House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 2 February 1658

Tuesday, the 2d of February, 1657.

Privilege.

JOHN Brown, according to the Order of this House made Yesterday, was this Day brought to the Bar of this House, as a Delinquent: And, after he had for some time kneeled at the Bar, Mr. Speaker commanded him to stand up; and examined him upon the Charge formerly exhibited against him in this House, upon the Oaths of James Portnill, Valentine Dawe, and William Masters, formerly read in this House the Tenth Day of June last; Who, upon his Examination, confessed several of the Crimes charged against him; and, kneeling down again at the Bar, most humbly acknowleged the Greatness of his Offence; and craved the Mercy and Pardon of this House for the same: Whereupon the said Brown was commanded to withdraw; And being withdrawn; It was

Resolved, &c. That John Browne shall, for his Offences against this House, and some of the Members thereof, be committed Prisoner to the Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, for One Month.

The said John Browne was called in again: And, kneeling at the Bar of this House, Mr. Speaker told him, That the House had taken into Consideration the great and exorbitant Offences he was guilty of, that deserved an extraordinary and exemplary Punishment: That, nevertheless, the House had not appointed a Punishment for him anyway answerable to his Demerits; but that, in great Mercy, they had lessened and mitigated his Punishment; though he villified this House, and the Members thereof: And that whereas others, for a less Offence, had been very highly censured, and undergone exemplary Punishments, the House, upon Consideration of what he had already suffered, had, for his great Offences, committed him a Prisoner, only for One Month, to the Serjeant at Arms attending this House: And Mr. Speaker pronounced the said Sentence on the said John Browne, kneeling at the Bar, accordingly: Who most humbly acknowleged the Justice of this House, and their great Mercy shewed towards him, in mitigating his Punishment; and promised to demean himself dutifully to this House, and the Members thereof, in all things, for the future.

Appellation of the Other House.

The House, according to former Order, took into Consideration the Debate, adjourned to this Day, concerning the Apellation of the Persons to whom the Answer shall be made concerning the Message delivered to this House by Mr. Justice Windham and Mr. Baron Hill.

Resolved, &c. That this Debate be adjourned till Tomorrow Morning, at Nine of the Clock.