House of Commons Journal Volume 1: 26 May 1624

Mercurii, 26o Maii

Inferior Courts.

Mr. Rolles reporteth the Alterations of the Bill of inferior Courts. - The Committees are agreed of them. - Ordered, To be inserted into the Bill.

Wolferstone.

Mr. Solicitor reporteth Wolferstone's Bill, with Amendments; which twice read. - Engrossetur.

Wey River.

Sir Ro. Harley reporteth the Bill for the River of Wey, from the Re-committee, with some Amendments; which twice read.- - Engrossetur.

Inferior Courts.

The Alterations in the Bill of inferior Courts, inserted by the Clerk's Man at the Table; and then thirdly . . and passed.

Grievances - Sea-coals.

Mr. Glanvyle reporteth the Grievance for Survey of Sea-coals; and the Petition drawn for it, to be presented to his Majesty. -

The Office made perpetual. Upon Examination, appeared, 3,000l. per Annum to be raised by this Office, - That this Office fruitless; for the Mixing of Coals not to be discerned by Search, but only by the Fire. No Complaint made to the Lord Mayor. - For the Consent; unduly gotten, by Promises and Threats: For the Parties whose Hands to the Request, being present, confessed, it was not voluntary. - Much prejudicial to the King's Profit; for hindereth Two Voyages by this pretended Search, to the King's Loss of 3,000l. per Annum; and very burthensome to the Subject. The Witnesses, tendered at last by the Patentees, such as were promised to have Pensions,

Upon Question, this Patent a Grievance, both in the Creation, and Execution.

The Draught of the Petition read; and re-committed

to Mr. Glanvyle, Mr. Solicitor, Mr. Pymme, Sir Nath. Rich. Mr. Noye: - Presently, in the Committee Chamber.

Grice's Case.

Sir Ro. Phillippes reporteth from the Courts of Justice,

1. For Mr. Grice : 2ly, For Mrs. Thomas. -

For the first: - 1616. a Fine acknowledged by him and his Wife, by Dedimus potestatem, taken in the Country. That she complained to the Justices of the Common Pleas, that she did it involuntarily, by the Fury of her Husband. A Commission, to enquire of this, to Sir Ro. Crane, and another. They certified it willingly acknowledged: - And passed it that Court. After, a Stop in Chancery; by Direction from the Lord Ellesmere first, and after from Lord Bacon; so as ever sithence stayed: And the Writ of Covenant is now in Mr. Manwaring's Hands towards the Lord Keeper. That a Lawyer thought fit, either to present this, as a Grievance, to his Majesty, or else to send a Message to the Lord Keeper, to pass the Writ of Covenant. An arbitrary Way propounded, to abide the Order of Four Judges; and agreed to: But this Course succeeded not. At the next Hearing objected, that, to prove her Consent, she procured a Loan, from one Mr. Blake, of 300 l. promising to levy a Fine. That she was at one Time unwilling, but at another Time willingly acknowledged the Fine. That the Lord Bacon said, the Time was elapsed. That the now Lord Keeper, being moved in it, knew not what to do in it. -

That the Counsel for Mr. Grice his Wife alleged, she was unwilling; cried, when the Commissioners came first, got away, as soon as she could. -

That the Committee thought it a very dangerous Precedent, thus to stop Writs of Covenant. The Remedy hereof left to the House, without any Opinion delivered from the Committee how.

A Petition from Mr. Grice read.

Upon Question, Resolved, To let this rest till a further Time, in respect of the greater Business now in hand, and for that this will require further Debate. This without Prejudice to either Part.

Grievances.

Resolved, Now to go on with the Grievances, till they be perfected.

A Report from the Re-committee, for the Grievance of Sea-coals: And the Petition again presented, and read.

King's Revenue.

Sir Jo. Crooke, and Sir Ro. Rich bring from the Lords, a Bill for the better Preserving of his Majesty's Revenue.

Grievances.

Sir Edw. Sands tendereth the Grievances, in Writing, concerning Trade; being Nine in Number. The first Part read, and allowed.

Business to be done, &c.

Mr. Speaker to be here this Afternoon, Two Clock. All Committees to cease this Afternoon. The Grievances to proceed first, and, those ended, then the Bills to be finished.

Mercurii, 26o Maii. Post Meridiem.

Colchester Haven.

THE Amendments, and Proviso, in Colchester Bill, twice read; and the Amendments ordered to be inserted in the Bill: Which instantly done; and, being thirdly read, upon Question, passed.

Sea-coals.

The Petition concerning Sea-coals, brought in again by the Re-committee; and allowed, upon Question.

Grievances.

The Grievances, concerning the Turkey Merchants, Currants, read, and allowed.

The next, for Ginney and Binney, read, and allowed.

The next, for the Alnage, read, and allowed.

The next, for Extortion by the Farmers of the Customhouse, for Serges and Perpetuanoes, read, and allowed.

The next, concerning Prisage of Wines, read, and allowed.

The next, concerning the Cloth-workers, read, and allowed.

The next, concerning Spanish Tobacco, re-committed

. . Mr. Solicitor, Sir D. Digges, Sir Tho. Wentworth, Sir Guy Palmes, Mr. Noy, Sir Nath. Rich.

That, for the East-land Patent, re-committed to the last Committee: Mr. Glanvyle, Mr. Neale, Mr. Chancellor Duchy, Sir Edw. Sands, Sir Jo. Savyle, Sir W. Earle, Mr. Comptroller, Sir Ro. Mansell, Sir A. Forrest, Mr. Sherwill, added.

That, for Tobacco, brought back by the Committee: Read, and allowed.

Ditto.

Sir Edw. Coke reporteth the Matter for the Patent and Proclamation, concerning the Staplers. - That the Proclamation unlawful, in Creation and Execution; and the Patent, in the Execution. - Men prosecuted in the Star-chamber upon the Proclamation: Process sent by the Attorney-general, and then referred them over to Lyddall, &c. -

The Committee hath resolved, in their Opinion, that fit Restitution be made of the Sums of Money, received by any to their own Use; and Lydall and Mowle holden Offenders in the -

Upon Question, the Proclamation a Grievance, both in the Creation, and Execution, in the Opinion of this House. Upon second Question, the Patent a Grievance in the Execution.

Upon a third Question, Lydall an Offender in the Execution of the Patent and Proclamation. Upon a fourth Question, Molle a like Offender. Upon a like Question, in the Opinion of this House, all Bonds, brought in, or not brought in, to the House, to be re-delivered to the Parties, to be cancelled.

Upon Question, in the Opinion of this House, the Executors of Sir Jo. Jolles to pay the . . . received by Sir Jo. Jolles, and remaining in their Hands, to the Parties who paid it.

Upon another Question, in the Opinion of this House, it is fit, all those, which have had Money drawn from them by Cohertion of Process, or Threats, by the Lord Kelly, Lydall, Molle, Kennaston, or any other, shall be restored by those, which have received the same to their own Use and Benefit.

Pardon.

Mr. Attorney and Mr. Serjeant Finch bring, from the Lords, the Pardon.

Ordered, The Pardon shall be read To-morrow, Eight Clock.

Grievances.

Sir Tho. Wentworth, Mr. Noye, Mr. Seldon, to prepare the Petition of Grievance, concerning the Staplers Business.

Mr. Raynscrofte tendereth the Petition of Grievance, against Printing and Importing of Popish Books: Which read, and allowed.

Mr. Alford reporteth from the Committee, for Proclamations against living in this Town at Christmas, &c. - Lent Butchers, &c. 2s. 6d. - Reporteth only the Proclamation for Buildings : Tendereth the Petition of Grievance upon it: Which read, and allowed.

East-land Company.

The Petition concerning the East-land Company, brought in by the Committee: Read, and allowed.

Grievances.

The Preamble to the Grievances read, and allowed.

Bills to be read.

The Bill of the Subsidy of the Clergy, the Pardon, and other Bills, to be read from half an Hour past Seven To-morrow Morning.

King to be attended.

Mr. Comptroller to move his Majesty, to know his Pleasure, when we shall attend him with our Grievances, and with what Number: But Mr. Comptroller to come to the House To-morrow, before he go.