House of Commons Journal Volume 1: 30 April 1624

Veneris, 30 Aprilis, 1624

Bill read.

L. 1. AN Act for the quiet Establishing of the Right and Interest of certain Lands -

Clarke's Estate.

Mr. Solicitor reports Sir Fra. Clarke's Bill. The Amendments twice read. - Ordered, To be ingrossed.

Highways.

Mr. Solicitor delivers in a Bill for the Highways.

Penalty.

L. 1. An Act for the more speedy Levying of the Penalty of 12 Pence -

Abbots-hall Manor.

L. 2. An Act for the Sale of the Manor of Abbots-hall in the County of Essex: - Committed to Mr. Comptroller, Sir Fra. Barrington, Sir Tho. Cheeke, Mr. Tho. Fanshaw,

Sir Hen. Poole, Sir Gil. Gerrard, Sir Tho. Estcourt, Mr. Huckmore, Mr. Bruerton, Mr. Pym, Attorney Wards, Sir Eub. Theloall, Sir Rob. Hatton, Mr. Mallory, Sir Eras. Dreyden, Sir Jo. Stradling, Mr. W. Fanshaw, Mr. Rolles, Mr. Noy, Mr. Cholmely, Sir Rob. Philips, Sir Jo. Corbet:

- Monday, Two Clock, Court of Wards.

The Fleet.

Committee for the Fleet, to meet this Afternoon, Five Clock.

Young's Nat.

L. 3. An Act for the Naturalizing of John Young, Doctor of Divinity: - Upon Question, passed.

Murrey's Nat.

L. 3. An Act for the Naturalizing of Jane Murrey, and William Murrey : - Upon Question, passed.

Verbeake's Nat.

L. 3. An Act for the Naturalizing of Peter Perbeake.

Mr. Comptroller : - To have a Proviso to this Bill, that, if he shall colour any Strangers Goods, this Act, ipso facto, to be void.

Mr. Comptroller, Mr. Denny, and some others, sent up into the Committee Chamber, to draw such a Proviso.

Jacobson's Nat.

L. 3. An Act for the Naturalizing of Philip Jacobson, of London, Merchant: - Upon Question, passed.

Religion.

Ordered, That all Complaints, that come in Writing, concerning Prejudice of Religion, or Learning, to be preferred to the Committee nominated by the House to that Purpose.

Lady Scudamore.

Sir Hen. Poole reports the Lady Scudamore's Bill. - Committee thought fit to have the Bill sleep. Finding it an unnatural Suit, think - Ordered, To sleep.

Meese's Will.

L. 2. An Act for the Avoiding and Adnulling of a Sentence, given in the Prerogative Court, in the Probate of the supposed Testament of Edmund Meese Esquire.

Upon Question, not to be committed.

Upon Question, not to be ingrossed.

Sealing Writs.

L. 2 An Act for the more speedy Sealing of original Writs: - Committed to Sir Edw. Cooke, Sir Geo. Moore, Sir Tho. Hoby, Mr. Taylor, Sir Jo. Savyle, Sir James Perrot. Sir Fra. Seymor, Mr. Spencer, Sir Nath. Rich, Mr. Solicitor, Sir Pet. Hayman, Sir Edw. Gyles, Sir Eub. Theloall, Mr. Alford, Mr. Selden, Sir Gil. Gerrard, Mr. Noy, Sir Hen. Poole: - Monday, Star-chamber, Two Clock.

Heralds.

Sir Fra. Seymor: - To have an Enlargement of the Order about the Heralds. To have them have Power to send for all Parties, they shall think fit. - Ordered.

Felt-makers.

L. 2. Felt-makers Bill: - Committed to Sir Tho. Midleton, Mr. Bateman, Sir Jo. Savyle, Mr. Coryton, Mr. Solicitor, Lord Cavendish, Mr. Whiteway, Mr. Bushrop, Sir Geo. Chudleighe, Mr. Sherland, Mr. Shervyle, Sir An. Forrest, Mr. Bond, Mr. Pym, Sir Will. Cope, Mr. Garrold, Mr. Bromfeild, Sir Peter Mutton, Mr. Jermyn: - Monday, Two Clock, Star-chamber.

East India Company.

The Patent of the East India Company to be brought in to the Committee of Grievances, on Monday next.

Verbeak's Nat.

Mr. Comptroller reports the Proviso for Verbeak's Bill.

- Twice read. Ordered to be ingrossed, and added to the Bill.

Ordered, Such a Proviso shall be added to all Bills of this Nature.

Privilege.

Sir Edw. Cooke: - A great Contempt offered to this House by one John Pecke, ordered to bring in his Patent.

- To have the Serjeant at Arms go for him.

Ordered, That, if he bring it not in this Afternoon, to the Committee of Grievances, a Serjeant at Arms to fetch him.

Conference.

Sir Edw. Cooke, Sir Jo. Savyle, Mr. Banks, Sir An. Forrest, Mr. Glanvill, Mr. Selden, Mr. Taylor, Sir Hen. Poole, Sir Fra. Seymor, Sir Na. Rich, Sir Geo. Moore, Sir Edw. Peyton, Mr. Brereton, Mr. Booth, Sir An. Corbet, Sir Dan. Norton, Sir Will. Bowyer, Sir Ar. Capell, Sir James Perrot, Sir Oliv. Luke, Mr. Drury, Mr. Woodward, Sir Edwyn Sandys, Sir Tho. Denton, Sir Will. Beecher, Sir Geo. Manners, Mr. Fra. Drake, Sir Rob. Moore, Sir Alex. St. John, Mr. Weare, Sir Will. Morgan, Mr. Herbert, Sir Tho. Estecourt, Sir Jo. Cuts, Sir Will. Spencer, Sir Pet. Hayman, Sir Tho. Holland, Sir Tho. Hoby, Mr. Fetherston, Lord Percy, Sir Bab. Hicks, Lord Wriethsly, Sir Gil. Jerrard, Sir Geo. Chudleigh, Mr. Alford, Sir Fra. Barrington, Sir Hen. Fane, Sir Will. Massam, Sir Simon Weston, Mr. Whitakers: These are appointed by the House, to confer with the Lords To-morrow Afternoon, Two Clock, about the Two Bills, of Limitation of Actions, and Pleadings of the Exchequer.

Verbeake's Nat.

The Proviso of Verbeake's Bill, read ; and the Bill, upon Question, passed.

Person to attend.

Sir An. Welden to attend the Committee of Grievances on Monday.

Merchant Adventurers.

Sir Edwyn Sandys reports from the Committee, appointed to treat with the Merchant Adventurers. -

Found them very constant to their own Ends and Purposes. - Brought nothing new, but renewed their former Offer, to admit others into their Company. The Committee proposed to them the Appropriating to them the white Cloths, and the laying down their Impositions. - Much troubled at this. - (Have delivered their Answer in Writing. - Read. -

The Sense of the Committee : 1. Matter of Restraint of Trade: 2. Overburthening of Trade, 1. Weighed the Reason of the Merchant Adventurers, that, if all should have Liberty to transport, it would debase the Commodity. Found this very light; Experience, the Mother of Wisdom, in this Case shewing the contrary. Second

Reason their Privileges, a Diminution of them. The Committee made no Doubt of that, so long as they had the Transporting of all white Cloths. Third Point, admitting others into their Company. The Merchants no Disposition to that. - 1. Their dwelling far off of many, and are afraid of their Orders, and Government. - Committee conceive, about the Midst of Queen Eliz. Reign this Trade of Cloth did exceedingly flourish. Before the 28th of the Queen, the Merchants of the Out-ports had the Trade of dyed and dressed Cloths: Ever since, the Merchant Adventurers have grown upon the State, and are now come to this Greatness. The Committee think, a Necessity to reduce them to their former Limits : Give Advice in Six Particulars: 1. That these new Manufactures should be free to all Merchants for all Places : So for Kersies, and Dosens: So for dyed, dressed, Cloths. 4. That the white Cloths should be still appropriated to the Adventurers: And, if they should not buy up these Cloths, within Six Weeks after their coming up to Black-well-hall, then all other Merchants to have Liberty to buy. This will give good Content to all the Merchants of the Kingdom. 6th Branch, for the Merchant Strangers; to continue them in their former State. For the Manner of effecting this; the Committee having adjudged the Patent of the Merchant Adventurers a Grievance, in Creation, and Execution, they desire, it may proceed to a Sentence in this House; and a Petition of Grievance presented to the King; (and to desire his Majesty to give Assent to these Propositions. - )

2d Part, Overburthening of Trade. This generally complained of.(Like a Horse overloaden. Four Kind Patents; of Monopolies, Dispensation of Laws, Impositions) -

Burthens on Cloth, Seven: 1. 24s. laid on every fine Cloth, by the Archduchess, called Licence-money. This contrary to the Treaties. 2. By the States of the United

Provinces: 32s. upon a fine Cloth, called Consumption-money,

3. By the States also; Matter of Tare; which used in One Town, but now in divers, to the great Prejudice of the Merchant. Now a good Opportunity to be eased of these Burthens by the States. (The Committee thought fit, to present all these to his Majesty, to take Order for them,)

4. The Composition-money, for Licence, in the Hands of the Earl of Cumberland, Committee thought fit to have this presented, as a Grievance; and to desire, of his free Grace, to add 20,000 to the 30,000. 5th Burthen, by the Officers of the Custom-house. This a great Burthen to Trade. (This to be warily proceeded in. Committee referred it to the Report of the Bill of Customers Fees. 6. The pretermitted Custom. Opinion of the Custom [a],

that, if this not due by Law, to be presented, as a Grievance, to his Majesty; who would be no Loser by taking off this, and the Subject not unthankful. 7. The Imposition of the Merchant Adventurers themselves. The Opinion of the Committee, that this a Grievance in origine; a greater in Precedent. - Lastly, took Notice of what they had already levied; which was 11,000l. above their original Debt. - Thought, they might well be content to let this fall. - To have this. House send their Command, to take off this Burthen, or else the House to proceed otherwise in it.

Sir Dud. Digs: - To have the two other Persons, that sit in the Two other Chairs, to do the like. -

To have these Heads taken into Consideration by a select Committee, the Particulars being many.

Resolved, To let alone the pretermitted Custom, till the Debate To-morrow be past.

Resolved, Upon Question, as the Opinion of the House, That the Imprest Money, set by the Merchant Adventurers on Cloth, is unlawful, unjust, and a Grievance to the People ; and to be taken off, and no longer continued by them.

Resolved, upon Question, as the Opinion of the House, That there should be Liberty to all Merchants, for the Exporting of Northern Dosens, and Western Kersies, and new Manufactures.

Resolved, To put off the Debate of other Points of the Report until Tuesday next. Sir Thomas Middleton required by the House to let the Merchant Adventurers know, how ill this House shall take it, if they, by any Sullenness, shall forbear to buy up the white Cloths.

Privilege - A Person reprimanded.

Doctor Herris brought to the Bar, and kneeled. Mr. Speaker let him understand his Offence.

- Did publish a Letter in the Church : Either read it, or told them the Effect of it, after Service. Mr. Lovell undertook another Election. He was present: Did labour Two Voices for him. Was told, that the Lady Howard had withdrawn the Pension: Might say, that she would do it. Did speak these Words, " that, if the Laity and [Clergy] make not One Body, would come no more in the [Pulpit."] Did preach of that Text, the Day following, 26 Math. but chose it not purposely : Did say, that he the more willingly did handle it, because he was sensible of the like Wrong. - Humbly submits to the Censure of the House, and is heartily sorry for what he hath done.

Kneeling at Bar, Mr. Speaker pronounced this Sentence on him : That he shall, at the Bar, acknowlege his Offence, and desire Pardon; and Sunday sevennight, in the Pulpit, at his own Parish Church, acknowlege his Offence, and crave Pardon there: And not to take any Occasion, by this, to trouble any of his Neighbours, or Parishioners ; but to live in Peace and Charity among them.

Acknowleges his Offence, and is heartily sorry for it: Desires Pardon of the House. Discharged, doing the like in the Country, according to the Order of the House.

Magdalen College.

Doctor Googe: - To have the Bill that came down from the Lords, concerning Magdalen College, may not be secondly read, but at Nine Clock, in a full House.

To have a new Day for the cross Bill.

Ordered, That Bill, that came down from the Lords, to be read To-morrow Morning, Nine Clock ; and then to go to One Committee.