House of Commons Journal Volume 1: 18 January 1581

Journal of the House of Commons: Volume 1, 1547-1629. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1802.

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'House of Commons Journal Volume 1: 18 January 1581', in Journal of the House of Commons: Volume 1, 1547-1629, (London, 1802) pp. 116-117. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/commons-jrnl/vol1/pp116-117 [accessed 25 March 2024]

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Mercurii, 18o Januarii, 1580

Members take Oaths.

This Day the Right honourable the Earl of Lyncolne, Lord Stewart of the Queen's Majesty's most honourable Houshold, came into this House; and before him divers Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, returned into this House, did openly receive and pronounce the Oath, according to the Form of the Statute in that Case made and provided : and he did also, then and there, signify and declare the Right honourable Mr. Treasurer, Mr. Comptroller, Mr. Secretary Wilson, and Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, to be his Lordship's Deputes during this Session of Parliament; that before them, or any of

them, all such Persons as should, during this Session, be returned to be of this House, might openly receive and pronounce the said Oath accordingly; which Deputation they did then execute.

Proceedings on chusing a Speaker.

Mr. Treasurer this Day made Report, that her Majesty had been moved, according to the former Order, for her Licence to chuse a Speaker; and that we should receive Answer thereof in the Higher House. After a while sitting, the Serjeant of this House was sent to the Higher House, to know whether the Lord Chancellor and the Lords were comen or not; and brought Answer again, that they were comen ; and that they willed this House to come up unto them, and receive her Majesty's Answer: And, albeit some thought this not to be an orderly sending for to the Lords House, yet thereupon divers of this House went up with those of the Council: At whose Return again Mr. Treasurer declared, that, for Answer to the Suit, her Majesty's Commission was read, to license and command the Commons to chuse a Speaker; and that Four of this House, being of the Privy Council, should make Report of the Election to her Majesty; that her Highness might thereupon signify her further Pleasure for appointing the Day for presenting of him.

Mr. Treasurer declared unto the House, before their proceeding to Election, that he and others had erst seen in the Higher House one that is a Member of this House, to wit, Mr. John Popham, her Majesty's Solicitor General, being One of the Citizens for Bristowe; and therefore made a Motion, that some of this House might be sent to their Lordships, with Request, that the said Mr. Popham, being a Member of this House, might be forthwith remanded, and restored to this House again: Which some thought not needful to be done before the Election; and others again denying, that he, or any other, could be chosen Speaker, except he were present himself; the Clerk was commanded to read the said Precedent again, of chusing Mr. Onslowe, in the said Eighth Year of her Majesty's Reign : And thereupon, that Course being agreed upon to be followed, the said Mr. Treasurer and others were sent up to the Lords to demand the Restitution of the said Mr. Popham; and brought Answer again, that their Lordships had resolved he should be sent down, the rather because he was a Member of this House, and this House possessed of him, before he was Solicitor, or had any Place of Attendance in the Higher House:

Members newly returned to withdraw.

Upon Relation whereof a Motion was presently made, that it was not meet or convenient to chuse a Speaker by Persons that were not of the House ; and, withal, that it was thought of some, that divers Persons being newly returned in the Places of others, yet living, were not, or ought to be accounted, Members of this House: Whereupon, to avoid Length of Argument, and the Impediment of the Election, the said Mr. Treasurer, by the Assent of the House, pronounced an Admonition, that all such as were newly returned in the Places of others, yet living, should forbear their Repair to the House, till their Case were further considered.

Mr. Popham chosen Speaker.

Then immediately Mr. Anderson, the Queen's Majesty's Serjeant at Law, and Sir Gilbert Gerarde Knight, her Highness' Attorney General, brought from the Lords the said Mr. Popham, her Majesty's Solicitor General, One of the Citizens for the City of Bristowe, and restored him to this House, as a Member of the same; and so departed. And then was a Motion made, for Prayer to be used before the Election, that it might please God, both in that, and in the Residue of the Proceedings of this House, to direct them with his Holy Spirit; and a Form of Prayer offered; which was then read by the Clerk : And then, afterwards, the House proceeding to Election of a Speaker, the said Mr. Treasurer, first speaking, did, for his own Part, name and commend the said Mr. Popham, alleging many good Reasons and Causes moving him thereunto; but still leaving, nevertheless, Liberty, without Prejudice to the Residue of the House, to name whom they would, or thought good : And thereupon the whole House, with full Consent of Voices, agreed upon the Chusing of the said Mr. Popham: Who standing up, and much disabling himself in dutiful and reverend wise, and alleging for himself many reasonable Causes and Excuses, humbly besought them to proceed to a new Election; whereof the House did not allow ; And so then was he forthwith, by the said Mr. Treasurer, and Mr. Comptroller, brought up, and placed in the Chair; and Order thereupon taken, that the House should the next Day assemble together, both to

understand her Majesty's Pleasure for Presenting of the Speaker, and also to determine of the Case of the said Persons newly returned into this House, in the Places of others yet living.