House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 30 April 1695

Martis, 30 die Aprilis;

7° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Letter from Sir T. Cook.

MR. Speaker acquainted the House, That he did last Night receive a Letter from Sir Thomas Cooke: And the same was read; and is as followeth; viz.

Honoured Sir, Tower, Apr. 29, 1695.

I being informed by some Friends, That it is expected by the House, that I should give a further Account, in Writing, relating to the Discovery how the 10,258 l. hath been disposed of; which I am very ready and willing to comply with, to the utmost of my Power; and therefore make it my most humble Request, That the Commissioners of Accounts, for taking the publick Accounts of the Nation, who are, by the late Act impowered to take my Confessions, would be pleased to send for me this Night, or To-morrow Morning, I being resolved to make all the Discovery I know, or can make: And shall, to that end, readily and truly answer to all further Questions the Commissioners shall, upon such my Discovery, think sit to interrogate me upon: And herein you will very much oblige, Sir,

Your most obliged
Servant to command,
Tho. Cooke.

Reversing Leisler's Attainder.

Sir Henry Ashurst reported from the Committee, to whom the ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for reversing the Attainder of Jacob Leisler, and others, was re-committed, That they had examined and considered the same; and directed him to report the same to the House, without any Amendments: And he delivered the same in at the Table.

A Motion being made, and the Question being put, That the Bill be re-committed;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it passed in the Negative.

A Motion being made, and the Question being put, That the Bill be now read;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it passed in the Negative.

Complaint of Words spoken by a Member.

A Complaint being made to the House, by Colonel Beaumont, a Member of this House, That, upon a Division of the House the last Night, he going out of the House, some Words were said to him by Sir William Forester, another Member of this House, thereupon, sit for the House to take Notice of; which Words were written down;

Ordered, That Sir William Forester do attend, in his Place, To-morrow Morning.

Supply Bill; Duties on Glass, &c.

Ordered, That the ingrossed Bill for granting to his Majesty certain Duties upon Glass Wares, Stone and Earthen Bottles, Coals, and Culm, for carrying on the War against France, be read the Third time To-morrow Morning.

Imprisoning Sir T. Cook, &c.

An ingrossed Bill from the Lords, intituled, An Act for imprisoning Sir Thomas Cook, Sir Bazil Firebrace, Charles Bates Esquire, and James Craggs; and restraining them from aliening their Estates; was, according to Order, read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed, upon the Debate.

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

Act of Grace.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cooke and Mr. Pitt:

Mr. Speaker,

We are commanded by the Lords, to let this House know, That his Majesty has been pleased to send a Bill, intituled, An Act for the King's most Gracious, General, and Free Pardon; which the Lords have humbly accepted, and passed, and now send down to this House.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Duke of Leeds' Impeachment.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cooke and Mr. Meredeth:

Mr. Speaker,

We are commanded by the Lords, to acquaint this House, That the Duke of Leeds having this Day put in his Answer to the Articles of Impeachment exhibited against him by the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, in Parliament assembled, their Lordships have sent a Copy of the said Answer to this House.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

The said Answer was read; and is as followeth; viz.

The Answer of Thomas Duke of Leeds to the Articles of Impeachment exhibited against him by the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, in Parliament assembled.

This Defendant, saving to himself all Advantages of Exception to the said Articles, humbly faith, That he is not guilty of all or any the Matters by the said Articles charged, in Manner and Form as the same are, by the said Articles, charged against him.

Vera Copia. Leeds.
Matth. Johnson,
Cler. Parliamentor.

Ordered, That the Committee who were appointed to prepare the said Articles of Impeachment, do consider of, and prepare, a Replication to the said Answer: And that they do meet this Afternoon at Seven a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Imprisoning Sir B. Firebrace, &c.

A Petition of Sir Bazil Firebrace was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner hath not declined to answer to such Questions, as the Committee of both Houses asked him; nor shall he, at any time, decline answering, according to Truth, as the House shall require: That he is informed, a Bill is now before this House for imprisoning the Petitioner, and others; and restraining them from aliening their Estates: That the Petitioner hath, for many Years past, been daily engaged in Trade and Commerce; from which, also, by this Bill, the Petitioner will be restrained: And praying, That he may be heard, at the Bar of this House, against the said Bill; and that such Clauses may be added thereto, that the Petitioner may be discharged from his Consinement, upon his giving good Security for his Appearance; and that he may be indemnified for what he has already discovered, according to the Promise of the said Committee.

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

Imprisoning Mr. Bates, &c.

A Petition of Charles Bates Esquire was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner is very much concerned for having fallen under the Displeasure of this House; and that, in case he hath not given full Satisfaction in his Discovery to the Committee of both Houses, the Petitioner hopes the House will impute it to his Age and Infirmity, and the great Disorder he was in, at the time of his Examination: That the Petitioner is informed, a Bill is now depending in this House, from the Lords, for imprisoning the Petitioner, Sir Thom. Cook, Sir Baz. Firebrace, and James Craggs; and restraining them from aliening their Estates; and that the Petitioner hath reason to apprehend such Consinement will endanger the Petitioner's Life: And praying, That he may be admitted to Bill for his Appearance, from time to time, as both Houses shall require.

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

Ditto.

Resolved, That this House do immediately resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the said Bill.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Sir Herbert Crofts took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Sir Herbert Crofts reported from the said Committee, That they had gone through the Bill, and made several Amendments; which they had directed him to report, when the House will please to receive the same.

Ordered, That the said Report be made To-morrow Morning.

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