House of Commons Journal Volume 1: 21 January 1581

Sabbati, 21o Januarii, 1580

Prayers.

The Litany being read by the Clerk, and the old Prayer, that was used in former Sessions, read also by the Speaker,

Speech by Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker made a short Oration to the House, partly touching himself, and partly touching them; for his own Part, acknowleging his Infirmities, and praying both their Patience and Assistance; and, for them, he advised them to use reverend and discreet Speeches ; to leave Curiosities of Form; to speak to the Matter; and, for that the Parliament was like to be very short, willed them further to forbear speaking to Bills at the first Reading; and not to spend too much Time in unnecessary Motions, or superfluous Arguments: And further desired them, that they would see their Servants, Pages, and Lacquies, attending on them, kept in good Order.

Members to depart orderly.

Which ended, a Motion was made, that Mr. Speaker, and the Residue of the House, of the better Sort of Calling, would always, at the Rising of the House, depart, and go forth, in comely and civil Sort, for the Reverence of the House; in turning about with a low Courtesy, like as they do make at their coming into the House; and not so unseemly and rudely to thrust and throng out, as of late Time hath been disorderly used : Which Motion was very well liked of; and allowed of all this House.

Clerk of the Market, &c.

1. The Bill for Reformation of Disorders of the Clerk of the Market, and his Deputes. - The first Reading.

Publick Fast.

Upon a Motion made for a public Fast, with Prayer and Preaching to be exercised by this House for the Assistance of God's Holy Spirit, to the Furtherance of his Glory, the Preservation of her Majesty, and the better Direction of the Actions of this House; it was thereupon, after many Arguments and Speeches first had, both with, and also against the Motion, and whether the same Fast, Prayer, and Preaching, to be exercised by this House in some One Day of this Session, should be publick for the whole Society of this House, to be done by them all in One Place together, or else private, for every Man in his own Conscience: It was, upon the Division of the House, (after the Doubtfulness of the Voices) upon the Question, resolved, with the Difference of the Number of Fifteen Voices, that the said Fast, Prayer, and Preaching, should be public; viz. with the public. One Hundred and Fifteen; and with the private, but One Hundred : And it was then further agreed that the Privy Council being of this House, should nominate the Preachers, to the end they might be such as would keep convenient Proportion of Time, and meddle with no Matter of Innovation or Unquietness. The Day to be To-morrow Sevennight, at Eight of the Clock in the Morning; the Place to be in the Temple Church; and such of this House to be there as will, and conveniently may.

Call of the House.

It is Ordered, That the House be called upon Wednesday next, at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon.

Member indicted for Felony.

A Motion was made to know the Mind of this House touching a Burgess of this House standing indicted of Felony, whether he ought in that Case to remain a Member of this House; or else to be removed; it was adjudged, he ought to remain still of this House, unless he were convicted. And it was thereupon declared by One of this House, that my Lord Chancellor willed him to shew unto this House, that upon this Matter he had been moved to grant a Writ for Chusing of a new Burgess ; and that his Lordship had refused so to do; saying, he ought first to be amoved by the Judgment of this House, if they would so judge; and the same Judgment to be signified to his Lordship from this House accordingly : Which Judgment of the said Lord Chancellor, being both learned in the Law, and also an antient Parliament-man, and the Judgment of this House at this Time orderly, having a Speaker, concurring with the Judgment of the said Lord Chancellor, seemed to some of this House to impugn the former Opinion for new Burgesses in place of others yet living, which was (as it were) ruled in the House before, without a Speaker.