House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 29 January 1697

Veneris, 29 die Januarii;

Octavo Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Griffith's Estate.

AN ingrossed Bill for the Sale of the Estate of Francis Griffith, late of London, Scrivener, deceased, for Payment and Satisfaction of his Debts, was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for the Sale of the Estate of Francis Griffith, late of London, Scrivener, deceased, for Payment of his Debts.

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

Hanham's Estate.

Mr. Serjeant Coward reported from the Committee, to whom the ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for vesting the Manors of Holme, alias East-Holme, and Swannage, in the County of Dorset, Part of the Estate of Sir John Hanham Baronet, in Trustees, to be sold, for discharging a Mortgage thereupon, and upon the Residue of the said Sir John Hanham's Estate; and for Payment of his other Debts; was committed; That they had examined and considered the same; and had made some Amendments; 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 read; and are as follow; viz.

Press 4. L. 13. after "Knight," insert "for the "securing the like Sum of 1,200 l. and Interest:"

Pr. 5. L. 34. leave out "demised," and insert "limited in Use:"

Pr.6. L. 5. leave out the last "the:"

Pr. last, L. 17. after "Heirs," insert "Executors "and Administrators."

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

The Bill was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill, with the Amendments, do pass.

Ordered, That Mr. Serjeant Coward do carry the Bill to the Lords, and acquaint them, That this House hath agreed to the same, with some Amendments: To which Amendments they desire their Lordships Concurrence.

Dee Navigation.

Sir John Manwaring, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for making navigable the River Dee, in the County of Chester: And the same was received.

Preventing purchase and sale of Offices.

Colonel Wharton, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill to prevent the Buying and Selling of Offices: And the same was received.

The Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Quartering Soldiers.

A Petition of the Innholders and Victuallers of the several Towns of Uxbridge, Colebroke, Stayns, and Egham, in the County of Middlesex, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners have very much suffered by the continual Quartering of Soldiers for several Years past; whereby they have sustained many great Losses; by which means, and by subsisting several Soldiers for near 12 Months past, and by the ill State of the Coin, they are no longer able to support their own Families: And praying the House to take their Grievances into Consideration, and to relieve them therein.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table.

Leigh's Estate.

Mr. Brotherton reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill to enable Edward Leigh Esquire, and Jane his Wife, and their Trustees, to sell the Manors of Waxham and Harsey, and certain Lands and Tenements, in Norfolk; and to purchase and settle other Lands to the same Uses; was committed; That they had examined and considered the same; and had directed him to report the same to the House, without any Amendments: And he delivered the same in at the Table.

Ordered, That the Bill be ingrossed.

Newfound land Trade.

Sir John Elwill reported from the Committee, to whom the several Petitions, relating to the Trade to Newfoundland, were referred; and also to consider of Remedies for securing the said Trade for the future; That they had examined and considered the Matters to them referred; and had come to several Resolutions; 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 read; and are as follow; viz.

That it appeared, by the Testimony of several Persons, That the Trade to Newfoundland is very profitable to this Nation: It promotes Navigation, and is a Nursery of Seamen: It gives Employment, in time of Peace, to about 140 Sail of Ships yearly, to make fishing Voyages; who carry more than 5,000 Men, whereof One-fifth Part are Land-Men, or Boys; and that every Third Year such Ships may carry Two-fifths of the same; who make ordinarily in a fishing Season 200,000 Quintals of Fish, and 2,000 Tuns of Train-Oil; the greatest Part whereof is transported to foreign Markets, and some of each brought to England: They carry nothing out of this Kingdom but the Product and Manufactures therof, Salt excepted :

That since the present War, few Ships have gone directly to the Newfoundland, to make fishing Voyages, for want of Convoys, and Protections for their Men:

Newfoundland Trade.

That, in January 1695, divers Merchants trading to the Newfoundland, obtained his Majesty's Grant, on their Petition, of Convoys, to go the 10th of March, next following, with the fishing Ships then bound thither; and of others, on the 10th of June next following, with their Ships designed for those Parts, to buy Fish and Train-Oil for foreign Markets:

That the Soldadoes, a Frigate of 44 Guns, and the Saphire, of 32 Guns, sailed, in the Months of April and May last, with the fishing Ships; and that the said Merchants, understanding that no Men of War were ready to go to the Newfoundland on the 10th of June, as was promised, made Application to the Admiralty-Board, on the 17th of June, desiring, That some Men of War might be forthwith appointed for that Service:

On the 22th of June, the said Merchants gave in a List of their Ships; and, on the 6th July following, sailing Orders were sent to the Captains of the Dreadnought and Oxford, to take them under their protection, and to proceed for Newfoundland:

On the 8th July the Dreadnought was ready to sail with Ten of the Merchant Ships mentioned in the aforesaid List; but Seven of the other of the said MerchantShips came not from the Downs to St. Hellen's, where the Men of War were till the 12th of July: They did not sail thence till the Seventh of August, nor from Plymouth till the First of September; being hindered by contrary Winds: These Men of War never fetched Newfoundland; but by Storm were separated; the Dreadnought making for Ireland, and the Oxford for Cadiz in Spain:

That the French, the last Summer, with Seven Men of War, or Privateers, and Two Fire-ships, made themselves Masters of Ferry-Land, Bay of Bulls, and divers other commodious Harbours; destroyed the Houses, Storehouses, Stages, Boats, and Fishing-craft, in those Places; and took about Thirty-three Vessels, loaden with Fish and Train-Oil; to the Ruin of very many Families: The Captain of the Saphire, to prevent the Falling of the Ship into the Enemy's Hands, burnt her:

That, in November last, the French in Number about 400, took St. John's; and are now Masters of all the English Harbours from that Place to Renew's; where they are about to raise a Fort:

That very few Harbours remain in the Possession of the English; who are not in a Condition to resist the Enemy: And that if a competent Number of Men of War, together with Land Forces, be not speedily sent to their Relief, and to regain the Places taken by the Enemy, that very beneficial Trade will be wholly lost to the Nation.

Whereupon the Committee came to these Resolutions; viz.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the Trade to Newfoundland doth very much promote Navigation, increase Seamen, and is of great Profit to this Nation, and of Advantage to us in the Balance of Trade.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the great Losses sustained in the Newfoundland, were occasioned through want of a sufficient Number of Men of War, to secure its Harbours, and to protect the Fishery.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That an humble Address . . . . . to his Majesty, That a competent Number of Men of War, and Land-Forces, be sent, as soon as conveniently may be, to the Newfoundland, to regain the lost Harbours, to cruise on that Coast, to guard the Fishery, and annoy the Enemy trading to those Parts.

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

The Third Resolution being read a Second time;

Resolved, That an humble Address be presented to his Majesty, by such Members of this House as are of his Majesty's most Honourable Privy-Council, That a competent Number of Men of War, and Land-Forces, be sent, as soon as conveniently may be, to the Newfoundland, to regain the lost Harbours, to cruise on that Coast, to guard the Fishery, and annoy the Enemy trading in those Parts.

Prisons and pretended privileged Places.

Mr. Pocklington reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill for preventing the Abuses of Prisons, and pretended Privileged Places, was committed, That they had made several Amendments; 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 throughout; and then a Second time, one by one; and upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

A Clause was offered to be added to the Bill, for saving the Right of Anthony Smith:

And the same was twice read; and withdrawn, by Leave of the House.

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

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cook and Sir Robert Legard:

Mr. Speaker,

Duke of Ormond's Estate.

The Lords have passed a Bill, intituled, An Act for enabling James Duke of Ormond to raise Money by Sale of Woods, and making Leases for Lives renewable for ever, for Payment of Debts, and for encouraging English Plantation in Ireland; and for Charles Lord Weston, Earl of Arran in the Kingdom of Ireland, to make Leases of his Estate, in the said Kingdom: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House. Also,

Hanham's Estate.

The Lords have agreed to the Amendments, made by this House, to the Bill, intituled, An Act for vesting the Manors of Holme, alias East-Holme, and Swannage, in the County of Dorset, Part of the Estate of Sir John Hanham Baronet, in Trustees, to be sold, for discharging a Mortgage thereupon, and upon the Residue of the said Sir John Hanham's Estate; and for Payment of his other Debts. Also,

Supply Bill; Land Tax.

The Lords have agreed to the Bill, intituled, An Act for granting an Aid to his Majesty, as well by a LandTax, as by several Subsidies, and other Duties, payable for One Year.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Royal Assent to Bills.

A Message from his Majesty, by Sir Fleetwood Shepherd, Gentleman-Usher of the Black Rod:

Mr. Speaker,

The King commands this Honourable House to attend his Majesty, in the House of Lords, immediately.

Accordingly, Mr. Speaker, with the House, went up to attend his Majesty.

And, being returned;

Mr. Speaker reported, That his Majesty had been pleased to give the Royal Assent to the several Bills following; viz.

An Act for granting an Aid to his Majesty, as well by a Land Tax, as by several Subsidies, and other Duties, payable for One Year.

An Act for vesting the Manors of Holme, alias EastHolme, and Swannage, in the County of Dorset, Part of the Estate of Sir John Hanham Baronet, in Trustees, to be sold, for discharging a Mortgage thereupon, and upon the Residue of the said Sir John Hanham's Estate; and for Payment of his other Debts.

An Act for enabling Oliver Neve, of Great Witchingham, in the County of Norfolk, Esquire, to sell Two Houses, in London, and for vesting other Lands, in the said County, of greater Value, to the same Uses.

Causes of Tumults about the House.

Mr. Norris reported from the Committee appointed to examine into the Causes and Occasions of the great Tumults of the Multitude who appeared at the Door of this House, the 21st Instant, in order to press the passing a Bill, depending in this House, to restrain the Wearing all wrought Silks and Bengals, imported into this Kingdom from Persia and East-India, and all Callicoes printed or stained there; and to consider how such Tumults may be prevented for the future; That they had examined several Persons, in relation to the Causes and Occasions of the said Tumults; whose Examinations the Committee 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 read; and are as follow; viz.

That they do find, by the Testimony of a great many credible Witnesses, That One Cause of the Discontent of the great Number of Weavers that appeared that Day at the House, was, from the Apprehensions they had, That the Bill, now depending in the House, to restrain the wearing all wrought Silks and Bengals, imported into this Kingdom from Persia and East-India, was thrown out of the House; and that some Members of Parliament had received great Sums of Money to hinder the Passing thereof; all which was occasioned by the Suggestions and Misbehaviour of some Persons that did oppose the Passing of the same.

To prove which, several Persons were examined; viz.

Captain Le Cuis: Who informed the Committee, That, on Wednesday the 20th instant, the Day that the Bill to restrain the wearing East-India Silks and Bengals was adjourned, he came to Westminster; and one Mr. Gabriel Glover called to him, in Palace-yard, and told him, That he need not trouble himself to go any further; for that the said Bill was thrown out: And saith, That there were some straggling Weavers very near; which, he believes, might over-hear him; but when Mr. Glover came up nearer to him, he spoke with a lower Voice, and said, That the Bill was put off: But saith, That he did apprehend Mr. Glover's Discourse was jocular, and not out of any ill Design.

Thomas Call: Who informed the Committee, That he being at the East-India Warehouse, at St. Helen's, Mr. Glover was there, and shewed him great Quantities of East-India Silks and Callicoes; whereupon Mr. Call said, It was a great deal of Pity that so much Goods should come over to the Ruin and Destruction of many Thousands of our own Kingdom, who were ready to perish for want of Work: To which Mr. Glover replied, Talk no more of that here, we'll discourse that at the House of Lords; and further said, That it had cost the Weavers 500 l. to endeavour to prohibit the East-India Silks; and that they had no more to spend; but he did not doubt but the Linen-drapers would find Money enough to manage the Weavers, and hinder the Passing of the Bill.

That Mr. Sewell said, That, having some Discourse with Mr. Glover about Passing of the aforesaid Bill, he told Mr. Glover, He heard there was 1,000 l. given to hinder the Passing thereof: To which Mr. Glover replied, The other 1,000 l. would do the Business effectually: But Mr. Sewell said, He believed Mr. Glover spoke it in a jocular Way.

That Mr. Lewis said, That he, being at the East-India Warehouse, when Mr. Glover was there, he heard Mr. Glover say, That they would take care to give the Weavers such a Fall, That they should never be able to rise again.

That Mr. Burroughs said, That Mr. Glover told him, That 100 l. would not excuse him for his Share which he had disbursed, in order to prevent the passing of the said Bill.

That Mr. Crosse said, That several of the Linen-drapers did publickly offer to lay great Wagers, That the Bill would be thrown out of the House; which, he believes, did come to the Ears of the Weavers, and was the Occasion of their Rising:

He further said, That one Mr. Nanfan, a Clerk, belonging to a Member of Parliament, did go to a publick House, where some Journeymen Weavers were drinking, and offered to lay Two Guineas, That the Bill would be thrown out.

Causes of Tumults about the House.

That Mr. Conduit informed the Committee, That, the Day before the Weavers Rise, he was in Covent-garden, at a Mercer's, at the Sign of the King's Arms; and one Mr. Cole, being there, told him, That the Bill was thrown out of the House; and offered to lay a Guinea to a Shilling of it, as often as he pleased; and, being asked, How he came to know that the same was thrown out? said, He had the News from Mr. Glover, or from one that had it from him.

That several Women were called in, and examined; whom the Committee were informed hired a poor Woman to ring a Bell, and gave her Money to go about and raise the Weavers; viz.

Mrs. Clark, Mrs. Mashaw, Mrs. Davis: Who informed the Committee, That several poor Women of them were got together, upon the News, That the Bill was thrown out; and, they . . . Thousands others of them being in a very miserable Condition, and not having had any Work for several Months together, and having several small Children, they and their Families were like to perish with Hunger, they agreed amongst themselves to advance every one a Halfpeny, and give the Bell-Woman, to go about to raise the Weavers, and so go to Westminster, and petition the Parliament, that they might be encouraged in their Trade: And said, They gathered amongst them a Shilling, which they gave to the Bell-Woman.

Mr. Oldham, Mr. Crosse, Mr. Lewis, Mr. White, and several others, testified, That it was the general Cry among the poor Weavers, That the Bill was thrown out.

That there were a great many Master-Weavers appeared at the Committee: Who declared, That they had no Hand in stirring up the Rabble: And they all shewed their Dislike and Abhorrence of that Action; and declared, That they would use their utmost Endeavours to find out the Promoters:

And further said, That as soon as ever they heard, that the Rabble were go together in Moorfields, they did all they could to disperse them: And, particularly,

Mr. Smith, a Master-Weaver, testified, That, on Thursday the 21st instant, in the Morning, as soon as ever he heard, that the Rabble were got together in Moorfields, he sent one of his Servants, to persuade as many as he could to come back; and, by his Persuasions, he brought away Six; and he sent those Six out, and they brought away above a Hundred.

And it further appeared to the Committee, That several of the Master-Weavers gave their Servants a great Charge, that they should not go out.

That divers Women, whose Husbands were Weavers, informed the Committee, That the Linen-drapers in Cornhill, and Cheapside, and other Places, did all they could to exasperate the Weavers in their Way to Westminster; by giving of them ill Language, and calling of the Women Whores, and pulling out their East-India Silks and Callicoes, and shewing of it to them, as they passed along.

Mr. Barry said, That, the Day the Tumult was, he went out into the Court of Requests among them twice, in order to disperse them; and some of them came up to him, and told him, That they were informed, that the Adjournment of the Bill was on purpose to bring in the Clauses that should so clog it, that, if it did pass the House of Commons, it would never pass the House of Lords:

That, afterwards, some others of the Rabble came to him, and told him, They were informed, That the House of Commons were so far influenced by the Enemies to the Bill, that it should never pass; but when the CapitationBill was once passed, the House would then rise, without doing any thing in their Affair.

Mr. Glover, being called before the Committee to give an Answer to the Evidence that was given in relation to him, said, That he did meet Captain Le Cuis, in Palaceyard, that Day the Bill for restraining the Wearing EastIndia Silks was adjourned; and remembers he told Captain Le Cuis, That he believed the Bill would not come on that Day, because the House was upon the Capitation Bill: But denies, That he said the Bill was thrown out: And desired that Mr. Draper might be examined, who was with him when he met Captain Le Cuis: And,

Mr. Draper said, That when Mr. Glover met Mr. Le Cuis, he told him, That he need not make so much Haste, for the Bill would not come on that Day, because the House was upon the Capitation-Bill; but did not hear him tell Captain Le Cuis, That the Bill was thrown out.

Mr. Glover further said, That, as to Mr. Sewell's Evidence, he owns he had some Discourse with Sewell; but denied that he said, 1,000 l. would do the Business effectually:

That as to Mr. Call's Evidence, which charges him with saying, at the East-India Warehouse, That the Weavers had spent 500 l. and had no more to spend; but the Linen-drapers would find Money enough to manage them, and hinder the Passing of the Bill; he utterly denied, that he used any such Expressions: And called a Witness; viz.

Mr. Whelpdale: Who said, He was at the East-India Warehouse when Mr. Call and Mr. Glover were there; and Mr. Call did say, That he hoped that would be the last time that any East-India Goods should be brought to that Place: Whereupon Mr. Glover replied, Let that alone; we'll discourse that another time: And that was all that Mr. Glover said, as he remembers.

That as to Mr. Conduit's Evidence, which charges one Mr. Cole, who was at the King's Arms, in Covent-garden, the Day before the Weavers rose, with laying a Guinea to a Shilling, that the Bill was thrown out; he desired Mr. Cole might be examined: And,

Mr. Cole, being called in to the Committee, said, That he was at the King's Arms, in Covent-garden, the Day before the Weavers Rise; but denies he offered to lay any Wager, that the Bill was thrown out, or that he made use of Glover's Name.

Mr. Glover further said, That whatever Words fell from him at any time, when he had any Discourse either with Captain Le Cuis, Mr. Sewell, Mr. Call, or any of the Weavers, were spoke in a jocular Way, and not out of any ill Design:

He owns, That he, being a Linen-draper, and dealing in East-India Goods, and thereby concerned in point of Interest, did use all the lawful Endeavours he could to prevent the passing the Bill; and believes, he has disbursed above 200 l. in Fees, to Counsel and Solicitors, and other Charges; but denies, That he ever gave, or offered to give, any Money, or any other Reward whatever, to any Member of Parliament, or that he ever declared he had so done.

That there were some Persons called in, to give the Committee an Account of what Mr. Lomb, who solicits for the Bill, said, in relation to the Rising of the Weavers; viz.

Mr. Movillon, a Painter of Callicoes, informed the Committee, That, about a Fortnight ago, he being in a Coach with Mr. Lomb and another Gentleman, he asked Mr. Lomb, What Success the Bill for prohibiting the East-India Silks was like to have? To which Mr. Lomb answered, He thought the Bill would pass, it always having had Success in the House of Commons; and Mr. Lomb further said, That if the Bill did not pass, they must send the Weavers Wives and Children to the Parliament, to be taken care of; or Words to that Effect, to the best of his Remembrance.

Mr. Lamouch, a Merchant, said, That, about a Fortnight ago, he was going into the City, in a Coach, with Mr. Movillon and Mr. Lomb; and they Two having some Discourse about the said Bill, to the best of his Remembrance, he heard Mr. Lomb say, That, if the House did not pass the Bill, they must be forced to send the Weavers Wives and Children to the Parliament; or Words to that Effect.

Mr. Lomb being examined, said, That he was in a Coach with Mr. Movillon and another Gentleman, about a Fortnight ago; but positively denies, that he said, They must be forced to send the Weavers Wives and Children to the Parliament-house: But believes he might say, He was afraid they would come up.

Sir John Parsons said, That, being in the Lobby, he heard Mr. Lomb say, That, if the Bill did not pass, the Weavers would come up, and he could not tell how to help it.

Ordered, That the said Committee do inquire further into the Causes and Occasions of the said Tumults; and consider how such Tumults may be prevented for the future.

A Motion being made, and the Question being put, That Gabriel Glover, for speaking scandalous Words of this House, and their Proceedings, be taken into the Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House;

It passed in the Negative.

Ordered, That the said Question be not printed.

Supply Bill; Duties on Paper, &c.

Mr. Lowndes, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for granting to his Majesty several Duties upon Paper, Vellom, and other Things, to encourage the Bringing in of Plate, and hammered Money, to be coined; and for other the Purposes therein mentioned: And the same was received.

The Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time, upon Tuesday Morning next.

Mitchell Election.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee of Privileges and Elections, touching the Election for the Borough of Mitchell, in the County of Cornwall, be made upon Thursday Morning next.

Tavistock Election.

Ordered, That the Report, touching the Election for the Borough of Tavistock, in the County of Decon, be made upon Thursday Morning next.

Ways and Means.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Monday Morning next, after the further Consideration of the Bill to restrain the Wearing of all wrought-Silks and Bengals, imported from Persia and East-India, and all Callicoes printed and stained there, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of Ways and Means for raising the Supply granted to his Majesty, for carrying on the War against France, for the Service of the Year 1697.

Ditto.

Resolved, That this House will, upon this Day Sevennight, 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 of the Provision for Payment of the Interest of the Transport-Debt, for the Reducing of Ireland.

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