House of Commons Journal Volume 8: 19 May 1662

Lunæ, 19 Maii, 14 Car.

Prayers.

Regulating the Press.

The Amendments to the Bill for regulating the Press, and for preventing the Printing of scandalous and seditious Books and Pamphlets, were read the First time.

The First Amendment to the Thirty-fourth Line of the First Skin was read the Second time; and, upon the Question, agreed to.

The Amendments to the Forty-fifth Line, being read the Second time, was, upon the Question, agreed to.

The next Amendment to the Fiftieth Line, was read the Second time; and, upon the Question, agreed to.

The Amendment to the Fifty-first Line of the First Skin, was read the Second time, being, to insert "by the King's Majesty," and to leave out, after the Word "same," the Clauses in the Bill, to the Twenty-ninth Line of the Second Skin.

The Question being put, To agree to that Amendment;

It passed in the Negative.

The next Amendments, to the Forty-third, Forty-fifth, Forty-sixth, Forty-eighth, and Forty-ninth Lines, of the Second Skin, being to blot out the Word "said," were severally read the Second time.

The Question being severally put, To agree to the said Amendments;

It passed in the Negative.

The Amendment to the Fiftieth Line was read the Second Time; and, upon the Question, agreed to.

The Amendment to the Fifty-second Line of the Second Skin was read the Second time.

The Question being put, To agree to that Amendment;

It passed in the Negative.

The next Amendment, being to the Sixteenth Line of the Sixth Skin, was read the Second time.

The Question being put, To agree to that Amendment;

It passed in the Negative.

The rest of the Amendments were read the Second time; and, upon the Question, severally agreed to.

Lords desire a Conference.

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

Mr. Speaker, The Lords do desire a present free Conference with this House, in the Painted Chamber, upon the Amendments to the Bill for Highways; and do desire this House would expedite the Bills touching Printing; and the Great Level of the Fens.

The Messengers being withdrawn;

And the House having agreed to the said free Conference;

The Messengers were called in again: And Mr. Speaker informed them, That this House had agreed to a present free Conference.

Ordered, That Mr. Solicitor General, Mr. Waller, Sir Tho. Gower, Mr. Vaughan, Sir Richard Onslow, Mr. Pryn, Sir John Duncomb, Sir Tho. Meres, Sir Lancelot Lake, Serjeant Charlton, Sir John Talbot, and Mr. Seymour, do manage the said free Conference.

Conference desired with Lords.

Ordered, That Sir John Holland do desire a present free Conference with the Lords, upon the Bill concerning the Poor.

Sir John Holland reports, That the Lords had agreed to a present free Conference with this House, upon the Bill for the Poor.

Ordered, That the Persons formerly appointed do manage the Conferences.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Thomas Bird and Sir Toby Woolrich;

Poor Relief.

Mr. Speaker, The Lords have agreed with this House, as to the Amendments to the Bill concerning the Poor.

Highways.

Mr. Pryn reports from the Conference had with the Lords, upon the Amendments to the Bill for Highways, the Particulars wherein the Lords did differ from this House.

Which being in Writing, the First was read.

The Question being put, To agree to this Particular;

It passed in the Negative.

The next Alteration from the Lords was read.

The Question being put, To adhere to the Bill;

It was resolved in the Affirmative.

The next Amendment from the Lords, being to adhere to the First and Second Provisoes, concerning the Erecting and Repairing of Two Bridges;

The Question being put, To agree with the Lords;

It passed in the Negative.

Ordered, That, at the Conference, it be insisted on, for a Reason of the Dissent of this House to these Provisoes; because the Provisoes are to by a Charge upon the People, which ought not to begin with the Lords, but in this House; and, although it be but a Part of the Kingdom, yet, by the same Reason, it may be extended to the Whole.

Regulating the Press.

The ingrossed Bill, sent from the Lords, for regulating the Press, with the Amendments and Provisoes thereto made by this House, were read the Third time.

Resolved, &c. That this Clause, "or of any other Person or Persons, not being free of, nor using any of, the Trades in the Act before mentioned," be inserted, in the Proviso concerning the Searching the Lords Houses.

Resolved, &c. That this Clause be inserted after "Books in Printing, or to be printed, after the Tenth of June 1662."

Ordered, That this Proviso be added, to conclude the Bill.

"Provided that this Act, and the Powers therein contained, shall continue, and be in Force, for Two Years, to commence from the Tenth Day of June 1662, and no longer."

A Proviso concerning York was twice read.

Resolved, That the said Proviso be agreed to; and made Part of the Bill.

Another Proviso for reprinting Books, was twice read.

The Question being put, To agree to the Proviso;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went out.

And so it passed in the Negative.

An Amendment, as to the Number of Master Printers, was twice read.

Resolved, That the said Amendment be agreed to.

Ordered, That the Word "Twenty" be omitted in such Places, where proper.

Resolved, That the Bill, with the Amendments, be agreed to:

And Dr. Birkinhead is to carry it up to the Lords, for their Concurrence.

Briscoe's Portion.

Dr. Birkinhead reports from the Committee to which the Bill concerning Mrs. Briscoe was committed, some Amendments to the Bill: Which he read, with the Coherence, in the Bill; and after, delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: And the same, being twice read, were, upon the Question, agreed to.

And the Bill, with the Amendments, being read the Third time;

Resolved, That the said Bill, with the Amendments agreed to, do pass.

And Dr. Birkinhead is to carry it up to the Lords.

Bedford Level.

Ordered, That this House doth humbly recommend it to his Sacred Majesty, to take care for the Preservation of the Great Level of the Fens, called Bedford Level: and do make it their humble Request to his Majesty, That he would be pleased to give himself the Trouble to hear the Interest of the Old and New Adventures therein: And that his Majesty be attended with the Votes of this House relating thereto. And Sir Wm. Compton is to attend his Majesty with this Address.

Lindsey Level.

Ordered, That this House doth humbly recommend it to his Majesty, to take care for the Preservation of the Level of the Fens, called Lindsey Level; and do make it their humble Request to his Majesty, That he would give himself the Trouble to call all Persons concerned before him; and to hear their several Claims and Interests: And that his Majesty be attended with the Votes and Report of this House, relating to that Business.

Stoughton's, &c. Case.

And it is also recommended to his Majesty, to take the Case upon the Petition of Mr. Nathaniell Stoughton into his Consideration: And Sir Robert Howard, Mr. Waller, Mr. Reames, Mr. Clifford, Mr. Sandis, Mr. Fane, Sir Tho. Gower, Sir Thomas Meres, Mr. Henry Coventry, Dr. Birkinhead, and Sir Robert Holt, or any Three of them, do attend his Majesty with this Address: And, that all Writings, in the Hands of Sir Thomas Meres, relating to this Business, be delivered in to, and left with, the Clerk of this House.

Address-Royal Mines.

Ordered, That an Address be made to his gracious Majesty, to inform him, That there is a Bill depending in this House, to declare what Mines shall be taken for Mines Royal, and for ascertaining his Majesty's Prerogative thereto: And that the House, being informed, That there are some Persons who are Petitioners to his Majesty, to procure his Interest therein, do humbly desire his Majesty, That he would be pleased to forbear the granting of any Patent, till his own Interest be declared: And the Lord St. John, Mr. Hungerford, Sir Francis Goodrick, Mr. Vaughan, and Sir John Norton, or any Three of them, are to attend his Majesty with this Address.

Customs Fees.

Mr. Clifford reports from the Committee to which it was referred to ascertain a Table of Fees, in relation to the Customs, That the Committee had agreed to a Table of Fees for the City of Chester: Which Table was twice read; and agreed to.

Highways.

Mr. Solicitor reports from the free Conference upon the Amendments to the Bill for Highways, That the Lords, as to that Particular concerning Horses going at Length, did adhere to their Amendment; but did agree with this House as to the rest, wherein this House doth adhere.

Resolved, That this House doth agree with the Lords.

Lord's Day, &c.

Ordered, That it be humbly recommended, from this House, to his Majesty, to issue his Proclamation for the due Observation of the Lord's Day, according to the Laws; and likewise to reinforce his former Proclamation against Profaneness, Swearing, and Drunkenness.

Lords desire a Conference.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir William Child and Sir Justinian Lewen;

Mr. Speaker, The Lords desire a present Conference with this House, in the Painted Chamber, upon the Amendments to the Bill concerning Printing.

The Messengers being withdrawn; and the House having agreed to the said Conference;

The Messengers were again called in; And Mr. Speaker informed them, That this House had agreed to a present Conference.

Ordered, That Serjeant Charlton, Dr. Birkinhead, Mr. Crouch, Mr. Wren, Serjeant Seis, Mr. Smith, Mr. Vaughan, and Serjeant Rainsford, do manage the Conference.

Conference.

Serjeant Charlton reports from the Conference, That the Lords had agreed to the Amendments, made by this House, to the Bill concerning Printing, with some Alterations: Which were in Writing; and, being opened by the Reporter, and delivered in at the Clerk's Table, were read; and agreed.

Ordered, That Dr. Birkinhead do carry up the Bill; and acquaint the Lords, That this House hath agreed with them in the Amendments.

Ministers.

Ordered, That his Majesty be humbly moved, That no Minister, that was in Possession of any Living on the Twenty-fifth Day of December, One thousand Six hundred and Fifty-nine, upon a Presentation, Donation, or Nomination, from the rightful Patron, be prejudiced by any Title of Lapse accrued to his Majesty: For that a Bill concerning this Matter is now depending betwixt the Two Houses: And Sir Richard Temple, Serjeant Rainsford, Sir Edmund Peirce, Sir Thomas Meres, and Mr. * Progers, or any Two of them, are to attend his Majesty with this Order.

Gardiner's Claim.

Whereas upon the Vote of this House, of the Thirteenth of July One thousand Six hundred and Sixty-one, in the Case of Sarah Gardiner Widow, touching the Sum of Two thousand Eight hundred and Eight Pounds Twelve Shillings, stated by the Committee of the Navy, to be due unto her Husband Maurice Gardiner Merchant, deceased, for his Ship the Green Knight's Service; and allowed by the late Parliament, and the then Counsel; thereby humbly recommending the same to his Sacred Majesty, for her Relief; his Majesty was graciously pleased, by his Royal Warrant, dated the Twentieth of August then next following, to grant, That the said Sum of Two thousand Eight hundred and Eight Pounds Twelve Shillings should be paid her, or her Assigns, to her Use, out of the Arrears of Excise due and payable to his Majesty, as soon as the former Engagements, charged thereupon, should be satisfied: And whereas the said Sarah Gardiner hath this Day again petitioned this House, setting forth, That, by reason the said Receipts are clogged with many precedent Orders, she cannot, in any reasonable time, expect the gaining thereof, so as to give Satisfaction to her merciless Creditors, who daily threaten the Destruction of her, and her Three fatherless Children: Upon further Consideration thereof, this House doth again humbly recommend it to his Majesty, to give such Order, That the said Sum of Two thousand Eight hundred and Eight Pounds Twelve Shillings, so granted the Petitioner, as aforesaid, may be paid, and the Petitioner relieved, as to his princely Goodness and Mercy shall seem meet. And the Care of presenting this Vote of the House to his Majesty is especially committed to Sir William Morice, Sir Nicholas Crispe, and Sir Robert Brooke.

Message to attend the King.

A Message from the King by Sir John Eyton, Usher of the Black Rod;

Mr. Speaker, his Majesty commands this honourable House to attend him presently, in his House of Peers.

Parliament prorogued.

And accordingly Mr. Speaker, with the House, went up to the Lords, to attend his Majesty; who was pleased to prorogue the Parliament untill the Eighteenth Day of February, next ensuing.