House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 10 January 1696

Veneris, 10 die Januarii ;

Septimo Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Powell's Estate.

AN ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for vesting several Messuages and Lands, belonging to Samuel Powell Esquire, in Trustees, for Payment of his Debts, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Oaths of Supremacy in Ireland.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for altering Part of an Act, made in the Third Year of his present Majesty and the late Queen Mary, intituled, An Act for the abrogating the Oath of Supremacy in Ireland, and appointing other Oaths, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Supply Bill; Duties on Wines, &c.

A Bill for continuing several Duties, granted by former Acts, upon Wine and Vinegar, and upon Tobacco and East-India Goods, and other Merchandize, for carrying on the War against France, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Earl of Torrington's Grant in Bedford Level.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for confirming a Grant, under the Great Seal of England, to Arthur Earl of Torrington, by King William and Queen Mary, of several Parcels of Land, Part of the great Level of the Fens, called Bedford Level; and for the better enabling the said Earl to recover the Arrears of Rent, and mesne Profits thereof.

Wye and Lugg Navigation.

A Petition of the Town of Rosse, in the County of Hereford, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the making of the Rivers Wye and Lugg navigable will be a great Advantage to the whole County of Hereford, and particularly to the Petitioners, whose chief Advantage is by the Fishery of those Rivers; but, by the many Mills and Weirs erected thereon, contrary to Law, the Fishery is destroyed: That the Petitioners are willing to join with the rest of the County, in making Satisfaction to the several Proprietors of the Mills and Weirs; so that they be totally taken down: And praying, That the said Mills and Weirs may be taken down.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Bill for making the said Rivers navigable is committed.

Call of the House.

Ordered, That the House be called over upon Tuesday next come Sevennight: And that such Members as shall not then attend the Service of the House, be sent for in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir Thomas Day have Leave to go into the Country for a Fortnight, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Returns received by Clerk of Crown.

Ordered, That the Clerk of the Crown do give an Account what Returns are come to his Hands, and not yet certified to this House.

Supply Bill; House Duty.

A Bill for granting several Rates and Duties upon Houses, for making good the Deficiency of the clipped Money, was read a Second time.

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

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

A Member discharged from custody.

Ordered, That Mr. Elson, in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms, for absenting himself from his Service in Parliament, be discharged out of Custody, paying his Fees.

Remedying the ill State of the Coinage.

Ordered, That the Members appointed to prepare a Bill, upon the Resolutions Yesterday, relating to the Coin, have Leave to prepare, and bring in, one more Bill or Bills thereupon.

Supply Bill; Land Tax.

Resolved, That this House will, immediately after the Report from the Committee of Privileges and Elections, touching the Matter of the Petition of the Coheirs and Creditors of Sir William Basset, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for granting to his Majesty an Aid of Four Shillings in the Pound, for one Year, for carrying on the War against France.

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

Mr. Speaker,

Lady Eane's Estate.

The Lords have passed a Bill, intituled, An Act for enabling the Lady Katherine Fane to sell the Reversion of certain Fee-farm Rents, given to her by her Grandfather John Bence Esquire: And also,

Stoner's Jointure.

A Bill, intituled, An Act for the enabling Thomas Stoner Esquire to make a Jointure and Settlement of his Estate in Marriage, notwithstanding his Minority:

To which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Tryals for Treason.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Wednesday Morning next, take into Consideration the Amendments, made by the Lords, to the Bill, intituled, An Act for Regulating of Tryals in Cases of Treason, and Misprision of Treason.

Privilege of a Member in a Suit.

Mr. Solicitor-General, according to Order, reported, from the Committee of Privileges and Elections, the Matter upon the Petition of the Coheirs and Creditors of Sir William Basset, as it appeared to the said Committee; which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same was read; and is as followeth; viz.

That the Committee had examined that Matter:

And, upon producing of the Will of Sir William Basset, they do find, That thereby Sir William Basset does, amongst other Things, devise in these Words; viz.

"As for my Temporal Estate; I devise all my Manors, Lands, and Tenements, in the Counties of Somerset and Cornwall, and all my Estate in them, to be sold, by my Executors hereafter named, or the Survivor of them, for the Payment of my Debts and Legacies: And if any Surplus shall happen, of the Monies to be raised by such Sale, my Will is, That the same shall be deemed Part of my Personal Estate, and go to my Executors."

And, by a Clause, afterwards, in his said Will, he makes Sir Edward Hungerford Knight of the Bath, and John Hill Gentleman, Executors; and gives them One hundred Pounds apiece.

To the Committee was also produced Two Answers; viz.

One, an Answer of Sir Edward Hungerford Knight of the Bath, and John Hill Gentleman, to a Bill of Christopher Spark Gentleman, and others, Creditors of Sir William Basset, Complainants: Which appeared to be sworn by Sir Edward Hungerford, 4 June 1694:

Another, Answer of Sir Edward Hungerford, and John Hill Gentleman, to a Bill of Complaint of John Meredith Esquire, and Eliz. his Wife, and Edward Repington Gentleman, and Ann his Wife; which Eliz. and Ann were Sisters and Coheirs of Sir William Basset: Which Answer appeared to be sworn on 9th July 1694.

Whereupon, Sir Edward Hungerford was heard in his Place; and afterwards withdrew.

Resolved, That Sir Edward Hungerford, being, by the Will of Sir William Basset, a Trustee for Sale of his Estate, for the Benefit of his Creditors and Legatees, hath not any Privilege of this House against the said Creditors and Legatees.

Supply Bill; Land Tax.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for granting to his Majesty an Aid of 4s. in the Pound, for One Year, for carrying on the War against France.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Sir Thomas Littleton took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Sir Thomas Littleton reported from the said Committee, That they had made some Progress in the Matter to them referred; and had directed him to move, That they may have Leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the said Bill.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.

And then the House adjourned till To-morrow Morning, Nine a Clock.