House of Lords Journal Volume 13: 30 October 1678

DIE Mercurii, 30 die Octobris.

REX.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

PRAYERS.

Report concerning Coleman's Papers, and about Aspersions on the Duke of York.

The Lord Bishop of Rochester reported from the Committee appointed to enquire into the horrid Design against His Majesty, "That their Lordships are unsatisfied with the Delivery of some Papers to Mrs Coleman by one Captain Berkeley, which were not read at Council; who was examined at the Committee, and now attends at the Door."

His Lordship reported further, "That the Lord Annesley, Eldest Son to the Earl of Anglesey Lord Privy Seal, informed the Committee, That Titus Otes told him, he could say somewhat to the House towards the clearing of his Royal Highness the Duke of Yorke from the Aspersions which were cast on him; and that Tytus Otes is attending in the Lord Chancellor's Room."

Upon which, Captain Berkeley, being called in, gave Account to the House, "That he delivered those Papers to the Duke of Monmouth; and, receiving them again from the Duke of Monmouth, did give them to Mrs. Coleman; pleading his Ignorance of the Way he ought to have proceeded in, for which he is very sorry."

Upon which (the House being satisfied that the Duke of Monmouth did give the said Papers to His Majesty, who perused them, and returned them to the Duke of Monmouth), the Lord Chancellor, by Command of the House, gave him public Reprehension for his Indiscretion. And so he withdrew.

Oates's Examination, to clear the Duke of York from Aspersions against him.

Then Titus Otes, being called in, was sworn at the Bar; and required to answer to what he is now called in for, concerning his Discourse with the Lord Annesly last Night, about the Duke of Yorke.

He spake to this Effect:

"That he was informed that Mr. Coleman had highly impeached the Duke of Yorke by Letters; to which, he said, he thought the Duke was wholly innocent, for these Reasons:

"1. Because they have a counterseit Seal of his and her Royal Highness's; and that he was sent into Spaine with Credentials under that Seal."

Being asked, "Where that Seal is?" He said, "It is in the Custody of Richard Strange the late Provincial of the Jesuits. That the Party who signed his Credentials writ James; but he was not then so well acquainted with the Jesuits, as to know who it was."

"2. Because, in February or March last, a Proposal was made by the Fathers at Gant, "that they wondered the Duke was not acquainted with it." To which Answer was made, "Because his Love was so great to the King his Brother, that he would not be true to them, though he was a very good Catholic.

"3. Because there was a Letter writ to Blundell," saying, "They longed to see the Duke trepanned into the Business."

"4. Because there were a Parcel of Letters at Windsor, to be delivered to his Royal Highness, that he might burn them, thereby to draw the Duke into the Plot: This, he said, he was not certain of; but Meredith Lloyd said, they brought them to the Duke for that Purpose;" and he would bring him hither to attest it.

"5. He said (being asked), That he carried no Letters into Spaine signed James, by the Duke; but the Credentials he had to Spaine with him were signed and sealed in his Presence, by the Jesuits, James, and the counterseit Seal; so that he was received like a Kind of Ambassador both as from the Duke and the Society.

"6. Because they have made Officers of State and War without the Duke's Privity."

Then he was commanded to withdraw.

Upon Consideration of what Titus Otes had said, he was called in again; and told by the Lord Chancellor, "That the House hath directed he shall be heard again To-morrow at Nine a Clock; and the Lords do expect that, by the Oath he hath now taken, he should go through with what he hath to say; and therefore, he should prepare himself to deliver the whole Truth of what he knows concerning the Design against the King's Person and the Government of this Kingdom."

Thompson committed.

ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That Nathaniell Thompson, who is now in the Custody of William Sorocold, for printing Popish Books for James Thompson, shall stand committed to the Prison of The Gatehouse, at Westm. during the Pleasure of this House; and this shall be a sufficient Warrant on that Behalf.

To the Keeper of the Prison of The Gatehouse at Westm.

ORDERED, That the Earl of Shaftesbury is added to the Sub-committee for examining the Murder of Sir Edmond Bury Godfrey.

Time for receiving Appeals, &c. enlarged.

Whereas, by reason of the Public Affairs wherewith this House hath been so employed since the Meeting of the Parliament, that the Time limited for bringing in Appeals and Writs of Error is near expired; wherein this House hath not had Leisure to admit the presenting thereof:

It is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the said Time for receiving Appeals by Petition, or Writs of Error be, and is hereby, enlarged to the Twenty-seventh Day of November next.

Report about Ld. Bellasis' Health.

This Day Doctor Scarborough gave the House an Account: "That he did visit the Lord Bellasis this Morning, and finds him in good Health; and that his Lordship is ready to be removed, as their Lordships shall think fit."

King to be moved for Lds Stafford & Bellasis, Col. Roper, et al. to be removed to The Tower.

ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Lords with White Staves do attend His Majesty, humbly to desire him from this House, "That the Lord Viscount de Stafford, and the Lord Bellasise, and Colonel Roper and his Son, and Mr. Ratcliffe, being Prisoners in the Prison of The King's Bench, by Warrant of the Lord Chief Justice of England, for Treason, may be removed, to remain Prisoners in His Majesty's Tower of London."

Committee to sit P. M. to examine Papers about the Plot.

ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Lords Committees appointed to examine Papers relating to the horrid Design against His Majesty do proceed this Afternoon in reading the Papers before them; and so return them to Sir Phillip Lloyd, to be delivered to the King.

Adjourn.

Dominus Cancellarius declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque in diem Jovis, 31^um diem instantis Octobris, hora nona Aurora, Dominis sic decernentibus.

Hitherto examined, this 21th of November, 1678, by us,

J. Bridgewater.
Scarsdale.
Craven.
Seth Sarum.
P. Bath & Wells.