1681

Summary

Saturday January 1 1680[/1]. On Fryday morning betwixt 3 and 4 a clock, there broak out a fire in the corner of prince's street adjorning to Drury lane, which burnt down 3 houses intire in 2 or 3 hours, tis generally beleiv'd it was by pure negligence of a servant others are confident it was by practice. There is a Generall report and generally believed, that the parliament will be prorogued, or dissollvd, on Monday and that the Duke is coming home from Scotland ; but I for my part do not beleive ether of them are true

Tuesday January 4th 1680[/1]. On Fryday December 31 the Commons adjourned till Monday January 3 at which time the Commons went through a great deal of bussiness of great consideracion (as they do every day) brought in and read many bills, and read the Impeachment (against) [P290] the Lord Chief Justice Scroggs, and had a debate whether the charge against him did amount to treason, the Lords sent a Message to them to desire them to send up their bill about the tryall of peers, and to tell them Mr. Seymore had petitiond them for a speedy tryall ; yesterday there was a printed speech said to be made in the house of Lords (as some thought by the Earl of Shaftsbury) calld in question by their Lordshipps and after some debate no body owning it, it was by a kind of tacit consent ordered to be burnt, by the hand of the Common hangman &c. this day his Majestie hath sent a Message or an answer to the house of Commons address, to this purpose, (vizt.) that he ought not to consent to the Bill for the Exclusion or banishing of his Brother that from the begining it had been his opinion, and by the house of Lords rejecting the bill he was confirm'd in it, but he is very ready to do other things, and wishes them to mind Tangier, his Alliances, and the Fleet, somwhat to this purpose.