Lunæ, 21 die Novembris, 1670.
Prayers.
Boston Port.
ORDERED, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill
to preserve the Port of Boston, in the County of
Lincolne.
Fitz James' Estate.
A Bill to enable the Daughters and Coheirs of Sir
John Fitz James to sell Lands, to pay their Father's
Debts, was read the Second time.
Resolved, &c. That the Bill be committed to Sir
Edward Harlow, Sir Charles Wheeler, Mr. Crouch, Sir
Thom. Higgons, Sir Anthony Irby, Mr. Hungerford, Sir
Thom. Allen, Sir John Birkenhead, Sir John Barneby,
Sir John Pettus, Mr. Hobby, Sir Robert Carr, Sir Hugh
Windham, Sir Will. Lowther, Sir Edw. Masters, Sir John
Talbott, Sir Gilbert Talbott, Mr. Trenchard, Sir Adam
Browne, Mr. Hampden, Mr. Streete, Colonel Sandys, and
all that serve for the several Counties of Dorset, Somerset,
and Wiltes: And they are to . . . To-morrow at Two of
the Clock the Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber:
And to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.
Sir J. Prettyman.
Ordered, That the Matter touching Sir John Prettyman be taken into Consideration on Wednesday next:
And that such Witnesses as can give Testimony in that
Matter, do attend at that Time.
Kidderminster Stuffs.
An ingrossed Bill for regulating the making of Kidderminster Stuffs, was read the Third time.
Resolved, &c. That the Bill do pass: And that the
Title be, An Act for the regulating the making of Kidderminster Stuffs: And Colonel Sandys to carry up the
Bill to the Lords.
Duke of Albemarle's Estate.
A Message from the Lords, by Sir William Child and
Dr. Baldwin;
Mr. Speaker, The Lords have sent you down a Bill,
intituled, An Act to enable Christopher Duke of Albemarle, to reconvey several Manors and Lands mortgaged
to George late Duke of Albemarle his Father; to which
they desire the Concurrence of this House.
Forged Deeds against Pitt.
A Bill to null and make void certain forged Deeds,
Bonds and Judgments, set on foot against George Pitt
Esquire, and others, to Sir Geo. Pratt, was read.
Resolved, &c. That this Bill be read a Second time.
Obstructing Act against Conventicles.
The House then resumed the Consideration of the
Report of Sir John Knight, touching libellous Books;
and the Matter concerning Mr. Hayes and Mr. Jekell;
according to former Order:
And the Matter relating to Mr. Hayes being first moved, and coming into Question and Debate; concerning
his Violation of the Act against Conventicles, and the
Attempts by him used on Sir Samuell Stirling, whilst he
was Lord Mayor of London, to corrupt and divert him
from the Execution of the Act: Upon which, and his
Refusal to give Security for the good Behaviour, a Commitment ensued:
And Sir Samuell Sterling attending near the Door;
and being, by Order, called in to the Bar of the House,
to give an Account of this Matter, did testify to the
Effect following; viz.
That about Thirteen Days, or a Fortnight before the
Act against Conventicles took Place, Mr. Hayes came to
him, upon Pretence of a Visit; and after some other Discourse told him, that he and his Friends had advised with
good Counsel upon the Act; and that they were clear of
Opinion, that there was but One hundred Pounds Penalty,
if the Magistrate should totally forbear the Execution
of the Act; and that That One hundred Pound should
be paid, and Two hundred Pounds more secured to him.
Sir Samuell Sterling replying, that he was advised there
was Nine hundred Pound Penalty for every Default.
Hayes made Answer, that it there were, he and his
Friends would bear him out in what he should do. Upon
which, Sir Samuell telling him, that it was very ill done
in him to attempt to bribe a Magistrate to neglect his
Duty; Hayes replied, Sir, you have an Estate to lose:
You must take care what you do; for you shall be sure
to answer it. Sir Samuell did also deliver a further Narrative and Account of the whole Proceedings in the Matter.
Sir Samuell Sterling withdrawing; and being again
called in; and owning This (upon the Reading of it) to
be the Effect of what he had testified;
Mr. Hayes was also called in to the Bar of the House;
And what Sir Samuell had testified, being read to him;
who denying the whole Matter of Fact, and pretending
he had Two Witnesses at the Door, which could speak on
his Behalf, to clear him;
Sir Joseph Sheldon, Sir Andrew King and others of the
Lieutenancy of London also attending near the House; all
the Parties were again called in:
And, upon hearing all the said Parties; as also the
Witnesses of Mr. Hayes; the House being very well satisfied with the Truth of the Testimony and Account given
in by Sir Samuell Sterling;
Resolved, &c. That this House doth give Approbation
to what was done by the late Lord Mayor Sir Samuell
Sterling, and the Lieutenancy of London, in committing
of Mr. Hayes; and that it was done, in order to the Preservation of the King, and Peace of the Kingdom.
The House then proceeded to the Examination of the
Matter concerning Mr. Jekell;
And Sir Samuell Sterling, and the other Persons of
the Lieutenancy of London, and Mr. Jekell, being called
in to the Bar of the House; and the Matter being fully
heard;
Resolved, &c. That the Commitment of Mr. Jekell by
the late Lord Mayor and the Lieutenancy of London, was
in order to the Preservation of the King, and Peace of
the Kingdom.
Conventicles, &c.
Resolved, &c. That a Committee be appointed to inspect the Act against Conventicles; and the Act of the
Militia; and to see wherein either of them are defective;
and how they may be supplied; and report the same to
the House.
And it is referred to Sir Job Charleton, Lord Cornbury,
Sir Thom. Lee, Sir Thom. Allen, Colonel Sands, Sir Allen
Apsley, Sir Char. Wheeler, Sir Hugh Windham, Mr.
Phillips, Sir Thom. Dolman, Sir John Birkenhead, Sir
Solomon Swale, Sir John Barneby, Col. Birch, Sir Winston
Churchill, Sir Will. Coventry, Mr. Garraway, Mr. Coleman, Sir Adam Browne, Sir Robert Carr, Sir John Duncombe, Mr. Williamson, Mr. Cheney, Mr. Buscowen, Sir
Anthony Irby, Lord Fanshaw, Sir Will. Lowther, Sir
Thom. Higgons, Sir Francis Goodricke, Sir Edw. Masters,
Sir John Shaw, Mr. Hungerford, Mr. Milward, Sir Edw.
Thurland, Mr. Cholmley, Mr. Hampden, Sir Nicholas
Carew, Lord Richardson, Sir Tho. Meeres, Mr. Seymour,
Sir John Heath, Mr. Devereux, Sir Gilbert Talbot, Mr.
Daniell: And all that come are to have Voices: And
they are to meet To-morrow at Two of the Clock in the
Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber: And to send for
Persons, Papers, and Records.
Ordered, That Mr. Attorney General do draw up and
prosecute an Information against Mr. Hayes, in his Majesty's Court of King's Bench.
And then the House adjourned till To-morrow
Morning, Eight of the Clock.