House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 4 April 1689

Jovis, 4 die Aprilis; 1° Willielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Privilege.

THIS House being informed, that there hath been a Breach of Privilege committed against Henry Guy Esquire, a Member of this House, by several Persons entering upon Part of his Estate in a riotous Manner, and torn down his Fences; and, amongst others, that William Gascoigne, and John Gascoigne of Tring in the County of Hertford, were Two of these Persons.

Ordered, That the said William Gascoigne and John Gascoigne, be sent for in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, for such their Breach of the Privileges of this House.

Westminster, &c. Courts of Conscience.

Ordered, That all the Members of this House that serve for the County of Surry and Borough of Southwarke, be added to the Committee, to whom the Bill for establishing Courts of Conscience in the City of Westminster, Borough of Southwarke, Tower Hamlets, and Out Parishes within the Weekly Bills of Mortality, is referred.

Counts Schomberg, &c. take Oaths.

The House being informed, that Frederick Count Schomberg, and Charles Count Schomberg, and Mr. Bentink, attended; and desired to be admitted in, to take the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance, in order to their Naturalization;

There were set Chairs in the House, near the Bar, for them:

And then they were called in:

And they came in accordingly; and sat down, covered, for a short Space: And being acquainted, that the Oaths were ready to be tendered to them at the Table; they came to the Table, uncovered, and took the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance to their Majesties, accordingly.

And then withdrew.

Great Yarmouth Corporation.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill to vest the same Powers and Authorities in the Bailiffs and Aldermen of the Town of Great Yarmouth, which were vested in the Mayor, Aldermen, Burgesses, and Common Council, of the said Town, by an Act of Parliament, made in the First Year of the Reign of King James the Second.

Act of Indemnity.

Resolved, That the Consideration of the Heads for a Bill of Indemnity and General Pardon be adjourned, from To-morrow Morning, until Saturday Morning next, Ten of the Clock.

Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance.

The House being informed, that the Committee to whom the ingrossed Bill, sent down from the Lords, for abrogating the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance, and appointing other Oaths, had Yesterday adjourned the Consideration thereof till Saturday next: But that the same being a Matter of great Moment and Concern, ought not to be so delayed;

And it being moved, That the said Bill may be referred to the Consideration of a Committee of the whole House;

Resolved, That this House will To-morrow Morning, at Ten of the Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to take into Consideration, the ingrossed Bill, sent down from the Lords, intituled, An Act for abrogating the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance, and appointing other Oaths.

Mynheer W. Bentink takes Oaths.

The House being informed, that Mynheer William Bentink was at the Door; desiring to be admitted, to be sworn, in order to his Naturalization;

He came in; and sat down, as Count Schomberg, and his Son did Yesterday: And then took the Oaths, in like Manner.

State of the Kingdom and Ireland.

The House, according to the Order of Yesterday, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to take into Consideration the State of this Kingdom, and of Ireland.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Mr. Hamden took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Ways and Means.

Mr. Hamden reports from the Committee of the whole House, That, they having taken the Matters aforesaid into their Consideration, they had directed him to move the House, That they might be impowered to consider of Ways for raising the Supply to be given to his Majesty, towards the Reducing of Ireland.

Resolved, That the said Committee be impowered to consider of Ways for raising the Supply to be given to his Majesty, towards the Reducing of Ireland.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Mr. Hamden took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Mr. Hamden reports from the Committee of the whole House, That, they having taken the Matters aforesaid into their Consideration, had agreed upon a Resolve: Which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same being read, is as followeth:

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That a Tax, by a Poll Bill, be given to his Majesty, towards the Reducing of Ireland.

The said Resolve being read a Second time;

Resolved, That this House doth agree with the Committee, That a Tax, by a Poll Bill, be given to his Majesty, towards the Reducing of Ireland.

Resolved, That the House do now resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of Heads of which the Poll Bill shall consist.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Mr. Hamden took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Mr. Hamden reports from the Committee of the whole House, That, they having taken into Consideration the Matters aforesaid, had agreed upon Twenty-three Heads, of which the Poll Bill shall consist: Which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same being read, are as followeth:

1. Resolved, That all Debts, and ready Money, be taxed, as One of the Heads, of which the said Bill shall consist:

2. That all Persons exercising any publick Office, Place, or Imployment, shall be taxed in the said Bill:

3. That all Persons receiving any Pensions or Stipends from his Majesty, shall be taxed in the said Bill:

4. That all Judges and Persons having any Judicial Office, or other Office or Place of Profit, and all Serjeants at Law, Counsellors, Attornies, Solicitors, and Scriveners; and all Advocates, Proctors, and publick Notaries; and all Persons practising the Art of Physick; shall be taxed in the said Bill:

5. That all Servants, receiving Wages, shall be taxed in the said Bill:

6. That all, and every Person or Persons, (other than such as receive Alms of the Parish, and the Children of such as receive Alms of the Parish under the Age of Sixteen Years) shall be taxed in the said Bill:

7. That all Dukes, Marquesses, Earls, Viscounts, Barons, and their eldest Sons, shall be taxed in the said Bill:

8. That all Baronets, Knights of the Bath, and Knights Batchelors, shall be taxed in the said Bill:

9. That all Esquires, or reputed Esquires; and all Persons owning or writing themselves such; shall be taxed in the said Bill:

10. That all Gentlemen, and reputed Gentlemen; and all Persons owning or writing themselves such; shall be taxed in the said Bill:

11. That all Widows according to the Dignity of their Husbands, shall be taxed in the said Bill:

12. That every Gentleman having an Estate of 300l. shall be taxed in the said Bill:

13. That all the Dignified Clergy shall be taxed in the said Bill:

14. That all Persons that hold Two or more Benefices, having Cure of Souls, which will amount together to the clear yearly Value of 120l. shall be taxed in the said Bill:

15. That all Merchants, Strangers, and Jews, shall be taxed in the said Bill:

16. That all Doctors of Divinity, Law, and Physick, (except Doctors of Divinity which have no Ecclesiastical Benefice), shall be taxed in the said Bill:

17. That all Merchants trading in the Port of London, and not being Free of the City of London, shall be taxed in the said Bill:

18. That all Merchants, and others, using any Trade or manual Occupation, and holding a House of 30l. per Annum, within the City of London, and the Weekly Bills of Mortality, shall be taxed in the said Bill:

19. That all Members of the East India Company, for their Share in the joint Stock of the said Company, shall be taxed in the said Bill:

20. That all Members of the Guiney Company, for their Share in the joint Stock of the said Company, shall be taxed in the said Bill:

21. That all Annuities and Rent Charges shall be taxed in the said Bill:

22. That all Sharers in the New River Water, in respect of their Shares, be taxed in the said Bill:

23. That all Fee Farm Rents, now paid, and not otherwise charged, shall be taxed in the said Bill:

The First Twenty-two of the said Resolves being read a Second time, One by One, were, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

The last of the said Resolves being read a Second time;

And the Question being put, That the House do agree with the Committee in the said Resolve;

It passed in the Negative.

Resolved, That Mr. Attorney General, and Mr. Solicitor General, do prepare the said Bill, upon the Heads before mentioned; and present the same to the House with all convenient Speed.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees, but the Committee to whom the Consideration of the Summer and Winter Guards is referred, be adjourned.

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