DIE Mercurii, 20 Aprilis.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

PRAYERS.

Messages from H. C. with Bills.

A Message from the House of Commons, by Sir John Key and others:

Who brought up a Bill, intituled, "An Act for making navigable the Rivers Ayr and Calder, in the County of Yorke;" to which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

A Message from the House of Commons, by Mr. Brotherton and others:

Who brought up a Bill, intituled, "An Act to naturalize William Lloyd Esquire and others;" to which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

And also to return the Bill, intituled, "An Act for settling certain Lands in Essex on Thomas Burgh Esquire and his Heirs, in Lieu of other Lands, of greater Value, conveyed by him according to a Decree, and the Will of Sir Samuel Jones deceased;" to which they have agreed, without any Amendment.

Lloyd & al. Nat. Bill.

Hodie 1^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act to naturalize William Lloyd Esquire and others."

Message from H. C. to return Smith's Bill.

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

To return the Bill, intituled, "An Act for the vesting several Lands, late belonging to Robert Smith Esquire deceased, in Trustees, to be sold, for the Payment of his Debts;" to which they have agreed, without any Amendment.

Hawkes's Bill.

Hodie 1^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act to enable John Hawkes Gentleman to sell Lands in the County of Salop, for Payment of his Debts."

Consent to Private Bills, to be given personally; and Fourteen Days Notice to be given of the Meeting of the Committee.

It is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That, for the future, it be a general Instruction to all Committees who shall meet upon Private Bills, that they take no Notice of the Consent of any Person to the passing of such Bill, unless such Person appear before them, or that there be an Affidavit of Two Persons made, "that he or she is not able to attend, and doth consent to the said Bill;" and that, when any Committee shall be appointed on a Private Bill, Notice thereof be affixed on the Doors of this House Fourteen Days before the Meeting of the said Committee; and that this Order be added to the Roll of Standing Orders.

L. Fairfax versus E. of Derby.

It is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That this House will hear Counsel, upon the Petition of the Lord Fairfax, and the Answer of the Earl of Derby put in thereunto, on Thursday the Fifth Day of May next, at Eleven of the Clock.

Lassells' Bill.

Hodie 1^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act for vesting the Real Estate late of Thomas Lassells Esquire deceased, in Trustees, to be sold, for the Payment of his Debts."

Rogers's Bill.

Hodie 1^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act for vesting in Thomas Rogers Gentleman an absolute Estate of Inheritance, in Fee Simple, in the Manor of West Court, Mansion-house, Messuages, Lands, and Hereditaments, in the County of Kent; and securing to John Higgons Gentleman, Alice his Wife, and for Portions for Irene, Margaret, Mary, and Alice Cesar, Monies in Lieu of their Claims thereunto."

Exeter Work-houses, &c. Bill.

Hodie 1^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act for erecting Hospitals and Work-houses within the City and County of the City of Exon, for the better employing and maintaining the Poor there."

Davis's Bill.

Hodie 3^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act for vesting certain customary Messuages and Lands, within the Manor of Gillingham, in the County of Dorset, (late the Estate of Thomas Davis Gentleman deceased,) in Trustees, to be sold, for Payment of Debts."

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

It was Resolved in the Affirmative.

Message to H. C. with it.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir Robert Legard and Sir Richard Holford:

To carry down the said Bill, and desire their Concurrence thereunto.

Knight, Bill to punish.

Whereas this Day was appointed for reading Two Bills; One, intituled, "An Act for punishing John Knight Esquire, for procuring counterfeit Indorsements to be made upon several Bills made forth at the Receipt of Exchequer, commonly called Exchequer Bills;" and the other, intituled, "An Act for punishing Bartholomew Burton Gentleman, for false indorsing of several Bills made forth at the Receipt of Exchequer, commonly called Exchequer Bills:"

Burton, Bill to punish.

It is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the said Bills shall be read on Friday the Sixth Day of May next, at Eleven of the Clock in the Forenoon.

Colchester Channel, for cleansing, Bill:

Hodie 3^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act for cleansing and making navigable the Channel from The Heith at Colchester to Wivenhoo."

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

It was Resolved in the Affirmative.

Message to H. C. with Amendments to it.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir Robert Legard and Sir Richard Holford:

To return the said Bill, and desire their Concurrence to the Amendments.

Master's Bill.

The Lord Bishop of Peterburgh reported from the Committee, the Bill, intituled, "An Act to enable Streynsham Master Esquire to sell Lands in Kent, which were agreed to be settled by his Marriage Articles; and to convey Lands in Derbyshire, of a greater Value, to the same Uses;" as fit to pass, without any Amendment.

Hodie 3^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act to enable Streynsham Master Esquire to sell Lands in Kent, which were agreed to be settled by his Marriage Articles; and to convey Lands in Derbyshire, of a greater Value, to the same Uses."

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

It was Resolved in the Affirmative.

ORDERED, That the Commons have Notice, the Lords have agreed to the said Bill, without any Amendment.

Qualifying for Offices, Bill to give Time for;

Hodie 1^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act for the giving Time to several Persons to qualify themselves for their Offices, Trusts, and Employments."

Rejected.

ORDERED, That the said Bill be rejected.

Gloucester Highways Bill.

Hodie 2^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act for repairing the Highways from the Town of Bridlipp and the Top of Crickley Hill, in the County of Gloucester, to the City of Gloucester."

ORDERED, That the Consideration of the said Bill be committed to the Lords following; (videlicet,)

Their Lordships, or any Five of them; to meet on Monday the Second Day of May next at Ten of the Clock in the Forenoon, in the Prince's Lodgings near the House of Peers; and to adjourn as they please.

Sheppard & al. versus Wright & al.

Upon reading the Petition and Appeal of Dormer Sheppard, Thomas Sheppard, James Ball, Francis Stratford, Mathew Mead, Gent. and John Coleman Merchant, complaining of a Decree made in the Court of Chancery, the Twentieth Day of May One Thousand Six Hundred Ninety-six, on Behalf of Joseph Wright, Edmond Doughty, Robert Doughty, George Ford, Edward Celson, Edward Charlton, Robert Foot, Francis Gosfright, John Morgan, Andrew Hopegood Senior, Francis Hopegood, Sir James Hublon, Charles Ball, John Wright, William Wright, Paul Dominique, John Cater, Francis Cater, Edward Stringer, Alexander Henderson, John Brand, John Fentrill, Richard Harrison, Josceline Roberts, Margaret Sedgewick Administratrix of Arthur Sedgewick deceased, Richard Blackman, Roger Drake, Charles Thorold, and James Corteene, Merchants; and praying the Reversal of the said Decree:

It is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the said Joseph Wright, and other the Persons last abovementioned, may have a Copy of the said Petition; and do put in their Answer or respective Answers thereunto, in Writing, on Monday the Second Day of May next, at Eleven of the Clock in the Forenoon.

Governor, &c. of Plantation in Ulster versus Bp. of London Derry.

Upon reading the Petition of the Governor and Assistants, London, of the new Plantation in Ulster, in the Kingdom of Ireland; praying, "That a Day may be appointed for hearing their Petition depending in this House, to which the Bishop of London-Derry is Respondent:"

Memorandum, This is intended to relate only to the Jurisdiction of the House of Lords in Ireland.

It is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Petitioners do give the Agents for the Bishop of London-Derry a Copy of this Petition; and Notice, "that this House will hear Counsel, as to that Part of their Petition which relates to Jurisdiction only, on Monday the Ninth Day of May next, at Eleven of the Clock in the Forenoon."

Adjourn.

Dominus Cancellarius declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque ad et in diem Lunæ, (videlicet,) secundum diem Maii jam prox. sequen. hora undecima Auroræ, Dominis sic decernentibus.