to-day, whether you will consider the several a committee only from the house. If the custom has been that privy counsellors propose Speakers, and they are chosen, it does not therefore follow that privy counsellors chuse them. What you will do is one thing, and what you ought to do is another. Sir Edm. Jennings. This is a reflectioning of the session, and it is a most unusual upon the whole house. Sir Tho. Meres. The question is, Whether you will add any to the privy counsellors, as you have done upon other Messages. I have been added twice or thrice myself for onc. But for sending the king Thanks, I remember none that have carried the Message but privy counsellors Ordered "That the Thanks of this house be returned to his majesty, for his gracious expressions in his Speech.' Mr. Gurroway. If the privy counsellors, or the house go in a body, I am not against it. Mr. Bennet. When this is over, I would enquire who it is that advised the king to demand so great a sum of us, and a Revenue that the nation is not able to bear. But I am as willing to give Thanks for the gracious expressions in his majesty's Speech as any man. thing to have new demands for Money at the latter end of a session. I know not any precedent before of it. At the opening of the session, there was Money given for an Army by land, and a Navy by sea, for a French War. And all the latter part of the session has been spent in raising a great charge on the kingdom, for disbanding that Army; and it will lie very hard upon the people. Lord Cavendish. There is no slavery like that under a form of law. This is so formidable a demand, in the king's Speech, that the first impression I can make of it is, to remove those who advised the king to demand it. Sir John Knight. Consider the poverty of the nation, and fall of rents; it is impossible we should grant what is desired. Here are Pensions upon the Revenue, and we must still supply it. I would have an act of parliament to annul them all. At this rate we shall be Normans, and wear wooden shoes. I move, therefore, That there be no farther addition to the Crown Revenue, but that the Revenue may be better managed.' Which will suffiMr. Garroway. Here are a great many ciently do the business of the crown without points to be observed in the king's Speech. I addition.. think you have but little money to give. I remember, the present lord chancellor, when he was in this house, upon the making the king's Revenue 1,200,000l. a year, said, We had given all we had to give.' We have paid dear now for talking of a war with France, and our answer to this demand is, that it is beyond our abilities; we have it not to give.' I would first know where this 300,000l. is to be had, to make up the Revenue, &c? I would know where, or what it is? I know no such thing. I cannot imagine how so much as to think of it. I have heard it said, That the Revenue should never be so big as to destroy amity betwixt the king and us; and, that it is fit for us to keep something always in reserve to present his majesty with.' This looks to me, of a strange nature, as if the house of commons were never to come here more. I know not how to comply with it. 6 Sir Tho. Lee. I would do all things with decency. You have made an Order, that no more motions for Money shall be made this session.' And if any gentleman can show a reason why you should retract your Order, and consider the king's Speech, he says something to the purpose. - Sir Tho. Littleton. Increasing the king's Revenue 300,000l. per ann. ought to be directly from a motion arising from the king's Speech in the house, before you go into a grand com mittee. The Speaker. The reason of it is, the house avoids a question upon any thing of Money in the king's Speech, but it must arise from a motion in the house, referred to a grand coinmittee to consider, &c. Mr. Swynfin. I desire, we may not make any longer delay, but come to some resolution The king would be at ease, if his Revenue was,' and as long as these ministers manage it, he never will; and I would have them removed. Our liberality has brought upon us the fears of Popery and arbitrary power. I would not have our sleeps disturbed with this demand in the king's Speech; and whilst the house is full, I would see an end of these demands. Sir Francis Drake. Our Saviour was followed by a great many for the loaves, and so was the king's father. Great sums are asked. Is it from without us, or within us? Let us, however, get these men removed from the throne, that have endeavoured to break trust and confidence betwixt the king and us. They are uneasy with a parliament, and would have such a Revenue granted the king, that they may have no more. No Englishman can give this money demanded; and I would give none. Mr. Booth. It is said that the Revenue cannot maintain the charge of the government.' If it be not enough, it is because there are so many privy seals; they are so numerous, and the Revenue is so ill managed; and it is very hard that the nation should supply the defects of ill management. The Speech tells you, That the Revenue is not so great as that of other princes.' If it was so great as that of France, I fear it would be to make the king as absolute as the king of France. As to the princess of Orange's Portion, I hope we shall not pay all the portions the king engages for. I hear there are great expences in lodging at Whitehall, the dutchess of Portsmouth.] Still for more expences. I move, therefore, That we may give no farther addition to the king's Revenue.' Sir Tho. Meres enumerates the king's Revenue, and the charges upon the people, now amounting to about two millions; and here is a request of 300,000l. for the king's life, which, at seven years value, amounts to two millions! Pray put a question whether you shall set a day for this motion. And I pray you will give a negative question. I will give a negative. 6 Mr. Sacheverell. There is more in this question than in any I ever heard, since I sat here. The States of France gave the king power to raise money upon extraordinary occasions, till their next meeting,' and they never met more. This sum is asked because of the Algiers war; and another reason is, the king will give you 500,000l. per annum for the Flect.' And we gave 700,000l. per ann, for it in the Customs. Those that move you now for a Supply, I believe, intend not to perpetuate it upon your land. Trade is already overcharged, and where will they have it? Home Excise; that way has lost them their liberty in France. Just as the calculation was made for the war, and disbanding the Army, and the Revenue demanded is calculated for an army of 20,000 men. I would ask any gentleman, whether he would make the Revenue so big, as there should be no use of a parliament for supplying the king? And whether ever the ministers will call a parliament again, should you grant suck a Revenue as is asked? Consider this too; when we are upon any good laws, we are prorogued, and can do nothing but give Money. I will trust the ministers no more; and will give my negative to increasing the Revenue 300,000l. more.. Mr. Powle. I take this increase of the Revenue to import no less than the change of the government. Either we shall not need parliaments any more, by good husbandry of the crown, or else the crown must still have Aids, and the nation be not able to bear it. In the Revenue now, there are all the marks of superfluity; as Pensions on the Customs, and other branches of the Revenue, besides 80,000l. paid out of the exchequer for secret service, within these few months. And I have seen accounts in the Secretary's Papers, for Intelligence, &c. that come not near up to that sum. Now, we are required to inspect the Revenue, &c. a most unreasonable thing, at the latter end of a session! I know not how this Revenue can be granted, but upon a Home-Excise; and then what use can there be of so much revenue, but for keeping up the Army? I would have all men consider this question, of increasing the Revenue 300,000l. for the whole fate of Parliaments depends upon it. Mr. Sec. Williamson. Unless you acquiesce in the reason of giving this Revenue, I would never press the house beyond their temper. I am willing that, for this time, the thing be laid aside. Mr. Vaughan. By Williamson's argument, since the house does not willingly entertain the motion now, &c. that is to say, it may be taken up again. Some are dissolving this bond betwixt the king and his people, by this. I could not think that there was so much guilt in any person in the kingdom, to make such efforts. You have had strange judgments in the Exchequer chamber, in the case of Barnardiston and Soames. Such Judges may be prepared for judgments against you in the Exchequer-chamber for what you do here, when these doors are shut. Vassalages hereafter will not be confined to particular tenures, but this will be throughout the whole nation. I have seen men rise from nothing, within these walls. And when they are task-masters within these walls, they are task-masters to ruin the nation, with raising themselves. You have but one more addition to your misfortune, and that is, to give this 300,000!. increase to the Revenue. And I will give my negative to it. Sir Wm. Coventry. I rise only to speak to the previous question. It is become a very parliamentary thing, but a word sometimes slips into it, that wakes a doubt. The word 'now' being not put in it, it may be a fortnight, or a month hence; but if you please to leave out the word now,' then the question will be, Whether you will consider of the motion for increasing the Revenue 300,000l. per ann.' Sir Job Charlton. I move that you will give the officers of the treasury time to make out, whether the government cannot be supported without this addition to the Revenue. The king denies you no bills you present him, only 'le Roi s'avisera.' And I would not have you do any indecent thing to the king. [He was laughed at.] The Commons refuse the King an Additional Revenue.] The question being put, "That the house will go into a grand committee, to consider of the motion for raising 300,000l. per annum, for an additional Revenue to the king," it passed in the negative, without a division.* Debate on Members receiving Pensions.] Sir Wm. Coventry said, I take ourselves to be useful, not to say necessary, to the government, and till those scandals are taken away from us, mentioned in a book, of receiving pensions for our votes (which, it seems, has been thought fit to be amongst the advertisements in the Gazette, and a reward promised to the discoverer of the Author or Publisher),† I say, since this is made public, till this scandal be taken away, we cannot serve the nation "It was said, "That there was a demand for a Revenue, which would furnish the Court so well; that there would be no more need of parliaments.' The Court party thought such a gift as this would make them useless, so the thing was, upon one debate, rejected without a division." Burnet. This very curious Tract will be found in the Appendix to the present volume, No. III. 10. If any have kept public tables for Members, and at whose charges, &c.? 11. How many members sit in the house out-lawed, before judgment as well as after? 12. Enquiry to be made of those who go to Conventicles. 13. That a Test be given for discovery of the libel of the Catalogue of the Pensioners names, &c. who was the Author of it, and who promoted the dispersing, &c.?" as we ought." Money,' Solomon says, will blind the eyes of the wise.' If a man be in poverty, he need not be ashamed of his majesty's bounty. I say, he need not be ashamed of the bounty of his prince. But that man, whoever he be, that goes about to corrupt members of parliament for their votes, be he ever so great, should be ashamed of it. If a man be so base as to receive 5001, for his vote here, he, in time, will raise it up to 1500/. Of all these Articles it was proposed that And that trick will be spoiled at last. If a every Member should purge himself; and a man has been so transported by any pressures, Vote passed accordingly, viz. Resolved, &c. let not the reputation of all your members lie" That an Account be taken, of what Penunder scandals; else the very laws you make sions have been charged upon the Revenue; will not meet with that chearful obedience they and what Privy Seals have issued for Secret ought to have. I hope, therefore, that this Service, since May 1677: and that there be a house will do something in vindication of them-Test concerning Bribery of Members for giving selves, the thing now being made Gazettematter, in the face of the whole world. I am not a man prepared to prescribe you a unethod to purge yourselves; but now that the jealousy has got so much strength as to be in print, and since it deserves the notice of the government, which has put it in print, seeing the ill fame of it has gotten abroad, I would have the good fame of our endeavouring to detect it get abroad likewise. Sir Tho. Clarges. The Auditor of the Receipts of the Privy Seals can inform you, what money has been issued out since May 1677, upon extraordinary occasions. Mr. Wm. Harbord. Whoever attempts the enslaving, and making the legislative power subservient to any particular subject, is guilty of the greatest crime that can be. Therefore I will explain myself thus. I would have every gentleman of the house come to the table, and protest that he has received no reward for any thing he has done in parliament, or for giving his vote. Or if any gentleman be in employment in the government, and has been put out of his place for giving his vote here according to his conscience, or has been threatened, this is a great crime. And I would have it as comprehensive as you can. Whereupon several proposed these following Tests, &c. as they stood inclined to one party, or the other. 1. "Whether any members have received money to give their Votes, &c.? 2. Whether any members have been turned out of their places for giving their Votes, &c.? 3. Whether any members are guilty of Popery, and come not to the Sacrament, &c.? 4. Whether any members have been dealing with, or conversing with foreign ministers, or receiving money from them, to forward any business relating to parliament ? 5. Whether any members have received money for giving counsel for any Bills depending in the house? 6. If any committees have received gratuities? 7. If any members have solicited voices in any business depending in parliament? 8. If any members have offered their service to any great persons to vote in parliament, and have been refused? 9. If any members have received money for granting Protections, &c.? their Votes: and concerning Popery, and taking the Sacrament: and concerning con versing with foreign Ministers, or transacting with them, in relation to the proceedings of this house; and receiving money from them: and concerning such as have received any Money, as counsel for any bill depending in the house, or any reward for being chairman of a committee: and concerning such as have solicited for voices, in any cause depending before the house: and concerning such as have offered their service to great persons to give their Vote in parliament, and have been refused and concerning such as keep public Tables; and at whose charge; and concerning such as have taken Money for granting Protections: and that inquiry be made, how many menibers are outlawed, as well before as after judgment: and that there be an inquiry made of such members as have gone to Conventicles or mass." But after it was thought that all was done and settled, and the house was about to rise, so many went away before a committee was appointed to draw up the said Tests, that the Court Party took advantage to put the question, Whether a Committee should be named, or no, which was carried in the negative, 100 to 86, and so the thing ended*. Complaint against the Clerk.] June 19. Complaint was made, by several members, of the Clerk's non Entry of the Enquiries yesterday, concerning Moneys issued out by privy seals, and that he deserved to be turned out of his place for his misdemeanor. The Speaker. You meddle with what you have nothing to do with, in displacing the Clerk, he being a patent officer. Mr. Hampden. The clerk assistant is your own officer, and you may put him out, and displace him, upon misdemeanor. Mr. Goldsborough, the clerk, was ordered to give an account of the pasting of the leaves together, in the Journal of the year 1663, and defacing it. The other allegation against the clerk, of the not entering yesterday's Order perfectly, was passed over with some reflection on the clerk; and he was ordered to perfect the Journal. * Grey. Sir Solomon Swale expelled.] A Letter was sent from sir Solomon Swale to the Speaker, to excuse his receiving the Sacrament till Sunday sevennight, being prevented the last Sunday, by reason there was no Sacrament at St. Martin's Church, and after next Sunday come sevennight he hopes to be here to give his attendance. Mr. Wm. Harbord. This is a mere trick; for Swale hopes by that time you will be up, and no farther enquiry be made after him. But I will take care to inform you of this trick. Mr. Williams. A certificate of his repairing to divine service, and hearing it orderly, is a fair inducement to the Diocesan to certify. For the Order is nothing about receiving the Sacrament, only his conformity,' 3 James. And his allegation about receiving the Sacrament' is an insignificant thing, to delay time only. The Speaker reads the Statute. He is to repair to his parish church where is the most of his abiding; and his receiving the Sacrament there shall undo the indictment.' Lord Gorges. If Swale would have conformed he might have conformed in all this time, and it is a contempt of your Order. Sir Tho. Meres. Since Swale has had two or three admonitions, for these five months last past that you have sat, and he has been convicted a year and a half, there's no farther forbearance can be, but you must do something with him. Mr. Daniel Finch. The not receiving the Sacrament does not disable Swale from sitting in parliament, but the not taking the oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy. I move, that, if before Monday he receive not the Sacrament, and take not the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, he shall not be permitted to sit here; and that a writ be sent out to chuse another member to serve in his place. Sir Robert Sawyer. A Popish Recusant convict cannot come near the king's person, and, à fortiori, he cannot be of the great council of the nation. Whoever disables himself (as this case of Swale's is) from his attendance in parliament, you ought to discharge. And now you have fears and jealousies of Popery, to let such a man be one of you, that wilfully stands out of the church! You cannot answer it. I hope you will discharge him. Then this question was put, and carried, viz. "That whereas it appears to the house, that sir Solomon Swale is convicted of Popish Recusancy; and having been divers times called upon by this house to signify his conformity to the Church of England, which he hath not done, in pursuance to `a peremptory order of this house; ordered, That the said sir S. Swale be discharged from the service of this house; and that a new writ be issued out for the choice * By an Order of June 10, he had been required to bring a Certificate by this day, of his conformity to the church of England. of another member to serve in his place, for the Borough of Aldborough, in the county of York." The King's Message for continuing the Army longer on foot.] June 20. The Lord Treasurer, by his majesty's command, acquainted the lords, "That his majesty did yesterday receive a letter from his ambassador at Nimeguen, sir Lionel Jenkins, dated the 15th of June, which gave him an account, that the French ambassadors had declared to the Dutch ambassadors there, that they would not void any one of the places they held in the Spanish Netherlands, till Sweden be effectually restored to the places taken from them; no, notwithstanding that the peace was already signed and ratified between them. That upon this is arisen a difficulty on the side of the Spaniards, whether they will accept of the French conditions. That M. Beverning, one of the States ambassadors there, had thereupon earnestly enquired of him, whether the Army of England was presently to be disbanded; because nobody could tell what end things would come to; for if France will keep all the places in the Netherlands filled with their troops, it is in vain that the States have taken so much pains about their Barrier; for they will have none, when all is done. And the said M. Beverning was very anxious, till he did hear out of England, that the Army might not yet be disbanded. That the Imperial ministers had been to visit him that day; and that their principal business was to learn what they could from him, in what state our Army was, things being in this doubtful condition." The above was the same day communicated to the Commons, at a conference, and the lords delivered them a copy of the Message. The commons, after the conference, had some debate upon the said Message, but did nothing thereupon; but Resolved, "That a Message be sent to the lords, to remind them of the Bill for disbanding the Army." The house then went into a committee of the whole house, and Resolved, "That the new imposts on Wines and Vinegar be granted to his majesty for three years, from the 1st of Aug. next, upon such Wines and Vinegar as may now be legally imported." The question being put, "That the sum of 200,000l. which was borrowed on the credit of the Excise, shall be charged on the Bill for impost on Wines," it passed in the negative, 179 to 168. Vote on the Supply.] June 21. Resolved, "That a Supply, not exceeding 414,000l. shall be granted to his majesty, for paying off the extraordinary charge of the Navy and Ordnance; and for paying the princess of Orange's Portion; and for the repayment of the 200,000l. borrowed upon the credit of the additional Excise. And that the people be charged with no more money this session of parliament." Controversy between the Houses,] June 22. The lords believing it impossible to disband the Army by the days the commons named in the Bill, changed the last of June to the 27th of July, for that part of the Army in England; and for those abroad, they changed the time from the 24th of July to the 24th of August. And the Bill, with these amendments, being returned to the conmons this day, they were on debate, disagreed to by the house. June 25. The commons at a conference gave several reasous for their not agreeing with the lords in the above Amendments. The main one was, It being a Bill of Money, they cannot allow their lordships any manner of power, to add, or diminish, to, or from it, &c.' And they offered a Proviso, by way of expe dient. | majesty doth very graciously accept the service you have done him this session; and is as well pleased with your worthy and dutiful carriage towards him, as with the noble and liberal present you have made him. He doth now consider, that some recess is necessary for your health and refreshment after all your labours; and he would be glad it might be for some longer time than his affairs at present will admit: for his majesty doth not know how soon he may be engaged in a war; and when he shall be so, he is sure that he can by no means want the counsel and assistance of his parliament; and therefore he hath resolved, never to put off this parliament too far from him.For this cause, his maj. hath resolved to keep his parliament always in view, by making several, but very short, prorogations of it; but with an intention, however, that the parliament shall not sit till towards winter, unless his majesty's pressing and important occasions shall call for your advice sooner; and if they do so, his majesty will be sure to give timely notice thereof by his proclamation, to the end there June 26. The lords, at a Conference, gave may be a full appearance. At this present, several reasons for insisting on their Amend- his majesty's pleasure is, to prorogue this parments to the Bill of disbanding, and for reject-liament no further than till the first of August ing the Proviso offered by the commons. But to all the amendments but one the commons disagreed, and adhered to their proviso. The same day several ways were proposed for raising the said sum of 414,000l. as upon Buildings erected since 1656, upon new foundations, within ten miles of London, but this was rejected, 117 to 88; by the old way of Subsidy, &c. but at last it was concluded by Land Tax. The house grew so thin, that, upon a division for adjourning the debate the Ayes were but 74, and the Noes 71. June 28. The lords voted that they adhered to their Amendments, and disagreed to the Proviso. And the commons voted è contra. Vote on the Commons' Right of granting Money.] July 3. The commons resolved, "That all Aids and Supplies to his majesty in parliament, are the sole Gift of the commons; and all Bills for the granting of any such Aids and Supplies ought to begin with the commons; and that it is the undoubted and sole right of the commons to direct, limit, and appoint, in such Bills, the ends, purposes, considerations, conditions, limitations, and qualifications of such Grants; which ought not to be changed by the house of lords." The Money Bill passed.] The same day the commons resolved, "That provision be made in the Bill now depending, for raising 414,000l. for raising 206,462l. 17s. 3d. for disbanding the Army; and that they be tacked together to be ingrossed in the same Bill." And this expedient ended the controversy between the lords and commons, about the lords alteration of the times of disbanding the Army, &c. in the Bill the commons sent up. And the former bill of disbanding the Army was laid aside. July 8. The grand Money Bill passed, and was entitled An Act for granting a Supply to his majesty of 619,388/. 11s. 9d. for disbandiug the Army, and other uses.' "The Parliament prorogued.] July 15. The house attended his majesty in the house of peers, where the royal assent was given to the Money Bill, and eight others; after which the Lord Chancellor made the following Speech: "My lords; and you the knights, citizens, and burgesses of the house of commons; His next; and this parliament is prorogued until the 1st of August next ensuing."* Aug. 1. Both houses met, and were farther prorogued to August 29th; from thence to October 1st; and from thence to October 21. PRINCIPAL OCCURRENCES DURING THE RE- "Thus ended the 16th session of this parliament; and thus England saw herself engaged in an expence of 600,000l. to pay an Army and Fleet, which certainly had not been prepared to make war with France, or for the security of England." Kapin. |