House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 17 December 1694

Lunæ, 17 die Decembris;

Sexto Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Supply Bill; Tonage and Poundage.

MR. Solicitor-General, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for granting to their Majesties the Subsidy of Tonage and Poundage: And the same was received.

The Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Punishing Mutiny and Desertion.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for continuing the Act for punishing Officers and Soldiers who shall mutiny, or desert their Majesties Service; and for punishing false Musters; and for Payment of Quarters, for One Year: And that Colonel Earle do prepare, and bring in, the said Bill.

Leave of Absence.

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

Plantation Trade.

A Petition of the Merchants and Traders of the City of Bristoll to their Majesties Plantations in America was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That by the Statute of 22d and 23, Car. IId; it is Enacted, That all Ships, loading any Commodities of the English Plantations, shall bring the same into some Port of England, Wales, or the Town of Berwick upon Tweed, there to be unladen: Notwithstanding which, divers Ships, belonging to their Majesties Subjects, have carried such Commodities directly to Scotland and Ireland, without paying Custom here; contrary to the said Statute, and to the great Prejudice of their Majesties Revenue, and the Trade of England: And praying the House to provide such Remedy against this growing Evil as they shall think fit.

Ordered, That the Examination and Consideration of the said Petition be referred to a Committee: And that they do report the Matter, with their Opinion therein, to the House:

And it is referred to Sir John Knight, Sir Gilbert Clark, Mr. Blofeild, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Pigot, Mr. England, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Newport, Mr. Culliford, Mr. Burdet, Sir Robert Davers, Mr. Colt, Mr. Boyle, Mr. Fawkes, Mr. Hawtry, Sir Rich. Hart, Mr. Hutchinson, Mr. Bowyer, Mr. Rider, Sir John Moreton, Mr. Ash, Sir Tho. Tayler, Sir Edward Hussey, Mr. Thornhagh, Sir John Key, Mr. Vincent, Mr. Hedger, Sir Richard Temple, Mr. Waller, Mr. Palmes, Sir Tho. Roberts, Mr. Arnold, Mr. Holt, Mr. Christie, Mr. Appleyard, Sir Wm. Ellis; and all the Members that serve for the Sea-port Towns, and that are Merchants: And they are to meet To-morrow in the Afternoon at Four a Clock, in the Speaker's Chambers: And are impowered to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Registry of Deeds, &c.

Ordered, That the Bill for registring Memorials of Deeds, Conveyances, and Wills, be read a Second time upon Friday Morning next, at Eleven a Clock.

Relief against Sheriffs in Escapes.

A Bill for Relief against Sheriffs and Gaolers for Escapes of Prisoners for Debt; and for preventing the Abuses by Writs of Habeas Corpus, and Day-Rules, for such Prisoners; and for the better regulating the Prisons of the King's-Bench, and Fleet; was read the Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed, upon the Debate of the House, to Mr. Dolben, Sir Jervas Elwes, Mr. Bowyer, Mr. Gee, Mr. Waller, Sir Tho. Pope Blount, Mr. Lutterell, Sir Jos. Tredenham, Sir Fra. Molyneux, Colonel Lee, Mr. Slater, Colonel Deane, Mr. Hutchinson, Mr. Cocks, Mr. Arnold, Sir Herbert Crofts, Sir John Guise, Lord Ranelagh, Sir Robert Davers, Mr. Newport, Mr. Thornhaugh, Mr. Vaughan, Mr. Kenyon, Lord Coningsby, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Burdet, Sir Jon. Jennings, Mr. Gwyn, Mr. Jennings, Mr. Christie, Sir Fra. Massam, Sir John Key, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Blofeild, Mr. Maine, Sir John Barker, Mr. Neale, Mr. England, Mr. Sim. Smith, Mr. Colt, Mr. Tilney, Sir Charles Raleigh, Mr. Stonehouse, Sir Robert Edon, Sir Wm. Cooper: And they are to meet To-morrow at Four a Clock in the Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chambers: And they are to have Power to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Ways and Means.

Sir Thomas Littleton, according to the Order of the Day, reported, from the Committee of the whole House, to whom it was referred to consider of Ways and Means for raising the Supply to be granted to their Majesties, for carrying on the War against France with Vigour, the Resolutions of the Committee; which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were once read throughout; and are as follow; viz.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the Aid of Four Shillings in the Pound, to be granted to their Majesties, for carrying on the War against France with Vigour, be laid upon all Lands, Tenements, and Hereditaments, according to the true yearly Value thereof.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the Aid of Four Shillings in the Pound, to be granted to their Majesties, for carrying on the War against France with Vigour, be laid upon all Personal Estates, other than Houshold-Goods, and Stock upon Land; and upon all Offices and Employments, of Profit, other than Military Offices in the Army and Navy; according to the true yearly Profit thereof.

The first Resolution being read a Second time;

An Amendment was proposed to be made, by adding after the Word "Pound," "for one Year:"

And the same was, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Resolved, That the House do agree with the Committee in the said Resolution, so amended, That the Aid of Four Shillings in the Pound, for One Year, to be granted to their Majesties, for carrying on the War against France with Vigour, be laid upon all Lands, Tenements, and Hereditaments according to the true yearly Value thereof.

The Second Resolution being read a Second time;

An Amendment was proposed to be made, by adding, after the Word "Pound," "for one Year:"

And the same was, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Resolved, That the House do agree with the Committee in the said Resolution, so amended, That the Aid of Four Shillings in the Pound, for One Year, to be granted to their Majesties, for carrying on the War against France with Vigour, be laid upon all Personal Estates other than Houshold Goods, and Stock upon Land; and upon all Offices and Employments of Profit, other than military Offices in the Army and Navy, according to the true yearly Profit thereof.

Ordered, That a Bill be brought in for the said Aid, pursuant to the Resolutions of the House: And that Mr. Solicitor-General do prepare, and bring in, the same.

Free Proceedings in Parliament.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill touching free and impartial Proceedings in Parliament.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Mr. John Bolles took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Sir John Bolles reported from the said Committee, That they had gone through the Bill; and made several Amendments thereunto; which they had directed him to report, when the House would please to receive the same.

Ordered, That the said Report be made upon Saturday Morning next, at Eleven a Clock.

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