House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 31 January 1678

Jovis, 31 die Januarii , 1677.

Bedell's Estate.

MR. Crouch reports from the Committee to whom the Bill, sent from the Lords, to enable Trustees to sell certain Manors and Lands of Edward Bedell, for Payment of Debts, and raising of Portions for Diana, Isabella, and Ann Bedell, Infants, Daughters of the said Edward Bedell, was committed; That they had carefully perused the Settlements mentioned in the Bill; and examined all the Parties concerned therein, and found them consenting thereunto; and had returned the said Bill without any Amendment.

The said Bill was then read the Third time.

Resolved, &c. That the said Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for the Vesting of certain Manors and Lands of Edward Bedell, of Woodrising in the County of Norfolke, Esquire, in certain Trustees, to be sold for Payment of his Debts, and for raising of Portions for Diana Bedell, Isabella Bedell, and Ann Bedell, Infants, Daughters of the said Edward Bedell; and for such other Children as shall hereafter be begotten by the said Edward Bedell upon the Body of Isabella Bedell his now Wife.

Newarke Election.

A Petition of Penniston Whalley Esquire, concerning the Election for Newarke, being tendered;

And a Question arising, Whether the same be preferred within the Time limited by the Order of the House, or not;

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Elections and Privileges, to examine whether the said Petition be preferred within Time or not.

Privilege.

A Complaint being made of a Breach of Privilege, committed upon Sir Metcalfe Robinson and Sir William Frankland, two of the Members of this House, by one Leonard Crosby, an Officer employed about collecting the Duty of Hearth Money; in serving them with Process, and summoning them to attend the King's Bench Court, during the Sitting and Privilege of Parliament;

Ordered, That the said Leonard Crosby be sent for in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, to answer his Breach of Privilege committed upon Sir Metcalfe Robinson and Sir William Frankland, Two of the Members of this House; in serving them with Process, and summoning them to attend the King's Bench Court, during the Sitting and Privilege of Parliament.

Privilege- Assault of a Member.

A Complaint being made of a Breach of Privilege, committed upon Mr. Hall, a Member of this House, by Robert Beach, an Attorney of Woolley in the Parish of Bradford in the County of Wiltshire, and Simon Deverell, a Bailiff of Bradford aforesaid; in assaulting and wounding the said Mr. Hall, and his Servant; and threatening to do him further Mischief; during the Sitting and Privilege of Parliament;

Ordered, That the said Robert Beach and Simon Deverell be sent for in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, to answer their Breach of Privilege, committed against Mr. Hall, a Member of this House; in assaulting and wounding the said Mr. Hall, and his Servant; and threatening to do him further Mischief; during the Sitting and Privilege of this House.

Privilege.

A Complaint being made of a Breach of Privilege, committed upon Mr. Pierpoint, a Member of this House, by Robert Johnson, and Thomas Pace, Two of the Officers employed in collecting the Duty of Hearth Money; in serving him, during the Sitting and Privilege of Parliament, with an Order to attend the Council Board, upon a Complaint there made against him by the said Robert Johnson and Thomas Pace, for giving Judgment as a Justice of the Peace, in a Case concerning the Duty of Hearth Money;

Ordered, That the said Robert Johnson and Thomas Pace be sent for in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, to answer their Breach of Privilege, committed against Mr. Pierpoint, a Member of this House; in serving him, during the Sitting and Privilege of Parliament with an Order to attend the Council Board, upon a Complaint there made against him by the said Robert Johnson and Thomas Pace, for giving Judgment as a Justice of the Peace, in a Case concerning the Duty of Hearth Money.

Bills sent from Lords.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Andrew Hackett and Sir William Beversham;

Mr. Speaker, The House of Lords have commanded us to attend you with these Two Bills; the one intituled, An Act to prevent clandestine and irregular Marriages; and the other intituled, An Act concerning Baptism and Catechizing: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

Address on King's Speech.

Mr. Powell reports from the Committee to whom it was referred to prepare and draw up an Address to be presented to his Majesty, containing the Thanks of this House for his great Care of the Protestant Religion; and humbly to beseech his Majesty not to admit of any Treaty of Peace but such a one as leaves the French King in no better State and Condition to offend his Neighbours, than he is left in by the Pyrenean Treaty; according to the Order of this House on Tuesday last; That the Committee had prepared the Form of an Address: Which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same was again read:

And the same Address being again read by Mr. Speaker;

And the Question put, To agree with the said Committee, in every Paragraph thereof, severally;

The same was severally agreed to.

A Clause being propounded to be added to the last Paragraph but one of the said Address, was, upon the Question, agreed to: Which Address, so amended, is as followeth; viz.

WE Your Majesty's most humble and loyal Subjects the Commons in this present Parliament assembled, do, in all Duty and Gratitude, render our most humble Thanks to Your Most Sacred Majesty, for the great Care Your Majesty hath expressed for the Preservation and Encouragement of the Protestant Religion, by concluding a Marriage between the Lady Mary, Your Majesty's Niece, and the Prince of Orange; being a Prince professing the same Religion with us, and engaged in Arms for the Defence of the Common Cause of Christendom: For the promoting of which we do, in all Humility, and with the highest Zeal to Your Majesty's Honour, and the Safety of Your People, beseech Your Majesty not to admit of any Treaty of Peace, whereby the French King shall be left in the Possession of any larger Dominions and Territories, or of any greater Power, than what he retained by the Pyrenean Treaty: Less than Which, we conceive, cannot secure Your Majesty's Kingdoms, and the rest of Europe, from the Growth and Power of the said King; but that he alone may be able to disturb the Peace thereof, whensoever he is minded to attempt it; the Places reserved by That Treaty to the King of Spain, in the Netherlands, being advantageous, as well by the Vicinity of some important Towns and Garisons to the Kingdom of France, as by the Extent of the Territory. And we do most humbly desire, That in all Treaties, Articles, and Confederations, in order to the obtaining that End, Your Majesty would be pleased to provide, that none of the Parties that shall join with Your Majesty in making War for that Purpose, may lay down their Arms, or depart from their Alliances, until the said King be reduced at least to the said Treaty: And we do further desire, as one of the most effectual Means to obtain those Ends, That it may be agreed between Your Majesty and the Confederates, That neither ourselves, nor any of them, shall hold any Commerce or Trade with the French King, or his Subjects, during such War; and that no Commodity of the Growth, Product, or Manufacture of France, or of any of the Territories or Dominions of the French King, be admitted to be brought into Your Majesty's or any of their Countries and Dominions, either by Land or Sea; or to be sold within the same; but that they be seized and destroyed wheresoever they be found; and Days to be limited for the same, in as short time as the Nature of such Affairs will permit: And that in all Treaties, Articles, and Confederations, made in order to or for the Prosecution of such War, it may be agreed and declared, that no Vessel of any Nation whatsoever shall be permitted to enter into or come out of the Ports of France, but that the Ship and Men shall be seized, and the Goods destroyed.

We do therefore most humbly desire Your Majesty to proceed in making such Alliances and Confederations, as shall be necessary for the attaining those Ends: And though we believe your Majesty can never doubt of the Affections of Your People, yet, upon this Occasion, we do, with all Alacrity, and with one unanimous Consent, renew our former Promises and Engagements: Beseeching Your Majesty to rest confidently assured of our Perseverance in the Prosecution of the said War; and that, when Your Majesty shall please to impart such Alliances and Confederations to us in Parliament, we shall, upon all Occasions, give Your Majesty such ready Assistances and Supports, as may, by the Blessing of God, bring the said War to a happy Conclusion.

Resolved, &c. That the said Address, so amended, shall be presented by this House to his Majesty: And such of the Members of this House, as are of his Majesty's Privy Council, are desired to know his Majesty's Pleasure when he will be attended therewith.

Committees.

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

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