House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 22 October 1691

Jovis, 22 die Octobris; Anno Gulielmi et Mariæ. Tertio, Annoque Domini 1691.

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.

And 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 Gracious Speech to both Houses: And to prevent any Mistake, in Reporting thereof, he had desired and obtained a Copy of it: Which he read to the House; and is as followeth; viz.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

I HAVE appointed this Meeting of Parliament, as soon as ever the Affairs abroad would admit of My Return into England, that you might have the more Time to consider of the best and most effectual Ways and Means for the Carrying on of the War against France this next Year.

I am willing to hope, That the good Success with which it hath pleased God to bless My Arms in Ireland this Summer, will not only be a great Encouragement to you to proceed the more cheerfully in this Work; but will be looked upon by you as an Earnest of future Successes, which your timely Assistance to Me may, by God's Blessing, procure to us all: And, as I do not doubt, but you will take care to pay the Arrears of that Army, which hath been so deserving and so prosperous in the Reducement of Ireland to a peaceable Condition, so, I do assure you, there shall no Care be wanting on My Part to keep that Kingdom, as far as it is possible, from being burdensome to England for the future.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

I do not doubt but you are all sensible, That it will be necessary we should have as strong a Fleet next Year, and as early at Sea, as we had this Summer: And I must tell you, That the great Power of France will as necessarily require, that we should maintain a very considerable Army, ready upon all Occasions, not only to desend ourselves from any Insult, but also to annoy the common Enemy, where it may be most sensible to them; and I do not see how it is possible to do this with less than Sixty-five thousand Men.

I shall only add, that by the Vigour and Dispatch of your Counsels, and Assistance to me in this Session of Parliament, you have now an Opportunity in your Hand (which, if neglected, you can never reasonably hope to see again); not only to establish the future Quiet and Prosperity of these Kingdoms, but the Peace and Security of all Europe.

Process of Capias.

A Bill for taking away Capiases for Debts under Forty Shillings, 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 upon every Tuesday in the Afternoon in the House.

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

Grand Committees.

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 Afternoon in the House.

Committee of Privileges.

Ordered, That a Committee of Elections and Privileges be appointed of the Persons following; viz. Mr. Serjeant Trenchard, Mr. Mountague, Mr. Finch, Mr. Paul Foley, Sir Christopher Musgrave, Sir Tho. Littleton, Mr. Boscowen, Mr. Freeman, Sir John Banks, Sir Rich. Temple, Mr. Dolben, Mr. Maine, Mr. Norreys, Sir Matth. Andrewes, Mr. Travers, Sir Rob. Sawyer, Lord Castleton, Mr. Gwyn, Sir Rob. Rich, Sir Jerv. Elwes, Mr. Mansell, Lord Wm. Pawlett, Mr. Phil. Foley, Lord Elan, Sir Jos. Herne, Mr. Palmes, Sir Orlando Gee, Lord Commissioner Hutchins, Sir Rob. Cotton, Sir Tho. Clarges, Mr. Hobby, Mr. Hedger, Major Perry, Mr. Solicitor General, Sir Walter Clarges, Sir Cha. Sidley, Sir Jos. Tredenham, Colonel Titus, Lord Marquis Winchester, Mr. Chancellor of Exchequer, Mr. Ash, Mr. Done, Mr. Rudge, Mr. Roberts, Sir Steph. Evans, Sir Hen. Ashurst, Mr. How, Mr. Bromley, Mr. Bickerstaffe, Sir Hen. Johnson, Lord Fitzharding, Mr. Harcourt, Mr. Bowyer, Sir Wm. Strickland, Mr. Chadwick, Mr. Johnson, Sir Rob. Cotton, Sir Wm. Forster, Sir John Knatchbull, Mr. Bertie, Sir Benj. Newland, Sir Rob. Cotton, Colonel Austen, Lord Falkland, Mr. Biddolph, Mr. Musgrave, Sir Thomas Lee, Major Beake, Mr. Tredenham, Mr. Westerne, Mr. Kenyon, Sir John Thomson, Mr. Nicholas, Sir Peter Colleton, Sir Jonath. Jennings, Mr. Thom. Foley, Mr. Papillion, Sir Cha. Windham, Mr. Scobell, Mr. Thomson, Mr. Clerke, Sir Sam. Bernardiston, Mr. Cha. Bertie, Mr. Waller, Mr. Harley, Sir Walter St. John: And all that come are to have Voices: And they are to meet on Monday next, at Three of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber; and on every Wednesday, Friday, and Monday, at Three of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Place before mentioned; and to take into Consideration all such Matters as shall or may come in question, touching Returns, Elections, and Privileges; and to proceed upon Double Returns in the first place; and to report their Proceedings, with their Opinions therein, to the House, from time to time: And all Persons that will question Returns, are to do it in Fourteen Days next, and so within Fourteen Days after any new Return shall be brought in. And the Committee is to have Power to send for Persons, Papers, and Records, for their Information. And all Members who are returned for Two or more Places are to make their Election by This-daythree-weeks for which of the Places they will serve; provided there be no question upon the Return for that Place. And if any thing shall come in question touching the Return, Election, or Matter of Privilege of any Member, he is to withdraw during the Time the Matter is in Debate.

Ordered, That all Persons, upon Double Returns, do withdraw, and forbear to sit, until the Merits be determined.

Chipping Wiccomb 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 Chipping Wiccomb in the County of Bucks, in the room of Wm. Jepson, Esquire, deceased.

Saltash 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 Saltash in the County of Cornwall, in the room of Richard Carew, Esquire, deceased.

Southampton 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 Knight of the Shire to serve in this present Parliament for the County of Southampton, in the room of Richard Norton, Esquire, deceased.

Kent 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 Knight of the Shire to serve in this present Parliament for the County of Kent, in the room of Sir Vere Fane, now Earl of Westmorland, and called up to the House of Lords.

Westminster 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 Westminster, in the room of Sir Wm. Poultney, deceased.

Rochester 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 Rochester in the County of Kent, in the room of Francis Clerke, Esquire, deceased.

Dunwich Writ.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue his Warrant to 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 Dunwich, in the room of Sir Philip Skippon, Knight, deceased.

Rippon 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 Rippon, in the room of Sir Edm. Jennings, Knight, deceased.

Calne 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 Calne in the County of Wilts, in the room of Henry Baynton, Esquire, deceased.

Nottingham 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 Knight of the Shire to serve in this present Parliament for the County of Nottingham, in the room of Wm. Sacheverell, Esquire, deceased.

Mountgomery 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 Town of Mountgomery, in the County of Mountgomery, in the room of Charles Herbert, Esquire, deceased.

Aylesbury Election.

A Petition of James Herbert, Esquire, was read; setting forth, That the Petitioner, at a late Election of a Burgess for Aylesbury, was duly elected; yet the Constables of the Place, who are the proper Officers to return Precepts of Election, would not return the Petitioners, but Mr. Simon Mayne, to be duly elected, although most of his Voters took Alms, and paid to neither Church or Poor; and therefore have no Right to vote: And praying to be relieved in the Premises, and to be restored to its Right.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Elections and Privileges: Who are to examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinions therein, to the House.

Weobly Election.

A Petition of Thomas Foley, of Stoack Court in the County of Hereford, Esquire, was read; setting forth, That on the Fifth June 1691, the Petitioner was duly elected a Burgess for Weobly in the aforesaid County; and, in pursuance of his Election, was returned by Indenture by the proper Officer to the Sheriff: But that one Thomas Watkins, Constable of the said. Borough, hath delivered another Indenture, purporting an Election of John Birch, Esquire: And the Sheriff hath returned both the Indentures, in Prejudice to the Petitioner's Right: And praying the Consideration and Relief of the House in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Elections and Privileges: Who are to examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinions therein, to the House.

Weobly Election.

A Petition of John Birch, Esquire, was read; setting forth, That he, being duly returned a Burgess for the Borough of Weobly, in the room of Colonel John Birch, deceased, was returned accordingly by one of the Constables, to whom the Precept was directed: Yet the other Constable hath returned Thomas Foley, Esquire, to the Prejudice of the Petitioner: And praying the Consideration and Relief of the House in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Elections and Privileges: Who are to examine the Matter thereof, and report the same, with their Opinions therein, to the House.

Truro Election.

A Petition of John Manley, junior, was read; setting forth, That notwithstanding divers undue Practices by the Mayor of Truro, the Petitioner was duly elected for that Place, although Sir Henry Ashurst be returned in the room of the Petitioner: And praying, that a Day may be appointed for hearing and determining the Right of the Election.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Elections and Privileges: Who are to examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinions therein, to the House.

Newton Election.

A Petition of Sir James Forbes and Thomas Brotherton, Esquire, was read; setting forth, That on the Eleventh March 1689, the Petitioners were duly elected by the Majority of those who had Right to vote for the Borough of Newton, and ought to have been returned: But Mr. Wm. Wood the Steward, and Thomas Stirrop the Bailiff, have nevertheless unduly returned Sir John Chichley, and George Cholmondley, Esquire, in Wrong to the Petitioners: And praying the Consideration and Relief of the House in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Elections and Privileges: Who are to examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinions therein, to the House.

Ludlow Election.

A Petition of Thomas Hanmore and Wm. Gower, Esquires, was read; setting forth, That they, upon the Fourteenth of January last past, were duly elected by the Majority of legal Voters of the Town of Ludlow: Notwithstanding which, the Bailiffs have returned Colonel Titus, and Fran. Lloyd, Esquire, and rejected the Petitioners: And praying the Consideration and Relief of the House in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Elections and Privileges: Who are to examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinions therein, to the House.

Tavistock Election.

A Petition of Ambrose Manaton, Esquire, was read; setting forth, That on the Eighth March 1689, the Petitioner was duly elected a Burgess for Tavistock in the County of Devon, by the majority of legal Electors: But the Portreeve refused to return an Indenture thereof, executed by the said Electors; but has returned Sir Fran. Drake, in Prejudice of the Petitioners: And praying the Examination and Relief of the House, in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Elections and Privileges: Who are to examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinions therein, to the House.

Aldborough Election.

A Petition of Sir Edward Turner, Knight, was read; setting forth, That, on the One-and-twentieth February last was Twelvemonth, the Petitioner was duly elected a Burgess for Aldborough in the County of Suffolke: Notwithstanding which, the Bailiff hath returned Wm. Johnson, Esquire, in Prejudice of the Petitioner: And praying the Consideration and Relief of the House in the Premises.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Elections and Privileges: Who are to examine the Matter thereof; and report the same, with their Opinions therein, to the House.

Adjournment.

Resolved, That the House do now adjourn till Tuesday Morning next.

And accordingly the House adjourned till Tuesday Morning, Ten of the Clock.