House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 23 February 1678

Sabbati, 23 die Februarii, 1677.

Prayers.

Thompson's, &c. Estates.

ORDERED, That Mr. Guy, Sir James Smith, Sir John Reresby, Mr. Collingwood, Lord Morpeth, Sir Rich. Wiseman, be added to the Committee to whom the Bill for the better Discovery of the Estates of Thompson and Nelthrop, and others, Bankrupts, is committed.

Geery's Estate.

Ordered, That the Committee to which the Bill on the Behalf of Mr. Geery is committed, be revived; and do sit this Afternoon, in the Place formerly appointed.

A Committee revived.

Ordered, That the Committee to whom the Bill on the Behalf of Mr. Hilliard is committed, be revived; and do sit this Afternoon, in the Place formerly appointed.

Ledbury Vicarage.

Ordered, That Sir John Hanmer, Sir Phil. Warwick, Mr. Buscowen, and Mr. Clark, be added to the Committee, to whom Ledbury Bill is committed.

Merchant's Estate.

A Bill to enable Trustees to sell Lands, for Payment of the Debts of Henry Merchant, a Lunatick, was read the First time.

Resolved, &c. That the Bill be read a Second time.

Woolen Manufacture.

Mr. Powle reports from the Committee to whom the Bill to prevent the Exportation of Wool was committed; and to whom it was referred to consider of Ways and Means for encouraging the Wearing of the Woolen Manufactures, for certain Months in the Year; and of regulating the Woolen Manufactory, and rectifying the Frauds and Abuses therein; That the Committee had taken the same into their Consideration; and had agreed upon some Votes to be reported to the House: Which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were twice read; and, upon the Question, severally agreed; and are as followeth;

Resolved, &c. That all Persons whatsoever be enjoined to wear no Garment, Stockings, or other sort of Apparel, but what is made of Sheeps Wool only, from the Feast of All Saints to the Feast of the Annunciation of our Lady, inclusive; that is to say, in any Cloaks, Coats, Doublets, Breeches, Waistcoats, Gowns, Petticoats, or any suchlike Garments, either for Men or Women; except Garments made of any Sort of Leather; under the Penalty of Ten Shillings a time and Forfeiture of the Garment, by Conviction; upon View of One Justice of Peace, Confession of the Party, or credible Proof upon Oath by one or more Witnesses, before One Justice of the Peace, or before the Mayor or other chief Magistrate in Corporations; so as the Information be within Eight Days after the Offence committed.

Resolved, &c. That the Justices of Peace in the General Quarter Sessions of their several Counties, and the Mayor and Aldermen, or other chief Magistrates, in their several Corporations, may have a Power to make By Laws, for the well making, regulating, and surveying, of all Manufactures made of or mixed with Wool, in their respective Counties and Corporations; and the Sealing or Marking of them, before they are exposed to Sale; under the Penalty of Forfeiture of the said Goods, or such Pecuniary Mulcts and Penalties, as to their Discretion shall seem meet and reasonable; not exceeding the Value of the said Goods.

Ordered, That a Bill be brought in, pursuant to the said Votes: And it is referred to Mr. Powle, Serj. Seis, Sir Geo. Downing, Col. Birch, Sir John Knight, and Sir Trevor Williams, to prepare and bring in the Bill accordingly.

Webly Election.

Mr. Williams reports from the Committee of Elections and Privileges, That the Committee had taken the Matter concerning the Election for the Borough of Webly in the County of Hereford, into their Consideration; and had examined the same; and agreed upon a Vote to be reported to the House: Which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same was read; and is as followeth; viz.

Resolved, &c. That Sir Tho. Williams is duly elected Burgess, to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Webly in the County of Hereford.

A Debate arising in the House, Whether the Sheriff had duly issued forth his Precept, pursuant to the Writ for making the said Election;

A Motion being made, That the Matter may be recommitted;

The Question being put, That the Matter of the said Election be re-committed;

The House divide.

The Yeas go forth.

And so it passed in the Negative.

The Question being put, To agree with the Committee, That Sir Thomas Williams is duly elected a Burgess, to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Webly in the County of Hereford;

It passed in the Negative.

Resolved, &c. That the Election for the Borough of Webly in the County of Hereford, is a void Election.

Webly Writ.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue out his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a new Writ, for the Electing of a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Webly in the County of Hereford, in the room of Sir Thomas Tompkins, deceased.

Newport Election

A Petition of Sir Walter Younge Baronet, complaining of an undue Return for the Borough of Newport in the County of Cornewall, was read.

Resolved, &c. That the said Petition be referred to the Consideration of the Committee of Privileges and Elections; to examine the Matter; and report the same, with their Opinions therein, to the House.

Ways and Means.

The House then resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to proceed further in the Consideration, of the manner of raising the Sum of Ten hundred thousand Pounds, for enabling his Majesty to enter into an actual War against the French King.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Sir Edw. Deering took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Sir Edw. Deering reports from the said Committee, That the Committee had taken the Matter referred to them into their Consideration; and had agreed upon a Vote for a Bill, and Heads for the same: Which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were twice read; and, upon the Question, severally agreed; and are as followeth:

Resolved, &c. That Part of the Ten hundred thousand Pounds, to be raised for enabling his Majesty to enter into an actual War against the French King, shall be raised by a Poll Bill.

I. That all Debts and ready Money shall be taxed in the said Bill.

II. That all Persons exercising any publick Office, Place, or Employment, shall be taxed in the said Bill.

III. That all Persons receiving any Pensions or Stipends from his Majesty, shall be taxed in the said Bill.

IV. That all Judges, and all Persons having any Judicial Office, or other Office or Place of Profit; and all Serjeants at Law, Counsellors, Attornies, Solicitors and Scriveners; and all Advocates, Proctors and Publick Notaries; and all Persons practising the Art of Physick; shall be taxed in the said Bill.

V. That all Servants, receiving Wages, shall be taxed in the said Bill.

VI. That all and every Person and Persons, other than such as receive Alms of the Parish; and the Children of such as receive Alms of the Parish, under the Age of Sixteen Years; shall be taxed in the said Bill.

VII. That all Dukes, Marquises, Earls, Viscounts, Barons, and their eldest Sons, shall be taxed in the said Bill.

VIII. That all Baronets, Knights of the Bath, and Knights Batchelors, shall be taxed in the said Bill.

IX. That all Esquires, or reputed Esquires, and all Persons owning or writing themselves such, shall be taxed, in the said Bill.

X. That all Gentlemen and reputed Gentlemen, and all Persons owning or writing themselves such, shall be taxed in the said Bill.

XI. That all Widows, according to the Dignity of their Husbands, shall be taxed in the said Bill.

XII. That every Gentleman, having an Estate of Three hundred Pounds, shall be taxed in the said Bill.

XIII. That all the dignified Clergy shall be taxed in the said Bill.

XIV. That all Persons that hold Two or more Benefices, having Cure of Souls, which shall amount together to the clear yearly Value of One hundred Twenty Pounds, shall be taxed in the said Bill.

XV. That all Merchant Strangers and Jews, shall be taxed in the said Bill.

XVI. That all Doctors of Divinity, Law, and Physick, except Doctors of Divinity which have no Ecclesiastical Benefice, shall be taxed in the said Bill.

XVII. That all Merchants trading in the Port of London, and not being free of the City of London, shall be taxed in the said Bill.

XVIII. That all Merchants and others, using any Trade or manual Occupation, and holding a House of Thirty Pounds per Annum, within the City of London and the Weekly Bills of Mortality, shall be taxed in the said Bill.

XIX. That all Members of the East India Company shall be taxed for their Share in the joint Stock of the said Company.

XX. That all Members of the Guiney Company shall be taxed for their Share in the joint Stock of the said Company.

Ordered, That a Bill be brought in, pursuant to the said Vote and Heads: And it is referred to Sir Edw. Deering, Mr. Solicitor General, Sir Tho. Meeres, and Sir Ch. Harbord, to prepare and bring in the same.

Protestation concerning a missing Bill.

The House taking into Consideration the Way and Means of finding out the Bill that is missing, intituled, An Act to prevent clandestine and irregular Marriages;

Resolved, &c. That the Protestation following be made and subscribed by the Members of this House, viz.

I do protest before Almighty God, and this honourable House, that neither myself, nor any other to my Knowledge, have taken away, or do at this present conceal, a Bill, intituled, An Act to prevent clandestine and irregular Marriages. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my Name.

Ordered, That the Clerk of the House do prepare a Skin of Parchment, ruled with Columns, fit for the Members to subscribe the same.

And then the House adjourned till Monday Morning, Eight of the Clock.