House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 17 January 1674

Sabbati, 17 die Januarii, 1673.

Prayers.

O'Brien's Petition.

ORDERED, That the Committee to whom the Petition of the Lord O'Brien was committed, be impowered to send for Persons, Papers, and Records; and to hear what shall be offered on the Behalf of the Duke of Lauderdale: And that Sir Hen. Capell, Sir John Moreton, Sir Rich. Temple, Mr. Peirpoint, Mr. Sacheverell, be added to the Committee.

Room for keeping the Journals in.

Ordered, That Sir Charles Harbord, Sir Richard Temple, and Sir John Mallett, do attend the Lord Great Chamberlain, do desire his Lordship to give Order for repairing the Court of Wards; and particularly, that the inner Room be forthwith repaired, and put into fitting Condition for the safe Keeping of the Journals and Records of this House.

Recovery of Tythes.

Resolved, &c. That a Bill be brought in for Repair of Churches, and for Vicars better Recovery of their small Tythes: And that it be referred to Sir Edw. Deering, Colonel Birch, Mr. Cheney, Mr. Gwyn, Mr. Westphaling, Sir Anth. Irby, Mr. Maynard, Mr. Buscawen, Mr. Crouch, Sir John Birkenhead, Sir Trevor Williams, Sir John Hobart, Sir Philip Warwick, Mr. Chalmondley, Sir John Lowther, or any Three of them, to prepare and bring in a Bill; And they are to meet on Monday next, at Three of the Clock, in the Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Impeachment of Earl Arlington.

The House then resumed the adjourned Debate concerning the Lord Arlington.

And the last Clause, charging him with traiterously corresponding with the King's Enemies, and, contrary to the Trust reposed in him, giving Intelligence to them, coming first into Debate;

An Information being given to the House, that one Captain Pauldin was the Person that would give Evidence as to that Article;

Captain Pawldin being called in; and the Article read to him; and being demanded by Mr. Speaker, what he could testify; and desiring Time to prepare, and give in Evidence in that Particular;

And being withdrawn;

He was again called in; and demanded, What Time he did ask to prepare his Evidence: He did thereupon answer, That the Person that was to make it out, was an English Gentleman, and now in France, but would return again, if he were living; and was expected here every Day; but he knew not by what certain Time he would return.

Resolved, &c. That this House will proceed upon the Articles, Head by Head, as they stand in the Paper delivered in, and read.

And the First Head, and the several Articles inducing thereto, being read; and the Matters thereupon debated; and the Second Head, and the first Four Articles inducing thereto, being read; the Fourth Article being, That the said Earl, presuming to trample upon all Estates and Degrees of the Subjects of this Realm, the better to subdue them to his Will and Pleasure, hath causelessly and illegally imprisoned many of his Majesty's Subjects;

And Information being given of an illegal Commitment of Sir Thom. Muddiford, and his Son, to the Tower; and of Commitment of one Mrs. Dawson; and of one Overvechell, a Dutchman, and a Popish Priest taken in Herefordshire, saying Mass in his Habits, and sent to the County Gaol, and from thence delivered, and brought to the Tower, and from thence discharged;

Ordered, That Sir John Robinson, Lieutenant of the Tower, do, on Monday Morning next, produce all the Warrants of the Commitment of Sir Thomas Muddiford, and his Son; and of the Herefordshire Priest's Commitment and Discharge; and the Warrants of Commitment of Mrs. Dawson, and Mr. Overvechell the Dutchman, And that Sir Thomas Muddiford, and his Son, do attend the House on Monday Morning.

Ordered, That Sir John Mallet, Sir Cha. Wheeler, Sir John Coventry, Colonel Birch, Sir John Hammer; or any Three of them, do go home with Sir John Robinson, and peruse the several Warrants of Commitment and Discharge, which he is to bring on Monday Morning; and the Books of Entries thereof; and to report the Matter to the House.

Ordered, That the further Debate of the Matter concerning the Lord Arlington, be adjourned till Monday Morning, Ten of the Clock.

And then the House adjourned till Monday Morning, Nine of the Clock.