Sabbati, 8 die Januarii;

Nono Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Duties on Leather.

A PETITION of the Leather-dressers and Leathercutters, in and near the ancient Borough of Colchester, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, by reason . . a Duty of Three Shillings in the Pound upon Oiled and Alum-Leather, the Petitioners Trades are very much decreased; insomuch that great Numbers of poor People, who thereby maintained themselves and Families before the said Tax, are now come to the Parish for want of Work; and many others want Bread: And praying, That the said Duty may be taken off, or some Easement made thereof.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Aldermen, Stewards, and Company of Fellmongers, Leather-dressers, and Glovers, in the City of Chester, is referred: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Duties on Leather.

A Petition of the Fellmongers, Glovers, Tawers, Dressers, Cutters, and Workers, of Leather, within the Town of Beverly, in the County of York, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That notwithstanding the Petitioners are willing to pay the late Duty of 15 l. per Cent. to the utmost of their Capacities, yet they are no longer able to pay the same, by reason of the Greatness of the Duty, and the Hardships put on them by the Collectors, because of the Intricacy and Strictness of the said Act; which, unless remedied, will be ruinous to the Petitioners: And praying, That the said Duty may be mitigated, and the Act explained.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Aldermen, Stewards, and Company, of Fellmongers, Leather-dressers, and Glovers, in the City of Chester, is referred: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Ditto.

A Petition of the Whit-tawers and Glovers in and about the City of Bristoll was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Duty of 15 l. per Cent. laid upon Alum and Oiled-Leather, hath caused a Stop to the Importation of all Sheep, Lamb, and Goat-Skins, from Ireland; which are more fit for Gloves, than those of England, of which we have not sufficient to supply the Trade; which must be then laid down; and many Thousand poor People, who lived comfortably thereby before the said Tax, must be maintained by their Parishes; for that he that deals in Irish Skins dressed pays 45 l. per Cent. Duties in England and Ireland; and must lose 15 l. per Cent. by such Leather: And praying an Encouragement to the Importation of the said Skins from Ireland, by taking off the said late Duty of 15 l. per Cent. thereon.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Aldermen, Stewards, and Company, of Fellmongers, Leather-dressers, and Glovers, in the City of Chester, is referred: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Executing Judgments in Wales.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill to execute Judgments and Decrees saved in a Clause in the Statute made in the First Year of the Reign of his present Majesty, and the late Queen Mary, intituled, An Act for taking away the Court holden before the President and Council of the Marches of Wales: And that Mr. Price and Mr. Baldwyn do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Bampfyld's Estate.

Mr. Hooper, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill to enable certain Trustees, therein named, to make, renew, and fill up, Leases of the Estate of Sir Coppleston Warwick Bampfyld, during his Minority; and in case of his Death without Issue Male, during the Minority of his Brother John Bampfyld: And the same was received.

Trade with Ireland.

A Petition of the Sergemakers, Clothiers, Fullers, and others concerned in the Woollen Manufactury, in Taunton, and Places adjacent, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That by reason of the great Growth of the Woollen Manufactury in Ireland; the great Demands they have for the same from Holland, New-England, and other Parts, which used to be supplied by England; the vast Numbers of our Workmen that go thither; the Cheapness of Wool and Provisions there, and the Decay of Trade here; they are able to under-sell the Petitioner at least 20 per Cent.; which, if not speedily remedied, will endanger the Loss of the Woollen Manufactures to this Kingdom: And praying, That the House will take into Consideration the true State of the Nation, in relation to Ireland, and make such Provisions for mutual Trade between us and them, under such Limitations and Encouragements, as may be for the Honour, Interest, and Safety, of the Government, the Encouragement of the Woollen Manufactury, Trade, and Navigation.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee appointed to consider of the Trade of England and Ireland; and how to make the Trade of this Kingdom more beneficial.

Undue Marriages of Infants.

An ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act to prevent undue Marriages of Infants; and for better securing the Guardianship of them; was, according to Order, read the Third time.

And the Question being put, That the Bill, with the Amendment, do pass;

It passed in the Negative.

Preventing Correspondence with late King James.

Ordered, That the Committee appointed to draw up Reasons for disagreeing to the Third Amendment, made by the Lords, to the Bill, intituled, An Act against corresponding with the late King James, and his Adherents, do sit upon Monday Morning.

Privilege of a Member in a Suit.

A Petition of Sir Bourchier Wray Baronet was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That Sir Wm. Williams Baronet, deceased, being seised, in Fee, of divers Manors and Lands in Wales, devised the same to the Petitioner's Father, deceased; Remainder to the Petitioner, with other Remainders: But in March last, Arthur Owen Esquire, a Member of this House, with about Fifty others, took Possession of Sir William's House, called Vaenoll, by Force, and took away several Deeds and Writings: But the Petitioner recovered by Law, and had Possession again till the 31st of December last; when Mr. Owen, and several others, named by the Petition, forcibly took Possession again: And praying, That, in this Case, he may have no Privilege.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Blaake have Leave to go into the Country, his Lady being very ill.

Militia.

Resolved, That an humble Address be presented to his Majesty, by such Members of this House as are of his Majesty's most Honourable Privy-Council, That he will please to cause an Account of the Number of the Militia of this Kingdom to be laid before this House.

Candles.

Ordered, That Candles be brought in.

Supply.

A Motion being made, and the Question being proposed, That it be an Instruction to the Committee of the whole House, who are to consider further of the Supply to be granted to his Majesty, That they do consider of the Charge of the Guards and Garisons for the Year 1698, pursuant to the Vote of this House of the 11th December last;

An Amendment was proposed to be made by leaving out "pursuant to the Vote of this House of the 11th of December last."

And the Question being put, That those Words do stand Part of the Question;

The House divide.

The Yeas go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative:

Resolved, That it be an Instruction to the Committee of the whole House, who are to consider further of the Supply to be granted to his Majesty, That they do consider of the Charge of the Guards and Garisons for the Year 1698, pursuant to the Vote of this House of the 11th Day of December last.

And then the House adjourned till Monday Morning, Nine a Clock.