House of Lords Journal Volume 13: 25 October 1680

DIE Lunæ, 25 die Octobris.

REX.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

PRAYERS.

Lords take the Oaths.

This Day these Lords following took the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, and made and subscribed the Declaration, in Pursuance of the Act for the more effectual preserving the King's Person and Government, by disabling Papists from sitting in either House of Parliament:

Phillip Lord Wharton.

John Lord Bishop of Chester.

Henry Earl of Peterborough.

Thomas Earl of Stamford.

Memorandum, That the Reason of the Lord Bishop of Chester taking the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, and making and subscribing the Declaration, the Second Time, is, because the First Taking and Subscribing on Friday last was not within the Hours prescribed by the Act.

ORDERED, That these Lords following (fn. 1) were added to the Committee for receiving Informations for the Discovery of the Plot:

E. of Stamford. Bp. of Bath & Wells. L. Wharton. L. Wotton.

Bill to clear London, &c. of Papists.

Hodie 2^a vice lecta est Billa, "An Act for freeing the City of London and Parts adjacent from Popish Inhabitants, and providing against other Dangers which may arise from Papists."

ORDERED, That the Consideration of this Bill is committed to a Committee of the whole House; to be considered To-morrow Morning.

The Lord Chamberlain and the Lords with the White Staves, reported His Majesty's Answer to the Address of this House on Saturday last; videlicet,

King's Answer, concerning a Proclamation.

"His Majesty hath considered of the Address made by the House; and is so willing to encourage all Persons who know any Thing of any Treasons and Conspiracies against His Person and Government, That He will cause His Royal Proclamation to issue, declaring, that He will fully pardon and secure all Persons who shall make such Discovery, not only during the Space of Two Months as is desired, but at any Time after whensoever such Discovery shall be made."

Address of Thanks.

ORDERED, That the Lords with White Staves do return the humble Thanks of this House to His Majesty, for His most Gracious Answer to their late Address, for issuing out His Royal Proclamation of Pardon to such as shall come in, and make further Discovery of the Popish Plot.

ORDERED, That the Address and His Majesty's Answer thereunto be communicated to the House of Commons.

Message to H. C. with it.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by the Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench and the Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas:

To deliver the Address of this House to His Majesty, and His Majesty's Gracious Answer thereunto.

The Messengers return with this Answer:

Answer.

That they have delivered the Copy of the Address and His Majesty's Answer to the House of Commons.

The Lord Bishop of Bath & Wells is added to the Committee for the Journal Book.

Trial of Peers, for regulating, Bill.

ORDERED, On Thursday next the House is to be put into a Committee, to consider of the Bill for better regulating the Trial of the Peers of England.

Bickley, for desaming Titus Oates, to attend.

The Earl of Clarendon reported, "That the Committee for Examinations, being informed upon Oath by John Peachy Esquire, that Captain Thomas Bickley, about a Fortnight since, did, at a public Meeting in Chichester, say, That Doctor Oates was a very bad Man, and that it had been better he had never been; and that he had contradicted himself Two and Twenty Times in his Testimony against the Prisoners;" their Lordships are of Opinion, and do order, that the House be moved, That the said Bickley may be required to attend their Lordships."

Wereupon the House made this Order following:

"Upon Report made from the Lords Committees for examining Matters relating to the Discovery of the late horid Plot and Conspiracy, That Captain Thomas Bickley hath lately vilified Doctor Titus Oates, at a public Meeting at Chichester, to the Prejudice of His Majesty's Evidence for the further Discovery of the said Plot: It is thereupon ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the said Thomas Bickley be, and is hereby, required to appear before their Lordships, in the Lord Privy Seal's Lodgings near the House of Peers, on Wednesday the 3d Day of November next, at Eight of the Clock in the Forenoon: And it is further ORDERED, That Alderman Exon and Alderman William Bury, of Chichester aforesaid, who were then present at the said Meeting, do likewise attend their Lordships at the Time aforesaid, to give Evidence of what they know concerning this Matter."

Ducket versus Mildmay.

Upon reading the Petition of William Mildmay Esquire, and others; shewing, "That they have put in an Answer to the Appeal of Thomas Ducket Esquire, de "pending in this House against them; and praying, that a Day may be appointed to hear the said Cause:"

It is thereupon ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That this House will hear Counsel on both Parts, at the Bar, in the said Cause, on Thursday the Fourth Day of November next, at Ten of the Clock in the Forenoon; whereof the said William Mildmay is to cause timely Notice to be given to the said Thomas Ducket for that Purpose.

Committee for Examination empowered to transmit Papers to H. C.

ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That all such Books, Papers, and Informations or Depositions, relating to the late horrid Plot and Conspiracy, which have been by His Majesty's Order transmitted from His Privy Council Board to this House, shall be perused by the Lords Committees for Examination of Matters relating to the said horrid Plot; whose Lordships are hereby empowered to transmit to the House of Commons such of them as they shall judge necessary or useful for that House, in order to the Trial of the Lords in The Tower; as also such other Examinations as their Lordships of the said Committee shall take relating thereunto.

Order to seize Irishmen, in London, Westminster, and Southwark.

It is this Day ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Lord Mayor of London, and Sheriffs of London and Midd. and the Justices of Peace for the County of Midd. and Liberty of Westm. and for the Borough of Southwarke, in the County of Surry, within their respective Limits and Jurisdictions, be, and are hereby, required to take effectual Care and Order for the speedy apprehending of all such Irishmen who are now Lodgers and Inmates within either of the said Cities or Borough, or the respective Liberties thereof; and to give an Account of their so doing, together with the Names of the Persons seized, to the Lords Committees appointed to examine Matters relating to the late horrid Plot, in the Lord Privy Seal's Lodgings near the House of Peers; and this shall be a sufficient Warrant on that Behalf.

To all Mayors, Sheriffs, Justices, Constables, Bailiffs, and other His Majesty's Officers and Ministers, to be aiding and assisting in the Performance of this Service.

Lodgers in London and Westminster, Account to be taken of.

ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That it be referred to the Lords Committees for examining Matters relating to the late horrid Plot, to take an Account of all such Persons, Inmates, and Lodgers, as are now in or about the Cities of London and Westminster, and Parts adjacent, contrary to His Majesty's late Proclamation, and to consider what is fit to be done concerning them; and make Report to the House.

Their Lordships likewise have hereby Power given them, to summon all such Persons to give Evidence concerning the said Plot, as they shall, from Time to Time, think fit.

Adjourn.

Dominus Cancellarius declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque in diem Martis, 26^um diem instantis Octobris, hora decima Aurora, Dominis sic decernentibus.