House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 25 March 1690

Martis, 25 die Martii; 2° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Wareham Election.

A PETITION of Thomas Skynner, Esquire, was read; setting forth, That the Petitioner, with Colonel Earle, were duly elected Burgesses, by the Majority of the Poll, for the Borough of Wareham in the County of Dorsett; but that yet, notwithstanding, the present Mayor hath made a Return of Mr. Okeden, and the said Colonel Earle, in Prejudice of the Petitioner: And praying that he may be relieved in the Premises.

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

Answer to Address, and Resolutions.

Mr. Speaker reports, That he had (with the House) attended his Majesty Yesterday; and presented to him the Resolutions of the House: And that his Majesty was pleased to express himself to this Effect; viz.

Gentlemen,

I thank you for your Address, and for your Resolution to assist and support Me: And as I have ventured my Life for the Nation, so I am resolved always to do.

I hope you will take my Speech into your speedy Consideration; and that this may be a happy Session.

Newtowne Election.

A Petition of Sir James Forbes, and Thomas Brotherton, Esquire, was read; setting forth, That, on the Eleventh Instant, they the Petitioners were duly elected Burgesses by the Majority of those that had a Right to vote for the Borough of Newtowne in Lancashire, and ought to have been returned; but that Mr. Wm. Wood the Steward, and Tho. Stirrop the Bailiff, have unduly returned Sir John Chichley and Geo. Cholmondley, Esquire, in Wrong to the Petitioners: And praying the Consideration and Relief of the House in the Premises.

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

Great Marlow Return amended.

The House being informed, that the Clerk of the Crown attended at the Door, according to their Order, to give an Account of his Return touching Great Marlow;

He was called in; and came up to the Table: Where he gave the House an Account touching his making the said Return: And afterwards, according to the Order of the House, he did, at the Table, take off the File the Indenture, by which Mr. Bucknall was returned a Burgess for the said Borough.

Hartford Election.

A Petition of the Inhabitants of the Borough of Hartford, was read; setting forth, That the Borough is a Borough by Prescription; and, before any Charter, sent Members to Parliament elected by the Inhabitants not taking Alms: That, in 1681, the Mayor, and some of the Corporation, granted Freedoms to great Numbers of Clergymen, and others, living remote, in order to outweigh the Inhabitants and legal Votes of the said Borough: And that, at the last Election, many of the said honorary Freemen were notwithstanding Exceptions taken to them by the Inhabitants, admitted to poll by the present Mayor; by reason of which he hath returned Sir Wm. Cooper, and Sir Wm. Lemon, when as the Majority of such the Inhabitants were for Sir Tho. Byde, who ought to have been returned in the room of Sir Wm. Lemon; whereby the Petitioners are now unduly represented; and are likely to lose their ancient Privilege of electing Representatives to serve in this present Parliament: And praying the said undue Return may be taken into the Consideration of the House.

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

Highways and Streets.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for the better Repair of Highways and Streets.

And it is recommended to Mr. Serjeant Wogan, Mr. Buscawen, Mr. Bowyer, Sir Edm. Jennings, Sir Tho. Clarges, Sir Wm. Poultney, and all the Members that serve for the City of London and Westminster, County of Middlesex, and Borough of Southwarke, to take care of the Bill.

House interpose to prevent a Quarrel.

Then the House took into Examination the Quarrel between Sir Tho. Mompesson and Mr. Okeden.

And Mr. Okeden complained, That Sir Thomas Mompesson had assaulted him in the Lobby belonging to this House: And that Mr. Pyper, and Colonel Trelawny, Members of the House, and the Serjeant at Arms, and the Doorkeepers, could give an Account thereof.

Whereupon Mr. Pyper, and Colonel Trelawny, did give the House an Account of what they had to say touching the said Matter: And

It was Resolved, That the Serjeant and Officers without Doors be examined touching the same.

And the Serjeant was examined: And also one of the Doorkeepers was called in; and, at the Bar, examined accordingly.

And Colonel Trelawny informing the House, That he had heard Mr. Ash, another Member of the House, say, That he knew something touching the Assault; and acquainting the House therewith;

It was also Resolved, That Mr. Ash be now desired to give an Account of what he knows of the Matter.

And he did give an Account accordingly.

Whereupon there being some Difference between Colonel Trelawny and Mr. Ash, upon their Evidence, in Relating of the Matter; and the House fearing some Inconveniences might, by reason thereof, ensue between them;

It is Resolved, That Colonel Trelawny, and Mr. Ash, do not take Notice of what was said between each other, upon their Evidence, touching the said Matter.

And the House required the same of them; and enjoined them to pass their Honours to the House, That they would not.

Which they did respectively do, accordingly.

After which, Sir Thomas Mompesson asked the Pardon of the House.

And then he and Mr. Okeden withdrew. And the Matter between them was debated in the House.

Resolved, That Sir Tho. Mompesson do in his Place, ask the Pardon of Mr. Okeden.

Whereupon they were both called into the House again: and Mr. Speaker acquainted Sir Tho. Mompesson, That the House had considered, that he was an ancient Member; and therefore were very indulgent to him by their Resolution: Which he acquainted him with; and required him to ask Pardon accordingly.

Which he did do.

Mitchell Election.

A Petition of Humphry Courtney, Esquire, was read; setting forth, That he was duly elected to serve for the Borough of Mitchell, in the County of Cornwall: But that, nevertheless, the Portreve hath returned Anth. Rowe, Esquire, in Prejudice of the Petitioner: And for that the said Mr. Rowe is an utter Stranger to the said Borough, and not known by any of the Electors; but procured his Voices by Bribery; and having dispersed divers scandalous Libels, reflecting upon several Members of the last House of Commons, for their Votes therein; and praying the Consideration and Relief of the House in the Premises.

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

New Radnor Election.

A Petition of Robert Harley, Esquire, was read; setting forth, That he was duly elected for the Borough of New Radnor, by the Majority of those that had a Right to vote: Yet that the Bailiff hath returned Sir Rowl. Gwynne, in Prejudice to the Petitioner: And praying the Consideration and Relief of the House in the Premises.

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

Wilton Election.

A Petition of Sir John Nicholas, was read; setting forth, That the Petitioner, with Thomas Windham, Esquire, were duly elected for the Borough of Wilton in the County of Wilts, by the Majority of duly qualified Electors: And yet John Toogood, the Mayor, by indirect Practices, hath returned Sir Rich. Grubham How, Baronet, instead of the Petitioner: And praying the Consideration and Relief of the House in the Premises.

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

St. Edmund's bury Election.

A Petition of Sir John Mordaunt, and John Wildman, Esquire, was read; setting forth, That the Petitioners were duly elected for the Borough of St. Edmund's-bury, in the County of Suffolke, by the Majority of the Burgesses and Freemen of the said Borough; who demanded of the Alderman (being the Chief Officer) to return the Indenture: but he refused so to do; but withdrew, with some few of the Burgesses; and caused the said Precept to be rased, and the Freemen expunged; and privately made a pretended Election of Sir Rob. Daverse and Hen. Goldwell, Esquire; and caused them to be returned: And praying the Consideration of the House in the Premises; and that the Petitioners might be admitted to serve for the said Borough.

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

Preston Election.

A Petition of Thomas Patton, Esquire, was read; thereby setting forth, That the Petitioner was duly elected a Burgess for the Borough of Preston in the County Palatine of Lancaster: Yet the Mayor, Bailiffs, and several of the Burgesses (to whom the Precept was directed), by undue Practices, have returned the honourable the Lord Willoughby of Eresby, in Prejudice to the Petitioner: And praying the Consideration of the House, and Relief in the Premises.

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

Privilege-Detention of a Member by arrest.

A Petition of Wm. Mountague, Esquire, was read; thereby setting forth, That he is elected and returned a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Stockbridge in the County of Southampton, as by the Records in the Crown Office appears: But, being in Execution in the Custody of the Marshal of the King's Bench at the Time of the Election, the Marshal scruples to give him the Liberty he ought to have by Privilege of Parliament, to attend his Duty there: And, in regard therefore, that by Law, notwithstanding such his Execution, he is a Person eligible to serve in Parliament, and is so elected; he prayed, that his Privilege of Parliament may be allowed so long as it continues; and he be enlarged, to attend his Service in the House.

Ordered, That it be referred to a Committee to examine the Matter of the said Petition; and search for Precedents; and make their Report thereof to the House.

And it is referred unto Sir Thomas Lee, Sir Christopher Musgrave, Mr. Paul Foley, Sir Robert Cotton, Mr. Hamden, Sir Tho. Littleton, Mr. Gwyn, Sir Wm. Poultny, Sir Rich. Reignolds, Sir John Lowther, Major Perry, Sir Rich. Temple, Mr. Serjeant Wogan, Sir Tho. Clarges, Mr. Powle, Mr. Cognisby, Mr. Cha. Mountague, Colonel Austen, Mr. Solicitor General, Mr. Palmes, Mr. Serjeant Trenchard, Mr. Parkhurst, Mr. Bowyer, Mr. Finch, Mr. Arnold, Sir Walter Young, Mr. England, Sir Samuell Bernadiston, Mr. Sherrard: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Three of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber: And are impowered to send for Persons, Papers, and Records, in order to search for Precedents, as aforesaid.

Great Marlow Election.

A Petition of Ralph Bucknall, Esquire, was read; thereby setting forth, That James Chace, Esquire, and the Petitioner, were duly elected for the Borough of Great Marlow, by the Majority of such Inhabitants as have Right to vote; and an Indenture of Return signed and sealed by the Constables (the proper Officers of the Borough), and the said Inhabitants: After which, one of the Constables was called out of the Bed; and prevailed on to sign and seal another Indenture, with the other Constable; wherein Mr. Chace and Sir Wm. Whitlocke were returned; which First Indenture was delivered to the High Sheriff, and a Counter-part thereof by him signed and sealed: But the Indenture was not delivered into the Crown Office at the same time with the other Indenture, to the great Wrong of your Petitioner: And praying the Consideration of the House in the Premises.

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

Debtors Relief.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for Relief of poor Prisoners.

And then the House, upon the Question put, adjourned until To-morrow Morning, Nine of the Clock.