his Head set upon the Bridg gate The King upon this Success put out a Proclamation for a Sollemn and Publick Thanksgiving throughout the Kingdom and the Popish Priests who began to appear more Bare-faced than ever Magnified the Victory in their Sermons and Discourses Attributing it solely to the Virgin Mary nay some of them were so vain as to afirm that she was seen flying over the Armies with a drawn Sword during the Fight but we believe they might mistake her for a Meteor that appeared that Evening with a very swist motion and spreading light passing quite through the City of London The Duke of Monmouth the Lord Grey and a German Officer being brought to White-Hall on the 13 th of July they were sent by Water to the Tower and although great Intercession was made for the Duke by the Queen Dowager and others he was on the 15 th brought upon a Scaffold on Tower-Hill and after having made a large Speech and Discoursed with the Bishops that waited on him shewing much Penitence and declaring he dyed in the Communion of the Church of England he layed down his Head and whether through the the Inability of the Executioner or a fear that seiz'd him the Execution was Barbarous for He received five stroaks before his Head was severed from his shoulders his Body and Head were delivered to his Servants who carried them away in a Mourning Herse in order to its private Interment and thus fell this great Man who had been so long the Darling of the Multitude and upon whose Inconstant Breath he to much bore himself till it brought him to Ruin as for the Lord Grey he was afterward Pardoned and the Brandenburger dismised but others fared not so well for a Bloody Scene ensued which was Acted with too much Heat and Cruelty and several Proclamations were set forth commanding divers Persons that Absconded to surrender themselves and soon after the Earl of Stamford the Lord Delamere and the Lord Brandon were Committed to the Tower the first of which was discharged the second Pardoned and the last Acquitted by his Peers Our Ships being on the Coast of Sally to Curb those Pirates Maned out their Boats and boldly passed their Bar Burning their Ships in the Port within Pistol shot of the Town and notwithstanding the Continual Fire that was made only one Man was mortaly wounded and five lightly hurt On the 12 th of July Henry Duke of Norfolk Earl Marshal of England Henry Earl of Peterborrough Groom of the stole to the King and Lawrence Earl of Rochester Lord High-Treasurer of England were Installed Knights of the Garter at the Royal Chaple of St. George within the Castle of Windsor and on the 30 th the Earl of Feversham was Installed and the White Staff of Lord Chamberlain of the King 's House-hold was given to the Earl of Aylesbury On the 4 th of August pursuant to the Adjornment the Parliament met at Westminster and the Lord Treasurer whom the King appointed to perform the part of Lord Keeper in his Absence having declared to the House of Lords that they should further Adjourn to the 9 th of November and the like being Signified to the Commons by the Earl of Midletoâ— both Houses Adjourned accordinglyâ— And the French King and Duke of Orleance sent to Congratulate the King upon his Victory the first by the Marescha de Humiers and the last by the Count de Tonnerre and on the 8 th of August the City of York had their Charter restored which was received with great Joy and a Declaration bearing date the 25 th was put forth to Regulate the Soldiers and prevent any disorders they might commit the King resolving to keep up his Army and the Lord Cheif Justice Jefferys and others being sent into the VVest with Commission to Try those that were in Prison for taking part with the Duke of Monmouth Made a miserable Havock of those People Condemning great Numbers and causing them to be Hang'd in all the principal Towns and their Quarters to be set up in such abundance that the stench Infected the Air and brought a kind of a Contageon few of those that went from London except such as turned Evidences against others Escaped many as well Women as Men were publickly Whip'd and others had their Estates seiz'd and a great many were thrust on Ship-board and Sold to the Transmarine Plantations so that there was nothing but Weeping and Lamentation to be heard yet it nothing moved the Inexorable Judge to Compassion for a Proclamation coming forth forbiding any to Harbour or Relieve any of them that had been with the Duke they were forced to wander up and down in Woods their nearest Relations not daring to Relieve them so that several were Starved to Death or Perished for Want of Necessaries such as could get shiping went for Holland and other places of Refuge and on the 3 d. of September Alice Lisle a very Ancient Lady was Executed upon a publick Scaffold at VVinchester by having her Head Severed from her Body pursuant to a Sentence for no other Crime than giving Entertainment in her House to one John Hix who had been with the Duke which brought such a Terror upon others that a Father delivered up his own Son and those that had concealed any was forced to dismiss them and Orders were every where given to search for Suspected Persons so that the Popish Priests by making Interest for Pardons got extraordinary sums of money nor did the Lord Chief Justice less Inrich himself as since it has appeared by taking 15000 l. of one Person for a Pardon and no doubt a great deal of many others and the Lord Keeper North Dying on the 5 th of September the Great Seal was keept for the Lord Chief Justice till the Bloody Harvest was finished and this month Dyed that Great and Eminent States-man Sr. Leoline Jenkins and was Buried with much Formality and Ceremony in Jesus Colledge Chaple at Oxford to which he had been a considerable Benefactor The Lord Cheif Justice being by this time sufficiently Gluted with Blood returning to VVhite-Hall about the latter end of September having before been made Barron of VVem had now the Broad Seal delivered to him with the Title of Lord Chancellour Sr. Edward Herbert Cheif Justice of Chester was made Lord Cheif Justice of the Kings-Bench and Sr. Edward Lutwich Succeeded him in his place of Cheif Justice of Chester and Sr. Robert VVright was removed from the Exchequer to the Kings-Bench and many other Alterations were made On the 19 th of October Henry Cornish Esq was brought to his Tryal at the Old Baily upon an Indictment of High Treason and was found Guilty upon very slender Evidence There was likewise Tryed one William Ring for Harbouring and Concealing Joseph Kelloway and Henry Lawrence who had been with the Duke of Monmouth in the West as likewise John Ferneley for Harbouring and Concealing James Burton a Person Outlawed for high Treason and
time together with some Examples made of Kidnappers detered those Leud People from puting so great a Wickedness in Practice The Earl of Murray being Appointed the Kings High-Commissioner in Scotland the Parliament of that Kingdom according to Adjournment met the 29 th of April where the High Commissioner let them know the Kings Esteem of their Loyalty and what was further to be done and Expected c. And now the French Protestants coming over in great Numbers a Book was Published of the Cruelties acted by the French King and his Ministers towards his Subjects of the Reformed Religion at which the French Ambassador Residing at the English Court found himself much Agrieved pretending it Reflected upon his Master whereupon an Oâ—der was put out to Supress it and to Discover the Translator and Printer that they might be Prosecuted and that a Printed Copy in French and another in English should be Burnt by the Hands of Common Hang-man which was accordingly done before the Royal Exchange On the 10 th of May the Parliament meeting at Westminster and some Debates Arising about Papists and other unqualified Persons who had got into Offices of great Trust without taking the Oaths Test or Sacrament according as the Law Required under a Penalty of 5000 l. They were further Prorogued to the 22 d. of November and a Proclamation was published forbiding all Persons from using the Trade of a Pedler or Petty Chapman unless such as should be Licensed or Authorized and Offices were appointed for that purpose but the Countries as well as a great number of poor people finding the In-convenience of it it soon fell and came to nothing On Wednesday May the 13 th Her Royal Highness the Princess Ann of Denmark was Delivered of a Daughter at Windsor which was Christened by the Lord Bishop of Duersem being Named Ann Sophia On the 14 th of May Miles Prance commonly called the Brass Siver-smith a person who had been Instrumental in the Discovery of the Death of Sir Edâ—mund Bury Gâ—dfry was brought to the Kings-Bench-Bar and an Information there Exhibited against him for Wilful and Malicious Perjury as to the Evidence he gave at the Tryal of Green Bury and Hill who were Executed at Tyburn for the aforesaid Murther where upon the Information being Read after some preamble he Pleaded Guilty and declared his Sorrow for what he had done Aledging he had falsly Sworn against those persons though but a very few believed but that fear of Punishment and hopes of Reward made him go backâ— and deny what not only in Courts but other places he had so frequently Avered and being brought up the last day of the Term he was Fined 100 l. and ordered to Appear before the Courts of Westminster with a Paper on his Head Declaring his Offence and that he should stand in the Pillory before Westminster-Hall the Royal Exchange and at Charing Cross and moreover be Whiped fron New-gate to Tyburn yet the Fine and Whiping were afterwards Remitted On the 21 th of June Mr. Samuel Johnson was Tryed at the Kings-Benchâ—Bar upon an Information of High-Misdemeanour for Writing and Publishing a Paper Advising the Protestant Soldiers and Seamen not to joyn with the Papist to ruin the Protestant Religion for which a Verdict was given against him and he received a very severe Sentence which was executed with great Rigour for about this time the Council of the Priests began openly to prevail and they gloried to exert the Influence they had over some Magistrates to Rigour and Cruelty against such especially as had opposed their Practices and proceeded to set up and build Chapples and places for publickly Celebrating Mass and divers were troubled for opposing them though the Law was expresly against their proceedings A great Robbery having in the Kentish Road been committed on the Holland Mail and as much Dust Gold taken out as came to about 3000 l. Richard Alborough Oliver Haly John Conde who were concerned in the Robbery were brought to the Kings Bench Bar where the first confessed the Fact and the two others were found Guilty and received Sentence as in case of Fellony and Robbery c. The Charter of New-England about this time was proceeded against and Judgment obtained upon Scire Faciâ—s whereupon followed many Alterations in that Collony Sir Edmond Andrews being appointed Governour and divers that had formerly held places were dismissed On the 22 th of August the King Named Dr. Cartwrite Dean of Rippon to be Bishop of Chester and Dr. Samuel Parker Arch-Deacon of Canterbury to be Bishop of Oxford those Sees being Vacant by the Death of Dr. John Pearson and Dr. John Fell And the King began his Progress into the VVest where he Conferred the Honour of Knight-hood on divers Persons and laboured to settle the Minds of the People which were disturbed by the bold attempts of the Popish Clergy and the continuing many in Office that were no ways Favourers of the Protestant Religion and Visited Marleborough Badminster Bristol Bridgwater VVillton Southampton Portsmouth c. and was very splendidly entertained On the 8 th of October the Earl of Tyrconnel was Sworn of the King 's Privy Council and took his Place at the Council-Board at VVhite-Hall accordingly and the Parliament was Prorogued to the 15 day of February by Proclamation and the 14 th of October the King's Birth-Day by an express Command was kept with great strictness in London VVestminster c. and on the 17 th Dr. John Lloyd Bishop of St. Davids Dr. Samuel Parker Bishop of Oxford and Dr. Thomas Cartwrite Bishop of Chester were Consecrated at Lambeth c. On the 29 th of October Sir John Peak was sworn Lord Mayor of the City of Loâ—don before the Barons of the Exchequer at VVestminster and the City received him with the usual splendour and magnificence and on the 22 th of November the Parliament meeting was further Prorogued as specified by Proclamation to the 15 th of February And in the beginning of January the King appointed the Lord John Bellasis Sidney Lord Godâ—lphin Henry Lord Dover Sir John Earnly and Sir Stephen Fox Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High Treasurers of England and the Parliament by Proclamation was further Prorogued to the 28 th day of April 1687. On the 2 d. of February the Lady Anne Sophia youngest Daughter to their R. Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Denmark dyed after about a Fort-nights Illness and on the 4 th privatelyâ—Interâ—ed in the Vault of the Royal Families in K. â—Henry the VII Chapple and unhappily to second this misfortune the Lady Mary Daughter to their Royal Highnesses dyed the 8 th of February in the Evening after an Illness of 3 Weeks and was privately Interred as the former on the â—0 th And about this time the Right Honourable the Earl of Clarendon being re-called the Earl of Tyrconnel to the little satisfaction of the Proteâ—â—ants was appointed Lord Deputy of the Kingdom of Ireland where after
And the suddainness of the affairs requiring the Soldiers to Quarter in private Houses a Declaration was Published to prohibit it unless such Houses as were willing to entertain them And divers of the Sea-men having deserted their Ships were ordered to return at a set time and for the better Incouragement of the Navy the Arrears and Wages that should grow due was promised to the Officers and Sea-men serving in the Fleet according to the known Method The Royal African Company out of a sense of their Duty and Respect on the 16 th of January at a General Court Unanimously chose His Highness to be their Governour for the Year ensuing and presented him with 1000 l. in their Joynt-Stock and the High Sheriff together with the considerable Gentry of the County of Cambridge entered into an Association engaging themselves Solemnly to stand by His Highness with their Lives and Fortunes c. and soon after the like was done by divers others The 22 th of January being come the Lords Spiritual and Temporal assembled at Westminster the Lord Marquess of Hallifax Executed the place of Speaker in the House of Lords and the Commons chose Henry Powle Esq to be their Speaker after which His Highness's Letter was read in both Houses on the occasion of their Meeting and the Lords and Commons resolved upon an Address of Thanks and humbly therein desired him to continue the Administration of Affairs till further application should be made by them to His Highness and the 31 th of January was appointed for a publick Day of Thanksgiving in the Cities of London and Westminster and 10 Miles distance for the great Deliverance and on the 14 of February all over England and then the Lords and Commons went to St. Iames's to present their Address The Soldiers as well as the Seamen were likewise encouraged about this time with promise of their Pay and Arrears c. and many Disorders being committed by unruly People in Forrests and Chaces by Destroying the Deer and cutting down Timber a Declaration was published for the preventing them Commanding the Magistrates to be strict and dilligent in apprehending the Offenders and now the Prince having at the supplication of the Lords and Commons sent for His Royal Consort She passed the Seas Attended by divers English and Dutch Men of War and was received with great Demonstrations of Joy at White-Hall where she arrived by Water on the 12 th of February being that Night Visited by most of the Nobility at Court and the next Day in the Morning the Lords Spiritual and Temporal being assembled at Westminster and having agreed upon an Instrument of Writing for Declaring the Prince and Princess of Orange King and Queen of England France and Ireland with all the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging and upon presenting it in the Banquetting House having received their consent about Eleven of the Clock they were Proclaimed at White-Hall by the Officers at Arms and afterwards at Temple-Bar at Woodâ— street-End and before the Royal Exchange with all the Ceremonies and Splendour that attends the occasion the People every where expressing their Satisfaction by loud acclamations and four Regiments of the City Militia lined the way So the Day concluded with Ringing of Bells and Bonefires And hereupon the King and Queen joyntly placed in the Administration of the Government which King James was Declared to have Abdicated by both Houses as also the Succession settled in case of Failure of Issue a Proclamation was published to continue all Persons being Protestants who on the first of the last of December were in Office of Sheriff Justice of the Peace Commissioners Collectors and other Offices and Places concerning the Managing Collecting Receiving and Paying of the Revenue of the Kingdom should be continued in the said Office till their Majesties Pleasure was further known The Papists in Ireland Arming in great Numbers in that Kingdom committed about this time great Outrages on the Protestants Plundering Disarming and Imprisoning them so that divers as they could make their Escape fled for England yet the North parts held out against them being in Arms under the Lord Kingston and others making a very brave Defence to prevent the going over of other Papist's and Disafected Persons the English Ports that lay favourable to that Kingdom were ordered to be stop'd As for Scotland it had submited it self Voluntarily to the Protection of King William and Queen Mary yet the Duke of Gourdon held the Castle against the whole Kingdom being Guarded by about 100 of his Accomplices mostly Papist's but in the end was Obliged to Surrender as will appear hereafter On the 18 th of February the King went by Water to the House of Lords in all the usual Splendor and Majesty and being Seated on the Throne and the Commons Attending he made a very Gracious Speech to both Houses Relating to the Circumstances of Affairs and then Returned to White-Hall and a Privy-Council of Honourable and Worthy Persons were Chosen and the Papist's such as were not House-keepers commanded to remove from the Cities of London and Westminster c. And a Universal Joy over-spread the Kingdom upon the News of the Proclaiming the King and Queen all the Cities and most remarkable Towns shined with Fires the Bells every where Ringing great Feasting and Drinking of Healths c. The King having frequently Repeated His Good Will towards and his Resolution to Protect the Church of England On the 21 st of February the Lord Bishop of London with the Clergy of the City to the Number of 100 waited upon the King and Queen with an Humble Tender of their Fidelity and were Graciously Received having the Honour to kiss their Hands and the King gave them a further Assurance of his Affection to that Church and of all Protection and Encouragement Concluding viz. I Assure you that you shall ever find it so and may Depend upon it On the 23 d. the King gave the Royal Assent to an Act for Removing and Preventing all Questions and Disputes about the Assembling and Siting of the present Parliament and afterwards went with the Queen to Divertise himself at Hampton-Court and in the beginning of March he was pleased to Constitute Sir John Mayâ—ard Anthony Kecke and William Rawleson Serjeants at Law since Knighted Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal of England the Lord Willoughby of Ersby Chancellor of the Dutchy and County Palatine of Lancaster the Lord Lovelace Captain of the Band of Gentlemen Pentioners and the Lord Lucas cheif Governour of the Tower of London and divers other Worthy Persons were put in Places of Trust He likewise Granted a Conge de Elire to the Dean and Chapter of the Cathederal Church of Sarum with his Letters Missive for the Electing Dr. Burnet Bishop of that See void by the Death of Dr. Seth Ward And Hearth-Money proving grievous to the Subjects especially the poorer sort the King upon the humble Request of the Commons was pleased to give
was found with his Sword run through him under colour to make it suspected he murthered himself Lawrence Hill Henry Bury and Robert Green were on the 10th of February tryed for the Murther at the Kings-Bench Bar where they were found Guilty upon the Evidence of Captain William Bedlow and the positive Oath of Miles Prance who swore himself to be immediately concerned in the Murther though since the popish Priests have prevailed upon him to recant as will appear hereafter and one Samuel Atkins was likewise Indicted as an Accessary to the Murther but acquitted and according to Sentence Green Bury and Hill were Executed at Tyburn where they denyed the Fact And this month Sir Joseph Williamson giving place the Earl of Sunderland was appointed Principal Secretary of State And now the time being come for the Judges to go the Lenten Circuit they had a strict Charge to recommend to the Justices of Peace and other Magistrates the putting the Laws in execution against popish Recusants and to see it done themselves as much as in them lay And upon the Kings Command the Duke and Dutchess of York departed for Holland and there went Ashoar at Masland-sluyce and so to the Hague and were received at the Court. On the 28th of March another Proclamation was issued out for a publick Fast to implore the further Protection of Almighty God in preserving us from our Enemies and commanded to be strictly kept and it was accordingly observed with more than ordinary Devotion and Solemnity And thus passed over the memorable Transactions of the latter part of the year 1678. In April 1679. The Knights Citizens and Burgeâ—ses in Parliament assembled having in the Name of themselves and all the Commons of England impeach'd William Earl of Powis William Viscount Stafford William Lord Petre Henry Lord Arundel of Wardour and John Lord Bellasis Prisoners in the Tower upon divers Articles of High Treason and other high Crimes and Offences at the Bar of the House of Lords c. The said Prisoners were on the Ninth of April except the Lord Bellasis by reason of his illness of the Gout brought to the Bar of the Lords-House where kneeling and afterwards standing the Articles of their Impeachment were Read upon which they made several Petitions to the House that they might have Copies of their Charge and time to Answer thereto that they might be allowed Council and that their Witnesses might be summoned and have Liberty to come and Return And that that they might have the use of such Records as they should have occasion for which were granted them but with limitation that their Council should only assist them in matters of Law And the Lord Bellasis was allowed though absent a Copy of his Charge After this those that were present were remanded to the Tower and being brought again the 16th they delivered their Answers to the Articles of Charge and were reconducted to the Tower and on the 20th of April the King dissolved his Privy Council and called another putting forth a Declaration to shew his reasons for so doing appointing his new Council to consist of Thirty Persons Fifteen whereof were to be certain and the rest to be Elective at his pleasure Ten out of the Nobility and Five Commoners besides a Lord President a Secretary of Scotland and such of the Princes of the Blood as should be at Court the King acquainting his Parliament that next his great Council he would be advised by that Council and on the 30th of April being seated on the Throne and the Commons attending he made a Speech to both Houses recommending to them three particulars viz. The Prosecution of the Plot the Disbanding of the Army and the setting out a Fleet. And after that the Lord Chancellour opened to them the Kings Mind concerning the securing the Religion and Liberty in future Reigns And another Proclamation was published for Banishing Papists ten miles from London As also another for the Discovery and Apprehending several Persons suspected to have contrived and acted in fellonous Burning Houses in and about the City of London as Morice Gifford a popish Priest Roger Clinton Derby Molrain alias Fowler and several others of the Romish Religion On the 13th of May a Villanous and Barbarous Murther was committed upon the Person of the Arch-Bishop of St. Andrews Primate of Scotland by several desperate Ruffians on Horse-back who Seizing him in his Coach on the Road dragged him out and not giving him as he earnestly requested so much time as to say his Prayers beat out his Brains for which several of them were afterwards deservedly Hanged being ridged Sectaries And now the Parliament of England considering the Kings urgent Occasions granted him a supply of Two Hundred and Six thousand Four Hundred and Sixty Two Pounds Seventeen Shillings and Three pence for paying off and disbanding the Forces raised since the 29th of September 1677. And accordingly Commissioners were appointed to disband those Forces And the same Month he gave the Royal Assent to a Bill for the better securing the Liberty of the Subject and for Prevention of Imprisonment beyond the Seas As likewise a Bill for the Engrossing the Records of Fines burnt in the Fire that a little before had consumed the greatest part of the Temple The latter end of this Month a great number of discontented People armed in Scotland proclaiming the Covenant and putting out a Declaration of Grievances burning publickly several Acts of Parliament which they seemed to be disgusted at and many Hostilities ensued their number dayly encreasing but the Duke of Monmouth passing into that Kingdom with an Army utterly defeated and scattered them in the Fight of Bothwell Bridge and several of the Ring-Leaders were taken and Executed On the 13 th of June Thomas White alias Whitebread Provincial of the Jesuits in England William Harcourt pretended Rector of London John Fenwick Procurator for the Jesuits in England John Gaven and Anthony Turner all Jesuits and Priests were Tried at the Old-Bayly where they were found Guilty of High-Treason in Conspiring the Death of the King c. And the next Day Richard Langhorn a Councellor at Law was Tryed and found Guilty upon the like Account and they were all Executed soon after at Tyburn In the begining of July a dreadful Fire happened at East Deerham and burnt down the greatest part of the Town destroying Six or Seaven People and almost all the Substance of the Inhabitants On the 12 th the King Published a Proclamation for dissolving the Parliament declaring his Purpose was to meet his People in frequent Parliaments giving Directions thereupon to the Lord Chancellour to Issue out Writs for the Calling of another Parliament to Sit at Westminster the 7 th of October following On the 18 th Sir George Wakeman the Queen's Physitian William Marshal William Rumley and James Corker were tryed at the Old-Bayly upon Indictments of High-Treason in Conspiring the Death of the King c. But contrary to the Expectation of
many and perhaps their own were found not Guilty For as soon as they were at Liberty they went to visit other Countries John Evans and William Lloyd Two Popish Priests were condemned at the Assizes holden at Cardriff About the latter end of August the King fell sick at Windsor and had divers dangerous Fits of a Tertian Ague and continued for many days indisposed insomuch that People began to be in doubt of his Recovery The News of which being speedily conveyed to the Duke his Brother in Flanders he hasted over and on the 2 d. of September contrary to the Expectation of many arrived at Windsor and told the King ' that hearing of his Indisposition he thought he could do no less then come to wait upon him and see how he did adding he was ready as soon as his Majesty pleased to return into Flanders or any other part of the World he should Command him to go to ' It having amongst other things been discovered that Four Ruffians were hired to kill the King at Windsor He put forth his Proclamation for Apprehending them but they made their escape till the storm was over and now the Duke of Monmouth upon some Matters suggested falling into the King's Displeasure had many of his Great Offices and Places of Trust taken from him and Ordered to leave the Court Whereupon he passed the Seas for Holland but finding in his Progress into other Parts that it was not safe for him considering the Attempts that might be made upon his Person of which he had warning through the many Affronts he had given him he returned soon after without being sent for And Writs being issued out for the Calling a Parliament to Sit at Westminster On the 7 th of October a Proclamation was Ordered to be issued out to Prorogue the Sitting to the 30 th of the said Month And the Duke and Dutchess of York had Leave to go to Scotland whither upon her Arrival from Holland they departed in few Days and a Commission was Ordered for the Prorogation of the Parliament till tthe 26 th of January and the Earl of Shaftsbury was removed from being President of the Council and the Earl of Radnor was appointed President and Sir William Jones getting leave of the King to quit his Place of Attorney General Sir Creswel Levins was appointed to that Station Sir Robert Clayton having been chosen Lord Mayor for the City of London he on the 29 th of October was sworn at Westminster before the Barons of the Exchequer and returning went to Guild-Hall with the accustomed Splendor and Magnificence where the Judges and a great many of the Nobility accompanied him at a Sumptuous Entertainment And this Month the King Ordered a Proclamation to be issued out for the more effectual and speedy Discovery and Prosecution of the Popish Plot for now the Papists growing more confident began to ply their Instruments for shaming their Plot upon the Protestants and some dangerous Papers were found in the bottom of Mrs. Celliers Meal Tub for which she was committed Prisoner to New-Gate especially upon Thomas Dangerfield's making his Discovery as likewise one Mrs. Rugaut and John Gadbury was committed to the Gate House the Earl of Castlemain to the Tower and other Persons accused were taken into the Custody of the King's Messengers one great Matter was that Dangerfield had been hired or induced to Plant several Treasonable and Dangerous Papers in Collonel Roderick Mansel's Chamber importing a designed Insurrection of divers Protestants with a List of some designed for Officers c. And the Countess of Powis being likewise accused by Dangerfield was committed to the Tower and divers Persons being examined before the Council acknowledged several Circumstantial Matters that strengthened Dangerfield's Evidence whereupon he had his Pardon as likewise had one Serjeant a secular Priest whom the King on this Occasion had sent for out of Holland And another Proclamation was put forth for the more Effectual Discovery of Jesuits and of the Estates belonging to them or to any Popish Colledge Seminary or other Popish and Superstitious Foundation And the King about this time granted a General Pardon to those concerned in the Late Insurrection in Scotland except some of the Ring-leaders and particularly the Murtherers of the Arch-Bishop of St. Andrews in case they Signed a Bond upon Condition never to rise up in Arms against Him or His Authority the which Five taken at Bothwell-Bridge were so obstinately Foolish as to refuse and to justifie their Proceedings Likewise to declare the Murther of the Arch-Bishop no Sin whereupon after Tryal they were Sentenced by the Lords Justicers to be Hanged in Chains at the place where the Murther was committed which was put in Execution and on the 24 th of November the Duke and Dutchess of York arrived at Edenburg and were received by most of the Nobility residing in those Parts and he soon after Received into the Privy-Council of that Kingdom On the 12 th of December a Proclamation was Issued out for the prorogation of the Parliament of England to the 11 th of the ensuing November and the King appointed a Committee of the Lords of His Privy Council to consider the most effectual means for putting the Laws in Execution against Papists and the suppression of Popery and other matters tending to that Affair and that the Justices of Peace should be permitted to Search Somerset-House at any time in the Queens absence as also St. James's for Priests and Papists And in January David Joseph Kemish William Russel alias Nap Henry Starkey William Marshal James Corker Lionel Anderson alias Munson Charles Parris alias Parrey and Alexander Lundsden were Arraigned at the Old Baily for High Treason upon the Statute of the 27 th of Elizabeth who being born Subjects of the King of England and having taken orders of Priest-hood by the authority derived from the See of Rome had come and remained in England contrary to the Statute and all but Keemish whose Sickness rendered him incapable of it were Tryed and six Convicted of High Treason and afterwards by Judgment attainted according to the Statute but a special Verdict was found for Lundsden he being a Scotch man and a Question arising whether he was within the purvey of the Statute or no but however being Convicted only as Priests none of them suffered but after a long Imprisonment in Newgate got their Liberty On the 9 th of February amongst other Matters Gadbury pleaded his Pardon at the Kings Bench Bar Westminster and Sir Thomas Gascoin a Roman Catholick having been accused by one Baldron and Mobray he was Tryed upon an Information of High Treason but was acquitted Sir Lionel Ienkins upon Mr. Secretary Coventry's request to leave that Station was appointed Secretary of State On the 24 th of February the Duke and Dutchess of York arrived from Scotland and were received by the King with much Joy and Satisfaction And the King having released a Judgment obtained upon a Quo
them except Two who withdrew took the Oaths and the like soon after did most of the Members that were absent after which an Act was Read regulating the Articles whereupon there rose a debate and an adjournment of a few days ensued The Parliament of England having prepared divers Bills for the Royal Assent On the 22 d. of June the King went to the Lords House And passed an Act for granting of their Majesties an aid of 12 d. in the pound for one year for the necessary defence of the Realm An Act for enabling the Lords Commissioners of the great Seal to execute the Office of Lord Chancellour or Lord Keeper An Act for reversing the Attaindurâ— of Henry Cornish Esq late Alderman of 〈◊〉 City of London and divers others relating to Trade and the Affairs of private Persons and this Month there being a Paper Spread Abroad in Secret Intituled a Declaration of King James the Second divers Persons were Seized and Impâ—â—soned Whilst these things passed in England and Scotland a pretended Parliament was Convened at Dublin in Ireland who amongst other things passed an Act for Papist's to pay their Yyths to their own Clergy and an other for Liberty of Conscience Repealing Pointings Acts as likewise the Acts of Setlement and Explanation and made an Act for taking off the Twelve Pence per Pound to Ministers in Corporate Towns and an Act for Attaindure of several thousand of Persons by Name and several French Protestants that had fled theither for shelter were delivered to the Count de Avoâ—x in order to be sent for France and mony being wanting a Copper Coin was made and Ordered by Proclamation to pass Current for six pence unless in the Treasury and Custom-house although it was not the value of one of our â—arthings by which means most of the Current Monies was Ingrossed to the great discouragement of the People and whilst the Body of the English Army Commanded by the Duke of Schomberg was preparing to make a descent on that Kingdom between 7 or 800 Irish were sent over into Scotland to strengthen Dundee's Party under the Command of Collonel Cannon in hopes to divert the King's Forces and retard their passing the Seas but it had not its desired Ends for divers other Persons who were to joyn them being discovered in a Letter brought to the Lord High Commissioner by an unknown Hand and by other ways which occasioned the seizing of such as were Accused or suspected In the End the Design dwindled to little or nothing especially upon Dundee's being Slain in a Battle against Major General Mackay in which his Forces were Routed with considerable loss On the 24 th of July Her Royal Highness the Princess Ann of Denmark was Delivered of a Son at Hampton-Court the Queen being present the whole time of her Labour and the King with most of the Persons of Quallity about the Court came into her Royal Highnesses Chamber before her Delivery and the Young Prince whom the King was pleased to Declare Duke of Gloucester was on the 27 th Christened by the Lord Bishop of London by the Name of WILLIAM the King and the Earl of Dorset Lord Chamberlain of his Majesties Houshold being God-Fathers and the Lady Marchioness of Hallifax God-Mother and her Royal Highness's safe Delivery and the Birth of a Prince was received with great Demonstrations of Joy and Satisfaction throughout England About this time we had the account of the Defeat of Dundee in Scotland and his being Slain after which happened another Encounter briefly thus Major General Mackay having received Advice on the 31. of July That the Enemy was gon towards Angus he marched from Sterlin with a Detachment of Horse of the Lord Colchester's Regiment and some Dragoons and coming the next day to St. Johnstown he understood that 500 of their Foot and 2 Troops of Horse had been sent thither to Seize upon some Stores of Meal that was left there for the use of the King's Forces and were carrying it away to their main Body whereupon by speedy March he over-took them in a Plain not far from St. Johnstown and immediately Charged their Horse who brought up the Rear and having routed them fell upon the Foot who were all killed and taken Prisoners together with Capt. Hacket who Commanded them the which and the former Defeat caused those that were left to retreat further into the North and labour for new Succors On the 14 th of August the Soldiers near at hand the better to keep them in Exercise and train them in War marched to Hounslow Heath and there Encamped but soon after they broke up and the English Soldiers were appointed to Mount the Guards at White Hall c. and take their Posts and Places as formerly for the Guard of Their Majesties Persons c. And divers Troops and Regiments drew out from their Quarters and Marched to High-lake where the Ships for their Transportation into Ireland lay at Anchor And a Declaration of War against France was Published in Scotland Prohibiting likewise all Commerce with the Subjects of France The Duke d' Scombergh arriving with English Army on the 13 th of August the Lough of Carickfergus on Bangor-side without any Opposition he sent 2 Regiments to Bellfast the Irish thâ—â— were there retiring before them and the Country came in with great store of Provisions which proved so Cheap that his Grace sent a great part of what the Ships had brought over back again And those in London Derry the Inskilling Men and other Protestants being hereupon Incouraged and having well provided themselves by the Spoils they had taken upon several Defeats they had given the Enemy became very Formidable making In-roads at their Pleasure and taking great Booties though the Popish Army upon their retreat from before London-Derry had Burnt a great many Villages with much Forrage destroying what they could not carry away And the General still advancing with the English Army the Enemy retreated before him whereupon having reduced several Places and restored as he passed the Country to some considerable Settlement he some time after Encamped near Dundalk expecting a Favourable opportunity to set upon the Enemy Mr. George Walker late Governour oâ— London-Derry having been wellcomed an caressed in Scotland which he took in 〈◊〉 way arrived at Hampton-Court the latter end of this Month where he was received by their Majesties with many expressions of the Gracious Sense they have of his Services and as a present mark of His Royal Favour and Bounty His Majesty was pleased to bestow upon him 5000 l. assuring him that this should not at all lessen the Kindness he intended to shew him and his Family and that he would likewise have a particular care of the rest of the Officers and other Gentlemen who had so well behaved themselves at Derry After which Mr. Walker presented his Majesty an humble Address from the Governours Officers Clergy and other Gentlemen of the City of Derry which was favourably