February 1581
On Wednesday the first day of February, Billa
for the reformation of disorders and abuses in
Sheriffs, Under-Sheriffs, and their Ministers, was
read tertiâ vice, and then upon the Conclusion thereof, sent down to the House of Commons.
The Bill also touching John Taylor and Mr
Terril being read primâ vice, was committed.
Quod nota, that a Bill was committed upon the
first reading, which is seldom used till the second.
Another Bill also touching Fines and Recoveries, was read and committed.
On Saturday the 4th day of February, to which
day the Parliament had on Wednesday last past
been Adjourned, Billa for the maintenance and
strengthening of the Borders against Scotland,
and two other Bills of no great moment had each
of them one reading.
On Monday the 6th day of February, Two
Bills were each of them once read; whereof the
latter was for coming to Church, hearing of
Divine Service, and receiving of the Communion.
On Tuesday the 7th day of February, Three
Bills had each of them one reading; whereof
the last was touching Leases made by Corporations.
On Wednesday the 8th day of February, A Bill
touching the Hospital of Ledbury in the County
of Hereford, was read secundâ vice & commissa ad
ingrossandum.
On Thursday the 9th day of February, the
former Bill touching the Hospital of Ludbury, &c.
was read the third time, and upon the Conclusion thereof was sent down to the House of Commons.
On Saturday the 11th day of February, to which
day the Parliament had been last Adjourned, the
Lord Chancellor and divers Lords met in the
Forenoon, but nothing was done, saving the
continuance of the Parliament unto two of the
Clock in the Afternoon the same day; at which
hour meeting also, nothing was done but only
the Parliament again Adjourned to a further
day.
On Monday the 13th day of February, to which
day the Parliament had been on Saturday last
Adjourned. There were three Bills each of them
once read; whereof the last being a Bill for the
fortifying of the Frontiers towards Scotland,
was read the third time, and after the conclusion thereof sent down to the House of Commons.
On Wednesday the 15th day of February, to
which day the Parliament had been last Adjourned, the Lord Chancellor and divers Lords met
in the Upper House, but no Bills were read, only
the Lord Chancellor continued the Parliament
to nine of the Clock in the Forenoon the day
following.
On Thursday the 16th day of February, Billa
for increase of Mariners and Navigation of England, was read prima vice; and another Bill also
of no great moment had its first reading.
On Saturday the 18th day of February, to which
day the Parliament had been last Adjourned,
four Bills were sent up to the Lords from the
House of Commons; whereof the last was an
Act for Explanation of a Statute against forging of Evidences and Writings, which with the
other three Bills, had each of them their first
reading.
On Monday the 20th day of February, to which
day the Parliament had been last Adjourned, the
Bill touching the Lord Compton, &c. was read
primâ vice.
Two Bills also were brought up to the Lords
from the House of Commons (which are more
particularly expressed in the Journal of that
House.)
On Tuesday the 21th day of February, Three
Bills also were sent up to the Lords from the
House of Commons; whereof the last was an
Act ratifying an award between some private
persons, but there is no mention in the Original
Journal-Book of any Bill read this Morning, but
only of the continuance of the Parliament according to the usual form.
On Wednesday the 22th day of February, Five
Bills had each of them one reading; whereof the
first was a Bill against Counterfeiting of the
hands of any of her Majesties Privy-Council, and
for the avoiding of counterfeit Instruments and
Writings under Seal, or counterfeiting of the Seal
of any Office or Officer, which said Bill was read
prima vice.
On Thursday the 23th day of February, Two
Bills had each of them one reading; of which
the latter being a Bill against slanderous words
and rumors, and other seditious practices against
the Queens Majesty, with a new Addition of certain Amendments, was read secundâ vice.
It should rather seem that only the Addition
and Amendments which had been inserted de
novo into this aforesaid Bill, were now read the
second time; for the Bill it self had passed the
Upper House upon the third reading on Monday
the 30th day of January foregoing, and was the
same Forenoon sent down to the Commons House,
and there pàssed; and from them was sent up
again to the Lords on Monday the 20th of this
instant February last past, with a new Addition
and certain Amendments: So that the Bill it self
which hath once passed the House is never read
again, but only such new Additions and Amendments as are inserted in it must be passed again de
novo, because they are of the same nature as if a
new Bill were brought in.
On Saturday the 25th day of February, to
which day the Parliament had been last Adjourned, was read a Bill touching Fines and Recoveries secundâ vice; and another Bill of no great
moment had also its second reading.
Memorand. that on this foresaid 25th day of
February being Saturday, which day was before
given to certain Parties then in difference for
assignation of some Errors supposed by them to
be in a certain Suit Commenced against them:
Mr Cooper came in for the said Plaintiff, and openly before the Lords in the Parliament House,
assigned the Errors; after the hearing whereof
the Lord Chancellor with consent of the Lords,
Ordered that the Plaintiff should have a scire facias returnable either the first day of the next
Session, or the first day of the next Parliament.
On Monday the 27th day of February, to which
day the Parliament had been last continued, the
Bill for Explanation of the Statute against forging of Evidences and Writings, was read primâ
vice; and another Bill of no great moment was
read secundâ vice: Then were there two Bills of
no great moment sent up to the Lords from the
House of Commons; whereof the first had its
first reading.
Three other Bills finally after this, were each
of them once read; whereof the last being a Bill
touching my Lord Compton, &c. was after the
second reading committed to be ingrossed.
On Tuesday the 28th day of February the Bill
for ratifying an Award in the Chancery concerning
Copyhold and Customary Tenants of the Mannors of Moore and Newman, Synderich, Knyhton
and Pensokes, in the County of Worcester, was
read secundâ vice: after which also seven other
Bills had each of them one reading; of which
the fourth Bill being as the rest of no great moment, was after the passing of it sent down to
the House of Commons. But the first Bill of the
said seven which was touching the Inning of Erith
and Plumsted-Marsh, being upon the third reading concluded; yet it was Ordered by the Lords
that the same Bill should be staid from the sending of it down to the House of Commons, until
the Parties had brought in their several Bonds.