House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 2 October 1690

Jovis, 2 die Octobris; Anno Gulielmi et Mariæ Secundo, Annoque Domini 1690.

Message to attend the King.

A MESSAGE from his Majesty, by Sir Thomas Duppa, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod;

Mr. Speaker,

The King commands this honourable House to attend His Majesty in the House of Peers, immediately.

Accordingly, Mr. Speaker, with the House, went up to the House of Peers, to attend his Majesty.

And being returned;

The King's Speech reported.

Mr. Speaker reports, That his Majesty had been pleased to make a most gracious Speech to both Houses: But in regard the same was long, and that there was a great Noise made by the Crowd, and that his Majesty's Voice was low, he could not distinctly hear the same; and therefore, he had desired and obtained a Copy of it: And he read the same; and is as followeth; viz.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

SINCE I last met you, I have used My best Endeavours to reduce Ireland into such a Condition this Year, as that it might be no longer a Charge to England: And it has pleased God to bless My Endeavours with such Success, that I doubt not but I should have been fully possessed of that Kingdom by this Time, had I been enabled to have gone into the Field as soon as I should have done; and as is more especially necessary in Ireland, where the Rains are so great, and begin so early.

I think Myself obliged to take Notice, how well the Army there have behaved themselves on all Occasions; and borne great Hardships, with little Pay, and with so much Patience and Willingness, as could not proceed but from an affectionate Duty to My Service, and a Zeal for the Protestant Religion.

I have already made it evident, How much I have preferred the Satisfaction of my Subjects before the most solid Advantages of the Crown, by parting with so considerable a Branch of its Inheritance: And it is no less apparent, that I have asked no Revenue for Myself, but what I have readily subjected to be charged to the Uses of the War.

I did, at my Departure, give order for all the publick Accompts to be made ready for Me against My Return; and I have commanded them to be laid before the House of Commons: By which they will see, That the real Want of what was necessary beyond the Funds given, and the not getting in due Time That for which Funds were assigned, have been the principal Causes, Why the Army is in so much Arrear of their Pay, and the Stores, both for the Navy and the Ordnance, not supplied as they ought to be.

Now, as I have neither spared My Person, nor My Pains, to do you all the Good I could; so I doubt not, but if you will as chearfully do your Parts, it is in your Power to make both Me and yourselves happy, and the Nation great: And, on the other hand, it is too plain, by what the French have let your see so lately, that, if the present War be not prosecuted with Vigour, no Nation in the World is exposed to greater Danger.

I hope therefore there will need no more upon that Subject, than to lay before you, Gentlemen of the House of Commons, the State of what will be necessary for the Support of the Fleet and Armies, which cannot possibly admit of being lessened in the Year ensuing; and to recommend to your Care the Clearing of My Revenue, so as to enable Me to subsist, and to maintain the Charge of the Civil List; the Revenue being so engaged, that it must be wholly applied, after the First of November next, to pay off the Debts already charged upon it: And therefore a present Consideration must be had of the Arrears of the Army, which shall likewise be laid before you; and, for all which, I must desire a sufficient and timely Supply.

It is further necessary to inform you, that the whole Support of the Confederacy abroad will absolutely depend upon the Speed and Vigour of your Proceedings in this Session.

And here I must take Notice, with great Satisfaction, of the Readiness which My Subjects, of all Degrees, have shewn both in this City, and in their several Countries, by giving their Assistances so chearfully as they did in My Absence, while the French Fleet was upon our Coasts; and, besides this so convincing Mark of the good Inclinations of My People, I have found through all the Countries where I passed, both at My going into Ireland, and in My Return from thence, such Demonstrations of their Affections, that I have not the least Doubt but I shall find the same from their Representatives in Parliament.

I cannot conclude without taking Notice also, How much the Honour of the Nation has been exposed by the ill Conduct of My Fleet in the last Summer's Engagement against the French; and I think Myself so much concerned to see it vindicated, that I cannot rest satisfied till an Example has been made of such as shall be found faulty upon their Examination and Tryal: Which was not practicable while the whole Fleet was abroad; but is now put into the proper Way of being done as soon as may be.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

I look upon the future Well-being of this Kingdom to depend upon the Result of your Counsels and Determinations at this Time; and the Benefit will be double by the Speed of your Resolutions; insomuch that I hope you will agree with Me in This Conclusion, That whoever goes about to obstruct or divert your Applications to these Matters, preferably to all others, can neither be My Friend, nor the Kingdom's.

Coal Trade.

Then a Bill for reviving a former Act for regulating the Measures and Prices of Coals, was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Grand Committees.

Ordered, That the Grand Committee for Religion do sit every Tuesday in the Afternoon in the House.

Ordered, That the Grand Committee for Grievances do sit every Thursday in the Afternoon in the House.

Ordered, That the Grand Committee for Trade do sit every Saturday in the Afternoon in the House.

Ordered, That the Grand Committee for Courts of Justice do sit every Friday in the House.

Kellington Writ.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a new Writ for the electing a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Kellington in the County of Cornewall in the room of Sir John Coryton, Baronet, deceased.

Sudbury Writ.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a new Writ for the electing a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Sudbury in the County of Suffolke, in the room of Phillip Gourdon, Esquire, deceased.

Agmondesham Writ.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a new Writ for the electing a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Agmondesham in the County of Bucks, in the room of Sir William Drake, Knight, deceased.

Minhead Writ.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a new Writ for the electing of a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament, for the Borough of Minhead in the County of Somerset, in the room of Francis Lutterell, Esquire, deceased.

Bath Writ.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a new Writ for the electing a Citizen to serve in this present Parliament for the City of Bath in the County of Somersett, in the room of Maurice Viscount Fitzharding, deceased.

East Retford Writ.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a new Writ for the electing of a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of East Retford in the County of Nottingham, in the room of Evelyn Pierpoint, Esquire, called up to the House of Lords.

Adjournment.

Resolved, That the House do adjourn till Monday Morning.

And then the House adjourned till Monday Morning, Ten a Clock, accordingly.