House of Lords Journal Volume 13: 4 November 1678

DIE Lunæ, 4 die Novembris.

REX.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

PRAYERS.

Lieut. Sorocold in Danger of his Life

Upon reading the Petition of Lieutenant William Sorocold; shewing, "That he and his Family are in Danger of their Lives, by Menaces and Assault made on his Wife and Servant, for the Service he hath done in apprehending several Persons by Order of this House; and praying the Direction of this House for his Safety:"

It is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the said William Sorocold, and such other Persons as have been sworn at the Bar to testify concerning this Matter, shall be examined by the Lords Committees appointed to examine the horrid Design against His Majesty; and their Lordships are to make Report thereof unto the House.

Committee to examine Prisoners in The Tower, &c.

ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Lords Committees appointed to examine the Lords who are Prisoners in The Tower for Treason shall also examine such other Persons as their Lordships shall think fit, who are now Prisoners in The Tower for Treason, and also Sir Ellis Leighton now Prisoner in Newgate; and that the Lord Chief Justice of England do assist their Lordships, at such Times as they shall appoint; and that One of the Clerks of His Majesty's Privy Council is to attend their Lordships in this Business.

ORDERED, That the Committee for Privileges do meet at the Rising of the House.

Adjourn.

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

Post meridiem.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

PRAYERS.

Mrs. Thompson, a Trunk of Goods to be restored to her.

Upon reading the Petition of Elizabeth the Wife of James Thomson, a Roman Catholic, now Prisoner in The Gatehouse; praying, "That a Trunk of Goods of hers, which was seized on upon Pretence of Gunpowder, may be restored; and the Guards set at her House by Lieutenant Sorocold may be removed:"

It is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled; That the said Trunk of Goods shall be searched by the Clerk of the Parliaments; and if there be nothing found therein but Goods relating to the Maintenance of her Livelihood, the said Trunk and Goods be forthwith restored to her by the Clerk of the Parliaments, in whose Custody it is: And it is further ORDERED, That the Guards placed and continued at her House by Lieutenant Sorocold be by him forthwith removed and taken off, as he will answer the contrary to this House.

Ld. Arundell to be examined in a Cause, wherein the D. of Norff. E. of Peterb. and L. Mowbray, are concerned.

This House being moved, "That the Lord Arundell of Warder, now close Prisoner in The Tower of London, being a material Witness in a Cause, wherein the Duke of Norfolke, the Earl of Peterborough, and the Lord Mowbray, are concerned, may be examined, in perpetuam Rei Memoriam:"

It is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That, notwithstanding the Restraint under which the said Lord Arundell now is, One Master of the Court of Chancery and Two Examiners of the Court of Chancery be, and are hereby, authorized to repair to the Lord Arundell of Warder in The Tower, to administer the Oath upon which his Lordship is to be examined, and to examine and crossexamine the Lord Arundell, on the Behalf of both Parties in the said Cause, upon such Interrogatories as shall be prepared for that Purpose; but not to discourse with the said Lord Arundell upon any other Business whatsoever; and for their so doing, this shall be a sufficient Warrant.

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

Smith discharged, and to procure Intelligence concerning the Plot.

Upon Report made by the Lord Bishop of London, "That William Smith, now in the Custody of the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, having, by Order of this House, attended his Lordship, and there proposed the bringing of a Person before this House, who can discover much of the Jesuits Lands and Money; and that the said William Smith is a Protestant, and poor; and that his License to teach a School is revoked; and that, if he may have his Liberty, is not in a Capacity to do Harm:"

It is ORDERED, That the said William Smith have Liberty to find out and bring the said Discoverer before the Lords Committees appointed to examine Papers concerning the horrid Design against His Majesty's Person, on Wednesday next, at Eight of the Clock in the Forenoon, in the Prince's Lodgings, near the House of Peers; and that he, giving Security to be of the good Behaviour, be discharged from any further Restraint; and this shall be a sufficient Warrant on that Behalf.

To Sir Edward Carteret, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, his Deputy and Deputies, and every of them.

Attorney General to give Account of penning a Proclamation for banishing Papists, &c.

ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That His Majesty's Attorney General give this House an Account of the Reason of the penning of the Proclamation for banishing of Papists from London and Westm. as it is now penned, on Wednesday the Sixth Day of this Instant November, at Ten of the Clock in the Forenoon.

Lieutenant Sorocold, Complaint against him, for seizing Goods, &c.

Upon Complaint to this House, "That Lieutenant William Sorocold hath placed Guards of Soldiers, and seized Goods of some Persons, without any Order or Authority for that Purpose:"

It is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the said William Sorocold presume not henceforward to seize any Person's Goods, or set Guards on any Person's House, without the Order of this House, or of the Lord Chief Justice of England, or some other Justice of Peace, as he will answer the contrary to this House.

Papers seized in Swan Yard to be brought before the Committee for examining about Sir E. B. Godfrey's Murder.

Upon Information given to this House, "That there is a Trunk of Papers seized or secured, at a Coffee Man's House, in Swan Yard, over against Somerset House, by Doctor Chamberlain, which may have Papers of dangerous Consequence in it:"

It is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the said Trunk be forthwith brought before the Lords Committees appointed to examine Witnesses concerning the Murder of Sir Edmond Bury Godfrey; to be by their Lordship perused, and an Account given thereof to the House.

Turner, Guard to be removed from his House.

Upon reading the Petition of Mathew Turner Bookseller; shewing, "That, being brought before this House, and upon Examination discharged, Lieutenant William Sorocold continueth Guards upon his House; which he humbly prayeth may be discharged:"

It is thereupon ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That if there yet remain any such Books at the said Mathew Turner's House as ought to be seized, they be forthwith carried to the Lord Bishop of London, to be disposed of as his Lordship shall direct; and that the Guard, commanded by Lieutenant William Sorocold, now at the House of the said Mathewe Turner, be forthwith removed, as the said William Sorocold will answer the contrary to this House.

List of the Queen's Servants, Papists, to be made;

ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Lord Chamberlain to the Queen's Majesty do cause a List to be made of such Servants belonging to Her Majesty as are Papists; and to be brought into the House of Peers, on Wednesday the 6th Day of this Instant November, at Ten of the Clock in the Forenoon.

and of Foreign Merchants, Papists;

ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Lord Mayor of the City of London do cause a List to be made of all such Foreign Merchants Traders in London as are Papists; and send the said List to the House of Peers, by Wednesday the Sixth of this Instant November, at Ten in the Forenoon.

and of the Dutchess of York's Servants, Papists.

ORDERED, That a List be prepared and made of such Servants belonging to her Royal Highness the Dutchess of York as are Papists; and to be sent into the House of Peers on Wednesday the Sixth of this Instant November, by Ten of the Clock in the Forenoon.

Preservation of the King's Person.

ORDERED, That this House be put into a Committee presently, to consider of such Proposals as shall be offered for the Preservation of His Majesty's Person and the Safety of the Kingdom.

And accordingly the House was adjourned into a Committee during Pleasure.

The House being resumed;

The Earl of Bridgwater reported, "That the Committee had considered of some Heads of Proposals in order to an Address to be presented to His Majesty. And the Committee desired, that the House would give Leave that the House may be put into a Committee again on Wednesday Morning next, to consider of more Proposals."

Which the House agreed to, and ordered the same accordingly.

Three Proposals were read, and Agreed to; but to be further perfected.

Adjourn.

Dominus Cancellarius declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque in diem Martis, 5^um diem instantis Novembris, hora nona Aurora, Dominis sic decernentibus.