House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 28 December 1688

Veneris, 28 Decembris, 1688, post meridiem.

Prince of Orange's Answer to Address.

THE Assembly being met, the Chairman acquainted the Assembly, that the Prince had appointed Four of the Clock this Afternoon, at St. James, to receive his Answer:

Whereupon it was resolved to go to St. James', at that Time, and, after they had received the Prince's Answer, to return again to Westminster.

And, after having been at St. James', and returned to Westminster, the Chairman acquainted the Assembly with the Prince's Answer; which was in these Words:

Gentlemen,

I HAVE considered of your Advice, and, as far as I am able, I will endeavour to secure the Peace of the Nation, until the Meeting of the Convention in January next; for the Election whereof, I will forthwith issue out Letters, according to your Desire. I will also take care to apply the publick Revenue to the most proper Uses that the present Affairs require: And likewise endeavour to put Ireland into such a Condition, as that the Protestant Religion, and the English Interest, may be maintained in that Kingdom: And I further assure you, that as I came hither for the Preservation of the Protestant Religion, and the Laws and Liberties of these Kingdoms; so I shall always be ready to expose myself to any Hazard, for Defence of the same.

Entry to be made thereof;

Which Answer being read to the Assembly by the Chairman, it was ordered, that the said Answer should be entered in the Book of their Proceedings.

and Copies sent to Lord Mayor.

Ordered, That a Copy of the Address, and Proceedings, be sent to the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen.

Association to be sent to City Members.

Ordered, That a Copy of the Association be delivered to the Members of the City of London, and recommended to them.

The Assembly terminates.

After which the Assembly rose, without appointing any further Meeting.

The Letters for Electing of Members for the CONVENTION.

Letters for meeting of the Convention.

WHEREAS the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, heretofore Members of the Commons House of Parliament, during the Reign of King Charles the Second, residing in and about the City of London, together with the Aldermen, and divers of the Common-council of the said City, in this extraordinary Conjuncture, at our Request, severally assembled, to advise us the best Manner how to attain the Ends of our Declaration, in calling a free Parliament, for the Preservation of the Protestant Religion, and Restoring the Rights and Liberties of the Kingdom, and Settling the same, that they may not be in Danger of being again subverted, have advised and desired us to cause our Letters to be written and directed, for the Counties, To the Coroners of the respective Counties, or any One of them, and, in default of the Coroners, To the Clerks of the Peace of the respective Counties; and for the Universities, To the respective Vice-chancellors; and for the Cities, Boroughs, and Cinque Ports, To the chief Magistrate of each respective City, Borough, and Cinque Port; containing Directions for the choosing, in all such Counties, Cities, Universities, Boroughs, and Cinque Ports, within Ten Days after the Receipt of the said respective Letters, such a number of Persons to represent them, as from every such Place is or are of Right to be sent to Parliament: Of which Elections, and the Times and Places thereof, the respective Officers shall give Notice; the Notice for the intended Election, in the Counties, to be published in the Market-towns within the respective Counties, by the Space of Five Days, at the least, before the said Election; and for the Universities, Cities, Boroughs, and Cinque Ports, in every of them respectively, by the space of Three Days, at the least, before the said Election: The said Letters, and the Execution thereof, to be returned by such Officer and Officers who shall execute the same, to the Clerk of the Crown in the Court of Chancery, so as the Persons so to be chosen, may meet and sit at Westminster the Two-and-twentieth Day of January next.

We, heartily desiring the Performance of what we have in our said Declaration expressed, in pursuance of the said Advice and Desire, have caused this our Letter to be written to you, to the Intent that you, truly and uprightly, without Favour or Affection to any Person, or indirect Practice or Proceeding, do and execute what of your Part ought to be done, according to the said Advice, for the due Execution thereof; the Elections to be made by such Persons only as, according to the ancient Laws and Customs, of Right ought to choose Members for Parliament: And that you cause a Return to be made, by Certificate under your Seal, of the Names of the Persons elected, annexed to this our Letter, to the said Clerk of the Crown, before the said Two-and-twentieth Day of January.

Given at St. James's, the Nine-and-twentieth Day of December, in the Year of our Lord 1688.

Those to the Coroners were directed thus:

TO the Coroners of the County of; and in default of the Coroners, To the Clerk of the Peace of the said County.

Those to the chief Magistrates were directed thus:

TO the chief Magistrate, or such others of the of, in the County of, who have Right to make Returns of Members to serve in Parliament, according to the ancient Usage of the said, before the Seizure or Surrender of Charters, made in the Time of King Charles the Second.