House of Commons Journal Volume 1: 22 June 1607

Lunae, 22 Junii, 1607

Sewers.

Nova et particularis.

L. 1a. B. FOR the better Execution of the Commissions of Sewers, in the County of Somersett.

Essex's Estate.

B. For Sale of some of the Lands of William Essex Esquire, &c. reported from the Committee by Mr. Martin,

The Bill agreed by the Committee to sleep for this Session; and thought fit, a Letter should be written by Mr. Speaker, in the Name of the House, directed to Sir Henry Nevill, Sir H. Poole, Mr. Francis Moore, and Mr. Robert Bowyer, Four of the Committees, to treat with the Creditors of Mr. Essex, and thereupon a new Bill to be framed against the next Session.

According to this Agreement of the Committee, the House did presently order it; and a Letter was directed, in this Form [a]:

AFTER my very hearty Commendations. Whereas Wm. Essex, Esquire, being deeply indebted to sundry Persons, and most desirous to give them all due and honest Satisfaction; and considering, that the only Means he hath to redeem himself, and his Creditors, from Discredit, Damage, and Danger, is by the Sale of some Part of his Lands, which nevertheless stand now so conveyed, as he can perfect no Assurance to the Purchasers, without Help and Strength from Parliament; he hath therefore, at this Session, with the Consent of sundry his principal Creditors, been an humble Suitor to the honourable House of the Commons; and to that Purpose hath there presented a Bill, containing and enacting that some Gentlemen, indifferent and well affected to all Parties, might thereby be named, and authorized, to make Sale of the Manors of Chipping-lamborne, Up-lamborne, Hadley, Blagrave, and Gransomes, in the County of Berks, Parcel of his Possessions: Which Bill, so presented, hath, upon a second Reading, with some Approbation of the House, been committed to a select Committee; who, having at large heard the Counsel of the said Mr. Essex, and of divers his Creditors, and in their Wisdom and Justice conceiving, that every Creditor, according to the Reason, Quality, and Exigence of his Debt, ought to be provided for, without Wrong to any Particular, as also, that Care and Regard is to be had to his Wife and Children, have made Report of their Opinions to the House, that it were fit, the Bill, for this Time, should stay; and that it might be ordered, but I, as Speaker, should write a Letter, in the Name of the House, to you Four, eftsoones desiring your Travel and Pains in Treaty between Mr. Essex, and his Creditors, touching his said Debts: Whereupon the House hath directed me to pray you, that, inasmuch as the Creditors be many, the Debts differing in the Danger, Security, and Time, with other Circumstances of Equity, you, or any Three, or Two of you, will, at Times, and Places convenient, call before you the said Mr. Essex, and his Creditors, and mediate and treat between them, for a reasonable and convenient Composition to be had, according to the Nature and Equity of the several Debts (wherein the Opinion and Hope of the House is, that they will be found very reasonable) persuading those especially, in whose Hands, or to whose Pursuit, by occasion of the Debts, any Part of his Lands standeth engaged, encumbered, or liable; and this being done with some Speed and Effect, the further Pleasure and Desire of the House is, that, by your Means, an exact Survey be taken of the said Lands, so as the true Value and Extent thereof may be known, and appear unto you; and upon this Preparation, by your careful Endeavours undertaken and effected (to redeem the Credit of the said Mr. Essex, to give Contentment to his Creditors, to establish his Wife's

Jointure, and settle the Residue of his Lands upon his Issues) a Bill may be framed ready and presented to the House the next Session; which, by this Means, may have his Passage, without Exception or Contradiction, with the Consent of all Parties interessed, to their good and final Quiet, which, by this Course, is the main End and Purpose of the House.

And so having delivered the Pleasure of the House, and expressed (as I conceive) their full Meaning in this behalf, I commit you to the Protection of the Almighty. From Bosville-house.

Your very assured loving Friend,

Ed. Phelips, Speaker.

Directed:

" To the Right worshipful Sir Henry Nevill and Sir Henry Poole, Knights, Mr. Francis Moore, and Mr. Robert Bowyer, Esquires; or to any Three or Two of them.

E. of Darby's Estate.

L. 1. Nova. B. For the Establishment and Assurance of divers of the Possessions and Hereditaments of Ferdinando late Earl of Darby.

Selby's Estate.

L. 3a. An Act to assure and confirm the Sale of the Manor of Moate, and other Lands, in the County of Kent, to Sir Wm. Selby Knight, &c.

Upon the third Reading, an Error found in the Bill, and the Question deferred.

Wyndsor's Estate.

Two Bills, passed this House, sent up to the Lords by Sir Francis Hastings: viz.

LL. 1. An Act for Restitution in Blood of the Sons and Daughters of Edward Wyndsor Esquire.

Fens.

2. An Act for the Draining of certain Fens and low Grounds within the Isle of Elye, subject to Hurt by surrounding, containing about Six thousand Acres.

Sewers.

B. For the better Execution of the Commissions of Sewers in the County of Somersett, secondly read, and committed to the former Committee in the general Bill.

- To meet this Afternoon, in the Exchequer Chamber.