Page:English Historical Review Volume 35.djvu/114

 106 PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT January [Prorogation on 15 October: entry and letters patent as in Lords' Journals, ii. 114. Prorogation on 27 October: entry and letters paterU as in Lords* Journals, ii. 115. 29 October. Opening proceedings, as in Lords' Journals, ii. 116, rendered into English with slight variations. Letters patent. Lord chancdlor's speech, foUoufing the account in the Lords' Journals closely as far as the end o/lirte 20 on p. 117 a ; after which it proceeds as follows : ^] . . . the destruccion of whose sacred person, and of the happie and quiet estate of the Realme was moste traiterousely compassed and ymagined wherewith her maiesties pleasure was that the lordes and Commons in the same parliament assembled as the greatest counsell of the Realme should be throughly acquainted. And here he shewed what myserye the losse of our moste gracious and noble soueraigne would haue broughte generallie to all estates of the R«alme, and saide that althoughe somme of the conspirators and traitors had suffered accordinge to their demerittes, yet it was nedefull that further consideracion should be had for the safetye of her maiesties moste royall person and the preseruacion and continuance of the quiet state of the Realme, and therfore moved the saide Lordes Knightes Cytizens and Burgesses that they would bend their cares and endevours to prouide for the same, adding further, that to thende, that they mighte orderly precede therein. They of the common house should make present choise of somme one amongst them to be their speaker, and to present hym, to the lordes her maiesties commyssionners as sone as convenientlie they could, Then the Clarke of the parliament read the names of them that were appointed to receive and trye the peticions offered this parliament, videlicet. [Then follow the customary entries of receivers and tryers of petitions ; and finally a note of the adjournment.^] At which daye [31 October] the Commons presented John Puckeringe Serjieaunte at the lawe who was their Speaker the laste parliament as one chosen againe by them, who although he verie eloquently and modestly excused him self, and humblie desired to be dischardged of that chardge, was to his greater comendacion, denyed that request, and soe with worthie praise of his former sendee in that place was admitted their speaker. Then the saide Speaker protestinge his dutifull affeccion and devocion unto her maiesties seruice, shewing withall the readie good will and earnest zeale, which he by former experience had foimd in euery member of the saide house, made certeine peticions unto the saide Lordes the Commissioners, whereof the firste was that it would please her maiestie to graunt unto them aswell free libertie of speche in the treatinge and debatinge of such ■ The roll begins, ' Memorandum where the Quenes maiestie by her writt. . . ' cf. Lords' Journals, ii. 114. I am indebted to the marquis of Salisbury for permission to inspect and transcribe the roll.
 * Cf. Lords' Journals, n. 113, 117 a.