House of Commons Journal Volume 1: 12 May 1604

Saturni, 12 Maii, 1604

Rogues, &c.

B. FOR the Continuance, Explanation, and Enlargeing of the Statute of Rogues, Vagabonds, and sturdy Beggars, reported from the Committee by Sir Edw. Hext, with Amendments; which being twice read ; ordered to be ingrossed.

Fens.

L. 2. B. For the more speedy Recovery of many Fens, hundreth thousand Acres of Ground, and other Grounds, subject commonly to surrounding, within the Isle of Ely, and Counties of Cambridge, Northampton, Lincolne, Suffolk, Huntingdon, and York : - Committed to Sir Rob. Wingfield, Sir Edw. Mountague, Sir Geo. St. Poll, Sir Wm. Wray, Sir Oliver Cromwell, Sir Valentyne, Knightley, Sir Wm. Bulstrod, the Burgesses of York, Sir John Heigham, Sir John Peyton, Mr. Herbert Pelham, Mr. Wyseman, Mr. Serjeant Hobart, Sir John Savill, Sir Edw. Lewknor, Sir Charles Cornwallys, Sir Tho. Grantham, Sir Henry Beamount, Mr. Irby, Burgesses of Cambridge and Huntingdon, Sir Edw. Denny, Burgesses of the University of Cambridge, Sir Roger Dallyson, Sir Edwyn Sandys, Mr. Bullingham, Mr. Martin, Sir Tho. Dallyson, Sir Tho. Holcroft, Sir Walter Cope, Sir Edw. Grevill: - To meet on Tuesday next, in the Star-chamber.

Manslaughter.

B. To take away the Benefit of Clergy for some Kind of Manslaughter, reported from the Committee by Sir Rob. Nappier, with Amendments; the Amendments twice read ; and the Bill, upon Question, ordered to be ingrossed.

Shoemakers.

L. 2. B. Against vagrant and wandering Shoemakers: Secondly read, and, upon the Quest, usual, rejected.

Customers.

B. Against the Abuses of Customers, returned from the Committee by Mr. James of Bristowe; with Report, that they think it fit to sleep.

Privilege - a Sheriff's conduct at an Election.

The Sheriff of Shropshire having sundry Days attended to know the Pleasure of the House, the House was now informed, that a new Election was made of the former Burgesses, and that the Sheriff was willing to return the Writ according to Election [a].

The House thereupon gave Direction to Mr. Speaker, to remember the Sheriff of the favourable Course of Proceeding with him, and what urgent Cause they had, of imputing and punishing his Offence ; yet, understanding his Willingness and Care to make this second Return, as also for the Respect they did bear to his Father, the House was content (when the Return was made) he should ... freed from any further Restraint or Question.

The Sheriff, attending at the Door, was called in; and Mr. Speaker performed the Direction of the House accordingly.

Union with Scotland.

Sir Francis Bacon delivereth in a Draught of the Act for the Authorizing of Commissioners, &c. with Excuse, that he did not obtrude it the last Day, without some Speech before-hand, &c.

Ditto.

A long Speech used by a worthy Member of the House, touching the Benefits of our Trade and Amity with sundry foreign Nations, the Danger and Inconvenience of our Peace with Spaine; endeavouring to prove, that War more available than Peace; that there is small Use of Trade with Spaine; that it were fit, it were considered by this House; that it hath been debated and consulted in this House : Cited Precedents, 2 E. III. 2 H. VI. of Matters of State debated in Parliament.

That now the Time were fit, in regard of the Treaty of the Union. - That Precedent may induce us.

In Conclusion, persuadeth a Message to be sent by Mr. Speaker to the King, to let his Majesty know, how much they are affected to their ancient Alliance and Amity, &c. but to refer all to his Majesty's Wisdom.

The House thought fit to forbear further Opinion in this Matter, for Two or Three Days, until every Man had better digested it, being uncouth and new unto them.

Ditto.

Sir Rob. Wingfield remembereth the House of naming Commissioners ; and propoundeth, that there might be named Two Privy Counsellors, Two Ambassadors, Four Common Lawyers, Two Civilians, Four Merchants, Sixteen Country Gentlemen; and the Clerk of this House to attend the Commissioners.

Motion, That the Frame of the Bill might first be read.

Answ. No Project read, until the Commissioners were named.

Privilege- Simpson's Debt, &c.

Sir Matthewe Carewe and Mr. D. Hone bring from the Lords, B. For Securing of Simpson, and the Warden of the Fleet, &c. with Amendments.

Union with Scotland.

The Commissioners for the Union, named by the House, and a several Question put upon every Name.

Privy Counsellors, Two:

Sir Jo. Stanhope Knight, Vice-chamberlain to the King.

Sir John Harbert, second Secretary to his Majesty.

Common Lawyers, Four:

Sir Francis Bacon, One of his Majesty's Counsel learned.

Sir Tho. Hesketh Knight, Attorney of the Wards.

Sir Lawrence Tanfield Knight, Serjeant at Law.

Sir Henry Hobart Knight, Serjeant at Law.

Civilians, Two:

Sir John Bennett Knight, Doctor of the Laws.

Sir Daniel Dun Knight, Doctor of the Laws.

Merchants, Four:

Sir Henry Billingsley, Mr. Rob. Askwith, Mr. Tho. James, Mr. Henry Chapman.

Ambassadors, Two:

Sir Edward Stafford, Sir Henry Nevill.

Gentlemen of several Qualities and Parts of the Kingdom:

[b] The Lord Buckhurst, Sir Geo. Carewe, Vice-chamberlain to the Queen, Sir Tho. Ridgeway, Sir John Savill, Sir Rob. Mansfield, Sir Henry Wytheryngton, Sir Raphe Gray, Sir Tho. Strickland, Sir Tho. Lake, Sir Tho. Holcroft, the Lord Clynton, Sir Edw. Hobby, Sir Francis Hastings, Sir Rob. Wroth, Sir Rich. Bulkley, Sir Tho. Challoner. . The Clerk of the House appointed to attend these Commissioners, at the Time of their Meeting.

Privilege- Simpson's Debt.

B. Touching Sir Tho. Shirley, &c. amended, according to the Lords Amendments fixed to the Bill in Paper, in the Bill itself; and sent back again by Sir Edw. Hobby, with Message, That the House desireth to have Conference, on Tuesday, in the Painted Chamber, with the Committees for the Matter of the Union.

Committees.

Committees adjourned.

Ly. Aston's, &c. Nat.

L. 2. B. For the Naturalizing of Mary Aston, Wife to Sir Roger Aston, Knight, and her Children: - Committed to Sir Hugh Beeston, Mr. Blinco, Sir Rob. Wroth, Sir Arthure Atye, Sir John Hungerford, Sir Francis Barrington, Mr. Beeston, Sir Edw. Sheffield, Sir Francis Hastings, Sir John Thynne, Sir Tho. Holcroft, Sir Edw. Grevill, Mr. Solicitor, Sir Rob. Nappier, Sir Edw. Hext, Mr. Moore, Sir Edw. Tyrrell: - To meet on Monday, at Seven a Clock in the Morning, in the Committee Chamber.

Answer from Lords.

Sir Edw. Hobby returneth from the Lords : That they liked and approved the Expedition of the House in Passing of the Bill touching Sir Tho. Shirley; and that they would be ready for Conference on Tuesday, according to the Motion.

Privilege - Commitment of Warden to Little Ease.

It was moved, That certain Gentlemen of the House might be appointed to repair to the Tower, and there, by their own View, inform themselves, whether the Warden of the Fleet were committed Prisoner to the Place called Little Ease, according to his Judgment; and to make Report on Monday Morning, what they find in that Behalf.

The Gentlemen named, were, Sir Herbert Crofts, Sir Wm. Lowre, Sir Wm. Skipwith, Sir Tho. Holcroft, Sir Edw. Grevill. Who were appointed to repair to the Tower, according to the Motion, &c.

Letter from Lieut. of the Tower.

12 Maii, 1604

A Letter from Mr. Lieutenant of the Tower to Mr. Speaker, touching the Warden of the Fleet [c].

SIR,

I determined, this Morning, to have attended the House ; but, having been sick this Night, I crave Pardon hereby to certify you, that, upon Conference with the Warder, of the Fleet, he now hath some Feeling of his own Error and Obstinacy; and because, as he now apprehendeth, it pleased you Yesterday to open unto him the Grace, which he received from both the Houses of Parliament, in providing for his Security ; his humble Desire is, that by some of the House (namely Sir Francys Hastinges and Sir Nathaniel Bacon) he may be resolved therein ; whereupon he will, as he saith, most humbly submit himself, upon Monday in the Morning, to deliver the Body of Sir Thomas Sherley unto the Serjeant, if it shall please you to send him. Whereof I have thought good to certify you, with Desire, that it may be made known unto the House; and so do take my Leave. From the Tower, this Twelfth of May, 1604.

Your poor Friend to be commanded,

G. Hervey, Locumt. Turr.