or pretending thereto that shall take the said Oaths and make and subscribe the aforesaid Declaration together with his Assent Consent to the Articles of Religion mention'd in the 13 th year of the Queen except only the 34 35 and 36. and these words in the 20 th Article viz. That the Church has Power to decree Rights and Ceremonies and Authority in Controversies of Faith shall be liable to the Pains and Penalties of either of the Acts made in the 17 th or 22 th years of his present Majesties Reign Provided they do not preach in any place with the doors lock'd or barr'd 5. That all persons pretending to holy Orders that shall subscribe the Articles aforesaid except before excepted together with part of the 27 th Article concerning Infants Baptism and take the Oaths and make the Declaration aforesaid shall enjoy all the Benefits and Advantages of this Act. 6. The Justices of the Peace are requir'd to tender the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy to any person or persons that go to private Meetings and upon refusal to take them and make the Declaration aforesaid to commit them to Prison without Bail or Mainprise and being so committed if they shall refuse upon a second tender to take the said Oaths or to make Declaration of their Allegiance they shall be thenceforth taken for Popish Recusants convicted and suffer accordingly 7. For those that scruple the taking of any Oath the following Declaration shall be sufficient being by them made and subscribed I acknowledge and declare c. That K. Charles the II. is Lawful King of this Realm c. and that the Pope neither by himself nor any Authority of the Church of Rome or by any other means with any other hath any Power to depose the King or dispose of his Dominions or to authorize any Foreign Prince to invade or annoy his Countreys or to discharge any of his Subjects of their Allegiance or Obedience to him c. 8. Such Persons as shall conform to this Act are impowr'd to keep Schools Lastly This Act not to extend to any Papists or Popish Recusant or to any that shall deny the Doctrine of the Holy Trinity But now the Term of Prorogation being near at hand his Majesty was pleas'd to issue forth his Proclamation bearing date the 18 th of January for the Dissolving of this present Parliament and calling a New one to meet and be holden at Oxford upon the one and twentieth day of March next ensuing A LIST OF BOTH HOUSES OF Parliament Which met at Westminster upon the 21 st of October 1680. and was Dissolv'd on the 18 th of January following Note That those that have this Mark * after them were not Members of the last Parliament The LORDS JAMES Duke of York and Albany Rupert Duke of Cumberland Heneage Finch Baron of Daventry Lord Chancellor of England Arthur Earl of Anglesey Lord Privy Seal Henry Duke of Norfolk George Duke of Buckingham Christopher Duke of Albemarle James Duke of Monmouth Henry Duke of Newcastle Charles Lord Marquess of Winchester Henry Lord Marquess of Worcester Henry Lord Marquess of Dorchester Robert Earl of Lindsey Lord Great Chamberlain James Earl of Brecon Lord Steward of the Houshold Henry Earl of Arlington Lord Chamberlain of the Houshold Aubrey Earl of Oxford Anthony Earl of Kent William Richard George Earl of Derby John Earl of Rutland Theophilus Earl of Huntingdon William Earl of Bedford Philip Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery Edward Earl of Lincoln Charles Earl of Nottingham James Earl of Suffolk Charles Earl of Dorset and Middlesex James Earl of Salisbury John Earl of Exeter John Earl of Bridgewater Philip Earl of Leicester James Earl of Northampton William Earl of Devonshire William Earl of Denbigh John Earl of Bristol Gilbert Earl of Clare Oliver Earl of Bullinbrook Charles Earl of Westmorland Robert Earl of Manchester Thomas Earl of Berkshire John Earl of Mulgrave William Earl of Malborough Thomas Earl of Rivers Henry Earl of Peterborough Thomas Earl of Stamford Heneage Earl of Winchelsea Charles Earl of Carnarvon Henry Earl of Newport Philip Earl of Chesterfield Nicholas Earl of Thanett Thomas Earl of Portland William Earl of Strafford Robert Earl of Sunderland Nicholas Earl of Scarsdale John Earl of Rochester Henry Earl of St. Albans Edward Earl of Sandwich Henry Earl of Clarendon Arthur Earl of Essex Robert Earl of Cardigan John Earl of Bath Charles Earl of Carlisle William Earl of Craven Robert Earl ef Ailesbury Richard Earl of Burlington Anthony Earl of Shaftsbury John Earl of Guilford Thomas Earl of Sussex Charles Earl of Plimouth Lewis Earl of Feversham George Earl of Hallifax Charles Earl of Mackelfield John Earl of Radnor Robert Earl of Yarmouth George Earl of Berkley Francis Viscount Montague William Viscount Say and Seal Edward Viscount Conway Baptist Viscount Campden Thomas Viscount Faulconbridge Charles Viscount Mordant Francis Viscount Newport Henry Lord Mowbray James Lord Audley Charles Lord La Warre Thomas L. Morley and Mounteagle Robert Lord Ferrers Conyers L. Darcy and Meynell Benjamin Lord Fitzwater Charles Lord Gray William Lord Stourton Henry Lord Sandys Thomas Lord Windsor Thomas Lord Cromwell Ralph Lord Eure Philip Lord Wharton Charles L. Willoughby of Parham William Lord Pagett Charles Lord North-Grey of Rolleston James Lord Chandos Robert Lord Hunsdon James Lord Norreys Christopher Lord Tenham Fulke Lord Grevill Edward Lord Mountague of Boughton Ford Lord Grey of Wark John Lord Lovelace John Lord Paulet William Lord Maynard George Lord Coventry William Lord Howard of Escrick Henry Lord Herbert of Cherbury Thomas Lord Leigh Christopher Lord Hatton Richard Lord Byron Richard Lord Vaughan Francis Lord Carrington William Lord Widdrington Edward Lord Ward Thomas Lord Culpeper Jacob Lord Astley Charles Lord Lucas Edward Lord Rockingham Charles Henry Lord Wootton Marmaduke Lord Langdale Denzill Lord Holles Charles Lord Cornwallis George Lord Delamere Horatio Lord Townesend John Lord Crew John Lord Frescheville Richard Lord Arundel of Trerise Thomas Lord Butler of Moor-Park Richard Lord Butler of Weston John Lord Mannors of Haddon Arch-Bishops and Bishops Dr. William Sancroft Lord Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Richard Stern Lord Archbishop of York Dr. Henry Compton Lord Bishop of London Dr. Nathaniel Crew Lord Bishop of Durham Dr. George Morley Lord Bishop of Winchester Dr. Herbert Crofts Lord Bishop of Hereford Dr. Seth Ward Lord Bishop of Salisbury Dr. Edward Rainbow Lord Bishop of Carlile Dr. John Dolben Lord Bishop of Rochester Dr. Anthony Sparrow Lord Bishop of Norwich Dr. Peter Gunning Lord Bishop of Ely Dr. Isaac Barrow Lord Bishop of St. Asaph Dr. Thomas Wood Lord Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield Dr. John Pritchet Lord Bishop of Gloucester Dr. Peter Mew Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells Dr. John Pearson Lord Bishop of Chester Dr. Humphrey Lloyd Lord Bishop of Bangor Dr. William Lloyd Lord Bishop of Peterborough Dr. Guy Carleton Lord Bishop of Chichester Dr. Thomas Barlow Lord Bishop of Lincoln Dr. James Fleetwood Lord Bishop of
the Liberty and Property of the Subject at home and supporting the Forraign Alliances he took notice of the unsuitable Returns of the House of Commons their Addresses in the Nature of Remonstrances their Arbitrary Orders for taking Persons into Custody for Matters that had no Relation to their Priviledges and their strange Illegal Votes declaring divers Emminent Persons Enemies to the King and Kingdom without any Order or Process of Law or hearing their Defence That besides these Proceedings they had Voted That whoever should Lend any Money upon the Branches of the Revenue or Buy any Tally of Anticipation or pay any such Tally should be adjudged to hinder the sitting of Parliaments and be answerable to the same in Parliament Which Votes instead of giving him Assistance tended rather to disable him and to expose him to all dangers that might happen at Home or Abroad and to deprive him of the possibility of supporting the Government it self and to reduce him to a more helpless Condition then the meanest of his Subjects That they had Voted the Prosecution of Protestant Dissenters upon the Penal-Laws a grievance to the Subject a weakning to the Protestant Interest an Encouragement to Popery and dangerous to the Peace of the Kingdom Whereby they assumed to themselves a Power of suspending Acts of Parliament Which unwarrantable Proceedings were the Occasion of his parting with the first Parliament That having Assembled another at Oxford he gave them warning of the Errors of the former and required them to make the Law of the Land their Rule as he resolv'd it should be his Adding withal that though he could not depart from what he had so often declared touching the Succession Yet to remove all Reasonable fears that might arise from a Popish Successor if means could be found that in such a Case the Administration of the Government might remain in Protestant Hands he was ready to hearken to any expedient for the preservation of the Establish'd Religion without the Destruction of Monarchy Notwithstanding all which no expedient could be found but that of a Total Exclusion which he was so nearly concern'd in Honour Justice and Conscience not to Consent to Nor did he believe as he had Reason so to do but that if he had in the last Parliament at Westminster consented to a Bill of Exclusion that the Intent was not to have rested there but to have attempted some other great and important Changes That the business of Fits-Harris impeach'd by the Commons of High Treason and by the Lords referred to the Ordinary Course of Law was on a suddain carried to that Extremity by the Votes of the House of Commons March 26. That there was no possibility left of a Reconciliation Whereby an impeachment was made use of to delay a Tryal directed against a professed Papist charg'd with Treasons of an extraordinary Nature That nevertheless he was resolv'd that no Irregularities in Parliaments should make him out of love with them but by the Blessing of God to have frequent Parliaments and both in and out of Parliament to use all his utmost endeavours to extirpate Popery and to redress the Grievances of his good Subjects and in all things to Govern according to the Laws of the Kingdom This Declaration being published was likewise ordered to be read in all Churches and Chapples thoroughout the Kingdom And thus my dear Friend Fame for thou art some times a Friend to me as well as to Falshood I have been Candid toward thee in giving Thee plainly without Comment or Observations either on the one side or the other a true Accompt of the most Memorable passages of the Two last Parliaments in due Series and Connexion for the aid and assistance of thy Memory Now take thy flight and make the best Use of thy Pacquet which thou canst If thou seek'st for more go look among the Intelligences which though they will deceive Thee may perhaps better tickle the Fancies then the Judgments of the People A NEW AND TRUE CATALOGUE OF THE HOUSE of LORDS Together with the Knights Citizens Burgesses and Barons OF THE CINQUE-PORTS That were Returned to serve in the Parliament of ENGLAND Assembled at OXFORD the twenty-first of March 1681. Note That those that have this Mark * after them were not Members of the foregoing Parliament The LORDS JAMES Duke of York and Albany Rupert Duke of Cumberland Heneage Finch Baron of Daventry Lord Chancellor of England John Earl of Radnor Lord President of the Council Arthur Earl of Anglesey Lord privy-Privy-Seal Henry Duke of Norfolk Charles Seymore Duke of Somerset under Age. George Duke of Buckingham Christopher Duke of Albemarl James Duke of Monmouth Henry Duke of Newcastle Charles Lenox Duke of Richmond under Age. Charles Fitz-Roy Duke of Southampton under Age. Henry Fitz Roy Duke of Grafton Charles Lord Marq. of Winchester Henry Lord Marq. of Worcester Robert Earl of Lindsey Lord Great Chamberlain James Earl of Brecon Lord Steward of the Houshold Aubrey Earl of Oxford Charles Talbot Earl of Salop if at Age. Anthony Earl of Kent William Richard George Earl of Derby John Earl of Rutland Theophilus Earl of Huntingdon William Earl of Bedford Philip Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery Edward Earl of Lincoln Charles Earl of Nottingham James Eral of Suffolk Charles Earl of Dorset and Middlesex James Earl of Salisbury John Earl of Exeter John Earl of Bridgewater Philip Earl of Leicester James Earl of Northampton Edward Rich Earl of Warwick and Holand under Age William Earl of Devonshire William Earl of Denbigh John Earl of Bristol Gilbert Earl of Clare Oliver Earl of Bullingbrook Charles Earl of Westmorland Robert Earl of Manchester Thomas Earl of Barkshire John Earl of Mulgrave Thomas Earl of Rivers Henry Earl of Peterborough Thomas Earl of Stamford Heneage Earl of Winchelsea Charles Earl of Carnarvon Philip Earl of Chesterfield Richare Earl of Thanet William Earl of Strafford Robert Earl of Sunderland Robert Earl of Scarsdale Charles Earl of Rochester Henry Earl of St. Albans Edward Earl of Sandwich Henry Earl of Clarendon Arthur Earl of Essex Robert Earl of Cardigan John Earl of Bath Charles Earl of Carlisle William Earl of Craven Robert Earl of Ailesbury Richard Earl of Burlington Anthony Earl of Shaftsbury Edward Henry Lee Earl of Lichfield under Age. John Earl of Guilford Thomas Earl of Sussex Lewis Earl of Feversham George Earl of Hallifax Charles Earl of Mackelsfield Robert Earl of Yarmonth George Earl of Berkley Edw. Conway Earl of Conway Leicester Devereux Viscount Heriford under Age Francis Viscount Montague William Viscount Say and Seal Baptist Viscount Camden Thomas Viscount Faulconbridge Charles Viscount Mordant Francis Viscount Newport Henry Lord Mowbroy George Nevil Lord Abergavenny under Age. James Lord Audley Charles Lord La Warr. Thomas Lord Morley Mounteagle Robert Lord Ferrers Coniers Lord Darcy and Meynel Charles Lord Fitzwater under Age. Henry Lord Grey under Age. William Lord Stourton Conyers Lord Conyers Henry Lord Sandys Thomas Lord
Treason should be pronounced upon the Prisoner Which being concluded the Lords return'd to the Court and the Lord High Steward attended by all the Officers before-mention'd upon their Knees directed his Speech to the Prisoner to this Effect That what his Lordship had said in Arrest of Judgment was found to be of no Moment at all it being no Essential part of any Tryal neither was there any Record made of it when it was done That as for the Proviso's of the 13 th Year of this King their Lordships found that they were in no sort applicable to his Lordships Case the proceedings against him not being grounded upon that Statute That no Man would have thought that a Person of his Quality so nobly descended so considerable in Estate so eminent a Sufferer in the late Times so interested in the Preservation of the Government so obliged to the Moderation of it and so personally and particularly oblig'd to the King and his Royal Father should ever have enter'd into a Conspiracy to contrive the Murther of the King Ruin of the State and Subversion of Religion and yet his Impeachment amounted to no less and the Lords have found him Guilty That as the Plot in general had been most manifest so his Lordships Part in it had been too plain Three things therefore he recommended to his Lordship's Consideration That he was now fallen into the very Pit that he was digging for others That he would think a little better than he had done what kind of Religion it was that had brought him to the Destruction that was like to befall him Lastly That he would consider that true Repentance is never too late That there were some that thought it a Mortal Sin to confess that Crime in Publick for which they had been absolv'd in Private but that God forbid his Lordship should be found among the number of those poor mistaken Souls Then assuring him that their Lordships would not cease to pray that the End of his Life might be Christian and Pious He concluded That it was then the last time he was to call him My Lord for that his next words would attaint him And having so said he pronounced the Sentence of the Court which was That he was to be Hang'd Drawn and Quarter'd The Day for Execution being appointed to be the 29 th of the same Month two Writs were issued out under the Great Seal of England the first to the Lieutenant of the Tower in Form following CAROLUS Secundus Dei Gratia Angliae Scotiae Franciae Hiberniae Rex Fidei Defensor ’ c. Locumtenenti Turris nostrae London ' salutem Cum Will ' Vicecomes Stafford per Communes Regni nostri Angliae in Parliamento assemblat ' de altâ proditione necnon diversis aliis criminibus offensis per ipsum perpetrat ’ commissis impetit ’ fuit ac superinde per Dominos Temporales in praesenti Parliamento nostro convent ' triat ' convict ' debita juris forma attinct ’ fuit morti adjudicat ’ existit Cujus quidem Judicii Executio adhuc restat facienda Cumque praedictus Vicecomes Stafford in Turri nostra London sub custodiâ tuâ deâ—ent ’ existit Praecipimus tibi per praesentes firmiter injungendo mandamus quòd in super vicesimum nonum diem instantis mensis Decembris inter horas nonam undecimam ante Meridiem ejusdem dici ipsum Vicecomitem Stafford usque locum usualem extra Portam Turris praedictâ— ducas ac ipsum Vicecomitibus Civitatis nostrae London Middlesex adtunc ibidem deliberes Quibus quidem Vicecomitibus nos per aliud Breve eis inde direct ’ praecepimus praedictum Vicecomitem Stafford adtunc ibidem recipere ut fiat Executio Judicii praedicti modo formâ prout dictis Vicecomitibus London Middlesex per aliud Breve nostrum praedictum praecepimus Et hoc nullatenus omittas sub periculo incumbente aliquo Judicio Lege Ordinatione seu Mandato praeantea habit ’ fact ’ ordinat ’ seu dat ’ in contrarium non obstante Teste meipso apud Westm decimo octavo die Decembris Anno Regni nostri tricesimo secundo BARKER Englished thus CHARLES the Second by the Grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. To the Lieutenant of Our Tower of London Greeting Whereas William Viscount Stafford has been impeach'd by the Commons of our Kingdom of England in Parliament Assembled of High Treason and several other Crimes and Offences by him perpetrated and committed and thereupon by our Lords Temporal in our present Parliament conven'd has been tried and convicted and in due Form of Law was attainted and adjudg'd to die Of which Judgment Execution yet remains to be done And whereas the said Viscount Stafford is detain'd in your Custody in our Tower of London We charge and by these presents firmly enjoyning command you That in and upon the twenty ninth day of this Instant December between the hours of Nine and Eleven before Noon of the same Day you conduct the said Viscount Stafford to the Usual Place without the Gate of the Tower aforesaid and him then and there deliver to the Sheriffs of our City of London and Middlesex To which Sheriffs We by another Writ to them directed have given Command the aforesaid Viscount Stafford then and there to receive that Execution of the aforesaid Judgment may be done in Manner and Form as we have given Command by our other Writ to the said Sheriffs of London and Middlesex And of this you are not to fail upon peril thereon to ensue Any Judgment Law Ordinance or Command before had made ordain'd or given to the contrary notwithstanding Witness Our Selves at Westminster the 18 th Day of December in the 32 d. Year of Our Reign The Second Writ was directed to the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex in Form following CAROLUS Secundus Dei Gratia Angliae Scotiae Franciae Hiberniae Rex Fidei Defensor c. Vic ’ London Vic ’ Middlesex salutem Cum Will ’ Vicecomes Stafford per Communes Regni nostri Angliae in Parliamento assemblat ’ de altâ proditione necnon diversis aliis criminibus offensis per ipsum perpetrat ’ commissis ’ impetit ’ fuit Ac superinde per Dominos Temporales in praesenti Parliamento nostro convent ’ triat ’ convict ’ debitâ juris formâ attinct ’ fuit morti adjudicat ’ existit Cujus quidem judicii Executio adhuc restat facienda praecipimus vobis per praesentes firmiter injungendo mandamus quòd in super vicesimum nonum diem hujus instantis Decembris inter horas nonam undecimam ante meridiem ejusdem diei dictum Vicecomitem Stafford extra Portam Turris nostrae London vobis tunc ibidem deliberandum prout per aliud Breve Locumtenenti Turris nostrae London directum praecepimus in custodiam vestram
adtunc ibidem recipiatis ipsum sic in custodia vestra existentem statim usque usualem Locum super le Tower-hill ductatis Ac Caput ipsius Willi. Vicecomitis Stafford adtunc ibidem amputari ac à Corpore suo omnino separari faciatis aliquo Judicio Lege Ordinatione seu Mandato preantea habit ’ fact ’ ordinat ’ seu dat ’ in contrarium non obstante Et hoc sub periculo incumbente nullatenus omittatis Teste meipso apud Westm decimo octavo die Decembris Anno Regni nostri tricesimo secundo BARKER Englished thus CHARLES the Second by the Grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith c. To the Sheriffs of London and Sheriffs of Middlesex Greeting Whereas William Viscount Stafford has been Impeached by the Commons of our Kingdom of England in Parliament Assembled of High Treason and other Crimes and Offences by him perpetrated and committed And thereupon by the Lords Temporal in our present Parliament conven'd was try'd convicted and in due Form of Law attainted and is adjudg'd to die of which Judgment Execution yet remains to be done We charge and by these Presents firmly conjoyning command you That in and upon the 29 th Day of this Instant December between the hours of Nine and Eleven before Noon of the same Day that the said Viscount Stafford without the Gate of our Tower of London then and there to be to you deliver'd as by another Writ to the Lieutenant of our Tower of London directed we have given Command you then and there receive into your Custody and him so being in your Custody that you presently conduct to the usual place upon Tower-hill and cause the Head of him William Viscount Stafford then and there to be chop'd off and altogether separated from his Body any Judgment Law Ordinance or Command before had made ordain'd or given to the contrary notwithstanding And of this upon penalty thereof to ensue you are not to fail Witness our selves at Westminster the 18 th day of December in the 32 d. year of our Reign Upon Wednesday the 29 th of December about Ten of the Clock in the Morning the Sheriffs received the Prisoner from the Lieutenant of the Tower and conducted him to the Scaffold Upon which the Prisoner being come after a short pause produc'd a Paper out of his Pocket which contain'd the following Speech which he read with his Hat off and gave several Copies thereof Signed with his own Hand to Sheriff Cornish and other Gentlemen about him THE SPEECH OF WILLIAM HOWARD Late Lord Viscount Stafford Vpon the Scaffold on Tower-Hill immediately before his Execution Wednesday Decemb. 29. 1680. BY the permission of Almighty God I am this day brought hither to suffer Death as if I were guilty of High Treason I do most truly in the presence of the Eternal Omnipotent and All-knowing GOD protest upon my Salvation That I am as Innocent as it is possible for any man to be so much as in a Thought of the Crimes laid to my Charge I acknowledge it to be a particular Grace and Favour of the Holy Trinity to have given me this long Time to prepare my self for Eternity I have not made so good use of that Grace as I ought to have done partly by my not having recollected my self as I might have done and partly because not only my Friends but my Wife and Children have for several dayes been forbid to see me but in the presence of one of my Warders This hath been a great Trouble and Distraction unto me but I hope God of his Infinite Mercy will pardon my Defects and accept of my good Intentions Since my long Imprisonment I have considered often what could be the Original Cause of my being thus accused since I knew my self not culpable so much as in a Thought and I cannot believe it to be upon any other Account than my being of the Church of Rome I have no reason to be ashamed of my Religion for it teacheth nothing but the Right Worship of God Obedience to the King and due Subordination to the Temporal Laws of the Kingdom And I do submit to the Articles of Faith believed and taught in the Catholick Church believing them to be most consonant to the Word of God And whereas it hath so much and often been objected that the Church holds That Sovereign Princes Excommunicated by the Pope may by heir Subjects be Deposed and Murdered as to the Murder of Princes I have been taught as a matter of Faith in the Catholick Faith that such Doctrine is diabolical horrid and detestable and contrary to the Law of God Nature and Nations and as such from my Heart I renounce and abominate it As for the Doctrine of deposing Princes I know some Divines of the Catholick Church hold it but as Able and Learned as they have writ against it But it was not pretended to be the Doctrine of the Church that is any point of Catholick Faith Wherefore I do here in my Conscience declare That 't is my true and real Judgment That the same Doctrine of deposing Kings is contrary to the Fundamental Laws of this Kingdom injurious to Sovereign Power and consequently would be in me or any other of his Majesties Subjects impious and damnable I believe and profess that there is one God one Saviour one Holy Catholick Church of which through the Mercy Grace and Goodness of God I die a Member To my great and unspeakable Grief I have offended God in many things by many great Offences but I give him most humble thanks not in any of those Crimes of which I was accused All the Members of either House having liberty to propose in the House what they think fit for the Good of the Kingdom accordingly I proposed what I thought fit the House is judge of the fitness or unfitness of it and I think I never said any thing that was unfitting there or contrary to the Law and use of Parliaments for certainly if I had the Lords would as they might have some way punished me So t am not culpable before God or Man It is much reported of Indulgences Dispensations Pardons to Murder Rebell Lye Forswear and commit such other Crimes held and given in the Church I do here profess in the Presence of God I never learned believed or practised any such things but the contrary and I speak this without any Equivocation or Reservation whatsoever And certainly were I guilty either my self or knew of any one that were guilty whosoever that were so of any of those Crimes of which I am accused I were not only the greatest Fool imaginable but a perfect Mad-man and as wicked as any of those that so falsly have accused me if I should not discover any ill Design I knew in any kind and so upon discovery save my Life I having so often had so fair occasions proposed unto me and so am guilty
so made by his Mother in whose Reign there would be no difficulty of doing it And farther that the Declaration of Indulgence and the War against Holland were in Order to the introducing of the Catholick Religion into England And the same Author reported to him That Madam came over to Dover about the same design That he knew several Commanders in the Army mustered upon Black-Heath to be Roman-Catholick's and that it was the common Intelligence and Opinion among them that the said Army was rais'd to bring in the Romon-Catholick-Religion into England That in the Year 1679. Marquess Montecuculi the D. of Modena's Envoy told him if he would undertake to kill the King either in his own Person or by any other he should have Ten-Thousand pound That the same Marquess told him that upon killing the King the Army in Flanders and Parts adjoying to France was to come over to destroy the Protestant-Party after which there should be no more Parliaments in England and that the D. of Y. was privie to all these designs That in the Year 1680. He met Kelley the Priest at Calice who owned himself to be one of the Murtherers of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey and that the same was done much as Prance had related it and That Monsieur De-Puy a Servant to the D. of Y. had told him soon after the said Murther was committed that the said Murther was consulted at Windsor and farther told him that there was a necessity of taking off the King and that it would soon be done with some other passages of less remark to the same purpose Upon this Information Mr. Secretary Jenkins was Ordered to go up and impeach the said Fits-Harris at the Barr of the Lords House In the mean time that is to say in the forenoon of the next day being Saturday the 26 of March other Examinations of Mr. John Serjeant and David Maurice relating to the Popish-Plot were Read and Ordered to be Printed That of Serjeant was short that a Gentlewoman an Acquaintance of his in Flanders one Mrs. Skipwith told him That Gawen one of the Five Jesuits which were Hang'd had maintain'd against a scruple of Conscience by her put that the Queen might not only lawfully kill the King for violating her Bed but was bound to do it and that if she did not she was guilty of his greater Damnation in letting him continue so long Maurice's Information was shorter That he heard the Gentlewoman confirm the Truth of Gawens words Presently after the House taking into debate the means for the security of the Protestant Religion and safety of his Majesties Person came to a Resolution that a Bill should be brought in for excluding James D. of York from Inheriting the Imperial Crowns of England and Ireland and the Dominions and Territories thereto belonging The same Day in the Afternoon the House being inform'd that the Lords had refus'd to proceed upon their Impeachment of Edward-Fits-Harris and had directed that he should be proceeded against at Common-Law They came to three Resolves That it was the undoubted Right of the Commons in Parliament assembl'd to impeach before the Lords in Parliament any Peer or Commoner for Treason or any other Crime or Misdemeanour and that the Refusal of the Lords to proceed in Parliament upon such an Impeachment was a denial of Justice and a violation of the Constitution of Parliaments Secondly That in the Case of Edward Fits-Harris who had been impeach'd by the Commons for High Treason before the Lords with a Declaration that in convenient time they would bring up Articles against him for the Lords to resolve That the said Fits-Harris should be proceeded against according to the Course of Common-Law and not by way of Impeachment in Parliament at that time was a violation of the Constitution of Parliaments and an Obstruction to the farther Discovery of the Popish-Plot and of great danger to his Majesties Person and the Protestant-Religion Thirdly for any Inferiour Court to proceed against Edward Fits-Harris or any other Person lying under an Impeachment in Parliament for the same Crime for which they stood impeached was a High breach of the Priviledge of Parliament After this they Ordered two Bills to be brought in The one for the better Uniting his Majesties Protestant-Subjects The other for banishing the most considerable Papists in England by their Names out of his Majesties Dominions Munday the Twenty-eighth Day of March and last of the Session little remarkable pass'd only the Bill of Exclusion was read a Second time But these and all other their debates that Morning put a suddain Conclusion for soon after being sent for by the King to the House of Lords his Majesty told them That their beginnings had been such that he could expect no good success of this Parliament and therefore thought fit to dissolve them and accordingly the Chancellor by the Kings command declared the Parliament dissolv'd After the Dessolution of the Parliament the King went back to Windsor the same Day and from thence after a stay of some few Hours returned to White-Hall Fame I will not ask Thee what were the Coffee-Houses Censures and Comments upon an Action of so much importance and so suddain as this Truth No for if Thou didst it would be to no purpose For Thou knowest I have little to do there but the first thing that I saw in Publick upon the Stalls was a Half-sheet of Paper entitled The Protestation of the Lords Upon rejecting the Impeachment of Mr. Fits-Harris giving for Reasons why it was the undoubted Right of the Commons so to do because great Offences that influence the Parliament were most effectually determined in Parliament nor could the complaint be determin'd any where else For that if the Party should be Indicted in the Kings Bench or any other Inferiour Court for the same Offence yet it were the same Suit an Impeachment being at the suite of the People but an Indictment at the suite of the King Besides that they conceived it to be a denial of Justice in regard the House of Peers as to Impeachments proceeding by Vertue of their Judicial not their Legislative Power could not deny any Suitors but more especially the Commons of England no more then the Courts of Westminster or any other Inferiour Courts could deny any Suite or Criminal Cause regularly Commenced before them Sign'd according to the Printed Copy Monmuoth Kent Huntington Bedford Salisbury Clare Stamford Sunderland Essex Shaftsbury Macclesfield Mordant Wharton Paget Grey of Wark Herbert of Cherbury Cornwallis Lovelace Crew Upon the Munday next after Easter-Week came forth His Majesties Declaration shewing the Causes and Reasons that mov'd him to dissolve the Two last Parliaments Wherein after he had set forth with how much reluctancy he did it and how absolute his Intentions were to have comply'd as far as would have consisted with the very being of the Government with any thing that could have been propos'd to him for preserving the Establish'd Religion
above all the Treasure in the World was a perfect Vnion at home as being that which onely could restore the Kingdom to that Strength and Vigour which it seem'd to have lost All Europe he told them had their Eyes upon that Assembly so that a Misunderstanding of each other would render the Friendship of England unsafe to trust to Lastly he exhorted them to take care not to gratifie the publick Enemy and discourage their Friends by unseasonable disputes which if they should happen the world would see it was no fault of his who had done what was possible for him to do to keep them in peace while he liv'd and to leave them so when he dy'd Concluding that from their prudence and good affections he could fear nothing of that kind but that he rely'd upon them that they would use their best endeavours to bring the Parliament to a happy conclusion Having so done he commanded the Commons to return to their House and make choice of their Speaker Fame Did the Lord Chancellor make no Speech at all Truth Not this time Fame Do ye know the Reason Truth Not I but onely by conjecture which has no place in this Rehearsal Fame Then Proceed Truth So soon as the Commons were returned to their House a Motion was made That William Williams Esq might be elected Speaker Which was presently resolv'd Nemine Contradicente Mr. Williams being thus chosen modestly at first excus'd himself telling the House That he needed not to reckon up his Infirmities which were better known to many of the Members than to himself That as they had experience of his unfitness for their Service so they had sufficient Demonstrations of the aptness of other Members then present That the Choice of a Speaker was the Effect of much time and consideration and that it would be no excuse for them to say They had not time for deliberation in so great a Matter and therefore since they had time a more deliberate Election would be expected from them That the security of the Protestant Religion the safety of the King and Kingdom and the preservation of the Justice of the Land were the Grand Affairs in prospect enough to prevail with them to depart from their first Intentions of the Honour propos'd to him that day Acknowledging himself to be sufficiently honour'd with the proposal alone For which reasons he desir'd them not onely for his own sake but for their Honour to proceed to the Election of another Person more proper for their Service and to leave him in that place where his Country had seated him But this excuse being rejected by the House he was by two of the Members conducted to the Chair where being seated he again spoke to this Effect That he trembled to reflect under what difficulties experienc'd learned and wise men had labour'd in that Chair Yet that he was not terrified with the Presidents of those who had impared their Estates and Healths therein nor of those who had lost their lives in the Service as being Sacrifices he owed his Country But when he consider'd that some Gentlemen had maim'd their Reputations in their Trusts those were the thoughts that wounded him most deeply and would yet strike deeper did not they that call'd him thither stand by him to support him in all the difficulties of the Place He farther acknowledg'd that he held the place by their courtesie and during their pleasure and that if he fell he fell into the hands of Gentlemen that made him what he was in their Service Concluding That he was theirs alone and their own intirely placed in their Service without seeking or recommendation and that he expected no Boon but by their Grace and Favour to depart as he came when they should please to command him The Ceremony of the Election being thus over the House was inform'd that his Majesty had appointed the next day at three a Clock for the Members to present their Speaker which made them adjourn till the next day in the Afternoon The day following being the twenty Second of October the House met again in the Afternoon at what time a Message was deliver'd them by the Usher of the Black Rod commanding them to attend his Majesty in the House of Peers Thereupon the House attended accordingly and humbly presented their Speaker to his Majesty who presently made claim according to Custom in the Name of the Commons of England in Parliament assembled of the ancient Rights of the Commons for them and their Servants in their Persons and Estates to be free from Arrests and other disturbances to have freedom and liberty of Speech in all their Debates and to have access to his Majesties Person as occasion should require All which was allowed by the King Being return'd to the House the Speaker took the Chair and having made report of what had been done the House adjourn'd till Monday following Fame Hitherto I hear of nothing of Business Truth No more then what I tell you for it was necessary that these matters of Form and Ceremony should be first dispatch'd Besides that by these Acts of Condescension in the one and Homage in the other the King asserted his Prerogative and the People by their Representatives acknowledg'd their Subjection Fame I am satisfi'd go on to the next Truth On Monday then being the twenty fifth of October both Houses being met again the first thing that found the Commons work was a Message from the Peers by the Lord C. J. Schroggs and the Lord C. J. North acquainting them that they had made an Address to his Majesty and had received his Majesties Answer thereunto which they thought fit to communicate The Address which was deliver'd to his Majesty by the Lords attending him with their White Staves was to this Effect That whereas there had been a discovery made of a horrid Conspiracy by the Papists against his Majesties Person and Government which still continued that his Majesty would be Graciously pleased to issue out his Royal Proclamation that all Persons who within two Months after the date of the same should come in and give Evidence of any Treason or Conspiracy against his Majesties Person and Government should have a full Pardon for all such Treasons Misprisions and all Offences of Concealment to the time limited by the said Proclamation To which his Majesties Answer was to this Effect That having consider'd of the said Address and being willing to encourage the discovery of any Treasons and Conspiracies as aforesaid he would issue forth his Proclamation accordingly and pardon all such Discoverers according to the desires of the Address Tuesday 26. of October the Commons fell upon the Regulation of Elections of Members to serve in Parliament and appointed a Committee to draw up a Bill or Bills as they should see cause for that purpose more especially to take care to insert a Clause that an Action of the Case might be brought and maintain'd for Damages sustain'd by undue Returns
Then taking into consideration the Message which had been sent them the day before by the Lords They also in concurrence with the Peers voted an Address to be made to his Majesty on their part to request the same Pardons and Favour for limited Discoverers as the Lords had already done Which being done Mr. Dangerfield of whom I question not but that you have had a sufficient accompt already was called to the Barr there to deliver his knowledge concerning the Plot. Fame That will be very necessary for my Pacquet Truth It will so and therefore you shall have it as briefly as possibly I can sum it up He declared to the House That when Mrs. C. and He waited on the Lord Peterborough to be introduced to his R. H. his Lordship ask'd him whether the Lady Powis had given him any directions how to discourse the D. and desired to know what they were Whereupon he produced a little Book which contain'd a scheme of the pretended discovery he had made of the Presbyterian Plot. Wherein his Lordship finding some Omissions order'd him to Write from his own Mouth that the Presbyterians intended to rise in the North and joyn with the Scots which done his Lordship carry'd him with Mrs. C. into the Dukes Closet at White-Hall where he delivered the said Book to the Duke who not only thank'd him for it and his diligence in the Catholick Cause but wished him success in his Undertakings Adding withall of what mighty consequence the Presbyterian Plot was if well manag'd and that he questioned not but that the effects of it would answer expectation especially in the North where he was assur'd of the Major Part of the Gentry That after that his H. in the hearing of the Lord Peterborough order'd him and Mrs. C. to be careful what they communicated to such as were to be Witnesses in the Plot for fear they should be caught in the Subornation That the D. also informed them that in a Month or two Cmmissions would be ready as from the Presbyterians to which purpose he was order'd to find out trusty persons that would be ready to accept them which should be deliver'd them by a person that should be known by them to be no other then a Presbyterian that they might be the more fit to swear in the Plot. That the D. also for their Encouragement to proceed in that sham-Plott promis'd them that he would take care that Money should not be wanting and bid them discover the same to the King with all expedition they could That the D. made divers Vows and bitter Execrations to stand by them in the thing and engag'd on his Honour to be their Rewarder That being withdrawn from thence to the Lord Peterborough's Lodgings they continu'd there till his Lordship had introduc'd Sir Robert Peyton to the Duke That about four days after the said Earl took the said M. D. again to the D's Lodgings at White-Hall who then told him that he had gained by his diligence a good reputation among the Catholicks adding withall that he should in a short time see the Catholick Religion flourish in these Kingdoms and Heresie torn up by the Roots That the D. gave him twenty Guinies and said if he would be but vigorous in what he had undertaken already he would so order it that Mr. D's life should not be in the least danger with several other Circumstances relating to the said Plot too tedious to relate Fame 'T is well enough so long as here is the main and chief substance of the rest Truth There is so and we are not to make Enlargements where we intend Epitome's Mr. Dangerfeild having made an end of his Relation withdrew But the House taking a more particular notice that he had made mention of Sir Robert Peyton in his Information presently ordered a Committee to examine the matters touching Sir Robert Peyton and to report the same and came to a Resolution Nemine Contradicente to proceed effectually to suppress Popery and prevent a Popish Successor Upon the twenty seventh of October the Address of the Commons to his Majesty in concurrence with the Lords for a Proclamation to assure all such Persons their Pardons as should make their Discoveries within two Months after the date of the Proclamation being prepar'd and finish'd by the Commitee was read in the House upon the Report of Mr. Treby and ran much to this Effect We your Majesties most Loyal Subjects the Commons of England assembled being highly zealous for the preservation of the Protestant Religion your Majesties Sacred Person and Government and resolving to pursue with a strict and impartial enquiry the execrable Papist Plot which was detected in the two last Parliaments and has been supported and carried on by potent and restless Practises and Machinations especially during the late Recesses of Parliament whereby several Persons have been terrified and discourag'd from declaring their knowledge thereof most humbly beseech your Majesty that for the security of such Persons who shall be willing to give Evidence and make further satisfactory discovery concerning the same to this House your Majesty would be pleas'd to issue your Royal Proclamation assuring all the said persons of your Gracious Pardon if they shall give such Evidence or make such Discovery within two Months after the date of the Proclamation With this Address the Speaker attended by several Members of the House waited upon his Majesty the next day in the Afternoon To which his Majesty was pleas'd to return his Answer to this Effect That he did intend to direct such a Proclamation and was resolved not onely to prosecute the Plot but Popery also and to take care of the Protestant Religion establish'd by Law adding That if the House did but go on Calmly in their Debates without heat that he did not doubt but to beat down Popery and all that belong'd to it But to return where we left off so soon as the report of this Address had been made and that it had pass'd Approbation the House fell the same day upon the business of Petitions which they resented so high that they came to several Resolves First that it was the undoubted Right of the Subjects of England to Petition the King for the calling and sitting of Parliaments and Redressing of Grievances That to traduce such Petitioning as a violation of Duty and to represent it to his Majesty as Tumultuous and Seditious was to betray the Liberty of the Subject and contributed to the design of subverting the ancient Legal Constitutions of this Kingdom and introducing Arbitrary Power Which Resolves passing Nemine Contradicente they appointed a Committee to enquire of all such Persons as had offended against the Rights of the Subjects Thereupon the House being inform'd that Sir Francis Withens one of the Members had offended against the said Right of the Subject he was order'd to attend the next Morning After which they pass'd a Resolve to make an Address to his Majesty with
I am come to visit you as you are a Minister of State and as I am sent as Embassador from the Prince of Portugal to the King of England and am likewise to thank you for the Justice you have done yesterday to Sir George Wakeman To which my Lord C. J. answered I am plac'd to do Justice and will not be curb'd by the Rabble Which Information amongst the rest was Printed as it was deliver'd more at large by order of the House The same day also the Commons made new Resolves Nemine Contradicente to proceed to the full Examination of the Popish Plot in order to the bringing of the Offenders to Justice To which purpose they appointed a Committee to inspect the Journalls of the two last Parliaments and make their Report and order'd an humble Address to be made to his Majesty that all the Letters Papers and Evidences which had been delivered to the Privy Council relating to the Popish Plot might be delivered in to the House And thus ended October Fame By the way what became of the Address for the preservation of his Majesties Person and Government Truth Thou shalt hear For though the Address were made upon the Saturday before according to his Majesties appointment yet the House had no accompt of it in a Parliamentary way till the Munday following which was the First of November But first Mr. Secretary Jenkins made his Report concerning the Address that had been orderd to be made for delivery to the House of all Papers Letters and Evidences concerning the Plot in the Custody of the Privy Council To which he gave an accompt in short That they were already delivered to the Committee of Lords appointed for the examination of the said Plot. Which being done Mr. Speaker acquainted the House with his Majesties Answer to their Address declaring their Resolutions to preserve and support his Person and Government c. which was to this effect That he thanked them heartily for their Zeal to the Protestant Religion and assur'd them that there should be nothing wanting both at home and abroad to preserve it Little was done the rest of this day nor much the beginning of the next which was Tuesday the Second of November till Mr. Treby having given a full Information to the House of all matters by him reported in the last Parliament relating to the Popish Plot the House came to three most Remarkable Resolves of which two were carryed with a Nemine Contradicente The first was That the D. of York's being a Papist and his hopes of coming to the Crown had given the greatest countenance to the present designs and Conspiracies against the King and the Protestant Religion Secondly That in defence of the Kings person and Government and of the Protestant Religion the House did declare That they would stand by his Majesty with their Lives and Fortunes and that if his Majesty should come by any Violent death which God forbid they would revenge it to the utmost upon the Papists Thirdly That a Bill should be brought in to disenable the D. of York to inherit the Imperial Crown of England In order whereunto a Committee was appointed to sit and prepare a Bill Upon Wednesday the third of November little pass'd of remark only that the Lords by a Message desired their concurrence to an Act for the better Regulating of Peers in England and that in the House of Commons a Resolve was made Nemine Contradicente That a Bill should be brought in for the better Uniting his Majesties Protestant Subjects Thursday the Fourth of January was less remarkable for business then the day beforegoing unless I should trouble thee Fame to carry the relation of preparatory Votes or the Examinations of breaches of priviledges or contests about Elections which are nothing to the Generall Concernment Fame Thou art in the right they are not for my purpose and therefore thou dost well to leave it out Truth However I must not omit to tell thee that the Bill for disabling James Duke of York to inherit the Imperial Crown of England and Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonging was this day read the first time The next day being the Fifth of November the Houses were both adjourned till Saturday the Sixth of November at what time the House taking into their Consideration the business of the dissenting Protestants came to a unanimous Resolve that it was The Opinion of the House that the Acts of Parliament made in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth and King James ought not to be extended against Protestant Dissenters And thereupon they order'd a Bill to be brought in for repeal of all or any part of the Act of Parliament made in the Thirty fifth year of Queen Elizabeth Chapter the first printed in the Statute-book of Pulton This done Mr. Jenison being call'd in gave his Information at the Bar relating to the Popish Plot. At the conclusion of which he was orderd to put it in writing and present it to the House on the Munday following The Sum of the Information was this That about the beginning of the year 78. he had heard Mr. Ireland and Mr. Tho. Jenison both Jesuits discourse of a designe by the Roman Catholiks to obtain a Toleration for the open profession of their Religion in England which was to be done by collecting a good round Sum of Money among them and bribing the Parliament That they also discoursed of securing the Duke of Yorks succession by granting out Commissions to those of the Religion to rise upon the death of the King That he heard the said Ireland say at another time that there was only one in the way who hindred that Religion from flourishing in England and that it was an easie thing to poison the King by the means of Sir George Wakeman That in August of the same year coming from Windsor he went to Mr. Irelands Chamber where he found him pulling off his boots being as he said newly come Post from Wolverhampton That discoursing of the Kings pastimes at Windsor and particularly of his going a fishing with a small retinue of two or three the said Ireland made answer that then he might be easily taken off That the said Ireland offered him to quit him of a debt if he would be assisting to the taking off the King urging how meritorious it would be and how much to the glory of God That upon his refusall Mr. Ireland ask'd him if he knew any stout Irish Gentlemen upon which he nam'd Lavallin Karney and Brahal together with one Wilson an Englishman Of which Gentlemen the said Mr. Ireland did approve as fit for the design That at another time he heard Mr. Tho. Jenison say that if C. R. would not be R. C. he should not be long C. R. Adding that the King being excommunicate and depos'd he was no longer King Having heard this Information the Bill against the Dukes Inheritance was read a Second time and two Resolves made First That the Bill
of the way That in Rome he saw Colemans Letters and read them once a Month wherein he gave Intelligence of several Passages that happened in the Court how that the Duke the Queen and the cheif of the Nobility were of their side How they carried Matters what waies the Lord Clifford and Sir William Godolphin used to effect the work and that they did not Question but to get the Lord Treasurer Danby on their side That coming into England he found the Popish Clergy of England of the same Opinion that they did not doubt the Romish Religion would soon come in That he knew nothing as to the Lord Stafford but only that one Smith wrote a Letter up to the Lord Stafford out of the North near where he lived to complain of two or three Justices of the Peace that were active against Popery Upon which Sir Henry Calverley was turned out of Commission That upon the first Glimpses of the discovery the aforesaid Smith writing to the Prisoner whether he intended to make over his Estate or no The Prisoners Answer was That several did but he would not in regard he expected a sudden alteration of the Government and Religion Mr Dugdale being called next upon the General Plot gave an accompt That he had been acquainted with a design for bringing in the Popish Religion about Fifteen years That he had been several times informed by Ewers his Ghostly Father that several Lords in several Parts of England were to carry it on that is that they were to have Money and Arms ready for those that wanted upon the death of the King That he had seen several Letters from Paris Rome and St. Omers encouraging Mr. Ewers to goe on and encourage the rest that were engaged That he heard nothing till lately about Killing the King That there came a Letter from the Prisoner to Ewers to shew that things went on all well beyond Sea and hoped they did so here That of late he had been with several Priests and Gentlemen in the Countrey when they have had Consultations for introducing their own Religion and taking away the Kings Life which was alwaies intended to be effected either in November December or January 1678. That he received 500 l. at one time which he gave to Mr. Ewers who return'd it to London to carry on the design That it was agreed that the Lord Aston Sir James Symons and others should go in October 1678. to dispose of a certain Quantity of Arms which they had received somwhere to the value of 30000 l. That he was by when he heard it discours'd that the King of France was acquainted with the design and that he had promis'd to furnish the Papists with Men and that he would not be wanting with other Assistances That he opened a Letter sent to Mr. Ewers dated the day of Sir Edmund-Bury Godfrey's Murder containing this Expression This night Sir Edmund-Bury Godfrey is dispatched That Sir James Symonds the Lord Aston Mr. Draycot Mr. Howard and Mr. Gerard did to his knowledge contribute toward the carrying on of the charge for raising Arms and paying for them and saw Letters from beyond Seas that all things were ready as to the Arms and that there wanted only Orders how they should be dispos'd That Mr. Gawen declared in the private Chappel at Boscobel that whosoever was active for introducing the Romish Religion or killing the King should have a free Pardon of all his sins That he had heard that when the King should be kill'd several should be provided with Arms and rise of a suddain upon the Protestants and cut their Throats That he had heard of Mr. Oates and Bedlow before the Plot was detected that they were Messengers entrusted but no otherwise That he saw a Letter from Whitebread to Oates cautioning him whom he entrusted in the design not mattering who they were so they were stout and trusty That he heard the Pope had promised to assist the Irish with Men and Money and that there should be nothing wanting on his part Mr. Prance being next called declared That one Singleton a Priest in the year 1678. told him at one Hall's a Cook in Ivy-Lane that he did not fear but in a little time to be a Priest in a Parish-Church and that he would make no more to stab forty Parliament Men than to eat his Dinner Dr. Oates being called declared That in the year 1676. he was advised by one Kemish and one Singleton both Priests to hasten betimes home to the Church of Rome for that the Protestant Religion was upon its last Legs That being sent by the Jesuites to Valladolid he opened certain Letters which the Jesuites in England had given him to deliver to their Cor-respondents which Letters did express what hopes they had to effect their design in England for carrying on the Catholick cause and for advancing the Interest of the Pope of Rome That Coming into England with Letters to Strange Provincial of the Jesuites he found Keines lying ill upon Strange's Bed at what time Keines said he was sorry that honest William meaning Grove that was hang'd had miscarryed All this in the year 1677. But generally that they had been brooding over their design long before the Fire In 1678. He observed by several Letters that they were as busie in Ireland as in England and that the Talbots and others were very busie in raising Forces and were resolved to let in the French King if the Parliament should urge the King to break with France And that Morgan was sent into Ireland as a Visitor to take an accompt of the readiness of the Irish That in March intelligence came to the Jesuites of an Attempt that had been made upon the King but that he had escaped through the negligence of Pickering in fixing the Flint of his Fire-lock Mr. Dennis an Irish man being then sworn confirm'd Dr. Oats's being in Spain and particularly at Valladolid where he knew him a Student That from thence he carried a Letter from him to the Archbishop of Tuam who in discourse told him that Oats would be a fit man for their Purpose saying farther that Plunket the Titular Primate of Ireland was resolv'd with the first convenience to go for Ireland to carry over a French Power with him to support the Roman Catholicks in England and Ireland and that he himself would not be long out of Ireland to assist in that pious work That he had both heard of and seen money gathered in Ireland for the support of the Plot. Then Mr. Jenison declared that he had heard Mr. Ireland and Mr. Jenison both Jesuits speak of a Design on foot to gain a Toleration by procuring a great sum of Money from their Party and bribing the Parliament and also of securing the D. or York's Succession That at another time he heard Mr. Ireland say that the Roman Catholick Religion was like to come into England and that there was but one stood in the way and that it
of Popery and the French Interest and a dangerous Enemy to the King and Kingdom The same day also they made two other Resolves That whosoever should lend or cause to be lent any Mony upon the Branches of the King's Revenue arising by Customs Excise or Hearth-mony should be adjudg'd Obstructors of the Sitting of Parliaments and be responsable in Parliament 2. That whosoever should accept or buy any Tally of Anticipation upon any part of the King's Revenue or whoever should pay such Tally should be deem'd guilty of of the same Offence and be liable to be question'd in Parliament Saturday the 8 th of Jan. the Lords gave notice to the House that they had appointed the Saturday following to hear Mr. Seymor's Cause upon his Impeachment and that the House might reply if they thought fit Monday the 10 th of Jan. being the last day of their Session several Resolves were made 1. That whoever advis'd his Majesty to prorogue the Parliament to any other purpose than in order to the passing the Bill of Exclusion was a Betrayer of the King the Kingdom and the Protestant Religion and a Pensioner to France 2. That the Members for the City of London should return the Thanks of the House to the City for their manifest Loyalty to the King their Charge and Vigilancy for the preservation of his Majesty and the Protestant Religion 3. That it was their Opinion that the City was burnt by the Papists designing to introduce Popery and Arbitrary Power in the Nation 4. That the Commissioners of the Customs had willfully broken the Law for prohibiting the Importation of French Wines and other Commodities which if they should continue they should be question'd in Parliament 5. That it was their Opinion that the D. of Monmouth had been remov'd from his Offices and Commands by the Influence of the D. of York and therefore order'd that Application should be made to his Majesty to restore him to all his said Commands and Employments 6. That it was their Opinion that the prosecuting of Protestant Dissenters upon the Penal Laws was a grievance to the Subject and an Encouragement to Popery a weakening of the Protestant Interest and dangerous to the Peace of the Kingdom These Resolutions were no sooner past but they were summon'd by the Usher of the Black Rod to attend his Majesty in the House of Peers at what time his Majesty was pleas'd to signifie his pleasure for a Prorogation till the 20 th of the Month. Before the Prorogation was pronounc'd by the Lord Chancellor his Majesty was pleas'd to sign three Bills two publick and one private The two publick Acts were an additional Act for Burying in Wollen and an Act for prohibiting the Importation of Cattel from Ireland Fa. Seing then there were no more Bills sign'd there is no question to be made but that there were the more depending and if I do not mistake you promis'd to give me a Catalogue of all those that were under Consideration Tr. I did so and to shew you I did not intend to deceive your Expectation I have here collected them together as they came in their Order to be debated the Bill of Exclusion excepted of which you have already had the Heads Bills depending in the last Parliament 1. A Bill for the Encouragment of Wollen Manufacture 2. A Bill for Exportation of Leather 3. An Act for the better regulating the Tryals of Peers in England 4. Two Bills for the regulating Elections of Members in the Commons House of Parliament 5. A Bill for the continuance of two Acts An Act for preventing Planting Tobacco in England and a Bill for Exporting Beer Ale and Mum. 6. A Bill for Repeal of an Act made the 35 th of Q. Elizabeth 7. A Bill for taking away the Court holden before the President and Council in the Marches of Wales 8. A Bill for ascertaining Fines upon Convictions of Misdemeanors 9. A Bill for supplying the Laws against Bankrupts 10. A Bill for Exportation of Cloth and other wollen Manufactures 11. A Bill to restrain Papists from coming or residing within the Cities of London and Westminster or within 20 miles of the same and from wearing any Arms. 12. A Bill that the Judges should hold their Places and Salaries only quamdiu se bene gesserint 13. A Bill prohibiting Importation of Cattel from Scotland 14. Two Bills for the ease of Protestant Dissenters 15. A Bill for Banishing all the most considerable Papists in England out of his Majesties Dominions 16. A Bill for uniting all his Majesty's Protestant Subjects to the Church of England 17. A Bill for repealing the Act for the well Governing of Corporations 18. A Bill to prevent Simony 19. A Bill to prevent Vexatious Actions 20. A Bill to prevent Brewers from being Justices of the Peace in the place where they exercise that Trade 21. A Bill for the better Discovery of Settlements of Estates for superstitious uses 22. A Bill for the more easie collecting the Duty of Hearth-Mony Several other Bills were order'd to be brought in which never came to be debated As A Bill for regulating and preventing the increase of the Poor A Bill for the regulating Hackney Coaches repairing paving and cleansing the Streets and op'ning of passages in and about the City A Bill for repair of the High ways A Bill to punish Atheism Swearing and Debauchery A Bill for regulating abuses in making of Casks Barrels c. A Bill for Naturalization of Foreign Protestants And The Bill of Association The Bill of Ease to all Protestant Dissenters being perfected by the House of Commons tho' not assented to by the Peers was afterwards Printed at large of which these are the Chief Heads 1. That all persons convicted or prosecuted by vertue of an Act made in the 35. year of Q. Eliz. and another Act made in the 3. of K. James for Recusancy that shall take the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy and make and sue for such Declaration to be made in the Court of Exchequer Assizes or Quarter Sessions shall be discharg'd of all penalties forfeitures and seizures by force of the said Statutes without Composition or Fee 2. That no Persons taking the Oaths aforesaid and subscribing the Declaration foresaid shall be prosecuted upon the said Acts in any Ecclesiastical Court by reason of their Non-conforming to the Church of England Provided that no persons dissenting from the Church of England and meeting in any place for Religious Worship with the Doors lock'd and bar'd during their so meeting together shall receive any Benefit from this Law Neither shall any of the persons aforesaid be exempted from paying Tithes or other Parochial duties 3. That if any person dissenting from the Church of England shall be chosen into any Parish-Office it shall be lawful for him to execute the same by a sufficient Deputy Provided the said Deputy be allow'd by two or more of the Justices of the Peace 4. That no Dissenter in Holy Orders