House of Commons Journal Volume 8: 19 February 1663

Jovis, 19 Februarii, 15 Car. IIdi.

Prayers.

Ministers Maintenance.

ORDERED, That Sir Robert Atkyns, Mr. Geo. Clarke, Serjeant Charlton, Mr. Crouch, Mr. Clifford, Mr. Jones, Sir Solomon Swale, Sir Tho. Meres, Sir Wm. Lowther, Mr. Coventry, Sir Phil. Warwick, Mr. Pryn, Mr. Vaughan, Sir Hum. Winch, or any Three of them, be appointed a Committee to prepare and bring in a Bill for the Maintenance of Ministers in Corporations and Market Towns, and for the Increase of the Maintenance of Curates.

Courts of Justice.

A Bill for preventing unnecessary Suits, Delays, Expences, Extortions, and other Abuses in the Courts of Justice, and Proceedings at Law, was read the First time.

Resolved, That this Bill be read the Second time on This-day-sevennight.

Rogues and Vagabonds.

A Bill for the Suppressing of Rogues, Vagabonds, and Beggars, and ordering of Persons convict for Theft, or Petit Larceny, was this Day read the First time.

Resolved, That this Bill be read again, the Second time, on Monday next.

Address- Observation of Lent.

The Question being put, That an Address be made to his Majesty, That, in respect of the great Scarcity and Dearness of Fish, the great Increase of Cattle, and present Fall of Rents, his Majesty would be pleased to mitigate the Rigour of the Law, as to the strict Observation of this Lent, and prohibiting the Eating of Flesh;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went out.

And so it passed in the Negative.

Act of Uniformity.

Upon Complaint made to this House, That Mr. Calamy, being committed to Prison upon Breach of the Act of Uniformity, was discharged, upon Pretence of some Defect in the Act;

Resolved, That it be referred to a Committee, to look into the Act of Uniformity as to the Matter in Question; and to see whether the same be defective, and wherein; and to report their Opinion to this House; viz. to Sir Tho. Allen, Sir Wm. Lowther, Sir Tho. Tompkins, Sir Fra. Goodrick, Mr. Vaughan, Serjeant Keeling, Sir Robert Atkyns, Mr. Milward, Mr. Crouch, Mr. Clifford, Sir Tho. Meres, Sir John Birkinhead, Lord Falkland, Mr. Steward, Serjeant Charlton, Colonel Giles Strangwayes, Sir Courtney Poole, Sir Phil. Warwick, Sir Edm. Peirce, Lord Fanshawe; or any Five of them: And they are to meet this Afternoon, at Two of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber; and to send for the Mittimus by which Mr. Calamy was committed to Prison; and the Warrant by which he was discharged; and to examine, and report the whole Matter of Fact to the House.

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