House of Commons Journal Volume 1: 14 December 1621

Veneris, 14o Decembris

Answer and Message from the King.

Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer reported his Majesty's Message. -

That they came to Newmarket late on Sunday Night.

Gave them Audience upon Monday Morning. - That his Majesty. -

That about Five of the Clock he gave them Audience, and read the last Petition to them. That then they prayed him to hear the first Declaration: Which he refused; saying, he could not give himself the Lye.

His Majesty's Answer, in Writing, read first by Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Mallory moveth, every Member of this House, that will, may have a Copy hereof. - Resolved.

Mr. Chancellor delivereth Three Messages from the King: -

Appointeth Saturday come-sevennight, for Rising of the House ; and, in the mean time, giveth Time to prepare Bills: Especially commendeth the Bill for Continuance of Statutes.

2ly, The Pardon: Wherein he directeth, that the Lord Treasurer, Chancellor Exchequer, and King's learned Counsel, may advise thereof; ne quid detrimenti respublica capiat.

3ly, That, if Goldsmyth have offended the House, he wisheth,he may be censured; else, may be enlarged.

King's Answer, &c.

Mr. Brooke: - To speak, ill, and not to the Purpose, better, than to be silent. - Rex communis parens patriae. The King, by this hath been read, dealeth with us as a natural Parent: In some Things reprehendeth us, in other Things argueth with us; but, in the End, concludeth, in effect, as much as we desire. That he explaineth himself, to have no Purpose to infringe our Liberties. - To read a Bill, and go to our Business.

Mr. Wentworth: - Remembereth our Promise, to send the Lords an Answer of their Message, concerning the Bill of Monopolies; for which we took a Time to advise. - That we engaged to perform this. - To prepare a Message for this, against To-morrow.

Sir Ro. Phillippes, contra: - Two Things formerly in Proposition: 1. To satisfy the King in Sir Edw. Coke his Business : 2. To give an Answer to the King's last Message, concerning our proceeding in Business here. - Not suddenly to resolve of any Matter, concerning the King's now Answer. To defer this till To-morrow Morning: In the mean time, to recollect our Thoughts.

Sir H. Poole: - Two Subsidies at first to the King: A great Gift, in a scant Time; yet well bestowed; and satisfied our Country with Hopes. Now a third Subsidy. - Not to dwell always upon these Rocks. - To proceed with our Bills, fit for the Country, and as they expect.

Mr. Neale: - That the King has given us a good Answer for Religion, and for our Privileges. - To go on, according to his Majesty's Advice, with our Bills; and therein especially to consider of the Defects in Point of Trade.

Sir D. Digges: - Fit to consider of the King's Answer.

- Comforted with his Majesty's clear and plain Dealing; and that his Majesty now knoweth clearly our Intention; and with his Majesty's clearing the general Words of Restraint of our Liberties. - To go on with our Business: To see the State of them.

Mr. Shervyle: - Not yet satisfied, whether, by this Answer, we stand upright, as before, with his Majesty,

- Moveth, to read this Answer again; that every Man may conceive it, and satisfy himself in it. - That this standeth with Duty and Respect to his Majesty.

Hereupon his Majesty's Answer read again.

Mr. Solicitor: - An Advantage to us all, seriously to advise and consider of this Answer. - Hopeth, the more we ponder it, the better will rest satisfied with it - That the Clerk may, against To-morrow Morning, recollect the true State of the Business in the House.

Mr. Crew: - This Business too weighty for any present Resolution. - Riseth up with Comfort upon One principal Point, viz. Assurance of our Religion. Prayeth, sithence our Proceedings and Intentions known to the King, he may (if not in the Course we propound, yet, by a better) provide for the Good of Church and Commonwealth.

State of Bills.

Ordered, The Clerk shall, against To-morrow Morning, present to the House the true State of all Bills as they now stand in the House.

Not to leave Town.

Sir Tho. Wentworth moveth, no Member of the House shall go out of the Town.

Grievances.

Sir Edw. Coke: - Two Things have much grieved him: One cannot be helped. - Two Bills grounded upon the King's own Book: - Freeing us from Monopolies, expressed in the Act 3 Jac. to be One Motive of granting then Three Subsidies, and Six Fifteens - Concealers have robbed now the Crown. A King's Chace, called the Broyle, in Sussex, thus carried away; and the Manor of Lasson, and other Lands in Suffolke, worth 20,000l. - A Bill against Concealers, passed here - The Lords have not conferred with us, concerning this Bill, but only passed a Bill touching Hospitals. - The Bill against Informers, and Certiorari's, medicine removentes; but that of Monopolies, and Concealments, medicine promoventes.

Time of Meeting.

Mr. Secretary moveth, Mr. Speaker may be here more early To-morrow Morning. -

Privilege.

And, that his Majesty's Pleasure is, the House may proceed both with Lepton and Goldsmyth, for offending the House.

Resolution deferred.

Sir Francis Seymor: - To defer the Resolution of Sir Tho. Wentworth his Motion till To-morrow Morning.

Sir Geor. Moore -

Call of the House.

Mr. Noye: - That the House may be called upon Thursday next.

Resolved, To let the Resolution hereof alone till the Morning.