House of Lords Journal Volume 15: 31 December 1691

DIE Jovis, 31 Decembris.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

REX.

PRAYERS.

Supply Bill.

Hodie 3^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act for granting an Aid to Their Majesties, of the Sum of Sixteen Hundred Fifty-one Thousand Seven Hundred and Two Pounds, Eighteen Shillings, towards the carrying on a vigorous War against France."

The Question was put, "Whether this Bill shall pass, with the Amendments?"

It was Resolved in the Affirmative.

Message to H. C. with Amendments to it.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir Miles Cooke and Sir Lacon William Child:

To carry down the said Bill; and let the Commons know, the Lords have agreed to it, with some Amendments, to which they desire their Concurrence.

Late E. of Salisbury's Debts, Legacies, &c. for Payment of, Bill.

Hodie 3^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act for the better securing the Portions, Debts, and Legacies, given and owing by James late Earl of Salisbury."

The Question was put, "Whether this Bill shall pass?"

It was Resolved in the Affirmative.

Message to H. C. with it.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir Miles Cooke and Sir Lacon William Child:

To carry down the said Bill; and desire their Concurrence thereunto.

St. Ann's Church Bill.

Hodie 1^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act for the making further Provision for finishing the Parish Church of St. Anne, within the Liberties of Westminster, and other Buildings directed to be erected pursuant to a former Act of Parliament."

Roberts's Bill.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Mr. Carter and others:

To return the Bill, intituled, "An Act to vest certain Messuages, Lands, and Tenements, in Thorpe Langton, and elsewhere, in the County of Leicester, in Trustees, to be sold, for Payment of the Debts of Richard Roberts Esquire, and for raising Portions for his Daughters."

Grantham's Bill.

Hodie 2^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act for the enabling Vincent Grantham to lease Part of his Manor of Golthow in Lincolneshire, for the raising Money to pay Portions and Debts charged thereon."

ORDERED, That the Consideration of this Bill is committed to the Lords following:

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

Halstead's Bill.

Hodie 2^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act to enable Henry Halstead to make a Lease for the Improvement of his Prebend of Ealdstreete, in the Church of St. Paul's in London."

ORDERED, That the Consideration of this Bill is committed to the same Committee as the Bill, intituled, "An Act for the enabling Vincent Grantham to lease Part of his Manor of Golstow in Lincolnesheire, for the raising of Money, to pay Portions and Debts charged thereon."

L. Waldegrave's Bill.

Hodie 3^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act to enable Trustees of the Right Honourable James Lord Waldegrave to make Leases, and grant Copyhold Estates, for the Payment of the Arrears of Annuities of Henry Lord Waldegrave his Father, deceased."

The Question was put, "Whether this Bill shall pass?"

It was Resolved in the Affirmative.

Message to H. C. with it.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir Miles Cooke and Sir Lacon William Child:

To carry down the said Bill, and desire their Concurrence thereunto.

Deer-stealers, for punishing, Bill.

The Lord Viscount Weymouth reported the Bill, intituled, "An Act for the more effectual Discovery and Punishment of Deer-stealers," as fit to pass; without any Amendment.

Hodie 3^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act for the more effectual Discovery and Punishment of Deer-stealers."

A Rider was offered, to be added to the Bill.

Which was read.

The Question was put, "Whether this Rider shall be Part of the Bill?"

It was Resolved in the Affirmative.

The Question was put, "Whether this Bill shall pass, with this Rider?"

It was Resolved in the Affirmative.

Message to H. C. with it.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir Miles Cooke and Sir Lacon William Child:

To carry down the said Bill; and to desire their Concurrence thereunto, and to the Proviso added by their Lordships.

Message from thence, that they agree to the Money Bill.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Mr. Solicitor and others:

To return the Bill, intituled, "An Act for granting an Aid to Their Majesties, of the Sum of Sixteen Hundred Fifty-one Thousand Seven Hundred and Two Pounds, Eighteen Shillings, towards the carrying on a vigorous War against France," sent to them with Amendments; to which they have agreed.

Davile's Bill.

Hodie 1^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act to enable William Davile to sell some Lands, for Payment of Debts."

Sutton versus Slaughter.

Upon reading the Petition of William Sutton Gentleman, being an Appeal from a Decree or Order made the Two and Twentieth Day of July, in the Second Year of Their now Majesties Reign, by the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal of England, upon a Report made by Sir Robert Legard, on the Behalf of Paris Slaughter and Edward Highmore; and praying the Reversal of the said Order or Decree:

It is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled; That the said Paris Slaughter and Edward Highmore may have a Copy of the said Petition; and be, and they are hereby, required to put in their Answer or respective Answers thereunto, in Writing, on Thursday the Fourteenth Day of January next, at Ten of the Clock in the Forenoon.

Ewelme Hospital versus Town of Andover.

The House being this Day moved, by Consent of both Sides, "That a further Day may be appointed for hearing of the Cause wherein Ewelme Hospital is Plaintiff, and the Town of Andover Defendant:"

It is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That this House will hear the said Cause, by Counsel on both Sides, at the Bar, on Wednesday the Third Day of February next, at Ten of the Clock in the Forenoon.

Burrowes versus Dod.

Upon reading the Petition of Anne Dod and others; praying a Day may be appointed for hearing their Cause, to which Thomas Burrows is Defendant:

It is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That this House will hear the said Cause, by Counsel on both Sides, at the Bar, on Wednesday the Thirteenth Day of January next, at Ten of the Clock in the Forenoon.

Wilson versus L. Morley.

A Petition of John Wilson was offered, relating to the Right Honourable the Lord Morley's Privilege.

It is ORDERED, That the Lord Morley shall have Notice hereof; and that the said Petition shall be read on Saturday next, at Ten of the Clock in the Forenoon.

Orphans of London, Court of Inquiry, Bill.

The Earl of Rochester reported from the Lords Committees appointed to consider of the Bill, intituled, "An Act for erecting a Court of Inquiry, in order to the Relief of the distressed Orphans of the City of London, specially concerning the Persons that shall be named in the Bill to be Commissioners for the said Court, That the Committee desires the Directions of the House in this Case:"

It is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Committee shall be revived to meet on Saturday Morning next, at Nine of the Clock; and that the Committee is hereby directed to name such Persons to be Commissioners of Inquiry in the said Act for the City of London, as they shall think fit.

Printed Votes of H. C. concerning Regulations of the East India Company.

Then the House went on with the adjourned Debate, concerning the Printed Votes of the House of Commons of the Eighteenth Instant, relating to the regulating of the East India Company.

After Debate,

This Question was proposed, "Whether this present Debate shall be adjourned to Monday next?"

Then this previous Question was put,

"Whether this Question shall be now put?"

It was Resolved in the Negative.

Then the Printed Vote of the House of Commons was read, as followeth:

"That, Security being first given, an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, to incorporate the present East India Company by Charter, according to the Regulations agreed upon by the House, that the same may pass into an Act of Parliament."

Then this Question was proposed,

"Whether the Printed Vote now read is sufficient Ground for this House to take Notice of it to the House of Commons?"

Then these Words were proposed to be inserted in the Question, videlicet, "having excluded the Lords from concurring in an Address to the King, relating to the Legislative Power."

The Question was put, "Whether these Words shall be inserted in the Question?"

It was Resolved in the Negative.

Then the Question was put,

"Whether the Printed Vote now read is sufficient Ground for this House to take Notice of it to the House of Commons?"

It was Resolved in the Affirmative.

Message to H. C. for a Conference on this Subject.

It is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That a Conference be had with the House of Commons upon this Vote; and that these Lords following shall be a Committee, to draw Reasons, to be offered at a Conference with the House of Commons, upon the Debate this Day; whose Lordships, or any Five of them, are to meet on Saturday next, at Nine of the Clock in the Forenoon, in the Prince's Lodgings near the House of Peers; and to adjourn as they please.

The House was adjourned during Pleasure, to robe.

The House was resumed.

King present.

His Majesty, being arrayed in His Royal Robes and Regal Crown, ascended His Throne; all the Peers being in their Robes. The Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod was commanded to signify His Majesty's Pleasure to the Commons, "That they presently attend His Majesty."

Who being come, with their Speaker; he made a short Speech, relating to the Money Bill to be passed, to the Effect following:

"We humbly beseech Your Majesty to accept of this Bill, as a Mark of the dutiful and hearty Affections of us Your Commons, who are resolved to stand by and assist Your Majesty to the utmost of our Power."

Then the Clerk of the Parliaments received the following Bill from the Hand of the Speaker, and brought it to the Table; where the Clerk Assistant read the Title; videlicet,

Bills passed.

"An Act for granting an Aid to Their Majesties, of the Sum of Sixteen Hundred Fifty-one Thousand Seven Hundred and Two Pounds, Eighteen Shillings, towards the carrying on a vigorous War against France."

The Clerk of the Parliaments pronounced the Royal Assent in these Words,

"Le Roy et (fn. 1) la Reyne, remerciant les bon Subjects, acceptant leur Benevolence, et ainsi le veulent."

In like Manner the Bill following was passed:

"An Act to vest certain Messuages, Lands, and Tenements, in Thorpe Langton and elsewhere, in the County of Leicester, in Trustees, to be sold, for Payment of the Debts of Richard Roberts."

To which Bill the Royal Assent was pronounced in these Words,

"Soit fait come il est desire."

Then His Majesty made a Speech, as followeth:

King's Speech.

"My Lords and Gentlemen,

I must not lose this Occasion of returning you My hearty Thanks, for the great Proofs you continue to give Me of your Zeal and Resolution to support and assist Me in the vigorous Prosecution of the War against France next Year; and, I assure you, it shall be My greatest Care, that the Assistances you give Me may be so applied, as to render them most effectual for the Ends you designed them. But I must take Notice to you, at the same Time, with some Trouble, that the new Year is already come, while our Preparations for it are not only more backward, but those of our Enemies, as we have Reason to think, in greater Forwardness than they were the last Year: I find Myself therefore necessitated, from this Consideration, most earnestly to recommend to you, Gentlemen of the House of Commons, the hastening of such further Supplies as you design to enable Me with, for the Prosecution of the War.

"My Lords and Gentlemen,

The Season being so far advanced, this present Sessions cannot admit of a much longer Continuance; and therefore I must recommend to you the Dispatch of all such other Bills also as you shall judge necessary for the public Good."

Which being ended, His Majesty withdrew; and the Commons went to their House.

E. of Derby's Witnesses.

It is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That David Roberts, Thomas Kinnaston, John Fletcher, William Maddocks, Griffith Jones, Ellis Williams, John Latch, Robert Wilson, Robert Christopherson, Nicholas Hartley, James Townesend, James Kilver, Thomas Jepson, Robert Nicholas, Richard David, William Prescot, William Deakin, William Corbin, be, and are hereby, required to attend this House on Tuesday the Nineteenth Day of January next, at Ten of the Clock in the Forenoon, as Witnesses on the Behalf of the Right Honourable the Earl of Derby.

Against adhering to Their Majesties Enemies, Bill.

It is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the House shall be put into a Committee, upon the Bill, intituled, "An Act against adhering to Their Majesties Enemies," on Monday next, at Eleven of the Clock in the Forenoon; and that all the Judges do then attend the House.

Briggs versus Clarke.

Upon reading the Petition of Mary Clerke; praying, "That a Day may be appointed for arguing the Errors upon the Writ of Error brought into this House by William Briggs, Marshal of the King's Bench:"

It is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That this House will hear the said Errors argued, by Counsel on both Sides, at the Bar, on Monday the Eighteenth Day of January next, at Ten of the Clock in the Forenoon.

Adjourn.

Rob'tus Atkyns, Miles de Balneo, Capitalis Baro de Scaccario, Orator Procerum, declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque in diem Sabbati, (videlicet,) 2^um diem Januarii, hora decima Aurora, Dominis sic decernentibus.