House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 5 December 1695

Jovis, 5 die Decembris; Septimo Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Portsmouth Election.

A PETITION of divers of the Inhabitants of Portsea was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Inhabitants of the said (fn. 1) Borough, paying Scot and Lot, have a Right to elect Members to Parliament; and the Petitioners, who live within the Jurisdiction of the said Borough, were denied to give their Votes for Edmund Dummer Esquire; That many ill Practices were used in behalf of Nicholas Hedger Esquire; viz. by shutting up the Gates of the Town, to prevent those from voting that live without, who would have polled for Mr. Dummer; by threatening many of the Petitioners with corporal Punishments, for offering to poll for Mr. Dummer; and, in a hostile manner, by keeping a Guard of Soldiers, drawn from the main Guard of the Town, to threaten and discourage Mr. Dummer's Friends from voting for him; by which, and many other Practices, Mr. Hedger was illegally declared a chosen Member to serve in this present Parliament for the said Borough, in manifest Wrong of the Petitioners Right: And praying, That the House will take Cognizance of such illegal Practices, and give them such Relief in the Premises, as to the House shall seem meet.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with there Opinion therein, to the House.

New Rumney Election.

A Petition of Sir Charles Sidley Baronet was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner was duly chosen one of the . . . . . Cinque-ports to serve in this present Parliament for the Town of New Rumney, in the County of Kent; and, accordingly, ought to have been returned; but one Peter Martin, taking upon him to act as Mayor, though not qualified, hath returned Sir William Twysden, and John Brewer Esquire, to serve for the said Port, to the Petitioner's Wrong: And praying, That the House will take the Matter into Consideration, and to do him Justice therein.

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

Cirencester Election.

A Petition of Henry Ireton Esquire was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner, being invited by divers of the Inhabitants of the Borough of Cirencester, in the County of Gloucester, to serve as a Burgess for the said Borough in this present Parliament, did stand there as a Candidate with John Guise, Richard How, and John How, Esquires: That the said Mr. Hows, or their Agents, did, by Threats and Promises, both before, and at, the said Election, deter and corrupt divers qualified Persons from voting for the Petitioner; and did insist, and prevail, that other qualified Electors, who voted for the Petitioner, were rejected upon the Poll, to the great Prejudice of the Petitioner's Right; by reason of which, and many other illegal Practices, the said John and Richard How were returned: and praying the Consideration of the House, and Relief in the Premises.

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

Lincoln City Election.

A Petition of Sir Edward Hussey Baronet was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner was duly elected a Citizen to serve in this present Parliament for the City of Lincoln; but, by the Partiality of the Mayor, in making several Persons free, on Purpose to vote against the Petitioner; and refusing to make other who had a Right to claim their Freedom; and by other corrupt and undue Practices; Sir John Bolles Baronet is returned as elected to serve for the said City, in Wrong to the said City, and the Petitioner: And praying, That the House will hear the Merits of the said Election; and that the said City, and the Petitioner, may have Right done them in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections: And that they do examine the Matter thereof: and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Lincolne County Election.

A Petition of Sir John Bolles Baronet was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner was duly elected a Knight to serve in this present Parliament for the County of Lincolne; but, by reason of several illegal and undue Practices, the Lord Castleton and Sir Thom. Hussey were returned Knights to serve for the said County; through, in Justice, the Petitioner ought to have been returned with the said Lord Castleton: And praying, That the House will take the Premises into Consideration, and to do therein as they shall think fit.

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

Bridport Election.

A Petition of Major John Manley was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner was duly elected one of the Burgesses to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Bridport, in the County of Dorset; but that the Bailiffs of the said Borough, having rejected many of the legal Votes for the Petitioner, and admitted divers unqualified Persons to vote for Nicholas Cary Esquire, have wrongfully returned the said Mr. Cary, in Prejudice of the Petitioner: And praying, That the House will take the Premises into Consideration, so as the Petitioner may have Relief therein.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections; And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

New Town Election.

A Petition of Anthony Henley Esquire was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That at the last Election of Burgesses to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of New Towne, in the Isle of Wight, your Petitioner, James Worsley, and Thomas Done Esquire, stood as Candidates; and the Petitioner had the Majority of legal Votes; but many Persons, who had no Right to vote, were admitted to vote against the Petitioner; and those that would have voted for him, and had a Right, were rejected; by reason of which unfair Means, the said Mr. Worsley and Mr. Done are returned, to the Prejudice of the Petitioner: And praying such Relief in the Premises, as the House shall think fit.

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

Cockermouth Election.

A Petition of Sir Wilfrid Lawson Baronet was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That at the Election of Members to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Cockermouth, the Petitioner, as he conceives, was duly chosen; but, by the Bribery, and several other undue Practices, of Goodwyn Wharton Esquire, the Petitioner was not returned by the Bailiff of the said Borough: And praying the Justice of the House in the Premises.

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

Recovery of small Tythes.

Resolved, That the Bill for the more easy Recovery of small Tythes be now read a Second time.

The Bill was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Bickerstaffe, Sir Robert Clayton, Sir Sam. Barnardiston, Mr. Price, Mr. Boyle, Sir Gervas Elwes, Sir John Lowther, Sir Tho. Littleton, Mr. How, Mr. Newport, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. York, Mr. Verney, Mr. Bertie, Mr. Waller, Mr. Whitacre, Doctor Oxenden, Mr. Winington, Mr. Burdet, Sir Tho. Roberts, Sir Edw. Norreys, Mr. Bagnold, Sir Marm. Wyvell, Sir Wm. Drake, Mr. Thornhagh, Mr. Mountague, Sir Henry Goodrick, Mr. Hamond, Lord Digby, Mr. Foley, Mr. Lowther, Mr. Mawdit, Mr. White, Sir John Bolles, Mr. Culliford, Mr. England, Sir H. Hobart, Mr. Baldwyn, Sir Ra. Dutton, Sir Godfry Copley, Mr. Sandford, Mr. Stonehouse, Lord Cavendish, Mr. Tanner, Mr. Frewen, Mr. Hedger, Mr. Morgan: And all that come are to have Voices: And they are to meet at Four a Clock in the Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chambers.

Reversing Judgment against Sir W. Williams, while Speaker.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for reversing a Judgment given against Sir Wm. Williams, in 2° Jacobi 2di. for what he did as Speaker of the House of Commons; and for ascertaining the Rights and Freedoms of Parliaments: And that Mr. Price do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Regulating Printing and Printing-Presses.

A Petition of several Printers and Booksellers in and about the Cities of London and Westminster was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners understand there is a Bill for Regulating of Printing, and Printing-Presses, referred to a Committee of this House; and that the Petitioners are very much concerned in the Consequences of the said Bill: And praying, That they may be heard, by their Counsel, touching the same.

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

Ditto.

A Petition of several of the Free Workmen, Printers, in behalf of themselves, and the rest of the said Trade, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners are informed there is a Bill depending in the House for Regulating of Printing, and Printing-Presses; which Bill, as it now stands, leaves the Printing-Trade open to all Persons to exercise; though, by several Acts of Parliament, the Numbers of Masters and Apprentices were restrained; and that they are already so numerous, that there is not lawful Business for several Members of the said Trade; which has occasioned so many scandalous and seditious Libels of late, which some have been forced to print for the Support of their Families: And praying, That the Petitioners may be heard; and that, by the said Bill the Number of Masters and Apprentices may be restrained.

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

Ordered, That the said Committee have Power to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Petition concerning a Member.

A Petition of the Honourable Elizabeth Harvey Widow was presented to the House.

And the same relating to John Harvey Esquire, a Member of the House; who was not then in the House;

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table until Mr. Harvey do attend in his Place.

Courts of Equity.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill to regulate Proceedings in Courts of Equity.

And it is referred to Sir John Bolles, Mr. Molesworth, Mr. Serjeant Bond, Mr. Bowyer, Mr. Whitacre, Doctor Oxenden, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Blake, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Clarke, Mr. Finch, Lord Cornbury, Mr. Morley, Sir Geo. Fletcher, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Jones, Sir Godfry Copley, Sir Richard Temple, Mr. Watlington, Sir Rowland Gwynn, Sir Math. Andrews, Mr. Morgan, Sir Fran. Winington, Sir Rich. Atkins, Sir Wm. Williams, Mr. Arnold, Mr. Harley, Sir Ra. Dutton, Mr. Colt, Sir Tho. Middleton, Mr. Smith, Serjeant Wogan; or any Four of them; to prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Supply.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Supply to be granted to his Majesty, for carrying on the War against France with Vigour.

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 a further 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 said Report be made To-morrow Morning.

Sir Thomas Littleton 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 Saturday Morning next, after the Committee hath sat upon the Bill for Regulating of Tryals in Cases of High Treason, and Misprision of Treason, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Supply to be granted to his Majesty, for carrying on the War against France with Vigour.

State of the Coin.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cook and Sir John Hoskyns:

Mr. Speaker,

The Lords desire a present Conference with this House, in the Painted Chamber, concerning the present ill State of the Coin of this Kingdom.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Resolved, That the House doth agree to a present Conference with the Lords, as they do desire.

And the Messengers were called in again; and Mr. Speaker acquainted them therewith.

Ordered, That Sir Christ. Musgrave, Mr. Finch, Mr. Harley, Mr. Chancellor of Exchequer, Lord Digby, Mr. Smith, Sir John Thompson, Mr. Molesworth, Mr. Lownds, Mr. Boyle, Colonel Granvill, Sir Eliab Harvey, Mr. Attorney-General, Sir Godfry Copley, Lord Ashly, Mr. Whitacre, Mr. How, Sir John Lowther, Sir Wm. Williams, Sir Robert Rich, Mr. Clark, Mr. Ja. Mountague, Mr. Hamond, Mr. Bromley, Sir Richard Onslow, Sir Fran. Winington, Mr. Foley, do manage the Conference.

And the Managers went to the Conference.

And, being returned;

Colonel Granvill reported, That they had met the Lords at the Conference: And that the Earl of Rochester managed the same; and acquainted them, That it was desired upon the Subject-matter of the State of the Coin; and for the good Correspondence between both Houses, which was so necessary, at this time, for the Preservation of the Kingdom: And acquainted them, That the Lords, taking into Consideration the ill State of the Coin of this Kingdom; and finding the Mischiess arising thereby very grievous and general; For the preventing the further Growth of so great an Evil, and towards the remedying of it, in some measure, conceive it necessary to come to a Resolution of making this following Address: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House: And then read the Address, as followeth;

WE, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and assembled in Parliament, having taken into our serious Consideration the great Mischief which is brought upon this your Kingdom, by reason that the Coin, which passeth in Payments, is generally clipped; and that no other Remedy is like to prove effectual, for preventing the Increase of this Evil, but to make Clipping unprofitable for the future, do most humbly address to your Majesty, to issue out your Royal Proclamation, declaring, That from

no clipped Money should pass, in any Payment, as the current Coin of this Kingdom.

That he further acquainted them, That their Lordships are not insensible, that many Objections of Weight may arise against any Opinion upon this Subject; it being indeed very difficult to find out a Remedy, at once, to so great a Mischief as this universal Clipping of the Coin, throughout the Kingdom: But their Lordships cannot but think what they have proposed a good Foundation, at least, for other Superstructures; and, indeed so necessary a one, that, without it, scarce any good Building can be raised for our future Security in this Point: Their Lordships have left a Blank for the Time after which the clipped Money should be no longer current; to the end, that That Time may be better adjusted in future Conferences between the Two Houses; their chief Design, in what they now propose, being, to have some Remedy attempted, for this great Mischief, in the Beginning of this Session of Parliament; that there may be time, before the End of it, to remedy any Inconveniencies that may not now be foreseen; and likewise, to shew their Desire in this Matter, as well as in all others, of proceeding in a perfect good Correspondence with the Commons, for the general Good of the Kingdom.

Then the Report and Address being read at the Table;

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning at Ten a Clock, take the said Report into Consideration.

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