House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 11 December 1693

Lunæ, 11 die Decembris.

5° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Frame work-Knitters.

A PETITION of the Master, Wardens, and Assistants, and Society of the Art or Mystery of Framework-Knitters, in the Cities of London and Westminster, and Kingdom of England, and Dominion of Wales, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners have been a Corporation ever since 1663, since which Time their said Art of Frame-work-Knitting hath been much improved; and, by the Exportation of the Work, their Majesties Customs, and Trade, much increased; but the said Invention being now more publick, many Strangers have attempted to use the said Art beyond Sea; and, for that Purpose, buy here the said Frames, and transport them, though restrained by several Proclamations: That several Members of the said Corporation have lately gotten into a Way of making slight Work, on purpose to under-sell the rest of the Company, contrary to the By-Laws of the said Company; whereby the said Trade is fallen under great Discredit: And praying Leave to bring in a Bill to prevent and regulate the said Abuses.

Ordered, That the Examination and Consideration of the said Petition be referred to a Committee: And that they do report their Opinion therein to the House:

And it is referred to Mr. Hutchinson, Mr.Christy, Mr. Waller, Mr. Hedger, Mr. Hungerford, Mr. Bockenham, Sir John Key, Mr. Onslow, Sir Walter Young, Mr. Harley, Sir Richard Onslow, Mr. Chetwynd, Sir John Dorrell, Mr. England, Sir Fr. Drake, Mr. Blofeild, Sir Hen. Johnson, Mr. Fenwick, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Goldwell, Mr. Slater, Mr. Perry, Mr. Cooke, Mr. Hawtry, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Thornehaugh, Mr. Vincent, Mr. Foley, Mr. How: And they are to meet on Wednesday next, at Four a Clock in the Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Huntington Writ.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, for the making out a new Writ, for electing a Knight to serve in this present Parliament for the County of Huntington, in the room of the Honourable Robert Mountague Esquire, deceased.

Cambridge Writ.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, for the making out a new Writ, for electing a Knight to serve in this present Parliament for the County of Cambridge, in the room of Sir Levinus Bennet Baronet, deceased.

A Member discharged from Custody.

Ordered, That Sir Wilfred Lawson, in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, for absenting himself from his Service in Parliament, be discharged out of Custody, paying his Fees.

Bankrupts Estates.

Mr. Serjeant Wogan presented to the House, according to Order, a Bill for the better Recovery of Bankrupts Estates, and for the more equal Distribution thereof: And the same was received.

The Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Privilege blasphemous Publications.

A Complaint being made to the House, of a blasphemous printed Pamphlet, intituled, "A Dialogue, by way of Question and Answer, concerning the Deity; and a brief, but clear, Confutation of the Doctrine of the Trinity;" that hath been dispersed, and sent inclosed under Covers, directed to several Members of this House;

One of which was produced, and delivered in at the Table;

The Titles whereof were read;

Resolved, That the said blasphemous printed Pamphlet be burnt by the Hands of the common Hangman, upon Wednesday Morning next, in the Palace-Yard, Westminster: And that the Serjeant at Arms attending this House do see the same performed.

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to enquire into the Author, Printer, and Publisher, of the said blasphemous printed Pamphlet; and to make their Report thereof to the House.

And it is referred to Sir Chr. Musgrave, Sir Jos. Tredenham, Sir Edward Harley, Mr. Arnold, Sir Tho. Clarges, Sir Richard Onslow, Mr. Goldwell, Sir Scroop How, Mr. Waller, Mr. Hungerford, Mr. Foley, Sir Jerv. Elwes, Lord Digby, Sir Ra. Carr, Mr. Christy, Sir William Cook, Mr. Bowyer, Mr. England, Lord Elan, Mr. Nicholas, Mr. Smith, Mr. Fenwick, Sir John Knight, Mr. Boyle, Mr. Lutterell, Colonel Perry: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Four of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber: And are to have Power to send for Persons, and Papers.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cooke and Mr. Holford:

Mr. Speaker,

Supply Bill; importing Brandy, &c.

The Lords have agreed to the Bill, intituled, An Act for the repealing such Parts of several former Acts as prevent or prohibit the Importation of Foreign Brandy, Aqua-Vita, and other Spirits, and Bacon, except from France, without any Amendments.

Mr. Jephson's Accounts.

The House being informed, That Mr. Robert Squibb attended, according to Order;

He was called in; and asked several Questions relating to Mr. Jephson's Accounts in his Hands.

Whereupon he declared, That he would make up the said Accounts, upon Oath, and attend the Commissioners for taking the public Accounts therewith, together with an Account, upon Oath, of what Monies had been paid to Members of Parliament.

And then withdrew.

Frequent Parliaments.

An ingrossed Bill from the Lords, intituled, An Act for the frequent Calling and Meeting of Parliaments, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time upon Wednesday Morning next, after Eleven a Clock.

Ways and Means.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of Ways and Means for raising the Supply to be granted to their Majesties, for the Maintenance of the Fleet.

Mr. Speaker lest the Chair.
Sir Tho. Littleton took the Chair of the Committee.
Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Sir Thomas Littleton reported from the said Committee, That they had considered of the Matter of the Resolution which was re-committed to their further Consideration; and had come to a Resolution, which they had directed him to report, when the House would please to receive the same.

Ordered, That the said Report be made To-morrow Morning at Ten a Clock.

Sir Thomas Littleton also acquainted the House, That the Committee had directed him to move the House, that they may have Leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Wednesday Morning next, at Ten a Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of Ways and Means for raising the Supply to be granted to their Majesties, for Maintenance of the Fleet.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.

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