House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 15 November 1689

Veneris, 15 die Novembris;1° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Privilege-a person petitions for discharge.

A PETITION of Tho. Bush, in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, was read; setting forth, That the Petitioner was committed for Taking of one Mr. Presgrave, Servant to the Lord Sherrard, a Member of this House: And not knowing he was such Servant, till some Hours after he was in Custody; and the Warrants being for a Breach of a Decree, under the Hands of the Lords Commissioners for the Custody of the Great Seal of England, the Petitioner could not discharge him, without making himself liable for the Debt: And begging the Pardon of the House; and praying he may be discharged, having submitted himself to the Lord Sherrard.

Ordered, That the said Thomas Bush be discharged out of Custody, paying his Fees.

And he was brought to the Bar; had a Reprimand of the House from Mr. Speaker; and discharged accordingly.

Stockbridge Election.

Mr. Grey reports from the Committee of Privileges and Elections, the Case, as it appeared to the Committee, touching the Election of a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Stockbridge in the County of Southampton: The which he delivered in at the Clerk's Table; and was there read; and is as followeth; viz.

Upon a Petition of Wm. Strode, Esquire, complaining of an undue Return and Election of Wm. Mountague, Esquire, to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Stockbridge in the County of Southampton;

And another Petition of William Reeves, and others, Burgesses of the said Borough, to the same Effect;

That, for the Petitioners, the Counsel insisted, That the Election of the Sitting Member was procured by Bribery: And called

Wm. Reeve, Tho. Pucknall, and John Hall: Who testified, That they were at Samuell Hall's, an Inn-keeper, and Constable of the Town, the Friday before the Election; where was present Mr. Montague, and several of the Electors: And that the said Hall declared, That any one that would vote for Mr. Montague should have Four Guineas: But could not say by whose Authority Hall offered it; only said, Before that Offer, the Generality of the Electors were inclined for Mr. Strode. That they could not name any Person that had received Money upon Account of the Election: But that one Odes, who voted for Mr. Montague, said, He was promised Four Guineas; and that he had received Part of it of one Gatehouse.

Odes, being called as a Witness, denied, That he had spoke to that Purpose: But said, He had borrowed Twenty Shillings of Gatehouse; but that Tho. Pucknall said, He should have Twenty Shillings in Hand, and Five Pounds afterwards, if he would vote for Mr. Strode.

Gosling said, He was promised by Gatehouse Four Guineas, to give his vote for Mr. Montague; and that he voted for Mr. Montague; and received his Money in Two Payments; viz. Forty Shillings the Day after the Election, and Two Pounds Six Shillings in October last: And Mr. Montague's Steward said, when he gave him the Forty Shillings, It was for his Charge in quartering Soldiers.

Tho. Blatch denied, He had received any Money for his Vote, nor was promised any: But said, The Gentleman gave him, of his good Will, for his Charge in quartering Soldiers, Forty Shillings; and that he had since received Two Pounds Six Shillings of Mr. Robinson, Mr. Montague's Agent, to bear his Charges to London, if there should be Occasion.

Rich. Rose said, He received Forty Shillings of Gatehouse, but had paid it him again; and since had received Forty-six Shillings towards his Charges.

Snow said, Odes confessed he had received Forty, and Twenty Shillings.

That, for the Sitting Member, the Counsel insisted, That Mr. Montague was chosen by much the greater Number; Mr. Montague having Forty-four Votes, and Mr. Strode but Six: And insisted, That more Money had been offered on the Behalf of Mr. Strode, than was alleged to be offered on the Behalf of Mr. Montague: And they produced a Paper signed by Forty odd of the Electors, dated the Thirtieth of October, 1689; and, amongst the rest, by Gosling.

The Paper imported, That the Electors had freely chosen Mr. Montague, without any Importunity.

Gosling owned the Signing of the Paper: But said, It was not read to him, nor he told the Contents of it.

Page Robinson, being examined, on the behalf of the Sitting Member, said, He read the Paper distinctly to the several Subscribers; and particularly to Gosling: That he never distributed Money directly or indirectly for Votes for Mr. Montague, but he paid Two Pounds Six Shillings to Gosling for his Charges; because he heard there was a Petition lodged in this House against Mr. Montague: That Mr. Montague gave him no Order to pay Money for quartering Soldiers; but some few Gentlemen met together after the Election and agreed upon it: That some was his own Money and some Mr. Montague's: That he believes, the Charges of Bills, and other Charges about the Election, might amount to Two hundred Pounds: That he paid Money to several towards their Charges to London; but denied he paid Forty Shillings to any the Day after the Election.

Blatch, being confronted with Mr. Robinson, said Mr. Robinson paid him Forty Shillings the Day after the Election.

Hugh Goddard said, Thomas Pucknall offered him Six Guineas to vote for Mr. Strode, and proffered the Cryer a Guinea to make Proclamation, That any one should have Six Guineas that would vote for Mr. Strode.

Richard White, the Cryer, said Pucknall had offered him a Guinea to cry, That if any Person would vote for Mr. Strode, he should have a Guinea in Hand and Five Guineas afterwards: But Pucknall did not say, He had any Authority from Mr. Strode; Nor did White see the Guinea: And he said further, That he, the said White, was sent by the Bailiff and Constable, to invite Mr. Montague down; and to tell him They would chuse him Burgess.

Daniel Tongue said, John Hall offered him Six Guineas to vote for Mr. Strode.

John Hall, being confronted with him, denied it; and said he never had such Thought.

Samuell Hall said, Pucknall offered him Ten Pounds, to be for Mr. Strode; and told him, Mr. Strode ordered him to do it.

Rich. Hewes, Bailiff, said, He, and Five or Six of his Neighbours, invited Mr. Montague to stand for Burgess; and never had a Farthing offered him.

And that, upon the whole Matter, the Committee, came to Three Resolutions: The which he read in his Place; and afterwards, delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: And being there read, are as followeth:

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That Wm. Montague, Esquire, is not duly elected a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Stockbridge in the County of Southampton.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That Wm. Strode, Esquire, is not duly elected a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the said Borough of Stockbridge.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the said Election of a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the said Borough of Stockbridge is a void Election.

The First of the said Resolves being read a Second time;

Resolved, That the House doth agree with the Committee, That Wm. Montague, Esquire, is not duly elected a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Stockbridge in the County of Southampton.

The Second of the said Resolves being read a Second time;

Resolved, That the House doth agree with the Committee, That Wm. Strode, Esquire, is not duly elected a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Stockbridge.

The Third of the said Resolves being read a Second time;

Resolved, That the House doth agree with the Committee, That the said Election of a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the said Borough of Stockbridge is a void Electtion.

Ordered, That Rich. Hewes, Bailiff of Stockbridge in the County of Southampton, Page Robinson, * Gatehouse, and Samuell Hall, of Stockbridge, aforesaid, be sent for, in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House; for giving and taking Bribes, at an Election of a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the said Borough.

The Question being put, That Tho. Pucknall be sent for, in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms also;

It passed in the Negative.

Resolved, That Wm. Montague, Esquire, be disabled from being elected a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Stockbridge.

The Question being put, That Wm. Strode, Esquire, be disabled from being elected a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Stockbridge.

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it passed in the Negative.

A Debate arising in the House, touching the Disfranchising of the said Borough for ever hereafter from sending Burgesses to Parliament; and, instead thereof, that Two more Knights for the Shire be chosen for the County of Southampton;

Resolved, That the Debate be adjourned until Monday Morning next, at Ten a Clock.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.