House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 27 October 1680

Mercurii, die 27 Octobris, 1680.

Montgomery Election.

A PETITION of Sir John Trevor, touching the Election for the Shire-town of Montgomery, was read.

Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to the Consideration of the Committee of Privileges and Elections; to examine the Matter thereof; and to report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Coventry Election.

A Petition of Robert Feilding Esquire, touching the Election for Coventry, was read.

Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to the Consideration of the Committee of Privileges and Elections; to examine the Matter thereof; and to report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House.

Votes and Journal.

Ordered, That the Votes of each Day be read the Day following, the first Business.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to inspect the Journals of the House every Day; and see that due Entries be made therein.

And it is referred to Mr. Papillon, Mr. Buscawen, Mr. Barker, Mr. Rushworth, Sir John Knight, Mr. Duboys, Sir Robert Markham, Sir Thomas Player, or any Two of them.

Popish Plot.

Mr. Dangerfield attending, according to the Order Yesterday made, was called in; and delivered his Evidence relating to the horrid Popish Plot, in Writing:

And being withdrawn;

Ordered, That Mr. Dangerfeild be again called in; and do read the said Paper, and sign each Page thereof.

Which he did, accordingly.

Address- Discoveries of Plot.

Mr. Treby reports from the Committee appointed to prepare and draw up an Address to be presented to his Majesty, An Address, agreed upon by the Committee: Which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same being twice read, was, with an Amendment made at the Table, upon the Question, agreed, Nemine contradicente: And is as followeth;

May it please Your Majesty,

We Your Majesty's most Dutiful and Loyal Subjects the Commons, in Parliament assembled, being highly zealous for the Preservation of the Protestant Religion, Your Majesty's Sacred Person and Government; and resolving to pursue, with a strict and impartial Inquiry, the execrable Popish Plot which was detected in the Two last Parliaments; and has been supported, and carried on, by potent and restless Practices and Machinations, especially, during the late Recesses of Parliament, whereby several Persons have been terrified, and discouraged from declaring their Knowledge thereof; most humbly beseech Your Majesty, That, for the Security of such Persons who shall be willing to give Evidence, or make further satisfactory Discovery, concerning the same, to this House, Your Majesty would be pleased to issue Your Royal Proclamation, assuring all the said Persons of Your gracious Pardon, if they shall give such Evidence, or make such Discovery, within Two Months after the Date of such Proclamation.

Ordered, That such Members of this House as are of his Majesty's most honourable Privy Council, do desire to know his Majesty's Pleasure, When this House may attend him.

Right of petitioning.

Resolved, Nemine contradicente, That it is, and ever hath been, the undoubted Right of the Subjects of England, to petition the King for the Calling and Sitting of Parliaments, and Redressing all Grievances.

Resolved, Nemine contradicente, That to traduce such Petitioning as a Violation of Duty, and to represent it to his Majesty as tumultuous and seditious, is to betray the Liberty of the Subject; and contributes to the Design of subverting the ancient legal Constitution of this Kingdom, and introducing arbitrary Power.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to inquire of all such Persons as have offended against these Rights of the Subject.

And it is referred to Sir Francis Winnington, Sir Gilbert Gerrard, Mr. Serjeant Rigby, Sir Francis Russell, Sir John Brookes, Mr. Treby, Sir John Trenchard, Colonel Titus, Sir Hen. Thompson, Mr. Sacheverell, Sir Anthony Irby, Lord Brandon, Alderman Love, Sir Thomas Lee, Sir John Wynn, Sir Thomas Meres, Mr. Wright, Mr. Garway, Mr. Honywood, Sir John Hartop, Sir William Courtney, Sir Robert Clayton, Mr. Powle, Mr. Barker, Mr. Papillon, Sir William Portman, Mr. Thynn, Sir John Hotham, Mr. Hord, Sir John Hobbart, Sir Thomas Player, Mr. Walden, Sir Charles Hawton, Mr. Reynell, Sir John Knight, Sir Eliab Harvey, Sir Tho. Mompesson, Sir Thomas Clarges, Mr. Howard, Sir John Stonehouse, Sir Robert Thomas, Sir John Trevor, Sir Henry Capell, Mr. Foley, Mr. Hamden, and all the Members that serve for London: And all that come are to have Voices: And they are to meet at Three of the Clock this Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber: And are impowered to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Right of Petitioning- Complaint against Sir G. Jefferyes;

A Petition of divers Citizens of the City of London, complaining against Sir George Jefferyes, Recorder of the said City, for having offended against the said Rights of the Subject; being presented to the House;

And the Petitioners being called in to the Bar of the House, avowed the said Petition: And being withdrawn;

The Petition was read.

Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to the Consideration of the former Committee.

and against a Member.

The House being informed, That Sir Francis Wythens, a Member of this House, had likewise offended against the said Rights of the Subject.

Ordered, That Sir Francis Wythens, a Member of this House, have Notice given him by the Serjeant at Arms, to attend in his Place To-morrow Morning.

Address for supporting the King.

Resolved, That an Address be made to his Majesty, declaring the Resolution of this House, to preserve and support the King's Persons, and the Government, and the Protestant Religion, at Home and Abroad.

And it is referred to Mr. Powle, Mr. Hamden, Sir Thomas Lee, Sir Thomas Meres, Colonel Birch, Mr. Harbord, Mr. Sacheverell, Sir Francis Winnington, Sir Henry Capell, Colonel Titus, Sir John Clobery, Sir Richard Corbett, Sir Thomas Clarges, Mr. Buscawen, Sir Eliab Harvey, Sir John Trevor, Sir Richard Graham, Sir Francis Russell, Sir Robert Thomas, Sir Gilbert Gerrard, or any Five of them, to prepare and draw up the same: And they are to meet at Three of Clock this Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Popish Plot.

Ordered, That the Evidence this Day given in by Mr. Dangerfeild in Writing, be sealed up, and lodged in the Hands of Mr. Speaker.

Ordered, That Sir Francis North, Lord Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, do attend this House To-morrow Morning at Ten of the Clock, with the Evidence by him taken from Mr. Bedloe at Bristoll.

Ordered, That Mr. Dugdale be summoned, by the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, to give his Evidence at the Bar To-morrow Morning at Ten of the Clock, relating to the horrid Popish Plot.

Ordered, That the Papers and Writings in the Custody of Mrs. Bedloe, relating to the horrid Popish Plot, be brought to this House: And the Members that serve for the City of London, are desired to take Care to give her Notice thereof.

Ordered, That Mr. Prance be summoned by the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, to give his Evidence at the Bar of this House, To-morrow Morning at Ten of the Clock, relating to the horrid Popish Plot.

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