The Journal of the House of Commons.
A Journal of the Passages of the House of Commons in the Session of
Parliament holden at Westminster, An Dom. 1562. which began
(after one Prorogation of the same) on Tuesday the 12th of January,
and then and there continued until the Prorogation thereof upon Saturday the 10th day of April, An D. 1563.
The Journal of this present Session
of Parliament, is not only furnished with many good Ordinary
passages, touching the reading, ingrossing, and passing of Bills; but
also with some unusual and remarkable matter,
concerning the Priviledges of the House it self,
and with the return of divers Burgesses from
certain Burrough-Towns, who had for some time
before discontinued that their Priviledge. And
although that .......Seymour Esq; continued still
Clerk of the House of Commons, by which means
the agitations of the said House were, for the
most part, very imperfectly recorded by him in
the Original Journal-Book of the same, so that
the referring of a Bill to Committees is scarce
discoverable, in respect that the name only of
one of them is for the most part mentioned;
yet the manner of the Burgesses taking the Oath
of Supremacy (which was never in use before
this Session of Parliament, it having been enjoined by Statute in the first year of her Majesties Reign) together with the manner of the
Election and Presentment of the Speaker, is very
Methodically and Orderly entered. And lastly,
whereas there is mention made in the Original
Journal-Book of the House of Commons aforesaid, that the Speaker with the whole House did
exhibit their Petition to the Queens Majesty, on
Thursday 23. day of January, in the Afternoon,
touching her Marriage, and the Limitation of
the Succession of the Crown, which said Petition
is there omitted, I have therefore caused it to
be inserted at large, out of a Copy thereof I had
by me, which I gather by all concurring circumstances, to be the very same, which is only generally remembred in the said Original JournalBook, as aforesaid.
The second Parliament of the most Noble
Princess Elizabeth, by the Grace of God Queen
of England, &c. begun at Westminster on Monday
the 11. day of January, in the fifth Year of her
Gracious Reign; By her Highness Commission
directed to the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal,
the Lord Steward, the Lord Treasurer, the Duke
of Norfolk, &c. to Prorogue the same Parliament until the 12. day of the same Month, viz.
the Morrow following; And the Knights and
Burgesses, being sent for to come unto the Lords
in the Upper House, without any appearance of
their names taken then by the Lord Steward, and
Lord Treasurer, the Lord Keeper shewed in few
words, that the Queens Majesty was somewhat
sick of a Stitch; wherefore she had sent her Writ
for the Prorogation, until the Morrow, which
was done accordingly.
And on the Morrow, being the 12. day of
January, about ten of the Clock, the Queens
Majesty, with the Lords and Bishops in Parliament Robes, did ride from the Palace to Westminster-Church, and there heard a Sermon; during which the Earl of Arundel, being Lord
Steward, repaired unto Whitehall, and there Recorded the Appearance of the Knights and Burgesses; at which time also (as may very well be
collected by comparing this instant days passages, with those of Thursday the third day of
October, in the Journal of the House of Commons, de an. 8 & 9 Regin. Eliz. following) the
said Lord Steward did doubtless, either in his
own person, or by his Deputies administer the
Oath of Supremacy (according to the Statute,
de an. 1 Eliz. Cap). 1. to such Knights, Citizens
and Burgesses, as were at this time present, and
appeared.
And after, the Queen coming from the Church,
and being set in her Royal Seat in the Upper
House, and the Commons standing at the lower
end of the Chamber; The Lord Keeper of the
Great Seal, with great Eloquence, declared this
Parliament to be called for Religion, Discipline,
and Aid to the State in defence of Enemies with
Excellent Dilation of those Causes; And in the
end willed the Commonse to repair to their House,
and there to chuse a discreert, grave, and wife
man, to be their Speaker, and to present him to
the Queens Majesty, on Friday next in the Afternoon; immediately the Commons reforted to
their Common House, where after they were set,
Mr Comptroller standing up, rehearsed the Lord
Keepers Oration, for the Election of a Speaker,
and said, that in his Opinion, Mr Thomas Wiliams Esq;, one of the Fellows of the Inner-Temple, being grave, learned and wife, was very
meet to that Office; whereupon the whole House
with one intire Voice, cried Mr Williams, Mr
Williams; And then Mr Williams standing up,
and reverently disabling himself, required the
House to proceed to a new Election; unto
whom Mr Secretary Cecill Answering that the
House had gravely considered of him; and therefore required him to take the place; and he approaching was led and set in the Chair by Mr
Comptroller; and it was agreed by the House to
meet all there again on Friday next, at one of
the Clock in the Afternoon, to present Mr
Speaker to the Queens Majesty.
On Friday the 15th of January, in the Afternoon, Mr Speaker, with the rest of the House
of Commons, went before the Queen in her
Royal Seat, where Mr Speaker most humbly disabled himself, requiring that a new Election
might be made, to the which the Queens Majesty, confirming the same Election, by the Mouth
of the Lord Keeper, Mr Speaker made an Excellent Oration, and in the end made the accustomed Petitions; which being granted, the
Lord Keeper willed him with the rest, to resort
to the House of Commons, there to deliberate
upon matters necessary; which being done,
The Bill for increase of Woods in Champain
Grounds, and saving of Bark of Timber to be
felled, was read the first time.
On Saturday the 16. day of January, Two Bills
of no great moment, had each of them one
reading; of which one was touching Servants
to serve their Masters; And the other to put
down an Iron-Mill near Guilford, and were each
of them read the first time.
A motion was this day made by a Burgess at
length, for the Succession of the Crown; of
which see more, on Thursday the 28th day of this
Instant January ensuing.
January the 17th day Sunday.
On Monday the 18th day of January, Five
Bills of no great moment, had each of them one
and the first reading; of which the second was
the Bill for the assurance of the Mannors of
Whiteacre, and Whiteacre Burgh, to Richard Bertie and Katherine Duchess of Suffolk his Wife,
from Walter Herenden, being a Feossee in Trust.
Certain Arguments were this day had in the
House, by divers wife Personages, for motion to
be made for the Queens Marriage, and Succession
of the Crown.
On Tuesday the 19th day of January, the Bill
for allowance to Sheriffs upon their Accompts,
for Justices Diets, was read the first time.
Mr Speaker with the Counsel, and twenty four
more of the House, were appointed to meet this
Afternoon, to draw Articles of Petition for the
Queens Marriage, and Succession. Vide Concerning this Business, on Thursday the 28. day of this
Instant January following; Mr Comptroller is
nominated one of them.
For that it seemed to the House, being very
full, that they were a greater number than were
returned; therefore the names were immediately
called, and as they were called, they departed out
of the House, and in the end ten or eleven remained, who said they were returned, and would
bring Warrants thereof.
On Wednesday the 20. day of January, Two
Bills of no great moment, had each of them one
reading; of which the second, being the Bill for
allowance to Sheriffs, upon their Accompts for
Justices Diets, was read the second time; and as
it should seem Committed to Mr Sackvill, and
others; see a like President on the day following.
A motion was made by a Burgess for a Subsidy.
The Queens Serjeant and Attorney brought
a Bill from the Lords, touching the Garrison of
Barwick.
An Excellent Declaration was this day made
by Mr Secretary Cecill, of the great Charges defrayed by the Queens Majesty, and of the Causes
of the Wars in France, for not keeping the Edict
there made by the Parliament, and also touching
the Charges at Barwicke, and New-haven, the
Provision of Armour, and the Navy, the Cavillation of the French for Callice, concluding to
consider for the Aid.
The Bill lastly, for the Government of the
Garrison, and Souldiers of Barwick, was read the
first time.
On Thursday the 21. day of January. For that
it is said, that Mr Elrington hath interest in the
Iron-Mill in the Town of Shere in Surrey, whereas
the Bill is to put down the same: It was resolved,
that Mr Speaker should direct his Letter to him, in
the name of the House, to come and shew, if he
will, for saving his Estate therein; Vide touching this business, on Saturday the 30. day of this
Instant January ensuing.
The Bill against breaking of Ponds, and Stealing of fish and Conies, was read the first time.
A like Letter was sent also to the Heir of Walter Herenden, for the Lands claimed by Mr Barty,
and the Duchess of Suffolk.
The Bill to revive divers Acts to be Felony.
Mr Sidney.
By which manner of Entring the Title of the
said Bill, it may plainly be collected, that the
Bill it self, had at this time its second reading,
and was thereupon committed to Mr Sidney
aforesaid (to whom it seemeth the Bill was delivered) and others, whose names are omitted.
The Queens Serjeant and others brought a Bill
from the Lords, touching the Repeal of a branch
for conveying of Horses; which Bill was presently read the first time.
On Friday the 22th day of January, Mr Elrington, Owner of the Iron-Mill in Shere; for
the suppressing of which, a Bill was put into
this House; desired a Copy of the Bill, and a
day to Answer with his learned Counsel. two
in number; and to bring his Answer on Friday
next.
Three Bills of no great moment, had each
of them one reading; of which the second being the Bill against carrying of Horses out of the
Realm, was secundâ vice lect.; but no mention
is made, that it was either Ordered to be ingrossed, or referred to Committees, because it
had been formerly sent down from the Lords.
And the last, being the Bill for the Government
of the Garrison and Souldiers of Barwick, was
read the second time, and (as it should seem)
was committed to Mr Fitz-Chamberlain (mistaken for Mr Vice-Chamberlain and others;) Vide
a like President on Thursday the 21th day of this
instant January foregoing.
For that Burgesses be returned of divers Boroughs, not lately returned in the Chancery; viz.
the Burgess of Tregony, St Jermynes, and Maws
in Cornwall, the Borough of Minked in Somersetshire, the Borough of Tamworth in Stafford, and
the Borough of Stankbridge in Southampton, Mr
Speaker declared to the House, that the Lord
Steward agreed they should resort into the House,
and with convenient speed to shew Letters Patents, why they be returned into this Parliament.
Nota, That it was very common and ordinary
in former times to avoid the Charges of their Burgesses allowance, in time of Parliament (when
the Town grew into any poverty or decay) that
the Boroughs did either get Licence of the Sovereign for the time being, to be discharged from
such Election and Attendance, or did by degrees
discontinue it themselves; but of later times,
the Knights, Citizens and Burgesses of the House
of Commons, for the most part bearing their
own Charges, many of those Borough-Towns,
who had discontinued their former priviledge,
by not sending, did again recontinue it (as these
Towns here) both during her Majesties Reign,
and afterwards in the Reign of King James her
Successor.
On Saturday the 23th day of January, Three
Bills had each of them one reading; of which
the third being the Bill for levying of Fines in
the County Palatine of Durham, was read the
second time, and Ordered to be engrossed.
The Bill to repeal the branch for carrying of
Horses out of the Realm, was read the third time
and passed upon the Question.
Three other Bills had each of them one reading, of which the last being the Bill to avoid
Aliens, not being Denizens, nor being here for
Religion nor Conscience sake, was upon the second reading rejected, and the Bill torn.
On Monday the 25th day of January, Two
Bills of no great moment, had each of them one
reading; of which the first being the Bill for OakTimber, preservation of Bark, was read the second time, and thereupon rejected and torn.
Certain Articles in writing, were objected by
the Burgesses of Barwick, against the Bill of Barwick, which was sent down by the Lords.
For that Lewes Mountgomery Esq; is returned
Burgess for Northampton, and also for Dorchester,
and doth appear for Northampton, a new Write de
Burgens. eligendo, was required for Dorchester.
The Queens Council with twenty four of the
Shires, and fix of Wales were appointed, on Wednesday next to meet in the Star-Chamber, for
Order to be taken, concerning the Subsidy.
On Tuesday the 26th day of January, Two
Bills had each of them one reading; of which
the second being the Bill that Apothecaries, and
their Stuff, shall be under the search of the Colledge of Physicians, was read the first time.
A Petition devised by the Committees (who
were appointed on Tuesday the 19th day of this
instant January foregoing, although their names
be wholly omitted, through the Clerks negligence) to be made to the Queens Majesty by
Mr Speaker, for limitation of Succession, was
read by Mr. Norton one of the committees. And
thereupon the Queens Privy-Council were required to move her Majesty, that Mr Speaker with
the whole House, may exhibit to her Highness
that Petition, and to certifie her Highness pleasure. Vide touching this business on Thursday the
28th day of this instant January ensuing in Pomeridiano.
The Bill touching carrying of Horses out of the
Realm, was sent up to the Lords, by Mr Comptroller, with a request to the Lords, to further
the Petition of this House to the Queens Majesty,
touching Marriage and Succession; which was
well allowed of by the Lords. Vide on Thursday the 28th day of this instant January following.
For that Francis Walsingham returned Burgess
for Linn in Dorsetshire, and for Banbuiry in Oxfordshire, doth appear of Linne, a new Writ de
Burgens. eligend. was required for Banbury.
On Wednesday the 27th day of January, the Bill
touching Curriers to buy Tann'd-Leather, to
work and sell it, was read the second time, and
(as it should seem) was committed to Mr. Crofts,
and others not named. Vide a like President on
Thursday the 21th day of this instant January
foregoing.
Mr. Comptroller with the rest of the Council,
declared, that the Queens Majesty would receive
the Petition to Morrow in the Afternoon, at the
Palace, by Mr. Speaker, with the whole House;
of which see more on the day immediately ensuing.
Mr. Comptroller with the Committees for the
Bill of Subsidy, were appointed to meet this Afternoon in the Star-Chamber.
On Thursday the 28th day of January, the Bill
for Badgers of Corn to be bound by Recognizance, in the open Sessions, was read the first
time.
Post Meridiem.
In the Afternoon Mr. Speaker, with the whole
House (with a Notable Oration) did exhibit
their Petition to the Queens Majesty, in the Gallery at the Palace, touching Marriage and Succession; which her Highness thankfully accepted
(with an Excellent Oration) deferring the Answer to further time, for the gravity of the Cases. What further Answer her Majesty gave, may
be seen on Thursday the 16th day of February
ensuing, and on Saturday the 10th day of April
postea.
But as touching the Petition delivered to her
Majesty this Afternoon, by the whole House,
from the Mouth of Mr. Speaker, it is not at all
contained in the Original Journal-Book of the
House of Commons; and therefore having a
Copy of it by me (which I do gather by all concurring circumstances, to be the very same here
mentioned, both in respect of the time and matter) I have caused it to be inserted at large. I
am not ignorant, that in divers Copies of this
Speech, another Petition also is joined with it,
as preferr'd likewise by the Lords to her Majesty,
at this time, for the same Causes, which in truth
happened not until the second Session of this
Parliament following, Anno 8, & 9 Regin. Elizabethæ; neither shall it be needful to make any
further demonstration thereof in this place, having so fully cleared it in the Upper House Journal, at that aforesaid second Session ensuing,
upon Tuesday the 5th day of November; and now
followeth the Copy of the above-mentioned Petition, at this time preferr'd as aforesaid.
Your Commons in this your Majesties present
Parliament Assembled, most High and Mighty
Princess, our most Dread Sovereign Lady, as they
do daily, to their Commodity and Comfort, feel and
receive the inestimable benefits of your most Graciours Government of this your Realm, in Peace and
Surety, so do also most thankfully acknowledge the
same, beseeching Almighty God long to bless and continue your most prosperous Reign over them; And
among all these benefits which they daily receive of
your Highness, they have at this time willed me, in
their names to recognize unto your Highness, that
they account it not the least, but rather among the
greatest of them all, That your Majesty both at this
time Assembled your Parliament, for supplying and
redressing the greatest wants and defaults in your
Common-Weal, and for the establishing the surety of
the same; which your Majesties most gracious
meaning, both been at your Commandment, signified unto us, by the Right Honourable the Lord
Keeper of your Great Seal of England, namely in
this, that he willed us first to have consideration of
the greatest matters that nearest touch'd the State
of the Realm, and the preservation thereof, seeming therein also to express unto us the Conformity of
your Majesties mind, in having principal respect to
the matters of greatest weight; and for that respect
Assembling this your Parliament. And for as much
as your said Subjects see nothing in this whole Estate
of so great importance to your Majesty, and the
whole Realm, nor so necessary at this time to be reduced to certainity, as the sure continuance of the
Government of the Imperaial Crown thereof, and the
most honourable Issue of your Body (which Almighty
God send us to your Highness Comfort) and for want
thereof, in some certain limitation to guide the Obedience of our Posterity; And where Almighty
God to our great Terror and dreadful Warning,
lately touched your Highness with some danger of
your most Noble Person by Sickness, from which so
soon as your Grace was by Gods favour and mercy
to us recovered, your Highness sent out your Writs
of Parliament, by force whereof your Subjects are
at this time Assembled; your said Subjects are both
by the necessity and importance of the matter, and
by the convenience of the time of Calling them immediately upon your recovery, enforced to gather, and
consess, that your Majesty of your most Gracious
and Motherly Care for them, and their Posterity,
have Summoned this Parliament, principally for
establishing of some certain limitation of the Imperial
Crown of your Realm, for preservation of your Subjects, from certain and utter destruction; (if the
same should not be provided in your Life, which,
God long continue;) They cannot, I say, but acknowledge your Majesty both most graciously considered the great dangers, the unspeakable miseries of
civil Wars, the perillous and intermingling of Foreign Princes and feditious, ambitious, and factious Subjects at home, the waste of noble Houses, the
slaughter of People, subversions of Towns, intermission of all things pertaining to the maintenance of
the Realm, unsurety of all mens Possessions, Lives
and Estates, daily interchange of Attainders and
Treasons; All these mischiess, and infinite others,
most likely and evident, if your Majesty should be
taken from us, without known Heir, (which God
forbid) to fall upon your Subjects, to the utter subversion of the whole, whereof you have Charge under
God: If good provision should not be had in this
behalf. Your Majesty hath weighed the Examples
of Foreign Nations, as what ensued the Death of
Great Alexander, when for want of certain Heirs
by him begotten, or appointed, the variety of Titles,
the diversity of Dispositions in them that had Titles,
the ambition of them that under colour of doubtfulness of Titles, forsook all obedience of Titles, destroyed his Dominions, and wasted Posterity with
mutual Wars and Slaughters: In what miserable
Case also was this Realm it self, when the Title of
the Crown was tossed in question, between the two
Royal Houses of Lancaster and York, till your
most Noble Progenitors Henry the Seventh, and
the Lady Elizabeth his Wife, restored it to a setled
Unity, and left the Crown in a certain course of
Succession? These things, as your Majesty hath
upon your own danger most graciously considered for
our Comfort and Safety; so we most humble Subjects, knowing the preservation of our selves, and
all our Posterity, to depend upon the safety of your
Majesties most Royal Person, have most carefully
and diligently considered, how the want of Heirs of
your Body, and certain limitation of Succession after
you, is most perillous to your Highness, whom God
long preserve amongst us. We have been admonished
of the great malice of your Foreign Enemies, which
even in your Life-time have sought to transfer the
Dignity and Right of your Crown, to a Stranger; we
have noted their daily most dangerous practices against your Life and Reign; We have heard of some
Subjects of this Land, most unnaturally consederated with your Enemies, to attempt the destruction
of your Majesty, and us all that live by you; We
fear a Faction of Hereticks in your Realm, Contentious and malicious Papists, left they most unnaturally against their Country, most madly against their
own Safety, and most treacherously against your
Highness, not only hope for the woful day of your
Death, but also lay in wait to advance some Title,
under which they may revive their late unspeakable
Cruelty, to the destruction of Goods, Possessions, and
Bodies, and thraldom of the Souls and Consciences
of your faithful and Christain Subjects; We see nothing to withstand their desire, but your only Life,
their Unkindness and Cruelty we have tasted; we
fear much to what attempt the hope of such opportunity (nothing withstanding them but your Life)
will move them; We find how necessary it is for
your preservation, that there be more set and known
between your Majesties Life and their desires; We
see on the other side, how there can be no such danger to your Majesty, by ambition of any Apparent
Heir established by your benefit and advancement,
for want of Issue of your Majesties Royal Body, as
you are now subject unto, by reason of their desire
and hope; We know not how many pretend Titles
and Trust to succeed you, whole secret desire we so
much more fear, because neither their number, force
nor likelihood of disposition, is known unto us; and
so we can the less beware of them for your preservation.
We find also by good proof, that the certain limitation of the Crown of France, hath in that Realm
procured so great quiet, as neither the person of the
Prince in Possession hath been indangered by secret
or open practice, nor the Common-Weal molested by
civil dissention, through any quarrel attempted, for
the Title of that Crown; And somewhat near home,
we have remembered the miserable estate of Scotland,
after the Death of King Alexander, without any
certain Heir, or limitation to whom the Crown of
Scotland should remain; by reason whereof the
whole estate of that Realm was left open, to the
ambition of many Competitors, and most grievous
desolation and spoil, that grew upon such division;
which afterwards gave occasion to King James the
Fifth, to limit the Crown of Scotland to certain
Noble Families of that Realm; whereby they at this
present enjoy that quiet surety, which we want;
And all your Majesties most Noble Progenitors,
Kings of this Realm, have been in this behalf so
careful, that from the Conquest till this present day,
the Realm was never left, as it is now, without a
certain Heir, living and known, to whom the Crown
after the Death of the Prince, should appertain; So,
as your Majesty of your singular Care for us, and
our Posterity, hath at this time Assembled us,
for establishing of this great and only stay of our
Safeties. We again, Most Gracious Sovereign Lady,
acknowledge our selves, and all that we have, to
depend upon your Preservation, being according to
our bounden Duty, most careful of the same, are in
most humble manner come to your Majesties presence; And I, the Mouth appointed for them, together with and in the name of all your most loving,
natural and obedient Subjects, do present unto you,
our most lowly Suit and Petition, That for a much
as of your Majesties Person would come the most redoubted and best Heirs of your Crown, such as in
time to come we would most Comfortably see, and
our Posterity most Joyfully Obey;
It may please your Most Excellent Majesty, for
our sakes, for our preservation and comforts, and
at our most humble Suit, to take to your self some
Honourable Husband, whom it shall please you to
join unto in Marriage; whom; whatsoever he be
that your Majesty shall choose, we protest and promise, with all humility and reverence, to Honour,
Love and Serve, as to our most bounden duty shall
appertain; And where by the Statute which your
most noble Father Assented unto, of this most Princely
and Fatherly Zeal for his most loving Subjects, for
the limitation of the Succession of the Emperial
Crown of this Realm, Your Majesty is the last expresly named within the body of the same Act; and
for that your Subjects cannot judge, nor do know
any thing of the form or validity of any further limitations, set in certain for want of Heirs of your
Body, whereby some great dangerous doubt remaineth in thier Hearts, to their great grief, peril and
unquietness; It may also please your Majesty, by
Proclamation of certainty already provided, if any
such be, or else by limitations of certainty, if none
be, to provide a most gracious remedy in this great
necessity, which by your most Honourable, and Motherly Carefulness for them, hath occasioned this
Assembly; That in this convenient time of Parliament, upon your late danger most graciously called
by you, for that cause, your Grace may now extend
to us that great benefit, which otherwise, or at other
times perhaps shall never be able to be done again;
so not only we, but all ours hereafter, and for ever,
shall owe no less to your Majesties propagation of
Succession, than we do already owe to your most
Famous Grandfather, King Henry the Seventh,
his uniting of Division; And your Subjects on their
behalfs, for your Majesties further Assurance, whereupon their own preservation wholly dependeth, shall
imploy their whole endeavours, and Wits, and Power,
to renew, devise and establish the most strong and
beneficial Acts and Laws of Preservation, and
Surety of your Majesty, and of your Issue in the
Emperial Crown of this Realm, and the most penal,
sharp and terrible Statutes, to all that shall but once
practise, and attempt or conceive against your Safety,
that by any possible means they may invent or establish, with such limitations of conditions, and restraints to all in Remainders, such grievous pains,
and narrow Animadversions to all that shall enterprize of imagine anything in prejudice of your
Highness, and your Issue, as your Majesty shall not
have any cause of suspicion, but most assured ground
of Confidence in all your faithful Subjects, continually Watching and Warding for your Preservation,
which God long continue, that you may see your
Childrens Children, to his Honour and our Comfort, and encline your Gracious Ear to our most
humble Petitions.
This Petition of the House of Commons, delivered by Thomas Williams Esq; their Speaker,
to her Majesty this Afternoon, as aforesaid (to
which see her Majesties further Answer sent to
the said House, on Tuesday the 16th day of February ensuing) now follows the residue of the
passages of this Journal, out of the Original
Journal-Book of the same House.
On Friday the 29th day of January, Seven Bills
of no great moment, had each of them one reading; of which the sixth being the Bill for Fines
to be levyed in the County Palatine of Durham;
was read the third time, and passed the House.
For that John Hippesley Esq; is returned a
Burgess for Wotten-Basset in Wiltshire, and also
for Wells in Somersetshire, and doth appear for
Wells, a new Writ was required for Wotten-Basset.
Mr Elrington appeared this day, with Mr. Serjeant Harper, and Mr. Plowden being of his
Learned Council, who shewing great reasons,
that the Bill might be rejected, certain Articles
were delivered in by the Mayor of Guildford,
for maintenance of the Bill, which being
read, the Copy thereof was awarded to Mr. Elrington; Vide de ista materia, on the Morrow
following.
Giles Clinket, Servant to Sir John Parrot Kt,
of Pembroke, Attached in London in a Plea of
Debt, at the Suit of Francis Parke, had the Priviledge of the House granted.
On Saturday the 30th day of January, Thomas
Heneage was returned Knight for the County of
Lincoln, and also Burgess for Boston in that County,
and doth appear for Lincoln; whereupon a new
Writ is required for Boston.
Three Bills had each of them one reading, of
which the last being the Bill to revive the Act
touching Usury, an. 37 Hen. 8. was read the
first time, and as it should seem, committed
to Mr. Vice-Chamberlain, to consider of it.
Mr. Elrington came in with the Serjeant, requiring the Order of this House, in what fort he
should Answer the Articles; whereupon the
whole matter was committed to twelve of the
House, to hear the Parties and Proofs on both
sides, and thereupon to certifie this House; of
which number it should seem, Mr. Sidney was
one. Vide touching this business on Thursday
the 21th day, on Friday the 22th day, and on
Friday the 29th day of this instant January foregoing.
It was Ordered, that every one of this House,
that cometh after the Prayer, which shall begin
at eight of the Clock, shall pay four pence to
the poor Mans Box.