DIE Martis, 18 die Aprilis.

REX.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

PRAYERS.

Bill for taking Accompt of Money given to indigent Officers.

The Earl of Aylisbury reported, That the Committee have considered the Bill for taking Accompts of Threescore Thousand Pounds given to loyal indigent Officers, and have made Amendments therein, and added a Proviso thereunto."

Which, being read Twice, were Agreed to.

Hodie 3^a vice lecta est Billa, "An Act for taking the Accompts of Threescore Thousand Pounds, and other Monies, given to the loyal indigent Officers."

The Question being put, "Whether this Bill, with the Amendments and Proviso, shall pass?"

It was Resolved in the Affirmative.

Message from H. C. for a Conference on the Bill to prevent Frauds in selling Cattle.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Mr. Cheyne and others:

To desire a Conference upon the Amendments made by their Lordships to the Bill for preventing Abuses in buying and selling Cattle, &c.

Answer.

The Answer returned was:

That the Lords agree to a Conference, as is desired; and appoints it to be presently, in the Painted Chamber.

Message from H. C. with a Bill.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Mr. Crouch and others; who brought up a Bill, intituled, "An Act for the better Settlement of the Maintenance of the Parsons, Vicars, and Curates, in the Parishes of London, burnt by the late dreadful Fire."

These Lords following were appointed to be Reporters of the intended Conference:

Howard's Bill.

The Earl of Berks reported, "That the Committee have considered the Bill to enable Charles Howard Esquire to levy a Fine, &c. and do think it fit to pass as it is, without any Amendments." Then,

Hodie 3^a vice lecta est Billa, "An Act to enable Charles Howard Esquire and Mary his Wife to levy a Fine, and suffer a Recovery, of their Estate in Darking."

"The Question being put, "Whether this Bill shall pass?"

It was Resolved in the Affirmative.

Maintenance of Ministers in London, Bill.

Hodie 1^a vice lecta est Billa, "An Act for the better Settlement of the Maintenance of the Parsons, Vicars, and Curates, in the Parishes of the City of London, burnt by the late dreadful Fire there."

The Duke of Bucks is added to be One of the Managers of the Conference with the House of Commons, concerning the additional Impositions upon Foreign Commodities.

Message from H. C. with the Fines and Forfeitures Bill.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Sir Robert Howard and others:

To return the Bill for the better Recovery of Fines and Forfeitures due to His Majesty, sent down with some Amendments made by the Lords; to which the Commons have agreed.

Capt. Hill, Solicitor for a Bill depending, arrested.

Whereas Captain Robert Hill, being appointed to solicit the carrying on of the Bill for taking the Accompts of Sixty Thousand Pounds, and other Monies, given to the loyal indigent Officers, now depending in this House, being arrested and imprisoned in The Gatehouse Prison at Westm. was this Day brought to the Bar, by virtue of His Majesty's Writ of Habeas Corpus, where he prayed the Protection of this House for his Liberty; it appearing that he is imprisoned in Execution for Two Thousand Pounds, besides other Sums upon Mean Process:

It is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That this House will resume the further Consideration of this Business, when the public Businesses now depending will give Leave; and that in the mean Time the Clerk of the Parliaments shall search, whether there be any Precedents of this Nature.

The House was adjourned during Pleasure, and the Lords went to the Conference; which being ended, the House was resumed.

Then the Earl of North'ton reported the Effect of the said Conference as followeth:

Report of the Conference on the Bill to prevent Frauds in buying and selling Cattle at Smithfield.

"That whereas their Lordships did send down the Bill to prevent the Abuses in buying and selling of Cattle in Smithfeild, & c with some Amendments, the Commons say they cannot agree with their Lordships in leaving out the Clause concerning victualling of Ships Outward-bound only with Provisions of the Growth of England, for these Reasons:

"1. Because a great Part of the Benefit which the English receive by Navigation is the Consumption of Victuals and other Provisions of the Growth of England, for the furnishing of Ships which sail from hence. And it is very unseasonable, in this Juncture of Time, when we abound with all Provisions for Victual, and want nothing but a Consumption thereof, that our Shipping should victual elsewhere.

"2. That the Victual of England is found to be much better and wholesomer for the Victualling of Ships than that of any other Country, beside the Advantage of seeing it duly put up and prepared, which those that victual in other Places have not Time or Opportunity to do, but must take such as they find at all Hazards: And great Prejudice hath often happened to our Seamen (especially in long Voyages) by bad Victual, occasioning Diseases and Mortality of our Seamen.

"3. That for all Victual which the English take on Board in other Places, they pay ready Monies, whereby the Money of this Nation is drawn into other Countries.

"4. That all the Charge of the King's Ships is borne by the Kingdom of England; and therefore there ought to be as great a Return of the Money (which is expended in Naval Provisions) to the Subjects of England as may be, for the enabling them to bear those Impositions, whereby the King's Navies are maintained.

"5. That Victualling in other Places can be no Advantage to the King in respect of Cheapness; for the King makes His Contract for the Victualling of His Ships according to the Rates of Provisions at Home, and only the Victuallers gain by victualling cheaper Abroad. But the King may receive Disadvantage by Victualling elsewhere, where the Provisions are only cheaper because not so good; and none of His Officers can have the Inspection of them before they are put on Board."

After some Debate upon this Report;

The Question being put, "Whether to agree with the House of Commons in continuing this Clause in the Bill?"

It was Resolved in the Negative.

Message to H. C. for another Conference about it;--with the indigent Officers Bill;--and that the Lords have passed Howard's.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir John Coell and Sir Wm. Beversham:

To desire a Free Conference, To-morrow at Ten of the Clock, in the Painted Chamber, upon the Subjectmatter of the last Conference, concerning the Bill about Frauds in buying and selling of Cattle; also to return the Bill concerning indigent Officers with Amendments, and to desire their Concurrence thereunto. To let them also know, that this House hath passed the Bill concerning Charles Howard Esquire.

Adjourn.

Dominus Custos Magni Sigilli declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque in post meridiem hujus instantis diei, hora quinta, Dominis sic decernentibus.

Post meridiem.

PRAYERS.

Maintenance of Ministers in London, Bill.

Hodie 2^a vice lecta est Billa, "An Act for the better Settlement of the Maintenance of the Parsons, Vicars, and Curates, in the Parishes of the City of London, burnt by the late dreadful Fire there."

Petitions against it.

Upon reading the Petitions of several Inhabitants of London, desiring to be heard before the passing of this Bill:

It is ORDERED, that the said Bill be committed to the Consideration of these Lords following, who are to consider also of the said Petitions:

Their Lordships, or any Five; to meet To-morrow Morning, at Eight of the Clock, in the Prince's Lodgings.

Tobacco Bill.

The Lord Newport reported, "That the Committee for the Bill concerning Tobacco have considered the said Bill, and have made some Amendments therein, which are offered to the House."

Which Amendments, being read Twice, were Agreed to.

Hodie 3^a vice lecta est Billa, "An Act to prevent the planting of Tobacco in England, and for regulating the Plantation Trade."

The Question being put, "Whether this Bill, with the Amendments, shall pass?"

It was Resolved in the Affirmative.

Workhouses Bill.

The Lord Bishop of Sarum reported from the Committee, the Bill concerning the better regulating Houses of Working for the Poor, with some Amendments; which were read Twice.

And, after some Debate,

The Question being put, "Whether to agree to the leaving out the Clause appointed by the Committee to be left out?"

It was Resolved in the Affirmative.

Hodie 3^a vice lecta est Billa, "An Act for the better regulating of Workhouses for setting the Poor to Work."

The Question being put, "Whether this Bill, with the Amendments, shall pass?"

It was Resolved in the Affirmative.

Message to H. C. with it, and the Tobacco Bill.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir John Coell and Sir William Beversham:

To return the Bill concerning Tobacco, and also the Bill for regulating Workhouses, in both which the Lords have made some Amendments, to which the Concurrence of the House of Commons is desired.

Herlackenden's Bill.

The Lord Colepeper reported the Bill concerning the Sale of Mr. Herlackenden's Estate, as fit to pass, without any Amendments.

ORDERED, That this Bill be read the Third Time To-morrow.

London Streets Bill.

The Bill for paving the Streets in London to be reported To-morrow.

Proceedings on Bills of Middlesex, &c.

The Report concerning the Proceedings at Law upon Bills of Midd. and Ac etiams, &c. shall be taken into Consideration To-morrow.

Poor Prisoners Bill.

The Amendments in the Bill concerning poor Prisoners to be read To-morrow.

Adjourn.

Dominus Custos Magni Sigilli declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque in diem Mercurii, 19^um diem instantis Aprilis, hora nona Aurora, Dominis sic decernentibus.