according to those Directions Greenvile had brought from him But the King not thinking that place convenient for the Treaty removed with great speed and privacy to Breda a Town belonging to his Sister the Princess of Orange being complemented at his departure from Flanders by the Spanish Governour and honourably conveyed on his way way as far as Antwerp from whence his Publick Dispatches into England were dated Greenvile upon his return besides the Generals Commission to be Captain General of all the Forces then raised or to be raised brought him the King's Seals and Signet by which he was empowered to make a Secretary of State which Honour he conferred upon Morrice who was after the King's return Knighted and confirmed therein in consideration of the Service he had done in introducing Greenvile to the General 's presence And besides those Publick Letters which he was to reserve to be communicated in due time he brought a Private one directed to the General himself written with the King 's own Hand to which he returned an Answer by Mr. Bernard Greenvile in regard his Brother could not then be spared the Parliament being just ready to fit when he was to present to both the Houses the King's Letters and Declaration which Answer was very welcom to the King for that it brought him an assurance under the General 's own Hand of his Resolution to adhere to him against all opposition whatsoever About this time Lambert made his escape from the Tower and endeavoured to make Parties and draw Forces together to oppose his Loyal and Generous Designs which he being informed of acquainted the Council of State therewith and managed the business with so great Prudence that timely â—care was taken to suppress him and that Attempt which in it self threatned the contrary was made by his Wisdom to advance the King's Interest and hasten his happy Restauration For Coll. Ingoldsby being sent against him and his Forces which â—e had got together forsaking him upon the Collonels approach he betook himself to flight but being upon plowed Land his Horse failed him and notwithstanding he had by his valour in many former Battels obtained the name of Stout he presently yielded himself without drawing his Sword or making any other Defence than only crying out twice Pray my Lord let me escape for what good will my Life or perpetual Imprisonment do you The time being now come for the meeting of a new Parliament both Houses repaired to St. Margarets Church where Dr. Reynolds preached before them and after Sermon they repaired to their Houses The Lords making choice of the Earl of Manchester for their Speaker And the Commons of Sir Harbottle Grimstone And having settled their Committees and thereby prepared for their entrance upon business adjourned for some few days in the interim whereof Greenvile conâ—â—lted with the General at what time and in what manner he should deliver his Messages from the King to the several parties to whom they were directed That which was superscribed to the General himself to be communicated by him to the Army and Council of State he thought fit to have delivered to him at the Door of the Council Chamber In order whereunto Greenvile repaired thither when the Council were sitting and told Coll. Birch who was one of the Members that he desired to speak with the General who upon Birch's Intimation came to the Door and in the view of his Guards who attended there received the Letters from Greenvile without shewing any other respect either to his Person or his Business than only demanding of him if he would stay for an Answer and telling him otherwise his Guards should secure him And having commanded them to look to him went in to the Council and communicated to them the Letters whereupon Birch being examined whether he knew any thing of the matter protesting he was altogether ignorant both of the Gentleman and his Business Greenvile was sent for iâ— and examined by the President from whence those Letters came whose they were and how he came by them for they had not yet proceeded to open and read them he answered that â—he King His Master gave them to him with his own Hand at Breda Having â—hereby informed themselves whence â—he Letters came they deferred the openâ—ng of them until the Parliament sate â—gain and would have committed Greenâ—ile had not the General told them that 〈◊〉 knew him very well and would anâ—wer for his appearance before the Parâ—â—ament which were no sooner sate 〈◊〉 he delivered his Letters with incloâ—â—d Declarations to both Houses whereâ—â— the King expressed abundance of â—mpassion and tenderness to the Naâ—â—on which had been so long harassed 〈◊〉 a bloody and unnatural War and proâ—ised a free and general Pardon to all 〈◊〉 should in forty days after the pubâ—â—ation thereof lay hold upon that Grace â—less such whom the Parliament should â—ink fit to be excepted from the benefit â—â—ereof And that he would preserve 〈◊〉 to the uttermost of his power 〈◊〉 from all manner of Injuries in their â—â—es and Estates and grant Liberty for â—â—der Consciences for such as dissented 〈◊〉 the Established Religion provided â—â—ey did not disturb the Peace of the Nation That as to Sales and Purchases 〈◊〉 would refer himself in all matters to thâ— Determinations of Parliament and coâ—sent to any Act or Acts for the satisfyinâ— the Arrears of the Army and Navy which should thenceforward be receiveâ— into his Service upon as good Pay anâ— Conditions as they then enjoyed Thâ— like Letters and Declarations being 〈◊〉 sent by the King and delivered to Genâ—â—ral Monâ—ague to be by him communiâ—â—ted to the Fleet and to the Lord Mayâ— and Common Council of London The King's Letters and Declaratiâ—â— were received by the Parliament 〈◊〉 such an extraordinary Joy and Venâ—â—tion that I want words wherewith 〈◊〉 express it for as if some strange 〈◊〉 had suddenly seized upon their minâ— every man at the Speaker's naming 〈◊〉 King rose up and uncovering himâ—â—â—â— desired they might be immediately 〈◊〉 which was no sooner done but in anâ—â—tasie of joy they suddenly drew the â—â—â—tain and exposed the beautiful and â—â—rious Scene to the open view of â—â—â—longing Spectators wherein every 〈◊〉 might plainly behold the happy Issuâ— all those various Transactions which 〈◊〉 till then been Riddles too mysterious for vulgar understandings to unfold or once imagine to what they tended or where they would terminate By the House of Lords resolving that they did own and declare that according to the Ancient and Fundamental Laws of England the Government was and ought to be by Kings and that a Committee of eight Lords should forthwith joyn with a Committee of the Commons to consider of an Answer to the King's Letter and Declaration And by the House of Commons resolving likewise to appoint a Committee to prepare an Answer to the King's Letter and therein express their great and joyful sense of his gracious offers and to return him their humble
Titus Britannicus AN ESSAY OF HISTORY ROYAL IN THE Life Reign OF HIS Late SACRED MAJESTY CHARLES II. Of Ever Blessed and Immortal Memory By AVRELIAN COOK Gent. Ut ameris Amabilis esto Ovid. Majora Veris Monstra vix capiunt Fidem Senec. LONDON Printed for James Partridg Stationer to His Royal Highness George Hereditary Prince of Denmark at the Post-Office by Charing-Cross 1685. To the most NOBLE HONOURABLE REVEREND WILLIAM Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury FRANCIS Lord Guilford C. S. LAWRENCE Earl of Rochester P. GEORGE Marquess of Halifax C. P. S. JAMES Duke of Ormond S. R. D. CHRISTOPHER Duke of Albemarle HENRY Duke of New-Castle HENRY Duke of Beaufort CHARLES Marquess of Winchester ROBERT Earl of Lindsey S. A. C. HENRY Earl of Arlington C. R. D. AUBERY Earl of Oxford THEOPHILUS Earl of Huntington JOHN Earl of Bridgwater HENRY Earl of Peterborough PHILIP Earl of Chesterfield Robert Earl of Sunderland HENRY Earl of Clarendon JOHN Earl of Bath WILLIAM Earl of Craven ROBERT Earl of Ailesbury JOHN Earl of Radnor DANIEL Earl of Nottingham HENRY Earl of Middleton THOMAS Vicount Falconberg HENRY Lord Bishop of London GEORGE Lord Dartmouth SIDNEY Lord Godolphin Sir JOHN ERNLY Sir THOMAS CHICHELEY Sir GEORGE JEFFERIES and Sir LEOLINE JENKINS The Lords of His late Majesties Privy-Council My LORDS IT was a Custom much us'd by the Ancient Writers among the Greeks and Romans to Dedicate their Books to their most particular Friends and sometimes to Intitle and call them by their Friends Names In our Age wherein we either do or shou'd imitate Antiquity in all commendable things This laudable Custom is either wholly laid aside or practis'd by so few that they almost escape Observance If indeed this Method of Dedicating Books was chang'd into a better I should have no reason to complain but rather to applaud the happy Genius of our Times for outshining the brightest days of Antiquity But most assuredly we can find no causes for such Triumphs The Dedications now made in England and France which two Countries in this Age we may Parallel with the foremention'd Greece and Italy upon the Score of Excellence in Wit with respect to the rest of Europe Our Dedications I say are so full of nauseous and fulsom Flatteries and Most of 'em so generally made up of about a dozen long Words variously turn'd and dispers'd that for my part I wonder how any Man can proceed any further in a Book of such small hopes but must needs lay it down and chuse rather to go to Bounding-Stones with Augustus Nay this crying Sin of the Nation is come to that pass that even our Poets who were made and fram'd on purpose in such a Make as only to lash Vice with the severest Satyr are yet most abominably guilty of this crime When an excellent Comedy has appear'd on the Stage for some time and perhaps done the Work of an Hundred Homilies in visiting and reclaiming Mankind from their evil ways it comes forth in Print and all is spoil'd again by a wicked Dedication in the beginning which propagatâ—â— Atheism so that no man can believe the Poet is honest and speaks his mind in the Play while he talks so lewdly and contradictorily in the Dedication It was not so in Ben. Johnson's days What I have said of Epistles Dedicatory in general may partly seem to hook my self into the crowd of these numerous Transgressors while I inscribe this Book to your Great Names But several Things I have to alledg for my self First tho this Piece be not presented to any private Friend of its Author in Emulation of the Ancients yet as far as possibly I have followed their Sacred Rules and Canons in a Work of this publick Nature For it is the Life of one of the Greatest and Wisest Princes that â—ver Sway'd the English or any other Scepter And to whom cou'd I better devote His Life than to His Greatest and Wisest Friends for such He always call'd His best Servants Ye are concern'd MY LORDS in every Page of this Book and can witness what is here related to be true No part of His Life but wherein some of you have had a share In His Education His Exile His Sufferings His Victories His Triumphs And while I write his Life in some measure I write Yours For such is the fate of Celsitude and honour that Great Men in some sense do frequently Dye before Sixty three And to be sure when a Prince falls he does not fall alone but several Others have their Lives interchangeably writ with his Besides MY LORDS being unable to find any Object nearer to him than Your selves except his Majesty whom God long preserve and the Family Royal I lay under an indispensable necessity of imploring your Lordships Patronage For such is my Veneration to the Blood of my Prince that by no means can I be perswaded to think the ensuing Papers fit for his most Sacred and Princely Eye or worthy a Royal Protection and I am resolv'd to be as Innocent as I can and not offend One Prince after having committed Treason against the Fame of another However MY LORDS tho this be not a Piece fit for a Kings Cabinet yet I hope this Image of our late Sovereigns Life will not be refus'd by Your Lordships since we love the Pictures of those Persons we admire let 'em be never so unfinisht let them be drawn by what hand soever The other Thing which I propos'd to my self in this Address was the avoiding Flattery tho it may seem a very unnecessary Caution since he that looks up to such a Thick-set Conglobation and as it were Galaxy of heavenly Virtues must easily infer that they are too high for Flattery and too bright to have any lustre added to them With all the Tragical forces of Eloquence I might here expatiate on the Topicks of Grand Descent of Titles and honours of Policy and Government of Arms and Learning of the Tent and the Closet But it is not my design to manage these common Subjects And I beg leave of your Lordships to say That in the front of a Book consecrated to the fame of CHARLES the II d I think I shou'd do an Injury to him if I endeavour'd professedly to write any other Panegyrick but his tho at the same time I must needs include Your Lordships Praises And herein I have determin'd to take a View of the King himself and not of his Deeds that Province I leave to his history and to set his personal Virtues and not additional Actions before your Eyes for a bad man may do a praise-worthy thing but a good man himself can only be praised Many Kings themselves do either hear or read their own Commendations and take care to see their own Glory setled before they dye But such kind of Annals usually is as mortal as their Subject and as soon turns to Ashes No His late Majesties Praise shall not be Mercenary The World after his Death shall
ibid. 1670 Designs to unite England and Scotland 345 Prince of Tuscany in England ibid The Dutchess of Orleans at Dover 346 Sir Thomas Allen before Argeir 347 Sir Edward Spragg destroys three Men of War 348 1671 Bloud steals the Crown 349 The King takes a Sea-Progress 351 A stop upon the Exchequer 352 Sir George Downing committed to the Tower 353 A Declaration of Indulgence 354 Sir Robert Holms falls on the Dutch Smyrna Fleet ibid 1672 The King declares War against the Dutch 355 He views the English and French Fleet joyning ibid His Royal Highness's name terrible to the Dutch 356 The States remove to Amsterdam 357 The King Invites their Subjects into England ibid The Duke of Buckingham and the Earl of Arlington Embassadors 358 Nimeguen taken ibid 1673 the Dutch beaten 359 The King grants Peace to the Dutch 360 1677 Grows Jealous of the French Kings greatness 362 The Lady Mary marri'd to the Prince of Orange ibid The Kings Speech to the Parliament 363 France threatned with a War 365 The King endeavours a general Peace 366 But provides for the worst 367 His Speech to the Parliament ibid 1678 The Siege of Mons raised 359 A peace concluded at Nimeguen ibid A hugeous strange Plot of Black Bills and Spanish pilgrims discover'd by Titus Oates 371 The Lords Bellasis Powis Peters and Arundel sent to the Tower 3â—2 Godfrey found murthered 373 The King prevents the Parliament 375 His refusal to part with the Militia 376 Some try'd for the Plot ibid Some of the Parliament accuse each other 377 Sir Joseph Williamson released by the King 378 The Long Parliament dissolv'd ibid The Kings Letter to the Duke 379 The Duke goes into Flanders 380 The Kings Speech to the new Parliament ibid 1679 They begin with the Earl of Danby 384 Who surrenders him self ibid The Lords in the Tower Impeacht in Parliament 385 The King dissolves his Privy-Council and constitutes a new one ibid. Shaftsbury President 387 The Lords Answer to their Impeachments ibid. 1680 The Kings proposal to the Parliament 388 Their Address to the King 389 The Bill of Exclusion brought in ibid The two Houses differ about Danby's pardon and the Tryal of the Lords 390 The King Porogues them 392 The Bishop of St. Andrews most barbarous Muther forerunner of a Scotch Rebellion ibid. Whence the name of Whigs 393 The Parliament dissolv'd and a new one call'd 394 Sir G. Wakeman and others acquitted ibid. The King taken Sick at Windsor 395 Monmouth in disgrace 397 A Declaration about him 398 He is banished 402 Dangerfields discovery ibid The Duke of York goes into Scotl. 403 Sawcy Petitions for the Parliaments fitting 404 Forbidden by Proclamation ibid. Kings Speech to the Parliament 405 The Duke returns out of Scotland 406 Sir Lionel Jenkins made Secretary 407 Addresses of Abhorrence ibid. The Lord Shandios Embassador to Constantinople 408 A prodigious storm of Hail ibid The Parliament sits 409 Fall foul upon Sir Robt. Can and others ibid. Revive the Attempt of the Exclusion Bill which is bravely thrown out by the Lords 411 The Tryal of the Lord Stafford 412 The Blazing-star 413 The King presseth the Parliament for supplys ibid. The Address ibid. His Answer 414 Their Proceedings thereupon 415 They are Prorogu'd 416 Their lewdly extravagant Votes ibid. Petitions about the Oxford Parliament 417 The Country treats their Members 418 1681 The King goes to Oxford 419 His Speech to the Parliament there ibid. Wi. Williams Speaker 421 Fitz-Harris his story 422 25 26 27 28. The Oxford-Parliament dissolv'd 423 A Declaration touching it 424 Doct. Pluncket 427 The Lord Howard committed to the Tower 428 The Oxford-Plot 429 The Protestant Joyner ibid. His Royal Highness High Commissioner in the Parliament of Scotland 430 An Act past there about the Succession ibid. The King Favours the French Protestants 431 Shaftsbury sav'd by an Ignoramus 432 Esquire Thinn murther'd 433 1682 The Royal Passenger's miraculous deliverance 435 Sir John More Lord Mayor of London 436 A Riot in the City about Sheriffs 437 Prince Rupert dies 442 The Earl of Nottingham dies ibid Two remarkable and unusual Embassadors ibid. 1683 Bantham lost 444 An unpresidentable action ibid A Quo Warranto brought against the City Charter 447 A Petition in reference to it 447 The Kings gracious Condescention ibid Shaftsbury's Plot discover'd 449 The King to have been kill'd at the Rye 451 Sav'd by an accidental Fire ibid. Keeling the first discoverer 452 The Plotters taken ibid. Lord Gray Escapes 453 The Lord Russel and Coll. Sidney Beheaded and others executed at Tyburn ibid. Holloway and Armstrong executed 454 A Declaration of Thanksgiving ibid. The difference between the two Plots 455 The Lady Ann Married to Prince George ibid. Judgment enter'd against the Charter 456 Prichard Mayor by Commission ibid. The Factious Aldermen displac'd 457 Monmouth submits himself 458 The great Frost 459 The Kings Charity 460 Vienna besieged ibid Lord Landsdown ' Valour at its 〈…〉 46â— Tâ—ngâ—er demolish'â— ibid. Earl of Danby relievâ—d ibid. The rest of the Lords out of the Toweâ— 462 684. Commissioners for Ecclesiastical affairs ibid. A Scandalum Magnatum against Oates 463 His Royal Highnesses Patience 464 A Statue-peice of the King in the Royal Exchange ibâ—d A Muster on Putney Heath 466 Several tryed 467 The Sodom Doctor Indicted 468 Danvers his Libel 469 〈…〉 Scroop How receiv'd to favour 470 The King 〈…〉 Fit 471 The manner of his lingring Death 472 The Solemnity of his â—uneral 475 His Person 481 His Justice 483 His peaceable Inclination 486 His care of the Crown Prerogatives 488 His Prudence and Conduct 491 His great Piety and Devotion â—94 His Travels 499 His Learning â—01 His Recreations 504 His Conjugal Affectionâ— 506 Epigraphe 509 A Prayer for the King 511 An Essay of HISTORY ROYAL In the LIFE and REIGN OF HIS Late Sacred MAJESTY CHARLES the Second The Introduction HIstory in all Ages hath not undeservedly been accounted the great Light and Mistress of Humane Life as it both pleasurably instructs and most efficaciously persuades all Ranks and Degrees of men to their several respective and proper Offices For in laying the Foundation of a Good Mind Examples have a peculiar force to move men to Virtue and a much Greater than any bare Precepts whatsoever since they have this excellence in them that they prove what they recommend possible to be done and a Precept without an Example adjoyn'd to it looks like a good Law never put into Execution When men read of an Excellent Virtue they still carry away some Tincture from it whether they will or no as if they had been in Conversation with it's Possessor And when they read of any deformity and vice they have a natural aversion for it and will take care to avoid in themselves what looks so ugly in others Nor does History tend only to form men's manners in order to an happy Life but it also exalts and enlarges their minds while they
the Island joyned them to those which he had brought with him out of France the news whereof arriving at Westminster a Letter is dispatcht from the Parliament and delivered him by Colonel Russel Governour of Guernzey wherein they humbly desired that for his Fathers his own and for his three more than miserable Kingdoms sake he would come among his Fathers Subjects offering thereupon to afford all that lay in their power to give or himself could expect to receive But not daring to trust them he waved their Complement and proceeded to manage his affairs by Sea and Land to that advantage if they had had their desired success as might have enabled the King in the approaching treaty to stand upon such terms as conduced most to his Honour both as a Man a Christian and a King In order whereunto he came attended by the Duke of York Prince Rupert the Lords Hopton Wilmot Wilâ—oughby Branford and Ruthen and Sir Henry Palmer with twenty Sail of Ships towards Yarmouth and landed there with 2000 Men where the divided multitude entertained him according to their various Inclinations some with an Hosanna and others with a Crucifie And as himself had taken care of his affairs at Sea so he sent commissions to several Persons of Honour and Trust whom he commanded to take care of them by Land viz. Ormond Inchequeen and Montgomery in Ireland the Committee of State and their Officers in Scotland the Lords Goring and Capel in Essex and Kent Glenham and Langdale in the North Hales Lucas Langhorn Poyer Owen Buckingham and the Earls of Holland and Peterborough in those places where each of them resided and Letters of correspondence past mutually between him and the Scots his Father and the City in some whereof which were intercepted the City the Lords and some of the Commons declared themselves ready to contribute all possible asistance for the composing of those unhappy differences For whose encouragement he was graciously pleased to declare himself rather the asserter of his Peoples Priviledges than his own Rights as though he fought against his Subjects not to make himself but them happy against their wills for in a Declaration which he then publisht he Solemnly protested 1. For the Establishment of Religion according to his Fathers agreement in the 26th of the preceding December 2. The performance of the said agreement and pursuance of the concessions on the Kings part 3. The restoring of the King to a Personal Treaty 4. The just Priviledges of Parliament 5. An Act of Oblivion 6. The liberty of the Subject abolishing excise contribution forfeit quarter c. 7. Disbanding the Armies and setling of Peace 8. The Defence of the narrow Seas the securing of â—rade and the support of the Navy and Seamen was all he designed in his present undertakings Which Gracious Declaration he seconded with a Letter to the Lords wherein he required 1 That a Personal Treaty might be had in such place and manner as might consist with the Kings Honour Safety and Freedom that so it might not be blemished with any Face of restraint 2. That Scotland might be included 3. That in the mean time there might be a cessation of Arms and an orderly moderate subsistance mutually agreed on for the Forces on both sides to the Souldiers content and the Subjects ease But such was their stubborn peevishness that all his concessions were slighted and his endeavours came to nothing Wherefore seeing he could do nothing by fair means he applyed himself to Force and made several Honourable but unsuccessful attempts to reduce his Rebellious Subjects to the obedience of their Soveraign Poyer and Langhorn reduce South Wales raise a Thousand Men keep Pembroke Tenby and Chepstow beat Fleming and Horton but soon after received a total rout at St. Fogins Tenby and Pembroke being surrendred and Langhorn and Poyer forced to submit to Mercy in whose behalf he wrote to St. Thomas Fairfax from the Downs where he then lay with his Fleet that they might have the usage and terms of Souldiers of War as those had who were taken by him To which Letter the General answered with all due respects to his Highness that it was not in his power to Act further the Parliament having ordered their Tryals he dar'd not interpose their Justice but only pray for Mercy and Peace subscribing himself his Highness's Humble Servant Sir John Owen likewise reduced North Wales to as little purpose Nor had his affairs much better success in Surrey Essex Kent And the City who having first petitioned and then fought for their own Peace the Kings Honour Safety and Liberty and the Kingdoms Establishment were able to accomplish nothing to purpose The Kentish Men Rendezvouzed at Black-heath under Sir Edw. Hales who commanded them as General Sir Geo. Lisley and others offering a Parly to Sir Tho. Fairfax to which he returned this Answer c. SIRS I received a Message from you for a Pass for some Gentlemen to come and and Treat according to an Order of Parliament but know of no such Order of theirs or Authority of yours to appoint Commissioners for such a purpose finding you them in Arms against the Parliament I cannot admit of a Treaty but if ye shall forthwith lay down your Arms and return home I doubt not of the Parliaments mercy to such as have been deluded into this Rebellion and their Exemplary Justice to the Chief Actors therein Of which Answer having satisfied the Prince they did by directions from him make this Reply 1. That an universal and perpetual Dictate of Nature even self-preservation not to invade others Rights but to secure their own had drawn them together 2. 'T was an undoubted Power over them ordained of God they did then obey and so did neither Tumult nor Rebel 3. That Providence which had given them that opportunity they dare not neglect nor could they lay down their Arms without the forfeiture of their Reason and their Honour and that as for the uncertain mercy which he offered to the deluded many whom he thought knew not why they were come together the certain Justice he had threatned their Leaders withal he might assure himself there was but one Soul in that great Body which was therefore resolved to stand or fall together as one Man being not tempted with any hope except that of returning to their ancient Rights Priviledges Governments and Settlements and altogether uncapable of any fear save only that of relapsing into their former slavery And that the fair managing of their business was a sufficient demonstration of their Inclinations to Peace entreating him therefore rather to make the Country his Friend than his Enemy The General being inexorable and and they resolved both Armies met at a barricadoed Bridge between the Heartâ— and Graves-end where both sides strenuously disputed the Passage till the Country-men retired back into their main Body being over-powered by multitudes rather than overcome by valour whereupon notwithstanding
of Kelkhampton in Cornwell a living of about three hundred pound per Annum which he had freely bestowed on him without any other design therein than only to oblige him to serve his King and Country whenever he had occasion to employ him in any thing that might tend to both their Good having even then an eye to the General in Scotland to whom he was Brother which contrivance the King very well approved of and left the whole management of the business to his secresie and discretion Whereupon he sent for Monk out of Cornwelâ— and having first obliged him to secresie accquainted him with the Kings Commission to treat with his Brother the General and his design of sending him into Scotland to manage that treaty on the Kings behalf and gave him a Commission according to the Kings directions to offer his Brother in case he would undertake that commendable and glorious work of restoring the King to his Crown and Dignity leave to set down his own conditions and assure him that the King had promised upon his Royal word to perform them Monk being fraught with hopes and instructions willingly undertook the happy Embassy embarquing himself immediately for Scotland and having a prosperous gale arrived in a few days at Leith and from thence to Dulkeith where his Brother the General resided And that he might remove all suspition of the design of his coming from those about the General he pretended that the intent of his voyage was only to fetch away his Daughter Mary who at that time lived there in the Generals Family in order to the bestowing her in marriage to her advantage hoping that his Brother would make some conâ—iderable addition to her Fortune But the General being at his first arrival engaged in business could not entertain him himself and therefore sent him under the conduct of an highland Foot-Boy to his Chaplains Chamber which was Dr. Price who received him with that Courtesie that became him in regard of his relation to his Master and so soon as he had made him sit down began to enquire what news he had brought from England about Sir George Booth and the rest of those loyal Gentlemen that were engaged with him to whom Monk made such replies as were suitable to his several questions and then having been assured before he left England of the Dr's faithfulness and loyalty he adventured to acquaint him with the design of his coming thither at that time and desired his directions how he might to be with the greatest advantage to the Kings affairs break that business and open his message from Sir John to the General who thereupon told him that his Brother would expect to be satisfied of his Secresie as well as of his Fidelity before he would engage himself in such a hazardous affair as that was since it was necessary that a business of that importance should sleep in as few Breasts as possible and he might put himself the General and his whole negotiation into a very great hazard should he rely too much upon the Characters given him in England of the secret loyalty of any persons amongst them advising him therefore to make no more such rude and unadvised communications of his Embassy and to acquaint his Brother with his having related it to him assuring â—him for his encouragement that he verily believed that his Brother would willingly embrace any fair overture for the redeeming of his Country from the slavery of the Army His Wife who had always a great love and veneration for the King having prepared him to appear in his behalf when the first opportunity should offer it self and the Soldiers who troubled not their heads much about Religion and abbetting of parties but only fought for their pay having a general love and esteem for him as looking upon him to be a good Soldier and a discreet Commander under whom they might safely engage he might at any time make himself a good party amongst them when he should judge it fit and safe to apppear Mr. Monk having in the Evening an oppportunity to keep private with his Brother acquainted him with the end of his coming and the encouragement proposed by Sir John if he would undertake the work assuring him that he had seen the Kings Commission directed to Sir John for the impowring of him to make those offers wherein he promised upon the word of a King to perform them Which upon mature deliberation he highly approved of and the more because he understood that the Presbyterians and the Lord Fairfax would be engaged with him with whom he ever after maintained a private correspondence and therefore from that time took up a resolution to endeavour his Masters Restauration relying upon the Faith and Integrity of Sir John Greenvile and confiding in the Kings Word as much as if he had actually received a Commission from him for he soon after told his Chaplain that he was resolved to Commission the whole Scatch Nation against the English Parliament and Army rather than suffer himself to be taken or displaced by them although he had at time no other authority to do it by then that airy commission conveyed unto him by word of mouth from Sir John Greenvile who had it in writing from the King And the happy success of that resolution was a great demonstration of the Kings extraordinary prudence and discretion in pitching upon Monk as the fittest person to bring about that blessed and glorious revolution and the wisdom of Sir John Greenvile in employing his Brother rather than any other Person to manage that great and weighty Intreague And being informed that there was a supplication presented to the Rump by Lambert in the name of the Army under his command for the bringing those to punishment who had been actually engaged in or offered any assistance to Booth's Conspiracy and for appointing a General over all their Forces in the three Kingdoms which inquisition had it been made and a sequestration past upon it accrding to their expectation would have yielded them more Wealth then all the former sales of Crown and Church Lands He began to conclude with himself that he should have a fairer opportunity to put his resolutions in practice then he could have reasonably expected for he easily foresaw what was the design and intent of that supplication and was so well pleased with it that he pleasantly told his Chaplain that he perceived he should shortly have a better Game to play than he lookt for when he first engaged himself in the design and that he knew Lambert to be of such a restless and aspiring temper that he would not long suffer the Rump to sit in quiet at Westminster And therefore that he might the better make preparations for his future designs he immediately dispatcht away his Brother to London in character of an Envoy to assure the Rump of his faithfulness and fidelity to them and that he was resolved to stand firm to their Interest
arriving there early that afternoon went to Chattam to see the Soveraign and other Ships of the Royal Navy and returned again in the evening to his Lodgings where he was welcomed by an Address from Gib his Regiment deliver'd to him by the Collonel himself which was graciously accepted and the next Morning being the 29th of May which was his Birth-day he set forward from Rochester the Militia forces of Kent lining the wayes and the Maidens strowing herbs and Flowers and adorning the houses through all the streets he pass'd And being come to Dartford the Officers of the Regiments of Horse presented him with an humble Address wherein they declared their readiness to Sacrifice their Lives in defence of his person Government the Army being drawn up at Black-Heath he there took a view of them and us'd many gracious expressions towards them which were answered by them with loud and joyful Acclamations and the several Regiments being placed in order he advanced toward London and came about one of the Clock to St. Georges Fields where the Lord Mayor and Aldermen who waited there in a Tent to receive him delivered him their Sword which he re-delivered and Knighted Sir Thomas Allen who was then Mayor After a short repast he proceeded into London through Southwark and so from the Bridge to Temple Barr the Streets being Railed on one side with standings for the Liveries and on the other with the Trained bands through which he passed in a splendid and Triumphant manner to White-hall A Troop of about 300 Gentlemen in Doublets of Cloth of Silver led by Major General Brown marcht first brandishing their Swords in token of Triumph being follow'd by another of the like number in Velvet Coats with their Foot-men and Lacquies in Purple Liveries then marcht the Troop led by Coll. Robinson in Buff-Coats with Cloth of Silver sleeves and green Scarves followed by another in blew Liveryes and Silver Lace their Colours being Red fringed with Silver Then marcht a Troop with six Trumpets and seven Foot-men before them in Sea-green and Silver their Colours being pinck fringed with Silver followed by another Troop whose Liveries were gray and blew under the Earl of Northampton having 30 Foot-men Trumpets four their Colours being Sky with Silver fringed Then marcht a Troop in Gray Liveries of about an hundred and five led by the Lord Goring having six Trumpets and Colours of Sky and Silver followed by another of about Seventy After these marcht a Troop of about three hundred Noble-men and Gentry led by Cleveland followed by another of about one hundred with black Colours and after them marcht a Troop of about three hundred Horse led by the Lord Mordant These being all past two Trumpets with his Majesties Arms advanced with the Sheriffs Men being about Seventy-two in number in red Cloaks and Silver-Lace and carrying half Pikes Then followed the Gentlemen that rode out of the several Companies of London with their respective Streamers in Velvet Coats and Gold Chains every Company haing its Footmen with different Liveries being about six hundred After them came a Kettle Drum and five Trumpets followed by twelve Ministers then his Majesties Life-Guard advanced being led by Sir Gilbert Gerrard and Major Rascarrock who were followed by the City Marshal with eight Foot-men and the City Waits and Officers in order and they by the two Sheriffs and all the Aldermen of London in their Scarlet Gowns and Rich Trappings attended with great numbers of Footmen in Red Coats laced with Silver and Cloth of Gold Then followed the Maces and Heralds in their Rich Coats the Lord Mayor bare carrying the Sword and the General and the Duke of Buckingham bare also after whom as the chiefest Ray of Lustre to all this Splendid Triumph rode the King himself between his two Royal Brothers having observed that order all along from the very first overture of his return After them marcht a Troop bare with white Colours then the Generals Life-Guard and another Troop of Gentry and last of all marcht five Regiments of the Army Horse with Back Breast and Head-Pieces which diversified the shew with delight terror This was the manner of his passing through London for it is impossible for the most florid and Ingenious Pen to express those loud Musical and Ravishing Notes of Acclamations and Vive-le-Roy's which then filled the Mouths and charmed the Ears of all his transported Subjects Being in this manner brought to White-hall and the Lord Mayor and Citizens having taken their leave of him he went to the Banqueting House where both Houses of Parliament waited his Arrival and received him with those demonstrations of joy and expressions of Reverence humility that became them The Speakers of each House in elegant Speeches acquainting him with the felicity and happiness they conceived in that happy revolution and the pleasure they took to behold his return in safety and thereby putting an end to that Tyranny and Slavery which his Kingdoms had so long endured He thankt them for their expressions of love and Loyalty and told them that he was so disorder'd by his Journey and with the noise still sounding in his ears which he nevertheless confest to be pleasing to him in regard it exprest the affections of his People that he was thereby unfit to make them such a Reply as he desired adding that the greatest Satisfaction he took in that change was the finding his heart fully set to endeavour by all means the Restoring the Nation to its freedom and happiness which he hop'd by the advice of his Parliament to effect assuring them that next to the honour of God from whom principally he deriv'd his restoration to his Crown he would study the well-fare of his people and not only approve himself a true Defender of the Faith but also a just Assertor of the Laws and Liberties of his Subjects And having taken leave of them he retir'd to Supper and soon after to his rest where it was time for him to find a sweet and sedate repose free from the confus'd noise and clamours of War wherewith he had been for twenty years together strangely toss'd upon the boistrous Waves of fickle and unconstant Fortune On the Friday following he went by Water in the Brigandine which brought him on board the Charles from Holland to the house of Lords the Yeomen of the guard making a lane for him to pass through and the Heraulds at Arms in their Rich Coats the Maces and the Lord General bare-headed going before him As soon as he was seated he commanded the Commons to attend him and having in a short but elegant speech prest them to hasten the Act of oblivion he sign'd several Bills which they had made ready against that time for the Royal assent the First whereof was an Act for the confirmation of that Parliament a second for a Tax of seventy thousand pound per mensem for 3 Months and a third for the continuance of Process and
joyn with him therein went on by themselves and poll'd for Four Heads with a Salvo Jure to their former Election The next day the Mayor having caused his Books to be cast up and finding the Majority of Voices to be for Box he declared North and him to be Sheriffs But Box refusing to serve and paying in his Fine according to Custom the Mayor call'd another Common-Hall on the 19th of September and proposed Peter Rich Esq to be chosen in his stead who having the Majority of Voices and being declared Sheriff the Mayor dissolved the Court and returned home But the Two Sheâ—iffs notwithstanding the Mayor's dissolution continued this Assembly as they had done the former and demanding of their own Party the rest being departed with the Mayor whether they would abide by their former Choice for Papillion and Duboise proceeded likewise to a Poll and having cast up their Books declared them to be Sheriffs Elect. Whereupon the Mayor acquainting the King with their Proceedings he commanded them to attend him in Council where they were severely checkt and not dismist without giving sufficient Bail to answer to an Information which should be exhibited against them for their unwarrantable proceedings But notwithstanding this ill success they were not so discouraged as to desist from the like practices for the future For on Michaelmas-day when the Citizens met for the Election of a Mayor they mustered up their utmost strength and appeared with as much Violence against Sir William Pritchard the next in course as they had done against North and Box setting up Gold and Cornish against them altho Cornish had been Sheriff but the very year before However Pritchard carried it by the Majority of Voices In this year died the Illustrious Prince Rupert in the 63d year of his Age The Constableship of Windsor-Castle which had been enjoyed by him for many years being after his Death conferred by the King on the Earl of Arundel And on the 18th of December died Henâ—eage Earl of Nottingham and Lord High Chancellor of England who had enjoyed that place ever since it was taken from Shaftsbury in the year 73. and was succeeded by Sir Francis North Lord Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas This year was very remarkable also for the Arrival of Two Extraordinary and Famous Embassages from Two Princes never known to have sent any into England before one from the Emperor of Fez and Morocco who in his Letter exprest much Kindness and a great Veneration to the King His Name was Hamet Benhamet Benhaddu Otter a man of a Majestick Presence and great Wisdom His business was about setling a Peace in relation to Tangier and his Person and Conversation was so pleasant and taking that he was received and caressed with more Honour and Respect both by the King and his Nobles than any Embassador I ever knew at Court And so he was by both Universities which he visited seeming to have an equal Esteem and Valuation for our Nation Nor was there ever any Embassador before him so much admired by the common people great multitudes always attending before his House which was near Katherine-street in the Strand to gaze upon and wonder at the strange Garb worn by him and his Attendants one whereof was an English Renegado formerly a Barber somewhere about Temple bar but being afterward a Soldier in Tangier he ran away from that Garison to the Moors and was by them highly advanced for his perfidious directing them in their Wars against that Town The other Embassage was from the King of Bantham in the East-Indies whose business was about the East-India Trade who would have been as much admired as the former if he had come another time but all mens Eyes were so generally fixt upon the Morocco that they were less minded than otherwise they would have been They brought the King several rich presents of Diamonds and other things of great value But not long after their return we received ill news when we least expected it For the Dutch having under pretence of assisting the Rebel Prince who was commonly called The Young King of Bantham against his Father the Old King seized upon that Town turn'd out the English whom they found there and seized on their Factory to the great damage of the English Nation On the 24th of April hapned one of the most famous and extraordinary Exploits that was ever known in London For one Broome Clerk of Skinners-Hall and Coroner of Landon having a Latitat out of the Kings-Bench in an Action upon the Case at the Suit of Papillion and Duboise agaiâ—st the Lord Mayor Sheriff North and several Loyal Aldermen Upon acquainting them therewith they all submitted to his Arrest and went with him as Prisoners to Skinners-Hall where they remained till about midnight Eight Companies of the Trained Bands being raised by order of the Lieutenancy upon that altogether new and unusual attempt to prevent Tumults But one Fletcher a Serjeant of the Poultrey-Compter having an Action of Debt upon a Bond of 400. l. agaiust Broome who had the Week before promised to give Bail to it but neglecting it and seeing him act so imperiously against the Chief Magistrate of the City took him into custody and carried him forthwith to the Compter The Mayor and his Fellow-prisoners seeing Broome carried away by a Serjeant demanded if there were any in the house who had Orders to detain them which being answered in the Negative they all peaceably departed to their several homes In the next Month was tried at Guild-Hall before the Lord Chief Justice Saunders Pemberton having been removed to the Common-Pleas upon North's receiving the Seal the great Riot committed the year before at the Election of Sheriffs Fourteen being found Guilty thereof and Fined And the better part of the City both for Number and Quality Resolved at a Common-Council held on the 22d of that Month That notwithstanding the Action in which the Mayor was Arrested at the Suit of Papillion and Duboise was said to be prosecuted at the Instance of the Citizens of London yet they to deliver themselves and the said Citizens from that false imputation did declare they were no way privy or consenting to that Action and therefore did disown and disapprove the same But the City having in the Judgment of Lawyers forfeited their Charter by several illegal proceedings the King thought the best way to prevent such kind of Tumults which might be of ill consequence to the Nation in general for the future would be the taking that Forfeiture that so by having the Charter delivered up into his hands they might by a more absolute dependance upon his Goodness be obliged to a stricter performance of their Allegiance and take the greater care to preserve the publick peace and quiet Whereupon he ordered a Writ of Quo Warranto to go out against their Charter which was grounded chiefly on their illegal exacting of Tolls in their Markets and their having framed and printed a scandalous
executed at Tyburn for this Plot. The Earl of Essex prevented the Hand of Justice by cutting his own Throat Mr. Hambden against whom there was but one Evidence was only indicted and found guilty of a high Trespass and Misdemeanor and condemned in a Fine of 40000 l. to the King to find Sureties for his Good Behaviour during Life and to stand committed till that was paid and done The Lord Brandon Major Wildman Mr. Charlton Mr. Trenchard and some others for want of sufficient Evidence were first admitted to bail and afterward discharged Mr. Wade and Sir Thomas Armstrong being both taken beyond the Seas the first at Mevis and the other in Holland were brought into England and condemned and executed upon an Outlawry The King to shew his Sense of the Divine Goodness for his wonderful and Gracious Preservation from that horrid Plot and Conspiracy publisht a Declaration for a solemn Day of Thanksgiving to Almighty God to be celebrated throughout the Kingdom on Sunday the 9th of Septemb. commanding that Declaration which contained a short Narration of the Treasonable Conspiracy and the Persons concerned therein some whereof were not mentioned in either of the Proclamations to be read on Sunday the 2d of September as well as on the Day of Thanksgiving which was observed with great Seriousness and Devotion throughout the whole Kingdom every one looking upon himself to have a particular Interest in the Benefit of that Preservation It is observable that there was this remarkable difference between the two Plots all those who died for the first protested their Innocency with their last breath denying that they had any knowledg of a Plot or Conspiracy carried on against the King or the Government and all those who died for the Second did acknowledg something tho they denied the greater part of what they were accused of About this time the Lady Ann Second Daughter to his Royal Highness the Duke of York was married to 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 and Dutchess with most of the Great Persons about the Court and that Night was observed with great Joy and Splendor and the next 〈◊〉 Bells proclaimed the publick Joy which every one took for her being so happily bestowed upon a Protestant and Religious Prince who was afterward installed Knight of the Garter at Windsor The Day for the Election of Sheriffs for London and Middlesex which of course used to be the 24th of June was this Year adjourned to the 5th of September when the Livery-Men assembled at Guild-Hall without the least Hesitation confirmed the Mayors choice of Peter Daniel and chose to serve with him Francis Dashwood Electing likewise Mr. Deputy Aleworth into the Office of Chamberlain in the Room of Sir Thomas Player who being one of the Rioters in the last Years Proceedings was then removed and performing all the other Elections of Bridg-master Ale conner c. with the ancient Gravity and Moderation and a Choice of Mayor on Michaelmas-day was likewise adjourned for six Days But in the mean time the King being highly displeased with the Cities delays in signing the particulars formerly accepted of and promised by the Common-Council in Relation to the Charter caused his Attorney to enter up Judgment against it and thereupon gave his commission to Sir William Pritâ—hard to execute the Office of Lord Mayor of that City during pleasure granting the like Commissions also to the two New Sheriffs Daniel and Dashwood who were thereupon sworn with the usual Oaths and Mr. Jenner of the Inner Temple knighted at the same time by the Name of Sir Thomas Jenner the Kings Recorder of London On Sunday the 7th of October the Mayor and Sheriffs appeared at Guild-hall Chappel as formerly in their Gowns and Chains but the Aldermen only in their ordinary habits being by vertue of that new Commission only made Justices of the Peace eight of the Factious ones being left out and their Number supplied by as many Worthy and Loyal Gentlemen viz. Sir Benjamin Newland Sir Benjamin Bathurst Sir John Buckworth Sheriff Dashwood Charles Duncomb Jacob Lucy Peter Palavazine and Benjamin Thoroughgood But on the 13th of that Month the King sent them a new Commission wherein he impowered them to act as Aldermen in their several Wards and accordingly divers of them attended the Mayor the next day to Chappel after their usual manner in Gowns and Chains and the next Week assembled a Court of Aldermen as formerly And upon the 29th of October which is the Annual Day for swearing the Lord Mayor of London the King having appointed Sir Henry Tulse to execute that Office by Commission during his pleasure he was after the usual manner attended to Westminster by the Companies performing the accustomed Ceremonies in Westminster-Hall and making the usual Cavalcade through London but without any Pageants The Duke of Monmouth being accused as one of the Conspirators in the late Plot absconded and lay concealed for some time so as he could not be found by all the search that was made for him But having privately made his Application to the King in an humble and submissive Letter wherein he intirely resigned himself to his Majesties Disposal the Duke thereupon went down to Secretary Jenkins his Office to whom he had voluntarily surrendred himself and upon shewing himself very sensible of his Crime in suffering himself to be drawn into a Conspiracy against the King and Government and making a full Declaration of it and a particular Submission to his Royal Highness for his misbehaviour toward him he did upon the request and Mediation of the Duke obtain his Pardon and the Attorny-General was ordered to stop all further Proceedings against him But refusing afterwards to make the promised Discovery or to sign what he had confest he fell again into the Kings High Displeasure and was thereupon banisht the Court and expelled the Royal Presence About the middle of December this Year began a very extraordinary Frost which lasted till the 5th of February during which time the Thames was frozen over with solid and contiguous Ice with thousands of People walking thereon and whole streets of Booths built quite a cross and shops of almost all manner of Trades on each side as in the high streets of London and Coaches running almost as thick as in Fleetstreet The extremity of the Weather was such that great numbers of poor and indigent People who at other times could but just live were now in regard they could not follow their imployment brought into great necessities and many of them must have starved if the charity of others had not relieved 'em whereupon the King who always loved to take all opportunities to express his charity and affection to his Subjects especially those that were poor and indigent among them granted his Letters Mandatory to the Bishop of London to make a Collection in all Parishes in the
City and Suburbs for the Relief of many Thousand miserable Wretches who would otherwise have perished and to encourage others to so needful a charity by his own example ordered several great Sums of Money to be issued out of his Treasury for that Purpose On the 23d of January being the first day of Hillary Term the Lawyers went over the Ice to Westminster and back again as familiarly as on the Land some on Foot and others in Coaches and there was for above a fortnight together a Fair or Mart kept between the Temple and that part of Southwark which is opposite to it This Year Vienna the Imperial City of Germany was closely besieged and greatly distressed by the Turks who brought it to the very last extremity but were then beaten off and forced to raise their siege by the Blessing of God upon the Valour of the King of Poland and the Duke of Lorrain in which Action the Lord Landsdown Eldest Son to the Earl of Bath behaved himself with so much Valour that he was afterward as a Reward of his Courage created a Count of the Sacred Empire And Tangier having cost the King abundance of Treasure to defend it against the Moors and make the Mole there he now resolved in regard the charges were so very great and the Expectation of Advantage very uncertain to relinquish it and therefore ordered the Lord Dartmouth to repair thither wih about 20 sail of Ships and demolish the Town Castle and Mole choak up the Haven to render it useless to any who might otherwise have thought the Town worth rebuilding and bring off the Inhabitants which was done accordingly About the middle of February 1684. was the Earl of Danby after a long and tedious Imprisonment admitted to Bail by the Eminent and Loyal Sir George Jeffrys who succeeded Sir Edward Sanders in the Lord Chief Justiceship of England all the Judges of the Kings-Bench having first given their several opinions about it and delivered their Reasons why he ought to be bailed and the other four Lords one of them viz. Peters being dead sometime before having just before his Death in a Letter to the King denied upon his Salvation his being any way Guilty of what he stood accused of being within the like Reasons were admitted to the like advantage and so was the Earl of Tyrone who had been almost as long a Prisoner in the Gate-house as they had been in the Tower The King having about the Year 81 appointed under him certain Deputies or Commissioners of Ecclesiastical Offices viz. The Arch-Bishop of Canterbury the Bishop of London the Lord Radnor Hallifax Hide and Mr. Seymor to whom he delegated his Power to dispose of all such Ecclesiastical Preferments as were within his immediate Patronage was pleased this Year to revoke their Commission and take those preferments again into his own immediate disposal as likewise a commission formerly granted to several Persons to execute the Office of Lord High Admiral of Eugland which was now again fully enjoyed and exercised by his Royal Highness Acts of Hostility being this Spring-fiercely pursued between the French and Spaniards by Sea and Land he commanded by Proclamation that being at Amity with both those Nations the Peace should be kept inviolably by them whilst they were in any Roads Creeks and Ports of his Dominions and that his Commanders and Officers should oppose themselves against those who should presume to assault any of the Ships of his Allies in any of his Roads or Places under his Protection Oates the Salamanca Doctor and Plot-Master-General not content with having falsly charged his Royal Highness the Kings only Brother and Heir with divers base and improbable Stories as tho he had plotted with the Papists against the King his Brother suffered his Spleen to boil to such an exorbitant degree that he saucily and impudently abused him with base and scurrilous Language calling him Traytor declaring That he hoped to see him hang'd with divers horrid devilish and abominable Expressions The Dukes patience not being easily provoked bore long with him but finding that forbearance did but render him more bold and increase his malignity at last he brought his Action of Scandalnm Magnatum against him upon which he was arrested at the Amsterdam Coffee-house on the back-side of the Royal Exchange and carried to Woodstreet Compter and from thence removed by Habeas Corpus to the Kings Bench and having let Judgment go in the next Term by default a Writ of Enquiry was issued out and executed before the Lord Chief Justice in the Kings-Bench Court when the Jury upon hearing the Evidence to shew their detestation of such an unheard of impudence gave 100000 Damages The Hambrough Company out of Gratitude for some great Favour received from the King did this Spring erect a most elaborate and curious Statue of him in Gray Marble in the very middle or Center of the Royal Exchange cut by Mr. Grinlin Gibbons the most Famous Statuary that England ever produc'd and equal if not superior to the best at this Time in Europe in the Garb and Habit of a Roman Caesar It was placed upon a curious Pedestal made of the same Marble upon which was the following Inscription Carolo II Caesari Britanico Patriae Patri Regnum optimo Clementissimo Augustissimo Generis Humani Deliciis Vtriusque fortunae Victori Pacis Europae Arbitro Maris Domino Vindici Societas Meâ—catorum Adventur Angliae Quae per CCCC jam prope Annos Regia Benignitate floret Fidei Intemerata Gratitudinis Aeternaâ— Hoc Testimonium Venerabunda posuit Anno sal Humanae MDCLXXXIV The Council sitting on the 28th of May at Hampton Court as it used frequently to do when he was at Windsor as the most convenient place for his coming to it he told them that he thought it fit and did intend his Brother should be present at the Meetings of the Council who accordingly took his Seat that Day and ever after during his Brothers Life And in October following the King made a Review or Muster of his Land-Forces upon Putney Heath where there was a most gallant Military Appearance the Horse consisting of the Three Troops of Guards the Granadeers the Earl of Oxford's Regiment of Horse and the Lord Churchels Regiment of Dragoons and the Foot of two Battalians formed and the Regiment of Guards with their Granadeers one from the Coldstream Regiment of Guards and Granadeers one from the Earl of Dumbartons Regiment and another from the Admiral Regiment with their Granadeers the whole Number of Horse and Foot between 4000 and 5000 being all exactly trained and well cloath'd most of the Horse march'd in the morning in Gallant Order through the Streets of London and so over the Bridg to Putney This Michaelmas Terms several Factious Persons were convicted of speaking scandalous and seditious Words against the Government for which one Best commonly call'd the Protestant Hop-Merchant was fined 1000 l. and ordered to stand in the Pillory
of Parliament they renewed the Vote of Non-Addresses declare the Treaty at the Isle of Wight dishonourable and dangerous and therefore protest against it and then proceeded to disarm the City and Country that so there might not be a Sword drawn for the good and Peace of the Kingdom Which obstacles being thus removed the Army encouraged the Juncto with a Remonstrance wherein they proposed that the People should agree finally to take away the Government by King Lords and Commons whereby they made good those Charges which had formerly been made against the Parliament and their Army and from which they had endeavoured by so many Oaths and Protestations to clear themselves And that they should in the name of the People proceed against all Malefactors from the highest to the lowest wherein they impudently included and chiefly aimed at the King himself who was in order thereunto closely imprisoned and deprived by them of the comfort of his Loyal Attendants and of the Honour of that State and Ceremony that was due to him But these were but essays toward and beginnings of Sorrows to that Pious though unfortunate King First It was moved in the House on the first of the following January that he might be tryed as a Traytor Which horrible as well as senseless Vote was past into an ordinance and sent to the House of Lords Upon which the Earl of Manchester to his Eternal Honour did declare that in regard the King was the chief of the three States in Parliament he could not possibly be a Traytor to the rest since Treason always goes upward and the lowest only are capable of being Traytors to the highest Which Speech the Earl of Northumberland seconded by declaring his opinion that suppose it was without question that the King was first in the War yet they had neither Law Custom or President to make that War Treason in his Majesty and the Lord Say affirmed that he knew not who should to say to Kings Ye are unrighteous or to Princes Ye are ungodly And Kings added Pembroke they say can do no wrong much less can they be guilty of Treason whereupon the Ordinance was immediately thrown out of that Honourable House But the Juncto mad upon their ungodly and destructive project resolved notwithstanding that the Persons impowered therein to try the King should proceed accordingly altho the Lords consented not Which unexpected News being brought the Prince by Seymour together with the Ordinance for his Fathers Tryal he was thereby surprized with so much Passion and Amazement to see their Oaths of Allegiance Covenants Protestations and Treaties for Peace conclude in Paricide and Murder that he knew not how to contain himself until he began to consider with himself that Passion must not be suffered to disturb reason in such an exigency of affairs wherein its consultations were to be imployed in the weighty business of saving a Father a King and three Kingdoms and that it became him therefore to give himself rather to discreet Advice and Council than to sullen grief It being more Princely and Heroick to prevent the mischief than either to be angry at it or revenge it when it was done And in order thereunto he solicits Spain France Holland and the Scots to interpose themselves in his Fathers behalf who accordingly by their respective Embassadors and Messengers did mediate for his Life offering themselves together with the English Peers to become Pledges for him But the Barbarous Juncto were inexorable their guilt having made them so desperate that they thought themselves no otherwise safe from former mischiefs committed by them but by perpetuating a far greater and unparallel'd wickedness those Monsters of Men hurrying his Majesty from the Isle of Wight to bring him to his Tryal as tho they had designed to explain to the wandring World the meaning of that Riddle which was contained in their pretence of defending him whilst they fought against him Being unjustly condemned by the pretended high Court of Justice set up by the Juncto for his Tryal to lose his sacred Head he did upon the near approach of his death take care with good Hezekiah to set his House in order giving charge concerning the same to the Dutch Embassador with whom he was as private as the rudeness of the Souldiers would permit him For the most part of the Saturday in the Afternoon ordering him to carry his Blessing to his Son and deliver him such Instructions as equally declare the greatness of our loss in him and our happiness in his Successor whose actions were always steered according to them wherein he breathed more like an Angel than a Man or at least as one then already entred upon the confines of Eternity and within view of Immortality and Perfection as you may perceive by the Instructions themselves which are as follow Son if these Papers with some others wherein I have set down the private reflections of my Conscience and my most impartial thoughts touching the chief passages that have been most remarkable or disputed in my late Troubles come to your hands to whom they are chiefly designed they may be so far useful to you as to state your Judgment aright in what hath passed whereof a pious use is the best that can be made and they may give you some Directions how to remedy the present and prevent future Distempers This advantage of Wisdom you have above other Princes that you have begun and now spent some years of discretion in the the experience of Trouble and the exercise of Patience wherein Piety and all other Virtues both Moral and Political are commonly better planted to a thriving as Trees set in Winter than in warmth and serenity of times or amidst those delights which usually attend Princes Courts in time of Peace and Plenty which are prone either to root up all Plants of true Virtue and Honour or to be contented only with some Leaves or withering Formalities of them without any real Fruit such as tend to the publick good for which Princes shall always remember they are born and by Providence designed The Evidence of which different Education the Holy Writ affords us in the contemplation of David and Rehoboam the one prepared by many Afflictions for a flourishing Kingdom the other softened by the unparallell'd Prosperity of Solomon's Court and so corrupted both for Peace Honour and Kingdom by those Flatteries which are as inseparable from prosperous Princes as Flies are from Fruit whom adversity like cold Weather driveth away I had rather you should be Charles Le bon than Le grand good than great I hope God hath designed you to be both having so early put you upon that exercise of his Gifts and Graces bestowed upon you which may best weed out all vicious Inclinations and dispose you to those princely Endowments and Employments which will most gain the love and intend the welfare of those over whom God shall place you With God the King of Kings I would
Rights which none but such Monsters as themselves would unjustly detain from so great and so good a Prince Wherefore being deeply sensible of their danger they prepare for War but whether it should be Offensive or Defensive was yet a question among them But at last considering that if there must be a War it had ever been a Maxim among the greatest Politicians that it was most prudent to make the Enemies Country the Seat of it They resolved upon an Offensive War hoping that Scotland would quickly be weary of maintaining two Armies since it had so much ado to keep one And that since they were informed their Levies went on flowly they thought that their Forces which were already on Foot might easily go and surprize them before they lookt for them or were half ready to entertain them In order whereunto Cromwel being called out of Ireland was in great state made Captain General of all their Forces raised or to be raised in England Scotland and Ireland The Lord Fairfax who had in him some sparks of Loyalty waving at once that Employment and his own Commission not as some imagine to avoid the hazard of that Expedition for he was one that never turned his back upon danger but because he was unwilling any longer to be subservient to those base and vile Designs which he now began to abhor Whilst these preparations were making in England the King removed from the Hague to Diep in Normandy and from thence to Scheveling from whence after a dangerous Storm and narrow escape of some English Vessels which lay in wait for him he arrived safe at the Spey in the North of Scotland which the Parliament being informed of they sent some Lords to receive and attend him from thence to Edinburgh where he is received by the Parliament and Committee of Estates and Kirk with infinite expressions of Fidelity and Affection the common people like so many Echoes to their Superiors and the whole City sounding nothing but Vive le Roy. But Cromwel being advanced with his Army into Scotland and having been successful in some smaller Encounters and given them a total overthrow at Dunbar they found themselves in a sad and perplexed condition having not only the Enemy raging in the bowels of that Kingdom but being extreamly divided also amongst themselves wherefore they now thought it high time to unite among themselves In order whereunto a general meeting was appointed at St. Johnstons which should consist of King Lords and Commons and the Assembly of the Ministers in which Assembly several Lords formerly in favour with the Kirk were admitted to Commands in the Army and a Liberty to sit in Parliament as Hamilton Lauderdale and others And Major General Massey formerly Governour of Glocester for the Parliament but afterward reconciled to the King was admitted to a Command in the Army And as the perfection of all the Kings Coronation was there resolved upon so that now their wounds began to heal and their breaches to be made up again and it was generally hoped that these Clouds of Division being blown over a serene Sky would immediately follow and the Sun of Prosperity shine on their future proceedings The Parliament of Scotland in pursuance of those resolutions at St. Johnstons having dissolved themselves in order to the Kings Coronation it was performed on the first of January at Schone in as Solemn and Splendid manner as the exigency of the time could bear his Majesty with a great Train of his Nobles and others went first to the Kirk where a Sermon was Preacht by a Scotch Minister whose name was Duglass upon those words then they brought out the Kings Son and put upon him the Crown and gave him the Testimony and made him King and Jehojadah and his Son Anointed him saying God save the King 2 Chron. 23 11. Joined to these words and Jehojadah made a Covenant between all the People and between the King that they should be the Lords People v. 16. Which Sermon being ended he was conducted from his Chair of State which was placed in the Kirk to that erected for his Coronation by the Lord High Constable and the Earl Marshal where being placed he was Proclaimed King by Herald King at Arms and then clad with a Robe of State by the Lord Chamberlain and the Lord Steward After which sitting he consented to the National Covenant the Solemn League Covenant Directory and the Catechisms and promised upon his Royal word to perform them so far as he understood them to be agreeable to the Word of God in his own Family in his Kingdom of Scotland and in all his other Dominions as soon as it should please God to restore him thereunto Which being done the Coronation Oath was next read which was Enacted in the first Parliament of King James and is as follows That His Majesty shall maintain that Religion Discipline and Worship that is most agreeable to the Word of God to the best Patrons of Reformation and is against all Heresy Schism Idolatry Superstition and Prophaneness that he should govern the Kingdom by Law and Equity and that he should maintain the just Rights of the Crown and Priviledges of the People After the reading of which Oath he declared with an audible Voice that he did promise in the name of the great God who Lives for ever that he would to the uttermost of his Power endeavour to do the things contained in that Oath Which done Herald King at Arms went to the four corners of the Stage and demanded of the People four times whether they were willing that Charles the Second Son and Heir of Charles the First should be King over them to which the People answered Long live King Charles God Save the King Then the Marquess of Argile Presented him with the Royal Scepter the Earl of Eglington put on the Spurs the Lord High Constable set the Crown upon his Head and the Earl Marshal having unsheathed the Sword put it into his hand to defend the Faith withal which having held a while he delivered it to the Earl of Glencarn to be carried before him Then the Nobility Gentry and Commons of the Kingdom did as in the presence of the Great God that Lives for ever swear Allegiance Fealty and Obedience to him as to their Liege and Soveraign Lord and the whole Ceremony was concluded by an Exhortation of the Minister to his Majesty to the Nobility to the Clergy and to the Commons the sum and substance whereof was in reference to the Covenant which they then lookt upon as the Center from which every Line both of Soveraignty and the Subjects Duty was to be drawn in their respective Circumstances And for a power to perform what he then exhorted them to the assistance of God is invoked by prayer who being Alpha and Omega they made him the first with whom they began and the last with whom they finished So soon as the Crown was set upon his Head he made a
defence the French Marquess finding himself over-match'd by their Reasons in great passion return'd without the success suspected at the Palace-Royal where the French Queen stayed very late till he came back whose Report when both Queen 's heard they were then so fully satisfied in the Duke's firmness to his Religion that after that time no considerable attempt was made on him altho' he continued for near two Months there being nobly entertained all that time by the Lord Hatton until through his and the Marquess of Ormond's interest Necessaries were provided for his going into Germany to the King From the interview of the Queen of Sweden which was held at a small Village near Frankford at the same time when the Fair was there he returned with great satisfaction to Cologn where he was welcomed with all imaginable demonstrations of Joy by the Magistrates and the whole City where he had not staid long before the Duke of York came to him being complemented away from France upon the conclusion of the Treaty with Cromwel notwithstanding his incomparable worth discovered in the Court and in the Camp where he behaved himself so well that the Duke of Longueville was willing to have match'd his Daughter to him altho' he was in exile and the Marshal Turein commended him in the time of his sickness to the French King as the fittest person to be Commander in chief of all his Forces And so desirable was his company â—â—ong all Princes that Don Lewis de 〈◊〉 and Don John of Austria mighâ—y importun'd him to come over to â—â—em in Flanders which invitation he â—â—cepted of and he repaired thither 〈◊〉 to promote his own cause and 〈◊〉 King of Spains affairs in order â—â—reunto he commanded all his â—â—glish Scotch and Irish Subjects in those â—â—rts to be listed for his Service which â—â—ounted to about three or four thouâ—â—â—d besides the two Regiments of 〈◊〉 and Glocester and maintained a â—â—â—nstant correspondence with his â—â—iends in England which Cromwel susâ—â—cted but had no certain knowledge â—â—ereof having now no Mannings in the â—â—ngs Court to betray his Majesties seâ—â—ets wherefore he contrived a Plot â—o which by his Emissaries he ensnaâ—â—d the reverend Dr. Huet Sir Henry 〈◊〉 and others and had them tryed â—â—fore a High Court of Justice and â—â—ndemned and executed for that preâ—â—ded Conspiracy But though he â—as represented to the City by Cromwel 〈◊〉 be twenty thousand strong when he â—as acquainting them with the pretenâ—â—nded Plot against him yet he was not able to attempt any thing upon 〈◊〉 own account in regard his Forces weâ—â— but inconsiderable for number 〈◊〉 therefore he joyned them with tâ—â— Spaniards and at one attempt to 〈◊〉 the Siege of Dunkirk were defeate and almost all slain being deserted 〈◊〉 the Spaniards who were not able to eâ—dure the hot charge that Cromwels Sâ—â—diers gave them notwithstanding 〈◊〉 endeavours of the undaunted York 〈◊〉 rally them who did Wondâ—â— with his own Regiment putting 〈◊〉 whole French and English Army oâ— to a disorder and twice to a stand 〈◊〉 his own Guard only and some 〈◊〉 remnant of his overthrown Forces 〈◊〉 which defeat the Kings whole desiâ—â— being disappointed he betook himâ—â— from his Arms to his Prayers and aâ—pealed from Earth to Heaven Hoâ—ever he still remained in Flanders 〈◊〉 kept his Court in Bruges about 〈◊〉 Leagues from Brussels About this 〈◊〉 Cromwel being resolved to continue 〈◊〉 Protectorship in his own Family 〈◊〉 the matter so that his Parliamâ—â—â— should earnestly Petition solemnly â—â—vise him to name his Successor 〈◊〉 was the thing he chiefly desired notwithstanding all his former Oaths and Protestations against suffering the Nation to be rul'd by any single Person which when the King heard he said to a Person of quality who was then by him that Cromwell had certainly lay'd the best Foundation that a short and troublesom reign could possibly admit of at once to deprive him of his just and rightful Dominions and to settle his own Posterity in his unjust and usurpt Authority And when he receiv'd the news of his death he shew'd an admirable calmness and serenity of Spirit Reason Religion and Discretion having such a powerful command over his passions that though it seem'd in all probability to be a considerable step toward his Restauration in regard his most implacable as well as successful Enemy was now gone yet he did not discover any extraordinary symptoms of Joy But as that great alteration in England did change all the publick Councels of Europe in general so did it likewise somewhat alter his for he now set up new negotiations in most of the forraign Courts that so he might not be wanting to himself whilst there were the most hopeful designs that had ever yet been on foot in England for the promoting his Journeys The new Protector being look't upon as one weary of that power which was then desolv'd upon him in regard he knew himself to have as little ability to manage it as he had right to enjoy it and was suppos'd not to have that implacable aversation to the Royal Family which his Father had always discover'd However it was not long before the Army thrust him from his Throne and set up the Rump again which his Father had pull'd down after which there were so many alterations and new forms of Government that it is almost impossible to give the World a particular account of them every Week almost producing some new Model or other and there springing up some new Heads of that Hydra-Common-Wealth The King was not in the mean time idle but laid out all his Interest and Policy for the promoting his designs and the procuring such supplies as might encourage those Loyal Subjects that incessantly endeavour'd by his Restauration to restore their Native Countrey from the Paws of those Lions into which it was fallen and themselves to the Glorious Liberty of being â—â—bject to so great and good a Prince 〈◊〉 although Holland offered fairly 〈◊〉 some Princes with the Emperor of â—â—rmany began now to pity forlorn â—â—d exiled Majesty especially dwelling 〈◊〉 a Prince of that worth as he was acâ—â—unted to be by all those who had 〈◊〉 happiness to know him yet the â—â—eatest hope and expectation from any 〈◊〉 those Forraign Affairs was the peace â—â—at was then mediating by the Pope beâ—â—een the two Kingdoms of France and â—â—ain managed by the two great Faâ—â—urites of each Kingdom the Cardiâ—â—l Mazarine and the Count de Olivarez â—â—on the Borders of St. Jean de Luz â—hich if it succeed must in all probaâ—â—lity prove advantageous to his affairs 〈◊〉 regard both Crowns could not upon â—â—e conclusion of peace between them â—estow their Forces upon any service â—â—at would render more to their honour â—â—an that of endeavouring his Restauâ—â—tion although he rather desired to â—mploy their Interest than their Arms 〈◊〉 intended to let England know what â—â—ey might do for him rather then to â—ake them feel the effects of any
thing â—one by them And although he expected 〈◊〉 should have an Army ready to good the agreement yet he intendeâ— they should prevail more by their Reasons than their Forces The managing of this Treaty between the two Kingdoms being a business that so much concerned him 〈◊〉 particular as well as Europe in generaâ— he condescended to negotiate thereâ—â— in his own person notwithstanding 〈◊〉 had Residents in most Christian Kingdoms And in order thereunto betooâ— himself first to one Court and then 〈◊〉 another the Duke of York accoâ—â—â— panying him incognito being sensibâ—â— of the danger which might accrue 〈◊〉 to his cause and Person upon the scrâ—ples of a solid interview it being genâ—rally observed the interviews of Priâ—ces are unhappy And by the way 〈◊〉 he passed through France he gave a 〈◊〉 sit to his Mother intending before 〈◊〉 had undertook the negotiation of 〈◊〉 publick reconciliation between 〈◊〉 two Kingdoms to practice a privaâ—â— one between himself and her who haâ— declar'd herself very much displeâ—â—â—â— with him upon the account of his prâ—ceedings in the business of the Duke 〈◊〉 Glocester which having accomplisheâ— and finding that that Court did 〈◊〉 give him the honour due to his Person nor an entertainment suitable to his expectations He return'd with his Brother to Diep in Normandy going thither by Post with such hast and privacy that some mens hopes and others fears imagin'd they were gone over into England an attempt at that time too dangerous for so wise and politick a Prince to adventure on From Diep he remov'd toward the Frontiers of Spain by the way of Roan where he was nobly treated by Mr. Scot an English Merchant and entertain'd with a Sermon suitable to his present condition and from thence he went by post to Bajonne accompany'd by the Marquess of Ormond and so towards the two Ministers of State that were negotiating the Peace between the two Crowns at St. Jon de Luz The news of this approach did no sooner reach Don Lewis's Lodgings but he prepares to meet him with as much splendour as if our Soveraign had been his Majesty of Spain or himself an English Subject for when he met him he immediately alighting from his Horse and kneeling though in a very dirty and inconvenient place embrac'd and kiss'd his Majesties Knees and walk'd before him bare-headed to the place he had order'd to be made ready for him which was the best Lodging the Town afforded where the next day he received a formal visit from that sly close and reserv'd Politician Cardinal Mazarine whom he entertain'd with such a discreet wariness as if he design'd to let him know and those that saw him understood well enough thereby that he understood the walking Cabala almost as well as he did himself Never were any of his great affairs so well carried on as that was which he manag'd himself for by the advantage of his own incomparable Prudence and sage Experience together with his powerful Majesty and Presence he so far prevail'd in his negotiations there that notwithstanding Lockharts close applications in behalf of his Masters he not only prevented any article that was offer'd and prest in favour of his rebellious adversaries of England but also procur'd himself to be included by Spain as the most honourable Ally in the intended Peace and obtain'd a promise from both those Favourites that they would in pursuance of their Masters friendship with him descended as soon as possible to treat of such particulars that might be proposed as the most sutable to the promoting of his Restauration and consult what Counsels ought to be taken what Men Money and other supplys their respective Masters should afford and how each should be employed for the greatest usefulness to his Service After which he was dismist with as much Respect and Honour as he was received Whilst this Treaty was managing by the two Favourites the Duke of York was in consideration of his great worth and the Service he had done for Spain offered the honour of being made Constable of Castile and Lord high Admiral of Spain which he handsomly refused that Prince having a peculiar way of denying requests as pleasantly to some as he grants them to others And indeed it was at that time prudence in him to wave any courtesie that might be proffered by Spain or any other Popish Court least it might somewhat have retarded his Brothers affairs in England by rendring him suspected of too near compliance with the Catholick Interest and have rendred the attempts of those who were there endeavouring to clear both his and the Kings Integrity and Constancy to the reformed Religion the better to prepare the way for their Re-establishment vain and fruitless especially since their â—mplacable Enemies made it their chief design and business to abuse the Credulous with false surmizings and unjust suspicions of their faithfulness to the Protestant Religion and Interest to which they had adhered with so much resolution and constancy that neither smiles nor frowns the prospect of the greatest enjoyments nor the fear of the heaviest sufferings the highest Favours from Rome nor the basest Affronts from England could tempt them to the least thought of disloyalty to it The King having finisht his negotiations at the Treaty of St. Jan de Luz to his great satisfaction returned with his Brother the Duke of York through France to Brussels only staying some short time at Carentia and Paris with the Queen his Mother And to make his advantage of these stirs and continual alterations in the Government of England sine the death of Cromwel which naturally tended towards the promoting his Restauration whereby the Nation could only be setled notwithstanding they were all design'd to prevent and hinder it he sent over diverse Commissions to diverse worthy and loyal Persons to raise Forces on his behalf and otherwise to act as they saw convenient for the promoting that grand design by virtue of which Commissions a general Plot was laid for the raising of Forces in all the Countyes in England to declare for him But some part of that business being intrusted to the management of the Lady Howard Daughter to the Earl of Barkshire who though loyal enough yet being in regard of her Sex incapable of secrecy it was soon discovered and so London which was the main place secured and the most considerable Persons that were to have done any thing therein were disabled by imprisonment or otherwise several Troops of Horse likewise commanded into Kent and Surrey and the raisiâ—g the Militia hastned in every County so that no considerable party was able to appear any where except in Cheshire where most of the Nobility and Gentry of that County and Lancashire were up under the command of Sir George Booth with whom and General Monk from Scotland was to have joyned if they had not been so suddainly supprest And in North Wales were most of the Inhabitants assembled together under the command of Sir
John Owen and Sir Thomas Midleton who declared their just sence of the grievances of that Commonwealth whereof they were Members and their resolution to have the Laws Liberties and Properties of the People establisht by a free Parliament which was all that was intended at that time by those commissioned by his Majesty in regard designs were to be discover'd gradually and by peice meals only as occasion and opportunity should require Notwithstanding the Rump had prevented most of those designed insurrections yet that of Sir George Booth who was one of their secluded Members appeared very formidable wherefore they resolve with all imaginable Speed to suppress it and in order thereunto having first proclaimed Sir Thomas Booth Sir Thomas Middleton Coll. Warren and Major General Egerton and all the rest of their Adherents Traytors to the Commonwealth they commanded Lambert to march with three Regiments of Horse the like number of Foot and some Dragoons to reduce him and his Forces to their obedience ordering some militia Forces and some Regiments out of Ireland under Zaachy and Axtell to joyn with him for his assistance therein Coll. Desbrough being likewise sent by them with the same command and some Forces into the West to redeem Midleton and a Proclamation issued out against Mordant the Earl of Lichfield Major General Brown and William Compton Sir Thomas Levinthorp and Mr. Fensher the three last wherof surrendring themselves within the time prefixt therein the two first fled and the major General waiting another opportunity absconded himself at Stationers Hall where he was preserved by the faithful Secrecy of Captain Barrough And the Earl of Samford who was likewise engaged in that business was taken at his own house in Arms and carryed Prisoner to Lester which was at that time the condition of many other Loyal Gentlemen the Earle of Oxford being committed Prisoner to the Serjeant at Arms the Lords Faulkland and Dellaneer to the Tower whither not long after was brought the Lords Faulconbridge Bellasis Chesterfield Castleton and Howard Lambert in his march toward the confines of Chester made no very great haste being desirous to make a lasting war of it whereby he hoped to settle himself the better in the affections of the Soldiers and thereby tread the step that Cromwel had done before him however such methods were taken by his Masters that very few accessions of Strength came in to Sir George more then what were at first numbred who nevertheless bravely resolved to abide the fortune of battel and justifie the equity of their cause by the dint of Sword In order thereunto they drew up near Nantwich whether Lambert was advancing in the adjoyning meadows having the Rivers before them and the Bridges strongly guarded but Lamberts Horse and Foot resolutely faling on together at the Bridge the post was soon gained and the fight as quickly over the chief defence being made by Memorgan a loyal and valiant Gentleman who with some Horse of his Troop who presently died of his wounds There were in the flight about 3 hundred killed and five hundred taken prisoners among whom was most of the Gentlemen and Officers Lambert having obtained this victory presently advanced with his Army to Cheshire where Collonel Croxton still held out the Castle and had it presently delivered from whence he advanced to Liverpool which was yielded likewise by Coll Ireland and so was Chink and Harding Castles whereby that whole design perished and came to nothing Sir George himself had made his escape out of the Field and got away accompanied with four of his Servants only in disguise but being discovered at his Inn in Newport-pannel was taken and secured One Gibbons who immediately posted away to give the Rump an account of it was highly rewarded for that acceptable news and so were two or three others who were sent before from Lambert with the particulars of the Cheshire defeat when he was brought up to London Fleetwood was ordered to meet him with a guard at High-gate secure him to the Tower where he was the next day examined by Vane and Hazâ—erick as to his design and accomplices bâ—t such was his reservedness and resolution that notwithstanding their suspicion that the restoring of the King was at the bottom of it in regard Monk was said to be privately engaged with him in the same design Ormond being reported to have been seen about that time at his House at Dalkeith that they could get nothing out of him When this design was about to be put in execution the King withdrew himself privately from Brussels and lay privately upon the coast of Brittany about St. Malloes to take shipping for England upon the first good event of those loyal undertakings of his faithful Friends and Subjects Kent or Essex being designed for the place of his landing one Turene the French General having engaged to wait upon him if he would command it but the news of this unhappy defeat reaching his Royal Ears which had been too long accustomed to such unfortunate and unsuccesful stories he returned again to Brussels resolving for the present to give over the prosecuting of his Right by the sword and attend the good effects of the Treaty between France and Spain But being informed that affairs in England were as unsetled as before and that the Rump and the Army wholly applied themselves to undermine and subvert each other he would not wholly desist from attempting to carry on his interest there by the help and assistance of his Friends And therefore wisely considering that Monk who was then General in Scotland had formerly been in his Fathers Service wherein he was taken Prisoner and was thought to embrace the Parliament interest only because his Ransom was neglected and that during the whole time of his serving under them and the Protector he had not discovered any particular Spleen or Malice to his Person but had in all things carried himself as a Soldier of Fortune only who fought for his pay he conceived there might be some probable hopes of gaining him to his side if a dexterous application was made to him in regard he had not that guilt which others had contracted either by murdering of his Father or the malignity they had discovered against himself to render him jealous and suspicious of him And therefore resolving as near as possible to make use of the most peaceable and bloodless means to recover his lost Dominions he ordered Sir John Greenvile who was one of those Commissioners that resided at London for his service to find out some way to treat secretly with him But before Sir John would proceed therein he thought it convenient to inform him by whom and in what manner he had designed to do it which he did in a Letter written in Cyphers and directed to Sir Edward Hide at Brussels with whom only he was by the Kings order to correspond wherein he proposed the sending of Mr. Nicholas Monk who was Minister of his own Parrish
and Authority against all opposition whatsoever And for the better wipeing away all suspicion of the true intent and design of his Brothers coming he sent his Daughter away with him likewise No sooner had the General dismist his Bother but he received a visit from a Scotch Noble Man viz. the Earl of Nitsdale who after some private discourse with him assured him that the King would be restored within the compass of a very few months without the shedding of one drop of Bloud or the hazard of a cut Finger in the accomplishment thereof and that he lookt upon him as the principle Instrument by whose Wisdom and Conduct it was to be effected which prophettick discourse contributed very much toward his encouragment to push the business forward with the greater earnestness and speed Mr. Monk being safely arrived at London repaired privately to Sir John Greenvile and gave him an account that he had delivered his message to the General and imparted it to none else except his Chaplain only but told him as to the success of it he could give him no account being under an Oath of secresie However Sir John thought that was sufficient and therefore immediately acquainted the King with it who was so well satisfied therewith that he ordered him to wait an opportunity as soon as possible to treat personally with him which he did not long after and received a more full and satisfactory account from him how and in what manner he intended to proceed therein And for the discharging of this new Embassy to the Rump he repaired to Dr. Clergies who was Brother in Law to him and the General and Agent for the Scotch and Irish Armies to whom he was ordered by the General to impart his message to be delivered by him to the Parliament wherewith they were so highly pleased that out of a Sence of the Generals supposed Fidelity and to require his offered kindness they made as it were an expiring vote of revenge when they saw they must be forced to yield to Lamberts ambition and have their usurpt Authority suffer a second Rape wherein they constituted him about the seventh part of a Generalissimo which fell out very happily for the promoting his great and generous design for it was by Virtue of that power that he seemed afterwards to act and give forth Commissions And having received on the 7th of October the certain news that Lambert had by the assistance of the Army once more unhoused the Rump he publickly protested that he would not endure that unjust and arbitrary proceding and was resolved therefore to reduce the Military power to the obedience of the Civil and in order thereunto presently entred the Stage against Lambert and his Armies proceedings dispatching away the trusty adjutant Jeremy Smith who was afterwards Knighted for his Fidelity that afternoon to Edenburgh and Leith to secure those places and under the march of such Troops of Horse on whose Captains he could most rely and having stopt the Packquet which should have gone that Night for England he followed him the next day to Edenburgh where he reformed his Army making Captain Morgan Lieftenant Collonel and Captain Nichols Major of his own Regiment and the next day sent a party of Horse commanded by Captain Johnson to secure Barwick which he knew to be a place of great importance to his new designs which was done in the very nick of time for the Governour had no sooner clapt up his dissenting Officers according to the Generals directions but Collonel Cobbit entred the Town with instructions and Authority to assert and defend their Interest who being brought by Johnson to the General he sent him Prisoner to Edenburgh Castle and having assured the Soldiers to him he dispatched three Letters into England directed to Fleetwood Lambert and Lenthal wherein he acquainted them with his resolution to restore these Kingdoms to the free exercise of their Laws and Liberties which expression had more included than was exprest in it which was well enough understood by the Lord Fairfax and some others who were privy to the design These Letters gave some intimation of hope to the Rump that they should be a second time restored to their Authority and infinitely surprised Lambert and the other Grandees of the Army who did not expect to meet with any such opposition believing it diversly opposite to the interest of the Army in general for any one part of it to be divided against and oppose the proceedings of the rest and that although there should be any amongst the Souldiers who should love their Country better then their pay and that Monk should undertake to back them yet they were assured by some of his Officers who were then at London that his interest was too weak in Scotland to make head against them however to make all sure they sent Dr. Clergies and Collonel Talbut to him whom they intreated and conjured to use their utmost endeavors to allay those suddain heats of his which they affirmed had been kindled by some unhappy mistakes of their proceedings and assure him that he and his army should suddainly receive a satisfactory account about them But that attempt signified little for Talbut could not perswade him of the sincerity of Lamberts Friendship nor the reallity of his offered advantages and Clergies did but prevaricate with them that sent him and informed the General of the true state and condition of the English Army who had but little Money and no means left of raising more when that was spent in regard the Rump who saw their doom hastning had before they were turned out by Lambert voted it high Treason to raise money out of Parliament thereby covering their spite and revenge with the shadow of a pretended tenderness for their Countrys freedom These were soon after followed by Captain Dean Treasurer to the English Army who was sent by Fleetwood as a special messenger of his own with a very kind letter to the General and an offer of what preferment in the Army he would please to accept of if he would concur with them which he refused This messenger in his passage into Scotland dispersed divers papers where he endeavoured to seduce Monk's Soldiers by accusing their General of a design to bring in Charles Stuart upon them by his dividing the Army and told the General to his Face as he sat at dinner with him that Charles Stuart was at the bottom of his design upon which Dr. Price replyed no Mr. Treasurer it is you that will bring him in for by your late actions you have more then justified the late King who demanded only the Members of the House of Commons but ye have dissolved a Parliament And passing by one morning as a Company of Foot was drawing up he told them them that Lord Lambert was coming upon them and that all Monks Army would suffice him for a Breakfast to which he received as blunt an answer That Lambert had certainly a very good
Judicial proceedings And then he return'd to White-Hall where he chose the Lords of his Privy Council amongst whom were several of the long Parliament that had given sufficient Testimony of their sincere repentance and their resolution to be Loyal for the future and he appointed Judges for the Benches and Courts of Judicature Several Addresses were likewise made to him from the Nobility and Gentry of all the Countreys in England wherein they congratulated his Restitution to his Crown and Kingdom assuring him of their exceeding Joy and willingness to maintain his Royal Person and Authority Divers persons that had been eminent for their service and affection to him were about that time also dignified with the honour of Knighthood And several men guilty of his Fathers murder having made their escape beyond-Sea a Proclamation was Issued forth wherein all those persons who had â—ate gave Judgment or any way assisted in that horrid and detestable fact were commanded to surrender themselves within fourteen days to the Speaker or Speakers of Parliament to the Lord Mayor of London or the Sheriff of that County wherein they then resided forbidding all persons to conceal or harbour them under misprision of Treason whereupon divers submitted themselves and were secur'd in the Tower The Commons in drawing up the Act of Oblivion order'd that some others besides those who had actually sate in Judgment upon the late King should be excepted out of it viz. Broughton Phelps Cook Dâ—nby and Hugh Peters which so affrighted others who had a hand in that execrable murder that Col. John Hutchinson a Member of that Parliament and Coll. Frâ— Lussels presented their Petition to them wherein they confest their guilt and declar'd the artifices which were us'd to draw them in by which submission they obtain'd pardon upon some small forfeitures only But Peters being shortly after taken in Southwark was clapt up into the Tower And the Parliament not looking upon themselves nor the people of England free from the guilt nor safe from the punishment which in those unhappy times they had contracted unless they laid hold of the Kings offer of Grace in his Declaration from Breda did therefore resolv'd in a full house that they did in the name of themselves and of all the Commons of England lay hold on the gracious pardon mention'd in that Declaration with reference to the exclusion of such as should be excepted in an Act of Pardon and they order'd a Declaration that their Resolution should be drawn up which was done accordingly and presented to the King by Denzell afterward Lord Hollis some of the most eminent in Office under the late Usurpers having in the mean while to make sure of that Grace gotten their particular pardons exemplified under the great Seal of England To prevent which trouble the King was more than ordinary pressing for the speedy passing the Act of Oblivion taking care to express his grateful sentiments of the Loyalty and services of several Illustrious personages that were principally instrumental in accomplishing his Restauration by dignifying them with Places and Titles of honour And to shew how highly the Generals Loyalty had advanc'd him in his good Opinion he was dignifi'd by him with the Titles of Duke of Albemarle Earl of Torrington and Baron of Potheridge Beauchamp Teyes had his Temples deserv'dly incircl'd with a Ducal Coronet by the hand of his Majesty being thereby invested with the right of Peerage in all the three Kingdoms whose equal Felicity and Honour he had preferr'd before his own and therefore now most deservingly shar'd with them therein by his Investure in those Dignities which were compleated on the 13th of the following July by his taking his place in the House of Lords being attended by the Commons and introduc'd by the Duke of Buckingham Montague was made Earl of Sandwich Ormond Earl of Brecknock and Lord Steward of the Kings Houshold the Earl of Lindsey Lord High Chamberlain Manchester L. Chamberlain of the Kings Houshold Southhampton Lord High Treasurer Greenvile Earl of Bath and Groom of the Stole Sir Frederick Cornwallis Treasurer of the Kings Houshold by an old grant and Sir John Berkley Controller Divers rich Presents were now made to him from the several Cities and Burroughs of the Kingdom in Gold and Plate and the resignation of several Feefarm Rents which had been purchas'd from the Usurpers the City of London among the rest with a Complement of their good Stewardship rendred their grant of new Perk in Surrey and all the Rents accruing at Michaelmas Day were now secured from the late Purchasers of Crown and Church Laws to the utter disappointing of their unjust and covetous expectations from such base and unwarrantable Penny-worths A Peace was now made Proclaim'd between us and Spain and a Splendid Embassy dispatcht from Denmark to congratulate his happy Restauratian The Court of Soissons who had Married Cardinal Mazarines Neece being sent from the French King on the same Errand entring London with all the sumptuous and extraordinary Magnificence imaginable and there was no Prince nor State in Europe but what sent an Embassador thither to congratulate him upon that happy and wonderful occasion And the Parliament having after many debates and disputes alterations and insertions at last finish'd the long desir'd Act of Oblivion which was extraordinary comprehensive and indulgent even to the regret of many injur'd Loyalists who found no better Argument to perswade their acquiescing therein than their unchangeable Loyalty to the King whose special Act that was There were no more excepted out of it but only the Regicides and Murderers of the late King only Lambert Vane and twenty more were thereby reserv'd to such forfeitures as should be afterward declar'd by Parliament the principal whereof was Hazelrick St. John Lenthal the Speaker Philip Nye Burton of Tarmouth and some Sequestrators Officers and Major Generals of the Army among whom was Desbrough Pine Butler Ireton c. They likewise past an Act for the perpetual Anniversary Thanksgiving on the 29 of May which was the day both of his Birth and Restauration and therefore deserv'd a perpetual memorial and to be made by a Parliamentary Canonization the most auspicious in the English Kallender to both which he gave his Royal assent and shortly after at their adjournment to another for disbanding the Army and paying off the Navy which although they once threatned us with a perpetuating our slavery yet were now forc'd by the happy conjunction of his Fortune with his Wisdom and Goodness after many models to submit to its last desolation And the Commons having after the passing of their Bills acquainted him that they had nothing more to ask or offer at that time but that if his Majesties occasions would permit they might adjourn and go into their own Countries where they should endeavour to make his subjects sensible of their extraordinary happiness in having such a King to Rule and Govern them He consented to it telling
Exchecquer and Judges of the Law according to their several Dignities Trumpets Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber Knights of the Bath the Knights Marshal the Treasurer of the Chamber the Master of the Jewel House the Knights of the Privy Councel the Comptrollor and the Treasurer of the Kings-Household two Trumpets and Serjeants Trumpets two Pursivants at Arms Barons Eldest Sons Earls Youngest Sons Viscounts Eldest Sons Marquesses Youngest Sons Earls Eldest Sons two Pursivants at Armes Viscounts and Dukes Eldest Sons Marquesses Eldest Sons two Heralds Earls Earl Marshal and Lord Chamberlain of the Houshold Dukes Eldest Sons Serjeants at Armes on both sides the Nobility Clarencieux and Norroy Lord Treasurer Lord Chancellor Lord High-Steward the Duke of Ormond and two persons representing the Dukeâ— of Normandy and Aquitain Gentleman Usher Garter Lord Mayor His Royal Highness the Duke of York alone the Lord High Constable of England which was the Earl of Northumberland the Lord Great Chamberlain of England which was then the Earl Lindsey and the Sword carryed by the Duke of Richmond Equeries and Footmen followed next and about the King himself Gentlemen and Pensioners without them Master of the Horse which was the Duke of Albemarle leading a Spare Horse the Vice-Chamberlain to the King the Captain of the Pensioners the Captain of the Guard the Guard the Kings Life Guard Commanded by the Lord Gerrard the Generals Life Guard by Sir Phillip Howard a Troop of Voluntiers Troop and a Company of Foot by Sir John Robinson The way from the Tower to Aldgate was guarded by the Hamblets from thence to Temple-Bar by the Train-Bands on the one side and by the Livery on the other with the Banners of each Company the Windows were all along laid with Carpets and the best Tapistry Bands of Musick in several places and the Conduits running with Wine In St. Pauls Church-Yard stood the Blewcoat-Boyes of Christ-Church Hospital one whereof in the Name of the rest declared their joy for his Majesties wonderful Preservation and Restauration Humbly beseeching his Gracious Favour and Indulgence according to the example of His Royal Ancestors and his Father of Blessed Memory With which Speech he was well pleased and testified his being so by his rewarding the Boy that spoke it In the Strand and through Westminster the wayes were likewise gravelled and railed and guarded on both sides with the Trained-Bands of that City and the Kings two Regiments of Foot under the Command of Albemarl and Collonel Russel and the Houses adorned with Carpets and Tapestry like those in London When he came through Temple-Bar the Head Bayliffe and High-Constable in Scarlet met and received him with loud Musick and alighting off their Horses and kneeling down the Head Bayliff on behalf of the Dean and Chapter City and Liberty signified their Joyful Reception of His Royal Person into that Liberty Declaring how much their happiness exceeded any other part of the Nations in that their Soveraign Lord and King was come among them and humbly desiring His Majesty to continue his Grace and Favour to them whereby they might still be enabled to do His Majesty service Infinite and Innumerable were the Shouts and Acclamations from all parts as he past along to the no less Joy than amazement of the Spectators And the Pomp of this Solemnity was so great that it is vain to attempt the describing it it being not only unutterable but almost Inconceivable and many outlandish Persons who beheld it admired how it was possible for the English after such horrible confusions to appear in so rich and stately a manner It is incredible to think what costly Robes were worn that day it being scarcely discernable what their Cloaks were made of for the Gold and Silver Laces and Imbroidery that was laid on them besides the inestimable treasures of Diamonds Pearles and other Jewels and the Rich Liveries of their Pages and Footmen some suits whereof were so very rich that they amounted to near 1500 l. In this order he arrived at White-Hall where having retired himself to supper and so to Rest he came the next day which being St. Georges day was to consummate the Coronation from his privy Staires to the Old Pallace where in a Room behind the House of Lords called the Prince's Lodgings he stayed till the Lords and the rest of his Train had Robed and Ranked themselves in Westminster-Hall and so soon as they were ready descended the Stairs that went down into the Hall and placed himself in a Throne in the upper end thereof Then came the Dean and Prebends of Westminster in their Rich Copes each of them having a part of the Regalia and delivered them to the Lord High Constable who delivered them to the Lord Great Chamberlain and being by him set on a Table the King immediately distributed them St. Edwards Staff to the Earl of Sandwich the Spurrs to Pembrâ—ke the Sword called Curtana to Oxford the pointed Sword carryed on the Right Hand of it to Shrewsbury that carryed on the left to Derby and the Sword of State to Manchester the Scepter with the Dove to Albemarle the Orb with the Cross to Buckingham St. Edwards Crown to Ormond and the Pattina and Challice to the Bishops of London and Exeter And having thus bestowed the Regalia he set forward on foot much after the same order which was observed the day before upon blew Cloath spread on the ground from the Hall to his Chair in the Abby supported by the Bishops of Bath and Durham and having his Trayn carried up by the Lords Mandevill Cavendish Ossery and Piercy assisted by the Lord Viscount Mansfield Master of the Robes All the Peers with their Coronets in their hands went up along with him till he was placed in the Chair of State Then the Bishop of London on behalf of the Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury told the People he did there present them King Charles the Second the Rightful Inheritor of the Crown of this Realm and demanded of all those that came thither that day to do their Homage Service and Bounden Duty whether they were willing to do the same Whereupon all the Peers in their Parliament Robes and People gave a shout testifying their willingness Then the King rising from his Chair turned himself to the four sides of the Throne and speaking to the People who again with loud Acclamations signified their consent all in one voice After which the Choire sung an Anthem in the interim whereof he went supported by the Bishops of Bath and Durham attended by the Dean of Westminster to the steps before the Communion Table where upon Carpets and Cushions he offered a Pall and a piece of Gold and then removing to the right hand kneelled down during a short Collect then the Sermon began being Preacht by the Bishop of Worcester which ended the Bishop of London on behalf of the Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury ask't Him If He would be pleased to take the Oath that was wont to be taken
Reprizal to divers of his injured Subjects And to increase his Fleet a Peace being now made both with Gayland and the Algerines he commanded his Ships in those parts to return home and with most indefatigable diligence Journeying himself from Port to Port to hasten his preparations and encourage the Seamen by his presence he got his Fleet ready to take the Sea by the 25th of March which did not a little terrifie the Hollander who had been the Week before put into a very great disorder and consternation upon the appearance only of a small part of the English Navy under the Earl of Sandwich That his preparations for War might meet with their desired success the blessing of God who is the Lord of Navies as well as of Hosts was implored by a general Fast enjoyned by Proclamation and observed with Reverence suitable to the Solemnity of the occasion which was answered with the happy Omens of future Victory from the fair success of smaller enterprises three of their Men of War being shortly after taken His Royal Highness the Duke of York who as Lord High Admiral of England commanded that Fleet growing impatient of the Hollanders stay resolved to give them a visit upon their own Coast and One Hundred and Fourteen Saile of Ships made for the Texel within five Leagues of which place he came to an Anchor where he took a full view of their Fleet some of the smallest of his Ships running within two Leagues of the Shore and some few dayes after he shewed himself before the Mouth of their Harbour which gave them so great an Allarum that they presently erected Beacons all along the Coasts to give notice if he should make any attempt to Land He stayd somewhat longer then he intended in hope to provoke them to come out and engage but not suceeding therein he commanded seven of his Ships to saile in quest of a Fleet of Merchant-men who were then coming home from Bourdeaux and had certainly fallen into their hands had not a great fogg which arose about that time prevented it however ten of them were taken and as many more at several times afterward However the Dutch finding their Embassadors in Swedeland and Denmark able to effect little meeting with Ceremonious entertainments but no Assistance resolved to shew their own strength and their Navy appeared upon the Ocean in all its Glory and Splendor divided into seven Squadrons being in all about One Hundred and Three Men of War Eleven Fire-Ships and seven Yatches About which time the English suffered some loss for their Hamburgh Fleet desiring a Convoy of the Duke when he lay before the Texel he sent them some Ships for their Conduct and Security with a Caution that if they were not ready to Saile within ten dayes they should not after that time adventure to Sea but the ten dayes being over before they could get ready and the Ketch ordered by him to give them notice of his removal from the Texel missing them they adventured to Sea contrary to his Instructions and Orders and so fell into the Enemies hands But that loss was abundantly compensated by the Victory which soon after ensued wherein the Dutch lost eighteen of their best Ships which were taken by the English besides ten more which were sunk and burnt Which ill success caused many disorders and complaints among the Common People in Holland for the appeasing whereof and the revenging themselves upon their Officers that were accus'd of Cowardise or ill management in that Engagement they questioned several of them for their Lives and caused three of their Captains to be Executed at the Helder two to have their Swords broken over their heads and the Vice-Admiral Cortinaer to stand upon a Scaffold with a Halter about his neck But the Joy of this Victory was somewhat allayed by the Sickness which now began to grow very hot in London and its Subburbs insomuch that the Queen Mother to avoid its Fury returned to France being attended to the Kentish Coast by the King who having taken his leave of her went on board the Royal Charles where he Knighted several Captaines that behaved themselves Valiantly against the Dutch and afterward visited most of the Flagg Ships giving all necessary directions for the repairing and refitting out the Fleet and so returned by Water to Greenwich from thence to Hampton Court and afterward to Salisbury But the Plague increasing in London so that it was dangerous returning thither he repaired to Oxford which proved so happy a Receptacle for him that notwithstanding the vast concourse of People which resorted to his Court the approaching Parliament and the Term which was likewise kept there the place Continued in health and was not in the least visited with that Distemper that then raged in London and some other parts of the Kingdom At this place was made that Law which is commonly known by the name of the Five-Mile Act forbidding all such Dissenting Ministers as would not take the Oath and make the Declaration and Abhorrency therein provided to live within five Miles of any Corporation thereby the better to prevent the spreading of their Infection and encreaâ—ing the number of their Proselites The Oath and Declaration being as follows viz. J. A. B. Do Declare That it is not Lawful upon any pretence whatsoever to take up Arms against the King And that I do abhor that Traiterous position of taking Arms by his Authority against His Person by His Commission Or those that are Commissioned by Him in persuance of such Commission And I do swear that I will not at any time endeavour any alteration of Goaernment either in Church or State But tho during the time of that Visitation he remov'd His Court to Oxford yet for the security of that City and that he might not be thought wholly to withdraw his beams from her disconsolate Walls He left there the Duke of Albemarle who in all the heat of the Distemper continued at White-Hall with a Courage equal to his Dignity And knowing that as the Affliction came from the hand of Heaven so none but the Almighty was able to mittigate or remove it He commanded by Proclamation a general Fast to be observ'd throughout the whole Kingdom for the confessing and bewailing those sins that had brought that heavy Judgment upon the City and by Prayers and Supplications implore the Divine Goodness for the removal thereof commanding his Bishops to direct and Publish such forms of Prayer as were most suitable not only for the Service of that Particular day but likewise of all the succeeding Wednesdays so long as the Contagion should last having commanded that day in every week to be observed as a Fast for the removal of that desolating distemper according to the Apostle's Rule praying alwayes and with all manner of Prayer The English Fleet having now repaired their Dammages and several of the Dutch Prizes being fitted for Service put to Sea again and stood over for the
Holland-Coast the alarum whereof brought back Bankert who had been about three Weeks at Sea with some of their Ships and caused them to make de Ruyter after his long expected arrival from the West Admiral of their Fleet. But the Bishop of Munster's Drums who then likewise threatned them with a War sounding in their Ears almost as terribly as the English Cannon made them order a flying Army to the Frontiers tho' with little satisfaction to the fearful Inhabitants who daily fled to the fortified Towns for their security In the mean while the English Fleet in three Squadrons sailed towards Norway and the Earl of Sandwich having notice that fifty Hollanders had sheltred themselves in Berghen sent a Squadron of twenty two Men of War under the Command of Tyddeman to attack and fire them in the Harbour which Enterprise had proved very fatal had not the Wind befriended them and the Dane permitted them to plant their Guns on shore against the resolute English however they received very great dammages and had many of their best Ships in that Harbour dissabled And the Earl himself meeting with a Convoy of theirs who had several Merchants and some East-India men in his Company attacked them with so much resolution that notwithstanding the storminess of the Weather did much favour them yet he took Eight of their Men of War two of their best East-India Ships and twenty Sail of their Merchants and some few days after the Fleet encountering with eighteen Sail of the Enemy took the greatest part of them with above one thousand Prisoners However the French King supposing the Ballance of Affairs not yet even enough and affecting a Sovereignty in the Mediterranean-Sea not only continued his friendship to them but in their behalf declared War likewise against England upon pretence of succouring them according to the Conditions of the Treaty in 1662 which Declaration the King who altho he was as great a lover of Peace as any Prince in the World yet being provoked would not be behind hand with his Enemies soon returned with the like denunciation of War against him protesting that he was resolved to prosecute that War against France with his utmost force by Land and Sea And it was admirable to behold the cheerfulness and alacrity wherewith the Maritine Countreys offered him their Service upon their first receiving his Orders to put themselves into a posture of defence but being unwilling to continue them under the trouble and charge of a needless Duty he dismiss'd them for the present and only ordered them to be ready if there was occasion The Pestilence being now pretty well abated he returned again to London where he was joyfully received and welcomed by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen about which time eight persons formerly Officers or Soldiers in the Rebellion were Indicted at the Old-Bayly for conspiring the Death of the King and the Alteration of the Government having in his absence from the City plotted the surprisal of the Tower killing the General Robinson and Brown and then according to their old levelling humour to have declared for an equal division of Lands The better to effect which Design of theirs the City was to have been fired the Portcullices to have been let down to keep out all assistance and the Horse-guards to have been surprised in their Quarters the Tower having been viewed by them and its surprisal ordered by Boats over the Moat and so to scale the Wall One Alexander was the chief Conspirator having distributed several Sums of Money amongst them and he told them for their encouragement of several great ones that sat continually in London and issued out all necessary Orders which Counsel he said received their Directions from another in Holland who sat with the States The third of September being found by a Scheme erected for that purpose a lucky Day a Planet then ruling whose direful effects portended the downfal of Monarchy was pitch'd upon for the Attempt They were found guilty of High Treason and executed at Tyburn Prince Rupert and the Duke of Albemarle being made joynt Generals at Sea for that Summer's Expedition divided the Fleet the Prince commanding the blew Squadron wherewith he sailed toward France upon intimation that the French were hasting to joyn the Dutch Fleet and the Duke the other two who meeting the Hollanders on Friday about 4 or 5 Leagues from the North Foreland couragiously attacked them notwithstanding he had not above half their number bravely maintaining the Fight two days and part of the third when he had been hardly put to it had not the Prince hearing the Guns tacked about and made towards him Upon his approach de Ruyter sent out 30 stout Ships to intercept him and prevent his joyning the Duke but avoiding them he hastened forward and sent Albemarle word that if he liked the design he would keep the wind of them and engage the 30 Ships de Ruyter had sent against him but the Duke not liking his purpose advised him rather to joyn the Fleet which he did and the approaching night soon after put an end to their farther proceedings And the next morning so soon as it grew light they perceived the Dutch to be fled and gotten almost out of sight St. Georges Chanel having proved too dangerous and stormy for them but making all the sail they could they pursued them and the Prince with his fresh Squadron falling in with them with an undaunted courage and bravery pass'd five several times through the whole Body of their Fleet so that not able longer to endure it with all the sail they could make they began to run and sheltred themselves in their shallows But both Fleets having repaired their dammages got out to Sea again and meeting soon after begun a second Engagement no less bloody than the former both sides fighting with all the Courage and Valour that could be expected from the most inveterate and enraged Enemies de Ruyter resolving to revenge his lost disgrace and recover if possible his lost honour and the Prince to maintain his former by obtaining a second Victory They began to fight about Nine in the Morning pouring Broad-sides upon each other with such fury that the roaring Canon seemed to outvy the Thunder and the Smoak clouded the Sun and rendred the Air more dark and dismal than was black Munday There might have been seen the Heads of some the Arms Leggs and Thighs of others shot off some divided in the middle with Chain-shot breathing out their last in anguish and pain or burning in Fired Ships whilst others exposed to the mercy of the Liquid Element implored pity from their very Enemies whom they intreated to save their Lives although with the loss of their Liberties But in the midst of all those deplorable miseries the survivers fought with as much resolution and fury as ever their Courage and Valour being rather heightned than daunted thereby For which Victories a solemn thanks giving was observed throughout the
under the Command of the Earl of Suffolk a smart Skirmish pass'd between them and continued till Ten at Night when it was renewed again by the return of the beaten Companies from the Fort but the English Horse not being able to come up there was not that execution done upon them which otherwise might have been However the Dutch lik'd not that hot Service well enough to abide their coming but as soon as their Boats were afloat embarqued with all haste and returned to their Ships and sailing for the Humber they engaged a Squadron of the English which they found there but being worsted shewed themselves before Portsmouth and made some slight Attempts in Devonshire and Cornwall And after de Ruyter their Admiral had been civily treated in the West by the Earl of Bath and Sir Jonathan Trelawney and received advice that the Peace was concluded they sailed back for Holland This Peace was concluded at Breda upon the twenty first of June in the Year 1667. when the Articles were signed by the several Plenipotentiaries and upon the fourteenth of the following August the Ratifications thereof interchanged the Mediators first bringing the Ratifications and other Instrustruments of the Dutch French and Danes into the English Embassadors Lodgings and received theirs in exchange which done the English Embassadors went into the apartments of the Dutch and their Allies where they made and received the Complements usual in such cases and the Peace was thereupon immediately Proclaimed before the Doors of the several Plenipotentiaries and on the twenty fourth of that Month at the Exchange which was then kept at Gresham Colledge and other places in London But the Foundation of the Royal Exchange in Cornhil being about that time appointed to be laid the King was pleased to shew his readiness to countenance that Work by being present at and assisting in the solemnity thereof with his own Royal hands as his Brother the Duke of York did shortly after who laid the first stone of the second Pillar which Edifice was in a short time finished and is now the most curious Fabrick of that kind in the whole World About this time that wise and useful States-man and Privy-Counsellor Edward Hide Earl of Clarendon and Lord High-Chancellor of England who had always behaved himself with abundance of Loyalty and Faithfulness to his Master as well before as after his Restauration falling into disgrace with the Parliament was forced to abscond and leaving that Office which he had so long managed with advantage to the King and honour to himself retired into France where he lived in a voluntary Exile 'till he died A sort of idle and licentious Persons getting together in the Holy-days at Easter and pretending former custom took the liberty to pull down some Houses of bad repute about the Suburbs of London under the notion of Apprentices yet others being found guilty of it four of them were apprehended Tryed Condemned and Executed and two of their Heads set upon the Bridge for a terror to others Having dispatch'd the Earl of Carlile as his Embassador Extraordinary to the Court of Sweden with which King he always maintained a friendly correspondence he directed a Letter for the Earl when he was at Copenhagen on his way to Sweden to be by him delivered to the King of Denmark in answer to an obliging Letter he had a little before received from him which Letter of the King 's was so acceptable to the Dane that upon the Earl's request he immediately dispatch'd orders to all his Ports and Towns of commerce especially those in Norway for restoring the English to the same Freedom and Priviledges in Trading thither as they had before the War And the Earl upon his arrival in Sweden presented that King with the George worn by the Knights of the Garter and after his having been entertained in that Court with all imaginable respect upon his Masters account and dismiss'd with particular marks of the King of Sweden's favour and testimonies of the acceptableness of his Embassie he was upon his return home solemnly Installed in that Order at Windsor While the King was diverting himself this Summer with the Duke and others of his Nobles in the new Forrest in Hampshire he received the doleful tidings of his Mothers death at Columbe the thirty first of August she being nobly buried in the December following at St. Dennis And to close the publick affairs of this Year the restorer of the Crown to the King and happiness to the Kingdom George Duke of Albemarle and Lord General of all the Kings Land Forces exchanged his temporary Coronet for an Eternal Crown and the King as a mark of Gratitude to the Father sent his Garter to his Son and Successor the present Duke of Albemarle whom he continued in many of his Honours and Preferments promising withall that himself would take care of his Fathers Funeral which he accordingly did and after he had publickly lain in State at Somerset-House for some time caused his Funeral to be solemnized with that Pomp and Splendor that it is verily believed no Subject was ever honoured with the like In the following Spring the King having a great desire to unite Scotland and England into one Kingdom endeavoured to have it accomplish'd by procuring an Act of Parliament in order thereunto and nominating Commissioners for each Kingdom to meet and treat about it But they not being able to agree it was wholly laid aside and came to nothing The King's Wisdom and Conduct being famed throughout all parts of the World like a second Solomon drew to his Court several Foreign Princes to see and admire him And about this time the Prince of Tuscany came upon the same Errand and was by him treated both at London and Windsor with great Respect and Splendour and by several of his Nobles in his Progress through England the chief Cities whereof he was desirous to take a view of after which he departed for Holland and so returned into his own Countrey where not long after besides his splendid Entertainment of the Earl of Northumberland in acknowledgment of the King's Kindness and Affection express'd to him when in England he built and gave to the King two very stout Galleys for a guard of the Coast about Tangier which were of great importance to his Service in those parts But altho' the King was well pleased with this Princes visit yet he shortly after received a more welcome one from his Sister the Dutchess of Orleans who came to Dover to pay him her last Visit and was there entertained by him with as much Affection and Bounty as the time of her stay which was but short would permit Nor was her stay in this World much longer for soon after her return she died suddenly to his unexpressible grief The King being now at peace at home employed his Naval Forces against the Algerines a People that never keep Peace longer than till they can have an opportunity to break
him appearing to the Coroners Inquest to have been first strangled before he was brought thither which was sworn by Bedloe who came in upon the King's offer in his Proclamation of 500 l. to any that would discover the manner of his death and Prance who was apprehended by him as he was attending in the Lobby of the Lords House to be done by the Papists The examination of this Plot and the Murder of Godfrey which they look'd upon as a sufficient confirmation of its truth and reality employed the Commons so assiduously that they sat whole days to consult about it without stirring from Morning till it was late at Night the product whereof was a Fast enjoined by Proclamation throughout the Nation the Minutes of that House forbid to be divulged a Resolution entred by them in their Journal That it was their Opinion upon the Evidence that had already appeared to that House there had been and was an execrable and hellish Design contrived and carried on by the Papists for assassinating the King subverting the Government and destroying the Protestant Religion a Proclamation which banish'd all the reputed Papists ten Miles from London and Westminster except Housholders who were obliged likewise to take the Oaths or suffer the Penalties inflicted by Law upon the refusers of them and another for the turning all Roman Catholicks out of the Horse and Foot-Guards wherein 20 l. was promised to those who should discover any Officer or Soldier who had formerly taken the Oaths and Test and had since turned Papist But the Commons not yet satisfied it was moved in that House That an Address should be made to the King to remove the Duke of York from his Presence and Councels but he being informed of their intention resolved to prevent them and endeavour to take them off from their unseasonable heat by assuring them of his stedfast Resolution to defend them in their just Rights and Priviledges and comply with any reasonable offer they should make for the security of the Protestant Religion in order whereunto he went the next day in his Robes to the House of Peers and having commanded the Commons to attend him in a Speech to both Houses he gave them his hearty thanks for their extraordinary care for the preservation of his Life in that time of danger telling them that he was as ready to joyn with them in all ways and means that might conduce to the establishment and security of the Protestant Religion as their own hearts could wish and that not only during his Life but in future Ages even to the end of the World and therefore was come thither at that time to assure them that whatsoever reasonable Bills they should at any time present to him to be pass'd into Laws for the rendring them safe in the Reign of his Successor so as they tended not to impeach the Right of Succession nor the Descent of the Crown in the true Line and so also as they did not restrain and limit the just Rights and Power of the Throne should find from him a ready concurrence And to demonstrate his reality therein when he had about the latter end of that Month a Bill presented to him for the dissabling all Popish Members to sit in either House of Parliament he gave his Royal Assent thereunto tho' at the same time he refused another which was for raising a third part of the Militia to be in constant Arms for a time telling them that that were to put the Militia out of his own power which thing he would not do no not for one hour but promised if they would assist him with Money for that purpose to raise such a part of the Militia as should secure the Peace of the Government and his own Person And now several of those accused by Oates and others for the Witnesses were by this time increased were brought to Tryal before Sir William Scroggs then Lord Chief Justice of the Kings bench And those that gave evidence against them being very positive in their Depositions Coleman Ireland Pickering Groves Whitebread Fenwick Langhorn and divers more were at several times condemned and executed and so was William Staley a Goldsmith's Son in Covent-Garden for speaking dangerous words against the King's Life and three more whose Names were Green Berry and Hill upon the evidence of Bedloe and Prance for the Murder of Sir Edmondbury Godfrey Prance affirming he was murdred in Somerset-house and that himself assisted in the murdring of him They every one died denying what they were charged withal and asserting their innocency with all the Solemn Protestations imaginable which was credited or disbelieved according to peoples various inclinations And now some Members of Parliament began to accuse each other Mr. Mountague who had been a little before Embassador to the French King carried up five Articles against the Treasurer Danby and Sir John Ernly another of the Commons accused Mountague of holding a correspondency with the Popes Nuncio at Paris but for his good service in accusing Danby that was overlook'd and a resolution taken to proceed with severity against the Treasurer This Parliament which first began on the 8th of May in the year 1661. and had now been continued by several Prorogations and Adjournments for 17 Years 8 Months and 17 Days began to grow so presumptuous that upon an Information that Sir Joseph Williamson then Secretary of State had counter-signed several Commissions for Officers who were Roman Recusants with a Non obstante to the Oaths and Test they took the boldness to commit him prisoner to the Tower whereupon the King commanding them the next day to attend him in the Banquetting-house briskly told them That tho' they had committed his Servant without acquainting him yet he would deal more freely with them in acquainting them with his intentions to release his Secretary which he immediately ordered to be done and finding there was but little good to be expected from their proceedings he prorogued them on the 30th of Decemb. and on the 24th of the following January dissolved them by Proclamation and called a new one to sit on the 6th of the next March issuing out Writs for the speedy chusing of them From the Counsels and Debates of this new Parliament which met at the time appointed the King expected more felicity than he had met with from those of the former and therefore to prevent all occasions of disgust and hinder them from falling with the like heat upon his Brother desired the Duke to retire for some time beyond the Seas for the Reasons exprest in the following Letter The King's Letter to His Royal Highness I Have already given You My resolves at large why I think it fit 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 You under My Hand that I expect this compliance from You and desire it may be assoon 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 and their advantage Telling them moreover that since his Neighbours were making Naval Preparations he thought it necessary still to maintain a Fleet at Sea and that it highly concerned them to provide a constant establishment for the Navy And concluding his Speech with his earnest desires to have that Parliament prove a Healing one assuring them that it was his constant resolution to defend with his Life the Protestant Religion and the Laws of the Kingdom and that he expected in so doing to be by them defended from the Calumny as well as danger of those worst of Men who endeavoured to render both Him and his Government odious to his People Advising them likewise by his Chancellor the Earl of Nottingham not to suffer their Zeal to out-run their Discretion lest by being too far transported with the fears of Popery they over-did their business and by neglecting the opportunities of making sober and lasting Provisions against it render themselves the unhappy occasion of making their own Counsels abortive The Commons as soon as they were returned to their House made choice of Mr. Seymour for their Speaker whom they lookt upon as the fittest Person for that employment in regard he had officiated therein in the former Parliament but the King refusing to admit him they chose Serjeant Gregory And to convince the World that they were Leavened with the same Principles and resolved to thwart the King's Designs for setling the Nations as much as the former had done begun where they ended ordering a Committee to inquire into the manner how Danby had sued out his Pardon which was granted him by the King to secure the Earl for whom he had a particular affection having always found him faithful to his Interest from all fear of Punishment for any pretended Crimes supposing as well he might that they would not dispute his Power of Pardoning since it was by the Law invested on him as one of the chiefest Jewels of his Crown But finding upon search that the Pardon was not entred after its passing at the Secretaries Office in any other Office 'till it came to the Lord Chancellor and so dispatcht in a private manner They Resolve upon an Address to the King to represent to his Majesty the illegality and the dangerous consequence of granting Pardons to any Persons who lay under an Impeachment of the Commons and desired the Lords that he might be sequestred from their House and put into safe Custody who accordingly ordered the Usher of the Black Rod to take him which he had done had he not absented himself Whereupon a Bill was ordered to be brought in to Command his surrendring himself by a certain day or in default thereof to stand attainted And the Lords having in the mean while pass'd a Bill for Banishing and disabling of him and sent it down to the Commons for their concurrence it was rejected as a Censure too favourable and a Vote pass'd for an Address to the King that he would not permit him to reside in any of his Pallaces of White-Hall Somerset-House or St. James's and another Address to be made for a Proclamation to apprehend him and forbid all the King's Subjects to harbour or conceal him In the mean while the Bill of Attainder was highly canvassed at several conferences between the two Houses 'till at length the Earl saved them the labour of passing a Bill for his Attainder by surrendring himself to the Usher of the Black-Rod The Lords in the Tower were at their first Imprisonment found Guilty upon special â—â—dictments by the Grand Jury of Middlesex before special Commissioners sitting at Westminster But that way of proceeding being for some Reasons waved they were severally impeacht by the Commons and their Impeachment carried up to the Peers by Five Members of the House of Commons to which they gave in their Answers in person all but Bellafis who being ill of the Gout sent his in writing The King to content the Faction if possible on the 2d of April declared his pleasure to dissolve his Privy Council with which they had shewed themselves displeased and constitute a new one which for the time to come should consist of Thirty persons Fifteen whereof were to be certain viz. the Archbishop of Canterbury the Bishop of London the Lord Chancellor one of the Chief Justices the Admiral the Master of the Ordinance the Treasurer the Chancellor of the Exchequer the Privy Seal the Master of the Horse the Lord Steward the Lord Chamberlain of the Houshold the Groom of the Stool and the Two Secretaries And the rest to be Elective at his pleasure Ten out of the Nobility and Five Commoners besides such Princes of the Blood as should be at Court A Lord President and a Secretary of Scotland And according to that new Model as many of them as were in Court met the next morning in the Council-Chamber and were sworn Privy Councellors The King going the same day to the Parliament acquainted the Two Houses with what he had done and assured them he was resolved in all weighty and important Affairs next to his great Council in Parliament to be advised by that Privy Council And it being his custom as it had been his Fathers before him to take off some hot Spirits whose Parts and Abilities he judged might be improved to his own and the Publicks advantage by promoting them to some Place or Office of Trust or otherwise winning them to his Friendship unless they were such whose Natures corrupted by their designs had rendred obstinate and implacable as the Earl of Shaftsbury afterward appeared to be he for the most part chose the other Fifteen which were to compleat his Council out of their number and made Shaftsbury Lord President of it The Parliament resolving to hasten the Trial of the Lords Danby and Bellaasis appeared in person at the Bar of the Lords House where the former put in his Plea and the other his Answer And the next day Stafford Arundel and Powis appeared there likewise and having retracted their former Pleas which appeared insufficient to the Commons they put in their further Answers And the King commanding the Commons to attend him in the House of Lords renewed the Assurances he had formerly given them of his being ready to assent to any Laws they should provide for the security of the Protestant Religion so that the Descent of the Crown in the Right Line were not thereby defeated And that he was willing a provision should be made to distinguish a Popish from a
Protestant Successor and limit the Authority of the former if any such should be by providing that all Church-preferments should be conferred on Pious and Learned Protestants That the Parliament which should happen to be in being at his own Death or if none the last that sate should thereupon assemble without any new Summons or Election That during the Reign of any Popish Successor no Privy Councellor or Judg of the Common Law or Chancery should be put in or displaced but by consent of Parliament That none should be Justices of Peace but Protestants and that the Lord Lieutenants and Deputy Lieutenants of Counties and Officers in the Navy should not be put in nor removed but by the Authority of Parliament Telling them he conceived it hard to invent any other Restraint to be put on a Popish Successor Yet if any thing did occur to their Wisdom whereby their Religion and Liberties might be better secured he was ready to consent to it Whereupon the Commons after they had several times adjourned the consideration of this Speech on the 11th of May resolved That they would stand by His Majesty with their Lives and Fortunes And that if he should come by any violent Death which they prayed God to avert they would revenge it to the utmost upon the Papists According to which Vote an Address was drawn up and presented by them to the King with this Variation in the form of words We shall be ready to revenge upon the Papists any violence offered by them to your Sacred Majesty which words were neither exprest nor intimated in their Vote altho absolutely necessary and essential to the Justice of their designed Revenge And without taking the least notice of the Resolution exprest in his Speech Not to suffer any alteration in the Descent to the Throne brought in a Bill to disable his Royal Highness to inherit the Imperial Crown of England which being put to the Vote was carried in the Affirmative by One and Twenty Voices but being prorogued soon after it proceeded no further In the mean while the Two Houses were very earnest in debating the methods whereby they should bring the Lords in the Tower to their Trials And Danby being demanded at the Bar of the Lords House Whether he would rely on and abide by the Plea of his Pardon returned for answer That having been advised by his Council his Pardon was good in Law he would insist upon his Plea and requested his Council might be heard And the Lords acquainting the Commons with his desire instead of granting it they in the Names of the Knights Citizens and Burgesses in Parliament and all the Commons of England demanded Judgment against him upon the Impeachment affirming his Pardon to be illegal and void However the Lords appointed him a day to argue his Plea and ordered the Five Lords to be tried the Week after and an Address to be made to the King for the appointing a Lord Steward for their Trials But the Commons not satisfied with their proceedings desired a Committee of both Houses might consider of the most proper methods of proceeding upon Impeachments according to the usage of Parliament but the Lords refused it as contrary to the known Rules and Orders of their House which ever was and ought to be tender in matters relating to their Judicature Whereupon the Commons resolved That no Commoner should presume to maintain the Validity of the Pardon pleaded by Danby without the leave of that House And that the persons so doing should be accounted Betrayers of the Liberties of the Commons of England Upon which the Lords to take away all occasion of disgust between the Two Houses receded from their former resolution and appointed a Committee to treat with them but a difference arising in that joynt Committee about the Bishops Right to be present at Trials in capital cases the Lords affirming they might stay till the Court proceeded to the Vote of Guilty or Not Guilty and the Commons denying it the Bishops endeavour'd to find out a Medium which might satisfie both and therefore desired leave of the Lords to withdraw themselves from the Trials with liberty of entring their usual protestations But this not satisfying the Commons they resolved not to proceed to the Trial of the Five Lords before Judgment given on Danby's Pardon and to insist upon the Bishops having no Right of Voting in capital Offences which made the King who saw that these heats took up their whole time and prevented their entring upon such Debates as more nearly concerned them and would have conduced more toward the setling of the Nation thought it best to prorogue them in hopes that in their next meeting their Debates might be more happy and unanimous About this time the Faction ran higher in Scotland and boiled into an open Râ—bellion which took its first beginning from the barbarous Murder of Dr. Sharp Archbishop of St. Andrews and Primate of that Kindom on the 3d of May 1679. by a company of inveâ—â—â—ate Covenanters as he was travelling from Edenborough to his own Residence who had born him an immorâ—al hatred because having formerly been one of their Party he had revolted as they termed his honest Reformation But appeared more visible toward the latter end of that Month in the Western parts of Scotland when a party of Rebels well mounted and armed coming to Rugland proclaimed the Covenant burnt the following Acts of Parliament viz. Those which concerned the King's Supremacy the Eâ—â—â—blishment of Episcopacy the appointing the Anniversary of the 29th of May and the Recissory Act by which all the Mock-Laws made in the late Anarchy were repealed And publisht an insolent Declaration full of Treason and stuft with the very Spirit and Quintescence of Rebellion inviting others to joyn with them which the Covenanters commonly there called WHIGS from whence the Name was afterward brought into England and applied to all the Dissenting Party accepted of and flockt so fast to them that their Army increased daily to such a considerable number that they became formidable Whereupon the King hastned away the Duke of Monmouth as his Generalissimo to suppress them which with the Assistance of the Loyal Gentry and Herritors of that Nation he easily performed in one Battel at Bothwell-Bridg For having forced his passage over the Bridg and seized the only piece of Cannon they had they fled toward Hamilton-Park And altho they afterward rallied again and Faced about upon the advantage of a rising ground yet so soon as the Cannon began to play on them they all fled in disorder and confusion Robert Hamilton who was their chief Commander being one of the first There were many of the Rebels kill'd in the place and several hundreds taken Prisoners whereof some few were Executed The King who was willing to try all means to please and satisfie his people fearing the Animosities of that Parliament were too great to admit of a Reconciliation and would prevent their doing any
thing which would tend to his or the Kingdoms benefit on the 10th of July dissolved it by Proclamation and declared his Resolution to call a new one which should sit on the 17th of the following October In the mean while Sir George Wakeman with Marshall Rumley and Corker three Benedictine Monks were tryed before the Lord Chief Justice Scroggs for High Treason relating to the Plot But the Evidence of Oates and Bedlow beginning now to be less credited than formerly and the ferment of peoples fury being somewhat abated the Jury brought them in Not Guilty and Wakeman was thereupon discharged from his Imprisonment as the other Three had likewise been had they not in their Defence upon their Trials acknowledged themselves to be Priests Wakeman's being thus acquitted startled the Mobille who expected all that were accused of that Plot should have been condemned of course without respect to the Truth or Falshood of the Accusation And the Faction endeavoured to improve their dissatisfaction into Rage and Sedition by several scurrilous Libels wherein they accuse Scroggs of perverting Justice and taking a Bribe of several thousand Guinneas from the Spanish Embassador to save Wakeman's Life from which Aspersions he sufficiently cleared himself in a Speech which he made in the Kings-Bench-Court on the first day of the ensuing Michaelmas-Term During this interval of Parliament the King was violently taken ill of an Ague at Windsor insomuch that his Life was thought to be in some danger Whereupon the Duke as well to demonstrate his Affection to his Brother as to prevent the danger which as things then stood might peradventure have happen'd to him in case the King should have died in his absence came Post from Flanders to Windsor But Heaven designing to lengthen out his Life till he had reduced the great Affairs of the Nation to a better Settlement and could leave his Succession more safe and secure it pleased God that he recovered his Health soon after to the great Joy of all the whole Nation And the City to express the pleasure they took therein sent the Lord Mayor and the Court of Aldermen with a Train of thirty Coaches and about a hundred Horse to Congratulate him upon his Recovery and when he returned soon after to White-Hall many Bonefires were made throughout the whole City attended with great Acclamations of Joy and Expressions of Loyalty Whilst he lay Sick at Windsor the Duke of Monmouth who had been by the Kings favour raised to as high a Station as a Subject was well capable of being then Lord General of all His Majesties Land Forces Master of the Horse and Captain of the Kings Life-Guards not content with the Honours already heaped upon him but aspiring as was thought altho without all Reason in regard of his Illegitimacy to the Crown it self endeavoured to prevail with some great Men at Court to take part with his Interest which being made known to the King by the Earl of Oxford who having for his eminent Loyalty a considerable party of Horse under his Command commonly called the Lord of Oxfords Troop was importuned by Sir Thomas Armstrong as was reported either in direct terms or so as his meaning might easily be understood to declare himself for Monmouth in case the King should dye He conceived a just Indignation against him for that bold and audacious Attempt and discovered his incensed Majesty by taking away his Commission of Lord General and soon after of his remaining places of Captain of the Life-Guard Master of the Horse Governor of Hull c. And to prevent Peoples being deluded by his Chimeâ—ical Fictions publisht a Declaration wherein having first taken notice of the great Industry and Malice wherewith men of seditious and restless Spirits spread abroad a most false and scandalous Report of a Marriage or Contract of Marriage at least between Mrs. Walters who was that Dukes Mother and him designing thereby to fill the minds of his loving Subjects with doubts and fears and divide them if possible into Parties by bringing into question the clear and undoubted Right of his true and lawful Heirs and Successors to the Crown he did to obviate the fatal consequences so dangerous and malicious a report might have in future times upon the Peace of his Kingdoms assure them That having found a former Rumor that there was a writing yet extant and lately produced before several Persons whereby that Marriage or Contracâ— at least would appear was not only revived again but improved also witâ— new Additions by insinuating thaâ— several Lords and others were yet living who were pretended to bâ—â— present at the Marriage hâ— had notwithstanding he knew fuâ—â— well it was impossible there should bâ— any truth in this Report since noâ—â— thing in the World could be morâ— false and groundless than the pretencâ— of such a Marriage or Contract bâ—â—tween him and the said Mrs. Walterâ— alias Barlow called before him anâ— caused to be Interogated in Council such Lords and other Persons as the common rumour surmised to have been present at the pretended Marriage or to know something of it or of the said writing And that tho it then appeared to all his Council upon their hearing the said Persons severally Interrogated and their denial to have been ever present at any such Marriage or to know any thing of it or of any such writing that the raising and spreading that Report which was so inconsistent with it self was the effect of deep malice in some few and of loose and idle discourse in others yet he thought it requisite for the satisfying all in general to publish a Declaration he had made in the January was Twelvemonth written with his own Hand in the following words There being a false and malicious Report industriously spread abroad by some who are neither Friends to me or the Duke of Monmouth as if I should have been either Contracted or Married to his Mother and tho I am confident that this idle Story cannot have any effect in this Age yet I thought it my Duty in relation to the true Succession of this Crown and that future Ages may not have any pretence to give disturbance upon that Score or any other of this nature to declare as I do here Declare in the Presence of Almighty God That I never was Married nor gave any Contract to any Woman whatsoever but to my Wife Queen Katharine to whom I am now Married In Witness whereof he had set his Hand at White-Hall the 6th of January 1678-79 In the Presence of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the two Secretaries Coventry and Williamson And assured them that to strengthen that Declaration he had in the March following made a more publick and solemn Declaration to the same purpose in his Privy Council written likewise with his own Hand and had caused a true Transcript thereof to be entred into the Council Book which for the better Confirmation he Signed with his own hand and caused the Lords
it on certain factious persons unknown to them which they desire Mr. Withins Steward of that Court to represent in their Names to the King which he accordingly did and received the Honour of Knighthood as a Reward of his Loyalty After which several such like addresses were directed from many of the Counties and that from Norfolk had a farther acknowledgment of their humble thanks to the King for calling home the Duke And the Lord Shandois having been elected by the Turky Company to go Embassador to Constantinople and desiring the Kings approbation the King 〈◊〉 him that having been concerned in promoting petitions which were â—â—rogatory to his Prerogative and tended to sedition he could not think him fit for his Favour whereupon he humbly acknowledged his fault to the King in Council protesting â—â—at he had been misled and drawn into it by being perswaded it was for his Mâ—jesties Service but being now better informed he abhorred and disowned all such Practices and humbly begging his Pardon he as freely obtained it Upon the 18th of May so great a Storm of Hail fell in London and the adjacent parts that the like had not been seen in many Years before the Stones being of an extraordinary bigness and very hard till they had lain a while many of them being as large as Pullets Eggs. One which I saw measured was somewhat more than Nine Inches about several Rooks in the Temple Garden being beaten down and killed with them and the Glass of many Sky-lights battered and broken to pieces And now the Parliament which had been several times this Summer prorogued met on the 21st of October according to â—he King's Declaration to them at their meeting in April to whom he declared in a Speech to both Houses That he had during that long prorogation made Alliances with Holland and Spain and desired money of them for the relieving Tangier the defence whereof had very much exhausted his Treasure and advising them not to meddle with the Succession of the Crown but proceed to the discovery of the Plot and the Trial of the Lords The Commons having chosen Mr. Williams a Barrester of Grays Inn and Recorder of Chester for their Speaker to convince the World that the King had not without Reason deferred their sitting so long and that neither he nor the Nation would have been losers if they had not sate then fell to purging their house expelling Sir Robert Can a Burgess for Bristol for having said there was no other Plot but a Presbyterian one and Sir Francis Withins for having declared himself an Abhorrer of the late tumultuous Petitions for the Parliaments sitting The former was committed by them to the Tower and both ordered to receive their Censure on their knees from the Speaker Several other Members were likewise declared guilty of the same Offence with Sir Francis Withins And not content with punishing their own Members they take notice of others who were without their Walls amongst whom Sir George Jeffries Recorder of London one of the King's Serjeants at Law and Chief Justice of Chester became the Object of their displeasure and was Voted a Betrayer of the Subjects Rights and an Address was made to the King to remove him from all publick Affairs and Impeachments Voted and drawn up against Sir Francis North Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas Sir William Scrogs Chief Justice of the Kings-Bench Sir Thomas Jones one of the puisny Judges of that Court and Sir Richard Weston one of the Barons of the Exchequer for several pretended misdemeanors that of Sir Francis North being the advising and drawing up of the Proclamation against Petitions But not contenting themselves to deal with Subjects they proceeded next to a matter of a far greater concern For on the 11th of November notwithstanding the King's desire at their opening That they would not meddle with the Succession a Bill past in the House of Commons intituled An Act for securing the Protestant Religion by disabling James Duke of York from inheriting the Imperial Crown of England and Ireland and the Territories thereunto belonging which notwithstanding all the opposition made against it by the unbiassed and Judicious Loyalists who tho their Reasons were strongest yet their number were fewest was carried up to the Peers by the Lord Russel attended by almost all the Commons who gave a Hum at the delivery of it The Lords having ordered it upon their departure to be read put it to the Vote whether it should be read a second time which being carried in the Affirmative by Two Voices only after the second reading it was debated till Eleven a Clock at night the King being present all the while and then thrown out of the House by a Majority of about Thirty Voices in which number were all the Bishops then present to shew how careful the Prelacy is to promote Monarchy Soon after the Parliament proceeded to the Trial of William Lord Viscount Stafford which began in Westminster-Hall on Tuesday the 30th of November and the Impeachment and Evidence upon the same were managed by a Committee of the Commons and the Witnesses against him were Oates Turberville and Dugdale The Lord Chancellor Finch was created Lord High Steward for the solemnity of his Trial which lasted a whole week and being found Guilty by the Majority of Four and Twenty Voices he received Sentence on the 17th of December and on the 29th of that Month was beheaded on Tower-Hill protesting his Innocency with his last breath as all those had done who died for the Plot before him Some were so bold as to question the King's power to dispence with the Rigor of the Sentence and the unhappy Lord Russel was said to be one of them During these publick Transactions a large and prodigious flame of Light appeared in the West The Star from which the Blaze proceeded was but small and when first discovered seemed to be not much above the Horizon but every night after appeared somewhat higher in the beginning of the night and consequently set later its lustre and magnitude decreasing by degrees Whether this finger of the Almighty so visibly seen in the Heavens portended good or bad Events to the World in general or England in particular is a matter too mysterious for me to unfold and therefore shall I leave it till made more plain by the Effects which will be the best Commentatary thereon The King finding the Commons taken up with other business without taking the least care of providing him Money for the supplying his pressing wants and the relieving Tangier then besieged by the Emperor of Morocco recommended the matter more seriously to them in his Speech on the 15th of December But all the Answer he could obtain from them was an Address complaining of several pretended Grievances and refusing all supplies of Money for the Relief of Tangier or any other use unless he would pass a Bill for the Exclusion of the Duke and to enable all Protestants to associate
the Example of the former ill success which had attended such kind of Heats would dispose them to a better Temper and prevent their laying so much weight upon any One Expedient as to refuse all others as ineffectual and to no purpose advising them to remember that without the Safety and Dignity of the Monarchy neither Religion nor Property could be preserved which was the Reason why he had not nor could not depart from what he had formerly so often declared touching the Succession But to remove all reasonable Fears which might arise from the possibility of a Popish Successor's coming to the Crown if means could be found out that in such a case the Administration of the Government might remain in Protestant hands he should be ready to hearken to any such Expedient whereby Religion might be preserved and Monarchy not destroyed wishing them to provide for both because they supported each other And that they would make the known Establisht Laws of the Land the Rules and Measures of all their Votes assuring them that he wonld ever make them the Rules of his Actions After the Speech the Commons repaired to their House and chose for â—heir Speaker Williams who had â—een Speaker of the last Westminster-Parliament And being informed upon the 26th That the Lords had refused to proceed upon the Impeachment of Edward Fitz-Harris who having been seized upon the Information of Everard one of the Evidences about the Poâ—â—sh Plot and Sir William Waller for having framed an Impudent and Damnable Libel against the King and Government had in hopes of saving his Life by that means confest himself Guilty of what he was charged with and had the confidence to say he was imployed by the King pretending moreover to make several considerable Discoveries about the Popish Plot and accusing the Earl of Danby of having a hand in the Murder of Godfrey whereupon he was impeacht by the Commons of High Treason upon a pretence that there were matters of too high a Nature in his Trial to be managed in an Inferior Court and had directed that he should be proceeded against at the Common Law They with the usual Heaâ— wherewith the Affairs of that Housâ— had been for some time managed Voâ—ted that Refusal of the Lords to be â— Denial of Justice a Violation of thâ— Constitution of Parliaments an Obâ—struction to the Discovery of thâ— Plot and of great danger to His Maâ—jesties Person and the Protestant Reliâ—gion And that for any Inferior Court to proceed against him or any other person impeacht by Parliament was an high Breach of the priviledges of Parliaments And notwithstanding the many mischiefs that had always followed upon and were the Natural Consequences of such Attempts on Monday following a Bill was brought likewise into that Parliament against the Duke's Succession And having been read once was ordered a second reading Whereupon the King perceiving it would be impossible for them to do any thing that might tend to the Honour and Settlement of the Nation whilst the Two Houses were so divided with Heats and Animosities and the Commons time wholly taken up in debating a matter that no way concerned them resolved to interpose his power for deciding the quarrel and convince them That he would no longer endure to be trifled with and affronted And therefore having sent for the Commons to the House of Lords he told them That to prevent the ill Effects he foresaw would follow upon the Heats between them and the Lords he had ordered the Chancellor to dissolve them which was done immediately and the King returned the same night to Windsor and the next morning to White-Hall And knowing how industrious some ill minded persons would be to improve that Dissolution for the misrepresenting his Actions to prevent his Subjects being deluded by their fair pretences and bold tho false Affirmations he publisht a Declaration wherein he acquainted them with the Reasons which induced him to dissolve both that and the last Westminster-Parliament and assured them That he was not however out of love with Parliaments notwithstanding the unwarrantable proceedings of the Two former but would frequently advise with them as his great Council in hopes ere long to find his people in a better Temper As the dissolution of this Parliament was accounted by the more Intelligent a very wise and politick Act from whence he might expect many good effects so the consequence answered the Expectation for now all the Weekly Intelligences and the factiouâ— and scurrilous Libels which the Presâ— had vomited out in great Numbers whilst they expected impunity from the Parliament were supprest and easily busht into silence by an Order of Council Sir Francis Pemberton succeeding Scroggs in the Chief Justiceship great Expectation there was to see what would be done in the case of Fitz-Harris but all the Judges of England having met about it in the Exchequer-Chamber they resolved that they might notwithstanding the Impeachment and the Commons Vote proceed to try him And the next day a Bill was preferred and found by the Grand-Jury of Middlesex and thereupon he was on the last day of the Term arraigned at the Bar of the Kings-Bench But being Three several Times bid to hold up his hand he refused insisting upon his impeachment in Parliament and his right to be tried before them but being at last prevailed upon to hold up his hand and hear his Indictment read which was for High Treason exprest in a certain Writing call'd The True English Man full of most horrid Expressions against the King as if he had been a Conspirator in the Plot against himself and thereupon exciting the Nation to rise against him as one man he put in a dilatory Plea against the Jurisdiction of the Court alledging that having been impeached by the Commons in Parliament he could not be tried there but the Plea being not under Councils Hand was refused However he had Time given him to consider whether he would stand by such a Plea in regard it might prove fatal to him in case it should be over-ruled and Winnington Williams Pollixfen and Wallop were assigned him for Council according to his desire to argue the said point of Judicature the next Wednesday if he resolved to persist in his Plea which he resolving to do on Wednesday was brought again to the Bar attended with his Council when the Attorney-General entred a Demurrer to his Plea and Saturday Morning was appointed for his Council to maintain his Plea by Argument if they could and the Court having then heard what could be said on both sides declared that they meddled not at all with the Priviledg of the House of Commons or the Jurisdiction of the Lords in Parliament but only with the Form of the Plea and after the debate was over the Chief Justice declared they would take a convenient time to consider before they would give their Judgment On the Wednesday following being brought again to the Bar the Court declared they had
considered the Plea and consulted with other Judges about it and were of opinion it was insufficient and was therefore overruled and the Prisoner ordered to plead over Whereupon he pleaded Not guilty and had till the first Thursday in the next Term allowed him for his Tryal In the mean while many Loyal Addresses flowed from all parts of the Nation full of Congratulations and Thanks to the King for his late Declaration And in Trinity-Term Dr. Oliver Plunket was Try'd for High-Treason the Evidence against him being all profest Papists affirmed he was made Primate of Ireland by the Pope at the French Kings Recommendation and that he having thereupon engaged to do that King all the Service he could had actually levied amongst his Popish Clergy great Sums of Money to introduce the French Dominion and extirpate the Protestants out of that Kingdom upon which evidence he was found Guilty and was together with Fitz-harris who received his Tryal the next day executed at Tyburn on the first of the following July protesting his innocency and praying for the King Queen and Duke Presently after the Tryal of Fitz-Harris his Wife and Maid accused the Lord Howard of Escrick of contriving the Treasonable Libel for which he was convicted who was thereupon committed to the Tower And in a Paper delivered at his Execution to Dr. Haukins Minister of the Tower for his Wife he confirmed that accusation denying what he had formerly confest about Danby and the Plot affirming he was drawn into that confession only through hopes of saving his Life thereby But a Bill of Indictment against Howard being delivered on the last day of the Term to the Grand-Jury of Edmunton Hundred sworn to by Fitz-harris's Wife and Maid and by some others that Jury pretending to be unsatisfied with the Evidence would have indorsed it with an Ignoramus had not one of the Clerks of the Crown who attended them withdrawn it from them for which notwithstanding they were told by the Court the Kings Attorney might stop such proceedings as he saw occasion they preferred a Bill of Indictment against the Clerk to the Jury of Oswelston Hundred there attending for that pretended Misdemeanor The Reason why some Persons went so well attended to the Oxford Parliament began now to appear for about this time there was discovery made of a design of seizing the Kings Person whilst he was there and several factious People were thereupon committed to the Tower viz. Rouse Haynes White Colledg and the Earl of Shaftsbury whose Papers were likewise seiz'd At the Sessions which began soon after he and Howard moved to be bailed but the Judges told them it lay not in their power to bail out of the Tower At this Sessions and Indictment of High Treason was preferred to the Grand-Jury of London against one of those lately committed to the Tower whose Name was Colledg But in regard he was a busie factious Fellow and ever loved to meddle most with that he least understood and pass his ignorant censures upon the great Affairs of State He was the more commonly known by the Name of the Protestant Joyner But notwithstanding the Evidence against him was full and clear they returned an Ignoramus upon the Bill whereupon part of the Treasonable Words and Matters for which he was there Indicted being transacted at Oxford whilst the Parliament sate there the Cause was removed to that Assizes where he was before the Lord Chief Justice North tryed upon the same Evidence and condemned and executed In a Parliament held at this time in Scotland the Duke of York presided as the Kings High Commissioner and an Act was past which asserted the Right of Succession to the Imperial Crown of Scotland asserting it to be by inherent right and that the nature of the Monarchy was such that by the fundamental and unalterable Law of the Realm it transmitted and devolved by Lineal Succession according to proximity of Blood and that no difference in Religion no Law nor Act of Parliament could alter or divert the Right of Succession of the Crown to the nearest and lawful Heirs and declaring it High Treason either by Writing Speaking or any other way to endeavour the least Alteration therein The French Protestants being greatly opprest and persecuted by that King flockt into England in great multitudes and were received by the King of England with abundance of Kindness and affection ordering that his Officers and Magistrates should give them the same Countenance and Favour with his own Subjects assuring them he would take them into his Royal Protection and grant 'em his Letters of Dennization and promising to procure in the next Parliament an Act for their Naturalization A special Commission of Oyer and Terminer being granted by him for the Tryal of Shaftsbury and others at the Old Bayly the Bill of High Treason preferred against Shaftsbury notwithstanding the Evidence swore very full to the Treason was returned by the Grand-Jury the Foreman whereof was Sir Samuel Barnardiston Ignoramus as a former Jury had done that of Colledg Whereupon the people whose Idol he was gave a great Shout and assaulted those who were Witnesses against him with that violence that the Sheriffs to prevent mischief were forced to guard them as far as the Savoy homeward Bonfires were that Night made by the Rabble almost in every Street at one whereof Capt. Griffith was knockt down and wounded in the Head for endeavouring to put it out And a rout of people marching down Warwick-lane one whereof had his Sword drawn sometimes cryed No York no Popish Successor and then bawl'd out a Monmouth a Shaftsbury a Buckingham till they were stopt by the Watch at Ludgate But tho the factious Rabble were thus overjoyed at the acquittal of their Idol yet the sober and Loyal part of the Nation had other sentiments about it and declared their Indignation in several Loyal Addresses against the most Execrable and Traiterous designed Association which was discovered in Shaftsburys Closet amongst his other papers which threatned not the King alone but Monarchy it self In February 1682 there hapned a strange and Barbarous Murder which for the boldness of the Attempt and the baseness of the manner wherein it was perpetrated is scarcely to be parellel'd in any History For Thomas Thin of Long-Leat Esq a Gentleman of an Estate of about 10000 l. per annum having privately married Elizabeth Daughter and sole Heir of Jocelin Earl of Northumberland and Relict to Henry Earl of Ogle Son and Heir apparent to the Duke of Newcastle And some of her Friends who were not so well satisfied with the Match as her Grand-mother was by whose means it was said to be made up having perswaded her before ever her New Husband had bedded her to withdraw her self secretly into Holland the Town was thereupon alarumed with the approach of a mighty Suit in Law concerning the Validity of the Match the best Civilians being engaged on the one side or the other And Count
Coningsâ—ark a German Lord who had formerly endeavoured to obtain her came over again to London in disguise and one â—ratz who had formerly been a Captain under him sent a Challenge to Thinn with a Threat That in case he refused to meet him at the Time and Place appointed he should be pistol'd And finding that notwithstanding that Threat he still slighted his Challenge and refused to hazard his Life against he knew not whom nor upon what ground of quarrel he with two more well mounted and armed rode up to his Coach as he was passing homeward near the Hay-market and having stopt the Horses another of those desperate Villains whose Name was George Borosky a Polander discharged a Blunderbuss or Musketoon at him charged with six Bullets which were all lodged in his Belly and then they setting Spurs to their Horses made their escape but the next Morning they were so closely sought after that they were all three taken and being brought to a Trial Tryal before the Lord-Chief-Justice Pemberton were all three condemned and executed upon a Gibbet erected near the place where they committed the Murder and Borasky to terrifiâ— others from such barbarous Attemptsâ— was hung up in Chains between 〈◊〉 and London The Count was likewisâ— tryed the same time as an accessary to the Murder but for want of sufficient Evidence was acquitted by the Jury A strange Accident hapned not long after this which had like to have proved fatal to these Nations by depriving them of the Inestimable Blessing which they now enjoy for his Royal Highness the Duke of York our Present Sovereign going about the beginning of May into Scotland to fetch home his Dutchess whom he had left there at his last return the Glocester Frigot in which he sailed unfortunately striking on the Lemon-ore in Yarmoth Road was lost with about an hundred men and some Treasure But Heaven designing the Royal Passenger to be the occasion of many future Blessings to these Kingdoms and reserving him for a more honourable Funeral he was miraculously preserved by going off into a Yatch which came up to his relief just before the Ship sunk And returning toward the latter end of that month with his Dutchess and the Lady Ann to Whitehall the King and Queen came from VVindsor to congratulate his safe arrival and express their Joy for his miraculous preservation And the King who went back again that Night to VVindsor was the next Day taken very ill occasioned as it was generally thought by some cold taken the day before but upon bleeding and the use of some other proper means he recovered his former health within a few days to the great joy of his Subjects Sir John Moor an Honest Loyal Gentleman and an Addresser coming this Year to be Lord Mayor of London which City was then somewhat distempered by reason the Chair had for the Two preceding Years been enjoyed by Sir Robert Claton and Sir Patience Ward who inclining to the Fanatick Party had promoted such Sheriffs and other Officers in that City as were no way pleasing to the King as appeared by the Answer he returned to the Message from Sir John to him to invite his Majesty to dine with him and the City on the day of his Inauguration viz. That he liked the Message but not the Messengers who were the two Sheriffs Pilkinton and Shute and therefore having now the Power in his Hand as Chief Magistrate he resolved to restore London to its Loyalty and leave it in a condition more to the Kings content than he found it And in order thereunto it being an ancient Custom for the Lord Mayor at a Feast kept Yearly at the Bridg-house to drink to him whom he designed to be one of the Sheriffâ— for the Year ensuing he drank to Mr. Dudly North Brother to the Lord Keeper and since Knighted And on the 24th of June which being Midsummer-day was customary for the Electing the Sheriâ—f of London he summoned the several Companies to appear at Guild-hall and confirm North and cause another Sheâ—iff but instead of proceeding according to the Ancient câ—stom and method of the City therâ— appeared two parties the Lord Mayor and his Party and the two Sheriffs and their Party who refused to confirm North and would have both Sheriffs elected by Vote After some coâ—test it was agreed to be decided by pol But those who polled for the coâ—firmation of North and thâ— Election of Box a Drugster in Cheapside who was proposed by Moor for the other Sheriff being refused and several mens Names entred for Papillion and Dubois that were put up by the Two Sheriffs and their Party who had no Right to Vote the Lord Mayor adjourned the Court by Proclamation till the 27th and so departed out of the Hall altho not without some abuses by the disaffected party However the Sheriffs would not obey the Adjournment but upon pretence that the business belonged properly to them and not at all to the Mayor went on with their Poll till night The next day being Sunday admitted of no Action but on Monday morning the King who had been informed of all those Tumutuous Proceedings ordered the Lord Mayor the Court of Aldermen and the Two Sheriffs to attend him at the Council-Chamber and after a full Examinâ—tion and Hearing of all that could be said on both sides committed the Sheriffs to the Tower for their Riotous Proceeding whither they were carâ—ied through the City in their own Coacâ—es But having obtained a Habeas Corâ—us to be brought up to the Kings-Beâ—ch-Bar they were admitted Bail having first pleaded Not Guilty to an Information exhibited against them for a Tumultuous and Riotous Assembly in holding the Common-Hall after it had been adjourned and the Assembly discharged The Sheriffs having thus obtained their Liberty met again on the 5th of July and notwithstanding the Mayor who was then sick sent the Recorder to adjourn the Common-Hall to the 7th yet they and the Multitude proceeded in the Election and declared their Choice of Papillion and Duboise But some Disputes arising when the Mayor and his party met on the 7th according to the Adjournment about the Legality of that Adjournment Four Lawyers were sent for to the Court of Aldermen to argue the Validity of the thing but coming to no Resolution the Court was adjourned to the 14th of that Month. When the King designing if possible to set all things to rights issued out an Order of Council wherein he commanded them since all their Proceedings hitherto had been irregular to begin all Proceedings anew and carry them on in the usual manner as they ought to have been upon Midsummerday This Order was read in the Common-Hall but opposed by the adverse Party with Noise and Clamor However Moor declared North duly elected by him and that he would Poll for the other Three viz. Box Papillion and Duboise and thereupon caused Books to be fitted with Three Columns only But Pilkinton and Shute refusing to
Petition wherein the King is charged with obstructing the Justice of the Nation by proroguing the last Parliament Whether these were sufficient grounds of seizing their Liberties were argued Pro Con first by the Solicitor General and the Recorder of the City and then by the Attorney General and Mr. Pollixfen And Judg Jones the Lord Chief Justice being then sick having summ'd up all the proceedings in a very significant and solid Speech gave Judgment upon it and declared it to be the unanimous Opinion of that Court That the Liberties and Franchises of the City of London should be seized into the King's hands But Judgment was not entred up in regard the King had expresly commanded that should not be done till his pleasure was further known The City now finding the King was in earnest and that their Charter was condemned by Law began to think of humbling themselves at his feet and sue for Mercy And therefore at a Common-Council call'd for that purpose a Petition was ordered to be drawn up and presented to him at Windsor where he then was in which they acknowledg their hearty and unfeigned sorrow for the misgovernment of that City which had occasioned the Quo Warranto to be brought against them and Judgment to be past thereupon And thankfully acknowledged his great Favour in not requiring Judgment to be immediately entred thereon in which distressed condition they humbly cast themselves at his Royal Feet imploring his Princely Compassion and Grace begging his pardon for all Offences with most solemn promises and assurances of constant Loyalty and Obedience to him and his Successors and of a Regular Administration of his Government in that City for the future humbly begging his Commands and Directions therein This Petition was carried and presented by the Mayor and several Loyal Aldermen and Citizens Upon the Receipt whereof the Lord Keeper by the King's Command declared That for the sakes of so many of the present Magistrates and other Eminent Citizens who were of undoubted Loyalty and Affection to his Service he would show the City all the Favour they could reasonably desire if they would submit to such Regulations as he thought necessary forthe assuring the Loyalty and preserving the Peace of that City viz. That no person should be admitted to be Mayor Sheriff Recorder Common Serjeant Town-Clerk or Coroner of London or Steward of Southwark before they were approved by him under his Sign Manual And that after he had Twice disapproved the Mayor whom they should present to him he might if he pleased nominate one himself and so also for the Sheriff the Election being nevertheless to be still continued according to the ancient Customs and Usages of the City with some small Restrictions only then specified which gracious Offer was accepted by a Common-Council assembled on the 20th of June where the Question being propounded it was carried in the Affirmative by the Majority of Eighteen Voices And now came to light one of the basest and vilest pieces of Treachery that was ever hatcht in the World which seemed to point out and explain whereto the Bill of Exclusion and the Treacherous Association tended For those Factious and Designing Wretches having failed of accomplishing their Designs by those specious pretences resolved to attempt that by force which they now found they could not effect by Fraud and therefore entred into a Damnable Plot and Conspiracy to Murder the King and His Brother and alter the Government To effect which they had at several Treasonable Consultations resolved to Levy men and make an Insurrection For the management whereof they made choice of a Council of Six that were to direct and order the chief matters relating thereunto viz. the Duke of Monmouth the Earl of Essex the Lord Howard the Lord Russel Mr. Hambden and Collonel Sidney Besides which there was another Council of more Inferior persons whose business was to consult chiefly about the Assassination of the King and the Duke The King and the Duke being both at Newmarket they resolved to prevent their ever coming to London again by cutting them both off in their return To which end West by the appointment of the rest had provided several Musquets and other Arms which were to have been sent down to a House call'd the Rye inhabited by one Rumball about three Miles beyond Hodsden which was lookt upon as the most convenient place for that monstrous and hellish design in regard therewas by the house a narrow passage through which the King usually came when he went to and from Newmarket so that it would have been hard for him to have escaped But Heaven having preserved him from the many former Attempts of Men of the like Principles and disdaining that Hell should frustrate its designed blessings to these Nations as well in the remainder of his Reign as in his next Successors by cutting off its Principal Favourite resolved to render former Mercies the more compleat and full by adding a new one to their Number no less apparent and visible than his Preservation in the Oak had been And therefore a Fire which hapned there and consumed the greatest part of the Town forced him to return sooner than they expected and before they were ready for him whereby they were disappointed of their Barbarous Purpose and not a little confounded at the Strangeness of the Thing which altho it appeared at first sight to be purely accidental yet afterward was generally lookt upon to fall out by the special designation of Divine Providence But notwithstanding this remarkable disappointment and the consternation which at first seized them upon the news of it they still went on with their Plot and consulted about some other Time and Place for their Assassination But before they could bring their distracted Counsels to any conclusion Providence spoiled their Plot For one of the Conspirators whose Name was Keeling being convinced of the Wickedness of the design through the care of Heaven to prevent it by the remarkable Fire at Newmarket was so terrified that he could not rest till he had made a discovery of it Whereupon West a Councellor of the Temple was apprehended and a Proclamation issued out for the declaring Rumsey Rumball Nelthrop Wade Goodenough Wallcot Thompson Burton and Hone Traytors offering 100 reward to any that should discover them and another against Monmouth Grey Armstrong and Ferguson Rumsey the Lord Russel Essex Collonel Sidney Mr. Hambden the Lord Howard Walcot Rouse Hone and some others were taken but the rest made their escape beyond the Seas The Lord Grey indeed was taken but being after Examination by the King and Council committed to the Tower he found means to make his escape out of the Coach just as he came almost at the Tower Gate having made Deering the Messenger who had him in Charge so drunk as it was reported that he fell fast asleep and left him wholly unguarded The Lord Russel and Collonel Sidney were beheaded and Walcot Rouse and Hone
he for an Universal grief possest the minds of all men and like a Cloud suddenly spread it self over the whole Nation upon the arrival of that doleful Tidings He died in the Fifty fourth Year of his Age after he had reigned Thirty six Years and some few days leaving his Kingdom which he found almost ruin'd with a bloody and unnatural War in a state of Tranquility and Peace Which as it magnifies the happiness of his Subjects by comparing their present felicity with their past Troubles so it lays the highest obligation imaginable upon them for ever to entertain the sacred Memory of his Name with the greatest Love and Veneration His redâ—cing a People plnnged and almost â—wallowed up in confusion into a quiet not to be expected and scarcely to be hoped for and asswaging by his incomparable Prudence a Faction blown up into atempestuous flame more violent and deaf than either the Winds or the Seas rendred him the most Glorious and Admired Prince and his Subjects the most happy People in Christendom and therefore in what Words or rather with what Deeds can they ever expect to express a Gratitude any way equal to his merits Statues of Marble and tryumphal Arches may indeed be an acknowledgment of our Veneration but these are Trifles too mean to discharge our debt and therefore all true Englishmen shall raise him a more lasting Monument by entombing him in their Hearts and expressing their love to their Dead Sovereign by their unfeigned Loyalty to their Living One our present Gracious King and Governour James the Second who immediately upon his Death succeeded to his Throne For Nature is not more careful to prevent a Dissolution of being than the Constitution of England to prevent an Inter-Regnum of Government so that the same minute which seems to threaten the involving our Isle in Darkness and Confusion by the setting of one really revives our dying-hopes and dispels our sable Clouds by the rising of another Sun for whom I shall pray as the Israelites did for King Solomon That God by whom alone Kings reign and have their Governments Crown'd with Peace and Felicity may pour upon him the Blessings of Heaven in as great a measure as upon his Royal Predecessor and make his Throne greater than the Throne of our late Sovereign Lord King Charles and grant him long to Live and Reign over us in Peace and Tranquility His Funeral was privately Solemniz'd on the 14th of February with as much Decency and Splendor as the greatness of the Sorrow for his Death would permit His Corps being convey'd sometime before to the Painted Chamber in the Palace at Westminster was carried from thence to the Abby-Church under a Velvet Canopy born by Gentlemen of the Privy-Chamber the Pall being supported by six Earls The proceedings begun with the Servants of the Nobility Their Royal Highnesses the King and Queen the Queen Dowager and His own after whom followd the Barons Bishops and others of the Nobility according to their respective Degrees together with the great Officers and the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury His Royal Highness the Prince of Denmark was chief Mourner supported by the Dukes of Somerset and Beaufort in the Collors of the Order as were all the rest of the Knights of the Garter then present and his Train born by the Lord Cornbury The Assistants to the chief Mourner were sixteen Earls The Crown and Cushion was carry'd by one of the Kings of Arms The rest of the Heraulds and their Officers Attending and Directing the Ceremony which was clos'd with His Majesties Band of Gentelmen-Pensioners and the Yeomen of the Guard As soon as they entred the Church the Dean and Prebends of Westminster with the whole Quire met the Body and went before it to Henry the Sevenths Chappel where it was interr'd in a Vault under the East end of the South Isle THUS have I endeavour'd to present the World with a Brief draught of the Life of this most Excellent King from the Time of his Birtâ— to the never-enough lamented and most deplorable Murder of his Royal Father and of his Reign from that Time until the hour of His Death And having now traced him through all the stupendious Labyrinths and wonderful Revolutions of His Life to his exchanging a Crown of Gold for one of Glory I shall close my History with his Character A Character which were I able therein to represent him to the Life and give him his Just and deserved Praise would not be parallel'd in Ancient and remain a Wonder to all succeeding Generations But his Perfections were so sublime and rare that my Representatious of him will no more bear Proportion to his real worth than the twinkling Figure of the Sun shining in the Water wherein he views himself as in a Looking-Glass is adequate to the Greatness of that real body of Fire and Light whereby he claims the Regency of Heaven This Monarch as to his Person was of a tall and goodly Stature and so exactly form'd that the most curious and penetrating Eye after the exactest Scrutiny could not discern the least Error in his Shape his Countenance very Majestical His Person and the Visage of his Face rather Grave than Severe being very much softned whenever he spake His Complection somewhat dark but much enlighten'd by the brightness of his Eyes that were quick and sparkling His Hair which before he wore a Peruke in great plenty was of a shining black not frizled but naturally Curling into large Rings and very Ornamental But as the Jewel is more valuable than the Casket that contains it so the perfections of his Mind did much exceed those of his Body if we can allow the same Man any Preheminence over himself in respect whereof he seemed to be a perfect Miracle of Art and Nature having in the Mysteries of Both a most capacious and profound Knowledg or one of the best sort of Wonders both in respect of his Virtues and his Fortune a Wonder to Wise men who admired his vast Parts a Wonder to His Enemies who admir'd at His Preservation from their Snares a Wonder to his Friends that admired at the Adversity of his Fortune and the Patience wherewith he endur'd it a Wonder to the World which admired the strangeness of His Restoration and were astonish'd to see him notwithstanding there was at that Time an Army on Foot to keep him out which had been flush'd with so many Victories and as it were by Prescription was able to beat the World or at least had Courage and Confidence enough to attempt it return without spilling one drop of Blood or having an Hand held up against him to oppose his Entrance He had been himself a Sufferer and had thereby learnt to Govern his Subjects with Moderation He had been in Misery and that taught him to be Merciful He had been unjustly dealt with and that made him the more careful to see right done to all men His Justice and measure his