House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 11 January 1697

Lunæ, 11 die Januarii ;

Octavo Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Stockley's Estate.

A BILL to enable Mary Stockly, an Infant, to sell Lands, in the County of Chester, to pay the Debts of Jeffery Stockly, her Father, deceased, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Sir Robert Cotton, Sir St. Andr. St. John, Sir John Manwaring, Sir John Kay, Mr. Farrer, Mr. Moor, Mr. Lambton, Mr. Shackerly, Mr. Bridges, Sir Wm. Lowther, Mr. Foley, Mr. Yorke, Mr. Clark, Mr. Bagnold, Mr. Arnold, Mr. Tankred, Mr. Mountague, Mr. Methwyn, Mr. Drake, Mr. Culliford, Sir Hen. Hobart, Mr. Price, Sir Wm. Hustler, Mr. Phillips, Sir Cha. Hotham, Mr. Bertie, Mr. Vaughan, Mr. Stringer, Mr. Norris; and all that serve for the Counties of Chester and Lancaster: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chambers.

Privilege; Libellous Publication.

A Complaint being made to the House of a printed Paper, delivered at the Door, intituled, "The great Grievance of John Rye, of London, Merchant," reflecting on a Member of this House;

And it being proved, at the Bar, That the same was delivered by the said John Rye;

The Title of the Paper, and a Paragraph therein, were read.

Resolved, That John Rye, of London, Merchant, having caused a Libel, reflecting on a Member of this House, to be printed, and delivered at the Door of this House, is guilty of a Breach of the Privilege of this House.

Ordered, That the said John Rye be taken into the Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, for the said Breach of Privilege.

Attainder of the Conspirators.

The House resumed the further Consideration of the Amendments, made by the Lords, to the Bill, intituled, An Act to attaint such of the Persons concerned in the late horrid Conspiracy to assassinate his Majesty's Royal Person, who are fled from Justice, unless they render themselves to Justice; and for continuing several other of the said Conspirators in Custody:

And Evidence was given, at the Bar, against the said Robert Blackborn, added, by the Lords, as an Amendment to the said Bill, in relation to his being concerned in the intended Assassination:

The Third and Residue of the Amendments were severally read a Second time; and, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Ordered, That Mr. Solicitor-General do carry the Bill to the Lords, and acquaint them, That this House hath agreed to the said Amendments.

Prohibiting India Silks, Callicoes, &c.

A Petition of the Cloth-rash-makers in Rumsey, in the County of Southampton, on behalf of themselves, and many Spinners, Combers, Weavers, Sheermen, and others, whose Livelihood depends on that Trade; as also of all the Inhabitants of the said Town; was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That Cloth-rash is not made any-where else in England, save a little at Winton, and Southampton; and is not worn here; but, for Thirty Years past, the East-India Company have bought and exported all that have been made by the Petitioners; which has been their sole Livelihood: That, it being above a Year since the said Company bought any of their Rash, they have great Quantities lying upon their Hands; and, if the Bill, now depending in the House, to restrain the Wearing of all wrought Silks and Bengals, imported from Persia and East-India, and all Callicoes printed or stained there, should pass into a Law, the Masters of the said Trade, not having elsewhere to vend their Goods, will be undone; and their Dependents become Beggars; and the Inhabitants, whose Charge to the Poor is very great, will be thereby extremely impoverished: And praying, That the said Bill may not pass into a Law.

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

Prohibiting India Silks, Callicoes, &c.

A Petition of the Clothiers in Wilts was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, heretofore, great Quantities of their Woollen Manufactures, which was a Support and Maintenance to the Manufacturer, have been exported into Turkey; but the Turkey Trade is much decayed, by reason of the great Quantities of wrought Silks imported hither from the East-Indies: And praying, That they may be heard in behalf of the Bill, now depending in the House, to restrain the Wearing of all wrought Silks and Bengals, imported into this Kingdom from Persia and East-India, and all Callicoes printed or stained there, in such manner as the House shall think fit.

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

King's Lynn Port.

A Petition of the Dean and Prebendary of the Cathedral Church of Ely was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Corporation of Lynn Regis have lately demanded the Corporation of the Fens to take away their Sluice at Hermitage, near Erith, and their Sluices at Denver Dam, in the County of Norfolk, upon a Pretence that they occasion the Silting up of Lynn Harbour; but the Petitioners are persuaded they are the sole Preservation of a vast Quantity of Lands belonging to Ely, and divers other adjacent Towns: And praying, That a bare Suggestion of the Corporation of Lynn may not obtain that Credit as to take away those Sluices; which will much prejudice the Petitioners, and be no Advantage to Lynn Harbour, as the Petitioners conceive will be made appear to the House.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table until the Bill for the better Preservation of the Navigation of the Port of King's-Lynn, in the County of Norfolk, be read a Second time.

Ditto.

A Petition of the Inhabitants of the several Towns of Stoake, Brandon, Mildenhall, and many adjacent Towns, in the Counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridge, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, by means of the navigable Rivers of Owze, Brandon, Mildenhall, and Stoak, the Petitioners have been constantly supplied with Coals, Fish, Salt, and other Merchandize, from Lynn Regis, by Water, in Vessels of great Burthen; but since the Corporation of the Fens have made a Dam and Sluice cross the River Owze, at Denver, below the Mouths of the other Rivers to Seawards, the Owze and other Rivers are so silted, by stopping the Flow of the Owze for many Miles, that Boats of the smallest Burden cannot, without great Delays and Danger, pass therein; so that the whole Navigation is in great Danger of being irrecoverably lost, to the Petitioners Impoverishment: And praying, That the said Dam and Sluice may be removed, and the Navigation of the said Rivers restored.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table until the Bill for the better Preservation of the Navigation of the Port of King's-Lynn, in the County of Norfolk, be read a Second time.

Punishing Mutiny and Desertion.

Mr. Blathwaite, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for continuing several former Acts for punishing Officers and Soldiers who shall mutiny, or desert his Majesty's Service; and for punishing false Musters; and for Payment of Quarters; for One Year longer: And the same was received.

Dr. Lancaster to preach on 30th Jan.

Ordered, That Doctor Lancaster be desired to preach before this House, at St. Margaret's, Westminster, upon the 30th Day of January instant: And that Mr. Robert Bertie do acquaint him therewith.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir Thomas Day have Leave to go into the Country, for Three Weeks, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Privilege—a Person petitions for Discharge.

A Petition of Christopher Blower, Deputy to Geo. Taylor, Marshal, of the King's-Bench, in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, for a Contempt, in not producing to the Committee appointed to consider how the Abuses of Prisons, and other pretended privileged Places, may be regulated, the Books, and a List of the Prisoners, belonging to the King's-Bench Prison, was presented to the House, and read; whereby he alleged, That such his Contempt was from his Misunderstanding of the Order of the Committee; and that he hath since produced all the Books, and a List of the Prisoners, to the Satisfaction of the Committee; and begged Pardon for his said Offence: And praying to be discharged out of Custody.

Ordered, That the said Christopher Blower be discharged out of Custody, paying his Fees.

Blackwell-hall Market.

A Bill to restrain the Market for Woollen Cloths in Blackwell-hall, and Welch-hall, to the Clothiers, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Sir Geo. Hungerford, Mr. Hungerford, Sir John Elwill, Mr. White, Lord Irwyn, Sir Tho. Mompesson, Mr. Duke, Mr. Sloane, Sir William Ashurst, Mr. Cox, Sir Godfrey Copley, Mr. Newport, Mr. Bere, Sir Wm. Lowther, Mr. Moncton, Mr. Fleming, Mr. Tilney, Mr. Bohun, Mr. Berty, Sir John Kay, Sir Edw. Seymour, Mr. Blofeild, Mr. Serjeant Wogan, Mr. Price, Lord Bulkley, Mr. Culliford, Mr. Hoblyn, Mr. Neale, Mr. Grevill, Mr. Whitaker, Sir Walter Yong, Mr. Winington, Mr. Ash, Sir Eliab Harvey, Lord Ashley, Sir Fran. Massam, Sir Cha. Keymish; and all the Members that serve for Wilts, Devon, and the Western Counties: And all that come are to have Voices: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chambers.

Rhede's, &c. Nat.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cook and Sir Richard Holford:

Mr. Speaker,

The Lords have agreed to the Bill, intituled, An Act for the naturalizing Frederick Christiaen de Rhede, commonly called Lord Aghram; and others; without any Amendments.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Royal Assent to Bills.

A Message from his Majesty, by Sir Fleetwood Shepherd, Gentleman-Usher of the Black Rod:

Mr. Speaker,

The King commands this Honourable House to attend his Majesty, in the House of Peers, immediately.

Accordingly, Mr. Speaker, with the House, went up to attend his Majesty.

And, being returned;

Mr. Speaker reported, That his Majesty had been pleased to give the Royal Assent to the several Bills following; viz.

An Act to attaint Sir John Fenwick Baronet, of High Treason:

An Act to attaint such of the Persons concerned in the late horrid Conspiracy to assassinate his Majesty's Royal Person, who are fled from Justice, unless they render themselves to Justice; and for continuing several other of the said Conspirators in Custody:

An Act for naturalizing Frederick Christiaen de Rhede, commonly called Lord Aghram; and others:

An Act for the Settlement of the Manor of Treyagoe, in the County of Hereford, and other the Lands, late of Crompton Mynors Esquire, deceased; and for raising and increasing of the Portion of Theodosia Mynors, the Daughter of the said Crompton, she being an Infant of the Age of Seventeen Years.

Supply Bill; Land-Tax.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for granting an Aid to his Majesty, as well by a Land-Tax, as by several Subsidies, and other Duties, payable for One Year.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Sir Thomas Littleton took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Sir Thomas Littleton reported, from the said Committee, That they had made some 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 Tuesday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the said Bill.

Call of the House.

Ordered, That the Call of the House be adjourned till this Day Sevennight: And that such Members as shall not then attend, be sent for in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House.

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