House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 26 April 1675

Lunæ, 26 die Aprilis, 1675.

Prayers.

Abraham Palmantier, George Gosselin, Theodore Russell, and James Frontin, did this Day take the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, in order to their Naturalization.

Coal Trade.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for easing and encouraging the Coal Trade; and, that it be read in a full House, on Wednesday, after Ten of the Clock in the Morning.

Coal and Wood Measures.

A Bill for regulating the Measures, and to prevent Abuses in the Sale of Coal and Wood, was read the First time.

Resolved, &c. That this Bill be read a Second time, in a full House.

Mayne's Petition.

Upon Information to the House, That a Petition had been exhibited, by Mistake, of one Mr. Mayne; and Leave being desired to withdraw it;

Ordered, That Leave be given to withdraw the said Petition.

Hearth Money.

An additional Bill for settling the Duty of Hearth Money, was read the First time.

Resolved, &c. That this Bill be read a Second time.

Illegal Exactions.

A Bill to prevent illegal Exaction of Money from the Subject, was read the Second time.

Resolved, &c. That this Bill be committed to Mr. Stockdale, Sir Eliab Harvey, Sir Courtney Poole, Sir John Covert, Mr. Garraway, Sir Edw. Hungerford, Sir John Talbott, Sir Francis Russell, Mr. Powle, Mr. Swynfen, Col. Whitley, Mr. Thyn, Sir John Mallett, Mr. Hopkins, Sir Tho. Littleton, Sir John Knight, Sir Tho. Lee, Sir John Hotham, Mr. Sacheverell, Col. Grey, Sir Phill. Musgrave, Sir John Holland, Mr. Russell, Mr. Crouch, Sir John Lowther, Mr. Vaughan, Sir Anth. Irby, Mr. Mallet, Sir Nich. Carew, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Hoby, Sir Hen. Ford, Serjeant Hardes, Sir Edw. Deering, Mr. Boscowen, Mr. Waller, Colonel Strangewayes, Mr. Sherrard, Sir Tho. Clergis, Sir Robert Carr, Mr. Serjeant Maynard, Sir Lanc. Lake, Mr. Bennet, Colonel Birch, Mr. Weld, Sir John Shawe, Sir Richard Ford, Serjeant Rigby, Sir Wm. Coventry, Sir Wm. Hickman, Colonel Strode, Sir Tho. Meeres, Mr. Palmes, Sir Wm. Lewis, Mr. Culliford, Sir Fra. Drake, Mr. Daniell, Sir Joseph Ash, Sir Tho. Mompesson: And all that shall come are to have Voices: And they are to meet To-morrow, at Three of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber: And &c. to send * * *

Earl of Danby's Impeachment.

A Charge or Impeachment against Thomas Earl of Danby, Lord High Treasurer of England; containing several Offences, Crimes, and Misdemeanors of a very high Nature; being presented and opened to the House, and afterwards brought in and delivered at the Clerk's Table; and read:

And the Matter being debated; which are as followeth: viz.

A Charge or Impeachment against Thomas Earl of Danby Lord High Treasurer of England; containing several Offences, Crimes, and Misdemeanors of a very high Nature.

I. THAT the said Earl hath overthrown and violated the ancient Course and Constitution of the Exchequer, by perverting the Method of Receipts, Payments, and Accounts, contrary to Law; whereby the King's Revenue is put into Confusion, and a wasteful Way of Expence; to the Destruction of his Majesty's Credit; and exposing his Majesty's Treasure and Revenue to private Bargains and Corruptions; and hath ingrossed into his own Hands the sole Power of Disposing almost all the King's Revenue; laying aside the Chancellor and Under Treasurer of the Exchequer, and other Officers: Whereby the usual and safe Government of his Majesty's Affairs relating to his Revenue, and all Checks and Comptrolls are avoided.

II. That, a Suit of Law being intended about the Marriage of the Daughter of Sir Thomas Hyde, the said Earl caused one Mr. Brandly, a principal Witness in the said Case, to be arrested by an extraordinary Warrant from one of the Secretaries of State; and to be kept for some Time in close Custody; during which Time the Agents of the said Earl did labour the said Mr. Brandly, by Threatenings and Promises of Reward, not to declare the Truth: And at Midnight he was brought, and examined before his Majesty, upon Oath; where the said Earl was present, and assisting: Whereupon the said Mr. Brandly did, by the Means aforesaid, deliver in a Testimony, contrary to his own Knowledge, and against his Conscience; he being then in Duress: By which illegal Practices his Majesty was highly abused, the Parties concerned in the said Law Suit greatly prejudiced, and the Truth suppressed, to the manifest Obstruction of Justice: And all this was done with an Intent to procure the said Heiress to be married to the Second Son of the said Earl.

III. That the Earl hath received very great Sums of Money, besides the ordinary Revenue, which have been wastfully spent, and far greater Sums than ever issued for secret Service, without Account; the King's Debts remaining unpaid, the Stores unfurnished, and the Navy unrepaired, to the Discredit and Hazard of the King and Kingdom.

IV. That the said Earl hath violated the Rights and Properties of the People, by stopping, without Authority, their legal Payments, due in the Exchequer.

V. That though the Office of Lord High Treasurer of England is always very full of great and necessary Employments, yet the said Earl hath also assumed to himself the Management of the Irish Affairs, which were in precedent Times dispatched always by the Secretaries, and passed in Council; thereby interrupting the said Secretary's Office; and neglecting his own; and subtily enabling himself, the better to convert a very great Sum of Money out of the Irish Revenues, to his own private Advantage.

VI. That the said Earl hath procured great Gifts and Grants from the Crown, whilst under great Debts, by Warrants countersigned by himself.

VII. That about the Fourth of December 1674, at the Hearing of a Cause in the Treasury Chamber, some Acts of Parliament, now in Force, were urged against a Proclamation, and contrary to what his Lordship aimed at: Whereupon the said Earl, in Contempt of the Law, uttered this arbitrary Expression, "That a new Proclamation is better than an old Act;" several of his Majesty's Subjects being present: And, upon his Lordship's Report to the Privy Council, the Person in Question, being a Foreigner, and not obeying such Proclamation, but pursuing his Right at Law, was banished the Kingdom.

Resolved, &c. That as to the Charge presented against Thomas Earl of Danby Lord High Treasurer of England, this House will proceed Head by Head; and hear such Proofs, Instances, and Circumstances relating to each Article, as are requisite to an Impeachment.

Resolved, &c. That this House will proceed in the further Consideration of this Business To-morrow Morning: And that the Matter concerning the Navy, which was appointed for To-morrow Morning, be adjourned till Wednesday next.

Customs and Excise Patents.

Ordered, That the Patents which relate to the Customs and Excise, be brought in To-morrow, by the Officer in whose Custody they are: And that the Chancellor of the Exchequer be desired, if he be in a Condition of Health, to be then present, or otherwise to appoint his Secretary to give his Attendance.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees that were to sit this Afternoon, be adjourned till To-morrow in the Afternoon.

And then the House adjourned till Three of the Clock, in the Afternoon.

Post Meridiem.

Excise and Customs Patents.

ORDERED, That the Officers of the Excise and Customs, or such other Officer, in whose Custody the Patents are, do To-morrow Morning attend the House with the Patents last passed, for the Disposal of the said Revenues by the Lord Treasurer.

And then the House adjourned till To-morrow Morning, Eight of the Clock.