Journal of the House of Commons: April 1559

April 1559

On Monday the third day of April, Mr. Speaker with a few of this House was present, and part of the Bill for sealing of Cloths was read; but for that this day was appointed to have disputation before the Council and Lords in Westminster Quire, between the Bishops and Mr. Horne, Mr. Cocks, and other English Men that came from Geneva; And for that it was meet, that they of this House should be there present, to hear; this Court was continued until the Morrow following.

Her Majesties godly desire to abolish superstition, and to preserve Unity and Truth in the Church, doth fully appear by the appointment and permission of this disputation, which began in Westminster Church, on Friday the last day of March immediately foregoing, not here mentioned, as is at large set down in that Laborious and Voluminous Work of Mr. Fox his Acts and Monuments.

On Tuesday the 4. day of April, the Bill to revive the Act for Holy-days and Fasting-dayes; and the Bill against Sorceries, Witchcrafts, and Prophecies, of Badges and Arms, were each of them read the second time, and Ordered to be ingrossed.

On Wednesday the 5. day of April, the Bill for the true Answering of the Queens Majesties Revenues, was read the second time, but no mention is made that it was Ordered to be engrossed, or referr'd to Committees, because it had been formerly sent from the Lords.

On Thursday the 6. day of April, the Bill to restore spiritual persons deprived in the time of Queen Mary, was read the second time, and as it should seem, was committed to Mr. Goldsmith and others not named.

The Bill that all such Colledges and Chantries granted to King Edward the Sixth, shall be also in the Queens Majesty, was read the first time. And lastly, the Bill against buying and selling of Horses, was upon the third reading Ordered to be ingrossed. Quod nota.

On Friday April the 7. the Bill touching the Orders for Men-servants, was read the first time. And (as it should seem) committed unto Sir Anthony Coke, to consider of it.

The Bill touching Shipping of Wares, and the Bill for the true Answering of the Customs for Merchandizes, were each of them read the first time.

The Bill for Bishops Temporalties, was brought from the Lords by Mr. Weston and Doctor Vaughan; and the Bill lastly, that the Queen shall have the Bishops Temporalties during the Vacation, for recompence of Tythes and Parsonages impropriate, was read the first time.

On Saturday the 8. day of April, the Bill to revive the Act for sowing of Flax and Hemp, and the Bill for encrease of Woods, had each of them their first reading.

The Bill touching Colledges and Chantries granted to King Edward the Sixth, to be in the Queen by Explanation of this Bill, was read the second time, and (as it should seem) committed to Mr. Mersh and others not named.

The Bill lastly, that the Queen and her Heirs shall have the Temporalties of Bishops for recompence of Tenths and Parsonages impropriate, was also read the second time; but no mention is made that it was either referr'd to Committees, or Ordered to be ingrossed, because it had been formerly sent from the Lords.

On Monday the 10. day of April, the Bill for sealing of Woollen Cloaths, was read the first time. It was this day Ordered that the names shall be called on Wednesday next in the Afternoon.

Two Bills of no great moment, had each of them one reading, of which one being the Bill, that the Inhabitants, being Craftsmen, in Kent, shall dwell near the Sea-Coasts, was read the third time and pass'd the House.

The new Bill lastly, to avoid the usurped power claimed by any Foreigner in this Realm, and for the Oath to be taken by spiritual and temporal Officers, was read the first time.

On Tuesday the 11. day of April, the Bill to preserve the Spawn and Fry of Fish, And the Bill to continue the Act made for sowing of Hemp and Flax; were each of them read the second time, and Ordered to be ingrossed.

On Wednesday the 12. day of April, the Bill to avoid all Foreign Power, used by any Foreign Potentate in the Realm, and for the Oath to be taken, was upon the second reading Ordered to be ingrossed.

Two Bills lastly had each of them one reading, of which the last being the Bill for punishment of such persons as misuse Linnen-Cloth with Chalk, was read the third time and passed the House.

On Thursday the 13. day of April, the Bill for restoring the spiritual Jurisdiction to the Imperial Crown of the Realm, and abolishing Foreign Power, was read the third time; and upon the question pass'd the House.

The Bill to revive the Act for punishment of Rebellions, was read the first time, and the Bill for entring the goods of Merchants, and unlading, and for Customs of Sweet Wines, was read the second time.

Robert Whitney one of the Knights for Hereford, was Licensed to go home, because his Wife was lately departed.

On Friday the 14th day of April, four Bills were sent up to the Lords by Mr. Vice-Chamberlain, of which one was the Bill for punishment of such persons as misuse Linnen-Cloth with Chalk, and another for the abolishing of Foreign Power.

The Bill for searching and sealing of WoollenCloths, The Bill for making of Frizes in Cardigan, Carmarthen, and Pembroke, And the Bill to explain the Statute made against Ingrossers of Dead Victuals, were each of them read the first time.

On Saturday the 15th day of April, the new Bill for the Assurance of Lands, parcel of the Bishoprick of Worcester, to Sir Francis Jobson, and Walter Blunt, was read the first time.

It was Ordered that the Serjeant shall shew unto the Master of the Rolls, that his Servant ......... Thromer shall be here, on Monday next, to Answer to certain evil words spoken by him, against the House, opened by M^r. Skinner; and M^r Carnefewe. Vide plus concerning this business on Monday the 17^th day of this instant April ensuing.

Seven Bills of no great moment, had each of them one reading, of which one being the Bill that Hexham and Hexhamshire shall be of the County of Northumberland, and another for Confirmation of Leases, Grants of Offices, and Copyholds by Nicholas Ridley late Bishop of London, and a third to avoid the often buying and selling of Horses and Mares, had each of them their third reading, and passed the House.

On Monday the 17th day of April, the Bill touching Knights and Burgesses, for Attendance in the Parliament, was read the first time.

The Bill to revive the Act for destruction of Choughs and Crows, And the Bill to revive the Act against Rebellions, were each of them read the second time, and thereupon Ordered to be ingrossed.

The Bill that the Queens Majesty shall have divers temporal Lands of the Archbishops and Bishops, in recompence of Tenths and Parsonages Impropriate, was read the third time, and passed upon the Question and Division of the House, viz. With the Bill a hundred thirty four, and against the Bill ninety.

The Bill for Restitution in Blood of Henry Howard, Jane Howard, and Katherine Wife to the Lord Barkley, was brought from the Lords by Doctor Lewes and others.

M^r Carnefewe declared to the House, that..... Thrower Servant to the Master of the Rolls, did say against the State of the House, that if a Bill were brought in for Womens Wyers in their Pastes, they would dispute it and go to the Question; and that he heard the Lords say as much at his Masters Table; and that these words were spoken on Wednesday last before Easter, at Lincolns-Inn.

Whereupon the said Thrower, being brought to the Bar by the Serjeant, denied these words to be spoken by him, and Carnefewe affirmed them; whereupon Thrower was Committed to the Serjeants keeping: Vide concerning this matter on Saturday the 15th day of this instant April foregoing.

On Tuesday the 18. day of April, the Bill for taking and having of Apprentices and Journeymen, was read the first time, and (as it should seem) committed to Mr. Arnold to consider of.

The Bill for making of Frizes in length and breadth in Wales, was read the second time, and Ordered to be ingrossed.

Two Bills had each of them one reading. Of which one being the Bill for the Unity of the Service of the Church, and Ministration of the Sacraments, was read the first time.

John Griffith Esq; Knight for Flintshire in Wales, hath License to go home, for the delivery of Records at the next County.

On Wednesday the 19. day of April, the Bill for Lading in long Bottoms, and for Uniformity of Common-Prayer, and Service in the Church, were read the second time, and Ordered to be ingrossed.

On Thursday the 20. day of April, the Bill for the Restitution in Blood of Henry Howard, younger Son to the late Earl of Surrey, Lady Jane Howard, Lady Katherine Howard, Wife to Sir Henry Lord Barkley, and Lady Margaret Howard, was read the first time. And the Bill to revive the Act for killing of Rooks and Crows, was read the third time and passed.

Two Bills had each of them one reading, of which the latter being the Bill for the Unity of Service in the Church, and Administration of the Sacraments, was read the third time, and passed the House.

The Bill lastly, for the Watermen of the Thames to have Harque-Buts, Shots, &c. was read the second time, and as it should seem was committed to Mr. Cambden and others not named.

On Friday the 21. day of April, the Bill to carry Corn out of the Realm; The Bill that Timber shall not be made. for Cole to make Iron; The Bill that Hides of four years old shall be made for sole Leather; And a Bill for the good Order of Servants of Husbandry, and Artificers, and their Wages, were each of them read the first time.

On Saturday the 22. day of April (for that this day M^r Speaker, with most of the House, were all the Forenoon to hear the Arraignment in Westminster-Hall of the Lord Wentworth, for the loss of Calis) they sate not till the Afternoon; at which time, the Bill that Tanners shall convert Hides of Beasts of four years old and a half into soal Leather, was read the second time.

April the 23. Sunday.

On Monday the 24. day of April, the Bill for Restitution in Blood of Henry Howard, &c. was read the second time, but no mention is made that it was either Ordered to be ingrossed, or referred to Committees, because it had been formerly sent from the Lords.

Three Bills had each of them one reading; of which the first being the Bill for the dissolution of Houses of Monasteries, Abbies, Priories, &c. erected since the Death of King Edward the VI. was read the first time.

The Bill lastly, for preservation of Spawn and Fry of Fish, was read the third time, and passed the House; And the Bill to take Goods and Merchandize, was read also the third time, and passed the House upon the Division thereof, viz. with the Bill eighty four, and against the Bill fixty six.

Robert ap Hugh Knight of Carnarvonshire, had Licence to be absent for his great business at the Assizes at Denbigh, on Monday next.

On Tuesday the 25th day of April, the Bill against burning of Timber into Cole, to make Iron in certain places, was read the second time.

Nine Bills were sent up to the Lords by Sir Anthony Coke, and others, of which one was the Bill for the preservation of Spawn of Fish, &c. And another was for the Uniformity of Common Prayer, for Service in the Church, and Administration of the Sacraments.

The Bill for Wages of Servants and Labourers; And the Bill for Dissolution of certain Abbies, Priories, Hospitals, &c, were each of them read the second time.

The Bill for the Restitution in Blood of the Lord Dacres of the South, was sent from the Lords by Mr. Read and others.

Two Bills lastly, of no great moment, had each of them one reading (being the third) and passed the House; Of which one was the Bill to revive an Act against unlawful Assemblies, and the other for punishment of Sorcery, and Witchcraft, and Buggery to be Felony.

On Wednesday the 26th day of April, Two Bills of no great moment, had each of them one reading; Of which the first being the Bill for Restitution in Blood of the Lord Dacres of the South, was read the first time.

Two Bills of no great moment, had each of them one reading; of which the first being the Bill for making, fearching, and sealing of Woollen Cloths, was read the second time, and thereupon Ordered to be ingrossed.

The Bill restoring to the Crown the Antient Jurisdiction over the State Ecclesiastical and Spiritual, and abolishing of Foreign Power repugnant to the same; with a Proviso added thereunto by the Lords, was sent down from their Lordships by Serjeant Weston and the Queens Attorney, which being omitted in the Original Journal-Book of the House of Commons, is therefore supplied out of that of the Upper House.

On Thursday the 27th day of April, the Bill for searching and sealing of Woollen-Cloths, was read the third time, and passed the House, and was sent up unto the Lords by M^r Secretary.

The Bill for Answering of Customs, and laying Goods and Merchandizes on Land, was read the third time, and passed the House, and was sent up to the Lords by M^r. Secretary, with the Bill of Supremacy resormed; concerning which Bill of Supremacy, Vide on Tuesday the 21th day, on Wednesday the 22th day, 'and on Saturday the 25^th day of February last past; as also on Saturday the 18th day, Monday the 20th day, on Tuesday the 21th day, and on Wednesday the 22th day of March preceeding. Et vide etiam a Note touching this business in the Original Journal Book of the Upper House, on Saturday the 29th day of April foregoing.

The Bill for Garbling of Feathers, Forsings and Flocks, was read the third time, and passed the House; And lastly, the Bill that the Queen by Commission, may restore spiritual persons deprived, was read the first time.

On Friday the 28th day of April, the Bill for the Restitution in Blood of the Lord Dacres of the South, was read the second time.

Henry Clifford Gent. Burgess for Bedwyn, was Licensed for his Affairs to be absent.

The Provisoes in the Bill for Suppression of Abbies, Priories, &c. was read the first and second time.

On Saturday the 29. day of April, the Bill for Watermen on the Thames, to have Harque-buts, &c. was read the second time, and Ordered to be ingrossed.

The Bill for Uniting of Abbies, Priories, Nunneries, Hospitals and Chauntries, founded since the Reign of Queen Mary, to be annexed to the Crown, was read the third time, and passed the House upon the Question, and was sent up to the Lords by Mr Vice-Chamberlain.

The Bill lastly, to restore such persons to their Benefices, as were unlawfully deprived was read the second time, and was thereupon Ordered to be ingrossed.

April the 30. Sunday.