House of Commons Journal Volume 1: 12 May 1604 (2nd scribe)

Saturni, 12o Die Maii, 1604

Rogues, &c.

THE Bill for the Continuance, Explanation, and Enlarging of the Statute of Rogues, Vagabonds, and sturdy Beggars, brought from the Committees, by Sir Edw. Hext, with Amendments; and ordered to be ingrossed.

Fens.

The Bill for the more speedy Recovery of many hundreth thousand Acres of Ground, and other Grounds, subject commonly to surrounding, within the Isle of Elye, and Counties of Cambridge, Northampton, Lincolne, Suffolk, Huntingdon, and York, secondly read, and committed - Sir Rob. Wingfield, Sir Edm. Mountague, Sir Geo. St. Poll, Sir Wm. Wray, Sir Oliver Cromell, Sir Valentine Knightley, Sir Wm. Bulstrod, Burgesses of York, Sir John Heigham, Sir John Peyton, Mr. Herbert Pelham, Mr. Wyseman, Serjeant Hubbard, Sir Jo. Savill, Sir Edw. Lewknor, Sir Charles Cornwallys, Sir Tho. Grantham, Sir H. Beamount, Mr. Erby, Burgesses of Cambridge and Huntingdon, Sir Edw. Denny: Tuesday, Star-chamber.

Manslaughter.

The Bill to take away the Benefit of Clergy for some Kind of Manslaughter, brought in from the Committees by Sir Rob. Nappier, with Amendments; and ordered to be ingrossed.

Shoemakers.

The Bill against vagrant and wandering Shoemakers, secondly read, and dashed, upon the Question.

Customers.

The Bill against the Abuses of Customers, returned with a vacat, &c. by Mr. Tho. James of Bristowe.

Sheriff of Shropshire, Mr. Owen - He had attended divers Days.

Prisoner discharged.

Being called, and informed by Mr. Speaker, of the Course of Proceeding by the House, and what Cause they had of imputing and punishing his Offence; yet, finding his Willingness, and Care, to make this second Return of the Election made of the former Burgesses, Mr. Barker and Mr. Tate, as also for the Respect they did bear to his Father, the House was content to dismiss him at large, when the Return was made.

Member excuses Words, &c.

Sir Fr. Bacon excuseth himself that he was not warranted to obtrude the Writing, sc. the Draught of the excuses Act for the Authority of the Commissioners, at the first, but to use some Speech before-hand. - He meant no ill, by the Word, " the Gentlemen of the short Robe;" but for Distinction merely. -

Cedant arma togae, &c. - A vain Verse, and hurt him that spake it.

He offered Two Things : 1. Thanks, that the House made no Impression in his Absence : 2. A Request, that Word-takers, and Speech-takers, should go with Car-takers.

Sir Tho. Holcroft :-That many Men could speak well, but not do well: whereof he thinks him to be One.

Union with Scotland.

Union -Low Countries.

Sir Edw. Hobby: - Arcana imperii, not only for Speculation, but for Practice. -

At Affairs:

Domestical:

Foreign:- Amity : War.

Amity : - Arbitrary : Venice, &c. Necessary; for Trade, for Safety. -

Trade, - Russia, Barbary, &c.

Safety, most material. - France, Burgundy, Scotland, &c. - Danger, without Amity. - Experience of Flushing.

- Amplified in the Amity between the Low Countries and us. -

Defence. - Preserving them in their ancient Privileges, Liberties, &c.

Spaine but arbitrary Amity:, War more available with Spaine, than Peace. -

The King of France edicted, that none should traffick into Spaine. -

No Use of Defence, or Offence : No Use of Trade with Spaine. -

King Peter of Spaine lost, by his Perjury, the Duchy of Aquitaine. - Ferdinand,

H. VIII. Father-in-law. -

War against Spayne debated and consulted in this House. 2 E. III. 2 H. VI. Two Precedents of Matter of State in Parliament. -

Time fit in regard of the Union : Place, by Precedent. -

A Message, by Mr. Speaker, to let the King know, how much they are affected to their ancient Alliance and Amity. - To refer all to the King's Wisdom.

To forbear Opinion in this Cause, for Two or Three Days, until every Man have digested.

Sir Rob. Wingfield: - Four Lawyers, Two Civilians, Two Privy Counsellors, Four Merchants, Two Ambassadors, Sixteen Country Gentlemen. The Clerk of the Parliament to attend.

Sir Edw. Sandys: - That the Frame of the Bill for the Union may be read.

Sir Edw. Hobby, Sir Fr. Hastings: - No Project read, but to name the Commissioners.

Simpson's Debt.

Mr. D. Carewe and Hone bring from the Lords, with Amendments, the Bill for the Securing of Simpson, and the Warden of the Fleet, in Sir Tho. Shirleye's Case. -

Union with Scotland.

Privy Counsellors: Sir Jo. Stanhope, Sir Jo. Herbert.

Q Whether a Question of Sir Edw. Grevill; - Resolved, Not.

Common Lawyers: 1. Sir Fr. Bacon: 2. Attorney of the Court of Wards : 3. Serjeant Lawrence Tanfield: 4. Serjeant Henry Hubbard.

Two Civilians: 1. Sir John Bennett, Sir Dan. Dun.

Four Merchants: Sir Henry Billingsley, Mr. Rob. Askwith, Mr. Tho. James.

A Question, touching Newcastle, whether to have One named; and resolved to name Mr. Henry Chapman [a].

Two Ambassadors: Sir Edw. Stafford, Sir Henry Nevill.

Gentlemen, Sixteen: The Lord Buckhurst, Sir Geo. Carewe, Vice Chamberlain to the Queen, Sir Tho. Ridgeway, Sir Jo. Savill, Sir Rob. Mansfield, Sir H. Witherington, middle Marches [b], Sir Raphe Graye, Sir Tho. Strickland, Sir Tho. Lake, Sir Tho. Holcroft, the Lord Clinton, Sir Edw. Hobby, Sir Fr. Hastings, Sir Rob. Wroth, Sir Rich. Bulkley, Sir Tho. Challoner.

The Clerk of the Commons House of Parliament is appointed to attend these Commissioners,

Simpson's Debt.

The Bill of Sir Tho. Shirley, amended in the Bill itself, and sent up, with the Lords Amendments in Paper, back again.

Conference, Committees, &c.

Tuesday, for the Conference, in Camera Picta. - Committees, touching Religion.

Earl of Oxenford; Respite of Homage; Chequer Abuses: - This Day, in the Afternoon.

Aston's Nat.

The Bill for the Naturalizing of Mary Aston, Wife of Sir Roger Aston Knight, and her Children:, - Mr. Blinco, Sir Hugh Beeston, Sir Geo. Moore, Sir Rob. Wroth, Sir Arth. Atye, Sir Jo. Hungerford, Sir Fr. Barrington, Mr. Beeston, Sir Edw. Sheffield, Sir Fr. Hastings, Sir John Thynne, Sir Tho. Holcroft, Sir Edw. Grevill, Mr. Solicitor, Sir Rob. Nappier, Sir Edw. Hext, Mr. Moore, Sir Edw. Tyrrell: - Monday, Committee Chamber.

Answer from Lords.

The Message answered, by Sir Edw. Hobby: That they liked and approved our Expedition in the Bill, which came from the Lords, touching Sir Tho. Shirley; and that they would be ready for the Conference on Tuesday.

The Warden's Commitment to Little Ease.

Sir Herbert Crofts, Sir Wm. Lowre, Sir Wm. Skipwith, Sir Tho. Holcroft, Sir Edw. Grevill: - These Gentlemen were named, and appointed to repair to the Tower, and there, by their own View, to inform themselves, whether the Warden of the Fleet were committed Prisoner to the Place called Little Ease, according to the Judgment of the House; and to report to the House, on Monday Morning next, what they find in that behalf.

Mr. Speaker, this Afternoon, sent for the Writ, for the Choice in Buck, out of my Hands,