House of Lords Journal Volume 3: 29 April 1624

DIE Jovis, videlicet, 29 die Aprilis,

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales, quorum nomina subscribuntur, præsentes fuerunt:

p. Carolus Princeps Walliæ, etc.

Ld. Treasurer's Petition.

THE Petition of the Lord Treasurer, exhibited this Morning, was read in hæc verba: videlicet,

"To the most Honourable Assembly of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in the High Court of Parliament.

"The humble Petition of the Earl of Midd. Lord Treasurer of England.

"Most humbly shewing, That, besides the weighty Cares of Mind which now do lie upon him by the Charge he hath received from that most Honourable House, he is fallen into such an Indisposition of Body, as he is once more inforced to beseech your Lordships, in your Noble Justice and Favour, to grant him a further Day for presenting his Answer and Interrogatories, which fall out to be much longer than himself expected; it being no small Addition to his Sorrows, that, in a Case so nearly concerning him, he cannot conceive, by your Lordships former Answers to his former humble Petitions, that you purpose to allow him the Copies of the Depositions, whereby, after his Answer delivered in Writing, he should prepare himself for his just Defence against the Hearing.

"He humbly leaveth all to your Lordships most Honourable Consultations; and with all due Submission desires a favourable Answer.

"Middelsex."

The Petition of the Lord Treasurer exhibited the 27th of this April, and the Answer of the House thereunto; and the Petition exhibited the 28th of this April, and the Answer thereunto, were also read.

Then the Prince his Highness moved the House, That, in respect of the Lord Treasurer's great Office, and of Sickness pretended by his Lordship, he might have a longer Day given him; and that Day to be exclusive.

The Lords appointed the former Committee to consider what Answer shall be returned unto this Petition; who, having withdrawn themselves, at their Return reported this Answer fit to be made: videlicet,

Answer to Ld. Treasurer's Petition.

"The Lords, only in respect of the Lord Treasurer's Indisposition of Health, are pleased to respite his Appearance this Day; but do enjoin, That, on Saturday next, at Nine of the Clock in the Morning, if his Health so permit, he bring in his Answer, according to former Orders of this House; if not, that then he send his Answer to his Charge in Writing, and all such Interrogatories as he will have his Witnesses examined upon.

"And the Lords do peremptorily assign Friday, the Seventh of May next, at Nine in the Morning, for his Appearance in Person, and for the final Hearing and Determining of the Cause."

This Answer was Twice read, and generally approved of by the House.

And Agreed, That the Clerk shall deliver a Copy thereof, under his Hand, unto the Party that brought the Petition.

Additional Charge against Ld. Treasurer.

Mr. Attorney General read the Additions to the Lord Treasurer's Charge, in hæc verba:

"1. The Lord Treasurer undertook the Office of the Wardrobe, in the Sixteenth Year of the King's Majesty's Reign, and continued the Service of that Place from Michaelmas, Anno 16°, unto Michaelmas 19°. This Office he took upon him under Pretence of doing His Majesty special Service; and for that Purpose, obtained a certain Assignment of Twenty Thousand Pounds per Annum, or thereabouts, which was duly paid unto him, by Way of Imprest.

"Instead of doing Service, he hath brought that Place into Disorder and Confusion; he hath not duly served the Warrants, which he should have served; he hath not duly paid the Workmen and Creditors; he hath neither kept orderly Accounts, nor yielded any; but, under Colour of pretended Service of great Importance, hath procured Gifts and Discharges of great Sums of Money, which he received for the Execution of that Place, and for the Queen's Funeral.

"2. Whereas, in the former Charge delivered to his Lordship, it is mentioned, that the Merchants importing Sugars have been denied to export the same, without Payment of new Duties; it appears, upon further Consideration of that Business, that the Prejudice that the Merchants have sustained, concerning their Sugars, is, that they have been denied, upon Exportation of Sugars, the Imposts paid therefor upon Importation, which is contrary to the Direction given by His Majesty's Letters Patents, 5° Sept. 8°; Jacobi."

A Copy of this, signed by the Clerk, was sent to the Lord Treasurer, by Mr. Serjeant Davis and Mr. Serjeant Finch, with this Message: videlicet,

That his Lordship's Answer is expected, according to the Order of the House made upon his Petition.

A Copy of the Answer made to the Lord Treasurer's Petition exhibited this Day was signed by the Clerk, and delivered unto Nicholas Young, who brought the Petition.

Sir Philip Cary's Petition.

The Petition of Sir Phillip Cary, Knight, concerning the Office of Surveyor General of His Majesty's Customs, sold unto him by Sir Lionell Cranfeild, Knight, now Lord Treasurer, was exhibited unto the House, and read.

The Lords, taking into their Considerations the Equity of the Cause, committed the same unto the

To meet when their Lordships please.

Confirmation of a Judgement against Heron.

The Earl of Mountgomery reported the Bill, An Act for Confirmation of a Judgement given for His Majesty, in a Scire facias, against Henry Heron, and for Declaration of the Letters Patents therein mentioned to be void, fit to pass.

Anstruther and Aberecromy's Naturalization.

Hodie 1^a, 2^a, et 3^a vice lecta est Billa, An Act for the Naturalizing of Sir Robert Anstrother, Knight, one of the Gentlemen of His Majesty's Privy Chamber, Sir George Abercromy, Knight, late Gentleman of the Robes of the late Queen Ann, of Worthy Memory, and John Craige, Doctor of Physic, Physician to the High and Mighty Prince Charles, Your Majesty's dearest Son.

Put to the Question, and generally Assented unto, and so Expedited.

Establishment of the E. of Oxford's Lands.

Hodie 3^a vice lecta est Billa, An Act for the quiet Establishing of the Right and Interest of certain Lands and Tenements of Henry now Earl of Oxon, and his Tenants, according to Two several Decrees in Chancery, and His Majesty's Royal Pleasure, signified under his Highness's Privy Seal exemplified, and One other Decree, in his Majesty's Court of Wards and Liveries.

Put to the Question, and Assented unto.

And this Bill was sent down to the Commons.

Usury Bill.

And the Bill against Usury was returned to the Commons, with the Proviso added thereunto, by Sir William Bird and Sir Robert Rich.

Message to the H. C. for Conference, touching two Bills.

Message sent to the Commons, by Mr. Attorney General and Sir Charles Cæsar: That the Lords desire a Conference, touching the Bill for Limitation of Actions, etc. and as touching the Bill for the Ease in obtaining of Licences of Alienation, etc. To-morrow, in the Painted Chamber, at Two in the Afternoon (if it may stand with the Occasions of their House), with a Committee of (fn. 2).

Answer.

Answered, They will send Messengers of their own.

Message from the House of Commons, by Sir John Sucklinge and others: That they had appointed the Time required for this Conference for other Business, before their Lordships Messengers came; and they do humbly desire their Lordships to appoint some other Time, and they will attend accordingly.

The Messengers being withdrawn;

The Lords agreed on Saturday next, at Two, in the Painted Chamber.

And so the Messengers were answered.

Brewhouses in and about London.

The Lords Committees on the Bill concerning Brewers and Brewhouses are to meet To-morrow, at Eight, in the Painted Chamber.

Assurance of Land to Sir Thomas Cheek.

The Lords Committees on the Bill concerning Land purchased by Sir Thomas Cheeke, are to meet To-morrow, at Two, in the Painted Chamber.

Free Trade of Welth Cloths, &c.

The Lord Privy Seal reported the Bill, An Act for the Free Trade and Trassick of Welch Cloths, Cottons, Frizes, Linings, and Plains, in and through the Kingdom of England and Dominion of Wales, as fit to pass, without any Amendments.

Ditto.

Hodie 3^a vice lecta est Billa prædicta; put to the Question, and Assented unto, and so Expedited.

Adjourn.

Dominus Custos Magni Sigilli declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque in diem Sabbati, videlicet, 1^m diem Maii proximum, hora nona, Dominis sic decernentibus.