House of Commons Journal Volume 8: 19 December 1661

Jovis, 19 die Decembris, 13° Car. Regis.

Prayers.

Confirming private Acts.

THE additional ingrossed Amendments, sent from the Lords, to the Bill for confirming of private Acts, were this Day twice read; and upon the Question, agreed unto.

Refusal to pay Fees.

This House being informed, that divers Persons whose Names are inserted in the Bill of Naturalizing, which now was to be confirmed, had refused to pay the Fees of this House;

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do send for such Persons whose Names are inserted in the said Bill; and all other Persons who shall, at any time, refuse to pay their Fees: And, if Payment be not thereupon made, to report to the House, that such Course may be taken, as shall be thought fitting for the Enforcing thereof.

Hackney Coaches.

A Bill for restraining and regulating the Abuses of Hackney Coaches, was this Day read the Second time.

Resolved, That the same be committed to Mr. Comptroller, Lord Bruce, Sir Robert Brooke, Mr. Goodrick, Sir Robert Atkins, Mr. Long, Sir Baynham Throgmorton, Sir Robert Bolles, Sir Phillip Warwick, Serjeant Charleton, Sir Solomon Swale, Sir Edmond Peirse, Mr. Lowther, Mr. How, Mr. Strode, Mr. Widdrington, Sir John Brampston, Mr. Sandys, Sir John Goodrick, Sir Lancelot Lake, Mr. Bullen Reames, Mr. Clifford, Sir Thomas Strickland, Sir William Fleetwood, Colonel Windham, Colonel Kirkby, Sir Rich. Breames, Sir Phillip Musgrave, Sir Roger Bradshaigh, Sir Thomas Gower, Sir Charles Berkeley, Lord St. Johns, Dr. Birkenhead, Sir John Nicholas, Mr. Attorney of the Duchy, Mr. Henry Coventry, Sir John Shaw, Mr. Scudamore, Dr. Burrell, Mr. John Lowther, Mr. Gawdy, Mr. Solicitor General, Sir Thomas Lee, Sir William Haward, Mr. Whorwood, Sir Thomas Allen, Sir Benjamin Ayliffe, Mr. Chetwind, Lord Angier, Sir Thomas Leigh, Mr. Jollyff, Mr. Ashburnham, Colonel Legg, Mr. Newton, Sir John Denham, Lord Newburgh, Mr. Southcott, Mr. William Coventry, Sir Thomas Meres, Sir Tho. Bludworth, Sir Maurice Berkeley, Sir John Duncombe, Sir George Probert, Sir John Dawney, Sir Charles Hussey, Sir George Reeve, Lord Ancram, Sir Anthony Irby, Mr. Crouch, Sir Francis Vincent, Mr. Clifton, Mr. Jones, Sir Henry Puckering: 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.

Coppleston's Estate.

A Bill enabling John Coppleston Esquire to sell Lands for Payment of his Debts, and Provision for his Children, was this Day read the Second time.

Resolved, upon the Question, That the same be committed to Sir John Goodrick, Sir Robert Atkins, Mr. Walgrave, Mr. Goodrick, Mr. Bullen Reames, Sir Edmond Peirse, Sir Robert Brooke, Sir George Reeve, Colonel Phillips, Sir Charles Harbord, Mr. Clifton, Mr. William Lowther, Sir Thomas Stukeley, Sir Courtney Poole, Mr. Smith, Mr. Crouch, Mr. Harbord, Sir Thomas Wendy, Sir Charles Cornewallis, Sir Francis Vincent, Mr. Clifford, Sir Charles Hussey, Sir John Rolls, Sir John Maynard, Mr. Dennis, Mr. Knight, Mr. Scudamore, Dr. Birkenhead, and all the Members of this House that serve for the County of Devon: And they are to meet, in the Speaker's Chamber, this Afternoon, at Two of the Clock: And to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Privilege.

Resolved, That Sheriff Sterling be called to the Bar of this House; and shall, upon his Knees, receive the Reprehension of Mr. Speaker, for his Contempt and Breach of the Order of this House: And that he be continued in the Custody of the Serjeant at Arms, till he do cause Lyde, Servant to Sir Henry Herbert, to be released out of Prison, without any Fees or Charges.

The Sheriff being called in; and kneeling at the Bar; Mr. Speaker gave him a grave Reprehension: And told him, that some Sheriffs of London, for a less Offence, had been sent to the Tower; but, in regard of his loyal Affections to his Majesty, the House was pleased to remit his Offence, upon the Enlargement of the Prisoner: But that he should remain in the Serjeant's Custody, till the Prisoner were released as aforesaid.

Ordered, That John Pointz, Francis Pointz, JohnGrove, John Greene, and John Warren, for their Misdemeanor, and Breach of Privilege, objected against them, in arresting, and causing James Lyde, menial Servant of Sir Henry Herbert, to be imprisoned in the Poultry Compter; and Humphrey Gyffard, Keeper of the said Compter, for his Contempt, and Breach of the Order of this House, in detaining the said Lyde Prisoner; be sent for in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms, to answer the same: And that it be referred to the Committee of Privileges; to examine the Matter; and report it to this House.

Conference desired by Lords.

A Message from the Lords, by Mr. Justice Tirrell and Mr. Baron Turnor;

Mr. Speaker, The Lords desire a present Conference with this House, in the Painted Chamber, upon Occasion of a Message received from the King.

The Judges were commanded to withdraw.

They were again called in.

Mr. Speaker acquaints them, That the House had considered of this Message; and agreed to a present Conference in the Painted Chamber.

And Sir Heneage Finch, Sir Robert Atkins, Lord Ossory, Serjeant Charleton, Serjeant Keeling, Sir Tho. Meres, Mr. Comptroller, Mr. Pryn, are to manage the Conference.

Transporting Wool.

Resolved, That an humble Application be made to his Majesty, to give Warrant for the Detaining of the Wools lately made Stay of, as they were transporting beyond the Seas; and to seize upon the Screws, and other Instruments, devised and made use of for the close Packing of Wools, to deceive his Majesty of his Customs, and to spoil the Manufacture of the Kingdom: And Sir Richard Ford and Mr. John Jones are to wait upon his Majesty with this Message.

Hewley's, &c. Petition.

Ordered, That the Petition of Mr. Hewley and his Wife, now delivered, be read To morrow Morning.

Corporations.

Sir John Duncombe reports, That the Lords will send an Answer by Messengers of their own, touching the Amendments to the Bill for Corporations.

Conference on Corporations.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir William Childe and Sir Tho. Bird, Two of the Masters of Chancery;

Mr. Speaker, The Lords have agreed to a present Conference, in the Painted Chamber, concerning the Amendments to the Bill for regulating Corporations.

The Messengers were commanded to withdraw.

They were again called in.

Mr. Speaker acquaints them, That this House had considered of the Message; and agreed to a present Conference.

Conference desired by Lords.

A Message afterwards, by the said Sir Wm. Childe and Sir Thomas Bird;

Mr. Speaker, The Lords desire a present Conference with this House, in the Painted Chamber, concerning the Vote for an Address to his Majesty, on the Behalf of the Colestreamers.

The Messengers were commanded to withdraw.

They were again called in.

Mr. Speaker acquainted them, That the House had considered of their Message; and agreed to a present Conference.

Ordered, That those who did manage the last Conference, together with Sir James Smith, do manage this Conference.

Vexatious Arrests, &c.

A Bill to prevent Abuses in Arrests, and Delays in Prosecution of Suits of Law, was this Day read the Second time.

Resolved, upon the Question, That this Bill be read the Third time To-morrow Morning.

Conference; Colestreamers Regiment.

Mr. Solicitor reports from the Conference concerning the Colestreamers, That the Lords could not concur: And that the Proclamation was as large, as with Safety, in this Conjuncture of Affairs, it could extend; his Majesty having granted Licence to those that had been recommended by the General; and there being some who were not to be trusted.

Corporations.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Wm. Childe and Sir Thomas Bird;

Mr. Speaker, The Lords have sent you back the Bill for Corporations, with your Amendments; and agree to all of them.

Resolved, That the Bill, with the Amendments agreed to, be ingrossed.

Conference; Conspiracy.

Mr. Solicitor General reports from the Conference had with the Lords, arising upon the Message sent from his Majesty, That the Lord Chancellor declared, that the same did concern Things of a high and dangerous Nature: And that there had been a real Design, which had been forming ever since March last, to disturb the Union and Peace of the Kingdom: And named several of the Parties engaged; with the Manner and Contrivance of their traiterous Design; and the Progress they had, from time to time, made therein: And that, although their Designs were at present disordered, as to the Effecting of them in this Town (to which end they had made a general Invitation of disbanded Officers and Soldiers, and other disaffected Persons, to resort hither about the 11th of this Month); yet still they were practising to put the same in Execution in the Country: And that the Lords, to provide a Remedy against these Evils, had appointed a Committee of Twelve of their House; and did propose it to this House, to appoint an answerable Number of their Members, to be joined with the Lords; who might, during the Recess, examine the said traiterous Designs: And to report it to the House, with such Expedients as they shall find necessary, for preventing and suppressing thereof, and securing the Peace of this Kingdom, in the Juncture of Affairs: And that they were to meet at the Lodgings assigned to my Lord Chancellor, in Whitehall; and to adjourn from Time to Time, and Place to Place, as they find convenient.

Committee on Conspiracy.

Resolved, That this House doth agree with the Lords, to appoint a Committee of Twenty-four Members of their House, to be joined to the Committee appointed by the Lords, as aforesaid.

And the Question being put, That this Committee should be named according to the usual Course;

The House was divided: And

The Noes went out.

So it was resolved in the Affirmative, That a Committee be appointed, according to the usual Course.

And a Committee was accordingly appointed, of the Persons hereafter named; Mr. Comptroller, Mr. Vice Chamberlain, Mr. Solicitor General, Mr. Waller, Lord Bruce, Lord Fanshaw, Sir Richard Onslow, Serjeant Charleton, Sir Robert Atkins, Mr. George Mountague, Sir John Duncombe, Sir George Ryve, Sir Robert Howard, Sir John Goodrick, Lord Falkland, Mr. Clifford, Mr. Lowther, Sir Thomas Meres, Sir Allen Apsley, Lord Herbert, Sir John Brampston, Mr. Vaughan, Sir Baynham Throgmorton, and Sir Thomas Littleton.

Call of the House.

Resolved, That this House be Called on Thursday, next after Twelfth Day: And that every Member then absent, whose Excuse shall not be allowed by this House, shall pay Five Pounds for his Default.

Committee on Conspiracy.

Resolved, That the Committee now appointed to join with the Committee named by the Lords, do make Report of their Proceedings on Friday, next after Twelfth Day.

Prisoner in the Tower, dead.

Sir John Robinson, Lieutenant of the Tower, acquainted this House, that Isaac Pennington, one of the Regicides who were Prisoners in the Tower, is dead.

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