House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 15 April 1678

Lunæ, 15 die Aprilis, 1678.

THE House being met, and Mr. Speaker Elect set in the Chair;

Mr. Speaker approved by the King.

A Message was delivered by Sir Edward Carteret, Usher of the Black Rod;

Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

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

And accordingly Mr. Speaker Elect, with the House, went up to attend his Majesty; the Serjeant at Arms attending this House following with the Mace unadvanced.

And his Majesty having approved and allowed of Mr. Speaker;

The House and Mr. Speaker returned with the Mace carried before him.

Adjournment.

And Mr. Speaker, having taken the Chair, acquainted the House, That His Majesty did by the Lord Chief Justice North, signify his Pleasure, That both Houses of Parliament should adjourn themselves until Monday the Nine-and-twentieth of April Instant: And that the Reason of such Adjournment was to this Effect;

That the Dutch Ambassador had not at present full Instructions; and that the Affairs concerning the Alliances were not yet so ripe or fit to be imparted to both Houses of Parliament, as it was expected they might have been upon the last Adjournment.

Causes before Committee of Privileges.

Ordered, That the Causes now depending before the Committee of Elections and Privileges, be put off Fourteen Days from the time they would have been heard in Course, as they now stand before the Committee: And that Sir Thomas Meres, Chairman of the said Committee, be impowered to give Notice thereof to all Parties concerned therein; and to appoint them particular Days; and issue out Summons accordingly.

Durham Election.

A Petition of William Tempest Esquire, complaining of an undue Return of John Parkhurst Esquire, to serve for the City of Durham, in Injury of the Petitioner, was read.

Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to the Consideration of the Committee of Elections and Privileges; to examine the Matter, and report the same, with their Opinions therein, to the House.

Danger from Popery.

Ordered, That the Committee appointed to draw up Reasons for the Conference to be had with the Lords, concerning the Danger the Nation is in by the Growth of Popery, do sit during the Interval of the Sitting of the House; to perfect the Matters referred to them; and to make their Report at the First Sitting of the House: And that Mr. Booth, Mr. Williams, Mr. Waller, Sir Gilbert Gerrard, Sir Ralph Delavale, Sir Anthony Irby, Mr. Sacheverell, Sir John Mallett, Sir John Moreton, Mr. Mallett, Sir John Fenwick, be added to the said Committee.

Resolved, &c. That the House be called over on Tomorrow Fortnight.

Norwich Writ.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue out his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a new Writ, for the Electing of a Member to serve in this present Parliament for the City of Norwich, in the room of Francis Corey Esquire, deceased.

Members to be summoned.

Call of the House.

Ordered, That the Clerk of the House do prepare Letters, to be signed by Mr. Speaker, to be sent to the Sheriffs, requiring them to signify to all the Members that serve for the Places within their respective Counties, that they give their Attendance on Monday the Twenty-ninth of April Instant: And that the House is to be Called over the Day following; at which time, such as shall be absent, will incur the Displeasure of the House.

And then the House, upon the Question, adjourned until Monday the Twenty-ninth of April Instant, Eight of the Clock in the Morning.