House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 15 June 1685

Lunæ, 15 die Junii, 1685. 1 Jac. IIdi.

Prayers.

Honiton Writ.

MR. Speaker acquainted the House, That he had received a Letter from Sir Thomas Putt, desiring, That a new Writ might issue for the Election of a Burgess for the Borough of Honiton in the County of Devon.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue out his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown to make out a new Writ, for the Election of a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the said Borough of Honiton, in the room of the said Sir Thomas Putt, who was Mayor of the said Town at the Time of his Election; and was the proper Officer to whom the Precept was directed; and who returned himself.

Making salt Water fresh.

A Bill for the sole Use and Exercise of a certain Art, Manufacture, or Invention, of making Sea Water fresh, sweet, and wholsome, was read.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Recovery of Tythes.

Mr. Christy reports from the Committee to whom the Bill for the more speedy and easy Recovery of small Tythes, was committed, That the Committee, having taken the same into their Consideration, had agreed to several Amendments to be made, and a Proviso to be added to the Bill: Which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where the Amendments being again read, were agreed to.

The Proviso, being twice read, was likewise agreed to by the House.

Ordered, That the Bill, with the Amendments and Proviso, be ingrossed.

General Register.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for erecting a General Register.

Importing Bone-lace, &c.

A Petition of the Traders and Makers of Bone-lace in the several Counties of this Kingdom, was read.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee to whom the Bill to prohibit the Importation of foreign Buttons, stands committed: And they are to prepare and bring in a Clause to be added to the said Bill for prohibiting the Importation of foreign Bone-lace: And that all the Members for the Counties of Devon, Wilts, Bucks, and Dorsett, be added to the said Committee.

Insolvent Debtors.

A Petition of several poor distressed Prisoners for Debt, was read.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for Relief of poor distressed Prisoners for Debt.

Carriages for Navy and Ordnance.

An ingrossed Bill for reviving an Act for Providing of Carriages, by Land and by Water, for the Use of his Majesty's Navy and Ordnance, was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for providing of Carriages, by Land and by Water, for the Use of his Majesty's Navy and Ordnance.

Ordered, That Mr. Corryton do carry up the Bill to the Lords for their Concurrence.

Yarmouth Pier.

An ingrossed Bill for repairing and cleansing the Haven and Pier of Great Yarmouth, was read a Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for clearing, preserving, repairing, and maintaining the Haven and Pier of Great Yarmouth.

Ordered, That Sir Henry Bedingfield do carry up the said Bill to the Lords for their Concurrence.

Lindsey Level.

Ordered, That the Bill for Draining of Lindsey Level be read To-morrow Morning, after Ten of the Clock.

Duke of Monmouth's Declaration.

A Message from the Lords, by the Lord Chief Baron Montague and Mr. Baron Gregory;

Mr. Speaker, The Lords, by the King's Command, have had communicated to them a traiterous Paper, intituled, " The Declaration of James Duke of Monmouth," &c.; upon which they have made this Order: And their Lordships desire the same may be returned to them, as soon as the same shall have been read, in regard it is to be burnt by the Hands of the common Hangman, this Day, at One of the Clock.

The said treasonable Paper, styled, " A Declaration of James Duke of Monmouth;" and also the said Order; being read to the House;

Resolved, Nemine contradicente, That this House doth agree with the Lords: And that the said traiterous Paper be burnt by the Hands of the common Hangman accordingly.

Ordered, That the Lord Ranelagh do carry back the said treasonable Paper, and the said Resolve, to the Lords.

Mr. Speaker reports to the House, That he having attended his Majesty, with the House, on Saturday last in the Afternoon, with an humble Address, his Majesty was pleased to return a gracious Answer to this Effect; viz.

Answer to Address.

That he did thank this House for their loyal Address, and particularly for their Care of his Royal Person; that he would venture his Life in Defence of his People, and for their Peace; and he did not doubt, but, with God's Blessing, and the Assistance of his loyal Subjects, to repel all Traitors and Rebels.

Attainting Duke of Monmouth.

A Bill for the Attainder of James Duke of Monmouth of High Treason, was read.

Resolved, That the Bill be now read a Second time.

The said Bill was then read a Second time.

Ordered, That the Bill be forthwith ingrossed.

Resolved, That a Message be sent to the Lords, desiring their Lordships to sit for a short time; for that this House hath Matters of Importance to communicate to their Lordships: And that the Lord Bruce do go up with the Message.

Supply Bill; Duty on Sugar, &c.

An ingrossed Bill for an Imposition on Sugars and Tobacco, was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for granting an Imposition upon Tobacco and Sugars imported between the Four-and-twentieth Day of June One thousand Six hundred Eighty-five, and the Four-and-twentieth Day of June One thousand Six hundred Ninety-three.

Ordered, That Mr. Solicitor General do carry up the said Bill to the Lords for their Concurrence.

Preservation of King's Person, &c.

Ordered, That the Committee appointed to prepare a Bill for the Preservation of his Majesty's Person, do add a Clause in the said Bill, declaring it High Treason for any Person to assert the Legitimacy of James Duke of Monmouth, or his Title or Pretence to the Crown.

Attainting Duke of Monmouth.

An ingrossed Bill for the Attainder of James Duke of Monmouth of High Treason, was read the Third time.

Resolved, Nemine contradicente, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act to attaint James Duke of Monmouth of High Treason.

Ordered, That the Earl of Ancram do carry up the Bill to the Lords for their Concurrence.

Resolved, That an humble Address be made to his Majesty, by such Members of this House as are of his Majesty's most honourable Privy Council, praying him to issue his Royal Proclamation, promising a Reward of Five thousand Pounds to any Person that shall bring in the Body of James Duke of Monmouth, dead or alive.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived; and do sit this Afternoon, in the respective Places formerly appointed.

Bedford Level.

An ingrossed Bill for repealing a Clause in an Act for draining Bedford Level, was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for repealing a Clause for Dividing of Commons, in an Act of Parliament made in the Fifteenth Year of King Charles the Second, intituled, An Act for Settling the Draining of the Great Level of the Fens, called Bedford Level.

Ordered, That Sir Thomas Higgins do carry up the said Bill to the Lords, for their Concurrence.

Importing Candles.

Ordered, That the Bill for prohibiting the Importation of Foreign Tallow Candles, be read To-morrow Morning at Ten of the Clock.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Dockwra, a Member of this House, have Leave to go into the Country.

And then the House adjourned to Nine of the Clock To-morrow Morning.