House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 11 April 1698

Lunæ, 11 die Aprilis;

Decimo Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Whitborne Rectory

AN ingrossed Bill; from the Lords, intituled, An Act to annex the Rectory of Whitborne, in Herefordshire, to the Bishoprick of Hereford, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time upon this Day Sevennight.

Copper Coinage.

A Petition of the Bakers, Cheesemongers, Chandlers, and other Retailers within the Parishes of Lambeth, Christchurch, St. Saviour's and Newington-Butts, in the County of Surrey, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners are very much burdened by the vast Quantities of Copper Halfpence and Farthings now coined: And praying Redress therein, by putting a Stop to the further Coinage thereof.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the laid Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Grocers, Cheesemongers, Mealmen, Bakers, Victualers, Market-people, and Retailers in general, of the Borough of Southwark, is referred: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Ditto.

A Petition of the Shopkeepers, Mealmen, Inholders, Victualers, Labourers, Market-people, and Retailers in general, of the ancient Borough of St. Alban's, in the County of Hertford, on behalf of themselves, and many more in the said Borough, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the great Quantity of Copper Farthings and Halfpence lately coined do lie heavy upon, and become daily more and more burdensome to, the Petitioners: And praying Relief in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Grocers, Cheesemongers, Mealmen, Bakers, Victualers, Market people, and Retailers in general, of the Borough of Southwark, is referred: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Army Arrears.

A Petition of William Gibson, and others, on behalf of themselves, and all the rest of the Soldiers late in the Garison and Company of Upnor Castle, under the Command of Colonel Edward Rouse, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners were disbanded the Tenth of March last, and forced, by the Colonel, to sign a Writing, which he pretended was a Receipt only for what they then received in Part, and that he would pay them the Residue; but coming, on 31st of March last, to receive the Residue, was told, They had given Discharges for all that was due to them; and that if they were not gone immediately, he would punish them as Mutineers: And praying Relief therein.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table.

Windham's Estate.

Major-General Earle, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for enabling Trustees to make Leases, and grant Copies, and receive the Rents and Profits, of the Estates late of Sir Edward Windham Baronet, deceased, and Hopton Windham Esquire, deceased, during the Minority of Sir William Windham Baronet: And the same was received: and read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time Tomorrow Sevennight.

Escapes of Debtors.

Ordered, That Sir William Ashurst, Mr. Booth, Mr. Evelyn, Mr. Bockland, Mr. Clark, Mr. Henly, Mr. Blake, Mr. Cooper, Colonel Kirby, Mr. Foley, Sir Christopher Musgrove, Mr. Tredenham, be added to the Committee, to whom the Bill for the further Relief of Creditors in Cases of Escapes; and for preventing Escapes, and other Abuses in the Keepers of Gaols; is committed.

Lloyd's Nat.

An ingrossed Bill to naturalize William Lloyd Esquire, and others, was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act to naturalize William Lloyd Esquire, and others.

Ordered, That Mr. Brotherton do carry the Bill to the Lords, and desire their Concurrence thereunto.

King's Bench and Fleet Prisons.

A Petition of the poor Prisoners confined in the Prison-houses of the King's-Bench and Fleet was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Marshal, and Wardens, have brought into their respective Prisons such Crouds of Debtors, by Rules of Court, and Warrants upon fresh Pursuits, that Five or Six have been frequently locked up in a narrow Room, whereof Two only had the Benefit of a poor Bed, and the rest compelled to lie on the Ground; and that several, who are Artificers, and formerly had the Benefit of the Rules, and supported themselves by their Labour, are now so strictly confined, that some have died for Want, and the Survivors in a starving Condition; their Wives and Families turned a begging, without Hopes of Mercy from their cruel Creditors; neither doth the Marshal, or Warden, distinguish between those who have Effects, and refuse to make a just Satisfaction, and those who, by Losses in the late War, and other Accidents, are incapable; but all promiscuously are clapt up close, without Liberty of discharging even the Offices of Nature with Convenience; and that the present Lord Mayor will not permit the several Persons appointed to go with the usual Badge, Box, and Basket, to crave Alms for their Subsistence, but hath committed them to Bridewell: And praying the Consideration of the House therein; and that some Means may be found out for their Relief.

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, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

And it is referred to Sir Thomas Roberts, Sir John Bolls, Mr. Arnold, Sir Marmaduke Wyvell, Mr. Bowyer, Mr. Gery, Mr. Hedger, Sir William Hustler, Mr. Foley, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Cox, Mr. White, Mr. Bickerstaffe, Sir John Turner, Mr. Blofeild, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Kirby, Mr. Blaake, Mr. Pocklington, Mr. Phillips, Mr. Osborne, Mr. Jacob, Mr. Rowny, Lord Pawlett, Mr. Mason, Sir William Bowes, Mr. Taylor, Sir William Lowther, Sir Henry Gough, Mr. Brewer, Sir Matthew Andrews, Mr. Holt, Mr. Farrer, Mr. Cowper, Sir William Cowper, Mr. Kerkby, Mr. Vaughan, Mr. Tredenham; and all that serve for the City of London, and County of Surrey: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber: And have Power to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Lord Lisburn's Estate.

Ordered, That the Committee, to whom the ingrossed Bill from the Lords, intituled, An Act for the better settling the several Estates of the Right Honourable John Lord Viscount Lisburn, in the Kingdom of Ireland, and the Lady Viscountess his Wife, have Leave to sit in a Morning, but not beyond Ten a Clock.

Estates given to superstious Uses.

Mr. Pendarvis reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill for the better Discovery of Estates given to superstitious Uses was re-committed, That they had considered the Petitions to them referred; and made several Amendments to the Bill; which they had directed him to report to the House; which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were read.

Ordered, That the further Consideration of the said Report be adjourned till Friday Morning next.

Hawkes' Estate.

An ingrossed Bill to enable John Hawkes Gentleman to sell Lands, in the County of Salop, for Payment of his Debts, was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act to enable John Hawkes Gentleman to sell Lands, in the County of Salop, for Payment of Debts.

Ordered, That Mr. Newport do carry the Bill to the Lords, and desire their Concurrence thereunto.

Privilege of a Member in a Suit.

A Petition of Roger Kirkby Esquire, and Catharine his Wife, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the said Catharine was one of the Daughters and Co-heirs of Sir John Baker Baronet, deceased, and one of the Grand-daughters of Sir Robert Newton Baronet, deceased: That Sir Robert, by Will, dated 15 die September 1669, did give to the Petitioner Catharine's Mother all his Manors of East and West Barning, in the County of Kent, for Life; and, after her Decease, to Elizabeth Baker, the Petitioner's Sister, and her Heirs, who hath since married Robert Spencer Esquire; upon Trust, to pay the Petitioner 700 l. within Three Years after her Mother's Decease, with Interest at 4 l. per Cent. per Annum; or, in Default, to enter on the Premises, and receive the Rents and Profits thereof until satisfied the 700 l. with Interest, and Costs sustained in recovering the same: That Dame Elizabeth Howard, the Petitioner Catharine's Mother, died the 18th of November 1693; whereby the Three Years for Payment of the Money is elapsed; and Robert Spencer, and Elizabeth his Wife, have mortgaged the Premises to William Stringer, a Member of the House; who, for Non-payment of the Money borrowed thereupon, hath been in Possession for Two Years past, though he well knew the same were liable to the Petitioners Demands, as aforesaid: And praying, That Mr. Stringer may be ordered to wave his Privilege:

To which Mr. Stringer was heard; and declared, He did not insist upon his Privilege.

Fees in Courts of Law.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to consider of the Tables of the Fees which have been delivered in by the several Courts in Westminster-hall, and Clerks of the Peace and Assizes: And that they do examine the same; and report their Opinion, what thereof are fit to be continued, or taken for the future;

And it is referred to Sir John Bolls, Mr. Stringer, Mr. Gery, Mr. Newport, Mr. Drake, Sir Francis Massam, Mr. Sloan, Mr. Jeffreys, * * * *: And they are to meet at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chambers: And have Power to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir Robert Cotton have Leave to go into the Country for Ten Days, upon extraordinary Occasions.

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

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

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

Regulating Elections.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for the further regulating Elections of Members to serve in Parliament.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Mr. Cooper took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Mr. Cooper reported from the said Committee, That they had gone through the Bill, and made several Amendments; which they had directed him to report, when the House will please to receive same.

Ordered, That the Report be made upon Saturday Morning next.

Counterfeiting Coin.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for the better preventing the counterfeiting, clipping, and other diminishing, the Coin of this Kingdom, was committed, be made upon Friday Morning next.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned.

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