House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 27 February 1696

Jovis, 27 die Februarii;

8° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Stretton, &c. Parishes.

A PETITION of the Inhabitants of the Towns of Stretton and Prince Thorpe, in the County of Warwick, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Parish of Woolston, in the said County, is a very great Parish; and the said Towns are within that Parish; but Two Miles from the Church: That there hath been a long time built a Chapel of Ease in Stretton, and divine Service celebrated therein: That, about August 1694, Mr. William Herbert, deceased, devised Two Farms, now lett at 40 l. per Ann. towards the Maintenance of an able Minister for the said Towns, in case an Act of Parliament could be obtained for making them a distinct Parish: That the present Patron and Incumbent are consenting thereunto; and it will be an Advantage to the Petitioners; and nobody prejudiced thereby: And praying Leave to bring in a Bill for making the said Towns a distinct Parish from the Parish of Woolston.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill, according to the Prayer of the said Petition: And that Mr. Bromley do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Select Vestries.

A Petition of the Churchwardens, and other Inhabitants, of the Parish of St. Olave's Southwark, in the County of Surrey, on behalf of themselves, and the rest of the Inhabitants of the same Parish, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the said Parish hath been anciently governed by a Select Vestry, to the Satisfaction of the Inhabitants: And that there is a Bill now depending in the House, for regulating of select Vestries, and preventing Abuses arising thereby; which may tend to alter their ancient Usage: And praying, That they may be heard before the Passing of the said Bill.

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

Wallopp's &c. Estate.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act to enable Trustees to make, and fill up, Leases of the respective Estates of Bluet Wallopp Esquire, and John Wallopp Gentleman, during their Minorities; and to purchase other Lands, by the Fees thereby to be received, to the same Uses as the Estate so to be leased are already settled; was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Clarke, Sir John Bucknall, Mr. Moore, Mr. Halsey, Mr. Sloane, Mr. Burdet, Mr. Heveningham, Sir Robert Cotton, Mr. Clobery, Sir Eliab Harvey, Sir Wm. Coriton, Mr. Freke, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Pocklington, Mr. Hobby, Mr. Cox, Sir Mar. Wivell, Sir Wm. Ashurst, Mr. Vincent, Mr. Blofeild, Mr. Bertie, Mr. Gery, Mr. Manley, Mr. Hooper, Mr. Farrer, Mr. Lowther, Sir Wm. Lowther, Mr. Croker, Mr. Frewen, Doctor Oxenden, Sir Fra. Massam, Mr. Smith; and all that serve for the Counties of Devon, Dorset, and Somerset: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Select Vestries.

A Petition of the Churchwardens, and other sufficient Inhabitants, of the Parish of St. Andrew's, Holbourn, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the said Parish has been fairly governed for above 200 Years by select Vestries: And there being a Bill now depending in this House, for Regulating of select Vestries, and preventing Abuses arising thereby; the same may tend to alter their said ancient Constitution, and cause popular Elections dangerous: And praying, That they may be heard, by Counsel, against the said Bill.

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

Coparcenary Lands.

A Bill for the more easy obtaining Partitions of Lands in Coparcenary was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Sir William Coryton, Mr. Frewen, Mr. Trelawney, Mr. Moncton, Mr. Clarke, Mr. Mountague, Mr. Vincent, Sir Tho. Davall, Mr. Nicholas, Mr. Whitacre, Mr. Moyle, Mr. Tredenham, Mr. Croker, Mr. Monstevens, Sir John Bolles, Mr. Halsey, Mr. Baldwyn, Mr. Norris, Mr. Smith, Mr. Berty, Mr. Cary, Mr. Foley, Mr. Henley, Mr. Harley, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Pocklington, Mr. Clobery, Mr. Bowyer, Mr. Manley, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Freke; and all the Gentlemen of the Long Robe: 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 make the Bill extend to Tenants in common, if they think fit.

Wives Debts after Separation.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill, That Men may not be liable to the Debts of their Wives after their Elopement, or living separate: And that Mr. Sloan do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Bristoll Waterworks.

Mr. Blake reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill for the better supplying the City of Bristoll with fresh Water was committed, That they had made several Amendments to the Bill; 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, be ingrossed.

Wimondham Roads.

Sir Henry Hobart reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill for Repair of the Highways between Wimondham and Attleborough, in the County of Norfolk, was committed, That they had made several Amendments to the Bill; 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 put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

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

Bampfeild's Estate.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee, to whom the Bill to enable Trustees to make, renew, and fill up, Leases of the Estate of Sir Coppleston Warwick Bampfeild, during his Infancy; and that the Monies, to be raised thereby, be laid out in Purchase of Lands, to the same Uses the said Estate now is; was committed; be made To-morrow Morning.

Avon Navigation.

A Bill for making the River Avon, in the Counties of Wilts, Gloucester, and Somerset, navigable, was, according to Order, read a Second time.

And the Question being put, That the Bill be committed;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

And it is committed to Mr. Blathwaite, Sir Chr. Musgrove, Mr. Staines, Mr. Bridges, Mr. Burdet, Sir Sa. Barnardiston, Mr. Elwill, Mr. How, Mr. Brotherton, Sir John Smith, Mr. Gwyn, Sir Wm. Williams, Sir Marm. Wivell, Sir John Bolles, Mr. Blofeild, Sir John Kay, Mr. Sloane, Sir Wm. Cooper, Sir Godf. Copley, Mr. Bagnold, Mr. Lowther, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Mountague, Mr. Whitacre, Mr. Arnold, Mr. Harley, Lord Pawlet, Mr. Parsons, Lord Ranelagh, Mr. Archer, Sir Rowland Gwyn, Sir Wm York, Sir Wm. Lowther, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Morgan, Mr. England, Sir Tho. Mompesson, Sir Gero. Elwes; and all that serve for the Counties of Somerset, Wilts, and Gloucester: And all that come are to have Voices: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber:

And it is to be an Instruction to the said Committee, That they do provide, That no Person's Land be taken away until their Damage, to be assessed by a Jury, be paid.

Avon Navigation.

A Petition of Henry Parsons, William Crouch, Edward Grafton, Bridget Snell Widow, and Humph. Watmore, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners are Owners of Six several Mills standing on the River Avon, between Bristol and Bath, which furnish Bristoll, and the Places adjacent, with Dyeingwood, Grift, Paper, and Fulling of Cloth: That there is a Bill now depending in the House, for making the said River navigable; which will be very prejudicial to the Petitioners: And praying, That they may be heard, by Counsel, before the said Bill do pass the House.

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

Ditto.

A Petition of Sir John Newton Baronet, and others, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners are informed by the Votes, That there is a Bill in the House for making the River Avon, in the Counties of Wilts, Gloucester, and Somerset, navigable; which Project was attempted many Years ago; but, upon strict Examination, it was always found impracticable, and prejudicial to both the Counties of Somerset and Gloucester; and especially to those whose Estates lie near that River; and will be no Benefit to the Publick: And praying, That a convenient Time may be appointed them to be heard, by their Counsel, against the said Bill.

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

Sitting of Parliament on Demise of the Crown.

A Bill, That whenever it shall please God to afflict these Realms by the Death of his present Majesty, the Parliament then in being shall not be dissolved thereby; but shall continue until the next Heir to the Crown in Succession, according to the late Act of Settlement, shall dissolve the same; was, according to Order, read a Second time.

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

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

Shaftsbury Election.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee of Privileges and Elections, touching the Election for the Borough of Shaftsbury, in the County of Dorset, be made To-morrow Morning.

Kingston upon Hull Election.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee of Privileges and Elections, touching the Election for the Town of Kingston upon Hull, be made upon Monday Morning.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir John Fagg have Leave to go into the Country, for Recovery of his Health.

Association for defending the King, &c.

Ordered, That the Association, and the Subscriptions thereunto, be entered upon the Journal of the House.

Resolved, That the Association be presented to his Majesty by the Speaker, and the whole House, before the End of the Session.

Ordered, That such Members of this House who have not already, shall, by Monday Fortnight, sign the Association, or declare their Refusal, notwithstanding their Leave to be absent.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Etterick have Leave to go into the Country for Three Weeks, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Habeas Corpus Suspension.

Ordered, That it be an Instruction to the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for impowering his Majesty to apprehend and detain such Persons as he shall find Cause to suspect are conspiring against his Royal Person, or Government, was committed, That they have Power to receive a Clause, to secure Horses and Arms, as well as Persons.

Ditto.

Then the House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the said Bill.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Mr. Poultney took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Mr. Poultney reported from the said Committee, That they had gone through the Bill; and made some Amendments; which they had directed him to report, when the House will please to receive the same.

Ordered, That the said Report be made To-morrow Morning.

Supply Bill; Duties on Wines, &c.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning, take into further Consideration the Report from the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for continuing several Duties, granted by former Acts, upon Wine and Vinegar, and upon Tobacco, East-India Goods, and other Merchandize, imported, for carrying on the War against France . . . . . .

Committees.

A Motion being made, and the Question being put, That all Committees be adjourned;

It passed in the Negative.

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

The ASSOCIATION, and SUBSCRIPTIONS, are as follow; viz.

Association for Defending the King, &c.

WHEREAS there has been a horrid and detestable Conspiracy formed, and carried on, by Papists, and other wicked and traitorous Persons, for assassinating his Majesty's Royal Person, in order to encourage an Invasion from France, to subvert our Religion, Laws, and Liberties: We, whose Names are hereunto subscribed, do, heartily, sincerely, and solemnly, profess, testify, and declare, That his present Majesty, King William, is rightful and lawful King of these Realms: And we do mutually promise and engage to stand by and assist each other, to the utmost of our Power, in the Support and Defence of his Majesty's most Sacred Person, and Government, against the late King James, and all his Adherents: And in case his Majesty come to any violent or untimely Death (which God forbid), we do hereby further, freely and unanimously, oblige ourselves to unite, associate, and stand by each other, in revenging the same upon his Enemies, and their Adherents; and in supporting and defending the Succession of the Crown, according to an Act, made in the First Year of the Reign of King William and Queen Mary, intituled, An Act declaring the Rights and Liberties of the Subject, and settling the Succession of the Crown.