House of Commons Journal Volume 1: 08 May 1624

Sabbati, 8o Maii

Privilege.

SIR Wm. Cope moveth for Privilege, at the Suit of Sir Wm. Pope, in the Common Pleas. - Granted.

Belcanquo's Nat.

Mr. Belcanquo's Bill - presently, in the Committee Chamber. Mr. Corington, Sir Ro. More, Sir Wm. Spencer, Mr. Snelling, Sir O. Cromwell, Sir Tho. Morgan, Mr. Risley, Mr. Godfrey, Sir Erasmus Dryden, Sir Ro. Killigrew, added to the Committee.

Larceny.

L. 2a. An Act concerning petty Larceny, and the Punishment of the Offenders therein : - Committed to Sir Guy Palmes, Sir Jo. Stradleng, Sir Geor. More. Sir Edw. Peyton, Sir Rich. Spencer, Sir Tho. Morgann, Sir H. Anderson, Sir Ro. Cooke, Sir G. Gerrard, Sir Geor. Chudleighe, Mr. Drake: - All, that will come, to have Voice: - Court of Wards, Two Clock, on Monday next.

Belcanquo's Nat.

Mr. Spencer reporteth Mr. Belcanquo, &c. their Bill of Naturalization, without Amendments.

Plomsteade Marsh.

Mr. Pymme reporteth the Bill of Plomsteade Marsh, with Amendments; which twice read. - Ingrossetur.

Somervyle's Estate.

Mr. Wentworth, the Knights and Burgesses of Gloucester, and Herefordshyre Worcestershyre, and Mr. Carvyle, Mr. Kirton, added to the Committee for Somervyle.

Grievances - Ly. Dale's Case.

Sir Edw. Coke reporteth from the Committee for Grievances, the Lady Dale's Case. - After Sir Tho. Dale's Death, his Study and Chests broken open. - Offered, by some of the East India Company, to shew all their Books.

Sir Tho. Middleton, Sir Cl. Throckmorton, Sir Peter Hayman, and Sir J. Perrott, Sir Tho. Escort, to look of the East India Books, and Accounts, concerning Sir Tho. Dale; and to end the Difference, or certify the House :

- Exchequer Chamber : - To meet on Monday next.

Moor-burning.

Sir Tho. Riddall reporteth the Bill of Moor-burning, with Amendments ; which twice read. - Engrossetur.

Edwards.

Mr. . . . reporteth Edwards' Bill, with Amendments; which twice read. - Engrossetur.

Butters, &c.

L. 3a. An Act for Explanation of Statutes, made concerning Traders of Butter or Cheese: - Upon Question, passed.

Durham.

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

Relief of Creditors.

L. 3a. An Act for Relief of Creditors against such, as die in Execution : - Upon Question, passed.

Bastards.

L. 3a. An Act to prevent the Murther of Bastard Children : - Upon Question, passed.

Ryvers.

L. 3a. Rivers.

Bishop of Norwich.

The Heads, against the Bishop of Norwich, read in the House, and allowed.

Sir Jo. Savyle: - To have this transmitted to the Lords, in Parchment.

Bills sent to Lords.

Sir Edw. Coke to carry up the Bills, now ready passed, being Eight in Number ; viz. 1. Relief of Creditors against such, as die in Execution : 2. Murther of Bastard Children: 3. Durham Knights and Burgesses: 4. Traders of Butter and Cheese : 5. Sir Francis Clercke's : 6. Sir Ed. Ingham: 7. Sir Jo. Ryvers: 8. Newsham, and Coventry and Lichfeild.

Poor.

Poor. L. 2a. An -

Committed to Sir Geor. Moore, Sir H. Poole, Mr. Alford, Mr. Whitfeild, Mr. Trenchard, Mr. Lowther, Sir Tho. Escort, Sir Jo. Stradling, Sir Ed. Peyton: Every one, that will come, to have Voice : - On Monday, Seven Clock, Court of Wards ; and so every Day ; and this at Seven, till Eight only. Committee to take Consideration of all other Things, of like Nature. They may adjourn themselves to the Afternoons.

Fees in Boroughs.

Bill for Fees in Boroughs, Court of Wards, Monday, Two Clock.

Sir Edw. Villyers.

Mr. Wandesford: - That somewhat hath fallen out in the Examination of Fowles Business which reflecteth upon a noble Member of this House, Sir Ed. Villyers. That he desireth, it may be examined by the Committee for Fowles. - Resolved.

Report to be made.

Sir Ro. Phillippes' Report, - between Eight and Nine of the Clock on Monday next.

Heralds Fees &c.

Sir Francis Seymour reporteth from the Committee for Fees, the Heralds Abuse. - That they began with Yorke's Petition. He made Herald at Arms by Queen Eliz. under the Great Seal, with all Fees. That sequestered from this by the Lord Marshal, and from the Fees ; but appeared, this was done, not only by Lord Marshal, but by the other Commissioners for the Earl Marshal. That he was sequestered from his Fees, only by a blind Order of the Heralds, that, whosoever kept back any Fees, due to the general, should be suspended. That the 8 l. received by him, was not for the general, but for One Knight, who owed him 12l. for which he kept it. That 300 l. kept from Yorke, upon this. That, for suing for this in Chancery, he was imprisoned Eighteen Months; but by an Order of the Lords of the Council, upon a Letter from the King, Yorke said, they were corporate, not subject to the Earl Marshal's Court; but had their Places and Fees under the Great Seal of England. That, upon his Release, One of his Sons, and Servants, were committed to the Gatehouse, for Six Days, and, for part, close Prisoner. This, as was alleged, was for publishing a scandalous Book. That Haggett, Lord Marshal's Secretary, with some of the Heralds, broke open York's Doors of his Lodgings, mured up his Doors, and put out his Servants. They offered him after, to leave these free to him, so he would go with them into his Study, and let them take out such Books, as belonged to the Office. -

A Patent, under the Great Seal of England, 1o Jac. to Clarentius, for Survey of all Counties on this Side Trent; but no Power to take Fees. Two Deputations from Clarentius, but no Fees. - Yet confessed, they took Fees; 45s. for a Knight, 35s. for a Squire, 25s. for a Gentleman. - The like Deputation after, with these Fees. -

That they confessed not above 200 Marks in Wilshyre. 120l. in Somersett, and not above 200 l. in Gloucester and . . shyre. That they challenge now to take these Fees, by Precedent; and produced a Book of Visitation in the Queen's Time. In some Places, much more for Fees set down; in some; less; in some, none. The Committee resolved, these were rather Gratuities, of Bounty than Fees. -

Being pressed, to see the Particulars of the Receipts in these Shires, they said, they kept no Account of them. -

For the Warrants, formerly read in the House; these both conceived by the Committee to be Grievance; and so their Visitations, as now used. -

For the Fees, demanded at Funerals; these procured at the Suit of the Heralds to the King, and upon a Reference by him to the Commissioners of the Earl Marshal. Hereupon, the Fees for a Gentleman, 40s, an Esquire, 6l. 13s. 4d. a Knight, 10l. a Baronet, 13l. 6s. 8d. a Baron, 25 l. a Bishop, 25 l. a Viscount 30 l. an Earl, 35 l. a Marquis, 40l. a Duke, and Archbishop, 45 l. -

Many Mistakings in their Certificates ; Their Fees excessive: Their Service unprofitable, and without Precedent, and not warranted by any Law. -

That the Increase of the Knights Fees, from 17l. (for which a Patent) to 48 l. they know nothing of it: Have only themselves, 5 l.

That they, by Custom, take 5l. in a corporate Town, where the King passeth through, with the Sword before him. -

That, for Harrys' Case, their Certificate, for which they took 40s. was conceived not to be right; but yet they delivered no Opinion, because Harrys not present.

Answer from Lords.

Sir Edw. Coke reported from the Lords. - He delivered them the Eight Bills : Desired them to remember the Bill of Monopolies: Then desired a Conference, concerning Offences of the Bishop of Norwich; and then put them in mind of the Bill of Concealments.

Answer : - Would expedite the Bills: For Monopolies ; have appointed Three Clock this Afternoon, in the Painted Chamber: Ordered the Lawyers to attend, and be present half an Hour before, in the Court of Wards. -

For the Bishop of Norwich: - That the House was not full; therefore would take it into Consideration, and send Answer bv Messengers of our own. -

For the great Peace-maker, the Bill of Concealments; the King's Counsel, upon whom they were to rest, were now so extraordinarily busied, that they could not, for the present, attend it; but would, with all possible Speed.

Heralds.

Sir Ro. Phillippes; for the Matter of the Heralds : - To appoint some learned Member of the House, Civilians, and other, to consider of the Power and Jurisdiction of this Court; and, in the mean time, to enquire, what Money the Heralds have raised of the Country.

A Petition from the Heralds, read.

Trade.

Monday, Eight of the Clock, on Monday, for Debate of the Matter of Trade, by a Committee ; and Mr. Speaker to sit by.

Earl Marshal's Court.

Resolved, To let the Consideration of the Jurisdiction of the Court of the Earl Marshal rest till the next Session.

Heralds.

Sir Ro. Pye: - That the Kings of Heralds have 40 l. per Annum Fee from the King; the other 40 Marks, and 20l. and 20 Marks. -

That the Consideration of their Fees, taken in the Country, shall be examined and considered of at the next Session.

Bills from Lords.

Serjeant Davys and Sir Wm. Byrd bring from the Lords Three Bills :

1. An Act concerning Brewhouses in and about London and Westmynster : - Specially recommended by the Prince:

2. Bill of Limitation of Actions ; with Amendments .

3. Sir H. James' Bill, convicted in a Praemunire.

Brewhouses.

L. 1a. An Act concerning Brewhouses in and about London and Westmynster.

Heralds.

The House, upon Question, declareth the Opinion thereof to be, that these Visitations by these Heralds, as now used, by these Warrants, now presented to the House, a Grievance.

Sir Edw. Coke: - That 13o R. II. the King made One a Gentleman, by Letters Patents Under the Great Seal of England.

Subsidy.

Mr. Solicitor moveth for a Time for perfecting the Subsidy. Monday, Four Clock, appointed for it.

Members not to leave Town.

Sir W. Earle: - To enjoin all the Members of the House in Town, not to go out of Town, without special Licence of the House.

The Resolution hereof respited till Monday.