House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 1 November 1678

Veneris, 1 die Novembris, 1678.

Prayers.

Committee for Conference.

ORDERED, That the Committee appointed to consider of, and prepare the Matter to be delivered at the Conference to be had with the Lords, do withdraw, and finish their Report.

Address for guarding the City, &c.

Resolved, &c. That an humble Address be presented to his Majesty, by such Members of this House as are of his Majesty's most honourable Privy Council, To desire his Majesty, That the Orders which he has given, that the Suburbs of the City of London and Westminster, and Parts adjacent, may, during the Sitting of the Parliament, be guarded and secured by the Militia, be put in Execution.

Coleman's Papers.

Sir John Knight reports from the Committee appointed to examine and translate Mr. Coleman's Papers, That the Committee had taken several of the Papers into Consideration; and had translated such of them as were written in French: And that the Committee had ordered him to report the same.

And the Papers being by him delivered to Mr. Speaker; several of them were, by Mr. Speaker, read to the House.

Resolution that there is a Popish Plot.

Sir Rob. Sawyer reports from the Committee appointed to consider and prepare Matter, to be offered at the Conference to be had with the Lords, a Report agreed on by the Committee: Which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same was twice read; and, upon the Question, agreed; and is as followeth; viz.

The House of Commons, after Examination of several Persons and Papers (many of which Papers his Majesty did acquaint the House had been communicated to your Lordships), and deliberate Consideration had thereupon, came to this unanimous Resolution:

"Resolved, Nemine contradicente, That, upon the Evidence that has already appeared to this House, That this House is of Opinion, that there hath been, and still is, a damnable and hellish Plot contrived and carried on by the Popish Recusants, for the Assassinating and Murdering the King; and for subverting the Government; and rooting out and destroying the Protestant Religion."

The House of Commons being very sensible of the imminent Danger both the King and Kingdom are in, do think it their duty to acquaint your Lordships therewith: And to pray your Lordships will be pleased to take it into your serious and speedy Consideration, What Remedies are fit and suitable to be applied for preserving the King's Person, and preventing the Alteration of Religion and Government. To which the Commons shall readily concur, as they doubt not of your Lordships Concurrence to such Remedies as have or shall be by them proposed to your Lordships, for the Effecting of this great End.

Conference desired with Lords.

Ordered, That a Conference be desired with the Lords, about Matters of great Importance, relating to the Preservation of his Majesty's Person, the Protestant Religion, and Safety of the Government.

And then the House adjourned till Four of the Clock in the Afternoon.

Post Meridiem.

Conference with Lords.

ORDERED, That Sir Henry Capell do go up to the Lords, to desire a Conference about Matters of great Importance, relating to the Preservation of his Majesty's Person, the Protestant Religion, and Safety of the Government.

Sir Henry Capell acquaints the House, That the Lords had agreed to a present Conference with this House, in the Painted Chamber.

Ordered, That the Members, who were appointed to prepare the Matter of the Conference, do attend and manage the Conference.

Which they accordingly did.

Inquiry into Noises of knocking heard in Old Palace Yard.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to inquire into the Causes of the late Noises of knocking, that have been heard in the Night in the Old Palace Yard; or thereabout; and to search the Houses near the Two Houses of Parliament, and in the Old Palace Yard; and to examine and return in the Names of such Papists as inhabit near the Two Houses of Parliament.

And it is referred to Col. Birch, Col. Titus, Sir Rob. Dillington, Mr. May, Mr. Hamden, Mr. Hopkins, Sir Chr. Musgrave, Sir John Holmes, Mr. Price, Col. Strode, Sir Jos. Tredenham, Mr. Powle, Mr. Crouch, Lord Allington, Sir Court. Poole, Mr. Paston, Sir Ed. Harlo, Sir Edm. Jenings, Sir Trevor Williams, Sir Ed. Deering, Sir Gilbert Talbot, Sir Ric. Ingoldsby, Sir Anth. Deane, Sir Tho. Lee, Sir Tho. Stringer, Mr. Cheney, Sir Hen. Capell, Sir Edmund Windham, Sir Ch. Harbord, Sir Gilbert Gerrard, Mr. Bockland, Sir John Knight; or any Three of them.

Lords desire a Conference.

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

Mr. Speaker, The Lords desire a present Conference with this House in the Painted Chamber, upon the Subject Matter of the last Conference.

The Messengers being withdrawn;

Lords agree to Vote that there is a Popish Plot.

Resolved, That this House doth agree to meet the Lords at a present Conference.

The Messengers being called in; Mr. Speaker acquaints them, That the House had agreed to a present Conference.

Ordered, That the Members who did attend and manage the former Conference, do attend and manage this Conference.

Sir Tho. Meeres reports from the Conference had with the Lords, That my Lord Chancellor managed the Conference: And that what was delivered was as followeth:

The Lords have considered the Vote of the House of Commons, communicated to them at the Conference; and have most readily and unanimously concurred with them in it, Nemine contradicente: And their Lordships are very glad to see that Zeal which the Commons have shewed upon this Occasion: And do fully concur with them, That the most speedy and most serious Considerations of both Houses are necessary, for the Prevention of the imminent Dangers. In order whereunto, their Lordships have resolved to sit de die in diem, Forenoon and Afternoon; and desire, that the House of Commons would do so too: And when their Lordships shall have well considered of fit and proper Remedies for these Dangers, they will be ready to communicate them to the House of Commons; and will also take in good Part whatever shall be communicated to them by the House of Commons; and will suffer Nothing to be wanting on their Parts, which may preserve a good Correspondency between both Houses, which is absolutely necessary to the Safety of the King and Kingdom.

Resolved, &c. That this House will sit de die in diem, Forenoon and Afternoon.

Coleman to be again examined.

Ordered, That Mr. Coleman be again examined by the former Committee: And that Sir Thomas Stringer and Mr. Booth be added to the Committee: And they are to make use of Mr. Coleman's Clerk, as they shall think meet.

Impeachment of Lord Arrundell.

Resolved, &c. That this House will proceed by way of Impeachment against the Lord Arrundell of Wardour.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to prepare and draw up Articles of Impeachment against the Lord Arrundell of Wardour.

And it is referred.. Mr. Williams, Serjeant Mainard, Sir John Holland, Sir Tho. Meeres, Mr. Powle, Sir John Trevor, Mr. Solicitor General, Mr. Sachaverell, Sir Tho. Stringer, Sir Rob. Sawyer, Serjeant Gregory, Sir Tho. Lee, Mr. Vaughan, Sir Wm. Hickman, Sir Chr. Musgrave, Serjeant Seis, Sir Cha. Harbord, Sir Eliab Harvy, Sir Trevor Williams, Sir Tho. Littleton, Mr. Weld, Sir Hen. Capell, Sir Nich. Carew, Sir Rich. Temple, Mr. Finch, Col. Birch, Sir Rob. Howard, Mr. Harbord, or any Five of them, to prepare and draw up the said Articles of Impeachment.

Coleman's Papers.

The House being acquainted, That, upon the Examination of Mr. Coleman's Clerk, there was an Information, That a Book, containing several Letters of Mr. Coleman's, was seized with his Writings: And that there were several Letters of Mr. Coleman's received, since the first Discovery of . . . . by himself, or his Agents.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee appointed to examine Mr. Coleman's Papers, to make a further Examination touching the Book of Letters mentioned to be taken away when Mr. Coleman's Papers were seized: And that there be a further Examination made by the said Committee, touching the Letters sent to Mr. Coleman by the Post: And that the Master of the Post Office, and other the Clerks and Officers relating thereto, do attend the said Committee; and give an Account concerning the same.

Answer to Address.

Mr. Secretary Williamson informs the House, That, in pursuance of the Order of the House, of this Day, he had attended his Majesty; and acquainted him with the Desire of this House, That his Majesty's Orders, for guarding the Suburbs by the Militia, may be put in Execution. His Majesty was thereupon pleased to return Answer; That he would give effectual Orders, That the Guards of the Militia shall be set accordingly.

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