House of Commons Journal Volume 1: 05 May 1624

Mercurii, 5 Maii

Soap-boilers.

THE Soap-boilers Petition referred to the Committee for Grievances: And the Patent to be brought thither on Friday next.

Sealing Writs.

Committee, for sealing original Writs, - on Friday next, Two Clock, in the former Place : And all that will come to have Voice.

Clercke.

L. 3a. - Sir Francis Clercke. - Upon Question, passed.

Recusants Children.

Sir Wm. Boulstreade tendereth a Bill, concerning the Education of the Children of Recusants, convicted, in true Religion.

Trade.

The Committee for Trade, to sit in the Exchequer Chamber, upon Saturday next, in the Afternoon.

Recusants Children.

L. 1a. An Act for the Education of Children of Popish Recusants in true Religion.

Recusants.

Ordered, A Warrant, from the Speaker, for such Witnesses, as shall be nominated, concerning the Schoolmaster in Suffolke, complained of for training Youth in Popish Religion.

Heron's Patent.

Mr. Noy reporteth the Bill against H. Heron's Letters Patents, without Amendments. L. 3a. An Act for Confirmation of a Judgment given for his Majesty, in a Scire facias, against Henry Heron; and for Declaration of the Letters Patents, therein mentioned, to be void : - Upon Question, passed.

Newsham.

L. 3a . - Newsham - Upon Question, passed.

Engeham.

Engeham. L. 3a. - An Act for Assuring of the Manor of Goodneston.

Upon Question, passed.

Merchant Adventurers.

Sir Edw. Sands, in his Report for Trade, tendereth a Petition from the Merchant Adventurers : Which read.

Pretermitted Custom.

Sir Edw. Coke: - That some of the Members of this House may be required, summarily to set down the Reasons and Arguments, which led the House to deliver their Opinion against the pretermitted Custom. -

Sir Edw. Coke, Mr. Noy, Mr. Rolle, Mr. Banks, Mr. Berkeley, Mr. Glanvyle, and any other Lawyers, that did speak, or were prepared to speak, in this. They to take their own Time for this, being required to do it with all convenient Speed.

Merchant Adventurers.

The Debate began about the Transportation of dyed and dressed Cloths by any but the Merchant Adventurers.

Mr. Cowcher: - That all Merchants may have Liberty to transport dyed and dressed Cloths.

Mr. Berkeley: - Liketh not free Trade. - This is to dissolve the Merchant Adventurers Company: And lapis male positus non est removendus. - Nor to let them alone, as they are; nor to take in new Men into their Company. - Their Fine too dear. - And doubteth, the Taking from them dyed and dressed Cloths will also dissolve their Company. -

Compareth this Company to a great old Tree, which hath borne good Fruit; yet now is grown mossy, and too full of Branches. - To pare and proyne them. To retain the Stock. - To maintain their Company. To add other Traders to them. To ingraft other Sciences [a] into them. Doubteth, theTaking off the imprest Money (which is 36,000l. will dissolve their Company. - These new Men, to come into their Company, to pay Part, and the Residue to lie as well upon those, which now no Traders, as well as upon Traders : And, by this Means, and taking off the Burthens and Trade, hopeth, the Trade will flourish.

Mr. Bateman : - The Debt 36,500l. for which the Goods of the Merchant Adventurers will be attached. 4000l. per Annum here Privilege for the 30,000 Cloths. - Have great Privileges beyond Sea, more than the Natives themselves. - 13, or 14,000 l. per Annum. - Freer from all Scot and Lot: - Have had Three several Edicts against them in the Empire. -

To think, 1. How this Debt may be paid : 2ly, How the Trade may best be managed for the Good of the Commonwealth.

Mr. Neale: - This Company like a fruitful Tree, as long as governed by the Parliament, but not since they governed themselves; which was 6o Eliz. Before, called the Merchant Adventurers of England, now of London. - That more Wool and Cloth carried out in H. IV. Time, by seven Times over, than the Merchant Adventures do now in Cloth.

A Petition from the Merchants of the Staple, read ; praying Liberty for Exportation of dyed Cloths.

Mr. Comptroller : - Proved at the Committee, that the Merchant Adventurers carried not out above the 12th Part of the dyed and dressed Cloths, nor above Four of them Traders in it.

Sir Nich. Tufton tendereth several Petitions from the Kentish Clothiers, for Freedom for other Merchants, besides the Merchant Adventurers, to buy coloured Cloths: Which read.

Sir Jo. Savyle: - What will the Issue be, if the Merchant Adventurers take off their Hands, and leave their

Trades? Confusion of Trade following, this main Commodity of Cloth will stick more than now. - Doubteth, if we take away the dyed and coloured Cloths from them, they will give us the white, and not meddle with them.

Sir Edw. Sands: - In Genoa a Company of St. George; now grown so great, as independent of the State.

Sir Edw. Coke: - Nullum simile quatuor pedibus currit.

- Is for the Liberty of Transporting of dyed and dressed Cloths.

Mr. Recorder: - The Question only, whether all Merchants may carryed [a] coloured Cloths to the Places, where the Merchant Adventurers trade. - Is against this. Doubteth this Innovation would grow dangerous to the Commonwealth.

Sir D. Digges : - That the Enlarging coloured Cloth to all Merchants, into the Parts, where the Merchant Adventurers trade, is to take it from them; because; they pay nothing to the Support of the Charges of the Merchant Adventurers.

Mr. Solicitor : - This a Question of great Difficulty.

- Doubteth, this Enlargement will much hinder Trade for Cloths.

Sir Ro. Phillippes: - To make this Enlargement a Probationer, until the next Session; then upon Examination of the Progress, to confirm, and alter, as shall be Cause.

Sir Geor. Chudleighe, - for the Enlargement, so as they be not carried to the Towns, where the Merchant Adventurers carry.

Sir Francis Nethersall, - against this Enlargement.

Sir Edw. Gyles:- - Not now to go to the Question.

Sir Tho. Wentworth: - To defer this till Friday; - and, that the Merchant Adventurers may, in the mean time, give in their Answer, whether they will hold their Trade upon the other Points, or not.

The further Debate and Resolution hereof deferred till Saturday next, Eight Clock; and then to sit as a Committee.

Hopkyns.

Hopkyns' Committee to be on Friday next, Two Clock; and the Petition of his Creditors referred to the same Committee.

Adjournment.

The House adjourned till Friday Morning, Seven Clock: But the Committees, in the mean time, may sit.