House of Lords Journal Volume 13: 21 February 1677

DIE Mercurii, 21 die Februarii.

REX.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

PRAYERS.

Gerard's et al. Nat. Bill.

Hodie 1^a vice lecta est Billa, "An Act for the naturalizing of Charles Gerard and others."

E. of Marchester's Bill.

Hodie 1^a vice lecta est Billa, "An Act to enable Robert Earl of Manchester to fell Lands, for Payment of his Debts, and for settling other Lands of greater Value in Lieu of those appointed to be sold."

Bill to explain the Act concerning Popish Recusants.

Hodie 1^a vice lecta est Billa, "An Act for Explanation of an Act, intituled, An Act for preventing Dangers which may happen from Popish Recusants."

E. of Feversham introduced.

This Day Sir George Sonds, Knight of the Bath, being created Baron de Throwley, Viscount Sonds de Lees Court, and Comes de Feversham, was introducted, in his Robes, between the Earl of Bath and the Earl of Guildford; the Lord Great Chamberlain going before, and Hen. St. George Herald carrying his Patent and Writ; which his Lordship received from the Herald, and presented on his Knee at the Lord Chancellor's Woolsack; which were given to the Clerk of the Parliaments, and read at the Table.

The Patent bears Date the Eighth Day of April, in the 28th Year of the Reign of King Charles the Second. The Writ of Summons bears Date the Tenth Day of February, in the 29th Year of the Reign of King Charles the Second. This being done, he was placed at the lower End of the Earls Bench.

Vacat per Ordinem 13^tii Novembris, 1680, coram

P. Bath & Wells.
Tho. Exon.
North & Grey.

*********

His Majesty's Speech considered.

This Day being appointed to take into Consideration His Majesty's Speech made the Fifteenth of February Instant; and the House being adjourned into a Committee:

The House being resumed;

The Earl of Bridgwater reported,

"That the Committee of the House hath been in Consideration of that Part of His Majesty's Speech which concerns the Security of the Protestant Religion as it is now established in the Church of England; and agreed to the Particulars following, as Heads for One, Two, or more Bills, for the better Securing of the Protestant Religion; which, his Lordship said, he was commanded by the Committee to report to this House:

Heads for securing the Protestant Religion.

"1. That the Children of the Royal Family may be educated in the Protestant Religion, as it is established in the Church of England.

"2. The disarming of Popish Recusants.

"3. That no Popish Priests do attend the Queen's Majesty, but such as are Foreigners, except Mr. Huddleston; and that no Jesuit (though a Foreigner) shall be in the Queen's Majesty's Service; and that, after the Death of Her Majesty that now is, no Lay-Servants may be admitted to attend any future Queen, but such as are Protestants or Foreigners.

"4. That Care be taken for the Education of such Children in the Protestant Religion (as it is now established in the Church of England, whose Fathers are dead, and were of the Popish Religion; as also of the Children of Fathers dying Protestants, if their Mothers be Papists, that they may be likewise educated in the Protestant Religion.

"5. That Care be taken (in One of the Bills) against the Perverters and Perverted from the Protestant Religion, as it is now established in the Church of England: That as to the Perverters, the Law may stand as it is; but the Regour of it to be taken off, if they do abjure the Realm if they be Laymen: But as to Clergymen, that the Law stand as it is; only that it may be at His Majesty's Election, whether they shall suffer Death, or perpetual Imprisonment: And as to the Perverted, that there be an Addition of Pecuniary Penalties put upon them, and that without Reference to former Laws; the Penalties be specified in the Bill.

"6. That Provision be made, by One of the Bills, for maintaining of such poor Roman Catholics as shall turn to be Protestants.

"7. That a Stock may be erected, for buying in of Impropriations, for the better Maintenance of worthy Ministers in great Towns.

"8. That a Bill be prepared, for suppressing of Atheism, Blasphemy, and Prosaneness.

"9. That it may be provided for, That the rich who send not their Children to be catechised may pay Double Duties; and the Poor who so offend may receive no Allowance from the Parish for their Maintenance.

"10. That Provision be made for the better Observation of the Lord's-day.

"11. That a speedier Way of Conviction of Recusants may be provided; and that no Convicted Recusants may serve upon any Juries.

"12. That Provision be made for bringing the Children of all Recusants, of what Sort soever, to be baptized."

The House agreed with the Committee in this Report; and ordered the same accordingly.

Bills to secure the Protestant Religion to be prepared.

ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Lord Chief Justice of the Court of King's Bench, the Lord Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, and the Lord Chief Baron of the Court of Exchequer, be, and are hereby, appointed to take into their Consideration the Heads and Propositions agreed on this Day by the Committee of the whole House, and by them reported to and allowed of by the House, for the better securing the Protestant Religion as it is now established in the Church of England; and so to form them into Two, Three, or more Bills, as they shall find most suitable to the respective Natures of them, and to make Report thereof unto this House.

(fn. 1) Sir John Morton and Mr. Churchill have Leave, for One Time, to visit the Earl of Salisbury in The Tower.

Bill to prevent unnecessary Delays in Law.

ORDERED, That the Committee for the Bill for preventing unnecessary Suits, being now fine Die, shall meet on Friday Morning next.

Turner to attend, about the Book, called, Considerations whether this Parliament is dissolved.

ORDERED, That Methuselab Turner be, and is hereby, required to appear before the Lords Committees appointed to enquire out the Author, Contrivers, and Publishers of a Book, intituled, Some Considerations upon the Question, whether the Parliament is dissolved, on Friday next, being the 23th of this Instant February, at Nine of the Clock in the Forenoon, in the Prince's Lodgings, near the House of Peers.

Adjourn.

Dominus Cancellarius declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque in diem Jovis, 22^um diem instantis Februarii, hora decima Aurora, Dominis sic decernentibus.