House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 25 November 1690

Martis, 25 die Novembris; 2° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Cooke's Estate.

AN ingrossed Bill from the Lords, intituled, An Act for the Enabling of Trustees to sell certain Lands of Rich. Cooke, deceased, to pay Debts, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

White's Petition.

A Petition of George White, of Monmouth, Gentleman, was read; setting forth, That * * * *

Petitions from Hereford.

A Petition of the Gentlemen, Yeomen, and Freeholders of the Hundred of Radloe in the County of Hereford, was read; setting forth, That * * * *

A Petition of the Freeholders of the Hundred of Ewyaslacy in the County of Hereford, was read; setting forth; That * * * *

Army Debt.

Mr. Bickerstaffe reports from the Committee to whom the Consideration of the Petition of several Officers, Innkeepers, Clothiers, &c. who quartered and accoutred the Forces raised since the Twenty-ninth of September 1677, was referred, the Case touching the same, and the Debts owing to the said Petitioners, as followeth; viz.

That, upon Examination, it appeared to the Committee, That the Act, intituled, An Act for granting a Supply to his Majesty King Charles the Second of Two hundred six thousand Four hundred Sixty-two Pounds Seventeen Shillings and Three-pence, for paying off and disbanding the Forces raised since the Twenty-ninth of September 1677, fell short of answering the End for which it was given, Principal Money, Sixty-one thousand Nine hundred Twenty-six Pounds Three Shillings and Eleven-pence, or thereabouts, besides Interest for the same, as the said Act directs.

And that the said Sixty-one thousand Nine hundred Twenty-six Pounds Three Shillings and Eleven-pence, Principal Money, is due for Quarters, Cloaths, &c. by Certificates, signed by one or more of the Commissioners for Disbanding, and Orders of the then Lords of the Treasury thereupon directed to the Exchequer, where they are registered; as appears by Certificate from the honourable Sir Robert Howard, Auditor of their Majesties Receipts of Exchequer.

And it is the Opinion of this Committee, That if this House shall please in this Juncture to take the Premises into Consideration, and to make Provision for the Payment of so just and national Debt, that it may be of great Use to their Majesties, and their Kingdoms, by encouraging Persons to come in to their Majesties Service; and others, as Occasion shall require, to give fresh Credit for the Service of the Publick, upon the Reputation of future Acts of Parliament; as well as raise the broken Fortunes of many Families, who have been utterly ruined for want of what is petitioned for.

And a Motion being made for raising a Supply to be granted to their Majesties for Satisfaction of the said Debt;

Resolved, That this Houss will, upon Saturday Morning next, at Ten a Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the said Motion.

Punishing Mutiny and Desertion.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee to whom the Clause to be added to the Bill for punishing Officers and Soldiers, who shall mutiny, or desert their Majesties Service, and for punishing false Musters, was committed, be made upon Thursday Morning next, at Nine a Clock.

Tryals for Treason.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Friday Morning next, at Ten a Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for Regulating of Tryals in Cases of Treason.

Rights of Election.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for ascertaining the Rights of Election of Members to serve in Parliament for the respective Counties, Cities, Boroughs, and Cinque Ports, within this Kingdom: And it is recommended to Mr. Godolphin, and Colonel Birch, to prepare the same.

Surgeons to administer Medicines.

A Petition of the Merchants of London, and Commanders and Officers of Ships trading beyond the Seas, with others, that have lived beyond Sea, was presented to the House.

And the same relating to the Bill for enabling the Surgeons to administer internal Medicines, in Cases of Surgery;

Ordered, That the said Petition be read, when the Hearing at the Bar of this House shall be touching the said Bill.

Ordered, That the College of Physicians be heard at the Bar of this House, touching the said Bill, upon Tuesday Morning next.

Insolvent Debtors.

Ordered, That the Bill for Relief of poor Prisoners be read upon Thursday Morning next.

Highways.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Saturday Morning next, at Eight a Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for Repair of the Highways.

Royal Assent to Bills.

A Message from his Majesty, by Sir Thom. Duppa, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod;

Mr. Speaker,

The King commands this honourable House to attend His Majesty in the House of Peers immediately.

And accordingly Mr. Speaker, with the House, went up to attend his Majesty: And, being returned,

Mr. Speaker reports, That his Majesty had been pleased, to give the Royal Assent to the Bills following; viz.

An Act for doubling the Excise of Beer, Ale, and other Liquors, during the Space of one Year.

An Act to enable Eliz. Mountague, Widow, to make Leases, for Years, of Houses and Grounds in Stepney in the County of Middlesex.

The King's Speech reported.

And that afterwards his Majesty was pleased to make a gracious Speech to both Houses of Parliament, as followeth; viz.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

I take this Occasion, with great Willingness, to assure you, that I am extremely sensible of the Zeal and Chearfulness of all your Proceedings in this Sessions of Parliament; and of the Readiness which you, Gentlemen of the House of Commons, have shewn in granting such large Supplies towards the pressing Occasions of the Navy and Army.

And I do further assure you, that I shall not be wanting, on my Part, to see them carefully applied to those Uses for which you intend them.

At the same time I must observe to you, that the Posture of Affairs Abroad does necessarily require My presence at the Hague before the End of this Year; and, by Consequence, I must desire you to lose no Time in the dispatching and perfecting such further Supplies as are still necessary for the Navy and Army; and not for them only, but it is high time also to put you in mind of making some Provision for the Expence of the Civil Government; which has no Funds for its Support, since the Excise, which was designed for that Service, and also the other Branches of the Revenue, have been applied to other publick Uses; and therefore I earnestly recommend it to your speedy Consideration.

The King's Speech to be considered.

Resolved, Nemine contradicente, That this House will, To-morrow Morning at Ten a Clock, take into Consideration his Majesty's Gracious Speech to both Houses of Parliament this Day.

Cirencester Election.

Then the Matter, touching the Election of Burgesses to serve in this Parliament for the Borough of Cirencester in the County of Glocester, came on to be heard at the Bar of the House, according to the Order of the Day.

And the Counsel for all the Parties were called in: And, after they had been heard,

They withdrew.

And the Question being put, That Henry Powle, Esquire, is duly elected one of the Burgesses to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Cirencester in the County of Gloucester;

The House divided.

The Noes go forth.

So it passed in the Negative.

Resolved, That Rich. Howe, Esquire, is duly elected a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Cirencester in the County of Gloucester.

Resolved, That John Howe, Esquire, is duly elected a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Cirencester in the County of Gloucester.

Ordered, That the Clerk of the Crown do attend this House To-morrow Morning, to amend the Return for the Borough of Cirencester in the County of Gloucester.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned.

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