Arundell and three of his companions (Belasyse…
April 1679 CE
Arundell and three of his companions (Belasyse is too ill to attend) are brought to the House of Lords on April 10, 1679, to put in pleas against the articles of impeachment.
Arundell complains of the uncertainty of the charges brought against him, and implores the peers to have them 'reduced to competent certainty.'
But this plea is on April 24 voted irregular, and two days later the prisoners are again brought to the House of Lords and ordered to amend their pleas.
Arundell replies by briefly declaring himself not guilty.
The trial of the five lords is soon afterwards fixed for May 13, but a quarrel between the two houses as to points of procedure, and as to the legality of admitting the bishops to a capital trial, followed by a dissolution, delays its commencement until November 30, 1680.