House of Commons Journal Volume 1: 22 November 1606

Saturni, 22o Novembris, 1606

Members in King's Service.

SIR Geo. Moore reporteth the Proceeding of the Committee, touqhing the Supply of Places of Knights and Burgesses in the House.

They considered, according to the Instructions given them; namely, of Sir Tho. Ridgewqy, Treasurer, Sir Humfrey Winch, Lord Chief Baron, and Sir Oliver St. John, Master of the Ordnance in Ireland; whose Cases, they conceived, differed from the Case of Ambassadors; for that (as they thought) their Patents were for Life, and therefore new to be chosen in their Places. The late Precedent of Sir James Lee, advanced to the Place of Lord Chief Justice in Ireland, remembered ; in whose Place Mr. Alexander Chock was chosen for the Town of Westbury in Wiltes.

Touching Sir Henry Hobart, advanced by his Majesty to the Place of Attorney-general, it was remembered, that in 8o Eliz. Mr. Onslowe, Solicitor, being called by Writ into the Higher House, was afterwards chosen Speaker

by this House: Mr. Jeffereys also, the (Queen's Serjeant, was demanded by this House to do Service here. Many Precedents of the King's Serjeant and Solicitor, none for the Attorney; sed eadem ratio.

Several Questions were made of every particular Case; and it was resolved. That Warrants should be granted by Mr. Speaker for the Choice of new Members in the Place of Sir Thomas Ridgeway, Sir Humfrey Winch, and Sir Oliver St. John, according to the Opinion of the Committee, and according to former Precedent in the Case of Sir James Lee.

Question was made, touching Sir Charles Cornwallys in Spaine, Sir Geo. Carewe in France, and Sir Tho. Edmonds with the Arch-duke, Legier Ambassadors; and, upon Question, adjudged they should still stand in their several Places.

Touching Mr. Attorney, it was much disputed, what should be the Question; at last the Question agreed, and so made:

Q. Whether he should be recalled, admitting, that he was already called by Writ of Attendance into the Higher House, as the House conceived he was.

Upon this Question the House was not satisfied, but would have it made, Whether a new Choice.

The House upon this grew to Division, and by Division to Confusion; for they were not numbered ; nor One Part well understanding another, they settled again, and made a new Question; viz.

Q. Whether a Question should be made of it: And by Voice over-ruled, that no Question should be made of it, but the Matter should rest; and so was understood, and left at that Time.

Order, That Warrants should issue for new Writs, to elect for Places void ; as in Place of Sir Tho. Ridgeway, for the County of Devon, in this Form :

Warrant for New Writ.

WHEREAS Sir Tho. Ridgeway Knight, now Treasurer at Wars in his Majesty's Realm of Ireland, was, at the first Session of this Parliament, elected, and returned unto the Commons House of Parliament, One of the Knights of the Shire for the County of Devon ; and being sithence, by his Majesty's Favour, advanced to the Place of Treasurer; it was this Day moved in the said House, whether his Place of Knight of the Shire were void; which, upon the Question, was over-ruled; and ordered, that a new Writ should issue for the Choice of another Knight, in the Room and Place of the said Sir Thomas: For which this shall be your Warrant.

Directed:

" To my loving Friend Sir Geo. Coppin Knight, Clerk of the Crown in his Majesty's High Court of Chancery."

And so for the rest in the like Form.