Lunæ, 28 die Octobris; 1° Gulielmi et Mariæ.
Prayers.
Westminster, &c. Courts of Conscience.
A BILL for erecting a Court of Conscience for the
City of Westminster, Borough of Southwarke,
Tower Hamlets, and Out Parishes within the Weekly
Bills of Mortality, was read the First time.
Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.
Stockbridge Election.
A Petition of Wm. Strode, Esquire, was read; setting
forth, That, upon the Death of Oliver St. John, Esquire,
who lately served in this Parliament for the Borough of
Stockbridge in the County of Southampton, a Writ did
lately issue for electing another Member there; and that
Twenty-sixth September last was the Day for the Election;
and the Persons in Nomination were Wm. Montague,
Esquire, and the Petitioner: That the Petitioner was
then duly elected by the Majority of the legal Electors:
Yet the said Wm. Montague, by undue Practices, prevailed with Richard Hews, Constable or Bailiff of the
Borough, to return the said Montague as duly elected;
whereas he was not; and whereby the Petitioner is deprived of his Right in Sitting in this House: And praying the Consideration and Relief of the House.
Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to the
Consideration of the Committee of Elections and Privileges; to examine the Matter thereof; and report the
same, with their Opinions therein, to the House.
Ditto.
A Petition of Wm. Reeves, and others, Burgesses of
Stockbridge in the County of Southampton, was read;
setting forth, That Stockbridge is a Borough by Prescription; and hath Right to send Two Burgesses to Parliament: That Oliver St. Johns, Esquire, one of the
Members of the said Borough, being lately dead, and a
Precept directed to the Bailiff, for electing another
Member, the Twenty-sixth Day of September was the
Day appointed for the Election; when Wm. Strode, Esquire, was duly chosen by the Majority of the Electors:
But Wm. Montague, Esquire, and Richard Hews the
Bailiff, by Bribery, and other undue Practices, prevailed
with some of the Electors to vote for the said Montague,
whom the Bailiff hath returned in prejudice of the Petitioners: And praying the Consideration and Relief of
the House therein.
Ordered, That the said Petitioner be referred to the
Consideration of the Committee of Privileges and Elections; to examine the Matter thereof; and report the
same, with their Opinions therein, to the House.
Earl of Castlemaine committed.
The House being informed, that the Governor of the
Tower had brought up the Earl of Castlemaine; and that
they attended at the Door;
The Earl was brought in to the Bar; and heard what
he could say to the Matters he was charged withal.
And being withdrawn;
Ordered, That the Earl of Castlemaine be charged in
the Tower, by Warrant from this House, for High Treason, and other High Crimes and Misdemeanors.
Resolved That there be inserted, in the said Warrant,
these Words, "in endeavouring to reconcile this Kingdom to the See of Rome."
Message touching commitment of Earl Salisbury.
A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cooke and
Sir James Astry;
Mr. Speaker, We are commanded by the Lords to
acquaint this House, That they have committed the
Earl of Salisbury to the Tower.
And then the Messengers withdrew.
Charges against Sir T. Jenner.
The House being informed, that the Serjeant had
brought up Sir Thomas Jenner; and that he attended at
the Door;
He was brought in to the Bar; and charged with such
Things as the House had been informed of concerning
him; and he desiring Time to answer thereunto.
And then withdrew.
Ordered, That Sir Thomas Jenner have Time, till thisday-sevennight, to answer to such Matters as he was this
Day charged withal by this House: And that, in the
mean time he do continue in the Custody of the Serjeant
at Arms.
And he being called in again; Mr. Speaker acquainted
him therewith.
Earl of Castlemaine's Imprisonment.
The House being informed, that the Earl of Castlemaine desired to be admitted to say something further
to the House;
He was brought in to the Bar accordingly: Where he
desired, That he might have the Liberty of the Tower,
and of his Servants, and others, to come to him; and not
be confined close Prisoner, as Orders were of late given
he, and other Prisoners there, should be.
And being withdrawn;
Abuses of Imprisonment by Gaolers.
And a Debate arising in the House, touching the close
Confinement and ill Usage of Prisoners in Newgate, and
several other Prisons, by the Gaolers;
Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to prepare
and bring in a Bill for the better regulating the Imprisonment of the Subject.
And it is referred to Mr. Hawles, Mr. Arnold, Sir
Wm. Williams, Sir Thomas Lee, Mr. Garway, Sir John
Banks, Mr. Palmes, Colonel Birch, Sir Rob. Cotton,
Mr. Paul Foley, Lord Brandon, Sir Rob. Clayton, Mr.
Sacheverell, Sir Tho. Littleton, Mr. Fenwick, Mr. Grey,
Sir Jos. Tredenham; or any Three of them: And it is
recommended to Sir Thomas Lee, and Mr. Hawles to
take care of the Matter.
Resolved, That it be referred to the same Committee,
to examine into the Abuses committed by Gaolers to their
Prisoners; and report the same to the House: And they
are to meet at Three of the Clock, in the Speaker's
Chamber.
Resolved, That Mr. Attorney General be ordered to
prosecute Mr. Richardson, the Keeper of Newgate, for
his illegal Usage of several of the King's Subjects, during
their Imprisonment.
Answer to Address.
Mr. Hamden acquaints the House, That he, with
others of his Majesty's Privy Council, had attended his
Majesty with the Address of this House, That his Majesty would be pleased to direct, that a State of the War
for the ensuing Year be prepared to be brought into this
House: And that his Majesty was pleased to say, It
should be done; and it was preparing.
The House to go to Dinner at Guildhall.
Sir Robert Clayton acquaints the House, That the City
of London had considered of a Way for the House to go
to Dinner into Guildhall To-morrow, without Crowding
or Disturbance; viz. through St. Lawrence Church: And
therefore desired them to repair thither, accordingly.
Bill of Pains and Penalties.
Ordered, That the adjourned Debate, touching the
Number of Persons to be mentioned in the Bill of Pains
and Penalties, be resumed upon Wednesday Morning
next, at Ten of the Clock.
Plymouth Election.
A Petition of Martin Ryder, Esquire, was read; setting forth, That the Petitioner being duly elected for the
Borough of Plymouth in the County of Devon, in the
room of Arthur Earl of Torrington, by the Majority of
Electors polled, and allowed by Wm. Symonds, Esquire,
then Mayor of the Borough; yet, that the said Mayor
hath returned the honourable John Granvile, Esquire, in
Prejudice of the Petitioner: And praying the House to
take the Merits of the said Election into their Consideration; and to appoint a Day for the Hearing the same,
and giving Redress therein.
Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to the
Consideration . . . . . of Elections and Privileges; to examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with
their Opinions therein, to the House.