House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 23 November 1695

Sabbati, 23 die Novembris;

Septimo Gulielmi Tertii.

Prayers.

Mr. Speaker approved of by the King.

THE House being met; and Mr. Speaker Elect having taken the Chair;

A Message was delivered, by Sir Fleetwood Shepherd, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod:

Mr. Speaker,

The King commands this Honourable House to attend him in the House of Peers, immediately.

Accordingly, Mr. Speaker Elect, with the House, went up to attend his Majesty, and to present their Speaker:

And Mr. Speaker spake thus;

May it please your Most Excellent Majesty.

The Commons of England, assembled in Parliament by your Majesty's Writ, having no Capacity to speak here, or act, according to the Course of Parliament, without a Speaker, have proceeded to the Choice of one, according to your Majesty's Command, thereby to sit themselves for the Service of your Majesty and your Kingdoms:

And, although they have Plenty of Choice of Members, every way more able and fit for this Employment than myself, they have determined their Choice on me; who am very sensible of my own Infirmities, and thereby Unfitness to transact such weighty Affairs as will be requisite to be determined this Session:

But not being able to prevail with them to excuse me, they here attend your Majesty, in full Parliament, to present me to your Majesty, as their Speaker; who am ready, with your Majesty's Approbation, to serve your Majesty and them to the utmost of my Ability.

Whereupon, the Right honourable the Lord Keeper acquainted the House, That his Majesty had been pleased to approve of the Choice they had made; and allowed of Mr. Foley to be Speaker.

Whereupon, Mr. Speaker returned his Majesty Thanks for his gracious Approbation, and Acceptance of his Service: And humbly prayed, in the Name of the Commons, That his Majesty would be graciously pleased to allow and confirm all their ancient Rights and Privileges; particularly, That they might have Liberty and Freedom of Speech in all their Debates; That their Persons, Estates, and Servants, might be free from Arrests and Troubles; That they might have Access to his Royal Person, as Occasion shall require; That his Majesty would have a gracious Opinion of all their Actions; and that, if himself at any time should mistake, he might have his Majesty's favourable Interpretation, and gracious Pardon.

Whereupon, the Lord Keeper, by his Majesty's Command said, That his Majesty was pleased to say, That he was fully assured of the Prudence and Discretion, as well as of the Affections, of his House of Commons; and that, as to the Suit made in their Name, his Majesty did most willingly grant to them all their Privileges, in as full a manner as they were ever granted by any of his Royal Predecessors.

Mr. Speaker, with the House, being returned;

He reported to the House, That his Majesty had been pleased to confirm their Choice; and to grant them all their Privileges, in as large a Manner as ever they were enjoyed by any House of Commons.

And, afterwards, Mr. Speaker returned the House his Thanks for the great Honour they had done him, in calling him to that Place; and desired their Assistance and Support, without which it would be impossible for him to answer their Expectation: And recommended to them,

That, in order to the good Management of this Sessions, they would please to come early in a Morning; for that a great Part of the Day had been formerly lost by Gentlemens coming late to the House; and that now there was great Reason to improve their Time, their being like to fall before them Matters of great Moment, and many disputed Elections; and, if they did not come early, there would be no Determination of those Matters, and the Persons concerned would be put to great Expences, of which formerly there had been great Complaints: Also, That they would give a due Regard to the Orders of the House;—The standing Orders, that were made by their Predecessors, upon great Experience, and grounded upon great Reason;—that if they once slighted and overthrew them, they might come to Confusion quickly: Also, That they would consult the Honour of the House; to the Dignity whereof, they owed very much of their Liberties and Properties in all times; left, by any Misbehaviour of theirs, they should bring the House into Contempt, and thereby endanger the making a Way for the Overthrow of their Constitution: Withal, begging their Pardon, That, out of a Zeal for their Service, he had put them in mind of those things.

Mr. Speaker and Members take Oaths.

Then the House proceeded to the taking the Oaths appointed in the First Year of the Reign of his Majesty and the late Queen Mary; and the making, repeating, and subscribing, the Declaration, directed by the Statute, made in the Thirtieth Year of the Reign of the late King Charles the Second, intituled, An Act for the more effectual preserving the King's Person and Government, by disabling Papists to sit in either House of Parliament:

And Mr. Speaker, first alone by himself in the Chair, and afterwards a great Number of the Members of the House, at the Table, did take the said Oaths; and made, repeated, and subscribed, the said Declaration.

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