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
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
Hereupon His Majesty and his Royal Highness went down to the Secretaries Office where the Duke of Monmouth was who shew'd himself very sensible of his Crime in the late Conspiracy making a full Declaration of it and having shew'd an extraordinary Penitence for the same and made a particular Submission to his Royal Highness for his misbehavior to him His Majesty and his Royal Highness received so much satisfaction that upon his Royal Highness ' s desire and Mediation His Majesty was pleased to Pardon the said Duke and order the Attorney-General to stop further Proceedings against him On the last Day of Michaelmas Term six Prisoners then in the Tower for High Treason were Bail'd viz. the Lord Gerard Brandon Mr. Booth Mr. Trenchard Mr. Hamden Jun. Mr. Charleton and Major Wildman all which being accused for Conspirators in the late detestable Plot and but one Witness against them they were Bail'd out in 2000 l apiece and 1000 l their Sureties except Mr. Hamden against whom there being a Bill of Indictment for High Misdemeaners he was bound in 10000 l. himself and 5000 l. his Sureties On Thursday the 6th of December one Johnson a Cracktbraind Fellow met the King as he was walking in St. James Park and laying his Hand on his Sword told His Majesty he had wrong'd him and demanded satisfaction but being seiz'd by the Guards and appearing to be Distracted upon Examination he was tied Neck and Heels together for a while at the Guard Stables and let go again On Friday the 7th of December the Duke of Monmouth being fallen again into the Kings displeasure for refusing to Sign what he had confest upon his coming in was Banisht the Court and expell'd the Royal Presence This was on the same Day that Sidney was beheaded on the Tower-Hill Friday the 4th of January the Lord Peters who had lain a long time a Prisoner in the Tower on the account of Oates's Plot without being brought to his Tryal departed this Life in his said Confinement A little before his departure the said Lord sent to the King a Letter wherein he disown'd in his last Words and upon his Salvation the matters which he stood accused of About the middle of December this Year began a very eminent and extraordinay Frost it lasted without any considerable Intermission till the 5th of February during which time the Thames was Frozen over with a solid and Contiguous Ice in all places above the Bridge Booths built thereon with Thousands of People continually walking over and Sliding I my self walkt over at the Temple and so all along the Channel to Westminster Stairs on the 9th of January Also on or about the same Day Coaches went over at Sommerset-House and at the Temple In the Extremity of this Weather the King granted His Letters Mandatory Dated the 4th of January to the Bishop of London to make a Collection in all Parishes in London and the Subburbs of the same for the relief of the Poor encouraging His Subjects to such a needful Charity by his own Example having order'd large Sums of Mony to be Issued out of His Treasury for that purpose which Letters were Read in all Churches the two following Sundays and Collections made accordingly On the 23d of January being the First Day of Hillary Term the Lawyers went over the Ice from the Temple to Westminster-Hall and back again as familiarly as on the Land some walkt on Foot and some went in Coaches which carried People from the Temple Stairs to Westminster for the same fare as by Land and plied between those two places though not in so great Numbers as the Watermen do in Summer Abundance of Booths were erected Cross between the Temple and Southwark in which place an absolute Fair was held for above a Fortnight of almost all sorts of Trades and Printing Presses erected both for Letters and Pictures a Bull Baited a Fox Hunted and a whole Ox Roasted on the Ice over against Whitehall Nor was this Frost thus Wonderful only above the Bridge but Booths were erected and People past over on the Ice frequently in diverse places below the Bridge And the Sea it self frozen for divers Miles from the Shore on the Coasts of England France and especially Holland Insomuch that for above a Fortnight no Packet Boat or any other Vessel of Intelligence could either come out of those parts or go from hence Thus ends this Year a Year of Extraordinary note in England for the happy Discovery of a Hellish Conspiracy against the Lives of his Sacred Majesty and Royal Highness and against the Antient Government of this Kingdom both in Church and State a Conspiracy contrived and carried on by Protestant Dissenters inveterate Calvinists and old Common-wealths-men Nor was this Year less remarkable abroad partly for the Death of Anna Teresia Queen of France and Alphonso King of Portugal but above all for the formidable and Bloody Descent of the Turks into Hungary Invited thither by Count Tekeley a Protestant Rebel against the Emperor The Mahumetan Army consisting of 150000 fighting Men Horse and Foot came before Vienna on the 9th of July Commanded by the Grand Visier in Person The Emperor had retired two Days before and left the City under the Command of Count Staremberg who defended it bravely notwithstanding all the Bloody Assaults and utmost endeavors of the Enemy till on the 12 2 of September the Seige was rais'd in the highth of the Defendants Extremity by the coming of the King of Poland who having joyn'd with the Imperial Forces Commanded by the Duke of Lorrain not only beat off and routed the Turkish Army with vast Slaughter and no less Booty but pursuing his Blow took from them the Fort of Barkan and the City of Gran formerly call'd Strigonium after it had been possest by the Turks 78 Years Which City had been formerly before it was lost by the Christians the Metropolitan City of Hungary To the Glory of the English Nation some of our Country Men were present at the Siege of Vienna in defence of which they Signalliz'd their Valour In particular the Lord Landsdown Eldest Son of the Earl of Bath whom for his extraordinary merits the Emperor created a Count of the Sacred Empire An Honour which the Ancestors of the Lord Arundel of Warder had formerly attain'd in the defence of Strigonium One thing more renders this Year remarkable which was partly Domestick and Partly Foraign Tangier in Africa being possest by the Portugals came to the Crown of England with our now Queen Catherine and having cost our King since he had it vast Sums of Mony in defending it against the Moors and also in making the greatest part of a Mole there which not being found so feasible as expected the Charges very great and certain the Expectation of any advantage from thence very uncertain His Majesty was pleased about the end of this last Summer to commission my Lord Dartmouth attended with about 20 Sail of Ships to go and
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
containing Their humble thanks to His Majesty for demanding their advice that accordingly they gave it they beseech Him to communicate to them His Resolutions thereupon and whereas they conceive that the Inconveniencies and Dangers which the Kingdom now lies under might totally or in a great measure have been prevented in case His Majesty had accepted of the Advice by them given in their Addresses of the 26 of May Last and the 31 of January That therefore he would please to remove those Counsellors that advised him to give those answers which he did to the said Addresses that he would please to accept of this Petition in good part as proceeding form persons heartily devoted to him c. In fine that he would please to remove the Duke of Lautherdale from His presence and Councils Which being read the King immediately returned Answer in these few words only That he was much Surprized at the Extravagancy of their Address and unwilling at present to give it such a due Answer as it deserves On the Munday following the King past several private Bills and then caused the Parliament to be Prorogued till Thursday come Sevenight being the 23 of this instant May by which means this Session which had been of a long Continuance by Adjournment was determin'd and all Bills and business in either House then Depending defeated and returned to the same State as when first moved But withal such Bills as had been rejected are now in a Capacity of being moved again which no Bill can be in the same Session when once rejected On the aforementioned Thursday the 23. of May the Parliament met again and the House of Commons being sent for by the Black Rod to attend His Majesty in the House of Lords the King delivered His pleasure to this effect That he is resolved as far as He is able to save Flanders either by a War or Peace which way he sees most conducing either ways he thinks it convenient to keep up His Army and Navy at Sea for some time till a Peace be concluded but leaves it to them to consider of Supplies for their Continuance or Disbanding and in either case not to discourage so many Worthy and Gallant Gentemen who have offerd their Lives and Service to their Country and that in pursuit of the Parliaments advice and Resolutions That a Branch of His Revenue is now expiring another part of it is cut off by a Clause in the Poll-Bill That he has borrowed 200000 l. upon the Excize at their request of all which they are to consider That he hath no Intentions but of good to them and His people nor ever shall Desires they will not drive him into extremities which must end ill both for them and Him and which is worst of all for the Nation desires to prevent all disorders and mischeifs that may befal by our disagreement but in case any do leaves it to God Almighty to Judge who is the occasion of it In fine That he will not for the future suffer the Course and Method of passing Laws to be changed by taking together several matters in one Bill This was immediately followed by a long but excellent Speech of my Lord Chancellor which thô something too large for the intended Brevity of these Notes must not be omitted The substance therefore contained That Holland is become resolved to seek all occasions they can of coming out of the War in regard the Spaniards fail them That the States to that end entred into a League Offensive and Defensive with His Majesty to obtain a Peace by force if it could not be had otherwise which promised Success till it was heard abroad that this League the onely thing by which His Majesty could oblige the States had been so ill understood at home as to meet with some very unfitting and very undeserved Reflexions and that they understood there was a Resolution of giving no Mony till satisfaction first had in matters of Religion which in all Countrys are the longest debates that can be entred upon and at this time should least have been stirr'd when they understood that the King had received an Address and had exprest His resentment of it then they concluded it was in vain to rely any longer on England for England was no longer it self All sides began to wish for Peace as well Spain as Holland and if the Cessation now endeavoured be effected no doubt but a Peace will follow What Influence that Peace will have is uncertain We have given no small provocation to a Mighty King it therfore concerns us to secure our selves by preserving Peace and Unity at home he that foments Divisions now does more harm to his Country than a Forrain Enemy can do no fear of Arbitrary Government can justify no Zeal to Religion can sanctify such a Proceeding He minds them of the Late times when Religion and Liberty were truly Lost by being made a handle and pretence for Sedition when Prelacy was calld Popery and Monarchy Tyranny c. and can we now endure to see men break the Act of Oblivion every day by reviving the Memory of forgotten Crimes in new Practices It s worth Consideration whether we do not bring some kind of scandal upon the Protestant Religion when we seem so far to distrust the truth and power of it that after so many Laws past to guard it and so many miraculous deliverancies from the attempts made against it we should still be affraid of its continuance Hath not the Late Act made it impossible for the most conceal'd Papist that is to get any kind of Imployment As little reason there is to be jealous of our Liberties and Property Can there be a greater evidence of the Moderation of a Prince and His tenderness of the Liberty of the Subject than to suffer as he does every day so much licentious and malitious Talk to pass unpunisht Search all Nations through all Ages and shew fewer greivances and less cause of Complaint and a happier people than we at are this Day He proceeded then to the matter of the Revenue to the same purpose with what the King had said before but enlarging Tells em The King will no more accept a good Bill how valuable soever unless it comes in the old and decent method of Parliaments that the late way of tacking together in one Bill several Independent and incoherent matters seems to alter the whole frame and Constitution of Parliaments takes away the Kings Negative Voice in a manner forcing Him to take all or none it takes away the Negative Voice too of the House of Lords by the same Consequence It looks like a kind of Defamation of the Government and seems to suppose the King and House of Lords to be so ill affected to the Publick that a good Bill cannot carry it self through by the Strength of it's own Reason and Justice without being helped by Clauses it gives up the greatest share of Legislature to the Commons
In fine the same method of proceedings may be made use of against the Commons by the Lords These Inconveniencies the King is Resolved to abolish and hath Commanded me to say to you State super vias antiquas If this Session do not repair the misfortunes and amend the faults of the last it will look like a fatality upon the Nation He whose house is destroyed by Fire would find but little Comfort in saying the Fire did not begin by his means but it will be a perpetual Anguish to him to remember that it lay in his power to extinguish it And so concludes with strong persuasives to Peace and a Composure of all Differences Monday May 27. Resolved in the House of Commons That the House taking into Consideration the State of His Majesties Affairs and the great charge and Burthen that His Majesty and the Nation lyes under by the Army now in Being are humbly of Opinion That if His Majesty please to think fit to enter into the War against the French King this House is and always will be ready to support and assist him in that War But if otherwise That they will proceed to the Consideration of providing for the Speedy Disbanding of the Army The House further Ordered That the Members of this House who are of His Majesties privy Council do acquaint the King with these Votes and pray His Majesties Answer To this the King returned the following Answer which was read in the House of Commons the next day It contained That the French King hath made such offers of a Cessation till the 27th of July as His Majesty doth not only believe will be accepted but will end in a General Peace yet since that is not certain he does not think it prudent to dismiss either Fleet or Army before that time nor doth he think it will add much to the charge in regard the raising Mony and paying them off would take up that time were they to be Disbanded as speedily as possibly In the mean time he desires Mony for their subsistance that as hetherto they have been the most orderly Army that ever came together they may be encouraged to continue so And concludes with reminding the House of the 200000 l. formerly mentioned in His Speech which he wants for His Houshold The next day of sitting being Thursday the 30th of May the Commons Vote unanimously That all Forces rais'd since the 29th of September last except those transported to Forrain Plantations be forthwith paid off and Disbanded and that they Consider of a Supply for that purpose The last of May being the first day of Trin. Term Sir William Scroggs at that time Puisne Judge in the Common-Pleas took his place in the Kings Bench as Lord Chief Justice of England to which he was preferr'd by the Kings especial Favour on the removal of Sir Richard Rainsford who resigned a few days before And was Succeeded in the Common-Pleas by Baron Bartu and Serjeant Brampston promoted to his Place in the Exchequer June 4th the Commons Vote 200000 l. to be raised by a Monthly Tax in Six Months after the Land Tax now in being be expired with a Clause That this be for the Disbanding of the Army by the end of this present June The next day they Voted the King 200000 l. more Towards the Defraying the expences of the Fleet. Soon after which the King sent them a Message by one of the Secretaries of State containing That His mind was still the same with what he delivered the 23 of May last That the Army and Fleet ought to be kept up till the expected Peace be concluded He also recommended to their Consideration whether it were not dishonourable for him to recal His Forces in Flanders from those Towns which he had taken into His Protection before they could provide themselves of other Succours Here upon they extend the time as to the Forces in Flanders to the 27 of July Saturday the 15th of June The Commons Resolved That after Tuesday following no motions should be made for any new Supplys of Money till after the Recess nor any more private Bills brought in till after the said Recess The Tuesday following the King sent for the Commons up to the Lords House and told 'em in a long Speech That the season requiring a Recess by the middle of next Month at farthest it is convenient that we part fairly and with a perfect confidence of one another Therefore he opens His Heart freely to them in some particulars of nearest concern That what he told 'em at the beginning of this Session concerning a Peace seems already to be determined at least as to Spain and Holland in which Peace His part will be not only that of a Mediator but also to give His Warranty in it That Spain writes word that unless England bares the charge of maintaining Flanders even after the Peace they will not be in a Condition to support it long That to this end it is necessary not only to keep up our Navy at Sea but to give the World some assurance of being well United at home That thô the House of Commons may think such a Peace as ill a bargain as War because it will cost them Mony yet if they seriously consider that otherwise Flanders had been lost perhaps by this time He believes they will give much greater Summs than this will cost rather than the single Town of Ostend should be in the French hands and 40 of their men of War in so good a Haven overagainst the Rivers Mouth That we cannot but be pleased to understand the Reputation we have gained abroad by having in 40 days rais'd an Army of 30000 Men and prepaired a Navy of 90 Ships Therefore if they desire to keep up the Honour of the Crown at home and look to the safety of the Balance of Affairs abroad and pursue the War of Algiers if they desire he should pass any part of His life in quiet and all the rest in confidence and kindness with them and other suture Parliaments if so That they must find a way not only to settle for His life His Revenue as at Christmass last but also to add a new Fund of 300000 l. Per annum upon which he will pass an Act to settle 50000 l. upon the Navy and Ordinance and shall be also always ready to consent to all such Laws as they shall propose for the good of the Nation Then he reminds 'em to inable him to keep His word with the Prince of Orange in the payment of His Neices Portion which is 40000 l. the first payment being now due and demanded by him This Speech being ended the Commons returned back and Voted His Majesty the thanks of the House for His gracious expressions in His Speech Yet nothing of importance was done that day but a Denial of the 300000 l. Per annum demanded and not only so but a motion being made for a Compensation on the lost part
multitudes of His Majesties Subjects which Proceedings being contrary to the Common and known Laws of this Land and tending to promote discontents among the People and to raise Sedition and Rebellion His Majesty doth therefore strictly charge and commad all and every his loving Subjects of what Rank or Degree soever that they presume not to agitate or promote any such Subscriptions nor in any ways joyn in any Petition of that manner to be preferred to His Majesty upon peril of the utmost rigour of the Law that may be inflicted for the same At the same time His Majesty issued out another Proclamation declaring His Resolution to Prorogue the Parliament from the 26th of January to the 11th of November next Notwithstanding the scope of these two Proclamations the business of Petitioning went forwards several were perfected and delivered not long after one from London Subscribed with many Thousands of hands others from York Essex Surrey and Wiltshire all which the King receiv'd but coldly and as appeared afterwards ineffectually for on the 26th of January being the Day to which the Parliament was Prorogued His Majesty was pleased to make a short Speech to both Houses containing That when he declared in Council His Intention of putting off the Parliament to a time so remote as November it was not without mature Consideration That he cannot be perswaded from any thing that has happened since in reference to Affairs within the Kingdom to alter or repent of that Resolution That notwithstanding considering the present danger which threatens some of our Neighbours and Allies He thinks fit to appoint a day for their meeting again in April yet the Distractions and Jealouses at home are of such a nature and so heightned and improved by the malice and and Industry of ill men that he is unalteablylos opinion that a longer Interval of Parliament will be absolutely necessary for composing and quieting of Mens minds in order to which he is afraid the most proper Remedies would prove ineffectual without the assistance of some further time He resolves therefore that on the said meeting in April there shall be a further Prorogation unless the Condition of our Allies abroad do then require our immediate assistance Hereupon he commanded the Lord Chancellor to Prorogue the Parliament to the 15th of April In the mean time Articles of high Misdemeanor were offer'd by way of Complaint to the King and Council against the Lord Chief Justice Scroggs by Oates and Bedloe who had formerly declar'd themselves unwilling to give any Evidence against any Papists or concerning the late Popish Conspiracy in any Court where the said Chief Justice should fit as Judge But the Prosecution of this Affair soon fell and the Cause never came to be heard further than the Chief Justices Answer In the beginning of Hillary Term Sir Thomas Gascoigne a York-shire Knight of 85 years of age was Arraigned at the Kings Bench Bar in Westminster Hall upon an Information of High Treason in conspiring the Death of the King and the Subversion of the Government He was afterwards brought to his Tryal at the same Bar the Jury were all York-shire Gentlemen the Foreman Sir Thomas Hodson The chief Evidence against him one Balron who had formerly been Baily of his Colepits and one Mowbray who had also belonged to his Family but their Testimony it seems not being of that Weight or credibility with the Jury as some expected they brought in their Verdict Not Guilty whereupon the Prisoner was immediately discharged We are now arrived at the end of the 31st year of His Majesties Reign a year observable for many Revolutions thô all concluding peaceably and well through the Mercy of God and the Wisdom of our Superiours the factious Rabble having been never more ready for Combustion since the late Wars of Cursed Memory Anno 32 Car. 2. Anno Dom. 1680. THE Conclusion of the last Year left his Royal Highness in Scotland but the beginning of this must be remarkable for his return to England which healing Action in the entrance will I hope as a good Omen prognosticate Peace and Happiness to the King and Kingdom during the rest of this Thirty second Year of His Majesty's Reign On the 31 of January the Duke acquainted the Lords of the Privy Council at Edinburg That he had received a Letter from the King calling him very speedily to Court That though he did very chearfully obey His Majesty's Commands and went with much joy to attend Him yet he could not part from their Lordships so soon without a great deal of Reluctancy and Trouble having both at his reception and during the short time of his abode there met with all possible demonstration of civility and kindness both from the Nobility Gentry and from the Representatives of the several Bodies of the Nation particularly from the Council of which he had so just a resentment that he could not in all his life forget them and should not fail upon all occasions to meet their great kindness and affection shewn him with all the service he was capable to do them That he would acquaint His Majesty that He had in Scotland a brave and loyal Nobility and Gentry a regular Privy Council and the Judicatures filled with able Persons well affected to His Majesty's Service and Interest That he had observed the disaffected Party were nothing so considerable as their Friends in England studied industriously to represent them to be He then recommended to the Council the setling of the Differences between several Gentlemen of the Highlands whom he had always observed to be firm to His Majesty's Interest The Lord Chancellor in the name of the Council acknowledged the great happiness they had had in hi Presence Conduct and Advice and declared how much devoted they all were to the Service of His Majesty and his Royal Highness and that they could not express the great grief they had to part so soon with him to whose Council and Presence they owe so many Advantages After this the Duke Duchess and all their Retinue began their Voyage by Sea for London where he arrived at the Court Privy Stairs on the 24th of February about Three in the afternoon not without all the due signs of Joy and Welcome There arrived at the same time from the Privy Council of Scotland a Letter full of Loyal Expressions to the Kings Service with abundance of Recommendation and Protestations for the Duke's Interest Two days after his arrival his Royal Highness was attended by the Lord Mayor Court of Aldermen Recorder and Common Council of the City of London at which time the Recorder having in all their names Congratulated his safe arrival they all kist the Hands both of the Duke and Duchess On the 11th of February His Majesty was pleased to declare in Council that He had granted His Secretary Coventry leave to resign his Place of Secretary of State That His intention was to continue him however of His Council And that
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
Holland His Tryal was put off till the first Thursday next Term which is the 9th of June On the 14 of May being the last day but one of the Term the Earl of Danby was brought by Habeas Corpus from the Tower to the Kings Bench Bar where by his Council he urged hard that he might be Bail'd but the Court being unsatisfied that they had sufficient Jurisdiction in his Case he being committed by Authority of Parliament and as it seemd not being within the benefit of the Habeas Corpus Act he was remanded back to the Tower On the last day of Easter Term Fitz-Harris was again brought into the Kings Bench Court to give Evidence to the Grand-Jury upon a Bill of Indictment against De Puy who had been Groom of the Robes to the Duke The Jury desired that the Evidence might be given to them privately But the Court overruled that and Fitz-Harris declared upon Oath Publickly in Court a great deal of Scandalous stuff not fit to be mentioned relating to the Death of Sir Edmondbury Godfrey which the said De Puy had told him a little before the Death of the said Knight but all this Fitz-Harris spoke from De Puy's mouth Of his own knowledge he said only this That the Earl of Danby coming down the great Stairs at Winsor he heard him say that now he would make Godfreys heart ake To this he added that De Puy told him presently after the Murder that the Earl had sent Godfrey on an arrant from which he would never return Upon this Evidence the Earl of Danby's name was inserted into the Bill of Indictment against De Puy as accessary to the said Murder of Sir Edmondbury Godfrey and the Bill was accordingly found against them both At the same time it was that the said Jury presented the Court with a Petition that they would intercede with the King for the sitting and Continuance of a new Parliament During all this Easter Term and many Months after many Loyal Addresses flowed to the King from all parts of England full of Congratulations and nothing of that factious strain which had almost rendred the very word Petitioning to be scandalous among these Loyal Addresses that from Norwich ran highest for the Kings Prerogative and a little reflecting on the exorbitances of the late Commons but as if this were a notorious Scandal to the Parliament the Grand-Jury of Middlesex above mentioned presented the same as a publick Libel but this did not discourage the Loyal party who still continued their Addresses It would be tedious to name all and how kindly they were received by the King who never suffered those who brought 'em to depart without some gracious mark of His Favor Not so to those who took upon them in their Petitions to direct His Majesty about the Calling and continuance of Parliaments To this Purpose its observable that the City of London were divided in these matters Part of them being most of the Court of Aldermen and some of the Common-Council had drawn up a Loyal Address in like manner as the whole Burrough of Southwark had done this they Presented to the King at Windsor by the Hands of Sir William Turner and Sir John Moor with abundance of Countenance and Favour But another Party having composed a far different Petition both for form and matter and it being also the same Day carried to Windsor by the Lord Mayor one Alderman and the Recorder they were refused to be admitted to the Kings Presence but orderd to attend at the Council at Hampton Court the Thursday following where they received a Repremend from my Lord Chancellor Finch now newly created Earl of Nottingham At the same time it was that the Leiutenancy of the City of London attended with their Loyal Offers of their Lives and Fortunes among these was Sir George Jeffryes the Kings Serjeant and late Recorder of London with his Sword on as one of the said Leiutenancy On the 8th of June in Trinity Term was Dr. Oliver Plunket Tryed for High Treason at the Kings Bench Bar the Evidence against him were all profest Papists as said and came out of Ireland the chief matters Sworn against him That he was made Primate of Ireland by the Pope at the King of France's recommendation that upon that account he having ingaged to do that King all the Service he could he had actually Levied among his Popish Clergy great Sums of Mony therewith to introduce the French Dominion into that Kingdom and extirminate the Protestants Upon this Evidence he was found Guilty The next day being Thursday the 9th of June Fitz-Harris was Tryed at the same Bar for High Treason the chief Evidence against him were Everard and Sir William Waller for the Prisoner appear'd Oats and Colonel Mansell and told a long story Scandalous in it self but of no weight My Lord Chief Justice therefore according to the Evidence which was home and clear against the Prisoner directed the Jury to find for the King which being also the directions of the other 3 Judges the Jury after above an half hours consultation brought in their Verdict Guilty Presently after this Tryal Mrs. Fitz-Harris the Prisoners wife and her Maid accused my Lord Howard of Escrick of the Contrivance of that Treasonable Libel of which her Husband was Convicted upon which accusation the said Lord was committed to the Tower on Sunday morning June 12. On the Wednesday following being the 15th of June Plunket and Fitz-Harris were severally brought to the Kings Bench Bar and received Judgment of Condemnation as in cases of High Treason About this time it was that the King in Council was pleas'd to order a Parliament to be call'd in Scotland on the 28th of July I must not forget that on the last day of Trin. Term a Bill of Indictment against the Lord Howard being delivered in to the Grand-Jury of Edmunton Hundred then serving in the Kings Bench for the County of Middlesex Sworn to by Mrs. Fitz-Harris and her Maid and some others and the said Jury not thinking the Evidence sufficient they were about to indorse it with an Ignoramus when Mr. Ward one of the Clerks of the Crown Office attending upon them withdraw'd it from before ' em Of this action they complain'd to the Court but being told that the Attorney General might stop these proceedings as he saw occasion or words to that purpose with which the Jury being nothing satisfied they went immediately and preferr'd a Bill of Indictment against the said Ward to the July of Oswelston Hundred then attending for this misdemanor which Bill the said last mention'd Jury found On Friday the First of July Dr. Oliver Plunket the Popish Primat of Ireland and Edward Fitz-Harris were both Executed at Tyburn for the several Treasons of which they were severally Tryed and Condemn'd the last Term. Plunket in a long Speech declar'd his Innocency forgave his Enemies and Pray'd for the King Queen and Duke of York But Fitz Harris said
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
in expressing their Indignation against that most Execrable and Trayterous designed Association lately Discovered by His Majesty which certainly in the Judgment of all good Men may more corrupt the Blood of the wicked Inventers than if they should be discovered and attainted by Law That the said Treason was not only against the King but the Monarchy c. To this purpose were several other Congratulations or Addresses to the King some before some after this of Middlesex viz. from Norwich from Hereford from the Lieutenancy of London c. All which were a Second Edition of Loyalty or a New sort of Addresses circulating from most parts of the Nation a Second time The Conclusion of this Year brought forth a Remarkable passage in the City of London Some unknown but base and malignant hearted Rascal had in the Night cut mangled and defaced the Duke of Yorks Picture which with the Kings both Nobly Painted hung up in Guild-Hall as a signal Ornament to the City Soon after which Action The Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen Publisht in Print a Declaration In which protesting their deep Resentment of that insolent and vilinous Act to be abhorr'd by every good and Loyal Subject and being greatly concern'd and desirous to find out the Author thereof they therefore unanimously Publish and declare That whosoever can discover the Person who Committed that Fact the said Lord Mayor and Aldermen will not only acknowledge the said Discovery as a most acceptable Service to the said City but also pay to such Discoverer the Sum of 500. l. upon the offenders Conviction Dated the 27th of January 33. Car. 2. and Signed Wagstaff In return to which Act of the City his Royal Highness sent a Gentleman out of Scotland to complement the Mayor and Court of Aldermen and thank 'em for their respect and Justice to his Cause Anno 34 Car. 2. Anno Dom. 1682. IN the beginning of this Year a most Barbarous and inhuman Murder was committed on the Person of Thomas Thinne of Longlect Esq a Gentleman of great Quality and Note both in City and Country The Bloody Murderers were Christopher Vratz George â—oroski and John Stern all Forainers and Servants or Dependants on a Swedish Lord called Count Coningsmark which first named three suddainly coming up to Mr. Thirne's Coach as he was passing in it near the Haymarket on Sunday Night the 12th of February one of them shot him into the Body with Two Brace or Bullets The Murderers were soon after apprehended and Committed to Newgate On the 28th of February they were Tryed found Guilty and Condemned and were most deservedly all Three Hanged and one of them Hang'd in Chains on the Road not far from Mile-End In March His Royal Highness Arrived out of Scotland he Landed at Yarmouth on the 10th where he was Treated at Dinner by the Magistrates with all the Ceremonies of Honour they could express and from thence attended by the High Sheriff of Norfolk and a Train of the Neighbouring Gentry to Norwich where again he was Nobly entertain'd by the publick Magistrates with Banquets and Bonfires and lay that Night at the Bishops House the next Day about 6 in the Evening he arrived at New-Market where he was received by both their Majesties with all the Marks of kindness and affection having been met several Miles out of Town by the Noblemen and Gentlemen then attending about the Court. The next Day being the 12th of March the King was Presented at Newmarket with an Address of Abhorrency from the Artillery Company in Bristol of which sort of Address I made some mention towards the end of last year yet because the Association there mention'd is more particularly daecipher'd in this from Bristol than any formaer I have seen I can not omit to observe that the said Loyal Artillery Company in Bristol did by their said Address Express from the bottom of their Souls an utter Abhorrence of all Covenants and Associations whatsoever made against or without His Majesties approbation especially that Treasonable one seized in the Closet of the Earl of Shaftsbury wherein the securing the Protestant Religion and the defence of His Majesties Royal Person and Estate is made the pretence but the subversion of the Establisht Religion and the final destruction of His Majesty and Lawful Successors is the real design and this to be performed by devolving the whole power of His Majesties Crown and Scepter into the Major part of the Members of both Houses subscribing that Association thô dissolved without regard to their quality or number His Majesties Guards for the defence of His Royal Person falsly stiled mercenary Forces and a terror to all the good People of the Land His Majesties Royal Brother to be excluded and destroyed if he comes into England and all who shall oppose that Rebellious accursed hellish and unpresidented Association are to be pursued to dedruction thô in defence of His Majesties Title concluding that they will assert and defend the Rights and Prerogatives of His Majesty and Lawful Successors in opposition to all Unions and Societies made to the Contrary and that they cannot think that Man fit to be a Representative in Parliament who will not disown such Associations These words are contain'd in that Address and by this President we see what good Subjects abhor Not long after this the University of Cambridge sent their Vice-Chancellor Dr. Coga to wait on the King at Newmarket with a Loyal Address of Abhorency at which time also the said Vice-Chancellor waited upon the Duke and in the name of the said University Wellcom'd him into England acknowledging that by his Royal Highness good Conduct the Government of Scotland both in Church and State is settled in Peace and therefore they could by no means doubt but that under His Majesty his Royal Highness ' s presence would have a great Influence in effecting the same here in England by which means all Great Brittain being joyn'd in one the Church of England and Rights of the Crown may for ever flourish To which his Royal Highness was pleas'd to Answer after Thanks for their kind Expressions that he was very glad of this and all other occasions to declare that he would ever stand by the Church of England as now establisht and countenance the Members of it as having seen by experience that they are the best Supporters of the Crown and that he would use his Endeavors and Interest for preservation of the Kings person and the Government in the State and the Church of England as now establisht by Law Several other Addresses also which were made to the King had words in them congratulating the Dukes return into England And when his Royal Highness came with His Majesty to London His Majesty was on the 10th of April attended by the Lord Mayor the Recorder and Court of Aldermen who having paid their Duty to the King they went to St James's where they waited upon his Royal Highness Congratulating his safe
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