House of Lords Journal Volume 20: 21 November 1717

Journal of the House of Lords: Volume 20, 1714-1717. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1767-1830.

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'House of Lords Journal Volume 20: 21 November 1717', in Journal of the House of Lords: Volume 20, 1714-1717, (London, 1767-1830) pp. 554-556. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/lords-jrnl/vol20/pp554-556 [accessed 26 April 2024]

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Anno 4° Georgii Regis.

DIE Jovis, 21 Novembris, 1717, Annoque Regni Serenissimi Domini Georgii, Dei Gratia, Magnæ Britanniæ, Franciæ, et Hib'niæ Regis, Fidei Defensoris, &c. Quarto, in quem Diem præsens hæc Tertia Sessio Parliamenti, per separal. Adjournamenta et Prorogationes, continuatum fuerat, in Superiori Domo Parliamenti Magnæ Britaniæ apud Westmonaster. convenere Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales, quorum Nomina subscribuntur, et præsentes fuerunt:

REX.

Georgius Princeps Walliæ.

Epus. London.
Epus. Wigorn.
Epus. Sarum.
Epus. Hereford.
Epus. Gloucestr.
Epus. Lincoln.
Epus. Bangor.
Epus. Exon.
Epus. Lich. & Cov.		 Ds. Cowper, Cancellarius.
Dux Kingston, Custos Privati Sigilli.
Dux Kent, Senescallus.
Dux Newcastle, Camerarius.
Dux Somerset.
Dux Richmond.
Dux Grafton.
Dux St. Albans.
Dux Devonshire.
Dux Marlborough.
Dux Montagu.
Dux Roxburgh.
March. Annandale.
Comes Lincoln.
Comes Bridgewater.
Comes Leicester.
Comes Sunderland.
Comes Scarsdale.
Comes Clarendon.
Comes Burlington.
Comes Yarmouth.
Comes Rochester.
Comes Abingdon.
Comes Scarbrough.
Comes Bradford.
Comes Grantham.
Comes Greenwich.
Comes Godolphin.
Comes Sutherland.
Comes Rothes.
Comes Orkney.
Comes Deloraine.
Comes I'lay.
Comes Uxbridge.
Comes Carnarvon.
Comes Tankerville.
Comes Halifax.
Comes Sussex.
Viscount Townshend.
Viscount Tadcaster.
Viscount St. John.
Viscount Stanhope.		 Ds. Willoughby Er.
Ds. Delawar.
Ds. Willughby Br.
Ds. Hunsdon.
Ds. Compton.
Ds. Teynham.
Ds. Brooke.
Ds. Colepeper.
Ds. Cornwallis.
Ds. Lumley.
Ds. Carteret.
Ds. Gower.
Ds. Belhaven.
Ds. Boyle.
Ds. Montjoy.
Ds. Trevor.
Ds. Masham.
Ds. Bathurst.
Ds. Bingley.
Ds. Harborough.
Ds. Carleton.
Ds. Parker.
Ds. Coningesby.
Ds. Onslow.
Ds. Torrington.
Ds. Cadogan.
Ds. Romney.
Ds. Newburgh.
Ds. Pawlet de Basing.

PRAYERS.

Lords take the Oaths.

John Lord Bishop of Worcester and Edward Lord Bishop of Litchfield and Coventry took the Oaths, and made and subscribed the Declaration, and also took and subscribed the Oath of Abjuration, pursuant to the Statutes.

The House was adjourned during Pleasure, to robe.

The House was resumed.

King present:

His Majesty, being seated on His Royal Throne, adorned with His Crown and Regal Ornaments, and attended with His Officers of State; the Prince of Wales (in his Robes) sitting in his Place, on His Majesty's Right Hand; and the Lords being also in their Robes; the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod received His Majesty's Commands, to signify to the Commons, "That it is His Majesty's Pleasure, they attend Him immediately, in this House."

Who being come, with their Speaker;

The Lord Chancellor, on his Knee, received a Paper from His Majesty; and, returning to his Place, His Majesty spake as follows:

My Lords, and Gentlemen,

I have given Direction to my Lord Chancellor, to declare to you, in My Name and Words, the Causes of My meeting you in Parliament at this Time."

Then the Lord Chancellor said,

My Lords, and Gentlemen,

I have now received His Majesty's Commands from the Throne, to declare to you, in His Majesty's Name and Words, the Causes of His meeting you in Parliament at this Time, as follows:

His Majesty's Speech.

My Lords, and Gentlemen,

I am very glad I have been able to bring the Sitting of Parliament into a more proper and usual Season of the Year: I hope such an early Meeting will not only be a Benefit to the Public, but a Convenience to your private Affairs.

As I have always had at Heart the Security and Ease of My People; so I never kept up any Troops but for their Protection, and have taken every Opportunity to disband as many as I thought consistent with their Safety. I have reduced the Army to very near One Half, since the Beginning of the last Session of Parliament; and lessened them to such a Number, as will neither be a Burden to My good Subjects, nor an Encouragement to our Enemies to insult them.

You cannot but be sensible of the many Attempts which have been set on Foot, to disturb the Peace of Europe and of these Kingdoms; they only pretend not to see, who are not afraid of them: But, is no Application has been wanting on My Part to preserve the public Tranquillity, I have the Pleasure to find My good Offices have not been altogether unsuccessful; and have Reason to hope they will in the End have their full and desired Effect.

Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

I question not but you are very well pleased, to find that your Endeavours for lessening the National Debts have at the same Time raised the Public Credit; and that whatever was proposed for that End, is actually and completely effected. This Success must chiefly be attributed to that just and prudent Regard you have shewn to Parliamentary Engagements.

It was with a View of procuring and setting a lasting Tranquillity, that I demanded the extraordinary Supply which you granted Me last Session: The Credit which this Confidence reposed in Me hath given us Abroad has already been so far effectual, that I can acquaint you we have a much better Prospect than we had. I have ordered an Account to be laid before you of the very small Part of that Supply which as yet has been expended: Any further Issues that may be made of it shall be also laid before you; and you may be assured, that every Part of it shall either be employed for your Service, or saved to the Public.

I have ordered to be laid before you a State of the Deficiencies of the present Year, and the several Estimates for the Service of the next; which you will find considerably diminished. I rely upon your making the necessary Provision for them; not doubting of the Continuance of that Zeal for the Good of your Country, which hath been so eminently conspicuous in every Session of this Parliament.

I cannot, in Justice, avoid putting you in Mind, that several Arrears of Pay and Subsidy, incurred before My Accession to the Crown, are claimed by Foreign Princes and States: I shall order them to be laid before you, to the End you may put them in a Method of being examined and stated, which will very much tend to the Honour and Credit of the Nation.

My Lords, and Gentlemen,

I could heartily wish that, at a Time when the common Enemies of our Religion are, by all Manner of Artifices, endeavouring to undermine and weaken it both at Home and Abroad, all those who are Friends to our present happy Establishment might unanimously concur in some proper Method for the greater strengthening the Protestant Interest; of which, as the Church of England is unquestionably the main Support and Bulwark, so will She reap the principal Benefit of every Advantage accruing by the Union and mutual Charity of all Protestants.

As none can recommend themselves more effectually to My Favour and Countenance, than by a sincere Zeal for the just Rights of the Crown and the Liberties of the People; so I am determined to encourage all those who act agreeably to the Constitution of these My Kingdoms, and consequently to the Principles on which My Government is founded.

The Eyes of all Europe are upon you at this critical Juncture: It is your Interest, for which Reason I think it Mine, that My Endeavours for procuring the Peace and Quiet of Christendom should take Effect. Nothing can so much contribute to this desirable End, as the Unanimity, Dispatch, and Vigour of your Resolutions, for the Support of My Government."

Which being ended, His Majesty was pleased to retire; and the Commons withdrew.

The House was adjourned during Pleasure, to unrobe.

The House was resumed.

E. of Sussex introduced:

Talbot Lord Viscount Longueville, being, by Letters Patent, dat. 26 Die Septembris, Anno Quarto Georgii Regis, created Earl of Sussex, was this Day, in his Robes, introduced, between the Earl of Lincoln and the Earl of Halifax (also in their Robes); the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, One of the Kings at Arms, and the Lord Willoughby of Eresby in the Absence of the Lord Great Chamberlain, preceding.

His Lordships presented his Patent to the Lord Chancellor, on his Knee, at the Woolsack; who delivered it to the Clerk; and the same was read, at the Table.

His Writ of Summons was also read, and is as follows:

His Writ of Summons.

Georgius, Dei Gratia, Mag. Britan. Franc. & Hib'niæ Rex, Fidei Defensor, &c. Charissimo Consanguineo Nostro Talbot Comiti de Sussex. Cum nuper, de Advisamento & Assensu Concilii Nostri, pro quibusdam arduis & urgentibus Negotiis, Nos, Statum & Defensionem Regni Nostri Mag. Brit. & Ecclesiæ concernentibus, præsens Parliamentum Nostrum apud Civitatem Nostram Westm. Decimo Septimo Die Martii, Anno Regni Nostri Primo, inchoari et teneti ordinaverimus; quo Die idem Parliamentum Nostrum inchoatum & tentum fuerat; & abinde, per separal. Adjournamenta & Prorogationes, ad & in Vicesimum Primum Diem Novembris nunc prox. sequen. prorogatum, adjournatum, & continuatum fuerat; vobis, sub Fide & Ligeantia quibus Nobis tenemini, firmiter injungendo mandamus, quod, consideratis dictorum Negotiorum Arduitate & Periculis imminentibus, cessante Excusatione quacunque, ad dictum Parliamentum Nostrum personaliter intersitis, Nobiscum, ac cum Prælatis, Magnatibus, & Proceribus præd. super dictis Negotiis tractatur. vestrumque Consilium impensur.; et hoc sicut Nos & Honorem Nostrum, ac Salvationem & Defensionem Regni & Ecclesiæ præd. Expeditionemque dictorum Negotiorum diligitis, nullatenus omittatis.

Teste Meipso, apud Westm. Vicesimo Sexto Die Septembris, Anno Regni Nostri Quarto.

"Wrighte."

Then his Lordship came to the Table; and took the Oaths, and made and subscribed the Declaration, and also took and subscribed the Oath of Abjuration, pursuant to the Statutes; and was then placed on the lower End of the Earls Bench.

King's Speech reported:

The Lord Chancellor reported His Majesty's Speech.

Address to be drawn.

Ordered, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, "To return the Thanks of this House, for His Majesty's most Gracious Speech from the Throne, and for His Regard to the Conveniency of His Subjects, in meeting them so early in Parliament; and to express the just Sense this House hath of His Concern for the Ease of His People, in disbanding so considerable a Number of His Forces, and of His Care, at the same Time, in consulting their Safety and Welfare; and to return His Majesty their Thanks, for His unwearied Endeavours towards preserving and settling the Peace of Europe and of His Kingdoms, against the many Attempts to disturb them; and to express their Satisfaction, that there is a Prospect of Success; and for His having been pleased, in so gracious a Manner, to declare His Interests and those of His People inseparable; and to express the Gratitude of this House, for His Majesty's Concern for the Protestant Religion, and the Church of England as by Law established, which can never be so well supported as by strengthening and uniting, as far as may be, the Protestant Interest."

Then the Lords following were appointed a Committee, to prepare an Address, pursuant thereunto; and report to the House:

Ld. Privy Seal.
Duke of Grafton.
D. of Devonshire.
Earl of Lincoln.
E. of Sunderland.
E. of Clarendon.
E. of Halifax.
E. of Sussex.		 Ld. Bp of Gloucester.
L. Bp. of Lincoln.		 Ld. Lumley.
L. Harborough.
L. Carleton.
L. Parker.
L. Coningesby.
L. Torrington.

Their Lordships, or any Five of them; to meet presently, in the Prince's Lodgings; and to adjourn as they please.

The House was adjourned during Pleasure.

The House was resumed.

Late E. Carnwath and late Ld. Widdrington, appeared on Recognizance.

The House was informed, "That Robert Dalzeel late Earl of Carnwath, William Widdrington late Lord Widdrington, and William Murray late Lord Nairn, had severally entered into a Recognizance, before One of the Judges of the Court of King's Bench, to appear here in this Session of Parliament; and that the said late Earl of Carnwath and the late Lord Widdrington were attending accordingly; but that the said late Lord Nairn was so ill at The Bath, as not to be able to attend."

Then the Habeas Corpora, Returns, and Recognizances, which had been delivered in by the Clerk of the Crown, were read.

And the said Robert Dalzeel late Earl of Carnwath and William Widdrington late Lord Widdrington were called in; and severally, at the Bar, prayed, "That their Appearance might be recorded; and likewise the Benefit of the Act for His Majesty's most Gracious, General, and Free Pardon."

Whereupon the House directed their Appearance to be recorded; and the same is hereby recorded accordingly.

And they withdrew.

Ordered, That the said Robert Dalzeel late Earl of Carnwath and William Widdrington late Lord Widdrington do attend this House again To-morrow, in order to plead His Majesty's said Pardon, as desired.

And they were called in again; and the Lord Chancellor acquainted them therewith.

And then they withdrew.

Late Ld. Nairne's Appearance respited.

Ordered, That, in regard to the Indisposition of the said William Murray late Lord Nairn, which some Lords acquainted the House withal, his Appearance upon his Recognizance be, and is hereby, respited till this Day Fortnight.

Adjourn.

Dominus Cancellarius declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque ad et in diem Veneris, vicesimum secundum, diem instantis Novembris, hora undecima Aurora, Dominis sic decernentibus.

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