House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 29 November 1689

Veneris, 29 die Novembris 1° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Leave of Absence.

ORDERED, That Colonel Strangewayes have Leave to be absent from this House for a Month; his Wife being very ill in the Country.

Silk and Woollen Manufactures.

Colonel Sackvile reports from the Committee appointed to consider of the best Way for improving the Silk and Woollen Manufactures of this Kingdom, that they had agreed upon a Bill for enjoining the Wearing of Woollen for certain Months in the Year: Which Bill he presented to the House.

And the Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Judgments on Scandalum Magnatum.

A Bill for annulling and reversing Two Judgments of Ten thousand Pounds a-piece, besides Costs, given against Sir Trevor Williams, and John Arnold, Esquire, in Two several Actions of Scandalum Magnatum brought against them by the Duke of Beaufort; as also to discharge an Action of Scandalum Magnatum brought by the said Duke, and now depending against John Dutton Colt, Esquire, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Leave be given to Mr. Gorges to go into the Country for a Fortnight, upon urgent Occasions.

Ordered, That Mr. Jervois have Leave to go into the Country for a Month, for his Health.

Restoring Corporations.

Ordered, That the Bill for restoring of Corporations be read the Second time, on Monday Morning next, at Eleven of the Clock.

Bill of Indemnity.

Ordered, That the Bill for a general Pardon and Indemnity be read the Second time on Monday Morning next.

Bill of Pains and Penalties.

Ordered, That the Bill for inflicting Pains and Penalties on such as have violated the Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom, be read the First time on Monday Morning next.

Indemnifying Persons acting for their Majesties.

Ordered, That a Bill be brought in to indemnify all such Persons from private Actions, that have acted in order to the bringing in their present Majesties; or for their Service, or Safety of the Government.

Ordered, That Mr. Attorney General, and Mr. Solicitor General, do prepare and bring in the Bill.

Address respecting Shales.

Mr. Dalben reports from the Committee to whom it was referred to prepare an humble Address to be presented to his Majesty, That he will please to let this House know, Who recommended Commissary Shales to his Majesty, and advised his being employed; That they had prepared an Address accordingly; which they had directed him to report to the House: The which he read in his Place; and afterwards, delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same was read; and, upon the Question put thereupon, agreed unto by the House; and is as followeth:

WE Your Majesty's most dutiful Subjects, the Commons, in Parliament assembled, being filled with the deepest and most sincere Affection to Your Majesty's Royal Person, and out of the most tender Regard to Your Majesty's and Your People's Safety, and the Honour of Your Government, do most humbly represent to Your Majesty the extreme Danger we conceive the Nation and Your Majesty's Affairs to be in, by the Employment of Persons in the greatest Trust, who are so far from being faithful to Your Majesty's and Your People's Interest, that they have corruptly and treacherously endeavoured the Destruction of both: Especially Mr. John Shales, who was made Commissary General of the Provisions for Your Majesty's Army in Ireland, notwithstanding he was notoriously known to be popishly affected, and to have served the late King James as his Commissary. The Mischiefs which have happened by the Employment of this Man are very great; and of such a Nature, as, without God's infinite Mercy to Your Majesty and this Nation, might intirely have defeated their Majesties good Intentions, and the Effect of the Resolutions of this House, in order to the reducing of Ireland to its due Obedience to Your Majesty. In particular, when that experienced General Duke Schomberg went, by Your Majesty's Command, into Ireland; he left strict Orders for the speedy Transporting the Ordnance and Horse, designed for the Service of that Kingdom: And it pleased God to bless his first Attempts to that Degree, that, if the said Orders had been executed, Your Majesty's Affairs in Ireland had been in a much better Posture than now they are. But the said Commissary Shales, partly to satisfy his own Covetousness, and partly out of Disaffection to Your Majesty's Service, did delay the Execution of the said Orders for several Weeks; by Reason whereof Your Majesty's Forces were not only disabled for pursuing the Advantages they had gained upon the Enemy, but were also necessitated to encamp at Dundalk; which occasioned the Loss of some Thousands of Your Majesty's Subjects. Wherefore, we the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, in Parliament assembled, do most humbly desire, That Your Majesty would be graciously pleased to let this House know, who recommended Commissary Shales to Your Majesty, and advised his being employed; to the end that we may be the better enabled to offer to Your Majesty such humble Advice, as may tend to the Preservation of Your Majesty's Royal Person and Government.

Resolved, That the Committee who prepared the said Address, do present the same to his Majesty.