House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 8 July 1689

Lunæ, 8 die Julii; 1° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Hele's Estate.

THE House resumed the Consideration of the Report of the Amendments to the Bill to enable Trustees to grant Leases of the Estate of Richard Hele, Esquire.

And the same were read over a Second time, one by one; and, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Ordered, That the Bill, so amended, be ingrossed.

Collections on a Brief.

A Petition of the poor Sufferers by Fire that happened in Chaning Row in 1682, and since that time in Elye, Causton, Stanton, Kirksawton, Bulford, Castor, Eusbury, Worsope, Desford, Alrewas, Alerston, Sarsdon, &c. was read; setting forth, That they had been at vast Charges in obtaining Letters Patents; and that, by the same, several Persons of Quality were made Trustees, who appointed for Collectors and Agents Nehemiah Farmer, William Ranshaw, Samuel Tayler, and Thomas Chamberlaine, who had collected all or most of the Money long since, and yet had not paid over the same to the Trustees; and stand upon Privileges and Protections, in Contempt of the Law; whereby many Families were like to perish: And prayed, that the said Collectors might be summoned to appear before the Committee of Grievances, to shew Cause why they had not paid the Money by them received; and to regulate the Method of Passing of Briefs for the future.

Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to the Committee to whom the Petition of the Inhabitants of Sickinghall in the County of Yorke was referred, to examine the Matter thereof, and report the same, with their Opinions therein, to the House.

Privilege- Reflections on a Member.

William Harbord, Esquire, a Member of this House, complaining, That there hath been a false and scandalous Report spread abroad of him, That he hath charged great Sums of Money to the Account of his Majesty, for Carriages provided for his Majesty, when Prince of Orange, in his Coming out of the West, and otherwise; and that he hath not really paid what is pretended to be charged; and that he hath great Sums of Money, and not given any Account of the same;

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to enquire into the Matter of the said Report; and who were the Authors thereof; and make their Report to the House.

And it is referred unto Mr. Buscawen, Mr. Gerrard, Sir Rob. Cotton, Sir John Barker, Mr. Grey, Sir Rob. Davers, Sir Jonath. Jennings, Sir Trevor Williams, Mr. Paul Foley, Mr. John Williams, Mr. Sandford, Sir Edw. Ascough, Sir Fran. Russell, Sir Wm. Honywood, Sir Rob. Nappier, Mr. Leveson Gowre, Mr. Papillion, Mr. Hunt, Colonel Sackville, Mr. Stockdale, Mr. Blowfeild, Mr. Wm. Thomson, Colonel Birch, Sir Wm. Williams, Sir Ch. Bloys, Sir Hen. Capell, Colonel Lee, Mr. Staines, Mr. Arnold, Mr. Lashells, Mr. Reynell, Sir Wm. Poultney, Sir Edw. Hussey, Mr. R. Russell, Sir Thomas Lee, Sir Wm. Ellis, Mr. Palmes, Colonel Babington, Colonel Austen, and all the Members that serve for the County of Devon: And they are to meet To-morrow at Four of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Chettell's Estate.

The House took into Consideration the Amendments proposed by the Lords to be made to the Bill to enable * Chettell to sell Lands to pay his Debts, and make Provision for his Wife and Children.

And the same was thrice read; and, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House; and is as follows;

At the End of the Bill, add "Saving always to the King and Queen's Most Excellent Majesties, All such Right, Title, Estate, or Interest, as they had, or might have had, in the Premises, if this Act had never been made; any thing herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding."

Ordered, That Sir Robert Davers do carry up the Bill to the Lords; and acquaint them with the Concurrence of this House to the said Amendment.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That the Lord Digby have Leave to go into the Country, for Three Weeks.

London Charter.

A Bill to restore the Charter of the City of London, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time on Thursday Morning next.

Measure of Norwich Stuffs.

A Petition of the Mercers and Salesmen of the City of Bristoll was read; setting forth, That there are certain Commodities, called Norwich Stuffs; which, by an Act made in the Seventh Year of the Reign of King Edward the Fourth, ought to contain in Length Thirty Yards; but since have been made of such uncertain Lengths, that not only the Weavers of the said Stuffs work them at Twenty-eight Yards, but the Wardens and Assistants of the said Company, who are impowered by Act of Parliament to see after the Length and Breadth, and Goodness of the said Stuffs, do also seal the same for Twenty-eight Yards; by the Seal, and Tickets set thereunto, the said Stuffs are bought in Gross, and Quantities; and when they are again sold by them that retale the same, who open and measure them, they very seldom hold to be any more than Twenty-five Yards and an half, or Twenty-six Yards, but are imposed on the said Buyers for the Lengths they are marked at, by which means many are very much impoverished, and the Weavers or Makers thereof, or others in Confederacy with them, or both, by this great Cheat, are enriched: And praying an Office may be erected in Norwich, and some Person deputed, upon Oath, to measure and fix a Seal to all Stuffs there to be made and sold.

Resolved, That the Petition be referred to the Committee appointed to prepare and bring in a Bill for regulating the Abuses in the Measures of Worsted Stuffs, to examine the Matter thereof; and to report the same, with their Opinions therein, to the House.

Bills first to be proceeded on.

Resolved, That the House do now take into Consideration What Bills they will first proceed upon.

Resolved, That the Bill for rendering the Militia more useful be One of the Bills to be proceeded upon.

Resolved, That the Bill for settling the Revenue upon their Majesties be another of the Bills to be proceeded upon.

Resolved, That the Bill for declaring the Rights and Liberties of the Subject, and settling the Succession of the Crown, be another of the Bills to be proceeded upon.

Resolved, That the Bill for Restoring of Corporations be another of the Bills to be proceeded upon.

Resolved, That the Bill for Attainting of Persons in Arms with King James in Ireland be another of the Bills to be proceeded upon.

Resolved, That the Bill for restoring the Charter of the City of London be another Bill to be proceeded upon.

Resolved, That the Bill for Relief of the Orphans of the City of London be another of the Bills to be proceeded upon.

Resolved, That the Bill for settling a Fund for Satisfaction of the Money to the Dutch be another of the Bills to be proceeded upon.-

Poll Tax.

Resolved, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for a Review of the Poll granted by an Act for raising Money by a Poll, and otherwise, towards the Reducing of Ireland.-

Resolved, That the Bill for appropriating the Forfeitures of Five hundred Pounds be another of the Bills to be proceeded upon.

Resolved, That the Bill for preventing the Importation of French Goods be another of the Bills to be proceeded upon.

Resolved, That the Bill for the additional Excise be another of the Bills to be proceeded upon.

Resolved, That the Bill for laying an additional Custom upon Coffee, Tea, and Chocolate, be another of the Bills to be proceeded upon.

Resolved, That the Bill of Indemnity be another of the Bills to be proceeded upon.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived; and do sit this Afternoon.

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