House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 7 February 1696

Veneris, 7 die Februarii;

7° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Biggs' Estate.

A BILL for vesting certain Lands of Thomas Biggs, and Elizabeth his Wife, lying in Chislet, in the County of Kent, in Trustees, for Payment of Debts, and making Provision for their Children, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Conyers, Lord Cornbury, Sir Wm. Honywood, Sir Wm. Blacket, Doctor Oxenden, Lord Fairfax, Mr. Tredenham, Mr. Arnold, Mr. Bagnold, Mr. Lowther, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Bowyer, Mr. Baldwyn, Mr. Thornhagh, Mr. Watlington, Sir John Bolles, Sir Wm. Lowther, Mr. Bromley, Mr. Sandford, Mr. Whitacre, Mr. Speak, Mr. Bertie, Mr. Blofeild, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Foley, Mr. Burdet, Mr. England, Sir Jacob Ashley; and all that serve for the County of Kent: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Bristol Waterworks.

Mr. Blake, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for the better supplying the City of Bristoll with fresh Water.

And the Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Hackney Coachmen.

A Bill for the Relief of several Hackney Coachmen was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

E. India Trade.

A Petition of the Clothiers, and Woollen Manufacturers, in the County of Gloucester, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners do employ many Hundreds of Families, in the way of their Trade: and great Quantities of Woollen Manufactures have lain dead in their Hands for some Years past, to their great Impoverishment: That since 1693, the East-India Company being at that Time settled by his Majesty's Charter, the Petitioners have sold all the Cloth the Petitioners had made, to the said Company, who still buy up all that they can make, at reasonable Prices; whereby the Petitioners have been supported in their Trade: And praying the Countenance of the House, for promoting the said Company's Trade to the East-Indies.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir Robert Howard have Leave to go into the Country for Ten Days, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Commissioners of Accounts.

An ingrossed Bill for the examining, taking, and stating, the Publick Accounts, was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for the taking, examining, and stating, the Publick Accounts.

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

Ease of Sheriffs.

A Bill for the Ease of Sheriffs, in the Execution of their Office, and passing their Accounts, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Sir William Corlton, Mr. Mountague, Sir Tho. Mompesson, Mr. Lowther, Mr. Slater, Mr. Baldwyn, Mr. Pepys, Sir Wm. Ellis, Mr. Price, Mr. Culliford, Serjeant Bond, Sir John Austin, Lord Coningsby, Sir Cha. Windham, Mr. Whitacre, Lord Russell, Mr. Sandford, Sir John Bolles, Mr. Waller, Mr. Gray, Sir John Kay, Mr. Arnold, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Burdet, Mr. Norris, Mr. Vincent, Sir Wm. Ashurst, Mr. Bagnold, Sir Godfry Copley, Mr. Bertie, Mr. White, Serjeant Wogan, Mr. Pelham, Sir Marm. Wyoell, Mr. Boscawen, Mr. Dolben, Sir John Lowther, Sir Hen. Hobart, Sir Fra. Winnington, Mr. Harley, Mr. York, Mr. Blofeild, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Sloan, Sir Wm. Lowther, Mr. Vaughan: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Ordered, That it be an Instruction to the said Committee, That they do hear the Officers of the Exchequer, or any others concerned, by their Counsel, if they think fit, to the said Bill.

Quakers Affirmation.

A Petition of the People called Quakers was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That their many Sufferings for not Swearing, may give Satisfaction, that it is purely a conscientious and religious Principle, Not to swear in any Case, according to the Commands of our Saviour, as they conceive, and the Example of many eminent Martyrs; notwithstanding which, they have been, and are, exposed to Imprisonments; their Estates seized, and sequestered; and themselves disabled from defending, or recovering, their just Rights and Properties, for want of an Oath: And praying Leave to bring in a Bill, That their solemn Affirmation or Denial, may be accepted instead of an Oath; freely submitting, That whoever shall falsify the Truth, and be thereof convicted, shall undergo like Pains and Penalties as, in Law and Justice, are due to perjured Persons.

And the Question being put, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill, according to the Prayer of the Petition;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

Ordered, That Mr. Waller do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Supply Bill; Land Tax.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cooke and Sir Richard Holford:

Mr. Speaker,

The Lords have passed the Bill, intituled, An Act for granting to his Majesty an Aid of Four Shillings in the Pound, for One Year, for carrying on the War against France, without Amendment.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Highway Laws.

A Petition of the Carriers, Waggoners, and others, travelling the Northern Roads, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, by the Statute of 22 Car. 2di, for the better Repairing of Highways and Bridges, it is Enacted, That no Waggoner shall draw with more than Five Horses at Length; and that, if they draw with a greater Number, they shall all draw in Pairs, except One Horse; under the Penalty of 40s.: That, by reason of the doubtful Construction of those Words, one Littlehale, and others, under Pretence of being Informers and Undertakers for the Roads, have, for many Years past, extorted great Sums from the Petitioners, who are forced, for their Quiet, to pay the said Informers 8 l. 5 l. 4 l. per Ann. and some more, or less, to avoid the Penalty of the said Act; and then the Informers suffer the Petitioners to draw with as many Horses at Length as they please; but, without such yearly Agreements and Payments, they seize the Petitioners Horses, for great Sums at a time; and stop them in their Journey, and give out, That they cannot avoid the said Forfeiture; though the Petitioners take all the Care they can to observe the Directions of the said Act: And praying, That the House will explain the said Act, or otherwise redress their Grievances, as, the House shall think sit.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Carriers and Waggoners travelling the Western Roads is referred.

State of the Nation— E. India Trade.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the State of the Nation, in relation to Trade; and particularly to the East-India Trade.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Colonel Granvill took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Colonel Granville reported from the said Committee, That they had made some Progress in the Matter to them referred; and had come to several Resolutions; which they had directed him to report, when the House will please to receive the same.

Ordered, That the Report be made upon Thursday Morning next.

Colonel Granvill also acquainted the House, That he was directed by the said Committee to move, That they may have Leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Tuesday Morning next, after the said Report, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the State of the Nation, in relation to Trade; and particularly to the East-India Trade.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned.

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