill touching the making of Fustians within the Realm was read the second time and committed unto all the Queens Privy Council and Learned Councel being of this House the Knights and Citizens for London the Burgesses for Chard Colchester and Canterbury Sir Walter Raleigh M r Maynard M r Hide Sir Edward Hobbie Sir Francis Darcy M r Wiseman and others who were appointed to meet upon Thursday next in the Exchequer Chamber at two of the Clock in the Afternoon The Bill prohibiting any Fair or Market to be kept on the Sunday was read the second time and committed to the former Committees in the Bill touching the Sabbath day who were appointed on Wednesday the 4 th day of November foregoing And M r Brown and M r Doyle were added unto them who were appointed to meet to Morrow Morning in the Committee Chamber of this House The Bill touching the Lands given to godly and charitable uses was read the first time M r Doctor Carew and M r Choppin did bring from the Lords the Bill for the suppressing of Alchouses and Tipling-Houses The Bill for the suppressing of Alehouses and Tipling-Houses was read the first time On Saturday the 5 th day of December Three Bills had each of them one reading of which the last being the Bill that Lands in the nature of Gavelkind may descend according to the Custom of the Common Law was read the second time and committed unto the Queens Learned Councel being of this House Sir Moyle Finch Sir Michael Sands Sir Thomas Fludd Sir John Lewson and others who were appointed to meet upon Monday next in the Morning in the Committee Chamber of this House The Bill for the relief of Theophilus Adams was read the second time and committed unto the Knights and Citizens for London M r Winch and others who were appointed to meet in the Exchequer Chamber upon Monday next at two of the Clock in the Afternoon The Bill for the granting of four entire Subsidies and eight Ffteenths and Tenths granted by the Temporalty was read the third time and passed upon the question And was presently sent up to the Lords by all the Privy Council and others of this House Nota That whereas in the Parliament which was begun and holden at Westminster in an 35 Eliz. Anno Dom. 1592. the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the House of Commons were not drawn without much and long dispute both amongst themselves and with the Lords to yield unto the Grant of three Subsidies and fix Fifteenths and Tenths being a greater gift than had ever before been given unto her Majesty and that the same was then also assented unto in respect of the great dangers were newly threatned unto her Majesty from Rome and Spain with caution and promise nevertheless that it should not be drawn into Precedent for future times yet in the next Parliament which ensued in 39 Reginae Anno Dom. 1596. although none of the said imminent dangers which had been feared in the above-mentioned thirty fifth Year of her Majesties Reign had to that time come into any real Execution the House of Commons was notwithstanding again drawn to yield unto the same proportion of three Subsidies and six Fifteenths and Tenths to be paid also unto her Majesty within a shorter time And now lastly in this present Parliament in An. 43 44 Regin ejusdem Anno Dom. 1601. the said House was drawn in respect chiefly of the troubles of Ireland where the Spaniard had set footing to present unto her Highness the extraordinary and great gift of four Subsidies and eight Fifteenths and Tenths the Bill whereof did this present Saturday being the 15 th day of December pass the House of Commons upon the third reading and was presently sent up to the Lords as aforesaid by whom it was lastly passed also upon the third reading upon Tuesday the 15 th day of this instant December ensuing M r Boyce made Report of the meeting of the Committees in the Bill for the Jointure of Rachell Wife of Edward Nevill c. who were appointed on Thursday the third day of this instant December foregoing and brought in the Bill with some Amendments The Amendments in the Bill touching the Jointure of Rachell Wife of Edward Nevill of Birling in the County of Kent were twice read and the Bill was Ordered to be ingrossed Sir Francis Hastings made Report at large of the meeting and travel of the Committees in the Bill touching coming to Church on the Sunday being in some parts amended delivered in the Bill and prayed the reading thereof The Amendments in the Bill touching coming to Church on the Sunday were twice read and the Bill was Ordered to be ingrossed At the Committee in the Afternoon in the House for some course to be had against Dunkirk M r Fettiplace said There was remedy three manner of wayes First There is transportation of Ordnance which being carried to the Low Country-man he carryeth it to Dunkirk or to our Enemies which if it were hindred doubtless our Enemies would find want in time Secondly The Law of Tonnage and Poundage Thirdly It hath been offered to the States that the Maritime parts might save themselves freely And I take it to be a Rule in Policy we should not yield that to our Friends which may be fitting to our Foes M r Wingfield shewed the Bill touching Fens which was exhibited the last Parliament and past both Houses but advised upon by her Majesty for some respects Intituled An Act for the recovering of three hundred thousand Acres more or less of Wasts Marish and Watry Grounds in the Isle of Ely and in the Counties of Cambridge Huntington Northampon Lincoln Norfolk and Suffolk On the left side on the top of the Bill was written in Roman Letters Soit bayle as Seignieurs and close to that in another hand A cest Bill avecque les amendments la provision à celle annexes les Surs sont assentus under the Provision annexed to the Act on the left side thereof close to the writing Soit bayle aux Communes on the back under the Title aforesaid was written thus 1. 2. 3. He shewed also the Bill for Fens in this Parliament intituled An Act concerning the draining and recovering from the water of certain overflown grounds in the County of Norfolk It was concluded at the Committee that the Coast Town-men of the County should meet together in the Afternoon on Monday and consider of some course and relate the
Mr. Recorder of London making a large and plentiful discourse of the ancient priviledges and liberties of this House furnished with recital of sundry Precedents and examples and lastly coming down to the matter in hand sheweth that Sir Edmund Anderson Knight Lord Chief Justice of the Commons Pleas told him this morning that the said Lord Chancellor and the Judges had resolved that the said first Writ ought to be returned and had so given order to the Sheriff and Clerk of the Crown And that he thereupon answered the said Sir Edmund Anderson again that the censure thereof belonged unto this House and not unto them and that he for his part would take no notice thereof at their hands of their so doing but only by way of instructions and not otherwise And so concluded with the allowance of the good course and order of this House in setting down and entring the said Judgement accordingly as before Mr. Vice-Chamberlain shewed unto the House that according to their appointment he hath been an humble suitor unto her Majesty on the behalf of this House for access there to be had unto her Highness to exhibit their Petition unto her Majesty And that her Majesty thereupon hath very Graciously granted to hear them at the Court upon to morrow next between one and two of the Clock in the Afternoon signifying also unto them further that her Majesty having heard that the Lords do appoint them twenty of themselves of the Higher House to attend her Majesty also for the same purpose so her Highness thinketh meet that forty of this House were likewise appointed for this House which She thinketh to be a sufficient number but is nevertheless well pleased if the House shall think good to send a more or greater Number at their discretions but leaveth the same to their own considerations Which her Majesties most Gracious Favour as the whole House did take it in most joyful and dutiful part So did they then desire the said Mr. Vice-Chamberlain that he would in the name of this whole House present unto her Majesty their most humble and dutiful thanks for the same her Highnesses most gracious clemency and great loving kindness towards them Which so to do the said Mr. Vice-Chamberlain told them he purposed God willing in the Afternoon of this present day And these were appointed by this House to attend upon her Majesty to morrow at the Court as many of the former Committees as would whose names see at large on Friday the 4 th day of this instant November foregoing and also Sir Henry Barkeley Sir William Mohun Sir Edward Dymocke Sir Thomas Jones Sir Henry Bagnell Sir Andrew Nevill Sir Henry Knyvet Mr. Farmer Sir Edward Osborne Mr. Henry Bromley Mr. Ralph Horsey Mr. James Croft and Mr. Tasborough then added unto them which done upon a Motion that for as much as the Knights for the County of Norsolk and the Burgesses for all the Boroughs within the same County saving only the Citizens for the City of Norwich were returned and certified into this House this present day and not before the Petition might therefore be read again in this House in the presence of the same Knights and Burgesses to the intent that they being made privy thereof might also yield their Assents to the same Petition whereby the rather the same being for a matter of so great moment might in very deed be the Action of the whole House then being possessed and consisting of all the Members thereof the same Petition was read by the Clerk and well liked of agreed unto and allowed by the voices of the said Knights and Burgesses upon the question thereof unto them made in that behalf by Mr. Speaker And afterwards Mr. Vice-Chamberlain made a motion that Mr. Speaker be put in remembrance by this House besides the residue of his reasons to be shewed to her Majesty for maintenance of the parts of the said Petition to urge if need be to her Majesty the matter and necessity of the late Instruments of Association respecting especially the Consciences of a great number of her Highnesses good and Loyal subjects which cannot be dispensed with by Laws whereupon request was so made by the House to Mr. Speaker accordingly Mr. Treasurer shewed that yesterday he and others of the Committees in the great Cause presented unto the Lords in the Upper House the Request of this House unto their Lordships to have the said Petition entred and recorded in the Upper House there to remain as an Act. Whereunto their Lordships assented and willed that the same might first be ingrossed in Parchment and so delivered to their Lordships this present Forenoon shewing further That the Clerk of this House then had the same already ingrossed and exact accordingly but that the same could not that day be sent to their Lordships for that their Lordships did not sit this Forenoon and therefore he said it must be delivered at some other time And so then the House did rise and this Court was adjourned till Monday next following Memorandum That in the Afternoon of this present day the said Petition ingrossed was delivered into the hands of the Lord Chancellor by the Appointment of Mr. Speaker and so lest with his Lordship On Saturday the 12 th day of November although the House of Commons sate not any part of the day in their proper place yet in the Afternoon according to her Majesties direction sent unto the House yesterday by Sir Christopher Hatton her Vice-Chamberlain John Puckering Serjeant at Law their Speaker with all the Privy Council and divers other Members of the said House whose Names see before on Friday the 4 th day and on Friday the 11 th day of this instant November last past repaired to her Majesty unto the Court there to joyn with Sir Thomas Bromiey Lord Chancellor and twenty Temporal Lords of the Upper House in presenting a certain Petition which had been agreed upon by both Houses unto her Highness for the speedy Execution of Mary late Queen of Scots according to that just Sentence which had been pronounced against her And to move her Majesty thereunto the said Speaker of the House of Commons did use many excellent and solid reasons which were all found in a certain Memorial written with his own hand being as followeth Unless Execution of this just Sentence be done 1. Your Majesties Person cannot any while be safe 2. The Religion cannot long continue amongst us 3. The most flourishing present State of this Realm must shortly receive a woful Fall 4. And consequently in sparing her your Majesty shall not only give courage and hardiness to the Enemies of God of your Majesties self and of your Kingdom but shall discomfort and daunt with despair the hearts of your loving People and so deservedly provoke the heavy hand and wrath of God And that summarily for the reasons ensuing First forasmuch as concerns the danger of your Majesty Both she and her Favourers think
that she hath right not to succeed but to enjoy your Crown in possession and therefore as she is a most impatient Competitor acquainted with blood so will she not spare any means that may take you from us being the only Lett that she enjoyeth not her desire She is hardned in malice against your Royal Person notwithstanding that you have done her all favour mercy and kindness as well in preserving her Kingdom as saving her Life and Honour And therefore there is no place for mercy where there is no hope of amendment or that she will desist from most wicked Attempts The rather for that her malice appeareth such as that she maketh as it were her Testament of the same to be executed after her death and appointeth her Executors to perform the same She affirmeth it lawful to move Invasion therefore as of Invasion Victory may ensue and of Victory the death of the vanquished so doth she not obscurely profess it lawful to destroy you She holds it not only lawful but honourable also and meritorious to take your life c. being deprived of your Crown by her holy Father and therefore she will as she hath continually done seek it by all means whatsoever She is greedy of your death and preferreth it before her own life for in her late direction to some of her Complices she willed whatsoever became of her the Tragical Execution should be performed on you There is by so much the more danger to your Person since the Sentence than before by how much it behoveth them that would preserve her or advance her to hasten your death now or never before Execution done upon her as knowing that you and none else can give direction for her death and that by your death the Sentence hath lost the force of Execution and otherwise they should come too late if they take not the present opportunity to help her Her Friends hold Invasion unprofitable while you live and therefore in their opinion your death is first and principally to be sought as the most compendious way to ruine the Realm by Invasion Some of the eldest and wisest Papists set it down for a special good drift to occupy you with conceit that the preservation of her Life is the safety of your own and therefore you may be assured that they verily think that her life will be your death and destruction Secondly Forasmuch as concerns Religion It is most perillous to spare her that hath continually breathed the overthrow and suppression of the same being poysoned with Popery from her tender Youth and at her Age joyning in that false termed Holy League and ever since and now a professed Enemy of the Truth She resteth wholly upon Popish hopes to be delivered and advanced and is so devoted and doted in that profession that she will as well for satisfaction of others as feeding her own humor supplant the Gospel where and whensoever she may Which evil is so much the greater and the more to be avoided as that it slayeth the Soul and will spread it self not only over England and Scotland but also into all parts beyond the Seas where the Gospel of God is maintained the which cannot but be exceedingly weakened if defection should be in these two most valiant Kingdoms Thirdly For as much as concerns the happy Estate of this Realm The Lydians say Unum Regem agnoscunt Lydii duos autem tolerare non possunt So we say Unam Reginam Elizabetham agnoscunt Angli duas autem tolerare non possunt And therefore since she saith that she is Queen here and we neither can nor will acknowledge any other but you to be our Queen It will follow if she prevail she will rather make us slaves than take us for Children and therefore the Realm sigheth and groaneth under fear of such a Step-Mother She hath already provided us a Foster-Father and a Nurse the Pope and the King of Spain into whose hands if it should mis-happen us to fall what can we else look for but ruine destruction and utter extirpation of goods lands lives honour and all Whilst she shall live the enemies of the State will hope and gape after your death By your death they trust to make Invasion profitable for them which cannot be but the same should be most lamentable for us and therefore it is meet to cut off the head of that hope As she hath already by her poysoned baits brought to destruction more Noble men and their Houses and a great multitude of Subjects during her being here than she would have done if she had been in possession of her own Country and armed in the field against us so will she still be continually cause of the like spoil to the greater loss and peril of this Estate and therefore this Realm neither can or may endure her Her Sectaries do write and print that we be at our wits end worlds end if she over-live your Majesty meaning thereby that the end of our world is the beginning of theirs and therefore take her away and their world will be at an end before it begin Since the sparing of her in the 14 th year of your Reign Popish Traytors and Recusants have multiplied exceedingly And if you spare her now again they will grow both innumerable and invincible also And therefore now in the 4 th place Mercy in this case would in the end prove cruelty against us all Nam est quaedam crudelis misericordia And therefore to spare her is to spill us She is only a Cousin to you in a remote degree but we be Sons and Children of this land whereof you be not only the natural Mother but also the Wedded Spouse And therefore much more is due from you to us all than to her alone It would exceedingly grieve and wound the hearts of your loving Subjects if they should see so horrible Vice not condignly punished if any be wavering it will win them to the worser part and many will seek to make their own peace Wherefore as well for the comfort of the one as stay of the other and retaining of all It is most needful that Justice be done upon her Thousands of your loving Subjects of all degrees which have for special zeal of your safety made Oath before God to pursue to death by all forcible and possible means such as she is by just sentence found to be cannot save their Oaths if you keep her alive for then either we must take her life from her without direction which will be to our extream danger by the offence of your Law or else we must suffer her to live against our express Oath which will be to the uttermost peril of our own Souls wherewith no Act of Parliament nor power of man whatsoever can in any wise dispense And therefore seeing it resteth wholly in you by a most worthy and just execution of this sentence to keep us upright and free us in both we most humbly and earnestly