and whilst the King was expecting a final Determination Campeius seeing a Storm likely to arise thought fit to be packing for Rome pretending the Pope had sent for him Upon notice of this the King was much perplexed as knowing they designed to fix it in the Court of Rome to tire him out with vast Expences and Delays so that from that time Cardinal Woolsey began to fall from his favour For having secretly promised a Divorce yet fearing to displease the Court of Rome he had now refused it And the next Term the King caused his Attourney General to prefer an Indictment against him on the Statute of Premunire on several Articles which being found by the Grand Jury he Confessed all the material points by his Attourney And all his Promotions except the Arch-Bishoprick of York and the Bishoprick of Winchester were taken from him and Sir Thomas Moor was made Lord Chancellour The King likewise seized his Mass of Plate and Rich Furniture and confined him to his House at Asher near Kingstone A Parliament being Assembled the Commons made great complaints against the Clergy exhibiting divers Articles relating to their Pride Luxurious way of Living Trading as Husbandmen and Merchants to the Injury of those brought up to it c. This was strongly opposed by Dr. Fisher Bishop of Rochester who Reflecting on the Commons by saying Now with our Commons is nothing but Down with the Church and all this is for lack of Faith only they complained of it to the King by Sir Thomas Audley their Speaker and others but the Bishop excusing himself by putting another Interpretation on the meaning of his Words they were contented with the King 's sharply reprehending him and then they proceeded to Article against Woolsey under several Heads Charging him with Misleading and Abusing the King wasting and purloining the Treasure That in his Letters he had Written I and my King as if the King had been his Inferiour and at his Command To be brief they loaded him with Pride Cruelty Oppression Lechery Evil Counsel c. However the King by reason of his former Favour permitted him to retire to the Arch-Bishoprick of York and there continue privately till further orders But he tampering with the Pope and being encouraged by his Letters to oppose the King and force him if he would not otherways comply to restore him to Favour or else by virtue of a Bull to Curse him and take the power of the Clergy Government into his own hands as the Popes Vice Roy whilst he was in his way to York and preparing for his Installment he was Arrested by the Earl of Northumberland whereupon he shewed the Meanness of his Spirit and Birth as all Cruel Proud Upstarts usually do when they fall into any affliction though in their prosperity they are regardless of others Calamities but rather labour to promote than decrease them For however upon his first being seized thinking to terrify the Earl who never bore any good-will towards him he told him He was a Member of the Colledge of Cardinals at Rome and that neither the King nor any other Temporal Prince could or ought to Intermeddle with him for any Cause or Matter whatsoever But this nothing availing he fell into Tremblings and Frights and when the Kings Letter was produced to give him some beams of Comfort that he might not altogether despair of Mercy and Favour with a sordid Meanness of Spirit he fell on his knees in a dirty place and kissed it shedding Tears for Joy when in the height of his State and Pride he had accounted the King as his Pupil more than his Soveraign For indeed his first Station in the World was an ordinary Pedagogue or Schoolmaster But at the sight of Sir William Kingstone Constable of the Tower with a Guard of Yeomen to convey him Prisoner thither his fears so encreased that he fell Sick at Leicester Abby and taking a strong Confection which some suppose he did purposely to Poison himself he breathed his last saying a little before he Dyed If he had Served his God so faithfully as he had done his King he would not at that time have cast him off And thus fell that Pageant of suddain Greatness unpitied by all Inriching some by his Death tho' in his Life-time he had Ruined many more He Built White-Hall a stately Colledge at Oxford another at Ipswich and many other stately Buildings leaving much Money Plate and Rich Furniture which was seized to the Kings use who distributed part of it and his Lands among such as had well deserved The King by this time having gotten it under the Seals of most of the Universities in Christendom That his Marriage was Unlawful procured a Divorce without the Popes Dispensation and soon after he Married Anna Bullen whom he had Created Marchioness of Pembrook a Protestant Lady Daughter to the Lord Rochford afterwards Earl of Wiltshire Elizabeth Barton stiled the Holy Maid of Kent for Prophecying That if King Henry proceeded to the Divorce and Married another he should not be King of England one Month after was Hanged together with Seven of her Desciples at Tyburn for Treason A Parliament being called the Clergy therein totally submitted themselves to the King touching their Spiritual and Ecclesiastical Affaires and the Pope was by Parliament utterly deprived of all Annates and First Fruits of Bishopricks and other Spiritual Promotions The Marriage with Queen Catharine was Annulled and that with Queen Anna Confirmed and by the same Act the Crown was entailed to the King and the Heirs of his Body out of which the Lady Mary was Excluded and to this all the Lords and Burgess present in Parliament were Sworn except Doctor Fisher Bishop of Rochester and Sir Thomas Moor who refused to do it Wherefore they were marked out by the King for Destruction as a Terror to others for not only Refusing to Swear but Contesting and Protesting against the proceedings of the Parliament they were sent to the Tower where upon denying the Kings Supremacy Ordained by another Act and atributing it to the Pope they were Accused Tryed Convicted and Beheaded And by this Act the King was Acknowledged to be Supream Head of the Church in all Spiritual and Ecclesiastical Things and Causes and the Popes Bulls Pardons Indulgences and other Instruments of the like Nature made void For Grief of which and her own hard Usage Queen Catharine who was stiled Dowager and Lived with a small Attendance Sickened and Dyed nor did her Successor long survive her For some time after Queen Ann had been safely delivered of the Princess Elizabeth who was afterwards Queen of England a Conspiracy was laid to take away her Life supposedly on the account of her Religion for some of the Romish party were not without supposition she swayed much in those Alterations and therefore being Accused of Incest by some of her Subborned Bedchamber-Women as if she had Layn with the Lord Rochford her own Brother the furious King
strong into the Bay after the Fight was over veer'd suddenly about to the West and brought out all our Ships safe to Seâ— This News was so grateful to Oliver that he sent Blake a Jewel of 500 l. with Gratuities to the rest of the Officers After this Cromwel called another Parliament which would fain have had him taken the Title of King upon him but he declining it he was by the Parliament solemnly invested in th Protectorial Dignity in Westminster-Hall But the Royalists yet gave him some farther Disturbance by their Endeavours to restore the King tho' they were unhappily betray'd and several of them Executed among whom were Sir Henry Slingsby and Dr. Hewet with several others of less Note In pursuance of the Peace formerly concluded with France the English and French Forces laid Siege to Dunkirk which the Spaniards endeavouring to relieve were totally routed and Dunkirk soon after taken and put into the possession of the English And now on the fatal third of September in the Year 1658. Oliver Cromwel Dyed in the Sixty-third Year of his Age and the Fifth of his Protector-ship He was Born in Huntington and was the Son of a second Brother of Sir Oliver Cromwel of Huntington-shire his Mother was the Daughter of Sir Richard Stewart of the Isle of Ely and his Wife was Elizabeth the Daughter of Sir James Bourchier By whom he had Issue three Sons of which one Died â—oung and four Daughters By his Reputation in Arms he was Courted or Feared by most of the Princes of Europe he was a Man of singular Courage and Resolution attended with very great Success and kept his Army under him in so exact and strict a Discipline that they seem'd rather a Body of well-govern'd Citizens than an Army of Soldiers Swearing Drunkenness and Profaneness the common Vices of other Camps were not to be found in his His desire of Glory excited him to make attempts in other Countries by which a great Renown accrued to our Nation in all parts of the World In short had he not been a Vsurper he might have been compar'd with the best of our Princes but his Usurpation and the indirect means he used to obtain his Power spoil'd all his Good Qualities After his Death his Son Richard was Proclaimed Protector but he enjoy'd his Power but a short time the Army calling again the Rump Parliament which strait-way put an end to his Protector-ship and now the Stone began to rowl it stayed not there for Sir George â—oth having raised some Forces for the King in Cheshire and being subdued by Lambert Lambert turned the Rump out again and set up a Committee of Safety in Order to the setting up himself to prevent which General Monk in Scotland declares for the Rump and comes with his Army into England to restore them and having effected that brought in again those Members that had been Secluded by the Army before the Tryal of the late King These Members being restored issued out Writs for the Calling of a New Parliament to meet the 25th of April following and so dissolved themselves The King who had Notice of all these Proceedings with drew himself out of the Spanish Territories and went to Breda from whence at the opening of Parliament he sent over a Declaration promising Liberty of Conscience Pardon to all Offenders and Satisfaction to all Interests Upon the reading whereof the Parliament unanimously Voted That a Message be sent to his Majesty to thank him for his Gacious Declaration and to desire him to return to his Kingdom which he did upon the 29th of May following being received with the Universal Joy and Acclamations of his People Soon after which several of those that had sate in the High Court of Justice for the Tryal of his Father were themselves Tryed and Executed Of which Number were Thomas Harrison Hugh Peters Daniel Axtell John Cook Thomas Scot Gregory Clemont John Jones John Carew and Adrian Scroop who Suffered some at Charing-Cross and some at Tyburn The Bishops were also now restored to their Diocesses and the Common-Prayer Ordered again to be Read in Churches But now an over-cast of Sorrow happened for the Virtuous Princess Mary Princess of Orange coming over to see her Brother now settled in his Throne fell Sick of the Small-Pox and Dyed And in January after the King's Return one Venner a Wine-Cooper with divers other Desperate Persons fell upon the City of London being opposed many on both sides were Slain and the rest being taken or dispersed Venner with eleven more were Tryed Condemned and Executed in divers places of the City And on the 30th of January the Carcasses of Cromwel Bradshaw and Ireton were taken out of their Graves conveyed to Tyburn and Hanged up for several Hours then their Bodies buried under the Gallows and their Heads set on Westminster-Hall And soon after the Duke of Gloucester the King 's youngest Brother a Prince of great Hopes and a firm Protestant Dyed and on the 23d of April 1661 being St. George's Day the King was Crowned at Westminster with much Solemnity and Splendor having the Day before made a magnificent Cavalcade from the Tower of London to White-Hall The Army hereupon was Disbanded and the Parliament in Ireland Dissolved every thing appearing in a tendency to a lasting Settlement by a good Understanding between Prince and People For the Parliament that had been Assembled being Dissolved and another called the Peers were restored to their Antient Priviledges and the Militia declared to be Vested in the King as his right The like was also declared by the Parliament of Scotland who resigned the solemn League and Covenant and passed an Act for the Attainder of the Marquess of Argyle upon divers Crimes laid to his Charge whereupon being brought to his Tryal and Condemned he lost his Head much Lamented by the greater part of that Kingdom About this time a Convocation in England was assembled to adjust and settle matters of Religion and soon after the solemn League and Covenant which the KING had taken in Scotland was burnt by the common Hang-man in London and Westminster and then all over the Nation and a pretended Act for the Tryal of King Charles the first used in the same manner in Westminster-Hall The French and Spanish Ambassadors being at Court upon Notice of the arrival of the Broh Ambassador extraordinary from Sweeden with their Coaches went to receive him at his publick Entry on Tower-hill and contending for precedency a sharp Encounter happened some were killed and divers Wounded The Spaniard obtaining the better by the help of some English who for good Rewards tho' the King expresly by his Proclamation forbid any of his Subjects to intermeddle dressed themselves in Spanish Habits which Encounter had not the King interceeded as Mediator had at that time in all Likelihood created a War between the two Nations as being highly Resented at either Court. James Duke of Ormond being made Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and
so hard that Booths were erected upon the Ice and all sorts of Commodities sold in them insomuch that it was called Blanket-Fair Also a Bull was baited upon the Ice and Coaches ply'd from the Temple stairs to Westminster in Hillary Term. The Reign of King JAMES the Second KING Charles the Second being Dead on the same day in the afternoon being February the 6th 1684 5. his Brother James Duke of York was Proclaimed King And upon his coming to the Council He declared that since it had pleased God to place him in that station to succed so good a King as well as so kind a Brother he thought it fit to declare his Endeavours to follow his Brothers Example more especially in that of his great Clemency and Tenderness to his People and make it his Endavour to preserve the Government both in Church and State as it is by Law Established And then comends the Church of England's Principles and Members telling them He knows likewise that the Laws of England are sufficient to make the King as Great a Monarch as he can wish And therefore as he will never depart from the just Rights and Prerogatives of the Crown so he will never invade any Mans Property This Speech of the Kings to his Council was forthwith Printed and Published and received every where with great Applause many hoping their fears were greater than there was occasion for But how he kept to this Declariation which had he done he might have been happy the sequel of his Reign will shew There was now no longer Occasion for the King to Dissemble what he was and therefore what his Brother King Charles had acted in Masquerade King James resolved to do bare-fac'd and accordingly the next Sunday after his accession to the Crown he went publickly to Mass which Convinc'd those that before would not believe him to be a Papist and I have heard it Reported That the Duke of Norfolk carrying the Sword before him resign'd it at the Door upon which the King told him His Father would have gone further with him To which the Duke smartly Reply'd But your Majesties Father would not have gone so far And so went to the Protestant Chappel In a few days after the King Published a Paper of his Brother's dying a Roman-Catholick and of his Receiving the extream Unction and other Ceremonies of the Roman-Church before his Death attested by one Huddleston a Popish Priest And also a Paper taken out of King Charles's his Strong-Box shevving that hovvever he appear'd othervvise outvvardly yet in his heart he vvas a Sincere true Roman-Catholick The Customs and Excise dying vvith King Charles being granted only for his Life the King puts out a Proclamation commanding the paying of them till they should be granted by Parliament Which vvas his first Specimen hovv vvell he intended to preserve Mens Properties vvhen his very first Publick Act of Government vvas a Notorious violation both of Mens Properties and of the Lavvs of the Kingdom Soon after this his Brother King Charles the Second vvas Buried but vvith so little Pomp and Solemnity becoming the Majesty of a King that he vvas as it vvere throvvn into his Grave in the dead time of the Night accompanied by fevv Persons as if his Corps had been in danger of being Arrested for Debt He was interred indeed in Henry the 7th's Chappel but without any Stone to cover him So that never any King that died possest of a Throne was so meanly Buried Yet was it well enough for King Charles whose latter part of his Reign was as Dark as his Burial was Obscure But this notes the Gratitude of the King to so kind a Brother as he had always been to him A little before King Charles died Dr. Oats was fined 100000 l. for Scandalum Magnatum against the Duke of York and to be kept a close Prisoner till the Fine was paid which mighty Scandal was for saying The Duke was reconciled to the Church of Rome Which now the King acknowledged But this must not serve Oats's turn a Fine and Imprisonment was no sufficient Compensation for the Lives of the Popish Martyrs that suffered in his Brother's Reign and therefore the King having him now within his Clutches an Indictment for Perjury is preferr'd against Oats and the Perjury assign'd is Double first That Ireland one of the Executed Jesuits was not in London from the third of August 1678 till the 14th of Sept. next following whereas Oats at the said Ireland's Tryal Swore That he was at a Consult about killing the King in the middle of August Secondly That Oats was at St. Omers all April and May 1678 Whereas at the Tryal of Harcourt and White-bread c. he Swore they were at a Consult the 24th of April concerning killing the King and establishing the Popish Religion Ireland at his Tryal which was in 1678 urged the first Point and Harcourt Whitebread c. at their Tryals in 1679 pleaded the second but Oats prov'd both so incontestably at their several Tryals that it was both to the Satisfaction of Judge and Jury and of the whole Nation But now the Case was alter'd the Design was to invalidate the Popish Plot and to punish Oats for justifying it And they were pretty sure to carry it having such a Jury as would be sure to find him Guilty upon any Evidence and against the most Substantial Evidence to the contrary that Mirror of Injustice Jefferies being Judge The Witnesses against him were the St. Omer's Youths now better instructed than they were before who all remembred their Lesson to a T. and swore Oats was at St. Omer's all April and May and the Popish Stafford-shire Witnesses at that Tryal counted as good Witnesses as any in the World Swore Ireland was in Stafford-shire or thereabouts in August and September As to this last I find a Passage in Cook 's Detection of the four last Reigns that justifies Oats's Evidence beyond all Peradventure which I will here Insert and leave to Posterity to judge of It is briefly this One Mr Benjamin Hinton a Goldsmith in Lombard-street was Ireland 's Cashier and Mr. Hinton going out of Town at that time in August 1678. met Ireland 〈◊〉 or about Barnet coming for London where Ireland told him he had extraordinary Occasions for Money and urg'd Hinton to go back with him but Hinton told him his Man could do Ireland's Business as well as he and his occasions would not permit him to go back I asked Mr. Hinton of the Truth of this to which he would not give me any Answer but be this true or false it 's entred into Hinton's Book of Accompts Paid to Mr. Ireland's own Hands whereas the other Entries are Paid by his Order And 't is said Mr. Hinton's Man would Depose he Paid these Moneys to Ireland himself Mr. Hinton afterwards failing a Commission of Bankrupt was Sued against him and his Book of Accompts was delivered and kept at the Widow Vernon's Coffee-house
in St. Bartholomew's-Lane on the Back-side of the Royal-Exchange where any one may see the Truth of this Entry I am assured Mr Hinton was in Court at Oats 's Tryal to have testified this but was terrified from it for fear of being Vndone But how true soever Oats's Testimony was he was found guilty of Perjury upon both Points before Jefferies his Colleagues and had Sentence to be Whipt from Aldgate to Newgate on the Wednesday and on the Friday from Newgate to Tyburn which was so severely Executed that he received at his two Whippings 13000 Stripes besides which he was to stand in the Pillory five times in the Year and to be a Prisoner during Life And soon after Mr. Dangerfield was Sentenc'd to undergo the like Punishment which yet had a more Fatal Issue for discovering the Meal-Tub-Plot of which I have spoken in King Charles his Reign For Dangerfield returning back from his last Whipping was run into the Eye by one Francis which touching his Brain he dy'd of the Wound in a few Hours For which Francis was afterwards Hang'd Soon after the King 's coming to the Crown care was taken to provide a Parliament fit for the King's purpose to which way had been made the latter end of his Brother's Reign by Quo Warranto's against Corporations and by the surrender of Charters and they met the latter end of May Where the King made the same Speech to them for Substance which he did at first to his Privy Council adding That he expected they should settle his Revenue during his Life which he must not suffer to be Precarious And the Parliament answer'd his Ends settling the Excise and Customs upon him during his Life which indeed he took before without their giving him and gave him other Moneys beside During the sitting of the Parliament on the 11th of June the Duke of Monmouth arrived at Lime in Dorset-shire with three Ships whereof one was a Man of War of 32 Guns and about 80 Men and having Landed and taken possession of the Town without any Opposition he Published a Declaration wherein he Declared he came over to restore the Kingdom to it 's Antient Rights and Priviledges which were all invaded by the Duke of York and his Adherents the Instruments of his Tyranny charging him with the Murder of the Earl of Essex and of the late King c. And inviting the Nobility Gentry and Commons to come in to him and to assist him for the recovery of their lost Liberties and bringing the Duke of York to speedy Justice Tho' at the Duke's Landing his Complement wanted of an Hundred yet upon Notice of his being Landed he quickly encreas'd so that in a few Days he was several Thousands strong so that leaving Lime he went to Taunton encreasing still as he went King James in the mean time having his Parliament by him first puts out a Proclamation for apprehending of Monmouth and offers 5000 l. as a Reward for any that should take him and the Parliament to shew their Loyalty maâ—e an Act attainting him of High-Treason And besides this the King sent several of his Forces down against him under the Command of the Lord Feversham The Duke of Albermarle in Devonshire had rais'd the Militia of the County for the King and brought his Forces within a quarter of a Mile of the Duke who prepar'd to Fight him But the Duke of Albermarle perceiving that his Forces were inclin'd rather to Fight for Monmouth than against him withdrew with s me Precipitation without doing any thing being fearful of being pursu'd by Monmouth which if Monmouth had done he had certainly put him to the Rout and taken all his Arms which was the only thing that Monmouth wanted The King's Forces were now come into the West and at Phillip's-Norton met with the Duke of Monmouth between whom and the King's Forces there was a brisk Rencounter wherein the King's Forces retreated with Loss Monmouth's Men firing fiercely upon them Soon after the Duke marched to Cansham-bridge intending to go for Bristol but hearing the Duke of Beaufort was with a Body of Men to oppose him in his way he turn'd about and went to Bridge-water whither the King's Forces followed him and lay at a place called Sedge-moor there in the dead time of the Night on Sunday the 5th of July the Duke with a Guide Marches against the King's Forces with 3000 Foot and 1000 Horse and falling upon them a very fierce Fight ensued the Duke's Foot fighting incomparable well but his Horse hardly ever came up and his Foot having spent all their Ammunition and being put in Disorder by the King's Horse in the end were put to the Rout the Duke of Monmouth himself with the Lord Gray and some others making their Escape and riding towards the Borders of Hampshire where on the 8th of July the Duke was taken as also the Lord Gray and a Noble Brandenburger that came over with him They were all brought to London with a strong Guard on the 13th and the D. after having been Examined at Whitehall was Committed to the Tower and being already attainted by Parliament a Warrant was signed by the King for his Execution and on the 15th of July he was Beheaded on Tower-hill many pittying of him but none being able to help him But this was one Specimen more of K. James's Love to so good and kind a Brother as K. Charles the II. had been to him cutting off the Head of his beloved Son After the Duke's Defeat at Sedgmoor many of his Followers were taken and put in Prison and then the Chief Justice Jefferies was sent down to keep the Assizes there where he acted so many barbarous things that 't is a shame to Name them and Posterity will scarce believe them For in the Counties of Dorset and Sommerset above three Hundred Persons were Executed and their Heads and Quarters were set upon Poles and placed both in all the chief Towns and in the Roads and High-ways for many Miles together both to the Terror and Annoyance of Travellers as they past along And thus it is that King James performs his Word to his Privy-Council at his first coming to the Crown of his endeavouring to follow the Example of his dear Brother in all things especially in that of his great Tenderness and Clemency to his People But it is not all the Blood shed in the West that will Suffice there are still other Victims to be offer'd up for upon Tuesday the 13th of October 1685. Alderman Cornish was taken off of the Exchange where he was following his Business without any apprehension of Danger towards him thinking his own Innocency a sufficient Defence and committed close Prisoner to Newgate and on the Saturday night following had Notice to prepare for his Tryal on Monday at which time he was Tryed for High-Treason in promising to assist the Duke of Monmonth the Lord Russel Sir Thomas Armstrong c. against King Charles the Second
places of England that had risen on this Revolution But Ireland was in a dangerous Condition for the Earl of Tyrconnel had stopped almost all the Ports and was raising numerous Forces of Irish for the Service of King James so that those who would have fled into England or Scotland were for the most part restrained and obliged to continue under the dreadful Apprehensions of another Massacre being every where in the Countrey Robbed and Spoiled of their Substance and a great many Imprisoned The State of which Kingdom the King earnestly recommended to his Parliament desiring them to hasten the raising such Supplies as was requisite in order to reduâ—d it to Obedience The Lord bishop of London with about one Hundred of the City Clergy waiting on the King to tender their humble Duty he gave them an assurance of his Affection to the Church of England and of all Encouragement to them concluding that they might depend upon his Word And an Act passed about Removing and Preventing all Questions and Disputes about the Assembling and sitting of the Parliament and the King issued out his Proclamation to leave the Irish without Excuse That if they would lay down their Arms and Live quietly they should have their Pardon for all things past and enjoy their Estates but if they continued still in Arms declaring them Rebels and Traytors and their Lands and Possessions Forfeited c. But this Proclamation being not Publish'd in Ireland had little effect tho' in the North the Protestants secured London-Derry Sligo and other places in expectation of being Aided from England And now the King to ease his Subjects consented that the Duty of Hearth-Money that had long been a Burden to the Nation might be taken off which was very pleasing to the People Thomas Pilkington Esq who in the late Reign was Fined 100000 l. upon an Action of Scandalum Magnatum brought against him by the then Duke of York was now chosen Lord-Mayor of London in which Honourable station he continued near three Years And now the Coronation being appointed on the 11th of April it was performed with great Splendor and Magnificence occasioning great Demonstrations of Joy in the People and soon after the Crown of Scotland was by the Commissioners of the Estates presented to the King and Queen which was accepted and the usual Coronation Oath of that Kingdom taken And now Admiral Herbert standing with a considerable Squadron to the Coast of Ireland fought with about 40 French Men of War in Bantrey-Bay in this Engagement Capt. George Aylmer of the Portland a Lieutenant and 64 Seamen were Killed and about 240 Wounded the Enemy losing a greater Number And then at the humble Request of the Parliament the King declared War with France In Scotland Duke Hamilton was made High-Commissioner where the Duke of Gourdon held the Castle of Edenborough for King James and the Viscount Dundee had a considerable Force in the Field to second him and many hot Skirmishes were Fought till at last in an Obstinate Fight Dundee was killed upon which the Duke of Gourdon not finding himself longer able to hold the Castle delivered it up to Sir John Lanier upon Articles â—nd tho' Collonel Cannon Buchanon and others kept up the Party in the Field for a while at length they were dispersed and Scotland entirely Quieted On the 24th of July the Princess of Denmark was brought to Bed of a Son and on the 28th he was Christened William by the Bishop of London the King and the Earl of Dorset standing God-Fathers and the Marchioness of Hallifax God-Mother and then the King declared the Young Prince Duke of Gloucester King James being Landed in Ireland with some French Forces and a considerable number of Officers Arms and Ammunition had with a numerous Army besieged London-Derry which was Defended by the Inhabitants and others till it was reduced to the last Extremity by Famine but then Providence so ordered it that Major-General Kirk sending in Shipping with Provision the Siege was raised The Besiegers in lying before it and by the Besieged's falling on the Rear in drawing off having lost 2000 men and Dr. Walker a principal Man in Defending that place coming over the King Ordered him 5000 l. as a mark of his Bounty with an Assurance of greater Advantages And on the 13th of August the Duke of Schomberg Landed with the English Army at Carickfergus in Ireland and soon Reduced divers Places compelling the advanced Parties of the Irish to retreat before him and held a Winter-Camp on the Plains of Dundalk which being Moorish and Foggy many Gallant Men dyed of the Flux and other Sicknesses But the Iniskilling-men who frequently went abroad in Parties did considerable Service by cutting off the Irish Rapparees Whilst these things passed the King for weighty Reasons dissolved his first Parliament and called another to sit at Westminster the 20th of March 1690 and the Commons chusing Sir John Trevor their Speaker the King told both Houses among other things That his Resolution was to go for Ireland his Presence being necessary there for Reducing that Kingdom Signifying it was his Pleasure to leave the Government in the Queen's Hands during his Absence and accordingly before his Departure an Act was passed to that Purpose And the King of Denmark at this time assisted the King with 6000 Danish Soldiers under the Leading of the Duke of Wirtemburg who did notable Service Charlemont having been straightly Blocked up Capitulated and other places were Reduced by Force And now the King having settled Affairs in England left White-Hall on the 4th June and on the 14th Landed at Carickfergus in Ireland and hastened to order the Army and Marching to the Newry had News that the Enemy having set Fire to their Straw had Decamped and quitted that strong Post This at first scarce gained Credit but Scouts being sent out and the Report confirmed the King changed his March and sent Orders to the Forces at Armagh and Fevergee to march by the great Roads towards Dundalk in which some of our Men fell into an Ambush of the Enemy but behaved themselves with that Courage and Bravery that most of them got off having slain the Commander and brought away his Horse and the King marched towards Drogheda where he found the Enemy Encamped along the River Boyn above the Town and as he was viewing them a Six-pounder grazed on his Shoulder which only rased the Skin but as soon as it was Dressed he took Horse and Commanded Count Solmes to find out a Ford above the Enemy and pass the River which he Successfully did and obliged those that Guarded it after a hot Dispute to retire And upon notice of this the whole Army passed at other Fords the Foot wading some to the Arm-pits sustaining all the Enemies Fire and not returning it till they came close up with them and falling furiously on soon gave them a general Rout but in this Encounter Duke Schomberg and Dr. Walker late of London-Derry
and Landed some Men at Cammaret-Bay under Lieutenant-General Talmash but they had drawn thither such great Bodies of Horse and Foot strongly Intrenched that the English with some Loss were constrained to retire in this Action the Lieutenant-General received a Wound in the Thigh with a Musket-shot and Dyed of it at Plymouth greatly Lamented as being an expert and Generous Commander But for this Disappointment not giving over they stood in before Diep and laid that Famous Town in Ashes and then throwing in about 250 Bombs into Havre-de-Grace fir'd a great part of it and afterward Bombed St. Maloes and Callis and sent in Machines to blow up the Works guarding the Entrance of Dunkirk Harbour which had some tho' not the wished Effect And so Sailing along the Coast of France brought such a Terror every where that they were forced Night and Day to be on their Guard The King in this Year 169â— labouring by the often moving his Camp to bring the French to battle but not able to do it caused Huy to be Besieged which with little resistance he took and Garisoned and the Prince of â—aden with the Saxon and German Troops passing the Rhine cut off divers in the Rear of the French Army it retiring before him so that he raised Contributions and returned unopposed and after this on all hands the French parties Scouting abroad were mostly deâ—eaâ—ed by the Confederates killed and taken Prisoners bringing in great Booties of Cattle c. And whilst the French advanced somewhat near the City of Leige the Garison Sallyed and took between 7 and 800 Horse entirely defeating two Squadrons of their forrage Guards These and the like matters ending this Campaign the King returned and was Welcomed home with the Universal joy of his People But all their joy was soon turned into Mourning For the Queen fell sick at Kensington on the 22 of December 1694 and in a little time her Distemper was known to be the small Pox a distemper Fatal to the Royal Family of which on the 28th she Dyed in the 33d Year of her Age and in the Flower of her Strength and Beauty to the great affliction of the King and three Kingdoâ—â— she lay a considerable time in State and then was Interred among her Royâ—â— Ancestors in Henry the 7th's Chappel at Westminster with a most Solemn Funeral Pomp a Stately Mausoleum was Erected in the Abbey whereon very remarkably a Robin-Redbreast for many weeks usually sat Singing Not only the English Court but most in Christendom went into the deepest Mourning and Condoleances were made not only by the Parliament but the Foreign Ministers c. The Clouds of sorrow being a little blown-over the King considering of his weighty affairs abroad appointed 7 Able Ministers of State Lords Justices in his absence to administer affairs of Government and having settled all things to the best advantage passed to the Army in Flanders which drawing into the Field very Numerous Marched towards the strong Town of Namure Situate on the Muse and Sambre and after a Vigorous Seige carried on by the King with all Imaginable Bravery and Gallantry tho' Marshal Bouflers had thrown himself into the Town and even in the fight of Vineroy at the head of an Army of an Hundred Thousand Men first the Town and afterwards the Castle was compelled to Surrender to the King This tedious Siege in a manner ended the Campaign so that little else of moment happened the French altogether declining a Battle and the King having settled Affairs upon his return made a Progress through most parts of England The Parliament being dissolved a New one was called and meeting among other things particularly upon the King 's Recommending that Important affair to them at the opening of the Sessions took into Consideration the State and badness of the Coyn and coming to a result an Act passed for calling in the Clipped Money and Re-coyning it in Mill'd Money according to the true Weight Standarâ— and Mints were set up in divers parts of the Kingdom for the better ordering a speedy supply of it in every part of the Nation Whilst these things were doing make things happy and easy to us our Enemies were contriving our utter destruction divers were sent from France to joyn with those already here and one of the most wicked Conspiracies contrived and a long time secretly carried on that any Age has known or History made mention of for whilst a Design was laid in the French Court to invade the Kingdom their Emmissaries here were framing a Design to destroy the King's Life by a villanous Assassination and Sir George Barclay brings over a Commission to encourage them in it The Conspirators many in Number had divers Meetings sometimes at one Capt. Porter's Lodgings and others at the Nagg's-Head in Govent-Garden and in Leaden-Haâ—â—-Street at the Sun in the Strand the blew-posts in Old-Spring-Garden in Pickadilly and other places and several Persons as a Committee from their Body were appointed as Knightly Porter King c. to view the Ground in the King's passage to Richmond a place he usually Frequented to acquaint the rest which was the most Convenient place to set upon him in his Coach and cut him off and accordingly they viewed the Avennues about Brentford Richmond c. and concluded on the Narrow-lane between Brentford and Turnham-Green was the most convenient to do it in where the Guards could pass but â—ew a Breast and with this upon their return they acquainted Sir George Barclay Sir William Parkyns Robert Charnock and others who approved it The Design thus laid they â—exâ— Consulted in what manner it should be done and came to a Result that one Party with 7 or 8 chosen Men should Assassinate the King in his Coach whilst two other Parties attacked the Guards their Number in all being upwards of Forty and the 15th of February 1695 being Saturday a day the King usually went a Hunting that way was the first appointed time and they prepared for it accordingly But Providence so Ordered it that he went not abroad that Day of which they had notice from 〈◊〉 two Orderly Men as they stiled them viz. Durance and Chambers who â—â—y at Kensington concealed for that Purpose Then they had other Meetings upon it and appointed to be in a Readiness the Saturday following and met accordingly and were setting out when again they had Notice the same hand of Providence had Disappointed them This startled them into new Fears that their wicked Design had taken Air especially upon notice the King 's going abroad was suddenly put off and the Guards were come back in haste their Horses Foaming and Keys one of the Conspirators heard them Mutter something which gave him and the rest a Jealousy to mistrust a Discovery was made as indeed Providence had Ordered it whereupon they Dispersed and gave over the Design For Capt. Pendergrass being acquainted with this bloody Design from Capt. Porter about the 13th of February at
which made them divide into parties to decide their Quarrel by the Sword yet the King fearing this might Involve many of his Subjects in Ruin and shake the Quiet of the whole Kingdom interposed his Authority and Mediation to make them Friends But whilst this was doing Prince Edward the Kings Son taking advantage of their difference departed secretly from Court and consorting with the Earls of Glocester and Warren Sr. Roger Mortimer and others they raised an Army on the Marches of Wales and fell on the Earl of Leicesters Forces with such fury near Eversham in Worcestershire that they totally Routed them and in this Battel the Earl of Leicester Simon his Eldest Son Sr. Hugh Spencer and many others of note were Slain and so enraged were the Soldiers that they dispitefully used the Earls dead Body by cuting off the Head Hands Feet and Privy Members sending them into divers Shires as Trophies of their Victory This turn of fortunate Success so ellevated the drooping King that he resolved utterly to throw off his Fetters and assume his Kingly Authority uncontrouled whereupon whilst his Enemies were full of fear and mistrust and their strength in a manner utterly broken he summoned a Parliament which conforming to his will more through dread of his Anger than voluntarily Repealed the Laws and Ordinances made in the Oxford Parliament disannuling the Authority of the Twelve Peers and all Patents Commissions and Instruments whatsoever that tended to the Establishing and Ratifying those things were by the Kings express Commandment brought forth publickly Cancelled and made void by which means he regained his former Power and Liberty to say and do as he pleased This Parliament was no sooner ended but the King expressed his anger towards the City of London because as is alledged the Rulers and Inhabitants had always despised him and taken part with the Barons against him vowing to consume it with Fire and leave it in a heap of Rubbish as a lasting Monument of their Rebellion to succeeding Ages and so firmly had he determined it That all his Friends and Favorits had much ado to avert him from this purpose nor could it be done till the Citizens caused an Instrument in Writing to be drawn and Ratified it with their common Seal by which they Confessed their Rebellion humbly craving Pardon and without any restraint or exception submitted their Lands Goods Lives and the whole City to the Kings Grace and Mercy Whereupon paying 1000 Marks Fine they were Restored to their Liberties and Customs which had been seized into the Kings hands during which space they had suffered much dammage yet for what Wrongs soever they received they could find no Redress And many Robberies and Piracies during the Wars being committed by the Inhabitants of the Cinque-Ports to hinder his Courts of Justice being pestered with many Complaints he ordered they should be heard in the Courts within the Jurisdiction of those Ports where the Persons agrieved expecting little redress because the Inhabitants were parties few Complaints after that were made Gilbert Clare Earl of Glocester by his revolt from the Barons and joyning his Interest with the Prince expecting high preferment for the success that had given the King all these Advantages and not meeting with it agreeable to his mind grew angry and Meditating Revenge retired from Court into the City where the Citizens forgeting how lately they had been Pardoned and the danger they were in flocked to him in great Numbers and then Sallying through Temple Bar went to the Kings Palace at Westminster which they Rifled with the Houses of many Court Favourites in and out of the City This Outrage made the King pronounce no less than utter Destruction to them But the Prince and Kings Counsellours fearing such severity might renew the Civil War as dangerous as ever with much ado pacified him so far that he Granted a Pardon to the Earl of Glocester and all that had Acted in the late Tumult Yet the Earl finding but cold Entertainment at Court fearing some mischief might befal him at home Made it his request to the King that he would send him with an Army to make War in the Holy Land This motion tho' it tended to much charge and expence pleased the King well for he considered if he continued at home he would still be Plotting but abroad he could little injure the quiet of the Government so that an Army being raised the Earl repented him of his Undertaking and feigned so many causes for delay that the King took the Command out of his hand and gave it to Prince Edward who Transported the Army into Palestine and by his valorous Acts brought such a Terror on the Turks and Sarazens That they seldom if they could avoid it adventured themselves against the Christians in that Quarter where the Prince drew up and the Terror of his coming made them raise the Siege of the City of Acon which they had pressed hardly for a long time with 100000 Men which made them secretly contrive his Death For a Sarazen under pretence of delivering him a Letter Stabbed him in the Arm with an Impoisoned Knife whereupon the Prince struck him down with his Foot and upon the noise his Guards coming in cut the Villan in pieces yet so desperate was the Wound by reason of the venom that the Surgeons declared That unless any at the hazard of their Lives would daily suck the Wound to draw away the Poison his Life could not be saved this when all his Courtiers strained Courtesie to do or utterly refused was undertaken by Elianor his virtuous and loving Wife Sister to the King of Spain who had accompanied him in that tedious Journey and yet she was not at all injured by it And now the King having had some Peace was a little disturbed by a Tumult in Norwich who Burnt the Monastery of the Trinity but he hasting thither they dispersed yet escaped not so for a strict enquiry being made into the matter 50 of the chief Actors were Drawn Hanged and Quartered and their Quarters Burned Soon after this the King fell Sick and Dyed at the Abby of St. Edmund's in Suffolk on the Sixteenth of November Anno Dom. 1275 in the 57th Year of his Reign and 65th of his Age. He was Buried with great Magnificence at Westminster In this Kings Reign an Imposture at the Provincial Synod at Oxford suffered himself to be Wounded in the Hands Feet and Sides saying he was Christ and a Woman that went about with him called herself the Virgin Mary but being taken and closed up between two Walls they there miserably perished On St. Paul's Day in the 15th Year of his Reign such an unusual Thunder and Lightening happened That whilst Roger Niger Bishop of London was at Mass in St. Paul's the Cathedral was so shaken that the People verily supposed it would have falln and that they should have been burned with the flashes of Lightening whereupon all except the Bishop and Arch-Deacon ran
Cursing any that should afterward Build it yet this Sorrow wasting by time to strengthen his Alliance he Sailed to France and took the Lady Isabel Charles the Sixth's Daughter to Wife and brought her to England with her Nurse and a great Train of Ladies and not exceeding Seven or Eight Years she was called The Baby Queen the King having contracted not to Bed her till she should be Fourteen Years of Age and a 30 Years Peace was concluded whereupon the King gave up to the Duke of Britany the strong Town and Castle of Brest which much offended the English Nobles especially the Duke of Glocester his Unkle who plainly told him he had dishonoured himself and the English Nation by tamely parting with such an important Place which had not been gained but at the expence of much Blood and Treasure this so angered the King that he privately Swore to be Revenged on him and such other Noblemen as he said usually checked and controuled him in his Proceedings and accordingly getting a Parliament to his mind Sir John Bushe one of his Creatures being Speaker of the Lower House This upstart Speaker boldly Accused Thomas Arundel Arch Bishop of Canterbury who fitting in the House of Peers by the King was ordered not to Answer and it should be no damage to him his silence nevertheless was taken for Confession and he was Banished the Realm the Earls of Arundel and Warwick in this Parliament were Attainted of High Treason upon which the former lost his Head and the latter being confined to the Isle of Wight through Grief and want of Necessaries shortly Dyed But the Duke of Glocester stood too high in the Peoples Favour to be reached this way therefore he was privately seized at his own House hurried to Callice and there by the command of Thomas Moubray then Earl of Notingham and for this wicked exploit created Duke of Norfolk the Valiant Prudent Virtuous and Renowned Duke was Smothered to Death tho' in the manner of it Authors disagree some will have it by pressing and keeping him long between Feather-Beds others that he was thrown into and headed up in a Butt of Malmsey However here he was wickedly made away and never seen afterward to the great grief of all but the King and his Favourites who hugged themselves with joy to think they had removed out of their way the great Obstacle that hindered their Advances to Arbitrary Power After this Moubray proceeded to Accuse Henry Duke of Hartford Son to the Duke of Lancaster of Speaking Treasonable and Scandalous Words of the King whereupon Hartford Challenged his Accuser to the single Combate to try by the Sword the Truth and Justice of his Accusation but when they were both entered the Lists and prepared for the Encounter the King threw down his Warder staid the Combate Banished Hartford for six Years and Moubray forever who Travailing to Venice there Dyed miserably confessing his Guilt and trouble for the Death of the Noble Duke of Glocester but Hartford was honourably Entertained by Charles the French King who would have Married him to a Beautiful Lady Daughter to the Duke of Berry his Unkle but King Richard industriously prevented it as fearing such an Alliance might enable him to grasp at his Crown and when the Duke of Lancaster Dyed he seized on his vast Treasure tho' he had given his Cousin Henry leave on his departure to appoint his Attorney to Act for him and take care of his Inheritance But these Proceedings bred much Mischief For the King having lost most of his old and getting a new set of Counselors viz. The Earl of Wiltshire Sir John Bushe Sir James Bagot and Sir John Green they advised him to many things contrary to the Advice of his grave Council and much troubled the People and now the Irish Rebelling the King to Raise an Army Farmed the Kingdom and all his Revenues belonging thereunto for certain Years and Sailed for Ireland The Duke of Hartford who wanted no Intelligence how matters went in England looked on the Peoples Ferment and the Kings Absence to give him a very favourable advantage to shake off his Chains wherefore as privately as he might he came to England accompanied by the Banished Arch Bishop and many other trusty Friends declaring to the People he only came to take quiet Possession of his Dutchy of Lancaster which by the Death of his Father was his Undoubted Right so that Trousands flocked to him And finding how the People were bent to favour his cause he Raised a considerable Army and seized the before named Counsellours whom they Beheaded King Richard in Ireland hearing of these Stirs setled Affaires there as well as he could and hasted over with a small Army but before he could pass Wales most of them had Deserted him and then being ascertained that his Counsellours in whom he had reposed much trust to Levy Forces for him were taken off despairing of any safety to be gained by force he came to Henry Duke of Lancaster of his own accord and publickly owned his Insufficiency and Weakness to Govern well praising the Duke's rare and singular Virtues his absolute worthiness to be a King c. profering to make him an absolute Surrender of his Kingdom if he would accept of it The Politick Duke who well knew this proceeded not cordially from him but from the effects of fear and constraint however refused it for tho' he much affected the wearing of a Crown yet he thought it more advisable to receive it at this time from the Nobility Gentry and Commonalty and hereupon he caused the King with a very respective and honourable Attendance to be conveyed to the Tower and a Parliament being called in his Name Twenty Four Articles were Exhibited against him for Mismanagement and ill Conduct in Government and many henious Crimes which in his Restraint he seemed to confess and own and by an Instrument under his Hand and Seal he Resigned his Crown and Kingdom to Henry of Bullenbrook Duke of Lancaster which being publickly and generally Ratified and Approved by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons Assembled in Parliament Henry stood up and made this Challenge to the Crown viz. In the Name of God Amen I Henry of Lancaster Claim the Realm of England and the Crown with all the Appurtinances as coming by the Blood Royal from King Henry the Third and the Justice which God of his Grace hath sent me by the help of my Friends for the Recovery of the said Realm which was at the point of Perdition through default of Government and breach of Laws These words being said all the Estates acknowledged him for King and Richard was formally Deposed in the words and in manner Recited in Edward the Seconds Reign and thereupon was sent to Pomfret Castle but long he had not been there ere upon some practices of his Favourites to Reinstate him he was villanously Murthered by Sir Pierce of Exton and Eight others of whom he
after many Countermarches the Army the King had raised and that of the Lords met near Northampton where the King was Overthrown and taken Prisoner 2000 of his Men were Slain and of Note Humphery Duke of Buckingham John Earl of Shrewsbury Thomas Lord Egremont and John Viscount Beamont whereupon the Queen with the Young Prince and Duke of Sommerset fled into Scotland and were kindly received the King was conveyed to the Tower and the Lord Seales attempting to pass the River in disguise was discovered by the Wherryman who cut off his Head and left his Body on the Sands and Thomas Thorp the Second Baron of the Exchequer shaving his Crown and putting himself in the Habit of a Monk was taken flying to the Queen and being brought to the Earl of Warwick he committed him to the Tower where he remained a long time after The Duke of York informed of this Victory hasted from Ireland and procured a Parliament to be Assembled in the Kings Name at London where placing himself in the Throne he declared his Right to the Crown viz. That he was Son and Heir of Ann Daughter to Roger Mortimer Earl of March who was Son and Heir to Philippa sole Daughter and Heiress to Lionel Duke of Clarence Elder Brother to John Duke of Lancaster Great Grandfather to the present Henry the Sixth and then proceeded to lay before them the Mischiefs and Losses that had befallen the Kingdom by misplacing the Succession by reason God was Angry with them for so doing and to prevent many more he desired it might be restored in the Direct Line When the Lords and Commons had deliberated upon this weighty Affair the contrary Party more out of fear than conscience goodwill or affection agreed with the Duke's Faction and it was Enacted That King Henry during his Natural Life should retain the Name and Honour of a King and that the Duke of York should be Proclaimed Heir apparent to the Crown and be Protector of the Kings Person and of the Realm and should have the present possession of the Crown delivered to him if at any time King Henry his Friends Allies or Favorites on his behalf attempted to infringe this Act which was Agreed to and Confirmed by their Oaths The Duke of York by this means being got near to what he aimed at required the Queen the Dukes of Sommerset and Exeter the Earl of Devonshire the Lords Clifford Ross and others immediatly to repair from the North whither they were fled and confer with the King but instead of so doing being much displeased with the Proceedings of the Parliament they Levied an Army and with it advanced towards London The Duke of York had soon notice of it and Marched with all speed to oppose them leaving the King in the custody of the Duke of Norfolk and Earl of Warwick and the two Armies met near Wakefield Where the Duke being too weak was perswaded to stay for the arrival of Edward Earl of March his Son who was advancing from the borders of Wales with an Army to Joyn him but being carried headlong by his forward Destiny which designed him not to be a King though he wanted but one step to the Throne he forthwith gave the onset but within an Hours space almost three Thousand of his Companions were Slain together with himself and his Youngest Son the Earl of Rutland not exceeding 12 Years who kneeling on his Knees desired Mercy but was cruelly Stabbed to the Heart by the Lord Clifford who horribly Swore By that Act he would be Revenged for his Fathers Death So that upon this the rest of the Army Fled The Duke of York's Head being cut off by those that found him dead in the Field was presented to the Queen who caused a Paper Crown to be set on it in derision and placed it on the Walls of the City of York Beheading the Earl of Salisbury and others of his Favorites who were taken Prisoners and placing their Heads with his to bear him company The Queen supposing now her fears were over by the slaughter of her Capital Enemies Advanced towards London overthrowing the Earl of Warwick and such Forces as he had gathered to oppose her by which means King Henry was set at Liberty and Joyfully received by her But then News came that the Earl of March who hearing of his Fathers death had taken on him the Title of Duke of York had Overthrown the Earls of Pembrook Ormond and Wiltshire Beheaded Owen Tuther the King's Father-in-Law who had Married his Mother the Queen Dowager and divers others whose Heads he placed in the Room of his Fathers and other Heads of his Friends which the Queen had caused to be set on the Walls of York This suddain Turn of Fortune made the Queen draw out her Army and hasten towards him having raised an Army of 60000 Men and near a Town called Towton the New Duke of York and Earl of Warwick met her with near 50000 so that a cruel and bloody Battel ensued wherein on both sides about 36000 were slain among whom were the Earls of Northumberland Westmorland the Lords Dacres Wells Clifford c. The Dukes of Sommerset and Exeter saved themselves by flight but the Earl of Devonshire with sundry others of Note were made Prisoners Upon this great Overthrow for it fell on the Kings-side who was always Unfortunate in the Field he with the Queen and Prince fled into Scotland where they were favourably received and in lieu of their kind Entertainment delivered Berwick to the Scots which they much desired and attempted often times to gain tho' beaten off with great loss so that the Duke of York being every where Received as King may be said here to put an end to Henry's Reign tho' he Lived much longer when he had Reigned 38 Years 6 Months and 3 Days and was after Stabbed in the Tower by Richard Duke of Glocester King Edward the Fourths Brother Anno 1471 in the 49th Year of his Age as will appear more largely in the Reign of that King His Body was first Buried in the Abby of Chertsey in Surry then by King Henry the Seventh at Winchester after removed none can tell where as not being found in History In this Kings Reign from the beginning of April to Allhallontide fell such abundance of Rain that the Corn and Hay Harvest were utterly spoiled which occasioned a dearth among Men and Cattle Anno 1435 the Thames was so Frozen that no homeward-bound Ships could enter it and Games and Pastimes were Exercised on the Ice Anno 1438 all the Lions in the Tower of London dyed and in the 23d Year of the King on Candlemas Eve terrible Thunders and Lightnings happened by which the Church of Baldock in Hartfordshire and that of Walden in Essex were greatly shattered and St. Paul's Steeple in London set on Fire WARWICK SHIRE Anno Dom. 1459 the Useful and Noble Science of Printing was found out by a Soldier at Magunce in Germany and
the chief of them they named the Protector sending abroad Proclamations wherein they lay'd many grievous Crimes to his charge as his Male Administration of Government and the great Mischiefs that had thereby befallen the Kingdom his converting the Publick Treasure to his Private Vse his endeavouring to set the Peers at Variance c. The Duke upon this finding â—he Londoners denyed him Aid but on the contrary had assisted his Adversary Warwick with 400 Armed Men who had drawn most of the Peers to his side and that contrary to his expectation he was left in a manner alone he now too late saw his Brothers Fall was contrived to usher in his However putting the best construction on the matter he sent a Messenger to them desiring they would forbear all rough proceedings and deal with him according to Law and Right which they promising to do he yielded himself and the King's Person into their hands and was committed to the Tower together with Sir Thomas Stanhop Sir Thomas Smith and others his Favourites but having been a Prisoner 3 Months and nothing made out against him upon acknowledging himself worthy of the punishment he suffered and begging the King's Pardon he was set at Liberty but deposed from his Protectorship and by the more Peaceable Nobility the Earl of Warwick and he were made Friends and to bind it the firmer the Earls Eldest Son was Married to the Dukes Daughter and new Honours bestowed on persons that had well deserved viz John Lord Russet was created Earl of Bedford William Lord St. John Earl of Wiltshire Sir William Paget Lord Paget and soon after the King called a Parliament at Westminster wherein was Enacted a Statute for the punishment of Rebells and Riotous Assemblies upon which ensuing Statute the Duke was about two Years after Condemned The Parliament being ended the Earl of Bedford and Lord Paget were sent Ambassadors with other Assistants to France and the Emperour by whose means a Peace was concluded upon divers Articles advantageous to the English and the Queen of Scots was included in it and it was Proclaimed with great Joy in the City of London Now all the high Altars being taken down in the Churches Tables were placed in their stead for receiving the Communion and Sir Andrew Jude Builded the Free-School at Tunbridge and six Alms-houses in St. Hellins within Bishopsgate And the Book of Common Prayer which had in some part been Corrected and Amended was appointed by Parliament to be Read in all Churches and Chappels In Aprill Anno 1551. An unaccountable Sweating Sickness happened and held till October of which vast numbers of people dyed Most that were taken with it dying in 24 Hours or sooner it seizing mostly on lusty young Men and very little on Women Children or aged people and of it dyed Henry Duke of Suffolk and his brother Sons to Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk both of the Royal Blood by the Mothers side viz Mary younger Sister to Henry the 8th So that the Dukdome fell to Henry Grey Marquess of Dorset who had marryed the Lady Frances Eldest Daughter to Brandon and Mary his Wife And now the Duke of Northumberland growing powerful and labouring to get the King at his disposal to bring his purposes about found he could not do it unless the Duke of Somerset were Removed And the feud growing hot between them the Duke of Somerset by the perswasion of some private Enemies Employed by his Adversary went Armed to the Council under his Surcoat where the Duke of Northumberland feignedly pretending to Clasp him about as in Friendship discovered his Coat of Male and found Weapons about him Whereupon Northumberland laying hold on the opportunity Charged him with an Intention to have Murthered some of the Kings Privy Counsellors and afterwards produced Witnesses to aver he had before come with Armed Men to attempt his Life but that his Courage failed him and one of his followers when he returned demanding if he had done it and he saying No replyed then you are undone Upon this with divers of his Favorites he was sent to the Tower and process being drawn up against him he was Tryed by his Peers in Westminster Hall on two Articles 1. For High Treason viz. That he had not only Imprudently but Treacherously administered the weighty affairs of Government 2. For Conspiring the Death of Northumberland who was a Privy Counsellor which by the new Law was Fellony Of the former he Acquitted himself wherupon the Ax being taken away such a shout arose in the Hall among the Common People that it was heard to Charing Cross but on the other Article he was found Guilty and Condemned but it was a considerable time before they could constrain the King to Sign the Warrant for his Execution which he did not without Tears Saying he was the unhappyest Creature Living For at his Birth he had been the Death of his Mother And had since tho against his Inclination signed the Death of one of her Brothers and now they urged him to do the like for the Noble Duke his Vncle and therfore concluded the Lord Judge between me and you that Constrain me to do this against my mind However having got the Warrant signed they hastened the Duke's Execution and diverted the Kings Melancholly the mean while with Balls Plays and Musick And so infatuated was this Great Man that according to the opinion of divers had he thought upon demanding his Clergy he might have saved his Life his Crime by the new Act being only Fellony However he made a very Pennitent and Christian-like end much bewailing he had forwarded his Brothers Destruction and now saw it brought his own upon himself by opening a way to his Enemies He lost his Head on Tower-Hill and was much Lamented by all sorts of people except his enveterate Enemies who Rejoyced at his removal to another World and in his fall many of his Favourits boâ—e their part by Northumberland's contrivance viz. Sir Ralph Vane and Sir Thomas Arundel Beheaded for Conspiring with Somerset to Kill Northumberland the latter of which declared his Blood should be a Bolster for the Duke of Northumberland as long as he Lived intimating thereby he should have a troubled Conscience and all of them professed their Innocency to the last as to the Crimes they were charged with Doctor Ridley Bishop of London Preaching before the Young King of the excellency of Charity and Alms-deeds he was so affected with his Sermon that thinking he directly pointed at him who was in the highest Station after the Sermon was ended he held a private Conferrence with him how he might effectually bestow his Charity who advised him to send for the Mayor and Aldermen of London who would give him satisfaction in that matter as being most acquainted with the needs of the Poor which he did and after consulting with them allotted them Christs Hospital formerly the Grey Fryars of St. Francis Order St. Thomas's Hospital and Bridewel dividing the Poor
King from medling in the Affairs of the Palatinate and the design of this Marriage was his chief aime to restore it whereupon he gave orders to the Earl of Bristol his Ambassador positively to declare to the King of Spain That unless that was restored to the Elector the Treaty should proceed no further and that being refused the Prince grew cold in his Love and so all was dashed upon his thoughts with a Match with the Youngest Daughter of Henry the Fourth of France whom he had seen in his passage that way to Spain and to whom after his Fathers death he was Married Upon this the King called another Parliament and missing the Duke of Richmond his old Friend and sending to his Lodging he was found dead in his Bed without any Wound or sign of force upon him which put the King into such grief and consternation that he would not go to the House in his Robes and so put them off for some Days longer This Parliament greatly inveighed against the Duke of Buckingham for perswading the Prince to take such a hazardous Journey out of the Land and advised the King since so many Delays and Tricks had been put upon the Honour of the Nation to break the Treaty with Spain protesting to assist him for the regaining the Palatinate with their Lives and Fortunes c. They insisting on a Religious War that might be Aiding to the afflicted Protestants in Germany and France but the King however seemed more to encline to Peace as appeared by his Letters and Speeches on this occasion for fearing that when the War was begun he should not find wherewithal to maintain it and therefore thanking them for their proffers and advice he told them he would consider better of it however the Treaty with Spain was utterly dissolved This and some forwardness for War so fretted the Spanish Ambassador that whether out of Truth and Knowledge as he pretended or Malice only cannot be determined he sent to the King to let him know that Buckingham had some dangerous Design against him tending to his destruction and that it would be the safest to confine him to some Country-House for his Life however tho' it was generally thought to proceed from spight because the Duke set himself against the Spanish Interest it put the King into such fears being now grown Old that all the Duke's protestations could not a long time remove them nor till the Duke's Friends gave upon Oath their knowledge of the Duke 's sincere intentions and that this was contrived with the Ambassador by the Advice of a Jesuite and this Parliament the Earl of Middlesex by Buckingham's procurement was Questioned but there came no great matter of it for the Parliament knowing it was done by the Duke's means upon his Questioning for the Money excessively spent in Spain they had no great mind to back him in it Whilst these things passed a melancholy Account came from the East-Indies where the English had five several Factories two at Hitto and Lerico and two at Latro and Cambello in the Island of Seran but the Principal of them was at Amboyna which is the chief Place in all the East-Indies where Nutmegs Mace Cinnamon Cloves and other Spices grow and from these Factories the English supplied not only England and all Europe with Spice but Persia Japan and other Countries in the East-Indies This made the Dutch to Envy the English and therefore resolved to dispossess them of the Spice-Trade which is the best in all the East-Indies The English in all these Islands were better beloved than the Dutch and had built a Fortress in Amboyna for the safety of their Trade but the Dutch having two hundred Soldiers on that Island forced this Fortress from the English and then pretending a Plot between the English and the Natives of Amboyna for the Recovering of the said Fort from the Dutch to the English the Dutch by horrid Torments burning them under the Soles of their Feet and under their Armpits and pouring Water down their Throats when stretched on a Rack till they were ready to burst and by other barbarous ways Massacred the English there and seized upon the English Factories to the value of Four Hundred Thousand Pounds making the rest of the English that had escaped their Massacre Slaves and sent them into other Islands which the Dutch had possessed themselves of This was in the Year 1622 when but three Years before the Dutch had concluded a Treaty of Trade between the English and Dutch in the East-Indies This News extreamly troubled the East-India Company who humbly petitioned the King to demand satisfaction of the States General But the King cared not for War and tho' the Dutch refused to make any satisfaction for this Unheard-of Villany the King only told the Dutch Ambassador That he never heard nor read of a more Cruel and Impious Act than that of Amboyna yet said he I do forgive them and I hope God will but my Sons Son shall revenge this Blood and punish this horrid Massacre And so left the Dutch in the quiet Possession of what they had so basely gotten from the English without offering to draw his Sword against them Which perhaps occasion'd his being pictur'd with his Sword in his Scabbard and two Men pulling at it but could not get it out And now the King having permitted the Count Mansfield General for the Elector Palatine to raise some Forces here he soon after fell sick of a Tertian Fever a little before his Death he called for the Prince and rowsed himself as desirous to speak to him but being too weak sunk down in his Bed again and Dyed at Theobalds on the 27th of March 1625. when he had Reigned over all Britain 22 Years and three Days being the Twenty Third of his Reign and Fifty Ninth of his Age. He was buried at Westminster He was of a Stature inclining to tallness being somewhat higher than Ordinary his Body very well compacted his Hair of an Aubourn Colour and of a Pleasing Countenance and towards his latter End somewhat fat and burly He had the repute of a Wise Prince but his Reign did not shew it He indeed Writ several Books against the Jesuite's King-Killing Doctrin but that shewed his Fear more than his Learning and that he was therein acted by a Principle of Self-Preservation For the Gunpowder-Plot in England and the Assassination of Henry the Fourth by Ravilliac in France were enough to make him afraid of the Jesuites He was wholly ruled in all things by his Favourites to whom he was excessively bountiful and thereby squandered away the Treasure of the Nation At his coming to the Crown he found the Exchequer Rich but at his Death which was a great Unhappiness to his Son he left it very poor and well he might giving so profusely as he did to his Flatterers and Favorites It is reported of him That having given Sir Robert Carr Twenty Thousand Pounds the Lord Treasurer
Salisbury that he might make the King sensible of what he had done invited him to an Entertainment and so ordered it that he should pass to it through a Room wherein he had placed four Tables and on each Table Five Thousand Pounds in Silver when the King came into the Passage he started as amazed at the sight having never before seen such a Sum and asking the Treasurer the meaning of it The Treasurer told the King It was the Boon he bad given to Sir Robert Carr Swounds Man says the King which was the Oath he usually swore but Five Thousand Pounds shall serve his Turn By which means the Lord Treasurer sav'd the King Fifteen Thousand Pounds This shewed how easie he was to be impos'd upon giving his Favourites what they pleas'd to ask without knowing what it was His letting the Dutch redeem their Cautinary Towns upon their own terms and letting them also dispossess the English of their Factory at Amboyna in the East-Indies by the most horrid Massacre that any Age had heard of without any reparation or satisfaction for it however it might Entitle him to be Rex Pacificus it could never be an Argument of his Wisdom nor make him appear a Second Solomon which his Flatterers usually stiled him In the beginning of this King's Reign a Plague raged of which in London and the Liberties in one Year Dyed Thirty Thousand Five Hundred Seventy Eight Persons A terrible Blazing Star appeared before the Queens death and the breaking out of the Wars in Hungary Anno 1603 John Lepton Rode Five times between York and London in Five Days beginning his Journy on Monday finishing it the Friday after Anno 1605 William Calverly of York Esq Murthered two of his own Children in his House Stabbed his Wife and went out with intentions to have Kill'd his Child at Nurse but was prevented and was Pressed to death for refusing to Plead The Reign of King CHARLES the First KING James dying at Theobalds on the 27th of March 1625. The same Day his only Surviving Son Prince Charles was Proclaimed King of Great Britain France and Ireland On the 7th of May following were Celebrated the Funerals of the Deceased King whose Body being brought from Sommerset-House was Interred in the Abbey at Westminster with great Magnificence the King himself being the chief Mourner The next thing after the Celebration of the Funeral was to hasten the coming over of the Queen Henrietta Maria youngest Daughter of Henry the Fourth of France Deceased and Sister to Lewis the 13th then Reigning who had by the King's Proxy the Duke of Chevereux been Espoused to him on the first of May at our Ladies Church in Paris Upon Trinity-Sunday at Night she arriv'd at Dover where being met by the King the next Morning they went from thence to Canterbury where they were Married which the third Day after was Declar'd at White-Hall with great Rejoicing On the 18th of June following the King Summon'd a Parliament to meet at Westminster where he urged them for Supplies for the carrying on the War against Spain for the Recovery of the Palatinate upon which the Commons gave two Subsidies and the Clergy three In this Parliament Dr. Mountague the King's Chaplain was Questioned for certain Tenents in his Answer to a Book called the Romish Gagger and his Defence thereof Intituled Apello ad Caesarem and he being brought before the Bar of the House the Speaker declared their Pleasure That they would refer his Censure till their next Meeting and in the mean time he should stand Committed to the Serjeant's-Ward till Two Thousand Pounds Bail could be procured for his Appearance next Sessions And tho' the King by Bishop Laud's means took him into his Protection as his Servant yet his Bond remained Uncancell'd Divers Laws were Enacted in this Parliament and a Bill for Tunnage and Poundage passed the House of Commons but it Miscarried in the Lords House because it was Limitted to a Year whereas it had been Granted to the King's Predecessors during their Lives And then the Plague greatly encreasing the Parliament was Adjourn'd to Oxford where the King again Soliciting for more Money in order to the setting out the Fleet the Commons entred into a Debate about Grievances and were about drawing up a Remonstrance to present to the King but it bearing hard upon Buckingham the King 's great Favourite they were immediately Dissolved And soon after a Fleet was fitted out and sent against Spain but having staid Considering what to do till they lost the Opportunity of Destroying the Spanish Fleet in Cadiz which at first might have been easily done they Sailed to the Southern Gape in expectation of meeting their Plate-Fleet but the Contagion having got into the Fleet they made an Untimely return without doing any thing but four Dayes before the Fleet came This unprosperous Success of the Fleet very much Displeased the King who prohibited Wimbleton the General for some time from his Presence but he excusing himself laid a great part of the Miscarriage on the Stubbornness of the Earl of Essex But tho' all were Blam'd yet none were Punish'd for the ill Conduct of this Expedition And now the War growing very Chargeable since Parliamentary Aids fail'd the King as advis'd by his Council resolved upon raising Money by way of Loan by Letters of Privy-Seal sent to the Ablest Persons in the Kingdom in each of which Letters the King promised in the Name of Him and his Heirs and Successors to re-pay the Money in Eighteen Months after the Payment thereof to the Collector and the Collectors were Ordered to pay the Sums received into the Exchequer and to return the Names of such as went about to Delay or Excuse the Payment of the Money required of them This manner of Proceedings was by all Wise Men thought very improper for by the Law no Man was bound to lend the King Money so this instead of Supplying the King only tended to Alienate the Affections of his Subjects from him and render things more Difficult in the next Parliament Which after the Coronation was over met the 6th of February but with no better Success than the last For the House of Commons began where they left off at Oxford with matters of Religion and publick Grievances viz. The Miscarriage of the Fleet to Cadiz the Evil-Counsellors about the King Mis-government and Mis-imployment of the King's Revenues and an Account of the three Subsidies and three Fifteenths Granted the 21th of King James That new Impositions and Monopolies were multiplied and settled to continue by Grants Customs inhanced by the new Book of Rates and that Tonnage and Poundage was Levied tho' by no Act of Parliament and the Guard of the Seas neglected In this Parliament also five particular Articles were drawn up against Mr. Richard Mountague wherein he had broken the Laws and Statutes of the Realm and disturbed the Peace both of the Church and Common-wealth Upon all which the House of
of the Nation and therein the chief thing insisted on was the Case of those Gentlemen imprisoned for refusing the Loan and who notwithstanding their Habeas Corpus were remanded to Prison After the Debating whereof the Commons resolved Nemine Contradicente 1. That no Man ought to be Restrained by the Command of the King or Privy-Council without some Cause of the Commitment 2. That the Writ of Habeas Corpus ought to be granted upon request to every Man that is Restrained tho' by the Command of the King the Privy Council or any other 3. That if a Free-man be Imprisoned by the Command of the King the Privy-Council or any other and no cause of such Commitment expressed and the same be returned upon an Habeas Corpus granted for the said Party then he ought to be Delivered or Bailed After which the Parliament drew up a Petition against Popish Recusants to which the King gave a full and Satisfactory Answer and then the Commons granted the King Five Subsidies at which he was so pleased that he sent them Word He would deny them nothing of their Liberties which any of his Predecessors had Granted And thereupon the Commons drew up that Memorable Bill called Petition of Right which after many Debates about it passed both Houses and was Presented to the King to which the King answered The King willeth that Right be done according to the Law and Customs of the Realm and that the Statutes be put in due Execution that his Subjects may have no cause to complain of any Wrong or Oppressions contrary to their just Rights and Liberties to the Preservation whereof he holds himself in Conscience as well Obliged as to that of his Prerogative But this Answer not being thought Satisfactory upon their further Application to the King he sent them this short but full Answer Soit Droit Fait come il est desire i. e. Let it be done according to your Desire Which Answer was received with great Joy by both Houses and the Citizens of London who expressed it by making of Bonfires and ringing of Bells And the King for further Satisfaction received again into his Favour Dr. Abbot A. B. of Canterbury Bishop Williams and others and likewise caused the Commission of Loan and Excise to be Cancell'd in his Presence But the Commons after this drawing up a Remonstrance against the Duke and calling in Question the King 's taking of Tunnage and Poundage were Adjourned to the 20th of October several Acts being first passed by them Much about this time Dr. Lamb that had been formerly twice Arraigned once for Necromancy and another time for a Rape was Kill'd by the Rabble in Lothbury for which the City was Fined 6000 l. He was a great Favourite of the Duke of Buckingham's and commonly call'd the Duke's Devil which made him the more Hated After the Duke 's late Expedition to the Isle of Rhee the Earl of Denbeigh Sailed with Fifty Ships for the Relief of Rochel but being repelled with much Loss he return'd back to Plymouth despairing of Success Whereupon the Duke of Buckingham himself resolved to go again with a more considerable Navy but whilst he was at Portsmouth hastening the fitting out of the Fleet one John Felton a Lieutenant Stabb'd him to the Heart with a Knife which he left sticking in his Body till the Duke himself pull'd it out and Died immediately after Felton was soon Apprehended by the Servants and laden with Irons and being ask'd what induc'd him to commit so bloody a Fact he boldly answer'd He Kill'd him for the Cause of God and his Countrey He had likewise fasten'd a Paper in the Crown of his Hat to tell the World in case he had miscarry'd in the Action That his only motive to this Fact was the Remonstrance of the Commons against the Duke and that he could not Sacrifice his Life in a Nobler Cause than by delivering his Countrey from so great an Enemy For this Fact Felton was Condemned and Hanged at Tyburn and his Body hang'd in Chains upon a Gibbet at Portsmouth However the designed Fleet set Sail under the Command of the Earl of Lindsey and came to Rochel-Haven where there was a Barricado of 1400 Yards cross the Channel notwithstanding which the Earl adventured in passing the Forts and Out-works but the Wind changing drove the Ships foul upon each other Which unhappy Accident made the Rochellers despair of Relief and presently Surrendred the Town And the Earl of Lindsey brought the Fleet safe home again The Parliament after some Adjournments sitting again the Merchants who for refusing to Pay Customs had had their Effects seized made grievous Complaints this made the King send for the two Houses to attend him in the Banquetting-House requiring them to pass the Bill for Tunnage and Poundage for the better and more speedy ending all Differences But they replyed God's Cause was to be preferred before the King 's and in the first place therefore they would consult about the Establishment of Religion and so returning they appointed a Committee for that Purpose and another for Civil matters and many were Censured for reflecting on their Proceedings and for Levying Tunnage and Poundage but the King excused the latter as done by his express Command in a time when the Nation was in Danger to be Invaded by Foreigners And that such things had been often done in the Reigns of his Predecessors when Money could not be speedily raised on urgent Necessities in a Parliamentary way However this and other Misunderstandings raised great Heats and Jealousies which were Fomented to that Degree that the Parliament was quickly after Dissolved without passing the Bill of Tunnage and Poundage Soon after which the King publish'd a Declaration of the Cause thereof and eleven of the Members were Summon'd before the Council-Table and all committed to divers Prisons contrary to the Petition of Right so lately confirmed by the King Soon after this a Paper was dispersed containing some Projects how the King might encrease his Revenue without the help of a Parliament and upon Information that the Earls of Bedford Clare Sommerset and others had dispersed some Copies of them they were Committed But Sir David Fowlis making it appear it was a Project of Sir Robert Dudley's Son to to the Earl of Leicester in Italy sixteen Years since and no ways intended at this time to create any Difference between the King and Parliament they were released And now divers Threatning Libels against the chief Ministers of State were scattered abroad and particularly one against Bishop Land assuring him his Life was sought for he being the Fountain of Wickedness c. This made the great Men fear the sitting of another Parliament And it is said Weston the Treasurer advised the King never to call any again And a Book of Projects for Governing and raising Money without Parliaments was presented to the King In January an Embassador from Spain arrived at London whose business was to treat of
and there being attended on a Scaffold before the Banquetting-House by Dr. Juxon Bishop of London he made a Profession of his Innocency and of his Faith forgiving his Enemies and praying to God not to lay his Blood to their Charge seeming troubled that he had consented to the Sentence against the Earl of Strafford and after this and much more to the like Purpose he kneeling down gave the Sign to the Executioner by stretching out his Arms and at one Blow had his Head separated from his Body which being put in a Coffin covered with Velvet was carried to Windsor and buried in a Vault in St. George's Chappel Thus without President fell King Charles when he had Reigned 23 Years 10 Months and 3 Days being the 24th Year of his Reign and 49th of his Age. Put to Death by the Hands of his own Subjects contrary to all Law and Justice universally Pitied but unable to be help'd by his People He was one of the Chastest Princes that ever sate upon the Throne being all along so true to his Queen that he never Defil'd his Marriage-bed And had he not given too much heed to Buckingham Laud and some other fâ—attering Parasites and Courtiers who were continually Buzzing into his Ears nothing but Absolute and unlimitted Power putting him upon Dissolving his Parliaments and then raising Money and Ruling without them as appear'd by his Twelve Years interval of Parliaments viz. from Anno 1628 to 1640. whereby he lost the Love of his People he had never been brought to that dismal Catastrophe but might have Liv'd and Dy'd a Happy Prince And this may be observ'd from this King's Reign as well as from several before That never any Prince fell out with his Parliament and went about to Establish an Arbitrary Power but he not only found himself Mistaken but also thereby made himself Miserable Before the breaking out of this unnatural War amazing Sights were seen in the Air of Firey Men and Horses running at each other with Launces encountring with great Blasts of Lightning and noise of Thunder In Gloucester-shire Spectres were seen in a large Field not far from that City drawn up in Battalia furiously Engaging and then Vanishing to the Amazement of the Beholders The Reign of King CHARLES The Second KING Charles the First being put to Death the Relicks of the Parliament began to take out of the way such Nobles and others as they supposed would obstruct their Proceedings and particularly Duke Hamilton the Earl of Holland and the Lord Capel were Beheaded for Treason pretended against them And now to make their Power the Stronger they combined with the Army-Officers And tho' Charles Son to the preceding King had an undoubted Right to the Kingdom they proceeded to bar him and all the Royal Line as they hoped from the Crown or any other from being King or chief Magistrate unless by Publick Act of Parliament so appointed and that it should be Treason in any to attempt to further King Charles the Second by them generally called Charles Stewart in his Designs to possess the Crown by Proclaiming him or any Assistance given to him taking great care not to admit the Secluded Members lest they should put a stop to the Current of their Proceedings taking down every where the King 's Arms and placing the Harp and Cross in their places called the States Arms and having taken down the late King's Effigies from the Royal-Exchange they caused to be inscribed in the place where it stood in Letters of Gold Exit Tyranus Regum ultimus Anno Libertatis Angliae Restitutiae Primo Anno 1648. Jan. 30. All Titles in Processes of Law were altered and instead of Carolus Dei Gratia c. was put in Custodes Libertatis Angliae c. The King's-Bench was called the Vpper-Bench and a new Stamp was made for Money having on the one side the Cross and on the other the Cross and Harp inscribed The Common-wealth of England on the one side and God with Vs on the other also a new Great Seal was prepared with the Cross and Harp on the one side with this Inscription The Great Seal of England and on the other side the Picture of the House of Commons with these Words In the first Year of Freedom by God's Blessing restor'd 1648. Things being thus Moddelled whilst King Charles was in France Solliciting for Aid to possess him of his Kingdoms Fairfax out of some dislike to the Patliaments proceedings laid down his Commission which was given to Oliver Cromwel who from this time laid the Projection of his future Greatness And indeed in his attempts on Ireland and Scotland he was so Successful as to reduce them to the English Obedience with incredible Slaughter of the Natives However King Charles was proclaimed by his Friends in England and Ireland and soon after in Scotland And now Money being wanting to maintain the Parliaments Armies c. the Crown-Lands Dean and Chapter and Bishops Lands were Sold with many stately Houses and most of the Castles in England Demolished and all Persons expelled from Places of Trust in Church and State that Subscribed not to be Conformable to the New-modelled Government The Scots all this while were Debating how to Restore the King who was in the Isle of Jersey and coming to a Result sent the Laird Libberton and Mr. Windram to him with Proposals the Heads being these 1. That he should Sign the Solemn League and Covenant 2. That he should Pass divers Acts concluded on in the two last Sessions of Parliament in Scotland 3. That he should recall the Commissions given to Montross 4. That he should put from him all Papists and appoint some place in Holland to treat with their Commissioners and give them a speedy Answer And Sir William Fleming being sent by the King to the Estates of Scotland Breda was appointed for the place of Treaty and Commissioners were sent to represent the Kirk and State who delivered what they had in Charge to the same Effect as has been mentioned But whilst the Treaty held the Marquess of Montross making new Attempts was Surprized in Scotland where with much Indignity he was brought to Execution and Hanged on a Gibbet of extraordinary height Dying with a Courage and Bravery suitable to that wherein he had Lived and Quarters were set up in divers places This being done in a full Treaty greatly Displeased the King because he had his Commission and had acted in his Cause but the necessity of his affairs made him pass it over and he Condescended to most of the Proposals The Parliament of England soon heard of their Treaty and to prevent its taking effect sent an Army under Cromwel into Scotland and manning out a Fleet Admiral Blake fell in with Prince Rupert's Squadron sinking and burning most of the Ships he Commanded for the King however matters being agreed on the King hastened to Scotland and Landed at Spey where several Lords came to him and the Town of
another Parliament called there that long harassed Kingdom was brought to a good Settlement And now a Match being Negotiated in the Court of Portugal between the King and Donna Catharina Infanta of that Kingdom her Dowry was settled and in Lieu thereof the English had Tangier which became afterwards a great Charge to the Nation without any Profit So that the Earl of Peterborough having taken Possession of that place on the Continent of Africa for the King the Lady came over Royally attended and the King going to Portsmouth was there Married to her with much Pomp by the Bishop of London and afterwards came to White-Hall and was Joyfully received Sir Henry Vane and John Lambert being Tryed and found Guilty of Treason for things done before the Restoration being excepted out of the Act of Indemnity the former was Beheaded but the latter Reprieved and kept in Prison till he Died and Archibald Johnson Lord Warrestone being taken beyond the Sea and brought over was Sentenced as a Traytor by the Parliament of Scotland and Executed on a Gibbit at Edenborough 22 Foot high A Conspiracy being timely Discovered in Ireland divers were Imprisoned and some Executed which altogether dashed their further Intentions and kept the Kingdom in Quiet a considerable time And in the North of England another much about the same time being discovered one Gibbons and Baker were Tryed found Guilty and Executed whereupon the rest Dispersed The Commons in Parliament having Voted the King a Supply of 2500000 l great Naval Preparations were made which caused our Neighbours the Dutch to fear a Storm and therefore they thought it convenient to provide for their Safety and indeed a Misunderstanding happening between both Nations an Order of Council was made giving Letters of Reprisal against them and about 112 Sail were taken by our Frigats Men of War c. most of them being adjudged Lawful Prizes and hereupon the King set out his Declaration touching his Proceedings for Reparation from the Subjects of the States Whilst these things were doing a Dutchman under the Disguise of a Sweed coming from Guinea publickly reported De Ruytter the Dutch Commander had Destroyed all the English in the Factories on that Coast which for a time caused much Consternation among the Merchants trading thither but it proving False he was Sentenced and Whipt through London However the Parliament being Prorogued War was Proclaimed on the 2d of March 1664 and a General Fast succeeded for a Blessing on the King's Forces to be employed against them and De Ruyter attempting with his Fleet to Plunder the English Plantation of Barbadoes in the West-Indies was beaten off but whilst many Encounters happened at Sea a worse Calamity befell at Land for by reason of the great Heat in the Spring and but little cool breathing Winds to purge and purify the Air about the beginning of May 1665 a Plague began fearfully to Rage so that in London that Year 97306 Persons of all Degrees dyed and of these were accounted 68596 of the Plague However the War was carryed on with great Vigour and on the 3d of June the Duke of York being Admiral of the English Navy the two Fleets engaged and after a long and obstinate Fight which continued many Hours bloody and doubtful the Dutch gave way and such as got off stood to their own Coast The English having taken burnt sunk and shattered about thirty of their Ships and slain and taken Prisoners about 8000 tho' not without Loss considerable on our own part which was chiefly occasioned by most of the great Ships crouding about the Admiral to screen him from the Fury of the Enemy and prevent his being laid on Board by Fire-ships Those English of Note who lost their Lives in this Engagement were the Earls of Falmouth Portland Marlborough and the Lord Muskery Sir John Lawson dyed of his Wounds soon after and 2063 Dutch Prisoners were brought to Colchester whereof 13 were Commanders Hereupon a publick Thanksgiving was performed for this Victory the King likewise Conferred the Honour of Knighthood on such Sea-Commanders as had eminently Signalized their Courage and Conduct in the Action The Plague still continuing to Rage a Fast was Proclaimed solemnly to be held every first Wednesday in the Month till it should cease and Fires were continued in the Streets of London and Westminster for three Days and Nights to purify the Air whilst the King c made his progress through the greater part of England the two Houses of Parliament attending him at Christ-Church in Oxford and upon his laying before them them the necessity of a supply to maintaine the charges of the War the Commons Voted him 1250000 l. And Michaelmas Term by Proclamation was Adjournd from Westminster to that City But the Plague abating the Parliament and Courts of Judicature returned to Westminster as did the King and Queen The French King envying the growing greatness of the English more than any love he had for the Dutch as it afterward plainly appeared Joyned with them and was soon answered in the same Language at the Instigation of others The Fleets being abroad Prince Rupert and the Duke of Albermarle then Joynt-Admirals of the English the latter with a Squadron of fifty Ships the former being to the Westward with the rest engaged 80 of the Dutch on the Coast of Flanders and maintained the Fight two Days when on the third Prince Rupert coming in the Fight continued very Bloody till the Evening with much Loss on both sides and then the Dutch stood away to their own Coast In this Fight the Royal Prince was stranded on the Galloper and burnt by the Dutch Sir George Ascough who Commanded her being taken Prisoner and carryed into Holland About six or seven Weeks after there happened another Sea-Fight and the English chased the Dutch to their own Coasts and on the 7th of August Sir Robert Holms burnt divers Dutch Merchants Ships in the Fly and the Town of Baudaris upon the Island of Scheling and four French Men of War salling in with our Fleet mistaking it in Foggy-weather for the Dutch one of them of 54 Guns was taken On the Second of September 1666 being Sunday began the dreadful Fire of London at one Faringdons a Baker's House in Pudding-Lane the back-side of Fish-street-hill It continued Burning until Wednesday Night following and that time destroyed the greatest part of the City But the best Account of it being Engraven on the North-side of the Monument Erected in the perpetual Remembrance thereof take as followeth In the Year of Christ 1666 the second Day of September Eastward from hence at the Distance of Two hundred and two foot the heighth of this Column a terrible Fire broke out about Midnight which driven on by a high Wind not only wasted the adjacent Parts but also very remote Places with incredible noise and fury It consumed eighty nine Churches the City-Gates Guildhall many publick Structures Hospitals Schools Libraries a vast Number of stately
in the Year 1682. The chief Witness against him was Rumsey who Swore That the Declaration for a Rising being read Alderman Cornish being present and being ask'd how he lik'd it he answer'd Very well and what poor Interest he had he would join in it And yet this Fellow at the Lord Russel's Tryal Swore Cornish was not there when the Declaration was read nor knew nothing of it However the Alderman's Death was resolved on and both Judge and Jury being agreed he was found Guilty Condemn'd and on the 23th of the same Month executed in Cheapside over against the Guild-Hall of the City Declaring his Innocency as to what he was Condemn'd for to the very last And indeed Heaven it self attested it for him for his Execution was follow'd with such a dreadful Storm of Wind attended with Thunder Lightning and Rain as the like has scarce happened at that time of the Year in the Memory of Man His true Crime was That he was a Zealous Protestant that had serv'd the City Faithfully in his Shrievalty and had Examined Fitz-Harris in Newgate and had like to have discovered the Depth of that cursed Design against the Protestants The same Day also one Mrs. Gaunt a Woman of great Goodness and Charity was burn'd at Tyburn for relieving a Lieutenant under Monmouth in the West himself being the Witness against her for which he had his Pardon And now the Parliament met again and the King tells them how he had Defeated Monmouth and that several Popish Officers had been very useful to him therein that he could not be without their Service and that the Militia was not sufficient without keeping up a standing Army and hopes they will help him to Defray the Charge but the Parliament address to him to Disband his Popish Officers and offers to pass an Act to Indempnify them from the Penalties they had already incurr'd in serving without having taken the Test appointed by Law This Address of the Commons was very surprising to the King who expected from them absolute Obedience without Reserve But the King was much more Surpriz'd when he understood that the Bishop of London had made a motion in the House of Lords to take the King's Speech into Consideration as fearing the Lords would concur with the Commons in their Address But the King was resolved to prevent it and therefore first Prorogued and soon after Dissolved the Parliament who had been so large in their Supplies the first Session that now too late they saw he was able to live without them The Parliament's questioning of the Popish Officers had put them all into a Fright but the Parliament being Dissolved they were all at ease again and nothing but Popish Officers and Priests and Jesuites are seen about the Court who were grown to an unparallell'd degree of Impudence And yet to find Fault with them was a Crime next to High-Treason But the King finding the Penal Laws and Tests stand as a mighty Obstacle in his way was resolv'd to remove them In order to which the Lord-Keeper North dying while Jefferies was keeping the Bloody Assizes in the West at his return back he had the Seals given him with the Title of Lord-Chancellor as a Reward for his good Service in destroying the Western Hereticks and as an encouragement to him to destroy the Penal Laws and Tests the great Bulwark against Popery And therefore dispensing Power in the King is that which must next be set up in order to effect it And the Judges must be dealt with to give their Opinions for it And I have been certainly told That the King Closetting Sir Thomas Jones about it Sir Thomas was not enough thorow paced but boggled at it and told the King He could not do it to which the King answering He would have twelve Judges of his Opinion Sir Thomas Replyed He might have twelve Judges of his Opinion but he would scarce find twelve Lawyers of his Opinion But the King was as good as his Word and made such Judges as gave their Opinions That the King might dispense with the Penal Laws and Tests out of Parliament The Papists having always look'd upon the Church of England with an evil Eye did so now more than ever they having writ several Elaborate and Learned Books in opposition to the principal Errors of Popery which they were never able to answer But they were resolv'd if they could not deal with them one way they would another and therefore the King granted a Commission for Ecclesiastical Affairs expresly contrary to Law thereby to Curb them This Commission was Granted to the Arch-bishop of Canterbury the Lord Chancellor Jefferies the Earl of Rochester the Earl of Sunderland the Bishop of Durham the Bishop of Rochester and the Lord-Chief-Justice of England But the Arch-bishop of Canterbury refusing to act in it the Bishop of Chester was added Before these Commissioners the Bishop of London was Cited and Suspended for not Suspending Dr. Sharp for Preaching a Sermon against the Corruptions and Frauds of the Church of Rome In Ireland the King having recalled the Duke of Ormond from his Lieutenancy made the Earl of Clarendon Lieutenant and Sir Charles Porter Lord-Chancellor who after their arrival there declared according to their Instructions that the King would preserve the Acts of Settlement and Explanation inviolable as the Magna-Charta of Ireland But at the same time the King having given to Collonel Richard Talbot a Man not at all belov'd by the Protestants an Independent Commission to reform the Army and he turns out those Officers that were firm to the Protestant Religion and the English Interest and puts Notorious Irish Papists in their Room and serves not only the Officers but even the private Troopers and Soldiers that were Protestants in the same manner So that one of the best principled Armies in the World both with respect to Loyalty and a firm adherence to the Protestant Religion was turn'd out and Disbanded and a parcel of Irish Popish Cut-Throats entertain'd in their places which seemed strange to the English Protestants there and not at all agreeable to what my Lord Clarendon and Sir Charles Porter had told them who were not themselves pleased with it but knew not how to help it But in England the King having established his Dispensing Power puts forth a Declaration for Liberty of Conscience pursuant to which the Goals all over England that were fill'd with Protestant Dissenters were clear'd and the Dissenters set at Liberty Who having been long oppress'd and almost ruin'd by severe Prosecutions for several Years together were now glad of a little Ease tho' the most Judicious among them saw clearly enough it was not for their Sakes but to introduce Popery that this Indulgence was principally Granted and therefore were always afraid of the Snake hid in the Grass The Episcopal Clergy who in the late Reign and the beginning of this also had been very severe to Dissenters began now to see they had
was allarmed with the News of the great Preparations making by the Dutch both by Sea and Land Upon which account the King sends to his Envoy at the Hague to put in a Memorial to the States General to know the Reason The French King also who was concern'd at it orders his Ambassador there to deliver in a Memorial upon that occasion wherein he tells the States There are such Bonds of Friendship and Alliance between his Master and the King of Great Brittain as will oblige him the French King not only to assist the King of Great Brittain but to look on the first Act of Hostility committed against him the King of Great Brittain to be a Manifest Rupture of the Peace and a Breach with his Crown This left no longer any doubt in the mind of the Prince of Orange and the States General of the private League between England and France Which was a sufficient Ground for the Prince of Orange to rescue these Kingdoms to which in Right of his Princess he was the next Heir from Popery and Arbitrary Power For he saw plainly that the Supposititions Prince was Introduc'd to wrong him and his Princess of their Right to the Succession and to subject these Kingdoms to Popery and Slavery and by consequence all Europe besides The Dutch took no notice of the French King 's Memorial but gave King James's Envoy this Answer that they had Arm'd in Imitation of his Britanick Majesty and the other Princes and that they had thereby given no just occasion of Offence in Arming when all other Princes where in motion and that they were long since convinced of the Alliance that the King his Master had treated with France and what had been mention'd to them by Monsier de Count d' Avaux in his Memorial After this Answer King James expected no good from the Dutch and lookt upon them as if they had already declar'd War against him And now the Eyes of all England were turned to Holland and expected Deliverance from thence without which they saw themselves Ruined nor did his Royal Highness the Prince of Orange deceive them but Landed with an Army of about 14000 Men at Torbay near Exeter on the Fifth day of November 1688. A day deservedly Famous in England for two eminent Deliverances from Popery Soon after his Landing he went to Exceter where he was received by the People with Shouts and Acclamations of Joy as their Deliverer as indeed he was After some little stay there he came forwards towards the South but King James to oppose him sent down his Army to Salisbury whither he also went himself but part of the Army going over to the Prince the King was so Staâ—tled at it that he thought not himself there out of Danger and so return'd to London again and as the Prince came forward he was in all places look'd upon as a Blessing sent from Heaven to rescue 'em from Popery and Slavery In the mean time King James to prevent if it were possible the impending and growing danger Restores all the Fellows of Magdalen Colledge and puts out his Proclamation for vacating all New Charters and restoring of old ones and Particularly the Charter of London was carried in great Pomp to Guild-Hall by Jefferies and given the Citizens again But for all these good things there was no body now thank'd him as being the Effects of his Fear and not of his good will The Prince's coming nearer and nearer to London the Nobility and Gentry at every Place Flocking to him and Congratulating him King James first sends away his Queen and pretended Prince to France and in a little time after withdraws himself from White-Hall and goes to Feversham where attempting to go a-board he was seiezed and rifled by the Country People and after his being known he came back to London again and was well receiv'd but the Prince being then at Windsor and designing the next Day for London King James by a Message was desir'd to with-draw himself to Ham near Kingston to avoid those Inconveniences that might Ensue But the King rather chose to go to Rochester having the Princes Guards with him to secure him from the Insults of the People there he staid two or three Days and then Privately Embark'd himself for France where he soon after ariv'd King James being thus gone away upon the Prince's coming to London he was desir'd by the Nobility and Gentry to take the Government upon him thereby to suppress the Disorders of the common People which was then very Great but by the Prince's Order soon brought to be quiet The Mass-Houses were every vvhere pull'd down and the Priests and Jesuits with the whole Popish Crew put to the Scamper Jefferies being dropt by his Master was shifting for himself but taken by the Mobb in a Seaman's Habit was carried before the Lord-Mayor and from thence sent to the Tower attended by strong Guards to keep him from being torn in Pieces by the incensed Mobb who follow'd him with Threats Curses and Execrations where sometime after he drank himself to Death and so sav'd the Hang-man a Labour The Prince of Orange having the Government put into his Hands Summons such Gentlemen as were Members of King Charles's last three Parliaments to meet at Westminster to consult what was fit to be done for the Nation which they accordingly did and desir'd the Prince that Writs might be issued out for the calling a Convention of the Estates in the Nature of a Parliament to meet in January following Which being done the Convention met at the time appointed and entering into several Debates about the present States of Affairs they came to this Result That King James by privately withdrawing himself out of his Kingdoms had Abdicated the Throne whereby it was become Vacant And so ended the Four Years Reign of King James the Second An Account of what Remarkably Occur'd since the Reign of King WILLIAM the III. and Queen MARY the II. to the Year 1606. KING James as has been mentioned having Left the Land and that in Parliament being taking for an Abdication and the Throne declared Vacant William and Mary Prince and Princess of Orange were Proclaimed King and Queen of England France and Ireland c. before White-Hall and in the City of London with the Joy of the whole Nation on the 13th of Feb. 1688 and with Convenient speed they were Proclaimed with the like satisfaction in all the Principal Places of their Dominions and the King returned the Parliament a Gracious answer to their Declaration expressing himself highly satisfied with what they had done promising to the utmost his Care and Protection for the Preservation of the Established Religion Laws and Liberties and that he should always be ready to Concur with them in any thing that should be for the Good of the Kingdom and to do all that in him lay to advance the Glory and Welfare of it and thereupon he proceeded to quiet disorders in all
were Kill'd and about 300 of lesser Note on our Part The Enemy lost 3000 and were pursued 4 Miles and upon this Defeat Drogheda Surrendred and K. James with part of his broken Army hasted to Dublin and from thence he went to Waterford where soon after he took Ship and Sailed for France and the King of England coming to Dublin was received with all imaginable Demonstrations of Joy and a great many Protestants who had been Imprisoned were set at Liberty the Papists disarmed and the Affairs in those Parts settled and many places that stood out Surrendred The Brass and Copper Money K. James had Coined as passable in that Kingdom was called in or set at the Value of the Metal only Sheriffs appointed and the Face of Justice restored Whilst these things were doing beyond the Seas an Engagement happened between the English and French off Beachy viz. on June 30. in which the Dutch Squadron being forward to gain the Weather-Gage of the Enemy received great Loss many of them being Burnt or so shattered that after the Fight they fell into the Hands of the Enemy the English red Squadron not coming up as was expected for which Miscarriage our Admiral the Earl of Torrington was Tryed but acquitted and after the Fight the French insulted our Coasts burning Tingmouth a Viâ—â—age of Fishers Cots and doing some other Damage after which they retired to their own Coast and one Godfrey Cross an Inn-keeper in Kent for going on Board the Enemy and giving Intelligence was afterward Try'd Condemned and Executed near St. Thomas's Waterings in the Kentish-road from London And this Year the King besieged Lymerick in Ireland but by reason of the Strength of the Place advancing of the Season and great Rains that over-flowed the River Shannon on which it is seated having in vain summoned it he drew off and returned to England But our Fleet standing to that Coast and the Earl of Marlborough on board it with considerable Land-Forces and joyned upon Landing by part of the Army already there they took Cork and Kinsale with little Loss at the Siege of the first the Noble Duke of Grafton amongst others pressing too forwards on the Works was Slain by a small Shot A Plot was soon after Discovered to have set the City of Dublin on Fire and in that Hurry to have fallen on the King ' Forces in Garison there and by a miserable Slaughter to have Surprized it but some Letters intimating the Intention being found by the Care of the Lord Sidney and Conningsby whom the King had appointed Lords-Justices the Mischief was prevented by securing Suspected Persons And now the Parliament of England waited on the King with their humble Addresses of Thanks for the great Things he had done for these Kingdoms and to Congratulate his happy Return and Success and the King was not slow by Marks of Honour and Promotion to Gratify those that had well-behaved themselves in the Service and among others Coll. Cuts was Created Baron of Gowran in the Kingdom of Ireland he also appointed his Privy Council there and all other Officers of State Judges and Magistrates restored such as had been outed and appointed some new Bishops causing a Regulation of the Clergy in General The Winter thus passing on the King prepared to pass the Seas to be at the Congress of Princes and Embassadors appointed at the Hague to Concert the Measures for carrying on the War against France and after he had passed several Acts and Prorogu'd the Parliament he Embarq'd with a splendid Train of Nobility and with great Difficulty by reason of the Ice it being January Landed near Maesland-sluys and being Complemented by the Deputies of the States passed to the Hague where the States General and Council of State with other Colledges made their Complements to him as also the Foreign Ministers and to make his Reception the more Magnificent three Triumphal Arches were Erected one by the States-General and two by the Magistrates with sundry Motto's and Devices Expressing the great things he had done and what more Glorious were Promised from his Heroick Virtues too many here to Enumerate and in the Evening the Cannon Illuminations Fire-works and shouts of the People spoke more loudly the Welcome of a Prince that has so well deserved of that Nation And at his first appearing in the Assembly of the States-General taking his Place at the upper-end of the Table he with many Obliging Expressions declared his Affections and good Inclinations to them in a most Elegant Speech which being deliberated on the Heer Van Wickers President of the Assembly in the name of the rest made a suitable Answer and the Duke of Brandenburg and other Princes being met a League and strict Amity was agreed on for restoring the Peace and Tranquility of Europe in reducing by Arms the Grand Disturber of it to Reason and a Restitution of what he had wrongfully either by Surprize or Vioolence taken from the Confederates for which War had been Proclaimed by them Whilst the King was thus busy beyond the Seas some ill-affected Persons were Designing at home to betray our Strengths into the Hands of the Common Enemy by giving account of the Ports Shipping and what else might facilitate an Invasion and on this account the Lord Preston John Ashton and Edmund Elâ—ot were seized in a Smack as they were passing out of the River of Thames by Captain Billop and Papers of Dangerous Consequence found with which they were designed for France for which the two first being Tryed and found Guilty of High-Treason Ashton was Executed The King having appointed the Baron D' Ginkle chief Commander of his Forces in Ireland having received Supplies and Stores from England he besieged Ballymore which surrendred upon Discretion And having Garisoned it the Army marched and set down before Athlone where they had put up French Colours to make him believe the Garison mostly consisted of that Nation However a Breach being made and succeeded by a vigorous Attack the Base Town was soon won and the other followed the same Fate in a short time tho' their whole Army lay behind it and the Soldiers furiously entring a great many were put to the Sword This was no sooner Repaired and Garisoned but the Army pursued the Retreating Enemy and in a long-Contested Battel at Aghrim gave them a total Rout so that they never considerably appeared in the Field after it St. Ruth the French General was slain with a Cannon-shot at the beginning of the Fight and all their Cannon Baggage Ammunition and Plunder of the Camp fell to the share of our Men. And being Refreshed they marched to Galloway which place after a considerable Battery was Surrendred on Articles and the Garison marched to Lymerick which was the next place besieged but holding out Obstinately and having in it a numerous Garison it was thought fit after a considerable Siege to grant advantagious Articles and as many as would had leave to depart the Kingdom And