House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 16 January 1697

Sabbati, 16 die Januarii ;

8° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Prisons and pretended privileged Places.

MR.Pocklington, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for preventing the Abuses of Prisons, and pretended privileged Places: And the same was received.

The Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Ditto.

A Petition of John Tayler and Joseph Carpenter, on behalf of themselves, and the rest of the Creditors of James Fade, Merchant, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, . . . . the said Fade was arrested by the Petitioners for great Sums of Money; who made his Escape out of Prison, and fled into the Mint; for the getting him out thence, it cost the Petitioners 100 Guineas; and then Fade removed himself to the Fleet, with a Charge of 9,622 l. Actions; and Mr.Tilly was desired to keep Fade in safe Custody; but Tilly, though then in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms, suffered him to go abroad without Security, or a Waiter; and is gotten again into the Mint, with a Design to go beyond Sea with a great Estate, to defraud his Creditors of their Debts; and though Tilly was ordered by the Committee appointed to consider how the Abuses of Prisons, and other privileged Places, may be regulated, to bring Fade before them; yet he hath not done it: And praying the House to take the Premises into Consideration.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the said Committee: And that Mr. Gery be added to the Committee.

Highways.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill to inlarge Highways: And that Mr.Archer do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Griffith's Estate.

A Petition of Robert Norris was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That there is a Bill depending in the House, for Sale of the Estate of Francis Griffith, late of London, Scrivener, deceased, for Payment and Satisfaction of his Debts: That the Petitioner, a little before his Death, left in his Hands 200 l. to be paid to one Mr. Richardson; which was not paid, but found in Specie in Mr. Griffith's Study; which the Petitioner is like to lose, his Case being different from the other Creditors: And praying the Consideration and Relief of the House in the Premises.

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

Punishing Mutiny and Desertion.

A Bill for continuing several former Acts for punishing Officers and Soldiers who shall mutiny, or desert his Majesty's Service; and for punishing false Musters; and for Payment of Quarters; for One Year longer; was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Leigh's Estate.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill to enable Edward Leigh Esquire, and Jane his Wife, and their Trustees, to sell the Manors of Waxham, and Horsey, and certain Lands and Tenements in Norfolk; and to purchase and settle other Lands to the same Uses: And that Sir Henry Hobart, and Mr. Serjeant Wogan, do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

African Company.

A Petition of the Royal African Company of England, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That by great Losses, and the Charge of maintaining several Forts and Factories, the Petitioners are no longer able to maintain the same; and the private Traders bearing no Part of that Charge by which the Trade to Africa is defended, the Petitioners are rendered uncapable to trade at such Disproportions: And praying, That there may be some Expedient for preserving the said Trade to this Nation.

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

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the said Committee.

Blackwell- hall Market.

Ordered, That the Lord Cornbury and Mr. Stevens be added to the Committee, to whom the Bill to restore the Market for Woollen Cloths in Blackwell-hall, and Welchhall, to the Clothiers, is committed.

Ryegate, &c. Roads.

Ordered, That Leave be given, in the Bill for Repair of the Lanes called Horshill, leading from Rygate to Hookwood Common, and Bonehurst, in the Parish of Harley, in the County of Surrey, to provide for the Repair also of the Way between Godstone and East Grinstead.

Supply Bill; Land Tax.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Bill for granting an Aid to his Majesty, as well by a Land-Tax, as by several Subsidies, and other Duties, payable for One Year.

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 directed him to move, That they may have Leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Monday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the said Bill.

Mitchell Election.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee of Privileges and Elections, touching the Election for the Borough of Mitchell, in the County of Cornwall, be made upon Tuesday Morning next.

Comissioners of Accounts.

Resolved, That this House will, upon this Day Sevennight, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for examining, taking, and stateing, the publick Accounts of the Kingdom, to commence from the Expiration of the former Commission; and will then proceed to a new Election of Commissioners.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned.

And then the House adjourned till Monday Morning, Nine a Clock.