House of Lords Journal Volume 11: 2 July 1663

DIE Jovis, 2 die Julii.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

PRAYERS.

Earls of Bridgewater and Middlesex Submissions.

This Day being appointed for the Earl of Bridgwater and the Earl of Middlesex to attend this House; their Lordships were brought in by the Gentleman Usher; and standing at the Bar, the Lord Chancellor read unto them severally the Reprehension of this House, as was appointed on Saturday last.

Afterwards the Lord Chancellor told them, "That it was the Pleasure of this House, that they should attend the King, to ask His Majesty's Pardon for their Offence done to Him in this Business."

Then their Lordships coming to their Places, they made their several and respective Submissions to this House.

And the Earl of Middlesex did read what he was enjoined by the House to say to the Earl of Bridgwater.

A Carman to be taken into Custody, for driving against a Peer's Carriage.

ORDERED, by the Lords Spirituales and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, or his Deputy, are to repair to Whitehall; where, in the Porter's Lodge, there is a Carman that hath jostled a Coach this Morning, and killed One of the Horses, in which Coach were Three of the Peers of this Realm coming to Parliament: And the said Serjeant or his Deputy are to desire that the said Carman may be brought out unto them, or One of them, who are to take the said Carman into his Custody as a Delinquent, and keep him in Safety, to answer his Fault before their Lordships: And this to be a sufficient Warrant in that Behalf.

Then the Lord Chancellor acquainted the House with a Message sent from the King; which was read, as follows:

Charles R.

Message from the King, about a Recess.

"His Majesty did hope that the most important Bills depending before His Two Houses of Parliament would have been dispatched before this Time, that a Recess might have been made, which in many respects will be very necessary, the Season requiring it for Health, and the Kingdom generally wanting the Presence of the Members of Parliament, who have been too long from their several Countries, and to which their own private as well as the public Affairs will dispose them. The Judges will shortly be obliged to begin their Circuits; and His Majesty is willing to refresh Himself by some short Progress: And therefore His Majesty thinks fit to declare, that He intends a Recess shall be on Thursday the Sixteenth of this Month; and, in order thereunto, desires they would prepare those important Bills which they think fit to present to Him for His Royal Assent by that Day; and in the mean Time His Majesty will resolve whether they shall come together again in the Winter or in the Spring; in the taking of which Resolution, He will as well consider their Conveniences, as the Public Service of the Kingdom."

"Given at Whitehall, this Second Day of July, 1663."

Messages from H. C. with Bills.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Mr. Secretary Morris and others; who brought a Bill, passed the House of Commons, intituled, "An Act to prevent the Growth of Popery;" wherein they desire their Lordships Concurrence.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by the Lord Fanshawe and others; who brought up a Bill to prevent the unlawful Meetings of Sectaries, Non-conformants, and Dissenters from the Church of England, wherein their Lordships Concurrence is desired.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Sir Thomas Littleton and others; who brought up Three Bills:

1. A Bill sent from their Lordships, for settling the Lands of the Earl of Kent and the Lord Lucas, whereunto the Commons have agreed without any Alteration.

2. To return the Bill concerning the repairing of the Port of Wells, which their Lordships sent down with some Amendments, to which the Commons do agree.

3. A Bill for settling the Draining of the Great Level of the Fens, called Bedford Levell.

L. Gerard versus Granger, Fitton, Lloyd, Cade, & al.

Whereas this Day was appointed, to hear the Counsel and Witnesses of Alexander Fitton, to prove, as he had undertaken, the Allegations in a Narrative delivered into this House by Edward Lloyd, subscribed by Abraham Granger, and attested by the said Edward Lloyd, John Cade, and John Wright, and several other Persons, wherein the Honour of the Lord Gerard Baron of Brandon is highly concerned:

The Counsel of the Lord Gerard, being also ready, desired to know of the Counsel of the said Fitton, what Evidence they had, to prove the Allegations of the said Narrative.

And the said Fitton declared, "He only desired to prove by Witnesses, that the said Narrative was obtained from Granger without any indirect Dealing or Conspiracy; and that he could not assert the Truth of the Matter against the Lord Gerard contained in that Paper."

Whereupon the Counsel and Witnesses of the Lord Gerard were fully heard, as well to prove the Conspiracy, as to clear the Honour of the said Lord Gerard.

Upon Consideration whereof had by this House, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled do Adjudge and Declare, That the said Narrative, delivered into this House by Edward Lloyd, and signed by Abraham Granger, and attested as aforesaid, is a false, odious, and infamous Libel against the said Lord Gerard, for which his Lordship ought to have Reparation by the Justice of this House; and do further order, That the said Alexander Fitton, Edward Lloyd, John Cade, and John Wright, shall be heard, by their Counsel, at this Bar, on Wednesday Morning, being the Eighth Day of this Instant July, to make their Defence, to clear themselves from the said Conspiracy. And the Lord Gerard is to come with his Counsel at the same Time, if his Lordship shall think fit.

Adjourn.

Dominus Cancellarius declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque in diem crastinum, videlicet, 3^um diem instantis Julii, hora decima Aurora, Dominis sic decernentibus.