Journal of the House of Lords: February 1576

THE JOURNAL OF THE House of LORDS.

An Exact and perfect Journal of the Passages of the House of Lords, in the Parliament holden at Westminister, An. 18 Reginæ Eliz. A. D. 1575, which began there on Wednesday the 8^th Day of February (after divers Prorogations of the same) and there continued until the Prorogation thereof on Thursday the 15^th Day of March next ensuing.

The Journal of this present Session (although there were no Solemnity at the beginning thereof as of a new Parliament) yet wanted there not the Return and Entrance of divers Proxies as well extraordinary as ordinary: and although through the great negligence of Anthony Mason Esquire, at this time Clerk of the Upper House, there appeareth little other matter to have been agitated therein than the reading, committing and expediting of Bills; yet it is plain by the Original Journal-Book of the House of Commons, that there was some Entrance by both Houses upon the reformation of divers Abuses in the Ecclesiastical Government, and some difference between the said Houses about the Bill for the Restitution in Blood of the Heirs of the Lord Stourton sent down from the Lords to the Commons. Besides, this foresaid Journal is not a little enlarged and beautified by the inserting of the Speech at large of Sir Nicholas Bacon Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, out of a Copy thereof I had by me; which is the rather worth the nothing in respect that it was doubtless the last Speech he ever made in Parliament: for before the third Session of this present Parliament, which was held five Years after the Adjournment of this present Session he died, viz. in the two and twentieth Year of her Majesty, Anno Domini 1579. and so Sir Thomas Bromley Knight, succeeded Lord Chancellor before the said Session in Anno 23 Reginæ ejusdem, which was the third and last Session of this instant Parliament; The first Session whereof was held in Anno 14 Reginæ prædictæ, by which means this was the longest Parliament (continuing about eleven Years) of any during her Majesties Reign, and was not Dissolved until the five and twentieth Year of her said Reign; containing also in it three several Sessions, whereas no other consisted of above two at the most.

Memorand. quod die Mercurii, octavo die Februarii, Anno Regni excellentissimæ ac metuendissimæ Dominæ nostræ, Dom. Eliz. Dei gratia Angliæ, Franciæ & Hiberniæ Reginæ, Fidei Defensatricis, &c. Decimo octavo, quo die post varias ac diversas Prorogationes præsens hæc Sessio Parliamenti tenta & habita fuit apud Westmonasterium, Domini tam Temporales quam Spirituales, quorum nomina subsequuntur, preæsentes fuerunt.

The Queen was not present because as it hath been observed his was no new Parliament, but the Lords met of Course.

Nicolaus Bacon Miles, Dominus Custos magni Sigilli.

Dominus Burleigh Thesaurarius Angliæ.

Comites.

Comes Lincoln. Admirallus.
Comes Sussex. Dominus Camerarius Hospitii
Reginæ.
Comes Northumbr.
Comes Kanc.
Comes Darb.
Comes Wigorn.
Comes Rutland.
Comes Huntingdon.
Comes Warwick.
Comes Southampton.
Comes Bedford.
Comes Pembroke.
Comes Hartford.
Comes Leicester.
Comes Essex.
Vice-Comes Mountague.
Vice-Comes Bindon.

Episcopi.

Episcopus London.
Episcopus Winton.
Episcopus Hereford.
Episcopus Elien.
Episcopus Meneven.
Episcopus Sarisburien.
Episcopus Covent. & Litchs.
Episcopus Cestren.
Episcopus Bangoren.
Episcopus Cicestren.
Episcopus Oxon .
Episcopus Rossen.
Episcopus Assaven.

Barones.

Dominus Abergavenny.
Dominus Audley.
Dominus Dacres.
Dominus Stafford.
Dominus Gray de Wilton.
Dominus Dudley.
Dominus Lumley.
Dominus Darcy.
Dominus Wentworth.
Dominus Mordant.
Dominus Cromwell.
Dominus Evers.
Dominus Rich.
Dominus Pagett.
Dominus Howard.
Dominus North.
Dominus Shandois.
Dominus Hunsdon.
Dominus S^t John de Bletso.
Dominus Buckhurst.
Dominus de la Ware.
Dominus Compton.
Dominus Cheyney.
Dominus Norris.

Which are all the Names noted in the Original Journal-Book of this eighteenth Year of the Queen to have been present this Wednesday the 8^th of February.

These Lords being thus set, they fell to their ordinary business without any manner of solemnity, this being (as hath been said) no new Parliament, but only the second Session of that Parliament which began in Anno 14 Reginæ Elizabethæ.

Two Bills of no great moment had each of them their first reading; of which the first was the Bill for the reformation of the excess in Apparel.

Hodie returnatum fuit breve, quo Henricus Comes Northumbriæ præsenti Parliamento interesse summonebatur, qui admissus est ad suum præheminentiæ sedendi in Parliamento locum, salvo jure alieno.

The like several Writs returned the Earl of Kent, and Charles Lord Howard, Lord Audley, William Bishop of S^t Asaph, and Henry Earl of Darby.

Dominus Custos magni Sigilli continuavit præsens Parliamentum usque in diem Crastinum horâ octavâ.

Although this were but a second Session of a former Parliament (as hath been said) yet were divers Proxies sent and returned; of which (there being no mention upon what day they were introduced) I have caused two only to be inserted being extraordinary and less usual, viz. where two spiritual Lords Constituted three Proctors apiece, whereas they usually nominate but two, as the Temporal Lords do but one: And in respect that through the negligence of Anthony Mason Esquire, at this time Clerk of the Upper House, there is no day set down on which the said Proxies were introduced; therefore I have thought it most fit to insert them here at the end of the first days Passages of this present Session. Although they be Entred in the Original JournalBook of the said House before the beginning thereof in manner and form following.

Episcopus Wigorn. absens ex licentia Dominæ Reginæ constituit Procuratores suos, Johannem Episcopum Herefordens. Thomam Episcopum Coventr. & Litchf. & Thomam Episcopum Lincoln.

Episcopus Landaven. absens ex licentia Dominæ Reginæ constituit Procuratores suos Edwinum Episcopum London, Thomam Episcopum Coventr. & Litchf. & Willielmum Episcopum Assaven.

Nota, That the Lord Burleigh had this Parliament four Proxies Entred in the Original Journal-Book in the same Order as they follow, but no day is set down on which they were teturned, viz. from the Lord Vaux, from the Marquess of Winchester, from Viscount Mountacute, and from the Lord Latimer.

On Thursday the 9^th day of February, the Bill for Reformation of Apparel was read secunda vice, and committed unto the Earl of Sussex, the Earl of Leicester, the Bishop of London, the Lord Wentworth, the Lord North, the Lord Hunsdon, the Queens Attorney and Sollicitor.

Two Bill also had each of them one reading; of which one was the Bill against diminishing the Queens Majesties Coin, and was read the second time.

Nota, That this foregoing Bill had now its second reading; but there is no mention made that it was either Ordered to be ingrossed, or referred to Committees, as in the like Case is always usual, unless it be in such Bills as are sent up to the Lords from the House of Commons ready ingrossed in Parchment upon their passing of them, or else when they are fairly ingrossed in Parchment and sent from her Majesty to the House, when they immediately concern her own Person, State or Prerogative, or some Subject whom out of Grace she intendeth to have restored in Blood, Naturalized or the like; and of this latter sort this present Bill seemeth to be, because it concerneth her Majesties Coin, unless perhaps the mentioning of the ingrossing or the referring thereof were omitted by the Clerks negligence, which may sometimes happen.

A Writ in common form was returned summoning the Lord Chandois to come to Parliament.

On Friday the 11^th day of February, to which day the Parliament had been on Thursday last continued, the Bill for Confirmation of Letters Patents and other Assurances made by the Queens Majesty, was read the second time, and committed unto the Lord Burleigh, Lord Treasurer, the Earl of Essex, the Earl of Bedford, the Bishop of London, the Bishop of Winchester, the Bishop of Hereford, the Lord Grey, the Lord Lumley, and the Lord Howard.

A Writ was directed and this day returned in common form, summoning the Lord Stourton to come to Parliament.

The Parliament was continued in common from by the Lord Keeper until Monday next at nine of the Clock.

On Monday the 13^th day of February, to which day the Parliament had been on Saturday last continued, two Bills had each of them one reading; of which the second being the Bill for Confirmation of Letters Patents and other Assurances made by the Queens Majesty, was read secundâ vice.

But it should rather seem, that this was the first reading of this new Bill brought in by the Committees, to whom the same was referred on Saturday the 11^th day of this instant February foregoing, because it had its second reading on Wednesday the 15^th day, and its third reading on Thursday the 16^th day of this instant Month foregoing.

The Bill for Reformation of Excess in Apparel was read prima vice.

Nota, That the former Bill to this effect which had been referred to Committees on Thursday the 9^th day of this instant February foregoing, was (as it seemeth) dashed by them, and a new Bill brought in which had its first reading onthis day, its second reading on Wednesday, and its third and last reading on Thursday the 16^th day of this instant February following.

On Wednesday the 15^th day of February, to which day the Parliament had been on Monday last continued, The Bill for coming to Church and receiving of the Communion, was read the second time, and committed unto the Lord Burleigh, Lord Treasurer, the Earl of Sussex, the Earl of Bedford, the Earl of Leicester, the Bishop of London, the Bishop of Ely, the Bishop of Chichester, the Bishop of Lincoln, the Lord Cobham, the Lord Grey, the Lord Wentworth, the Lord North, Justice Mounson, and Justice Manwood, and the Queens Sollicitor.

Two Bills also of no great moment had each of them their second reading, and thereupon Ordered to be ingrossed; of which the first was the Bill for reformation of excess in Apparel.

On Thursday the 16^th day of February, the Bill for reformation of excess in Apparel, and the Bill for Confirmation of Letters Patents were each of them read tertia vice & conclusæ, and sent to the House of Commons by Dr. Barkley and Mr. Powle Clerk of the Crown.

Two Bills also had each of them one reading; of which the last being the Bill for the Repeal of a Statute made in the eighteenth year of Henry the Sixth, was read prima vice and committed to the Queens Attorney and Sollicitor to consider of.

On Saturday the 18^th day of February, to which day the Parliament had been on Thursday last continued, two Bills of no great moment had each of them one reading; of which the second being the Bill for the Repeal of a Statute made an. 18 H. 6. was read secunda vice, and committed to the Queens Attorney and Sollicitor.

Nota, That this Bill was committed upon the first reading on Thursday the 16^th day of this instant February foregoing to Serjeant Barham, the Queens Attorney, and Sollicitor; by whom it should seem the Bill being brought in again without any great alteration, was now recommitted upon the second reading to the two latter of them to consider further of the same, according to the Order of the House. Vide Febr. 22. postea.

The Bill for the maintenance of Rochester Bridge (which was read the first time in the beginning of this present day) was now committed unto the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Treasurer of England, the Earl of Lincoln, Lord Admiral, Viscount Mountague, the Bishop of Salisbury, the Bishop of Chichester, the Lord Abergavenny, the Lord Cobham, the Lord Buckhurst, Justice Manwood, and Serjeant Barham.

On Monday the 20^th day of February, to which day the Parliament had been on Saturday last continued, the Bill for the assurance of certain Lands sold by Henry Fisher to Richard Smith, was read secunda vice, and committed to the Queens Sollicitor, &c.

The Bill also for excluding of Clergy and Purgations Ecclesiastical, was read prima vice & commissa Justiciario Mounson. Vide touching this Bill on Wednesday the 22^th day of this instant February following.

On the Tuesday the 21^th day of February the Bill for the repairing of Chepstow-Bridge was read the first time.

Four Bills were brought up to the Lords from the House of Commons; of which the first being the Bill for the explanation of the Statute of 31 H. 8. touching Monasteries, Abbies, Priories, &c. And the last being for the relief and reedifying of the Borough of New-Woodstock in the County of Oxford, were each of them read prima vice.

The Bill for the avoiding of fraudulent Gifts of Lands made by the late Rebels in the North, was read primâ vice.

The Bill lastly for reformation of Errors in Fines and common Recovèries, was sent up to the Lords from the House of Commons.

On Wednesday the 22^th day of February, Nine Bills of no great moment had each of them one reading; of which the first being the Bill for Reformation of Errors in Fines and common Recoveries, another for the assurance of certain Lands unto Christopher Hatton Esquire of the Privy-Chamber and Captain of her Majesties Guard, and another for the Explanation of the Statute of 31 H. 8. touching Monasteries, &c. were each of them read the second time: but no mention is made that they were either Ordered to be ingrossed or referred to Committees, because they had been sent from the House of Commons on Tuesday immediately foregoing, where the Bill only touching Sir Christopher Hatton is omitted as matter of no great moment.

The Bill lastly for excluding of Clergy and Purgations Ecclesiastical, was read primâ vice & commissa Comiti Northumbriæ, Comiti Huntington, Episcopo London. Episcopo Lincoln. Domino Hunsdon, Domino Buckhurst, & Justiciario Manwood & Justiciario Mounson.

On Thursday the 23^th day of February, the Bill for avoiding of fraudulent Gifts, &c. made by the late Rebels in the North, the Bill for Rochester-Bridge, and the Bill for repairing of Chepstow-Bridge, were each of them read the third time and concluded, and sent to the House of Commons, with another Bill of no great moment, by Sir Richard Read and D^r Barkley.

Two Bills also were sent up to the Lords from the House of Commons; of which the first being the Bill for the true payment of the Debts of William Isley Esquire, was read the first time.

The Bill lastly for the assurance of certain Lands and Tenements unto Christopher Hatton Esquire, was read tertiâ vice & conclusa.

On Saturday the 15^th day day of February, to which day the Parliament had been on Thursday last continued, Five Bills of no great moment had each of them one reading; of which the fourth being the Bill for Reformation of Errors in Fines and common Recoveries, was read secundâ vice & commissa to Justice Mounson and the Queens Attorney and Sollicitor to consider of it.

On Monday the 27^th day of February, the Bill for the assurance of New-Hall in the County of Essex to Thomas Earl of Sussex, was read primâ vice.

Four Bills were sent up to the Lords from the House of Commons; of which the two last were, one against diminishing and impairing the Queens Coin, and the other for repairing the Goal in S^t Edmonds-Bury, and of Brandon-Bridge in the County of Suff.

The Bill for the assurance of certain Lands to Sir John Rivers Knight, Citizen and Alderman of London, was read tertiâ vice.

On Tuesday the 28^th day of February, Four Bills of no great moment had each of them one reading; of which the two last being one for the assurance of the Mannor of New-Hall in Com. Essex to Thomas Earl of Sussex, and the other for the appointing of Justices within Wales, were each of them read secundâ vice & commissæ ad ingrossand.

On Wednesday the 29^th day of February, Seven Bills of no great moment had each of them one reading; of which the two last being one concerning Offices found within the Counties Palatines, and the other for the appointing of Justices in the Shires of Wales, were read tertiâ vice & conclusæ, and sent to the House of Commons with two others by the Queens Sollicitor and D^r Barkley.

The Bill also for a Subsidy and two Fifteenths and Tenths granted by the Temporalty, was read the second time.

Three Bills lastly of no great moment had each of them one reading; of which the first being the Bill for the assurance of the Mannor of NewHall to Thomas Earl of Sussex, was read tertiâ vice & conclusa.