House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 23 May 1690

Veneris, 23 die Maii; 2° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

The Chaplain.

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 confer upon Mr. Maningham, Chaplain of this House, the next Prebend of Windsor or Westminster that shall fall.

Act of Grace.

Ordered, That Mr. Roberts do carry the Bill for their Majesties most gracious, general, and free Pardon, to the Lords.

Weavers Company.

A Petition of the Livery and Liege Master Weavers, Natives and Freemen of the said Company, was read; setting forth, That a fatal Consequence will ensue to the Petitioners upon the passing the Bill brought into this House, upon the Petition of Peter Snee, and others, Aliens, who have, for many Years, exercised the Trade of Weaving, contrary to the known Laws and Statutes of this Realm; which, if they may continue, will tend to the utter Ruin of the said Trade, and Thousands of Families: And praying to be heard by their Counsel against the said Bill, before any further Progress be had thereon.

And the Petitioners were called in; and it was proposed to them, That if they will stay Proceedings upon the Informations by them prosecuted against the Protestant Foreign Weavers, till the Matter touching this Bill be determined, that then they shall be heard upon their Petition.

And they submitting themselves to the House; and then withdrawing;

Resolved, That the Petitioners be heard by their Counsel To-morrow Morning, at the Bar of this House, before the Bill be read the Third time.

Woolen Manufacture.

A Petition of divers Clothiers of divers Counties, was read; setting forth, That it is very manifest to all, that the Cloathing Trade of this Kingdom is fallen, of late Years, to a great Decay, to the Ruin of many thousand Families; the Reasons whereof are fully demonstrated in the Bill before this House for the Improvement of the Woolen Manufacture: And praying, That when the said Bill be read the Third time, the Petitioners (if need be) may be admitted to vindicate the same.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the said Petition be referred to the Committee of the whole House, to whom the Bill for the Encouraging of the Woolen Manufacture, is committed.

Commissioners of Accompts.

An ingrossed Bill for appointing and enabling Commissioners to take the Accompts of all Publick Monies, since the Fifth of November 1688, was read the Third time.

An ingrossed Clause was offered, as a Rider, to the Bill, for an Accompt to be made of the Monies issued in the Time of the late King James, for Repair of the Fleet: Which was twice read.

And a Debate arising thereupon;

Resolved, That the Debate be adjourned, until after the Report made of the Reasons for a Conference with the Lords, touching their Message to this House with the Bill for the King and Queen's Majesties most gracious, general, and free Pardon.

Conference on Message with Act of Grace.

Mr. Foley reports from the Committee appointed to prepare Reasons to be offered at a Conference with the Lords, touching their Message to this House with the Bill for the King and Queen's Majesties most gracious, general, and free Pardon, That they had prepared Reasons accordingly: Which he read in his Place; and afterwards, delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where they were twice read; and agreed unto; and are as followeth; viz.

That the Commons, having received a Message from your Lordships in these Words, "That his Majesty had been pleased to send this Bill, intituled, An Act for the King and Queen's Majesties most gracious, general, and free Pardon, which the Lords have accepted; and passed, Nemine contradicente; and now send it down;" have desired this Conference, to acquaint your Lordships, That they conceive this Message is not according to the usual Way of transmitting Bills between the Two Houses: For that neither House does acquaint the other, by what Number any Bill before them do pass: And the introducing any Alteration, in the usual Method of Proceedings, may be of dangerous Consequence.

Resolved, That a Conference be desired with the Lords, upon the Message from the Lords to this House with the Bill for the King and Queen's Majesties most gracious, general, and free Pardon.

Ordered, That Mr. Foley do go to the Lords, and desire the said Conference.

Royal Assent to a Bill.

A Message from his Majesty, by Sir Thomas Duppa, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod;

Mr. Speaker,

The King commands this honourable House to attend His Majesty in the House of Peers, immediately.

And accordingly Mr. Speaker, with the House, went up to attend his Majesty.

And being returned;

Mr. Speaker reports, That he had attended his Majesty: And that his Majesty had been pleased to give the Royal Assent to the Bill for the King and Queen's Majesties most gracious, general, and free Pardon: And that afterwards his Majesty was graciously pleased to make a Speech to both Houses, to the Effect following; viz.

The King's Speech.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

I have had such Assurance of your good Affections to Me, that I come now to thank you; and particularly for the Supplies you have given Me: The Season of the Year is so far advanced, that I can no longer delay My going into Ireland; and therefore I think it necessary to have an Adjournment of the Parliament.

And although it shall be but to a short Day, yet, unless some great Occasion require it (of which you shall have due Notice), I do not intend you shall sit to do Business until the Winter; and I hope, by the Blessing of God, we then shall have a happy Meeting.

In the mean time, I recommend to you the Discharge of your Duties in your respective Counties, that the Peace of the Nation may be secured by your Vigilance and Care in your several Stations.

Adjournment.

And that, afterwards, the Lord Chief Baron signified his Majesty's Pleasure, That both Houses of Parliament should adjourn until the Seventh July next.

Resolved, That this House do now adjourn accordingly.

And then the House was accordingly adjourned, until the Seventh Day of July next, Ten of the Clock in the Morning.