House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 20 June 1678

Jovis, 20 die Junii, 1678.

Gresham's Debts.

MR. Buscowen reports from the Committee to whom the Bill, sent from the Lords, intituled, An Act for vesting the Rectory of Westerham in the County of Kent in Trustees, to be sold for Payment of the Debts of Edward Gresham Esquire, was committed, That the Committee had perused the Bill; and that all the Parties concerned were consenting thereto: And that the Committee had returned the Bill, without any Amendments.

And the Bill being read a Third time;

Resolved, &c. That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be agreed.

Cave's Will.

An ingrossed Bill, sent from the Lords, intituled, An Act for the better enabling the Trustees of Sir Thomas Cave Knight and Baronet, deceased, for the selling of Lands for the Performance of the Will of the said Sir Thomas Cave; and likewise for the vesting and settling of other Lands, was read the Second time.

Resolved, &c. That the Bill be committed to Mr. Clarke, Mr. Streete, Sir Cha. Musgrave, Mr. Westfaling, Sir John Mallet, Sir John Holman, Mr. Progers, Sir John Barnaby, Mr. Swinfen, Sir John Newton, Sir Hen. Puckering, Sir Cirell Wych, Mr. Whorwood, Mr. Crouch, Lord Gorge, Mr. Parkhurst, Mr. Fleetwood, Mr. James, Sir Tho. Littleton, Colonel Norton, Sir John Birkenhead, Sir John Bramston, Sir Edw. Harley, Sir Anth. Irby, Sir John Coryton, Mr. Serjeant Mainard, Sir John Pettus, Sir Ro. Berkley, Sir Wm. Farmer, Sir Rob. Thomas, Mr. Gray, Sir Gilbert Talbot, Mr. Hacker, Sir Hen. Ford, Lord O Brien, Sir Trevor Williams, Sir Tho. Doleman, Mr. Daniell, Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Evelyn, Colonel Birch, Mr. Hamden, Sir Tho. Lee, Mr. Buscawen, Mr. Sachaverell, Mr. Wharton, and all that serve for the Counties of Northampton and Leicester: And they are to meet To-morrow at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Court of Wards.

Committee of Privileges.

Ordered, That the Committee of Privileges and Elections do proceed no further in the hearing of any Causes concerning Elections, before a Recess, and that the Witnesses therein concerned be dismissed from their Attendance.

Committees.

Ordered, That no Committee, except the Grand Committees, do sit in the House, during this Sitting.

Conference on Message to Lords respecting disbanding the Army.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Andrew Hacket and Sir William Beversham;

Mr. Speaker, The Lords have commanded us to attend you this Morning; and to desire a Conference, at Eleven of the Clock, in the Painted Chamber, upon Matters of great Concern.

The Messengers being withdrawn;

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree to meet the Lords at a Conference in the Painted Chamber, at Eleven of the Clock.

And the Messengers being called in;

Mr. Speaker acquainted them that the House had agreed to meet the Lords at a Conference, at Eleven of the Clock, in the Painted Chamber.

Ordered, That these Members following be appointed to manage the Conference; Sir Wm. Coventry, Mr. Vaughan, Mr. Hamden, Sir John Ernle, Sir John Talbot, Mr. Sachaverell, Sir Tho. Meeres, Sir Tho. Clerges, Mr. Powle, Sir Tho. Lee, Sir Jos. Tredenham, Sir Tho. Littleton, Mr. Swinfen, Sir Geo. Downing, Sir Edw. Deering, Colonel Birch.

Mr. Powle reports from the Conference had with the Lords, that the Lord Privy Seal did manage the Conference: And that he did acquaint the Persons appointed to manage the Conference, That the Reason of the House of Peers desiring a present Conference with the House of Commons, is, their having received a Message from his Majesty; which they judged of that Moment, that they did not think fit to delay the Communicating of it to the Commons; being of that great Concern to both Houses and the whole Kingdom: And that the Conference was intended to have been had Yesterday; but that this House sitting long, the Messengers were not admitted: And that a Copy of the Message was delivered to them: Which is as followeth, viz.

"The Lord Treasurer, by his Majesty's Command, did let the House know, That his Majesty did Yesterday receive a Letter from his Ambassador at Nimegen, Sir Leoline Jenkins, dated the Fifteenth of June; which gave him an Account, That the French Ambassador had declared to the Dutch Ambassador, That they would not void any one of the Places they hold in the Spanish Netherlands, until Sweden be effectually restored to the Places taken from them, notwithstanding that the Peace was already signed and ratified between them: That, upon this, is arisen a Difficulty on the Side of the Spaniards, Whether they will accept the French Conditions: That Mons. Beverning, One of the States Ambassadors there, had thereupon earnestly inquired of him, whether the Army of England was presently to be disbanded; because nobody could tell, What End things would come to; for, if France will keep all the Places in the Netherlands filled with their Troops, it is in vain that the States have taken so much Pains about their Barrier; for they will have none, when all is done: And the said Mons. Beverning was very anxious, till he did hear out of England, that the Army might not yet be disbanded. That the Imperial Ministers had been to visit him That Day: And that their principal Business was to learn what they could from him, in what State our Army was in; Things being in this doubtful Condition."

Lords reminded of a Bill.

Resolved, &c. That a Message be sent to the Lords, to remind them of the Bill, intituled, An Act for granting a Supply to his Majesty, for enabling him to pay and disband the Forces which have been raised since the Twenty-ninth of September last: And that Mr. Vaughan do attend the Lords with the Message.

Supply.

The House then resolved into a Committee of the whole House, to take into Consideration the Motion for continuing the new Imposts upon Wines; and also to consider of the Manner of raising a Supply, for Re-payment of the Two hundred thousand Pounds borrowed upon the Credit of the additional Excise; and for paying off the extraordinary Charge of the Navy: And likewise to consider of the Motion for giving Forty thousands Pounds to his Majesty, for Paying off the Portion of his Niece.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Sir John Trevor took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Sir John Trevor reports from the said Committee, That they had taken the Matter, to them referred, into their Consideration; and had agreed upon a Vote: Which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table. And is as followeth; viz.

Resolved, &c. That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the new Imposts, upon Wines and Vinegar, be granted to his Majesty, from the First of August next, for Three Years; upon such Wines and Vinegar as now may be by Law imported.

And further moved, from the said Committee, That the House would be pleased to resolve into a Committee of the whole House again To-morrow Morning; to proceed further in the Consideration of the Matters to them referred.

The Vote being read;

A Motion being made, That the Words "the better to enable his Majesty to repair the Fleet" may be added to the Vote;

The Question being put, That the Words "the better to enable his Majesty to repair his Fleet" be added to the Vote;

The House divide.

The Yeas go forth.

And so it passed in the Negative.

The Question being put, to agree with the Committee;

It was resolved in the Affirmative.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Committee, That the new Imposts upon Wines and Vinegar be granted to his Majesty from the First of August, for Three Years, upon such Wines and Vinegar as now may be by Law imported.

Resolved, &c. That a Bill be brought in, pursuant to the said Vote: And that Mr. Solicitor General and Sir John Trevor do bring in the Bill.

Resolved, &c. That this House will, To-morrow Morning at Ten of the Clock, resolve into a Committee of the whole House, to proceed further in the Consideration of the Matters to them referred.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees, which were to sit this Afternoon, be adjourned.

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