House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 30 May 1685

Sabbati, 30 Maii, 1685.

Prayers.

Thetford Election.

APETITION of the Burgesses and Inhabitants of Thetford in the County of Norfolke, touching the Election for the said Town, was read.

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

Chester Election.

A Petition of Sir Robert Cotton Baronet, and John Manwaring Esquire, touching the Election for the County of Chester, was read.

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

Chippin Wickham Election.

A Petition of Thomas Lewis and William Serjeant, Esquires, touching the Election for Chippin Wickham in the County of Bucks, was read.

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

Grantham Election.

A Petition of John Newton Esquire, touching the Election for the Borough of Grantham in the County of Lincolne, was read.

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

Dartmouth Election.

A Petition of Charles Boone Esquire, touching the Election for the Borough of Clifton Dartmouth Hardnesse, was read.

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

Peterborough Election.

A Petition of the Dean and Chapter of Peterborough, touching the Election and Return of Members to serve in this present Parliament for the City of Peterborough was read.

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

Dr. Sherlock thanked.

Ordered, That the Thanks of this House be given to Dr. Sherlock, for his excellent Sermon, Yesterday preached before this House: And that he be desired to print his Sermon: And that Mr. Dolben do present him with the Thanks, and acquaint him with the Desire of the House.

Expiring Laws.

Ordered, That the Committee appointed to inspect such Laws as are expired, or near expiring, and to report their Opinions therein to the House, be revived; and do sit on Monday in the Afternoon, at Three of the Clock.

Coinage.

Ordered, That Mr. Coryton have Leave to bring in a Bill for reviving the Act concerning Coinage.

Montgomery Election.

Ordered, That the Merits of the Election of Members to serve in this Parliament for the Borough of Montgomery, be heard at the Bar, the first Sitting Day after Whitsunday.

Tavistock Election.

A Petition of Edward Russell Esquire, touching the Election for the Borough of Tavistock in the County of Devon, was read.

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

Lancaster Election.

A Petition of Charles Lord Brandon, touching the Election for the Town of Lancaster, was read.

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

Judicature for Houses burnt.

A Bill touching appointing a Judicature, to determine Differences on occasion of Houses burnt or demolished in and about the City of Westminster, being presented to the House;

Ordered, That the Bill do lie on the Clerk's Table.

St. Albans Election.

A Petition of Sir Samuel Grimston Baronet, touching the Election for the Town of St. Albans in the County of Hertford, was read.

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

Army Accompts.

The House being informed, that Sir Thomas Player and Colonel Whitley attended at the Door, according to an Order of the Twenty-seventh Instant, made for that Purpose;

And they being called in; and they informing this House, That they had brought an Abstract of their Accompts, mentioned in the said Order, by way of Debtor and Creditor; but that the great Book of the said Accompts, and several Vouchers and Papers relating thereunto, were out of their Hands; but that they hoped to get the same by Monday next;

And (upon their being withdrawn) the House being acquainted, That the said great Book, and several Papers relating to the said Accompts, were in the Hands of the Auditor of the Imprests, by Direction of the Right honourable the Lord High Treasurer of England.

Ordered, That Mr. Guy, a Member of this House, do attend his Lordship, and desire his Lordship to give Direction, That the said Book, Vouchers, and Papers, be sent to this House on Monday Morning next: And that the said Sir Thomas Player and Colonel Whitley do then attend again: And that the Serjeant at Arms attending this House do give them Notice thereof.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker be desired to write to Sir Gilbert Gerrard and Colonel Birch (who were to have attended this House this Day, according to an Order of the Twenty seventh Instant, but are in the Country, and so could not have timely Notice); and thereby give them Notice of the said Order; and for them to attend, and bring in their Accounts accordingly.

Rebuilding Northampton.

A Bill for Continuance of an Act, intituled, An Act for the better and more easy Rebuilding of the Town of Northampton, was read.

Ordered, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Sandwich Writ.

Mr. Pepys, being returned a Member to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Harwich, and for the Port of Sandwich, made his Election to serve for Harwich.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue out his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a new Writ, for electing a Baron to serve in this present Parliament for the Port of Sandwich in the County of Kent.

Recovery of Tythes.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for the more speedy Recovery of small Tythes.

Message to attend the King.

A Message from his Majesty, by Sir Thomas Duppa, Gentleman 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.

The House being returned; Mr. Speaker acquaints the House, That, after he had presented his Majesty with the Bill for Settling the Revenue on his Majesty during his Life, which was settled on his late Majesty during his Life; his Majesty was pleased to make a gracious Speech: Which, lest he should misrepeat his Majesty, or misguide the House, he had obtained a Copy of; and read the same to the House: Which is as followeth; viz.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

I Thank you very heartily for the Bill you have presented Me this Day; and I assure you, the Readiness and Chearfulness that has attended the Dispatch of it, is as acceptable to Me, as the Bill itself.

After so happy a Beginning, you may believe I would not call upon you unnecessarily for an extraordinary Supply: But, when I tell you, That the Stores of the Navy and Ordnance are extremely exhausted; That the Anticipations upon several Branches of the Revenue are great and burdensome; That the Debts of the King my Brother to his Servants and Family are such as deserve Compassion; That the Rebellion in Scotland, without putting more Weight upon it than it really deserves, must oblige Me to a considerable Expence extraordinary; I am sure such Considerations will move you to give Me an Aid to provide for those Things, wherein the Security, the Ease, and the Happiness of My Government are so much concerned. But, above all, I must recommend to you the Care of the Navy, the Strength and Glory of this Nation; That you will put it into such a Condition, as may make us considered and respected abroad. I cannot express my Concern upon this Occasion more suitable to My own Thoughts of it, than by assuring you, I have a true English Heart, as jealous of the Honour of the Nation as you can be: And I please Myself with the Hopes, that, by God's Blessing, and your Assistance, I may carry the Reputation of it yet higher in the World, than ever it has been in the time of any of My Ancestors. And, as I will not call upon you for Supplies, but when they are of publick Use and Advantage; so I promise you, That what you shall give me upon such Occasions, shall be managed with good Husbandry; and I will take care it shall be employed to the Uses for which I ask them.

Supply.

A Motion being made, For a Supply, upon his Majesty's Speech;

Resolved, &c. That this House will immediately resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the said Motion.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.
Mr. Solicitor General took the Chair of the Committee.
Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Mr. Solicitor General, reports from the Committee of the whole House, appointed to consider of a Supply to his Majesty, That the said Committee, having taken the same into their Consideration, had agreed upon several Resolves: Which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered them in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same being read, are as follow:

Resolved, Nemine contradicente, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, That a Supply be given to his Majesty towards the Repairs of the Navy and Ordnance, and the Stores for the same; and for those other Occasions in his Majesty's Speech.

Resolved, &c. That, towards the said Supply, an Imposition be laid on all Wines and Vinegar.

Resolved, &c. That the Imposition to be laid on Wines and Vinegar be the same that was laid thereon by an Act of Parliament made in the Two-and-twentieth Year of his late Majesty's Reign, intituled, An Act for granting to his Majesty an Imposition upon all Wines and Vinegar imported between the Four-and-twentieth Day of June, 1670, and the Four-and-twentieth Day of June, 1678.

Resolved, &c. That the House be moved, That they will, on Monday next, resolve into a Committee of the whole House, to consider further upon a Supply for his Majesty.

The First of the said Resolves being read a Second time;

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Committee, That a Supply be given to his Majesty, for the Repairs of the Navy and Ordnance, and the Stores for the same; and for those other Occasions in his Majesty's Speech.

The Second of the said Resolves being read a Second time to the House;

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Committee, That towards the said Supply, an Imposition be laid on all Wines and Vinegar.

The Third of the said Resolves being read a Third time;

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Committee, That the Imposition to be laid upon Wine and Vinegar be the same that was laid thereon by Act of Parliament made in the Two-and-twentieth Year of his late Majesty's Reign, intituled, An Act for granting to his Majesty an Imposition upon all Wines and Vinegar imported between the Four-and-twentieth Day of June 1670, and the Four-and-twentieth Day of June 1678.

Resolved, &c. That this House will, on Monday Morning next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to proceed further in the Consideration of the said Supply.

Ordered, That Mr. Solicitor General do prepare a Bill, pursuant to the said Resolves; and present the same to the House on Monday Morning next.

Thetford Election.

Ordered, That the Matter of the Return for Thetford be heard on Monday Morning next, at the Bar of this House.

And then the House adjourned to Nine of the Clock on Monday Morning next.