House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 8 April 1695

Lunæ, 8 die Aprilis;

7° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Measures and Prices of Coals.

SIR Thomas Vernon, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for enforcing, and making more effectual, the Laws for regulating the Measures and Prieces of Coals.

The Bill was read the First time.

Resloved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Encoraging Seamen.

A Petition of the Company of Firshermen, of the River of Thames, was presented ot the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners are inforemed, a Bill is now before the House, for a general Registry of all Seamen and Watermen; which the Petitioners, at a General Court of Affistants, unanimously agreed, will be for the great Advantage of the Nation: and praying Leave to bring in a Clause, to be inserted in the said Bill, for keeping such a Registry of the Fisheremen, Dredgermen, and Servants, within the Limits of their Company.

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

Supply Bill: Duties on Coffee,&c.

A Bill for the granting to his Majesty certain Rates and Duteis upon Coffee, Tea and Chocolate, and other Goods and Merchandize therin mentioned, for the Term of Three Years, for the Purposes therein expressed, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to a Committee of the whole House.

Resolved, That this House will To-morrow Morning, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the said Bill.

Punishing Mutiny and Desertion.

An ingrossed Bill for continuing Two former Acts, for punishing Officers and Soldiers who shall mutiny, or desert his Majesty's Service; and for punishing salse Musters; and for Payment of Quarters; for One Year longer; was read theThird time.

Resoved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Titile be, An Act for continuing Two former Acts, for punishing Officers and Soldiers who shall mutiny, and for Payment of Quarters; for One Year longer.

Ordered, That Sir Thomas Littleton do carry the Bill to the Lords, and desire their Concurrence therunto.

Supply Bill: Duties on Marriages, &c.

An ingrossed Bill for granting to his Majesty certain Rates and Duties upon Marriages, Births, and Burials, and also upon Bachelors and Widwoers, for the Term of Five Years, for carrying on the War against the French King with Vigour, was read the Third time.

An ingrossed Clause was offered, as a Rider, with Blanks, That all Quakers, Papists or Jews, who shall cohabit together as Man and Wise, shall pay the Duties payable upon Marriges, according to their Qualifications:

And the Clause was twice read; and the Blanks, filled up by the House:

And then the Clause was read the Third time: and, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House to be made Part of the Bill.

An Amendment was proposed to be made in the Bill, by inserting the Word "Bishop," in Two Places:

And the same was, upon the Question put therupon, agreed unto by the House; and the Bill amended at the Table accordingly.

Another Amendment was proposed to be made in the Bill, touching Heralds:

And he same was, upon the Question put therupon, 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 for granting to his Majesty certain Rates and Duties, upon Marriages, Births, and Burials, and upon Bachelors and Widowers, for the Term of Five Years, for carrying on the War against France with Vigour.

Ordered, That Sir Thomas Littleton do carry the Bill to the Lords, and desire their Concurrence thereunto.

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

Mr. Speaker

Commissioners of Accounts.

The Lords have agreed to the Bill, intituled, An Act for appointing and enabling Commissioners to examine, take, and state, the publick Accounts, without any Amendments: And also,

Thames Locks and Weirs.

Thet have agreed to the Bill, intituled, An Act to prevent Exactions of the Occupiers of Locks and Weirs upon the REiver of Thames; and ascertaining the Rates of Water-carriage upon the said River; without any Amendments: And also,

Expiring Laws.

They have agreed to to the Bill, intituled, An Act for continuing, and making perpetual, several Laws, therein mentioned, with some Amendements: To which Amendments, they desire the Concurrence of this House. Also,

Lords desire to examine a person in custody.

Their Lordships having Occassion to examine Charles Nois, who, as they are informed, is in the Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House; they desire he may forthwith be permitted to attend the House of Lords.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Ordered, That the Serjeant at Arms attending this House do forthwith cause the said Charles Nois, in his Custody, to attend the House of Lords, to be examined, as the Lords do desire.

And the Messengers were called in agian: And Mr. Speaker acquainted them therewith.

Bishopps Castle Election.

A Petition, of Richard Moor Esqire was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner is duly elected a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Bishopps-Castle, Com. Salop, in the room of William Oakley Esquire, deceased; notwithstanding which, the Bailiff of the said BGorough hath returned Henry Newton Esquire, with your Petitioner; whereby he is prevented form sitting in the House; And praying to be heard in the Premises.

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

Association for defending the King, &c.

Ordered, That the Clerk of the Crown do attend this House, with the Return for the said Borough, To-morrow Morning.

Clipping the Coin.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Report from the Committee appointed to receive Proposals for preventing the clipping the Silver Coin of this Kingdom.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.
Mr. Godolphin took the Chair of the Committee.
Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Mr. Godolphin reported from the said Committee, That they had entered upon the Consideration of the Matter to them referred; and had directed him to move, That they may have Leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the said Report.

Encouraging Seamen.

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

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned.

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