House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 30 March 1698

Mercurii, 30 die Martii;

10° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Newcastle Waterworks.

An ingrossed Bill, for the better supplying the Town of Newcastle upon Tyne with fresh Water, was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for the better supplying the Town of Newcastle upon Tyne with fresh Water.

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

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir Jervas Elwes have Leave to go into the Country, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.

Wove Buttons.

A Bill to suppress the making of wove Buttons was, according to Order, read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Molyneux, Sir Wm. Lowther, Mr. Cary, Mr. Taylor, Sir Hen. Hobart, Sir John Kay, Sir John Philips, Mr. Brewer, Sir Marm. Wyvell, Mr. Foster, Mr. England, Mr. Lambton, Mr. Dolben, Sir Jacob Ashley, Sir Edward Seaward, Sir John Woodhouse, Mr. Machell, Mr. Mawdit, Mr. Gwyn, Mr. Gery, Lord Powlet, Mr. Phillips, Mr. Osborn, Sir Wm. Cooper, Mr. Blofeild, Mr. Lowndes, Sir Fran. Masham, Mr. Mountstevens, Mr. Fuller, Sir John Manwaring, Mr. Slater: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Hare's Estate.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for the better enabling Sir Ralph Hare Baronet, to make a Jointure, and settle his Estate, and raise Portions and Maintenances for his younger Children, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Sir Robert Dashwood, Mr. Thornhagh, Lord Powlet, Mr. Fleming, Mr. Bertie, Mr. Mawdit, Mr. Mountstevens, Sir Wm. Cooper, Sir Hen. Colt, Sir Wm. Blackett, Mr. Dolben, Mr. Lowndes, Sir Jos. Tily, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Gery, Mr. Perry, Mr. England, Mr. Foley, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Colt, Sir John Walter, Mr. Walpole, Mr. Blofeild, Mr. Bridges, Sir Robert Davers, Mr. Daniell, Sir Wm. St. Quintin, Sir Fran. Masham, Sir John Kay, Mr. How, Mr. Brewer, Sir Tho. Roberts, Sir John Bucknall, Colonel Granville, Sir John Philips, Mr. Wharton, Mr. Jenkins, Mr. Pendarvis, Mr. Ashby, Sir Edward Seaward, Mr. Rowney, Sir Jacob Ashley; and all that serve for the County of Norfolk: And all that come are to have Voices: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Claims on Lottery Tickets.

Ordered, That the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Proprietors of the Million Lottery-Tickets is referred, have Leave to sit in a Morning, but not beyond Ten a Clock.

Escapes of Debtors.

Ordered, That the Committee; to whom the Bill for the more effectual Relief of Creditors in Cases of Escapes; and for preventing Escapes, and other Abuses in the Keepers of Gaols; have Leave to sit in a Morning, but not beyond Ten a Clock.

Exon Work-houses.

Ordered, That the Committee to whom the Bill for erecting Hospitals and Work-houses within the City and County of Exon, for the better employing and maintaining the Poor there, have Leave to sit in a Morning, but not beyond Ten a Clock.

Houghton's Estate.

An ingrossed Bill, for vesting the Manors of Bastwick and Laviles, in the County of Norfolk, Part of the Estate of John Houghton Esquire, in Trustees to be sold, for discharging Debts charged thereon; and for settling another Estate,, in lieu thereof, was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for vesting the Manors of Bastwick and Laviles, in the County of Norfolk, Part of the Estate of John Houghton Esquire, in Trustees, to be sold for discharging Debts charged thereon; and for settling another Estate, in lieu thereof.

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

Children of Soldier's Nat.

An ingrossed Bill, to naturalize the Children of such Officers, and Soldiers, and others, the natural-born Subjects of this Realm, who have been born abroad during the War, the Parents of such Children having been in the Service of this Government, was read the Third time.

Ordered, That the Bill do lie upon the Table until Tomorrow Morning.

Army Arrears.

A Petition of John Phillips Elckenbracht and Daniel Le Graa, in behalf of themselves, and several other Troopers, broke and discharged out of the Honourable Baron Van Reichteren's Regiment of Dutch Horse, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners have a great Arrear of Pay due to them, for which their Officers forced them to sign Notes for a Quarter of their Due, otherwise they must have starved: That Captain Quatt absconds, on purpose to wrong the Petitioners; and Agent Vander Esse hath offered to pay those, that belonged to Captain Quatt's Troop, 5 and 10l. a Man, when there is due from 20 to 30, 40, and 60l. per Man; thinking the Petitioners Poverty, and Distance from home, being Foreigners, will compel them to accept it, their Officers being speedily to go into Holland: And praying the Relief of this House in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said . . . . . . . be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Soldiers of Colonel Langston's Regiment is referred: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Relief of Creditors.

A Bill for repealing the Act, made the last Session of Parliament, intituled, An Act for Relief of Creditors, by making Compositions with their Debtors, in case Two Thirds in Number and Value do agree, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Dolben, Mr. Dowdeswell, Sir Henry Colt, Mr. Clerk, Lord Coningsby, Mr. Lowndes, Sir Henry Hobart, Mr. Hoar, Mr. Pocklington, Mr. Foley, Mr. Mountague, Mr. Burrington, Mr. England, Mr. Daniell, Sir Robert Cotton, Sir Robert Davers, Mr. Mountstevens, Mr. Bertie, Sir Francis Masham, Mr. Morgan, Mr. Lambton, Mr. Michell, Mr. Colt, Sir Wm. Lowther, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Stevens, Sir Wm. Honywood, Mr. Osborne, Lord Cutts, Mr. Perry, Sir Gerv. Elwes, Sir Tho. Day, Mr. Mawdit, Mr. Beake, Mr. Travers, Lord Powlett; and all the Merchants of the House: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chambers.

Suppressing Profaneness &c.

An ingrossed Bill, for the more effectual suppressing Blasphemy and Profaneness, was, according to Order, read a Third time.

An ingrossed Clause was offered, as a Rider, That if any Person, by Writing, Preaching, Printing, or advised Speaking, shall publish any Doctrine or Opinion, That there are more Gods than One, he shall suffer all the Penalties in the Bill:

And the same was thrice read.

And a Debate arising thereupon.

A Motion was made, and the Question was put, That the Debate be adjourned till Saturday Morning next.

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it passed in the Negative.

Then the Clause was withdrawn, by Leave of the . . . . ..

An Amendment was proposed to be made to the Bill, Press 1. L. 17, after "God," to insert, "or that shall assert or maintain there are more Gods than One:"

And the same was, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House; and the Bill amended at the Table accordingly.

Another Amendment was proposed to be made, by leaving out the last Clause, for reading the Act in Churches:

And the same was, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House; and the Bill amended at the Table accordingly.

Then the Question being put, That the Bill do pass;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

Resolved, That the Title be, An Act for the more effectual suppressing Blasphemy and Profaneness.

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

Privilege of a Member in a Suit.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee of Privileges and Elections, upon the Petition of William Wharton Esquire, and Eunice his Wife, be taken into Consideration upon Monday Morning next.

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