DIE Mercurii, 31 Decembris.
REX.
Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes
fuerunt:
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Arch. Cant.
Epus. Wigorn.
Epus. Roffen.
Epus. Sarum.
Epus. Hereford.
Epus. Lich. & Cov.
Epus. Norwic.
Epus. Petrib.
Epus. Gloucestr.
Epus. Oxon. |
Ds. Custos Magni Sigilli.
Dux Devon, Senescallus.
Dux Somerset.
Dux Richmond.
Dux Ormonde.
Dux Northumberland.
Dux St. Albans.
Dux Bolton.
Dux Schonburg.
Dux Leeds.
Dux Bedford.
March. Normanby.
Comes Lindsey, Magnus Camerarius.
Comes Jersey, Camerarius.
Comes Oxon.
Comes Kent.
Comes Huntingdon.
Comes Northampton.
Comes Denbigh.
Comes Manchester.
Comes Rivers.
Comes Stamford.
Comes Kingston.
Comes Scarsdale.
Comes Sandwich.
Comes Essex.
Comes Feversham.
Comes Radnor.
Comes Berkeley.
Comes Nottingham.
Comes Portland.
Comes Marlborough.
Comes Warrington.
Comes Bradford.
Comes Romney.
Comes Albemarle.
Comes Orford.
Comes Grantham.
Viscount Townshend.
Viscount Weymouth. |
Ds. Bergevenny.
Ds. Ferrers.
Ds. Wharton.
Ds. North & Grey.
Ds. Hunsdon.
Ds. Brooke.
Ds. Poulett.
Ds. Howard Esc.
Ds. Mohun.
Ds. Raby.
Ds. Byron.
Ds. Vaughan.
Ds. Culpeper.
Ds. Rockingham.
Ds. Berkeley Str.
Ds. Osborne.
Ds. Dartmouth.
Ds. Guilford.
Ds. Godolphin.
Ds. Jeffreys.
Ds. Cholmondeley.
Ds. Weston.
Ds. Haversham.
Ds. Halifax. |
PRAYERS.
Lords take the Oaths.
The Lords following took the Oaths, and made and
subscribed the Declaration, pursuant to the Statute:
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Dux Ormonde.
Comes Jersey, Camerarius.
Comes Leicester.
Comes Marlborough.
Comes Bradford. |
Epus. Wigorn.
Epus. Roffen.
Epus. Gloucestr. |
Ds. Osborne.
Ds. Jeffreys.
Ds. Weston.
Ds. Haversham. |
Then 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 (the
Peers being also in their Robes); commanded the Deputy Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod to go to the
House of Commons, and let them know, "It is His
Majesty's Pleasure, that they attend Him presently."
Mr. Harley Speaker, H. C. presented:
Who being come; they presented Robert Harley Esquire,
whom they had chosen to be their Speaker, for His Majesty's Royal Approbation.
And, after a short Speech made by him to His Majesty, expressing his hearty Affection and Duty to His
Majesty and His Government:
Approved of
The Lord Keeper, by His Majesty's Command, acquainted the House of Commons, "That His Majesty
was pleased to approve of the Choice they had made;
and did allow of Mr. Harley to be their Speaker."
Then Mr. Speaker returned His Majesty Thanks, for
His Gracious Approbation of the Choice and Acceptance of His Service; and humbly prayed, in the Name
of the Commons,
"That His Majesty would be graciously pleased
to allow and confirm all their ancient Rights and
Privileges; particularly, That they might have
Liberty and Freedom of Speech in all their
Debates.
"That their Persons, Estates, and Servants, be free
from Arrests and Troubles.
"That they may have Access to His Royal Person,
as Occasion shall require.
"That His Majesty would have a gracious Opinion
of all their Actions; and that, if himself at
any Time should mistake, he might have His
Majesty's favourable Interpretation and gracious Pardon."
Then the Lord Keeper, by His Majesty's further
Command, said,
"Mr. Speaker,
"His Majesty is pleased to say, That He is fully
assured of the Prudence and Discretion, as well as of
the Affections of His House of Commons; and as to
the Suit which you have made in their Name, His
Majesty does most willingly grant to them all their
Privileges, in as full a Manner as they were ever
granted by any of His Royal Predecessors: As to what
you have prayed in relation to yourself, the King
will put the best and most favourable Construction
upon your Endeavours; being satisfied that you have
a Heart, full of Loyalty to him, and of Zeal for the
Good of your Country."
Then His Majesty spake as followeth:
King's Speech.
"My Lords and Gentlemen,
"I promise Myself you are met together full of that
just Sense of the common Danger of Europe, and that
Resentment of the late Proceedings of the French King,
which has been so fully and universally exprest, in
the loyal and seasonable Addresses of My People.
"The owning and setting up the pretended Prince
of Wales for King of England, is not only the highest
Indignity offered to Me, and the Nation; but do so
nearly concern every Man, who has a Regard for the
Protestant Religion, or the present and future Quiet
and Happiness of his Country, that I need not press
you to lay it seriously to Heart, and to consider, what
further effectual Means may be used, for securing the
Succession of the Crown in the Protestant Line, and
extinguishing the Hopes of all Pretenders, and their
open and secret Abettors.
"By the French King's placing His Grandson on the
Throne of Spain, He is in a Condition to oppress the
rest of Europe, unless speedy and effectual Measures
be taken.
"Under this Pretence, He is become the real Master
of the whole Spanish Monarchy; He has made it to
be entirely depending on France, and disposes of it
as of His own Dominions; and, by that Means, He has
surrounded His Neighbours in such a Manner, that,
though the Name of Peace may be said to continue,
yet they are put to the Expence and Inconveniencies
of a War.
"This must affect England in the nearest and most
sensible Manner; in respect to our Trade, which will
soon become precarious in all the valuable Branches
of it; in respect to our Peace and Safety at Home,
which we cannot hope should long continue; and in
respect to that Part which England ought to take in
the Preservation of the Liberty of Europe.
"In order to obviate the general Calamity with
which the rest of Christendom is threatened by this
exorbitant Power of France, I have concluded several
Alliances, according to the Encouragement given Me
by both Houses of Parliament; which I will direct
shall be laid before you, and which, I doubt not, you
will enable Me to make good.
"There are some other Treaties still depending, that
shall be likewise communicated to you as soon as they
are perfected.
"It is sit I should tell you, the Eyes of all Europe are
upon this Parliament; all Matters are at a Stand till
your Resolutions are known; and therefore no Time
ought to be lost.
"You have yet an Opportunity, by GOD's Blessing,
to secure to you, and your Posterity, the quiet Enjoyment of your Religion and Liberties, if you are not
wanting to yourselves, but will exert the ancient Vigour of the English Nation: But I tell you plainly,
My Opinion is, if you do not lay Hold on this Occasion, you have no Reason to hope for another.
"In order to do your Part, it will be necessary to
have a great Strength at Sea, and to provide for the
Security of our Ships in Harbour; and also, that there
be such a Force at Land, as is expected in Proportion
to the Forces of our Allies.
"Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
"I do recommend these Matters to you with that
Concern and Earnestness which their Importance requires: At the same Time, I cannot but press you to
take Care of the public Credit; which cannot be preserved but by keeping sacred that Maxim, That they
shall never be Losers, who trust to a Parliamentary
Security.
"It is always with Regret, when I do ask Aids of
My People; but you will observe, that I desire nothing
which relates to any Personal Expence of Mine: I am
only pressing to you to do all you can for your own
Safety and Honour, at so critical and dangerous a
Time; and am willing, that what is given should be
wholly appropriated to the Purposes for which it is
intended.
"And, since I am speaking on this Head, I think it
proper to put you in Mind, that, during the late
War, I ordered the Accompts to be laid Yearly before the Parliament; and also gave My Assent to several Bills for taking the public Accompts, that My
Subjects might have Satisfaction how the Money given
for the War was applied: And I am willing that Matter may be put in any further Way of Examination,
that it may appear, whether there were any Misapplications and Mismanagements, or whether the Debt
that remains upon us has really arisen from the Shortness of the Supplies, or the Deficiency of the Funds.
"I have already told you, how necessary Dispatch
will be, for carrying on that great public Business,
whereon our Safety, and all that is valuable to us, depends: I hope, what Time can be spared will be
employed about those other very desirable Things,
which I have so often recommended from the Throne;
I mean, the forming some good Bills, for employing the
Poor, for encouraging Trade, and the further suppressing of Vice.
"My Lords and Gentlemen,
"I hope you are come together determined to avoid
all Manner of Disputes and Differences, and resolved
to act with a general and hearty Concurrence for promoting the common Cause; which alone can make this
a happy Session.
"I should think it as great a Blessing as could befall
England, if I could observe you as much inclined to
lay aside those unhappy fatal Animosities, which divide and weaken you, as I am disposed to make all
My Subjects safe and easy as to any, even the highest,
Offences committed against Me.
"Let Me conjure you to disappoint the only Hopes
of our Enemies, by your Unanimity: I have shewn,
and will always shew, how desirous I am to be the
common Father of all My People: Do you, in like
Manner, lay aside Parties and Divisions: Let there be
no other Distinction heard of among us, for the future, but of those who are for the Protestant Religion and the present Establishment; and of those who
mean a Popish Prince, and a French Government.
"I will only add this: If you do in good Earnest desire to see England hold the Balance of Europe, and to
be indeed at the Head of the Protestant Interest, it
will appear by your right improving the present Opportunity."
Then His Majesty was pleased to withdraw; and the
Commons went to their House.
His Majesty's Speech was read by the Lord Keeper.
Whereupon,
Committee to draw an Address.
Lords Committees were appointed, to draw an Address, to be presented to His Majesty, upon that
Part of His Majesty's most Gracious Speech which
takes Notice of the great Indignity offered to His
Majesty and this Nation, by the French King's
owning and setting up the pretended Prince of
Wales, for King of England; and to give His Majesty the Assurances of this House, in supporting
His Majesty's Government, and the Succession of
the Crown, according to the Acts of Parliament
limiting the same in the Protestant Line; and report to this House.
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Dux Devon, Senescallus.
Dux Somerset.
Dux Bolton.
Dux Bedford.
March. Normanby.
Comes Lindsey, Magnus Camerarius.
Comes Northampton.
Comes Manchester.
Comes Rivers.
Comes Stamford.
Comes Kingston.
Comes Scarsdale.
Comes Feversham.
Comes Radnor.
Comes Nottingham.
Comes Portland.
Comes Bradford.
Viscount Weymouth. |
Ds. Ferrers.
Ds. North & Grey.
Ds. Mohun.
Ds. Rockingham.
Ds. Osborne.
Ds. Stawell.
Ds. Guilford.
Ds. Jeffreys.
Ds. Herbert.
Ds. Halifax. |
Their Lordships, or any Five of them; to meet
To-morrow, at Ten of the Clock in the Forenoon, in the Prince's Lodgings near the House
of Peers.
Adjourn.
Dominus Custos Magni Sigilli declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque ad et in diem Jovis,
primum diem Januarii jam prox. sequen. hora duodecima, Dominis sic decernentibus.