House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 31 December 1690

Mercurii, 31 die Decembris; 2° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Newport Election.

A PETITION of Narcissus Lutterell was presented to the House, and read; complaining of an undue election of a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Newport in the County of Cornwall:

But, by reason the Prayer thereof was conceived to be irregular, the said Petition was, with the Leave of the House, withdrawn.

Raising Militia.

Resolved, That the ingrossed Bill for raising the Milita of this Kingdom for the Year 1691, although the Month's Pay formerly advanced be not repaid, be now read the Third time.

The said Bill was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for raising the Militia of this Kingdom for the Year 1691, although the Month's Pay formerly advanced be not repaid.

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

Supply Bill; Excise.

Mr. Solicitor General reports from the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for doubling the additional Duties of Excise upon Beer, Ale, and other Liquors, to begin from the Time that the Act for doubling the Duty of Excise doth expire, was committed, That they had agreed to the said Bill, and the several Clauses committed to the said Committee, with several Amendments thereunto; which they had directed him to report to the House: And which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were once read throughout; and then 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, do lie upon the Table till To-morrow Morning, Eleven a Clock.

Determining Elections.

Resolved, That the ingrossed Bill for the speedier Determining of Questions touching Elections of Members to serve in Parliament, be now read the Third time.

The said Bill was read the Third time.

An ingrossed Clause was offered as a Rider; That if any Invasion or Rebellion should happen, the House might then omit to proceed in the first Place to settle Elections.

And the same was thrice read; and, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House to be made Part of the Bill.

Then an Amendment was proposed to be made in the Bill, in Press 1, Line 33, after "Days," to insert "in which the Parliament shall be actually sitting."

And the same was, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House: And the Bill was amended accordingly.

Then a Clause was offered as a Rider; That if any Member should, after the First of February 1690, absent himself from the Service of the House Days together without Leave, or reasonable Cause, to pay Twenty Shillings for every such Day; to be distributed among the Servants of the House.

And the same was once read:

And the Question being put, That the same be read a Second time;

It passed in the Negative.

Then another Clause was offered as a Rider; That no Person, whose Return or Election is questioned, shall be capable of voting, till the same shall be determined.

And the same was once read:

And the Question being put, That the Clause be read a Second time;

It passed in the Negative.

Then the Question being put, That the Bill, with the Amendments, do pass;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

Resolved, That the Title be, An Act for the speedier determining of Questions touching Election of Members to serve in Parliament.

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

A Message from the Lords, by Mr. Meredith and Dr. Edisbury;

Commissioners of Accompts.

Mr. Speaker, The Lords have agreed to the Bill, sent up from this House, intituled, An Act for appointing and enabling Commissioners to examine, take, and state the publick Accompts of the Kingdom, without any Amendments:

Rosseter's Estate.

And also to the Bill, intituled, An Act to enable John Rosseter, Esquire, to sell Lands for Payment of Debts, without any Amendments.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Glyn have Leave to go into the Country, for Recovery of his Health.

Vexatious Suits for acting in Defence of the Kingdom.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning at Eleven a Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the ingrossed Bill from the Lords, intituled, An Act for the preventing vexatious Suits against such as acted for their Majesties Service, and in Defence of the Kingdom.

Lords reminded of a Bill.

Ordered, That a Message be sent to the Lords, to put them in mind of a Bill, some time since sent up from this House, intituled, an Act for attainting Persons in Rebellion in England and Ireland, and for applying their Estates towards the Charge of the present War.

Ordered, That Sir Rob. Rich do carry the said Message to the Lords.

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