Select Statutes and other Constitutional Documents illustrative of the reigns of Elizabeth and James I. Edited by G. W. Prothero

Preface

This volume is intended to be a contribution towards filling up the gap between the ' Select Charters ' edited by the Bishop of Oxford, and Mr S. R. Gardiner's ' Constitu tional Documents of the Puritan Revolution.' Of the documents which it contains, a few of the most important, such as the Acts of Supremacy and Uniformity and the High Commission of 1559, are printed in full : the rest are given in an abbreviated form. Of the latter it is hardly necessary to say that no alteration has been made in the texts, but owing to exigencies of space certain portions have been omitted. Where the omitted passages possess any importance, and the omission is not shown by the number ing of the paragraphs, it is indicated by dots. In the case of superfluities, such as are indicated by brackets in the following phrases: — 'person [and persons],' 'all [and every],' 'prescribed [and appointed],' 'shall [and may] be lawful [to and] for,' 'the same [or any of them],' 'bring [or cause to be brought],' 'be it further enacted [by the authority aforesaid],' 'provided [always and be it enacted],' ' [any law statute or usage to the contrary not withstanding],' 'he [she and they],' and the like, I have not thought it necessary to call attention to the omission.

All additions to, or substitutes for, the original text are enclosed Preface. VI in square brackets. When a date is given in a shortened form it is similarly indicated. The spelling of the English documents has been modernized throughout. Documents which have not, so far as I am aware, been printed before, are indicated in the Table of Contents by an * ; those that have been partially printed, with an t ; while such as have been printed before but are now reprinted directly from the MSS. are marked with a §. The index is not intended to be an index nominum except in a few important cases, but I have taken pains by means of a full analytical index rerum and a glossary to make the collection as useful as I can. Finally, I have to acknowledge, with much gratitude, the help and encouragement ungrudgingly given me by the Bishop of Oxford, the Bishop of Peterborough, Professor Maitland, Mr S. R. Gardiner, and Mr Hubert Hall of the Record Office ; but I need hardly add that these gentlemen are in no way responsible for any mistakes which this book may contain. G. W. PROTHERO. King's College, Cambridge, January 21, 1894. TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

. PAGE The Monarchy and the Nation ....... xvii Church and State .......... xxx Parliament ........... Ixi Council, Ministry and Star-Chamber xcviii The Judicature . . . . . . . . cvii Army and Navy .......... cxix The Prerogative .......... cxxii DOCUMENTS. REIGN OF ELIZABETH. /. — Statutes. I Eliz. cap. I. Act of Supremacy ....... I ,, ,, 2. Act of Uniformity . . . . . . • 13 ,, 3. Recognition of the Queen's title . . . .21 „ 4. For the restitution of First-Fruits, &c. . . .22 ,, „ 5. Act of treason . ....... 23 ,, ,, 11. For customs on sweet wines, &c. . . . .25 ,, ,, 20. Tonnage and Poundage ...... 26 ,, ,, 21. Act of Subsidy ....... 27 ,, ,, 22. Ordinances for cathedrals, &c. ..... 36 ,, ,, 24. Annexation of religious houses to the Crown . . 37 5 Eliz. cap. 1. For the assurance of the Queen's power . . -39 ,, ,, 3.

For the relief of the poor . . . . . .41 ,, „ 4. For artificers, labourers, apprentices, &c. . . 45 ,, ,, 29. Confirmation of a Clerical Subsidy . . . -54 8 Eliz. cap. 4. To take away Benefit of Clergy (robbery) . .57 13 Eliz. cap. I. Act of Treason 57 ,, „ 2. Against the bringing in of Bulls, &c. . . .60 „ „ 12. For the reformation of Ministers . . . .64 Contents. PACE 14 Eliz. cap. I. Against conspiracy to take the Queen's castles, &c. . 65 „ „ 2. Against conspiracy to enlarge prisoners . . .66 „ „ 5. For the punishment of vagabonds, and the relief of the poor 67 18 Eliz. cap. 3. For setting the poor on work, &c 73 „ „ 7. To take away Benefit of Clergy (rape and burglary) . 74 23 Eliz. cap. 1. To retain the Queen's subjects in obedience . . 74 „ 2. Against seditious words and rumours . . -77 27 Eliz. cap.

I. For the surety of the Queen's person . . .80 „ „ 2. Against Jesuits, Seminary Priests, &c. . . -83 „ „ 13. For the following of Hue and Cry . . . .86 28 & 29 Eliz. cap. 6. For the better execution of Stat. 23 Eliz. cap. 1 88 35 Eliz. cap. 1. To retain the Queen's subjects in obedience . 89 ,, ,, 2. Against Popish Recusants .... 92 39 & 40 Eliz. cap. 1. Against the decaying of towns and houses of husbandry ....... 93 2. For the maintenance of husbandry and tillage 95 ,, „ 3. For the relief of the poor .... 96 „ ,, 4. For the punishment of rogues, vagabonds, &c. 100 ,, ,, 5. For the erecting of hospitals or workhouses . 102 43 & 44 Eliz. cap. 2. For the relief of the poor .... 103 „ „ 13. For the better government of the northern counties 105 „ „ 18. Act of Subsidy (preamble) .... 106 II. — Parliamentary Proceedings. 1.

General. 1. Petition of the Commons for the Queen's marriage and succession, 1563, with the Queen's answer ...... 107 2. Petition of Parliament touching Mary, Queen of Scots, 1586 . 109 3. Debate on Monopolies, and the Queen's message, 1601 . .111 11. Privileges of Parliament. 1. Customary demand for privileges . . . . . 117 2. Permanent committee for privileges . . . . . 117 3. Freedom of speech : (a) Debate on the Queen's marriage and succession, 1566 . 118 (b) Speech of the Lord Keeper, 1571 no (c) Debate on Mr Strickland's inhibition, 1 57 1 . . .119 (d) Message from the Queen, 1572 120 (e) Speech of Mr Wentworth, 1576 120 (f) Speech of Sir W. Mildmay, 1576 122 (g) Speech of Mr Wentworth, 1587 123 (h) Message from the Queen, 1589 Contents. IX PAGE (i) Speech of the Lord Keeper, 1593 . . . .124 (k) Message from the Queen, 1593 125 4 .

Freedom from arrest : (a) House of Lords : Lord Cromwell's case, 1572 . . .126 (b) House of Commons : (1) Martin's case, 15S7 ....... 127 (2) Neale's case, 1593 ....... 127 (3) Fitzherbert's case, 1593 . . . . . -127 (c) Members' servants : (1) House of Lords : Digges' case, 1584 . . . . 128 (2) House of Commons : Smalley's case, 1576 . .128 5. Freecom from subpœna and from serving on juries : (a) Cook's case, 1585 ........ 129 (b) Stepneth's case, 1585 . . . . . . . .129 (c) Tracie's case, 1597 . . . . . . ■ .129 6. Righ; of examining returns, and determining qualifications : (a) Norfolk election, 1586 130 (b) Smyth's case (outlawry), 1559 ...... 131 (c^ Lord Russell's case (peers' sons), 1576 .... 131 7. Right of punishment and expulsion of members : Hall's case, 1581 131 8. Jurisdiction over persons not being members: (a) Corporation of Westbury, 1571 ...... 132 (b) Williams' case, 1576 132 9.

Privacy of Debate : Clarke's case, 1571 1 33 III. — Unparliamentary Taxation. 1. Distraint of Knighthood . . . . . . ■ • '33 2. Loans : (a) Circular letter to Lords-Lieutenant for a loan . . .134 (b) Pri^j* Seal for a loan* 1 36 3. Benevolences : (a) Benevolence of the clergy . . . . . . • '37 (b) The Queen's acceptance of the benevolence . . . 138 / V. — Judicature. 1. Trial of the Duke of Norfolk, 1572 -138 2. Trial of Mary, Queen of Scots, 1586 : (a) Commission for the trial . . . . . • • I4° (b) Sentence on the Queen of Scots H2 3. Grant of office to a Judge, 1584* '43 Contents. X PAGE 4. Justices of the Peace : (a) The Commission before 1590 '44 (b) The Commission after 1590 '47 (c) Oath of a Justice of the Peace 149 5. Writ for the Court of Castle Chamber in Ireland* . . .15° V. — Military System. 1.

Commission of Lieutenancy* . . . . . • ! • J54 2. Commission of array* . . . . . . . . .156 3. Commission of muster* ........ 158 4. Circular letter for light horse 159 5. Letter to a Bishop for light horse* 160 6. Writ for view of arms to be provided by the Clergy . . . 161 7. Circular letter from the Archbishop for the view of arms . .161 8. Writ appointing an Admiral, 1599 ...... 163 VI. — Miscellaneous. 1. Oath of a Privy Councillor* . ....... 165 2. Duties of a Secretary of States . . . . . . .166 3. Censorship of the Press : (a) Star-Chamber ordinance, 1566 ...... 168 (b) Star-Chamber ordinance, 1586s ...... 169 4. Commission for the emancipation of villains . . . . 173 VII. — Extracts from Political Writers. 1. Staunford : Praerogativa Regis . . . . . . . 174 2. William Camden : (a) The Star-Chamber 175 (b) Fifteenths and Tenths, and Subsidies 175 (c) Martial Law . . . . . . . . . 1 76 3.

Sir Thomas Smith : (1) Classes of the people 176 (2) Parliament and the Sovereign . . . . . . 1 78 (3) Justices of the Peace 179 (4) Trial by Jury 180 (5) The Star-Chamber 180 4. William Lambard : The Star-Chamber 181 5. Richard Crompton : The Star-Chamber 182 VIII. — Ecclesiastical. i. Documents, &c. 1. The Queen's Proclamation, 1558 ....... 183 2. The Queen's Injunctions, 1559 . . . . . . .184 3. Summons to Convocation, 1562 ....... ,190 Contents. XI PAGE 4. Puritan demands in Convocation, 1563 191 5. Parker's advertisements, 1565 ....... 191 6. Beginnings of Puritanism, 1568 (Camden) ..... 194 7. Bull of excommunication, 1570 ....... 195 S. Puritan doctrines : (a) Cartwright's propositions, 1570 . . . . . . 196 (b) Chark's propositions, 1572 ....... 197 (c) Dering's propositions, 1573 ....... 197 (d) Sampson's propositions, 1574 ...... 197 9.

Extricts from the First Admonition, 1571 ... . 198 10. The Canons of 157 1 ......... 200 11. Exercises : (al Regulations in the diocese of Peterborough, 1 57 1 . . 202 (1>) Suppression of Exercises, 1574 . . . . . . 204 (c) Grindal's Regulations, 1576 ...... 204 (d) The Queen's letter against Prophesyings, 1577 . . . 205 (e) Regulations in the diocese of Chester, 1585. . . . 206 (f) Harrison on Prophesyings ....... 207 (g) Bacon on Prophesyings ....... 207 12. The Queen's Proclamation against Nonconformists, 1573 . . 208 13. The Queen's Message to Parliament, 1576 ..... 209 14. The Queen's Message to the Commons, 1581 .... 210 15. Whitgift and the Nonconformists, 1583 (Camden) . . . 210 16. Whitgift's Articles, 1583 ........ 211 17. Letter of Lord Burghley to Whitgift, 1584 . . . .213 18. Whitgift's reply to Lord Burghley, 1584 214 19.

Petition of the House of Commons for ecclesiastical reform, 1584 215 20. Puritan Petition to the Queen, 1585 ...... 219 21. The Queen's speech in Parliament, 1585 . . . . .221 22. The Canons of 1585 222 23. Independent Doctrines ........ 223 24. Martin Marprelate libels, 1588 (Camden) 224 25. Attacks on the High Commission, 1591 (Camden) . . . 225 26. The Lambeth Articles, 1595 226 27. The Canons of 1597 226 28. The Court of High Commission : (a) First Commission, 1 559§ ....... 227 (b) The Commission of 1562* ....... 232 (c) The Commission of 1572* ....... 235 (d) The Commission of 15765 237 (e) The Commission of 1601 ....... 240 (f) Ecclesiastical Commission for Wales, 1579* , . . 241 29. Proceedings in connexion with the appointment of a Bishop : (1) The cong(*i d'ctire 242 (2) Letter of recommendation Contents.

XII PAGP. (3) Oath of allegiance taken by a Bishop elect* . . ■ 243 (4) Command to consecrate a Bishop 243 (5) Restitution of temporalities 244 11. Extracts from Ecclesiastical Writers. The Anglican and Presbyterian positions : (1) Richard Hooker I • 245 (2) Archbishop Bancroft 247 REIGN OF JAMES I. /. — Statutes. I Jac. I. cap. I. Recognition of the King's title . . . 250 ,, ,, 2. For Commissioners to treat of the Union . 251 ,, ,, 4. For the execution of Statutes against Jesuits, &c 252 ,, „ 7. For the continuance of Stat. 39 Eliz. cap. 4 (rogues and vagabonds) .... 253 ,, „ 8. To take away Benefit of Clergy (manslaughter) 254 ,, ,, 13. For new executions in eases of privilege, &c. 254 „ ,, 25. For the continuance of certain Statutes (marriage of clergy) .... 255 3 & 4 Jac. I. cap. 4. For the discovery and repressing of Popish Recusants . . . . . .256 „ ,, 5.

To prevent dangers from Popish Recusants . 262 4 & 5 Jac. I. cap. 1. For the abolition of hostility betweea England and Scotland ...... 268 7 & 8 Jac. I. cap. 1 . For the better execution of justice in the north parts ...... 270 „ ,,4. For the execution of laws against rogues, vagabonds, &c. ..... 271 ,, ,, 6. For administering the oath of allegiance, &c. 273 21 & 22 Jae. 1. cap. 3. Concerning monopolies, &c. .... 275 „ „ 10. Repeal of part of Stat. 34 & 35 Hen. VIII. cap. 26 (Wales) 277 „ ,, 28. Repeal of certain Statutes (sanctuary) . . 278 ,, ,, 33. Act of Subsidy Contents. XIII II. — Parliamentary Proceedings. i. General. PAGE 1. Proclamation concerning elections to Parliament, 1604* . . 280 2. The King's speech at the opening of Parliament, 1604 . . 282 3. Articles of conference between the Houses, 1604 . . . 285 4.

Apology of the House of Commons, 1604 ..... 286 5. The King's speech before Parliament, 1610 .... 293 6. Memorial concerning the Great Contract, 1 6 10 .... 295 7. Petition of the House of Commons, May, 1610 .... 296 8. Propositions touching Purveyance, 1610 ..... 298 9. Memorial concerning tenures, 1610. . . . . .299 10. First petition of the House of Commons, July, 1610 . . . 300 11. Second petition of the House of Commons, July, 1610 . . 303 12. First petition of the House of Commons, Dec., 162 1 . . . 307 13. The King's letter to the House of Commons, 1621 . . . 310 14. Secmd petition of the House of Commons, Dec., 162 1 . .311 15. The King's answer to the above petition, 1621 .... 312 16. Prctestation of the House of Commons, 1621 .... 313 17. The King's Proclamation on dissolving Parliament, 1622 . . 314 18.

First Address of both Houses to the King, March, 1624 . 317 19. Second Address of both Houses to the King, March, 1624 . . 318 20. Address of both Houses to the King, April, 1624 . . . 319 n. Privileges and Judicature. 1. Privilege cf freedom from arrest (Shirley's case, 1604) : (a) Debttes in the House of Commons, &c. .... 320 (b) Shirley's Act* 324 2. Right of examining returns : (a) Buckinghamshire Election, 1604 ..... 325 (b) Cardigan and Shrewsbury, 1604 331 (c) Cambridge, 1621 ... .... 333 3. Right of exful.-don (Sir R. Floyde, 1621) 333 4. Judicature of Parliament : (a) Impeachment of Lord Bacon, 1621 ..... 334 (b) Floydt's case, 1621 337 ///. — Unparliamentary Taxation. 1. Bates' case : Ca) Arguments of the Judges, 1606 340 (b) Mr Hakewill's argument, 1610 342 (c) Mr Whitelocke's argument, 1610 Contents.

PAGE 2. Commission to levy impositions, 1608* ...... 353 3. Levy of a feudal aid, 1609, 1612 : (a) Order to the Chancellor to issue commissions . . . 355 (b) Appointment of commissioners to collect the aid . . . 356 (c) Appointment of commissioners to compound for the aid . 358 4. Circular Letters for a Benevolence, 1622 359 IV. — Judicature. 1. Commission of Oyer and Terminer, 1607* ..... 361 2. Commission of Gaol-Delivery, 1607* 363 3. Instructions for the President and Council of the North, 1603* . 363 4. Instructions for the President and Council of Wales, 161 7 . . 378 5. Jurisdiction of the Admiralty, 1618 ...... 388 V. — Miscellaneous. 1. The King's Coronation Oath* 391 2. Proclamation of the Union, 1 604 ....... 392 3. Censorship of the Press : 1. Proclamation, 1622 . . . . . . . . 394 2.

Proclamation, 1624 ........ 395 4. Military System : 1. Appointment of a Council of War, 1624 .... 396 2. Impressment and Martial Law, 1621 ..... 397 3. Commission to execute Martial Law, 1624* .... 398 VI. — Extracts from Political Writers. 1. James I : 1. Prerogative and the Judges ....... 399 2. Prerogative and Parliament ....... 400 2. Sir Edward Coke : 1. The Star-Chamber ........ 401 2. The High Commission ........ 404 3. Lord Bacon : I. The Star-Chamber .0g 2. The Judicature ......... 408 4. Sir Walter Raleigh : The Prerogative .0n 5. Dr Cowell: King, Parliament, Prerogative, Subsidy .... 409 6. John Selden : Convocation, King, Prerogative Contents. XV VII. — Ecclesiastical. i. Documents. PAGE 1. The Millenxry Petition, 1603 ....... 413 2. The Hampton Court Conference, 1604 ...... 416 3.

The King's Licence to Convocation, 1604* . . . . .417 4. A Proclamation enjoining conformity, 1604 ..... 420 5. Letters fron Archbishop Whitgift and the Council touching Nonconformists, 1604 . . . . . . . .421 6. Letter from the Lord Keeper for indulgence to Papists, 1622 . 422 7. The King's directions about preaching, 1622 .... 422 8. High Commission, 1611*; with additions made in 1613* and 1625 424 ji. Extracts from Ecclesiastical Writers. 1. Archbishop Laud ......... 435 2. Dr Sibthorje 437 3. Dr Maynwuing .......... 438