House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 16 April 1679

Mercurii, 16 die Aprilis, 1679.

Prayers.

Committees.

ORDERED, That all Committees that are discontinued be revived; and do sit this Afternoon, in the Places formerly appointed.

Securing King, &c. against Popery.

A Bill for securing the King and Kingdom against the Growth and Danger of Popery, was read the Second time.

Resolved, &c. That the Bill be committed, upon the Debate of the House, to Sir Tho. Clarges, Sir Thomas Exton, Sir Wm. Courtney, Sir Wm. Coventry, Mr. Swinfen, Sir Trevor Williams, Serjeant Maynard, Mr. Boscawen, Sir Henry Capell, Sir Francis Drake, Sir Tho. Meres, Sir John Talbot, Sir John Hewley, Sir Wm. Hickman, Mr. Wogan, Master of the Rolls, Mr. Love, Sir Patience Ward, Mr. Browne, Sir John Knight, Serjeant Seys, Sir Nic. Pedley, Sir Henry Foord, Mr. Hamden, Colonel Birch, Mr. Onslow, Sir John Wynn, Sir Chr. Musgrave, Sir Sam. Bernardiston, Mr. Hopkins, Sir John Mallett, Sir George Hungerford, Mr. Mansell, Sir Gilbert Gerrard, Sir Anth. Irby, Sir Gervase Elwes, Mr. Papillon, Lord Cavendish, Mr. Pilkington, Sir Eliab Harvey, Sir Halswell Tynt, Mr. Upton, Sir Richard Head, Sir Nath. Herne, Mr. Aston, Sir Tho. Stringer, Mr. Wright, Colonel Titus, Mr. Stone, Mr. Morgan, Sir Walter Young, Mr. Mompesson, Sir Wm. Escourt, Mr. Grey, Sir Robert Peyton, Mr. Foley, Sir Walter Ernle, Mr. Duboys, Sir Phil. Egerton, Mr. Trenchard, Mr. Bockland, Mr. Sterne, Sir Franc. Winington, Sir William Poultney: And they are to meet To-morrow at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. George Savage, and Mr. Hide, have Leave to go into the Country for a Fortnight.

Ordered, That Mr. Webb have Leave to go into the Country.

Ordered, That Mr. Gresham have Leave to go into the Country.

Supply.

The House then resolved into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of a Supply to be given to his Majesty, for paying off and dismissing all the Forces now in Arms in this Kingdom, raised, or brought over from Foreign Parts, since the Twenty-ninth of September 1677.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Sir John Trevor took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Sir John Trevor reports from the said Committee, That the Committee had taken into their Consideration the Motion for a Supply to be given to his Majesty for disbanding the Forces: And understanding that there was a Message from the Lords attending in the Lobby, they commanded him to leave the Chair.

Earl Danby sent to the Tower.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Timothy Baldwyn and Sir John Hoskins;

Mr. Speaker, We are commanded by the Lords to acquaint this House, That the Earl of Danby having last Night rendered himself to the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, who brought him this Day to the Bar of their House, their Lordships have sent him to the Tower.

Supply.

Resolved, &c. That this House will now resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, further to proceed in the Consideration of the Motion for a Supply to be given to his Majesty, for paying off and dismissing the Forces.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Sir John Trevor took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Sir John Trevor reports from the said Committee, That the Committee had made some Progress in the Consideration of the Motion for a Supply to be given to his Majesty, for paying off and dismissing the Forces: And, being informed, That there was a Message from the Lords attending in the Lobby, they had commanded him to leave the Chair.

Impeachment of Lords in the Tower.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Timothy Baldwyn and Sir John Hoskins;

Mr. Speaker, The Lords have commanded us to acquaint this House, That the Five Lords, lately committed to the Tower, have all, in Person, brought their Answers to the Articles of Impeachment exhibited against them by this House; except my Lord Bellasis: Which were read to their Lordships: And their Lordships have sent the Originals to this House; to the Intent this House may consider of them, and return the same Originals with all convenient Speed.

A Debate arising in the House, Whether the Lord Bellasis is actually and legally arraigned; having not in Person delivered his Answer, at the Bar of the House of Lords; to the Impeachment exhibited against him by this House;

Resolved, &c. That the said Debate be adjourned till To-morrow Morning, Nine of the Clock.

Ordered, That Sir Thomas Lee, Mr. Sachaverell, Mr. Powle, Sir John Wynn, Sir Thomas Meres, Mr. Newport, Sir Wm. Poltney, Mr. Foley, Sir John Knight, Mr. Hamden, Sir Henry Capell, Colonel Birch, Sir John Hewly, Serjeant Seys, Sir John Trevor, Sir Nic. Pedley, Mr. Garraway, or any Two of them, do inspect the Journals of the House of Lords; and see what Entries are there made, touching the Appearance and Arraignment of the Five Lords now in the Tower; and to report the same to the House To-morrow Morning.

Supply.

The House then resolved into a Committee of the whole House, further to proceed in the Consideration of the Motion for a Supply to be granted to his Majesty, for paying off and dismissing the Forces.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Sir John Trevor took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Sir John Trevor reports from the Committee of the whole House, That the Committee had agreed upon several Votes: Which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were again read; and are as followeth; viz.

Resolved, &c. That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That General Officers shall not be paid.

Resolved, &c. That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That Field Officers, as Field Officers, shall be paid only to the Time that they were to be disbanded by Act of Parliament.

Resolved, &c. That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That no Officer shall receive Pay, from the Time that the Soldiers under his Command were actually disbanded.

Resolved, &c. That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That a Supply be granted to his Majesty, not exceeding the Sum of Two hundred and six thousand Four hundred Sixty-two Pounds Seventeen Shillings and Three-pence, for the paying off and dismissing all the Forces now in Arms in England, raised, or brought over from Foreign Parts into this Kingdom, since the Nine-and-twentieth of September 1677; to be raised by Six Months Tax, according to the Rate of the present Tax.

The First Vote being read a Second time, was, upon the Question, agreed to.

Resolved, That the General Officers shall not be paid.

The Second Vote being read a Second time;

And the Question being put, To agree with the Committee;

It passed in the Negative.

The Third Vote being read a Second time, was, upon the Question, agreed to.

Resolved, &c. That no Officer shall receive Pay, from the Time that the Soldiers under his Command were actually disbanded.

The Fourth Vote being read a Second time;

And the Question being put, That the Words "into this Kingdom," after the Word "Parts," be left out;

It was resolved in the Affirmative.

The Question being put, That the Words "in England," after the Word "Arms," be left out; and that, instead thereof, the Words "in this Kingdom," be inserted;

It was resolved in the Affirmative.

Resolved, &c. That a Supply be granted to his Majesty, not exceeding the Sum of Two hundred and six thousand Four hundred Sixty-two Pounds Seventeen Shillings and Three-pence, for the paying off and dismissing all the Forces now in Arms in this Kingdom, raised, or brought over from Foreign Parts, since the Nine-and-twentieth of September One thousand Six hundred Seventy-andseven; to be raised by Six Months Tax, according to the Rate of the present Tax; and to commence from the Determination of the Tax in being.

Resolved, &c. That the Commission Officers be paid to the First of April, and no longer.

Ordered, That a Bill be brought in pursuant to the said Votes.

And it is referred to Sir John Trevor, Sir George Downing, Sir Thomas Meres, Colonel Whitley, Sir Tho. Clerges, Colonel Birch, Sir Gilbert Gerrard, Sir Franc. Winnington, or any Two of them, to prepare and draw up the same: And that they do bring in a borrowing Clause, and a Clause of Indemnity; and do prepare Rules and Instructions for disbanding the Forces.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned; except the Committee of Secrecy, and the Committee appointed to inquire concerning the late Fires that have happened in and about the City of London.

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