Treaty a Determination fitting only for God Almighty since none but He can tell the terms of Peace who knows the event of War You desire him not to suffer a Ship of theirs to come from France under pain of Confiscation not excepting Allies Prince or Ambassadors if any among them that he does not believe any Assembly of Men ever gave so great and publick a provocation to the whole World without so much as considering to provide one Ship Regiment or penny towards justifying it that however if by your assistance he may be put into Armes sufficient for such a Work He will not be weary till Christendom be restored to such a Peace that it shall not be in the power of any one Prince to disturb it that the Rights of making and managing War and Peace are in His Majesty and if you think he will depart from any part of that Right you are mistaken the Reins of Government are in his hands and he hath the same care to preserve them there as to preserve his own Person he keeps both for his Peoples protection and safety and that if this House will encourage His Majesty to go further in Alliances you must consider of raising speedy supplies for from the consideration of those he must take his measures Some things of note however were done before the Supply was concluded The House of Commons took off all written Protections which had been by some Members granted to such as were not really their Servants to an incredible number Voting no Protection allowable to any but their Menial Servants actually in Service and that without a written Certificate And now was the Earl of Shaftsbury releas'd from his Confinement in the Tower where he had been close Prisoner ever since last Spring and restored to his place in Parliament having first made the following Submission at the Lords Bar Feb. 25. viz. 1. I do acknowledge that my endeavouring to maintain that this Parliament was Dissolved was an ill advised Action for which I humbly beg pardon of the Kings Majesty and this most Honourable House 2. I do acknowledge that my bringing a Writ of Habeas Corpus in the Kings Bench was a high violation of your Lordships Priviledge and a great aggravation of my former offence for all which I beg pardon Subscribed Shaftsbury The next Day he sate in the House of Lords On the 27. The City was not a little Allarm'd with the French Kings taking of Ghent and the great danger of several other places of note in Flanders That Night were sent from London 12 Companys of Foot for Ostend follow'd the next Day by the Dukes of Monmouth and Albermarle the Earls of Mulgrave and Plymouth c. most of which Lords soon after return'd About a Fortnight after this a Poll-Bill for raising Monys past both Houses and presently after the Commons express their impatiency for a War their Transactions running in these Terms March 14. Upon several motions made for considering of the deplorable condition of the Nation resolved in a Committee of the whole House That it is the opinion of this Committee that an Address be presented to the King humbly to advise His Majesty that His Majesty to quiet the minds of his Loyal Subjects and to encourage the Princes and States Confederates against the French King would be graciously pleased to proclaim and enter into an actual War with the French King and to give his Majesty assurances that this House will constantly stand by and aid His Majesty in the prosecution thereof with necessary and plentiful suppplies and assistances and that His Majesty will presently dismiss the French Ambassador and recal his from France and Niminghen Which Address was the next Day drawn up accordingly and sent to the Lords for their Concurrence but never proceeded further Wednesday 27th of March the Parliament was Adjourn'd by the Kings Order till the 11th of April being the Week after Easter the King having first Sign'd the Poll-Bill in which was a strict Appropriating Clause for the Mony so Levy'd to be applied to no use but the intended French War also another Clause Prohibiting the Importation of any French Commodities for Three Years Soon after which the French King prohibited ours for Ten Years Thursday the 11th of April the Parliament met again and Adjourn'd to the Monday following at which time by the Kings appointment they chose a New Speaker in the House of Commons Sir Robert Sawyer one of the Kings Council Learned and a great Practicer in the Exchequer and from thence Adjourn'd over to Monday the 29th of April During these Intervals a strict Fast is kept on Wednesday the 10th of April in London and the Wednesday Fortnight following through England to implore Gods Blessing upon His Majesty and his Kingdoms and for the averting of Gods Judgments Monday the 29th of April the Houses met again the King and Lords in their Robes My Lord Chancellor in a long Speech recited all the Addresses that they had made in relation to a War with France what the King had already done in pursuance of the same and joyning an effectual League with the Confederates to that end and how ready the King was to pursue their desires but that now he discovered the Dutch were entring upon a Treaty of Peace with the French King and that without his consent or privity and therefore His Majesty demands the advice of his Houses how to proceed Monday following being the 6th of May Sir Robert Sawyer excused himself in a Letter that he could not attend the House by reason that he was taken very ill of the Stone occasioned by his long sitting last Saturday whereupon the Old Speaker was again chosen and reinstated in the Chair The same Day the King returned a short Answer to an Address of the House of Commons Voted on the said last Saturday which contain'd their humble Advice that he would forthwith enter into the present Alliance with the Confederates and an Actual War with France c. To which this Answer was read by one of the Secretaries of State viz. C. R. HIs Majesty having been acquainted with the Votes of the 4th Instant is very much surprized both with the matter and manner of them but if His Majesty had had Exceptions to neither yet His Majesty having asked the Advice of both the Houses doth not think fit to give any Answer to any thing of that nature till he hath a concurrent Advice of both Houses Among which mentioned Votes of the 4th Instant beside the Advice abovesaid this was past by a majority of 16 Voices That the late Leagues made with the States-General of the United Provinces are not pursuant to the Addresses of this House nor consistant with the good and safety of the Kingdom In the mean time the Commons are not at all discouraged with this Answer but draw up an Address and present it to the King at Whitehall on Saturday the 11th of May in the afternoon
of His Majestys Revenue by the Prohibiting Act it was carry'd in the Negative Yeas 145 Noes 202. Saturday the 22th of June the Lords sent down the Bill for Disbanding with an enlargement of the time prefixt for one Month longer to which the Commons would not agree but desired a Conference at which to give their Lordships the reasons why they could not consent to the alteration Monday the 25th of July the Parliament was Prorogued to the first of August the King having then past the following Bills 1. An Act for granting a supply to His Majesty of 619388 l. 11 s. 9 d. for Disbanding the Army and other uses therein mentioned 2. An Act for granting an Additional Duty to His Majesty upon Wines for Three Years 3. An Act to enable Creditors to recover their Debts of the Executors and Administrators of Executors in their own wrong 4. An Act for Burying in Woollen 5. An Act for Admeasurement of Keels and Boats carrying Coals 6. An Act for Reviving a former Act of the 13th of this King ch 2. for avoiding unnecessary Suits and delays and for continuance of an other Act of 22. 23. Car ' 2. ch 10. touching intestates Estates 7. An Act for further Relief and Discharge of poor Prisoners for Debt 8. An Act touching Highways 9. An Act for preservation of Fishing in the River Severn On which said first of August they being again met they were again Prorogued over to the 29th Day of the same Month. Soon after that also there came out a Proclamation requiring a full Assembly at the said 29th Day But in the mean time the French being beaten from the Siege of Mons by the English chiefly under Command of my Lord of Ossery on the part of the Prince of Orange the King Issued out another Proclamation dated the 8th of August whereby reciting the last Proclamation but in regard the State of Affairs abroad was alter'd since then he is pleas'd to Prorogue the Houses over till the first Day of October next requiring then a full Assembly after this it was again Prorogued to the 21st of October In the mean time a Peace is concluded between France Spain and Holland and a Truce for some Months with the Emperor On Saturday Sunday Monday and Tuesday the 28th 29th and 30th of September and first of October the Privy-Council sate twice a Day The business a Popish Plot several were committed and others examin'd among whom Sir George Wakeman Physician to the Queen and Mr. Coleman belonging to Her Royal Highness the Dutchess of York which said Dutchess went with the Lady Ann that very Tuesday Morning to visit the Princess of Orange designing a stay only of 14 Days This Discovery of a Plot opening every Day more and more the aforesaid Mr. Coleman and Mr. Langhorn of the Temple were committed close Prisoners with several others their Studies search'd their Papers seized and sent to Whitehall And now just before the meeting of the Parliament one Sir Edmondbury Godfrey a Justice of the Peace in Middlesex a severe Enemy of the Papists as by some reported was found Dead in a Ditch not far from Hampstead He appear'd to the Coroners Jury to be strangled tho' afterwards his own Sword was run through him and so found with Money in his Pocket This was lookt on by the Town as a Confirmation of the above-mention'd Plot. On the appointed 21st of October the Houses met The Kings Speech contain'd these words and these words only concerning the Plot I have been informed of a Design against my Person by Jesuites of which I shall forbear any Opinion lest I may seem to say too much or too little but leave the matter to the Law The Chancellor on the same Head had these Expressions And tho' His Majesty doth in no sort prejudg the Persons accused yet the strict enquiry into this matter hath been a means to Discover so many other unwarrantable Practices of theirs that His Majesty hath reason to look to ' em The Examination of this Plot and the concurrent Murder of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey employ'd the Commons so assiduously that towards the beginning of this Session they sate whole Days from Morning till late at Night The Product was a Fast Voted the minutes and Votes of the House of Commons forbid to be divulg'd several Lords Committed Bellasis Arundel of Warder Powis Stafford Petre Castlemain c. Soon after this came out a Proclamation appointing a Fast through all England on the 13th Day of November Thursday the 31st of October the House of Commons resolved upon the Evidence that hath already appear'd to this House this House is of Opinion That there hath been and is an Execrable and Hellish Design contrived and carry'd on by Popish Recusants for Assassinating and Murthering the King for Subverting the Government and for destroying the Protestant Religion by Law Establisht The same Day Sir Edmundbury Godfrey was Buried The Solemnity proceeded from Bridewell to St. Martins in the Fields 72 London Ministers Marching two and two before the Body and above 1000 Men in the same Order following after The next Day in pursuance of an Address presented to the King by the Commons the Saturday before came out a Proclamation whereby all Papists or such reputed be Banisht 10 Miles from London and Westminster to remove themselves by the 7th Day of November except Housholders and they to take the Oaths or suffer the Penalties inflicted by Law The same Day the Commons in Parliament resolved That an Address be made to the King that the Trained-Bands of London Westminster and Surry be rais'd for preservation of His Majestys Person and the Parliament during this Session On Munday the 4th of November came out an Order of the King in Council proposing That whoever can Discover any Officer or Soldier in any of the Kings Guards Horse or Foot who has taken the Oaths and Test and since turn'd Papist such Discoverer shall have 20 l. for every Man so Discovered Monday the 4th of November It was moved in the House of Commons that an Address be made to the King to remove the Duke of York from his Presence and Councils but the debate was Adjourn'd over to Fryday next at which time it being again moved the debate was again Adjorn'd over to Thursday following The next Day being Saturday the 9th of November His Majesty went to the Lords House in His Robes and made a Speech to both Houses Wherein after he had return'd them His most hearty Thanks for their very great and extraordinary care for preservation of His Person in this time of Danger He told 'em That he was as ready to joyn with them in all ways and means that may Establish a firm security to the Protestant Religion as their own Hearts can wish and this not only during His Life but in future Ages even to the end of the World And therefore He is come to assure 'em that whatsoever reasonable Bills they shall
Kings Bench being removed to be Chief Justice in the Common Pleas and Sir Edmund Saunders of the Middle Temple made Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench. On St. Thomas's Day the Election began for Common-Council Men in London which went generally for the Royallists and accordingly at the first Common-Council that was held it was caried by the Majority of Votes That thanks should be return'd to Sir John Moor for his good Administration of the Office of Lord Mayor last year which was done accordingly Before I conclude this 34th year of His Majesties Reign I must observe that this year was remarkable for the coming of Two very Extraordinary Embassadours to our Soveraign never known before in England One was from the Emperour of Fez and Morocco his name Hamet Ben Hamet Ben Haddu Ottor a Man of great Eminency in his own Country as report says His business about setling a Peace with Tangier much respected he was here carest at Court and at both the Universities and he seemed to express no less esteem for our Nation But at his return upon what account I know not he was reported to be received by his Master with disgrace The other Embassadour was from the King of Bantham or Surosoam in the East-Indies His business about the East-India Trade The end of this year was also remarkable for several new Titles of Honour to which His Majesty was pleased to promote several Eminent persons who had for their signal Loyalty deserved His Favour viz. 1. The Duke of Ormond Created a Duke of the Kingdom of England but by his old Title of Ormond 2. The Marquiss of Worcester Created Duke of Beaufort 3. The Lord Norris Created Earl of Abingdon 4. The Vicount Campden Created Earl of Gainsborow 5. Conniers Lord Darcy Created Earl of Holderness 6. The Lord Windsor Created Earl of Plimouth 7. The Lord Townsend Created Vicount Townsend of Raynham 8. Sir Thomas Thinne Baronet Created Baron Thinne of Warminster and Vicount Weymouth 9. Collonel George Legg Created Baron of Dartmouth 10. The Lord Allington Created a Baron of this Kingdom by the Title of Baron of Wymandley 11. Ralf Stawell Esq Created Lord Stawell of Somerton Also Collonel Churchill was Created Lord Churchill of Ay mouth in the Kingdom of Scotland On the 20th of January departed this Life in Holland Anthony Earl of Shaftsbury who had left this Kingdom some Months before under the Imputation of Treasonable Machinations and sled for the protection of those States to whom he had formerly when Lord Chancellor of England applied the old Roman Threat Delenda est Carthago Anno 35. Car. 2. Anno Dom. 1683. THe Horses of England are Famous on many Accounts among others for Racing It was upon this Consideration that the French King invited into France several of our most Noted Racers by exposing a Plate or Prize of 1000 Pistoles to be run for before him in the Plain d' Achere near St Germain en lay And accordingly on the 25th of Feb. S. N. the said Race was Run before the King Queen and Dauphin by several of our prime Horses where the Duke of Monmouth's Horse won and was afterwards purchased by the said King Also that King partly upon this account was pleas'd at that time to countenance the Honourable Bernard Howard Esq a younger Brother of the Duke of Norfolk so far as to allow him to come in his Coach within the Louvre a Preheminence due only to the Princes of the Blood and some few others of highest quality in France In March ill news arrived from the East Indies importing the loss of the great Town of Bantham to the Dutch who under colour of assisting the Rebel Prince of Bantham against the King his Father came with forces and seized upon the Town turning out the English there to the great Damage of our English Factory who for a further weight to their sufferings about the same time lost their Ship Joanna cast away at Sea outward bound and in her above 10000 l. On Thursday the 22th of March happn'd a suddain Fire at Newmarket about 8 in the Evening which Consumed a great part of that Town but by the Providence of God came not on that side of the Way where the Kings Palace stood The Monday following the King Queen Duke and Dutchess Returned to Whitehall where the Court continued till Saturday the 14th of April on which Day His Majesty and His Royal Court Departed to Windsor On Tuesday the 24th of April happen'd one of the most famous and Extraordinary Exploits that was ever known in London One Broom Clark of Skinners Hall and Coroner of London having a Latitat out of the Kings Bench in an Action upon the Case at the Suit of Mr. Papillon and Mr. Dubois against my Lord Mayor Sheriff North and several Loyal Aldermen the said Broom acquainting them with the Writ they all submitted to his Arrest and went with him as Prisoners to Skinners Hall and there remain'd under his Custody till one a Clock at Night In the mean time 8 Companies of the Militia are raised by order of the Leutenancy and are posted all that Night in several parts of the City to prevent any Tumults which might happen on so new a thing as the Arrest and detainer of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London a thing never heard of before in the times of Peace And it so happen'd that one Fletcher a Common Serjeant of the Poultry Counter having an Action of Debt upon Bond of 400 l. against the said Broom which Action had been enter'd the Week past and Broom acquainted with it who promised to give Bail but the Serjeant finding that promise not perform'd and perceiving him to act so Malipertly with the Chief Magistrates of the City he makes no further delay but Arrests his person in Skinners Hall and carries him forthwith to the Counter Broom being thus gone and no body left in Charge of my Lord Mayor and his fellow Prisoners they demanded if there was any about the House that had any orders to detain 'em any longer in that place which being Answer'd in the Negative they all departed peacibly to their several homes On Tuesday the 8th of May was Tryed at Guild-Hall before my Lord Chief Justice Saunders the Great Riot committed last June at the Election of Sheriffs for London and Middlesex And this was upon an Information exhibited in the Crown Office by Mr. Attorney-General of which I made mention formerly Upon a full Evidence 14 persons were found Guilty viz. The then Sheriffs Pilkinton and Shute The Lord Gray of Wark Sir Thomas Player Cornish Bethel Jinks Goodenough Deagle Jekel Freeman Wickham Keys and Swinock On the Last Day but one of Trinity-Term they were all Fined severally as follows Pilkinton 500 l. Shute 1000 Marks Cornish the same Summ Lord Gray the same Sir Thomes Player 500 Marks Bethel 1000 Marks Jinks 300 Marks Deagle 400 Marks Freeman 300 Marks Goodenough 500 Marks Keys 100 Marks
present to be past into Laws to make them safe in the Reign of His Successor so as they intend not to Impeach the Right of Succession nor the Discent of the Crown in the true Line and also as they restrain not any Power or just Right of His Protestant Successor such Bills shall find from him a ready concurrence Soon after this came out another Proclamation whereby all Roman Recusants and such reputed were enjoyn'd under the Penalty of the Laws to repair to their own homes and not to remove more than Five Miles from thence without Licence Excepted out of this Proclamation the Inhabitants of London and Westminster Monday the 18th of November the House of Commons being informed that Sir Joseph Williamson Secretary of State had lately Countersigned several Commissions for Roman Recusant Officers with a Non-obstante to the Oaths and Test he was by the said House Committed to the Tower The next Day the King sent for the Commons to attend him at the Banquetting-House and told 'em That tho' they Committed His Servant without acquainting him yet He intends to be freer with them and acquaint them with His intentions to release His Secretary which accordingly He did that Day About this time a Bill having been sent up from the Commons to the Lords House for Excluding all Popish Members to sit in either House of Parliament it was past in the said Lords House with some little alterations and a Clause in Favour of His Royal Highness and the said Bill being sent back to the Commons it past there also November 21st with the said alterations but not without some difficulty for Sir Jonathan Trelauny and one Mr. Ash being heated in debate and words of reproach passing between 'em Sir Jonathan struck the other a cuff on the Ear which being return'd by Ash over the Face they were both about to Draw but this disturbance being at last quieted by the Speaker Trelauny was sent to the Tower there to remain all this Sessions and Ash received a Reprimande from the Speaker About the same time came out an Order of Council explaining the late Proclamation whereby all Papists were Banisht 10 Miles from London not to extend to Merchant strangers and such Outlandish who repair hither on the account of Travail And now the Commons begin to look towards the Army again resolving November 25. That it is necessary for the safety of His Majesty's Person and Preservation of the Government that the Forces raised since the 29th of November 77. be forthwith paid off and Disbanded and for this the King requires more Mony In the mean time Oats the great Discoverer of the Plot accuses the Queen hereupon the King places a stricter Guard upon him than ever but the Commons Novemb. 29. order an Address to be made to His Majesty That the said Oats be freed from his restraint attended by his own Servants and that a competent allowance be appointed for his maintenance and that the Queen with all her Servants and all Popish Recusants or such suspected be removed from Whitehall Saturday Novemb. 30. the King had two Bills presented to him one of which viz For Exclusion of all Popish Members to fit in either House of Parliament with a Clause in favour of the Duke of York He past The other which was for raising a third part of the Militia to be in constant Arms for a time He refused alledging That that were to put the Militia out of his Power which thing He would not do no not for one hour but if the Parliament will assist Him with Money for that purpose He will take care to raise such a part of the Militia as shall secure the Peace of the Government and His own Person In the mean time while these things are transacting in Parliament one William Staly a Goldsmiths Son a Roman Recusant is Arraigned at the Kings Bench Bar found guilty and condemned of High Treason for speaking certain words against the Kings Life and accordingly was hanged and quartered at Tyburn but on Petition the King granted his Quarters to his Father who abusing the Kings mercy buried him in Covent-Garden Church-yard with too much State and Ceremony for which reason by His Majesties Order his Quarters were that very night taken up conveyed to Newgate and soon after set up on the Gates of London The same week that Staly was executed Mr. Coleman was arraigned and tryed at the aforesaid Bar and condemned of High Treason The Evidence was the aforementioned Oats and one Bedloe and his own Letters but both the aforesaid Tryals being in Print I shall take no farther notice of particulars The King gave back all Mr. Colemans Estate to his Wife and Children and his Quarters to be Buried Thursday December 4 The Commons Impeacht the Lords Arundel of Warder Bellasis Poâ—is Petre and Stafford of Treason other high Crimes and Misdemeanors severally which several Impeachments were carried up by five several Members of the House of Commons Two Days before the said Lords had been found Guilty upon special Indictments to the same purpose by the Grand Jury of Middlesex before special Commissioners sitting at Westminster but now for some Reasons those proceedings were waved and it was thought more effectual to proceed by way of Impeachment before the House of Lords in Parliament Tuesday December the 17th Ireland Pickering and Groves were Condemned of High Treason as Conspirators in the Plot but their Execution was respited for some time At the same time Whitebread and Fenwick were arraigned but their Tryal put off till the 15th of January And now some of the Members of Parliament begin to accuse one another December the 23d Mr. Mountigue Son to the Lord Mountigue and late Ambassador in France now a Burgess for Northampton carries up five Articles against the Lord Treasurer and Sir John Earnly another Member of the House of Commons accuses the said Mr. Mountigue of holding a Correspondence with the Popes Nuncio at Paris In the mean time the Parliament sit incessantly without Adjournment these Hollidays but only for Christmas-Eve and Christmas Day requiring a full appearance of all their Members not disabled as well Lords as Commons enjoyning all in Town not to depart under strict penalties and sending their Messengers for all absent in the Country But it pleas'd the King on Monday the 30th of December to Prorogue both Houses till the 4th of February following Not long before which the Commons had given more Mony for the Disbanding the Army but inserted a Clause in the Bill for the Mony to be paid into the Chamber of London which proviso would not pass in the Lords House and therefore the Bill remain'd abort During this Interval the Reports were various touching the next sitting it being sometimes affirmed that the Session was further Prorogued till the 25th of February then again that the Parliament would certainly meet at the 4th of February the Day first appointed till at last on the 24th Day of
undecent Expressions was by order of the Lords House burnt by the Common Hangman at the Exchange and in the Pallace yard On the 4th of January His Majesty was pleased to send His Message to the House of Commons in Answer to their Address of December 21. abovemention'd in which Message He let them know That he had received their Address with all the disposition they could wish to comply with their reasonable Desires but upon perusal of it he was sorry to see their thoughts so wholly fixt on the Bill of Exclusion as to determine that all other remedies for the Suppressing of Popery will be ineffectual That His Majesty is confirm'd in His opinion against That Bill by the Judgment of the House of Lords who rejected it That He thinks there remains nothing more for Him to say in Answer to the foresaid Address then to recommend to this House the Consideration of all other means for the preservation of the Protestant Religion to which they have no reason to doubt His concurrence whensoever they shall be presented to Him in a Parliamentary way And in conclusion again He urges them to the preservation of Tangeir On the Friday following being the 7th of January the House entred upon the Consideration of the said Message and resolve as the opinion of the House That there is no security or safety for the Protestant Religion the Kings Life or the Well constituted and establisht Government of this Kingdom without passing a Bill for disabling James Duke of York to inherit the Imperial Crown of England and Ireland and the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging and that to rely upon any other means or remedies without such a Bill is not only insufficient but dangerous That till such a Bill be past this House cannot give any Supply to His Majesty without danger to His Majesties person Extream hazard of the Protestant Religion and unfaithfullness to those by whom this House is intrusted That all persons who advised His Majesty in His last Message to this House to insist upon an opinion against the Bill for Excluding the Duke of York have given Pernicious Council to His Majesty and are Promoters of Popery and Enemies to the King and Kingdom And as such they name George Earl of Hallifax Henry Marquiss of Worcester Henry Earl of Clarendon against which as also against Lewis Earl of Feversham and Laurence Hide Esq they Vote an Address to be presented to His Majesty to remove them from all Offices of Honour and Profit and from His Majesties Councils and Presence for ever They further Vote and Resolve the same day That whosoever shall herafter Lend or cause to be Lent by way of advance any Mony upon the Branches of the Kings Revenue arising by Customs Excise or Hearth Mony shall be adjudg'd to hinder the sitting of Parliaments and shall be responsible for the same in Parliament On the Monday following being the 10th of Jan. the King was pleas'd to determin this Session by Proroguing the Parliament to the 20th day of Jan. then next following at the same time passing only Two Publick Bills viz. One about Irish Cattel and One about Burying in Woollen The House of Commons were it seems aware of this Prorogation and therefore that very morning the first thing they did after they were sate and before the Usher of the Black Rod came in they Resolved That whosoever advised His Majesty to Prorogue this Parliament to any other purpose then in Order to the passing of a Bill for the Exclusion of James Duke of York is a Betrayer of the King the Protestant Religion and of the Kingdom of England a Promoter of the French Interest and a Pensioner to France On the 13th of Jan. a Court of Common Council being Assembled in London they ordered to be drawn up and Presented to the King a Petition setting forth That whereas the Parliament had convicted one of the 5 Popish Lords in the Tower and were about to convict the other 4 of High Treason That they had Impeacht the Chief Justice Scroggs and were about to impeach other Judges and all this in order to the preservation of His Majesties Life the Protestant Religion and Government That they were much surprized to see the Parliament Prorogued in the hight of their buisiness That their only hopes were that this was done only in order to bring such Affairs about again as were necessary to the Settling the Nation They therefore pray'd that His Majesty would be pleas'd to let the Parliament sit at the day appointed and so to continue till they had effected the great Affairs before them To this effect were the words of their Petition which was further ordered to be delivered that night or as soon as may be by the Lord Mayor attended with the new Recorder George Treby Esq and certain Members of the Court of Aldermen and Common Council But before the said 20th day of Jan. arrived the King was pleased by his Proclamation bearing date at Whitehall Jan. 18. to dissolve this Parliament and intimate His Royal pleasure and intentions to call an other to sit on the 21st of March following at Oxford Not long after this viz. on the 25th of Jan. the Earl of Essex and other Lords Presented to the King a Petition setting forth That whereas the Nation and His Majesties Person were in imminent danger from the Papists unto which no stop or remedy could be provided unless by a Parliament That several Parliaments being call'd and assembled they were Prorogued and dissolved before any sufficient order could be taken therein c. That His Majesty had been prevailed with to call another at Oxford where neither Lords or Commons can be in safety but will be dayly exposed to the Swords of the Papists and their adherents the liberty of speaking thereby destroyed and the validity of their Acts and proceedings left disputable the straightness of the place unfit for such a Concourse of persons as now follows every Parliament and the Witnesses which are necessary to give Evidence upon the Commons Impeachment unable to bear the charges of such a Journey and unwilling to trust themselves under the Protection of a Parliament that is it self evidently under the Power of Guards and Soldiers They therefore pray that the Parliament may sit at Westminster This was subscribed Monmouth Kent Huntington Bedford Salisbury Clare Stamford Essex Shaftsbury Mordant Evers Pâ—get Grey Herbert Howard Delamer About the same time the King was pleased to displace my Lord Sunderland from the Office of Secretary of State and to confer the said Office on my Lord Conway and several other Members of the Privy Council were then also alter'd And thus concluded the 32d year of His Majesties Reign observable for divers matters but above all for the Transactions of the Lords in Parliament who by their Prudent and Judicious proceedings on the 15th of November defeated the industrious malice of the Dukes Enemies by rejecting the Bill past by the Commons
which the Religion may be preserved and the Monarchy not destroy'd that therefore they would provide for Religion and Government together with regard to one another because they support one another and that they would make the known Establisht Laws of the Land the Rules and Measures of all their Votes because He is resolved they shall be His. After this Speech the Commons return'd to their House and Chose for their Speaker William Williams Esq who had managed that Office in the last Parliament Who being the next Day presented made a Speech to the King and claim'd by humble Address as his Words were The Antient Rights of the Commons Nothing of extraordinary note passed till Saturday the 26th of March on which Day it was that the House of Commons were informed that the Lords had refused to proceed upon the Impeachment of the Commons against Edward Fitz-Harris for High Treason but had directed that he should be proceeded against at the Common Law Hereupon they Vote That this refusal of the Lords to proceed in Parliament upon such Impeachment is a Denial of Justice and a Violation of the Constitutions of Parliaments an Obstruction to the further Discovery of the Popish Plot and of great Danger to His Majesties Person and the Protestant Religion And further they resolve That for any inferior Court to proceed against Edward Fitz-Harris or any other Person lying under an Impeachment in Parliament for the same Crimes for which he or they stand Impeached is an high breach of the Priviledge of Parliament On the Monday following the Bill against the Duke of York was Read the first time and Order'd a second Reading When on a suddain the King sends for the Commons up to the House of Lords and tells them That He perceived heats betwixt the Lords and them and therefore He had Order'd the Chancellor to Dissolve the present Parliament which he accordingly did immediately The same Day the King left Oxford and came to Windsor that Night the next Morning by Eight a Clock to Whitehall Not long after this His Majesty was pleas'd to Publish in Print a Declaration to all his Loving Subjects in which He set forth the Reasons which induced Him to Dissolve His two last Parliaments His reasonable desires which He had proposed to 'em with their unwarrantable proceedings in return declaring however that He is not yet out of Love with Parliaments but that He will frequently advise with them as His great Council which He hopes ere long to find in a better Temper much to this purpose were the Contents of that Declaration which by His Majesties Order in Council was appointed to be Read in all Churches and Chappels About the same time all the Factious News call'd Domestick Intelligence and Weekly Printed for Francis Smith Ben. Harris and Langly Curtis were by Order of Council as reported put down and silenced And the abovemention'd Francis Smith a Notorious Libel Printer was Committed to Newgate In Easter Term this year Sir Francis Pemberton became Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench in the Room of Sir William Scroggs who had obtain'd a Writ of Ease Great Expectation there was to see what the Court would do in the Case of Edward Fitz-Harris and some Hesitation the Grand-Jury of Middlesex of which one Mr. Godfrey Brother and Heir to the late Sir Edmundbury Godfrey was the Foreman made to receive the Bill of Indictment against him in regard he had been Impeacht by the House of Commons till they were inform'd and satisfied by the Court that all the Judges of England had the Day before met and resolved upon that question Nemine Contrad cente that they might lawfully proceed in the Tryal notwithstanding the aforemention'd Votes of the House of Commons after this the said Jury found the Bill and Fitz-Harris was Arraign'd at the Bar on the last Day of April he was thrice bid to hold up his Hand insisting upon the Impeachment in Parliament but at last he held up his Hand and heard his Indictment Read which was for High Treason exprest in a certain Writing call'd The True Englishman full of most horrid Expressions against the King as if he were a Conspirator in the Plot and exciting the Nation to rise as one Man against him c. To which Indictment he put into Court a Dilatory Plea against the Jurisdiction alledging that he being Impeacht by the Commons in Parliament he cannot be Tryed here but this Plea not being under Councils Hand was refused to be received however the Court gave him time to consider whether he would stand by such a Plea in regard it might be fatal unto him in case it should be over-Ruled and assign'd him for Council Sir Francis Winnington Mr. Williams Mr. Pollexfen and Mr. Wallop as he desired to argue the said Point of Judicature next Wednesday if he persisted in such Plea On the said Wednesday being the 4th of May the Prisoner was again brought to the Bar attended with His Council at which time the Kings Attorney Sir Robert Sawyer enter'd a Demurrer to the Prisoners Plea and insisted chiefly on the manifest defect of form in regard the Plea run that the said Fitz-Harris was Impeacht at the late Parliament at Oxford de Alta proditione but does not say of what sort or manner of Treason nor sets forth the Impeachment at large which a Plea ought to do when it is to the Jurisdiction After this the Council of the Prisoner joyn'd in Demurrer but upon their earnest motion tho' opposed by the Attorney General time was given them to next Saturday Morning to maintain the said Plea by Argument if they can At which time it was argued largely by Williams Winnington Wallop and Pollexfen for the Prisoner and by the Attorney General the Sollicitor Serjeant Jeoffreys and Sir Francis Withens for the King the Kings Council and also the Court declaring that they medled not at all with the Priviledge of the House of Commons or Jurisdiction of the Lords in Parliament which was not in the Point tho in truth the Council for the Prisoner would fain have put that upon 'em but only as to the form of the Plea After all the debate which lasted from 8 till after 12 that Day the Lord Chief Justice declar'd that the Court would take a convenient time to consider before they gave their Judgment On the Wednesday following being the 11th of May the Prisoner being again brought to the Bar by the Lieutenant of the Tower my Lord Chief Justice in the Name of the whole Court gave Judgment and declar'd That he and his Brothers had Consider'd of the Plea that they had also consulted with others of the Judges and that himself Justice Jones and Justice Raymond were of opinion that the Plea was insufficient Dolbin doubting the Plea was therefore over ruled and the Prisoner ordered to Plead over and accordingly he pleaded not Guilty and alledging that a material Evidence on his part was now in
of this City and in this and all other things this Court will endeavor to maintain the Rights and Priviledges of the Chair and of the whole City and wherein ye think that we do otherwise the Law must Judge between us With this Answer the Lord Mayor commanded them in the Kings name to depart He also commanded Sheriff Pilkinton to go out and cause 'em to depart which Mr. Sheriff could not disobey thô he himself and all that party were dissatisfied with the Answer And thus this matter rested at that time Wednesday 9th of Aug. the King was pleased to send Sir Lionel Jenkins to fetch the Privy Seal from the Earl of Anglesey which was accordingly deliver'd up And in the beginning of Michaelmass Term following disposed to the Marquiss of Hallifax On the 15th day of August the Dutchess of York was deliver'd at St. James's of a Daughter which was on the 16th day Baptized by the Bishop of London and named Charlotte-Maria The God-father was the Duke of Ormond the Countesses of Clarendon and Arundel Godmothers But the Infant dyed in less than 3 Months During this Long Vacation Mr. Box who had been chosen Sheriff to serve with Mr. North did think fitting to fine rather than take upon him the Office Hereupon the Lord Mayor at a Common Hall held the 19th of September proposed the Electing of an other Sheriff in his place which thô much opposed by the adverse party crying no North no North no Election c. Yet the Lord Mayor went on in the Election and by the Majority of his party Peter Rich Esq a Lieutenant Collonel in Southwark and twice a Burgess in Parliament for that Burrough was chosen and so declar'd whereupon the Mayor dissolved the Court and returned to his House Notwithstanding which the two Sheriffs continued the Assembly and put the question to their own party then remaining the other side being departed with the Mayor whether they wou'd abide by their former choice of Papillon and Dubois or not and thereupon notwithstanding that the Mayor sent 'em word the Court was dissolved and requir'd 'em to depart made a Pole and then cast up their Books and declared the said Papillon and Dubois Sheriffs Elect. But the next Morning my Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen waiting upon the King at Whitehall gave a full account of the Proceedings Whereupon the two Sheriffs were sent for to the Council severely checkt and told that they had been Guilty of a High Misdemeaner and in fine dismist upon good Bail to Answer to an Information for the same On the 28th of September in the morning Mr. Dudly North and Mr. Rich were according to Custom sworn Sheriffs of London and Middlesex before the Lord Mayor in the Hustings At which time to prevent a Tumult a Company of the City-Train-Bands were drawn up in Guild-Hall The 30th of September the said Sheriffs were presented by the Recorder in the Exchequer and Sworn there the old Sheriffs giving up their Office at the same time But on Michaelmass day being the Customary time for Election of a Lord Mayor of London the Faction Muster'd their utmost Strength against Sir William Prichard the next in Course setting up against him not only Gould but Cornish who had been Sheriff but the year before and at the first appearance Gould and Cornish had the Majority of Votes till at last upon a long Scrutiny and a thorough examination into the Capacity of the Voters it was found that a great number had appear'd for them who were not legally intituled to Voices no less as reported than 60 of one Company viz. the Merchant Taylors which kind of people being struck out of the Number it appeared that Sir William Prichard had 2138 Votes and Gould 2124. Whereupon on the 25th day of October Sir William was by the Court of Aldermen declar'd at Guild-Hall Lord Mayor Elect and the usual Ceremonies then and there perform'd to him as such with mighty acclamations from all the Loyal party in London The 30th of October he was Sworn at Westminster At which Solemnity some Factious Companies refused to attend as other years On the 6th of November the 5th happening on a Sunday the Rabble were so unruly after the Bonfires that they gather'd together in a great number at least 1500. Crying a Monmouth and knocking down such as they suspected not to be of their own Gang and committing many other riotous actions in Cheapside and thereabouts till dispersed by my Lord Mayor and Sheriffs assisted by some of the Train-Bands who took several of the Rioters and committed them some to Newgate some to the Counters This occasion'd a stricct Order of Council November 10th That no person whatsoever should presume to make any Bonfires without special Order so to do by the Magistrates Which Order being vigilantly observed by the Justices of Middlesex and my Lord Mayor who with the Sheriffs rid up and down the Streets of London all Friday Night the 17th of November No Riotous Actions and Burning of the Pope was suffer'd that Night as usual some years past Afterwards at the Latter end of this Mich. Term Mr. Williams and Mr. Wallop Councellors at Law moved in the Court of Kings Bench for a Mandamus to be directed to Sir John More and the Aldermen of London to Swear either Gould or Cornish into the Office of Mayor of London but this Motion was lookt upon as ridiculous and my Lord Chief Justice refused to give it the least Countenance such a Mandamus in the Disjunctive being a thing never heard of and absur'd in it self This Term also it was That by publick Authority all the Weekly Intelligencies which hetherto were publisht every Day but Sunday were prohibited and the Hawkers silenc'd On the 24th of November the great Cause was Tryed at the Kings Bench Bar between his Royal Highness and the late Sheriff Pilkinton for these words spoken of the Plantif viz. He Fired the City and is now come to cut our Throats This was the greatest Scandalum Magnatum that was perhaps ever Tryed and the Words being proved by Sir William Hooker and Sir Henry Tulse Aldermen of London the Jury found for the Plantiff and gave 100000 l. Damages On the last day of the Term Pilkinton render'd himself in discharge of his Bail a Prisoner in Execution Into whose place of Alderman was Elected Mr. Sheriff North. On Wednesday the 29th of November Dyed at his House in St James's Park the Illustrious Prince Rupert Prince Palatine of the Rhine and Duke of Cumberland c. in the 63d year of his Age. After whose Death His Majesty was pleased to confer the Constable-ship of Windsor-Castle on the Right Honourable the Earl of Arundel On Monday the 18th of December The Right Honorable Henneage Earl of Nottingham Lord high Chancellor of England departed this Life Into whose Office Succeeded Sir Francis North then Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas Sir Francis Pemberton then Lord Chief Justice of the
Windsor but the Ceremony was put off to a further day and on the First of Jan. following he was elected into the Order at Whitehall Saturday the 25th of August the Dutchess of York and Princess visited Bartholmew Fair attended by the Earl of Clarendon with several other Lords and Ladies of the Court not in State but partly Incognito The Day for Election of Sheriffs for London and Middlesex which of Course is on the 24th Day of June was this year adjourn'd to the 5th Day of September on which Day the Livery Men of the City being Assembled at Guild-Hall they confirm'd my Lord Mayors choice of Peter Daniel Esq and chose to serve with him Francis Dashwood Esq Sheriffs for the year insuing At the same time Mr. Deputy Ailworth was chosen into the Office of Chamberlain of the City of London in the Room of Sir Thomas Player removed All which with the other Elections of Bridgmaster and Ale-Cunner was perform'd with the ancient gravity and Moderation and not at all with such Riotous and Factious heats and animosities as of late years The 9th of September was Solemnized according as it had been appointed with Thanksgiving in all Churches for Gods Gracious preservation of His Majesty and his Royal Brother from the late cursed Conspiracy of those that call themselves True Protestants Nor were those of the Communion of the Church of Rome unmindful of this deliverance but did also concur with His Majesties Protestant Subjects in expressing their Loyal Joy on the same occasion and on the same 9th of September did Celebrate in all their publick Chappels at London an extraordinary Service on this account In this Month the right Honourable Sir Francis North Lord Keeper was Created a Baron of this Kingdom by the Title of Lord Guilford On Michaelmass Day the usual time for the Election of a new Lord Mayor the Choice was Adjourn'd over for six Days longer but before that Day came the King being displeased at the Delays of the City in not Signing the Particulars by their Common Council formerly yielded relating to their Charter caused the Attorney-General to enter Judgment of Seizure in the Quo Warranto which was done on Thursday October the 4th and thereupon His Majesty gave Sir William Prichard His Commission to Execute the Office of Lord Mayor of London during pleasure so also to the two new Sheriffs Mr. Daniel and Mr. Dashwood all which were Sworn with the usual Oaths At the same time Mr. Jenner of the Inner Temple was knighted by the name of Sir Thomas Jenner and made the Kings Recorder of London in the Room of Sir George Treby displaced About the same time it was that the Eminently Loyal Sir George Jeoffreys was made Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench in the place of Sir Ed. Saunders who dyed last Term And in the Common Pleas Sir Francis Pemberton being put out Sir Thomas Jones was made Lord Chief Justice there in his Room And Sir Francis Pemberton practized at the Common Pleas Bar as a Serjeant in the following Term. On Sunday the 7th of October my Lord Mayor and the two Sheriffs appear'd at Guild-Hall Chappel as usually in their Gowns and Chains but none of the Aldermen in their Gowns and Chains but several of the Loyal Aldermen attended in their ordinary habits 16 of them being made Justices of the Peace by the Kings new Commission in which 8 Factious Aldermen were left out viz. Allin Frederick Laurence Clayton Ward Shorter Gold and Cornish But on Saturday the 13th of October The King sent a new Commission to the City impowering the abovesaid 16 Loyal Aldermen together with 8 new Aldermen viz. Sir Benjamin Newland Sir Benjamin Bathurst Sir John Buckworth Samuel Dashwood one of the present Sheriffs Charles Duncomb Jacob Lucy Peter Palavazine and Benjamin Thorogood to act as Aldermen in their several Wards in the said Commission mention'd And accordingly several of them attended on my Lord Mayor the Day following at Guild-Hall Chappel after the usual form and manner in Gowns and Chains and the next Week assembled in a Court of Aldermen as formerly On Saturday the 27th of October Aaron Smith who had given scandalous Instructions to Colledge at his Trayal at Oxford and had also behaved himself insolently at the said Tryal and who had been since Tryed upon an Information for the same and found Guilty was now brought to the Kings-Bench Bar and received Judgment for his said offence viz. 500 l. Fine to Stand in the Pillory the Tuesday following at Westminster and at the Old Exchange the next Tuesday after to be bound to his good Behaviour for one Year and Imprisonment till this be performed Monday the 29th of October being the next Day after Simon and Jude is the annual Solemnity of Swearing the Lord Mayor of London in the Exchequer And accordingly this Year His Majesty having appointed Sir Henry Tulse by His Commission to execute that Office during His Pleasure he was after the usual manner attended to Westminster by the Companies did the usual Ceremonies in Westminster-Hall made the usual Cavalcade in London but without Pageants and Dined at Grocers-Hall the other Companies Dining at their several Halls as in former Years On the 5th of November several Tumults and Riotous Actions being Committed by the Rabble in and about London especially upon the Sieur Citters Ambassador from the Vnited Provinces by assaulting his Coach and throwing into it several Squibs Stones and Firebrands whereby his Lady who was then with him was dangerously wounded and Complaint hereof being made to the King in Council on the 7th of November His Majesty was pleas'd to order for the future That no Person or Persons whatsoever do presume to throw any Squibs or other Fireworks in the Streets of London or Westminster or other place within the Weekly Bills of Mortality nor assemble together for the making of Bonfires And the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Justices of Peace in their respective Limits are required to take due care for the Performance of the said Order of Council In this Michaelmas-Term Mrs. Celier who had formerly stood in the Pillory and been Fined 1000l for which she had lain a Prisoner in Newgate for several Years was now Bail'd out upon a Writ of Error which she had brought to reverse all the Proceedings On the 22d of November this Michaelmas-Term Algernoon Sidney Esq who had been arraign'd for High Treason on the 7th Instant was Tryed for the same and found Guilty at the Kings-Bench Bar and on the 26th being the Monday following he was brought to the said Bar and received Sentence of Death as usual in the Cases of High Treason and was beheaded at Tower-Hill on the 7th of December following On Saturday the 24th of November The Duke of Monmouth came in voluntarily about 5 at Night and surrender'd himself to Mr. Secretary Jenkins having before writ a very Submissive Letter to His Majesty entirely resigning himself to His Majesties disposal
utterly to demolish the said Town Castle and Mole at Tangier to choke up the Haven and to bring off the Ordinance and English Inhabitants to England sending the Foraigners to their several Countries but first compounding with every Man for his Ground Estate and Property in their several Houses all which was accordingly done in about six Months time Anno 36 Car. 2. Anno Dom. 1684. I Begin my Historical Collections this Year with an Occurrence of Extraordinary Note viz. the Bayling the Lords in the Tower which tho' often moved for yet could never be obtain'd till now The Earl of Danbys Case was argued this Hillary Term and on the last Day of the Term being February the 12th the Judges in the Kings-Bench did severally give their Opinions and their Reasons for the same concluding all in one Judgment That his Lordship ought to be Bail'd and accordingly Bail was taken His Bail were The Duke of Somerset The Duke of Albemarl The Earl of Oxford The Earl of Chesterfield The other Lords being within the same Reason were admitted to the same Advantage as also the Earl of Tyrone who had lain Prisoner in the Gate-House about the same space of time with those in the Tower Their several Bail were For the Earl of Powis The Duke of Norfolk The Duke of Beaufort The Earl of Pembroke The Earl of Peterborough For the Lord Arundal of Warder The Earl of Dorset The Earl of Scarsdale The Earl of Bath The Earl of Clarendon For the Lord Bellasis The Earl of Aylesbury The Earl of Westmerland The L. Vicount Falconbridge Sir John Talbot For the Earl of Tyrone The Earl of Roscommon The Earl of Mount-Alexander The Earl of Carlingford The Lord Annesley The Principal Lords were bound in a Recognizance of 10000 l each and their several Bail in 5000 l each upon Condition that the abovemention'd principal Lords do appear in the House of Lords the next Sessions of Parliament and not depart without leave of that Court. On the same Day Mr. John Hamden received Judgment He had been accused and Committed for High Treason in the late accursed Conspiracy but in regard there wanted the Circumstance of Two Witnesses against him which is necessary in all Cases of that nature he was Indicted and Tryed in the Kings-Bench Court this Term and found Guilty of a High Trespass and Misdemeaner in Conspiring to Levy War c. and now his Judgment was That he should pay 40000 l for a Fine to the King and find Sureties for his good Behavior during Life and to be Committed till this be paid and done The Lord Brandon Mr. Booth Major Wildman Mr. Charleton Mr. Trenchard and some others who had been accused for being in the said Conspiracy and had been since admitted to Bail were on this last Day of Hillary-Term absolutely discharg'd It is observable in relation to the late great Frost That the extremity of that Weather had made such a Mortality and Sickness as I may call it among Fish not only of fresh Rivers and Ponds but even at Sea that abundance of Fish of almost all sorts were observed to dye of themselves and float to Shore upon which account several Physitians of the Roman Catholick Religion having consider'd of the eating of Fish they agreed that it must needs be unwholsome whereupon a general dispensation was granted by the Ecclesiasticks of that Party to all Roman Catholicks for the eating of Flesh three Days in the Week viz. Sundays Tuesdays and Thursdays all the Lent this Year A thing not known before Acts of Hostility being fiercely pursued this Spring between the French and Spaniard both by Sea and Land His Majesty of Great Brittain being concern'd on neither side but at Amity with both was pleas'd to Command by His Proclamation Dated at Newmarket March the 12th That the Peace should be kept inviolably on both sides in all Roads Creeks and Ports of His Dominions and that all His Commanders and Officers should oppose themselves against any that should assault any of the Ships of His Allies in any His Roads Creeks or places under His Protection c. On the 14th of April Sir Leoline Jenkins obtain'd leave of His Majesty to surrender his place of Secretary of State and Sidney Godolphin Esq now Lord Godolphin was Sworn Secretary On the 21st of April James Holloway Merchant being out-law'd in Treason having been Indicted for the late Conspiracy and fled was brought to the Kings-Bench Bar where the Attorney-General declared to the Court and the Court to him That if he thought he could make himself appear Not Guilty the King would wave his Attainder by Outlary and he might stand a Tryal by a Jury But he Declar'd That he could not undertake to make himself appear Not Guilty for he had confest his Guilt to the King Whereupon a Rule of Court was made for his Execution on the 30th of the present April on which Day he was accordingly Executed On Saturday the 10th of May Titus Oates was arrested at the Amsterdam Coffee-House in an Action of Scandalum Magnatum at the Suit of His Royal Highness the Duke of York for calling the said Duke Traytor and other abominable Language He was carried to Woodstreet-Counter where he lay two Days and was then removed by Habeas Corpus to the Kings-Bench Prison The next Term he let Judgment go by default and on the last Day of the Term a Writ of Enquiry of Damages was Executed at the Kings-Bench Bar where the Jury upon hearing the Evidence gave 100000 l Damages About the beginning of May the King was pleased to revoke and determine the Commission formerly granted to several Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral of England and to commit those Affairs to the Care of His Royal Highness Also in this Month of May a Noble and most Elaborate Statue of his Now Majesty in gray Marble was erected on a Curious Pedestal of the same in the very middle or Center of the Old-Exchange The Garb and Habit was that of a Roman Caesar The Workman that Cut it was Mr. Grinlin Gibbons the most Famous Statuary that England ever produced and equal if not Superiour to the best of Europe in this Age. This was performed at the charge of the Hamborough Company and Cost 500 l. The Inscription on the Pedestal is Carolo II Caesari Britannico Patriae Patri Regum Optimo Clementissimo Augustissimo Generis humani Delicijs Vtriusque fortunae Victori Pacis Europae Arbitro Maris Domino Vindici Societas Mercatorum Adventur Angliae Quae per CCCC jam prope Annos Regia Benignitate floret Fidei intemeratae Gratitudinis Aeternae Hoc Testimonium Venerabunda posuit Anno Sal. Humanae MDCLXXXIV On the 28th of May His Majesty was pleased to declair in Council at Hampton-Court That he thought it fit and for His Service that his Royal Highness should be present at the Meetings of the Council And accordingly the Duke Sate that Day and
continued so to do On Wednesday the 11th of June Sir Thomas Armstrong was brought to London and committed to Newgate in order to his Execution being Outlawd in High Treason He had been taken at Leyden in Holland by Order of the States there and immediately brought to Roterdam and Shipt away for England There needed no Tryal of him in regard he fled and was Outlawd and did not yield himself within a year so as to have any benefit of the Stat. 5. E. 6. 11. Wherefore he was Executed at Tyburn on the 20th of June being a Friday the same Day of the same Month and the same Day of the Week on which the five Jesuits were Executed in the same manner at the same place just five years before His head was set up on Westminster-Hall between those of Cromwell and Bradshaw one of his Quarters upon Temple Bar two others at Aldersgate and Algate and the 4th was said to be sent down to Stafford for which Town he had been a Burgess in Parliament On Thursday the 26th of June His Royal Highness the Duke of York being Captain of the Artillary Company of London did them the Honour to march in their Head through the City to the Artillary Ground and there Lead 'em up in Person with mighty Joy and Acclamations On the 7th of July the City of Durham surrender'd their Charter into the Hands of their Prince the Bishop of Durham soon after which surrender He granted them a new one reserving to himself the Confirmation of their Mayor Aldermen and Chief Officers in like manner as the King had done before in other parts of this Kingdom Most Corporations having surrenderd and renew'd about this time On the first of October was made a Review or Muster of His Majesties Land Forces on Putney Heath a most Gallant Military appearance The Horse that Day consisted of the Three Troops of Guards and of their Three of Granadiers of the Earl of Oxfords Regiment of Horse Guards and the Lord Churchills Regiment of Dragoons The Foot were Two Batalions form'd from the Royal Regiment of Guards and their Granadiers One Batalion from the Coldstream Regiment of Guards and Granadiers One Batalion from the Earl of Dunbarton's Regiment and their Granadiers and One from the Admiral Regiment The total of Horse and Foot which then Rendavouz'd were above 4000 advantagiously Trained and well clad Men. All being that Day commanded by the Earl of Craven At which Review both their Majesties and Royal Highnesses were present with great satisfaction About this time His Majesty was pleas'd to Dissolve the Commission formerly granted in the year 1681 to certain Commissioners to dispose of Ecclesiastical Preferments belonging to the Crown So that the said Preferments are now again in His Majesties immediate disposal Sir William Prichard the late Loyal Lord Mayor of London having this Summer brought His Action upon the Case against Mr. Papillon for causing him to be Arested in the time of his Mayeralty without any legal cause of Action of which I made mention in the last year the cause was Tryed before my Lord Chief Justice Jeffreys by Nisi Prius at Guild-Hall on the 6th of Nov. And upon a full hearing of the Evidence the Jury found for the Plaintiff and gave him 10000 l. Damages Other matters of Publick Concern were transacted this Michaelmass Term. Several Factious persons were convicted and Sentenced for Speaking Scandalous and Sedicious Words of the Government In perparticular Elias Best commonly call'd the Protestant Hop-Merchant was fined 1000 l. to stand thrice in the Pillory and good Behaviour during Life Dalby and Nicholson two of Oates's Men for the like and one Mr. Butler of Northamptonshire convicted upon an Information for presenting and Reading to the Knights of the Shire chosen for that County at the last Election a Seditious Paper of Address to them from some factious persons for which he was fined 500 Marks and good behaviour during Life And to shew What matters are too frequently transacted in Conventicles one Thomas Roswell a Conventicle Preacher at Redriff was this Term Tryed and convicted of High Treason in speaking certain very foul and Treasonable Words on the 14th of September last in his Preachment at his said Conventicle but some questions arising in Relation to the form of his Indictment which being argued by Council on both sides the Court took time to advise of their Judgment till next Term and before that arrived the said Roswell obtained His Majesties Gracious Pardon But as if this was not sufficient to shew the ill Principles of the Dissenting Party about the same time news arrived at London of the most Barberous Act in Scotland that has been heard of in many Years Some desperate Rebells there had in the Night time affixed a most Villanous and Trayterous Paper on several Crosses and Church Doors in that Country and therein declared War against the King under the name of Charles Stuart and publisht their Resolutions to kill and destroy all those that serve and adhere to Him in pursuance whereof they came on the 19th of November at Night being about 36 Footmen and 16 Horsemen to an Inn called Swine-Abby 13 Miles from Edinborough and there Barberously Murder'd two Gentlemen of His Majesties Horse Guards in their Beds cutting and mangling their Bodies and carrying away with them several Pieces of their Flesh Also this Michaelmass Term on the 13th of November Titus Oates was in the Kings Bench Court indicted for Perjury in Relation to Ireland's being in London at that time the said Oates Swore to at his Tryal to which Indictment he pleading Not Guilty the Tryal was appointed to be next Term. After this at the Sessions in the Old Bayly December 12th he was again Indicted upon an other Indictment of Perjury in Relation to his being Present at the supposed Consult of the Jesuits at the White-Horse Tavern and upon Not Guilty pleaded this also was appointed to be Tryed in the Kings Bench. Court next Term And the Indictment was removed thither The Roads being this Winter extreamly infested with Robbers His Majesty was pleased on the 19th of December to Order in Council and declare His pleasure for redress That all His Officers of Justice and other His loving Subjects do use their utmost Diligence and Endeaver for the apprehending all Robbers and Highway Men And for the Encouragement of such as shall apprehend any such Offender it was further Order'd That such Person or Persons who shall at any time from the present till the 19th of December 1685 and after that day till His Majesty shall please to recall this Order either by Proclamation or His Order in Council apprehend any Robber or Highway Man and cause him to be brought into Custody shall within 15 days after his Conviction have a Reward of 10 l. for every such Offender so apprehended and Convicted And all Sheriffs of the Respective Counties where such Conviction shall be had are by the said Order