Veneris, 7 die Martii, 1672.

Prayers.

Repairing Highways.

A BILL for the better Repair of the Highways, within the weekly Bill of Mortality, was read the Second time.

Resolved, &c. That this Bill be committed to Sir Charles Harbord, Sir Courtney Poole, Mr. Morice, Mr. Maynard, Mr. Attorney General, Mr. Wyn, Sir Edw. Masters, Mr. Hobby, Sir Rich. Everard, Sir John Talbot, Mr. Westphaling, Sir John Mallet, Mr. Chetwyn, Sir Norton Knatchbold, Mr. Finch, Lord Gorge, Colonel Titus, Sir Trevor Williams, Sir Tho. Clergis, Sir Robert Howard, Sir Anth. Irby, Sir Solom. Swale, Sir Thom. Hanmer, Sir Thom. Allen, Mr. Daniell, Sir Edw. Massey, Mr. Whittaker, Sir Wm. Coventrye, Mr. Herbert, Doctor Burwell, Sir Lanc. Lake, Lord Ashley, Sir Phil. Warwick, Sir John Brampston, Mr. Faunt, and all that serve for the Counties of Middlesex and Surrey: And they are to meet on Monday next, at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber; and to inspect the former Laws concerning Highways; and to inquire, what Monies have been thereby raised by Taxes, or the Imposition on Hackney Coaches, or otherwise; and to provide for the taking of a speedy and strict Account, how the same have been employed: And they have Power to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Lloyd's, &c. Nat.

Sir John Trevor reports from the Committee to which the Bill for Naturalization of Phillipp Lloyd, was committed, some Amendments agreed by the Committee to be made to the Bill: Which he read; and after delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: And the same were again twice read; and, upon the Question, agreed.

Resolved, &c. That the Bill, with Amendments agreed to, be ingrossed.

Aliens Duty.

Sir George Downing reports from the Committee to which the Bill for taking off the Aliens Duty upon Home Commodities exported, . . . . several Amendments agreed by the Committee to be made to the Bill: Which he read; and after delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: And the same were again Twice read; and, upon the Question, agreed.

Another Amendment was proposed and agreed to be made to the Bill: Which was accordingly done at the Table.

Resolved, &c. That the Bill, with the Amendments, be ingrossed.

Protestant Dissenters.

The Bill for Ease of such his Majesty's Protestant Subjects, as are Dissenters, in Matters of Religion, from the Church of England, was read the Second time.

And, several Motions being made; and debated;

Resolved, &c. That the Bill be committed, upon the Debates of the House, to Mr. Attorney General, Mr. Crouch, Mr. Powle, Sir Lan. Lake, Mr. Morice, Mr. Garway, Sir Solo. Swale, Sir John Knight, Sir Phill. Musgrave, Mr. Westphaling, Col. Birch, Sir John Holland, Sir Rich. Temple, Mr. Chetwyn, Sir Jonath. Trelawny, Sir Edw. Massey, Mr. Milward, Sir John Mallet, Sir Adam Browne, Sir Trevor Williams, Sir Lyonell Jenkins, Sir Anth. Irby, Sir Thomas Allen, Sir Thomas Hanmer, Sir Charles Wheeler, Colonel Williams, Sir John Newton, Sir Charles Harbord, Sir Rich. Everard, Sir Eliab Harvy, Sir John Talbot, Mr. Love, Lord Ancram, Mr. Dowdswell, Doctor Burwell, Sir John Hanmer, Mr. Vaughan, Colonel Nevill, Sir John Birkenhead, Sir Phil. Warwick, Mr. Nicholas, Mr. Leigh, Sir John Hobart, Mr. Chalmondley, Lord Richardson, Mr. Weld, Sir Christ. Musgrave, Sir Tho. Lee, Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Secretary Coventry, Sir Wm. Hickman, Lord Cornbury: And all that shall come are to have Voices.

A Motion being made, and debated, That it be an Instruction to the Committee, to provide, that no Person, dissenting from the Church of England, shall be capable of sitting as a Member of this House:

Resolved, &c. That this Debate be adjourned till Monday Morning next, Ten of the Clock.

Privilege- a Person discharged from custody.

Sir Thomas Meeres reports from the Committee of Privileges, the Matter concerning the Breach of Privilege of Daniell Ackson the Constable, for which he is now in Custody, with the Opinion of the Committee, That he be discharged of his further Imprisonment, paying his Fees.

To which the House agreeing;

The said Ackson the Constable being called in to the Bar of the House, and kneeling, had a Reprimand given him by Mr. Speaker; and was discharged, paying his Fees.

Mr. Powle reports the Reasons, agreed by the Committee to be presented at a Conference with the Lords, upon the Subject Matter of the Amendments, sent from the Lords to the Address of this House, to prevent the Growth of Popery, as to those Amendments to which the House doth not agree: Which he read in his Place: And the same being again Twice read, and agreed, are as followeth; viz.

That the Command over any his Majesty's Ships is as great a Trust as a Command over his Land Forces: And therefore his Majesty ought to have as great an Assurance of the Fidelity of the Persons employed in those Commands.

That Sea Officers (if they should prove disloyal) would have greater Opportunity to deliver his Majesty's Ships into the Hands of foreign Princes, than any Land Officers can have, to betray the Trust committed to Them.

That we desire no more in this Particular, than what the Law already enjoins; for, by the Statute 3 Jacobi, cap. 5. Recusants are as well disabled from being Captains, Masters, or Governors, or bearing any Office or Charge of or in any Ship, as from being Commanders over any Castle, or Fortress, or in any Land Service:

That there is far more Reason for this Test now for Officers at Sea, than at any other Time: For that such Officers and Soldiers as shall not take it at Land, will probably endeavour to be employed at Sea; where the Soldiers and private Mariners have no Test put upon them: And, if the chief Officers employed there, should not give the full Assurances desired, the Consequence may prove dangerous.

That Pensions imply a Grant under the Great Seal, or at least under the Privy Seal: And we think it very inconvenient, that any Evidence of his Majesty's Favour to Popish Recusants should appear upon Record.

That the putting out the Word "Pensions," now it is inserted in this Address, would seem to countenance the granting of Pensions to such Persons as shall be disbanded: Which, if they were granted, would cause such Persons, by reason of such Dependence, to continue about his Majesty's Courts; which, by Law, they ought not to do.

The Allowance thereof would also raise the like Expectation in this Majesty's Protestant Officers and Soldiers, at any time disbanded, to the creating great Importunities upon his Majesty; and either occasion great Expence of his Majesty's Treasure; or Jealousies and Discontents in his Majesty's Subjects, if the same should not be granted to Protestant Officers and Soldiers.

Ordered, That the Lord Cavendish do go up to the Lords, to desire a Conference upon the Subject Matter of the last Conference.

Bristoll Deanery Estate.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir William Childe, and Sir Timothy Baldwyn;

Mr. Speaker, The Lords have sent you down a Bill, intituled, An Act to enable the Dean and Chapter of Bristoll, to exchange their Vicarage of Berkeley, in the County of Glocester, with George Lord Berkeley, for his Rectory of St. Michaell's in Sutton Bonington, in the County of Nottingham: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

And the Bill being read;

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

Lords agree to Conference.

The Lord Cavendish reports, That the Lords had agreed to a present Conference with this House, in the Painted Chamber.

Ordered, That the Persons formerly appointed, do manage the Conference.

Call of the House.

Resolved, &c. That the House be called over on Monday Sevennight: And, that the Penalties upon Defaulters be the same as formerly.

Address against Popery.

A Message from the Lords, by the Lord Chief Justice Vaughan, and Mr. Justice Windham;

Mr. Speaker, The Lords have commanded us to let you know, That they have agreed to the Address: And that, their Lordships having sent to know, what Time his Majesty would appoint both Houses to wait on him, with the Address; his Majesty hath appointed both Houses to wait on him, at Four of the Clock this Afternoon, in the Banqueting House at Whitehall.

And then the House adjourned till Three of the Clock in the Afternoon.

Post Meridiem.

Address against Popery presented.

THE House being met, went in a Body, to attend his Majesty in the Banqueting House at Whitehall, there, with the House of Lords, to present the Address for suppressing the Growth of Popery: And being returned;

Mr. Speaker acquaints the House, That the Lord Chancellor read the Address to the King: After wich his Majesty was pleased to return Answer to this Effect:

My Lords and Gentlemen,

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