House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 27 April 1679

Journal of the House of Commons: Volume 9, 1667-1687. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1802.

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'House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 27 April 1679', in Journal of the House of Commons: Volume 9, 1667-1687, (London, 1802) pp. 605. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/commons-jrnl/vol9/p605 [accessed 25 March 2024]

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Die Dominico, 27 die Aprilis, 1679.

Prayers.

Address for executing Pickering, &c.

MR. Hamden reports from the Committee appointed to prepare and draw up an Address to be presented to his Majesty, to desire his Majesty to give Order for the Executing of Pickering; and likewise, to give Order to the Judges to issue out their Warrants for executing the several Popish Priests they have condemned in the several Circuits; an Address agreed upon by the Committee: Which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same was twice read; and, with some Amendments made at the Table, agreed to; and is as followeth; viz.

WE Your Majesty's most humble and loyal Subjects the Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, taking into serious Consideration the great and apparent Dangers which have arisen to Your Majesty's Person and this Kingdon, from the horrible Conspiracies of Popish Recusants, who have been principally incited thereunto by Priests and Jesuits, daily resorting into this Kingdom, and continuing here contrary to Your Majesty's Laws (whereby they incur the Penalty of High Treason), as also in Contempt of several Proclamations, issued by Your Majesty, by the Advice of both Your Houses of Parliament, commanding them to depart out of the Realm; and having received certain Information, that one Pickering, now a Prisoner in Newgate (who was employed by some of the Conspirators to execute their execrable Design of murdering Your Royal Person; and upon his Tryal was found guilty thereof); as also divers Priests and Jesuits, who have been condemned by Your Majesty's Judges at the Old Baily, and in the several Circuits; do remain as yet unexecuted, to the great Emboldening of such Offenders, in case they should escape without Punishment; we do therefore most humbly desire, That Your Majesty would be pleased to give Order to Your Majesty's Judges, and all other Officers concerned therein, That immediate Execution may be done upon the said Offenders, to the Terror of all such wicked Persons, who, by their daily traiterous Practices, do justify the Prudence of our Ancestors in making such Laws, and the manifest Necessity of putting them in Execution.

Resolved, &c. That this House will attend his Majesty with the said Address.

Ordered, That such Members of this House as are of his Majesty's Privy Council, do attend his Majesty; and desire to know his Majesty's Pleasure, when this House may attend him, with the Address this Day agreed to.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Draper and Colonel Deane have Leave to go into the Country for Fourteen Days.

Dangers from Papists.

The House then took into Consideration, How to secure and preserve the King's Person, and the Protestant Religion, against the Attempts of the Papists, both in the Reign of his Majesty and his Successors.

Removing Papists from London.

Ordered, That a Bill be brought in, upon the Debate of the House, to banish all Papists, or reputed Papists, from London, and Westminster, and Twenty Miles of the same, for Six Months; and to confine those that live above Twenty Miles from London within Five Miles of their own Habitations, under Penalties.

And it is referred to Mr. Sachaverell, Sir Robert Carr, Sir Trevor Williams, Sir Fran. Winnington, Sir Ralph Ashton, Mr. Whitacre, Sir Robert Peyton, Sir Thomas Player Mr. Colt, Mr. Wogan, Mr. Mildmay, Sir Patience Ward, Mr. Boscawen, Sir Gilbert Gerrard, Colonel Titus, Sir Nath. Herne, Sir Richard Cust, Sir Francis Drake, Mr. Hamden, Mr. Papillon, Mr. Love, Sir Tho. Meres, Sir John Trevor, Mr. Garraway Sir John Coryton, Sir Thomas Clerges, Sir John Hewley, Sir John Talbot, Colonel Birch, Sir Charles Harbord, Sir Henry Capell, or any Three of them, to prepare and draw up the same.

Proceedings concerning the Duke of Yorke.

Resolved, Nemine contradicente, That the Duke of Yorke's being a Papist, and the Hopes of his coming such to the Crown, has given the greatest Countenance and Encouragement to the present Conspiracies and Designs of the Papists against the King, and the Protestant Religion.

Resolved, That the Concurrence of the Lords be desired to this Vote: And that the Lord Russell do carry up the same to the Lords for their Concurrence.

Ordered, That the Committee of Secrecy, appointed to prepare Evidence against the Five Lords in the Tower, do prepare and draw up an Abstract of such Matters as concern the Duke of Yorke, relating to the present Plot, contained in such Papers and Writings as they have in their Custody; and present the same to the House on Wednesday next.

Resolved, &c. That the further Consideration of securing and preserving the King, and the Protestant Religion, against the Attempts of the Papists, both in the Reign of his Majesty and his Successors, be adjourned till Wednesday next.

And then the House adjourned till To-morrow Morning, Eight of the Clock.