I Appoint John Wright, and Richard Chiswel, to Print this REPORT, Perused by me, According to the Order of the HOUSE of COMMONS; And that no other Person presume to Print it.  
Decemb. 11th. 1680. Widow WILLIAMS, Speaker.   

THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE, For Receiving INFORMATIONS CONCERNING THE Popish Plot; Upon the Complaint of Mr. Peter Norris.  
Presented to the HOUSE of COMMONS, Upon Thursday the 9th. day of Decemb. 1680.  
LONDON, Printed for John Wright, at the Crown on Ludgate-hill, and Richard Chiswell, at the Rose and Crown in St. Paul's Churchyard. 1680.   

THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE For Receiving INFORMATIONS Concerning the Popish Plot, Upon the COMPLAINT of Mr. Peter Norris, presented to the House of COMMONS upon Thursday Decemb. 9 1680.  
UPon consideration of the Information given at the Bar by Mr. Peter Norris and Referred to this Committee,  
Resolved by this Committee, that the Examination of this matter be Reported Specially.  
This Committee in the first place, after hearing of the said Norris his Complaint, that several Papers were taken from him, sent for the said Papers which were informed then to be in a Chest in the Council Chamber, which Papers were brought to this Committee by an Inventory which the said Norris then acknowledged to be all, and they still remain with this Committee.  
In the next place, they proceeded to examine upon what occasion the said Norris was sent beyond Sea 〈◊〉 which not only by the said Papers, but also by a Certificate delivered to the Chairman of this Committee from the Earl of Essex, and divers other Informations as well as the said Norris his Instructions given by Dr. Tonge, was to fetch over one Dowdall an Irish Priest, who had been conversant with the Priest in France and Flanders, who managed the Plot both in England and Ireland, and mixing himself among them, was privy to the whole Plot, which the said Dowdall by several Letters had made known to Dr. Tonge which Letters were perused by the Earl of Essex, and also satisfaction was given by a known Merchant in London, that the said Dowdall was an honest man, of good understanding, and might be credited.  
Then the Committee proceeded to inquire, who at any time had knowledge of the sending over for the said Dowdall, and found by an Order of Council, bearing date the eighteenth day of July 1679. that the said Dowdall by the name of Edward Dowdall, was permitted to come from Dover and stay for a Month, but in that Order there is no mention of Dowdall's being a Priest. And it likewise appears to this Committee, that not long after the said Order for his coming over, Dowdall died, and not without suspicion that it was a Violent Death: but it doth not appear to this Committee, that the Death of Dowdall was known in England till after the Return of Norris, who was sent to fetch the said Dowdall over, which was about Ten Months after the Date of the said Order of Council.  
Upon which, this Committee proceeded to Examine, how it came to pass, that the said Norris was in such danger beyond Sea; and particularly at his coming aboard the Pacquett-Boat at Calais, and likewise his Imprisonment at Dover in the Common Prison, and his being brought from Dover by a Messenger, and they found the Cause of it to be a Description given of Peter Norris to Secretary Jenkins the Twenty Ninth of May 1680. in these words, Peter Norris, some call him Morris a Scotchman, handsome, neat Face, sanguine Complexion, short Nose, bald-pated, white Wigg, slender Body, little Stature, Civil and Smooth in Discourse, speaking French; aged Thirty Four Years more or less, Tailor by Trade: and under this Description, written with another Hand and Ink these words (viz.) Went into France on Wednesday was three weeks to bring with him a Priest. Thereupon this Committee proceeded to Examine, who brought this Description to the said Secretary, and where and by whom it was drawn, with all the Circumstances that they could find about it. And first they found, that Thomas Sheridon a Gentleman, who affirmed himself a Protestant born in Ireland, heretofore employed in Collecting the Revenues there, and lately with the Duke at his Court at brussels, and came over with him in the same Yacht, confessed upon his Examination, that he carried the said Description to the said Secretary; but it being showed him, he denied the writing any part of it, save the last Line; but confessed that it was written and brought to him by one Anthony Day Doctor of Physic to the Late Army in Flanders. Whereupon the said Sheridon was commanded to produce the said Day, and with him to attend.  
Dr. Day and Mr. Sheridon both appearing were examined severally.  
And first the said Day, who confessed himself a Papist, and pretended very little knowledge of Mr. Sheridon, but that coming to give him a visit, which he had not done of six weeks before, Mr. Sheridon began to discourse of News, and particularly of the Plot; to which the said Doctor replied, that now the whole Plot would be discovered and laid open; for he heard there was one gone beyond Sea to fetch over a Priest that knew of the whole Plot: and doth not remember any thing more at that time but common discourse. But some few days after meeting with Mr. Sheridon, the said Mr. Sheridon desired him to describe the person that was so sent over; the said Dr. Day replied, that he knew not the person that was gone, nor the Priest he was to fetch: but that John Butler, keeper of a Brandy-shop near the French Ambassadors upon discourse had told him so; to whom Mr. Sheridon desired him to go and get the description, which he did accordingly. And the description being showed him, confessed he writ it from his mouth, save the last line: But saith, that person is now dead who gave him the said Description, but his wife is living.  
Mr. Sheridon being then called in and examined, said, He had no great acquaintance with the said Doctor, and seldom saw him but upon a visit, which happily might be once a week or the like; Confesseth, That the said Doctor told him as News, the Plot would now be laid open, for there was one sent over into France to fetch a Priest that knew of the whole Plot: and further saith, That he that went over knew as much of the Plot as any man in England. Whereupon the said Sheridon Confesseth, That he went shortly after; but remembers not how long, to Secretary Jenkins, and told him that there was one gone over into France that knew as much of the Plot as any man, and that he went over to fetch a Priest that also knew the whole Plot, which he the said Sheridon supposed was to be a Witness: Upon which the said Secretary commanded him the said Sheridon to give him a description of the person so sent over: but remembers no other discourse at that time; But that some short time after, but remembers not how long, he met with Mr. Day, who gave him the description in the presence of Mr. John Wilson of the Middle Temple, which he shortly after delivered to the Secretary, and used as he remembers, only these words, Sir, Here is the description of the person I mentioned to you.  
After this Description so delivered to the Secretary, a Letter was written by Mr. Cook, (which Mr. Secretary declared at the Committee he would take upon himself) in these words following,  
White-Hall, May 31. 1680. 
 SIR,  
THe Right Honourable Sir Leoline Jenkins, one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, being hastily called this day to wait upon his Majesty at Windsor, hath commanded me to send you the enclosed description of a person, who, if he shall happen to come from France and land at your Port, Mr. Secretary saith, you will do the King and Kingdom a great service if you will keep a strict Eye upon him and the company that shall arrive with him, till they be all brought before Mr. Mayor, or other chief Magistrate of your Town, whom Mr. Secretary desires to offer the said persons the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy; and in case of their or any of their refusal of the same, to secure them and deal with them according to Law, giving Mr. Secretary an account with what speed may be, of all the proceed in this affair. If such a person as is here described should come and make no bones of taking the aforesaid Oaths, yet in case Mr. Mayor or other chief Magistrate before whom they are brought, shall have reasonable ground to suspect that he is the man so described, and that he hath one or more in his company who may be reasonably suspected to be Priests, some handsome course is to be taken to detain them till Mr. Secretary can be acquainted with what is done, and send such further directions as shall be thought necessary. Mr. Mayor's authority, with your Prudence and Zeal in this matter, will I hope produce a good effect. Upon this Command I am  
SIR, Your very Humble Servant, John Cook.  
Pray favour me with a Line that this comes safe to your hands.  
 
Vera Copia.  
John Pepper.  
Upon which Norris was committed to the Common Prison, as is mentioned in his Complaint. All which being of more than an ordinary nature, this Committee thought not fit to give any opinion, but humbly referred it to the Wisdom of this House.   
FINIS.