House of Commons Journal Volume 1: 04 February 1581

Sabbati, 4o Februarii, 1580

Copy-holders.

1. The Bill for Ratification of a certain Award, for certain Copy-holders, in the Com' of Woorcester. - The first Reading.

Conies.

1. The Bill against unlawful Hunting of Conies. - The first Reading.

Cloth Trade.

2. The Bill for Cloths called Tauntons, Bridgewaters, and Chards. - The second Reading, and committed unto Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir George Speake, Sir Wm. Moore, Sir Thomas Sampole, Mr. Edward Popham, Mr. Fanshawe, Mr. Osborne, Mr. Beale, Mr. John Hastings, Mr. Fleete, Mr. Seymes, Mr. Norton, Mr. Birkenhedd, Mr. Aldersey, Mr. Grynson; Mr. Benbrigge, Mr. Appley, and Mr. Cowper: To meet at the Chequer-Chamber, upon Wednesday next, at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon.

Counterfeit Seals.

2. nova. The Bill against counterfeit Instruments, and counterfeit Seals of Office. - The second Reading ; and ordered to be ingrossed.

Woods.

Sir Thomas Scott, One of the Committees in the Bill for Preservation of Woods, offereth a new Bill for that Purpose to this House, drawn by the Privity and Assent of himself, and of the Residue of the said Committees.

Aliens Children.

1. 2. nova. The Bill, that Children of Aliens, not being Denizens, and born in England, shall not be reputed English, twice read; and is ordered to be ingrossed.

Sheriffs, &c.

LL. 2. The Bill for Reformation of Disorders in Sheriffs, Under-Sherffs, &c. - The second Reading.

Conference - Purchasers.

Mr. Serjeant Anderson and Mr Doctor Clarke do bring Word from the Lords, that their Lordships do require a Conference with some of this House, in the Council Chamber at the Court, upon Tuesday next in the Afternoon, touching the Bill, passed this House, for Avoiding of certain Incumbrances against Purchasers: Whereupon are appointed, all the Privy Council being of this House, Sir Thomas Sampole, Mr. Attorney of the Duchy, Mr. Recorder of London, Mr. Serjeant Flowredew, Mr. Serjeant Fenner, Mr. Colbie, Mr. Yelverton, Mr. Sands, and Mr. Dalton.

Sheriffs, &c.

The Bill for Reformation of Disorders of Sheriffs, &c, is committed unto Mr. Vicechamberlain, Mr. Comptroller, Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Henry Gate, Sir Thomas Boynton, Sir Thomas Scott, Sir Wm. Moore, Sir Thomas Sampole, Mr. Recorder of London, Mr. Serjeant Flowredewe, Mr. Lewkenor, Mr. Yelverton, Mr. Dalton, Mr. Osborne, Mr. Fanshawe, Mr. Crumwell, Mr. Fabian Fillipes, Mr. Townesende, Mr. Cowper, Mr. Estcourte, Mr. Fines, Mr. St. John, Mr. Skynner, Mr. Atkynes, and Mr. Boyes: To meet at the Chequer Chamber upon Thursday next, at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon ; and withal to consider of the former Bills of like Effect, offered to this House now or heretofore. - Delivered to Mr. Osborne.

Privilege - Libellous publication by Mr. Hall, a Member.

Upon a Motion made unto this House by Mr Norton, in which he declared, that some Person of late had caused a Book to be set forth in Print, not only greatly reproachful against some particular good Members of this House, of great Credit, but also very much slanderous and derogatory to the general Authority, Power, and State of this House, and prejudicial to the Validity of the Proceedings of the same, in Making and Establishing of Laws; charging this House with Drunkenness, as accompanied in their Counsels with Bacchus; and them also with Choler, as those which had never sailed to Anticyra; and the Proceedings of this House to be Opera Tenebrarum ; and further, that, by the Circumstance of the Residue of the Discourse of the said Book, he conjectured the same to be done and procured by Mr. Arthur Hall, One of this House; and so prayed, that thereupon the said Mr. Hall might be called by this House to answer; and the Matter further to be duly examined, as the Weight thereof, in due Consideration of the Gravity and Wisdom of this House, and of the Authority, State, and Liberty of the same, requireth: It is Resolved, That the said Mr. Hall be forthwith sent for by the Serjeant at Arms attending upon this House, to make his Appearance here in that Behalf, accordingly. And then immediately Mr. Secretary Wilson thereupon did signify unto this House, that the said Mr. Halle had, upon his Examination therein before the Lords of the Council heretofore, confessed, in the Hearing of the said Mr. Secretary, that he did cause the said Book to be printed indeed. Upon Relation whereof, and after some Speech also then uttered unto this House by Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, of the dangerous and lewd Contents of the said Book, the Serjeant was forthwith, by Order of the House, sent to apprehend the said Arthur Halle; and presently assisted, for that Purpose, with Sir Thomas Scott and Sir Thomas Browne, by Appointment of this House. And Commission then also was given, by this whole House, unto Mr. Vicechamberlain, Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Secretary Wilson, Mr. Treasurer of the Chamber, Sir Henry Lea, Sir Thomas Cecill, Sir Wm. Fitzwilliams, and Sir Henry Gate, to send for the Printer of the said Book, and to examine him touching the said Matter; and afterwards to make Report thereof to this . . . accordingly; and also to take Order, and devise further, for the sending for, and apprehending of, the said Arthur Hall, if it should so fall out that he did withdraw himself, or depart out of Town, before such time as the said Serjeant could find him: With this further Resolution also, that any such Member of this House as should happen first to see him, or meet him, might, and should in the Name of this whole House, stay him, and bring him forth, to answer the said Matter forthwith before the whole House, with all possible Speed.