House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 8 April 1689

Lunæ, 8 die Aprilis; 1° Willielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

Coronation.

MR. Foley reports from the Committee, to whom it was referred to consider, how this House shall be accommodated with Conveniencies, in going to and from Westminster Abbey, and while they are there, and also in Westminster Hall, at the Solemnity of their Majesties Coronation; and what Order shall be observed therein; that they had been to view the several Places assigned; and had agreed upon a Report: Which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same being read, the House agreed thereto; and is as followeth; viz.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee, that it will be very inconvenient that the House should meet in the Parliament House on Thursday; and therefore it is their Opinion, that the House should adjourn, at such time as they shall think fit, till Friday; but, beforehand, should agree to meet on Thursday Morning, by Nine of the Clock, in the Exchequer Court; and to come thither the back Way, which they call Hell: By that means the House may see their Majesties pass through Westminster Hall, and yet be at the Abby before their Majesties.

That, when they go from the Exchequer, they go the back Way, cross St. Margarett's Lane, through St. Margaret's Church; and, from thence, by the North Door of the North Isle in the Abby, into the Gallery there provided for them; and, after the Ceremony is over in the Abby, that they return the same Way back again into the Exchequer; and so into their Gallery in Westminster Hall. The Way between Hell and St. Margaret's Church will be railed; and so also will be the Way from St. Margaret's Church to the Abby: For keeping which clear, the Committee is of Opinion, that his Majesty be desired to spare a Company of Foot Soldiers. That there be no Precedence to any but the Speaker. That Gentlemen bring no Attendants or Servants whatever. That the Tickets numbered be delivered by the Speaker before their Adjournment.

That the Committee found the Galleries in the Abby, and in Westminster Hall, not finished; but that the Surveyor General had undertaken the Finishing of them; and particularly to examine the Strength of the Scaffolds.

That the House be ordered to go Two abreast, without crouding themselves. That the Rails, through which they are to pass, will be narrow, and so will be the Stairs in the Abby. That the House remain, when they return from the Abby, in their Gallery in Westminster Hall, till the King and Queen have dined; and then afterwards retire to the Exchequer Court to Dinner. That the Speaker do appoint several Door Keepers at every Passage; such who know the Members.

Resolved, That there be a general Order given for the reserving the Galleries in Westminster Abby, and Westminster Hall, for the Use of this House at the Solemnity of their Majesties Coronation: And that Mr. Speaker do give out Tickets for the same.

Ordered, That the Clerk and Clerk Assistant of this House do attend Mr. Speaker, in his going to and from Westminster Abby and Westminster Hall, at the said Solemnity.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir Charles Raleigh have Leave to go into the Country, for a Fortnight from Wednesday Sevennight next.

Count Schombergh's, &c. Nat.

Mr. Herbord reports from the Committee, to whom the Bill for naturalizing Frederick Count Schombergh, and others, was referred, that they had thought fit to make several Amendments therein: Which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were once read throughout; and afterwards one by one; and, upon the Question severally put thereupon, agreed to by the House.

Ordered, That the Bill with the Amendments, be ingrossed.

Privilege.

A Petition of Jacob Broad, a Bailiff belonging to the Under Sheriff of Middlesex; shewing, That he, having arrested Sir George Prittyman, Knight and Baronet, at the Suit of Sir Edward Hungerford, since that, there hath been other Actions laid upon him; and that Sir Edward Hungerford, a Member of this House, did demand him as his menial Servant; and desiring the Directions therein; was read.

Resolved, That the Petition do lie upon the Table: And that Sir Edward Hungerford have Notice to attend in his Place To-morrow Morning: And that the Clerk do, in the mean time, search the Journals, what the House hath done in Cases of Protections.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Colman have Leave to go into the Country for a Month, his Wife being very ill.

Customhouse Officers.

A Petition of the Merchants, and other trading People, of the Town of Berwick upon Tweed; complaining, that the Officers of the Custom-house there have not suffered them to buy any Corn in the Market, but of such as would swear it was of the Growth of England; and exacted Money for such Oath; and that they locked up the Petitioners Granaries, and would not suffer them to export or dispose their Corn, till they had made Oath, and paid for it, that it was not Scotts Corn; whereby the Trade to the Town is lost; and praying the Consideration of the House, and Relief therein; was read.

Resolved, That it be referred to the Committee, who were the 5th instant, appointed to examine into the Matter of a Petition of several Merchants and Traders in and about the City of London, who complained of the Exactions and undue Proceedings of the Commissioners and other Officers of the Customs, to examine the Matter of the said Petition also; and report the same, with their Opinions therein, to the House.

Ordered, That all Members that serve for the County of Northumberland be added to the said Committee.

Exporting Leather.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for the Exportation of Leather.

Pension List.

Ordered, That Sir Robert Howard be desired to bring in, upon Saturday Morning next, an Account of what Pensions, Petty Farms, and other Charges, are upon the Publick Revenue, or any Part thereof, and to whom.

Publick Revenue.

Resolved, That this House will, on Saturday Morning next, take into Consideration the Matter of the Publick Revenue.

Lords Amendments to Bill for removing Papists.

Sir Thomas Clarges reports from the Committee, to whom it was referred to prepare Reasons to be offered at a Conference with the Lords, upon the Bill for removing Papists from the Cities of London and Westminster, and Ten Miles distant from the same, that they had prepared Reasons accordingly: Which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same, being read once throughout, and afterwards one by one, were, upon the Question severally put, agreed unto by the House; and are as followeth:

The Commons do insist, to retain the Proviso, by them added, concerning the Queen Dowager, in lieu of that in the Bill;

1. Because it is no new Clause; and therefore imposes no new Condition upon her Majesty; it being the same that is Enacted, in the 30th of King Charles the Second, in the Act for the more effectual Preserving the King's Person and Government.

2. Because to make an Alteration in the Law, as it now stands, may look like some kind of Countenance to those of that Persuasion, at a Time when the Lords themselves have judged the Resort of Papists to be of so dangerous Consequence to the Government, as to make this Act to remove them, under great Penalties, Ten Miles distant from it.

3. The Papists are not less active at this Time, in their Designs and Practices, to disturb the Peace and Quiet of the Kingdom, than they were in the 30th Year of Charles the Second: And therefore the like Reasons which then induced the Parliament to make that Statute remain at this time, to persuade the House of Commons to keep the Force of it intire in all its Parts; since the Purport thereof does not only intend the Preservation of the Person of that King from the Attempts of Papists, but of his Successors also, the succeeding Kings and Queens of this Realm, by restraining them from resorting to their Presence or Places of Residence.

Conference desired with Lords.

Ordered, That Sir Thomas Clarges do go up to the Lords, and desire a Conference with their Lordships, upon the Subject Matter of the last Conference.

Ordered, That Sir Wm. Williams and Colonel Birch be added to the Committee appointed to manage the last Conference.

Marches Court in Wales.

A Petition of John Dalben, Esquire, was read; setting forth, that he having an Office, belonging to the Court held before the President and Council for the Marches of Wales, granted by Patent from the late King Charles the Second for the Petitioner's Life; from whence he and his Family receive Support and Maintenance; but if the said Court, with its Offices and Incidents, be abolished, the Petitioner will be deprived of his Freehold, without any Fault of his; which, is conceived, will not suit with the known Justice of this House: And praying, his Case may be considered of, by the Committee to whom such-like Petitions have been already referred.

Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Bill for taking away the Court held before the President and Council of the Marches of Wales is referred.

Exporting Beer, &c.

A Bill for exporting Beer, Ale, and Mum, was read the Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Parker, Sir Tho. Clarges, Colonel Birch, Sir Wm. Blackett, Sir Rob. Nappier, Sir Thom. Littleton, Mr. Brewer, Sir Wm. Gregory, Sir Fran. Russell, Sir John Knight, Mr. Wogan, Mr. Papillion, Mr. Carter, Mr. Ellwell, Mr. Howard, Mr. Foley, Sir Wm. Yorke, Sir Pat. Ward, Sir H. Goodrick, Sir * Dorrell, Mr. Austen, Mr. Fox, Mr. Boscowen, Sir John Austen, Sir Ch. Nevill, Mr. Christy, Mr. Manwaring, Colonel Whitley, Sir Rich. Hart, Sir Wm. Williams, Mr. Arnold, Sir Wm. Cooke, Mr. Tho. Foley, Lord Falkland, Sir Rich. Onslow: And they are to meet on Friday in the Afternoon, at Four of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy.

Resolved, That this House do, To-morrow Morning, at Ten of the Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to proceed in the further Consideration of the ingrossed Bill, sent down from the Lords, intituled, An Act for abrogating the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, and appointing other Oaths.

Lords Answer to Message.

Sir Thomas Clarges acquaints the House, That he having, according to the Order of the House, been up at the Lords to desire a Conference, their Answer was, That they would send an Answer by Messengers of their own.

Dissenters Toleration.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for Ease of Protestant Dissenters.

Bill of Comprehension.

Mr. Hamden reports from the Committee appointed to prepare a Bill of Comprehension, that they had prepared a Bill accordingly: Which he delivered in at the Clerk's Table.

Uniting his Majesty's Subjects.

The Bill, intituled, An Act for uniting his Majesty's Subjects, was read the First time.

Resolved, Nemine contradicente, That the Bill be read a Second time on Thursday next come Sevennight.

Message from Lords.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cooke and Mr. Methwyn;

Mr. Speaker, The Lords have passed a Bill for uniting his Majesty's Protestant Subjects: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

Also their Lordships do agree to a present Conference with this House in the Painted Chamber.

And the Messengers withdrew.

Thereupon the Managers went to the Conference with the Lords.

Sir Chris. Musgrave reports from the Conference with the Lords, that the Managers appointed had, at the Conference, delivered the Reasons, for their disagreeing with the Lords, touching the Clause relating to the Queen Dowager, in the Bill for Removing of Papists from the Cities of London and Westminster.

Privilege-Bail for a person in Custody.

A Motion being made, on Behalf of Wm. Gascoigne, now in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, for a Breach of Privilege upon Mr. Guy, a Member of the House, that he may be admitted to give Bail, for his Attendance, and answering the Matter he stands charged withal, as the House shall direct; and Mr. Guy consenting to the same;

Ordered, That the Serjeant at Arms be impowered to take Bail accordingly.

Count Schombergh's, &c. Nat.

An ingrossed Bill for naturalizing Frederick Count Schombergh, and others, was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for naturalizing Frederick Count Schombergh, and others.

Ordered, That Mr. Harbord do carry the Bill up to the Lords, for their Concurrence:

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be revived.

And then the House adjourned till To-morrow, Nine a Clock.