House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 26 January 1694

Veneris, 26 die Januarii;

5° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Members summoned.

ORDERED, That the Serjeant at Arms attending this House do go into Westminster-hall, and the several Courts there, and into the Court of Requests; and require the Attendance of the Members of this House immediately.

And he went with the Mace accordingly.

And, being returned;

Ordered, That the Serjeant at Arms do go into the Speaker's Chambers, and require all Persons that are not Members of the House to withdraw: And that he do lock up the Back-door, and bring the Key, and lay the same upon the Table.

Speaker's Chambers to be locked.

Ordered, That the Back-door of the Speaker's Chambers be lock'd up, and the Key laid upon the Table, every Morning at Ten a Clock.

Miscarriages of the Fleet.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Thursday Morning next, take into further Consideration the Miscarriages of the Fleet the last Summer.

Ordered, That the Admirals of the Fleet, who attended this Day according to Order, do attend this House again upon Thursday Morning next.

State of the Kingdom.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the State of the Kingdom.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.
Colonel Granville took the Chair of the Committee.
Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Colonel Granville reported from the said Committee, That they had come to several Resolutions; which they had directed him to report to the House, when the House would please to receive the same.

Resolved, That the said Report be now received.

Colonel Granvill reported the said Resolutions of the Committee of the whole 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.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That whoever advised the King, not to give the Royal Assent to the Act touching free and impartial Proceedings in Parliament, which was to redress a Grievance, and take off a Scandal upon the Proceedings of the Commons in Parliament, is an Enemy to their Majesties, and the Kingdom.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That a Representation be made to his Majesty, humbly to lay before him, how few the Instances have been, in former Reigns, of denying the Royal Assent to Bills for Redress of Grievances; and the great Grief of the Commons for his not having given the Royal Assent to several publick Bills; and particularly to the Bill, intituled, An Act touching free and impartial Proceedings in Parliament, which tended so much to the clearing the Reputation of this House; after their having so freely voted to supply the publick Occasions.

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

Resolved, That the House doth agree with the Committee in the said Resolution, That whoever advised the King, not to give the Royal Assent to the Act touching free and impartial Proceedings in Parliament, which was to redress a Grievance, and take off a Scandal upon the Proceedings of the Commons in Parliament, is an Enemy to their Majesties, and the Kingdom.

The Second Resolution being read a Second time;

Resolved, That the House doth agree with the Committee in the said Resolution, That a Representation be made to his Majesty, humbly to lay before him, how few the Instances have been, in former Reigns, of denying the Royal Assent to Bills for Redress of Grievances; and the great Grief of the Commons for his not having given the Royal Assent to several publick Bills; and particularly to the Bill, intituled, An Act touching free and impartial Proceedings in Parliament, which tended so much to the clearing the Reputation of this House; after their having so freely voted to supply the publick Occasions.

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to prepare, and draw up, an humble Representation to his Majesty upon the said Resolutions; and to report the same to this House.

And it is referred to Colonel Granville, Mr. Gwyn, Sir Tho. Clarges, Lord Digby, Mr. Boyle, Sir Walter Young, Mr. Hutchinson, Sir Thom. Dyke, Sir Edward Hussey, Sir John Knight, Mr. Foley, Mr. Bulkley, Mr. Harley, Sir Rowland Gwyn, Mr. Sackerley, Mr. Mordant, Sir Robert Davers, Mr. Palmes, Mr. Goldwell, Mr. Bromley, Mr. Clark, Mr. S. Smith, Colonel Churchill, Mr. Wharton, Lord Cutts, Sir Fr. Winington, Lord Elan, Lord Falkland, Colonel Leveson, Mr. Mountague, Mr. Bowyer, Sir Wm. Strickland, Sir Jerv. Elwes; or any Five of them: And they are to meet To-morrow Morning at Eight a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

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