THE JOURNAL OF THE House of LORDS.
An Exact and perfect Journal of the Passages of the House of Lords, in
the Parliament holden at Westminister, An. 18 Reginæ Eliz. A. D.
1575, which began there on Wednesday the 8th Day of February
(after divers Prorogations of the same) and there continued until the
Prorogation thereof on Thursday the 15th Day of March next ensuing.
The Journal of this present Session
(although there were no Solemnity at the beginning thereof as of
a new Parliament) yet wanted
there not the Return and Entrance
of divers Proxies as well extraordinary as ordinary: and although through the great negligence
of Anthony Mason Esquire, at this time Clerk of
the Upper House, there appeareth little other
matter to have been agitated therein than the
reading, committing and expediting of Bills;
yet it is plain by the Original Journal-Book of
the House of Commons, that there was some
Entrance by both Houses upon the reformation
of divers Abuses in the Ecclesiastical Government, and some difference between the said Houses about the Bill for the Restitution in Blood of
the Heirs of the Lord Stourton sent down from
the Lords to the Commons. Besides, this foresaid
Journal is not a little enlarged and beautified by
the inserting of the Speech at large of Sir Nicholas Bacon Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, out of
a Copy thereof I had by me; which is the rather
worth the nothing in respect that it was doubtless
the last Speech he ever made in Parliament: for
before the third Session of this present Parliament, which was held five Years after the Adjournment of this present Session he died, viz.
in the two and twentieth Year of her Majesty,
Anno Domini 1579. and so Sir Thomas Bromley
Knight, succeeded Lord Chancellor before the
said Session in Anno 23 Reginæ ejusdem, which
was the third and last Session of this instant Parliament; The first Session whereof was held in
Anno 14 Reginæ prædictæ, by which means this
was the longest Parliament (continuing about
eleven Years) of any during her Majesties Reign,
and was not Dissolved until the five and twentieth Year of her said Reign; containing also in
it three several Sessions, whereas no other consisted of above two at the most.
Memorand. quod die Mercurii, octavo die Februarii, Anno Regni excellentissimæ ac metuendissimæ Dominæ nostræ, Dom. Eliz. Dei gratia Angliæ, Franciæ & Hiberniæ Reginæ, Fidei Defensatricis, &c. Decimo octavo, quo die post varias ac
diversas Prorogationes præsens hæc Sessio Parliamenti tenta & habita fuit apud Westmonasterium,
Domini tam Temporales quam Spirituales, quorum
nomina subsequuntur, preæsentes fuerunt.
The Queen was not present because as it hath
been observed his was no new Parliament, but
the Lords met of Course.
Nicolaus Bacon Miles, Dominus Custos magni
Sigilli.
Dominus Burleigh Thesaurarius Angliæ.
Comites.
Comes Lincoln. Admirallus.
Comes Sussex. Dominus Camerarius Hospitii
Reginæ.
Comes Northumbr.
Comes Kanc.
Comes Darb.
Comes Wigorn.
Comes Rutland.
Comes Huntingdon.
Comes Warwick.
Comes Southampton.
Comes Bedford.
Comes Pembroke.
Comes Hartford.
Comes Leicester.
Comes Essex.
Vice-Comes Mountague.
Vice-Comes Bindon.
Episcopi.
Episcopus London.
Episcopus Winton.
Episcopus Hereford.
Episcopus Elien.
Episcopus Meneven.
Episcopus Sarisburien.
Episcopus Covent. & Litchs.
Episcopus Cestren.
Episcopus Bangoren.
Episcopus Cicestren.
Episcopus Oxon
.
Episcopus Rossen.
Episcopus Assaven.
Barones.
Dominus Abergavenny.
Dominus Audley.
Dominus Dacres.
Dominus Stafford.
Dominus Gray de Wilton.
Dominus Dudley.
Dominus Lumley.
Dominus Darcy.
Dominus Wentworth.
Dominus Mordant.
Dominus Cromwell.
Dominus Evers.
Dominus Rich.
Dominus Pagett.
Dominus Howard.
Dominus North.
Dominus Shandois.
Dominus Hunsdon.
Dominus St John de Bletso.
Dominus Buckhurst.
Dominus de la Ware.
Dominus Compton.
Dominus Cheyney.
Dominus Norris.
Which are all the Names noted in the Original Journal-Book of this eighteenth Year of the
Queen to have been present this Wednesday the
8th of February.
These Lords being thus set, they fell to their
ordinary business without any manner of solemnity, this being (as hath been said) no new Parliament, but only the second Session of that Parliament which began in Anno 14 Reginæ Elizabethæ.
Two Bills of no great moment had each of
them their first reading; of which the first was
the Bill for the reformation of the excess in Apparel.
Hodie returnatum fuit breve, quo Henricus Comes
Northumbriæ præsenti Parliamento interesse summonebatur, qui admissus est ad suum præheminentiæ
sedendi in Parliamento locum, salvo jure alieno.
The like several Writs returned the Earl of
Kent, and Charles Lord Howard, Lord Audley,
William Bishop of St Asaph, and Henry Earl of
Darby.
Dominus Custos magni Sigilli continuavit præsens Parliamentum usque in diem Crastinum horâ
octavâ.
Although this were but a second Session of a
former Parliament (as hath been said) yet were
divers Proxies sent and returned; of which
(there being no mention upon what day they
were introduced) I have caused two only to be
inserted being extraordinary and less usual, viz.
where two spiritual Lords Constituted three Proctors apiece, whereas they usually nominate but
two, as the Temporal Lords do but one: And
in respect that through the negligence of Anthony
Mason Esquire, at this time Clerk of the Upper
House, there is no day set down on which the
said Proxies were introduced; therefore I have
thought it most fit to insert them here at the end
of the first days Passages of this present Session.
Although they be Entred in the Original JournalBook of the said House before the beginning
thereof in manner and form following.
Episcopus Wigorn. absens ex licentia Dominæ
Reginæ constituit Procuratores suos, Johannem Episcopum Herefordens. Thomam Episcopum Coventr. & Litchf. & Thomam Episcopum Lincoln.
Episcopus Landaven. absens ex licentia Dominæ
Reginæ constituit Procuratores suos Edwinum Episcopum London, Thomam Episcopum Coventr. &
Litchf. & Willielmum Episcopum Assaven.
Nota, That the Lord Burleigh had this Parliament four Proxies Entred in the Original Journal-Book in the same Order as they follow, but
no day is set down on which they were teturned,
viz. from the Lord Vaux, from the Marquess of
Winchester, from Viscount Mountacute, and from
the Lord Latimer.
On Thursday the 9th day of February, the Bill
for Reformation of Apparel was read secunda
vice, and committed unto the Earl of Sussex, the
Earl of Leicester, the Bishop of London, the Lord
Wentworth, the Lord North, the Lord Hunsdon,
the Queens Attorney and Sollicitor.
Two Bill also had each of them one reading;
of which one was the Bill against diminishing
the Queens Majesties Coin, and was read the second time.
Nota, That this foregoing Bill had now its
second reading; but there is no mention made
that it was either Ordered to be ingrossed, or referred to Committees, as in the like Case is always usual, unless it be in such Bills as are sent
up to the Lords from the House of Commons
ready ingrossed in Parchment upon their passing
of them, or else when they are fairly ingrossed
in Parchment and sent from her Majesty to the
House, when they immediately concern her own
Person, State or Prerogative, or some Subject
whom out of Grace she intendeth to have restored in Blood, Naturalized or the like; and of
this latter sort this present Bill seemeth to be, because it concerneth her Majesties Coin, unless
perhaps the mentioning of the ingrossing or the
referring thereof were omitted by the Clerks negligence, which may sometimes happen.
A Writ in common form was returned summoning the Lord Chandois to come to Parliament.
On Friday the 11th day of February, to which
day the Parliament had been on Thursday last
continued, the Bill for Confirmation of Letters
Patents and other Assurances made by the Queens
Majesty, was read the second time, and committed unto the Lord Burleigh, Lord Treasurer, the
Earl of Essex, the Earl of Bedford, the Bishop
of London, the Bishop of Winchester, the Bishop
of Hereford, the Lord Grey, the Lord Lumley,
and the Lord Howard.
A Writ was directed and this day returned in
common form, summoning the Lord Stourton to
come to Parliament.
The Parliament was continued in common
from by the Lord Keeper until Monday next at
nine of the Clock.
On Monday the 13th day of February, to
which day the Parliament had been on Saturday
last continued, two Bills had each of them one
reading; of which the second being the Bill for
Confirmation of Letters Patents and other Assurances made by the Queens Majesty, was read
secundâ vice.
But it should rather seem, that this was the
first reading of this new Bill brought in by the
Committees, to whom the same was referred on
Saturday the 11th day of this instant February
foregoing, because it had its second reading on
Wednesday the 15th day, and its third reading on
Thursday the 16th day of this instant Month foregoing.
The Bill for Reformation of Excess in Apparel
was read prima vice.
Nota, That the former Bill to this effect which
had been referred to Committees on Thursday
the 9th day of this instant February foregoing,
was (as it seemeth) dashed by them, and a new
Bill brought in which had its first reading onthis day, its second reading on Wednesday, and
its third and last reading on Thursday the 16th
day of this instant February following.
On Wednesday the 15th day of February, to
which day the Parliament had been on Monday
last continued, The Bill for coming to Church
and receiving of the Communion, was read the
second time, and committed unto the Lord Burleigh, Lord Treasurer, the Earl of Sussex, the
Earl of Bedford, the Earl of Leicester, the Bishop of London, the Bishop of Ely, the Bishop of
Chichester, the Bishop of Lincoln, the Lord Cobham, the Lord Grey, the Lord Wentworth, the
Lord North, Justice Mounson, and Justice Manwood, and the Queens Sollicitor.
Two Bills also of no great moment had each
of them their second reading, and thereupon
Ordered to be ingrossed; of which the first
was the Bill for reformation of excess in Apparel.
On Thursday the 16th day of February, the Bill
for reformation of excess in Apparel, and the
Bill for Confirmation of Letters Patents were
each of them read tertia vice & conclusæ, and
sent to the House of Commons by Dr. Barkley
and Mr. Powle Clerk of the Crown.
Two Bills also had each of them one reading;
of which the last being the Bill for the Repeal of
a Statute made in the eighteenth year of Henry
the Sixth, was read prima vice and committed
to the Queens Attorney and Sollicitor to consider of.
On Saturday the 18th day of February, to
which day the Parliament had been on Thursday
last continued, two Bills of no great moment had
each of them one reading; of which the second
being the Bill for the Repeal of a Statute made
an. 18 H. 6. was read secunda vice, and committed to the Queens Attorney and Sollicitor.
Nota, That this Bill was committed upon the
first reading on Thursday the 16th day of this instant February foregoing to Serjeant Barham, the
Queens Attorney, and Sollicitor; by whom it
should seem the Bill being brought in again without any great alteration, was now recommitted
upon the second reading to the two latter of
them to consider further of the same, according
to the Order of the House. Vide Febr. 22.
postea.
The Bill for the maintenance of Rochester Bridge (which was read the first time in the beginning of this present day) was now committed
unto the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord
Treasurer of England, the Earl of Lincoln, Lord
Admiral, Viscount Mountague, the Bishop of Salisbury, the Bishop of Chichester, the Lord Abergavenny, the Lord Cobham, the Lord Buckhurst,
Justice Manwood, and Serjeant Barham.
On Monday the 20th day of February, to which
day the Parliament had been on Saturday last
continued, the Bill for the assurance of certain
Lands sold by Henry Fisher to Richard Smith,
was read secunda vice, and committed to the
Queens Sollicitor, &c.
The Bill also for excluding of Clergy and Purgations Ecclesiastical, was read prima vice & commissa Justiciario Mounson. Vide touching this Bill
on Wednesday the 22th day of this instant February following.
On the Tuesday the 21th day of February the
Bill for the repairing of Chepstow-Bridge was
read the first time.
Four Bills were brought up to the Lords from
the House of Commons; of which the first being the Bill for the explanation of the Statute of
31 H. 8. touching Monasteries, Abbies, Priories,
&c. And the last being for the relief and reedifying of the Borough of New-Woodstock in the
County of Oxford, were each of them read
prima vice.
The Bill for the avoiding of fraudulent Gifts
of Lands made by the late Rebels in the North,
was read primâ vice.
The Bill lastly for reformation of Errors in
Fines and common Recovèries, was sent up to the
Lords from the House of Commons.
On Wednesday the 22th day of February, Nine
Bills of no great moment had each of them one
reading; of which the first being the Bill for
Reformation of Errors in Fines and common Recoveries, another for the assurance of certain
Lands unto Christopher Hatton Esquire of the
Privy-Chamber and Captain of her Majesties
Guard, and another for the Explanation of the
Statute of 31 H. 8. touching Monasteries, &c.
were each of them read the second time: but no
mention is made that they were either Ordered
to be ingrossed or referred to Committees, because they had been sent from the House of Commons on Tuesday immediately foregoing, where
the Bill only touching Sir Christopher Hatton is
omitted as matter of no great moment.
The Bill lastly for excluding of Clergy and
Purgations Ecclesiastical, was read primâ vice &
commissa Comiti Northumbriæ, Comiti Huntington, Episcopo London. Episcopo Lincoln. Domino
Hunsdon, Domino Buckhurst, & Justiciario Manwood & Justiciario Mounson.
On Thursday the 23th day of February, the
Bill for avoiding of fraudulent Gifts, &c. made
by the late Rebels in the North, the Bill for Rochester-Bridge, and the Bill for repairing of Chepstow-Bridge, were each of them read the third
time and concluded, and sent to the House of
Commons, with another Bill of no great moment,
by Sir Richard Read and Dr Barkley.
Two Bills also were sent up to the Lords from
the House of Commons; of which the first being the Bill for the true payment of the Debts of
William Isley Esquire, was read the first time.
The Bill lastly for the assurance of certain
Lands and Tenements unto Christopher Hatton
Esquire, was read tertiâ vice & conclusa.
On Saturday the 15th day day of February, to
which day the Parliament had been on Thursday
last continued, Five Bills of no great moment
had each of them one reading; of which the
fourth being the Bill for Reformation of Errors
in Fines and common Recoveries, was read secundâ vice & commissa to Justice Mounson and
the Queens Attorney and Sollicitor to consider
of it.
On Monday the 27th day of February, the
Bill for the assurance of New-Hall in the County
of Essex to Thomas Earl of Sussex, was read primâ vice.
Four Bills were sent up to the Lords from the
House of Commons; of which the two last
were, one against diminishing and impairing the
Queens Coin, and the other for repairing the
Goal in St Edmonds-Bury, and of Brandon-Bridge
in the County of Suff.
The Bill for the assurance of certain Lands to
Sir John Rivers Knight, Citizen and Alderman
of London, was read tertiâ vice.
On Tuesday the 28th day of February, Four
Bills of no great moment had each of them one
reading; of which the two last being one for
the assurance of the Mannor of New-Hall in Com.
Essex to Thomas Earl of Sussex, and the other
for the appointing of Justices within Wales, were
each of them read secundâ vice & commissæ ad
ingrossand.
On Wednesday the 29th day of February, Seven
Bills of no great moment had each of them one
reading; of which the two last being one concerning Offices found within the Counties Palatines, and the other for the appointing of Justices in the Shires of Wales, were read tertiâ vice
& conclusæ, and sent to the House of Commons
with two others by the Queens Sollicitor and
Dr Barkley.
The Bill also for a Subsidy and two Fifteenths
and Tenths granted by the Temporalty, was read
the second time.
Three Bills lastly of no great moment had each
of them one reading; of which the first being
the Bill for the assurance of the Mannor of NewHall to Thomas Earl of Sussex, was read tertiâ
vice & conclusa.