House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 2 November 1691

Lunæ, 2 die Novembris; 3° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Privilege disallowed to Members as Trustees.

RESOLVED, That the Privilege of this House shall not be allowed to any Members thereof, in Cases wherein they are only Trustees, a Copy of the Bill or Declaration being first left with such Trustee: And that the same be a Standing Order of this House.

Aulnage Duty.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for transferring the Collection of the Duty of Aulnage to the Custom House; and for giving a Recompence to the Crown for the same: And it is recommended to Mr. Blowfeild and Mr. Clerk to prepare and bring in the same.

Hertford Roads.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for reviving a former Law for Repair of the Highways in the County of Hertford: And it is recommended to Mr. Freeman, Sir Wm. Cooper, and Colonel Titus, to prepare and bring in the same.

Recovery of Tythes.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for the more easy and speedy Recovery of small Tythes: And it is recommended to Mr. Christie and Mr. Greenfeild to prepare and bring in the same.

Plantation Servants.

A Petition of divers Merchants, Masters of Ships, Planters, and others, trading to foreign Plantations, was read; setting forth, That the Plantations cannot be maintained without a considerable Number of white Servants, as well to keep the Blacks in Subjection, as to bear Arms in case of an Invasion: For the convenient Furnishing whereof King Charles granted Letters Patents, dated Twenty-fourth Sept. 16° Regni: Which being surrendered, another was obtained by Colonel Legg and others, unqualified by Law, from the late King James; which, for that Reason, since the happy Revolution, hath been, by Decree in Chancery, declared null and void: And their Majesties have been pleased to grant their Letters Patents to Edward Thomson, Esquire, for the erecting an Office for the binding all Servants, and registring their Consents, that should go over to the said Plantations: And praying Leave to bring in a Bill for establishing the said Office by Act of Parliament.

Resolved, That the Examination and Consideration of the said Petition be referred to a Committee: And that they do report the Matter thereof, with their Opinions therein, to the House.

And it is referred to Sir John Guise, Sir Wm. Strickland, Sir Tho. Haslerig, Sir Rob. Cotton, Sir Peter Colleton, Mr. Biddolph, Sir Rob. Davers, Mr. Travers, Mr. Solicitor General, Sir Walter Young, Mr. Mountague, Mr. Papillion, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Thomson, Sir Cha. Bloys, Sir Jon. Jennings, Sir John Barker, Mr. Brockman, Mr. Blowfeild, Mr. Burrard, Mr. Sherrard, Sir John Dorrell, Sir Hen. Goodrick, Mr. Stockdale, Mr. Christie, Sir Wm. Robinson, Mr. Fuller, Mr. England, Sir Wm. Cooper, Colonel Titus, Sir Sam. Bernardiston, Mr. Palmes, Sir John Key, Sir Math. Andrewes, Mr. Kenyon, Mr. Harley, Sir Wm. Dashwood, Mr. Greenfeild, Mr. Waller, Mr. Hedger, Sir Edw. Hussey, Mr. Norreis, Mr. Thornhaugh: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Three of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber: And are impowered to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Denbeigh Election.

A Petition of Wm. Williams, Esquire, was read; setting forth, That the Petitioner, notwithstanding many illegal Practices by the Burgesses of the Vill of Holt in the County of Denbeigh, was duly elected a Burgess, by the Majority of legal Voters, for the Boroughs of that County; and yet Thomas Harper and Robert Knowles, the pretended, but not legal Bailiffs, have returned Edward Brereton, Esquire, in Prejudice of the said Boroughs, and the Petitioner's Right: 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.

Christchurch Election.

A Petition of Thomas Hooper and Thomas Dore, Esquires, was read; setting forth, That the Petitioners were duly chosen and elected Burgesses for the Borough of Christchurch in the County of Southampton; yet John Stevens the Mayor, against all Right, hath returned for the said Borough Wm. Ettericke and Francis Gwyn, Esquires, though the Petitioners had the Majority of legal Electors that voted for them: And praying the Consideration of the House in the Premises; and that the Petitioners may be restored to their just Rights.

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.

Wooton Bassett Election.

A Complaint being made to the House, against one John Knighton, one of the Aldermen of the Borough of Wooton Bassett, That he had distributed Bribes to the Electors of the said Borough, at the Election of Burgesses to serve in this present Parliament for the said Borough;

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections, to consider and examine the said Matter; and to report the same, with their Opinions therein, to the House.

Tryals for Treason.

Sir Wm. Whitlock, according to Order, presents to the House a Bill for regulating of Tryals in Cases of High Treason: And the same was received.

The said Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time on Wednesday Morning next, after the House is Called over.

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