House of Lords Journal Volume 14: 22 January 1689

Journal of the House of Lords: Volume 14, 1685-1691. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1767-1830.

'House of Lords Journal Volume 14: 22 January 1689', in Journal of the House of Lords: Volume 14, 1685-1691, (London, 1767-1830) pp. 101-103. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/lords-jrnl/vol14/pp101-103 [accessed 28 April 2024]

DIE Martis, 22 die Januarii.

WHEREAS divers of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and of the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, Members of the Parliaments of King Charles the Second, and Aldermen of the Common Council of the City of London, in their late Assembly at Westminster, have desired his Highness William Henry Prince of Orange to cause his Highness's Letters to be written to the Lords Spiritual and Temporal of this Kingdom, being Protestants; and to the Counties, Cities, Boroughs, and Places, that of Right ought to choose and send Members to Parliament; so as their Lordships and the Persons so to be elected may meet and sit at Westminster, on the Two and Twentieth Day of January 1688/9;, to consider of the great and weighty Affairs of the Nation; and whereas his Highness hath, pursuant thereunto, writ and sent such his Letters to the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and to the Places that of Right ought to send Members to Parliament: The Lords Spiritual and Temporal, whose Names are hereunder written, have accordingly this Day met in Convention, in the House of Peers at Westminster; (viz.)



Arch. of Yorke. Epus. London. Epus. Winton. Epus. Ely. Epus. Landaph. Epus. Lyncolne. Epus. St. Asaph. Epus. Gloucester. Epus. Rochester. Epus. Bath & Wells. Epus. Norwich. Epus. Peterborough. Epus. Bristoll. Epus. Chichester. Epus. St. David's. Epus. Oxon.	D. of Norfolk, E. Marshal. D. of Ormond. D. of Beauford. D. of Northumberland. Marq. of Winchester. Marq. of Hallyfax. L. Great Chamberlain. E. of Oxon. E. of Shrewsbury. E. of Kent. E. of Derby. E. of Rutland. E. of Huntingdon. E. of Bedford. E. of Pembrooke. E. of Dorsett. E. of Exon. E. of Bridgewater. E. of North'ton. E. of Devon. E. of Bristol. E. of Westmerland. E. of Manchester. E. of Mulgrave. E. of Rivers. E. of Stamford. E. of Winchilsea. E. of Kingston. E. of Carnarvon. E. of Chesterfeild. E. of Thanet. E. of Scarsdale. E. of Clarendon. E. of Craven. E. of Aylisbury. E. of Burlington. E. of Litchfeild. E. of Danby. E. of Sussex. E. of Feversham. E. of Macclesfeld. E. of Yarmouth. E. of Berkeley. E. of Nottingham. E. of Rochester. E. of Abingdon. Viscount Fauconberg. Vicecomes Mordant. Vicecomes Newport. Vicecomes Weymouth. Vicecomes Hatton.	Ds. Delawar. Ds. Ferrers. Ds. De Grey of Ruthin. Ds. Eure. Ds. Wharton. Ds. Paget. Ds. North. Ds. Chandos. Ds. Mountague. Ds. Grey de Wark. Ds. Lovelace. Ds. Maynard. Ds. Herbert de Cherbury. Ds. Jermin. Ds. Vaughan. Ds. Ward. Ds. Asteley. Ds. Lucas. Ds. Berkeley. Ds. Cornwallis. Ds. Delamer. Ds. Crewe. Ds. Arundell de Trerise. Ds. Lumley. Ds. Carteret. Ds. Osulston. Ds. Dartmouth. Ds. Godolphin. Ds. Churchill. Ds. Grissin.

Marquis of Hallyfax was appointed by the House to be Speaker pro Tempore.

The Speaker acquainted the House, "That he had a Letter sent him from the Prince of Orange, directed,

"To the Lords Spiritual and Temporal assembled at Westminster, in this present Convention."

Which was read:

Prince of Orange's Letter.

"My Lords,

"I have endeavoured to the utmost of my Power to perform what was desired from me, in order to the Public Peace and Safety. And I do not know that any Thing hath been omitted, which might tend to the Preservation of them, since the Administration of Affairs was put into my Hands. It now lyeth upon you, to lay the Foundations of a firm Security, for your Religion, your Laws, and your Liberties.

"I do not doubt but that, by such a full and free Representative of the Nation as is now met, the Ends of my Declaration will be attained. And since it hath pleased God hitherto to bless my good Intentions with so great Success, I trust in Him, that He will compleat His own Work, by sending a Spirit of Peace and Union to influence your Councils, that no Interruption may be given to a happy and lasting Settlement.

"The dangerous Condition of the Protestant Interest in Ireland requiring a large and speedy Succour, and the present State of Things Abroad, oblige me to tell you, that, next to the Danger of unseasonable Divisions amongst yourselves, nothing can be so fatal as too great Delay in your Consultations. The States, by whom I have been enabled to rescue this Nation, may suddenly feel the ill Effects of it, both by being too long deprived of the Service of their Troops which are now here, and of your early Assistance against a powerful Enemy, who hath declared War against them: And as England is by Treaty already engaged to help them upon any such Exigencies; so I am confident, that their chearful Concurrence to preserve this Kingdom, with so much Hazard to themselves, will meet with all the Returns of Friendship and Assistance which may be expected from you, as Protestants and Englishmen, whenever their Condition shall require it.

"Will. Hen. P. d'Orange.

"Given at St. Jam's's, this 22th Day of January, 1688/9;.

"To the Lords Spiritual and Temporal assembled at Westminster in this present Convention."

Order for a Day of Thanksgiving.

ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, That Thursday the 31th of January Instant be, and is hereby, appointed, for the City of London and Ten Miles Distance, for a Day of public Thanksgiving to Almighty God, for having made his Highness the Prince of Orange the glorious Instrument of the great Deliverance of this Kingdom from Popery and arbitrary Power; and that Thursday the Fourteenth Day of February next be, and is hereby, appointed for a public Thanksgiving throughout the whole Kingdom for the same.

Bp. of St. Asaph to preach.

ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, That the Lord Bishop of St. Asaph be, and is hereby, desired to preach before this House, in the Abbey Church at Westminster, on Thursday the 31th Day of January Instant.

Order for a Form of Prayer for the Thanksgiving day.

ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, That the Lord Bishop of London, the Lord Bishop of Rochester, the Lord Bishop of Norwich, the Lord Bishop of Ely, the Lord Bishop of Chichester, the Lord Bishop of Gloucester, the Lord Bishop of Bath & Wells, the Lord Bishop of Peterborough, the Lord Bishop of Lyncolne, the Lord Bishop of Bristol, and the Lord Bishop of St. Asaph, be, and are hereby, desired to draw up a Form of Prayers and Thanksgiving to Almighty God, for having made his Highness the Prince of Orange the glorious Instrument of the great Deliverance of this Kingdom from Popery and arbitrary Power; to be used in the City of London and Ten Miles Distance thereof, on the 31th of January Instant, and throughout the whole Kingdom on the 14th of February next.

Message to H. C. about it.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir Rob't Atkins and Mr. Whitlock:

To desire their Concurrence in the Day of public Thanksgiving.

Assistance called.

ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal assembled at Westminster, That the Honourable William Mountague Esquire, Sir Rob't Atkins, Sir William Dolbin, Sir Creswell Levins, Sir Jo. Holt, Sir Edward Nevill, William Whitlock Esquire, Mr. George Bradbury, and Mr. William Petyt, be, and are hereby, required to attend this House as Assistants.

Order for an Address to the P. of Orange for his Letter.

ORDERED, That an Address of Thanks be presented to the Prince of Orange, for his Letter received this Day.

And the Marq. of Winton, Earl of Dorset, E. of Devon, E. of Chesterfeild, E. of Clarendon, E. of Danby, E. of Macclesfeld, E. of Nottingham, E. of Rochester, the Bishop of London, the Bishop of Ely, the Lord Wharton, Lord Cornwallis, and the Lord Delamer, being appointed to draw up what is fit to be said; the said Lords withdrew presently.

His Letter to be printed.

ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal assembled at Westminster, That his Highness the Prince of Orange's Letter, sent this Day to the Lords Spiritual and Temporal assembled at Westminster in this present Convention, be forthwith printed and published.

House to be called.

ORDERED, That this House shall be called on Friday next, being the 25th of this Instant January; at which Time the Roll of Standing Orders of this House shall be read.

Instrument of Government to be signed by the Lords.

ORDERED, That his Grace the Duke of Norfolk do humbly move his Highness the Prince of Orange, from this House, "That he would be pleased to send to this House the Instrument formerly signed by the Lords of this House, to desire his Highness to take the Administration of the Government upon him, that those Lords that have not signed it may sign the same."

Answer from H. C.

Sir Robert Atkins and Mr. Whitlock return with this Answer:

That the House of Commons agrees with their Lordships in the Order for a public Thanksgiving.

Message to them, to fit a while.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir Miles Cooke and Sir John Francklyn:

To desire that they would sit a while, because their Lordships may have some Occasion to send to them.

The Messengers return this Answer:

Answer.

That the Commons will sit, as is desired.

Address to the P. of Orange.

The Earl of Danby reported, "That the Lords Committees had prepared the Form of an Address of Thanks, to be presented to the Prince of Orange; which was offered to their Lordships Consideration."

The said Address was read Twice, and Agreed to.

Message to H. C. with it.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir Robert Atkins and Sir John Holt:

To communicate the abovesaid Address, and desire their Concurrence thereunto.

Staples, Steward of Windsor, sent for, for refusing to give the Oaths.

Upon Information given to this House, "That Mr. Thomas Staples, Steward of Windsor Forrest, hath refused to give the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy and the Test to Mr. Charles Cleve Master of the Hospital of Oakingham, and Mr. William Walker Vicar of Sunning:"

It is thereupon ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal assembled at Westminster, That the said Thomas Staples be, and is hereby, required to attend this House on Friday next, being the 25th Day of this Instant January, at Ten of the Clock in the Forenoon, as he will answer the contrary to this House at his Peril.

Message from H. C. with the Address.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Mr. Hampden and others:

Who brought an Address, to be presented to the Prince of Orange; to which they desire their Lordships Concurrence.

Which Address was presently read.

Answer from thence.

Sir Robert Atkins and Sir John Holt return with this Answer from the House of Commons:

That they agree with their Lordships in the Address to the Prince of Orange, with filling up the Space with the Words ["and Commons"].

The Contents of this Address is as follows:

Address of Thanks to the Prince of Orange, and to desire he will take Care of Ireland.

"We, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons assembled at Westminster, being highly sensible of the great Deliverance of this Kingdom from Popery and arbitrary Power, and that our Preservation is (next under GOD) owing to your Highness, do return our most humble Thanks and Acknowledgements to your Highness, as the glorious Instrument of so great a Blessing to us. We do further acknowledge the great Care your Highness has been pleased to take in the Administration of the public Affairs of the Kingdom to this Time. And we do most humbly desire your Highness, that you will take upon you the Administration of Public Affairs, both Civil and Military; and the Disposal of the Public Revenue, for the Preservation of our Religion, Rights, Laws, Liberties, and Properties, and of the Peace of the Nation. And that your Highness will take into your particular Care the present Condition of Ireland; and endeavour, by the most speedy and effectual Means, to prevent the Dangers threatening that Kingdom. All which we make our Request to your Highness to undertake and exercise, till further Application shall be made by us; which shall be expedited with all convenient Speed; and shall also use our utmost Endeavours to give Dispatch to the Matters recommended to us by your Highness's Letter."

Lords to attend him about it.

ORDERED, That the Duke of Norfolk and the Duke of Ormond do presently wait upon the Prince of Orange, to know what Time he will appoint for both Houses to attend his Highness, to present him with this Address.

Message to H. C. to acquaint them with it.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir Miles Cooke and Sir John Franklyn:

To acquaint them, that the Lords do agree with them in the Address to the Prince of Orange; and that their Lordships are sending to the Prince of Orange, to know what Time both Houses may wait upon him for that Purpose.

Message from thence, about the Address.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Sir Henry Capell and others:

Who brought up the Paper of Address to be presented to the Prince of Orange, which was sent down by the Lords to the Commons; which they have agreed to.

The Messengers sent to the House of Commons return with this Answer:

Answer from H. C.

That they will sit until they hear from this House.

P. of Orange will be attended presently.

The Duke of Norfolke and the Duke of Ormond reported, "That the Prince of Orange will be ready presently to receive the Address from both Houses at St. James's."

Message to H. C. to acquaint them with it.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir Miles Cooke and Sir John Francklyn:

To let them know, that the Lords are going to attend the Prince of Orange.

Adjourn.

Marquis Halyfax, Orator Procerum pro Tempore, declaravit præsen. Convent. continuandum esse usque in diem Mercurii, 23^um diem Januarii, 1688/9;, hora decima Aurora, Dominis sic decernentibus.