House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 22 March 1690

Sabbati, 22 die Martii; 2° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Members take Oaths.

THE House being sat, proceeded in the taking the Oaths appointed; and making, repeating, and subscribing the Declaration: And several of the Members, who had not already taken the Oaths, and made and subscribed the Declaration, did now do the same.

Process of Capias.

A Bill to take away Process of Capias for Debts under Forty Shillings, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Grand Committees.

Ordered, That the Grand Committee for Religion do sit every Tuesday in the Afternoon, in the House.

Ordered, That the Grand Committee for Grievances do sit every Thursday in the Afternoon, in the House.

Ordered, That the Grand Committee for Trade do sit every Saturday in the Afternoon, in the House.

Ordered, That the Grand Committee for Courts of Justice do sit every Friday in the Afternoon, in the House.

Committee of Privileges.

Ordered, That a Committee of Privileges and Elections be appointed of the Persons following, Mr. Gray, Sir John Guise, Lord Digby, Sir John Cotton, Sir Jos. Tredenham, Sir Cha. Sidley, Sir John Wyn, Sir Henry Goff, Sir Rob. Cotton, Mr. Colmere, Sir Cha. Windham, Sir Tho. Pope Blunt, Sir Jacob Ashley, Mr. Carew, Mr. Trelawny, Sir Henry Goodrick, Sir John Blande, Mr. Hampden, Sir John Bancks, Mr. Done, Mr. Gwyn, Sir Tho. Clarges, Sir Tho. Littleton, Mr. Hobby, Colonel Webb, Sir Fra. Blake, Major Vincent, Mr. Arnold, Colonel Austen, Sir Robert Nappier, Sir Rich. Hart, Mr. Vane, Sir Wm. Leveson Gowre, Mr. Vincent, Mr. Pelham, Sir Christopher Musgrave, Mr. Comptroller, Mr. Hop. Windham, Sir Wortly, Mr. Roberts, Sir Robert Sawyer, Mr. Parkhurst, Sir Wm. Cooke, Sir John Knight, Marquis Winchester, Mr. Fownes, Sir Scroope Howe, Mr. Heneage Finch, Sir Robert Dashwood, Mr. Wharton, Sir Rob. Rich, Sir Wm. Stephens, Lord Brandon, Sir Tho. Mompesson, Mr. Brereton, Sir Wm. Pritchard, Sir Tho. Vernon, Sir Sam. Dashwood, Sir Peter Coryton, Mr. Cognisby, Mr. Bickerstaffe, Serjeant Trenchard, Mr. Paul Foley, Mr. Edw. Finch, Mr. Ash, Mr. Edw. Seymour, Mr. Chadwick, Mr. Boyle, Mr. Brewer, Lord Cornbury, Mr. Etterick, Sir Rich. Onslow, Mr. Kirby, Mr. Windham, Sir Rich. Temple, Mr. Onslow, Mr. Hawtry, Sir Tho. Darcye, Mr. Granville, Lord Falkland, Sir Robert Davers, Mr. Beare, Sir James Long, Mr. Champnyes, Mr. Solicitor General, Sir Walter Young, Mr. Traverse, Sir Rob. Howard, Mr. Brownlowe, Sir Fra. Warre, Lord Norris, Mr. Tilney, Sir John Knatchbull, Sir Wm. Honywood, Lord Wm. Pawlett, Mr. Fuller, Serjeant Thurborne, Colonel Strangeways, Sir John Lowther, Mr. Buscowen, Sir Gervas Elwes, Sir Cha. Gerrard, Sir Cha. Boys, Sir Mat. Andrews, Mr. Bridges, Sir Ralph Dutton, Mr. Mannaton, Mr. Gilbert, Mr. Carter, Mr. Perry, Mr. Okely, Sir John Bolles, Mr. And. Newport, Serjeant Hutchins, Mr. Rich. Newport, Mr. Fenwicke, Sir Gilbert Clerke, Mr. Lewis, Sir Jos. Williamson, Mr. Brockman, Sir Hen. Capell, Mr. St. Johns, Mr. Burdett, Mr. Biddle, Mr. Waller, Mr. Mitton, Mr. Musgrave, Mr. Clerke, Mr. Rob. Montague, Mr. Bromly, Sir St. Andr. St. John, Mr. Evans, Mr. Bowyer, Mr. Arnold, Mr. Chetwin, Mr. Okeden, Mr. England, Sir Wm. Ellis, Mr. Browne, Mr. Pitts, Mr. Dyett, Sir Geo. Willoughby, Sir Orlando Gee, Sir Vere Vane, Sir Rob. Dashwood, Mr. How: And all that come are to have Voices: And they are to meet on Monday next, at Three of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber; and on every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, at Three of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Place before mentioned: And to take into Consideration all such Matters as shall or may come in question, touching Returns, Elections, and Privileges: and to proceed upon Double Returns in the first Place; and to report their Proceedings, with their Opinions therein, to the House, from time to time. And all Persons that will question Returns, are to do it in Fourteen Days next, and so within Fourteen Days after any new Return shall be brought in. And the Committee is to have Power to send for Persons, Papers, and Records, for their Information. And all Members, who are returned for Two or more Places, are to make their Elections by This-day-three-weeks for which of the Places they will serve; provided there be no Question upon the Return for that Place. And if any thing shall come in question, touching the Election, Return, or Matter of Privilege of any Member, he is to withdraw during the Time the Matter is in Debate.

Libellous Publications.

Resolved, That it be also an Instruction to the Committee, That the Committee do inquire into the Authors and Dispersers of Libels, and scandalous Papers, upon Persons who have served as Members in Parliament, for what they said or did in the last Parliament.

Double Returns.

Ordered, That all Members, returned upon Double Returns, do withdraw, till their Returns are determined.

Great Marlow Return.

The House taking Notice, That, by the Book of Returns, there is a Return for the Borough of Great Marlow in the County of Bucks, in Manner following; viz.

And a Debate arising in the House, touching the said Return;

The Question was put, That the said Return be a Double Return:

And it passed in the Negative.

Ordered, That the Indenture by which Mr. Bucknall is returned to serve as a Burgess for the said Borough of Great Marlow, be taken off the File.

Ordered, That the Clerk of the Crown do attend this House, upon Monday Morning next, at Ten of the Clock, to give an Account concerning the said Return of Members to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Great Marlow in the County of Bucks.

The King's Speech reported.

Then Mr. Speaker reported to the House, That, upon their attending his Majesty Yesterday in the House of Peers, his Majesty was pleased to make a gracious Speech to both Houses of Parliament: And that, by reason of the great Noise that was made, and the Length of the Speech, he had desired and obtained a Copy thereof: Which he read, and is as followeth; viz.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

I AM resolved to leave nothing unattempted on My Part, which may contribute to the Peace and Prosperity of this Nation: And, finding my Presence in Ireland will be absolutely necessary, for the more speedy Reducing of That Kingdom, I continue my Resolution of going thither as soon as may be: And I have now called you together for your Assistance, to enable Me to prosecute that War with Speed and Vigour: In which I assure Myself of your chearful Concurrence, being a Work so necessary for your own Safeties.

In order to This, I desire you will forthwith make a Settlement of the Revenue: and I cannot doubt but you will therein have as much Regard for the Honour and Dignity of the Monarchy in My Hands, as hath been lately shewed to others: And I have so great a Confidence in you, that if no quicker or more convenient Way can be found for the Raising of ready Money (without which the Service cannot be performed), I shall be very well content, for the present, to have it made such a Fund of Credit, as may be useful to yourselves, as well as Me, in this Conjuncture; not having the least Apprehensions, but that you will provide for the taking off all such Anticipations as it shall happen to fall under.

It is sufficiently known, how earnestly I have endeavoured to extinguish, or at least compose, all Differences amongst My Subjects; and, to that End, How often have I recommended an Act of Indemnity to the last Parliament! But since that Part of it, which related to the Preventing of private Suits, is already Enacted; and because Debates of that Nature must take up more of your Time than can now be spared, from the Dispatch of those other Things which are absolutely necessary for our common Safety; I intend to send you an Act of Grace, with Exceptions of some few Persons only, but such as may be sufficient to shew My great Dislike of their Crimes; and, at the same Time, my Readiness to extend Protection to all my other Subjects; who will thereby see, That they can thereby recommend themselves to Me, by no other Methods than what the Laws prescribe; which shall always be the only Rules of my Government.

A farther Reason, which induceth me to send you this Act, at this Time, is, Because I am desirous to leave no Colour of Excuse to any of My Subjects for the Raising of Disturbances in the Government; and especially in the Time of my Absence: And I say This, both to inform you, and to let some ill-affected Men see, that I am not unacquainted, how busy they are in their present Endeavours to alter it.

Amongst other Encouragements which I find they give themselves, one of the Ways, by which they hope to compass their Designs, is, By creating Differences and Disagreements in your Councils; which, I hope, you will be very careful to prevent: For, be assured, that our greatest Enemies can have no better Instruments for their Purposes, than those who shall any ways endeavour to disturb or delay your speedy and unanimous Proceeding upon these necessary Matters.

I must recommend also to your Consideration an Union with Scotland. I do not mean it should now be entered upon: But they having proposed this to Me some time since, and the Parliament there having nominated Commissioners for that Purpose, I should be glad, that Commissioners might also be nominated here, to treat with them, and to see if such Terms could be agreed on, as might be for the Benefit of both Nations; so as to be ready to be presented to you in some future Session.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

I have thought it most convenient to leave the Administration of the Government in the Hands of the Queen, during my Absence; and, if it shall be judged necessary, to have an Act of Parliament for the better Confirmation of it to Her, I desire you would let such an one be prepared, to be presented to Me.

I have this only to add, That the Season of the Year, and My Journey into Ireland, will admit but of a very short Session; so that I must recommend to you the making such Dispatch, that we may not be engaged in Debates when our Enemies shall be in the Field: For the Success of the War, and the more thristy Management of it, will both principally depend upon your speedy Resolutions. And I hope it will not be long before we shall meet again, to perfect what the Time will not now allow to be done.

Address on the King's Speech.

Resolved, Nemine contradicente, That the humble and hearty Thanks of this House be presented to his Majesty, for his gracious Speech Yesterday to both Houses of Parliament.

Resolutions to support the Government.

Resolved, Nemine contradicente, That the House will assert and support the Government under their present Majesties King William and Queen Mary, both by their Councils, and with their Assistance, to the uttermost of their Powers.

Resolved, That the whole House do attend his Majesty with the said Resolutions.

Ordered, That such Members of this House, as are of his Majesty's most honourable Privy Council, do attend his Majesty, to know his Pleasure, When he will be attended.

King's Speech to be considered.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Wednesday Morning next, at Ten of the Clock, take into Consideration his Majesty's gracious Speech.

A Member ordered to attend.

Ordered, That Sir Thomas Mompesson do attend in his Place upon Monday Morning next, at Ten of the Clock, touching the Quarrel between him and Mr. Okenden: And that he be enjoined not to prosecute the Quarrel, until the same shall be examined by this House.

Printing the Votes.

A Motion being made, That the Votes of this House be printed;

Resolved, That this House will, upon Tuesday Morning next, take into Consideration the Matter of the said Motion.

And then the House adjourned until Monday Morning next, at Nine of the Clock.