House of Commons Journal Volume 1: 28 March 1607

Saturni, 28o Martii, 1607

Sackvill's Patent.

L. 2a. B. WHEREBY Richard Sackvill, Esquire, is enabled to make a Surrender to the King's Majesty, of the Offices of Chief Butler of England and Wales, notwithstanding his Minority of Years: - Secondly read, and committed to all the Privy Council, being Members of the House, the King's learned Counsel, Mr. Recorder of London, Sir Henry Nevill, Sir Thomas Challoner, Sir Geo. Moore, Sir Thomas Waller, Sir Francis Fane, Sir Geo. Fane, the Burgesses of Port Towns, Sir John Hungerford, Sir Henry Poole, Mr. Bowyer, Sir Edward Hales, Sir Rich. Bulkley, Sir. Rich. Molineux, Sir John Parker, Sir Thomas Lowe, Sir Walter Cope, Sir John Hollice, Sir William Twysenden, Mr. Wymark, Sir Thomas Bishop, Sir Robert Wingfield, Mr. Wallys, Sir Robert Mansfield, Mr. Tolderby, Sir Hugh Beeston, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Twynehoe, Mr. Noy, Mr. Ravenscroft.

Kent Marshes.

L. 2a. B. Touching, the drowned Marshes of Lesnes and Fants, within the County of Kent: - Secondly read, and committed to the same Committees; adding the Knights and Burgesses of Essex and Kent, and Barons of the Cinque Ports.

Union with Scotland.

Much Dispute, and Difference, what was to be done upon the Message sent Yesterday; and sundry Motions made; viz.

1. To declare and set down in this House (so as it may remain to all Posterity) that we think the Law to be otherwise.

2. To have no Conference ; but to send to the Lords, that they would be pleased to frame Bills.

3. To make no Difference in Point of Conveniency, where there is none in Point of Law.

4. No Conference, until we had debated, whether convenient or inconvenient.

5. To debate the Matter in Committee. - Short Reasons will best deliver the Business.

6. As easy and feazible to make a perfect Union.

7. To shew our Reasons, why we cannot declare the Law, as the Judges.

8. To devise Means how to present our Desire to his Majesty, of a perfect Union.

9. To yield Conference, with Reference to the Discretion of the Committee. - Better to do something, than nothing. - More haply will follow, than we expect. - Let us first know what will be desired, before we resolve.

10. If we part thus, whatsoever we mean to restrain, is all loose; therefore to hear what the Lords will say, and to say what we can: - To allow nothing in Point of Right, and to make good Caution, that nothing may bind us.

11. That sithence we are now but half a Body, till our Members scattered meet again; to give Answer, that we desire it may be respited, till the King please we should return to the Service again.

These Motions made, and many Reasons delivered; but no Conclusion for this Day.

Selby's Estate.

L. 1a. B. TO Assure and Confirm the Sale of the Manor of Moate, and other Lands, in the County of Kent, made by Charles Allen Esquire, deceased, to Sir William Selby Knight, &c.

A Letter importing the Consent of Allen, and his Wife, for the Preferring and Passing of this Bill, read in the House.

Selling Fruit on Sunday.

L. 1a. B. To restrain the Fruiterers of London from going abroad to sell their Fruit upon the Sabaoth Days, &c.

Armour-makers.

Sir Robert Johnson tendereth a Petition to the House, from the Armour-makers; with Desire, that it might be read: Which was done ; the Petition being directed thus:

To the honourable Assembly of the Commons of England, now assembled in the high Court of Parliament: The humble Petition of the Armour-makers, Gun-makers, and of the like Artificers, inhabiting within the City of London, and the Suburbs thereof:

SHEWING, that where our late sovereign Lord King Henry the VIIIth (out of his royal Care for the Good of this Realm) did not only direct his gracious Letters to certain Princes in Germany, for the sending over, into this Realm, of Artificers of the aforesaid Arts, but also, upon their coming hither, did give unto them large Allowances, during their Abode here in this Realm; intending thereby, that his Majesty's Subjects might learn of them the Making of Munition fit for the Wars, that thereby this Realm, in future Times, might be sufficiently furnished with serviceable Armour and Weapons that should be made within the same, according to his Majesty's said Intention; his Majesty's Subjects were so careful in learning the said Trades, that this Realm, through their great Industries, hath ever since been furnished with sufficient Store of good Armour and Weapons, and at lesser Prices than any other Nation hath of many Years been : The which Trades having been ever since continued within this Realm, in the Time of our late Sovereign, Queen Elisabeth, there were thirty-five Armour-makers within the City of London, and the Suburbs thereof, who kept Servants and Shops; and who being now greatly decayed for want of Sale of their Armours, there remaineth only Five of them who do exercise the same Trade, all which do keep but One Servant, not being able to keep more, for want of Employment and Means of Maintenance for them; the which are like utterly to decay, and the said Trade, with them, to be extinguished, by reason that the Statute, made in the fourth and fifth Years of King Phittip and Queen Mary (which authorized Migistrates to enjoin a Provision of Armour, and other Weapons) is repealed by a Statute, made in the first Year of his Majesty's Reign, unless, by your honourable Cares and Providence, some Course be taken, whereby the said Trades may be continued.

Your Suppliants, in their bounden Duty, thought it

meet to certify you thereof; hoping that, by your Wisdoms, Care for the Safety of this flourishing Kingdom, some good Law may be provided, whereby the same may be continually furnished with serviceable Armour and Weapons, as it hath formerly been, and the said Trades still continued within this Realm; all which, the now final Remainder of the Artificers of that kind do humbly and truly protest, is sincerely and truly intended for the future Safety of the Realm, the most of us, for want of Employment in this kind, having already betaken ourselves to live by other Means, and the Residue shall be forced so to do. And therefore have presumed, in this humble Sort, to inform your Honours, how the Case standeth, and most humbly leave it to your Judgments, to do therein, as shall seem, in your Wisdoms, most convenient for the Safety of yourselves, and your Posterity, to God's good and gracious Pleasure.

Union with Scotland.

After the Reading of this Petition, ensued a long Silence, which Mr. Speaker being willing to break (as he said) propoundeth, that a Question might be made, whether the Answer to the Lords should be ;

To confer, so as nothing may bind, nor touch Point of Law.

Another Motion ; to send to the Lords, that we will confer, but we desire to deliberate.

King appoints to be attended.

Mr. Speaker, in this mean Space, had received some secret Notice, that his Majesty desired to speak to the House ; and, to that Purpose, had appointed, they should attend at Whytehall Tomorrow, at Two a Clock in the Afternoon : In the mean time, none to depart the Town, nor any of the House to be excluded from his Presence.

This Message Mr. Speaker publisheth; and the House desired, and ordered, that Mr. Speaker should go with them.

To meet, and attend, in the Preaching-place.

Great Committees.

Certain great Committees (as that for Spanish Wrongs, and the Committee for Inundations) adjourned.

Waller's Estate.

Counsel, in the Bill touching Warren and Waller, came to the Bar, and were heard at large.

For the Bill, Mr. Gerrard:

Against it, Mr. Goldsmith, Mr. Warre.

Smyth's Estate.

In the midst of the Argument, came from the Lords, Sir John Crook and Mr. D. Hone, with a Bill, intituled,

B. For Confirmation of certain Lands of the Warden and College of the Souls of all faithful People deceased, of Oxon, and of other Lands, to Sir William Smyth, Knight.

Waller's Estate.

While the Messengers came in, the Counsel retired; after their Departure, returned and proceeded.

The Decree in Chancery between Warren and Waller, read at large in the House.

The Argument ended; Mr. Brock (having formerly returned the Bill to the Custody of the Clerk) doth desire, he may have Leave to report it from the Committee, upon their last Review; and thereupon took the Bill into his Hand, and acquainteth the House, that the Committee had agreed to insert certain Amendments; which he shewed, and were thrice read; and the Bill, with the Amendments, upon the Question, passed.