House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 26 April 1689

Veneris, 26 die Aprilis; 1° Willielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Excise on Beer.

A PETITION from several of the common Brewers within the Cities, Towns, and Cinque Ports of the County of Kent; complaining of the Gaugers returning of their Ale instead of Beer, to their great Damage; and praying to be relieved therein; was read.

Ordered, That the Petition do lie upon the Table, to be considered, when the Matter of the Revenue shall come under the Consideration of the House.

Duty on Tobacco.

A Petition of Merchants and Traders to Virginia from the Port of Bristoll; complaining of the Burden and Hardship they lie under, by the Impost of Three-pence per Pound, in the Year 1685, laid on Tobacco imported; and praying to be eased from the same; was read.

Ordered, That the Petition do lie upon the Table, to be considered, when the Matter of the Revenue shall come under the Consideration of the House.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir John Doyley have Leave to go into the Country, for a Fortnight, for his Health.

Orphans of London.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for Relief for the Orphans of the City of London.

Wye, &c. Navigation.

A Bill to make the Rivers of Wye and Lugg in the County of Hereford, navigable, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Paul Foley, Sir Edw. Harley, Mr. Wogan, Mr. Hamden, Mr. Gwyn, Mr. Smith, Mr. Coningsby, Mr. Ettricke, Mr. Phil. Foley, Sir RobertSawyer, Mr. Bickerstaffe, Sir Edw. Crisnall, Lord Falkland, Sir Tho. Dyke, Mr. Colt, Sir John Guise, Mr. Tho. Foley, Sir John Knight, Sir Rich. Hart, Mr. Bromley, Sir Cha. Raleigh, Mr. Somers, Mr. Christy, Sir Christopher Musgrave, Sir Tho. Littleton, Sir Wm. Poultney, and all the Members that serve for the Counties of Glocester, Hereford, and Monmouth: And they are to meet on Monday next, at Four of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Exchequer Chamber.

Answer to Address.

Mr. Speaker acquaints the House, That the House attended his Majesty Yesterday with their Address: And that his Majesty was pleased to declare to this Effect: That he took the same very kindly; and that he would send an Answer in Writing this Morning: Which Mr. Speaker having received accordingly, he read the same; and is as followeth:

William R

I RECEIVE this Address as a Mark of the Confidence you have in me; which I take very kindly, and shall endeavour, by all My Actions, to confirm you in it.

I assure you, that My own Ambition shall never be an Argument to incline Me to engage in a War that may expose the Nation either to Danger or Expence.

But in the present Case, I look upon the War so much already declared, in Effect, by France against England, that it is not so properly an Act of Choice, as an inevitable Necessity, in our Defence.

I shall only tell you, that, as I have ventured My Life, and all that is dear to Me, to rescue This Nation from what it suffered, I am ready still to do the same, in order to the preserving it from all its Enemies. And, as I do not doubt of such an Assistance from you, as shall be suitable to your Advice to Me, to declare War against a powerful Enemy; so you may rely upon Me, that no Part of That which you shall give for the carrying it on with Success, shall be diverted by Me to any other Use.

Ordered, That the Address, and his Majesty's Answer, be printed.

Dissenters Toleration.

Ordered, That the ingrossed Bill, which came down from the Lords, intituled, An Act * * * * ; and the Bill for the Ease and Indulgence of Protestant Dissenters; be read the Second time on Tuesday Morning next, at Ten of the Clock; and nothing to intervene.

Supply Bill; Poll Tax.

A Bill for granting a Supply to their Majesties, by a Poll Bill, was read the Third time.

An Amendment being proposed to be made, between the Thirtieth and Thirty-first Lines, after the Word "Shillings," by inserting these Words, viz. "to be paid by the Lender, notwithstanding any Agreement to the contrary;"

The same were Thrice read, and agreed unto by the House.

A Clause was offered, to be made Part of the Bill, as a Rider, That every one of Five hundred Pounds Estate shall pay as much as a Gentleman is rated at, in respect of his Title:

A Debate arose thereupon, Whether, in regard the same was to lay a new Tax, the same could be admitted, upon the Third Reading, after the Bill had passed the Committee of the whole House.

The Question being proposed, That the said Clause be read;

The Question was put, that That Question be now put;

And it passed in the Negative.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title thereof be, An Act for raising Money by a Poll, and otherwise, towards the reducing of Ireland.

Ordered, That Sir George Treby do carry the Bill up to the Lords, for their Concurrence.

A Message from the Lords by Sir Miles Cook and Sir Lacon Wm. Child;

Annulling Sidney's Attainder.

Mr. Speaker, The Lords have commanded us to acquaint this House, that they have passed a Bill, intituled, An Act for annulling and making void, the Attainder of Algernoon Sidney, Esquire; to which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

Cook's Estate.

And also, that they have passed the Bill, to enable Younger Cook, Esquire, to sell Lands to pay his Debts, and provide for his young Children; without any Alteration.

Taxing Shopkeepers.

A Motion being made, for taxing Shopkeepers, and others, having a clear personal Estate of Five hundred Pounds and upwards, as a Gentleman, in respect of his Title, is charged;

Resolved, That this House do, To-morrow Morning, at Ten of the Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of that Motion.

London Writ.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do grant his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to issue out a Writ, for the electing a Citizen to serve in this present Parliament for the City of London, in the room of * Love, Esquire, deceased.

Supply Bill; collecting Revenue.

A Bill for the preventing Doubts and Questions touching the Revenue, was read the Third time.

An ingrossed Clause was offered, as a Rider, to be added to the Bill for the enabling Informations in the Exchequer touching Goods seized: Which was Thrice read; and agreed unto by the House, to be made Part of the Bill.

An Amendment was proposed to be made in the Bill, in the Two-and-twentieth Line, of these Words, "other than such as are or shall be incurred, at or before the Twenty-fifth Day of March 1689:" Which was Thrice read; and agreed unto by the House.

Resolved, That the Bill, so amended, do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for preventing Doubts and Questions, concerning the Collecting the Public Revenue.

Ordered, That Sir Rich. Temple do carry up the Bill to the Lords, for their Concurrence.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.

Supply.

The Order, for the House to resolve into a Committee of the whole House, to take further Consideration of the Supply for the Navy, . . read.

Resolved, That this House do, To-morrow Morning, at Ten of the Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to take further Consideration of the Supply for the Navy: And that the Committee do, the first Business, consider how much of the Publick Revenue shall be applied towards the Supply of the Navy.

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