House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 29 March 1690

Sabbati, 29 die Martii; 2° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Paper Manufacture.

A BILL for the Encouragement and better establishing the Manufacture of White Paper in this Kingdom was presented to the House; and received; and laid upon the Table.

Denbeigh Election.

A Petition of the Burgesses of the Boroughs of Denbeigh and Ruthin was read; setting forth, That the said Boroughs, and the Vill Holt, a small open Village, are the ancient and only Boroughs and Vill in the County, who have Right to elect a Member to serve for the Boroughs in the County: That the said Vill of Holt (though no Corporation) hath lately assumed the Power of making great Numbers of Foreigners, Burgesses of the Vill, to serve the Turns of some Persons to be elected; and, by Combination with others, have joined with Thomas Harper, and Rob. Knowles of Denbeigh, arrogating to themselves the Polling of the Electors: And, to have Edw. Brereton, Esquire, returned, did admit great Numbers of Persons, so unqualified, to vote for the said Edward Brereton, Esquire; and have accordingly returned him, though William Williams, Esquire, was duly elected by the Majority of rightful Burgesses of the said Boroughs; and ought to have been returned.

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

Denbeigh Election.

A Petition of Wm. Williams, Esquire, was read; thereby setting forth, That, by divers Abuses, Bribes, Practices, and Menaces, Edward Brereton, Esquire, was returned a Burgess for the Boroughs of Denbeigh, Ruthin, and Holt, by Thomas Harper and Robert Knowles, who were not the legal Bailiffs for the said Borough of Denbeigh, in Prejudice to the Petitioner, who had the Majority of qualified Voices: And praying the Consideration and Relief of the House in the Premises.

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

Leave for Member to attend Lords.

Ordered, That Mr. Serjeant Hutchins have Leave to attend the Lords, as Counsel in a Cause between Rolt and Gore.

Importing thrown Silk.

A Petition of the Governor and Company of Merchants trading into the Levant Seas was read; setting forth, That a great Prejudice ariseth not only to the Turkey Trade, but to the Nation in general, by the Importation of Thrown Silk; whereby there is a certain Loss of about Four Shillings in every Pound of Silk to the Poor, and the Hazard of the total Loss of the Trade of Throwing Silk in this Kingdom; the Act of Navigation, by the late Quantities brought in from Holland, and other Places, being also eluded: And praying, That the Importation of Thrown Silk may be discouraged, either by laying a further Duty, or by such Methods as to the Wisdom of the House should seem meet: And that Leave may be given to bring in a Bill to that Effect.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill accordingly: And it is recommended to the Members that serve for the City of London, and Mr. Papillion, and Sir Samuell Barnadiston, to prepare and bring in the Bill.

Goods distrained for Rent.

A Bill to enable the Sale of Goods distrained for Rent, if the Rent be not paid in some reasonable Time, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Devizees Writ.

Mr. Gray reports from the Committee of Privileges and Elections, the Case touching the Double Return for the Borough of the Devizees in the County of Wilts; viz.

That the Committee, upon Inspection of the Precept and both Returns, found,

That the Precept was directed by the Sheriff to the Mayor of the Devizees:

That Sir Thomas Fowles, and Walter Grubb, Esquire, are returned by the Mayor; but without any Burgesses joining in the Return:

That John Methwyn, Esquire, and Walter Grubb, Esquire, are returned by several of the Burgesses without the Mayor.

And thereupon the Committee came to a Resolution: Which he read in his Place; and afterwards, delivered the same 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 Sir Thomas Fowles, and Walter Grubb, Esquire, returned by the Mayor of the Devizees, are duly returned to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of the Devizees.

The said Resolution being read a Second time;

Resolved, That the House doth agree with the Committee, That Sir Thomas Fowles, and Walter Grubb, Esquire, returned by the Mayor of the Devizees, are duly returned to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of the Devizees.

Ordered, That the Clerk of the Crown do attend to amend the Return for the said Borough of the Devizees.

And the House being informed, that the Clerk was at the Door;

He was called in; and, at the Table, amended the Return accordingly, by taking off the File the Indenture of Return of Mr. Grubb, and Mr. Methwen.

Legrand's, &c. Nat.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cooke and Sir John Francklin;

Mr. Speaker, The Lords have passed a Bill, intituled, An Act for the Naturalizing of David Legrand, and others: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Supply Bill; Hereditary Revenue.

Ordered, That Mr. Solicitor General do prepare and bring in a Bill, or Bills, upon the Resolutions of the House Yesterday, touching the settling the Revenue upon their Majesties.

Bedford Election.

A Petition of Sir Wm. Francklin, Knight, was read; setting forth, That he was duly chosen and elected by the proper Officers of the Town and Borough of Bedford; and the Return being made to the High Sheriff, which he received and returned to the Under Sheriff, with Orders, that he should deliver the same, without any Alterations, to the Clerk of the Crown: The which he carried to the Clerk's Office: But that, about the Nineteenth or Twentieth Instant, he went to the Clerk's Office, and altered the Return, by tearing off the Indenture from the Precept, wherein your Petitioner was returned, and affixed another in the room thereof; whereby Mr. Christy, with Mr. Hillersdon, in Abuse to the Petitioner, and the said Borough; whereupon a Double Return is pretended purposely to delay the Petitioner for serving in this House: And praying, That the said Under Sheriff, and the Clerk of the Crown, may show Cause, Why the Return was altered; and that the Precept may be produced, and the Return of the Petitioner stand.

And the Question being put, That the said Petition be referred to the Consideration of the Committee of Privileges and Elections: And they . . . to examine the Matter thereof; and report their Opinions therein to the House;

The House divided.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

Supply.

Resolved, That the House will, upon Monday Morning next, at Ten of the Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to proceed in the further Consideration of the Supply to be given to their Majesties; and nothing to intervene.

Plympton Election.

Ordered, That the Town Books for the Borough of Plympton in the County of Devon, touching the Election of the Mayor, and other Officers for the said Borough, for the Years 1684, 85, 86, 87, 88, and 1689, be produced, upon the hearing the Matter touching the Election of Burgesses to serve in this present Parliament for the said Borough, at the Bar of this House, on Monday the Fourteenth Day of April next.

And then the House adjourned till Monday Morning, Nine of the Clock.