House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 30 April 1675

Veneris, 30 die Aprilis, 1675.

Prayers.

Westminster Court of Conscience.

A BILL for Erecting a Court of Conscience within the City of Westminster, and Liberties thereof, was read the First time.

Resolved, &c. That this Bill be read a Second time, in a full House, after Ten of the Clock.

Southwarke Court of Conscience.

A Bill being tendered, to erect a Court of Conscience within the Borough of Southwarke, and the Parishes in Middlesex and Surry, was received.

Resolved, &c. That this Bill be read on Monday Morning next.

Aulnage Duty.

A Petition of the Clothiers of the County of Gloucester, was read.

Another Petition, of the same Nature, of the Clothiers of the City of Coventry, was tendered; and read.

Another Petition of the Serge, Say, and Shalloon Makers, and other Worsted Manufactures, in the Counties of Essex, Suffolke, Hampshire, Devon, and Somersett, was also tendered; and read.

Resolved, &c. That these several Petitions be referred to the Committee, to which the Petitions, and Matter of Abuses, complained of in the collecting the Duty of Aulnage, was committed; to examine the State of the Matter upon the several Petitions and Propositions therein contained; and to consider also of the Trade between England and France; and the Mischiefs and Inconveniences, by overbalancing the Trade of England by France; and of a Way of setting the Poor on Work, by making Linen in England, or otherwise; and report the whole Matter, with their Opinions, to the House: And all the Members of this House, that serve for the several Counties of Devon, Gloucester, Wilts, Suffolke, Essex, Somersett, and Kent, are added to the Committee: And all that shall come are to have Voices: And these Members following are also added: And the said Committee are also impowered to receive Petitions of the like Nature, which shall be offered to them; Mr. Powle, Mr. Jones, Sir Samuell Bernardiston, Sir Richard Everrard, Sir Cha. Harbord, Alderman Love, Sir Ja. Smith.

Privilege-Petition from persons in custody.

A Petition of Thomas Enfeild Mayor, Wm. Stanley, Squire Beverton, Francis Mapleden, Thomas Elwyn, Thomas Fidge, and William Gillam, Aldermen of Canterbury, and Paule Barrett, of the same City, Esquire, now in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms, for a Breach of Privilege, in displacing of Mr. Serjeant Hardress, a Member of this House, from his Place of Recorder of the City of Canterbury; and speaking contemptuous Words against the Honour and Privilege of this House; being read (by which Petition they do submit to the Pleasure and Order of the House); and being called in, and kneeling at the Bar of the House; and having a Reprimand given them by Mr. Speaker;

Ordered, That the Petitioners, having submitted to the Order of the House, and to restore Serjeant Hardresse his Place of Recorder of Canterbury, be discharged of the Commitment, paying their Fees.

Earl of Danby's Impeachment.

The House then proceeded to the further Consideration of the Articles of Impeachment against the Lord Treasurer.

And being informed, that an Order of Summons for Thomas Salter to attend this Day, to give Testimony, was left at his House; but he refused to attend, though his Servant Maid owned him to be at home, this Morning;

Ordered, That the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, do send a Messenger to enquire whether the said Salter hath been at his House since the Order of Summons left at his House; and give an Account of it to the House.

The Second Article of the Impeachment being read, and the Matter debated;

Resolved, &c. That, before the House do proceed further in the Debate of this Article, they will hear the Witnesses.

Several Questions being proposed, in Writing, and read; and delivered in at the Clerk's Table, to be demanded of the Lord Mayor of London; which are as followeth; viz.

1. About what Sum of Money is it that is owing to you from his Majesty?

2. Did not the Lord Treasurer, several times, promise you, that, in case the Match betwixt his Second Son and Mrs. Hyde took place, he would use his prevalent and utmost Interest with his Majesty, to procure you Payment of the Debt which his Majesty owed you?

3. Did not the Lord Treasurer enter into Articles with you, under his Hand Seal, in order to this Match? And, before sealing of such Articles, did you not acquaint him with Emerton's Pretence of being married to the said Mrs. Hyde ? And what was the Date of such Articles?

4. Did not the Lord Treasurer advise and encourage you to enter into Articles with Emerton, after the Articles with his Lordship were sealed?

5. Did you not, about the Tenth of January last, send down into the Country a Servant, at the Lord Treasurer's Request, to accompany a Servant of his, to examine the Minister that was said had married them? And what do you know or believe, concerning his being apprehended by one of the Lord Treasurer's Servants seizing and bringing him to Whitehall ? And by what Warrant was he so apprehended?

6. Did not the Lord Treasurer advise you to write him a Letter, to the Intent he might shew it to his Majesty, the better to engage him in that Affair? And who was present at such Examination?

7. What did the Minister say to you at your House, when he came thither, after his Examination before the King?

8. Did not the Lord Treasurer appoint you, what Solicitors, Attornies, or Lawyers, should be employed in the King's Bench, and Spiritual Court? Or did you use any but such as he first approved of? And did not you always consult with his Lordship, in all the Proceedings in reference to that Affair? Or did you act any thing but by his Direction?

9. Did the Lord Treasurer advise and direct you to stand out an Alias, et plures Habeas Corpus, to a Fine and Contempt of the Court, before you brought Mrs. Hyde thither? And was he not displeased and angry with you, for your giving Obedience to the Court at last in carrying Mrs. Hyde thither; saying, It was too great an Adventure? What was the Rule of the Court, which the King's Bench made in this Business; and under what Penalty?

10. Did the Lord Treasurer's Son Lord Dumblane obey that Rule of Court, and forbear making his Applications to her, in order to Marriage? And how often did he persuade her to be contracted to her, by breaking of Gold? And how was she persuaded by the Lady Clifton ? And what were the Discontents of the Countess of Danby, that Day, and your Apprehensions concerning her Intentions, to have carried Mrs. Hyde away from your House?

11. What Provocation did you give your Counsel to join with Emerton's Counsel, last Week, at the King's Bench Bar, to Defame you? And wherefore did you so?

12. Did not the Lord Treasurer promise you, That, if this Marriage succeeded, he would procure the Reversion of a considerable Office for your Son Charles Vyner ?

The Question being severally put, That the Lord Mayor be called in, to answer the 1st, 2d, 3d, and 4th Questions;

It passed in the Negative.

The Question being put, That the Lord Mayor be called in, to answer to the 5th Question;

It was resolved in the Affirmative.

The Question being severally put, that the Lord Mayor be called in, to answer the subsequent Questions;

It passed in the Negative.

The Question being put, That, when the Lord Mayor of London is called in to the House, he have a Chair set him to sit down at the Bar;

The House divided.

The Yeas went forth.

And so it was resolved in the Affirmative.

The Lord Mayor being called in; and having answered to the Question, withdrew.

The Question being put, Whether any fit Matter does appear in the Examination of this Article, to impeach the Lord Treasurer;

It passed in the Negative.

Resolved, &c. That the House will again proceed in the further Consideration of the said Articles against the Lord Treasurer on Monday Morning, Ten of the Clock.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees which were to sit this Afternoon, be adjourned till Monday next, to sit in the everal Places formerly appointed.

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