House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 28 January 1697

Jovis, 28 die Januarii;

8° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Neve's Estate.

SIR Henry Hobart reported from the Committee, to whom the ingrossed Bill from the Lords, intituled, An Act for enabling Oliver Neve, of Great Witchingham, in the County of Norfolk, Esquire, to sell Two Houses in London; and for vesting other Lands, in the said County, of greater Value, to the same Uses; was committed; That they had examined and considered the same; and directed him to report the same to the House, without any Amendments: And he delivered the same in at the Table.

The Bill was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass.

Ordered, That Sir Henry Hobart do carry the Bill to the Lords, and acquaint them, That this House hath agreed to the same, without any Amendments.

Ease of Sheriffs.

Ordered, That Sir St. Andrew St. John, Sir Rowland Gwyn, Sir Mich. Biddulph, Mr. Ryder, Mr. Ashby, Mr. Gwyn, Mr. Boscawen, Sir Henry Goff, Mr. Palmer, Sir John Bucknall, be added to the Committee, to whom the Bill for the Ease of Sheriffs in passing their Accounts, and Execution of their Offices, is committed.

St. Paul's Cathedral.

Sir William Ashurst, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for the completing the building and adorning the Cathedral Church of St. Paul's, London: And the same was received.

The Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Ashton's Marriage Settlement.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act to enable Sir Ralph Ashton Baronet to supply an Omission of a Limitation intended in his Marriage Settlement, for the Benefit of his Issue Male, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Sir Thomas Littleton, Sir Tho. Mompesson, Mr. Stringer, Mr. York, Sir Wm. Ashurst, Mr. Bethell, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Nicholas, Mr. Sloan, Sir Wm. Bowes, Sir Geo. Fletcher, Sir Robert Davers, Sir Henry Colt, Mr. Papillion, Mr. Pocklington, Mr. Norris, Sir Jo. Woolstenholm, Sir Wm. Williams, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Aislaby, Mr. Blaake, Mr. Whitaker; And all the Members that serve for the Counties of York, Lancaster, and Cheshire: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Preventing Exportation of Wool.

A Petition of the Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen, Common-Council, and other Inhabitants, of the ancient Town and Borough of Rippon, in the West Riding of the County of York, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the said Town hath, anciently, been the greatest Market for Wool in the Northern Country; from whence all the other Towns in the said Riding, employed in making of Cloth, used to be supplied; but, of late, the said Market is much lessened, by reason the Wool is bought up in other Places, and carried into Scotland, and from thence transported into France, and other Nations; to the great Decay of our Woollen Manufactures, and contrary to the Laws of the Kingdom: And praying the Relief of the House in the Premises.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table until the Bill for the better preventing the Exportation of Wool, which is ordered, be brought in.

Whitby Harbour.

A Petition of the Bailiffs, Burgesses, Masters, and Owners of Ships, and other Inhabitants, of the ancient Corporation of the Port of Scarborough, in the North Riding of the County of York, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Piers of Whitby can be but of little Use to Ships trading Northward, except to small Vessels, the Port not being to . . gained in bad Weather; and Ships of above 60 Tons cannot get out but at Spring Tides; there being not above 6 or 7 Feet Water: And praying, That the Bill for repairing the Piers of Whitby Harbour may not pass, it being to the Petitioners Prejudice.

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

Evading Cost of Suit by Hewetson.

A Petition of Godfrey Lee Gentleman, Proctor and Attorney for Mary Hewetson, Wife of Mr. Thomas Hewetson, the said Mrs. Hewetson being now beyond the Seas, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the said Mr. Hewetson was prosecuted, by his said Wife, for marrying, and adulterously living with another Woman; but he was pardoned by a late Act of Grace, except for Costs and Alimony; of which Mrs. Hewetson having no Benefit, she prosecuted her Husband to an Excommunicato capiendo; who was taken thereupon; and he turned himself over to the Fleet, and had his Liberty immediately, though the Lord Chief Justice Treby's Order was obtained for his close Consinement, and though he ought to be confined as in Execution at Law; whereby Mrs. Hewetson is like to have no Fruit of her said Suit: And praying, That the said Matter may be heard, as the House shall think fit.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to a Committee: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same to the House:

And it is referred to Lord Cornbury, Mr. Cartwright, Mr. Sloane, Sir Cha. Carteret, Mr. Stringer, Sir John Elwill, Sir Tho. Dyke, Mr. Pocklington, Sir Robert Davers, Sir Cha. Turner, Mr. Price, Sir Gervas Elwes, Mr. Colt, Mr. Mountstevens, Sir Marm. Wyvell, Sir Henry Colt, Mr. Morgan, Sir Wm. Bowes, Mr. Stonehouse, Mr. Bowyer, Mr. Arnold, Mr. Cox, Mr. Manly, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Hoblyn, Mr. Harley, Mr. Brewer, Sir Math. Andrews, Sir Wm. Williams, Mr. Foley: And they are to meet this Afternoon, at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

King's Lynn Port.

A Petition of the Aldermen, Burgesses, and CommonCouncil, of the Town and Borough of Bury St. Edmonds, in the County of Suffolk, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Inhabitants of the said Borough, and Parts adjacent, have heretofore been well supplied with Coals, Fish, and all Sorts of foreign Commodities, from the Port of King's Lynn, at reasonable Rates, by the navigable Rivers of Great Owze and Mildenhall; but, by reason of a Sluice and Dam, erected by the Adventurers for draining the Fens of Bedford Level, cross the River Owze, near Denver, the Streams of the said Rivers are very much weakened; and thereby the Rivers are become silted, so that small Boats cannot pass to and fro, without much Danger and Delay; to the great Prejudice of the said Navigation, and the Trade and Commerce of the Petitioners: And praying, That the said Obstructions to the said Navigation may be removed.

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.

A Member discharged from custody.

Ordered, That Mr. Mitchell, in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms, for absenting himself from the Service of the House, be discharged out of Custody, paying his Fees.

Ways and Means.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of Ways and Means for raising the Supply granted to his Majesty, for carrying on the War against France, for the Service of the Year 1697.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. George Bridges have Leave to go into the Country for Ten Days, upon extraordinary Occasions.

King's Lynn Port.

The Counsel attending to be heard for, and against, the Bill for the better Preservation of the Navigation of the Port of King's Lynn in the County of Norfolk;

They were called in.

And the Bill was read a Second time.

And the Counsel for, and against, the Bill were heard:

And divers Witnesses were examined on both Sides.

And then the Counsel withdrew.

And the Bill was opened.

And a Motion being made, That the Bill be committed;

And a Debate arising thereupon;

Resolved, That the Debate be adjourned until Saturday Sevennight.

Letters of Marque.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Merchants of London, relating to Letters of Marque, . . . . . be made upon Monday Morning next.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned.

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