House of Lords Journal Volume 13: 25 October 1678

DIE Veheris, 25 die Octobris.

REX.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

PRAYERS.

L. Stafford acquaints the House with a Warrant out against him.

The Lord Viscount Stafford acquainted the House, "That he was informed that there was a Warrant issued out, from the Lord Chief Justice of England, to apprehend him; which he thought sit to acquaint their Lordships with, and submitted himself to their Lordships Judgement."

The Lord Chief Justice (being present) was commanded to give the House an Account of the Business:

Lord Chief Justice's Account of issuing his Warrants for apprehending Five Popish Lords.

Who said, "That last Night, about Nine of the Clock, he received a Letter from the Speaker of the House of Commons, dated from the Speaker's Chair, to come to the House of Commons, about Business of great Concernment. Accordingly he attended the House of Commons; where the Speaker told him, That the House of Commons had received Accusations of High Treason against Five Lords and some Gentlemen, and desired him to issue out his Warrants for their Apprehension. The Persons were, the Earl of Powis, Vicecomes Stafford, the Lord Arundell of Warder, the Lord Peters, and the Lord Bellasis; and, upon this, he issued out his Warrants for their Apprehension; having taken the Examination of Titus Otes upon Oath: That the Earl of Powis and the Lord Arundell were brought to him this Morning, in Custody; and he advised them to render themselves to The Gatehouse, where now they are."

Oates' Examination.

Upon this, the Examination of Otes was read; whereby it did appear, that the Lord Viscount Stafford was charged to be in a Conspiracy of Treason against the King.

The Lord Viscount Stafford denied the Fact; and after this withdrew.

L. Stafford will render himself to the L. C. J.

And after a while the House was informed, "That his Lordship would render himself to the Lord Chief Justice."

After some Debate of this Business, the further Consideration was put off until To-morrow.

Message from H. C. to return the following Address.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Sir William Hickman and others:

To acquaint their Lordships, that they agree to the (fn. 1) Amendment their Lordships have made in the Address to be presented unto His Majesty, for removing of Papists from London and Westm. and have made some Addition to the said Amendment; to which their Lordships Concurrence is desired.

The said Addition was read, and Agreed to.

The Address followeth:

Address for removing Papists from London, &c.

"We, Your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal Subjects, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, 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 severer 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', the Cities of London and Westm., 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, Constabularies, 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 hereby required and enjoined to send for them and every of them, and to tender them and 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 Westm. 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, otherwise than at the Council Board, to be signed by Six of the Lords of the Privy Council being then present, whereof the Lord Chancellor, Lord Treasurer, or Principal Secretary, to be One, 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. And whereas the Safety and Preservation of Your Majesty's Sacred Person is of so great a Consequence and Concernment to the Protestant Religion and to all Your Subjects, we do further most humbly beseech Your Majesty, to command the Lord Chamberlain, and all other the Officers of Your Majesty's Household, to take a strict Care, that no unknown or suspicious Persons may have Access near Your Majesty's Person; and that Your Majesty will likewise please to command the Lord Mayor and Lieutenancy of London to appoint sufficient Guards of the Trained Bands within the City of London, during this Session of Parliament; and likewise the Lords Lieutenants of Midd. and Surry to appoint the like Guards of the Trained Bands in Midd. Westm. Southwarke, and other Parts adjacent, as shall be thought necessary."

Message to H. C. that the Lords agree to it:

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir Tymothy Baldwin and Sir William Beversham:

To let them know, that the Lords agree to the Addition made by the House of Commons in the Address of both Houses to be presented to His Majesty.

King to be attended with it.

ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Lords with White Staves do wait on His Majesty, from this House, to know what Time His Majesty will please to appoint that both Houses may attend Him, to present their humble Address to His Majesty for the Removal of Papists from London.

Report concerning Sir G. Wakeman.

The Lord Bishop of Rochester reported, "That the Committee for examining the Papers relating to the horrid Design against His Majesty do find that Sir George Wakeman, notwithstanding the Matters against him, goes abroad; which the Committee leaves to the Judgement of the House, whether it be not fit he be apprehended."

Sir G. Wakeman apprehended.

The House was informed, "That Sir George Wakeman is apprehended."

Whitebread and Micho to be visited.

His Lordship further reported. "That they find, that Whitebread and Micho, having been sick and not able to be removed, have a Guard upon them; and Dr. Warner was appointed to visit them, but no Account thereof given."

ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That Dr. Lowre and Dr. Warner be, and are hereby, appointed to visit Mr. White, alias Whitebread, and Mr. Micho, being sick, near Wyld-boase; and give this House an Account To-morrow Morning in what Condition of Health they find them.

Langhorn's House to be searched.

ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That Sir Edward Carterct, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod attending this House, together with Sir William Beversham and Sir Samuell Clerke, Two of the Masters of Chancery now attending in this House, be, and are hereby, required to repair immediately to the House and Chamber of Mr. Langbornc, now Prisoner in Newgate, and seize such Papers, Letters, or other Writings, as they shall there find, and forthwith bring them to this House.

Adjourn.

Dominus Cancellarius declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque in diem Sabbati, 26^um diem instantis Octobris, hora decima Aurora, Dominis sic decernentibus.