the Defence of that Kingdom On the 19 th of May the Parliament met at Westminster pursuant to the Writs of Summons and the Commons being by the Black Rod sent for up to the House of Lords the Lord Keeper declared to them That it was his Majesties Pleasure to defer Speaking to them till both Houses had taken the Oathes appointed to be taken by Act of Parliament and then he would Declare his Mind to them concerning the Cause of Calling them And further That the Gentlemen of the House of Commons should go apart and proceed immediately to the Choice of a Speaker and accordingly they chose Sir John Trevor who was approved by the King And on the 22 d. of May the King made a Speech to both Houses promising to maintain the Government in Church and State in all its Rights and Priviledges demanding a Settlement of the Revenue for Life and further supplies â— proceeded to let them know he had received News that the Earl of Argyle was Landed in the VVest Highlands of Scotland with the Men he brought with him out of Holland and that he had put out Two Declarations one in his own Name and the other in the Names of those he brought over with him c. Upon this the Commons going to their House Voted the Revenue should be settled and that a Bill should be brought in for that purpose And the Lords and Commons declared their Resolutions to stand by and assist him And the Scots began likewise to stir to prevent the Danger that threatned that Kingdom from a geathering Army passing divers Acts and putting forth sundry Proclamations and raising Forces especially in the Highlands for the Earles Declation spread abroad many believed they contained somewhat of Reason and thereupon went unto him so that in a short time from about 300. he brought over with him he became about 3000. strong fortefying some Places and keeping the Islands On the 30 th of May Thomas Dangerfield was tryed at the King's Bench-Bar for Writing and Publishing a Book called his Narative and a Verdict passed against him and in the Afternoon at a Nisiprius held at Guild Hall Mr. Richard Baxter was Tryed and Convicted for Writing Notes upon the New Testament and the same Day the Act for setling the Revenues on the King for Life as it was in King Charles's Time passed the Royal Assent On the 1 st of June about Five in the Morning Her Royal Highness the Princess Ann of Denmark was Delivered of a Daughter which in the Afternoon was Christened by the Lord Bishop of London by the Name of Mary The Earl of Argyle being by this time on the firm Land sent out his Summons from Campletown in these Words viz. Being by the Blessing of God came safe to this Place with a Resolution according to a Declaration emitted for the Defence of the Protestant Religion and our Lives and Liberties against Popery and Arbitrary Government and all the Fensible Men of Illa being come this Length and this Country being this Day together at a General Rendesvous these are to require all Heritors Tenants and Others and all the Fensible Men within the division of Cowal between Sixty and Sixteen with all their Useful Arms and Two Week Loan to come to Tarbet against Tuseday the 26th Instant at Twelve of the Clock without fail or sooner if possible And in Order to this he sent to Cowal and dispersed divers Letters and a great many Persons came in but the Highlanders for the most part declared for the King However the Earl on the 26 th of June Marched from Campletown in Kintaire with Two Troops of Horse and 700. Foot to Tarbet and there met 200. of the Illa Men and 200. more were expected and mustered on the 28 th and the Three Ships belonging to him the greatest carrying 30â— Guns and other small Vessels afterward taken up came likewise into the Port and from thence he passed to divers other places Sailing round the Islands and taking in such Men as would join him and amongst other Letters we find the following dated at Campletown May 22. 1685 and directed to the Laird of Lupe Loving Friends It hath pleased God to bring me safe to this Place where several of both Nations do appear with me for the Defence of the Protestant Religion our Lives and Liberties against Popery and Arbitrary Government whereof the particulars are emitted in Two Declarations by those Noblemen Gentlemen and Others and by me for my self Your Father and I lived in great Friendship and I am glad to serve you his Son in Defence of the Protestant Religion and I will be ready to do it in your particular when there is Occasion I beseech you let not any out of Fear or bad Principles perswade you to neglect your Duty to God and your Country at this time or to believe that the D. York is not a Papist or that being one he can be a Righteous King Then know that all England is in Arms in Three several Places and the Duke of Monmouth appears at the same time upon the same Grounds that we do and few Places in Scotland but will join and the South and West want but till they hear I am Landed for so they resolved before I left Holland Now I beseech you make no delay to separate from those that abuse you and are carrying on a Popish Design but come with all the Men of your Command to assist the Cause of Religion where you shall be most welcome to your Loving Friend to serve you Argyle P. S. Let this serve Young Loigie Skipuag and Charles Mc. Echan By this time the Charlotte Yatch was arriv'd in the Clyde and several Men of War were dispatched from England as the Falcon Mairmaid c. and several Warrants were issued out for Persons in England that had retired from their Houses and publick notice given in the Gazette for the apprehending them On the 13 th of June an Express came to the King at White-Hall by the Mayor of Lyme that on the 11 th there appeared Three Ships off that place and about 7 in the Evening the Duke of Monmouth Landed with about 150. Men and possessed himself of that Town sending some of his Men into the Neighbouring Counties to incite the People to Rise whereupon a Proclamation was put forth for Apprehending him his Adherents Adbettors Accomplices and Advisers And the King sent notiâ—e of the Dukes Landing to both Houses of Parliament then Sitting at Westminster who severally Addressed him and promised him in their Addresses to stand by him with their Lives and Fortunes intreating him to have more than ordinary Care of his Royal Person to secure it from any Attempt c. And on the 15 th of June a Proclamation was Published to Suppress the Duke's Declaration Entituled The Declaration of James Duke of Monmouth and the Noblemen Gentlemen and others now in Arms for the Defence and Vindication of the Protestant Religion
the Day with the Kings the Bishop of London with the Bible between the Bishop of St. Asaph with the Patten and the Bishop of Rochester with the Challice Then the King Supported by the Bishop of Winchester and the Queen by the Bishop of Bristol under a Canopy boren by Sixteen Barons of the Cinque Ports His Majesties Train boren up by the Master of the Robes assisted by the Lord Eland Lord Landsdown Lord Willoughby and the Lord Dumblain and Her Majesties by the Dutches of Somerset Assisted by the Lady Elizabeth Paulet the Lady Diana Vere the Lady Elizabeth Cavendish and the Lady Herrieeta Hyde After the King a Gentlemen of the Bed-Chamber and 2 Grooms of the Bed-Chamber after the Queen a Lady of Her Majesties Bed-Chamber and 2 of Her Majesties Women Lastly the Captain of the King's Guard between the Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard and Band of Pensioners followed by the Officers and Bands of the Yeomen of the Guards the Serjeants at Arms going on each side the Regalia and the Gentlemen Pensioners on each side the Canopy Thus their Majesties in their Robes of Crimson Velvet the King with a Cap and the Queen with a Circlet on her Head all the Nobility in Crimson Velvet Robes with their Coronets in their Hands and the rest of the Proceeding in their proper Habits Marched on Foot upon blew Cloth to Westminster-Abby Being entered the Church and all duly seated The Bishop of London who performed this great Solemnity began with the Recognition which ended with a mighty Shout then their Majesties offered and the Lords who bore the Regalia presented them at the Altar The Littany was Sung by Two Bishops and after the Epistle Gospel and Niceen Creed And the Bishop of Salisbury Preached on the Text of the 2. Samuel 23 3 4. And after Sermon Their Majesties took the Oath and being Conducted to their Regal Chairs placed on the Theatre they were there Anointed and presented with the Spurs and Sword and Invested with the Palls and Orbs and then with the Rings and Scepters and about 4 of the Clock the Crowns were put upon their Heads at which the People shouted the Drums beat Trumpets sounded and the Great Guns were Discharged and the Peers and Peeresses put on their Coronets then the Bible was presented to their Majesties and after the Benediction they vouchsafed to kiss the Bishops being Inthroned First the Bishops and then the Temporal Lords did their Homage and kissed their Majesties Cheeks whilst the Treasurer of the Houshold threw about the Coronation Medals then followed the Communion and their Majesties having made their second Oblation received the Holy Sacrament Then the Bishop read the Final Prayers and their Majesties retired into St. Edward's Chapple and being new Arrayed in Purple Velvet returned to Westminster-Hall wearing their Rich Crowns of State and the Nobility their Coronets The Nobility c. being Seated at the respective Tables which was Furnished just as they approached the first Course of their Majesties Table was served up with the proper Ceremony being preceded by the great Officers and the High Constable High Steward and Earl Marshal and before the second Course Charles Dymoke their Majesties Champion between the High Constable and the Earl Marshal performed the Challenge after which the Heraulds proclaimed Their Majesties Stile and all being ended with great Magnificence their Majesties in the Evening returned to White-Hall and the Streets were crouded with Bone-fires the Bells every where Ringing and the next Day in the Afternoon the Knights Citizens and Burgesses in Parliament Assembled went from Westminster to the Banqueting-House where they attended Their Majesties to congratulate Them upon their Coronation which was performed by their Speaker in a most Eloquent Speech after which all the Members kissed Their Majesties Hands and the rejoycing soon spread through all the Kingdom And the Committee of Scotland for settling the Government having made their report and the Grievances and an Instrument of Government being read and distinctly considered the whole Estates except some few that were absent with one Voice Declared King William and Queen Mary King and Queen of Scotland in the same manner as had been done in England Proclaiming it at the Mercat-Cross of Edenburgh with the usual Form and Solemnity and afterward at the other Crosses of the Kingdom On the 19 th of April the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons Assembled in Parliament Presented an Address to His Majesty in the Banqueting-House to render him their most Humble and Hearty Thanks for His Gracious Declaration and repeated Assurances that he will maintain the Church of England as by Law Established and humbly pray him to Summon a Convocation of the Clergy to which the King returned a very Gracious and Suitable Answer On the 26 th of April the Commons waited upon the King in the banqueting-Banqueting-House and presented Him with the following Address WE Your Majesties most Loyal and Dutiful Subjects the Commons in Parliament assembled most humbly lay before your Majesty our most earnest Desires that your Majesty would be pleased to take into your most serious Consideration the destructive Methods taken of late Years by the French King against the Trade Quiet and Interest of your Kingdom and particularly the Invasion of Ireland and supporting your Majesties Rebellious Subjects there not doubting in the least but that through Your Majesties Wisdom the Alliances already made with such as may be hereafter concluded on this occasion by your Majesty may be Effectual to reduce the French King to such a condition that it may not be in his power hereafter to violate the Peace of Christendom nor prejudice the Trade and Prosperity of this your Majesties Kingdom To this end we most humbly Beseech Your Majesty to rest assured upon this our Solemn and Hearty Promise and Engagement That when Your Majesty shall think fit to enter into a War against the French King we will give Your Majesty such Assistance in a Parliamentary way as may enable your Majesty under the Protection and Blessing God Almighty has ever afforded you to support and go through with the same To this His Majesty was pleased to return Answer in the following Words I Receive this Address as a mark of the Confidence you have in me which I take very kâ—ndly and shall endeavour by all my Actions to confirm you in it I assure you that my own Ambition shall nâ—ver be an Argument to Incline me to engage a War that may expose the Nation either to Danger or Expence but in the present Case I look upon the War so much already declared in effect by France ' against England that it is not so proper an Act of Choice as an inevitable necessity in our own Defence I only tell you That as I have ventured my Life and All that is dear to me to rescue this Nation from what it suffered I am ready still to do the same in order to the preserving it from all
received and care was taken for the supplying the Necessities of such as had been forced to Fly that Kingdom to avoid the Persecution and it was ordered by the Lords of the Committee for the affairs of Ireland that all Persons that do receive half Pay from their Majesties upon the Irish Establishment should Immediately Transport themselves into Ireland and repair to his Majesties Army under his Grace the Duke of Schombergh General of his Majesties Forces And now upon the Publication of the King's Pardon in Scotland to such as would come In in time and lay hold on the Offered Grace divers Persons of Note and others took the Advantage and Submitted themselves The High-landers likewise dispersed so that Collonel Cannon who Commanded in Cheif was Reduced for the most part to the straightness of the Isle of Mull and greatly distressed for want of Provisions and other Necessaries and to straiten him the more General Mackay Garrisoned divers places in the North and divers of the Heads of Clans that had stood out came in and took the Oath to the King and Queen giving sufficient Surites for the Peace and all things seemed to promise a prosperous Issue to the Affairs of that Kingdom On the 20 th of September the Parliament met ar Westminster pursuant to their late Adjournment and His Majesty having Signified his Pleasure to both Houses that they should further Adjourn to the 19 th of October the two Houses Adjourned accordingly and had further notice to meet by Proclamation The Parliament of Scotland was likewise Adjourned by Proclamation from the Eighth of October to the 20 th of December And the King going to New-Market was Highly Complemented by the Vice-chancelor of the Uniuersity of Cambridge and the Heads of the Houses the Doctors c. in their Formalities to which His Majesty returned a very Gracious Answer and then they were one by one presented by his Grace the Duke of Somerset their Chancelor and Admitted to kiss the King's Hand and the next day His Majesty went to Cambridge and was very Splendidly Entertained and divers Addrsses were Humbly Presented in this Progress from Sundry Corporations c. which were very Favorably Received The Army in Ireland being about this time Advanced some what near the Enemy a design was discovered in the Camp Carried on by some French Papists Mâ—sqing themselves under the Pretext of Protestants for a Captain in one of the French Regiments being Informed by a Soldier that four other Soldiers and a Drummer that were Papist's designed to go over to the Irish Army he caused them to be seized and found Letters about one of them to Mounsieur de Avaux who upon Examination Confessed he had a Letter from one du Plessy a Papist serving as a private Centinal in one of the French Regiments though he had been formerly a Captain of Horse in France from whence he was forced to retire upon account of a Murther he had committed there who being likewise seized upon Examination Confessed that he had Written to the late King and de Avaux giving them an account that there were divers Papist's in the French Regiments and promising withal to bring them over to the Irish Camp upon condition he might have the Command of them and a Pardon in France whereupon he and his five Accomplices being Tryed before a Council of War and the design being Apparrent they received Sentence of Death and were Executed accordingly after which the three French Collonels made a strict Inquiry what Papist's there were in their Regiments and found 150 who by order of the General were Secured and sent Prisoners to Carlingfâ—rd in order to their being Transported for England and most of these had deserted the French Service this Summer and passed into Holland and from thence to England where they Listed themselves in the Regiments of French the Protestants that were then Leavying the Officers Raising their Companies in so much hast that they had not time to Examine them strictly and perhaps their Disserting and coming over might be a French Trick to Embroyl our Army but however it was timely discovered and defeated On the 13 th of October Dr. Edward Stilling flâ—et Bishop Elect of Worcester Dr. Simon Patrick Bishop Elect of Chichester Dr. Gilbert Ironside Bishop Elect of Bristol were Consecrated in the Chapple of Fullham by the Bishop of London St. Asaph and Rochester by vertue of a Commission Granted to them on that behalf and the next day Thomas Earl of Pembroek and Montgomery was Sworn one of the Lords of His Majesties Privy-Council and took his place at the Board accordingly On the 19 th the Parliament met at Westminster whither the King went Attended with the usual Solemnity and being in His Royal Robes Seated on the Throne in the House of Lords made a very Gracious Speech to both Houses on the occasion of their Meeting and after a short Prorogation of three days the Parliament met again and His Majesty Refered them to what he had said to both Houses on the 19 th And for the better Encouragement of erchants and others that should carry Necessaries into Ireland for the Service of the King's Forces an Order was Published to excuse the paying any Duty or Custom from the first of November for 3 Months ensuing On the 29 th of October Sir Thomas-Pilkington being continued Lord Mayor for the Year ensuing went toi Westminster in the Morning by Water attended by the Companys in their Barges after the usual splendid manner and being Sworn before the Barons of the Exchequer return'd to Black-Fryers Stairs where he Landed and passed to Guild-Hall where their Majesties were pleased to Dine with him as did a great many of the Nobility and Members of the House of Commons with the Privy Councellors Judges Bishops c. The whole Entertainment being to the high Satisfaction of all and the King and Queens Pictures were set up the Night before in the Court of Hustings as also a Triumphal Arch c. The King about this time was pleased to Create Richard Lord Coot Baron of Coloony in the Kingdom of Ireland an Earl of that Kingdom by the Name of Earl of Bellemont And a French Man of War of 15 Guns Laden with Arms and bound for Ireland was taken by the St. Albans and Dover Frigats and brought into Falmouth the 6 th of November and they narrowly missed another of 36 Guns on Board which were reported to be the Ld. Dover and the Marquess d' Albyville going to King James On Board the Prize taken were 4000 small Arms and a considerable quantity of Powder with several French Officers And several French Prizes were brought into other Ports Although the greatest part of the English Army in Ireland was in Winter Quarters yet Charlemont was kept Blocked up and divers Skirmishes happened between Parties in which the Irish were worsted as at the Hills before Charlemont and at Newry Bridge and Town c. Loosing a great many of their
Warranto against the City of London concerning the duty of Water-ballage and caused a Nolle prosequi to be entered the Lord Mayor Court of Aldermen Recorder and Committee of Common Council went in a Body to pay their dutiful acknowledgment to the King and afterwards many of them did the like to his Royal Highness the Duke About this time James Baker alias Hesketh and John Naylor were Tryed at the Old Baily for being Priests yet only the former was found Guilty And now some Heats arising amongst great Ones to prevent the danger the King published a Proclamation wherein he declared that he would not Pardon any Person that should Kill another in a Duel And thus ended the noted Affairs of this Year In May 1680. A prodigious Storm of Hail fell the Stones being of a vast weight and 8 or 9 Inches in Circumference did great damage to Houses Cattle Fowl Herbs Corn c. And soon after Mrs. Celier getting herself Tryed before the Lord Chief Justice Scroggs was acquitted by the said Judges disapproving of Dangerfield as a good Evidence But not content with this narrow escape she undertook to publish a Book for shamming the Popish Plot and particularly Prance's Evidence as to the Murther of Sir Edmond Bury Godfrey for which She was Tryed at the Old Baily Fin'd and Pilloryed And the Parliament sitting according to prorogation and the popish Lords in the Tower having been obliged to give in sufficient Answers they proceeded to Try William Viscount Stafford who had the whole House of Peers for his Judges a place being erected in Westminster-Hall for that purpose where after a Tryal which held 4 or 5 days he was by the majority of Voices cast and attainted of high Treason for which he lost his Head on Tower-Hill And soon after his Death a prodigious beam of Light streamed in the Night-time from the West and soon after the Star from whence it darted appeared above the Horizon and grew nightly higher till it had compassed East and West and was admired by many who made different Judgments as their Minds lead them And the Parliament after a considerable Sitting was prorogued to a further time but before the time of their appointed Meeting they were dissolved and a Parliament called to meet at Oxford on the 21 th of March though the Earl of Essex and divers Lords petition'd the King to have it sit at Westminster however they did not prevail for the Parliament accordingly met at Oxford where the King in his Speech amongst other things put them in mind of the râ—lief of Tangier then pressed by the Mâ—â—rs But they had not sat many days before they were Dissolved and the King came in great haste for London One Edward Fitz-Harris having been discovered by Mr. Everard and Sir William Waller to have contrived a treasonable and dangerous Pamphlet since called Treason in Grain and having other projects against the Government he had been Impeached by the Commons but in fine was Tryed before the Lord Chief Justice Pemberton and being found guilty of High Treason was Executed at Tyburn with one Oliver Plunket condemned at the Kings Bench Bar for attempting to betray Ireland to the French Plunket was a Romish Bishop and termed the titular Primate of Ireland and the Wife and Maid of Fitz-Harris accused some persons of Honour but it came to nothing but upon Information of several Irish Evidence and others soon after the Earl of Shaftsbury was committed to the Tower as were several other persons having continued there a considerable time a Bill of High Treason was drawn up against him as likewise Bills against Stephen Colledge and others and preferred to the Grand Jury of the City of London and the Evidence heard in open Court at the Old Baily but after a long Examination the Bills were found Ignoramus but Colledge was soon after carried by Water to Oxford and there being Tryed for treasonable words spoke in that City during the siting of the Parliament there was found Guilty and Executed and the following Michaelmass Term the Earl of Shaftsbury and divers others were set at Liberty A Parliament being called in Scotland the King sent his Brother to preside as his High Commissioner and there amonst other things they passed an Act for asserting the right of Succession to the Crown making it Treason for any to question or object it and the Earl of Argyle for only making some Queries c. was committed to the Castle and in danger of his Life but he escaped thence by changing Habit with a Ladies Page that came to visit him and fled into Holland where he remained till his unfortunate invading Scotland Anno 1685 of which more hereafter The Duke being returned for England upon the concluding of the Parliament and leaving his Dutchess in Scotland whilst he was on his way again by Sea in the Gloucester Frigat attended with several Yatchs to fetch her home the Frigat under full Sail stood in upon the Lemmon and Orrey two dangerous Sands off the Humber Mouth where she beat along the Sands till she foundered and falling off the Sands fell into deep Water where she was swallowed up and about One hundred Persons lost besides the Dukes Plate and a great deal of Treasure Amongst the Drowned was the Lord Obrian the Duke however with as many as his Barge which was hoisted Over-board could hold got safe to the Yatchts and landed in Scotland and the Pilot being suspected of Treatchery suffered a long Imprisonment in the Marshaseas on this occasion and soon after this Disaster the Duke and Dutches returned for England Sir John Moore after the Mayorality of Sir Patience Ward being Elected Lord Mayor of London and received with the usual Splendor at the time of Election of Sheriffs great Heats and Contests arise among the Citizens about the Electing two Persons to serve as Sheriffs for the year ensuing and it was deferred from time to time however in the end Sir Peter Rich and Sir Dudly North were sworn Mr. Box who had been declared Elected declining it and paying his Fine and Siâ— William Pritehard was chosen Lord Mayor and upon the occasion of these Contendings several Citizens as Sir Thomas Player and others had Informations in the Crown Exhibited against them as Rioters and haviug a Verdict found against them before the Lord Chief Justice Saunders at Guild-hall were the following Term Fined at the Kings-Bench Bar very considerably And this year died the Illustrious Prince Rupert a Prince whose great Services have all along been very considerable to these Kingdoms And a thing not known before two Ambassadors arrived one from the Emperor of Fess and Morocco and the other from the King of Bantam with rich Presents and were splendidly Entertained and much admired by the crouding People for their strange Habits The first came to treat of Peace and free Traffick Tangier an English Garison standing in his Masters Countries and the other to crave Succour for the King
offer Their Majesties the Crown of Scotland viz. The Earl of Argyle Sir James Montgomery and Sir John Darlerimple the younger met in the Council Chamber about Three in the Afternoon and being Conducted by the Master of the Cerimonies and Accompany'd by divers Noble Men to the banqueting-Banqueting-House They presented a Letter to the King who with the Queen Sat under a Canopy of State from the Estates of Scotland and then an Instrument of Government after that a Paper containing Grievances which they desired might be Redressed and then an Address to His Majesty for turning the Meeting of the Estates of the aforesaid Kingdom into a Parliament all Signed by his Grace Duke Hamilton President of the Meeting and were Read to Their Majesties whereupon the King Returned the following Gracious Answer When I Engaged in this Undertaking I had particular Regard and Consideration for Scotland and therefore I did Emit a Declaration in Relation to that as well as this Kingdom which I Intend to make Good and Effectual to them I take it very Kindly that Scotland hath Expressed so much Confidence in and Affection to me They shall find me willing to Assist them in every thing that concerns the Well and Interest of that Kingdom by making what Laws shall be necessary for the Security of their Religion Property and Liberty and to Ease them of what may be justly Grieveous to them This was Received with the highest sense of Thankfulness and Satisfaction and the Corronation Oath thereupon Tendered to the King and Queen the Earl of Argyle Speaking the Words distinctly and the King and Queen Repeating after him holding up Their right Hands after the manner of taking Oaths in Scotland This done the Commissioners declared that the Estates of Scotland had Authorized them to Represent to His Majesty that the Clause in the Oath in Relation to the Rooting out of Heriticks did not Import the Destroying Heriticks and that by the Law of Scotland no Man was to be Persecuted for his private Opinion and even Obstinate and Convicted Heriticks were only to be denounced Rebels or Out-lawed whereby their Moveable Estates are Confiscated for His Majesty at his Repeating that Clause in the Oath did Declare That he did not mean by those Words that he was under any Obligation to become a Persecutor To which the Commissioners Reply'd that neither the meaning of the Oath nor the Law of Scotland did Import it whereupon His Majesty Declared He took the Oath in that Sense And called the Commissioners and others present for Witnesses and then the King and Queen Signed the Coronation Oath and the Commissioners and several of the Scotch Nobility had the Honour to kiss Their Majesties Hands The King taking a Progress to Portsmouth c. to view the Fleet put in there was Pleased in Consideration of the Service done against the French in Bantre-Bay to give a Donative of Ten Shillings a Man to all that were in that Engagement which Amounted to the Sum of 2600 l. and Dineing on Board the Elizabeth he was Pleased as a Mark of His Great Satisfaction in the Conduct and Service of Admiral Herbert to Declare His Intentions of Confering upon him the Title and Dignity of an Earl of this Kingdom and he was after Created Earl of Torrington c. His Majesty was likewise Pleased to Confer the Honour of Knight-hood on John Ashby Commander of the Defiance and Captain Clowdesly Shovel of the Edgar and Returned through the Repeated Acclamations of the Sea-men and the Crowds of People that were on the Shoar gethered from divers Places to Express the Satisfaction they had of seeing His Majesty in those Parts The Castle of Edenburg being still in the Hands of the Duke of Gourdon it was strictly Blocked up and several Batteries were Raised against it So that all Communication with the Besieged were cut off however the Viscount Dundee being Abroad and having strengthned himself proceeded to open Hostilities and amongst other Exploits came with a Party of 50 or 60 Horse to the Town of St. Johns-Towns and in the Night time surprized and carried away the Laird of Blair a Member of the Convention and two other Gentlemen and having a Design upon Inverness wheither he had sent to demand Mony of the Majestrates he was prevented by divers Gentlemen taking Arms and Raising about 7 or 800 of the Neighbouring People nor durst he Attempt to Enter Dundee it being in a posture of Defence and the Committe of the Estates Appointed Persons to Receive the Duke of Gourdons Rents for the use of the Publick forgiving a years Rent to the Tennants provided they live Peaceably and did the like by that of the Viscount Dundee's and Orders were taken to Reduce the Bass which was held out against the Government and a Party who had taken up Arms for Dundee and Attaqued Capt. Young on his March to Kintyre with a Detachment of 500 Men of the new Leavys â—was Routed many of them then kill'd and others taken Prisoners On the 24 th of May His Majesty in the House of Lords at Westminster gave the Royal Assent to an Act for Exempting Their Majesties Protestant Subjects Dissenting from the Church of England from the Penalties of certain Penal Laws An Act for Anulling and making Void the Attainder of Alice Lisle Widdow who was Beheaded in the West And a private Act. And now the Army being in motion and War Proclaimed against France Their Majesties by Proclamation Commanded a General Fast throughout the Kingdom to Implore the Blessing of Almighty God â—pon Their Arms c. to be Religiously and Solemnly Kept and Observed on the 5 th of June within the Cities of London and Westminster and Ten Miles Distance And on the 19 th throughout the whole Kingdom Dominion of Wales and Town of Berwick upon Tweed And Their Majesties were Impowred by an Act to Commit without Bail such Persons as they should find Just Cause to Suspect Conspiring against the Government And the Duâ—ch Ambassadors Arriving to Congratulate Their Majesties upon Their Happy Accession to the Crown in the Name of the States General of the United Provinces were Received at Greenwich by the Earl of Sussex Sir Charles Cottrel Master of the Ceremonies and Six Gentlemen of His Majesties Privy-Chamber from whence they were Conducted in the Kings Barges to the Landing place the Tower Standard being Displayed and at their Landing they were Complemented by the Lord Lucas Governour of the Tower and Saâ—uted with the Dischaâ—ge of the Cannon and from thence being Attended by 16 Pages on Horse-back and 60 Foot-men in Liveries they were Conducted in Their Majesties Coaches followed by Six Coaches of their own and about 50 others belonging to the Nobility to Cleveland-House at St. James's Appointed for their Entertainment where their Excellencies were Complemented from the King by the Lord Cornwallis and from the Queen by Sir Edward Villers Master of the Horse to Her Majesty from the Queen Dowager by Mr. Sayers Her
was found with his Sword run through him under colour to make it suspected he murthered himself Lawrence Hill Henry Bury and Robert Green were on the 10th of February tryed for the Murther at the Kings-Bench Bar where they were found Guilty upon the Evidence of Captain William Bedlow and the positive Oath of Miles Prance who swore himself to be immediately concerned in the Murther though since the popish Priests have prevailed upon him to recant as will appear hereafter and one Samuel Atkins was likewise Indicted as an Accessary to the Murther but acquitted and according to Sentence Green Bury and Hill were Executed at Tyburn where they denyed the Fact And this month Sir Joseph Williamson giving place the Earl of Sunderland was appointed Principal Secretary of State And now the time being come for the Judges to go the Lenten Circuit they had a strict Charge to recommend to the Justices of Peace and other Magistrates the putting the Laws in execution against popish Recusants and to see it done themselves as much as in them lay And upon the Kings Command the Duke and Dutchess of York departed for Holland and there went Ashoar at Masland-sluyce and so to the Hague and were received at the Court. On the 28th of March another Proclamation was issued out for a publick Fast to implore the further Protection of Almighty God in preserving us from our Enemies and commanded to be strictly kept and it was accordingly observed with more than ordinary Devotion and Solemnity And thus passed over the memorable Transactions of the latter part of the year 1678. In April 1679. The Knights Citizens and Burgeâ—ses in Parliament assembled having in the Name of themselves and all the Commons of England impeach'd William Earl of Powis William Viscount Stafford William Lord Petre Henry Lord Arundel of Wardour and John Lord Bellasis Prisoners in the Tower upon divers Articles of High Treason and other high Crimes and Offences at the Bar of the House of Lords c. The said Prisoners were on the Ninth of April except the Lord Bellasis by reason of his illness of the Gout brought to the Bar of the Lords-House where kneeling and afterwards standing the Articles of their Impeachment were Read upon which they made several Petitions to the House that they might have Copies of their Charge and time to Answer thereto that they might be allowed Council and that their Witnesses might be summoned and have Liberty to come and Return And that that they might have the use of such Records as they should have occasion for which were granted them but with limitation that their Council should only assist them in matters of Law And the Lord Bellasis was allowed though absent a Copy of his Charge After this those that were present were remanded to the Tower and being brought again the 16th they delivered their Answers to the Articles of Charge and were reconducted to the Tower and on the 20th of April the King dissolved his Privy Council and called another putting forth a Declaration to shew his reasons for so doing appointing his new Council to consist of Thirty Persons Fifteen whereof were to be certain and the rest to be Elective at his pleasure Ten out of the Nobility and Five Commoners besides a Lord President a Secretary of Scotland and such of the Princes of the Blood as should be at Court the King acquainting his Parliament that next his great Council he would be advised by that Council and on the 30th of April being seated on the Throne and the Commons attending he made a Speech to both Houses recommending to them three particulars viz. The Prosecution of the Plot the Disbanding of the Army and the setting out a Fleet. And after that the Lord Chancellour opened to them the Kings Mind concerning the securing the Religion and Liberty in future Reigns And another Proclamation was published for Banishing Papists ten miles from London As also another for the Discovery and Apprehending several Persons suspected to have contrived and acted in fellonous Burning Houses in and about the City of London as Morice Gifford a popish Priest Roger Clinton Derby Molrain alias Fowler and several others of the Romish Religion On the 13th of May a Villanous and Barbarous Murther was committed upon the Person of the Arch-Bishop of St. Andrews Primate of Scotland by several desperate Ruffians on Horse-back who Seizing him in his Coach on the Road dragged him out and not giving him as he earnestly requested so much time as to say his Prayers beat out his Brains for which several of them were afterwards deservedly Hanged being ridged Sectaries And now the Parliament of England considering the Kings urgent Occasions granted him a supply of Two Hundred and Six thousand Four Hundred and Sixty Two Pounds Seventeen Shillings and Three pence for paying off and disbanding the Forces raised since the 29th of September 1677. And accordingly Commissioners were appointed to disband those Forces And the same Month he gave the Royal Assent to a Bill for the better securing the Liberty of the Subject and for Prevention of Imprisonment beyond the Seas As likewise a Bill for the Engrossing the Records of Fines burnt in the Fire that a little before had consumed the greatest part of the Temple The latter end of this Month a great number of discontented People armed in Scotland proclaiming the Covenant and putting out a Declaration of Grievances burning publickly several Acts of Parliament which they seemed to be disgusted at and many Hostilities ensued their number dayly encreasing but the Duke of Monmouth passing into that Kingdom with an Army utterly defeated and scattered them in the Fight of Bothwell Bridge and several of the Ring-Leaders were taken and Executed On the 13 th of June Thomas White alias Whitebread Provincial of the Jesuits in England William Harcourt pretended Rector of London John Fenwick Procurator for the Jesuits in England John Gaven and Anthony Turner all Jesuits and Priests were Tried at the Old-Bayly where they were found Guilty of High-Treason in Conspiring the Death of the King c. And the next Day Richard Langhorn a Councellor at Law was Tryed and found Guilty upon the like Account and they were all Executed soon after at Tyburn In the begining of July a dreadful Fire happened at East Deerham and burnt down the greatest part of the Town destroying Six or Seaven People and almost all the Substance of the Inhabitants On the 12 th the King Published a Proclamation for dissolving the Parliament declaring his Purpose was to meet his People in frequent Parliaments giving Directions thereupon to the Lord Chancellour to Issue out Writs for the Calling of another Parliament to Sit at Westminster the 7 th of October following On the 18 th Sir George Wakeman the Queen's Physitian William Marshal William Rumley and James Corker were tryed at the Old-Bayly upon Indictments of High-Treason in Conspiring the Death of the King c. But contrary to the Expectation of
Mass of Money he timely â—â—bbed off with it and never staid till he had Earthed himself beyond the Seas The Queen and the Infant â—ant were likewise sent privately away for France where they arrived and were received by Order of the French King and King James not thinking himself safe in White-Hall on the 〈◊〉 of December about Three in the Morning privately left 〈◊〉 Pallace and wenâ— by Water â—â—lenderly â—ttended to kent and â—o Overland to â—â—e Shoar in Expectation of Shipping himâ—â—lf for France but a great search being â—ade by the Country People for Father 〈◊〉 and others the King and Sir Edward 〈◊〉 were â—aken in 〈◊〉 near Peversham and there plundered by the Mobily they keeping themselves a considerable time concealed Whilst these things happened most People were exâ—â—earâ—ly surpriz'd at thâ— King's Departure whereupon the Lords that were in and about Town both 〈◊〉 â—nd Temporal assembled 〈…〉 to â—â—nsult what was best to be done iâ— so 〈…〉 and from thence adjourned to the Guild Hall London where the Lord Mayor had summoned a Common-Council and thither sent for Mr. Skelleton Lieutenant of the Tower and caused him to deliver up the Keys to the Lord Lucas constituting him as Governour and drew up a Declaration of their good meaning to the Settlement of the Peace and Tranquility of the Kingdom which was signed by 29. of them and thereupon they sent some of their Body to wait upon the Prince with it as their good meaning and affection towards him for having ventured his Person c. for rescuing the Kingdoms from Popery c. The Lord Mayor Court of Aldermen and Common Council Addressed likewise to the same Purpose and the Multitude got together and pulled down the Chapples and Mass-Houses in Lime-Street Bucklers-Berry St. Johns Wild-Street Lincolns Inn-Fields c. committing many Disorders upon the Houses of Ambassadours especially that of the Spanish and Florentine Ambassadour and Envoy which could not in that juncture of hurry and confusion be remedied though the Trained-Bands and Watches were up On the 12 th of December the Lord Jefferys was taken in Hope and Anchor-Alley in Wapping Disguised in the Habit of a Seaman going for Coals to New-Castle and brought before the Lord Mayor of London attended by a numerous Rabble and by him at his own Request sent to the Tower where he soon after was charged with a Warrant from the Lords at Whiteâ— Hall and there through Grief and â—ear fell into a Mallady that swept him from the Stage of the World where he had Acted with too much Cruelty Notice being given to the Lords at White-Hall that the King was at Feversham they dispatched a Messenger to intreat his return and accordingly on the 16 th in the Evening he came to his Palace and sent the Earl of Foversham to the Prince who was then at Windsor to invite him to St. James's and put out an Order for suppressing Tumults and disorderly Outrages committed by the Rabble but the 18 th the King removed to Rochester upon request and the Prince came to Town attended with a numerous Train through the shouts and Acclamations of the People and the Bells-Ringing Bonefires likewise made the Streets shine in the Evening and the King's Army at his Command being disbanded by the Earl of Feversham being ordered by the Prince to repair to their Colours Quarters were appointed at several Cities Towns and Villages for the English Scotch and Irish Forces and all People to whom any of them had embezled their Arms c. were commanded to restore them and on the 20 th of December the Lord Mayor being indisposed the Aldermen and their Deputies waited upon his Highness being accompanied with some of the Common Council of each Ward to Congratulate him upon his Happy Arrival at St. James's which was performed by Sir George Trebie their Recorder in a very Learned and Eloquent Speech and was very favourably received And the Sheriff Nobility and Gentry of the County of Norfolk presented an Address to the same purpose carrying with it a deep Sense of their Acknowledgment of so great a Blessing And now by reason of this great Revolution the Nation being unsettled and the King having with-drawn himself from Rochester beyond the Seas it was highly thought convenient that a way should be found out to create a calmness in the minds of the people whereupon the Lords Spiritual and Temporal were appointed to give their attendance as likewise such Members as had served in the late Parliaments in the Reign of King Charles the Second and Court of Aldermen together with the Members of the Common Council of the City of London the Lords assembled in the Lords House at Westminster on the 25 th of December and unanimously concluded to Intreat His Highness to take upon Him the administration of Affairs and dispose of the publick Revenues c. and take into his Princely care the conâ—ition of Ireland which by Tyrconnel's means had mostly revolted They likewise â—mplored him to Issue out His Summons for the Lords Spiritual and Temporal being Protestants as also his Circular Letters to the Counties Cities Boroughs to order the Elections of such a number of Persons to represent them as are of right to be sent to Parliament and on the the 26 th the Commons and Aldermen c. waited upon his Highness at St. James's to whom he made the following Speech viz. YOU Gentlemen that have been Members of the late Parliaments I have desired you to meet me bere to advise the best manner how to pursue the ends of my Declaration in calling a Free Parliament for the preservation of the Protestant Religion and restoring of the Rights and Liberties of the Kingdom and settling the same that they may not be in danger of being again subverted And you the Aldermen and Members of the Common Council of the City of London I desire the same of you and in regard your Numbers are like to be great you may if you think fit divide your selves and sit in several places Upon this they agreed to go to the House of Commons at Westminster where they chose Henry Powle Esq for their Chairman and resolved upon an Address which was drawn up to the same purpose as that of the Lords and Graciously received on the 27 th and the day following occasioned the like favourable Answer And now the Election coming on for their Sitting the 22 th of January least any disturbance should happen by the Soldiers Quartering in Boroughs and Corporations an Order was Published That they should March out of those places a day before the Election Garisons excepted and not return til the Election was over A Declaration was likewise Published for the due ordering the Collection of the Publick Revenue and Mony being wanting the Citizens of London very liberally upon His Highness's Letter Lent between 2 and 300000 l. to be repayed at Interest at six Months and thence as cheerfully continued it for a longer time