severing his Head from his Body only A Message from the Lords by Sir Miles Cook and Sir John Francklin Mr. Speaker The Lords have commanded us to present this House with a Coppy of Mr. Seymour's Answer to the Articles of Impeachment exhibited against him Resolved c. That it is the Opinion of this House that Mr. Joseph Broom ought to be restored to 〈◊〉 the Offices and Places which were taken from him by occasion of a Judgment given against him in the Court of King's Bench in Trinity Term 29. Caroli Secundi upon an Information for publishing an unlicensed Book called The Long Parliament dissolved Ordered That the Bill for exempting His Majesties Protestant Subjects dissenting from the Church of England from the Penalties of certain Laws be read a second time to Morrow morning The first business Colonel Birch reports from the Committee to whom the Examination of the Complaint against Richard Thompson Clerk was referred That the Committee having taken the same into their consideration had directed him to make a special Report thereof to the House which he read in his place and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerks Table Ordered That the said Report be read at the Table to Morrow morning Ordered That the Reports from the Committee of Elections and Priviledges touching the Election of St. Edmnndsbury in the County of Suffolk and Marleborough in the County of Wilts be made to Morrow morning Ordered That Mr. Sydney's Petition be read to Morrow morning Number 16. HIS MAJESTIES Most GRACIOUS Speech to both HOUSES of PARLIAMENT On Wednesday the 15th of December 1680. My Lords and Gentlemen AT the opening of this Parliament I did acquaint You with the Alliances I had made with Spain and Holland as the best measures that could be taken for the safety of England and the Repose of Christendom But I told you withall That if Our Friendship became unsafe to trust to it would not be wondred at if Our Neighbours should begin to take new Resolutions and perhaps such as might be fatal to Vs I must now tell you That Our Allies cannot but see how little has been done sine this Meeting to incourage their dependance upon Vs And I find by them that unless We can be so united at home as to make Our Alliance valuable to them it will not be possible to hinder them from seeking some other Refuge and making such new Friendships as will not be consistent with Our safety Consider that a neglect of this opertunity is never to be repaired I did likewise lay the matter plainly before you touching the Estate condition of Tangier I must now tell you again That if that place be thought worth the keeping you must take such consideration of it that it may be speedily suppli'd it being impossible for Me to preserve it at an Expence so far above My power I did promise you to the fullest satisfaction your hearts could wish for the Security of the Protestant Religion and to concur with you in any Remedies which might consist with preserving the Succession of the Crown in its Due and Legal course of Descent I do again with the same Reservations renew the same Promise to you And being thus ready on my part to do all that can reasonably be expected from Me I should be glad to know from you as soon as may be how far I shall be assisted by you and what it is you desire from Me. The Humble Address of the House of Commons Presented to his Majesty upon Tuesday the 21 day of December 1680. in Answer to his Majesties Gracious SPEECH to both Houses of Parliament Upon the 15th day of the same December May it please Your most Excellent Majesty WE Your Majesties most Dutiful and Loyal Subjects the Commons in this present Parliament Assembled have taken into our serious Consideration Your Majesties Gracious Speech to both Your Houses of Parliament on the 15th of this instant December and do with all the grateful Sense of Faithful Subjects and sincere Protestants acknowledge Your Majesties great Goodness to us in renewing the Assurances You have been pleased to give us of Your readiness to concur with us in any means for the Security of the Protestant Religion and Your Gracious Invitation of us to make our desires known to Your Majesty But with grief of Heart we cannot but observe that to these Princely Offers Your Majesty has been Advised by what secret Enemies to Your Majesty and Your People we know not to annex a Reservation which if insisted on in the instance to which alone it is applicable will render all Your Majesties other Gracious Inclinations of no effect or advantage to us Your Majesty is pleased thus to limit Your promise of concurrence in the Remedies which shall be proposed that they may consist with preserving the Succession of the Crown in its due and legal course of Descent And we do Humbly inform Your Majesty that no Interruption of that Descent has been endeavoured by us except onely the Descent upon the Person of the Duke of York who by the wicked Instruments of the Church of Rome has been manifestly perverted to their Religion And we do Humbly represent to Your Majesty as the Issue of our most deliberate Thoughts and Consultations that for the Papists to have their hopes continued that a Prince of that Religion shall succeed in the Throne of these Kingdoms is utterly inconsistent with the Safety of Your Majesties Person the Preservation of the Protestant Religion and the Prosperity Peace and Welfare of Your Protestant Subjects That Your Majesties Sacred Life is in continual danger under the prospect of a Popish Successor is evident not onely from the pinciples of those devoted to the Church of Rome which allow that an Heretical Prince and such they term all Protestant Princes Excommunicated and Deposed by the Pope may be destroyed and murther'd but also from the Testimonies given in the prosecution of the Horrid Popish Plot against divers Traitors Attainted for designing to put those accursed principles into practice against Your Majesty From the expectation of this Succession has the number of Papists in Your Majesties Dominions so much encreased within these few years and so many been prevailed with to desert the true Protestant Religion that they might be prepared for the Favours of a Popist-Prince assoon as he should come to the possession of the Crown And while the same Expectation lasts many more will be in the same danger of being perverted This it is that has hardened the Papists of this Kingdom animated and confederated by their Priests and Jesuits to make a Common purse provide Arms make application to Forreign Princes and sollicite their Aid for imposing Popery upon us And all this even during your Majesty's Reign and while your Majesty's Government and the Laws were our protection It is Your Majestie 's Glory and true Interest to be the Head and Protector of all Protestants as well abroad as
further Presentments of them on the 26th following on which Day the Jury met for that purpose when several Peers of this Realm and other Persons of Honour and Quality brought them a Bill against James Duke of York for not coming to Church But some Exceptions being taken to that Bill in that it did not set forth the said Duke to be a Papist some of the Jury attended the said persons of Quality to receive satisfaction therein In the mean time and about an Hour after they had received the said Bill some of the Jury attended the Court of Kings-Bench with a Petition which they desired the Court to present in their Name unto His Majestie for the Sitting of this Parliament Upon which the Lord Chief Justice Scroggs raised many Scruples and on pretence that they were not all in Courâ— tho twenty of the Jury had subscribed the Petition sent for them saying he would dispatch them presently The Jury being come and their Names called over they renewed their desire that the Courâ— would present their petition But the Chief Justice asked if they had any Bills they answered They had but the Clerks were drawing theâ— into Form Upon which the Chief Justice said They would not makâ— two Works of one Business the Petition being Read he said Thiâ— was no Article of their Charge nor was there any Act of Parliamen that required the Court to deliver the Grand Juries Petitions Thaâ— there was a a Proclamation about them And that it was not reasonable the Court should be obliged to run on their Errands And he thoughâ— it much that they should come with a Petition to alter the Kingâ— Mind declared in the News Book The Jury said They did it not tâ— Impose on the Court but as other Juries had done with all Submission they desired it But the Court refused bidding the Cryer return them their Petitions And Mr. Justice Jones told them they haâ— medled with matters of State not given them in Charge but presenâ—ed no Bills of the Matters given in Charge They answered as before they had many before them that would be ready in due time Notwithstanding which the said Justice Jones told them They were discharged from further Service But Philip Ward the Clerk that attended the said Jury cryed out No No they have many Bills before them for which the Court understanding as it seems to this Committee a secret reason which the Clerk did not reproved him Asking if he or they were to give the Rule there The Cryer then told the Court they would not receive their Petition the Chief Justice bid him let it alone so it was left there and the Jury returned to the Court-house and there found several Constables with presentments of Papists and other offenders as the Jury had directed them on the 21th before but could not now receive the said Presentments being discharged Whereby much business was obstructed though none of the said Informants ever knew the said Jury discharged before the last Day of the Term which was not till Four days after And it further appeareth to the Committee by the evidences of Samuel Astrey Jasper Waterhouse and Philip Ward Clerks that have long served in the said Court That they were much surprized at the said discharging of the Jury in that it was never done in their Memory before and the rather because the said Waterhouse as Secondary constantly erters on that Grand Juries paper that the last day of the Term is given them to return their Verdict on as the last day but one is given to the other Two Grand Juries of that County which entry is as followeth Trinit 32. Car. 2d Juratores habent diem ad Veredictum suum redderdum usque Middles Ossulston Hundred diem Mercurij proxime post tres Septimanas sancte Trinitatis Being the last day of the Term and so in all the other Terms the last day is given which makes it appear to this Committee That they were not in truth Discharged for not having their Presentments ready since the Court had given them a longer day but onely to obstruct their further Proceedings And it appeareth by the Evidence aforesaid to this Committee That the four Judges of that Court were present at the Discharging of the said Jury and it did not appear that any of them did Dissent therein upon Consideration whereof the Committee came to this Resolution Resolved That it is the opinion of this Committee that the Discharging of the Grand Jury of the Hundred of Ossulston in the County of Middlesex by the Court of Kings Bench in Trinity Term last before the last day of the Term and before they had finished their Presentments was Illegal Arbitrary and an high Misdemeanour This Committee proceeded also to inquire into a Rule of the Court of Kings-Bench lately made against the publishing a Book called The Weekly Pacquet of Advice from Rome or The History of Popery and Samuel Astrey Gent. examined thereupon inform'd this Committee that the Author of the said Book Henry Car had been informed against for the same and had pleaded to the Information but before it was Tryed a Rule was made on a motion as he supposeth against the said Book All the Judges of that Court as he remembers being present and none dissenting The Copy of which Rule he gave in to this Committee and is as followeth Dies Mercurij proxime post tres Septimanas sancte Trinitatis Anno 32 Car. 2d Regis Ordinatum est quod liber intitulat The Weekly Pacquet of Advice from Rome or The History of Popery non ulterius Imprimatur vel publicetur per aliquam Personam quam cunque Per. Cur. And this Committee admiring that Protestant Judges should take offence against a Book whose chief design was to expose the Cheats and Foppery of Popery enquired further into it and found by the Evidence of Jane Curtis that the said Book had been Licens'd for several Months that her Husband paid for the Coppy and enter'd it in the hall-Hall-Book of the Company But for all this she could not prevail by these Reasons with the Lord Chief Justice Scroggs to permit it any longer who said 'T was a Scandalous Libel and against the King's Proclamation and he would ruine her if ever she printed it any more And soon after she was served with the said Rule as the Author and other Printers were and by the Author's Evidence it appears That he was taken and brought before the said Chief Justice by his Warrant above a year since upon his owning he writ part of that Book the Chief Justice called him Rogue and other ill names saying he would fill all the Goals in England with such Rogues and pile them up as men do Faggots and so Committed him to prison refusing sufficient Bayl and saying he would Goal him to put him to Charges and his Lordship observed his word punctually therin forcing him to his Habeas Corpus and then taking the same
to the Judgment of this House The Resolutions of the House of Commons upon the said Report 1. THat it is the Opinion of this House That the Discharging of the Grand Jury of the Hundred of Oswaldston in the County of Middelsex by the Court of Kings Bench in Trinity Term last before the last day of the Term before they had finished their Presentments was Arbitrary and Illegal destructive to publick Justice a manifest violation of the Oaths of the Judges of that Court a means to subvert the Fundamental Laws of this Kingdom and to Introduce Popery 2. THat it is the Opinion of this House That the Rule made by the Court of Kings Bench in Trinity Term last against Printing of a Book called The Weekly Pacquet of Advice from Rome is Illegal and Arbitrary thereby usurping to themselves Legislative Power to the great discouragement of the Protestants and for the countenancing of Popery 3. THat it is the Opinion of this House That the Court of Kings Bench in the Imposition of Fines on Offenders of late years have acted Arbitrarily Illegally and Partially favouring Papists and persons Popishly affected and excessively oppressing His Majesties Protestant Subjects 4. THat it is the Opinion of this House That the resusing sufficient Bail in these Cases wherein the persons committed were Bailable by Law was Illegal and a high breach of the Liberties of the Subject 5. THat it is the Opinion of this House That the said expressions in the Charge given by the said Baron Weston were a Scandal to the Reformation and tending to raise discord between His Majesty and His Subjects and to the Subversion of the Ancient Constitution of Parliaments and of the Government of this Kingdom 6. THat it is the Opinion of this House That the said Warrants are Arbitrary and Illegal The Resolutions of the Commons for the Impeachment of the said Judges Resolved THat Sir William Scroggs Knight Chief Justice of the Court of Kings Bench be Impeached upon the said Report and the Refolutions of the House thereupon Resolved That Sir Thomas Jones one of the Justices of the said Court of Kings-Bench be Impeached upon the said Report and Resolutions of the House thereupon Resolved That Sir Richard Weston one of the Barons of the Court of Exchequer be Impeached upon the said Report and Resolutions of the House thereupon Ordered That the Committee appointed to prepare an Impeachment against Sir Francis North Chief Justice of the Court of Common-Pleas do prepare Impeachments against the said Sir William Scroggs Sir Thomas Jones and Sir Richard Weston upon the said Report and Resolutions Ordered That the said Report and several Resolutions of this House thereupon be Printed and that Mr. Speaker take care in the Printing thereof apart from this days other Votes Veneris 31 die Decemb. 1680. A Bill prohibiting the Importation of forein Guns was read a second time The Question being put that the Bill be committed It passed in the Negative Resolved That the Bill be rejected Ordered That leave be given to bring in a Bill for regulating the Abuses in making of Casks Barrels and other Vessels Ordered That a Committee be appoinied to peruse the Laws relating to Weights and Measures and to report their opinions therein to the House and to bring in a Bill or Bills for the better regulating and ascertaining the same Ordered That leave be given to bring in a Bill for a general Naturalization of Alien Protestants and allowing them liberty to exercise their Trades in all Corporations A Bill for the Relief of the Subject against Arbitrary Fines was read a second time Resolved The the Bill be committed Mr. Hyde acquaints the House that His Majestie according to the order of the House having been attended by such Members of this House as are of His Majesties most Honourable Privy Council desiring His Majestie to give Orders that such Evidence and Informations as were given in to the Council by Mr. Serjeant and others in the Case of John Gavan executed for High Treason and for all other Evidences Papers Writings Letters and Informations delivered into the Council relating to the Popish Plot might be communicated to this House His Majestie was pleased to declare his Commands that the same should be delivered accordingly And further acquainted the House That Sir John Nicholas one of the Clerks of the Council had assured him that all the said Papers were already transmitted to the House of Lords And then the House Adjourned to Munday Morning eight of the Clock The REPORT from the Committee of the Commons in Parliament appointed by the Honourable House of Commons to consider the Petition of Richard Thompson of Bristol Clerk and to Examine Complaints against him And the RESOLUTION of the Commons in Parliament upon this REPORT for his Impeachment of HIGH Crimes and Misdemeanors At the Committee appointed to take into Consideration the Petition of Rich. Thompson Clerk and to examine the complaints against him Friday Decemb. 24. 1680. In the first place THE Committee read unto the said Thomson the Heads of Complaint against him Which for the most part he denying desired to have his Accusers brought Face to Face Whereupon the Committee proceeded to the Examination of Witnesses to prove the said Complaint The first Witness Examined saith That there being a great noise and rumor that Mr. Thompson had prepared a Sermon to be Preached on the Thirtieth of January 1679. the said Witness went to the said Sermon and did hear Mr. Thompson publikly declare That the Presbyterians were such Persons as the very Devil Blush't at them and that the Villain Hamden grudged and made it more Scruple of Conscience to give Twenty Shillings to the King for supplying his Necessities by Ship-Money and Loan which was His Right by Law than to raise Rebellion against Him And that the Presbyterians are worse and far more Intolerable than either Priests or Jesuits The second saith That hearing a great Talk Noise spread of a Sermon to be Preached by Mr. Thompson on the 30th of January 1679. was minded to hear the same and accordingly did at which he writ some Notes amongst which he saith That Mr. Thompson openly Preached that the Devil Blush't at the Presbyterians and that the Villain Hamden grudged more to give the King 20 Shillings which was His just due by Law Ship-Money and Loan than to raise Rebellion against Him and that a Presbyterian-Brother qua talis was as great a Traytor by the Statute as any Priest or Jesuite whatsoever That he heard that Mr. Thompson said that he hoped the Presbyterians would be pulled out of their Houses and the Jayles fiâ—led with them and wish't their Houses burnt The Third saith That he was Cited to the Bishops Court to receive the Sacrament last Easter but being out of Town at that time did Receive it at a place called Purl in Wilt-shire and that a month after he came Home was again Cited to the said Court and
produce the said Day and with him to attend Dr. Day and Mr. Sheridon both appearing were examined severally And first the said Day who confest himself a Papist and pretended very little knowledg of Mr. Sheridon but that coming to give him a visit which he had not done of six weeks before Mr. Sheridon began to discourse of News and particularly of the Plot to which the said Doctor replyed that now the whole Plot would be discovered laid open for he heard there was one gone beyond Sea to fetch overa Priest that knew of the whole Plot and doth not remember any thing more at that time but common discourse But some few days after meeting with Mr. Sheridon the said Mr. Sheridon desired him to describe the person that was so sent over the said Dr. Day replyed that he knew not the person that was gone nor the Priest he was to fetch But that John Butler keeper of a Brandy-shop near the French Embassadours upon discourse had told him so to whom Mr. Sheridon desired him to go and get the discription which he did accordingly And the description being shewed him confessed he writ it from his mouth save the last line But saith that person is now dead who gave him the said Description but his wife is living Mr. Sheridon being then called in and examined said He had no great acquaintance with the said Doctor and seldom saw him but upon a visit which happily might be once a week or the like Confesseth That the said Doctor told him as News the Plot would now be laid open for there was one sent over into France to fetch a Priest that knew of the whole Plot and further saith That he that went over knew as much of the Plot as any man in England Whereupon the said Sheridon Confesseth That he went shortly after but remembers not how long to Secretary Jenkins and told him that there was one gone over into France that knew as much of the Plot as any man and that he went over to fetch a Priest that also knew the whole Plot which he the said Sheridon supposed was to be a witness Upon which the said Secretary commanded him the said Sheridon to give him a description of the person so sent over But remembers no other discourse at that time but that some short time after but remembers not how long he met with Mr. Day who gave him the description in the presence of Mr. John Wilson of the Middle Temple which he shortly after delivered to the Secretary and used as he remembers only these words Sir here is the discription of the person I mentioned to you After this Description so delivered to the Secretary a Letter was written by Mr. Cooke which Mr. Secretary declared at the Committee he would take upon himself in these words following Whitehall May 31. 1680. SIR THE Right Honourable Sir Leoline Jenkins one of his Majesties Principal Secretaries of State being hastily called this day to wait upon his Majesty at Windsor hath commanded me to send you the enclosed description of a person Who if he shall happen to come from France and land at your Port Mr. Secretary saith you will do the King and Kingdom a great service if you will keep a strict Eye upon him and the company that shall arrive with him till they be all brought before Mr. Mayor or other chief Magistrate of your Town whom Mr. Secretary desires to offer the said persons the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy and in case of their or any of their refusal of the same to secure them and deal with them according to Law giving Mr. Secretary an account with what speed may be of all the proceedings in this affair If such a person as is here described should come and make no bones of taking the aforesaid Oaths yet in Case Mr. Mayor or other chief Magistrate before whom they are brought shall have reasonable ground to suspect that he is the man so described and that he hath one or more in his company who may be reasonably suspected to be Priests some handsome course is to be taken to detain them till Mr. Secretary can be acquainted with what is done and send such further directions as shall be thought necessary Mr. Mayors Authority with your Prudence and Zeal in this matter will I hope produce a good effect upon this Command I am Sir Your very humble Servant John Cooke Pray favour me with a Line that this comes safe to your hands Vera Copia John Pepper Upon which Norris was committed to the Common Prison as is mentioned in his Complaint All which being of more than an ordinary nature this Committe thought not fit to give any opinion but humbly referred it to the Wisdom of this House Jovis die 23. Decemb. 1680. Ordered THat leave be given to Mr. Henry Goreing a Member of the House to go into the Country Ordered That Mr. Speaker do issue out his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown to make out a new Writ for the Electing of a Citizen to serve in this present Parliament for the City of Chichester in the room of Mr. Farrington deceased A Bill to enable John Jenner Gent. to make Leases of some part of his Estate for the payment of his Debts and for making provision for his younger children was read a second time and committed A Bill for the more easie collecting the Duty of Hearth-money was read the first time and ordered a second reading An Engrossed Bill for rectifying several errors and mistakes in certain Deeds and Settlements made upon the Marriage of Sir Charles Hoghton Baronet was read the third time and passed Ordered That Sir John Otway do carry up the said Bill to the Lords Ordered That the Thanks of this House be given to Dr. Burnett for his Sermon yesterday preached before this House and likewise for his Book relating to the History of the Reformation of the Church of England and that he be desired to print his said Sermon and that Colonel Titus do acquaint him therewith Ordered That leave be given to bring in a Bill or Bills to correct and punish Atheism Blasphemy Swearing and Debauchery and for the better observation of the Lord's Day A Message from the Lords by Sir Miles Cook and Sir John Francklin Mr. Speaker The Lords have commanded us to acquaint this House that they have agreed to a Bill sent from this House entituled An Additional Act for burying in Woollen without any Amendment A Message from the Lords by Mr. Baron Weston and Mr. Justice Charleton Mr. Speaker The Lords have commanded us to acquaint this House that at their rising this day they do intend to adjourn till the next Monday Sevenight A Bill for banishing Papists out of the King's Dominions was read the first time and Ordered a second reading to Morrow morning Resolved c. That this House is content that the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex do execute William late Viscount Stafford by
offence a Fine of 100 Marks Mich. 32. C 2. and to stand an hour in the Pillory And upon Arthur Obrian for the same offence a Fine of 20 Marks and to stand an hour in the Pillory Upon Consideration whereof this Committee came to this Resolution Resolved That it is the Opinion of this Committee That the Court of Kings-Bench in the Imposition of Fines on Offenders of late years hath acted Arbitrarily Illegally and Partially favouring Papists and persons Popishly affected and excessively oppressing His Majesties Protestant Subjects And this Committee being inform'd That several of His Majesties Subjects had been committed for crimes baylable by Law although they then tendred sufficient sureties which were refus'd only to put them to vexation and charge proceeded to enquire into the same and found that not only the foremention'd Henry Carr had been so refus'd the common Right of a Subject as is abovesaid but that George Broome being a Constable last year in London and Committing some of the Lord Chief Justice Scroggs Servants for great disorders according to his Duty he was in few days arrested by a Tipstaff without any London Constable and carried before the said Chief Justice by His Warrant to answer for the committing of those persons abovesaid but being there was accused of having spoken irreverently of the said Chief Justice and an Affidavit read to him to that purpose which was falsly as the said George Broome affirms Sworn against him by two persons that use to be Common Bayl in that Court and of very ill reputation Upon which he was committed to the Kings Bench though he then tendred two able Citizens and Common-Council men of London to be his Bayle and he was forc't to bring his Habeas Corpus to his great charge before he came out when the Marshall Mr. Cooling exacted 5 l. of him of which he complain'd to the Chief Justice but had no other Answer but he might take his Remedy at Law But the said Marshall fearing he should be questioned restor'd him two Guineys of it And further this Committee was inform'd by Francis Smith Bookseller That about Michaelmas was Twelvemonth he was brought before the said Chief Justice by his Warrant and charged by the Messenger Robert Stephens That he had seen some parcels of a Pamphlet call'd Observations on Sir George Wakeman 's Tryal in his Shop Upon which the Chief Justice told him he would make him an Example use him like a Boar in France and pile him and all the Booksellers and Printers up in Prison like Faggots and so Committed him to the Kings-Bench Swearing and Cursing at him in great fury And when he tendred three sufficient Citizens of London for his Bail alledging Imprisonment in his Circumstances would be his utter ruine the Chief Justice replied the Citizens lookt like sufficent persons but he would take no bail and so he was forc'd to come out by Habeas Corpus and was afterwards informed against for the same matter to his great charge and vexation And a while after Francis the Son of the said Francis Smith was committed by the said Chief Justice bail refus'd for selling a Pamphlet call'd A New years gift for the said Chief Justice to a coffee-Coffee-house and he declared to them he would take no bail for he would ruine them all And further it appear'd to this Committee that the said Chief Justice about October was twelve month committed in like manner Jane Curtis she having a husband and children for selling a Book call'd A Satyr against injustice which his Lordship call'd a Libel against him and her friends tendring sufficient Bail and desiring to have mercy on her poverty and condition he swore by the name of God she should go to prison and he would shew no more mercy than they could expect from a Wolf that came to devour them and she might bring her Habeas Corpus and come out so Which she was forc'd to do and after inform'd against and prosecuted to her utter ruin four or five Terms after In like manner it appeared to this Committee that about that time also Edward Berry Stationer of Grays Inn was committed by the said Chief Justice being accus'd of selling The Observations on Sir George Wakeman's Tryal and though he tendred 1000 l. Bail yet the Chief Justice said he would take no Bail he should go to Prison and come out according to Law And after he with much trouble and Charge got out by Habeas Corpus he was forc'd by himself or His Attorney to attend five Terms before he could be discharged though no information was exhibited against him in all that time In consideration whereof and of others of the like Nature too tedious here to relate this Committee came to this Resolution Resolved That it is the Opinion of this Committee That the refusing sufficient Bail in these Cases wherein the persons Committed were Bailable by Law was Illegal and a High Breach of the Liberty of the Subject And this Committee being Informed of an extraordinary kind of a Charge given at the last Assizes at Kingston in the County of Surrey by Mr. Baron Weston and proceeding to examine several persons then and there present It was made appear to this Committee by the Testimony of John Cole Richard Mayo and John Peirce Gentlemen and others some of whom put down the said Barons words in writing immediately that part of the said Charge was to this effect He inveighed very much against Farel Luther Calvin and Zuinglius condemning them as Authors of the Reformation which was against their Princes minds and then adding to this purpose Zuinglius set up his Fanaticisme and Calvin built on that blessed Foundation And to speak truth all his Disciples are seasoned with such a sharpness of spirit that it much concerns Magistrates to keep a strait hand over them And now they are restless amusing us with fears and nothing will serve them but a Parliament For my part I know no Representative of the Nation but the King all power Centers in him 'T is true he does intrust it with his Ministers but he is the sole Representative and I faith he has wisdom enough to intrust it no more in these men who have given us such late Examples of their wisdom and Faithfulness And this Committee taking the said matter into their Consideration came to this Resolution Resolved That it is the Opinion of this Committee that the said Expressions in the Charge given by the said Baron Weston were a Scandal to the Reformation in Derogation of the Rights and Priviledges of Parliaments and tending to raise Discord between his Majesty and his Subjects And this Committee being Informed by several Printers and Booksellers of great Trouble and Vexation given them unjustly by one Robert Stephens called a Messenger of the Press the said Stephens being Examined by this Committee by what Authority he had proceeded in that manner Produced two Warrants under the hand and Seal of the