House of Commons Journal Volume 9: 10 December 1680

Veneris, 10 die Decembris, 1680.

Elers', &c. Nat.

A BILL for Naturalization of Peter Elers, and others, was read a Second time.

Resolved, That the said Bill be committed to Sir Trevor Williams, Sir Philip Parker, Mr. Henley, Mr. Hopkins, Mr. Bulkley, Mr. Barker, Sir John Knight, Mr. Love, Mr. Stratford, Mr. Slater, Serjeant Seys, Sir Richard Corbett, Mr. Colt, Sir John Moreton, Mr. Paul Foley, Sir Ralph Delavall, Sir John Brookes, Mr. Pilkington, Mr. Fulford, Sir John Moreton, Sir Robert Dillington; and all the Members that serve for the City of London: And they are to meet at Three of the Clock this Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Papers searched for.

Sir John Holman acquaints the House from the Committee appointed to search the House where Mr. Day lately lodged, for such Papers as were suspicious, That they had made such Search, and seized a Box with several Papers therein; as likewise, a Letter Case, wherein were several Papers: Which were delivered to the House, together with the Key of the Trunk, wherein the said Papers lay.

Ordered, That the said Key, Letter Case, and Papers therein, be restored to Mr. Day.

Ordered, That the Perusal of the Papers contained in the said Box be referred to the Committee appointed to peruse Mr. Sherridon's Papers: Who are to make Report thereof to the House.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Hemming and Sir William Yorke, Members of this House, have Leave to go into the Country.

Absentees without Leave.

Ordered, That the Order of this House, made on Wednesday last, for summoning such Members as have absented themselves without the Leave of the House to attend within Ten Days, that the Time be extended to Ten Days from Saturday next.

Ryegate Return amended.

The Clerk of the Crown, being called in, amended the Return for the Borough of Ryegate in the County of Surrey; by rasing out the Name of Ralph Freeman Esquire, and inserting the Name of Deane Godwin Esquire, in the Indenture.

Brooks', &c. Petition.

A Petition of Joshua Brooks, and other Merchants, being read;

Ordered, That the said Petition do lie on the Clerk's Table.

Papers examined.

Mr. Papillon acquaints the House from the Committee appointed to peruse Mr. Sherridon's Papers, That they had accordingly perused the same; and had ordered him to make a special Report of several Letters: Which he read in his Place; and then delivered them in at the Clerk's Table.

Ordered, That all the rest of Mr. Sherridon's Papers seized by the Committee, that have no Matter which may be of publick Concerns in them, be restored to him.

Right of petitioning.

Mr. Trenchard reports from the Committee appointed to inquire after all such Persons as have offended against the Right of the Subject to petition his Majesty for the Sitting of Parliaments, That the Committee had agreed upon the following Resolve: Which he read in his Place: And afterwards delivered it in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same being read, is as followeth; viz.

Resolved, That Captain Castle, by obstructing Petitioning to his Majesty for the Sitting of this Parliament, hath offended against the Rights of the Subject.

The said Resolve being read a Second time;

Resolved, That this House doth agree with the Committee, That Captain Castle, by obstructing Petitioning to his Majesty for the Sitting of this Parliament, hath offended against the Rights of the Subject.

And further reports from the said Committee, That, Information being given to the said Committee, That Mr. Christopher Darcy had torn a Petition, which was brought to the Grand Jury for the County of Yorke, the last Lent Assizes, to be by them subscribed, and presented to his Majesty, for the Sitting of this Parliament; Mr. Darcy, upon a Summons, did appear before the said Committee; and, being examined, did acknowledge the Tearing of the Petition; because the greatest Part of the Grand Jury were not willing to sign it: And that he said further, That he did it, because it was against the King's Proclamation: Which he thought to be Law, being a young Man never before engaged in any publick Affairs.

Ordered, That the said Mr. Darcy be discharged from further Attendance.

Impeachment of Sir F. North.

Ordered, That the Committee appointed to examine the Proceedings of the Judges in Westminster-hall, and to prepare an Impeachment against Sir Francis North, Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, for High Crimes and Misdemeanors, do make Report to the House of the several Matters to them referred, on Monday Morning next.

Complaint against Sir R. Peyton.

Ordered, That the Chairman of the Committee appointed to examine the Matter of the Information against Sir Robert Peyton, a Member of this House, do make Report thereof To-morrow Morning: And that Sir Robert Peyton do attend in his Place at the same Time.

Agmondesham Election.

Ordered, That the Chairman of the Committee of Elections and Privileges do make Report of the Matter touching the Election for the Borough of Agmondesham in the County of Bucks, To-morrow Morning at Nine of the Clock: And the same is to be the first Business to be entered upon.

Popish Plot.

The House then resumed the adjourned Debate, concerning the Matter of the Information formerly given to the House by Mr. Peter Norris.

Mr. Day and Mr. Sherridon were severally called in; and examined.

After which, Colonel Mansell and Mr. Warcup were called in; and gave an Account to the House relating to the same Matter.

Mr. Sherridon, in his Examination, having mentioned that a Paper which was found in his Lodging, and now shewed to him, was, as he conceived, written by one Wilson, who lodged in the same House with him; and that another Paper, being a Letter directed to the said Mr. Sherridon, was received by a Maid Servant in the same House, known by the Name of Phebey;

Ordered, That the said Mr. Wilson, and the said Maid Servant, be summoned to attend at the Bar of this House.

The Matter being debated in the House;

And Mr. Secretary Jenkins having given an Account to the House of his Proceedings therein; and being withdrawn;

Resolved, That the late Imprisonment of Peter Norris, at Dover, was illegal: And that the Proceedings of Sir Leoline Jenkins Knight, One of the Principal Secretaries of State, by describing the Person of the said Peter Norris, and directing such his Imprisonment, was illegal and arbitrary, and an Obstruction to the Evidence for the Discovery of the horrid Popish Plot.

Ordered, That the further Consideration of this Debate be adjourned to Monday Morning next.

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