House of Lords Journal Volume 14: 8 March 1689

DIE Veneris, 8 die Martii.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

PRAYERS.

Marquis de Halyfax Speaker pro Tempore.

The Speaker acquainted the House with His Majesty's Answer to the Address of both Houses, presented to Him this Morning; which was read, as follows:

His Majesty's Answer to Address of both Houses, offering to assist Him.

"My Lords and Gentlemen,

"If any Thing could add to the Esteem and Affection I have for Parliaments, and particularly for this, they would be much increased by the Kindness you shew to Me, and the Zeal you express for the Public Good in the Address you have made, which in the Manner, as well as the Matter, hath every Thing in it that ought to recommend it to Me.

"I will assure you, that I will never abuse the Confidence you shall put in Me; being fully persuaded, that there is no sure Foundation of a good Agreement between a King and His People, but a mutual Trust; when that is once broken, a Government is half dissolved. It shall therefore be My chief Care, never to give any Parliament Cause to distrust Me; and the best Method I can use for that Purpose is, never to expect any Thing from them, but that which shall be their own Interest to grant.

"I came hither for the Good of the Kingdom; and since it is at your Desire that I am in this Station, I shall still pursue the same Ends that brought Me.

"God hath been pleased to make Me instrumental to redeem you from the Ills you feared; and it is still My Desire, as well as My Duty, to endeavour to preserve your Religion, Laws, and Liberties, which were the only Inducements that brought Me into England, and to those I ascribe the Blessings that have attended this Undertaking.

"When I spoke last to you, I told you of the Necessity of assisting our Allies, and more especially The States of Holland; whose Readiness to relieve you, at their so great Hazard and Expence, from the Extremities you lay under, need no other Arguments to move you to the Consideration of it.

"As I was then a Witness of their Zeal and Affection to promote the Expedition, and to second My Endeavours, even with a Neglect of their own Safety; so I am now sensible of the inevitable Ruin they have drawn upon themselves, by giving you this Assistance, if you should not return it to them.

"They have really exhausted themselves to such a Degree, both as to Men and Money, that it is not easily to be imagined; and I am confident your Generosity will have as little Bounds towards them, as theirs had towards you; and that you will not only enable Me to make good the Treaty with them, and repay what they have actually laid out upon this Occasion, of which an Accompt shall be given you; but that you will further support them, to the utmost of your Ability, against the Power of their Enemies, who must be yours too, by their Interest, and by their Religion, and do certainly design the Ruin of Holland to be a Step to your Destruction.

"I need not take Pains to tell you the deplorable Condition of Ireland, which, by the Zeal and Violence of the Popish Party there, and by the Assistance and Encouragements they have from France, 'tis brought to that Pass, that it is not advisable to attempt the reducing it, otherwise than by a very considerable Force, which I think ought not to be less than Twenty Thousand Horse and Foot; which, by the Blessing of God, will make the Work shorter, and in Consequence the Charge easier, though the First Expence must of Necessity be very great.

"You are to consider, that towards the more speedy and effectual Success in relation to Ireland, as well as with regard to France, there must be such a Fleet as may, in Conjunction with The States, make us so entirely Masters of the Sea, that nothing can be sent from France, either to Ireland or any where else, that may give Disturbance to us or to our Allies.

"I must also recommend the Consideration of the Revenues to you, that it may be so settled, as that it may be collected without Dispute.

"My Lords and Gentlemen,

"These Things will amount to great Sums, and must of Consequence be a present Weight upon the People; but, considering that neither your Religion nor your Safety can probably be secured without these Means, I conclude, you will think nothing can be too great a Price for their Preservation; and I will engage My solemn Word to you, that whatsoever you shall give in order to these Public Ends, shall be strictly applied to them; and that as you so freely offer to hazard all that is dear to you, so I shall as freely expose My Life for the Support of the Protestant Religion, and the Safety and Honour of the Nation."

Thanks to His Majesty for it.

ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Thanks of this House be given to His Majesty, for His most Gracious Answer to the Address of both Houses, presented to Him this Day; and that his Grace the Lord Archbishop of Yorke, the Lord Marquis of Winchester, the Earl of Bedford, the Earl of Maclesfeld, the Lord Bishop of Lyncolne, the Lord Wharton, the Lord Delamer, and Lord Lumley, do attend His Majesty, from this House, with their humble Thanks.

ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Address of both Houses presented to His Majesty this Day, and His Majesty's most Gracious Answer thereunto, be forthwith printed and published.

Ministers in the Dioceses of Winton & Norwich, to pray for the King and Queen.

The House being informed, "That some few Ministers within the Diocese of Winchester and Norwich have neglected, contrary to the Order of the King and Council, to pray for King William and Queen Mary:"

It is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Lord Bishop of Winton, and the Lord Bishop of Norwich, do give Directions to the Ministers within their respective Dioceses, that they do pray for King William and Queen Mary, according to the said Order of Council.

Bill to reverse L. Russell's Attainder.

Hodie 2^a vice lecta est Billa, "An Act for annulling and making void the Attainder of William Russell Esquire, commonly called the Lord Russell."

Lords Committees appointed to consider of a Bill, intituled, "An Act for annulling and making void the Attainder of William Russell Esquire, commonly called Lord Russell;" whose Lordships, having considered thereof, and heard such Persons concerning the same as they shall think fit, are afterwards to make Report unto the House.

Their Lordships, or any Five of them; to meet To-morrow Morning, at Nine of the Clock in the Forenoon, in the Prince's Lodgings near the House of Peers; and to adjourn as they please.

Roper versus Roper.

Upon reading the Petition of Edward Roper, complaining of a Decree made by the late Lord Chancellor Jefferies, the 24th Day of February, in the Fourth Year of the Reign of His late Majesty King James the Second, to which Appeal Ann Roper is Defendant; and praying the Reversal of the said Decree:

It is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the said Ann Roper may have a Copy of the said Petition; and be, and is hereby, required to put in an Answer thereunto in Writing, on Tuesday the 19th Day of March Instant, at Ten of the Clock in the Forenoon; whereof the said Edward Roper is to cause Notice to be given to the said Ann Roper for that Purpose; and that leaving a Copy of this Order with her Attorney, or Clerk in Chancery, shall be a sufficient Notice for that Purpose.

L. Grey of W. Privilege: Downing committed, and fined.

Whereas William Downing was this Day brought to the Bar, for printing a Paper, reflecting upon the Right Honourable the Lord Grey of Wark, a Peer of this Realm; and also confessed, that he formerly printed another scandalous Paper, reflecting on several Peers of this House:

It is ORDERED and Adjudged, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the said William Downing be, and is hereby, committed to the Prison of The Gatehouse until further Order of this House: And it is further ORDERED and Adjudged, That the said William Downing do pay a Fine of One Hundred Pounds to the King's Majesty, for the said Offence; and this shall be a sufficient Warrant on that Behalf.

To the Keeper of The Gatehouse Prison at Westminster, his Deputy and Deputies, and every of them.

Adjourn.

Marq. de Halyfax, Orator Procerum pro Tempore, declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque in diem Sabbati, videlicet, nonum diem instantis Martii, hora decima Aurora, Dominis sic decernentibus.