Winchester to the Patentees of King Edw. VI. was read the second time and thereupon Ordered to be ingrossed The new Provisoes from the Lords in the Bill for the First-fruits were read the first time and the Proviso from the Lords in the Bill of Treasons was read the third time and passed the House The Bill for allowance of Sheriffs for the Justices Diets and the Bill for the Restitution in Blood of Robert Rudston were each of them read the third time and passed the House The Bill for thicking of Caps in Mills was read the third time and upon the question was dashed The Bill lastly for renewing one of the Fairs at Linn Regis and the Bill for the new Parish Church of Abernant in Wales were each of them read the third time and passed the House Robert Buxton Burgess of Brembre in Sussex was Licensed to be absent for the Duke of Norfolks Affairs On Friday the 17 th day of March the Bill for the Shipping of Woollen Cloaths of 5 l 10 s over the Sea The Bill for Artificers in Kent and Sussex And the Bill against carrying over Sea of Leather Hides or Tallow to be Felony were each of them read the second time and Ordered to be ingrossed The Bill that no persons shall be punished for using the Religion used in King Edwards last Year was read the first and second time and Ordered to be ingrossed And the Bill that Licenses shall be good but during the Princes Reign was read the second time and Ordered likewise to be ingrossed The Bill for true Answering of Customs and unlading of Goods in the day time was read the first time and as it should seem referr'd to M r Chancellor to be considered Three Bills lastly of no great moment had each of them one reading of which one being the Bill for the Jointure of the Dutchess of Norfolk and another against seditious words and rumours against the Queen had each of them their third reading and passed the House On Saturday the 18 th day of March the Bill against buying of Horses to sell shortly again And the Bill for the Assizes to be kept in the Town of Stafford were each of them read the second time and thereupon Ordered to be ingrossed Two Bills of no great moment had each of them one reading of which one being the Bill against unlawful Assemblies was read the first time and as it should seem committed to M r Smith to consider of it Three Bills lastly had each of them their third reading of which one being the Bill for Assurance of divers Mannors late parcel of the Bishoprick of Winchester to King Edward the Sixths Patentees was upon the Question passed the House The Bill for the Supremacy was brought from the Lords by M r Attorney to be reformed Vid. concerning this Bill on Thursday the 27 th of April ensuing John Malock Burgess for Linne and Robert Moone Burgess for Britport for their several Affairs have Licence to be absent On Monday the 20 th day of March two Bills of no great moment had each of them one reading of which the second being the Bill touching the Assizes and Gaol-Delivery was read the third time and passed the House and was presently sent up to the Lords with divers others by M r Vice-Chamberlain The Bill that the Queen shall make Rules for Colledges and Schools was read the second time and ordered to be ingrossed And the Bill for continuance of the last Act for Rebellions was read the first time The Proviso sent from the Lords with the Bill of First-Fruits was read the second time And the Proviso and Reformation in the Bill of Supremacy was read the first time de qua vide on Thursday the 27 th of April ensuing On Tuesday the 21 th day of March two Bills of no great moment had each of them one reading of which the second being the Bill for Tanning and selling of Tann'd Leather was read the first time The Bill against unlawful Assemblies was read the second time and ordered to be ingrossed And the Proviso and Reformation in the Bill touching Supremacy was read the second time Two Bills also had each of them one reading of which one being the Bill that the Queens Majesty shall make Orders in Collegiate Churches was read the third time and passed the House and was sent up to the Lords by M r Vice-Chamberlain and others The new Bill against Cancelling of Records by Warrant or otherwise was read the first time Two Bills also had each of them their second reading of which one was the Bill to make lawful the Deprivations of the Bishops of London Winchester Worcester and Chichester in the time of King Edward the VI. The Bill that the Queens Highness shall Collate or appoint Bishops in Bishopricks being Vacant was read the first and second time and thereupon Ordered to be ingrossed On Wednesday the 22 th day of March the Bill to continue the Act for Rebellious Assemblies The Bill for Collating of Bishops by the Queens Highness and without Rites and Ceremonies And the Bill for Tanners and selling of Tann'd Leather were each of them read the third time and passed the House and were sent up to the Lords by M r Comptroller The Provisoes and Additions by the Lords in the Bill of Supremacy and the Provisoes from the Lords in the Bill of First-Fruits were read the third time and passed the House Four other Bills lastly of no great moment had each of them one reading of which the last was the Bill to revive the Act against Carriage of Horses into Scotland and was read the third time and passed and was with three others sent up to the Lords by M r Chancellor of the Dutchy On Thursday the 23 th day of March it was reported to this House by ..... one of the Burgesses that Mr. Story had not well used himself being a Member of this House to go before the Lords and be of Counsel with the Bishop of Winchester against the Patentees which by the House was taken to be a fault Whereupon M r Story excused himself by ignorance of any such Order And nevertheless had since considered of it and doth acknowledge it not to be well done and therefore required the House to remit it which willingly by the House was remitted Vide touching this business on Wednesday the first day Friday the third Saturday the fourth and on Monday the Sixth day of this instant March foregoing On Friday the 24 day of March for weighty Affairs to be done in this Parliament according to the Example of the Upper House this Court of the House of Commons is according to former Presidents Adjourned until Monday the third day of April next coming But upon what occasion the House of Commons was this day Adjourned doth not at all appear in the Original Journal-Book of the same House but most probable it is that it was by reason of a disputation had and agitated this
at and if offences were then her Majesties Clemency and Mercy the more to be commended Misericordia ejus super omnia opera ejus Besides like as it hath pleased God ten years and more by the Ministry of our said Soveraign to bless this Realm with those two inestimable benefits of Peace and Clemency so there is no cause but the same might by Gods Grace have continued twenty Years longer without intermission had not the Raging Romanist Rebels entertained the matter And here it is to be noted that this Merciful and Peaceful Reign of ten Years and more hath hapned in the time of Christs Religion now established I cannot think that any man can follow me in this in the time of the Romish Religion since the Conquest Nay a man might affirm that this is an Example for times to come without any like in times past comparing Singula singulis what should I say these be the true Fruits of true Religion I could further remember you of the Fruits of Justice the benefit of restoring your Money to Finess yea I could put you in mind but I think it needs not it happened so late of a Subsidy granted whereof the Queens Majesty of her own bountifulness remitted the one half was the like here in England ever seen or heard of But being out of doubt that these benefits already remembred be sufficient of themselves to move you to be thankful to your Power I leave any longer to detain you in this point And albeit a Subject cannot yield any benefit to his Soveraign in the same nature that he receiveth it because every benefit is more than Duty and more than Duty a Subject cannot yield to his Soveraign Yet can it not be denied but a Subjects acknowledging of benefits received joined with good will to yield as far as Liberty will reach doth sufficiently satisfie for the Subject for ultra posse non est esse To your best actions therefore address ye And thus much concerning benefits Now to the second part concerning urging by Necessity true it is that the extraordinary matters of Charge happened since the last Assembly here urging to have by necessity a relief granted amongst many others be these First The great Charge in suppressing the late Northern Rebellion with Charges also in reforming those the Queens Majesties Enemies in Scotland that assisted the Rebels and made Rodes into England The continual growing Expences by reason of Ireland as in subduing the Rebels within that Realm and withstanding the Scots Northward and other Foreign Forces intending Invasion Southward To these three Charges by Land you may add a fourth by Sea as the preparation and setting forth of Ships partly for the defence against all Foreign Forces suspected and intended partly for the safe conducting of the Wares and Merchandizes in greater strength and longer cut than heretofore hath been used These and such like extraordinary Charges whereof there be sundry with the remains of old Charges not possible to be born by the ordinary Revenue and yet of necessity to be expended do greatly exceed any extraordinary aid therefore commonly granted Again the great decay of the Queens Majesties Customs by reason of stay and alteration of Traffick albeit upon just occasion hath bred no small want for although in time it is not to be doubted but that will grow again to his old course and continue with great Surety Yet in the mean time this want must some way be supplied for you know the Horse must be provided for whilst the Grass is in growing At the least let us do so much for our selves as we do for our Horses For our selves it is that are to be relieved in this Case This I must needs say that if the Queens Majesty did use in matters of Expence to do as commonly Princes heretofore have used to do then with the more difficulty might such extraordinary aid be assented unto and yet of necessity to be had to withstand a greater necessity It hath been used in times past that Princes pleasures and delights have been commonly followed in matters of Charge as things of necessity And now because God be praised the relieving of the Realms necessity is become the Princes Pleasure and Delight a noble Conversion God continue it and make us as we ought to be earnestly thankful for it A Princely Example shewed by a Soveraign for Subjects to follow To descend in some particulars What need I to remember unto you how the gorgeous sumptuous superfluous Buildings of time past be for the Realms good by her Majesty in this time turned into necessary Buildings and upholdings The chargeable glittering glorious Triumphs into delectable Pastimes and Shows Embassadors of Charge into such as be void of excess and yet honourable and comely These and such like are dangerous dams able to dry up the flowing Fountains of any Treasure and yet these imperfections have been commonly Princes Peculiars especially young One free from these was accounted Rara avis c. and yet God be thanked a Phoenix a Blessed Bird of this kind God hath blessed us with I think it may be affirmed and that truly that there hath not been any matter of great Charge taken in hand by her Majesty in this happy Reign of twelve Years and more that hath not been thought before convenient to be done for the Weal and profit of the Realm so far her Highness is from spending of Treasure in vain matters and therefore the rather how can a man make any difficulty to contribute according to his Power specially in maintaining of his Sovereign his Country his Self his Wife and Children and what not having so long a proof by experience of such an imployment Here I would put you in mind of extraordinary Charges to come which in reason seems evident but so I should be over tedious unto you and frustra sit per plura quod sieri potest per pauciora And therefore here I make an end doubting that I have tarried you longer than I promised or meant or perchance needed your wisdoms and good inclinations considered But you know things are to be done both in form and matter And my trust is that if I had stayed I may be warranted by either or by both that you will take it in good part Thus far out of the Copy of this foregoing Speech As soon as the Lord Keepers Speech was ended then the Clerk of the Upper House read the names of Receivers and Tryers of Petitions in French whose names are transcribed out of the Original Journal-Book of the Upper House and were as followeth Sir Robert Catlin Knight Chief Justice of the Kings Bench Sir William Cordell Knight Master of the Rolls Sir John Widden Knight one of the Justices of Sir Richard Read Knight and D r Huick who were Receivers of Petitions for England Ireland Wales and Scotland Receivers of Petitions for Gascoigne and the parts beyond the Seas and the Isles Sir James Dyer Knight
more grievous matter which we would wish all them to read that in great offences under the colour of pity are loth to have sharp punishment used Here you may perceive that God willeth his Magistrate not to spare either Brother or Sister Son or Daughter Wife or Friend be he never so high if he seek to seduce the People of God from his true Worship much less is an Enemy and Traitor to be spared Yea and he addeth the cause why he would have such sharp punishment used in such Cases That Israel may fear to do the like But the late Queen of Scots hath not only sought and wrought by all means she can to seduce the people of God in this Realm from true Religion but is the only hope of all the Adversaries of God throughout all Europe and the Instrument whereby they trust to overthrow the Gospel of Christ in all Countries And therefore if she have not that punishment which God in this place aforementioned appointeth It is of all Christian hearts to be feared that Gods just Plague will light both upon the Magistrates and Subjects but that by our slackness and remiss Justice we give occasion of the overthrow of God's Glory and truth in his Church mercifully restored unto us in those latter days Constantinus Magnus caused Licinius to be put to Death being not his Subject but his Fellow-Emperor for that the said Licinius laboured to subvert Christian Religion And the same Constantinus is for the same in all Histories highly commended Much more shall it be lawful for the Queens Majesty to Execute this Woman who besides the Subversion of Religion hath sought the Life of the same our Gracious Soveraign The Fourth Reason It is dangerous for any Person being a Prince both for his own State as also for that punishment which may come from God's hand by slackness of Justice in great offences to give occasion by hope of impunity of the increase of like wickedness Joab being spared of David for Murthering Abner killed Amasa also Because Amnon was winked at by his Father for committing Rape and Incest with his own Sister Absalom under hope of like Impunity was emboldened to murther his Brother Amnon But look I pray you how grievously God punished that slack Justice of David coloured with a tender heart towards his Children Did he not suffer yea and by his just Judgment raise one of his own Sons towards whom he used that excessive tenderness and pity to rebel against him and drive him out of his own Kingdom The late Scottish Queen hath heaped up together all the Sins of the Licentious Sons of David Adulteries Murders Conspiracies Treasons and Blaspemies against God also and if she escape with small punishment her Majesty in Conscience ought as also good and faithful Subjects to fear that God will reserve her as an Instrument to put her from the Royal Seat of this Kingdom and to plague the unthankful and naughty Subjects Quod omen ut Deus avertat precamur Shall we think that God will not plague it Surely our hearts do fear he will do it grievously The fifth Reason A Prince ought in Conscience before God by all the means he can to see to the Quietness Safety and good Estate of that People over which God hath appointed him Governour For in the Prophets oftentimes under the names of Pastors and Watchmen he threatneth great punishment to Princes and Governours for the contrary especially in Ezechiel 33 and 34. And signifieth that if his People perish either in Soul or Body by slackness in administring justice or by any other mis-government God will require their Blood at the Princes hands which places as they may be applied to Prophets and Teachers so do they not exclude but principally comprehend Kings and Magistrates as Hieronymus noteth in Ezechiel 33. the words of the Prophet are these viz. If the Watchmen see the Sword and blow not the Trumpet so that the people is not warned If the Sword come then and take any man from among them the same shall be taken away in his own sin from among them but his Blood will I require at the Watchmans hand Ezechiel 33. And again Woe unto the Shepherds that destroy and scatter my Flock saith the Lord c. You scatter and thrust out of my Flock and do not look upon them Therefore will I visit the wickedness of your imaginations c. Jer. 23. By these and such other words in many places God signifieth if his People perish either in Soul or Body by the slack or remiss Government of them that are appointed Rulers over them and as it were Shepherds and Herdsmen to keep them from danger that he will require the Blood of his people at their hands But the late Scottish Queen with her Allies by the pretensed Title and other wicked devilish and Traiterous devices and workings is like to bring confusion to this Realm of England and the People thereof as evidently appeareth to all good and faithful Subjects Therefore the Prince offendeth grievously before God and is in danger of the Blood of Gods People if for the safety of the same she doth not cut her off 3 Reg. 2. Solomon a Wise and godly Prince spared not his own natural yea and his Elder Brother Adonijah for suspition and likelihood of Treason and for a Marriage purposed only but put him to Death for the same and that speedily without course of Judgment lest by delay trouble and danger might have ensued not only to his own Person being Prince and Chief Minister of God in that Land but also to that People over which he had charge and for safety whereof in Conscience he was bound to deal He would have thought it a great burthen to his Conscience if by the sparing of one mans Life were he never so nigh of Blood unto him he would have hazarded the Seat in which God had placed him and the Blood of many thousands of his People which by a Rebellion might have been spent But this Woman and her greatly desired Husband as she pretendeth have put far more hainous matters in Execution wherefore her Case standing as it doth there is no scruple in Conscience to proceed with Severity but great danger in Conscience for dealing too mildly and contrary to Order of Justice making the punishment less than the offence with the danger of her Majesties own person the hazard of the Realm and the Subversion of Gods Truth The sixth Reason It is dangerous for any Christian Prince and contrary to the word of God with colour of Mercy and Pity to do that whereby he shall discourage and kill the hearts not only of his own good Subjects and faithful Councellors but also of all other Nations faithfully professing Gods Religion and his true worship as may well appear in the Example of David David having this infirmity of too much Pity and Indulgency towards Offendors which is not of any Prince to be followed
well thereof And thereupon made Choice of divers Lords whose names see at large on Thursday the 10 th day of this instant November foregoing And they of the House of Commons appointed their Speaker and all the Privy-Council of that House and so many others as in all with the Privy-Council made up the Number of 42. Persons to join with the said Lords And they altogether understanding first her Majesties pleasure for the time of their repair to her Highness presence which was signified to be on Saturday the 12 th day of November the Lord Chancellor in the name of the Lords and the Speaker in the name of the House of Commons declared unto her Majesty That both the Lords and Commons after often Conferences and long consultation had concluded to be humble Suitors unto her Majesty by way of Petition the effect whereof was then at good length opened unto her Majesty by the Lord Chancellor and Speaker and the Petition thereupon delivered unto her Majesty in writing And where it was before desired by them of the said House of Commons that presently upon the Agreement of the Form of the Petition it might be entered into the Rolls of the Parliament the Lords thought it better to stay the enterance thereof until it were presented unto her Highness which done the Lords ordered that this Friday the 25 th day of November the said Petition should be entered into the Parliament Roll in manner and form following viz. May it please your most Excellent Majesty Our must Gracious Soveraign We your humble loving and faithful Subjects the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament assembled having of long time to our intolerable grief seen by how manifold most dangerous and execrable practices Mary the Daughter and Heir of James the Fifth late King of Scots Dowager of France and commonly called Queen of Scots hath compassed the destruction of your Majesties sacred and most Royal Person in whose safety next under God our chief and only felicity doth consist and thereby not only to bereave us of the sincere and true Religion of Almighty God bringing us and this Noble Crown back again into the Thraldom of the Romish Tyranny but also utterly to ruinate and overthrow the happy State and Common Weal of this most Noble Realm which being from time to time by the great mercy and providence of God and your Highness singular wisdom foreseen and prevented your Majesty of your exceeding great Clemency and Princely Magnanimity hath either most graciously passed over or with singular favour tolerated although often and instantly moved by your most loving and faithful Subjects to the contrary in times of your Parliaments and at many other times and hath also protected and desended the said Scottish Queen from those great dangers which her own people for certain detestable Crimes and offences to her imputed had determined against her All which notwithstanding the same Queen was nothing moved with these and many other your Majesties most gracious favours towards her but rather obdurate in malice and by hope of continual impunity imboldened to prosecute her cruel and mischievous determination by some speedy and violent course and now lately a very dangerous Plot being conceived and set down by Anthony Babington and others That six desperate and wicked persons should undertake that wicked and most horrible enterprize to take away your Majesties Life whom God of his infinite mercy long preserve she did not only give her advice and direction upon every point and all circumstances concerning the same make earnest request to have it performed with all diligence but did also promise assurance of large reward and recompence to the doers thereof which being informed to your Majesty it pleased your Highness upon the earnest Suit of such as tendred the safety of your Royal Person and the good and quiet state of this Realm to direct your Commission under the Great Seal of England to the Lords and others of your Highness Privy-Council and certain other Lords of Parliament of the greatest and most antient Degree with some of your principal Judges to examine hear and determine the same Cause and thereupon to give Sentence or Judgment according to a Statute in that behalf made in the twenty seventh year of your most Gracious Reign By vertue whereof the more part of the same Commissioners being in number thirty six having at sundry times fully heard what was alledged and proved against the said Scottish Queen in her own presence touching the said crimes and offences and what she could say for her defence and excuse therein did after long deliberation give their Sentence and Judgment with one consent that the death and destruction of your Royal Person was imagined and compassed by the said Anthony Babington with the privity of the same Scottish Queen And that she her self did also compass and imagine the death and destruction of your most Royal Person Now for as much as we your Majesties most humble loyal and dutiful Subjects representing unto your most Excellent Majesty the universal State of your whole people of all degrees in this your Realm do well perceive and are fully satisfied that the same Sentence and Judgment is in all things most honourable just and lawful And having carefully and effectually according to our most bounden duties weighed and considered upon what ground and cause so many Traiterous complots and dangerous practices against your most Royal Person and Estate and for the invading of this Realm have for the space of many years past grown and proceeded do certainly find and are undoubtedly perswaded that all the same have been from time to time attempted and practised by and from the Scottish Queen and by her Confederates Ministers and Favourers who conceive an assured hope to atchieve speedily by your Majesties untimely death that which they have long expected and whereof during your Life which God long preserve to our inestimable Comfort they despair to wit to place her the said Scottish Queen in the Imperial and Kingly Seat of this Realm and by her to banish and destroy the Professors and professing of the true Religion of Jesus Christ and the antient Nobility of this Land and to bring this whole State and Common-Weal to Foreign Subjection and utter ruin and confusion which their malicious and traiterous purpose they will never cease to prosecute by all possible means they can so long as they may have their Eyes and Imaginations fixed upon that Lady the only ground of their treasonable hope and conceits and the only Seed-plot of all dangerous and traiterous devices and practices against your Sacred Person And seeing also what insolent boldness is grown in the heart of the same Queen through your Majesties former exceeding favours and Clemencies towards her and thereupon weighing with heavy and sorrowful hearts in what continual peril of such like desperate Conspiracies and practices your Majesties most Royal and Sacred Person and Life more dear unto us than
this House the summary cause of her Majesties calling and assembling of this great Council at this time which was he said not to make any more Laws as being many more already than well executed nor yet for any Subsidy albeit if need so required the same were convenient enough to be done but said he to consult for such matters as the like were never erst heard of nor any Parliament called for in former time that can be found or read of And so very excellently plainly and effectually made relation of the horrible and wicked practices and attempts caused and procured by the Queen of Scots so called meerly tending to the ruine and overthrow of the true and sincere Religion established in this Realm the Invasion of Foreign Forces into this Realm Rebellion and Civil Wars and dissension within this Realm yea and withal which his heart quaked and trembled to utter and think on the death and destruction of the most Sacred Person of our most Gracious Soveraign Lady the Queens Majesty to the utter desolation and conquest of this most Noble Realm of England And so discoursing of the matter and great execrable Treacheries and Conspiracies of the said Queen of Scots even from the first to the last in particularities very amply and effectually such of them at the least as have been hitherto discovered shewing also very manifestly and evidently the proofs and all other circumstances of the same Treachery and Conspiracies and so thinketh good for his part that speedy Consultation he had by this House for the cutting of her off by course of Justice for that otherwise our said Soveraign Lady the Queens Majesties most Royal Person cannot be continued with safety concludeth with this Sentence Ne pereat Israel pereat Absolon Which done M r Chancellor of the Exchequer M r Chancellor of the Dutchy and M r Secretary Woolley using each of them severally very effectual Speeches at large touching the said horrible Treasons and Conspiracies caused and procured by the said Queen of Scots the House did then rise the time being far spent with reservation nevertheless by M r Speaker remembred for further Speech therein to be had by others of this House to morrow again and a saving also till some other more convenient time for such of this House as shall please to speak to the said Bill of Inrollments upon the said second reading of the same accordingly Vide 7 th November Monday On Friday the 4 th day of November M r Recorder of London having made Declaration unto this House that divers of the Members of the same do find themselves grieved for that their Servants attending upon them are daily arrested contrary to the ancient Liberties and Priviledges of this House and having further moved also that a like Committee of this House may at this time be appointed as had been the last Parliament for the examining and reporting Cases of Priviledge It was resolved and agreed by the House that the same shall be exercised and done accordingly And for the performance thereof the said M r Recorder Sir Henry Gate M r Robert Wroth and M r William Fleetwood were appointed by the Authority of the House Upon the Motion of M r Speaker putting the House in remembrance of continuing and further prosecuting of the great Cause they dealt in yesterday divers Speeches were made to that effect by Sir James Croft Comptroller of her Majesties Houshold Sir Francis Knowles Treasurer of the same Sir William Herbert Sir Thomas Scot M r Francis Bacon M r Alford M r Throgmorton M r Barker M r Dalton M r Biynbrigg and M r Sollicitor by all which it was concluded That considering the late horrible Treasons and Practices conspired against the Life of the Queens Majesty and also for the procuring of Foreign Invasion in respect of the Attempt and also for endeavouring to raise Rebellion within the Realm for and by Mary late Queen of Scots therefore of necessity present remedy and provision must be had for preventing the like attempts and practices hereafter which could never be unless the said Scottish Queen did presently suffer the due Execution of Justice according to her deserts And then upon the further Motion of the said M r Sollicitor for a Committee of this House to be had to confer of some convenient and fit course to be taken by Petition and Suit to her Majesty in that behalf with request also unto the Lords to joyn therein with this House to her Highness if it please them thereupon this Committee following was nominated and appointed in that behalf accordingly viz. all the Privy Council of the House Sir William Herbert Sir Thomas Scot Sir Henry Gate Sir William Moore Sir Thomas Manners Sir Thomas Fairfax Sir Robert Jermin Sir John Petre Sir Henry Cock Sir Henry Cobham Sir Henry Knyvet Sir John Higham Sir Thomas Stanhope M r Fortescue Master of the Wardrobe M r Randal M r Osborne M r George Moore M r Cromwell M r Beale M r Wroth M r Burlace M r George Carie M r Doctor Stanhopp M r Dale Master of Requests M r Francis Hastings M r Sollicitor M r Attorney of the Wards M r Serjeant Snagg M r Morrice M r Sandes M r Dalton M r Bacon M r Alford M r Barker M r Bainbrigge M r Throckmorton M r Corbett M r Palmes M r Pate M r Skinner M r Amersam M r Edward Lukenor M r Thynne and M r Hellyard Recorder of York who were all of them appointed by the House to meet in the Exchequer Chamber at two of the Clock this Afternoon On Saturday the 5 th day of November M r George Moore entring into some discourse touching the great Cause concludeth after sundry great and weighty reasons first shewed that only Popery is the chief and principal root of all the late horrible and wicked treacheries and practices and the Queen of Scots a principal branch issuing from the same root and the most perillous and full of poyson of all the other branches thereof for that the Papists in very deed for the most part not knowing the Person of the said Queen of Scots do wish the Establishing of her in the Crown of this Realm rather in respect of Popery which she would set up than for any affection they bear to her Person and so likewise for the most part all of them either wish or could easily bear the death of our Soveraign Lady the Queens Majesty though perhaps they would not shew themselves to be Actors or Dealers therein He therefore moveth that it may be joyned in the Petition for the great Cause that her Majesty may be moved to retain no Servants about her Highnesses Person but such only as may be well known both to profess the true and sincere Religion and also to be every way true and faithful Subjects And further that the Laws already in force against Papists may be put in due Execution Which Speeches being ended M r Speaker shewed that the
Hospitality And therefore whereas these two meetings are placed in the Original Journal-Book of the House of Commons very incongruously in two distinct and several Journals as if they had been two distinct and several Sessions they are here rightly placed together and so the passages of the said second meeting do now follow in due course and order On Wednesday the 15 th day of February to which day the Parliament had been Adjourned by the Lords Commissioners aforesaid on Friday the 2 d day of December foregoing the two Houses met in their several places without any pomp or Solemnity this being as hath been before observed neither new Parliament nor new Session but a mere new meeting of either House upon the said Adjournment of the former meeting thereof which began on the 29 th day of October being Saturday in Anno 28 Reginae Eliz. as is aforesaid The Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the House of Commons being set M r Serjeant Puckering then Speaker thereof informed the House that M r Fulk Onslow Clerk of the Parliament was so weakned by Sickness that he could not at this present exercise his place Therefore he had appointed M r William Onslow his Knisman a Member of this House here present to supply it and therefore asked their allowance which they very willingly granted The same time M r Cromwell moved the House for that at their Petition her Majesty had done Justice upon the Scottish Queen to the greater Safeguard of her Majesties Person and the whole Realm he thought it fit that her Majesty might receive from them their humble thanks which motion was well liked but at this time it proceeded no further Two Bills had each of them one reading whereof the first was touching Fines and Recoveries before the Justices of the Common Pleas and the second for limitation of time touching Writs of Error growing by fraud The same day M r Vice-Chamberlain commanded as he said by her Majesty moved the House for that this Parliament was not expected to hold at this time many of the Nobility being Lieutenants in their Countries and others principal Members of this House were absent by occasion whereof those great weighty causes for which this Parliament is called cannot have such deep consultation as is fit Therefore he thought it convenient to have an Adjournment and therefore to move the Lords of the Upper House for the liking thereof Which motion being well liked M r Vice-Chamberlain and a convenient number of the House so many as would without nomination did attend him to the Lords who upon his return from the Lords made report that they having considered of the motion found the same want and therefore yielded to an Adjournment of the Parliament until Wednesday next being the 22 d day of this instant Month of February if this House would condescend unto it Unto which Adjournment this House also yielded which consent M r Vice-Chamberlain did there presently signifie to the Lords and upon his return the House brake up On Wednesday the 22 th day of February to which day the Parliament had been last adjourned upon Wednesday the 15 th day of this instant February foregoing the House again sitting the Right Honourable Sir Christopher Hatton Knight Vice-Chamberlain to her Majesty and one of her Majesties most Honourable Privy Council used this Speech in effect to the House viz. That it was her Majesties pleasure to have dangers disclosed and to have the House know that she thanked God for the goodness of the House that she wished the Session mistaken for Meeting to be short that men of Government might go home for matter of Government hospitality and defence and to take another time for making of Laws saving such as be now of necessity The dangers which her Majesty meaneth proceed of ancient malice and are to be prepared for and God called upon for aid The principal heads of the dangers The Catholicks abroad the Pope the King of Spain the Princes of the League the Papists at home and their Ministers The principal root hereof The Council of Trent which agreed to extirp Christian Religion which they term Heresie whereunto divers Princes assented and bound themselves in solemn manner Pope Pius Quint us sent her Excommunication against her Majesty Dr. Mourton and Mendoza a Spanish Ambassadour bestirred them a Northern Rebellion was bred the Pope and the rest practised for the Scottish Queen and she being acquainted proceeds by her means Pope Paulus the Thirteenth proceeds and sends Jesuits and Seminaries to England and Ireland and they proceed to inveagle the Subjects and disswade them from obedience Visko beginneth a Rebellion in Ireland James Fitz-Morris furthereth the Execution thereof Doctor Sanders and Desmond stir new Rebellion there and wrote into England c. Parry was moved to kill her Majesty and perswaded it was meritorious Pope Sixtus the Fifth imitateth the other Popes to execute their former devices and writeth to the Cardinal of Lorain and Guise that he will overthrow the Gospel which Mr. Vice-Chamberlain honourably termed the glorious Gospel and therefore moved them to join with the Princes of the League and to practise to win the King of Scots and to set up the Scottish Queen in England and made his reckoning of the Cantons that be Popish the Switzers the Duke of Savoy the Duke of Ferrara King of Spain and King of France A chief Instrument to work this was one Carew called also Father Henry He was sent into Germany and over Italy and France wrote to the Scottish Queen that the Powers will join to overthrow England and make known the effect of his labour to the Pope Invasion should have been made into England and Ireland the last year and not unlike to be attempted this year The Pope excommunicateth the King of Navar The Pope accounteth not of Popish preaching and perswasions that way but nevertheless moveth all to use the word and for maintenance thereof spareth his Treasure otherwise and withdraweth maintenance from Jesuits Seminaries and divers others Letters were found with the Scottish Queen which prove all these to be true If we serve Almighty God in sincerity of heart we need not to fear It is to be remembred that the King of Spain sought to recover some part of his Fathers credit by using our Treasure and force to get S t Quintines but he soon made his advantage of it and regarded not our Territories in France but suffered the loss of Calice and all our Territories and after the death of Queen Mary what he could Her Majesty sought for his good will sending the Lord Mountague the Lord Cobham Sir Thomas Chamberlain Knight M r Maun and others and they were but hardly used some of them were offered great indignity and M r Mauns Son forced by strength to do a kind of Penance He comforted the Queens Enemies he giveth colour of Wars he chargeth the Queen that her Subjects have aided his Rebels in the Low Countries with
countenancing Monsieur with Money at Cambray with sending her Nobility with him into the Low Countries with the actions of Sir Francis Drake with assistance of the Low Countries Of the purpose of the Combined Princes Their shew is to deal with the King of Navarr to extirp him but their drift is to ruinate Religion not only there but to set upon and to work the ruine of it here also Wherein the King of Spain and Guise are now very busie Their malice is the more for executing the Scottish Queen but their hope is the less The King of Spain his designments are to invade England and Ireland His Preparation Three hundred sixty Sail of Spain Eighty Gallies from Venice and Genoua One Galliass with six hundred armed men from the Duke of Florence Twelve thousand men maintained by Italy and the Pope Six thousand by the Spanish Clergy Twelve thousand by his Nobility and Gentlemen of Spain It is reported that ten thousand of these be Horsemen I think it not all true but something there is We must look to the Papists at home and abroad It hath touched us in the blood of the Nobility and the blood of many Subjects They practise to frame Subjects against all duty and bring in Doctrine of lawfulness and merit to kill the Queen and have sent their Instruments abroad to that purpose Two manner of forces are to be handled Assistance to the Low Countries defence by force otherwise That God may assist us in Justice in Right in Defence against those Princes The assistance is acceptable that will be profitable Her Majesty oweth relief there in Honour according to the Leagues especially between us and the House of Burgundy which Leagues differ from Leagues growing between Prince and Prince for they grew between the people and this State We are bound to help them in Honour according to the Leagues Many Marriages and many Secrecies have been long between us and the relieving of the afflictions of that people may not be omitted The heads of their miseries are The Spanish Inquisition by Placard using strange tortures not to be suffered great impositions without and against Law sending some of their people into Spain and there tyrannized over their Noblemen done away taking their Towns and setting Tyrants over them to use them like Dogs The purpose was to bring the Low Countries into a Monarchal seat and then vae nobis The Queens dealing there is warranted by God The Queen is occasioned of necessity for safety of her Dominions and us that that Country may be preserved that the English Commodities may be vented there with readiness with safety and with profit the recovery thereof will be good for this Country and Crown it may not be suffered that a Neighbour should grow too strong he uttered that as though it were not meet another Prince should have it for examples whereof he commended the Princes of Italy and especially the Duke of Florence for using that policy Henry the 7 th for aiding the Duke of Brittany with eight thousand men rather than the King of France after he had found great friendship of them both that the King of France might not grow too strong The King of Spain seeketh to be yet greater for he hath already a Seat in Council amongst the Princes of Germany by reason of Territories his Father got there And if he could he would frame the Low Countries to his desire As to the pretence of Injuries before remembred As to the first going over her Majesty misliked it and punished some of the Captains he named Sir Humfrey Gilbert for one Concerning Monsieur the first time her Majesty drew him from proceeding for the Low Countries The second time she consented that he should only assist the Low Countries which Monsieur afterwards abused contrary to her Majesties meaning Concerning M r Drakes first Voyage her Majesty knew it not and when he came home she seized the whole Mass of Substance brought by him to satisfie the King of Spain if cause so required and thereupon desired Certificate for Invasion into Ireland Concerning M r Drake's last Voyage it was to meet with the restraints and seisures in Spain and their purpose of War was thereupon discovered for there was found by the Master of M r Bonds Ship who took the Corrigedore and others a Commission from the King of Spain whereby he termed us his Rebels as he termed the Low Countries He then remembred another grievance not touched before which was the entertaining of Don Anthony Which he answered to be done in Honorable Courtesie because of his State who was a King anointed and crowned though his seat was not long untroubled and coming hither in honourable and courteous manner though something weakned required the entertainment he had Then he iterated that the great grief is Religion and said that all godly ones are bound to defend it He then said God endue us to fear him and all things shall prosper He said her Majesty protesteth sincere service to God and to leave the Crown in peace c. commended her courage against their malice esteeming it not less than the stoutest Kings in Europe M r Chancellor of the Exchequer after M r Vice-Chamberlain his speeches ended remembred some of the former and inferred and so concluded that the great preparations of War which was fit speedily to be thought of and provided would grow chargeable and therefore thought it fit with expedition that the House should appoint a convenient number of the same to set down Articles for a Subsidy Whereupon are appointed Committees for concluding and drawing of Articles for the Subsidy and other great Causes all the Privy Council being of this House the first Knight for every Shire and others who were appointed to meet in the Exchequer Chamber at two of the Clock in the Afternoon One Bill lastly being for the better payment of Debts and Legacies by Executors and Administrators was read the first time On Thursday the 23 d day of February three Bills of no great moment had each of them one reading of which the first being the Bill against delay of execution in Actions of Debt was read the first time The Committees appointed for Conference touching a Loan or Benevolence to be offered to her Majesty are M r Francis Bacon M r Edward Lewkenor and others On Friday the 24 th day of February four Bills of no great moment had each of them one reading of which the last being a Bill to avoid many dangers touching Records of Fines levyed in the Court of Common Pleas was upon the second reading committed unto M r Recorder of London M r Morrice M r Drew and others and the Bill was delivered to M r Recorder who with the rest was appointed to meet in Serjeants-Inn in Fleetstrect on Saturday next at two of the Clock in the Afternoon Sir Thomas Scot Sir Henry Knyvet M r Thomas Knyvet and M r Topclyffe are appointed by this House to search
Ecclesiae tangentibus Your Highness Wisdom and exceeding Judgment withal careful Providence needed not your Councils But yet so urgent Causes there were of this Parliament so important Considerations as that we may say for that we cannot judge never Parliament was so needful as now nor any so Honourable as this If I may be bold to say it I must presume to say that which hath been often said but what is well said cannot be too often spoken this sweet Council of ours I would compare to that sweet Commonwealth of the little Bees Sic enim parvis componere magna solebam The little Bees have but one Governour whom they all serve he is their King quia later a habet latiora he is placed in the midst of their habitations ut in tutissima turri They forrage abroad sucking Honey from ever Flower to bring to their King Ignavnm fuces pccus à praesepibus arcent The drones they drive away out of their Hives non habentes aculeos And who so assails their King in him immittunt aculeos tamen Rex ipse est sine Aculeo Your Majesty is that Princely Governour and Noble Queen whom we all serve being protected under the shadow of your Wings we live and wish you may ever sit upon your Throne over us And whosoever shall not say Amen for them we pray ut convertantur ne percant ut consundantur ne noccant Under your happy government we live upon Honey we suck upon every sweet Flower But where the Bee sucketh Honey there also the Spider draweth Poyson Some such venoms there be But such Drones and Door Bees we will expel the Hive and serve your Majesty and withstand any enemy that shall assault you Our Lands our Goods our Lives are prostrate at your feet to be commanded Yea and thanked be God and Honour be to your Majesty for it such is the power and force of your Subjects that of their own strength they are able to encounter your greatest enemies And though we be such yet have we a Prince that is sine Aculeo so full of that Clemency is your Majesty I fear I have been too long and therefore to come now to your Laws The Laws we have conferred upon this Sessions of so Honourable a Parliament are of two natures the one such as have life but are ready to die except your Majesty breathe life into them again the other are Laws that never had life but being void of life do come to your Majesty to seek Life The first sort are those Laws that had continuances until this Parliament and are now to receive new Life or are to die for ever The other that I term capable of life are those which are newly made but have no essence until your Majesty giveth them life Two Laws there are but I must give the Honour where it is due for they come from the Noble wise Lords of the Upper House the most Honourable and beneficial Laws that could be desired the one a confirmation of all Letters Patents from your Majesties most Noble Father of all Ecclesiastical Livings which that King of most renowned memory your Father took from those Superstitious Monasteries and Priories and translated them to the erecting and setting up of many Foundations of Cathedral Churches and Colledges greatly furthering the maintenance of Learning and true Religion The other Law to suppress the obstinate Recusant and the dangerous Sectary both very pernitious to your Government Lastly Your loving and obedient Subjects the Commons of the Lower House humbly and with all dutiful thanks stand bound unto your gracious goodness for your general and large Pardon granted unto them wherein many great offences are pardoned But it extendeth only to offences done before the Parliament I have many ways since the beginning of this Parliament by ignorance and insufficiency to perform that which I should have done offended your Majesty I most humbly crave to be partaker of your Majesties most gracious Pardon The Lord Keeper received Instructions from the Queen and afterwards replied unto the Speaker The former part of this Speech was an Answer almost verbatim to the Speakers Oration very excellently and exactly done And those things which follow are to this or the like purpose viz. That her Majesty did most graciously accept of these Services and Devotions of this Parliament commending them that they had imployed the time so well and spent it in so necessary affairs save only that in some things they had spent more time than needed But she perceived that some men did it more for their satisfaction than the necessity of the thing deserved She misliketh also that such irreverence was shewed towards Privy Councellors who were not to be accounted as common Knights and Burgesses of the House that are Councellors but during the Parliament whereas the other are standing Councellors and for their wisdom and great service are called to the Council of the State That the Queens Majesty had heard that some men in the Cause of great necessity and grant of Aid had seemed to regard their Country and made their necessity more than it was forgetting the urgent necessity of the time and dangers that were now imminent That her Majesty would not have the people seared with a report of great dangers but rather to be encouraged with boldness against the Enemies of the State And that therefore she straitly charged and commanded that the Mustered Companies in every Shire should be supplied if they were decayed And that their Provisions of Armor and Munition should be better than heretofore it hath been used That for this offer of three Subsidies her Majesty most graciously in all kindness thanketh her Subjects But except it were freely and willingly given she did not accept of it for her Majesty never accepteth any thing that is not freely given That if the Coffers of her Majesties Treasures were not empty or if the Revenues of the Crown and other Princely Ornaments could suffice to supply her wants and the Charges of the Realm in the word of a Prince she doth pronounce it she would not have charged her Subjects nor have accepted of this they give her The Lord Keeper's Speech being ended after some time of Intermission the Queen being set in her Chair of State used a Princely Speech unto the House of which the greatest part was to the effect and purpose following viz. THis Kingdom hath had many Wise Noble and Victorious Princes I will not compare with any of them in Wisdom Fortitude and other Vertues but saving the Duty of a Child that is not to compare with his Father in Love Care Sincerity and Justice I will compare with any Prince that ever you had or shall have It may be thought simplicity in me that all this time of my Reign I have not sought to advance my Territories and enlarge my Dominions for opportunity hath served me to do it I acknowledge that my Womanhood and weakness in that respect But
No M r Speaker said the Order of the House is that the I being for the Bill must go out and the No against the Bill doth always sit The reason is that the Inventor that will have a new Law is to go out and bring it in and they that are for the Law in possession must keep the House for they sit to continue it Thus far out of the aforesaid Anonymous Journal The further Passages of this day and part of the next do follow out of the Original Journal-Book it self M r Attorney General and M r Doctor Stanhop do bring from the Lords a Bill Intituled An Act for Explanation and Confirmation of her Majesties Title to the Lands and Tenements late of Sir Francis Englefield Knight Attainted of High Treason On Wednesday the 21 th day of March Three Bills of no great moment had each of them one reading of which the last being the Bill for the maintenance of the Haven in the Town of Colchester and for the paving of the same Town had its first reading The Amendments in the Bill touching the breadth of Plunkets Azures and Blues being twice read the Bill was upon the question Ordered to be ingrossed The Amendments in the Bill for the more speedy and due Execution of Process against Recusants being twice read the Bill was upon the Question Ordered to be ingrossed The Councel on both sides were this day heard at large in this House in the Bill against Aliens selling by way of retail any Foreign Commodities and afterwards sequestred Which done the Amendments intended by the Committees in the said Bill were read unto the House and after the reading Ordered upon the question to be inserted into the same Bill accordingly After which there followed divers long Speeches and Arguments on both sides both with the Bill and against the Bill which said Speeches being omitted in the Original Journal-Book of the House of Commons are in respect of the great weight of this matter touching Aliens now controverted supplied out of the aforesaid Anonymous Journal more particularly mentioned at the beginning of this present Journal in manner and form following viz. M r Francis Moore of the Middle-Temple being as it should seem at the Bar of Councel with the City of London and in their behalf to speak for the making of a new Law by the Order of the House spake first and did at large set forth the inconveniencies that grew to our Nation and Tradesmen by suffering I Tradesmen to retail First because that Strangers Wares are better than ours which causeth that our Retaylors have no sale of their Wares They sell cheaper though their Wares be as good as ours And this is by reason they have Factors beyond the Seas that are their Friends and Kinsfolks and so they save that Charge A thing to be noted And wheresoever they are our own native Retaylors are Beggars They receive Gentlemen and Yeomens Sons to be their Apprentices themselves being Retaylors and this is no Trade afterwards for them to live on So many Beggars be made consuming their time under them Their retailing Beggering our Retaylors makes a diminution of the Queens Subsidies Their riches and multitude makes our Estate poorer and weaker for they stick upon our wealth and carry it into Foreign Countries In the Statute Richard 3. Cap. 9. there appeareth the like Complaint that now is which being then made unto the King was then remedied as appeareth by the Statute And for the Objections made First that it were against Charity that Strangers sleeing hither for Religion and relief should be restrained from the means of getting their livings Secondly that their retailing 〈◊〉 seneth the prices of our Wares and encreaseth the number of Buyers and Thirdly that it were violating of their priviledge if we have them by their diminution The priviledge of S t Martins hath always been allowed and now not to be denied To Answer to these in Order First Charity must be mixt with Policy for to give of Charity to our own Beggering were but Prodigality and such Charity we use for we allow them all Trades that they have been brought up in but retailing is a thing that they were never brought up unto in their own Countries so no reason to allow it them here To the second they buy of us and sell as brought from beyond Seas and upon this opinion sell our own Wares dearer than we can do Their priviledge of Denization is not to be allowed above the priviledge of Birth and our Natives are not allowed to Retail and Merchandize as they do And it may appear by a former Statute that notwithstanding their Denization they have been bound under the Statute 34 H. 8. And though the Stranger Merchants pay double Subsidies yet Strangers Retaylors do not but are taxed by the place and that under value because their goods and wealth is secret but barr retailing and they will all of them be Merchants and so the Subsidy shall be doubled S t Martins was first allowed for a Sanctuary and for that Cause had his priviledge and not to be so ill a Neighbour to the City as to rob it as it doth and by former Statutes St. Martins hath been barred as by the Statute 21 H. 8. appeareth only the Statute of 1. H. 8. exempted it M r Proud of Lincolns-Inn being as it should seem at the Bar of Councel with the Strangers and in their behalf to speak made particular Answer to M r Moore for Strangers in resisting his Answers to the five Objections Then he offered if the Liberties of the Natives born might be granted to Strangers they would seek no more for they desired but to trade in all parts of the Realm M r Hill of Lincolns-Inn of Councel also with the Strangers spake next and said Make it Law that they shall not retail and the Merchants hereafter will require a Law that they may not use Merchandise and so the Shoo-maker Taylor and others that they may not use their Trades and in denying them one you take away all Upon this instant M r Speaker delivered a Bill which desired they might be barred of such Trades as to be Shoo-makers and such like But this Bill was thought to be put in by the Strangers themselves of Policy This I thought And besides these Retaylors themselves be not Aliens but far Foreigners such as have forsaken their own Countries and Liberties to live here in ours and home they dare not resort Further of the things they retail we have no Company or Trade here in England and therefore it were unreasonable to bar them of their said Retailing It should seem that these three last before-named were all of the Councel of either part that spoke at the Bar and that the Speeches following were all of them uttered by several Members of the House Sir John Wolley spake next as it should seem after the Councel of either part had been heard at the Bar and said This Bill
two thousand weight of strange Coin Now whereas it is so much urged to be against that Charity which is commended to us by Moses towards the Stranger let Moses tell us who is that Stranger even the Fatherless and Widow Wherefore from them we must not reap too clean but cast out some handfuls for them to gather up when we gather our Vintage or when we gather our Corn we must not gather too clean But shall we be put out to gleaning and give our Fields to them That were beyond Charity Wherefore let Moses be expounded by the same Spirit The Apostle saith That he that provideth not for his Family is worse than an Infidel Let us then have an Eye to our Country and our poor Country-men You be here as Patres Patriae you be here as amongst the Romans the Patres conscripti I beseech you have respect unto this City upon whose flourishing Estate the whole Realm dependeth Sir Walter Raleigh spake next and said Whereas it is pretended That for Strangers it is against Charity against Honour against profit to expel them in my opinion it is no matter of Charity to relieve them For first such as fly hither have forsaken their own King and Religion is no pretext for them for we have no Dutchmen here but such as came from those Princes where the Gospel is Preached and here they live disliking our Church For Honour It is Honour to use Strangers as we be used amongst Strangers And it is a lightness in a Common-Wealth yea a baseness in a Nation to give a liberty to another Na which we cannot receive again In Antwerp where our intercourse was most we were never suffered to have a Taylor or a Shoemaker to dwell there Nay at Millain where there are three hundred pound English men they cannot have so much as a Barber amongst them And for Profit they are all of the House of Almoigne who pay nothing yet eat out our profits and supplant our own Nation Custom indeed they pay paying fifteen pence where we pay twelve pence but they are discharged of Subsidies The nature of the Dutchman is to fly to no man but for his profit and they will obey no man long now under Spain now under Mounfort now under the Prince of Orange but under no Governour long The Dutchman by his Policy hath gotten Trading with all the World into his hands yea he is now entring into the Trade of Scarborough Fishing and the Fishing of the New-found Lands which is the stay of the West-Countries They are the people that maintain the King of Spain in his Greatness Were it not for them he were never able to make out such Armies and Navies by Sea it cost her Majesty sixteen thousand pound a year the maintaining of these Countries and yet for all this they Arm her Enemies against her Therefore I see no reason that so much respect should be given unto them And so to conclude in the whole cause I see no matter of Honour no matter of Charity no Profit in relieving them Sir Robert Cecill spake next and said When I first heard this Bill read I promised my self silence for it speaks of Trades wherein I have no skill But upon so great dispute as it hath received on both sides and that very throughly and wisely my understanding is cleared and I see that now which I saw not before What the word Retailing meant I understood not before but now it is brought to a matter of Charity to relieve Strangers and especially such as do not grieve our Eyes This hath brought great Honour to our Kingdom for it is accounted the refuge of distressed Nations for our Arms have been open unto them to cast themselves into our Bosoms But yet our Charity unto them must not hinder or injure our selves Now as the Bill is it is not sufficient for this purpose And if it be put to a Question it must either be dashed or put to ingrossing And for my own Conscience if the Question be now made I am not resolved to give my Voice It were not for the gravity of the House nor the credit of the Committees to have it rejected upon the sudden and as it is now it is not fit to pass in my conceit I see the Citizens themselves will be well assenting unto the reforming of the same for M r Recorder yesterday speaking with Zeal for the City yet with good regard thought the Bill might receive great moderation And thereupon the House was well pleased to stay the Bill and commit it again to the former Committees to whom were further added Sir Robert Cecill Sir Walter Raleigh Sir Henry Knivet M r Wroth and others who were appointed to meet with the former Committees who had been nominated on Tuesday the 6 th day of this instant March foregoing this Afternoon at two of the Clock in this House Now followeth the next days Passages and some others ensuing out of the Original Journal-Book On Saturday the 24 th day of March the Bill touching Clapboards and Casks was twice read and committed unto the Committees that follow viz. M r Treasurer M r Wroth M r Francis Bacon M r Finch and others and the Bill was delivered to M r Treasurer who with the rest was appointed to meet at two of the Clock this Afternoon in the Exchequer Chamber The Bill and Committees names touching the Lands late Sir Francis Englefields Knight Attainted of High Treason who had been nominated on Thursday the 22 th day of this instant March foregoing were delivered to M r Vice-Chamberlain The Bill for relief of maimed Souldiers and Mariners was upon the second reading committed unto the former Committees whose names see before on Monday the 12 th day of this instant March foregoing and Sir Robert Cecill M r Richard Brown M r Hubberd and others were added unto them and appointed to meet on Monday next at two of the Clock in the Afternoon in the Exchequer Chamber and the Bill and Committees names were delivered to Sir Robert Cecill Vicle plus March 28. M r Speaker being moved by M r Edgecombe to read the private Bill for the Town of Stonchouse and offering to have the Bill read first which came from the Lords touching Popish Recusants being a publick Bill and remembred from her Majesty It was upon the further arguing of Sir Edward Dymock put to the question of the House whether the same Bill for the Town of Stonchouse should be read or no and upon the Question made was Ordered no. Four Bills were sent up to the Lords by M r Vice-Chamberlain and others of which one was the Bill for Subsidy and the other touching the Sale of the Gray-Fryers in Cambridge M r Serjeant Owen and M r Doctor Stamhop do bring from the Lords a Bill intituled An Act to give liberty to the Lord Harrowden to sell certain Lands for the payment of his debts The Bill for restraining of Popish Recusants to some
his eldest Son Edward Craysord should enter into sufficient Bond unto the said William Vaughan without hazard of the Bond for themselves and their Heirs that they and every of them shall stand to the Award and Arbitrement of the Earl of Worcester the Lord Bishop of London and the Lord Cobham or any two of them And that also the said William Vaughan shall enter into like Bond with a sufficient surety for himself and his Heirs to stand to the said Award of the Lords before-mentioned or any two of them so as such Award be made before the Feast of Easter next following And moreover it is Ordered by the Court that if they or either of them shall refuse to enter into Bond according to the said Order That the Lord Keeper notwithstanding the ending of the Parliament and thought it be after the time shall commit them or either of them to close Prison so refusing there to remain until the party refusing be conformable to the said Order Vide concerning this matter on Tuesday the first day Wednesday the second day Thursday the third day Friday the fourth day Monday the fourteenth day Tuesday the fifteenth day and on Friday the eighteenth day of this instant December foregoing Dominus Custos Magni Sigilli continnavit praesens Parliamentum usque ad horam secundum post meridiem hujus instantis diei About which hour in the Afternoon the Queens Majesty was personally present being accompanied with the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury Sir Thomas Egerton Knight Lord Keeper of the Great Seal the Lord Buckhurst Lord Treasurer of England and with divers other Lords Spiritual and Temporal but what was there done is not mentioned in the Original Journal of the Upper House and is therefore supplied out of a very elaborate private Journal of the House of Commons Her Majesty with divers Lords Spiritual and Temporal being set in the Upper House in their Parliament Robes between two and three of the Clock in the Afternoon the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the House of Commons had notice thereof and thereupon repaired thither with John Crooke Esquire Recorder of London their Speaker who being placed at the Rail or Bar at the lower end of the said Upper House after he had made three Reverences to her Majesty fitting under a rich Cloth of State spake to this effect following That Laws were not at first made with humane Pen but by Divine Ordinance That politick Laws were made according to the evil conditions of Men and that all Laws serve not for all times no more than one Medicine for all Diseases If he were asked what were the first and chiefest thing to be considered he would say Religion So Religion is all in all for Religion breeds Devotion Devotion breeds Zeal and Piety to God which breedeth Obedience and Duty to the Prince and obedience of the Laws which breedeth Faithfulness and Honesty and Love Three necessary and only things to be wished and observed in a well Governed Common-Wealth And that her Majesty by planting true Religion had laid such a Foundation upon which all those Virtues were so planted and builded that they could not easily be rooted up and extirpated And therefore he did acknowledge that we ought and do acknowledge that we will praise God and her Majesty for it And then he descended to speak of Governments and Laws of Nations among and above all which he principally preferr'd the Laws of this Land which he said were so many and so wise that there was almost no offence but was met with in a Law Notwithstanding her Majesty being desirous for the good of her Land to call a Parliament for redress of some old Laws and making some new her dutiful and loving Subjects having considered of them have made some new and amended some old which they humbly desire may be made Laws by her most Royal Assent which giveth life unto them And so after thanks given for the Pardon by which we dread your Justice and admire your mercy and a prayer unto her Majesty that she would accept as the Testimonies of our Love and duty offered unto her with a free Heart and willing Spirit Four entire Subsidies and Eight Fifteenths and Tenths to be collected of our Lands and Livelihoods In speaking whereof he mistook and said Four entire Fifteenths and Eight Subsidies but he was remembred by some of the Councel that stood near about him and so spake right as aforesaid and having craved pardon for his offence if either he had forgotten himself in Word or Action he ended The which the Lord Keeper Answered thus in effect First as touching her Majesties proceedings in the Laws for her Royal Assent that should be as God should direct her Sacred Spirit Secondly For your presentation of Four Subsidies and Eight Fifteenths and Tenths Thirdly your humble thankfulness for the Pardon for them and yourself I will deliver her Majesties Commandment with what brevity I may that I be not tedious to my most gracious Sovereign First she saith touching your proceeding in the matter of her Prerogative that she is perswaded Subjects did never more dutifully And that she understood you did but obiter touch her Prerogative and no otherwise but by humble Petition And therefore that thanks that a Prince may give to her Subjects she willingly yieldeth But she now well perceiveth that private respects are privately masqued under publick presence Secondly touching the presentation of your Subsidy she specially regardeth two things both the persons and the manner For the first he fell into Commendations of the Commonalty for the second the manner which was speedy not by perswasion or perswasive inducements but freely out of duty with great contentment In the thing which ye have granted her Majesty greatly commendeth your confidence and Judgment And though it be not proportionable to her occasions yet she most thankfully receiveth the same as a loving and thankful Prince And that no Prince was ever more unwilling to exact or receive any thing from the Subject than she our most gracious Sovereign For we all know she never was a greedy Grasper nor strait-handed Keeper And therefore she commanded me to say that you have done and so she taketh it dutifully plentifully and thankfully For your self M r Speaker her Majesty commanded me to say that you have proceeded with such Wisdom and Discretion that it is much to your Commendations and that none before you hath deserved more And so he ended after an Admonition given to the Justices of the Peace that they would not deserve the Epithetes of prolling Justices Justices of Quarrels who counted Champetrie good Chevesance Sinning Justices who do suck and consume the wealth and good of the Common-Wealth and also against those who lie if not all the Year yet at least three quarters of the year in this City of London After the before-recited Speeches were ended as abovesaid then were the titles of all the Acts read in their due
man comes into his Country will be better satisfied when they shall know they have spared no man nor made any disjunction It was said by a Member of the House that he knew some poor people pawn'd their Pots and Pans to pay the Subsidy It may be you dwell where you see and hear I dwell where I hear and believe And this I know that neither Pot nor Pan nor Dish nor Spoon should be spared when danger is at our Elbows But he that spake this in my Conscience spake it not to hinder the Subsidy or the greatness of the Gift but to shew the Poverty of some Sessed and by sparing them to yield them relief But by no means I would have the three pound men exempted because I do wish the King of Spain might know how willing we are to sell all in defence of Gods Religion our Prince and Country I have read when Hannibal resolved to sack Rome he dwelt in the Cities adjoining and never feared or doubted of his Enterprize till word was brought him that the Maidens Ladies and Women of Rome sold their Ear Rings Jewels and all their necessaries to maintain War against him I do take my self in duty bound to acquaint this House with the modesty of the Committee at the Proposition that where first this House never stuck to commit it they never stuck understanding the reasons to grant it I do perswade my self that the bonus genius of this House did not wish a more resolved unity than we had unity in resolution And of this great Committee it may be said de majoribus Principes consultant de minoribus omnes Thus by your Commandments have I undergone this Charge and will be ready to do the like duty whensoever you command me Then after Consultation had of the great occasions it was put to the Question whether the double Tenths and Fifteenths should be paid by the first day of February viz. for this fourth Subsidy before the third begin and that the first payment of the first three Subsidies should be brought in by the 10 th of June viz. half a Subsidy And all said Yea and not one No. Then was a Motion made by Sir Robert Wroth that this new Subsidy might be drawn in a Bill by it self to which should be annext a Preamble of the great necessities the willingness of the Subject and that it might be no Precedent but that would not be yielded unto Then M r Speaker asked the House if they would appoint Committees so they appointed the Queens Councel and all the Serjeants of the House and no more M r Francis Moore moved that that which was done might be compleatly done and the Subsidy gathered by Commission and not by the old Roll for peradventure some were dead others fallen to Poverty others Richer and so deserved to be inhansed c. And withal he said that the granting of this Subsidy seemed to be the Alpha and Omega of this Parliament M r Wingfield moved the Honourable of the Councel Members of this House That seeing the Subsidy was granted and they yet had done nothing it would please her Majesty not to dissolve the Parliament till some Acts were passed Serjeant Harris said The Motion of the Gentleman that last spake is not now to be discussed we are to speak touching the Subsidy M r Francis Bacon after a Repetition of some of what was done Yesterday that the three pound men might not be excluded he concluded that it was Dulcis tractus pari jugo therefore the Poor as well as the Rich not to be exempted Sir Walter Raleigh said I like not that the Spaniards our Enemies should know of our selling our Pots and Pans to pay Subsidies well may you call it Policy as an Honourable Person alledged but I am sure it argues Poverty in the State And for the Motion that was last made of Dulcis tractus pari Jugo Call you this par jugum when a poor man pays as much as a rich and peradventure his Estate is no better than he is set at or but little better when our Estates that be thirty pound or forty pound in the Queens Books are not the hundred part of our Wealth Therefore it is not Dulcis nor pari M r Secretary Cecill That now seeing one of the weightiest matters and causes of Calling this Parliament was agreed upon he doubted not but we should have both a quick Parliament and speedy payment But for that the Gentleman said on my right hand that the Subsidy was the Alpha and Omega of this Parliament I think he spoke it not simply out of humour but rather upon probability for I can assure you her Majesty is as respective over you touching her Laws which she desireth may be perused and amended that she meaneth not to Dissolve this Parliament till some things be amended For that that I said touching the Spaniards knowing of our sale of our Pots and Pans and all we have to keep him out which should be a matter of Policy to which the Gentleman on my left hand Sir Walter Raleigh took Exceptions I say it is true and yet I am mistaken I say it is good the Spaniards should know how willing we are to sell our Pots and Pans and all we have to keep him out Yet I do not say it is good he should know we do sell them that is I would have him know our willingness to sell though there be no need but not of out Poverty in selling or of any necessity we have to sell them which I think none will do neither shall need to do Then all the House cryed No No as much as to say no man did so Sir Arthur Gorge moved that it would please the Council that Order might be taken that Justices of the Peace might be Sessed according to the Statute viz. at twenty pound Lands whereas there be few Justices that be above eight or ten pound by M r Secretary noted in his Table Book Then Serjeant Heyle stood up and made a Motion saying M r Speaker I marvel much that the House will stand upon granting of a Subsidy or the time of payment when all we have is her Majesties and she may lawfully at her Pleasure take it from us Yea she hath as much right to all our Lands and Goods as to any Revenue of her Crown At which all the House hemm'd and laughed and talked Well quoth Serjeant Heyle all your Hemming shall not put me out of Countenance So M r Speaker stood up and said It is a great disorder that this should be used for it is the antient use of every man to be silent when any one speaketh and he that is speaking should be suffered to deliver his Mind without interruption So the said Serjeant proceeded and when he had spoken a little while the House hemm'd again and so he sate down In his latter Speech he said he could prove his former Position by Precedent in the times of