Sabbati, 7 die Januarii;

10° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Lepell's Nat.

SIR Edward Hussey reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill for naturalizing Nicolas Lepell was committed, That they had examined and considered the same; and had directed him to report the same to the House, without any Amendments: And he delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table.

Ordered, That the Bill be ingrossed.

Bulwer's Estate.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill to enable Edward Bulwer Esquire to sell certain Lands in the County of Norfolk; he settling other Lands, in the same County, of equal Value, to the same Uses: And that Mr. England, and Sir Jacob Ashley do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Ease of Sheriffs.

Mr. Harley, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for the greater Ease of Sheriffs in Execution of their Offices, and passing their Accounts: And the same was received; and read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Abuses in King's Bench and Fleet Prisons.

A Petition of Francis Lascoe Merchant, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That Sir John James was a Prisoner in Execution, in the Fleet Prison, at the Petitioner's Suit, for 4,000 l.; from whence he escaped: And the Petitioner afterwards obtained Judgment against Mr. Church, the then Warden of the Fleet, for the said Escape; and moved the Court of Common-Pleas for a Sequestration; which was not granted, by reason the Court was of Opinion, That the Petitioner could have no Benefit thereby, because of the many Incumbrances upon the Office of Warden; for Relief wherein, the Petitioner did last Year petition this House; who ordered a Bill to be brought in to hinder Escapes, which passed this House; but did not the Lords, because it went up at the latter End of the Session: Since which, Sir John James hath, as informed, turned himself over to the King's-Bench Prison; from whence he hath also made his Escape; so that the Pe titioner is like to lose his Money, though he has taken all due Methods that he can to recover it: And praying the Relief of the House in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of John Goodall is referred; and who are to inquire into the ill Practices, and Abuses, of the Prisons of the King's Bench and Fleet: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House:

And that Sir Edward Blackett, Mr. Egerton, Mr. Blake, Mr. Freeman, Mr. Cowper, Mr. Osborn, Sir John Philips, Mr. Yates, be added to the said Committee.

Exporting Wool.

Ordered, That Mr. Heveningham, Sir Rowland Gwynn, Mr. Yates, Mr. Osborne, Mr. Offley, Sir Tho. Davall, Mr. Campion, Mr. Clark, Mr. Eyres, Mr. Vaughan, be added to the Committee appointed to consider which way to prevent the Exportation of Wool from England and Ireland; and to consider the most proper Ways to encourage the Woollen Manufacture of this Kingdom.

Defective Titles.

Sir Richard Cocks, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for the General Quiet of the Subject against all Pretence of Concealment whatsoever: And the same was received; and read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Gifts to Charitable Uses.

Mr. Thursby, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for the better and further Encouragement of Gifts to charitable Uses: And the same was received; and read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Army Debt.

The Earl of Ranelagh, according to Order, presented to the House an Abstract of what is due to the Forces now in England, to the First of January 1698; distinguishing what is due to every particular Regiment.

And the same was read; and is as followeth; viz.

Ordered, That the said Abstract do lie upon the Table, to be perused by the Members of the House.

Encouraging Woollen Manufactures.

A Bill to encourage the Woollen Manufacture in England; and to restrain the Exportation of Woollen Manufactures from Ireland into any foreign Parts; and for the better preventing the Exportation of Wool from England and Ireland; was, according to Order, read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to a Committee of the whole House.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Friday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the said Bill.

Ditto.

Ordered, That the Commissioners of Trade do lay before this House such Observations as they have made, and such Papers as they have, relating to the Encouragement of the Woollen Manufactures of this Kingdom, and of the Linen Manufacture of Ireland.

Exports to Ireland.

Ordered, That the Commissioners of the Customs do lay before this House an Account of the Exports from England to Ireland for the Year 1697.

Supply.

His Majesty's most gracious Speech to both Houses, at the Opening of the Parliament, being read;

And a Motion being made, That a Supply be granted to his Majesty;

Resolved, That this House will, upon Monday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of that Motion.

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