House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 9 November 1678

Sabbati, 9 die Novembris, 1678.

Prayers.

Coleman's Papers.

MR. Secretary Coventry informs the House, That his Majesty having been made acquainted, that there is an Address depending before the House of Lords, to be presented to his Majesty, for the Printing of Mr. Coleman's Letter of the Twenty-ninth of September 1675, to Mons. Le Cheze's; and another Letter of Mr. Coleman's owning the Sending the same; and Mons. Le Cheze's Answer, acknowledging the Receipt thereof; and that those Letters have not, as yet, been read in the House of Lords; and that it was his Majesty's Pleasure, if this House had done with the Letters, that the same should be returned; to the end they may be communicated to the Lords;

Resolved, &c. That the said Letters be delivered back to the Clerk of the Council.

Message to attend the King.

A Message from the King, by Sir Edward Carteret, Usher of the Black Rod;

Mr. Speaker,

The King commands this honourable House to attend Him immediately in the House of Lords.

And accordingly, Mr. Speaker, with the House, went up to attend his Majesty.

The House being returned;

The King's Speech respecting the Succession.

Mr. Speaker reports, That he had attended his Majesty: And that his Majesty was pleased to make use of his Paper; and that it was so full of Grace, and such Expressions of Favour in it, that he was unwilling One Syllable of it should be lost; and he had therefore procured a Copy of it: Which he read to the House; and is as followeth;

My Lords and Gentlemen,

I AM so very sensible of the great and extraordinary Care you have already taken, and still continue to shew, for the Safety and Preservation of My Person in these Times of Danger, that I could not satisfy Myself without coming hither, on Purpose, to give All, my most hearty Thanks for it: Nor do I think it enough to give you my Thanks only, but I hold Myself obliged to let you see, withal, that I do as much study your Preservation too, as I can possibly; and that I am as ready to join with you in all the Ways and Means that may establish a firm Security of the Protestant Religion, as your own Hearts can wish: And This not only during My Time (of which I am sure you have no Fear), but in all future Ages, even to the End of the World.

And therefore I am come to assure you, That whatsoever reasonable Bills you shall present to be passed into Laws, to make you safe in the Reign of my Successor, so as they tend not to impeach the Right of Succession, nor the Descent of the Crown in the true Line; and so as they restrain not my Power; nor the just Rights of any Protestant Successor; shall find from Me a ready Concurrence.

And I desire you, withal, to think of some more effectual Means for the Conviction of Popish Recusants; and to expedite your Counsels as fast as you can; that the World may see our Unanimity; and that I may have the Opportunity of shewing you, how ready I am to do any thing that may give Comfort and Satisfaction to such Dutiful and Loyal Subjects.

Thanks for Speech.

Resolved, &c. That the humble and hearty Thanks of this House be returned to his Majesty, for his most Gracious Speech this Day made to both Houses of Parliament.

Resolved, That this House will go in a Body to his Majesty, to give him their Thanks.

Ordered, That the Members of this House, who are of his Majesty's Privy Council, be desired to know his Majesty's Pleasure, when this House may attend him.

Speech to be considered.

Resolved, &c. That this House will, on Monday Morning next, take his Majesty's Speech into Consideration.

Papers seized.

The House being informed, That several Papers belonging to one Mons. Tortereux, a Papist, were seized;

Resolved, &c. That a Committee be appointed to examine the said Papers.

And it is referred to Sir Rich. Everard, Sir Tho. Stringer, Mr. Wright, Mr. Powle, Sir Tho. Meeres, Sir Wm. Hickman, Col. Titus, Sir Tho. Clerges, Sir Trevor Williams, Sir Geo. Downing, Col. Birch, Serjeant Gregory, Sir John Knight, Sir Fr. Russel; or any Three of them.

Commissions for administering Oaths.

A Complaint being made, that the Commissions for taking the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy are not issued forth, pursuant to his Majesty's Proclamation;

Ordered, That the Clerk of the Crown do attend this Afternoon with the said Commissions.

King appoints to be attended.

Mr. Secretary Williamson acquaints the House, That, in pursuance of the Order of the House, he had attended his Majesty; to know his Pleasure when this House may attend him with their Thanks: And that his Majesty had appointed Three of the Clock this Afternoon, for this House to attend him in the Banqueting House.

Address for apprehending Conyers, &c.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Andrew Hackett and Sir Samuel Clerke;

Mr. Speaker, The Lords have agreed to the last Address, with some Amendments: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

The House then proceeded to the Consideration of the said Amendments.

The First Amendment, being for filling up the Blank with the Words "the Lords Spiritual and Temporal," was twice read; and, upon the Question, agreed.

The Second Amendment being, to leave out Thomas Bedingfeild, and to put in "Charles Walsh, * La Fevre, * Pritchard," was twice read; and, upon the Question, agreed.

Resolved, &c. That Sir Jos. Tredenham do go up to the Lords; and acquaint them, That this House has agreed to the Amendments made by their Lordships to the said Address.

Bedlow to attend.

Ordered, That Mr. Bedlow be summoned to attend at the Bar of this House, at Four of the Clock in the Afternoon.

And then the House adjourned till Three of the Clock in the Afternoon.

Post Meridiem.

Answer to Address.

THE House, being met, went to the Banqueting House at Whitehall, to attend his Majesty;

And being returned;

Mr. Speaker reports, That he had attended his Majesty: And that, after he had given his Majesty the humble and hearty Thanks of this House, his Majesty was pleased to return this Answer:

Gentlemen,

It shall always be My Study to preserve the Protestant Religion; and to advance and support the Interest of My People.

Answer to Address for Prayer.

Mr. Secretary Williamson acquaints the House, That, in pursuance of the Order of the House, his Majesty had been attended with the Address of this House for a particular Prayer, to be composed for the Cities of London and Westminster, relating to the Plot and Conspiracy, contrived and carried on by the Popish Recusants, against his Majesty's Person and Government: That his Majesty was pleased to signify his Pleasure, That the same should be done: And that Orders were given to the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury accordingly.

Commissions for administering Oaths.

The Clerk of the Crown was then called in; and examined, touching the Issuing-forth of the Commissions for administring the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy.

Resolved, That a Conference be desired with the Lords concerning the not Issuing out the Commissions for administering the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, pursuant to his Majesty's Proclamation.

Ordered, That it be referred to Mr. Sachaverell, Mr. Powle, Sir Tho. Meeres, Sir John Trevor, Colonel Titus, Colonel Birch, Sir Hen. Capell, Sir Char. Harbord, Sir Tho. Lee, Sir Fr. Russell, or any Three of them, to prepare and draw up the Matter to be offered at the said Conference.

Ordered, That Mr. Waller do go up to the Lords, to desire the Conference.

Mr. Waller acquaints the House, That the Lords had agreed to a Conference on Monday Morning, Ten of the Clock, in the Painted Chamber.

Bedlow to attend.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. Bedlow be summoned to attend at the Bar of the House To-morrow at Four of the Clock in the Afternoon.

And then the House adjourned till To-morrow, Four of the Clock in the Afternoon.