House of Commons Journal Volume 1: 26 May 1621

Sabbati, 26o Maii

Bribery.

[L. 1a.] AN Act against Bribery and Corruption.

Bill committed, &c.

[L. 2a.] ***

Sir Wm. Ayloffe : - That the Gentlemen of Kent may be added, by the Committee, to those of London and Essex ; for that some of the Lands lie in Kent.

Sir Rich. Gravenor, - for the Bill. - Will make a good Precedent, to suppress Fraud. - To commit it.

Sir Geor. Moore: - To have some Consideration of the Wife and Children.

Committed to Sir Wm. Ayloffe, Sir H. Poole, Sir Rich. Gravenor, Sir Geor. Moore, Sir M. Sands, Sir Pet. Haman, Mr. Kippax, Sir Tho. Hinton, Mr. Rolles, Sir Edw. Peyton, Mr. Chidleighe, Sir Tho. Barrington, Sir A. Ingram, Sir Edw. Mountague, Knights and Burgesses of London, Kent, Middlesex, and Essex, Sir D. Digges, Sir P. Cary, Mr. Wylde: - Tuesday next, Exchequer Chamber.

James's Bill,

Sir Ro. James his Bill to be the first upon Monday, for the 2d Reading.

Moor-burning.

L. 2a. An Act for Continuance of a Statute, made in the 7th Year of his Majesty's Reign, concerning Moor-burning in several Counties: - Committed to Sir Guy Palmes, Sir Tho. Bellasys, Sir H. Curwen, Knights and Burgesses of Wales, Mr. Fetherston, Mr. Bateman, Sir W. Heale, Sir W. Strowde, Mr. Mallory, Sir Ferdinando Fairfax, Mr. Salisbury, Mr. Brandling, Sir Wm. Bowyer, Mr. Wandesford, Sir A. Ingram, Sir H. Anderson, Sir Ed. Peyton, the Knights and Burgesses of all the Shires named in the Bill: - Tuesday next, Court of Wards.

Statutes.

Mr. Hackwill bringeth in the Bills of Continuance and Repeal.

L. 1a. An Act for the Continuance and Reviving of some Statutes, and Repeal of others.

Wool Trade.

L. 3a. An Act for the free Buying and Selling of Wool and Woollen Yarn. -

Mr. Cowper tendereth a Proviso, in Paper, which ought to have been in Parchment; yet, by Allowance, [once] read, and rejected, by a general Consent; and admitted for a Rule, that, not being in Parchment, it ought not be put to the Question.)

Mr. Berkeley: - That this Bill dangerous: Giveth Liberty to buy and sell Wool to all Persons, Strangers, and others; in all Places; in all Manner; as by regrating, forestalling, engrossing; at all Times; as well when dear, as cheap. - The Law, 5 Ed. VI. though avoidable by Proclamation, yet never sithence done: Which proveth the Statute beneficial. - This Bill repealeth many Laws, made in this Kind. - Likely, these Broggers will mix; as Vintners. If the Wool be mixed, good Cloth cannot be made. - That this will make Cloth dear, where Cheapness must make our Cloth vent: Is like to bring all the Wool to London, where most Money.- - Doubteth, this will overthrow all Clothing, and hinder the Wool-growers,: who now the Furtherers of this Bill.

Mr. Neale : - That no Stranger can transport Wool. - Is for the Bill. - That this Country is fain to buy Wool of Broggers, many times of the 3d Hand.

Mr. Crew . - That the Statute 5 Ed. VI. inconvenient to the Publick. The Preamble, that Cheapness of Wool, good for the Commonwealth. That this Statute ever in Dispensation. - ( A Certificate from all Countries, that free Buying and Selling of Wools good for the Publick.)

Sir Edw. Coke: - Looketh to the Wool-grower, Convertor, and Merchant: All these depend One upon another - Wool, 9 Parts of 10 of the Commodities of our Kingdom : Good, to keep it at a high Price. 42 Ed. III. one punished, for bringing down the Price of Wool, by fining and ransoming: So as the Common Law maintaineth the high Price of Wool. - That the Monopoly

Patent to the Staplers, certified, from all Countries, by the Judges, to be inconvenient to the Commonwealth. -

Upon Question, passed.

Bills sent to Lords.

Nine Bills sent up to the Lords: 1. Limitation of Actions: 2ly, ......

Transporting Wool, &c.

Sir Ro. Crane reporteth the Bill against Transportation of Wool, Wool-fells, and Fullers Earth; with Amendments, and a Proviso : Which twice read. -

Sir J. Horsey, - against the Making it Felony.

Serjeant Davys, contra: - For 8o Eliz. Carrying over of Sheep made Felony. - Wool a principal Pillar of our Kingdom : - That the Reason, why the Judges sit upon Wool-sacks.

Sir W. Heale: - That they must needs carry Sheepskins in their Ships, for their Ordnance.

Mr. Lyster: - To make it " Fullers Clay."

Sir Tho. Riddall, - against making this Felony. - Moveth, that in his Country, they may have a Proviso, for Transportation of their coarse Wool-fells; else the Scottish will, within 7 Miles from thence, do it, without all Danger.

Mr. Towerson, ut Sir W. Heale. -

Re-committed, presently into the Committee Chamber.

Light-houses.

Mr. Rolle: - That Mr. Lampl. brought in an Account of 900 l. for Dungeon-nesse Light-house. That one Bullocke made a Challenge for the Building. That they agreed, Tufton should have his Rent continued; but, by collateral Security, not to be inserted into the Bill, that the Committee thought fit -

That Mr. Meldrum brought in an Account of 3,000, and odd, Pounds. - That the Committee thought fit, the Fishermen should pay nothing; and the 3s. 4d. should continue for 3 Years, upon every Ton; whereby 800 l. per Annum was to be raised. -

That Mr. Meldrum will not be contented with this Offer. - Therefore, to condemn the Patents, and leave it to the King, to draw it to the Patentees, or Trinity-House, as shall be fittest.

Mr. Solicitor speaketh in Defence of the Patents.

Sir Edw. Coke, contra: - And that these are adjudged here Grievances, both in the Original, and Execution; therefore no Member of this House to speak now in Defence of it. - Not to put the King to any Recompence. - To re-commit it; and if the Patentees will not accept a reasonable Composition, then to go on with the Bill.

The Bill re-committed: - Tuesday next, Exchequer Chamber.

Transporting Wool, &c.

Sir Ro. Crane reporteth from the Committee, for the Bill against Transportation of Wools; with a Proviso for Sheep-skins for Ordnance, &c. which twice read. - Engrossetur. -

Sir H. Anderson tendereth a Proviso for Northumberland, &c. which once read, and rejected.

So another tendered by Sir ... Jackson, for Berwicke; which also rejected.