House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 14 January 1690

Martis, 14 die Januarii; 1° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Supply Bill; late Queen Mary's Estate.

ORDERED, That the Bill to vest in their present Majesties the Lands granted by the late King James to certain Feoffees, in Trust for the late Queen Mary, be read the Third time on Saturday Morning next, at Eleven of the Clock.

Irish Protestants.

An ingrossed Bill for the better securing their Majesties Protestant Subjects in Ireland, was read the Third Time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title thereof be, An Act for the better Security and Relief of their Majesties Protestant Subjects in Ireland.

Ordered, That Mr. Solicitor General do carry the Bill to the Lords, and desire their Concurrence thereunto.

Pilchard Fishery.

A Bill for the regulating the Pilchard Fishing in the Counties of Cornwall and Devon, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Westminster, &c. Courts of Conscience.

A Petition of the Churchwardens, Officers, and others, Inhabitants of the Parishes within the Liberties of the Tower Hamlets, was read; setting forth, That they being sensible of the Sufferings of many poor Prisoners in Whitechapple, for Debts under Forty Shillings, to the Ruin of them, their Wives and Families, and to the vast Charge of their respective Families in keeping them; and the Petitioners understanding, that, for the preventing such Inconveniencies for the future, a Bill is prepared for erecting a Court of Conscience within the said Liberty of the Tower Hamlets, for deciding such small Differences; which will tend to the great Advantage of the poorer Sort of People, and Advancement of the common Good; whereby they may have time to pay their Debts, and follow their Vocations: And praying such Bill might pass; and that John Topham, Esquire, may be nominated Clerk and Register for the Division of the Tower Hamlets in the Bill mentioned.

Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to the Committee to whom the Bill for erecting Courts of Conscience in the Borough of Southwarke, City of Westminster, Tower Hamlets, and Out Parishes within the Weekly Bills of Mortality, is referred.

Westminster; &c. Courts of Conscience.

A Petition of the Inhabitants of the Borough of Southwarke was read; setting forth, That a Bill for erecting a Court of Conscience for the said Borough, and Parishes adjacent, being brought into this House; and the same being twice read, but not yet passed; many poor Inhabitants there, for Want thereof, have been forced to Prison for very small Debts, and put to great Charge by the Attornies and Officers of the Courts, and the Keepers of Prisons there, to the Ruin of themselves and Families, and a great Charge on the Inhabitants of the respective Parishes wherein they lived: And praying this House to take the Premises into their Consideration, That the said Bill may pass this House; the Want whereof having been so prejudicial to many Thousands of the Inhabitants thereof.

Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to the Committee to whom the Bill for erecting Courts of Conscience in the Borough of Southwarke, City of Westminister, Tower Hamlets, and Out Parishes within the Weekly Bills of Mortality, is referred.

A Petition of the Inhabitants of the Out Parishes within the Bills of Mortality, in the County of Middlesex, and Westminster, and the Liberties thereof, was read; setting forth, That they being sensible of the Sufferings of many poor Prisoners in the Marshalsea, and elsewhere, for Debts under Forty Shillings, to the Ruin of their Wives and Families, who consequently come to be kept by their respective Parishes; and being informed a Bill is prepared to be brought into this House for erecting a Court of Conscience in Southwarke, and other Out Parishes, for the remedying such the said mischievous Inconveniences for the future: which will conduce much to the Good and Benefit of the poor Sort of People; whereby Time may be given to pay their Debts, thereby to avoid Imprisonments, that so they may follow their several Vocations: And praying this House will promote and pass so charitable and good an Act.

But nothing done thereupon.

Wiggan Writ.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a new Writ for the Electing of a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Wiggan in the County of Lancaster, in the room of Wm. Bancks, Esquire, deceased.

A person to attend.

The House being informed, that Captain Avery (who was formerly complained of for divers Abuses in pressing Seamen, and thereupon was sent for to appear before the House) was now come to Town, and ready to appear when the House should appoint;

Ordered, That Captain Avery do attend the House upon Monday Morning next.

Privilege of a Member in a Suit.

Ordered, That Mr. May, a Member of the House, be at Liberty to wave his Privilege, in a Suit between Wivell and Penrose; if he shall think fit so to do.

Militia.

Ordered, That the Bill for settling the Militia of this Kingdom be read a Second time upon Friday Morning next.

Supply Bill; Poll Tax.

Then the House resolved into a Committee of the whole House, to proceed on the Bill for Review of the Poll Bill.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Mr. Hampden took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Mr. Hampden reports from the Committee of the whole House, That they had agreed upon several Amendments to be made in the Bill: Which he read in his Place, with the Coherence: And then delivered them in at the Clerk's Table: Where they were once read throughout; and afterwards a Second time, one by one; and, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Ordered, That the Bill be ingrossed.

Westminster, &c. Courts of Conscience.

Ordered, That Sir Tho. Mompesson and Mr. Hawles be added to the Committee to whom the Bill for erecting Courts of Conscience in the Borougn of Southwarke, City of Westminster, Tower Hamlets, and Out Parishes within the Weekly Bills of Mortality, is referred.

London Orphans.

Resolved, That the House do, To-morrow Morning at Ten of the Clock, resolve into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of Ways to satisfy the Debts due to the Orphans of the City of London.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.

Aulnage Duty.

Ordered, That the Bill for taking away the Duty of Aulnage, and laying a Duty upon Cloth at the Customhouse, be read a Second time on Tuesday Morning next: And that their Majesties Counsel be then heard touching the Bill; and also the Counsel for the Clothiers and Drapers, if they think fit.

University Charters.

Ordered, That Counsel be heard at the Bar of the House upon Monday Morning next, touching the Bill for restoring the Charters of the Two Universities.

Warnburton's Petition.

A Petition of Tho. Warnburton, Esquire, was presented to the House.

Ordered, That the Petition do lie upon the Table.