House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 14 May 1689

Martis, 14 die Maii;1° Willielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Newcastle Court of Conscience.

A BILL for establishing a Court of Conscience at Newcastle was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Sanders have Leave to go into the Country, for a Month.

Ordered, That Sir John Morgan have Leave to go into the Country, for a Fortnight.

Ordered, That Sir Thomas Darcy have Leave to go into the Country, for a Week.

Ordered, That Sir Edw. Blacket have Leave to go into the Country, for Three Weeks.

Ordered, That Mr. Dalben have Leave to go into the Country, for a Week.

Prideaux's Claim on Lord Jeffreys.

A Petition of Sir Henry Pollexfen, Lord Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, Sir Robert Clayton, Knight, Doctor James Jeffreys, Edward Jennings, Esquire, and Thomas Coulston, Merchant, Trustees for the Creditors and Children of the late Lord Jeffryes, was read; setting forth, That they being informed that a Bill is brought into this House, for charging the Estate of the said Lord Jeffryes, in the County of Leicester, with the Payment of the Sum of Fourteen thousand Seven hundred and Sixty Pounds to Edmund Prideaux, Esquire, with Interest for the same; and praying to be heard, by Counsel, at the Bar of the House (in pursuance of the Trust reposed in them), to offer Reasons against the Bill;

Ordered, That the Petition do lie upon the Table, to be considered, when the Bill is read the Second time.

Chettell's Estate.

Ordered, That Mr. Done be added to the Committee to whom the Bill to enable Mr. Chettell to sell Lands, for Payment of his Debts, and making Provision for his Wife and Children, are referred.

Recovery of Tythes.

A Bill for the more easy Recovery of small Tythes was read the Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Christy, Mr. Fenwick, Mr. Gwyn, Mr. Blake, Mr. Bickerstaffe, Lord Falkland, Sir Fra. Russell, Sir Tho. Littleton, Sir John Wynne, Mr. Dalben, Mr. Waller, Mr. Etterick, Sir Walter Moyle, Sir Rob. Cotton, Sir Tho. Clarges, Mr. Sandford, Mr. Herle, Sir Ralph Dutton, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Cooke, Sir Rob. Davers, Sir Wm. Honywood, Mr. Hellier, Mr. Parker, Sir Philip Skippon, Mr. Boyle, Sir Wm. Poultney, Sir Wm. Cooke, Colonel Birch, Sir Edw. Askue, Sir John Thomson, Mr. Tho. Foley, Sir Tho. Barnadiston: And all that come to have Voices: And they are to meet To-morrow in the Afternoon, at Four of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Resolved, That it be an Instruction to the Committee, That they consider of, and bring in a Clause, that there be a Remedy for the Levying the Rates for Repair of Churches, by Direction of the Justices of Peace.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Palmer have Leave to go into the Country, for a Month, for his Health.

New Windsor Election.

Colonel Birch reports from the Committee of Privileges and Elections, to whom the Matter touching the Election of Burgesses to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of New Windsor in the County of Berks, was referred, the State of the Case, as it appeared to the Committee: Which he produced in Writing; and was read at the Clerk's Table, as followeth:

Upon the Petition of Sir Algernoon May, Knight, against Sir Christopher Wren, touching the Election of New Windsor in the County of Berks, coming to be heard;

That the Question was, Whether the Petitioner, or Sir Christopher Wren, was duly elected: And the Question was grounded upon this Fact;

That, the Right of Election being in a select Number, it appeared that Sir Algernoon May had Twelve Voices, without the Mayor; and Sir Christopher Wren had Twelve Voices, with the Mayor.

And that, upon this Fact, the Committee came to Three Resolutions: Which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were read; and are as followeth:

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That Sir Christopher Wren is not duly elected a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of New Windsor in the County of Berks.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That Sir Algernoon May, Knight, is not duly elected a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of New Windsor.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the Election of Sir Christopher Wren, to be One of the Burgesses to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of New Windsor, is a void Election.

The First of the said Resolves being read a Second time;

The Question being put, That the House do agree with the Committee in the said Resolve;

The House divided.

The Noes go forth.

And so it was resolved in the Affirmative.

The Second of the said Resolves being read a Second time;

Resolved, That the House doth agree with the Committee, That Sir Algernoon May, Knight, is not duly elected a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of New Windsor.

Resolved, That the Election of Sir Christopher Wren, Knight, to be One of the Burgesses to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of New Windsor, is a void Election.

New Windsor Writ.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do grant his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to issue forth a new Writ for the Electing of a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of New Windsor in the County of Berks; the former Election of Sir Christopher Wren being resolved by this House to be void.

Bill of Indemnity.

The Order of the Eleventh Instant, for the House to resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of Heads for a Bill of Indemnity, was read.

Resolved, That Mr. Speaker do leave the Chair.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.
Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

And a Debate arising in the House, Who should take the Chair of the Committee;

Resolved, That Sir Thomas Littleton do take the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.
Sir Thomas Littleton took the Chair of the Committee.
Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Sir Thomas Littleton reports from the Committee of the whole House, That they proceeded to consider what Exceptions should be made in the said Bill; and thereupon had agreed upon a Resolution, which they had directed him to report to the House: And he read the same in his Place; and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same was read; and is as follows:

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, in proceeding upon the Bill of Indemnity, the Crimes be first declared, for which some Persons shall be excepted, for Vindication of publick Justice.

The said Resolution being read a Second time;

Resolved, That the House doth agree with the Committee, That, in proceeding upon the Bill of Indemnity, the Crimes be first declared, for which some Persons shall be excepted, for Vindication of publick Justice.

Sir Thomas Littleton also acquaints the House, That he had Directions from the said Committee, to move the House, that the Committee may sit again on Thursday Morning next.

Resolved, That the House do, on Thursday Morning next, at Ten of the Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to proceed further in the Consideration of the Heads for a Bill of Indemnity.

Estimate of Taxes.

Ordered, That the Committee to whom it is referred to consider, and make an Estimate of, what the Tax of the additional Excise, and upon Ground Rents, and for Forfeitures, may amount unto, be revived, and do sit this Afternoon.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned, except the said Committee touching the Estimate.

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