very little the substance of what he had to say or discover being by him delivered to Dr. Hawkins Minister of the Tower for his Wife and therefore it is to be presumed that he Dyed no Papist in regard he had the assistance of a Protestant Minister which all Papists have been known to rerefuse on those occasions His Discovery is since Printed About this time several Factious People were committed to the Tower for High Treason namely Rouse Hayns White and one Colledge commonly call'd the Protestant Joyner But above all let it be remember'd that on July 2. the Earl of Shaftsbury commonly call'd by way of Excellency The Protestant Earl was before the Council at Whit hall to which the King came from Windsor that day on purpose accused of High Treason and for the same committed to the Tower and his Papers seized At the Sessions at the Old Bayly which followed soon after the Earl of Shaftsbury and the Lord Howard moved to be Bail'd but they were answered by the unanimous opinion of the Judges That it was not in the Power of that Court to Bail out of the Tower At the same Sessions it was that a Bill of Indictment of High Treason was delivered to the Grand-Jury of London against Colledge commonly call'd the Protestant Joyner but the Jury made for the purpose as is supposed appear'd so partial and Arbitrary in their proceeding that notwithstanding the home Oaths of several Witnesses among which were Dugdale and Smith two of the great Evidence against the Plotters and another who had been a Member of the House of Commons they brought in the Bill Ignoramus But another Bill being exhibited soon after to the Grand-Jury at the Assizes at Oxford against the said Colledge part of the Treasonable Words and Matters being Transacted there the Bill was found there on the same Evidence which was rejected at the Old Bayly And in August he was Tryed Condemn'd and Executed at Oxford The Weather that happen'd this Summer was memorable for an extraordinary Drought all over England and also beyond Sea all April May and June and some part of July but about the beginning of July fell such plentiful Rains that the Ground which in all parts was Scorcht up like the High-Ways almost to a miracle became as fresh and Green again as on May Day Dayseys and the other Flowers of the Spring appear'd again towards the End of July With Grass in abundance in some places and expectations of a second Hay-time to recompence the want of the first On the 28 of July the Parliament sate in Scotland where his Royal Highness Presided as His Majesties High Commissioner At the opening of the Sessions the Kings Letter was read setting forth That He had call'd them at that time to advise of such things as may truly conduce to the security and Interest of that Kingdom and as an eminent Expression of His Favor He hath named his most dear and most intirely beloved Brother James Duke of Albany and York to be His Commissioner there c. After this the Duke made a Speech Declaring the high esteem he had of the great Honor and happiness the King had been pleased to do him in making choice of him to serve as his Commissioner in that his antient Kingdom since it shews to all the World the Goodness the King hath for him and Confidence he hath in him and capacitates him not only to serve His Majesty as becomes a Loyal Subject but also to evince the real concern he hath for the good of that Kingdom and his readiness to serve it and improve its Interest That His Majesty had commanded him to assure them that he will inviolably maintain and protect the Protestant Religion as by Law Establisht in that Kingdom and the Church Government by Arch-Bishops and Bishops That he will maintain and allow the Properties and Rights of His Subjects according to the due course of Law and that he doth expect that they will not be short of the Loyalty of their Ancestors in vigorously asserting and cleering His Royal Prerogative and in declaring the Rights of His Crown in its natural and Legal course of Descent c. After this the Duke entertained the whole Parliament at a Splendid and Royal Feast The Lords by themselves and the Commons by themselves at several Tables On the First of August The Parliament returned a most Loyal and Dutiful Answer to His Majesties Letter which Answer being so mighty full of true Loyalty it would be an Injury to abridge it in this place every Line every word carrying the true and emphatical marks of gratitude and Duty I therefore refer to the Print Also in pursuance and Confirmation of their Loyal Affections on the 14th of Aug. the Parliament past a Bill entituled An Act acknowledging and asserting the Right of Succession to the Imperial Crown of Scotland By which they recognize and declare That the said Crown is by Inherent Right and the nature of the Monarchy as well as by the fundamental and unalterable Law of the Realm transmitted and devolved by Lineal Succession according to proximity of Blood and that no difference in Religion no Law nor Act of Parliament can alter or divert the Right of Succession and Lineal descent of the Crown to the neerest and Lawful Heirs and therefore they declare it High Treason by Writing Speaking or any other manner of way to endeavor the alteration suspension or diversion of the Right of Succession At the same time they past another Act ratifying all former Laws for the security of the Protestant Religion On the 31st of August Oates was by Order of Council expell'd from Whitehall his Sallery taken off and accused of Misdemeanors Great Numbers of Poor French Protestants about this time flockt over out of France to whom our King was so Gracious as by Act of Council to declare His Pleasure that all His Officers and Magistrates should give 'em the same Countenance and Favour with His own Subjects That He would take 'em into His Protection That He would grant 'em His Letters of Denization forthwith upon their request and That He would intercede with the next Parliament to obtain for them an Act of Naturalization He also granted very ample Letters Patents for Collecting Monies all over England for their Relief Dated the 10th of September this Year On Michaelmas Day being the Customary Day for the Annual Choice of the Lord Mayor of London Sir John Mooor an Addresser was Chosen into that Office for the Year Insuing tho' with a great and unusual opposition by the Fanatick Party The New Sheriffs were Alderman Pilkinton a City Member in the two last Parliaments and one Mr. Shute Which two New Sheriffs being employ'd to invite the King to the Lord Mayors Feast The King was Graciously pleas'd to accept of the Invitation and Declar'd That He liked the Message but not the Messengers This Summer the King was pleas'd to appoint under Him certain Deputies or
Evidence not appearing so home as expected they were now Bail'd and so continued till the last Day of Hillary-Term following at which time they were Discharged on their own single Recognizance to appear in Trinity-Term next without being brought to any Tryal But now arrives the 10th of July on which Day the King was pleas'd to Dissolve the present Parliament by Proclamation with a Declaration of His Intention to call another on the 17th of October following On the 18th of July Sir George Wakeman Baronet the Queens Physitian William Marshal William Rumley and James Corker Benedictin Monks were Tryed for High Treason relating to the late Plot the Evidence Oates Bedloe and others But the Jury found 'em not Guilty and they were discharged Several Libels hereupon flew abroad against my Lord Chief Justice Scroggs who notwithstanding did sufficiently acquit himself from all aspersion in the Judgment of sober People In August the King fell dangerously ill at Windsor upon the Intelligence of which His Royal Highness came over Post to His Majesty But it pleas'd God that the King recovering His Health to the great Joy of the Nation The Lord Mayor of London with the Court of Aldermen and a Train of 30 Coaches and about 100 Horsemen went on Monday the 15th of September to Windsor to Congratulate His Majesty's Recovery which Complement was as kindly received as handsomely performed On the Wednesday following the King attended by His Royal Highness and the whole Court rerurn'd to Whitehall that Night by the Lord Mayors express Order there were Bonfires throughout the whole City for His Majesty's return as well to His former Health as place of Residency But it seems the Duke of Monmouth having contracted the Kings Displeasure on some account or other not commonly known His Majesty was pleas'd to take from him his Commission of Captain General and for a time expel him the Kingdom soon after this the said Duke went over to Vtrecht and at the same time His Royal Highness return'd to Brussels But this last it seems without designs of any long stay there for on Sunday Night the 12th of October His said Royal Highness the Dutchess and Family arrived at St. James's to the surprize of some and Joy of others The King having call'd a New Parliamenz as he had formerly promised on the Dissolution of the last to meet on the 17th of October He was now further pleas'd to Prorogue it from the time appointed to the 26th of January following On the first Day of Michaelmas-Term my Lord Chief Justice Scroggs took occasion to make an Excellent Speech in the Kings-Bench Court concerning the many Scandalous Libels that had been Publisht against him since Sir George Wakemans Tryal and acquittal in which Speech he purged himself at large of any Corruption and with a great measure of Courage declar'd That he was neither afraid nor ashamed to own what he had done That the Impeachment of the course of Publick Justice by vulgar noise and clamour did not at all terrify him to a Compliance with the Rabble against his Conscience and Understanding nor to try any cause otherwise then according to the Evidence and the probability and credibility it carries with it Mr. Justice Jones and Justice Dolbin spoke also to the same purpose and appear'd as Compurgators of the Chief Justices Integrity Much discourse there was at this time and many Narratives came out daily concerning the Discovery of a New Plot which the Papists was is said had contrived to lay on the Presbyterians The chief Discoverer was one Dangerfield alias Willoughby Several were accused and laid up as Conspirators among whom the Countess of Powis Mrs Celier Sir Robert Payton and Mr Gadbury The Effigies of the Pope in all his Pontificalibus had been for several years past solemnly burnt by the people in the Month of November yearly but never with so much Ceremony as on the 17th of November this year it being a Day observed by some in memory of Queen Elizabeth The Procession consisted of one personating the Dead Body of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey carried on a Horse with a Bell-man to mind the People of his Murther Priests in Copes with a large Silver Cross Carmelite and Gray Friers six Jesuites and after them the Waits several Bishops some in Lawn Sleeves others with Copes and Miters on then six Cardinals and after them the Pope on a Pageant with Boys and Incense Pots and other Ceremonious Pomp behind him the Devils Representative In this manner they marched about five at night from Bishopsgate to the Temple-gate at Chancery Lane End attended with Thousands of People at which appointed station they Committed the Effigies to the Flames of a very extraordinary Bonfire at which time the mock-Devil departed and the Shew ended On Thursday the 27th of November The Duke of Monmouth arrived in the night time at London on whose return the Citizens exprest a mighty Joy by Bonfiers Fire-works and Ringing of Bells all the next day and most part of the night In the mean time his Royal Highness with his Duchess and Daughter attended with a Guard and Retinue suitable to their Quality made a Journey into Scotland Where being arrived The Duke was at Edenborough on the 4th of December received and Complemented by the Privy Council of that Kingdom with abundance of Respect and Honor The Lord Chancellor made a Speech in the name of all the Council to which his Royal Highness Answer'd in very affectionate Terms expressing his great satisfaction at the Civilities he had received since his arrival in that Kingdom And declaring his readiness to promote the Honor and Service of the King and the Interests of the Scottish Nation About this time great endeavors were used to procure a Multitude of Hands to Petitions which were framing in London Westminster and several Counties to be presented to the King for the sitting of the Parliament on the 26th day of January next according to the last Prorogation which manner of Petitioning being unwarrantable and tumultuous the King was pleased in Council Dec. 10. to Order the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen to take care in their several stations of His Majesties Honor and of the peace and safety of the City and not to suffer such persons that should sign such Petitions or go about to procure hands to them to go unpunished but that they should proceed against them or cause them to be brought before the Council Board to be punished according to a Resolution of all the Judges of England 2. Jac. which may be seen Cro. 2. part of Reports fol. 37. His Majesty was further pleased to issue out His Proclamation dated the 12th day of December containing That whereas he hath been informed that divers evil disposed persons endeavor in several parts of this Kingdom to frame Petitions to His Majesty for specious Ends and purposes relating to the publick and thereupon to collect and procure to the same the hands and subscriptions of
A Compendious View Of the late TUMULTS TROUBLES In This KINGDOM BY WAY OF ANNALS For SEVEN YEARS VIZ. From the beginning of the 30th to the End of the 36th Year of the Reign of His late Majesty King Charles II. of Blessed Memory By J. W. Esq Longa est Injuria Longae Ambages Sed summa sequar Fastigia Rerum Vir. Aen. 1. London Printed by Edw. Jones for S. Lownds over against Exeter Exchange in the Strand 1685. To the Right Honourable HENRY Earl of Clarendon Vicount Cornbury and Baron HIDE of Hindon One of the Lords of His Majesties Most Honourable Privy-Council MY LORD I Present your Lordship with a small Compendium of many Great and Strange Revolutions The Greatest perhaps that ever happen'd in England in so short a space of Time A Tempestuous season in which some Waves have dasht against your Lordship thô of so eminent a Character for Loyalty and Goodness But when Princes themselves suffer 't is the best Subjects Glory to suffer with them This My Lord was no New thing to your Lordship who was in a manner born a Sufferer for Monarchy and whose Blooming Years had the Honour to share in the same Exile with your King 'T is strangely fatal to consider that those against whom the disaffected Party made of late the Lowdest outcry were Old Cavaliers A Word almost forgotten had not that Occasion brought it again to Memory It seems there needs no more than to read the Faction backwards and one may see by their false Clamours who were the Kings best Ministers and Friends 'T was the true Honour and Allegiance of that August Assembly in which your Lordship made one of the Better Part that has Eternized the Fame of Englands Baronage and made it Glorious and beloved for ever No will Posterity forget a just Applause to the Illustrious Name of Clarendon when they read it in the List of those Truly Noble Peers who in Duty to the Crown and Royal Family incurr'd the Angry Vote of a numerous a Violent and Over-daring Party Your Lordship being so far and so honourably concern'd in the History of these Times it is my Ambition to take this Occasion to declare my self MY LORD Your Lordships Most Obedient Humble Servant James Wright THE Preface THere are some Scandals so Gross that the Bare Repetition of them is a sufficient Refutation and manifestation of their Falsehood In like manner some Actions are so unwarrantable to all men of Reason that only to relate them is to disgrace the Actors and those Principles that occasion'd such extravagant behaviour Such I esteem the factious Tumults and Riotous Proceedings which of late Years have disturb'd the Quiet of so many honest Men and Loyal Subjects to the Terror of this and Amazement of all the Neighboring Nations The Vehemency of which Revolutions did appear too like that of Naples in the Year 1647. 'T is true these were not so suddain nor altogether so Bloody which must be ascribed to the Almighty Power and Goodness of God and the Vigilant Prudence of His late Majesty of glorious Memory We see what the Party offer'd Not to mention the Street-Tumults How like were the Riots at our Guild-Hall to those at their Church of the Carmelites And to their tumultuous burning the Gabellers Goods I think I may not unaptly compair our burning the Pope and other Burnings And to parallel their Massaniello a poor Fisherman but of stupendious Authority had not we also a little Creature of as Low and obscure Quality bateing his assumed Cassok who was as much adored and I may say almost Deifyed by the Rabble I am heartily sorry and asham'd to think That the chief chief Disparity between their Case and ours will appear to the Disadvantage of the English For what the Neopolitans did they were induced to on the sole Account of their grievous and Intolerable Gabells but we a free and happy People became Seditious and so very unquiet for no present Cause but only future apprehensions and as the Event has shewed 'em to be meer Chimaerical and empty Fears But praised be God Peoples Eyes begin to be open and time has apply'd a Collyrium that makes us see cleerly through the Pretences and Vmbrage that was raised to serve a Faction It is easy now to distinguish the stalking horse from the Fowler that sculks behind Which thing of late Years many either cou'd not or wou'd not see being inwardly as Purblind as he was outwardly that misled ' em And in this I think the Nation is not a little obliged to the Excellent Author of the Observator A person who may be compared to some Pictures that are placed too neer the sight to discover their true value I am confident that the next Age who will behold him at a more advantagious and impartial Distance will have a truer and far greater esteem of his Merits I do not at all admire but think it extream natural that the Disloyal Party and their Adherents do hate him with such a perfect hatred How could they Possibly do otherwise to one who discovers their Cheat and puts 'em by from what they had been so long designing when they were arrived almost to the very Day of Execution The Subject of this little Book most of which was Printed before His late Majesty fell ill is only to remember in a short Abstract what strange and unwarrantable Proceedings have been within the space of Seven Years lately past with what Heats they were transacted how Truth and Loyalty were run down with noise and Cant and how People were scared out of their Wits with such Monstrous Legends that had not we who are now alive seen it with our Eyes who would have believed it Posterity will scarce credit the folly of their Ancestors or if they do they will blush to think an Englishman cou'd be so far imposed upon The Memory of these things ought to keep People from Runing upon the same Shelves and Sands where formerly we were in Danger to have perisht He that would give a Punctual and Particular Account of all the Narratives Discoveries Tryals Executions Speeches Votes Accusations Examinations Commitments Tumultuous Elections Petitions Ryots Libells and Seditious Attempts of all sorts during the said time must write a History more Voluminous than Fox or Hollinshead I pretend not therefore to observe all particulars that happen'd in this space of time but only those which I thought most Material and of greatest Note What I have related was set down every thing at the time when it happen'd Meer matter of Fact without any Reflections otherwise than as the thing it self does reflect to the Dishonour of that Faction which has occasion'd all these past Troubles and to the Glory of that God who has deliver'd us out of the Danger I hope those who have been seduced and misled by Specious pretences into ill Actions as Charity bids me think there are many such will by reflection on the past see and abhor
their Errors They need not blush to Repent and Confess such faults which some of Note and Quality have done already Heaven is full of those that have been Converts But the Impenitent must fill another place where it will be a Double Hell to remember that they might once have received Grace and pardon but refused it A BRIEF Historical Account Of the PUBLICK TRANSACTIONS During the 30th Year of the Reign of KING CHARLES II. Anno Dom. 1678. I Design in the Method observed by Annalists to commit to memory the Publick Transactions during the 30th Year of His Majesty's Reign a Year which seems remarkable and to promise more than usual since that number hath been more than once signal in the course of His Royal Life In the 30th Year of this Century 1630 He was Born the 30th day of May compleated the first day of His Age on the 30th day of January He began His Reign in the 30th Year of His Age 1660. He was by the miraculous Providence of God restored to the possession of His Three Kingdoms after a long and barbarous Exile In the beginning of this Year we find the Parliament sitting The King had newly made a Speech to both Houses the substance of which was That for their satisfaction he had made such Alliances with Holland as are for the preservation of Flanders and which cannot fail of that end unless prevented by the want of due Assistances to support those Alliances or by the small regard the Spaniards themselves must have to their own Preservation That he cannot suspect the want of assistance by reason of their repeated Engagements that a War which must be the necessary consequence of those Alliances ought neither to be Prosecuted by halves nor want such assurances of perseverance as may give him encouragement to persue it that He had used all means possible by a Mediation to have procured an Honourable and safe Peace knowing how preferable such a Peace would have been to any War that this Kingdom must necessarily own the vast benefits it has received by Peace whilst its Neighbours only have yet smarted by the War but finding a Peace no longer to be hoped for by fair means it shall not be his fault if it be not obtain'd by force that for this reason he has recall'd his Troops out of France and consider'd that we cannot have less Forces on our part than 90 Sail of Capital Ships and 30 or 40 Thousand Land-men that he is contented that such Monys as shall be given to these uses be appropriated as strictly as they can desire that he hath directed such larger dimensions for the Building the New Ships as will cost him above 100000 l. more than the Act allows that for repairing the Old Fleet and buying Stores c. He hath expended a great deal more than 200000 l. He hath born the charge of a Rebellion in Virginia and a New War with Algiers that he stands engaged to the Prince of Orange for his Neices Portion that he cannot be able to maintain his constant necessary Establishments without the New Imposition on Wines be continued that to remove all sorts of Jealousies he hath Married his Neice to the Prince of Orange thereby giving full assurances never to suffer that Princes Interest to be ruin'd if assisted as he ought to be to preserve them that he expects from them a plentiful supply suitable to such great occasions and that these considerations being of the greatest Importance that ever concern'd the Kingdom he would therefore have them enter immediately upon them without suffering any other business whatsoever to divert ' em Before the Parliament proceeded to Answer this Speech they Sate on part of the 30th of January the Aniversary Fast and then Voted 70000 l. for a solemn Burial of his late Majesty King Charles I. and to erect a Monument for the said Prince of Glorious Memory the said Sum to be rais'd by a Two Months Tax to begin at the expiration of the present Tax for Building Ships This tho' in truth an Affair to which the Nation has stood obliged this 29 Years yet being never mention'd till yesterday when first moved in the House of Commons by my Lord O-Brian Eldest Son to the Earl of Tumond and whose Son lately had Marry'd my Lord Treasurers Daughter seem'd surprizing The next Day being the 31 of January the House of Commons in return to the Kings Speech presented their Address to His Majesty at White-hall containing thanks for his care exprest for the preservation and Encouragement of the Protestant Religon in concluding a Marriage between his Niece and the Prince of Orange beseech him not to admit of any Treaty of Peace whereby the French King shall be left in possession of any greater Dominion or power than is left him by the Pyrenaean Treaty that both on our parts and the parts of the Confederates no Ship nor Vessel may be admitted to come out of any Port of France but that the Ships and Men be seized and the Goods destroy'd that he would please to provide that none of the parties who shall joyn in this Alliance and Confederacy against France depart from the said Alliance till the said King be reduced to the said Treaty that neither we nor the Confederates admit any Trade with France or suffer any Goods to be Imported from thence on pain of Forfeiture that His Majesty in making such Confederacies as necessary for attaining these ends shall never doubt of the affections of the People Lastly they renew their former protestations and engagements to persevere in the prosecution of the said War and when he shall be pleas'd to Impart such Alliances and Confederacies to them in Parliament to give such ready assistances upon all occasions as may bring the War to a happy conclusion To this Address the King return'd the following Answer in Writing which was read in the House of Commons the 4th of February That he was not a little surpriz'd to find so much inserted there of what should not be and so little of what should that his Speech was to both Houses joyntly and the return ought to be from both That in the Address of the 20th of May last you did invite him to a League offensive and defensive with Holland against the French King and for the preserving the Spanish Netherlands and upon his Declaration of such Alliances assured such speedy assistances as may fully Answer the occasion that he hath made such Alliances yet finds no return but the Old promises upon new Conditions and so He may be used to Eternity should he seem satisfied with such proceedings that on the 28th of May last he told you how highly he was offended at the great Invasion of his Prerogative yet you take no notice of it but add to your former ill conduct new Invasions you desire him to oblige his Confederates never to consent to a Peace till the most Christian King be reduced to the Pyrenaean
Treaty a Determination fitting only for God Almighty since none but He can tell the terms of Peace who knows the event of War You desire him not to suffer a Ship of theirs to come from France under pain of Confiscation not excepting Allies Prince or Ambassadors if any among them that he does not believe any Assembly of Men ever gave so great and publick a provocation to the whole World without so much as considering to provide one Ship Regiment or penny towards justifying it that however if by your assistance he may be put into Armes sufficient for such a Work He will not be weary till Christendom be restored to such a Peace that it shall not be in the power of any one Prince to disturb it that the Rights of making and managing War and Peace are in His Majesty and if you think he will depart from any part of that Right you are mistaken the Reins of Government are in his hands and he hath the same care to preserve them there as to preserve his own Person he keeps both for his Peoples protection and safety and that if this House will encourage His Majesty to go further in Alliances you must consider of raising speedy supplies for from the consideration of those he must take his measures Some things of note however were done before the Supply was concluded The House of Commons took off all written Protections which had been by some Members granted to such as were not really their Servants to an incredible number Voting no Protection allowable to any but their Menial Servants actually in Service and that without a written Certificate And now was the Earl of Shaftsbury releas'd from his Confinement in the Tower where he had been close Prisoner ever since last Spring and restored to his place in Parliament having first made the following Submission at the Lords Bar Feb. 25. viz. 1. I do acknowledge that my endeavouring to maintain that this Parliament was Dissolved was an ill advised Action for which I humbly beg pardon of the Kings Majesty and this most Honourable House 2. I do acknowledge that my bringing a Writ of Habeas Corpus in the Kings Bench was a high violation of your Lordships Priviledge and a great aggravation of my former offence for all which I beg pardon Subscribed Shaftsbury The next Day he sate in the House of Lords On the 27. The City was not a little Allarm'd with the French Kings taking of Ghent and the great danger of several other places of note in Flanders That Night were sent from London 12 Companys of Foot for Ostend follow'd the next Day by the Dukes of Monmouth and Albermarle the Earls of Mulgrave and Plymouth c. most of which Lords soon after return'd About a Fortnight after this a Poll-Bill for raising Monys past both Houses and presently after the Commons express their impatiency for a War their Transactions running in these Terms March 14. Upon several motions made for considering of the deplorable condition of the Nation resolved in a Committee of the whole House That it is the opinion of this Committee that an Address be presented to the King humbly to advise His Majesty that His Majesty to quiet the minds of his Loyal Subjects and to encourage the Princes and States Confederates against the French King would be graciously pleased to proclaim and enter into an actual War with the French King and to give his Majesty assurances that this House will constantly stand by and aid His Majesty in the prosecution thereof with necessary and plentiful suppplies and assistances and that His Majesty will presently dismiss the French Ambassador and recal his from France and Niminghen Which Address was the next Day drawn up accordingly and sent to the Lords for their Concurrence but never proceeded further Wednesday 27th of March the Parliament was Adjourn'd by the Kings Order till the 11th of April being the Week after Easter the King having first Sign'd the Poll-Bill in which was a strict Appropriating Clause for the Mony so Levy'd to be applied to no use but the intended French War also another Clause Prohibiting the Importation of any French Commodities for Three Years Soon after which the French King prohibited ours for Ten Years Thursday the 11th of April the Parliament met again and Adjourn'd to the Monday following at which time by the Kings appointment they chose a New Speaker in the House of Commons Sir Robert Sawyer one of the Kings Council Learned and a great Practicer in the Exchequer and from thence Adjourn'd over to Monday the 29th of April During these Intervals a strict Fast is kept on Wednesday the 10th of April in London and the Wednesday Fortnight following through England to implore Gods Blessing upon His Majesty and his Kingdoms and for the averting of Gods Judgments Monday the 29th of April the Houses met again the King and Lords in their Robes My Lord Chancellor in a long Speech recited all the Addresses that they had made in relation to a War with France what the King had already done in pursuance of the same and joyning an effectual League with the Confederates to that end and how ready the King was to pursue their desires but that now he discovered the Dutch were entring upon a Treaty of Peace with the French King and that without his consent or privity and therefore His Majesty demands the advice of his Houses how to proceed Monday following being the 6th of May Sir Robert Sawyer excused himself in a Letter that he could not attend the House by reason that he was taken very ill of the Stone occasioned by his long sitting last Saturday whereupon the Old Speaker was again chosen and reinstated in the Chair The same Day the King returned a short Answer to an Address of the House of Commons Voted on the said last Saturday which contain'd their humble Advice that he would forthwith enter into the present Alliance with the Confederates and an Actual War with France c. To which this Answer was read by one of the Secretaries of State viz. C. R. HIs Majesty having been acquainted with the Votes of the 4th Instant is very much surprized both with the matter and manner of them but if His Majesty had had Exceptions to neither yet His Majesty having asked the Advice of both the Houses doth not think fit to give any Answer to any thing of that nature till he hath a concurrent Advice of both Houses Among which mentioned Votes of the 4th Instant beside the Advice abovesaid this was past by a majority of 16 Voices That the late Leagues made with the States-General of the United Provinces are not pursuant to the Addresses of this House nor consistant with the good and safety of the Kingdom In the mean time the Commons are not at all discouraged with this Answer but draw up an Address and present it to the King at Whitehall on Saturday the 11th of May in the afternoon
January the King was pleas'd to settle the variety of Rumour and by His Proclamation then publisht absolutely to Dissolve this Parliament promising however to Issue out His Writs for a New one by the 6th of March next following Thus ended this Parliament having now been continued by several Prorogations and Adjournments 17 Years Eight Months and 17 Days being first called on the Eighth Day of May Anno Domini 1661. With this great Turn I will conclude my Historical Observations on this 30th Year of His Majestys Reign a Year very remarkable if it were only on the account of the Dissolution of this Parliament but more especially for the beginning of those Troubles and Combustions which lasted for so many Years after in Relation to the Plot. Anno 31. Car. 2. Anno Dom. 1679. IN further Prosecution of those matters discover'd the last year Green the Cushion-man at Somerset-house Chappel Berry the Queens Porter there and Hill Dr. Goddens Man were on the 10th day of Feb. tryed at the Kings Bench Bar for the Murther of Sir Edmunbury Godfrey which three being convicted cheifly on the Evidene of Miles Prance a Goldsmith were found guilty and having on the next day received sentence of Condemnation to be hang'd for the said Murder Green and Hill were Executed accordingly at Tyborn Feb. 21. But Berry was reprieved for a Week longer all three denying the Fact in as positive terms as could be the last dying a Protestant of which Perswasion he had formerly been before he entred into the Queens service About this time it was that Sir Joseph Williamson quitted his Office of Secretary of State to the Earl of Sunderland To conclude the Transactions of this Month The King Directed the following Letter to the Duke of York Whitehall Feb. 28. 1678. I Have already given you my Resolves at large why I think it fit that you should absent your self for some time beyond the Seas As I am truly sorry for the occasion so may you be sure I shall never desire it longer than it will be absolutely necessary for your good and my Service In the mean time I think it proper to give it you under my Hand that I expect this Compliance from you and desire it may be as soon as conveniently you can You may easily believe with what trouble I write this to you there being nothing I am more sensible of than the constant kindness you have ever had for me I hope you are as just to Me to be assured That no absence nor any thing else can ever change me from being truly and kindly Yours C. R. And accordingly in pursuance of His Majesties pleasure within few days after this the Duke Duchess and Family leave the Kingdom and retired for a while to the Hague and from thence to Brussels And now the Parliament which had been called according to the Kings promise on the Dissolution of the last meet at the appointed 6th day of March The Kings Speech contained That in order to the uniting the minds of His Subjects both to Himself and to one another He had excluded the Popish Lords from their Seats in Parliament Caused the Execution of several men both for the Plot and Murder of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey Disbanded as much of the Army as he could get Mony to do Above all That He hath commanded his Brother to absent himself That so all colour may be taken from malicious men of pretending any influence of Popish Councils That He proposes by this means to see whether the Protestant Religion and the Peace of the Kingdom be as truly aimed at by others as they are really intended by Him if so they the Members of Parliament will lay aside all private animosities and employ their time upon the great Concerns of the Nation That he will not cease to make further search into the Plot and the Murder of Sir Edmunbury Godfrey for which he desires the assistance of both Houses That he has ordered the Penal Laws to be Executed against Papists Desires their assistance in raising Supplys for Disbanding the Army and paying off the Fleet and that they would some way make up the loss He has sustain'd by the Prohibition of French Wines and Brandy which turns only to His prejudice and the great advantage of the French That it is necessary to have a Fleet at Sea since our Neighbours are making Naval Preparations That a Constant establishment might be made for the Navy And concludes with His earnest desires to have this a healing Parliament Assuring them to defend with his life the Protestant Religion and the Laws of the Kingdom and expects to be by them defended from the Calumny as well as Danger of those worst of Men who endeaver to render both him and His Government odious to His People The Chancellors Speech was chiefly a descant on the former heads Reminding the Two Houses as p. 12. to the Plot not to over do their Business and that by being too far Transported with the fears of Popery they do not neglect the opportunities of making sober and lasting Provisions against it which says he are the only hopes of the Papists thus to see p. 14. our Zeal out-run our Discretion and that we our selves should become the unhappy occasion of making our own Councils abortive The King and Lord Chancellor having ended their Speeches the Commons returned to their own House and unanimously chose for their Speaker Mr Seymour who had officiated in that Place in the last Parliament who being the next Day presented to the King was refused and the House Ordered to proceed to a new Election which notwithstanding was not made till Saturday the 15th of March on which day they chose Mr Serjeant Gregory the said choice being on the Monday following approved by His Majesty After this the Commons draw up an Address to the King for a Fast in which also the Lords Concur and a Fast was appointed by Proclamation dated Mar. 28 to be observed throughout the Nation on the 11th of April following A Committee being appointed to enquire into the manner of suing out the Earl of Danby's Pardon which upon search being not entred in any Office from the Secretaries Office until it came to the Lord Chancellors but dispatch'd in a private manner and so reported by the Committee the House of Commons resolve Mar. 24. That an humble Address be made to His Majesty representing the irregularity and illegality of the Pardon mentioned to be granted to the Earl of Danby and the Dangerous consequence of Granting Pardons to any persons that lye under an Impeachment of the Commons of England They also desire of the Lords that the Earl of Danby may be sequestred from Parliament and put into safe Custody accordingly the Lords Order the Usher of the Black Rod to take him but upon search at his Houses both in Town and at Wimbleton he could not be found hereupon a Bill is Ordered to be brought in that Thomas
multitudes of His Majesties Subjects which Proceedings being contrary to the Common and known Laws of this Land and tending to promote discontents among the People and to raise Sedition and Rebellion His Majesty doth therefore strictly charge and commad all and every his loving Subjects of what Rank or Degree soever that they presume not to agitate or promote any such Subscriptions nor in any ways joyn in any Petition of that manner to be preferred to His Majesty upon peril of the utmost rigour of the Law that may be inflicted for the same At the same time His Majesty issued out another Proclamation declaring His Resolution to Prorogue the Parliament from the 26th of January to the 11th of November next Notwithstanding the scope of these two Proclamations the business of Petitioning went forwards several were perfected and delivered not long after one from London Subscribed with many Thousands of hands others from York Essex Surrey and Wiltshire all which the King receiv'd but coldly and as appeared afterwards ineffectually for on the 26th of January being the Day to which the Parliament was Prorogued His Majesty was pleased to make a short Speech to both Houses containing 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 That he cannot be perswaded from any thing that has happened since in reference to Affairs within the Kingdom to alter or repent of that Resolution That notwithstanding considering the present danger which threatens some of our Neighbours and Allies He thinks fit to appoint a day for their meeting again in April yet the Distractions and Jealouses at home are of such a nature and so heightned and improved by the malice and and Industry of ill men that he is unalteablylos opinion that a longer Interval of Parliament will be absolutely necessary for composing and quieting of Mens minds in order to which he is afraid the most proper Remedies would prove ineffectual without the assistance of some further time He resolves therefore that on the said meeting in April there shall be a further Prorogation unless the Condition of our Allies abroad do then require our immediate assistance Hereupon he commanded the Lord Chancellor to Prorogue the Parliament to the 15th of April In the mean time Articles of high Misdemeanor were offer'd by way of Complaint to the King and Council against the Lord Chief Justice Scroggs by Oates and Bedloe who had formerly declar'd themselves unwilling to give any Evidence against any Papists or concerning the late Popish Conspiracy in any Court where the said Chief Justice should fit as Judge But the Prosecution of this Affair soon fell and the Cause never came to be heard further than the Chief Justices Answer In the beginning of Hillary Term Sir Thomas Gascoigne a York-shire Knight of 85 years of age was Arraigned at the Kings Bench Bar in Westminster Hall upon an Information of High Treason in conspiring the Death of the King and the Subversion of the Government He was afterwards brought to his Tryal at the same Bar the Jury were all York-shire Gentlemen the Foreman Sir Thomas Hodson The chief Evidence against him one Balron who had formerly been Baily of his Colepits and one Mowbray who had also belonged to his Family but their Testimony it seems not being of that Weight or credibility with the Jury as some expected they brought in their Verdict Not Guilty whereupon the Prisoner was immediately discharged We are now arrived at the end of the 31st year of His Majesties Reign a year observable for many Revolutions thô all concluding peaceably and well through the Mercy of God and the Wisdom of our Superiours the factious Rabble having been never more ready for Combustion since the late Wars of Cursed Memory Anno 32 Car. 2. Anno Dom. 1680. THE Conclusion of the last Year left his Royal Highness in Scotland but the beginning of this must be remarkable for his return to England which healing Action in the entrance will I hope as a good Omen prognosticate Peace and Happiness to the King and Kingdom during the rest of this Thirty second Year of His Majesty's Reign On the 31 of January the Duke acquainted the Lords of the Privy Council at Edinburg That he had received a Letter from the King calling him very speedily to Court That though he did very chearfully obey His Majesty's Commands and went with much joy to attend Him yet he could not part from their Lordships so soon without a great deal of Reluctancy and Trouble having both at his reception and during the short time of his abode there met with all possible demonstration of civility and kindness both from the Nobility Gentry and from the Representatives of the several Bodies of the Nation particularly from the Council of which he had so just a resentment that he could not in all his life forget them and should not fail upon all occasions to meet their great kindness and affection shewn him with all the service he was capable to do them That he would acquaint His Majesty that He had in Scotland a brave and loyal Nobility and Gentry a regular Privy Council and the Judicatures filled with able Persons well affected to His Majesty's Service and Interest That he had observed the disaffected Party were nothing so considerable as their Friends in England studied industriously to represent them to be He then recommended to the Council the setling of the Differences between several Gentlemen of the Highlands whom he had always observed to be firm to His Majesty's Interest The Lord Chancellor in the name of the Council acknowledged the great happiness they had had in hi Presence Conduct and Advice and declared how much devoted they all were to the Service of His Majesty and his Royal Highness and that they could not express the great grief they had to part so soon with him to whose Council and Presence they owe so many Advantages After this the Duke Duchess and all their Retinue began their Voyage by Sea for London where he arrived at the Court Privy Stairs on the 24th of February about Three in the afternoon not without all the due signs of Joy and Welcome There arrived at the same time from the Privy Council of Scotland a Letter full of Loyal Expressions to the Kings Service with abundance of Recommendation and Protestations for the Duke's Interest Two days after his arrival his Royal Highness was attended by the Lord Mayor Court of Aldermen Recorder and Common Council of the City of London at which time the Recorder having in all their names Congratulated his safe arrival they all kist the Hands both of the Duke and Duchess On the 11th of February His Majesty was pleased to declare in Council that He had granted His Secretary Coventry leave to resign his Place of Secretary of State That His intention was to continue him however of His Council And that
England having been demanded their Opinions made their Report in Council and declared for Law That His Majesty may Prohibit the Printing and Publishing of all News-Books and Pamphlets of News whatsoever not Licensed by His Majesty's Authority as manifestly tending to the Breach of the Peace and Disturbance of the Kingdom And accordingly the King issued out His Proclamation to suppress 'em May 12. On the 11th of May being about the middle of Easter Term a Bill of Indictment of High Treason against the Lady Powis was deliver'd to the Grand Jury of Middlesex who not being satisfy'd with the sufficiency of the Evidence after a long Examination brought the Bill in Ignoramus The storm of Hail that fell at London on the 18th of May about eleven of the Clock in the morning is not to be past without Observation which though it came not very thick nor continu'd long yet was of such note that some were measured above six Inches about I saw many fall bigger than Pigeons Eggs or ordinary Walnuts none less than ones finger end and hard as Stones till they had lain a while Several Rooks in the Temple Garden were beaten down from the Trees and killed with this Hail as so many Shot or Bullets On Wednesday the 19th of May Richard Tasburgh of Flixton in the County of Suffolk Esq was Tryed at the Kings Bench Bar upon an Indictment of High Treason in Conspiring the Death of the King but upon a long Evidence to little purpose was found Not Guilty the Jury never going from the Bar and discharg'd On Friday the 21 of May was brought to the same Bar by Habeas Corpus William Viscount Stafford who much complaining of his long Imprisonment was informed by the Court That all the Judges had resolved upon mature Consideration that he being Impeacht of Treason in Parliament he could not be tryed out of Parliament and for the same reason also it was out of the Power of this Court to Bail him That he and the other Lords in the Tower were not within the benefit of the late Act touching Habeas Corpus's That the Court was sorry they could not relieve him and that there was no way for him to come to his Tryal but by the sitting of the Parliament The day following Sir Henry Tichburne the elder Roper and John Caryl Esq were Bail'd at the same Bar though accused of High Treason yet in regard there appeared but one Witness against them viz. Oats they were discharged of their Confinement upon Bail On the last day of the Term the Lady Powis Sir Robert Payton and one Bedingfield were absolutely discharg'd of all attendance The same day a Bill of Indictment of High Treason was found and brought in by the Grand Jury of Middlesex against the Lord Castlemain The Nine and twentieth of May being the solemn Anniversary for the Kings Birth and Restoration past this year with the usual Church Service and the Joy of Bells but without any Bonfires at night all Bonfires not only on this but any other day whatsoever having been forbid by order of the Privy Council April 7. without Licence first obtain'd from the Council or other Magistrates Such Bonfires as of late having been observed the occasions of tumult and dangerous opportunities of Sedition This day was also observed at Edinburgh with great solemnity and triumph Fifty old Men the Number of His Majesty's Age attending the Ceremony each having a Largess of 50 s. The King and the Dukes Healths were publickly drank at the Market Cross the Conduits running Claret and abundance of Oranges Lemons and Sweatmeats thrown abroad About the 10th of June arrived ill News from Tangier the Moors on the 14th past so straitned Charles Fort with their Siege that the English Garison being but 180 Men under Captain Trelawney resolved to quit it as desperate and fight through the Enemy to the Town of Tangier accordingly they laid a Mine to blow it up after their departure and passing through the Enemies Works in the night which Passage they found more difficult than expected the whole Army of the Moors were alarmed and came in upon them kill'd neer 150 cut the Captain all to pieces about 38 men escaping through Henrietta Fort being also at the same time lost to the Enemy On the the first day of Trinity Term Mrs. Celier was tryed for High Treason at the Kings Bench Bar the Indictment run in the usual form as against the rest of the Plotters but the chief and indeed only Evidence against her Thomas Dangerfield being proved by Records then produced so great and infamous a Criminal his Testimony was refused by the Court to be admitted and chiefly in regard he stood Outlaw'd of Felony and Felony not being exprest in his Pardon she was therefore found Not Guilty and Dangerfield himself committed to custody till he could find Bail to Reverse the Outlawry to Answer the Felony and for his good Behaviour But within a few days after the said Dangerfield producing a Newgate Pardon whereby all Felonies were Pardoned and his name being found therein he was discharg'd And now it was that His Majesty in pursuance to what He had done in April and to remove all pretences of the disaffected in the Point of Succession publisht his Declaration Protesting on the Word of a King and the Faith of a Christian That He was never Married to Mrs. Bar low alias Waters the Duke of Monmouth's Mother nor to any other Woman besides the now Queen Which Declaration was on the 15th of June in this Trinity Term Registred on Record in the High Court of Chancery all the great Lords of the Privy Council who were present when His Majesty Declared and Signed the same attesting the Action upon their Corporal Oaths in open Court The Lord Chancellor declaring at the same time That this Declaration is not inrolled here to receive any augmentation of repute or force from this Court for it cannot receive more than it hath already but only to be preserved here as in a Repository or Registry and he doubts not but it will also find a more Noble Registry than this that is the Hearts of all the Loyal Subjects of the Nation Other notable passages are to be Observed this Term On the 22d of June the Lord Aston was brought to the Kings-Bench Bar in Order to his Tryal but the Attorney-General not being ready with the Kings Evidence the Tryal was put off to the Fryday following on which Day the Court did not proceed to the Tryal for the same reason and the Lord Aston was Bail'd the next Day to appear the first Day of next Term. On the 23d of the same Month the Lord Castlemain was Tryed for High Treason the Evidence against him Oates and Dangerfield the last of which tho' admitted to be Sworn yet finding no credit with the Court and Jury on the account of the Infamy of his many Crimes the Verdict was brought in Not Guilty and the Prisoner Discharged And
His Purse That He would not have them meddle with the Succession of the Crown in the Right Line but proceed in the Discovery of the Plot and to the Tryals of the Lords c. After this the Chancellor making no set Speech the Commons return'd to their own House and unanimously chose for their Speaker Mr. Williams of Grays-Inn Recorder of Chester One of the first things the House of Commons did was to Purge their own House of certain Members Sir Robert Can a Burgess for Bristol for having said there is no Plot but a Presbyterian Plot Sir Francis Withins head Steward of Westminster and one of the Burgesses for the same for having Declar'd himself abhorrent to the late Tumultous Petitions for the Parliaments sitting The first of these was expell'd the House and Committed to the Tower the other only expell'd But both Order'd to receive their Censure on their Knees And several other Members were declar'd Guilty of the last mention'd Offence On the 30th of October the King Publisht a Proclamation promising His Pardon to all that within two Months shall come in and make any further Discovery of the Plot. And this was done upon an Address of Parliament In the mean time the Commons not satisfied in punishing their own Members who had appear'd against Petitioning for the Parliaments fitting they take notice of others who were without their Walls and among the rest Sir George Jeffreys becomes the Object of their Displeasure who being Recorder of London the Kings Serjeant at Law and Chief Justice of Chester is for the pretended Crime above specified on the 13th of November Voted a Betrayer of the Rights of the Subject and an Address Order'd to be made to His Majesty to remove him from all Publick Offices At the same time it was Order'd that a Committee enquire into all such Persons as have been advising or promoting the late Proclamation stiled a Proclamation against Tumultuous Petitioning But about the same time a matter of much greater concern was thus mannaged On the 11th of November was past in the House of Commons a Bill entituled An Act for securing the Protestant Religion by disabling James Duke of York to Inherit the Imperial Crown of England and Ireland and the Territories thereunto belonging Which Bill was on the 15th carryed up to the Lords House by my Lord Russel attended by almost all the Commons who gave a Hum at the Delivery They being departed it was read once and being put to the Vote whether it should be read a second time it was carryed in the Affirmative by two Voices On the second reading it was debated till 11 a Clock at night the King being present all the while and then thrown out of the House by a Majority of about 30 Votes in which Majority were all the Bishops then present which were 14. Several other matters were transacted in Parliament of great moment but in regard the Daily Votes and transactions of the House of Commons was by Order of that House daily made publick in Print I refer the Reader for Particulars to what has been publisht and in these Papers take notice only of some of the most material Passages Among which it may be observed that Mr. Seymour the late Speaker and for whose Election the Commons in the late short Parliament did very much stickle was now ordered to be Impeacht and thò not at the same time yet not long after Impeachments were Voted and drawn up against Sir Francis North Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas Sir William Scroggs Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench Sir Thomas Jones second Justice of the said Court and Sir Richard Weston Puisny Baron of the Exchequer for several pretended Misdemeanors In the mean time William Lord Viscount Stafford one of the 5 Popish Lords in the Tower was brought to his Tryal on an Impeachment of High Treason The Tryal began in Westminster Hall on Tuesday the 30th of November being the next day after the Term ended Which Impeachment and Evidence upon the same was managed by a Committee of the Commons The Tryal lasted for a Whole Week and The Evidence against him were Oates Turberville and Dugdale Of the Lords who sate upon the Tryal the Lord Chancellor being Lord High Steward 31 pronounced him not Guilty and 55 Guilty And accordingly Judgment was pronounced against him on Wednesday the 7th of December But his Execution was respited till Wednesday the 29th of December on which day he was Beheaded on Tower-Hill protesting with his last breath his Innocency as to those Crimes of which he stood Condemn'd It is observable that Bethel and Cornish being then Sheriffs of London and having received the Kings Writ for the Execution of the said Viscount Stafford by severing his Head from his Body according to the constant Course in such Cases had notwithstanding the Confidence to demur upon it whether he ought to be Beheaded or according to the Common Judgment hang'd and quartered and for this they apply'd themselves to the two Houses of Parliament To which the most Honourable House of Lords Answered roundly That the Kings Writ ought to be obey'd But the Commons by way of Concession viz. That they were Content that the said Lord be Executed by severing his Head from his Body only During these Transactions a Comet with a most Prodigious Stream of light appear'd in the West the Star from which the Blaze proceeded was but small and when first discover'd appeared not much above the Horizon but every night afterwards it appear'd higher and higher in the beginning of the Night and consequently setting later and later its Lustre and magnitude also decaying I am neither able nor willing to make any Remarques on the Nature of these Meteors Or to say how far such noxious Exhalations may incline Mankind to Mischief And least of all will I pretend to Interpret whether this Finger of the Almighty is thus seen in the Heavens to Point out Good or Bad Events All that I design is innocently to observe and Remember the Naked Matters of Fact as they happen without disguize or Comment Two things more very observable happen'd before Christmass One was An Address of the House of Commons presented to His Majesty on the 21st of December in answer to His Speech of the 15th wherein he demanded once more Supplies of Mony for the defence of Tangier The effect of the said Address was to deny in as modest Terms as could be all Supplies of Mony for that purpose unless His Majesty would be pleas'd to pass a Bill to Seclude the Duke of York from Inheriting to the Crown and to enable the Protestants of this Nation to Associate themselves for the security of the Protestant Religion the Defence of the King and Kingdoms The other was a most Remarkable Speech Spoke in the House of Lords by the Earl of Shaftesbury the King being then present at least wise so pretended and Printed which being full of Audacious and
undecent Expressions was by order of the Lords House burnt by the Common Hangman at the Exchange and in the Pallace yard On the 4th of January His Majesty was pleased to send His Message to the House of Commons in Answer to their Address of December 21. abovemention'd in which Message He let them know That he had received their Address with all the disposition they could wish to comply with their reasonable Desires but upon perusal of it he was sorry to see their thoughts so wholly fixt on the Bill of Exclusion as to determine that all other remedies for the Suppressing of Popery will be ineffectual That His Majesty is confirm'd in His opinion against That Bill by the Judgment of the House of Lords who rejected it That He thinks there remains nothing more for Him to say in Answer to the foresaid Address then to recommend to this House the Consideration of all other means for the preservation of the Protestant Religion to which they have no reason to doubt His concurrence whensoever they shall be presented to Him in a Parliamentary way And in conclusion again He urges them to the preservation of Tangeir On the Friday following being the 7th of January the House entred upon the Consideration of the said Message and resolve as the opinion of the House That there is no security or safety for the Protestant Religion the Kings Life or the Well constituted and establisht Government of this Kingdom without passing a Bill for disabling James Duke of York to inherit the Imperial Crown of England and Ireland and the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging and that to rely upon any other means or remedies without such a Bill is not only insufficient but dangerous That till such a Bill be past this House cannot give any Supply to His Majesty without danger to His Majesties person Extream hazard of the Protestant Religion and unfaithfullness to those by whom this House is intrusted That all persons who advised His Majesty in His last Message to this House to insist upon an opinion against the Bill for Excluding the Duke of York have given Pernicious Council to His Majesty and are Promoters of Popery and Enemies to the King and Kingdom And as such they name George Earl of Hallifax Henry Marquiss of Worcester Henry Earl of Clarendon against which as also against Lewis Earl of Feversham and Laurence Hide Esq they Vote an Address to be presented to His Majesty to remove them from all Offices of Honour and Profit and from His Majesties Councils and Presence for ever They further Vote and Resolve the same day That whosoever shall herafter Lend or cause to be Lent by way of advance any Mony upon the Branches of the Kings Revenue arising by Customs Excise or Hearth Mony shall be adjudg'd to hinder the sitting of Parliaments and shall be responsible for the same in Parliament On the Monday following being the 10th of Jan. the King was pleas'd to determin this Session by Proroguing the Parliament to the 20th day of Jan. then next following at the same time passing only Two Publick Bills viz. One about Irish Cattel and One about Burying in Woollen The House of Commons were it seems aware of this Prorogation and therefore that very morning the first thing they did after they were sate and before the Usher of the Black Rod came in they Resolved That whosoever advised His Majesty to Prorogue this Parliament to any other purpose then in Order to the passing of a Bill for the Exclusion of James Duke of York is a Betrayer of the King the Protestant Religion and of the Kingdom of England a Promoter of the French Interest and a Pensioner to France On the 13th of Jan. a Court of Common Council being Assembled in London they ordered to be drawn up and Presented to the King a Petition setting forth That whereas the Parliament had convicted one of the 5 Popish Lords in the Tower and were about to convict the other 4 of High Treason That they had Impeacht the Chief Justice Scroggs and were about to impeach other Judges and all this in order to the preservation of His Majesties Life the Protestant Religion and Government That they were much surprized to see the Parliament Prorogued in the hight of their buisiness That their only hopes were that this was done only in order to bring such Affairs about again as were necessary to the Settling the Nation They therefore pray'd that His Majesty would be pleas'd to let the Parliament sit at the day appointed and so to continue till they had effected the great Affairs before them To this effect were the words of their Petition which was further ordered to be delivered that night or as soon as may be by the Lord Mayor attended with the new Recorder George Treby Esq and certain Members of the Court of Aldermen and Common Council But before the said 20th day of Jan. arrived the King was pleased by his Proclamation bearing date at Whitehall Jan. 18. to dissolve this Parliament and intimate His Royal pleasure and intentions to call an other to sit on the 21st of March following at Oxford Not long after this viz. on the 25th of Jan. the Earl of Essex and other Lords Presented to the King a Petition setting forth That whereas the Nation and His Majesties Person were in imminent danger from the Papists unto which no stop or remedy could be provided unless by a Parliament That several Parliaments being call'd and assembled they were Prorogued and dissolved before any sufficient order could be taken therein c. That His Majesty had been prevailed with to call another at Oxford where neither Lords or Commons can be in safety but will be dayly exposed to the Swords of the Papists and their adherents the liberty of speaking thereby destroyed and the validity of their Acts and proceedings left disputable the straightness of the place unfit for such a Concourse of persons as now follows every Parliament and the Witnesses which are necessary to give Evidence upon the Commons Impeachment unable to bear the charges of such a Journey and unwilling to trust themselves under the Protection of a Parliament that is it self evidently under the Power of Guards and Soldiers They therefore pray that the Parliament may sit at Westminster This was subscribed Monmouth Kent Huntington Bedford Salisbury Clare Stamford Essex Shaftsbury Mordant Evers Pâ—get Grey Herbert Howard Delamer About the same time the King was pleased to displace my Lord Sunderland from the Office of Secretary of State and to confer the said Office on my Lord Conway and several other Members of the Privy Council were then also alter'd And thus concluded the 32d year of His Majesties Reign observable for divers matters but above all for the Transactions of the Lords in Parliament who by their Prudent and Judicious proceedings on the 15th of November defeated the industrious malice of the Dukes Enemies by rejecting the Bill past by the Commons
His Most Sacred Majesty and his Royal Highness viz. Collonel John Rumsey Richard Rumbold Maulster Richard Nelthorp Esq Edward Wade Gent. Richard Goodenough Gent. Capt. Walcot William Thompson James Burton and William Hone For the Discovery of any of which 100 l. was offer'd as a reward to the Discoverer Also another Proclamation came out not long after Dated the 28th of June For the Apprehending of James Duke of Monmouth Ford Lord Gray Sir Thomas Armstrong Knight and Robert Ferguson who were also fled for the Discovery of any of which 500 l. was offer'd as a reward to the Discoverer The Crimes alledged in the said Proclamations are For Traiterously Conspiring to Compass the Death and Destruction of the King and His dearest Brother the Duke of York to effect which they have held several Treasonable Consultations to Levy Men and to make an Insurrection in this Kingdom On the 2d of July the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common Council of the City of London in a Body waited on His Majesty in the Banqueting-House and Presented him with their Address of Congratulation Importing their thanks to Almighty God for bringing to Light this impious and Execrable machination designed for the destruction of His Majesties Royal Person and of his dearest Brother James Duke of York and for the Destruction of His Majesties best Subjects and to involve this and the future Generation in Confusion Blood and misery carried on by Conventiclers and Atheistical Persons c. Which Address being Graciously received by His Majesty they then Waited on His Royal Highness and made their Complement to him on the same occasion Soon after this the Members of the Middle-Temple Address'd in the like manner who thought themselves concern'd more than ordinary to shew their Loyalty in regard some of the first Discover'd Conspirators did unhappily appear to be of that Society After which almost innumerable Addresses on the same Subject flow'd from all parts of the Kingdom At the same time also the Ambassadors and Ministers of Foraign Princes Congratuled His Majesty in their Masters Names for His happy Delivery from the Designed Assasination The King of France also Publisht in His Dominions an Edict or Proclamation for the Apprehension of those Four mention'd in our Kings Proclamation of June the 28th and proposed 500 Pistols for the Discovery of each On the 12th of July was Tryed at the Old Bayly the above mention'd Captain Walcot for this horrid Conspiracy and upon a full and cleer Evidence was found Guilty of High Treason The next Day the Lord Russel eldest Son and Heir apparent to the Earl of Bedford was Tryed for the same Treason and upon a cleer Evidence given by the Lord Howard of Escrick and others was found Guilty The same Day also Hone and Rouse were Tryed and found Guilty of the same horrid Crime All which received Sentence of Death the next day from the Recorder Sir George Treby viz. the Lord Russel by himself and Walcot Hone and Rouse together but the Judgment was the same to be drawn Hang'd and Quarter'd During the Tryal of the Lord Russel 4 Companies of the Guards were drawn into Smithfield and there posted all the Day two Companies of the Trained Bands in St Bartholmews Hospital and a Party of the Life Guard Waited at the Gates of the Old Bayly attending upon the Lord Howard In the mean time viz. on Friday the 13th of July about 9 of the Clock in the Morning a sad and desparate action was Committed on himself by one of these unhappy Conspirators Arthur Earl of Essex being a Prisoner in the Tower on the account of this execrable Treason was so far transported by the Devils Temptations as to dispair of all mercy and during a short absence of them that attended to Murder himself by Cutting his own Throat with a Raisour On Friday the 20th of July Three of the foresaid Traytors were executed at Tyburn viz. Walcot Hone and Rouse according to the Common Judgment in Treason Drawn Hang'd and quartered But the Lord Russel by reason of his noble Birth had the favour from the King to have the Common Judgment mitigated thô he was against such mitigation as is reported in the case of the late Vicount Stafford and was on the day following viz. Saturday the 21th of July Beheaded in Lincolns-Inn Fields For which purpose a Scaffold was erected that Morning on that side of the Fields next to the Arch going into Duke Street in the middle between the said Arch and the corner turning into Queen-street 10 Companies of the Guards and a Troop of Horse were drawn up in the Fields at that time to secure the Peace against so vast a Concourse of People as appeared there on that occasion The Lord Russel was Beheaded by three stroaks of the Executioner at half an hour after 10 in the morning On the same Day the 21th of July was assembled a Convocation of the University of Oxford in their Convocation House there at which in a Solemn and formal manner they Condemn'd 27 Propositions as false seditious and impious and most of them Heretical and Blasphemous infamous to Christian Religion and destructive of all Government both in Church and State Which wicked Propositions were Collected out of several modern Authors namely Buchanan Milton Hobs Goodwin Baxter Julian Protestant Reconciler c. Which said Books were at the same time Ordered to be Burnt and were Burnt in the Court of the Schools of the said University On Saturday the 28th of July being St. Anns Day about 10 in the Evening The Lady Ann second Daughter to his Royal Highness was Married to Prince George Brother to the King of Danemark Which Prince arrived at Whitehall the Thursday sennight before The Ceremony of the Marriage was performed by the Bishop of London in the Presence of the King Queen Duke and Dutchess with most of the Great Personages of the Court. All That Night and the next the Bells Proclaimed the Publick Joy And presently after they received the Congratulations of all the Embassadours and Publick Ministers in Town The like also from the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen in their Scarlet Soon after which was publisht His Majesties Declaration to all his loving Subjects dated the 28th of July whereby was set forth a short Narration of the Treasonable Conspiracy as it hath been lately discovered by undoubted proof and the Confession of divers of the Accomplices for which happy discovery His Majesty appointed by the said Declaration a Solemn day of Thanksgiving to Almighty God to be celebrated throughout the Kingdom on Sunday the 9th day of September next and that the said Declaration be publickly read in all Churches as well on Sunday the 2d Day of September as on the Day of Thanksgiving aforesaid The same Day of Thanksgiving was also appointed to be observed in Scotland On Tuesday the 7th of August Prince George was design'd to be Install'd Knight of the most Honourable Order of the Garter at
Windsor but the Ceremony was put off to a further day and on the First of Jan. following he was elected into the Order at Whitehall Saturday the 25th of August the Dutchess of York and Princess visited Bartholmew Fair attended by the Earl of Clarendon with several other Lords and Ladies of the Court not in State but partly Incognito The Day for Election of Sheriffs for London and Middlesex which of Course is on the 24th Day of June was this year adjourn'd to the 5th Day of September on which Day the Livery Men of the City being Assembled at Guild-Hall they confirm'd my Lord Mayors choice of Peter Daniel Esq and chose to serve with him Francis Dashwood Esq Sheriffs for the year insuing At the same time Mr. Deputy Ailworth was chosen into the Office of Chamberlain of the City of London in the Room of Sir Thomas Player removed All which with the other Elections of Bridgmaster and Ale-Cunner was perform'd with the ancient gravity and Moderation and not at all with such Riotous and Factious heats and animosities as of late years The 9th of September was Solemnized according as it had been appointed with Thanksgiving in all Churches for Gods Gracious preservation of His Majesty and his Royal Brother from the late cursed Conspiracy of those that call themselves True Protestants Nor were those of the Communion of the Church of Rome unmindful of this deliverance but did also concur with His Majesties Protestant Subjects in expressing their Loyal Joy on the same occasion and on the same 9th of September did Celebrate in all their publick Chappels at London an extraordinary Service on this account In this Month the right Honourable Sir Francis North Lord Keeper was Created a Baron of this Kingdom by the Title of Lord Guilford On Michaelmass Day the usual time for the Election of a new Lord Mayor the Choice was Adjourn'd over for six Days longer but before that Day came the King being displeased at the Delays of the City in not Signing the Particulars by their Common Council formerly yielded relating to their Charter caused the Attorney-General to enter Judgment of Seizure in the Quo Warranto which was done on Thursday October the 4th and thereupon His Majesty gave Sir William Prichard His Commission to Execute the Office of Lord Mayor of London during pleasure so also to the two new Sheriffs Mr. Daniel and Mr. Dashwood all which were Sworn with the usual Oaths At the same time Mr. Jenner of the Inner Temple was knighted by the name of Sir Thomas Jenner and made the Kings Recorder of London in the Room of Sir George Treby displaced About the same time it was that the Eminently Loyal Sir George Jeoffreys was made Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench in the place of Sir Ed. Saunders who dyed last Term And in the Common Pleas Sir Francis Pemberton being put out Sir Thomas Jones was made Lord Chief Justice there in his Room And Sir Francis Pemberton practized at the Common Pleas Bar as a Serjeant in the following Term. On Sunday the 7th of October my Lord Mayor and the two Sheriffs appear'd at Guild-Hall Chappel as usually in their Gowns and Chains but none of the Aldermen in their Gowns and Chains but several of the Loyal Aldermen attended in their ordinary habits 16 of them being made Justices of the Peace by the Kings new Commission in which 8 Factious Aldermen were left out viz. Allin Frederick Laurence Clayton Ward Shorter Gold and Cornish But on Saturday the 13th of October The King sent a new Commission to the City impowering the abovesaid 16 Loyal Aldermen together with 8 new Aldermen viz. Sir Benjamin Newland Sir Benjamin Bathurst Sir John Buckworth Samuel Dashwood one of the present Sheriffs Charles Duncomb Jacob Lucy Peter Palavazine and Benjamin Thorogood to act as Aldermen in their several Wards in the said Commission mention'd And accordingly several of them attended on my Lord Mayor the Day following at Guild-Hall Chappel after the usual form and manner in Gowns and Chains and the next Week assembled in a Court of Aldermen as formerly On Saturday the 27th of October Aaron Smith who had given scandalous Instructions to Colledge at his Trayal at Oxford and had also behaved himself insolently at the said Tryal and who had been since Tryed upon an Information for the same and found Guilty was now brought to the Kings-Bench Bar and received Judgment for his said offence viz. 500 l. Fine to Stand in the Pillory the Tuesday following at Westminster and at the Old Exchange the next Tuesday after to be bound to his good Behaviour for one Year and Imprisonment till this be performed Monday the 29th of October being the next Day after Simon and Jude is the annual Solemnity of Swearing the Lord Mayor of London in the Exchequer And accordingly this Year His Majesty having appointed Sir Henry Tulse by His Commission to execute that Office during His Pleasure he was after the usual manner attended to Westminster by the Companies did the usual Ceremonies in Westminster-Hall made the usual Cavalcade in London but without Pageants and Dined at Grocers-Hall the other Companies Dining at their several Halls as in former Years On the 5th of November several Tumults and Riotous Actions being Committed by the Rabble in and about London especially upon the Sieur Citters Ambassador from the Vnited Provinces by assaulting his Coach and throwing into it several Squibs Stones and Firebrands whereby his Lady who was then with him was dangerously wounded and Complaint hereof being made to the King in Council on the 7th of November His Majesty was pleas'd to order for the future That no Person or Persons whatsoever do presume to throw any Squibs or other Fireworks in the Streets of London or Westminster or other place within the Weekly Bills of Mortality nor assemble together for the making of Bonfires And the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Justices of Peace in their respective Limits are required to take due care for the Performance of the said Order of Council In this Michaelmas-Term Mrs. Celier who had formerly stood in the Pillory and been Fined 1000l for which she had lain a Prisoner in Newgate for several Years was now Bail'd out upon a Writ of Error which she had brought to reverse all the Proceedings On the 22d of November this Michaelmas-Term Algernoon Sidney Esq who had been arraign'd for High Treason on the 7th Instant was Tryed for the same and found Guilty at the Kings-Bench Bar and on the 26th being the Monday following he was brought to the said Bar and received Sentence of Death as usual in the Cases of High Treason and was beheaded at Tower-Hill on the 7th of December following On Saturday the 24th of November The Duke of Monmouth came in voluntarily about 5 at Night and surrender'd himself to Mr. Secretary Jenkins having before writ a very Submissive Letter to His Majesty entirely resigning himself to His Majesties disposal
Hereupon His Majesty and his Royal Highness went down to the Secretaries Office where the Duke of Monmouth was who shew'd himself very sensible of his Crime in the late Conspiracy making a full Declaration of it and having shew'd an extraordinary Penitence for the same and made a particular Submission to his Royal Highness for his misbehavior to him His Majesty and his Royal Highness received so much satisfaction that upon his Royal Highness ' s desire and Mediation His Majesty was pleased to Pardon the said Duke and order the Attorney-General to stop further Proceedings against him On the last Day of Michaelmas Term six Prisoners then in the Tower for High Treason were Bail'd viz. the Lord Gerard Brandon Mr. Booth Mr. Trenchard Mr. Hamden Jun. Mr. Charleton and Major Wildman all which being accused for Conspirators in the late detestable Plot and but one Witness against them they were Bail'd out in 2000 l apiece and 1000 l their Sureties except Mr. Hamden against whom there being a Bill of Indictment for High Misdemeaners he was bound in 10000 l. himself and 5000 l. his Sureties On Thursday the 6th of December one Johnson a Cracktbraind Fellow met the King as he was walking in St. James Park and laying his Hand on his Sword told His Majesty he had wrong'd him and demanded satisfaction but being seiz'd by the Guards and appearing to be Distracted upon Examination he was tied Neck and Heels together for a while at the Guard Stables and let go again On Friday the 7th of December the Duke of Monmouth being fallen again into the Kings displeasure for refusing to Sign what he had confest upon his coming in was Banisht the Court and expell'd the Royal Presence This was on the same Day that Sidney was beheaded on the Tower-Hill Friday the 4th of January the Lord Peters who had lain a long time a Prisoner in the Tower on the account of Oates's Plot without being brought to his Tryal departed this Life in his said Confinement A little before his departure the said Lord sent to the King a Letter wherein he disown'd in his last Words and upon his Salvation the matters which he stood accused of About the middle of December this Year began a very eminent and extraordinay Frost it lasted without any considerable Intermission till the 5th of February during which time the Thames was Frozen over with a solid and Contiguous Ice in all places above the Bridge Booths built thereon with Thousands of People continually walking over and Sliding I my self walkt over at the Temple and so all along the Channel to Westminster Stairs on the 9th of January Also on or about the same Day Coaches went over at Sommerset-House and at the Temple In the Extremity of this Weather the King granted His Letters Mandatory Dated the 4th of January to the Bishop of London to make a Collection in all Parishes in London and the Subburbs of the same for the relief of the Poor encouraging His Subjects to such a needful Charity by his own Example having order'd large Sums of Mony to be Issued out of His Treasury for that purpose which Letters were Read in all Churches the two following Sundays and Collections made accordingly On the 23d of January being the First Day of Hillary Term the Lawyers went over the Ice from the Temple to Westminster-Hall and back again as familiarly as on the Land some walkt on Foot and some went in Coaches which carried People from the Temple Stairs to Westminster for the same fare as by Land and plied between those two places though not in so great Numbers as the Watermen do in Summer Abundance of Booths were erected Cross between the Temple and Southwark in which place an absolute Fair was held for above a Fortnight of almost all sorts of Trades and Printing Presses erected both for Letters and Pictures a Bull Baited a Fox Hunted and a whole Ox Roasted on the Ice over against Whitehall Nor was this Frost thus Wonderful only above the Bridge but Booths were erected and People past over on the Ice frequently in diverse places below the Bridge And the Sea it self frozen for divers Miles from the Shore on the Coasts of England France and especially Holland Insomuch that for above a Fortnight no Packet Boat or any other Vessel of Intelligence could either come out of those parts or go from hence Thus ends this Year a Year of Extraordinary note in England for the happy Discovery of a Hellish Conspiracy against the Lives of his Sacred Majesty and Royal Highness and against the Antient Government of this Kingdom both in Church and State a Conspiracy contrived and carried on by Protestant Dissenters inveterate Calvinists and old Common-wealths-men Nor was this Year less remarkable abroad partly for the Death of Anna Teresia Queen of France and Alphonso King of Portugal but above all for the formidable and Bloody Descent of the Turks into Hungary Invited thither by Count Tekeley a Protestant Rebel against the Emperor The Mahumetan Army consisting of 150000 fighting Men Horse and Foot came before Vienna on the 9th of July Commanded by the Grand Visier in Person The Emperor had retired two Days before and left the City under the Command of Count Staremberg who defended it bravely notwithstanding all the Bloody Assaults and utmost endeavors of the Enemy till on the 12 2 of September the Seige was rais'd in the highth of the Defendants Extremity by the coming of the King of Poland who having joyn'd with the Imperial Forces Commanded by the Duke of Lorrain not only beat off and routed the Turkish Army with vast Slaughter and no less Booty but pursuing his Blow took from them the Fort of Barkan and the City of Gran formerly call'd Strigonium after it had been possest by the Turks 78 Years Which City had been formerly before it was lost by the Christians the Metropolitan City of Hungary To the Glory of the English Nation some of our Country Men were present at the Siege of Vienna in defence of which they Signalliz'd their Valour In particular the Lord Landsdown Eldest Son of the Earl of Bath whom for his extraordinary merits the Emperor created a Count of the Sacred Empire An Honour which the Ancestors of the Lord Arundel of Warder had formerly attain'd in the defence of Strigonium One thing more renders this Year remarkable which was partly Domestick and Partly Foraign Tangier in Africa being possest by the Portugals came to the Crown of England with our now Queen Catherine and having cost our King since he had it vast Sums of Mony in defending it against the Moors and also in making the greatest part of a Mole there which not being found so feasible as expected the Charges very great and certain the Expectation of any advantage from thence very uncertain His Majesty was pleased about the end of this last Summer to commission my Lord Dartmouth attended with about 20 Sail of Ships to go and