A Prospect take of those who next Heav'ns hand Routed Rome's Powers and sav'd the drooping Land Whilst promis'd Blessings croud About the Throne And all with Joy the happy Change do owne A Faithful ACCOUNT OF THE Present State OF AFFAIRS IN England Scotland and Ireland OR The Remarkable Transactions and Proceedings that have happened in these Kingdoms since the Discovery of the Horrid Popish Plot Anno 1678. to this present Year 1689 90. Plainly shewing the State of Affairs from time to time in Peace and War but more particularly what has happened under the Government and Reign of their present Majesties King William and Queen Mary and of our wonderful Deliverance from Popery and Slavery c. By E. C. LICENSED and Entered according to Order London Printed for Tho. Bever at the Hand and Star next the Middle Temple-Gate near Temple-Bar 1690. THE PREFACE TO THE READER READER I Have undertaken this Historical Account that the hand of Providence may be the more fully seen in our many signal and great Deliverances it being a Collection of such Transactions as from time to time have publickly happened whereby it appears how all along the Projects and Devices of the Enemies of our Religion have been frustrated even when they supposed themselves the surest As likewise the various turns of Affairs laid down in such Order as will not only refresh them in the the Memories of such as have been Conversant and knowing in Matters of this kind but instruct those that are Ignorant of them and be a means to convey them to Posterity I need not much Appologize in a Work of this Nature but only declare what is done is faithfully laid down as it has in the several Periods occurred viz. In part of the Reign of King Charles the Second the Reign of King James the Second but more largely since the beginning of our present great and wonderful Deliverance from Popery and Arbitrary Power by their present most sacred Majesties King William and Queen Mary and so refering you to what is contained in the following Pages I Remain Reader Your very Humble Servant E. C. A Faithful Account of the Remarkable Transactions and Proceedings that have happened in the Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland VVHen the Nations seemed to be in a Calm as having Peace abroad and Plenty at home and every one promised him â—elf a large Portion of Felicity Trading being in its height all on a suddain Mens Minds were strangely amused and disturbed upon the Discovery of a Horrid Plot designed against the Life of King Charles the Second As likewise all his Protestant Subjects by way of Massacre to the utter Subversion of the Protestant Religion True it is for some time it was held as it were in Suspense but a Testimony most apparent confirming what had been Discovered by Dr. Oats and Dr. Tongue viz. The Murthering Sir Edmond-Bury Godfrey whose Body was found with the Neck broke and a Sword thrust through it at a place called Primrose-Hill a Mile or Two out of Town On the 12 th of October 1678. after he had been Three Days missing the King upon notice was extreamly troubled and upon further Enquiry it appearing that he as a Justice of Peace for the County of Middlesex had taken Dr. Oats's Depositions c. concerning the Plot he Discovered it was conjectured he had been Murthered by some Villains to stifle that Affair and the Coroner's Inquest having found him to be Murthered on the 20 th of that Month the King Published a Proclamation for the Apprehending the Murtherers with the offer of a Reward of 500. l. to any that should make the Discovery and that if any of the Murtherers should discover the rest whereby they or any of them should be Apprehended he should not only have his Offence pardoned but receive the said Reward and a few Days after there being private Intimation that some Persons who could discover the manner of the Circumstances and yet were with-held through fear of the Revenge the Murtherers or their Friends might take the King renewed his Promise that they should not only immediately receive the Reward but that he would take such Effectual Courses for the security of such Discoverers as they should in Reason propose and the same Month a Proclamation was Published for a General Fast on the 13 th of the following November and the King acquainted upon the Informations that he had received the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons in Parliament of the Design against his Life and Government which was followed by a Proclamation commanding all Persons being Popish Recusants and so reputed to depart from the Cities of London and Westminster and other Places within Ten Miles of the same and the King further Declared in Council that whosoever should make a Discovery of any Officer or Souldier of his Horse or Foot Guards who having formerly taken the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy and the Tests enjoyned by Act of Parliament for the preventing Dangers which may happen from Popish Recusants and had since or for the future should be preverted to the Romish Religion or hear Mass the Discoverer upon Intimation given to the Duke of Monmouth Lord General of His Majesties Forces should have the Reward of 20. l. for every Officer or Soldier and divers accused and suspected Persons as well of the Nobility as others were taken up and committed On the 9 th of November the King being seated in his Throne in the House of Lords at Westminster and the Commons attending he made the following Speech My Lords and Gentlemen I am so very sensible of the Great and Extraordinary Care you have already taken and still continue to shew for the Preservation of my Person in these Times of Danger that I could not satisfie my self without coming hither on purpose to give you all my most hearty thanks for it Nor do I think it enough to give you my thanks only but I hold my self obliged to let you see withal that I do as much stâ—dy your Preservation to as I can possibly and that I am ready to join with you in all the ways and means that may Establish a firm security of the Protestant Religion as your own Hearts can wish and this not only during my time of which I am sure you have no fear but in all future Ages even to the end of the World And therefore I am come to assure you that whatsoever Reasonable Bills you shall present to be passed into Laws to make you safe in the Reign of any Successor so as they tend not to Impeach the Right of Succession nor the Descent of the Crown in the True Line and so as they restrain not my Power nor the just rights of any Protestant Successor shall find from me a ready concurrence And I desire you withal to think of some more effectual means for the Conviction of Popish Recusants and to expedite your Councils as fast as you can that the World
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
the Day with the Kings the Bishop of London with the Bible between the Bishop of St. Asaph with the Patten and the Bishop of Rochester with the Challice Then the King Supported by the Bishop of Winchester and the Queen by the Bishop of Bristol under a Canopy boren by Sixteen Barons of the Cinque Ports His Majesties Train boren up by the Master of the Robes assisted by the Lord Eland Lord Landsdown Lord Willoughby and the Lord Dumblain and Her Majesties by the Dutches of Somerset Assisted by the Lady Elizabeth Paulet the Lady Diana Vere the Lady Elizabeth Cavendish and the Lady Herrieeta Hyde After the King a Gentlemen of the Bed-Chamber and 2 Grooms of the Bed-Chamber after the Queen a Lady of Her Majesties Bed-Chamber and 2 of Her Majesties Women Lastly the Captain of the King's Guard between the Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard and Band of Pensioners followed by the Officers and Bands of the Yeomen of the Guards the Serjeants at Arms going on each side the Regalia and the Gentlemen Pensioners on each side the Canopy Thus their Majesties in their Robes of Crimson Velvet the King with a Cap and the Queen with a Circlet on her Head all the Nobility in Crimson Velvet Robes with their Coronets in their Hands and the rest of the Proceeding in their proper Habits Marched on Foot upon blew Cloth to Westminster-Abby Being entered the Church and all duly seated The Bishop of London who performed this great Solemnity began with the Recognition which ended with a mighty Shout then their Majesties offered and the Lords who bore the Regalia presented them at the Altar The Littany was Sung by Two Bishops and after the Epistle Gospel and Niceen Creed And the Bishop of Salisbury Preached on the Text of the 2. Samuel 23 3 4. And after Sermon Their Majesties took the Oath and being Conducted to their Regal Chairs placed on the Theatre they were there Anointed and presented with the Spurs and Sword and Invested with the Palls and Orbs and then with the Rings and Scepters and about 4 of the Clock the Crowns were put upon their Heads at which the People shouted the Drums beat Trumpets sounded and the Great Guns were Discharged and the Peers and Peeresses put on their Coronets then the Bible was presented to their Majesties and after the Benediction they vouchsafed to kiss the Bishops being Inthroned First the Bishops and then the Temporal Lords did their Homage and kissed their Majesties Cheeks whilst the Treasurer of the Houshold threw about the Coronation Medals then followed the Communion and their Majesties having made their second Oblation received the Holy Sacrament Then the Bishop read the Final Prayers and their Majesties retired into St. Edward's Chapple and being new Arrayed in Purple Velvet returned to Westminster-Hall wearing their Rich Crowns of State and the Nobility their Coronets The Nobility c. being Seated at the respective Tables which was Furnished just as they approached the first Course of their Majesties Table was served up with the proper Ceremony being preceded by the great Officers and the High Constable High Steward and Earl Marshal and before the second Course Charles Dymoke their Majesties Champion between the High Constable and the Earl Marshal performed the Challenge after which the Heraulds proclaimed Their Majesties Stile and all being ended with great Magnificence their Majesties in the Evening returned to White-Hall and the Streets were crouded with Bone-fires the Bells every where Ringing and the next Day in the Afternoon the Knights Citizens and Burgesses in Parliament Assembled went from Westminster to the Banqueting-House where they attended Their Majesties to congratulate Them upon their Coronation which was performed by their Speaker in a most Eloquent Speech after which all the Members kissed Their Majesties Hands and the rejoycing soon spread through all the Kingdom And the Committee of Scotland for settling the Government having made their report and the Grievances and an Instrument of Government being read and distinctly considered the whole Estates except some few that were absent with one Voice Declared King William and Queen Mary King and Queen of Scotland in the same manner as had been done in England Proclaiming it at the Mercat-Cross of Edenburgh with the usual Form and Solemnity and afterward at the other Crosses of the Kingdom On the 19 th of April the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons Assembled in Parliament Presented an Address to His Majesty in the Banqueting-House to render him their most Humble and Hearty Thanks for His Gracious Declaration and repeated Assurances that he will maintain the Church of England as by Law Established and humbly pray him to Summon a Convocation of the Clergy to which the King returned a very Gracious and Suitable Answer On the 26 th of April the Commons waited upon the King in the Banqueting-House and presented Him with the following Address WE Your Majesties most Loyal and Dutiful Subjects the Commons in Parliament assembled most humbly lay before your Majesty our most earnest Desires that your Majesty would be pleased to take into your most serious Consideration the destructive Methods taken of late Years by the French King against the Trade Quiet and Interest of your Kingdom and particularly the Invasion of Ireland and supporting your Majesties Rebellious Subjects there not doubting in the least but that through Your Majesties Wisdom the Alliances already made with such as may be hereafter concluded on this occasion by your Majesty may be Effectual to reduce the French King to such a condition that it may not be in his power hereafter to violate the Peace of Christendom nor prejudice the Trade and Prosperity of this your Majesties Kingdom To this end we most humbly Beseech Your Majesty to rest assured upon this our Solemn and Hearty Promise and Engagement That when Your Majesty shall think fit to enter into a War against the French King we will give Your Majesty such Assistance in a Parliamentary way as may enable your Majesty under the Protection and Blessing God Almighty has ever afforded you to support and go through with the same To this His Majesty was pleased to return Answer in the following Words I Receive this Address as a mark of the Confidence you have in me which I take very kâ—ndly and shall endeavour by all my Actions to confirm you in it I assure you that my own Ambition shall nâ—ver be an Argument to Incline me to engage a War that may expose the Nation either to Danger or Expence but in the present Case I look upon the War so much already declared in effect by France ' against England that it is not so proper an Act of Choice as an inevitable necessity in our own Defence I only tell you That as I have ventured my Life and All that is dear to me to rescue this Nation from what it suffered I am ready still to do the same in order to the preserving it from all
its Enemies and as I do not doubt of such an Assistance from you as shall be suitable to your Advice to me to declare War against a powerful Enemy so you may relye upon me that no part of that which you shall give for the carrying it on with success shall be diverted by me to any other use And that the Protestants who had Fled from Ireland might not suffer want in England great care was taken to provide for them and most People wherever they came contributed liberally to their relief and assistance and the King was pleased to put forth a Declaration to encourage the French Protestants that should Transport themselves their Families and Estates into this Kingdom and a Proclamation Prohibiting the Importation of all sorts of Manufactures and Commodities whatsoever of the Growth Production and Manufacture of France in way of Trade c. On the 1st of May His Majesty was pleased to give the Royal Assent to an Act for raising Money by Pole and otherwise towards the Reducing of Ireland an Act for preventing Doubts and Questions concerning the Collecting the Publick Revenues and a private Act to Sell Lands for Paying of Debts c. For the better Supply and Support of Their Majesties Navies Two Proclamations were Issued out one to Prohibit Seamen from Serving Foreign Princes and the other for Prohibiting them from Deserting Their Majesties Navies and His Majesty having been pleased to call by His Writ divers worthy Persons to take upon them the State and Degree of Serjeants at Law they performed the Ceremony with all the Decency and Grandure that usually attends it and gave Rings with this Motto viz Veniendo Restituit Rem and the King was further pleased to Constitute Sir John Holt Lord Chief Justice of the King 's Bench. Sir William Dolbin Sir VVilliam Gregory Giles Eyers Esq Justices of the same Sir Henry Pollexfen Lord Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas Sir John Powel Thomas Rokeby Esq Peyton Ventris Esq Justices of the same Sir Robert Atkins Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer Sir Edward Nevill Nicholas Lechmer Esq John Turton Esq Barons of the same John Trenchard Esq Chief Justice of Chester Sir George Treby His Majesty's Attorney General John Summers Esq His Majesties Solicitor General During these things the French Fleet attempting to Land Forces in Ireland Admiral Herbert with a Squadron of the English Ships stood over to Kingsale on the 24 th of April in hopes to meet them and on the 29 th his Scouts made a Signal that they discovered a Fleet keeping their Wind which caused the Admiral to keep His all Night to hinder them getting into Kinsale and the next Morning had notice they were gone into Baltimore being 44 Sail whereupon he stood away towards the place but not finding them there the Scouts however got sight of them again in the Evening to the Westward of Cape clear whereupon steering after them it was sound they had got into Bantry so that the English Ships lay off the Bay all Night and by break of Day stood in where they found them at Anchor who presently got under Sail and bore down upon the English in a Line of 28 Men of War and five Fireships and when they came within Musquet-shot of the Defiance being the head-most of the English the French Admiral put out the Signal of Battle which they began with small and great Shot and the English made several Boards to gain the Wind or engage them close but that way of working not being advantageous the English Admiral stood off to Sea as well to have got his Ships into a Line as to have gained the Wind of the Enemy but the French were so cautious in bearing down that this advantage and opportunity could not be obtained so that our Admiral continued Battering upon the Stretch 'till Five in the Afternoon at what time the French tacked and stood further into the Bay and the English Admiral 's Ship and some of the rest being disabled in their Rigging could not follow them but continued some time before the Bay and gave them a Gun at parting In this Action Capt. George Aylmer of the Portland with 1 Lieutenant and 9 Seamen were Killed and about 250 Wounded and of the French without doubt a greater number and not without good Supposition one of their great Ships sunk although they had double the number of Ships and the advantage of the Wind. Upon this further Invasion of the French King made upon the Kingdom of Ireland Their Majesties of Great Brittain delayâ—ed no longer to Publish Their Declaration of War against him Given at Hampton-Court the 7 th of May 1689. Seting forth Reasons that moved Their Majesties to denounce War and the Unjust and Perfideous Dealings of the French King c. as well against Their Majesties Subjects in Europe as in America c. And to prevent upon this Rupture any Disturbance from Papist's an Act Intituled an Act for the better Securing the Government by Disarming Papist's and Reputed Papist's passed And now the Case of Algernoon Sidney Esq who lost his Head on Tower-Hill being before the Parliament amongst other Acts one was passed for Anulling and making Void his Attainder Collonel Lundy who had been Appointed Governour of London Derry in Ireland forsaking that place as supposing it not Tenable upon the Approach of the Irish Army and it being likewise left by Coll Richards and Collonel Coningham who brought back the Regiments under their Commands the Inhabitants and such as came in Arms from other Parts to Assist them Resolving however upon their Defence Choose that Brave Gentleman Mr. George Walker a Minister of their Governour and Major Baker his Assistant who although the Irish took Kilmore a Fort that lies advantageous to it defended they it almost to a Miracle against above 30000 Men till it was Relieved by Major General Kirk with Provision by Water the Inhabitants and Garison having Eat all manner of unclean things as Dogs Cats Rats Mice c. And thereupon the Enemy having lost a great number of Men and some of their best Commanders found themselves constrained to raise the Siege after they had lain before it Battering with their Cannon and Casting in Bombs from the 19 th of April to the end of August and a great party of the Protestants Fortifying themselves in the Isle of Inch and other Places made a Resolute defence beating off such as were sent to Attacque them and frequently taking great Booties by which means they Subsisted and held out till they were Succour'd and Recruted from England About this time the Papist's were commanded by Proclamation to leave London and Ten Miles about it unless such as were Excepted in an Act for this purpose and we had the happy News of the taking two French Men of War by the Nonsuch Frigate as likewise a Privatier and several of their Merchants by other English Frigates and Vessels On the 11 th of May â—he Commissioners Appointed to
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
Warranto against the City of London concerning the duty of Water-ballage and caused a Nolle prosequi to be entered the Lord Mayor Court of Aldermen Recorder and Committee of Common Council went in a Body to pay their dutiful acknowledgment to the King and afterwards many of them did the like to his Royal Highness the Duke About this time James Baker alias Hesketh and John Naylor were Tryed at the Old Baily for being Priests yet only the former was found Guilty And now some Heats arising amongst great Ones to prevent the danger the King published a Proclamation wherein he declared that he would not Pardon any Person that should Kill another in a Duel And thus ended the noted Affairs of this Year In May 1680. A prodigious Storm of Hail fell the Stones being of a vast weight and 8 or 9 Inches in Circumference did great damage to Houses Cattle Fowl Herbs Corn c. And soon after Mrs. Celier getting herself Tryed before the Lord Chief Justice Scroggs was acquitted by the said Judges disapproving of Dangerfield as a good Evidence But not content with this narrow escape she undertook to publish a Book for shamming the Popish Plot and particularly Prance's Evidence as to the Murther of Sir Edmond Bury Godfrey for which She was Tryed at the Old Baily Fin'd and Pilloryed And the Parliament sitting according to prorogation and the popish Lords in the Tower having been obliged to give in sufficient Answers they proceeded to Try William Viscount Stafford who had the whole House of Peers for his Judges a place being erected in Westminster-Hall for that purpose where after a Tryal which held 4 or 5 days he was by the majority of Voices cast and attainted of high Treason for which he lost his Head on Tower-Hill And soon after his Death a prodigious beam of Light streamed in the Night-time from the West and soon after the Star from whence it darted appeared above the Horizon and grew nightly higher till it had compassed East and West and was admired by many who made different Judgments as their Minds lead them And the Parliament after a considerable Sitting was prorogued to a further time but before the time of their appointed Meeting they were dissolved and a Parliament called to meet at Oxford on the 21 th of March though the Earl of Essex and divers Lords petition'd the King to have it sit at Westminster however they did not prevail for the Parliament accordingly met at Oxford where the King in his Speech amongst other things put them in mind of the râ—lief of Tangier then pressed by the Mâ—â—rs But they had not sat many days before they were Dissolved and the King came in great haste for London One Edward Fitz-Harris having been discovered by Mr. Everard and Sir William Waller to have contrived a treasonable and dangerous Pamphlet since called Treason in Grain and having other projects against the Government he had been Impeached by the Commons but in fine was Tryed before the Lord Chief Justice Pemberton and being found guilty of High Treason was Executed at Tyburn with one Oliver Plunket condemned at the Kings Bench Bar for attempting to betray Ireland to the French Plunket was a Romish Bishop and termed the titular Primate of Ireland and the Wife and Maid of Fitz-Harris accused some persons of Honour but it came to nothing but upon Information of several Irish Evidence and others soon after the Earl of Shaftsbury was committed to the Tower as were several other persons having continued there a considerable time a Bill of High Treason was drawn up against him as likewise Bills against Stephen Colledge and others and preferred to the Grand Jury of the City of London and the Evidence heard in open Court at the Old Baily but after a long Examination the Bills were found Ignoramus but Colledge was soon after carried by Water to Oxford and there being Tryed for treasonable words spoke in that City during the siting of the Parliament there was found Guilty and Executed and the following Michaelmass Term the Earl of Shaftsbury and divers others were set at Liberty A Parliament being called in Scotland the King sent his Brother to preside as his High Commissioner and there amonst other things they passed an Act for asserting the right of Succession to the Crown making it Treason for any to question or object it and the Earl of Argyle for only making some Queries c. was committed to the Castle and in danger of his Life but he escaped thence by changing Habit with a Ladies Page that came to visit him and fled into Holland where he remained till his unfortunate invading Scotland Anno 1685 of which more hereafter The Duke being returned for England upon the concluding of the Parliament and leaving his Dutchess in Scotland whilst he was on his way again by Sea in the Gloucester Frigat attended with several Yatchs to fetch her home the Frigat under full Sail stood in upon the Lemmon and Orrey two dangerous Sands off the Humber Mouth where she beat along the Sands till she foundered and falling off the Sands fell into deep Water where she was swallowed up and about One hundred Persons lost besides the Dukes Plate and a great deal of Treasure Amongst the Drowned was the Lord Obrian the Duke however with as many as his Barge which was hoisted Over-board could hold got safe to the Yatchts and landed in Scotland and the Pilot being suspected of Treatchery suffered a long Imprisonment in the Marshaseas on this occasion and soon after this Disaster the Duke and Dutches returned for England Sir John Moore after the Mayorality of Sir Patience Ward being Elected Lord Mayor of London and received with the usual Splendor at the time of Election of Sheriffs great Heats and Contests arise among the Citizens about the Electing two Persons to serve as Sheriffs for the year ensuing and it was deferred from time to time however in the end Sir Peter Rich and Sir Dudly North were sworn Mr. Box who had been declared Elected declining it and paying his Fine and Siâ— William Pritehard was chosen Lord Mayor and upon the occasion of these Contendings several Citizens as Sir Thomas Player and others had Informations in the Crown Exhibited against them as Rioters and haviug a Verdict found against them before the Lord Chief Justice Saunders at Guild-hall were the following Term Fined at the Kings-Bench Bar very considerably And this year died the Illustrious Prince Rupert a Prince whose great Services have all along been very considerable to these Kingdoms And a thing not known before two Ambassadors arrived one from the Emperor of Fess and Morocco and the other from the King of Bantam with rich Presents and were splendidly Entertained and much admired by the crouding People for their strange Habits The first came to treat of Peace and free Traffick Tangier an English Garison standing in his Masters Countries and the other to crave Succour for the King
his Master against his Son who had risen in Rebellion against him and soon after outed him of his Kingdom by the help of the Dutch and our East-India Company of their Trade in that part of the Country As for the Emperor of Morocco he kept not the Truce or Treaty his Ambassador had made whereupon the King finding one Town very chargeable to keep against a populous Country and that it turn'd to no great advantage by reason the Mould could not be finished as had been proposed he sent the Lord Dartmoueh to fetch off the Garrison the Inhabitants and their Effects and then fired the Town and blew up the Works which had cost a Million of Mony And now the Court being disgusted at the proceedings of the City of London a Quo Warranto was brought against their Famous and Ancient Charter and the Controversie admitted of many long Arguments and Debates at the Kings Bench Bar between the Kings Council and the Council for the City but it being over-ruled in the end it was declared by the Judges that the Liberties and Franchises should be Seized into the King's hands however Judgment was not entered up but the King appointed the Lord Mayor Sheriffs c. to Act by Commission reserving to himself the Nomination of the Chief Magistrates and the Common Council was laid aside and so it continued 'till the Charter was restored Anno 1688. of which hereafter for the City finding it in vain to contend when the Opinions of the Judges were against them found themselves constrained to acquiesce in what was done as did afterwards most of the Corporations of England likewise the Companies or Bodys Corporate of London c. whose Charters and Franchises were either Seized or Surrendered About this time the Nation was allarmed by the appearing of Keeling West and others who Deposed there was a Design against the Life of the King c. whereupon the Earl of Eslex the Lord Russel Captain VValcot VVilliam Hone John Rouse were Imprisoned and Proclamation published for the apprehending the Duke of Monmouth and others that fled many of which upon their not rendring themselves were attainted by Out-lawry but the Duke a considerable time after came in and was received into Favour the proceedings upon Out-lawry having been stopped by the Kings special Command but the Duke out of Discontent soon after went for Holland and from thence after his Fathers Death Invaded England of which hereafter However this Business proved very Bloody for the Earl of Essex was found with his Throat cut in the Tower Rouse Hene and VValâ—ot were Executed at Tyburn the Lord Russel was Beheaded in Lincoln-Inn-Field Collonel Sidney on Tower-Hill and Sir Thomas Armstrong being surprized and brought from Holland and James Holloway from Nevis were executed upon their Out-lawrys by a rule of Court made for their Execution all of them making very penitent ends and upon this score divers were Executed afterwards as will appear in the Reign of K. James The Earl of Shaftsbury a little before this matter broke out Dyed in Holland whither he was retired and his Body was brought over and Buried in England This Storm being a little over the happy Marriage was Consummated between the Lady Anne and his Royal Highness Prince George Brother to the King of Denmark the Ceremony being performed by the Bishop of London in the presence of the King Queen Duke Dutchess and most of the great Persons of the Court and followed with great demonstrations of Joy and Satisfaction throughout the Kingdom and a great Muster of the Land Forces was soon after held on Putney-Heath where the King and most of the Court went to take a view of them And such a Frost happened that the like had never been known in England before all the Rivers were Frozen over and the Harbours and Havens were stopped up so that Carts and Coaches might move on the Waters but neither Boats nor Shipping could stir for the space of six Weeks People keeping Fairs upon the River of Thames with all manner of Disports as likewise upon other great Waters and divers Fowle and Cattle were starved to Death many of the Elder sort of People despairing to out-live so sharp a Season but the Wind turning it Thawed of a suddain without much harm The King having appointed Sir William Goslin and Sir Peter Vandeput by Commission under the Great Seal to be Sheriffs of London and Middlesex on the 28 th of September 1684. they were Sworn at Guild-Hall before the Lord Mayor anâ— Court of Aldermen and on the 30 th at Westminster in the Exchequer Chamber taking upon them the charge of Sherâ—ffs 〈◊〉 the ensuing Year On the 2 d. of October the City of Oxford had a New Charter sent and thereupon according to what was nominated therein Mr. Walker was sworn Mayor and Mr. Baker Town-Clerk the latter making a large Speech upon the occasion and afterward great Feasting ensued to Treat and Wellcome the Earl of Abindon who brought the Charter And about this time many other Charters were sent down to divers Cities Corporations c. in lieu of those that had been surrendered or were taken away by proceedings in the Courts of Westmincter and a new Engine was Invented by sundry Undertakers to make Sea-water fresh which was tryed and approved by many persons of Quality of divers Nations and experienc'd Sea-Commanders as well as Foreign Ministers of State and His Grace the Duke of Grafton being appointed Recorder of Bury St. Edmonds by the new Charter he was received there with many demonstrations of Joy and sworn the 20 th of October And Justice Windham Dying in this Month Mr. Baron Street was removed to the Common-Pleas and in his stead Sir Robert Wright was Constituted and Sir James Smith being Commissionated by the King to be Lord Mayor for the ensuing Year was Sworn before the Barons of the Exchequer on the 29 th and the Entertainment was performed with the usual Solemnities Great Storms about this time happened at Sea and Land which did considerable damage breaking many Ships in pieces and over-setting some Houses And Dr. Turner being removed to the Bishoprick of Ely Dr. Sprat Dean of Westminster was Consecrated Bishop of Rochester at the Chapple at Lambeth by the Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury aâ—â—isted by several other Bishops and two Addresses were presented to the King the one from the Lieutenant and Governour General of the Collony and Dominion of Virginia together with the Council of the same and the other fromt the Burgesses and General Assembly of the said Dominion in the Name of themselves and the Commons to congratulate his happy continuance in the Throne and the sensibility they had of their own Tranquility under his Reign c. On the 6 th of November the Tryal commenced at Guild-Hall between Sir William Pritchard formerly Lord Mayor of London and Mr. Papillion c. before the Lord Chief Justice Jefferies where the Jury gave Sir William 10000 l.
Damages and on the 18 th of November Mr. Rosewel was Trayed and sound Guilâ—y of High-Treason for Speaking words in a Meeting-house at Rederiff and on the 20 th Elias Best received Judgment for speaking certain words and was Fin'd 1000 l. Ordered to stand Twice in the Pillory and to find Sureties for good Behaviour during Life and a Rule was made for all Clerks of the Peace and common Clerks of several Cities Towns and Burroughs for Extracting the Names of such as had been Defaulters in refusing to go to Church into the Exchequer On the 24 th of November Dr. Mew was Translated from the See of Bath and Wells to that of Winchester vacant by the Death of Dr. Morley In this Month several desperate Persons in the Kingdom of Scotland affixed in the Night time a Paper on divers Crosses in the Towns and Villages and doors of Churches declaring War against the King under the Name of Charles Stuart and their Resolution to kill and destroy all that Served and Adhered unto him and in Pursuance thereunto about 36 Footmen and 16 Horse coming in the Night time to a Country Inn called Swiney Abby Seized on Two of the Kings Horse-Guards in their Beds and cuting them in peices carryed away a great deal of their Flesh as in Triumph On the 2 d. of December the Artillery Company kept their Anual Feast at Merchant Taylors-Hall where their Royal Highnesses the Duke of York as their Captain General and the Prince of Denmark were present with many of the Nobility and other Persons of Quallity and were Splendidly Entertained And the Duke of Albemarle being made Recorder of Colchester was received there on the 20 th with great Splendor and the Earl of Bath was Constituted Governour of Plymouth to whom the Inhabitants of several Corporations delivered up their Surrenders and Charters desiring him to lay them at His Majesties Feet which he performed with a Petition on their behalf the King accepted them with demonstrations of his Favour saying he very well remembered the Duty and Loyalty of that Country viz. Cornwall and was very well pleased with this fresh demonstration of it by them and for the better securing the Roads a Proclamation was put forth for the Apprehending Highway-men with the Reward of 10 l. upoâ— Conviction And in Scotland on the 23 d. of December Robert Baily was Tryed and found Guilty of endeavouring to stir up Rebellion in the Kingdom and in the Afternoon was Executed as in Case of High-Treason and his Head and Quarters set up in divers places and now many of the Cities and Corporations of England having delivered up their Charters had the same or new ones Restored as Leeds Carlisle Lincoln c. and an Order of the Courts of Kings-Bench and Common-Pleas was Published that all Clerks and Attorneys should Enter themselves in one of the Inns of Court or Inns of Chancery or dwell as near as possible leaving word with the Buttler of the places of their Aboads upon pain of being put out of the Roles of Clerks and Attorneys On the 13 th of January the King sent to the Lord Mayor of the City of London a Silver-Box Sealed up with his own Seal in which was Inclosed the Receipts of the several Cements used by the Pattentees of making Sea water fresh as also the Receipt of the Metalline Composition and Ingredients certified under the Hand of the Honourable Mr. Robert Boyle to be kept so Sealed up by the present and Succeeding Lord Mayors least a Secret of so great Importance to the Publick might come to be lost if lodged only in the knowledge of a few Persons herein Concerned On the 25 th of January Dr. Thomas Kenn was Consecrated Bishop of Bath and VVells by the Lord Arch Bishop of Canterbury and other Assistant Bishops the next day did Homage to the King but now to the Grief of all Loyal English Men the Life of this Great Monarch who had Tryed the Smiles and Frowns of Fortune and seen her in all her shapes grew to a Period for on the Second of February he was taken as he was rising with a violent fit of the Appoplexy and it was given out by some that he was Dead which caused the Councel on the Fourth to publish the following Notice viz. At the Council Chamber White-Hall the 4 th of February 1684. at Five in the Afternoon The Lords of His Majesties most Honourable Privy Council have thought fit for the preventing false Reports to make known that His Majesty upon Monday Morning last was seized with a most violent Fit that gave great Cause to fear the Issue of it but after some hours an Amendment appeared which by the blessing of God being improved by the Application of seasonable and proper Remedies is now so advanced that the Physicians have this Day as well as Yesterday given this account to the Council viz. That they conceived his Majesty to be in a Condition of Safety and that he will in a few Days be freed from his Distemper but they were deceived in their Account for on the Sixth of February he Dyed having been pestered and tormented at his Death by the impertinency of Father Hudleston and other Popish Priests who now growing bold as perceiving this Monarch past Recovery had the Impudence to bring their Trumpery about him and after his Decease to give out that he Dyed a Roman Catholick and Wrote several Pamphlets and Libels to justifie their Assertions Upon the Death of this Prince his Brother was immediately Proclaimed King by the Stile of James the Second c. at White-Hall-Gate Temple-Bar and before the Royal-Exchange with the usual Solemnity having caused all the Lords and Others of the Deceased King's Privyvy-Council that were present to be Sworn of His Privy-Council and an Order was Published for all that were in Places of Trust to continue them till further notice there being a Clause in the Order viz. Reserving in his own Judgment hereafter the Reformation and Redress of any abuse in Misgovernment upon due Knowledge and Examination thereof Notwithstanding which the Popelings who knew this was their time to play their Cards soon undermined a great many Worthy Persons and got them out of their Employments but the Church of England being at present look'd upon as the main Pillar of the Throne the King spared not to give that Church especial promises of his Favour c. in the following Speech made at his first Sitting in Council My Lords Before I enter upon any other Business I think sit to say something to you since it hath pleased Almighty God to place me in this Station and I am now to Succeed so Good and Gracious a King as well as so Kind a Brother I think fit to Declare to you That I will endeavour to follow his Example and most especially in that of his great Clemency and Tenderness to his People I have been reputed to be a Man for Arbitrary Power but that is not
Elizabeth Gaunt for Succouring and Assisting the said Burton with Money and helping him to a Passage in order to his escape beyond the Seas and were all Three found Guilty and received Sentence of Death as in case of High Treason And on the 23 d. of October Mr. Cornish was taken out of Newgate and Drawn in a Sledg to Kings-Street-end by Guild-Hall and there Executed on a Gibbet erected for that purpose his Head set upon Guild-Hall and his Quarters upon the Gates though since taken down and his Attainder reversed in Parliament Elizabeth Gaunt was conveyed to Tyburn and there Burnt to Ashes the other two got their Pardons and a Soldier for running from his Colours was Hanged on Tower Hill On the 27 th of October Richard Nelthrop and John Ayloff were carried from Newgate to the Kings Bench Bar and there received Sentence upon their being Outlawed for High Treason and a rule was made for their Execution on the 30 th when accordingly they were executed the first before Grays Inn Gate and the last before the Temple Gate and Quartered as in Case of High Treason On the 29 th of October Sir Robert Jefferys Lord Mayor of London was Sworn for the Year ensuing before the Barons of the Exchequer and the City received him with the usual Pomp c. and about the latter end of this Month a great Scuffle happened at Wiggan in the County Palatine of Lancaster between the Towns-Men and 4 Companys of Soldiers belonging to Sir William Clifton's Regiment in which many People were hurt however the inquiry as to the Agressors being submitted to a Court Marshal the Soldiers were excused and only obliged to remit out of their Pay so much Mony as their Quarters came to it being alledged That the Crouds of People pressed upon their Artillery and Carriages and their endeavouring to keep them off began the Fray On the 6 th of November an Order of Council was Published against making Bone-fires or Fire-works at or upon any Festival Days or Times whatsoever without particular leave first had from the King or Council-Board or signified to them by the Lord Mayor of London or by the Justices of Peace of the Respective Limmits upon Pain of Displeasure and being Prosecuted with the utmost Severity of the Law and some were taken up and Imprisoned on this occasion but upon submission and acknowledgment most of them Released And on the 20 th of November the King by the Lord Chancellour Prorogued the Parliament to the 19 th of February On the 4 th of December Robert Earl of Sunderland Principal Secretary of State was declared Lord President of the Council and took his place And divers new Charters about this time were Granted to sundry Corporations On the 10 th of December One Charles Bateman a Chirurgion was Tryed upon an Indictment of High-Treason for Conspiring the Death of King Charles the Second and to raise Rebellion within the Kingdom c. of which the Jury found him Guilty and he the next day received Sentance of Death as in Case of Treason and upon the 18 th was Executed at Tyburn where he made a very Pious End and his Head and Quarters afterwards set up in divers places And the King Appointed the Lord Viscount Tiveot Coll. Robert Phillips and John Evelyn do in the Absence of his Excellence the Earl of Clarendon who was made Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and on his way theither being Attended to the utmost Limits of this Kingdom with a Numerous and Gallant Train and received at Dublin with all the Demonstrations of Joy usual on that Occasion and the Earl of Huntingdon was appointed Lord Cheif Justice and Justice in Eyre of all the King's Forrests Chaces Parks and Warrens on the South side of Trent And on the 29 th the Bishop of Durham was Sworn Dean of the Chaple Royal and the Bishop of Rochester Clerk of the Closet to the King On the 30 th of December John Hambden Esq was Arraigned at the Old-Baily upon an Indictment of High-Treason but was afterwards Pardoned And a Proclamation was published for the further Prorogation of the Parliament viz. to the 10 th of May 1689. On the 8 th of February Thomas Saxton was brought to his Tryal at the Kings Bench-Bar upon an Indictment of Perjury in wilfully Forswearing himself at the Tryal of Henry Lord Delamere and the Jury found him Guilty without going from the Bar and afterward received Sentence to stand in the Pillory before VVestminsterx-Hall gate Temple Bar and the Royal Exchange and to be Whiped from New-gate to Tyburn and to pay 500 Marks as a Fine and he did stand in the Pillory and was Whiped Phlibert Vernatti who had been Attainted by Outlawry for Murthering Sr. Edmunbury Godfry appeared likewise at the Kings-Bench and being admitted to Reverse the Outlawry by Writ of Error tookâ— a kind of a pretended Tryal as knowingâ— doubtless no Witness would appear for that Miles Prance and others being called and not coming into Court the Jury was necessiated to Aâ—quit him and the Parliament Meeting on the 10 th of February was Prorogued by Commission to the 10 th of May. On the 13 th of February Sr. Thomas Jenner was Appointed one of the Baroâ—â— of the Exchequer in the place of Sr. VVilliam Gregory and Sr. Henry Bedingfield was Appointed a Justice of the Common-Pleas in the stead of Sr. Creswel Levens and Sr. John Holt was Constituted Recorder of London On the 10 th of March 1685. The King-Signed a Proclamation of General Pardon yet full of Exceptions in Sundry matters and cases Excluding from the benefit of it a great number by Name especially the most considerable Persons that had Escaped the Battle of Sedgmore or were concerned in the business of the VVest however divers Addresses followed it and sundry clusters were granted or restored and thus ended the most Remarkable Transactions of the year 1685. The year 1686. began with Storms in which a great many Ships were cast away and the shoars in many places were strew'd with Wrecks c. And on the 21 st of April Sr. Thomas Jones Lord Cheif Justice of the Common-Pleas VVilliam Montague Esq Lord Cheif Baron of the Exchequer Sr. Job Charleton one of the Justices of the Common-pleas and Sir Edward Nevil one of the Barons of the Exchequer had their Quietus and others appointed in in the stead however Sir Job Charleton was made Cheif Justice of Checter and a Call of Serjeants was made by Writ and they took their Oaths accordingly at the Chancery-Bar the first day of Easter Term and performed the Ceremonies usual on that occasion Presenting Rings with this Motto viz. Deus Rex Lex And an Order about this time was Published by the King and Council strictly Commanding any one to Betrary or Seduce any Person to the Forreign Plantations in America c. without their Consent and being lawfully bound before a Majestrate or such as should be thereunto Appointed which for a
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
he had been some time detained by contrary Winds he arrived and was received at Dubâ—â—n by those of his Sticklers with Accâ—â—maâ—â—â—â—s of Joy and from that time the Iâ—â—sh Papists began to date their hopes of subjectinâ— the Protestants and bragged that their Religion should not long coâ—â—inue And indeed this Earl did all he could to surpress it by placing and disâ—â—â—ing Officeâ—s and Ministers in Sâ—â—â—â—ns Military and Civil by â—n â—ncontroâ—lable Power refusing to shew â—ny Warâ—â—â—â— or gâ—ve the least reason for his so 〈◊〉 and all 〈◊〉 a â—â—ddain a Proclamation was sent to the Coâ—â—câ—l of Scotland 〈◊〉 sed in 〈…〉 Letter for Liberty of consâ—â—ce as â—â—ll for Roman Caâ—â—â—licks as other 〈◊〉 only Field-Convenciâ—â—â—â— and 〈◊〉 Meetings and such like 〈◊〉 and to suspend all Laws c. 〈◊〉 â—â—câ—sants and Conventicie◠〈◊〉 that â—hould peacefully meet disâ— anulling 〈…〉 Tests and other Matters 〈…〉 were rendeâ—d unqualified or uncapable of holding Places and Trusts in the Government and appointing a new Oath to acknowledge his Right and Power and not to take up or bear Arms against him but to oppose such as should attempt it to which a suitable Letter was returned Signed by the chief Ministers of State of that Kingdom promising Obedience And now many Roman Catholicks being Commissioned for the Peace throughout England and Dispenced with from taking the Oaths and Tests of Qualification The Protestant Justices of the County of Middlesex desired the same Dispensation might be allowed them To which the King replyed He took it kindly their putting Confidence in him and he would take care of them The New Lord Deputy of Ireland finding his violent Proceedings much disatisfied the greater part of the People and occasioned Reflections on them the better to palliate the Matter Isâ—ued out Three Proclamations One to assure the People of his good Intentions towards them commanding the Magistrates to apprehend and bring to Justice the spreaders of Reports tending otherways Another for preserving the Forces in good Order and Discipline And a Third for suppressing Tories and Robbers On the 18 th of March the King being in Council at White-Hall Declared his Intention further to Prorogue the Parliament to the 22 d. of November 1687. And that he intended a General Toleration of Liberty of Conscience to his Subjects and for that end he designed to Publish his Declaration for a general Liberty of Conscience to all Persons of what Perswasion soever c. The Attorney and Sollicitor General were forbidden to suffer Process to Issue out in the King's Name against any Dissenter whatsoever and a Proclamation was Issued out for a fuâ—ther Pâ—orogation of the Parliament and with these Proceedings concluded the Year 1686. On the 4 th of April 1687. A Declaration for Liberty of Conscience was Signed by the King at VVhite Hall promising amongst other things to Protect and Maintain the Arch-Bishops Bishops and Clergy and all others of the Church of England in the Free Exercise of their Religion as by Law Established c. and that the Penal Laws and all Tests should be laid aside and no longer useful for distinguishment of Opinion or keeping Persons of any Perswasion out of Places of Trust directing how and in what manner they should meet in their several Assemblies and upon what notice c. Upon this both Papists and Dissenters began to spread sundry Scandalous and Malicious Libels against the Conduct of the Church Established and doubted not but this great Engine would make her totter but it proved otherwise and this dividing made way for a surer Establishment However divers flattering Addresses followed from sundry Perswasions promoted for the most part by Underhand Insinuation for the Priests were every where busie in making their Advantage and several Alterations were made in the Judges and Ministers of State many of the Judges having given their Opinions for the Dispencing Power and it having been carryed for Sir Edward Hales in the King's-Bench Court upon an Action brought against him by his Coachman for Five Hundred Pounds according to the Statutes for taking upon him a Place of Trust without being Qualified by the Oathes c. On the 22 d. of April the King removed the Loâ—d Chief Justice Herbert to the Common Pleas and the Lord Chief Justice Wright to the Kings-Bench and Sir Francis Withens one of the Justices of the Kings-Bench had his Quietus And now the D. of Buckingham dying his Garter was given to the Earl of Sunderland and he was made a Knight Companion of the Order and Sir Richard Allebone a Roman Catholick who had been 〈◊〉 and a Serjeant at Law by the King 's Writ was sworn on the 28 th of April one of the Justices of the King's-Bench before the Lord Chancellor And the Parliament meeting at VVestminster were by Commission Prorogued to the 22 d. of November The Army being all this while on Foot and several Campaigns held at Hounslow-Heath where Two Cnâ—ppels were erected one for the Roman Catholicks and another for the Protestants The â—â—ege of Buda was appointed to be Acted but it being like to come to earnest about Priority and some Bullets being shot 〈◊〉 was given over and some of the Judges having given their Opinion that it was Death by the Law of the Land for a Soldier â—ntering into Pay Deserting his Coloâ—rs without Leave though in time of Peace divers were tryed and executed and now â—ddresses came crouding from all 〈◊〉 of Thanks for Liberty of Conscience c. The publick Papers being Weekly fiâ—led with them c. And the Priests proceeded to Build Chaples in St. John's Limes-Street Bucklers Bury Lincolns-sâ—n-Fields and in most places giving out what Advantages they had gained and how near they were to the Consummating their Wishes but 〈◊〉 Man Proposes God Disposes nor were the Quakers a thing unusual in those People behind-hand in their Complements and Addresses which induced many to believe that some Jesuits in Disguise were gotten amongst them About this time arrived a Ship very Richly â—aden with Gold and Silver from the VVest-Indies Commanded by Captain VVilliam Phillips who afterward was Knighted for this Exploit and this Treasure with several pieces of Canon were the Wreck of a Spanish Galleon about 40. Years since and recovered by Diving in 14 and 15 Fathom Water in a strong Sea running between divers Rocks and Islands the Treasure amounted to about 200000 l. and was partnered amongst those that had fitted him out of whom the Duke of Albermarle was principal but others going to attempt the like returned without Success and Sir John Narborough dyed in the Enterprize And now contrary to Expectation the King Published a Proclamation for the Dissolution of the Parliament given at Hampâ—on Court on the Second of July 1687. and upon an Embassy sent to Rome the Pope sent hither in Quality of his Nuncio Ferdinand d' Adda Arch-Bishop of Amasia c. who on the 3 d. of July had his publick Audience at VVindsor and was
from London And it being given out that the Queen was with Child for which it is reported a great Offering had been made at thâ— Shrine of the Lady of Loretto a Proclamation was put forth appointing a publick Thanksgiving and Prayer throughout the Kingdom that is in the Cities of London and Westminster on the 15 th of January and ten Mlies thereabout and on the 29 th throughout the Kingdom and Prayers were formed and published to that end and read in the Churches upon the Days mentioned This made the Papists greatly rejoyce and not stick to declare before hand it was a Son and many Flattering Poems were Written and published on that occasion and the Priests spread it loudly in their Sermons Attributing it as a Miracle to the Virgin Mary or as a return of the Offering c. And the privy Council of Scotland made an Act likewise for a publick and solemn Thanksgiving throughout that Kingdom to the same end bearing Date the 17 th of January 1687. And now to smooth with the Dissenters Commissioners were Appointed to Inquire what Monies or Goods had been Received or Seized by any Persons Ecclesiastical or Civil within the Cities of London or Westminster or the Counties of Middlesex Essex or Surry from the 29 th of September 1677. For matters Relating to Religion directing them to places where they should be heard and Redressed and this way of Proceeding made a great noise throughout the Kingdom for a while but in the end it fell a sleep and came to little or nothing On the 2 d. of March a Proclamation was Exhibited for-biding the Subjects of England c. to go into any Forreign Service without leave by Sea or Land as they would Answer it at their utmost Peril and upon some Complaints that the Soldiers in Pay were Disorderly in their Quarters a General Court Marshal consisting of General Officers and Officers of the Army were Appointed to meet at the Horse Guard every Friday morning to hear and Redress Grievances of that kind and commanded not to spare any for Respect or Favour that should be found Culpable Upon Notice that the King Intended â—o Recal his Forces in the Service of the States of Holland they Circumvented it by Disbanding them and Listing them a new such as would be Listed into their own Service before our Ambassador Received his Orders to Require their being sent Home or at least had made them known to the States General so that the King finding himself Disappointed published a Proclamation bearing date the first of March Commanding the Return of all his Subjects who had taken Arms or were â—n the Service of the States General of the United Neitherlands either by Land or Sea upon pain of being proceeded against if Refusing and the English Ships had a strict Charge to give such free Passage as would Return whereupon a great many Officers though but few of the Soldiers came oâ—er And now the Mass-Houses growing numerous the Rable began to Stomack â—â—t who are frequently the first on such occasions and broke the Windows whereupon the Trained-Bands had Orders to be in Arms to prevent it Especially on Sundays and several Youths were taken and Committed to Prison but upon making Friends most of them got off without Punishment and now many who had been very forward upon the first Publishing Liberty of Conscience appearing more Wavering the King Renewed it by a Second Declaration wherein he more Amply Declared his Pleasure as to the manner and management of that Affair and this was dated the 27 th day of April 1688. but some Ill willers to the Church of England Clergy finding they were not greatly Concerned at these Proceedings Resolved to try them further and thereupon so dealt that the King caused the following Order to be Published viz. At the Court of White-Hall the Fourth of May 1688. By the Kings Most Excellent Majesty and the Lords of His Majesties most Honourable Privy-Council IT is this day Ordered by his Majesty in Council that his Majesties Late Gracious Declaration bearing date the 27 th of April last be Read at the usual time of Divine Service upon the 20 th and 27 th of this Month in all Churches and Chapples within the Cities of London and Westminster and Ten Miles thereabout And upon the 3 d. and 10 th of June next in all other Churches â—nd Chapples throughout the Kingdom And â—t is hereby further Ordered that the Right Reverend the Bishops Cause the said Declaraâ—ion to be sent and destributed throughout their Respective Diocesses to be Read Accordingly Very few complyed with this for many of the Bishops refused to meddle or â—end any Declaration or Order of this kind whereupon the Popish party and others began to Rant at a high Rate and Charged them with Disobedience and Disloyalty puting out many Scandalous Pamphlets on that occasion yet at the same time Rejoyced to see this non Complyance as thinking thereby to gain an advantage by the Kings being Exasperated but that which they thought would have most availed them broke all their measures for the Lord Arch-Bishop of Canâ—erbury the Lords Bishop of Chichester Bath and Wells Bristol Ely Peterborough and St. Asaph thought it neccisary in their â—lames and on the behalf of others humbly to Petition the King to Remit the Order for the Declaration to be Read in Churches in the time of Divine Service but those of that Reverend Body that delivered it had not only a slighting Answer but the afore Named Worthy Men were Summoned to Appear before the King in Council at VVhite-Hall where the Lord Chancellor Jesseries and divers Popish Lords Sat to Examin them and after they had given their Reasons why they could not comply they were contrary to the Expection of a vast number of People who waited to hear the Issue sent to the Tower by Water and whilst they remained there News was spread abroad that the Queen was Delivered of a Son at St. James's between 9 and 10 in the Morning when about Noon the Council met and ordered there should be a general Thanks Giving observed in the Cities of London and VVestminster and Parts Adjacient on the 14 th of June and in 14 days after in all other Parts of the Kingdom and that notice should be given of this Birth to the Lord Mayor of London that Bone-fires and publick Rejoycings might be made which was performed and the Tower Guns Discharged to Signifie it at a greater distance and Dr. VValgrave the Queens Physitian was Knighted in the Kings Bed-Chamber for the Skill and Dilligence he had used and on the 10 th of June the Marchioness of Powis was Sworn by the Lord Chamberlain of the House-hold Lady Governess of their Majesties Children and the Lady Strickland under Governess and a Proclamation was published for a Publick Thanksgiving and a Form of Prayer and Thanksgiving ordered to be drawn up and dispersed to the divers Churches and Chapples of England VVales
and should be Recommended by the Lord Lieutenants On the 30 th of September divers of the Bishops were sent for to White-Hall and received into Favour and the King let them know that he would signifie his pleasure for taking off the Suspension of the Lord Bishop of London which was done accordingly and a Proclamation was Published giving notice of the suddain Invasion expected from Holâ—and and the Writs that had been Issued out for Election of Members to sit in Parliament were by this Proclamation re-called and discharged and all People Commanded to be in a readness foâ— Defence and charged on pain of High Treasâ—â— noâ— to be Corresponding Aiding 〈◊〉 or Countenancing any of the Inâ—aders 〈◊〉 And hereupon the Dukâ—â— of 〈…〉 â—erwick were Elected Knight◠〈◊〉 of the Order and 〈…〉 the â—arter and George having 〈◊〉 first Knighted by the Soveraign and 〈◊〉 â—ew Commissions were given out to raise Men in divers Counties whâ—lst some â—oble Men came in to offer their Service And now the Church of England came again into the Thoughts of the Court the King being pleased to declare in Council on the 5 th of October That in pursuance to his Intention and Resolution to Protect the Church of England and that all Suspitions and Jealousies to the contrary might be removed He thought fit to dissolve the Commission for Causes Ecclesiastical c. And accordingly gave Directions to the Lord Chancellour that it might be forth-with done And his Grace the Duke of Newcastle was appointed Lord Lieutenant of the Three Ridings of the County of York On the 6 th the City of London had re-restored to her all her Ancient Franchises and Priviledges as fully as she injoyed them before the Judgment upon the Quo Warranto and the Lord Chancellour Jefferys brought an Instrument of Restitution and Confirmation under the great Seal of England and Sir John Eyles who by appointment succeeded Sir John Shorter he Dying before the expiration of his Mayoralty had his Quietus Sir Iohn Chapman being by this Instrument appointed Lord Mayor until the Feast of Simon and Jude and was Sworn in the Guild-Hall with the usual Solemnity and the Aldermen that were in being at the time of the said Judgment were restored to their places and the Vacancies left to be supplyed by Election according to the Ancient Custom And from this Message no doubt the Chancellor took a presage of his falling Greatness for instead of being received with Shouts and Acclamations he was affronted in his return by several Inferiour Persons and took it very patiently contrary to his wonted fiery Humour yet the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Sheriffs Addressed the King upon this occasion as likewise did the Lieutenancy of the City And the Lords of the Privy Council of Scotland sent a Letter signed by many of them to let the King know into what a Postuâ—â— they had put that Kingdom for Defence On the 10th of October the King was pleased to signifie That having received several Complaints of great Abuses and Irregularities committed in the late Regulations of Corporations He thought fit to Authorize and Require the Lords Lieutenants of the several Counties to inform themselves of all such Abuses and Irregularities within their Lieutenancies and to make forthwith Report thereof to himself together with what they conceived fit to be done for redressing the same and that then be would give such further Orders as should be requisite And hereupon some few Addresses followed and the Lord Bishop of Winchester was impowered as Visitor of St. Mary Magdelens Colledge in Oxford to settle the Society regularly and statutably whereupon the Popish Tribe was turned out and those worthy Persons who had been causelesly dismissed restored to their fellowships c. and had power to chuse themselves a President On the 13 th of October Sir John Chapman was Elected Lord Mayor for the enâ—suing Year and Sir Humphry Edwin and Mr. John Fleet afterwards Knighted by the King were Elected Sheriffs and Siâ— Peter Rich Chamberlain And a Proclamation bearing Date the 〈◊〉 was puâ—lished for restoring Corporatione to theâ— ancient Charters Liberties Râ—ghts and Franchises and to displace many of those who bore Offices or haâ— plâ—ces of Truff unduly obtained by the taking away such Charters or put in by the Regulators and leave for 〈◊〉 aâ— had been wrongfully 〈…〉 though late this 〈…〉 he had been abâ—â—ed and Imposed on by such as sought their own advantage and revenge before his â—rue Interest and the well-fare of the Kingdoms And now the Infant having before been privately Christened was Solemnly named at the Chapple of St. James's amidst the Ceremonies and Rites of Baptism as used in the Church of Rome viz. James Francis Edward the Pope by his Nuncio standing for God-Father and the Queen Dowager as God-mother and divers new Lord Lientenants were appointed in the Countys c. And a Proclamation bearing date the 20 th of October was published for driving all Cattle of Draught Oxen c. 20 Miles from the Shoar and that the Coasts should be diligently Guarded which was given in charge to those that were in power in the respective Counties as well Civil as Miâ—itary And although a considerable Army was on Foot under the Command of the Earl of Feversham as also a Fleet at Sea under the Command of the Earl of Dartâ—outh yet such parâ—â—ck â—ear had seized the Priests and such Ministers of State as wore 〈◊〉 of evil Practices that they were prâ—parâ—â— to be on the Wing and made it a great part of theâ—â— Business to gaze upon the Weather-Cocks and observe which way the Wind stood and to that end a Vane was placed on the highest part of the Banquetting-House where it yet remains and Sutlers were Incouraged more than ordinary to follow the Army with Provisions and other Necessaries And now the Legality of the Birth of the Infant being much discoursed of abroad an Extraordinary Council was called on the 22 th of October where by the King's desire and appointment the Queen Dowager and divers of the Peers as well Spiritual as Temporal that were about the Town as also the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London and the Judges with several of the Kings Council at Law the Ladies Lords and others that were present at the time the Queen was held to be in Labour did likewise appear and Declare upon Oath what they knew concerning or relating to the Biâ—th c. which was afterward published at large and soon after Theirs and other Deâ—ositions were by the Kings Order Inrolled in Chancery and about this time the Eaâ—l of Sunderland was removed from being principal Secrecary of State and the Lord Viscount Preston appointed to take that Office upon him and the Wind for the most part continued at S. W. and by S. so that though all things were in a readiness and the Dutch Fleet labouring to get to Sea it was for a time obstructed which made the Priests Insinuate into the
more foolish sort of Biggots that the Virgin Mary had commanded the Wind not to shift its Quarter till Lady-day at soonest And various Reports flying abroad every one freely speaking as they thought or stood affected a Proclamation was published to prevent the spreading of false News but the Rumours rather increased then lessened On the 29 th of October Sir John Chapman was sworn Lord Mayor of the City of London before the Barons of the Exchequer but the Solemnity was not great at his return by reason of the Consternation the People were in also to prevent Tumults that might have happened notwithstanding the Judges and several of the Lords of the Privy-Council dined with him at Grocers Hall In the begining of November the Wind suddenly coming about the Dutch Fleet weighed Anchor and got to Sea consisting of 635. Men of War Flyboats Pinks and Fire-Ships on Board which was his Royal Highness the Prince of Orange since King of England c. with divers great Commanders as well English Noblemen as others and 〈◊〉 Horse and Footâ— and on the 3 d. of November about 10â— of the Clock in the Morning it appeared abouâ— half Seas over between Dover and Callais steering a Chanâ—â—l Course Westward the Wind a very fresh Gale at East North East and was between Six and Seven Hours passing by Dover◠〈◊〉 Fleet lying still the Seameâ— not being willing to sight on this Occasion Yet a Fly-Boat and some Stragling Victuallers were brought into the River by Scoutships and such as were cruizing for Discovery and on the Fifth of November the Day of our former Deliverance from the Powder Plot about 300â— Sail of the Dutch Fleet came into Torbay and divers into Brixham Key where they Landed some Souldiers whilst the rest were sâ—nt on Shoar in Boats without any Opposition The Country People who in other cases being timerous and frighted from their Habitations here on the contrary came flocking to the Shoar and brought such Provisions as they hastily could get to comfort and refresh the Soldiers The Army being Landed Marched toward Exeter increasing as it went and that City upon its approach opened the Gates and many of the Towns-Men Listed themselves only the Bishop left his Pallace and came 〈◊〉 London where the King appointed him to the Archiepisâ—â—pal See of York In which his Grace has been since confirmed and now the Armies be ginning to move the King 〈◊〉 out an Order for the punctual Payment of Quarters and good Behaviour c. and a Proclamation to suppâ—â—â— Declaration omitted by the Prince and the Trainâ—â— Aâ—â—sâ—ery was ordered to be in a Readiness to mâ—rch to Salisbury but the Court was extreamly startled upon News that the Lord Cornbury was gone over with a considerable Number of Horse and Dragoons and that the Noblemen and Gentlemen went in daily and even the whole Army or the greater part of it shewed an open unwillingness to Fight against those that came to deliver us from Popery c. Upon these Proceedings Exetar â—air and other Fairs in the West were 〈◊〉 and on the 17 th of November in the Afternoon the King went to Windsor and from thence continued his â—ourneâ— towards Salisbury 〈…〉 a General Bâ—nde 〈◊〉 of 〈…〉 dering the Privy Council to meet in his Absence for the dispaâ—â— of Affâ—irs as Occasion should require and the 〈◊〉 Forces held to be 3 or 4000. that wâ—re 〈◊〉 over a little before by the Earl of Tyrconnel marched into the West Whilst these things were doing the Lord Delamere mustered a great many Forces upon Boddon Downs and Declared for the Prince The King arriving at Salisbury was Lodged in the Bishop's Pallace and while he continued there a Skirmish happened between an advanced Party of Foot who had gone too far from the main Body or else were going to the Prince's Army and Collonel Sarsefield who commanded a Party of the King's Horse Dragoons and Granadiers in which the former being very unequal in number were worsted some being after a resolute defence killed others taken Prisoners and the rest escaped on the Kings part Four were killed and Two wounded one mortally this happened near Wincanton where the Foot upon the pursuit made after them had posted themselves in a strong ground and had had the better had not a Countrey-man discovered a place where the Horse might enter The King finding great Numbers as well Soldiers in his own Pay as others to go daily over Published a Proclamation of General Pardon to such as would return within the space of 40. Days as also Pardon and Protection to all such Foreigners as should do the like but it little or nothing availed for we do not hear of any that returned With these Discouragements the King came hastily from Salisbury having first given Order for his Army to retreat which was done with great Precipitation even contrary to Expectation considering for several Campaigns it had attracted the wonder of many on Hounslow Heath The King thus returning and hearing that several strong Places had declared against him thought it convenient in order to quiet the People to Call a Parliament and Ordered the Lord Chancellour to Issue out Writs for summoning a Parliament to meet at Westminster the 15 th of January ensuing and made Collonel Edward Griffin a Baron of this Kingdom by the Name and Title of Lord Griffin of Braybrook in the County of Northampton after which he caused his Proclamation to be Published for Calling a Parliament On the 9 th of December his Grace the Lord Arch-Bishop of York did Homage to the King the Ceremonies of his Translation to that See having been performed the Day before at Lambeth-House by the Lord Arch-bishop of Canterbury assisted by the Bishops of St. Asaph Ely Rochester and Pâ—terborough Whilst these things happened Hâ—ll â—ork Plimouth and some other Places were secured for the Prince's Interest by divers Noble â—on and Gentlemen and the whole Kingdom inclined to his Side and his Army which was greatly encreased advanced a pace towards London when some of the advanced Parties finding an Opposition in the Town of Reading by some Scotch and Irish Troops of Horse and Dragoons posted there they after a hot Skiâ—mish â—orced their 〈◊〉 and clearing â—he Town drove them to â—â—yford-Bridge where the main Guard had taken its Station and those fearing a greater Party 〈◊〉 thought fit to retire and leave the passage free though not above Nine or Ten were killed in the skirmish This News flying swiftly to White-Hall alarmed the 〈◊〉 and put all into hurry and confusionâ— The 〈◊〉 whose Councils as it is 〈◊〉 believed had brought the 〈…〉 packed up their 〈…〉 themselves 〈…〉 who in the height of his 〈…〉 professed nothing grieâ—â—d him more than that he had not stayed â—n the Reign of K Charles the Second and â—ered with his 〈◊〉 had by this â—hanged his Mind and 〈◊〉 no Stomach to be placed as a Martyr in the Roman â—alender for having gotten a huge
his Consent That the Act should be made null and void for which they returned him an Address of Thanks and upon the same occasion the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common Council made and Presented their Address On the 16 th of March the King passed Two Acts one for Impowering His Majesty to apprehend and detain such Persons as he shall find just Cause to suspect are Conspiring against the Government and an Act for anulling and making void the Attainder of William Russel Esq commonly called Lord Russel and then made a very Gracious Speech requiring them to settle the Oaths that Papists might be excluded and Protestants that were willing and able to serve might be admitted to places of Trust About this time we had News That a great part of the Regiment of Foot once Commanded by the Lord Dumbarton had revolted and seized on the Money designed for their Pay and Marching away with some Field Pieces had Proclaimed K. James commiting several Disorders and Outrages in the County of Suffolk and other places whereupon the Parliament besought his Majesty to Issue out a Proclamation for apprehending and surpressing them which was accordingly done and more Forces sent to quell them however at first they prepared to make resistance but the King's Horse being ready to attack them they threw down their Arms and surrendred upon Discretion and were most of them the Officers especially brought up to London the greatest part of the Soldiers were sent to the English Army assisting the States General against France and several of the principal Officers were tryed at the Assizes holden for the County of Suffolk and being found Guilty cast themselves upon the King's Mercy expressing a hearty Sorrow for what they had done and were thereupon Reprieved The Coronation Day being appointed on the 11 th of April 1689. A Proclamation was published to give Notice thereof to such as had Claims by Tenure of Land Service Dignity Places Honour Offices or Trust that they might timely make their Claims in order to have things done regular upon so great and solemn Occasions And the Lord Lieutenants of the respective Countys were perfected So that all things tended to good order and settlement in England but the Affairs of Ireland admitted of no such Happiness for the late King being Landed there with French Forces and drawn to him a considerable Army of Irish Papists For a time we had but a Melancholly account of Affairs in that Kingdom however several places held out and put a stop to the Torrent of the Enemy and such as were uncapable of Resisting were obliged to take such Conditions as they could get On the 22 th of March Thomas Pilkington Esq since Knighted Elected to be Lord Mayor for the City of London for the remaining part of the Year in the room of Sir John Chapman who Dyed in his Mayoralty was presented to the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal and afterwards Sworn at the Hustings in Guild-Hall according to the ancient Custom and at Five in the Afternoon he was Sworn without the Tower-Gate by the Lord Lucas Chief Governour of the Tower in pursuance of their Majesties Writ directed to him and of the ancient usuage at such time as the Exchequer Court is not holden at Westminster And the Day before an Act passed the Royal Assent for a present Supply for their Majesties The Convention of the Estates of Scotland met at Edenburgh to consult the settlement of the Affairs of that Kingdom as it had been appointed the 16 th of March they chose his Grace the Duke of Hamilton their President and settled their Committee of Five out of every Estate for Examining the Elections and then took the matter of the Castle of Edenburgh into their Consideration and sent to the Duke of Gourdon who yet held it out requiring him to put it into their hands whereupon he required an Indemnity for all that had passed and a Security for the future which the Convention condescending to in so far as he had acted as a Papist they sent the Earls of Tweedale and Lothain with an Indemnity in Writing for himself and all that were with him upon which he desired 24 Hours to consider it but though this was granted it appeared in the end that he only delayed to gain time when after several Messages sent to and fro the Convention sent up the Heralds at Arms in their Formalities to charge him in the Name and Authority of the Convention Immediately to deliver up the Castle upon pain of Treason and upon refusal he was Proclaimed at the Mercat Cross and all Persons forbid upon pain of Treason to Converse Correspond or Treat with him or to Aid Abet or Succour him and so they proceeded to Forfeit him And the King of England's Letter was read with great applause and a Committee appointed to draw up an Answer in the most thankful and dutiful manner but there being a Letter likewise sent by the late King James brought by one Mr. Crane before they would suffer it to be read they passed an Act by the unanimous consent of the House asserting the Lawfulness of the Convention notwithstanding any thing that might be alledged in the said Letter to the contrary and the Person that brought it was committed to the Custody of a Serjeant at Arms but upon his humble Petition he in a few Days was set at Liberty and obtained a Pasport to return to his Master And the Convention approved proved of all that the Noblemen and Gentlemen at London had done in praying His Majesty to take upon him the Administration of the Government The Viscount Dundee being Discovered to have a secret Conference with the Duke of Gourdon and upon being Summoned Flying with between 30 and 40 Horse stronger Forces were raised and 3 Regiments were sent from England under the Command of Major General Mackay and thus passed over the Material Transactions of the Year 1688. just a hundred Years since the Spanish Invasion was defeated and brought to nothing In the beginning of the Year 1689. the Lord Ross arrived with a Letter from the Convention of Scotland which he presented to his Majesty viz. May it please Your Majesty AS Religion Liberty and Law are the dearest concerns of Mankind so the deepest sence of the extream hazard they were exposed to must produce suitable Returns from the Kingdom of Scotland to Your Majesty whom in all Sincerity and Gratitude we Acknowledge to be under God our great and seasonable Deliverer and we heartily Congratulate that as God has Honoured Your Majesty to be an Eminent Instrument of the Preservation of his Truth so he has rewarded Your Undertaking with Success in the considerable Progrese you have made in Delivering us and in preserving to us the Protestant Religion We return our most Dutiful Thanks to Your Majesty for the accepting the Administration of Publick Affairs and convening the Estates of this Kingdom and we shall with all convenient Dilligence take Your
offer Their Majesties the Crown of Scotland viz. The Earl of Argyle Sir James Montgomery and Sir John Darlerimple the younger met in the Council Chamber about Three in the Afternoon and being Conducted by the Master of the Cerimonies and Accompany'd by divers Noble Men to the Banqueting-House They presented a Letter to the King who with the Queen Sat under a Canopy of State from the Estates of Scotland and then an Instrument of Government after that a Paper containing Grievances which they desired might be Redressed and then an Address to His Majesty for turning the Meeting of the Estates of the aforesaid Kingdom into a Parliament all Signed by his Grace Duke Hamilton President of the Meeting and were Read to Their Majesties whereupon the King Returned the following Gracious Answer When I Engaged in this Undertaking I had particular Regard and Consideration for Scotland and therefore I did Emit a Declaration in Relation to that as well as this Kingdom which I Intend to make Good and Effectual to them I take it very Kindly that Scotland hath Expressed so much Confidence in and Affection to me They shall find me willing to Assist them in every thing that concerns the Well and Interest of that Kingdom by making what Laws shall be necessary for the Security of their Religion Property and Liberty and to Ease them of what may be justly Grieveous to them This was Received with the highest sense of Thankfulness and Satisfaction and the Corronation Oath thereupon Tendered to the King and Queen the Earl of Argyle Speaking the Words distinctly and the King and Queen Repeating after him holding up Their right Hands after the manner of taking Oaths in Scotland This done the Commissioners declared that the Estates of Scotland had Authorized them to Represent to His Majesty that the Clause in the Oath in Relation to the Rooting out of Heriticks did not Import the Destroying Heriticks and that by the Law of Scotland no Man was to be Persecuted for his private Opinion and even Obstinate and Convicted Heriticks were only to be denounced Rebels or Out-lawed whereby their Moveable Estates are Confiscated for His Majesty at his Repeating that Clause in the Oath did Declare That he did not mean by those Words that he was under any Obligation to become a Persecutor To which the Commissioners Reply'd that neither the meaning of the Oath nor the Law of Scotland did Import it whereupon His Majesty Declared He took the Oath in that Sense And called the Commissioners and others present for Witnesses and then the King and Queen Signed the Coronation Oath and the Commissioners and several of the Scotch Nobility had the Honour to kiss Their Majesties Hands The King taking a Progress to Portsmouth c. to view the Fleet put in there was Pleased in Consideration of the Service done against the French in Bantre-Bay to give a Donative of Ten Shillings a Man to all that were in that Engagement which Amounted to the Sum of 2600 l. and Dineing on Board the Elizabeth he was Pleased as a Mark of His Great Satisfaction in the Conduct and Service of Admiral Herbert to Declare His Intentions of Confering upon him the Title and Dignity of an Earl of this Kingdom and he was after Created Earl of Torrington c. His Majesty was likewise Pleased to Confer the Honour of Knight-hood on John Ashby Commander of the Defiance and Captain Clowdesly Shovel of the Edgar and Returned through the Repeated Acclamations of the Sea-men and the Crowds of People that were on the Shoar gethered from divers Places to Express the Satisfaction they had of seeing His Majesty in those Parts The Castle of Edenburg being still in the Hands of the Duke of Gourdon it was strictly Blocked up and several Batteries were Raised against it So that all Communication with the Besieged were cut off however the Viscount Dundee being Abroad and having strengthned himself proceeded to open Hostilities and amongst other Exploits came with a Party of 50 or 60 Horse to the Town of St. Johns-Towns and in the Night time surprized and carried away the Laird of Blair a Member of the Convention and two other Gentlemen and having a Design upon Inverness wheither he had sent to demand Mony of the Majestrates he was prevented by divers Gentlemen taking Arms and Raising about 7 or 800 of the Neighbouring People nor durst he Attempt to Enter Dundee it being in a posture of Defence and the Committe of the Estates Appointed Persons to Receive the Duke of Gourdons Rents for the use of the Publick forgiving a years Rent to the Tennants provided they live Peaceably and did the like by that of the Viscount Dundee's and Orders were taken to Reduce the Bass which was held out against the Government and a Party who had taken up Arms for Dundee and Attaqued Capt. Young on his March to Kintyre with a Detachment of 500 Men of the new Leavys â—was Routed many of them then kill'd and others taken Prisoners On the 24 th of May His Majesty in the House of Lords at Westminster gave the Royal Assent to an Act for Exempting Their Majesties Protestant Subjects Dissenting from the Church of England from the Penalties of certain Penal Laws An Act for Anulling and making Void the Attainder of Alice Lisle Widdow who was Beheaded in the West And a private Act. And now the Army being in motion and War Proclaimed against France Their Majesties by Proclamation Commanded a General Fast throughout the Kingdom to Implore the Blessing of Almighty God â—pon Their Arms c. to be Religiously and Solemnly Kept and Observed on the 5 th of June within the Cities of London and Westminster and Ten Miles Distance And on the 19 th throughout the whole Kingdom Dominion of Wales and Town of Berwick upon Tweed And Their Majesties were Impowred by an Act to Commit without Bail such Persons as they should find Just Cause to Suspect Conspiring against the Government And the Duâ—ch Ambassadors Arriving to Congratulate Their Majesties upon Their Happy Accession to the Crown in the Name of the States General of the United Provinces were Received at Greenwich by the Earl of Sussex Sir Charles Cottrel Master of the Ceremonies and Six Gentlemen of His Majesties Privy-Chamber from whence they were Conducted in the Kings Barges to the Landing place the Tower Standard being Displayed and at their Landing they were Complemented by the Lord Lucas Governour of the Tower and Saâ—uted with the Dischaâ—ge of the Cannon and from thence being Attended by 16 Pages on Horse-back and 60 Foot-men in Liveries they were Conducted in Their Majesties Coaches followed by Six Coaches of their own and about 50 others belonging to the Nobility to Cleveland-House at St. James's Appointed for their Entertainment where their Excellencies were Complemented from the King by the Lord Cornwallis and from the Queen by Sir Edward Villers Master of the Horse to Her Majesty from the Queen Dowager by Mr. Sayers Her
Majesties Vice-Chamberlain from the Prince of Denmark by the Lord Cornbury Master of his Horse and from the Princess by Lieutenant Collonel Sandys and soon after had their Audiences with Regard due to their Charracter and Their Majesties were on the like Occasion Congratulated by divers other Foreign Ministers About this time happened an Extraordinary Act of Bravery which for its Prodigeous Effect may well be Incerted viz. Robert Casâ—n Master of the Richards Advice a Collier about 400 Tun 6 Guns 12 Men 2 Boys and one Passenger meeting Two French Privatiers of Foulness one of 18 Guns and a 130 Men and other of 4 Guns 55 Men who Boarding the Advice were several time beaten off with considerable loss so that after several Attempts and a Fight of Four hours 20 of the French being kill'd 12 wounded and two that were left on Board taken Prisoners the Privatiers stood away and left the Collier to Prosecute his Voyage The Estates of Scotland on the 24 th of May having Received His Majesties Letter Signifying to them that at their Desire he had Resolved to turn them into a Parliament Authorizing them to Adjourn themselves to the Fifth of June following That all their Members being Required to be present they might proceed to dispatch what Affairs should most Conduce to the Setlement of the Nation Thereupon they Ordered Unanimously a Letter of Thanks to be Written to His Majesty for His most Gracious Letter to them and then in Pursuance thereof Adjourned to the 5 th of June Giving Orders for all their Members to be present on that day and the Privy Council Assembling during the Interval took upon them the Care and Management of such Affairs as properly belonged to their Charge giving Order for the Raising a new Battery against the Castle upon the Hill within the Town Walls whilst Major General Mackay Opposed the Progress and Proceedings of the Viscount Dundee who kept himself in Lochquelabar to Joyn the High-land-Clans he expected to come to his Assistance A Declaration was Published about this time giving great Incouragement to the Officers Seamen and Marriners employed in the Navy and divers French Prizes were brought into several Ports of this Kingdom â—aden with Wines Brandy and other valuable Commodities And the French Fleet was dared in the Harbour of Brest into which the greatest part was put for Succour and Shelter from the English who kept the Seas and all Persons were forbid by Proclamation to Trade or Traffick with any Person or Persons whatsoever in the Kingdom of Ireland without leave first obtained in that behalf or to correspond or to have Communication with any Person in any part or place within the same except such as are in Obedience to the present Government The Convention of Scotland meeting on the 5 th of June the Duke of Hamilton acquainted them that his Majesty had been pleased to send him a Commission to represent His Royal Person in the ensuing Parliament and that he had received Instructions from his Majesty for turning the Meeting of the Estates into a Parliament and then to Adjourn to the 17 th and thereafter not only to consent to such a Law as may Redress the particular Articles of Grievances but likewise to any other Acts they should advise for the securing the Religion Peace and Happiness of the Kingdom After which the King's Commission and Letters to the Estates was read and the Lord Commissioner declared it was the King's Pleasure that the Earl of Crawford should preside in Parliament whereupon he was called to the Presidents Seat and the Estates passed an Act declaring that the Three Estates met together on the 5 th of June 1689. Consisting of the Noblemen Knights and Burgesses are a Lawful and Free Parliament to all Intents and Purposes soever and that it shall be High-Treason for any Person to Disown Quarrel or Impugne the Dignity and Authority of this Parliament upon any pretence whatsoever And this Act being touched with the Scepter according to the manner of passing Acts in Scotland the President by the Command of the Lord Commissioner adjourned the Parliament to the 17 th of June and divers Persons who had been imprisoned upon Suspition of corresponding with the Duke of Gourdon and the Viscount of Dundee were set at Liberty and a Party of the King's Forces upon notice that some of Dundees Men had engaged the Laird of Grant who had 30. Dragoons allowed him to convey him to his House advanced to the number of 150. Dragoons commanded by Sir Thomas Levingston Collonel of the Scots Dragoons and Lieutenant Collonel Hawley of Berkley's Regiment who met and encountred near a Rockey Hill about 500. Men most of the Macleans newly come up whom they beat and pursued so closely amongst the Hills whither they retired that about 100. of them were killed and on the Kings part only the Laird of Andgour and a Captain of Berkleys with 5 or 6 Draggoons These and other Proceedings of the like nature greatly discouraged the Duke of Gourdon who came to Terms of Articles after several Parlies which were these THE Duke of Gourdon hath so much Respect for all the Princes of King James the Sixth Line as not to Condition with any of them for his own particular Interest so he renders himself entirely to King William's Discretion I. That Lieutenant Collonel Winderham Lieutenant Governour of the Castle shall submit himself to King William's Pleasure his Life being secured and all the rest of the Garrison shall have their Lives Liberties and Fortunes secured and Passes granted to those that will take Oathes not to bear Arms against the present Government II. The Garrison is allowed to march out with their Swords and Baggage belonging properly to themselves III. That all Gentlemen Voluntiers Servants and Others within the Garrison shall have the same Capitulation with the rest of the Garrison IV. That all manner of Persons shall have the benefit of the first Article who have kept Correspondence with the Castle and who have not been in Arms and being at present at Edenburg or in the same County shall be indemnified and have the Benefit of the Capipitulation V. The Sick Soldiers shall have Liberty to dispose of themselves as they think best they behaving themselves as becometh VI. That all the Officers and Gentlemen Servants and Soldiers shall have the same Benefit which others have they living peaceably VII A considerable Post within the Castle shall be immediately how soon security is granted to the Garrison for the above written Articles put in Possession of those Forces under the command of Major General Lanier Upon these Conditions the strong Castle of Edenburg which had for a considerable time been a Terrour to the City and parts thereabout was surrendered and the Duke kept under Confinement till the King's Pleasure was known And the Parliament meeting on the 17 th of June proceeded to pass an Act for the asserting and recognizâ—ng Their Majesties Authority and afterward all of
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