House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 13 November 1680

Sabbati, 13 die Novembris, 1680.

Prayers.

Linnington Election.

A PETITION of Richard Whitehead Esquire, touching the Election for the Borough of Linnington in the County of Southampton, was read.

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

Privilege- Libellous Publication.

Richard Janeway, in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms, being called in, acquainted the House, That the Pamphlet by him published, for which he stands committed, was printed by * Everingham, * Bradwell, and Thomas James, Samuell Lee, and Thomas Symonds, Stationers; and that the Copy by which the same was printed, was delivered by Mr. Andrew Yarington.

Ordered, That Mr. Yarington, Mr. James, Mr. Everingham, Mr. Bradwell, Mr. Symonds, and Mr. Lee, be summoned to attend at the Bar of this House, on Monday Morning next, at Ten of the Clock; to answer the said Charge to the House concerning Printing and Publishing of the said Pamphlet.

Answers to Addresses.

Mr. Secretary Jenkins acquaints the House, That such Members thereof, as are of his Majesty's most honourable Privy Council, had attended his Majesty, pursuant to the Five several Orders of Address from this House to his Majesty: And that his Majesty's Answer to the several Addresses was to this effect;

That, as to the First Address, whereby the House desired to know his Majesty's Pleasure, When this House should attend him, his Majesty was pleased, in Answer thereto, to appoint Three of the Clock this Afternoon for the House to attend him in the Banqueting House.

That as to the Second Address, whereby this House did make humble Application to his Majesty for the Pardon of Mr. Jennison, his Majesty was pleased to answer, That he would grant him a Pardon for all Treasons, Misprisions of Treason, Felonies, and Outlawries for Felony.

That, as to the Third Address, relating to Money to defray the incident Charges in the Prosecution of the Tryals of the Lords in the Tower, his Majesty was pleased to answer, That he had directed a Hundred Pound to be issued out to such Person as is or shall be appointed by this House for that Purpose.

That, as to the Fourth Address, desiring that all such Papers, Letters, Examinations, Writings and other Evidences relating to the Popish Plot, as were delivered in to the Clerks of the Council since the Dissolution of the last Parliament, might be transmitted to this House, his Majesty was pleased to return this Answer; That, upon the First Sitting of the Committee of Examinations of the House of Lords upon the Plot, his Majesty had directed all such Papers, Letters, Examinations, Writings, and other Evidences relating to the Plot, as were delivered in to the Clerks of the Council since the Dissolution of the last Parliament, to be transmitted to the said Committee of Lords, where they still remain.

That, as to the last Address, desiring a Pardon for Edmund Murphy, Thomas Samson, John Macnamarra, Hobart Bourck, John Fitzgerald, and Eustace Coning, his Majesty was pleased to answer, That he would grant a Pardon to all the said several Persons, for all Treasons, Misprisions of Treason, Felonies, and Outlawries for Felony.

Paving Streets, &c.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to inspect the Laws concerning Paving and Repairing of the Streets, and Regulating of Hackney Coaches; and to inquire into the Proceedings of the last Parliament relating to Hackney Coaches; and to report the same, with their Opinions therein, to the House; and to prepare and bring in a Bill for regulating of Hackney Coaches, Repairing, Paving, and Cleansing of Streets, and Opening of Passages in and about the Cities of London and Westminster.

And it is referred to Mr. Owen, Mr. Love, Colonel Birch, Mr. Pilkington, Sir Anth. Irby, Mr. Stroude, Sir John Moreton, Sir John Wynne, Sir Robert Clayton, Mr. John Trenchard, Sir George Downing, Sir Eliab Harvey, Mr. Davyes, Mr. Hamden, Mr. Papillon, Mr. George Pelham, Mr. Duboys, Mr. Sacheverell, Sir Gilbert Gerald, Sir Samuel Bernardiston, Sir William Poultney, Sir Thomas Clarges, Sir Patience Ward, Mr. Slaughter, Mr. Paul Foley, Mr. White, Sir Henry Calverly, Sir Roger Hill; and all the Members that serve for London, Westminster, Southwark, and Middlesex; or any Five of them: 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.

Privilege- Arrest of a Witness.

The House being informed, That Mr. Thomas Dare, who is a Witness in the Matter touching the Election of Taunton Dean in the County of Somersett, which is, by Order of the House, to be heard at the Bar next Friday Sevennight, is a Prisoner in Execution at the Suit of the King, upon an Information for certain Misdemeanors;

Ordered, That the said Mr. Thomas Dare be brought in Custody of the Sheriff of the said County of Somersett, to give in his Evidence at the Bar of this House, touching the Election aforesaid.

Privilege- A person discharged.

Sir Robert Yeamans being, according to the Order Yesterday made, brought to the Bar of this House, did acknowledge the Offence by him committed; and humbly begged the Pardon of the House.

And being withdrawn;

Ordered, That Sir Robert Yeamans be again brought to the Bar of this House; and do receive the Censure of this House, upon his Knees, from Mr. Speaker; and be then discharged from the Custody of the Serjeant at Arms, paying his Fees.

And Sir Robert Yeamans being accordingly brought to the Bar, and there kneeling, Mr. Speaker, after having given him the Censure of the House, acquainted him, That he was discharged, paying his Fees.

Popish Plot.

Mr. Norris being called in, gave an Information, in Writing, relating to the Popish Plot: Which was read at the Clerk's Table.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to receive Informations concerning the Popish Plot; and to inquire into the same; and to report the same to the House, as often as they shall see Occasion.

And it is referred to Colonel Birch, Serjeant Rigby, Sir Robert Clayton, Mr. Boscawen, Mr. Spencer, Sir Gervas Elwes, Mr. Barker, Sir Francis Rolls, Mr. Foley, Lord Russell, Sir John Wynne, Mr. Conisby, Sir Robert Henley, Mr. Colt, Sir John Moreton, Mr. Mostin, Mr. Chafin, Sir Robert Markham, Mr. Paul Foley, Sir Samuel Bernardiston, Mr. Powle, Sir Gilbert Gerald, Sir Thomas Player, Mr. White, Lord Brandon, Sir Richard Corbett, Sir Rowland Gwynne, Sir Roger Hill, Colonel Whitley, Sir Edward Harley, Sir Trevor Williams, Sir John Coventry, Mr. Hamden, Sir Hen. Calverly; or any Five of them: 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.

And that the Information, this Day given at the Bar by Mr. Norris, be referred to the Consideration of the said Committee: Who are to examine the Matter thereof; and to report the same, with their Opinions therein, to the House.

Irish Cattle.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Timothy Baldwin and Sir John Hoskins;

Mr. Speaker, The Lords have commanded us to acquaint you, That they have agreed to the Bill sent from this House, intituled, An Act prohibiting the Importation of Cattle from Ireland, without any Amendment.

Report deferred.

Ordered, That the Report made and delivered in Yesterday, by Sir Francis Winnington, be read to the House on Monday Morning next, at Nine of the Clock.

Right of Petitioning- Complaint against Sir G. Jefferyes.

Mr. Trenchard reports from the Committee to whom the Petition of divers Citizens of London, against Sir George Jefferyes, Recorder of the said City, was referred, That the said Committee had taken the same into Consideration; and had heard the Evidence of the Petitioners, and of the said Sir George Jefferyes; and had agreed upon a Vote to be reported to the House: Which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table; and is as followeth;

Resolved, That this Committee is of Opinion, That, by the Evidence given to this Committee, it does appear, That Sir George Jefferyes, Recorder of the City of London, by traducing and obstructing Petitioning for the Sitting of this Parliament, hath betrayed the Rights of the Subject.

The said Vote being read to the House;

And several of the Members having given Evidence in their Places touching the same Matter;

Resolved, That this House doth agree with the Committee, That Sir George Jefferyes, by traducing and obstructing Petitioning for the Sitting of this Parliament, hath betrayed the Right of the Subject.

Address for his Removal.

Ordered, That an humble Address be made to his Majesty, to remove Sir George Jefferyes out of all publick Offices.

And it is referred to Sir William Jones, Mr. Sacheverell, Mr. John Trenchard, Sir Robert Clayton, Sir John Trevor, Sir Thomas Player, Lord Russell, Mr. Pilkington, Sir Patience Ward, Mr. Treby, Lord Brandon, Mr. Booth, Sir Francis Winnington, Mr. Foley, Mr. Hamden, Sir Robert Dillington, Sir Henry Capell, Colonel Titus, Mr. Palmes, Sir Gilbert Gerald, Mr. Powle, Mr. Love, Colonel Birch, Sir John Moreton, Sir Richard Corbett, Mr. Dubois, Mr. Trenchard, Sir Henry Calverly, Mr. Vernon, Mr. Boscawen, or any Three of them, to prepare and draw up the same: And they are to meet on Monday next, at Three of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Vote to be communicated to the City.

Ordered, That the Members of this House, that serve for the City of London, do communicate the Vote of this House relating to Sir George Jefferyes, together with their Resolutions thereupon, to the Court of Aldermen for the said City.

Proclamation against petitioning.

Ordered, That the Committee last-mentioned do inquire into all such Persons as have been advising or promoting of the Issuing out of the late Proclamation, styled, "A Proclamation against tumultuous Petitioning," &c.: And they are impowered to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

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