House of Commons Journal Volume 8: 13 May 1664

Veneris, 13 die Maii, 16° Car. IIdi.

Prayers.

Bedford Election.

A PETITION of Sir Henry Chester, Knight of the Bath, was read.

Ordered, That this Petition be referred to the Committee of Elections; to consider of the Petition; and report their Opinions therein to the House; And that the Committee do sit this Afternoon at Two of the Clock: And that the Sheriff of the County of Bedford do bring into the Committee, or deliver to each Party, a List of the Names of the Electors of the Knight for that County.

Attendance of Members.

Mr. Vaughan reports from the Committee to which it was referred, to consider of Expedients for the Members better Attendance upon the Service of the House, That the Committee had agreed upon some Expedients, which they had drawn into Writing, for the Members better Attendance on the House: Which he read; and delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table.

And being read; and the Preamble postponed;

The First Paragraph of the Expedient was twice read:

The Question being put, To proceed in the further Debate of this Report;

It passed in the Negative.

Deans Forest.

Ordered, That it be recommended, from this House, to the Lord Treasurer, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to take care for the Preservation and Improvement of the Timber in the Forest of Deane; and also to consider of the Interest of Sir John Wintour, and other Persons concerned in the said Forest; and that their Rights be preserved.

And Sir Phillip Warwick is to attend them with this Message.

Improper Alteration of a Bill.

Sir Edward Walpoole reports from the Committee appointed to examine the Abuse in altering the Bill against Vintners, and Retailers of Ale and Beer, That the Committee had examined the Matter, and heard Mr. Pryn; and did find, the Bill, after it was committed, was altered in several Particulars; and a Bill, new-writ, brought to the Committee, differing from the Bill committed.

And the Matter being thereupon debated;

Mr. Pryn being in his Place, and acknowledging his Error and Mistake in altering the Bill; and professing, That he did not do it out of any ill Intent, but to rectify some Matters mistaken in it, and make the Bill agree with the Sense of the House upon Debate of the Bill when it was committed, (fn. 1) and that the Committee were acquainted therewith; and craving the Pardon of the House for his Error and Mistake in this Matter;

And being withdrawn; and the Matter debated;

It was Resolved, That Mr. Pryn be called into his Place; and be reprehended for his Error by Mr. Speaker: and have the Pardon of the House.

And Mr. Pryn being called in; Mr. Speaker did acquaint him, That the House was very sensible of this great Mistake, in so antient and knowing a Member, to break so essential an Order of the House, as to alter and interline a Bill after Commitment: But the House had considered of his Answer and Submission; and were content to remit the Offence.

Mr. Pryn did again acknowledge his Error; and returned Thanks to the House for their great Favour towards him.

Sayer's, &c. Nat.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir William Child and Sir Thomas Bird;

Mr. Speaker, The Lords have sent us down with the Bill . . naturalizing Dame Catharine Sayer, and others, with an Amendment, for inserting Two Names into the Bill.

And having also commanded us to acquaint you, That they had agreed to the several Bills following; viz.

* * * *

Lords desire a Conference.

And we are further to acquaint you, That the Lords desire a present Conference with this House, upon the Bill concerning Falmouth Church, in the Painted Chamber.

The Messengers being again called in; Mr. Speaker acquaints them, That the House had agreed to a present Confer.

Ordered, That Sir Peter Killigrew, Mr. Buscawen, Sir John Corryton Sir John Birkenhead, Mr. Clifford, Mr. Spry, Mr. Trelawny Mr. Crouch, Sir Thomas Meres, and Mr. Yorke, do manage the Conference with the Lords upon the Bill concerning Falmouth Church.

Sir John Birkenhead reports from the Conference had with the Lords, That the Lords had agreed to all the Amendments and Provisoes sent from this House, with one small Alteration only: Which he read, with the Coherence. And the Amendment, being twice read, was agreed to.

Resolved, &c. That the Amendments agreed be inserted; and the Bill returned to the Lords.

Lords reminded of Bills.

Pluralities.

Ordered, That the Lords be sent unto, and put in mind of the several Bills following; viz. The Two Bills for taking away Damage Cleere; the additional Bill concerning Bedford Level; and the Bill concerning Pluralities: And be desired to give Dispatch to those Bills. And Sir Thomas Meres is to attend the Lords with this Message.

Conference agreed to.

Mr. Seymour reports from the Lords, That they had consented to a present Conference with this House, in the Painted Chamber, upon the Amendments to the Bill against Conventicles.

Sayer's, &c. Nat.

The Amendments, sent from the Lords, for inserting Two Names into the Bill of Naturalization, were twice read; and, upon the Question, agreed; and read the Third time.

Ordered, That the Names be inserted into the Bill; and the Bill returned back to the Lords.

Order discharged.

Resolved, &c. That the Order for the Commitment of Mr. Witherley, an Attorney at Law, to the Custody of the Serjeant at Arms, be discharged.

And then the House adjourned till Four of the Clock in the Afternoon.

Post Meridiem.

Lords desire a Conference.

A MESSAGE, sent from the Lords, by Sir Wm. Child and Sir Thomas Bennett;

Mr. Speaker, The Lords have sent us to desire a free Conference with this House presently, in the Painted Chamber, upon the Bill against Conventicles.

The Messengers being again called in; Mr. Speaker did acquaint them, That the House had agreed to a present free Conference with the Lords.

Ordered, That the Members who were appointed to manage the former Conference do also manage This: And Sir Thomas Gower, Sir Richard Temple, Mr. Jones, Mr. Wm. Coventry, Mr. Trevor, Sir Edward Walpoole, and Mr. Milward, are added with them.

Sir Job Charleton reports from the free Conference had with the Lords, upon the Amendments to the Bill against Conventicles, That they do, in Effect, adhere to all the Matters in Difference, save only in the last Part of That Amendment concerning the Privilege of Peers; in which the Lords, for an Expedient, did offer a new Proviso instead of it: And did open the new Expedients offered by the Lords; and read it in his Place; and after, delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table.

Resolved, &c. That the further Debate of this Matter on this Report, be adjourned till To-morrow Morning at Eight of the Clock.

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