House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 16 March 1689

Sabbati, 16 die Martii; 1° Willielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Wye, &c. Navigation.

A BILL for making the Rivers Wye and Lugg, in the County of Hereford, navigable, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Disarming Papists.

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to prepare and bring in a Bill for the more speedy Conviction and Disarming of Papists.

And it is referred to Mr. Hamden, Lord Falkland, Sir Rich. Temple, Lord Commissioner Maynard, Mr. Colt, Mr. Eyres, Sir Tho. Lee, Mr. Wogan, Mr. Somers, Mr. Dolben, Mr. Foley, Mr. Solicitor General, Mr. Attorney General; or any Three of them: And they are to meet this Afternoon, at Four of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Answer to Address.

Sir Hen. Capell acquaints the House, That, according to their Order of Yesterday, the Lord Wiltshire, Mr. Sidney, Mr. Wharton, and He, went to Hampton Court: Where they found the Earl of Oxford, and Lord Lovelace, from the Lords, to present the Address, agreed upon by both Houses, to his Majesty; and that, accordingly, they presented the same; and that the Earl of Oxford read it to his Majesty: That his Majesty was, thereupon, pleased to say, "That he should be very ready and careful to give such Orders, as the Lords and Commons should desire: And that he had already appointed Three Regiments of Horse, and his own Regiment of Dragoons, with Orders to stop them and bring them to their Duty: And, if that they will not submit, then to fall upon them." And his Majesty did immediately send Directions to his Attorney General, for the preparing a Proclamation, according as was desired in the Address.

Reversing Lord Russell's Attainder.

Sir Henry Capell reports from the Committee to whom the ingrossed Bill, sent from the Lords, for the Annulling and Making void the Attainder of William Russell, Esquire, commonly called Lord Russell, was referred, That the Committee had thought fit to make some Amendments to the Bill: Which he read in his Place, with the Coherence; and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same being read, are as followeth:

L. 23, between the Word "Lands" and the Word "Goods," insert the Word "Hereditaments."

And, at the End of the Bill, to add these Words, "And, to the End that Right be done to the Memory of the deceased Lord Russel, aforesaid, Be it further enacted, That all Records and Proceedings, relating to the said Attainder, be wholly cancelled, and taken off the File, or otherwise defaced and obliterated, to the Intent the same may not be visible in After-ages: And that, at the next Sessions of Goal-delivery, to be holden for the City of London, the said Records and Proceedings shall be brought into the Court; and then and there taken off from the File, and cancelled."

The Amendments, being twice more read, were, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House, to be made Part of the Bill.

Resolved, Nemine contradicente, That the Bill do pass, thus amended.

Ordered, That Sir Henry Capell do carry up the Bill, with the Amendments, to the Lords, for their Concurrence.

Fitzharris' Case.

A Petition of Ann Fitzharris, Widow, Relict of Edward Fitzharris, Esquire, was read.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Friday Morning next, hear Mrs. Fitzharris, and such Witnesses, as shall be then produced, touching the Matter of the said Petition.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Vaughan have Leave to go into the Country.

Ordered, That, for the future, no Member of this House have Leave to go into the Country, without limiting a Time when he is to return.

Ordered, That Mr. Palmer have Leave to go into the Country, until Easter next.

Ordered, That Sir Boucher Wray have Leave to go into the Country, for a Week.

Reversing Lord Russell's Attainder.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Robert Atkins and Sir Wm. Dolben;

Mr. Speaker, the Lords do concur in the Amendments made by this House to the Bill, intituled, An Act for the Annulling and making void the Attainder of Wm. Russell, Esquire, commonly called Lord Russell.

And then withdrew.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That the Lord Wm. Pawlet have Leave to go beyond Sea, for a Month.

Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy.

Resolved, That the House will now receive Mr. Solicitor General's Report, touching the Bill for altering the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy.

Mr. Solicitor General reports from the Committee, to whom the Bill for altering the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, were referred, That the Committee had thought fit to make several Amendments therein; and to add a Clause, pursuant to the Instructions given to them: Which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were all read over; and afterwards, one by one; and, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed unto by the House.

Ordered, That the Bill be ingrossed.

Report from Committee of Grievances-Restoring Corporations.

Sir Joseph Tredenham reports from the Grand Committee of Grievances, That the Committee had come to a Resolution, which they had directed him to report to the House, with the first Opportunity: The 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;

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That the House be moved, that a Bill or Bills be brought in to restore all Bodies Politick and Corporate, in the Kingdom of England, Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick upon Tweed, and the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging, to the State and Condition they were in on the Twenty-ninth Day of May 1660; and to confirm the Liberties and Franchises, which, at that Time, they respectively held and enjoyed.

An Amendment was proposed to be made, by adding, after the Word "belonging," these Words, "and New England, and other Plantations."

Resolved, That those Words be added to the said Resolve.

Resolved, That this House doth agree with the Committee in the said Resolve, so amended: And accordingly doth order, that a Bill, or Bills, be brought in to restore all Bodies Politick and Corporate, in the Kingdom of England, Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick upon Tweed, and the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging, and New England, and other the Plantations, to the State and Condition they were in on the Twentyninth Day of May 1660; and to confirm the Liberties and Franchises, which, at that Time, they respectively held and enjoyed.

Royal Assent to Bills.

A Message from the King, by Sir Thomas Duppa, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod;

Mr. Speaker,

The King commands this Honourable House to attend His Majesty in the House of Peers, immediately.

And accordingly Mr. Speaker, and the House, went to attend his Majesty,

And being returned;

Mr. Speaker acquainted the House, That his Majesty had passed the Bill for impowering his Majesty to apprehend and detain such Persons, as he shall find just Cause to suspect are conspiring against the Government: And the Bill for annulling, and making void, the Attainder of William Russell, Esquire, commonly called Lord Russell: And that he made a Speech to both Houses; of which he obtained a Copy: Which he read; and is as followeth:

My Lords and Gentlemen,

King's Speech.

NOW I have the Occasion of coming hither to pass this Bill, which I hope will be for all our Safeties, I shall put you in mind of one thing, which will conduce much to our Settlement, as a Settlement will, to the Disappointment of our Enemies.

I am, with all the Expedition I can, filling up the Vacancies that are in Offices and Places of Trust, by this late Revolution.

I know you are sensible there is a Necessity of some Law, to settle the Oaths to be taken by all Persons to be admitted to such Places.

I recommend it to your care, to make a speedy Provision for it: And, as I doubt not but you will sufficiently provide against Papists, so I hope you will leave Room for the Admission of all Protestants, that are willing and able to serve.

This Conjunction in My Service will tend to the better uniting you among yourselves, and the Strengthening you against your common Adversaries.

Leave of Absence.

A Motion being made, that Sir Arthur Chichester have Leave to go into the Country;

And the Question being put, that he have such Leave;

It passed in the Negative.

The House to give Directions where matters arise in Committees concerning Members.

Mr. Foley, Chairman of the particular Committee for Grievances, acquaints the House, that there hath several Matters appeared to the Committee, relating to some Persons, Members of this House; and that therefore he was directed by the Committee to take the Directions of the House, what was fit to be done therein.

And a Debate arose thereupon.

Resolved, That if any Member of the House refuse, upon being sent to, to come to give Evidence or Information, as a Witness, to a Committee, that the Committee ought to acquaint the House therewith, and not summon such Member to attend the Committee.

Resolved, That if any Information come before any Committee, that chargeth any Member of the House, the Committee ought only to direct, that the House be acquainted with the Matter of such Information, without proceeding further thereupon.

And then the House adjourned until Monday Morning, Eight a Clock.