House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 30 April 1690

Mercurii, 30 die Aprilis; 2° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Forester's Estate.

SIR Edmund Jennings reports from the Committee to whom the ingrossed Bill from the Lords, intituled, An Act to enable Sir Humphry Forester to settle and dispose Lands, was committed, That they had agreed to the Bill, without any Amendments.

The said Bill was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the said Bill do pass: And that the Title be agreed to.

Ordered, That Sir Edmund Jennings do carry the Bill up to the Lords; and acquaint them, That this House hath agreed to the same, without any Amendments.

African Company.

A Petition of Benj. Rawlins was read; setting forth, That the Petitioner, being upon the Coast of Africa, on board the Alligator Sloop, whereof he was Commander, was, Twenty-sixth February 1686, taken in Taccarada Road, by the Ship Princess Anne, belonging to and under the Commission of the African Company; and, with the Petitioner, as Prisoner, carried to Cape Coast, and from thence to the Island of Berbadoes; where the Petitioner was detained Five Months; and forced, upon his Release, to pay Five Pounds for his Prison Fees: And praying to have Satisfaction from the said Royal African Company, for the Loss of the said Ship and Loading, and his Imprisonment.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for the better securing the Trade to the Royal African Company, is committed.

Distress under Land Tax Act.

A Complaint was made to the House, by Sir Vere Fane, one of the Knights of the Shire for the County of Kent, That several Commissioners for the said County, appointed to execute the Act for granting to their Majesties an Aid of Twelve-pence in the Pound, having in October last issued out the Warrants to one George Ditch, a Collector, to distrain, in Default of Payment of the said Tax; and that the said Ditch having accordingly made a Distress of a Horse, and sold the same, according as the Act of Parliament directs; and that, notwithstanding the said Distress had been enjoyed several Months, one Michaell Finch, of Milton, an Attorney at Law, and Nicholas Clapson, a Bailiff, had caused a Horse, so distrained and sold, to be violently taken away from the Person who bought the same, when the said Horse was in the Plough, and threatened to ruin the Collector; and being summoned before the Commissioners, had, with Rudeness, peremptorily justified the same Proceedings, to the great Discouragement of those that act in their Majesties Service:

Ordered, That the said Michael Finch, and Nicholas Clapson, be sent for in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, to answer the said Complaint.

Ordered, That the said George Ditch do attend this House de die in diem, till the Matter aforesaid be examined by this House.

Leave for Members to attend Lords.

Ordered, That Serjeant Hutchins, Mr. Finch, and Sir Wm. Williams, have Leave to attend the Lords, as Counsel, in a Cause between Dod and Burroughes.

Berenger's Estate.

Mr. Price reports from the Committee to whom the ingrossed Bill from the Lords, intituled, An Act to enable Tho. Berenger, Esquire, to sell Lands for Payment of his Debts, was committed, That they had agreed to the Bill, with Amendments: Which he read in his Place, with the Coherence; and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were once read throughout; and afterwards a Second time, one by one; and agreed unto by the House, and are as followeth; viz.

Pr. 7, L. 18, after "Berenger," insert "and Rich. Berenger the younger;" and, instead of "his," in the same Line, read "their."

The said Bill, with the Amendments, was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be agreed to.

Ordered, That Mr. Price do carry the Bill up to the Lords; and acquaint them, That this House doth agree thereunto, with the said Amendment; and desire their Lordships Concurrence thereunto.

Process of Capias.

Mr. Solicitor General reports from the Committee to whom the Bill for taking away Process of Capias for Debts under Forty Shillings, was committed, That they had agreed to the Bill, with some Amendments: Which he read in his Place, with the Coherence; and afterwards delivered them in at the Clerk's Table: Where they were once read throughout; and afterwards a Second time one by one; and, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Ordered, That the Bill, with the Amendments, be ingrossed.

Aulnage Duty.

A Bill for collecting the Duty of Aulnage at the Custom House, was read the Second time.

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

Ordered, That their Majesties Counsel be heard, at the Bar of the House, upon the said Bill, before the House do resolve itself into a Committee upon the said Bill.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Friday Morning next, at Ten a Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the said Bill.

Supply Bill; Forfeitures.

Colonel Granvile reports from the Committee to whom it was referred to prepare and bring in a Bill to vest the Five hundred Pounds Forfeitures in their Majesties, That they had prepared a Bill accordingly: Which he presented to the House.

The said Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Importing Thrown Silk.

A Petition of the Clothiers of Strowdwater in the County of Gloucester, was read; setting forth, That the great Dependance of the Petitioners Trade depends upon the Turkey Merchants; which now many Thousands of People are sensible of the Decay, chiefly obstructed by the Want of Vend of the raw Silk, by reason of great Quantities of Thrown Silk imported from other Places, no way the Effects of our Cloth: And praying the Consideration of the House in the Premises, by removing all Discouragements of the Woollen Manufacture.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for the discouraging the Importation of Thrown Silk, is committed.

London Corporation.

Resolved, That the House will, upon Friday Morning next, at Ten of the Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to proceed in the further Consideration of the Bill for reversing the Judgment upon the Quo Warranto against the City of London; and for restoring the City to its ancient Privileges.

Commissioners of Accounts.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee to whom the Bill for the appointing and enabling Commissioners to take an Account of all Publick Monies, since the Fifth Day of November 1688, was committed, be made upon Saturday Morning next, at Ten of the Clock; and nothing to intervene.

Queen's Regency.

An ingrossed Bill from the Lords, intituled, An Act for the Exercise of the Government by her Majesty, in his Majesty's Absence, was read the Second time.

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

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning at Ten a Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the said Bill; and nothing to intervene.

Importing Thrown Silk.

Then the Question was put, That the House do now immediately resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for discouraging the Importation of Thrown Silk.

The House divided.

The Noes go forth.

So it passed in the Negative.

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

Goods distrained for Rent.

Supply Bill; Touage, &c.

Mr. Speaker, the Lords have agreed to the Bill for the enabling the Sale of Goods distrained for Rent, in case the Rent be not paid in a reasonable Time; and also the Bill for granting to their Majesties a Subsidy of Tonage and Poundage, and other Sums of Money payable upon Merchandize exported and imported; without any Amendments.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Hertford Election.

Mr. Gray reports from the Committee of Privileges and Elections, to whom the Matter touching the Double Return and Election of Knights of the Shire for the County of Hertford was referred, the Case, as it appeared to the Committee: The which he produced in Writing: And delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same was read; and is as followeth; viz.

That, upon hearing the Merits of the Double Return and Election of Knights of the Shire for the County of Hertford,

The Question was, Whether Sir Charles Cæsar, or Ralph Freeman, Esquire, was duly returned and elected to serve for the said County.

And the Determining of that Question depended upon the allowing, or not allowing, the Voices of Seventythree Quakers.

And it was agreed, If the Quakers were allowed to be good Voices, then Sir Charles Cæsar was elected: If the Quakers were not allowed, then Mr. Freeman was elected: For, with the Quakers, the Number of the Poll was thus: For

That, as to the Quakers, the Case was this:

All the other Freeholders that had polled, had sworn themselves to have a Freehold of Forty Shillings per Annum, and were entered in the Poll Book: And afterwards the Quakers came in a Body; and delivered in a List of Seventy-three Quakers, with their respective Freeholds, to one Daniell Thomas, who had a Deputation from the High Sheriff to act in the said Election, but was not sworn.

Mr. Thomas said, he polled the Seventy-three Quakers, by calling over the List; one of which Quakers was for Mr. Freeman, the rest for Sir Charles Cæsar, though the Noise was so great he could not hear them all answer to their Names when they were called over: That the Quakers refused to swear; but offered to give a Bond of the Penalty of Four thousand Pounds, or Five thousand Pounds, that all in that List were Freeholders: That Daniell Thomas knew Two of them; and some others told him, They knew more of them to be Freeholders: And that the List of the Quakers was annexed by the High Sheriff of the County himself, as Part of the Poll.

The Counsel for Sir Cha. Cæsar did say, they could prove the Quakers in the List had Freeholds of Forty Shillings a Year: But were ordered to withdraw.

And that the Committee, upon Debate of the Matter, Whether Quakers should swear their Freeholds before the Sheriff, came to several Resolutions: Which Mr. Grey read in his Place: and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were read: and are as followeth; viz.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That Quakers having a Freehold; and refusing to take the Oath, when tendered by the Sheriff; are incapable of giving their Votes for Knights of the Shire, for that Reason.

Resolved, That Ralph Freeman, Esquire, is duly returned and elected a Knight of the Shire to serve in this present Parliament for the County of Hertford.

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

The Question was put, That the House do agree with the Committee in the said Resolution; That Quakers having a Freehold; and refusing to take the Oath, when tendered by the Sheriff; are incapable of giving their Votes for Knights of the Shire, for that Reason.

The House divided.

The Noes go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

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

Resolved, That the House doth agree with the Committee in the said Resolution; That Ralph Freeman, Esquire, is duly returned and elected a Knight of the Shire to serve in this present Parliament for the County of Hertford.

Ordered, That the Clerk of the Crown do attend, to amend the Return of Knights of the Shire for the County of Hertford.

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

He was called in; and amended the Return accordingly, at the Table, by taking from off the File the Indenture by which Sir Tho. Pope Blunt, and Sir Cha. Cæsar, were returned.

Importing Thrown Silk.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Saturday Morning next, at Ten of the Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for discouraging the Importation of Thrown Silk.

Thetford Election.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee of Privileges, touching the Double Return and Election of Burgesses for the Borough of Thetford in the Counties of Norfolke and Suffolke, be made upon Friday Morning next.

a Member to attend.

Ordered, That Mr. Row have Notice to attend this House, in his Place upon Friday Morning next.

Process of Capias.

An ingrossed Bill to take away all Process of Capias for Debts under Forty Shillings, was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title thereof be, An Act to take away all Process of Capias for Debts, or Damages under Forty Shillings.

Ordered, That Mr. Solicitor General do carry the Bill up to the Lords; and desire their Concurrence thereunto.

Members summoned, not having Leave of Absence.

The House being informed, that Sir John Fowell, and Mr. Norleigh, are gone out of Town, without Leave of the House;

Ordered, That the said Sir John Fowell, and Mr. Norleigh, be summoned by the Serjeant to attend this House forthwith.

Fees of Officers of the House.

Ordered, That Mr. Gwyn and Mr. Thomson be added to the Committee appointed to examine into the Fees belonging to the Officers of the House.

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