House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 8 November 1678

Veneris, 8 die Novembris, 1678.

Prayers.

Dunwich 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 Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Dunwich in the County of Suffolk . . . .

Address for apprehending Conyers, &c.

Mr. Solicitor General reports from the Committee appointed to draw up an Address to be presented to his Majesty, to desire him to issue out his Proclamation for the Apprehending of George Conyers, and others, and for a more effectual Way for Disarming of the Popish Recusants, That the Committee had agreed upon an Address: Which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same was twice read; and, with some Amendments made at the Table, upon the Question, agreed; and is as followeth; viz.

YOUR Majesty's most Loyal and Dutiful Subjects, the and Commons in Parliament assembled, do humbly beseech Your most Sacred Majesty to issue out Your Royal Proclamation, That certain Persons called George Conyers, * Simonds, Thomas Bedding feild, and John Cattaway, who stand charged as Persons guilty of the damnable and hellish Plot for the Destruction of Your Majesty's Royal Person, and the Subversion of the Government, and the Extirpation of the Protestant Religion, and are fled from Justice, that they cannot be proceeded against according to Law, do, by a Day certain, after the Proclamation thereof, render themselves to some One or more of Your Majesty's Justices of the Peace; who are thereupon to commit the Party or Parties, so rendering him or themselves, to Your Majesty's Gaol of the County or Place where he or they shall so render him or themselves, there to remain in safe Custody; and to give present Notice thereof to the Lord Chief Justice of Your Majesty's Court of King's Bench, in order to their receiving their legal Trial: Willing and commanding therein all Lieutenants, Deputy Lieutenants, and all Justices of the Peace, Sheriffs, Constables, and other Your Majesty's Officers, and loyal Subjects, to do their utmost Endeavour for the Apprehending of the said Persons, and every of them; and for their Imprisonment and safe Custody: And that it be inserted in the said Proclamation, That the Constables, Churchwardens, Headboroughs, Tything-men, Borseholders, and other Parish Officers within the Cities, Counties, Liberties, and Places of this Your Majesty's Realm, and the Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick upon Tweed, do, with all possible Ex pedition, make diligent Search and Inquiry in all Houses within their respective Parishes, Hamlets, and Villages; and there take an exact Account of the Names and Surnames of all such Persons as are Popish Recusants, or re puted so to be, as well Householders as Lodgers and Servants, and every of them; and to make up a present List of the Names and Surnames, Age and Quality, of all such Persons, being of the Age of Sixteen Years, or upwards; and to deliver the same forthwith to One of the Justices of the Peace, near adjoining; to send for the said Persons so listed, and every of them, and to tender to them, and every of them, the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy; and, in case of Refusal, to enter into Recognizance to appear at the next Sessions of the Peace for such City, County, or Liberty; or in Default of entering into such Recognizance, to commit them to the common Gaol, there to remain under safe Custody, until the next Quarter Sessions of the Peace; and then all such Persons, so refusing, to be proceeded against according to Law: And that special Commissions be forthwith issued, under Your Majesty's Great Seal of England, authorizing the respective Justices of the Peace, or any Two or more of them, to administer the said Oaths: And that all the said Lieutenants and Deputy Lieutenants, and Justices of the Peace, within their respective Jurisdictions, do proceed without Delay to disarm all such Persons as shall so refuse to take the said Oaths: And, for the better Effecting thereof, and bringing to Justice the aforesaid Offenders, That Your Majesty would graciously be pleased to declare, That a Reward shall be given to such Persons as shall discover any of the Arms of Popish Recusants, or Persons so reputed; and shall apprehend, and bring before any Justice of the Peace, any One of the said Offenders: And further, that all Your Majesty's Officers of, or belonging to any of Your Majesty's Sea Ports, may be injoined to take special Care for the Apprehending of all Popish Priests, and other Persons, who they shall find Cause to suspect, coming into, or going out of this Your Realm; and to carry every such Person before some Justice of the Peace; who shall be required to tender to every of them the said Oaths; and, upon Refusal thereof, to commit the Person, so refusing, to the proper Prison of the Place; and to certify their Proceedings therein to Your Majesty's most honourable Privy Council, from time to time, that such further Course may be taken for the Safety of Your Majesty and the Government, as, in Your Majesty's Wisdom, shall be thought fit.

Resolved, &c. That the Lords Concurrence be desired to the said Address: And that Mr. Solicitor General do go up to the Lords to desire their Concurrence.

Justices of Peace.

Resolved, &c. That a List of the Justices of the Peace for the several Counties in England and Wales be brought in by the Clerk of the Crown; as likewise, a List of such Persons as have been put out of the Commission of the Peace within Seven Years last past.

Papists ordered to obey Proclamation.

The House being informed, That Colonel Macarty, and Mr. Loftus, and several other Popish Recusants, were walking in Westminster Hall, and the Court of Request, nothwithstanding his Majesty's Proclamation;

Ordered, That the Serjeant at Arms do immediately take into his Custody Mr. Macarty and Mr. Loftus, and such other Popish Recusants, or reputed Popish Recusants, as he shall find walking, either in the Court of Request, Westminster Hall, or Places adjacent.

The Serjeant having taken Mr. Macarty into Custody;

Ordered, That Mr. Macarty be called in; and examined at the Bar of this House.

Mr. Macarty being called; and examined at the Bar; and being withdrawn;

Ordered, That Mr. Macarty be called in again: And that Mr. Speaker do acquaint him, That this House expects he should immediately yield Obedience to his Majesty's Proclamation, and withdraw himself.

And Mr. Macarty being called in; Mr. Speaker acquainted him, That this House did expect he should yield Obedience to his Majesty's Proclamation; and immediately depart Ten Miles out of Town.

Address on Removal of Duke of York.

Ordered, That the Debate for an Address to be presented to his Majesty, That his Royal Highness may withdraw himself from his Majesty's Person and Council, which was adjourned until this Day, be adjourned over until Thursday Morning next, Ten of the Clock.

Address for Prayer relating to the Plot.

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 there may be a particular Prayer or Prayers, composed for the Cities of London and Westminster, relating to the Plot and Conspiracy contrived and carried on by the Popish Recusants, against his Majesty's Person and Government.

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