House of Lords Journal Volume 14: 2 February 1689

DIE Sabbati, 2 die Februarii.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

Marquis of Halyfax was appointed Speaker pro Tempore.

Answer from H. C.

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

That they had delivered their Message.

Letter from the King.

The Marquis of Halyfax acquainted the House, "That he had received a Letter, directed, "To the Right Honourable the Lord Marquis of Halyfax, Speaker of the House of Lords pro Tempore, to be communicated to the Lords Spiritual and Temporal:" And desired their Lordships Direction as to the opening of it.

The Servant that brought it was called in; and asked, "If he brought the Letter." He said, "He did."

And being asked, "If (fn. 1) he knew any Thing of the Contents of it?" He said, "No; but received it from the Lord Preston."

Then he was ordered to acquaint the Lord Preston, "That the House desires him to attend here presently, and deliver the Letter himself."

And so he withdrew.

L. Preston examined about it.

The Lord Preston, being come, was called in; and asked by the Speaker about the Letter.

He owned the Superscription; and "that he received that Letter, and another for the Commons, of one Mr. Hayes, a Scotish Gentleman, Yesterday, about Three of the Clock in the Morning, as he was in Bed; who told him, they were from the King, and that he brought them from Paris."

And his Lordship being asked, "If he knew the Contents of those Letters?" He said, "He did not."

So he withdrew.

And it was agreed that Mr. Hayes be sent for.

Hayes to attend about it.

The Lord Preston was called in again; and asked, "If he knew where Mr. Hayes was, or where he could be found?" He said, "He is surely in Town; and that he dined Yesterday with him."

He being asked, "If he would undertake that Mr. Hayes do attend this House on Monday Morning next?" His Lordship said, "He would undertake that he should."

Examination concerning the E. of Essex's Death.

ORDERED, That these Lords following are added to the Committee appointed to examine concerning the Death of the late Earl of Essex:

Order to forbid the observing the 6th Feb.

ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal assembled at Westminster, That the Day of Thanksgiving, on the Sixth Day of February Instant, on which Day the late King James the Second came to the Throne, shall not be observed in this Kingdom.

Order to prevent Stoppages in the Streets, &c.

Upon Complaint made unto this House, "That there is such an Interruption by Hackney Coaches, Carts, and Drays, in King-street and the Passages to The Old Palace Yard in Westminster, that the Lords and others are frequently hindered from coming to this House, to the great Inconveniency of the Members of both Houses:"

It is thereupon ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal assembled at Westminster, That the High Steward of the City of Westminster, or his Deputy, together with the Justices of the Peace of the said City, shall, by their Care and Directions to the Constables within the said Limits, take special Order, that no empty Hackney Coaches be suffered to make any Stay between Whitehall and The Old Pallace Yard in Westm. from Nine of the Clock in the Forenoon until Two in the Afternoon in the same Day, during the Sitting of this Convention; and that no Carriages, by Carts or Drays, be permitted to pass through the said Streets and Passages between the Places aforesaid, during the Sitting of this Convention; and herein a special Care is to be taken by the said Justices and Constables, as the contrary will be answered to this House.

Adjourn.

Marq. de Halyfax, Orator Procerum pro Tempore, declaravit præsen. Convent. continuandum esse usque in diem Lunæ, videlicet, 4^um diem Februarii, 1688/9, hora decima Aurora, Dominis sic decernentibus.