House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 23 April 1679

Mercurii, 23 die Aprilis, 1679.

Prayers.

Royal Fishery.

ORDERED, That a Committee be appointed to receive Proposals concerning the Royal Fishery; and to report the same to the House.

And it is referred to Sir Trevor Williams, Sir John Coryton, Mr. Browne, Sir Anthony Irby, Mr. Lewis, Sir Henry Capell, Sir John Hewley, Sir Walter Earnle, Mr. Nosworthy, Mr. Pilkington, Sir John Trevor, * Ashton, Colonel Birch, Mr. Duboyes, Sir John Wynn, Sir John Holman, Mr. Lambert, Sir Robert Carr, Sir John Knight, Mr. Wright, Sir Samuel Bernardiston, Mr. Booth, Mr. May, Sir Nathaniel Herne, Sir John Dawney, Sir Thomas Player, Sir Patience Ward, Mr. Mansell, Mr. Papillon, Sir Charles Harbord, Mr. Johnson, Sir Anth. Deane, * Delavall, Sir Henry Foord, and all the Members of this house that are Merchants, and the Members that serve for the City of London: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Two of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber: And they are to send for the Deputy Governor of the former Company of the Royal Fishery: And are impowered to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

LordMohun's Estate.

An ingrossed Bill, sent down from the Lords, intituled, An Act to enable the Trustees of the Manors and Lands late of Charles Lord Mohun, therein named, to fell and sell Timber, and to make Leases, for Payment of his and his Father's Debts; and to raise a Portion for his Daughter; was read the First Time.

Resolved, &c. That the Bill be read a Second Time.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Leave be given to Mr. Thomas Harvey, to go into the Country for Ten Days.

Dale's Estate.

A Bill to enable Trustees to sell the Lands of the Coheirs of Charles Dale Esquire, deceased, for Payment of Debts, was read the First time.

Resolved, &c. That the Bill be read a Second time.

Illegal raising Money.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for Prevention of Raising and Levying of Money upon the Subject, but by Act of Parliament.

Supply Bill; disbanding the Army.

A Bill for paying off and dismissing the Army, was read the Second time.

Resolved, &c. That the Bill be committed, upon the Debate of the House, to a Committee of the whole House: And that the House will, To-morrow Morning, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to proceed upon the said Bill.

Impeachment of Lord Bellasis, &c.

Mr. Treby reports from the Committee of Secrecy appointed to look into the Answers of the five Lords in the Tower; and to inquire into the Methods of proceeding to Tryal upon Impeachments; That the Committee had agreed upon a Report to be made to the House: Which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same was again read, together with the said Answers, except the Answer of the Lord Bellasis: and is as followeth; viz.

The Committee is of Opinion, That the Lord Bellasis, being impeached of High Treason by the Commons, cannot make any Answer but in Person.

That the several Writings put in by the Lord Powys, Lord Stafford, and the Lord Arrundell of Wardour, which they call their several Pleas and Answers, are not Pleas or Answers, but argumentative and evasive; to which the Commons neither can nor ought to reply.

That if the Answers of the said Lord Powys, Lord Stafford, Lord Arundell, as well as that of the Lord Petre, were sufficient, yet there ought not to be any Proceeding against them, or any of them, until the Lord Bellasis also put in a sufficient Answer, in Person.

That the Commons do demand of the Lords, That their Lordships would forthwith order and require the said Lord Powys, Lord Stafford, Lord Arundell, and Lord Bellasis, to put in their perfect Answers; or in Default thereof, that the Commons may have Justice against them.

Resolved, &c. That this House will sit this Afternoon: And that a Message be sent to the Lords, to desire that their Lordships will do the like.

Ordered, That Sir John Trevor do go up with the Message.

Sir John Trevor reports, That the Lords have adjourned till To-morrow Morning.

Resolved, &c. That the Consideration of the Report made upon the Answers of the five Lords in the Tower, to the Articles of Impeachment exhibited against them by this House, be adjourned till To-morrow Morning, Ten of the Clock.

And then the House adjourned till To-morrow Morning, Eight of the Clock.