Veneris, 23 die Maii, 1679.
Prayers.
Privilege.
A COMPLAINT being made of a Breach of Privilege, committed against the honourable Edward
Lord Morpeth, a Member of this House, by William
Tallantire, by stopping up a Way belonging to the said
Lord Morpeth; and speaking contemptuous Words against
the Lord Morpeth; and in Proceeding at Law to try the
Right of the said Way, during the Sitting and Privilege
of Parliament;
Ordered, That the said William Tallantire be sent for
in Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House,
for his Breach of Privilege committed against the Lord
Morpeth: And that all Proceedings at Law, touching the
Right of the said Way, be stayed: And that Notice hereof
be given to the said Tallantire's Attorney at Law.
Exporting Cloth to Turkey.
Ordered, That the Committee to whom the Bill for
exporting Cloth to Turkey, stands committed, be revived;
and do sit this Afternoon, in the Place formerly appointed:
And that all the Members that serve for the Counties of
Worcester, Gloucester, Wilts, Somersett, and Yorke, be
added to the said Committee: And all that come are to
have Voices.
Burying in Woollen.
A Bill for the more easy administring the Oaths required to be taken by the Act for Burying in Woollen,
was read the First time.
Resolved, &c. That the Bill be read a Second time.
Hearth money.
Sir Wm. Franckland reports from the Committee to
whom the Bill for the more easy collecting the Duty of
Hearth-money, was committed, several Amendments
agreed by the Committee to be made to the said Bill:
Which he read in his Place; and afterwards delivered
the same in at the Clerk's Table: Where the same were
twice read; and, upon the Question, severally agreed.
Resolved, &c. That the Bill, with the Amendments
agreed to, be ingrossed.
Leave of Absence.
Ordered, That Major Austin have Leave to go into
the Country.
Committee of Privileges.
Ordered, That the Reports that are now ready to be
made from the Committee of Privileges and Elections,
be made To-morrow Morning, the first Business.
Impeachment of Earl Danby, &c.
Mr. Hamden reports from the Committee appointed
to inspect the Journals of the Lords, a Report agreed upon
by the Committee to be made to the House, of all the Proceedings, relating as well to the Impeachment and Bill
against the Earl of Danby, as to the Impeachments against
the other Lords in the Tower: Which he read to the House.
Money paid to Members.
The House being informed, That Sir Stephen Fox had
paid several Sums of Money to some of the Members of
the last Parliament; and that he has Books of Accompt
to evidence the same;
Ordered, That Sir Stephen Fox be immediately sent
for to attend the House; and do bring with him all the
Books and Papers of Accompts, of any Money that he
has paid to any Members of the last Parliament, and
others, for keeping of Publick Tables: And that Sir John
Hotham, Sir Robert Peyton, and Sir John Holman do
acquaint him with this Order.
Impeachment of Earl Danby.
Mr. Papillon reports from the Committee appointed to
inspect the Journals of this House, a Report agreed upon
by the Committee to be made to the House, of all the Proceedings, relating as well to the Impeachment and Bill
against the Earl of Danby, as to the Impeachments against
the other Lords in the Tower: Which he read to the House.
Books respecting Secret Service.
Ordered, That Sir Stephen Fox do forthwith produce to
this House his Ledger Book, Cash Book, and Journal, and
his Receipts for Money by him paid for Secret Service:
And that Sir John Hotham, Sir Robert Peyton, and Sir
John Hollman, do accompany the said Sir Stephen Fox:
And that he is injoined not to go out of the Company of
the said Members before they return to the House.
Members not to depart.
Ordered, That no Member do depart the Service of
this House, until Sir Stephen Fox and the other Members do return.
Money paid to Members.
Ordered, That Sir Francis Winnington do, To-morrow
Morning, make a Report of the Informations given to
the Committee of Secrecy, touching Money paid for Secret
Service to any of the Members of the last Parliament.
Trials of the impeached Lords, &c.
Sir John Trevor reports from the Committee appointed
to join with the Committee of Lords, to consider of Propositions and Circumstances relating to the Tryals of the
Lords in the Tower, That the Lords had communicated
to the Committee of this House, a Paper, containing
several Circumstances relating to the Tryals upon the Impeachments: Which he read in his Place, in hæc verba; viz.
"That the Earl of Powys, Viscount Stafford, Lord
Petre, Lord Arundell of Wardour, and Lord Bellasis, and
every of them, who are to be brought to their Tryal in
Westminster Hall, shall have Warrants for such Witnesses
as will not come, without Affidavit being first made thereof, excepting such as are Members of the House of commons, and such Persons as stand charged with the same
Treason the said Lords are charged with: And that such
Witnesses as any of the said Lords, at their respective
Tryals, shall produce for their Defence, shall not be examined upon Oath in their Case; but may be examined
upon Oath, if the Members of the House of Commons
do desire it, on their Behalf: And if the said Lords, or
any of them, do re-examine the said Witnesses, it is to be
upon the same Oath."
"That the Lieutenant of the Tower is to return the
Warrant of this House."
"That the Lords being brought to the Bar by the Lieutenant of the Tower, are to kneel, till the Lord High Steward command them to arise: And then he is to let them
know, That they are this Day to answer to the Accusation
of High Treason, wherewith they stand charged, in the
Name of the Commons now assembled in Parliament, and
in the Name of all the Commons of England: And that,
this Day, they are to receive their Tryals for their Lives."
"That the whole Impeachment against them is to be
read; and then their Answers: Which being done, the
Lord High Steward is to tell the Commons, That now
they may go on with their Evidence."
"Then the Lord High Steward is to declare, That
now the Court is proceeding to hear the Evidence; and
desire the Peers to give their Attention."
"If the said Lords shall demand Counsel, the Lord
High Steward is to let them know, That, during the
Time that the Members of the Commons do manage their
Evidence in Matter of Fact, they the said Lords are to
use no Counsel."
"If any of the Peers, the Members of the House of
Commons that manage the Evidence, or the Prisoners,
do desire to have any Question asked, they must desire
the Lord High Steward to ask the Question."
"If any Doubt doth arise at the Tryal, no Debate is
to be in the Court; but the Question suspended to be
debated in the House."
"The Peers are to sit upon the Tryal but once a Day,
and not to sit past Two of the Clock."
"The Members of the Commons to be set first before
the Peers come."
"None to be covered at the Tryal, but the Peers."
"That a private Place be made, to put Offenders
safely in."
"That the Place between the Prisoners and the Wool
Sack be clear."
"That such Peers at the Tryal of the said Lords, who,
at the Instance of the Commons, shall be admitted Witnesses, are to be sworn at the Clerk's Table; and the Lord
High Steward to administer the Oath, and to deliver their
Evidence in their own Places."
"Those Witnesses that are Commoners are to be
sworn at the Bar, by the Clerk; and are to deliver their
Evidence there."
"The Oath which is to be given to the Witnesses, is
this:"
"The Evidence which you shall give in the Tryal concerning the Five Lords, Prisoners at the Bar, shall be
the Truth, the whole Truth, and nothing but the Truth:
So help you God, and the Contents of this Book."
"The said Five Lords may cross-examine Witnesses,
viva voce, at the Bar."
"That Notice be given to the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Sheriffs of the City of London; and likewise
to the Deputy Lieutenants and Justices of Middlesex, and
the Justices of the Peace of the City of Westminster; to
take Cake for the Safe-guarding of the Gates, and other
Places; thereby to prevent the Concourse of People resorting to Westminster, during the Time of the Tryal of
the said Lords."
"Ordered, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, in
Parliament assembled, That this Paper be communicated
to the Committee of the House of Commons, by the
Lords Committee of this House."
Sir John Trevor further reports, That the Committee
of Lords declared, when they delivered the said Paper,
That the Paper was delivered as Proposals to be debated,
and not as an Order or Rule to bind the Commons: And
that the Committee of this House did declare, That they
received the Paper only as Proposals.
Money paid to Members.
Ordered, That Sir Stephen Fox do, upon his Memory,
name to the House such Members of the last Parliament,
as he paid any Money to, for Secret Service.
And then the House adjourned till Saturday
Morning, Seven of the Clock.