House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 21 January 1698

Veneris, 21 die Januarii ;

Nono Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Duties on Leather.

A PETITION of the Tanners, Fellmongers, Leather-dressers, Collar-makers, and others, the Dealers in, and Manufacturers of, Leather in the County of Middlesex, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Price of Leather has been sinking ever since the Duty laid thereon; and the Reason thereof arises from the ill Practices of Merchants, and others, who deal in Leather, and still make the same Exports and Consumption, but deal not with the Petitioners, as usually; having found out other Persons, at other Places, who do not pay the high Duties imposed on the Petitioners; to their very great Discouragement: And praying Relief, 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 Aldermen, Stewards, and Company of Fellmongers, Leather-dressers, and Glovers, in the City of Chester, is referred: And that they do examine the Matter; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Ditto.

A Petition of Richard Mercer and John Lyon, in behalf of themselves, and several others the Tanners, Glovers, Curriers, and Workers of Leather, in and about the Borough of Leverpoole, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners Trade being mean and dispersed into many Hands, they acquire thereby but a bare Subsistence; and that, by reason of the Tax upon Leather, their Trades are greatly decayed, and they and their Families reduced to great Extremities: And praying a Commiseration of their Condition, and 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, in the City of Chester, is referred: And that they do examine the Matter; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Lassells' 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 a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Montague, Sir Tho. Barnardiston, Mr. Bowyer, Mr. Whitaker, Sir John Woolstenholm, Sir Wm. Cooper, Sir Fra. Masham, Mr. Baldwyn, Sir Math. Andrewes, Mr. Foley, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Hobby, Sir William Drake, Mr. Watlington, Sir Herbert Crofts, Mr. Ashby, Mr. Austen, Sir Edw. Ayscough, Sir Wm. Hustler, Sir Wm. Wogan, Mr. Farrer, Mr. Mawdit, Mr. Vincent, Sir Henry Colt, Sir Robert Burdet, Sir John Duke, Mr. Clark, Mr. Arnold, Sir John Bolles, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Colt, Mr. Hedger: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Four a Clock, in the Speaker's Chambers.

Bishop of Ely's Estate.

Mr. Pocklington reported from the Committee, to whom the ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for enabling Simon Lord Bishop of Ely, and his Successors, to Lease the Manor-house and Demesne-lands of Downham, in the Isle of Ely; and for confirming a Lease lately made by the said Bishop; and for clearing of the said Bishop, and others, from Dilapidations there; was committed; That they had examined and considered the same; and made an Amendment to the Bill; 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 was twice read; and, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

The Bill was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill, with the said Amendment, do pass.

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

Timber in New-Forest.

A Petition of divers Inhabitants of the Parish of Fawley, who have Right of Herbage, Panage, and Fuel, in the New Forest, in the County of Southampton, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners hold from the Crown divers Lands, lying near the said Forest; to which they have enjoyed Common of Pasture, Turbary, and Panage, in the said Forest; and do pay to the Crown divers Rents and Services for the same: That there is a Bill in the House depending for Increase and Preservation of Timber in the New-Forest, in the County of Southampton, which will take away the Petitioners ancient Privileges: And praying, That they may be heard against the said 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.

Ditto.

A Petition of the Inhabitants dwelling in and near the New Forest, in the County of Southampton, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners, and their Ancestors, have, time out of mind, held divers Lands from the Crown; and enjoyed Common of Pasture, Turbary, and Panage; and have performed divers Services to the Crown for the same: But there is a Bill for Increase and Preservation of Timber in the said Forest, which will destroy the Petitioners said Rights, as was attempted by a like Bill about Four or Five Years since, to which the Petitioners being heard, that Bill was rejected: And praying they be heard, to offer their Reasons against the said now Bill.

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

Ditto.

Another Petition of divers other of the Inhabitants dwelling in and near the New-Forest, in the County of Southampton, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth. That the Petitioners are informed, there is a Bill depending in the House for Increase and Preservation of Timber in the said Forest; which will hinder the Petitioners from enjoying several Privileges in the said Forest; for which they pay certain Rents and Services to the Crown: And praying to be heard against the said Bill, before it pass this House.

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

Ditto.

A Petition of divers Inhabitants of the Parish of ChristChurch, in the County of Southampton, who have Right of Herbage and Panage, and Fuel, in the New-Forest, in the County of Southampton, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners, and their Predecessors, have, time out of mind, held and enjoyed the said Privileges, belonging, of Right, to their several Estates held of the Crown; for which they have constantly entered their Claims, and pay Quit-Rents to the Crown: That the Petitioners understand, there is a Bill now depending in the House for Increase and Preservation of the Timber in the said Forest, which will exclude them from their said Privileges, by inclosing the said Forest: And praying, That they may be heard against the said Bill.

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

Escapes of Debtors.

A Petition of John Woodward, of London, Merchant, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Warden of the Fleet, notwithstanding the late Act for the more effectual Relief of Creditors in Cases of Escapes, hath suffered Christopher Monk Esquire, charged in the Fleet, by the Petitioner, for 502 l. 11s. to escape; and the Petitioner is remediless at Law; for that the Office of the Fleet is settled in an Infant, and, by several cunning Conveyances, contrived since to evade the said Act, with Covenants to let Prisoners at large upon Parole; so that almost all the considerable Debtors are escaped; which tends to the Ruin of Trade and the Credit of the Nation: And praying the Consideration of the House therein.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to a Committee: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

And it is referred to Mr. Arnold, Sir John Woollstenholme, Sir Henry Colt, Sir Phill Butler, Sir Wm. Wogan, Mr. Foley, Mr. Ashby, Sir Jos. Tily, Mr. Gery, Sir Robert Clayton, Sir Wm. Honywood, Mr. Bowyer, Sir Wm. Lowther, Sir Robert Davers, Sir John Parsons, Sir Robert Rich, Sir Robert Burdet, Sir Richard Onslow, Sir Herbert Crosts, Sir Math. Andrews, Mr. Morgan, Mr. Onslow, Mr. Austen, Mr. Colt, Mr. Pocklington, Mr. Mountague, Sir John Elwell, Mr. York, Mr. Thornhagh, Mr. Fuller: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Four a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Vesey's, &c. Nat.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill to naturalize Dudley Vesey, an Infant, and others.

Woollen Manufactures.

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 from England and Ireland; was read the First time.

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

Dun Navigation.

Sir Godfrey Copley, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill to make the River Dun, in the County of York, navigable, at the Charge of such as shall undertake the same: And the same was received.

Ordered, That the Bill be read upon Tuesday Morning next.

Maesacker's, &c. Nat.

Sir Henry Colt reported from the Committee, to whom the ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for the Naturalization of Gerrard Maseacker, and others, was committed, That they had made several Amendments to the Bill; 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; and are as follow; viz.

Press 1st. L. 12. after the Word "Clees," insert "Stephen Seignoret, Son of James Seignoret, and Susan his Wife, born at Byon in France; Peter Abraham Thuynman, Son of Abraham Thuynman, and Mary Mareyanee his Wife, born at Haerlem in Holland; Abraham Henckell, Son of Tilman Henckell, and Elizabeth his Wife, born at Hamburgh; Matthias Giesque, Son of Matthias Giesque, and Giesberta his Wife, born at Hamburgh; Walter Marchant, Son of Origine Marchant, and Catherina his Wife, born in Smirna; Peter Rouviere, Son of Peter Rouviere, and Eliz. his Wife, born at Florac in Languedock."

L. 27. after the Name "Standart," insert "Stephen Seignoret, Peter Abraham Thuynman, Abraham Henckell, Matthias Giesque, Walter Marchant, Peter Rouviere."

Pr. 2. L. 3. after the Name "Standart," insert "Stephen Seignoret, Peter Abraham Thuynman, Abraham Henckell, Matthias Giesque, Walter Marchant, Peter Rouviere."

L. 14. leave out the Word "her."

L. 15. leave out the Word "her."

L. 30. after "Standart," insert "Stephen Seignoret, Peter Abraham Thuynman, Abraham Henckell, Matthias Giesque, Walter Marchant, Peter Rouviere."

An ingrossed Clause was offered, as a Rider, to be added to the Bill, That no Person shall have any Benefit by the Act, that shall remove himself and Family out of England:

And the same was once read.

And the Question being put, That the Clause be read a Second time;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it passed in the Negative.

Another ingrossed Clause was offered, as a Rider, for the Persons naturalized to pay Aliens Duties, notwithstanding their Naturalization:

And the Question being put, That the Clause be received;

It passed in the Negative.

Preventing Corruption of Juries.

Ordered, That the Bill to prevent the Corrupting of Juries be read the Second time To-morrow Morning.

Supply.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Supply to be granted to his Majesty.

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 come to several Resolutions; which they had directed him to report, when the House will please to receive the same.

Ordered, That the Report be made To-morrow Morning.

Sir Thomas Littleton also acquainted the House, That he was directed by the said Committee to move, That they may have Leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Monday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Supply to be granted to his Majesty.

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