House of Lords Journal Volume 18: 31 October 1705

DIE Mercurii, 31 Octobris.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

PRAYERS.

E. Leicester takes his Seat.

This Day John Earl of Leicester sat first in Parliament, upon the Death of his Brother Robert Earl of Leicester.

Lords take the Oaths.

Then the Lords following took the Oaths, and made and subscribed the Declaration, and took and subscribed the Oath of Abjuration, pursuant to the Statutes; (videlicet,)

Bp. Lincoln to preach 5th Nov.

It is Ordered, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Lord Bishop of Lincolne be, and he is hereby, desired to preach before this House, in the Abbey Church at Westminster, on Monday the Fifth Day of November next.

Address.

The Lord Privy Seal reported from the Lords Committees, an humble Address to be presented to Her Majesty, from this House, upon Her Majesty's most Gracious Speech to both Houses of Parliament.

Which was read, as followeth; (videlicet,)

"We, Your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal Subjects, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, beg Leave to make our humble and sincere Acknowledgements to Your Majesty, for Your most Gracious Speech to both Houses; which has opened the Eyes, and raised the Hearts, of all Your loyal Subjects.

"Your Majesty is pleased to give us Warning of the Danger of being so far deluded, as to depend again on the Faith of Treaties with an Enemy, who has never yet had any other Regard to them than as they served the Purposes of His Interest and Ambition; and to inform us, that no Peace can be lasting, safe, and honourable, till the Spanish Monarchy be fixed in the House of Austria, and France reduced to such a Degree, that the Balance of Power in Europe be again restored.

"We humbly concur with Your Majesty in these Your wise and noble Sentiments. And we faithfully promise, that no Dangers shall deter us, nor any Artifices divert us, from doing all that is in our Power, to assist Your Majesty in carrying on the War, till You shall be enabled to procure such a Peace for Europe.

"Your Majesty is graciously pleased to encourage us with the Hopes of a glorious Campaign the next Year: And we humbly present our Thanks to Your Majesty, for having wisely and providently endeavoured to concert such Measures as, by the Goodness of God, may be a reasonable Foundation for those Hopes: And we assure Your Majesty, nothing on our Part shall be wanting, to make them effectual.

"We rest confident, that all Your Majesty's Allies, excited by Your Constancy and Courage, and fired by the Example of a Prince whom You have been pleased to mention in so honourable a Manner, will make their utmost Efforts, to carry on the Cause of Liberty, and bring this just and necessary War to a speedy and happy Conclusion.

"May it please Your Majesty,

"What You have already performed, and what You are still pursuing, for the Good of Christendom, discovers a Greatness of Mind, equal to the most heroic of Your Predecessors.

"But we, who have the Happiness to be Your Subjects, ought in the First Place to admire in Your Majesty that tender and indulgent Affection to Your People, which You have shewn from the Beginning of Your Reign; that earnest Desire to unite them among themselves, and to make them all easy, safe, and happy, under Your Government; that steady Zeal for the Church of England as by Law established, and that Compassion for those who are so unhappy as to dissent from her. All which Your Majesty having expressed at this Time in so gracious and moving a Manner, cannot but raise in us the most firm and lively Resolutions of promoting every Thing You have Thought fit to recommend.

"We assure Your Majesty, we will do all we can, to discountenance and defeat the Designs and Practices of those who foment Animosities among Your People; and will ever shew the utmost Detestation of those ungrateful and wicked Men, who labour to dishonour Your Majesty's Reign, and distract Your Subjects with unreasonable and groundless Jealousies of Dangers to the Church of England.

"We shall be ready to concur in all Measures requisite to put a Stop to the Malice of these Incendiaries. In the mean Time, we humbly advise and beseech Your Majesty to require and command Your Officers and Ministers, to whom that Part belongs, that they prosecute and punish them with the utmost Rigour of Law, as the most spiteful and dangerous Enemies to the Church and State.

"Your Majesty's Example is the shining Ornament of our Church, which, under the Influence of Your happy Government, increases in Honour and Esteem, not only at Home, but Abroad. Your unexampled Bounty for the Relief of the wanting Clergy (which has been justly and universally acknowledged and celebrated) is an undeniable Evidence of Your Concern for the Dignity and Honour of the Church; and Your Majesty's Care to lay hold of every Opportunity of declaring it from the Throne, makes it impossible for any of Your Subjects to entertain a real Doubt of Your Zeal for the Support of the Church as by Law established.

"We beg Leave to offer to Your Majesty our most sincere Assurances, that we will not be wanting in our utmost Endeavours to reconcile and unite all Your Subjects, and to extinguish those unhappy Animosities which have too much prevailed among us; the effecting whereof seems to be the only Happiness wanting to complete the Blessings of Your Reign, which we pray God may long continue; and that You may see the Fruit of all Your Majesty's gracious Admonitions to Your Subjects, in their hearty and entire Union; and the happy Effects of all Your great Designs Abroad, in the well-established Peace and Liberty of Europe."

To which the House agreed.

House to attend Her Majesty.

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

It is Ordered, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Lord Privy Seal do humbly attend Her Majesty, to know what Time Her Majesty will be pleased to appoint, for this House to attend Her, with their Address agreed to this Day.

Lambe versus Jackson, in Error.

The Master of the Rolls being indisposed; Sir John Francklin, One of the Masters in Chancery, (with Leave of the House) brought up a Writ of Error, in the usual Manner, wherein

William Lambe Esquire is Plaintiff, and James Jackson is Defendant.

Adjourn.

Dominus Custos Magni Sigilli declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque ad et in diem Jovis, (videlicet,) primum diem Novembris jam prox. futur. hora undecima Auroræ, Dominis sic decernentibus.