House of Commons Journal Volume 1: 11 March 1606

Martis, 11o die Martii, 1605

Obedience of Subjects.

1. Reading: - THE Bill for the better Preservation of the King's Majesty * * in their due Obedience.

Corporations.

The Bill touching Guilds and Corporations, brought in from the Committee by Sir John Bennett, with Amendments ; which being twice read; to be ingrossed.

Corpus Christi College.

3. Reading: - An Act for the President and Scholars of Corpus Christi College in the University of Oxford: -

Brought in from the Committee, with some Amendments, by Sir Edwyn Sandys; the Amendments read; and the Bill twice read, and, upon the Question, passed.

Purveyors.

Mr. Bond beginneth the Dispute of the Matter of Purveyors, Composition, and the King's Supply.

Supply.

Quest. Whether Composition, or no Composition:

- Whether by Order to sleep, and be no further disputed. -

The Country expects, we should proceed by Bill. - Whether by Bill, or no Bill - Duro nodo durus cuneus. - A short Law against the Masters of the Green-cloth : - Fundus nostrae calamitatis. -

He likes Sir Edwyn Sandys his Project best: - Yet no Time to fish for Money under Water. -

1. Composition sleep; or Quest, whether or no.

2. Whether signify to the Lords, that Composition is at a Stay.

3. Whether by this Bill, or by a new Bill.

4. Whether take into Consideration a further Subsidy. -

Two more Subsidies, and no more Fifteens.

Sir James Perrot: - Q. Eliz. Wars: - Monopolies : - Enhancing of Commodities: - Dispensations.

The Queen's Debt, 400,000 l.

The King's Debt as much very * *

The Expence of the Crown more than the Revenue. -

Laws we make now to exasperate many to seek the Breach of Peace between his Majesty and foreign Princes.

Liketh the Project of the Fens best. -

The Grievances presented to his Majesty. -

A Redress to the Subject, Relief of the King's Wants, reciprocal. -

A Committee to consider of both.

Sir Henry Poole: - A present Question : - Whether, admitting we may have Satisfaction in Security, Proportion, and Distribution, we shall have Composition. -

Then Conference with the Lords, and the Opinion of the Judges. -

The King's Stay of his Bounty. - Clausit jam rivos et sat prata biberunt. -

The Committee for Grievances to consider also of the King's Wants.

Sir Wm. Morrice: - Quest. 1. Whether Composition, or no: - No, he saith.

2. Whether the Bill of Purveyors to be ingrossed : - Yea.

3. Whether to confer with the Lords, touching the King's Wants. -

Four Subsidies last Farewel to the Queen: - One Welcome to the King. -

Love to the King, that hath done more to us, than ever was done in Parliament. -

The less Subsidy, because within the Realm, and not disposed elsewhere.

Mr. Honings : - For the Compositions. - Sir Fr. Knollys, twenty Year ago, said, if no Composition, then no Ease in Purveyors. -

Several Grants.

Mr. Rainscroft: - Deliberandum diu, quod statuendum semel.

A Conference with the Lords.

To prepare against the next Parliament, to consider with the Lords. -

To have a Committee for the King's Wants. -

For the Purveyors, to do quantum in nobis est.

Mr. Middleton: - Touching the Grievance of Takings, and the great Inconvenience in particular Compositions. -

The Peace, and Fruits of the Peace, in a few Mens Hands. -

That Monopolies may be taken from us, and then to, give to the King.

Sir Wm. Stroud: - Two more Subsidies a greater Grievance, than any else that hath been opened: - Never any such thing, never any such Precedent. -

Two Subsidies already. -

Not to put the king in hope any longer, but to consider how, by a Committee.

Sir Rob. Johnson: - That Purveyors may not exceed their Commissions. - That a Question, and a Committee. - Many humble and dutiful Hearts will open themselves.

Sir John Boys - If the Proportion be answerable, whether then a Composition.

Mr. Hedley: - Better by Bill, than by Composition. - One Law against the Clerks and Officers of the Green-cloth, better than thirty-six already made. -

The King'sDebts no Cause of Subsidies. - A dangerous Precedent: - It may be always alleged. -

Better to Compound, and relieve the King by way of Bargain, than by Subsidy; and less dangerous.

Composition to sleep: - Further Consideration to supply the King, with less Inconvenience.

Mr. Recorder: - London's Charter a Leader to all these Laws: - 1 E. III. -

London hath ever had the Benefit of it.

Purveyance punished by him the last Parliament. -

Composition : - If a Grievance leave it: - A noble Election: - For the rest, leave himself to our Loves.

Mr. Yelverton: - Not what Security we shall have, but what Security the King shall have from us. -

Compound : - Impossible, most dangerous. -

Quest. Not how Sampson may be bound, but how Sampson may bind the Foxes. A Firebrand in the Tail. -

Person, Price, Place, Power, set down in former Statutes. -

Every Purveyor ought to be of Lands. - Goods. -

Place: - In Places convenient, not in the Highway. -

Any Man may resist, if he take otherwise than by his Commission: - A Trespasser to the Party, a Thief to the King. -

Except the King's Houshold be dissolved, no Ease in Purveyance by Composition. -

Necessitas lex temporis.

No Tax upon the Land without a Survey. - The Devil's walk. -

A fearful Precedent in Parliament, that every Acre should be known: - By this Mean a Purveyance with a Vengeance, where now it is but with Villany. -

The King may distrain in a Thousand Acres, for a

Penny due in One. -

No Beginning now; and leave to the next Parliament their Discretion. -

Either upon Lands Goods, or Person. -

The King hath no Possession. -

The Possession voluntary Composition. -

Right of Purveyance a Thing rather to be reverenced, than any thing to be put in Execution for the Buying of it.

Sir H. Hubbard: - Matter of Purveyance lapis offendiculi; a Stumbling-block between the Subject and the King.

No settled Contentment, so long as Purveyance. -

For Carriages, the King stands bound by no Law. - The Law of Magna Charta touching Carriages : - No Law to check it: - We stand loose in this Point. -

In E. III. Time a Redemption for Purveyance for Three Years. - No Pleading of Extremity of Right at that Time, but Conveniency. -

Sixty Years ago willingly entertained, and a Right settled so long. -

No way but Composition. -

To think of some Course, that we may never hear of this Grievance again.

Mr. Speaker: - Composition not to be put to Question, but to be left dormant: - Not to be disgraced. -

Quest, for a Committee to consider of the Supply to his Majesty, and of a standing Revenue.

Mr. Fuller: - Grievances to be reported first, and then a Question.

Quest. - Support: - Supply. -

Grievances to be presented.

What is fit for the Subject to do to the King. -

What Grievances to be presented. -

The Committee for Grievances: - Any other shall have Voice.

Q. For the Bill-

Determine of the Bill for Purveyors, Tomorrow.