House of Lords Journal Volume 18: 17 December 1705

DIE Lunæ, 17 Decembris.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

PRAYERS.

Viscount Hereford takes the Oaths.

This Day Price Viscount Hereford took the Oaths, and made and subscribed the Declaration, and took and subscribed the Oath of Abjuration, pursuant to the Statutes.

Message from H. C. for a Conference on the Address about the Church.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Mr. St. John and others.

To desire a Conference with this House, upon the Subject-matter of the last Conference.

To which the House agreed.

Then the Commons, being called in, were told, "That the Lords agree to a Conference, as desired; and appoint it presently, in the Painted Chamber."

Message from H. C. with a Bill.

A Message from the House of Commons, by Mr. Vaughan and others:

Who brought up a Bill, intituled, "An Act for confirming an Agreement made upon the Marriage of Charles Owen Esquire and Dorothy his Wife, of Nash, in the County of Pembroke;" to which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

Conference reported.

The Commons being come to the Conference, the last Managers Names were read.

Then the House was adjourned during Pleasure, and the Lords went to the Conference.

Which being ended, the House was resumed.

And the Duke of Bolton reported, "That they had attended the Conference; and that the Commons have agreed to the Address, by filling up the Blank with ["and Commons."]

Which Address, so agreed to, is as follows; (videlicet,)

Address concerning the Reports of the Church of England being in Danger.

"We, your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal Subjects, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons in Parliament assembled, having taken into Consideration Your Majesty's most Gracious Speech at the Opening of this Parliament, have, upon mature Deliberation, come to the following Resolution:

"Resolved, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons in Parliament assembled, That the Church of England as by Law established, which was rescued from the extremest Danger by King William the Third, of Glorious Memory, is now, by God's Blessing, under the happy Reign of Her Majesty, in a most safe and flourishing Condition; and that whoever goes about to suggest and insinuate, that the Church is in Danger, under Her Majesty's Administration, is an Enemy to the Queen, the Church, and the Kingdom.

"Which we humbly beg Leave to lay before Your Majesty: And, as Your Majesty has been pleased to express a just Indignation against all such wicked Persons; so we assure Your Majesty, that we shall be always ready, to the utmost of our Power, to assist Your Majesty in discountenancing and defeating their Practices: And we humbly beseech Your Majesty to take effectual Measures for the making the said Resolution public; and also for punishing the Authors and Spreaders of these seditious and scandalous Reports, to the End that all others may, for the future, be deterred from endeavouring to distract the Kingdom with such unreasonable and groundless Distrusts and Jealousies."

The House to attend the Queen with it.

Ordered, That the whole House do attend Her Majesty, with the said Address.

Ordered, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Lords with White Staves do wait on Her Majesty, humbly to know what Time Her Majesty will please to appoint to be attended, with an Address of both Houses of Parliament.

L. Leigh et al. Leave for a Bill.

Upon reading the Petition of Thomas Lord Leigh, Edw'd Leigh Esquire his Eldest Son, and Mary his Wife; praying Leave to bring in a Bill, to enable them to perform Articles of Agreement made upon the Marriage of Edward Leigh and Mary his Wife, which cannot be perfected without an Act of Parliament, the said Edward and Mary being under Age:

It is Ordered, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Petitioners have hereby Leave to bring in a Bill, according to the Prayer of the said Petition.

Message from H. C. to return Burnet's Nat. Bill.

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

To return the Bill, intituled, "An Act for naturalizing William Burnet Esquire;" and to acquaint this House, that they have agreed to the same, without any Amendment.

Sheppard et al. versus Smith et al.

After hearing Counsel, upon the Petition and Appeal of William Sheppard Gentleman, and Thomas Stevens Yeoman, Executors of John Newman deceased, from several Orders and Decrees of the Court of Chancery, of the Fourteenth of October 1704, Fifteenth of January, and Three and Twentieth Day of June last, on the Behalf of John Smith and Stephen Smith, and others; and praying "the Reversal of the said Orders and Decrees; and that the Petitioners may have their Costs:" As also upon the Answer of the said John Smith, Stephen Smith, and Ann Smith, put in thereunto; and due Consideration had of what was offered thereupon:

Judgement affirmed, with Costs.

It is Ordered and Adjudged, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the said Petition and Appeal of William Sheppard and Thomas Stevens shall be, and is hereby, dismissed this House; and that the several Orders and Decrees therein complained of shall be, and they are hereby, affirmed: And it is further Ordered, That the said William Sheppard and Thomas Stevens shall pay, or cause to be paid, unto the said John Smith, Stephen Smith, and Ann Smith, the Sum of Twenty Pounds, for their Costs.

Answer from the Queen, about being attended with the Address:

The Lord Chamberlain acquainted the House, "That he had attended Her Majesty, humbly to know what Time Her Majesty will be pleased to appoint, for both Houses to attend Her with their Address; and that Her Majesty was pleased to appoint To-morrow, at Four a Clock, at St. James's."

Message to H. C. to acquaint them with it.

Then, a Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Mr. Pitt and Mr. Rogers.

To acquaint them, "That the Lords have sent to Her Majesty, to know what Time Her Majesty will please to appoint to be attended, with the Address of both Houses; and Her Majesty has been pleased to appoint To-morrow, at Four a Clock in the Afternoon, for both Houses to attend Her, at St. James's; and that the Lords intend to be there at that Time."

Adjourn.

Dominus Custos Magni Sigilli declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque ad et in diem Martis, decimum octavum diem instantis Decembris, hora undecima Auroræ, Dominis sic decernentibus.