Veneris, 9 die Decembris;

10° Gulielmi Tertii.

Message to attend the King.

A MESSAGE from his Majesty, by Sir David Mitchell Gentleman-Usher of the Black Rod:

Gentlemen,

The King commands this Honourable House to attend him, in the House of Peers, immediately.

Accordingly, Mr. Speaker elect, with the House, went up to attend his Majesty; and to present their Speaker: Who spake thus:

May it please your Majesty,

Mr. Speaker approved of by the King.

The Commons, in Parliament assembled, have, in Obedience to your Majesty's Commands, chose their Speaker.

How well that Choice has been considered, your Majesty will judge, when I must acquaint you, That, notwithstanding the great Variety of better Choice they had in View, and the many just Excuses I could make in my own Defence, they have pitched upon me, the most unworthy of their whole Assembly of that great Employment: The Consequence of which, however, is, That I must present myself before your Majesty, for your Approbation:

Nor would I, at the same time, shrink my Shoulders from this unequal Weight, if my own Health, and Reputation, which is dearer to me, were the only Things likely to be exposed: But, when I consider, how the Publick Service must suffer by my weak Performances, I am inexcusable, if I do not endeavour to obtain from your Majesty, in the behalf of your Commons, another Opportunity for re-considering this hasty Resolution they are come to.

The Place requires a Man of other-guise Qualifications than I am Master of:—A much better Understanding, sounder Judgment, and stronger Constitution, than mine, are all necessary:

I need enumerate no more Particulars, wherein I am wanting, to your Majesty; to whom my Insufficiencies in Business are not unknown; hoping, I have said enough already to induce your Majesty to disapprove me: The good Consequence whereof must be, That your Commons will quickly present some fitter Person for the Execution of this great Trust; upon the due Discharge whereof, a good Agreement between your Majesty and your People, the greatest Blessing which attends this Nation, so much depends.

Whereupon, the Right Honourable the Lord Chancellor acquainted the House, That his Majesty had been pleased to approve the Choice they had made of Sir Thomas Littleton for their Speaker.

After which, Mr. Speaker spoke thus;

May it please your Majesty,

SINCE your Majesty has been pleased to approve the Choice which your Commons have made, it becomes me not to contend longer with your Majesty; but resign myself to your Majesty's Royal Pleasure; and endeavour to discharge my Duty in the Chair in the best manner that I can.

As your Majesty has, to the Wonder of Mankind, acted Impossibilities; you may command others to do the like: Non habeo ingenium; Cæsar sed jussit, habebo:

By which I mean no more, but that I will try my ut most to answer your Majesty's Expectation:

For my Encouragement, I humbly beseech your Ma jesty, to pardon all my Mistakes, and Failures; or, at least, never to impute any of them to your Commons; whereby they may receive any Prejudice in your Majesty's good Opinion; which they will always study to preserve.

There remains no more, but that I ask of your Majesty, in the Name and Behalf of the Commons, the Preservation of all their ancient Rights and Privileges; particularly, Freedom of Speech; Privilege from Arrests for themselves, and Servants; and a free Access, as often as Occasion requires, to your Majesty's Sacred Person.

Whereupon, the Lord Chancellor, by his Majesty's Command, said, That his Majesty is fully assured of the Prudence, and Discretion, as well as of the Affections, of his House of Commons: And, as to the Suit which you have made in their Name, his Majesty does most willingly grant to them all their Privileges, in as full a Manner as they were ever granted by any of his Royal Predecessors: As to what you have prayed in relation to yourself, the King will put the best and most favourable Construction upon your Endeavours; being sensible, That you have a Heart full of Loyalty to him, and of Zeal for the Good of your Country.

Mr. Speaker, with the House, being returned; He reported to the House, That his Majesty had been pleased to approve of their Choice of him for their Speaker; and to grant them all their Privileges, in as large a Manner as they were enjoyed by any of their Predecessors; as, namely, Freedom of Speech; Freedom from Arrests; and free Access, upon all Occasions, to his Royal Person; and all other Privileges of Parliament whatsoever.

And afterwards, Mr. Speaker returned the House his Thanks for the great Honour they had done him. —Seeing he was now no longer in a Capacity to insist upon any Failures he might be guilty of, he assured them he would serve them in the best manner that he could; and that, since he had not promised much, he hoped the House would be the more candid in construing his Actions: And then recommended to them, the coming early in the Morning, that they might, as formerly, dispatch their Business before it was late in the Day: That they would behave themselves, with all Decency in the House; more particularly, That they would avoid standing in the Passages to and in the House, and receiving and reading Letters in the House, and all other Things that might occasion any Disorder; too much of which he had lately observed: In order to the preventing of which, he also desired their Assistance and Support.

Members take Oaths.

Then the House proceeded to the taking the Oaths appointed in the First Year of the Reign of his Majesty and the late Queen Mary, and the making, repeating, and subscribing, the Declaration, directed by the Statute, made in the 30th Year of the Reign of King Charles the 2d, for preserving the King's Person and Government, by disabling Papists to sit in either House of Parliament; and signing the Association, according to the Statute made in the * Year of his Majesty's Reign:

And Mr. Speaker, first, alone by himself, in the Chair; and afterwards a great Number of the Members of the House, at the Table; did take the said Oaths; and make, repeat, and subscribe, the said Declaration; and signed the said Association.

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