Lunæ, 28 die Januarii, 1688.
Prayers.
Richmond Vacancy.
THE House being acquainted, that by the Death of
John Darcy, Esquire, there is a Place vacant of a
Member to serve in this present Convention, for the
Borough of Richmond in the County of Yorke;
Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do make Application, by
his Letter, to his Highness the Prince of Orange, to issue
out his Highness's Letter for electing a Burgess to serve in
this present Convention, for the Borough of Richmond
in the County of Yorke, in the room of the said John
Darcye, Esquire.
Knaresborough Election.
A Petition of Edward Lord Latimer, setting forth,
that William Stockdale, Esquire, being chosen for One of
the Burgesses for the Borough of Knaresborough, in the
County of Yorke; and that the Petitioner had the Majority
of Votes above Thomas Fawkes, Esquire; but yet, that
Mr. Fawkes had prevailed with the Bailiff to make a
Double Return of them, in Prejudice of the Petitioner;
and praying that he may be admitted to sit and represent
the said Borough; was read.
Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to the Consideration of the Committee of Elections and Privileges;
to examine the Matter thereof, and to do therein as to
them shall seem meet.
Ivilchester Election.
A Petition of Wm. Strode and John Speake, Esquires,
complaining of an undue Election and Return of Burgesses
to serve in this present Convention, for the Borough of
Ivilchester in the County of Somersett, in Prejudice of
the Petitioners, was read.
Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to the Consideration of the Committee of Elections and Privileges;
to examine the Matter thereof, and report the same, with
their Opinions therein, to the House.
Plymton Election.
A Petition of Rich. Strode, Esquire, complaining of an
undue Election and Return of Burgesses to serve in this
present Convention, for the Town of Plymton in the
County of Devon, in Prejudice of the Petitioner, was
read.
Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to the Consideration of the Committee of Elections and Privileges;
to examine the Matter thereof, and report the same, with
their Opinions therein, to the House.
Member to withdraw.
The House being informed, that Roger North, Esquire,
who is One of the Members returned in the Double
Return for the Borough of Dunwich in the County of
Suffolke, is sitting in the House;
And he, standing up in his Place, and excusing the same,
as being (as he conceived) not within the general Rule:
And the Question being put, That he withdraw;
It passed in the Affirmative.
And he withdrew accordingly.
Speaker's Chamber to be locked.
Ordered, That the Serjeant at Arms do take Care to
keep the Speaker's Chamber free from Strangers; and
that the Back-door being locked up, the Key be brought
and laid upon the Table.
Committee of Privileges to receive Election Petitions.
Ordered, That the Chairman of the Committee of
Elections and Privileges be impowered to receive Petitions
concerning Elections of Members to serve in this present
Convention; and that the Petitions be numbered as they
come in; and heard in course, as the same shall be brought
in to the Committee.
State of the Nation.
The House then, according to the Order of Tuesday
last, proceeded to take into Consideration, the Condition
and State of the Nation.
Resolved, That the House do now resolve itself into a
Committee of the whole House, to take into Consideration the Condition and State of the Nation.
Mr. Speaker left the Chair.
Mr. Hampden took the Chair of the Committee.
Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.
Mr. Hampden reports from the Committee of the
whole House, that they, having taken into Consideration
the Condition and State of the Nation, had agreed upon a
Resolve: Which he read in his Place; and then delivered
the same in at the Table: Where the same being again
read, is as follows:
Resolution that the Throne is vacant.
Resolved, That King James the Second, having endeavoured to subvert the Constitution of this Kingdom, by
breaking the Original Contract between King and People;
and, by the Advice of Jesuits, and other wicked Persons,
having violated the fundamental Laws; and having withdrawn himself out of the Kingdom; has abdicated the
Government; and that the Throne is thereby vacant.
Resolved, That this House doth agree with the Committee, That King James the Second, having endeavoured
to subvert the Constitution of the Kingdom, by breaking
the Original Contract between King and People; and, by
the Advice of Jesuits, and other wicked Persons, having
violated the fundamental Laws; and having withdrawn
himself out of this Kingdom; has abdicated the Government; and that the Throne is thereby vacant.
Resolved, That the Lords Concurrence be desired to
this Resolve.
Ordered, That Mr. Hampden do carry up the said
Resolve to the Lords, for their Concurrence.
And then the House adjourned till To-morrow
Morning, Nine a Clock.