House of Commons Journal Volume 1: 11 May 1624

Martis, 11o Maii

Transporting Ordnance.

L. 2a. AN Act against the Transportation of Iron Ordnance: - Committed to Sir Edw. Coke, Mr. Solicitor, Sir Geor. Moore, Sir H. Poole, Sir M. Fleetewood, Sir Edw. Peyton, Sir Jo. Stradling, Sir H. Anderson, Mr. Tho. Fanshaw: And all, that will come, to have Voice: Wednesday, Whitson Week, Star-chamber.

Ly. Darcye.

The Lady Darcye's Bill, - Two Clock this Afternoon.

Grievances.

Mr. Snelling moveth, concerning Winterden-nesse Lights, and the Survey of Coals : - Which taketh from the Merchants of Ipswich alone little less than 2,800l. per Annum.

The Committee for Grievances to sit for this on Thursday in the Afternoon ; And the Committee for Trade to sit then, in the Exchequer Chamber. - Resolved.

Bargrave's Petition.

A Petition from Dr. Bargrave, read.

Mr. Bargrave's, Cause to be first on Friday come-sevennight.

Somervyle's Estate.

Mr. Wyld moveth, in Somervyle's Bill, that some of the Brothers attend not; yet some of them had Notice, and attended.

Resolved, The Party, that gave the Warning, to attend the House To-morrow Morning, to inform the House.

Grievances - Sir S. Harvey.

Sir Edw. Coke, reporteth from the Committee for Grievances, concerning Sir S. Harvey, - Ingenii servus, plerumque peccati servus. - Three Particulars : 1. That Sir S. Harvey, without Authority under any Seal, made Warrant to the High Constables of Hertfordshyre for Malt for the King's House. - This contrary to the Statute of Articuli super chartas; whereby Purveying, without Warrant under the Great Seal, Felony : Yet the Committee meddled not with this. -

Questeade, a Fishmonger of London, and Partner in a Ship of Yarmouth, which ventured for Fish. - First, Sir S. Harvey, going down to Yarmouth, took 50 of his Lings : - Should have taken no more: Yet caused 1,400 to be marked. Sir S. Harvey, at London took the 1,400 not marked, as well as the 1,400 marked. - Was at length forced to take some of his own refuse Fish for his Money, to his great Loss. -

Middlesex compounding for Carriages, upon the King's Removes (Middlesex using to join with Hertford and Essex in the Removes) now Middlesex exempt, and all laid upon Essex and Hertford. Nay, when 14 set down for Middlesex, for which was to pay 12d. a Mile, of these Sir S. Harvey set Eight upon Essex, and Six upon Hertford; when 100 upon Essex, not One upon Middlesex.

2. A Legier de Mayne. - Jacob, the Purveyor of the King's French Wine, had Communication with one Lichland, and Hyde, and would have parted with the Office for nothing: Sir S. Harvey got it set over to him, promising to make no Benefit of it, but to set it over; but, when Jacob had set it over, Sir S. Harvey squeezed from Lechland 530l. where ought to have had nothing. -

Before Sir S. Harvey Officer, the Composition Money duly paid; but never sithence. A general Complaint out of many Counties about this. -

He pretended to save the King 8,000 l. per Annum. - Wont to be in Store 500 Quarters of Wheat, 200 Oxen, 2,000 Sheep, &c. now no Provision at all. - That 20,000l. will not set the Houshold in that Plight he found it. - He a very patient Man, not moved with any thing spoken to him.

Mr. Treasurer, to avoid the Imputation, which may lie upon them the chief Governors of the Houshold, letteth the House know, these Things not ripe for their Reformation. - That, after a Commission had passed the House, he offered to save the King 8,000l. per Annum. He had Year after Year given him, to make this good. A month now past, Order given him, to give in an Account of his Proceedings : Which he hath put off, upon Pretence, that he is questioned here. That, upon this Offer of his, the Lord Treasurer hath struck off 8,000l. per Annum; by which means they are driven to be behind with Payments to the Country. - Moveth, to know, whether the House will complain to the King of this, or leave him to the chief Officers of the Green-cloth.

Sir Ro. Harley ; - To transmit him up to the Lords.

Upon Question, these Abuses of Sir S. Harvey to be presented. to his Majesty, as Grievances; and to be reduced into a parliamentary Form, with the Residue of the Grievances.

Grievances.

Mr. Mallory moveth for a Day, to reduce all the Grievances into a parliamentary Form. - That the Deputy of the Clerk of the Market, and which executeth, hath in Farm the Amerciaments.

Resolved, This shall be made ready, and presented to the House upon Friday next.

Impositions.

Mr. Alford, Sir Edw. Coke, Sir Edw. Sands, Sir Tho. Hobby, Mr. Noye, Sir Francis Seymor, Mr. Solicitor, Sir Ro. Phillippes: This Committee is to take into their Consideration the Claim of the Subject against Impositions.

Ld. Treasurer [Earl of Middlesex.]

Ordered, That Sir Edw. Coke and Sir Edw. Sands, which presented the Charge against the Lord Treasurer, shall, with all convenient Speed, set down, in Writing, the Heads thereof; to remain here for Posterity.

Cloth Trade.

Thursday in the Forenoon appointed for Debate of the white Cloth to be transported by other Merchants, besides the Merchant Adventurers.