House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 9 February 1698

Mercurii, 9 die Februarii ;

Nono Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Army Arrears.

A PETITION of Cornet Robert Flagberty, and Quarter-Master Whichchurch, of Colonel Rosse's Regiment of Dragoons, formerly commanded by Brigadier Winn, was presented to the House and read; setting forth, That they have served his Majesty from the Beginning of the Wars, till of late; for which they have a great Arrear due to them; and being now no further concerned in the said Regiment, hope they shall be accounted with, and cleared; for which they have fought, but could meet with no Redress: And praying the Relief the House therein.

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

Wool-broggers, &c.

A Petition of the Inhabitants of the ancient Town and Borough of Cirencester, in the County of Gloucester, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That several Hundreds of Poor, for many Years, have had an honest Livelihood by Yarn-making, and Combing of Wool, who are now fallen under great Poverty for want of Employment, occasioned, as is conceived, by the late Growth of Ingrossers of Wool; And praying, That a Restraint may be by Law put upon Wool-broggers, and Ingrossers of Wool.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee appointed to consider of the Trade of England and Ireland; and how to make the Trade of this Kingdom more beneficial.

Ditto.

A Petition of the Master, Wardens, and Commonalty, of Clothiers, in the City of Worcester, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Poor about that City are chiefly employed in the Woollen Manufacture; but of late Years have wanted Employment, through the Discouragement of the Clothiers, by Woolbroggers, who, in a clandestine manner, ingross most of the Wool in the Country, and retail it at excessive Rates, to the Impoverishing of the Cloathing-Trade, and the Ruin of many poor Labourers therein: And praying the Consideration of the House, and Relief in the Premises.

Ordered, That the consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee appointed to consider of the Trade of England and Ireland; and how to make the Trade of this Kingdom more beneficial.

Marriott's Petition.

A Petition of Reginal Marriott was presented to the House.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table until Saturday Morning next, and be then read.

Escapes of Debtors.

A Petition of Sir William Duncomb Baronet, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That Henry Killigrew Esquire, was taken in Execution upon a Judgment for 400 l. at the Petitioner's Suit, and committed to the Fleet Prison; but in a few Days after, he had his Liberty; and the Petitioner brought his Action of Escape against the then Warden of the Fleet, and obtained Judgment, and a Rule of Court, for a Sequestration of the Profits of his Office; but at last was advised, the same was impracticable, by reason of some Deficiencies in the late Act for the better Relief of Creditors in Cases of Escapes: And praying, That such Provision may be made, as Creditors may more easily recover their Debts in Cases of Escapes.

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

Duties on Leather.

A Petition of the Tanners of the Town of Namptwich and adjacent to it, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That they cannot raise the Rates of Leather to pay the Duty thereon, but are forced to pay it out of their Stocks; and besides, carrying their Leather to Market, reckoning with the Officers, and Damage by Carriage, is so chargeable and troublesome, that they must be brought to great Poverty in a little time, unless relieved: And praying the Consideration of the House therein.

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 thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Ditto.

A Petition of the Fellmongers, Glovers, Tawers, Dressers, Cutters, and Workers of Leather, of the Towns of Loughborough, Mountsorrell, and Quarndon, with some others, all within the County of Leicester, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Duty upon Leather is so very heavy, That they can no longer pay it; and though they have hitherto paid it, and entered all their Goods, yet they cannot sell them without Notice to the Officer to attend the Sale; which is very grievous to the Petitioners: And not only so, but the Officers have seized some of their Goods, contrary to Law; which so discourages the Petitioners, that they cannot longer carry on their Trades: And praying an Explanation and Easement of the Act for laying a Duty . . . . Leather.

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.

Duty on Tobacco-pipes.

A Petition of the Pipemakers of the ancient Borough and Corporation of Pontefract, in the County of York, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That before the Duty laid upon Tobacco-pipes, they maintained their Families, and lived in good Credit; but now they have been forced to pawn and sell their best Goods for Subsistence, by reason of the Decay of their Trade, and, if the said Duty be continued, they must be chargeable to their respective Parishes: And praying, That the said Duty may be taken off.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Glass-makers of the Town of Stourbridge is referred: And that they do examine the matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Colonel Rolles have Leave to go into the Country, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Ordered, That Mr. Fortescue have Leave to go into the Country, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Tiverton Workhouses

Mr. Hoblyn, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for erecting Hospitals and Workhouses within the Town and Parish of Tiverton, in the County of Devon, for the better employing and maintaining the Poor thereof: 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.

Seizures upon Outlawries.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for the more speedy and easier Reversal and Discharge of Seizures in the Exchequer, upon Outlawries, in Civil Causes: And that Mr. Hoblyn do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Salt to be sold by Weight.

An ingrossed Bill to oblige all Retailers of Salt to sell by Weight, was read the Third time.

And several Amendments were proposed to be made therein, by adding "carried by Land," in several Places, in Press the last, L. 9. 12, and 21:

And the same were, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

An ingrossed Clause was offered, as a Rider, with Blanks, for the Collectors to take Security:

And the same was twice read; and the Blanks filled up.

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

It passed in the Negative.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act that all Retailers of Salt shall sell by Weight.

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

Relief of Creditors.

Mr. Price, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill to explain and rectify the Act, passed last Session, intituled, An Act for Relief of Creditors, by making Compositions with their Debtors, in case Two-Thirds in Number and Value do agree: And the same was received.

Ordered, That the Bill be read To-morrow Morning.

Children of Soldiers Nat.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill to naturalize the Children of such Officers, Soldiers, and others, the natural-born Subjects of this Realm, who have been born abroad during this War, the Parents of such Children having been in the Service of this Government: And that Lieutenant-General Earle do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir Charles Turner have Leave to go into the Country for a Fortnight, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Supply Bill Arrears of Annuities.

A Bill for satisfying and discharging the Arrears of several Annuities which incurred between the 17th Day of May 1696, and the 17th Day of May 1697, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to a Committee of the whole House.

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

Ordered, That the Account of the Contributions made upon the Act, passed the last Session of Parliament, for enlarging the Time for Purchasing of reversionary Interests in Annuities for single Lives, which hath been presented to the House, be referred to the Consideration of the said Committee.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Westerne have Leave to go into the Country, for Recovery of his Health.

Committees.

Ordered, That no Committees do sit in a Morning, without Leave of the House.

Reports on Accounts, &c.

Ordered, That the Reports from the Committee, to whom the States, Estimates, and Accounts, presented to the House, are referred, in relation to the Matter still before them, be made To-morrow Morning.

Supply Bill; vacating Grants in Ireland.

Mr. Harcourt, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for vacating all Grants of Estates, and other Interests, forfeited in Ireland since the 13th Day of February 1688; and for appropriating the same to the Use of the Publick: And the same was received.

The Bill was read the First time.

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

Address against Profaneness.

Resolved, Nemine contradicente, That a Committee be appointed to draw up an humble Address to his Majesty, upon the Debate of the House, to suppress Profaneness and Immorality, and all Books which endeavour to undermine the Fundamentals of the Christian Religion; and to punish the Authors:

And it is referred to Sir John Phillips, Sir William Ashurst, Sir Wm. Trumball, Mr. Mansell, Mr. Mountague, Mr. Manley, Mr. Robert Harley, Sir Henry Colt, Mr. Smith, Mr. Ashley, Mr. Norris, Mr. Earle, Sir Richard Onslow, Mr. John How, Mr. Dolben, Mr. Blofield, Sir Henry Hobart, Mr. Lowndes, Mr. Boyle, Sir Chr. Musgrave, Mr. Price, Mr. Arnold, Sir Henry Goff, Sir Tho. Roberts, Mr. Bromley, Sir Tho. Dyke, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Mitchell, Sir Cha. Sidley, Sir Phil. Butler, Mr. Traverse, Lord Coningsby, Sir Tho. Littleton, Mr. Colt, Lord Cutts, Sir Sam. Barnardiston, Mr. Boscawen, Mr. Clark, Sir Wm. Drake, Mr. Gwyn, Sir John Bolles, Colonel Granville, Mr. Edward Harley, Sir John Elwell, Sir Rowland Gwyn, Mr. Methwin, Lord Digby, Mr. White, Mr. Molesworth, Mr. Yates, Mr. Perry, Mr. Hoare: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Regulating Printing.

Ordered, That the Bill to regulate Printing and Printing-Presses, be brought in upon Friday Morning next.

Ways and Means.

Sir Thomas Littleton, according to Order, reported, from the Committee of the whole House, to whom it was referred to consider further of the Supply to be granted to his Majesty; and also of Ways and Means for raising the same; the Resolution, 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 read; and is as followeth; viz.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, for disbanding the Army, paying off Quarters, and paying the Seamen; and towards making good of Loans, and the Deficiencies of former Aids; an Aid, not exceeding Three Shillings in the Pound, be laid upon all Lands, Tenements, and Hereditaments, for One Year.

The said Resolution being read a Second time;

Resolved, That the House doth agree with the Committee in the said Resolution, That, for disbanding the Army, paying off Quarters and paying the Seamen; and towards making good of Loans, and the Deficiencies of former Aids; an Aid, not exceeding Three Shillings in the Pound, be laid upon all Lands, Tenements, and Hereditaments, for One Year.

Ordered, That a Bill be brought in upon the said Resolution: And that Mr. Attorney-General, Mr. SolicitorGeneral, and Mr. Lowndes, do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Land Tax.

Resolved, That no further Aid be laid upon Land during this Session of Parliament.

Supply Bill; Land Tax.

Ordered, That it be a Direction to those who are to prepare the Bill for the Three Shillings Aid, That they do prepare the same by way of Assessment upon every County, in proportion to the Rates of the First Four Shillings Aid, granted in the Year 1691.

Supply Bill; Malt Duties.

Ordered, That the Bill for explaining the Act of the last Session of Parliament, intituled, An Act for granting to his Majesty certain Duties upon Malt, Mum, Sweets, Cyder, and Perry, be read a Second time To-morrow Morning.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned.

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