and hearty thanks for the same and to assure him of their Loyalty and Duty And that they would give him a speedy Answer to his gracious Proposals Resolving moreover that the sum of 50000 l. should be presented him from that House and 10000 l. to each of his Royal Brothers the Dukes of York and Glocester Which Resolves were no sooner reported in London then the Citizens were extreamly transported with Joy The harmony of Bells and the flaming Piles which enlighted every Street surrounded with incredible Shouts and Acclamations being sufficient demonstrations of the infinite Pleasure and Satisfaction which every one took in that no less strange than happy Revolution And the several Countries taking Allarm from London contended which should outvy the other in expressions of Loyalty and Joy And General Mountague having communicated to the Fleet the Letters he received from the King and the Duke of York together with those directed to the Parliament they unanimously declared their Resolution to adhere to him and to live and die in his defence humbly desiring the Generals to present the same to the King whereupon Mountague himself immediately fired a Gun crying God bless His Majesty and the whole Fleet. Thereupon presently appeared in its pride and glory with Pendants loose Guns roaring Caps flying and Vive le Roys loudly ecchoing from one Ships Company to another which were answered by the great Guns from Dale and Sandwich Castles nor was this Joy confined to England but spread it self into Scotland and Ireland also And now the Parliament longing for the King's presence amongst them as the Israelites did for the return of King David drew up a Letter in answer to that which they had receiv'd from him superscribing it to the King 's Most Excellent Majesty wherein they requested his speedy return to the exercise of his Kingly Office appointing Commissioners to go over to Holland and attend him during his stay there and in his Voyage for England There being six appointed for the House of Lords and twelve for the House of Commons to which upon the Request of the Lord Mayor and Common-Council of London was added twenty on the behalf of that City who having receiv'd their Instructions set sail for Holland with several Frigots appointed by the Parliament to attend them the whole Fleet being likewise committed to the King's pleasure the General whereof had Orders from the Parliament to obey such Orders and Directions as he should receive from His Majesty The Commissioners upon their arrival at Breda delivered their respective Messages with all imaginable reverence and veneration according to the Instructions they had received from their Principals beseeching His Majesty in the name of his Parliament and People to return to his Inheritance and re-assume his Crown and Scepter assuring him that he should be infinitely welcome to them without any Tearms which Invitation was gladly accepted and the Commissioners were received by him with a Grace and Port like himself and entertain'd with extraordinary Magnificence and Bounty The Parliament in the mean time proceeded to the Proclaiming of him which was perform'd with all that Joy Splendor and Magnificence that their Loyalty could inspire the Lord General attended by all the Peers the most Eminent of the Commons the Lord Mayor and Aldermen with the Trained Bands of London assisting at the Ceremony The Proclamation being as followeth viz. Although it can no way be doubted but that his Majesties Right and Title to these Crowns and Kingdoms is and was every way compleat by the Death of his Most Royal Father of Glorious Memory without the Ceremony or Solemnity of a Proclamation yet since Proclamations in such cases have been always used to the end that all good Subjects might upon this occasion testify their Duty and Respect and since the Armed violence and other Calamities of many years last past have hitherto deprived us of any opportunity wherein we might express our Loyalty and Allegiance to his Majesty We therefore the Lords and Commons now Assembled in Parliament together with the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Council of the City of London and other Freemen of this Kingdom now present do according to our Duty and Allegiance heartily joyfully and Unanimously acknowledge and Proclaim that immediately upon the Decease of our late Soveraign King Charles the First the Imperial Crown of the Realm of England and all the Kingdoms Dominions and Rights belonging to the same did by Inherent Birth-right and Lawful undoubted Succession Descend and come to his Most Excellent Majesty King Charles the Second as being Lineally Justly and Lawfully next Heir of the Blood Royal of this Realm And that by the Goodness and Providence of Almighty God he is of England Scotland and Ireland the Most Potent Mighty and Undoubted King and thereunto we Most Humbly and Faithfully do submit and oblige our selves our Heirs and Posterities for ever At the reading whereof the whole City rang with the Sound of God Save and God Bless King Charles the Second the Shouts and Acclamations of the crowding multitudes being so extraordinary that although all the Bells throughout the City and Suburbs were then Ringing their Noise was not to be heard The King having now by his extraordinary Wisdom and Conduct thus happily contriv'd his return to his Crown and Kingdom without the spilling of his Subjects Blood and having brought his Affairs to their desired Issue prepared to leave Holland and after so long and tedious an Exile returned to his Harass'd and almost ruined Realms being upon his departure Splendidly Treated by the Dutch for a Fortnight together with all the Pomp and Magnificence imaginable and presented with the Richest Bed and Furniture together with Tapestry for Hangings Embossed with Gold and Silver and adorned with Pictures that could be procured and Highly Complemented by all the Forreign Ministers then Resident there For these Noble Entertainments which together with the Present of the Dutch about one hundred Thousand Pounds he gave the States General and those of Holland his Hearty Thanks in their Publick Assemblies whither he went on Foot and having taken his leave of them and commended to them the interest of his Sister and his Nephew the Prince of Orange they delivered their sence of the present circumstance of Affairs and declared the greatness of that joy they conceived for his Miraculous Restauration in the following Speech If one may judge of the content which we have to see your Majesty depart from our Province by the satisfaction we had to possess you we shall have no great trouble to make it known to you your Majesty might have observed in the countenance of all our People the Joy they had in their Hearts to see a Prince cherished of God a Prince wholly miraculous and a Prince that is probable to make a part of their quietness and felicity your Majesty shall see presently all the Streets filled all the ways covered and all the Hills loaden with People which will
Holland-Coast the alarum whereof brought back Bankert who had been about three Weeks at Sea with some of their Ships and caused them to make de Ruyter after his long expected arrival from the West Admiral of their Fleet. But the Bishop of Munster's Drums who then likewise threatned them with a War sounding in their Ears almost as terribly as the English Cannon made them order a flying Army to the Frontiers tho' with little satisfaction to the fearful Inhabitants who daily fled to the fortified Towns for their security In the mean while the English Fleet in three Squadrons sailed towards Norway and the Earl of Sandwich having notice that fifty Hollanders had sheltred themselves in Berghen sent a Squadron of twenty two Men of War under the Command of Tyddeman to attack and fire them in the Harbour which Enterprise had proved very fatal had not the Wind befriended them and the Dane permitted them to plant their Guns on shore against the resolute English however they received very great dammages and had many of their best Ships in that Harbour dissabled And the Earl himself meeting with a Convoy of theirs who had several Merchants and some East-India men in his Company attacked them with so much resolution that notwithstanding the storminess of the Weather did much favour them yet he took Eight of their Men of War two of their best East-India Ships and twenty Sail of their Merchants and some few days after the Fleet encountering with eighteen Sail of the Enemy took the greatest part of them with above one thousand Prisoners However the French King supposing the Ballance of Affairs not yet even enough and affecting a Sovereignty in the Mediterranean-Sea not only continued his friendship to them but in their behalf declared War likewise against England upon pretence of succouring them according to the Conditions of the Treaty in 1662 which Declaration the King who altho he was as great a lover of Peace as any Prince in the World yet being provoked would not be behind hand with his Enemies soon returned with the like denunciation of War against him protesting that he was resolved to prosecute that War against France with his utmost force by Land and Sea And it was admirable to behold the cheerfulness and alacrity wherewith the Maritine Countreys offered him their Service upon their first receiving his Orders to put themselves into a posture of defence but being unwilling to continue them under the trouble and charge of a needless Duty he dismiss'd them for the present and only ordered them to be ready if there was occasion The Pestilence being now pretty well abated he returned again to London where he was joyfully received and welcomed by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen about which time eight persons formerly Officers or Soldiers in the Rebellion were Indicted at the Old-Bayly for conspiring the Death of the King and the Alteration of the Government having in his absence from the City plotted the surprisal of the Tower killing the General Robinson and Brown and then according to their old levelling humour to have declared for an equal division of Lands The better to effect which Design of theirs the City was to have been fired the Portcullices to have been let down to keep out all assistance and the Horse-guards to have been surprised in their Quarters the Tower having been viewed by them and its surprisal ordered by Boats over the Moat and so to scale the Wall One Alexander was the chief Conspirator having distributed several Sums of Money amongst them and he told them for their encouragement of several great ones that sat continually in London and issued out all necessary Orders which Counsel he said received their Directions from another in Holland who sat with the States The third of September being found by a Scheme erected for that purpose a lucky Day a Planet then ruling whose direful effects portended the downfal of Monarchy was pitch'd upon for the Attempt They were found guilty of High Treason and executed at Tyburn Prince Rupert and the Duke of Albemarle being made joynt Generals at Sea for that Summer's Expedition divided the Fleet the Prince commanding the blew Squadron wherewith he sailed toward France upon intimation that the French were hasting to joyn the Dutch Fleet and the Duke the other two who meeting the Hollanders on Friday about 4 or 5 Leagues from the North Foreland couragiously attacked them notwithstanding he had not above half their number bravely maintaining the Fight two days and part of the third when he had been hardly put to it had not the Prince hearing the Guns tacked about and made towards him Upon his approach de Ruyter sent out 30 stout Ships to intercept him and prevent his joyning the Duke but avoiding them he hastened forward and sent Albemarle word that if he liked the design he would keep the wind of them and engage the 30 Ships de Ruyter had sent against him but the Duke not liking his purpose advised him rather to joyn the Fleet which he did and the approaching night soon after put an end to their farther proceedings And the next morning so soon as it grew light they perceived the Dutch to be fled and gotten almost out of sight St. Georges Chanel having proved too dangerous and stormy for them but making all the sail they could they pursued them and the Prince with his fresh Squadron falling in with them with an undaunted courage and bravery pass'd five several times through the whole Body of their Fleet so that not able longer to endure it with all the sail they could make they began to run and sheltred themselves in their shallows But both Fleets having repaired their dammages got out to Sea again and meeting soon after begun a second Engagement no less bloody than the former both sides fighting with all the Courage and Valour that could be expected from the most inveterate and enraged Enemies de Ruyter resolving to revenge his lost disgrace and recover if possible his lost honour and the Prince to maintain his former by obtaining a second Victory They began to fight about Nine in the Morning pouring Broad-sides upon each other with such fury that the roaring Canon seemed to outvy the Thunder and the Smoak clouded the Sun and rendred the Air more dark and dismal than was black Munday There might have been seen the Heads of some the Arms Leggs and Thighs of others shot off some divided in the middle with Chain-shot breathing out their last in anguish and pain or burning in Fired Ships whilst others exposed to the mercy of the Liquid Element implored pity from their very Enemies whom they intreated to save their Lives although with the loss of their Liberties But in the midst of all those deplorable miseries the survivers fought with as much resolution and fury as ever their Courage and Valour being rather heightned than daunted thereby For which Victories a solemn thanks giving was observed throughout the
according to his accustomed Wisdom foreseeing it would otherwise be impossible to have it uniform and decide the Controversies which would arise about dividing the Ground belonging to each House and oblige the Repairers to build with Brick or Stone provided an Act of Parliament for the setling all things in relation thereunto and the erecting a Court of Judicature to judge and determin all Differences that might arise between Party and Party prohibiting in the mean time the hasty building any publick Edifices and proclaiming a general Fast through England and Wales ordering the distresses of those who were ruined thereby to be then recommended to the Charity of all well-disposed persons and the Money so gathered to be afterward distributed by the hands of the Lord Mayor The Act was pass'd in the approaching Parliament wherein besides the provision for the building the Houses of Brick or Stone it was enacted That the most eminent Streets should be of a considerable breadth and those toward the Water-sides wide enough to render Passages convenient that a fair Wharf should be left all along the River's-side and no Houses built thereon but at a convenient distance appointed therein none whereof were to be inhabited by Dyers Brewers or Sugar-Bakers And that an exact Survey should be made of the Ruins for the satisfaction of particular Interests and a Model framed of the whole Building the better to understand if it were convenient for them to appoint any alterations therein And to shew his Pious Care for the Rebuilding of the Churches for the Service of God as well as Houses for his Subjects to dwell in he recommended that Work to the Charity and magnanimous Bounty of publick spirited Persons and for an encouragement to others promised to Rebuild the Custom-house and Enlarge it for the Benefit of Merchants at his own Charge which he afterward performed engaging to part with all his Right and Benefit arising from his own Lands within the City for the Publick Good and to remit the Duties arising from Hearth-Money to those who should Erect any New Buildings according to his Declaration for Seven Years And to demonstrate his Resolution to perform whatsoever he had promised in his Declaration commanded one Knight to be committed to Prison for presuming to Print certain Propositions for the Rebuilding the City with considerable Advantages to the Crown which were repugnant to his gracious Offers in that Declaration So that London being ashamed to lye longer smothered under Ashes when all those Provisions were made for its Resurrection was by Sir Jonas Moore according to the appointed Model first roused in Fleet-street and from that beginning grew so hastily towards a perfection that within the compass of a few years it outvyed all its ancient Glory and Splendour and appeared far more beautiful in its rise than its fall had rendred it abject and desolate But the burning of London was not the only unhappy Accident that fell out in that Year of Wonders for the Fire which had laid the City in Ashes threatned the Court with the like dissolation for having by the misfortune of a Candle falling into the straw violently seized upon the Horse-Guard in the Tilt-Yard over against White-Hall it burned down the North-West part of that Building but being so close under the King 's own eye it was by timely help in a little time mastered And at a place called Welbourn in Lincoln-shire after a prodigious Thunder with Hail-stones of a more than ordinary bigness there followed such a Storm and Tempest that its violence threw down most of the Houses to the ground tore up Trees by the Roots and dispersing several Ricks of Corn and Hay passed to the next Village called Willington where it threw down firm Houses and going forward to Nanby it fell so violently upon the Church that it dash'd the Spire in pieces and so tore and rent the Body of the Church that it almost levelled it with the ground And that Scotland might likewise bear a share in that Year's Calamities a Seditious Zeal having inspired some Malecontents with revenge against Sir James Turner for executing too vigorously as they pretended the Laws against them they committed an insolent Ryot upon his person taking him out of his Bed and carrying him naked into the Market-place where they were hardly restrained from cutting him in pieces which Tumult was first raised by a small and an inconsiderable Rabble but in a short time increased to a Body of One thousand six hundred Men who marching toward Edenburgh were encountred and defeated near Glencarn many of them being slain and more taken the Ring-leaders whereof were executed and most of the rest pardoned But in the midst of all these unhappy Distractions he did not neglect the making all necessary Preparations for carrying on and maintaining his War with Holland France and Denmark the latter whereof was now entered into a League offensive and defensive with the States of the Vnited Provinces upon pretence of the Assault made upon the Dutch in his Port of Berghen although he had the freedom of that Port frankly offered him by the King of Denmark himself at a time when he thought nothing of it and that in order to the doing those very Acts of Hostility wherewith he was then unjustly reproach'd by that King as he declared in his Declaration of War against Denmark published about that time And for a good Omen of his future success he not long after his Declaration of War received News that the Vice-Admiral of Denmark was taken by some of his Frigots upon the Coast of Scotland However the King of Sweden having become a Mediator for Peace between him and the States-General and prevailed with him to condescend thereunto and appoint Breda for the place of Treaty the Dutch notwithstanding busied themselves in making Preparations for continuing the War resolving to treat of Peace in a posture and condition to fight if it succeeded not and he not being ignorant of their intentions to make him spend that Summer in needless Expences for War and only keep himself upon his own guard But we having therefore but a small Fleet abroad the Dutch upon intimation thereof got out to Sea betimes and finding no Enemy to resist them made an attempt on Burnt Island but being beaten off with loss they next attempted the Fort of Sheerness which being then a place of small force was after a short but stout resistance abandoned by Sir Edward Spragg and so the Mouth of that narrow River was left open to them And being encouraged by this success they landed about three thousand men near Felton-Cliff and with two thousand of them adventured to make two Assaults upon Languard-Fort but were beaten off and forced to retire in such haste that they left their Scaling-Ladders behind them and had about one hundred and fifty slain upon the place the other thousand which were left behind the Cliff to secure their retreat being encountered by the Trained-bands
of the Privy Council then present to do so too and had ordered the Original to be kept in the Council Chest where it still remains This Declaration was likewise inserted as it was entred in the Council Books and was as follows For the avoiding of any Dispute which may happen in time to come concerning the Succession of the Crown I do here Declare in the Presence of Almighty God That I never gave nor made any Contract of Marriage nor was Married to any Woman whatsoever but to my present Wife Queen Katharine White Hall the 3d day of March 167 â— â— CHARLES R. And that noâ—e might still remain doubtful or question the Truth of his former Declaration he concluded that Declaration with the following Protestation And we do again upon this occasion call Almighty God to Witness and declare upon the Faith of a Christian and the Word of a King That there was never any Marriage had or made between us and the said Mrs. Walters alias Barlow the Duke of Monmouths Mother nor between Vs and any Woman whatsever our Royal Consort Queen Katharine that is only excepted Requiring and Commanding all his Subjects of what degree soever that they should not presume to utter or publish any thing contrary to the Tenor of that Declaration at their Peril and upon pain of being proceeded against according to the utmost Severity and Rigor of the Law Whereby all the groundless hopes of that Duke and the idle and ridiculous Expectations of many factious and designing Persons were wholly disappointed And he was moreover commanded by the King to depart the Land which he did on the 23d of September and went over to Vtrecbt but returned again privately and without order about the latter end of the next month About this time there was much discourse of a new Plot and several Narratives publisht about it wherein the Papists as was affirmed had contrived to charge the Presbyterians with a conspiracy against the Government the chief Discoverer whereof was one Dangerfield who had formerly been a vile and profligate Fellow and was then newly got out of Newgate Several Persons were accused by him as Conspirators therein the chief whereof was the Countess oâ— Powis Sir Robert Payton Gadbury and one Cellier a Widwife in whose house Sir William Waller pretended to find some Papers that related to the Conspiracy from whence it was called the Meal-Tub Plot and the Effigies of the Pope in all his Pontificalibus was on the Birth-day of Queen Elizabeth which is the 17th of November Burned with much more Pomp and Splendor than it had been in former years it having been a custom for several late years so to do The Effigies of Sir Edmondbury Godfrey was carried on a Horse with a Bell-man to mind the people of his Murder several Priests in Copes with a large silver Cross six Jesuits divers Bishops some in thin Lawn Sleeves and others with their Copes and Miters on and six Cardinals going in procession before him The King having according to his promise called a new Parliament to meet on the 17th of October Prorogues it to the 26th of the following January and toward the latter end of November the Duke of York went into Scotland where his Presence was very acceptable and all Persons declared the great satisfaction they took in having him amongst them The appointed time of the Parliaments sitting drawing near great endeavours were used for the procuring a multitude of Hands to Peâ—itioâ—s which were to be presented to the King for his permitting the Parliament to Sit on the 26th of January according to the last proâ—ogation which petitioning being unwarrantable and tumultuous he order'd the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen to take care for the preservation of his Honour and the Peace and safety of the City and not suffer such Persons that should â—ign such Petitions or go about to get hands to them to escape unpunished and issued out a Proclamation to forbid all such kind of petitioning and another to declare his Resolution for the farther prorogation to the 11th of November notwithstanding which some resolutely went on with their petitioning and not long after one from London subscribed with many Thousand hands and others from York Essex Surrey and Wiltshire were presented to Him which he received indeed but knowing that such kind of Petitions were rather Commands than Requests resolved not to gratifie the unruly Petitioners and therefore on the 26th of January when those Members who were in Town met according to custom at the Parliament-House he acquainted them That when he declared in Council his Intention of putting off the Parliament to a time so remote as November it was not without mature Consideration and that he saw nothing which had hapned since in reference to the Affairs within the Kingdom which gave him occasion to alter or repent that Resolution and that altho he would in regard to the present danger which threatned some of his Neighbours and Allies appoint a day for their meeting again in April yet the Distractions and Jealousies at Home were of such a nature and had been so heightned and improved by the malice and industry of ill men that he was unalterably of an opinion that a longer interval would be absolutely necessary for compoâ—ing mens minds in order to which he feared the most proper Remedies would prove ineffectual without the assistance of some farther time and therefore resolved that at their meeting in April there should be a farther prorogation unless the condition of his Allies abroad did then require their immediate assistance In the mean while Articles of high Misdemeanor were offered by way of complaint to the King and Council against the Chief Justice Scroggs by Oates and Bedlow to which he returned his Answer and so the business fell And in Hillary Term Sir Thomas Gascoigne a Yorkshire Gentleman of 85 Years of Age was arraigned at the Kings Bench Bar on an Information of High Treason the Witnesses against him being Balron and Mowberry two of his own Servants but their Evidence being somewhat doubtful and improbable he was acquitted The King opened the Year 80 which was remarkable for many revolutions though all in the end concluded peaceable and well with calling the Duke out of Scotland who was upon his arrival complemented by the Mayor Aldermen Recorder and Common-Council of London About which time also Secretary Coventry having resigned his office the King made choice of Sir Lionel Jenkins to succeed him and on the 15th of April the King being absent at Newmarket ordered his Chancellor Finch by vertue of a Commission under the great Seal to prorogue the Parliament to the 17th of May from whence it was afterwards prorogued to the first of July And now several Countrys which had been active in promoting petitions began to be ashamed and recant their Actions the City of Westminster leading the way their Grand-Jury by a publick and formal act disowning the Action and charging
Coningsâ—ark a German Lord who had formerly endeavoured to obtain her came over again to London in disguise and one â—ratz who had formerly been a Captain under him sent a Challenge to Thinn with a Threat That in case he refused to meet him at the Time and Place appointed he should be pistol'd And finding that notwithstanding that Threat he still slighted his Challenge and refused to hazard his Life against he knew not whom nor upon what ground of quarrel he with two more well mounted and armed rode up to his Coach as he was passing homeward near the Hay-market and having stopt the Horses another of those desperate Villains whose Name was George Borosky a Polander discharged a Blunderbuss or Musketoon at him charged with six Bullets which were all lodged in his Belly and then they setting Spurs to their Horses made their escape but the next Morning they were so closely sought after that they were all three taken and being brought to a Trial Tryal before the Lord-Chief-Justice Pemberton were all three condemned and executed upon a Gibbet erected near the place where they committed the Murder and Borasky to terrifiâ— others from such barbarous Attemptsâ— was hung up in Chains between 〈◊〉 and London The Count was likewisâ— tryed the same time as an accessary to the Murder but for want of sufficient Evidence was acquitted by the Jury A strange Accident hapned not long after this which had like to have proved fatal to these Nations by depriving them of the Inestimable Blessing which they now enjoy for his Royal Highness the Duke of York our Present Sovereign going about the beginning of May into Scotland to fetch home his Dutchess whom he had left there at his last return the Glocester Frigot in which he sailed unfortunately striking on the Lemon-ore in Yarmoth Road was lost with about an hundred men and some Treasure But Heaven designing the Royal Passenger to be the occasion of many future Blessings to these Kingdoms and reserving him for a more honourable Funeral he was miraculously preserved by going off into a Yatch which came up to his relief just before the Ship sunk And returning toward the latter end of that month with his Dutchess and the Lady Ann to Whitehall the King and Queen came from VVindsor to congratulate his safe arrival and express their Joy for his miraculous preservation And the King who went back again that Night to VVindsor was the next Day taken very ill occasioned as it was generally thought by some cold taken the day before but upon bleeding and the use of some other proper means he recovered his former health within a few days to the great joy of his Subjects Sir John Moor an Honest Loyal Gentleman and an Addresser coming this Year to be Lord Mayor of London which City was then somewhat distempered by reason the Chair had for the Two preceding Years been enjoyed by Sir Robert Claton and Sir Patience Ward who inclining to the Fanatick Party had promoted such Sheriffs and other Officers in that City as were no way pleasing to the King as appeared by the Answer he returned to the Message from Sir John to him to invite his Majesty to dine with him and the City on the day of his Inauguration viz. That he liked the Message but not the Messengers who were the two Sheriffs Pilkinton and Shute and therefore having now the Power in his Hand as Chief Magistrate he resolved to restore London to its Loyalty and leave it in a condition more to the Kings content than he found it And in order thereunto it being an ancient Custom for the Lord Mayor at a Feast kept Yearly at the Bridg-house to drink to him whom he designed to be one of the Sheriffâ— for the Year ensuing he drank to Mr. Dudly North Brother to the Lord Keeper and since Knighted And on the 24th of June which being Midsummer-day was customary for the Electing the Sheriâ—f of London he summoned the several Companies to appear at Guild-hall and confirm North and cause another Sheâ—iff but instead of proceeding according to the Ancient câ—stom and method of the City therâ— appeared two parties the Lord Mayor and his Party and the two Sheriffs and their Party who refused to confirm North and would have both Sheriffs elected by Vote After some coâ—test it was agreed to be decided by pol But those who polled for the coâ—firmation of North and thâ— Election of Box a Drugster in Cheapside who was proposed by Moor for the other Sheriff being refused and several mens Names entred for Papillion and Dubois that were put up by the Two Sheriffs and their Party who had no Right to Vote the Lord Mayor adjourned the Court by Proclamation till the 27th and so departed out of the Hall altho not without some abuses by the disaffected party However the Sheriffs would not obey the Adjournment but upon pretence that the business belonged properly to them and not at all to the Mayor went on with their Poll till night The next day being Sunday admitted of no Action but on Monday morning the King who had been informed of all those Tumutuous Proceedings ordered the Lord Mayor the Court of Aldermen and the Two Sheriffs to attend him at the Council-Chamber and after a full Examinâ—tion and Hearing of all that could be said on both sides committed the Sheriffs to the Tower for their Riotous Proceeding whither they were carâ—ied through the City in their own Coacâ—es But having obtained a Habeas Corâ—us to be brought up to the Kings-Beâ—ch-Bar they were admitted Bail having first pleaded Not Guilty to an Information exhibited against them for a Tumultuous and Riotous Assembly in holding the Common-Hall after it had been adjourned and the Assembly discharged The Sheriffs having thus obtained their Liberty met again on the 5th of July and notwithstanding the Mayor who was then sick sent the Recorder to adjourn the Common-Hall to the 7th yet they and the Multitude proceeded in the Election and declared their Choice of Papillion and Duboise But some Disputes arising when the Mayor and his party met on the 7th according to the Adjournment about the Legality of that Adjournment Four Lawyers were sent for to the Court of Aldermen to argue the Validity of the thing but coming to no Resolution the Court was adjourned to the 14th of that Month. When the King designing if possible to set all things to rights issued out an Order of Council wherein he commanded them since all their Proceedings hitherto had been irregular to begin all Proceedings anew and carry them on in the usual manner as they ought to have been upon Midsummerday This Order was read in the Common-Hall but opposed by the adverse Party with Noise and Clamor However Moor declared North duly elected by him and that he would Poll for the other Three viz. Box Papillion and Duboise and thereupon caused Books to be fitted with Three Columns only But Pilkinton and Shute refusing to
Petition wherein the King is charged with obstructing the Justice of the Nation by proroguing the last Parliament Whether these were sufficient grounds of seizing their Liberties were argued Pro Con first by the Solicitor General and the Recorder of the City and then by the Attorney General and Mr. Pollixfen And Judg Jones the Lord Chief Justice being then sick having summ'd up all the proceedings in a very significant and solid Speech gave Judgment upon it and declared it to be the unanimous Opinion of that Court That the Liberties and Franchises of the City of London should be seized into the King's hands But Judgment was not entred up in regard the King had expresly commanded that should not be done till his pleasure was further known The City now finding the King was in earnest and that their Charter was condemned by Law began to think of humbling themselves at his feet and sue for Mercy And therefore at a Common-Council call'd for that purpose a Petition was ordered to be drawn up and presented to him at Windsor where he then was in which they acknowledg their hearty and unfeigned sorrow for the misgovernment of that City which had occasioned the Quo Warranto to be brought against them and Judgment to be past thereupon And thankfully acknowledged his great Favour in not requiring Judgment to be immediately entred thereon in which distressed condition they humbly cast themselves at his Royal Feet imploring his Princely Compassion and Grace begging his pardon for all Offences with most solemn promises and assurances of constant Loyalty and Obedience to him and his Successors and of a Regular Administration of his Government in that City for the future humbly begging his Commands and Directions therein This Petition was carried and presented by the Mayor and several Loyal Aldermen and Citizens Upon the Receipt whereof the Lord Keeper by the King's Command declared That for the sakes of so many of the present Magistrates and other Eminent Citizens who were of undoubted Loyalty and Affection to his Service he would show the City all the Favour they could reasonably desire if they would submit to such Regulations as he thought necessary forthe assuring the Loyalty and preserving the Peace of that City viz. That no person should be admitted to be Mayor Sheriff Recorder Common Serjeant Town-Clerk or Coroner of London or Steward of Southwark before they were approved by him under his Sign Manual And that after he had Twice disapproved the Mayor whom they should present to him he might if he pleased nominate one himself and so also for the Sheriff the Election being nevertheless to be still continued according to the ancient Customs and Usages of the City with some small Restrictions only then specified which gracious Offer was accepted by a Common-Council assembled on the 20th of June where the Question being propounded it was carried in the Affirmative by the Majority of Eighteen Voices And now came to light one of the basest and vilest pieces of Treachery that was ever hatcht in the World which seemed to point out and explain whereto the Bill of Exclusion and the Treacherous Association tended For those Factious and Designing Wretches having failed of accomplishing their Designs by those specious pretences resolved to attempt that by force which they now found they could not effect by Fraud and therefore entred into a Damnable Plot and Conspiracy to Murder the King and His Brother and alter the Government To effect which they had at several Treasonable Consultations resolved to Levy men and make an Insurrection For the management whereof they made choice of a Council of Six that were to direct and order the chief matters relating thereunto viz. the Duke of Monmouth the Earl of Essex the Lord Howard the Lord Russel Mr. Hambden and Collonel Sidney Besides which there was another Council of more Inferior persons whose business was to consult chiefly about the Assassination of the King and the Duke The King and the Duke being both at Newmarket they resolved to prevent their ever coming to London again by cutting them both off in their return To which end West by the appointment of the rest had provided several Musquets and other Arms which were to have been sent down to a House call'd the Rye inhabited by one Rumball about three Miles beyond Hodsden which was lookt upon as the most convenient place for that monstrous and hellish design in regard therewas by the house a narrow passage through which the King usually came when he went to and from Newmarket so that it would have been hard for him to have escaped But Heaven having preserved him from the many former Attempts of Men of the like Principles and disdaining that Hell should frustrate its designed blessings to these Nations as well in the remainder of his Reign as in his next Successors by cutting off its Principal Favourite resolved to render former Mercies the more compleat and full by adding a new one to their Number no less apparent and visible than his Preservation in the Oak had been And therefore a Fire which hapned there and consumed the greatest part of the Town forced him to return sooner than they expected and before they were ready for him whereby they were disappointed of their Barbarous Purpose and not a little confounded at the Strangeness of the Thing which altho it appeared at first sight to be purely accidental yet afterward was generally lookt upon to fall out by the special designation of Divine Providence But notwithstanding this remarkable disappointment and the consternation which at first seized them upon the news of it they still went on with their Plot and consulted about some other Time and Place for their Assassination But before they could bring their distracted Counsels to any conclusion Providence spoiled their Plot For one of the Conspirators whose Name was Keeling being convinced of the Wickedness of the design through the care of Heaven to prevent it by the remarkable Fire at Newmarket was so terrified that he could not rest till he had made a discovery of it Whereupon West a Councellor of the Temple was apprehended and a Proclamation issued out for the declaring Rumsey Rumball Nelthrop Wade Goodenough Wallcot Thompson Burton and Hone Traytors offering 100 reward to any that should discover them and another against Monmouth Grey Armstrong and Ferguson Rumsey the Lord Russel Essex Collonel Sidney Mr. Hambden the Lord Howard Walcot Rouse Hone and some others were taken but the rest made their escape beyond the Seas The Lord Grey indeed was taken but being after Examination by the King and Council committed to the Tower he found means to make his escape out of the Coach just as he came almost at the Tower Gate having made Deering the Messenger who had him in Charge so drunk as it was reported that he fell fast asleep and left him wholly unguarded The Lord Russel and Collonel Sidney were beheaded and Walcot Rouse and Hone