House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 13 January 1674

Martis, 13 die Januarii, 1673.

Prayers.

King appoints to be attended.

MR. Secretary Coventry reports, That his Majesty had appointed the House to attend him at Three of the Clock this Afternoon, in the Banqueting-house, at Whitehall, with their Addresses.

Privilege.

A Complaint being made of a Breach of Privilege committed against Mr. Mallet, a Member of this House, by John Bulton and James Clarke, Bailiffs, for distraining the Horse of Wm. Castle his Tenant.

Ordered, That the Matter be referred to the Committee of Privileges, to examine the Matter of Breach of Privilege; and report it, with their Opinions therein, to the House.

Committee for Journals.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to inspect and peruse the Journals of this House, to see if they be mistaken, and wherein, and to rectify the same; and report the Matter to the House, as they shall see Cause: And it is referred to Mr. Sacheverell, Sir Thom. Meeres, Sir Wm. Lowther, Mr. Sawyer, Mr. Powle, Sir John Coventry, Sir Thom. Lee, Sir Edward Deering, Sir Charles Harbord, Sir John Birkenhead, Lord Cornbury, Mr. Garaway, or any Three of them: And they are to meet every Saturday in the Afternoon, and to make Report on Monday following, as they shall see Cause.

Address against the Duke of Lauderdale.

A Debate arising in the House, touching the Duke of Lauderdale; and certain Matters being averred against him, of endeavouring to infringe the Laws of the Land, and introducing arbitrary Government; and, in particular the Declaration of Indulgence against the Acts for Conformity, and suppressing Conventicles; expressing himself before the King and Council, in these Words, viz.

"Your Majesty's Edicts ought to be obeyed; for Your Majesty's Edicts are equal with the Laws, and ought to be observed, in the first Place."

Which Words, being testified against him by several Members of the House;

Resolved, nemine contradicente, That an Address be presented to his Majesty to remove the Duke of Lauderdale from all his Employments, and from his Presence and Councils for ever; being a Person obnoxious and dangerous to the Government.

Duke of Buckingham desires to give Information.

A Debate being in the House, touching the Duke of Buckingham; and a Letter being sent by him to Mr. Speaker, and read in the House: which Letter is as followeth;

Mr. Speaker,

I desire you to do me the Favour to get Leave of the honourable House of Commons, that I may inform them, in Person, of some Truths relating to the Publick: by which you will much oblige,

January 13, 1673.

Directed: For the Right honourable the Speaker of the House of Commons.

Sir,
Your most humble and most faithful Servant, Buckingham.

And the Duke being called in, and heard;

Resolved, &c. That the Debate of the Matter, touching the Duke of Buckingham, be adjourned till To-morrow Morning, Ten of the Clock.

Addresses presented.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Timothy Baldwin Sir Will. Beversham;

Mr. Speaker; The Lords have commanded us to acquaint you, That his Majesty had appointed both Houses to attend him in the Banquetting-house, at Whitehall, at Three of the Clock in the Afternoon, to present their Petition for a General Fast.

And then Mr. Speaker, with the House, went to Whitehall, to attend his Majesty with the Addresses.

Mr. Speaker, with the House, returning;

Mr. Speaker reports, That, in Obedience to their Commands, he had presented the Addresses to his Majesty: And that his Majesty was pleased to return Answer to this Effect;

King's Answer.

That He was always ready to preserve them in their Liberties and Properties, and to secure the Protestant Religion; and would take care the Militia should be in Readiness, upon all Occasions, to secure the Government.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees, that were to sit this Afternoon, be adjourned.

And then the House adjourned till To-morrow Morning, Ten of the Clock.