House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 16 February 1674

Lunæ, 16 die Februarii, 1673.

Prayers.

Coal Measures, &c.

MR. Wright reports from the Committee, to which it was referred to prepare and bring in a Bill for regulating the Measures, and preventing the Abuses, in the Sale of Coal and Wood, That the Committee had prepared a Bill, in Pursuance of the Order of the House: Which he delivered in: And the Bill was read.

Resolved, &c. That the Bill for regulating the Measures, and preventing Abuses in the Sale of Coal and Wood, be read a Second time.

Regulating Elections.

A Bill to regulate Elections of Members to serve in Parliament, was read the Second time.

Resolved, &c. That the Bill be committed, upon the Debates of the House, to Lord Castleton, Sir Thomas Lee, Sir Anth. Irby, Sir John Brampston, Sir Lancelot Lake, Sir Trevor Williams, Sir John Covert, Mr. Culliford, Sir John Knight, Mr. Stockdale, Sir Edward Masters, Sir Will. Coventry, Mr. Trelawney, Mr. Siye, Mr. Morris, Sir John Otway, Sir John Hotham, Lord Fitzharding, Sir John Coriton, Sir Will. Doyley, Sir John Mallet, Mr. Palmes, Sir Robert Dillington, Mr. Wharton, Lord Ancram, Sir Charles Harbord, Mr. Jones, Mr. Sacheverell, Sir Eliab Harvey, Sir Robert Carre, Sir Thom. Clergis, Mr. Attorney Mountague, Sir Jonath. Trelawney, Mr. Morris, Sir John Hanmer, Col. Phillipps, Lord Cornbury, Lord Ancram, Mr. Powle, Sir Robert Dillington, Mr. Culliford, Sir Philip Harcourt, Sir Nich. Pedley, Col. Strode, Sir Adam Browne, Mr. Onslow, Sir John Trevor, Sir Edw. Deering, Sir Edw. Masters, Mr. Crouch, Sir Will. Doyley, Lord Aungier, Sir Joseph Tredinham, Sir Thomas Littleton, Sir Robert Southwell, Mr. Hall, Mr. Dalmahoy, Sir Will. Strode, Mr. Westphaling, Serjeant Maynard, Sir Geo. Downing, Sir John Otway: And all that shall come, are to have Voices: And they are to meet on Wednesday next, at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Inner Court of Wards: And to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Lindsey Level.

Ordered, That the Bill for Lindsey Level be read Tomorrow Morning, at Ten of the Clock.

Castleriseing Election- Inquiry as to a Member being a Papist.

The House then proceeded in the Matters touching the Election for Castleriseing:

And Sir John Banks, attending at the Door, was, according to the Order of the House, called in: And Mr. Speaker, in the Name of the House, desiring him to give his Answer, what Acquaintance he had with Mr. Pepis, and whether he used to have Recourse to him at his House, and had ever seen there any Altar, or Crucifix; and whether he knew any thing of his being a Papist, or popishly inclined;

Sir John Banks gave an Account to the House, That he had known and been acquainted with Mr. Pepis several Years, and had often visited, and conversed with him, at the Navy Office, and at his House there, upon several Occasions; and that he never saw, in his House, any Altar, or Crucifix; and that he does not believe him to be a Papist, or that way inclined in the least; nor had any Reason or Ground to think or believe it.

Ordered, That Sir Thomas Littleton, or any other Member, that the House shall be informed of, that were present when the Lord Shaftsbury spoke the Words relating to Mr. Pepis, do inform the House what they know of that Matter.

And Sir Thomas Littleton standing up in his Place, and giving an Account to the House of the Matter;

Resolved, &c. That the further Debate of the Matter, upon the Election for Castleriseing, be adjourned till Saturday next come Sevennight.

Vexatious Suits.

Ordered, That Sir Wm. Wentworth, Sir John Mallett, Sir Thom. Clergis, Mr. N. Morris, Sir Fran. Russell, Mr. Henley, be added to the Committee, to which the Bill to prevent Vexations by Suits at Law, is committed.

Lord Newburgh's Estate.

Ordered, That Sir Thom. Meres, Sir Philip Harcourt, Sir Anth. Irby, be added to Lord Newburgh's Committee.

Writs of Habeas Corpus.

Ordered, That the Report of the Bill concerning Writs of Habeas Corpus, be made To-morrow Morning, Ten of the Clock.

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