House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 18 June 1678

Martis, 18 die Junii, 1678.

Prayers.

Cave's Will.

AN ingrossed Bill, sent from the Lords, intituled, An Act for the better Enabling the Trustees of Sir Thomas Cave, Knight and Baronet, deceased, for the Selling of Lands for the Performance of the Will of the said Sir Thomas Cave; and likewise for the Vesting and Settling other Lands; was read the First time.

Resolved, &c. That the Bill be read a Second time.

Butter and Cheese Trade.

An ingrossed Bill, sent from the Lords, intituled, An Act for better Encouragement of the Dealers in Butter and Cheese, was read a Second time.

Resolved, &c. That this Bill be committed to Sir Rob. Wright, Mr. Crouch, Sir Geo. Downing, Sir Trevor Williams, Mr. Spry, Sir Edw. Deering, Sir Tho. Doleman, Sir Rob. Southwell, Mr. Love, Sir Cha. Wheeler, Sir Rich. Everard, Mr. Cheaney, Sir Court. Poole, Sir John Burkenhead, Sir Fra. Clerke, Captain Jones, Colonel Birch, Sir Sam. Bernardiston, Sir Tho. Littleton, Mr. Devereux, Mr. Elliot, Sir Jo. Moreton, Mr. Mallet, Sir Jo. Bramston, Mr. Packer, Colonel Philipps, Sir Edm. Jennings, Mr. Onslowe, Mr. Trelawny, Mr. Guy, Mr. May, Sir Tho. Clerges, Mr. Grenvile, Sir Hen. Ford, Sir Wm. Thompson, Sir John Hobart, Mr. Daniell, Mr. Papillon, Sir Jo. Coryton, Sir Jo. Covert, Sir Jo. Holland, Mr. Mainard, Captain Price, Sir Cirell Wyche, Sir Wm. Blackett, Mr. Westfaleing, Sir Jo. Nicholas, and all that serve for the Counties of Cheshire, Lancaster, Suffolk, Somersett, and Glocester: And all that come are to have Voices: And they are to meet To-morrow at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Ditto.

A Petition of several Cheesemongers of the Cities of London and Westminster, and the County of Middlesex, was read.

Resolved, &c. That the said Petition be referred to the Consideration of the said Committee.

Vale Navigation.

A Bill for making navigable the River Fale, alias Vale, was read the Third time; and passed.

Removal of Suits.

A Bill to prevent the Removal of Suits from inferior Courts, was read the Second time.

Resolved, &c. That this Bill be committed to Colonel Birch, Sir Trevor Williams, Sir Ant. Irby, Sir Jo. Knight, Sir Sam. Barnardiston, Mr. Buscowen, Sir John Holland, Sir Tho. Clerges, Sir Jo. Otway, Mr. Foot, Sir Rich. Head, Sir Jo. Trevor, Sir Tho. Meres, Sir Hen. Ford, Sir Geo. Downing, Mr. Spry, Mr. Wyn, Mr. Love, Sir Wm. Lowther, Sir Jeof. Shakerly, Lord Ancram, Mr. Treby, Sir Edw. Deering, Lord Cavendish, Sir Tho. Lee, Sir Edm. Jennings, Sir Tho. Littleton: And they are to meet Tomorrow, at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Burying in Woollen.

Sir George Downing reports from the Committee to whom the Bill, sent from the Lords, intituled, An Act for burying in Woollen, was committed, several Amendments, agreed by the Committee to be made to the Bill: Which he read in his Place, and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table.

Message to attend the King.

A Message from the King, 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 Lords.

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

And the House being returned;

The King's Speech reported.

Mr. Speaker reports, That his Majesty was pleased to make Use of his Paper: And that he might not either misreport or misrepeat Him, he had obtained a Copy of it: Which he read to the House; and is as followeth; viz.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

I Know very well, that the Season of the Year requires this Session should be short; and that, both for My Health, and your Occasions, we may all have Liberty to go into the Country, by the Middle of the next Month, at furthest. I think it a Matter of yet more Importance, that we part, not only fairly, but kindly too, and in perfect Confidence one of another; since nothing else can render us either safe and easy at home, or considered so far abroad as this Crown has ever been, and is now more necessary than ever, both for the Safety of Christendom, and our own: Therefore I shall at this Time open My Heart freely to you, in some Points that nearest concern both you and Me; and hope you will consider them so; because I am sure our Interests ought not to be divided; and for Me, they never shall.

I told you at the Opening of this Session, how violently Things abroad were driving on towards a Peace; and that I could not tell where they would end; but that I was resolved to save Flanders, either by a War, or Peace; in which I am still fixed, as in the greatest foreign Interest of this Nation. I must now tell you, That Things seem already to have determined in a Peace, at least as to Spaine and Holland, who have so far accepted the Terms offered by France, that My Ambassador at Nimeguen writes Me Word, he expected to be called upon, to sign by the last of this Month. My Part in it will be, not only of a Mediator, but to give my Guarantee to it; which the Consederates will call upon Me for, and I am resolved to give in the strongest Manner they themselves will desire, and I am able. How far this will go, I cannot tell; but they send Me Word already, That unless England and Holland will both join in the Charge of maintaining Flanders, even after the Peace, the Spaniards will not be in a Condition of supporting it alone, and must fall into other Measures: On the other Side, they think France will be left so great, that nothing abroad can treat with them hereafter upon an equal Foot, without the Hopes of being supported by this Crown: And to this End I am sure it will be necessary, not only to keep our Navies constantly strong at Sea, but to leave the World in some Assurance of our being well united at home; and thereby in as great an Opinion of our Conduct hereafter, as they are already of our Force.

Upon this Occasion I cannot but say, That though after our joint Resolutions of a War, and the Supplies you have given towards it, you may think the Peace an ill Bargain, because it will cost you Money; yet perhaps you will not believe it so, if you consider, that by it so great a Part of Flanders is like to be saved; whereas without the Paces We made towards War, there is nothing so certain as that the Whole of it would have been absolutely lost this Campaign, if not by this very Time: And I believe you would give much greater Sums than this will cost you, rather than the single Town of Ostend should be in the French Hands, and Forty of their Men of War in so good a Haven, over against the River's Mouth: Besides, both you and I, (as we are true Englishmen) cannot but be pleased, and understand the Importance of that Reputation we have gained abroad, by having in Forty Days raised an Army of near Thirty thousand Men, and prepared . . . Navy and Ninety Ships; which would have been now ready at Sea, if we had gone into a War.

Now, my Lords and Gentlemen, I know, that in so great Conjunctures you desire I should keep the Honour of my Crowns, and look to your Safety by some Balance in the Affairs abroad; and I should be very glad I were able to do it: But I do not see how it will be possible for Me, even in a Time of Peace, with a Revenue so impaired as Mine is, by My Debts long since contracted, and the present Anticipations; and, at the best, so disproportioned, not only to that of the Kings My Neighbours, but even to that of the United Provinces themselves, though of no larger Extent than Two or Three of our Counties; Therefore, as I said I would open my Heart freely to you, so I must tell you, That if you would see Me able in any kind to influence the great Conjunctures abroad, wherein the Honour and Safety of the Nation are so much concerned, and wherein the Turns are sometimes so short as not to give me Leave to call in time, either for your Advice or Assistances; if you would have Me able but to pursue such a War as this of Algiers, with Honour; and at the same Time keep such Fleets about our own Coasts, as may give our Neighbours the Respect for us that has been always paid this Crown; if you would have Me pass any Part of My Life in Ease or Quiet, and all the rest of it in perfect Confidence and Kindness with you and all succeeding Parliaments, you must find a Way of settling for my Life, not only My Revenue, and the additional Duties, as they were at Christmas last; but of adding to them, upon some new Funds, Three hundred thousand Pounds a Year: Upon which I shall consent, that an Act may pass, for appropriating Five hundred thousand Pounds a Year to the constant Maintenance of the Navy and Ordnance; which I take to be the greatest Safety and Interest of these Kingdoms: And I will at the same time, as I do now, assure you, that I shall not only this, or any other Session of Parliament, consent to such reasonable and publick Bills as you shall offer Me; but shall employ my whole Life to advance the true and publick Good and Safety of My People; and endeavour, while I live, that none else shall ever be able to do them Harm.

I did not in My last Speech mention the Forty thousand Pounds I am engaged to pay the Prince of Orange, for My Niece's Portion, because I had recommended it to you so lately before: But the First Payment being already due, and demanded by him, I must again put you in mind of it, and desire you will enable me to keep My Word with him.

Thanks for Speech.

Ordered, That the Thanks of this House be returned to his Majesty, for his gracious Expressions in his Speech.

Ordered, That such Members of this House as are of his Majesty's Privy Council, do present the Thanks of this House to his Majesty accordingly.

Supply.

A Motion being made, For raising Three hundred thousand Pounds per Annum, for an additional Revenue to his Majesty.

The Question being propounded, That the House will resolve into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Motion for raising of Three hundred thousand Pounds per Annum, for an additional Revenue to his Majesty.

The Question being put, That the Question be now put;

It was resolved in the Affirmative.

The Question being put, That the House will resolve into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Motion for Raising of Three hundred thousand Pounds per Annum, for an additional Revenue to his Majesty;

It passed in the Negative.

A Motion being made, That the new Imposts upon Wines and Vinegar may be continued to his Majesty:

Resolved, &c. That the House will, To-morrow Morning, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House; to consider of the Motion for continuing the new Impost upon Wines and Vinegar.

Ways and Means.

Resolved, &c. That this House will, To-morrow Morning, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Manner of raising a Supply, for Repayment of the Two hundred thousand Pounds, borrowed upon the Credit of the Additional Excise; and for paying off the extraordinary Charge of the Navy.

A Motion being made, For Forty thousand Pounds, to be given to his Majesty for paying the Portion of his Niece;

Resolved, &c. That the House will resolve itself into Committee of the whole House, To-morrow, to consider of the Motion for giving to his Majesty Forty thousand Pounds for paying of the Portion of his Niece.

A Motion being made, for a Compensation to be given to his Majesty, for the Clause of Prohibition of the French Commodities;

The Question being put, That the House will resolve into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Motion for a Compensation to be given to his Majesty, for the Clause of Prohibition of French Commodities;

The House divide.

The Yeas go forth.

And so it passed in the Negative.

Pensions, Secret Service, &c.

A Debate arising in the House upon several Heads; viz. To have an Account, of what Pensions have been charged upon the Revenue; and what Privy Seals have issued for Secret Service, since May 1677: And for a Test concerning Bribery of Members for giving their Votes: And concerning Popery and taking the Sacrament: And concerning conversing with foreign Ministers, and receiving Money from them: And concerning such as have received any Money, as Counsel for any Bill depending in the House; or any Reward for being Chairman of a Committee: And concerning such as have solicited for Voices, in any Cause depending before this House: And concerning such as have offered their Service to great Persons, to give their Votes in Parliament, and have been refused: And concerning such as keep publick Tables: And concerning such as have taken Money for granting Protections:

The Question being put, That the Debate be adjourned;

The House divide:

The Yeas go forth.

And so it passed in the Negative.

Resolved, &c. That an Account be taken, of what Pensions have been charged upon the Revenue; and what Privy Seals have issued for Secret Service, since May 1677: And that there be a Test concerning Bribery of Members for giving their Votes: And concerning Popery, and taking the Sacrament: And concerning conversing with foreign Ministers, or transacting with them, in relation to the Proceedings of this House; and receiving Money from them: And concerning such as have received any Money as Counsel for any Bill depending in the House, or any Reward for being Chairman of a Committee: And concerning such as have solicited for Voices, in any Cause depending before the House: And concerning such as have offered their Service to great Persons to give their Vote in Parliament, and have been refused: And concerning such as keep publick Tables; and at whose Charge: And concerning such as have taken Money for granting Protections: And that Inquiry be made, how many Members are outlawed, as well before as after Judgment: And that there be an Inquiry made of such Members as have gone to Conventicles or Mass.

The Question being put, That a Committee be appointed, to whom the Consideration of the Matters contained in the said Order may be referred;

The House divide.

The Yeas go forth.

And so it passed in the Negative.

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