House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 10 June 1657

Wednesday, 10 June, 1657.

Privilege.

MR. Thomas Gorges acquaints the House, That he hath received, from some Justices of the Peace in the County of Somerset, several Examinations concerning Words spoken by one John Browne, of Ilchester, against the Dignity of the Parliament, and several Members thereof: Which Examinations were read; being as followeth;

The Examination of James Portnill, taken upon Oath this 29th of May 1657, before Robert Hunt, and John Cary, Esquires, Justices of the Peace for the County aforesaid, at Castle-Carye.

JAMES Portnill, of Ilchester in the said County, Mercer, upon Oath, saith, That, being at the House of Valentine Dawe, in Ilchester in the County aforesaid; and talking with Mr. John Browne, of the said Town, thro' the Window of the said House, the Casement being open; on Tuesday the 12th Instant; the said John Browne, upon some Discourse between them concerning Kingship, and this Examinant then saying, That it was the Pleasure of the Parliament to propose or offer such a Thing unto the Protector; the said Browne replied, "The Parliament! A Den of Thieves, Rogues, and Robbers," or Words to that Effect; And that the said Browne did, at the same time, use very reproachful Language of particular Members of the Parliament; to wit, of the Lord Chief-Justice Glyn, Sir Thomas Wroth, Colonel Jephson, and the Lord Broghill; saying these Words, "Glynn, Wroth, Jephson, and Broghill, are Knaves and Fools;" or Words to that Purpose: And then said, "Glyn hath been arraigned for High Treason."

The Examination of Valentine Dawe, of Ilchester in the said County, Taylor; taken upon Oath at Castle Carye, this 29th Day of May 1657, before Robert Hunt, and John Carye, Esquires, Justices, &c.

THIS Examinant, upon his Oath, saith, That, about the 12th Day of May last, one Mr. John Browne, of Ilchester in the County aforesaid; came to the House of this Examinant, in Ilchester aforesaid; and the Casement of the Window being open, looked into the Room where this Examinant was at Work with one Wm. Marters; and one James Portnill, of the said Town, coming then into the Room, where this Examinant was at Work, there was a Discourse between the said Browne and Portnyll, concerning the Ministers, the Army, and Parliament: And there being some Speeches concerning the Parliament's Proposals about Kingship, the said Browne said, "That the Protector was a wiser Man than to be gulled or guided by Rogues, Knaves, and Fools:" But whether the said Browne spake the said Words relating to the Parliament, or Army, or Ministers, he cannot tell. And the said Browne speaking of Sir Thomas Wroth, said, "He was pulled or thrown out of the Parliament." And saith, That the said Browne then spake Words concerning the Lord Chief-Justice Glyn, Colonel . . . Jephson; but, being then at his Work, he (this Examinant) did not take any particular Notice of the Words.

The Examination of Wm. Masters, of Ilchester in the said County; taken at Compton-Pancefoot this 30th of May, before Robert Hunt Esquire, one of the Justices assigned to keep the Peace of the County aforesaid.

THIS Examinant, upon his Oath, saith, That, being at the House of Valentine Dawe, in Ilchester aforesaid, on Tuesday the 12th of May instant, there then happened a Discourse between John Browne of Ilchester, and James Portnill of the same Place, concerning the Proposition of the Parliament to the Lord Protector, in relation to Kingship; the said Browne then told Pertnill, "That the Lord Protector was wiser than to be ruled by a Company of Knaves and Fools;" And said, "That they were a Den of Rogues and Thieves:" And then used very reproachful Words concerning the Lord Chief-Justice Glyn, Sir Thomas Wroth, and Colonel Jephson: And used these Words also, "Such Fellows as Glyn, Wroth, and Jephson, they would have a King; but my Lord Protector will not be ruled by Knaves and Fools:" And repeated these or the like Words often: Whereupon this Examiannt said, Mr. Browne, these are high Words that you have spoken: I would not speak them for all that I am worth:" And, the next Morning, this Examinant heard the said Browne use the same Words again; and said to this Examinant, "Will. do you go tell them of it:" And the said Browne said, "That Sir Thomas Wroth had been kicked out of the Parliament home once already;" and, "That Colonel Jephson had run about the Country with a Company of Rogues at his Arse."

Resolved, That John Browne, of Ilchester, be sent for as a Delinquent.

Assessment for Scotland.

Resolved, That a Bill for an Assessment for Three Years, for Scotland, be brought in: And that Sir James Mackdowell, the Earl of Twedale, and Mr. Smyth, do bring in the same.

Assessment for Ireland.

Resolved, That a Bill be brought in for the Three Years Assessment for Ireland: And that Major Aston, and Major Morgan, do bring in the same:

Assessment.

A Bill for an Assessment for Three Years, to commence from the 24th Day of June 1657, * * * * was this Day read the Second Time.

Resolved, That the first Debate shall be touching the Proportioning of England, Scotland, and Ireland, in this Assessment.

The Question being put, That the Rate for Ireland, in the Monthly Assessments for Three Years, shall be Ten thousand Pounds by the Month;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So it was Resolved, That the Rate for Ireland, in the Monthly Assessment for Three Years, shall be Ten thousand Pounds by the Month.

Ordered, That this Debate be adjourned till Two of the Clock.

Wednesday, 10th of June, 1657. Afternoon.

Assessment.

RESOLVED, That the Rate for Scotland, in the Monthly Assessment for Three Years, shall be Six thousand Pounds by the Month.

Resolved, That the Rate for England, in the Monthly Assessment for Three Years, shall be Four-and-thirty thousand Pounds by the Month.

The Question being put, That the Rates and Proportions of the Monthly Assessments shall stand and continue in this Bill, as formerly they were;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So it passed with the Negative.

Resolved, That the Debate upon this Bill shall be adjourned till Friday Morning, Eight of Clock.