House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 17 February 1671

Veneris, 17 Februarii, 1670.

Prayers.

Leave of Absence.

ORDERED, That Mr. Dyot have Leave of this House to go into the Country, his Wife being dangerously sick.

Repairing Churches.

Ordered, That Sir Bainham Throgmorton, and Mr. Churchill, be added to the Committee for Repair of Churches.

Bangor and St. Asaph Lead Mines.

An ingrossed Bill from the Lords, to enable Robert Lord Bishop of Bangor, and Isaac Lord Bishop of St. Asaph, and their respective Successors for ever, to lett, for One-and-twenty Years, all Lead Mines in their Soil, was read.

Resolved, &c. That the Bill be read the Second time.

Fishery.

A Bill for Promoting the Fishery Trade, was read: But being judged deficient; and brought in, without Order; was, with Leave, withdrawn.

Resolved, That it be referred to the Committee of Trade, to consider of an Imposition, and where it may best be laid; and also to receive Proposals, and consider of all Means expedient; and thereupon to prepare and bring in a Bill, for the Encouragement of Fishery: And, for that Purpose, they are to sit on Monday next.

Privilege- Petition from a person in custody.

A Petition of William Woolley Clerk, now in the Custody of the Serjeant at Arms, was read; confessing his Offence; and craving Pardon of the House.

Ordered, That William Woolley Clerk be discharged from the Custody of the Serjeant at Arms, paying his Fees.

Preventing Growth of Popery.

Sir Trevor Williams reports from the Committee appointed to inquire into the Causes of the Growth of Popery, several Reasons and Causes agreed by the Committee, and several Votes of Address to be made to his Majesty thereupon: Which he read in his Place; and after, delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: Which were twice read; and, upon the Question, agreed to; and are as followeth; viz.

1st, Popery increaseth, because there are great Numbers of Priests and Jesuists frequenting the Cities of London and Westminster; and most of the Counties of this Kingdom; more than formerly; seducing his Majesty's good Subjects.

2ly, That there are several Chapels and Places used, for saying of Mass, in the great Towns, and many other Parts of this Kingdom, besides those in Ambassadors Houses; whither great Numbers of his Majesty's Subjects constantly resort, and repair to, without Controul; and especially in the Cities of London and Westminster; contrary to the Laws established.

3ly, That there are Fraternities or Convents of English Popish Priests, at St. James and at the Combe in Herefordshire; and others in other Parts of the Kingdom: Besides, several Schools are kept in divers Parts of this Kingdom, for the corrupt educating of Youth in the Principles of Popery.

4ly, That the common and publick Selling of Popish Catechisms, and other seditious Papist Books, even in the Time of Parliament.

5ly, That the general Remissness of the Magistrates, and other Officers, or Clerks of the Assizes, and Clerks of the Peace, in not convicting Papists, according to Law.

6ly, That suspected Recusants are free from all Offices chargeable and troublesome; and do enjoy the Advantage of Offices and Places beneficial, executed either by themselves, or by Persons intrusted for them.

7th, That the Advowsance of Churches, and Presentations to Livings, are disposed of by Popish Recusants, or by others intrusted by them, as they direct; whereby most of those Livings and Benefices are filled with scandalous and unfit Ministers.

8ly, That many Persons take the Liberty to send their Children beyond the Seas, to be educated in the Popish Religion; and that several young Persons are sent beyond Sea, upon the Notion of their better Education, under Tutors or Guardians, who are not put to take the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, and usually corrupt the Youths, under their Tuition, into Popery.

9ly, That there hath been few Exchequer Process issued forth, since the Act of Oblivion, against the Popish Recusants convict, though many have been certified thither.

10ly, That the great Insolencies of the Papists in Ireland, where doth publickly appear Archbishops and Bishops, reputed to be made such by the Pope, in Opposition to those made under his Majesty's Authority, according to the Religion established in England and Ireland; and the open Exercise of Mass in Dublin, and other Parts of that Kingdom, is a further great Cause of the present Growth of Popery.

Peter Talbott, the reputed Archbishop of Dublin, was publickly consecrated so at Antwerpe, with great and publick Solemnity; from whence he came to London; where he exercised his Function, and was, all along his Journey to Chester, treated with the Character of His Grace, by the Popish Recusants whom he visited: And, at his landing in Dublin, he was received with very great Solemnity, by those of the Popish Religion there; where also he exercised his Function publickly, great Multitudes then flocking upon him, and still continue to do the same: His present Residence is within Three Miles of Dublin, at his Brother's, Colonel Richard Talbott's, who is now here, soliciting his Majesty, as publick Agent, on the Behalf of the Irish Papists of that Kingdom.

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1. That his Majesty, by His Proclamation, would be most graciously pleased to command, That all Popish Priests and Jesuits do depart this Realm, and all other his Majesty's Dominions, on or before a short Day to be prefixed, at their Perils; excepting only such foreign Priests as attend her Majesty's Person by the Contract of Marriage, and Ambassadors, according to the Law of Nations; and that all Judges and Justices of Peace, and all other Ministers and Officers of Justice, do cause the Laws, now in Force against Popish Recusants, to be put in due Execution; and in the first Place, for the speedy Conviction of such Popish Recusants, that the Judges and Justices aforesaid do strictly give the said Laws in Charge, unto the Juries, at all Assizes and Sessions, under the Penalty of incurring his Majesty's highest Displeasure.

2ly, That his Majesty would be graciously pleased to restrain and hinder the great Concourse of his native Subjects, from hearing of Mass, and other Exercises of the Romish Religion, in the Houses of foreign Ambassadors or Agents; and in all other Chapels and Places of this Kingdom.

3ly, That his Majesty would be most graciously pleased, out of his most princely Wisdom and pious Consideration, to take care, and cause, that no Office or Employment, of publick Authority, Trust, or Command, in civil or military Affairs, be committed to, or continued in, the Hands of any Persons, being a Popish Recusant, or justly suspected to be so.

4ly, That his Majesty would be graciously pleased to take Notice of all Fraternities and Convents of English and other Popish Priests, Jesuits, or Friers, and Schools for the educating of Youth in the Principles of Popery, erected within his Majesty's Dominions; and to cause the same to be abolished, and the said Priests, Jesuits, Friers, and Schoolmasters, to be duly punished, for such their Insolencies.

Resolved, &c. That his Majesty be humbly desired to give Order for apprehending, and bringing over into England, one Pluncket, who goes under the Name of Primate of Ireland; and one Peter Talbot, who takes on him the Name of Archbishop of Dublin; to answer such Matters as shall be objected against them.

Resolved, &c. That the former Committee, appointed to enquire into the Causes of the Growth of Popery, be revived; and do sit this Afternoon, in the Place formerly appointed:

And it is referred to the same Committee, or any Five of them, to prepare and draw up an Address to be presented to his Majesty, in pursuance to the Reasons and Votes agreed to by this House; and to consider of such further Reasons and Remedies as they shall find expedient; and to consider of any other Proposals, that shall be offered; and report the Matter, with their Opinions therein, to the House.

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