House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 8 December 1696

Martis, 8 die Decembris;

8° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Coal Wharfs, &c.

ORDERED, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill to ascertain the Damages, and settle the Rents, upon Coal-Wharfs and Way-leaves, within the Counties of Durham and Northumberland, and the Town and County of Newcastle upon Tyne: And that Sir William Blackett and Mr. Carr do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Coparcenary Lands.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for the more easy obtaining Partitions of Lands in Coparcenary, joint Tenancy, and Tenancy in common: And that Sir Wm. Coriton and Mr. Hoblyn do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Whitby Harbour.

A Petition of the Ship-masters, Seamen, and other Inhabitants, of the ancient Town of Whitby, in the North Riding of Yorkshire, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the said Town is one of the most commodious Harbours in the North of England; being capable of receiving 500 Sail of Ships, that may go out or in with any Wind fit to go to Sea in, either Northerly or Southerly; and is a great Nursery for Seamen. That, the ancient Piers being much decayed, the Mouth of the Harbour is almost choaked up, and in Danger of being quite stopped up, unless the Piers be repaired; to the great Prejudice of the Trade of the Town, and Navigation; many Ships and Men having been lost for want of such Reparation; but the same cannot be done without the Assistance of the House: And praying Leave to bring in a Bill for Repair of the Piers of the Harbour of the said Town.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill, according to the Prayer of the said Petition: And that Sir John Kay do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

African Company.

A Petition of divers Merchants trading to South Barbary, on the behalf of themselves, and others trading to those Parts, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners, and their Predecessors, have been Traders thither for about 100 Years, to the great Advantage to this Kingdom; by exporting the Woollen Manufactures, and importing Copper, and other Merchandize, from Barbary, and Bullion from Spain: That the Bill, now depending in the House, for settling and regulating the Trade to Africa, will totally deprive the Petitioners of their said Trade; and, consequently, the Loss of it to the Nation; none of the African Company having traded to South Barbary: And praying, That their said Trade may be secured to the Petitioners, as to the House shall seem meet.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of the whole House, to whom the said Bill is committed.

African Company.

A Petition of the Clothiers, Serge-makers, Ironmongers, Cutlers, Pewterers, Comb-makers, and divers other Artificers and Tradesmen, of the City of Bristol, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners have found, by Experience, that a free Trade to Africa doth carry off abundantly more of their Manufactory, than when the same is confined to a select Number of Men; and that a Plenty of the Product of that Country gives a great Encouragement to Trade; which if monopolized, the Dearness will prove ruinous to the Petitioners: And praying, That the Trade to Africa may not be confined; but so regulated, as the House shall think fit.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for settling and regulating the Trade to Africa is committed.

Commissioners of Accounts.

A Bill for examining, taking, and stating the publick Accounts of the Kingdom, to commence from the Expiration of the present Commission, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to a Committee of the whole House.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Monday Sevennight, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the said Bill.

Resolved, That this House will then proceed to a new Election of Commissioners for taking and stating the publick Accounts.

Ways and Means.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Thursday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of Ways and Means for raising the Supply granted to his Majesty, for carrying on the War against France, for the Service of the Year 1697.

Irish Arrears.

Ordered, That Mr. Harrison, Mr. Mason, Mr. Cornwallis, Mr. Whyte, Mr. Bagnold, Colonel Godfrey, Mr. Thornhagh, Sir John Kay, Sir Edward Seymour, Sir Cha. Carteret, Sir Wm. Hustler, Mr. Lambton, Mr. Moor, Sir Fra. Molyneux, Sir Wm. Lowther, Colonel Stanley, Mr. Cartwright, Mr. Monstevens, Sir Tho. Roberts, Mr. Robert Bertie, be added to the Committee, to whom the Petition of John Hackwell, and other Troopers, who served in the Wars in Ireland, in Colonel Villers' Regiment, is referred.

Greibe's Complaint.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee, to whom the Petition of Mary Greibe was referred, be received.

Mr. Brotherton reported, from the said Committee, the Examinations taken before them, in relation to the Matter of the said Petition; which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same was read; and is as followeth; viz.

That the Committee met, and proceeded upon the Examination of several Witnesses, in relation to the Matter complained of in the said Petition:

But there being several Examinations and Informations, upon which Conrade Griebe was committed into the Custody of James Kittson, One of his Majesty's Messengers, for treasonable Practices, now remaining in the Hands of an honourable Member of this House; and which the Committee thought very necessary to be laid before them; but having no Power to oblige the Honourable Member to produce them, they thought it not convenient to proceed any further, till they had taken the Directions of the House in that Particular; and directed, that the Matter should be reported, so far as they had proceeded, specially, to the House, as followeth; viz.

Mrs. Greibe being called in, produced a Copy of the Warrant under Mr. Secretary Trumball's Hand, dated the 7th March 1695, for apprehending Conrade Greibe for treasonable Practices.

Then the informed the Committee, That she applied herself to the Earl of Portland, in order to procure her Husband's Discharge; and his Lordship told her, He was going to Sir William Trumball's, and would discourse him about it:

That she went again to his Lordship; who then told her, That her Husband was a Rogue and a Villain; and that he should be tried by a Court-Martial; and that he did not know but that her Husband had committed Treason: That, at the same time also, my Lord Portland told her, That, if she would find Security for her Husband, perhaps he might come over again:

She further said, That there were two Petitions, One to the King, the other to the Parliament, from several Officers and Soldiers turned out of Count Steinbock's Regiment of Horse, which were intended to be presented, and were delivered to Conrade Griebe the 6th of March last; and the next Day Greibe was apprehended by Kitson; and, having continued in his Custody for about Ten Days, he was from thence hurried away, by a File of Musqueteers of the Dutch Guards, and clapped on Shipboard, and carried to Brussells, where he now remains.

James Kittson, the Messenger, being called in, informed the Committee, That he had a Warrant under the Hand of Mr. Secretary Trumball, for apprehending Conrade Griebe, charging him with treasonable Practices; which he produced to the Committee:

That one Jacob Costen, Adjutant, belonging to Colonel Rechteren's Regiment, appointed the said Kitson to meet him in the Park, in order to apprehend the said Griebe; which he accordingly did; and having staid there some time, and not finding the said Griebe, they went the next Morning, by Four a Clock, to Grieb's House; where the said Kitson, taking a Constable to his Assistance, seized him, and his Papers, and brought the said Griebe to his House; and the Papers he carried to Mr. Secretary Trumball's:

That some short time after, the said Adjutant Costin, with another Person, came to Kitson's House, and ordered him to keep Griebe up a close Prisoner: Whereupon, the said Kitson waited upon Mr. Secretary Trumball, to know his Pleasure therein; who said, That he must keep him up close: And further faith, That, before such Order, the said Griebe had his Liberty in the House, amongst divers other Prisoners in his Charge; but afterwards Griebe was confined to a Chamber, where he had very good Usage:

The said Kitson further informed the Committee, That, during the time the said Griebe was in his Custody, he attended Mr. Secretary Trumball several times, to know when he should bring the said Griebe before him, in order to be examined; but Mr. Secretary did not appoint any time; and that the said Griebe was never examined, while in his Custody:

He further said, That afterwards the said Adjutant, with a Dutch Serjeant, and a File of Musqueteers, came to his House, between Two and Three a Clock in the Morning, to demand Griebe out of his Custody; who asked them, what Authority they had to demand him: They said, They had a Warrant for the same; and they produced a Warrant signed by the King, and countersigned by Mr. Secretary Trumball; upon which he delivered up the said Griebe to them.

The said Kitson, being demanded to produce that Warrant, by which Griebe was delivered out of his Custody, said, That he had it not; for that he delivered it to Mr. Secretary Trumball, at the Door of the Council-Chamber; and that he had several times asked Mr. Secretary Trumball for the same, but the said Mr. Secretary had not redelivered it to him; but told him, That he would produce it to the Committee: And further faith, That the said Warrant was entered in a Book in Mr. Secretary Trumball's Office; and that he gave Mrs. Griebe a Copy thereof in the Secretary's Office.

Mrs. Griebe, being asked by the Committee, Whether Kitson delivered her a Copy of the Warrant, by which Griebe was delivered out of his Custody, said, That she did demand a Copy thereof of the said Kitson; but he refused to give her a Copy; saying, She would make a Bustle about it, and it would come to my Lord Portland's Ears, and he would be angry.

Mr. Bridger said, That he went with Mrs. Griebe to Mr. Secretary Trumball's Office, and Kitson was there; and they desired him to let them see the Warrant, by which Conrade Greibe was delivered out of his Custody; but Kitson then refused to let her see the same, or to give her a Copy thereof.

That, in August last, he went again with Mrs. Greibe to Mr. Secretary Trumball's Office; and Mr. Secretary asked him, What the Woman would have; to which the said Bridger answered, That she desired to have her Husband; and Mr. Secretary was pleased to tell him, That he had done all that lay in his Power, and had spoke to my Lord Portland about that Matter; and said, That he believed she might have her Husband again, if she could find Security for him; to which Mr. Bridger replied, That no Man would be Security for another, unless he knew the Crime for which he was accused, especially he being beyond Sea: Upon which Mr. Secretary Trumball said, That the King was advised he might send away a Foreigner.

Mrs. Greibe, being called in again, and asked by the Committee, Whether she had a Copy of the Warrant, by which her Husband was delivered out of Kitson's Custody, said, She had not; but that a young Man in the Office did begin to write a Copy, and then went in to Mr. Ellis, to ask, as she supposes, Whether he might give her a Copy thereof; and immediately came out again, and tore that which he had wrote.

Mr. Kitson, being demanded by the Committee, Whether he gave the said Mrs. Greibe a Copy of the said Warrant, as he had before positively affirmed, then said, That a Boy in the Office gave her a Copy.

Mrs. Greibe confessed she saw the Warrant in Kitson's Hand, and read it; but denied that she ever had a Copy thereof, either from Kitson, or the Boy, or any other Person whatsoever.

Mr. Johnson said, That Colonel Rechteren, under Pretence of some Accounts depending between him and Griebe, caused the said Greibe to be seized, and carried to the Guard Chamber at St. James's; and Greibe sent for Johnson to advise with him what to do, he being an Attorney; and he went to the Guard-Chambers; and the Soldiers would not suffer him to go in to him, or speak with him; but, at last, he received a Letter from Mr. Greibe privately, by a Minister, who brought it to him in a Bible: Then he went and moved the Court of King's Bench for a Habeas Corpus, which was granted; and Mr. Greibe, by virtue thereof, was brought up to the King's Bench Court, and there bailed:

That, afterwards, the said Greibe brought his Action against the Colonel, who put in Bail to the same: And soon after the said Colonel arrested the said Greibe, on an Action for 1,000 l.; who insisted upon special Bail, though he could not prove any thing sufficient to hold him to special Bail; whereupon, the said Colonel was summoned before a Judge, to shew Cause why Greibe should not be discharged upon common Bail; where the Judge told him, That if he could not make out his Debt, he must be forced to discharge him upon common Bail; and the said Greibe was accordingly discharged thereupon.

Mr. Clark said, That some Differences and Law-suits happening between Colonel Rechteren and Conrade Greibe, and he having many Years Acquaintance with Greibe, was desired by him to assist him:

That there was a considerable Sum of Money due from the Colonel to Greibe, which Greibe compounded, and was to receive 150 l. for 250 l. or thereabouts, and the Day appointed for him to receive it; and Greibe desired him to go with him to receive it, he not being used to count English Money; but when they came to the Place where the Money was to be paid, the Adjutant, Jacob Costen, drew his Sword at Greibe; and, if he had not interposed, believes the said Costen would have done him some Mischief.

Ordered, That the said Report be re-committed to the said Committee.

Ordered, That the Warrant, for Kitson the Messenger's delivering Conrade Greibe out of his Custody, be brought to the said Committee.

Ordered, That the said Committee be revived; and do meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Lords desire Leave for Members to attend them.

A Message from the Lords, by Mr. Justice Eyres and Mr. Baron Powys:

Mr. Speaker,

We are commanded by the Lords to acquaint this House, That there being Occasion to examine the Lord Cutts and Mr. Vernon, Members of this House, in relation to the Bill, intituled, An Act to attain Sir John Fenwick Baronet of High Treason, the Lords desire, That they may appear in the House of Lords, when such Occasion shall require.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Ordered, That the Lord Cutts and Mr. Vernon have Leave to appear at the House of Lords, as their Lordships do desire.

And the Messengers were called in; and Mr. Speaker acquainted them therewith.

Informations respecting Greibe.

Resolved, That an humble Address be presented to his Majesty, by such Members of this House are of his Majesty's most honourable Privy-Council, That he will please to cause the Informations, in relation to Conrade Greibe, to be laid before this House.

Enquiry concerning the Fleet.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning, proceed to take into Consideration the Books and Papers, which have been laid before this House, relating to the Fleet; and inquire how it came to pass, that the French Thoulon Fleet was not intercepted in going into Brest; and nothing to intervene: And that Sir George Rook, Vice-Admiral Mitchell, and Sir Cloudesly Shovell, do then attend.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned.

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