Communicated hy Mr. James Waylen. 



331 



annum for increase of maintenance to the minister of Frome, and 

 also the impropriation of Lulliugton, for increase of maintenance to 

 a minister there, then the fine to be reduced to £3100. Commons 9 

 Journals , lbth June, 1648. 



The adjustment of the fines levied on this house was greatly 

 complicated by the rival claims of the two brothers, Sir James 

 Thynne and Sir Henry Frederick Thynne, and of their mother, the 

 dowager Lady Katharine Thynne. Before the war broke out, this 

 family controversy had engaged the attention of the House on 

 sundry occasions during the summer of 1641 — an event which has 

 gathered a national interest about it, from the concurrent action of 

 f Mr. Oliver Cromwell " at a period prior to his more public mani- 

 festation as a soldier. It is from Simon D' Ewes' Journal we learn 

 that the order of 1st June, 1641 for Sir James Thynne's attendance 

 to show cause, concerning his brother, was based on a motion by 

 Mr. Cromwell. This younger brother, Sir Henry Frederick Thynne, 

 held considerable property in his hands, the right to which his elder 

 brother Sir James disputed, and the case had been for a long time 

 agitated in the Court of Wards. We gather from D' Ewes' Journal 

 that Sir James had availed himself of his privilege as a Member of 

 the House to procure copies of the documents belonging to his 

 brother, and otherwise to affect disadvantageously his cause. Some 

 such report at least was current ; and if D } Ewes has correctly stated 

 it, Mr. Cromwell was undoubtedly justified in calling a brother 

 member to account for taking advantage in a domestic controversy 

 of a right which he held in a representative capacity. The Commons 

 were loud in the assertion of their delegated privileges; they were, 

 therefore, all the more bound in honour to prevent the right from 

 being abused. The case came before the House on the 20th July 

 following, when Sir James, being supported by Hyde and Falkland, 

 was successful (on a division, ninety-five to seventy-six) in getting 

 the whole affair referred to a committee, Whitelocke and Maynard 

 being the tellers against such a course. On the 17th August it was 

 decided that the privilege claimed by Sir James should be disallowed ; 

 and in February following he quitted the House. Perhaps we may 

 read it in the light of a special mark of Royal favour towards the 



