House of Commons Journal Volume 8: 15 January 1667

Die Martis, 15 Januarii, 18 Car. IIdi.

Prayers.

Sherley's Estate.

MR. Crouch reports from the Committee to which the Bill for confirming a Settlement of Sir Seymour Sherley, was committed, several Amendments agreed to be made to the Bill: Which, being read; and after, delivered in at the Clerk's Table; and twice read; were, upon the Question, severally agreed to.

And an Amendment being proposed; and, upon the Question, agreed; and made to the Bill at the Table;

Resolved, &c. That the Bill, with the Amendments agreed to, be ingrossed.

Prisoners Relief.

Ordered, That the Committee upon the Bill concerning poor Prisoners, be revived; and do sit at Two of the Clock this Afternoon: And that Sir John Coryton, Sir Thom. Gower, Sir Thom. Clerges, Sir Edm. Peirce, Mr. Millward, Sir Wm. Lowther, Sir Thomas Littleton, Sir Clifford Clifton, Colonel Kirkby, Mr. Cheyne, Mr. Hoby, Sir Wm. Kelligrew, Colonel Sandys, Sir Edm. Bowyer, Colonel Birch, Mr. Harbord, Mr. Tayler, Mr. Crouch, Colonel Phillips, be added to the Committee.

Stanley's Estate.

Ordered, That Sir Charles Stanley's Bill be read the first Bill To-morrow Morning.

Coal and Fuel.

Mr. Pryn reports from the Committee to which the Matter touching Coal and Fuelling was committed, That the Committee had examined the Matter; and heard the Coal Merchants, Woodmongers, and Carmen; and had agreed on a Report: Which, being in Writing, he read; and after, delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: And the same, being read, was as followeth; viz.

That the principal Cause of the present extraordinary Price of Seacoals was, the Want of a sufficent Convoy the last Summer to guard the Colliers; and Pressing of their able Seamen on board their Ships for his Majesty's Service.

That they conceive, the most effectual Means to bring down the excessive Prices of Coals to moderate Proportion, is for this House to make an humble Address unto his Majesty, That a convenient Convoy may be speedily provided to guard the Coal Ships to and from Newcastle; and to grant a Protection to Four able Seamen in each Ship of One hundred Ton, and to Six in a Ship of Two hundred, and to Eight in a Ship of Three hundred Ton, from being pressed in his Majesty's Service.

They also command me to report, That Sir Edm. Godfry, a Woodmonger in Westminster, confessed to this Committee, when the Woodmongers appeared before them, That he, and others, then sold Coals to poor People at the Price of Two Shillings the Bushel, at his Wharf, which amounts to Three Pounds Twelve Shillings per Chaldron; though he sustained no Loss in his Coals or Fuel by the Fire, as most of the Woodmongers in London did; and his Coals, when he bought them, cost but Forty-one Shillings per Chaldron, or Fortyseven Shillings at the most; and he had One Chaldron in every Score, and Two Shovels of Coals to each Bushel, freely allowed into the Bargain: Which they repute a very great Extortion and Oppression, especially to poor People, and worthy the Consideration of this House.

And That being read, which relates to an Address to be made to his Majesty to provide a Convoy, the Second time;

The Question being put, to agree with the Committee, That this House do make an humble Address unto his Majesty, That a convenient Convoy may be speedily provided to guard the Coal Ships to and from Newcastle; and to grant a Protection to Four able Seamen in each Ship of a Hundred Ton, and to Six in a Ship of Two hundred, and to Eight in a Ship of Three hundred Ton, from being pressed in his Majesty's Service;

The House was divided.

The Noes went out.

Tellers,

And so it was resolved in the Affirmative.

Ordered, That the Members of this House, who are of his Majesty's Privy Council, do attend his Majesty with this Address.

Ordered, That the Members of this House, whear of his Majesty's Privy Council, do attend his Majesty with this Vote.

Atheism, &c.

Ordered, That the Report against Atheism and Profaneness, be made To-morrow, the first Report.

Bills to be read.

Ordered, That the Two Bills touching Elections, and a Third Bill for the Attendance of Members on the Service of this House, be read To-morrow Morning.