Lunae, 29o Junii, 1607

Union with Scotland.

Mr. Attorney-general maketh Report of the Travel of the Committee, touching the Amendments and Provisions annexed by the Lords to the Bill, intituled, An Act for the Abolition of all Memory of Hostility, &c. wherein, he said, the Committees did, with One Assent, allow of the Provision annexed by the Lords, touching the Choice and Allowance of Witnesses in criminal Causes, as it was penned and sent down by their Lordships; but passing further into the Examination of their Lordships Amendments, and comparing them with the Sense and Purport of the Bill, if it should be amended according to the Directions, they found, that the proper and natural Sense thereof in that material Point of remanding Offenders, might thereby receive some Alteration, contrary both to their Lordships Meaning (as they conceived) and their own; and hereupon a great Doubt did arise, what were to be done in a Matter of Such Importance. And, 1. First, it was considered, how the Amendments, or Bill, might fitly be altered, to reduce the Matter to their own Sense. 2. And then, what Course, agreeable to Order, and Precedent, they might hold in the Alteration, He said, they all thought fit, and agreed, for Order, to pray a Conference with the Lords, before it were altered; and for the Alteration, One Precedent was produced by One of the Committees, that they might amend the Lords Amendments ; and another, that they might add a new Proviso of their own, to any Proviso sent down by the Lords. These Precedents giving them some Warrant, and Security, for a Course to be held in amending what they desired, according to Order, they advised upon the Alterations to be made in the Bill, and set them down in Paper, for better Direction: The reason of which Alterations, compared with the State of the Bill, and the Lords Amendments, he opened particularly to the House.

Upon this Report, the Provision for the Point of Witnesses, annexed as before, was again drawn in Question, and disputed pro et contra; and in Conclusion, moved, that notwithstanding the said Precedents, yet, for Conveniency in so great and extraordinary a Cause, the House should send to pray a Conference, as well touching that Point, as the other, for the Matter of remanding. And it was finally, upon Two several Questions, resolved,

1. To pray Conference touching the Clause of remanding, and the Amendments annexed by the Lords.

2. Not to pray any Conference for the Provision annexed, touching Witnesses.

This Question ended, Sir Edw. Stanhope and Sir Geo. Coppin bring from the Lords Two Bills, intituled,

Letters Patents.

LL. 1. An Act for the Confirmation of all Letters Patents, and Grants, to be made by the King's Majesty, of any Copyhold Lands and Tenements, Parcel of any of his Highness' Manors.

Steward's Nat.

LL. 2. An Act for the Naturalizing of John Steward Esquire, Brother and Heir apparent to Patrick Earl of Orkney.

Union with Scotland.

Mr. Attoney-general was sent in Message to the Lords, to pray a Conference, according to the Order of the House, touching the Clause of remanding, and the Amendments; and had Commission from the House (together with such as accompanied him) to enter into the said Conference presently, if it were desired by the Lords : Which did happen accordingly.

Which being understood, the Bill remaining in the House was sent up by Sir Edward Hobby.

Cavendish's Relief.

Committee in the latter Bill for Relief of Mrs. Cavendish, appointed to meet Tomorrow Morning, at Seven a Clock, in the Committee Chamber.

Steward's Nat.

L. 1a. B. For the Naturalizing of John Steward Esquire, Brother and Heir apparent to Patrick Earl of Orkney.