Veneris, 22 die Martii, 1677.
Williams' Jointure.
A BILL to enable Trevor Williams Esquire, to settle
a Jointure upon a Wife, was read the Second time.
Resolved, &c. That the Bill be committed to Sir Ch.
Harbord, Mr. Eyres, Sir Anth. Irby, Sir John Holland,
Mr. Wright, Sir Lan. Lake, Sir Rich. How, Mr. Browne,
Mr. Mallet, Mr. May, Sir Tho. Stringer, Serjeant Seis,
Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Mainard, Sir
John Hanmer, Sir John Hotham, Mr. Gray, Lord Fitzharding, Sir Geo. Downing, Sir Courtney Poole, Mr. Tregonwell, Mr. Crouch, Sir Wm. Lowther, Sir John Mallet,
Sir John Cotton, Sir John Barnaby, Colonel Birch, Sir
John Knight, Mr. Morris, Mr. Westphaling, Lord
Gorge, Sir Gilbert Talbot, Sir Tho. Meeres, Sir Gilbert
Gerrard, Sir Rich. Graham, and all the Members that
serve for the Counties of Monmouth and Hereford: And
they are to meet To-morrow at Two of the Clock in the
Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber.
St. Asaph's Cathedral.
An ingrossed Bill, sent from the Lords, intituled, An
Act for appropriating the Rectories of Llanrhayader in
Mochnant, in the Counties of Denbigh and Mountgomery,
and of Skeiviog in the County of Flint, for the Repairs of
the Cathedral Church of St. Asaph, and for the better
Maintenance of the Choir there; and also for the Uniting
several Rectories sine Cura, and the Vicarages of the
same Parishes within the Diocese of St. Asaph aforesaid;
was read the Second time.
Resolved, &c. That the Bill be committed to Mr.
Crouch, Sir John Knight, Sir John Mallet, Col. Robinson,
Sir John Trevor, Sir Edm. Windham, Sir Gilbert Talbot,
Sir Anth. Irby, Mr. Harrison, Mr. Fleetwood, Mr. Mallet, Mr. Westphaling, Mr. Daniell, Mr. Weld, Sir Robert
Thomas, Serjeant Seis, Sir Ch. Harbord, Sir Trevor Williams, Mr. Eyres, Sir Ric. Franklyn, Lord O Brien,
Colonel Whitley, Sir Court. Poole, Sir Robert Carr, Mr.
Browne, Sir Hen. Ford, Mr. Wright, Lord Gorge, Sir
John Hanmer, Sir John Norton, Mr. Buscawen, Mr. Newport, Sir Tho. Lee, Colonel Birch, Sir Herbert Perrot, Sir
Hen. Capell, Mr. Marvile, Sir Tho. Stringer, Sir Tho.
Littleton, Sir Tho. Clergis, Sir Wm. Lowther, Mr. Mansell, Mr. May, Colonel Price, and all the Members that
serve for Wales: And they are to meet on Monday next,
at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Speaker's
Chamber.
Interment of Charles I.
The House then resolved itself into a Committee of
the whole House, to proceed in the Consideration of the
Bill for the more decent and solemn Interment of his
late Sacred Majesty King Charles the First, and for
erecting a Monument to his Memory.
Mr. Speaker left the Chair.
Sir Phil. Warwick took the Chair of the Committee.
Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.
Conference on Lords Amendments to Address- War with France.
The Time being come for the Conference with the
Lords upon the Amendments by them made to the Address sent up from this House;
The Members appointed did attend, and managed the
same; and delivered their Reasons; which are as followeth; viz.
1. That his Majesty having declared to us, since this
Meeting, That he had made a League offensive and
defensive with Holland against the Growth and Power of
the French King, and for the Preservation of the Spanish
Netherlands; we cannot but suppose, that his Majesty
hath disposed of his Affairs already in order thereunto;
and is therefore now so far engaged, that an immediate
Declaration of War against the French King cannot be
either prejudicial or dangerous to his Majesty's Affairs.
2. That, by declaring a War immediately, his Majesty may begin the War against France at this time, upon
equal Terms: Whereas, if Things continue in this doubtful State, the French King may begin upon us, when he
sees his best Advantage; and surprise his Majesty's Subjects, while they go on securely in their Trades, in Confidence of a seeming Peace. And, if we should agree to
the Amendments your Lordships propose, the Provocation to the French King will be equal to an immediate
Declaration of a War; and will equally justify him in
such a Manner of Proceeding, and yet at the same time
leave ourselves, and the Confederates, in great Uncertainty.
3. That the Arms of the French King have been of
late so prosperous and successful, that, it may be doubted,
that, if his Majesty does not immediately declare War,
the Confederates, or some of the Principal of them, may
be constrained to make a Peace upon such Terms as the
French King will grant: whereby we may be left to defend ourselves alone, or upon much greater Disadvantages than we may do at present.
4. That, by the Words your Lordships have put in,
the Time will be left indefinite; and so must be subject
to the Exposition of those, who have prevailed with his
Majesty to defer the Entering into this War too long
already.
5. That, by declaring a War immediately, the Forces
his Majesty hath raised must presently be sent abroad,
and employed beyond Sea; whereas, otherwise, they may
be kept up in this Kingdom: Than which nothing can
be more dangerous to his Majesty, and more destructive
to the Laws, Liberties, and Properties of the Subjects
of this Kingdom; the Fear of which hath already possessed their Minds.
6. That, by such a Declaration, his Majesty's Subjects,
now in the French Service will be recalled, and brought
thence; and, by That means, the Arms of France will
be deprived of their Assistance, and his Majesty and the
Confederates strengthened by the Addition of so many
Forces, who may otherwise suddenly be employed in
fighting against those whom we desire to support.
7. That the Charge of maintaining the Land Forces
will be very great; and we can no way satisfy those we
represent chearfully to bear such Taxes as are necessary,
unless the immediate Employment of them abroad be
plain and visible.
8. That, if his Majesty make himself a Party in the
War, it will be inconsistent with the Continuance of a
Mediation.
9. That the Continuance of the English Ambassadors
at Nemigen, as Mediators, may raise a Doubt in the Confederates, that his Majesty had not quite laid aside all
Endeavours of Peace by way of Mediation, and would
therefore prosecute the War with less Vigour; and may
also cause Apprehensions, that the Forces sent to Flanders
are rather intended to enforce a Peace, than for the Defence of those Countries against the French.
10. That, in the powerful Condition the French King
is at this present, it cannot reasonably be expected he
will condescend to any Peace, whereby his Majesty's
Kingdom may be sufficiently secure.
11. That the Continuance of a French Ambassador
here, after declaring the War, may be very prejudicial,
in respect of Intelligence, and private Correspondencies;
And, as to the English Ambassador in France, we conceive it better for his Majesty to recall his own Ambassador from thence, than to have him sent away.
Petition against a Member.
A Petition being tendered, complaining against Sir
Robert Holt, a Member of this House; and it being the
Order of the House, That no Petition ought to be tendered, the Member being absent;
Ordered, That the Petition be tendered on Tuesday
Morning next: And that Sir Robert Holt have Notice
then to attend.
Interment of Charles I.
Resolved, &c. That the House do now again resolve
itself into a Committee of the whole House, to proceed in the Consideration of the Bill for be more decent
and solemn Interrment of his late Sa\?\ed Majesty King
Charles the First, and erecting a Monument to his
Memory.
Mr. Speaker left the Chair.
Sir Phil. Warwick took the Chair of the Committee.
Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.
Sir Phillip Warwick reports from the said Committee,
That they had made a considerable Progress in the Bill:
And humbly moved, from the said Committee, That
they may have Leave to sit again on Thursday Morning
next, at Ten of the Clock.
Resolved, &c. That this House will, on Thursday
Morning next, at Ten of the Clock, resolve into a Committee of the whole House, to proceed further in the
Consideration of the Bill for the more decent and
solemn Interrment of his late Sacred Majesty King
Charles the First, and erecting a Monument to his
Memory.
And then the House adjourned till To-morrow
Morning, Eight of the Clock.