House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 29 November 1678

Veneris, 29 die Novembris, 1678.

Prayers.

Answer to Address.

MR. Secretary Coventry acquaints the House, That his Majesty had been attended with the Address concerning Mr. Oates: And that his Majesty would take Time to consider, and return an Answer.

Disbanding the Army.

The House then resolved into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Manner for disbanding the Army.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Sir John Trevor took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Lords desire a Paper to be communicated.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir John Coell and Sir Samuel Clarke;

Mr. Speaker, The Lords have received Information, That there is a Faculty under the Seal of Cardinal Barberini, for dispensing with the Taking of Oaths, and other Things, in the Hands of a Member of this House; which their Lordships desire may be communicated to them.

The Messengers being withdrawn;

Sir John Knight acquaints the House, That the Paper mentioned by the Lords was found amongst Mr. Ireland's Papers: And he delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table:

Which being read by Mr. Speaker;

Ordered, That the said Paper be sent to the Lords: And that Mr. Speaker do acquaint the Messengers, That when their Lordships have perused the same, this House does expect it should be returned again, in order to be entered in the Journal of this House.

And the Messengers being called in; the said Paper was delivered to them: And Mr. Speaker acquainted them with the Pleasure of the House.

Paper respecting the Plot.

Sir Charles Cotterill acquaints the House, That he had been with the French Ambassador; and that he had obtained a Copy of That Part of the Letter, of which this House Yesterday received Information: Which, being delivered in, and read at the Table, is as followeth:

Mons. Valkenier, Resident of Holland at Franckland, writes thus to the States:

November the 11th, 1678.

SOME Days since a Jesuit, coming from Rome, arrived at Basil, with Intent to go for England; who, being in Discourse with certain Merchants there, is reported to have said, That there was something designed in England against the King, whereof, he believed, he should hear the Effect, before he should get to his Journey's End; and, for the going through with the Design, he should find more than a Thousand Jesuits in England. During this Discourse, the Post brought News of the Discovery of the Conspiracy; whereupon the Jesuit withdrew, and suffered himself no more to be seen.

Ordered, That this Letter be communicated to the Lords; and that Sir Charles Cotterill do go up with a Message to the Lords for that Purpose.

Disbanding the Army.

The House then resolved again into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Manner for Disbanding of the Army.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Sir John Trevor took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Sir John Trevor reports from the said Committee, That they had taken the Matter to them referred into Consideration; and had agreed upon several Votes: Which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were twice read; and, upon the Question, severally agreed to; and are as followeth:

Resolved, That the Commissary General of the Musters do bring in a List of all the Regiments and Companies that have been raised and come from foreign Parts, since the Nine-and-twentieth of September 1677, and the Time when they entered into Pay.

Resolved, That the Paymaster of the Army do bring in a State and Account, of what Money hath been paid to every Troop and Company of the Forces raised or come from foreign Parts, since the Nine-and-twentieth of September 1677; and what is due and in Arrears to them, from the said Nine-and-twentieth of September 1677, to the First of December next.

Resolved, That the Auditor of the Exchequer do bring in an Account of what Money he hath issued to the Paymaster of the Army, for the Use of the Forces raised or come from foreign Parts, since the Nine-and-twentieth of September 1677.

Resolved, That the Commissary General of the Musters do bring in a List of all such Forces as are now in Flanders, which were raised since the Nine-and-twentieth of September 1677; and another List of all such Forces as are now in England, raised since the Nine-andtwentieth of September 1677; and of such Forces as are come from foreign Parts since the Nine-and-twentieth of September 1677.

Resolved, That the Paymaster General of the Army do bring in a distinct Account of what Money hath been paid to the Forces now in Flanders, raised since the Nine-and-twentieth of September 1677.

Resolved, That the Money, to be raised for the Disbanding of the Army, shall be paid into the Chamber of London.

Resolved, That the said Money shall be issued out by Commissioners to be named in the Act.

Resolved, That the said Commissioners shall not exceed the Number of Three.

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to prepare Instructions for disbanding the Army; as followeth,

Sir John Trevor, Sir Henry Capell, Sir Gilbert Gerrard, Sir John Hotham, Sir Lionel Walden, Sir John Knight, Sir Thomas Meers, Lord Allington, Mr. Booth, Mr. Montague, Sir Eliab Harvey, Lord Cavendish, Sir Francis Drake, Sir Anthony Irby, Sir Joseph Tredenham, Sir William Hickman, Mr. Greenville, Sir Francis Rolls, Sir Robert Howard, Col. Burch, Mr. Spry, Sir Tho. Littleton, Sir John Talbot, Serjeant Gregory, Sir Charles Wheeler, Colonel Titus, Sir John Berkenhead, Sir Christ. Musgrave, Mr. Harbord, Sir Francis Russell, Mr. Stanhop, Sir Richard Corbett, Sir Nicholas Carew, Sir Henry Goodrick, Sir Thomas Lee, Sir Thomas Hanmer, Mr. Hamden, Sir Tho. Clarges; or any Three of them: And they are to meet at Three of the Clock this Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber: And are impowered to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

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