Journal of the House of Commons: April 1563

April 1563

On Thursday the first day of April, Four Bills had each of them one reading; of which the second touching Enrollments of Deeds in Lancaster, And the last for the relief of the Poor, were each of them read the third time, and passed.

Post Meridiem.

In the Afternoon the Bill for sale of course Woolls in Norfolk and Suffolk, was read the second time; but neither Committed nor Ordered to be ingrossed, because it had been formerly sent from the Lords.

On Friday the 2^d day of April, the Bill for Artificers, Labourers, &c. was read the second time, and Ordered to be engrossed.

On Saturday the 3^d day of April, Four Bills were sent up to the Lords, by Mr. Vice-Chamberlain; of which one was the Bill for the relief of the Poor.

The Bill for the Assignment of forty thousand twenty seven pound four shillings and two pence half penny, to the Queens Houshold, with three Provisoes from this House, was read the third time and passed; and sent to the Lords by Mr. Comptroller.

Post Meridiem.

In the Afternoon three Bills had each of them one reading; of which the second being the Bill for taking and destroying of Crows, Rooks, &c. was read the first time.

On Monday the 5^th day of April, Mr. Serjeant Carus, and Mr. Sollicitor, brought from the Lords the Bill for Wales.

The Bill touching Tanners, Curriers and Shomakers, was read the third time and passed, and sent to the Lords by Mr. Secretary; together with the Bill for Restitution in Blood of William Iseley.

The Bill to avoid fraudulent Gifts, by any Convicted of Premunire, was read the third time, and dashed by the division of the House, viz. against the Bill eighty nine, and with the Bill sixty three.

Post Meridiem.

A Proviso to the Bill for Wales, was read the first, second and third time, and thereupon passed the House.

The Bill to revive the Statute against Servants imbezelling their Masters Goods, was read the third time, and passed the House.

The Bill lastly, that Cloathiers for every Cloth of Woollen, or thirty Kerfies, shall make a piece of Linnen-Cloth, of twenty Yards long, was read the second time, and (as it should seem) committed to Mr. Norton, and others not named.

On Tuesday the 6^th day of April, the Bill to avoid fraudulent Gifts, and the Bill against Servants embezelling their Masters Goods, were sent up to the Lords by Sir Anthony Coke.

Three Bills also had each of them their third reading, and passed the House; of which the first being the Bill touching Artificers, Servants of Husbandry, Labourers and Apprentices, was sent up to the Lords by Mr. Comptroller.

Post Meridiem.

In the Afternoon the Bill for the Order of Bankrupts and their Goods, Chattels, Lands and Tenements, was read the third time, and passed the House.

On Wednesday the 7^th day of April, Two Bills had each of them one reading; of which the first being the Bill that the Alneager of Lancaster shall Seal the Cloaths there made, was read the third time, and passed the House; and was with two others, sent up to the Lords by Mr. Secretary.

Post Meridiem.

In the Afternoon three Bills of no great moment, had each of them one reading; of which the first being the Bill for encrease of Tillage, and reedifying of decayed Houses of Husbandry, was read the third time, and passed the House.

On Thursday the 8^th day of April, the Bill touching Hat-makers, and Felt-makers, to buy Spanish Wooll; And the Bill to avoid the dressed Flax brought out of Flanders, were each of them read the third time, and passed the House; and were with two others, sent up to the Lords by Mr. Secretary.

The Bill for destruction of Crows, Rooks, &c. and other such Vermine, was read the second time, and Ordered to be ingrossed.

The Bill also for paving of Kentish-Street near Southwark; And the Bill that Sanctuary shall not be allowable for Debt, were each of them read the third time, and passed the House; and were sent to the Lords by Mr. Vice-Chamberlain.

Post Meridiem.

In the Afternoon a Proviso to the Bill for repairing of Goals, and a Proviso to the Bill de Excommunicato capiendo, were each of them read the first and second time.

On Friday the 9^th day of April, the Proviso added to the Bill de Excommunicat. capiend. was read the third time, and passed the House.

The Bill also for destruction of Rooks, Crows and Coughs, and such other Vermine, was read the third time, and passed the House; and immediately sent up to the Lords by Mr Vice-Chamberlain.

The new Bill for uniting of Churches in Boroughs or Towns, being under the value of twenty Marks, was read the first time; And the Proviso lastly of this House to the Bill for repairing of Goals, was read the third time, and passed.

On Saturday the 10^th day of April, It was Ordered that Mr Pleddall shall have the Copies of such Examinations and Writings, as have been certified into this House, by the Master of the Rolls and other Committees; and also that Mr Francis Newdigate may have like Copies; And that such Evidence, as M^r Pleddall hath delivered to the Committees hands, may remain under their Seals, and M^r Pleddall's Seal in the keeping of the Officer of the Rolls, that useth to keep the Evidences there. Vide concerning this matter on Monday the 22^th day, and on Tuesday the 30^th day of March foregoing.

The Bill for repairing of Goals was sent up to the Lords, by Mr Vice-Chamberlain.

The Queens Majesties free and general Pardon, Signed with her Graces Hand, was brought from the Lords, by Mr Attorney, and Mr Sollicitor, and immediately read the third time, and passed.

Nota, That this Bill touching her Majesties Pardon, passed upon the first reading; whereas other Bills do never pass till after the third.

A Proviso sent down to the House of Commons from the Lords, touching the Bill of Bankrupts; And the addition to the Bill concerning Purveyors, were read the first, second and third time, and passed the House.

In the Afternoon about three of the Clock, the Queens Majesty sitting in her Royal Seat, Mr Speaker made an Excellent Oration, rehearsing divers Laws made by divers Queens of this Realm, and requiring the Queen to Assent to the Acts past both Houses, and presented to her Majesty the Book of Subsidy, and the Book of the general Pardon, with most humble thanks for the same. And the Lord Keeper, by the Queens Commandment, gave great thanks unto the Nobility and Commons, and earnestly required them severally in their Countries, to look that the Laws might be Executed. And touching the Succession, the Queen Commanded the Lord Keeper to declare her Highness device thereof; the effect and conclusion whereof was, that for the great weight of the matter, her Majesty minded to take further advice: Vide plus concerning this matter of Succession on Thursday the 28. day of January, and on Tuesday the 16. day of February foregoing.

Then were the several Titles of the Acts read, and thirty one publick Statutes, and seventeen private, were made Laws by her Majesties Royal Assent. And then this Parliament was Prorogued until the second day of October next.

At which second day of October, for that the Plague was great in London and Westminster; The Queens Majesties Letters Patents of Commission, were directed to the Lord Treasurer of England, and other Bishops, and Lords of the Upper House, to Prorogue this Parliament unto the fifth day of October, 1564. which was done accordingly in the presence of the said Lords, and a few of the House of Commons, Mr. Speaker not being there.

At which fifth day of October, this Parliament was further Prorogued by the Queens Majesties Commission Patent, unto the 30. day of April, then next ensuing, Mr Speaker not being there.

At which 30. day of April, It was then further Prorogued unto the 4 day of October then next following, Mr Speaker not being there.

At which fourth day of October, Anno Domini 1565. Anno Septimo Regine Elizabeth. It was then further Prorogued unto the 7. day of February then next following, Mr Speaker not being there.

At which 7. day of Feb. 1565. & Anno Elizabethæ Reginæ Octavo, It was then further Prorogued unto the 30. day of Sept. then next following.