House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 13 November 1691

Veneris, 13 Novembris; 3° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Dunwich Election.

A PETITION of Henry Heveningham, Esquire, was read, setting forth, That he was duly elected a Burgess for the Borough of Dunwich in the County of Suffolke, and was accordingly returned by one of the Bailiffs thereof: Notwithstanding which, the other Bailiff hath returned John Bence, Esquire, as Burgess for the said Borough, in Prejudice of the Petitioner: And praying the Consideration of the House in the Merits of the said Return and 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.

Dunwich Election.

A Petition of John Bence, Esquire, was read; setting forth, That the Petitioner was duly elected a Burgess for Dunwich in Suffolk, by the Majority of legal Electors, and returned by Indenture by the proper Officer: But that one Pacy, a Bailiff of the Borough, hath delivered another Indenture to the Sheriff, purporting an Election of Henry Heveningham, Esquire, in Prejudice to the Petitioner, and the Right of the Borough: 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.

Weobly Return amended.

The Clerk of the Crown, according to Order, attended; and amended the Double Return for the Borough of Weoby, by taking off the Return of Mr. Birch.

Beckman's &c. Nat.

An ingrossed Bill from the Lords, intituled, An Act for naturalizing Sir Martin Beckman, Knight, and others, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Punishment of Offenders.

An ingrossed Bill from the Lords, intituled, An Act to take away Clergy from some Offenders, and to bring others to Punishment, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read the Second time after Eleven a Clock.

Tryals for Treason.

Sir Thomas Littleton, according to the Order of the Day, reports from the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for regulating of Tryals in Cases of Treason, was committed, That they had made several Amendments to the Bill; which they had directed him to report to the House: And which he read in his Place, with the Coherence; and afterwards, delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were once read throughout; and afterwards a Second time severally one by one; and, with some other Amendments made in the Chair, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Ordered, That the Bill, with the Amendments, be ingrossed.

East India Company:

A Petition of Robert Tayloe, and other Mariners, who served the East India Company in their late Wars against the Great Mogull, was read; setting forth, That in 1683, 4, 5, and 6, the East India Company entered the Petitioners on board several of their Ships in a Merchant-like Way; but that, some short time after their Arrival, the Company's Agents engaged their Ships in a War against the Great Mogull, and, by excessive Tortures, compelled the Petitioners in Service in unjust Depredations and Robberies upon the Mogull's Subjects: Upon which, the Governors of the Company made an Order, that the Petitioners, besides their Wages, should have a Sixth Part of all Prizes to be divided among them, to encourage the Petitioners Service: In which, during the War, the Petitioners, took to the Value . . One million Five hundred thousand Pounds; of which Two hundred and Sixty thousand Pounds belongs to them by Contract: And the Company have accordingly paid some of the Mariners their Proportions: but have denied the Petitioners the like Justice upon Applications made unto them: And praying the Relief of the House in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Consideration of the Petitions touching the East India Trade, is referred.

French Bay-salt.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for preserving Two Ships Load of Bay-salt, taken as Prize, and now in Dover Road, for the Benefit of the Navy, to be accounted for by the Victuallers to their Majesties.

East India Company.

Then the House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to proceed in the further Consideration of the Petitions touching the East India Trade.
Mr. Speaker left the Chair.
Sir John Guise took the Chair of the Committee.
Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.
Sir John Guise reports from the Committee, That they had directed him to move the House, That they may have Leave to sit again, to take into Consideration the Complaints against the East India Company; and that the Heads of the Complaints against them may be ordered to be delivered to the Governor of the Company, or left for him at the East India House.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Tuesday Morning next, at Ten a Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to take into Consideration the Complaints against the East India Company.

Ordered, That the Heads of the Complaints against the East India Company be delivered to the Governor of the Company, or left for him at the East India House To-morrow by Twelve a Clock.

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