House of Lords Journal Volume 19: 27 November 1710

DIE Lunæ, 27 Novembris.

REGINA.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

PRAYERS.

Lords take the Oaths.

The Lords following took the Oaths, and made and subscribed the Declaration, and also took and subscribed the Oath of Abjuration, pursuant to the Statutes.

Charles Duke of Somerset.

James Duke of Ormonde.

Charles Duke of Bolton.

Thomas Duke of Leeds.

James Duke of Dover.

Henry Duke of Kent.

Evelin Marquis of Dorchester.

William Marquis of Annandale.

Scroop Earl of Bridgewater.

John Earl of Leicester.

Charles Earl of Radnor.

Henry Earl of Portland.

John Earl of Greenwich.

Thomas Earl of Wharton.

Thomas Earl of Kinnoull.

Hugh Earl of Loudoun.

William Lord Viscount Kilsyth.

Thomas Lord Archbishop of Canterbury.

Jonathan Lord Bishop of Winchester.

Thomas Lord Bishop of Rochester.

Gilbert Lord Bishop of Sarum.

John Lord Bishop of Litch. & Coventry.

John Lord Bishop of Ely.

William Lord Bishop of Lincoln.

John Lord Bishop of Landaff.

Offspring Lord Bishop of Exeter.

Charles Lord Bishop of Norwich.

Charles Lord Fitzwalter.

Thomas Lord Howard of Eff.

James Lord Chandos.

William Lord Byron.

Lewis Lord Rockingham.

Peregrine Lord Osborne.

William Lord Ashburnham.

Maurice Lord Haversham.

John Lord Balmerino.

Queen present.

Her Majesty, being seated on Her Royal Throne, adorned with Her Crown and Regal Ornaments, attended with Her Officers of State (the Peers being also in their Robes), commanded the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod to let the House of Commons know; "It is Her Majesty's Pleasure, that they attend Her presently, in the House of Peers."

Mr. Bromley Speaker of H. C. presented, and approved of:

Who being come; they presented William Bromley Esquire, whom they had chosen to be their Speaker, for Her Majesty's Royal Approbation.

Then Mr. Bromley spake as follows:

"May it please Your most Excellent Majesty,

The Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses of Great Britain, in Parliament assembled, in Obedience to Your Majesty's Commands to them to choose a Speaker, have unanimously elected me to be their Speaker.

They have many among them much fitter for this great Trust: And therefore, that the public Service may not suffer through my Want of Abilities to discharge it, I am an humble Suitor to Your Majesty, that You will be pleased to excuse my undertaking it, and command the Commons to make a better Choice."

Then the Lord Keeper said,

"Mr. Bromley,

Her Majesty commands me to tell you, She well approves the Choice Her Commons have made of you, to be their Speaker.

And that She does as little doubt of your Ability, as She can of your Integrity.

"Her Majesty therefore does not think fit to admit of your Excuse; but allows of, and confirms, you to be Speaker."

Then Mr. Speaker said,

Speaker's Speech.

"Most Gracious Sovereign,

Since Your Majesty has not been pleased to allow my Excuse, but to approve the Choice Your Commons have made; it is my Duty to submit, and render Your Majesty my most humble Thanks for this great and undeserved Favour.

I am very sensible, the only Qualities I can pretend to, towards the Discharge thereof, are a sincere and steady Affection for our happy Establishment in Church and State, with an unfeigned Zeal and Devotion for Your Majesty's Person and Government. But since Your Majesty commands me to this Service, I shall humbly hope Your Majesty will pardon all my involuntary Failings, and accept my faithful Endeavours.

I am persuaded, Your Majesty will find that You are not disappointed, by considing in the Assurances Your good Subjects had given Your Majesty, of their Duty and Affection; that they have chose such Persons to represent them in Parliament as will effectually support Your Majesty against all Your Enemies; that will soon defeat all Artifices to destroy or distress the Public Credit, and enable Your Majesty to bring that just and necessary War, in which You are engaged, to a safe, honourable, and speedy Conclusion. I do, in their Names, humbly present to Your Majesty their accustomed Petitions, for their ancient Rights and Privileges; particularly,

That, for their better Attendance on this Service, they and their necessary Servants may be free, in their Persons and Estates, from Arrests and Molestations.

"That they may have Liberty and Freedom of Speech in their Debates.

"That, as often as there shall be Occasion, Your Majesty will vouchsafe them Access to Your Royal Person; and,

"That their Proceedings may at all Times receive a favourable Interpretation, and be free from Misconstructions."

Then the Lord Keeper, by Her Majesty's Command, further said,

Mr. Speaker,

Her Majesty is so fully satisfied of Your dutiful Affection to Her Service, that She is pleased to say, She will, on all Occasions, make the most favourable Construction of all Your Words and Actions, in the Execution of Your Duty.

"And that, as to the Suit You have made in the Name of the House of Commons, She is so very well assured of their Temper and Wisdom, as well as of their Loyalty and Zeal for the present Establishment in Church and State, that She readily grants and allows all their Privileges, as fully as they have been at any Time granted or allowed by any of Her Royal Predecessors."

Then Her Majesty spake as follows;

Queen's Speech.

"My Lords, and Gentlemen,

"I have, by calling this Parliament, made appear the Confidence I place in the Duty and Affection of My Subjects: And I meet you here with the greatest Satisfaction; having no Reason to doubt but that I shall find such Returns, as will add new Life to our Friends, and entirely disappoint the Hopes of our Enemies.

"To this End, I shall recommend to you what is absolutely necessary for our common Safety.

"The carrying on the War in all its Parts, but particularly in Spain, with the utmost Vigour, is the likeliest Means, with God's Blessing, to procure a safe and honourable Peace for us and all our Allies, whose Support and Interest I have truly at Heart.

"For this Purpose, I must ask from you, Gentlemen of the House of Commons, the necessary Supplies for the next Year's Service: And let Me put you in Mind, that nothing will add so much to their Efficacy as Unanimity and Dispatch.

"I cannot without great Concern mention to you, that the Navy and other Offices are burthened with heavy Debts, which so far affect the Public Service, that I most earnestly desire you to find some Way to answer those Demands, and to prevent the like for the Time to come; the Justice of Parliament, in satisfying former Engagements, being the certain Way for preserving and establishing National Credit.

"I am sensibly touched with what My People suffer by this long and expensive War; to which when it shall please God to put an End, the flourishing Condition of My Subjects shall be as much My Care, as their Safety is at present.

"My Lords, and Gentlemen,

"The Eyes of both Friends and Enemies are upon you. The Way to give Spirit to the one, and to defeat the restless Malice of the other, is to proceed in such Manner as becomes a British Parliament.

"I shall, in the plainest Words, tell you My Intentions; and I do this with the greater Satisfaction, because I depend upon their being agreeable to you.

"I am resolved to support and encourage the Church of England, as by Law established:

"To preserve the British Constitution, according to the Union:

"And to maintain the Indulgence by Law allowed to scrupulous Consciences.

"And, that all these may be transmitted to Posterity, I shall employ none but such as are heartily for the Protestant Succession in the House of Hanover; the Interest of which Family no Person can be more truly concerned for than Myself.

"These are My Resolutions; and your Concurrence with Me in a steady Pursuit of them, will best manifest your Zeal for our Religion, for the Interest of our Country, for your own Safety, and for My Honour."

Then Her Majesty was pleased to withdraw; and the Commons returned to their House.

The House was adjourned during Pleasure, to unrobe.

The House was resumed.

D. of Kent introduced:

This Day Henry Marquis of Kent (being by Letters Patents, dated Vicesimo Octavo Die Aprilis, Nono Annæ Reginæ, created Duke of Kent) was, in his Robes, introduced, between the Duke of Richmond and the Duke of Devonshire (also in their Robes); the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, Garter King at Arms, and the Lord Great Chamberlain, preceding.

His Grace presented his Patent to the Lord Keeper on his Knee, at the Woolsack; who delivered it to the Clerk; and the same was read at the Table.

His Writ of Summons being also read, as follows:

"Anna, Dei Gratia, Magnæ Britanniæ, Franc. & Hib'niæ Regina, Fidei Defensor, &c. Charissimo Consanguineo & Consiliario Nostro Henrico Duci Kant. Salutem. Quia, de Avisamento & Assensu Concilii Nostri, pro quibusdam arduis & urgentibus Negotiis, Nos, Statum & Defensionem Regni Nostri Mag. Britan. & Ecclesiæ concernentibus, quoddam Parliamentum Nostrum apud Civitatem Nostram Westmonaster. Vicesimo Quinto Die Novembris prox. futur. teneri ordinaverimus; et ibidem, vobiscum, ac cum Prælatis, Magnatibus, & Proceribus dicti Regni Nostri, Colloquium habere & Tractatum; vobis, sub Fide & Ligeantia quibus Nobis tenemini, firmiter injungendo mandamus, quod, consideratis dictorum Negotiorum Arduitate & Periculis imminentibus, cessante Excusatione quacunque, dictis Die et Loco personaliter intersitis, Nobiscum, ac cum Prælatis, Magnatibus, et Proceribus prædictis, super dictis Negotiis tractatur. vestrumque Consilium impensur.; et hoc sicut Nos & Honorem Nostrum ac Salvationem & Defensionem Regni et Ecclesiæ prædict. Expeditionemque dictorum Negotiorum diligitis, nullatenus omittatis.

"Teste Meipsa, apud Westm. Vicesimo Septimo Die Septembris, Anno Regni Nostri Nono.

"Trevor Dauling."

His Grace was accordingly placed on the Earls Bench.

Then he came to the Table, and took the Oaths, and made and subscribed the Declaration, and also took and subscribed the Oath of Abjuration, pursuant to the Statutes.

Return of the Sixteen Peers of Scotland.

The Lord Keeper delivered the Certificate of the Clerk of the Crown, of the Names of the Sixteen Peers chosen for that Part of Great Britain called Scotland; to sit and vote in this House.

Which was read, and is as follows; (videlicet,)

"May it please your Lordships,

"The Sixteen Peers, who, for that Part of Great Britain called Scotland, are chosen, summoned, and certified to sit and vote in the House of the Peers, in the Parliament of Great Britain, which is to meet at Westminster the Five and Twentieth Day of November Anno Domini 1710, are,

"The Duke of Hamilton.

"The Duke of Atholl.

"The Marquis of Annandale.

"The Earl Marischall.

"The Earl of Mar.

"The Earl of Eglintoun.

"The Earl of Home.

"The Earl of Kinnoull.

"The Earl of Loudoun.

"The Earl of Northesk.

"The Earl of Orkney.

"The Earl of Roseberrie.

"The Earl of I'lay.

"The Viscount of Kilsyth.

"The Lord Balmerino; and

"The Lord Blantyre.

"Witness my Hand, the 24th Day of November 1710.

"George Wrighte,

"Cler. Coron."

Then the following Order was made; (videlicet,)

Return of the Sixteen Peers to be read at the Beginning of every Parliament.

"Ordered, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That, for the future, at the Beginning of every Parliament, immediately after the Lord on the Woolsack hath taken the Oaths, the Certificate of the Clerk of the Crown, of the Return of the Sixteen Peers, who, for that Part of Great Britain called Scotland, shall be chosen, summoned, and certified to sit and vote in the House of Peers in the Parliament of Great Britain, shall be read: And it is further Ordered, That this Order be added to the Roll of Standing Orders."

Address to be drawn.

Then Her Majesty's Speech was read by the Lord Keeper, and afterwards by the Clerk: Whereupon,

It is Ordered, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That an Address be presented to Her Majesty, "Humbly to thank Her Majesty, for Her most Gracious and Excellent Speech to both Houses of Parliament; and particularly as to what relates to the Support and Encouragement of the Church of England as by Law established, and the Protestant Succession in the House of Hanover."

And the Lords following were appointed a Committee, to draw an Address pursuant thereunto; (videlicet,)

Their Lordships, or any Five of them; to meet, at the Rising of the House, in the Prince's Lodgings near the House of Peers; and to adjourn as they please.

Poor Bill.

Hodie 1^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act for preventing the Poor's being defrauded."

L. Ashburnham takes his Seat:

This Day William Lord Ashburnham sat first in Parliament, upon the Death of his Brother John Lord Ashburnham.

L. Haversham takes his Seat.

Also Maurice Lord Haversham sat first in Parliament, upon the Death of his Father John Lord Haversham.

Adjourn.

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