House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 13 January 1697

Mercurii, 13 die Januarii ;

8° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Preventing Exportation of Wool.

A PETITION of the Mayor, Recorder, and Aldermen, of the ancient Borough of Richmond, in the County of York, on the behalf of themselves, and the rest of the Inhabitants of the said Borough, and several poor People inhabiting in the Towns adjacent, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That most of the poor Petitioners are employed in knitting Woollen Stockings, for their Support, who used to have Wool brought thither at reasonable Rates; but, by reason the same is bought up by ill-disposed . . . . in the several Northern Counties, and transported beyond Sea, the Petitioners cannot get any Wool, but at very high Prices, to the great Damage of the Petitioners, and the Woollen Manufacture in general: And praying such Relief in the Premises, as the House shall think reasonable.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee appointed to inspect the Laws for preventing the Exportation of Wool; and to consider of the most effectual Means for preventing the Exportation of Wool: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same to the House.

Woollen Manufacture.

A Bill for Encouragement of the Woollen Manufacture was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Clerk, Sir Robert Cotton, Mr. Bertie, Sir Wm. Lowther, Mr. Sandford, Mr. Newport, Sir Chr. Musgrave, Sir Geo. Hungerford, Sir Wm. Twisden, Sir Ra. Dutton, Mr. Lowther, Mr. Harvey, Sir John Kay, Sir Jacob Ashley, Mr. Ash, Mr. Pocklington, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Taylor, Sir Edward Sawell, Mr. Daniell, Mr. Phillipps, Mr. Maudit, Mr. Onslow, Mr. Frewen, Mr. Hore, Mr. Whitaker, Mr. Moor, Mr. Freke, Mr. Foley, Mr. Colt, Mr. Lambton, Mr. White, Lord Cornbury, Sir Gerv. Elwes, Mr. Dolben, Mr. Nicholas, Sir Wm. Ashurst, Sir Hen. Colt, Mr. Blofeild, Sir Tho. Roberts, Mr. Watlington, Mr. Mountstevens: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chambers: And all that come are to have Voices.

Coinage—Examination of a Prisoner in Newgate.

Mr. Pocklington reported, That the Members appointed to go and examine Thomas White, a Prisoner in Newgate, convicted for Clipping and Coining, had been, and examined him accordingly; whose Examinations were delivered in at the Table: Where the same were read; and are as follow; viz.

That the said Thomas White said, He was born in the County of Pembrook; and put Apprentice to John Turner, a working Goldsmith, Watchmaker, and Engraver, in Dublin, in the Kingdom of Ireland, for Seven Years; where he did learn the said Arts; and, after his Apprentiship was out, he lived in Limerick for about a Year; and from thence he came to London; where he wrought with one Mr. Mercheant, a Watchmaker:

That, about Four or Five Years since, he was committed to the Gatehouse for Debt; where also one James Pritchard was some time after committed a Prisoner, for coining Halfpence; who came acquainted with the Informant, and there taught him to coin Halfpence; where they both did coin them; and there the Informant saw Pritchard clip Sixpences and Shillings; which was the first Clipping he ever saw:

That afterwards, the Informant having 15 l. given him by his Sister, he removed himself, by Habeas Corpus, to the Fleet Prison; where he had Two Rooms over the Common Side, and there followed his Trade of a Silversmith; but, not getting a Livelihood that Way, he then began to try to coin Money; and cast several Shillings and Half-crowns; and afterwards the said Pritchard came to the Informant, and brought one Timothy Charnock along with him; who brought a Flatting-mill in with him; and agreed with the Informant, to flat Silver for him, at a Peny an Ounce; but, finding afterwards, that Charnock made Money of it, he would not flat any more so cheap; but agreed, either for the Third or Fourth Part of the Money that was made of the Ingots:

That there was one James Emery, a Goldsmith of Lewis in Sussex, a Prisoner in the Fleet, and one Maud, a Watchmaker, since executed, who used to clip and coin there, with the Informant:

There was also one Captain John Jones, that Pritchard brought acquainted with the Informant; who clipped and coined with him in the Fleet, several Sums of Money:

There was also one Mr. Richard Stroude, a Prisoner in the Fleet, who sold his broad Money to the said Maud, for clipped Money; and Stroude persuaded the Informant to try to coin Guineas; and, accordingly, he did coin about Sixty Guineas for Mr. Stroude; who invited the Informant to go with him into Devonshire; telling him, The East-India and Guinea Fleets came in by his House; and there they could buy Gold of the Fleets, and coin it into Guineas, or other foreign Coin: That the Informant went into the Country, by the way of Portsmouth; and from thence to Plymouth, by Water, by Mr. Stroud's Direction; and was with him in Devonshire about Five or Six Months, which was after the taking up of Moor, the Tripe-man, where the Informant went by the Name of Snow: And that Stroud gave him Directions, under his own Hand, how to come to his House:

That one James Hunter, who was employed at the Mint, furnished one Robert Chapman, and the said Moor, with all manner of Instruments for coining milled Money and Guineas; and that the Informant got several Presses made for Moor:

That one Robert Attee, a Farrier in St. Giles', and Thom. Squire, Goldsmith, at the Goldsmiths Arms in LongAcre, were concerned in Clipping and Coining; and employed the Informant in Squir's House, to clip and coin:

That Daniel Ware, a Smith, in Water-lane, in Fleetstreet, made the Engines for the Informant; and struck off Eight or Ten Half-crowns in the Informant's Sight; and offered to coin with him; and that he gave Ware Five Guineas for an Engine; and that Ware was making a great Press for one Thomas Winter; and did clip some Money in this Informant's Chamber, in the Fleet:

That Joseph Wynn, now executed, was brought acquainted with the Informant by one John Duglass; and that Wynn was one of the greatest Clippers about Town; and Duglass is now an Evidence, and came in upon White's Information, who was before a great Clipper and Coiner.

That Mrs. Hunt, Wife to the Keeper of the Duchy Liberty in the Savoy, used to clip and coin in the Fleet, with Emery and Maud:

That Mr. James Kelly, who lodged at the Leg in Long Acre, has clipped and coined, with this Informant, in the Fleet; and has had several Sums of Money from him, to put off.

That the Informant has either bought Clippings of, or sold, Counterfeit Money, at 30s. for 20s. in good Money, to the Persons following; viz. John Pritchard, Alehouse-keeper in Queen-street, Bloomsbury; Mr. Mackarty, a Broker, in a little Court near the Dog Tavern in Drury-lane; Mr. Davenport, now riding in the Earl of Oxford's Regiment, and his Wife; John Reynolds, Esquire, a Prisoner in the Fleet; Mr. Thomas Moncton, who lived in a Court at the Upper end of the Haymarket; John Poole, now executed; one Johnson, a Quaker, who used to be about the House-Guards; one Mr. Gun, who used to come to the Fleet, and be about the Horse-Guards; one Condy, a Jeweller; and one Baker, late a Merchant; both in White Fryers; one Heathorne, a Pedlar about the Country; Harrison, a Coffee-man, over against the Angel Inn in Wich-street; Peter Haines, Goldsmith, in Wichstreet; Mr. Rickords, a Serjeant in the Guards, and his Wife; a French Goldsmith in Newport-Court, near Newport-street; another French Gentleman, who lodged at a Dyer's House in Fleet-lane; and a Watchmaker that Pritchard knows:

That Hickinson, a Watchmaker at the White Hart and Glove, by the Fleet, recommended the Informant to a Watch-gilder by the Hospital, who gilded Copper Pieces for him; of which the Informant made Guineas:

That the Informant came acquainted with Mr. Tilly, as understanding Chymistry; and had Discourse with him about the Transmutation of Metals; but Mr. Tilly afterwards sent the Informant to West Chester, to fetch up one Bragg, a Prisoner, who had made his Escape from the Fleet; and did bring him up accordingly: And afterwards Tilly imployed the Informant, with one Grindall, to gather some Chamber-Rents: That he shewed Mr. Tilly the Transmutation of Iron into Copper, in his Chamber in the Fleet; but knows not that Tilly, or any of the Officers of the Fleet, knew any thing of his Clipping or Coining; but believes they might suspect something of it.

Resolved, That such Members of this House as are of his Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council, do represent to his Majesty, That this House is not willing further to interpose, either as to the Pardon or Reprieve of the said Thomas White; but do leave him to his Majesty's Pleasure.

Aldborough Writ.

A Motion being made, That Mr. Speaker do issue his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a new Writ, for electing a Burgess to seve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Aldborough, in the County of York, in the room of Sir Michaell Wentworth, deceased;

And a Debate arising thereupon;

Resolved, That the Debate be adjourned until Tuesday Morning next.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Henry Vincent have Leave to go into the Country for Five Weeks, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Prisons and pretended privileged Places.

A Petition of Francis Creswick, now a Prisoner in the Fleet Prison, and formerly a Prisoner in the King's Bench, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner, while he was a Prisoner in the King's Bench, John Farrington, who acted as Marshall there, extorted several Bonds and Judgments from the Petitioner; and hath charged him in Execution for 200 l. thereupon; though, in Truth, there is not one Peny due to the said Farrington for Chamber-Rent, or any thing else: And praying the Relief of the House in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee appointed to consider how the Abuses of Prisons, and other pretended privileged Places, may be regulated: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same to the House.

Irish Arrears.

Mr. Fox presented to the House an Account of the Matter relating to the Petition of the Troopers of the Lord Gallwaye's Regiment of Horse, formerly presented to the House: And the same was received.

Ordered, That the said Account be read To-morrow Morning.

Supply.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Supply to be granted to his Majesty, for making good the Deficiency of Parliamentary Funds; and to consider further of that Part of his Majesty's Speech, which relates to the Credit of the Nation.

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 were informed there was a Message from the Lords, at the Door; and therefore had directed him to move, That they may have Leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this House will, after the Message, resolve itself again into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Supply to be granted to his Majesty, for making good the Deficiency of Parliamentary Funds; and to consider further of that Part of his Majesty's Speech, which relates to the Credit of the Nation.

Lords desire Leave for Members to attend them.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Robert Legard and Sir Richard Holford:

Mr. Speaker,

The Lords desire this House to give Leave, That Mr. Secretary Trumball, Mr. Moncton, and Mr. Moyle, Members of this House, may attend their Lordships, to give Evidence in relation to some Matters which concern the Earl of Monmouth.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Resolved, That this House doth agree to give Leave, That Sir Wm. Trumball, Mr. Moncton, and Mr. Moyle, do attend the Lords, as their Lordships do desire.

And the Messengers were called in; and Mr. Speaker acquainted them therewith.

Supply;—Deficiency of Funds.

Then the House resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Supply to be granted to his Majesty, for making good the Deficiency of Parliamentary Funds; and to consider further of that Part of his Majesty's Speech, which relates to the Credit of the Nation.

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 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 Tuesday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Supply to be granted to his Majesty, for making good the Deficiency of Parliamentary Funds; and of that Part of his Majesty's Speech, which relates to the Credit of the Nation.

King's-Lynn Port.

Ordered, That the Bill for the better Preservation of the Navigation of the Port of King's-Lynn, in the County of Norfolk, be read the Second time upon Tuesday Sevennight: And that Counsel be thdn heard, at the Bar, for and against the said Bill.

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