THE JOURNAL OF THE House of COMMONS.
A Journal of the daily Passages of the House of Commons in the Parliament holden at Westminster, Anno 35 Reginx Eliz. Anno Domini 1592. which began there on Monday the 19th Day of February, and then and there continued until the Dissolution thereof on
Tuesday the 10th Day of April, Anno Domini 1593.
THIS Journal of the House of Commons is fully replenished with many Excellent Passages; both touching the publick State of the Realm,
and also concerning Priviledges,
Elections, Returns and such like private Affairs
of the House it self: So that not only the dangers of the Realm were discussed and the Ecclesiastical Government touched, but also consultation was had for a seasonable and timely preparation to be made against the ambitious and proud
designs of the Spanish King. Neither is it unworthy the Observation, that some unusual distast was occasioned from her Majesty towards
some Members of the House by reason of their
intermedling with the Succession of the Crown,
which she had expresly forbidden. Which Passage, as also divers other particular Speeches, being not found in the Original Journal-Book of
the House of Commons, are supplied out of another Journal of the same House very exactly and
elaborately taken by an Anonymus, being a Member of the same at this Parliament: but yet
with this Caution, to avoid confusion, that whatsoever is inserted out of the said Anonymous Journal hath a particular Animadversion annexed unto it for discovery thereof.
The eighth Parliament of our Soveraign Lady
Elizabeth by the Grace of God Queen of England,
Franceand Ireland, Defender of the Faith, begun at Westminster upon Monday being the 19th
day of February in the thirty fifth year of her
Majesties Reign. And thereupon many of the
Knights, Citizens, Burgesses and Barons returned
into the same Parliament, then made their Appearances at Westminster before the Right Honourable the Earl of Darby, Lord Steward of
her Majesties most Honourable Household, and
did take the Oath before the said Lord Steward
or his Deputies, according to the Statute in that
behalf lately made and provided.
The manner of the administring of the said
Oath to the said Knights, Citizens and Burgesses,
was as followeth. The said Lord Steward removed into the Court of Requests, and having called over the said Knights and others that were
returned by their names. Mr Vice-Chamberlain
and others of her Majesties Privy-Council took
the said Oath before his Honour; and then having appointed them his Deputies to swear the
residue of the House of Commons who had then
appeared according to their several returns, he
departed. And thereupon his Lordships said Deputies proceeded to the further administrating
of the aforesaid Oath to other Members of the
said House; who after they had taken the same,
entred into it and placed themselves. The Fee
for entring the name into the Serjeants Book, is
two shillings. The reward to the Door-Keeper
three shillings eight pence. The Fee for returning the Indenture two shillings.
About two of the Clock in the Afternoon this
present Monday her Highness with divers of the
Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and such others
as had place there, being let into the Upper
House, and the Knights, Citizens and Burgesses
of the House of Commons, as many as conveniently could, being (at length) let in; The
Right Honourable Sir John Puckering Knight,
Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England, declared the said Parliament to be called by her
Highness only for Consultation and Preparation
of Aid to be had and made against the mighty
and great Forces of the King of Spain, bent and
intended against this Realm, as well by some
practices attempted by him in the Realm of
France, and with some of the Nobility of Scotland, as by many other ways and means to that
end and purpose. And did in the end advise the
said Commons to employ the time of this present
Session of Parliament in the aforesaid Consultation; and not to go about the making of any
new Laws for the Common-Wealth at this time,
as well for that there are very many good Laws
already in force; more (he said) than are well
executed; as for that also such new Laws (if
they be needful) may be treated of and dealt in
at some other time hereafter. And so willed
them to repair to their accustomed place, and
make Choice of their Speaker. Which done,
the said Parliament was Adjourned until Thursday next following.
After which the said Knights, Citizens and Burgesses of the House of Commons being Assembled
in the same House, the Right Honourable Sir
Francis Knowles Knight, one of her Majesties
most Honourable Privy-Council, and Treasurer
of her Highness most Honourable Houshold,
stood up, and putting the House in remembrance
of the said Charge of the said Lord Keeper given unto them for chusing of their Speaker; and
very gravely and amply setting out sundry the
good parts and commendable qualities and abilities of the Right Worshipful Mr Edward Cooke
Esqire Learned in the Laws of this Realm, Sollicitor General to her Majesty, and being a Member of this House returned into the same one of
the Knights for the County of Norfolk doth in
the end for his part and opinion nominate the
said Mr Edward Cooke to be chosen for their
Speaker in this present Parliament, if the residue
of this House shall so think good. Unto which
Motion as many of the said House assented with
their Voices, so the said Mr Edward Cooke thereupon stood up, and very gravely and discreetly
behaving himself as well in all due thankfulness
unto this House for their said good opinion conceived of him, as also in disabling himself in divers respects for the discharge due and requisite
for that place, humbly prayeth them to proceed
to a new Election. Which done, the Right Honourable Sir Thomas Heneage Knight, Vice-Chamberlain to her Majesty, and one other of her
Highness's most Honourable Privy-Council, stood
up, and not only approving but also very much
amplifying the said former sundry commendable
gifts and abilities of the said Mr Edward Cooke
exceeding many others, and comparable in his
opinion and judgement with any others for that
place and charge, (gathering also the same partly
from his own late former Speech of excuses) doth
in the end resolutely deliver his opinion to make
choice of the said Mr Cooke to be their Speaker.
And also thereupon moving the question to the
House, the said Mr Cooke was with one full consent and voice of the whole House; nominated
and chosen to be their Speaker for this present
Parliament. And so was thereupon presently
brought by the said Mr Treasurer and Mr ViceChamberlain, and set in the Chair. And immediately after the House did rise and were appointed to repair thither again upon Thursday next
following.
On Thursday the 22th day of February, to
which day the Parliament that begun on Monday foregoing, being the 19th day of the same
Month, had been continued by Sir John Puckering Knight Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, by
her Majesties Commandment, the Queens Majesty
and divers of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal
being set in the Upper House, the Knights, Citizens and Burgesses of the House of Commons had
notice thereof, and thereupon they repaired thither with Edward Cooke Esquire, her Majesties
Sollicitor, their lately Elected Speaker; who being led up to the Rail or Bar at the lower end
of the said House by two of the most eminent
Personages of the aforesaid House of Commons,
after humble reverence made, declared unto her
Majesty his Election to the said place of Prolocutor; and then alledging (according to the usual
course) his own insufficiency did desire her Majesty to enable him to that Charge; and to consider that howsoever he were the meanest that
ever went before him in that place in respect of
Experience, yet in respect of his faithfulness he
thought himself inferiour to none.
After which Speech her Majesty by the Mouth
of the Lord Keeper, having allowed and approved his Election, the said Speaker having in a second Speech shortly touched her Highness happy
and victorious Reign, and somewhat largely proved the antient Supremacy of the Kings of England
in Ecclesiastical matters, did in the end of his said
Speech make certain Petitions of course in the
name of the House of Commons; First, For liberty of Speech; Secondly, For freedom from Arrests; And thirdly, For Access unto her Majesty.
And lastly, For Pardon for himself if he should
in any thing unwittingly be mistaken.
To which Speech the Lord Keeper, having received new Instructions from her Majesty, made
a reply in particular to the several branches of the
said Speakers Speech. And to his three demands
he Answered, that liberty of Speech was granted
in respect of the I and No, but not that every
one should speak what he listed. And touching
freedom from Arrests, and Access to her Majesty,
he advised, that they might be cautiously made
use of.
Nota, That none of these Particulars touching
the Presentment of the Speaker, are set down in
the Original Journal-Book of the House of Commons, but are abstracted out of another Journal
of the same House taken by an Anonymous Member of the same during the Parliament, mentioned at the beginning of this present Journal,
yet it appeareth plainly by the very Original
Journal-Book it self, Fol. 262. 1. that the Prolocutor was this day presented to her Majesty,
where the words are as followeth, viz.
Jovis xxiid° Febr. 92.
This Day Mr Speaker was presented unto her
Majesty.
Which said words (being only here a little
otherwise placed for Order sake than there) have
a large Blank left at the end of them of somewhat above half a page, with intention no doubt
at the first to have inserted the whole manner
of the proceeding both of this presentment and
admission.
After the Return also of the Speaker (now
compleatly invested in that place) with the
rest of the House of Commons, one Bill was read
according to the usual form in that Case accustomed, which is set down in the said Journal-Book
in these words following, viz.
The Bill, that a Bar at large may be pleaded
in any Action of Ejectione firmæ was read the
first time.
Mr Speaker immediately after the reading of this
Bill, and his opening of the contents of the same
to this House, shewed unto them from her Majesty, that her Highness had Adjourned (mistaken for continued) the Higher House till Saturday next; And also that her Majesties pleasure
likewise was, that this House should therefore
be Adjourned till the same time; which being so
done accordingly, this House did then rise, and
every man went away.
On Saturday the 24th day of February the
House being set, and a great number of the
Members of the same assembled; Mr Speaker
not then as yet being come to the House, some of
the House said one to another, they heard he
was sick: And one affirmed it to be so indeed,
shewing that he had been with him this Morning himself; and left him sick in his Bed, and his
Physician and his Wife with him; and some
others supposing that he would shortly signify
unto this House, the Cause of that his absence,
moved that the Clerk might in the mean time
proceed to saying of the Litany and Prayers.
Which being so done accordingly, the Serjeant
of this House presently after the said Prayers
finished, brought word from Mr Speaker unto
the Right Honourable Sir John Woolley Knight
one of her Majesties most Honourable Privy
Council, and a Member of this House and then
present in the same House, that he had been this
last Night and also was this present Forenoon so
extreamly pained with a wind in his Stomach and
Loosness of Body, that he could not as yet without his further great peril and danger adventure
into the Air at this time, which otherwise most
willingly he would have done. And willed that
the Clerk of this House might signify unto the
House the said estate of his Case, and in his name
to desire their good favourable considerations of
the same, not doubting their gentle and courteous acceptance of that his so reasonable excuse,
as by this House hath also been in former time used
in like Case towards some other his Predecessors
in the place he now serveth; And to shew them,
he trusteth in God he shall be able to attend
them in this House upon the next day of sitting,
which will be Monday next. The Effect of
which Message being then signified unto this
House by the said Clerk of the House, all the
said Members of this House being very sorry for
Mr Speaker his sickness, rested well satisfied.
And so the House did rise, and every man departed away.
Nota, That this is all which is found in the Original Journal-Book of the House of Commons
touching this days business, and therefore that
which followeth is supplied out of that Anonymous Journal mentioned at the beginning of this
present Journal, touching the residue of this
days passages.
This day Mr Peter Wentworth and Sir Henry
Bromley delivered a Petition unto the Lord
Keeper, therein desiring the Lords of the Upper House to be suppliants with them of the lower
House unto her Majesty for Entailing the Succession of the Crown, whereof a Bill was readily
drawn by them.
Her Majesty was highly displeaded therewith
after the knew therof, as a matter contrary to her
former strait Commandment; and charged the
Council to call the parties before them. Sir Thomas Heneage presently sent for them, and after
Speeches had with them, commanded them to
forbear the Parliament, and not to go out from
their several Lodgings.
The day after being Sunday and the 25th of
Febr. though the House sate not, yet they were
called before the Lord Treasurer, the Lord
Buckhurst and Sir Thomas Heneage. The Lords
intreated them favourably and with good
Speeches; But so highly was her Majesty offended that they must needs commit them, and so they
told them. Whereupon Mr Peter Wentworth
was sent Prisoner unto the Tower; Sir Henry
Bromley and one Mr Richard Stevens, to whom
Sir Henry Bromley had imparted the matter,
were sent to the Fleet, as also Mr Welch the other Knight for Worcestershire. Vide Mar. 10.
About this matter in the beginning of the Parliament was appointed a Committee to be had of
many grave, wise and ancient Parliament men,
which were of the House, but at this time few
met at the place appointed, at least not such as
were expected.
It was appointed also at this time to Mr Stevens
to peruse the penning of the Petition that should
have been delivered to that House, and to have
provided a Speech upon the delivery of it: But
this Office by reason of other occasions he could
not attend. What other things were done or
spoken in that Conference, were, as I heard,
confessed to some of the Privy-Council by some
of those Parties that were present at that Conference. All that were there, except those beforenamed, went free and were never called in question that I heard of. And thus far it is inserted
out of the aforesaid Anonymous Journal.
On Monday the 26th day of February, the Bill
for reducing disloyal Subjects to their due Obedience, had its first reading.
Upon a Motion made by Mr George Moore
touching some questions for the manner of Election of one Richard Hutton returned into this
House one of the Burgesses for the Borough of
Southwark in the County of Surrey, and supposed
to have been indirectly made; and so prayed to
be further Examined by some Committee of this
House, and then to be reported over to this
House for the further Order of this House in the
same: And upon another Motion thereupon also made by Mr Wroth for a Committee for the
Liberties and Priviledges of the Members of this
House and their Servants, it is upon the question
Ordered, that all the Members of this House being of her Majesties Privy-Council, Sir William
Moore, Mr Serjeant Yelverton, Mr Robert Wroth,
Mr Recorder of London, Mr Heyle, Mr Conisby,
Mr Miles Sands, Mr Attorney of the Wards,
Mr Attorney of the Dutchy, Mr William Howard, Sir Henry Cooke, Sir Francis Godolphin, Sir
George Moore, Sir Walter Raleigh, Sir Francis
Drake, Mr Tanfield, Mr Francis Bacon, Mr
Lewkenor, Sir John Harrington, Mr Emersam, Sir
Edward Hobby, Mr Lawrence Stourton, Mr Beale,
Mr Doctor James, Sir Henry Duton, Mr Doctor
Cæsar, Mr Tasborough, Sir Moyle Finch, Sir Thomas Cecill and Sir Francis Hastings shall, during
all this present Sessions of Parliament, examine
and make report of all such Cases touching the
Elections and Returns of any the Knights, Citizens, Burgesses and Barons of this House, and
also all such Cases for priviledge as in any wise
may occur or fall out during all the same Sessions
of Parliament; to the end this House upon the
Reports of the same Examinations may proceed
to such further course in every the same Cases as
to this House shall be thought meet. And it is
further Ordered, that that said Committees do
meet upon Wednesday next in the Exchequer
Chamber at three of the Clock in the Afternoon
to examine the manner of the said Election of the
said Richard Hutton, and also any other case of
Elections, Returns or Priviledges whatsoever in
question, which shall be moved unto them by
any Member of this House at their Pleasure. And
notice was then also given in the House to all the
Members of the same, that in all these Cases they
might from time to time repair to the said Committees as occasion shall serve accordingly.
The Bill touching salted Fish and salted Herrings had its first reading.
Sir Robert Cecill, Sir John Wolley, Sir John Fortescue, Sir Edward Stafford and Mr Francis Bacon, having severally delivered most manifest and
apparent reasons of the inevitable necessity both
of present consultation and also of present Provision of Treasure to prevent and withstand the
great imminent perils and dangers of this Realm,
intended against the same by the King of Spain,
the Pope and other Confederates of the Holy
League; The said Sir Robert Cecill, Sir John Fortescue, Sir John Wolley, and Mr Francis Bacon,
laying open the sundry particular practices of the
King of Spain against the State of this Realm;
attempted both in Ireland, the Low Countries,
France and Scotland, do each of them in the end
conclude and move, That a grave Committee of
this House be presently selected to have Conference touching some fit course to be taken for
the said consultation and provision of Treasure.
And thereupon it was upon the Question Ordered and Assented to by the whole House.
Nota, That this is all that is found in the Original Journal-Book of the House of Commons touching these Speeches; which because they contain
many Excellent Passages concerning the History
of these times of her Majesty, I have therefore
supplied at large, Sir Edward Staffords Speech only excepted (which was wanting there also) out
of a very Elaborate Journal of the same House,
taken by some Anonymous Member thereof at
this Parliament, which is mentioned more at large
in the beginning of this present Journal. Sir Robert Cecill Spake first and said.
As I remember, I have been of this House
there five Parliaments, and I have not determined to say any thing in these Assemblies further
than my Cogitations should concur with my Conscience in saying bare I, or No. Give me leave,
I pray you, to rehearse an old saying, and it is
in Latin, Nec te collaudes, nec te vituperes ipse;
for me to do the one were exceeding arrogancy,
and to do the other, I do confess, I hope, you
will pardon me.
The occasion of this Parliament, as I take it
by that which we received from the Honourable
and Learned Speech of the Lord Keeper of and
from her Majesty to us in the Higher House, is
for the cause of Religion and maintenance thereof amongst us, the preservation of her Majesties
most Royal Person, and the good of this Realm
of our Country. All which because they be
things of most dear and greatest price, and at
this present in exceeding great and imminent
danger, it is most behoofful to consult of speedy
remedies, which should proceed from the wisest
Heads. The Enemy to these is the King of Spain,
whose malice and ambition is such, as together
with the Pope, that Antichrist of Rome, (for I
may well couple them together, the one being
always accompained with envy at our Prosperity,
the other with unsatiable desire) makes them by
all means to seek the Subversion of the State. But
concerning the first the cause of God and his Religion, which her Majesty professed before she
came to sit in this Royal Seat, which she hath
defended and maintained, and for which cause
God hath so blessed her Government since her
coming to the Crown: Yea while the Crown
was scarce warm on her Head, she abolished the
Authority of Rome, and did set up Gods truth
amongst us; and to her great renown made this
little Land to be a Sanctuary for all the persecuted
Saints of God: whereby the people perceived
her Magnanimity, Zeal and Judgment; Magnanimity in undertaking so great an Enterprize;
Zeal in professing the same not for the shew, but
of sincerity; Judgment in defending it and preventing all his designs. He sent forth his Bulls
and Missives against her Majesty, thereby most
unnaturally depriving her of her most natural
right, the Duty and Loyalty which her Subjects
should owe unto her, &c. He touched the many dangers her Majesty had been in, which as it
caused him to fear to think, so did he tremble
to speak concerning the danger of her Country,
and so the lost of our Lives, Liberties, Wives,
Children, and all other Priviledges. Let me not
trouble you with things past so long and perhaps
beyond my reach, but with things past of late
years and since Eighty eight. When we were so
secure and never thought that the King of Spain
would have set up his Rest for England; Then
sent he his Navy termed Invincible, and was almost upon the Banks of us before we were
aware. Yea we were so slack in provision, that
it was too late to make resistance, had not God
preserved us. His attempt against us by seeking
to win the Low-Countries and to obtain Ireland,
being but trifles and partly devices, which I
mean not to trouble you with; he hath now of
late gone about to win France, wherein he hath
greatly prevailed, as in Lorrain and in other
parts, as you have heard, but specially in Britany, having most part of the Port Towns in his
Possession, whither he still sendeth supply daily,
and reinforces them every four or five Months,
which part is always open and his men and forces never wanting. This Province he especially
desireth, for it lyeth most fitly to annoy us, whither he may send forces continually, and there
have his Navy in a readiness; the which he
could not so easily, unless he had the wind in a
bag. Besides having this Province, he might keep
us from Traffick to Rochell and Burdeaux, as he
doth in the Straights from Tripoly and St Jean de
Luce: And so hinder us from carrying forth and
bringing into this Land any Commodities from
those parts, whereby the Realm might be inriched and her Majesties Impost ever eased, being
one of the greatest Revenues of her Crown. He
hath also gone about with them of Stade and the
King of Poland, one of his own Faction, and
who by reason he cannot do in that Kingdom
what he listeth, he may not so easily command
him to impeach, or hinder our Traffick in those
Eastern parts, which if he could bring to pass,
you see how hurtful it would be to this
Land.
But to descend yet lower into these latter Actions. He hath seen it is but a folly to make Woodden Bridges to pass into Ireland, therefore he
hath found out a safer way and stronger passage
into it by Land, and that by Scotland, which
though it be not talked of on the Exchange, nor
Preached at Paul's Cross; yet it is most true, and
in Scotland as common as the high-way, That
he hath procured unto him many of the Nobility. It may be he hath sent thither no great Navy, and that her Majesty would not suffer him
to do; yet do what she can, some one Paltry
Fly-Boat may escape her Majesties Ships, and carry gold enough in her to make them Traytors,
and stir them to Sedition. These things her Majesty understood before, and Advertized the
King thereof; which the effect hath proved to
be true. For unless I be deceived, the last Letter that came from thence might shew that the
King is gone to make a Rode into the North, and
to bring back the Lord Bothwell and the Lord
Huntley. The King of Spain's malice thus daily
increaseth against us, and seeketh also to stir up
Sedition amongst us by his Instruments. The number also of Papists daily increaseth, or at least
wise becomes more manifest. My advice is, that
you would consult how to withstand such imminent dangers, which the greater they be, the
sooner they would be looked into and remembred. Wherefore I would desire Mr Speaker
that he would appoint some Committees of the
sufficientest and wisest men in the House to consider thereon.
Sir John Wolley spake to the like Effect, saying,
that upon the Cause of the danger the Realm
was now in, and of the remedy, his Speech
should consist; which he likened to a natural Body,
in which the more danger the principal Member
was in, the greater means there should be used
for the preservation thereof. Roan being made
now Admiral of France by the League, should
say, that he was a poor Admiral now, but yet
he doubted not 'but that shortly he should be
able to bring such a Navy as should terrify the
Queen of England. Also he shewed how the
Princes of the Holy League had conspired the
overthrow of the Realm, the extirpation of
Religion, and the confusion of her Majesty and
her Loyal Subjects. And exhorted the House,
now because the season of the year groweth on,
which calleth many of the Knights and Burgesses
to be in their Countries, besides the Sickness being in the Town, so that many of that House he
thought knew not whether they lodged in Houses
infected or not, that they would seek to dispatch and end the Parliament so soon as might
be. He also shewed how the Dunkirkers trouled our Fishermen in small Barks upon the Seacoasts. And so that this matter might be Committed to some of the sufficientest in the House.
He also exhorted the House to a speedy agreeing
of a Subsidy: which considering the dangers
we were in, and that it was for our own good,
as also for her Majesty's, he hoped that no good
Subject but would willingly agree to it. Also
he shewed that the Wars with the King of
Spain had cost her Majesty a Million of Money:
but his he avouched, that where it cost her Majesty one, it cost the King of Spain three.
Then Sir John Fortescue Spake and said: They
that spake before me, spake sufficiently of the
Authors of our trouble, of the great danger
which is now imminent, insomuch that as it is
come to that point now, Non utrùm imprare, sed
utrùm vivere. I will speak of nothing but that which
concerns my Calling. Her Majesty not being
only careful for the preservation of Her own
Realm, but of her Neighbours also; she hath not
only defended her own Subjects from being invaded, but also hath aided Strangers which wanted Money, with whom otherwise it would have
gone ill by this time both with them and ourselves. Insomuch that the burthen of four Kingdoms hath rested upon her Majesty, which she
hath maintained with her Purse, England, France,
Ireland, and Scotland. For how could the French
King at his first coming to the Crown have
held out against those Leaguers, had not her Majesty assisted him with her Men and Money, which
hath cost her Majesty about a hundred thousand
pound? For 'tis well known that the French King
had not been able to withstand the Duke of Parma's
coming into France, had it not been for our
Englishmen and Money. As for the Low Countries, they have stood her Majesty in yearly, since
she undertook the defence of them, one hundred
and fifty thousand pound. All which her Majesty bestowed for the good of the Realm, to
free us from War at home. Besides, when her
Majesty came to the Crown, she found it four
Millions indebted; her Navy when she came to
view it, she found greatly decayed: Yet all this
hath discharged, and (thanks be to God) is nothing indebted; and now she is able to match
any Prince in Europe, which the Spaniards found
when they came to invade as. Yea she hath
with her Ships compassed the whole world,
whereby this Land is made famous throughout all places. She did find in her Navy all Iron
Pieces, but she hath furnished it with Artillery of Brass, so that one of her Ships is not a
Subject's but a petty King's wealth. As for her
own private Expences, they have been little in
building; she hath consumed little or nothing
in her pleasures. As for her Apparel, it is Royal
and Princely, beseeming her Calling, but not
sumptuous nor excessive. The Charges of her
House small, yea never less in any Kings time.
And shortly (by Gods grace) she will free her Subjects from that trouble which hath come by the
means of Purveyors. Wherefore she trusteth,
that every good subject will assist her Majesty
with his Purse, seeing it concerns his own good
and the preservation of his estate. For before
that any of us would lose the least member of his
body, we would bestow a great deal, and stick
for no Cost nor Charges: How much more ought
we in this political Body, whereof not only a
member but the whole is in jeopardy, if we do
not once hast to the preservation thereof? And for
these Subsidies which are granted now adays to
her Majesty, they are less by half than they were
in King Henry the 8th's time. Now although her
Majesty had borrowed some Money of her Subjests besides her Subsidies, yet she had truly repaid and answered every one fully. He desired
the matter might be put to a Committee.
Sir Edward Stafford spake next to the like effect; but what his said Speech was, is not at all
set down in the aforesaid Anonymous Journal
mentioned more fully at the beginning of this
Journal present.
Mr Francis Bacon spake last, whose Speech was
to the effect following, viz.
Mr Speaker, That which these Honourable Personages have spoken of their Experiences, May it
please you to give me leave likewise to deliver of
my common knowledge. The Cause of Assembling all Parliaments hath been hitherto for Laws
or Moneys: The one being the Sinews of Peace,
the other of War. To the one I am not privy,
but the other I should know. I did take great
contentment in her Majesties Speeches the other
day delivered by the Lord Keeper, how that it
was a thing not to be done suddenly nor at one
Parliament, nor scarce a whole year would suffice to purge the Statute-Book and lessen the Volume of Laws, being so many in number, that
neither Common People can practise them, nor
the Lawyer sufficiently understand them: Than
the which nothing should tend more to the
praise of her Majesty.
The Romans appointed ten men, who were
to correct and recal all former Laws, and to set
forth those Twelve Tables so much of all men to
be commended. The Athenians likewise appointed six for that purpose. And Lewes the 9th King
of France did the like in reforming his Laws
............. But what should here follow is
wholly omitted in that Anonymous Journal mentioned in the beginning of these Speeches, out
of which they are all taken; yet it should seem
that the main end and scope of the ensuing particulars of this Speech, which are omitted, were
for the appointing of a select and grave Committee, both to consider of the dangers of the
Realm, and of speedy supply and aid to be given
to her Majesty.
And thereupon after the Conclusion of this
Speech of Mr Francis Bacon's, the House did accordingly nominate the said Committee, to deliberate and consult in what proportion they
might now to relieve her Majesty with Subsidies,
in respect of those many and great Enemies
against whose power and malice she was to provide and prepare for necessary defence and preservation of her Realms and Dominions. The
names of which said Committees are set down in
the Original Journal-Book of the House of Commons (though omitted in that other before-mentioned taken by the said Anonymus) in manner
and form following, viz.
All those of this House which are of her Majesties Privy-Council, all the Members of this
House which are returned Knights for the Counties, Sir Walter Raleigh, Sir Thomas Cecill, Mr
George Moore, Sir Henry Unton, Mr Wroth, Sir
Thomas Wilkes, Mr Francis Bacon, Mr Nathanael
Bacon, Mr George Cary, Mr Beale, Mr Fulk Grevill, Mr Attorney of the Wards, Mr Attorney
of the Dutchy, Sir John Paton, Mr Robert Sackvill; Sir Francis Hastings, all the Serjeants at
Law which were Members of this House, Sir John
Hare, Mr Doctor Cæsar, Mr Doctor James, Mr
William Haward, Mr Sands, Sir Robert Sidney,
Mr Fanshaw, Sir Thomas West, Sir John Warrington, Sir Thomas Read, Sir Francis Drake, Mr Thomas Fane, Mr Vincent Skinner, Sir William Moor,
Mr Fuller, Mr Heyle, Mr John Hare, Mr Shinne,
Mr Christopher Blount, Mr Edward Lewkenor, Sir
William Bowes, Sir John Wingfield, Mr Tasborough,
Sir Edward Stafford, Mr Lawrence Fanshaw, Mr
Nicholas Saunders, Mr Doctor Lewen, Sir Thomas
Flodd, Sir Francis Gudolphin, Sir Francis Vere,
Mr Edward Dyer, Mr Conisby, Mr Boyse, Mr Apselie and Mr Emersam should be nominated and
appointed to have Conference in the said Cause;
and to meet for that purpose in this House to
Morrow next at two of the Clock in the Afternoon.
On Tuesday the 27th day of February, Two
Bills of no great moment had each of them one
reading; of which the first being the Bill touching Woollen Cloaths called Vesses, Rayes, &c.
was read the first time.
Mr Morrice Attorney of the Court of Wards,
moveth the House touching the hard Courses of
the Bishops and Ordinaries and other Ecclesiastical Judges in their Courts, used towards sundry
learned and godly Ministers and Preachers of this
Realm by way of Inquisition, subscription and
binding absolution, contrary (he said) to the
honour of God, the Regality of her Majesty, the
Laws of this Realm, and the liberty of the Subjects of the same; compelling them upon their
own Oaths to accuse themselves in their own private actions, words and thoughts, if they shall
take such Oaths, because they know not to what
questions they shall answer till after the time
they be sworn; And also after such Examination proceed against them by deprivation, degradation or suppression, upon such their own Accusations of themselves. And if they refuse to
take such Oath, then they commit them to Prison and there keep and detain them at their
own pleasure, not absolving or releasing them
until they shall first have taken a Corporal Oath of
their Canonical Obedience to their Ordinaries.
And shewing further at large the great inconvenience thereby grown unto the free Subjects of
this Realm, doth in the end pray a Consultation
to be had therein by this House for redress of the
said Enormities; and offereth unto Mr Speaker
two Bills, the one concerning the said Inquisitions, subscriptions and offering of Oaths, and the
other concerning the Imprisonments upon their
refusal to the said Oaths, praying that the said
latter Bill which concerneth the said Imprisonments might be read, and the other to be offered
to this House at some other more convenient
time.
Nota, That there is no other Speech touching
this business particularly and fully set down in
the Original Journal-Book of the House of Commons, and therefore those Speeches which follow
are supplied out of that Anonymous Journal of
the same House, of which there is more particular mention made in the very beginning of this
present Journal.
Mr Dalton stood up and spake with much earnestness against it, saying, It is hard upon a sudden
for me to Answer a long premeditated Speech,
but as I am able I will say and shew what I think
of the Bill Exhibited. It pretends great things
in shew, tending to the hindrance of Gods service and the derogation of her Majesties Prerogative, to the overthrow of our Laws and violating of our Liberties; Things I say great in
shew, but no such things to be found in the matter spoke against. It is easy to make of a MoleHill a Mountain in words, so by a well complied
Speech to make a great and dangerous thing of
nothing; nay a thing indeed needless; for that
the State hath hitherto always stood upon this
Government. And so shewed how Ecclesiastical
Government was distinct from the Temporal.
The Reasons he gave were few or none; only his
great dislike was, that having received strait
Commandment from her Majesty not to meddle
with things concerning the Reformation of the
Church and State of this Realm, therefore in his
opinion the Bill ought to be suppressed.
Sir John Woolley spake also against the Bill disallowing the matters in it: And taking it as too
busy a medling in such a thing so forbidden by
her Majesty, so he thought it not fit that it should
be read.
Then Spake Sir Francis Knowles, allowing the
Bill, and Answered, That whereas it was condemned as seeking the overthrow of a Member of the State, and so against the Law, it tended in his opinion but to the reforming of abuses
and restraining of the Prelates: That if they
meddle against the Laws, they shall incur a prœmunire. So that he thought the Bill to be good
and fit to be read.
Then spake Doctor Lewen, driving his Speech
to a full Answer of Mr Morris his Speech. And
first he shewed, that as the natural Body was delighted in Change, so was it also in the politick
Body, greedy of alteration. That this Eversion of Bishops had long been sought for; and in
shooting at their Jurisdiction their aim was at
their places; as being no more able to stand the
one without the other, than a House without a
Foundation. Then he entred into a Discourse
of Government, as Monarchies, Aristocracies and
Democracies. He allowed the Monarchies; and
in the most famous Monarchies in the World
shewed this Government now exercised by the
Bishops to have been used. He endeavoured to
prove the Bishops to be such a part of the Body
politick, as without them it could be no Body.
And in comparing it with the state of the Natural
Body, he termed the Prince and the Counsellors
of State to be as the Senses, and as the Head;
The Bishops and Ministers as the Shoulders and
Arms; the common people the Legs. Now to
take away the Shoulders from the Body were as
great a blemish and prejudice as to have the Fingers tied unto the Shoulders. Then came he to
three parts of Mr Morris his Speech, Inquisition,
Subscription and binding absolution. Inquisition he
proved lawful; First because it had been so long
used, and in the greatest Monarchies allowed.
For before Inquisition came in, the manner of
Tryal was by Accusation, and then the party
accusing was to suffer the penalty that the Law
inflicted upon the party accused, if he failed in
his accusation. Then it might be that the party
accused, if the Accuser failed in his accusation,
might sollicite two Witnesses to Answer for him,
which was sufficient to acquit him: So the guilty
escaped and the guiltless accuser was punished.
This seeming grievous, they changed their Tryals into Inquisitions. And whosoever reads Demosthenes and Tully, shall see how unwillingly
they were hired to accuse. And if we look into
the Laws of this Realm, it is altogether by Inquisitions in Courts Baron, Leets, and in the
Kings Courts, and in the Star-Chamber. So that
this course is as lawful in the Ecclesiastical as in
the Temporal Law. Subscription was a thing we
were bound unto by Statute. The like was used
in our Churches as at Geneva, so as allowable
here. Absolution, termed binding, is no other
than in the Common Law; for in the Writ de
Excommunicato capiendo, the party absolved is
to be sworn ad servandum jus, and his Oath to
perform the Law in this absolution is not grievous: Whereas otherwise the party accused was
to find pledges for the same. Nay it is a liberty
to him, when upon his Oath he may be freed.
And so as to the Bill, he thought it fittest that it
should be first considered of by the Bishops and
Judges of the Realm before it were read.
After this Mr. Henry Finch (as may be conjectured out of the Original Journal-Book of the
House of Commons, where though his Speech be
omitted, yet he is set down and nominated to
have spoken next after Doctor Lewen) spake also
against the Bill much to that effect which the said
Doctor Lewen had spoken: But neither was his
name expressed in the aforesaid Anonymous Journal, out of which these several Speeches are transcribed, nor yet any more particulars of that
which he spake.
Then stood up Mr. Oliver St John, as may be
collected out of the aforesaid Original JournalBook of the House of Commons, where he is
said to have spoken next after Mr. Henry Finch,
although his Speech be wholly omitted (as is his
name in the said Anonymous Journal, out of
which the said Speech and the rest are inserted)
and speaking for the Bill said; it is and hath
been the manner of this House to allow a mixture
in speaking, and after the Grave, Honourable
and Wisest, then to hear the meanest also. For
my self, I am but young, yet will I shew unto
you matter which is old. In Answer to them that
Spake last, the Ancient Charter of this Realm
says, Nullus liber homo, &c. which is flatly violated by Bishops Jurisdiction. You know what
things Thomas Becket stood upon against the
King, which things are now also crept in. And
for more full Answer of one that spake before,
his Antiquity and prescription cannot be allowed
in this Government for any reason; for so were
the Official prestitute to take and exact Fees, because time out of mind they had done so; And
set it down that it was Answered in the Parliament House, That Thieves may prescribe to take
Purses on Shooters-Hill, because time out of mind
they had done so.
For that of Inquisition, it seems to him (specially) that spake last, to be allowed before that
tryal by accusation; First by reason of the Antiquity of the tryal. But it cannot be proved so
ancient as the manner of tryals by accusations.
For in John, the Adulterous Woman being
brought to Christ, he asked who were her Accusers? And for that manner of Accusation, the
Lawyers themselves speak against it; for one
faith of it, Ut libere fatear quod sentiam, nunquam mihi placebat. For Subscription, the Statute
alledged is meant but a Subscription to certain Articles in Religion, and not a Subscription in this
form. And because it is allowed in Geneva,
so to allow it here, that is no reason. For in
Geneva there be many things allowed, which the
party speaking would (I dare say) be loth to
have used here. As to Absolution, there is no such
Oath to be required therein in our Writ de Excommunicato capiendo, as was said. So I think the
Bill very worthy and fit to be read.
Then Sir Robert Cecill spake and said: I am unwilling to speak, yea I speak against my Will;
and to answer Speeches well studied and premeditated upon the sudden, it is hard for me. What
the Bill containeth, I am ignorant of; and whether to allow of it or not, I will suspend my opinion. To say the truth, the man that offered it
was learned and wise, and one whom I love;
yet a Bill to be offered and inforced in this sort,
being of such effect, I know not how to allow
of it. For her Majesty had straitly forbidden to
meddle in such Cases; yet not forgetting the
Cause, she had in her Excellent wisdom cared
and pretended that a redress should be had of
things that are amiss. To which end her Majesty
before the Parliament summoned, had directed
her Letters to the Archbishops to certifie her.
Now her Highness Care for our good shall be
prevented by our hasty speaking of these things
before our time. Sure it is not fit, and her Majesty cannot but be offended at it. For the Bill
I protest I know it not; but it seemed to contain
things needful. Wherefore it were fittest it
should be commended to her Majesty, and so
recommended unto us. And if I may do this
Office and Service for the House, I will in all
dutiful Loves and Service do it. But if the other
course be taken, I fear the things sought will be
denied for the violence used in it.
The Mr Speaker said, In favour and free
love, above my merits or desert, you have Elected me, which should bind me to do all my best
Service, and to be faithful toward you. This
Bill delivered me is long and containeth important matters of great weight, and such matters as
cannot be expressed in four words. It hath many parts, and if you put me presently to open
it, I cannot so readily understand it, and do it
as I should; For indeed it is a matter far above
my ordinary practice: and to deliver a thing before I conceive it, I could not. Wherefore if it
would please you to give me leave to consider
of it, I protest I will be faithful and keep it with
all Secrecy.
Hereupon the House was in question, whether
it should be committed to the Speaker only, or
to the Privy-Council and him: but it was holden to be against the Order of the House that any
Bill should be committed before it was read.
Therefore upon a Motion made by Mr Wroth, it
was agreed, that Mr Speaker should have it.
This Afternoon at two of the Clock Mr Speaker
was sent for to the Court, where the Queen her
self gave him Commandment to deliver unto the
House ........... and so the matter abruptly
breaks off in the said Anonymous Journal, mentioned more particularly in the beginning of this
present Journal, out of which all these aforesaid
Speeches are inserted: But that which should
here follow can be no more but only, that her
Majesty did Command him to deliver a certain
Message to the House the day following, which
he did then perform accordingly: Ut vide postea
in fine diei sequentis.
Finally, the last business of this Forenoon was
the reading and committing of an ordinary Bill,
which is inserted out of the Original JournalBook it self.
The Bill lastly, that a Bar at large may be
pleaded in an Ejectione firmæ, was upon the second reading committed unto Mr Edgecombe, Sir
Henry Knivet, and the Serjeants at Law that are
Members of the House, Mr Attorney of the
Wards and others, who were appointed to meet
upon Thursday next at two of the Clock in the
Afternoon at Serjeants-Inn in Fleetstreet.
On Wednesday the 28th day of February, the
Bill for reducing of disloyal Subjects to their due
Obedience, was read the second time.
Nota, That before this Bill was committed,
divers spake unto it, which being omitted in the
Original Journal-Book after the mentioning of
the second reading thereof, I thought good to
supply the said Speeches out of that Anonymous
Journal so often before-mentioned; and the rather, because this Bill being against Popish Recusants, the said Speeches do contain matter of
much weight in them.
Mr. Cradock (after the said Bill against Recusants had been opened by Mr. Speaker upon
the second reading thereof) spake as followeth.
There is no man as I think so irreligious towards God, so unloyal towards her Majesty, so
careless of the common Statutes, but thinks the
Bill to be good, and the Law very necessary before it be Enacted: Yet it were fit every part of
it were considered of and reformed. The thing
to be reformed is this: The words of the Act
being Every person that shall receive a Recusant, &c.
And thus the Purvey being General, the good
Subject may be grieved by this Law; and he
that shall have but a Recusant in his Custody,
shall be within the letter of the Law for receiving a Recusant into his House. Things to be
considered are first, Whether it be good to deprive
them of all their goods, for so we shall leave
them no means of living. Secondly, Whether
the Parties that be now Recusants being reconciled, if they fall into relapse and afterwards be
newly reconciled again, shall be enabled to take
benefit of their Lands and good: for 'tis hard,
if after their repenting they be not restored.
Then Mr. Philips Answering all Objections
against the Bill, affirmed it sufficient in all points,
and that neither the sence nor the letter could
be prejudicial to the good Subject. Only he
could have wisht it were provided that the Recusant should not use this Law to his benefit, by
procuring Commons to be their Friends, and take
Leases of their own Lands answering the Queens
Title.
Mr. Finch made this Question, Whether those
that came not to Church by reason of the mislike
they had of the Church Government, shall be
in like Case as a Recusant Papist.
Mr. Tichburn said he could have provided that
the Father should not disinherit the Son, nor have
power so to do for being made conformable by
him that should have the bringing of him up.
Then Mr. Nathanael Bacon spake and said, The
Children might not be committed to the Bishop
of the Diocess, because their Chancellors are so
much affected to the Canon Law, that some
are infected with Popish Religion. Besides, the
office of Bishops is to preach, and this duty in
the one calling would not be hindred by other
affairs committed to their care. Wherefore fitter
it is, that the Justices of Assize should have the
appointment of them.
Then said Sir Edward Stafford, it may be the
party is Enemy to him to whom the Child
is committed, therefore the Commitment is to
be by two or three.
Then Mr. Wroth spake as followeth. The Law
hath no Proviso for Leases, no remedy is appointed, as by the distress or otherwise, how the
Guardian is to come by the money appointed to
him for the Custody of the Child of a Recusant.
And it were fit to make a Proviso that no Party
being next Heir to the Child should be his Guardian. And the Recusant not to forfeit ten pound
a Month for the keeping of his Wife; otherwise
for keeping of Servants Recusants.
After all these Speeches they agreed to have
the Bill committed. But the Committees names
are all omitted in the said Anonymous Journal,
out of which these foresaid Speeches are inserted,
and are therefore to be supplied out of the Original Journal-Book of the House of Commons,
where they are set down in manner and form
following, viz.
All the Privy Council, Sir Thomas Cecil, Sir Walter
Raleigh, Sir William Moore, Mr Feele, Mr Finch, Mr
Worth, Mr Greenfield, Mr Fulke Grevill, Mr Sands,
Mr Cradock, Sir Francis Hastings, Sir Edward Stafford, Mr Morrice, Mr George Cary, Mr Peejam,
Mr Tasborough, Sir Henry Unton, Sir William
Bowes, Sir Moyle Finch, Mr Attorney of the
Dutchy, Mr Alice, Sir Francis Vere, Sir Edward
Dimock, Mr. Warren, Mr Lewes, Mr. Tansfeild, Mr.
Edw. Barker, Mr. Beale, Mr. Philips, Mr. Stephenson,
Mr Lewkenor Mr Nat. Bacon, Mr Grimston, Mr. Fuller, all the Serjeants at Law, Mr. George Moore, Sir
Thomas Wast, Mr. Doctor Cæsar, Mr. Doctor
Lewen, Sir Henry Cock, Sir Edward Cock, Sir
Edward Hobby, Mr. Dier, Mr. John Cary, Mr.
Emerson, Sir Thomas Shirley, Mr. Fanshaw, Sir
John Harrington, Sir Henry Knivett, Sir Charles
Candish, and Sir Francis Drake. And the Bill was
delivered to Mr. Serjeant Yelverton, who with the
rest was appointed to meet upon to Morrow next
at two of the Clock in the Afternoon at SerjeantsInn in Fleetstreet.
Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, one of the
Committees in the great Cause for Consultation
and provision of Treasure (appointed on Monday
the 26th day of this instant February foregoing)
shewed, that he and the residue of the Committees in that Case met yesterday in the Afternoon according to the Commission of this House,
and upon Conference had amongst them for
some convenient proportion of Treasure to be
provided, did in the end agree, that two intire Subsidies and four Fifteenths and Tenths
should be granted unto her Majesty, if this present House shall so think good. Upon which
Report by him made, it was upon the question
agreed unto by the whole House, that the same
two intire Subsidies and four Fifteenths and
Tenths should be granted unto her said Highness
accordingly. Which done Mr. Nathanael Bacon,
one also of the said Committees, put the House
in remembrance, that at their said Conference
in the said Committee it was moved by some of
them, that the present necessity of the Causes
now moving them to offer the said double Subsidy and double Fifteenths and Tenths, should
be set down and inserted in the Bill for the granting thereof.
After this Speech of Mr. Bacons there is no
particular mention of any other Speech which
was spoken at this time touching this business in
the Original Journal-Book of the House of Commons, and therefore these Speeches which follow
are supplyed out of another Anonymous Journal
of the passages of this Parliament more particularly mentioned at the beginning of this present
Journal.
Sir Henry Knivett spake, allowing the Subsidies, but withal desired these things: First, that
it might be lawful for every Subject to annoy
the King of Spain that would, that weak Forces
might not be spent against him, but a Royal
Army. That we should not wrastle with him
on our own ground but abroad. Further, that
all her Majesties debtors might be called in, and
her Majesty to have power to sell all the Debtors
Lands, of what State soever they were seized
of. No Steward or Commissioner but to answer
her Majesty the Royal Fines and Sums they received. All her Woods to be viewed, and the
great Timber to be for sale, the Copy wood to
be sold to encrease the Revenues. Licences granted to any to have benefit of penal Statutes, to
be taken in; and the whole benefit of Inns and
Alehouses to come to the Queen. A great benefit to come to the Queen by this new Statute
against Recusants. Their Children to be committed to persons of sound Religion. The whole
benefit of their relief and living to come to the
Queen, deducting only charges for Education of
Children.
Serjeant Harris agreed on the Subsidy because
Parliaments were seldom, whereas by the Statute
of 4 Edw. 3. they may be called every year.
The Subsidies to be granted to maintain Wars;
but whether it be War or no War, as yet we
know not: And the things which we take from
the Spaniard, is doubted by many not to be lawful prize. Therefore desires in the Subsidies to
have it set down, that those Subsidies be to
maintain a War impulsive and defensive against
the Spaniard.
Sir Walter Raleigh seconded his Speech, agreeing in all things with the Serjeant, and said, he
knew many that held it not lawful in Conscience, as the time is, to take from the Spaniards:
And he knew, that if it might be lawful and open
War, there would be more voluntary hands to
fight against the Spaniard, than the Queen should
stand in need of to send to Sea.
Nota, That these aforesaid Speeches are all that
are found in the forementioned Anonymous Journal, and therefore that which follows is made
perfect out of the Original Journal-Book it self,
in manner and form following, viz.
After the former and other like Speeches, in
which also some had moved, that to make the
Wars against the King of Spain and his Subjects
lawful and warrantable, it should be inserted into the preamble of the said Bill [that so great
and extraordinary supply was at this time given
for the resisting of his power and preventing of
his malice] it was Ordered by the House upon
the question, that all the Serjeants at Law which
are Members of this House, Mr. Heile, Mr. Philips, Sir Walter Raleigh, Sir Francis Drake, Sir
George Carey, Mr. Doctor Cæsar, Mr. Doctor Awberry, Mr. Francis Bacon, Sir Francis Gudolphin,
Mr. John Hare, Sir Thomas Conisby, Mr. Attorney
of the Wards, Mr. Attorney of the Dutchy, Mr.
John Trevor; Mr. Sands, Mr. Doctor Lewen, Mr.
Beale, Sir Henry Unton and Mr. Ridisden should
meet upon Saturday next at two of the Clock in
the Afternoon in the Exchequer; for drawing
the Articles and Preamble of the said Bill accordingly; to the end the same Articles and Preamble
being considered of afterwards by this House, the
same may be delivered by Mr. Speaker to her Majesties Learned Council for the framing and drawing of the said Bill.
Now in the next place there ensueth the Relation of her Majesties sending for the Speaker
yesterday, and of the Message which she gave
him in Command to deliver to the House; all
which he declared at large this day, as it is very
elaborately and fully set down in the Anonymous
Journal mentioned more particularly at the beginning of this present Journal, and therefore it
is wholly inserted out of it; and the rather, because it is almost wholly wanting in the Original
Journal-Book it self, there being one whole blank
Page and a good part of another Page left unwritten, with intention doubtless at first to have
inserted it, although it was afterwards very negligently omitted by Mr. Fulk Onslow Clerk of the
said House of Commons. It is therefore (as is
aforesaid) very fitly supplied out of the Anonymous Journal in manner and form following, viz.
After these Speeches (before set down) touching the Subsidy, Mr Speaker stood up and said,
That he had a Message to deliver from her Majesty
to the said House.
Yesterday a great number of this House (after
many Speeches used) delivered two Bills to me.
Which Bills though not read, yet were diversly
spoken of. They being long, the matters grave
and of great importance, and the day being almost spent, I desired further time to consider of
the parts of the Bills. I humbly thank this Honourable House, time was freely granted me. It
being almost twelve of the Clock, I had perused
and read both the Bills; I have them about me,
and they have been continually with me ever
since they were delivered unto me. Never any
mans eye more than my own ever saw one word
of them.
A little after I had perused the Bills, I was sent
for by a special Messenger from her Majesty.
Coming in her Royal presence, I was commanded
to deliver these words from her most Excellent
Majesty unto the Body of the Realm, for so she
termed this House. The matter I have to speak
is great, yea it is the greatest matter that ever I
had to deal in. Wherefore I pray God to direct
mentem & linguam hanc. I must be short, for
her Majesties words were not many: And I may
perhaps fail in the delivery of them. For though
my Auditors be great, yet who is so impudent
whom the presence of such a Majesty could not
appal? And it did greatly fear me when I saw
none of these honourable persons in her presence, who were present at the holding of the
matter in this House. Yet God in his Providence had appointed it, That even in this while
came in some of the persons here present, who
if I fail in delivering what is given me in Charge,
can report it unto you. And I am glad there are
Witnesses with me in this Action, what was my
faithful service for this House. I protest, a greater comfort never befel me, than that this my integrity and faithful promise to this House is not
violated. For her Majesty in her most gracious
Wisdom before my coming determined not to
press me in this, neither indeed did she require
the Bill of me; for this only she required of me,
what were the things in the Bill spoken of by
the House; which points I only delivered, as
they that heard me can tell.
The Message delivered me from her Majesty
consisteth in three things; First, The end for
which the Parliament was called; Secondly, The
Speech which the Lord Keeper used from her
Majesty; Thirdly, What her Pleasure and Commandment now is. For the first, it is in me and
my Power (I speak now in her Majesties Person)
to call Parliaments, it is in my power to end and
determine the same, it is in my power to assent
or dissent to any thing done in Parliaments. The
calling of this Parliament was only, that the Majesty of God might be more religiously served,
and those that neglect this service might be compelled by some sharp means to a more due Obedience, and more true service of God, than there
hath been hitherto used. And further, that the
Safety of her Majesties Person and of this Realm
might be by all means possible provided for,
against our great Enemies the Pope and the King
of Spain. Her Majesties Pleasure being then delivered unto us by the Lord Keeper, it was not
meant we should meddle with matters of State,
or Causes Ecclesiastical; for so her Majesty termed them. She wondred, that any could be of so
high commandment to attempt (I use her own
words) a thing so expersly contrary to that
which she had forbidden. Wherefore with this she
was highly offended. And because the words then
spoken by my Lord Keeper are not now perhaps
well remembred, or some be now here that were
not then present, her Majesties present charge
and express Commandment is, that no Bill touching the said matters of State or reformation in
Causes Ecclesiastical be exhibited. And upon my
Allegeance I am Commanded, if any such Bill be
exhibited, not to read it, &c.
Thus far out of the said Anonymous Journal.