House of Commons Journal Volume 8: 26 May 1663

Die Martis, 26 Maii, 15 Car. IIdi Regis.

Prayers.

Leave of Absence.

ORDERED, That Colonel Tynt have the Leave of this House to go into the Country.

Lindsey Level.

Ordered, That the Report of the Bill concerning Draining of Lindsey Level, be heard on Saturday next.

Privilege.

Ordered, That John Kestle Esquire, do, within Ten Days after Notice, attend the Committee of Privileges and Elections; to answer his Breach of Privilege, in entering upon, and detaining certain Salt, being the proper Goods of Colonel Thomas Robinson, a Member of this House; unless the said Mr. Kestle shall, upon Notice of this Order, deliver the said Salt into the Possession of the said Mr. Robinson, or to such Person as he shall appoint to receive the same.

Bishop of Winchester's Leasing.

A Bill to enable George Lord Bishop of Winchester to lease out the Tenements now built upon the Scite of his Mansion House, in the Parish of St. Saviour's in Southwarke, in the County of Surrey; and the Two Parks and other Demesnes at Bishop's Waltham, and other Lands, in the County of Southampton; was this Day read the First time.

Resolved, &c. That this Bill be read the Second time, on Saturday Morning next.

Lord's Day.

Mr. Yorke reports from the Committee to which the Bill for the better Observation of the Lord's Day was committed, several Amendments to the said Bill: Which he read, with the Coherence, in his Place; and after, delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: And the Amendments being twice read;

Ordered, That these Words, "or any Citation to be personally served," be added, after the Word, "Decree," in the Fourth Sheet, * Line.

Ordered, That the Word "Execution" be transposed, and inserted after the Word "Decree," in the * Line of the * Folio.

Resolved, That the Amendments, with the Alterations above-mentioned, be agreed to.

Resolved, That the Bill, with the Amendments agreed to, be ingrossed.

Woollen Trade.

Mr. Vaughan reports from the Committee to which the Petition, exhibited in the Name of the Clothiers of England, and several other Petitions from the Clothiers of several distinct Counties and Places, were referred, That the Committee, after many Meetings, and hearing the Parties concerned, and their Counsel, hath proceeded to pass several Votes and Resolutions: Which he read, and did open the Reasons which induced the Committee to pass them: Which Votes and Resolutions, being in Writing, were delivered in at the Clerk's Table.

And the same were read the First time, and debated, and were as followeth; viz.

The Question being put, That by the Statutes of 39° and 43° Eliz. all Cloths brought to London (except such small Parcels as being contracted for in the Country, by Persons that have bought the same for their own private Use, and not to sell again), are immediately to be pitched and lodged at Blackwall Hall, London;

It passed in the Negative.

The Question being put, That all Cloths brought to London to be sold, are, by virtue of the Statutes of 39° and 43° Eliz. to be brought to Blackwell Hall, London, to be searched;

It passed in the Negative.

Resolved, That it is a Grievance, that all Persons that bring Cloths, or other Woolen Manufactures, to London, be obliged immediately to bring and pitch the same at Blackwell Hall, and Leaden Hall, London, or either of them:

That it is a Grievance, that all Persons that bring Cloths, or other Woolen Manufactures, to Blackwell Hall, and Leadenhall, London, or either of them, to be sold, be obliged to continue them there for Twenty Days; and be at Charge for such Continuance, before they be taken thence:

That all Clothiers, and other Proprietors of Woolen Manufactures, may sell their Cloths or Woolen Manufactures, by such Factors and Agents as they shall think fit:

And that it is a Grievances to enjoin their Factors or Agents to enter into Recognizances, or Bonds, by any Act of the Common Council of the City of London:

That the Increase of the Hallage, and other Charges, by the Act of the Common Council of the City of London, of the Fourth of December 1661, beyond the ancient Hallage; and other Charges for Cloths, or other Woolen Manufactures, lodged at Blackwell Hall, or Leadenhall, London; is a Grievance:

That it is a Grievance, that all or any Person or Persons that bring Norwich or Norfolke Stuffs, Stockings, and other Woolen Manufactures of Norwich or Norfolke aforesaid, to London, be obliged to bring, pitch, or sell the same at Blackwell Hall, and Leadenhall, London, or either of them, or at any other Place, by an Act of Common Council, or other Order of the said City whatsoever.

That all Sorts of Woolen Cloths, usually brought to Blackwell Hall, and Leadenhall, London, or either of them, to be exposed to Sale, before the late Act of the Common Council of the City of London, of the Fourth of December 1661, be brought to BlackwellHall, and Leadenhall aforesaid, or either of them, and there exposed to Sale; and not to be thence removed (unless there sold) for the Space of Seven successive Days, from the Time they were first brought thither; and the Hallage for the same to be no more than the ancient Rate formerly paid for Hallage, before the said Act of the Common Council:

That the Western and Colchester Stuffs, brought to Blackwell Hall, and Leadenhall, or either of them, may, after the ancient Duty of Hallage paid, be taken thence by the Owners as soon as they please, as was formerly used, without continuing there the Space of Seven Days.

The Question being put, That Bewdley and Monmouth Caps, and other Woolen Caps, are a Woolen Manufacture, which ought to be brought, and pitched at Blackwell Hall, and Leadenhall, London, or either of them;

It passed in the Negative.

The Committee, upon Debate of the Right of the City of London, as to Foreign . . . . bought and sold, finding it to be a Point of great Concern, as well to the Clothiers of England as to the City of London, do not think fit to proceed to any Resolution therein: But do order, That Mr. Vaughan do report it to the House for their Direction therein.

Resolved, &c. That the further Debate of the Matter upon this Report be adjourned till Monday next.

Message from the King-Expediting Business.

Mr. Secretary Bennet did report, and deliver in, from his Majesty, a Message, in Writing: Which was read twice; and is as followeth; viz.

Charles R

HIS Majesty, reflecting upon the Season of the Year, and the Necessity of the Members Return to their Countries, for the Security of them, as well as their own private Conveniences, hath thought fit, by this Message, to let them know His Intentions, of permitting a Recess at or before Midsummer: And, though his Majesty well knows, the House hath before them Matters of the greatest Moment; yet, intending they shall meet again, He desires this short Time they have now to sit were spent in expediting those Bills which appear to be most important: Whereby His Majesty would not be understood to divert the Inspection into his Revenue; being most confident He shall receive from thence an Advantage and Improvement proportionable to His Trust in this House, and their known Affections to Him.

Chimney Money.

Sir Charles Harbord reports from the Committee of his Majesty's Revenue, that the Knights of every Shire, or, in their Absence, the Burgesses of the Shire Town in every County, do take and peruse all the Returns of the Chimney Rolls in their respective Counties; and make their Report to the Committee on Saturday next, whether they find any of the Towns or Parishes omitted; with their Judgment, in Writing, of the said Returns; and what each County may probably produce upon true Returns; that the same may be reported to the House.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Committee; and do Order, That the Knights of every Shire; or, in their Absence, the Burgesses of the Shire Town in every County, do take and peruse all the Returns of the Chimney Rolls in their respective Counties; and make their Report to the Committee, on Saturday next, whether they find any of the Towns or Parishes omitted; with their Judgment in Writing, of the said Returns; and what each County may probably produce upon true Returns; that the same may be reported to the House.

Dispatch of Business.

Ordered, That the Matter of the King's Majesty's Revenue, the Bill for the Militia, the Bill against Conventicles, and the Bill against the Growth of Popery, shall have Preference of Dispatch before any other Business.

Lovalist Officers.

Ordered, That . . additional Bill touching the loyal indigent Officers be read To-morrow Morning.

Vintners.

Ordered, That the Petition of the Master, Wardens, Freemen and Commonalty of the Mystery of Vintners of the City of London, be referred to the Committee to which the Bill for vesting the Office of Postmaster General, and the Office of granting Wine Licences, in his Royal Highness the Duke of Yorke, is committed.

And then the House adjourned till To-morrow Morning, at Eight of the Clock.