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
Evidence not appearing so home as expected they were now Bail'd and so continued till the last Day of Hillary-Term following at which time they were Discharged on their own single Recognizance to appear in Trinity-Term next without being brought to any Tryal But now arrives the 10th of July on which Day the King was pleas'd to Dissolve the present Parliament by Proclamation with a Declaration of His Intention to call another on the 17th of October following On the 18th of July Sir George Wakeman Baronet the Queens Physitian William Marshal William Rumley and James Corker Benedictin Monks were Tryed for High Treason relating to the late Plot the Evidence Oates Bedloe and others But the Jury found 'em not Guilty and they were discharged Several Libels hereupon flew abroad against my Lord Chief Justice Scroggs who notwithstanding did sufficiently acquit himself from all aspersion in the Judgment of sober People In August the King fell dangerously ill at Windsor upon the Intelligence of which His Royal Highness came over Post to His Majesty But it pleas'd God that the King recovering His Health to the great Joy of the Nation The Lord Mayor of London with the Court of Aldermen and a Train of 30 Coaches and about 100 Horsemen went on Monday the 15th of September to Windsor to Congratulate His Majesty's Recovery which Complement was as kindly received as handsomely performed On the Wednesday following the King attended by His Royal Highness and the whole Court rerurn'd to Whitehall that Night by the Lord Mayors express Order there were Bonfires throughout the whole City for His Majesty's return as well to His former Health as place of Residency But it seems the Duke of Monmouth having contracted the Kings Displeasure on some account or other not commonly known His Majesty was pleas'd to take from him his Commission of Captain General and for a time expel him the Kingdom soon after this the said Duke went over to Vtrecht and at the same time His Royal Highness return'd to Brussels But this last it seems without designs of any long stay there for on Sunday Night the 12th of October His said Royal Highness the Dutchess and Family arrived at St. James's to the surprize of some and Joy of others The King having call'd a New Parliamenz as he had formerly promised on the Dissolution of the last to meet on the 17th of October He was now further pleas'd to Prorogue it from the time appointed to the 26th of January following On the first Day of Michaelmas-Term my Lord Chief Justice Scroggs took occasion to make an Excellent Speech in the Kings-Bench Court concerning the many Scandalous Libels that had been Publisht against him since Sir George Wakemans Tryal and acquittal in which Speech he purged himself at large of any Corruption and with a great measure of Courage declar'd That he was neither afraid nor ashamed to own what he had done That the Impeachment of the course of Publick Justice by vulgar noise and clamour did not at all terrify him to a Compliance with the Rabble against his Conscience and Understanding nor to try any cause otherwise then according to the Evidence and the probability and credibility it carries with it Mr. Justice Jones and Justice Dolbin spoke also to the same purpose and appear'd as Compurgators of the Chief Justices Integrity Much discourse there was at this time and many Narratives came out daily concerning the Discovery of a New Plot which the Papists was is said had contrived to lay on the Presbyterians The chief Discoverer was one Dangerfield alias Willoughby Several were accused and laid up as Conspirators among whom the Countess of Powis Mrs Celier Sir Robert Payton and Mr Gadbury The Effigies of the Pope in all his Pontificalibus had been for several years past solemnly burnt by the people in the Month of November yearly but never with so much Ceremony as on the 17th of November this year it being a Day observed by some in memory of Queen Elizabeth The Procession consisted of one personating the Dead Body of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey carried on a Horse with a Bell-man to mind the People of his Murther Priests in Copes with a large Silver Cross Carmelite and Gray Friers six Jesuites and after them the Waits several Bishops some in Lawn Sleeves others with Copes and Miters on then six Cardinals and after them the Pope on a Pageant with Boys and Incense Pots and other Ceremonious Pomp behind him the Devils Representative In this manner they marched about five at night from Bishopsgate to the Temple-gate at Chancery Lane End attended with Thousands of People at which appointed station they Committed the Effigies to the Flames of a very extraordinary Bonfire at which time the mock-Devil departed and the Shew ended On Thursday the 27th of November The Duke of Monmouth arrived in the night time at London on whose return the Citizens exprest a mighty Joy by Bonfiers Fire-works and Ringing of Bells all the next day and most part of the night In the mean time his Royal Highness with his Duchess and Daughter attended with a Guard and Retinue suitable to their Quality made a Journey into Scotland Where being arrived The Duke was at Edenborough on the 4th of December received and Complemented by the Privy Council of that Kingdom with abundance of Respect and Honor The Lord Chancellor made a Speech in the name of all the Council to which his Royal Highness Answer'd in very affectionate Terms expressing his great satisfaction at the Civilities he had received since his arrival in that Kingdom And declaring his readiness to promote the Honor and Service of the King and the Interests of the Scottish Nation About this time great endeavors were used to procure a Multitude of Hands to Petitions which were framing in London Westminster and several Counties to be presented to the King for the sitting of the Parliament on the 26th day of January next according to the last Prorogation which manner of Petitioning being unwarrantable and tumultuous the King was pleased in Council Dec. 10. to Order the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen to take care in their several stations of His Majesties Honor and of the peace and safety of the City and not to suffer such persons that should sign such Petitions or go about to procure hands to them to go unpunished but that they should proceed against them or cause them to be brought before the Council Board to be punished according to a Resolution of all the Judges of England 2. Jac. which may be seen Cro. 2. part of Reports fol. 37. His Majesty was further pleased to issue out His Proclamation dated the 12th day of December containing That whereas he hath been informed that divers evil disposed persons endeavor in several parts of this Kingdom to frame Petitions to His Majesty for specious Ends and purposes relating to the publick and thereupon to collect and procure to the same the hands and subscriptions of
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
England having been demanded their Opinions made their Report in Council and declared for Law That His Majesty may Prohibit the Printing and Publishing of all News-Books and Pamphlets of News whatsoever not Licensed by His Majesty's Authority as manifestly tending to the Breach of the Peace and Disturbance of the Kingdom And accordingly the King issued out His Proclamation to suppress 'em May 12. On the 11th of May being about the middle of Easter Term a Bill of Indictment of High Treason against the Lady Powis was deliver'd to the Grand Jury of Middlesex who not being satisfy'd with the sufficiency of the Evidence after a long Examination brought the Bill in Ignoramus The storm of Hail that fell at London on the 18th of May about eleven of the Clock in the morning is not to be past without Observation which though it came not very thick nor continu'd long yet was of such note that some were measured above six Inches about I saw many fall bigger than Pigeons Eggs or ordinary Walnuts none less than ones finger end and hard as Stones till they had lain a while Several Rooks in the Temple Garden were beaten down from the Trees and killed with this Hail as so many Shot or Bullets On Wednesday the 19th of May Richard Tasburgh of Flixton in the County of Suffolk Esq was Tryed at the Kings Bench Bar upon an Indictment of High Treason in Conspiring the Death of the King but upon a long Evidence to little purpose was found Not Guilty the Jury never going from the Bar and discharg'd On Friday the 21 of May was brought to the same Bar by Habeas Corpus William Viscount Stafford who much complaining of his long Imprisonment was informed by the Court That all the Judges had resolved upon mature Consideration that he being Impeacht of Treason in Parliament he could not be tryed out of Parliament and for the same reason also it was out of the Power of this Court to Bail him That he and the other Lords in the Tower were not within the benefit of the late Act touching Habeas Corpus's That the Court was sorry they could not relieve him and that there was no way for him to come to his Tryal but by the sitting of the Parliament The day following Sir Henry Tichburne the elder Roper and John Caryl Esq were Bail'd at the same Bar though accused of High Treason yet in regard there appeared but one Witness against them viz. Oats they were discharged of their Confinement upon Bail On the last day of the Term the Lady Powis Sir Robert Payton and one Bedingfield were absolutely discharg'd of all attendance The same day a Bill of Indictment of High Treason was found and brought in by the Grand Jury of Middlesex against the Lord Castlemain The Nine and twentieth of May being the solemn Anniversary for the Kings Birth and Restoration past this year with the usual Church Service and the Joy of Bells but without any Bonfires at night all Bonfires not only on this but any other day whatsoever having been forbid by order of the Privy Council April 7. without Licence first obtain'd from the Council or other Magistrates Such Bonfires as of late having been observed the occasions of tumult and dangerous opportunities of Sedition This day was also observed at Edinburgh with great solemnity and triumph Fifty old Men the Number of His Majesty's Age attending the Ceremony each having a Largess of 50 s. The King and the Dukes Healths were publickly drank at the Market Cross the Conduits running Claret and abundance of Oranges Lemons and Sweatmeats thrown abroad About the 10th of June arrived ill News from Tangier the Moors on the 14th past so straitned Charles Fort with their Siege that the English Garison being but 180 Men under Captain Trelawney resolved to quit it as desperate and fight through the Enemy to the Town of Tangier accordingly they laid a Mine to blow it up after their departure and passing through the Enemies Works in the night which Passage they found more difficult than expected the whole Army of the Moors were alarmed and came in upon them kill'd neer 150 cut the Captain all to pieces about 38 men escaping through Henrietta Fort being also at the same time lost to the Enemy On the the first day of Trinity Term Mrs. Celier was tryed for High Treason at the Kings Bench Bar the Indictment run in the usual form as against the rest of the Plotters but the chief and indeed only Evidence against her Thomas Dangerfield being proved by Records then produced so great and infamous a Criminal his Testimony was refused by the Court to be admitted and chiefly in regard he stood Outlaw'd of Felony and Felony not being exprest in his Pardon she was therefore found Not Guilty and Dangerfield himself committed to custody till he could find Bail to Reverse the Outlawry to Answer the Felony and for his good Behaviour But within a few days after the said Dangerfield producing a Newgate Pardon whereby all Felonies were Pardoned and his name being found therein he was discharg'd And now it was that His Majesty in pursuance to what He had done in April and to remove all pretences of the disaffected in the Point of Succession publisht his Declaration Protesting on the Word of a King and the Faith of a Christian That He was never Married to Mrs. Bar low alias Waters the Duke of Monmouth's Mother nor to any other Woman besides the now Queen Which Declaration was on the 15th of June in this Trinity Term Registred on Record in the High Court of Chancery all the great Lords of the Privy Council who were present when His Majesty Declared and Signed the same attesting the Action upon their Corporal Oaths in open Court The Lord Chancellor declaring at the same time That this Declaration is not inrolled here to receive any augmentation of repute or force from this Court for it cannot receive more than it hath already but only to be preserved here as in a Repository or Registry and he doubts not but it will also find a more Noble Registry than this that is the Hearts of all the Loyal Subjects of the Nation Other notable passages are to be Observed this Term On the 22d of June the Lord Aston was brought to the Kings-Bench Bar in Order to his Tryal but the Attorney-General not being ready with the Kings Evidence the Tryal was put off to the Fryday following on which Day the Court did not proceed to the Tryal for the same reason and the Lord Aston was Bail'd the next Day to appear the first Day of next Term. On the 23d of the same Month the Lord Castlemain was Tryed for High Treason the Evidence against him Oates and Dangerfield the last of which tho' admitted to be Sworn yet finding no credit with the Court and Jury on the account of the Infamy of his many Crimes the Verdict was brought in Not Guilty and the Prisoner Discharged And
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