House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 26 February 1659

Saturday, the 26th of February, 1658.

Prayers.

Committee Rooms.

THE House being acquainted, that the TreasuryChamber, where the Committee of this House, for Inspection of the Accompts and Revenue of the Commonwealth, were appointed to sit, was too streight and inconvenient for the Managing of those great Affairs committed to them, to sit, and dispatch their Business in; It is

Ordered, That the Serjeant at Arms attending on this House do forthwith cause the Rooms in the Court of Requests, called the Queen's Court, to be fitted and prepared for the Use and Service of the Committee of this House appointed for the Inspection of the Accompts and Revenue of the Commonwealth: And that the Keys of those Rooms be, for that End, forthwith delivered to the Serjeant at Arms: And that the said Committee do make use of those Rooms, and meet and sit in them, for the better Dispatch of the great Affairs referred and committed to their Care and Management.

Imprisonment of Portmans.

Mr. Terill reports from the Grand Committee of the House for Grievances, and Courts of Justice, The State of the Case, concerning Mr. John Portmans, a Prisoner in the Tower, as it appeared to the Committee; viz. "That the Lieutenant of the Tower, the Third of February 1657, received a Letter from the late Lord Protector, early in the Morning, directing him to apprehend Mr. John Portmans, amongst others, forthwith: That the same Day in the Afternoon, a Warrant was sent to the Lieutenant of the Tower, under the Hand of the late Lord Protector, to require and authorize him to apprehend and imprison Mr. Portmans: That the same Night, or shortly after, upon that Warrant, Mr. Portmans was taken by a Lieutenant, and about Six Soldiers, under the Command, and by the Order and Direction, of the Lieutenant of the Tower; and hath ever sithence remained a Prisoner there, without any Trial, or other Proceedings had against him;" together with the Opinion of the said Committee thereupon: And it is

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Committee, That the Apprehending, Imprisonment, and Detaining of Mr. John Portmans a Prisoner in the Tower, by the Lieutenant of the Tower, was and is illegal and unjust: And that the said John Portmans be discharged from his Imprisonment in the Tower, without any Fees, or other Charges, to be paid by him.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. Speaker do issue his Warrant, under his Hand, to the Lieutenant of the Tower, for the Discharge of Mr. Portmans from his Imprisonment, accordingly.

Privilege- Case of Nevill and Strowde.

The House being acquainted, That according to the Order of this House, made on Friday the Eighteenth Day of February instant, Counsel on both Sides did attend to be heard in the Case and Matter of Law between Mr. Nevill, Plaintiff, and Mr. Strowde, late Sheriff of the County of Berks, Defendant, adjourned hither from the Court of Common Bench, for the Difficulty thereof; they were called in. The Counsel came to the Bar; and the Serjeant at Arms attended with the Mace within the Bar: And upon hearing of Mr. Henneage Finch and Mr. Windham, of Counsel with the Plaintiff; and of Mr. Greene and Mr. Wentworth, of Counsel with the Defendant;

Resolved, &c. That this Day Sevennight be appointed for the Determining of this Cause between Mr. Nevill and Mr. Strowde.

Respecting another House.

Resolved, &c. That the Debate concerning the Bounds and Powers of another House, be taken into Consideration on Monday Morning next, the first Business: And that nothing else do then intervene.

Ministers in Wales.

Resolved, &c. That no Members of this House, that are of the Committee for North-Wales and South-Wales; and are or have been accountable for any the Revenues of the Church within North-Wales or South-Wales or the County of Monmouth; or that are or have been Farmers thereof; shall have any Vote at the said Committee: And that all others that will come, shall have Voices.

Privilege.

Upon Information given to the House, That certain Articles were ready to be presented to the House, concerning some Discourses had, and Words spoken by Mr. Nevill, one of the Members of this House;

Resolved, &c. That Tuesday next shall be a Sevennight, be appointed to receive and read the Articles informed of to be now ready to be presented, concerning any Discourse had, or Words supposed to have been spoken, by Mr. Mr. Henry Nevill, one of the Members of this House.

Leave of Absence.

Resolved, &c. That the Lord Viscount Falkland, one of the Members of this House, shall have Leave to go into the Country for Ten Days.

The House was adjourned until Monday Morning.