House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 21 April 1690

Lunæ, 21 die Aprilis 2° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Sadleir's Estate.

A BILL to enable Sir Edwin Sadleir to sell some Lands, to pay Debts, was read the Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Christy, Mr. Weld, Sir Wm. Cooper, Sir John Moreton, Lord Digby, Sir Jacob Ashley, Mr. Blowfeild, Sir Sam. Bernadiston, Mr. Staynes, Sir Gilb. Clerke, Serjeant Wogan, Mr. Dolben, Mr. Clerke, Mr. Hawtry, Mr. Newport, Mr. Gray, Mr. Fuller, Sir Jerv. Elwes, Sir Jonath. Jennings, Sir Edm. Jennings, Mr. Bockland, Sir Orlando Gee, and all the Members that serve for the Counties of Hertford, Bedford, and Cambridge: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Three of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir Charles Carteret have Leave to go into the Country.

Great Marlow Sale-of Lands.

An ingrossed Bill from the Lords, intituled, An Act for the Sale of the Capital Messuage or Mansion House of Harleford, and the Manor of Great Marlow, and other Lands in the County of Bucks, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Earl of Shaftsbury's Estate.

An ingrossed Bill from the Lords, intituled, An Act for the making some Provision for the Daughters and younger Sons of Anthony Earl of Shaftsbury, was read the Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed unto Sir John Guise, Sir Rob. Nappier, Mr. Freke, Mr. Bury, Mr. Ettrick, Sir Edm. Jennings, Mr. Bockland, Mr. Blowfeild, Mr. Goldwell, Sir Jervas Elwes, Mr. Price, Mr. Morland, Sir Tho. Pope Blunt, Mr. Christie Mr. Stretford, Sir Cha. Bloys, Sir Rob. Davers, Serjeant Wogan, Mr. Dolben, Sir Jonath. Jennings, Sir Wm. Cooper, Sir Gilbert Clerke, Mr. Hobby, Mr. Clerke, Mr. Arnold, Sir Sam. Bernadiston, Mr. Founds, Mr. Pitts, Sir Orlando Gee, Mr. Foot Onslow, Mr. Staynes, Mr. Fuller, Colonel Birch, Mr. England, Sir Cha. Raleigh, Mr. Traverse, Mr. Brockman, Mr. Christie, Mr. Ogden, Mr. Greenfeild, Sir Walter Young, and all the Members that serve for the Counties of Dorset and Somersett: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Three of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Duke of Buckingham's Estate.

A Petition of several Tradesmen, Workmen, and Servants, being Creditors of the late Duke of Buckingham, on Behalf of themselves and others, was read; setting forth, That the Petitioners have divers Sums justly due to them from the said Duke, which he, by his Will, directed should be paid; and for Want whereof the Petitioners are forced into many great Extremities, and are like, with their Families, to suffer Ruin: That several of the Duke's Creditors, who have Securities upon his Estate, are endeavouring to obtain an Act to enable the Duke's Trustees to sell his Estate, for Payment of his Debts; notwithstanding the Minority of the Person who claims the Equity of Redemption of the Duke's Estate, as Heir at Law: And praying the Consideration of the House in the Premises; and that such Clauses may be inserted into the said Act, that may effectually provide for the Satisfaction of their Debts, according to the said Duke's Intentions.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee to whom the Bill for the better enabling the Trustees of the late Duke of Bucks to sell several Lands and Tenements, settled on them for Payment of his Debts, is committed.

Importing Thrown Silk.

A Bill to discourage the Importation of Thrown Silk, was read the Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to a Committee of the whole House.

Ditto

A Petition of the Bailiffs, Master, and Wardens, and Assistants of the Company of Weavers at London and Canterbury, was read, setting forth, That the Bill before this House, for the discouraging the Importation of Thrown Silk, will, if it passeth, be to the great Prejudice of the Manufacturers of Silk: For that Black Alamodes and Lutestrings are made solely of fine Italian Thrown Silk; and most other figured and plain Silks are interwoven with the same; and the most ingenious Trade of Weaving lieth under Great Discouragements by the late Advance of the Price of Thrown Silks, the frequent Importation of Foreign Manufactures, and the near Expiring of the Act, which laid an Impost on the Foreign woven Silks: And praying to be heard against the said Bill, before the same doth pass.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill to discourage the Importation of Thrown Silk, is committed.

A Petition of several Merchants of London trading to Italy, the Kingdoms of Naples and Cicily, was read; setting forth, That, in the Bill that is before this House for Discouraging the Importation of Thrown Silk, is included Silk Thrown in Italy, Naples, and Cicily, which hath anciently been imported into this Kingdom, and is very beneficial thereto: Wherefore, if the same should be discouraged its Importation, it might not only prejudice the Manufacturers thereof here, but also obstruct the Exportation of Fish, Tin, Lead, Woolen, and other Manufactures of this Kingdom, into those Parts: And praying to offer their Reasons against the said Bill, before the same doth pass.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill to discourage the Importation of Thrown Silk, is committed.

Resolved, That the House will, upon Friday Morning next, at Ten of the Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the said Bill.

African Company.

A Bill for securing the Trade to the Royal Affrican Company of England, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to a Committee of the whole House.

Ditto.

A Petition of divers Clothiers of Suffolke and Essex, and others, employed in the Woolen Manufacture of Says, and Stuffs, was read; setting forth, That the Petitioners enjoyed an open Trade for the Woolen Manufactures of Says, when Trade was free for all Merchants to send their Ships to Guiny; whereby there was so quick a Vent and so good Prices given, that the Petitioners were encouraged to carry on the Making of far greater Quantities of Says and Stuffs; which gave Employ to many Thousands of Inhabitants of the County: But that now, and for some Years past, such their former Trade is restrained, their Goods under-priced and left upon their Hands, if not sold, for what Prices the Company, trading to Guiny, will give for them; who, being the alone Buyer, and none else suffered to export the said Goods, the Petitioners are forced to sell at the Rates they are pleased to allow; whereby great Quantities of the Petitioners Goods lie upon them; by which Means (having no other Sale than as aforesaid) they must be forced to lay down their Trades; the Effect whereof is too manifest in the Ruin of many poor Families, and Tradesmen dealing in, and living up on, the Woolen Manufactures: And praying, That the said Trade may no longer be restrained; but that all Merchants may have Freedom to export them, many being ready to buy, and encourage the Petitioners in making such their Manufactures, had they Liberty, and Freedom of Trade.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for securing the Trade to the Royal Affrican Company of England, is committed.

African Company.

A Petition of several Merchants of London, Traders to the Coast of Barbary, was read; setting forth, That the Petitioners are informed, a Bill is brought into this House for the better securing the Trade to the Royal Affrican Company; whose Patent reaches from Tremisan, within the Streights, to the Cape of Good Hope; which includes all the Ports upon the Coast of Barbary, where the Petitioners have had a constant Trade, and settled Factories, for many Years: And praying to be heard against the said Bill, before the same do pass.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for securing the Trade to the Royal Affrican Company of England, is committed.

Ditto.

A Petition of the Planters, and Traders to Jamaica, was read; setting forth, That the Affrican Company have desired Leave to bring in a Bill for confirming their Charter: And the Company having been exceeding oppressive and injurious, as well to the said Island in general, as to their Majesties Subjects in England, to the great Discouragement of Trade (especially the Woolen Manufacture) and the Diminution of their Majesties Customs, and praying that they may be heard, by their Counsel, against the said Bill, before the same doth pass.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for securing the Trade to the Royal Affrican Company of England, is committed.

A Petition of John Thrale, and John Tutt, and others, Owners and Freighters of the Ship Delight, of London, was read; setting forth, That the said Ship, English-built, Burthen One hundred and Forty Tons, manned with English Men, and laden with Woolen Manufactures, and other Goods, for which his Majesty's Customs were duly paid 10 July 1677, and then sailed to Affrica; and was there re-laden with Negroes, Elephants Teeth, Gold, &c. consigned to Jamaica to be delivered there: But that, in April 1678, one Captain Delavall, Commander of the Constant Warwick, did, in an hostile Manner, near the Barbadoes, command the Master of the said Ship to come aboard him: The which when he did so, he there detained him Prisoner, and seized the Ship and Cargo, and carried the same into Barbadoes; where Sir Jonath. Atkins, then Governor, in Consederacy with the Affrican Company and their Agents, adjudged the said Ship and Cargo as Prize; and condemned the same, to the Loss and Damage of Seven thousand Pounds Sterling, besides Interest; which Oppression and Grievance is maintained by the said Affrican Company; and the Confederates, or most of them, being beyond the Seas, so that the Petitioners cannot have any Remedy at Law, and are therefore necessitated to crave the Assistance of this House for Justice; Relief, and Reparation.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for securing the Trade to the Royal Affrican Company of England, is committed.

Resolved, That the House will, upon Wednesday Morning next, at Ten of the Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the said Bill.

Supply Bill; Excise.

An ingrossed Bill for settling the Excise upon their Majesties, was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the said Bill do pass: And that the Title thereof be, An Act for granting to their Majesties for their Lives, and the Life of the Survivor of them, certain Impositions upon Beer, Ale, and other Liquors.

Ordered, That Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer do carry the said Bill to the Lords for their Concurrence.

Papists Protestant Heirs.

A Bill to prevent Papists from disinheriting their Protestant Heirs, was read the Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Foley, Mr. Arnold, Mr. Wilmot, Sir Walt. Young, Lord Falkland, Mr. Preston, Mr. Blowfeild, Sir Jos. Williamson, Mr. Freke, Mr. Buckly, Sir Cha. Bloys, Earl of Bellamont, Sir John Wynne, Mr. Clarke, Sir Wm. Cooke, Sir Phil. Skippon, Sir Rich. Hart, Mr. Saynes; Sir Edm. Jennings, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Christy, Sir Wm. Robinson, Sir John Guise, Mr. Gray, Sir Wm. Forster, Colonel Birch, Sir Robert Cotton, Sir Tho. Mompesson, Mr. Ryder, Mr. Kenyon, Mr. Bockland, Mr. Palmes, Sir John Thompson, Sir Walter St. John, Mr. Harcourt, Sir John Knatchbull, Mr. Burdet, Mr. Chadwick, Sir Christopher Musgrave, Mr. Pelham, Sir Rich. Standish, Mr. Cooke, Mr. Foote Onslow, Mr. Gwyn; Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Norreis, and all the Gentlemen of the Long Robe: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Three of the Clock in the Speaker's Chamber.

Recovery of Tythes.

An ingrossed Bill from the Lords, intituled, An Act for the more easy Recovery of small Tythes, and for Repair of Churches, was read the First time.

Ordered, That the said Bill do lie upon the Table.

Resolved, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for the more easy Recovery of small Tythes, and Repair of Churches and Chancels: And it is recommended to Mr. Christy to prepare and bring in the same.

Poor Relief.

Resolved, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for the better Relief of the Poor, and setting them on Work: And it is recommended to Sir John Guise, to prepare and bring in the same.

Supply Bill; Hereditary Revenue.

A Bill, declaring the hereditary Revenue of the Crown to be vested in their Majesties, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time Tomorrow Morning.

Providing Carriages for their Majesties.

Ordered, That the Bill for providing necessary Carriages for their Majesties, in their Royal Progresses and Removals, be read To-morrow Morning.

Boston Writ.

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 Boston in the County of Lincolne, in the Room of the honourable Robert Lord Willoughby of Eresby, called up to the House of Lords.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees, except that to which the Consideration of the Book of Rates is referred, be adjourned.

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