House of Lords Journal Volume 14: 25 July 1689

DIE Jovis, 25 die Julii.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

PRAYERS.

Marquis de Halyfax Speaker pro Tempore.

ORDERED, That the Earl of Bridgewater is added to the Committee for the Bill for attainting several Persons now in Rebellion against Their Majesties.

Message to H. C. to remind them of the Bill for regulating Trials.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Doctor Edisbury and Mr. Meredith:

To put them in Mind of a Bill formerly sent down, for regulating of Trials.

Small Tithes Bill.

The Earl of Bridgewater reported from the Committee, the Bill for the more easy Payment of Small Tithes, with some Amendments made by the Committee.

Which Amendments were read, and Agreed to.

Message from H. C. for a Conference on the Tea and Coffee, &c. Duty Bill.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Mr. Pelham and others:

To desire a Conference, concerning the Amendments in the Bill concerning the collecting Duties upon Coffee, Tea, and Chocolate, at the Custom-house.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That the Lords will give a Conference, as is desired; and appoints the same to be presently, in the Painted Chamber.

These Lords following were appointed to report this Conference:

The Commons being ready for the Conference, this House was adjourned during Pleasure, and the Lords went to the Conference; which being ended, the House was resumed.

Report of the Conference.

Then the Earl of Maclesfeld reported the Effect of the Conference:

"That the Commons say, They do not agree to the Amendments which their Lordships made in the Bill for collecting the Duty of Coffee, Tea, and Chocolate, at the Custom-house, for these Reasons:"

Which were read; videlicet,

"The Commons have always taken it for their undoubted Privilege (of which they have ever been jealous and tender), that in all Aids given to the King by the Commons, the Rate or Tax ought not to be any Way altered by the Lords.

"The Amendment made by your Lordships being in the Point of Time; the Commons hope, your Lordships will not at this Time renew a Question concerning the Method of granting Aids, which has formerly, in Instances of like Nature, occasioned great Debates, and which may now beget many Conferences, spend much Time, and end in great Inconveniencies.

"2dly, This Amendment proposed by your Lordships makes the Bill incoherent; for, both Houses having agreed that the Forfeitures should commence from the 20th of July, it will look strange that the Forfeitures should be given before the Duty is made payable.

"3dly, Ships are now arriving daily with the Commodities mentioned in the Bill; which will be a Loss to the King, by putting the Commencement of the Duty so far off.

"4thly, As to the Proviso your Lordships have sent to the Commons, the Commons do disagree to it, and for that do refer to their First Reasons, the Proviso being an Alteration and Lessening of the Grant made by the Commons; and the Commons do, for these Reasons, hope your Lordships will agree with them, and not revive old Disputes."

Reasons to be prepared for the Lords insisting on a Clause in it.

This House doth insist upon the Clause; and these Lords were appointed to draw up Reasons to be given to the House of Commons, at a Conference, why their Lordships do not agree with the Commons; and Report to be made on Saturday Morning:

Their Lordships, or any Three; to meet when they please.

King present.

His Majesty, being arrayed in His Regal Crown and Robes, ascended His Royal Throne, the Peers being also in their Robes. The Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod was commanded to signify His Majesty's Pleasure to the Commons, "That they attend Him presently."

Who being come; the Speaker made a short Speech, as followeth:

Speaker of H. C. Speech.

"May it please Your Majesty,

"Amongst the several weighty Affairs which have fallen under the Consideration of the Commons in this present Parliament assembled, there hath nothing appeared to them more necessary for the Honour and Greatness of Your Majesty, and for the Defence of the Kingdom, than the providing a constant Maintenance for the Navy, that Your Majesty might always have a Fleet in Readiness for the Protection of Your Subjects and the Assistance of Your Allies.

"As a Part of the Provision which the Commons intend for this Purpose, they are come hither to present Your Majesty with a Bill for an additional Duty upon Beer, Ale, Cyder, and other Liquors; humbly desiring Your Majesty to receive it with the same Grace and Favour Your Majesty hath always shewed to Your most dutiful and loyal Commons, who will never be wanting chearfully to supply Your Majesty whensoever Your great Occasions shall require it."

Bills passed.

Then the Clerk of the Parliaments received the Bill from the Speaker, and brought it to the Table; the Clerk of the Crown read the Title of it; videlicet,

"1. An Act for an additional Duty of Excise, upon Beer, Ale, and other Liquors."

To which the Royal Assent was pronounced by the Clerk of the Parliaments, in these Words,

"Le Roy et la Reyne, remerciant leur loyalls Subjects, et acceptant leur Benevolence, et ainsy le veulent."

In the same Manner the following Bills were passed:

"2. An Act for taking away the Court holden before the President and Council of the Marches of Wales."

"3. An Act to regulate the Administration of the Oaths required to be taken by Commission or Warrant Officers employed in Their Majesties Service by Land, by virtue of an Act made this present Session of Parliament, intituled, An Act for the abrogating the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance, and appointing other Oaths."

"4. An Act to vest in the Two Universities the Presentations of Benefices belonging to Papists."

"Le Roy et la Reyne le veulent."

Private Bills:

"1. An Act for erecting a Court of Conscience at New Castle upon Tyne."

"2. An Act for erecting Courts of Conscience in the Cities of Bristoll and Gloucester, and the Liberties thereof."

"3. An Act for the better regulating the Saltworks in Droitwich."

"4. An Act to enable Thomas Chettell Esquire to sell Part of his Estate, for Payment of his Debts, and making Provision for his Wife and Children."

"Soit fait come il est desiré."

Lords absenting.

ORDERED, That To-morrow Morning the Lord Cornwallis do report, from the Committee for Privileges, the Business concerning the absenting Lords.

Lords Reasons for adhering to their Amendments to Oates's Bill.

It was moved, "That the Report of the Reasons which are prepared to be communicated at a Conference with the House of Commons, in Answer to their Reasons, concerning the Bill for reversing the Two Judgements given against Tytus Otes, may be now made."

The Question was put, "Whether the Reasons shall be now read?"

It was Resolved in the Negative.

Relfe, a Clerk of this House, to deliver to the Clerk of H. C. a Receipt for Dangerfeild's Information.

The House being moved, on the Behalf of Sir Robert Sawyer, "That John Relfe, One of the Clerks attending this House, might produce in the House of Commons a Receipt he hath, under the Hand of Mr. William Gouldesbrough, late Clerk of the House of Commons, dated the 14th of December, 1680, for Thomas Dangerfeild's Information, dated the 15th of November, 1680:"

It is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the said John Relse do deliver to Mr. Joderell, Clerk of the House of Commons, the said Receipt, to be by him produced in the House of Commons; taking a Receipt of the said Mr. Joderell, to deliver the same back to him the said John Relfe on Demand.

Adjourn.

Marq. de Halyfax, Orator Procerum pro Tempore, declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque in diem Veneris, videlicet, 26^um diem instantis Julii, hora decima Aurora, Dominis sic decernentibus.

Hitherto examined by us, the 7th of August, 1689,

J. Bridgewater.
North & Grey.
Culpeper.