House of Commons Journal Volume 8: 13 April 1663

Die Lunæ, 13 Aprilis, 15 Car. IIdi Regis.

Prayers.

Hatfeild Level.

ORDERED, That the Cause between the Drainers and the Tenants of Epworth, upon the Bill depending in this House concerning the Draining the Level of the Fens, called the Level of Hatfeild Chace, be heard at the Bar of this House the first Tuesday of the Meeting of this House after their Recess, being the Fifth Day of May next: Whereof the Parties concerned are to have Notice, to the End they may attend the Hearing.

Slindon Manor.

A Bill for the reinvesting the Crown with the Manor of Slindon in Sussex, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the said Bill be read the Second time To-morrow Morning.

Newport Election.

Ordered, That the Committee of Privileges and Elections do, on To-morrow Month, being the Twelfth of May next, proceed to hear and determine the Cause touching the Election for the Town of Newport in Cornwall, between Mr. Ford, and Mr. Edgcombe.

Marq. of Worcester's Water Engine.

Mr. Hungerford reports from the Committee to which the Bill, sent from the Lords, for enabling the Lord Marquis of Worcester to take the Benefit of a Watercommanding Engine, by him invented, several Amendments to the said Bill: Which he read, with the Coherence, in the Bill; and after, delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: And the said Amendments, being twice read, were, upon the Question, severally agreed to; and were as follow; viz.

First Skin, Sixth Line, after the Word, "known," leave out to the Word "which," in the Ninth Line; instead thereof, read these Words, "and being no Pump or Force now in Use; nor working by any Suckers, Barrels, or Bellows, heretofore used for the Raising or Conveying of Water."

Second Skin, Second Line, after the Word "hereafter," add "during the said Term."

Eighth Line, after the Words "Lord Chief Justice," add "or from any Two Justices of the Peace within the respective County or Liberty where such Search shall be made."

Eleventh Line, after the Word "and," leave out these Words, "the said Work or Engine to break down and demolish;" and insert "upon Discovery of any such Engine, to proceed against the said Person or Persons by Action, Information, or Indictment; and, after Conviction thereof in due Course of Law, in any Assizes or Publick Sessions of the Peace, or any of the Courts at Westminster, or any other his Majesty's Courts of Record, in any City, Borough, or Town Corporate, or in any Stannary Court or Jurisdiction of Lead Mines; then such Engine or Engines to be forfeited and seized to and for the Use of the said Edward Marquis of Worcester, his Executors, Administrators, and Assigns, respectively."

Nineteenth Line, leave out "so;" and, after "Prejudice," add "any other Water-work or Engine now known and used, nor."

Second Skin, Thirty-second Line, leave out, "other than the new Engine in this Act mentioned."

Thirty-third Line, after "said," add "the other said Water-works, and the said."

Ordered, That the Bill, with the Amendments agreed to, be read the Third time.

The Bill, with the Amendments agreed to, was read the Third time.

Resolved, &c. That the Words "after such Conviction," be added, by way of Amendment, after the Word "same," in the * Line of the * Skin.

Resolved, &c. That it be referred to the same Committee, to prepare and bring in a Proviso To-morrow Morning, upon the Subject Matter of the present Debate, in relation to the limiting a Time for the Perfecting of the Engine; and to provide, that the same may not prejudice any other Engine which shall be invented for the future: And the Committee are hereby required, to meet at Two of the Clock this Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Prisoner discharged.

Ordered, That Mr. Terry be discharged out of the Custody of the Serjeant at Arms, paying his Fees.

Lichere's, &c. Nat.

Ordered, That the Names of Nicholas Lichere, * Ashley, and George Beomont, be inserted into the Bill for Naturalizing of George Willoughby, and others.

Deane Forest.

Sir Charles Harbord reports from the Committee of the Revenue, That, upon Complaint made, That there are about Five hundred Cutters of Wood set on Work by Sir John Wintour, in the Forest of Dean; who, by virtue of some late Grant from his Majesty, claims all the Trees there, saving only such as are marked for Ship Timber for his Majesty's Navy, computed to contain Eleven thousand Tons of Timber fit for that Use; and excepting that Part of the Forest called the Lea Baily; and that his Majesty hath been deceived in the Account made by Sir John Wintour, whereupon that Grant was obtained; and that, if great Care be not taken to prevent it, the said Trees, reserved for Ship Timber, may be cut down, and the Timber cut into Cord-wood; which would be an irreparable Loss, and of great Importance, at a time when Timber is grown so scarce and dear, by reason of the great Waste thereof, made in that Forest, and elsewhere, since the Troubles began.

Ordered, That Sir John Wintour be summoned to attend this House the Second Day of May next; and to bring with him his Patent, by which he makes Claim to the Trees in the Forest of Deane, to the end the same may be perused: And that, in the mean time, he, and his Agents and Workmen, be restrained from felling or cutting down any more Timber Trees in the said Forest of Deane; and from carrying away, or cleaving, or cutting into Cord-wood, any Timber of the Trees already felled: And that the Leaving of a Copy of this Order with Sir John Wintour's Lady, or at his House here in London, shall be a good Service and Summons.

Sale of Offices.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to inspect the Statute of the Fifth of Edward the Sixth, and other Laws, concerning the Buying and Selling of Offices; and to see whether the same be defective in any Particulars, and wherein; and what Supplies are fit to be made thereto; and to make Report thereof to the House; viz. Sir Rich. Temple, Colonel Kirkby, Mr. Knight, Sir Solomon Swale, Sir Wm. Tompson, Mr. Whorwood, Sir Robert Holt, Sir Tho. Allen, Sir Rich. Everard, Sir Job Charlton, Sir Bain. Throckmorton, Sir Edm. Peirce, Sir Tho. Strickland, Sir Tho. Fanshaw, Colonel Arundell, Sir Cha. Hussey, Lord Castleton, Mr. Wm. Sandis, Colonel Reames, Sir Allen Apsley, Lord Fanshaw, Sir Courtney Poole, Sir Tho. Tomkins, Sir Wm. Compton, Sir John Duncombe, Colonel Edm. Windham, Sir Wm. Haward, Lord Willoughby, Colonel Robinson, and all the Members of this House that are of the Long Robe: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Two of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber: And they are impowered to receive such Informations as shall be given them, touching the Buying and Selling of Offices: And to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Crown Revenue.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Revenue have Leave to sit this Afternoon, notwithstanding the Sitting of the Committee of Trade.

Regulating the Press.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee appointed to peruse the Act for regulating the Press, and other Acts; to inspect the Act for Confirmation of Judicial Proceedings; and to see, whether the same do comprehend the Act touching Alimony; and whether the Proviso therein, for Writs of Error, and Bills of Review, be not defective, as to the Cases of Alimony; and to make their Report to the House: And, for that Purpose, the Committee is revived: And they are to meet this Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber: And to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Privilege.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections, to examine the Matter of Breach of Privilege, complained of by Mr. Whorwood, in laying on a Sequestration on his Estate, since such time as he ought to have Privilege, as a Member of this House.

Bills from Lords.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Thomas Bird and Sir Nathaniell Hobart;

Mr. Speaker, The Lords have returned you a Bill to enable the Sale of some of the Lands of Richard Senior and Anthony Senior, deceased, for Payment of some of their Debts; with some Amendments: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House: And they have also sent you a Bill for settling an Annuity of Three hundred Pounds per Annum, upon Charles Earl of Portland, and for the Benefit of Willoughby Whitelocke, Bulstrode Whitelocke, and Carleton Whitelocke, Infants; and for Confirming of Agreements made to compose Suits in Law against them: To which they likewise desire the Concurrence of this House.

And then the House adjourned itself till Monday, Eight of the Clock in the Morning.