The Pension Bill (1731): A copy

A Copy of the PENSION-BILL, passed by the House of Commons, and rejected by the House of Lords. [See Vol. II. p. 81.]

May it please Your most Excellent Majesty,

'THAT it may be enacted, and be it enacted by the King's most excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same, That from and after the 24th Day of June 1731, no Person, who shall be elected a Member to serve in the House of Commons, shall vote or fit in the said House, during any Debate there, after their Speaker is chosen, until such Member shall from time to time, and in manner following, first take the Oath herein after mentioned, and subscribe the same in a Parchment Roll, to be provided by the Clerk of the House of Commons for that Purpose, viz.

I A. B. do solemnly and sincerely swear, that I have not directly or indirectly any Pension during Pleasure, or for any Number of Years, from the Crown, nor any Office in Part, or in the Whole, from the Crown, held for me, or for my Benefit, by any Person whatsoever: And I do solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, that. I will not receive, accept, or take, directly or indirectly, during the Time of my being a Member of this Parliament, any Pension during Pleasure, or for any Number of Years, or any other Gratuity or Reward whatsoever, or any Office from the Crown, to be held for me, or for my Benefit, in Part, or in the Whole thereof, by any Person whatsoever, without signifying the same to this House, within fourteen Days after I have received or accepted the same, if the Parliament be then sitting, or within fourteen Days after the next Meeting of the Parliament. So help me God.

Which said Oath shall be in this and every succeeding Parliament, solemnly and publicly taken and subscribed by every such Member of the House of Commons, at the Table in the Middle of the said House, at the same Time that he takes the other Oaths by Law directed to be taken, whilst a full House of Commons is there duly sitting with their Speaker in his Chair.

And be it further enacted, that if any Member so taking the Oath, and subscribing as before directed, shall, at the Time of taking the said Oath, have any Pension during Pleasure, or for any Number of Years, or any Office from the Crown, in Part, or in the Whole, held in Trust for him, or for his Benefit, or shall, during his being a Member of Parliament, accept, receive, or take any Pension during Pleasure, or for any Number of Years, or any other Gratuity or Reward whatsoever, or any Office in Part, or in the Whole, to be held for him, or for his Benefit, from the Crown, without signifying the same to the House, as aforesaid, such Member shall be, and is hereby adjudged and declared to be guilty of wilful any corrupt Perjury, and being thereof convicted by due Course of Law, shall incur and suffer the Pains and Penalties which by the Laws and Statutes of this Realm are inflicted in Cases of wilful and corrupt Perjury, and shall from thenceforth be incapable of taking, holding, or enjoying any Office whatsoever.

And be it further enacted, that if any Member elected as aforesaid, shall refuse or neglect to take and subscribe the Oath as before directed, the Place for which such Member was elected, is hereby, without any other Conviction or Proceeding, declared void to all Intents and Purposes, as if such Member was naturally dead.

And be it further enacted, that in Case any Member shall presume to fit or vote in the House of Commons, after the Speaker is chosen, without taking and subscribing the Oath herein before mentioned, such Member shall forseit the Sum of thirty Pounds for each Day he shall fit and vote as aforesaid, to be recovered and received, with full Costs of Suit, by him or them who shall sue for the same, and to be prosecuted by any Action, Suit-Bill, Plaint, or Information, in any of his Majesty's Courts of Record at Westminster, wherein no Essoign, Protection, Wager of Law, or more than one Imparlance shall be admitted or allowed; and shall from thenceforth be incapable of taking, holding, or enjoying any Office or Employment of Profit or Trust under his Majesty, his Heirs or Successors.

Provided always, and it is hereby declared and enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That no Person shall be made liable to any Disability, Incapacity, Forfeiture or Penalty by this Act laid or imposed, unless Prosecution be commenced within one Year next after the Dissolution, or other Determination of the Parliament, in which such Disability, Incapacity, Forfeiture, or Penalty shall be incurred; or, in Case of a Prosecution, unless the same be carry'd on without wilful Delay, any Thing herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding.