House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 31 January 1694

Mercurii, 31 die Januarii;

5° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Representation presented.

MR. Speaker reported to the House, That he did, upon Monday last, present to his Majesty their humble Representation: And that his Majesty was pleased to answer in this manner; viz.

Gentlemen,

I will consider of your Representation; and will give you a speedy Answer: And I desire you to meet me here on Wednesday Morning at Ten a Clock.

Dr. Birch thanked.

Ordered, That the Thanks of this House be given to Doctor Birch, for the Sermon by him preached before this House Yesterday at St. Margarett's, Westminster: And that he be desired to print the same: And that Sir Tho. Dyke and Mr. Hungerford do acquaint him therewith.

And then the House adjourned until Eleven a Clock this Morning, in order to attend his Majesty.

The House being returned;

Answer to Representation.

Mr. Speaker reported, That they having attended his Majesty, his Majesty had been pleased to give an Answer to their humble Representation: And that his Majesty had been pleased to deliver him the Paper out of which his Majesty read the same: Which Mr. Speaker read to the House; and is as followeth; viz.

Gentlemen,

I am very sensible of the good Affections you have expressed to me upon many Occasions, and of the Zeal you have shewn for our common Interest: I shall make use of this Opportunity to tell you, That no Prince ever had a higher Esteem for the Constitution of the English Government than myself; and that I shall ever have a great Regard to the Advice of Parliaments. I am persuaded, that nothing can so much conduce to the Happiness and Welfare of this Kingdom, as an entire Confidence between the King and People; which I shall, by all means, endeavour to preserve: And I assure you, I shall look upon such Persons to be my Enemies, who shall advise any thing that may lessen it.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning at Eleven a Clock, take into Consideration his Majesty's gracious Answer.

Arundell Election.

A Petition of John Cook Esquire was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, on the 20th Instant, the Petitioner was duly chosen a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Arundell, in the County of Sussex, in the room of Wm. Morley Esquire, deceased; yet the Mayor of the said Town, who committed divers Irregularities in the Election, hath returned the Honourable the Lord Walden as duly elected: And praying Relief in the Premises, as this House shall think meet.

Ordered, That the Examination and Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections: And that they do report the Matter, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That no Motion be made for Leave for any Member to go out of Town, but only between the Hours of Twelve, and One a Clock.

Protestants Nat.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Saturday Morning next, at Eleven a Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for the Naturalization of all such Protestants as shall take the Oaths to their Majesties, and the Test against Popery.

Irish Forfeitures.

Ordered, That the Bill to vest the forfeited Estates in Ireland in their Majesties, to be applied to the Use of the War, be read the Second time To-morrow Morning.

English Forfeitures.

Ordered, That the Bill to vest the forfeited Estates in England in their Majesties, to be applied to the Use of the War, be read a Second time upon Friday Morning next.

Disfranchising Stockbridge Borough.

Ordered, That the Bill to disable the Borough of Stockbridge, in the County of Southampton, from sending Burgesses to serve in Parliament for the future, be read the Second time upon Monday Morning next.

Ways and Means.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of Ways and Means for raising the Supplies to be granted to their Majesties, for the Maintenance of the Fleet, and Land-Forces, for the Service of the Year 1694.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.
Sir John Guise took the Chair of the Committee.
Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Sir John Guise reported from the said Committee, That they had come to several Resolutions, in order to the raising of Ten hundred thousand Pounds upon a Fund to be settled for the Payment of perpetual Interest, redeemable by Parliament; which they had directed him to report, when the House would please to receive the same.

Ordered, That the said Report be made To-morrow Morning.

Sir John Guise also acquainted the House, That the Committee had directed him to move, That they may have Leave to sit again.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Friday Morning next, at Eleven a Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further of Ways and Means for raising the Supplies to be granted to their Majesties, for the Maintenance of the Fleet, and Land Forces, for the Service of the Year 1694.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.

Committees.

And then the House adjourned till To-morrow Morning, Nine a Clock.