THE MANUSCRIPTS OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS.

House of Lords, 6th Feb. 1872.

WE have the honour to lay before you the following report of the progress of the work of sorting, calendaring, &c. the MSS. in the repository of the House of Lords.

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A great number of papers have during the past year been cleaned and stamped, and removed from the cellars on the river level to a convenient place for sorting.

Most of the papers yet discovered of an earlier date than 1700 have been sorted and dated, but it is more than probable that many other papers belonging to this period may still be found as the work goes on. **

A list has been made of the papers at present sorted and dated up to March 1645–6.

The work of examining and calendaring the MSS. has been carried up to February 1640-41.

The papers consist chiefly of petitions, drafts of bills, drafts of entries in the journals, and documents brought probably to the House in peerage or appeal cases.

From the commencement of the 17th century the papers are more interesting than before, illustrating amongst others the following subjects:

The privileges of peers and their servants.
Monopolies (case of Sir G. Mompesson, &c.).
Innovations in religion.

The jurisdiction of the Star Chamber and High Commission Courts.

The liberty of the subject.

Ship money, &c.

The position of debtors and creditors.

The injury done to the poor by the inclosure of common lands.

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Many of the papers, though the contents are well known, are yet interesting as originals. As examples of this may be mentioned the original MS. of Selden's Baronage (1621, Dec. 15) [see Calendar under date mentioned]; a holograph letter of James I. to Cecil, beginning My littill Beagle" [1607?] [see Calendar under date mentioned]; a duplicate letter of James I. to the Pope (1622, Sept. 30) [see Calendar under date mentioned]; the two answers of Charles I. to the Petition of Right; petitions of the Earl of Strafford presented during his trial; letters of Charles I., &c.

Some of the most interesting of the MSS. belonging to the period prior to the year 1641 have been either published in extenso or referred to in the first and second Reports of the Commissioners.

The letters and papers respecting John Durye's mission to the continent for the purpose of effecting a pacification between the Lutherans and Calvinists (referred to in the second Report of the Commissioners, p. ix.) have now been examined and calendared. The dates range from February 1630-31 to March 1639-40. Examples of the most interesting amongst these papers will be found in the subjoined list.

The papers relating to Archbishop Laud's visitation in the case of Canterbury Cathedral were described at some length in the appendix to the second Report of the Commissioners, p. 108. There are other papers relating to his visitations in the case of the cathedral churches of Rochester, Salisbury, Exeter, Bristol, Wells, Lichfield, St. Paul's; and also in the case of the colleges of Eton and Winchester.

A number of "Minute Books" or MS. volumes of minutes of proceedings of the House of Lords, written apparently by one of the clerks of the table, deserve notice. In these are frequently to be found notes of debates and other matters not contained in the printed journals. There are in all 10 volumes, the dates of which range from March 1620-21 to March 1644-45. Attention has been drawn to these Minute Books by Mr. S. R. Gardiner, in a small volume of Elsynge's

Since the printing of this a large number of papers have been found belonging to this period, many of them of a date earlier than 1625.

Notes or Notes of Debates in the House of Lords, edited from the original MS. in the possession of Lieutenant-Colonel Carew, published by the Camden Society in 1870.

In the subjoined list is printed a copy of the Petition of certain Peers presented to the King at York in Sept. 1640, praying him to call a Parliament. The Petition is given in extenso in the Parliamentary History (VIII. 492), but the differences in the list of signatures make the MS. interesting.

There is one paper which seems to us deserving of particular notice, though in calendaring the MSS. we have not yet reached the date to which it belongs.

It is a copy of Sir Hy. Vane's notes of the speeches of the Earl of Strafford and others, made at "a giunto "of the Privy Council for the Scotch affairs," on the 5th of May 1640, the day of the dissolution of the Short Parliament; when the question of the war with Scotland was under discussion. It was read in the House of Commons, 10th April 1641 (C. J., II. 118) in support of the charges against the Earl, and was sent up to the Lords on the 12th (L. J., IV. 215.)

The history of this paper is briefly as follows:The younger Vane was directed by his father, the secretary, to look in his cabinet for certain documents, and in so doing came upon the original of this paper. Young Vane, showed the paper to Pym, who made a copy of it. The original was then restored to its place, and afterwards destroyed by the elder Sir Henry Vane with other papers, "lest by any accident they might

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come into hands that might make an ill use of "them." [Clarendon, I. 404.] The copy was read to both Houses of Parliament; and it was in great measure in consequence of the information thereby gained that the Act of Attainder was passed, under which Strafford was finally executed. There are extracts from this paper in Rushworth, Parliamentary History, &c., but we have not been able to find it anywhere in extenso. It will be found in the subjoined list, in which are also included copies or notes of other documents which seemed deserving of special notice. We remain,

The Historical Your obedient servants, Manuscripts Commissioners, ROBERT W. MONRO. &c. &c. &c. MERTON A. THOмS.

DOCUMENTS ABOVE REFERRED TO.

[1.] 1498, Dec. 1.-Warrant or letter from Henry VII. to the Clerk of the Parliament, states that the King has commanded the Master of the Rolls to deliver to him certain rolls for the entry of the continue of a bill of proviso of and upon an office granted to Wm. Stafford. [Signed with the King's sign manual.] Annexed. Proviso, saving rights of Wm. Stafford, under letters patent, dated 25th September 1485, as "well of the office of keeper of our change & money "within our tower of London, as of keeper of the (coinage) of gold & silver within our said tower or "elsewhere within our realm of England."

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[The discovery of this document makes the Roll complete, which was before imperfect].

[2.] 1584, Dec. 19.-Draft of "An Act for the con"firmation of the Queen's Majesty's letters Patent, granted to Walter Raleigh, Esquire, touching the discovery and inhabiting of certain foreign lands "and countries." [See Calendar under date mentioned.] [3.] (1613?).-Draft of "An Act to prevent the impunity of foreign murders." [See Calendar under date mentioned.]

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[4.] 1619, May 15.-" The duplicament of the ac"count of Sir Giles Mompesson, knight, receiver of "the fines, rents, and profits, for licenses of innkeepers "for one whole year and a half and twenty-three days, "ended the 29th day of September 1618."

[5.] 1620, May 30.-A book of licenses granted for the keeping of alehouses, showing the name and locality

of each house, and the fine and rent paid for the license. The dates range from Oct. 10, 1617, to May 30, 1620. [Mutilated].

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[6.] [1620, 21 Jan.]-Letter from the Lord Chancellor (signed, Fr. Verulam, Can.), to Mr. Weston and Mr. Drake, requesting them to furnish Mr. Robert Bowyer, Clerk of the Parliament, with a list of the bishops as now they stand in order of precedence, as the daily presence of all their Lordships is to be entered in "the Journal Book according to their precedence." Annexed. List of the bishops as they are to be marshalled in Parliament.

[9.] 1628, June 7.-The King's second answer to the Petition of Right; apparently sent by the King's direction by Meautys (Clerk of the Council), in a letter to Elsynge, for record in the Upper House.

[10.] 1633, July 31.-Sir Thos. Rowe to [Laud]. Sends letter from John Durye; commends his scheme for a pacification between Lutherans and Calvinists, which has already gained favour on the continent, especially in Sweden, and only wants the countenance of England to bring it to an issue; without ecclesiastical peace temporal peace cannot be hoped for. From Bulwicke. Noted in Laud's handwriting, "Rec. Aug. "15, 1633, Sir Thomas Roe about peace with the "Lutherans."

[11.] 1633, Oct. 7.-Draft of a letter from Archbishop Laud to the divines of Sedan. Has received their letter addressed to himself, and also that addressed to the late archbishop in favour of ecclesiastical peace; has laid the matter before the King, who, after deliberation, desired that this answer should be returned, that, as concerned their plan for a conference of divines, he thought that men's minds were not yet enough prepared, but recommended that a confession of faith should be composed, drawn from the fundamental tenets on which both parties agree.

Endorsed, "The copy of my answer to Pe. Molins "and the other ministers of Sedan about the peace "between the Lutherans and Calvinists." The whole is in Laud's handwriting, and is signed by him.

[12.] 1633-4, Jan. 30.-Sir Thomas Rowe to Archbishop Laud. Is well advertised that the French King will attempt to enlarge himself upon the Rhine at the expense of the Palatinate, and if he once get a hold there, he will never give it up again. He would not venture this against the Germans without the connivance of the United Provinces, and if these two join they will give the law to all their neighbours and prove worse than the Spaniards, and there will be as little hope for religion under the French as under the Austrian: the only remedy is in the power of the archbishop, viz., "by uniting the churches to fortify the

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temporal power of our friends, so that all should be equally balanced and the proudest brought to mode"ration; " has just received a letter from Mr. Durye, and thanks the archbishop for the favour he has shown to him. From Bulwicke.

Endorsed in Laud's handwriting, "Sir Thomas Roe "about the peace between the Lutheran & Calvinist. "The intention upon it."

[13.] 1633-4, Feb. 10.-Draft of a letter from Archbishop Laud to John Durye. Has received the letters brought from the brethren in the Palatinate and elsewhere in Germany, and learnt therefrom Durye's efforts in the cause of peace ecclesiastical; bids him go on and prosper under God's blessing; the archbishop for his part will do all he can for a work so grateful to the Anglican church, though, publicly, nothing can be done in a country so remote from the disputants; bids Durye not desist, and whenever the time comes will come forward to help him; bids him, meantime, salute the brethren in Christ, especially those who have written to the archbishop, whom the archbishop has not time to answer individually; they may trust in his fidelity to the cause, which, under God, he commits to Durye and them, men who seek peace in the midst of war.

On the other side of the same paper is another draft from Archbishop Laud to Durye, in which he says that the letters from the German divines, who had accepted the Confession of Augsburg, show both Durye's zeal

LORDS.

for the peace of the church, and also the perils and HOUSE OF conflicts that afflict her; these are in great measure owing to the dissensions within her, so much the more, therefore, should his efforts for peace be encouraged: though both the archbishop and the whole English church approve them, yet nothing can be done openly without first considering of some peace which may embrace the several parties scattered throughout Germany; meantime, that Durye may not flag in his efforts, and that other divines may not think he has toiled in vain, the archbishop bids him salute all the brethren in Christ, and signify to them the archbishop's zeal for a reconciliation, lest the church get a bad name on account of the quarrels within her. This letter will be evidence that Durye has delivered the letters committed to him, and will serve for answer thereto as the archbishop cannot answer each separately; bids him farewell, and remember Christ's blessing on peacemakers.

These two drafts, which are in Latin, are in Laud's handwriting, and are signed by him: in the margin are corrections in Dell's handwriting. They are noted in Dell's handwriting, "Feb. 10, 1633. The copy of "two of my letters to Mr. Durye, to show the one to the "Lutheran, the other to the Calvinist party in Germany, &c."

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[14.] 1637, Sept. 9.-John Durye to Archbishop Laud. Has met with opposition from one of the clergy, the Bishop of Westerose, a popular man, but very boisterous in passions, and troublesome to his superiors; hopes the Chancellor (Oxenstirn) will interfere, "he is slow in all things, but I fear in this he will be too "slack, for as the clergy doth stand in awe of him, so "he of them, and perhaps more than they of him;" Durye must therefore stay where he is; has translated the patent by which the High Commission Court was created, but waits for a fit occasion to deliver it; the opposition of the Bishop of Westerose has upset the Chancellor's plans in Durye's favour; is anxious that an emissary should be sent from Sweden to England, which would enable the archbishop to take some public step; prays for extension of his license of absence from his living, as he must remain the winter in Sweden in order not to lose ground; lacks means of maintenance. (From Stockholm.)

Noted in Laud's handwriting, "Rece. Nov. 18, 1637, "Mr. Durye. Stockholm, Sept. 9. 1. The violence "of the Bp of Westerose. 2. Chancellor Oxenstirn's "slowness."

[15.] 1637, Dec. 9.--John Durye to Sir Thos. Rowe. Has acquainted Oxenstirn with the contents of Sir Thos. Rowe's letter, which had come just after the receipt of bad news from Pomerania; dined with the Chancellor and talked privately with him afterwards; the Chancellor then spoke of his regard for Sir Thos. Rowe, and of his former acquaintance with him in Germany; said that Sweden had gained little from her allies, that she had been kept in suspense with promises of help; but he did not expect much from England, whose interest it was to keep at peace, as she gained in trade, &c. by the incommodities of others; asked for Durye's opinion, which was that the King of England would send such help as would make his nephew the Palatine respected; with regard to Durye's business of pacification, the Chancellor said that he would try to restrain the boisterousness of the Bishop of Westerose; had heard that Count Sleigh was to be Generalissimo of the Emperor, with powers almost as large as Wallenstein had enjoyed.

Noted in Laud's handwriting, "Rece. Janua. 28, "1637. From Mr. Durye to Sir Tho. Rowe. His conference with Oxenstirn about the affairs of Sweden in "relation to England."

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[16.] 1640, Sept.-Copy of the Petition of certain Peers presented to the King at York, praying him to call a Parliament. [See Parliamentary History, VIII., 491.] To the Kinges most Excellent Matie. The humble Peticon of your Mat most loyall & obedient subiects whose names are here under written on the behalfe of themselves and diuerse others.

Most gratious Soueraigne,

The sense of that dutie & seruice wh we owe to your sacreed Matie, and our dearest affection to the good and wellfare of this yo' realme of England,haue moued us in all humility to beseech yor Royall Matie to giue us leaue to offer to yo' princely wisedome the apprehension wch we & other your faithfull subiects haue conceiued of the great distempers nowe threatning the Church & State & yo' Royall p'son, & of the fittest meanes by which they maye be remoued and prevented. The euills and

That yo' Maties sacred person is exposed to hazard & danger in the present expedition against the Scottish Army, and by reason of this warr your reuenew is much wasted, yo' subiects burthened wth Coate & Conduct mony, billiting of Souldiers & other millitary charges, & diuerse rapines & disorders comitted in seuerall parts of this yo' Realme, by the Souldiers raysed for that seruise, & your whole kingedome become full of feares & discontents.

The sundry inouacons in matters of Religion, the Oath & Cannons lately imposed upon the Clergie & other yor Mats subiects.

The great increase of Poperie & the Imploying Recusants & others ill affected in the Religion established by lawe in places of poure & trust, especially in comanding of men & armes, both in the field & sundry counties in this your Realme, whereas by the lawes they are not permitted to haue Armes in their owne houses.

The great mischeifs that may fall upon this kingedome if intencons (which haue ben crediblely reported of bringing in of Irish & of forraigne forces) should take effect.

The urging of Shippmoney & prosecacucon (sic) of some Sheriffs in the Starrchamber for not leueying it. The heauie Charges upon Merchandizes, to the discouragement of Trade, the multitude of Monopolies, & other patents whereby the Comodities & manufactures of the Kingedome are much burthened, to the great & uniuersall grievance of your people.

The great greife of your Subiects by the long intermission of Pliams and the late & former dissoluing of such as have ben called without the happy effects wh otherwise they might haue produced.

For the Remedie whereof & prevencon of the danger that may ensue to your Royall person & the whole State, They doe in all Humillity & faithfullnesse beseech your most excellent Matie, that you will be pleased to sumon a P'liament within some short and convenient tyme, whereby the causes of these & other great greivances, wch yo people lye under may be taken away, and the Authors & Councellors of them maye be there brought to such legall & condigne punishment as the nature of their several offences shall require, And that the present Warr may be composed by your Mats wisedome wthout blood in such manner as may conduce to the honor & safety of your Mats the comfort of your people, and the person, uniting of both yo' Kingedomes against the com'on enemies of the reformed Religion.

Realmes

Endorsed.

Lo. Brooke. Lo. Savill.

The Lords remonstrance-transc.

[17.] 1640, Nov. 19.-Petition of the Earl of Strafford to be bailed and have counsels assigned him. L.J., IV., 93, in extenso.

This petition and several other petitions of the Earl's are in his own handwriting. They are given in extenso in the Journals.

[18.] 1640-41, Feb. 4.-Petition of John Goodman, the condemned Roman Catholic priest, to the King.

In the Lords' Journals, IV., 151, after the King's answer to the remonstrance of both Houses concerning popery, in which Goodman's case is mentioned, follows his note:-"After this in the original there fol"lows a petition from Goodman, the condemned "priest, to the King, desiring that he might be given up to justice to cement the breach between him & his people, but it is crossed, and therefore omitted here." This is no doubt the petition there mentioned :

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"To the King's most Excellent Matic.

"The humble petition of John Goodman, condemned, Humbly sheweth,

"That whereas y' Mats petitioner hath understood of a greate discontent in many of y' Mats subjects at the gratious mercy yr Matie was freely pleased to showe unto y' petitioner by the suspendinge the execution of the sentence of death pronounced against y' pet' for beinge a Roman preist.

LORDS

"These are humbly to beseech yr Matie rather to remitt HOUSE OF y petitioner to theire mercyes that are discontented then to lett him liue the subiect of soe great discontent in y' people against y' Matie, for it hath pleased God to giue mee the grace to desire with the prophett that if this storme be raysed for me, I may bee cast into the sea, that others may avoyde the tempest.

"This is (most sacred Soveraigne) the petition of him that should esteeme his bloud well shed te cement up the breach betweene yr Matie and y subiects upon this

L. Ad.-Jf noe more mony then what proposed, howe then to make an offensiue warr, a difficultie whether to doe nothinge or to lett them alone, or goe on wth a vigorous warr.

The

"LL. Jr.-Goe vigorously on or lett them alone, noe defensiue warr, losse of honor and reputacon. quiett of England will hold out longe.

You will languish as betwixt Saul & Dauid. "Goe on with a vigorous warr, as you first designed; loose and obsolued from all rules of gou'ment, beinge reduced to extreame necessitie, everythinge is to bee done that power might admitt, and that you are to doe.

"They refuseinge, you are acquitted towards God and man, you haue an army in Jreland, you may imploy here to reduce this kingdome.

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Confident as anythinge vnder Heaven Scotland shall not hold out fiue monthes.

One sumer well imployed will doe it.

Venter all J had, J would carry it or loose it. "Whether a defensiue warr as impossible as an offensiue, or whether to lett them alone.

"L. Arch.-Tried all waies, and refused alwayes; by the lawe of God you should haue subsistance, and ought to haue it, and lawfull to take it.

L. Cott.-Leagues abroad they may make & will, and therefore the defence of this kingdome.

"The lower House are weary both of King and Church. All waies shall be iust to raise monies by this vnavoidable necessity, therefore, to bee vsed beinge law full.

"LL. Jr.-Comission of array to bee putt in execucon they are to bringe them to the borderes.

Jn reason of State you haue power, when they are there to vse them at the Ks. paie if any of the lords can shewe you a better way lett them doe it. "Ob.-Towne full of nobillity, whoe will talke of it. Hee will make them smarte for it." [Endorsed] "S[ir] H. Vaine's pap."

CALENDAR OF HOUSE OF LORDS MANUSCRIPTS.

1450, May 16.-Charter of resignation and re-grant by James II., King of Scotland, settling the lands of Wedderburn upon David Hume and his wife Alice for life, with remainder in tail male. Parchment. In Latin.

1479, April 22. Charter by Alexander, Duke of Albany, Earl of March, &c., granting to David Home, of Wedderburn, one half of the lands of Polword, and an alternate presentation to the parish church. Parchment. In Latin.

1498, December 1.-The King [Henry VII.] to the Clerk of the Parliament: has commanded the Master of the Rolls to deliver to him certain rolls for the entry of the continue of a Bill of proviso of and upon an office granted to William Stafford, when proviso is entered rolls to be re-delivered. [Signed with the King's sign manual.] Put with roll in Victoria Tower, 1871. Annexed,

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1. Proviso saving rights of William Stafford under letters patent dated 25th Sept. 1485, "as well of "the office of keeper of our change and money "within our Tower of London as of keeper of "the coinage of gold and silver within our said "Tower or elsewhere within our realm of England," also of all fees, &c., belonging to the said office, anything to the contrary notwithstanding. [Signed with the King's sign manual.] Put with the roll in Victoria Tower, 1871. 1499, May 17.--Notarial copy (by Thomas Kirkcaldy, notary public) of letters patent of James IV., King of Scotland, at Stirling, 5th April, in the 11th year of his reign, granting certain lands and rents in the lordship of Menteith to Sir Patrick Hume, of Polworth, and his wife Ellen Shaw, Lady of Dirlton, to hold for their joint lives and the life of the longest liver of them. Parchment. In Latin.

1509, Feb. 1.-Recognizance entered into by Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, William Ketelton, and John Blythe, for payment of 200 marks to the King.

1513-14, March 15.-Counterpart of indenture made between Sir Andrew Fortescue, Knight, and Sir John Daunce, Knight, being a receipt for money paid for charges for 50 soldiers, 30 of them from Bradeston, in Gloucestershire, and 20 from Stoner in Oxfordshire, to

Dover.

1531, Jan. 26.-Petition of the cap and hat makers of Shrewsbury that penalties may be inflicted, in accordance with the provisions of the Act 21 Hen. VIII., cap. 9, upon all persons selling French caps and hats at a higher price than that allowed by the said Act.

1531, Jan. 29.-Similar petition from Bridgnorth.
1531, Feb. 11.-Similar petition from Bristol.
[1531.] Similar petition from the Borough.
[1531.

Similar petition from Gloucester.

[1531.] Similar petition from Bewdley.
[1531.] Similar petition from Stafford.
[1531.] Similar petition from Lichfield.

1542, Nov. 3.-Commission for prorogation of Parliament. Signed by the King.

1547, Nov. 30.--Patent (sealed with the great seal), confirming a decree of the Court of Chancery by which possession of the manor of Halle is given to Sir John Russell as against Richard Crosse.

1548, April 20.-Commission for prorogation of Parliament. Signed by the King and the Lord Protector Somerset, and sealed.

[1558 or after.] Draft of "An Act for reducing of "diversities of Bibles now extant in the English tongue to one settled vulgar translated from the original." Great errors arise and papistry and atheism increase from the variety of translations of Bibles, while many desire an authorised translation, which the Lords spiritual could complete had they power to compel assistance from students of the Universities. The Lords spiritual or any six of them (of whom the Archbishop of Canterbury for the time being to be one) may assemble, treat, and deal touching the accomplishment of the work and may call for the assistance of students of either University, and pay them out of monies to be levied on such cathedral churches and colleges as shall be thought requisite, and any temporal person may give gift or legacy for furtherance of the work. Endorsed "Concerning translation of the Holy Bible from the original "Hebrew and Greek."

1562-3, Feb. 7.-Commission for prorogation of Parliament. Signed by the Queen and sealed. In extenso, L. J., I. 623.

1566, Nov. 8.-Commission reinstating Sir Nicholas Bakon, Lord Keeper, Speaker of the House. Signed by the Queen and sealed. In extenso, L. J., I. 643.

1566, Dec. 10.-Draft preamble to Act of one fifteenth and tenth granted by the temporalty. As amended verbatim the same as the Act, 8° Eliz. c. 18. Statutes, fol. edition.

Annexed,

1. Rejected draft of preceding.

2. Proviso to Act above mentioned. 1571. Copy of " An Act for the incorporation of both "the Universities." 13 Eliz. c. 29.

1572, June 5.-Commission appointing Sir Robert Catlyn, Chief Justice of the Pleas, Speaker of the Upper House pro tem. in the absence of Lord Keeper Bacon on account of sickness. Signed by the Queen and sealed.

1572, Nov. 1.-Commission for prorogation of Parliament. Signed by the Queen and sealed.

1573, April 1.-Commission for prorogation of Parliament. Signed by the Queen and sealed.

1573, Oct. 12.-Commission for prorogation of Parliament. Signed by the Queen and sealed.

1573-4, Feb. 5-Commission for prorogation of Parliament. Signed by the Queen and sealed. 1575, Nov. 7.-Commission for prorogation of Parliament. Signed by the Queen and sealed. 1577, March 26.- Commission for prorogation of Parliament. Signed by the Queen and sealed. In extenso, L. J., I. 754.

1578, March 26.--Commission for prorogation of Parliament. Signed by the Queen, seal wanting. In extenso, L. J., II. 3.

1578, May 26.-Commission for prorogation of Parliament. Signed by the Queen and sealed. See L. J., 11. 4.

1578-9, Jan. 22. Commission for prorogation of Parliament. Signed by the Queen, seal wanting. In extenso, L. J., II. 6.

1579, Oct. 20.-Commission for prorogation of Parliament. Signed by the Queen, seal wanting. In extenso, L. J., II. 9. 1579-80, Jan. 20. Commission for prorogation of Parliament. Signed by the Queen, seal wanting. In extenso, L. J., II. 11. 1579-80, Jan. 30. Commission for prorogation of Parliament. Signed by the Queen and sealed. In extenso, L. J., II. 12.

1579-80, Feb. 29. Commission for prorogation of Parliament. Signed by the Queen, seal wanting. See L. J., II. 13.

1580, April 11.-Commission for prorogation of Parliament. Signed by the Queen and sealed. See L. J., II. 13.

1580, Nov. 4.-Commission for prorogation of Parliament. Signed by the Queen and sealed.

1580, Nov. 24.--Commission for prorogation of Parliament. Signed by the Queen and sealed. See L. J., II. 19.

1581, June 12.-Commission for prorogation of Parliament. Signed by the Queen and sealed. See L. J.,

II. 57.

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1584, Dec. 1.- Draft of "An Act to make good grants and conveyances made by corporations, not"withstanding the misnaming or not true naming of "the said corporations." Endorsed with dates of reading in H. C. C. J. wanting.

The following endorsement on the Bill is crossed out: "The late Parliament: Judge Dier drew out this "Bill by the appointment of the higher house upon "another Bill then there exhibited to the same effect, "and delivered the same Bill into the higher house, and "there it was twice read, and before it could be read "the third time the Parliament brake up, which Bill 66 was committed to the clerk of the Parliaments to keep until another Parliament."

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1584, Dec. 4.-Draft of " An Act for the maintenance "of Navigation:" continues so much of certain Acts passed in the 5th and 13th years of Eliz. as permits British subjects to export herrings and sea-fish free of duty "in vessels with cross sails, as it is by experience "found that the said Acts have been very good Acts

and greatly increased the navy and fishermen and "have caused many poor men to be set a work." L. J., II. 68, &c. The Bill passed through all its stages, but did not receive the royal assent.

1584, Dec. 4.-Draft of " An Act for the continuance "of cloth making in the town of Boxstead in the county "of Essex." With the exception of the addition of "Langeham," this draft is verbatim, the same as the

Act for the Clothiers of Boxstead and Langeham. 27 Eliz. c. 23. L. J., II. 68, &c.

1584, Dec. 7.-Draft of "An Act for the increase of "mariners:" all vessels with cross sails to have one seaman to every five tons of burthen: mariners to be allowed to take with them on each voyage merchandize of their own not exceeding in value the amount of their wages all fishermen may fish in and upon sea-commons, that is, all such places in rivers, creeks, or bays as are covered by the water at high tide, without molestation from owners of the adjoining lands. L. J., II. 69, 70. Read 2 and committed, Dec. 9th, but no further proceeding is mentioned.

1584, Dec. 11.-—Draft of “ An Act against insufficient "bails." Endorsed "against insufficient bails in matters "of felony, peace, and good behaviour. 11° Dec. 1584. "The first reading." Not mentioned in L. J. C. J. wanting.

1584, Dec. 15.-Draft of " An Act for the good govern"ment of the City or Borough of Westminster in the "County of Middlesex," gives power to the Dean and High Steward to appoint burgesses of the 12 wards and make orders for good government. 27 Eliz. c. 17. in list of Private Acts, 8vo edition.

Annexed,

1. Draft of Amendments to preceding.

2. List of Committee on the Bill in H. C. C. J. wanting.

1584, Dec. 19.-Draft of "An Act for the confirmation "of the Queen's Majesty's letters patent granted to "Walter Raleigh, Esquire, touching the discovery and "inhabiting of certain foreign lands and countries." Recites the Queen's desire for the spread of true religion and the increase of trafic in England, in hope of discovery to be made by Walter Raleigh of an unknown land never discovered by any Christian prince or people, she had granted him letters patent, dated 25th March in the 25th year of her reign. The letters (which are set out in the Act) give liberty to him, his heirs and assigns for ever, to discover heathen and barbarous lands, and to occupy the same, and to collect men and shipping for the expedition; the lands to be held by homage to Her Majesty and payment of one fifth of all gold and silver obtained. The letters further give leave to W. Raleigh to repel invaders, or settlers except British subjects and those of nations in amity with Her Majesty, and declare that English settlers shall have all the benefits of British subjects: they give power to him to decide in all "causes "capital and criminal" for six years to come, according to such laws as he shall establish, provided they be as like as may be to the law of England, and conclude with a proviso against robbery of British subjects or subjects of nations in amity with Her Majesty. The Act proceeds to recite that Raleigh has discovered a land called "Wyngandacoia," and enacts that he, his heirs and assigns, may have, hold, and enjoy the said land for ever, according to the full tenor of the said letters patent.

The Bill was brought from H. C. and read 1a in H. L. 19th Dec. 1584. L. J., II. 76, but no further proceeding is mentioned.

Annexed,

1. Proviso that the Act does not give license to any person imprisoned for debt, or under arrest for any other cause, nor to any wife, ward, or apprentice, to depart the realm, nor to Raleigh to take shipping, &c. without leave from the owners. Raleigh is spelt in six different ways in the draft and proviso.

1584. Copy of a Bill" for the preservation of tillage," against laying down in pasture land heretofore arable; continues certain Acts respecting the lands of monasteries, &c. granted to Henry VIII. and repeals others. Endorsed, Condemned by the Committees. tioned in L. J. C. J. wanting.

Not men

1584. Copy of " An Act for the avoiding of infectious "and corrupt air about the city of London:" regulates the slaughtering of beasts, &c., the removal of offal, and sale of meat in and about the city of London. Not mentioned in L. J. C. J. wanting.

1584-5, Feb. 11.--Draft of “ An Act for returning of "sufficient jurors and for better expedition of trials." L. J., II. 81, &c. 27 Eliz. c. 6.

1584-5, Feb. 11.-Draft of "An Act for reformation "of abuses in collection of issues lost by jurors." L. J., II. 81, &c. 27 Eliz. c. 7.

"within the realm, and for the preservation of timber "and woods spoiled by glass houses." No alien to carry on the trade of glass making unless he employ and instruct one Englishman for every two foreigners; no one to carry on the trade or cut timber for the purpose of the trade within 22 miles of London, seven of Guildford, and four of Winchelsea, Rye and Pevensey, "or the foot of the hills called the Downs of Sussex;' provisoes saving rights of certain persons under patent. L. J., II. 82. The Bill passed through all stages, but did not receive the royal assent.

Annexed,

1. Draft of an Act with the same title, endorsed 9 Decr. 1584. No foreigners nor their children to carry on the trade of glass making in England, and no English subjects to pursue the trade within 30 miles of London. Endorsed, "Vacat qr. "nova."

1584-5, Feb. 22.-Draft of "An Act for due trial of "felonies and murders, and for the restraint of insuf"ficient justices of peace and sheriffs, and for the uni

formity of measures within the xii shires of Wales." Wrongdoers frequently escape punishment by trials being held in Herefordshire or Shropshire for offences committed in Wales; in future all trials to be held in the county in which the offence is committed; sheriffs in Wales to take the oath before a duly appointed person and to give security for money coming to their hands; qualification to be required for the office of sheriff; corn to be sold in Wales by the same measure as in England, i.e., eight gallons to the bushel, and an officer in every town to keep standard measures; Act not to interfere with existing leases, &c. Endorsed with date of first reading in H. C. C. J. wanting.

1584-5, Feb. 25.-Draft of "An Act against retailing "of linen cloth by aliens:" forbids aliens to sell any linen, &c. by retail in London or within three miles of it, or in any borough or market town in England, or to open or cut any piece of linen, &c. within the said limits, except for the purpose of working the same. Endorsed "Rejected." Not mentioned in L. J. C. J. wanting.

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1584-5, March 6.-Draft of “An Act for the explana"tion of a branch of a former Statute made in the 18th year of the reign of our Sovereign Lady Queen Eliza"beth touching the amending of the highways between "Middleton and the King's Ferry in the county of "Kent." 27 Eliz. c. 26., fol. edit. L. J., II. 93, &c.

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1584-5, March 6.-Draft of "An Act for the maintenance of Orford Haven in the county of Suffolk and "of a branch of that haven called the Gull, and for the "preservation of the fry of the fish within the same "haven." 27 Eliz. c. 21., fol. edit. L. J., II. 93, &c. 1584-5, March 8.-Draft of An Act touching tanners, curriers, and shoemakers, and other artificers occupying the cutting of leather." Recites an Act of the 5th year of Elizabeth on the same subject, the provisions of which having been found not only insufficient but rather snares to such as meant well," the Queen had by letters patent, with the advice of the Privy Council, authorised "a gentleman of worthy learning "and integrity" to dispense with such parts of the Act as were impossible or burdensome rather than beneficial; this had given rise to some suspicion of private gain with public loss," he was therefore desirous of resigning the patent. The Act proceeds to repeal the recited Act, and proposes instead a number of very special provisions as to the carrying on of the trades of butchers, tanners, curriers, cordwainers, and shoemakers; and for the searching and sealing" of leather by persons duly appointed. Not mentioned in L. J., but endorsed with date of first reading in H. C. J. wanting.

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1584-5, March 10.-Draft of "An Act for provision "to be made for the surety of the Queen's Majesty's "most royal person and the continuance of the realm "in peace." 27 Eliz. c. 1. L. J., II. 95, &c. Annexed,

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1584-5, March 10.-Draft of "An Act touching tanners, curriers, shoemakers, and other artificers occupying the cutting of leather:" against the buying of tanned leather for the purpose of selling it again at an increased rate; no person to sell tanned leather