In a committee of the whole house, they divide by changing sides, the ayes taking the right hand of the chair, and the noes the left; and then there are only two tellers.
If when a bill is passed in one house, and sent to the other, they demur upon it; a conference is then demanded in the Painted Chamber, where certain members deputed from each house meet, and debate the affair, while the Lords sit covered at a table, and the Commons stand without their hats. If they disagree, the affair is dropped; but if they come to an agreement, it is at length brought, with all the other bills that have passed both houses, to receive the royal assent, in the house, where the King being seated in the chair of state, the Clerk of the crown reads the title of each bill; and as he reads, the Clerk of the Parliament, according to the instructions he hath received from his Majesty, pronounces the royal assent; if it be a public bill by saying, Le Roy le veut, i. e. The King will have it so; or if a private bill, Soit fait comme il est désiré; i. e. Be it done as is desired. But if his Majesty does not approve the bill, the answer is, Le Roy s’avisera: that is, The King will consider of it.
Money bills always begin in the house of Commons; because the greatest part of the supplies are raised by the people, and for this reason the Commons will not allow the Lords to alter them; and on the presenting these bills to his Majesty, the answer is, Le Roy remercie ses loyaux sujets, accepte leur benevolence, & aussi le veut: that is, The King thanks his loyal subjects, accepts of their benevolence, and therefore grants his consent.
A bill for a general pardon has but one reading in each house; because they must take it as the King will please to give it: and when this bill is passed, the answer is, Les Prélats, Seigneurs, & Communes, en ce parlement assemblez, au nom du tous vos autre sujets, remercient très humblement vôtre Majesté, & prient Dieu vous donner en santé, bonne vie & longue: that is, The Bishops, Lords, and Commons in this Parliament assembled, in the name of all your other subjects, most humbly thank your Majesty, and beseech God to grant you a long and healthful life.
The King, without his personal presence, may, by a commission granted to some of his Nobles, give his royal assent to any bill that requires haste.
When his Majesty prorogues or dissolves the Parliament, he generally comes in person, and being seated with the crown on his head, sends the Black Rod for all the house of Commons to come to the bar of the house of Lords; and then the speech being read by the Lord Chancellor, he, by the King’s special command, pronounces the Parliament prorogued or dissolved.
The Parliament was formerly dissolved at the death of the King; but to prevent tumults and confusion, it is now expressly provided by a solemn act, That a Parliament sitting, or in being at the King’s demise, shall continue; and if not sitting shall meet expressly, for keeping the peace of the realm, and preserving the succession. See House of Lords.
Compass alley, Spitalfields market.*
Compter alley, near Compter court.
Compter court, near Tooley street.