House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 23 January 1694

Martis, 23 die Januarii;

5° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Encouraging Privateers.

ORDERED, That the Committee, who are to inspect, and consider of, the late Act for encouraging Privateers; and to prepare, and bring in, a Bill for their better Encouragement; do sit de die in diem.

Woollen Manufacture.

A Petition of the Clothiers in Gloucestershire was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Trade of exporting the English Woollen Manufactures, did, for many Ages, flourish under the Government of the Company of Merchant-Adventurers of England; but, since Foreigners did intermeddle with that Trade, the same is much lessened, and the Poor increased: That the only Way to preserve the said Trade to this Nation is, to protect the said Company in their Privileges and Trade to the Rivers of Elbe, Weser, and Eyder: And praying, That the said Company may be protected in their Trade to the said Rivers.

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

Leather-cutting.

A Petition of the Company of Leather-sellers of London was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That there is a Bill depending in this House, for makeing more effectual a Statute made in the 1st Jac. I. concerning Tanners, and others occupying the Cutting of Leather; which Bill, if it should pass, would greatly prejudice the Petitioners: And praying, That they may be heard, in order to make their Objections against the said Bill.

Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to the Consideration of the Committee, to whom the Bill for making more effectual a Statute made in the First Year of King James the First, concerning Tanners, Curriers, Shoemakers, and others occupying the Cutting of Leather, is committed: And that the Petitioners be heard by their Counsel, before the said Committee, touching the said Bill.

Holt's Estate.

Mr. Hungerford, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for divesting several Securities out of Andrew Fountein Esquire, and others; and vesting the same in Trustees, for raising and paying the Money due upon the said Securities; and assigning the Residue of the Estate, encumbered therewith, to Sir Charles Holt Baronet: And the same was received; and read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Brown have Leave to go into the Country for a Fortnight, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Tryals for Treason.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Thursday Morning next, at Eleven a Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, consider of the Bill for Regulating of Tryals in Cases of High Treason, and Misprision of Treason.

Persons pardoned of Felony.

An ingrossed Bill to repeal the Statute made in the Tenth Year of King Edward the IIId, for finding Sureties for the good Abearing, by him or her that hath a Pardon of Felony was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act to repeal the Statute made in the Tenth Year of King Edward the Third, for finding Sureties for the good Abearing, by him or her that hath a Pardon of Felony.

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

Privilege—a Person in custody petitions for discharge.

A Petition of John Grevill, in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms, upon a Complaint of a Breach of Privilege, committed against Sir Ralph Dutton, a Member of this House, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner was taken into Custody, for a supposed Breach of Privilege, committed in entering upon the Estate of Sir Ralph Dutton, and cutting down and carrying away his Tree, and beating one John Prinn, his Steward: That the Petitioner never entered on Sir Ralph's Estate, nor cut down the said Tree; but the Tree grew on the Petitioner's own Manor, and was planted by his Ancestors: That he never assaulted Prinn; but he, and 5 or 6 more, coming on the Petitioner's own Ground, who was walking with a Gun in his Hand, endeavouring to take away the Petitioner's Gun, the Petitioner did resist him, having no legal Authority to take away the Petitioner's Gun: That the Petitioner has been put to great Trouble and Charge, upon this groundless Accusation: And praying, That he may be heard, as to the Matters charged against him, and discharged from his Confinement.

Ordered, That the Examination and Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Elections and Privileges: And that they do report the same, with their Opinions therein, to the House.

Answer to Address.

Mr. Secretary Trenchard acquainted the House, That his Majesty, in Answer to the humble Address of this House, had been graciously pleased to command him to lay before this House a Copy of a Letter, dated from Paris, June 1, N. S. and received May 30, O. S. by the Earl of Nottingham.

And he presented the same to the House.

And also, That his Majesty had been pleased to give Permission to such Members of this House as are of his Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council, to acquaint this House, what Intelligence was received of the French Fleet's being sailed out from Brest; and whether the same was communicated to the Admirals of the Fleet, and when the same was communicated.

And the said Letter being in French;

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to translate the said Letter, and present the Translation to the House.

And it is referred to Sir Ch. Wyndham, Mr. Hutchinson, Lord Digby, Mr. How, Sir John Knight, Sir John Moreton, Mr. Papillion, Sir John Wyn, Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Bromley, Sir Tho. Dyke, Sir John Banks, Sir Robert Cotton, Sir Jos. Williamson, Lord Elan, Sir William Scawen.

Miscarriages of the Fleet.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Friday Morning next, take into further Consideration the Miscarriages of the Fleet the last Summer.

Ordered, That the Admirals that commanded the Fleet the last Summer, do attend this House upon Friday Morning next; and bring with them Copies of the Advices, mentioned in Mr. Secretary Trenchard's Letter, of the 31st of May last, sent to them, and of the List of the Ships therein mentioned; and also the Originals.

Privileges of Parliament.

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to consider of the Privileges of the Members of this House; and likewise how the same may be regulated in such manner, as that they may be least burdensome to the People; and to report their Opinions therein to the House.

And it is referred to Mr. How, Sir Walter Young, Mr. Hutchinson, Mr. Done, Mr. P. Foley, Mr. Freke, Mr. Slater, Mr. Burdet, Mr. Waller, Mr. Nicholas, Sir Richard Hart, Mr. Sandford, Mr. Mansell, Mr. Hungerford, Mr. Pigot, Mr. Harcourt, Mr. Goldwell, Mr. Fox, Sir Robert Cotton, Sir Eliab Harvey, Mr. Bromley, Sir Wm. Cooke, Mr. Christy, Mr. Rich. How, Mr. Tho. Foley, Mr. Perry, Mr. Gwyn, Sir John Key, Mr. Harley, Sir Wilf. Lawson, Mr. Palmes, Mr. Bulkley, Mr. England, Mr. Hampden, Sir Fra. Guibon, Sir Edward Harley, Mr. Blofield, Colonel Lee, Colonel Granvill, Sir John Moreton, Mr. Brereton, Sir Richard Onslow, Mr. Arnold, Mr. Clarke, Mr. Boyle, Mr. Tredenham, Mr. Mountague, Mr. Bertie, Mr. Duncombe, Mr. Bear: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Four of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

London Orphans Fund.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Saturday Morning next, at Eleven a Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Petition of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common-Council of the City of London, concerning the Orphans of the said City.

Importing Saltpetre.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Monday Morning next, at Ten a Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for the Importation of Saltpetre.

Protestants Nat.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Monday Morning next, at Eleven a Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for the Naturalization of all Protestants that shall take the Oaths to their Majesties, and the Test against Popery.

Woollen Manufacture.

Ordered, That the Bill for reviving the Act, made in the First Year of their Majesties Reign, to prevent the Exportation of Wool, and encouraging the Woollen Manufactures of this Kingdom, be read the Second time To-morrow Morning, before the adjourned Debate, touching the Articles against the Lord Coningsby, and Sir Charles Porter, be resumed.

Ways and Means.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Thursday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of Ways and Means for raising the Supplies to be granted to their Majesties, for the Maintenance of the Fleet, and the Land-Forces, for the Year 1694.

Supply Bill; Million Act Deficiency.

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 supplying the Deficiency of the Million Act.

Mr. Speaker left 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 gone through the Bill, and made several Amendments; which they had directed him to report, when the House would please to receive the same.

Ordered, That the said Report be made To-morrow Morning at Eleven a Clock.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.

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