House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 17 April 1675

Sabbati, 17 die Aprilis, 1675.

Prayers.

Compton's Estate.

A BILL to enable Sir Francis Compton and others, to make Sale of the Manor of Hamerton, in the County of Huntington, was read the First time.

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

Rushout's Nat.

A Bill for Naturalization of Alice Rushout an Infant, was read the First time.

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

Winding Wool, &c.

A Bill to prevent Deceits in the Winding and Packing of Wool, was read the First time.

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

Exporting Leather.

A Bill for Reviving and Continuing a former Act for the Exportation of Leather, was read the First time.

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

Newarke Election.

A Petition of Mr. Savile and Sir Paule Neale, returned Burgesses for Newarke, was read.

Resolved, &c. That this Petition be referred to the Committee of Elections and Privileges; to take the Matter into Consideration on Monday Three Weeks next; and to report it, with their Opinions therein, to the House: For which Purpose they are impowered to sit on that Day.

Aldborough Election.

A Petition of Robert Benson Esquire was read.

Resolved, &c. That this Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Election; to take Consideration of . . . Regularity of the Return for the Borough of Aldborough; and to report the Matter, with their Opinions therein, to the House.

Illegal Exactions.

Ordered, That Leave be given to Mr. Sacheverell, to bring in a Bill, on Monday, to prevent illegal Exactions of Money from the Subject.

Suppressing Popery.

The House then resolved into a Committee of the whole House, further to consider of effectual Ways for suppressing the Growth of Popery.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.
Sir Tho. Meres took the Chair of the Committee.
Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Sir Thomas Meres reports from the Committee of the whole House, That the Committee had agreed several further Resolves, as Heads or Instructions for a Bill for the more easy and speedy Discovery and Conviction of Papists: Which being delivered in at the Clerk's Table; and twice read, were, upon the Question, severally agreed to; and are as followeth; viz.

Resolved, &c. That in such Bill a Clause shall be inserted, for Payment of a considerable Reward to any Person or Persons that shall discover a Papist Priest, who, upon Trial, shall be proved to be so; to be paid, by the Persons to whom he shall be proved to have said Mass; or by such as have wittingly received, succoured, or entertained such Popish Priest.

Resolved, &c. That he shall be esteemed a Popish Priest, who shall be proved to have said Mass, or officiated either in this Realm, or in any foreign Country, in the Manner of a Priest, according to the Rites or Use of the See of Rome, if such Priest be not reconciled to the Church of England: And that these Votes shall not prejudice the Laws now in being, concerning Popish Priests.

Resolved, &c. That Penalties be laid on all that are proved to have remained where any such Papist Priest was saying Mass, or officiating in the Manner of a Priest, according to the Use of the See of Rome.

Resolved, &c. That the House do again resolve into a Committee of the whole House, on Tuesday Morning next, at Ten of the Clock, to consider further effectual Ways for the Suppressing the Growth of Popery.

And then the House adjourned till Monday Morning, Eight of the Clock.