House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 13 November 1696

Veneris, 13 die Novembris;

8° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Coinage.

A PETITION of the Aldermen, Com-burgesses, and other Inhabitants, of the ancient Borough of Grantham, in the County of Lincolne, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners are not only unable to pay Taxes, Rent, and carry on their Trades, but are reduced to great Perplexity, in buying Necessaries for the Subsistence of their Families, by the Non-currency of unclipped hammered Money, and the Want of new Money among them: And praying the Relief of the House in the Premises, that they may chearfully bear the Charges of the ensuing Year.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for the further remedying the ill State of the Coin of the Kingdom; and encouraging the bringing Plate into the Mints, to be coined; is committed.

Fees of Persons committed not paid.

A Petition of Samuell Powell Esquire, Serjeant at Arms attending this House, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, the last Session of Parliament, Richard Roberts, and several Persons, were, by Order of this House, taken into his Custody, and set at Liberty by the Prorogation, without paying any Fees; and, among the rest, Mr. Aaron Smith, who continued Seventy-two Days in Custody, paid but 13£. 6s. 8d.; and that others were ordered to be committed, but could not be taken, though he was at great Charges in relation to them: And praying the Consideration of the House in respect thereof.

Roberts and Smith to attend.

And the House being informed, That the said Richard Roberts had not yet given in his Accounts, relating to Sir John Morgan's, and other Regiments, to which he was Agent;

Ordered, That the said Richard Roberts do attend this House To-morrow Morning, to give an Account why he has not given in his Accounts of the Regiments to which he was Agent.

The House being informed also, That Mr. Aaron Smith had not yet brought in his Accounts touching Monies by him received;

Ordered, That the said Mr. Smith do attend this House To-morrow Morning, to give an Account why he has not yet made up his Accounts.

Fees on Proceedings of the House.

Ordered, That the Fees relating to the Proceedings of this House be referred to the Consideration of a Committee: And that they do report their Opinion, what Fees ought to be allowed to the Officers and Servants of the House:

And it is referred to Sir Godfrey Copley, Sir Fran. Winington, Sir Philip Butler, Mr. Methwyn, Mr. Hobby, Mr. Harrison, Sir Chr. Musgrave, Mr. How, Mr. Ryder, Sir Wm. Rich, Mr. Peirpont, Sir John Mainwaring, Mr. Lowther, Mr. Dolben, Sir Rowland Gwyn, Mr. Stonehouse, Sir Tho. Roberts, Mr. Perry, Sir Robert Davers, Mr. Smith, Mr. Bickerstaff, Sir Rich. Onslow, Mr. Whitaker, Colonel Granville, Mr. Chadwick, Sir Herbert Crofts, Sir Hen. Colt, Mr. Farrar, Sir Robert Smith, Mr. Foley, Mr. Clark, Mr. Mordaunt, Mr. Palmes, Mr. Fortescue, Sir Hen. Hobart, Sir John Elwill, Mr. Mountague, Mr. Burdett, Lord William Pawlet, Mr. Norris, Sir Robert Cotton, Mr. Bridges, Sir Wm. St. Quintin, Sir Gerv. Elwes, Mr. Chase, Sir Edw. Seymour, Sir Wm. Thomas, Mr. Campion, Sir Humph. Foster, Sir John Key: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chambers.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the Petition of the Serjeant at Arms be referred to the said Committee.

Letter received by Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker acquainted the House, That he did, last Night, after he came home, receive a Letter from Mr. W. Fuller:

And the Question being put, That the Letter be read; It passed in the Negative.

Fenwick's Attainder.

Then the Order of the Day, for the reading the Bill to attaint Sir John Fenwick, Baronet, of High Treason, was read:

Ordered, That the Lobby, and Speaker's Chambers, be cleared of all Persons, except Members, and the Counsel and Witnesses; and the Back-doors be locked up.

Ordered, That the Serjeant do stand with the Mace at the Bar, while Sir John Fenwick shall be there.

Ordered, That the Bill be read while Sir John Fenwick, and the Counsel, are at the Bar.

Then Sir John Fenwick, and the Counsel appointed to produce the Evidence against him, and also the Counsel or Sir John Fenwick, were called in.

And the Bill was read.

And Mr. Serjeant Gold and Mr. Serjeant Lovell opened the Nature of the Evidence against Sir John Fenwick.

After which, before any Evidence was produced, the Counsel for Sir John Fenwick insisting, That no Evidence should be produced, but what related to the Proof of the Allegations in the Bill; or else, that they might have further Time to produce Witnesses to answer the same;

Sir John Fenwick, and the Counsel on both Sides, withdrew.

Resolved, That Sir John Fenwick be allowed further Time to produce Witnesses in his Defence, against the Charge of High Treason; and that he gave in a List of his Witnesses to Mr. Speaker.

Resolved, That the Counsel, in managing the Evidence against Sir John Fenwick, be allowed to produce Evidence touching the Allegations in the Bill, and the Treasons for which he was indicted.

Resolved, That this House will proceed further in the Matter of Sir John Fenwick upon Monday Morning next, at Ten a Clock.

And Sir John Fenwick was called in, and acquainted with the said Resolutions.

And then withdrew.

Ordered, That Sir John Fenwick be remanded to the Prison of Newgate.

Ordered, That Sir John Fenwick be, by the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex, and Keeper of the Gaol of Newgate, brought to this House upon Monday Morning next, at Ten a Clock: And that Mr. Speaker do issue his Warrant accordingly.

Resolved, That the Bill to attaint Sir John Fenwick Baronet of High Treason be read a Second time upon Monday Morning next.

Supply Bill; Coinage.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Bill for the further remedying the ill State of the Coin of the Kingdom; and encouraging the bringing Plate into the Mints, to be coined.

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