House of Commons Journal Volume 1: 19 February 1607

Jovis, 19o Februarii, 1606

Committee.

COMMITTEES adjourned.

Letter in behalf of a Prisoner.

Sir Noel Caron, Legier for the States, writeth his Letter to Mr. Speaker, desiring his Intercession to the House, in Behalf of Bateman, an Attorney, now in the Custody of the Serjeant of the House, for his Contempt, which Letter was read, to this Effect:

Right worshipful,

I have been given to understand by divers Merchants and others of the United Provinces, that one Robert Bateman, being employed in their Businesses to the Lords of his Highness' honourable Privy Council, and in other their Causes in Law, is lately, by Order of the honourable Commons House of Parliament, restrained of his Liberty, and committed to the Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attendant upon the House; by which Accident they pretend their Businesses to be greatly hindered, and themselves likely to be more prejudiced than they well know how to recover again along Time. I am therefore, at their earnest Intreaty, heartily to pray you, that if his Offence, committed to that honourable State, be not heinous, you would vouchsafe, for the Good of those my Countrymen, to move that honourable House for his Enlargement, upon his humble Submission, and Protestation of his more careful Respect and future better Behaviour towards so honourable a State and Dignity; wherein you shall do the said Merchants and others a singular great Pleasure, and engage my Thankfulness for so favourable a Kindness. And so most heartily I take my Leave of you, this 15th of February, 1606.

Your very loving Friend,

Noel de Caron.

To the right worshipful my very good Friend Sir Edward Phelips Knight, his Majesty's Serjeant at Law, and Speaker of the honourable Commons House of Parliament.

Petition from a Prisoner.

A Petition from Hutchins, the Serjeant, and Offender in the same Case, was delivered, and read in the House, in this Form :

Directed :

To the most high and honourable Court of Parliament .

The humble Petition of Peter Hutchins, Serjeant at Mace, of London, a poor Prisoner:

THAT one Bateman, an Attorney, gave unto your Suppliant a Writ of Execution against Mr. James, requiring your Suppliant to do his Office ; and after the Arrest made by your Suppliant, Mr. James told him, that he was a Parliament-man; your Suppliant thereupon, not knowing what to do, nor daring to release his Prisoner (being liable to pay the Debt, if he had) did not carry him to Prison, but waited upon him all the Afternoon, labouring with all Diligence to seek out Bateman, and brought them together, using his best Persuasions to end the Cause; but not prevailing, did carry his Prisoner to the House of Mr. Turfitt, Secondary of London; your Suppliant receiving no Recompence at all, neither of the one, nor of the other, nor so much as his bare Fee.

He most humbly craveth Pardon for his great Offence, ignorantly committed ; prostesting before God, that no Recompence whatsoever should have moved your Suppliant to have done his Office upon him, had he known Mr. James to have been One of that honourable and high Court of Parliament.

Upon the Letter of Sir Noel Caron, in Behalf of Bateman, nothing was done; but was expected, that he should prefer his Petition, as Hutchins the Serjeant did.

Prisoner to be brought up.

Upon the Petition of Hutchins, it grew to a Question, whether he should be delivered, upon his Submission.

And it was resolved, he should; and ordered, that he should be brought to the Bar Tomorrow Morning.

Beer, &c.

B. To restrain the Utterance of Beer and Ale, &c. being reported by Mr. Fuller, from the Committee, with Amendments; the Amendments twice read : the Bill ordered to be ingrossed.

Drunkenness.

B. To repress the odious and loathsom Sin of Drunkenness, reported likewise by him, with Amendments ; and those twice read; the Bill ordered to be ingrossed.

Ecclesiastical Canons.

B. To restrain the Execution of Canons, &c. reported by Sir Francis Barrington; the Amendments twice read; and the Bill to be ingrossed.

Committees.

Committees for some private Bills, adjourned.

Union with Scotland.

The Dispute touching the general Naturalization, re-continued, with great Length, and Variety of Argument, by Mr. Dyett, Mr. Hedley, Sir Robert Hitcham, and Mr. Hyde.

Mr. Martin, - for Order, that they add good Caution, before they prepare it: - That they may have Time to ripen it: - That they do not resolve of the Declaration : - That there may be a speedy Committee.