House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 17 July 1689

Mercurii, 17 die Julii; 1° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Exeter Election.

A PETITION of the Inhabitants and Freemen of the City of Exon was read; setting forth, That on the Sixth Instant June, was the Election of One of the Citizens for the City of Exon, in the room of the Lord Chief Justice Pollexfen; at which time Christopher Bale Esquire, now Mayor de facto, and Hugh Speke, Esquire, stood Candidates: As soon as the Freemen came into Court, the Jury Gallery was filled with Butchers, who made continual Clamours, at the Time of the Election, for the said Bale, threatning and abusing those that gave their Voices against him: And Seaward the Sheriff, being requested to poll the said Butchers, that they might be gone, refused so to do: And that great Abuses was done by the Managers for Bale, upon those that managed for Mr. Speake: And although Persons living in the Out County, who had a Freehold in the City, had no Colour to be admitted as Voices; yet divers such were admitted for Mr. Bale; but refused those that were against him: And although it was resolved, before the Election, by the said Seaward the Sheriff, that none made free by a Charter granted in 1684, or by another in 1688, should be admitted to give their Voices against Mr. Bale; and although, by the ancient Custom of the City, no Freeholder can give his Vote in the City; yet divers, viz. the Priest Vicar, Lay Vicars, Choristers, Court-holders, Vergers, and others belonging to St. Peter's Church, who are only Tenants at Will, were admitted to vote for Mr. Bale; and that divers of the Freemen, admitted for him, are Almsmen and Beggars, and the Gaolers of the County and City, who paid neither Scot nor Lot; contrary to the Custom and Right of the City: And praying a short Day to be heard therein.

Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections; to examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinions therein, to the House.

Hele's Estate

The Question being put, That the Bill to enable Trustees, to grant Leases of the Estate of Richard Hele, Esquire, be now read the Third time;

It passed in the Negative.

Collection of Customs, &c. after death of Charles II.

The House being informed, that Mr. Sansom, Mr. Hamberson, and Mr. Noell, according to the Orders of Monday last, attended at the Door;

They were severally called in; and examined, touching the collecting the Customs and Excise between the Death of King Charles the Second, and the Parliament that was held in the Time of King James the Second: And they gave an Account thereof; and who were the Commissioners both for the Excise and Customs, during that Time; and delivered in several Books belonging to the Customs and Excise, and Proclamations issued touching the same.

And then they severally withdrew.

The House being also informed, that Sir Benjamin Bathurst and Sir Peter Apsley, according to the Order of Monday last, attended at the Door;

They were called in; and examined, touching a Contract by them made with the Commissioners of the Treasury, touching the Excise upon the Death of King Charles the Second: And they gave an Account thereof; and what was done thereupon; and who were then Commissioners of the Treasury.

And then they withdrew.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to collect, out of the said Books and Proclamations, what they conceive necessary touching the said Matters.

And it is referred unto Mr. Papillion, Lord Falkland, Sir Fran. Russell, Mr. Ellwell, Sir Rob. Rich, Mr. Palmes, Mr. Kendall, Sir Rob. Davers, Serjeant Trenchard, Mr. Bickerstaffe, Lord Ranelagh, Sir Rich Temple, Mr. Sacheverell, Colonel Birch, Mr. Stockdale, Sir Nevill Catelyn, Sir Robert Nappier, Mr. Cooke, Sir Tho. Clarges, Mr. Pitts, Sir Jo. Barker, Mr. Harbord, Mr. Gwyn, Mr. Foley, Mr. Done, Mr. Hawles, Mr. Carter, Sir Edw. Hussey, Sir Wm. Yorke, Mr. Thomson, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Hamden, and all the Members that serve for the City of London: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Four of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Claim on Excise Revenue.

A Petition of Sir Jeremy Snowe, Baronet, Sir Orlando Gee, Knight, George Pitt, Thomas Smith, John Bennet, John Wolstenholme, Esquires, and Joseph Hornby, on the Behalf of themselves and divers others, who claim divers yearly Sums, or Interest, out of the hereditary Revenue of Excise, was presented.

Crown Revenue.

A Bill for settling the Revenue upon their Majesties, was read the Second time.

Then the said Petition was read; setting forth, That King Charles the Second, by several Letters Patents, for valuable Consideration, did grant to Sir Jeremy Snowe, Sir Robert Vyner, and other Goldsmiths, and to your Petitioners, several yearly Sums, in Trust for such of their Creditors as should deliver up their Securities, and accept Assignments and proportionable Parts of the annual Sums, so granted, in Satisfaction of their respective Debts: And that the Petitioners, soon after the Making of the said Letters Patent, did accept of a Grant of Part of the said yearly Sums, so granted, from the said Goldsmiths, and others, in Satisfaction of their Debts, then due to the Petitioners, according to the Trust declared by the Letters Patents: That the said yearly Sums, or Interest, have, for divers Years, been duly paid to the Petitioners, and other Assignees, according to the true Intent of the said Patent: That the Petitioners being informed, That the House is under the Consideration of the Revenue of this Kingdom; and praying, That the Settlement thereof may be without Damage to the Petitioners, in their Properties granted to them, as aforesaid; desiring to be heard by their Counsel at the Bar of the House, concerning the same.

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

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

Resolved, That the several Petitions that have been read, and lie upon the Table, relating to the Revenue, be referred to the Committee of the whole House, who are to consider of the Bill for settling the Revenue.

Then the Order of the Twenty-sixth Day of March last, relating to the Princess Anne of Denmarke, was read.

Resolved, That the Consideration of the said Order be also referred to the Committee of the whole House, who are to consider of the Bill for settling the Revenue.

Shirly's Estate.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cooke and Sir Robert Legard;

Mr. Speaker, The Lords have passed a Bill, intituled, An Act for Enabling of Hannah Shirly, Widow, and Mary Battlehey alias Sherley, her Daughter, to settle and dispose of certain Lands and Tenements in the Counties of Middlesex and Essex: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Earl of Sussex's Claim on Revenue.

A Petition of the Earl of Sussex was read; setting forth, That, in August 1674, a Treaty was entertained by his late Majesty King Charles the Second, for a Marriage to be had between the Petitioner, and Anne Fitzroy, the natural Daughter of the said King; whereon the King did agree to give the Petitioner Twenty thousand Pounds with her in Portion: In pursuance whereof, the Marriage was solemnized; and the King, in pursuance of the said Agreement, by his Letters of Privy Seal, dated 25 Augusti prædicti, did grant to Sir Stephen Fox, for the Petitioner's Benefit (he being then under Age), Two thousand Pounds per Annum for a Provision, till the Twenty thousand Pounds should be paid in one intire Payment: That the King, by other his Letters of Privy Seal, dated the Eleventh of September following, reciting the Agreement, appointed the Twenty thousand Pounds to be paid out of Monies to be received of the States General of the United Provinces; and, on Payment thereof, the Two thousand Pounds per Annum (and not before) was to cease: That the said Fund, whereon the Twenty thousand Pounds was charged, was diverted and applied to the Payment of a Debt owing to his present Majesty; whereby the Twenty thousand Pounds is yet totally unpaid; and also, Five thousand Six hundred Pounds of the said Two thousand Pounds per Annum: Which being computed to Midsummer 1689, there is justly due to the Petitioner Twenty-five thousand Six hundred Pounds: And praying, that in the Act for settling the Revenue, or otherwise as the House shall think fit, some Provision may be made for the Petitioner, for securing to him the Twentyfive thousand Six hundred Pounds, and the Two thousand Pounds a Year, till the same shall be paid.

Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to the Consideration of the Committee of the whole House, who are to consider of the Bill for settling the Revenue.

Matters relating to Ireland the Jesuit.

Ordered, That the Members of this House, who were appointed to examine the Entries in the Books of Benj. Hinton, a Banker of the City of London, of Monies paid to Ireland, the Jesuit, about the Time that Mr. Oates swore Ireland to be in Town; and also Mr. Hinton and Servants, touching that Matter; have Power to inquire of Sir John Moore, touching some Payments by him made to the Use of the said Ireland about that time: And that Sir Peter Rich be added to those Members.

Irish Affairs.

A Motion being made, That, inasmuch as his Majesty had been pleased to give Leave, that some Members of this House may inspect the Minute Books of the Committee for the Irish Affairs, some Members may be appointed for that Purpose.

Ordered, That Mr. Sacheverell, Sir John Guise, Sir Wm. Williams, be appointed to inspect the same accordingly.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.

Privilege- a person to be discharged.

Sir Rowland Gwyn informed the House, That Thomas Owen, who was the Thirteenth Instant ordered to be taken into Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, had made his Submission to him, touching the Breach of Privilege for which the said Sir Rowland had complained against him; and therefore prayed he might be discharged.

Ordered, That the said Thomas Owen be discharged accordingly.

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