House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 15 June 1689

Sabbati, 15 die Junii; 1° Willielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Fitzharris Case.

SIR Robert Nappier reports from the Committee, who were appointed to examine the Case of Mrs. Fitzharris, and report the same to the House, That, they having examined the same accordingly, They find, that Captain Wm. Finch, late Commander of the Yorke Frigate, who was the Father of Mrs. Fitzharris, was killed in his Majesty's Service; and that, in Consideration of his Service, the late King Charles was pleased to order a Pension of Two hundred Pounds Per Annum to be paid to the said Mrs. Fitzharris; to be continued to her for . . . Years: And this Pension was paid to her both before and after her Marriage, until the Year 1681, as appears by a Certificate under the Earl of Arran's Hand: But then it was stopt, as the said Mrs. Fitzharris affirmeth, because she would not persuade her Husband to lay a Popish Plot on the Protestants: And moreover, she was threatened to be imprisoned by Sir Lyonell Jenkins, if she did not persuade him so to do. Besides, one John Lun, of Iver in the County of Middlesex, affirmeth, That he was an Instrument to convey Mrs. Fitzharris, away, who lay under daily Apprehensions of being seized, and sent to Prison. The said John Lun did carry Mrs. Fitzharris to his House, and concealed her for some time; and, in that time, was sent for to Windsor, and brought before the late Lord Conway; who sometimes threatened him; and at last offered him, the said John Lun, Five thousand Pounds, to deliver up the said Mrs. Fitzharris, to such Persons as should be by him ordered to receive her; but he would not. It further appeared to the Committee, by the Testimony of one Mr. Harrington, That the said Mrs. Fitzharris was instrumental to deliver the Earl of Shaftsbury from a Design, which was to be attempted upon him, by putting a treasonable Paper into his Pocket; as was also to have been done to the Earl of Bedford, and some other Lords, and divers of the Members of the House of Commons: Some of which have acknowledged, That they believe Mrs. Fitzharris was highly instrumental to prevent it; as also, that she did advertise several Persons of the villainous Project that was designed against them; and was the only Means that (under God) prevented the taking Effect of that cursed Design, by persuading her Husband not to proceed in that villainous Attempt, although he had received 200£. as an Earnest-peny from the late King: Which said 200£. she remembers her Husband brought home in a Handbasket; and assured her, much greater Rewards she would receive, in case he went through with his Undertaking: But she deterred him from it, and was thereby instrumental to save the Lives of many good Protestants; although, by so doing, she lost the Pension which she now desires may be restored; and hopes, that this honourable House will commend her, and her Three Children, to the present King, as an Object of Charity.

Resolved, That the said Mrs. Fitzharris's Case be recommended to his Majesty by Colonel Birch, Sir Robert Nappier, Mr. Colt, and Sir Charles Rawleigh, Members of this House.

Papists Benefices.

Ordered, That the ingrossed Bill, sent down from the Lords, intituled, An Act to vest in the Two Universities the Presentations of Benefices belonging to Papists, be read a Second time on Wednesday next.

Earl of Peterborough's Estate.

An ingrossed Bill sent down from the Lords, intituled, An Act to make good a Recovery suffered by the Earl of Peterborough, and Lord Mordant, was read the Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Hamden, junior, Mr. Herbert, Sir Wm. Poultney, Mr. Colt, Sir Tho. Hussey, Mr. Arnold, Sir Robert Cotton, Sir Walter Moyle, Mr. Palmes, Mr. Papillion, Sir Charles Raleigh, Sir Edw. Harley, Capt. Howard, Mr. Chetwyn, Mr. Boscawen, Mr. Bickerstaffe, Mr. Paul Foley, Sir Robert Rich, Sir Trevor Williams, Major Wildman, Sir Robert Howard, Sir Tho. Littleton, Mr. Tho. Foley, Sir Philip Gell, Mr. Blake, Mr. John Williams, Mr. Manley, Mr. Cooke, Mr. Christy, Mr. Serjeant Wogan, Mr. Parkhurst: And they are to meet, on Monday next, at Four of the Clock, in the Afternoon, in the Duchy Chamber: And are impowered to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Reversing Cornish's Attainder.

An ingrossed Bill, sent down from the Lords, intituled, An Act for reversing the Attainder of Henry Cornish, Esquire, late Alderman of the City of London, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Oaths taken by Officers in the Army.

An ingrossed Bill sent down from the Lords, intituled, An Act to regulate the Administration of the Oaths required to be taken by Commission or Warrant Officers, employed in their Majesties Service by Land, by virtue of an Act made this present Session of Parliament, intituled, An Act for the abrogating of the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance, and appointing other Oaths; was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Supply Bill.

Mr. Hamden reports from the Committee, to whom the Proviso to be added to the Bill for granting a Subsidy to their Majesties, was referred, That the Committee had agreed upon a Proviso, with Blanks: Which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same was twice read: But afterwards, the same was laid aside.

Ordered, That the Bill for granting a Subsidy to their Majesties, with the Amendments and Clauses added thereunto, be ingrossed.

Irish Clergy.

A Bill for Relief of the Irish Clergy, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Irish Protestants.

Then the Debate, touching the Address relating to the Irish Protestants, was resumed.

And several Amendments were proposed to be made in the Address; viz.

L. 5. after "them," leave out to "and" in L. 9.

L. 31, 32, 33, & 34, to be omitted, to before "we" and "and;" and after "do," leave out "therefore."

L. *, after "the," leave out "said;" after "Duke," add "of Ormond."

All which were, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House: And the Address amended at the Table, accordingly.

Resolved, That this House doth agree to the said Address, so amended; and is as followeth; viz.

WE your Majesties most dutiful and loyal Subjects, the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, in Parliament assembled, having taken into our serious and tender Considerations, the many great Sufferings of the Protestant Nobility and Gentry of Ireland, which their Zeal for the Protestant Religion, Your Majesties Service, the Interest of England in that Kingdom, and Love to our Nation, have exposed them to; whereby great Numbers have been forced to fly hither, deprived of all their real Estates, as well as personal; so that they are thereby reduced to the most pressing Necessities, and are become great Objects of Compassion; being the only Body of Protestants that are ruined by the late happy Revolution, which hath wrought so great a Deliverance, not only for the rest of Your Majesties Subjects; but for all the Protestant Interest in Europe; most heartily crave Leave, on their Behalf, to offer their deplorable Condition to Your Majesties most Princely Consideration.

And whereas they are, by reason of their Numbers, very apprehensive of their being and continuing a Burden and Charge to this Kingdom, while they remain in such Condition unemployed; and that many of them are, for their Interest in, and Knowledge of, that Kingdom, as well as Experience in Military Affairs (having served there, and thereby inured to the Country), well qualified to serve under Your Majesty for the Reducing thereof; and all of them pressing and forward for that Service, as well as to redeem their Wives, Children, and Friends, or Relations, from the present Slavery, and miserable Oppression they groan under;

1. We humbly recommend such of the said Nobility and Gentry, as are fit for Military Employments, as very proper Persons for reducing of that Kingdom to its due Obedience to the Crown.

2. That such of them as are not fit for such Employments, as Your Majesty shall have Opportunity, be put into such Civil Employments as they are capable of, according to their several Abilities and Professions.

3. For the present Supply of the great Necessities of the said Nobility and Gentry of Ireland, we humbly pray, That the Sum of Fifteen thousand Pounds be forthwith distributed among them according to a List of Distribution: And that, for a further and standing Fund for their future Subsistance, until Ireland be reduced, Your Majesties will be graciously pleased to issue forth Your Royal Proclamation, requiring all Papists, beyond the Seas who have Estates in England, and all Protestants, that are in Arms, or otherwise engaged in Service against Your Majesties, if any such there be, to return within some convenient Time: And, that the Estates of all such as shall not give Obedience thereunto, shall be seized into Your Majesties Hands for the Relief of the Nobility and Gentry, who are, or shall be, deprived of their Estates there. And we are the rather induced to make this our humble Supplication to Your Majesties, on Behalf of the said Nobility and Gentry, because we esteem ourselves obliged to afford them present Relief and Support, to represent the speedy Recovery of the Kingdom of Ireland, of great Importance to this in all respects, as Your Majesties and the Nation's true Interest: And we do humbly beseech your Majesty to take the Consideration of the Duke of Ormond, and his great Merits and Sufferings, into your particular and Royal Consideration: And that Your Majesty will be pleased also to consider of the rest of the Nobility and Gentry already fled, and daily coming from Ireland, that remain unprovided for.

And that Your Majesties Favour and Bounty to the said Nobility and Gentry may be distributed with the greater Ease and Advantage, we do humbly recommend to Your Majesty, that what you shall be graciously pleased to advance for their present Supply and Relief, You would be pleased to order the same to be paid into the Chamber of London, or such other Place, as Your Majesty shall judge convenient, with as much Expedition as the present Urgency of your Affairs will admit; to be thence paid out for them respectively, with as little Charge, and Trouble of Attendance as may be.

Resolved, That the said Address be presented to his Majesty, by such Members of this House, as are of his Majesty's most honourable Privy Council, and Sir Joseph Tredenham. . . .

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Brett have Leave to go to the Bath, for Six Weeks, for his Health.

Publick Bills depending.

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed, to consider what publick Bills are depending before the House; and report the same to the House.

And it is referred to Mr. Bickerstaffe, Sir Tho. Littleton, Mr. Grey, Mr. Foley, Mr. Leveson Gowre, Mr. Montague, Sir Christ. Musgrave, Sir Rob. Rich, Sir Fran. Russell, Mr. Sacheverell, Sir John Wyn, Mr. Blake, Sir Hen. Capell, Mr. Arnold, Mr. Done, Major Wildman, Mr. Cristy, Mr. Coningsby, Mr. Fox, Sir Trevor Williams, Mr. Eldred, Sir Mat. Andrews: And they are to meet this Afternoon, at Four of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir Philip Skippon have Leave to go the Country, for Three Weeks.

Ordered, That Mr. Thomas Vincent have Leave to go into the Country, for a Fortnight.

Apprehension of Blaire and Grey.

Resolved, That an humble Addres be made to his Majesty from this House, by such Members of this House, as are of his Majesty's most honourable Privy Council, to desire his Majesty to issue a Proclamation for the Apprehending of Sir Adam Blaire, and Doctor Grey; and therein to offer a Reward to such as shall do the same.

Bill of Indemnity.

Then the Order of Yesterday, for proceeding in the further Consideration of the Heads of Exceptions in the Bill of Indemnity, was read.

And the First Head of Exceptions being read;

A Debate arose thereupon, Whether any Person shall be excepted, as for Life, upon this Head.

Resolved, That no Person shall be excepted, out of the Bill of Indemnity, as for Life, upon this Head.

Resolved, That some Persons shall be excepted out of the Bill of Indemnity upon this Head, as to other Pains and Penalties, not extending to Life.

Resolved, That the House do, upon Monday Morning next, proceed in the further Consideration of the Heads of Exceptions in the Bill of Indemnity.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned, except the Committee appointed to prepare Impeachments against Sir Adam Blaire, and others.

And then the House adjourned till Monday Morning, Nine of the Clock.