House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 30 April 1679

Journal of the House of Commons: Volume 9, 1667-1687. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1802.

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'House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 30 April 1679', in Journal of the House of Commons: Volume 9, 1667-1687, (London, 1802) pp. 607-608. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/commons-jrnl/vol9/pp607-608 [accessed 25 March 2024]

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Mercurii, 30 die Aprilis, 1679.

Prayers.

Poor, &c.

ORDERED, That a Committee be appointed to bring in a Bill for reviving the Act of Settlements and to inspect the Laws relating to the Poor; and to bring in a Bill or Bills upon the Debate of the House, for the better Regulating the Poor, and Encouraging of Industry; and for the Punishing of Rogues and Vagabonds.

And it is referred to Sir Francis Russel, Sir James Long, Sir Edward Harley, Sir Trevor Williams, Sir Thomas Clerges, Sir Christopher Musgrave, Sir Nathanael Herne, Mr. Cooke, Alderman Backwell, Mr. Browne, Mr. Onslow, Sir John Knight, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Gould, Sir Philip Egerton, Mr. Kynaston, Mr. Starkey, Mr. Harboard, Mr. Duboys, Sir John Wynn, Mr. Williams, Mr. Foley, Serjeant Seys, Sir Francis Drake, Mr. Barker, Sir John Coryton, Mr. Reynall, Sir John Hewly, Mr. Colt, Dr. Jacob, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Courtenay, Mr. Wright, or any Five of them: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Three of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Members Protections, &c.

Ordered, That all Protections and written Certificates of the Members of this House be declared void in Law, and be forthwith withdrawn, and called in: And that none be granted for the future: And, that if any shall be granted by any Member, such Member shall be liable to the Censure of this House: And that, the Privilege of Members for their menial Servants be observed according to Law: And that, if any menial Servant shall be arrested and detained contrary to Privilege, he shall, upon Complaint thereof made, be discharged by Order from Mr. Speaker.

Ordered, That this Order be published, by setting up the same at the Lobby, Westminster-hall Gate, at the several Courts in Westminster-hall, at the Inns of Court, and Inns of Chancery, and at the Royal Exchange.

Privilege- Petition from a person in custody.

A Petition of Robert Brent Esquire, now in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, was read; setting forth his Innocency touching the Suspicion he lies under concerning Mr. Dugdale; and praying to be discharged from his Confinement.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Secrecy appointed to prepare Evidence against the Five Lords in the Tower; to examine the Matter thereof; and report their Opinions thereupon to the House.

Silver Manufacture.

Ordered, That a Bill be brought in, for regulating the Abuses in the Silver Manufactory: And it is recommended to the Care of Sir Charles Harbord, to prepare and draw up the same.

Norfolke, &c. Elections.

Ordered, That the Matter of the Miscarriages touching the Election for the Counties of Norfolke and Leicester be adjourned till Monday next Sevennight.

Supply Bill; disbanding the Army.

The House then did further proceed in the Consideration of the Bill for disbanding the Army.

And the rest of the Amendments, being read a Second time, with some Amendments made at the Table, were, upon the Question, severally agreed.

The Clause for redeeming the Captives in Algiers, being read a Second time, was, upon the Question, rejected.

The Clause for ascertaining the Petition of Right, being read a Second time, was, upon the Question, agreed.

Resolved, &c. That the Bill, with the Amendments and Clauses agreed to, be ingrossed.

Message to attend the King.

A Message from his Majesty, by Sir Edward Carteret, 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.

And the House being returned;

The King's Speech reported.

Mr. Speaker reports the Effects of his Majesty's Speech, as followeth; viz.

Mr Lords and Gentlemen,

THE Season of the Year advancing so fast, I thought it necessary to put you in mind of Three Particulars;

1. Prosecution of the Plot.

2. Disbanding of the Army.

3. Providing a Fleet for our common Security.

And to shew you, that, whilst you are doing your Parts, My Thoughts have not been misemployed; but that it is My constant Care to do every thing that may preserve your Religion, and secure it for the future in all Events; I have commanded my Lord Chancellor to mention several Particulars, which I hope will be an Evidence, that, in all Things that concerns the publick Security, I shall not follow your Zeal, but lead it.

The Lord Chancellor's Speech was as followeth;

Lord Chancellor's Speech.

My Lords, and You the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses of the House of Commons,

THAT Royal Care which His Majesty has taken for the general Quiet and Satisfaction of all His Subjects, is now more evident by these new and fresh Instances of it, which I have in Commands to open to you.

His Majesty hath considered with Himself, that it is not enough, that your Religion and Liberty is secure, during his own Reign; but He thinks, He owes it to His People, to do all that in Him lies, that these Blessings may be transmitted to your Posterity; and so well secured to them, that no Succession in After Ages may be able to work the least Alteration.

And therefore His Majesty, who hath often said in this Place, That he is ready to consent to any Laws of this kind (so as the same extend not to alter the Descent of the Crown in the right Line, nor to defeat the Succession), hath now commanded this to be further explained.

And, to the end it may never be in the Power of any Papist, if the Crown descend upon him, to make any Change either in Church or State; I am commanded to tell you, That His Majesty is willing, That Provision may be made, first, to distinguish a Popish from a Protestant Successor; then to limit and circumscribe the Authority of a Popish Successor in these Cases following; that he may be disabled to do any Harm:

First, In reference to the Church;

His Majesty is content, That Care be taken, that all Ecclesiastical and Spiritual Benefices and Promotions, in the Gift of the Crown, may be conferred in such a Manner, that we may be sure the Incumbents shall always be of the most pious and learned Protestants; and that no Popish Successor, while he continues so, may have any Power to controul such Presentments.

In reference to the State, and Civil Part of the Government;

As it is already provided, That no Papist can sit in either House of Parliament; so the King is pleased, That it be provided too, that there may never want a Parliament, when the King shall happen to die; but that the Parliament, then in being, may continue indissoluble for a competent Time: Or, if there be no Parliament in being, then the last Parliament which was in being before that Time, may reassemble, and sit a competent Time, without any new Summons or Elections. And, as no Papists can, by Law, hold any Place of Trust; so the King is content, That it may be further provided, That no Lords or others of the Privy Council, no Judges of the Common Law, or in Chancery, shall, at any Time, during the Reign of any Popish Successor, be put in or displaced, but by the Authority of the Parliament; and that Care also be taken, that none but sincere Protestants may be Justices of Peace.

In reference to the Military Part;

The King is willing. That no Lord Lieutenant or Deputy Lieutenant, nor no Officer of the Navy, during the Reign of any Popish Successor, be put in or removed, but either by Authority of Parliament, or of such Persons as the Parliament shall intrust with such Authority.

It is hard to invent another Restraint to be put upon a Popish Successor, considering how much the Revenue of the Successor will depend upon the Consent of Parliament, and how impossible it is to raise Money without such Consent: But yet, if any thing else can occur to the Wisdom of the Parliament, which may further secure Religion and Liberty against a Popish Successor, without defeating the Right of Succession itself, His Majesty will most readily consent to it.

Thus watchful is the King for all your Safeties: And, if He could think of any thing else that you do either want or wish to make you happy, He would make it His Business to effect it for you.

God Almighty long continue this blessed Union between the King, and His Parliament, and People.

Resolved, &c. That the Consideration of his Majesty's Speech, and the Lord Chancellor's Speech, be adjourned till Monday Morning next.

Disbanding the Army.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to examine, What Part of the Money given for disbanding the Army is yet undisposed of, according to the Directions of the Act of Parliament, and now remains in the Exchequer; and make Report thereof to the House.

And it is referred to Sir Eliab Harvey, Sir John Hewly, Sir Gilbert Gerard, Sir Tho. Lee, Sir Richard Cust, Mr. Colt, Colonel Birch, Mr. Williams, Mr. Hamden, Sir Samuel Bernardiston, Colonel Titus, Mr. Seymour, Mr. Thynn, Mr. Mompesson, Sir Robert Cleyton, Mr. Whitehead, Sir Hugh Bethell, Mr. Vincent, Colonel Whitley, Sir Robert Howard, Sir Thomas Clarges, Mr. Duboys, Mr. Harbord, Sir Joh. Hotham, Sir John Cloberry, Lord Ancram, Sir Anthony Irby, Sir Thomas Player, Sir Trevor Williams, Mr. Trenchard, Sir Chr. Musgrave, Sir Jos. Tredenham, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Slater, Mr. Stockdale, Sir Robert Dillington, Sir Wm. Coventry, Mr. Whorwood: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Three of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber: And are impowered to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

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