House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 31 October 1691

Sabati, 31 die Octobris; 3° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Stockbridge Election.

A PETITION of Anth. Row, Esquire, was read; setting forth, That he was duly elected for the Borough of Stockbridge in the County of Southampton: Yet nevertheless the Bailiff hath unduly returned Thomas Jervois, Esquire, in Prejudice to the Petitioner's Right, he not having so many qualified Voices as the Petitioner had, and several of them obtained by Threats and Practices: And praying the Consideration of the House in the Premises; and that they would give the Petitioner Relief therein.

And the Question being put, That the Consideration of 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;

It passed in the Negative.

Ordered, That the Merits of the said Petition be heard, at the Bar of this House, upon this Day Three Weeks.

Davile's Estate.

A Petition of Wm. Davile, and Triphosa his Wife, was read; setting forth, That the Petitioner's Father having settled an Estate in Fletham in Com' York, of about Three hundred Pounds per Annum, upon the Petitioners for their Lives; and after, to their issue Male, with Remainders over; but that the Petitioner's Father having, in his Life, contracted several great Debts, secured the Payment thereof by Bonds and Judgments, and prevailed, with the Petitioner to join with him therein; whereby the Debts became the Petitioner's own; and his Father dying without any Personal Estate, the Petitioner is disabled from paying the said Debts, without an Act of Parliament for Sale of Part of the Premises: And that the Creditors have already extended the Petitioner's Lands, and thereby committed great Wastes thereon, and threaten the Continuance thereof, for the Raising of Monies to pay their Debts; which will tend to the Ruin of the Petioner and his Family, if not remedied by this House: And praying, That Leave may be given to bring in a Bill for Sale of Part of the said Premises, for the Payment of his Debts.

And the Question being put, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to a Committee; to examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinions therein, to the House;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

And it is referred unto Sir Walter Young, Sir Christopher Musgrave, Sir Robert Cotton, Sir Anth. Keck, Mr. Dolben, Mr. Campion, Mr. Buscawen, Mr. Bowyer, Mr. Blowfeild, Mr. Serjeant Trenchard, Sir Tho. Dareye, Mr. Kenyon, Mr. Brewer, Mr. How, Mr. Dyott, Mr. Palmes, Sir Rich. Temple, Mr. Christie, Sir St. Andrew St. John, Mr. Price, Mr. Chetwyn, Mr. Arnold, Mr. Bickerstaffe, Mr. Harcourt, Major Vincent: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Three of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

St. Ives Election.

A Petition of John Hawles, Esquire, was read; setting forth, That the Petitioner was duly elected for the Borough of St. Ives in Com' Cornwall, by a Majority of the Aldermen, Capital Burgesses, and Assistants: Yet one John Hicks, pretending himself Mayor, hath returned James Praed and Wm. Harris; pretending the Right to be in the Commonalty, and that they had the Majority: Which, if so, they were prevailed on by undue Practices: And praying the House would redress the Matters aforesaid.

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

Chichester Election.

A Petition of John Braman, Gentleman, was read; setting forth, That the Petitioner was duly chosen a Citizen for the City of Chichester, by those who had a due Right to vote: Notwithstanding which, the Mayor hath illegally and wrongfully returned Sir Thomas Miller, and Thomas May, Esquire, in Prejudice of the Petitioner: And praying the Consideration of the House in the Premises.

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

Banbury Election.

A Petition of John Austen, and others, on Behalf of themselves, and the Freemen and Burgesses of Banbury, was read; setting forth, That, at the Election of a Burgess, the Petitioners, to the Number of Eighty-four, voted for John Hawles, Esquire; and they demanded a Poll of the Mayor: Which he refusing, they executed an Indenture and demanded him to return the same: Which he refused; but, in the stead thereof, returned an Indenture, executed by himself, and Eleven others, who were all who voted for Sir Rob. Dashwood, in Prejudice to the Petitioners: And praying the said Matters may be redressed, and the Mayor's Return taken from, and the Petitioners affixed to the Precept.

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.

Mr. Fleetwood to preach on 5th Nov.

Ordered, That Mr. Fleetwood be desired to preach before this House at St. Margarett's, Westminster, upon the Fifth of November next: And that Mr. Mountague and Mr. Hobby do acquaint him therewith.

Rights of Corporations.

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to prepare and bring in a Bill for maintaining and securing the Rights and Privileges of Cities, Towns, Boroughs, Cinque Ports, and Corporations.

And it is referred to Mr. Brockman, Lord Digby, Mr. Herbert, Sir Rich. Temple, Mr. Dolben, Mr. John How, Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Blowfeild, Mr. Slater, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Dowdswell, Lord Falkland, Mr. Paul Foley, Mr. Rich. How, Sir Tho. Darcy, Sir Edw. Ascough, Colonel Titus, Mr. Hutchinson, Sir Peter Colleton, Mr. Burrard, Sir Cha. Bloys, Sir Cha. Sidley, Mr. Palmes, Sir St. Andr. St. John, Sir Walt. Young, Sir Anth. Keck, Mr. Gwyn, Mr. Dyott, Sir Edward Hussey, Mr. Harley, Mr. Buscawen, Sir Wm. Whitlock, Mr. Shackerly, Mr. Clerke, Mr. Trenchard, Mr. Waller, Mr. Niccolas, Mr. Thornhaugh, Sir Rob. Cotton, Mr. Lee, Mr. Phil. Foley, Mr. Tho. Foley, or any Five of them, to prepare the same: And they are to meet this Afternoon, at Three of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Tryals for Treason.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for Regulating of Tryals in Cases of High Treason: And it is recommended to Sir Wm. Whitlock, to prepare and bring in the same.

Denbeigh Election

A Petition of the Burgesses of Denbeigh and Ruthen in the County of Denbeigh, was read; setting forth, That the Vill of Holt, with the said Boroughs, have only a Right in voting for Burgesses to serve in Parliament; and yet the said Vill hath assumed the Power of making great Numbers of Inhabitants of other Counties Burgesses of the said Vill; contriving thereby to outvote the legal Electors of the aforesaid Boroughs, in Prejudice to their Rights and Freedoms: And praying the Consideration 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.

Elections and Returns.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill or Bills for regulating Abuses in Elections and Returns to Parliament.

And it is referred to Sir Jos. Tredenham, Mr. Chetwyn, Sir Edw. Hussey, Mr. Clerke, Sir Rich. Temple, Sir Edw. Aiscough, Mr. Dyott, Mr. Pelham, Serjeant Trenchard, Sir Peter Colleton, Mr. Bathurst, Sir John Guise, Mr. Hutchinson, Sir John Bolls, Sir Bryan Stapleton, Mr. Granvill, Mr. Jeffries, Serjeant Blincowe, Sir Cha. Bloys, Serjeant Tremaine, Mr. Christie, Mr. Palmes, Mr. Bickerstaffe, Sir Rob. Cotton, Marquis Winchester, Lord Falkland, Mr. Paul Foley, Colonel Titus, Mr. Lee, Mr. Godolphin, Sir Tho. Darcy, Mr. Slater, Mr. Blowfeild, Mr. Boscawen, Sir Wm. Honeywood, Sir Walter Young, Mr. Harley, Mr. Kenyon, Mr. Greenfeild, Sir Rob. Cotton, Mr. Hedger, Mr. Chase, Mr. Niccolas; or any Five of them: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Three of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

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