House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 19 May 1685

Parliamentum inchoat' & tent' apud Civitatem Westmonaster', Die Martis, 19 Maii, Anno Regni Domini nostri Jacobi II^di, Dei Gratia, Angliæ, Scotiæ, Franciæ, & Hiberniæ Regis, Fidei Defensoris, &c. Primo, Annoque Domini 1685.

Parliament meets.

ON which Day, being the First Day of the Meeting of this Parliament, about Seven of the Clock in the Morning; the Right Noble James Duke of Ormond, Lord High Steward of his Majesty's Household, came into the Inner Court of Wards: And there, the Clerk of the Crown presenting a List of such Members as were returned to sit in this present Parliament; and the Clerk of the House of Commons attending, according to the Duty of his Place; his Grace administered the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy to several Members of the House of Commons; who were afterwards deputed by his Grace to administer the said Oaths to all Persons returned as Members to sit in Parliament.

And a great Number of the Members being sworn; and having taken their Places in the House;

Message to attend the King.

A Message from his Majesty was delivered by Sir Thomas Duppa, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod;

Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

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

And accordingly the House went up to attend his Majesty.

The House being returned;

Sir J. Trevor chosen Speaker.

The Right honourable Charles Earl of Midleton, One of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, acquainted the House, That his Majesty had been pleased to direct them forthwith to proceed to the Choice of a Speaker: And his Lordship proposing to the House, That Sir John Trevor Knight, by reason of his great Integrity, Knowledge of the Laws of the Land, and of the Rules and Orders of this House, was therefore, in his Lordship's Judgment, a Person highly deserving, and fitly qualified for such a Trust;

The House unanimously chose the said Sir John Trevor for their Speaker.

And he being not permitted to excuse himself; and being conducted to the Chair, by the said Earl of Midleton, and the honourable Henry Savill Esquire, Vicechamberlain to his Majesty, Two of the Members of the House; he humbly desired Leave to disable himself at the Royal Throne.

And the Lord Midleton informing the House, That his Majesty had appointed Four of the Clock this Afternoon, for presenting their Speaker;

The House adjourned to Four of the Clock in the Afternoon.

Post Meridiem.

THE House being met;

Message to attend the King.

A Message from the King was delivered by Sir Thomas Duppa, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod;

Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

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

Choice of Speaker approved.

And accordingly Mr. Speaker elect, with the House, went up to attend his Majesty: And humbly represented to his Majesty, That the House of Commons had chosen him their Speaker: And he made Claim by humble Petition, in the Name of the Commons of England, in Parliament assembled, of the ancient Rights of the Commons, for them, and their Servants, in their Persons and Estates, to be free from Arrests, and other Disturbances; in all their Debates to have Freedom and Liberty of Speech; and, as Occasion shall require, to have Access to his Majesty's Royal Person.

Which was allowed by the King.

The House being returned; and Mr. Speaker having taken the Chair, and made a gratulatory Speech to the House;

Members take Oaths.

An Act, made in the Thirtieth Year of the Reign of his late Majesty Charles the Second, intituled, An Act for the more effectual preserving the King's Person and Government, by disabling Papists to sit in either House of Parliament, was read, in order to the Taking of the Oaths, and subscribing the Declaration therein mentioned.

And the Time of the Day for doing thereof being elapsed;

The House, upon a Question put,

Adjourned to Nine of the Clock To-morrow Morning.