House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 16 April 1675

Veneris, 16 die Aprilis, 1675.

Prayers.

Recovery of Tythes.

MR. Crouch reports, That the Committee, appointed to peruse the Bills depending last Session; and which were most necessary to be proceeded in; that the Committee had at present considered of a Bill for the Repair of Churches, and Recovery of small Tythes.

The Bill for Repair of Churches, and Recovery of small Tythes, was read the First time:

Resolved, &c. That this Bill be read a Second time.

Exporting Wool.

A Bill to prevent Exportation of Wool out of England and Ireland, into foreign Parts, was read.

Resolved, &c. That this Bill be read a Second time.

Inferior Courts.

Resolved, &c. That a Committee be appointed, to consider of a Way, and to bring in a Bill or Bills, to regulate the Abuses of the Hundred and County Courts, and other inferior Courts; and to lessen the Number, and prevent the Abuses, of Attornies and Solicitors, and their vexatious and extravagant Proceeding: And it is referred to Mr. Cheney, Mr. Devercux, Mr. Powle, Mr. Serjeant Jones, Mr. Serj. Seis, Sir Wm. Doyley, Sir Hen. Ford, Sir Edward Deering, Mr. Serj. Maynard, Sir John Holland, Sir Tho. Allen, Mr. Tho. Morris, Sir John Henmore, Sir Robert Wright, Mr. Chetwyn, Sir Courtney Poole, Sir Nicholas Pedley, Sir Francis Drake, Mr. Spry, Mr. Stockdale, Mr. Sacheverell, Sir John Knight, Mr. Strangwayes, Col. Strangwayes, Col. Strode, Mr. Lindfeild, Mr. Apreice, Sir Lionell Walden, Sir Henry Goodrick: And they are to meet this Afternoon, at Two of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber: And to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Suppressing Popery.

Resolved, &c. That the House will resolve into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of effectual Ways for the Suppressing the Growth of Popery.

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

Sir Thomas Meeres reports from the said Committee, Two Votes and Resolves of the Committee, to be presented to the House: Which were delivered in at the Clerk's Table; and are as followeth; viz.

Resolved, &c. That the House be moved to direct some Members for to bring in a Bill to hinder Papists from sitting in either House of Parliament.

Papists not to sit in Parliament.

Resolved, &c. That the House be moved to direct some Members, for to bring in a Bill for the more easy and speedy Discovery and Conviction of Papists: And that, in such Bill, be inserted a Clause, That the Penalties laid upon Papists Convict, shall be applied to the buying-in Impropriations, or to some other good or pious Use: And that a Clause, or Test, be inserted, to distinguish Papists in the Conviction from Non-Conformists.

The Question being put, That the Word "others," after the Word "from," and before the Word "Non-Conformists," be inserted into the said Vote;

It was resolved in the Affirmative.

The Question being put, To agree with the Committee with this Amendment;

It was resolved in the Affirmative.

Resolved, &c. That some Members be directed to bring in a Bill to hinder Papists from sitting in either House of Parliament.

Resolved, &c. That some Members be also directed to bring in a Bill for the more easy and speedy Discovering and Conviction of Papists: And that in such Bill be inserted a Clause, that the Penalties laid upon Papists Convict, shall be applyed to the buying-in Impropriations; or to some other good or pious Use: And that a Clause or Test be inserted, to distinguish Papists, in the Conviction, from others, Non-Conformists.

Resolved, &c. That a Committee be appointed to prepare and bring in a Bill to prevent Papists from sitting in either House of Parliament: And, that it be referred to Sir Tho. Meers, Mr. Sacheverell, Sir Hen. Ford, Sir Tho. Littleton, Sir Gilbert Gerrard, Sir Hen. Goodrick, Sir Eliab Harvey, Sir Courtney Poole, Sir Phill. Warwick, Sir Tho. Lee, Sir Cha. Wheeler, Mr. Stockdayle, Sir Joseph Tredinham, Mr. Serjeant Seis, Sir Nicholas Carew, Sir Sollo. Swale, Mr. Rigby, Sir Edw. Deering; or any Three of them: And they are to meet this Afternoon, at Four of the Clock in the Speaker's Chamber.

Suppressing Popery.

Resolved, &c. That the House do again resolve into a Committee of the whole House, To-morrow Morning, at Ten of the Clock, to consider of effectual Ways for the Suppressing the Growth of Popery.

Footmen not to be on Stairs.

Ordered, That the Serjeant at Arms do take care to keep the Stairs and Passage to the House free from Lacqueys and Footmen; and that no Footman or Lacquey do stand or remain idly upon the Stairs: Wherein, if any of them shall transgress, that then the Serjeant at Arms do take them into Custody, and give an Account thereof to the House: And the Officers belonging to the Knight Marshal are to assist him herein.

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