House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 27 December 1695

Veneris, 27 die Decembris ;

Septimo Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Supply Bill; Annuities.

A BILL for enlarging the Times for Persons to come in and purchase certain Annuities, therein mentioned; and for continuing the Duties formerly charged on low Wines and Spirits, of the first Extraction; for carrying on the War against France; was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to a Committee of the whole House.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the said Bill.

Vesting Interest of Judgments.

A Bill to vest the Interest of Judgments, and other Securities assigned, in the Assignees, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Conyers, Mr. Blofeild, Mr. Foley, Mr. Lowther, Sir Robert Cotton, Mr. Pocklington, Mr. England, Sir John Fagg, Mr. Waller, Mr. Lambton, Mr. Fuller, Sir Fra. Massam, Mr. Whitaker, Mr. Stockdale, Mr. Sandford, Mr. Tracers, Mr. Hammond, Mr. Harley, Mr. Baldwyn, Mr. How, Doctor Oxenden, Sir Wm. Lowther, Mr. Farrer, Sir John Bolles, Sir Tho. Hussey, Mr. Phillips, Mr. Serjeant Bond, Mr. Stonehouse, Mr. Burdett: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Preventing Escapes.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for preventing Escapes; and better Security and Relief of Creditors: And that Mr. Brewer do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Privilege of a Member in a Suit.

A Petition of the Heirs at Law of Sir Wm. Basset, deceased, on behalf of themselves, and Creditors of the said Sir Wm. Basset, was presented to the House.

And, the same relating to Sir Edward Hungerford, a Member of this House; who was not present;

Ordered, That the said Sir Edward Hungerford do attend, in his Place, upon Monday Morning next.

Preventing Export of Wool.

Ordered, That Mr. Brewer, Sir Robert Davers, Sir Robert Jenkinson, Sir Rowland Gwyn, Mr. Colt, Mr. Lutterell, Lord Spencer, Mr. Bertie, Serjeant Coward, Mr. Trye, Sir John Trevillian, be added to the Committee, to whom the Bill to prevent the Exportation of Wool; and encourage the Importation thereof from Ireland; is committed.

Coinage.

An ingrossed Bill for the regulating the Silver Coin of this Kingdom was read the Third time.

And an Amendment being proposed to be made, Press 1. L. 20. to leave out "and were coined at the lawful Mint or Mints of this Kingdom;" the same was, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House; and the Bill amended at the Table accordingly.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for the regulating the Coinage of the Silver Money of this Kingdom.

Ordered, That Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer do carry the Bill to the Lords, and desire their Concurrence thereunto.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cook and Sir Richard Holford:

Mr. Speaker,

Tryals for Treason.

The Lords have agreed to a Bill, intituled, An Act for Regulating of Tryals in Cases of Treason, and Misprision of Treason, with some Amendments: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Ways and Means.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning, immediately after the Committee of the whole House hath sat upon the Bill for enlarging the Times for Persons to come in, and purchase certain Annuities, therein mentioned; and for continuing the Duties formerly charged on low Wines, or Spirits of the first Extraction; for carrying on the War against France; resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of Ways and Means for raising the Supply to be granted to his Majesty, for carrying on the War against France.

Southwarke Election.

Mr. Solicitor-General reported, from the Committee of Privileges and Elections, the Matter touching the Election for the Borough of Southwarke, in the County of Surry, and the Resolutions of the said Committee thereupon; which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were read; and are as follow; viz.

Upon the Petition of Sir George Meggott Knight, complaining of an undue Election for the Borough of Southwark:

The Committee have examined the Merits of the Election.

That the Majority of Votes was allowed to be with the Sitting Members.

That the Petitioner insisted, That by Riot and Tumult, made by several Persons that appeared against him, he lost many Voters:

And that after the Poll was taken, a Scrutiny was demanded, and denied to him.

That the Witnesses that were produced on behalf of the Petitioner were;

Thomas Cowper and John Cornmill: Who said, That there was a great Crowd drawn up for Mr. Bowyer and Mr. Cox, of which about 500 Horse; and that some of them crossed Sir Geo. Meggot, and justled him: But saw no Riot.

John Holland, James Lawrence, James Pledwell: Who testified, That, about St. George's Church, a Dozen or more came with Staves in their Hands, and cried out, No Meggot; and stopped the Petitioner's Coach, and struck the Coachman, and the Coachman them; and at last knocked down the Coachman: That Lawrence, who was near Sir George Meggott's Coach, had his Head broke in several Places:

And Pledwell said, he crying out, He was for Sir George Meggot; they said, Knock him down: He said, He saw several, unknown to him, who would have voted for Sir George Meggot, but were frighted from so doing: That he went to the Church to poll for Sir George Meggot, but could not get in till he cried out, A Cox, a Cox: And, being got in, he polled for Sir Geo. Meggot.

Francis Ingly: Who said, That Three, who polled for Sir George Meggot, were set down to Mr. Bowyer (fn. 1) [and Mr. Cox]; but one of them was afterwards corrected: And said, That he was sain to cry out for Cox before he could get to poll.

John Cornmill: Who said, That, in casting up the Poll, there was Sixty mistaken, to the Disadvantage of Sir Geo. Meggot; but could not say but afterwards it was corrected.

John Lorimer, John Oswelston, and John Cornmill: Who said, A Scrutiny was demanded on behalf of Sir George Meggott; but was denied; except for such as had been marked with a Quære.

That for the Sitting Members were produced;

John Lake, Thomas Matyn: Who said, That they telling Sir George Meggot how much Mr. Bowyer and Mr. Cox out-polled him; and wondering he, notwithstanding, would proceed in the Poll; he said, That he did not value it, if he lost it there; for he had Friends enough to bring him into the House of Commons; and said, He would lay 500 l. he would be in the House.

And that, upon the whole Matter, the Committee came to these Resolutions:

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That Antony Bowyer Esquire is duly elected a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Southwark, in the County of Surrey.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That Charles Cox Esquire is duly elected a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Southwark, in the County of Surrey.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the Petition of Sir George Meggot, complaining of an undue Election for the Borough of Southwark, is vexatious, frivolous, and groundless.

Petition declared scandalous, and Petitioner committed;

The said several Resolutions, being severally read a Second time, were, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Resolved, That Sir George Meggott, having preferred to this House a groundless and vexatious Petition, relating to the Election of Members to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Southwark; and having scandalized this House, in declaring, That, without being duly chosen, he had Friends enough in the House to bring him into this House; be taken into the Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House.

and ordered to make satisfaction.

Resolved, That Sir George Meggott do make Satisfaction to the Members of this House he petitioned against, for the Costs and Expences they have been put unto, by reason of such Petition.

Stoughton's &c. Estate.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Richard Holford and Mr. Pitt:

Mr. Speaker,

The Lords have passed a Bill, intituled, An Act for vesting the Estate late of Sir Nicolas Stoughton and . . . Laurence Stoughton Baronets, deceased, in Trustees, to be sold, for the Payment of their Debts, and raising Portions for the Daughters of the said Sir Nicolas Stoughton: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

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