House of Lords Journal Volume 2: 5 April 1593

DIE Jovis, 5 die Aprilis,

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales, quorum nomina subsequuntur, præsentes fuerunt:

Statute 33 Hen. VIII. Letters Patent, etc. Conclus.

HODIE 3^a vice lecta est Billa, An Act for the Explanation of the Statute, made in the Thirty-third Year of King Henry the Eighth, as well touching Grants made to His Majesty, as for Confirmation of Letters Patents made by His Highness to others.

Lincoln. Exped.

Hodie 3^a vice lecta est Billa, An Act for Confirmation of Letters Patents to the Mayor, Sheriffs, Citizens, and Commonalty, of the City of Lincolne.

Continuing Statutes. Conclus.

Hodie 3^a vice lecta est Billa, An Act for the Continuance of certain Statutes.

Lords absent this Session to pay towards the Contribution for the disabled Soldiers.

WHEREAS the Lords of Parliament, both Spiritual and Temporal, assembled in the Parliament Chamber here at Westm. have, with one uniform Consent, both in their own Names and the rest of the Lords now absent, Ordered, That there should be a charitable Relief and Contribution made, towards the Aid and Help of a Number of Soldiers, that are seen, in the Time of this Parliament, maimed and sore hurt, in the Wars of France, the Low-Countries, and on the Seas, for the Service of the Queen's Majesty and the Realm; and, for that Purpose, have allotted, That every Archbishop, Marquis, Earl, and a Viscount, should pay, towards this Contribution, the Sum of Forty Shillings; every Bishop should pay Thirty Shillings; and every Baron Twenty Shillings; for Collection whereof there hath been appointed the Queen's Majesty's Almoner, the Bishop of Worcester, to collect the Sums of the Bishops, and the Lord Norris to collect the Sums payable by the Lords Temporal; which hath been diligently done and received by them, for all the Lords Spiritual and Temporal that have been present, and that have attended, to their great Charge, on the Service of this Realm, in this Parliament; and, considering the Number of the Soldiers be very many to be relieved therewith, notwithstanding the Knights and Burgesses in the Commons House have yielded very good and large Contributions, according to their Degrees; yet, for the better Relief of the said maimed Soldiers, it is, by the said Lords Spiritual and Temporal, that have given their chargeable Attendance here, and have charitably and honourably yielded to this Contribution, thought meet, and so it is Ordered and Decreed by them, with common and full Consent, That all the Lords of Parliament, that have been altogether absent in this Session, and that shall not have contributed to this charitable Relief before the End of this Session, shall be required, by Letters, to be sent to them by the Lords that had their Procurations for their Absence, or by Letters from the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, required and charged to cause Payment to be made, according to their Degrees and Vocation, the Double of the Sums of Money paid by the Lords that have been here present, and continued their Attendance; that is to say, every Earl so having been absent to pay Four Pounds; the Archbishop of Yorke to pay as much; and every Bishop so also absent to pay Three Pounds; and every Baron Forty Shillings; and for such as have been here present at some Times, and yet very seldom, but (fn. 1) rather have been absent for the most Part, it is thought meet, That every such Lord Spiritual and Temporal shall, according to their Degrees, pay a Third Part more than the Lords that have been present; all which Sums of Money they shall cause to be delivered to the Hands of the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, to be afterwards, by such Spiritual Lords of Parliament as are chosen for that Purpose, distributed to the maimed Soldiers, as shall be found to have most Need thereof; the like whereof the Commons assembled in this Parliament have ordered for all the Members of that House that are absent, and have not paid, to contribute in double Manner; which Order is thought very just, considering the Lords and others that have been absent, and have been at no Charge to come up, and give their Attendance, may very reasonably, and with great Saving of their Charges, contribute to this Order. And, if any Lord Spiritual or Temporal shall refuse or forbear this to do, which is hoped in Honour none will do, there shall be ordinary Means used to levy the same.

Adjourn.

Dominus Custos Magni Sigilli continuavit præsens Parliamentum usque in diem crastinum, hora consueta.