House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 7 December 1695

Sabbati, 7 die Decembris;

Septimo Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Devites Election.

A PETITION of Sir Francis Child Knight was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That Sir Edward Ernle and the Petitioner were duly elected Burgesses to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of the Devises, in the County of Wilts, and ought to have been returned; but by the undue Practices of the Agents of John Methwyn Esquire, he is returned, with Sir Edward Ernle, to the Petitioner's Injury: And praying, That the House will hear and examine the Premises, and give him such Relief therein as shall be just.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Preston Election.

A Petition of Sir Christopher Greenfeild Knight was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner was duly chosen one of the Burgesses to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Preston, in the County of Lancaster, and, as such, ought to have been returned; but by the corrupt Practices of Tho. Molyneux Esquire, he has procured himself to be returned, though he was not duly elected: And praying, That the House will give the Petitioner such Relief in the Premises as they shall think fit.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Reading Election.

A Petition of Thomas Petit Esquire was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner is duly elected to serve in this present Parliament for the Town of Reading in the County of Berks; but Sir William Rich and Sir Henry Vane, by Menaces, and Combination with divers Persons of the said Town, have obtained a Return of themselves, to the great Prejudice of the Petitioner's Right: And praying, that the House will examine the Matters of Fact, and to do what shall be just in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Stockbridge Election.

A Petition of Nicholas Bacon and Hugh Goddard, on behalf of themselves, and others, Inhabitants of Stockbridge, in the County of Southampton, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners are Inhabitants and Freemen of the said Borough, and thereby are qualified to give their Voices for Members to serve in Parliament for the said Borough: That, in the Choice of Anthony Sturt and John Venables Esquires to serve in this present Parliament, there were very undue and corrupt Practices used; by which, as the Petitioners conceive, they are unduly elected, and ought not to serve as Members for the said Borough: And praying, That the House will examine the said Matters, and Corruption; and that the Petitioners may be suffered to prove the same.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein to the House.

Mittchel Election.

A Petition of Anthony Row Esquire was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That at the Election of Members to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Mittchell, in the County of Cornwall, the Petitioner, Thomas Dodson, Thomas Vivian, and Humphry Courtney, Esquires, stood as Candidates; and the Petitioner had the Majority of legal Votes, and was returned with the said Mr. Dodson, by the proper Officer; but Mr. Vivian and Mr. Courtney procured themselves also to be returned by another Person, who pretended a Right so to do: That the said double Return is not yet determined by the Committee of Elections: And, the Time limited by the House, for petitioning, as to the Merits of Elections, being near expired, the Petitioner prays, That the House will appoint a Time for hearing the Merits of the said Election.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Petitions on double Returns.

Declared, That in Cases of double Returns, any Party, so returned, may, within Fourteen Days after the Matter touching the Return determined, petition as to the Merits of the Election.

Reversing Judgment against Sir W. Williams while Speaker.

Mr. Price presented to the House, according to Order, a Bill for reversing a Judgment against Sir William Williams; and asserting the Rights and Freedoms of Parliament.

The Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Regulating Elections.

A Bill for preventing Charge and Expence in Elections of Members to serve in Parliament was, according to Order, read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Sir Edward Seymour, Sir Harry Hobart, Mr. Gwynn, Mr. Baldwyn, Mr. Aislaby, Mr. Clarke, Sir Godfry Copley, Sir Gerv. Elwes, Sir Wm. Drake, Mr. England, Sir S. Barnardiston, Mr. Kendall, Mr. Gardner, Sir Wm. Trumball, Mr. How, Mr. Freke, Mr. Sandford, Mr. Ja. Mountague, Mr. Morley, Mr. Lowther, Mr. Ph. Foley, Sir Robert Cotton, Mr. White, Sir Fra. Massam, Mr. Kinaston, Sir Rich. Onslow, Mr. Norreys, Mr. Mawdit, Sir Wm. Williams, Mr. Henley, Mr. Price, Mr. T. Foley, Mr. Colt, Mr. Pocklington, Sir John Bolles, Mr. Hammond, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Manley, Mr. Bromley, Sir Wm. Lowther, Sir Edw. Abney, Sir Marm. Wyvell, Mr. Blofeild, Sir Jo. Kay, Mr. Harcourt, Mr. Heveningham, Mr. Bridges, Sir Henry Colt, Sir Wm. Cooper, Lord Digby, Sir Wm. Hustler, Mr. Foley, Mr. Farrer: And all that come are to have Voices: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Four a Clock, in the Speaker's Chambers.

Elections—double Returns

A Bill to prevent false and double Returns of Members to serve in Parliament was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed, upon the Debate of the House, to the same Committee.

Ease of Jurors.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for the Ease of Jurors; and the better Regulating of Juries:

And it is referred to Sir Henry Goodrick, Sir Richard Onslow, Sir John Kay, Sir Godfry Copley, Sir Wm. Williams, or any Three of them, to prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Tryals for Treason.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Thursday Morning next, at Ten a Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for Regulating of Tryals in Cases of High Treason, and Misprision of Treason.

Supply.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Tuesday Morning next, at Ten a Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Supply to be granted to his Majesty, for carrying on the War against France with Vigour.

State of the Coin.

Ordered, That the adjourned Debate of Yesterday be further adjourned till Monday Morning next.

State of the Nation.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the State of the Nation; and, in particular, in relation to the Coin.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Colonel Granvill took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Colonel Granvill reported from the said Committee, That they had made a further Progress in the Matter to them referred; and had directed him to move, That they may have Leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Monday Morning next, at Ten a Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the State of the Nation, with reference to the Coin.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned.

And then the House adjourned till Monday Morning, Nine a Clock.