House of Commons Journal Volume 8: 16 May 1664

Lunæ, 16 die Maii, 16° Car. IIdi.

Prayers.

Conference with Lords.

A MESSAGE sent from the Lords, by Sir Thomas Bird and Sir Mondeford Brampston;

Mr. Speaker, The Lords desire a present free Conference with this House, in the Painted Chamber, upon the Subject Matter of the last Conference.

The Messengers being called in; Mr. Speaker acquaints them, That the House had agreed to a present free Conference, in the Painted Chamber.

Ordered, That the Members formerly appointed do manage the free Conference to be had with the Lords in the Painted Chamber.

Sir Job Charleton reports from the free Conference had with the Lords upon the Bill against Conventicles, That the Lord Anglesey did manage the Conference: And that he did acquaint them, He had Command, from the Lords, to tell them, That they were very sensible of the kind Expressions of this House at the last Conference; and should be as zealous of the Privileges of this House as their own: And did agree to all the Amendments of this House to the Proviso marked Letter B, except the last, relating to the City of London: To which they had, as an Expedient, inserted these Words, "except such:" And, as to the Amendment concerning the Quakers, they had, by way of Expedient, agreed of a new Clause in the Beginning of the Proviso: That they did agree to insert the Words "except Court Leets:" That they did adhere to have the Word "or," instead of "and:" That they did adhere to the Clause concerning the Courts of Equity, and Courts Ecclesiastical, with an additional Clause to be added: Which Clauses and Amendments he opened; and read, with the Coherence.

The several Amendments sent from the Lords, until the Preamble to the Clause concerning Quakers, were agreed, upon the Second Reading.

The Preamble was read the Second time:

The Question being put, To postpone the Preamble;

It was resolved in the Affirmative.

The Question being put, That these Words, "Courts of Equity," shall stand in the Bill;

It was resolved in the Affirmative.

The Question being put, That these Words, "or any Suit in any Court Ecclesiastical," shall stand in the Proviso;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went out.

And so it was resolved in the Affirmative.

The additional Clause, sent from the Lords, was read the Second time.

An Amendment, tendered to be had, was read:

The Question being put, That this Amendment be read the Second time;

It passed in the Negative.

The Question being put, To agree to the Addition sent from the Lords;

It was resolved in the Affirmative.

Resolved, &c. That this Clause following be added, after the Word "Accompt," in the Twenty-third Line of the Proviso; viz. "Which Oath the respective Court and Courts aforesaid are hereby authorized and required forthwith to tender, administer, and register, before the Entry of the Conviction aforesaid."

The Preamble, sent from the Lords, was read the Second time.

Another Preamble, to be inserted instead of it, was twice read; and was as followeth; viz. "A certain Sect called Quakers, and other Sectaries, are found not only to offend in the Matters provided against by this Act, but also to obstruct the Proceedings of Justice, by their obstinate Refusal to take Oaths lawfully tendered unto them, in the ordinary Course of Law: Therefore."

The Question being put, After the Word "Regard," to add the Preamble read, instead of the Preamble sent from the Lords;

It was resolved in the Affirmative.

The Question being put, To agree with the Lords, to let the Word "or" stand, instead of "and;"

It was resolved in the Affirmative.

Ordered, That a Conference be desired with the Lords, upon the Amendments to the Bill against Conventicles: And Sir Edmond Pooley is to desire the Conference.

Sir Edmond Pooley reports from the Lords, That they had consented to a present Conference, in the Painted Chamber.

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

Sir Job Charleton reports, That they had attended the Conference upon the Amendments sent from this House, to the last Amendments sent from the Lords, to the Bill against Conventicles: And that the Lord Anglesey did manage the Conference; and received the Bill, with the several Provisoes and Amendments; and carried the same in to the Lords: And, after a short time, came back again into the Painted Chamber; and acquainted them, That the Lords had considered of the last Amendments; and had fully agreed with this House therein.

And the Reporter came up to the Clerk's Table; and delivered in the Bill, and the several Provisoes and Amendments, as he conceived, rolled up therein:

But the Bill being immediately opened by the Clerk at the Table, in the View of Mr. Speaker, and the House; with Intent to add the Amendments, agreed, and affix the Proviso to the Bill; the Paper Amendments, agreed upon by both Houses, were found inclosed within the Bill, and the other Provisoes affixed: But the Proviso against Quakers, and other Sectaries, was missing. And upon Search and Inquiry made, being not to be found;

And the Matter thereupon debated;

Conference with Lords.

Resolved, That a Message be sent to the Lords, to desire a Conference upon the Subject Matter of the last free Conference, in relation to the Amendments to the Bill against Conventicles: And that Mr. William Coventry do go up to the Lords to desire the Conference.

Mr. Coventry reports, That the Lords had agreed to a present Conference, in the Painted Chamber.

Ordered, That the Persons formerly appointed do manage this Conference: And do acquaint the Lords, That, upon the Report of the last free Conference, and opening the Bill to add and affix the Provisoes and Amendments agreed to, the Proviso against Quakers, and other Sectaries, was not within the Bill; and could not be found.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Justinian Lewen and Sir Thomas Bird;

Mr. Speaker, The Lords desire a present free Conference, with this House, in the Painted Chamber, upon the Subject Matter of the last Conference.

The Messengers being again called in; Mr. Speaker did acquaint them, That this House had agreed to a present free Conference.

Ordered, That the Persons formerly appointed do manage the free Conference to be had with the Lords.

Sir Job Charleton reports from the free Conference had with the Lords, That the Lord Anglesey, the Lord Ashley, and the Lord Bridgewater, did manage the free Conference: And that the Lord Anglesey did acquaint them, That since the Proviso against Quakers, and other Sectaries, was missing, the Lords, as an Expedient to supply the same, had commanded him to deliver the same Proviso; which had been twice read; and afterwards ingrossed, and read again a Third time, in their House, with some of the Amendments agreed: And that they assented; to the end this House, upon Perusal of their Journal, and the Amendments agreed, might perfect the same, as it was agreed to in both Houses, and return it with the Bill.

This Proviso being delivered in at the Clerk's Table;

Resolved, That the Debate of the Matter on the Proviso, delivered from the Lords, touching Quakers, and other Sectaries, be adjourned till Eight of the Clock To-morrow Morning.