House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 22 March 1679

Sabbati, 22 die Martii, 1678.

Prayers.

Buckingham Return amended.

THE Clerk of the Crown being called in, did, according to the Order of the House, take off the File the Indenture wherein Edward Viscount Lattimer, and Sir Richard Temple, are returned to serve in this present Parliament for the Town of Buckingham.

Huntington Election.

A Petition of Sir Lionel Walden, complaining of an undue Return of Mr. Sydney Wortley, to serve in this present Parliament as One of the Burgesses for the Borough of Huntington, 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; and report the same, with their Opinions therein, to the House.

Devizes Election.

A Petition of the Common Councilmen and Inhabitants of the Devizes in the County of Wilts, complaining of undue and illegal Practices used by the Mayor of the said Borough, in Electing and Returning of Sir Edward Baynton, and Sir Walter Earnly, to serve in this present Parliament as Burgesses of the said Borough, in Injury of the Petitioners, 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.

Securing King, &c. against Popery.

Ordered, That a Bill be brought in, upon the Debate of the House, to secure the King and Kingdom against the Growth and Danger of Popery.

And it is referred to Sir Thomas Clarges, Serjeant Maynard, Mr. Williams, Sir Trevor Williams, Mr. Thyn, Mr. Powle, Mr. Stone, Sir Wm. Poultney, Sir Tho. Lee, Colonel Birch, Sir John Knight, Sir Joseph Tredenham, Mr. Trenchard, Sir Tho. Meres, Sir Robert Carr, Mr. Sachaverell, Sir Samuel Bernardiston, Mr. Seymour, Mr. Hamden, Sir Henry Caverly, or any Five of them, to prepare the said Bill; and present the same to the House.

Answer to Address.

Mr. Secretary Coventry acquaints the House, That his Majesty had been attended with the Address of this House, relating to the Five hundred Pounds Reward, to be paid to Mr. Bedlow, for discovering the Murder of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey (who this House was satisfied to be the first Discoverer thereof); and also, for paying Twenty Pounds for the Discovery of every Priest, which his Majesty had promised in his late Royal Proclamation: And his Majesty was graciously pleased to say, That the Five hundred Pounds should be immediately paid; and that his Promises should be effectually performed.

Message to attend the King.

A Message from his Majesty, by Sir Edward Carteret, Usher of the Black Rod;

Mr. Speaker,

The King commands this honourable House to attend him, immediately, in the House of Peers.

And accordingly Mr. Speaker, with the House, went up to attend his Majesty in the House of Peers.

The King's Speech reported.

Mr. Speaker, and the House, being returned; and Mr. Speaker having taken the Chair; reports the Effect of his Majesty's Speech.

Lords reminded concerning Earl Danby.

Resolved, Nemine contradicente, That a Message be immediately sent, to remind their Lordships of the last Message, sent them from this House, relating to the Earl of Danby; and to demand, That Thomas Earl of Danby may be forthwith sequestred from Parliament, and committed to safe Custody.

Ordered, That the Lord Annesley do carry up the Message.

Lords desire a Conference.

A Message from the Lords; by Sir Timothy Baldwyn and Sir William Beversham;

Mr. Speaker, The Lords desire a present Conference with this House, in the Painted Chamber.

The Messengers being called in, Mr. Speaker acquaints . . . ., That this House would return their Lordships an Answer, by Messengers of their own.

Resolved, &c. That a Message be sent to the Lords, to acquaint them, That the House having received a Message from their Lordships, whereby they desired a present Conference with this House in the Painted Chamber; That it is not agreeable to the Usage and Proceedings of Parliament, for either House to send for a Conference, without expressing the Subject Matter of that Conference.

Ordered, That Mr. Hamden do go up with this Message.

Inquiry concerning two Pamphlets.

Mr. Hills being called in, to give the House an Account touching the Two Pamphlets, informed the House, That he printed them, by Order of the Lord Treasurer.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to consider of the Two Pamphlets, which were printed by Mr. Hills, for Mr. Edwyn, by Order of the Lord Treasurer; and to report their Opinions thereupon to the House.

And it is referred to Mr. Vaughan, Mr. Powle, Mr. Seymour, Sir Patience Ward, Colonel Titus, Sir Wm. Poultney, Sir Tho. Meres, Sir Tho. Lee, Sir Tho. Clerges, Mr. Duboys, Sir Tho. Player, Sir Rob. Peyton, Mr. Boscawen, Mr. Hamden, Mr. Mountague, Mr. Trenchard, Colonel Birch, Sir Wm. Poultney; or any Five of them: And they are to meet on Monday next, at Three of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Inner Court of Wards.

Conference concerning Earl Danby.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Edward Low and Sir John Francklyn;

Mr. Speaker, The Lords do desire a present Conference with this House in the Painted Chamber, touching Matters relating to the Earl of Danby.

The Messengers being withdrawn;

Resolved, That this House will meet the Lords at a present Conference.

The Messengers being called in; Mr. Speaker acquaints them, That this House doth agree to meet their Lordships at a present Conference in the Painted Chamber.

Ordered, That Mr. Powle, Sir Tho. Lee, Sir John Mallet, Sir Tho. Player, Sir Thomas Meres, Mr. Sachaverell, Sir Henry Capell, Mr. Harbord, Mr. Vaughan, Lord Cavendish, Sir Tho. Clerges, Mr. Seymour, Sir Robert Carr, Colonel Birch, Sir Jos. Tredenham, Colonel Titus, Sir Francis Winnington, do attend and manage the Conference.

Mr. Powle reports, That the Members appointed had attended the Conference: At which the Duke of Monmouth spake as followeth;

"I am commanded by the Lords to acquaint you, That their Lordships, having taken into Consideration Matters relating to the Earl of Danby, together with what his Majesty was pleased to say upon that Subject, have ordered, That a Bill be brought in, by which Thomas Earl of Danby may be made for ever incapable of coming to his Majesty's Presence; and of all Offices and Employments; and of receiving any Grants or Gifts from the Crown; and of sitting in the House of Peers.

Resolved, &c. That the Consideration of this Report be adjourned till Monday next.

Inquiry concerning his Pardon.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to repair to the Lord Chancellor, and the other Offices, to inquire into the Manner of suing forth the Pardon of Thomas Earl of Danby; and make their Report thereof to the House, on Monday next.

And it is referred to Mr. Vaughan, Sir. Tho. Lee, Sir Francis Winnington, Sir Thomas Meres, Mr. Sachaverell, Mr. Powle; or any Three of them.

The King appoints to be attended.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Edward Low and Sir John Francklyn;

Mr. Speaker, We are commanded by the Lords to acquaint you, That their Lordships have agreed to the Address of this House to be presented to his Majesty, to desire his Majesty to appoint a Day for a general Fast and Humiliation. And the Lords of the White Staves having waited upon his Majesty to know his Pleasure when both Houses may attend him, his Majesty hath appointed both Houses to attend him on Monday next, at Three of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Banqueting House.

And then the House adjourned till Monday Morning, Eight of the Clock.