House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 22 November 1678

Veneris, 22 die Novembris, 1678.

Prayers.

List of the Navy.

ORDERED, That the Secretary of the Admiralty do bring in a List of the Ships that are now abroad, and by whom commanded, and how long they have been in such Commands; and also a List of the Names of the Commanders of such Ships as are in Harbour, who receive Pay, and who commands the Guard-ship at Chatham, on Tuesday next.

Privilege- Persons discharged.

A Petition of Thomas Rogers and James Siddall, now in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, for a Breach of Privilege, committed against my Lord Scudamore, a Member of this House; whereby they acknowledge their Offence, and beg Pardon of the House, and desire they may be discharged from their Commitment; was read.

Resolved, &c. That the said Thomas Rogers and James Siddall be called in to the Bar, and discharged, paying their Fees.

And the said Thomas Rogers and James Siddall, being called in to the Bar of the House, and kneeling, Mr. Speaker, after a short Reprimand, acquainted them, That they were discharged, paying their Fees.

Addrs raising the Militia.

Mr. Powle reports from the Committee appointed to draw up an Address to be presented to his Majesty, for raising of the Militia, 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 was twice read; and, upon the Question, agreed; and is as followeth:

May it please Your Majesty,

WE Your Majesty's most Loyal and Dutiful Subjects, the Commons, in Parliament assembled, taking into Consideration the imminent Dangers arising to Your Majesty and the whole Kingdom, from Popish Practices and Conspiracies; and conceiving that nothing can so well resist their Attempts, as some Part of the Militia, the settled legal Forces of this Kingdom, actually in Arms (on whom Your Majesty may rely with the greatest Confidence and Security): We do therefore humbly desire Your Majesty to command Your Lieutenants and Deputy Lieutenants of the several Counties of this Kingdom, to give Order to all their Trained Bands to be in a Readiness; and to draw together One Third Part of their respective Militia; and to continue them in a Body for Fourteen Days; and after they are dismissed, to draw up another Third Part for the same time: And to require them to be very vigilant in the Seizing all suspicious Persons, especially such as travel with Arms, or at unseasonable Times, or in unusual Numbers. And we likewise humbly desire Your Majesty to command the Sheriffs of the respective Counties of this Kingdom to be ready with their Posse Comitatus, to suppress any Insurrection or Disturbance of the Peace, that may happen within the Precincts of their several Jurisdictions.

Lords Concurrence desired.

Resolved, &c. That the Concurrence of the Lords be desired to this Address: And that Mr. Powle do go up to the Lords to desire their Concurrence; and do at the same time put the Lords in mind of the Address, sent from this House, to be presented to his Majesty, to desire his Majesty, that Mr. Coleman's Letter of the Nine-and-twentieth of September 1675, to Monsieur Le Cheze; and another Letter to Monsieur Le Cheze, owning the Sending of the same; and Monsieur Le Cheze's Answer to Mr. Coleman, acknowledging the Receipt thereof; may be printed and published.

Bedlow's Pardon.

Mr. Powle reports, That the Committee appointed had perused and considered of Mr. Bedlow's Pardon; and did conceive, that the same may not be full enough in some Particulars: Which he reported to the House.

Resolved, &c. That an humble Representation be made to his Majesty, by such Members of this House as are of his Majesty's Privy Council, That, upon Perusal of Mr. Bedlow's Pardon, the same is found not to be full enough; and therefore humbly to desire his Majesty to give Orders, That the same may be made sufficient; and that the Particulars which were reported from the Committee, be delivered to the Members of this House that are of his Majesty's Privy Council.

Danger from Popery.

Resolved, That the House do now resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of Remedies to secure the Protestant Religion against the Danger of Popery; and to present their Opinions for the Making of any new Law, or for the Repeal of any Law now in Force.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.
Mr. Williams took the Chair of the Committee.
Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Mr. Williams reports from the Committee of the whole House, That the Committee had taken the Matter to them referred into Consideration; and had agreed upon several Votes, as Heads for a Bill or Bills to be brought in upon: Which Votes he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: And humbly moved from the said Committee, That the House would again resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, further to consider of Remedies to secure the Protestant Religion against the Danger of Popery.

The Votes, being twice read at the Table, were, upon the Question, severally agreed; and are as followeth:

Resolved, &c. That a Bill be prepared, for the more easy and speedy Discovery and Conviction of Popish Priests.

Resolved, &c. That a Bill be prepared for the more effectual Conviction of Popish Recusants.

Resolved, &c. That a List of all Popish Recusants and suspected Papists be returned by the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, for their respective Counties and Places, to be inserted in the said Bill: And that Time be limited for taking the Oaths and Test mentioned in an Act, intituled, An Act for the more effectual Preserving the King's Person and Government, by disabling Papists from sitting in either House of Parliament, by such Popish Recusants, or suspected Papists; and such Persons, not taking the same, to be taken for Popish Recusants convict.

Resolved, &c. That refusing the said Oaths and Test, or being at Mass, shall be a sufficient Conviction of a Popish Recusant.

Resolved, &c. That Four Parts in Five of the Estates of Popish Recusants shall be forfeited, who shall not be returned in the said List; and shall not register themselves Papists within some limited time.

Resolved, That some Part of the Penalty shall be employed for Purchasing of Impropriations for the Benefit of the Church.

That some Part of the said Penalty shall be employed towards the Augmentation of poor Vicarages and Parsonages:

That some Part of the said Penalty shall go to the Informer.

Resolved, That there be a Clause or Clauses prepared, for discovering and avoiding fraudulent Deeds, Settlements, and Conveyances, made or to be made by Popish Recusants.

Resolved, That there be a Clause or Clauses prepared, for the Education of the Children of Popish Recusants in the Protestant Religion.

A Motion being made in the House, That to be seen at Mass at the Chapel of an Ambassador, may be a further Penalty;

Resolved, That being seen at Mass at the Chapel of any Ambassador, shall be a further Penalty.

Resolved, &c. That a Bill or Bills be brought in, pursuant to the said Votes.

And it is referred to Mr. Williams, Serjeant Gregory, Sir Jos. Tredenham, Sir Hum. Winch, Sir Fr. Rolles, Sir Tho. Meeres, Mr. Sachaverell, Sir John Knight, Sir John Trevor, Mr. Finch, Sir Edw. Deering, Sir John Ernle, Sir Cha. Harbord, Sir Hen. Capell, Sir Tho. Lee, Mr. Powle, Sir Gilbert Gerrard, Mr. Spry, or any Three of them, to prepare and bring in a Bill or Bills accordingly.

Address for Papers relating to the Plot.

Resolved, That an humble Address be made to his Majesty by such Members of this House as are of his Majesty's Privy Council, to desire his Majesty, that such Letters and Papers which relate to the Plot now under Examination, as have not been perused by this House, may be communicated to them.

Foreign Ambassadors.

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed, to consider of the Access and Reception of Foreign Ambassadors.

And it is referred to Sir Charles Cotterell, Mr. Montagu, Sir Tho. Higgins, Sir Gilbert Talbot, Sir Rob. Howard, Sir John Waerden, Sir Jos. Tredenham, Mr. Progers, Mr. Secretary Coventry, Sir John Trevor, Sir Wm. Coventry, Sir Tho. Meeres, Mr. Hide, Sir John Birkenhead, Colonel Birch, Sir George Downing, Sir Edm. Windham, Mr. Godolphin, Mr. Thyn, Mr. Saville; or any Five of them.

Danger from Popery.

Resolved, &c. That this House will again resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, To-morrow Morning at Ten of the Clock, further to consider of Remedies to secure the Protestant Religion against the Danger of Popery.

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