House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 14 April 1698

Jovis, 14 die Aprilis;

Decimo Gulielmi.

Prayers.

Escapes of Debtors.

ORDERED, That Sir Christopher Musgrave, Mr. Fleming, Mr. Kirkby, Mr. Tredenham be added to the Committee, to whom the Bill for Relief of Creditors in Cases of Escapes is committed.

Cleansing Rivers, &c.

A Bill to encourage the cleansing of Ports, Harbours, Roads, Bars, and Rivers, which may be made more navigable, of all such Obstructions as prejudice the Navigation thereof, was, according to Order, read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed upon the Debate of the House, to Sir John Wolstenholm, Sir Francis Massam, Sir John Bucknal, Sir Charles Gerrard, Sir Thomas Roberts, Mr. Blofeild, Mr. Freeman, Mr. Shackerly, Serjeant Bond, Sir Robert Cotton, Mr. York, Mr. Baldwyn, Mr. Kirkby, Mr. Foley, Sir Matthew Andrews, Mr. Frewen, Mr. Rowney, Mr. Lampton, Mr. Sandford, Mr. Harley, Mr. Mawdit, Mr. Gerrard, Mr. Neale, Mr. Machell, Sir Marmaduke Wyvell, Sir Charles Raleigh, Sir William Lowther, Sir Robert Burdet, Mr. Onslow, Sir Robert Clayton, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Bertie; and all the Members that serve for the Sea-Ports and Cinque-Ports: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Cleansing Rivers, &c.

A Petition of Captain John Poyntz was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That . . . Petitioner having invented several useful Engines for removing of Bars, and other Obstructions, that stop Ports or Rivers, did, in April 1694, obtain his Majesty's Letters Patents for the sole Use and Making thereof for Fourteen Years; and Four Years of the said Term being expired: And praying a Clause to the Bill for encouraging the cleansing Ports, Harbours, &c. may be added, for the adding Four Years more to his Term already granted.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the said Bill is committed: And that it be an Instruction to the said Committee, That they may receive a Clause for the enlarging the time in the said Patent, if they shall think it reasonable.

Turnor's Estate.

An ingrossed Bill for supplying a Defect in a Conveyance lately made by Sir Edw. Turnor, and Charles Turnor Esquire, his Son, for the more effectual securing the Sum of 12,000 l. and Interest, upon their Estate, was read the Third time.

And an ingrossed Clause was offered, as a Rider, That when the said Paul Jodrell and John Brockett, or the Survivor, shall have raised the said Sum of 12,000 l. by Mortgage, nothing therein shall debar such Mortgagees from the Remedies that Mortgagees commonly have for obtaining the Monies so to be let, and Interest, by gaining Possession of the Estate, and by foreclosing the Equity of Redemption, and otherwise; and, that, when the Premises in the Counties of Norfolke and Suffolke shall be sold, towards the discharging of the said 12,000 l. and Interest, then the Residue, that shall be undischarged, and all Interest due for the same, whether turned into Principal or not, shall be in the same Condition as the Whole was before, as to the Interest thereof becoming Principal by Default of timely Payment, or by Assignment; and the Residue of the Premises, in the said Term of 2,000 Years, comprised, after such Sale made, shall remain charged with Payment of the Residue of the said Money, in such Manner, and which such Benefits, to the Mortgagees, as the whole Premises were chargeable with the whole Monies before such Sale:

And the same was thrice read; and, upon the Question thereupon put, agreed unto by the House to be made Part of the Bill.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for supplying a Defect in a Conveyance lately made by Sir Edward Turner, and Charles Turner Esquire, his Son, for the more effectual securing the Sum of Twelve thousand Pounds, and Interest, upon their Estate.

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

Lord Lisburne's Estate.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for the better settling the several Estates of the Right Honourable John Lord Viscount Lisburne, in the Kingdom of Ireland, and the Lady Viscountess his Wife, was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass.

Ordered, That the Lord William Pawlett do carry the Bill to the Lords, and acquaint them, That this House hath agreed to the same, without any Amendment.

Restraining Expence of Law Suits.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act to restrain the great Expence and Length of Suits, in the Courts of Law and Equity, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time upon Saturday Sevennight, at Twelve a Clock.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir William Strickland have Leave to go into the Country, upon extraordinary Occasions.

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

Ordered, That Mr. Varney have Leave to go into the Country, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Ordered, That Sir Henry Parker have Leave to go into the Country, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Ways and Means.

Sir Thomas Littleton, according to Order, reported from the Committee of the whole House, to whom it was referred to consider further of Ways and Means for raising the Supply granted to his Majesty, the Resolutions; 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; and are as follow; viz.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That, towards the Supplies granted to his Majesty, there be a Tax laid, by a quarterly Poll, for One Year.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That all and every Person and Persons do pay the Sum of Twelve-pence quarterly, for One Year.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That there be excepted such Persons who shall receive Alms of the Parish where they dwell, and their Children, being under the Age of Sixteen Years.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That there be also excepted all poor Housekeepers and Householders, who, by reason of their Poverty only, are exempted from contributing to the Church and Poor, and their Children, being under the Age of Sixteen Years.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That there be also excepted all Children, being under the Age of Sixteen Years, of all Day-Labourers, and of all Servants in Husbandry.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That there be excepted also all Children, being under the Age of Sixteen Years, of such who have Four or more Children, and are not worth in Lands, Goods, and Chattles, the Sum of 50 l.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That every Gentleman, or Person so reputed, or owning or writing himself such, having an Estate, in the Whole, either real or Personal, of the clear Value of 300 l. or more; and every Person above that Quality, and not a Peer of this Realm; do pay the Sum of 20 s. quarterly, for One Year.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That all Widows, having a Dower, or Jointure, of the clear yearly Value of 100 l. or more, or being worth, in the Whole, the clear Sum of 1,000 l.; and all unmarried Women, being worth, in the Whole, in any Estate, real or personal, the clear Sum of 1,000 l.; do pay the Sum of 20 s. quarterly, for One Year.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That every Cursitor, Philazer, Attorney, Solicitor, Clerk in Chancery or Exchequer, or other Court of Law or Equity, or Scrivener, or practising as such; and every Chancellor, Commissary, Official, and Register; and every Advocate, Proctor, and Publick Notary, or practising as such; and all other Officers in any Court; do pay the Sum of 20 s. quarterly, for One Year.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That all Merchants, and Brokers to Merchants, do pay the Sum of 20 s. quarterly, for one Year.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That every Clergyman, not being a Lord Spiritual, having or receiving, in or by any Benefice or Contribution, or otherwise, 60 l. per Annum, or upwards, do pay the Sum of 20 s. quarterly, for One Year.

Ways and Means.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That every Preacher or Teacher in any Congregation whatsoever, not having taken Orders according to the Discipline of the Church of England, other than French Protestants, do pay the Sum of 20 s. quarterly, for One Year.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That every Preacher or Teacher in any Congregation whatsoever, not having taken Orders according to the Discipline of the Church of England, other than French Protestants, receiving in any Contribution, or otherwise, the Sum of 150 l. per Annum, or upwards, do pay double the said Sum of 20 s. quarterly, for One Year.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That every Clergyman, having more than one Benefice, or Ecclesiastical Promotion, being in the Whole of the yearly Value of 150 l. or upwards, do pay double the Sum charged upon other Clergymen.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That every Tradesman, Shopkeeper, and Vintner, having an Estate in the Whole of the clear Value of 300 l. and upwards, do, over and above the said Sum of One Shilling, pay the Sum of 10 s. quarterly, for One Year.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That every Person, who, by reason of his or her Estate, is charged, or, by any Law now in being, is chargeable, to find an Horse and Horseman, with Arms, to serve in the Militia of this Kingdom, over and above all other Sums chargeable upon him, or her, do, for each and every Horse so charged, or chargeable, pay the Sum of 20 s. quarterly, for One Year; and so proportionably as every Person is contributing towards finding Horse and Arms.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That every Person not finding, nor contributing to the finding, of an Horse and Horseman, with Arms, who keeps a Coach, Chariot, or Calash, over and above all other Sums chargeable, do pay the Sum of 20 s. quarterly, for One Year.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That every Lord, Spiritual or Temporal, of this Realm, do, over and above any Sum he is chargeable with, as aforesaid, pay the Sum of 10 l. quarterly, for One Year.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That every Gentleman, or so reputed, or owning or writing himself such, or being above that Quality, and under the Degree of a Peer of this Realm, and having an Estate of the Value of 300 l. and being of the Age of Sixteen Years, and upwards, and within the Realm, who shall not voluntarily appear, and take the Oaths appointed by the Act, made in the First Year of his Majesty's Reign, intituled, An Act for the abrogating the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance, and appointing other Oaths, do pay double the Sums they are before charged with, quarterly, for One Year.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That all Persons nominated for Commissioners in the Act for granting to his Majesty the Sum of One million Four hundred Eighty-four thousand and Fifteen Pounds One Shilling Eleven pence Three Farthings, this Year, for any County at large, do pay the Sum of 20 s. quarterly, for One Year.

The Three first of the said Resolutions, being severally read a Second time, were, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

The Fourth Resolution being read a Second time;

An Amendment was proposed to be made, by leaving out "and," after "Church," and, instead thereof, inserting "or:"

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

Resolved, That this House doth agree with the Committee in the said Resolution, so amended, That there be also excepted all poor Housekeepers and Householders, who, by reason of their Poverty only, are exempted from contributing to the Church or Poor, and their Children, being under the Age of Sixteen Years.

The other Resolutions, to the last, being severally read a Second time, were, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

The last Resolution being read a Second time;

An Amendment was proposed to be made therein, by leaving out "for any County at large:"

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

Resolved, That the House doth agree with the Committee in the said Resolution, so amended, That all Persons nominated for Commissioners in the Act for granting to his Majesty the Sum of One million Four hundred Eighty-four thousand and Fifteen Pounds One Shilling Eleven-pence and Three Farthings, this Year, do pay the Sum of 20 s. quarterly, for One Year.

Ordered, That a Bill be brought in upon the said Resolutions: And that Mr. Attorney-General, Mr. SolicitorGeneral, and Mr. Lowndes, do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

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

Mr. Speaker,

Cary's Estate.

The Lords have passed a Bill, intituled, An Act for vesting a Moiety of certain Messuages and Lands in Hackney, in the County of Middlesex, in Trustees, for the Benefit of Susanna Cary, Widow, and Relict of Nicolas Cary Esquire, deceased, and others: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House. Also,

Houghton's Estate.

The Lords have agreed to the Bill, intituled, An Act for vesting the Manors of Bastwick and Laviles, in the County of Norffolke, Part of the Estate of John Houghton Esquire, in Trustees, to be sold, for discharging Debts charged thereon; and for settling another Estate in lieu thereof; without any Amendment.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Militia Regulation.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Bill to regulate and settle the Militia.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Sir Richard Onslow took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Sir Richard Onslow 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 this Day Sevennight, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the said Bill.

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