undecent Expressions was by order of the Lords House burnt by the Common Hangman at the Exchange and in the Pallace yard On the 4th of January His Majesty was pleased to send His Message to the House of Commons in Answer to their Address of December 21. abovemention'd in which Message He let them know That he had received their Address with all the disposition they could wish to comply with their reasonable Desires but upon perusal of it he was sorry to see their thoughts so wholly fixt on the Bill of Exclusion as to determine that all other remedies for the Suppressing of Popery will be ineffectual That His Majesty is confirm'd in His opinion against That Bill by the Judgment of the House of Lords who rejected it That He thinks there remains nothing more for Him to say in Answer to the foresaid Address then to recommend to this House the Consideration of all other means for the preservation of the Protestant Religion to which they have no reason to doubt His concurrence whensoever they shall be presented to Him in a Parliamentary way And in conclusion again He urges them to the preservation of Tangeir On the Friday following being the 7th of January the House entred upon the Consideration of the said Message and resolve as the opinion of the House That there is no security or safety for the Protestant Religion the Kings Life or the Well constituted and establisht Government of this Kingdom without passing a Bill for disabling James Duke of York to inherit the Imperial Crown of England and Ireland and the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging and that to rely upon any other means or remedies without such a Bill is not only insufficient but dangerous That till such a Bill be past this House cannot give any Supply to His Majesty without danger to His Majesties person Extream hazard of the Protestant Religion and unfaithfullness to those by whom this House is intrusted That all persons who advised His Majesty in His last Message to this House to insist upon an opinion against the Bill for Excluding the Duke of York have given Pernicious Council to His Majesty and are Promoters of Popery and Enemies to the King and Kingdom And as such they name George Earl of Hallifax Henry Marquiss of Worcester Henry Earl of Clarendon against which as also against Lewis Earl of Feversham and Laurence Hide Esq they Vote an Address to be presented to His Majesty to remove them from all Offices of Honour and Profit and from His Majesties Councils and Presence for ever They further Vote and Resolve the same day That whosoever shall herafter Lend or cause to be Lent by way of advance any Mony upon the Branches of the Kings Revenue arising by Customs Excise or Hearth Mony shall be adjudg'd to hinder the sitting of Parliaments and shall be responsible for the same in Parliament On the Monday following being the 10th of Jan. the King was pleas'd to determin this Session by Proroguing the Parliament to the 20th day of Jan. then next following at the same time passing only Two Publick Bills viz. One about Irish Cattel and One about Burying in Woollen The House of Commons were it seems aware of this Prorogation and therefore that very morning the first thing they did after they were sate and before the Usher of the Black Rod came in they Resolved That whosoever advised His Majesty to Prorogue this Parliament to any other purpose then in Order to the passing of a Bill for the Exclusion of James Duke of York is a Betrayer of the King the Protestant Religion and of the Kingdom of England a Promoter of the French Interest and a Pensioner to France On the 13th of Jan. a Court of Common Council being Assembled in London they ordered to be drawn up and Presented to the King a Petition setting forth That whereas the Parliament had convicted one of the 5 Popish Lords in the Tower and were about to convict the other 4 of High Treason That they had Impeacht the Chief Justice Scroggs and were about to impeach other Judges and all this in order to the preservation of His Majesties Life the Protestant Religion and Government That they were much surprized to see the Parliament Prorogued in the hight of their buisiness That their only hopes were that this was done only in order to bring such Affairs about again as were necessary to the Settling the Nation They therefore pray'd that His Majesty would be pleas'd to let the Parliament sit at the day appointed and so to continue till they had effected the great Affairs before them To this effect were the words of their Petition which was further ordered to be delivered that night or as soon as may be by the Lord Mayor attended with the new Recorder George Treby Esq and certain Members of the Court of Aldermen and Common Council But before the said 20th day of Jan. arrived the King was pleased by his Proclamation bearing date at Whitehall Jan. 18. to dissolve this Parliament and intimate His Royal pleasure and intentions to call an other to sit on the 21st of March following at Oxford Not long after this viz. on the 25th of Jan. the Earl of Essex and other Lords Presented to the King a Petition setting forth That whereas the Nation and His Majesties Person were in imminent danger from the Papists unto which no stop or remedy could be provided unless by a Parliament That several Parliaments being call'd and assembled they were Prorogued and dissolved before any sufficient order could be taken therein c. That His Majesty had been prevailed with to call another at Oxford where neither Lords or Commons can be in safety but will be dayly exposed to the Swords of the Papists and their adherents the liberty of speaking thereby destroyed and the validity of their Acts and proceedings left disputable the straightness of the place unfit for such a Concourse of persons as now follows every Parliament and the Witnesses which are necessary to give Evidence upon the Commons Impeachment unable to bear the charges of such a Journey and unwilling to trust themselves under the Protection of a Parliament that is it self evidently under the Power of Guards and Soldiers They therefore pray that the Parliament may sit at Westminster This was subscribed Monmouth Kent Huntington Bedford Salisbury Clare Stamford Essex Shaftsbury Mordant Evers Pâ—get Grey Herbert Howard Delamer About the same time the King was pleased to displace my Lord Sunderland from the Office of Secretary of State and to confer the said Office on my Lord Conway and several other Members of the Privy Council were then also alter'd And thus concluded the 32d year of His Majesties Reign observable for divers matters but above all for the Transactions of the Lords in Parliament who by their Prudent and Judicious proceedings on the 15th of November defeated the industrious malice of the Dukes Enemies by rejecting the Bill past by the Commons
their Errors They need not blush to Repent and Confess such faults which some of Note and Quality have done already Heaven is full of those that have been Converts But the Impenitent must fill another place where it will be a Double Hell to remember that they might once have received Grace and pardon but refused it A BRIEF Historical Account Of the PUBLICK TRANSACTIONS During the 30th Year of the Reign of KING CHARLES II. Anno Dom. 1678. I Design in the Method observed by Annalists to commit to memory the Publick Transactions during the 30th Year of His Majesty's Reign a Year which seems remarkable and to promise more than usual since that number hath been more than once signal in the course of His Royal Life In the 30th Year of this Century 1630 He was Born the 30th day of May compleated the first day of His Age on the 30th day of January He began His Reign in the 30th Year of His Age 1660. He was by the miraculous Providence of God restored to the possession of His Three Kingdoms after a long and barbarous Exile In the beginning of this Year we find the Parliament sitting The King had newly made a Speech to both Houses the substance of which was That for their satisfaction he had made such Alliances with Holland as are for the preservation of Flanders and which cannot fail of that end unless prevented by the want of due Assistances to support those Alliances or by the small regard the Spaniards themselves must have to their own Preservation That he cannot suspect the want of assistance by reason of their repeated Engagements that a War which must be the necessary consequence of those Alliances ought neither to be Prosecuted by halves nor want such assurances of perseverance as may give him encouragement to persue it that He had used all means possible by a Mediation to have procured an Honourable and safe Peace knowing how preferable such a Peace would have been to any War that this Kingdom must necessarily own the vast benefits it has received by Peace whilst its Neighbours only have yet smarted by the War but finding a Peace no longer to be hoped for by fair means it shall not be his fault if it be not obtain'd by force that for this reason he has recall'd his Troops out of France and consider'd that we cannot have less Forces on our part than 90 Sail of Capital Ships and 30 or 40 Thousand Land-men that he is contented that such Monys as shall be given to these uses be appropriated as strictly as they can desire that he hath directed such larger dimensions for the Building the New Ships as will cost him above 100000 l. more than the Act allows that for repairing the Old Fleet and buying Stores c. He hath expended a great deal more than 200000 l. He hath born the charge of a Rebellion in Virginia and a New War with Algiers that he stands engaged to the Prince of Orange for his Neices Portion that he cannot be able to maintain his constant necessary Establishments without the New Imposition on Wines be continued that to remove all sorts of Jealousies he hath Married his Neice to the Prince of Orange thereby giving full assurances never to suffer that Princes Interest to be ruin'd if assisted as he ought to be to preserve them that he expects from them a plentiful supply suitable to such great occasions and that these considerations being of the greatest Importance that ever concern'd the Kingdom he would therefore have them enter immediately upon them without suffering any other business whatsoever to divert ' em Before the Parliament proceeded to Answer this Speech they Sate on part of the 30th of January the Aniversary Fast and then Voted 70000 l. for a solemn Burial of his late Majesty King Charles I. and to erect a Monument for the said Prince of Glorious Memory the said Sum to be rais'd by a Two Months Tax to begin at the expiration of the present Tax for Building Ships This tho' in truth an Affair to which the Nation has stood obliged this 29 Years yet being never mention'd till yesterday when first moved in the House of Commons by my Lord O-Brian Eldest Son to the Earl of Tumond and whose Son lately had Marry'd my Lord Treasurers Daughter seem'd surprizing The next Day being the 31 of January the House of Commons in return to the Kings Speech presented their Address to His Majesty at White-hall containing thanks for his care exprest for the preservation and Encouragement of the Protestant Religon in concluding a Marriage between his Niece and the Prince of Orange beseech him not to admit of any Treaty of Peace whereby the French King shall be left in possession of any greater Dominion or power than is left him by the Pyrenaean Treaty that both on our parts and the parts of the Confederates no Ship nor Vessel may be admitted to come out of any Port of France but that the Ships and Men be seized and the Goods destroy'd that he would please to provide that none of the parties who shall joyn in this Alliance and Confederacy against France depart from the said Alliance till the said King be reduced to the said Treaty that neither we nor the Confederates admit any Trade with France or suffer any Goods to be Imported from thence on pain of Forfeiture that His Majesty in making such Confederacies as necessary for attaining these ends shall never doubt of the affections of the People Lastly they renew their former protestations and engagements to persevere in the prosecution of the said War and when he shall be pleas'd to Impart such Alliances and Confederacies to them in Parliament to give such ready assistances upon all occasions as may bring the War to a happy conclusion To this Address the King return'd the following Answer in Writing which was read in the House of Commons the 4th of February That he was not a little surpriz'd to find so much inserted there of what should not be and so little of what should that his Speech was to both Houses joyntly and the return ought to be from both That in the Address of the 20th of May last you did invite him to a League offensive and defensive with Holland against the French King and for the preserving the Spanish Netherlands and upon his Declaration of such Alliances assured such speedy assistances as may fully Answer the occasion that he hath made such Alliances yet finds no return but the Old promises upon new Conditions and so He may be used to Eternity should he seem satisfied with such proceedings that on the 28th of May last he told you how highly he was offended at the great Invasion of his Prerogative yet you take no notice of it but add to your former ill conduct new Invasions you desire him to oblige his Confederates never to consent to a Peace till the most Christian King be reduced to the Pyrenaean
Earl of Danby render himself to Justice by a certain day or in default thereof to be Attainted which Bill was read twice and committed In the mean time the Lords had past a Bill in their House for banishing and disabling the said Earl which being sent down to the Commons for their Concurrence was by them rejected as a Censure too favourable They also Vote an Address to be made to His Majesty That the said Earl be not permitted to reside in any of His Majesties Houses of Whitehall Somerset-house and St. James's Also another Address for a Proclamation to apprehend the said Earl and that no Subject presume to harbour or conceal him In the mean time the Bill of Attainder against the Earl of Danby was highly canvast at several Conferences between the Lords and Commons till at last on the 16th of April a Message is brought from the Lords House to acquaint the Commons That the Earl of Danby had the last night rendred himself to the Usher of the Black Rod and is committed by their Lordships to the Tower On the same 16th of April 4 of the 5 popish Lords in the Tower who had been on the 9th instant Impeacht gave in their Answers in Person viz. Powis Stafford Petre and Arundel but the Lord Bellasis being disabled by the Gout had his Answer received in Writing On the 20th of April the King was pleas'd to declare to His Privy Council His pleasure to dissolve them and to constitute a new one which for the future should consist of the constant number of 30 Members of which 15 to be certain viz. 1. The Arch-Bishop of Canterbury 2. Bishop of London 3. Lord Chancellor 4. One of the Chief Justices 5. The Admiral 6. Master of the Ordenance 7. Treasurer 8. Chancellor of the Exchequer 9. Privy Seal 10. Master of the Horse 11. Lord Steward 12. Lord Chamberlain of the Houshold 13. Groom of the Stole And the two Secretaries The other 15 elective at the Kings pleasure 10 out of the Nobility and 5 Commoners Besides these such Princes of the Blood as shall be at Court A Lord President and a Secretary of Stotland but these uncertain And according to this new Model so many of them as were in Court did the next morning being April 21 meet in the Council Chamber and were there Sworn Privy-Counsellors The same day His Majesty was pleased to acquaint the two Houses with what he had done and that He was resolved in all His weighty and Important Affairs next to His great Council in Parliament to be advised by this Privy Council After this viz. on the 24th day of April Nathaniel Reading Esquire was Tryed before my Lord Chief Justice North and several other special Commissioners of Oyer and Terminer sitting in the Kings-Bench Court at Westminster His crime of which he stood indicted was for endeavoring to stifle Bedlo's Evidence against the Popish Lords or at least to lessen the same which being proved by the Oaths of the said Bedloe one Wiggins his Man and one Mr Speke which two last Bedloe had hid privately in his Chamber to over-hear their discourse he was found guilty had Judgment to stand in the Pillory for an hour in the Palace-Yard Imprisonment for one year and fined 1000 l. Which Sentence was accordingly Executed About this time it was that the Bishops of Ely Gloucester and Bath and Wells were accused for Papists but the Accusation quickly fell it being discovered to be a malicious contrivance to blast their Reputation and fix a Scandal on the whole Order On the 25th of April the Earl of Danby and Lord Bellasis appear'd in Person at the Bar of the Lords House the Earl putting in his Plea and the Lord Bellasis his Answer The next day the Lords Stafford Arundel and Powis appear'd at the same Bar and having retracted their former Pleas to their Impeachments which appeared insufficient to the House of Commons put in their further Answers to the same After this on the last day of April His Majesty was pleased to send for the Commons to attend Him in the House of Lords and acquaint 'em by the mouth of the Lord Chancellor That he was ready to agree to any Laws to secure Religion so the Discent of the Crown in the Right Line be not defeated and therefore he is willing that a Provision be made First to distinguish a Papist from a Protestant Successor then to limit the Authority of the First in these particulars viz that all Church preferment may be confer'd on Pious and Learned Protestants That there may not want a Parliament on the Kings Death but that the Parliament then in being or the last that sat should at such time reassemble without any new Summons or Election That during the Reign of any Popish Successor no Privy Counseller no Judge at the Common Law or in Chancery shall be put in or displaced but by Authority of Parliament That none but Protestants be Justices of Peace so also for Lord Lieutenants Deputy Leiutenants and Officers in the Navy not to be put in or removed but by Authority of Parliament concluding that it is hard to invent any other restraint to be put on a Popish Successor yet if any thing else can occur to the Wisdom of the Parliament whereby to secure Religion and Liberty without defeating the Right of Succession it self that His Majesty is most ready to consent to it After the Consideration of this Speech had been Adjourn'd over from time to time It was at last Resolved on the 11th of May in the House of Commons in defence of the Kings Person and the Protestant Religion that they will stand by His Majesty with their Lives and Fortunes and that if His Majesty should come by any violent Death which God forbid that they will revenge it to the utmost upon the Papists And according to this Vote they drew up an Address on the 14th with this varation in the form of Words viz. We shall be ready to Revenge upon the Papists any violence offered by them to your Sacred Majesty The Words by them being neither exprest nor intimated in their Vote though essential and necessary to the Justice of the intended Revenge Further then this they took no notice of the Kings Resolution exprest in the said Speech but contrary to that Clause which related to the Succession on the 15th of May they brought in a Bill to Disable the Duke of York to Inherit the Imperial Crown of England which being Read the first time on the said 15th of May was on the 21st read again and Committed to a Committee of the whole House yet the House divided on the Question Yeas 207. Noes 123. But the Parliament being soon after Prorogued it never proceeded further In the mean time the two Houses of Parliament are very earnest in debating the Methods relating to the Tryals of the five Popish Lords in the Tower and the Earl of Danby which last being on the third of
for secluding him from the Succession of these Crowns when they should happen to fall to him by the old known Laws of Inheritance Which action being of such mighty Consequence to the Peace or perpetual Trouble of this Nation and the Question being so happily settled it being also a leading President to many other healing actions which have happen'd since let me once take leave to break the concise Method which I at the beginning of these Notes propounded and remember in this place some Verses writ immediately upon that Transaction by a true Lover of his King and the Royal Family Glorious and great Indeed These these are they Who truly thus their noble Blood display And by the Soul which they this day have shewn Make all the Lawrels of their Line their own These are old Englands Peers hearts that despise To be o'reawd by Number and by Noise No they 're too Brave too Loyal and too Wise Thus did their mighty Ancestors combine When Force misplac'd the Crown from the right Line Thus they stood firm to Truth and never fail'd Tell the unblemisht Rose of York prevail'd And must again that sad Dispute appear No we are much too young for Plato's year Our Renown'd Peerage will not have it so The Demi-Gods and Heroes Thunder NO What remote noise is this Hark how it grows Neerer and lowder now the Torrent flows All Europe shouts aloud Spring-Tydes of Joy Salute the Brittish sle Hark how they cry Fame now is yours more from one Law refus'd Than half the Numerous Laws ye ever us'd Anno 33. Car. 2. Anno Dom. 1681. IN the beginning of this Year City and Country were busy in the Election of Members to serve in the next Parliament to be holden at Oxford For the most part the Old Members were chosen again I shall give a short account of what happen'd at London on this occasion by which a guess or estimate may be made of the Transactions elsewhere The Election for that City was perform'd at Guild-Hall on Fryday the 4th of February and the choice which the Common Hall fixt upon were Sir Robert Clayton Sir Thomas Player Thomas Pilkinton and William Love Esquires To which four as soon as the Election was over a Paper was presented in the Name of the Citizens of London then Assembled in Common Hall containing a return of their most hearty thanks for their faithful and unweary'd endeavors in the two last Parliaments to search into and Discover the depth of the Plot to preserve His Majesties Royal Person the Protestant Religion and the well Establisht Government of this Realm to secure the meeting and sitting of frequent Parliaments to assert our undoubted Rights of Petitioning and to punish such who would have betray'd those Rights to promote the long wisht for Union of His Majesties Protestant Subjects to Repeal the 35. El. and the Corporation Act and more especially for their endeavors in promoting the Bill of Exclusion of James Duke of York In fine they conclude that being confidently assured that they the said Members for the City will never consent to the granting any Mony-supply till they have effectually secured us against Popery and Arbitrary Power they resolve by Gods assistance to stand by their said Members with their Lives and Fortunes After this another Paper was presented from the said Citizens to the two Sheriffs requesting them in the Name of all the said Citizens then Assembled in Common Hall to return their grateful acknowledgment to the Earl of Essex and by him to the rest of the Lords who presented the late Petition and Advice to His Majesty In like manner were the former Members of Parliament again Chosen in most places and in many such Papers of Address presented to them in their respective Countries as had been done by the Communalty of London to their Members Also contrary to the Old Customes of the Members Treating the Country where they stood now the Country in most places Treated them or at least every Man bore his own Charges About a Week before the Session the King left London and removed to Oxford appointing certain Companies of Foot and Troops of Horse to keep Garison in the Meuse during His absence Many Members of the House of Commons especially those of London went to Oxford accompany'd or attended with the Cerimonious Cavalcade of a numerous Train of Friends On the 14th of March The King and Queen enter'd Oxford Received and Presented by the Mayor and Body of that City at the East-Gate and from thence attended with Acclamations and all sort of Demonstrations of Joy to Christ-Church The next Day the Body of the University waited on Their Majesties and received the Honour to kiss Their Hands presenting at the same time to the King a large Oxford Bible and to the Queen the Cuts belonging to the History and Antiquities of the University both Richly bound The 21st of March being now arrived and the Members of both Houses of Parliament Assembled at Oxford according to the Kings Writs of Summons the Lords sate in the Gallery at the Schools and the Commons in the Convocation House His Majesties Speech at the opening of the Sessions contained That the unwarrantable Proceedings of the last House of Commons were the occasion of the Dissolution of the last Parliament That as he will never use Arbitrary Government himself so He is resolved never to suffer it in others That whosoever shall calmly consider the Proceedings in the last Parliament may perhaps more wonder at His Patience so long than that He grew weary at last That it is as much His Interest and care as theirs to preserve the Liberty of the Subject because the Crown can never be safe when that is in Danger that neither Liberty nor Property can subsist long when the just Rights and Prerogatives of the Crown are Invaded or the Honour of the Government brought low and into disreputation that He hath call'd this Parliament so soon to shew that no Irregularities in Parliaments shall make him out of Love with them That the Just care they ought to have of Religion ought not to be so managed and improved into unnecessary fears as to be made a Pretence for Changing the Foundation of the Government that He hopes the Example of the ill success of former heats will dispose them to a better Temper that they would not lay so much weight upon any one Expedient against Popery as to determine all other are ineffectual that they ought to remember that without the safety and Dignity of the Monarchy neither Religion nor Property can be preserved that He cannot depart from what he had formerly so often declar'd touching the Succession but to remove all reasonable fears that may arise from the possibility of a Popish Successors coming to the Crown if means can be found out that in such a Case the Administration of the Government may remain in Protestant Hands he shall be ready to hearken to any such Expedient by
containing Their humble thanks to His Majesty for demanding their advice that accordingly they gave it they beseech Him to communicate to them His Resolutions thereupon and whereas they conceive that the Inconveniencies and Dangers which the Kingdom now lies under might totally or in a great measure have been prevented in case His Majesty had accepted of the Advice by them given in their Addresses of the 26 of May Last and the 31 of January That therefore he would please to remove those Counsellors that advised him to give those answers which he did to the said Addresses that he would please to accept of this Petition in good part as proceeding form persons heartily devoted to him c. In fine that he would please to remove the Duke of Lautherdale from His presence and Councils Which being read the King immediately returned Answer in these few words only That he was much Surprized at the Extravagancy of their Address and unwilling at present to give it such a due Answer as it deserves On the Munday following the King past several private Bills and then caused the Parliament to be Prorogued till Thursday come Sevenight being the 23 of this instant May by which means this Session which had been of a long Continuance by Adjournment was determin'd and all Bills and business in either House then Depending defeated and returned to the same State as when first moved But withal such Bills as had been rejected are now in a Capacity of being moved again which no Bill can be in the same Session when once rejected On the aforementioned Thursday the 23. of May the Parliament met again and the House of Commons being sent for by the Black Rod to attend His Majesty in the House of Lords the King delivered His pleasure to this effect That he is resolved as far as He is able to save Flanders either by a War or Peace which way he sees most conducing either ways he thinks it convenient to keep up His Army and Navy at Sea for some time till a Peace be concluded but leaves it to them to consider of Supplies for their Continuance or Disbanding and in either case not to discourage so many Worthy and Gallant Gentemen who have offerd their Lives and Service to their Country and that in pursuit of the Parliaments advice and Resolutions That a Branch of His Revenue is now expiring another part of it is cut off by a Clause in the Poll-Bill That he has borrowed 200000 l. upon the Excize at their request of all which they are to consider That he hath no Intentions but of good to them and His people nor ever shall Desires they will not drive him into extremities which must end ill both for them and Him and which is worst of all for the Nation desires to prevent all disorders and mischeifs that may befal by our disagreement but in case any do leaves it to God Almighty to Judge who is the occasion of it In fine That he will not for the future suffer the Course and Method of passing Laws to be changed by taking together several matters in one Bill This was immediately followed by a long but excellent Speech of my Lord Chancellor which thô something too large for the intended Brevity of these Notes must not be omitted The substance therefore contained That Holland is become resolved to seek all occasions they can of coming out of the War in regard the Spaniards fail them That the States to that end entred into a League Offensive and Defensive with His Majesty to obtain a Peace by force if it could not be had otherwise which promised Success till it was heard abroad that this League the onely thing by which His Majesty could oblige the States had been so ill understood at home as to meet with some very unfitting and very undeserved Reflexions and that they understood there was a Resolution of giving no Mony till satisfaction first had in matters of Religion which in all Countrys are the longest debates that can be entred upon and at this time should least have been stirr'd when they understood that the King had received an Address and had exprest His resentment of it then they concluded it was in vain to rely any longer on England for England was no longer it self All sides began to wish for Peace as well Spain as Holland and if the Cessation now endeavoured be effected no doubt but a Peace will follow What Influence that Peace will have is uncertain We have given no small provocation to a Mighty King it therfore concerns us to secure our selves by preserving Peace and Unity at home he that foments Divisions now does more harm to his Country than a Forrain Enemy can do no fear of Arbitrary Government can justify no Zeal to Religion can sanctify such a Proceeding He minds them of the Late times when Religion and Liberty were truly Lost by being made a handle and pretence for Sedition when Prelacy was calld Popery and Monarchy Tyranny c. and can we now endure to see men break the Act of Oblivion every day by reviving the Memory of forgotten Crimes in new Practices It s worth Consideration whether we do not bring some kind of scandal upon the Protestant Religion when we seem so far to distrust the truth and power of it that after so many Laws past to guard it and so many miraculous deliverancies from the attempts made against it we should still be affraid of its continuance Hath not the Late Act made it impossible for the most conceal'd Papist that is to get any kind of Imployment As little reason there is to be jealous of our Liberties and Property Can there be a greater evidence of the Moderation of a Prince and His tenderness of the Liberty of the Subject than to suffer as he does every day so much licentious and malitious Talk to pass unpunisht Search all Nations through all Ages and shew fewer greivances and less cause of Complaint and a happier people than we at are this Day He proceeded then to the matter of the Revenue to the same purpose with what the King had said before but enlarging Tells em The King will no more accept a good Bill how valuable soever unless it comes in the old and decent method of Parliaments that the late way of tacking together in one Bill several Independent and incoherent matters seems to alter the whole frame and Constitution of Parliaments takes away the Kings Negative Voice in a manner forcing Him to take all or none it takes away the Negative Voice too of the House of Lords by the same Consequence It looks like a kind of Defamation of the Government and seems to suppose the King and House of Lords to be so ill affected to the Publick that a good Bill cannot carry it self through by the Strength of it's own Reason and Justice without being helped by Clauses it gives up the greatest share of Legislature to the Commons
of His Majestys Revenue by the Prohibiting Act it was carry'd in the Negative Yeas 145 Noes 202. Saturday the 22th of June the Lords sent down the Bill for Disbanding with an enlargement of the time prefixt for one Month longer to which the Commons would not agree but desired a Conference at which to give their Lordships the reasons why they could not consent to the alteration Monday the 25th of July the Parliament was Prorogued to the first of August the King having then past the following Bills 1. An Act for granting a supply to His Majesty of 619388 l. 11 s. 9 d. for Disbanding the Army and other uses therein mentioned 2. An Act for granting an Additional Duty to His Majesty upon Wines for Three Years 3. An Act to enable Creditors to recover their Debts of the Executors and Administrators of Executors in their own wrong 4. An Act for Burying in Woollen 5. An Act for Admeasurement of Keels and Boats carrying Coals 6. An Act for Reviving a former Act of the 13th of this King ch 2. for avoiding unnecessary Suits and delays and for continuance of an other Act of 22. 23. Car ' 2. ch 10. touching intestates Estates 7. An Act for further Relief and Discharge of poor Prisoners for Debt 8. An Act touching Highways 9. An Act for preservation of Fishing in the River Severn On which said first of August they being again met they were again Prorogued over to the 29th Day of the same Month. Soon after that also there came out a Proclamation requiring a full Assembly at the said 29th Day But in the mean time the French being beaten from the Siege of Mons by the English chiefly under Command of my Lord of Ossery on the part of the Prince of Orange the King Issued out another Proclamation dated the 8th of August whereby reciting the last Proclamation but in regard the State of Affairs abroad was alter'd since then he is pleas'd to Prorogue the Houses over till the first Day of October next requiring then a full Assembly after this it was again Prorogued to the 21st of October In the mean time a Peace is concluded between France Spain and Holland and a Truce for some Months with the Emperor On Saturday Sunday Monday and Tuesday the 28th 29th and 30th of September and first of October the Privy-Council sate twice a Day The business a Popish Plot several were committed and others examin'd among whom Sir George Wakeman Physician to the Queen and Mr. Coleman belonging to Her Royal Highness the Dutchess of York which said Dutchess went with the Lady Ann that very Tuesday Morning to visit the Princess of Orange designing a stay only of 14 Days This Discovery of a Plot opening every Day more and more the aforesaid Mr. Coleman and Mr. Langhorn of the Temple were committed close Prisoners with several others their Studies search'd their Papers seized and sent to Whitehall And now just before the meeting of the Parliament one Sir Edmondbury Godfrey a Justice of the Peace in Middlesex a severe Enemy of the Papists as by some reported was found Dead in a Ditch not far from Hampstead He appear'd to the Coroners Jury to be strangled tho' afterwards his own Sword was run through him and so found with Money in his Pocket This was lookt on by the Town as a Confirmation of the above-mention'd Plot. On the appointed 21st of October the Houses met The Kings Speech contain'd these words and these words only concerning the Plot I have been informed of a Design against my Person by Jesuites of which I shall forbear any Opinion lest I may seem to say too much or too little but leave the matter to the Law The Chancellor on the same Head had these Expressions And tho' His Majesty doth in no sort prejudg the Persons accused yet the strict enquiry into this matter hath been a means to Discover so many other unwarrantable Practices of theirs that His Majesty hath reason to look to ' em The Examination of this Plot and the concurrent Murder of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey employ'd the Commons so assiduously that towards the beginning of this Session they sate whole Days from Morning till late at Night The Product was a Fast Voted the minutes and Votes of the House of Commons forbid to be divulg'd several Lords Committed Bellasis Arundel of Warder Powis Stafford Petre Castlemain c. Soon after this came out a Proclamation appointing a Fast through all England on the 13th Day of November Thursday the 31st of October the House of Commons resolved upon the Evidence that hath already appear'd to this House this House is of Opinion That there hath been and is an Execrable and Hellish Design contrived and carry'd on by Popish Recusants for Assassinating and Murthering the King for Subverting the Government and for destroying the Protestant Religion by Law Establisht The same Day Sir Edmundbury Godfrey was Buried The Solemnity proceeded from Bridewell to St. Martins in the Fields 72 London Ministers Marching two and two before the Body and above 1000 Men in the same Order following after The next Day in pursuance of an Address presented to the King by the Commons the Saturday before came out a Proclamation whereby all Papists or such reputed be Banisht 10 Miles from London and Westminster to remove themselves by the 7th Day of November except Housholders and they to take the Oaths or suffer the Penalties inflicted by Law The same Day the Commons in Parliament resolved That an Address be made to the King that the Trained-Bands of London Westminster and Surry be rais'd for preservation of His Majestys Person and the Parliament during this Session On Munday the 4th of November came out an Order of the King in Council proposing That whoever can Discover any Officer or Soldier in any of the Kings Guards Horse or Foot who has taken the Oaths and Test and since turn'd Papist such Discoverer shall have 20 l. for every Man so Discovered Monday the 4th of November It was moved in the House of Commons that an Address be made to the King to remove the Duke of York from his Presence and Councils but the debate was Adjourn'd over to Fryday next at which time it being again moved the debate was again Adjorn'd over to Thursday following The next Day being Saturday the 9th of November His Majesty went to the Lords House in His Robes and made a Speech to both Houses Wherein after he had return'd them His most hearty Thanks for their very great and extraordinary care for preservation of His Person in this time of Danger He told 'em That he was as ready to joyn with them in all ways and means that may Establish a firm security to the Protestant Religion as their own Hearts can wish and this not only during His Life but in future Ages even to the end of the World And therefore He is come to assure 'em that whatsoever reasonable Bills they shall
January the King was pleas'd to settle the variety of Rumour and by His Proclamation then publisht absolutely to Dissolve this Parliament promising however to Issue out His Writs for a New one by the 6th of March next following Thus ended this Parliament having now been continued by several Prorogations and Adjournments 17 Years Eight Months and 17 Days being first called on the Eighth Day of May Anno Domini 1661. With this great Turn I will conclude my Historical Observations on this 30th Year of His Majestys Reign a Year very remarkable if it were only on the account of the Dissolution of this Parliament but more especially for the beginning of those Troubles and Combustions which lasted for so many Years after in Relation to the Plot. Anno 31. Car. 2. Anno Dom. 1679. IN further Prosecution of those matters discover'd the last year Green the Cushion-man at Somerset-house Chappel Berry the Queens Porter there and Hill Dr. Goddens Man were on the 10th day of Feb. tryed at the Kings Bench Bar for the Murther of Sir Edmunbury Godfrey which three being convicted cheifly on the Evidene of Miles Prance a Goldsmith were found guilty and having on the next day received sentence of Condemnation to be hang'd for the said Murder Green and Hill were Executed accordingly at Tyborn Feb. 21. But Berry was reprieved for a Week longer all three denying the Fact in as positive terms as could be the last dying a Protestant of which Perswasion he had formerly been before he entred into the Queens service About this time it was that Sir Joseph Williamson quitted his Office of Secretary of State to the Earl of Sunderland To conclude the Transactions of this Month The King Directed the following Letter to the Duke of York Whitehall Feb. 28. 1678. I Have already given you my Resolves at large why I think it fit that you should absent your self for some time beyond the Seas As I am truly sorry for the occasion so may you be sure I shall never desire it longer than it will be absolutely necessary for your good and my Service In the mean time I think it proper to give it you under my Hand that I expect this Compliance from you and desire it may be as soon as conveniently you can You may easily believe with what trouble I write this to you there being nothing I am more sensible of than the constant kindness you have ever had for me I hope you are as just to Me to be assured That no absence nor any thing else can ever change me from being truly and kindly Yours C. R. And accordingly in pursuance of His Majesties pleasure within few days after this the Duke Duchess and Family leave the Kingdom and retired for a while to the Hague and from thence to Brussels And now the Parliament which had been called according to the Kings promise on the Dissolution of the last meet at the appointed 6th day of March The Kings Speech contained That in order to the uniting the minds of His Subjects both to Himself and to one another He had excluded the Popish Lords from their Seats in Parliament Caused the Execution of several men both for the Plot and Murder of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey Disbanded as much of the Army as he could get Mony to do Above all That He hath commanded his Brother to absent himself That so all colour may be taken from malicious men of pretending any influence of Popish Councils That He proposes by this means to see whether the Protestant Religion and the Peace of the Kingdom be as truly aimed at by others as they are really intended by Him if so they the Members of Parliament will lay aside all private animosities and employ their time upon the great Concerns of the Nation That he will not cease to make further search into the Plot and the Murder of Sir Edmunbury Godfrey for which he desires the assistance of both Houses That he has ordered the Penal Laws to be Executed against Papists Desires their assistance in raising Supplys for Disbanding the Army and paying off the Fleet and that they would some way make up the loss He has sustain'd by the Prohibition of French Wines and Brandy which turns only to His prejudice and the great advantage of the French That it is necessary to have a Fleet at Sea since our Neighbours are making Naval Preparations That a Constant establishment might be made for the Navy And concludes with His earnest desires to have this a healing Parliament Assuring them to defend with his life the Protestant Religion and the Laws of the Kingdom and expects to be by them defended from the Calumny as well as Danger of those worst of Men who endeaver to render both him and His Government odious to His People The Chancellors Speech was chiefly a descant on the former heads Reminding the Two Houses as p. 12. to the Plot not to over do their Business and that by being too far Transported with the fears of Popery they do not neglect the opportunities of making sober and lasting Provisions against it which says he are the only hopes of the Papists thus to see p. 14. our Zeal out-run our Discretion and that we our selves should become the unhappy occasion of making our own Councils abortive The King and Lord Chancellor having ended their Speeches the Commons returned to their own House and unanimously chose for their Speaker Mr Seymour who had officiated in that Place in the last Parliament who being the next Day presented to the King was refused and the House Ordered to proceed to a new Election which notwithstanding was not made till Saturday the 15th of March on which day they chose Mr Serjeant Gregory the said choice being on the Monday following approved by His Majesty After this the Commons draw up an Address to the King for a Fast in which also the Lords Concur and a Fast was appointed by Proclamation dated Mar. 28 to be observed throughout the Nation on the 11th of April following A Committee being appointed to enquire into the manner of suing out the Earl of Danby's Pardon which upon search being not entred in any Office from the Secretaries Office until it came to the Lord Chancellors but dispatch'd in a private manner and so reported by the Committee the House of Commons resolve Mar. 24. That an humble Address be made to His Majesty representing the irregularity and illegality of the Pardon mentioned to be granted to the Earl of Danby and the Dangerous consequence of Granting Pardons to any persons that lye under an Impeachment of the Commons of England They also desire of the Lords that the Earl of Danby may be sequestred from Parliament and put into safe Custody accordingly the Lords Order the Usher of the Black Rod to take him but upon search at his Houses both in Town and at Wimbleton he could not be found hereupon a Bill is Ordered to be brought in that Thomas
which the Religion may be preserved and the Monarchy not destroy'd that therefore they would provide for Religion and Government together with regard to one another because they support one another and that they would make the known Establisht Laws of the Land the Rules and Measures of all their Votes because He is resolved they shall be His. After this Speech the Commons return'd to their House and Chose for their Speaker William Williams Esq who had managed that Office in the last Parliament Who being the next Day presented made a Speech to the King and claim'd by humble Address as his Words were The Antient Rights of the Commons Nothing of extraordinary note passed till Saturday the 26th of March on which Day it was that the House of Commons were informed that the Lords had refused to proceed upon the Impeachment of the Commons against Edward Fitz-Harris for High Treason but had directed that he should be proceeded against at the Common Law Hereupon they Vote That this refusal of the Lords to proceed in Parliament upon such Impeachment is a Denial of Justice and a Violation of the Constitutions of Parliaments an Obstruction to the further Discovery of the Popish Plot and of great Danger to His Majesties Person and the Protestant Religion And further they resolve That for any inferior Court to proceed against Edward Fitz-Harris or any other Person lying under an Impeachment in Parliament for the same Crimes for which he or they stand Impeached is an high breach of the Priviledge of Parliament On the Monday following the Bill against the Duke of York was Read the first time and Order'd a second Reading When on a suddain the King sends for the Commons up to the House of Lords and tells them That He perceived heats betwixt the Lords and them and therefore He had Order'd the Chancellor to Dissolve the present Parliament which he accordingly did immediately The same Day the King left Oxford and came to Windsor that Night the next Morning by Eight a Clock to Whitehall Not long after this His Majesty was pleas'd to Publish in Print a Declaration to all his Loving Subjects in which He set forth the Reasons which induced Him to Dissolve His two last Parliaments His reasonable desires which He had proposed to 'em with their unwarrantable proceedings in return declaring however that He is not yet out of Love with Parliaments but that He will frequently advise with them as His great Council which He hopes ere long to find in a better Temper much to this purpose were the Contents of that Declaration which by His Majesties Order in Council was appointed to be Read in all Churches and Chappels About the same time all the Factious News call'd Domestick Intelligence and Weekly Printed for Francis Smith Ben. Harris and Langly Curtis were by Order of Council as reported put down and silenced And the abovemention'd Francis Smith a Notorious Libel Printer was Committed to Newgate In Easter Term this year Sir Francis Pemberton became Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench in the Room of Sir William Scroggs who had obtain'd a Writ of Ease Great Expectation there was to see what the Court would do in the Case of Edward Fitz-Harris and some Hesitation the Grand-Jury of Middlesex of which one Mr. Godfrey Brother and Heir to the late Sir Edmundbury Godfrey was the Foreman made to receive the Bill of Indictment against him in regard he had been Impeacht by the House of Commons till they were inform'd and satisfied by the Court that all the Judges of England had the Day before met and resolved upon that question Nemine Contrad cente that they might lawfully proceed in the Tryal notwithstanding the aforemention'd Votes of the House of Commons after this the said Jury found the Bill and Fitz-Harris was Arraign'd at the Bar on the last Day of April he was thrice bid to hold up his Hand insisting upon the Impeachment in Parliament but at last he held up his Hand and heard his Indictment Read which was for High Treason exprest in a certain Writing call'd The True Englishman full of most horrid Expressions against the King as if he were a Conspirator in the Plot and exciting the Nation to rise as one Man against him c. To which Indictment he put into Court a Dilatory Plea against the Jurisdiction alledging that he being Impeacht by the Commons in Parliament he cannot be Tryed here but this Plea not being under Councils Hand was refused to be received however the Court gave him time to consider whether he would stand by such a Plea in regard it might be fatal unto him in case it should be over-Ruled and assign'd him for Council Sir Francis Winnington Mr. Williams Mr. Pollexfen and Mr. Wallop as he desired to argue the said Point of Judicature next Wednesday if he persisted in such Plea On the said Wednesday being the 4th of May the Prisoner was again brought to the Bar attended with His Council at which time the Kings Attorney Sir Robert Sawyer enter'd a Demurrer to the Prisoners Plea and insisted chiefly on the manifest defect of form in regard the Plea run that the said Fitz-Harris was Impeacht at the late Parliament at Oxford de Alta proditione but does not say of what sort or manner of Treason nor sets forth the Impeachment at large which a Plea ought to do when it is to the Jurisdiction After this the Council of the Prisoner joyn'd in Demurrer but upon their earnest motion tho' opposed by the Attorney General time was given them to next Saturday Morning to maintain the said Plea by Argument if they can At which time it was argued largely by Williams Winnington Wallop and Pollexfen for the Prisoner and by the Attorney General the Sollicitor Serjeant Jeoffreys and Sir Francis Withens for the King the Kings Council and also the Court declaring that they medled not at all with the Priviledge of the House of Commons or Jurisdiction of the Lords in Parliament which was not in the Point tho in truth the Council for the Prisoner would fain have put that upon 'em but only as to the form of the Plea After all the debate which lasted from 8 till after 12 that Day the Lord Chief Justice declar'd that the Court would take a convenient time to consider before they gave their Judgment On the Wednesday following being the 11th of May the Prisoner being again brought to the Bar by the Lieutenant of the Tower my Lord Chief Justice in the Name of the whole Court gave Judgment and declar'd That he and his Brothers had Consider'd of the Plea that they had also consulted with others of the Judges and that himself Justice Jones and Justice Raymond were of opinion that the Plea was insufficient Dolbin doubting the Plea was therefore over ruled and the Prisoner ordered to Plead over and accordingly he pleaded not Guilty and alledging that a material Evidence on his part was now in
very little the substance of what he had to say or discover being by him delivered to Dr. Hawkins Minister of the Tower for his Wife and therefore it is to be presumed that he Dyed no Papist in regard he had the assistance of a Protestant Minister which all Papists have been known to rerefuse on those occasions His Discovery is since Printed About this time several Factious People were committed to the Tower for High Treason namely Rouse Hayns White and one Colledge commonly call'd the Protestant Joyner But above all let it be remember'd that on July 2. the Earl of Shaftsbury commonly call'd by way of Excellency The Protestant Earl was before the Council at Whit hall to which the King came from Windsor that day on purpose accused of High Treason and for the same committed to the Tower and his Papers seized At the Sessions at the Old Bayly which followed soon after the Earl of Shaftsbury and the Lord Howard moved to be Bail'd but they were answered by the unanimous opinion of the Judges That it was not in the Power of that Court to Bail out of the Tower At the same Sessions it was that a Bill of Indictment of High Treason was delivered to the Grand-Jury of London against Colledge commonly call'd the Protestant Joyner but the Jury made for the purpose as is supposed appear'd so partial and Arbitrary in their proceeding that notwithstanding the home Oaths of several Witnesses among which were Dugdale and Smith two of the great Evidence against the Plotters and another who had been a Member of the House of Commons they brought in the Bill Ignoramus But another Bill being exhibited soon after to the Grand-Jury at the Assizes at Oxford against the said Colledge part of the Treasonable Words and Matters being Transacted there the Bill was found there on the same Evidence which was rejected at the Old Bayly And in August he was Tryed Condemn'd and Executed at Oxford The Weather that happen'd this Summer was memorable for an extraordinary Drought all over England and also beyond Sea all April May and June and some part of July but about the beginning of July fell such plentiful Rains that the Ground which in all parts was Scorcht up like the High-Ways almost to a miracle became as fresh and Green again as on May Day Dayseys and the other Flowers of the Spring appear'd again towards the End of July With Grass in abundance in some places and expectations of a second Hay-time to recompence the want of the first On the 28 of July the Parliament sate in Scotland where his Royal Highness Presided as His Majesties High Commissioner At the opening of the Sessions the Kings Letter was read setting forth That He had call'd them at that time to advise of such things as may truly conduce to the security and Interest of that Kingdom and as an eminent Expression of His Favor He hath named his most dear and most intirely beloved Brother James Duke of Albany and York to be His Commissioner there c. After this the Duke made a Speech Declaring the high esteem he had of the great Honor and happiness the King had been pleased to do him in making choice of him to serve as his Commissioner in that his antient Kingdom since it shews to all the World the Goodness the King hath for him and Confidence he hath in him and capacitates him not only to serve His Majesty as becomes a Loyal Subject but also to evince the real concern he hath for the good of that Kingdom and his readiness to serve it and improve its Interest That His Majesty had commanded him to assure them that he will inviolably maintain and protect the Protestant Religion as by Law Establisht in that Kingdom and the Church Government by Arch-Bishops and Bishops That he will maintain and allow the Properties and Rights of His Subjects according to the due course of Law and that he doth expect that they will not be short of the Loyalty of their Ancestors in vigorously asserting and cleering His Royal Prerogative and in declaring the Rights of His Crown in its natural and Legal course of Descent c. After this the Duke entertained the whole Parliament at a Splendid and Royal Feast The Lords by themselves and the Commons by themselves at several Tables On the First of August The Parliament returned a most Loyal and Dutiful Answer to His Majesties Letter which Answer being so mighty full of true Loyalty it would be an Injury to abridge it in this place every Line every word carrying the true and emphatical marks of gratitude and Duty I therefore refer to the Print Also in pursuance and Confirmation of their Loyal Affections on the 14th of Aug. the Parliament past a Bill entituled An Act acknowledging and asserting the Right of Succession to the Imperial Crown of Scotland By which they recognize and declare That the said Crown is by Inherent Right and the nature of the Monarchy as well as by the fundamental and unalterable Law of the Realm transmitted and devolved by Lineal Succession according to proximity of Blood and that no difference in Religion no Law nor Act of Parliament can alter or divert the Right of Succession and Lineal descent of the Crown to the neerest and Lawful Heirs and therefore they declare it High Treason by Writing Speaking or any other manner of way to endeavor the alteration suspension or diversion of the Right of Succession At the same time they past another Act ratifying all former Laws for the security of the Protestant Religion On the 31st of August Oates was by Order of Council expell'd from Whitehall his Sallery taken off and accused of Misdemeanors Great Numbers of Poor French Protestants about this time flockt over out of France to whom our King was so Gracious as by Act of Council to declare His Pleasure that all His Officers and Magistrates should give 'em the same Countenance and Favour with His own Subjects That He would take 'em into His Protection That He would grant 'em His Letters of Denization forthwith upon their request and That He would intercede with the next Parliament to obtain for them an Act of Naturalization He also granted very ample Letters Patents for Collecting Monies all over England for their Relief Dated the 10th of September this Year On Michaelmas Day being the Customary Day for the Annual Choice of the Lord Mayor of London Sir John Mooor an Addresser was Chosen into that Office for the Year Insuing tho' with a great and unusual opposition by the Fanatick Party The New Sheriffs were Alderman Pilkinton a City Member in the two last Parliaments and one Mr. Shute Which two New Sheriffs being employ'd to invite the King to the Lord Mayors Feast The King was Graciously pleas'd to accept of the Invitation and Declar'd That He liked the Message but not the Messengers This Summer the King was pleas'd to appoint under Him certain Deputies or