House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 21 January 1674

Mercurii, 21 die Januarii, 1673.

Prayers.

Stafford Writ.

ORDERED, That Mr. Speaker do issue forth his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a new Writ for Election of a Member to serve for the Town of Stafford, in the room of Mr. Milward, deceased.

Northern Borders.

A Bill for Continuance of Two former Acts, for preventing of Theft and Rapine upon the Northern Borders, was read.

Resolved, &c. That the said Bill be read a Second time.

Bills depending.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to view the Bills which were depending last Sessions, and not passed, and see which of them are useful; and represent such as are most necessary, with their Opinions, to the House: And it is referred to Sir Thomas Clergis, Sir Anth. Irby, Sir Will. Coventry, Sir Robert Carre, Mr. Onslow, Mr. Attorney General, Sir Trevor Williams, Sir Char. Harbord, Sir Will. Lewis, Sir Will. Lowther, Sir John Coventry, Mr. Waller, Mr. Hobby, Sir Charles Wheeler, Sir Joseph Tredinham, Sir Edw. Deering, Sir Thom. Lee, Sir Hen. Capell, Sir Courtney Poole, Lord Angier, Lord Cornbury, Mr. Walker, Sir James Smith, Sir Francis Drake, Mr. Sprye, Sir Will. Strode, Sir John Otway, Sir Hen. Newton, Colonel Birch, Sir Edw. Masters, Sir John Barnaby, Lord Obrian, Sir James Smith, Captain Herbert, Sir John Carew, or any Five of them: And they are to meet on Friday next, at Two of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Expiring Laws.

Ordered, That the same Committee be impowered to inspect such Laws as were temporary; and to consider what are fit to be continued or repealed; and report the Matter to the House.

Orders of the House.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker be desired to consider the antient Orders of the House; and present such as are for the better Decency, and orderly Sitting, in the House.

Vexatious Suits.

A Bill to prevent unjust Vexations by Suits at Law, was read the Second time.

Resolved, &c. That the Bill be committed, upon the Debates of the House, to Mr. Attorney General, Colonel Titus, Sir Thom. Lee, Sir John Barnaby, Sir Trevor Williams, Serjeant Jones, Sir John Lowther, Sir John Knight, Mr. Streete, Sir Thom. Allen, Lord Ancram, Sir John Birkenhead, Sir John Coriton, Sir Will. Coventry, Mr. Onslow, Sir John Newton, Sir Hen. Capell, Mr. Sacheverell, Mr. Wright, Serjeant Seis, Sir Charles Wheeler, Mr. Otway, Serjeant Maynard, Sir John Trevor, Sir Fran. Clarke, Sir Anth. Irby, Sir Charles Harbord, Sir Wm. Doyley, Sir Will. Lewis, Mr. Jolliffe, Colonel Birch, Lord Obrian, Sir John Moreton, Mr. Crouch, Sir John Hobart, Mr. Mallet, Sir John Heath, Sir Francis Drake, and all the Gentlemen of the Long Robe: And all that shall come are to have Voices: And they are to meet on Monday next, at Two of the Clock, in the Afternoon, in the inner Court of Wards: And to send for Persons, Papers, and Records: And it is recommended to Mr. Attorney General, to take care of the Bill.

Test against Papists.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed for the preparing one or more Bill or Bills for a general Test, to distinguish between Protestants and Papists; and to prevent the Danger, and further Growth of Popery; and for a more easy and speedy Conviction of Popish Recusants: And those that shall refuse to take it, be incapable to enjoy any Office, military or civil, or to sit in either House of Parliament, or to come within Five Miles of the Court:

And it is referred to Colonel Strangwaies, Colonel Birch, Sir Trevor Williams, Mr. Attorney General, Serjeant Seis, Mr. Mallett, Sir Wm. Doyley, Mr. Garaway, Lord Ancram, Sir John Barnaby, Mr. Maynard, Lord St. John, Sir Thom. Lee, Mr. Sacheverell, Sir Charles Harbord, Sir Anth. Irby, Sir Francis Clarke, Sir Will. Lewis, Sir Thomas Meeres, Lord Cavendish, Lord Obrian, Mr. Swinfen, Lord Angier, Sir Will. Coventry, Mr. Powle, Sir Char. Wheeler, Mr. Cheney, Sir John Hotham, Colonel Titus, Sir John Covert, Mr. Crouch, or any Three of them.

Dr. Craddock, &c. to preach on 30 Jan.

Ordered, That this House, for the better Observation of the Thirtieth of January of this present Month, will meet in a Body in the House; and from thence go to Saint Margarett's Church Westminster: And Dr. Craddock is desired to preach before the House in the Forenoon, and Dr. Lloyd in the Afternoon, of that Day: And Colonel Strangwaies is desired to give Notice of it to Dr. Craddock; and Sir Thomas Clergis, to Dr. Lloyd.

Dr. Tillotson to preach on Fast Day.

Ordered, That Dr. Tillotson be desired to preach before this House on the Fast Day, which is appointed the Fourth of February next: And Sir Edward Masters is desired to give him Notice.

Newcastle Trade.

A Petition of several Masters of Ships, inhabiting in and about the City of London, on the Behalf of themselves and others, using the Newcastle Trade, and other Parts, was preferred, and read in the House.

And some of the Petitioners being called in, and owning the Petition; and the Matter being debated;

Resolved, &c. That the said Petition be committed to Sir Will. Thompson, Mr. Attorney General, Mr. Sacheverell, Mr. Love, Sir John Earneley, Mr. Child, Sir Thom. Meeres, Mr. Whorwood, Mr. Ed. Boscowen, Sir Anth. Irby, Sir Thom. Clergis, Sir Will. Lowther, Mr. Wright, Mr. Pepis, Sir Thom. Lee, Sir Charles Harbord, Sir John Birkenhead, Sir Eliab Harvey, Sir Rich. Temple, Mr. Sawyer, Mr. Hugh Boscowen, Mr. Wm. Harbord, Sir John Lowther, Colonel Birch, Sir John Mounson, Sir Charles Wheeler, Sir Robert Carre, Sir Thom. Littleton, Sir Will. Lewis, Sir Robert Holmes, Mr. Garraway, Sir John Coventry, Sir Fran. Drake, Mr. Culliford, Sir John Heath, Sir Will. Bucknall, Mr. Papillon, Sir Trevor Williams, Sir Will. Doyley, Sir John Moreton, Captain Legg, Mr. Legg, Sir Nich. Carew, Mr. Graham, and all that serve for the City of London, or any Port, or Maritime Town: And all that shall come are to have Voices: And they are to examine the Matter of the Petition; and to inspect the Laws which relate to the impressing of Men for the Sea Service; and to receive and hear such Complaints as shall be offered, of any Abuses or Irregularities committed by the Pressing of Men for the Sea; and to consider how the Laws stand; and to report the whole Matter, with their Opinions therein, to the House: And they are to meet this Afternoon, at Three of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chambers: And send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Dover Election.

Ordered, That the Debate of the Matter, concerning the Miscarriages upon the Election for the Port of Dover, be adjourned till To-morrow Morning Ten of the Clock.

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