House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 23 October 1678

Mercurii, 23 die Octobris, 1678.

Prayers.

Newport Election.

A PETITION of John Coryton Esquire, complaining of an undue Return of Ambrose Manaton Esquire, to serve for the Borough of Newport in the County of Cornwall; alledging that the said Ambrose Manaton was returned but by One of the Vianders of the said Borough; whereas the Two Vianders make but one Officer; and that the Petitioner was duly elected, and ought to have been returned; was read.

Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to the Consideration of the Committee of Privileges and Elections; to examine the Matter thereof: But the Committee is in the first place to examine the Merits of the said Return; and report the same, together with their Opinions therein, to the House.

Answer to Address for a Fast.

Mr. Speaker reports, That he had attended his Majesty with the Address, for appointing a Day for a solemn Fast: And that his Majesty was pleased to return Answer, That He would give speedy Order for a Fast, according to the Address.

Ordered, That the Dean of St. Paul's be desired to preach before this House at St. Margaret's, Westminster, on the said Fast Day: And Mr. Speaker is desired to give him Notice.

5th Nov. to be solemnized.

Resolved, That this House will solemnize the Fifth of November at St. Margaret's, Westminster.

Ordered, That the Dean of Canterbury be desired to preach before the House at St. Margaret's, Westminster, on the Fifth Day of November: And that Mr. Speaker be desired to give him Notice.

Haverford West Election.

A Petition of Wm. Wogan Esquire, complaining of an undue Return of Sir Herbert Perrot Knight, to serve for the Town and County of Haverford West, in Injury of the Petitioner, who was duly elected, and ought to have been returned; was read.

Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to the Consideration of the Committee of Privileges and Elections; to examine the Matter; and report the same, with their Opinions therein, to the House.

Papists not to sit in Parliament.

A Bill for hindering Papists to sit in either House of Parliament, was read the First time.

Resolved, &c. That the Bill be read a Second time, To-morrow Morning.

Popish Plot.

Resolved, &c. That the Matter concerning the Plot and Conspiracy, mentioned in his Majesty's Speech, against his Person and Government, be heard at the Bar of the House.

Ordered, That Mr. Oates be forthwith sent for, to give in his Testimony at the Bar of this House, touching the Plot and Conspiracy mentioned in his Majesty's Speech.

Ordered, That the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, do go with his Messengers, and bring Mr. Oates to the Bar of this House; and all Constables and other Officers and Persons whatsoever are required to be aiding and assisting to him herein, if Need require.

Ordered, That Mr. Michael Godfrey be forthwith sent for to attend with the Papers and Examinations taken by Sir Edmundbury Godfrey, and now remaining in his Custody sealed up, touching the Plot and Conspiracy mentioned in his Majesty's Speech.

Address for removing Papists.

Sir John Trevor reports from the Committee appointed to draw up an Address to be presented to his Majesty, for removing of all Popish Recusants from within Twenty Miles of the City of London, an Address agreed 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 upon the Question, agreed; and is as followeth;

WE Your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal Subjects, the and Commons, in Parliament assembled, having taken into our serious Consideration the bloody and traiterous Designs of Popish Recusants against Your Majesty's Sacred Person and Government, and the Protestant Religion, wherewith Your Majesty hath been graciously pleased to acquaint us: For the preventing whereof, we do most humbly beseech Your Majesty, That Your Majesty would graciously please, by Your Royal Proclamation, to command all and every Person and Persons, being Popish Recusants, or so reputed, forthwith, under Pain of Your Majesty's highest Displeasure, and severe Execution of Your Laws against them, to depart and retire themselves and their Families from Your Royal Palaces of Whitehall, Somersett House, and St. James's, the Cities of London and Westminster, and from all other Places within Ten Miles of the same; and that no such Person or Persons do presume at any time hereafter to repair or return to Your Majesty's said Palaces, or the said Cities, or either of them, or within Ten Miles of the same; other than Householders being Traders exercising some Trade or Manual Occupation, and settled for Twelve Months last past in Houses of their own, and not having an Habitation elsewhere; giving in their own Names, and the Names of all other Persons in their Families, to the Two next Justices of the Peace: And that it may be inserted in the said Proclamation, That, immediately after the Day limited for their Departure, the Constables, Churchwardens, and other the Parish Officers, go from House to House in their several Parishes, Hamlets, Constableries, and Divisions, respectively; and there take an Account of the Names and Surnames of all such Persons as are Popish Recusants, or suspected so to be, as well Householders as Lodgers or Servants; and to carry a List of their Names to the Two next Justices of the Peace; who are to be thereby required and injoined to send for them, and every of them, and to tender them, and to every of them, the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy; and to commit to Prison, till the next succeeding Sessions of the Peace, all such Persons as shall refuse the said Oaths, and at the said Sessions to proceed against them according to Law: And that Your Majesty will be pleased to direct Commissions to be forthwith issued under the Great Seal of England to all Justices within the Cities of London and Westminster, and within Ten Miles of the same, to authorize and require them, or any Two of them, to administer the said Oaths accordingly: And that Your Majesty would further please to command, That no Warrant or License be granted by the Lords of Your Majesty's most honourable Privy Council, or any of them, or otherwise, for the Stay, Return, or Repair of any such Person or Persons, in or to any of the said Places, till some more effectual Law be passed for preventing the said Popish Conspiracies, and for the Preservation of Your Majesty's Sacred Person, and the Religion and Government by Law established; for which we Your Majesty's most Loyal and Dutiful Subjects will always employ our utmost Endeavours and daily Prayers.

Ordered, That Sir John Trevor do carry up the Address to the Lords for their Concurrence.

Popish Plo

Mr. Oates was then called in to the Bar of the House; and gave in his Information touching the Plot and Conspiracy mentioned in his Majesty's Speech: And, having therein given an Account of certain Benedictine Monks, who lodge in the Wardrobe in the Savoy;

Ordered, That the Members of the House, who are Justices of the Peace for the County of Middlesex, and City of Westminster, do forthwith issue out their Warrant for apprehending the Benedictine Monks; and so searching their Lodgings: and for seizing their Books Papers, and Writings.

The House being informed, that Mr. Michael Godfrey was, according to the Order of the House, attending with the Papers of the Examinations taken by Sir Edmundbury Godfrey, touching the Plot and Conspiracy mentioned in his Majesty's Speech.

Ordered, That Mr. Godfrey do deliver the Papers, which are in his Custody sealed up, in to this House.

And Mr. Godfrey being called in; did deliver the Papers sealed up: And informed the House, That he found the same in a Drawer in his Brother's Study; and that his Clerk told him, they were the Examinations of Mr. Oates taken by Sir Edmundbury Godfrey, touching the Plot and Conspiracy; and that he caused the same to be sealed up with Five several Seals; and that it was the same which he now delivered in.

The House being informed that Mr. Richard Mules can give an Account of something relating to Sir Edmundbury Godfrey;

Ordered, That Mr. Mules be summoned to attend the House To-morrow Morning at Ten of the Clock.

Ordered, That Mr. Oates do attend again To-morrow Morning at Ten of the Clock.

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