House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 15 February 1699

Mercurii, 15 die Februarii;

11° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Army Arrears.

A PETITION of several Soldiers, of the foreign Regiments, that have served in the late War of Ireland; together with several Tradesmen and Housekeepers, that have trusted the Officers of the said Regiments; was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners have considerable Arrears due to them for their said Service; and some of those Regiments were mostly paid off; but in Tallies which were left in the Hands of the Dutch Paymaster-General; who pretends he cannot pay the Petitioners without particular Orders from the respective Officers Debtors; who are beyond Sea, but have lately sent over Trustees to dispose of the said Tallies: And the Petitioners wanting a Precedent whereby to attach what is due to them, in the said Paymaster's Hands, they pray, That the PaymastersGeneral of the Dutch and French Regiments of Horse and Foot may be ordered not to pay any Arrears to the Colonels and Captains of their respective Regiments, until the Tradesmens Bills be answered, and the Soldiers accounted withal, or such other speedy Relief given for their Satisfaction as the House shall think meet.

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

Darcy's Estate.

Mr. Hammond, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for Sale of some Part of the Estate late of Sir Thomas Darcy, deceased, for Payment of Debts: And the same was received.

Ordered, That the Bill be read To-morrow Morning.

Hamborough Company.

A Petition of divers Merchants, Clothiers, and others, of the Town of Kingston upon Hull, and Places adjacent, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That a due Regulation in the Trade of exporting the English Woollen Manufactures to Germany would very much increase and improve the same; for that when the Hamborough Company had the sole Management of that Trade, it was carried on to the Publick Advantage; but since Foreigners have been concerned therein, the same is decayed, the said Manufactures have been debased, long Payments made, the Poor increased, and foreign Shipping employed; to our great Prejudice in general: And praying, That the said Company may be established in their Trade to Germany, exclusive of Foreigners; and may be injoined to admit all such of his Majesty's naturalborn Subjects into their Fellowship as shall desire the same, upon Payment of such moderate Fine as shall be thought fit.

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie upon the Table until the Report relating to the Hamborough Company shall be taken into Consideration.

Price's Estate.

A Bill to enable Edward Price Esquire to transfer a Charge of One thousand Pounds, for the Use of his younger Children, from an Estate in the County of Montgomery, to an Estate in the County of Hereford and Radnor, of better Value, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Price, Sir Abstrupus Danby, Mr. Gott, Mr. Smith, Mr. Osborne, Mr. Parker, Mr. Thornhagh, Sir Rich. Farrington, Mr. Bulkley, Mr. Harvey, Mr. Blofeild, Mr. How, Sir Robert Cotton, Mr. Carter, Sir Robert Eden, Mr. Henly, Mr. Bridges, Mr. Harley, Mr. Hughes, Sir John Bolles, Mr. Dyott, Mr. Gorge, Mr. Holmes; and all the Members that serve for Wales and Hereford: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Irish Arrears.

A Petition of Edward Williams and Tho. Oldershaw, in behalf of themselves, and other Troopers that served in the Regiment of Horse commanded by Colonel Langston, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That there are great Sums of Money due to them for their Irish Arrears; and they applied to their said Colonel to clear them, pursuant to several Proclamations; but he says, he will do nothing but what the Parliament shall oblige him to do: That, at his Majesty's Landing in the West, he gave a Gratuity of One Month's Pay to each of the Petitioners; but that was afterwards stopped out of their Subsistence: And, the Petitioners having Families in great Distress, they did, for Two Years successively, implore the Relief of this House; but Business of greater Moment prevented it: And praying, That they may be paid their Irish Arrears, and the said Gratuity of a Month's Pay.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Soldiers of Colonel Coot's Regiment is referred: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Preventing burning Houses, &c.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for the better preventing the malicious burning and destroying Houses, Buildings, Fences, Corn, Hay, Grass, and other Improvements: And that Mr. Price and Mr. Gorge de prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir Francis Drake have Leave to go into the Country for Six Weeks, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Exporting Wool.

A Petition of the Merchants, Clothiers, and Traders in the Woollen Manufactory, and other Inhabitants, in and about the Town of Leeds, in the County of York, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That notwithstanding the many good Laws for preventing the Exportation of our Wool, yet that evil Practice cannot be prevented, unless a Fund be raised for Payment of a competent Salary to Officers employed for that Purpose: And praying, That Encouragement may be given to the Officers employed in putting the Laws in due Execution for preventing the Exportation of Wool.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee appointed to consider which way to prevent the exporting Wool from England and Ireland to foreign Parts; and to consider of the properest Ways to encourage the Woollen Manufacture of this Kingdom.

Exporting Wool.

A Petition of the Merchants, Clothiers, and other Traders, in the Woollen Manufactory, in and about the Town of Hallifax, in the County of York, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Exportation of our Wool is of pernicious Consequence to this Kingdom; and though many Acts of Parliament have been made to prevent the same, yet it cannot be effectually done, unless some Fund were provided to pay Salaries to Officers employed for that Purpose: And praying, That a Fund may be raised for the Encouragement of the Officers employed for preventing the Exportation of Wool.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee appointed to consider which way to prevent the exporting Wool from England and Ireland to foreign Parts; and to consider of the properest Ways to encourage the Woollen Manufactures of this Kingdom.

Ditto.

A Petition of the Merchants, Clothiers, and other Traders, in the Woollen Manufactory, in and about the Town of Wakefield, in the County of York, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That many good Acts have been made to prevent the Exportation of English Wool; yet that evil Practice . . . . . . . cannot effectually be put in Execution, unless some Fund be raised for Payment of a competent Salary to Officers employed for that Purpose: And praying the House to make some Provision for the Encouragement of Officers employed to prevent the Exportation of Wool.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee appointed to consider which way to prevent the Exportation of Wool from England and Ireland to foreign Parts; and to consider of the properest Ways to encourage the Woollen Manufacture of this Kingdom.

Members summoned.

Ordered, That the Serjeant do go with the Mace into Westminster-hall, and Court of Requests, and summon the Members there to attend the Service of the House.

And he went accordingly.

And, being returned;

Price of Gold and Silver, and Currency of Guineas.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Price of Gold.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

The House being acquainted, That there was a Difference in the Committee who should take the Chair thereof;

Ordered, That Sir Godfrey Copley do take the Chair of the Committee.

Then the House resolved itself into the said Committee.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Sir Godfrey Copley took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Sir Godfrey Copley reported from the said Committee, That the Committee being acquainted, that a Copy of a Representation from the Commissioners of Trade, relating to the Difference of the Value of Gold and Silver, had been presented to the House; thereupon, they had directed him to move, That the said Copy might be laid before them; and that they might have Leave to sit again.

The Copy of the Representation from the Commissioners of Trade, relating to the Difference of the Value of Gold and Silver, presented to the House Yesterday, was read.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Representation be referred to the Committee of the whole House, who are to consider of the Price of Gold.

Resolved, That this House do immediately resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the Price of Gold.

The House resolved itself into the said Committee, accordingly.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Sir Godfrey Copley took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Sir Godfrey Copley reported from the said Committee, That they had come to a Resolution; which they had directed him to report, when the House will please to receive the same.

Ordered, That the said Report be made To-morrow Morning at Eleven a Clock.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.

State of the Navy.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Friday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the State of the Navy.

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