On June 25, 1660, on the House of Commons being informed of this printed paper, wherein this clause is printed, viz. "It was moved by Major Beake, that Sir Richard Temple might be one of the twenty excepted persons; and he gave several reasons for it; among others that Sir Richard had been a menial servant to Cromwell, and a great promoter of his Interest; but the House at length waived the further debate of it;" it was ordered that a Committee be appointed to examine this particular case; and in order thereunto they were to send for Maxwell the printer; and they were to consider of the great liberty taken by divers persons, in printing, without warrant, several votes and proceedings of this House; and to prepare an order for restraining all persons whatsoever from printing any of the votes or proceedings of the House without special order. And they were to send for Mr. William Saunderson, and to examine him, by what warrant he printed, in his History, a speech in the name of Sir Harbottle Grimston, Baronet, Speaker of the House, and several other speeches, as the speeches of Members of Parliament, and other passages reflecting on Members of Parliament; and they were to take into consideration any other books or pamphlets, reflecting on any Member of the House, or other persons; and to report to the House what was fit to be done in the several cases.[174]
A copy of Mercurius Veridicus, No. 1, from Tuesday the 5th of June, to Tuesday the 12th, 1660, is in the British Museum Library, but it is not the number of which the House of Commons complained. There are no others, as far as the Editor can ascertain.
218.
The long Parliament revived; or an Act for continuation and the not dissolving the long Parliament called by King Charles the First in the year 1640 but by an Act of Parliament, with undeniable reasons deduced from the said Act to prove that that Parliament is not yet dissolved. Also Mr. William Prynne's five arguments fully answered, whereby he endeavours to prove it to be dissolved by the King's death, &c. By Thomas Phillips, Gentleman, a sincere Lover of the King and Country. 1660.
This pamphlet was written by William Drake under the assumed name of Thomas Phillips, and for the writing, printing, and publishing the same he was impeached by the House of Commons, and on the impeachment being carried up to the Lords on the 4th December, 1660, they ordered that Drake should be apprehended as a delinquent, and brought before them the next morning to answer to his charge; which being done, and he confessing his fault, the Lords, in consideration of the shortness of time for proceeding further in this business, left him to be prosecuted in the King's Bench by the Attorney General. No further proceedings however can be met with.
The following is a copy of the impeachment:—[175]
"The Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, the House of Commons, in the Name of themselves, and all the Commons of England, do hereby declare, complain, and shew, against William Drake Citizen and Merchant of London,
"That whereas, this present Parliament, through the Blessing of God upon their Endeavours, and the incomparable Grace and Goodness of his Majesty's Royal Condescensions, have proved the happy Instruments of repairing the Breaches of this Kingdom; restoring the ancient Foundations; and passing many good and wholsome Laws, for the Safety and Quiet of the People; and are daily preparing such others, as may yet seem to be wanting:
"Nevertheless the said William Drake, in contempt of his Majesty's Crown and Dignity, and of the Laws and Government of this kingdom; and out of a wicked and malicious intention, to scandalise and subvert the authority and being of this present Parliament, and to raise and stir up sedition and division in this Kingdom; and against the Peace of our Sovereign Lord the King; hath lately, that is to say, upon or before the eighteenth day of the month of November last, at Westminster in the County of Middlesex, written, printed, and published, in the name of one Thomas Phillips Gent. a certain, false, wicked, malicious and seditious Pamphlet intituled, The Long Parliament revived &c.; in which said scandalous and seditious pamphlet, the said William Drake, amongst many other wicked expressions, clauses, and assertions therein contained, doth falsely, maliciously, and seditiously, affirm and declare,
"Page 6. First, That all other Parliaments have no legal Capacity, till this (meaning the Long Parliament, called in the year 1640) be legally dissolved.