House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 1 February 1696

Sabbati, 1 die Februarii ;

7° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

JOHANAN Gabriel Keyser took the Oaths appointed, in order to his Naturalization.

Bigg's Estate.

Sir William Honeywood reported from the Committee, to whom it was referred to consider of the Petition of Thomas Bigg and Eliz. his Wife, That they had examined and considered the same, and found the Allegations thereof to be true; and had directed him to move the House for Leave to bring in a Bill, according to the Prayer of the said Petition.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill, according to the Prayer of the said Petition.

Ease of Jurors.

A Bill for the Ease of Jurors; and the better Regulating of Juries; was read a Second time;

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Sir John Kay, Sir Henry Goodrick, Sir Wm. Lowther, Sir John Fagg, Sir Marm. Wyvell, Mr. Osborne, Mr. Arnold, Mr. Elwill, Sir Cha. Hotham, Mr. Watlington, Mr. Whitacre, Sir John Bolles, Sir Godfry Copley, Mr. Stockdale, Mr. Thornhagh, Mr. Byerly, Mr. Bethell, Mr. Slater, Mr. St. Quintin, Mr. Ash, Mr. Bridges, Mr. Palmes, Mr. Parker, Mr. Norris, Lord Fairfax, Mr. Harrison, Mr. Jennings, Sir Wm. Honywood, Mr. Aislaby, Lord Cornbury, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Moncton, Mr. Foley, Mr. York, Sir. William Hustler, Mr. Monstevens, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Gwyn, Mr. How, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Harley, Sir Cha. Carteret, Colonel Perry, Mr. Stonehouse, Colonel Granville, Mr. Booth; and all the Gentlemen of the Long Robe: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Ordered, That it be an Instruction to the said Committee, That they do receive a Clause for the more easy excusing of Issues of Jurors.

Ordered, That it be an Instruction also to the said Committee, That they do receive a Clause or Clauses for preventing the Corruption of Juries.

Harwich Roads.

Sir Eliab Harvey, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for Repair of the Highways between London and Harwich, in the County of Essex.

Ordered, That the Bill be read upon Monday Morning next.

Avon Navigation.

Ordered, That the Bill for making the River Avon, in the Counties of Wilts, Gloucester, and Somerset, navigable, be read a Second time upon this Day Sevennight.

Elections— Irregularities of returning Officers.

Sir Richard Onslow, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill to prevent irregular Proceedings of Sheriffs, and other Officers, in the electing and returning Members to serve in Parliament.

The Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Droitwich Salt-works.

Mr. Harley, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill to explain several Doubts in an Act, made in the First Year of King William and Queen Mary, for the better regulating the Salt-works in Droitwich: And the same was received.

Ordered, That the Bill be read upon Tuesday Morning next.

Marshal's Court.

Colonel Perry, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill to regulate and restraing the Proceedings in the King's Court of the Place at Westminster, called the Marshal's Court.

The Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Plantation-Trade.

Ordered, That the Bill for preventing Frauds, and regulating Abuses, in the Plantation-Trade, be read a Second time upon Thursday Morning next.

Reversing Judgment against Sir W. Williams.

An ingrossed Bill for reversing the Judgment given against Sir Wm. Williams, for what he did as Speaker of the House of Commons; and for asserting the Rights and Freedoms of Parliaments; was read the Third time.

An Amendment was proposed to be made, Pr. * L. 6, to leave out "Three," and insert "Two:"

And 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 reversing a Judgment given against Sir William Williams, for what he did as Speaker of the House of Commons; and for asserting the Rights and Freedom of Parliament.

Ordered, That Sir John Bolles do carry the Bill to the Lords, and desire their Concurrence thereunto.

A Petition of the Clothiers, and others, Dealers in the Woollen Manufacture in the West Riding of the County of York, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners Trade for Cloathing has been, for many Years past, a great Advantage, not only to the Nation, but to foreign Countries; because the Petitioners, by their Industry, could sell cheaper Penyworths than their Neighbours, while Wool was at a moderate Price; but now the same is become so excessive dear, by reason of Wool-Jobbers, who engross the Wool, that a Clothier, who formerly drove a pretty Trade, and maintained his Family, can hardly buy Wool enough to make a Cloth; so that their Trade may, in a little time, be quite lost: That many other Frauds and Abuses have been practised by the Jobbers; which, in some measure, may be remedied by reviving the old Statute concerning Wool-winders; with some such Addition, That no Person, save the Grower, be allowed to sell Wool in the Fleece; whereby the Winders may be the easier detected: But, as the Case now stands, Wool goes through so many Hands, before a Fleece be opened, that it is almost impossible the last Buyer should find out the Winder: And praying the Consideration of the House in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Bill for preventing the Exportation of Wool is committed.

Earl of Torrington's Grant in Bedford Level.

Ordered, That the Bill for confirming a Grant, under the Great Seal of England, to Arthur Earl of Torrington, by King William and Queen Mary, of several Parcels of Land, Part of the great Level of the Fens called Bedford Level; and for the better enabling the said Earl to recover the Arrears of Rent, and mesne Profits thereof; be read the Second time upon Thursday Morning next.

Aaron Smith's Accounts.

The House being acquainted, by the Commissioners for taking and stating the publick Accounts, That Mr. Aaron Smith had been several times summoned by the said Commissioners, to bring in his Accounts touching Monies by him received; and that he had often promised to bring in the same; but had neglected so to do;

Ordered, That the said Mr. Smith do attend this House upon Tuesday Morning next, at Ten a Clock, to give an Account why he has not brought in his Accounts to the said Commissioners.

Members summoned.

Ordered, That the Serjeant at Arms do go with the Mace, into Westminster-hall, and the several Courts, and Court of Request, and summon the Members there to attend the Service of the House.

And the Serjeant went accordingly.

And, being returned with the Mace;

Commissioners of Accounts.

The Orders of the last Session, relating to the Election of Commissioners for taking and stating the publick Accounts, were read.

Resolved, That no Person be a Commissioner who hath any Office of Profit, or is accountable to his Majesty.

The Members of the House, according to Order put into Glasses their several Lists of Persons Names to be Commissioners for taking and stating the publick Accounts; the Clerk and Clerk-Assistant going to each Side the House, with the Glasses, for that Purpose.

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed, to withdraw into the Speaker's Chamber, to examine and peruse the Lists given in by the Members of the House: And that they do report to the House upon whom the Choice shall fall:

And it is referred to the Earl of Ranelagh, Lord Coningsby, Sir Tho. Dyke, Mr. Gwynn, Mr. Pelham, Sir John Bolles, Mr. Chancellor of Exchequer, Mr. Hoblyn, Sir Chr. Musgrave, Sir Godf.Copley, Sir Edward Seymour, Sir Marm. Wyvell, Mr. Bromley, Sir Edward Abney, Sir Fra. Winington, Mr. Colt, Mr. Papillion, Mr. Norris, Mr. Harcourt, Sir Hen. Goodrick, Mr. Mountague, Mr. Harley, Mr. Comptroller, Colonel Granville, Mr. Finch, Mr. Manly, Sir Wm. Williams, Mr. How, Sir Richard Onslow, Lord Digby, Mr. Winington, Sir John Kay; for the Purpose aforesaid.

Supply Bill Land Tax.

An ingrossed Bill for granting to his Majesty an Aid of Four Shillings in the Pound, for One Year, for carrying on the War against France, was read the Third time.

Ordered, That the further Consideration of the said Bill be adjourned till Monday Morning next.

And then the House adjourned till Monday Morning, Nine a Clock.