House of Commons Journal Volume 1: 01 May 1604

Martis, primo Die Maii, 1604

Butler's Estate.

L. 2. B. FOR the Confirmation and Assurance of the Manors, Lands, Tenements, and Hereditaments, of Henry Butler Esquire, according to the Tenor and Effect of a certain Indenture of Covenants, made for and concerning the Marriage of William Butler, Son and Heir apparent to the said Henry: - Committed to Sir Rich. Haughton, Sir Tho. Hesketh, Sir Tho. Holcroft, Mr. Holt, Mr. Hyde, Mr. Yelverton, Mr. Hugh Beeston, Sir Rich. Molyneux, Sir Robert Nappier, Sir Hugh Beeston, Mr. Hugh Glasier, Sir Thomas Glasior, Sir Tho. Dallyson, Mr. Hedley, Mr. Parkinson, Mr. Ashton, Mr. Leech: - To meet on Thursday, in the Middle Temple Hall.

Rogues, &c.

L. 1. B. For the Continuance, Explanation, and Enlargement of the Statute, made in the 39th Year of the Reign of the late Queen Elizabeth, touching Rogues, Vagabonds, and sturdy Beggars.

Calthorp's Jointure.

B. For the Jointure of the Wife of Martin Calthrop, Gentleman, reported from the Committee by Mr. Francis Moore, without any Alteration; and, upon the Question, ordered to be ingrossed.

Letter from the King - Union with Scotland.

A Letter from his Majesty to the House, in the Matter of the Union, written with his own Hand, delivered by Sir Roger Aston to Mr. Speaker, read publickly at the Board by Sir Tho. Lake, standing by the Clerk, as one best acquainted with the King's Hand and Phrase.

The Letter followeth in these Words [a]

YE see uith quhat Cleernes and Sinceritie I have behaved myself in this Earande, even throuch all the Progresse thairof, thoch, I will not saye, too little regairdit by you, but I maye justlye saye, not so uillinglie embraced by you, as the Uorthines of the Maitter doth uell deserve. I proteste to God, the Fruictes thairof uill cheif-

lie tende to youre owne Uell, Prosperitie, and Increase of Strenth and Greatnes: Nothing can staye you from harkening unto it, but Jalousie and Distruste, ather of me the Propounder, or of the Maitter by me propoundit: If of me, then doe ye both me and youre selfis an infinite Uronge, my Conscience bearing me Recorde, that I ever deserved the contrarie at youre Handis; but if youre Distruste be of the Maitter itself, then distruste ye nothing but youre owin Uisdomes or Honesties: For as I have given over urangling upon Uordis uith you, so crave I no Conclusion to be taken at this Tyme heirin, but only a Comission, that it maye be disputid, considderid upon, and reportid unto you; and then uill ye be youre owin Cookes, to dresse it as ye liste : So that, (as I have allreaddie said) since the Conclusion thairof can never be uithout youre owin Assentis; if ye be trew to youre selfis, no Man can deceave you in it. Lett not youre selfis thairfore be transported with, the Curiositie of a few giddie Headis; for it is in you nou to make the Choice, ather, by yeilding to the Providence of God, and embracing that, quhiche he hath castin in youre Mouthis, to procure the Prosperite and Increase of Greatnes to me and myne, you and youres; and, by the auaye-taking of that Partition-uall, quhiche allreaddie, by Goddis Providence, in my Bloode is rent asunder, to establishe my Throne, and youre Boddie politike, in a perpetuall and floorishing Peace; or ellis, contemning Goddis Benefites, so freelie ofred unto us, to spitte and blaspheme in his Face, by praeferring Uarre to Peace, Trouble to Quyetnes, Hatred to Love, Ueakenes to Greatnes, and Division to Union; to sowe the Seidis of Discorde to all oure Posterities; to dishonoure youre King; to make both me and you a Proverbe of Reproche in the Mouthis of all Straingeris, and all Ennemies to this Nation, and Envyars of my Greatnes; and oure next Laboure to be, to take up new Guarisons for the Bordouris, and to make new Fortifications thaire. Sed meliora spero. I hoape, that God, in this Choice, and free Uill of youris, uill not suffer you, uith olde Adame, to choose the worste, and so to procure the Defacing of this earthlie Paradise; but, by the contraire, that he shall inspyre you so, as, uith the seconde Adame, ye shall produce Peace; and so beutifie this oure earthlie Kingdome heereuith, as it maye represente, and be an Arles-pennie unto us, of that aeternall Peace in that spirituall Kingdome, quhiche is prepared for the perpetuall Residence of all his chosen Children.

Vernon's Writ of Error.

The Counsel inter Sir Rob. Vernon, and Sir Wm. Herbert, continue Argument.

The Exemplification of the Recovery for the Barony of Powys, with the Sentence of the Star-chamber, and sundry Depositions of Witnesses in that Court, read in the House.

The original Record of the Sentence to be sent for.

L. 2. The Bill itself, after this Argument, [a] secondly read, intituled, B. for the Disannulling and Making void of a false and unlawful Return of a Certificate, made by Sir John Throckmorton Knight, late Justice of the County of Montgomerie. - The Matter to be debated in the House To-morrow, before the Question of Commitment.

Union with Scotland.

Sir Francis Bacon reported the Conference with the Lords.

The Lord Chancellor made the Overture, which had Three Parts:

1. Repetition of the Proceedings of the King.

2. Report of the Opinion of the Judges.

3. A brief Proposition, what was to be done.

1. His Majesty had thrice propounded this Motion in Parliament; twice in open Parliament; never propounding the Name definitively, but conditionally.

There had not only been a Fail in Reason, but in Point of Honour, if there had been Contradiction either tacite or implicite.

2. The Judges Opinions [b]

The Name, a Thing left, and no more to be spoken on.

He propounded Six Articles touching the Commission and Naming of Commissioners ; viz.

1. The Number and Naming to be left to ourselves.

2. The Return to be made, upon Prorogation, to the same Body.

3. The Commissioners to treat and consult only, not to determine.

4. The Tenor of the Commission to be plain and general.

5. To be digested, and made ripe to be framed into an Act, by a Subcommittee of both Houses, to that Purpose to be selected.

6. That there may be " ensue" [c] another Conference for these Purposes.

Conclus. Principia actionum tantum sunt in nostra potestate. - The Lords, Stars of Influence, Stars of Brightness.

Conference.

Mr. Secretary Herbert sent to the Lords with Message, that they will be ready to confer, according to their Lordships Motion at the late Conference.

He returneth, that the Lords desired, it might be at Three a Clock this Afternoon, in the usual Place ; Which was so ordered.

Bruce's Nat.

L. 1. B. FOR the Naturalizing of Sir Edw. Bruce Knight, Lord of Kinlosse, &c.

E. of Marre.

L. 1. B. For the Naturalizing of John Earl of Marre, &c.

Sir T. Areskin's Nat.

L. 1. B. For the Naturalizing of Sir Tho. Areskin Knight, &c.

Sir J. Areskin's Nat.

L. 1. B. For the Naturalizing of Sir James Areskin Knight, &c.

Incumbents.

L. 1. B. For avoiding unjust Suits against Incumbents of ecclesiastical Livings.

Poor.

L. 1. B. For the true Employment of Relief appointed for the Poor.

Treasurers, &c.

L. 1. B. To compel Treasurers and Deputy-Lieutenants to account, &c. [d]

Watermen.

L. 1. B. Concerning Wherrymen and Watermen.

Alehouses.

L. 1. B. For Reformation of Abuses in Alehouses, late converted into Inns.

Blacksmiths.

L. 1. B. For Relief of poor Artificers, called Blacksmiths, and Nailors; and for Avoiding of Deceits in their Trades, and of Oppression daily practised upon them.

Fry of Fish.

L. 1. B. For the Preservation of the Fry and Brood of Sea Fish, &c.

Woad.

L. 1. B. For Restraint of Sowing of Woad in certain Grounds.