Journals of the House

v6:109

Journals of the House, 18th March, 1698.

The Earl of Ranelagh acquainted the House that he had, in command from his Majesty, a Message to deliver to this House, signed by his Majesty, and all of his own handwriting: which the said Earl delivered in to Mr˙ Speaker, who read the same to the House, and is as followeth, viz:

"WILLIAM R.

"His Majesty is pleased to let the House know that the necessary preparations are made for transporting the guards, who came with him into England; and that he intends to send them away immediately, unless, out of consideration to him, the Bouse be disposed to find a way for continuing them longer in his service, which his Majesty would take very kindly."

Upon which, a question being proposed that a day be appointed to consider of his Majesty' s said Message, the question was put, that that question be now put; and it passed in the negative.

20th of MARCH, 1698. The Lord Norris reported from the Committee appointed on Saturday last to draw up an humble Address to be presented to his Majesty, that they had drawn up an Address accordingly, which he read in his place, and afterwards delivered in at the Clerk' s table, where the same was read, and is as followeth:

"MOST GRACIOUS SOVEREIGN: We, your Majesty' s most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Commons in this present Parliament assembled, do, with unfeigned zeal to your Majesty' s person and Government, (which God long preserve,) most humbly represent:

"That the passage of the late act for disbanding the Army gave great satisfaction to your subjects; and the punctual execution thereof will prevent all occasion of distrust or jealousy between your Majesty and your people.

"It is, sir, to your loyal Commons an unspeakable grief, that anything should be asked by your Majesty' s message to which they cannot consent, without doing violence to that Constitution your Majesty came over to restore and preserve, and did at that time, in your gracious declaration, promise that all those foreign forces which came over with you should be sent back. In duty, therefore, to your Majesty, and to discharge the trust reposed in us, we crave leave to lay before you, that nothing conduceth more to the happiness and welfare of this kingdom than an entire confidence between your Majesty and your people; which can no way be so firmly established as by entrusting your sacred person with your own subjects, who have so eminently signalized themselves on all occasions during the late long and expensive war."