House of Lords Journal Volume 13: 1 November 1678

DIE Veneris, primo die Novembris.

REX.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

PRAYERS.

Muster-masters of the Guards to attend the Committee.

ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That all the Muster-masters of the several Regiments of His Majesty's Guards be, and are hereby, required to attend the Lords Committees appointed to enquire into the horrid Design against His Majesty's Person, To-morrow, at Eight of the Clock in the Forenoon, in the Prince's Lodgings near the House of Peers.

Mrs. Saunders & al. to be examined.

The Lord Bishop of Rochester reported, "That it is the Opinion of the Lords Committees for Examination and Inspection of the Letters and Papers concerning the horrid Design against His Majesty's Person, That it is fit that Mrs. Saunders in Wyld-street, and the Master of The Whitehorse Taverne in The Strande, be examined, by the Lord Chief Justice of England, concerning the Meeting of the Jesuits at their Houses, in April or May last:"

Hereupon it is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Lord Chief Justice of England be, and is hereby, desired to send for Mrs. Saunders in Wyld-streete, and the Master of The Whitehorse Taverne in The Strand, and examine them as to any Meetings or Convents of Jesuits, or other Persons whatsoever, at their or either of their Houses, in April or May last, or before, or since; and of any other Matter relating to the horrid Design against His Majesty's Person and His Kingdom; and to give an Account thereof to this House.

Information of digging near the Parliament House.

The Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod attending this House acquainted the House, "That he was informed, That on Wednesday Night there was heard great Knocking and Digging in the Earth, in some Cellars near adjoining to this House, which disquieted many of the Inhabitants in The Old Pallace:"

Whereupon these Lords following are appointed as a Committee, to examine the Persons who heard a Noise of knocking and digging Earth on Wednesday Night last, between Twelve and Three of the Clock, near this House; and their Lordships are to desire Sir Thomas Chichley to appoint some Persons skilful in Mining, to watch and use their utmost Endeavours to make a Discovery thereof, and report to the House:

Their Lordships, or any Three of them; to meet when they please, in the Lord Chancellor's Lodgings.

Langhorne brought to the Bar.

Richard Langhorne (who was sent for last Night in Custody) being brought to the Bar, is asked, "What he meant by these Words ("If One Thing hit, his Father would be the Third Man in the Kingdom;") and whether he knew Mary White, who had sworn she heard him speak those Words?"

He denied that he spoke those Words, or that he knows Mary White.

Then the said Mary White being called for, and not attending, he is ordered to withdraw, and she to be sent for.

Oates examined about Preston.

Next, Marke Preston, Mr. Smith, Dennis Glisson, Mr. Moore, and Mathewe Turner (who were sent for in Custody), being brought to the Bar; Titus Otes is called in, and asked, "What he had to say to the Persons at the Bar?" Who, looking on Mark Preston, said, "He was a Romish Priest." And being asked, "How he knew it?" He said, "He had been at Confession with the said Marke, at Wyld House; and that he had confessed to the said Marke Preston as a Priest."

All which Mark Preston denied; alledging, "He is a married Man, and hath Children, and is no Priest." And being asked, "When, and where, he was married?" he said, "He was married, about Eleven Years since, in Mr. Langhorn's Chamber, in The Temple, by a Priest, who went by the Name of Mr. Le Fevre."

Upon which, Richard Langhorne, being called in, is asked, "If he knows Marke Preston (at the Bar)?" Who said, "He knows him, and had known him several Years; and that he had been his Tutor."

Smith,

Then Tytus Otes, looking on Mr. Smith, said, "He knew him not; but had heard by a Gentleman (Mr. Kirby) of the Guards, that Smith had spoken very unseemly Words against the King's Person."

Which Words Smith wholly denied to have spoken.

Glisson,

Next, Titus Otcs said of Dennis Glisson, "That he heard, by Dr. Tong, that the said Glisson, being a School-master, did instill ill Principles into Children; and that he said there is no Learning in Cambridge, and nothing but Debauchery in Oxford." Glisson denied any such Words; and he is a Protestant, and hath a License from the Lord Bishop of London's Chancellor to be School-master; which he produced.

Moore,

After this, Tytus Otcs charged Mr. Moore (at the Bar) to be a Seller of Popish Books; and that he had told him (the said Otes) in August last, "That he had Five Hundred Pounds Worth of Popish Books in Somerset House; to which Mr. Moore said, he had been imprisoned in The Gatehouse already, for that Fault of selling Popish Books." Otcs said, "Moore sold to him One of Goodwin's Books against Dr. Stilling fleete, and told him, he had Four Hundred of them."

and Turner.

Titus Otes also charged Mathew Turner with saying to him the said Otes, "That, upon a Search made for Popish Books, he and his Brother Mr. Moore had been too nimble for the Searchers."

And the House being informed, "That there was a Trunk of Books found in a House of Office at Turner's House;" he is asked, "What they were?" And he said, "They were Welsh Books of Popish Devotion."

Then, the said Persons being all commanded to withdraw, the House made these Orders following:

Preston committed to Newgate.

"ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That Marke Preston, who was this Day brought to the Bar by the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, and charged with Treason, be forthwith carried to Newgate, there to remain in safe Custody, till he shall be discharged by due Course of Law; and this shall be a sufficient Warrant on that Behalf.

"To the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod attending this House, and to the Keeper of Newgate, and their respective Deputies, and every of them."

Smith to remain in Custody.

"ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That Mr. Smith, who was this Day brought to the Bar, to answer such Matters as should be objected to him, on His Majesty's Behalf, shall be and remain in the Custody of the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod attending this House till further Order be given concerning him."

Glisson & al. released.

"ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That Dennis Glisson of Warwick-streete School-master, and Mr. Moore and Mr. Turner Booksellers, who were brought to the Bar of this House, and examined there this Day, be, and they are hereby, discharged from any further Restraint; and this shall be a sufficient Warrant on that Behalf.

"To Sir Edward Carterct Knight, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod attending this House, his Deputy and Deputies, and every of them."

Trunk of Popish Books to be delivered to Bp. of London.

"ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Persons who have seized a Trunk of Books at the House of Mr. Turner, a Bookseller in Holborne (which the House are informed are Popish Books), do forthwith carry the said Trunk of Books to the House of the Lord Bishop of London, to be disposed of as his Lordship shall direct."

Otes accuses R. Langhorne.

Then, Tytus Otes and Richard Langhorne being called in, Langhorn denied that he knew Tytus Otes; who, to convince Langhorne of the contrary, told him, "That he brought Letters, in November, 1677, to his Father, from his Sons in Spaine; and that this Richard Langhorne told him, when he knocked at the Door with the said Letters, that his Father was at Dinner, and desired him to meet his Father at his Chamber at Night."

Otes said further, "That this Richard Langhorne received a Commission from his Father Mr. Langhorne, in Otes's Presence, to be carried to the Lord Arundell of Warder; that Richard Langhorne did put it in his Pocket; but whether he delivered it, or no, Otes knows not."

Then Langhorne being asked, "Whether his Father did draw any Writings for the said Lord Arundell?" He said, "He did not know of any."

Upon which, they being withdrawn;

Langhorne committed.

It was ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That Richard Langhorne, now in the Custody of the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod attending this House, shall be by him conveyed to the Prison of Newgate, there to remain a Prisoner, for Treason wherewith he is charged, until he shall be discharged by due Course of Law; and that the Keeper of Newgate take Care, that the said Richard Langhorne be not permitted to come at his Father, now a Prisoner there: And for so doing, this shall be a sufficient Warrant.

To Sir Edward Carteret Knight, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod attending this House, and to the Keeper of Newgate, their and either of their Deputies, and every of them.

Lady Petre to be admitted Prisoner with her Husband if she chutes it.

Upon reading the Petition of Bridget Lady Petre, Wife of William Lord Petre, now Prisoner in The Tower; taking Notice of the Restraint put upon his Lordship by this House; and praying she may be admitted to be with her Husband, in such Manner as this House shall think fit:

It is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the said Lady Petre may be admitted to come to the said Lord Petre, if she think fit, provided she remain with his Lordship under the same Confinement he now is under, until further Order; and this shall be a sufficient Warrant on that Behalf.

To the Constable of His Majesty's Tower of London, his Deputy and Deputies, and every of them.

Adjourn.

Dominus Cancellarius declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque in post meridiem hujus instantis diei, hora quarta, Dominis sic decernentibus.

Post meridiem.

REX.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

PRAYERS.

Message from H. C. for a Conference concerning the Preservation of His Majesty's Person.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Sir Henry Capell and others:

To desire a Conference, touching Matters of high Concernment, relating to the Preservation of His Majesty's Person, the Safety of the Government, and the Protestant Religion.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That this House agrees to a Conference; and appoints the same to be presently, in the Painted Chamber.

These Lords following were appointed to report this Conference with the House of Commons:

The Commons being come, the House was adjourned during Pleasure, and the Lords went to the Conference; which being ended, the House was resumed.

Report of this Conference.

The Lord Chancellor reported the Effect of this Conference; which was managed by Sir Rob't Sawyer; who said,

"That the House of Commons, after Examination of several Persons and Papers, many of which Papers His Majesty did acquaint the House of Commons with, and had been communicated to your Lordships, and deliberate Consideration had thereupon, came to this unanimous Resolution:

Vote of the H. C. concerning the Preservation of the King's Person, &c.

"Resolved, nemine contradicente, That upon the Evidence that has already appeared to this House, that this House is of Opinion, That there hath been, and still is, a damnable and hellish Plot, contrived and carried on by the Popish Recusants, for the assassinating and murthering the King, and for subverting the Government, and rooting out and destroying the Protestant Religion. The House of Commons, being very sensible of the imminent Danger both the King and Kingdom are in, do think it their Duty to acquaint your Lordships therewith; and do pray your Lordships will be pleased to take it into your serious and speedy Consideration, what Remedies are fit and suitable to be applied, for preserving the King's Person, and preventing the Alteration of Religion and Government; to which the Commons shall readily concur, as they doubt not of your Lordships Concurrence to such Remedies as have or shall be by them proposed to your Lordships, for the effecting of this great End."

Agreed to.

ORDERED, That this House agrees with the House of Commons in this Vote, nemine contradicente.

Order to acquaint H. C. with it; that the Lords will concur with them in preventing the present Dangers; and that they will fit de Die in Diem for that Purpose.

ORDERED, To have a Conference with the House of Commons, to acquaint them with the Concurrence of this House; and the Sense of this House thereupon, as followeth:

"The Lords have considered the Vote of the House of Commons, communicated to them at the Conference; and have most readily and unanimously concurred with them in it, nemine contradicente. And their Lordships are very glad to see that Zeal which the Commons have shewed upon this Occasion; and do fully concur with them, that the most speedy and most serious Consideration of both Houses are necessary, for Prevention of the imminent Dangers: In order whereunto, their Lordships have resolved to sit de Die in Diem, both Forenoon and Afternoon, and desire that the Commons would do so too; and when their Lordships shall have well considered of full and proper Remedies for these Dangers, they will be ready to communicate them to the House of Commons; and will also take in good Part whatever shall be communicated to them by the House of Commons; and will suffer nothing to be wanting on their Parts, which may preserve a good Understanding between both Houses, which is absolutely necessary to the Safety of the King and Kingdom."

Message to H. C. for a Conference on this Subject.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir Edward Lowe and Sir John Francklin:

To desire a present Conference, with the House of Commons, in the Painted Chamber, upon the Subjectmatter of the last Conference.

The Messengers return with Answer:

Answer.

That the House of Commons agree to give their Lordships a present Conference, in the Painted Chamber.

The House was adjourned during Pleasure, and the Lords went to the Conference; which being ended, the House was resumed.

Report of the Conference.

And the Lord Chancellor gave the House this Account: "That he had delivered, at the Conference, what he was directed; at which there was a very great Expression of Joy."

Adjourn.

Dominus Cancellarius declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque in diem Sabbati, 2^um diem instantis Novembris, hora decima Aurora, Dominis sic decernentibus.