The Examinations and informations under oath of Sir Thomas Cooke and several other persons lately taken before a committee of both Houses of Parliament, touching divers indirect practices to procure by corrupt and unlawful means a new charter and act of Parliament for the East-India Company : as also, the articles of impeachment by the Honourable House of Commons against the Duke of Leeds : with His Grace's answer thereunto.

Die Jovis 25th April, 1695. In the Exchequer-Chamber.

At a Committe of both Houses, appointed for the Ex∣amination of several Persons touching the Receipt of Monies mentioned in a late Act, and touching the Di∣stribution thereof.

Mr. Hornby, Goldsmith, Exhibited to the Committe an Extract of Sir Bazil Firebrace's Account, which being Examined and compared by the Committee, was signed by him, and is hereunto annexed, and

Deposeth,

THat at the time when he subscribed 10000 l. into the East-India Companies Stock, he had Sir Bazil Firebrace's word for his Security (in case the Stock fell) to have 5000 l. part thereof repay'd him, if he this Deponent should desire it at the end of that year.

That he did call for his Money at that time, and took the East-India Companies Bonds for it, payable in March, at which time a Sale commenced; and he having his Money then paid, he Transferr'd it to the Secretary of the East-India Campany.

To the other 5000 l. part of his said subscription, he saith, That he had no condinions from Sir Bazil Fire∣brace; for that having subscribed before, he knew such Terms were to be had.

That he knows not whether Sir Basil made such Terms with others, or not; but hath heard he did the same with Mr. Fowles.

Mr. Fowles exhibited an Extract of Sir Bazil Fire∣brace's Account examined as aforesaid, and is here∣unto Annexed, and signed by him, and

D••poseth,

That he cannot remember the Names of any Mem∣bers of Parliament, to ••hom any Money was paid by Sir Bazil Firebrace's Order.

That he never keepeth any private Notes or Me∣morandums of Persons Names, to whom he pays Monies, and hath no other Accounts (as to that matter) but what are in his Books.

Sir Bazil Firebrace having desired leave to be called in, further Deposeth,

That having had a Treaty with Mr. Bates, whom he thought able to do service in passing the Charter, and to have acquaintance with several Persons of Hon∣our; he this Deponent gave two Notes for 55••0 Guinea's to Mr. Atwel, payable to Mr. Bates or Bearer.

That one Note was for 3000 l. and the other for 250•• Guinea's.

That he this Deponent did put the Notes into Mr. Bates's Hands, who told this Deponent, That he would deal with him for himself, and if the business were done, he would keep the Notes, else deliver them again.

That the 2500 Guinea's were paid after the Charter for restoring the East-India Company passed; the other for 3000 Guinea's, after the Charter for Regulation passed.

That he had these Notes from Sir Thomas Cooke, and was accountable to him for the same, which he put into Mr. Bates's hands.

That the said Sir Tho. Cooke did know, as this Depo∣dent verily believes, how these Notes were to be dis∣posed of; and further saith, He told Sir Tho. Cooke that Mr. Bates had Acquaintance with several Lords, name∣ing the Lord President, and others.

That he this Deponent, could not tell who this money was designed for, or what Bates did with it; for that Bates would not deal on such Terms of tell∣ing Names.

That Bates did introduce him, this Deponent, se∣veral times to the Lord President, who made some scru∣ples in point of Law; upon which this Deponent desired his Leave that the Attorney General might wait upon him; and he accordingly brought him.

That he doth not remember any other Lord to whom Bates introduced him.

He saith, That one day last week the 5000 Gui∣nea's were offered by Bates back again to him; who said, That this might make a Noise; That if Sir Tho, Cooke thought it too much, he would give it him a∣gain; And that on Tuesday last 49••0 Guinea's, being the Value of 5500 l. brought to this Deponent.

That the other 500 Guinea's are still in Bates's hands.

That Sir Thomas Cooke did scruple to take back this money at first, but afterwards did consent to it, the morning when he was brought up before this Com∣mittee: Whereupon this Deponent gave him Fowles his Note for the money, payable to Mr. Atwel, or the bearer: and this Deponent believes he the said Sir Thomas Cook, had a double Account, the one was made up with that Sum, the other without it.

He further saith, That Bates would have paid back the whole, but Sir Thomas Cook said, the Account would not be even, if the 500 Guinea's were brought into that account.

That this was no part of the 40000 l. before menti∣oned in this Deponent's Examination, and paid to this Deponent, which 400••0 l. this Deponent saith was wholly his own; That he always took care to have it particularly understood that it was for his own use and benefit; the same was declared before Witnesses.

That they found great stops in the business of the Charter; they apprehended it proceeded sometime from my Lord Nottingham, sometime from others.

That Coli. Fitzpatrick received 1000 Guinea's on the same Terms as was with others, if the Charter passed. He pretended great Interest with my Lord Nottingham, and that he could get information from the Lady Derby how the Queens pleasure was. Coll. Fitzpatrick said, he would try to prevail with the Lord Nottingham for 5••00 Guinea's upon passing the Charter, and 5000 l. on the Act of Parliament; but the Lord Nottingham refused to take it. He heard a Note (signed by Sir Josias Child, Sir Thomas Cook, and others) for 50000 l. was lodged in Tysons hands for about a year, to be paid in case the Act passed, and that it was refused (as he understood) by my Lord Portland; that Tyson told him he had made an Offer, and it was rejected; that Tyson told him this late∣ly.

That 10••0 Guinea's are entered in the East India Company's books, and were to be paid to Mr. Ward and Mr. Fakener, who are of the Interloping Inter∣est, and made great Opposition to the Charter.

Mr. Ward said, if he had a 1000 Guinea's, he would bring over others to the Company's Interest. These 10 0 Guinea's were to be paid on the arrival of the Ship Seymour.

That Sir William Prichard and Dr. Ratcliffe did accept some East India stock, but on the same Terms as any Merchant might have done, and they paid their money for it.

Richard Acton Deposeth, That he received of Sir Tho. Cook the sum of 10000 l. and 2000 l. That he, this Deponet did tell Sir Tho. Cook, He had Friends who would take pains to do the Company service, but they would have 1••000 l.

That Sir Tho. Cook agreed 1••0••0 l. should be given, whereupon this Deponent advanced that Sum, this De∣ponent had 2000 l. for his pains and trouble in at∣tending two Sessions; if the Bill for a New Company had passed, this Deponent was to have had nothing.

That he verily believes he gave Sir Tho. Cook an ac∣count to whom he distributed it, or else he thinks the mony had not been trusted to him.

That he did not distribute it to Members, but to those who had Interest with Members.

Some of them to whom he gave mony to be distri∣buted, were Mr. Craggs (with whom this Deponent was concerned in Cloathing the Army, who had ac∣quaintance with Collonels in the House, and some Northern Members) Mr. Wallis, Mr. Ridley, Mr. Duck∣minique.

Mr. Goldwell (who is since Dead) was the only man which he himself gave mony to.

That if he had a little time to peruse his Papers, he could recollect further.

Nathaniel Vowel Deposeth, That he was very in∣strumental in causing a good understanding between Sir Tho. Cook and the Interlopers; and contrived how to bring Manning to move Sir Bazil Firebrace, who had been of a different Interest.

That Sir Bazil made some terms with Sir Tho. Cooke, upon which a Charter was to be had.

That he perceived by Sir Basil Firebrace, there was some difficulty in the matter. Sir Tho. Cooke insisted to know what Sir Bazil Firebrace did with the mony, which Sir Basil refused to let him know.

That he always withdrew at their meetings, his bu∣siness being only to go upon Errands ••o procure meet∣ings; and that one day he, this Deponent, asking Sir Bazil Firebrace, Whether he intended to make a ••••rter of him; Sir Bazil gave him his word, That he should have 500 Guinea's, and that about two months since he did receive 350 l. tho the promise was to have it paid upon passing the Charter.

That he hath bought 10 or 15000 l. stock at one time of Sir Tho. Cooke; he never took it to be the East-India Companies, but Sir Tho. Cooke's proper stock, and had his Contract for the repayment of it in six months, if desired; he generally had it repaid; if any loss was, he always look't upon it as Sir Tho. Cooke's, and not the Companies loss.

Sir Bazil Firebrace. Debit.

			l.	s.	d.
1693. January	23.	To Cash paid Mr. Allen	29••0	0	0
February	26.	Ditto, 50 Guineas	55	0	0
1694. April.	5.	To Ditto, Mr. Abra. Wilmor. 2000	4250	0	0
		Sir Fr. Child. 2250
	6	To Sir John Lowther	110	8	4
	11.	To Cash.	55	4	4
	19.	To Ditto.	55	4	2
May	5.	To Ditto part of a note May 4.	250	0	0
	16.	To Ditto, Mr. Ar. Shallet	400	0	0
October.	22.	To Jos. and Nat. Hornby	1000	0	0
Decemb.	21.	To Cash, Sir F. Child 800	1200	0	0
		Mr. Coggs 400
	29.	To Ditto	1300	0	0
January	2.	To Ditto, part, Decemb. 29.	1100	0	0
	5.	To Ditto.	50	0	0
	7.	To Ditto.	40	0	0
	19.	To Ditto.	30	0	0
	24.	To Ditto.	50	0	0
		To B••njamin Skinner	50	0	0
Feb.	5.	To Cash.	10	0	0
		Ditto.	20	0	0
	9.	To Ditto, Mr. J. Cooke	2666	13	4
	28.	To Cash	62	10	0
March	4.	To Ditto, Sir N. Butler.	1••••••	19	0
1695. April	5.	To Cash.	6••	10	0

March	4.	To Ditto, Mr. Atw. & Co.	5500	0	0
	24.	Ditto, by Mr. John Cooke,	5000	0	0
		Mr. ••ornby.

Robert Fowle.

Per Contra.

				l.	s.	d.
1693.	Decemb.	19.	By cash received	10000	0	0
	January	3.	By Ditto.	5000	0	0
		8.	By Ditto.	5000	0	0
1694.	May	4.	By Ditto.	425	0	0
	Decemb.	29.	By Ditto.	1300	0	0
	January	7.	By Ditto.	2584	13	1
		16.	By Ditto	3280	0	0
		25.	By Ditto. 100 G.	110	0	0

Robert Fowle.

Mr. Hornby's Accompt, Reported from the Committee of both Houses, 27th April 95.

1693. Sir Basil Firebrace, Debitor.

			l.	s.	d.
January	13.	To John Shore	200
		To Alfonso Rodriguez	420
	16.	To Dr. Stewart	80
		To Charles Shales	350
	20.	To William Terret	150
	23.	To Ben. Levey	814	7
	24.	To John Howard	232
	26.	To William Clark	280
	31.	To Charles Shales	200
Feb.	5.	To Richard Goodal	90
	10.	To Rowland Harris	100
	14.	To Dr. William Stewart	150
	20.	To Thomas Steers	300
March	2.	To John Turner Jun.	212	10
	6.	To Burrel, and Lister	105
	7.	To John Swann	436
	8.	To Sir Stephen Evance	210
	9.	To Charles Shales	200
		To Peter Power	487	10
	14.	To the Earl of Devonshire	403	5	9
	21.	To Josiah Davis 350 G.	385
		To Mr. Swan	520
	23.	To Charles Shales	534
1694.	29.	To Samuel Bulteel	177	1	8
	31.	To Alvaro de Costa	850
April	3.	To William Hammond	420
	5.	To Robert Harrison	315
		To Peter & Pierre Henriqu••s	312
		To George Jar••is	450
	7.	To Peter Mo••ger	450
	19.	To Samuel Clark	221		4
	24.	To William Raphe	140
	27.	To himself in Gold	55
May	4.	To William Terret	250
	8.	To Edward Shall••r	71	19
	11.	To Peter Burrel	100
V.	14.	To that S l.	77	19
	15.	To Charles Shales	205
	17.	To Samuel Clark	210
	22.	To Capt. Tho. Read	184	6	7
		To Robert Hac••shaw	105
	24.	To William Clark	175
		To Sir Stephen Evance	140
	25.	To Sam. Clark	100
	26.	To William Terret	150
June	8.	To Sam. Clark	164
	12.	To Ditto	102	10
		To Sir Stephen Evance	68	6	8
	14.	To Jonathan Jones	136	13	4
	16.	To William Terret	317
	20.	To Ditto	100
	27.	To Sir Benjamin Newland	154	11	8
	30.	To Mr. Russel	132	10	0
July	3.	To John Swann	326
	4.	To William Johnson	80
	5.	To Andrew Loper	240	15
	9.	To John Swann	450
	20.	To Nunds Fernandes	150
Aug.	2.	To Peter and Pierre Henriques	200
	7.	To John Swam	132
	10.	To Burrel, and Lister	65	16	8
		To Samuel Clark	65	16	8
	18.	To Joshua Bainton	81	5
		To Thomas Drake	81	5
	20.	To Thomas Firmin	97	10
	30.	To Nathaniel Hornby for a Horse	13	3	4
Sept.	1.	To Aaron Kinton	79
	4.	To Charles Peers	50
	5.	To Daniel Morley	50
		To Edward Smith	100
	7.	To Samuel Clark	130
		To Nathaniel Bench Esq;	100
		To Daniel Wigfall, and Comp.	97	10
		To Thomas Drake	65
	14.	To Thomas Chappel	50
	21.	To Adam Spencer	50
	22.	To Henry Bourn	20
	24.	To Isaac Nunds	100
	27.	To George Savage	36

Per Contra. Credit.

				l.	s.	d.
1693.	Decemb.	29.	By J. Langham, pt. 59	30
	January	6.	By note per Portmans	5000
		24.	By the Owners of ship Success	429	7	6
	Feb.	7.	By Sir S. Evance and C.	2500
	March	19.	By several Goldsmit••s	525
		22.	By Rob. Fowle and Comp.	8••
1694.		26.	By the East India comp.	722	10
			By Ditto.	68••	••	0
	April	5.	By Edmund Portmans.	4••3	5	9
			By Richard Hoare	100
		12.	By John Brassey	106	12
		17.	By Edward Vernon	100
		19.	By Smith and Ward.	146	8
		21.	By money	1000
		24.	By John Coggs.	70	10
	May	8.	By Note.	77	19
		15.	By Mr. Swann.	163	12	6
	June	1.	By Geo. Finch, 1000 G.	1100
		22.	By Edw. Allen.	500
	July	7.	By S. Sheppard and Comp.	1000
			By Mary Finch.	350
		26.	By the Owners of ship Success.	80	12	6
	August.	1.	By John Langham pt. 59.	11
		2.	By Shales and Mertins.	111
	Septemb.	8.	By Sir S. Evance and C.	269	7	1
		13.	By John Sweetaple	426	10
		14.	By John Langham full 59	18

Sir Bazil Firebrace continues Debt.

		Brought over	l.	s.	d.
1694. Octob.	2	To 〈◊〉〈◊〉. ……her	50
	6	To Daniel Morley	50
	8	To Mr. ••ayt••n	176	16••
	9	To Dr. St••wart	40
	12	To Mathew Kendrick	155	15	8
	15	To William Te••r••t	100	••	••
	17	To Elias 〈◊〉〈◊〉	50
	19	To Thomas ••ates	80
		To Thomas ••arnham	103	8
		To Jonathan Wells	100
	2••	To William Terret	50
		To Edward Smith	1••0
	2••	To Ri••hard Leeds	39	14	6
	24	To John Knight Esq;	481	16	9
	25.	To William Terret	140
Nov.	2.	To Ditto	100
	9.	To Benjamin Ray	61	6
	10.	To William Terret	60
	13.	To Daniel Morley	100
		To Edward Dreyner	76
	14.	To Abraham Wilmer	1350
	17.	To VVilliam Terret	105
	19.	To Simon Baxter	169	6
		To Edward Dreyner	64
	23.	To Sir Benjamin Newland	1000
	27.	To Adam Spencer	100
Decem.	1.	To Jonathan Wells	105
		To Peter VVallis	100
	4.	To William Terret	156
	10.	To Ditto	145
	14.	To Mr. S••anlake	50
	22.	To himself in Gold	56	13	4
	29.	To William Terret	141
Jannuary	4.	To Thomas Steers	166	15
	5.	To Thomas Bates	80
	8.	To John Swann 50 G.	56	17	6
		To Charles ••hales	40
	11.	To Abraham Wilmer	860
	14.	To Sir Rowland Ai••sworth	137	10
	22.	To Sir Benjamin Newland	280
	23.	To Arthur Shallet	270	5
	24.	To Robert Fletcher	80
		To William Terret	135
	28.	To Edward Barradel	100
Febuary	1.	To William Terret	100
	9.	To Ditto	139
	15.	To William Hammond	90
	22.	To William Terret	130
	25.	To Abraham Wilmer	92	10	6
	26.	To Thomas Coulson	815
March	6.	To William Dale	144
	9.	To Thomas Steers	294	13
		To Thomas Langham	500
	19.	To William Terret	280
95. Apr.	4.	To Daniel VVigfall	69	13	4
	8.	To Thomas Drake	65
	9.	To Samuel Cla••ke	130
	10.	To VVilliam Terret	224
	16.	Ditto	200

Errors excepted for Jos. Horne∣by and my self,

Nathaniel Horneby.

Per Contra. Credit.

		Brought over	l.	s.	d.
1694. October	1.	By Richard Conyers	48
	13.	By Robert Fowle, and Comp.	1000

	17.	Bartholomew Layton	100
Novem.	7.	By the Owners of ship Success	1000
Decem.	19.	By Edmund Portmans	2000
January	12.	By Ditto	1500
March	15.	By the East-India Company	1000
1695.	30.	By Ditto	1500
April	27.	By the Owners of ship Success	2912	10

Errors excepted, For Jos. Horneby and my self,

Nat. Horneby.