House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 19 November 1680

Veneris, 19 die Novembris, 1680.

Prayers.

Burying in Woollen.

SIR George Downing reports from the Committee to whom the additional Bill touching Persons buried in Woollen, was referred, some Amendments agreed on by the said Committee to be made to the same: Which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered them in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same being twice read, were, upon the Question, agreed to.

Ordered, That the Bill, with the Amendments agreed to, be ingrossed.

Information to be printed.

Ordered, That Signior Francisco de Feria have Leave to print the Information, by him given at the Bar of this House.

Fine for Misdemeanor.

A Petition of Benjamin Harris a Prisoner, in Execution, at the King's Suit, for a Fine of Five hundred Pounds, upon a Misdemeanor by him committed, was read.

Resolved, That an humble Application be made to his Majesty from this House, by such Members of this House as are of his Majesty's most honourable Privy Council, to desire his Majesty to pardon and remit the said Fine.

Fines for Misdemeanors.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to prepare and draw up a Bill for ascertaining of Fines upon Misdemeanors.

And it is referred to Mr. Paul Foley, Sir Thomas Blunt, Mr. Powle, Sir William Jones, Sir Fra. Winnington, Sir John Trevor, Sir Edward Harley, Sir Thomas Lee, Mr. Hamden, Sir Robert Henley, Sir John Brookes, Mr. Sacheverell, Sir Trevor Williams, Mr. Serjeant Seyce, Mr. Starkey, Mr. Dutton Colt, Sir Rowland Guynne, Mr. White: And all the Members of this House that are of the Long Robe, or any Three of them: And they are to meet at Three of the Clock this Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Privilege- libellous Publication.

Robert Groome being called in; and having given an Account, at the Bar of this House, concerning the late Pamphlet, intituled, "A damnable Popish Plot;"

Ordered, That the said Robert Groome be discharged from the Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, without paying any Fees.

Address for a Fast.

Resolved, That an humble Address be presented to his Majesty, to desire his Majesty to appoint a Day for a solemn Fast and Humiliation to be kept throughout the Kingdom.

And it is referred to Sir Francis Russell, Sir Thomas Player, Mr. Powle, Sir Thomas Clerges, Mr. Serjeant Rigby, Sir Henry Ford, Sir Robert Clayton, Mr. Foley, Sir Robert Henley, Sir Robert Thomas, Sir Jonathan Keate, Mr. Duboys, Colonel Birch, Mr. Henley, Sir John Moreton, Mr. Sterne, Sir Richard Cust, Mr. Hamden, Sir Nicholas Carey, Mr. Onslow, Sir George Downing, Lord Colraine, Mr. Jefferyes, Mr. Boscawen, Mr. Lucy, Sir Rowland Guynne, or any Three of them, to draw up the said Address upon the Debate of the House: And they are to meet at Three of the Clock this Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Right of petitioning.

Mr. Serjeant Rigby reports from the Committee appointed to inquire after all such Persons as have offended against the Rights of the Subject to petition to his Majesty for the Sitting of the Parliament, That the Committee had directed him to make a Special Report of the Presentments of the Grand Jury for the County of Somersett, for the Lent Assizes; and of the Grand Jury for the County of Devon for the last Summer Assizes: Which Presentments he delivered in at the Clerk's Table: And for . . . . reported, That Captain William Castle, being summoned to attend the said Committee, did, in Contempt of the said Order, neglect to attend the Committee: And that the Committee desired the Directions of the House therein.

Ordered, That Sir Edward Phillips and William Colman, being Foremen of the said Grand Juries, be sent for in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, to answer, at the Bar of this House, for the Breach of Privilege, by them Committed against this House.

Ordered, That the said Captain William Castle be sent for in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, to answer, at the Bar of this House, for the Breach of Privilege by him committed against this House.

Ordered, That Mr. John Hutchinson and Mr. Henry Walrond, being of the said Grand Juries, be sent for in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, to answer, at the Bar of this House, for the Breach of Privilege by them committed against this House.

Ordered, That the Clerk of the Assizes for the Western Circuit, and the respective Clerks of the Peace, and Under Sheriffs of the said Counties of Devon and Somersett, be summoned, by the Serjeant at Arms to attend at the Bar of this House.

Ordered, That Mr. Thomas Ware and Mr. Edward Strode be summoned, by the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, to attend at the Bar of this House on Monday Morning next, at Ten of the Clock.

Popish Plot in Ireland.

Resolved, That the Committee appointed to receive Informations relating to the Popish Plot, have Power likewise to receive Informations relating to the Popish Plot in Ireland.

Address for removing Sir G. Jefferyes.

Sir Robert Clayton reports from the Committee appointed to prepare and draw up the Address concerning Sir George Jefferyes, 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 being read, was, upon the Question, agreed to; and is as followeth;

WE Your Majesty's most Dutiful and Loyal Subjects the Commons, in Parliament assembled, having received a Complaint against Sir George Jefferyes Knight, Your Majesty's Chief Justice of Chester; and heard the Evidence concerning the same; and also what he did allege and prove in his Defence; and being thereupon fully satisfied, that the said Sir George Jefferyes well knowing that many of Your Loyal Protestant Subjects, and particularly those of Your great and famous City of London, out of Zeal for the Preservation of the Protestant Religion, Your Majesty's Royal Person and Government, and in Hopes to bring the Popish Conspirators to speedy Justice, were about to petition to Your Majesty in an humble, dutiful, and legal Way, for the Sitting of this Parliament, the said Sir George Jefferyes, not regarding his Duty to his Majesty, or the Welfare of Your People, did, on purpose to serve his own private Ends, and to create a Misunderstanding between Your Majesty and Your good Subjects, though disguised with Pretence of Service to Your Majesty, maliciously declare such Petitioning sometimes to be tumultuous, seditious, and illegal; and at other times did presume publickly to insinuate and assert, as if Your Majesty would deprive Your Citizens of London of their Charters, and divers other Privileges, Immunities, and Advantages, and also, of Your Royal Favour, in case they should so petition, there should not be any Meeting or Sitting of Parliament; thereby traducing Your Majesty, as if You would not pursue Your Gracious Intentions, the rather because they were grateful to Your good Subjects; do, in the most humble Manner, beseech Your Majesty to remove the said Sir George Jefferyes out of the said Place of Chief Justice of Chester, and out of all other Publick Offices and Employments under Your Majesty.

Ordered, That such Members of this House, as are of his Majesty's most honourable Privy Council, do present this Address to his Majesty.

A person examined.

John Greenway being called in, gave an Account at the Bar touching the Information given to this House by Mr. Offley.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to examine the Matter of the said Information.

And it is referred to Sir Scroope How, Mr. Tanner, Mr. Tho. Foley, Sir John Clobery, Sir William Roberts, Mr. Stratford, Lord Annesly, Mr. Pierpoint, Mr. Slaughter, Mr. Powle, Sir John Wynne, Sir John Moreton, Mr. White, Sir Henry Calverly; or any Three of them: And they are to report the same to the House: And they are to meet at Three of the Clock this Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Popish Plot.

Mr. Zeile being called in, delivered his Information in Writing, relating to the Popish Plot.

A Member to attend.

Ordered, That Edward Seymour Esquire, a Member of this House, do attend the Service of this House in his Place, To-morrow Morning at Ten of the Clock.

Pardon and Rewards for Discoverers of Plot.

Ordered, That an humble Application be made from this House to his Majesty, by such Members thereof as are of his Majesty's most honourable Privy Council, to desire his Majesty to grant to Mr. Zeile a full and general Pardon, and to grant him some Allowance for his Subsistence.

Ordered, That an humble Application be made from this House to his Majesty, by such Members thereof as are of his Majesty's most honourable Privy Council; representing the Condition and Circumstances of Mr. Hetherington, and other the Witnesses touching the Popish Plot in Ireland; and to desire his Majesty to grant them some Allowance for their Support.

Ordered, That an humble Application be made to his Majesty, by such Members of this House as are of his Majesty's most honourable Privy Council, to desire his Majesty to confer upon Mr. Smith, who hath made a considerable Discovery of the Popish Plot, some Ecclesiastical Preferment.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees that are discontinued, be revived; and do sit this Afternoon, in the Places formerly appointed.

Proclamation against petitioning.

Ordered, That Sir Peter Gleane, Sir William York, Mr. Upton, Mr. White, Sir Robert Markham, Sir Rowland Guynne, Sir Francis Rolls, Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Paul Foley, Sir John Moreton, Sir John Wynne, Mr. Bremen, Sir Will. Bastard, Sir John Newton, be added to the Committee appointed to inquire after such Persons as have advised or promoted the Issuing out of a late Proclamation, styled, "A Proclamation against tumultuous Petitions."

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