House of Commons Journal Volume 12: 7 December 1697

Martis, 7 die Decembris;

9° Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Flint Election.

A PETITION of Sir John Hanmer Knight, and Baronet, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Petitioner, and Tho. Ravenscroft Esquire, stood Candidates, at the last Election, for the Town of Flint, in the room of Sir Roger Puleston, deceased; where Mr. Ravenscroft did not observe the late Act for preventing Expences at Elections; and, by Combination with the Bailiff of Flint, polled many Persons made free after Sir Roger's Death, and many Foreigners, who had no Right to poll; and refused to poll the Petitioner's legal Electors; to his Prejudice: And praying Relief therein.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections: And that they do examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Address on the King's Speech.

Mr. Norris reported from the Committee, to whom it was referred to prepare an Address to be presented to his Majesty, That they had prepared the same accordingly; which they had directed him to report to the House; and which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same was twice read; and, with some Amendments made by the House, agreed unto by the House; and is as followeth, viz.

We your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal Subjects, the Commons in Parliament assembled, who have so frequently waited on your Majesty with the Tender of our Assistance, for carrying on the War, come now to congratulate your Majesty upon the happy Conclusion of it, in a Peace so honourable and advantageous to the Nation, as sufficiently justifies the Wisdom of the Commons in advising, and your Majesty's Conduct in the Prosecution of it.

The Prospect of the Benefits your People will receive from the Peace is very pleasing: The Honour your Majesty has restored to England, of holding the Balance of Europe, gives your Subjects great Content: But what your Commons are most affected and delighted with is, that your Majesty's sacred Person will now be secured from those many and great Dangers, to which you have so often exposed it for our Sakes; nothing being so evident, as that your Majesty's Return in Safety was a Blessing more welcome to your People than Peace, and received with greater Demonstrations of Joy.

We therefore, with Hearts full of Affection, Duty, and Gratitude, do assure your Majesty, in the name of all the Commons of England, that this House will be ever ready to assist and support your Majesty; who, by putting a Period to the War, has confirmed us in the quiet Possession of our Rights and Liberties; and, so, fully completed the glorious Work of our Deliverance.

Resolved, That the said Address be presented to his Majesty by the whole House.

Ordered, That such Members of this House as are of his Majesty's most Honourable Privy-Council, do humbly know his Majesty's Pleasure, when he will be attended by this House.

Preventing Correspondence withlate King James.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill to hinder any of his Majesty's Subjects coming into this Kingdom, who during the War have gone into France without Licence, or been in Arms under the French King, or in the Service of the late King James; and to prevent corresponding with the said late King; And that Mr. Attorney-General, and Mr. Boscawen, do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Sheriffs Accounts.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for the more easy passing Sheriffs Accounts: And that Mr. Harley do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Regulating Printing.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for Regulating of Printing and Printing-presses: And that Sir William Ashurst, and Mr. Pocklington, do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

Abolishing Payments of Smoak-silver

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill to take away Smoak-silver, Peter-pence, and other Payments, at the Sheriffs Turn: And that Mr. Boscawen and Mr. Harley do prepare, and bring in, the Bill.

The King's Speech considered.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, proceeded to take into Consideration his Majesty's most gracious Speech:

And the same was read.

And a Motion being made, and the Question being proposed, that this House will, To-morrow Morning, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of his Majesty's Speech;

The previous Question was put, That that Question be now put:

The House divided.

The Noes go forth.

So it passed in the Negative.

Supply.

Then a Motion being made, That a Supply be granted to his Majesty;

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of that Motion.

Ordered, That his Majesty's Speech be referred to the Consideration of the said Committee.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Thursday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of his Majesty's Speech.

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