House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 27 March 1678

Mercurii, 27 die Martii, 1678.

Prayers.

Lyndsey Level.

ORDERED, That the Cause concerning Lyndsey Level be heard the Thursday after the Day appointed for the Call of the House.

T. Williams' Jointure.

Mr. Eyres reports from the Committee to whom the Bill to enable the Sons of Sir Trevor Williams to settle Jointures upon their Wives, was committed, That the Committee had carefully perused the Bill, and examined the Settlements therein mentioned; and had returned the Bill without any Amendments.

Resolved, &c. That the Bill be ingrossed.

Exporting Wool, &c.

Mr. Powle reports from the Committee to whom the Consideration of the Bill to prevent the Exportation of Wool, was committed; as also to consider of the Encouragement of the Woolen Manufacture; and of the Abuses of the Aulnage and Alum Patent; That the Committee had taken the Matter concerning the Aulnage into their Consideration; and had ordered him to make this Report:

That it appeared, by the Examination of several Witnesses, That the Aulnagers had entered into the Shops of several Packers, Drapers, and other Retalers of Cloth and Woolen Manufactures; and had seized their Goods, as forfeited; and exhibited Informations against them in the Exchequer, whereby they had been put to great Charge and Trouble: And that the Aulnagers, by these means, had made them enter into yearly Compositions with them to free their Shops from Searchers; some at Five Shillings or Ten Shillings by the Year, and others at Twenty or Forty Shillings by the Year.

That the Charges these Examiners have been put to, hath come . . Twenty, Forty or Fifty Pounds; when the Duty that was demanded, if it were due, did not exceed Two or Three Shillings.

That some of them have had their Goods seized, as they were carrying them upon the Road in Waggons, or in Carriers Packs; and the Goods detained, and they put to great Charges, before they could get Restitution.

That many of them have produced Witnesses, to prove the Goods were sealed, and had the Seals upon them, when they were bought; and yet had been prosecuted by the Aulnagers.

That many of their Cloths came up rough out of the Country with their Seals upon them; but that when they were roved and drest here, the Seals were often broken off in the Working, and they were not able to help it: And, in dying of their Cloths into light Colours, they were fain to take off the Seals; or otherwise, where-ever the Seal touched, there would be a Spot or Stain in it.

Whereupon the Committee came to these Resolutions:

Resolved, &c. That the Subsidy of Aulnage, and the Aulnagers Fee, ought to be paid by the first Makers of the Woolen Manufactures of this Kingdom; and not by the Retalers, or any other Person whatsoever.

Resolved, &c. That the Aulnagers Searching of Waggons and Carriers Packs upon the Highway is an Abuse.

Resolved, &c. That the Aulnagers making Factors, Drapers, and other Retalers, to pay yearly Compositions for not searching their Shops, is an Abuse.

Resolved, &c. That, in the Opinion of this Committee, the Abuses are fit to be redressed by a Bill to be brought in for that Purpose.

And the said Report and Votes, being delivered in at the Clerk's Table, were then read: And the Votes, being read a Second time, were, upon the Question, severally agreed to.

Resolved, &c. That the Subsidy of Aulnage, and the Aulnagers Fee, ought to be paid by the first Makers of the Woolen Manufactures of this Kingdom; and not by the Retalers, or any other Person whatsoever.

Resolved, &c. That the Aulnagers Searching Waggons, and Carriers Packs, upon the Highways, is an Abuse.

Resolved, &c. That the Aulnagers making Factors, Drapers, and other Retalers, to pay yearly Compositions for not searching their Shops, is an Abuse.

Resolved, &c. That these Abuses are fit to be redressed, by a Bill to be brought in for that Purpose.

Ordered, That it be referred to Mr. Powle, Colonel Birch, and Sir Geo. Downing, to prepare and bring in a Bill accordingly, pursuant to the said Votes.

Samine's Estate.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir John Coell and Sir Miles Cooke;

Mr. Speaker, The House of Peers have sent us down, to acquaint you, That they have agreed to the Amendments, made by this House, to the Bill to enable Trustees to sell Lands for Payment of the Debts of John Samine.

Exporting Wool.

Mr. Powle reports from the Committee to whom the Consideration of the Bill to prevent the Exportation of Wool, is referred; as also to consider of the Encouragement of the Woolen Manufactures, and of the Abuses of the Aulnage and Alum Patents; That the Committee had taken the Manufacture of Tapestry Hangings into their Consideration; and summoned Francis Poynes, the King's Tapestry-maker, living in Hatton Garden: Who informed the Committee, That there is yearly carried beyond Sea a Hundred thousand Pounds Weight of Wool at the least, for making of Tapestry Hangings; our Wool being much the best for that Purpose:

That there are, at least, Ten thousand Persons employed in working of them; and the Value of their Goods comes to not less than One hundred thousand Pounds a Year:

That the principal Places for making them are at Antwerpe, Bruges, Gaunt, and Oudenard.

That the King of France, some Years since, set up this Manufacture at Bouvay in France; and brought divers Workers thereof out of Flanders thither: But, at this time, the Trade there is almost totally decayed, and the Manufacturers that are left, desirous to remove.

That there are some made in Holland; but no great Quantity.

That, considering the ill Condition of Flanders, and the Decay of the Trade at Bouvay, he did believe, that if there were some Encouragement given to those Manufacturers to come and settle in this Kingdom, they would remove themselves hither; and thereby we might gain the Manufactory wholly to ourselves.

That the Committee took Occasion, from this Proposal, to debate several other Matters of the like Kind; and, at last, came to this Resolution.

Resolved, &c. That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the House be moved, that a Bill be brought in, to encourage all Protestant Strangers, Artificers in Tapestry, or other Manufactures made of or mixed with Wool, to come and settle in this Kingdom; and to be naturalized; and to have Liberty to exercise their Trades here, and to enjoy like Privileges with the French and Dutch Churches; all such Persons first subscribing the Declaration contained in the Act for the suppressing the Growth of Popery.

And the said Report and Vote, being delivered in at the Clerk's Table, were there read.

Resolved, &c. That it be referred to the Committee to whom the Bill for impowering and licensing Protestant Strangers to exercise their Trades in the several Places therein mentioned, is committed, to take the said Report and Vote into their Consideration; and to alter and amend the said Bill, pursuant to the said Vote; and make it general, to extend to all Protestant Strangers whatsoever, and not to the French Protestants only: And the Persons, to whom the Matter concerning the Woolen Manufactory is referred, are to take into Consideration the Letts and Hindrances of the Encouragement of making of Tapestry Hangings: And the Committee have Power to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Answer to Address.

Mr. Secretary Coventry acquaints the House, That, in pursuance of the Order of the House, those Members of this House, that were of his Majesty's Privy Council, had attended his Majesty with the Address of this House, to desire a Recess: And that his Majesty was pleased to appoint, that this House might adjourn until To-morrow Fortnight, being the Eleventh Day of April.

Regulating the Poor.

Ordered That Sir Charles Harbord have Leave to bring in a Bill for better Regulating of the Poor.

Herring's Estate.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cooke and Sir John Francklyn;

Mr. Speaker, The Lords have commanded us to acquaint you, That they have agreed to the Bill to enable Trustees to sell Lands for Payment of the Debts of John Herring, deceased, without any Amendment.

Growth of Popery.

The House then, according to their Order, took into Consideration the Danger the Church of England is in, by the Growth of Popery.

The House being informed, that Mass is publickly said in several Places within the County of Monmouth; and that there is one Mr. Arnold at the Door, ready to make the same out;

A Paper, containing an Information of several Popish Priests and Jesuits, and the Persons that do countenance and support them, was delivered in to Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Arnold was called in to the Bar of the House; and asked divers Questions by Mr. Speaker, touching the Matters contained in the Paper delivered in to Mr. Speaker; and also touching several other Things: And having given his Answer; and being withdrawn;

One Capt. Scudamore was called in to the Bar; and asked several Questions, by Mr. Speaker, concerning one Elliot a Popish Priest, formerly committed to Gaol by the said Capt. Scudamore.

And he having given his Answer; and being withdrawn;

Ordered, That the Thanks of this . . . . be given to Mr. Arnold and Mr. Scudamore, for their Informations this Day given to the House of the Growth of Popery.

And Mr. Arnold and Mr. Scudamore being called in to the Bar of the House; Mr. Speaker did, in a short and eloquent Speech, give them the Thanks of the House accordingly.

A Debate being in the House, That a Conference may be had with the Lords, concerning the Danger the Nation is in by the Growth of Popery, and for providing Remedies to prevent the same; and that a Committee may be appointed to draw up Heads for the said Conference;

The Question being put, That the said Debate be adjourned;

The House divide.

The Yeas go forth.

And so it passed in the Negative.

Resolved, &c. That a Conference be desired with the Lords, concerning the Danger the Nation is in by the Growth of Popery; and for providing Remedies to prevent the same.

An Address of the Twentieth of February 1670, touching the Growth of Popery, with Heads and Reasons thereto, was read.

Resolved, &c. That it be referred to a Committee to consider of the said Address and Heads; and thereout, and upon the Debates of the House, to prepare and draw up Reasons to be offered at the Conference.

And it is referred to Sir Tho. Meeres, Col. Birch, Sir Chr. Harbord, Sir John Knight, Lord Cavendish, Sir John Trevor, Sir Tho. Clergis, Mr. Browne, Sir Fr. Rolles, SerjGregory, Sir Trevor Williams, Sir Tho. Lee, Mr. Powle, Sir Tho. Littleton, Sir Rich. Temple, Mr. Vaughan, Mr. Hopkins, Mr. May, Sir John Hotham, Sir Wm. Wentworth, Sir Adam Brown, Sir Tho. Higgons, Mr. Vane, Sir Hen. Capell, or any Five of them: And they are to meet at Three of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber: And have Power to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Ordered, That the Committee last appointed do summon Mr. Arnold and Mr. Scudamore, and do take their Answers to the Paper this Day delivered in to Mr. Speaker.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees, except the Committee last appointed, which is to sit this Afternoon only, be adjourned during the Recess.

Committee of Privileges.

Ordered, That the Causes now depending before the Committee of Elections and Privileges, be put off Fourteen Days from the time they would have been heard in Course, as they now stand before the Committee: And that Sir Tho. Meeres, Chairman of the said Committee, be impowered to give Notice thereof to all Parties concerned therein; and to appoint them particular Days; and issue out Summons accordingly.

Protection rescinded.

Ordered, That, after this Day, the Protection of this House be taken off from Thompson and Nelthrop, and other the Bankrupts, during the Recess.

Call of the House.

Ordered, That the House be called over on Tuesday the Sixteenth of April next.

Ordered, That the Clerk of the House do give Notice to the several Sheriffs, to signify to all the Members of this House in each County, That they give their Attendance on Thursday the Eleventh of April next: And that the House is to be Called the Tuesday following; at which time all that are absent shall incur the Displeasure of the House.

And then the House adjourned till Thursday the Eleventh Day of April next, Eight of the Clock in the Morning.