House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 4 November 1689

Lunæ, 4° die Novembris 1° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Hastings Election.

A PETITION of Peter Gott, Esquire, was read; setting forth, That upon the Vacancy of a Baron for the Port of Hastings, the Petitioner stood Candidate to be elected there; and accordingly was chose by several of the Electors; and would have been by more, had due Notice been given, and fair Usage had: And the Petitioner ought to have been returned; but that Colonel Beaumont being Governor, or Lieutenant to the Governor of Dover Castle, and to whom the Writ was directed, hath returned himself, though not regularly chosen, nor was he capable of being chosen, being the Officer who had the Execution of the Writ: Whereby, and by several other irregular Proceedings, the Petitioner conceives the said Colonel Beaumont ought not to serve for a Baron of the said Port, but the Petitioner: And praying the Consideration of the House in the said Premises, and Relief therein.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections: And they are to examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinions therein, to the House.

Privilege.

The House being informed, that Richard Tayler and Wm. Woodland had arrested a Servant of Hen. Bull, Esquire, a Member of this House; and that they being told thereof, they used contemptuous Words, both against this House, and against the said Mr. Bull; in Breach of the Privilege of this House;

Ordered, That the said Richard Tayler and Wm. Woodland be sent for in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House; to answer for such their Breach of Privilege.

Privilege Persons petition for Discharge.

A Petition of Dutton Seaman, Wm. Allen and James Witham, was read; setting forth, That the Petitioner Allen having an Interest by an Under Lease, at the Rent of Thirty Pounds per Annum, holden from the Lessee of the Earl of Warwick and Holland, of certain Ground in Cloth Fair, upon which the Petitioner had laid out above Three hundred Pounds in building; and there being a Passage through an Alehouse, Part of the Premises, which is since converted in . . Warehouses; the Petitioner was advised, the Passage through his own House might be stopt; did accordingly stop up both his Doors: Whereupon one Samuel Ford, a Coffeeman, being employed as a Bailiff to the Earl of Warwick, coming to the Premises, and breaking open the Doors and taking away the Bolts and Locks, the Petitioner Allen employed the Petitioner Dutton Seaman to be his Attorney, to bring an Action of Trespass against Ford, and one Newstead a Smith, that helped to break open the said Doors: Which coming to be tried in Trinity Term last, by a Defect of a View by the Jury not seeing both the Entries, a Verdict passed for both the Defendants: That the Petitioner moved the Court of King's Bench, on Wednesday last, for a new Tryal; which was not granted, but he was left to the Liberty of a New Action: And that he then employed the said Mr. Seaman to take out a new Writ against Ford and Newstead; and the Petitioner Witham arrested them Yesterday; but discharged them again in a few hours, without Bail: That the Petitioner Seaman is ready to depose, on Oath, That he knew not, that the said Ford or Newstead were protected by Mr. Montague, a Member of this House; nor ever heard they were his Servants, or that he hath any Right in the Premises, but as Guardian to the Earl of Warwick: And the Petitioners being not withstanding taken into Custody for a Breach of Privilege, and they submitted themselves to the House; and prayed to be discharged out of Custody, or to be heard to the Matter aforesaid.

Militia.

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to prepare and bring in a Bill for settling the Militia of this Kingdom.

And it is referred to Sir John Guise, Sir Fr. Russell, Mr. Sacheverell, Colonel Sackvile, Mr. Coningsby, Mr. Masters, Sir Fran. Drake, Sir Edw. Harley, Sir Tho. Mompesson, Sir Wm. Yorke, Lord Castleton, Colonel Buckly, Sir Tho. Clarges, Mr. Paul Foley, Colonel Birch, Sir Edward Askue, Sir Tho. Barnadiston, Mr. Foley, or any Three of them: And it is recommended to Sir John Guise to take care of the Bill.

Charges against Sir T. Jenner.

The House being informed, that Sir Thomas Jenner attended at the Door, according to the Order of Thisday-sevennight;

He was called in to the Bar; and heard what he had to say to the Matters objected against him.

And being withdrawn;

Ordered, That the said Sir Thomas Jenner be committed to the Serjeant at Arms attending this House.

Privilege-Quarrel between Members.

A Complaint being made by Sir John Knight, a Member of this House, That the Lord Brandon Gerrard, another Member of this House, had, at a Committee on Saturday last, given him some threatening Language;

And the said Lord Brandon Gerrard not being in the House;

Ordered, That the Serjeant at Arms do give the said Lord Brandon Gerrard notice to attend in his Place, upon Thursday Morning next; to answer to the Matter of the said Complaint.

Ways and Means.

Resolved, That the House do, upon Thursday Morning next, Ten of the Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to take into Consideration the Way to raise the Supply given to their Majesties.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned.