Martis, 23 die Aprilis; 1° Willielmi et Mariæ.
Prayers.
Committees.
ORDERED, That all Committees be revived.
Excise on Beer.
A Petition of the Brewers of the Town and Borough
of King's Lyne in the County of Norfolke; shewing, That
they have constantly brewed Beer at Thirty-six Gallons
per Barrell; and that, during all the Time of the Farmers
of the Excise till 1683, they paid Duties accordingly;
but that, since, Beer has been returned for Ale, contrary
to the Intent of the Laws; by reason whereof great Sums
have been extorted from the Petitioners; and praying
Consideration thereof, and Relief therein; was read.
Ordered, That the same do lie upon the Table; to be
considered when the Matter of the Revenue shall come
under the Consideration of the House.
Ann Astley took the Oaths at the Table, in order to
her being naturalized.
East India Company.
A Petition of Thomas Sandys, and others, Owners of
the Ship Comerce; complaining of the said Ship's being
stopped from going her Voyage, by Order from the King
and Council, when her Cargo was on board, and all
Things ready for her Voyage; and that they were forced,
after a Year's Time spent in several Courts about her,
they were forced, to desist, and dispose of the Ship and
Cargo, to their great Prejudice; and that such Proceedings are a great Violation to the Rights and Properties of
the Subject; and praying the Consideration of the House
therein; was read.
Resolved, That it be referred to the Committee appointed the Eighteenth Instant, to consider of the Matter
of the Petition of Charles Price, and others, and the whole
Affairs of the East India Company; to examine the Matter of the said Petition; and to report the Matter, with
their Opinions, to the House, with all convenient Speed.
Disarming Papists.
Sir Henry Goodrick reports from the Committee to
whom the Bill for the more speedy Conviction and Disarming of Papists, was referred, That they had thought
fit to make several Amendments to the Bill, and to add
a Clause thereunto: Which he read in his Place; and
afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table:
Where the same being Once read throughout; and a
Second time, one by one; were, upon the Question, severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.
Ordered, That the Bill, with the Amendments, be
ingrossed.
Leave of Absence.
Ordered, That Mr. James have Leave to go into the
Country, for a Fortnight.
Commissioners of Great Seal to execute Lord Chancellorship.
Sir Wm. Poultney reports from the Committee to whom
the Bill to enable the Lords Commissioners of the Great
Seal to execute the Office of Lord Chancellor, or Lord
Keeper of the Great Seal of England, That they had
thought fit to make several Amendments thereunto:
Which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered
the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were
Once read throughout; and are as followeth:
P. 1, 1. 2, after the Word "have," leave out to the
Word "and" in 1. 26; and, instead thereof, insert these
Words, "thought fit, that the Office of the Lord Chancellor, or Lord Keeper of the great Seal of England,
should be executed by Commissioners appointed for the
same under the Great Seal."
L. 28, after the Word "and," leave out to the Word
"otherwise" in 1. 33.
L. 37, after the Word "Doubts," add the Word
"and;" and, after the Word "Questions," leave out
these Words, "and Scruples."
L. 39, after the Word "Powers," leave out to the
Word "Commissioners" in 1. 40; and, instead thereof,
insert these Words, "may be exercised by such Commissioners."
L. 44, after the Word "the" leave out the Word
"Assent;" and, instead thereof, insert the Words "Advice and Consent."
L. 46, after the Word "that," leave out the Word
"at" in 1. 54, P. 2; and insert these Words, "that
such Commissioners for the Time being may use and
exercise."
L. 55, leave out the Word "respective;" and these
Words, "during their respective Commission."
L. 57, after the Words "belonging to," leave out
these Words, "their Office of;" and insert the Word
"the."
L. 59, between the Word "like," and the Word
"Authority," insert the Word "Offices."
L. 63, between the Word "Seal," and the Word
"for," insert the Words "of England."
L. 70, after the Word "and," insert these Words,
"that the said Lords Commissioners, or any of them,
having the Great Seal born by or before him or them
shall have and take the same Place and Precedence as
the Lord Chancellor, or Lord Keeper of the Great Seal
of England, of Right had, or ought to have, and at other
Times."
L. 71, after the Word "Realm," insert these Words,
"unless any of them shall happen to be a Peer; and then
to take place according to his Peerage."
L. 71, leave out the Proviso to the 81 L.
L. 81, leave out the Clause after the Word "present,"
to the Word "notwithstanding" in 1. 89.
And afterwards the same, except the last Amendment,
were read a Second time, one by one: and, upon the
Question severally put thereupon, were agreed unto.
The last of the said Amendments being read a Second
time; and a Debate arising thereupon;
Resolved, That the Bill be re-committed upon the Debate of the House; And they are to meet this Afternoon,
at Four of the Clock; and all that come are to have
Voices.
Abolishing Hearth-money.
A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cooke and
Sir James Astrey;
Mr. Speaker, We are commanded by the Lords to
acquaint this House, that they have passed the Bill for
taking away the Hearth-money.
And then the Messengers withdrew.
Act of Indemnity.
Resolved, That this House do, on Monday Morning,
next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House,
to take into Consideration the Heads for a Bill of General
Pardon and Indemnity.
Supply Bill; Poll Tax.
Resolved, That the House do now proceed upon the
Amendments reported to the Bill for granting a Supply
to their Majesties by a Poll.
And the Matter touching the appointing of Commissioners for putting the Act in Execution, was resumed.
Resolved, That it be left to their Majesties to nominate
Commissioners, out of those in the Act for the granting
a present Aid to their Majesties, to put this Act in Execution.
Resolved, That Sir Hen. Pollexfen, Mr. Garway, Sir
Rich. Temple, Sir Tho. Littleton, Sir Geo. Treby, Sir Tho.
Lee, Mr. Somers, Mr. Eyres, Sir Rob. Sawyer, do immediately withdraw into the Speaker's Chamber; and
prepare a Clause for that Purpose.
The Residue of the Amendments to the Bill, being read
a Second time, one after another, were, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.
A Clause whereby all Tradesmen, and others, using
any manual Occupation, worth Three hundred Pounds,
and upwards, clear Personal Estate, should be rated as a
Gentleman is, in respect of his Title; which was added
at the Committee; being read the Second time;
Upon the Question put, That the House do agree with
the Committee to the said Clause;
It passed in the Negative.
A Clause was offered, to be made Part of the Bill, for
Masters and Mistresses to pay for their Servants, and
deduct the same out of the next Wages: Which, being
Twice read, was agreed unto by the House.
Another Clause was offered, to be made Part of the
Bill, for their Majesties, under the Great Seal, to authorize Commissioners to put the Act in Execution: Which
was Twice read; and agreed unto by the House.
Another Clause was offered, to be made Part of the
Bill, for exempting the Irish Nobility and Gentry from
this Tax: Which was Twice read; and agreed unto by
the House.
Ordered, That the Bill, with the Amendments and
Clauses, be ingrossed.
Resolved, That this House do, To-morrow Morning,
at Ten of the Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of
the whole House, to consider of the Navy.
And then the House adjourned till To-morrow
Morning, Nine a Clock.