Lunæ, 10 die Februarii;

7° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Buckingham Writ.

ORDERED, That Mr. Speaker do issue his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a new Writ, for the electing a Knight to serve in this present Parliament for the County of Buckingham, in the room of the Right Honourable Thomas Wharton Esquire, now Lord Wharton.

Pontefract Election.

Ordered, That Sir John Bland have Leave to withdraw his Petition, touching the Election for the Borough of Pontefract, in the County of York.

Oaths of Supremacy in Ireland.

Sir John Bolles acquainted the House, from the Committee, to whom the ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for altering Part of an Act, made in the Third Year of his present Majesty, and the late Queen, intituled, An Act for the abrogating the Oath of Supremacy in Ireland, and appointing other Oaths, was committed; and to whom the Consideration of the Petition of Robert Johnson Esquire, on the behalf of himself, and others of the Protestants of Ireland, relating to a Petition of Dennis Daly and Edmond Malone, in behalf of themselves, and others the Lawyers of Galloway, was referred; That the Committee had agreed to a Clause, in relation to the Matter of the said last-mentioned Petition, before the Petition of the said Robert Johnson was referred to them.

Ordered, That the said Committee have Power to reconsider the said Clause, upon the Reference of the Petition of the said Mr. Johnson.

Nassau's, &c. Nat.

Colonel Granville reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill for Naturalizing of Henry de Nassau, and others, was committed, That they had examined and considered the same; and had directed him to report the same to the House, without any Amendment: And he delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table.

Ordered, That the Bill be ingrossed.

Sand's Estate.

A Petition of John Williams Esquire was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That there is a Bill now before the House, for vesting a Moiety of the Manor of Shepton-Mallet, in the County of Somerset, and a divided Moiety of the Manor of Wells, in the said County, in Trustees, to be sold, for Payment of a Mortgage made thereon; and for making a Provision for the Wife of William Sands Esquire, and her Children: That Mr. Sands now stands indebted to the Petitioner, by Judgment, for 1,400 l.: to which the said Premises are now liable: But if the said Bill should pass, the Petitioner is advised the said Premises will not afterwards be subject to his said Judgment; and thereby the Petitioner will inevitably lose his said Debt: And praying, That a Clause may be inserted in the said Bill, whereby the Petitioner's Right may be saved.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the said Bill is committed.

Chamberlain's Estate.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act to enable Trustees to exchange Lands of Sir James Chamberlain Baronet, an Infant, lying in the common Hill or Field of Salford, in the County of Oxford, for like Quantities of Lands there, in order to the making an Inclosure, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Ease of Jurors.

Ordered, That Mr. Burdet, Mr. Gray, Mr. Staines, Mr. Lassells, Mr. Palmer, be added to the Committee, to whom the Bill for the Ease of Jurors; and the better Regulating of Juries; is committed.

Barkhamsted Manor.

Mr. Whitacre reported from the Committee, to whom the ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act to enable Trustees to sell Part of the Manor of Barkhamsted, and to pay off the Incumbrances charged on the same; and to lay out the Overplus in an Estate, to be settled as the said Manor is now settled; was committed; That they had examined and considered the same; and had directed him to report the same to the House, without any Amendment: And he delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table.

The Bill was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass.

Ordered, That Mr. Whitacre do carry the Bill to the Lords, and acquaint them, That this House hath agreed to the same, without any Amendment.

St. James, Westminster Parish Debt.

An ingrossed Bill to enable the Parish of St. James, Westminster, to raise upon themselves so much Money as will discharge their Debt for building their Parish Church, Rector's House, Vestry, and other Works there, was read the Third time.

Several Amendments were proposed to be made;

Pr. * L. * to leave out "Four," and insert "Three:"

Pr. * L. * to leave out "Five," and insert "Two;" and after "Years," to insert "an Half:"

Pr. * L. * to leave out "Four," and insert "Three:"

And the same were, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House; and the Bill amended at the Table accordingly.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act to enable the Parish of St. James, within the Liberties of the City of Westminster, to raise upon themselves so much Money as will discharge their Debt for building their Parish-Church, Rector's House, Vestry, and other publick Works there.

Ordered, That Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer do carry the Bill to the Lords, and desire their Concurrence thereunto.

Vesting Tutbury in the Crown.

Mr. Pagitt, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for re-vesting in his Majesty the Honour of Tutbury, and Forest of Needwood, and several Parks, Manors, Lands, Offices, and other Profits, thereunto belonging; and for vacating certain Letters Patents therein mentioned.

The Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Encouraging Seamen.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Friday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for the Increase and Encouragement of Seamen.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir William Rich have Leave to go into the Country for a Month, for Recovery of his Health.

Prohibiting Silks, India Callicoes, &c.

A Petition of the Wardens and Assistants of the Trade and Company of Worsted-weavers in the City of Norwich, and County of Norfolk, on behalf of themselves, and the said Trade, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners Trade depends upon the Manufacture of Worsted Stuffs; and Silk mixed with Wool in those Stuffs; which employs many Thousand Families: That their said Trade has been much obstructed by the great Quantities of East-India wrought Silks, Bengals, and Callicoes, which have been formerly imported here, and in foreign Countries, who used to be supplied with our Woollen Manufactures; but since the East-India Company have been under some Discouragements, whereby they have imported but little of their Manufactures, the Petitioners Trade has been much increased; and they have attained to so great a Perfection in making figured and striped Stuffs, that they are now used at Home and Abroad, instead of India Manufactures, by most Sorts of Persons: That the East-India Company having petitioned the House, to establish their Trade by Act of Parliament, the Petitioners conceive their Trade will be much lessened and discouraged thereby, unless a Restraint be laid upon the Importation, or Consumption, of India wrought Silk, Bengals, and Callicoes: And praying the Preservation of their said Trade, that so considerable a Manufacture may not be lost to the Nation.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table.

Alienating Lands in Mortmain.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill to enable the King, his Heirs, and Successors, to grant Licences for the Alienation of Lands in Mortmain: And that Mr. Secretary Trumball do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Clitheroe Election.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee of Privileges and Elections, touching the Election for the Borough of Clitheroe, in the County of Lancaster, be made upon Wednesday Morning next.

Maidstone Writ.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a new Writ, for the electing a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Maidstone, in the County of Kent, in the room of Sir Thomas Taylor Baronet, deceased.

Raising Militia.

A Bill for raising the Militia for the Year 1696, although the Month's Pay, formerly advanced, be not repaid, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Call of the House.

Ordered, That the House be called over upon this Day Sevennight: And that such Members as shall not then attend, not having Leave to be absent, be sent for in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House.

Price of Guineas.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Thursday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Price of Guineas.

Guineas coined.

Ordered, That the Officers of the Mint do, upon Thursday Morning next, lay before this House an Account of what Guineas have been coined since Lady-day last, and for whom.

Privilege—publication of Proceedings.

The House being informed, That one Griffith Card hath, in a written Paper, of Saturday last, dispersed at Garaway's Coffee-house, and other Coffee-houses, misrepresented the Votes and Proceedings of this House;

And a Motion being made, and the Question being put, That the said Griffith Card be sent for in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House;

It passed in the Negative.

Ordered, That the said Griffith Card, and Jeremiah Stokes, who keeps Garaway's Coffee-house, do attend this House To-morrow Morning.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That the Lord Fairfax have Leave to go into the Country for Ten Days, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Marshal's Court.

Ordered, That the Bill to regulate and restrain the Proceedings in the King's Court of the Palace of Westminster, called the Marshal's Court, be read a Second time upon To-morrow Sevennight.

Taking off Obligation to coin Guineas.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for taking off, for some time, from the Officers of the Mint, the Obligation to coin Guineas; and also the Encouragement given for such Coinage: And that Mr. Godolphin do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Ways and Means.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of Ways and Means for raising the Supply, to be granted to his Majesty, for carrying on the War against France.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Sir Tho. Littleton took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Sir Thomas Littleton 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 there may be laid before the House an Account of the Produce of the Duties upon Salt, and Tonage of Ships; and of what is owing upon the Duties upon Coals and Glass.

Ordered, That the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury do lay before this House an Account of the Produce of the Duties upon Salt, and Tonage of Ships; and of what is owing upon the Duties upon Coals and Glass.

Sir Thomas Littleton also acquainted the House, That he was directed by the said Committee to move, That they may have Leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Friday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of Ways and Means for raising the Supply to be granted to his Majesty, for carrying on the War against France.

Committees.

A Motion being made, and the Question being put, That all Committees be adjourned;

It passed in the Negative.

And then the House adjourned till To-morrow Morning, Nine a Clock.