House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 1 November 1680

Lunæ, 1 die Novembris, 1680.

Answer to Address.

MR. Secretary Jenkins acquaints the House, That, according to the Order of this House made on Saturday last, for an humble Address to be made to his Majesty, by such of the Members of this House are of his Majesty's Privy Council, That all such Papers, Letters, and Evidences, relating to the horrid Popish Plot, as have been delivered in to the Privy Council, might be transmitted to this House; his Majesty had been attended in this Matter; who was pleased to answer, That the House of Lords having, at their first Sitting, appointed a Committee for Examination of the Popish Plot; his Majesty had been pleased on the Twenty-fourth Day of the last Month, to order all Examinations, Papers, and Writings, relating to the Popish Plot, and in the Custody of the Clerks of the Council, to be sent to that Committee: And that, on the Twenty-seventh Day of October last, they were all sent, accordingly.

Devises Election.

A Petition of Sir Walter Ernly, and George Johnson Esquire, touching the Election for the Borough of the Devises, 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 Opinion therein, to the House.

Honiton Election.

A Petition of Edmund Walrond Esquire, touching the Election for Honiton, 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 Opinion therein, to the House.

Woollen Manufacture.

A Bill for the better Encouragement of the Woollen Manufacture of England, by the general Wearing thereof, was read the First time.

Resolved, &c. That the said Bill be read a Second time.

Right of petitioning.

Mr. Trenchard acquaints the House; from the Committee appointed to inquire of all such Persons as have offended against the Rights of the Subject, to petition the King for the Calling and Sitting of Parliament, That Information was given the said Committee, That the Lord Paston, Sir Thomas Maleverer, Sir Brian Stapleton, Mr. Taylor, and Mr. Turner, Members of this House, had discouraged petitioning his Majesty, for the Sitting of this present Parliament; and had made Addresses to his Majesty, declaring their Dislike of such Petitions: And desiring the Directions of this House, how they should proceed therein;

Ordered, That the said Committee do receive such Information as shall come before them, against the said several Members, and all other the Members of this House, that have offened therein, and make Report thereof to this House.

Answer to Address.

Mr. Speaker acquaints the House, That the House attended his Majesty on Saturday last in the Afternoon, with their Address, declaring the Resolution of this House to preserve and support the King's Person and Government, and the Protestant Religion, both at Home and Abroad: And that his Majesty returned his gracious Answer, to this Effect; viz.

Gentelmen,

I thank you very heartily for your Zeal for the Protestant Religion; and I assure you, there shall be nothing wanting on My Part, at Home or Abroad, to preserve it.

Popish Plot.

Sir Francis Winnington, Chairman to the Committee appointed to inspect the Journals of the Two last Parliaments, relating to the horrid Popish Plot, made a Report, from the said Committee, of a general Abstract of those Proceedings, taken out of the said Journals. And he referring, in the said Report, to several Entries in the said Journals, which could not yet be transcribed;

Ordered, That the said Report be perfected by the said Committee; and afterwards presented to the House, to be entered in the Journals of this House.

Ordered, That the same Committee do inspect the Journals of the Lords House, of the Two last Parliaments; and make a Report of their Lordships Proceedings relating to the horrid Popish Plot: And that the said Committee do sit de die in diem.

Ordered, That Mr. Treby do give this House Information, To-morrow Morning, of all the Matters by him reported in the last Parliament, relating to the horrid Popish Plot.

Signor Francisco de Ferria, being called in, delivered, in Writing, his Information, relating to the horrid Popish Plot, by him lately given at the Bar of this House.

The House being informed, That one Mr. Harnage, a Linen Draper at the Naked Boy in Henrietta-street, Covent Garden, did, in Breach of the Privileges of this House, commit certain Misdemeanors against the said Signor Francisco, being a Witness, produced and examined at the Bar of this House, touching the horrid Popish Plot;

Ordered, That the said Mr. Harnage be sent for, in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House; to answer to this House for the same.

Mr. Dugdale, being called in, delivered, in Writing, the Information relating to the horrid Popish Plot, by him lately given at the Bar of this House.

Ordered, That Mr. Dugdale do attend this House on Thursday Morning next, at Ten of the Clock, to make his further Discovery of the horrid Popish Plot.

Ordered, That the several Informations this Day given in to this House by Mr. Dugdale, and Signor Francisco de Ferria, be sealed up, and lodged in Mr. Speaker's Hands, for the Service of this House.

Mr. Prance, being called in, gave an Information, at the Bar of this House, concerning the Murder of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey, and the horrid Popish Plot.

Ordered, That Mr. Prance do attend this House on Wednesday Morning next, at Ten of the Clock; and bring his Evidence in Writing.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees that are discontinued, be revived; and do sit this Afternoon, in the respective Places formerly appointed.

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