House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 14 February 1673

Veneris, 14 die Februarii, 1672.

Dover Election.

A PETITION of Thomas Papillon of London, Merchant, was read; complaining of an undue Return of Sir Edward Spragg to serve as a Baron for the Town and Port of Dover, by Richard Jacob Esquire, Mayor of the said Town, in Injury of the Petitioner, who was duly elected and chosen to serve for that Place.

Dover Election.

Another Petition of the Inmates, Common Council, and Freemen of the Town and Port of Dover was read; complaining of the indirect Proceedings and Practices of the said Mr. Jacob, Mayor of Dover, in relation to the Election of a Baron to serve for the Town.

Ordered, That both the said Petitions be referred to the Committee of Elections, to take the Matter hereof, touching the Election and Return of a Baron to serve for the Town and Port of Dover, into Consideration; and report it, with their Opinions therein, to the House.

Charles I. Martyrdom.

A Bill was read, for the better Observation of the Thirtieth of January, being the Day of the Martyrdom of King Charles the First.

Resolved, That this Bill be read a Second time.

Address on Declaration of Indulgence.

Mr. Powle reports from the Committee appointed to prepare and draw up a Petition and Address to his Majesty, the said Petition and Address: Which he read, in his Place; and after, delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: And the same being again twice read, is as followeth; viz.

Most Gracious Sovereign,

WE Your Majesty's most loyal and faithful Subjects, the Commons assembled in Parliament, do, in the first place, as in all Duty bound, return your Majesty our most humble and hearty Thanks for the many gracious Promises and Assurances which Your Majesty hath several times, during this present Parliament, given to us, that Your Majesty would secure and maintain unto us the true Reformed Protestant Religion, our Liberties and Properties: Which most gracious Assurances Your Majesty hath, out of Your great Goodness, been pleased to renew unto us more particularly, at the Opening of this present Session of Parliament.

And further we crave Leave humbly to represent, That we have, with all Duty and Expedition, taken into our Consideration several Parts of Your Majesty's last Speech to us, and withal the Declaration therein mentioned, for Indulgence to Dissenters, dated the Fifteenth of March last: And we find ourselves bound in Duty to inform Your Majesty, that penal Statutes, in Matters Ecclesiastical, cannot be suspended, but by Act of Parliament.

We therefore, the Knights, Citizens and Burgesses of Your Majesty's House of Commons, do most humbly beseech Your Majesty, that the said Laws may have their free Course, until it shall be otherwise provided for by Act of Parliament: And that your Majesty would graciously be pleased to give such Directions herein, that no Apprehensions or Jealousies may remain in the Hearts of Your Majesty's good and faithful Subjects.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Committee in the Petition and Address by them drawn up to be presented to his Majesty.

Resolved, upon the Question, nemine contradicente, That a Bill be brought in for the Ease of his Majesty's Protestant Subjects that are Dissenters, in Matters of Religion, from the Church of England.

Resolved, &c. That this House will, on Monday Morning next, at Ten of the Clock, resolve into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Subject Matter of this Bill.

The Question being put, That the Concurrence of the Lords be desired, to the Petition and Address to be presented to his Majesty;

The House divided.

The Yeas go forth.

Tellers,

So it passed in the Negative.

Ordered, That such Members of this House as are of his Majesty's Privy Council, do acquaint his Majesty, that this House do desire to present an humble Petition and Address to his Majesty; and to desire of his Majesty, that he would please to appoint the Time and Place, when and where this House may attend him therewith.

Committee of Privileges.

Ordered, That Sir Lyonell Jenkins, Sir Will. Farmer, Lord Arran, Sir Edmond Pye, Mr. Bennett, Sir Thom. Woodcocke, Mr. Geo. Clarke, Sir John Hanmer, Colonel Strode, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Rolles, Mr. Whittaker, Sir Robert Long, Mr. Aldworth, Sir John Packington, Sir Will. Morley, Sir Cirill Wich, Mr. Evelen, Sir Lewes Palmer, Sir Phillipp Harcourt, Sir Hugh Bethell, Sir Robert Holmes, Mr. Weld, Mr. Thomas Thinn, Mr. Streete, Sir George Faunt, Sir George Sands, Mr. Onslow, Mr. John Hotham, Sir Will. Hartopp, Sir Francis Wainman, Mr. Glascocke, Mr. Fowlke Grevill, Mr. Daniel Finch, be added to the Committee of Privileges.

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