House of Commons Journal Volume 1: 12 April 1614

Martis, 12 Aprilis

Free Trade.

SIR Wm. Strowde: - A Bill for free Trade by Law. -

French Company's Patent.

A Patent by the Londoners, gotten during the Parliament, made known after. This to prohibit all Officers, to make Entries of any Goods not brought in by that Company; and an Oath for the said Officers to take. - My Lord Treasurer's Letter accordingly. - Upon a general Complaint, my Lord Treasurer's Letter, for Stay thereof a while; now new Letters gotten from the Lords, according to the first Restraint.

Mr. James: - That for this Oath they take 4 l. 7s. 6d. and that Two Merchants, had their Goods at Lyme, were enforced to come up, and paid the Money. That another, laden with Lead, enforced to empty it, and send his Ship away empty.

Ordered, To be referred to the Committee for Petitions.

Impositions.

Mr. Middleton: - That the Heads of the Matters of Grace tend to the Gentility, not to Cities, Boroughs, Burgesses, or Merchants: - Offereth a Bill concerning Impositions.

Carmarthen Election.

Mr. Davys moveth against a Sheriff in Wales, excluding One elected a Member of this House. - That he would not suffer them to have any Burgess at all. - No Burgess in Wales, till 27 H. VIII. then 12 Knights, 12 Burgesses. Every Burgess to be of the Shire-towns; but every of the other to have Voice in the Election, and to be contributory. - " Et de burgo vocat' l' Shire-town," the Form of the Writ. - The Shire-town not a Name of a Town, but the Denotation of it, as the principal Town of the Shire. -

For Carmarthen, Mr. Thomas elected, being Recorder there. - Nullus burgus vocat' Shire-town, unde burgus eligi possit. - Whereby may turn out all the Burgesses for Wales. -

Moveth for a Committing; and that the Clerks of the Crown and Petty Bag may attend : And ordered accordingly : And the Committees for Privileges, to meet, to that Purpose, To-morrow in the Afternoon.

Ecclesiastical Courts.

Sir Mawrice Berkley, - against ecclesiastical Courts. -

More Charge to the Subjects than Four Subsidies. -

1. Cited ex officio, without any Accuser.

Secondly, 160 at a Time cited, and, though no Cause, pay Fees.

Thirdly, ***

Fourthly, Commutation of Penance. -

Moveth a Commitment to some to draw a Bill.

Religion.

Mr. Wentworth : - The general Offer good, for Merchants as well as Landholders; and for all, if we not wanting to ourselves. - The general Good of the Country. -

Four Heads:

1. Religion. - 1. Truth of Religion, which established,

No Cross upon the Bread at the Communion. 2. Growth of Religion. - Resteth much upon the Ministers. - Ability, Fidelity, - Ability two parts : Learning, Diligence. - No Proceeding against Non-residents sithence 26 H. VIII. -

Moveth for a Committee, for the growth of Religion, and the Causes of the Hindrance thereof. -

Religion the Root of Justice. - Judges, Sheriffs, Witnesses. - No Danger to the Peace of the Land, but for want of Religion. - Great Men in Danger this Way, or those that lie in their Bosoms. - The Root of the Powder Treason not dead. -

So for Plenty : For Hope of that, when we at Peace with God. -

Marriage of Princess Elizabeth.

Moveth for a Message of a Declaration of the Thanks of the House, for his Majesty's Choice of the Match of his Daughter, for Religion, and for the Writing of his Books against, the Pope, and for his Justice in * and Challenges, &c. - Provision for Fish, &c.

Mr. Hoskins; - Standeth not up to start a new Motion.

Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction.

- In the ecclesiastical Jurisdiction clavis ordinis, clavis jurisdictionis. In the first, ordaining of Ministers, &c.

In the latter, the Proceedings in legal Course. -

Take him Sheriff in the temporal, take him Devil in the ecclesiastical. - Stept to Hell with One Foot, standeth on the Earth with the other. -

At the Common Law dismissed, at a common Person's Suit with Cost; contrary in the other. -

Here the Penalty to the Informer, or King; there to the Party, that is the Judge. -

Reformation ; That Men may not be called for small Matters, and dismissed without Costs, if wrongful; and that Excommunication be not awarded so ordinarily, or upon so small Causes.

Supply.

Mr. Secretary: - If but a private Person, and not so bound by Duty, his Motion would not be so jealously entertained. -

As a Secretary of Estate, not for the private of the King, but for the public of the Commonwealth. - That the State cannot, without Redress of those Miseries, we are under. - They ill Members, that, to enrich the King's Coffers, ransack and ransome the Subjects. - The Strength of the King in the Wealth and Love of his Subjects. - Hath taken rectam & regiam viam, by calling the Parliament. -

Nemo tenetur suam turpitudinem revelare. - The King's Debts shall be made known by such to whom they belong. -

His Navy, the Walls of our Country, never in better Equipage; yet in such Necessity, as long sithence dissolved, if special Care had not been had. -

The cautionary Towns, for want of Pay, like to mutiny. -

Ireland, not a Thorn in our Foot, but a Lance in our Sides. If a Revolt there, what Shame and Disgrace would be either to leave it, or Misery to recover it? -

That the last disorderly Parliament there hath awakened Tyron, who now treateth with the Pope, to come next Summer. -

That all ill-affected there expect the Issue of this Parliament. -

His Majesty's Charge in Germany, for settling the right Inheritors there. -

A new Attempt to surprise the Castle of Julian, which the King bound by his League -

The State of Fraunce. - The Custom of Spayne to fish in troubled Waters. - If, by the double Marriage, he take Part, the King must needs become a Party, though with the Charge of a royal Army. -

The Superfluities of One Year, of any Man, in his Table, Apparel, &c. will discharge the King's Debt, and protect us, and all our Privileges. -

That we now, by our Poverty, exposed in all other Parts to Contempt and Scorn. -

That his Majesty's Grace offered us, may be termed another Magna Charta. -

The Marriage of his Daughter a great Cause of this Debt. - That the Pope never so great a Blow as by that Match, that made him banish so dear a Daughter from so indulgent a Father. -

A cheerful and speedy Contribution, but with Conveniency. -

Great Joy to all when heard abroad, that all Differences between the King and his Subjects -

Sir James Perrott: - That a sudden Answer would savour of Rashness. - To further all the good Motions.

- Many of his Majesty's Graces to good Use for divers; most to Landholders; some to particular Places. - The general Offer the principal Hope. - Moveth for a special Committee, to consider of these gracious Offers; and to receive such Petitions as shall be offered, and come within the Compass of his Majesty's Offer. -

For the Choice of the Committees; for that most chosen about the Chair; the lower not heard, or not respected; moveth for the indifferent naming of Committees.

Mr. Fuller: - The King requireth Love, with Sincerity ; with the Love of God, that maketh every Man give other his Due. - Direction of the Lord Chancellor.

- Benevolence with Prudence. - Regard the Head, as not neglect the Body. - Not an affectionate Love, but a judicial Love. - This not to hinder, but further, the Benevolence. - To measure therefore the Benevolence by the Benefits. - To stay a while, till the Bills come in; that so a better Ground to give more.

Mr. Chancellor: - Not only the Duty to the King, but Care to the Country (for which his Life) moveth him to inform the House of what he knoweth they will be glad to hear. - No Safety to any Counsel of this House while the other Motion for Supply of the King deferred.

- 1,500 poor Mariners ready to salute them every Morning : Others, for want of Money, ready to pull off his Gown. - Not of private Expences, or Houshold; but of Navy, Forts. - Dover Castle like to fall down; Two or Three in the Isle of Wight accordingly. - For Ireland, like to be hazarded, for want of Money. The like for the Garrisons in Flushing, and Brill, Pledges for almost 700,000 l. - If abruptly these Things spoken. Fear and Trembling of the Consequence of the Cause. - If undertaken now, many Months e'er Money will come in.

Offereth the Disclosing of the Particulars of the Debts to any privately, and of the Assurance of well disposing when it is granted. Moveth for a Committee for this, and for the Graces offered by the King. - Not agreeable with the King's Pleasure, to ask what they will give, nor to disclose the King's Debt; but a Committee and a Sub-committee.

Mr. Hoskyns: - 1. Divers not yet come. 2. The House not yet called. 3. The Receiving of the Communion. - As in the primitive Church, the Offering to come after. - Moveth a deferring of it.

Mr. Attorney : - Sithence they pleased to retain him, the best Offices he can; if dismissed him, the best Wishes he could. -

All pertinent Speeches to One of these Three Ends: 1. Information of the Matter: 2. To persuade Consent: 3. To trace out the best Means to effect the Thing propounded. -

Little remaining to him in any of these Three Kinds. The first already delivered by them to whom properly belongeth. - To consider what hangeth over us, viz. Danger; what upon us. Want. -

Some Times of Peace, for Defence, a Supply of Treasure, as well as some times of War; which sometime upon a Flag of Glory, or Flash of Revenge, which may be pursued, or left, at Pleasure. But when a State, environed with envious Foreigners on the One Part, and Encroachments on Matter of Trade on the other Side, and Religion so much questioned; our Peace may flatter us, not secure us. - The States of Europe never so dark. - To look a Year before him, trouble the best Watchman in Europe. - Provision of Arms for travelling in the Night, as well as going to War. - What Treaty with Strangers, for Wrongs, but basely on our Part, and gloriously of their Part, while we in Wants? No private Man more subject to Sheriffs, than a State, in Want, to Surprizes. - Treasure as a Ballast of a Ship.

2. Persuasion here needless and unwise. - A wise Man should make a Fire: for can let it alone, when burneth well, - The Fire of your Affections kindled by the King's Speech. - The King's Graces shine and warm: No need of a little Burning-glass. The King hath made such a Track in almost all the Points of his Prerogative, as the Footsteps of King James, will ever remain. - Joy to him, that this done, when he the Procurator of the King's Prerogative. The King's Prerogative groweth stronger by Continuance; not like a Bow-string, or Watch. Contrary here; for more now, than at first. - That, when his Means shall abound, he will in Grace super-abound.

The Means, a Committee; but of the whole House. -

The King distinguished between Laws of Bargain, and mutual Affection. One holdeth hard; the other passeth over itself, and careth for the other. In a Bargain, the last Word an Advantage; contrary here. - Dulcis tractus pari jugo. - The King's Business and Commonwealth, to go together: As an Inception from the King for the One, so to be done in the other. - No particular Committee, nor Sub-committee ; but the whole House.

Sir Rich. Weston: - Not to divert the Committee, but to remove Impediments that may hinder or confound, the Counsels. - Care to maintain the Privileges of Election; now of Freedom of Speech, and delivering of Opinions. Many accused, to come purposely for the King; others against him. Gestures, Words, construed.

- No Man ever spake with more Regard of Dignity to this House. - Whosoever - Advantage of any Interest he got last Parliament, unworthy of Voice here.

Sir G. Moore: - Liberty of Speech every Man's Right here; but Interpretation in best Sense, Favour of the House. - Sent hither from all the Commons of the Kingdom. - Our principal Care to speak from the Commonwealth that continually speaketh to us. In the Multitude of Counsellors, Health. - Wants of the King, Dangers of the State, related already. - The Public ever foremost. - With this for the King. - The House full. - Ever some wanting. - Undertakers. - That cleared by his Majesty's Speech. - Delay, some Disgrace; Commitment, a Grace. - Moveth, these Things may go on pari passu: One Day for the One, the other Day for the other : His Majesty's Offer, first Day.

Mr. Serjeant Mountague: - Quorsum purgatio haec? - That cleared by the King. - No Offer to him : - A Baseness in him to have accepted it; but would despise a Supply from a packed Parliament. - Ut res, ita tempora rerum. - Of velle, no Question; of quando, the Question.

- Tarde velle, nolentis est. - Hopeth, that shall not be here. The Course now propounded, the likeliest. Precedents for it. - 35o Eliz. - 19o Febr, first Setting: - 26o after Sir Ro. Cecyll having in Four Parliaments said nothing, but Yea and No, then did what Mr. Secretary now. - Upon that Motion, entered into. - The King's Desire now, Alacrity and Sincerity. -

Moveth to consider of the King's Offers of Grace, which before Magna Charta; for that but to declare, this to reform, the Common Law. All the Bills for that framed, - Moveth, 1. to read those Bills in the Morning, the Supply in the Afternoon.

Sir Ro. Rich: - That it may be put off till Monday, that the Communion be past.

Mr. Ashley, accordant. - The King pater patrice; communis parens ; therefore all good Children to relieve him.

- Moveth for Sir Rich. Weston's Motion to succeed ; for that such Undertaking may be with others, or amongst themselves. - Moveth for a Mis-report of his Speech Yesterday to his Majesty. - Resolved to be poor; easy to be honest. - His Estate such as he will not exchange for the new Fire-stamp of that honourable Person that mis-reported to his Majesty.

Mr. Duncombe: - Old Stock. - If fall out of the old Stamp, he shall be as glad, as he. - A general Rumour that some engaged. - Moveth, if any guilty, he may, in the House, clear himself from that Imputation. -

Putting on too fast, may cool the Fire. - For those Things already offered, confesseth his Ignorance, but understandeth no great Comfort in those Things already propounded.

Sir Herbert Croftes: - Desirous to speak; for more Cause for him than any other ; for Occasion given to him, that offered to no Men else; else no Cause for him to excuse, where no Men accuseth him. - He saluted by the Name of an Undertaker. - Feareth, if this not cleared, great Prejudice to his Majesty's Service. The King branded whomsoever should undertake it, with the Name of a proud Fool, - in respect of secondary Means.

Mr. Connocke: - That this Contracting sticketh in the House, though he believeth it not. - 1. In se foolish. 2. That the only Way to have crossed the Thing intended. -

Moveth, the Memory of this may be banished out of the House, and Distrust out of our Hearts.

Mr. Finch: - Agreed generally, to relieve bountifully, chearfully, and speedily. The Manner questionable : The Time but a Circumstance. - Love casteth out Fear: Our Love to the King should cast Fear away, that the Things offered should not take effect. - Primum quaerite regnum Dei: - Intentione, non actu. - Moveth a Commitment presently.

Sir Maur. Berkley moveth, his Majesty may be moved that no Entertainment of any ill Report, till his Majesty advertised of the Certainty by Mr. Speaker; and for a Motion to clear the Undertaking.

Mr. Alford, - for Mis-reports. - Woe to them, that lay Snares for Men in their Words. - Not a new Manner of Parliament, to offer only those Things propounded. - The Times of 35 Eliz. great Wards; now Times of Peace. - Moveth, we no further pressed upon the present, as breeding Jealousy; but that we may go on with united Hearts.

Mr. Moore: - Against going to the King, because cleared already by the King : No excusing by any, because none accused. - His Advice, to observe, if any such may be started, he may be noted, and his Voice and Endeavours neglected. -

Moveth, for the other, these Things, for the King and Commonwealth, may go Hand in Hand. -

The King's general Offer, besides the particular. - Moveth to defer it till Monday,

Sir Robert Maunsell: - Never stood up with more Comfort ; because every Man's Mouth, opened, hath spoken for Advancement of his Service. - Moveth to have the Undertaking cleared; else a great Rub to his Majesty's Service. - Not possible, a Thought of Undertaking should enter into any Man's Conceit. - Doubts this Smoke hath proceeded from the Fire of some popish Spirit, &c.

Mr. Crew: - Undertakers, in this Kind, Overtakers of themselves. - The Counsel of the honourable and worthy Persons. - Holdeth the Counsel good, not seasonable yet. The Course, to propound the Wants of his Majesty, so done now. - Answereth the Precedent of 35 Eliz. by the imminent Dangers of Ireland. - Not standing with the Order of the House to commit it yet. - Ninus propere, minus prospere. -

The Country sent us hither; the Holydays at hand, when Intermission. - If the Country possessed with the King's Graces, and that we are about them, the Country will be willinger to grant. -

If Cries for Pay, Cries from the Poor for Meat; this not to hinder the Voice. - But spoken for the Order of the House, - Read the Bills doubly in a Day, send them to the Lords, and then proceed to the other.

Mr. Whitlocke : - Purgatio catholica. - Undertakers with an Army. - The King's Grace - our Acceptation, and Desire to enlarge them. Secondly, the King's Supply. Thirdly, Desire of Justice for Grievances. - To give, resolved; quantum, uncertain. - To give, sub modo ; that it may be disposed to the End, for which given; and to give him, and then require Justice. - Moveth, sithence his Majesty hath begun to us, we should begin to him, especially sithence the Time of Absence.

Sir Roger Owen: - That fit, Mr. Ashley should be cleared.

Mr. Brooke: - Supply to arise out of Compassion of his Wants; secondly, out of Gratulation for his Confluence of Grace. - Moveth for a Remonstrance to his Majesty, that this House may be cleared, that they proceed merely out of Love, by no Man's Undertaking.

Sir Dudley Digges: - Comfort, that not One Voice against the King's Supply. - Almost an Undertaker; and such an Undertaker, as advising the Parliament to be called, for Ease of the Subjects Grievances, and Supply of the King's Wants. -

Moveth, the Privy Council may relate the Substance of the Remonstrance desired; but a Caveate to them, that no particular Man's Speech be hereafter related, to this House; for, with Reverence to their Places, an ill Office ; therefore Mr. Ashley to be cleared in due Time.

Sir Francis Goodwyn: - A Precedent last Parliament,

concordant with that is moved now; but moveth a Reference till after Easter, lest the great Questions of quantum, et, sub modo. - To have now a Time prefixed, when to treat of this; viz. the Monday Sevennight after Easter: Then special Order for the Entry, that in due Time. -

Sir H. Anderson : - Not above Four Knights or Burgesses in the Four Counties next him, that dwell in those Counties : Moveth therefore a Stay.

Sir Ed. Sands : - That the King desired nothing but with the Love of his People, and for their Good. - That Sir W. Mildmay, dissuading a giving of extraordinary Number of Subsidies, wished the House to give his Majesty their Hearts; for then their Purses would be his.

- Moveth a clearing of the Suspicion of Undertaking. - Not backing of a Parliament, for Noblemen to write Letters to them to whom they bound in Love; but to press with Letters, or by Fear, &c. that Packing. - Remembereth Sir H. Anderson's, Relation. -

Moveth a Message to the King; not by the Privy Council; for that only the Course for Things passed only within this House. - Grieved, that divers of the most worthy Members of the last and this Parliament, should be so unthankfully dealt with, as to be traduced as Undertakers, till their own Actions discover them. - Moveth a select Committee to consider of a Message to clear this : Offereth a Project of it. - Great Wrong done the last Parliament, by misreporting the Speeches of many Members of this House. - Moveth the Deferring the Treaty of the Supply till after Easter, for the Reasons rendered by Mr. Crew.

Sir Edw. Mountague: - Not fit yet to grow to any Question : The Time not yet fit. The King hath cleared us; let not the Country accuse us. - So moveth, the Question may be deferred.

Sir Jo. Sammes: - Free-born. - Requireth Liberty of a Freeman, to be heard to speak. - Yielded at all Hands, that a Supply. - Wisheth, neither Heart nor Mouth, which of another Mind.