House of Lords Journal Volume 13: 6 May 1678

Journal of the House of Lords: Volume 13, 1675-1681. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1767-1830.

Citation:

'House of Lords Journal Volume 13: 6 May 1678', in Journal of the House of Lords: Volume 13, 1675-1681( London, 1767-1830), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/lords-jrnl/vol13/pp213-214 [accessed 23 December 2024].

DIE Lunæ, 6 die Maii.

REX.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:


	His Royal Highness the Duke of Yorke.
Arch. Cant. Arch. Eborac. Epus. London. Epus. Durham. Epus. Sarum. Epus. Petriburg. Epus. Ely. Epus. Cov. et Litch. Epus. Bath & Wells. Epus. Chester. Epus. Chichester. Epus. Landaff. Epus. Lyncolne. Epus. Oxon. Epus. Exon. Epus. St. David's.	Dux Cumberland. Ds. Cancellarius. Ds. Custos Privati Sigilli. Dux Norff. Dux Bucks. Dux Monmouth. Marq. Winton. Marq. Worcester. L. Great Chamberlain. L. Chamberlain. Comes Oxon. Comes Kent. Comes Huntingdon. Comes Bedford. Comes Dorset et Midd. Comes Bridgwater. Comes North'ton. Comes Bristol. Comes Clare. Comes Mulgrave. Comes Rivers. Comes Petriburgh. Comes Carnarvon. Comes Sunderland. Comes Scarsdale. Comes St. Alban. Comes Clarendon. Comes Essex. Comes Cardigan. Comes Bath. Comes Craven. Comes Aylesbury. Comes Burlington. Comes Shaftesbury. Comes Powis. Comes Feversham. Vicecomes Mountagu. Vicecomes Stafford. Vicecomes Hallyfax. Vicecomes Newport.	Ds. Mowbray. Ds. Delawar. Ds. Berkeley. Ds. Windsor. Ds. Eure. Ds. Wharton. Ds. North et Grey. Ds. Chandos. Ds. Hunsdon. Ds. Petre. Ds. Arundell W. Ds. Tenham. Ds. Grey Wark. Ds. Pawlet. Ds. Maynard. Ds. Vaughan. Ds. Carington. Ds. Ward. Ds. Colepeper. Ds. Lucas. Ds. Rockingham. Ds. Gerard Brand. Ds. Wotton. Ds. Berkeley Strat. Ds. Holles. Ds. Cornwallis. Ds. Delamer. Ds. Fresheville. Ds. Arundell T. Ds. Butler West.

PRAYERS.

King present.

His Majesty, sitting in His Royal Throne, adorned with His Regal Crown and Robes (the Peers being in their Robes uncovered), gave Command to the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, to give Notice to the House of Commons, "That they attend His Majesty presently."

Mr. Seymour, Speaker of H. C. presented.

Who, being come, presented Edward Seymour Esquire, to be their Speaker, in the room of Sir Robert Sawyer Knight, who is disabled by Sickness to discharge any longer the Service of that Place.

After low Obeisance made, Mr. Seymour spake to to this Effect:

His Speech.

"May it please Your Most Excellent Majesty,

"The Commons were surprized to find themselves this Morning destitute of a Speaker, by the Indisposition of Sir Robert Sawyer, who had worthily supplied that Place; whereupon the Commons had proceeded to the Choice of another Speaker; and it was an Evidence that it was in Haste, inasmuch as they had chosen me. I have endeavoured to excuse myself, by reason of my Infirmities and Failings, which were well known to them; but they were not pleased to accept my Excuse; and that being as yet in an imperfect State of Health, I do appeal to Your Majesty, that for Your own Service' Sake, Your Majesty would discharge me, and command the Commons to proceed to choose another Speaker."

Approved of.

Then the Lord Chancellor, taking Directions from His Majesty, spake to the Effect following:

"He told Mr. Speaker (for so he said he was commanded to call him), That the King very well approved the Choice the Commons had made; and was glad to see the Choice fall upon a Person, who, by former Trial and Experience, hath been found to be well qualified; which was a sufficient Answer to all he had said, or could say, to excuse himself: That it was in vain to pretend Disability, or to endeavour to discharge himself; that the Wisdom of the Body he served hath made the Place more easy than formerly; such is their known Duty to their Sovereign, that the Office of a Speaker seems more formal, than necessary, or difficult; and that the seeming Difficulties should rather invite than dissuade him; for that he that is not willing to die in his Gown, or Arms, for his King and Country, is not worthy of the Office, nor indeed of the Name of a Subject. But, his Lordship said, he was not to persuade, but command him to accept it; and that His Majesty did confirm and ratify their Choice."

Then Mr. Speaker spake to this Effect:

Speaker's Speech.

"That it was a Favour sometimes to be denied what was requested, and he took it to be such now; and that he was infinitely bound, in that His Majesty thought him worthy of the Place; that His Majesty's Goodness was sufficient Encouragement to him to undertake the Office; wherein he begged His Majesty's Pardon for the Failings might be in him; but hoped he should never stand in Need of His Mercy, for any wilful Error he should commit in His Service."

Then the Commons went to their House.

Bill to suppress the Growth of Popery.

Hodie 2^a vice lecta est Billa, "An Act for the better suppressing the Growth of Popery."

ORDERED, That the Consideration of this Bill is committed to a Committee of the whole House; and the Time to be on Wednesday Morning next.

ORDERED, That To-morrow Morning this House will enter upon Consideration, what Advice to give His Majesty upon the Treaties with The States Generall.

Lords take the Oaths.

This Day the Lord Chancellor and the Duke of Monmouth took the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance, and subscribed the Declaration against Transubstantiation, pursuant to the Act for preventing the Dangers which may happen from Popish Recusants. Their Witnesses were sworn, and examined by the Lord Chancellor, as to the Truth of their Certificates, concerning their receiving of the LORD'S Supper.

Adjourn.

Dominus Cancellarius declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque in diem Martis, 7^um diem instantis Maii, hora decima Aurora, Dominis sic decernentibus.

Hitherto examined by us,

J. Bridgewater.
Essex.
Cardigan.
Craven.
Stafford.
Holles.