House of Commons Journal Volume 1: 04 June 1621

Lunae, 4o Junii

Privilege.

Mr. Hackwill moveth the Business concerning Johnson, Sir J. Whitlock's Man. - Contemptuous Words. - The whole Execution paid, and * more, for Fees.

Books to be delivered.

Mr. Recorder moveth, the Books for the silver Thread [may] be delivered, that remain in this House: And Ordered.

Privilege.

Moore and Locke called to the Bar, and kneeling, Moore confesseth, he arrested Johnson. - Deny the speaking of the Words against this House: Confess, they heard at that Time, Sir J. Whitlocke. -

Robert Shipwash : - That not present at the Arrest; but, after the Arrest, he spake with them, at my Lady Whitlocke's Request. - He paid the Execution, being 12 l. odd Money. -

That he told them, he thought them to have committed an Error, because Sir J. Whitlocke then a Parliament-man ; and that Fulkes said, they had known greater Men's Men, than Sir J. Whitlocke, taken from their Master's Heels in Parliament-time.

Jo. Orbe: - That Moore spake such Words.

Sir Nath. Rich: - To have them lie a Fortnight in the common Gaol at Newgate, and then be dismissed.

Upon the Question, these Two Men, at the Bar, to ask Forgiveness of the House, and of Sir J. Whitlocke, upon their Knees. -

Sir E. Villyers.

Sir Ro. Crew and Sir Wm. Byrd bring from the Lords a Message ; That they find Sir Edw. Villyers clear from the Offences related to them from this House:

Informers.

And deliver the Bill of Informers, with some Alterations in the Body, and some Additions. Which resolved to rest till the next Access. -

Privilege - Punishing Moore, &c.

Sir Guy Palmes: - To have them ride upon an Horse here, Back to Back, with Papers. Sir Jo. Strangwayes: - To have them ride, with Papers here. Back to Back, and Papers -

Sir Sam. Sands: - Only to commit them. - To part with Peace, and Favour.

Sir Edw. Cecill, accordant, for Example's Sake.

Sir Tho. Wentworth, contra: - Because Fulke the Principal, and these but the Accessaries.

Sir Ro. Crane, as Sir Edw. Cecill.

Upon Question, both these to ride upon One Horse, bare-backed. Back to Back, from Westminster to the Exchange, with Papers on their Breasts, with this Inscription :

"For arresting a Servant to a Member of the Commons House of Parliament." This to be done presently, sedente Curia.

And this their Judgment was pronounced by Mr. Speaker to them, at the Bar, accordingly.

For Fulkes: - To be apprehended, and brought * against the next Access.

A Warrant sent to the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex accordingly, [the] same having been presently drawn by the Clerk.

King's Answer to Petitions, &c.

Mr. Solicitor reporteth. - That every Word that fell from the King, of that Weight, as not fit to vary from it. -

That which to be delivered his Majesty, of Two Parts : l. Thanks to his Majesty, for all his gracious Favours, in calling us together, during this Sitting, and now for his last Election given us. -

The Prince the Thanks-giver : The Petitions, by the Archbishop. -

That his Majesty most graciously accepted our Thanks, both in respect of the Message, and Messenger. -

That the Archbishop presented Three Petitions, with a short Preface of Excuse, for our not tendering his Majesty Bills now. That he distributed our Three Petitions, into the Wealth, and Strength, of the Kingdom. For the first, Liberty of Trade: And the Matter of Money : And Matter of Iron Ordnance ; which might weaken us, and strengthen our Enemies - That he represented to his Majesty the Decay of Trade, especially of our Out-ports:

- Decay of Habitants there, and Shipping. - That the Bulk of Cloth might, during this Recess, be reserved to the Company of Merchants; yet others might have Liberty for Bays, Sayes, and other Manufacture of Wool:

- That the King's Custom would be much increased thereby. That great Want of Money at home, and Doubt of great Exportation abroad. That our Iron Ordnance appropriated by God to us; now, for Gain, so much transported, if (which we would ever pray against) those, which now our Friends, should turn our Enemies, they would be better armed with them, than ourselves. - That the Bishop concluded with a Prayer from both Houses, for his Majesty's long and prosperous Reign, in Peace,

Prosperity, and Religion: To which a general Amen by the Lords and Commons there present. -

That the Bishop, put in mind thereof by the Prince, declared, that the Choice being left to the Lords, and they conferring with the Commons, they had elected rather an Adjournment without Bills, than some Bills, and a Session a Fortnight hence; because, being diverted out of the Course of our Business, we could not now so readily fit ourselves again to it. -

That the Lord Treasurer made an Addition, of the Discontinuance of Committees, Delivery up of Bills to the Clerks, &c.

That the Effect of the King's Answer of Two Parts: 1. To the Adjournment: 2ly, To the Petitions. For the first, he vouchsafed to begin, to pray us to remove all Jealousies, and to believe, had used no Pretexts, but such as were true and just; which he had caused to be delivered above by the Lord Treasurer, and here by Secretary Calvert. -

That these he gave out of his Grace, and * * to have given any. - That some had [the] Boldness to take Notice of, and confute, his Reasons. - Wished us to take Notice of his former Approbation [of] all our Proceedings. - That he did this out of [the] same Mind. That the Week's Notice, [he gave] us, longer than formerly usual: With Admonition to prepare Bills. That his Message had occasioned some Heat here, and Neglect of Bills. [That] we had made choice, to join in Petition with the Lords for longer Time, and to prepare Bills, That he was resolved by the Judges, that his giving Royal Assent to Bills would be no Dissolution of this Session ; thereupon, of his Royal Grace, offered to pass Bills. That he took this our leaving Bills to be a Strange Inconstancy in us. -

That he gave now the Election to the Lords, to preserve his own Liberty, else must have been contented with what his People would have done. That, if we had, by the Secretary, desired longer Time, he would have given us a Fortnight or Three Weeks longer. -

That our Reasons against this, but childish; for though we could not have done all, we might have done something. - That he contented -

That he protested, in the Word of a King, that his Intent firm, to make this an happy Parliament. - Should be so, if we ourselves hindered it not; and God, and the World, should witness with him in it. -

That he commended us for our Proceedings before Easter: - Supply, for Matter and Manner: - Liked not so well our Proceedings sithence : Satisfied with the good -

Assurance, in the Word of the King, for our Meeting at the Time appointed. - Wished us to make him in love with Parliaments; and they should be as frequent as his Businesses might suffer. -

These Words, as Pater Patriae : His Rebuked, with such Temper as every Man that heard it might be assured they proceeded from Love. -

For the Trade of the Out-ports; he presently conceived it not: Thought it fit for a Parliament. - To prepare, in the mean time, till our Access, as much as we could; and would do as much in it by his Council, in the Interim, as he could.

* * for the Money: He would do in it what he [could.] - Began with the Mint, which had long stood.

- [That] he had advised with his Council oft about the * of the Mint. -

That, for the Ordnance, he had appointed Commissioners, who had returned him an Answer. - He had begun a Course to help it, by putting the Making into few Hands; and therein, as in all the rest, would do his uttermost. And that, for the other Matters in Consultation here, as the Informers, Certiorari's, Fees, &c. he would, this Vacation, do his best to help them : And, though that were a Time for Recreation, yet he would make it the most careful Time to him, that ever.

Customs, &c.

Mr. Alford: - Where the King's Customs come out, about Christmas, to think of some Course, to prepare against

our next Access, according to Sir D. Digges his Motion last Day.

Sir D. Digges: - That he only moved Notice, and particular Consideration by the Burgesses of the Out-ports; that they may be prepared against our next Access.

Mr. Secretary : - That the King hath declared, he meaneth to let his Farm of Customs against Christmas, That the Time of our next Access will be too late to make any Offer. - To have the Ports consider, resolve, and make Offer with Speed ; and not stay till our Access.

Sir Edw. Coke: - To move his Majesty, by the Privy Council here, to remember the Out-ports for this.

Master of the Wards : - The Gain to be made, fitter to be by the Ports, than private Men. - Doubteth not, but they may have it at easier Rates, than any other: Will give them all the Furtherance he can. - That he told the King, asking him, he thought that Bays, and other Manufactures of Wool, might be transported, notwithstanding the Merchant Adventurers Patent. - Doubteth not, but, before they can come Home, they shall find Order there given accordingly.

Mr. Delbridge moveth, all the Out-ports may have a Sight of the Custom-books; that so they may know the Medium for these Seven Years past. Which the Master of the Wards now undertaketh they shall have : And so resolved.

Palatinate.

Sir J. Perrott moveth, a publick Declaration here, before our Departure (sithence his Majesty, at the Beginning of the Parliament, made his Protestation, about the Palatinate, to adventure himself, his Son, and all his Estate) that, at our next Access, we will (if the King shall require it) adventure ourselves, and all our Estates, in Defence of Religion, &c. Which, he hopeth, known abroad, will facilitate his Majesty's Treaties abroad with foreign Princes.

Mr. Becher: - That a principal Reason of his desiring [this] Adjournment, that the Parliament, as it were, sitting, * * might have his Sword ready, when Occasion, for [Defence] of Religion.

Sir Ro. Phillippes, accordant, for this Declaration: Which [thinketh] will much tend to advance the Reputation of this * abroad. - To conclude now with what his [Majesty] began, concerning the Palatinate; viz. To declare, that, if his Majesty shall not, by Peace, obtain the [Settlement] of true Religion, which now shaken, and for Recovery of the Palatinate, we all undertake for the several Shires, and Places, for which we serve, will adventure all our Fortunes, of Lives and Estates, for those Services.

Which, upon Mr. Speaker's Motion, by a general Acclamation, and Waving of Hats, allowed.

Sir D. Digges moveth, the Privy Council may declare to the King, that, notwithstanding the Zeal of this House to Religion, and the King's Children, yet they, out of their Respect to his Majesty, and resting upon his Wisdom, have never looked into Matter of State. - Moveth now, his Majesty may be moved by the Privy Council, from this House, not to delay the Treaty too long; but to bring it to Conclusion; and to try the Love and Readiness of his Subjects.

Mr. Towerson: - That London will be backward, neither in the publick, nor private : And, for the last Motion, if Ten Subsidies will not serve, Twenty shall; if Twenty will not, Thirty shall. - To have this entered double.

Sir Wm. Strowde: - This in the most seasonable Time moved. Though we desire not War, yet his Majesty shall find, when he seeth it fit, that (not speaking of Subsidies) that all our Lives and Substance shall be ready, upon Signification of his Majesty's Pleasure.

Sir Nath. Rich moveth, a Committee to set this down.

All the Privy Council of the House, Sir J. Perrott, Sir Edw. Cecill, Sir D. Digges, Mr. Towerson, Sir Nath. Rich, Sir Ro. Phillippes, Sir Edw. Mountague, Mr. Solicitor, Sir Geor. Moore, Sir Tho. Row, Sir Edw. Sands, Sir Sam. Sands, Mr. Alford, Sir Francis Fane, Chancellor Duchy, appointed, in the Committee Chamber, presently to draw this Resolution.

Sir Edw. Mountague: - That this may be the last Motion.

False Evidence - Damport committed.

Damport's Information here, and his Examination above, read ; and he, called in, and kneeling (having his Sword about him, that taken from him) was charged, by Mr. Speaker, with the Contrariety of his Information here, and above : - That he then informed, that himself and Dr. Field were to have a great Share of the 6,000 l. and yet denied, upon his Oath, the contrary.

* * that, at his Examination here, he delivered as [well his] Thoughts, as his Knowlege. Then thought, the [Bishop] was to have a Share; for thought, he would [not] have taken Pains without a Gratuity: But, when [he] came to be examined above, upon Oath, he found, [he] had no Ground of Proof for it.

Being demanded, why he above denied that he was to have any Share; he saith, that he asked the Lords there, whether he was to accuse himself: Who answered, no.

He further now saith, and offereth to depose, and receive the Sacrament, that he spake here but his Thoughts; and upon recollecting himself, found, he could have no good Ground against the Bishop; and that himself was promised no certain Share. -

Craveth Pardon, upon his Knees.

Sir Tho. Jermyn: - For mercy for him. - To reprehend him at the Bar.

Lord Clifford, contra. - To punish him : - And cannot stand else with the Justice of the House.

Serjeant Davys: - To commit him to the Tower.

Sir Francis Seymor, as Sir Tho. Jermyn.

Mr. Sherfeild, contra. - The Offence great. - By this Occasion to make Men as careful to speak the Truth here, without, as upon Oath. - Hath not only misled us here, in our Opinions, but made us make a Relation up to the Lords. - Tower, during the King's Pleasure ; and a 100l. Fine.

Mr. Hackwill: - Here not a false Accuser, but Witness.

Remembereth, 50 Ed. III. the Lord Nevill's Case. - Tower, for a Month; and, at the next Access, to acknowlege his Fault.

Serjeant Ashley : - Tower; and a Fine of 500 l.

Sir Edw. Coke: - To the Tower, for a Month.

Upon Question, so ordered.

He called in, and kneeling, his Judgment pronounced accordingly: and then to be dismissed, paying his Fees.

Palatinate.

The Form drawn by the Committee, read ; and, with a general Acclamation, entertained, and ordered to be entered : And is so, towards the End of this Book.

Sir Tho. Wentworth moveth, Mr. Speaker, with the whole House, may present this to the King's Majesty, and leave it with him, as a Testimony of their Duty.

Every one to take down a Copy of this Draught.

Adjournment.

Lord Chief Baron, Justice Warberton, Justice Doddridge, Baron Bromley, Sir Ro. Crew, and Mr. Attorney-general, bring a Message from the Lords; that, where the King hath sent a Commission, under the Great Seal of England, for Adjournment of this Parliament till the 14th of November next, that the Commission hath been there read, and accordingly the House there hath been adjourned : And that his Majesty's Pleasure hath been there signified, that all [Committees,] and other Matters of Parliament, shall stay till that Time, and left in [the same State] as now. -

That the Commission is sent down here, to be seen,

* * here, as we shall think fittest.

Sir Ro. Phillippes, - Against the Reading of the Commission.

Mr. Speaker letteth them know, that this House taketh * of his Majesty's Pleasure, by his Commission, for the Adjournment of the Parliament; and that [this] House will adjourn itself accordingly.

Then Sir Edw. Coke, standing up, desired the House to say [after] him ; and he recited the Collect for the King and his Children ; with some Alteration: - " O almighty God, which hast promised to be" -

After the Departure of the Messengers ;

Mr. Speaker: - That this House, taking Notice of his Majesty's Pleasure, by his Commission, doth adjourn itself to the 14th of November next, in this Place.