House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 12 November 1675

Veneris, 12 die Novembris, 1675.

Lyndsey Level.

A BILL for draining Lyndsey Level was read the First time.

Resolved, &c. That this Bill be read a Second time, in a full House, after Ten of the Clock.

Eye Election.

A Petition of George Welch Esquire, complaining of the undue Election of Robert Reeves Esquire, to serve as a Burgess for the Borough of Eye in the County of Suffolke, to the Wrong of the Petitioner, was read.

Resolved, &c. That the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Elections and Privileges, to examine the Matter of the said Petition; and report the same, with their Opinions therein, to the House.

Regulating Elections.

A Debate arising, concerning the Regulating the Election of Members to serve in Parliament; and the exorbitant Drinking and Expences at Elections;

Resolved, &c. That a Committee be appointed to prepare and bring in a Bill for regulating the Elections of Members to serve in Parliament: And it is referred to Sir Tho. Meeres, Mr. Swinfen, Mr. Henry Powle, Mr. Boscowen, Sir Tho. Lee, Mr. Secretary Williamson, Sir John Berkenhead, Sir Jona. Trelawney, Sir Richard Temple, Sir Tho. Clergis, Mr. Vaughan, Sir George Reeves, Sir Cyrill Wych, Sir Cha. Wheeler, Col. Byrch, Sir John Mallett, Sir Christ. Musgrave, Mr. Garraway, Mr. Serjeant Maynard, Sir William Coventry, Mr. Sacheverell, Mr. Stockdale, Sir Denny Ashburnham, Sir Anth. Irby, Mr. Sawyer, Sir Cha. Harbord; or any Five of them.

A Paper, containing the Form of a Vote or Order of this House, concerning Drinking, Bribery, and Expences at Elections of Members to serve in Parliament, being tendered; and read;

Resolved, &c. That the said Paper, now read, be referred to the Committee of Elections and Privileges, to consider thereof; and report it, with their Opinions therein, to the House with Speed.

Poor Laws.

A Debate arising, concerning the poor People of this Kingdom; and the Laws now in being relating thereunto; and the great Charge laid upon the Subject for their Maintenance;

Resolved, &c. That a Committee be appointed, to consider of the Laws now in being, for Maintenance of the Poor, and the Laws concerning Vagrants; and to propose Remedies to lessen or prevent the great Charges that are laid upon the Subject, for Relief of the Poor; and to report the Matter, with their Opinions, to the House: And it is referred to Mr. Garraway, Sir Thom. Clargis, Sir Rich. Temple, Sir Henry Goodrick, Sir Thom. Lee, Sir Henry Puckering, Sir John Knight, Mr. Stockdale, Sir John Dawney, Sir Cha. Harbord, Sir Robert Holt, Col. Byrch, Sir Henry Ford, Sir John Ernley, Mr. Swinfen, Sir Wm. Coventrey, Sir Tho. Meres, Mr. Boscowen, Sir Trev. Williams, Sir John Holland, Mr. How, Mr. Williams, Sir Rich. Franckland, Col. Sherrard, Sir Cha. Wheeler, Mr. Whittaker, and all the Gentlemen of the Long Robe; or any Five of them: And they are to meet To-morrow in the Afternoon, at Three of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Illegal Exactions

Mr. Williams reports from the Committee to whom the Bill to prevent illegal Exaction of Money from the Subject was committed, several Amendments, agreed to be made; . . . a Proviso to be added to the Bill: Which he read in his Place, with the Coherence, . . . the Bill; and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same being twice read, were, upon the Question, severally agreed to.

A Proviso being tendered to be added to the Bill for the Saving the Duty or Composition of Twelve Pence upon every Chaldron of Coals; and being debated; was withdrawn.

Another Proviso being tendered, and read, was, with some Amendments at the Table, upon the Question, agreed to.

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

Pembrooke Writ.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue forth his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a new Writ, for the Election of a Member to serve in this present Parliament, for the County and Borough of Pembrooke, in the room of Rowland Langhorne Esquire, lately deceased.

State of the Nation.

Resolved, &c. That this House will on Tuesday next, at Eleven of the Clock in the Morning, resolve into a Committee of the whole House, to proceed in the Consideration of the State and Condition of the Kingdom.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees which are discontinued, be revived; and do sit this Afternoon in the Places formerly appointed.

And then the House adjourned till To-morrow Morning, Eight of the Clock.