[UNEMPLOYMENT (1621).]
Source.—Diary of Walter Yonge, Esq. Camden Society's Publications. P. 52.
About this time there were assembled about 400 poor people in Wiltshire complaining in peaceable manner to the justices that they could get no work to relieve themselves, and therefore did desire that order might be taken for their relief: all trades are grown so bad that there is not any employment. It is said also that the like insurrection was in Gloucestershire, and thereupon the Lords of the Council sent forth letters into divers shires for the setting of poor people on work.
It is said that merchants are enjoined to buy a quantity of clothes weekly at Blackwel Hall in London, or otherwise they shall be disfranchised of their liberties and freedom of merchants in London.
[THE PROTESTATION OF THE COMMONS (1621).]
Source.—Rushworth, Historical Collections. Vol. i., p. 53.
The Commons now assembled in Parliament, being justly occasioned thereunto, concerning sundry Liberties, Franchises, and Privileges of Parliament, amongst others here mentioned, do make this Protestation following: That the Liberties, Franchises, Privileges, and Jurisdictions of Parliament are the ancient and undoubted Birthright and Inheritance of the subjects of England; and that the arduous and urgent affairs concerning the King, State and Defence of the Realm, and of the Church of England, and the maintenance and making of Laws, and redress of mischiefs and grievances which daily happen within this Realm, are proper subjects and matter of Counsel and Debate in Parliament; and that in the handling and proceeding of those businesses, every Member of the House of Parliament hath, and of right ought to have, freedom of speech to propound, treat, reason, and bring to conclusion the same. And that the Commons in Parliament have like liberty and freedom to treat of these matters in such order as in their judgments shall seem fittest. And that every member of the said House hath like freedom from all Impeachment, Imprisonment, and Molestation (otherwise than by Censure of the House itself) for or concerning any speaking, reasoning, or declaring of matters touching the Parliament, or Parliament-business. And that if any of the said members be complained of and questioned for anything done or said in Parliament, the same is to be showed to the King by the advice and assent of all the commons assembled in Parliament, before the King give credence to any private information.
His Majesty did this present day in full assembly of his Council and in the presence of the Judges, declare the said Protestation to be invalid, annulled, void, and of no effect. And did further manu sua propria take the said Protestation out of the Journal Book of the Clerk of the Commons House of Parliament.