House of Lords Journal Volume 13: 14 November 1678

DIE Jovis, 14 die Novembris.

REX.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

PRAYERS.

L Mayor attends, about Sorocold's Complaint against him, for refusing to grant a Warrant for apprehending a Priest

The House being informed, "That the Lord Mayor of London was attending their Lordships Pleasure at the Door," he was called in.

And, being come to the Bar, the Lord Chancellor did let him know the Information of William Serocold against him.

To which his Lordship said, "That William Scrocold had told the Truth, but not the whole Truth; for he did come to him for a Warrant to apprehend a Romish Priest, but could not tell his Name; only told him, the Priest was at one Mr. Cloud's House. His Lordship told Sorocold, he knew the Man very well; and offered to send for him while Sorocold was present. And accordingly he did send for Mr. Cloude; but Sorocold would not stay until he came.

"He knew Mr. Cloude to be a very honest Man, and of good Repute in the City; and that he was now attending at the Door.

"He humbly desired their Lordships to consider how much Business he is under, in the Government of the City, in this Juncture of Time; and expressed his Loyalty to the King and His Government, and the Religion of the Church of England; and that he should make it his Business to have a Care of the City."

Sorocold to be reprehended.

Then he being withdrawn; and the House having considered what the Lord Mayor had said;

He was called in again; and the Lord Chancellor, by the Direction of this House, told him, "They did not intend he should have had the Trouble in this busy Time to come in Person, but to have sent his Answer in Writing: That they are very well satisfied with what he hath done in this Business; and that the Lords look upon him as a Person that deserves Respect, for his Care in the Government of the City; and give him Thanks for it."

And further told him, "That William Sorocold had misrepresented his Lordship to the House; for which he should have a Reprehension."

And so his Lordship withdrew.

Cloud examined, concerning a Priest lodging in his House.

Then Mr. Clouds was called in; and asked, "Why he keeps a Chapel and a Ramish Priest in his House?" He denied both.

Being asked, "Of what Religion he was of?" He confessed, "He was a Roman Catholic; but he was ready to take the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy."

Hereupon the Lords made the ensuing Order:

To have the Oaths tendered to him.

"Whereas Mr. Cloude, of Broadstreete in London, appearing this Day at the Bar, was examined by this House: It is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Commissioners for the City of London authorized for that Purpose be, and are hereby, required to send for, and tender the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance to, the said Mr. Cloude."

Report concerning the Murder of Mr. Powell.

The Lord Marquis of Winton reported, "That the Committee appointed to examine concerning the Murder of Sir Edmond Bury Godfrey have received Information, "That one Mr. Powell, a Merchant of London, hath been missing for many Days; and none of his Relations can tell what is become of him:" That his Lordship, as a Justice of the Peace, hath taken several Examinations, by which there is great Presumption that he is murdered; and, by those Examinations, one Woodward and Adam Picket are strongly suspected to have a Hand in his Murder: Therefore it was desired, That the same Committee as examines concerning the Murder of Sir Edmond Bury Godfrey, may have Power and Authority to examine concerning the Murder of the said Powell; and that the said Woodward and Picket may be secured, and brought before the Committee at Three of the Clock this Afternoon."

ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Lords Committees appointed to examine Witnesses concerning the Murder of Sir Edmond Bury Godfrey be, and are hereby, authorized and empowered to send for, and examine, and secure, such Persons as they shall find Cause, relating to the Discovery of what is become of one Mr. Powell, a Merchant, who hath been for some Days missing, and of whom there are strong Presumptions that he is murdered; and to make Report thereof to the House.

Pickett, Woodward, &c. to be attached.

ORDERED, That the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, his Deputy or Deputies, be, and are hereby, required to attach the Bodies of Mr. Woodward and Adam Picket, and bring them in safe Custody to the Lords Committees appointed (amongst other Things) to enquire into the Matter of Mr. Powell, who hath been long missing; and this shall be a sufficient Warrant on that Behalf.

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.

Thanks to the Archbp. of Cant. for his Sermon.

ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Thanks of this House be given to the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, for his Pains in preaching before the House of Peers, in the Abby Church, Yesterday, being the Day appointed by His Majesty for solemn Fasting and Humiliation; and that his Grace be desired to print and publish his Sermon then preached.

Deputy Lieutenants in Yorkshire to enquire concerning Numbers of armed Men assembling there, and Meetings of Papists.

This House being moved, "That some Account may be speedily given to this House, of some Numbers of Horsemen, armed, riding through some Parts of the North Riding of Yorkeshire, and of several Meetings of Papists in those Parts:"

It is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Tem- poral in Parliament assembled, That it be, and is hereby, recommended to the speedy Care of Sir Christopher Wivall and Sir Richard Grimes, being Deputy Lieutenants and Justices of Peace there, to enquire into this Matter, and give this House an Account thereof.

This House being moved, "That some Account may be speedily given to this House, of some Num- bers of Horsemen, armed, riding through some Parts of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and of several Meetings of Papists in those Parts."

It is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That it be, and is hereby, recommended to the Care of the Lord Lieutenant of the West Riding of the County of York, to direct, that Henry Lord Fairfax, Sir John Kaye, and Ramsden Esquire, being Deputy Lieutenants and Justices of the Peace there, do enquire into this Matter, to the End this House may have a speedy Account thereof.

Thimbleby. committed.

Whereas Mr. Thimbleby, who was to be taken into Custody by the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, hath this Day appeared at the Bar, denying what is charged on him:

It is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the said Mr. Thimbleby shall stand committed to the Prison of The King's Bench, there to remain in safe Custody, till further Order; and that the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, or his Deputies, take Care to convey him to the said Prison; and this shall be a sufficient Warrant on that Behalf.

To Sir George Charnock Knight, Serjeant at Arms attending this House, and to the Keeper or Marshal of the Prison of The King's Bench, and their respective Deputies, and every of them.

L. Arundel to have Liberty in The Tower.

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 His Majesty will be pleased to give Order, that the Lord Arundell of Warder, now close Prisoner in The Tower for Treason, may, for his Health, have the Liberty of The Tower, with a Keeper; who is not to suffer any Persons to discourse with his Lordship privately."

L. Dunbarton, &c. Leave to stay in Town.

ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Lord Dumbarton, the Lord James Douglas, Colonel Mackarty, and Colonel Dungan, be, and are hereby, permitted to stay in Town till further Order.

Thanks to the Queen.

ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Lords with White Staves do attend the Queen's Majesty, from this House, with their humble Thanks to Her Majesty, for Her Care and Readiness to give them Satisfaction, in the late Search made at Somerset House.

Greene's Information.

William Greene upon Oath given him at the Bar, deposed, "That, about August last, he brought a Letter to one Collins, a Popish Priest, sent to him out of Flanders; wherein there was this Passage, "That there would be a War between England and France." Whereupon Collins replied, "We should have War enough at Home." This Collins, he said, lived in the Spanish Ambassador's House."

Collins and Guavara to be demanded of the Span. Ambassador.

Upon this the House ORDERED, That the Lords with White Staves do attend His Majesty, humbly to desire Him, from this House, "That His Majesty will be pleased to send to the Spanish Ambassador, desiring him that Collins, an Englishman and a Priest, and Dominick Mac Quir, alias Guavara, may be delivered to such Person or Persons as His Majesty shall think fit; and that Mr. Greene may go along with the Messenger who shall be sent, he knowing the said Collins when he seeth him."

King's Answers to Addresses.

The Lord Chamberlain reported, "That the Lords with the White Staves had presented His Majesty with Five Addresses:

"1. That the Trials of Samuell Atkins, Mr. Childe, and Edward Coleman, may be expedited.

"To which His Majesty returns this Answer: That He will expedite their Trials."

"2. That William Bedloe may have a general Pardon.

"To which His Majesty gives this Answer: That He will give him a general Pardon, as is desired.

"3. That His Majesty would please to give a Pardon to Diana and Elizabeth Salvin, for their Hearing of Mass.

"To which His Majesty gives this Answer: That He will give them a Pardon, as is desired.

"4. That Biston's Name may be inserted in the Proclamation against Conyers and others.

"The King's Answer is: That He, by His Secretary, has commanded Mr. Attorney to do it.

"5. That the Scottish Regiment may be speedily removed Forty Miles from London.

"His Majesty's Answer is: That He will give speedy Order for the removing of that Regiment."

Choque's Cartridges secured.

Upon Report made by the Earl of Shaftesbury, from the Lords Committees appointed to inspect the Nature of the Cartridges lately taken in the House of Mons. Choque, "That it is fit the said Cartridges should be secured:"

It is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Master of the Ordnance shall forthwith send for, and take into his Custody, the said Cartridges, and keep them in safe Custody in The Tower of London.

Disabling Papists from sitting in Parliament, &c. Bill.

The House was adjourned into a Committee, to proceed in the further Consideration of the Bill for the more effectual preserving of His Majesty's Person.

The House was resumed.

The Earl of Bridgwater reported, "That the Committee have been in further Consideration of the Bill for the Preservation of His Majesty's Person; and desire the House may be put into a Committee To-morrow Morning, to proceed therein; and that it may be the First Business, and nothing to intervene."

Which was ordered accordingly.

Marquis Winton and E. Clarendon, Quarrel.

Upon some Occasion of Words which passed between the Marquis of Winton and the Earl of Clarendon, the Lord Chancellor laid the Command of the House upon them, not to resent any Thing further of what passed now between them.

To which they both submitted.

ORDERED, That the Lord Colepeper is added to the Committee appointed to examine the Murder of Sir Edmond Bury Godfrey.

Adjourn.

Dominus Cancellarius declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque in diem Veneris, 15^um diem instantis Novembris, hora decima Aurora, Dominis sic decernentibus.