House of Commons Journal Volume 1: 27 March 1621

Martis, 27o Martii

Secret Offices, &c.

L. 1a. AN Act against secret Offices and Inquisitions, to be taken on his Majesty's behalf, to the Prejudice of his Subjects.

Pomfrett and Ilchester Franchises.

Sir Geor. Moore reporteth from the Committee for Privileges; That, for Pomfrett, that 26 Ed. I. it sent Burgesses ; which continued a good while after. That, by Reason of the Barons Wars, it grew poor. That 10 and 11 H. VI. a Return made, they could not send Burgesses, by Reason of their Poverty. That 4 Jac. the King granted them all their former Liberties and Customs, notwithstanding they had been forfeited, or lost. That the Committee thinketh it to stand both with Law and Justice, that a Writ should go for Choice of Burgesses. -

For Ilchester: - Till H. V. Time sent Burgesses.

Upon Question, Pomfrett to send Burgesses.

Upon like Question, Ilchester to send Burgesses. - And Writs for both.

Hindon Election.

Sir H. Poole moveth, where Three returned for Hindon, a Course to be taken in it.

Sir Jo. Davys: - That no Question, but the Election of the first Two good, and of Sir ... Ludlow, who was last chosen, void. - That he hath elected another Place, therefore a new Writ to go for him.

Mr. Recorder: - That clearly void, if Three chosen at a Time. If Two first, and then a third ; then the first Election of the Two, good ; of the third, void.

Mr. Brooke: - To give them a Day to interplead ; and, if they then come not, then a Writ for a new Election of both.

Ordered, They come at the first Sitting of the Committee for Privilege ; or else the House will proceed to take some final Course in it.

Wadham College.

L. 3a. An Act for the Confirmation of Wadham College in Oxford, and the Possessions thereof: - Upon Question, passed.

Stewart's, &c. Nat.

L. 3a. An Act for the Naturalization of Sir Francis Stewart Knight, Walter Stewart, James Maxwell, and Wm. Carre, Esquires: - Upon Question, passed.

Motion for Thanks to Lords.

Sir Nath. Rich: - To give Thanks to the Lords, for their great Pains in Sir G. Monperson's Case, and their great Respects to this House.: To acknowlege the Justice of their Judgment, and that we are satisfied therewith : And, that this Sentence may be published, for the Satisfaction of the good, and Discouragement of evil-affected Persons.

Mr. Brooke: - Not to thank the Lords for doing Justice. - That we have done to the Lords as much, as we to them, by shewing them the Precedents, which, per-adventure, they knew not before, - Concurreth, for the Acknowlegement of the Justice of their Judgment.

Monperson's Debts.

Mr. Alford: - That Sir G. Monperson much indebted. - To have the King someways acquainted with his Debts ; and that due Debts may not, by this Means, be lost; which never intended by the Parliament.

Mr. Recorder, accordant with Sir N. Rich.

Licensed Inns, &c.

Sir H. Poole: - That, in this Conference, there may be a Proposition for the Putting down again of these licensed Inns; which will give the Country great Satisfaction.

Mr. Treasurer : - That the King intendeth to help this.

Sir Edw. Mountague : - That Yesterday we gave the Lords Thanks enough. That Things stand well as now.

Conference.

The whole House went up to confer with the Lords, according to Appointment Yesterday.

Warden of the Fleete.

Two Petitions against the Warden of the Fleete, read; with several Affidavits.

Conference reported.

Sir Edw. Coke reporteth from the Conference with the Lords ; That the Lord Treasurer, from the Lords, said, as the Jews Hearts brent, when they spake with Christ, going to Emaus; so they, to hear the King Yesterday, in his Royal Seat. -

King's Speech.

That the King, at his first Coming to this Parliament, came to inform himself of the Abuses ; now to execute Punishment. - Would add, to their Punishment, Banishment of him out of all his Dominions. -

Two Causes of his now Coming: First, to thank God : next, as a Head of the Body.- - That he said, in the Word of an honest Man, and a Christian King, he would have reformed all these Things before the Parliament, if he had known it; and ashamed it had not been done. -

Came not now to break, but stablish Privileges. - That he had set his only Son among them. -

That the Commons House had shewed, in this Parliament, more Respect and Duty to him, than any before. -

For Offences against his Person, merciful; - Two received to be his Pensioners, who in Goury his Conspiracy. - For Offences against the Commonwealth, would be severe. -

That the King spake pleasantly, and pleasingly, that the Parliament had bribed his Son, he was so forward in furthering all parliamentary Businesses. -

Named also the Lord Admiral: - That he had done many good Offices in this Kind. -

That the King mentioned Alehouses; which we never acquainted the Lords with. -

That would cry down, by Proclamation, the Inns, Alehouses, and gold and silver Thread ; and would use the Help of the Commons in it.

Commended the Bill of Informers.

That cosened in these Patents, as in the Coppices within his Forests ; which fair without, bitten and spoiled within -

For Bills of Conformity, shewed his great Dislike. -

Descended to direct the Lords to do bonum, and bene.

- Not to inflict new Punishments, but to follow Precedents. - Advised, to advise with the Judges; and an Imprecation against the Judges, if they advised not as they thought. -

That Sir H. Yelverton drew the Warrant dormant; who, though a Prisoner in the Tower, yet left him to Justice and due Proceedings.

Took so great Joy and Comfort in his Subjects, that now they knew one another, if he were by Election, they would chuse him and no other.

Lord Treasurer, concerning Empson and Dudley : -

That he indicted proditorie - No Indictment without the Consent of the Judges, for alienating the People's Hearts, by denying them Justice, &c. -

That the King repeated it oft; no Person so near, or dear, to him, that he would respect, in Comparison with the Commonwealth. -

Added to his Punishment, to banish Sir G. M. out of all his Dominions. -

That the Lords sent Yesterday Thanks to him by the Prince; for which Re-thanks:

l. For their Thanks: And then for their Messenger. - A Craft, to use his Son to catch him.

King's Speech.

Sir Edw. Sands observeth, Sir Edw. Coke had no Direction from the House, to make the Report. -

In this Report, 1. His Majesty's Speech, in the Upper House, to the Lords; yet, in the principal Parts, concerned this House. - That Praises to present Persons oft a Curse; hereto us, absent, a Blessing. - l. His Majesty's Acceptance of our free Gift. 2ly, His Majesty's Commiseration of the Grievances of his Subjects. 3ly, His Majesty's preventing Care of these, expressed, in that he said, he would have punished these, if had known them, before the Parliament. -

That the Lords have given Thanks to the King, by the Prince ; we to do no less ; the Speech being rather more noble to us, than to the Lords. - Mr. Speaker, with the whole House, to attend his Majesty, to give him Thanks.

Message from Lords.

A Message by the Lords, by Mr. Serjeant Crew, and Mr. Attorney-general; That they, desiring to continue and confirm all good Correspondency with this House, let them know, they intend to break up this Forenoon: Are ready to receive any thing we shall have Occasion to send to them, if any thing to be sent; else, wish all Happiness to this House, both in their Recess, and Access again to Parliament.

King's Speech, &c.

Sir Ro. Phillippes : - That this last Part the Close of the Lords Speech, though omitted by Sir... Cooke. -

That no Course yet, for the Inns and Alehouses. - To propound that to the Lords.

Sir Edw. Coke: - A Retribution of Thanks to the Lords, by our own Messengers.

Mr. Speaker to the Messengers; That we will send Answer by our own Messengers.

Mr. Secretary to go with a Message to the Lords:

1. That we intend to break up this Forenoon : And some Matter of Compliment.

Ditto.

Sir Edw. Mountague: - This to be now a kind Parting.

Master of the Wards: - To have the King moved concerning the Matter of Concealments.

Sir Ro. Phillippes; - Though much honoureth the Lords, who the Conduits of the King's Speech; yet wisheth, had heard the King's own Speech. - That Life in it. -

That that, spoken by Sir Edw. Coke, may be supplied, and enlarged. - That the King wished, that his gracious Intentions, in reforming these Abuses, might be generally made known. -

That the King said, as he hoped, this would prove the most happy Parliament, that ever; so hitherto the most Respects to him, from the Commons, that ever he had any here. -

That the King offered, we should draw up the Proclamation against these Three Patents : and he would give Life to it, without Alteration. -

That the King said, he now began to find himself a Freeman, by the Freedom from Importunity of Suitors, upon this stifling and judging the Patents here. -

That, as we participate of no less Benefit or Comfort, than the Lords, so our Retribution of Thanks may be no less by Mr. Speaker.

Sir W. Heale: - To have some Two or Three Gentlemen present some Thanks to the Prince, to his Highness' Favour in all these Parliamentary Proceedings.

Sir Edw. Gyles: - To go to the King in a fitting Time- - Moveth, we might get this his Majesty's Speech here; and to be registered here fairly in Parchment, with Letters of Gold. - To think of a Course for Proclamations for Inns, Alehouses, &c.

Sir Edw. Coke: - To consider of the Time. - The Speaker to speak to the King. - A learned King.

Sir Geor. Moore: - First we must get Liberty of the King for Access.

Adjournment.

Mr. Secretary reporteth from the Lords, that he told them of the Resolution of the House this Forenoon to breakup; and, as this Parliament the happiest Parliament hitherto. -

Trinity-house.

Mr. Secretary complaineth, that, where he brought a Message from the King, concerning the Iron Ordnance, and Carriages, the Spanish Ambassador -

That he never made any Report from the King, against the Trinity-house; but that the Report thereof was by Mr. Treasurer.

- That a Sub-committee, to be appointed by the Grand Committee, on Thursday next shall examine the Petition of the Trinity-house, against the next Access.

Thanks to the King.

Sir James Perrott; - To have some few go into the Committee Chamber, to consider, and set down, -

1. For Calling the Parliament: 2. For Allowance of our Privileges : 3ly, .....

To desire his Majesty, his last Speech may be printed.

Sir Ed. Coke: - To thank the King, 1. For calling the Parliament: 2ly, For allowing of our Privilege: 3ly, For ..... 4ly, For his Presence twice : 5ly, For his ..... 61y, For his Son's Presence.

Statutes.

Mr. Hackwyll: - That the Committee, about Statutes, may meet To-morrow, at Nine of the Clock in the Forenoon, in the Inner Temple Hall; and Mr. Noye to be then there.

Abuses in the Fleete.

Sir H. Lillo told by Mr. Speaker, that divers great Complaints against the Warden of the Fleete: Therefore he, being the Owner, and the Warden but a Lessee; the Lessee charged with Offences of Murther and Robbery, and with great Offences of Oppression of his Prisoners -

Sir H. Lillo: - That he hath offered to abate him some Rent, to be good to his poor Prisoners. - Refuseth to give his Word for the Warden his forth-coming ; but will undertake the Custody of the Prison, if this House shall order him to do it.

King appoints to be attended.

Master of the Wards: - That the King is pleased to admit Mr. Speaker, with the House, between One and Two of the Clock this Afternoon, in the Presence Chamber.

Warden of the Fleete

Warden of the Fleete enjoined, till the next Access, to use his Prisoners mercifully, as a Christian ought to do.

Thanks, particular, and general.

King's Speech.

Upon Question, whether Request to be made by the Speaker, for his Majesty's Speech, the House divided :

Tellers for the Yea, Lord Cavendish, Sir H. Poole :

With the Yea, 60.

Tellers for the Noe, Sir Fr. Barrington, Sir Jerome Horsey:

With the Noe : 97.

Difference, 36.

Adjournment.