Lunæ, 15 die Aprilis; 1° Willielmi et Mariæ.
Prayers.
Nassau's, &c. Nat.
A BILL for the Naturalization of Henry de Nassau,
and others, was read the First time.
Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time Tomorrow Morning.
Dissenters Toleration.
A Bill for Liberty and Indulgence to Protestant Dissenters, was read the First time.
Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time this
Day Sevennight.
New Radnor Election.
Sir Jos. Tredenham reports from the Committee of Privileges and Elections, to whom the Matter, touching the
Election of a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament
for the Town of New Radnor in the County of Radnor,
was referred, the State of the Fact, as it appeared to the
Committee: Which he produced in Writing: Which,
being read at the Table, is as followeth:
Upon the Petition of William Probert, Esquire,
against Rich. Williams, Esquire, the Sitting Member
for the Town of New Radnor, was heard.
For the Petitioner, the Counsel opened it, That by
27 H. VIII, and 35 H. VIII, all the Burgesses, as
well of the Out Borough Towns as of the Shire Towns
of Wales (except for the Town of Merioneth), had a
Right to vote for a Burgess of the Shire Town; and
that, in the County of Radnor, there was Five Borough
Towns, who had a Right to vote for a Burgess for New
Radnor; and that the Majority of Burgesses of Two of
the Out Boroughs, who heard by Accident of the Election, were for Mr. Probert; and that the rest of the Out
Boroughs, not having any Notice of the Day of Election, did not appear.
And they called James Davis, a Witness, who said,
He was present 14 Januarii, at the Election: That Mr.
Probert, when he came, said he had brought several of the
Out Boroughs to vote for Mr. Williams: But the Bailiff
denied they had any Right to vote, saying, they ought
not to vote, when any of the Twenty-five stood: That
the Bailiff declaring he would return Mr. Williams, Mr.
Probert demanded a Poll; and that a Paper was delivered in to the Bailiff, of the Names of several reputed
Out Burgesses, to the Number of about Threescore and
Ten, that would have voted for Mr. Probert.
Thomas Lownd, a Witness, said, That he was present
at the Election: That Mr. Davis desired to have a Poll:
That Mr. Probert gave a List of the Out Burgesses to
James Davis, who Polled about Sixty for Mr. Probert:
That Mr. Probert had the Generality of the Out Burgesses; but they were refused by the Bailiff to vote,
saying they had no Right.
For the Sitting Member, the Counsel agreed the Out
Burgesses had a Right of Election: But insisted, that
Mr. Williams had the Majority; and a Poll was never
demanded: And called
* Powell, a Witness, who said, He was present at the
Election when the Prince's Letter was read: That the
Bailiff openly demanded (there being about Two hundred
Persons present) who they thought fit to return; and all
the Persons, as he thought, declared with an unanimous
Acclamation for Mr. Williams: That thereupon Mr.
Probert asked the Bailiff, shall the Out Burgesses sign
the Indenture? The Bailiff answered, There was no Indenture to be signed; but it was to be returned by Certificate, under the Common Seal: He says, when they
were refused to sign the Indenture, they cried out for
Mr. Probert; but he says, though he stood near, he heard
no Poll demanded.
James Bcndlow, a Witness, said, He was present at the
Election the 14th of January: That Mr. Probert told the
Bailiff, that he and the Burgesses did vote for Mr. Williams, and joined in the Acclamation after the Writ was
read: But afterwards, Mr. Probert asked If they should
sign the Indenture: And the Bailiff answered, There was
no need of that, for the Return must be by Certificate.
Mr. Probert, as he thinks, said, "If we shall not sign the
Indenture, who do you vote for?" And then a great
many cried out, A Probert: But remembers no Discourse about the Right of Election, though he was near
both to the Bailiff and Mr. Probert.
Then they produced Mr. Bull, Mr. Bevan, Mr. Thomas Powell, and another Witness: Who testified to the
same Effect as the Two last Witnesses.
And that upon the whole Matter the Committee came
to a Resolution: Which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where
the same being read, is as followeth;
Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee,
That Rich. Williams, Esquire, is duly elected a Burgess
to serve in this present Parliament for the Shire Town of
Radnor in the County of Radnor.
The said Resolve being read a Second time;
Resolved, That this House doth agree with the Committee, That Rich. Williams, Esquire, is duly elected a
Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Shire
Town of Radnor in the County of Radnor.
French Protestants.
A Petition of the French Protestant Ministers, praying
a yearly Relief, for their Subsistence, out of a Revenue
arising by Hackney Coaches, or some other, was read.
And a Debate arose thereupon; in respect the Petition
was very irregular, and disagreeable to the Custom of the
House, to prescribe Ways how, and out of what, the
Relief shall be given.
Resolved, That the Petition be withdrawn.
A Motion being made, That a Way may be considered
to relieve such French Protestant Ministers, and others,
who have fled out of France for their Religion;
Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to consider
of a Way to relieve the French Protestant Ministers, and
such others, as are uncapable to maintain themselves,
otherwise than by Charity, who are fled out of France
for their Religion.
And it is referred unto Lord Digby, Sir John Guise, Mr.
Hamden, Sir Fra. Russell, Sir Jos. Tredenham, Colonel
Birch, Sir Gilbert Clerke, Mr. Chadwick, Mr. Fenwick,
Mr. Duncome, Mr. Newport, Sir Edw. Harley, Sir Tho.
Darcey, Sir Rob. Davers, Mr. Ellwell, Sir Rich. Temple,
Sir H. Goodrick, Mr. Gwyn, Sir Christopher Musgrave,
Mr. Sacheverell, Mr. Done, Sir Nich. Cary, Sir Rob.
Cotton, Sir Rob. Sawyer, Sir John Wynne, Mr. Darcey,
Mr. Finch, Sir John Lowther, Mr. Dolben, Marquis
Winchester, Mr. P. Foley, Marquis Worcester, Major
Wildman, Mr. Tho. Foley, Mr. Boscawen, Sir Tho.
Clarges, Mr. Smith, Mr. Niccolls, Mr. Newport, Mr.
Whitehead, Sir H. Capell, and all the Members of the
City of London: And they are to meet at Four of the
Clock, in the Exchequer Chamber, this Afternoon.
Irish Protestants.
Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to consider
of the distressed Condition of the Protestants fled from
Ireland; and of a Way how they may be relieved.
And it is referred unto Mr. Harbord, Lord Ranelagh,
Lord Fitzharding, Sir Cha. Rawleigh, Sir Thom. Mompeson, Mr. Smith, Lord Falkland, Mr. P. Foley, Mr. Gwyn,
Lord Digby, Mr. Coningsby, Sir Fra. Russell, Sir Edw.
Harley, Colonel Birch, Mr. Tho. Foley, Mr. Done, Sir
Rob. Davers, Sir John Knight, Sir Chr. Musgrave, Sir
Jos. Tredenham, Sir Rob. Cotton, Lord Sherrard, Sir
Rich. Onslow, Mr. Boscawen, Sir Hen. Goodrick, Sir Tho.
Clarges, Colonel Austen, Mr. Robers, Sir John Wynne,
Lord Coote, Marquis Winchester, Mr. Bickerstaffe, Sir
Sir Hen. Hobart, Mr. Hen. Herbert, Sir Hen. Vane, Mr.
Eldred, Sir Cha. Houghton, Mr. Reignolds, Sir Rich.
Temple, Mr. Newport, Sir H. Johnson, Major Wildman,
Marquis Worcester, Sir John Guise, Mr. Sommers, Mr.
Freke jun. Mr. Sacheverell, Sir John Lowther, Mr. Gray,
Mr. Buckland, Mr. Burrard, Mr. England, Mr. Finch:
And they are to meet To-morrow in the Afternoon at
Four of the Clock, in the Court of Wards.
Late King James' landing in Ireland.
The House being informed, that there was one Mr.
Evans at the Door, who was lately come out of Ireland,
and could give an Account of the late King James his
being there; and of other Matters relating to Ireland;
Resolved, That the said Mr. Evans be called in.
And he came to the Bar; and gave an Account of the
said King's Landing at Kinsale the Day of
last, with Two and-twenty Ships; accompanied
with Count Davaux, and other French Officers, to the
Number of Two hundred; and of his going to Corke
and Dublyn; and his Intentions to go Northwards, and
into Scotland; and of the seizing the Duke of Ormond's
Estate, and the Stocks of Protestants.
And then they withdrew.
Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance.
An ingrossed Bill from the Lords, intituled, An Act
for the abrogating the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance, and appointing other Oaths; with the Amendments and Clauses added to it; was read the Third time.
Resolved, That the Bill do pass, so amended.
Ordered, That Mr. Dolben do carry up the Bill, with
the Amendments and Clauses, to the Lords, for their
Concurrence thereunto.
Supply Bill; Poll Tax.
A Bill for granting a Supply to their Majesties by a
Poll, was read the Second time.
Resolved, That the Bill be committed to a Committee
of the whole House.
Resolved, That the House do, To-morrow Morning,
at Ten of the Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of
the whole House, to consider of the Bill for granting a
Supply to their Majesties by Poll.
State of the Kingdom in relation to France.
Resolved, Nemine contradicente, That this House will,
To-morrow Morning, at Ten of the Clock, resolve itself
into a Committee of the whole House, to take into Consideration the State of this Kingdom in relation to France,
and other Alliances abroad.
Public Revenue.
Resolved, That this House do, on Wednesday Morning
next, at Ten of the Clock, resolve itself into a Committee
of the whole House, to take into Consideration the
Matter of the publick Revenue.
And then the House adjourned till To-morrow
Morning, Nine of the Clock.