House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 1 March 1689

Veneris, 1die Martii; 1° Willielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Rygate Election.

COLONEL Birch reports from the Committee of Elections and Privileges, to whom the Matter of the Election of Burgesses to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Rygate in the County of Surrey, was referred, That the Committee having taken the Matter touching the said Election into their Consideration, had come to the Resolutions following:

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, that Sir John Parsons, Knight, is not duly elected a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Rygate.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, that Thomas Vincent, Esquire, is duly elected a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Rygate.

The First of the said Resolves being read a Second time;

Resolved, That this House doth agree with the Committee, that Sir John Parsons, Knight, is not duly elected a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Rygate.

The other of the said Resolves being read a Second time;

Resolved, That this House doth agree with the Committee, that Thomas Vincent, Esquire, is duly elected a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Rygate.

Ordered, That the Bailiff of the Borough of Rygate do forthwith attend, to amend the said Return.

Account of the Revenue.

Sir Robert Howard reports, that, according to the Order of this House on Wednesday last, for bringing in the yearly Value of the several Branches of the Revenue, he had prepared a Computation thereof: Which he read in his Place; and afterwards, delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same being read, is as followeth:

A Computation of several Branches of the Revenue.

The New Imposition granted in the late King James the Second's Time.

Remained to come, One Year, Half, the First of January last.

Memorandum, These Two last Branches are charged with the Loan of 84,888£. 6s. 9d. with Interest; which is to be paid in the Course of Register as it comes in.

Message from the King-Hearthmoney.

Mr. Comptroller acquainted the House, that he had a Message from his Majesty, in Writing: And thereupon he brought up the same to Mr. Speaker: Who read the same; and is as followeth:

William R

HIS Majesty having been informed, that the Revenue of the Hearth-money is very grievous to the People, is therefore willing to agree, either to a Regulation of it, or to the Taking of it wholly away, as this House shall think most convenient: And, as, in this, His Majesty doth consider the Ease of the Subject, so He doth not doubt, but you will be careful of the Support of the Crown.

Thanks for Message.

Resolved, Nemine contradicente, That the humble Thanks of this House be presented to his Majesty, for his most gracious Message this Day sent to the House.

Ordered, That Sir Tho. Lee, Mr. Hamden, Sir H. Goodrick, Sir Tho. Littleton, Sir Rich. Temple, Sir Rob. Nappier, Sir Tho. Clarges, Sir Geo. Treby, Sir Rob. Howard, Sir Fra. Russell, Sir Hen. Capell, Mr. Wharton, Mr. Tipping, Sir Rich. Onslow, Sir Rob. Clayton, Colonel Birch, do immediately withdraw into the Speaker's Chamber, and prepare an Address of Thanks to his Majesty, for the said Message, upon the Debate of the House.

Message from the King-Treasonable Conspiracies.

Mr. Hamden, One of his Majesty's most honourable Privy Council, acquainted the House, that he had a Message from his Majesty; That his Majesty hath had credible Information, that there are several Persons in and about this Town, that keep private Meetings and Cabals, to conspire against the Government, and for the Assistance of the late King James: That his Majesty has caused some of those Persons to be already apprehended and secured, upon Suspicion of High Treason; and that, He thinks He may see Cause to do so by others, within a little time: But that His Majesty is between Two great Difficulties in this Case; for that, if He should set those Persons at Liberty that are apprehended, He would be wanting to His own Safety, and the Safety of His Government and People: On the other hand, if He should detain them, He is unwilling to do any thing, but what shall be fully warranted by Law, which He hath so often declared He will preserve: And that therefore, if those Persons should deliver themselves by the Act of Habeas Corpus, there would be another Difficulty. That His Majesty is likewise unwilling, that excessive Bail should be taken in this Case; His Majesty remembring That to be One Article of the Grievances presented to Him: That ordinary Bail will not be sufficient; for Men that carry on such Designs, in hopes of succeeding, will not stick at forfeiting a small Sum: And that, this falling out when the Parliament is sitting, His Majesty therefore thought fit to ask the Advice of this House therein; and intends to advise with the Lords also.

Thanks for Message.

Resolved, Nemine contradicente, That the humble Thanks of this House be returned to his Majesty for his most gracious Message, in desiring the Advice of this House.

Habeas Corpus Suspension.

Resolved, That a Temporary Bill be brought in, to impower his Majesty to apprehend and detain all such Persons, as he shall have just Cause to suspect are conspiring against the Government.

Ordered, That Mr. Hamden, Sir Rich. Temple, Mr. Polexfen, Mr. Sacheverell, Sir Tho. Lee, Sir Tho. Clarges, Sir John Holt, Mr. Brewer, do immediately withdraw into the Speaker's Chamber, and prepare the said Bill; and bring in the same with all convenient Speed.

Message from Lords with Address on King's Message.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Robert Atkins, and Sir Edw. Nevill;

Mr. Speaker, His Majesty having been pleased to communicate to the Lords, that he had apprehended several Persons, and conceived there would be Occasion to secure others; that the Lords had prepared an Address of Thanks for his desiring such their Advice; and also of their Advice to his Majesty in that Matter: To which their Lordships desire the Concurrence of this House.

The Messengers withdrew.

Resolved, That the Committee above Stairs be called down.

And they being come down, accordingly;

The said Address was read; and is as followeth:

Die Veneris, 1° Martii, 1688.

YOUR Majesty having acquainted us, that You have just Grounds to suspect divers Persons of treasonable Practices against the Government, and have committed some of them into safe Custody, and may have Reason to commit others, in like manner; and that Your Majesty hath a very tender Regard to the Liberty of the Subject, and particularly to the Observation of the Habeas Corpus Act, which was made for the Preservation of it; and hereupon have been pleased to ask our Advice; We therefore, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, in Parliament assembled, do return Your Majesty our most humble Thanks, for Your great Care of our Liberties, and for Your gracious Communication of this Matter to us; and do humbly advise and desire Your Majesty to take such extraordinary Care of the Government in this Conjuncture, by securing all such suspected Persons, as may effectually prevent any Disturbances of the publick Peace: And that such Persons as are or shall be so committed, may be detained until the First Day of the next Term, being the Seventeenth Day of April next ensuing, if Your Majesty shall see Cause for it.

Message from Lords in Answer to communication of Vote.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cook and Mr. Methwyn;

Mr. Speaker, I am to acquaint you, That the Lords have considered of the Vote of this House, on Wednesday last sent up to the Lords for their Concurrence: And that they have made the like Vote, and entered it in their Books.

Mr. Speaker asked them, whether the Lords had concurred to the said Vote.

They answered, That the Lords had not concurred; but had made the like Vote.

The Messengers withdrew.

And a Debate arose upon that Message.

Resolved, That Sir Christopher Musgrave, and Thomas Lee, and Sir Rich. Temple, do go and inspect the Lords Journals, wherein the said Message is entered.

Sir Christopher Musgrave reports, That he and Sir Rich. Temple had inspected the Lords Journals; and (to prevent any Mistake) that they had taken in Writing, how the Matter stood in the Lords Journals: Which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered it in at the Clerk's Table: And is as followeth:

"A Message from the House of Commons, by Mr. Lucen Gour, and others; who brought up a Vote of Importance; to which they desire their Lordships Concurrence:"

"The Vote was read, and agreed to."

"Resolved, That this House will stand by and assist the King with their Lives and Fortunes, in supporting his Alliances abroad, in Reducing of Ireland, in Defence of the Protestant Religion, and the Laws of the Kingdom."

"Then the House made the following Vote:"

"Resolved, That this House will stand by and assist the King with their Lives and Fortunes, in supporting his Alliances abroad, in Reducing of Ireland, in Defence of the Protestant Religion, and the Laws of the Kingdom."

"A Message to the House of Commons, by Sir Miles Cook and Mr. Methwyn, to acquaint them; that this House had made the same Vote with them; and have entered it into their Books."

Address resolving to support the King.

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to prepare an humble Address unto his Majesty, to contain the Substance of the Vote passed this House on Wednesday last, in the Words following:

"Resolved, Nemine contradicente, That this House will stand by and assist the King with their Lives and Fortunes, in supporting his Alliances abroad, in Reducing of Ireland, and in Defence of the Protestant Religion, and Laws of the Kingdom."

And it is referred to Sir Christopher Musgrave, Sir Rich. Temple, Mr. Gower, Lord Falkland, Mr. Jephson, Colonel Sidney, Sir Rob. Sawyer, Mr. Hamden, jun. Sir Hen. Hobart, Major Wildman, Mr. Foley, or any Three of them, to prepare and bring in the same: And they are to meet at Five of the Clock this Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Supply Bill; granting a present Aid.

Mr. Somers acquaints the House, that, according to the Order of Yesterday, for Mr. Pollexfen and him to prepare and bring in a Bill for the Granting of an Aid to his Majesty, they had prepared the said Bill: Which he delivered in at the Clerk's Table.

A Bill for granting an Aid to his Majesty was read the First time.

Resolved, That the said Bill be read a Second time, on Monday Morning next, at Ten of the Clock.

Address respecting the Hearth-money.

Sir Robert Howard reports from the Committee appointed to prepare an Address of Thanks to his Majesty for His most gracious Message, sent this Day to this House by Mr. Comptroller, That the Committee had prepared an Address accordingly: Which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same being again read, was agreed unto by the House, Nemine contradicente; and is as followeth:

WE your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal Subjects, the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, in Parliament assembled, have taken into our most serious Consideration Your Majesty's gracious Message, wherein your Majesty is pleased to express Your great Goodness and Sense of Your People's Condition, by Your tender Consideration that the Revenue of the Hearth-money is very grievous to them; and are pleased to agree, either to the Regulation of it, or to the Taking it wholly away. And as Your Majesty is pleased in This to consider the Ease of Your People, we acknowledge ourselves obliged to declare, That your Majesty has filled Our Hearts with an intire Satisfaction and Gratitude, by this Your Most gracious and unprecedented Offer: And we humbly crave Leave to present this Assurance to Your Majesty, that we will make such grateful and affectionate Returns, and be so careful of the Support of the Crown, that the World may see, to the Discouraging of your Enemies, and Satisfaction of all good Men, that Your Majesty reigns in the Hearts of your People: Which God grant long to continue.

Resolved, That this whole House do attend his Majesty, to present the said Address.

Ordered, That such Members of this House, as are of his Majesty's most honourable Privy Council, do wait upon his Majesty, to know his Pleasure when he will be attended by this House with the said Address.

Suspending Habeas Corpus.

A Bill for impowering his Majesty to apprehend and detain all such Persons as he shall have just Cause to suspect are conspiring against the Government, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time immediately.

The said Bill being read a Second time;

Resolved, That the said Bill be committed, upon the Debate of the House, to Sir Tho. Lee, Mr. Leveson Gower, Sir Wm. Williams, Mr. Colt, Mr. Hamden, senior, Mr. Garway, Sir Wm. Gregorye, Sir Rich. Temple, Sir John Lowther, Lord Falkland, Mr. Finch, Mr. Sacheverell, Mr. Anth Grey, Sir Hen. Capell, Sir Jos. Tredenham, Sir Geo. Treby, Mr. Somers, Sir Rob. Sawyer, Mr. Wharton, Mr. Foley, Colonel Birch, Mr. Trenchard, Sir Edw. Seymour, Mr. Hamden junior, Sir Tho. Littleton, Mr. Palmes, Sir John Holt, Colonel Churchill, Sir Rob. Cotton, Mr. Tho. Foley, Mr. Kirke, Sir Christopher Musgrave, Lord Falkland, Lord Coote, Mr. Grey, Mr. Bromley, Sir Rob. Nappier, Colonel Wharton, Mr. John Hamden: And they are to meet this Afternoon, at Five of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

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