House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 1 May 1679

Jovis, primo die Maii, 1679.

Prayers.

Tregony Election.

ORDERED, That the Committee of Privileges and Elections have Power to send for all such Persons as shall appear to them to be concerned in the Miscarriages and undue Practices, touching the Election and Return of John Tanner, Esquire to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Tregony in Cornwall.

Dangers from Papists.

Resolved, &c. That the further Consideration of securing the King and the Protestant Religion, against the Attempts of the Papists, both in the Reign of his Majesty and his Successors, be adjourned till Monday next.

Disbanding the Army.

Ordered, That the Committee appointed to inquire, What Part of the Money given for disbanding the Army is yet undisposed of, in pursuance of the Directions of the Act of Parliament, and now remaining in the Exchequer, be revived; and do sit this Afternoon, at Three of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Mons', &c. Nat.

A Bill for naturalizing Isaac de Mons, and others, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Privilege- Reflections on the House.

The House being informed of serveral rude and indecent Expressions uttered by one Christopher Williams, in Contempt of the Orders and Proceeding of this House;

Ordered, That the said Christopher Williams be sent for, in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms, to answer at the Bar of this House his Breach of Privilege, in uttering several rude and indecent Expressions, in Contempt of the Orders and Proceedings of this House.

Dr. Nelson.

Sir Thomas Exton reports from the Committee to whom the Consideration of the Petition of Dr. John Nelson was referred, That the Committee had met several times; and had examined the Matter to them referred; and were of Opinion, That the said Dr. Nelson be discharged from his Confinement, and be put out of the Commission of the Peace.

Ordered, That Dr. John Nelson be brought to the Bar of this House To-morrow Morning, at Eleven of the Clock: And that he be then discharged from the Custody of the Serjeant at Arms, paying his Fees.

Illegal Exaction.

A Bill for the better Prevention of illegal Exaction of Money from the Subject, was read the Second time.

Resolved, &c. That the Bill be committed to Sir Thomas Clarges, Sir John Hewley, Mr. Colt, Sir Thomas Stringer, Sir Thomas Lee, Sir Thomas Littleton, Mr. Beake, Serjeant Strode, Colonel Titus, Sir Francis Russell, Sir Robert Markham, Sir John Kempthorne, Sir William Coventry, Mr. Duboys, Sir Robert Cleyton, Sir John Knight, Mr. Wright, Lord Russell, Colonel Birch, Mr. Boscawen, Serjeant Rigby, Mr. Sachaverell, Sir Jos. Tredenham, Mr. Hamden, Sir Robert Dillington, Sir Robert Carr, Sir John Cloberry, Sir Richard Corbett, Sir Francis Drake, Mr. Kelland, Sir William Portman, Mr. Papillon, Sir Thom. Player, Mr. Harboard, Sir Gilbert Gerrard, Sir Geor. Hungerford, Sir Christopher Musgrave, Mr. Ayliffe, Serjeant Seys, Sir John Wynn, Mr. Whitehead, Sir Ralph Ashton, Mr. Love, Mr. Trenchard, Mr. Trelawny, Sir John Mallet, Mr. Austin, Sir Eliab Harvey, Mr. Reynall, Dr. Jacob, Sir John Hotham, Sir Hugh Cholmley, Mr. Rushworth, Sir Thomas Meres, Sir Robert Peyton, Mr. Seymour, Mr. Treby, Sir Walter Young, Sir Wm. Bastard, Mr. Garraway, and all the Members of this House that are of the Long Robe: And all that come are to have Voices: And they are to meet To-morrow, at Three of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber: And are impowered to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Trelawny, and Mr. Onslow have Leave to go into the Country.

Ordered, That Sir Vere Fane have Leave to go into the Country for a Week.

Ordered, That Mr. Churchill have Leave to go into the Country for this whole Session, in order to the Recovery of his Health.

Ordered, That Sir Robert Cann and Sir Gervas Elwes have Leave to go into the Country for a Week.

Ordered, That Sir Richard Ingoldsby have Leave to go into the Country for a Fortnight.

Ordered, That Mr. Cooke have Leave to go into the Country for a Month.

Address respecting Dr. Nelson.

Resolved, &c. That an humble Address be made to his Majesty, by such Members of this House as are of his Majesty's Privy Council, to desire his Majesty to command the Lord Chancellor to put Dr. John Nelson out of the Commission of the Peace.

Burying in Woollen.

Ordered, That a Bill be brought in for the greater Ease of administring the Oaths required to be taken by the Act for burying in Woollen: And that it be recommended to the Care of Sir Charles Harbord, to prepare the same

Punishments for false Returns.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to inspect the Journals, and search for Precedents, for punishing Sheriffs, Mayors, Bailiffs, and other Officers, for making false Returns of Members to serve in Parliament.

And it is referred to Sir Henry Capell, Sir William Poultney, Sir Thomas Player, Sir John Hotham, Lord Cavendish, Mr. Onslow, Sir Robert Carr, Sir Francis Drake, Sir Ralph Ashton, Mr. Harboard, Sir James Long, Sir Robert Thomas, Sir William Coventry, Mr. Whitehead, Mr. Paul Foley, Mr.* Foley, Mr. Williams, Colonel Birch, Sir Joseph Tredenham, Sir Trevor Williams, Mr. Vaughan, Serjeant Rigby, Mr. Duboyes, Mr. Colt, Sir Thomas Clerges, Sir John Trevor, Sir Robert Peyton, Sir Robert Dillington, Sir Thomas Littleton, Mr. Gerard Russell, Mr. Ash, Sir William Bastard: And they are to meet this Afternoon, at Three of the Clock in the Speaker's Chamber: And are to report the same, with their Opinions thereupon, to the House.

Regulating Elections.

Ordered, That the Committee appointed to bring in a Bill for regulating the Election of Members to serve in Parliament, be revived; and do sit this Afternoon at Three of the Clock, in the Place formerly appointed: And that Mr. Williams, and all the Members of this House that are of the Long Robe, be added to the said Committee; do examine the Matter; and particularly report their Opinions to the House, touching the Reversing of the Judgment in the Case of Sir Samuel Bernardiston, and by whose Procurement and Solicitation, and by what Ways and Means, the same was reversed; together with the Names of the particular Judges that were concerned for and against the Reversing the said Judgment. And it is particularly recommended to the Care of Sir Robert Carr, Serjeant Maynard, and Mr. Williams.

Elections instead of Members taking Office.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill, That when any Member of this House is preferred by the King to any Office or Place of Profit, a new Writ shall immediately issue out for Electing of a Member to serve in his stead: And that it be recommended to the Care of Mr. Hamden, to draw up such a Bill, and present the same to the House To-morrow Morning.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees that are discontinued be revived; and do sit this Afternoon in the Places formerly appointed.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Starkey have Leave to go into the Country.

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