House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 24 February 1673

Lunæ, 24 die Februarii, 1672.

Prayers.

Committee of Privileges.

ORDERED, That Mr. Hale, Major General Egerton, Alderman Backwell, Mr. Edward Nicholas, Mr. Leighton, Mr. Thomas Morrice, Mr. Francis. Finch, Mr. John Raishley, Alderman Bence, Sir Wm. Bassett, Sir John Stapeley, Sir Thom. Bide, Colonel Robinson, Sir Adam Browne, Lord Hawley, Mr. Ellyott, Serjeant Seys, Mr. Collins, be added to the Committee of Elections and Privileges.

Strode's Petition.

A Petition of Sir William Strode, a Member of this House, was read.

Resolved, &c. That a Committee be appointed to take the Matter of the Petition into Consideration; and to report the true State of the Case, with their Opinions therein, to the House: And that it be referred to Mr. Pleydall, Sir Trevor Williams, Sir Nicholas Carew, Mr. Secretary Coventry, Sir John Moreton, Sir Jonath. Trelawny, Sir Robert Howard, Sir Charles Harbord, Doctor Burwell, Mr. Edw. Buscowen, Sir Thomas Lee, Mr. Culliford, Mr. Garaway, Mr. Tregonell, Sir Richard Temple, Sir Thomas Wendy, Mr. Pawlet St. John, Sir Courtney Poole, Sir Gilbert Talbot, Sir Anth. Irby, Sir Geo. Reeve, Mr. Hugh Buscowen, Sir Richard Everard, Sir Will. Lowther, Sir Thomas Meeres, Col. Strangwayes, Sir John Hanmer, Sir Humph. Winch, Mr. Whorwood, Sir John Knight, Mr. Powle, Sir Rowl. Berkley, and all the Members of this House, that serve for the Counties of Devon and Cornwall: And they are to meet on Friday next, at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber: And to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Answer to Address about Declaration of Indulgence.

Mr. Secretary Coventry reports, and presents, in Writeing, from his Majesty, his Answer to the humble Petition and Address of this House: Which was thrice read; and the Matter debated; and is as followeth; viz.

Charles R

HIS Majesty hath received an Address from you: And he hath seriously considered of it; and returneth you this Answer:

That He is very much troubled, that That Declaration, which He put out for Ends so necessary to the Quiet of His Kingdom, and especially in That Conjuncture, should have proved the Cause of Disquiet in His House of Commons, and give Occasion to the Questioning of His Power in Ecclesiasticks: Which He finds not done in the Reigns of any of His Ancestors. He is sure He never had Thoughts of using it otherwise than as it hath been intrusted in Him, to the Peace and Establishment of the Church of England, and the Ease of all His Subjects in general: Neither doth He pretend to the Right of suspending any Laws, wherein the Properties, Rights, or Liberties of any of His Subjects are concerned; nor to alter any thing in the established Doctrine or Discipline of the Church of England: But His only Design in this was, to take off the Penalties the Statutes inflict upon Dissenters; and which He believes, when well considered of, you yourselves would not wish executed according to the Rigour and Letter of the Law. Neither hath He done This with any Thought of avoiding or precluding the Advice of His Parliament: And if any Bill shall be offered Him, which shall appear more proper to attain the aforesaid Ends, and secure the Peace of the Church and Kingdom; when tendered in due Manner to Him, He will shew how readily He will concur in all Ways that shall appear good for the Kingdom.

Given at the Court at Whitehall, the 24th of February, 167²/3.

Thanks for Answer.

Resolved, &c. That the Thanks of this House be returned to his Majesty, for his gracious Assurances and Promises in his Answer to the Address, presented to him by this House.

The House then went into the further Debate of his Majesty's Answer.

Adjournment.

The Question being put, That the House be now adjourned;

The House divided.

The Noes go out.

Tellers,

And so it passed in the Negative.

Resolved, &c. That the further Consideration of his Majesty's Answer, to the Address of this House, be proceeded in To-morrow Morning.

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