House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 23 December 1689

Lunæ, 23 die Decembris; 1° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Colchester Court of Conscience.

RESOLVED, That the Bill for erecting a Court of Conscience in the Town of Colchester, be now read the Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Rebow, Mr. Howard, Mr. Blowfeild, Mr. Baile, Sir John Barker, Mr. Trenchard, Sir Edw. Aiscough, Sir Tho. Littleton, Mr. Fenwick, Sir Rob. Nappier, Mr. Reignolds, Mr. Lampton, Sir Pat. Ward, Sir Cha. Bloys, Sir Phil. Skippon, Mr. Pitts, Mr. Foley, Mr. Thornhaugh, Mr. Christy, Mr. Gray, Mr. Niccolls, Sir Edw. Aiscough, Mr. Foot Onslow, and all the Members that serve for the County of Essex: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Three of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber:

East India Company.

A Petition of John and Thomas Temple, Owners of the Ship Bristoll, was read; setting forth, that they, the last Sessions of this House, exhibited their Petition, thereby setting forth the great Oppression they had sustained in relation to the said Ship, which was plundered and sunk by one John Tyrell, Captain of the Phænix, and the Master and Mariners of the Bristoll barbarously treated and imprisoned, by Order of the East India Company: Which Petition was committed to the Committee appointed to consider of the East India Trade: Who examined the Matter of the said Petition; and made a Report therein to the House, asserting their Damage to be Thirty-one thousand Two hundred Eight Pounds Two Shillings and Ten-pence; which they are ready again to make appear: And praying the Consideration and Relief of the House therein.

Ordered, That the said Petition of John and Thomas Temple be referred to the Committee appointed to consider of the East India Trade, and how it may be managed to the best Advantage of the Nation; to examine the Matter; and make their Report to the House.

Privilege- petition from a person in custody.

A Petition of Hugh Jones, Gentleman, in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms, was read; setting forth, That the Petitioner is very sensible of the Displeasure he has justly incurred from this honourable House; for the which he is heartily sorry, and humbly begs the Favour and Pardon of this honourable House: And, inasmuch as his Wife and Children, and Clients, are very great Sufferers by his Confinement, and begging the Pardon of the House for his Offence; and in Commiseration of his said Condition; to order his Discharge.

Ordered, That the said Mr. Jones be discharged out of Custody paying his Fees.

And he was brought in to the Bar; and had a Reprimand from Mr. Speaker; and discharged accordingly.

Adjournment.

A Motion being made, and the Question being put, That the House, at the Rising this Day, do adjourn till Thursday sevennight-next;

It passed in the Negative.

King appoints to be attended.

Sir Henry Capell acquaints the House, That he, and others of his Majesty's Privy Council, having attended his Majesty, to know his Pleasure, When they should attend his Majesty, to present their Address touching the Prince and Princess of Denmarke; his Majesty was pleased to appoint, at the Rising of the House, this Day, at the Banqueting House at Whitehall, after he should return from the House of Peers, whither he intended this Morning to go, to pass such Bills as were ready for the Royal Assent.

Adjournment.

Resolved, That the House will, at their Rising this Day, adjourn till This Day-sevennight.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir John Guise have Leave to go into the Country, for a Fortnight, his Lady being ill.

Ordered, That Mr. Vivian have Leave to go into the Country, for Three Weeks, for Health.

Call of the House.

Ordered, That the House be called over To-morrow-fortnight.

Defaulters to call of the House.

Resolved, That all such Members as shall not appear, upon the next Call of the House, without a reasonable Excuse, to the Satisfaction of the House, their Names shall be printed; to the end the Nation may know who do attend, and who do neglect their Duty.

Privilege- Aspersion of a Member.

A Petition of Tho. Burridge, in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, was read; setting forth, That, after his being some time in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms, . . was committed to the Gatehouse, to give further Satisfaction, Who were his Informers as to his searching the late Dwelling House of Sir Richard Middleton for Arms: That he never had any other Information than that of his Maid Servant's, as he hath made Affidavit of, and is ready still so to do: And having begged the said Sir Rich. Middleton's Pardon; and begging the Pardon of this honourable House for his Offence; prayed to be discharged.

And the House being informed, that a Maid Servant of the said Thomas Burridge had sworn before a Justice of Peace, That she had seen several Fire Arms brought into the House of the said Sir Richard Middleton in Soho Square in January last; and that Sir Rich. Middleton was present when they were brought in: And that the said Maid Servant having been indicted of Perjury thereupon, it was proved, That Sir Rich. Middleton had not taken the said House at that time; and that he himself came not to Town till some time after: Upon which the said Maid Servant was convicted of Perjury.

Resolved, That the said Burridge be called in to the Bar; and examined, What he knows touching the Matter aforesaid, or of any Persons that had a hand in the same.

And he came in; and was examined accordingly:

And not giving Satisfaction to the House by his Answer; and being withdrawn;

Ordered, That Thomas Burridge, who hath been committed to, and is now in the Custody of, the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, for a Breach of Privilege by him committed against Sir Rich. Middleton, Baronet, a Member of this House, be committed a Prisoner to the Gatchouse of the City of Westminster.

Abington Election.

Ordered, That the Report, touching the Election for the Borough of Abington in the County of Berks, be made upon Wednesday Fortnight next.

Recovery of Tythes.

Resolved, That the House do now proceed to the Second Reading the Amendments proposed by the Lords to be made to the Bill for the more easy Recovery of small Tythes, and for the Repair of Churches.

The First of the said Amendments was read a Second time; and upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

The Second of the said Amendments was read a Second time.

And the Satute of 27 Hen. VIII. Cap. 20, was read.-

Royal Assent to Bills.

A Message from his Majesty, by Sir Tho. Duppa, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod;

Mr. Speaker,

The King commands this honourable House to attend his Majesty in the House of Peers, immediately.

And accordingly Mr. Speaker, and the House, went to attend His Majesty.

And being returned;

Mr. Speaker reports, That he, and the House, had attended his Majesty: And that his Majesty had been pleased to give the Royal Assent to Three Bills; viz.

A Bill to prevent Doubts and Questions concerning the Collection of the publick Revenue:

A Bill for punishing Officers and Soldiers who shall mutiny, or desert their Majesties Service; and for punishing false Musters: And

A Bill to enable the Lord Viscount Hereford to make a Jointure, upon his Marriage with Mrs. Elizabeth Norbourne, notwithstanding his Minority.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned.

Adjournment.

And then the House adjourned till this Day-sevennight, at Nine of the Clock in the Forenoon.

Address presented.

And Mr. Speaker, with the Members, went to Whitehall, to present their Address to his Majesty, concerning the Prince and Princess of Denmarke.