House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 2 April 1696

Jovis, 2 die Aprilis;

8° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Highway Laws.

Ordered, That Sir William York, Mr. Mawait, Mr. Foley, Mr. Moyle, Sir Wm. Lowther, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Baldwyn, Sir Hen. Hobart, Mr. Holmes, Mr. Ash, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Swift, be added to the Committee, to whom the Bill for the better Explanation of an Act of the 22d Car. IId, for the better repairing of Highways, is committed.

Preventing Stockjobbing.

A Bill to prevent Stockjobbing was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Culliford, Sir Robert Davers, Mr. Bohun, Sir Gerv. Elwes, Mr. Moore, Sir Wm. Scawen, Mr. Jeffryes, Mr. Godolphin, Mr. Nicholas, Sir Rowland Gwynn, Sir Jos. Tyly, Mr. Norres, Mr. Sloan, Sir John Ernley, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Arnold, Mr. Colt, Sir Sam. Barnardiston, Mr. Slater, Mr. Fleming, Sir John Key, Sir Wm. Ashurst, Serjeant Coward, Sir Marm. Wivell, Mr. White, Sir Hen. Colt, Lord Cavendish, Sir Tho. Middleton, Sir Jac. Ashley, Mr. Bowyer, Sir Steph. Evanse, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Dowdesworth, Mr. Henley, Mr. Harley, Sir Robert Clayton, Mr. Yates, Sir John Bolles, Mr. Papillion, Sir John Fleet: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Supply Bill; House Duty.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir John Franklin and Sir John Hoskins:

Mr. Speaker,

The Lords have agreed to the Bill, intituled, An Act for granting to his Majesty several Rates or Duties upon Houses, for making good the Deficiency of the clipped Money, without any Amendments.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Irish Arrears.

A Petition of several Soldiers, discharged from the Right Honourable the Earl of Oxford's Regiment, on behalf of themselves, and others, now in the said Regiment, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners have been greatly wronged, by their Officers overcharging them for Horses, Respits, Stores, Transportation, and other unreasonable Deductions out of the Subsistence of their Irish Arrears; and, by their Accounts brought in before the Commissioners of Accounts, it appears, there is a great Arrear due to the Petitioners; which the Officers have received; and made Interest of it; but refuse to pay the Petitioners, who are ready to starve; by which Actings, his Majesty is abused, the Subject terrified from serving in the Army: And praying, That the House will redress their said Grievance.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of Nathaniel Hill, and others, is referred: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Ditto.

A Petition of Frederick Hamilton, late Captain in Colonel Collingwood's Regiment, in behalf of himself, and his late Brother John Hamilton, late Captain in Colonel Ingoldby's Regiment, and killed at the Siege of Namur, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner, and his said Brother, faithfully served his Majesty in the War, ever since his Accession to the Crown; and often solicited Major Spencer Broughton, and Mr. Roberts, the several Agents of the said Regiments, to come to a fair Account; but could never obtain the same: And praying, That the said Agents may be compelled to account with the Petitioner for the Monies received by them for him.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of Nathaniell Hill, and others, is referred: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

African Company.

A Petition of Sir Nicholas Crispe Baronet, Heir and Residuary Legatee of Sir Nicholas Crispe Baronet, deceased, his Grandfather, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner's said Grandfather was a Merchant trading to Africa, then little known to this Nation; and obtained a Patent from King James and King Charles the First, for the sole Trade thither; and improved the same, and built Carmantine Castle, and settled several Factories, at the Expence of above 100,000 l.; hoping, that he, or his Posterity, should have reaped the Fruits thereof; but, soon after the Restoration, some selfinterested Persons, suggesting that the said Trade was too great for a single Person, and offering to make Satisfaction for the said Charge, procured a Patent for the said Trade to themselves; and agreed to pay the Petitioner's Grandfather 20,000 l.; but never paid any Part thereof; and the same is now justly due to the Petitioner: And praying, That the House will direct the African Company to make the Petitioner Satisfaction for the said Debt, before any Bill pass the House in favour of the said Company; and that he may be heard, by Counsel, to make out his Case, if the House think sit.

And a Motion being made, and the Question being put, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for settling and regulating the Trade to Africa is committed;

It passed in the Negative.

Resolved, That the Petition be rejected.

Irish Arrears.

A Petition of Francis Molyneux, late Agent to his Grace the Duke of Schomberg's Regiment of Horse, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That some Troopers of the said Regiment have petitioned this House, which is referred to a Committee; thereby censuring the Petitioner of indirect and fraudulent Practices: And praying, That he may be heard, in Answer to the said Petition; and that Justice may be done him.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of Nathaniell Hill, and others, is referred: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

English East India Company.

A Petition of divers Merchants, in behalf of themselves, and others, concerned in foreign Trade, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That there is a Bill depending in the House for the Establishing of an East-India Company, to be managed by a joint Stock, exclusive of all others: That there are vast Tracts of Land included within the Limits of the said Company's Charter, wherein they never had any Forts, Factories, or settled Trade; which have been shut up from the Industry of such as are inclinable to attempt the Discovery of new and profitable Trades to the Nation, where Vent might be found for considerable Quantities of our Manufactures: That English Ships might be employed, to very great Prosit, in trading to those Parts, and for such Commodities as the said Company never traded in, if they might be permitted so to do, without the least Injury to the EastIndia Company, by restraining such Ships from bringing such Commodities, in their Return to Europe, as the Company deal in: And praying, That such Liberties may be reserved to the Subjects of England, that they may not be hindered from trading to several Parts of the East Indies, and in several Commodities which the said Company do not trade in.

And a Motion being made, and the Question being put, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for settling and regulating the Trade to the East Indies is committed;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

Leave of Absence.

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

Ordered, That Sir Edward Seaward have Leave to go into the Country, upon extraordinary Occasions.

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

King appoints to be attended.

Mr. Vice Chamberlain acquainted the House, That he having, according to Order, waited upon his Majesty, to know his Pleasure, when he would be attended by this House, his Majesty had been pleased to appoint To-morrow, between Four and Five a Clock, at Kensington.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir Gilbert Clark have Leave to go into the Country, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Examination of Conspirators in Newgate.

The Lord Marquis of Winchester reported to the House, That the Committee appointed by them did, pursuant to the Order of Yesterday, go immediately to Newgate, and sent for Sir William Perkins and Sir John Freind severally, and acquainted them with the Order of the House; and, according thereunto, did examine them:

And that Sir William Perkins owned his being privy to the intended Assaffination; and of being in Company when 'twas discoursed of at Two or Three Meetings and thinks 'twas a Fault that he did approve of it:

That he had received Hints, several times, of King James his Design of coming over, and particularly now; and was resolved to serve him, whenever he came, with himself and Friends; thinking that he had Wrong done him; and that it was his Duty to help him whenever he could:

That he consulted not with any but those that he could engage, and he had an Influence upon:

That he guessed he could have been able to have brought in to the Number of a Troop; but that he would never redeem his own Blood at the Expence of theirs that he had drawn in:

That, since Christmas, he did see a Commission, which he understood to be King James's, directed to his loving Subjects, to levy War against the Prince of Orange, and all his Adherents: He believes it was signed by King James: That it had a Seal to it; and that he saw it in the Hands of a Friend, which he desired not to name; but, he believes, he is not in England.

And that Sir John Freind, on his Examination, disowned knowing any thing of the intended Assaffination; but expressed his Abhorrence of it.

He confessed, That he was at the Two Meetings mentioned at his Tryal; and that the Persons named to be present were there likewise: And that Charnock was sent to France from One of those Meetings, to acquaint King James, That if he would come over with 8,000 Foot, and Two thousand Horse, that Three or Four thousand Horse would be ready to join him here; of which he did engage to furnish about Two hundred.

Ordered, That the said Report be entered upon the Journal: And that the said Committee do see the same rightly done.

Ordered, That the said Report be printed with the Votes of this House.

Security of King's Person.

Resolved, Nemine contradicente, That a Bill be brought in for the better Security of his Majesty's Person and Government.

Resolved, That it be One Head for the said Bill, That such as shall refuse to take the Oaths to his Majesty shall be subject to the Forfeitures and Penalties of Popish Recusants convict.

Resolved, That it be another Head for the said Bill, to inflict a Penalty on such as shall, by Writing or otherwise, declare, That King William is not lawful and rightful King of these Realms; or that the late King James, or the pretended Prince of Wales, or any other Person, than according to the Act of Settlement of the Crown, hath any Right to the Crown of these Realms.

Resolved, That it be another Head for the said Bill, to ratify and confirm the Association entered into by all his Majesty's good Subjects, for the Preservation of his Majesty's Person and Government.

Resolved, That it be another Head for the said Bill, That no Person shall be capable of any Office of Profit or Trust, Civil or Military, that shall not sign the said Assocation.

Resolved, That it be another Head for the said Bill, That the same Penalties be inflicted upon such as come out of France, as upon those that go thither.

Ordered, That Mr. Attorney-General, Mr. SolicitorGeneral, and such Members of this House as are of his Majesty's Counsel at Law, do prepare, and bring in, the said Bill.

Cleansing Havens.

Resolved, That this House will, upon this Day Sevennight, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for encouraging the Removal of Bars; and for the Scouring, Cleansing, and Deepening, of decayed Havens.

Halfpence and Farthings.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee, to whom the Matter of the Complaint, touching Halfpence and Farthings, was referred, be made To-morrow Morning.

Supply Bill; Duties on low Wines.

Ordered, That the Bill for laying several Duties on low Wines, or Spirits of the first Extraction; and for preventing the Frauds and Abuses of Brewers, Distillers, and other Persons chargeable with the Duties of Excise; be read a Second time To-morrow Morning.

English East India Company.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Saturday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Bill for settling and regulating the Trade to the East Indies.

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