House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 5 June 1685

Veneris, 5 Junii, 1685. 1 Jac. IIdi.

Prayers.

Esselbron's; &c. Nat.

AN ingrossed Bill, sent down from the Lords, intituled, An Act for the Naturalization of John Esselbron, and others, was read a Second time.

Resolved, &c. That the said Bill be committed to Lord Brackley, Colonel Windham, Sir Edmund Jennings, Sir James Butler, Lord Bruce, Sir Tho. Mompesson, Sir Chr. Musgrave, Mr. Rainsford, Lord Fitzharding, Sir Daniel Fleming, Sir Roger L' Estrange, Mr. Montague, Sir Adam Brown, Mr. Clinkard, Mr. Evelin, Sir Lionell Walden, Lord Digby, Sir Fra. Clerk, Sir Cha. Holt, Sir Wm. Drake, Sir Nicolas Bacon, Mr. Essex Strode, Colonel Freind, Sir Jos. Tredenham, Sir William Cooke, Colonel Finch, Sir Nath. Johnson, Col. Legg, Mr. Richard Berty, Mr. Sandford, Sir Tho. Meres, Sir John Godden, Doctor Davenant, Lord Sherrard, Mr. Tufton, Sir Hen. Goodrick, Mr. Paston, Mr. Browne, Mr. Walden; or any Eight of them: And they are to meet at Three of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Importing Gunpowder &c.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill to prohibit the Importation of Gunpowder, and small Arms.

Meller's Estate.

A Bill to enable Edward Meller Esquire, to sell Lands, for Payment of his Debts, was read.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Yarmouth Pier.

A Bill for clearing, preserving, repairing, and maintaining the Haven and Pier of Great Yarmouth, was read.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Earl of Cleveland's Creditors.

A Bill for continuing and reviving several Acts made for Relief of the Creditors of the late Earl of Cleveland, was read.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Earl of Ossory's Estate.

An ingrossed Bill, sent down from the Lords, intituled, An Act to enable James Lord Butler, Earl of Ossory in the Kingdom of Ireland, to make a Jointure to such Woman as he shall marry, was read.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Lord Bruce's Estate.

A Bill to enable Thomas Lord Bruce, and his Lady and Trustees, to make Leases for raising Money to pay Debts, and for other Purposes, was read.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time, the Second Day of the Sitting of the House after Whitsunday.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir John Coell and Sir William Beversham;

Supply Bill; Duties on Wines, &c.

Mr. Speaker, The Lords have commanded us to acquaint this House, That their Lordships have agreed to the Bill, intituled, An Act for an Imposition upon all Wines and Vinegar imported between the Four-andtwentieth Day of June 1685, and the Four-and-twentieth Day of June 1693.

Clandestine Marriages.

And that their Lordships have sent to this House a Bill, intituled, An Act disabling Minors to marry without the Consent of their Fathers or Guardians, and against their untimely Marrying after the Decease of their Fathers.

Ditto.

An ingrossed Bill, sent down from the Lords, intituled, An Act disabling Minors to marry without the Consent of their Fathers or Guardians, and against their untimely Marrying after the Decease of their Fathers, was read.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Foreign Buttons.

A Petition of the Buttonmakers within the City of London, and Parts adjacent, on Behalf of themselves, and the Buttonmakers of the Counties of Derby, Dorsett, Chester, Stafford, and Warwick, and other Places; praying Leave to bring in a Bill to prevent the Importation of Buttons made of Hair, Glass, Pewter, and other Metals; was read.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill, as was desired.

Woollen Manufacture.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for reviving a former Law, touching the Woollen Manufacture within the West Riding in the County of Yorke.

Reversing Lord Stafford's Attainder.

An ingrossed Bill, sent down from the Lords, intituled, An Act for reversing the Attainder of William late Viscount Stafford, was read.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Expiring Laws.

Sir John Talbot reports from the Committee appointed to inspect and inquire into what Laws are expired, or near expiring, and to report their Opinions, What Laws are fit to be discontinued, and what to be revived, That the Committee having taken into their Consideration the Matters to them referred, had agreed upon a Report to be made to the House: Which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where it was again read; and is as follows:

13, 14 Ca. II. cap. 6.-An Act 13 and 14 Car. II^di, intituled, An Act for inlarging and repairing of common Highways; and also an Act of the Two-and-twentieth Car. II^di, intituled, An additional Act for the better Repairing of Highways and Bridges; were read over by the Committee.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the Act of 13° Car. II^di be revived and continued in all the Clauses and Matters therein contained, not repealed or altered by the said additional Act for Repairing of Highways and Bridges.

And whereas there is a Clause in the said last-mentioned Act, which impowers the Justices of the Peace to levy and collect a Sum not exceeding Six-pence in the Pound; which Power is, by another Clause in the said Act, restrained to Three Years, ending in 1673: The Committee are of Opinion, That a Clause be inserted for reviving the said Power for Years only.

13, 14 Car. II. c. 9. Upon reading the Act for Relief of poor Officers;

Resolved, That, it be reported as the Opinion of this Committee, That this Bill be continued for Five Years; and so to the End of the next Session of Parliament.

13, 14 Ca. II. ca. 12. Upon reading the Act for the better Relief of the poor of this Kingdom;

That it be reported to the House, as the Opinion of this Committee, That the said Act, as to all the Matters therein contained (except what relates unto the Corporations mentioned and constituted thereby), shall extend and be in Force until the Twenty-ninth of May 1692; and to the End of the First Session of the next Parliament then next ensuing, and no longer.

13, 14 Ca. II^di, ca. 21. Upon reading the Act for preventing the unnecessary Charge of Sheriffs, and for Ease of passing their Accompts;

That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the Bill be revived, with some further Provision, for the more easy and cheap Passing of their Accompts.

16, 17 Ca. II. ca. 3. An Act for returning of able and sufficient Jurors was read.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That this Act be revived; and to continue for Seven Years, and from thence to continue to the End of the First Session of the next Parliament.

17 Ca. II^di, c. 8.-22 & 23 Ca. II. ca. 10. An Act for avoiding unnecessary Suits and Delays was read over by the Committee: And also an Act for the better Settling of Intestates Estates: Which latter Act was explained by a Clause in an Act 29° Car. II.: Both which said Acts, with the said Clause, we find continued in the 30 Car. II. c. 6. intituled, An Act for reviving both the said former Acts: Which said last mentioned Act is near expiring.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the said Two former Acts be continued for Seven Years; and from thence to the End of the next Session of Parliament, and no longer.

19 Ca. II. c. 12. An Act for assigning Orders in the Exchequer without Revocation, was read.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That this Act be continued for Seven Years; and to the End of the First Session of the next Parliament.

22, 23 Ca. II. c. 19. An Act to prevent Frauds in the Buying and Selling of Cattle in Smithfield, and elsewhere.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the said Act be revived; and to continue for Seven Years; and from thence to the End of the next Session of Parliament.

22, 23 C. II. c. 22. An Act for the better and more certain Recovery of Fines and Forfeitures due to his Majesty.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That this Act be revived; and to continue for the Space of Seven Years; and from thence to the End of the First Session of the next Parliament.

22, 23 C. II. c. 23. An Act to revive an Act, intituled, An Act to prevent the Disturbance of Seamen and others; and to preserve the Stores belonging to his Majesty's Navy Royal, with some Alterations and Additions.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the said Act be revived; and continue for the Space of Seven Years; and from thence to the End of the First Session of the next Parliament.

22 & 23 Ca. II. c. 26. An Act to prevent the Planting Tobacco in England; and for regulating the Plantation Trade.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the said Act be revived; and continued for Seven Years; and from thence to the End of the next Session of Parliament.

An Act to enable Creditors to recover their Debts of the Executors and Administrators of Executors, in their own Wrong.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the said Act be revived; and continued for Seven Years; and to the End of the First Session of the next Parliament.

Ordered, That it be re-committed to the same Committee, to prepare a Bill or Bills (according to the said Report) for the reviving such of the said Laws, as are reported fit to be revived: And they are to have Power to bring in what Clauses they think most conducing to the just Ends of the said Laws.

Ordered, That the same Committee have Power to present a Bill to this House, for regulating the Printing Press.

Making Sea Water fresh.

A Petition of Robert Fitzgerald, Theophilus Oglethorp, Esquires, and others, was read.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for granting a longer Time in the Use of the Invention of making Sea-water fresh and wholsome; the sole Licence whereof was, by Letters Patents of his late Majesty King Charles the Second, granted to the Petitioners for Fourteen Years.

Coinage.

A Bill for reviving Two former Acts concerning Coinage, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to a Committee of the whole House.

Resolved, That this House will resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, To-morrow, to proceed in the Consideration of the said Bill.

Scotch Pedlars.

Ordered, That the Bill against Scotch Pedlars be read To-morrow Morning.

Army Accompts.

Colonel Birch, attending at the Door, was called in to the Bar; . . gave some Account to the House of the Proceedings of the Commissioners appointed by the late Act of Parliament for disbanding the Forces.

A Petition of the Field Officers and Captains of the Regiment of Horse, and the Field Officers of the Regiments of Foot, raised after the Twenty-ninth Day of September 1677, who were not disbanded by the Commissioners appointed by Act of Parliament, for disbanding the Forces raised since that Time.

A Petition of Major Henry Collier, Captain Jeyne, and their Commission Officers, under the Command of the honourable Colonel Villiers; and a Petition of Colonel Thomas Stradling, and of the Field Officers and other Officers of his Regiment of Foot, who were disbanded the Seventh Day of June 1679; were read.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said several Petitions be referred to the Committee appointed to inspect the Accompts of the Commissioners for disbanding the late Forces: to examine the Matter thereof; and to report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

St. Andrew's Holborne, &c.

A Petition of the Inhabitants of the Parish of St. Andrew's Holborne; and St. James', Clerkenwell; was read.

Ordered, That the Members for the City of London do, on Thursday next, give an Answer to the said Petition.

Improving Tillage.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for Supply of some Defects in an Act made in the Two-andtwentieth Year of his late Majesty, intituled, An Act for Improvement of Tillage, and the Breed of Cattle: And also for Keeping out of foreign Corn, unless there be need.

Price of Wool and Corn.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed, to consider of such Remedies as they shall think fit, and offer to this House, to keep up the Price of Wool and Corn.

And it is referred to Sir Thomas Meres, Sir William Clifton, Sir Chr. Musgrave, Major de Grey, Sir Wm. Honywood, Sir Jos. Tredenham, Sir Wm. Stephens, Sir Charles Litleton, Sir James Butler, Sir Hen. Goodrick, Mr. Mellish, Sir John Norton, Sir Tho. Dyke, Sir John Key, Colonel Lee, Sir Ralph Wharton, Mr. Freake, Sir Cha. Gawdy, Sir Fra. Clark, Sir Lionel Walden, Sir John Fagg, Sir Wm. Egerton, Mr. Price, Sir Willoughby Hickman, Mr. Caleb Banks, Sir Rich. Temple, Sir John Knatchbull, Sir Dudly North, Sir Wm. Twisden, Sir John Wynn, Mr. Wharton, Mr. Pitts, Sir John Cotton, Mr. Cha. Bertie, Mr. North, Sir Fra. Russell, Sir Cha. Gerrat, Mr. Pepys, Mr. Done, Colonel Stranges, Sir John Conway, Mr. Fountaine, * * Lee, * * Holmes, Mr. Earle, Sir Wm. Gulston, Captain Tufton, Sir John Banks, Sir Adam Browne, Mr. Seymour, Mr. Alderman Duncomb, Mr. Fairfax, Mr. Babington, Sir Edm. Jennings, Colonel Friend, Colonel Finch, Sir Phil. Egerton, Lord Sherrard, Mr. Hawtry, Sir John Banks, Sir Geo. Winneve, Mr. Crisp, Mr. Rich. Bertie, Mr. Fanshaw, Sir Chr. Wren, Sir Anth. Deane, Mr. Chudleigh, Captain Bickerstaff: And all the Members that come are to have Voices: And they are to meet at Three of the Clock this Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Army Accompts.

Ordered, That Sir Boucher Wray, Sir William Stephens, Sir John Wynne, Col. Strode, Mr. Beare, and Capt. Kirby, be added to the Committee for examining the Accompts of the Commissioners for disbanding the late Forces.

Cooke's Estate.

A Petition of Younger Cooke Esquire, was read.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for enabling Younger Cooke Esquire, to sell Lands for Payment of his Debts.

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