PART

II.

Reasons against this conjunction.

1. The treaty must be with so many parties, that it can Inter mul- neither be speedily or secretly concluded.

tos nihil sccretum.

Amicitiæ irritatæ.

The king's

hand.

2. If the matter be revealed, and nothing concluded, then consider the French king's offence, and so may he at his leasure be provoked to practise the like conjunction against England with all the papists.

Conclusion.

1. The treaty to be made with the emperor, and by the emperor's means with other princes.

2. The emperor's acceptation to be understanded, before we treat any thing against the French king.

Number 6.

A method for the proceedings in the council, written with king Edward's hand,

The names of the whole council.

The counsellors above-named to be thus divided into several

commissions and charges.

First, For hearing of those suits which were wont to be

Those persons to hear the suits, to answer the parties, to make certificate what suits they think meet to be granted; and upon answer received of their certificate received, to dispatch the parties: also to give full answer of denial to those suits that be not reasonable nor convenient: also to dispatch all matters of justice, and to send to the common courts those suits that be for them.

The calling of forfeits done against the laws, for punishing the offenders and breakers of proclamations that now stand in force.

The lord privy-seal.
The earl of Pembrook.
The lord chamberlain.
Sir Thomas Wroth.
Sir Robert Bowes.
Mr. Secretary Petre.

Mr. Hobbey.
Mr. Wotton.

Mr. John Baker.

Mr. Sollicitor.
Mr. Gosnald.

These shall first see what laws penal, and what proclamations, standing now in force, are most meet to be executed, and shall bring a certificate thereof. Then they shall enquire in the countries how they are disobeyed, and first, shall begin with the greatest offenders, and so afterward punish the rest, according to the pains set forth. They shall receive also the letters out of the shires, of disorders there done, and punish the offenders.

These to attend the matters of the state. I will sit with them once a week to hear the debating of things of most importance.

These persons under-written shall look to the state of all the courts, especially of the new erected courts, as the augmentation, the first fruits and tythes, the wards; and shall see the revenues answered at the half year's end, and shall consider with what superfluous charges they be burdened, and thereof shall make a certificate which they shall deliver. The lord chamberlain. Sir Richard Cotton. The bishop of Norwich. Sir Thomas Wroth.

Sir Robert Bowes.

Sir Walter Mildmay.
Mr. Gosnald.

I understand it is a member of the commission that followeth, but yet those shall do well to do it for the present, because the other shall have no leasure till they have called in the debts; after which done, they may sit with them.

Those that now be in commission for the debts, to take accompts of all paiments since the 35th of the king that dead is, after that they have done this commission they are now in hand with.

Likewise for the bullwarks, the lord chamberlain, Mr. Treasurer, and Mr. Comptroller, to be in commission in their several jurisdictions.

The rest of the council, some go home to their countries straight after the parliament; some be sore sick that they

II.

shall not be able to attend any thing, which when they BOOK come, they shall be admitted of the council. Also that these councils sit apart. Also that those of the council that have these several commissions.

Desunt quædam.

15. Jan. 1552.

This seems not to be the king's hand, but is interlined in many places by him.

Certain articles devised and delivered by the king's majesty, for quicker, better, and more orderly dispatch of causes, by his majesty's privy-council.

1. His majesty willeth, that all suits, petitions, and com- Cott. libr. mon warrants delivered to his privy-council, be considered Nero c. 10. by them on the Mundays in the morning, and answered

also on the Saturdays at afternoon; and that that day, and none others, be assigned to that purpose.

2. That in answering these suits and bills of petition, heed be taken that so many of them as pertain to any court of his majesty's laws be as much as may be referred to those courts where by order they are triable; such as cannot be ended without them, be with expedition determined.

3. That in making of those warrants for mony that pass by them, it be foreseen that those warrants be not such as may already be dispatcht by warrant dormant, lest by means of such warrants, the accompts should be uncertain.

that on

4. His majesty's pleasure is, that on the *Sundays, they * Provided intend the publick affairs of this realm; they dispatch an- Sundays swers to letters for the good order of the realm, and make they be full dispatches of all things concluded the week before.

present at

common

5. That on the Sunday night, the secretaries, or one prayer. of them, shall deliver to his majesty a memorial of such things as are to be debated by his privy-council, and then his majesty to appoint certain of them to be debated on several days, viz. Munday afternoon, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, morning.

6. That on Friday at afternoon, they shall make a collection of such things as have been done the four days past;

II.

PART how many of those articles they have concluded; how many they debated but not ended; how many the time suffered not to peruse; and also the principal reasons that moved them to conclude on such matters as seemeth doubtful.

7. That on Saturday morning they shall present this collection to his majesty, and know his pleasure upon such things as they have concluded, and also upon all the private suits.

8. That on Sunday night again, his majesty having received of the secretaries such new matters as hath arisen upon new occasion with such matters as his council have left, some not determined, and some not debated, shall appoint what matters, and on which days shall be determined, the next week following.

9. That none of them departed his court for longer than two days, without there be left here at the least eight of the council, and that not without giving notice thereof to the king's majesty.

10. That they shall make no manner of assembly or meeting in council, without there be to the number of four at the least.

11. Furthermore, if they be assembled to the number of four, and under the number of six, then they shall reason and debate things, examine all inconveniences and dangers, and also commodities on each side; make those things plain which seem diffuse at the first opening; and if they agree amongst themselves, then at the next full assembly of six, they shall make a perfect conclusion and end with them.

12. Also if there rise such matter of weight, as it shall please the king's majesty himself to be at the debating of, then warning shall be given, whereby the more may be at the debating of it.

13. If such matter shall happen to rise as shall require long debating or reasoning, or e're it come to a full conclusion or end, then his majesty's council shall not intermeddle other causes, nor fall to other matters for that day, until they have brought it to some end.