House of Commons Journal Volume 11: 26 November 1695

Martis, 26 die Novembris;

Wells Election.

A PETITION of Harry Bridges Esquire was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That the Borough of Wells, in the County of Somerset, sends Members to Parliament by the Election of all the Inhabitants: And the Petitioner and Mr. Serjeant Coxard were duly elected by the Majority of the rightful Voters, and ought to have been returned as Members accordingly; but the Mayor of the said Borough hath returned Edward Berkely Esquire, in Wrong of the Petitioner: And praying, That the House will hear the Merits of the Cause, and do therein what shall be just.

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

Cricklade Election.

A Petition of several of the Inhabitants of Cricklade, in the County of Wilts, was presented to the House, and read; sefting forth, That, on the 19th Day of October last, about Two a Clock in the Afternoon, John Wild, Bailiff of the said Borough, gave Notice, by Proclamation, That, at Nine a Clock the next Morning, he would proceed to an Election of Burgesses to serve in this present Parliament for the said Borough: Which short Notice being looked upon as insufficient; and several of the Electors being absent, and others intending to go to neighbouring Markets, on that Day, the Bailiff was applied to, to defer the Day of Election to a reasonable time; but he positively refused to do it; and went to an Election according to the said short Notice; and hath returned Edmund Webb and Charles Fox Esquires as duly elected; although several of the Petitioners protested against the Election, and did not give their Votes: Which Actings of the Bailiff were done with Design to surprise the Petitioners, and are illegal, as they conceive; and may be of dangerous Consequence to the Constitutions of Parliaments, if not prevented: And praying the Consideration of the House in the Premises, and the Preservation of the Petitioners Right therein.

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

Brecon Election.

A Petition of Sir Rowland Gwyn was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That at the Election of a Knight of the Shire for the County of Brecon to serve in this present Parliament, the Petitioner was chosen by the Majority of the Freeholders of the said County; but by the Partiality of the Sheriff, and several illegal Practices used by him and others, many Persons were admitted to vote, who were not Freeholders; and others were deterred and influenced in giving their Votes; and, at least, a false Return is made of Edward Jones Esquire, in Prejudice of the Petitioner, and the Freeholders of the said County: And praying, That the House will take the Premises into Consideration.

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

Shastsbury Election.

A Petition of several Inhabitants of the Borough of Shastsbury, in the County of Dorsett, was presented to the House, and read; setting forth, That, at the Election of Burgesses to serve in this present Parliament for the said Borough, Sir Math. Andrews, Sir John Moreton, Edward Nicholas, and Henry Cornish, Esquires, stood as Candidates: and Sir Malth. Andrews, and Mr. Cornish had the Majority of legal Votes; but the Mayor, shewing himself partial, admitted several Persons to be polled for Mr. Nicholas that had no Right to vote; and refused divers to poll for Mr. Cornish who had a Right, according to the Custom of the said Borough; but, by reason of such partial Proceedings, the Majority, upon the Poll, sell out to be for Mr. Nicholas, whom the Mayor hath returned, with Sir Mathew Andrews; though, of Right, Mr. Cornish ought to have been returned with Sir Math: And praying, That the House will take the Premises into Consideration.

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

Address for a general Fast.

Resolved, That an humble Address be presented to his Majesty, by such Members of this House as are of his Majesty's most Honourable Privy-Council, That he will please to appoint a Day of Fasting and Humiliation, for the imploring a Blessing upon the Consultations of this present Parliament.

Borealston Writ.

Sir Harry Hobart, being elected a Knight of the Shire for the County of Norfolk; and also a Burgess for the Borough of Borealston, in the County of Devon; made his Election to serve for the County of Norfolk.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a new Writ, for the electing a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the said Borough of Borealston, in the room of the said Sir Harry Hobart.

Members summoned.

Ordered, That the Serjeant at Arms attending this House do go into Westminster-hall, and the several Courts there, and the Court of Requests, and summon the Members there to attend the Service of the House.

And he went accordingly.

And, being returned;

The King's Speech reported.

Mr. Speaker reported, That his Majesty had been pleased to make a most gracious Speech to both Houses of Parliament; and that, by reason of the Noise, and Length of the Speech, he had, to prevent Mistakes, desired and obtained a Copy thereof: Which he read to the House; and is as followeth;

My Lords and Gentlemen,

IT is with great Satisfaction that I meet you here this Day, being assured of a good Disposition in my Parliament, when I have had such full Proofs of the Affection of my People, by their Behaviour during my Absence, and at my Return.

I was engaged in the present War by the Advice of my first Parliament, who thought it necessary for the Defence of our Religion, and for the Preservation of the Liberties of Europe; the last Parliament, with great Chearfulness, did assist me to carry it on; and I cannot doubt, but that your Concern for the common Safety will oblige you to be unanimously zealous in the Prosecution of it: And I am glad, that the Advantages which we have had this Year, give us a reasonable Ground of hoping for further Success hereafter.

Upon this Occasion, I cannot but take Notice of the Courage and Bravery the English Troops have shewn this last Summer; which, I may say, has answered their highest Character in any Age: And it will not be denied, That, without the Concurrence of the Valour and Power of England, it were impossible to put a Stop to the Ambition and Greatness of France.

Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

I think it a great Misfortune, That, from the Beginning of my Reign, I have been forced to ask so many, and such large, Aids of my People; and yet, I am confident you will agree with me in Opinion, That there will be, at least, as great Supplies requisite for carrying on the War by Sea and Land this Year, as was granted in the last Session; the rather, because our Enemies are augmenting their Troops; and the Necessity of increasing our Shipping does plainly appear:

The Funds which have been given, have proved very deficient:

The Condition of the Civil List is such, That it will not be possible for me to subsist, unless that Matter be taken into your Care:

And Compassion obliges me to mention the miserable Circumstances of the French Protestants, who suffer for their Religion:

And therefore, Gentlemen, I most earnestly recommend to you, to provide a Supply suitable to these several Occasions.

I must likewise take notice of a great Difficulty we lie under at this time, by reason of the ill State of the Coin; the Redress of which may perhaps prove a further Charge to the Nation; but this is a Matter of so general Concern, and of so very great Importance, that I have thought sit to leave it entirely to the Consideration of my Parliament.

I did recommend to the last Parliament, the forming some good Bill for the Encouragement and Increase of Seamen: I hope you will not let this Session pass, without doing somewhat in it; and that you will consider of such Laws as may be proper for the Advancement of Trade; and will have a particular Regard to That of the EastIndies, left it should be lost to the Nation: And, while the War makes it necessary to have an Army abroad, I could with some way might be thought of to raise the necessary Recruits, without giving Occasion of Complaint.

My Desire to meet my People in a new Parliament, has made the Opening of this Session very late; which I hope you will have such Regard to, as to make all possible Dispatch of the great Business before you; and will call to mind, that, by the long Continuance of the last Session, we did not only lose Advantages, which we might have had at the Beginning of the Campaign, but gave the Enemy such an Opportunity as might have proved very fatal to us: And I am the more concerned to press this, because of the great Preparations which the French make, to be early in the Field this Year.

My Lords, I have had such Experience of your good Affections; and I have such an entire Satisfaction in the Choice which my People have made of you, Gentlemen of the House of Commons, that I promise myself a happy Conclusion of this Session, unless you suffer yourselves to be missed into Heats and Divisions: Which, being the only Hope our Enemies have now left, I make no doubt but you will entirely disappoint by your Prudence, and Love to your Country.

Address on the King's Speech.

Resolved, That an humble Address be made to his Majesty, to congratulate the Success of his Arms abroad, and his safe Return home; and to return his Majesty Thanks for the Trust and Considence he repoleth in the Affections of his People; and to assure him, That this House is resolved to support his Majesty, and his Government, against all his Enemies, both at home and abroad, and effectually to assist him in the Prosecution of the present War.

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to prepare the said Address:

And it is referred to Mr. Comptroller, Mr. Chancellor of Exchequer, Sir John Lowther, Sir John Thompson, Mr. Smith, Sir Henry Goodrick, Lord Ranelagh, Mr. Boyle, Sir Walter Young, Sir Wm. Trumball, Sir Robert Rich, Lord Ashley, Mr. Wharton, Mr. Travers; or any Five of them:

And they are to meet this Afternoon at Three of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

The King's Speech to be considered.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Thursday Morning next, at Ten a Clock, take into Consideration his Majesty's most gracious Speech to both Houses.

Tryals for Treason.

A Bill for the regulating of Tryals in Cases of High Treason, and Misprision of Treason, was presented to the House; and received.

The Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time upon Friday Morning next.

Regulating Printing and Printing Presses.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for the regulating of Printing, and Printing-Presses: And that Mr. Harly and Mr. Clark do prepare, and bring in, the same.

Hawkers and Pedlars.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for the Suppressing of Hawkers and Pedlars: And that Sir Robert Davers and Sir Richard Temple do prepare, and bring in, the same.

And then the House adjourned till To-morrow Morning, Nine a Clock.