House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 22 February 1689

Veneris, 22 die Februarii; 1 ° Willielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Bailing and Escape of Breut.

A PETITION of Sir James Smith, in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, was read.

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to examine the whole Matter of Fact touching the Bailing of Mr. Robert Brent, who was committed for High Treason; and particularly, to examine Sir James Smith touching the same.

And it is referred to Sir Tho. Lee, Mr. Dalben, Mr. Colt, Sir John Moreton, Major Wildman, Colonel Birch, Sir Fra. Russell, Mr. Grey, Mr. Hampden, Mr. Sumers, Sir Wm. Williams, Mr. Manley, Sir Rich. Temple, Mr. Serjeant Maynard, Mr. Love, Mr. Arnold, Sir Hen. Capell, Sir Tho. Clarges, Lord Falkland, Sir John Guise, Colonel Tipping, and all the Members for the City of London; or any Five of them: And they are to meet at Four of the Clock this Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber; and they are impowered to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Resolved, That an humble Address be made to his Majesty, from this House, by such Members thereof as are of his Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council, to desire his Majesty to issue out a Proclamation, for a Reward to be given to such Persons as shall discover and apprehend Mr. Robert Brent; and that such as shall conceal him may be severely punished.

Graham's and Burton's Accounts.

Sir Robert Howard acquaints the House, That he hath, according to the Order of Yesterday, prepared an Account of all such Sums of Money as have been paid out of the Exchequer to Mr. Graham and Mr. Burton, for Prosecution of Law-suits; and also, of the particular Times of Payment of the same: The which he delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same was read; and is as followeth:

Monies paid at the Exchequer to Philip Burton, Gentleman, for Prosecuting and Defence of Law-suits, and other Affairs relating to his Majesty's Service, viz.

Monies paid at the Exchequer to Rich. Grahame and Philip Burton, for Prosecuting and Defence of Lawsuits; and other Affairs relating to his Majesty's Service, viz.

Mr. Auditor Done, a Member of this House, acquainting the House, that he had in his Custody the particular Accompts of Mr. Graham and Mr. Burton, relating to the said Monies; and that he was ready to produce the same, for the Service of the House.

Ordered, That the Committee, to whom the Matter of Fact touching the Bailing of Mr. Rob. Brent is referred, be impowered to inspect and examine the Accompts remaining in the Hands of Mr. Auditor Done, of all such Sums of Money as have been paid out of the Exchequer to Mr. Graham and Mr. Burton, or either of them, for Prosecution of Law-suits; and to make Report thereof, with their Opinions therein, to the House: And they are impowered to send for Persons, Papers, and Records, in relation to this Business: And that Mr. Auditor Done, Mr. Sacheverell, Colonel Whitley, Sir Christopher Musgrave, Sir John Knight, Sir Geo. Treby, Mr. Richard Moore, Mr. Gwyn, Mr. Gower, Sir Rob. Howard, Lord Brandon, Sir Fra. Drake, Mr. Paul Foley, Mr. Tho. Foley, be added to the said Committee.

Sir Robert Howard likewise acquainted the House, that he had received a Letter from Mr. Burton in the Tower, desiring him to come to him; and that he conceived, it might be for the Service of the House that he should go: But, however, he desired the Directions of the House therein.

Ordered, That Sir Robert Howard do immediately go and speak with Mr. Burton in the Tower.

Answer respecting Troops which came over with the King.

The Lord Wiltshire acquaints the House, that he and Sir Rowland Gwyn had, according to the Order of this House of Yesterday, waited upon his Maiesty with the Desires of this House, That he would be pleased to bestow a Donative upon those Forces which came over into this Kindom with him, and are now returning into foreign Service: And that his Majesty was pleased to say, "That he was very glad, that this House was so mindful of those Troops that came over with him; and that his Majesty will take care to fulfil the Desire of this House."

Reviving Proceedings at Law.

A Bill for Re-continuing of Actions and Process, lately depending in the Courts of Westminster, and for Curing of other Defects, was read the First time.

Ordered, That the Bill be read a Second time Tomorrow Morning.

Preventing Disputes concerning this Parliament.

Mr. Foley reports from the Committee, to whom the ingrossed Bill, sent from the Lords, for removing and preventing all Questions and Disputes concerning the Assembling and Sitting of this present Parliament, was referred, That the Committee having taken the Matter thereof into Consideration, they had thought fit to make several Amendments: Which he read in his Place, with the Coherence; and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were all read over; and afterwards again one by one; and were, upon the Question, severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

There being a Blank left in the said Amendments for a Time to be put in;

Resolved, That the Blank be filled up with these Words "First Day of March."

The Bill, with the said Amendments, was read a Third time.

A Proviso, in Paper, was offered, as an Amendment and Addition to the Bill: Which, upon the Question put for the Reading thereof, was read accordingly, Three times; and, upon the Question, severally put thereupon, after some Amendments made thereunto, the same was agreed unto.

Resolved, That the said Bill, with the Amendments and Proviso, do pass.

Ordered, That Mr. Foley do carry the said Bill, with the said Amendments and Proviso, to the Lords, for their Concurrence with the said Amendments and Proviso.

Adjournment.

The Question being put, That the House do adjourn;

The House divided.

The Noes go forth.

And so it was resolved in the Affirmative.

And then the House adjourned till To-morrow . . . . ., Nine a Clock.