House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 28 October 1691

Mercurii, 28 die Octobris; 3° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Address to their Majesties.

MR. Chancellor of the Exchequer reports from the Committee to whom it was referred to prepare the Addresses to their Majesties, That they had prepared the same accordingly; and that they had directed him to report the same to the House: The which he read in his Place; and afterwards, delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were read; and are as followeth; viz.

May it please Your most Excellent Majesty,

WE Your Majesty's most loyal Subjects, the Commons of England, in Parliament assembled, do, with all Duty and Chearfulness, congratulate Your Majesty's safe Return into this Your Kingdom, after the many Hazards to which You have exposed Your Sacred Person; as also the Success of Your Arms in Ireland. Our Prayers and Wishes are, that Almighty God will so prosper Your Majesties future Enterprizes, that they may at length effect an honourable and lasting Peace to Your own Dominions, and the Security of Your Neighbours, from the Injuries and Invasions of the common Oppressor: And.. crave Leave to join our Hopes to those of Your Majesty, that the Victories of the last Summer are happy Presages that so it will be: And, as the best Means we can contribute to these good Ends, we are resolved to stand by, and assist Your Majesty to the utmost of our Power, in carrying on a vigorous War against France.

May it please Your most Excellent Majesty,

WE your Majesty's most dutiful Subjects, the Commons in Parliament assembled, humbly beseech Your Majesty to accept our most hearty and unfeigned Acknowlegements of Your prudent Care in the Administration of the Government, whilst His Majesty exposed his Sacred Person abroad for the Safety of his People, and the common Interest of Christendom; during whose Absence, nothing could afford us so much Comfort as Your Majesty's Royal Protection, and Your constant Endeavours for the Benefit and Security of Your People; of which our Hearts abound with a most grateful Sense: And we beg Leave to express it, by assuring Your Majesty, That nothing shall ever be wanting on our Part which may demonstrate our Zeal for Your Majesty's Service, or which may any ways contribute to the Honour and Happiness of Your Reign.

The said Address to his Majesty, was read the Second time.

Resolved, Nemine contradicente, That the House doth agree with the Committee in the said Address.

The said Address to her Majesty, was read the Second time.

Resolved, Nemine contradicente, That the House doth agree with the Committee in the said Address.

Resolved, That the said Addresses be presented to their Majesties by the whole House.

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

Ordered, That such Members of this House, as are of their Majesties most honourable Privy Council, do attend her Majesty, to know her Pleasure, When she will be attended by this House.

Oaths of Allegiance in Ireland.

Mr. Roberts, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for abrogating the Oath formerly taken in Ireland, and for establishing other Oaths. And the same was received; and read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Amending Highways.

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to consider of the former Laws for Enlarging and Amending of the Highways; and to consider of their Defects; and to prepare and bring in a Bill for the better Enlarging and Amending of Highways, as well in Towns as Counties:

And it is referred unto Mr. Boscowen, Major Perry, Sir Rich. Onslow, Sir Tho. Darcy, Sir John Barker, Mr. Bowyer, Serjeant Wogan, Sir Math. Andrewes, Mr. Bickerstaffe, Sir Rich. Temple, Mr. Palmes, Mr. Papillion, Mr. Dolben, Sir Walt. Young, Mr. Harcourt, Sir John Guise, Sir Rich. Hart, Mr. Freeman, Mr. Hawtry, Mr. Foot Onslow, Mr. Clerke, Sir Wm. Strickland, Sir Cha. Bloys, Sir Rog. Puleston, Sir Rob. Clayton, Mr. Price, Sir Tho. Clarges, Sir Wm. Leman, Sir Hen. Johnson, Mr. Greenfeild, Colonel Titus, Lord Falkland, Mr. Butler, Mr. Biddle, Mr. Norreys, Sir Sam. Bernardiston, Sir Edw. Chisnall, Mr. Stockdale, Sir Cha. Windham, and all the Gentlemen of the Long Robe: And they are to meet at Three of the Clock this Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber.

East India Company.

A Petition of divers Merchants and Traders in and about the City of London, and other their Majesties Subjects, was presented to the House: And several of the Petitioners were called in to the Bar: Who owned the same.

And being withdrawn;

The said Petition was read; setting forth, That the Trade to the East Indies is of very great Importance to this Nation; and yet, by the manifold Abuses of the present East India Company both at home and abroad (who have managed the same for their private Gain without any Regard to the publick Good), the Trade is like to be utterly lost to this Kingdom, and to fall into the Hands of Foreigners, unless timely prevented by some better Regulation thereof on a new joint Stock and Constitution: And praying, That this House, for preventing so national a Mischief, would take into Consideration the Establishing of a new East India Company, in such Manner, and with such Powers and Limitations, as to them shall be thought most conducing to the Preservation of so beneficial a Trade to the Kingdom. And also

Ditto.

A Petition of the East India Company was read; setting forth, That the Petitioners, and their Predecessors, upon the Encouragement of Queen Elizabeth, and succeeding Princes, by their several Royal Grants and Charters granted unto them, exclusive to all others, have adventured their Estates for the Discovery and carrying on a Traffick to those remote Parts, greatly to the Advantage of the Navigation of this Kingdom, and Enriching of the same; and have been always under a Belief, that, according to the Usage of their Predecessors, might legally manage their Trade within the Limits of their Charters, by virtue of their several Grants from the Crown: And that several Parliaments have had many Occasions to take Notice of their Charters without any Disallowance thereunto; but, on the contrary, rather implicitly approved thereof: But that the Petitioners have received great Damages and Discouragements in their Trade by several private Traders or Interlopers, who originally were the Cause of all those Troubles and Losses brought of late on the said Company: And that the Petitioners therefore humbly represent, That the said East India Trade cannot possibly be supported but in a joint Stock, exclusive to all others, nor without such Powers granted unto them equal to that of their Neighbours: And that, while Matters stand thus, the said Trade will not only suffer much, but other European Nations will make great Advantage thereof, to the Hazard, if not the Ruin, of the English Commerce to those Parts: And praying the Consideration of the House in the Premises: and to apply such seasonable Remedies for the Preservation of the said Trade, on which so many other foreign Trades, on a great measure, depend, as to settle the same by Act of Parliament, under such Methods or Regulations as the House shall think fit; and that, in the mean time, the Petitioners may be supported and encouraged in preserving the said Trade to the Nation.

Resolved, That the Consideration of the said several Petitions be referred to a Committee of the whole House.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning at Ten a Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the said Petitions.

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