House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 27 November 1689

Mercurii, 27 die Novembris 1°Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Privilege- Persons petition for Discharge.

A PETITION of Richard Hewse, Samuell Hull, and Thomas Gatehouse, Inhabitants of Stockbridge, in the County of Southampton, in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, was read; setting forth, That they being sorry they had incurred the Displeasure of this House, by encouraging the giving Money, and by other Irregularities, at the Election; but they being so near Ruin with their Families, by the Army of the late King continually quartering upon them; and praying the Consideration of the House, and that they may be discharged from their Confinements;

Ordered, That the said Rich. Hewse, Samuell Hall, and Tho. Gatehouse, be discharged out of Custody; paying their Fees.

And they were called in to the Bar; and severally reproved by Mr. Speaker for their Offences; and discharged accordingly.

Privilege.

The House being informed of a Breach of Privilege committed against Captain Reignolds, a Member of this House, by one William Whitlock, in his taking and disposing of several Hoys of Culm, or Chalk, containing Four or Five hundred Loads; and that he said, he would so do, notwithstanding the said Captain Reignold's Privilege;

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections, to examine the Matter of the said Complaint; and report the same, with their Opinions therein to the House.

Dartmouth Election.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee of Elections, touching the Election of a Burgess, to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Dartmouth, be made To-morrow Morning at Ten of the Clock.

Leave for Member to attend Lords.

Ordered, That Sir John Trevor have Leave to attend at the Bar of the House of Lords, in a Cause between Cooke and Cobb.

Answer to Address.

Major Wildman acquaints the House, That he had, according to their Order, attended his Majesty with their Address for the securing Commissary Shales, and his Accompts and Papers: And that his Majesty was pleased graciously to accept the Care of this House, and to give an Answer to this Effect: That he had some time since taken Order therein, being informed of the said Captain Shales' Misdemeanors in his Employment; and had written to Duke Schombergh for that Purpose: And that his Majesty was pleased further to add, That he verily believed, what was desired, was already effectually done; though, the Wind being contrary, he had not as yet received any Account thereof from Ireland.

And a Copy of the said Letter, being produced to the House, was delivered in at the Clerk's Table; and there read; and is as followeth:

William R.

RIGHT Trusty and Right intirely Beloved Cousin and Counsellor, We greet you well. Whereas We have understood from you, and others, the Mismanagement of John Shales, Esquire, Commissary General of the Provisions, in the Discharge of the Trust reposed in him, for supplying our Army in Ireland with Provisions, and other Necessaries; which has been very prejudicial to Our Service: We have therefore thought fit hereby to signify unto you Our Royal Will and Pleasure, That upon the Arrival of Our Trusty and Well-beloved William Robinson, and Bartholomew Vanhomrig, Esquires, you cause the said John Shales to be put in Arrest, when you shall find it most convenient for Our Service: And that, at the same time, Care be taken to seize the Books and Papers of the said John Shales; and to cause them to be viewed and examined in his Presence: And that, in case any thing shall be found in them, importing any Crime against Us, the said Books and Papers be safely kept: And, if any thing shall appear material in the Discovery of any Fraud, in relation to his Accompts, Copies be taken of such Parts or Clauses of them, and Marks put upon every Page of the said Accompts, as likewise upon any material Interlineation, Words or Figures blotted; and such further Care taken in the Perusal and Examination of his said Books and Papers in his Presence; as you shall think fit: And that, for the avoiding any Pretence that may be made by him of Loss or Imbezilment of his Papers or Accompts, they be not detained from him; provided nothing be found in them of treasonable Practices against Our Person and Government: It being Our further Pleasure, That you impower and direct the said William Robertson, and Bartholomew Vanhomrig, to receive into their Charge from the said John Shales, and his Deputies, upon a Survey first taken, the Remains of the Provisions of the Army, and such as shall be consigned to him; as also the Horses and Carriages belonging to the Provisions; and do in all things take upon them the Trust and Execution of the Office of Commissary General of the Provisions of Our Army in Ireland. And We do further direct, That the said John Shales be detained in safe Custody, until he shall have rendered to the said Wm. Robinson, and Bartholomew Vanhomrig, a full Accompt of the Monies, Provisions, and Cloaths received by him for the Use of our Army: And that, upon their transmitting the said Accompts to the Commissioners of Our Treasury, Our further Pleasure shall be known concerning him. And so We did you very heartily Farewell.

Given at Our Court at Whitehall, the Sixth Day of November One thousand Six hundred and Eightynine; in the First Year of Our Reign.

By His Majesty's Command,

Nottingham.

To Our Right Trusty and Right intirely Beloved Cousin and Counsellor, Fredrick Duke of Schombergh, General of Our Armies.

Privilege- counterfeiting a Protection.

The House being informed, that one * Smith of *, near the Devizes in Hampshire, had, in Breach of the Privileges of this House, produced a . . . . ., as under the Hand and Seal of Sir Richard Onslow, a Member of this House, and as allowed by the Sheriffs of Surrey and Wilts; and had thereby got himself discharged from an Arrest;

And Sir Richard Onslow acquainting the House, That he never gave any such, or any other Protection; and, if any such be, it is counterfeited and forged;

Ordered, That the said * Smith be sent for in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, for his said Breach of Privilege, in counterfeiting the said Protection.

Sir Robert Nappier acquaints the House, That he had been informed, That several written Protections had been given by Members of this House; and that undue Means had been used to obtain such Protections.

Ordered, That Sir Robert Nappier do This-day-sevennight produce the Persons at the Bar of the House, who gave him the said Information.

Leave for Member to attend Lords.

Ordered, That Sir William Williams have Leave to attend the Bar of the House of Lords, as Counsel, in a Cause between Cooke and Cobb.

Address respecting Shales.

Then the House resumed the Debate Yesterday adjourned:

And the Question being proposed, That the House do agree with the Committee, that an humble Address be presented to his Majesty, That his Majesty will be pleased to let this House know, Who recommended Commissary Shales to his Majesty, and advised his being employed;

The previous Question was put, That that Question be now put:

The House divided.

The Noes go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

Then the main Question being put, That the House do agree with the Committee, That an humble Address be presented to his Majesty, That his Majesty will be pleased to let this House know, Who recommended Commissary Shales to his Majesty, and advised his being employed;

The House divided.

The Noes go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to prepare the said Address, and report the same to the House.

And it is referred to Sir Rowl. Gwyn, Mr. Edw. Montague, Sir Tho. Clarges, Colonel Birch, Mr. Paul Foley, Mr. Hen. Herbert, Sir Rob. Cotton, Colonel Austen, Mr. Garway, Sir Fran. Drake, Mr. Christy, Mr. Hawles, Mr. Ellwell, Sir Rich. Onslow, Mr. Dalben, Sir Rob. Sawyer, Mr. Sacheverell, Mr. Jo. Hamden, Mr. Grey, Sir Peter Coryton, Sir Francis Russell, Mr. White, Sir Tho. Lee, Sir Walter Young, Sir Wm. Cooke, Mr. Smith, Lord Digby, or any Five of them: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Four of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.