Lunæ, 11 die Februarii;

Sexto Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Cosserat's, &c. Nat.

MR. Waller reported from the Committee to whom the ingrossed Bill, from the Lords, intituled, An Act for Naturalizing of Bernard Cosserat alias Mourte, and Alexander Ringli, and others, was committed, That they had made several Amendments to the Bill; which they had directed him to report to the House; and which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were once read throughout; and then a Second time, one by one; and, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

The Bill was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass.

Ordered, That Mr. Waller do carry the Bill to the Lords, and acquaint them, That this House hath agreed to the Bill, with the said Amendments: To which this House desires their Lordships Concurrence.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cook and Mr. Meredeth:

Mr. Speaker,

Apothecaries exempt from Parish Offices.

The Lords have agreed to the Bill, intituled, An Act for exempting Apothecaries from serving the Offices of Constable, Scavenger, and other Parish and Ward-Offices; and from serving upon Juries; with some Amendments: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House. Also,

Supply Bill; Land Tax.

The Lords have agreed to the Bill, intituled, An Act for granting to his Majesty an Aid of Four Shillings in the Pound, for One Year; and for applying the yearly Sum of Three hundred thousand Pounds, for Five Years, out of the Duties of Tonage and Poundage, and other Sums of Money, payable upon Merchandizes exported and imported; for carrying on the War against France with Vigour; without any Amendments.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Leave of Absence.

A Motion being made, and the Question being put, That Mr. Winnington have Leave to go into the Country for Three Weeks, his Wife being very ill;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.

Apothecaries exempt from Parish Offices.

The House proceeded to take into Consideration the Amendments, made by the Lords, to the Bill, intituled, An Act for exempting Apothecaries from serving the Offices of Constable, Scavenger, and other Parish and Ward Offices; and from serving upon Juries:

And the same were read; and are as followeth; viz.

Skin 2d, L. 37. for "they were," read "he was."

At the End of the Bill, add Clause marked X.

X. "Provided always, That this Act shall continue for the Space of Seven Years, and from thence to the End of the next Session of Parliament, and no longer."

The First Amendment being read a Second time;

The same was, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

The Second Amendment being read a Second time;

An Amendment was proposed to be made therein, by leaving out "Seven," and inserting "Three:"

And the Question being put, That the Word "Seven" stand in the Clause;

It was resolved in the Affirmative.

Resolved, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment.

Ordered, That Mr. Christie do carry the Bill to the Lords, and acquaint them, That this House has agreed to the said Amendments.

Rebuilding Warwick Town.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resumed the adjourned Debate, upon the First Amendment, made by the Lords, to the Bill, intituled, An Act for rebuilding the Town of Warwick; and for determining Differences touching Houses burnt or demolished, by reason of the late dreadful Fire there:

And the Amendment was, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

The Second Amendment being read a Second time;

The same was, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Ordered, That the Lord Digby do carry the Bill to the Lords, and acquaint them, That this House has agreed to the said Amendments.

Expiring Laws.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, took into further Consideration the Report, made the Ninth Day of January last, from the Committee appointed to inspect what Laws are lately expired and expiring; and to consider which are fit to be revived and continued:

And the First Resolution being read a Second time;

Resolved, That the House doth agree with the Committee in the said Resolution, That the Act made in the Third Year of the Reign of King William and Queen Mary, intituled, An Act to take away Clergy from some Offenders, and to bring others to Punishment; which, by Part of another Act, made in the Fourth and Fifth Years of the Reign of the said King and Queen, intituled, An Act for reviving, continuing, and explaining, several Laws therein mentioned, which are expired, and near expiring, was explained, and was to continue and be in Force for Three Years, from the 13th Day of February 1692, and from thence to the End of the next Session of Parliament, and no longer; be continued.

The Second Resolution being read a Second time.

And the Question being put, That the House do agree with the Committee in the said Resolution, That an Act made in the 13th and 14th Years of the Reign of the late King Charles the Second, intituled, An Act for preventing Abuses in printing seditious, treasonable, and unlicensed Books and Pamphlets; and for regulating of Printing, and Printing-Presses; which was revived in the First Year of the Reign of the late King James, and continued from the 24th Day of June 1685 for Seven Years, and from thence to the End of the next Session of Parliament; and was again revived by the said Act, made in the said 4th and 5th Years of the Reign of King William and Queen Mary, intituled, An Act for reviving, continuing, and explaining several Laws therein mentioned, which are expired, and near expiring, and continued for One Year, from the Thirteenth Day of February 1692, and from thence to the End of the next Session of Parliament; be continued.

It passed in the Negative.

The Third Resolution being read a Second time;

Resolved, That this House doth agree with the Committe in the said Resolution, That an Act, made in the 3d and 4th Years of the Reign of King William and Queen Mary, intituled, An Act for Relief of Creditors against fraudulent Devices; which was to continue from the 25th Day of March 1692, for Three Years, and from thence to the End of the next Session of Parliament; be continued.

The Fourth Resolution being read a Second time;

Resolved, That the House doth agree with the Committee in the said Resolution, That an Act made in the 4th and 5th Years of the Reign of King William and Queen Mary, intituled, An Act for the better Discovery of Judgments in the Courts of King's-Bench, Common Pleas, and Exchequer, at Westminster; which was to be in Force for One Year, from the Five-and-twentieth Day of March 1693, and from thence to the End of the next Session of Parliament; be continued.

Ordered, That a Bill be brought in upon the said Resolutions agreed unto by the House: And that Mr. Waller do prepare, and bring in, the said Bill.

Regulating Printing and Printing Presses.

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to prepare, and bring in, a Bill for the better Regulating of Printing, and Printing-Presses:

And it is referred to Mr. Solicitor-General, Sir Robert Clayton, Mr. Clarke, Mr. Finch, Mr. White, Sir Wm. Cooper, Sir Matth. Andrews, Mr. Morgan, Colonel Perry, Mr. Freke, Mr. Lutterell, Sir Cha. Blois, Sir Tho. Littleton, Mr. Thornhaugh, Sir Jos. Tredenham, Mr. Bowyer, Mr. Arnold, Mr. Harley, Mr. England, Sir Robert Rich, Mr. Gwyn, Mr. Waller, Mr. Christie, Sir Rowland Gwyn, Sir Tho. Dyke, Mr. Foley, Sir. Chr. Musgrave, Mr. Ryder, Mr. Boyle, Mr. Cook, Sir Tho. Clarges; and all the Members that serve for either Universities, and the City of London; or any Five of them: And they are to meet at Four a Clock in the Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber: And they have Power to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Royal Assent to Bills.

A Message from the King, by Sir Fleetwood Shepherd, 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 up to attend his Majesty.

And, being returned;

Mr. Speaker reported, That his Majesty had been pleased to give the Royal Assent to several Bills; viz.

An Act for granting to his Majesty an Aid of 4s. in the Pound, for One Year; and for applying the yearly Sum of Three hundred thousand Pounds, for Five Years, out of the Duties of Tonage and Poundage, and other Sums of Money, payable . . . . Merchandizes exported and imported: for carrying on the War against France with Vigour.

An Act for exempting Apothecaries from serving the Offices of Constable, Scavenger, and other Parish and Ward Offices; and from serving upon Juries.

An Act for rebuilding the Town of Warwick; and for determining Differences touching Houses burnt or demolished, by reason of the late dreadful Fire there.

Encouragement of Privateers

Resolved, That this House will, upon Friday Morning next, at Eleven a Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for the better Encouragement of Privateers.

Ways and Means.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of Ways and Means for raising the Supply to be granted to his Majesty, for carrying on the War against France with Vigour.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.
Sir Thomas Littleton took the Chair of the Committee.
Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Sir Thomas Littleton reported from the said Committee, That they had come to several Resolutions; which they had directed him to report to the House, when the House would please to receive the same.

Ordered, That the said Report be made upon Wednesday Morning next, at Eleven a Clock.

Sir Thomas Littleton also acquainted the House, That he was directed by the Committee to move, That they may have Leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Thursday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of Ways and Means for raising the Supply to be granted to his Majesty, for carrying on the War against France with Vigour.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned, except such as are by Adjournment to sit To-morrow Morning.

And then the House adjourned till To-morrow Morning, Nine a Clock.