Martis, 13 die Aprilis, 1675.

Prayers.

Message to attend the King.

MESSAGE from his Majesty, by Sir Edward Carteret, Usher of the Black Rod.

Mr. Speaker,

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

And accordingly, Mr. Speaker, with the House, went up to attend his Majesty.

The King's Speech reported.

Mr. Speaker, and the House, being returned;

Mr. Speaker reports, That he had attended the King in the House of Lords; and that His Majesty had been pleased to let him have a Copy of his Speech: Which Mr. Speaker read to the House, and is as followeth.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

THE principal End of My calling you now, is to know, what you think may be yet wanting to the Security of Religion and Property; and to give Myself the Satisfaction of having used the utmost of My Endeavours to procure and settle a right and lasting Understanding between us; for I must tell you, I find the contrary so much laboured; and, that the pernicious Designs of ill Men have taken so much Place under specious Pretences, that it is high Time to be watchful in preventing their Contrivances; of which it is not the least, that they would, by all the Means they can devise, make it impracticable any longer to continue this present Parliament: For that Reason, I confess, I cannot think such have any good Meaning to Me: And therefore, when I consider, how much the greatest Part of this Parliament have either Themselves, or Fathers, given Me Testimony of their Affections and Loyalty, I should be extreme loth to oblige those Enemies, by parting with such Friends; and they may be assured, that none shall be able to recommend themselves to Me by any other Way, than their good Services. I have done as much as on My Part was possible, to extinguish the Fears and Jealousies of Popery; and will leave nothing undone, that may shew the World My Zeal to the Protestant Religion, as it is established in the Church of England; from which I will never depart. I must needs recommend to you the Condition of the Fleet, which I am not able to put into that Estate it ought to be; and which will require so much Time to repair and build, that I should be sorry to see this Summer, and consequently a whole Year, lost, without providing for it.

The Season of the Year will not permit any long Session; nor would I have called you now, but in Hopes to do something that may give Content to all My Subjects; and to lay before you the Consideration of the Fleet; for I intend to meet you again in Winter. In the mean time I earnestly recommend to you all, such a Temper and Moderation in your Proceedings, as may tend to unite us all in Council and Affections; and disappoint the Expectations of those who can hope only by violent and irregular Motions to prevent the bringing of this Session to an happy Conclusion.

The rest I leave to the Lord Keeper.

Address on King's Speech.

The Question being propounded, That the Thanks of the House be returned to His Majesty, for His gracious Speech;

The Question being put, That the Debate thereof be now adjourned;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

And so it passed in the Negative.

Resolved, Nemine contradicente, That the humble and hearty Thanks of this House be returned to His Majesty, for His gracious Promises and Assurances expressed in His Speech, to preserve and maintain us in the established Religion, and our Properties, according to Law; and for His Calling us together at this Time, for that Purpose.

Resolved, &c. That the House will go in a Body, to return their Thanks to his Majesty: And such Members of this House, as are of his Majesty's Privy Council, are desired to know His Pleasure, when He will be attended therewith.

Augmenting Vicarages.

A Bill for Augmentation of small Vicarages, &c. was read the First time.

Ordered, That the said Bill be read a Second time.

Grand Committees.

Ordered, That the Grand Committee for Religion do sit every Monday, at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the House.

Ordered, That the Grand Committee for Grievances do sit every Wednesday, at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the House.

Ordered, That the Grand Committee for Trade do sit every Friday, at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the House.

Ordered, That the Grand Committee for Courts of Justice do sit every Saturday in the House, at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon.

New Writs issued.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue Warrants to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out Writs for Election of Members in all Places vacant by Death or Removal, where there was no Claim depending.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue out his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a new Writ, for Election of a Member to serve as Knight of the Shire for the County of Wilts, in the room of the Lord Cornbury, called up to the House of Lords.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue out his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a new Writ, for Election of a Member, to serve for the Borough of Hartford, in the room of the Lord Fanshawe, deceased.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue out his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a new Writ, for Election of a Member to serve as Knight of the Shire for the County of Norfolke, in the room of the Lord Richardson, deceased.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue out his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a new Writ, for Election of a Member to serve for Lynn Regis in the County of Norfolke, in the room of Sir Francis North, called up to the House of Lords.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue out his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a new Writ, for Election of a Member to serve for the City of Gloucester, in the room of Sir Edward Massey, deceased.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue out his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a new Writ, for Election of a Member to serve for the City of Bath in the County of Somersett, in the room of Sir Francis Popham, deceased.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue out his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a new Writ, for Election of a Member to serve for the Borough of the Devises in the County of Wilts, in the room of Edward Lewys Esquire, deceased.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue out his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a new Writ, for Election of a Member, to serve for the Borough of Clitherowe in the County of Lancaster, in the room of Colonel Pudsey, deceased.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue out his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a new Writ, for Election of a Member to serve for the County of Carnarvan, in the room of Sir Richard Wynn, deceased.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue out his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a new Writ, for Election of a Member to serve for the Borough of Newcastle Under Line, in the room of Edward Maynwaring, deceased.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue out his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a new Writ, for Election of a Member to serve for the City of Lincolne, in the room of Sir John Monson, deceased.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue out his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a new Writ, for Election of a Member to serve for the Borough of Weobly in the County of Herefford, in the room of Sir Thomas Tompkins, deceased.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue out his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a new Writ, for Election of a Member to serve for the Village of Grimsby Magna in the County of Lincolne, in the room of Colonel Hollis, deceased.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue out his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a new Writ, for the Election of a Member to serve for the County of Northampton, in the room of Sir Justinian Isham, deceased.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue out his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a new Writ, for the Election of a Member to serve for the County of Southampton, in the room of the Lord St. Johns, called up to the House of Lords.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue out his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a new Writ, for the Election of a Member to serve for Abington in the County of Berkes, in the room of Sir George Stonehouse, deceased.

Committee of Privileges.

Ordered, That a Committee of Elections and Privileges be appointed of these Members following; viz. Sir Thomas Meeres, Sir John Brikenhead, Mr. Chetwynd, Mr. Wright, Sir Lancelott Lake, Sir Baynham Throgmorton, Mr. Mallett, Mr. Price, Colonel Kirby, Mr. Secretary Coventry, Mr. Maynard, Sir Richard Ford, Colonel Strangwayes, Sir Cirrill Wych, Mr. Walter Chetwind, Lord Ancram, Sir Thomas Allen, Sir John Mallett, Mr. Morgan, Mr. Cornwallis, Sir Robert Holmes, Mr. Serjeant Maynard, Colonel Gilby, Sir Wm. Coventry, Mr. Secretary Williamson, Sir Joseph Tredenham, Mr. Nicholas Morris, Sir John Coventry, Mr. Hugh Boscowen, Mr. Weld, Sir John Bramston, Mr. Edward Boscowen, Sir PhillippWarwick, Mr. Tho. Morris, Mr. Russell, Sir John Shawe, Sir Sollo. Swale, Sir Samuell Bernerdiston, Major Broxholme, Mr. Powle, Sir Hen. Goodrick, Mr. Graham, Mr. Clerke, Sir Gilbert Gerrard, Mr. Roberts, Lord Angier, Mr. Garraway, Sir Tho. Lee, Colonel Sandis, Sir Robert Carr, Sir Tho. Byde, Major General Egerton, Sir Nicholas Carew, Mr. Glascock, Sir Wm. Hartopp, Sir John Hanmer, Mr. Peircy Goring, Sir Robert Thomas, Sir John Woerden, Mr. Waller, Sir Thomas Dolman, Sir Fran. Russell, Sir Edw. Deering, Sir John Holman, Sir Robert Howard, Mr. Stewart, Sir Richard Temple, Col. Legg, Sir Courtney Poole, Sir Jeoffry Shakerley, Mr. Spry, Mr. Child, Colonel Whitley, Sir Robert Barnham, Sir Richard Wiseman, Sir Nicho. Slaning, Mr. Palmes, Sir John Heath, Mr. Lawrence Hyde, Sir Eliab Harvey, Sir Anthony Irby, Sir Edward Harley, Sir John Pettus: And all that come are to have Voices: And they are to meet this Afternoon, at Four of the Clock, in the Exchequer Chamber; and to meet every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday: And to take into Consideration all such Matters as shall or may come in Question, touching Returns, Elections, and Privileges; and to proceed upon Double Returns, in the first Place; and report their Proceedings, with their Opinions therein, to the House. And all Persons that will question Returns already made, are to do it in Fourteen Days next; and so in Fourteen Days, after any new Return shall be brought in. And the Committee is to have Power to receive Petitions; and to send for Witnesses, Persons, Papers, and Records, for their Information; and to make Report of any Matter, which may concern Breach of Privilege, with their Opinions therein. And all Members that are returned for Two or more Places, to make their Elections by this Day Three Weeks, for which of the Places they will serve; provided there be no Question upon the Return for that Place. And if any thing shall come in Question, touching the Return or Matter of Privilege of any Member of this Committee, such Member is to withdraw, during the Time the Matter which concerns himself, is in Debate.

Order to Clerk of the Crown.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do give Order to the Clerk of the Crown, to take care, that the Writs for Elections of new Members be delivered to the Sheriff, or proper Officer.

Writs for Durham.

A Debate arising, concerning the Issuing out of Writs for the Choice of Members to serve for the City and County of Durham;

Resolved, That the same be referred to the Committee of Elections and Privileges, to consider thereof; and to report the same, with their Opinions, to the House.

And then the House adjourned till To-morrow Morning, Eight of the Clock.