House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 22 December 1694

Sabbati, 22 die Decembris;

Sexto Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Court Martial on Greibe.

A PETITION of Conrade Greibe was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner, being Adjutant to Colonel Rechteren, a Dutch Colonel of Horse here in England, demanding his Subsistence-money, which was in his Colonel's Hands, was imprisoned by his Colonel about Eight Days, without any Process of Law: That, in July last, upon the Petitioner's Petition, her Majesty granted a Warrant for calling a Court-Martial, to examine and try several Articles exhibited by the Petitioner against the said Rechteren, for causing great Disorders in his Regiment, contrary to an Act for punishing Officers and Soldiers who shall mutiny, or desert, &c. of which Court-Martial Colonel Colliear was appointed President: And the said Court met several times; and heard the Petitioner, and his Witnesses, who fully proved the said Articles, as he conceives: Yet the Petitioner cannot procure the said Court to proceed to Sentence; but the said President hath dissolved the same: So that the Petitioner is still deprived of his Pay, as aforesaid, and of the Benefit intended by the said Act: And praying Relief in the Premises; and that Colonel Colliear may shew for what Reason the said Court-Martial was dissolved.

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

Thames Locks and Weirs.

A Petition of divers Freeholders, Bargemasters, and other Inhabitants, within the several Counties of Gloucester, Oxford, Berks, and Bucks, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Rivers of Isis and Thames being navigable for Boats and Barges from Letchlade to London, by the Help of several Locks and Weirs for keeping up the Waters for Flashes in several shallow Places, an accustomed Rate has been usually paid by the Bargemasters to the Proprietors of such Locks and Weirs, for their Passage, towards the Charge of maintaining them; but of late the Occupiers have raised the Prices near Ten times higher than formerly, because they are not ascertained by Law; and stop the Barges until they comply with their extravagant Demands: That it is necessary, and always was practised, that Boats, and other Vessels, should be haled up the River by the Strength of Men and Horses, going upon the Land, on Banks; which Passage used to be free and open; but now the Occupiers of those Lands do exact great Sums for such Passage: That these Impositions tend greatly to the Obstruction of the inland Trade and Navigation: And praying, That the Rates and Prices of such Passages may be ascertained by Law, as the House shall think fit.

Ordered, That the Examination and Consideration of the said Petition be referred to a Committee: And that they do report the Matter, with their Opinion therein, to the House:

And it is referred to Lord Norries, Mr. Harcourt, Sir Hen. Winchcome, Sir Ra. Dutton, Sir Robert Dashwood, Sir Wm. Whitlock, Mr. Clark, Mr. Colt, Mr. Lowther, Mr. Smith, Mr. Frewen, Mr. Arnold, Sir Richard Hart, Mr. Stokes, Mr. Ward, Mr. Hedger, Mr. Lutterell, Mr. Bere, Sir John Moreton, Mr. England, Mr. Chase, Mr. Fuller, Sir Tho. Clarges, Mr. Bowyer, Mr. Stonehouse, Mr. Freke, Mr. How, Sir Fra. Massam, Mr. Foley, Mr. Waller, Mr. Hawtry, Sir John Key, Mr. Shackerley, Mr. Fawkes; and all the Members that serve for the County, City, and University of Oxford, and for the Counties of Gloucester, Berks, Wilts, Bucks, Surrey, and Middlesex, and City of London: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Four a Clock, in the Speaker's Chambers: And are to have Power to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir Richard Temple have Leave to go into the Country for Three Weeks, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Speaker's Chambers.

Ordered, That the Back-doors of the Speaker's Chambers be opened this Morning.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir Richard Hart have Leave to go into the Country for Three Weeks, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Hawkers and Pedlars.

Colonel Dean, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for suppressing of Hawkers and Pedlars in Cities, Boroughs, and Corporations: And the same was received.

Supply Bill; Tonage and Poundage.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cook and Mr. Meredeth:

Mr. Speaker,

The Lords have agreed to the Bill, intituled, An Act for granting to their Majesties a Subsidy of Tonage and Poundage, and other Sums of Money payable upon Merchandizes exported and imported, without any Amendments.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Supply Bill; Land Tax.

A Bill for granting to their Majesties an Aid of Four Shillings in the Pound, for One Year, for carrying on the War against France with vigour, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Royal Assent to Bills.

A Message from his Majesty, by Sir Fleetwood Shepherd, Gentleman-Usher of the Black Rod:

Mr. Speaker,

The King commands this Honourable House to attend him in the House of Peers immediately.

Accordingly, Mr. Speaker, with the House, went up to attend his Majesty.

And, being returned;

Mr. Speaker reported, That his Majesty had been pleased to give the Royal Assent to the Bill for granting to their Majesties a Subsidy of Tonage and Poundage, and other Sums of Money payable upon Merchandizes exported and imported: And also

To the Bill for the frequent Meeting and Calling of Parliaments.

Privilege Publication of Proceedings.

The House being informed, That * Dyer, the News-Letter-Writer, attended, according to the Order of Yesterday;

He was called in; and heard touching the Complaint made against him; and, acknowledging his Offence, humbly begged the Pardon of the House for the same.

And then withdrew.

Ordered, That the said * Dyer be brought to the Bar, and, upon his Knees, reprimanded by Mr. Speaker, for his great Presumption.

And, accordingly, he was brought in, and reprimanded.

Ordered, That the said * Dyer be discharged, paying his Fees.

Resolved, That no News-Letter-Writers do, in their Letters, or other Papers, that they disperse, presume to intermeddle with the Debates, or any other Proceedings, of this House.

Free Proceedings in Parliament.

Ordered, That the Report, from the Committee of the whole House, of the Bill touching free and impartial Proceedings in Parliament, be made upon Monday Sevennight, at Eleven a Clock.

Persons to attend.

Ordered, That John Jenkinson, Laurence Higgs, Robert Powell, Christopher Howson, and William Lee, do attend this House immediately.

Tryals in Lancashire, &c.

Then the House proceeded in the Examination and Consideration of the Proceedings relating to the late Tryals in Lancashire and Cheshire:

And Mr. Wyngate, attending according to Order, was called in and examined.

And then withdrew.

Sir William Williams, Mr. Serjeant Gould, Mr. Hawles, Mr. Knapp, and Sir Bartholomew Shore, attending, according to Order, were severally called in; and examined.

And then withdrew.

Ordered, That the said Sir William Williams, Mr. Serjeant Gould, Mr. Hawles, Mr. Knapp, Sir Bartholomew Shore, and Mr. Wingate, be discharged from their further Attendance.

Ordered, That Mr. Upton and Mr. Cheshire, who attended according to Order, be discharged from their further Attendance.

Ordered, That Mr. Parsons, and Mr. Parkinson be discharged from their further Attendance.

And then the House adjourned till Friday Morning next, Ten a Clock.