House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 21 December 1698

Mercurii, 21 die Decembris;

10° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Marshal of King's Bench.

A PETITION of Thomas Seviar Gentleman, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That William Lenthall Esquire, being seised, in Fee, of the Office of Marshal of the King's-Bench, in November 1684, articled to grant the Petitioner the said Office, with the Perquisites, for his Life, at 1,600 l. per Annum Rent; but Lentall not performing the said Articles, the Petitioner, in 1694, exhibited his Bill in Chancery, to compel the Performance thereof, and before the Cause could be determined, an Act of Parliament passed, wherein there was a Clause relating to the said Office, in Prejudice of the Petitioner's Right, without Notice; so that Equity could not relieve the Petitioner: And thereupon, he applied himself to this House, the last Session of Parliament, by Petition; which was referred to a Committee; who reported, That the Petitioner had paid Lentall above 200 l. in pursuance of the said Articles; and that Seviar had spent 3,000 l. in prosecuting, for the Benefit of them; and ought to be relieved: Whereupon, the House gave Leave to bring in a Clause for the Petitioner's Relief; which, being added to a Bill near the End of that Sessions, did not pass, for want of Time: Since which the Petitioner hath obtained Judgment for above 2,000 l. Damages, on an Action, upon the said Articles, without any Regard to his Costs, which come to above 3,000 l.: And, notwithstanding all these Proceedings, the Petitioner is remediless, without the Aid of an Act of Parliament, to provide against the said Clause in the former Act, which otherwise will be his utter Ruin: And praying, That Leave may be given to bring in a Bill to repeal the said Clause in an Act, passed in the 8th and 9th Year of his Majesty's Reign, for the more effectual Relief of Creditors in Cases of Escapes; and for preventing Abuses in Prisons, and pretended privileged Places.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill, according to the Prayer of the said Petition: And that the Lord Cornbury and Mr. Shackerly do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Yarmouth Harbour.

A Bill for Continuance of the Act for cleansing, preserving, maintaining, and repairing, the Haven and Pier of Great Yarmouth, in the County of Norfolk, was read a Second time:

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. England, Mr. Blofeild, Sir Wm. York, Sir John Phillips, Sir Robert Cotton, Mr. Mounstevens Sir Wm. Phippard, Mr. Hamond, Mr. Thornhagh, Mr. Atkinson, Mr. Yates, Mr. Jolly, Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Clayton, Mr. Eyres, Sir Robert Eden, Mr. Vernon, Mr. Calthrop, Lord Downe, Mr. Whitchcot, Sir Clo. Shovell, Mr. Sargeson, Mr. Foley, Mr. Barnardiston, Mr. Bull, Mr. Hayes, Mr. Osborne, Mr. Chetwyn, Mr. Methwyn, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Gorge, Mr. Foley, Mr. Duke, Mr. Perry, Mr. York, Sir Robert Cotton; and all that serve for the * * * *

Preventing Export of Corn, &c.

A Bill to prohibit the Exportation of Corn, Meal, and Bread, for One Year, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed, upon the Debate of the House, 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.

Disbanding the Army.

Mr. Conyers reported from the Committee, to whom it was referred to prepare, and bring in, a Bill for disbanding the Forces, That they had prepared a Bill accordingly; which they had directed him to present to the House: Which he did: And the same was received; and read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time Tomorrow at Twelve a Clock.

List of the Navy, &c.

Sir Robert Rich, according to Order, presented to the House, from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, A List of the Ships the Royal Navy is composed of; and in what Condition they are in, as to Repair: And also,

An Account how the Ten thousand Men, allowed the last Year by the Parliament, are employed:

And also acquainted the House, That the Account of the new-erected Employments, and Increase of Salaries; relating to the Navy, cannot be ready till To-morrow; and the Account of the Money given and paid for the Use of the Navy, and the Accounts that have passed concerning the same, cannot possibly be ready till after the Holidays.

Which List and Account are as follow; viz.

20th December 1698.

A LIST of the Ships the Royal Navy is composed of; and in what Condition they are, as to Repair.

Ordered, That the said List, and Account, presented to the House, do lie upon the Table, to be perused by the Members of the House.

Ships in Pay, and Accounts relating to the Navy.

Ordered, That the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty do lay before this House a List of the Ships that were in Sea-Pay the First Day of January 1697; and an Account of what was then due, and in Arrear of Pay, to those Ships; and also, of what hath been paid to them since that Time; and where the said Ships then were.

Ordered, That the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty do lay before this House an Account of what Ships have been sitted out since the Peace was proclaimed; and of their Stations.

Ordered, That the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty do lay before this House an Account when the East and West-India, and Straits, Squadron were ordered to sail, and did sail.

Ordered, That the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty do lay before this House an Account how the said Squadrons were victualled at their going out, and in what Method, and by whom; and also, how, and by whom, they were, or are to be, victualled, during their Continuance abroad.

Ordered, That the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty do lay before this House an Account of what Money was paid to each of the said Squadrons upon their going out; and of what is still due to them.

State of the Navy.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Monday Sevennight, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the State of the Navy.

Encouraging Woollen Manufacture.

Sir Edward Seymour, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill to encourage the Woollen Manufacture in England; and to restrain the Exportation of Woollen Manufactures from Ireland into any foreign Parts; and for the better preventing the Exportation of Wool from England and Ireland:

And the same was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Lapell's Nat.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for naturalizing Mr. Peter Lapell: And that Mr. Boyle do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Westminster Election.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee of Privileges and Elections, touching the Election for the City of Westminster, be made To-morrow Morning.

Privilege of Witnesses.

A Complaint being made to the House, That one Wm. Woollaston, a Witness at the Committee of Privileges and Elections, upon Monday last, was arrested, as he went from the said Committee, by one * Leicester, and his Follower, who still detain him in their Custody; in Breach of the Privilege of this House;

Ordered, That the said * Leicester, and his Follower, do attend the House To-morrow Morning, and bring with them the said William Woollaston.

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