An Account of the proceedings at the Sessions for the City of Westminster against Thomas Whitfield, scrivener, John Smallbones, woodmonger, and William Laud, painter for tearing a petition prepared to be presented to the Kings Majestie, for the sitting of the Parliament : with an account of the said petition presented on the 13th instant, and His Majesties gracious answer. 1680 Approx. 12 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 2 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2013-12 (EEBO-TCP Phase 2). A25746 Wing A360 ESTC R9010 11806751 ocm 11806751 49462

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 Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 2, no. A25746) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 49462) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 3:13) An Account of the proceedings at the Sessions for the City of Westminster against Thomas Whitfield, scrivener, John Smallbones, woodmonger, and William Laud, painter for tearing a petition prepared to be presented to the Kings Majestie, for the sitting of the Parliament : with an account of the said petition presented on the 13th instant, and His Majesties gracious answer. 1 sheet ([2] p.) s.n., [London : 1680] Place and date of publication from Wing.

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 eng Charles -- II, -- King of England, 1630-1685. Whitfield, Thomas, -- Scrivener. Smallbones, John. Laud, William. Popish Plot, 1678. Westminster (London, England) Broadsides -- England -- 17th century. 2020-09-21 Content of 'availability' element changed when EEBO Phase 2 texts came into the public domain 2012-05 Assigned for keying and markup 2012-06 Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2012-07 Sampled and proofread 2012-07 Text and markup reviewed and edited 2013-02 Batch review (QC) and XML conversion
An Account of the Proceedings at the Seſſions for the City of Weſtminſter, againſt Thomas Whitfield, Scrivener; John Smallbones, Woodmonger; and William Laud, Painter; for Tearing a Petition prepared to be Preſented to the Kings Majeſtie, for the ſitting of the Parliament. With an Account of the ſaid Petition preſented on the 13th. Inſtant, and His Majeſties Gracious Anſwer.

IT being the undoubted Right of the Subjects of England, Vi • e the Reſolutions of the Law, C • k. J • r • ſdict o • Courts 79. Hoba. 1.220 Vel. Magna Chart. Ex 1. Spencer. 51. Vice he Proclama •• ons or K. Charles the Firſt. and Warranted by the Law of the Land, and the general practice of all former times, in an humble manner to apply themſelves to His Majeſty, in the Abſence of Parliaments, by Petition; for the Redreſs of their Grievances, and for the obtaining ſuch things as they apprehend neceſſary or beneficial, to the ſafety and well-being of the Nation. And it being their Duty to which they are bound, by the expreſs words of the Oath of Allegiance,I Do Swear from my Heart, That I will bear Faith and true Allegiance, to His Majeſty, His Heirs, and Succeſſors and Him, and Them will Defend to the uttermost of my power againſt all Conſpiracies and Attempts whatſoever, which ſhall be made against His or Their perſons, their Crown and Dignity. And will do my beſt endeavour to diſcloſe and make known unto His Majeſty, His Heirs and Succeſſors, all Treaſons and Trayterous Conſpiracies, which I ſhall know or have of to be againſt him or any of them. to repreſent to Him any danger which they apprehend Threatning his Royal Perſon or His Government; divers perſons in and about the City of Weſtminster, conſidering the too apparent and unſpeakable danger His Majeſty and His Kingdoms are in, from the Helliſh Plots and Villanous Conſpiracies of the bloody Papiſts and their Adherents, and conceiving no ſufficient (or at leaſt ſo fit) remedy could be provided againſt it, but by the Parliament by whom alone ſeveral perſons accuſed of theſe accurſed deſigns can be brought to Tryal, did prepare and ſign a Petition, humbly repreſenting to His Majeſty, the eminent danger His Royal Perſon, the Proteſtant Religion, and the Government of this Nation were in; from that moſt damnable and Helliſh Popiſh plot, branched forth into ſeveral the moſt Horrid Villanies: for which ſeveral of the principal Conſpirators ſtand impeached by Parliament, and thereby humbly praying that the Parliament might Sit upon the 26th. of January, to try the Offenders, and to Redreſſe the important Grievances no otherwayes to be Redreſſed, of which Thomas Whitfield, John Smallbones, and William Laud, inhabitants in Weſtminſter, taking notice; upon the 20th. day of December laſt, they ſent to Mr. William Horſley who had Signed and promoted the Petition, and in whoſe cuſtody it was; to bring or ſend it to them, for that they deſired to Sign it: and thereupon Mr. Horſeſley attended them, and producing the Petition in which many perſons had joyned, he delivered it at their requeſt to be by them Read and Signed, but Mr. Whitfield immediatly tore it in pieces, and threw it towards the fire, and Smallbones catching it up, ſaid, that he would not take 10 s. for the names, and then they declared that they ſent for it for that very purpoſe, and owned themſelves all concerned in the deſign.

Upon Mr. Horſley's complaint hereof to a Juſtice of the Peace, a Warrant was granted againſt them, and they being taken thereupon, after examination of the matter were bound to appear and anſwer it at the next quarter Seſſions of the Peace for the City of Weſtminſter, and upon Fryday the 9th. of January inſtant the Seſſions being holden, and there being preſent ſeveral Juſtices of the Peace that are eminent Lawyers, the matter was brought before them, and the Grand Jury Indicted the ſaid Whitfield, Small-bones, and Laud as followeth, (viz.)

The City, Burrough and Town of Weſtminſter in the County of Middleſex.

THE Jurors for our Soveraign Lord the King upon their Oath do preſent, that whereas the Subjects and Liege People of the Kings and Queens of this Realm of England, by the Lawes and Customs of the Realm, have uſed and been accustomed to repreſent their Publique Grievances by Petition or by any other ſubmiſſive way; And that the 20th. day of December in the One and Thirtieth Year of the Reign of our Soveraign Lord Charles the Second, by the Grace of God, of England, Scotland, France and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, &c. at the Pariſh of St. Martins in the Fields, within the Libertie of the Dean and Chapter of the Collegiate Church of St. Peter, of the City Burrough and Town of Weſtminster in the County of Middleſex; a Petition written in paper, was prepared and Subſcribed with the hands of divers the ſaid Kings Subjects and Liege People, (to the Jury unknown) and to our ſaid Soveraign Lord King Charles the Second Directed, and to our ſaid Soveraign Lord the King to be Preſented and Delivered; by which Petition it was ſhown, that whereas there had been and was a most damnable Plot againſt the Royal Perſon of our ſaid Soveraign Lord the King, the Protestant Religion, and well Eſtabliſhed Government of this Realm, for which Plot ſeveral of the Principal Conſpirators were impeached by Parliament, and whereby it was humbly prayed that the Parliament which was prorogued to the 26th. day of January next enſuing in the ſaid Year, might then ſit to Try the Offenders, and to redreſs the preſſing Grievances not otherwiſe to be Redreſſed. And that Thomas Whitfield late of the ſaid Pariſh of St. Martins in the Fields in the Liberty aforeſaid and the Countie aforeſaid, Yeoman, John Smallbones late of the ſaid Pariſh, within the Liberty aforeſaid in the Countie aforeſaid, Woodmonger, and William Laud late of the Pariſh aforeſaid in the Countie aforeſaid, Yeoman; being perſons ill-affected and Contriving, Deviſing and Intending as much as in them lay, to hinder the ſitting of the ſaid Parlidment as was prayed by the ſaid Petition, and alſo to hinder the Trial of the ſaid Offenders, and Redreſſing the ſaid Grivances, the ſaid 20th. day of December in the ſaid One and Thirtieth Year of the Reign of our ſaid Sovereign Lord the King, as Rioters and Diſturbers of the Peace of our Sovereign Lord the King, for the Diſturbing of the Peace of our ſaid Sovereign Lord the King, with Force and Arms at the ſaid Pariſh within the Libertie aforeſaid in the Countie aforeſaid, Unlawfully and Riotouſly did Aſſemble themſelves and being ſo then and there Aſſembled, with Force and Arms then and there Unlawfullie Riotouſlie and Injuriouſlie, the ſaid Petition being delivered by one William Horſley to them the ſaid Thomas Whitfield, John Smallbones and William Laud at their Requeſt, and for the ſubſcribing their Names thereunto if they ſhould think fit, did Tear in pieces in contempt of our ſaid Sovereign Lord the King, and of his Laws, to the evil Example of all others in the like Caſes Offending, and againſt the Peace of our ſaid Soveraign Lord the King his Crown and Dignity.

The Names of the Grand Jury that found the Bill, are theſe William Jacob Thomas Trevor Eraſmus Browne Henry Dugley Richard Streete John Henly John Weſton Martin Frogg John Pierce Robert Pinke Nathaniel Wilkinſon Edward Whitefoot John Gentle Thomas Harris William Fortune. Roger Higdon James Harrold Cornelius Rickfield ☞ George Wright, Apothecary ☞ Walter Wright ☞ Adam Langley.

Upon Wedneſday the 7th. of this inſtant January many Gentlemen and Eminent Citizens, who had been concerned for managing the Petition for the Sitting of the Parliament, upon the 26th. inſtant met together and agreed upon the method of finiſhing the ſame, and of nominating Fit perſons for the preſenting it to His Majeſtie, which being accordinglie done; theſe Gentlemen following (viz.) Sir Gilbert Gerrard Barronet, Son in Law to the late Biſhop of Durham. Francis Charlton Eſq; John Ellis Eſq; John Smith Eſq; Johnſon of Stepney Eſq; Ellis Criſpe Eſq; Anthony Selby Eſq; Henry Aſhurſt Eſq; Tho. Smith Eſq;

Gentlemen of Good Worth and Eſtates, and ſeveral of whom have been eminent Sufferers for His Majeſtie, did this 13th. of January, attend His Majeſtie with it at Whitehall, when being introduced to His Royal preſence. Sir Gilbert Gerrard kneeling, preſented this Petition;

To the Kings Moſt Excellent Majeſtie, the Humble Petition of Your Majeſties moſt dutiful and Loyal Subjects Inhabitants in and about the City of London, whoſe Names are hereunder ſubſcribed,

Sheweth,

That whereas there has been and ſtill is a moſt Damnable and Helliſh Popiſh Plot branched forth into the moſt Horrid Villanies againſt Your Majeſties moſt Sacred Perſon, the Protestant Religion, and the well Eſtabliſhed Government of this Your Realm, for which ſeveral of the principal Conſpirators ſtand now impeached by Parliament.

Therefore in ſuch a time when Your Majeſties Royal perſon, as alſo the Proteſtant Religion and the Government of this Nation are thus in moſt eminent Danger.

We Your Majeſties most Dutiful and Obedient Subjects, in the deepeſt ſenſe of our Duty, and Allegiance to Your Majeſtie, Do moſt humblie and earneſtlie pray, That the Parliament which is prorogued until the 26th. day of January, may then ſit, to Try the Offenders, and to redreſs all our moſt important Grievances, no otherwiſe to be redreſſed.

And Your Petitioners ſhall ever pray for Your Majeſties long and proſperous Reign.

And expreſſed himſelf to this effect, Sir, I have a Petition from many thouſands of your Majeſties Dutiful and Loyal Subjects, in and about Your City of London, which I humblie preſent in their Names, and deſire Your Majeſtie would be pleaſed to read it.

To which His Majeſtie gave this Gracious anſwer, I know the ſubſtance of it already, I am Head of the Government, and will take care of it, and then received the Petition, it being a great Roll of above 100 Yards in length, and carryed it away in His Hand.