House of Lords Journal Volume 13: 20 March 1679

DIE Jovis, 20 Martii.

REX.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

PRAYERS.

Bp. of Bristol takestheOaths.

This Day William Lord Bishop of Bristol took the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, and made and subscribed the Declaration, in Pursuance of the Act for the more effectual preserving of the King's Person and Government, by disabling Papists from sitting in either House of Parliament.

Members of Convocation to take the Oaths, Bill.

Hodie 2^a vice lecta est Billa, "An Act disabling any Person from sitting in either House of Convocation till he hath taken the Oaths, and made and subscribed the Declaration, herein contained."

ORDERED, That the Consideration of this Bill is committed to these Lords following; whose Lordships have Power to add such Clauses thereunto as they shall think fit, relating to the Clergy or University, and to report the same to the House:

Their Lordships, or any Three of them; to meet To-morrow Morning, at Eight of the Clock, in the Prince's Lodgings; and to adjourn as they please.

Prance' Examination concerning the Plot.

The Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells reported from the Lords Committees for examining Matters relating to the Discovery of the late horrid Conspiracy, the Examination of Miles Prance, which was read as follows:

"Midd. ss. et Lib. Westm.

"The Examination of Miles Prance, Silversmith, taken upon Oath, the 19th Day of March, 1678, before the Marquis of Winchester, One of His Majesty's Justices of Peace for the said County and Liberty.

"This Examinant saith, That he, and Mr. Maddison a Barber in Holborne, and Mr. Staley, were drinking at The Cross Keyes Tavern over-against Staley's House about a Fortnight before the said Staley was taken; where, complaining of the great Persecution that the Papists lay under, and that if they did not take some speedy Course to destroy their Enemies, they should be ruined, the said Staley and Maddison resolved to kill the Earl of Shaftesbury, as the Ringleader of the Mischief that they feared would fall upon them; Maddison saying, "That he would engage Three, (videlicet,) Adamson a Watchmaker, Prosser a Silversmith, and Bradshaw an Upholsterer." And the said Maddison coming afterwards to the Deponent's Shop, shewed the Deponent a Pistol he had prepared for that Purpose.

"This Deponent further saith, That meeting with Adamson at Pettie's, at The White Post in Vere Streete, and discoursing of News, Adamson said, "That they should all be undone, if they did not look about them; therefore they were resolved to kill the Lord Shaftesbury;" he also speaking the same Thing to the Deponent at The Gridiron in Holborne.

"This Deponent likewise saith, That Prosser told him,That he was undone; and he intended to kill the Lord Shaftesbury; for he, with other of the Lords, intended to undo the Lord Arundell, who was his very good Customer:" The said Prosser telling the Deponent at another Time, "That he was to be an Ensign under the said Lord Arundell."

"This Deponent also saith, That Bradshaw, in Discourse with him, said, "That he would make no more to kill a Protestant, than to kill a Dog or a Cat; and that he was resolved to kill some of the busy Lords; but the First should be the Lord Shaftesbury." And the said Prosser shewed the Deponent a Pistol at the same Time.

"This Deponent further saith, That he the Deponent, Mr. Messenger, Prosser, and Maddison, were at Bradlie's, in Holborne, about Five Weeks before Staley was taken; where the said Messenger much complaining of the Severity of the Laws that were against the Papists, and much fearing that they would be put in Execution against them by some that were no Lovers of them, and particularly the Lord Shaftesbury, who did most busy himself about them, said, "That there must be speedy Course taken to prevent it."

"And this Deponent saith, That, some Time after this, the said Prosser told him, "That the said Messenger was the Person that promoted the killing the Lord Shaftesbury."

"The Deponent further saith, That Mr. Goseene told him, both in Covent Garden and in the Deponent's Shop, "That the King and Parliament would undo them; and if he were to kill a Man, he would kill the King as soon as any Man; and if he had Him in France, he would have killed Him before this."

"This Deponent further saith, That, about Six Months since, he heard Mr. Mathewes, the Lord Peter's Priest, say, "That his Lord and the Lord Bellasis, with some other Lords, would have a good Army; and that he hoped the Catholic Religion would be settled in England."

"This Deponent further saith, That, about a Year since, he heard Mr. Singleton, a Priest, say, in the Presence of Mr. Hall, "That he hoped he should be settled in a Parish Church before a Twelvemonth; and that he did not fear but that the Catholic Religion would reign in England; and that he would not make any more Matter in stabbing Forty Parliament Men, than to eat his Dinner."

"The Deponent saith, That he hath also heard Mr. Byfleet and Doctor Guilding say, several Times, "That they turned divers People from the Protestant Religion to the Catholic Religion; and they hoped they should turn many more."

"The Deponent also believes, that the said Hall knows where the said Singleton, Byfleet, and Guilding are; for that they used to be always at Hall's House, and the said Hall always received the Money for the said Singleton which was to be distributed for Masses for the Dead.

"This Deponent further saith, That Mr. Groves told him, "That this was no Plot, but a Plot of the Protestants own making:" And when his Uncle was condemned, he said, "That they were all Rogues that swore against him." The Deponent then asking him, "What he thought of the Five Thousand Men which he knew were to be raised?" The said Groves replied, "That might be in Jest."

"The Deponent further saith, That Mr. Ridley, a Chirurgeon at the Lord Baltimore's House in Wyld-street, told him several Times, "That he hoped to be Chirargeon to the Catholic Army in England; and that the Lord Bellasis would much stand his Friend in the Concern."

"This Deponent further saith, That the Lord Arundell of Warder's Butler told him, "That Mr. Messenger was to kill the King, and that he was to have a good Reward if he saved his Life; and if he were killed, the said Reward should be distributed amongst such Friends as he should appoint, by the Lord Arundell, the Earl Powis, and the rest of the Lords that were in the same Plot."

"The Deponent further saith, That, meeting with Mr. Messenger after that, he asked the said Messenger, "Why he would kill the King?" The said Messenger answered, "Who told you of it?" The Deponent saying, "Your Butler told me;" the said Messenger replied, "We are off that Thing now; therefore desired me not to speak of it to any-body." Afterwards the said Butler came to the Deponent's Shop, and told the Deponent, "That he had received great Anger, in that he had told the Deponent of what Messenger was to attempt."

"This Deponent further saith, That, somewhat above Half a Year since, he heard Mr. Wallston Paston say, "That young Sir Henry Beddingfeild, of Oxburrough Hall, in Norfolk, was to have a Commission from my Lord Arundell, for a Troop of Horse in the Army to be raised by the Papists.

"Miles Prance."

Capt. et jurat. coram me, 19 Martii, 1678.

Winchester.

Prosser, Bradshaw, & al to be attached.

Upon this, the House made the following Order:

"ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, or his Deputy or Deputies, shall forthwith attach the Bodies of Benedict Prosser a Silversmith, George Bradshaw, Goseene, Maddison a Barber in Holborn, and Adamson a Watchmaker, and bring them in safe Custody to the Bar of this House, to answer such Matters as shall there be objected to them on His Majesty's Behalf; and for so doing, this shall be a sufficient Warrant.

"To Sir George Charnock Knight, Serjeant at Arms attending this House, his Deputy and Deputies, and to all His Majesty's Ministers and Officers Civil and Military, to be aiding and assisting in the Execution hereof."

Meller versus Robey & al.

Whereas there is a Petition of Henry Meller of Derby, and George Gresly of Lullington, in the County of Derby Esq. depending in this House, being an Appeal from a Decree made in the Court of Chancery, on the Sixth of February, 25 Caroli 2di, concerning the Settlement of the Lands of Robert Willimot Esquire, in Chaddesden, Morley, Breadsall, and Spoondon, in the said County of Derby, and other Matters in the said Petition suggested, as also from a Dismission of their Bill of Review concerning the same Matters, upon which Petition they pray Relief:

It is thereupon ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That Robert Robey and other the Children of Thomas Robey and Dorothy his Wife, their Guardians and Prochin Amys, and Edward Willimot (all in the Petition mentioned), who may have a Copy thereof, be, and are hereby, required to put in their Answer, or respective Answers, in Writing, to the said Petition and Appeal, on Thursday the Third Day of April next, at Ten of the Clock in the Forenoon; whereof the Petitioners are to cause timely Notice to be given to the said Defendants respectively for that Purpose.

Sheldon and Family, Leave to stay in Town.

Whereas Edward Sheldon and his Wife, being Popish Recusants, who should have departed out of the Cities of London and Westminster in Pursuance of His Majesty's Proclamation of the 30th of October last, but, by Reason of their extreme Age and Sickness were permitted by His Majesty's Council to stay in Town;

This House being moved, "That the said Edward Sheldon and his Wife, as also their Two Daughters Elizabeth and Katherine Sheldon, who have no other Place of Abode but with their Parents, and may be of great Help to them in their Sickness and old Age, may be still permitted to stay in Town:"

It is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the said Edward Sheldon and his Wife, and their said Two Daughters, be, and are hereby, authorized and permitted to stay together in Town, for the Space of Two Months from the Date of this Order, and no longer.

E. of Danby to put in his Answer to his Impeachment.

ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That Thomas Earl of Danby, Lord High Treasurer of England, be, and is hereby, appointed to put in his Answer, in Writing, to the Articles of Impeachment now depending in this House against him, on or before Thursday the Twenty-seventh Day of this Instant March, at Ten of the Clock in the Forenoon.

Johnson, Leave to stay in Town.

Upon reading the Petition of Garret Johnson, Cabinetmaker in Ordinary to Her Majesty; shewing, "That, for as much as, being a Papist, he cannot long be free to follow his Occasions here; but, having many Pieces of Work now in Hand for Persons of Quality, and many Debts to get in, in order to his Remove out of this Kingdom, therefore prayeth, that some competent Time may be allowed for him and his Family to stay in Town, for the Purposes aforesaid:"

It is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the said Garret Johnson, with his Wife and Children, be, and are hereby, authorized and permitted to stay in Town, for the Space of Six Months from the Date of this Order, and no longer.

Serjeant at ArmsReports, concerning Sir F. Ratcliffe.

Upon receiving several Reports offered by Sir George Charnocke Knight, Serjeant at Arms attending this House, concerning Sir Francis Ratcliffe and others:

It is ORDERED, That it be referred to the Lords Committees for examining Matters relating to the Discovery of the late horrid Conspiracy, to peruse the said Reports, and to do thereon as to their Lordships shall seem meet.

Siberchts, Leave to stay in Town.

This House being moved, "That John Siberchts, a Dutchman, and Limner of Pictures, who, being a Papist, ought to remove out of the Cities of London and Westminster, and the Suburbs thereof, may have Liberty to stay in Town for some Time, for the Recovery of some Debts owing to him, before his Removal out of this Kingdom:"

It is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the said John Siberchts be, and is hereby, authorized and permitted to stay in the Cities of London or Westminster, for the Recovery of his said Debts, for the Space of Six Months from the Date of this Order, but no longer.

Sydway's Information concerning the Plot.

Upon reading the Information of John Sydway Clerk, presented to this House by the Lord Bishop of London, tending to the Discovery of the late horrid Conspiracy:

It is ORDERED, That the said Information be referred to the Lords Committees for examining Matters relating to the said Discovery, to consider thereof, and report as their Lordships shall see Cause.

Sir R. Harding versus Edge.

Upon reading the Petition of Sir Robert Harding, of Greyes Inne, Knight, being an Appeal from a Decree made by the now Lord Chancellor of England, concerning the Manor of Brampcole, and other Lands there, in the County of Nottingham, and concerning Charities settled by Henry Hanley, and other Matter in the said Petition suggested; and praying, "That Mr. Ralph Edge, who is concerned in the said Charity, may answer to the said Appeal, and the Petitioner be relieved according to Justice and Equity:"

It is thereupon ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the said Ralph Edge (who may have a Copy of the said Petition) be, and is hereby, required to put in his Answer thereunto, in Writing, at the Bar of this House, on Thursday the Third Day of April next, at Ten of the Clock in the Forenoon; whereof the said Sir Robert Harding is to cause timely Notice to be given to the said Ralph Edge for that Purpose.

The Duke of Albemarle, Earl of Strafford, Bishop of Landaff, Lord Vaughan, and Lord Delamer, are added to the Committee of Examinations for the Discovery of the late horrid Conspiracy.

Popish Recusants, for better Discovery of, Bill.

This House was put into a Committee, to consider of the Bill for the better Discovery, and more speedy Conviction, of Popish Recusants.

The House being resumed;

The Earl of Bridgwater reported, "That the Committee have proceeded in the Consideration of this Bill, and have made Amendments therein; and, if the House please to order that the House be put again into a Committee To-morrow Morning, it may be then finished."

Which the House ordered accordingly.

Adjourn.

Dominus Cancellarius declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque in diem Veneris, 21^um diem instantis Martii, hora decima Aurora, Dominis sic decernentibus.