The personnel of the House of Commons in 1601

Abstract

The 1601 Parliament comprised four hundred and sixty two members, made up of ninety knights of the shire and three hundred and seventy two borough members. This total has remained constant since the enfranchisement of Andover in 1586.Names of members have been taken from the Return of Members of Parliaments. There is no suggestion that they are incorrect. Dudley Carleton, who was not elected for any constituency wrote that he was "present as a burgess" at the conclusion of Parliament, but it assumed that he, perhaps not alone among the gentry then in London, had been smuggled in with the true members so that he might hear the Queen's speech. The calculations in this thesis have been based on the number selected and not upon those who attended for the whole session. Four boroughs elected a member who chose to sit elsewhere and the resulting by elections were held later in October. The counties of Rutland andDenbigh had to wait until the next county day for their second elections and the member for the latter elected December 16th took no part in the proceedings. At least three other late arrivals are known. William Stallenge, delayed by his work, was still writing to Robert Cecil from Plymouth on November 6th and was back there within a month. Sir Robert Mansell, a sea captain, sailed into harbour with six captured ships on 31st October and presumably made his way to parliament as soon as possible after that. On 19th November it was recorded in the Commons that Thomas "Langton, esquire, Baron of Walton in the County of Lancaster upon the creditable report of some members is chosen burgess for the borough of Newton but not as yet returned by the Clerk of the Crown into this House. Presumably he made his appearance before the end as his name is in its place on the Crown Office list, but as he made no recorded speech the date of his arrival is unknown. Seven members were licensed by the Speaker to depart between November 28th and December 15th. Christopher Hildyard was the first to go "for that he is visited with sickness and unable to give his attendance," Peter Fretchville was chosen High Sheriff of Derbyshire where his presence was apparently needed but the only reason given for the rest is their "necessary affairs". Henry Hastings was the only one recorded as having remembered to leave his donation to the collection made for the poor at the end of the Parliament. Five members were served with subpoena as to appear in various courts while Parliament was sitting but this resulted in questions in the House upon breach of privilege and the attendance of those concerned was not curtailed by these means. William Cooke however was actually arrested before he could claim privilege, though doubtless his release was speedy once the attention of the House had been drawn to the matter.