Journal of the House of Lords: February 1581

February 1581

On Wednesday the first day of February, Billa for the reformation of disorders and abuses in Sheriffs, Under-Sheriffs, and their Ministers, was read tertiâ vice, and then upon the Conclusion thereof, sent down to the House of Commons.

The Bill also touching John Taylor and M^r Terril being read primâ vice, was committed. Quod nota, that a Bill was committed upon the first reading, which is seldom used till the second.

Another Bill also touching Fines and Recoveries, was read and committed.

On Saturday the 4^th day of February, to which day the Parliament had on Wednesday last past been Adjourned, Billa for the maintenance and strengthening of the Borders against Scotland, and two other Bills of no great moment had each of them one reading.

On Monday the 6^th day of February, Two Bills were each of them once read; whereof the latter was for coming to Church, hearing of Divine Service, and receiving of the Communion.

On Tuesday the 7^th day of February, Three Bills had each of them one reading; whereof the last was touching Leases made by Corporations.

On Wednesday the 8^th day of February, A Bill touching the Hospital of Ledbury in the County of Hereford, was read secundâ vice & commissa ad ingrossandum.

On Thursday the 9^th day of February, the former Bill touching the Hospital of Ludbury, &c. was read the third time, and upon the Conclusion thereof was sent down to the House of Commons.

On Saturday the 11^th day of February, to which day the Parliament had been last Adjourned, the Lord Chancellor and divers Lords met in the Forenoon, but nothing was done, saving the continuance of the Parliament unto two of the Clock in the Afternoon the same day; at which hour meeting also, nothing was done but only the Parliament again Adjourned to a further day.

On Monday the 13^th day of February, to which day the Parliament had been on Saturday last Adjourned. There were three Bills each of them once read; whereof the last being a Bill for the fortifying of the Frontiers towards Scotland, was read the third time, and after the conclusion thereof sent down to the House of Commons.

On Wednesday the 15^th day of February, to which day the Parliament had been last Adjourned, the Lord Chancellor and divers Lords met in the Upper House, but no Bills were read, only the Lord Chancellor continued the Parliament to nine of the Clock in the Forenoon the day following.

On Thursday the 16^th day of February, Billa for increase of Mariners and Navigation of England, was read prima vice; and another Bill also of no great moment had its first reading.

On Saturday the 18^th day of February, to which day the Parliament had been last Adjourned, four Bills were sent up to the Lords from the House of Commons; whereof the last was an Act for Explanation of a Statute against forging of Evidences and Writings, which with the other three Bills, had each of them their first reading.

On Monday the 20^th day of February, to which day the Parliament had been last Adjourned, the Bill touching the Lord Compton, &c. was read primâ vice.

Two Bills also were brought up to the Lords from the House of Commons (which are more particularly expressed in the Journal of that House.)

On Tuesday the 21^th day of February, Three Bills also were sent up to the Lords from the House of Commons; whereof the last was an Act ratifying an award between some private persons, but there is no mention in the Original Journal-Book of any Bill read this Morning, but only of the continuance of the Parliament according to the usual form.

On Wednesday the 22^th day of February, Five Bills had each of them one reading; whereof the first was a Bill against Counterfeiting of the hands of any of her Majesties Privy-Council, and for the avoiding of counterfeit Instruments and Writings under Seal, or counterfeiting of the Seal of any Office or Officer, which said Bill was read prima vice.

On Thursday the 23^th day of February, Two Bills had each of them one reading; of which the latter being a Bill against slanderous words and rumors, and other seditious practices against the Queens Majesty, with a new Addition of certain Amendments, was read secundâ vice.

It should rather seem that only the Addition and Amendments which had been inserted de novo into this aforesaid Bill, were now read the second time; for the Bill it self had passed the Upper House upon the third reading on Monday the 30^th day of January foregoing, and was the same Forenoon sent down to the Commons House, and there pàssed; and from them was sent up again to the Lords on Monday the 20^th of this instant February last past, with a new Addition and certain Amendments: So that the Bill it self which hath once passed the House is never read again, but only such new Additions and Amendments as are inserted in it must be passed again de novo, because they are of the same nature as if a new Bill were brought in.

On Saturday the 25^th day of February, to which day the Parliament had been last Adjourned, was read a Bill touching Fines and Recoveries secundâ vice; and another Bill of no great moment had also its second reading.

Memorand. that on this foresaid 25^th day of February being Saturday, which day was before given to certain Parties then in difference for assignation of some Errors supposed by them to be in a certain Suit Commenced against them: M^r Cooper came in for the said Plaintiff, and openly before the Lords in the Parliament House, assigned the Errors; after the hearing whereof the Lord Chancellor with consent of the Lords, Ordered that the Plaintiff should have a scire facias returnable either the first day of the next Session, or the first day of the next Parliament.

On Monday the 27^th day of February, to which day the Parliament had been last continued, the Bill for Explanation of the Statute against forging of Evidences and Writings, was read primâ vice; and another Bill of no great moment was read secundâ vice: Then were there two Bills of no great moment sent up to the Lords from the House of Commons; whereof the first had its first reading.

Three other Bills finally after this, were each of them once read; whereof the last being a Bill touching my Lord Compton, &c. was after the second reading committed to be ingrossed.

On Tuesday the 28^th day of February the Bill for ratifying an Award in the Chancery concerning Copyhold and Customary Tenants of the Mannors of Moore and Newman, Synderich, Knyhton and Pensokes, in the County of Worcester, was read secundâ vice: after which also seven other Bills had each of them one reading; of which the fourth Bill being as the rest of no great moment, was after the passing of it sent down to the House of Commons. But the first Bill of the said seven which was touching the Inning of Erith and Plumsted-Marsh, being upon the third reading concluded; yet it was Ordered by the Lords that the same Bill should be staid from the sending of it down to the House of Commons, until the Parties had brought in their several Bonds.