William and Mary, 1694: An Act for imprisoning Sir Thomas Cook Sir Bazill Firebrace Charles Bates Esq. and James Craggs and restraining them from aliening their estates. [Chapter XIX. Rot. Parl. pt. 6.]

Recital that an Act of Parliament and Charter relating to the East India Company had been obtained with the Privity of Sir Thomas Cooke and others and that they had not made any full Discovery relating thereto.

The said Persons committed to the Tower.

WHEREAS by several informations and examinations taken before certaine Committees of both Houses dureing this present Session of Parliament it doth appeare [That (fn. 1) ] there have been diverse practices ( (fn. 2) ) by corrupt meanes [to procure (fn. 3) ] a Charter and an Act of Parliament to bee granted and passed relateing to the East India Company And Sir Thomas Cooke Knight Sir Bazill Firebrace Knight Charles Bates Esq[uire] and James Craggs have been privy to the same and haveing not upon their examinations hitherto made a full or satisfactory discovery concerning the premisses, Now to the end that their persons and estates may bee secured so as to answer and bee liable to justice in Parliament Bee it enacted by the Kings most excellent Majesty by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons in Parliament assembled and by authority of the same That the said Sir Thomas Cooke Sir Bazill Firebrace Charles Bates and James Craggs shall bee and are hereby committed to the Tower of London there to remaine in custody without bail or mainprize until the end of the next Session of Parliament unlesse they shall sooner bee discharged by his Majesty by the consent of the Two Houses of Parliament.

II. And disabled during such Commitment from aliening their Estates, &c.

except for Subsistence.

And bee it enacted by the authority aforesaid That the said Sir Thomas Cooke Sir Bazill Firebace Charles Bates and James Craggs shall from and after the First day of May in the yeare of our Lord One thousand six hundred ninety and five dureing the time in which they shall or ought to bee detained in custody by virtue of this Act bee disabled from aliening settling charging or incumbring any of their lands tenements or hereditaments otherwise then by their last wills and testaments in case they shall happen to die within the said time And alsoe shall dureing the [said time (fn. 4) ] bee disabled from conveying or granting of any of their personal estate in trust for themselves their wives or children and alsoe from otherwise disposeing of any of their personal estate except for the subsistance of themselves and their families or for paying such just debts as are or shall bee due or contracted before the Three and twentieth day of April in the yeare of our Lord One thousand six hundred ninety and five and except perishable goods.

III. Proviso for Power to dispose by Will.

Provided that this Act shall not extend to disable them from disposeing of any of their estates by their last wills and testaments in case they shall happen to die dureing the time aforesaid.

IV. Proviso for Sir Bazill Firebrace giving a Portion with his Daughter.

[Provided always That the said Sir Bazill Firebrace may give with his daughter in marriage such portion and provision as hee hath already agreed to give not exceeding the value of Twenty thousand pounds Any thing herein contained to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding. (fn. 5) ]