House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 1 April 1690

Martis, primo die Aprilis; 2° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

St. Mawes Writ.

MR. Speaker acquaints the House, That he had received a Letter from Henry Seymour, Esquire, who is returned a Burgess to serve as well for the Borough of St. Mawes in the County of Cornwall, as for the Borough of Totnesse in the County of Devon: And that he elects to serve for the Borough of Totnesse; and desires a new Writ may issue for electing another Burgess for the Borough of St. Mawes.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a new Writ for the electing a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament, for the Borough of St. Mawes, in the room of the said Henry Seymour.

Hastings Election.

A Petition of Thomas Munns, Esquire, was read; setting forth, That the Petitioner was duly elected one of the Barons for the Port of Hastings, and ought accordingly to have been returned: But John Beaumont, Esquire, being Governor of Dover Castle, pretends to have a Power of the several Cinque Ports; and wrote several mandatory Letters to the Mayor and chief Officers of the several Cinque Ports; requiring them not to engage their Votes for any particular Person, for that his Majesty would recommend to them such Persons as he should think convenient for them to chose; and, by several Menaces and Threats, procured many of the Electors to vote for him, to serve for the said Port of Hastings: And prevailed with the Mayor thereof to return him, though not legally elected, in Prejudice to the Petitioner: And praying the Consideration and Relief of the House in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections: Who are to examine the Matter thereof; and report their Opinions therein to the House.

Tregony Election.

A Petition of Thomas Tonken, and others, Magistrates and Inhabitants of the Borough of Tregony, was read; setting forth, That the Petitioners, with others, who had the Right to elect, did chuse John Pole, Esquire, to be one of their Burgesses; notwithstanding the Mayor has returned Two others to serve for the said Borough, in Prejudice to the said Borough and Petitioners: And praying the Consideration of the House in the Premises; and that the said John Pole may be admitted as one of their Representatives.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections: Who are to examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinions therein, to the House.

Malmesbury Election.

A Petition of Craven Howard, Esquire, and Sir Thomas Estcourt, was read; setting forth, That the Petitioners were duly elected by Eleven of the Thirteen Electors, for the Borough of Malmesbury in the County of Wilts: Nevertheless one Elias Ferrers, and the Sheriff, have returned Edward Wharton, Esquire, and Sir James Long, in Prejudice of the Petitioners: And praying a Day to be heard, to make out their Right of Election.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections: Who are to examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinions therein, to the House.

St. Ives Election.

A Petition of John Hawles, Esquire, was read; setting forth, That he was duly elected by the Majority of the Aldermen, capital Burgesses, and Assistants of the Borough of St. Ives in the County of Cornwall, who only had Right to elect there; notwithstanding which one John Hicks, pretending to be Mayor of the said Town, though not legally so, hath returned James Praed and Wm. Harris, Esquires, as elected by the Commonalty, when as they have not a Right to elect; or, if they had, the Petitioner hath the Majority of all their Voices who pay Scot and Lot; and therefore ought to have been returned: And praying the Redress of the House in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections: Who are to examine the Matter thereof; and report their Opinions therein, to the House.

Bramber Election.

A Petition of Wm. Stringer, Esquire, was read; setting forth, That on the Eleventh Instant, the Petitioner was duly elected a Burgess for the Borough of Bramber in the County of Sussex; but that Doctor Barbon and Doctor Ratcliffe, by Practice, and undue Means, procured themselves to be returned: And praying the Consideration and Relief of the House in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections: Who are to examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinions therein, to the House.

Droitwich Election.

A Petition of Sir John Packington was read; thereby setting forth, That the Petitioner had the Majority of legal Voices; and was thereby duly elected to serve for the Borough of Droitwich; and ought to have been returned with the Lord Bellamont; but that Philip Foley, Esquire, is returned with the said Lord Bellamont, in Prejudice to the Petitioner: And praying the Consideration of the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections: Who are to examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinions therein, to the House.

Cricklade Election.

A Petition of Samuell Barker, Esquire, was read; setting forth, That the Petitioner had the Majority of duly qualified Voices for the Borough of Cricklade; notwithstanding which, the Bailiff, by many indirect Practices used by him, and Colonel Webb, hath returned the said Colonel Webb, in Prejudice to the Petitioner: And praying the Consideration of the House in the Premises; and that a short Day may be appointed for hearing the same.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections: Who are to examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinions therein, to the House.

Delay of Cardigan Return.

A Complaint being made to the House against the High Sheriff of the County of Cardigan, That he hath not yet made any Return of the Members to serve in this present Parliament for the said County into the Crown Office;

Ordered, That the High Sheriff of the County of Cardigan be taken into the Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House.

Brownrig's Petition.

A Petition of Wm. Brownrig, an Attorney of the Common Pleas, was read; setting forth, That, in 1681, the Petitioner was present, when several Sums of Money were paid to Persons who said they were to be Witnesses against the late Earl of Shaftesbury, and others; with which the Petitioner acquainted Mr. Stringer, the said Earl's Steward; for which, and no other Cause, the Petitioner was committed to Gaol by a Justice of the Peace, now a Member of this House; where he was treated worse than any Criminal; and was long imprisoned before Bail would be taken, though several times offered; and at last the Bail were bound in Two thousand Pounds apiece for the Petitioner's Appearance: And that, by such Imprisonment, and divers other causeless Prosecutions, the Petitioner and his Family are brought to Ruin: And, during the Two late Reigns, the Petitioner could have no Redress, and now cannot likewise without the Aid and Assistance of this honourable House: And praying the House would take upon them to examine the Matters aforesaid; and to give him, and his distressed Family, Relief in the Premises.

Resolved, That the said Petition being found to reflect upon the Honour and Justice of Sir Jonathan Jennings, a Member of the House, be rejected.

Leave for Members to attend Lords.

Ordered, That Mr. Finch and Serjeant Hutchins have Leave to attend the Lords, as Counsel, in a Cause between Coke and Founteine.

Cockermouth Election.

A Petition of the Bailiff and Burgesses of Cockermouth, in the County of Cumberland was read; setting forth, That the Petitioners did chuse Sir Orlando Gee, and Goodwin Wharton, Esquire, as Burgesses to serve for the said Borough; but that Sir Orlando Gee, and Sir Wilfred Lawson, are returned: And the Petitioners are advised 'tis contrary to the Law to return the said Sir Willfred Lawson for that Service, he being High Sheriff of the County: And praying the Relief of the House in the Premises; and that the said Goodwin Wharton may be admitted to serve in the stead of Sir Wilfred Lawson, as a Burgess for the said Borough.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections: Who are to examine the Matters thereof; and report the same, with their Opinions therein, to the House.

Great Grimsbey Election.

A Petition of Sir Thomas Bernadiston was read; setting forth, That the Petitioner was duly elected for the Borough of Great Grimsbey in the County of Lincolne, having the Votes of Twenty-two of the Twenty-seven Electors; and ought to have been returned; but that John Chaplein, Esquire, the present High Sheriff of that County, hath procured himself to be returned, contrary to Law, and a standing Order of this House: And praying the Petitioner may be admitted to serve in this present Parliament, he being duly chosen thereunto.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections: Who are to examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinions therein, to the House.

Suffolke Election.

A Petition of Sir John Playters was read; setting forth, That he was elected for the County of Suffolke by the Majority of legal Votes; but, by several indirect Practices, in making several hundred Freeholders since the Test of the Writ; and polling Voices that were not qualified to elect, having no Freehold in the said County, Sir Samuell Bernadiston hath obtained himself to be returned for the said County, in Prejudice to the Petitioner: And praying the Consideration of the House in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections: Who are to examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinions therein, to the House.

Westminster, &c. Court of Conscience.

A Bill for erecting a Court of Conscience for the City of Westminster, and Liberties thereof, and for the Tower Hamlets, and for the Out Parishes within the weekly Bills of Mortality in the County of Middlesex, was presented to the House; and received accordingly.

Supply.

Then the House resolved into a Committee of the whole House, to proceed in the further Consideration of the Supply to be given to their Majesties.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer took the Chair.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer reports from the Committee of the whole House, That they had agreed upon a Resolution, which they had directed him to report to the House: And he read the same in his Place; and afterwards, delivered it in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same was read; and is as followeth; viz.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That a Sum, not exceeding Twelve hundred thousand Pounds, be the Supply to be given to their Majesties, for the publick Occasions, between this and Michaelmas, in prosecuting the War against France, and reducing of Ireland, with Speed and Vigour.

The said Resolution being read a Second time.

Resolved, That the House doth agree with the Committee, That a Sum, not exceeding Twelve hundred thousand Pounds, be the Supply to be given to their Majesties, for the publick Occasions, between this and Michaelmas, in prosecuting the War against France, and reducing of Ireland, with Speed and Vigour.

Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer also acquainted the House, That he was directed by the Committee to move, That they may sit again To-morrow.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning at Ten of the Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to proceed in the further Consideration of the Supply to their Majesties; and nothing to intervene.

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