House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 23 December 1696

Journal of the House of Commons: Volume 11, 1693-1697. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1803.

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Citation:

'House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 23 December 1696', in Journal of the House of Commons: Volume 11, 1693-1697(London, 1803), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/commons-jrnl/vol11/pp635-639 [accessed 23 February 2025].

Mercurii, 23 die Decembris;

8° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Prohibiting India Silks, Callicoes, &c.

A PETITION of divers Serge-makers, Woolcombers, and Yarn-makers, Inhabitants in and about the Town of Kettering, and Places adjacent, in the County of Northampton, on behalf of themselves, and other their Dependents, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners, who formerly employed but a few Hands, now employ many Hundred Families, who otherwise would want, in the Way of their Trade; which is much increased, by reason of the Scarcity and Dearness of East-India wrought Silks and Commodities; but, lately, great Quantities having been imported, it has struck such a Damp upon the Petitioners Trade; so that many of them are, and more will be, reduced to great Extremity, unless the Bill before the House, to restrain the Wearing of all wrought Silks and Bengals, imported into this Kingdom from Persia and East-India, and all Callicoes printed or stained there, do pass into an Act: And praying the House will hear what they have to offer in behalf of the said Bill.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table until the said Bill be read a Second time.

Ditto.

A Petition of the Worsted, Yarn, and Say-makers, of the ancient Borough of Bury St. Edmonds, in the County of Suffolk, and others, of the same Employment, within the said County, was presented to the House, and read: setting forth, That the Petitioners employ many Thousand poor Families in their Trades, whose Necessities require immediate Pay; and that the Petitioners, upon Sale of their Goods, though to Loss, cannot get ready Money, through the Scarcity of current Coin; but are forced to take Bank-Bills, as Payment; which will not pass again without a Discount of 15, 16, or 18 l. per Cent.; so that they are at great Loss thereby; and will be rendered uncapable to carry on their Trades, and employ and pay the Poor, who otherwise must starve: And praying the House to take their Condition into Consideration; and to give them some speedy Relief therein.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table until the Bill to restrain the Wearing of all wrought Silks and Bengals, imported into this Kingdom from Persia and East-India, and all Callicoes printed or stained there, be read a Second time.

Privilege.

A Complaint being made to the House, That Colonel Lutterell, a Member of this House, was, for another Person, arrested by Joseph Blow and Thomas Clarke, and by them detained in Custody, notwithstanding they were acquainted and assured, by the said Mr. Lutterell, That he was a Member of this House, and not the Person they took him to be; in Breach of the Privileges of this House;

Ordered, That the said Joseph Blow and Thomas Clarke be, for the said Breach of Privilege, taken into the Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House.

Preventing Exportation of Wool.

A Petition of the principal Gentry, Freeholders, and others, now or late Inhabitants of the Cinque-Ports, and Places adjacent, in behalf of themselves, and many others, having Estates near the Sea-Coasts, within the Counties of Kent and Sussex, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, by a late Act of Parliament for the more effectual preventing the Exportation of Wool, &c. the triple Value and Forfeiture of such Wool as shall be transported, is justly inflicted; but that the Petitioners, and their Estate, being liable to answer the Forfeiture, wherein they are no-ways guilty, they think it hard; it not being in their Power to prevent such ill Practices; the same being done in the Night-time, by obscure Persons, of no Substance; so that if they should be discovered, they are not able to make Satisfaction for the Forfeiture, as the Act intended; so that the Petitioners Estates in those Parts are become of little or no Value; most of them not daring to live there themselves; and others refusing to take any Leases thereof, without Covenants of Indemnity against the said Forfeiture; whereby there will be no other Persons resident, but the Actors in those Mischiefs; which will rather advance than suppress them, and ruin the Petitioners: And praying, That the Rigour of the said Act may be mitigated as to the Petitioners; and that some other more effectual Way may be found out for punishing the Offenders.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to inspect the Laws for preventing the Exportation of Wool; and to consider of the most effectual Means for preventing the Exportation of Wool; and to report their Opinion therein to the House:

And it is referred to Mr. Pelham, Mr. Fuller, Sir Tho. Dyke, Mr. White, Sir John Fagg, Mr. Heveningham, Sir Rowland Gwyn, Mr. Hammond, Lord Coningsby, Mr. Norris, Sir Chr. Musgrove, Sir Gerv. Elwes, Mr. Blofeild, Mr. Moor, Serjeant Wogan, Mr. Perry, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Dolben, Sir John Bolles, Mr. Dore, Sir Cha. Sidley, Mr. Pocklington, Sir Wm. Twisden, Mr. England, Mr. Gwynn, Mr. Whitaker, Mr. Desbovery, Sir Ra. Delavall, Mr. Aislaby, Sir Fra. Massam, Sir Wm. Lowther, Mr. Chadwick, Mr. Hedger, Mr. Farrer, Mr. Roberts, Sir John Kay, Sir Wm. Ashurst, Mr. Mawditt, Sir Tho. Roberts, Mr. Onslow, Mr. Harvey, Mr. Boscawen, Sir Wm. Honywood, Dr. Oxenden, Sir Jacob Ashley, Sir Geo. Hungerford, Mr. Baldwyn, Mr. Osborne; and all that serve for the Counties of Kent, Sussex, Wilts, Somerset, Gloucester, Worcester, Devon, and Hereford; and the Commissioners of the Admiralty, who are Members of the House: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chambers; and sit de die in diem: And are impowered to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the said Committee.

Letters of Marque.

Ordered, That the Merchants of the House, and Members of the Sea-ports, be added to the Committee, to whom the Consideration of the Petition of several Merchants of London, for Letters of Marque, is referred.

Answer to Address.

Sir Henry Goodrick reported to the House, That his Majesty having, according to their Order, been attended with their Address, That he would please to cause the Informations in relation to Conrade-Griebe to be laid before this House, his Majesty had been pleased to give an Answer thereunto in Writing, signed by his Majesty; and to command him to deliver the same to the House; which he did: And the same was read; and is as followeth; viz.

William R

HIS Majesty having received an Address from the House, whereby it was desired. That he would please to cause the Informations in relation to Conrade Greibe to be laid before this House, is pleased to acquaint them, That, upon the Discovery of the late Conspiracy against his Person and Government, the said Greibe was taken into Custody, among other suspected Persons, as being concerned in that Plot; and, about the same time, several Informations being sent and delivered to his Majesty, whereby he appeared to be a very dangerous Person, his Majesty thought it for his Safety, not to suffer him, being an Alien, to continue longer in this Kingdom; and did order the Duke of Wirtemberg, who was then going for Flanders, to transport him thither, in order to send him to the Elector of Brandenburg, his natural Prince; which was done accordingly: And the said Greibe was delivered to the General of the said Elector, who was by him appointed to receive him, together with the Informations.

Excise Duties.

A Petition of Henry Waddell Esquire, Mayor of the City of Canterbury, George Knowler, William Stanly, and John Shatwater, on behalf of themselves and the rest of the common Brewers inhabiting within the said City, and Places adjacent, and for the Town and Port of Feversham, in the County of Kent, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners have, with great Difficulty, complied with several Acts for a Duty of Excise, and hoped to be encouraged in their Trade; but, instead thereof, they suffer very great Hardships by several Clauses in the said Acts; and, more particularly, by the Act for laying several Duties on low Wines, and other things; which are so very grievous, that, if continued, the Petitioners cannot exercise their Trades: And praying, That they may be heard to make out their Grievances; and be relieved therein, as the House shall think fit.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Company of Brewers of the City of London is referred.

Worsted, &c. Trade.

A Petition of the Worsted, Yarn, and Say-makers, of the ancient Borough of Bury St. Edmonds, in the County of Suffolk; and others of the same Employment, within the said County; was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That * * * *

That the said Petition do lie upon the Table.

Blackwell-hall Market.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill to restore the Market for Woollen Cloths in Blackwell-hall, and Welch-hall, to the Clothiers: And that Sir George Hungerford and Sir Thomas Mompesson do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Deficiency of Funds.

Sir Richard Onslow reported from the Committee appointed to consider, and state to the House, the Nature of the Deficiencies of Parliamentary Funds, and of the several Duties already voted; and how the said Deficiencies may be best provided for by the said Duties; and to whom was referred the Consideration of the Petition of the Persons who advanced the Sum of 564,700 l. upon the Credit of the Act for granting several Duties upon Glass-wares, Coals, and Culm; That they had considered the Matter to them referred; and had directed him to make a Report thereof, specially, to the House, in several States of the several Funds, and Deficiencies, and Duties; 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.

That the Committee had, accordingly, proceeded to examine the Nature of the several Parliamentary Funds; what Sums of Money have been borrowed upon each of them; how much they have paid off; the particular Remains; and what may be the Deficiencies of those Funds; and the Deficiencies arising by clipped Money:

They have also considered the Duties the House have already voted to grant; and what may be the Produce of those Duties, in the time for which they are intended to be granted:

And they have likewise considered how far those Duties may make good those Deficiencies:

And that the Committee have commanded him to lay before the House the State of the several Funds, with their particular Deficiencies; and also an Abstract of them, under the several Heads in which the Committee had considered them:

That the Committee had not proceeded to offer their Opinion about placing the several Funds, in order to make good the Deficiencies, till they knew whether the House intended to have any particular Regard for the Deficiency of the Coal-Act, and Tonage, which is taken away by Parliament:

But the Committee, being ordered to report, specially, the State of the Petition of those Persons who had advanced the Sum of 564,700 l. upon the Credit of the Act for granting several Duties upon Glass-wares, Coal, and Culm, did find, that the Allegations therein contained are true; and commanded him to report the same accordingly.

The NATURE of the FUNDS, whereunto the Deficiencies, either in the Produce, or by the clipped Money, or both, have any Relation; viz.



						Principal unpaid.			Deficiency of the Fund.			Deficiency of the clipped Money.			Arrears standing out.			Surplus of the present Grants.			Value of the further Term voted, at 8 per Cent.
						£.	s.	d.	£.	s.	d.	£.	s.	d.	£.	s.	d.
Funds expired, and Funds deficient, both in their Produce, and by clipped Money.	Second Quarterly Poll					89,965	13	4	80,008	5	1	9,267	8	3	690	—	—
	1st 4s. Aid					61,435	6	2	52,183	3	6½	3,439	6	10½	5,812	15	9
	3d 4s. Aid					409,622	—	3	19,246	5	6	388,125	14	9	2,250	—	—
	4th 4s. Aid					1,329,223	16	1	237,503	10	11½	679,598	2	3	412,122	2	10½
	¾ths Customs					213,447	15	9	207,732	19	9½	3,714	45	11½	—
						2,103,294	11	7	598,674	4	10½	1,084,145	8	1	420,874	18	7½
Funds taken away by Parliament, with Intention to have been supplied by the Salt-Act; with their Deficiencies.	Duties on Coals					560,038	—	—	548,539	18	3¾	11,498	1	8¼
		£.	s.	d.
	5/7 Tonage for the Bank who have Tallies for	32,692	6	2	in Part	100,000	—	—	83,664	4	4	16,335	15	8
	2/7 Tonage for Annuities who have Tallies for	20,000	—	—	in Part	40,000	—	—	34,199	16	9	5,800	3	3
	Lottery Annuities, which were on Salt-Tallies, are levied for	120,000	—	—	in Part	140,000	—	—	119,642	17	—¾	20,357	2	11¼
		172,692	6	2		840,038	—	—	786,046	16	5½	53,991	3	6½
	To complete 845,870 l. 14s. 2¼d. appropriated for Land Services; viz.
Other Funds depending on the Salt-Act.	To satisfy Tallies for Money advanced to the Forces, besides 12,500 l. paid off		181,000	—	—	833,370	14	2¾	1,710,847	14	—	652	6	—
	Subscription Money, per the Land-Bank, for the Forces		1,775	—	—
	To discharge Bills of Credit issued for the Forces		57,705	8	9
	So much due to Land Services, for which no Tallies or Bills are issued		592,890	5	5¾
	Money appropriated for Sea Services unsatisfied					878,129	5	9¼
						1,711,500	—	—	1,710,847	14	—	652	6	—
Funds sufficient to discharge their Debt, and appropriated to the Civil List.	Hereditary and temporary Excise 6,000 l. a Week					884,467	8	—	Nil.			88,696	17	4¾
	Post-Office Revenue, 600 l. a Week					118,046	9	2½	Nil.			11,463	16	1
	Duties on Low Wines and Sweets					66,359	16	6	Nil.			573	9	9
						1,068,872	3	8½				100,734	3	2¾
Duties that have a continuance, and will be deficient; and no further Time can be granted therein.	²/3ds double 9d. Excise, which cease as to the Repaying of Loans the 17th of May 1697, being afterwards appropriated to other Uses					245,054	11	11	95,154	12	11	64,845	7	1¼
																		£.	s.	d.	£.	s.	d.
Duties voted to be granted for further Terms, with their respective Deficiencies, or Over values.	Continued Impositions					1,612,824	18	6				191,181	19	57½				45,000	—	—	1,136,398	—	9½
	300,000 l. per Ann. Customs					898,397	10	—	11,600	—	—	131,066	7	3¾				Nil.			1,477,268	6	8
	Additional Impositions					448,540	—	—	430,000	—	—	15,177	7	4				Nil.			284,120	—	—
	Duties on Vellom					277,601	17	8½	198,709	5	9 2/4	25,405	1	10¾				Nil.			255,350	—	—
	Duties on Marriages					648,000	—	—	628,155	9	2	19,844	10	10				Nil.			179,550	—	—
	House Money					7,382	11	4										513,247	8	8	164,680	—	—
					£.	3,892,746	17	6½	1,268,464	14	11¾	382,675	6	10				558,247	8	8	3,497,366	7	5½

Deficiency of Funds.



	Funds.	For what Time granted.	The Estimate by Parliam.	How much borrowed.			Rate of the Interest.	How much paid off.			How much remains.			The yearly or other Produce.	Deficiency of the Funds.			Deficiency of the clipped Money.			Surplus.			Arrears.			Arrears in Receivers Hands.
				£.	s.	d.	£.	£.	s.	d.	£.	s.	d.	£.	£.	s.	d.	£.	s.	d.
1	300,000 l. per Ann. Customs continued to 1706	From the 25th of December 1694. to the 25th of December 1699		1,250,000	—	—	5 per Cent. for the 1st 300,000 6 per Cent. the 2d - 300,000 7 per Cent. the 3d - 300,000 8 per Cent. the 4 - 350,000	351,602	10	—	898,397	10	—	375,967 per Ann.	11,600	—	—	131,066	7	3 5/4
2	Additional Impositions to the same Time	From the 1st of March 1692, to the 1st of March 1696		510,000	—	—	8 per Cent.	61,460	—	—	448,540	—	—	45,000 per Ann.	430,000	—	—	15,177	7	4
3	Wines, Vinegar, Tobacco, &c. to the same Time	From the 23 of June 1696, to the 23 of June 1698		500,000	—	—	8 per Cent.	367,175	1	5	112,824	18	6	417,755 per Ann				191,181	19	5½
4	Ditto	From the 23 of June 1698, to the 29th of September 1701		1,500,000	—	—	5 per Cent. the 1st - 400,000 6 per Cent. the 2 - 400,000 7 per Cent. the 3d - 400,000 8 per Cent. the 4 - 300,000				1,500,000	—	—	As above.				As above.			45,000	—	—
5	²/3 double 9d. Excise	From the 17th of November 1691, to the 17th of May 1697		999,815	—	2½	7 per Cent.	754,760	8	3½	245,054	11	11	190,000 per Ann.	95,154	12	11	64,845	7	1¼
6	Duties on Vellom, to 1706	From the 28th of June 1694, to the 28th of June 1698		324,114	7	8½	8 per Cent.	46,512	10	—	277,601	17	8½	50,000 per Ann.	198,709	5	9¾	25,405	1	10¾
7	2d Quarterly Poll, determined	For the Year ended at Christmas 1694		569,293	19	7	The Interest at 6 per Cent. which has been paid, was out of the Money of Loans on the hereditary and temporary Excise	479,328	6	3	89,965	13	4	488,595 12 6	80,698	5	1	9,267	8	3							690	—	—
8	1st 4s. Aid, determined	For the Year 1693		1,896,874	16	6½	7 per Cent.	1,835,439	10	4½	61,435	6	2	1,920,822 12 8	52,183	3	7	3,439	6	10½							5,812	15	9
9	3d 4s. Aid, determined	For the Year 1695		1,800,000	—	—	5 per Cent.	1,390,377	19	9	409,622	—	3	1,846,155 6 9½	19,246	5	5½	388,125	14	9½							2,250	—	—
10	4th 4s. Aid, determined	For the Year 1696		1,800,000	—	—	6 per Cent.	470,776	3	11	1,329,223	16	1	1,385,912 6 1	237,503	10	11½	679,598	2	3				412,122	2	10¾
11	Duties on Marriages, to 1706	From the 1st of May 1695, to 1st of May 1700		650,000	—	—	8 per Cent.	2,000	—	—	648,000	—	—	50,000 per Ann.	628,155	9	2	19,844	10	10
12	Low Wines and Sweets	From the 25 of March 1696, to the 25 March 1701		6,959	16	6	6 per Cent. the 1st - 40,000 7 per Cent. the 2d - 30,000	3,600	—	—	66,359	16	6	20,000 per Ann.				573	9	9
13	Duties on Houses, to 1706	From the 25th of March 1696, to the 25th March 1703		7,382	11	4	7 per Cent. the 1st - 600,000 8 per Cent. the 2d - 600,000							100,000 per Ann.	—			—
14	Duties on Salt, Glass, &c.	From the 17th of May 1696, made perpetual		366,465	—	10½	7 per Cent.	12,500	—	—	353,965	—	10½	179,480 per Ann.				652	6	—
15	Duties on Coals, &c. determined	From the 17th of May 1696, these Duties ceased		564,700	—	—	7 per Cent.	4,662	—	—	560,035	—	—		548,539	18	3¾	11,498	1	8¼
16	Hereditary and temporary Excise, 6,000 l. per Week	Temporary Excise granted for his Majesty's Life					6 per Cent. the 1st - 404,467 7 per Cent. the 2d - 200,000 8 per Cent. the 3d - 200,000				884,467	8	—	400,000 per Ann.				88,696	17	4¾
17	600 l. per Week, Post Office Revenue	Hereditary Revenue					6 per Cent. 1st - 73,046 7 per Cent. 2d - 45,000				118,046	9	2½	63,000 per Ann.				11,463	16	1
18	¾ths of the Customs, to 1706	Expired at Christmas 1694					6 per Cent.				213,447	15	9		209,732	19	9½	1,508 2,206	2 2	—½ 4	Upon the ¾ths of the old Customs. Upon the Surplus of the new Customs.
19	The Complement of the Salt Act										1,632,834	19	1½		1,632,834	19	1½	652	6	—

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Report be referred to the Committee of the whole House, who are to consider of the Supply granted to his Majesty, for making good the Deficiencies of Parliamentary Funds.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Tuesday Morning next, resolve itself into the said Committee of the whole House.

Supply; Deficiency or Coinage.

Colonel Wharton, according to the Order of the Day, reported from the Committee of the whole House, to whom it was referred to consider further of the Supply to be granted to his Majesty, for making good the Deficiency in re-coining hammered Money; and the Recompence to be given for bringing Plate into the Mints, to be coined; the Resolution of the said Committee; which they had directed him to report to the House; and which be 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, for making good the Deficiency in re-coining hammered Money; and the Recompence to be given for bringing Plate into the Mints, to be coined; the Sum of 125,000 l. be granted to his Majesty.

The said Resolution, being read a Second time, was, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Ways and Means.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Wednesday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of Ways and Means for raising the Supply granted to his Majesty, for making good the Deficiency in re-coining hammered Money; and the Recompence to be given for bringing Plate into the Mints, to be coined.

Supply; Transport Debt.

Then the House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Motion, made on Thursday last, for a Supply to be granted to his Majesty, for making good the Deficiency of the Provision for Payment of the TransportDebt, for the Reducing of Ireland.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Mr. Norris took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Mr. Norris reported from the said Committee, That they had considered the Matter to them referred; and had come to a Resolution; which they had directed him to report, when the House will please to receive the same.

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

Commissioners of Account.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Saturday come Sevennight, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for examining, taking, and stating, the publick Accounts of the Kingdom; to commence from the Expiration of the present Commission; and then proceed to a new Election of Commissioners.

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