Lunæ, 9 die Decembris, 1678.
Prayers.
Answer to Address.
MR. Speaker acquaints the House, That he attended
his Majesty, on Saturday last, in the Banquetinghouse at Whitehall: And that after my Lord Chancellor
had read the Address to the King, his Majesty was
pleased to return Answer, That He would issue out His
Proclamation according to the Address.
Disbanding the Forces.
The House then resolved into a Committee of the
whole House, to consider of the Way for Raising of
Money to disband the Forces.
Mr. Speaker left the Chair.
Sir John Trevor took the Chair of Committee.
Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair-
Conference on disbanding the Forces.
A Message from the Lords, by Sir William Beversham
and Sir John Hoskins:
Mr. Speaker, The Lords desire a present Conference
with this House in the Painted Chamber, about Business
of Importance.
The Messengers being withdrawn;
Resolved, That this House doth agree to meet the
Lords, at a present Conference, in the Painted Chamber.
The Messengers being called in; Mr. Speaker acquaints
them, That the House had agreed to meet the Lords, at
a present Conference, in the Painted Chamber.
Resolved, That Sir Tho. Lee, Sir John Talbot, Sir
Edm. Jenings, Sir Joseph Tredenham, Col. Birch, Mr.
Sachaverell, Sir Tho. Meres, Sir Edw. Deering, Col.
Titus, Mr. Powle, Mr. Solicitor General, Sir Rich.
Temple, do attend, and manage the Conference.
Sir Thomas Lee reports from the Conference had with
the Lords, That my Lord Privy Seal did manage the
Conference: And that what was offered at it was as
followeth;
"The Lords have desired this Conference with the
House of Commons, to acquaint them, That, being informed that his Majesty hath sent Orders for withdrawing
the Forces out of Flanders in order to their Disbanding,
many Difficulties and Dangers do occur to their Lordships, if such Rules and Orders be not established, by
Consideration and Advice of both Houses, that the
Disbanding may be made with Safety: Which their
Lordships conceive cannot be by bringing such a Power
together to the Forces already here: And therefore do
propose, That the Forces here may not be increased by the
Accession of more from abroad; but that a proportionable
Number of those here may be disbanded, before the
Regiments from Flanders shall arrive; and that, after
Consideration hereof by the Commons, by joint Advice
of both Houses a Reglement may be made accordingly."
Resolved, That the Consideration of the Report from
the Conference be adjourned till To-morrow Morning.-
Disbanding the Forces.
The House then again resolved into a Committee of
the whole House, to consider of raising Money to disband the Forces.
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 into Consideration; and had
agreed upon Two Votes: Which he read in his Place;
and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table:
Where they were twice read; and, upon the Question,
severally agreed: and are as followeth:
Resolved, That the Money for paying and disbanding
the Forces shall be raised by a Land Tax.
Resolved, That the Tax shall commence from the
Four-and-twentieth of November last, to be raised after
the Rate of Seventeen thousand Two hundred and Five
Pounds Four Shillings and Nine-pence Farthing by the
Month, for Twelve Months.
Resolved, That the Committee appointed to prepare a
Bill for disbanding the Forces, do bring in a Bill pursuant
to the said Votes: And they are to bring in a Clause
therein, for borrowing Money upon the Credit of the said
Act.
Impeachment of the five Lords.
Resolved, &c. That the Committee appointed to draw
up Articles of Impeachment against the Five Lords, do
sit de die in diem.
Petition from a Member in custody.
A Petition of Sir Jonathan Trelawney, a Member of
this House, now in Custody in the Prison of the Tower,
by virtue of an Order of this House, was read.
Mr. Speaker acquaints the House, That Sir Jonathan
Trelawney had, according to the Order of this House,
passed his Promise, not to prosecute the Quarrel any
further, by himself, or his Friends.
Resolved, upon reading the Petition of Sir Jonathan
Trelawney, a Member of this House committed to the
Tower, setting forth, That he being very sickly and infirm
in his Health; and that his Indisposition is very much
increased by reason of his Confinement; and that he is
advised by his Physicians that it is absolutely necessary
for the Recovery of his Health, to have the Liberty of a
better Air; and praying, that, in order to his Recovery,
he may have his Liberty during the Pleasure of the
House; That Mr. Speaker be desired to signify to the
Lieutenant of the Tower, That it is the Pleasure of this
House, that Sir Jonathan Trelawney shall have Liberty
to go into the Country, in order to the Recovering of
his Health, giving Security to the said Lieutenant to
return again upon the Order of the House.
And then the House adjourned till To-morrow
Morning, Eight of the Clock.