House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 23 November 1678

Sabbati, 23 die Novembris, 1678.

Prayers.

Militia.

A BILL for raising the Militia of England was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time on Monday Morning.

State of the Army.

Resolved, That this House will, on Monday Morning, take into Consideration the State of the Nation, in relation to the Army.

Conference on Address for raising the Militia.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Timothy Baldwyn and Sir Samuel Clerke;

Mr. Speaker, The Lords desire a present Conference with this House, in the Painted Chamber, about the Address, sent from this House, concerning the Raising of the Militia.

The Messengers being withdrawn;

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree to meet the Lords at a present Conference in the Painted Chamber.

The Messengers been called in; Mr. Speaker acquaints them, That this House had agreed to a present Conference.

Ordered, That the Members, who drew up the Address, do attend and manage the Conference.

Mr. Powle reports from the Conference, That my Lord Privy Seal managed the Conference: And that he acquainted them, That the Lords upon Perusal of the Address, appointed a Committee to consider of the Laws relating to the Militia: Who reported, That, upon Inspection of the Statutes they found, That, without further Authority, the Militia cannot be kept up above Twelve Days in One Year, and thereof Four Days to be for principal Musters, and Two, and Two, and Two, and Two; viz. Eight Days, for particular Musters; And that, of these Twelve Days, in many Counties the Lieutenants have already mustered their Men some of those Days, in this present Year: Not but that, by his Majesty's Direction (as appears by the Statute), they may be kept up longer: But their Lordships do not find, that there is any Power to raise Money to pay them.

Answer to Addresses.

Mr. Secretary Coventry acquaints the House, That his Majesty had been attended with the Address of this House, concerning Mr. Bedlow's Pardon: And that his Majesty had signed the Warrant for mending the same: And that his Majesty had likewise been attended with the Address of this House, to desire his Majesty, That such Papers, relating to the Plot, as had not been perused by this House, may be communicated to this House: And that his Majesty had granted the same; and had given Order to my Lord Chancellor to call for the Papers back from the Lords, so soon as they had perused them.

And further acquainted the House, That his Majesty was pleased to return Answer, in Writing, to the Address of this House, concerning Mr. Secretary Williamson: Which was delivered to Mr. Speaker; and by him read to the House: And is as followeth; viz.

Charles R

HIS Majesty, having received an Address the Nineteenth Instant, from this House, is pleased to return this Answer:

That He released Mr. Secretary Williamson several Hours before your Address came; as He told you in the Banqueting House, he would do.

As to the Reasons of granting those Commissions, His Majesty acquainted you at large with them, in his Speech, when you last attended Him: But, in Answer to your present Address, His Majesty promiseth to recall all Commissions whatsoever, given to Papists, or reputed Papists, either in England or Ireland, immediately: And for His remoter Dominions, they shall be likewise recalled, with all the Expedition the Safety of those Places will permit.

Answer concerning Mr. Sec. Williamson.

Resolved, &c. That this House will, on Thursday next, take into Consideration his Majesty's Answer to the Address of this House, concerning Mr. Secretary Williamson.

Reasons against Lords Amendments to Bill disabling Papists.

Sir Edward Deering reports from the Committee appointed to draw up Reasons to be offered at a Conference to be had with the Lords, Why this House does not agree with the Lords in the Second and Third Amendments made by the Lords to the Bill, intituled, An Act for the more effectual Preserving the King's Person and Government, by disabling Papists from sitting in either House of Parliament, Reasons agreed upon by the Committee: Which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were twice read; and, with some Amendments made at the Table, upon the Question agreed; and are as followeth; viz.

That both Houses having declared by their Vote, That the King's Person is in Danger at this time from Popish Conspiracies, it would not only be most dangerous to his Majesty's Person, but inconsistent with such a Declaration, to admit any Popish Recusants to have a Residence in his Palace, and such familiar Access unto his Majesty's Presence.

That all Popish Recusants being, by his Majesty's Proclamation, issued at the Desire of both Houses, required to depart Ten Miles from the Cities of London and Westminster, we cannot think it adviseable to admit them now to continue and settle in his Majesty's Houses, where they may be much more dangerous than in any other Place.

That, the Design of this Act being for a further Security against all Popish Recusants, the Commons cannot think it reasonable to allow any of them Liberty, contrary to the Laws already in being: Your Lordships Amendments, by general Words, excepting such a Number of the Queen's and Royal Highnesses Servants out of the Act; it will follow, That, if any Peer of this Kingdom, or Member of the House of Commons, be so nominated by them, they will thereby be still capable of sitting in the House of Peers, or House of Commons, without taking the Oaths or Test.

Conference desired with Lords.

Resolved, &c. That a Conference be desired with the Lords, upon the Amendments made by the Lords to the Bill, intituled, An Act for the more effectual Preserving the King's Person and Government, by disabling Papists from sitting in either House of Parliament: And that Sir Edmund Jenings do desire the Conference.

Lists of Papists.

Resolved, &c. That the Knights of the Shire do, on Tuesday next come Sevennight, bring in a List of all Persons of Note, being Popish Recusants, or so reputed, resident, or having a considerable Estate, within their respective Counties: And that the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, who serve for each County, do meet together; and agree, and prepare such Lists; and sign the same.

Call of the House.

Resolved, &c. That the House be called over on Monday next come Sevennight: And that no Member do depart the Service of the House, without Leave First asked and obtained, after Ten of the Clock.

Conference with Lords.

Sir Edmund Jennings acquaints the House, That the Lords have agreed to a present Conference in the Painted Chamber.

Resolved, &c. That the Members, who did prepare the Reasons, do attend, and manage the Conference.

And they did accordingly attend the Conference; and delivered their Reasons: And left the Bill with the Lords.

Persons to render themselves to Justice.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Sam. Clerke and Sir John Hoskins;

Mr. Speaker, The Lords have commanded us to attend you with a Bill, intituled, An Act requiring the Persons therein named to render themselves to Justice; and, in default thereof, to attaint them of High Treason: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

Absent Members summoned.

Resolved, Whereas the House of Commons taking Notice of the absence of several of their Members, That Letters be sent to the Sheriff of each County to summon the Knights of the Shire, who do serve for their respective Counties, to give their Attendance on the Service of the House; as likewise, to send to the several and respective Cities and Boroughs within their Counties, to summon the Members, who do represent their Corporations, to give their Attendance on the Service of the House.

Persons to render themselves to Justice.

An ingrossed Bill, sent from the Lords, intituled, An Act requiring the Persons therein named, to render themselves to Justice; and, in Default thereof, to attaint them of High Treason; was read the First time.

Resolved, &c. That the Bill be read a Second time.

Conference on Bill disabling Papists.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Samuel Clerke and Sir John Hoskins;

Mr. Speaker, The Lords desire a present Conference with this House in the Painted Chamber, upon the Subject Matter of the last Conference.

The Messengers being withdrawn;

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree to meet the Lords at a present Conference.

The Messengers being called in; Mr. Speaker acquaints them, That the House had agreed to meet the Lords at a present Conference.

Resolved, That the Persons, who did manage the last Conference, do attend this Conference.

Sir Edward Deering reports, that the Persons appointed had attended the Conference: Which was managed by my Lord Chancellor: Who acquainted them, that the Lords had considered of the Reasons offered at the last Conference; and that they carried great weight with them: And that the Lords did propose an Expedient, which was, for striking the Queen wholly out of the Bill, and so leave her Servants liable to the Law in general; in which they hoped this House would concur: But if this House should not think . . . to concur with the Lords in this Expedient, that then their Lordships would take the Amendments and Reasons into further Consideration.

That my Lord Privy Seal told them, There were Precedents in the Case; but did not name any.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth not agree with the Lords in the said Expedient.

Resolved, That the Persons who did attend the Conference, do prepare Reasons to be offered at a Conference, Why this House cannot agree to the Expedient proposed by the Lords.

Petition irregularly signed rejected.

A Petition, on the behalf of Sir Wm. Temple Baronet, was presented to be read.

But it appearing upon the Debate of the House, That the said Petition was not signed by Sir Wm. Temple, nor any Persons on behalf of the Borough of Northampton;

The Question being put, Whether the said Petition should be read;

It passed in the Negative.

Murders and Assaults.

Resolved, &c. That the Committee appointed to examine concerning the murder of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey, do examine concerning the frequent Murders and Assaults which have been lately committed; and to consider of Remedies to prevent the like; and to report their Opinions to the House.

Danger from Popery.

Resolved, &c. That this House will, on Tuesday Morning, resolve into a Committee of the whole House, further to consider of Remedies to secure the Protestant Religion against the Danger of Popery.

And then the House adjourned till Monday Morning, Eight of the Clock.