Saturday, March 26,1659.
I went with Cousin Blakiston to meet friends at Barnet, so
could not attend.
Out of the Journals.
Resolved, that Mr. Knightley shall have leave to go into
the country for three weeks.
At the humble desire of Edward Birkhead, Esq. Serjeantat-arms; and in regard of his frequent indisposition of health,
Resolved, that Henry Middleton, Esq. be assistant to the
said Edward Birkhead, and that he do supply the place of
the said Serjeant, and attend for him as occasion shall require.
The House being informed that one John Vaughan, one of
the Sheriffs of the county-borough of Caermarthen, who for a
great misdemeanour and offence committed by him, and one
Griffith David, the other sheriff, in making, a false return of
Rowland Dawkins, Esq. to serve as burgess for the said town,
was sent for in safe custody, was apprehended, and was without at the door.
He was, by the command of the House, brought to the bar
as a delinquent; and, after he had kneeled down, and by
command of the House stood up again, Mr. Speaker told him
that he, with his fellow-sheriff, had made an undue return of
Rowland Dawkins, Esq. who had not above twenty voices,
to serve burgess for the said borough in this Parliament;
and had not returned David Morgan, Esq. who was chosen
for the said borough by one hundred and eight voices; for
which the House had ordered him and his fellow-sheriff to be
brought to the bar in the Serjeant's custody, and that now
they required of him the reasons of that false return.
The said John Vaughan, standing at the bar, made answer,
that he and his fellow-sheriff brought up twenty witnesses to
have made good their return; which they would not have
done, unless they had hoped to have justified themselves
therein; but that they were betrayed by their solicitor; and
that the lawyer, who was retained by the solicitor, had indeed
confessed the return to be undue; and that, if the House
pleased, he would return the indenture, for the election of
Mr. Morgan, according to the former order; that he had done
it before, if he had not been prevented by his being taken into
custody. And humbly prayed that he might be discharged
of his offence and imprisonment; and, in case the House were
otherwise minded, that then he might be further heard.
Resolved, that John Vaughan and Griffith David, Sheriffs
of the town and county-borough of Caermarthen, be set at liberty and discharged of their contempt.
The House being informed that a debt of 9016l., adjusted
and appointed to be paid to Major-general Browne, in the
year 1647, together with interest for the same, remained still
unsatisfied to him,
Resolved, that it be referred to a Committee to consider of
the debt due to Major-general Browne, and the interest due
for the forbearance thereof; and to report their opinion to
the House how the same may be speedily satisfied.
Captain Stone, Mr. Knightley, Mr. Cary Raleigh, Mr.
John Trevor, Colonel Birch, Mr. Annesley, Mr. Gerrard, are
appointed a Committee, to consider of Major-general Browne's
debt, and the interest due for it, according to the vote abovementioned. And they, or any three of them, are to meet concerning the same this afternoon at two of the clock, in the
Speaker's chamber.
Resolved, that the vote of the late Parliament of the 4th of
December, 1649, for discharging and disabling of Major-general Browne from being an alderman of the City of London,
be vacated; and that he be restored unto, and capable of
all offices, privileges, and precedencies there, as if the said
vote had never been made.
Resolved, that the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen of
the City of London be required to see the vote, above-mentioned, concerning Major-general Browne, put in effectual
execution.
Resolved, that the House do resume the question of transacting with the persons sitting in the other House, and additions to that question upon Monday morning, and that nothing else do then intervene.
The House adjourned itself until Monday morning at eight
of the clock.
Thus in the Journal, for I was absent, ut supra, but came
to attend the Committee of Privileges.
Mr. Scot had the chair.
Counsel was heard on both sides ill the business of Taunton, Sir William Windham and Colonel Gorges, against Dr.
John Palmer and Richard Bovett, Esq. The debate and
examination of this business was adjourned till Tuesday.