House of Commons Journal Volume 1: 10 May 1604

Jovis, 10o Maii, 1604

Navy.

L. 2. B. FOR the better Execution of former Laws, for Maintenance of the Navy : - Committed to Sir Geo. Moore, Sir Edw. Greville, Burgesses of Port Towns, Barons of the Ports, Sir Rob. Knollys, Sir John Thynne, Citizens of Coventrye and York, Sir John Savill, Sir Edw. Hext, Sir Rob. Wroth, Sir John Heigham, Mr. Staughton, Sir Edw. Mountague, Mr. Francis Moore, the Knights of Devon and Cornwall, the Burgesses of Cambridge: - To meet on Wednesday, in the Exchequer Chamber,

Committees.

Committees adjourned.

Tythes.

L. 2. B. For Explanation of the Statute 37o H. VIII. for Tythes in London: - Committed to Mr. D. James, Mr. Gore, Mr. Wyseman, Sir Geo. Moore, Sir Rob. Wingfield, Sir John Heigham, Sir Francis Hastings, Sir Henry Billingsley, Mr. Recorder of London, Sir Rob. Wroth, Sir Francis Knollys, Mr. Toby Matthewe, Sir Francis Barrington, Mr. Johnson, Mr. D. Steward, Mr. Alford, Sir John Thynne, Sir Nicholas Saunders, Mr. Hyde, Sir Edw. Lewknor, Sir Edw. Mountague, Mr. Rivers : - To meet on Tuesday, in the Exchequer Chamber.

Sail-cloths.

B. For the Making of Sail-cloths, called Poll-davyes, committed to Sir Tho. Hobby, Sir John Heigham, Mr. Dannet, all the Burgesses of Port Towns, Sir John Thynne, Sir John Trevor, Sir Rob. Nappier, Mr. Hoskins: - To meet on Wednesday, in the Exchequer Chamber.

False Dice.

B. Against Making, Selling, and Uttering of false Dice, &c, reported from the Committee by Mr. Martin, with Amendments; which being twice read, the Bill, upon Question for ingrossing, rejected.

Guns and Shooting.

B. Against shooting in Guns, Killing of Pheasants and Partridges, &c. reported from the Committee, with Amendments; the Amendments twice read ; and, after much Dispute raised by Sir Jo. Harpur, Mr. Baxter, Sir Geo. Moore, Sir James Harrington, Sir Edw. Mountague, upon Question, ordered to be ingrossed.

Privilege-Subpoenas to Members.

A Subpoena, ad comparendum in Cancellaria, ad sectam Milonis Hughes, served upon the Person of Sir Edw. Herbert Knight.

Dat. 7 Maii, Anno 2 R. 12 Maii.

A Subpoena, ad comparendum, &c. served upon the Person of Mr. Chro. Stone, ad sectam Willelmi Butcher, et Rachel, uxoris ejus, Clerk of the Ordnance in Ireland.

Dat. 25 Apr. Anno 2 R. 3 May.

A Subpoena, ad audiendum judicium, upon Sir Edw. Denny, ad sectam Ezechielis Helyer,&c.

Dat. 15 Febr. Anno 1 R. 12 Maii prox.

A Subpoena upon Sir John Hungerford, ad sectam Walteri Gill.

The several Writs read ; and several Warrants to be conceived, for attaching the Bodies of the Delinquents by the Serjeant, and bringing them to the Bar, to answer their Contempts: Only, in the Case of Sir Edw. Herbert, the Writ was wanting; which being brought in, and seen; the same Order as in the rest

Privilege- Arrest of a Member.

The Debate renewed touching Sir Tho. Shirley.

Moved, That a new Bill might be drawn; and that the Lord Chancellor, in the mean time, might, de bene esse, deliver him.

The former Bill passed both Houses, and after found faulty; and therefore a new Bill to be thought on.

Sir Henry Mountague bringeth in a new Bill.

L. 1. Nova B. To secure the Debt of Simpson, and save harmless the Warden of the Fleet, &c. - Upon this first Reading, amended; the Words " to the End," put in,

L. 2. - Upon the Question, ordered to be ingrossed.

Presently ingrossed by the Clerk's Servant, attending to that Purpose at the Door.

L. 3. Thirdly read; and, upon the Question, passed; and instantly sent up to the Lords [a].

Sir Roger Aston delivereth from the King, that, in verbo Principis, he will give his Royal Assent at the End of the Session.

Mr. Johnson, an Officer in the Tower, publisheth upon Occasion, that he had conferred with the Warden, being close Prisoner. - Moved, that he might be called to the Bar for it.

A Motion to seize the Profits of the Fleet.

Another, for a Writ de Homine replegiando.

Answ. It doth not lie upon an Execution.

The House understanding, that the Warden of the Fleet had the Liberty of the Prison, and was not kept close Prisoner, according to the Order of the House ; it was now, upon Question, Ordered, That he shall be put in close Prison; and the Lieutenant to attend here Tomorrow, bringing with him all such as have had, or

now have, the Custody of the said Warden, to render a Reason of his said setting at Liberty, against Order.

Letter from the Warden of the Fleet's Wife.

A Letter from Mrs. Trench, Wife of the Warden of the Fleet, directed to Mr. Speaker, and the House, published and read in the House, in these Words:

MAY it please you, Mr. Speaker, and the rest of the Honourable House of Parliament: The Perplexity I have dwelt in, since it pleased your honourable Court to commit my Husband to the Tower, moveth me, your distressed Prisoner, humbly to prefer my Miseries to your merciful Considerations. The Serjeant at Arms was Yesterday at the Fleet, and demanded the Body of Sir Thomas Sherlye: I confess, I dared not absolutely bid the Serjeant take him : I had the Commandment of my Husband, on Monday last (since which Time it pleased you, by close Imprisonment, to divorce me his Presence) to the contrary. His Majesty's Prison is disordered, wanting him, or a Deputy of Trust, (which he never had) and I am only left, without either Guide or Counsel, and ignorant of all Mens Causes: There is Murmuring and Muttering; many, I fear, plotting to escape; and I and my Children thereby utterly undone. I am so far from Contempt of this Court, as, if it seem pleasing unto you to certify me, under the Hand of the Three Chief Justices, that it is no Escape; or to send for Simpson, and persuade him to release all Escapes; or Sir Thomas Sherleye, to put in good Security for his true Imprisonment; or to invent any Ways for my Safety, whereby I and mine perish not in the Street ; I am, in all Willingness, ready to obey, and discharge him in an Hour's Warning, and shall think myself everlastingly bound unto you for the same. And so humbly praying your Favours in the Premises, craving Pardon for my Boldness, and submitting myself as shall seem best unto you, I humbly take my Leave. From the Fleet, this present Thursday, written with Tears.

The distressed and oppressed Wife of the Warden of the Fleet,

Anne Trenche.

Union with Scotland.

Mr. Attorney General, Sir Edw. Stanhope, and Sir Rich. Swale, come in Message from the Lords, That Report hath been made to the Lords, touching the Frame of a Bill, for the authorizing Commissioners to treat, &c. Their Lordships do find an Impossibility, that the Act can be framed, until Commissioners be named. The Lords purpose to name Fourteen, and expect from this House a proportionable Number: Mean while, they desire a Conference with the former great Committee ; there they will send their Names; and wish, that this House, at the same Time, would bring Names also; but, for their Number, pray, it may be presently made known by them unto their Lordships.

The Time and Place of Conference they leave to this House.

The Messengers retired.

Moved, To descend into Consideration of the several Qualities of Men. -

A Committee to consider of Sir Francis Bacon's Report, and the Commissioners Names.

Because the Lords expected an Answer touching the Number, this Question made:

Whether now to agree upon the Number, or hereafter ? - Resolved, presently.

The Number to be Thirty: - Resolved, upon another Question.

Answ. to the Messengers, That we would send by our own presently.

D. of Somerset's Estate.

The Hearing of Counsel in Mr. Seymour's Cause, deferred till Saturday.

Bills &c. sent to Lords.

Sent up by Sir Francis Hastings Seven Bills, together with Message, that we had agreed upon the Number of our Commissioners to be Thirty.

The Bills:

1. An Act to take away Clergy from Cattle and Sheep Stealers.

2. An Act concerning the Taking of Apprentices.

3. An Act for Rating of Labourers Wages.

4. An Act to restrain all Persons from Marriage, until their former Wives or Husbands be dead.

5. An Act for the quiet Establishing and Settling of the Lands and Possessions, late of Sir Geo. Rodney Knight, deceased.

6. An Act for new Executions to be sued against any which shall hereafter be delivered out of Execution by Privilege of Parliament.

7. An Act for the Assuring of certain Lands and Tenements to the Dean and Canons of Wyndsor, &c. [a].