House of Commons Journal Volume 1: 05 July 1604

Jovis, 5 Julii, 1604

Bills sent to Lords.

BILLS sent up by Sir Francis Hastings:

An Act for the well Garbling of Spices; beginning first in this House, and returned with Proviso and Amendments from the Lords.

An Act touching Ale-houses: - The like.

An Act for Continuance, &c. - The like.

An Act against Brokers: - The like.

An Act against Jusuits, &c. - The like.

An Act for the Relief of Tho. Lovell Esquire (coming first from the Lords) returned with Amendments.

Popish Books.

An Act against printing, &c. vain, popish, and lascivious Pamphlets, thirdly read; and, upon the Question, dashed, without One Yea. - Weariness and Want of Time.

Crown Lands.

B. Of Annexation, &c. reported from the Committee, with many and main Exceptions; and therefore thought fit to pray Conference with the Lords, touching that Bill.

Mr. Secretary Herbert was presently sent with the Message ; and returned Answer, that the Lords would send Answer by their own.

Hatton's Estate.

B. Touching Sir Chro. Hatton, &c. reported from the Committee (with Liking of the Parties interested) as thought fit to sleep.

Clothing.

Three Bills touching Clothing and Clothiers, returned from the Committee by Mr. Gore; with Report, that as well those, as the other great Bill of Clothing, called the Lord Chief Justice's Bill, were thought fit to sleep till the next Session.

Letters Patents.

L. 2. B. For Corfirmation of Letters Patents: - Secondly read, and committed to -

Crown Lands.

In the Interim (before the Naming of the Committees) came in Message from the Lords, Sir Edw. Coke, and Sir Matthewe Carewe; That their Lordships are willing to enter into Conference presently, touching the Bill of Annexation;

Free Trade.

And desire also, that the House will confer with them, touching the Bill of free Trade, remaining with them: The Meeting to be presently in the Painted Chamber.

This was yielded unto; and the Committees named Yesterday for the Bill of Annexation, with some few more added [a], were appointed to that Service.

Letters Patents.

The Committees named for the Bill of Confirmation, &c. were all the Privy-Council of the House, all the King's learned Council, Sir John Heigham, Sir Edw. Stafford, Sir John Smyth, Mr. Johnson, Sir Oliver St. John, Sir John Savill, Mr. Diggs, Mr. Yelverton, Sir Peter Manwood, Mr. Noy, Sir Herbert Crofts, Sir Edwyn Sandys, Sir Timothye Whittingham, Mr. Dyett, Mr. Hungerford, Mr. Francis Moore, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Martin, Sir John Scott, Mr. Washington, Mr. Oldsworth, Sir Tho. Horsman, Mr. Bromley, Mr. Trevor, Sir Rob. Wroth, Sir Lewys Lewknor, Mr. Tolderby, Sir Tho. Darrell, Mr. Doyley, Sir Wm. Harvye, Mr. Carleton, Sir Edw. Lewknor, Mr. John Hele, Mr. Wentworth, Sir Tho. Ridgeway, Sir Wm. Strode, Mr. Wyvell, Mr. Duncombe, Sir Tho. Biggs, Mr. Herbert Pelham, Sir Maurice Berkley, Sir Edmund Bowyer: - To meet Tomorrow in the Afternoon, in the Middle Temple Hall.

Privilege- Petition from a Prisoner.

A. A Petition from Jones the Printer, imprisoned for delivering the Bill against A. B. offered, and read; and ordered, he should be discharged for any Offence committed to this House.

B. An Order conceived to that Purpose.

Erbury's Petition.

C. Another Petition from Erbury, the Minister, Prisoner in Newgate (that penned the Bill) read; but Petition, nothing done in it, because he was not committed by the House [b].

Privilege - Petition from a Prisoner.

A. To the high and most honourable Court of Parliament:

The humble Petition of William Jones :

MOST humbly beseeching this honourable Assembly, that whereas about Weeks past your Suppliant delivered into this honourable Court, a Bill, declaring certain treasonable Practices of the Bishop of London, whereunto, in Conscience, and the Allegiance of a good Subject, he was persuaded ; for which Cause he was, that Night, retained by your honourable Speaker's Commandment; the next Day your Suppliant was, by Mr. Speaker, carried to my Lord Cecill's Chamber, and there delivered to a Messenger, to attend the Council in the Afternoon ; after that your Suppliant was examined by the Lords of the Council, he was again delivered to the Messenger; the next Day towards Night, your Suppliant's Keeper was sent for to the Court, where he received Commandment to carry your Suppliant early in the Morning to Mr. Speaker's House ; where being come, Mr. Speaker commanded your Suppliant to attend the Parliament-house; the which your Suppliant did Friday and Saturday, still beseeching Mr. Speaker to move this honourable Assembly on your Suppliant's Behalf; who promised, on Monday then following, to do it: Whereupon, your Suppliant waiting at the Door, Mr. Speaker sent Mr. Serjeant, commanding your Suppliant's Keeper to take him away, and to keep your Suppliant till the Speaker sent for him; so hath your Suppliant ever since continued, humbly waiting your honourable Pleasures, to whom your Suppliant was sent back by the Lords of the Council, as the Keeper, being called upon his Oath, cannot but testify; your Suppliant is a poor Man, having a Wife and Five small Children depending on the Labour of his Hands. It may therefore please this honourable Assembly to have Commiseration,

Order for his Discharge.

WHEREAS William Jones, Printer, was, by former Order, committed to the Custody of the Serjeant attendant upon the Commons House of Parliament; it was this Day moved, in respect of his long Restraint, his Charge of Children, and Poverty, and that he was become sorry and penitent for his Offence, the said House would be pleased, out of their wonted Custom of Mercy and Compassion in the like Cases, to discharge, and set him at Liberty: Which by general Assent, for any thing done to the Prejudice or Offence of the said House, was accordingly ordered; and the said Serjeant commanded to discharge him, he paying the ordinary Fees.

Earbery's Petition.

C. To the most honourable House of the high Court of Parliament:

The humble Petition of Anthony Earbery, Minister of the Gospel, and Prisoner in Newgate :

Most humbly sheweth,

THAT drawing a Bill to this most honourable House, Mr. Serjeant arrested me by Warrant of his Mace, commanded me to attend the House's Pleasure about the said Bill, and carried me as a Prisoner to Mr. Speaker; who straitly examined me, as deputed thereunto by this honourable Court; and having taken mine Hand to the Examination, he committed me to Mr. Serjeant's Man; by whom I was caused to attend Mr. Speaker, till he delivered me to a Messenger, to be detained until the next Sitting of his Majesty's most honourable Privy Council; by whom, after Examination, I have been committed to this Time, being almost Two Months, to my great Charge, and Danger of my Health in this close, noysom, and infamous Prison.

My humble Suit is, that sith I was originally restrained by Authority of this honourable Assembly, and for a Bill exhibited to the same, it would please you to extend Pity and Compassion to a Minister of Jesus Christ, and to vouchsafe your honourable Mediation to their Lordships, for Appeasing of their Displeasure, which I much bewail; and for procuring my Liberty, which I hope to employ to better Services in the Church of God.

King sends for List of Bills.

[a] This Night the King came from Greenwich to Whytehall, and sent for a List of the Bills passed both Houses.