House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 14 January 1698

Veneris, 14 die Januarii;

Nono Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Executing Judgments in Wales.

MR. Baldwyn, according to Order, presented to the House, a Bill to execute Judgments and Decrees saved in a Clause in the Statute made in the 1st Year of the Reign of his present Majesty, and the late Queen Mary, intituled, An Act for taking away the Court holden before the President and Council of the Marches of Wales: And the same was received.

The Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read the Second time.

Duties on Leather.

A Petition of several Fellmongers, Skinners, Glovers, Dressers, and Tawers of Leather, inhabiting in the Town of Towcester in the County of Northampton, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, by a late Act for laying a Duty upon Leather, no Leather is to be sold but in open Fairs and Markets; and, by another Act of the same Session, for laying a Tax upon Land, &c. all Traders and Dealers were to pay 50 s. per Cent. ad valorem, for their Stocks; so that all the Petitioners Stocks have been liable to both the said Duties; and such of the Petitioners as dwell in Villages are debarred of selling their Wares at home; whereby they have lost the great Part of their Trades, and can no longer follow their Trades, being reduced to great Poverty: And praying Relief in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Aldermen, Stewards, and Company of Fellmongers, Leather-dressers, and Glovers, of the City of Chester, is referred: And that they do examine the Matter; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Assize of Bread.

Ordered, That Sir Math. Andrews, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Mountstevens, Sir Robert Burdet, Sir John Kay, Mr. Mawdit, Sir Cha. Windham, Sir Marm. Wivell, be added to the Committee, to whom the Bill to regulate and ascertain the Assize of Bread is committed.

Army Arrears.

Ordered, That Sir Francis Molyneux, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Baldwyn, Mr. Shackerly, Mr. Blofield, Sir Tho. Roberts, Dr. Barbon, Mr. Kendall, Mr. Fleming, Mr. Pudsey, be added to the Committee, to whom the Petition of Francis Molyneux is referred.

Information of a person in custody being ill used.

Mr. Speaker acquainting the House, That he had received Information, That Mr. William Knight, in the Gatehouse, was ill used there;

Ordered, That Mr. Arnold and Mr. Perry do go and inquire into the Usage the said Mr. William Knight hath had in the Gatehouse.

Lassel's Estate.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act to enable Rebecca Lassells, Widow, to sell Copyhold Lands and Houses in Ealing in the County of Middlesex, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.

Report concerning a person in custody being ill used.

Mr. Arnold reported, That he and Mr. Perry had been to inquire into the Usage of Mr. William Knight; and That they do not find any Occasion of Complaint by him; but that he desires he may have a Servant with him.

Ordered, That the said Mr. William Knight have Leave to have a Servant to reside with him in the Gatehouse.

Colchester Chanel.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill to cleanse, and make navigable, the Chanel from the Hythe at Colchester to Wivenhoo: And that Sir Isaac Rebow, Sir Francis Masham, and Mr. Whitaker, do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Trade with Ireland.

Ordered, That the Committee appointed to consider of the Trade of England and Ireland; and how to make the Trade of this Kingdom more beneficial; do sit de die in diem:

And that Sir Thomas Roberts, Mr. Thornhagh, Mr. Methwin, Mr. Foley, Mr. Granville, Sir John Bolles, Mr. Molesworth, Sir William Scawen, Mr. Smith, Mr. Machell, Mr. Dolben, Sir Wm. Williams, Mr. Rowney, be added to the said Committee: And all that come have Voices.

Woollen Manufacture.

Sir Edward Seymour, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill to encourage the Woollen Manufactures in England; and to restrain the Exportation of Woollen Manufactures from Ireland into Foreign Parts; and for the better preventing the Exportation of Wool into Foreign Parts: And the same was received.

The Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Oaths relating to Tallies, and Exchequer Business.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cook and Sir John Hoskins:

Mr. Speaker,

The Lords have agreed to the Bill, intituled, An Act to give further Time for the Administring of Oaths relating to Tallies and Orders; and for the easier Dispatch of the publick Business in the Exchequer, and in the Bank of England without any Amendment.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Royal Assent to Bills.

A Message from his Majesty, by Mr. Cooling, DeputyUsher of the Black Rod:

Mr. Speaker,

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

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

And, being returned;

Mr. Speaker acquainted the House, That his Majesty had been pleased to give the Royal Assent to Four publick Bills, and One private Bill; viz.

An Act to prevent the further Currency of any hammered Silver Coin of this Kingdom; and for recoining such as is now in being; and for the making out new Exchequer-Bills, where the former Bills are, or shall be, filled up by Indorsements.

An Act against corresponding with the late King James, and his Adherents.

An Act for continuing the Imprisonment of * * Counter, and others, for the late horrid Conspiracy to assassinate the Person of his Sacred Majesty.

An Act to give further Time for the Administring of Oaths relating to Tallies and Orders; and for the easier Dispatch of publick Business in the Exchequer, and in the Bank of England.

An Act for vesting in Sydenham Baker Gentleman an absolute Estate of Inheritance, in Fee-simple, in a certain Rent, Messuages, Lands, and Hereditaments, in the County of Devon; and securing to John Baker Gentleman, and Henry Baker, an Insant, his Son, Monies in lieu of their Claims thereunto.

Supply.

Sir Thomas Littleton, according to Order, reported from the Committee of the whole House, who were to consider of the Supply to be granted to his Majesty, the Resolutions of the said Committee 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.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That a Sum, not exceeding 350,000 l. be granted to his Majesty, for maintaining Guards and Garisons, for the Year 1698.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That a Supply be granted to his Majesty, which, together with the Funds already settled for that Purpose, shall be sufficient to answer and cancel all Exchequer-Bills issued, or to be issued, not exceeding 2,700,000 l.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That a Supply be granted to his Majesty, for the speedy paying and disbanding the Army.

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

Ordered, That a Bill be brought in for reducing the Discount upon Exchequer-Bills, and giving them a better Currency: And that Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer do prepare, and bring in the Bill.

Timber in New Forest.

A Petition of several Persons dwelling in and near the New Forest, in the County of Southampton, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners severally hold, from the Crown, divers Lands lying in and near New Forest; and they, and their Ancestors, have enjoyed Common of Pasture, Turbary, and Panage, in the said Forest; and to pay to the Crown divers Rents, and Services, for the same: That the Petitioners are informed there is a Bill depending in the House for the Increase and Preservation of Timber in the New Forest, in the County of Southampton: And praying, That they may be heard against the Bill, before the same do pass.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of the whole House, to whom the said Bill is committed.

Timber in New Forest.

Then the House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the said Bill.

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 the Commissioners of the Navy, and Mr. Ryly, had, according to Order, attended: And that the Committee had made some Progress in the Bill; and had directed him to move, That they may have Leave to sit again.

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

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