A MOST CHOICE Historical Compendium Fitted for the use of all Ingenious and Inquisitive Persons WHO Are curious to know what wonderfull Events have come to pass for almost 1000 Years under the Figure 8 from 818. to 1688. Inclusive Wherein is briefly Comprised The Life and Death Rise and Fall of Kings Queens Noblemen Clergymen Warriors and several famous Poets With many other Curious Remarks and Observations not here mention'd Written in a Plain method by A. M. Gent. London Printed for John Weld at the Crown near Temple-Bar in Fleet street 1692. TO THE READER THE best and must infallible Guide we have upon Earth The Holy Writ informs us that the wife and Omnipotent Creator of the World was pleased to set out six days to finish that vast piece of work and blessed the Seventh day and hallowed it Yet afterward when the wickedness of Mankind increased to that heighth as to provoke the same Creator to destroy his works again by a Flood He commanded Noah to build an Ark for the preservation of all manner of Beasts Fowle and Fish c. Noah had also a precept to enter the House of Safety and to take along with him his Family which in all amounted but to eight persons Out of which number the whole earth was repopulated and replenished to the incredulous number of Millions of Persons already known and found out to this day and finding many memorable passages happening under that number in many places abroad especially in our own Kingdom of England and that also in very late years the last being 1688. I shall here present to thy unbyassed Judgment many Heroick actions done by our own Countrymen both at Home and Abroad The Rise and Fall the Birth and Death the conferring of Honour and Preferment and also the Degrading of many persons both Divines Lawyers Warriers and Seamen Lords Knights Gentlemen and Private men some of a low degree and some famous Poets born and bred in the English Climate and all these begun or ended under the figure of eight and no other As for example England was first so called by Egbert a Saxon King in 818. Ethelbert another Saxon King began his Reign 858. And many more English Kings and Queens so likewise Sir Hugh Calveley Sir Walter Raleigh and many other persons very remarkable in their Lives and Fortunes continuing on the same to this wonder-working year 1688. as thou mayst see in this Treatise fully explain'd Here is also presented to thy veiw the Spanish Armadoe consisting of what Ships and other preparations in 1588. the Murder of King Charles the first The Death of Vsurping Oliver The death of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey The Popish Plot. The publishing of a Birth of the Prince of Wales The landing of the Prince of Orange The departure of King James and his Q. c. out of the Kingdom of England and also an account of other matters included in the aforesaid years very profitable both for present and future Generations and in these later years being matter of fact and truly stated and demonstrated may be a good Copy to write after learning there by to carry our selves steadily and wisely in our several stations both in times of War and Peace Prosperity and Adversity Now if any one should ask thee why I took no other figure to end in tell him it would have swelled the Book to a greater Price intending this only portable for the Pocket and for such as are not willing to go to a higher rate and if that answer is not sufficient let them take the other eight remaining figures and use to their best advantage and pleasure if this Tract finds good acceptance it may be an encouragement for a second adventure after the same way and method for the future However at present I will no longer detain thee in the Porch but open a passage into a fair Field full of variety and pleasure desiring thee to reap the same by perusal of these my pains and willing endeavours Vale. A CHOICE And most useful COMPENDIUM ENgland was first so called by Egbert a Saxon King who began his Reign in 818. Ethelbert another Saxon King began his Reign in 858. Alfred another Saxon King first divided England into Shires in the year 888. Organs were brought into general use in Churches about the year 828 and much improved by Bernard a Venetian and an incomparble Musician Herbert de Boshâ—â— was a Manubus unto Tho. Becket at whose Martyring he was present and had the discretion to make no resistance he wrote the story of his Master's death Going over into Italy he was by Pope Alex. 3. made Archbishop of Beneventum and in Decemb. 1178. created Cardinal St. Agelnoth the Good Archbish of Cant. is said to have given at Rome 100 Talents of Silver and one of Gold for the Arm of St. Augustine B of Hippo. He expended much in repairing his Cathedral lately destroyed by the Danes assisted therein by the bounty of King Canutus He dyed 1038. Walt Episc Carliel no great Clerk being made Lord Treasurer of England he avowed his Accounts even when justly charged with a 100 l. Debt to the Exchequer upon which he resigned his Bishoprick and became a Fryer at Oxford where he dyed 1248. Where note that some persons will descend from a higher to lower degree to obtain pardon for sin Edward Son to Edgar K. of England was in his Infancy whipt by Elfrida his Mother-in-Law with wax Candles so that afterward he could never indure the sight of any such Candles when he was King Elfrida managed for the most part all the Affairs of State and afterwards caused this Edward to be stab'd at Corse Castle whither he had come to visit her An. 978. intending by that murther to make way for her Son Ethelred to the Kingdom He was buried at Shaftsbury which was formerly called St. Edwards Matthew Gournay Born at Stoke under Hambden Somer where his family hath flourished since the Conquest and there built both a Castle and a College He was the honour of his House in the Reign of Edw. 3 d. He fought at the Siege of Algiers and Benemazin against the Saracens at Ingen Poictiers Sluee Cressy against the French and at Nazaran under the Black Prince in Spain His Armour was beheld by martial men with much civil veneration with whom his faithful Buckler was a relique of esteem He dyed in peace aged 90. odd years an 1378. Steph. Langton born in England bred in Paris was one of the greatest Scholars of the Christian world in his age He was consecrated Cardinal of St. Chrysogone then by the Pope intruded Archbishop of Cant. in defiance of King John he wrote coâ—ments on all the old and some of the new Testament He first divided the Bible into Chapters which Robert Stephens a Frenchman subdivided into Verses Langton divided also the Kingdom of England reducing King John to sad extremities He dyed and was buried at Canterbury an 1220. Stephen de Fulborn
was made Bishop of Waterford and Lord Treasurer of Ireland and after Archbishop of Tuam and twice Lord Chief Justice of that Kingdom He dyed an 1288. and was buried in Trinity Church in Dublin St. Dunstan born in and Abbot of Glassenbury was Bishop of London and Worcester and Archbishop of Canterbury and for promoting of Monkery was reputed a Saint His skill in Smithery was so great that the Goldsmiths in London are incorporated by the name of the Company of St. Dunstans He dyed Anno 988. He was the strictest of the Clergy against the marriages of Priests in his life time Sewald bred in Oxford was Scholar to St. Edward who was wont to say to him Sewald Sewald thou wilt have many afflictions and dye a Martyr Nor did he miss much of his mark therein though he met with peace and plenty at first when Archbishop but afterwards opposing the Pope who intruded one Jordan an Italian to be Dean of York he was for his contempt Excommunicated Note that at the same time there were 300 benefices possessed by Italians who did not only teach in the Church but misteach by their lascivious and debauched conversations Let us now return to Sewald who never returned into the Popes favour but dyed of grief in the state of Excommunication An. 1258. yet was he reputed a Saint in vulgar estimation Eleanor Eldest Daughter to King Ed. I. and Queen Eleanor born at Windsor afterwards was married by Proxy a naked sword interposing between her and his body to Alphons King of Arragon who dyed before the consummation of marriage The Princess was afterwards married to H. 3. Earl of Berry in France from whom the Dukes of Anjou and Kings of Sicil are descended She dyed An. 1298. Edward III. Son to Ed. II. and Queen Isabel born at Windsor a pious and fortunate Prince was Passive in deposing of his Father practised on in his minority by his Mother and Mortimer His French Victories speak both of his Wisdom and Valour and though the conquests by H. 5. were thicker his were broader in France and Scotland though both in length a like as lost by by their immediate Successors He was the first English King that coyned Gold He first stamped the Rorse Nobles having on one side Jesus autem transiens per medium illorum ibat and on the Reverse his own Image with a Sword and Sheild sitting in a Ship waving on the Sea He had a numerous and happy Issue by Philippa his Queen after whose death being almost 70 years old he cast his assections on Alice Pierce his Paramour to his dishonour it being true what Epictetus returned to Adrian the Emperor asking of him what love was In puero pudor in virgine Rubor in Foemina furorin Juvene Ardor in sene Risus In a Boy Bashfulness in a Maid Blushing in a Woman Fury in a young Man Fire in an Old Man Folly However this King had few equals none superiours for Wisdom Clemency and Courage He dyed An. Dom. 1378. Wulstan of Brandsford was Prior of Worcester and built a most beautifull Hall in his Convent Hence he was preferred Bishop of Worcester 1338. He was verus pontisex in the Grammatical notation thereof building a fair Bridge at Brandsford over the River Teme and dyed not long after Jo. Eversden was breda Monk in Bury Abby whereof he was Cellerer or Caterer but mounting himself above this mean imploy he buried himself in Poetry Law and History whereof he wrote a fair Volume from the beginning of the World Being a Monk he was not fond of Fryers And observeth that when the Franciscans first entred Bury a few years before his death there hapened a hideous Hurricane levâ—lling Trees Towers yet went they out with a clam at the time of the dissolution He dyed 1338. Anno 1378. Note that in this year in the Reign of Richard II. the Sussexians of Rye and Winchel-sea imbarked for Normandy and afterwards entred by night into a Towncalled Peter's Port took all such Prisoners who were able to pay ransom and safely returned home with their spoils amongst which were some Bells the French had formerly taken from the Towns in this County which they lately invaded It was a worthy advice which William Earl of Arundel gave to his Son Henry Fitz-Allen never to trust his Neighbours the French which I would commend to the inhabitants of this County and indeed now and forever to all England John Stratford of Stratford Warwickshire being born there was preferred by the Pope to the Bishopr of Winchest whereupon falling into the displeasure of Richard II. for a time he took it in so ill part that he forsook that King whilst in his extremity this cost him the displeasure of the Queen Mother and Edw. III. till at last converted by his constancy they turned their frowns into smiles upon him When he was Archbishop of Cant. he furnished the King with great sums of money at his first seting forth for France But when the King sent to him again for another supply instead of Coyn the Bishop sent him Counsel whereat the King returning into England was so highly offended that the Bishop was forced to pass his publick purgation in Parlia by which he was restored to the reputation of his Innocence He built and bountifully endowed a Beautiful Colledge in Stratford He dyed Anno 1348. having been a man of great charity meekness and moderation Ralph Straford his Kinsman was Bishop of London and there being a grievous Pestilence there this Bishop bought a piece of Land for the burial of the Dead lying near Smithfield called No mans Land Eustathius de Fauconbridge was chosen Bishop of London An. 6. Hen. III. He was chosen Chief Justice then Chancellor of the Exchequer and afterwards Treasurer of England and twice Ambassador to the King of France He dyed October 31. 1228. and was buried in the Presbytery Maurice Chamnee bred a Fryer in the Charter-House He only escaped when 18 of his Order lost their lives by him written for refusing the Oath of supremacy 'T is said he warped to the will of H. 8. to preserve his Covent from destruction He dyed beyond the Seas about 1580. Sir Amias Preston of an ancient Family at Cricket in Somerset An. 88. seized on the Admiral of the Galiasses wherein the Governour with most of his men were burnt or killed He took the Town of Puerto Sancto and the Isle of Cochi surprized the Fort and Town of Coro sacked the City of St. Jago put to Ransom the Town of Cumana and entred Jamaica all in the West Indies and returned home safely He sent a challenge to Sir Walter Raleigh the Privy Counsellor which was by him refused having a Wife and Children and a fair Estate and Sir Amias being a private and single Person though of good quality because Sir Walter condemned those for ill humours where the Hangman gives the Garland These two Knights were reconciled afterwards and Sir Amias dyed about the
good a work By this time the Reader may give this account that any man of reason being 58 years of Age in this Year of Jubilee 1688. may demonstrate and make it plainly appear to others of younger dates that he has lived under Eight Governours and Governments viz. In the Reign of King Car. I. Car. II. James II. William and Mary and is truly called Monarchy then under the power and Tyranny of two persons Regalwise in respect they were single persons and had the power of Calling and Dissolving Parliaments making War and Peace to condemn or save guilty Malefactors Robbers and Rebels and indeed Oliver's power did much exceed that Authority which King Charles I. did take upon himself yet this Oliver and his short-Reign'd Successor Richard wanted the Crown the Royal Title of a King and were content to enjoy the Nomination of Protectors with this addition upon the Great Seal of England inscribed By Divine Providence c. He then was under the arbitrary will and disposal of Parliaments ends and pieces formerly called the Rump Parliament which in the last eight Years of King Charles I. were the sole Lords and Rulers of England raising War against their King and likewise great Funds of Money which was also raised by imposition of the first Excise of Ale and Beer in England and not only publick but every private House paid for all the Beer they brewed and consumed the Butchers in all places paid so much for a Cow or Heifer a Bull or Ox so much a Calf and also for Sheep and six pence in the pound for all Woollen Cloth that was made and fold and there was an imposition upon Salt and several other things in this Nation This Domus Communis for brevities sake Dom. Com. Voted down the House of Lords called the Upper House and Voted themselves the Supream Power of the Nation and this was performed by an intrinsick vertue and an occult quality latent in their unknown Prerogatives their Ordinances were more efficacious than our Acts are in these days A blind Order from a beggerly Committee would fetch up a Delinquent put him into Prison take his Estate and no Appeal to be made but at Goldsmiths or Haberdashers-Hall and there your composition was made upon such hard terms that the poor Cavalier was forced to sell part of his Estate to save the rest and this punishment was inflicted upon those that out of a Principle of Loyalty took up Arms in defence of their Prince and Country let us pass by the two Aping and counterfeit Kings Oliver and his Son and Successor Richard only tell you that the former would whip a Parliament out of the old House in a moment and because he would have an able Parliament he caused his own men as well Troopers as Officers to be chosen Members thereof Let us not forget Barebon's Parliament that zealous Leather-seller who was taking care by bringing his Bills into the House to extirpate the Family of the Stewarts Root and Branch How he came by the name of Praise-God-Barebones is uncertain but some of the Family has informed me that the Constable and Watchmen of St. Martins Ludgate were his Godfathers however I am in hopes that before he departed this life he repented of his bad actions and for the Act of Grace did truly Praise God or else Fare ill Barebones Then a Committee of Safety was appointed to regulate and govern this poor tossed Commonweal much distempered and so much out of Order that this new-formed Commissioned Company knew not how to behave themselves in their New Corporation only made some small offers of Reformation and of setling a firm peace to their simple and ignorant Admirers put out their new lights seeing they could proceed no farther every man dissolved his own individual body and retreated into the old Dom. Com. and there stayed till General Monk came out of Scotland for London and played a new Game with them and made the lawful King Charta Dominatrix to rule over all the rest These last four Milcellanies Hotchpotch Gallimawfâ—y Governments at least so called must be denominated Democracy being a fuâ—ious and confused Government of the uncertain and dissatisfied People of England this last Page had been omitted not falling under my figure but it gave clear demonstrations how to bring in 48 and 58. Their dark actions being discovered in these intervals I judged they might seasonably in this place be interposed And now Reader having brought thee according to my promise under the figure of 8 to the year 1688 I leave thee there and bid thee Meditate on what was acted therein and heartily wish that the remembrance of that 88 may admit no FINIS AN APPENDIX REginald Pole Born at Stoverton Castle in Staffordshire was second Son to Sir Richard Knight of the Garter and nearly related to King Henry 7. His Mother Margaret Countess of Salisbury was Niece to King Edward 4. and Daughter to George Duke of Clarence He was bred in Corpus Christi Colledge in Oxford preferred afterwards Dean of Exeter Henry the 8th allowing him a Pension sent him beyond the Seas He studied at Padua conversed much with the Patricians of Venice and in sine became a perfect Italian and could not be prevailed upon by the King or his friends to return to England whereupon his Pension was withdrawn living afterwards in a Venetian Monastery He attained great Credit for his Eloquence Learning and good Life It was not long before he was made Deacon Cardinal by the Title of St. Mary in Cosmedin by Pope Paul the 3d who sent him Ambassador to the Emperor and French King to incite them to War against K. Henry the 8. He afterwards retired to Viterbo in Italy where his House was the Sanctuary of the Lutherans where he himself became a racking but no through-paced Protestant insomuch that being appointed one of the three Presidents of the Council of Trent he endeavoured to have Justification determined by Faith alone during his living at Viterbo he was taxed for getting a Bastard which Pasquil published in Verses affixed to his Pillar that Blade being made of all tongue and teeth would not stick to tell where the Pope trod his holy Sandals awry Yet he had some Relation to the Beast in the Apocalypse in that under the name of Pasquil there has been a Successive Corporation of Satyrists After the death of Paul 3. Pole was at Midnight in the Conclave chosen to succeed him the refusal whereof under the notion of a Deed of Darkness was by the Italians lookt upon as a piece of dulness in our Cardinal next day expecting a re-election he saw Julius the 3 d. his professed Enemy chosen in his place yet afterwards he became alterius Orbis Papa when made Archbishop of Canterbury by Queen Mary He was a person free from Passion His youthful Books are full of the flowers of Rhetorick whilst those of his old age are dry and dull He died a few hours
with due commendation so long as either Ingenuity or Learning are fashionable in our Nation He died An. 1638 and was buried in the Abby Church of Westminster under a small Stone with this Inscription O rare Ben. Johnson Sir Robert Car Son to Thomas Laird of Fumhurst in the South of Scotland who being active for Mary Queen of Scots was thereupon forced to fly to York was born in this City 'T is reported that his first making at Court was by breaking his Leg at Tilting in London whereby he came first into the cognizance of K. James who reflected on him whose Father had been a kind of Confessor for the cause of the Queen his Mother besides the young Gentleman had a handsom Person and a conveniency of desert Honours were crowded upon him made Baron Viscount Earl of Somerset Knight of the Garter Warden of the Cinque-Ports c. He was a good natur'd Man doing himself more hurt than any Man else but yet much harm to others viz. Sir Tho. Overbury lost the favour of this Earl by dissuading him from keeping Company with a Lady Wife of another Person of Honour to whom afterwards he was married her first Husband still living Earl of Essex and had a Child by her a Daughter who was afterwards married to a Person of Honour but Sir Tho. Overbury under a pretence for refusing to be sent Ambassador to Russia was sent to the Tower and his strict restraint encouraged his Enemies to practise his death which was by Poison effected for which divers were executed the Earl had the sentence of death which by K. James contrary to his word was never executed but gave him a lease of so many years as a pardon for his Life though he was banished the Court lived privately even from the sight of his Wife and in much sorrow and grief died An. 1638. In this year 1638. Lewis XIV King of France was born or rather per ignotam illicitam viam by that politick and governing Cardinal sent into the World to be a Plague to all Christendom a spoiler and robber of his own Country a troubler of the Gallican-Clergy a great opposer of his Infallible Holiness a severe and cruel Tormenter of the Hugonots first eating and plundering their Goods by his Booted Apostles his Dragoons and then unmercifully abusing their Bodies by Wounds Irons Whippings Prisons Famine and Death it self but without burial which by us is never denied to any Roman-Catholick He governs all his Vassals and Slaves that should be his Subjects by his will rigour and injustice and when they have got any thing for their own Family the King's Officers take it for their Master and there is no remedy for this general contagion But yet let me inform you of one piece of good nature that is rooted fast to him tho' he resists the Pope he loves the Turk and much condemns the Emperor for fighting against him and the French K. has many times lately assured his Brother the Turkish Emperor That he will divert all his Enemies that is all Christian Princes from invading his Countrey by his own powerful Armies And pray do not think much of these his strange and extravagant expressions for he hopes as there is but one King of Heaven so there will be but one on Earth and that must be a French one There was also in this year 1638. a many little Devils called the Covenanters in Scotland gathered into a riotous Body and chused David Leisley for their General and sollicited France for aid and though it took little effect yet you may learn that the Scotch were always great lovers of the English Their Covenant consisting of 666 words the mark of the Beast was set on Foot and every one willing or not swallowed it down by the help of labouring Preachers the Covenanters All this was but a preparative for their coming into England which they did the next year and according to their Covenant to settle the King in his Throne in Peace and Honour and make him a Glorious King which contrary to their Covenant by Perjury falsehood and selling his Person was accomplished in an 1648. next to be observed being a year full of wonder and horrour but before we give an account of that take notice there was four persons concerned in a Tumult in Moor-fields pretending to reform by pulling down Baudy Houses on the Easter Holidays who was sentenced and executed as Traytors May 9. 1638. I wish the Mobile in these our days were well informed of this late action Now also in this year take in John Lilburn the Quaker who was whipped at a Carts Tayle in Febr. 1638. Anno 1648. At Preston in Anderness Duke Hamilton Aug. 7th entred England with an Army Most beheld him as one rather cunning than wise yet rather wise than valiant however he had Officers what did â—ken the geat of fighting as wool as ony of oor Age. He would accept of no English assistance Their Van and their Rear were many miles asunder and they met the resistance of Major General Lambert before they expected it He at Preston gave the Scotch Army such a blow as stunned it though it reeled on some miles more Southward into Staffordshire Where at Vlcester the Duke was taken Prisoner and utterly defeated and afterwards made a Prisoner in the Tower and then condemned and executed with the Lord Capel which is the next to be taken notice of Arthur Capel Esq of Hadham Hartf was by Ch. I. Created Baron 1641. after the surrender of Oxford he retired to his House from whence he went to Colchester His Loyalty to his Master was proof against all Batteries and Sollicitations of his Enemies He was sent Prisoner to the Tower by the Parliament which was butindeed but a part of the Dom. Com. He escaped from the Tower in Feb. but was retaken and sent back and the next day an Act made for his Tryal and being condemned was beheaded 1648. undaunted on the Scaffold Hence one alluding to his Arms a Lyon Rampant in a Field Gules betwixt three Crosses made these following Lines Thus Lyon like Capel undaunted stood Beset with Crosses in a Field of Blood He wrote a book of Meditation wherein judicious Piety is discovered he was Grandfather to this present Earl of Essex The Earl of Holland was executed at the same time with this Noble Lord Capel and Duke Hamilton March 9th an 1648. And now give me leave to bring in a Murder without any former precedent and I hope none will be so wicked and horrid as to think of the like fact for the future Char. the I. our Lawful and good King was taken from his own House at Holdenby in Northamptonshire and carried to Childersley by Cornet Joice then to Roysten Hatfield Windsor Hampton-Court this was done in May and June Then the King escaped to the Isle of Wight but stay'd not long before he was brought back and Jan. 4. an Ordinance was engrossed and read for
and Hill were all apprehended examined and committed to Newgate and at their Tryal upon Prance's Oath and Evidence against them they were found guilty of the murder of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey and upon Feb. 8. 1678. were executed all living and dying Papists Now observe in all this his own Sword that was thrust through his Body was never mentioned as the cause of his death for if that Sword had been made a party by the Owner it would have equalized the Romances of St. Dennis and St. Winifrid Now remember also that Kelly and Fitzgerald the two Priests were at the murder and they would have run Sir Edm. through with their own Sword in Somerset-House but the other Homicides would not suffer them saying the Blood would be a means to discover them And the abovesaid Mr. Fitzgerald soon after the murder said in the hearing of Mrs. James then living in Katherine-Stree That the PAPISTS had murdered Sir Edmondbury Godfrey and that it would be their destruction And when Mr. Edward Coleman heard of the same Murder he struck his hand on his Breast with these words Then we are undone And now to bring this relation to a period I shall only add That Prance always told me for many years That what he had so oft declared to me of that murder was true and that he would justifie it to the last drop of his blood And here we must leave him being now turned Protestant till 88 where you may find him a Papist again But to proceed the House desired the King to give Bedloe the 500 l. reward for his discovery which Mr. Wrenn had not long before put into his head Capt. Bedloe gets the Mony but contrary to agreement of dividing it betwixt them the Capt. would not give one crum of comfort to the Wrenn There were also in this year several Gentlemen and others imprisoned in the Country and some brought to London to see the Tower but being they neither suffered death nor were Fined we shall pass them and come to a year of more strangeness and wonder than this Anno. 1688. This year is ushered in with so much wonder that if it be set down here for a real History not one of a Thousand will believe it however it must be left to every one 's own choice Upon the great hopes of the Queen's conception the King orders some of the Bishops to make an Order of Thanksgiving in behalf of the King the Q. and the Royal Family upon occasion of the Queen's being with Child which was performed accordingly throughout England Then followed by the instigation of the Priests and Papists to the King a Proclamation was procured for the reading a Declaration for Liberty of Conscience in all Churches and Chapels in England This proved very unhappy to the King in disgusting his best Subjects the Church of England nay almost the generality of the Non-Cons did not approve of it The Romans did use their utmost endeavours to promote it knowing thereby their Religion would be introduced and extirpate all but their own the Quakers and Anabaptists did run with the stream and Will. Penn the Quakers chief Illuminator was a daily Sollicitor to the King and Father Peters his Brother Priest for Liberty of Conscience The King or at least the Priests being not satisfied brought the King to put forth a second Declaration to the same purpose All the Clergy except some few ignorant and Popishly affected stoutly refused to read the said Declaration The Bishops also had a Conference about it and not finding it consentaneous to their Consciences but on the contrary would open the door to let in all Heresies and Irreligion and nothing should have been settled in England but Slavery Popery and Poverty The Archbishop of Canterbury being Dr. William Sancroft Dr. Kenn Bishop of Bath and Wells Dr. Lloyd Bishop of St. Asaph Dr. White Bishop of Peterborough Dr. Lakâ— Bishop of Chichester Sir John Trelauny Bishop of Bristol Dr. Turner Bishop of Ely These seven Bishops on the 8th of June applied themselves to His Majesty by way of an humble Address to let him understand They could not safely and with a good Conscience suffer the Clergy in their several Dioceses to read the said Declaration The King enraged at this the said Bishops were all sent to the Tower and there remained Prisoners their Crime being a pretended scandalous Petition to the King To let him know they could not read the said Declaration c. And there they remained to the 15th day of June and then was called to the King 's Bench-Bar and upon their own recognizance upon 100 l. a piece was Bailed to appear 14 days after upon which day being the 29th of June a Jury being sworn the Indictment read and argued on both sides by the learned Counsel for several hours the Verdict was brought in Not Guilty to the great encouragement and comfort of good Christians and for levelling the pride and insolence of the haughty Papists and their adherents And now 19 days before this happy Verdict had delivered the Bishops from their Prisons I suppose you expect to hear of another delivery that is what became of the Queen's Concept Now I must beg of you this favour to remember that if the Concept was not believed the Birth will be as little credited however we had it by Tradition as Papists have most of their Religion whether Articles of Faith or matter and form of Worship and so are imposed upon easie Believers But if you will be so careful to go to find out the Pope's Infallibility the inerrability of the Roman Church the Supremacy of St. Peter's Successors pardons for sin at a cheap rate the exact time of blowing up the Fire of Purgatory praying to Saints long since departed but a moiety of the Sacrament to the lay People worshipping of Images cum multis aliis such-like improbable Follies after all your pains and enquiries be forced to take all upon trust and without any plain mathematical demonstration sit down with an implicit Faith and believe as the Church believes not contradicting their report for as there was a resolute party did believe and did also publish it abroad after the murder of Sir Edmondbury Godfrey committed by others he was his own selo de se by sheathing his own Sword in his own Body yet how far that was congruous to reason let the discreet man give sentence Now after this digression you may understand that there was upon the 10th of June Anno 1688. â— day long before appointed and very precisely too for that purpose a Man-child brought forth into the presence of many persons of great Quality but of the implicit Faith Madam Wicks the Mid-wife or Woman of Honour being a knowing Artist and well instructed in such affairs gave to every one of her own perswasion a full and satisfactory account of the whole matter from the very begining to the end That He was the true product of the forementioned
conception and that God by the earnest intercession of the blessed Lady had heard their Prayers and granted their desires in sending them a Son and indeed they knew it was a Son before the 10th day of June above-mentioned now this tradition was handed about to the great and indeed all places in England by Letters and otherways And yet for all this specious and gilded information if you would certainly know the truth of this great birth and state you will be forced to take their tradition and bâ—lieve it as they believe it be it true or not true yet as I said before every one is left to his own choice For if this blind huddled business should have been acted more in the light and in the presence of Her Royal Highness the Princess Anne of Denmark and other persons of quality of the Princess's Religion it would have given full-satisfaction to all the now unsettled doubtful wavering and ever-disbelieving Persons of England and settled a firm belief upon future Generations The King soon after great râ—joâ—cings and illuminations for tâ—iâ— nâ—w Deodatus perceiving at a distance a great storm arising in the East applies himself to raise several nâ—w Forcâ—s of Horse Dragoons and Foot and sends to the Earl of Tyrconnel then Governour of Ireland for 4000 or more of the Irish Foot which was sent accordingly into England very likely and able and war-like Men and coming up to London was very well approved of by all the King's Officers but the Inhabitants had a prejudice against them for the Irish had got an ill name and was not well spoken of though to do them Justice in part of London and in the City of Westminster they carried themselves very civilly in their respective Quarters Now it was observed by the Politicians of War that these Irish sent out of Ireland from the adjacent parts of Londonderry did so much comfort and encourage that City as to make it hold out so long and to that extremity and if that 4000 so detached had remained in Ireland that City in all probability and reason had been either taken or surrendred to the late King James who in this Summer 88 had formed a Campaigne on Hounsloe-heath Horse and Foot to the number of betwixt 16 or 18000. where we must leave them at present in their Tents with their several pieces of Canon and take notice how the King was equipping his Ships at Sea to make a formidable Fleet and made choice of the Lord Dartmouth as a chief Officer to muster up his Seamen for most of them had a great kindness for that Lord who made it his business and gathered up many Seamen and after a little time manned out several Ships to Sea but in this time the poor Seamen being as it were spirited on board and knew not what cause they were to fight for they begun by degrees to consider and at last take the boldness upon them to ask their Captains upon what design they were upon and who they must encounter withal The Captains gave them such dark and aenigmatical answers as gave them no satisfaction Upon which some of the Ships whole Crew came upon the Decks and as one man told their several Officers That they would not fight for the Papists but always stand for and maintain the Prâ—testant Religion Which unhappy news for King James was carried to him by the Lord Dartmouth The King was much discomposed with the hearing thereof but made no great outward appearance about it at present The King 's next design was to take off the Penal Laws and Test and for that purpose a Parliament was to be called to sit at Westminster and many crafty Courtiers being Papists or so inclined was with suitable instructions sent down into the several Countys and Burroughs of England and Wales to prepare such Members as would throw over-board the Test and Penal Laws at one sitting but this took as little effect as the former for the King hearing by his Agitators in the Country how that they could not make a party there prevalent enough to throw down the two Bulwarks it so was ordered that the designed Parliament never me together Then the King's Council where Father Peters was always of the Quorum put the King himself to examine those of his menial Servants and those that held Offices under His Majesty as the Great Seal Privy Seal Secretaries of State Mr. Attorney and Mr. Sollicitor-General the Gentlemen of the Green Cloth and all the Officers in White-Hall the Commissioners of the Customs and Fire-hearths these and many others were all to give an account of their opinions of the Penal Laws and Test and then being Closeted by the King they gave in their private verdict in that place if they would not condescend to take away the two aforesaid Bars their Offices and Preferments was ipso facto taken from them By this â—ly practice many Lords and Gentlemen and many other inferior Officers wâ—â— cashiered and many of the red â—â—â—ter men substituted in their places but in all this the King gained but little ground for the number obliged and the disobliged were still equal Yet they would not let the King rest here but they persuade him to closet all his Judges of Westminster which accordingly he did and found some of them according to his wish the rest stoutly opposed and was presently displaced and some mean Lawyers and mean Persons but Papists or popishly affected mounted up into their seats at the several Courts in Westminster Hall By this project the King lost the hearts of his Subjects for these new Judges were so mean in birth some in breeding some in learning and all of them ignorant of the Law so that by their illiterate practice the Law was quite buried For Sir John Maynard that old Serjeant of the Law told King William That if His Majesty had not come as he had out-lived many good Lawyers so he should have out-lived the Law it self And the reason was plain for these new erected Judges did all agree in this maxime That any penal or statute Law whatsoever and though made and confirmed by the three Estates yet the King by vertue of his Prerogative Royal had power to dispence with it and what is that dispensation but by the arbitrary will and pleasure of the Prince all Laws are abrogated and all penalties thereof remitted And the King taking these Judges opinion in this matter for good Law upon this false bottom the King offered to admit and many Zealots accepted places both Military and Civil without taking the Oaths and Test and every one under that circumstance is liable to pay 500 l. And hereby all Corporations was new transformed Papists made Mayors and Aldermen Governours of the Forts and Castleâ— Captains at Sea Colonels and other Officers of Land-Forces Obadiah Walker set up some few weak Proselytes at Oxford in despite of Authority and indeed the Tempest did arise higher for Magdalen College refusing to
admit some persons by Mandamus from the King contrary to Law and the Statutes of their College were ejected themselves viz. Dr. Hough Dr. Fairfax c. Magdalen College at Cambridge had also part of the storm for not admitting by Mandamus whereby Dr. Peachel then Vice Chancellâ—r was suspended ex beneficio during the King's pleasure being then either President or Master Some Clergy were also preserred to â—ishopricks viz. Dr. Parker to be â—ishop of Oxford Dr. Waâ—son bishop of Bangor Dr. Cartwright Bishop of Chester by the King's Dispensation not taking the Oaths and Test By these examples you may plainly perceive that the Law was perfectly buried Not omitting the Reverend Henry Compton Lord Bishop of London who was by an arbitrary and unjust sentence suspended ex officio contrary to the Canon and Civil Law and Dr. Sharp Dean of Norwich and Vicar of St. Giles's in the Fields was silenced from Preaching without any form of Law but indeed was willing to obey his Ordinarie and so ceased pro tempore in his Ministerial Function In this Year also the Pope was pleased to send over into England his Nunciâ— Count Dada a Venetian a man of great Abilities and a comely Person being very graciously received by the King and highly treated by the Courtiers well respected by the Ladies of the greatest qualities and by the ignorant Bigots admired and adored and the more by reason here had not been one resident among us for above a hundred years before this time for the Law is very severe both in receiving or treating any of that nomination and if an act of Grace had not obliterated most Offences that great Entertainment in the â—ity of London and several other miscarriages by several persons of good note had been deeply punished These are the most remarkable passages which happened in this part of the year being the latter end of September and part of October and now see what follows after And for that purpose pray recall to mind that I told you in some few precedent Pages That the King perceived a great Storm arising in the East and by this time it was got over the Pampus and the English Seas and upon the Downs and so was driven on all along upon our Coasts by Dover and Portsmouth and other Ports 'till it safely alighted or indeed arrived at Torbay not many Miles distant from the City of Exeter upon the 5th of November and though it was esteemed and called a storm by some few yet it was a most joyful and golden Shower to most People of England and as that day was formerly noted under God's great Mercy and Goodness to deliver us from destruction intended by that horrid Powder Plot This day now will make England truly sensible that by the same infinite goodness we are made free from the slavery of Popery Arbitrary Government and many other imminent Judgments which would undoubtedly have fallen upon us And now let me tell you what this happy and joyful arrival was and first it produced that Magnanimous Heroick Noble Vndaunted Martial and Victorious William Nassau Prince of Orange and Stadtholder of Holland The Forces that landed with him were as follow viz. Foot 10692. Horse 3660 In all 14352. Ships being Men of War of the second and third rate 65. Flyboats 500. Pinks 60. Fire-ships 10. In all 635. This Fleet and Army through the coldness of the late season of the year their long Voyage by adverse Winds upon the Sea and perhaps the Prince's first intention to have landed in another part of the Kingdom had sustained some loss and was much wearied and weakned and many was sick yet was forced to wade through the Water to some considerable deepness at their Landing After which the Prince was pleased to march to Exeter for his head Quarters the whole Army being there or very near it and it being a large and plentiful City sufficient Provisions was made for the Prince and all his Forces the Prince stayed there some Days expecting hourly with great impatience what Nobility Gentry Gentry and other Forces would resort to him and join with his Army after some few days before his hopes was quite withered there appeared in his Royal Presence the Lord Colchester the Lord Cornbury c. Colonel Godfrey and others and by degrees several other Lords and Gentlemen who carried along with them very good and effectual men to augment the Army and as the Prince advanced his Army increased This news came presently to King James from the first landing who was daily and hourly precisely informed of their several Movements and Advances toward what places But the main design of the Prince was bâ—lieved by all for London which sell out accordingly The King in the junctuâ—e of these affairs was in grâ—at amasement for some of his Army nay some of his Life-Guard had deserted and went over to the Prince yet the King trusted to his Army especially to the Irish the rest being English some Scotch and some few French being all mustred together with several Trains of Artillery drawn out of the Tower and in a Martial manner marched away on the Roads towards their Enemies the Prince likewise doing the same in hopes to encounter with them after a little marching but in his marching the Prince was pleased to put forth several Declarations whereby the end and intentions of the Prince's coming into England with his Army was fairly and clearly discovered to the people and with such satisfactory reasons therein inserted that all on a sudden the people desired his Royal presence especially in London and Westminster both being places convenient to turn the Tyde of Affairs if there had been any occasion Within six days the Kings Army was marched to Salisbury the chief Rendezvouz the Princes Army being about 20 or 30 miles distant from them and there happened betwixt several of their Parties and Forlorn-hopes some small encounters and skirmishes but very few taken or slain of either side the Kings Army or at least the main Body lay still at and about Sarum the Princes Army drawing nearer to that place insomuch that the King daily expected a Battle but on a sudden the Scene was changed for a Rumour only coming to the King that the Prince's Army was ready at hand to fall upon his the King forthwith without calling a Council of War or any other consideration left them in great hast and disorder and returned to London the Army being thus deserted by the King whether for want of a good Cause for the love they bore to the Protestant Religion or their good will and opinion for the Prince of Orange Besides an Order given to the Earl of Feversham for their Disbanding the great expected Battel was ended before it begun the Kings Army flying away or at the best easily retreating when no enemy pursued after them it seemeth they had read or at least heard of Mr. Hobbs's self-preservation This supposed terrible Army being removed leaving
the Roads very clear and quiet for the Prince's Horse to march at their leisure and come for London which by easie Marches in few days was accomplishâ—â— to the great joy and rejoying of England But before his Highness would arrive at White-hall to prevent disorders by tumults or otherways which might have been raised by the Romanists and other disaffected persons residing and busying themselves in and about London and Westminster he was pleased to send three or more Lords to the King that he would be pleased to withdraw his person and his Guards to Windsor or any other place where his Majesty should make choice of And withall upon the word of a Prince his Majesty should be secured from all fear and danger This message came to the King about 11. or 12. a Clock in the Night which being delivered the King presently prepared himself and withdrew into Kent with a party of his Guards to Rochester This was his first leaving White-hall December 10th and going to Feversham in Kent was retaken and brought back to London in great state and rejoycing by his Subjects and the Prince did appoint some of his own Guards half Protestants and half Papists which latter went to Mass with him and had liberty to go where he pleased the Guard being charged by the Prince to that very purpose The Priests thinking themselves in a snare which indeed did of right belong to them made the King very uneasie and perswaded him to go away a second time which was done 18. Decemb. and going into Kent with his Guards which the King himself commanded took shipping with a party with him dismissing his Guards whom by gratuities he requited and so sailed into France without any disturbance Now let any indifferent and unbyassed person judge if the King was forced by any rough or unmannerly means or actions to leave his Kingdom being upon 23. of December His Queen with her new found out Relation went away from White-hall upon Decemb. 9. accompanied with Count Dada Father Peters and some Ladies of Honour and Gentlewomen to wait upon her person with good store of Household-goods Jewels and Treasure and also landed safely in France where the French King was pleased after his compliments passed to provide for her according to her Royal quality The King going away as I told you upon the 18. day Upon the same day the Prince entred into St. James Palace his whole Army marching with him increased by this time to above 20000 and being very much wearied by their long marches and the winter Season was all except sufficient Guards sent into winter Quarters into the adjacent Counties but especially Southwark Westminster and the Suburbs were filled with sufficient numbers of them The Army being thus provided with Quarters the Prince was pleased to assemble a General Council consisting of Lords Spiritual and Temporal Gentlemen and Lawyers in which Assembly the Prince was desired to send out his several Precepts to all Counties Cities and Borough-Towns in England and Wales these precepts was directed to the several Coroners in their respective Counties for at this time the Sheriffs of most Counties were not setled and as these Coroners so the Mayors and Sheriffs of Cities and divers Corporations were required to give notice to all in their several Jurisdictions at certain days prefixed and at such places as they should judge convenient and there to make choice of Able Persons and Gentlemen of known integrity to appear such a day at Westminster in thâ— two Houses of Parliament which accordingly was performed and received the Nomination of a Convention But bâ—fore this meeting the Prince was pleased to send for over into England his Royal Consort Mary Princess of Orange this Convention after some weeks taking into consideration the distracted and unsetled condition of the Nation wanting a Head and power to restore the said Nation into its pristine Glory and Safety by the advice of the best Lawyers and Statesmen and by search of many former Precedents wherein it did plainly appear that in all reason this Convention so generally chosen by the consent of the Commons of England might be stiled the Parliament of England to all intents and purposes And accordingly under that denomination all matters of State and concerns of the Publick were transacted And taking into their consideration the departure of King James out of the Kingdom after many arguments Pro and Con. it was agreed that by such departure out of the Kingdom without any compulsion but his own free accord he had absolutely abdicated his Kingdom and it was absolutely necessary the Crown should be conferred on the next lawful Heir which was without any further arguing adjudged to be Mâ—ry Princess of Orange Nevertheless the Parliament wisely searching into the State of the Kingdom into what great dangers it was relapsed both by reason of open Enemies and seeming bosom-Friends at home the Devilish Intreagues of that deadly hater of Christians and almost all Mankind Lewis the French King for preventing these mischievous designs now on Foot against England Scotland and Ireland it was Voted by Both Houses of Parliament Nemine contradicente that the Prince of Orange should be invested in the Crown with his Lady and so made King and Queen of England Scotland France and Ireland with all other Dominions thereunto belonging and they were immediately Proclaimed at Whitehall-Gate Temple-Bar and the Royal Exchange with the usual Solemnities and with great signs of rejoycing and satisfaction to all sober People and then Proclamations were sent down into all the Counties of England to the same purpose which was performed with great joy and alacrity as appeared by their many Bonsires Ringing of Bells and several other demonstrations of gladness they would take up several Sheets of Paper if they were to be fully mentioned in this small Treatise and for the Coronation of this blessed Pair it falls not under my figure Yet I hope the Readers Patience will hold out till April 11th in the next ensuing year where in other Writings he may be sure to satisfie himself in the truth of the whole Proceedings Scotland knowing very well all the several transactions of England and being well approved by them take the same measures and tread in the same steps calling together the States of the Land being the Nobility Gentry and other Degrees amongst them and being assembled were likewise named a Convention and afterwards a Parliament who presently addressed themselves to our King and humbly beg'd his Protection and Proclaimed William and Mary their King and Queen according to the Scottish Custom and after a little time came to London tendâ—ing their Crown by Commissioners to their Majesties which was accepted very graciously Poor distressed Ireland however the major but in the genuine sence the better part thereof would have willingly and chearfully followed the former Examples of England and Scotland but the Commands of the late King James the crafty Projects of the French King the fly
Perswasions of the Irish Priests closely and hourly made and applied to the Earl of Tyrconnel then Lord Deputy or at least Governour of Ireland he also hoping by his not submitting to gain great Honour and Preferment if not the whole Country for his own proper use and benefit but therein he â—ight easily perceive his errour for Iewis that aspiâ—ing Monarch had design'd it long before to be annexed to his Flower de luces but the poor Irish Harp would have caused but doleful Musick to the Hibernians yet a melodious tune to the wooden shoo'd French which would presently have bin dancing in that Country however the reasons before mentioned mâ—de Tyrconnel so obstinate that with what Forces and that little Courage he was possessed of to defend and preserve Ireland for his two Mâ—sters what the event was some few years will tell you however this light you shall have at present that things proved quite contrary after several Conflicts and Battels to his expectation But let us return into England and there behold how many potent Enemies the King had secured in several Prisons for the security of Their Majesties Persons and the Kingdoms Welfare Peace and Happiness viz. George Jefferies Baron of Wem and Lord High Chancellor of England the Earl of Peterborough the Earl of Salisbury the Lord Castlemain the Lord Preston the Earl of Feversham the Lord Chief Justice Wright Baron Jenner Sir Edward Hale formerly Governour of Dover and after Lieutenant of the Tower of London and let Miles Prance the Silver-Smith a timely Discoverer have the honour to be taken at Gravesend with a false Pass and there committed to Prison by the Secretary of War when he intended to pass the Seas There were many more persons of high and low rank taken into custody but by reason their Deliverances or Trials hereafter will make them more publick I shall at present omit them all except Dr. Obadiah Walker the Proselyte-maker at Oxford who was sent to the Tower of London but not amongst the Records to make search for the place of Purgatory but foretell his own fortune either by calculating his Nativity by the often Singing of his Ave Maria or numbring his Beads at their appointed Seasons whether by day or night but let Obadiah rest being accounted but one of the small There were also in this Juncture of time many persons secured in several Counties of England alwayâ— having an eye and great care of the Red Letter-men and of those hoâ— headed-persons that took places of Trust and Commissions from the late King James never regarding the Penal Laws and Test the Priests likewise were apprehended as soon as discovered yet not many for knowing their sins to be of a dark colour they would not abide the reckoning but went off with the next Oars Also about this time the King was vigilant over his Army that served under the late King James not suffering any of them at present to come for London especially in any great Parties but sent them into several Parts and Counties of England by degrees modelling of them a new first breaking the old Regiments both of Foot and Horse c. and then formed them into new Bodies so as to take away all suspicion of their disloyalty to their King which perhaps was unjustly cast upon them however by this honest Stratagem of War all the known Papists and those that appeared disaffected to the King and Government were quite cashiered and then the King was so well satisfied with the remaining part that they were sent to Whitehall and took their Guard-days in the same manner as they had formerly part of that Army which came out of Holland being of the Guards there were either all or in part removed from that Station By this time the Reader may be pondering with himself that there is an absolute necessity for great Sums of Money not only for defraying the charge of the Fleet that brought the King and his Army over into England but likewise the vast expence and charges which our English Fleet and Army had brought upon the Nation and these two Fleets and two Armies united and all to be paid by one Master would in a short space of time rise and multiply to an incredible account The Parliament taking this and other matters of the like nature being of great concern into their consideration after mature deliberation Voted several Sums for that purpose to be raised viz. by additional Excise of Ale Beer some small Branch of the said Revenue being ready to drop down was by a new Aâ—t reunited also a Land-Tax at 12 d. per Pound was Enacted by Parliament the Customs and several other Duties belonging to the Crown were by the said Authority confirmed and settled upon the King and Queen The Affairs of the Kingdom now being in a hopeful way of Settlement as so small a time had bin allowed for so great a change and new modelling both of Persons and Offices the King and Parliament in all matters very well concurring the King was pleased amongst other of his favours and elemency to declare he would stand by and defend the Protestant Religion the Church of England as by Law established to his utmost power against all opposers whatsoever and withal care should be taken for the Non Con's and differing Opinions the Kings gracious pleasure being thus published made all his Subjects to be filled with joy admiration and liberality to that degree that the Citizens of London of their own accord proffered to lend the King what Money His Majesty pleased and almost in an instant great and vast Sums of Money were brought into Guildhall and that Citizen thought himself the most happy which was the first leader and brought the biggest Bags for which at present they were very willing to accept of the Kings word for their several securities The King by this time being the latter end of March having got into possession some money but that which equalized or rather exceeded it the affections of his People would have bin very happy together by his peaceable Reign over his Subjects here in England had not the Rebels in Scotland and Ireland by the fair promises of Rewards and Preferments of the late King James and Lewis the 14th of France biâ— instigated and hurried into Arms and bloody Wars against this King William so that both Scotland and Ireland wanted his assistance and being willing and ready the King resolved to reduce them both to his obedience but this Year being drawn to its period and my figure to be out of date because I will not leap into another but conclude my Eighty Eight a Year full of Wonders and Changes yet in hopes it will be the introducer of England's Glory and do verily believe that future Generations will call it happy because it restored Our Lives Religion Laws and Liberty and I desire it may make us all truly thankful to him who was the beginner and finisher of so great and