Jovis, 20 die Martii, 1678-9.
Prayers.
Tregony Writ.
ORDERED, That Mr. Speaker do issue out his
Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to make out a
new Writ, for the electing of a Member to serve in this
present Parliament for the Borough of Tregony in the
County of Cornwall, in the room of Robert Boscawen
Esquire, deceased.
Address for a Fast.
Resolved, &c. That an humble Address be made to his
Majesty, to desire his Majesty to appoint a Day for a
solemn Fast and Humiliation.
And it is referred to Sir Thomas Player, Sir John
Knight, Mr. Dubois, Sir Wm. Poultney, Colonel Birck,
Sir Tho. Clerges, Colonel Mildmay, Sir Robert Atkins,
Sir Anthony Irby, Mr. Onslow, or any Three of them, to
draw up and prepare the said Address.
Westminster Election.
A Petition of Sir Philip Matthews, Baronet, and Sir
William Waller Knight, complaining of undue Practices
used by the Bailiff of the City and Liberty of Westminster,
in the Electing and Returning of Sir Stephen Fox and Sir
William Poultney, to serve in this present Parliament as
Citizens for the City of Westminster, in Injury of the Petitioners, who were duly elected, and ought to have been
returned, was read.
Resolved, &c. That the said Petition be referred to the
Consideration of the Committee of Privileges and Elections; to examine the Matter thereof; and report the
same, with their Opinions therein, to the House.
Newport Election.
A Petition of John Maurice Merchant, complaining of
an undue Return of John Coryton, Esquire, to serve in
this present Parliament as One of the Burgesses for the
Borough of Newport in the County of Carnwall, in Injury of the Petitioner, who was duly elected, and ought
to have been returned, was read.
Resolved, &c. That the said Petition be referred to the
Consideration of the Committee of Privileges and Elections; to examine the Matter thereof; and report the
same, with their Opinions therein, to the House.
Bridgewater Election.
A Petition of Ralph Staywell Esquire, complaining of
an undue Return of Sir Francis Rolle, to serve in this
present Parliament as Burgess for the Borough of Bridgewater in the County of Somerset, in Injury of the Petitioner, who was duly elected, and also returned, to serve
for the said Borough, was read.
Resolved, &c. That the said Petition be referred to the
Consideration of the Committee of Privileges and Elections; to examine the Matter thereof; and report the
same, with their Opinions therein, to the House.
Coventry Election.
A Petition of Robert Feilding Esquire, complaining of
unjust and partial Proceedings, and unwarrantable Practices, used by the Sheriffs of the County and City of
Coventry, in Electing and Returning of Major Beake, and
Richard Hopkins Esquire, to serve in this present Parliament as Citizens for the said City, in Injury of the Petitioner; who had been chosen by the Majority of Votes;
had it not been for such Proceedings; was read.
Resolved, &c. That the said Petition be referred to the
Consideration of the Committee of Privileges and Elections; to examine the Matter; and report the same,
with their Opinions therein, to the House.
New Radnor Election.
A Petition of Robert Deering Esquire, complaining,
that although he was duly elected to serve for the Town
of New Radnor; yet the Bailiff of the Town, combining
with Sir Edward Harley, had by an Indenture returned
the said Sir Edward Harley; but that the same was not
returned by the Sheriff; and praying the Justice of the
House therein; was read.
Resolved, &c. That the Clerk of the Crown do attend
To-morrow Morning, to give an Account of the Writ
for Radnorshire.
Montgomery Election.
A Petition of the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Burgesses of Llanidloes, Poole, and Llanvilling, in the County of Montgomery, complaining of an undue Practice used by the Bailiff
of the Town of Montgomery, in not giving timely Notice
to the Inhabitants of the said Boroughs, of the Election;
and, upon the Day of Election, excluding the Petitioners
from being polled, who had agreed to give their Votes for
Edw. Lloyd Esquire, but the said Bailiff, being influenced
by some great Persons of the Neighbourhood, returned
Matthew Price Esquire, to serve in this present Parliament
as Burgess for the said Town, notwithstanding the Petitioners, who were the far greater Number, unanimously
made Choice of the said Edw. Lloyd, to the great Injury
of the Petitioners; and praying, that the said Edw. Lloyd
may either have the Benefit of their Voices, or that the
Election may be made void; was read.
Resolved, &c. That the said Petition be referred to the
Consideration of the Committee of Privileges and Elections; to examine the Matter thereof; and report the
same, with their Opinions therein, to the House.
Motions depending last Session.
Sir Francis Winnington reports from the Committee
appointed to inspect the Journal of the last Session of the
last Parliament, and to prepare and draw up a State of the
Matters then depending and undetermined; and the Progress that was made therein: That the Committee had
agreed upon a Report: Which he made in his Place: But
that the same, by reason of the Shortness of Time, was
not reduced into Writing.
And a Debate being in the House thereupon;
Resolved, &c. That the said Report be re-committed, upon the Debate of the House; and to be brought
in, in Writing, to the end the same may be entered in the
Journal.
Committee on Impeachments and Plot, &c.
Resolved, &c. That a Committee of Secrecy be appointed
to take Informations, and prepare Evidences, and draw
up Articles against the Lords that are impeached, and are
now in the Tower; and to take such further Informations
as shall be given, relating to the Plot and Conspiracy
against his Majesty and the Government, and the Murder
of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey.
And it is referred to Mr. Trenchard, Sir Franc. Winington, Sir Thomas Meeres, Mr. Vaughan, Mr. Sachaverell,
Colonel Titus, Sir Henry Capell, Sir Tho. Stringer, Serjeant
Ellis, Sir Thomas Lee, Serjeant Maynard, Mr. Powle, Mr.
Seymour, Mr. Treby, Sir Tho. Player, or any Three of
them: And they are impowered to send for Persons, Papers, and Records; and to sit de die in diem.
Members of the Long Robe summoned.
Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do send a Letter to Mr.
Williams, and the rest of the Members of the Long Robe
that are now gone the Circuit, to summon them to attend
the Service of the House.
Popish Plot.
Ordered, That Doctor Tongue, Mr. Oates, and Mr.
Bedlow, be summoned to attend at the Bar of this House
To-morrow Morning, to give such Informations as they
can concerning the Plot.
Proceedings of Lords on Impeachments.
Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to inspect the
Journals of the House of Lords, and see what Resolutions
have been there taken in Matters of Impeachment.
And it is referred to Mr. Sachaverell, Sir Fra. Winington, Colonel Birch, Sir Henry Capell, Sir Tho. Clerges,
Mr. Bennet, Mr. Powle, Sir Tho. Meers, Sir John Mallet,
Sir John Knight, Colonel Titus, or any Three of them.
Earl Danby's Impeachment.
Resolved, Nemine contradicente, That a Message be sent
to the Lords, to put them in mind of the Impeachment of
High Treason exhibited against Thomas Earl of Danby, in
the Name of the Commons of England; and to desire,
that he may be forthwith committed to safe Custody.
Resolved, &c. That it be referred to the Committee of
Secrecy, to draw up further Articles against Thomas Earl
of Danby.