House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 7 December 1678

Sabbati, 7 die Decembris, 1678.

Prayers.

Answer to Address.

MR. Speaker acquaints the House, That he was present, when the Address of this House concerning Mr. Oates was delivered to his Majesty: And that his Majesty was pleased to declare, That He thought He had made that Provision for Mr. Oates, that would rather be an Encouragement to any other Person to come in, than a Discouragement to Mr. Oates: And, that his Majesty was pleased to declare, That Mr. Oates should have free Liberty to converse with any Person in private; and that the Guards should be for the Security of his Person only.

That he had likewise acquainted his Majesty (although it was not by Order of the House) of the Entry that was made of his Majesty's Answer to the Address, concerning the calling over the Forces out of Flanders: And that his Majesty was pleased to declare, That He never gave any Order for such Answer: but that his Majesty's Intention was only in relation to the Forces that were in Flanders; and that Circumstances, as to those Forces, were altered since that time; and that his Majesty had already given Orders, Five Days since, for calling of them over, in order to their Disbanding.

Popish Recusants.

A Bill for the more easy and speedy Conviction of Popish Recusants, and for the more effectual putting in Execution the Laws against them, was read the Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Williams, Sir Anth. Irby, Sir Gervas Elwes, Col. Titus, Mr. Finch, Sir Gilbert Gerrard, Sir John Hobart, Sir John Trevor, Mr. Buscowen, Sir Henry Capell, Sir Robert Sawyer, Mr. Wright, Sir Edm. Jennings, Mr. Sachaverell, Sir Courtny Poole, Sir John Hotham, Sir Thomas Littleton, Sir Joseph Tredenham, Mr. Davies, Mr. Hamden, Mr. Spry, Mr. Crouch, Sir Nich. Carew, Col. Birch, Master of the Rolls, Mr. Stanhop, Mr. Waller, Sir Tho. Meeres, Sir John Holland, Sir John Knight, Sir Charles Harbord, Mr. Powle, Serjeant Gregory, Mr. Papillon.

Resolved, That the said Committee do bring in a Clause, That, if any Popish Recusant convict shall receive any Commission, he shall be deemed a Felon; and shall be pursued, apprehended, and prosecuted, as such.

Resolved, That a Clause be brought in, That all Commissions granted, or to be granted, to Popish Recusants convict, shall be declared void.

Resolved, That a Clause be brought in, That all Foreigners, that shall receive Commissions, or appear in Arms, shall be in the same State and Condition as Popish Recusants convict receiving Commissions, or appearing in arms, as aforesaid.

Resolved, That a Clause be brought in, That such Offenders shall not be pardoned, but by Act of Parliament for that Purpose.

Army Arrears.

Colonel Birch reports from the Committee appointed to take an Account of what has been paid to the Forces that are to be disbanded, That the Committee had agreed upon a Report to be made to the House: Which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: And is as followeth:

Resolved, That it be reported to the House, That, by the Accounts delivered them by Mr. Kingdome Paymaster of the Army, it appears, That, upon the First Day of January next, there will be due to the Forces now to be disbanded, whether in England, or beyond the Seas, the Sum of One hundred Forty-eight thousand Six hundred Eighty-six Pounds Eight Shillings and Two-pence.

Resolved, That it be reported to the House, That, in this Sum, the Cloaths delivered to the Soldiers (whether Horse or Foot) for Eight Months, will be discounted, and paid for by the Soldier to his Officer who stands engaged for them, so that the Foot Soldier, at the same time of his disbanding, will receive only Six-pence a Day; and the Horse and Dragoons their several Proportions; the rest being set off, as it hath already been since the First of May last, towards Payment of their Cloaths respectively.

Resolved, That it be reported to the House, That, notwithstanding the Defalcations aforesaid, there will, on the First Day of January next, remain unpaid of the Cloaths One Third Part of the whole Sum, which was to have been defalked from the Soldiers in Twelve Months, had they stood so long; but, being continued only Eight Months, there will be unsatisfied the Sum of Thirty-three thousand Pounds; which the Officers do affirm to this Committee, they stand engaged for.

Resolved, That this House will, on Monday next, resolve into a Committee of the whole House: And that the Report, now made, be referred to the Consideration of the said Committee: And they are to consider of a Way for Raising of Money for disbanding the Army.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Timothy Baldwyn and Sir Andrew Hacket;

King appoints to be attended.

Mr. Speaker, We are commanded to acquaint you, That his Majesty has appointed both Houses to attend him at Three of the Clock this Afternoon, in the Banqueting-house, concerning the last Address.

Danger in case of a Popish Successor.

Resolved, That this House will, on Wednesday Morning next, resolve into a Committee of the whole House, to consider how to preserve the Protestant Religion, and Peace of the Kingdom, in case a Prince of another Religion should succeed.

And the House adjourned till Monday Morning, Eight a Clock.