Veneris, 2 die Maii; 2° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

East India Company.

SIR Joseph Tredenham reports from the Committee to whom it was referred to consider of the East India Trade, and how it may be managed to the best Advantage of the Nation, and to prepare and bring in a Bill or Bills for that Purpose, That the Committee had considered of the Matters referred to them; and had prepared a Bill for the Confirmation of the Charters to the East India Company, until another Company shall be established by Act of Parliament; which he presented to the House.

The Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read the Second Time after Ten a Clock.

Plympton Election.

A Petition of the Freeholders, Inhabitants, and Burgesses of the ancient Town and Bailiwick of Plympton in the County of Devon was read; setting forth, That, by a Grant in the Reign of King Henry the Third, the Bailiff, Freeholders, and Inhabitants, had Power to elect and return Two Burgesses to serve in Parliament: Which continued till Queen Elizabeth's Reign; when, by some undue Means, a Charter was procured to make the said Town become a Mayor Town; who by making Foreigners Freemen thereof, have usurped the Power of Election, and Right of Returns, from the Petitioners; thereby debarring them from voting for Rich. Strode, and Peter Fortescue, Esquires: And, having surrendered the said Charter to the late King James, had procured a new one; whereby a greater Power is pretended, in depriving the Petitioners of their Right: and praying the Consideration of the House, and Relief in the Premises.

Ditto.

A Petition of Richard Strode, and Peter Fortescue, Esquires, was read; setting forth, That, the late Election for the Town of Plympton in the County of Devon being declared void by this House, and a new Election ordered, the Petitioners were duly elected thereat by the Majority of the ancient and legal Votes of the said Borough; but that John Tozer, the pretended Mayor (though he lives Three Miles distant from the said Borough), committing divers illegal and arbitrary Acts in Hindrance of the Petitioners Election; and hath since very wrongfully returned Sir George Treby, their Majesties Attorney General, and John Pollexfen, Esquire, as duly elect, in manifest Injury to the Petitioners, and the said Borough: And praying a Day may be appointed for hearing the Matters aforesaid.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections, to examine the Matter of the said Petitions; and report the same, with their Opinions therein, to the House.

Paper Manufacture.

Sir Thom. Littleton reports from the Committee to whom the Bill for encouraging and better establishing the Manufacture of White Paper in this Kingdom, was committed, That they had heard the Counsel for the Papermakers of Kent and Surrey; and that, in relation to them, a Proposition was made, and agreed to, That they might make all Paper under Four Shillings per Ream, and that the Company might make all Paper above that Price; and that the Bill was made accordingly: And that, as to the Petitions of the Dean and Canons of Windsor, and the Lady Ivy, there were particular Provisoes agreed on relating to them: And, as to the Papersellers Petition, that they had no Counsel at the last Sitting of the Committee: And therefore the Committee proceeded, and had agreed to the Bill, with several Amendments and Clauses: Which the said Sir Thomas Littleton read in his Place, with the Coherence; and afterwards, delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were all read once throughout; and afterwards a Second time, one by one; and, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

A Clause was offered to be made Part of the Bill, to enjoin the taking the Oaths appointed by the Statute in the First Year of their Majesties Reign, in the stead of the former Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy: Which was twice read; and, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Another Clause was offered to be made Part of the Bill, for saving the Rights of the ancient Paper-makers, in making Paper in such manner as they used to do: Which was once read.

And the Question being put, That the same be read a Second time;

It passed in the Negative.

Then a Motion was made, and the Question was put, That the Bill be re-committed: And

It passed in the Negative.

Ordered, That the Bill, with the Amendments and Clause, be ingrossed.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir Rob. Holmes have leave to go into the Country.

Berenger's Estate.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cooke and Sir John Franklin;

Mr. Speaker, the Lords have agreed to the Amendments made by this House to the Bill, intituled, An Act to enable Thomas Berenger to sell Lands, for Payment of his Debts.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Gourdon have Leave to go into the Country, for Recovery of his Health.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cooke and Sir John Francklyn;

Wynne's Estate.

Mr. Speaker, the Lords have agreed to the Bill, intituled, An Act to vest the Estate of Cadwallader Wynne, Esquire, in Trustees, for the Payment of his Debts, without any Amendments:

Cinque Ports Elections.

And also, to the Bill, intituled, An Act for declaring the Right of Election of Members to serve in Parliament for the Cinque Ports, with Amendments: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Royal Assent to Bills.

A Message from his Majesty, by Sir Thom. Duppa, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod;

Mr. Speaker,

The King commands this honourable House to attend His Majesty, in the House of Peers, immediately.

Accordingly Mr. Speaker, with the House, went to attend his Majesty.

And being returned;

Mr. Speaker reports, That his Majesty has been pleased to give the Royal Assent to Two publick Bills, and Ten private Bills; viz.

An Act for granting to their Majesties a Subsidy of Tonage and Poundage, and other Sums of Money payable upon Merchandizes exported and imported.

An Act for enabling the Sale of Goods distrained for Rent, in case the Rent be not paid in a reasonable time.

An Act to enable Algernoon Earl of Essex to make a Wife a Jointure; and for raising of Monies for Payment of Six thousand Pounds borrowed to make up the Lady Morpeth's Portion; and to make a Settlement of his Estate on his Marriage.

An Act for the making some Provision for the Daughters and younger Sons of Anthony Earl of Shaftsbury.

An Act for the Sale of the Capital Messuage or Mansion House of Harlford, and Manor of Great Marlow, and other Lands, in the County of Bucks.

An Act to enable Sir Robert Fenwick to sell Lands, for Payment of his Debts.

An Act for confirming a Settlement made by Sir Hugh Middleton, Baronet, for a separate Maintenance for Dame Dorothea his Wife, and for other Trusts; and for the better enabling Trustees to sell Part of his Estate, for Payment of his Debts.

An Act, whereby the Freehold and Inheritance of the Manor of Loleworth, alias Lollworth, and the Advowson of the Church of Loleworth, alias Lollworth, in the County of Cambridge, and divers other Lands and Hereditaments in Loleworth aforesaid, and in Long Stanton in the said County, are vested in Altham Smyth, of Grayes Inne in the County of Middlesex, Esquire, and Wm. Gore, of London, Merchant, and their Heirs, in Fee-simple in Possession, to the Use of them, and their Heirs, in Trust for John Edwards, of Debdon Hall in the County of Essex, Esquire, and his Heirs, to the Intent the same may be sold.

An Act to enable Sir Humph. Forster to settle and dispose of Lands.

An Act to enable Thomas Berenger, Esquire, to sell Lands, for the Payment of his Debts.

An Act to vest the Estate of Cadwallader Wynn, Esquire, in Trustees, for the Payment of his Debts.

An Act for Naturalizing of David Legrand, and others.

Privilege- Libellous Publication.

Mr. Anthony Row attending in his Place, according to the Order of Wednesday last;

Sir Edw. Seymor acquainted the House with a Paper, which would be proved was dispersed by Mr. Row, reflecting upon their Majesties Government, and upon several Members of the last Parliament: And he brought the same up to the Table: Where the same was read, being intituled, "A Letter to a Friend, upon the Dissolution of the Parliament, and the Calling of a new one; together with the List of those that were against making the Prince and Princess of Orange King and Queen."

And a Debate arising thereupon;

And the Question being put, That the Debate be adjourned;

The House divided.

The Noes go forth.

So it passed in the Negative.

Resolved, That the said Paper, intituled, "A Letter to a Friend, upon the Dissolution of the Parliament, and the Calling of a new one; together with a List of those that were against making the Prince and Princess of Orange King and Queen," is a false and scandalous Libel, reflecting upon their Majesties, and their Government, and the Rights and Privileges of Parliament.

London Corporation.

Resolved, That the House will, upon Wednesday Morning next, at Ten of the Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for reversing the Judgment in a Quo Warranto against the City of London, and restoring the City to its ancient Privileges.

Aulnage Duty.

Resolved, That the House will, upon Thursday Morning next, at Ten of the Clock, hear Counsel at the Bar; and afterwards resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, upon the Bill for collecting the Duty of Aulnage at the Custom-house.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned.

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