Journal of the House of Lords: Volume 13, 1675-1681. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1767-1830.
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'House of Lords Journal Volume 13: 31 October 1678', in Journal of the House of Lords: Volume 13, 1675-1681, (London, 1767-1830) pp. 310-312. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/lords-jrnl/vol13/pp310-312 [accessed 19 April 2024]
In this section
DIE Jovis, 31 Octobris.
REX.
Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:
PRAYERS.
Address to the King, for Whitebread and Micho's Papers.
ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Lords with White Staves do attend His Majesty, humbly to desire Him, from this House, "That the Papers of Mr. Whitebread and Mr. Micho, which have been read at the Council Table, may be by His Majesty's Command brought before the Committee appointed to examine Papers relating to the horrid Design against His Majesty; and also that the Clerks of the Council may bring the Minutes taken by them upon the Examination of Titus Otes and others, before the Council, concerning this Matter."
Committee for examining Papers.
ORDERED, That the Committee for examining Papers and Letters do meet Tomorrow Morning, at Nine of the Clock; and finish the Reading of them, if they can.
The Earl of Essex and Lord Bishop of London are added to the Sub-committees for examining concerning the Murder of Sir Edmond Bury Godfrey.
Neffo's Papers to be perused.
ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Papers of Mr. Neffo, which, by Order of the Lords Committees appointed to examine Papers relating to the Discovery of the horrid Design against the King, were last Night brought into the Custody of the Clerk of the Parliaments, shall be perused, by Sir Edward Carteret Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, and One of the Clerks attending this House (the said Mr. Neffo being present with them), to the End that an Account of the said Papers may be given to this House.
Titus Oates's Narrative about the Plot.
Tytus Otes, being appointed to attend the House this Day, to give an Account of what he knows concerning the horrid Design against His Majesty's Person and the Government, was called in; who, at the Bar, made a large Narrative of it: In which a long Time being spent, and he wearied, humbly desired Leave (there being much behind) that he might retire to refresh himself.
Upon which, he had Leave to withdraw; and it was ORDERED, That he shall be heard what he hath further to say in the Afternoon.
Adjourn.
Dominus Cancellarius declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque in post meridiem hujus instantis diei, hora quarta, Dominis sic decernentibus.
Post meridiem.
REX.
Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:
| His Royal Highness the Duke of Yorke. | ||
|
Epus. London. Epus. Durham. Epus. Sarum. Epus. Ely. Epus. Bath. Epus. Oxon. Epus. Exon. |
Dux Cumberland. Ds. Cancellarius. Ds. Thesaurarius Angl. Ds. Custos Privati Sigilli. Dux Norff. Dux Bucks. Dux Albemarle. Dux Monmouth. Marq. Winton. Marq. Dorchester. Comes Kent. Comes Bridgwater. Comes Manchester. Comes Berks. Comes Mulgrave. Comes Peterborough. Comes Strafford. Comes Sunderland. Comes Scarsdale. Comes Clarendon. Comes Essex. Comes Bath. Comes Craven. Comes Shaftesbury. Comes Aylesbury. Comes Feversham. Vicecomes Halyfax. Vicecomes Newport. |
Ds. Mowbray. Ds. Awdley. Ds. Berkeley. Ds. Eure. Ds. Wharton. Ds. North & Grey. Ds. Grey de Wark. Ds. Lovelace. Ds. Maynard. Ds. Vaughan. Ds. Lucas. Ds. (fn. 1) Gerard Brand. Ds. Wotton. Ds. Cornwallis. Ds. Arundell de T. Ds. Butler M. P. |
PRAYERS.
Titus Oates's Narrative:
Tytus Otes, being at the Bar, is directed to proceed in giving an Account of the Commissions given to several Lords, and other Persons, for Offices Civil and Military.
Upon which, he proceeded in a particular Narrative thereof, with some Circumstances tending to make out the Truth thereof. And then was commanded to withdraw, but stay without.
Then, upon Consideration had hereof, the Lord Chancellor, by Directions of the House, caused him to be called in again; and told him, "That the Lords expect not his entering into particular Circumstances; but, if there be particular Persons concerned, of what Quality soever they be, the House expected he should name them."
But he named none, but those he had mentioned in his Narrative; nor could name no other Person.
Desires a Guard for his Person:
Then, being commanded to withdraw, he humbly desired he might have a Guard, in regard it is late, and dark, and that he goeth in Danger; and so withdrew.
His Person to be secured; to have Lodgings, Necessaries, &c.
Upon Consideration had whereof, and of his present Condition in Whitehall; he was called in again, and told by the Lord Chancellor, "That the House takes very well what he hath done; and, to the End he may be freed from those Persons who may come to discourse with him, purposely to undermine, so as to invalid his Testimony concerning this Business, he is to defend himself with this Answer, That he is under the Command of this House, not to discourse with any Person concerning this Matter; and is further told, that the House hath recommended to the Duke of Monmouth, to take Care of the Safety of his Person; and to the Lord Chamberlain of His Majesty's Household, for better Accommodation of Lodgings; and to the Lord High Treasurer of England, for supplying him with Necessaries."
Upon which, giving the House his humble Thanks, he withdrew.
Ld. Chanc. to write to absent Lords.
ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Lord Chancellor do send Letters to the absent Lords who have not their Proxies entered, requiring them forthwith to attend His Majesty's Service in the House of Peers.
Preservation of the King's Person.
ORDERED, That this House will proceed to Debate and consider what is fit to be done for the further Preservation of His Majesty's Person, the First Business Tomorrow Morning.
Information concerning Mr. Langhorn's Son.
Mary White, upon Oath, deposed at the Bar, "That, about Christmas last, she did hear Richard Langhorne say, That if One Thing did hit, his Father would be the Third Man in the Kingdom."
Hereupon the House made this Order:
Richard Langhorn to be attached.
"Upon Oath made at the Bar, "That Richard Langhorne, Son to Mr. Langhorne, now Prisoner in Newgate, hath uttered dangerous Words: It is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That Sir Edward Carteret Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod attending this House, or his Deputy, do forthwith attach the Body of the said Richard Langhorne, and bring him in safe Custody to the Bar of this House; and this shall be a sufficient Warrant on that Behalf.
"To Sir Edward Carteret, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod attending this House, his Deputy and Deputies, and to all Mayors, Sheriffs, Bailiffs, Constables, and other His Majesty's Officers, to be aiding and assisting in the Execution hereof."
King to be moved, for Sir W. Goring and Sir J. Gage to be removed to The Tower.
ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Lords with the White Staves do wait on His Majesty, from this House, humbly to desire His Majesty, "That Sir William Goring and Sir John Gage, now Prisoners in the Prison of The King's Bench for Treason, may be removed, to remain Prisoners in His Majesty's Tower of London; and that the Lord Arundell of Warder, and the said William Goring, and Sir John Gage, may, by His Majesty's Order, be kept close Prisoners there, and not suffered to come each at the other; and not be suffered to have either Pen, Ink, or Paper, till further Order."
Ld. Petre to be close Prisoner.
Whereas William Lord Petre stands committed by this House to The Tower of London, for Treason, wherewith he is charged:
It is this Day ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Constable of the said Tower, his Deputy and Deputies, do take Care that the said Lord Petre be kept close Prisoner, and not suffered to come to the other Prisoners, nor to have the Use of Pen, Ink, or Paper, till further Order.
Preston, Webster, et al. to be apprehended, and Popish Books seized.
ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, his Deputy or Deputies, do forthwith attach the Bodies of Mr. Preston in Duke Streete Schoolmaster, and the Schoolmaster in Warwicke Streete, William Smith the Schoolmaster of Islington, Mr. Webster a Schoolmaster, Mr. Moore a Bookseller in Duke Street, and his Brother a Bookseller in Holborne, and seize all such Popish Books as are in the Custody of the said Moore or his Brother, and bring the said Persons in safe Custody to the Bar of this House, to answer all such Matters as shall be objected against them on His Majesty's Behalf; and for so doing, this shall be a sufficient Warrant.
To Sir George Charnock Knight, Serjeant at Arms attending this House, his Deputy and Deputies, and to all His Majesty's Officers Civil and Military, to be aiding and assisting in the Execution hereof.
Thompson's Trunk to be delivered to Cler. Parl.
ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Constable who hath seized a Trunk of Papers out of the Hands of Mrs Thompson, Wife of James Thompson now Prisoner in The Gatehouse, be, and is hereby, required to bring and deliver the said Trunk into the Custody of the Clerk of the Parliaments; and for so doing, this shall be his Warrant and Discharge.
Adjourn.
Dominus Cancellarius declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque in diem Veneris, primum diem Novembris, 1678, hora decima Aurora, Dominis sic decernentibus.