Journal of the House of Lords: November 1584

THE JOURNAL OF THE House of LORDS.

A Journal of the Passages of the House of Lords in the Parliament holden at Westminster, Anno 27 Reginæ Eliz. Anno Domini 1584. which began there on Monday the 23^th Day of November, and then and there continued until the Prorogation thereof on Monday the 29^th Day of March Anno Domini 1585. after which it was lastly Dissolved on Wednesday the 14^th Day of September, Anno 28 Reginæ ejusdem, Anno Domini 1586.

THIS Parliament Summoned and holden in the twenty seventh year of her Majesties Reign, lasted a long time in respect of the continual sitting of either House' for the space of about three Months, at two several Meetings, between which there intervened only one Adjournment of about forty days space. There were no publick matters of any great consequence debated in it, but many Excellent Passages for the Power, Priviledge and Order of the Upper House may be observed from it. At the first Prorogation thereof on Monday the 29^th day of March in Anno 27 Reginæ Eliz. Anno Domini 1585. there passed near upon fifty several A(?)ts or Statutes publick and private; from which time it continued until the Dissolution thereof as abovesaid.

The day before the Parliament began being Sunday, and the 22^th day of November, the Original Journal-Book setteth down amongst others two unusual or extraordinary Proxies to have been introdu(?)ted or returned thereon into the hands of the Clark of the Upper House; for any Proxy if it be delivered into the hands of the said Clark, whether it be before the Parliament begin or after, is well returned: and it is most likely that these two with some other ordinary or usual Proxies which are here omitted, were delivered as aforesaid this Sunday towards the Evening, because the Parliament was to begin the next Morning. Which said Letters Procuratory are Entred as aforesaid in manner and form following.

22° die Novembris introductæ sunt literæ Procuratoriæ Johannis Episcopi Carliolen' in quibus Procuratorem suum constituit Johannem Episcopum London.

Item introductæ sunt literæ Procuratoriæ Willielmi Episcopi Cestren' in quibus Procuratorem suum constituit Edwinum Archiepiscopum Eboracen'.

Nota, That here two Bishops did constitute but one Proxy apiece, whereas it seldom happeneth that any spiritual Lord nominateth fewer than two. But for any further observation upon the Proxies returned this Parliament, Vide on Friday the 27^th day of this instant November following.

On Monday the 23^th day of November the Parliament began according to the Summons. Which had been sent forth.

The Queens Majesty went to this Parliament in her accustomed Pompous and Royal manner, being attended first unto the Cathedral Church of Westminster from her Palace of Whitehall by the Lords and others; where having heard a Sermon, she was afterwards conducted by them in the like Royalty into the Parliament Chamber, commonly called the Upper House, whither she came about two of the Clock in the Afternoon.

Nota, That the whole manner and form aforesaid of her Majesties most Royal going to this Parliament, is set down at large in M^r Mills his Catalogue of Honour, imprinted at London Anno Domini 1610. pag. 64.

The Queen and the Lords Spiritual and Temporal being all set in their several places, the Knights, Citizens and Burgesses of the House of Commons had notice thereof; who thereupon repairing thither, as many as conveniently could, were let in, and standing all together at the Rail or Bar at the lower end of the Upper House, Sir Thomas Bromley Knight Lord Chancellor, by the Queens Commandment declared unto them the Causes of the Assembling of this Parliament.

But what those Causes were, neither the Original Journal-Book of the Upper House nor that of the House of Commons do at all mention, in setting down the other daily Passages of this Parliament de Anno isto 27 Reginæ Eliz. But in respect they are set down in the above-mentioned Catalogue of Honour, imprinted at London An. Domini 1610. pag. 67. and that it is most probable that they were there inserted out of the Collections or Memorial of some Member of the House of Commons at this Parliament, therefore I have thought good to supply it verbatim as it is there set down.

The said Lord Chancellor declared unto them in her Majesties name, that this Assembly of Parliament was for three causes called, viz. For the glory of Almighty God and the furthering of Religion, for the health and preservation of her Royal Majesty, and the welfare of the CommonWeal. Which after that he had a loud and most eloquently at large declared, turning his Speech unto the Knights and Burgesses standing on a heap together below, he willed them to make choice of their Prolocutor, and to give notice of him so Chosen unto the Lords of the PrivyCouncil, from whom they should expect what the Queens Pleasure and Answer was concerning him so Chosen to be afterward presented.

The substance of this Speech being so shortly set down in the said Catalogue of Honour, I thought good to transcribe, although it were imprinted, because it doth much augment and perfect this present Journal of the Upper House. The residue whereof doth next in order follow out of the Original Journal-Book of the same House, there being only added now and then, as the occasion offered it self, some Observations and Animadversions upon it.

Nota, Also that no names of any of the Lords Spiritual or Temporal are noted to have been present this day, which happened through the negligence of the Clerk of the Parliament; but it may be conjectured who they were by the names of such whose presence is noted on Thursday next following being the 26^th day of this instant November, on which said day the presence of such Lords as attended this Parliament is first marked.

Then follow the names of the Receivors and Triors of Petitions, which is the more remarkable at this time because it is said that the Clerk of the Parliament did read them by the Lord Chancellors Commandment, whereas it should seem at other times, and which is agreeable also to the course at this day, he doth presently stand up of himself as soon as the Lord Chancellors or Lord Keepers Speech is ended, and reads the said Receivors and Triors names; yet the entrance aforesaid is at this time set down in the said Journal-Book in manner and form following.

Tunc (having before-mentioned the Lord Chancellors Speech) Parliamenti Clericus ex mandato Cancellarii omnibus Petitionibus exhiberi volentibus Receptorum & Examinatorum nomina formâ subsequenti recitavit.

Then follows all in French, of which the names were these.

Receivors of Petitions for England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland.

Sir Christopher Wray Lord Chief Justice of England, Sir Gilbert Gerrard Master of the Rolls, Sir Thomas Gawdy Knight one of the Justices of the Kings-Bench, Doctor Clarke and Doctor Ford.

Receivors of Petitions for Gascoigne and other Countries beyond the Seas and the Isles.

Sir Edmund Anderson Knight Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, Sir Roger Manwood Lord Chief Baron, Francis Windam one of the Justices of ...... Doctor Awbery and Doctor Barkley.

Such as will deliver Petitions must so do within six days next ensuing.

Triors of Petitions for England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Earl of Leicester Lord High Steward of England, the Earl of Darby, the Earl of Rutland, the Bishop of Winchester, the Bishop of Salisbury, the Lord Howard of Effingham Chamberlain of the Queens House, the Lord Gray of Wilton, the Lord North.

All these or any four of them calling unto them the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, the Lord Treasurer and also the Queens Serjeants, at their leisure to meet and hold their place in the Chamberlains Chamber.

Triors of Petitions for Gascoigne and the Countries beyond the Seas, and the Isles.

The Archbishop of York, the Earl of Oxford Great Chamberlain of England, the Earl of Warwick, the Earl of Pembroke, the Bishop of Norwich, the Bishop of Chester, the Bishop of Rochester, the Lord Cobham, the Lord Lumley and the Lord Buckhurst.

All these or four of them, calling to them the Queens Serjeants and the Queens Attorney and Sollicitor, to hold their place when their leisure did serve to meet in the Treasurers Chamber.

Breve returnatum (which was returned this Morning) quo Johannes Episcopus Gloucestren. præsenti Parliamento interesse summonitus suit, qui admissus est ad suum præheminentiæ sedendi in Parliamento locum, salvo jure alieno.

Dominus Cancellarius continuavit præsens Parliamentum usq; in diem crastinum horâ nonâ.

On Tuesday the 24^th day of November, the Lords met in the Upper House, but nothing was done, saving the continuance of the Parliament by the Lord Chancellor until nine of the Clock the next Morning.

On Wednesday the 25^th day of November there was a like meeting of the Lords, but nothing done saving the continuance of the Parliament by the Lord Chancellor unto two of the Clock in the Afternoon the day following: But no presence of the Lords is noted on this day in the Original Journal-Book.

On Thursday the 26^th day of November, the Commons having chosen their Speaker, who upon his Presentment to the Queen was this day to be allowed of in the said place, her Majesty Accompanied with divers of the Nobility came into the Upper House about three of the Clock in the Afternoon, whose name and the names of such Lords Spiritual and Temporal as are marked in the Original Journal-Book of this Parliament to have been present this day, do here ensue.

Regina.

Archiepiscopus Cantuar.
Lominus Thomas Bromley Miles, Cancellarius.
Archiepicopus Eboracen.
Dominus Barleigh Dominus Thesaurarius Angliæ.
Marchio Winton.

Comites.

Comes Oxon. Magnus Camerarius.
Comes Arundell.
Comes Kantiæ.
Comes Darbiæ.
Comes Wigorn.
Comes Rutland.
Comes Cumberland.
Comes Sussex.
Comes Bathon.
Comes Pembrooke.
Comes Hartford.
Vice-Comes Mountague.
Vice-Comes Bindon.

Episcopus.

Episcopus London.
Episcopus Winton.
Episcopus Meneven.
Episcopus Sarisburien.
Episcopus Petriburgen.
Episcopus Norwicen.
Episcopus Roffen.
Episcopus Cestren.

Barones.

Dominus Howard Camerar.
Dominus Zouch.
Dominus Willoughbie.
Dominus Dacres.
Dominus Cobham.
Dominus Grey de Wilton.
Dominus Lumley.
Dominus Stourton.
Dominus Mountjoy.
Dominus Darcie.
Dominus Mounteagle.
Dominus Windsor.
Dominus Wentworth.
Dominus Borough.
Dominus Cromwell.
Dominus Evers.
Dominus Wharton.
Dominus Rich.
Dominus Willoughby de Parham.
Dominus Darcy de Chiche.
Dominus North.
Dominus Shandois.
Dominus S^t John de Bletsoe.
Dominus Buckhurst.
Dominus de la Ware.
Dominus Cheyne.
Dominus Norris.

Her Majesty with the Lords being set, the Knights, Citizens and Burgesses of the House of Commons repaired to the Upper House with John Puckering Serjeant at Law their Speaker, and being as many as could conveniently let in, the said Speaker was led up between two of the most eminent Personages of the House of Commons to the Rail or Bar at the lower end of the Upper House; and being there placed, after humble reverence made, he declared, that the said House of Commons amongst many other more able Members of the said House had Elected and Chosen him for their Speaker, and that knowing his manifold weaknesses and inability to undergo so great a Charge, he did there implore her Gracious Majesty to free him from the same, and to Command them to Elect and chuse amongst themselves some other more Experienced and better fitted for that imployment.

To which the Lord Chancellor having received Instructions from her Majesty Answered, that the said Speaker had shewed a great deal of humility and modesty in disabling himself, but that her Highness well knowing his great sufficiency, did very well allow and approve of the choice which the Knights, Citizens and Burgesses of the said House of Commons had made of him to be their Speaker.

Whereupon the said Speaker after humble reverence made and many expressions of his great thankfulness to her Majesty for her gracious Approbation of him made certain Petitions of Course in the name of the House of Commons, viz. for freedom of speech and freedom of access to her Majesty; and that themselves and their necessary attendants might be exempted from Suits and Arrests in such manner and form as hath been accustomed; and lastly, that if himself should in any thing mistake or misreport the sayings or doings of the said House it might be imputed unto himself, and that her Majesty would be graciously pleased to pardon it.

To which Speech the Lord Chancellor having further instructions from her Majesty replied, that all such liberties and immunities as had been formerly enjoyed in the like case in the times of any of her Majesties most Royal Progenitors, should still be continued unto them.

The Writ was returned this day whereby Henry Lord Wentworth was Summoned to the Parliament, who thereupon admissus fuit ad suum præheminentiæ in Parliamento sedendi locum, salvo cuiquam jure suo.

Then followed the continuance of the Parliament which is Entred in the Original JournalBook de Anno isto 27 Reginæ Eliz. in these words following.

Dominus Cancellarius continuavit præsens Parliamentum usq; in diem Sabbati Prox. horâ consuetâ.

On Friday the 27^th day of November, although the Upper House sate not (because the Parliament had been continued yesterday unto Saturday Morning at nine of the Clock) yet were divers Proxies returned or introducted, whereof the only unusual or extraordinary one was this ensuing, viz.

27 die Novembris introductæ sunt literæ Procuratoriæ Henrici Comitis Huntingtoniæ, in quibus Procuratores suos constituit Franciscum Comitem Bedford & Robertum Comitem Leicester.

Nota, That whereas the Temporal Lords do very seldom constitute more than one Proctor, the Earl of Huntington here nominateth two, which appeared also, by the other Proxies returned this Parliament, for of three other Earls and eleven Barons who were absent this Parliament by her Majesties Licence, not any of them constituted more than one Proctor apiece; whereas on the other side the spiritual Lords do for the most part nominate two Proctors at the least, for of nine Bishops who were likewise absent during this Parliament, two of them only nominated each his Proctor. Ut vide on Sunday the 22^th day of this instant November foregoing, and the other seven made every of them two Proctors.

Nota also, that Robert Dudley Earl of Leicester had this Parliament ten several Proxies sent unto him, all Entred in the beginning of the Original Journal-Book in such order as they now follow, viz. from Edward Lord Dudley, Henry Lord Scroop, Lodowick Lord Mordant, Edward Lord Stafford, Henry Lord of Abergavenny, Edward Earl of Lincoln, Ambrose Earl of Warwick, Henry Earl of Huntington (who constituted Francis Earl of Bedford joint Proctor with him) Lord Audeley, and John Lord Lumley. By which and many other Precedents in all other Parliaments it plainly appeareth, that any Lord of the Upper House was capable of as many Proxies as should be sent unto him, until in Anno 2^do Caroli Regis Anno Domini 1626. It was Ordered by the Lords then sitting in Parliament, that no Member of the said House should be capable of above two Proxies at the most.

On Saturday the 28^th day of November, to which day the Parliament had been last continued, three Bills had each of them one reading; of which the first being the Bill to provide remedy against fraudulent Conveyances was read the first time.

Hodie returnatum est breve quo Henricus Comes Sussex præsenti huic Parliamento interesse summonebatur, qui ad suum præheminentiæ in Parliamento sedendi locum admissus suit, salvo jure alieno.

Nota, That the daily continuing of the Parliament in these words, Dominus Cancellarius continuavit præsens Parliamentum, &c. is hereafter omitted as matter of course, unless where somewhat in it doth happen extraordinary or unusual in respect of the time, place or manner.

On Monday the 30^th day of November, to which day the Parliament had been last continued, three Bills of no great moment had each of them one reading; of which the first was the Bill for appointing fit and convenient places for Landing and Shipping of Merchandize.