House of Commons Journal Volume 1: 23 March 1607 (2nd scribe)

Lunae, 23o Die Martii

Prisoner.

SIR John Heigham, - touching him in Prison.

Spanish Wrongs.

Mr. Fuller, touching Spanish Wrongs, &c. and other Committees.

Mr Speaker's Illness.

Sir Rob. Wingfield, - touching the Choice of a Speaker from Day to Day.

Mr. Fuller: - That we an intire Body, and may do of ourselves.

Sir Geo. Moore: - No such Precedent. - We must have Leave. The King must confirm, and give Leave.

Spanish Company.

The Spanish Company: - This Afternoon, in the Parliament House.

Mr. Speaker's Illness.

The Committee for Returns, and Privileges, to meet this Afternoon, and to consider, what is to be done, upon all Occasions of the Speaker's Absence by Sickness, or other Cause.

Mr. Fuller: - That, seeing Mr. Speaker hath been sick long, and we knew not how long he might be; that, in this mean time, Businesses of great Weight, being a-foot, were neglected; that therefore they might enter into Debate of those Things themselves, which they might do without a Speaker: As, the Matter of Spanish, Wrongs: - The Merchants had appointed to be here this Afternoon: - That that might be appointed: Which was thought fit by the whole Assembly, and appointed in the Parliament House. -

Watermen.

The Committee also in the Watermen's Bill; which was appointed in the Court of Wards, this Afternoon. The Bill, and Committee, delivered to Mr. Peak.

Mr. Speaker's Illness.

Sir Rob. Wingfield moveth, that, seeing Mr. Speaker is sick, and there may be the like Occasion hereafter, that such Committees, as are appointed for Returns and Pri

vileges, may consider, what is to be done in succeeding Times, upon such Occasions. He said, he had heard of Precedents, that a Speaker might be chosen from Day to Day, upon such Cause of Absence, that the Business might proceed.

Mr. Fuller: - That we are an entire Body of ourselves: That we have Power to chuse a Speaker: That the Speaker is not our Head, but one of ourselves: He is only to moderate: That, for that Purpose, we might appoint any other: - Hath a Voice amongst us.

Sir Geo. Moore: - That there is no such Precedent: That the King must give Leave, and must approve after Choice : That indeed it were fit to chuse Committees, to consider, what Course in After-times we might hold.

Mr. Bowyer: - Antiquity not fabulous. If we have no modern Precedents, fit to make a Precedent from Antiquity. - A Time, when there was no Speaker, but the Lord Chancellor the common Mouth to the whole Court of Parliament: Then the House not divided. The nearest Precedent was, that he could find, that a Speaker did fear himself, that he should grow unable to serve. - He thought to bring it To-morrow. - That therefore this Matter might be respited till To-morrow : In the mean time, he hoped, Mr. Speaker might be so strong, as to come; and then we might talk liberally of the Matter.

Sir Herbert Crofts: - That we might enter into it this Afternoon: - Which was assented unto by the whole Assembly; and the Committee formerly named, for Returns and Privileges, might enter into Consideration of it this Afternoon, in the Committee Chamber; some few added unto them. The Committee delivered to Mr. Peak.

Committees.

Remember to ask for a Committee of Sir Edwyn Sandys: Another of Sir Tho. Lake.

Anniversary of King's Coronation.

A Motion, by Mr. Martin, that, according to former Custom, we might meet

To-morrow in the Morning, and hear the Sermon at the Abbey, which is always prepared for that Day: And so they all departed.