House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 20 March 1689

Mercurii, 20 die Martii; 1° Willielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Graham and Burton's Accounts.

ORDERED, That Sir Cha. Raleigh, Sir Rob. Clayton, Sir Hen. Goodrick, Sir Tho. Dyke, Sir Rob. Nappier, Sir Wm. Cooper, Mr. Edw. Windham, Mr. Papilion, Lord Downe, Sir Wm. Cooke, Mr. England, Mr. Cooke, Mr. Trafford, Mr. Herbert, Mr. Sandford, Sir Gilbert Clerke, Mr. Leveson Gowre, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Bickerstaffe, Lord Digby, Col. Mildmay, Mr. Fenwick, Mr. Gwyn, be added to the Committee appointed to examine the Cases of Mr. Graham, Mr. Burton, and the other Prisoners in the Tower, Newgate, and the Gatehouse; and, as they find Occasion, to prepare Accusations against them; and report the same to the House.

Removing Papists.

Ordered, That the Committee, to whom the Bill for the removing Papists, and reputed Papists, from the Cities of London and Westminster, and Ten Miles Distance from the same, is referred, be revived; and do sit this Afternoon, at Five a Clock, in the former Place: And that there be added to the same, Lord Digby, Sir Hen. Goodrick, Lord Downe, Sir Tho. Darcye, Mr. Fenwicke, Mr. Bickerstaffe, Mr. Thomson, Mr. Williams, Sir Wm. Poultney, Sir. Fra. Russell, Mr. Lampton, Mr. Cooke, Sir Jos. Tredenham, Mr. England, Mr. Leveson Gowre, Sir Tho. Littleton, Mr. Lee, Sir Wm. Cooke, Sir Tho. Pope Blount, Mr. Cooke.

London Out Parishes Courts of Conscience.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for erecting Courts of Conscience in the Out Parishes of London, and in Southwarke.

And the Bill being offered;

Ordered, That the Bill do lie upon the Table.

Abolishing Hearth-money.

Resolved, That a Bill for taking away the Revenue arising by Hearth-money, be now read a Second time.

The Bill was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Papillion, Lord Falkland, Sir Fra. Russell, Sir Jos. Tredenham, Lord Downe, Sir Hen. Goodrick, Mr. Foley, Mr. Wogan, Mr. Bickerstaffe, Mr. Finch, Mr. Buckley, Mr. Sandford, Sir Wm. Cooke, Sir John Knight, Mr. England, Mr. Reignolds, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Dorrell, Mr. Ash, Sir Rob. Rich, Sir Ralph Dutton, Mr. Christy, Sir Christopher Musgrave, Mr. Trenchard, Mr. Gwyn, Mr. Dowdswell, Mr. Bockland, Mr. Vaughan, Sir Gilb. Clerke, Mr. Grey, Mr. Hunt, Sir Tho. Littleton, Mr. Hamden, Mr. Thomson, Mr. Fenwick, Mr. Finch: And that it be an Instruction to the Committee, that a Clause be brought in, to reserve to their Majesties the Duty due at Lady-day next: And they are to meet To-morrow in the Afternoon, at Four of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Prideaux's Claim on Lord Jeffreys.

A Petition of Edmund Prideaux, Esquire, of Ford Abby, was read.

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to consider of the said Petition; and examine the Matter of Fact thereof; and report the same to the House.

And it is referred unto Mr. Hamden, Mr. Gwyn, Lord Falkland, Sir Christopher Musgrave, Mr. Foley, Sir Jos. Tredenham, Sir Walter Moyle, Sir Tho. Lee, Sir Rob. Clayton, Mr. Wogan, Mr. Bescowen, Sir Ralph Dutton, Sir Fra. Drake, Mr. Colt, Mr. Lee, Sir Walter Young, Mr. Hervey, Sir Hen. Goodrick, Mr. Ash, Mr. Coningsby, Mr. Somers, Mr. Musgrave, Sir Tho. Littleton, Sir Hen. Johnson, Mr. Mansell, Sir Fra. Russell: And they are to meet To-morrow in the Afternoon, at Four a Clock: And are impowered to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Regulating Trials.

An ingrossed Bill from the Lords, intituled, An Act for the Regulation of Trials, was read the First time.

And a Debate arising thereupon;

Resolved, That the Debate be adjourned until Monday Fortnight, Ten a Clock.

Supply Bill; granting a present Aid.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Adam Ottley and Mr. Methwyn;

Mr. Speaker, The Lords have sent us to acquaint this House, that the Lords have passed the Bill for the granting a present Aid to their Majesties.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. White Titchborne have Leave to go into the Country, his only Daughter lying a Dying.

A Motion was made, That Sir Thomas Mompesson have Leave to go into the Country, for a Week, upon urgent Occasions:

The Question was put, That he have such Leave.

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

And so it was resolved in the Negative.

Excise Revenue.

Colonel Birch, according to the Order of Yesterday, delivered in the Accompt of the Excise, according to his Books: Which Accompts were read; and are as followeth.

An Abstract of the gross and net Produce of the Excise of England and Wales, in Four Years, ending the 24th of June 1688.

Memorandum. The additional Duty upon Brandy and Strong Waters, which began the 1st of July 1685, is not included in these Accompts; which doth amount to 45,000£. per Annum.

The gross and neat Produce of the additional Excise upon Brandy imported, and inland Strong Waters, from the 1st of July 1685, at which time it first began, to the 24th of June 1688; viz.

Resolved, That the said Accompts be referred to the Committee of the whole House, who are to take into Consideration the Revenue, and the constant and necessary Charge of supporting the Crown.

Revenue of the Crown.

Sir Robert Howard, according to the Order of Yesterday, delivered in such Accompts and Estimates, as he conceived were necessary for the Service of the House: Which Accompts were read; and are as followeth:

Memorandum: The Principal and Interest to the Bankers and their Assigns, and the Interest of Monies borrowed.

Notes referring to the Estimate of the Expence of the Crown.

Navy.—In the last Four Years of King Charles the Second, the Charge of the Navy was never less than 400,000£. per Annum.

Houshold.—In King Charles the Second's Time computed at 107,006£.

Ordnance.—The Ordnance was always paid 1,000£. the Week, and 2,000£. the Quarter, which is per Annum 60,000£.

And this ordinary was never less; what was more, as in the Medium, was paid by peculiar Warrants.

Forces.—In the last Six Years of King Charles the Second, the Expence of the Force amounted to about 300,000£. per Annum.

Treasurer of the Chamber.—The annual Expence, in King Charles the Second's Time, when computed at 30,000£.

Robes.—King Charles the Second, when all Heads were retrenched, continued the Robes at the Expence of 5,000£. per Annum:

Pensions and Annuities.—By the Medium it appears, One Year's Payment 146,703£. 146,703£ 17s. 3d.

In these Years was 50,000£. paid to the Queen Consort every Year.

To the Queen Dowager 18,200£. yearly.

To the Prince and Princess of Denmark yearly 32,000£.:

But their Expences have exceeded this about 8,000£. a Year; which has been paid out of Bounty, in gross.

Privy Purse,—In King Charles the Second's Time the Privy Purse was computed at 30,000£. per Annum.

Impost Bills.— In King Charles the Second's Time, was 3,606£. per Annum.

Contingencies, &c. As Clerkships, Repairing the Highways, Law-suits, Liberties in the Exchequer, and other Casualties.

Resolved, That the said Accompts be referred to the Committee of the whole House, who are to take into Consideration the Revenue, and the constant and necessary Charge of supporting the Crown.

The House then, according to the Order of Yesterday, resolved into a Committee of the whole House, to take into Consideration the Revenue, and the constant necessary Charge of supporting the Crown, and the State of Ireland.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Mr. Hamden took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Mr. Hamden reports from the Committee of the whole House, That the Committee had taken into their Consideration the Revenue, and the constant necessary Charge of supporting the Crown, and the State of Ireland; and that they had come to several Resolutions: Which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same being read, are as follow:

Resolved, Nemine contradicente, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That there be a Revenue of 1,200,000£. per Annum settled upon their Majesties, for the constant necessary Charge of supporting the Crown in time of Peace.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the House be moved, to appoint a Committee to consider, and report to the House, what Sum may be necessary to allow, by the Year, for a Charge of a Summer and Winter Guard at Sea; and of Forces, and Office of Ordnance, in time of Peace, out of the 1,200,000£. per Annum.

The First of the said Resolves being read a Second time;

Resolved, Nemine contradicente, That the House do agree with the Committee, That there be a Revenue of 1,200,000£. per Annum settled upon their Majesties, for the constant necessary Charge of supporting the Crown in time of Peace.

The Second of the said Resolves being read a Second time;

An Amendment was proposed to be made therein, by leaving out these . . . ., "and of Forces;" and, instead thereof, to insert these Words, "and Guards and Garisons by Land:" And, upon the Question severally put thereupon, the House agreed to the same.

And the Question being proposed, That the House do agree to the Resolve, so amended;

The Question was put, That the Question be now put: And

It was resolved in the Affirmative.

The main Question being put, That the House do agree with the Committee in the said Resolve, so amended, That a Committee be appointed to consider and report to the House, what Sum may be necessary to allow, by the Year, for the Charge of a Summer and Winter's Guard at Sea, and Guards and Garisons by Land, and Office of Ordnance, in time of Peace, out of the 1,200,000£. per Annum;

The House divided.

The Noes go forth.

And so it was resolved in the Affirmative.

And it is referred unto Sir Hen. Johnson, Sir John Knight, Sir Christopher Musgrave, Mr. Papillion, Sir Jos. Tredenham, Sir Walter Young, Sir Wm. Williams, Mr. Sacheverell, Mr. Parker, Sir Rob. Davers, Sir Fra. Russell, Sir Hen. Goodrick, Mr. Herbord, Mr. Finch, Mr. Garway, Sir Wm. Yorke, Sir Rob. Howard, Mr. Palmes, Mr. Montague, Mr. Parkhurst, Major Wildman, Mr. Hamden, Mr. Boscowen, Mr. Musgrave, Lord Falkland, Sir Hen. Capell, Sir Tho. Clarges, Mr. Gwyn, Sir Ralph Dutton, Mr. Russell, Sir Matth. Andrews: And they are to meet at Eight of the Clock To-morrow Morning, in the Speaker's Chamber; and make their Report with all convenient Speed.

Mr. Hamden also acquainted the House, That he was directed to move the House, that it would, To-morrow Morning, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House to take into Consideration the State of Ireland.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning, at Ten of the Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to take into Consideration the State of Ireland.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned.

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