should be committed to a Committee of the whole House Secondly which was done Nemine Contradicente That the exclusion in the said Bill should not extend any further then the Person of the Duke of York only After which the House adjourned till Munday the Eighth of November the most remarkable passages of which day were first a Conference with the Peers manag'd by the Lord Privy Seal at what time his Lordship did deliver to Mr. Hampden and the rest of the Members severall Examinations in writing relating to the Popish Plot acquainting them farther That all other Papers of the same Concern in the Custody of their Clerk should be delivered to the Clerk of the House of Commons upon his giving a Receipt for the same The Second was the Release of Sir Robert Can from his imprisonment upon his petition and acknowledgement of his offence And The third was the Resolving of the whole House into a Grand Committee to proceed in the Bill of Exclusion which was done so effectually that after severall Clauses added and Amendments made the Bill was orderd to be engross'd Fame Was that Bill never to be seen Truth Yes I have seen it my self in severall Coffee-Houses And therefore to save thy longing I will here briefly recite the Heads of it Fame That 's as much as I desire for the rest is but matter of Form Truth That whereas the D. of Y. was notoriously known to have been perverted from the Protestant to the Popish Religion whereby not only great encouragement has been given to the Popish party to carry on a devilish Conspiracy for the destruction of his Majesties Person and Government but that if the D. should succeed to the Imperial Crown of this Kingdom nothing would be more manifest than a total Change of Religion Be it therefore Enacted That the said I. D. of Y. be made for ever uncapable to Inherit the Imperial Crown of the Kingdoms of England and Ireland c. And that if the said D. of Y. shall at any time hereafter challenge or attempt to possess or enjoy or take upon him to exercise any Authority or Iurisdiction within the said Kingdoms c. That he shall be deem'd Guilty of High Treason and suffer accordingly And that all Persans that shall assist him in such Challenge or Attempt or shall themselves attempt or endeavour to put or bring him into the Possession of the Regal Power or by Preaching or Writing maintain that he hath any Right or Title to the same shall be deem'd Guilty of High Treason and suffer accordingly And that the said D. of York after the Fifth of November 1680 shall not return into any of the Kingdoms aforesaid or if he doe he shall be adjudg'd Guilty of High Treason That being so Guilty of the Treasons aforesaid neither the Duke or any other Person shall be capable of the benefit of any Pardon otherwise then by Act of Parliament wherein in they shall be particularly nam'd All Magistrates Officers and other Subjects are also empowered to apprehend the said D. or any other Persons offending in any of these Premises The Act to extend no farther than the Person of the D. Lastly The Act to be given in Charge at all Assizes and Sessions of the Peace and to be openly read in all Cathedrals and Parish Churches c. upon the Twenty-fifth of December and Easterday during the life of the Duke The next day being Tuesday the ninth of November the King sent a Message to the House in writing by Mr. Secretary Jenkins desiring the House as well for the Satisfaction of his People as of himself to expedite such Matters as were depending before them relating to Popery and the Plot and to rest assur'd that all Remedies they should tender to his Majesty conducing to those ends should be very acceptable to him Provided they were such as might consist with preserving the Succession of the Crown in its due and Legal Course of Descent Then Mr. Turberville being called in gave in his Information first by word of Mouth and when he had done delivered the same in writing The effect whereof in short was That he living in the Family of the E. of Powis grew very intimately acquainted with William Morgan Confessour to the said Earl and his Family being a Jesuite and Rector over all the Jesuits in those parts and that he had often heard the said Morgan tell the said Earl and his Lady that the Kingdom was in a high Fever and that nothing but bloodletting could restore it to health That Father Cudworth Guardian of the Fryers at Doway had told him that this King should not last long That in the year 1675 he was introduc'd into the acquaintance of the Lord Viscount Stafford at Paris to whom he had great freedom and liberty of access Who at length after many solemn promises of exacted secresie told him in direct Terms That he might make himself and the Nation happy by taking away the Life of the King who was a Heretick and a Rebel to God Lastly That he was present at Mass with the Lord Powis in Vere-Street where the E. of Castlemaine said Mass in his Priestly habit Wednesday the tenth of November little past of Consequence more then that the Peers sent down to the House of Commons for their Concurrence to an Act which they had pass'd for freeing the City of London and his Majesties Court and Parts adjacent from Popish Inhabitants and providing against other dangers which might arise from Papists Then taking into Consideration the short Message sent them the day before by his Majesty and delivered by Mr. Secretary Jenkins they made two Resolves That a Committee should be appoynted to draw up an Address to his Majesty in Answer to his speech And in the second place That they would proceed in the Prosecution of the Lords in the Tower and forthwith begin with the Lord Viscount Stafford Fame I have heard say that several Addresses were made to his Majesty for the Pardons and Maintenance of the several Witnesses that had given in their Informations Truth 'T is very certain and 't was no more than what you might have related almost upon supposition So that it will be enough to say for the effects shewed it to be real That all the humble Addresses in that nature were answered Besides that it is our business to pass over Things of lesser moment as lightly as we can And thus from the tenth we come to Thursday the Eleventh of November taken up for the most part with rectifying Elections till Sir William Jones reporting That the address in answere to his Majesties last Message was ready having read it in his place delivered it to the Clerks Table after which it was againe read by the whole House and agreed upon Which being done and the engross'd Bill of Exclusion this day read a third time the Resolution of the House was That the Bill should Pass and that the Title should be An
found by the Examination of Sir Robert Atkins that at Dinner at the Old Baily Sir Robert Clayton being Mayor he had openly condemn'd petitioning for Parliaments as Factious and tending to Rebellion which the Lord Mayor justifying as the Right of the Subject put the C. J. into a very great Passion That at the Summer Assizes at Monmouth Mr. Arnold Mr. Price and Mr. Bedloe being in Company he fell very severely in publick upon Mr. Bedloe to to the disparagement of his Evidence and upon Sir Robert's defending Mr. Bedloe he fell into a passion and said he believ'd Mr. Langhorn died innocently These things being reported to the House the House confirm'd the Resolutions of the House in each particular and order'd an Impeachment against Baron Weston and Judge Jones for his illegal proceedings against Mr. Dare at Somerset Assizes Fa. Well but those were things only order'd Come now to the Articles against my L. C. J. which you say were perfected and drawn into Form Tr. The Articles against Sir W. Scroggs were eight in all 1. That being Chief Justice of the King's Bench he had endeavor'd to subvert the Fundamental Laws and the Establish'd Religion and Government of the Kingdom and to introduce Popery and Arbitrary Government 2. That contrary to his Oath taken duly to administer Justice he had discharg'd the Grand Jury for the Hunder'd of Ossulston before they had made their Presentments or found the Bills of Indictment that were before them contrary to the known course of the said Court by which illegal Discharge the Presentments of many Papists and other Offenders were obstructed and a Bill against the D. of Y. for not coming to Church was prevented from being proceeded against 3. That he had caus'd an illegal and arbitrary Rule to be enter'd into the Kings Bench against the Printing of the Weekly Pacquet of Advice from Rome or the History of Popery wherin the Cheats and Superstitions of the Church of Rome were from time to time expos'd to the manifest countenancing of Popery and Discouragement of Protestants 4. That he had most notoriously departed from all Rules of Justice and Equality in the imposition of Fines upon persons convicted of Misdemeanors 5. That he had frequently refus'd to accept of Bail though sufficient and legally tender'd him by several persons accus'd before him for Crimes which were Bailable by Law several of the said persons being only accus'd of Offences against himself declaring at the same time that he refus'd Bail and commited them only to put them to Charges 6. That he had granted divers General Warrrants for attacquing the persons and seizing the Goods of his Majesties Subjects not nam'd or particularly describ'd in the said Warrants by means wherof their Houses have been enter'd their persons opprest contrary to Law 7. That tho' he had Try'd and Condemn'd several of the Offenders in the late horid Horid Popish Plot for murdering the King c. Yet he had at divers times and places openly defam'd and scandaliz'd several of the Witnesses who had prov'd the Treasons of the Conspirators by which means he did as much as in him lay endeavor to suppress and stifle the Discovery of the said Plot. 8. That his frequent and notorious Excesses and Debaucheries and his prophane and Atheistical Discourses were a daily affront to God a dishonor to his Majesty and gave Countenance to all manner of Vice and Wickedness Thereupon it was pray'd that the said Sir William Scroggs might be put to answer the Premisses and be in the mean time committed to safe Custody But the Crimes objected against him not being look'd upon as Capital he was Bail'd by the Earl of Dorset and Middlesex and the Lord Hatton who became Security for his Forth-coming during which time his Lordship ceas'd to act in his Place or to appear in Westminster Hall as Chief Justice Tuesday the 4 th of January Sir William Temple delivered a Message from his Majesty to the House in answer to their last Address to this Effect That he had received their Address with all the disposition they could wish to comply with their reasonable Desires but that he was sorry to see their Thoughts so wholly fix'd upon the Bill of Exclusion as to determine all other Remedies for the suppressing of Popery ineffectual but that he was confirm'd in his Opinion against it by the Judgment of the Lords who had rejected it and that therefore there remain'd nothing more for him to answer but to recommend to them all other means for the preservation of the Protestant Religion in which they could have no reason to doubt of his Concurrences when they shall be presented him in a Parliamentary way As also to consider the present State of the Kingdom as well as the condition of Christendom so as to enable him to secure Tangier and secure his Alliances abroad The same morning a Message was sent from the Lords to acquaint the House with a Vote which they had pass'd declaring that they were fully satisfied that there was and for divers years had been a horrid and Treasonable Plot and Conspiracy carried on by the Popish Party in Ireland for Massacring the English and Subverting the Protestant Religion and the Establish'd Government of that Kingdom Wednesday the 5 th of Jan. pass'd without any thing remarkable to our purpose The next day being Thursday the 6 th of Jan. the E. of Tyrone being order'd to be impeach'd of High Treason the Lord Dursley was order'd to go up to the Bar of the House and perform the Commands of the House and to pray that he might be committed to safe Custody Friday the Articles of Impeachment against Sir William Scroggs were carried up to the Lords by the Lord Cavendish The same Morning the House taking into consideration his Majesties last Message made several Resolves 1. That there was no Security for the Protestant Religion the King's Life or the Establish'd Government of the Kingdom without passing a Bill for disabling the D. of Y. to Inherit the Imperial Crown of England and Ireland c. And that to rely upon any other means or Remedies was not only insufficient but dangerous 2. That unless a Bill were pass'd for Excluding the D. of Y. the House could not give any Supply to his Majesty without danger to his Majesties Person the hazard of the Protestant Religion and Breach of Trust in them to the People 3. That they who had advis'd the King to insist upon an Opinion against the Bill had given him pernicious Counsel and were promoters of Popery and Enemies â—o the King and Kingdom 4. That it was the Opinion of the House that the E. of Hallifax the Marguess of Worcester and the E. of Clarendon were the persons that gave the King that pernicious Advice And that therefore an Address should be made for their Removal from the King's Person and Presence and from their Offices and Employments The Earl of Feversham was also voted a promoter
unsuitable returns might rather wonder at his Patience then that he grew weary of their Proceedings that it was his Interest and should be as much his Cause as theirs to preserve the Liberty of the Subject the Crown not being safe when that is in danger That by calling this Parliament so soon he let them see that no Irregularities of Parliament should make him out of Love with them by which means he gave them another Oppertunity to provide for the Publick security and had given one Evidence more that he had not neglected his part That he hoped the ill Success of former heats would dispose them to a better Temper That as for the further Prosecution of the Plot tryal of the Lords c. he omited to press them as being obvious to consideration and so necessary for the Publick safety But desired them not to lay so much weight upon any one Expedient against Popery as to determine that all other were ineffectual ' That what he had so often declared ' touching the Succession he should not recede from But that to remove all reasonable Fears that might arise from the Possibility of a Popish Successor if means could be found that in such a Case the Administration should remain in Protestant hands He should be ready to hearken to any such expedient by which Religion might be secur'd and Monarchy not destroyed Lastly He advised them to make the Known and Establish Laws of the Land the Rules and Measures of their Votes Which done he commanded the Commons to return to their House and make choice of their Speaker Thereupon Mr. Williams Speaker of the last Parliament being again made choice of and conducted to the Chair made a short Speech to the House upon his Acceptance That the Unamious choice of the House had lest him without excuse to disable himself for their Service it being to be suppos'd that who the Commons Elected was fit for the Trust That it did not become him to offer assurance of his Constancy Fidelity and Vigilancy the just Sence of the Honour conferred upon him being an Engagement for him to do and suffer whatever Flesh and Blood could do and suffer in their choice That it was a time not to speak much but act well and therefore desired that their Debates might be regular and orderly without reflection or passion and that his behaviour might have their kind and candid Construction Upon Tuesday the 22d of March the Commons attended his Majesty in the Lord's House at which time Mr. Speaker humbly represented in another Speech That the Commons in obedience to his Royal pleasure for the disposal of themselves in that great Assembly to serve him had with one voice elected him their Speaker as having had the Honour to serve his Majesty and the Commons in that Trust in the last Parliament Whereupon with all humility he did again by their Command to receive his pleasure with a Head and Heart full of Loyalty to his Sacred Person armed with a settled resolution never to depart from his Majesties ancient and well settled Government To which the Lord Chancellor in few words made Answer That his Majesty had well considered the Choice and did very well approve of the Election and allowed him for Speaker Then Mr. Speaker made another Address to his Majesty setting forth how much his Majesties Grace and favour in the last Parliament continu'd by the Honour he had in the next did encrease his Obligations to Loyalty That as he was set in a High Station so he would endeavour to manifest his uprightness in it believing that his Majesties service in that great Place was one and the same with that of his Commons no more to be divided then his Crown and Sceptor After which he made an humble claim in the Name of the Commons of England of all the Ancient Rights for them and their Servants freedom of Speech in their debates and liberty of access to his Person according to Custome Concluding by way of Petition to his Majesty that nothing by him said either through weakness or inadvertency should tend to the prejudice of the Commons and that his behaviour and proceedings might receive a favourable Interpretation from his Majesty To which the Lord Chancellor by his Majesties command reurned for Answer That their Petitions were fully and freely granted in as large and ample manner as ever any House enjoy'd them his Majesty being assur'd that the House would make as prudent a use of them as ever any of their Ancestors and that his own particuar Petition was grateful to the King too knowing that he would be as ready to avoid as the King to forgive mistakes The next day being the Twenty-third was spent in taking the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy and subscribing the Declaration directed by the Act made in the Thirteenth year of the King Thursday the Twenty-Fourth produc'd little remarkable several Petitions about Elections were presented and an Order made for setting the next Saturday aside to consider of a means for securing the Protestant Religion and the safety of the Kings Person The Twenty-Fift of March being Friday the Lords sent down the Answer of Sir William Scrogs to the Articles of Impeachment exhibited against him by the former Parliament together with his Petition to the house of Peers But nothing was done in it for the House fell upon three affairs of Higher concernment The first was the consideration of the matter relating to a Bill which had passed both Houses in the last Parliament Entitl'd An Act for Repeal of a Statute made in the Thirty-Fift Year of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth but was not tendered to his Majesty for his Royal Assent Whereupon it was resolv'd that a Message should be sent to the Lords to desire a Conferencc as to matters relating to the Constitution of Parliaments in passing of Bills and Ordered a Committee to prepare what was fit to be offered at the said Conference Another Message was also Ordered to be sent to the Lords to put them in mind that the Commons had formerly by their Speaker demanded judgment of High Treason at their Barr against the Earl of Danby and therefore to desire their Lordships to appoint a day to give judgment against him the said Earl upon the said Impeachment The same day the Examination of Ed. Fits-Harris relating to the Popish Plot was read in the House Upon which the said Examination was Ordered to be Printed the said Fits-Harris to be impeached at the Lords Barr and a Committee appointed to draw up Articles against him The Sum of Fits-Harris's Examination was this That in the Year 1672. One Father-Gough an English Priest should tell him at Paris that within two Years after he should see the Catholick Religion established in England To which purpose if the King would not comply that Order was taken that he shoâ—ld be taken off and kill'd That the same Priest told him that the D. of T. was a Catholick
so made by his Mother in whose Reign there would be no difficulty of doing it And farther that the Declaration of Indulgence and the War against Holland were in Order to the introducing of the Catholick Religion into England And the same Author reported to him That Madam came over to Dover about the same design That he knew several Commanders in the Army mustered upon Black-Heath to be Roman-Catholick's and that it was the common Intelligence and Opinion among them that the said Army was rais'd to bring in the Romon-Catholick-Religion into England That in the Year 1679. Marquess Montecuculi the D. of Modena's Envoy told him if he would undertake to kill the King either in his own Person or by any other he should have Ten-Thousand pound That the same Marquess told him that upon killing the King the Army in Flanders and Parts adjoying to France was to come over to destroy the Protestant-Party after which there should be no more Parliaments in England and that the D. of Y. was privie to all these designs That in the Year 1680. He met Kelley the Priest at Calice who owned himself to be one of the Murtherers of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey and that the same was done much as Prance had related it and That Monsieur De-Puy a Servant to the D. of Y. had told him soon after the said Murther was committed that the said Murther was consulted at Windsor and farther told him that there was a necessity of taking off the King and that it would soon be done with some other passages of less remark to the same purpose Upon this Information Mr. Secretary Jenkins was Ordered to go up and impeach the said Fits-Harris at the Barr of the Lords House In the mean time that is to say in the forenoon of the next day being Saturday the 26 of March other Examinations of Mr. John Serjeant and David Maurice relating to the Popish-Plot were Read and Ordered to be Printed That of Serjeant was short that a Gentlewoman an Acquaintance of his in Flanders one Mrs. Skipwith told him That Gawen one of the Five Jesuits which were Hang'd had maintain'd against a scruple of Conscience by her put that the Queen might not only lawfully kill the King for violating her Bed but was bound to do it and that if she did not she was guilty of his greater Damnation in letting him continue so long Maurice's Information was shorter That he heard the Gentlewoman confirm the Truth of Gawens words Presently after the House taking into debate the means for the security of the Protestant Religion and safety of his Majesties Person came to a Resolution that a Bill should be brought in for excluding James D. of York from Inheriting the Imperial Crowns of England and Ireland and the Dominions and Territories thereto belonging The same Day in the Afternoon the House being inform'd that the Lords had refus'd to proceed upon their Impeachment of Edward-Fits-Harris and had directed that he should be proceeded against at Common-Law They came to three Resolves That it was the undoubted Right of the Commons in Parliament assembl'd to impeach before the Lords in Parliament any Peer or Commoner for Treason or any other Crime or Misdemeanour and that the Refusal of the Lords to proceed in Parliament upon such an Impeachment was a denial of Justice and a violation of the Constitution of Parliaments Secondly That in the Case of Edward Fits-Harris who had been impeach'd by the Commons for High Treason before the Lords with a Declaration that in convenient time they would bring up Articles against him for the Lords to resolve That the said Fits-Harris should be proceeded against according to the Course of Common-Law and not by way of Impeachment in Parliament at that time was a violation of the Constitution of Parliaments and an Obstruction to the farther Discovery of the Popish-Plot and of great danger to his Majesties Person and the Protestant-Religion Thirdly for any Inferiour Court to proceed against Edward Fits-Harris or any other Person lying under an Impeachment in Parliament for the same Crime for which they stood impeached was a High breach of the Priviledge of Parliament After this they Ordered two Bills to be brought in The one for the better Uniting his Majesties Protestant-Subjects The other for banishing the most considerable Papists in England by their Names out of his Majesties Dominions Munday the Twenty-eighth Day of March and last of the Session little remarkable pass'd only the Bill of Exclusion was read a Second time But these and all other their debates that Morning put a suddain Conclusion for soon after being sent for by the King to the House of Lords his Majesty told them That their beginnings had been such that he could expect no good success of this Parliament and therefore thought fit to dissolve them and accordingly the Chancellor by the Kings command declared the Parliament dissolv'd After the Dessolution of the Parliament the King went back to Windsor the same Day and from thence after a stay of some few Hours returned to White-Hall Fame I will not ask Thee what were the Coffee-Houses Censures and Comments upon an Action of so much importance and so suddain as this Truth No for if Thou didst it would be to no purpose For Thou knowest I have little to do there but the first thing that I saw in Publick upon the Stalls was a Half-sheet of Paper entitled The Protestation of the Lords Upon rejecting the Impeachment of Mr. Fits-Harris giving for Reasons why it was the undoubted Right of the Commons so to do because great Offences that influence the Parliament were most effectually determined in Parliament nor could the complaint be determin'd any where else For that if the Party should be Indicted in the Kings Bench or any other Inferiour Court for the same Offence yet it were the same Suit an Impeachment being at the suite of the People but an Indictment at the suite of the King Besides that they conceived it to be a denial of Justice in regard the House of Peers as to Impeachments proceeding by Vertue of their Judicial not their Legislative Power could not deny any Suitors but more especially the Commons of England no more then the Courts of Westminster or any other Inferiour Courts could deny any Suite or Criminal Cause regularly Commenced before them Sign'd according to the Printed Copy Monmuoth Kent Huntington Bedford Salisbury Clare Stamford Sunderland Essex Shaftsbury Macclesfield Mordant Wharton Paget Grey of Wark Herbert of Cherbury Cornwallis Lovelace Crew Upon the Munday next after Easter-Week came forth His Majesties Declaration shewing the Causes and Reasons that mov'd him to dissolve the Two last Parliaments Wherein after he had set forth with how much reluctancy he did it and how absolute his Intentions were to have comply'd as far as would have consisted with the very being of the Government with any thing that could have been propos'd to him for preserving the Establish'd Religion
The Tryall of William Howard L d. Viscount Stafford in Westminster hall His Execution on Tower hill A. L d. high Steward B. B. The Peers in y r. Robes C. C. The Commons D The Iudges E. The Prisoner F. The K s. Box. G. The Managers of â— Tryall H. The Evidence HISTORICAL Collections OR A Brief Account of the most Remarkable Transactions of the Two Last PARLIAMENTS Consisting of I. The Speeches Votes Accusations Addresses and Articles of Impeachment c. II. The Bills of Association Exclusion and Repeal of 35 Eliz. c. III. The several Informations Messages Narratives Orders Petitions Protestation of the Lords and Resolves of both Houses c. IV. The Tryal and Sentence of William Howard Lord Viscount Stafford in Westminster Hall his Speech and Execution on the Scaffold at Tower Hill with many other memorable passages and proceedings of the two last Parliaments held and dissolved at Westminster and Oxford V. A perfect List of each Parliament VI. His Majesty's Declaration shewing the Causes and Reasons that moved him to dissolve the two last Parliaments The Second Edition London Printed for Simon Neale at the Three Pidgeons in Bedford street over against the New Exchange Strand 1682. TO THE READER MEthod and Order are the chiefest Helps and Assistances of Memory And therefore the ensuing sheets being only a bare and brief Collection of the most memorable and Important Passages which occurred in the two last Parliaments held at Westminster and Oxford we have observ'd that method and connexion in the series of Affairs which is most acceptable to the Memory by separating the perfect from the imperfect Matter that the Reader may read with more delight the carriage of things and make his own observations To which end we have made no Comments or Reflections of our own to shew either favour or affection partiality or byassed humor contracting what might seem tedious and cutting off the superfluities of a Diurnal way of writing They that have not been so careful to preserve the loose Sheets of the dayly Occurrencies or have not had the opportunity to buy all the Narratives concerning the Popish Plot may here find the substance of all together and by the help of the Index at the latter end have recourse to what ever they shall have occasion to bring to mind within the short compass of those few Months So that we doubt not but the benefit of the design will far exceed the price of the Volume Some omissions there may be but by those that have view'd these Sheets 't is not believed that there are any of any great Moment Whatever they are 't is hoped the Reader will pardon small defects and judg charitably of the work it self considering the Variety and the nicer nature of the several Subjects For as for the Truth of the matter there is no question of it there being no where any deviating from Authentick Hands and Approbation HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OR TRANSACTIONS OF THE LATE PARLIAMENT IN A DIALOGUE BETWEEN FAME and TRVTH Fame WHile the last Parliament sate I was so tir'd with carrying News to and fro from the City to the Country then back to the City again day and night night and day that upon the Dissolution of the Session I resolved to retire altogether into the Country to recruit my self and refresh the wearied Pinions of my Wings Truth 'T is a happiness I can seldom enjoy for I still find my self so much abus'd and scandaliz'd by Rumour and False Report that daily affront me where-ever I come that I hate to come near a Market-Town as I hate to tell a lye Fame That 's the business which I come now to thee about to seek a Remedy how to avoid this Inconvenience for the future Truth And hast thou found out the way dost think Fame Yes For though the Parliament last Session took a most Excellent way to give a daily accompt of their Proceedings yet by reason of the many interferings of private with publick business people are confounded in their Memories and forget the Coherence of the main Transactions while they endeavour to separate the more from the less important Truth I must confess indeed that Order and Method are the main Assistances of Memory Fame Therefore I say that if Thou wouldst but assist me in this Business and recollecting thy just Memory wouldst but give me an Exact easie and methodical Relation of the Proceedings of the late Session without Animadversions or Flourishes but plainly and impartially I believe it would be very much both for thy advantage and mine too Truth That I shall most willingly do not only for my own but the advantage of all those that as I am perswaded read with more delight a successive and cohering then a disorder'd and interrupted Story Fame Thereby will Fame be beholding to Truth for the Truth which she reports and Truth be no less beholding to Fame for reporting the Verity of Things Truth Where then wouldst thou have me begin Fame Just where the Parliament it self began For that in the procedure of Affairs is just like a full Stop and a Break in Writing Truth The Parliament then as is well known assembled at the usual Places at Westminster upon Tuesday the 21. of October in the year 1680. So soon as they were met a Message was sent from his Majesty to the House of Commons by Sir Edward Carteret Usher of the Black Rod commanding the Members to attend him in the House of Peers Whither the Commons accordingly repairing his Majesty was pleas'd to declare himself to the effect as follows That the several Prorogations he had made had been advantageous to the Neighbouring States and useful to Himself as having employ'd that time in makng and perfecting an Alliance with the Crown of Spain suitable to what he had before with the United Provinces That he had all the reason in the world to believe that what was so much desir'd by former Parliaments must needs be acceptable to them Which as they were the best Measures that could be taken for the safety of England and repose of Christendom so they could not but attain their ends if our home-Divisions did not render our Friendship less considerable abroad That for prevention thereof he gave them all Assurances that nothing should be wanting on his part to give them the fullest Satisfaction their hearts could wish for the security of the Protestant Religion which he resolved to maintain against all Conspiracies of our Enemies and to concur with them in any propos'd Remedies that might consist with preserving the Crown in its Due and Legal Course of Descent To which purpose he recommended to them the speedy Examination of the Plot and that the Lords in the Tower might be brought to their speedy Tryals Then he laid before them the matter of Tangier and the Expences he had been at to relieve and maintain that place upon which he desired their Advice and Assistance But that which he valued
I am come to visit you as you are a Minister of State and as I am sent as Embassador from the Prince of Portugal to the King of England and am likewise to thank you for the Justice you have done yesterday to Sir George Wakeman To which my Lord C. J. answered I am plac'd to do Justice and will not be curb'd by the Rabble Which Information amongst the rest was Printed as it was deliver'd more at large by order of the House The same day also the Commons made new Resolves Nemine Contradicente to proceed to the full Examination of the Popish Plot in order to the bringing of the Offenders to Justice To which purpose they appointed a Committee to inspect the Journalls of the two last Parliaments and make their Report and order'd an humble Address to be made to his Majesty that all the Letters Papers and Evidences which had been delivered to the Privy Council relating to the Popish Plot might be delivered in to the House And thus ended October Fame By the way what became of the Address for the preservation of his Majesties Person and Government Truth Thou shalt hear For though the Address were made upon the Saturday before according to his Majesties appointment yet the House had no accompt of it in a Parliamentary way till the Munday following which was the First of November But first Mr. Secretary Jenkins made his Report concerning the Address that had been orderd to be made for delivery to the House of all Papers Letters and Evidences concerning the Plot in the Custody of the Privy Council To which he gave an accompt in short That they were already delivered to the Committee of Lords appointed for the examination of the said Plot. Which being done Mr. Speaker acquainted the House with his Majesties Answer to their Address declaring their Resolutions to preserve and support his Person and Government c. which was to this effect That he thanked them heartily for their Zeal to the Protestant Religion and assur'd them that there should be nothing wanting both at home and abroad to preserve it Little was done the rest of this day nor much the beginning of the next which was Tuesday the Second of November till Mr. Treby having given a full Information to the House of all matters by him reported in the last Parliament relating to the Popish Plot the House came to three most Remarkable Resolves of which two were carryed with a Nemine Contradicente The first was That the D. of York's being a Papist and his hopes of coming to the Crown had given the greatest countenance to the present designs and Conspiracies against the King and the Protestant Religion Secondly That in defence of the Kings person and Government and of the Protestant Religion the House did declare That they would stand by his Majesty with their Lives and Fortunes and that if his Majesty should come by any Violent death which God forbid they would revenge it to the utmost upon the Papists Thirdly That a Bill should be brought in to disenable the D. of York to inherit the Imperial Crown of England In order whereunto a Committee was appointed to sit and prepare a Bill Upon Wednesday the third of November little pass'd of remark only that the Lords by a Message desired their concurrence to an Act for the better Regulating of Peers in England and that in the House of Commons a Resolve was made Nemine Contradicente That a Bill should be brought in for the better Uniting his Majesties Protestant Subjects Thursday the Fourth of January was less remarkable for business then the day beforegoing unless I should trouble thee Fame to carry the relation of preparatory Votes or the Examinations of breaches of priviledges or contests about Elections which are nothing to the Generall Concernment Fame Thou art in the right they are not for my purpose and therefore thou dost well to leave it out Truth However I must not omit to tell thee that the Bill for disabling James Duke of York to inherit the Imperial Crown of England and Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonging was this day read the first time The next day being the Fifth of November the Houses were both adjourned till Saturday the Sixth of November at what time the House taking into their Consideration the business of the dissenting Protestants came to a unanimous Resolve that it was The Opinion of the House that the Acts of Parliament made in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth and King James ought not to be extended against Protestant Dissenters And thereupon they order'd a Bill to be brought in for repeal of all or any part of the Act of Parliament made in the Thirty fifth year of Queen Elizabeth Chapter the first printed in the Statute-book of Pulton This done Mr. Jenison being call'd in gave his Information at the Bar relating to the Popish Plot. At the conclusion of which he was orderd to put it in writing and present it to the House on the Munday following The Sum of the Information was this That about the beginning of the year 78. he had heard Mr. Ireland and Mr. Tho. Jenison both Jesuits discourse of a designe by the Roman Catholiks to obtain a Toleration for the open profession of their Religion in England which was to be done by collecting a good round Sum of Money among them and bribing the Parliament That they also discoursed of securing the Duke of Yorks succession by granting out Commissions to those of the Religion to rise upon the death of the King That he heard the said Ireland say at another time that there was only one in the way who hindred that Religion from flourishing in England and that it was an easie thing to poison the King by the means of Sir George Wakeman That in August of the same year coming from Windsor he went to Mr. Irelands Chamber where he found him pulling off his boots being as he said newly come Post from Wolverhampton That discoursing of the Kings pastimes at Windsor and particularly of his going a fishing with a small retinue of two or three the said Ireland made answer that then he might be easily taken off That the said Ireland offered him to quit him of a debt if he would be assisting to the taking off the King urging how meritorious it would be and how much to the glory of God That upon his refusall Mr. Ireland ask'd him if he knew any stout Irish Gentlemen upon which he nam'd Lavallin Karney and Brahal together with one Wilson an Englishman Of which Gentlemen the said Mr. Ireland did approve as fit for the design That at another time he heard Mr. Tho. Jenison say that if C. R. would not be R. C. he should not be long C. R. Adding that the King being excommunicate and depos'd he was no longer King Having heard this Information the Bill against the Dukes Inheritance was read a Second time and two Resolves made First That the Bill
Act for securing the Protestant Religion by disabling James D. of York to inherit the Imperiall Crowns of England and Ireland and the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging and the Lord Russel was order'd to carry it up to the Lords for their Concurrence Friday the Twelfth of November some time was spent in reading the Engrossed Bill sent up on the Wednesday before from the Lords for freeing the City and Court c. from Popish Inhabitants c. Of which and of others no farther proceeded in it is enough to speak of their transmitment from one House to another as being such as dy'd among the rest in the Birth After this and some Amendments made of the Returns for the Burrough of Haslemere in Surrey Mr. Bourk Mr. Macnamarr and Eustace Comine being severally called in gave their several Accompts of some proceedings relating to the Popish Plot in Ireland Of their Informations I shall briefly recite the Heads in their Order That of Mr. Bourk was briefly thus That being by the Kindness of one Major Butler admitted to the knowledg of the Earl of Tyrone and by that means frequently keeping his Lordship Company in his pastimes both at home and abroad he observ'd that the said Earl and the Major would be allway extrolling the French King and praying for his Prosperitie That he farther observed a Continual resort of Papists and Suspitious Persons to the said Earls House That being one Morning private with his Lordship his Lordship told him That he had intelligence out of France that the French were very Powerful and that Parlez Francois would be plentifully heard in Ireland ere long That in farther discourse his Lordship drew out of his Pocket a great Quantitie of Papers rol'd up and delivered him to subscribe his name in one of them and that upon a sudden Glance he could read the names of some that he knew to be persons ill affected to his Majesty and his Government That upon his refusal to Subscribe his Lordship calld him Cowar'd and drew his Sword half out of his Scabbard to have kill'd him but was prevented by the unexpected coming in of another Gentleman That from that time forward his Lordship us'd several means to Ruine him and threw him into Waterford Gaol From whence he wrote five Letters to the Lord Lieutenant of his hard Vsage and what he had to say as to the Conspiracy but could have no Answer That being got out of Waterford Gaol he gave in his Informations against the said Earl at Dublin where though his Lordship were bound over to answer the Informant at Waterford Assizes yet such was his power over the Judges and the Jury that he easily got himself acquitted So that finding Ireland then too hot for him the Informant was forc'd to retire into England to make his Appeale The heads of Macnamar's Information were these That one William Bradley Esq a Justice of the Peace in the County of waterford having first made him take an Oath of Secrecie gave him to understand that the Earle of Tyrone had received a Commission from the French King to be a Colonel of Horse in the County of Waterford and that the said Bradley was to be his Lieutenant Col. and therefore desir'd him to provide himselfe of Horse and Arms and get as many as he could trust promising him a Captains Place That after Bradley had unfolded to him the aforesaid Treason he met with the E. of Tyrone who ask'd him privately whether Bradley had said any thing to him who answering he had the E. bid him be very private and then shewed him a List of several that were to be Superiour Officers in several Counties of Ireland which he took special notice of as knowing several of the Persons That the said E. at the same time told him that he had a Commission from the French King under his Hand and Seal to be a Col. of Horse in the County of Waterford and that there was hardly a County in Ireland where Persons were not appointed by the French King for the same purpose with other discourse of the same Nature The Substance of Eustace Comins Information was this That living with one Keadagh Magher his Relation in Karignisurie in the County of Tipperary Treasurer for the Confederates in Ireland he was privy to the Payment of several Considerable Sums to several Considerable Persons upon the accompt of the Plot by the directions of Plunket titular Primate of Ireland Bremand Titular Archbishop of Cashel and Powes Deane of Waterford who had the disposal of the said Money That there was a meeting of the Irish Clergy with the Titular Primate at John Walshe's House who was Lawyer for the D. of Ormond in the County of Tipperary where they agreed to give every Judge that would goe the Circuite and befriend them upon Occasion 200 l. a piece That the Sum of 200 l. was secur'd to Sir John Davis upon the same accompt he being then a Judge at Clonmel of which he was an Eye Witness Lastly after the recital of many other Circumstances of his being pursu'd and imprison'd by Sir John Davis and several other Justices of the Peace Contrary to their duty for his discovery he affirmed that the Papists had Barbarously Murther'd the said Keadagh Magher their Treasurer when they found that he detested their design and was turned Protestant The House having heard these Informations order'd that an Address should be made to his Majesty for their several Pardons and that his Majesty would be pleas'd to take them into his care and protection After this a Message was sent to the Lords to acquaint them with the Resolution of the House to proceed to the Tryal of the Lords in the Tower and that they intended to begin with William Viscount Stafford and therefore desired their Lordships to appoint a day as also that the Lords in the Tower might be confin'd and kept from a Correspondence one with another as Persons Impeached and Committed for high Treason ought to be To which the Lords return'd for answer That as to that part of the Message relating to Confinement and Correspondence they had already given Order therein as the House had desired and for the latter for appointing a day for the Tryal they did appoint Tuesday come fortnight Thereupon they order'd a farther Address to be made to his Majesty That all Papers Writings Examinations and Evidences relating to the Popish Plot which had been deliver'd to the Clerks of the Council or the Secretaries since the dissolution of the last Parliament should be transmitted to the House and order'd that Serjeant Maynard Mr. George Pelham and Mr. Paul Foly should be added to the Committee appointed to prepare Evidence against the Lords in the Tower They likewise order'd That another Address should be made to his Majesty That he would be pleased to give orders for Issuing out a Sum of Money to defray the Charges of Summoning the Witnesses and other Expences incident to the
us'd by the Lord Powis and his Lady when he was well us'd To attest which he brought one to attest that he was permitted to lie in a Room near the Lord Powis's Chamber To which it was reply'd that that Testimony might not hear what unkind Words might pass between them or how he was thwarted in his Expectations from the Earl And as to the Kindness of Mr. Turbervill's Relations all that the Prisoner could prove was that his Brother and Sister had given him Seven Pounds never to see him more The next Objection was That Turbervill had sworn that the Earl of Castlemain was at Powis-Castle such a time which must be in the Years 72 73 or 74 which he endeavoured to prove by the Attestation of one Lydcot once a Servant to the Earl of Castlemain and with him all those Years But he was observed to be so out in his Calculation so mistaken in the Year and such an exact Follower of the Romish New Stile that Notice was taken of it by the Court. On the other Side it was sworn by Mr. Arnold That he had not heard a better Character of any Man from all sorts of People in his Life By Mr. Hobby That he had never known or heard but that he had behav'd himself like a Worthy Honest Gentleman By one Mr. Matthews a Divine that he never knew him guilty of an Evil Action but that he was a person of a fair Reputation By one Mr. Seys That he never knew in his Life any person that could asperse him The same also or to the same Effect was sworn by Captain Scudamore It was farther objected That Mr. Turbervill was a Stranger to the Prisoner and that the Design of the King's Death was too great a Secret for a Stranger to be acquainted with To which it was answered That the Quality of the Persons that introduced him to his Lordship was to be considered They were Priests and therefore it was no wonder that when they brought him to his Lordship for such a purpose that they should prevail with his Lordship to give him Credit and to deal with a person so likely in his Circumstances to make such an Attempt But the main Objection was That Mr. Turbervill had sworn that his Lordship returned into England by the way of Calice with Count Grammont neither of which was true To which it was answered That Mr. Turbervill swore only according to Information and by a Lettet which signified to him that his Lordship would return by the way of Calice and he knew nothing of the Change of his Lorships Resolution That it appeared upon Oath that Mr. Turbervill staid at Diep in expectation of his Lordships coming but being inform'd that he went another way took the first Opportunity of a Passage without which Information there was no Reason for him to have invented such a thing or to have advised his Companion to make haste to Calice to take the Advantage of my Lord's Conveniency a thing which he did out of Friendship The Evidence on both sides being thus clos'd as it was thought the Court adjourn'd and the Lords being return'd to their House gave notice to the Commons that they had order'd the Prisoner to be sent for again the next day by ten of the Clock The First Day being Saturday Dec. 4. The Prisoner being brought to the Bar made a new Request that he might call some Witnesses that he had forgot the day before to impeach the Evidence that had sworn against the Credit of his Witnesses and farther to impeach those that had sworn against himself which though it were at first oppos'd as a thing not customary was at length condescended to by the Managers to spare the Lords the trouble of withdrawing The first was the Lord Ferrers as to the Reputation of Mr. Southal one of Mr. Dugdale's Witnesses who attested that all he could say was by Hear-say That he had the Reputation of being active in the late Times against the King and was counted a pernicious Man against the Government In answer to which the Lord Brook being desired to speak what he knew of the said Mr. Southal gave him the CharaCharacter of an honest an able and a good Church-man and Mr. Levenson Gower called to the same purpose gave him the Character of a Zealous Prosecutor of the Papists and one of whom they that were principled by the Preservation of the King and the Protestant Religion spoke well The next was one Dale to whom the Prisoner put the Question what he knew about Dugdale's offering him Money and whether Dugdale never persuaded him to swear against my Lord Aston something he knew not To which be answered positively in the Negative After this the Prisoner having summed up all his Objections before recited against the King's Evidence insisted upon several Points of Law First That there was no President that Proceedings Criminal did ever continue from Parliament to Parliament this having continued three Secondly Whether a Man in Capital Cases was not to be proceeded against by Indictment first found by a Grand Jury and not by Impeachment either of a single Person or Body of Men. Thirdly He conceiv'd there was no Overt Act alledged in the Impeachment Fourthly He desired to prove they were not Competent Witnesses that swore against him for they swore for Money Fifthly Whether a Man could be condemned for Treason by one Witness there not being two Witnesses to any one Point As to the First it was answered that it could be no doubt in regard their Lordships had resolved and sent it down to the Commons and that it was entered in their Books as the Law and Constitution of Parliaments that not only Impeachments but all Judicial Proceedings continue from Parliament to Parliament that it was now the Law of their House and consequently the Law of the Kingdom And therefore they having declared it and sent it down to the Commons they had good reason to proceed upon the present Impeachment To the Second That an Impeachment of the House of Commons which is the Grand Inquest of the Nation was more than an Indictment and more effectual to bring an Offender to Justice To the Third That there were Overt Acts enough in Proof and sufficient in the Impeachment as the receiving a Commission to be Pay-Master of an Army the offering Money to a person to hire him to kill the King and consulting with several persons met together about killing the King and changing the Government of the Nation All which were laid in the Impeachment as fully as made out in Proof To the Fourth His Lordship insisted very much that his Council might argue it whether there were a necessity of two Witnesses to every Overt Act alleadg'd as Evidence of High Treason But the Council for the Prisoner waving the Argument as a thing impossible to apply themselves to the Study of a Case unforeseen the Lords returned to their House to consider upon it In an hours time
would be pull'd out of their Houses and that the Goals would be fill'd with them and wish'd their Houses burnt The third said That Mr. Thompson at another time averr'd That for a man to receive the Sacrament from any other Minister than of the Parish where he dwelt was Damnation to his Soul and that he would maintain the Doctrine The Fourth Witness said That in the Fore-mentioned Sermon Mr. Thompson declared That there was a great talk of a Plot but said he a Presbyterian is the Man The Fifth That in the same Sermon Mr. Thompson asserted That a Presbyterian Brother qua talis was as great a Traytor as any Priest or Jesuit and then condemn'd all the Proceedings of Parliaments A Sixth That speaking of the Act for Burying in Woollen affirm'd That the Makers of that Law were a Company of Old Fools and Fanaticks and that he would bring a School-boy should make a better Act than that A Seventh said That in a Sermon while the Petitions were on Foot he very much derided and scoff'd at them comparing them with the Scotch Petition delivered at Durham at the Head of their Army The Eighth Witness said That in a Funeral Sermon of one Mr. Wharton speaking in Commendation of the Deceas'd he said he was no Schismatical Petitioning Rebell And at another time declar'd That such as went to Lectures were the Brats of the Devil A Ninth That he inveigh'd bitterly against Petitioning saying It was the Seed of Rebellion that the Devil set 'em on Work and would pay 'em their Wages and that before he would set his Hand to such a Petition he would cut it off A Tenth That being with Mr. Thompson in the Chancel of St. Thomas's Church in Bristol where Queen Elizabeth's Efsigies is he the said Thompson pointing his Finger to it said That she was a Lewd Infamous Woman that she was a Church-Robber and that Hen. 8. began it and she finished it The Eleventh That in the Year 78. Mr. Thompson rail'd in his Sermon against Henry the Eighth saying he did more Hurt in robbing the Abby-Lands than he did Good by his Reformation The Twelfth That he said the Plot was nothing but a Presbyterian Plot. The Thirteenth said the same with the Ninth The Fourteenth confirm'd what the Second had declared The Fifteenth and last Evidence declar'd That he heard Mr. Thompson in Discourse affirm That if he were as well satisfied of other things as he was of Justification Auricular Confession Penance Extream Unction and Chrism in Baptism he would not have been long separated from the Catholick Church That he had endeavor'd to prove Auricular Confession and Extream Unction out of the Epistles That he heard him say the King was of a mean and soft Temper easily led to any thing but yet a Solomon in Vices But that the D. was a Prince of a brave Spirit faithful to his Friends but it was our own Faults that he was a Roman Catholick in that we forc'd him to fly into France That he would rather cut off his Hand than Sign a Petition for Sitting of the Parliament That Bedloe was not to be credited on any thing he said That it was better for a Clergy-man to be gelt than to marry and that the Calvinists of France were lecherous Fellows Mr. Thompson being ask'd whether he were guilty of the Matters laid to his Charge and desired to make his Defence did for the greatest part confess words spoken to that Effect and in other things endeavoured to turn the words with more favor toward himself But the Credit of the Witnesses was such that the Committee was soon satisfied and made their Report to the House upon which ensued the Sentence and Judgment of the House before recited Upon Thursday the 30 th of December the House met again at which time among other things not proper for this Continuation it was unanimously resolv'd That no Member of the House should accept of any Office or place of Profit from the Crown without the leave of this House or any promise of any such Office or place of profit during such time as he should continue a Member of the House Friday the last of December pass'd without any material Transaction that requires Relation The next day of Sitting was the 3 d. of January upon which day the Peers sent a Message to the Commons intimating that they had received a Petition from Mr. Seymour wherein he desir'd a day might might be appointed for his speedy Tryal of which they thought fit to give them Notice not finding any Issue by Replication Thereupon the Articles against Mr. Seymour were read and a Committee order'd to prepare Evidence against him and manage the same at the Tryal At the same time also the Articles of Impeachment against Sir William Scroggs were read as having been prepar'd some days before by the Committee appointed to examine the proceedings of the Judges c. The Heads of which Report and of the Articles themselves were as follows In the first place the Committee found by the Information of Charles Vmphrevile Fore-man of the Grand Jury for the Hunder'd of Ostulston in the County of Middlesex and others of the same Jury that upon the Second of June 1680. the Constables were found defective in not presenting the Papists as they ought upon which they were order'd to make farther Presentments by the 26 th day following upon which day they met again to receive them That upon the said day a Bill was brought them against James D. of York for not coming to Church That about an hour after they receiv'd the said Bill some of the Jury attended the King's Bench with a Petition for the Sitting of the Parliament Upon which the Lord Scroggs raised many Scruples and pretending all the Jury were not in the Court though twenty had subscrib'd sent for them saying he would dispatch them presently Then the Jury being come and call'd over renewed their desire concerning the Petition To which the C. J. said we will not make two words of the Business adding that the Petition was no Article of their Charge that no Act requir'd the Court to deliver the Grand Juries Petition or to run of their Errands and that there was a Proclamation concerning them and that 't was much they should come to alter the King's Mind declared in the News Book that the Jury reply'd that they only desir'd it with Submission as other Juries had done that the Court answer'd that they had medled with what was never given them in Charge but had brought in no Bills that the Jury reply'd they had many before them notwithstanding which Judge Jones told them they were discharg'd from farther Service which by the Evidence of Mr. Astry Mr. Waterhouse and Mr. Ward appear'd not to have been done in their memory before The next thing was that there was a Rule of Court made all the Judges present and nine dissenting against the Printing and Publishing The Weekly Pacquet of
the Liberty and Property of the Subject at home and supporting the Forraign Alliances he took notice of the unsuitable Returns of the House of Commons their Addresses in the Nature of Remonstrances their Arbitrary Orders for taking Persons into Custody for Matters that had no Relation to their Priviledges and their strange Illegal Votes declaring divers Emminent Persons Enemies to the King and Kingdom without any Order or Process of Law or hearing their Defence That besides these Proceedings they had Voted That whoever should Lend any Money upon the Branches of the Revenue or Buy any Tally of Anticipation or pay any such Tally should be adjudged to hinder the sitting of Parliaments and be answerable to the same in Parliament Which Votes instead of giving him Assistance tended rather to disable him and to expose him to all dangers that might happen at Home or Abroad and to deprive him of the possibility of supporting the Government it self and to reduce him to a more helpless Condition then the meanest of his Subjects That they had Voted the Prosecution of Protestant Dissenters upon the Penal-Laws a grievance to the Subject a weakning to the Protestant Interest an Encouragement to Popery and dangerous to the Peace of the Kingdom Whereby they assumed to themselves a Power of suspending Acts of Parliament Which unwarrantable Proceedings were the Occasion of his parting with the first Parliament That having Assembled another at Oxford he gave them warning of the Errors of the former and required them to make the Law of the Land their Rule as he resolv'd it should be his Adding withal that though he could not depart from what he had so often declared touching the Succession Yet to remove all Reasonable fears that might arise from a Popish Successor if means could be found that in such a Case the Administration of the Government might remain in Protestant Hands he was ready to hearken to any expedient for the preservation of the Establish'd Religion without the Destruction of Monarchy Notwithstanding all which no expedient could be found but that of a Total Exclusion which he was so nearly concern'd in Honour Justice and Conscience not to Consent to Nor did he believe as he had Reason so to do but that if he had in the last Parliament at Westminster consented to a Bill of Exclusion that the Intent was not to have rested there but to have attempted some other great and important Changes That the business of Fits-Harris impeach'd by the Commons of High Treason and by the Lords referred to the Ordinary Course of Law was on a suddain carried to that Extremity by the Votes of the House of Commons March 26. That there was no possibility left of a Reconciliation Whereby an impeachment was made use of to delay a Tryal directed against a professed Papist charg'd with Treasons of an extraordinary Nature That nevertheless he was resolv'd that no Irregularities in Parliaments should make him out of love with them but by the Blessing of God to have frequent Parliaments and both in and out of Parliament to use all his utmost endeavours to extirpate Popery and to redress the Grievances of his good Subjects and in all things to Govern according to the Laws of the Kingdom This Declaration being published was likewise ordered to be read in all Churches and Chapples thoroughout the Kingdom And thus my dear Friend Fame for thou art some times a Friend to me as well as to Falshood I have been Candid toward thee in giving Thee plainly without Comment or Observations either on the one side or the other a true Accompt of the most Memorable passages of the Two last Parliaments in due Series and Connexion for the aid and assistance of thy Memory Now take thy flight and make the best Use of thy Pacquet which thou canst If thou seek'st for more go look among the Intelligences which though they will deceive Thee may perhaps better tickle the Fancies then the Judgments of the People A NEW AND TRUE CATALOGUE OF THE HOUSE of LORDS Together with the Knights Citizens Burgesses and Barons OF THE CINQUE-PORTS That were Returned to serve in the Parliament of ENGLAND Assembled at OXFORD the twenty-first of March 1681. Note That those that have this Mark * after them were not Members of the foregoing Parliament The LORDS JAMES Duke of York and Albany Rupert Duke of Cumberland Heneage Finch Baron of Daventry Lord Chancellor of England John Earl of Radnor Lord President of the Council Arthur Earl of Anglesey Lord Privy-Seal Henry Duke of Norfolk Charles Seymore Duke of Somerset under Age. George Duke of Buckingham Christopher Duke of Albemarl James Duke of Monmouth Henry Duke of Newcastle Charles Lenox Duke of Richmond under Age. Charles Fitz-Roy Duke of Southampton under Age. Henry Fitz Roy Duke of Grafton Charles Lord Marq. of Winchester Henry Lord Marq. of Worcester Robert Earl of Lindsey Lord Great Chamberlain James Earl of Brecon Lord Steward of the Houshold Aubrey Earl of Oxford Charles Talbot Earl of Salop if at Age. Anthony Earl of Kent William Richard George Earl of Derby John Earl of Rutland Theophilus Earl of Huntingdon William Earl of Bedford Philip Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery Edward Earl of Lincoln Charles Earl of Nottingham James Eral of Suffolk Charles Earl of Dorset and Middlesex James Earl of Salisbury John Earl of Exeter John Earl of Bridgewater Philip Earl of Leicester James Earl of Northampton Edward Rich Earl of Warwick and Holand under Age William Earl of Devonshire William Earl of Denbigh John Earl of Bristol Gilbert Earl of Clare Oliver Earl of Bullingbrook Charles Earl of Westmorland Robert Earl of Manchester Thomas Earl of Barkshire John Earl of Mulgrave Thomas Earl of Rivers Henry Earl of Peterborough Thomas Earl of Stamford Heneage Earl of Winchelsea Charles Earl of Carnarvon Philip Earl of Chesterfield Richare Earl of Thanet William Earl of Strafford Robert Earl of Sunderland Robert Earl of Scarsdale Charles Earl of Rochester Henry Earl of St. Albans Edward Earl of Sandwich Henry Earl of Clarendon Arthur Earl of Essex Robert Earl of Cardigan John Earl of Bath Charles Earl of Carlisle William Earl of Craven Robert Earl of Ailesbury Richard Earl of Burlington Anthony Earl of Shaftsbury Edward Henry Lee Earl of Lichfield under Age. John Earl of Guilford Thomas Earl of Sussex Lewis Earl of Feversham George Earl of Hallifax Charles Earl of Mackelsfield Robert Earl of Yarmonth George Earl of Berkley Edw. Conway Earl of Conway Leicester Devereux Viscount Heriford under Age Francis Viscount Montague William Viscount Say and Seal Baptist Viscount Camden Thomas Viscount Faulconbridge Charles Viscount Mordant Francis Viscount Newport Henry Lord Mowbroy George Nevil Lord Abergavenny under Age. James Lord Audley Charles Lord La Warr. Thomas Lord Morley Mounteagle Robert Lord Ferrers Coniers Lord Darcy and Meynel Charles Lord Fitzwater under Age. Henry Lord Grey under Age. William Lord Stourton Conyers Lord Conyers Henry Lord Sandys Thomas Lord
Knight Peter Rich Esq Borough of Bletchingly * Sir William Gulston Kt. George Evelyn of Nutfield Esq Borough of Ryegate * Ralph Freeman Esq Dean Goodwin Esq Borough of Guilford Richard Onslow Esq Morgan Randyl Esq Borough of Gatton Sir Nicholas Carew Kt. Thonas Turgis Esq Borough of Haslemeere * Sir William More Bar. George Woodroffe Esq SUSSEX 20. Sir William Thomas Bar. Sir John Fagg Bar. City of Chichester John Braman Esq Richard Farrington Esq Burough of Horseham * John Machell Esq John Michell Esq Burough of Midhurst * William Montague Esq * John Cook Esq Burough of Lewis Thomas Pelham Esq Richard Bridger Esq Burough of New Shoreham * Robert Fagg Esq John Hales Esq Burough of Bramber * Peirey Goring Esq Henry Goring Esq Burough of Steyning Sir John Fagg Bar. * Sir James Morton Knight Burough of East-Grinstead * Sir Cyril Wych Kt. Henry Powel Esq Burough of Arundel William Garway Esq James Butler Esq WARWICKSHIRE 6. * Sir Richard Newdigate Bar. * Thomas Mariot Esq City of Coventry Richard Hopkins Esq John Stratford Esq Burough of Warwick Thomas Lucy Esq * Thomas Coventry Esq WESTMORELAND 4. * Sir John Lowther of Lowther Bar. Allan Bellingham Esq Burough of Apulby * Sacvil Tufton Esq * Sir John Bland Bar. WILTSHIRE 24. Sir Walter St. John Bar. Thomas Thyne Esq City of New Sarum * John Windham Esq Alexander Thistlewait Esq Burough of Wilton Thomas Herbert Esq Sir John Nicolas Kt. of the Bath Burough of Downton Sir Joseph Ash Bar. Maurice Bockland Esq Burough of Hindon Sir Richard Grobham How Kt. and Bar. * John Thynne Esq Burough of Westbury William Trenchard Esq * John Ash Esq Burough of Hetsbury William Ash Esq Edward Ash Esq Burough of Calne Sir George Hungerford Knight * Walter Norbon Esq Borough of Devizes * Sir Walter Earneley Bar. * George Johnson Esq Borough of Chipengham Sir Edward Hungerford Kt. of the Bath Sir George Speke Bar. Borough of Malmesbury Sir William Escourt Bar. Sir James Long Bar. Borough of Cricklade William Lenthal Esq Edmund Webb Esq Borough of Great Bedwyn * Sir John Earnly Kt. * John Wildman Esq Borough of Ludgersale Thomas Neal Esq by one Indenture John Garrard Esq by one Indenture * Sir John Talbot K. by another Indenture * John Smith Esq by another Indenture Borough of Old Sarum Sir Eliab Harvey Kt. Sir Thomas Mompesson Kt. Borough of Wotton Basset Henry St. John Esq * John Pleydal Esq Borough of Marleborough Thomas Lord Bruce Thomas Bennet Esq WORCESTERSHIRE 9. Thomas Foley Esq * Bridges Nanfan Esq City of Worcester Sir Frances Winington Kt. * Henry Herbert Esq Borough of Droitwich Henry Coventry Esq Samuel Sandys senior Esq Borough of Evesham Sir James Rushout Bar. * Edward Rudge Esq Borough of Bewdly Philip Foley Esq YORK 30. Charles Lord Clifford Henry Lord Fairfax City of York Sir Henry Thompson Kt. Sir John Hewly Kt. Town of Kingston upon Hull Sir Michael Warton Kt. William Gee Esq Borough of Knaesborough Sir Thomas Slingsby Bar. William Stockdale Esq Borough of Scarborough William Thompson Esq Francis Thompson Esq Borough of Rippon Richard Stern Esq Christopher Wandesford Esq Borough of Richmond * John Darcy Esq Humphrey Wharton Esq Borough of Heydon Henry Guy Esq William Boynton Esq Borough of Boroughbrigg Sir Thoms Mauliverer Bar. Sir John Brook Bar. Borough of Malton William Palmes Esq Sir Watkinson Payler Bar. Borough of Thirske Sir William Franckland Kt. * Sir William Ascough Kt. Borough of Aldborough Sir Godfrey Copley Bar. * Sir John Reresby Bar. Borough of Beverly Sir John Hotham Bar. Michael Wharton Esq Borough of Northallerton Sir Gilbert Gerrard Bar. Sir Henry Calverly Kt. Borough of Pontefract Sir John Dawny Viscount Down Sir Patience Ward Kt. BARONS Of the CINQUE-PORTS 16. Port of Hastings Sir Robert Barker Bar. * Thomas Mun Esq Town of Winchelsea * Sir Stephen Leonard Kt. Cresheld Draper Esq Town of Rye Sir John Dorrel Kt. Thomas Frewen Esq Port of New Rumney Sir Charles Sedley Bar. Paul Barret Esq Port of Hythe Sir Edward Deering Bar. Edward Hales Esq Port of Dover William Stokes Esq Thomas Papillon Esq Port of Sandwich Sir James Oxinden Kt and Bar. John Thurhane Esq Port of Seaford * Edward Montague Esq * Edward Selwyn Esq WALES 24. Â ANGLESEY 2. Richard Bulkeley Esq Town of Bewmorris Henry Bulkeley Esq BRECON 2. Richard Williams Esq Town of Brecon John Jefferies Esq CARDIGAN 2. Edward Vaughan Esq Town of Cardigan Hector Philips Esq CARMARTHEN 2. John Lord Vaughan Kt. of the Bath Town of Carmarthen Altham Vaughan Esq CARNARVAN 2. Sir Thomas Bulkly Knight and Baronet Town of Carnarvan Thomas Mostyn Esq DENBIGH 2. Sir John Trevor Knight Town of Denbigh Sir John Salisbury Baronet FLINT 2. * Sir John Hanmer Knight Bar. Town of Flint * Thomas Whitley Esq GLAMORGAN 2. * Sir Edward Mansel Bar. Town of Cardiffe Bussy Mansel Esq MERIONITH 1. * Sir Robert Owen Knight PEMBROOK 3. * William Wogan Esq Town of Haverford-West * Thomas Howard Esq Town of Pembrook Arthur Owen Esq MONTGOMERY 2 Edward Vaughan Esq Town of Montgomery Matthew Price Esq RADNOR 2. Sir Rowland Gwynne Knight Town of Radnor * Sir John Morgan Baronet The COMMONS in all 513. New Members Returned 110. THE CONTENTS A. ADdress of the Lords Pag. 11. Address of the Commons Pag. 16.155 For preservation of his Majesties Person and Government Pag. 23. Concerning Sir Gorge Jeffereys Pag. 47. Address in Answer to the Message about Tangier Pag. 66. Address of the Commons for Dissenters Ansel a Witness Arnold John Esq a Witness Pag. 107. Atturney General Examined Pag. 61. B. Beckley Earle a Witness Pag. 104. Bill of Association Pag. 154. Bill of Exclusion at London 32. at Oxford 244. Rejected Pag. 447. Bill for repeal of the 35 of Eliz. not tendred and questioned Pag. 238. Mr. Bourk's Information Pag. 38. Lord Brook a Witness Pag. 110. C. Sir Robert Can questioned Pag. 19. Is released Pag. 32. Carew Henry a Fryer Pag. 155. Mr. Comin's Information Pag. 41. Commons demand judgment against L. Staf. Pag. 121. D. Date a Witness Pag. 111. Dangerfield His Narrative ibid. Pag. 12. Kings Declaration Pag. 246. Dissenters Pag. 61 6â— Mr. Dugdal his Narrative Pag. 48. E. Elections considered Pag. 11. F. Fast Pag. 62. Feria his Narrative Pag. 23. Lord Ferrers a Witness Pag. 110. Fitzharris Examination read Pag. 239. Ordered to be impeached ibid. Floyd Sir Philip a Witness Pag. 104. Furnis a Witness Pag. 99.106 G. Leveston Gowre a Witness Pag. 111. Grand Juryes Examined Pag. 61. Their discharging Voted illegal H. The Earl of Hallifax his removal desired Pag. 52. Hausel a Witness Pag. 100. Ben. Harris Petitions the House Pag. 54. Mr. Herbert sent for Pag. 57. Hobby Mr. a Witness Pag. 108. Holt a Witness Pag. 103. Sir Tho. Holt an Obstructer of Petitioning Pag. 57. Mrs. Howard Pag. 98. I. Mr. Jennison his Information Pag. 30. Irish Evidence Pag. 55. Grand Jury call'd into the House Pag. 61. K. Kings Message concerning Tangier Pag. 48. King goes to Oxford Pag. 231. Received by the Major and Bishop Pag. 232. His Speech to the Parliament at Oxford Pag. 233. L. Leigh a Witness Pag. 99.106 Lists of Papists names order'd to be returned throughout England Pag. 151. Lo. debate what judgement to give upon Lo. St. Pag. 121. Lydcot a Witness Pag. 107. M. Macnamars Information Pag. 40. Marchioness of Winchester Pag. 98. Mr. Mathews a Witness Pag. 108. Maurice's Examination Pag. 241. Morrel a Witness Pag. 103. N. Norris complaint reported p. 147. His Imprisonment judged illegal Pag. 151. Lo. C. J. North. order'd to be impeached Pag. 62. O. Obstructers of Petitioning sent for Pag. 54.57 P. Papers Printed by Mr. Treby Pag. 58. Parliament met 3. at Oxford Pag. 232. Peyton Sir Robert Pag. 15.151 Plessington Lord Bellasis Steward Pag. 104. Polteney Sir William a Witness Pag. 106. Preparatians for Stafford's Tryal Pag. 42. Proclamation for Discoverers against Petitio Pag. 16. Considered Pag. 48. Protestation of the Lords Pag. 245. R. Resolves of the House concerning Petitioning Pag. 17. Concerning the Plot. Pag. 25.27 Concerning the Duke of York Pag. 27.28.31 Resolves touching Popery Pag. 153. Robinson a Witness Pag. 103. S. Sawyers a Witness Pag. 100. Lord C. J. Scrogs 165.174 His Answer P. 238. Mr. Scudamore a Witness Pag. 108. Mr. Seymor impeached Pag. 59.63.154 Mr. Seys a Witness Pag. 108. Serjeant's Examination Pag. 241. Speaker chosen Pag. 6. Speech Kings Pag. 4.152 Speech Speakâ—rs 6.8 at Oxford Pag. 235 236. Staf. Tryal begun 70. His Plea upon the Statu 93. His Exceptions astainst the Witn. 93. c. He desires to call more Witn. 110. he insists upon points of Law 111. His objections answered 114. He Petitions 115. found Guilty 117. what he said after for himself 121. Senten'd 124. brought to the Scaffold 131. His Speech 132. c. Executed Pag. 146. Lord High Stewards Speech Pag. 123. Mr. Staples an obstructer Pag. 57. T. Mr. Thompson a Minister Pag. 158. c. Dr. Tongue recommended to his Majesty Pag. 20. Mr. Treby's Letters commanded to be Printed Pag. 58. V. Votes ordered to be Printed Pag. 23. Votes concerning Fitzharris Pag. 243. W. Sir William Waller a Parliament-man for Westminster Pag. 52. Baron Weston accus'd Pag. 173. Sir Fra. Withens ordered to attend the House Pag. 19. Expelled the House Pag. 52. Writs for Executing Lord Stafford Pag. 125. c. Y. Sir Rob. Yeomans questioned 19. discharged Pag. 46. Z. Zeal's Information 55. Pardon'd Pag. 59. FINIS
above all the Treasure in the World was a perfect Vnion at home as being that which onely could restore the Kingdom to that Strength and Vigour which it seem'd to have lost All Europe he told them had their Eyes upon that Assembly so that a Misunderstanding of each other would render the Friendship of England unsafe to trust to Lastly he exhorted them to take care not to gratifie the publick Enemy and discourage their Friends by unseasonable disputes which if they should happen the world would see it was no fault of his who had done what was possible for him to do to keep them in peace while he liv'd and to leave them so when he dy'd Concluding that from their prudence and good affections he could fear nothing of that kind but that he rely'd upon them that they would use their best endeavours to bring the Parliament to a happy conclusion Having so done he commanded the Commons to return to their House and make choice of their Speaker Fame Did the Lord Chancellor make no Speech at all Truth Not this time Fame Do ye know the Reason Truth Not I but onely by conjecture which has no place in this Rehearsal Fame Then Proceed Truth So soon as the Commons were returned to their House a Motion was made That William Williams Esq might be elected Speaker Which was presently resolv'd Nemine Contradicente Mr. Williams being thus chosen modestly at first excus'd himself telling the House That he needed not to reckon up his Infirmities which were better known to many of the Members than to himself That as they had experience of his unfitness for their Service so they had sufficient Demonstrations of the aptness of other Members then present That the Choice of a Speaker was the Effect of much time and consideration and that it would be no excuse for them to say They had not time for deliberation in so great a Matter and therefore since they had time a more deliberate Election would be expected from them That the security of the Protestant Religion the safety of the King and Kingdom and the preservation of the Justice of the Land were the Grand Affairs in prospect enough to prevail with them to depart from their first Intentions of the Honour propos'd to him that day Acknowledging himself to be sufficiently honour'd with the proposal alone For which reasons he desir'd them not onely for his own sake but for their Honour to proceed to the Election of another Person more proper for their Service and to leave him in that place where his Country had seated him But this excuse being rejected by the House he was by two of the Members conducted to the Chair where being seated he again spoke to this Effect That he trembled to reflect under what difficulties experienc'd learned and wise men had labour'd in that Chair Yet that he was not terrified with the Presidents of those who had impared their Estates and Healths therein nor of those who had lost their lives in the Service as being Sacrifices he owed his Country But when he consider'd that some Gentlemen had maim'd their Reputations in their Trusts those were the thoughts that wounded him most deeply and would yet strike deeper did not they that call'd him thither stand by him to support him in all the difficulties of the Place He farther acknowledg'd that he held the place by their courtesie and during their pleasure and that if he fell he fell into the hands of Gentlemen that made him what he was in their Service Concluding That he was theirs alone and their own intirely placed in their Service without seeking or recommendation and that he expected no Boon but by their Grace and Favour to depart as he came when they should please to command him The Ceremony of the Election being thus over the House was inform'd that his Majesty had appointed the next day at three a Clock for the Members to present their Speaker which made them adjourn till the next day in the Afternoon The day following being the twenty Second of October the House met again in the Afternoon at what time a Message was deliver'd them by the Usher of the Black Rod commanding them to attend his Majesty in the House of Peers Thereupon the House attended accordingly and humbly presented their Speaker to his Majesty who presently made claim according to Custom in the Name of the Commons of England in Parliament assembled of the ancient Rights of the Commons for them and their Servants in their Persons and Estates to be free from Arrests and other disturbances to have freedom and liberty of Speech in all their Debates and to have access to his Majesties Person as occasion should require All which was allowed by the King Being return'd to the House the Speaker took the Chair and having made report of what had been done the House adjourn'd till Monday following Fame Hitherto I hear of nothing of Business Truth No more then what I tell you for it was necessary that these matters of Form and Ceremony should be first dispatch'd Besides that by these Acts of Condescension in the one and Homage in the other the King asserted his Prerogative and the People by their Representatives acknowledg'd their Subjection Fame I am satisfi'd go on to the next Truth On Monday then being the twenty fifth of October both Houses being met again the first thing that found the Commons work was a Message from the Peers by the Lord C. J. Schroggs and the Lord C. J. North acquainting them that they had made an Address to his Majesty and had received his Majesties Answer thereunto which they thought fit to communicate The Address which was deliver'd to his Majesty by the Lords attending him with their White Staves was to this Effect That whereas there had been a discovery made of a horrid Conspiracy by the Papists against his Majesties Person and Government which still continued that his Majesty would be Graciously pleased to issue out his Royal Proclamation that all Persons who within two Months after the date of the same should come in and give Evidence of any Treason or Conspiracy against his Majesties Person and Government should have a full Pardon for all such Treasons Misprisions and all Offences of Concealment to the time limited by the said Proclamation To which his Majesties Answer was to this Effect That having consider'd of the said Address and being willing to encourage the discovery of any Treasons and Conspiracies as aforesaid he would issue forth his Proclamation accordingly and pardon all such Discoverers according to the desires of the Address Tuesday 26. of October the Commons fell upon the Regulation of Elections of Members to serve in Parliament and appointed a Committee to draw up a Bill or Bills as they should see cause for that purpose more especially to take care to insert a Clause that an Action of the Case might be brought and maintain'd for Damages sustain'd by undue Returns
Then taking into consideration the Message which had been sent them the day before by the Lords They also in concurrence with the Peers voted an Address to be made to his Majesty on their part to request the same Pardons and Favour for limited Discoverers as the Lords had already done Which being done Mr. Dangerfield of whom I question not but that you have had a sufficient accompt already was called to the Barr there to deliver his knowledge concerning the Plot. Fame That will be very necessary for my Pacquet Truth It will so and therefore you shall have it as briefly as possibly I can sum it up He declared to the House That when Mrs. C. and He waited on the Lord Peterborough to be introduced to his R. H. his Lordship ask'd him whether the Lady Powis had given him any directions how to discourse the D. and desired to know what they were Whereupon he produced a little Book which contain'd a scheme of the pretended discovery he had made of the Presbyterian Plot. Wherein his Lordship finding some Omissions order'd him to Write from his own Mouth that the Presbyterians intended to rise in the North and joyn with the Scots which done his Lordship carry'd him with Mrs. C. into the Dukes Closet at White-Hall where he delivered the said Book to the Duke who not only thank'd him for it and his diligence in the Catholick Cause but wished him success in his Undertakings Adding withall of what mighty consequence the Presbyterian Plot was if well manag'd and that he questioned not but that the effects of it would answer expectation especially in the North where he was assur'd of the Major Part of the Gentry That after that his H. in the hearing of the Lord Peterborough order'd him and Mrs. C. to be careful what they communicated to such as were to be Witnesses in the Plot for fear they should be caught in the Subornation That the D. also informed them that in a Month or two Cmmissions would be ready as from the Presbyterians to which purpose he was order'd to find out trusty persons that would be ready to accept them which should be deliver'd them by a person that should be known by them to be no other then a Presbyterian that they might be the more fit to swear in the Plot. That the D. also for their Encouragement to proceed in that sham-Plott promis'd them that he would take care that Money should not be wanting and bid them discover the same to the King with all expedition they could That the D. made divers Vows and bitter Execrations to stand by them in the thing and engag'd on his Honour to be their Rewarder That being withdrawn from thence to the Lord Peterborough's Lodgings they continu'd there till his Lordship had introduc'd Sir Robert Peyton to the Duke That about four days after the said Earl took the said M. D. again to the D's Lodgings at White-Hall who then told him that he had gained by his diligence a good reputation among the Catholicks adding withall that he should in a short time see the Catholick Religion flourish in these Kingdoms and Heresie torn up by the Roots That the D. gave him twenty Guinies and said if he would be but vigorous in what he had undertaken already he would so order it that Mr. D's life should not be in the least danger with several other Circumstances relating to the said Plot too tedious to relate Fame 'T is well enough so long as here is the main and chief substance of the rest Truth There is so and we are not to make Enlargements where we intend Epitome's Mr. Dangerfeild having made an end of his Relation withdrew But the House taking a more particular notice that he had made mention of Sir Robert Peyton in his Information presently ordered a Committee to examine the matters touching Sir Robert Peyton and to report the same and came to a Resolution Nemine Contradicente to proceed effectually to suppress Popery and prevent a Popish Successor Upon the twenty seventh of October the Address of the Commons to his Majesty in concurrence with the Lords for a Proclamation to assure all such Persons their Pardons as should make their Discoveries within two Months after the date of the Proclamation being prepar'd and finish'd by the Commitee was read in the House upon the Report of Mr. Treby and ran much to this Effect We your Majesties most Loyal Subjects the Commons of England assembled being highly zealous for the preservation of the Protestant Religion your Majesties Sacred Person and Government and resolving to pursue with a strict and impartial enquiry the execrable Papist Plot which was detected in the two last Parliaments and has been supported and carried on by potent and restless Practises and Machinations especially during the late Recesses of Parliament whereby several Persons have been terrified and discourag'd from declaring their knowledge thereof most humbly beseech your Majesty that for the security of such Persons who shall be willing to give Evidence and make further satisfactory discovery concerning the same to this House your Majesty would be pleas'd to issue your Royal Proclamation assuring all the said persons of your Gracious Pardon if they shall give such Evidence or make such Discovery within two Months after the date of the Proclamation With this Address the Speaker attended by several Members of the House waited upon his Majesty the next day in the Afternoon To which his Majesty was pleas'd to return his Answer to this Effect That he did intend to direct such a Proclamation and was resolved not onely to prosecute the Plot but Popery also and to take care of the Protestant Religion establish'd by Law adding That if the House did but go on Calmly in their Debates without heat that he did not doubt but to beat down Popery and all that belong'd to it But to return where we left off so soon as the report of this Address had been made and that it had pass'd Approbation the House fell the same day upon the business of Petitions which they resented so high that they came to several Resolves First that it was the undoubted Right of the Subjects of England to Petition the King for the calling and sitting of Parliaments and Redressing of Grievances That to traduce such Petitioning as a violation of Duty and to represent it to his Majesty as Tumultuous and Seditious was to betray the Liberty of the Subject and contributed to the design of subverting the ancient Legal Constitutions of this Kingdom and introducing Arbitrary Power Which Resolves passing Nemine Contradicente they appointed a Committee to enquire of all such Persons as had offended against the Rights of the Subjects Thereupon the House being inform'd that Sir Francis Withens one of the Members had offended against the said Right of the Subject he was order'd to attend the next Morning After which they pass'd a Resolve to make an Address to his Majesty with