House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 12 December 1693

Martis, 12 die Decembris;

5° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

PRAYERS.

5th Eliz. respecting Cloth Weavers.

A PETITION of the Clothiers, Fullers, and Clothworkers, in the County of Surrey, on behalf of themselves, and others concerned in the Woollen Manufacture, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners are very sensible of the Decay of Trade in the Woollen Manufacture of this Kingdom; which is occasioned by the evil Practices of our own Countrymen, who, for a private Interest, furnish Foreigners with our native Materials, without which they could not make the said Manufactures, and to prevent which very good Laws are already provided: Yet, by the Negligence of those Persons, employed in that Affair, several Thousand Tons of good English Fullers Earth, entered at the Custom-house as Potters Clay, had, within these Three Years, been exported into Holland; and though lately some Vessels laden therewith were seized as forfeited, and Trials thereupon had in the Exchequer; yet, by the saint Prosecution, or Connivance, of their Majesties Officers, the said Vessels were discharged, although the Petitioners have by Experience found, that the said Clay will do all the Offices of Fullers Earth: And praying that effectual Means may be taken for preventing the Exportation of Fullers Earth, and other Earth which does the same Offices.

Ordered, That the Examination and Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Bill for repealing the 32d Article in the Statute of 5° Eliz. relating to the Weavers of Cloth, is committed.

Sheriffs of London to assist in burning a Book.

Ordered, That the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex do, on Wednesday Morning next, in the Palace-Yard, Westminster, assist the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, who is then, by Order of this House, to see a blasphemous printed Pamphlet, intituled, "A Dialogue, by way of Question and Answer, concerning the Deity; and a brief, but clear, Consutation of the Doctrine of the Trinity;" there burnt by the Hands of the common Hangman.

Islington Roads.

A Petition of Sir Richard Fisher, and many others, Inhabitants of the Parish of St. Mary, Islington, in the County of Middlesex, on behalf of themselves, and the rest of the Inhabitants of the said Parish, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Common Highways within the said Parish are become very ruinous, by the great Drifts of Cattle, and heavy Carriages, and Pack-Horses, that continually pass through the said Parish; whereby the Parish has been put to great Charges in repairing the same, which they have done more than the Law requires; and yet excessive Fines have been laid upon them, though they have done what they can; and the able Inhabitants leave the said Parish, so that the Poor are the less able to be maintained; and the said Highways will become unpassable, unless some speedy Relief be given: And praying Leave to bring in a Bill for Repair of the Highways within the said Parish.

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 Sir Cha. Gerrard, Mr. Bowyer, Mr. Hawtry, Mr. Hungerford, Colonel Perry, Mr. Stokes, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Lloyd, Mr.Harcourt, Sir John Moreton, Mr. Piggot, Mr. Berty, Mr. Freeman, Sir John Wynn, Mr. Fenwick, Sir Richard Onslow, Mr. Christy, Mr. Foley, Mr. Waller, Mr. Brownlow, Mr. Lutterell, Sir Tho. Pope Blount, Sir John Dorrell, Mr. Hutchinson, Sir Wm. Pritchard, Mr. Parkhurst, Mr. Vincent, Mr. Fuller, Mr. England, Mr. Blofeild, Mr. Clarke, Mr. Slater, Sir Fra. Guibon: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Four of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Protestants Nat.

Mr. Palmes, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for the Naturalizing of all such Protestants as shall take the Oaths to their Majesties, and the Test against Popery: And the same was received.

The Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Woollen Manufacture.

A Petition of the Gentlemen, and of the Clothiers, and Dealers in Cloth, Serges, and Stockings, in the West of England, was read; setting forth, That the Petitioners did receive great Benefit by an Act made in the First Year of their Majesties Reign, intituled, An Act for the better preventing the Exportation of Woollen, and encouraging the Woollen Manufactures of this Kingdom; whereby a free Trade, in the Woollen Manufacture, was granted for Three Years; by reason whereof the Price of Wool was considerably advanced; and, notwithstanding the present War, there was, in those Years, far greater quantities of the Woollen Manufactures exported, than when the said Trade was limited: That the said Trade is very much decreased since the Expiration of the said Act; and, consequently, their Majesties Custom much lessened: And praying Leave to bring in a Bill for the Continuance of the said Act.

And a Motion being made, and the Question being put, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill, according to the Prayer of the said Petition;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

Ordered, That Sir Edw. Seymour do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Brockman have Leave to go into the Country for Three Weeks, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Ordered, That Mr. Backwell have Leave to go into the Country, for the Recovery of his Health.

Ways and Means.

Sir Thomas Littleton, according to the Order of the Day, reported from the Committee of the whole House, to whom it was referred to consider further of Ways and Means for raising the Supply to be granted to their Majesties, for the Maintenance of the Fleet, the Resolution of the said Committee of Yesterday: The 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, towards raising the Supply to be granted to their Majesties, for the Maintainance of the Fleet, any Persons be at Liberty to add a Second Life to the Life that is, or shall be, nominated upon the Act, intituled, An Act for granting to their Majesties certain Rates and Duties of Excise upon Beer, Ale, and other Liquors, for securing certain Recompences and Advantages, in the said Act mentioned, to such Persons as shall voluntarily advance the Sum of Ten hundred thousand Pounds, towards carrying on the War against France; upon paying the Sum of Five-and-thirty Pounds, for every One hundred Pounds paid in, or to be paid in, upon the said Act; and, for adding a Third Life, the Sum of Fifteen Pounds, for every the said One hundred Pounds; and so for any greater Proportion.

The said Resolution being read a Second time;

Resolved, That the House doth agree with the Committee in the said Resolution, That, towards raising the Supply to be granted to their Majesties, for the Maintenance of the Fleet, any Persons be at Liberty to add a Second Life to the Life that is, or shall be, nominated upon the Act, intituled, An Act for granting to their Majesties certain Rates and Duties of Excise upon Beer, Ale, and other Liquors, for securing certain Recompences and Advantages, in the said Act mentioned, to such Persons as shall voluntarily advance the Sum of Ten hundred thousand Pounds, towards carrying on the War against France; upon paying the Sum of Five-and-thirty Pounds, for every One hundred Pounds paid in, or to be paid in, upon the said Act; and for adding a Third Life, the Sum of Fifteen Pounds, for every the said One hundred Pounds; and so for any greater Proportion.

Ordered, That a Bill be brought in, upon the said Resolution, and upon the Resolution of Saturdaylast, That the Sum of One hundred Eighteen thousand Five hundred and Six Pounds, Five Shillings, and Ten-pence, be raised, for supplying the Deficiency of the Money granted by an Act, intituled, An Act for granting to their Majesties certain Rates and Duties of Excise upon Beer, Ale, and other Liquors, for securing certain Recompences and Advantages, in the Act mentioned, to such Persons as shall voluntarily advance the Sum of Ten hundred thousand Pounds, towards the carrying on the War against France; by enlarging the Time for Persons to pay in the same.

Ordered, That Mr. Solicitor-General do prepare, and bring in, the said Bill.

Supply.

Resolved, That the House do now, according to the Order of the Day, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Supply to be granted to their Majesties, for the Maintenance of the Land-Forces.

Mr. Speaker last the Chair.
Sir Thomas Littleton took the Chair of the Committee.
Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Sir Thomas Littleton reported from the said Committee, That they had made some Progress in the Matter to them referred; and had directed him to move the House, that they may have Leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Thursday Morning next, at Ten a Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Supply to be granted to their Majesties, for Maintenance of the Land-Forces.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned.

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