whether he ever saw Dugdale alone in his Life He answered Never in his Life To which the Lord High Steward replied Why you saw them together that Morning you brought them to the Chamber But to shew that it was not such an unusual thing for Dugdale and the Prisoner to be alone two Witnesses were brought for the King Hanson and Ansel who swore that they had seen them more than once alone in private Discourse together The next thing the Prisoner endeavoured to prove was that Mr. Dugdale ran away from the Lord Aston's for Debt to which purpose he call'd Thomas Sawyer who attested the same and that he heard him say he would be reveng'd of the Lord Aston if ever it lay in his Power And farther that he took a Glass of Drink in his presence and wish'd it might be his Damnation and Poyson if he knew any thing of the Plot. To the first Objection it was sworn that the Discourse of the Country was that he went away for fear of the Plot and three Justices of the Peace affirm'd that he was apprehended upon Suspition of being in the Plot who therefore tender'd him the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy which he took Others swore that Mr. Dugdale endeavour'd to come to an Accompt with the Lord Aston while he was in the Tower but that the Lord Aston refus'd to speak with him and that one time Mr. Dugdale going to the Tower upon the same occasion one of the Lord Aston's Servants came where he was and paying him a great deal of Respect said he was as honest a Gentleman as ever liv'd in a Family Other Witnesses swore that being Steward to the Lord Aston there was no other person between his Lordship and him but that he was next to my Lord and governed the rest of the Family That he had always had a good Report not only with the Lord Aston's Tenants but also with the Work-men and those people that had Dependence upon the Family As for Mr. Dugdale's Denial of his knowledge of the Plot it was urged that that proceeded only from the Apprehension of the danger he was in especially before he had taken a Resolution to discover The next Objection was that he swore falsly when he said he told of the Letter about the Death of Sir Edmondbury Godfrey before it was known he was kill'd which was attested to the contrary by the persons who were sworn to be the persons acquainted with the said Letter But this was refuted by two Witnesses that swore the said persons were by when the News was told in Confirmation of which two Gentlemen of Quality swore that the Report of such a thing was spread all over the Country before it was possible for it to come by the ordinary way of Intelligence Besides that one of the Prisoner's Evidence was an Ancient deaf Man and so no wonder he should attest that he never heard of any such thing The next Objection was That he had corrupted persons to swear false against him and others Robinson Murral and Holt. As for Robinson he was prov'd by no less Persons than the Earl of Macclesfield and one Mr. Booth a Member of Parliament to be a meer Scoundrel and Cheat and one that confess'd himself to be a Rogue As for Holt he was known to be a Vicious Lewd Fellow and one that had threatned to murther the King's Evidence for coming in against the Lord Aston As for Murral who attested that Money had been offer'd him by Mr. Dugdale to swear against Sir James Simmons and Mr. Howard he was prov'd to be a poor needy Fellow that went vagabonding about the Country But besides all this in opposition to these Witnesses on the Prisoner's side in this particular other Witnesses were brought who swore that there had been Endeavours to have suborned them to swear against Mr. Dugdale of which one of them was profer'd 700 l. to take off his Evidence or destroy him which was done by one Plessington Steward to the Lord Bellasis And that at another time they found a Letter for him to subscribe for the blasting of Mr. Dugdale's Reputation His Objection to take off the Credit of Dr. Oates was this That he said he knew nothing of any other Persons engaged in the Plot and yet after that he accus'd the Queen But Sir Phillip Floyd being call'd upon by my Lord to attest this Passage could remember nothing of it The Lord Privy Seal was also desir'd to declare his Knowledge in this Matter but he remember'd nothing of it neither Neither did the Earl of Berkley remember any such thing said by the Doctor in the Council but in the Lords House he remember'd that the Doctor being ask'd the Question said he had no more to accuse in relation to England but that in Ireland he had To which it was answered that this was said after the Doctor had accus'd the Prisoner at the Bar and so could not concern him As to the Accusation of the Queen it was not positive nor of his certain Knowledge but only Circumstantial Proof And secondly it might not be then so clear at that time to the Doctor whether the Queen were a person capable of an Accusation and then again that the Answer of a Man to a suddain Question who had said so much and had so many things in his Mind should be taken so strictly and that he should be held for perjur'd because that he did not at that instant remember that particular or the Queen was a very severe Construction His next Objection against the Doctor was that he went to be of the Popish Religion and so was of that Religion which was Idolatry and being a Turn-coat from his Religion was not to be credited To which it was answered that there had been Men of Great Fame in the Church of England and of great Learning too that had changed their Religion more than once His Objections against Mr. Turbervill were that he had sworn in his Affidavit 73 and 76 for 72 and 75. But it was prov'd by Sir William Poultney that he came the next Morning before any body in the World had questioned him upon it and rectified the Mistake upon his own accord The next Objection was That Mr. Turbervill was a Coward and ran away from his Colors But to that Mr. Turbervill produc'd in Court an Honourable and Authentick Discharge from his Commander under Hand and Seal which was viewed by the Duke of Monmouth and others of the Lords without Contradiction Next he brought Furnese and Leigh again to attest that they never saw Turbervill with the Prisoner at Paris which was a Negative prov'd by his own Servants In Answer to which it was observ'd That Turberville was introduc'd by greater Confidents than they were and that it might be easie for Mr. Turbervill to come in the Company of such Persons and the Boys not take notice of him Another Objection was this That Turbervill had sworn he was not well
they return'd and the Judges according to Directions deliver'd their Opinions in order That if there were several Overt Acts which were Evidences of the same Treason if there were one Witness to prove one Overt Act at one time and another Witness to prove another Overt Act at another time both the Acts being Evidences of the same Treason they were two sufficient Witnesses of the same Treason and would maintain an Indictment or an Impeachment of Treason To the First it was answered That as to the hiring of the Witnesses to swear it could be no point of Law till the Fact be prov'd that His Majesties Grace and Bounty to his Witnesses was no Objection to their Testimony when every private person allows his Witnesses a Maintenance without prejudice to his Cause Neither would he tax the House of Commons who were the Prosecutors as his Lordship had prov'd to their Advantage against himself After this the House adjourn'd and appointed the Prisoner to be brought up again on Monday by Ten of the Clock The Sixth Day being Monday December 6. The Prisoner being again brought to to the Bar a Petition was read which he had presented to the House of Peers That whereas he had something to offer to their Lordships to clear himself he therefore besought their Lordships that he might offer some Things to their Lordships Consideration When he came to be heard they were only the same Objections somewhat varied which he offer'd the day before viz. Whether an Impeachment were to be prosecuted in Parliament without an Indictment Whether words did amount to an Overt Act and whether two Witnesses in several places did amount to a Legal Testimony Upon which being ask'd by the High Steward whether he had any thing more to say He went on again with new Repetitions That he had not been prov'd a Papist that he hop'd he had clear'd his Innocency by making appear the Perjury of the Witnesses Then as if he had intended to make a kind of a Discovery he told a long Story That he believ'd that ever since the Reformation the Papists had had several wicked Plots and Designs as Babington's and the Earl of Westmerland's Plot in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth the Lord Grey's Lord Cobham's and Lord Brooks's in the Reign of King James That he did believe that Coleman's endeavouring by Money out of France to keep off Parliaments was that which he could not justifie by Law and he did believe by the same Letters that some Consultations had been had for a Toleration and that if he had known as much then as he did since he might have prevented many things Then he fell again to his points of Law and a third Repetition of his former Objections against the Witnesses and at last concluded with an Application to the Lords courting their Consideration of his Innocence and giving them to understand the great Confidence he had of their Justice and Impartiality Being ask'd again whether he had done He would fain have prevail'd again for his Council to have been heard upon the points of Law before-mentioned But the Managers of the Tryal replied That there was nothing that deserv'd an Answer that there had been nothing offer'd new but what had been over-rul'd already unless it were a point of Law that arose upon matter of Fact not prov'd That the last day all had been said by his Lordship that he had to say and therefore to begin the matter again was a thing not to be admitted After which the Court adjourn'd The Seventh Day being Tuesday December 7. The Lords took their Places in Court at what time the Lord High Steward attended by Garter Principal King at Arms the Usher of the Black Rod collected the Verdicts of the Lords beginning with the Youngest Baron the Prisoner being absent The Names of the Lords that found the Prisoner Guilty LOrd Crew Lord Cornwallis Lord Rockingham Lord Astley Lord Leigh Lord Herbert of Cherbury Lord Howard of Escriek Lord Maynard Lord Lovelace Lord Grey of Wark Lord Brook Lord Chandois Lord North and Grey Lord Paget Lord Wharton Lord Eure Lord Cromwell Lord Conyers Lord Viscount Newport Lord Viscount Falconberge Earl of Conway Earl of Macclesfield Earl of Sussex Earl of Guilford Earl of Shaftsbury Earl of Burlington Earl of Carlisle Earl of Essex Earl of Scaresdale Earl of Sunderland Earl of Winchelsea Earl of Stamford Earl Rivers Earl of Mulgrave Earl of Barkshire Earl of Manchester Earl of Westmerland Earl of Clare Earl of Bristoll Earl of Northampton Earl of Leicester Earl of Bridgewater Earl of Salisbury Earl of Suffolk Earl of Bedford Earl of Huntington Earl of Kent Earl of Oxford Duke of Monmouth Duke of Albemarle Duke of Buckingham Lord Privy Seal Lord President Lord High Steward Duke of Cumberland The Names of the Lords that found the Prisoner Not Guilty LOrd Butler of Weston Lord Arundel of Trerice Lord Hollis Lord Wootton Lord Lucas Lord Ward Lord Byron Lord Hatton Lord Drincourt Lord Norreys Lord Windsore Lord Ferrers Lord Morley Lord Mowbray Earl of Berkley Earl of Hallifax Earl of Feversham Earl of Alisbury Earl of Craven Earl of Bath Earl of Clarendon Earl of St. Albans Earl of Thanet Earl of Chesterfield Earl of Carnarvan Earl of Peterborough Earl of Denbigh Earl of Rutland Lord Chamberlain Marquess of Worcester Duke of Newcastle Being thus found Guilty by the Surplusage of twenty four Voices the Prisoner was brought to the Bar and ask'd what he had more to say for himself why Sentence of Death should not be pronounced against him according to the Law To which he made Answer for respite of Judgment That he never saw any Tryal where the Party try'd did not hold up his Hand which he never was ask'd to do 2. That though he had been try'd by the Act of 25 Ed. 3. yet there being nothing more in that Act than what was included in the Act of the 13 th of this King he humbly conceiv'd that by that Act and the last Proviso in it a Peer that is found Guilty of the Crimes therein mentioned was only to lose his Seat in Parliament and that was to be all his punishment Which being all he had to say the Court adjourn'd into the Lords House at what time the Commons with their Speaker went to the Bar of the Lords and there in the Name of the Commons of England demanded Judgment against the Prisoner Whereupon the Lords took it into Consideration what Judgment was to be given Some Debate there was upon the Matter but at length the Judges being demanded gave in their Opinions That there was no other Judgment for Treason appointed by Law but to be Drawn Hang'd and Quarter'd The Attorney General also declared That any other Judgment would be prejudicial to his Majesty and be a Question in the Inferiour Courts as to his Attainder of High Treason Whereupon it was order'd by the Lords that the ordinary Judgment by the Law appointed in Cases of High
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
or pretending thereto that shall take the said Oaths and make and subscribe the aforesaid Declaration together with his Assent Consent to the Articles of Religion mention'd in the 13 th year of the Queen except only the 34 35 and 36. and these words in the 20 th Article viz. That the Church has Power to decree Rights and Ceremonies and Authority in Controversies of Faith shall be liable to the Pains and Penalties of either of the Acts made in the 17 th or 22 th years of his present Majesties Reign Provided they do not preach in any place with the doors lock'd or barr'd 5. That all persons pretending to holy Orders that shall subscribe the Articles aforesaid except before excepted together with part of the 27 th Article concerning Infants Baptism and take the Oaths and make the Declaration aforesaid shall enjoy all the Benefits and Advantages of this Act. 6. The Justices of the Peace are requir'd to tender the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy to any person or persons that go to private Meetings and upon refusal to take them and make the Declaration aforesaid to commit them to Prison without Bail or Mainprise and being so committed if they shall refuse upon a second tender to take the said Oaths or to make Declaration of their Allegiance they shall be thenceforth taken for Popish Recusants convicted and suffer accordingly 7. For those that scruple the taking of any Oath the following Declaration shall be sufficient being by them made and subscribed I acknowledge and declare c. That K. Charles the II. is Lawful King of this Realm c. and that the Pope neither by himself nor any Authority of the Church of Rome or by any other means with any other hath any Power to depose the King or dispose of his Dominions or to authorize any Foreign Prince to invade or annoy his Countreys or to discharge any of his Subjects of their Allegiance or Obedience to him c. 8. Such Persons as shall conform to this Act are impowr'd to keep Schools Lastly This Act not to extend to any Papists or Popish Recusant or to any that shall deny the Doctrine of the Holy Trinity But now the Term of Prorogation being near at hand his Majesty was pleas'd to issue forth his Proclamation bearing date the 18 th of January for the Dissolving of this present Parliament and calling a New one to meet and be holden at Oxford upon the one and twentieth day of March next ensuing A LIST OF BOTH HOUSES OF Parliament Which met at Westminster upon the 21 st of October 1680. and was Dissolv'd on the 18 th of January following Note That those that have this Mark * after them were not Members of the last Parliament The LORDS JAMES Duke of York and Albany Rupert Duke of Cumberland Heneage Finch Baron of Daventry Lord Chancellor of England Arthur Earl of Anglesey Lord Privy Seal Henry Duke of Norfolk George Duke of Buckingham Christopher Duke of Albemarle James Duke of Monmouth Henry Duke of Newcastle Charles Lord Marquess of Winchester Henry Lord Marquess of Worcester Henry Lord Marquess of Dorchester Robert Earl of Lindsey Lord Great Chamberlain James Earl of Brecon Lord Steward of the Houshold Henry Earl of Arlington Lord Chamberlain of the Houshold Aubrey Earl of Oxford 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 Earl 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 William Earl of Devonshire William Earl of Denbigh John Earl of Bristol Gilbert Earl of Clare Oliver Earl of Bullinbrook Charles Earl of Westmorland Robert Earl of Manchester Thomas Earl of Berkshire John Earl of Mulgrave William Earl of Malborough Thomas Earl of Rivers Henry Earl of Peterborough Thomas Earl of Stamford Heneage Earl of Winchelsea Charles Earl of Carnarvon Henry Earl of Newport Philip Earl of Chesterfield Nicholas Earl of Thanett Thomas Earl of Portland William Earl of Strafford Robert Earl of Sunderland Nicholas Earl of Scarsdale John 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 ef Ailesbury Richard Earl of Burlington Anthony Earl of Shaftsbury John Earl of Guilford Thomas Earl of Sussex Charles Earl of Plimouth Lewis Earl of Feversham George Earl of Hallifax Charles Earl of Mackelfield John Earl of Radnor Robert Earl of Yarmouth George Earl of Berkley Francis Viscount Montague William Viscount Say and Seal Edward Viscount Conway Baptist Viscount Campden Thomas Viscount Faulconbridge Charles Viscount Mordant Francis Viscount Newport Henry Lord Mowbray James Lord Audley Charles Lord La Warre Thomas L. Morley and Mounteagle Robert Lord Ferrers Conyers L. Darcy and Meynell Benjamin Lord Fitzwater Charles Lord Gray William Lord Stourton Henry Lord Sandys Thomas Lord Windsor Thomas Lord Cromwell Ralph Lord Eure Philip Lord Wharton Charles L. Willoughby of Parham William Lord Pagett Charles Lord North-Grey of Rolleston James Lord Chandos Robert Lord Hunsdon James Lord Norreys Christopher Lord Tenham Fulke Lord Grevill Edward Lord Mountague of Boughton Ford Lord Grey of Wark John Lord Lovelace John Lord Paulet William Lord Maynard George Lord Coventry William Lord Howard of Escrick Henry Lord Herbert of Cherbury Thomas Lord Leigh Christopher Lord Hatton Richard Lord Byron Richard Lord Vaughan Francis Lord Carrington William Lord Widdrington Edward Lord Ward Thomas Lord Culpeper Jacob Lord Astley Charles Lord Lucas Edward Lord Rockingham Charles Henry Lord Wootton Marmaduke Lord Langdale Denzill Lord Holles Charles Lord Cornwallis George Lord Delamere Horatio Lord Townesend John Lord Crew John Lord Frescheville Richard Lord Arundel of Trerise Thomas Lord Butler of Moor-Park Richard Lord Butler of Weston John Lord Mannors of Haddon Arch-Bishops and Bishops Dr. William Sancroft Lord Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Richard Stern Lord Archbishop of York Dr. Henry Compton Lord Bishop of London Dr. Nathaniel Crew Lord Bishop of Durham Dr. George Morley Lord Bishop of Winchester Dr. Herbert Crofts Lord Bishop of Hereford Dr. Seth Ward Lord Bishop of Salisbury Dr. Edward Rainbow Lord Bishop of Carlile Dr. John Dolben Lord Bishop of Rochester Dr. Anthony Sparrow Lord Bishop of Norwich Dr. Peter Gunning Lord Bishop of Ely Dr. Isaac Barrow Lord Bishop of St. Asaph Dr. Thomas Wood Lord Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield Dr. John Pritchet Lord Bishop of Gloucester Dr. Peter Mew Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells Dr. John Pearson Lord Bishop of Chester Dr. Humphrey Lloyd Lord Bishop of Bangor Dr. William Lloyd Lord Bishop of Peterborough Dr. Guy Carleton Lord Bishop of Chichester Dr. Thomas Barlow Lord Bishop of Lincoln Dr. James Fleetwood Lord Bishop of
Worcester Dr. John Fell Lord Bishop of Oxford Dr. Thomas Lamplugh Lord Bishop of Exeter Dr. William Thomas Lord Bishop of St. Davids Dr. William Gulston Lord Bishop of Bristol Dr. William Beaw Lord Bishop of Llandaff The COMMONS Bedfordshire 4. William Lord Russell Sir Humphrey Monoux Bar. Town of Bedford Pawlet St. John Esq Sir William Franklin Kt. Berks 9. William Barker Esq Richard Southbey Esq * Borough of New-Windsor Richard Winwood Esq Samuel Starkey Esq Borough of Reading John Blagrave Esq Nathan Knight Esq Borough of Wallingford William Lenthall Esq * Scorie Barker Esq Borough of Abbington Sir John Stonehouse Bar. Bucks 14. Thomas Wharton Esq John Hampden Esq Town of Buckingham Sir Richard Temple Kt. of the Bath and Bar. * Edward Lord Latimer Borough of Chipping Wiccomb Sir John Borlase Bar. Thomas Lewes Esq Borough of Aylisbury Sir Thomas Lee Bar. Sir Richard Ingoldesby Kt. of the Bath Borough of Agmondesham Sir Roger Hill Kt. Sir William Drake Kt. Borough of Wendover Richard Hampden Esq Edward Backwell Esq Borough of Great Marlow John Borlace Esq Sir Humphrey Winch Bar. Cambridge 6. Sir Levinus Bennet Bar. * Sir Robert Cotton Kt. * Vniversity of Cambridge Sir Thomas Exton Kt. Sir William Temple Bar. * Town of Cambridge William Lord Allington Sir Thomas Chicheley Kt. Chester 4. Henry Booth Esq Sir Robert Cotton Kt. Bar. * City of Chester William Williams Esq Sir Thomas Grosvenor Bar. Cornwall 44. Francis Robarts Esq Sir Richard Edgcomb Kt. of the Bath Borough of Dunhivid alias Lanceston Sir John Coryton Bar. Sir Hugh Pyper Kt. * Borough of Leskard Sir Jonathan Trelawny Bar. John Buller Esq Borough of Lestwithiel Sir John Carew Bar. Walter Kendal Esq Borough of Truro William Boscawen Esq Edward Boscawen Esq Borough of Bodmin Hendar Robarts Esq Nicholas Glyn Esq Borough of Helston Sir Viel Vivian Bar. Sydney Godolphin Esq Borough of Saltash Sir John Davie Bar. * William Jennings Esq * Borough of Gamelford Robert Russel Esq Sir James Smith Kt. Borough of Port-Pigham alias Westow John Trelawny of Trelawney Esq John Trelawney of Westmin Esq Borough of Crampound Nicholas Herle Esq * John Tanner Esq Borough of Eastlow Sir Jonathan Trelawney Bar. Henry Seymour of Langley Esq Borough of Penryn Charles Smith Esq * Sir Nicholas Slanning Kt. of the Bath and Bar. * Borough of Tregony Hugh Boscawen Esq Charles Trevannian Esq Borough of Bossiney Charles Bodvile Roberts Esq Narcissus Luttrel of Grays-Inn Esq * Borough of St. Ives Edw. Noseworthy Senior Esq Edw. Noseworth Junior Esq Borough of Foway Jonathan Rashlegh Esq John Trefry Esq Borough of St. Germans Daniel Elliot Esq Richard Elliot Esq Borough of St. Michael Sir John S. Aubin Bar. Walter Vincent Esq Borough of Newport William Coryton Esq Ambrose Manaton Esq Borough of St. Mawes Sir Joseph Tredenham Kt. Henry Seymour Jun. Esq Borough of Killinton Richard Carew Esq * William Trevisa Esq * Cumberland 6. Edward Lord Morpheth Sir John Lowther City of Carlile Sir Philip Howard Kt. Sir Christopher Musgrave Kt. Borough of Cockermouth Sir Richard Grahme Bar. Orlando Gee Esq Derby 4. William Lord Cavendish William Sacheverell Esq Town of Derby Anchitel Gray Esq George Vernon Esq Devonshire 26. Sir William Courtenay Bar. Sam. Rolle Esq City of Exeter William Glyde Esq Malachy Pine Esq Borough of Totnes Sir Edward Seymour Bar. Edward Seymour Esq Borough of Plymouth Sir John Maynard Kt. His Majesty's Serjeant at Law John Spark Esq Town of Okehampton Sir Arthur Harris Bar. Josias Calmady Esq Borough of Barnstable John Basset Esq Richard Lee Esq Borough of Plympton George Treby Esq John Polexfen Merchant * Borough of Honiton Sir Walter Young Bar. Sir Thomas Putt Bar. Borough of Tavistock Edward Russel Esq Sir Francis Drake Bar. Borough of Ashburton Thomas Reynell Esq Richard Duke Junior Esq * Borough of Clifton Dartmouth and Hardness John Upton Esq Edward Yard Esq * Borough of Beralston Sir John Trevor Kt. Sir William Bastard Kt. Borough of Tiverton Samuel Foot Esq Sir Henry Ford Kt. Dorsetshire 20. Thomas Strangeways Esq Thomas Freke Esq Town of Pool Henry Trenchard Esq Thomes Chafin Esq Borough of Dorchester Sir Francis Hollis Kt. and Bar. Nicholas Gould Merchant Borough of Lyme-Regis Henry Henley Esq Thomas Moore Esq * Borough of Weymouth Sir John Coventry Kt. of the Bath Sir John Morton Kt. and Bar. * Melcom-Regis Thomas Brown Esq Michael Harvey Esq Borough of Bridport Sir Robert Henley Bar. * William Bragge Esq * Borough of Shafton alias Shaftsbury Sir Matthew Andrews Kt. * Thomas Bennett Esq Borough of Wareham Thomas Erle Esq George Savage Esq Borough of Corf-Castle Nathaniel Bond Esq * Sir Nathan Naper Kt. and Bar. Durham 4. William Bowes Esq * Tho. Fetherston Hough Esq * City of Durham Sir Richard Lloyd * William Blakeston Esq * Essex 8. Henry Mildmay Esq John Lemot Honywood Esq * Borough of Colchester Sir Harbottle Grimston Bar. Sir Walter Clarges Bar. Borough of Malden Sir William Wiseman Kt. and Bar. Sir Thomas Darcy Bar. * Borough of Harwich Sir Philip Parker Bar. * Sir Thomas Mydalton Kt. Gloucestershire 8. Sir Ralph Dutton Bar. Sir John Guise Bar. City of Gloucester Evan Seys Serjeant at Law by one Indenture Sir Charles Berkley * by one Indenture Evan Seys Serjeant at Law by another Indenture William Cooke Esq by another Indenture Borough of Cirencester Sir Robert Atkins Junior Kt. Henry Powle Esq Borough of Tukesbury Sir Hen. Capel Kt. of the Bath Sir Francis Russel Bar. Herefordshire 8. John Viscount Scudamore Sir Edw. Harley Kt. of the Bath City of Hereford Bridstock Hartford Esq Paul Foley Esq Borough of Lempster John Dutton Colt Esq Thomas Coningesby Esq Borough of Webley John Birch Esq John Booth Esq * Hertfordshire 6. Sir Jonathan Keat Bar. * Sir Charles Caesar Bar. Borough of St. Albans Thomas Pope Blount Esq Samuel Grimston Esq * Borough of Hertford Sir Thomas Bide Kt. Sir William Cooper Bar. * Huntingtonshire 4. Sir Thomas Proby Bar. * Silus Titus Esq Borough of Huntington Sidney Wortley alias Montague Esq Lyonel Walden Esq * Kent 10. Sir Vere Fane Kt. of the Bath Edward Dering Esq City of Canterbury Sir Thomas Hardress Kt. His Majesty's Serjeant at Law * Edward Hales Esq City of Rochester Sir John Banks Bar. Francis Barrel Serj. at Law * Borough of Maidston Sir John Tufton Kt. and Bar. Thomas Fane Esq * Borough of Quinborough Sir Edward Hales Bar. William Glanvil Esq Lancaster 14. Charles Lord Brandon Sir Charles Houghton* Borough of Lancaster Richard Kirkby Esq William Spencer Esq * Borough or Town of Preston in Amounderness Sir John Otway Kt. Edward Rigby Serjeant at Law Borough of Newton Sir John Chicheley Kt. Andrew Fountain Esq Borough of Wigorn. Charles Earl of Ancram Banks Esq * Borough of Clithero Sir Ralph Ast on Bar. Sir Tho. Stringer Serj. at Law Borough of Leverpool Ruishee Wentworth Esq John Dubois Merchant Leicester 4. Bennet Lord Sherrard Sir John Hartop Bar. Town of Leicester John Grey Esq Sir Henry
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
Windsor Thomas Lord Cromwel Ralph Lord Eure. Philip Lord Wharton Tho Lord Willoughby of Parham William Lord Pagett Charles Lord North Grey of Rolleston James Lord Chandos Robert Lord Hunsdon James Lord Norreys Digby Lord Gerrard under Age. Christopher Lord Tenham Fulk Lord Brook Edward Lord Mountague of Boughton Ford Lord Grey of Wark John Lord Lovelace John Lord Paulet William Lord Maynard John Lord Coventry William Lord Howard of Escrick Charles Lord Mohun under Age. Henry Lord Herbert of Cherbury Thomas Lord Leigh Christopher Lord Hatton Richard Lord Byron Richard Lord Vaughan Francis Lord Carrington William Lord Widdrington Edward Lord Ward Thomas Lord Culpeper Jacob Lord Astley Charles Lord Lucas Edward Lord Rockingham Robert Sutton Lord Lexington under Age Charles Henry Lord Wooton Marmaduke Lord Langdale Charles Lord Berklay of Stratton under Age. Francis Lord Holles Charles Lord Cornwallis George Lord Delamere Horatio Lord Townsend Thomas Lord Crew John Lord Frescheville Richard Lord Arundel of Trevise James Lord Butler of Moor-park under Age. Hugh Lord Clifford under Age. Richard Lord Butler of Weston Edward Noel Lord Titchfield Archbishops and Bishops Dr William Sancroft Lord ArchBishop of Canterbury Dr Richard Stern L. Archhishop of York Dr Henry Compton Lord Bishop of London Dr. Nathaniel Crew Lord Bishop of Durham Dr George Morley Lord Bishop of Winchester Dr. Herbert Crofts Lord Bishop of Hereford Dr. Seth Ward Lord Bishop of Salisbury Dr. Edward Rainbow Lord Bishop of Carlisle Dr. John Dolben Lord Bishop of Rochester Dr. Anthony Sparrow Lord Bishop of Norwich Dr. Peter Gunning Lord Bishop of Ely Dr. Thomas Wood Lord Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry Dr. Peter Mew Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells Dr. John Pierson Lord Bishop of Chester Dr. Humphry Lloyd Lord Bishop of Bangor Dr. William Lloyd Lord Bishop of Peterborough Dr. Guy Carlton Lord Bishop of Chichester Dr. Thomas Barlow Lord Bishop of Lincoln Dr. James Fleetwood Lord Bishop of Worcester Dr. John Fell Lord Bishop of Oxford Dr. Thomas Lamplough Lord Bishop of Exeter Dr. William Thomas Lord Bishop of St. Davids Dr. William Gulston Lord Bishop of Bristol Dr. William Beaw Lord Bishop of Llandâ—ff Dr. William Lloyd Lord Bishop of St. Asaph Note that the LORDS under Age are not Call'd by the King 's WRIT And Papists are excluded by Law The COMMONS BEDFORDSHIRE 4. William Lord Russel Sir Humphrey Monnox Baronet Town of Bedford Pawlet St. John Esquire Sir William Franklin Knight BARKS 9. William Barker Esquire Richard Southby Esq Borough of Reading John Blagrave Esq Nathan Knight Esq Borough of Wallingford Scory Barker Esq * Taverner Harris Esq Borough of Abington Sir John Stonehouse BUCKS 14. Thomas Wharton Esq Richard Hambden Esq Town of Buckingham Sir Richard Temple Kinght of the Bath and Baronet * Sir Ralph Varney Knight and Baronet Borough of Chipping-Wiccomb Sir John Borlase Baronet Thomas Lewis Esq Borough of Aylsbury Sir Thomas Lee Baronet Sir Richard Ingoldesby Knight of the Bath Borough of Agmondesham Sir William Drake Knight * William Cheyney Esq Borough of Wendover John Hambden Esq Edward Backwel Esq Borough of Great Marlow John Borlase Esq * Thomas Hobby Esq CAMBRIDGE 6 Sir Levinus Benet Baronet Sir Robert Cotton Knight University of Cambridge Sir Thomas Exton Knight * Robert Bradey Dr. of Physick Town of Cambridge William Lord Allington Sir Thomas Chicheley Knight CHESTER 4. Henry Booth Esq Sir Robery Cotton Knight Bar. City of Chester William Williams Speaker Roger Whitley Esq CORNWAL 44. Francis Roberts Esq Sir Richard Edgcomb Knight of the Bath Borough of Danhivid alias Lanceston Sir Hugh Piper Knight William Harbord Esq Borough of Leskard Sir Jonathan Trelawney Baronet John Buller Esq Borough of Lestwithiel Sir John Carew Baronet Walter Kendal Esq Borough of Truro Edward Boscawen Esq * Henry Ashhurst Esq Borough of Bodwin Hender Roberts Esq Nicholas Glynn Esq Borough of Helston * Charles Godolphin Esq Sidney Godolphin Esq Borough of Saltash Bernard Greenvil Esq Sir John Davie Baronet Borough of Camelford Robert Russel Esq Sir James Smith Knight Borough of Port-pigham alias Westlow John Trelawney of Westm Esq * Jonathan Trelawney of Coldrunoch Borough of Crampound John Tanner Esq Nicholas Herle Esq Borough of Eastlow Sir Jonathan Trelawney Baronet * John Kendal Esq Borough of Penryn Sir Nicholas Slanning Knight of the Bath and Baronet Charles Smith Esq Borough of Tregony Hugh Boscawen Esq Charles Trevannian Esq Borough of Bossiney Charles Bodvile Roberts Esq * Sir Peter Coryton Baronet Borough of St. Ives Edward Noseworthy junior Esq * James Prade jun. Esq Borough of Foway Jonathan Rashleigh Esq John Trefry Esq Boroagh of St. Germans Daniel Elliot Esq Richard Elliot Esq Borough of St. Michael * Sir William Russel Knight * Henry Vincent Esq Borough of Newport * William Morris Esq Ambrose Manaton Esq Borough of St. Mawes Sir Joseph Tredenham Knight Henry Seymour jun. Esq Borough of Killinton William Coriton Esq Richard Carew Esq CUMBERLAND 6. * Sir George Fletcher Baronet Sir John Lowther Baronet City of Carlisle Edward Lord Morpeth Sir Christopher Musgrave Knight Borough of Cockermouth Sir Richard Grahme Baronet Orlando Gee Esq DERBY 4 William Lord Cavendish William Sacheveril Esq Town of Derby Anchitel Gray Esq George Vernon Esp DEâ—ONSHIRE 26. Sir William Courtenay Baronel Samuel Rolle Esq City of Exeter * Sir Thomas Carew Knight * Thomas Walker Esq Borough of Totnes * John Kelland Esq * Charles Kelland Esq Borough of Plymouth Sir John Maynard Knight Sir William Jones Knight Town of Okehampton Sir Arthur Harris Baronet * Sir George Cary Knight Borough of Barnstable John Basset Esq Richard Lee Esq Borough of Plympton Sir George Treby Knight John Pollexfen Merchant Borough of Honiton Sir Walter Young Baronet Sir Thomas Putt Baronet Borough of Tavistock Edward Russel Esq Sir Francis Drake Baronet Borough of Ashburton Thomas Reynel Esq * William Stawel Esq Borough of Clifton Dartmouth and Hardnes Edward Yard Esq John Vpton Esq Borough of Beralston * Sir Duncomb Colchester Knight * John Elwell Merchant Borough of Tiverton Samuel Foot Esq Sir Henry Ford Knight DORSETshIRE 20 Thomas Freke Esq Thomas Strangeways Esq Town of Pool Thomas Chafin Esq Henry Trenchard Esq Borough of Dorchester James Gould Esq Nathaniel Bond Esq Borough of Lime Regis Henry Henly Esq Thomas Moor Esq Borough of Weymouth Sir John Coventry Kt. of Bath Michael Harvey Esq Melcomb-Regis Sir John Morton Baronet * Henry Henning Esq Borough of Bridport William Brag Esq * John Michel Esq Borough of Shafton alias Shaftsbury Sir Matthew Andrews Knight Thomas Bennâ—t Esq Borough of Wareham Thomas Erle Esq George Savage Esq Borough of Corfe-Castle Sir Nath. Naper Knight and Baronet * Richard Fowns Esq DURHAM 4. William Bowes Esq Thomas Fetherstone Hough Esq City of Durham Sir Richard Lloyd Knight * Samuel Tempest ESSEX 8. Henry Mildmay Esq John Lemot Honywood Esq Borough of Colchester Sir Harbottle Grimston Baronet * Samuel Reynolds Esq Borough of Malden Sir William Wiseman Kt. and Baronet Sir Thomas Darcy
Baronet Borough of Harwich Sir Philip Parker Baronet Sir Thomas Mydalton Knight GLOUCESTERSHIRE 8. Sir Ralph Dutton Baronet Sir John Guise Baronet City of Gloucester Charles Lord Durseley * Charles Somerset Lord Herbert Borough of Cirencester Sir Robert Atkins Jun. Knight Henry Powle Esq Borough of Tukesbury Sir Henry Capel Knight of the Bath Sir Francis Russel Baronet HEREFORDSHIRE 8. John Viscount Scudamore Sir Edward Harley Knight of the Bath City of Hereford Paul Foley Esq * Henry Aubrey Esq Borough of Lempster John Dutton Colt Esq Thomas Conings by Esq Borough of Webley John Birch Esq John Booth Esq HERTFORDSHIRE 6 Sir Charles Caesar Knight * William Hales Esq Borough of St. Albans Sir Thomas Pope Blount Baronet Samuel Grimston Esq Borough of Hertford Sir Thomas Bide Knight Sir William Couper Baronet HUNTINGTONSHIRE 4 Sir Thomas Proby Baronet Silas Titus Esq Borough of Huntington Sidey Wortley alias Mountague Esq Lionel Walden Esq KENT 10. Sir Vere Fane Knight of the Bath Edward Dering Esq City of Canterbury * Lewis Watson Esq * Vincent Denn Esq City of Rochester Sir John Banks Baronet * Sir Francis Clerk Knight Borough of Maidstone Sir John Tufton Knight and Baronet Thomas Fane Esq Borough of Quinborough William Glonvil Esq * Gerard Gore Esq LANCASTER 14. Charles Lord Brandon Sir Charles Houghton Barronet Borough of Lancaster Richard Kirkby Esq William Spencer jun. Esq Borough or Town of Preston in Amounderness Sir Robert Carr Knight and Baronet Sir Gervas Elwes Baronet Borough of Newton Sir John Chicheley Knight Andrew Fountain Esq Borough of Wigon * Richard Lord Colchester Charles Earl of Ancram Borough of Clithero Sir Thomas Stringer Knight * Henry Marsden Esq Borough of Leverpool Ruishee Wentworth Esq John Duobois Merchant LEICESTER 4. Bennet Lord Sherrard Sir John Hartop Baronet Town of Leicester John Gray Esq Sir Henry Beaumont Knight LINCOLN 12 George Lord Viscount Castleton Sir Robert Carr Knight and Baronet City of Lincoln * Sir Thomas Hussey Knight Sir Thomas Meers Knight Borough of Beston Sir Anthony Irby Knight Sir William York Knight Borough of Great Grimsby William Broxolme Esq George Pelham Esq Town of Stamford Sir Richard Cust Baronet VVilliam Hyde Esq Borough of Grantham Sir VVilliam Ellis Baronet Sir John Newton Baronet MIDDLESEX 8. Sir VVilliam Robarts Knight * Nicholas Raynton Esq City of VVestminster Sir VVilliam Poultney Knight Sir VVilliam VValler Knight London Sir Robert Clayton Knight Alderman Thomas Pilkington Esq Alderman Sir Thomas Player Knight VVilliam Love Esq MONMOUTH 3. Sir Trevor VVelliams Baronet Sir Edward Morgon Knight Borough of Monmouth John Arnold Esq NORFOLK 12. Sir John Hobart Baronet Sir Peter Gleen Baronet City of Norwich William Lord Paston Augustin Briggs Esq Town of Lyn-Regis * Sir Henry Hobart Knight Simon Taylor Esq Town of Great Yarmouth * Sir James Johnson Knight George England Esq Borough of Thetford Sir Joseph Williamson Knight William Harbord Esq Borough of Castlerising Sir Robert Howard Knight James Hoste Esq NORTHAMPTON 9. John Parkhurst Esq Miles Fleetwod Esq City of Peterborough * William Lord Fitz-Williams Francis St. John Esq Town of Northampton Ralph Montague Esq Sir William Langham Knight Town of Brackley Sir Richard VVenham Baronet * VVilliam Lisle Esq Borough of Higham-Ferries Sir Rice Rud Baronet NORTHUMBERLAND 8. Sir John Fenwick Baronet Sir Ralph Dalaval Baronet Town of Newcastle upon Tine Sir Ralph Carr Knight Sir Nathaniel Johnson Knight Borough of Morpeth Sir George Downing Knight and Baronet Daniel Collingwood Esq Town of Berwick upon Tweed Ralph Grey Esq John Rushworth Esq NOTTINGHAM 8. Sir Scroop How Knight John White Esq Town of Nottingham Robert Pierrepoint Esq Richard Slater Esq Borough of East-Retford Sir Edward Nevile Knight and Baronet Sir William Hickman Baronet Town of Newark upon Trent Sir Robert Markham Baronet Sir Richard Rothwel Baronet OXON 9. Thomas Hord Esq * Sir Philip Harcourt Knight University of Oxon. Sir Lionel Jenkins Knight Charles Perrot Dr. of Laws City of Oxon. William Wright Esq Broom Whorhood Esq Borough of New-woodstock * Henry Barty Esq Nicholas Baynton Esq Borough of Banbury Sir John Holman Baronet RUTLAND 2. Philip Sherrard Esq * Edward Fawkener Esq SALOP 12. Richard Newport Esq William Levison Gower Esq Town of Salop. Sir Richard Corbet Baronet Edward Kinnaston Esq Borough of Burges alias Bridgnorth Sir William Whitmore Baronet Sir Thomas VVhitmore Knight of the Bath Borough of Ludlow Francis Charleton Esq * Charles Baldwyn Esq Borough of Great VVenlock John VVoolriche Esq VVilliam Forrester Esq Town of Bishops Castle Sir Richard Mason Knight * Richard More Esq SOMERSET 18. Sir VVilliam Portman Baronet George Speke Esq City of Bristol * Sir Richard Hart Knight * Thomas Earle Esq City of Bath * Maurice Viscount Fitzharding * Sir VVilliam Basset Knight City of Wells William Coward Esq John Hall Esq Borough of Taunton Edmund Prideaux Esq John Trenchard Esq Borough of Bridgwater Sir Haswel Tynt Baronet * Sir John Mallet Knight Borough of Minehead Francis Lutterel Esq Thomas Palmer Esq Borough of Ilcester * Sir John St. Barb. * Thomas Hoddy jun. Esq Borough of Milburn-Port John Hunt Esq Henry Bull Esq SOUTHAMPTON 6. * Charles Earl of Wiltshire Sir Francis Rolle Knight City of Winchester James Lord Annesly Sir John Cloberry Knight Town of Southampton Sir Charles Wingham Knight Sir Benjamin Newland Knight Town of Portsmouth George Legg Esq Richard Norton Esq Borough of Yarmouth * Sir Thomas Littleton Baronet Lemuel Kingdon Esq Borough of Petersfield Sir John Norton Baronet Leonard Bilson Esq Borough of Newport alias Medona Sir Robert Dillington Baronet John Leigh Esq Borough of Stockbridge * Essex Stroud Esq Oliver St. Johns Esq Boroagh of Newton Daniel Finch Esq Sir John Holmes Knight Borough of Christ-Church Sir Thomas Clarges Knight George Fulford Esq Borough of Whitchurch Richard Ayleffe Esq Henry Wallop Esq Borough of Limington Henry Dawley Esq John Burrard Esq Town of Andover * Charles West Esq * John Collins Esq STAFFORDSHIRE 10. Sir Walter Baggot Baronet Sir John Bower Baronet City of Lichfield Daniel Finch Esq Michael Biddulph Esq Borough of Stafford Sir Thomas Armstrong Kt. * Edwyn Skrymsher Esq Borough of Newcastle under Line Sir Thomas Bellot Bar. William Leveston Gower Esq Borough of Tamworth Sir Thomas Thynne Bar. by one Indent * Sir John Swynfen Esq by one Indent John Swynfen Esq by another Indenture * John Turton Esq by another Indenture SUffOLK 16. Sir Samuel Barnardiston Bar. Sir William Spring Bar. Borough of Ipswich John Wright Esq Sir John Barker Bar. Borough of Dunwich Sir Robert Kemp Bar. Sir Philip Skippon Knight Borough of Orford Sir John Duke Bar. * Thomas Glemham Esq Borough of Alborough John Bence Esq John Corrance Esq Borough of Sudbury Sir Gervase Elwes Bar. Garvasa Elwes Esq Borough of Eye * Sir Robert Reve Bar. * Sir Charles Gaudey Knight Bar. Borough of St Edmondsbury Sir Thomas Harvey Knight Themas Jermyn Esq SURREY 14. Arthur Onslow Esq George Evelyn of Wotton Esq Borough of Southwark Sir Richard How
a declaration of their Resolution to preserve and support the Kings Person and Government and the Protesstant Religion both at home and abroad The next Morning Sir Francis Withens appearing in his Place according to the Order made the day before the Clark of the Peace for Westminster was order'd to attend the next Morning with the Roll of Orders for the last Easter Sessions for the City of Westminster Fame What could that signifie Truth Thou mayst be sure they knew what they did Fame I guess the business Truth Why then dost interrupt me with thy Impertinencies Fame Thou knowest I was always guilty of that fault and cannot help it but prithee now go on Truth Having thus done with Sir Francis for that time they took Sir Robert Yeoman's and Sir Robert Can a Member of the House to task for that they in October 1679 had publickly declared that there was no Plot but onely a Presbyterian Plot. The words were attested by Mr. Rowe the Sword-bearer of Bristol and Sir John Knight a Member of the House also To which Sir Robert Can being called upon by the House to make his defence said little for himself but onely flung several reflecting and reproachfull expressions upon Sir Robert Can. For which as for an offence against good Manners he was presently order'd to receive a Reprehension from the Speaker upon his knees Nor was this all for Sir Robert being now withdrawn the House proceeded to take the matters charg'd against him into farther Consideration and after some time of debate resolv'd that it did appear by the Evidence given to the House that Sir Robert Can was guilty of the words before mention'd and order'd him as a Member of the House to be expel'd the House and committed to the Tower Whereupon he was presently call'd to the Bar and received the Judgement of the House upon his knees from the Mouth of the Speaker As for Sir Robert Yeomans he not being in Town was order'd to be sent for in custody of the Serjeant attending the House The next day being the twenty ninth of October as they had been severe in punishing so they they began to think of rewarding and order'd that Dr. Tongue should be humbly recommended by the House to his Majesty for the first considerable Church-preferment that should become void in the Kingdom and that such of the Members as were of the Privy Council should represent the same to his Majesty The same day the Address for the preservation and support of his Majesties Person and Government being prepar'd and finish'd was read in the House to this Effect That they did with most thankful hearts acknowledge not only his Majesties many former Royal Declarations of his adherence to the Protestant Religion but his farther Manifestation of the same in his Gracious Speech to both Houses at the opening of the Parliament And therefore as the Eyes of all the Protestants abroad were upon them and that looking upon his Majesty as the Royal Head of so many Protestant Countries they could not but hope that his Majesty would be the greatest Protection to them from whom the Kingdom has Reason to expect a Mutual Assistance as being invovl'd in the same Danger They did humbly assure his Majesty that they would be always ready to preserve his Majesties Person and Government and to support the Protestant Religion both at home and abroad Beseeching his Majesty to esteem those that should otherwise represent them to his Majesty as such who design'd to divide between the King and his People and defeat the meeting of Parliaments that the Popish designs might succeed Which has been made Evident by the Contrivance of a wicked design to transfer the Guilt of their own Crimes upon his Majesties Loyal Protestant Nobility and Gentry This Address being read and consented to by the whole House they proceeded to the business of Sir Francis Withens and to that purpose examin'd several Witnesses at the Bar. At length it appearing not onely by the Evidence but by the Confession of Sir Francis hmself that he had presented an Address to his Majesty expressing an abhorrency to Petition for the calling and sitting of Parliaments it was Resolv'd That he had betray'd the undoubted Rights of the Subjects of England And Sir Francis was order'd to be expell'd the House and received his Sentence upon his knees accordingly Saturday the thirtieth of October concluded the Parliamentary Transactions of this Month and little occurr'd but that Mr. Secretary Jenkins acquainted the House that his Majesty being attended by such of the Members as were of the Privy Council with the Address relating to Dr. Tongue was pleas'd to answer That he had already taken care of him and would also take him into his farther Consideration Then it was also that the Votes of the House were first order'd to be Printed being first perus'd and sign'd by the Speaker who had likewise Power to Nominate and appoint the Persons that were to Print the same The same day also Francisco de Feria deliver'd his Evidence at the Bar of the House concerning the Plot the Effect whereof in short was That being preferr'd to be Interpreter and Secretary of Languages to the Lord Gaspar Abrew de Freitas Embassador in Ordinary for the Prince of Portugal to the King of England That being in great Favour with the said Embassador he the said Embassador did entrust him with several of his Secrets and that at the Tryal of the five Jesuites being then private with his Lord the Embassador expresed much sorrow for the Oppression of the Catholicks and wish'd that Oates and Bedlow were made away and then told him that he might doe the Catholick cause great Service and might make his own Fortune if he would joyn in destroying Oates and Bedlow That 50000 Reales d' Ocho should be given for that piece of Service and that two sufficient Persons should be joyn'd with him to kill the said Oates and Bedlow That afterwards understanding that Bedlow was not dead in Ireland as had been reported the said Embassador renew'd his Sollicitations to him to kill Oates and Bedlow promising to make good the said sum of Money to him to pay his Debts and carry him into Portugal That the said Embassador tempted him to kill the Earl of Shaftsbury by throwing a hand-Granado into his Coach as he was travelling upon the Road into the Country That after the acquittal of Sir George he was sent to the said Sir George to tell him from the Embassador That his Fortune and Estate were all at his Service and so was his Princes That the Catholicks were all bound to pray for Sir Philip Floyd for his Generosity To which Sir George reply'd That had it not been for him he had not been sav'd That after the Tryal was over the Embassador went to visit the Lord C. J. Schroggs in his Sedan with his Coach of State That the Complement was in Portugueze interpreted by himself to this Effect My Lord
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
and with the Lord Bellasis to give orders both as to the taking the Kings life away as also the D. of Monmouths for the Establishing the Romish Religion and Government in this Kingdom That rewards were agreed to be given to such as should deserve them and that the Informant was to have an Equal share with one Capt. Aderly Which rewards were to be distributed by the D. of York the Lord Belasis and some other Persons it being alledg'd by the Conspirators that there would be Lands enough of the Protestants to reward every one That he had intercepted several Letters from St. Omers and Paris to Mr. Ewers wherein mention was made of several Sums of Money laid out for Arms particularly two Sums of 500 l. and 700 l. upon the accompt of the Popish Plot in England That in September 1678. The Lord Stafford discoursing Mr. Ewers and the Informant in the great Parlour at Tixal told them that the reason of his dissatisfaction against the King was that he saw his favours rather dispos'd to Rebels and Traytors than to those that had serv'd him which was enough if there were not the Consideration of Religion which was above all others That at the General Meeting at Tixal in September aforesaid the Lord Stafford Lord Aston and others upon a full debate of all their preceding Transactions and Instructions for carrying on their design resolv'd to confirm the Oath 's which they had severally before taken which was to kill the King and Establish the Romish Religion in this Kingdom At what time the Lord Stafford engag'd to make good his promises to the Informant both of Money and other necessaries for his encouragement Thursday the Sixteenth of November nothing more was done but only that the Bayliff of Westminster amended one of the Returns for that place and put in Sir William Wallers name instead of Sir Francis Withens Which being done the House adjourn'd till the next day being Wednesday morning the Seventeenth of November At what time they took into Consideration on his Majesties Message relating to Tangier and appointed a Committee to draw up an Address to represent to his Majesty the dangerous Estate and Condition of the Kingdom in Answer to the said Message The same day also they order'd another Address to be made to his Majesty for the Removal of George Earl of Halifax from his presence and Councils for ever The Substance of the Address was as followes That being deeply sensible of the dangers and mischiefs occasion'd to the Kingdom by the dissolution of the last Parliament and the frequent Prorogations of the present and having just reason to believe that the said dissolution was promoted by the evil Counsel of the E. of Halifax They did therefore most humbly pray his Majesty for the taking away all occasions of mistrust betwen his Majesty and them and for their greater encouragement to perfect such matters as lay before them for the preservation of his Majesties Person and Government and the Protestant Religion that he would be gratiously pleas'd to remove the said Earl from his presence and Councils for ever To which his Majesty return'd for Answer That he did not find the Grounds in the Address to be sufficient for him to remove the said Earl But he assur'd them that whenever they should in a Due and Regular Course prove any Crime either against him or any other Person he would leave both him and them to their own Legal defence without interposing his mediation Thursday the Eighteenth of November Mr. Treby was sent to the Peers to desire their Lordships to communicate to the Commons such Writings and Evidences which they had receiv'd from the Clerks of the Council to which the Lords readily condescended according to their desire The next day being Friday the Nineteenth of the Month Benjamin Harris Bookseller then and still a Prisoner in the Kings Bench ad sectam Regis for a Fine of 500 l. for a Misdemeanour by him Committed having presented a Petition to the House the same was read and thereupon a Resolve made that Address should be presented to the King to desire him to Pardon the said Fine After which follow'd an Order that a Commitee should be appointed to draw up a Bill for the ascertaining of Fines upon misdemeanours The same day Serjeant Rigby reported from the Committee appointed to enquire after Obstructors of Petitioning that the Grand-Juries of Devon and Somerset were more especially found to be tardy and that Capt. William Castle being summon'd to attend the Committee had contemptuously neglected so to do Thereupon the House order'd that Sir Giles Phillips Mr. Wiliam Stawel Mr. Hutchinson and Mr. Walrond should be sent for in Custody of the Serjeant of Arms. The same day Mr. Zeal being call'd to the Bar of the House delivered his Information at the Bar The Effect whereof in short was this That being a Prisoner in the Marshalsea Mrs. Celier came several times to him and treated with him to be not only Instrumental himself but to procure others to joyn with him to fire the Kings Ships as they lay in harbour as also to swear against the Earl of Shaftesbury such Articles of High Treason as she should get ready prepar'd for him to that purpose His Information being heard the House order'd that Application should be made to his Majesty for his Pardon and some present Allowance Other Applications were also order'd to be made to his Majesty in the behalf of Mr. Hethrington and the Irish Evidence for their Expences and present Support as also in the behalf of Mr. Smith who had made a Considerable discovery of the Popish Plot for some Eclesiastical Preferment To which and some other Addresses formerly made his Majesty upon the meeting of the House the next day being Saturday the Twentieth of the Month by Mr. Secretary Jenkins return'd his distinct Answers That as to the Address in relation to Sir George Jefferies He would Consider of it That as for Lewis He would Pardon him all Offences but Perjury and that Consideration should be had of a reasonable Allowance for him That as for the Irish Evidence That in regard of their number and Circumstances of their Persons not yet well known he had referr'd it to the Lords Commissionours of the Treasury And that for Mr. Smith he would take him into Consideration But the House not satisfi'd with his Majesties Exception in the Pardon of Lewis resolv'd upon another Address That all Pardon 's granted to any of the Persons for whom Application had been made should extend to all Crimes and Misdeameanours whatsoever till the last of their respective discoveries After which Mr. Trenchard reported from the Committee for Enquiring after the Obstructors of Petitioning that Information had been given them that Examinations had been taken upon Oath by Five Justices of the Peace in Monmouthshire viz. John Herbert Henry Baker William Herbert William James and Robert Gunter Esquires against John Arnold Esq for promoting
Subscriptions to a Petition for sitting of the Parliament and that the said Examination was sent up to the Council and Exhibited in charge as an Article against the said Mr. Arnold and Prosecuted by Thomas Herbert Esq The House order'd That the said Mr. Tho. Herbert should be sent for into Custody They also Voted Mr. Thomas Staples and Sir Thomas Holt Serjeant at Law for the same offence guilty of betraying the rights of the Subject and order'd them to be sent for in Custody likewise to answer at the Bar for the Misdemeanours they had Committed The same day Mr. Treby acquainting the House that he had made an Abstract in writing of several Letters and Papers relating to the Plot it was order'd that the said Letters and Papers should be Printed and that Mr. Treby should take care therein These Letters were soon after Printed and Contain'd several Correspondencies between Coleman and the King of France's Confessour the Popes Internuncio the Late Earl of Berkshire St. Germaine Father Sheldon all Agitators and busy Sticklers for the Plot and the D. of Torks Interest Together with several Instruments and Priviledges granted by the Pope to the English and Scotish Roman Catholicks and Proselytes found in the hands of the Five Jesuits and Mr. Daniel Arthur Fame But what was contain'd in all those Letters For I find them to be a great many Truth In the first place a continu'd Intelligence of the Transactions and Proceedings of the Popish Party In the next place a plain discovery of the Negotiations and Correspondency of the Duke with the Pope the Emperour and the King of France And lastly frequent importunities for Mony and other Assistances for the Duke to carry on his most important designs which were to make himself Master of the King and prevent the sitting of Parliaments Sir Gilbert Gerard then acquainted the House that he had Articles of High Crimes and Misdemeanours against Edward Seymour Esq a Member of the House which he gave in at the Clerks Table Upon which the House order'd Mr. Seymour a Copy of the Articles and prefix'd him a day to make his defence Fame Were there no Bills brought into the House all this while Truth There were several under debate and preparation But because they never came to perfection I shall only content my self to give you a List of them at the latter end of the Book which will be sufficient to shew you what was really intended And so I come to Munday the Twenty second of November Upon which day the most remarkable Occurrences were his Majesties Answers to the Addresses of the House First in behalf of Mr. Zeale to which his Majesty was pleas'd to Condescend in reference both to his Pardon and Allowance Secondly in behalf of all those for whom Application had been made that their Pardons should be general for all Crimes and Misdemeanours whatsoever without Limitation To which his Majesty return'd for Answer That he would Pardon them for all Treasons Misprisions Felonies and Outlaries after Treason or Felony and give order that a Noli prosequi should be enter'd to stop all Prosecutions against them for all Crimes and Misdemeanours whatsoever But that his Majesty apprehended there might be some Inconveniency in granting Pardons so general as was then desir'd However rather than the Tryals should be hinder'd or Prejudic'd he would give such order as should be agreeable to Justice Tuesday the Twenty third of November the Address for appointing a publick fast and day of Humiliation through the whole Kingdom was reported and agreed to and confirm'd by the Concurrence of the Lords The same day several Persons who had been of the Grand-Jury the last Trinity Term for the County of Middlesex being called in gave an accompt of the Proceedings of the Court of Kings Bench in Reference to the discharging of Grand-Juries Other Persons being call'd in gave an accompt of the Charge given by Baron Weston the last past Summer Assizes for the County of Surrey Upon the debate of which two Informations it was resolv'd Nemine Contradicente That the discharging of a Grand-Jury before the end of a Term Assizes or Sessions while business was depending before them was Arbitrary Illegal contrary to the Judges Oaths and tending to the Subversion of the Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom and that therefore a Committee should be appointed to Examine the Proceedings of the Judges in Westminster Hall and report their Opinions The next day being Wednesday the Twenty fifth of this Month an Address was resolv'd upon to desire his Majesties favour that all Dissenters prosecuted upon the penal Statutes of Queen Elizabeth and King James against Popish Recusants might be admitted to a Composition in the Exchequer without Paying Fees The Attorney General being then call'd in and Examin'd in reference to the Proclamation against Tumultuous Petitioning and declaring that Sir Francis North was advising and assisting in the drawing up and passing the said Proclamation It was thereupon resolv'd Nemine Contradicente That the Evidence given against Sir Francis North was a Sufficient ground for the House to proceed against him upon an Impeachment for High Crimes and Misdemeanours And order'd the Committee appointed to Examine the proceedings of the Judges to draw up an Impeachment accordingly Thursday the Twenty fifth of November nothing in the morning was done Conducing to the Series of this Relation only that the Undersheriff of Norfolk being complain'd against was order'd to be sent for to answer several abuses and miscarriages laid to his Charge But in the Afternoon according to Appointment the House attended his Majesty in the Banqueting House with their Address for a Publick Fast to this Effect That being deeply sensible of the sad and Calamitous Condition of the Kingdom occasion'd by the Impious and Horrid Conspiracies of the Popish Party still persisting in the same detestable Machinations notwithstanding the many discoveries by Gods mercy and Providence brought to light which impending judgment not being otherwise to be prevented but by Gods particular blessing upon his Majesties Great Council the Parliament they did in all Humility beseech his Majesty that a day might be solemnly set apart by his Royal Proclamation to the end that by Fasting and Prayer the Goodness and Power of God might be implor'd to divert his Judgements and defeat the Wicked Counsels and devices of the Enemies To which his Majesties Answer was That he would give order for a Day of Humiliation as was desired Friday the Twenty eighth of November his Majesty return'd his Answer in the behalf of the Protestant Dissenters That they should be discharg'd and that without Fees as far as might be done according to Law and that they should be recommended to the Judges The same day the House resum'd the debate relating to the Impeachment of Mr. Seymour and at length resolv'd That there was matter sufficient in the Four Articles upon which to Impeach him Whereupon an Impeachment was drawn up to this Effect That
the Nobility and the Commons of England having taken their several and distinct places in Court And the Prisoner being brought to the Bar the Lord High Steward spake to him to this Effect That the Commons of England had impeached him of High Treason for which he was then to he Try'd that he was not try'd upon the Indictment found by the Grand-Jury but prosecuted by the Loud complaints of the Commons and to be try'd upon the presentment of the Grand Inquest of the whole Nation That he was to be therefore Judg'd by the whole Body of the House of Peers where the ballance would be exactly kept And that therefore if his zeal had engag'd him in such deep and black designes as he was charg'd with he must expect to reap what he had sown Admonishing him lastly to hear with patience what should be said against him The Charge being then read the substance of the Impeachment was I. That there had been a Traiterous Plot and Conspiracy both in England and other Places to alter and subvert the Ancient Government and true Religion established in the Land which Plot was carried and contrived by Persons of several Qualities and Degrees II. That for the accomplishing of the said wicked and traiterous design he had agreed and conspir'd with others to imprison depose and murther the King and to Subject the Kingdom to the Pope and his Government To restore the Abbys Monasteries c. so long agoe Suppressed for their Idolatry and Superstition And by that means to destroy his Majesty Extirpate the Protestant Religion and overthrow the Rights and Properties of his Majesties Subjects III. That he with the rest of the Traytors had held several Meetings and Consultations where it was contriv'd and design'd by what means and what Instruments should be us'd to murther his Majesty That it was there resolv'd to Effect the same by Poisoning Shooting Stabbing and that at the same places rewards were offered to several Persons to execute the same IV. That he with the rest had Consulted to raise Men Money Armes and Ammunition and had Corresponded with the Pope his Cardinals and Nuntio 's and with other Forein Ministers for the raising and obtaining of Men Money c. for the raising of War within the Kingdom and invading the same with Forein Forces V. That he with the rest had procured and delivered out several Instruments and Commissions made and granted by the Pope and other unlawful Authortities for the raising and disposing Men Money c. and particularly for him the said Lord Viscount Stafford to be paymaster of the Army VI. That to hinder the discovery af the said Plot and to secure themselves from Justice He with the rest had caused Oathes of Secresie to be administred to the Confederates and the Priests to give them absolutions for their encouragement aforesaid to conceal the Conspiracy VII That he with the rest had contriv'd to lay the Imputation of their crimes upon the Protestants aforesaid To this his Lordships Plea was That he was not Guilty and for his Tryal put himself upon his Peers In the opening of this Impeachment Mr Serjeant Maynard beginning told the Lords that the Charge was General and Particular General the Subversion of the Nation Murther of the King and suppression of the Protestant Religion which General was charg'd in Particular upon the Prisoner in regard that in a general design as this was wherein so many were concern'd the Act of One is the Act of All and the Act of All is the Act of every One But his part being only to open the General Conspiracy he made out the Universal Hatred of the Papists against the Protestants by their continual Practcies of Murthers Massacrees and Treasons in Spain France England and other parts of Europe and their Doctrine of the Legality of deposing and Killing Heretick Kings Then bringing his Arguments home he called to mind the Murther of Sir Edmund-Bury Godfrey The Tampering with Bedlow to corrupt and lessen his Testimony and Their Charging Oates with Infamous Crimes by falshood and Subornation to invalidate his Testimony The particular Evidence was open'd by Sir Francis Winington Shewing first The extraordinary advantages the Papists had to enter upon the Conspiracy The creeping of Papists at the bottom and others that drove on their Interest into his Majesties Councils The easiness of some Men to favour the Papists new projects set on foot for a Reconciliation between the two Religions by distingushing the Church from the Court of Rome Papists of Loyal and disloyal Principles Which gave them great Encouragement to see how freely the Pen was drawn in their favour The Kings Commands of putting the Laws in Execution frustrated by the Publick Ministers of their faction and the severity of those Laws turned upon the Protestant dissenters Lastly their great hopes of a Popish Successor As for the proof of the Plot in general he Cited the Attainders of Coleman and Langhorn and several Priests and Jesuites The Attainders of Sir Edmund-Bury Godfrey's Murther and the Conviction of the Assassinator of Mr. Arnold And in short the Convictions not only of Treasons and Murthers but of almost all other Villianies whatsoever To this he added that proof would be made of the discourses of the Preists and Jesuits abroad of the great alteration that would be in England e're long And that the King was a Heretick and might be destroyed which Doctrine was dispersed by the industry of several in England As to particulars against the Prisoner he urg'd that proof would be made of his being at a Consult at the Lord Aston's House at Tyxal for the Killing the King That he offered 500 l. out of his own purse for carrying on the Plot and particularly that part of Killing the King That the Prisoner himself had tempted one of the Witnesses to Kill the King with several other Circumstances tending to that and the General design Then Mr. Treby proceeded to call the witnesses to shew the Universal Conspiracy The first was Mr. Smith whose Education had given him great Opportunities of knowing the inside of the Papists Affairs He testified That upon his first arrival in France he came acquainted with Abbot-Montague Gascoyn and several other Priests and Jesuites who promis'd him preferment both among them and in England if he would turn Catholick for that they did not doubt but that the Popish Religion would come into England very soon as not questioning a Toleration first by which they should bring it in without Noise And Secondly because their party was very Strong in England and in a few years would be able to bring it in right or wrong That Cardinal Grimaldi whom he met by Accident in Provence told him he had great Assurances the Popish Religion would prevail in England and that there was but one that obstructed it who though a good natur'd Person yet they could not so far prevaile upon him but that they must be forc'd to take him out
of the way That in Rome he saw Colemans Letters and read them once a Month wherein he gave Intelligence of several Passages that happened in the Court how that the Duke the Queen and the cheif of the Nobility were of their side How they carried Matters what waies the Lord Clifford and Sir William Godolphin used to effect the work and that they did not Question but to get the Lord Treasurer Danby on their side That coming into England he found the Popish Clergy of England of the same Opinion that they did not doubt the Romish Religion would soon come in That he knew nothing as to the Lord Stafford but only that one Smith wrote a Letter up to the Lord Stafford out of the North near where he lived to complain of two or three Justices of the Peace that were active against Popery Upon which Sir Henry Calverley was turned out of Commission That upon the first Glimpses of the discovery the aforesaid Smith writing to the Prisoner whether he intended to make over his Estate or no The Prisoners Answer was That several did but he would not in regard he expected a sudden alteration of the Government and Religion Mr Dugdale being called next upon the General Plot gave an accompt That he had been acquainted with a design for bringing in the Popish Religion about Fifteen years That he had been several times informed by Ewers his Ghostly Father that several Lords in several Parts of England were to carry it on that is that they were to have Money and Arms ready for those that wanted upon the death of the King That he had seen several Letters from Paris Rome and St. Omers encouraging Mr. Ewers to goe on and encourage the rest that were engaged That he heard nothing till lately about Killing the King That there came a Letter from the Prisoner to Ewers to shew that things went on all well beyond Sea and hoped they did so here That of late he had been with several Priests and Gentlemen in the Countrey when they have had Consultations for introducing their own Religion and taking away the Kings Life which was alwaies intended to be effected either in November December or January 1678. That he received 500 l. at one time which he gave to Mr. Ewers who return'd it to London to carry on the design That it was agreed that the Lord Aston Sir James Symons and others should go in October 1678. to dispose of a certain Quantity of Arms which they had received somwhere to the value of 30000 l. That he was by when he heard it discours'd that the King of France was acquainted with the design and that he had promis'd to furnish the Papists with Men and that he would not be wanting with other Assistances That he opened a Letter sent to Mr. Ewers dated the day of Sir Edmund-Bury Godfrey's Murder containing this Expression This night Sir Edmund-Bury Godfrey is dispatched That Sir James Symonds the Lord Aston Mr. Draycot Mr. Howard and Mr. Gerard did to his knowledge contribute toward the carrying on of the charge for raising Arms and paying for them and saw Letters from beyond Seas that all things were ready as to the Arms and that there wanted only Orders how they should be dispos'd That Mr. Gawen declared in the private Chappel at Boscobel that whosoever was active for introducing the Romish Religion or killing the King should have a free Pardon of all his sins That he had heard that when the King should be kill'd several should be provided with Arms and rise of a suddain upon the Protestants and cut their Throats That he had heard of Mr. Oates and Bedlow before the Plot was detected that they were Messengers entrusted but no otherwise That he saw a Letter from Whitebread to Oates cautioning him whom he entrusted in the design not mattering who they were so they were stout and trusty That he heard the Pope had promised to assist the Irish with Men and Money and that there should be nothing wanting on his part Mr. Prance being next called declared That one Singleton a Priest in the year 1678. told him at one Hall's a Cook in Ivy-Lane that he did not fear but in a little time to be a Priest in a Parish-Church and that he would make no more to stab forty Parliament Men than to eat his Dinner Dr. Oates being called declared That in the year 1676. he was advised by one Kemish and one Singleton both Priests to hasten betimes home to the Church of Rome for that the Protestant Religion was upon its last Legs That being sent by the Jesuites to Valladolid he opened certain Letters which the Jesuites in England had given him to deliver to their Cor-respondents which Letters did express what hopes they had to effect their design in England for carrying on the Catholick cause and for advancing the Interest of the Pope of Rome That Coming into England with Letters to Strange Provincial of the Jesuites he found Keines lying ill upon Strange's Bed at what time Keines said he was sorry that honest William meaning Grove that was hang'd had miscarryed All this in the year 1677. But generally that they had been brooding over their design long before the Fire In 1678. He observed by several Letters that they were as busie in Ireland as in England and that the Talbots and others were very busie in raising Forces and were resolved to let in the French King if the Parliament should urge the King to break with France And that Morgan was sent into Ireland as a Visitor to take an accompt of the readiness of the Irish That in March intelligence came to the Jesuites of an Attempt that had been made upon the King but that he had escaped through the negligence of Pickering in fixing the Flint of his Fire-lock Mr. Dennis an Irish man being then sworn confirm'd Dr. Oats's being in Spain and particularly at Valladolid where he knew him a Student That from thence he carried a Letter from him to the Archbishop of Tuam who in discourse told him that Oats would be a fit man for their Purpose saying farther that Plunket the Titular Primate of Ireland was resolv'd with the first convenience to go for Ireland to carry over a French Power with him to support the Roman Catholicks in England and Ireland and that he himself would not be long out of Ireland to assist in that pious work That he had both heard of and seen money gathered in Ireland for the support of the Plot. Then Mr. Jenison declared that he had heard Mr. Ireland and Mr. Jenison both Jesuits speak of a Design on foot to gain a Toleration by procuring a great sum of Money from their Party and bribing the Parliament and also of securing the D. or York's Succession That at another time he heard Mr. Ireland say that the Roman Catholick Religion was like to come into England and that there was but one stood in the way and that it
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
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
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
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
prosecution of the said Lords And farther that Such Money as his Majesty should be pleas'd to direct to be set out for the use aforesaid should be deposited in the hands of Mr. Charles Clare Fame All this while you do not 〈◊〉 me how the Lords receiv'd the Bill of Exclusion Truth All in good Time For it was impossible for me to interrupt the Series of the foregoing Orders that depended one upon another You must know then in short that this Bill as it was of great weight so it occasioned a long debate in the House But at length when it came to the Vote it was utterly rejected by the Number of Voices there being no less then Sixty three against the passing of it and but Thirty one for it Saturday the Eleventh of November Mr. Secretary Jenkins acquainted the House with his Majesties Answere to several of their Late Addresses That as to the issuing out of Money for the Expences of the Tryals he had directed a hundred pound to be paid to the Person that should be appointed by the House to receive it That as for the delivery of the Papers writings and Evidences concerning the Plot upon the Sitting of the Committee of the Lords he had directed them to be transmitted thither where they remain'd And that as for the pardons for the Irish Evidence he would grant them all Pardons for all Treasons Misprisions of Treasons Felonies and outlaries for Felonies Fame All this while I heare nothing of the Address which was order'd to be made in answer to his Majesties Message of the Ninth of this Month. Truth All that I can say is that his Majesty appointed the House to meet him this very day at three of the Clock in the Banqueting House in order to that Address But because I find no farther mention made of it in the Votes of the House I made no farther Inquirie after it Fame Since then you have proposed so good a Rule to your self observe it Truth 'T is what I am bound to do if I intend to be what I profess my self To goe on then the next remarkable Passage of this day was the forgiving Sir Robert Yeomans who being called to the Bar acknowledg'd the Offence he had committed For which submission and his begging pardon he was only put to receive the rebuke of the House upon his knees and so discharg'd Mr. Norris was then call'd in who gave an Information in writing relating to the Popish Plot which occasion'd an Order for appointing a Committee to receive Informations concerning the Popish Plot to which Committee it wa◠also at the same time refer'd to examin◠the matter of Mr. Norris's Information and to report the same of which more hereafter Mr. Trenchard then reported from the Committee to which the Petition o◠divers Citizens of London against Sir George Jefferies was referred That the Committee had heard the Evidence on both sides and that it was the Opinion of the Committee upon the Evidence given them that the said Sir George Jefferies by traducing and Obstructing Petitioning for the sitting of the Parliament had betrayed the Rights of the Subjects Upon which it was resolv'd that the House did agree with the Committee and order'd an Address to be presented to his Majesty for removing Sir George Jefferies out of all publick Offices and that the Members serving for the City should Communicate the Vote and Resolution of the House relating to Sir George Jefferies to the Court of Aldermen The Address was to this effect That haveing receiv'd a Complaint against Sir George Jefferies and having heard the Evidence against him and his defence and being satisfi'd that the said Sir George to serve his own ends to create a misunderstanding between his Majesty and his People did declare the Petitioning of the Citizens of London for the Sitting of the Parliament to be Tumultuous Seditious and Illegal and threaten that if they did so Petition there should be no meeting nor sitting of the Parliament thereby traducing his Majesty as if he meant not to pursue his gracious intentions they did therefore most humbly beseech his Majesty to remove the said Sir George from the Chief Justiceship of Chester and from all other his publick Offices and Employments They likewise appointed a Committee to enquire into all such Persons as had been advising or promoting the Proclamation Entituled a Proclamation against Tumultuary Petitioning empowering them to that purpose to send for Persons Papers and Records Monday the Fifteenth of November Mr. Secretary Jenkins deliver'd a short Message in writing from his Majesty Intimating That his Majesty had at the opening of the Sessions in his speech desired the advice and Assistance of his Parliament in Relation to Tangeir The Condition and importance of which place oblidg'd him to put them againe in mind that he rely'd upon them for the support of it Without which it could not be much longer preserved And therefore earnestly recommended Tangeir to the due and speedy care and consideration of the House This Message being read and some other debates being over Mr. Dugdale was call'd in and gave his farther Information relating to the Popish Plot in writing The most considerable heads whereof were these That about the Twenty first of September 1678. He being in Company with Mr. Ewers and one Hosbon amongst other discourse they both declar'd That their design in carrying on the Plot was to kill the D. of Monmouth as well as the King which horrid Acts the Lord Stafford at the same time propos'd for him to do That in a Letter directed to Mr. Ewers which he brake open and found to be the Lord Staffords hand he read the following words That things went well beyond the Seas for Carrying on the Plot and hop'd it did so here in England And that for the pardoning of those that were concern'd therein Mr. Ewers told him that there were several Indulgences which he believed came from Ireland to whom they were transmitted from Rome That he very well remember'd that there was a meeting of the Jesuites in April 1678. for that Mr. Ewers and other Jesuits went out of Staffordshire up to London to be there at it That several Sums of Money were collected from several Gentlemen in the Countrey to carry on the design and that he himself received 500 l. of Mr. Vavasour and Mr. Gawen at Wolverhampton which he return'd up to Mr. Harcourt That at another time Mr. Ireland told him that when he came to London he would give him Instructions how to proceed in his business for that he could not well tell how the business went till he had spoken with the Lords Bellasis and Arundel af Warder who would prove the Loyallest persons for Trust and Counsel in the world That at another time questioning Mr. Ewers what Persons of Quality did countenance the design He made answer Several in several Places and that the Lord Arundel of Warder was to undertake the most part of the design