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
A Compendious View Of the late TUMULTS TROUBLES In This KINGDOM BY WAY OF ANNALS For SEVEN YEARS VIZ. From the beginning of the 30th to the End of the 36th Year of the Reign of His late Majesty King Charles II. of Blessed Memory By J. W. Esq Longa est Injuria Longae Ambages Sed summa sequar Fastigia Rerum Vir. Aen. 1. London Printed by Edw. Jones for S. Lownds over against Exeter Exchange in the Strand 1685. To the Right Honourable HENRY Earl of Clarendon Vicount Cornbury and Baron HIDE of Hindon One of the Lords of His Majesties Most Honourable Privy-Council MY LORD I Present your Lordship with a small Compendium of many Great and Strange Revolutions The Greatest perhaps that ever happen'd in England in so short a space of Time A Tempestuous season in which some Waves have dasht against your Lordship thô of so eminent a Character for Loyalty and Goodness But when Princes themselves suffer 't is the best Subjects Glory to suffer with them This My Lord was no New thing to your Lordship who was in a manner born a Sufferer for Monarchy and whose Blooming Years had the Honour to share in the same Exile with your King 'T is strangely fatal to consider that those against whom the disaffected Party made of late the Lowdest outcry were Old Cavaliers A Word almost forgotten had not that Occasion brought it again to Memory It seems there needs no more than to read the Faction backwards and one may see by their false Clamours who were the Kings best Ministers and Friends 'T was the true Honour and Allegiance of that August Assembly in which your Lordship made one of the Better Part that has Eternized the Fame of Englands Baronage and made it Glorious and beloved for ever No will Posterity forget a just Applause to the Illustrious Name of Clarendon when they read it in the List of those Truly Noble Peers who in Duty to the Crown and Royal Family incurr'd the Angry Vote of a numerous a Violent and Over-daring Party Your Lordship being so far and so honourably concern'd in the History of these Times it is my Ambition to take this Occasion to declare my self MY LORD Your Lordships Most Obedient Humble Servant James Wright THE Preface THere are some Scandals so Gross that the Bare Repetition of them is a sufficient Refutation and manifestation of their Falsehood In like manner some Actions are so unwarrantable to all men of Reason that only to relate them is to disgrace the Actors and those Principles that occasion'd such extravagant behaviour Such I esteem the factious Tumults and Riotous Proceedings which of late Years have disturb'd the Quiet of so many honest Men and Loyal Subjects to the Terror of this and Amazement of all the Neighboring Nations The Vehemency of which Revolutions did appear too like that of Naples in the Year 1647. 'T is true these were not so suddain nor altogether so Bloody which must be ascribed to the Almighty Power and Goodness of God and the Vigilant Prudence of His late Majesty of glorious Memory We see what the Party offer'd Not to mention the Street-Tumults How like were the Riots at our Guild-Hall to those at their Church of the Carmelites And to their tumultuous burning the Gabellers Goods I think I may not unaptly compair our burning the Pope and other Burnings And to parallel their Massaniello a poor Fisherman but of stupendious Authority had not we also a little Creature of as Low and obscure Quality bateing his assumed Cassok who was as much adored and I may say almost Deifyed by the Rabble I am heartily sorry and asham'd to think That the chief chief Disparity between their Case and ours will appear to the Disadvantage of the English For what the Neopolitans did they were induced to on the sole Account of their grievous and Intolerable Gabells but we a free and happy People became Seditious and so very unquiet for no present Cause but only future apprehensions and as the Event has shewed 'em to be meer Chimaerical and empty Fears But praised be God Peoples Eyes begin to be open and time has apply'd a Collyrium that makes us see cleerly through the Pretences and Vmbrage that was raised to serve a Faction It is easy now to distinguish the stalking horse from the Fowler that sculks behind Which thing of late Years many either cou'd not or wou'd not see being inwardly as Purblind as he was outwardly that misled ' em And in this I think the Nation is not a little obliged to the Excellent Author of the Observator A person who may be compared to some Pictures that are placed too neer the sight to discover their true value I am confident that the next Age who will behold him at a more advantagious and impartial Distance will have a truer and far greater esteem of his Merits I do not at all admire but think it extream natural that the Disloyal Party and their Adherents do hate him with such a perfect hatred How could they Possibly do otherwise to one who discovers their Cheat and puts 'em by from what they had been so long designing when they were arrived almost to the very Day of Execution The Subject of this little Book most of which was Printed before His late Majesty fell ill is only to remember in a short Abstract what strange and unwarrantable Proceedings have been within the space of Seven Years lately past with what Heats they were transacted how Truth and Loyalty were run down with noise and Cant and how People were scared out of their Wits with such Monstrous Legends that had not we who are now alive seen it with our Eyes who would have believed it Posterity will scarce credit the folly of their Ancestors or if they do they will blush to think an Englishman cou'd be so far imposed upon The Memory of these things ought to keep People from Runing upon the same Shelves and Sands where formerly we were in Danger to have perisht He that would give a Punctual and Particular Account of all the Narratives Discoveries Tryals Executions Speeches Votes Accusations Examinations Commitments Tumultuous Elections Petitions Ryots Libells and Seditious Attempts of all sorts during the said time must write a History more Voluminous than Fox or Hollinshead I pretend not therefore to observe all particulars that happen'd in this space of time but only those which I thought most Material and of greatest Note What I have related was set down every thing at the time when it happen'd Meer matter of Fact without any Reflections otherwise than as the thing it self does reflect to the Dishonour of that Faction which has occasion'd all these past Troubles and to the Glory of that God who has deliver'd us out of the Danger I hope those who have been seduced and misled by Specious pretences into ill Actions as Charity bids me think there are many such will by reflection on the past see and abhor
January the King was pleas'd to settle the variety of Rumour and by His Proclamation then publisht absolutely to Dissolve this Parliament promising however to Issue out His Writs for a New one by the 6th of March next following Thus ended this Parliament having now been continued by several Prorogations and Adjournments 17 Years Eight Months and 17 Days being first called on the Eighth Day of May Anno Domini 1661. With this great Turn I will conclude my Historical Observations on this 30th Year of His Majestys Reign a Year very remarkable if it were only on the account of the Dissolution of this Parliament but more especially for the beginning of those Troubles and Combustions which lasted for so many Years after in Relation to the Plot. Anno 31. Car. 2. Anno Dom. 1679. IN further Prosecution of those matters discover'd the last year Green the Cushion-man at Somerset-house Chappel Berry the Queens Porter there and Hill Dr. Goddens Man were on the 10th day of Feb. tryed at the Kings Bench Bar for the Murther of Sir Edmunbury Godfrey which three being convicted cheifly on the Evidene of Miles Prance a Goldsmith were found guilty and having on the next day received sentence of Condemnation to be hang'd for the said Murder Green and Hill were Executed accordingly at Tyborn Feb. 21. But Berry was reprieved for a Week longer all three denying the Fact in as positive terms as could be the last dying a Protestant of which Perswasion he had formerly been before he entred into the Queens service About this time it was that Sir Joseph Williamson quitted his Office of Secretary of State to the Earl of Sunderland To conclude the Transactions of this Month The King Directed the following Letter to the Duke of York Whitehall Feb. 28. 1678. I Have already given you my Resolves at large why I think it fit that you should absent your self for some time beyond the Seas As I am truly sorry for the occasion so may you be sure I shall never desire it longer than it will be absolutely necessary for your good and my Service In the mean time I think it proper to give it you under my Hand that I expect this Compliance from you and desire it may be as soon as conveniently you can You may easily believe with what trouble I write this to you there being nothing I am more sensible of than the constant kindness you have ever had for me I hope you are as just to Me to be assured That no absence nor any thing else can ever change me from being truly and kindly Yours C. R. And accordingly in pursuance of His Majesties pleasure within few days after this the Duke Duchess and Family leave the Kingdom and retired for a while to the Hague and from thence to Brussels And now the Parliament which had been called according to the Kings promise on the Dissolution of the last meet at the appointed 6th day of March The Kings Speech contained That in order to the uniting the minds of His Subjects both to Himself and to one another He had excluded the Popish Lords from their Seats in Parliament Caused the Execution of several men both for the Plot and Murder of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey Disbanded as much of the Army as he could get Mony to do Above all That He hath commanded his Brother to absent himself That so all colour may be taken from malicious men of pretending any influence of Popish Councils That He proposes by this means to see whether the Protestant Religion and the Peace of the Kingdom be as truly aimed at by others as they are really intended by Him if so they the Members of Parliament will lay aside all private animosities and employ their time upon the great Concerns of the Nation That he will not cease to make further search into the Plot and the Murder of Sir Edmunbury Godfrey for which he desires the assistance of both Houses That he has ordered the Penal Laws to be Executed against Papists Desires their assistance in raising Supplys for Disbanding the Army and paying off the Fleet and that they would some way make up the loss He has sustain'd by the Prohibition of French Wines and Brandy which turns only to His prejudice and the great advantage of the French That it is necessary to have a Fleet at Sea since our Neighbours are making Naval Preparations That a Constant establishment might be made for the Navy And concludes with His earnest desires to have this a healing Parliament Assuring them to defend with his life the Protestant Religion and the Laws of the Kingdom and expects to be by them defended from the Calumny as well as Danger of those worst of Men who endeaver to render both him and His Government odious to His People The Chancellors Speech was chiefly a descant on the former heads Reminding the Two Houses as p. 12. to the Plot not to over do their Business and that by being too far Transported with the fears of Popery they do not neglect the opportunities of making sober and lasting Provisions against it which says he are the only hopes of the Papists thus to see p. 14. our Zeal out-run our Discretion and that we our selves should become the unhappy occasion of making our own Councils abortive The King and Lord Chancellor having ended their Speeches the Commons returned to their own House and unanimously chose for their Speaker Mr Seymour who had officiated in that Place in the last Parliament who being the next Day presented to the King was refused and the House Ordered to proceed to a new Election which notwithstanding was not made till Saturday the 15th of March on which day they chose Mr Serjeant Gregory the said choice being on the Monday following approved by His Majesty After this the Commons draw up an Address to the King for a Fast in which also the Lords Concur and a Fast was appointed by Proclamation dated Mar. 28 to be observed throughout the Nation on the 11th of April following A Committee being appointed to enquire into the manner of suing out the Earl of Danby's Pardon which upon search being not entred in any Office from the Secretaries Office until it came to the Lord Chancellors but dispatch'd in a private manner and so reported by the Committee the House of Commons resolve Mar. 24. That an humble Address be made to His Majesty representing the irregularity and illegality of the Pardon mentioned to be granted to the Earl of Danby and the Dangerous consequence of Granting Pardons to any persons that lye under an Impeachment of the Commons of England They also desire of the Lords that the Earl of Danby may be sequestred from Parliament and put into safe Custody accordingly the Lords Order the Usher of the Black Rod to take him but upon search at his Houses both in Town and at Wimbleton he could not be found hereupon a Bill is Ordered to be brought in that Thomas
this was because the Stat. 13 of this King requires two Lawful and credible Witnesses in Cases of Treason and Dangerfield being not esteem'd such there remain'd only one Witness viz. Oates Saturday the 26th of June being four Days before the Term ended the Grand Jury of Middlesex came to the Kings-Bench Bar and by their Foreman Charles Humphrevile Esq presented to the Bench a Petition Subscribed by 21 of them and desired my Lord Chief Justice to present it to the King for the sitting of the Parliament but the Court refusing to Act in it received it not And the said Jury were at the same time Discharged from further attendance It is said that they had at that time some Bills and Presentments before them against several Persons for being Popish Recusants in Order to their Conviction all which they would have found and presented in few Hours time had they not been Discharged among the rest a Bill against the Duke of York brought into the said Jury and Promoted and in some sort attested by several Lords and Members of Parliament viz. Huntington Shaftsbury Gray of Wark Brandon Russel Candish Sir Gilbert Gerrard Sir Edward Hungerford Sir Scroop How Sir William Cooper Sir Thomas Wharton John Trenchard Esq Thomas Thynn Esq and William Forester Esq And note that the Proceedings of the Petition abovesaid were disowned by another Grand Jury of Middlesex who the same Day came in and presented the Court with a Paper Subscribed by them to that purpose desiring the Court to take particular notice of their dissent to the irregular Proceedings of the other Jury On the last Day of the Term several who should have been Tryed about the' Plot were in regard the Attorny-General had not Evidence sufficient against them some Bail'd and some absolutely Discharged by vertue of the late Act of Habeas Corpus 31. Car. 2. Among the first were Sir James Symonds Edward Peters and Needham with several others who were reputed Priests Mr. Howard Mr. Heveningham both the Ropers Sir John Gage and young Langhorn were absolutely Discharged from their long Imprisonments some having lain by it for 23 Months and the reason of their Discharge was because Mr. Attorney-General declar'd that he had but one Witness against them Sir Anthony Dean and Mr. Pepys were also at the same time absolutely Discharg'd from further attendance But one Holcroft a Conventicle Preacher having removed himself by Habeas Corpus from Cambridge Goal and appearing to be a very Seditious and dangerous Person and to be in Prison not only by Warrant of the Justices on the Oxford Act but also on 17. Car. a Capias Excommunicatum was 2. c. 2. remanded On the first of July being the Day to which the Parliament had been formerly Prorogued it was further Prorogued by Commission to the 22d of the same Month the Duke of York being present in the House and from thence to the 23d of August Bethel who had been one of the Committee of Safety in the late Times and Cornish two reputed Phanaticks had been chosen Sheriffs of London last Midsummer for the Year insuing but appearing since uncapable to bear Office in any Corporation by the Stat. 13. Car. 2. Stat. 2. c. 1. a New Election was appointed to be at Guildhall on the 14th of July against which time they capacitated themselves by receiving the Sacrament and abjuring the Covenant c. As appointed by the said Act and stood for a New Choice against whom two other Competitors appear'd Fox and Nicholson in so much that they came to a Poll a thing unusual during which time a Rlotous Assault was Committed on the Person of Sir Simon Lewis one of the then Sheriffs by Osborn a Draper and others of Bethels Party which being Represented to the King the same Night by the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs in Person he Ordered a Commission of Oyer and Terminer to be Issued out for Tryal of the said Riot They continued Polling till Monday following and from thence by Adjournment to Thursday The King in the mean time being entertain'd at Supper at Sheriff Lewis's House Tuesday July 20. On the 29th of July and not before the Votes were declar'd at a Common Hall then Assembled at the Guild-Hall to stand thus Bethel 2276. Cornish 2483. Box 1428. Nicholson 1230. Whereupon the two first were declared lawfully Chosen with great Acclamations At the same time an Address was Presented to the Lord Mayor by Thomas Papillon Esq in the Name of the Commons of the City thereby Disowning all tumultuous and disorderly Proceedings in their last Assembly other than what might be the effect of Emulation for His Majesties Service and the Preservation of their own just Rights desiring his Lordship to Represent the same to the King and that he would in their Names humbly beseech His Majesty that the Parliament might speedily Assemble To which the Lord Mayor Answered in a short Speech That he had not misrepresented any thing touching their last Assembly to His Majesty That their Address touching the Parliament might have been spared in regard the King had been pleased not long since to declare to him and assure him That this Parliament should sit in November next however that he would not be wanting with all humility to lay the whole matter before him On the 23d of August being the Day to which the Parliament had been Prorogued the Houses met and were further Prorogued to the 21st of October following The King promising that they should sit then and Publishing His Proclamation to that purpose Several Remarkable Passages happen'd this long Vacation As the Death of the Earl of Ossery into whose Place of Lord Chamberlain to the Queen Succeeded the Earl of Feversham The Death of Bedloe one of the Evidence concerning the Plot. Also the Prince Palatine Eldest Son of the Elector being here in England on a Visit to the King he received News of the Death of his Father in Germany during his absence It was also during this Vacation that Elizabeth Celier before mention'd Publisht a Narrative of her Tryal and Sufferings in which were some words like Reproach to the Government for which she was Tryed found Guilty of Publishing a Libel Fined 1000 l. to stand Thrice in the Pillory Good Behavior during Life and her Book to be Burnt by the Hangman And now comes on the long expected 21st Day of October and with it the first Session of this Parliament The Day before which The Duke and Duchess of York began their Journey for Scotland by Sea The King Accompanying them as low as Woolwich and there Dineing with them on Shipboard The same Day many Members of both Houses to the Number of 200 as reported met in a kind of Caball at Dinner at the Sun Tavern behind the Exchange On the 21st the Kings Speech contain'd That He had during this long Prorogation made Alliances with Holland and Spain That He desired Mony of them for the Relief of Tangier which had already exhausted
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
May demanded at the Bar of the Lords House whether he would rely upon and abide by the Plea of his Pardon return'd for Answer That being advised by his Council that his Pardon is good in Law he doth insist upon his Plea and desires that his Council may be heard With which their Lordships acquainting the Commons they Order a return to be made to their Lordships by the whole House in these words on the 5th of May. My Lords the Knights Citizens and Burgesses in Parliament Assembled are come up to demand Judgment in their own Names and the Names of all the Commons of England against Thomas Earl of Danby who stands Impeacht by them before your Lordships of High Treason and divers high Crimes and Misdemeanors To which he has pleaded a Pardon which Pardon the Commons conceive to be illegal and void and therefore they do demand Judgment of your Lordships accordingly On the 6th of May it was ordered in the House of Lords that Saturday next be appointed for the Earl of Danby's Plea to be argued and that the five Lords in the Tower be tryed this Day Sennight With which Orders they acquainted the Commons the next Day and that their Lordships had appointed an Address to be made to His Majesty to appoint a Lord Steward for the said Tryals The Commons not well satisfied with these proceedings desire that a Committee of both Houses may be nominated to consider of the most proper ways and methods of Proceeding upon Impeachments according to the usage of Parliament But the Lords refused to agree to the Proposal as inconformable to the Rules and Orders of proceedings of their House which is and ever must be tender in matters relating to their Judicature Upon this Answer the Commons resolve May 9. That no Commoner whatsoever presume to maintain the validity of the Pardon pleaded by the Earl of Danby without the leave of this House first had and that the Persons so doing shall be accounted Betrayers of the Liberties of the Commons of England After this it seems that the Lords did recede from their former resolution for on the 11th of May they acquainted the Commons by Message That they had appointed a Committee consisting of Twelve Lords to joyn with a Committee of the House of Commons to consider of propositions and circumstances in relation to the foresaid Tryals Which joint Committee of both Houses meeting they dis-agreed about the Bishops being present at the Tryals for the Lords having resolved in their House That the Lords Spiritual have a right to stay in Court in Capital Cases till the Court proceed to the Vote of Guilty or Not Guilty Hereupon the Commons resolved on the other side to insist upon it that the Lords Spiritual ought not to have any Vote in any Proceedings upon Impeachments against the Lords in the Tower The two Houses seeming to disser on this point the Bishops thought to find out a Medium and on the 16th of May desired leave of the House of Lords that they might withdraw themselves from the Tryals of the said Impeached Lords with the Liberty of entring their usual Protestations But this did not satisfie the House of Commons who on the 24th of May Resolve that they cannot proceed to the Tryal of the Five Lords before Judgment be given on the Earl of Danby's Pardon and in the point of the Bishops Voting in Capital Offences For which they drew up Reasons and the 26th of May delivered the same to the Lords at a Conference which being very large and in print I shall here omit And in this posture did the Publick Transactions in Parliament appear on the 27th day of May at which time it pleas'd His Majesty to Prorogue both Houses until the 14th day of August next About this time the King was pleased to remove Sir John Robinson from being Lieutenant of the Tower and confer the Place on Captain Cheek The Troubles in Scotland which broke out in this Month gave occasion of much discourse and no little alarm in England They begun in the Barbarous Murder of Dr. Sharp Archbishop of St. Andrews on the 3d of May as he was travelling from Edinburgh to his own Residency The Murderers were a company of Inveterate Covenanters who in regard the said Bishop had been formerly one of their Party and now revolted as they called his honest Reformation bore him a most immortal hatred having attempted his Life several times before But the Assassins stop not at Murder for soon after this they gather into a Body in the Western parts of Scotland and fall into open Rebellion and Treason on the 29th a Party of the Rebels well mounted and armed came to Rugland proclaim the Covenant and burnt the following Acts of Parliament viz. The Act concerning the Kings Supremacy The Recissory Act by which all the Mock-Laws made in the times of the late Anarchy were repeal'd The Act for establishing Episcopacy And the Act appointing the Anniversary of the 29th of May They also publisht an Insolent Declaration full of Treason and the very Spirit of Scotch Covenanters commonly there called WHIGS With such as these their Army increased daily to such a considerable number that the King Commissioned the Duke of Monmouth as Generalissimo to suppress the Insurrection which not long after with the assistance of the Loyal Gentry and Heretors of that Nation he did in one Battle killing some and taking several Hundreds of Prisoners of which some few being hang'd especially those who were more immediately concern'd in the Arch-Bishops Murder the rest were Transported But to return to London On the 13th of June Thomas White alias Whitebread Provincial of the Jesuits in England William Harcourt John Fenwick John Gaven and Anthony Turner all Jesuits were Tryed at the Old-Baily and found Guilty of High Treason as Conspirators in the late Plot The next Day Richard Langhorn Esq a Barister of the Inner-Temple was Tryed at the same Bar for the same Crime and being also found Guilty all six had Sentence of Condemnation and were accordingly Executed the five Jesuits on Fryday the 20th of June and Mr. Langhorn on the 14th of July following All departing this Life with the greatest Protestations of Innocence as to the Crimes Objected as could be possibly expected On the last Day of Trinity-Term being the 9th of July Sir Anthony Dean and Samuel Pepys Esq two Members of the present Parliament were on a long debate let to Bail in the Court of Kings-Bench at Westminster the Principals in a Recognizance of 10000 l. a piece and every one of the Bail 5000 l. They had been Committed to the Tower by Order of the House of Commons on the 20th of May last their Accusation Treason Piracy and Felony on the Stat. 31. El. 4. And being on the first Day of this Term removed by Habeas Corpus into this Court the said Crimes were here charged against 'em in several Affidavits by Scot and Moon but it seems the
Commissioners of Ecclesiastical Affairs to whom He delegated His Power to dispose of all such Ecclesiastical Preferments which belong to His immediate Patronage The Names of which Commissioners were the Arch Bishop of Canterbury the Bishop of London the Lord Radnor Lord Hallifax Lord Hide and Mr. Seymour Note by the Common Law the Lord Chancellor of England shall present to all Churches in the Kings Gift which He hath in Right of His Crown under the value of 20 Marks per annum Fitz. h. N. B. Fol. 35. k. At the Sessions for the County of Middlesex held at Hicks-Hall the Week before Michaelmas Term Sir George Jefferies being then Chairman on the Bench required Goodenough the under Sheriff to alter two of the Panel as the Justices may do by the Stat. 3. H. 8. ch 12. Which He refusing the two High Sheriffs were call'd and not appearing they were Fin'd each 50 l. Notwithstanding that the Recorder put in a Protest that the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex were never bound to attend or appear in Person at Hicks-Hall After this the said Fine being Estreated a Common Council in London Declar'd that they would stand by their Sheriffs and defend them against any Suit of Law that shall be brought touching this matter and that at the Charges and Expence of the City At the Sessions for London held at this time one Rouse being Charged with High Treason and a Bill of Indictment Exhibited to the Grand Jury attending for that City against Him They found the Bill Ignoramus after the same manner as had been formerly done in the Case of Colledge On the 24th of November all the Judges of England sate with the Mayor and Aldermen by special Commission of Oyer and Terminer at the Old-Baily and the Grand Jury being call'd and Sworn of which Sir Samuel Barnardiston Foreman a Bill of Indictment of High Treason was deliver'd to them against the Earl of Shaftsbury The Evidence were all Examined in open Court who all Swore very full to the Treason two of which Evidence were Turbervile and Smith but the Jury return'd this Bill also Ignoramus upon which the People gave a shout The Witnesses who gave Evidence against the said Earl were assaulted by the Rabble and in such Danger of their Lives that the Sheriffs were necessitated to Guard them at Night as far as the Savoy homewards Several Bonfires were made that Night in the City at which several Riotous Actions were Committed In particular one Capt. Griffith living in Newgate-street a Capt. of the Trained Bands and a Common Council-man coming home about 11 at Night and finding a Bonfire neer his own Door and endeavouring to oppose it was knockt down wounded in the Head and in danger of His Life Others were seen about the same time of Night to march through Warwick-Lane one of which had his Sword drawn crying no York no Popish Successor and at the same time crying up a Monmouth a Shaftsbury a Buckingham and thus they Proceeded till stopt by the Watch at Ludgate On the 28th of November the last day of the Term the Earl of Shaftsbury and Lord Howard prisoners in the Tower were admitted to Bail in the Kings Bench the Earl of Shaftsbury had for his Bail the Lord Russel Sir William Cooper Mr. Mountigue and Mr. Charlton Himself was bound in a Recognizance of 3000 l. and the Bail each in 1500 l. The Lord Howard was also Bailed in the same manner By Order of Council to the Lord Mayor and from him to the Officers of every Ward and Parish all Bonfires and Bells Ringing were Prohibited that Night The Act of Test which past in the Parliament in Scotland the last Sessions was the occasion of several Discontents and Emotions amongst the Fanatick Party there The Act enjoyn'd a certain Oath or Ingagement to be taken by all Officers in Church and State and Graduates in their Universities to maintain the Form of Government as now Establisht which Test tho' explain'd and qualified was notwithstanding so contrary to the sense of the Factious Party in that Kingdom that several of their Ministers refused it and some of the Laity among whom of greatest note was Archibald Campbel Earl of Argile a Man of such Turbulent behaviour that he was about this time Impeacht of High Treason and found Guilty But being after his Conviction kept for some time a Prisoner at Edinborough he found means to make his Escape into England as some thought where he harbour'd unknown after whose flight his Arms were with all publick Solemnity reverst and torn and such other marks of dishonour denounced against him as in such like Cases are by the Customs of Scotland due to Traytors The Proceedings of the Justices of Peace for the County of Middlesex at their Sessions at Hick-Hall before Hillary Term were of note on diverse accounts First They order'd by their publick Act of Sessions dated the 13th of January that whereas the Constables and Church Wardens c. of every Parish and Precinct within the said County had been enjoyn'd last Sessions to make a Return the first Day of this of the Names of the Preachers in Conventicles and the most considerable frequenters of the same within their several Limits which Order not being obey'd but contemn'd by some it was therefore by the Justices then Assembled desired that the Lord Bishop of London will please to direct those Officers which are under his Jurisdiction to use their utmost diligence that all such Persons may be Excommunicated who commit crimes deserving that Ecclesiastical censure and that the said Excommunications may be Published in the Parishes where the Persons live that they may be taken notice of and obvious to the Penalties that belong to Persons Excommunicate viz. Not to be admitted for a Witness or returned upon Juries or capable to sue for any Debt And they further Order'd at the said Sessions that the Stat. 1. El. and 3. Jac. be put in due execution for the Levying 1 s. per Sunday upon such Persons who repair not to Divine Service and Sermons at their Parish or some other publick Church Also there was another Act of the same Sessions at Hicks-Hall which bore Date the 18th of January with which the Justices of Peace attended upon His Majesty at White-Hall the same Day and presented the Paper to His Royal Hands It contain'd That they the said Justices were sensible of their great Honour and happiness in being the first who return'd their humble and hearty acknowledgment for His most Gracious Declaration which being followed by a multitude of Addresses from all Parts of the Kingdom His Majesty hath had a full Discovery of His Peoples affections and that his Enemies were neither so numerous nor formidable as they were by some apprehended to be That now as His Majesty can have no cause to fear them so they the said Justices hope He will never be perswaded to trust them That they are ashamed that they were not likewise the first
return into England and to that his Pallace Also His Royal Highness being Captain of the Artillery Company was invited and Feasted by that Company in London Thursday in Easter Week One thing more ought not to be forgot as well for the Dukes Honour as the gratitude of the Bishops in Scotland That is a Letter Subscribed by seven Bishops there and directed to the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury soon after the Dukes departure and bears date at Edinbourgh March 9th 1682. Setting forth That since his Royal Highness came into that Kingdom they the said Bishops found their case much changed to the Better and their Church and order sensibly releived and rescued which next to the watchful providence of God they can ascribe to nothing so much as to his Royal Highness gracious owning and vigilant protecting of them who upon all occasions gave fresh instances of his eminent Zeal against the most unreasonable Schism which by renting threatens the Subversion of their Church and Religion and concerns himself as a Patron to them in all their publick and even personal Interests That they did never propose to his Royal Highness any rational Expedient which might conduce to the relief or security of the Church which he did not readily embrace and effectuate That the Peace and tranquility of that Kingdom is the effect of his prudent and steddy conduct of Affairs That the humours of the wicked Phanaticks there are much restrained from Dangerous eruptions upon their apprehensions of his vigilance and Justice And that they desire the said Arch-Bishop of Canterbury to make their dutiful acknowledgements to His Royal Highness for all His Princely Favours to them with assurance of their most firm endeavors to serve him of their most fervent Prayers for His Temporal and Eternal Happiness Subscribed Alex. St. And. Arth Glascuens Jo. Edinburgens Ja. Gallouidiens Andr. Dunkelden Geor. Erechin Ja. Dumblanen About Easter certain Persons to the number of many Hundreds as reported did design to meet at a publick Thanksgiving Sermon and Dinner pretended for Gods wonderful Providence in delivering and protecting His Majesties Person the Protestant Religion and English Liberties from the hellish and frequent attempts of their Enemies the Papists and Tickets of Invitation to this purpose were deliver'd abroad for a Meeting on Friday the 21st of April Which Meeting was by special Order of His Majesty in Council April the 19th Prohibited and supprest in regard the appointing of publick Fasts and Thanksgivings is a matter of State belongs only to His Majesty by His Prerogative and therefore such a Thanksgiving being appointed by the Subject His Majesty lookt upon the same as an insolent Attempt in manifest derogation of His Right and of dangerous Consequence On the 3d of May His Royal Highness left the Court at Windsor in order to His Journey into Scotland from thence to fetch hether the Duchess great with Child He went by Sea in the Glocester Frigat attended by several other Vessels In which Voyage the Dukes Ship striking on the Lemon-ore Sands in Yarmouth Road the Vessel was lost with above 100 Men but the Duke and several others of the greatest Quality went off timely into a Yaut attending and arrived safely in Scotland Where a little before had been an Insurrection or Tumult of Apprentices at Edinborough supprest by the Soldiers not without Blood About the same time another Tumult of Apprentices was begun at Dublin but quickly supprest The Insuing Easter Term yeilded several passages of publick note in the Kings Bench Court at Westminster The Earl of Shaftsbury had brought his Action of Scandalum Magnatum against one Mr. Craddock a Citizen and Mercer in Peter-Noster-Row for speaking some Words of the said Earl importing him to be a Traytor which Action being laid in London and the Defendants Council shewing that there was no likelyhood of a fair Tryal by a London Jury by reason that the Earl was not only Free of the City but also of the Skinners Company of which Sheriff Pilkinton was Master and that therefore the Jury ought to arise out of some Neighbouring County to which the Court inclined and gave the Earl his choice of any County of England but the Earl replying That he had rather lay down his Action than admit it to be Tryed in any other County in regard most of them had put Abhorrences upon him which positive resolution of his did confirm the Lord Chief Justice in his Opinion of the Earls confiding in a London Jury and therefore order'd that unless he would consent to Try it by a Country Jury it should not be Tryed in London whereupon the Earl discontinued his Action The like Rule was made soon after in the same Court between the said Earl and Mr. Graham Principal of Cliffords Inn against whom his Lordship had brought an Action of Conspiracy he having been appointed by the Kings Council to be Sollicitor in the Indictment against the said Earl at the Old-Baily The like Rule also in the Exchequer in Slingsby Bethels Case Also Wilmore the Ignoramus Foreman of Collidges Grand Jury having convey'd away a young Boy and sent him to Jamaica a Writ de Homine replegiando was brought against him upon which Writ the Sheriffs of London making an insufficient Return and obstinately refusing to return Elongatus est which was the Return proper in this Case they were both brought into the Kings Bench upon an Attachment where they received a severe reproof from the Court and were glad to submit with assurance of better behaviour for the future Hereupon Elongatus est being return'd a Capias in Withernam issued out against Wilmore to take him into Custody and detain him until he produces the Boy Nor was this fufficient but the said Wilmore was on the 23d of May Tryed at the Kings Bench Bar upon an Information exhibited by the Attorney General for conveying away the said Boy being under the Age of 13 and unknown to his Parents and upon a full Evidence of the foul Fact he was found Guilty by a Kentish Jury who never went from the Bar. Really the London Jurys were at this time notorious to the whole Nation for partiality The foresaid Wilmore had been Indicted in the City for the said Crime of Boy-stealing but the Grand Jury there found the Bill Ignoramus Also one Harris Tryed at Guild-Hall for dispersing a most wicked Libel was against a most apparent and home Evidence and the Positive directions of the Court found Not Guilty for which finding the said Jury could give no other reason than their own Arbitrary Will For such like Actions as these His Majesty was pleas'd to Order the Attorney-General to bring a Quo Warranto against the City of London of which more hereafter On the 27th of May The Duke Dutchess and Lady Anne arrived at Whitehall having been met there by the King and Queen who came from Windsor that Morning and were all entertain'd at Dinner that Day at my Lord Arlingtons at