House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 10 March 1696

Martis, 10 die Martii;

8° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Stretton, &c. Parishes.

MR. Bromley reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill for making the Towns of Stretton and Prince-Thorpe, in the County of Warwick, a separate Parish from Woolston, was committed, That they had made some Amendments to the Bill; which they had directed him to report to the House; which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were once read; and then a Second time, one by one; and, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Ordered, That the Bill, with the Amendments, be ingrossed.

Wagstaff's Estate.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act to enable Sir Thomas Wagstaff Knight to raise and secure a Portion for Frances, his only Daughter, and Heir-appaent, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Sawyer's Estate.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act to enable Trustees to sell a Messuage, Garden, and Outhouse, in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, late of Sir Robert Sawyer Knight, deceased; and for purchasing other Lands and Tenements, to be settled to the same Uses; was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Regulating Hackney Coachmen.

Mr. Conyers, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill to explain the Act for regulating and licensing Hackney Coachmen.

And the Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Practisers of the Law to take Oaths.

Ordered, That the Bill for requiring the Practisers of the Law to take the Oaths to his Majesty be read a Second time To-morrow Morning.

Garbling Spices.

Sir Samuel Barnardiston, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for regulating Abuses relating to garbling Spices, Drugs, and other Merchandizes.

The Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Papists Protestant Heirs.

Sir John Bolles, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for preventing Papists from disinheriting their Protestant Heirs.

The Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Supply Bill; Duty on French Goods.

A Bill for granting to his Majesty an additional Duty upon all French Goods and Merchandize was read a Second time.

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

A Petition of John Lofting, of London, Merchant, was presented to the House, and read * * * *

Resolved, That this House will, upon Saturday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the said Bill.

Expiring Laws.

Ordered, That Mr. Bethell, Mr. Stockdale, Sir Wm. St. Quintin, Mr. Thornhagh, Sir Robert Cotton, Mr. Preston, Mr. Mawdit, Sir Wm. Bowes, Mr. Burdet, Sir Cha. Hotham, Mr. Jennings, Mr. Osborne, be added to the Committee, to whom it is referred to inspect what Laws are near expiring, and sit to . . confirmed.

Punishing Mutiny and Desertion.

Raising Militia.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for continuing several former Acts for punishing Officers, and Soldiers, who shall mutiny, or desert his Majesty's Service; and for punishing false Musters; and Payment of Quarters; and also the Bill for raising the Militia for the Year 1696, although the Month's Pay formerly advanced, be not repaid; was committed; be made To-morrow Morning.

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

Mr. Speaker,

Great Queen street Estate.

The Lords have passed a Bill, intituled, An Act for the better Improvement of a House and Ground in Great Queen street: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House: Also,

Bigg's Estate.

They have agreed to the Bill, intituled, An Act for vesting certain Lands of Thomas Bigg, and his Wife, in Chislet, in the County of Kent, in Trustees, for Payment of Debts, and making Provision for their Children, with some Amendments: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House: Also,

Lord Tunbridge's, &c. Nat.

They have agreed to the Bill, intituled, An Act to naturalize William Viscount Tunbridge, and other Children of the Earl of Rochfort, with some Amendments: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House: Also,

Regulating Elections.

That have agreed to the Bill, intituled, An Act for further regulating Elections of Members to serve in Parliament, without any Amendments.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Quakers Affirmation.

Mr. Waller, according to Order, reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill, That the solemn Affirmation, or Denial, of the People called Quakers, may be accepted instead of an Oath, was committed, That they had made several Amendments to the Bill; 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 were once read; and then a Second time, one by one; and several of them, upon the Question severally put thereupon, were agreed unto by the House.

Clause C, That no Quaker shall have the Benefit of the Act, who shall not produce a Certificate, signed by Six or more substantial Persons of the Congregation to which he or she doth belong, That such Person is One of their Congregation, being read a Second time;

And the Question being put, That the House do agree with the Committee in the said Amendment;

The House divided.

The Noes go forth.

So it passed in the Negative.

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

Then the Question being put, That the Bill, with the Amendments, be ingrossed;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

Prohibiting India Silks, Cullicoes, &c.

Sir Henry Hobart, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for restraining the Wearing of all Wrought Silks, Bengals, and dyed, printed, or stained, Callicoes, imported into the Kingdom of England, and the Plantations belonging thereunto, of the Product and Manufacture of Persia, and the East-Indies.

The Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir James Rushout have Leave to go into the Country for Three Weeks, for Recovery of his Health.

Bringing Plate to be coined.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Bill for the Encouraging of Persons to bring Plate into the Mint, to be coined.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Mr. Smith took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Mr. Smith reported from the said Committee, That they had gone through the Bill; and made several Amendments; which they had directed him to report, when the House will please to receive the same.

Ordered, That the said Report be made upon Friday Morning next.

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