House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 28 November 1693

Martis, 28 die Novembris;

5° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Yorkshire Toll of Cattle.

SIR John Key presented to the House, according to Order, a Bill for discharging the Payment of Toll of Cattle passing over Boroughbridge, and other Places, upon the high Road in Yorkshire: And the same was received, and read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Debtors Petition.

A Petition of the poor Prisoners in the King's-Bench, Fleet, and other Prisons, not released by the late Act for Relief of poor Prisoners, was presented to the House and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners are many Thousands, miserable Objects of Compassion, and so wretchedly poor, that they are unable to pay their Debts, or so much as their Fees: And because the Keepers of the said Prisons resuse to swear, that the Petitioners were actually in their Custody, on the 28th Day of November 1690, as the said Act requires, because they were committed before the time of their being Keepers, and yet continue the Petitioners Imprisonments for Debts due before that Time; whereby they have not the intended Benesit of the said late Act, to the utter Ruin of themselves, and their numerous Families; whereas, if they were released, they could not only provide for their Families, but many of them would willingly serve their Majesties in the present War: That in the last Session, the King's-Bench Marshal and Justices met before the Committee of Grievance, to consult all possible Favour for the Release of poor Prisoners upon the said Act; yet, of above 8,000 Prisoners, but 18 have been since released out of the King's-Bench; and several of those duly discharged have been since recommitted, and are now in Prison: And praying Leave to bring in a Bill to explain the said former Act.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill pursuant to the Prayer of the said Petition: And that Mr. Arnold and Mr. Bowyer do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Free Proceedings in Parliament.

Then the House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill touching free and impartial Proceedings in Parliament

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Colonel Granville took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Colonel Granville reported from the said Committee, That they had gone through the Bill, and made some Amendments thereunto, which they had directed him to report to the House, when the House would please to receive the same.

Ordered, That the said Report be made upon Friday Morning next.

Frequent Parliaments.

An ingrossed Bill for more frequent Elections of Parliaments was read the Third time.

An ingrossed Clause was offered, as a Rider, That within Years after the Dissolution of this Parliament, and so after every other Parliament, there shall be a Session of Parliament.

And the same was read the First time.

And the Question being put, That the Clause be read a Second time;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it passed in the Negative.

And the Question being put, That the Bill do pass;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it passed in the Negative.

Supply Bill; importing Brandy, &c.

Ordered, That the ingrossed Bill for Repeal of the Clause, in the Act made in the First Year of their Majesties Reign for prohibiting all Trade and Commerce with France, which prohibits the Importation of Brandy, be read the Third time upon Friday Morning next, at Eleven a Clock.

Supply.

The House proceeded, according to the Order of the Day, to consider further of his Majesty's gracious Speech to both Houses of Parliament.

And his Majesty's Speech was again read.

And a Motion being made for a Supply to be granted to their Majesties, for the Land Forces;

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

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.

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