concerning the Committing of a Member to Custody when Impeached in Parliament and to Report the same to the House The Humble ADDRESS of the COMMONS in Parliament presented to His MAJESTY to Remove George Earl of Hallifax From His presence and Counsels With His MAJESTIES Answer VVE Your Majesties most Dutiful and Loyal Subjects the Commons in this present Parliament Assembled being deeply sensible of the manifold dangers and mischiefs which have been occasioned to this Your Kingdom by the Dissolution of the last Parliament and by the frequent Prorogations of this present Parliament whereby the Papists have been greatly encouraged to carry on their hellish and damnable Conspiracies against Your Royal Person and Government and the Protestant Religion now established amongst us and have had many opportunities to contrive false and malicious Plots against the Lives and Honours of several of Your loyal Protestant Subjects And having just reason to believe that the said Dissolution was Promoted by the evil and pernicious counsels of George Earl of Hallifax Do therefore most humbly pray Your Majesty for the taking away of occasions of distrust and jealousie between Your Majesty and Your Loyal Commons and that we may with greater chearfulness proceed to perfect those matters now before us which tend to the safety and honour of Your Sacred Person and Government and to the preservation of the true Protestant Religion both to our Selves our Posterity That You would be graciously pleased to remove the said George Earl of Hallifax from your Presence and Counsels for ever His Majesties Answer to the Address CHARLES R. HIs Majesty having received the Address of this House relating to the Earl of Hallifax hath thought fit to return this Answer That He conceives the said Address to be lyable to several Exceptions but having a great desire to preserve all possible good understanding with this House He chooses to decline to enter into particulars to avoid all occasions of dispute He therefore thinks fit to tell them that He doth not find the grounds in the Address of this House to be sufficient to induce Him to remove the Earl of Hallifax But He assures them at the same time that whenever this House shall in a due and regular course prove any Crime either against the said Earl of Hallifax or any other Person who either now is or shall hereafter be in his Councels He will leave him or them to their own legal defence without interposing to protect them ARTICLES of Impeachment against Edward Seymour Esq With the Vote of the COMMONS in Parliament Upon the said Articles Articles of Impeachment of High Crimes Misdemeanours and Offences against Edward Seymour Esq one of His Majesties most Honourable Privy Council Treasurer of His Majesties Navy and one of the Members of the House of COMNONS now in Parliament Assembled Imprimis THat Whereas the Sum of Five hundred eighty four thousand nine hundred seventy Eight Pounds Two shillings Two Pence was raised by an Act of Parliament for the speedy Building of Thirty Ships of War and thereby appropriated to the said Use By which Act it was particularly directed That the Treasurer of the Navy should keep all moneys payed to him by vertue of the said Act distinct and appart from all other moneys and should Issue and pay the same by Warrant of the Principal Officers and Commissioners of the Navy or any three or more of them and mentioning and expressing that it is for the Building for the Guns Rigging and other Furnishing of the said Thirty Ships of War and to no other Use intent or purpose whatsoever He the said Edward Seymour on or about the year One thousand six hundred seventy seven being then Treasurer of the Navy did contrary to the said Act and contrary to the Duty of his said Office lend the Sum of Ninty thousand Pound at Eight pound per Cent. parcel of the said Sum raised by the said Act being then in his hands for and towards the support and continuance of the Army then Raised after such time as by an Act of Parliament the said Army ought to have been Disbanded whereby the said two several Acts were Eluded and the said Army was continued and kept on foot to the great Disturbance Hazard and Danger of the Peace and Safety of the Kingdom And the Nation was afterwards put to a new Charge of raising and paying the sum of Two hundred thousand pound for the Disbanding of the said Army Secondly That whereas an Act of Parliament had passed for Raising of money by a Poll for Enabling His Majesty to enter into an actual War against the French King and the Money raised by Vertue of the said Act was thereby appropriated to the said Use and to the Re-payment of such Persons as should furnish His Majesty with any Sums of mony or any Stores necessary for the said Service And whereas certain East-land Merchants were desired by His Majesties Officers to furnish and supply great quantities of Stores for the Navy and as an Incouragement thereunto were assured that the Sum of Fourty thousand pound parcel of the moneys raised by the said Act was at that time actually in the hands of the said Edward Seymour which he did acknowledge so to be and did promise the said Sum should be payed to the said Merchants in part of Satisfaction for the said Stores which they did furnish upon the credit of the said Affirmation and undertaking He the said Edward Seymour did on or about the year One thousand six hundred seventy eight issue out and pay the said Sum to the Victuallers of the Navy by way of advance and for provisions not then brought in contrary to the true intent and meaning of the said Act Whereas the same by the provision of the said Act ought to have been payed to the East-land Merchants who had furnished His Majesty with Flax Hemp and other Necessaries for the said Service Of which said Deceit and Injustice the said Merchants did complain in the last Parliament Thirdly That the said Edward Seymour being Treasurer of the Navy and then and still having a Salary of 3000 l. per Annum clear for the same did during the time that he was Speaker of the late long Parliament receive out of the monies appointed for secret Service the Yearly Sum of 3000 l. over and above his said Salary which was constantly payed to him as well during the Intervals as the Sessions of Parliament and particularly during the Prorogation of Fifteen months Fourthly That on or about the Eighteenth year of His Majesties Reign and during a War with the States General of the United Netherlands He the said Edward Seymour being then one of the Commissioners for Prize Goods did Fradulently Unlawfully and in Deceipt of His Majesty Unlade a certain Prize Ship taken from the Subjects of the said States without any Order or Authority for the same and did House the Lading and Goods of the said Ship and Lock up the same
House do Sit together without mingling with other persons in the place prepared for them at the Tryal of the Lord Viscount Stafford and Mr. Howard Captain of the Yeomen of the Guards is desired to take care thereof HIS MAJESTIES Message to the COMMONS in PARLIAMENT CHARLES REX HIS Majestie did in His Speech at the opening of this Session desire the Advice and Assistance of His Parliament in relation to Tangier The Condition and Importance of the Place obliges His Majestie to put this House in mind again That He relies upon them for the Support of it without which it cannot be much longer Preserved His Majesty does therfore very earnestly Recommend Tangier again to the due and speedy Consideration and Care of this House The Humble ADDRESS of the COMMONS In Parliament Assembled Presented to His Majesty Munday the 29th day of November 1680. May it please your Most Excellent Majestie WE Your Majesties most obedient and Loyal Subjects The Commons in Parliament Assembled having with all Duty and Regard taken into our Serious Consideration Your Majesties late Message relating to Tangier cannot but account the present Condition of it as Your Majestie is pleased to Represent it in Your said Message after so vast a Treasure expended to make it Useful not only as one infelicity more added to the afflicted Estate of your Majesties faithful and Loyal Subjects But as one result also of the same Counsels and Designs which have brought Your Majesties Person Crown and Kingdoms into those great and imminent Dangers with which at this day they are surrounded And we are the less surprized to hear of the Exigencies of Tangier when we remember that since it became part of Your Majesties Dominions it hath several times been under the Command of popish Governours particularly under Command of a Lord Impeached and now Prisoner in the Tower for the Execrable and Horrid Popiâ—h Plot That the Supplies sent thither have been in great part made up of Popish Officers and Soldiers and that the Irish Papists among the Soâ—diers of that Garrison have been the Persons most Countenanced and Encouraged To that part of your Majesties Message which expresses a reliance upon this House for the support of Tangier and a recommendation of â—t to our speedy care We do with all humility and reverence give this Answer That although in due Time and Order We shall omit nothing incumbent on Us for the preservation of every part of your Majesties Dominions and advancing the prosperity and slourishing Estate of this your Kingdom yet at this time when a Cloâ—d which has long threatned this Land â—s â—eady to break upon our heads in a storm of Ruine and Confusion to enter into any further consideration of this matter especially to come to any Resolutions in it before We are effectually secured from the imminent and apparent Dangers arising from the Power of Popish Persons and Councils We humbly conceive will not consist either with Our Duty to Your Majesty or the Trust reposed in Us by those We represent It is not unknown to your Majesty how restless the Endeavours and how bold the Attempts of the Popish Party for many years last past have been not only within this but other your Majesties Kingdoms to introduce the Romish and utterâ—y to extirpate the true Protestant Religion The several Approaches they have made towards the compassing this their Design assisted by the Treachery of perfidâ—ous Protestants have been so strangely successful that t is matter of Admiration to Us and which we can only ascribe to an Over-ruling Providence that your Majesties Reign is still continued over Us and that We are yet assembled to consult the means of our preservation This bloody and restless Party not content with the great Liberty they had a long time enjoyed to exercise their own Religion privately amongst themselves to pertake of an equal Freedom of their persons and Estates with your Majesties Protestant Subjects and of an Advantage above them in being excused from chargeable Offices and Employments hath so far prevailed as to find countenance for an open and avowed practice of their Superstition and Idolatry without controul in several parts of this Kingdom Great swarms of Priests and Jesuits have resorted hither and have here exercised their Jurisdiction and been daily tampering to pervert the Consciences of your Majesties Subjects Their Opposers they have found means to disgrace and if they were Judges Justices of the Peace or other Magistrates to have them turned out of Commission and in contempt of the known Laws of the Land they have practised upon people of all â—anks and qualities and gained over divers to their Religion some openly to profess it others secretly to espouse it as most conduced to the service thereof After sometime they became able to influence matters of State and Government and thereby to destroy those they cannot corrupt The continuance or Prorogation of Parliaments has been accommodated to serve the purposes of that Party Money raised upon the People to supply your Majesties extraordinary Occasions was by the prevaâ—ence of Popish Councils imployed to make War upon a Protestant State and to advance and augment the dreadfull Power of the French King though to the apparent hazard of this and all other Protestant Countries Great numbers of your Majesties Subjects were sent into and continued in the service of that King notwithstanding the apparent Interest of your Majesties Kingdoms the Addresses of the Parliament and your Majesties gracious Proclamations to the contrary Nor can We forbear to mention how that at the beginning of the same War even the Ministers of England were made Instruments to press upon that State the acceptance of one demand among others from the French King for procuring their peace with him that they should admit the publick exercise of the Roman Catholick Religion in the United Provinces the Churches there to be divided and the Romish Priests maintained out of the publick Revenue At home if Your Majesty did at any time by the Advice of Your privy-Privy-Council or of Your two Houses of Parliament Command the Laws to be put in Execution against Papists even from thence they gained advantage to their Party while the edge of those Laws was turned against Protestant Dissenters and the Papists escaped in a manner untoucht The Act of Parliament enjoining a Test to be taken by all Persons admitted into any Publick Office and intended for a security against Papists comeing into Employment had so little effect that either by Dispensation obtained from Rome they submitted to those Tests and held their Offices themselves or those put in their places were so favourable to the same Interests that Popery it self has rather gained than lost ground since that Act. But that their business in hand might yet more speedily and strongly proceed at length a Popish Secretary since Executed for his Treasons takes upon him to set a foot and maintain correspondereies at Rome particularly with a Native Subject of
Serjeant at Armes to answer at the Bar for a high Breach of Priviledge by him Committed aganst this House Mr. Secretary Jenkins acquaints the House that His Majesty having been attended by such Members of this House as are of His Majesties most Honourable Privy Council to know His Majesties pleasure When this House should attend Him with an address His Majesty hath appointed three of the Clock this afternoon for the House to attend him in the Banqueting-house at White-hall Ordered That leave be given to bring in a Bill to Supply the Laws against Bankrupcy Ordered That leave be given to bring in a Bill to take away the Court held before the Lord President and Council in the Marches of Wales A Bill for Repeal of an Act made in the 35. Year of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth cap. 1. was Read a Second time And no Exceptions being made to the same Ordered That the said Bill be Engrossed Resolved That an Humble Address be made to His Majesty from this House by such Members thereof as are of His Majesties most Honourable Privy Council to desire His Majesty to give Orders that all Protestant Dissenters who are Prosecuted upon any penal Laws made against Popish Recusants in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth and King James may be admitted to a Composition in the Exchequer without paying any Fees Ordered That leave be given to bring in a Bill declaring that the Acts of Parliament made in the Reigns of Queen Elizabeth and King James against Popish Recusants shall not be extended against Protestant Dissenters Ordered That the Committee appointed to prepare and Bring in a Bill for the better Uniting of all His Majesties Protestant Subjects have 〈…〉 bring in One or more Bill or Bills for that purpose Mr. Attorney General being called in and Examined touching the manner of Issuing forth the Proclamation Stiled A Proclamation against Tumultuous Petitions and giving an account to the House that Sir Fran. North Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas was advising and assisting in the drawing up and passing of the said Proclamation And a Debate arising in the House thereupon Resolved Nemine Contradicente That the Evidence this day given to this House against Sir Fran North Chief Justice of the Court of Common-pleas is a sufficient Ground for this House to proceed upon to an Impeachment against him for high Crimes and misdemeanors Ordered That it be referred to the Committee appointed to examine the proceedings of the Judges in Westminster-Hall to prepare Heads of an Impeachment against the said Sir Francis North and to present the same to the House And the said Committee is to sit de die in diem Ordered That William Rapley Bayliff of Haslemere in the County of Surrey being in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House be brought to the Bar of this House tomorrow Morning at Ten of the Clock to receive the Censure of the House Jovis 25. die Novem. 1680. Ordered THat a Message be sent to the Lords desiring their Lordships to appoint a Committee to joyn with a Committee of this House for the Adjusting the Methods and Circumstances relating to the Tryals of the Lords in the Tower and that Mr. Treby do go up to the Lords with the said Message A Petition of the Inhabitants of the County of Norfolk against Samuel Verdon Under-Sheriff of the said County for several Crimes and Misdemeanours by him Committed was Head Ordered That a Committee be appointed to Examine the Matters contained in the said Petition to Report the same with their Opinion therein to the House it is Referred to a Committee the same Committee is likewise Impowered to Examine the Abuses Miscarragies and Misdemeanors Committed by all Under-Sheriffs throughout the Kingdom Ordered That the said Samuel Verdon be sent for in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House to Answer at the Bar of the House for a Notorious Breach of Privilidge by him Committed against this House A Petition of Mr. Thomas Staples being in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House was Read Ordered That Mr. Staples be called in and do receive the Censure of the House at the Bar upon his Knees from Mr. Speaker and that he be then Discharged paying his Fees which was done accordingly A Message from the Lords by Sir John Coell and Sir Timothy Baldwyn Mr. Speaker The Lords have commanded us to acquaint this House that His Majesty having been Desired to appoint a Time when both Houses should attend Him with an Address for a Fast His Majesty was pleased to return answer That it is His Majesties Pleasure that both Houses do attend Him at Three of the Clock this Afternoon in the Banquetting-House The Articles of Impeachments against Edward Seymour Esq a member of the House being Read Resolved That the Articles be Read One by one and that Mr. Seymour do make his answer to each respective Article in his place which being accordingly done and Mr. Seymour withdrawn The first of the said Articles being Read to the House and a Debate arising in the House thereupon Resolved That the Debate be Adjourned to Ten of the Clock to Morrow Morning The Addresses Humbly presented to His MAJESTY From Both Houses of Parliament for a Day of HUMILIATION with His MAJESTIES Gracious Answer WE Your Majesties most Dutiful and Loyal Subjects the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons in this present Parliament Assembled being deeply sensible of the sad and calamitous condition of this your Majesties Kingdom occasioned chiefly by the impious and horrid Conspiracies of a Popish Party who have not only Plotted and Intended the destruction of Your Majesties Royal Person but the Total Subversion of the Government and true Religion established amongst us and finding the same detestable Machinations still obstinately prosecuted by them as well by somenting divisions amongst your Majesties Loyal Protestant Subjects as all other the most wicked Contrivances notwithstanding the many discoveries thereof by Gods great mercy and wonderful providence lately brought to light all which dreadful Judgments are now impending over us most deservedly for our many and grievous sins and cannot otherwise in humane reason be prevented but by the particular blessing of God upon the Consultations and Endeavours of your great Council now Assembled in Parliament Do in all humility beseech your Majesty that by your Royal Proclamation a Day may be solemnly set apart wherein both our selves and all your Majesties Loyal Subjects may by Fasting and prayers endeavour a Reconciliation with Almighty God and with humble and penitent hearts implore him by his power and goodness to divert those Judgments and defeat the wicked counsels and deivces of our Enemies to Unite the hearts of your loyal Protestant Subjects and to continue his mercy and the light of his Gospel to us and our Posterities and more especially to bestow his abundant blessings on your Sacred Majesty and this present Parliament that our Consultations and
receive security for the forth coming of the said Mr. Seymour to answer to the Impeachment of this House Sir William Poultney reports from the Committee appointed to put the Articles against Mr. Seymour into the form of an Impeachment that the said Committee had agreed upon a form which he read in his place and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerks Table A Bill for restraining Papists from coming or residing within the Cities of London and Westminster or within Twenty Miles distant from the same And from wearing and having Arms was read a second Time Resolved That the Bill be committed upon the Debate of the House The House then according to the Order for the day resolved into a Committee of the whole House Mr. Speaker left the Chair Mr. Powle took the Chair of the Committee Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair Mr. Powle reports from the Committee of the whole House that the Committee having taken the Matters to them referred into consideration had agreed upon several Resolves which he read in his place and afterwards delivered them in at the Clerks Table where the same being read are as followeth viz. Resolved That it is the Opinion of this Committee that the House be moved that a Bill be brought in for the more effectual securing of the Meeting and Sitting of frequent Parliaments Resolved That it is the Opinion of this Committee that the House be moved that a Bill be brought in that the Judges may hold their Places and Salaries quamdiu se bene gesserint Resolved That it is the Opinion of this Committee as one means to prevent Arbitrary power that the House be moved that a Bill be brought in against illegal exaction of Money upon the people and to make it High Treason The first of the said Resolves being Read Resolved That this House doth agree with the Committee that a Bill be brought in for the more effectual securing of the Meeting and Sitting of the frequent Parliaments as one means to prevent Arbitrary power The second of the said Resolves being Read Resolved That this House doth agree with the Committee that a Bill be brought in that the Judges hereafter to be made and appointed may hold their Places and Salaries quamdiu se bene gesserint and also to prevent the Arbitrary proceedings of the Judges The last of the said Resolves being Read Resolved That this House doth agree with the Committee that a Bill be brought in against illegal exaction of Money upon the People and to make it high Treason Ordered That a Committee be appointed to prepare and bring in a Bill or Bills pursuant to the said several Resolves and it is referred to a Committee Sabbati 18. die Decemb. 1680. Ordered THat Sir Ralph Carr a Member of this House who serves for the County of Montgomery and Mr. Edward Vaughan in this House have leave to go into the Country A Bill to supply a Defective conveyance made by Mr. Roger Price of the Mannor of Westbury in the County of Bucks was read the first time Resolved That this Bill be read a second time An Ingrossed Bill for taking away the Court holden before the President and Council in the Marches of Wales was read a third time Resolved That the Bill do pass and that the Title be An Act for taking away of the Court holden before the President and Council in the Marches of Wales Ordered That Sir Trevor Williams do carry up the said Bill to the Lords for their Concurrence the same was carried up accordingly Mr. Hyde acquaints the House That His Majesty had directed him to communicate to the House a Letter from one Robards to Mr. Dugdale touching William Pickering which Letter he delivered in at the Clerks Table and the same being there read Ordered That the said Letter together with the Letter lately sent from Doctor Lamphire to Mr. Secretary Jenkins be delivered by the Clerk of this House to Mr. Attorney General in order to the prosecution of the said Pickering at Law The House then according to their Order entred into the Consideration of His Majesties Gracious Speech made to both Houses of Parliament on Wednesday last Resolved That a Committee be appointed to prepare an humble Address to His Majesty upon the Debate of the House in answer to His Majesties Speech and a Committee was named to draw up and prepare the same accordingly and they are to meet at three of the Clock this Afternoon in the Speaker's Chamber Lunae 20th die Decemb. 1680. A Bill for Sale of the Estate of Joseph Cowden deceased for the payment of his Debts and raising of Portions for his Daughters was read the first time Resolved That the Bill be Read a second time Ordered That Samuel Cheaffin be Summoned to answer at the Bar of this House for a Breach of priviledge by him committed against Sir John Guise a member of this House Sir George Downing Reports from the Committee to whom the Bill for Prohibiting the Importation of Cattle from Scotland was committed that the Committee haveing taken the same into their consideration had Agreed to some Amendments to the same to which Amendments the House Agreed Ordered That the Bill with these Amendments be Ingrossed Ordered That leave be given to bring in a Bill to prevent Scotch Pedlars from coming in to this Kingdom A Bill to Prohibit the Importation of foreign Guns c. was Read the first time Resolved c. That the Bill be Read a second time A Bill for the Sale of the Mannor of Billingford and Lands in the County of Norfolk for payment of the Debts of Sir Edward Chisenhale was Read a second time and Committed Mr. Lionell Playter is to have notice and time given him to attend the Committee and the Committee is to inspect the several settlements and Mortages mentioned in the Bill and they are impowred to send for persons papers and Records Ordered That a Committee be appointed to receive and examine the accounts of the commissioners appointed by a late Act of Parliament to pay off and Disband the Forces Raised since the 29th of September 1677. And make Report thereof to the House A Bill for the better payment of an Annuity or Rent-Charge of 130 l per Annum out of the Mannor of Bexhill in the County of Sussex to the use of the poor of several Parishes in the County of Surrey was Read a second time and was Committed A Petition of Henry Aulnutt Esq was Read Ordered That the said Mr. Aulnutt be brought to the Bar and do receive the Censure of the House upon his Knees from Mr. Speaker and be then discharged paying his Fees which was accordingly done A Petition of Thomas Herbert Esq was Read Ordered That the said Mr. Herbert be brought to the Bar and do receive the censure of this House upon his Knees from Mr. Speaker and be then discharged paying his Fees which was done accordingly Mr. Treby Reports from the Committee of Elections and