Mercurii, 22 die Maii ; 1° Willielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Bankrupts.

A BILL for the Composition touching Bankrupts Estates, read the First time.

Resolved, That this Bill be read a Second time this Day Sevennight, after Ten of the Clock.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. James Herbert have Leave to go into the Country for Three Weeks,

Ordered, That Mr. Brewer have Leave to go into the Country, for a Week.

Debtors Relief.

Resolved, That the Bill for Relief of poor Prisoners, be now read a Second time.

The Bill was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Arnold, Mr. And. Newport, Mr. Paul Foley, Mr. Auditor Done, Mr. Blowfeild, Sir John Fagg, Mr. Tipping, Mr. Papillion, Sir Tho. Littleton, Mr. Bockland, Sir Hen. Capell, Sir Matth. Andrews, Sir Rich. Newdigate, Sir Gilbert Clerke, Sir Fr. Russell, Sir John Barker, Mr. Elwell, Mr. Montague, Sir Rob. Sawyer, Sir Rob. Nappier, Sir Philip Gell, Mr. Machell, Lord Ranelagh, Sir Trevor Williams, Mr. Hamden, Mr. Cooke, Colonel Birch, Sir Dunc. Colchester, Mr. Boscawen, Sir John Wyne, Sir Phil. Skippon, Mr. Tho. Foley, Mr. Nicholas, Sir Wm. Strickland: And all that come are to have Voices: And they are to meet To-morrow in the Afternoon, at Four of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Suspending Habeas Corpus.

Resolved, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for Continuance of the Act for impowering his Majesty to apprehend and detain such Persons as he shall find just Cause to suspect are conspiring against the Government, for a longer Time: And it is recommended to Mr. Hamden to bring in the Bill.

A Member not able from illness to take Oaths.

Mr. Boscawen acquaints the House, That Mr. Boone had received a Letter, sent by the Order of the House; and that he was willing to take the Oaths, and attend the Service of the House: But that he is very ill, and not able, as yet, to do it; but that he will, as soon as able.

Another declines taking them.

Sir Hen. Capell acquaints the House, That he had received a Letter from Mr. Francis Cholmondlye's Brother, acquainting him, That Mr. Cholmondly had received a Letter sent by Order of the House; but that he was ill, and not able to attend their Service: But that withal, he intimated, that his Brother was not willing to take the Oaths; and desired a new Writ might issue to choose another Member in his room.

Resolved, That the said Mr. Cholmondley be summoned to attend this House this Day Three Weeks: And Sir Rich. Middleton is to signify the same to him; he undertaking in that Behalf.

Bill of Oaths.

Resolved, That the House do, this Day Sevennight, review the Bill of Oaths.

Conference with Lords; Dissenters Toleration.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cook and Mr. Methwyn;

Mr. Speaker, We are commanded by the Lords to acquaint this House, That the Lords do desire a present Conference with this House in the Painted Chamber, upon the Subject Matter of the Amendment to the Bill for exempting their Majesties Protestant Subjects from the Penalties of certain Laws.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Resolved, That this House doth agree to a present Conference with the Lords, as is desired.

And the Messengers were called in; and Mr. Speaker acquainted them therewith.

Resolved, That Mr. Hamden, Mr. Finch, Mr. Tho. Foley, Sir H. Capell, Sir Tho. Clarges, Mr. Sacheverell, Sir Wm. Williams, Sir Tho. Lee, Sir Jos. Tredenham, Mr. Ashburnham, Colonel Tipping, Sir Fran. Russell, Mr. Paul Foley, do manage the Conference.

And they went up to the Conference accordingly.

Mr. Hamden reports from the Conference with the Lords, That the Earl of Nottingham managed the same on the Part of the Lords; and said, That the Lords had agreed to most of the Amendments proposed by this House to be made to the Bill: But that the Lords did think fit to make some Amendments of those Amendments; and also, One Amendment in the Bill itself, to make the same cohere with the Amendments proposed by this House; to which they desire the Concurrence of this House: Which Amendments he delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were Thrice read; and, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House; and are as followeth; viz.

7 Skin, L. 12, to the Commons Amendment, after the Word "I," in the Third Line of the said Amendment, add "A. B;" and, at the End of the said Amendment, after "Inspiration," add, "which Declarations and Subscription shall be made and entered of Record, at the General Quarter Sessions of the Peace for the County, City, or Place, where every such Person shall then reside."

In the Bill;

7 Skin, L. 14, after "Declarations," add, "and Profession."

Ordered, That Mr. Harbord do carry up the Bill to the Lords; and acquaint them with the Concurrence of this House to the said Amendments.

Poll Bill.

Sir Thomas Littleton reports from the Committee, to whom it was referred to prepare Reasons to be offered at a Conference with the Lords, touching the Amendments proposed by the Lords to be made to the additional Poll Bill, That they had prepared Reasons accordingly: 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 afterwards, a Second time, one by one; and, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House; and are as followeth:

Reasons for disagreeing with the Lords in the Amendment to the Bill, intituled, An additional Act for the raising Money by a Poll, and otherwise; towards the reducing of Ireland.

The Lords, P. 1, L. 27, after the Word "Act," insert a Clause for the Lords appointing Commissioners to rate themselves in respect of their Offices and personal Estates, and freeing their Persons from Imprisonment, and for appointing a Collector to receive their Assessments.

To which Clause the Commons disagree.

1. Because the Bill, now in Question, taxes Commoners only.

2. Because the Poll Bill already passed, hath sufficiently provided for taxing all the Nobility; to which the Lords have consented.

Conference desired with Lords.

Ordered, That Colonel Tipping do go up to the Lords and desire a Conference with their Lordships, upon the Subject Matter of the Amendments by their Lordships proposed to be made to the additional Poll Bill.

Annulling Lisle's Attainder.

Ordered, That Colonel Tipping do carry up to the Lords the ingrossed Bill sent down by them, intituled, An Act for the annulling, and making void, the Attainder of Alitia Lisle, Widow; and acquaint them with the Concurrence of this House thereunto, without any Amendments.

Bill of Indemnity.

Resolved, That Sir Thomas Littleton do make his Report from the Committee of the whole House, to whom it was referred to consider of Heads for a Bill of Indemnity, To-morrow Morning, at Ten of the Clock.

Address respecting Irish Protestants.

Sir Jos. Tredenham reports from the Committee, to whom it was referred to prepare an Address concerning the Irish Protestants, that the Committee had prepared an Address accordingly: Which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same was read, and is as followeth; viz.

WE, Your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal Subjects, the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, in Parliament assembled, having taken into our serious and tender Considerations, the many great Sufferings of the Protestant Nobility and Gentry of Ireland, which their Zeal for the Protestant Religion, Your Majesty's Service, the Interest of England in that Kingdom, and Love to our Nation, have exposed them to; whereby great Numbers have been forced to fly hither, deprived of all their real Estates, as well as personal, of a much greater Value; so that they are thereby reduced to the most pressing Necessities, and are become great objects of Compassion; being the only Body of Protestants that are ruined by the late happy Revolution, which hath wrought so great a Deliverance, not only for the rest of Your Majesty's Subjects, but for all the Protestant Interest in Europe; most humbly crave Leave on their Behalf, to offer their deplorable Condition to Your Majesty's most Princely Consideration.

And whereas, they are, by reason of their Numbers, very apprehensive of their being and continuing a Burden and Charge to this Kingdom, while they remain, in such Condition, unemployed; and that many of them are, for their Interest in, and Knowledge of that Kingdom, as well as Experience in Military Affairs (having served there, and thereby insured to the Country), well qualified to serve under Your Majesty for the Reduction thereof; and all of them pressing and forward for that Service, as well as to redeem their Wives, Children, Friends, or Relations, from the present Slavery, and miserable Oppression, they groan under:

1. We humbly recommend such of the said Nobility and Gentry, as are fit for Military Employments, as very proper Persons for Reducing of that Kingdom to its due Obedience to the Crown of England.

2. That such of them as are not fit for such Service, may, as Your Majesty shall have Opportunity, be put into such Civil Employments as they are capable of, according to their several Abilities and Professions.

3. For the present Supply of the great Necessities of the said Nobility and Gentry of Ireland, we humbly pray, that such Part of the Stock which the late King hath in the East India and Guinea Companies, as yet undisposed of, may be sold, and distributed among them, according to a List of Distribution already settled, and herewith presented to Your Majesties; with regard to others not yet appearing, as their Estates and other their Circumstances, shall be presented, in order to their Support and Maintenance proportionably with the rest: And that for a further and standing Fund for their future Subsistence, until Ireland be reduced, Your Majesties will be graciously pleased to issue forth Your Royal Proclamation, requiring all Papists beyond the Seas, (who have Estates in England) and all Protestants, that are in Arms, or otherwise engaged in Service against Your Majesties, (if any such there be) to return within some convenient Time: And that the Estates of such as shall not give Obedience thereunto, be seized into Your Majesties Hands for the Relief of the Nobility or Gentry, who are, or shall be, deprived of their Estates there. And, because possibly the said Funds, as well for the present Supply, as future Subsistence, of the said Nobility and Gentry, may prove either so insufficient or dilatory a Provision, as their present Necessities cannot dispense with; we humbly pray Your Majesties to appoint such other certain and sufficient Fund as may answer those Ends; and we do promise to reimburse, with all Thankfulness, what Your Majesties shall expend in this so just and charitable a Work: And we are the rather induced to make this our humble Supplication to Your Majesties, on Behalf of the said Nobility and Gentry, because we esteem ourselves obliged to afford them present Relief and Support, and to represent the speedy Recovery of the Kingdom of Ireland, of great Importance to This, in all respects, as Your Majesties and the Nation's true Interest.

And, in regard we have not named his Grace the Duke of Ormond among the rest of the Nobility and Gentry of Ireland, in the List before mentioned, because of his eminent Service, Quality, and great Estate; and lest the Fund we have proposed may not allow such Provision, as his State and Merits require; we therefore humbly beseech Your Majesties, to take the Condition of the said Duke, and his great Merits and Sufferings, into Your particular Royal Consideration: And that Your Majesties will be pleased also to consider of the rest of the Nobility and Gentry already fled, and daily coming from Ireland, that remain unprovided for.

Whereas several of the Bishops, and inferior Clergy, and Fellows of Trinity College near Dublyn, have conscientiously discharged their Duties there, in Opposition to Popery; and staid in that Kingdom, whilst there was any Safety for them; are now fled also into England, most of them despoiled of all their worldly Substance; and Your Majesties having been pleased to declare Your Royal Purpose, of preferring the said Clergy to such Livings as shall fall in Your Majesties Disposal; we return our most humble Thanks for that Your Majesties most gracious Promise; humbly praying, that the said Fellows may be provided for with them: And that the Bishops of that Kingdom, fled into this, may be a special Part of Your Princely Care; and be relieved, in Proportion to their Charges and Losses, with other the Nobility and Gentry of Ireland.

The Order of the House of the Sixteenth Instant, directing an Address to be prepared, was read.

Resolved, That the Address be re-committed to the same Committee: And they are to meet this Afternoon, at Five of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber; and to make their Report to the House, with all convenient Speed.

Late King James' Property.

Resolved, That it be recommended to Sir Matthew Andrews, Sir John Bancks, and Mr. Papilion, to inquire, by the best Means they can, what Stock the late King James the Second hath undisposed of in the East India Company, Guinea Company, or Hudson's Bay Company; and bring an Account thereof to this House To-morrow Morning, at Ten of the Clock.

Conferences with Lords.

Colonel Tipping acquaints the House, that he having been (according to their Order) with the Lords, to desire a Conference, they do agree to a present Conference in the Painted Chamber.

Resolved, That the Committee, to whom it was referred to prepare the Reasons, be the Managers of the said Conference.

The Managers went to the Conference, accordingly.

Papists Children sent abroad.

Ordered, That the Committee appointed the Eighteenth Instant to inquire what Children are sent abroad to be educated in the Popish Religion; and who have been the Occasion of sending them abroad; do also inquire, what Children who were in the Hands of Protestant Guardians, have been taken thence, and put under Popish Guardians: And that Mr. Newport, Sir John Doyley, Mr. Herbert, Mr. Blake, Mr. Carter, be added to the Committee.

Grievances of City of London.

Ordered, That the Committee appointed the Fifth Day of March last, to examine into the Grievances relating to the City of London, be revived; and do sit this Afternoon, at Four of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Fall of Rents.

Ordered, That Mr. Tho. Foley, Mr. Paul Foley, Sir John Knatchbull, Mr. Moore, Colonel Whitley, Mr. Mun, be added to the Committee, which was, the Fourth Instant, appointed to consider of the Reasons of the Fall of Rents; and to bring in a Bill, or Bills, for the remedying thereof.

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