House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 19 December 1698

Lunæ, 19 die Decembris;

10° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Yarmouth Harbour.

MR. England, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for continuing a former Act for the clearing, preserving, maintaining, and repairing, the Haven and Pier of Great Yarmouth: And the same was received; and read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Privilege.

A Petition of Philip Boteler, of Woodhall, in the County of Hertford, Esquire, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, the Petitioner being an Infant, the Court of Chancery committed the Care of him, and his Estate, to a Master in Chancery; who lett Part of his Estate, called Woodhall Park and House, to Robert Thompson Esquire, under Covenants, not to assign without Leave of the said Court; and Mr. Thompson gave Leave to Mr. Woollaston, a Member of this House, to hunt and fowl in the Petitioner's said Park; who destroying much of the Game, the Premises were, by Consent of the said Master, the Petitioner's Friends, and Mr. Thompson, agreed to be assigned to Sam. Robinson Esquire, as Tenant; denying to accept Mr. Woollaston; and yet the Petitioner finds, by the Votes of this House, That Mr. Woollaston complains of a Breach of Privilege against Mr. Thomson and Mr. Robinson, for taking Possession of the said Premises: That Petitioner therefore prays to be heard, by Counsel, touching the said Matter, before the Committee, to whom the Matter of the said Complaint is referred.

Ordered, That the Petitioner be heard, by his Counsel, upon his said Petition, before the said Committee, at the same time the Matter of the said Complaint is heard by them.

Army Arrears.

Ordered, That the Earl of Ranelagh do lay before this House an Account of what is due to the Forces now in England, to the First Day of January next; distinguishing what due to the Officers, and what to the Soldiers.

State of the Navy.

Resolved, That this House will upon Wednesday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the State of the Navy.

Accounts respecting the Navy.

Ordered, That the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty do lay before this House a List of the Ships the Royal Navy is composed of, and in what Condition they are in, as to Repairs.

Ordered, That the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty do lay before this House an Account how the Ten thousand Men, allowed the last Year for Sea-Service, have been employed.

Ordered, That the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty do lay before this House an Account of what Money hath been given for the Use of the Navy since the Fifth Day of November 1688, to the First Day of December instant; and of what hath been paid for that Purpose; and of what Accounts have passed of any such Monies; and in what Methods the said Accounts are passed.

Ordered, That the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty do also lay before this House an Account of what Orders have been made for new-erected Employments, between the Fifth Day of November 1688, and the First Day of December Instant; and for Increase of Salaries relating to the Navy.

Disbanding the Army.

Mr. Conyers, according to Order, reported from the Committee of the whole House, to whom the further Consideration of his Majesty's Speech was referred, the Resolutions of the said Committee; which they had directed him to report to the House; and which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were read; and are as follow; viz.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That all the Forces in Ireland, exceeding Twelve thousand Men, be forthwith disbanded.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That all the Forces in Ireland which are not his Majesty's natural-born Subjects be forthwith disbanded.

The First Resolution being read a Second time;

An Amendment was proposed to be made therein, by adding, after "Men," these Words, "Commission and "Non-commission Officers included:"

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

Resolved, That this House doth agree with the Committee in the said Resolution, so amended, That all the Forces in Ireland, exceeding Twelve thousand Men, Commission and Non-commission Officers included, be forthwith disbanded.

The Second Resolution being read a Second time;

Resolved, That this House doth agree with the Committee in the said Resolution, That all the Forces in Ireland which are not his Majesty's natural-born Subjects be forthwith disbanded.

Resolved, That such Forces as shall be kept in Ireland, shall be maintained by the Kingdom of Ireland.

Ordered, That it be an Instruction to the Committee appointed to prepare the Bill for the disbanding the Forces in England, That they do prepare Clauses, to be added to the said Bill, pursuant to the said Resolutions relating to the Forces in Ireland.

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