House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 25 June 1689

Martis, 25 die Junii; 1° Willielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Wounded Seamen.

MR. Papillion acquaints the House, That he had Direction from the Committee, to whom it was referred to consider how a Provision may be made for such Seamen as are or shall be wounded in their Majesties Service, and for the Wives and Children of such as are or shall be slain therein, to move the House, That the Order may also extend to such Seamen, as are or shall be wounded or slain in Merchants Ships.

Resolved, That the said Order do extend to such Seamen as are or shall be wounded or slain in Merchants Ships, as well as to those in their Majesties Service.

Westminster, &c. Courts of Conscience.

Mr. Christy reports from the Committee, to whom the Bill for erecting Courts of Conscience in the City of Westminster, Borough of Southwarke, Tower Hamlets, and Out Parishes, was referred, That they had agreed upon several Amendments to be made to the Bill: Which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table.

A Petition of the Lady Russell was read; setting forth, That she is seised of the Manors of Bloomsberrye and St. Giles, of a large Extent, the Profits and Privileges whereof will be destroyed by the Bill depending, for erecting a Court of Conscience within the Precincts of her said Manors; and praying to be heard by Counsel to the Matters aforesaid.

A Petition of Thomas Pretyman, Nicolas Donning, and Edm. Towse; setting forth, That the Petitioners have, for some Years past, been at great Expences in endeavouring an Act for a Court of Conscience in Southwarke, Westminster, the Tower Hamlets, and the other Out Parishes in Middlesex; and brought in a Bill in the last Parliament for that Purpose; and paid the Fees for a Second Reading; but, by reason of the sudden Adjournment, Prorogation, and Dissolution of the same, were prevented in perfecting it: That the Petitioners have brought in another Bill for the aforesaid Purpose; and, before its Second Reading, paid in the full Fees of all the Divisions, and all other incident Charges: And that, the Bill being likely to take Effect, there are several Persons unknown to the Petitioners, pretending to have all the Places that shall belong to the Courts, though never at One Peny Expence, nor any Attendance in its Prosecution: And hoping no other Person shall be preferred before the Petitioners; but that they, in Recompence of their Industry and Expence, may have their Names inserted as Registers and Clerks, with the Powers thereto, in Three of the abovesaid Divisions.

Resolved, That the Reading the said Report be adjourned till this Day Fortnight.

Privilege- taking a Member into custody.

The House being informed, that * Evans, the Messenger, attended, according to the Order of Yesterday;

He was called in: And, being asked, Whether he did take the Earl of Danby into Custody, and by what Warrant; he acquainted the House, That he having the Earl of Nottingham's Warrant to apprehend Peregrine Osbourne, Esquire, commonly called Earl of Danby, he did go to the Earl of Danby; and acquainted him therewith, and that the Earl of Nottingham desired to speak with him: And that the Earl of Danby went with him, accordingly.

And then the said Evans delivered in the Warrant; and then withdrew.

Then the Warrant was read, dated at Whitehall, the Twentieth of June, 1689, signed Nottingham; and is as followeth;

DANIEL Earl of Nottingham, Baron Finch of Daventry, One of the Lords of his Majesty's most honourable Privy Council, and Principal Secretary of State, &c. These are, in his Majesty's Name, to authorize and require you forthwith to make strict and diligent Search for Peregrine Osbourne, Esquire, commonly called Earl of Danby; and, him having found, you are to apprehend on Suspicion of High Treason, or treasonable Practices, and to bring him in safe Custody before me, to be examined concerning such Matters as shall be objected against him relating to the Premises, and to be further dealt with according to Law: And, in the due Execution hereof, all Mayors, Justices of the Peace, Constables, and all other his Majesty's Officers Civil and Military, and loving Subjects, whom it may concern, are to be assisting to you, as there may be Occasion. And, for so doing, this shall be your Warrant. Given at the Court at Whitehall, the Twentieth Day of June, 1689.

NOTTINGHAM.

To Thomas Beake, One of the Messengers of his Majesty's Chamber in Ordinary; or any other of his Majesty's Messengers in Ordinary.

Resolved, That Mr. Sacheverell, Sir Thomas Clarges, and Sir Jos. Tredenham, do attend the Earl of Nottingham; to know of him, upon what Ground or Information he issued out the Warrant against the Earl of Danby: And that it be Instructions to them to inquire, Whether That be his Lordship's Warrant; and what was the Information upon which the said Warrant was granted; and by whom it was given; and whether it were taken in Writing, and upon Oath; and what were the Reasons that moved him to release him; and whether he were released upon Bail, or not.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir Wm. Blacket, who is High Sheriff of the County of Northumberland, have Leave to go into the Country, for Six Weeks.

Militia.

Resolved, That the Bill for rendering the Militia more useful, be now read a Second time.

The Bill was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to a Committee of the whole House.

Resolved, That the House do, on Thursday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, the first Business, to consider of the said Bill.

Petition from City of London in favour of Protestant Dissenters.

The House was informed, that the Sheriffs of London and Common Serjeant attended at the Door, to present a Petition to the House:

Resolved, That they be called in.

And they were called in, accordingly: And at the Bar Mr. Common Serjeant said, That they were directed by the Common Hall Yesterday assembled at the Guildhall, to present a Petition to this House: And delivered in the same accordingly.

And then they withdrew.

But the Petition being not signed by any Person;

Resolved, That the Petition be sent out to the Sheriffs and Common Serjeant: And that they be acquainted, That it cannot be read, until it be signed.

And it was sent out to them; and they were acquainted accordingly.

Afterwards, this House being informed, that the Petition was signed; and that the Sheriffs and Common Serjeant attended to present the same again;

Resolved, That they be called in.

Accordingly they came in, and presented the said Petition again; Mr. Common Serjeant acquainting the House; That the Sheriffs and He had signed it: That the Sheriffs and He were ordered by the Common Hall to present the said Petition to this House.

And then they withdrew.

Then the Subscription by them was read; and is as followeth; viz.

"We the Sheriffs of the City of London and County of Middlesex, with the Common Serjeant, were Yesterday ordered by the Citizens of London, in Common Hall assembled, to present to the honourable House of Commons this Petition, 25th June, 1689."

"Humphry Edwin, John Fleet, Henry Crispe."

And a Debate arising in the House, Whether the Petition should be read, as thus signed;

The Question was put, That the said Petition, as now signed, shall be now read:

The House divided.

The Noes go forth.

So it passed in the Affirmative.

The Petition was read; being the Petition of the Citizens of London in the Common Hall assembled; and setting forth, That the Body Representative of the City of London, in the Common Hall assembled for the Choice of Sheriffs, cannot but with all Thankfulness acknowledge, upon this Occasion, the infinite Mercy of Almighty God in his gifts of heroick Courage and excellent Conduct to his now Majesty, and Wisdom and Counsel to your Honours; whereby the Petitioners Right to elect the Chief Magistrates freely and quietly hath been wonderfully preserved, all their Liberties, and the very Being of Justice, Peace and Prosperity, in the City, depending thereupon. That, by the gracious Influence of Divine Providence, this City is become very powerful, and a strong Bulwark for the Defence of the Protestant Interest, and the Security and Quiet of his now Majesty and the Kingdom, if an universal Amity and Unity be preserved amongst the Protestant Citizens, who do equally and perfectly renounce and detest all Communion whatsoever with the Papacy and the Roman Church, and do adhere only to the Authority of the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament; the principal Danger impending over our English Church and State, being from the Politick Popish Designs to divide the Protestants, as they did heretofore in the Begining of the Reformation; whereby they first subdued and destroyed the Calvinists; and then, with the like bloodthirsty Cruelty, suppressed the Lutherans, whom they had deluded to help them in the Destruction of their Protestant Brethren: And praying the ancient Right of the City, freely to elect their Sheriffs and other Magistrates, may be vindicated from all Invasions and Questions concerning it: And, for that Purpose, that the Bill for restoring Corporations to their Rights and Privileges may be perfected, as the weighty Affairs of the House will permit. And, in regard of the present dangerous Conspiracy of the Papists and their Accomplices against the Protestant Religion, our King and Government; and the Invasion threatened by the French King, whereby the united Force of all the Protestants is apparently necessary; they pray that our most gracious King may be freed from all Restraints of using his Protestant Subjects indifferently, in his Military or Civil Services, according to their several Qualities and Abilities, wherewith God Almighty, Nature, Education, and Experience have endowed them, to that very End, that they might be useful to their King and Country, and therein serve God in their Generation.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived; and do sit this Afternoon.

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