House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 21 March 1679

Veneris, 21 die Martii, 1678.

Prayers.

Address for a Fast.

SIR Thomas Clerges reports from the Committee appointed to draw up and prepare an Address to be presented to his Majesty, for appointing a solemn Day of Humiliation, An Address agreed by the Committee: Which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same was read; and, upon the Question, agreed: And is as followeth; viz.

WE Your Majesty's Most Dutiful and Loyal Subjects, the

Commons in this present Parliament assembled, being deeply sensible of the sad and calamitous Condition of this Your Majesty's Kingdom, occasioned chiefly by the impious and malicious Conspiracies of a Popish Party; who have not only plotted and intended the Destruction of Your Majesty's Royal Person, but the total Subversion of the Government, and true Religion established amongst us (all which our many and grievous Sins have justly deserved); and being now, by Your gracious Favour, assembled in Parliament, as the great Council of Your said Kingdom, to consult on such Means, as we conceive fittest to redress the manifold Evils wherewith the Nation is surrounded; do, in all Humility, beseech Your Majesty, That, by Your Royal Proclamation One or more Days may be solemnly set apart, wherein both ourselves, and all Your Majesty's loyal Subjects, may, by Fasting and Prayers, seek a Reconciliation with Almighty God; and, with humble and penitent Hearts implore Him, by his Power and Goodness to infatuate and defeat the wicked Councils and Imaginations of our Enemies; and continue His Mercies, and the Light of his Gospel, amongst us, and our Posterities: And particularly to bestow His abundant Blessings upon Your Sacred Majesty, and this present Parliament; that our Consultations and Endeavours may produce Honour, Safety, and Prosperity, to Your Majesty, and Your People.

Ordered, That Sir Thom. Clerges do carry up the same to the Lords, for their Concurrence.

Liberty of the Subject.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill, for the better securing the Liberty of the Subject.

Radnor Return.

Ordered, That the Clerk of the Crown be called in, to give an Account touching the Return for Radnor.

And the Clerk of the Crown being called in; acquainted the House, That there was no Return for the Town of Radnor affixed to the Writ, but a Return for the County only.

And one Mr. Ostland being called in; informed the House, That he had an Indenture, which he was directed by the Sheriff to annex to the Writ; and that he had tendered the same to the Clerk of the Crown.

And the Indenture being brought up to the Table;

Ordered, That the Clerk of the Crown do affix the Precept and Indenture to the Writ for Radnor.

Which he accordingly did.

Bridgewater Election.

Ordered, That the Matter touching the Return for the Borough of Bridgwater, be referred to the Committee of Elections: And that it be the first Cause to be heard before the Committee this Afternoon.

Westminster Election.

A Petition of several of the Inhabitants of Westminster complaining of an undue Election and Return of Sir Stephen Fox and Sir William Poultney, to serve in this present Parliament as Citizens for the City of Westminster, in Injury of the Petitioners, was read.

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

Westlow Election.

A Petition of Thomas Kendall Esquire, complaining of undue Practices used by John Trelawny the Younger, Mayor of the Borough of Westlow alias Portpiganan, in returning John Trelawny Esquire, the Elder, to serve in this present Parliament as One of the Burgesses for the said Borough by One Indenture, and procuring himself to be returned by another Indenture; contrary to the Standing Orders of this House, and in Injury of the Petitioner, who was duly elected by the major Part of the Inhabitants, and ought to have been returned; was read.

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

Publication of certain Pamphlets.

Ordered, That Jonathan Edwyn, living at the Three Roses in Redcross-street, be immediately sent for, to give the House an Account, by what Authority he published the Two Pamphlets, the One intituled, "a Letter from a Jesuit in Paris to his Correspondent in London; shewing the most effectual Way to ruin the Government, and the Protestant Religion:" And the other intituled, "Two Letters from Mr. Mountague to the Lord Treasurer, the One of the Eleventh, the other of the Eighteenth of January 167⁷/8, which were read in the House of Commons; together with the Lord Treasurer's Speech," &c.

Buckingham Election.

Sir Tho. Meers reports from the Committee of Privileges and Elections, the Matter touching the Return for the Town of Buckingham: That the Committee had taken the same into Consideration; and had agreed upon a Report to be made to the House: Which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered the same in at the Clerk's Table; and is as followeth; viz.

The Precept is directed to the Bailiff of the Borough of Buckingham: To which there is affixed Two Indentures, both dated the Tenth Day of February, Anno 31° Car. nunc. One of them is made between the Bailiff and Burgesses of the Borough and Parish of Buckingham, of the One Part; and Thomas Edgerly Esquire, Sheriff of the County aforesaid, of the other Part; wherein Edward Viscount Lattimer, and Sir Peter Tyrrell, Baronet, are returned; and the Common Seal is affixed thereto:

Upon which Indenture is indorsed thus:

The Common Seal within mentioned was put to this present Indenture, by and with the Consent of George Carter Gentleman, Bailiff for the Time being, and the major Part of the principal Burgesses of Buckingham within mentioned, in the Presence of

Henry Bridges,

Deput. Sen'lum.

The other Indenture is made between the same Parties; and therein is returned Edward Viscount Lattimur, and Sir Richard Temple Knight of the Bath and Baronet; wherein it is mentioned, That the Common Seal of the said Town and the Seals of the Bailiff and Burgesses, are set; and to the said Indenture is Seven Seals affixed, but not the Common Seal: And there are Six Names subscribed thereto, whereof George Carter Bailiff is one; but there is no Indorsement on that Indenture.

Whereupon the Committee agreed upon the Resolution following; viz.

Resolved, &c. That the Indenture wherein Edward Viscount Lattimer, and Sir Peter Tyrrell Baronet, are returned to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Buckingham is well and truly returned, and by the proper Officer; and that thereupon they ought to sit in this present Parliament, as well returned for the Borough of Buckingham.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Committee, that the Indenture wherein Edward Viscount Lattimer, and Sir Peter Tyrrell Baronet, are returned to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Buckingham, is well and duly returned, and by the proper Officer; and that thereupon they ought to sit in this present Parliament, as well returned for the Borough of Buckingham.

Dover Election.

A Petition of John Strode Esquire, complaining of an undue Return made by Mr. Stokes, the present Mayor of Dover, of Himself, to serve in this present Parliament as One of the Barons for the Port of Dover, in Injury of the Petitioner, who is duly elected, and returned to serve for the said Port, was read.

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

Birmingham Return.

Ordered, That the Clerk of the Crown do attend Tomorrow Morning; and do take off the File the Indenture wherein Edward Viscount Lattimer, and Sir Richard Temple, are returned to serve in this present Parliament for the Town of Buckingham.

Popish Plot.

Dr. Tongue being then called in, gave his Information concerning the Plot.

Mr. Oates being also called in, gave his Information touching the Pot; and did likewise give an Information against Thomas Earl of Danby, and also, against Mr. Sackvile, Mr. Goreing, and Sir John Robinson, Three of the Members of this House.

Ordered, That Mr. Oates do, on Monday next, at Ten of the Clock, bring his Witnesses to the Bar of the House, to prove the Information given by him this Day against Sir John Robinson, Mr. Sackvile, and Mr. Goreing, Three of the Members of this House: And that the said Members do then attend in their Places.

Ordered, That Mr. Oates his Information against Thomas Earl of Danby, for discouraging the King's Evidence, be referred to the Consideration of the Committee of Secrecy.

Ordered, That Mr. Oates do transmit into this House a Copy of his Information, relating to the Plot, delivered by him this Day at the Bar of this House; to the end the same may be entered in the Journal.

Persons to attend.

Ordered, That Mr. Hills and Mr. Edwyn do attend at the Bar of this House To-morrow Morning, to give an Account touching the Two Pamphlets.

Orders of the Day.

Ordered, That the Orders of every Day be read the next Morning, before any other Business.

Popish Plot.

Mr. Bedlow being called in, and having given his Information touching the Plot, did likewise deliver the same, in Writing, to the Clerk of the House.

Address for Reward to Discoverer of Sir E. Godfrey's Murder.

Resolved, &c. That an humble Address be made to his Majesty, by such Members of the House as are of his Majesty's Privy Council, to desire his Majesty, that the Five hundred Pounds Reward, promised, by his Majesty in his Royal Proclamation, for the Discovery of the Murder of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey, may be forthwith paid to Mr. Bedlow, who this House is satisfied to be the First Discoverer thereof: And that his Majesty will be further graciously pleased to give Order, That the Twenty Pounds Reward, for the Discovery of every Priest, may be effectually paid to the Discoverer.

Address respecting Bedloe's Safety.

Resolved, &c. That an humble Address be made to his Majesty, to desire his Majesty, That the Care of Mr. Bedlow's Safety may be immediately recommended to his Grace the Duke of Monmouth: And that the Lord Cavendish, Mr. Powle, Sir Henry Capell, Mr. Booth, Sir Robert Carr, Sir William Portman, Sir John Ernle, do attend his Majesty with the Address.

Answer thereto.

The Lord Cavendish reports, That they had attended his Majesty with the Address: And that his Majesty was pleased to return Answer, That he had hitherto taken all the Care he could of Mr. Bedloe; and that he knew how considerable his Evidence was: And that he would see hereafter, that he should want for nothing: And that he would be responsible for him, whilst he remained in Whitehall; but that he could not be answerable for him, when he went Abroad.

Popish Plot.

Mr. Everard being called in, gave in his Information of the Knowledge of the Plot.

Ordered, That Mr. Everard do put his Narrative, this Day made, into Writing; and present it to the House on Monday next.

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