House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 6 December 1693

Mercurrii, 6 die Decembris;

5° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Privilege— Persons petition for Discharge.

A PETITION of Thomas Bawdrick and Nicholas Shipley, in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, for a Breach of Privilege committed against Colonel Roll, a Member of this House, was read; whereby they begged Pardon for their Offence; and prayed to be discharged out of Custody.

Ordered, That the said Thom. Bawdrick and Nicholas Shipley be brought to the Bar of this House To-morrow Morning, in order to their Discharge.

A Person to attend.

The Serjeant at Arms acquainted the House, That Mr. William Osgodby (who was summoned to attend this House upon a Complaint of a Breach of Privilege against Colonel Roll) was come to Town.

Ordered, That the said Mr. Osgodby do attend this House To-morrow Morning.

Aulnage Duty.

A Petition of the Stocking-makers of the City of Wells, and Places adjacent, relating to the Aulnage, was read; setting forth, That though the Duty of Aulnage is, by Law, only payable for Woollen Cloth; yet the Farmers of the said Duties, of late Years, have unjustly taken what Duty they pleased, for all Sorts of Stockings, to the Oppression and Loss of the Petitioners Trade, because they are not able to maintain a Suit in Law with . . . . .: That the Petitioners hoped to have been relieved by the Bill, in the last and former Sessions of Parliament, for Redress of the said Grievance: That the said Bill did not then pass into a Law: Therefore the Petitioners pray Relief in the Premises.

Ditto.

And Sir John Dorrell reported from the Committee, to whom the Consideration of the several Petitions, relating to the Aulnage, were referred, That they had considered the same; and were very sensible of the great Abuses and Exactions the Clothiers of the Kingdom have laboured under for this many Years: And finding, that the said Office of the Aulnage is become altogether unnecessary, and no-ways answering the End of its first Institution, they had come to a Resolution, which they had directed him to report to the House; and which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same was read; and is as followeth; viz.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the House be moved, that a Bill be brought in to take away the Duty of Aulnage.

Ordered, That a Bill be brought in to take away the Duty of Aulnage: And that Sir John Dorrell and Mr. Waller do prepare, and bring in, the same.

Duchy of Cornwall Leasing.

Mr. Travers, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill to enable their Majesties to make Grants, Leases, and Copies of Offices, Lands, and Hereditaments, Parcel of their Duchy of Cornwall, or annexed to the same; and for Confirmation of Leases and Grants already made: And the same was received.

And the same was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Trials for Treason.

A Bill for the Regulating of Tryals in Cases of HighTreason, and Misprision of Treason, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time upon Monday next, at Twelve a Clock.

Encouraging Privateers.

Mr. Boscowen presented to the House a Petition of divers Merchants in Mounts-Bay in Cornwall, and the same was read; setting forth, That by an Act made 4° & 5° of their Majesties, for continuing the Acts for prohibiting all Trade and Commerce with France, and encouraging of Privateers, it is (inter al.) enacted, That all Proprietors of retaken Vessels, upon Pay of their Salvage, shall have their Vessel restored, without paying any Part to their Majesties: Yet the Agents for the Commissioners of Prizes do seize such Ships, and detain them after Salvage paid, and compel the Owners to clear such Vessel in the Court of Admiralty; which, with Wages demanded for Waiters by the Prize-Office Agents, and the Loss of Time, such retaken Vessels, unless they are of extraordinary Value, are not worth a Redemption: And praying the House to take the Premises into Consideration.

Ordered, That the Examination and Consideration of the said Petition be referred to a Committee: And that they do inspect and consider of the late Act for Encouraging of Privateers; and do also prepare, and bring in, a Bill for their better Encouragement.

And it is referred to Sir Chr. Musgrave, Mr. White, Mr. Boscowen, Mr. Dyot, Sir John Knight, Mr. Freke, Mr. Burrard, Mr. Campion, Mr. Smith, Sir Wm. Strickland, Mr. St. John, Mr. Clarke, Sir Cha. Wyndham, Mr. Cheyney, Sir John Moreton, Mr. England, Mr. Slater, Sir Tho. Mompesson, Mr. Colson, Lord Falkland, Sir H. Goff, Mr. Arnold, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Blofeild, Mr. Howtry, Mr. Fenwick, Mr. Boyle, Mr. Bayle, Sir Hen. Goodrick, Sir Fr. Guibon, Sir Fra. Blake, Mr. Mountague, Sir Jona. Jennings, Mr. Sandford, Mr. Bathurst, Colonel Strangwayes, Sir Tho. Littleton, Sir Richard Onslow, Sir Edward Ayscough, Colonel Granville, Mr. Parkhurst; and all the Members that serve for the Seaport Towns: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Four a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber: And are impowered to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Ditto.

Mr. Bale likewise presented to the House a Petition of the Merchants of Exon; and the same was read; setting forth, That by the Act made 4° et 5° Gulielm. et Mariæ (inter al.) it enacts, That all Proprietors of retaken Vessels shall have the same again, paying the Salvage: But the Agents of the Commissioners for Prizes seize and detain such Vessels from the Owners; whereby, and by the excessive Charges in clearing the Vessels in the Admiralty (which they compel them to do), the Loss of Time, and Wages to the Waiters of the Prize-Office, the Vessels are not, except of great Value, worth Redemption: And praying Relief in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Examination and Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of divers Merchants in Mounts- Bay in Cornwall is referred.

Ordered, That the Examination and Consideration of the Fees taken by the Admiralty, relating to Privateers and Salvage, be referred to the said Committee: And that they do report the same, with their Opinions therein, to the House.

Protestants Nat.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for the Naturalizing of all such Protestants as shall take the Oaths to their Majesties, and the Test against Popery.

Miscarriages of the Fleet.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, proceeded to enquire further into the Miscarriages of the Fleet the last Summer.

And the House being informed, That Sir George Rook attended, according to Order;

He was called in, and asked several Questions; to which he gave Answer.

And then withdrew.

The House being informed, That the Admirals, that commanded the Fleet the last Summer, attended, according to Order;

Resolved, That they be called in severally.

Admiral Killigrew was called in, and asked several Questions; to which he gave Answer.

And then withdrew.

Candles.

Ordered, That Candles be brought in.

Sir Ralph Delavall was called in, and asked several Questions; to which he gave Answer.

And then withdrew.

Sir Cloudesly Shovell was called in, and asked several Questions; to which he gave Answer.

And then withdrew.

And a Motion being made, and the Question being put, That the Admirals, that commanded the Fleet the last Summer, by not gaining such Intelligence as they might have done, of the Brest Fleet, and not sending into Brest for Intelligence, before they left the Streights Squadron, are guilty of a high Breach of the Trust that was put in them, to the great Loss and Dishonour of the Nation;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it passed in the Negative.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned.

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