House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 24 January 1671

Martis, 24 die Januarii, 1670.

Prayers.

Dunwich Election.

MR. Serjeant Charlton having made Report to the House, of a Mistake in the Order concerning the Return of a Member to serve for the Town of Dunwich;

Upon Debate thereof,

Resolved, &c. That it be referred to the Committee of Elections, to examine the Matter touching the Double Return for the Town of Dunwich; and who is rightly returned; and report it, with their Opinions therein, to the House: and that the former Order be rectified accordingly; and the Committee are to sit, and take the Matter into Consideration this Afternoon.

Privilege- Resistance to Speaker's Warrant.

A Petition of William Woolley Clerk, now in the Custody of the Serjeant at Arms, being presented and read;

And thereupon, Information being given of a very high Contempt and Misdemeanor committed against the House, by assaulting and beating George Dudley, Deputy to the Serjeant at Arms attending this House; and rescuing, out of his Custody, Thomas Parsons Bailiff, committed for a Breach of Privilege, in arresting the menial Servant of Mr. How, a Member of this House, at the Suit of William Woolley Clerk, who knew him to be Mr. Howe's Servant; and for that Cause, stands also committed:

Which Misdemeanor, and Rescue, the said Dudley, being called in to the Bar of this House, did testify, was committed by Mr. John Cox, Under Sheriff of the County of Gloucester, and his Bailiff, and others; the said Parsons, at the Time of his being seized on, using threatening and provoking Language; and Mr. Cox, being required to give his Assistance, not only refused, but derided and slighted Mr. Speaker's Warrant, saying, he had something else to do; and the next Day, after Parsons was in Custody, and ready to be brought away, Mr. Forder, one of the Constables of Cirencester, being required to give his Attendance, did not only refuse so to do, but did disarm the said Dudley of his sword; and Parsons, who was in Custody, and another Thomas Parsons, his Kinsman, and Thomas Payton, and Mathew Croft, did assault and beat the said Dudley with Staves and Cudgels, and tore the Coat from his Back; and did rescue, and take from him, the said Thomas Parsons: Which Cox abetted; and afterwards, being in Company with Mr. Woolley, declared, he thought Dudley was finely fitted now: Upon Debate whereof,

Resolved, &c. That the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, or such Deputy or Deputies as he shall appoint, do apprehend, and take into Custody, Mr. John Cox, Under Sheriff of the County of Gloucester, William Forder, one of the Constables of Cirencester, Thomas Parsons of Beasly, and Thomas Parsons of Kitley, Thomas Payton, and Matthew Croft, for their Contempt and Breach of Privilege, and Misdemeanor, in beating George Dudley, Deputy to the Serjeant at Arms attending this House; and rescuing from him Thomas Parsons his Prisoner: And the High Sheriff of the County of Gloucester, and other Officers concerned, are to be required, by Warrant from Mr. Speaker, to be aiding and assisting in the Execution of such Warrant.

Exporting Beer, &c.

An ingrossed Bill for exporting of Beer, Ale, and Mum, was read the Third time.

Resolved, &c. That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for exporting of Beer, Ale, and Mum: And that Sir Nicholas Carew do carry it up to the Lords.

Supply Bill; Wine Licences.

A Bill for settling an Agreement and Exchange, between his Majesty and his Royal Highness, concerning Wine Licences, was read.

Ordered, That this Bill be read a Second time.

Lyndsey Level.

Ordered, That the Cause concerning Lindsey Level, he heard on this Day Sevennight.

Supply Bill; Subsidies.

The House then resolved into a Committee of the whole House, upon the Bill of Subsidies.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Mr. Seymour took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir William Child and Sir Will. Glascocke;

Malicious maiming.

Fitz James' Estate.

Mr. Speaker, The Lords have returned you Two Bills; the one, intituled, An Act to prevent malicious Maiming and Wounding; the other, intituled, An Act to enable the Daughters and Coheirs of Sir John Fitz James, to join in a Sale of Lands, for Payment of his Debts; with some Alterations and Amendments, to which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

Malicious maiming.

The Amendments from the Lords, to the Bill to prevent malicious Maiming and Wounding, were read.

Resolved, &c. That the Debate of the said Amendments be adjourned till To-morrow Morning.

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