House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 16 May 1689

Jovis, 16 die Maii ; 1° Willielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Wye, &c. Navigation.

ORDERED, That the several Petitions touching the Rivers Wye and Lugg in the County of Hereford, be referred to the Committee, to whom the Bill for making the said Rivers navigable, was referred.

Hele's Estate.

A Bill to enable Trustees to grant Leases of the Estate of Richard Hele, Esquire, was read the Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Gwyn, Major E. Vincent, Mr. Cary, Sir Rob. Cotton, Lord Falkland, Sir John Wyn, Mr. Papillion, Sir Fra. Russell, Sir Boucher Wray, Mr. Carter, Sir Walter Moyle, Captain Vincent, Mr. Howard, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Kendall, Mr. Tho. Foley, Sir Tho. Littleton, Mr. Paul Foley, Sir John Carew, Mr. Attorney General, Mr. Solicitor General, Mr. Windham, and all the Members that serve for the Counties of Devon and Cornewall: And they are to meet To-morrow in the Afternoon, at Four of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Westminster Paving.

A Bill for Paving the Streets at Westminster, and other Places within the Weekly Bills of Mortality, was read the First time:

Resolved, That the Bill do lie upon the Table, till the Bill for Licensing Hackney Coaches, be reported.

Leave for Member to attend Lords.

Ordered, That Mr. Thomas Howard have leave to attend the House of Lords, to be exammed as a Witness touching the Matter of the Earl of Essex's Death.

East India Company.

A Petition of Martha Bolton, Widow, was read; setting forth, That in 1679 Thomas Bolton, the Petitioners Husband, went in the East India Company's Service to St. Hellena, and lived there as a Freeman: That in 1684, a Dispute happening between the Deputy Governor and Inhabitants, about owning themselves Subjects to the Company, or King of England; thereon, the Governor wrote to the Managers of the Company here, and they procured a Commission from King James, to try the Petitioner's Husband, and others, in a Court Martial; which they so did; and there condemned and executed the Petitioner's said husband; together with William Rutter, John Coleson, Job Jewster, and Edward Gardiner: And having so done, they seized the Prisoner's Estate, to Five hundred Pounds Value, pretending a Forfeiture to the Company; forcibly detaining her on the Island, to prevent her Complaint: And praying those concerned in the taking away her said Husband's Life, may be brought to condign Punishment; and to receive Redress for herself and Children.

Resolved, That the Matter of the said Petition be heard, at the Bar of this House, on Monday Morning next: And that the Serjeant at Arms attending the House do give the East India Company Notice thereof; with a Copy of the said Petition: And that the Company do bring with them all Books and Writings relating to the Matters of the said Petition.

A Petition of Dorothy Bowyer was read; setting forth, That Wm. Bowyer, her Son, was entertained in 1683, in the Company's Service as a Soldier at St. Hellena; and that Robert Helding, having traiterously endeavoured to withdraw the Inhabitants from their Allegiance to the King, to that of the Company, was accused thereof to Major John Blackmore, Governor, by Allen Denneson; but the Governor, confederating in the Design, imprisoned the Accuser: That the Inhabitants of the Island conjoined in their Request to the Governor, for the releasing Denneson; but, instead of an Answer, he commanded Two great Guns to be fired against them, killing Three Persons, and wounding Fourteen: That those that escaped (whereof the Petitioner's Son was One) went to their own Houses: And next Night he was seized and imprisoned, with one Clerke; and, about Three Months after, were illegally condemned by the Governor, and both executed the One-and-thirtieth January 168 ⁴/5: And praying the Managers of the East India Company might appear, to make out such their Proceedings in judging and executing her said Son.

Resolved, That the Matter of the said Petition be heard, at the Bar of this House, on Monday Morning next: And that the Serjeant at Arms attending this House do give the East India Company Notice hereof; with a Copy of the said Petition: And that the Company do bring with them all Books and Writings relating to the Matters of the said Petition.

Irish Protestants.

Sir Joseph Tredenham reports from the Committee, to whom it was referred to consider of the distressed Condition of the Protestants fled from Ireland, and of a Way how they may be relieved, That the Committee had been attended by many of the Nobility, Clergy, and Gentry fled from Ireland, and others; and had collected the Names of such Persons as were fled, according to the best Information they could get, ... of the Estates those Persons had left behind them, and were now disposed of; and had made an Alphabetical Table of the Names, and of the Sums of Money the Committee thought fit should be allowed them for their Subsistence for a Year; which the Committee had directed him to deliver in to the House: And that the Committee had also come to several Resolutions; which they had directed him to report to the House: And he read the same in his place; and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where they were read; and are as followeth;

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the House be moved, That an Address may be presented, to acquaint their Majesties with the great Zeal which the Nobility and Gentry, fled from Ireland, express for the Preservation of their Religion, and his Majesty's Service: And to pray, that such of them as are desirous and fit to bear Arms, may be listed and employed in his Majesty's Service, for reducing that Kingdom.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the House be moved, That an Address be presented to his Majesty, that such Part of the Stock which the late King hath in the East India and Guinea Companies, as remains undisposed of, be forthwith sold and distributed amongst the Irish Nobility and Gentry, for their present Subsistence.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the House be moved, That an Address be presented to his Majesty, to issue forth his Royal Proclamation, requiring all Papists beyond the Seas, who have Estates in England, to return within Days: And the Estates of such of them as are actually in Arms against his Majesty be seized into the King's Hands, for the Relief of the Nobility and Gentry who are fled from Ireland, and deprived of their Estates there.

The First of the said Resolves being read a Second time;

Resolved, That an Address be presented, to acquaint their Majesties with the great Zeal which the Nobility and Gentry, fled from Ireland, express for the Preservation of their Religion, and his Majesty's Service: And to pray, that such of them as are desirous, and fit to bear Arms, may be listed and employed in his Majesty's Service, for reducing that Kingdom.

The Second of the said Resolves being read a Second time;

Resolved, That an Address be presented to his Majesty, That such Part of the Stock which the late King hath in the East India and Guinea Companies, as remains undisposed of, be forthwith sold and distributed amongst the Irish Nobility and Gentry, for their present Subsistence.

The Third of the said Resolves being read a Second time;

An Amendment being proposed, by leaving out these Words, "within Days;"

The House, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed to the same.

Another Amendment being proposed, to leave out these words, "in Arms against His Majesty;" and, instead thereof, to insert these Words, "as do not give Obedience to his Majesty's Proclamation;"

The same were, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Resolved, That an Address be presented to his Majesty, to issue forth his Royal Proclamation, requiring all Papists beyond the Seas, who have Estates in England, to return: And that the Estates of such of them, as do not give Obedience to his Majesty's Proclamation, be seized into the King's Hands, for the Relief of the Nobility and Gentry who are fled from Ireland, and deprived of their Estates there.

Resolved, That it be referred to the same Committee to prepare an Address to his Majesty, upon the Resolutions aforesaid.

Sir Joseph Tredenham also reports, That he had Directions from the said Committee to acquaint the House, That he had Notice, that there are divers other Persons come over since the said Lists were agreed upon, who do well deserve also to be considered by the House; and that the Duke of Ormond was not at all considered in the said List.

Resolved, That it be an Instruction to the said Committee, That, in the said Address, his Majesty be desired particularly to take into Consideration the Condition of the Duke of Ormond; and also, That he will please to consider of the rest of the Nobility and Gentry fled from Ireland, not mentioned in the said List.

Ordered, That Sir Thomas Littleton, Alderman Manering, Mr. Norreis, Mr. Montague, Sir Edward Harley, Colonel Whitley, be added to the said Committee.

Orphans of London, &c.

Sir Peter Rich, Chamberlain of the City of London, (pursuant to the Order of the Thirteenth Instant) delivered in several Accompts relating to the City; viz.

An Account of the Value of the Lands proposed by the City to be sold, and the Charities charged thereupon; and of Rents reserved to secure such Charities.

An Abstract of the Monies the Chamber of London is indebted to the Orphans and Widows, under General Totals; with the Particulars of some such Generals.

Bill of Indemnity.

The House then resolved into a Committee of the whole House, according to the Order of *, to proceed further in the Consideration of Heads for a Bill of Indemnity.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.
Sir Thomas Littleton took the Chair of the Committee.
Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Sir Thomas Littleton reports from the Committee of the whole House, That, they have taken the Matter into their Consideration; and had made some further Progress in the said Heads: And that they had directed him to move, That they might sit again To-morrow.

Resolved, That this House do, on Saturday Morning, next, at Ten of the Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to proceed further in the Consideration of Heads for a Bill of Indemnity.

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