House of Lords Journal Volume 16: 15 December 1699

DIE Veneris, 15 Decembris.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

PRAYERS.

Barlow, Leave for a Bill.

Upon reading the humble Petition of Thomas Barlow Gentleman; praying Leave to bring in a Bill, for settling the Manor of Middlethorp, and Lands by him lately purchased, lying near Yorke, to the same Uses as other his Lands entailed, lying dispersed in the said County, are settled, and now desired to be sold; all Parties concerned consenting that an Act of Parliament may pass for that Purpose:

It is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Petitioner hath hereby Leave given him to bring in a Bill, according to the Prayer of the said Petition.

Sir G. Downing versus Cage.

Upon reading the Petition and Appeal of Sir George Downing Baronet, from several Decrees made against him in Chancery, on the One and Twentieth of July One Thousand Six Hundred Ninety-eight, the Seventeenth of February One Thousand Six Hundred Ninety-eight, and the Four and Twentieth of October last, in a Cause wherein Seckford Cage was Plaintiff, and the Petitioner and Edward Marsh Defendants:

It is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the said Seckford Cage may have a Copy of the said Appeal; and shall and he is hereby required to put in his Answer thereunto, in Writing, on Tuesday the Second Day of January next, at Ten of the Clock in the Forenoon.

Smith's Remarks on the D. of Shrewsbury's Letter, to be burnt:

A Petition of Mathew Smith, in the Custody of the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod; shewing his Sorrow for being under the Displeasure of this House; and praying to be discharged, was read.

Then the Book, owned by the said Smith the Eleventh Instant to be his Hand-writing, being also read; the House took the same into Consideration.

And, after Debate,

"Resolved, That the Remarks on the Duke of Shrewsbury's Letter, contained in a written Book presented to this House by Mathew Smith, and a printed Copy of the said Book, are a false and scandalous Libel, reflecting on the Honour of the Duke of Shrewsbury, and on the Honour of this House.

"And ORDERED, That the Libel, intituled, "Remarks on the D - of S -- 's Letter sent to the House of Lords," by Mathew Smith, and the printed Copy thereof, be burnt, by the Hand of the Common Hangman, in The Old Palace Yard, Westm'r, on Monday next, between the Hours of Twelve and One of the Clock.

"To the Sheriffs of London and Midd'x."

Smith examined about some Expressions in it:

Then Mathew Smith being brought to the Bar, and asked several Questions touching some Expressions towards the End of the Libel, relating to a Gentleman's paying him One Hundred Pounds, and engaging to pay him a Monthly Pension, if he would go Abroad, and transmit from thence an Account of what was transacted by the Enemies of the Government:

To deliver Pass and Letters he received from Arnold.

He said, "The Gentleman was Mr. Arnold; and that he had a Pass and Letters from him, which he could produce."

Whereupon it was ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That Mathew Smith, in Custody of the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, do, on Monday next, at Eleven of the Clock in the Forenoon, deliver to the Clerk of the Parliaments the Pass and Letters he received from Mr. Arnold.

Adjourn.

Dominus Cancellarius declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque ad et in diem Lunæ, (videlicet,) decimum octavum diem instantis Decembris, hora undecima Auroræ, Dominis sic decernentibus.