House of Commons Journal Volume 1: 06 February 1621

Martis, 6 Februarii

Warrant for Writs.

Mr. Speaker moveth (according to former Order of the House) for a general Warrant, for Warrants for a new Writ, upon a double Return, where the Party elected maketh his Choice openly in the House, or void, upon Death, during this Session of Parliament: And granted.

Members make Election.

Mr. Ferror maketh his Election for Tamworth.

Mr. Beecher, for Leymster.

Sir Francis Fane, for Carlyle in . . . : .

Sir Tho. Cheeke, for Harwich in Essex.

Informers, &c.

Sir H. Poole tendereth Two Bills: 1. An Act - Informers, &c.

Fines, &c.

2. Levying Fines, &c. in other Names. .

Promoters.

2. Against Promoters. - Like the Frogs in Egypt.

Bills.

Sir Wm. Brereton offereth Four Bills.

Members to be sent for.

Sir Geor. Moore: - That any Members of the House, being in Town, and not attending here, the Serjeant to be sent for them.

Sir Ro. Phillippes moveth, a Gentleman may be sent for and nameth Sir Edw. Sands.

Sir Sam. Sands sheweth the Cause of Sir Edw. Sands Absence : His Business about the Virginia Business: A Patent now drawing about it. Desireth to excuse him, till that Business over.

Sir Edw. Gyles: - Virginia not to keep him from England.

The Serjeant to be sent for all the Members of the House, now in Town, as well Lawyers, as others, to be here presently, and to attend every Day.

Sir Sam. Sands: - This not to extend to Mr. Secretary Nanton.

Mr. Alford: - This not to be put to the Question, but referred to the Committee for Privileges.

Prebends of Westminster.

Mr. Speaker acquainteth the House with a Petition from the Prebends of Westminster, - That they all Jurisdiction in that Church. - Except against Dr. Usher ; and that, except One of them might preach, no other should ; and offer the College Church with ordinary -

Sir Edw. Sackvyle: - Another Place, and the same Man.

The Temple Church to be the Place for the Sermon, and Communion, on Sunday next: - Resolved.

Scarcity of Coin.

M. Glanvyle offereth the Consideration of the Coin of England. - The Supply being a principal Means of calling the Parliament; if not sufficient to the Kingdom, as hopeth there is. -

That a great Scarcity of Money. 1. Tenants give up their Farms. Fall of Land from Twenty Years Purchase to Nineteen, Eighteen, and to Thirteen. - The Mint not gone many Years.

The Causes : Some think too much carried Northward ; others, too much Prodigality, in Apparel, &c. others, Excess of Plate. - Serving in Silver. - The East India Company specially a Patent to carry out Coin : For a Cessation of the Mint only sithence. - Their Confidence, to defend it against all. - The Money not hence, but aliunde: But a Forestaller as great Offender, as a

Regrator. - Moveth, a select Committee, to examine, whether want of Coin or net; and how it groweth. - The East India Company to bring their Patent to the Committee.

Sir Wm. Spencer addeth the Patent to stop Importation of Venice Gold, and to make gold and silver Lace of our Bullion; whereby 40,000l. per Annum lost yearly in Bullion.

Mr. Alford moveth, a select Committee first, to prepare, and then a Committee of the whole House.

Sir Edw. Sackvyle: - That the Parties, to whom the Patent for gold and silver Thread and Lace - His Majesty cannot do it of himself, but must refer it. - That therefore it may be examined by the Committee, who they were, to whom it was referred; that so his Majesty may be cleared, and the Saddle set on the right Horse.

Sir Giles Monperson addeth a general Power, to consider of all Means of this want ot Bullion: All the Finers to this End, to be called before the Committee; and that the Merchants, trading into foreign Parts, may be spoken with. - The King could never find out the Cause. - That the Superfluity in our State great. - Whether the Staple Commodities of our Kingdom be now to be vented Abroad; which our Mines.

Sir Wm. Strowde: - That no Parties interessed in these [Patents] may be Committees.

Sir Tho. Hobby, accordant.

Sir Edw. Mountague: - That this Matter already committed in the Commitment of Grievances. And Resolved, That all those Motions be referred to the former of Grievances.

Standing in the Entry.

Sir Francis Barrington moveth against standing in the the Entry: And Resolved, None shall stand here.

Informers, &c.

L.1. An Act against certain troublesome Persons, commonly called Relators, Informers, and Promoters.

Sir Edw. Coke: - His Majesty's Care great against these People. The Law . . . Eliz. a Back-door. Thirteen . Cornish Men fetched up hither; the weightiest Cause not above 40s. Value. - Vendere Larem. - He hath divers Notes of Abuses with Tickets, &c. - Justices of Assise, and of the Peace, fittest to try this. - Will bring out those Notes, which he hath sent down by the Consent of the Judges.

Sea Marks, &c.

L. 1. An Act for the Explaining and Enlarging of a Statute, made in the Eighth Year of the Reign of the late Queen Elizabeth, intituled, An Act concerning Sea Marks, and Mariners.

Limitation of Actions.

L. 2. An Act for Limitation of Actions, and for avoiding of Suits in Law. -

Sir Edw. Coke: - In his own Element. - The Cause of the Broil in Men's Inheritance, the Formedones; to which the First Part of the Bill. Every Action, real or mixed, limited. The Writ of Right limited to Sixty Years; but, if his Entry lawful, may enter after 300 Years. Nevill. - Formedone, a Fellow not to be bridled by any the Limitations, because, by Construction, the Formedone out of the Statute: This now met with by this Bill. - W. de longa spatha, might have a Formedone. -

Liketh well the Bill, for personal Actions in genere; which never limited to any Time. - 10l. for a Penny Damage, Forty Years after, when his Witnesses dead. - Liketh better the Provision against the brabling Bill. -

Disliketh the confining an Action of Account, which an Infant may have; who is he, that is within 21 Years. - To give him Six Years after his full Age. - When a young Parliament-man, would never speak against it, till the third Reading. -

Committed to Sir Edw. Cooke, Sir Geor. Moore, Sir Edw. Mountague, Sir Tho. Hobby, Sir Tho. Wentworth, Mr. Crew, Mr. Glanvyle, Mr. Hackwill, Mr. Alford, Sir Tho. Trevor, Mr. Taylor, Sir Francis Vane, Sir H. Poole, Mr. Noye, Sir Tho. Thynn, Attorney of the Duchy, Sir Jo. Walter, Sir Tho. Wyse, Sir Jo. Strangwish, Mr. Chancellor of the Duchy, Mr. Solicitor, Sir Gervase Clifton, Sir Benjamin Rudyard, Mr. Clench, Sir War. Heale, Mr. Shervyle, Mr. Leving, Serjeant Trowse: - Saturday, Two Clock, Exchequer Chamber.

Fines, &c.

L. 1. Act against such, as shall levy any Fine, suffer any Recovery, or acknowlege any Statute in other Men's Names.