Mercurii, 20o Maii, 1607

Message from the King to adjourn.

Mr. Speaker (sundry Members of the House being assembled) about Nine a Clock signifieth, that his Majesty's Pleasure is to adjourn this Court until Wednesday, the 27th of this Month.

Committees.

Moved, and agreed, that no Committees should sit until their next Meeting.

Privilege- A Suit at Law.

In this Vacancy, upon the Motion of Mr. Talbott Bowes, Burgess for the Town of Richmond in Yorkshire, Mr. Speaker directed his Letter, for Stay of the Proceeding of a Cause depending before the Lord President and Council at York, which concerned the said Mr. Bowes, in Form as followeth:

My very good Lord,

IT hath been informed in the Commons House of Parliament, that Sir Thomas North, Knight, hath commenced a Suite at Yorke against the Tenants of Talbot Bowes Esquire, One of the Members of the said House of Parliament, being Administrator and Heir of Tho. Warcop Esquire, deceased (the Cause, in Point of Interest, principally concerning the said Talbott) Defendants : And because his Majesty hath specially interposed his royal Pleasure, for the Attendance of all the Members of the House, and the House itself hath thereupon made a special Order in that Behalf; upon the Motion of the said Mr. Bowes, the House hath thought fit, that a Stay be made of the Proceeding of the said Suit; and have commanded me to signify their Order unto you accordingly ; fearing lest the Cause might receive some Prejudice by his Absence, or withdraw his Attendance from this great Service; which is the principal Care of his Majesty and the House to prevent. And so I heartily commend your Lordship to God's holy Protection. From Boswell-house, this 23d of May, 1607.

Your Lordship's at Commandment.

E. of Darby's Estate.

L. 1a. B. FOR the Establishment and Assurance of divers of the Possessions and Hereditaments of Ferdinando late Earl of Darby.

King's Message concerning Adjournment.

Mr. Speaker offereth to deliver a Message from his Majesty, touching the late Adjournment; but first, he said, he would clear himself, having been challenged to adjourn the Court, without the Privity of the House; wherein he taketh God to witness, he never had Intention to wrong the House: He did it in a publick Assembly, and by Consent, as he took it: And in this, and all other things, for his Intentions, he appealeth to the Justice, and disclaimeth the Favour of the House; though in Matter of his Actions, being very imperfect, he will seek and appeal to their Favours.

For this (he further said) as the House had Power to adjourn, so had his Majesty a superior Power; and in his Name, and by his Direction, he did it. Yet this is also questioned, and come to his Majesty's Ear, that the Court was adjourned till Wednesday, of Purpose, that the fewer Number, resident in Town, might assemble, and overcarry the Question in hand, touching remanding of Malefactors.

This his Majesty received from the Ordinaries in the Town, not from the House, or any Member of it; but conceives himself to be much touched in Honour, in the Report; protesting that he hateth to do any thing with them, or any other, by Circumvention. That he hath no particular End of his own, but the Peace and general Good of the Land, that Offenders may be punished, and Peace kept: He hopes, they have the same End. He leaves the Form to themselves ; and to take what Time they will; so as they effect that which is fitting.

His Majesty earnestly wisheth, in regard of the Honour of the House, and of the Service in hand, that some Course might be taken for recalling the absent, and the better Attendance of the Members of the House; wherein he would add his best Power.

Committees.

Committees adjourned,

Leave of Absence.

Sir Herbert Crofts asketh Leave, after Two Days, to depart: Which is granted; with Caution, that he return, within a very short Time, to the Service again, the House having so much Use of his Service, as he could not be long spared.

Debate deferred.

The Dispute touching the Point of remanding, to begin Tomorrow, at Nine a Clock.

Attendance of Members.

The Committees for Privileges and Returns, &c. were this Day appointed to consider of the fittest Course for the Recalling and better Attendance of the Members of the House; and for that Purpose to meet from Day to Day, as they shall find fit Opportunity; and to report their Opinions to the House.