Die Jovis, 23 Augusti, 1649.
Prayers.
Bassett's Fine.
THE humble Petition of William Bassett, of Claverton in the County of Somersett, Esquire, was this
Day read.
Ordered, That the said William Bassett be injoined to
pay in the Moiety of his Fine, set on him by Goldsmiths
Hall, according to the Rule: And that the Payment of
the other Moiety of the said Fine be respited, until this
House shall take other Order.
Horton's Grant.
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee at Goldsmiths Hall, to examine how the Business stands touching
the Lands of John Barlow, formerly given to Colonel
Horton; and to report the State thereof to the House.
Petition from Carlisle.
The humble Petition of the Mayor, Aldermen, and
Common Council of the City of Carlisle, was this Day
read.
Ordered, That, according to the Desires of the said
Petition, the Arrears of the Fee-Farm Rents, due from
the City of Carlisle, for all the Years 1643, 1644, 1645,
1646, 1647, and 1648, be remitted.
French Trade.
Mr. Robinson reports from the Council of State, the
State of Fact concerning the Trade between England and
France, as it stands by the Treaties; and the late Prohibition of our Manufactures; and also the humble Petition, and the humble Remonstrance, of the said Governor and Company of Merchants of London, trading into
France: With the Opinion of the Council, That the said
Petition and Remonstrance doth contain a Proposition of
a good Means for the Redress and Removal of the Obstructions which lie upon the Trade between the Two
Nations of England and France.
The humble Petition of the Governor and Company
of Merchants of London, trading into France, was this
Day read.
The humble Remonstrance of the Governor and Company of Merchants of London, trading into France; the
State of Fact concerning free Trade and Intercourse
between England and France, as it stands agreed by the
Treaties; as also what hath been done to the Infringing
thereof; was this Day read; and was in these Words;
viz.
1. By the Fourteenth Article of the Treaty between
England and France, in the Year 1606, finished the
Fourteenth of April, a free Trade and Commerce is
agreed upon, as well of Merchandizes manufactured, as
not manufactured; in these Words, translated out of the
French; "It hath been also accorded and agreed, That
the Liberty of Commerce shall be continued, as it is at
present, on the one and the other Part, as well of Merchandizes manufactured, as not manufactured, according
to the present and former Treaties; and there shall not
be, either on the one or the other Party, any Prohibition
made to traffick therein; and, if any have been made,
they shall be revoked: Except always the Merchandizes
that are contraband, and of which the Transport hath
been always, and yet is, prohibited and forbidden by the
Laws of either Kingdom; whereof there shall be given a
Particular on either Part."
2. By the First Article of the Treaty of the Twenty-ninth of August 1610, all former Treaties were confirmed.
3. By the Treaty of the Twenty-fourth of April 1629,
and First Article, all the ancient Alliances are renewed;
and particularly about Opening of Trade and Commerce
free and sure, in these Words; "First, The Two Kings
are agreed to renew the ancient Alliances between the
Two Crowns, and to keep them inviolably, with the
Opening of Commerce free and sure; and, for the said
Commerce, if there be any thing to be added or diminished, it shall be done on the one Part and the other by
mutual Consent, as it shall be judged for the Purpose."
4. By the last Article of the Treaty of the Year 1632,
the former Treaties were confirmed; and particularly the
Treaties of the Year 1606, and 1610, in these Words;
"By these present Articles, the Two Kings intend not to
derogate from the precedent Accords and Treaties made
between them; which shall continue in their Force and
Virtue, except in what may have been derogated by these
Presents; and particularly the Treaties of the Years 1606,
and 1610, shall be truly executed."
Contrary to these Treaties, and particularly against the
foresaid Article of the Treaty of the Year 1606, by the
Declaration of the French King, verified in the Parliament
at Paris, the Twenty-fourth of October 1648, and in the
Twentieth Article thereof, it is forbidden to bring into
France any Draperies of Wool or Silk made in England
or Holland, in these Words; "As we also forbid all Negotiations to bring, or cause to be brought, into our Kingdom, the Draperies of Wool or of Silk, made either in
England or Holland, and to all our Subjects to buy them,
or use them, in Pain of Confiscation, and of Forfeiture of
Fifteen hundred Livres, by all that shall transgress herein."
In pursuance of which Declaration, our English Cloths
have been there seized; and, by the last Post, Advertisement is come, that our English Cloth is seized at Diepe;
and none dare claim it.
That our English Merchants are there put into such a
Condition, that their Factors dare not so much as write
to them the Matter of Fact. left, upon any Interception
of their Letter, they be brought in Danger, for giving
only the bare Relation how they are dealt withal.
Resolved, &c. That the Merchants of London, trading
to France, be called in.
The Merchants being called in, and come to the Bar;
Mr. Speaker, by Command of the House, demanded of
them several Questions, for the further Information of the
House.
To which having answered, they were commanded to
withdraw.
Resolved, &c. That all Wines of the Growth of France,
and all Manufactures of Wool and Silk, made in the
Kingdom of France, be inhibited to be imported into any
Port or Ports within England or Ireland, or any the Dominions thereof, by any Person or Persons whatsoever.
Resolved, &c. That no Member of the House do go
forth without Leave of the House.
The Question being propounded, That the inhibiting
the Manufacture of Linnen Cloth, made in France, be
added to the former Vote;
The Question was put, That this Question be now put:
It passed with the Negative.
Resolved, &c. That the Penalty on importing such
Wines and Manufactures, shall be Confiscation of Ship
and Goods; and a Penalty of Two hundred Pounds more
on every Person so offending: The one Moiety of the
said Penalty and Forseiture to the Party informing; and
the other Moiety to the Use of the Commonwealth.
Resolved, &c. That it be referred to the Council of
State, to prepare, and bring into the House, an Act on
these Votes, To-morrow Morning.