Sir John Northcote, his son, was born in 1599, and became a Member of Parliament, he and Sir Edmund Fowel representing Ashburton in the Long Parliament. During his first few weeks in the House of Commons, Sir John took notes of the proceedings, and the small brown volume in which they are written still exists. The notes have been transcribed by Mr A. H. A. Hamilton, and are very interesting, for they record threatenings of the great storm so soon to burst over England. The pages open with 'Proceedings against the Earl of Strafford. Mr Pimm's [Pym] Report'--which report prefaces terrible accusations with a personal touch: 'Long known the person charged by acts of friendship.' Many letters, reports, and commissions, refer to Jesuits and priests, and often the Queen's name appears intervening on their behalf; laws against them were more and more relaxed, 'signifying his Majesty's pleasure at instance of her Majesty,' till the Commons became uneasy, and a 'petition' was framed to the King, to remind him of his 'protestation' at the opening of his reign, that the Queen 'should not intermeddle with matters of religion.' The long and stubborn opposition to the exaction of ship-money, 'Voted illegal and entered _nullo contradicente_,' is given. The Judges who had declared the tax to be legal were supposed to have been tampered with by Strafford, and Mr Hyde (afterwards Lord Clarendon) suggested that they should be interviewed as to what had passed. The following is a bit of the debate as it was taken down; as Sir John did not write shorthand, he was naturally able to give only the gist of each speech: 'MR HIDE. That some of the house be sent to know what solicitations [_had been made_]. * * * * * 'SIR FRANC. SEYMOUR. That proof be first made. 'MR PELHAM. That it will amount to high treason and to prepare present charge. 'SIR JO. WRAY. The posy of his grandfather, Just and True. Sir Ed. Cook [said] whoever shall go about to overthrow Common Law, the Common Law will overthrow him. His motion, _Currat Lex_. 'SERGEANT EVERS. To have first the votes of the Lords. 'SIR P. STAPYLTON. That Mr Peard be sent to Judge Jones. 'SIR JO. STRANGWAYES. That Justice Crook be sent to. 'LORD FAWKLAND. That they be sent to all at once. 'SIR NEVILL POOLE. That Lord Keeper be forth coming. 'MR CONTROLLER. That respect be had to Judges. That none be urged to be accuser, but concluded that all be sent to. 'SIR JO. CULPEPER. Of twelve one was a Judas. To send to all the Judges that gave the Judgment, and to send immediately.' Another debate shows the King and Parliament for the moment on unusually good terms. Sir Benjamin Rudyard said: 'God blest his Majesty with hopeful and fruitful progeny. To put in mind to provide for them. The first prince born amongst us this 100 years. Queen's good affection to Parliament. Concern her Majesty to uphold the glory and government of this kingdom.'