House of Lords Journal Volume 16: 15 May 1701

DIE Jovis, 15 Maii.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

PRAYERS.

Purchase versus Ld. Hereford and Wilkinson.

The Lord Viscount Longueville reported from the Lords Committees for Privileges, to whom was referred the Petition of Samuel Purchase; complaining of a Protection given by the Lord Viscount Hereford to John Wilkinson, "That they had heard Counsel, as ordered to this Point, "Whether Wilkinson is a Trustee or not?" And the Committee is of Opinion, That he is no Trustee, and therefore ought to be allowed Privilege."

To which the House agreed.

Petition rejected.

It is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the said Petition of Samuel Purchase shall be, and is hereby, rejected.

Answer from H. C.

The Messengers sent to the House of Commons for a Conference return Answer:

That the Commons will give a Conference, as desired.

Conference about King's Bench and Fleet Prisons, Bill.

ORDERED, That the Lords following be Managers of the Conference; (videlicet,)

The Lord Keeper reported His Majesty's Answer to the Address, as followeth; (videlicet,)

King's Answer to the Address, concerning the Letter from The States General:

"My Lords,

"I thank you for the Expressions you make of your Duty and Zeal to My Service, and the Concern you shew for the imminent Danger to which The States Generall are at present exposed. I shall take into Consideration your Desires to Me, of entering into new Measures with them, and other Princes and States, for our common Preservation; and you may be sure, it shall be always My Care, to make such Alliances with our Neighbours, as may tend to our own and their greater Security; which will be the most effectual Means to raise the Honour of the English Nation in our Days to the Reputation it hath maintained in any former Times."

Address and Answer to be printed.

It is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England do give Order, that the Address of this House, presented to His Majesty Yesterday, and His Majesty's most Gracious Answer thereunto, be forthwith printed and published.

Privilege Bill.

Hodie 2^a vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act for preventing any Inconveniencies that may happen by Privilege of Parliament."

ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the said Bill, and also the Bill, intituled, "An Act for the greater Ease of the Subject in recovering their just Debts," shall be committed to a Committee of the whole House, To-morrow; and that One Judge of each Bench do then attend.

Message to H. C. with the E. of Orford's Answer.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir Richard Holford and Mr. Pitt:

To carry down a Copy of the Earl of Orford's Answer to the Articles of Impeachment against him.

Conference on the King's Bench and Fleet Prison, Bill.

The Commons being come to the Conference, the Managers Names were read.

Then the House was adjourned during Pleasure, and the Lords went to the Conference.

Which being ended, the House was resumed.

And the Lord Viscount Longueville reported, "That the Lords had attended the Conference, as commanded; and delivered the Bill, with the Amendments, to the Commons; and also their Lordships Reasons for those Amendments."

Message to H. C. to remind them of the Lords impeached.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir Richard Holford and Mr. Pitt:

To acquaint them, "That they having, on the First Day of April last, sent up to their Lordships an Impeachment against William Earl of Portland, for high Crimes and Misdemeanors; and having also, on the Fifteenth Day of the same Month, severally impeached John Lord Sommers and Charles Lord Halifax of high Crimes and Misdemeanors; their Lordships think themselves obliged to put them in Mind, that as yet no particular Articles have been exhibited against the said Lords; which, after Impeachments have been so long depending, is due in Justice to the Persons concerned, and agreeable to the Methods of Parliament in such Cases."

St. Leger et al. Nat. Bill.

Upon reading the Petition of Thomas St. Leger de Bacalon and others; praying to be added to a Bill of Naturalization:

It is ORDERED, That the Petitioners may be added to a Bill of Naturalization, as desired.

Answer from H. C. concerning Lords impeached.

The Messengers sent to the House of Commons return Answer; (videlicet,)

"That the Articles against William Earl of Portland, John Lord Sommers, and Charles Lord Halifax, are preparing; and, in a short Time, their House will send them up to the House of Lords."

Letters from the King to Lords Justices about the Meeting of Parliament.

Mr. Yard attending at the Door, as ordered Yesterday, and being called in, delivered, at the Table, Abstracts of all such Letters as passed last Summer, between Mr. Blathwayte and himself, relating to the Parliament.

And, being withdrawn, he was, after some Time, called in again; and being asked for the original Letters, the same were delivered to the Lord Keeper; who, by Direction of the House, perused each Letter, as the Clerk read the Abstract thereof.

After some Time, Mr. Yard, being called in, was asked, "What Minutes were taken at the Council, upon the Receipt of Mr. Blathwayt's Letter, 26/15 October last?"

He answered, "The very same as in the Abstract is set down."

And being asked, "What Directions were given for a Proclamation, pursuant to the Answers to the Lords Justices?"

He said, "He knew not."

And withdrew.

Motion, that it was the King's Intention it should meet in November, and that the Advice for delaying it beyond December was dangerous, &c.

Then the House being moved, "To declare, that it appears to this House, by the Letters now read, that it was His Majesty's Opinion, that the Parliament should meet, and fit to do Business, on the Twentieth of November One Thousand Seven Hundred;" and Debate thereupon:

This Question was proposed, "That it doth appear to this House, by Mr. Blathwayt's Letter of the Seventh and Eleventh of October last, that it was His Majesty's Opinion, that the Parliament ought to have met, and (fn. 1) sit, on the Twentieth of November last, to do Business?"

After Debate;

The previous Question was put, "Whether this Question shall be put?"

It was Resolved in the Negative.

Then it being moved, "To declare, That the Advices given to the King, to delay the Meeting of a Parliament, was very prejudicial to the Interest of England:"

And it being also proposed, "To declare, That the proroguing of the Parliament beyond the Four and Twentieth of December last (after which Time there was no Provision made for the Guards and Garrisons) was prejudicial to the Bill of Rights:"

And Debate thereupon:

The House was moved, "To adjourn."

Then this Question was put, "Whether this House shall be now adjourned?"

It was Resolved in the Affirmative.

Adjourn.

Dominus Custos Magni Sigilli declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque ad et in diem Veneris, (videlicet,) decimum sextum diem instantis Maii, hora undecima Auroræ, Dominis sic decernentibus.

Mercurii, 25° Junii, 1701, Hitherto examined by us,

Warrington.
Dartmouth.
Jeffreys.