House of Commons Journal Volume 1: 19 March 1604 (2nd scribe)

DIARIUM. SESSIO PRIMA.

Martis, 19 Die Martii, 1603 .

The first Parliament of the High [a] , and Mighty, and Most Excellent Prince, our most gracious and dread Sovereign, JAMES, of that Name the First, by the Grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. begun at Westminster, upon Monday, the 19th Day of March, in the Year of his Reign, of England, France, and Ireland, the First, and of Scotland, the 37th, 1603.

Parliament meets.

THE same Day his Majesty, apparelled in his Parliament Robes, accompanied with Prince Henry, his eldest Son, and Heir apparent to the imperial Crown of this Realm, and attended with his Nobility, Officers, and Servants, in scarlet Robes, passed from his Palace at Whytehall, to the Abbey at Westminster; where he staid to hear a Sermon, made before him by the Bishop of Durham: In which mean time the Earl of Nottingham, Lord High Admiral of England, and Lord High Steward of England, for that Time, repaired into a spacious Room at the Foot of Westminster Hall, commonly called the White Hall, or Court of Requests; where his Lordship, being attended by Sir Geo. Coppin Knight, the Clerk of the Crown, and the Clerk of the Commons House of Parliament, commanded the Crier to pronounce all with a Crier [b], and such Names of the Commons, there assembled, as were returned, to be called; and thereupon ministered the Oath of Supremacy to Sir John Stanhope Knight, his Majesty's Vice-chamberlain, Sir John Herbert Knight, second Secretary to his Majesty, Sir Robert Wroth Knight, Sir Geo. Moore Knight, Sir Henry Nevill Knight, Sir Edw. Hobby Knight, Sir Tho. Walsingham Knight, Sir Rich. Luson Knight, Sir Henry Mountague Knight, Sir Tho. Mounson Knight; whom his Lordship appointed for his Deputies, to minister like Oath to the rest of the Commons: who accordingly, reading the Oath themselves, offered it to Four or Five at once [c], and the first Day about 300 were sworn, and took their Place in the House, and there together attended some Notice to be given from his Majesty, of his Pleasure, that the Commons should come up into the Higher House, to pray Leave to chuse a Speaker; which was much neglected, to the great Dislike and Discontentment of the Commons, and differing from former Custom; the King pronouncing his Oration, before there was any Notice given; and then it appeared, that about 50 of the Commons were attendant upon the King; whereof Sir John Stanhope, his Majesty's Vice-chamberlain, and Sir John Herbert Knight, second Secretary, were Two.

Privilege.

A Complaint made, by Sir Herbert Crofts, of one Bryan Tash, of the Guards; who, upon a Burgess knocking at the Door of the Higher House, gave uncivil Terms to Sir Herbert Crofts, and another Gentleman of the House, in saying, ''Goodman Burgess, you come not here."

Mr. Richard Martin spoke in it; and remembered the like Precedent the last Parliament.

Mr. Secretary Herbert is of Opinion, that the House must address themselves to the proper Officers, as can give Remedy and award Punishment to the Offenders.

King's Speech reported.

[d] The Points, the King touched; That he is most thankful for the peaceable, loving, and kind Acceptance of the People, which he would never forget. - Peace at home, and Peace abroad : A full Conclusion of the Controversy, touching the Title; so as now there rested no Doubt at all. -

That his Majesty was of the same Religion, that we were: That he acknowledged no Power besides: That yet, for Matter of Discipline, he must respect Antiquity; and in that he would willingly yield:

House to choose a Speaker.

He further delivered, that it was his Majesty's Pleasure, that the Commons should dispose themselves to the Choice of a Speaker; and, for his Part, he commended Sir Edward Phillips, and thought him the most fit.

Sir E. Phillips chosen.

Some others of the House named Sir Edw. Hobby; but, upon the Question, Sir Edw. Phillips, by the Voice of the House, was chosen; and he, rising up, used a long and an eloquent Speech, to disable himself: Excused his Judgment, his Ability, his Memory, his Experience; and prayed them to take a Survey of the whole House, and to make Choice of some other, of more Sufficiency.

After Mr. Speaker had disabled himself, no Man did rise up, to speak, and to enable him, or to commend him to the Allowance and Choice of the House; so as the House suddenly proceeded by Scrutiny of Voices; which hath not been seen before, without some precedent Speech for his Enabling.