Veneris, 22 die Maii, 1685. 1Jac. IIdi.

Prayers.

Message to attend the King.

A MESSAGE from the King was delivered by Sir Thomas Duppa, Gentleman 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.

The House being returned;

The King's Speech reported.

Mr. Speaker acquaints the House, That, having attended his Majesty in the House of Peers, his Majesty was pleased to make a Speech to both Houses: And that, to prevent Mistakes, Mr. Speaker had obtained a Copy thereof; Which, being by him read to the House, is as follows; viz.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

AFTER it pleased Almighty God to take to his Mercy the late King, My dearest Brother; and to bring Me to the peaceable Possession of the Throne of My Ancestors; I immediately resolved to call a Parliament, as the best Means to settle every thing upon those Foundations that may make My Reign both easy and happy to you: Towards which I am disposed to contribute all that is fit for Me to do. What I said to My Privy Council at My first coming there, I am desirous to renew to you; wherein I fully declare My Opinion concerning the Principles of the Church of England, whose Members have shewed themselves so eminently loyal in the worst of Times, in Defence of My Father, and Support of My Brother, of Blessed Memory; that I will always take care to defend and support it: I will make it My Endeavour to preserve this Government, both in Church and State, as it is now by Law established. And, as I will never depart from the just Rights and Prerogative of the Crown, so I will never invade any Man's Property: And you may be sure, that, having hitherto ventured my Life in the Defence of this Nation, I shall still go as far as any Man, in preserving it in all its just Rights and Liberties.

And, having given you this Assurance concerning the Care I will have of your Religion and Property, which I have chosen to do in the same Words I used at My first coming to the Crown, the better to Evidence to you, that I spoke them not by Chance, and consequently that you may the more firmly rely on a Promise so solemnly made; I cannot doubt, that I shall fail of suitable Returns from you, with all imaginable Duty and Kindness on your Part; and particularly in what relates to the Settling of My Revenue, and continuing it during My Life, as it was in the Time of the King my Brother.

I might use many Arguments to enforce this Demand, from the Benefit of Trade, the Support of the Navy, the Necessity of the Crown, and the Well-being of the Government itself, which I must not suffer to be precarious: But I am confident, your own Consideration of what is just and reasonable will suggest to you whatever might be inlarged upon this Occasion. There is one popular Argument, which I foresee may be used against what I ask of you, from the Inclination Men may have to frequent Parliaments; which some may think would be the best secured, by feeding Me from time to time by such proportions as they shall think convenient: And this Argument (it being the First time I speak to you from the Throne) I will answer once for all; That this would be a very improper Method to take with Me; and that the best Way to engage Me to meet you often, is always to use Me well. I expect therefore that you will comply with Me in what I have desired; and that you will do it speedily, that this may be a short Session; and that we may meet again to all our Satisfactions.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

I must acquaint you, That I have had News this Morning from Scotland, that Argile is landed in the Western Islands, with the Men he brought with him from Holland; and that there are Two Declarations published, One in the Name of those in Arms there, the Other in his own: It would be too long for Me to repeat the Substance of them: It is sufficient to tell you, that in both of them I am charged with Usurpation and Tyranny. The shorter of them I have directed to be forthwith communicated to you. I shall take the best Care I can, that this Declaration of their own Treason and Rebellion may meet with the Reward it deserves: And I will not doubt, but that you will be more zealous to support the Government; and give Me My Revenue, as I have desired it, without Delay.

Thanks for Speech.

Resolved, Nemine contradicente, That the most humble and hearty Thanks of this House be given to his Majesty; for his most gracious Speech and Declaration.

Resolved, Nemine contradicente, That the Concurrence of the Lords be desired to this Vote.

Ordered, That Sir John Talbott do immediately go up to the Lords, to desire their Concurrence.

Brewers not to be Justices.

A Bill to prevent Brewers from being Justices of the Peace, was read the First time.

Resolved, &c. That the Bill be read a Second time.

The King's Speech considered.

Resolved, Nemine contradicente, That the House do immediately resolve into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of his Majesty's most gracious Speech; and particularly of that Part thereof which relates to the King's Revenue.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.
The Solicitor General being called upon in the Committee, to take the Chair of the said Committee.
Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. Solicitor General do take the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.
Mr. Solicitor took the Chair of the Committee.
Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Mr. Solicitor reports from the Committee of the whole House, That the said Committee, having taken the Matters to them referred into Consideration, had agreed upon a Vote: Which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same being again read, is as follows;

King's Revenue.

Resolved, That the Revenue which was settled on his late Majesty for his Life, be settled on his present Majesty for his Life.

Resolved, Nemine condradicente, That this House doth agree with the Committee, That the Revenue which was settled on his late Majesty for his Life, be settled on his present Majesty for his Life.

Ordered, That Mr. Solicitor General do draw up and prepare a Bill or Bills for that Purpose; and present the same to the House.

Thanks for Speech.

Sir John Talbott acquaints the House, That, having, in Obedience to the Order of the House, attended the Lords with the Vote of this House, whereby they resolved to present their most humble and hearty Thanks to his Majesty for his gracious Speech, That their Lordships did agree with this House in the said Vote; and that they had acquainted his Majesty with the humble Desires of both Houses.

King appoints to be attended.

And the House being informed, That his Majesty was graciously pleased to appoint both Houses to attend him at Four of the Clock this Afternoon, in the Banqueting House at Whitehall . . . . .

Grand Committees.

Ordered, That the Grand Committee for Religion do sit every Tuesday in the Afternoon, in the House.

Ordered, That the Grand Committee for Grievances do sit in every Thursday in the Afternoon, in the House.

Ordered, That the Grand Committee for Trade do sit every Saturday in the Afternoon, in the House.

Ordered, That the Grand Committee for Courts of Justice do sit every Friday in the Afternoon, in the House.

Committee of Privileges.

Ordered, That a Committee of Privileges and Elections be appointed of the Persons following;

Sir Christo. Musgrave, Mr. Bonithon, Mr. Chetwin, Col. Windham, Serjeant Millington, Colonel Webb, Mr. Wharton, Sir Marma. Gresham, Sir Tho. Chichley, Mr. Herbert, Mr. Hewer, Mr. Fanshaw, Mr. John Beaumont, Mr. Stone, Sir Will. Portman, Mr. Gwyn, Mr. Coryton, Sir John Moreton, Sir Rob. Atkins, Sir Tho. Meres, Sir Wm. Clifton, Mr. Fitzwilliams, Sir John Lowther of Lowther, Sir Roger Norwich, Mr. Done, Col. Strangeways, Mr. Walden, Sir Henry Goring, Mr. Smith, Lord Landsdowne, Serjeant Wynn, Mr. Parker, Sir John Hoskins, Mr. Hen. Bertie, Lord Willoughby, Sir Edw. Ascough, Sir John Brampston, Sir Fra. Russell, Sir Peter Rich, Mr. Oliver Montague, Mr. Cha. Bertie, Sir John Packington, Lord Preston, Sir Lewis Palmer, Sir John Conway, Lord Brackley, Mr. Arundell, Mr. Mellish, Mr. Guy, Sir Roger Bradshaw, Mr. Darcy, Mr. Price, Mr. Bridgman, Sir Edw. Mansell, Lord Falkland, Mr. Alderman Duncomb, Sir Lionel Walden, Mr. Coventry, Sir Cha. Holt, Lord Bruce, Mr. Bear, Sir Wm. Twisden, Mr. Cha. Windham, Sir John Banks, Sir Henry Beaumont, Sir Rich. Temple, Mr. Barlow, Sir Tho. Grosvenor, Mr. Edw. Nevill, Sir Robert Brookes, Mr. Garway, Lord Middleton, Mr. Edw. Montague, Mr. Ambrose Browne, Sir John Mathews, Mr. Grahme, Sir Fra. Clark, Mr. Ryves, Mr. Ethrick, Sir Richard Midleton, Mr. Solicitor General, Mr. Jones, Sir Hugh Chomley, Sir John Stonehouse, Mr. Noell, Sir John Talbott, Sir Thomas Maleverer, Sir John Werden, Sir Wm. Gulston, Mr. Freeman, Mr. Hanses, Mr. Goring, Mr. Williams, Sir Cha. Keymish, Sir Hen. Goodrick, Sir John Ernle, Lord Bodmin, Sir John Reresby, Mr. Seymour, Sir Wm. Bassett, Colonel Werden, Sir Anthony Deane, Mr. Rich. Bertie, Mr. Parker, Lord Digby, Marquis of Worcester, Sir Adam Browne, Sir Roger Lestrange, Sir John Chichley, Mr. Hollaway, Mr. Pepys, Mr. Cha. Bertie, Sir Edward Seymour, Sir Ralph Wharton, Mr. Ashburnham, Mr. Essex Strowde, Mr. Robert Cornwall, Sir Will. Wren, Mr. Porter: And all that come are to have Voices: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Two of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber: and on every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Place before mentioned: And to take into their Consideration all such Matters as shall or may come in Question, touching Returns, Elections, and Privileges; and to proceed upon Double Returns, in the first Place; and to report their Proceedings, with their Opinions therein, to the House, from time to time. And all Persons that will question Returns, are to do it in Fourteen Days next, and so within Fourteen Days after any new Return shall be brought in. And the said Committee is to have Power to send for Witnesses, Persons, Papers, and Records, for their Information, And all Members who are returned for Two or more Places, are to make their Elections by this Day Three Weeks, for which of the Places they will serve; provided there be no Question upon the Return for that Place. And, if any thing shall come in Question, touching the Return, Election, or Matter of Privilege of any Member, he is to withdraw, during the Time the Matter is in Debate.

Ordered, That all Members, returned upon Double Returns, do withdraw, till their Returns be determind.

And then the House adjourned to Three of the Clock in the Afternoon.

Post Meridiem

THE House being met, went to wait on his Majesty at the Banqueting House, to present their humble and hearty Thanks to his Majesty, for his gracious Speech and Declaration. And being returned;

Mr. Speaker acquainted the House, That his Majesty was pleased to return his Answer by the Lord Keeper, to the Effect following; viz.

Answer to Thanks.

That his Majesty was well pleased with the Thanks of this House: And that he could repeat no more than what he had done: but that he would be as good as his Word: And that he did not doubt, but, with the Assistance of both Houses, to maintain the Government against all Rebels and Traitors.