Tuesday 12 November 1667
Up, and to the Office, where sat all the morning; and there hear the Duke of York do yet do very well with his smallpox: pray God he may continue to do so! This morning also, to my astonishment, I hear that yesterday my Lord Chancellor, to another of his Articles, that of betraying the King’s councils to his enemies, is voted to have matter against him for an impeachment of High Treason, and that this day the impeachment is to be carried up to the House of Lords which is very high, and I am troubled at it; for God knows what will follow, since they that do this must do more to secure themselves against any that will revenge this, if it ever come in their power! At noon home to dinner, and then to my office, and there saw every thing finished, so as my papers are all in order again and my office twice as pleasant as ever it was, having a noble window in my closet and another in my office, to my great content, and so did business late, and then home to supper and to bed.
10 Annotations
First Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
Written from: Dublin, Date: 12 November 1667
Ormond to Anglesey [in London ]
... Has seen some 'Heads' [of Articles] imparting an accusation against him [ Ormond ]. Either they are drawn by some friend, or by a very ignorant enemy. There is not one of them true, as they are expressed. Some, if they were true, are no crimes. And some, are impossible to have been done, by anybody. ...
Is glad Butler [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thom… ] is to have a room at the bar, and will readily bestow the £30, to put him in. ...
Does not well conceive from whom, in this Kingdom, Lord Clarendon could receive £50,000. What an Act of Parliament gives can hardly ... be called a bribe.....
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Ormond to Orrery [ at Charleville http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Char… ]
Communicates in confidence some 'Heads of an Accusation' against the Writer, sent to him out of England. Part of Seymour's speech against Clarendon contains what, "they say, will be [also] reduced to a charge, or impeachment" [against him]
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Ormond to Ossory [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thom… ]
States his reasons for thinking it inexpedient that any warrant that may be sent hither by the King to empower the writer to pass into England, when his occasions may require it, should give him liberty himself to name the person or persons who shall govern in his absence. ...
Adds some observations concerning the proceedings against Lord Clarendon. ...
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Ormond to Ossory
As to obtaining a [Royal] Letter, giving to the Duke power to name a Lord Deputy, it is unusual. If it be not illegal, that course is probably unprecedented. Doubts if there be any great reason for him to hasten unto England. The charges against Clarendon will take time; in the course of which the Commons will scarcely entertain other accusations.
http://www.rsl.ox.ac.uk/dept/scwm…
Terry Foreman • Link
Grey's Debates of the House of Commons: volume 1 - Tuesday, November 12.
[Then the House proceeded to the business concerning the Earl of Clarendon, when a motion was made, that the House should carry up the impeachment (fn. 21) of treason to the Lords.]
21 This impeachment was to the following effect, viz.
My Lords,
"The Commons, assembled in Parliament, having received information of divers traiterous practices and designs of a great Peer of this House, Edward Earl of Clarendon, have commanded me to impeach the said Earl of Clarendon of treason, and other high crimes and misdemeanors: And I do here, in their names, and in the names of all the Commons of England, impeach Edward Earl of Clarendon of treason, and other high crimes and misdemeanors. I am farther commanded, by the House of Commons, to desire your Lordships, that the Earl of Clarendon may be sequestred from Parliament, and forthwith committed to safe custody. They have farther commanded me to acquaint your Lordships, that they will, within a convenient time, exhibit to your Lordships the articles of the charge against him."
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/…
Carl in Boston • Link
It must be hard for Sam to keep his mind on business with all this treason and Clarendon blowing in the wind. Sam minds his business, and that's what keeps him valuable to all.
Robert Gertz • Link
I suppose since the question pf who "the King's enemies" might be is left rather vague it's not as hard as one would think to accuse the head of the King's government in this way. Nothing so useful to governments as ye olde cry of "treason", all-purpose, one-size-fits-all.
language hat • Link
"Either they are drawn by some friend, or by a very ignorant enemy. There is not one of them true, as they are expressed. Some, if they were true, are no crimes. And some, are impossible to have been done, by anybody."
Spoken by an innocent who didn't realize the power of the Big Lie.
Australian Susan • Link
Re: the previous comment - a foreshadowing of the Popish Plot in which many innocent people were charged with things impossible, yet were arrested (Sam amongst them) and some convicted of treason and hung, drawn and quartered - which was the punishment which would inevitably await Clarendon if convicted. And everyone knows this.
Frank G. • Link
Had Clarendon been executed, his rank would have given him a simple be-heading, I think.
Robert Gertz • Link
Charlie clearly not about to repeat Dad's mistake of standing by his chief minister too long...Though he geniunely seems to dislike Clarendon's nagging.
Spoiler...
A fault Will Coventry is soon to find to be politically fatal in the Stuart administration.
cum salis grano • Link
Many choices, legal or sword to get money or be nice to those that have it and promise to pay a dividend or sell unproductive land and curse when the buyer finds ways of making the land profitable, Charles has seen his mentor The sun king default on his loans and get away with it,Sell titles, easy money still popular and cheaper than paying a dividend ,saw his pop get a nasty shock by demanding funds.
No body has figured out that wars are expensive and can ruin the protagonists and if a country could be actually be bankrupted because rarely does a country make a profit, the problem is usually solved by revaluing currency to the new value.
But who wants to give up their mistresses.
On tic or credit [ he/she/it believes [Latin credo ... credit..] now meaning you think He has the means to use it well and you believe he will pay back with interest.]
Money the bane of those that spend it on trifles and let it go up in smoke or knock down walls and opportunity for those that know how to loan it, knowing it will be rebuilt, Charles should have consulted John Milton.
Second Reading
Terry Foreman • Link
"I hear that yesterday my Lord Chancellor, to another of his Articles, that of betraying the King’s councils to his enemies, is voted to have matter against him for an impeachment of High Treason."
L&M: By 161 to 89; a vote on an addition to the 16th article moved by Lord Vaughn, who later admitted he had no evidence: CJ, ix. 18; Burnetg, i. 457, n. 1. Debate in Milward, pp. 123+.