House of Lords Journal Volume 3: 19 April 1621

DIE Jovis, videlicet, 19 die Aprilis,

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

p. Carolus Princeps Walliæ, etc.

Dying of Silks.

HODIE Billa, An Act against the false Dying of Silks, was delivered into the House, by the Lord Chamberlain, one of the Lords Committees to whom the Consideration of Publick Bills was referred.

Informers.

The Lord Archbishop of Canterburie, first of the Committee on the Bill against Informers, &c. brought in the same Bill into the House, and shewed, that the Lords Committees, attended by the King's Counsel, have met and considered of the Bill. Their Lordships find the Scope of the Bill to be good, but very many Inconveniencies in the Body thereof; yet, for that the Bill was sent up hither from the House of Commons, with special Commendations; and for that His Majesty did also command this House to have a special Care to expedite the same; their Lordships thought fit, that a Conference be had with the Commons about the same.

The which generally was allowed of by the House; and Mr. Attorney General was appointed to open to the Lords the Inconveniencies and Exceptions against the said Bill, whereupon Mr. Attorney came to the Clerk's Table, and there first read the Body of the said Bill, and then the Inconveniencies and Exceptions against every Part of the same.

The Lord Sheffeild moved, That a Collection of these Inconveniencies and Objections might be sent to the Commons; with a Message, to pray a Conference, as they may come the better prepared to give the Lords Satisfaction therein.

The Earl of Arundell moved a Doubt, whether it may stand with the Orders of the House so to do.

Message about Informers &c.

Message sent to the Commons, by Mr. Serjeant Hitcham and Sir William Bird:

The Lords have taken Consideration of the Bill against Relators, Informers, and Promoters, and find therein many Inconveniencies and Exceptions against the same; whereof their Lordships doubt not, but that House will give their Lordships good Satisfaction: Wherefore the Lords desire a Conference with Committees of that House; and that the Committees may have Power freely to confer with a Committee of this House.

The Number of the Lords Committees is Twentyfour; the Place the Painted Chamber, at Two this Afternoon.

Answer returned,

Answer

The Commons will appoint a Committee of Forty eight of that House, to meet their Lordships, at the Time and Place appointed, with Authority freely to confer with their Lordships, as is desired.

Agreed, That Mr. Attorney do deliver unto the Lord Treasurer the Heads of the Inconveniencies and Exceptions against that Bill; and his Lordship to open the same at the Conference, and thereof to make Report unto this House.

Lord Chancellor.

The Earl of Arundell shewed, That (according to the Order of the House 27 Martii) his Lordship, and the other Lords joined in Committee with him, have examined divers, in causa Domini Cancellarii. The which Examination he delivered unto Mr. Baron Denham, who attended the Lords of that Committee.

The Earl of Hunt. declared, That his Lordship, and the other Lords joined in Committee with him, had also examined divers touching the same Cause; the which Examinations his Lordship delivered unto Mr. Serjeant Crewe, who attended the Lords of that Committee.

The Earl of South'ton declared, That his Lordship, and the other Lords joined in Committee with him, had also taken divers Examinations touching the same Cause; the which his Lordship delivered to Mr. Attorney General.

Examinations concerning Lord Chancellor.

Mr. Baron Denham (coming to the Clerk's Table) stood and read the Examination taken by the Earl of Arundell, and the Lords joined with his Lordship: videlicet,

The Examination of Sir George Hastings, Knight.

The Examination of Sir Richard Yonge, Knight.

The Examination of Bevis Thelwall.

The Examination of Sir William Bronker, Knight.

Mr. Serjeant Crew, in like Manner, read the Examinations taken by the Earl of Huntingdon, and the Lords joined with his Lordship: videlicet,

The Examination of Christopher Awbrey.

A Letter written by Christopher Awbrey to the Lord Chancellor, dated 22 Nov. 1619.

One Letter written by him to the Lord Chancellor, dated the 21st of June, 1620; and One other Letter, written by him to the Lord Chancellor, dated 19 July, 1620.

The Examination of Ralph Merefill, Scrivener.

The Examination of Tristram Woodward.

Mr. Attorney General, in like Manner, read first the Brief of the Examinations taken by the Earl of South'ton, and the Lords joined with his Lordship; and then the Examinations: videlicet,

The Examination of Sir Rowland Egerton, Knight.

The Examination of the Lady Dorothee Wharton.

The Examination of Richard Keeling.

The Examination of Anthony Gardiner.

The Examination of Sir Thomas Perient, Knight.

The Examination of Sir Henry Elmes, Knight.

The Examination of Sir Edward Fisher, Knight.

The Examination of James Kennedy.

The Examination of Peter Vanlor.

The Examination of John Churchill.

The Examination of Sir Ralph Hansby, Knight.

The Examination of William Compton.

The Examination of Robert Johnson, Alderman of London.

The Examination of Samuel Jones.

The Examination of Sir Thomas Midleton, Knight.

The Examination of John Bunbury.

The Examination of John Kellet.

The Examination of Gabriel Sheriff.

The Examination of Richard Scott.

The Examination of John Childe.

The Examination of Henry Ashton.

The Examination of Thomas Hasellwood.

The Examination of Ralph More.

The Examination of Thomas Knight.

The Examination of Robert Bell.

The Examination of William Spight.

The Examination of Richard Peacock.

These Letters and Orders were also read: videlicet,

One Letter, dated the 14th of March, dated 1618, written by the Lord Chancellor to the Company of Vintners.

An Order made by the Lord Chancellor to relieve the English Merchants of Vintners, dated 20 April.

Order of Reference by the Lord Chancellor to Sir Thomas Love, dated 9th of May, 1619.

Another Letter of the Lord Chancellor to the Vintners, dated 9th of June, 1619.

These Examinations being read, the Earl of South'ton signified, That Sir Thomas Smith, Knight, being to be examined in this Business of the Vintners, is sick of the Gout. His Lordship also declared, That his Lordship, and the Lords Committees joined with him, have heard a public Fame and Report, how that the Lord Chancellor, having ordered Matters in open Court, did afterwards alter and reverse the same Orders upon Petitions; that their Lordships, in the Time of this Cessation, being desirous to know the Truth thereof, sent for the Registers of the Chancery (who then were in the Country); and now, upon their Return, they have, upon Search, found out some such Orders, altered and reversed upon Petitions, and required a longer Time to search for more; and then the said Registers will give their Lordships more full Satisfaction therein. The which was generally approved of by the House.

The Clerk read the Examinations taken here in open Court:

In Causa Domini Cancellarii: videlicet,

The Examination of John Hunt.

The Examination of Edward Shereborne.

The Examination of Sir George Renell.

The Examination of William Peacock.

The Examination of James Rolph.

The Examination of Robert Barker.

The Examination of Thomas Mewtas.

It was Agreed, That, forasmuch as these Examinations were taken by Three several Committees, and some were taken here in the House, and the Examinations of the one spake of some of the same Things taken by the other;

That the Three Committees do meet together (attended by the King's Counsel) to make One Brief of all these Examinations.

Agreed also, That the Three Committees, in causa Domini Cancellarii, do continue to receive Complaints, and take Examinations, in the same Cause; and that their Lordships meet this Afternoon, in the Little Committee Chamber, after the Conference with the Commons.

Ordnance.

The Lords Committees on the Bill against the Transportation of Iron Ordnance are to meet on Thursday next, videlicet, the 26th of this April, at Two in the Afternoon, in the Painted Chamber.

Sunday.

The Lords Committees for the Bill of Sunday are to meet on Tuesday, videlicet, the 24th of this April, at Two in the Afternoon, in the Painted Chamber.

Writs of Certiorari.

The Lords Committees for the Bill touching the Writs of Certiorari and Supersedeas, are to meet also on Tuesday next, the 24th of this April, at Two in the Afternoon, in the Painted Chamber.

Adjourn.

Dominus Capitalis Justiciarius, Locum tenens Domini Cancellarii, declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque in diem Martis, videlicet, 24^m instantis Aprilis, Dominis sic decernentibus.