England having been demanded their Opinions made their Report in Council and declared for Law That His Majesty may Prohibit the Printing and Publishing of all News-Books and Pamphlets of News whatsoever not Licensed by His Majesty's Authority as manifestly tending to the Breach of the Peace and Disturbance of the Kingdom And accordingly the King issued out His Proclamation to suppress 'em May 12. On the 11th of May being about the middle of Easter Term a Bill of Indictment of High Treason against the Lady Powis was deliver'd to the Grand Jury of Middlesex who not being satisfy'd with the sufficiency of the Evidence after a long Examination brought the Bill in Ignoramus The storm of Hail that fell at London on the 18th of May about eleven of the Clock in the morning is not to be past without Observation which though it came not very thick nor continu'd long yet was of such note that some were measured above six Inches about I saw many fall bigger than Pigeons Eggs or ordinary Walnuts none less than ones finger end and hard as Stones till they had lain a while Several Rooks in the Temple Garden were beaten down from the Trees and killed with this Hail as so many Shot or Bullets On Wednesday the 19th of May Richard Tasburgh of Flixton in the County of Suffolk Esq was Tryed at the Kings Bench Bar upon an Indictment of High Treason in Conspiring the Death of the King but upon a long Evidence to little purpose was found Not Guilty the Jury never going from the Bar and discharg'd On Friday the 21 of May was brought to the same Bar by Habeas Corpus William Viscount Stafford who much complaining of his long Imprisonment was informed by the Court That all the Judges had resolved upon mature Consideration that he being Impeacht of Treason in Parliament he could not be tryed out of Parliament and for the same reason also it was out of the Power of this Court to Bail him That he and the other Lords in the Tower were not within the benefit of the late Act touching Habeas Corpus's That the Court was sorry they could not relieve him and that there was no way for him to come to his Tryal but by the sitting of the Parliament The day following Sir Henry Tichburne the elder Roper and John Caryl Esq were Bail'd at the same Bar though accused of High Treason yet in regard there appeared but one Witness against them viz. Oats they were discharged of their Confinement upon Bail On the last day of the Term the Lady Powis Sir Robert Payton and one Bedingfield were absolutely discharg'd of all attendance The same day a Bill of Indictment of High Treason was found and brought in by the Grand Jury of Middlesex against the Lord Castlemain The Nine and twentieth of May being the solemn Anniversary for the Kings Birth and Restoration past this year with the usual Church Service and the Joy of Bells but without any Bonfires at night all Bonfires not only on this but any other day whatsoever having been forbid by order of the Privy Council April 7. without Licence first obtain'd from the Council or other Magistrates Such Bonfires as of late having been observed the occasions of tumult and dangerous opportunities of Sedition This day was also observed at Edinburgh with great solemnity and triumph Fifty old Men the Number of His Majesty's Age attending the Ceremony each having a Largess of 50 s. The King and the Dukes Healths were publickly drank at the Market Cross the Conduits running Claret and abundance of Oranges Lemons and Sweatmeats thrown abroad About the 10th of June arrived ill News from Tangier the Moors on the 14th past so straitned Charles Fort with their Siege that the English Garison being but 180 Men under Captain Trelawney resolved to quit it as desperate and fight through the Enemy to the Town of Tangier accordingly they laid a Mine to blow it up after their departure and passing through the Enemies Works in the night which Passage they found more difficult than expected the whole Army of the Moors were alarmed and came in upon them kill'd neer 150 cut the Captain all to pieces about 38 men escaping through Henrietta Fort being also at the same time lost to the Enemy On the the first day of Trinity Term Mrs. Celier was tryed for High Treason at the Kings Bench Bar the Indictment run in the usual form as against the rest of the Plotters but the chief and indeed only Evidence against her Thomas Dangerfield being proved by Records then produced so great and infamous a Criminal his Testimony was refused by the Court to be admitted and chiefly in regard he stood Outlaw'd of Felony and Felony not being exprest in his Pardon she was therefore found Not Guilty and Dangerfield himself committed to custody till he could find Bail to Reverse the Outlawry to Answer the Felony and for his good Behaviour But within a few days after the said Dangerfield producing a Newgate Pardon whereby all Felonies were Pardoned and his name being found therein he was discharg'd And now it was that His Majesty in pursuance to what He had done in April and to remove all pretences of the disaffected in the Point of Succession publisht his Declaration Protesting on the Word of a King and the Faith of a Christian That He was never Married to Mrs. Bar low alias Waters the Duke of Monmouth's Mother nor to any other Woman besides the now Queen Which Declaration was on the 15th of June in this Trinity Term Registred on Record in the High Court of Chancery all the great Lords of the Privy Council who were present when His Majesty Declared and Signed the same attesting the Action upon their Corporal Oaths in open Court The Lord Chancellor declaring at the same time That this Declaration is not inrolled here to receive any augmentation of repute or force from this Court for it cannot receive more than it hath already but only to be preserved here as in a Repository or Registry and he doubts not but it will also find a more Noble Registry than this that is the Hearts of all the Loyal Subjects of the Nation Other notable passages are to be Observed this Term On the 22d of June the Lord Aston was brought to the Kings-Bench Bar in Order to his Tryal but the Attorney-General not being ready with the Kings Evidence the Tryal was put off to the Fryday following on which Day the Court did not proceed to the Tryal for the same reason and the Lord Aston was Bail'd the next Day to appear the first Day of next Term. On the 23d of the same Month the Lord Castlemain was Tryed for High Treason the Evidence against him Oates and Dangerfield the last of which tho' admitted to be Sworn yet finding no credit with the Court and Jury on the account of the Infamy of his many Crimes the Verdict was brought in Not Guilty and the Prisoner Discharged And
in expressing their Indignation against that most Execrable and Trayterous designed Association lately Discovered by His Majesty which certainly in the Judgment of all good Men may more corrupt the Blood of the wicked Inventers than if they should be discovered and attainted by Law That the said Treason was not only against the King but the Monarchy c. To this purpose were several other Congratulations or Addresses to the King some before some after this of Middlesex viz. from Norwich from Hereford from the Lieutenancy of London c. All which were a Second Edition of Loyalty or a New sort of Addresses circulating from most parts of the Nation a Second time The Conclusion of this Year brought forth a Remarkable passage in the City of London Some unknown but base and malignant hearted Rascal had in the Night cut mangled and defaced the Duke of Yorks Picture which with the Kings both Nobly Painted hung up in Guild-Hall as a signal Ornament to the City Soon after which Action The Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen Publisht in Print a Declaration In which protesting their deep Resentment of that insolent and vilinous Act to be abhorr'd by every good and Loyal Subject and being greatly concern'd and desirous to find out the Author thereof they therefore unanimously Publish and declare That whosoever can discover the Person who Committed that Fact the said Lord Mayor and Aldermen will not only acknowledge the said Discovery as a most acceptable Service to the said City but also pay to such Discoverer the Sum of 500. l. upon the offenders Conviction Dated the 27th of January 33. Car. 2. and Signed Wagstaff In return to which Act of the City his Royal Highness sent a Gentleman out of Scotland to complement the Mayor and Court of Aldermen and thank 'em for their respect and Justice to his Cause Anno 34 Car. 2. Anno Dom. 1682. IN the beginning of this Year a most Barbarous and inhuman Murder was committed on the Person of Thomas Thinne of Longlect Esq a Gentleman of great Quality and Note both in City and Country The Bloody Murderers were Christopher Vratz George â—oroski and John Stern all Forainers and Servants or Dependants on a Swedish Lord called Count Coningsmark which first named three suddainly coming up to Mr. Thirne's Coach as he was passing in it near the Haymarket on Sunday Night the 12th of February one of them shot him into the Body with Two Brace or Bullets The Murderers were soon after apprehended and Committed to Newgate On the 28th of February they were Tryed found Guilty and Condemned and were most deservedly all Three Hanged and one of them Hang'd in Chains on the Road not far from Mile-End In March His Royal Highness Arrived out of Scotland he Landed at Yarmouth on the 10th where he was Treated at Dinner by the Magistrates with all the Ceremonies of Honour they could express and from thence attended by the High Sheriff of Norfolk and a Train of the Neighbouring Gentry to Norwich where again he was Nobly entertain'd by the publick Magistrates with Banquets and Bonfires and lay that Night at the Bishops House the next Day about 6 in the Evening he arrived at New-Market where he was received by both their Majesties with all the Marks of kindness and affection having been met several Miles out of Town by the Noblemen and Gentlemen then attending about the Court. The next Day being the 12th of March the King was Presented at Newmarket with an Address of Abhorrency from the Artillery Company in Bristol of which sort of Address I made some mention towards the end of last year yet because the Association there mention'd is more particularly daecipher'd in this from Bristol than any formaer I have seen I can not omit to observe that the said Loyal Artillery Company in Bristol did by their said Address Express from the bottom of their Souls an utter Abhorrence of all Covenants and Associations whatsoever made against or without His Majesties approbation especially that Treasonable one seized in the Closet of the Earl of Shaftsbury wherein the securing the Protestant Religion and the defence of His Majesties Royal Person and Estate is made the pretence but the subversion of the Establisht Religion and the final destruction of His Majesty and Lawful Successors is the real design and this to be performed by devolving the whole power of His Majesties Crown and Scepter into the Major part of the Members of both Houses subscribing that Association thô dissolved without regard to their quality or number His Majesties Guards for the defence of His Royal Person falsly stiled mercenary Forces and a terror to all the good People of the Land His Majesties Royal Brother to be excluded and destroyed if he comes into England and all who shall oppose that Rebellious accursed hellish and unpresidented Association are to be pursued to dedruction thô in defence of His Majesties Title concluding that they will assert and defend the Rights and Prerogatives of His Majesty and Lawful Successors in opposition to all Unions and Societies made to the Contrary and that they cannot think that Man fit to be a Representative in Parliament who will not disown such Associations These words are contain'd in that Address and by this President we see what good Subjects abhor Not long after this the University of Cambridge sent their Vice-Chancellor Dr. Coga to wait on the King at Newmarket with a Loyal Address of Abhorency at which time also the said Vice-Chancellor waited upon the Duke and in the name of the said University Wellcom'd him into England acknowledging that by his Royal Highness good Conduct the Government of Scotland both in Church and State is settled in Peace and therefore they could by no means doubt but that under His Majesty his Royal Highness ' s presence would have a great Influence in effecting the same here in England by which means all Great Brittain being joyn'd in one the Church of England and Rights of the Crown may for ever flourish To which his Royal Highness was pleas'd to Answer after Thanks for their kind Expressions that he was very glad of this and all other occasions to declare that he would ever stand by the Church of England as now establisht and countenance the Members of it as having seen by experience that they are the best Supporters of the Crown and that he would use his Endeavors and Interest for preservation of the Kings person and the Government in the State and the Church of England as now establisht by Law Several other Addresses also which were made to the King had words in them congratulating the Dukes return into England And when his Royal Highness came with His Majesty to London His Majesty was on the 10th of April attended by the Lord Mayor the Recorder and Court of Aldermen who having paid their Duty to the King they went to St James's where they waited upon his Royal Highness Congratulating his safe
January the King was pleas'd to settle the variety of Rumour and by His Proclamation then publisht absolutely to Dissolve this Parliament promising however to Issue out His Writs for a New one by the 6th of March next following Thus ended this Parliament having now been continued by several Prorogations and Adjournments 17 Years Eight Months and 17 Days being first called on the Eighth Day of May Anno Domini 1661. With this great Turn I will conclude my Historical Observations on this 30th Year of His Majestys Reign a Year very remarkable if it were only on the account of the Dissolution of this Parliament but more especially for the beginning of those Troubles and Combustions which lasted for so many Years after in Relation to the Plot. Anno 31. Car. 2. Anno Dom. 1679. IN further Prosecution of those matters discover'd the last year Green the Cushion-man at Somerset-house Chappel Berry the Queens Porter there and Hill Dr. Goddens Man were on the 10th day of Feb. tryed at the Kings Bench Bar for the Murther of Sir Edmunbury Godfrey which three being convicted cheifly on the Evidene of Miles Prance a Goldsmith were found guilty and having on the next day received sentence of Condemnation to be hang'd for the said Murder Green and Hill were Executed accordingly at Tyborn Feb. 21. But Berry was reprieved for a Week longer all three denying the Fact in as positive terms as could be the last dying a Protestant of which Perswasion he had formerly been before he entred into the Queens service About this time it was that Sir Joseph Williamson quitted his Office of Secretary of State to the Earl of Sunderland To conclude the Transactions of this Month The King Directed the following Letter to the Duke of York Whitehall Feb. 28. 1678. I Have already given you my Resolves at large why I think it fit that you should absent your self for some time beyond the Seas As I am truly sorry for the occasion so may you be sure I shall never desire it longer than it will be absolutely necessary for your good and my Service In the mean time I think it proper to give it you under my Hand that I expect this Compliance from you and desire it may be as soon as conveniently you can You may easily believe with what trouble I write this to you there being nothing I am more sensible of than the constant kindness you have ever had for me I hope you are as just to Me to be assured That no absence nor any thing else can ever change me from being truly and kindly Yours C. R. And accordingly in pursuance of His Majesties pleasure within few days after this the Duke Duchess and Family leave the Kingdom and retired for a while to the Hague and from thence to Brussels And now the Parliament which had been called according to the Kings promise on the Dissolution of the last meet at the appointed 6th day of March The Kings Speech contained That in order to the uniting the minds of His Subjects both to Himself and to one another He had excluded the Popish Lords from their Seats in Parliament Caused the Execution of several men both for the Plot and Murder of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey Disbanded as much of the Army as he could get Mony to do Above all That He hath commanded his Brother to absent himself That so all colour may be taken from malicious men of pretending any influence of Popish Councils That He proposes by this means to see whether the Protestant Religion and the Peace of the Kingdom be as truly aimed at by others as they are really intended by Him if so they the Members of Parliament will lay aside all private animosities and employ their time upon the great Concerns of the Nation That he will not cease to make further search into the Plot and the Murder of Sir Edmunbury Godfrey for which he desires the assistance of both Houses That he has ordered the Penal Laws to be Executed against Papists Desires their assistance in raising Supplys for Disbanding the Army and paying off the Fleet and that they would some way make up the loss He has sustain'd by the Prohibition of French Wines and Brandy which turns only to His prejudice and the great advantage of the French That it is necessary to have a Fleet at Sea since our Neighbours are making Naval Preparations That a Constant establishment might be made for the Navy And concludes with His earnest desires to have this a healing Parliament Assuring them to defend with his life the Protestant Religion and the Laws of the Kingdom and expects to be by them defended from the Calumny as well as Danger of those worst of Men who endeaver to render both him and His Government odious to His People The Chancellors Speech was chiefly a descant on the former heads Reminding the Two Houses as p. 12. to the Plot not to over do their Business and that by being too far Transported with the fears of Popery they do not neglect the opportunities of making sober and lasting Provisions against it which says he are the only hopes of the Papists thus to see p. 14. our Zeal out-run our Discretion and that we our selves should become the unhappy occasion of making our own Councils abortive The King and Lord Chancellor having ended their Speeches the Commons returned to their own House and unanimously chose for their Speaker Mr Seymour who had officiated in that Place in the last Parliament who being the next Day presented to the King was refused and the House Ordered to proceed to a new Election which notwithstanding was not made till Saturday the 15th of March on which day they chose Mr Serjeant Gregory the said choice being on the Monday following approved by His Majesty After this the Commons draw up an Address to the King for a Fast in which also the Lords Concur and a Fast was appointed by Proclamation dated Mar. 28 to be observed throughout the Nation on the 11th of April following A Committee being appointed to enquire into the manner of suing out the Earl of Danby's Pardon which upon search being not entred in any Office from the Secretaries Office until it came to the Lord Chancellors but dispatch'd in a private manner and so reported by the Committee the House of Commons resolve Mar. 24. That an humble Address be made to His Majesty representing the irregularity and illegality of the Pardon mentioned to be granted to the Earl of Danby and the Dangerous consequence of Granting Pardons to any persons that lye under an Impeachment of the Commons of England They also desire of the Lords that the Earl of Danby may be sequestred from Parliament and put into safe Custody accordingly the Lords Order the Usher of the Black Rod to take him but upon search at his Houses both in Town and at Wimbleton he could not be found hereupon a Bill is Ordered to be brought in that Thomas
very little the substance of what he had to say or discover being by him delivered to Dr. Hawkins Minister of the Tower for his Wife and therefore it is to be presumed that he Dyed no Papist in regard he had the assistance of a Protestant Minister which all Papists have been known to rerefuse on those occasions His Discovery is since Printed About this time several Factious People were committed to the Tower for High Treason namely Rouse Hayns White and one Colledge commonly call'd the Protestant Joyner But above all let it be remember'd that on July 2. the Earl of Shaftsbury commonly call'd by way of Excellency The Protestant Earl was before the Council at Whit hall to which the King came from Windsor that day on purpose accused of High Treason and for the same committed to the Tower and his Papers seized At the Sessions at the Old Bayly which followed soon after the Earl of Shaftsbury and the Lord Howard moved to be Bail'd but they were answered by the unanimous opinion of the Judges That it was not in the Power of that Court to Bail out of the Tower At the same Sessions it was that a Bill of Indictment of High Treason was delivered to the Grand-Jury of London against Colledge commonly call'd the Protestant Joyner but the Jury made for the purpose as is supposed appear'd so partial and Arbitrary in their proceeding that notwithstanding the home Oaths of several Witnesses among which were Dugdale and Smith two of the great Evidence against the Plotters and another who had been a Member of the House of Commons they brought in the Bill Ignoramus But another Bill being exhibited soon after to the Grand-Jury at the Assizes at Oxford against the said Colledge part of the Treasonable Words and Matters being Transacted there the Bill was found there on the same Evidence which was rejected at the Old Bayly And in August he was Tryed Condemn'd and Executed at Oxford The Weather that happen'd this Summer was memorable for an extraordinary Drought all over England and also beyond Sea all April May and June and some part of July but about the beginning of July fell such plentiful Rains that the Ground which in all parts was Scorcht up like the High-Ways almost to a miracle became as fresh and Green again as on May Day Dayseys and the other Flowers of the Spring appear'd again towards the End of July With Grass in abundance in some places and expectations of a second Hay-time to recompence the want of the first On the 28 of July the Parliament sate in Scotland where his Royal Highness Presided as His Majesties High Commissioner At the opening of the Sessions the Kings Letter was read setting forth That He had call'd them at that time to advise of such things as may truly conduce to the security and Interest of that Kingdom and as an eminent Expression of His Favor He hath named his most dear and most intirely beloved Brother James Duke of Albany and York to be His Commissioner there c. After this the Duke made a Speech Declaring the high esteem he had of the great Honor and happiness the King had been pleased to do him in making choice of him to serve as his Commissioner in that his antient Kingdom since it shews to all the World the Goodness the King hath for him and Confidence he hath in him and capacitates him not only to serve His Majesty as becomes a Loyal Subject but also to evince the real concern he hath for the good of that Kingdom and his readiness to serve it and improve its Interest That His Majesty had commanded him to assure them that he will inviolably maintain and protect the Protestant Religion as by Law Establisht in that Kingdom and the Church Government by Arch-Bishops and Bishops That he will maintain and allow the Properties and Rights of His Subjects according to the due course of Law and that he doth expect that they will not be short of the Loyalty of their Ancestors in vigorously asserting and cleering His Royal Prerogative and in declaring the Rights of His Crown in its natural and Legal course of Descent c. After this the Duke entertained the whole Parliament at a Splendid and Royal Feast The Lords by themselves and the Commons by themselves at several Tables On the First of August The Parliament returned a most Loyal and Dutiful Answer to His Majesties Letter which Answer being so mighty full of true Loyalty it would be an Injury to abridge it in this place every Line every word carrying the true and emphatical marks of gratitude and Duty I therefore refer to the Print Also in pursuance and Confirmation of their Loyal Affections on the 14th of Aug. the Parliament past a Bill entituled An Act acknowledging and asserting the Right of Succession to the Imperial Crown of Scotland By which they recognize and declare That the said Crown is by Inherent Right and the nature of the Monarchy as well as by the fundamental and unalterable Law of the Realm transmitted and devolved by Lineal Succession according to proximity of Blood and that no difference in Religion no Law nor Act of Parliament can alter or divert the Right of Succession and Lineal descent of the Crown to the neerest and Lawful Heirs and therefore they declare it High Treason by Writing Speaking or any other manner of way to endeavor the alteration suspension or diversion of the Right of Succession At the same time they past another Act ratifying all former Laws for the security of the Protestant Religion On the 31st of August Oates was by Order of Council expell'd from Whitehall his Sallery taken off and accused of Misdemeanors Great Numbers of Poor French Protestants about this time flockt over out of France to whom our King was so Gracious as by Act of Council to declare His Pleasure that all His Officers and Magistrates should give 'em the same Countenance and Favour with His own Subjects That He would take 'em into His Protection That He would grant 'em His Letters of Denization forthwith upon their request and That He would intercede with the next Parliament to obtain for them an Act of Naturalization He also granted very ample Letters Patents for Collecting Monies all over England for their Relief Dated the 10th of September this Year On Michaelmas Day being the Customary Day for the Annual Choice of the Lord Mayor of London Sir John Mooor an Addresser was Chosen into that Office for the Year Insuing tho' with a great and unusual opposition by the Fanatick Party The New Sheriffs were Alderman Pilkinton a City Member in the two last Parliaments and one Mr. Shute Which two New Sheriffs being employ'd to invite the King to the Lord Mayors Feast The King was Graciously pleas'd to accept of the Invitation and Declar'd That He liked the Message but not the Messengers This Summer the King was pleas'd to appoint under Him certain Deputies or