House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 12 May 1698

Jovis, 12 die Maii;

Decimo Gulielmi.

Prayers.

Garon's, &c. Nat.

A BILL for Naturalizing of Peter Garon, and others, was, according to Order, read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Sir H. D. Colt, Sir Wm. Lowther, Sir John Elwell, Mr. Hoare, Mr. Foley, Mr. Pengelly, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Phillips, Mr. Yates, Sir John Wolstenholm, Sir Fran. Massam, Mr. Neale, Mr. Fleming, Sir Robert Cotton, Sir John Franklyn, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Morgan, Sir Ralph Dutton, Mr. Mounstevens, Sir John Kaye, Sir Marm. Wyvell, Mr. Roberts, Sir John Philips, Mr. Watlington, Mr. Osborne, Mr. Batiscomb, Mr. Vincent, Mr. Colt, Mr. Arnold: And they are to meet this Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chambers, at Five of the Clock.

Debtor's Relief.

Mr. Colt, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for the better Discovery of Solvent Prisoners Estates, and the Relief of the Insolvent: And the same was received; and read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Wire-drawers Trade.

A Petition of divers Silkmen and Lacemen, in the Name of themselves, and others of the said Trades, Freemen of the City of London, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That there being a Bill depending, to restrain all Persons from drawing Wire, and making Gold and Silver Thread, that have not served an Apprenticeship to the Trade of Wire-drawing; and also to hinder all Wire-drawers, and Makers of Gold and Silver Thread, from selling any Fringe or Lace, or other Wares made of Silver or Gold Thread; the Petitioners conceive, if passed into an Act, it would inhance the Prices of those Commodities, and deprive them, and many others, of their Trades, by which they subsist: And praying to be heard, by their Counsel, or otherwise, before the same do pass.

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

Churchill's Estate.

Ordered, That all . . . . . . . for Devon and Dorset be added to the Committee, to whom the Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act to confirm the Sale of Part of the Estate of Sir John Churchill Knight, lately deceased, pursuant to his last Will, and Two Decrees of Chancery for Performance thereof, was committed.

Supply Bill; Hawkers and Pedlars.

Mr. Norris, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for licensing Hawkers and Pedlars, for a further Provision of Interest for the Transport-Debt for Reducing of Ireland: And the same was received; and read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Impeachment of Pierce.

Sir Rowland Gwyn reported to the House, That he did Yesterday, according to their Order, go to the Lords, and, in the Name of the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, in Parliament assembled, and of all the Commons of England, impeach John Pierce of High Crimes and Misdemeanors; and acquaint them, That this House would, in due time, exhibit Articles against him, and make good the same: And also, That the said John Pierce is in the Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, ready to be delivered to the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, when their Lordships shall please to give Order therein.

Foreign Lustrings, &c.

Ordered, That the Members directed to prepare, and bring in, the Bill relating to the Royal Lustring Company; and preventing the Exportation of Wool, and Fullers Earth; do prepare, and bring in, a Bill or Bills for the Purposes aforesaid.

Prevention of Smuggling.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for the better preventing the Running of prohibited and uncustomed Goods: And that Sir Walter Young do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Reneu's, &c. Nat.

Sir Rowland Gwyn reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill . . . naturalizing Mr. Hilary Reneu, and others, was committed, That they had made several Amendments to the Bill; which they had directed him to report to the House; 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.

Army Debts.

A Petition of Lieutenant-Colonel John Vaughan was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, some short time before the Revolution, the Petitioner, being Lieutenant-Colonel of Horse under the Earl of Salisbury, did contract with several Tradesmen, for cloathing the said Regiment, the Sum, of 3,000 l. and upwards; for which they sued the Petitioner, and obtained Judgment, and extended his Estate: That, upon Application to his Majesty, he obtained a Grant of 300 l. per Annum, payable out of the Royal Oak Lottery: That the Petitioner perceiving there is a Bill depending, for the Suppressing of Lotteries: And praying, That he may have his said Debt secured upon a certain Fund; or otherwise be relieved in the Premises; so that his own Estate may be no longer charged with a Contract for the Publick Service.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the said Bill is committed: And that they do examine the Matter; and report the same to the House.

Savage's Estate.

A Petition of Richard Savage, of London, Gentleman, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner having, in Consideration of a Marriage between him and Mary his Wife, settled several Lands, in the County of Dorsett, on Trustees, to several Uses, by a Deed of 28th June 1694; in which Deed there is a Proviso, That if the Petitioner should, with the Approbation of the said Trustees, settle other Lands, to the same Uses, within Five Years, then the said Deed to be void; which Time being elapsed, and the Petitioner being willing to settle other Lands, of a greater Value, to the same Uses; the Trustees, and his Wife, consenting thereto: And praying Leave to bring in a Bill for enlarging the Time for settling of other Lands.

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

Privilege— a Person petitions for discharge.

A Petition of Reginald Marriott, in the Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, he having made a full and candid Relation of the false Indorsement of Exchequer-Bills, was, the Second time he was at the Bar of this House, told, by Mr. Speaker, the good Pleasure of the House in protecting him: That the Confinement, under which he still lies, having been very long and chargeable: And praying, That he may be dealt with, as to their great Justice shall seem meet.

Ordered, That the said Mr. Marriott be discharged out of Custody.

Address for a Pardon.

Resolved, That an humble Address be presented to his Majesty, by such Members of this House as are of his Majesty's most Honourable Privy-Council, That he will please to grant the said Mr. Reginald Marriott a Pardon, for all his Offences relating to Exchequer-Bills.

Copper Coinage.

Mr. Manley reported from the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Grocers, Cheesemongers, Mealmen, Bakers, Victuallers, Market-people, and Retailers in general, of the Borough of Southwark, was referred, the Matter, as it appeared to the said Committee; with the Resolution of the Committee thereupon, and upon the several other Petitions referred to the Consideration of the said Committee; which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same was read; and is as followeth; viz.

That the Committee do find, That the Patentees for coining Copper Halfpence and Farthings were impowered, by his Majesty's Letters Patents, bearing Date the 24th Day of June, to coin 700 Ton of English Copper in Seven Years; and that the said Patentees have already coined 460 Tons:

But at present there being, in several Parts of the Kingdom, especially in and about the City of London, a great Glut of Farthings and Halfpence;

And that the Committee therefore came to the following Resolution; viz.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the Execution of the Patent for making and issuing Copper Halfpence and Farthings, and for exchanging of Tin Halfpence and Farthings, be suspended for Six Months.

The said Resolution being read a Second time;

An Amendment was proposed to be made therein, by leaving out "Six," and inserting, " Twelve," instead thereof:

And the same was, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Resolved, That the House doth agree with the Committee in the said Resolution, so amended, That the Execution of the Patent for making and issuing Copper Halfpence and Farthings, and for exchanging of Tin Halfpence and Farthings, be suspended for Twelve Months.

Ordered, That a Bill be brought in upon the said Resolution: And that Mr. Lowndes do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.

Estates given to superstitious Uses.

Ordered, That the ingrossed Bill for the better Discovery of Estates given to superstitious Uses be read the Third time upon Tuesday Morning next; and nothing to intervene.

Duties on Glass, &c.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee, to whom the Petitions complaining of the high Duties upon Glass, and Earthen-wares, and Tobacco-pipes, were referred, be made upon Wednesday Morning next.

Supply Bill; Impositions on Grants.

The House resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, according to the Order of the Day, to consider of the Bill for granting an Aid to his Majesty, by an Imposition upon beneficial Grants, and other Things therein mentioned.

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 some 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 Wednesday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the said Bill.

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