Martis, 9 die Januarii;

5° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Frame-work knitters.

A PETITION of the Frame-work-knitters in and about the Town of Nottingham, on the behalf of themselves, and others of the same Trade, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioners were incorporated by King Charles the Second, in the 15th Year of his Reign; and that the Master, Wardens, &c. of their Company, living constantly in London, have, by many By-Laws, imposed severe Penalties on the Petitioners; compelling them to come to London for their Freedoms; chusing the Petitioners for their Stewards, when they please; which Office is only expensive; and laying great Fines upon Refusal to serve therein; so that by their By-Law they raise about 200 l. per Annum amongst the Petitioners, who have no manner of Benefit thereby: And praying Relief in the Premises; and the Money so raised may be applied to set the Poor of their Trade in the Country, who are very numerous, to work.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Master, Wardens, Assistants, and Society, of the Art or Mystery of Frame-work-knitters, in the Cities of London and Westminster, and Kingdom of England, and Dominion of Wales, is referred.

5th Eliz. respecting Cloth Weavers.

A Petition of the Master, Wardens, and Assistants, of the incorporated Company of Clothiers, within the City of Worcester, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Woollen Manufacture is of so great Advantage to this Nation, that several Acts of Parliament have been formerly made to prevent the Exportation thereof, and of Fullers-Earth, or Fulling-Clay: Notwithstanding which Laws, great Quantities of FullersEarth have been lately exported to Holland, under Colour of Potters-Clay; which, if not timely prevented, will inevitably ruin the Cloathing Trade of this Nation: And praying Leave to bring in a Bill for prohibiting the Exportation of all Potters-Clay, and Scouring-Earth.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Bill for Repeal of the Thirty-second Article in the Act of 5° Eliz. containing divers Orders for Artificers and others, relating to Weavers of Cloth, is committed; and to which Committee Power was given to bring in a Clause in the said Bill, to prevent the Exportation of all Earth and Clay whatsoever.

C. Turner's Estate.

A Petition of Charles Turner Esquire was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner is possessed for Life of several Estates, which lie distant from each other, in several Towns within the County of Norfolke; the Remainder to the Petitioner's first and other Sons, in Tail Male, successively: That the Petitioner is likewise seised of an entire Estate in Fee, in the same County, of greater Value; and hath divers Children; so that he must sell his entire Estate, to provide for his younger Children; and leave the distant Estates to descend to his eldest Son: And praying, That Leave may be given to bring in a Bill for settling the Inheritance of some Parts of his Estate, which lie dispersed, in himself: and settling an entire Estate, of greater Value, in lieu thereof, to the Uses that the other Estate stands now settled.

Ordered, That the Examination and Consideration of the said Petition be referred to a Committee: And that they do report their Opinion therein to the House.

And it is referred to Mr. Beddingfield, Mr. Turner, Mr. Blofield, Mr. Arnold, Sir Hen. Goodrick, Mr. Thornhaugh, Sir Rich. Hart, Mr. Hutchinson, Mr. Walpoole, Mr. Hedger, Mr. Cooke, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Goldwell, Sir Jon. Jennings, Mr. Christy, Mr. Slater, Mr. Waller, Sir Fran. Guibon, Sir John Moreton, Mr. Holt, Mr. Foley, Mr. Hawtry, Mr. Bromley; and all the Members that serve for the Counties of Norfolk and Suffolke: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Four of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Clithero Election.

Ordered, That the Hearing, touching the Election for the Borough of Clithero in the County of Lancaster, before the Committee of Elections and Privileges, be put off from Friday till Monday next.

Supply Bill; Land Tax.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole House, to consider further of the Bill for granting to their Majesties an Aid, for carrying on a vigorous War against France.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Sir Thomas Littleton took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Sir Thomas Littleton reported from the said Committee, That they had made some further Progress upon the said Bill; and had met with great Difficulties therein, in charging each County with double what the same was charged with upon the Act for Two Shillings in the Pound: And therefore desired Instructions from the House how to proceed therein.

Resolved, That the said Committee of the whole House be at liberty to alter the Bill, which is now framed for charging upon every County double the Sum of what was returned charged upon the Act of Two Shillings in the Pound; and to frame the same into a Bill of Four Shillings in the Pound.

Sir Thomas Littleton also acquainted the House, That he was directed by the said Committee to move, That they may have Leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this House will upon Thursday Morning next, at Ten a Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the said Bill.

Ways and Means.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning at Ten a Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of Ways and Means for raising the Supplies to be granted to their Majesties, for the Maintenance of the Fleet, and Land-Forces, for the Service of the Year 1694.

Supply Bill; Million Act Deficiency.

Resolved, That the House do immediately resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill to supply the Deficiency of the Money raised by a former Act, intituled, An Act for granting to their Majesties certain Rates and Duties of Excise upon Beer, Ale, and other Liquors, for securing certain Recompences and Advantages to such Persons as shall voluntarily advance the Sum of Ten hundred thousand Pounds, towards carrying on the War against France; and to impower any Persons to name a Second or Third Life for their Annuities, upon the Terms and Recompences therein mentioned.

And accordingly the House resolved itself into a Committee.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Sir Thomas Littleton took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Sir Thomas Littleton reported from the said Committee, That they had made some Progress in the Bill; and had directed him to move, That they might have Leave to fit again.

Resolved, That this House will upon Friday Morning next, at Ten a Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of the said Bill.

Woolcombers, &c. Trade.

Ordered, That Lord Cutts, Sir Isaac Rebow, Sir Fra. Massam, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Baile, Mr. Sanford, Mr. Hawtry, Mr. Gilbert, be added to the Committee, to whom the Examination and Consideration of the Petition of the Wool-combers, and Traders in the Woollen Manufactures, in the Counties of Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex, Cambridge, and Isle of Ely, is referred.

Impeachment of Lord Coningsby, &c.

Resolved, That the further Consideration of the Articles against the Lord Coningsby, and Sir Charles Porter, be adjourned till Saturday Morning next, Eleven a Clock.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned.

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