Judicial proceedings And then he return'd to White-Hall where he chose the Lords of his Privy Council amongst whom were several of the long Parliament that had given sufficient Testimony of their sincere repentance and their resolution to be Loyal for the future and he appointed Judges for the Benches and Courts of Judicature Several Addresses were likewise made to him from the Nobility and Gentry of all the Countreys in England wherein they congratulated his Restitution to his Crown and Kingdom assuring him of their exceeding Joy and willingness to maintain his Royal Person and Authority Divers persons that had been eminent for their service and affection to him were about that time also dignified with the honour of Knighthood And several men guilty of his Fathers murder having made their escape beyond-Sea a Proclamation was Issued forth wherein all those persons who had â—ate gave Judgment or any way assisted in that horrid and detestable fact were commanded to surrender themselves within fourteen days to the Speaker or Speakers of Parliament to the Lord Mayor of London or the Sheriff of that County wherein they then resided forbidding all persons to conceal or harbour them under misprision of Treason whereupon divers submitted themselves and were secur'd in the Tower The Commons in drawing up the Act of Oblivion order'd that some others besides those who had actually sate in Judgment upon the late King should be excepted out of it viz. Broughton Phelps Cook Dâ—nby and Hugh Peters which so affrighted others who had a hand in that execrable murder that Col. John Hutchinson a Member of that Parliament and Coll. Frâ— Lussels presented their Petition to them wherein they confest their guilt and declar'd the artifices which were us'd to draw them in by which submission they obtain'd pardon upon some small forfeitures only But Peters being shortly after taken in Southwark was clapt up into the Tower And the Parliament not looking upon themselves nor the people of England free from the guilt nor safe from the punishment which in those unhappy times they had contracted unless they laid hold of the Kings offer of Grace in his Declaration from Breda did therefore resolv'd in a full house that they did in the name of themselves and of all the Commons of England lay hold on the gracious pardon mention'd in that Declaration with reference to the exclusion of such as should be excepted in an Act of Pardon and they order'd a Declaration that their Resolution should be drawn up which was done accordingly and presented to the King by Denzell afterward Lord Hollis some of the most eminent in Office under the late Usurpers having in the mean while to make sure of that Grace gotten their particular pardons exemplified under the great Seal of England To prevent which trouble the King was more than ordinary pressing for the speedy passing the Act of Oblivion taking care to express his grateful sentiments of the Loyalty and services of several Illustrious personages that were principally instrumental in accomplishing his Restauration by dignifying them with Places and Titles of honour And to shew how highly the Generals Loyalty had advanc'd him in his good Opinion he was dignifi'd by him with the Titles of Duke of Albemarle Earl of Torrington and Baron of Potheridge Beauchamp Teyes had his Temples deserv'dly incircl'd with a Ducal Coronet by the hand of his Majesty being thereby invested with the right of Peerage in all the three Kingdoms whose equal Felicity and Honour he had preferr'd before his own and therefore now most deservingly shar'd with them therein by his Investure in those Dignities which were compleated on the 13th of the following July by his taking his place in the House of Lords being attended by the Commons and introduc'd by the Duke of Buckingham Montague was made Earl of Sandwich Ormond Earl of Brecknock and Lord Steward of the Kings Houshold the Earl of Lindsey Lord High Chamberlain Manchester L. Chamberlain of the Kings Houshold Southhampton Lord High Treasurer Greenvile Earl of Bath and Groom of the Stole Sir Frederick Cornwallis Treasurer of the Kings Houshold by an old grant and Sir John Berkley Controller Divers rich Presents were now made to him from the several Cities and Burroughs of the Kingdom in Gold and Plate and the resignation of several Feefarm Rents which had been purchas'd from the Usurpers the City of London among the rest with a Complement of their good Stewardship rendred their grant of new Perk in Surrey and all the Rents accruing at Michaelmas Day were now secured from the late Purchasers of Crown and Church Laws to the utter disappointing of their unjust and covetous expectations from such base and unwarrantable Penny-worths A Peace was now made Proclaim'd between us and Spain and a Splendid Embassy dispatcht from Denmark to congratulate his happy Restauratian The Court of Soissons who had Married Cardinal Mazarines Neece being sent from the French King on the same Errand entring London with all the sumptuous and extraordinary Magnificence imaginable and there was no Prince nor State in Europe but what sent an Embassador thither to congratulate him upon that happy and wonderful occasion And the Parliament having after many debates and disputes alterations and insertions at last finish'd the long desir'd Act of Oblivion which was extraordinary comprehensive and indulgent even to the regret of many injur'd Loyalists who found no better Argument to perswade their acquiescing therein than their unchangeable Loyalty to the King whose special Act that was There were no more excepted out of it but only the Regicides and Murderers of the late King only Lambert Vane and twenty more were thereby reserv'd to such forfeitures as should be afterward declar'd by Parliament the principal whereof was Hazelrick St. John Lenthal the Speaker Philip Nye Burton of Tarmouth and some Sequestrators Officers and Major Generals of the Army among whom was Desbrough Pine Butler Ireton c. They likewise past an Act for the perpetual Anniversary Thanksgiving on the 29 of May which was the day both of his Birth and Restauration and therefore deserv'd a perpetual memorial and to be made by a Parliamentary Canonization the most auspicious in the English Kallender to both which he gave his Royal assent and shortly after at their adjournment to another for disbanding the Army and paying off the Navy which although they once threatned us with a perpetuating our slavery yet were now forc'd by the happy conjunction of his Fortune with his Wisdom and Goodness after many models to submit to its last desolation And the Commons having after the passing of their Bills acquainted him that they had nothing more to ask or offer at that time but that if his Majesties occasions would permit they might adjourn and go into their own Countries where they should endeavour to make his subjects sensible of their extraordinary happiness in having such a King to Rule and Govern them He consented to it telling
ibid. 1670 Designs to unite England and Scotland 345 Prince of Tuscany in England ibid The Dutchess of Orleans at Dover 346 Sir Thomas Allen before Argeir 347 Sir Edward Spragg destroys three Men of War 348 1671 Bloud steals the Crown 349 The King takes a Sea-Progress 351 A stop upon the Exchequer 352 Sir George Downing committed to the Tower 353 A Declaration of Indulgence 354 Sir Robert Holms falls on the Dutch Smyrna Fleet ibid 1672 The King declares War against the Dutch 355 He views the English and French Fleet joyning ibid His Royal Highness's name terrible to the Dutch 356 The States remove to Amsterdam 357 The King Invites their Subjects into England ibid The Duke of Buckingham and the Earl of Arlington Embassadors 358 Nimeguen taken ibid 1673 the Dutch beaten 359 The King grants Peace to the Dutch 360 1677 Grows Jealous of the French Kings greatness 362 The Lady Mary marri'd to the Prince of Orange ibid The Kings Speech to the Parliament 363 France threatned with a War 365 The King endeavours a general Peace 366 But provides for the worst 367 His Speech to the Parliament ibid 1678 The Siege of Mons raised 359 A peace concluded at Nimeguen ibid A hugeous strange Plot of Black Bills and Spanish pilgrims discover'd by Titus Oates 371 The Lords Bellasis Powis Peters and Arundel sent to the Tower 3â—2 Godfrey found murthered 373 The King prevents the Parliament 375 His refusal to part with the Militia 376 Some try'd for the Plot ibid Some of the Parliament accuse each other 377 Sir Joseph Williamson released by the King 378 The Long Parliament dissolv'd ibid The Kings Letter to the Duke 379 The Duke goes into Flanders 380 The Kings Speech to the new Parliament ibid 1679 They begin with the Earl of Danby 384 Who surrenders him self ibid The Lords in the Tower Impeacht in Parliament 385 The King dissolves his Privy-Council and constitutes a new one ibid. Shaftsbury President 387 The Lords Answer to their Impeachments ibid. 1680 The Kings proposal to the Parliament 388 Their Address to the King 389 The Bill of Exclusion brought in ibid The two Houses differ about Danby's pardon and the Tryal of the Lords 390 The King Porogues them 392 The Bishop of St. Andrews most barbarous Muther forerunner of a Scotch Rebellion ibid. Whence the name of Whigs 393 The Parliament dissolv'd and a new one call'd 394 Sir G. Wakeman and others acquitted ibid. The King taken Sick at Windsor 395 Monmouth in disgrace 397 A Declaration about him 398 He is banished 402 Dangerfields discovery ibid The Duke of York goes into Scotl. 403 Sawcy Petitions for the Parliaments fitting 404 Forbidden by Proclamation ibid. Kings Speech to the Parliament 405 The Duke returns out of Scotland 406 Sir Lionel Jenkins made Secretary 407 Addresses of Abhorrence ibid. The Lord Shandios Embassador to Constantinople 408 A prodigious storm of Hail ibid The Parliament sits 409 Fall foul upon Sir Robt. Can and others ibid. Revive the Attempt of the Exclusion Bill which is bravely thrown out by the Lords 411 The Tryal of the Lord Stafford 412 The Blazing-star 413 The King presseth the Parliament for supplys ibid. The Address ibid. His Answer 414 Their Proceedings thereupon 415 They are Prorogu'd 416 Their lewdly extravagant Votes ibid. Petitions about the Oxford Parliament 417 The Country treats their Members 418 1681 The King goes to Oxford 419 His Speech to the Parliament there ibid. Wi. Williams Speaker 421 Fitz-Harris his story 422 25 26 27 28. The Oxford-Parliament dissolv'd 423 A Declaration touching it 424 Doct. Pluncket 427 The Lord Howard committed to the Tower 428 The Oxford-Plot 429 The Protestant Joyner ibid. His Royal Highness High Commissioner in the Parliament of Scotland 430 An Act past there about the Succession ibid. The King Favours the French Protestants 431 Shaftsbury sav'd by an Ignoramus 432 Esquire Thinn murther'd 433 1682 The Royal Passenger's miraculous deliverance 435 Sir John More Lord Mayor of London 436 A Riot in the City about Sheriffs 437 Prince Rupert dies 442 The Earl of Nottingham dies ibid Two remarkable and unusual Embassadors ibid. 1683 Bantham lost 444 An unpresidentable action ibid A Quo Warranto brought against the City Charter 447 A Petition in reference to it 447 The Kings gracious Condescention ibid Shaftsbury's Plot discover'd 449 The King to have been kill'd at the Rye 451 Sav'd by an accidental Fire ibid. Keeling the first discoverer 452 The Plotters taken ibid. Lord Gray Escapes 453 The Lord Russel and Coll. Sidney Beheaded and others executed at Tyburn ibid. Holloway and Armstrong executed 454 A Declaration of Thanksgiving ibid. The difference between the two Plots 455 The Lady Ann Married to Prince George ibid. Judgment enter'd against the Charter 456 Prichard Mayor by Commission ibid. The Factious Aldermen displac'd 457 Monmouth submits himself 458 The great Frost 459 The Kings Charity 460 Vienna besieged ibid Lord Landsdown ' Valour at its 〈…〉 46â— Tâ—ngâ—er demolish'â— ibid. Earl of Danby relievâ—d ibid. The rest of the Lords out of the Toweâ— 462 684. Commissioners for Ecclesiastical affairs ibid. A Scandalum Magnatum against Oates 463 His Royal Highnesses Patience 464 A Statue-peice of the King in the Royal Exchange ibâ—d A Muster on Putney Heath 466 Several tryed 467 The Sodom Doctor Indicted 468 Danvers his Libel 469 〈…〉 Scroop How receiv'd to favour 470 The King 〈…〉 Fit 471 The manner of his lingring Death 472 The Solemnity of his â—uneral 475 His Person 481 His Justice 483 His peaceable Inclination 486 His care of the Crown Prerogatives 488 His Prudence and Conduct 491 His great Piety and Devotion â—94 His Travels 499 His Learning â—01 His Recreations 504 His Conjugal Affectionâ— 506 Epigraphe 509 A Prayer for the King 511 An Essay of HISTORY ROYAL In the LIFE and REIGN OF HIS Late Sacred MAJESTY CHARLES the Second The Introduction HIstory in all Ages hath not undeservedly been accounted the great Light and Mistress of Humane Life as it both pleasurably instructs and most efficaciously persuades all Ranks and Degrees of men to their several respective and proper Offices For in laying the Foundation of a Good Mind Examples have a peculiar force to move men to Virtue and a much Greater than any bare Precepts whatsoever since they have this excellence in them that they prove what they recommend possible to be done and a Precept without an Example adjoyn'd to it looks like a good Law never put into Execution When men read of an Excellent Virtue they still carry away some Tincture from it whether they will or no as if they had been in Conversation with it's Possessor And when they read of any deformity and vice they have a natural aversion for it and will take care to avoid in themselves what looks so ugly in others Nor does History tend only to form men's manners in order to an happy Life but it also exalts and enlarges their minds while they
Exchecquer and Judges of the Law according to their several Dignities Trumpets Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber Knights of the Bath the Knights Marshal the Treasurer of the Chamber the Master of the Jewel House the Knights of the Privy Councel the Comptrollor and the Treasurer of the Kings-Household two Trumpets and Serjeants Trumpets two Pursivants at Arms Barons Eldest Sons Earls Youngest Sons Viscounts Eldest Sons Marquesses Youngest Sons Earls Eldest Sons two Pursivants at Armes Viscounts and Dukes Eldest Sons Marquesses Eldest Sons two Heralds Earls Earl Marshal and Lord Chamberlain of the Houshold Dukes Eldest Sons Serjeants at Armes on both sides the Nobility Clarencieux and Norroy Lord Treasurer Lord Chancellor Lord High-Steward the Duke of Ormond and two persons representing the Dukeâ— of Normandy and Aquitain Gentleman Usher Garter Lord Mayor His Royal Highness the Duke of York alone the Lord High Constable of England which was the Earl of Northumberland the Lord Great Chamberlain of England which was then the Earl Lindsey and the Sword carryed by the Duke of Richmond Equeries and Footmen followed next and about the King himself Gentlemen and Pensioners without them Master of the Horse which was the Duke of Albemarle leading a Spare Horse the Vice-Chamberlain to the King the Captain of the Pensioners the Captain of the Guard the Guard the Kings Life Guard Commanded by the Lord Gerrard the Generals Life Guard by Sir Phillip Howard a Troop of Voluntiers Troop and a Company of Foot by Sir John Robinson The way from the Tower to Aldgate was guarded by the Hamblets from thence to Temple-Bar by the Train-Bands on the one side and by the Livery on the other with the Banners of each Company the Windows were all along laid with Carpets and the best Tapistry Bands of Musick in several places and the Conduits running with Wine In St. Pauls Church-Yard stood the Blewcoat-Boyes of Christ-Church Hospital one whereof in the Name of the rest declared their joy for his Majesties wonderful Preservation and Restauration Humbly beseeching his Gracious Favour and Indulgence according to the example of His Royal Ancestors and his Father of Blessed Memory With which Speech he was well pleased and testified his being so by his rewarding the Boy that spoke it In the Strand and through Westminster the wayes were likewise gravelled and railed and guarded on both sides with the Trained-Bands of that City and the Kings two Regiments of Foot under the Command of Albemarl and Collonel Russel and the Houses adorned with Carpets and Tapestry like those in London When he came through Temple-Bar the Head Bayliffe and High-Constable in Scarlet met and received him with loud Musick and alighting off their Horses and kneeling down the Head Bayliff on behalf of the Dean and Chapter City and Liberty signified their Joyful Reception of His Royal Person into that Liberty Declaring how much their happiness exceeded any other part of the Nations in that their Soveraign Lord and King was come among them and humbly desiring His Majesty to continue his Grace and Favour to them whereby they might still be enabled to do His Majesty service Infinite and Innumerable were the Shouts and Acclamations from all parts as he past along to the no less Joy than amazement of the Spectators And the Pomp of this Solemnity was so great that it is vain to attempt the describing it it being not only unutterable but almost Inconceivable and many outlandish Persons who beheld it admired how it was possible for the English after such horrible confusions to appear in so rich and stately a manner It is incredible to think what costly Robes were worn that day it being scarcely discernable what their Cloaks were made of for the Gold and Silver Laces and Imbroidery that was laid on them besides the inestimable treasures of Diamonds Pearles and other Jewels and the Rich Liveries of their Pages and Footmen some suits whereof were so very rich that they amounted to near 1500 l. In this order he arrived at White-Hall where having retired himself to supper and so to Rest he came the next day which being St. Georges day was to consummate the Coronation from his privy Staires to the Old Pallace where in a Room behind the House of Lords called the Prince's Lodgings he stayed till the Lords and the rest of his Train had Robed and Ranked themselves in Westminster-Hall and so soon as they were ready descended the Stairs that went down into the Hall and placed himself in a Throne in the upper end thereof Then came the Dean and Prebends of Westminster in their Rich Copes each of them having a part of the Regalia and delivered them to the Lord High Constable who delivered them to the Lord Great Chamberlain and being by him set on a Table the King immediately distributed them St. Edwards Staff to the Earl of Sandwich the Spurrs to Pembrâ—ke the Sword called Curtana to Oxford the pointed Sword carryed on the Right Hand of it to Shrewsbury that carryed on the left to Derby and the Sword of State to Manchester the Scepter with the Dove to Albemarle the Orb with the Cross to Buckingham St. Edwards Crown to Ormond and the Pattina and Challice to the Bishops of London and Exeter And having thus bestowed the Regalia he set forward on foot much after the same order which was observed the day before upon blew Cloath spread on the ground from the Hall to his Chair in the Abby supported by the Bishops of Bath and Durham and having his Trayn carried up by the Lords Mandevill Cavendish Ossery and Piercy assisted by the Lord Viscount Mansfield Master of the Robes All the Peers with their Coronets in their hands went up along with him till he was placed in the Chair of State Then the Bishop of London on behalf of the Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury told the People he did there present them King Charles the Second the Rightful Inheritor of the Crown of this Realm and demanded of all those that came thither that day to do their Homage Service and Bounden Duty whether they were willing to do the same Whereupon all the Peers in their Parliament Robes and People gave a shout testifying their willingness Then the King rising from his Chair turned himself to the four sides of the Throne and speaking to the People who again with loud Acclamations signified their consent all in one voice After which the Choire sung an Anthem in the interim whereof he went supported by the Bishops of Bath and Durham attended by the Dean of Westminster to the steps before the Communion Table where upon Carpets and Cushions he offered a Pall and a piece of Gold and then removing to the right hand kneelled down during a short Collect then the Sermon began being Preacht by the Bishop of Worcester which ended the Bishop of London on behalf of the Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury ask't Him If He would be pleased to take the Oath that was wont to be taken
Petition wherein the King is charged with obstructing the Justice of the Nation by proroguing the last Parliament Whether these were sufficient grounds of seizing their Liberties were argued Pro Con first by the Solicitor General and the Recorder of the City and then by the Attorney General and Mr. Pollixfen And Judg Jones the Lord Chief Justice being then sick having summ'd up all the proceedings in a very significant and solid Speech gave Judgment upon it and declared it to be the unanimous Opinion of that Court That the Liberties and Franchises of the City of London should be seized into the King's hands But Judgment was not entred up in regard the King had expresly commanded that should not be done till his pleasure was further known The City now finding the King was in earnest and that their Charter was condemned by Law began to think of humbling themselves at his feet and sue for Mercy And therefore at a Common-Council call'd for that purpose a Petition was ordered to be drawn up and presented to him at Windsor where he then was in which they acknowledg their hearty and unfeigned sorrow for the misgovernment of that City which had occasioned the Quo Warranto to be brought against them and Judgment to be past thereupon And thankfully acknowledged his great Favour in not requiring Judgment to be immediately entred thereon in which distressed condition they humbly cast themselves at his Royal Feet imploring his Princely Compassion and Grace begging his pardon for all Offences with most solemn promises and assurances of constant Loyalty and Obedience to him and his Successors and of a Regular Administration of his Government in that City for the future humbly begging his Commands and Directions therein This Petition was carried and presented by the Mayor and several Loyal Aldermen and Citizens Upon the Receipt whereof the Lord Keeper by the King's Command declared That for the sakes of so many of the present Magistrates and other Eminent Citizens who were of undoubted Loyalty and Affection to his Service he would show the City all the Favour they could reasonably desire if they would submit to such Regulations as he thought necessary forthe assuring the Loyalty and preserving the Peace of that City viz. That no person should be admitted to be Mayor Sheriff Recorder Common Serjeant Town-Clerk or Coroner of London or Steward of Southwark before they were approved by him under his Sign Manual And that after he had Twice disapproved the Mayor whom they should present to him he might if he pleased nominate one himself and so also for the Sheriff the Election being nevertheless to be still continued according to the ancient Customs and Usages of the City with some small Restrictions only then specified which gracious Offer was accepted by a Common-Council assembled on the 20th of June where the Question being propounded it was carried in the Affirmative by the Majority of Eighteen Voices And now came to light one of the basest and vilest pieces of Treachery that was ever hatcht in the World which seemed to point out and explain whereto the Bill of Exclusion and the Treacherous Association tended For those Factious and Designing Wretches having failed of accomplishing their Designs by those specious pretences resolved to attempt that by force which they now found they could not effect by Fraud and therefore entred into a Damnable Plot and Conspiracy to Murder the King and His Brother and alter the Government To effect which they had at several Treasonable Consultations resolved to Levy men and make an Insurrection For the management whereof they made choice of a Council of Six that were to direct and order the chief matters relating thereunto viz. the Duke of Monmouth the Earl of Essex the Lord Howard the Lord Russel Mr. Hambden and Collonel Sidney Besides which there was another Council of more Inferior persons whose business was to consult chiefly about the Assassination of the King and the Duke The King and the Duke being both at Newmarket they resolved to prevent their ever coming to London again by cutting them both off in their return To which end West by the appointment of the rest had provided several Musquets and other Arms which were to have been sent down to a House call'd the Rye inhabited by one Rumball about three Miles beyond Hodsden which was lookt upon as the most convenient place for that monstrous and hellish design in regard therewas by the house a narrow passage through which the King usually came when he went to and from Newmarket so that it would have been hard for him to have escaped But Heaven having preserved him from the many former Attempts of Men of the like Principles and disdaining that Hell should frustrate its designed blessings to these Nations as well in the remainder of his Reign as in his next Successors by cutting off its Principal Favourite resolved to render former Mercies the more compleat and full by adding a new one to their Number no less apparent and visible than his Preservation in the Oak had been And therefore a Fire which hapned there and consumed the greatest part of the Town forced him to return sooner than they expected and before they were ready for him whereby they were disappointed of their Barbarous Purpose and not a little confounded at the Strangeness of the Thing which altho it appeared at first sight to be purely accidental yet afterward was generally lookt upon to fall out by the special designation of Divine Providence But notwithstanding this remarkable disappointment and the consternation which at first seized them upon the news of it they still went on with their Plot and consulted about some other Time and Place for their Assassination But before they could bring their distracted Counsels to any conclusion Providence spoiled their Plot For one of the Conspirators whose Name was Keeling being convinced of the Wickedness of the design through the care of Heaven to prevent it by the remarkable Fire at Newmarket was so terrified that he could not rest till he had made a discovery of it Whereupon West a Councellor of the Temple was apprehended and a Proclamation issued out for the declaring Rumsey Rumball Nelthrop Wade Goodenough Wallcot Thompson Burton and Hone Traytors offering 100 reward to any that should discover them and another against Monmouth Grey Armstrong and Ferguson Rumsey the Lord Russel Essex Collonel Sidney Mr. Hambden the Lord Howard Walcot Rouse Hone and some others were taken but the rest made their escape beyond the Seas The Lord Grey indeed was taken but being after Examination by the King and Council committed to the Tower he found means to make his escape out of the Coach just as he came almost at the Tower Gate having made Deering the Messenger who had him in Charge so drunk as it was reported that he fell fast asleep and left him wholly unguarded The Lord Russel and Collonel Sidney were beheaded and Walcot Rouse and Hone
the Island joyned them to those which he had brought with him out of France the news whereof arriving at Westminster a Letter is dispatcht from the Parliament and delivered him by Colonel Russel Governour of Guernzey wherein they humbly desired that for his Fathers his own and for his three more than miserable Kingdoms sake he would come among his Fathers Subjects offering thereupon to afford all that lay in their power to give or himself could expect to receive But not daring to trust them he waved their Complement and proceeded to manage his affairs by Sea and Land to that advantage if they had had their desired success as might have enabled the King in the approaching treaty to stand upon such terms as conduced most to his Honour both as a Man a Christian and a King In order whereunto he came attended by the Duke of York Prince Rupert the Lords Hopton Wilmot Wilâ—oughby Branford and Ruthen and Sir Henry Palmer with twenty Sail of Ships towards Yarmouth and landed there with 2000 Men where the divided multitude entertained him according to their various Inclinations some with an Hosanna and others with a Crucifie And as himself had taken care of his affairs at Sea so he sent commissions to several Persons of Honour and Trust whom he commanded to take care of them by Land viz. Ormond Inchequeen and Montgomery in Ireland the Committee of State and their Officers in Scotland the Lords Goring and Capel in Essex and Kent Glenham and Langdale in the North Hales Lucas Langhorn Poyer Owen Buckingham and the Earls of Holland and Peterborough in those places where each of them resided and Letters of correspondence past mutually between him and the Scots his Father and the City in some whereof which were intercepted the City the Lords and some of the Commons declared themselves ready to contribute all possible asistance for the composing of those unhappy differences For whose encouragement he was graciously pleased to declare himself rather the asserter of his Peoples Priviledges than his own Rights as though he fought against his Subjects not to make himself but them happy against their wills for in a Declaration which he then publisht he Solemnly protested 1. For the Establishment of Religion according to his Fathers agreement in the 26th of the preceding December 2. The performance of the said agreement and pursuance of the concessions on the Kings part 3. The restoring of the King to a Personal Treaty 4. The just Priviledges of Parliament 5. An Act of Oblivion 6. The liberty of the Subject abolishing excise contribution forfeit quarter c. 7. Disbanding the Armies and setling of Peace 8. The Defence of the narrow Seas the securing of â—rade and the support of the Navy and Seamen was all he designed in his present undertakings Which Gracious Declaration he seconded with a Letter to the Lords wherein he required 1 That a Personal Treaty might be had in such place and manner as might consist with the Kings Honour Safety and Freedom that so it might not be blemished with any Face of restraint 2. That Scotland might be included 3. That in the mean time there might be a cessation of Arms and an orderly moderate subsistance mutually agreed on for the Forces on both sides to the Souldiers content and the Subjects ease But such was their stubborn peevishness that all his concessions were slighted and his endeavours came to nothing Wherefore seeing he could do nothing by fair means he applyed himself to Force and made several Honourable but unsuccessful attempts to reduce his Rebellious Subjects to the obedience of their Soveraign Poyer and Langhorn reduce South Wales raise a Thousand Men keep Pembroke Tenby and Chepstow beat Fleming and Horton but soon after received a total rout at St. Fogins Tenby and Pembroke being surrendred and Langhorn and Poyer forced to submit to Mercy in whose behalf he wrote to St. Thomas Fairfax from the Downs where he then lay with his Fleet that they might have the usage and terms of Souldiers of War as those had who were taken by him To which Letter the General answered with all due respects to his Highness that it was not in his power to Act further the Parliament having ordered their Tryals he dar'd not interpose their Justice but only pray for Mercy and Peace subscribing himself his Highness's Humble Servant Sir John Owen likewise reduced North Wales to as little purpose Nor had his affairs much better success in Surrey Essex Kent And the City who having first petitioned and then fought for their own Peace the Kings Honour Safety and Liberty and the Kingdoms Establishment were able to accomplish nothing to purpose The Kentish Men Rendezvouzed at Black-heath under Sir Edw. Hales who commanded them as General Sir Geo. Lisley and others offering a Parly to Sir Tho. Fairfax to which he returned this Answer c. SIRS I received a Message from you for a Pass for some Gentlemen to come and and Treat according to an Order of Parliament but know of no such Order of theirs or Authority of yours to appoint Commissioners for such a purpose finding you them in Arms against the Parliament I cannot admit of a Treaty but if ye shall forthwith lay down your Arms and return home I doubt not of the Parliaments mercy to such as have been deluded into this Rebellion and their Exemplary Justice to the Chief Actors therein Of which Answer having satisfied the Prince they did by directions from him make this Reply 1. That an universal and perpetual Dictate of Nature even self-preservation not to invade others Rights but to secure their own had drawn them together 2. 'T was an undoubted Power over them ordained of God they did then obey and so did neither Tumult nor Rebel 3. That Providence which had given them that opportunity they dare not neglect nor could they lay down their Arms without the forfeiture of their Reason and their Honour and that as for the uncertain mercy which he offered to the deluded many whom he thought knew not why they were come together the certain Justice he had threatned their Leaders withal he might assure himself there was but one Soul in that great Body which was therefore resolved to stand or fall together as one Man being not tempted with any hope except that of returning to their ancient Rights Priviledges Governments and Settlements and altogether uncapable of any fear save only that of relapsing into their former slavery And that the fair managing of their business was a sufficient demonstration of their Inclinations to Peace entreating him therefore rather to make the Country his Friend than his Enemy The General being inexorable and and they resolved both Armies met at a barricadoed Bridge between the Heartâ— and Graves-end where both sides strenuously disputed the Passage till the Country-men retired back into their main Body being over-powered by multitudes rather than overcome by valour whereupon notwithstanding
no sooner got out on one side but the Enemy prest in on the other to look for him and had certainly pursued and overtaken him had they not been stop'd by the Royal spoil which was left behind to the same purpose that Hippodame left behind her the Golden Apples to tempt the Pursuer to stay the gathering them up and thereby save herself And the Valour of some that still kept the Royal Fort to reduce whom Cromwell commanded out some Cheshire Forces who most of them perished in the attempt that County having never before lost so many lives in such an unworthy Service but having at last made himself Master of it the Defendants were all put to the Sword whereupon the remainder of the Soldiery craved Quarter and had it reaâ—ily granted them the Rebels being as weary of killing as the Royalists were of being killed From this unfortunate Battel not above 300 Horse and scarce any of the Infantry escaped who were most of them either slain or taken near 100 Prisoners of Quality of which the chief were Duke Hamilton the Earls of Shrewsbury Darby Cleveland Laâ—derdale Rothes Carnwath Killy and many more the number of the Prisoners in the whole being said to be 10000 together with whom was taken the King's Standard Coach and Horses Collar of SS's and Star-Cloth Major General Massey who escaped the Battel not knowing where to shelter himself being grievously wounded was forced to surrender himself a Prisoner likewise to the Countess of Stamford being secured by the Lord Grey of Groby her Son by whom he was after the recovery of his Wounds sent up to London from whence not long after he made his escape The news of this Victory extreamly rejoyced the Juncto but the joy for their Victory was some what allayed by the King's escape Before he was got as far as Barbone's Bridg which was not above half a Mile from Worcester he made several stands facing about and desiring the Duke of Buckingham the Lord Wilmot and other of his Commanders that they might rally with those few Forces that were yet left him and once more try the fortune of War But being come to the Bridg a serious Consultation was held about it when perceiving many of the Troopers throwing off their Arms and shifting for themselves their opinion was that the day was so irrecoverably lost that his only business now was to endeavour the saving of himself from those ravenous Wolves and Regicides whereupon he resolved by the advice of his Council to March back again for Scotland and in order thereunto the Duke of Buckingham demanded of the Lord Talbot who was of that Country if he could not Conduct them in their way Northward who thereupon answered that he had in his Troop one Walker formerly a Scout-Master in those Parts that knew the way very well who being accordingly called to be their Guide he performed that duty well enough for some Miles but coming to Kinven Heath not far from Kiderminster he was at a loss and knew not which way to go Whereupon the King made a stand and consulted with the Lords whither he might with most safety March to take some hours rest being almost quite worn out and spent The Earl of Darby told him that in his flight from Wiggan to Worcester he had met with a perfect honest Man and a great conveniency of concealment at Boscobel House whereupon he resolved to repair thither and Mr. Charles Gifford who very well knew the way was appointed to conduct him thither When they came near Stunbrigde it was debated by them whether they should march through the Town or not and being concluded in the affirmative they resolved that those about the King's Person should speak nothing but French thereby the better to prevent the Discovery of his being there Lesley having with the Scotch Horse in the close of the Evening taken a more direct way Northward by New-Port he was now left attended only by Buckingham Darby Lauderdale Talbot Wilmot and a few other Gentlemen being in all not above sixty Horse At a House about a Mile beyond Stunbridge he refresh'd himself a little with some small Beer and a crust of Bread the House affording no better Provision and as he rode forward he discoursed with Colonel Roscarrock about the conveniency of Boscobel House and the means of security which he and the Earl of Darby had found there Gifford humbly proposing to carry him first to White-Ladies a House about half a Mile beyond Boscobel belonging to one Fitz-Herbert where he might repose himself a while and then take such farther resolution as he and his Council should think fit which was accordingly resolved on And being come thither and knocking at the Door George Penderill the youngest Brother of five who were all severally instrumental in Conducting and Preserving his Majesty hearing some body knock at the Gate so early opened the Window and seeing there Mr. Gifford and Francis Yates who was his Brother-in-law he ask'd his Brother what news he brought from Worcester he replied the King was defeated and the Enemy in pursuit of him and therefore bid him make haste and let them in But before he could get down the King with most of the Lords had entred the House and got into the Hall whither the King's Horse was likewise brought And having that night rode from Worcester thither which was about twenty six Miles he was extream hungry and very much tired with his long and hasty March whereupon Gifford presently sent for Richard Penderill who lived near hand at Hobbal-Grange and William Penderill from Boscobel Richard came first who was immediately sent back to bring a sute of his Cloaths for the King and by that time he came with them William was come likewise and both carried in to the King by the Earl of Darby who told William that was the King pointing to him and that he must have a care of him and preserve him as he had done him Gifford laying the same charge on his Brother which was exactly obeyed by both The King was advised whil'st the two Brothers were sent for to rub his Hands and Face with the Soot of the Chimney the better to disguise him and some persons likewise disorderly cut off his locks of hair and having taken off his blue Ribbond Buff-Coat and other Princely Ornaments and distributed what Gold he had in his Pockets amongst his Servants put on a course Canvas Shirt which was borrowed of one Martyn which done he was to take upon him the Name and Employment of a Woodman and having after the Company was dismiss'd a Bill brought him he and Richard went out into the Wood William went home and Humphry and George went out to scout the better to discover if any of the Parliament Forces approach'd that way And it was not above an hour that the King had been in the Wood before a Troop of the Enemies Horse came to White-ladies inquiring for the King But being
thereunto is I am resolved to continue firm in my Religion Then replied the Abbot I am commanded from the Queen your Mother to tell you that she charges you to see her face no more At which dismal expression the Duke being not a little moved begged with great earnestness that he might be permitted at least to implore her parting blessing till he could in time prevail for her pardon but could not obtain it though he indeavoured it again the next morning being Sunday before she went to her Devotions by the intercession of his Brother the Duke of York who did with great tenderness compassionate his condition and with great earnestness move on his behalf But the Queen proved inexorable not only to him but to all others who spoke on his behalf nor would she intimate her pleasure to him by any other Person than the Abbot who solicited him again aggravating the peril of his Mothers displeasure and advising him at that instant being the most proper time as she was going to Mass at her Monastery to apply himself to her assuring him that she had those Proposals to make to him which would set his heart at rest though he said he could not name them To which the Duke replied if it were so I could apply my self to her well enough for my heart can have no rest except in the free exercise of my Religion but I fear her Propositions will not I am sure yours never tended to give me any ease or quiet at which very instant the Queen passed by in her Coach toward her Nunnery whereupon the Duke approached toward her and attempted to begg her Blessing but was with great indignation rejected Whereat shewing himself very much discomposed the Abbot came up to him demanding what it was her Majesty had said to him that had put him into so great disorder to which he briskly replied what she said I may thank you for Sir and therefore it is but reason that what my Mother said to me I should say to you Be sure I see your face no more and so turned about and left him whereupon the Abbot calling after him said Whither are you going good Sir To whom looking over his shoulder he answered to Church whither he immediately repaired with a sad and dejected countenance which did much abate the joy of the Congregation who were much pleased to see him accompany his Brother the Duke of York thither but they partook with him in his sorrow when they understood that after Sermon he was to seek where to get a Dinner for which he must send to the Cooks or fast for there was a very strict Prohibition given to all the Officers in his Mothers Court that they should not furnish him with any Provisions or necessaries That night after Evening Prayer he had hopes to enjoy one moment of satisfaction by conversing with his Sister the Princess Henrietta afterward Dutchess of Orleans during his Mothers absence but as soon as the young Princess heard the news of his designed adventure she was so frighted into shrieks and tears that she cryed out Oh God my Brother Oh me my Mother What I am undone for ever What shall I do Which as soon as the Duke heard he retired not being willing his dear Sister should by her kindness to him purchase her Mothers displeasure In this disconsolate condition he went to his Lodging when it was nine a Clock at night his Groom came to know what he should do with his Horses for the Queens Comptroller was come to him with a charge to remove them instantly whereupon the Groom pleaded it was then too late and that on the morrow it would be time enough but the Comptroller replied he should then be put out of his place e'er the morning The next day the Sheets were taken off his Bed finding therefore that he could not be permitted to stay at the Palace-Royal he thought until he could provide necessaries for his Journey into Germany to retire to the House of Mr. Crofts afterward Lord Crofts near Paris whereof the Queen hearing she check'd Mr. Crofts for being willing to receive him with which he acquainted the Duke but submits however to his pleasure In this strait the Duke betook himself to the advice of that faithful Servant to his Family and zealous Protestant the Lord Hatton by whose judicious instructions he had received much satisfaction in this his distressed condition who so soon as the Duke had made known to him that he was not only turned out of his Mothers House but that all persons who had any dependency upon her were forbidden to receive or assist him his Lordship told him if his Highness would please to honour his House with his presence he should there be received with all the dutiful regard that could be paid to him by so ancient and faithfully devoted Servant of his Royal Family And with an Entertainment as suitable to his Quality as the remains of that Fortune he had spent in his Father's Service would afford But this the Duke out of great modesty at first declined alledging the great hazard which he knew he would thereby run of having his Estate again sequestred in England as well as by incurring the displeasure of the French Court endanger his being exil'd that Kingdom for his kindness to him as he had been that of England for his Service to his Father and perhaps be endangered in his person too by the fury of the Rabble who might peradventure be animated by some enraged Papist for thus disappointing them of making a Proselyte of him as they boasted they had done and given Publick Thanks for it in diverse of their Churches But his Lordship assur'd him that as he had hitherto spent the greatest part of his Life and Fortune in the Service of his Royal Family and the defence of the Protestant Religion so he would willingly sacrifice the remainder of both on so honourable an occasion as that with which hearty invitation he was so pleas'd that he took no farther thoughts whither to go but concluded to remain with him Being thus gone from the Palace-Royal the Queen-Mother of France came immediately thither to try once more if she could prevail with him to change his Religion and as soon as she came sent her Son the Duke of Anjou to visit him who return'd with the News that he was not to be found but as soon as it was known where he was she sent the Marquess of Plessis to perswade him to comply with his Mother's advice For the effecting whereof he exercised all his Parts and Elocution with the greatest earnestness and affirming that since the death of his Father the Queen his Mother had sole Power and Authority over him disputing whether the King his Brother as his Sovereign had an equal right to dispose of him And the Discourse growing somewhat publick the Marquess of Ormond and the Lord Hatton who were then likewise present arguing in the Duke's
defence the French Marquess finding himself over-match'd by their Reasons in great passion return'd without the success suspected at the Palace-Royal where the French Queen stayed very late till he came back whose Report when both Queen 's heard they were then so fully satisfied in the Duke's firmness to his Religion that after that time no considerable attempt was made on him altho' he continued for near two Months there being nobly entertained all that time by the Lord Hatton until through his and the Marquess of Ormond's interest Necessaries were provided for his going into Germany to the King From the interview of the Queen of Sweden which was held at a small Village near Frankford at the same time when the Fair was there he returned with great satisfaction to Cologn where he was welcomed with all imaginable demonstrations of Joy by the Magistrates and the whole City where he had not staid long before the Duke of York came to him being complemented away from France upon the conclusion of the Treaty with Cromwel notwithstanding his incomparable worth discovered in the Court and in the Camp where he behaved himself so well that the Duke of Longueville was willing to have match'd his Daughter to him altho' he was in exile and the Marshal Turein commended him in the time of his sickness to the French King as the fittest person to be Commander in chief of all his Forces And so desirable was his company â—â—ong all Princes that Don Lewis de 〈◊〉 and Don John of Austria mighâ—y importun'd him to come over to â—â—em in Flanders which invitation he â—â—cepted of and he repaired thither 〈◊〉 to promote his own cause and 〈◊〉 King of Spains affairs in order â—â—reunto he commanded all his â—â—glish Scotch and Irish Subjects in those â—â—rts to be listed for his Service which â—â—ounted to about three or four thouâ—â—â—d besides the two Regiments of 〈◊〉 and Glocester and maintained a â—â—â—nstant correspondence with his â—â—iends in England which Cromwel susâ—â—cted but had no certain knowledge â—â—ereof having now no Mannings in the â—â—ngs Court to betray his Majesties seâ—â—ets wherefore he contrived a Plot â—o which by his Emissaries he ensnaâ—â—d the reverend Dr. Huet Sir Henry 〈◊〉 and others and had them tryed â—â—fore a High Court of Justice and â—â—ndemned and executed for that preâ—â—ded Conspiracy But though he â—as represented to the City by Cromwel 〈◊〉 be twenty thousand strong when he â—as acquainting them with the pretenâ—â—nded Plot against him yet he was not able to attempt any thing upon 〈◊〉 own account in regard his Forces weâ—â— but inconsiderable for number 〈◊〉 therefore he joyned them with tâ—â— Spaniards and at one attempt to 〈◊〉 the Siege of Dunkirk were defeate and almost all slain being deserted 〈◊〉 the Spaniards who were not able to eâ—dure the hot charge that Cromwels Sâ—â—diers gave them notwithstanding 〈◊〉 endeavours of the undaunted York 〈◊〉 rally them who did Wondâ—â— with his own Regiment putting 〈◊〉 whole French and English Army oâ— to a disorder and twice to a stand 〈◊〉 his own Guard only and some 〈◊〉 remnant of his overthrown Forces 〈◊〉 which defeat the Kings whole desiâ—â— being disappointed he betook himâ—â— from his Arms to his Prayers and aâ—pealed from Earth to Heaven Hoâ—ever he still remained in Flanders 〈◊〉 kept his Court in Bruges about 〈◊〉 Leagues from Brussels About this 〈◊〉 Cromwel being resolved to continue 〈◊〉 Protectorship in his own Family 〈◊〉 the matter so that his Parliamâ—â—â— should earnestly Petition solemnly â—â—vise him to name his Successor 〈◊〉 was the thing he chiefly desired notwithstanding all his former Oaths and Protestations against suffering the Nation to be rul'd by any single Person which when the King heard he said to a Person of quality who was then by him that Cromwell had certainly lay'd the best Foundation that a short and troublesom reign could possibly admit of at once to deprive him of his just and rightful Dominions and to settle his own Posterity in his unjust and usurpt Authority And when he receiv'd the news of his death he shew'd an admirable calmness and serenity of Spirit Reason Religion and Discretion having such a powerful command over his passions that though it seem'd in all probability to be a considerable step toward his Restauration in regard his most implacable as well as successful Enemy was now gone yet he did not discover any extraordinary symptoms of Joy But as that great alteration in England did change all the publick Councels of Europe in general so did it likewise somewhat alter his for he now set up new negotiations in most of the forraign Courts that so he might not be wanting to himself whilst there were the most hopeful designs that had ever yet been on foot in England for the promoting his Journeys The new Protector being look't upon as one weary of that power which was then desolv'd upon him in regard he knew himself to have as little ability to manage it as he had right to enjoy it and was suppos'd not to have that implacable aversation to the Royal Family which his Father had always discover'd However it was not long before the Army thrust him from his Throne and set up the Rump again which his Father had pull'd down after which there were so many alterations and new forms of Government that it is almost impossible to give the World a particular account of them every Week almost producing some new Model or other and there springing up some new Heads of that Hydra-Common-Wealth The King was not in the mean time idle but laid out all his Interest and Policy for the promoting his designs and the procuring such supplies as might encourage those Loyal Subjects that incessantly endeavour'd by his Restauration to restore their Native Countrey from the Paws of those Lions into which it was fallen and themselves to the Glorious Liberty of being â—â—bject to so great and good a Prince 〈◊〉 although Holland offered fairly 〈◊〉 some Princes with the Emperor of â—â—rmany began now to pity forlorn â—â—d exiled Majesty especially dwelling 〈◊〉 a Prince of that worth as he was acâ—â—unted to be by all those who had 〈◊〉 happiness to know him yet the â—â—eatest hope and expectation from any 〈◊〉 those Forraign Affairs was the peace â—â—at was then mediating by the Pope beâ—â—een the two Kingdoms of France and â—â—ain managed by the two great Faâ—â—urites of each Kingdom the Cardiâ—â—l Mazarine and the Count de Olivarez â—â—on the Borders of St. Jean de Luz â—hich if it succeed must in all probaâ—â—lity prove advantageous to his affairs 〈◊〉 regard both Crowns could not upon â—â—e conclusion of peace between them â—estow their Forces upon any service â—â—at would render more to their honour â—â—an that of endeavouring his Restauâ—â—tion although he rather desired to â—mploy their Interest than their Arms 〈◊〉 intended to let England know what â—â—ey might do for him rather then to â—ake them feel the effects of any
thing â—one by them And although he expected 〈◊〉 should have an Army ready to good the agreement yet he intendeâ— they should prevail more by their Reasons than their Forces The managing of this Treaty between the two Kingdoms being a business that so much concerned him 〈◊〉 particular as well as Europe in generaâ— he condescended to negotiate thereâ—â— in his own person notwithstanding 〈◊〉 had Residents in most Christian Kingdoms And in order thereunto betooâ— himself first to one Court and then 〈◊〉 another the Duke of York accoâ—â—â— panying him incognito being sensibâ—â— of the danger which might accrue 〈◊〉 to his cause and Person upon the scrâ—ples of a solid interview it being genâ—rally observed the interviews of Priâ—ces are unhappy And by the way 〈◊〉 he passed through France he gave a 〈◊〉 sit to his Mother intending before 〈◊〉 had undertook the negotiation of 〈◊〉 publick reconciliation between 〈◊〉 two Kingdoms to practice a privaâ—â— one between himself and her who haâ— declar'd herself very much displeâ—â—â—â— with him upon the account of his prâ—ceedings in the business of the Duke 〈◊〉 Glocester which having accomplisheâ— and finding that that Court did 〈◊〉 give him the honour due to his Person nor an entertainment suitable to his expectations He return'd with his Brother to Diep in Normandy going thither by Post with such hast and privacy that some mens hopes and others fears imagin'd they were gone over into England an attempt at that time too dangerous for so wise and politick a Prince to adventure on From Diep he remov'd toward the Frontiers of Spain by the way of Roan where he was nobly treated by Mr. Scot an English Merchant and entertain'd with a Sermon suitable to his present condition and from thence he went by post to Bajonne accompany'd by the Marquess of Ormond and so towards the two Ministers of State that were negotiating the Peace between the two Crowns at St. Jon de Luz The news of this approach did no sooner reach Don Lewis's Lodgings but he prepares to meet him with as much splendour as if our Soveraign had been his Majesty of Spain or himself an English Subject for when he met him he immediately alighting from his Horse and kneeling though in a very dirty and inconvenient place embrac'd and kiss'd his Majesties Knees and walk'd before him bare-headed to the place he had order'd to be made ready for him which was the best Lodging the Town afforded where the next day he received a formal visit from that sly close and reserv'd Politician Cardinal Mazarine whom he entertain'd with such a discreet wariness as if he design'd to let him know and those that saw him understood well enough thereby that he understood the walking Cabala almost as well as he did himself Never were any of his great affairs so well carried on as that was which he manag'd himself for by the advantage of his own incomparable Prudence and sage Experience together with his powerful Majesty and Presence he so far prevail'd in his negotiations there that notwithstanding Lockharts close applications in behalf of his Masters he not only prevented any article that was offer'd and prest in favour of his rebellious adversaries of England but also procur'd himself to be included by Spain as the most honourable Ally in the intended Peace and obtain'd a promise from both those Favourites that they would in pursuance of their Masters friendship with him descended as soon as possible to treat of such particulars that might be proposed as the most sutable to the promoting of his Restauration and consult what Counsels ought to be taken what Men Money and other supplys their respective Masters should afford and how each should be employed for the greatest usefulness to his Service After which he was dismist with as much Respect and Honour as he was received Whilst this Treaty was managing by the two Favourites the Duke of York was in consideration of his great worth and the Service he had done for Spain offered the honour of being made Constable of Castile and Lord high Admiral of Spain which he handsomly refused that Prince having a peculiar way of denying requests as pleasantly to some as he grants them to others And indeed it was at that time prudence in him to wave any courtesie that might be proffered by Spain or any other Popish Court least it might somewhat have retarded his Brothers affairs in England by rendring him suspected of too near compliance with the Catholick Interest and have rendred the attempts of those who were there endeavouring to clear both his and the Kings Integrity and Constancy to the reformed Religion the better to prepare the way for their Re-establishment vain and fruitless especially since their â—mplacable Enemies made it their chief design and business to abuse the Credulous with false surmizings and unjust suspicions of their faithfulness to the Protestant Religion and Interest to which they had adhered with so much resolution and constancy that neither smiles nor frowns the prospect of the greatest enjoyments nor the fear of the heaviest sufferings the highest Favours from Rome nor the basest Affronts from England could tempt them to the least thought of disloyalty to it The King having finisht his negotiations at the Treaty of St. Jan de Luz to his great satisfaction returned with his Brother the Duke of York through France to Brussels only staying some short time at Carentia and Paris with the Queen his Mother And to make his advantage of these stirs and continual alterations in the Government of England sine the death of Cromwel which naturally tended towards the promoting his Restauration whereby the Nation could only be setled notwithstanding they were all design'd to prevent and hinder it he sent over diverse Commissions to diverse worthy and loyal Persons to raise Forces on his behalf and otherwise to act as they saw convenient for the promoting that grand design by virtue of which Commissions a general Plot was laid for the raising of Forces in all the Countyes in England to declare for him But some part of that business being intrusted to the management of the Lady Howard Daughter to the Earl of Barkshire who though loyal enough yet being in regard of her Sex incapable of secrecy it was soon discovered and so London which was the main place secured and the most considerable Persons that were to have done any thing therein were disabled by imprisonment or otherwise several Troops of Horse likewise commanded into Kent and Surrey and the raisiâ—g the Militia hastned in every County so that no considerable party was able to appear any where except in Cheshire where most of the Nobility and Gentry of that County and Lancashire were up under the command of Sir George Booth with whom and General Monk from Scotland was to have joyned if they had not been so suddainly supprest And in North Wales were most of the Inhabitants assembled together under the command of Sir
and Authority against all opposition whatsoever And for the better wipeing away all suspicion of the true intent and design of his Brothers coming he sent his Daughter away with him likewise No sooner had the General dismist his Bother but he received a visit from a Scotch Noble Man viz. the Earl of Nitsdale who after some private discourse with him assured him that the King would be restored within the compass of a very few months without the shedding of one drop of Bloud or the hazard of a cut Finger in the accomplishment thereof and that he lookt upon him as the principle Instrument by whose Wisdom and Conduct it was to be effected which prophettick discourse contributed very much toward his encouragment to push the business forward with the greater earnestness and speed Mr. Monk being safely arrived at London repaired privately to Sir John Greenvile and gave him an account that he had delivered his message to the General and imparted it to none else except his Chaplain only but told him as to the success of it he could give him no account being under an Oath of secresie However Sir John thought that was sufficient and therefore immediately acquainted the King with it who was so well satisfied therewith that he ordered him to wait an opportunity as soon as possible to treat personally with him which he did not long after and received a more full and satisfactory account from him how and in what manner he intended to proceed therein And for the discharging of this new Embassy to the Rump he repaired to Dr. Clergies who was Brother in Law to him and the General and Agent for the Scotch and Irish Armies to whom he was ordered by the General to impart his message to be delivered by him to the Parliament wherewith they were so highly pleased that out of a Sence of the Generals supposed Fidelity and to require his offered kindness they made as it were an expiring vote of revenge when they saw they must be forced to yield to Lamberts ambition and have their usurpt Authority suffer a second Rape wherein they constituted him about the seventh part of a Generalissimo which fell out very happily for the promoting his great and generous design for it was by Virtue of that power that he seemed afterwards to act and give forth Commissions And having received on the 7th of October the certain news that Lambert had by the assistance of the Army once more unhoused the Rump he publickly protested that he would not endure that unjust and arbitrary proceding and was resolved therefore to reduce the Military power to the obedience of the Civil and in order thereunto presently entred the Stage against Lambert and his Armies proceedings dispatching away the trusty adjutant Jeremy Smith who was afterwards Knighted for his Fidelity that afternoon to Edenburgh and Leith to secure those places and under the march of such Troops of Horse on whose Captains he could most rely and having stopt the Packquet which should have gone that Night for England he followed him the next day to Edenburgh where he reformed his Army making Captain Morgan Lieftenant Collonel and Captain Nichols Major of his own Regiment and the next day sent a party of Horse commanded by Captain Johnson to secure Barwick which he knew to be a place of great importance to his new designs which was done in the very nick of time for the Governour had no sooner clapt up his dissenting Officers according to the Generals directions but Collonel Cobbit entred the Town with instructions and Authority to assert and defend their Interest who being brought by Johnson to the General he sent him Prisoner to Edenburgh Castle and having assured the Soldiers to him he dispatched three Letters into England directed to Fleetwood Lambert and Lenthal wherein he acquainted them with his resolution to restore these Kingdoms to the free exercise of their Laws and Liberties which expression had more included than was exprest in it which was well enough understood by the Lord Fairfax and some others who were privy to the design These Letters gave some intimation of hope to the Rump that they should be a second time restored to their Authority and infinitely surprised Lambert and the other Grandees of the Army who did not expect to meet with any such opposition believing it diversly opposite to the interest of the Army in general for any one part of it to be divided against and oppose the proceedings of the rest and that although there should be any amongst the Souldiers who should love their Country better then their pay and that Monk should undertake to back them yet they were assured by some of his Officers who were then at London that his interest was too weak in Scotland to make head against them however to make all sure they sent Dr. Clergies and Collonel Talbut to him whom they intreated and conjured to use their utmost endeavors to allay those suddain heats of his which they affirmed had been kindled by some unhappy mistakes of their proceedings and assure him that he and his army should suddainly receive a satisfactory account about them But that attempt signified little for Talbut could not perswade him of the sincerity of Lamberts Friendship nor the reallity of his offered advantages and Clergies did but prevaricate with them that sent him and informed the General of the true state and condition of the English Army who had but little Money and no means left of raising more when that was spent in regard the Rump who saw their doom hastning had before they were turned out by Lambert voted it high Treason to raise money out of Parliament thereby covering their spite and revenge with the shadow of a pretended tenderness for their Countrys freedom These were soon after followed by Captain Dean Treasurer to the English Army who was sent by Fleetwood as a special messenger of his own with a very kind letter to the General and an offer of what preferment in the Army he would please to accept of if he would concur with them which he refused This messenger in his passage into Scotland dispersed divers papers where he endeavoured to seduce Monk's Soldiers by accusing their General of a design to bring in Charles Stuart upon them by his dividing the Army and told the General to his Face as he sat at dinner with him that Charles Stuart was at the bottom of his design upon which Dr. Price replyed no Mr. Treasurer it is you that will bring him in for by your late actions you have more then justified the late King who demanded only the Members of the House of Commons but ye have dissolved a Parliament And passing by one morning as a Company of Foot was drawing up he told them them that Lord Lambert was coming upon them and that all Monks Army would suffice him for a Breakfast to which he received as blunt an answer That Lambert had certainly a very good
where-ever he met with him Upon the Report whereof by Morrice he was infinitely pleased and therefore ordered Morrice to give him notice that he would meet him at his Chamber sometime in the Evening of the next day Greenvile according to appointment repaired to Morrice's Chamber whither the General upon intimation of his being there came likewise soon after To whom after some Complements Greenvile declared that he looked upon himself as infinitely obliged to his Excellency for giving him that opportunity of discharging himself of a Trust of great importance in relation to the King the General and the whole Kingdom which had been long deposited in his hands by his Soveraign adding that he thought himself more happy in having that good occasion of performing his duty in obeying the Commands and promoting the Interest of his Soveraign than in any occurrence of his whole Life presenting him at the same time with a Letter directed to him from the King and producing another sent to himseâ—f together with a Commission which he had received from the King to treat with him about the business of his Restauration Whereupon the General suddenly stepped back and holding the Paper in his hand with a kind of a forced frown hastily demanded of him how he durst mention a thing of that nature to him without considering the danger he thereby run himself upon Greenvile replied He had long since considered that matter and duly weighed the danger which attended an attempt of that nature but the hazard though great was not sufficient to deter him from the performance of his duty And that he was the more encouraged to adventure by the Message which he was pleased to send him by his Brother before he left Scotland Upon the mention thereof without making any reply he presently approached towards him with a more pleasing aspect and embracing him in his Arms said Dear Couzen I return you my hearty thanks for the Prudence Fidelity Care and Constancy wherewith you have managed this great Affair and your resolute Secrecy therein For could I have informed my self that you had ever revealed it to any person living since you first acquainted my Brother therewith I would never have consented to treat with you about it which now I shall most willingly do and with you rather than any other in regard you are so nearly related to me and I have received so many obligations both from you and your Family And then having read the King's Letter and the Commission he added that he hoped the King would forgive what was past according to the Contents of his gracious Letter assuring him that his heart was ever faithful to him although he had never been in a condition to serve him until then desiring Sir John that he would in his name assure His Majesty that he was now not only ready to obey his Commands but to sacrifice his Life and Fortune in his Service calling Morrice who stood without as Door-keeper to bear witness of that his solemn Protestation Sir John desired him to send some Confident of his own to the King to treat and advise with him what was fit to be done for the better carrying on their Design to which he â—asily consented but told him that that Confident must be himself for he would not as yet adventure to send any Letters to the King for fear of the worst And that without them the King had no reason to give any Credit to a Messenger sent from him but might very well believe one whom himself had employed wherefore at the next Conference he received Instructions with a Charge not to commit them to Writing till he came to the King at Brussels and there to communicate them to none but himself Greenvile managed this Negotiation with such Secrecy and his Journey to Brussels was so speedy and fortunate that few knew of it before his arrival there and those who did nay that went in companâ— with him thither had not so much as the leaâ—â— suspicion what Errand it was he went on The King having intimation of his Arrival went privately to his Lodgings to whom Greenvile related the Instructions he had received from Monk which were readily believed although he brought nothing under the General 's hand The News whereof was very acceptable and highly welcom to the King whose joy upon that account was so much the greater because the General required no Conditions of Restraint to his Royal Power and had left the Reward of his Service wholly to his goodness as appeared by what himself declared to Greenvile upon the receipt of a Letter sent him by some of his Friends in England to acquaint him with the great Service they had done His Majesty in prevailing with Monk notwithstanding his being so absolute a Common-wealths-man they knowing nothing of his being pre-engaged by the King not to oppose his Return upon his Fathers Concessions in the Isle of Wight which Terms though hard and consented to by his Father only in consideration of his necessity yet they beâ—ought His Majesty not to think hard of them now lest his refusal might exclude him longer from the Crown Little do they think in England said the King that the General and I are upon so good Terms and the truth is I could hardly believe it my self until your Arrival with the happy News The General 's resolution to restore me to my Crown and Kingdom without Conditions beyond our expectations here or the belief of all our Friends in England except your self who was employed in it The King having been informed by Greenvile that Monk had declared he would not tie him to any Terms of Reward affirming that he took more content in doing His Majesty and his Country Service than in the expectation of greatness pressed Greenvile to know what he should do for himself But he according to the General 's Example nobly refused all Proposals of Reward for that Service in which he had been so eminently successful till he should have the happiness to see him at his Palace of Whitehall But the King resolving nor to send him back without a mark of his Royal Favour secretly put into his Pocket a Warrant under his Hand and Seal for an English Earldom and the assurance of three thousand pounds per Annum to be settled upon him and his Heirs for ever to support that Honour with a promise moreover to pay those Debts which either he or his Father had contracted by engaging themselves in the Royal Cause The King upon his receiving this Message from Monk consulted with Sir Edward Hide whom he had then nominated for the Lord Chancellor the Marquess of Ormond Secretary Nichols and some others of his Confidents Greenvile likewise being present what return he should make thereunto In which Privy Council there was a Commission drawn up and signed by the King for the constituting Monk Captain General of all his Land-Forces in the three Kingdoms and Publick Diâ—patches framed and signed
be the better able to entertain War when they had made provisions for it And he being sensible of their drift therein thought it not convenient for him to be altogether idle and therefore resolved so to order his Affairs as to be in as good a readiness as they whensoever the War should commence To which end he required the City to lend him One Hundred Thousand Pound referring them to the Lord Treasurer for Terms of Repayment which Request was receiv'd with such a dutiful compliance by the Common-Council that it was presently granted thereby acquitting themselves at once both in point of Loyalty and Prudence by serving the KINGS present Necessity and providing for their own future Safety This Money he imploy'd in fitting out two considerable Fleets and intending to employ Sir John Lawson who then blockt up Argier and some of the Ships under his Command therein he commanded his Return for England Captain Allen being ordered to succeed him there who brought these Pirates into such distress that shortly after they were forc'd to accept of Peace upon terms advantageous enough for England The Dutch Embassadour propounding such conditions as were not to be accepted he sent back Sir George Downing thither with full Instructions how to behave himself towards them who had upon his Arrival several Conferences with the States about Satisfaction for Damages received but could not prevail with them to return a positive Answer to any thing he propounded nor come to any terms of Agreement which they were the more willing to delay in regard they expected the speedy Arrival of a vast Treasure in several great Fleets of Merchants Ships But this being not unknown to him and he being a Prince that well enough understood how strong the Nerve of War Money was resolved to way-lay those vast Masses of Wealth as they past homeward through his own Channel especially being informed by secret Intelligence that they were resolved in contempt of his Power to send their Guiney Preparations by Sea and that Opdam should convey them through the Channel To which end and purpose that he might be before-hand with them in their preparations he endeavoured with all imaginable speed and diligence to make his Navy ready not sparing to oversee and order things with indefatigable paines and industry in his own Royal Person which was abundantly answered by the success For such was the Alacrity of his Subjects when they saw him continually Travelling from place to place to forward the work and see all things effectually and speedily performed encouraging them by his Presence that the City at the very first mention of it by the Earl of Manchester Chamberlain of His Household supplyed him with a second Loan of One Hundred Thousand Pounds By which means while the Dutch flattered themselves with suppositions of his want of Men and Money and his being broken with the Calamities of the Raging Pestilence which hapned about this time and was the severest that ever was known in England they were only forced to look on and with Envy behold his Vigorous preparations and see the Sea covered with such a Magnificent Navy as the Ocean had scarcely ever supported in any former Age. However having duely considered the dangers of the Northern passage they seemingly laid aside all thoughts of going about by Scotland and continued firm to their former Resolution of forcing their passage though the Channel In order whereunto having Re-victualled Opdams Fleet they commanded him to hasten to Sea with the first Wind and conduct the Guiney-Succors through the Channel having ordered some other Ships from the Vlie and Texel to Joyn with him and sent a Galliot before to give notice to their Director General in Guinea of their Proceedings therein Which Resolution taken and carryed on with so much Vigour most men Imagin'd to have been extorted from them by the exigency of their present condition for they had scattered many base contempts upon the King and Subjects of England Nor was the Issue of that Bravado other than what their Fears presented For about the middle of October Prince Rupert appeared at the Spitt-Head with sixteen Saile of Ships who was not long after joyned by the Duke then Lord High Admiral of England and the Earl of Sandwich so that it was a matter of the greatest difficulty and hazard for them to unlock the narrow Seas And great dispute there was amongst them whether Opdam who lay with his Fleet in the Gore should adventure out or no but the Wind continuing cross put an end to that dispute and furnisht them with a plausible excuse for their not appearing at Sea upon so great disadvantages as they would in all probability have met withall However Prince Rupert kept the Sea with the English Fleet to attend their Motion and was rewarded by all or most of their Bourdeaux Fleet falling into his hands which with other Prizes taken that Year by the English amounted to about One Hundred Thirty Five There having been as yet no Publick Declaration of War on either side the King still continued to Treat for Peace with His Arms in His Hand and ordered Sir George Downing to press in the heat of all that preparation and action for satisfaction of Damages And finding that they were not like to be brought to such terms as he expected and knowing that it would mightily advance his Credit and strike Terror into his Enemies to be alway before hand with them he caused an Embargo to be laid upon their Ships with so much Secrecy that His Embassadour there had notice of it at least eight dayes before the States that so he might give secret Intelligence to the English and hasten their departure by which means when their Embargo came it found only two small inconsiderable Vessels and an Oyster Boat to seize And the King acquainting the Parliament which met in November how unkindly he had been Treated by the Dutch and what preparations he had thereupon made for War and telling them he had out of his own Credit set forth a Navy which he was sure would not decline meeting with all the Power of the Dutch for the Finishing where of he had borrowed so liberally out of his own stores and of the City of London that to discharge the one and replenish the other would require little less then Eight Hundred Thousand Pounds They to demonstrate their Love and Affection to their Soveraign and how hearty they were in their Resolutions to support His Honour and their Countries Rights against Forreign Encroachments gave him more then thrice that Summ in an Act Entituled An Act for granting a Royal Aide of Twenty four Thousand Threescore and Seventeen Thousand and Five Hundred Pounds And finding that the Dutch did but trifle with him in hopes of gaining time he resolved to forbear them no longer and therefore in the February following denounc'd War against them by a Publick Declaration prohibiting all Manufactures coming from thence and granting Letters of
Reprizal to divers of his injured Subjects And to increase his Fleet a Peace being now made both with Gayland and the Algerines he commanded his Ships in those parts to return home and with most indefatigable diligence Journeying himself from Port to Port to hasten his preparations and encourage the Seamen by his presence he got his Fleet ready to take the Sea by the 25th of March which did not a little terrifie the Hollander who had been the Week before put into a very great disorder and consternation upon the appearance only of a small part of the English Navy under the Earl of Sandwich That his preparations for War might meet with their desired success the blessing of God who is the Lord of Navies as well as of Hosts was implored by a general Fast enjoyned by Proclamation and observed with Reverence suitable to the Solemnity of the occasion which was answered with the happy Omens of future Victory from the fair success of smaller enterprises three of their Men of War being shortly after taken His Royal Highness the Duke of York who as Lord High Admiral of England commanded that Fleet growing impatient of the Hollanders stay resolved to give them a visit upon their own Coast and One Hundred and Fourteen Saile of Ships made for the Texel within five Leagues of which place he came to an Anchor where he took a full view of their Fleet some of the smallest of his Ships running within two Leagues of the Shore and some few dayes after he shewed himself before the Mouth of their Harbour which gave them so great an Allarum that they presently erected Beacons all along the Coasts to give notice if he should make any attempt to Land He stayd somewhat longer then he intended in hope to provoke them to come out and engage but not suceeding therein he commanded seven of his Ships to saile in quest of a Fleet of Merchant-men who were then coming home from Bourdeaux and had certainly fallen into their hands had not a great fogg which arose about that time prevented it however ten of them were taken and as many more at several times afterward However the Dutch finding their Embassadors in Swedeland and Denmark able to effect little meeting with Ceremonious entertainments but no Assistance resolved to shew their own strength and their Navy appeared upon the Ocean in all its Glory and Splendor divided into seven Squadrons being in all about One Hundred and Three Men of War Eleven Fire-Ships and seven Yatches About which time the English suffered some loss for their Hamburgh Fleet desiring a Convoy of the Duke when he lay before the Texel he sent them some Ships for their Conduct and Security with a Caution that if they were not ready to Saile within ten dayes they should not after that time adventure to Sea but the ten dayes being over before they could get ready and the Ketch ordered by him to give them notice of his removal from the Texel missing them they adventured to Sea contrary to his Instructions and Orders and so fell into the Enemies hands But that loss was abundantly compensated by the Victory which soon after ensued wherein the Dutch lost eighteen of their best Ships which were taken by the English besides ten more which were sunk and burnt Which ill success caused many disorders and complaints among the Common People in Holland for the appeasing whereof and the revenging themselves upon their Officers that were accus'd of Cowardise or ill management in that Engagement they questioned several of them for their Lives and caused three of their Captains to be Executed at the Helder two to have their Swords broken over their heads and the Vice-Admiral Cortinaer to stand upon a Scaffold with a Halter about his neck But the Joy of this Victory was somewhat allayed by the Sickness which now began to grow very hot in London and its Subburbs insomuch that the Queen Mother to avoid its Fury returned to France being attended to the Kentish Coast by the King who having taken his leave of her went on board the Royal Charles where he Knighted several Captaines that behaved themselves Valiantly against the Dutch and afterward visited most of the Flagg Ships giving all necessary directions for the repairing and refitting out the Fleet and so returned by Water to Greenwich from thence to Hampton Court and afterward to Salisbury But the Plague increasing in London so that it was dangerous returning thither he repaired to Oxford which proved so happy a Receptacle for him that notwithstanding the vast concourse of People which resorted to his Court the approaching Parliament and the Term which was likewise kept there the place Continued in health and was not in the least visited with that Distemper that then raged in London and some other parts of the Kingdom At this place was made that Law which is commonly known by the name of the Five-Mile Act forbidding all such Dissenting Ministers as would not take the Oath and make the Declaration and Abhorrency therein provided to live within five Miles of any Corporation thereby the better to prevent the spreading of their Infection and encreaâ—ing the number of their Proselites The Oath and Declaration being as follows viz. J. A. B. Do Declare That it is not Lawful upon any pretence whatsoever to take up Arms against the King And that I do abhor that Traiterous position of taking Arms by his Authority against His Person by His Commission Or those that are Commissioned by Him in persuance of such Commission And I do swear that I will not at any time endeavour any alteration of Goaernment either in Church or State But tho during the time of that Visitation he remov'd His Court to Oxford yet for the security of that City and that he might not be thought wholly to withdraw his beams from her disconsolate Walls He left there the Duke of Albemarle who in all the heat of the Distemper continued at White-Hall with a Courage equal to his Dignity And knowing that as the Affliction came from the hand of Heaven so none but the Almighty was able to mittigate or remove it He commanded by Proclamation a general Fast to be observ'd throughout the whole Kingdom for the confessing and bewailing those sins that had brought that heavy Judgment upon the City and by Prayers and Supplications implore the Divine Goodness for the removal thereof commanding his Bishops to direct and Publish such forms of Prayer as were most suitable not only for the Service of that Particular day but likewise of all the succeeding Wednesdays so long as the Contagion should last having commanded that day in every week to be observed as a Fast for the removal of that desolating distemper according to the Apostle's Rule praying alwayes and with all manner of Prayer The English Fleet having now repaired their Dammages and several of the Dutch Prizes being fitted for Service put to Sea again and stood over for the
under the Command of the Earl of Suffolk a smart Skirmish pass'd between them and continued till Ten at Night when it was renewed again by the return of the beaten Companies from the Fort but the English Horse not being able to come up there was not that execution done upon them which otherwise might have been However the Dutch lik'd not that hot Service well enough to abide their coming but as soon as their Boats were afloat embarqued with all haste and returned to their Ships and sailing for the Humber they engaged a Squadron of the English which they found there but being worsted shewed themselves before Portsmouth and made some slight Attempts in Devonshire and Cornwall And after de Ruyter their Admiral had been civily treated in the West by the Earl of Bath and Sir Jonathan Trelawney and received advice that the Peace was concluded they sailed back for Holland This Peace was concluded at Breda upon the twenty first of June in the Year 1667. when the Articles were signed by the several Plenipotentiaries and upon the fourteenth of the following August the Ratifications thereof interchanged the Mediators first bringing the Ratifications and other Instrustruments of the Dutch French and Danes into the English Embassadors Lodgings and received theirs in exchange which done the English Embassadors went into the apartments of the Dutch and their Allies where they made and received the Complements usual in such cases and the Peace was thereupon immediately Proclaimed before the Doors of the several Plenipotentiaries and on the twenty fourth of that Month at the Exchange which was then kept at Gresham Colledge and other places in London But the Foundation of the Royal Exchange in Cornhil being about that time appointed to be laid the King was pleased to shew his readiness to countenance that Work by being present at and assisting in the solemnity thereof with his own Royal hands as his Brother the Duke of York did shortly after who laid the first stone of the second Pillar which Edifice was in a short time finished and is now the most curious Fabrick of that kind in the whole World About this time that wise and useful States-man and Privy-Counsellor Edward Hide Earl of Clarendon and Lord High-Chancellor of England who had always behaved himself with abundance of Loyalty and Faithfulness to his Master as well before as after his Restauration falling into disgrace with the Parliament was forced to abscond and leaving that Office which he had so long managed with advantage to the King and honour to himself retired into France where he lived in a voluntary Exile 'till he died A sort of idle and licentious Persons getting together in the Holy-days at Easter and pretending former custom took the liberty to pull down some Houses of bad repute about the Suburbs of London under the notion of Apprentices yet others being found guilty of it four of them were apprehended Tryed Condemned and Executed and two of their Heads set upon the Bridge for a terror to others Having dispatch'd the Earl of Carlile as his Embassador Extraordinary to the Court of Sweden with which King he always maintained a friendly correspondence he directed a Letter for the Earl when he was at Copenhagen on his way to Sweden to be by him delivered to the King of Denmark in answer to an obliging Letter he had a little before received from him which Letter of the King 's was so acceptable to the Dane that upon the Earl's request he immediately dispatch'd orders to all his Ports and Towns of commerce especially those in Norway for restoring the English to the same Freedom and Priviledges in Trading thither as they had before the War And the Earl upon his arrival in Sweden presented that King with the George worn by the Knights of the Garter and after his having been entertained in that Court with all imaginable respect upon his Masters account and dismiss'd with particular marks of the King of Sweden's favour and testimonies of the acceptableness of his Embassie he was upon his return home solemnly Installed in that Order at Windsor While the King was diverting himself this Summer with the Duke and others of his Nobles in the new Forrest in Hampshire he received the doleful tidings of his Mothers death at Columbe the thirty first of August she being nobly buried in the December following at St. Dennis And to close the publick affairs of this Year the restorer of the Crown to the King and happiness to the Kingdom George Duke of Albemarle and Lord General of all the Kings Land Forces exchanged his temporary Coronet for an Eternal Crown and the King as a mark of Gratitude to the Father sent his Garter to his Son and Successor the present Duke of Albemarle whom he continued in many of his Honours and Preferments promising withall that himself would take care of his Fathers Funeral which he accordingly did and after he had publickly lain in State at Somerset-House for some time caused his Funeral to be solemnized with that Pomp and Splendor that it is verily believed no Subject was ever honoured with the like In the following Spring the King having a great desire to unite Scotland and England into one Kingdom endeavoured to have it accomplish'd by procuring an Act of Parliament in order thereunto and nominating Commissioners for each Kingdom to meet and treat about it But they not being able to agree it was wholly laid aside and came to nothing The King's Wisdom and Conduct being famed throughout all parts of the World like a second Solomon drew to his Court several Foreign Princes to see and admire him And about this time the Prince of Tuscany came upon the same Errand and was by him treated both at London and Windsor with great Respect and Splendour and by several of his Nobles in his Progress through England the chief Cities whereof he was desirous to take a view of after which he departed for Holland and so returned into his own Countrey where not long after besides his splendid Entertainment of the Earl of Northumberland in acknowledgment of the King's Kindness and Affection express'd to him when in England he built and gave to the King two very stout Galleys for a guard of the Coast about Tangier which were of great importance to his Service in those parts But altho' the King was well pleased with this Princes visit yet he shortly after received a more welcome one from his Sister the Dutchess of Orleans who came to Dover to pay him her last Visit and was there entertained by him with as much Affection and Bounty as the time of her stay which was but short would permit Nor was her stay in this World much longer for soon after her return she died suddenly to his unexpressible grief The King being now at peace at home employed his Naval Forces against the Algerines a People that never keep Peace longer than till they can have an opportunity to break
proper to give You under My Hand that I expect this compliance from You and desire it may be assoon as conveniently You can You may easily believe with what trouble I write this to You there being nothing I am more sensible of than the constant kindness You have ever had for Me I hope you are as just to Me to be assured that no absence nor any thing else can ever change me from being truly and kindly Yours and their advantage Telling them moreover that since his Neighbours were making Naval Preparations he thought it necessary still to maintain a Fleet at Sea and that it highly concerned them to provide a constant establishment for the Navy And concluding his Speech with his earnest desires to have that Parliament prove a Healing one assuring them that it was his constant resolution to defend with his Life the Protestant Religion and the Laws of the Kingdom and that he expected in so doing to be by them defended from the Calumny as well as danger of those worst of Men who endeavoured to render both Him and his Government odious to his People Advising them likewise by his Chancellor the Earl of Nottingham not to suffer their Zeal to out-run their Discretion lest by being too far transported with the fears of Popery they over-did their business and by neglecting the opportunities of making sober and lasting Provisions against it render themselves the unhappy occasion of making their own Counsels abortive The Commons as soon as they were returned to their House made choice of Mr. Seymour for their Speaker whom they lookt upon as the fittest Person for that employment in regard he had officiated therein in the former Parliament but the King refusing to admit him they chose Serjeant Gregory And to convince the World that they were Leavened with the same Principles and resolved to thwart the King's Designs for setling the Nations as much as the former had done begun where they ended ordering a Committee to inquire into the manner how Danby had sued out his Pardon which was granted him by the King to secure the Earl for whom he had a particular affection having always found him faithful to his Interest from all fear of Punishment for any pretended Crimes supposing as well he might that they would not dispute his Power of Pardoning since it was by the Law invested on him as one of the chiefest Jewels of his Crown But finding upon search that the Pardon was not entred after its passing at the Secretaries Office in any other Office 'till it came to the Lord Chancellor and so dispatcht in a private manner They Resolve upon an Address to the King to represent to his Majesty the illegality and the dangerous consequence of granting Pardons to any Persons who lay under an Impeachment of the Commons and desired the Lords that he might be sequestred from their House and put into safe Custody who accordingly ordered the Usher of the Black Rod to take him which he had done had he not absented himself Whereupon a Bill was ordered to be brought in to Command his surrendring himself by a certain day or in default thereof to stand attainted And the Lords having in the mean while pass'd a Bill for Banishing and disabling of him and sent it down to the Commons for their concurrence it was rejected as a Censure too favourable and a Vote pass'd for an Address to the King that he would not permit him to reside in any of his Pallaces of White-Hall Somerset-House or St. James's and another Address to be made for a Proclamation to apprehend him and forbid all the King's Subjects to harbour or conceal him In the mean while the Bill of Attainder was highly canvassed at several conferences between the two Houses 'till at length the Earl saved them the labour of passing a Bill for his Attainder by surrendring himself to the Usher of the Black-Rod The Lords in the Tower were at their first Imprisonment found Guilty upon special â—â—dictments by the Grand Jury of Middlesex before special Commissioners sitting at Westminster But that way of proceeding being for some Reasons waved they were severally impeacht by the Commons and their Impeachment carried up to the Peers by Five Members of the House of Commons to which they gave in their Answers in person all but Bellafis who being ill of the Gout sent his in writing The King to content the Faction if possible on the 2d of April declared his pleasure to dissolve his Privy Council with which they had shewed themselves displeased and constitute a new one which for the time to come should consist of Thirty persons Fifteen whereof were to be certain viz. the Archbishop of Canterbury the Bishop of London the Lord Chancellor one of the Chief Justices the Admiral the Master of the Ordinance the Treasurer the Chancellor of the Exchequer the Privy Seal the Master of the Horse the Lord Steward the Lord Chamberlain of the Houshold the Groom of the Stool and the Two Secretaries And the rest to be Elective at his pleasure Ten out of the Nobility and Five Commoners besides such Princes of the Blood as should be at Court A Lord President and a Secretary of Scotland And according to that new Model as many of them as were in Court met the next morning in the Council-Chamber and were sworn Privy Councellors The King going the same day to the Parliament acquainted the Two Houses with what he had done and assured them he was resolved in all weighty and important Affairs next to his great Council in Parliament to be advised by that Privy Council And it being his custom as it had been his Fathers before him to take off some hot Spirits whose Parts and Abilities he judged might be improved to his own and the Publicks advantage by promoting them to some Place or Office of Trust or otherwise winning them to his Friendship unless they were such whose Natures corrupted by their designs had rendred obstinate and implacable as the Earl of Shaftsbury afterward appeared to be he for the most part chose the other Fifteen which were to compleat his Council out of their number and made Shaftsbury Lord President of it The Parliament resolving to hasten the Trial of the Lords Danby and Bellaasis appeared in person at the Bar of the Lords House where the former put in his Plea and the other his Answer And the next day Stafford Arundel and Powis appeared there likewise and having retracted their former Pleas which appeared insufficient to the Commons they put in their further Answers And the King commanding the Commons to attend him in the House of Lords renewed the Assurances he had formerly given them of his being ready to assent to any Laws they should provide for the security of the Protestant Religion so that the Descent of the Crown in the Right Line were not thereby defeated And that he was willing a provision should be made to distinguish a Popish from a
thing which would tend to his or the Kingdoms benefit on the 10th of July dissolved it by Proclamation and declared his Resolution to call a new one which should sit on the 17th of the following October In the mean while Sir George Wakeman with Marshall Rumley and Corker three Benedictine Monks were tryed before the Lord Chief Justice Scroggs for High Treason relating to the Plot But the Evidence of Oates and Bedlow beginning now to be less credited than formerly and the ferment of peoples fury being somewhat abated the Jury brought them in Not Guilty and Wakeman was thereupon discharged from his Imprisonment as the other Three had likewise been had they not in their Defence upon their Trials acknowledged themselves to be Priests Wakeman's being thus acquitted startled the Mobille who expected all that were accused of that Plot should have been condemned of course without respect to the Truth or Falshood of the Accusation And the Faction endeavoured to improve their dissatisfaction into Rage and Sedition by several scurrilous Libels wherein they accuse Scroggs of perverting Justice and taking a Bribe of several thousand Guinneas from the Spanish Embassador to save Wakeman's Life from which Aspersions he sufficiently cleared himself in a Speech which he made in the Kings-Bench-Court on the first day of the ensuing Michaelmas-Term During this interval of Parliament the King was violently taken ill of an Ague at Windsor insomuch that his Life was thought to be in some danger Whereupon the Duke as well to demonstrate his Affection to his Brother as to prevent the danger which as things then stood might peradventure have happen'd to him in case the King should have died in his absence came Post from Flanders to Windsor But Heaven designing to lengthen out his Life till he had reduced the great Affairs of the Nation to a better Settlement and could leave his Succession more safe and secure it pleased God that he recovered his Health soon after to the great Joy of all the whole Nation And the City to express the pleasure they took therein sent the Lord Mayor and the Court of Aldermen with a Train of thirty Coaches and about a hundred Horse to Congratulate him upon his Recovery and when he returned soon after to White-Hall many Bonefires were made throughout the whole City attended with great Acclamations of Joy and Expressions of Loyalty Whilst he lay Sick at Windsor the Duke of Monmouth who had been by the Kings favour raised to as high a Station as a Subject was well capable of being then Lord General of all His Majesties Land Forces Master of the Horse and Captain of the Kings Life-Guards not content with the Honours already heaped upon him but aspiring as was thought altho without all Reason in regard of his Illegitimacy to the Crown it self endeavoured to prevail with some great Men at Court to take part with his Interest which being made known to the King by the Earl of Oxford who having for his eminent Loyalty a considerable party of Horse under his Command commonly called the Lord of Oxfords Troop was importuned by Sir Thomas Armstrong as was reported either in direct terms or so as his meaning might easily be understood to declare himself for Monmouth in case the King should dye He conceived a just Indignation against him for that bold and audacious Attempt and discovered his incensed Majesty by taking away his Commission of Lord General and soon after of his remaining places of Captain of the Life-Guard Master of the Horse Governor of Hull c. And to prevent Peoples being deluded by his Chimeâ—ical Fictions publisht a Declaration wherein having first taken notice of the great Industry and Malice wherewith men of seditious and restless Spirits spread abroad a most false and scandalous Report of a Marriage or Contract of Marriage at least between Mrs. Walters who was that Dukes Mother and him designing thereby to fill the minds of his loving Subjects with doubts and fears and divide them if possible into Parties by bringing into question the clear and undoubted Right of his true and lawful Heirs and Successors to the Crown he did to obviate the fatal consequences so dangerous and malicious a report might have in future times upon the Peace of his Kingdoms assure them That having found a former Rumor that there was a writing yet extant and lately produced before several Persons whereby that Marriage or Contracâ— at least would appear was not only revived again but improved also witâ— new Additions by insinuating thaâ— several Lords and others were yet living who were pretended to bâ—â— present at the Marriage hâ— had notwithstanding he knew fuâ—â— well it was impossible there should bâ— any truth in this Report since noâ—â— thing in the World could be morâ— false and groundless than the pretencâ— of such a Marriage or Contract bâ—â—tween him and the said Mrs. Walterâ— alias Barlow called before him anâ— caused to be Interogated in Council such Lords and other Persons as the common rumour surmised to have been present at the pretended Marriage or to know something of it or of the said writing And that tho it then appeared to all his Council upon their hearing the said Persons severally Interrogated and their denial to have been ever present at any such Marriage or to know any thing of it or of any such writing that the raising and spreading that Report which was so inconsistent with it self was the effect of deep malice in some few and of loose and idle discourse in others yet he thought it requisite for the satisfying all in general to publish a Declaration he had made in the January was Twelvemonth written with his own Hand in the following words There being a false and malicious Report industriously spread abroad by some who are neither Friends to me or the Duke of Monmouth as if I should have been either Contracted or Married to his Mother and tho I am confident that this idle Story cannot have any effect in this Age yet I thought it my Duty in relation to the true Succession of this Crown and that future Ages may not have any pretence to give disturbance upon that Score or any other of this nature to declare as I do here Declare in the Presence of Almighty God That I never was Married nor gave any Contract to any Woman whatsoever but to my Wife Queen Katharine to whom I am now Married In Witness whereof he had set his Hand at White-Hall the 6th of January 1678-79 In the Presence of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the two Secretaries Coventry and Williamson And assured them that to strengthen that Declaration he had in the March following made a more publick and solemn Declaration to the same purpose in his Privy Council written likewise with his own Hand and had caused a true Transcript thereof to be entred into the Council Book which for the better Confirmation he Signed with his own hand and caused the Lords
it on certain factious persons unknown to them which they desire Mr. Withins Steward of that Court to represent in their Names to the King which he accordingly did and received the Honour of Knighthood as a Reward of his Loyalty After which several such like addresses were directed from many of the Counties and that from Norfolk had a farther acknowledgment of their humble thanks to the King for calling home the Duke And the Lord Shandois having been elected by the Turky Company to go Embassador to Constantinople and desiring the Kings approbation the King 〈◊〉 him that having been concerned in promoting petitions which were â—â—rogatory to his Prerogative and tended to sedition he could not think him fit for his Favour whereupon he humbly acknowledged his fault to the King in Council protesting â—â—at he had been misled and drawn into it by being perswaded it was for his Mâ—jesties Service but being now better informed he abhorred and disowned all such Practices and humbly begging his Pardon he as freely obtained it Upon the 18th of May so great a Storm of Hail fell in London and the adjacent parts that the like had not been seen in many Years before the Stones being of an extraordinary bigness and very hard till they had lain a while many of them being as large as Pullets Eggs. One which I saw measured was somewhat more than Nine Inches about several Rooks in the Temple Garden being beaten down and killed with them and the Glass of many Sky-lights battered and broken to pieces And now the Parliament which had been several times this Summer prorogued met on the 21st of October according to â—he King's Declaration to them at their meeting in April to whom he declared in a Speech to both Houses That he had during that long prorogation made Alliances with Holland and Spain and desired money of them for the relieving Tangier the defence whereof had very much exhausted his Treasure and advising them not to meddle with the Succession of the Crown but proceed to the discovery of the Plot and the Trial of the Lords The Commons having chosen Mr. Williams a Barrester of Grays Inn and Recorder of Chester for their Speaker to convince the World that the King had not without Reason deferred their sitting so long and that neither he nor the Nation would have been losers if they had not sate then fell to purging their house expelling Sir Robert Can a Burgess for Bristol for having said there was no other Plot but a Presbyterian one and Sir Francis Withins for having declared himself an Abhorrer of the late tumultuous Petitions for the Parliaments sitting The former was committed by them to the Tower and both ordered to receive their Censure on their knees from the Speaker Several other Members were likewise declared guilty of the same Offence with Sir Francis Withins And not content with punishing their own Members they take notice of others who were without their Walls amongst whom Sir George Jeffries Recorder of London one of the King's Serjeants at Law and Chief Justice of Chester became the Object of their displeasure and was Voted a Betrayer of the Subjects Rights and an Address was made to the King to remove him from all publick Affairs and Impeachments Voted and drawn up against Sir Francis North Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas Sir William Scrogs Chief Justice of the Kings-Bench Sir Thomas Jones one of the puisny Judges of that Court and Sir Richard Weston one of the Barons of the Exchequer for several pretended misdemeanors that of Sir Francis North being the advising and drawing up of the Proclamation against Petitions But not contenting themselves to deal with Subjects they proceeded next to a matter of a far greater concern For on the 11th of November notwithstanding the King's desire at their opening That they would not meddle with the Succession a Bill past in the House of Commons intituled An Act for securing the Protestant Religion by disabling James Duke of York from inheriting the Imperial Crown of England and Ireland and the Territories thereunto belonging which notwithstanding all the opposition made against it by the unbiassed and Judicious Loyalists who tho their Reasons were strongest yet their number were fewest was carried up to the Peers by the Lord Russel attended by almost all the Commons who gave a Hum at the delivery of it The Lords having ordered it upon their departure to be read put it to the Vote whether it should be read a second time which being carried in the Affirmative by Two Voices only after the second reading it was debated till Eleven a Clock at night the King being present all the while and then thrown out of the House by a Majority of about Thirty Voices in which number were all the Bishops then present to shew how careful the Prelacy is to promote Monarchy Soon after the Parliament proceeded to the Trial of William Lord Viscount Stafford which began in Westminster-Hall on Tuesday the 30th of November and the Impeachment and Evidence upon the same were managed by a Committee of the Commons and the Witnesses against him were Oates Turberville and Dugdale The Lord Chancellor Finch was created Lord High Steward for the solemnity of his Trial which lasted a whole week and being found Guilty by the Majority of Four and Twenty Voices he received Sentence on the 17th of December and on the 29th of that Month was beheaded on Tower-Hill protesting his Innocency with his last breath as all those had done who died for the Plot before him Some were so bold as to question the King's power to dispence with the Rigor of the Sentence and the unhappy Lord Russel was said to be one of them During these publick Transactions a large and prodigious flame of Light appeared in the West The Star from which the Blaze proceeded was but small and when first discovered seemed to be not much above the Horizon but every night after appeared somewhat higher in the beginning of the night and consequently set later its lustre and magnitude decreasing by degrees Whether this finger of the Almighty so visibly seen in the Heavens portended good or bad Events to the World in general or England in particular is a matter too mysterious for me to unfold and therefore shall I leave it till made more plain by the Effects which will be the best Commentatary thereon The King finding the Commons taken up with other business without taking the least care of providing him Money for the supplying his pressing wants and the relieving Tangier then besieged by the Emperor of Morocco recommended the matter more seriously to them in his Speech on the 15th of December But all the Answer he could obtain from them was an Address complaining of several pretended Grievances and refusing all supplies of Money for the Relief of Tangier or any other use unless he would pass a Bill for the Exclusion of the Duke and to enable all Protestants to associate
considered the Plea and consulted with other Judges about it and were of opinion it was insufficient and was therefore overruled and the Prisoner ordered to plead over Whereupon he pleaded Not guilty and had till the first Thursday in the next Term allowed him for his Tryal In the mean while many Loyal Addresses flowed from all parts of the Nation full of Congratulations and Thanks to the King for his late Declaration And in Trinity-Term Dr. Oliver Plunket was Try'd for High-Treason the Evidence against him being all profest Papists affirmed he was made Primate of Ireland by the Pope at the French Kings Recommendation and that he having thereupon engaged to do that King all the Service he could had actually levied amongst his Popish Clergy great Sums of Money to introduce the French Dominion and extirpate the Protestants out of that Kingdom upon which evidence he was found Guilty and was together with Fitz-harris who received his Tryal the next day executed at Tyburn on the first of the following July protesting his innocency and praying for the King Queen and Duke Presently after the Tryal of Fitz-Harris his Wife and Maid accused the Lord Howard of Escrick of contriving the Treasonable Libel for which he was convicted who was thereupon committed to the Tower And in a Paper delivered at his Execution to Dr. Haukins Minister of the Tower for his Wife he confirmed that accusation denying what he had formerly confest about Danby and the Plot affirming he was drawn into that confession only through hopes of saving his Life thereby But a Bill of Indictment against Howard being delivered on the last day of the Term to the Grand-Jury of Edmunton Hundred sworn to by Fitz-harris's Wife and Maid and by some others that Jury pretending to be unsatisfied with the Evidence would have indorsed it with an Ignoramus had not one of the Clerks of the Crown who attended them withdrawn it from them for which notwithstanding they were told by the Court the Kings Attorney might stop such proceedings as he saw occasion they preferred a Bill of Indictment against the Clerk to the Jury of Oswelston Hundred there attending for that pretended Misdemeanor The Reason why some Persons went so well attended to the Oxford Parliament began now to appear for about this time there was discovery made of a design of seizing the Kings Person whilst he was there and several factious People were thereupon committed to the Tower viz. Rouse Haynes White Colledg and the Earl of Shaftsbury whose Papers were likewise seiz'd At the Sessions which began soon after he and Howard moved to be bailed but the Judges told them it lay not in their power to bail out of the Tower At this Sessions and Indictment of High Treason was preferred to the Grand-Jury of London against one of those lately committed to the Tower whose Name was Colledg But in regard he was a busie factious Fellow and ever loved to meddle most with that he least understood and pass his ignorant censures upon the great Affairs of State He was the more commonly known by the Name of the Protestant Joyner But notwithstanding the Evidence against him was full and clear they returned an Ignoramus upon the Bill whereupon part of the Treasonable Words and Matters for which he was there Indicted being transacted at Oxford whilst the Parliament sate there the Cause was removed to that Assizes where he was before the Lord Chief Justice North tryed upon the same Evidence and condemned and executed In a Parliament held at this time in Scotland the Duke of York presided as the Kings High Commissioner and an Act was past which asserted the Right of Succession to the Imperial Crown of Scotland asserting it to be by inherent right and that the nature of the Monarchy was such that by the fundamental and unalterable Law of the Realm it transmitted and devolved by Lineal Succession according to proximity of Blood and that no difference in Religion no Law nor Act of Parliament could alter or divert the Right of Succession of the Crown to the nearest and lawful Heirs and declaring it High Treason either by Writing Speaking or any other way to endeavour the least Alteration therein The French Protestants being greatly opprest and persecuted by that King flockt into England in great multitudes and were received by the King of England with abundance of Kindness and affection ordering that his Officers and Magistrates should give them the same Countenance and Favour with his own Subjects assuring them he would take them into his Royal Protection and grant 'em his Letters of Dennization and promising to procure in the next Parliament an Act for their Naturalization A special Commission of Oyer and Terminer being granted by him for the Tryal of Shaftsbury and others at the Old Bayly the Bill of High Treason preferred against Shaftsbury notwithstanding the Evidence swore very full to the Treason was returned by the Grand-Jury the Foreman whereof was Sir Samuel Barnardiston Ignoramus as a former Jury had done that of Colledg Whereupon the people whose Idol he was gave a great Shout and assaulted those who were Witnesses against him with that violence that the Sheriffs to prevent mischief were forced to guard them as far as the Savoy homeward Bonfires were that Night made by the Rabble almost in every Street at one whereof Capt. Griffith was knockt down and wounded in the Head for endeavouring to put it out And a rout of people marching down Warwick-lane one whereof had his Sword drawn sometimes cryed No York no Popish Successor and then bawl'd out a Monmouth a Shaftsbury a Buckingham till they were stopt by the Watch at Ludgate But tho the factious Rabble were thus overjoyed at the acquittal of their Idol yet the sober and Loyal part of the Nation had other sentiments about it and declared their Indignation in several Loyal Addresses against the most Execrable and Traiterous designed Association which was discovered in Shaftsburys Closet amongst his other papers which threatned not the King alone but Monarchy it self In February 1682 there hapned a strange and Barbarous Murder which for the boldness of the Attempt and the baseness of the manner wherein it was perpetrated is scarcely to be parellel'd in any History For Thomas Thin of Long-Leat Esq a Gentleman of an Estate of about 10000 l. per annum having privately married Elizabeth Daughter and sole Heir of Jocelin Earl of Northumberland and Relict to Henry Earl of Ogle Son and Heir apparent to the Duke of Newcastle And some of her Friends who were not so well satisfied with the Match as her Grand-mother was by whose means it was said to be made up having perswaded her before ever her New Husband had bedded her to withdraw her self secretly into Holland the Town was thereupon alarumed with the approach of a mighty Suit in Law concerning the Validity of the Match the best Civilians being engaged on the one side or the other And Count
City and Suburbs for the Relief of many Thousand miserable Wretches who would otherwise have perished and to encourage others to so needful a charity by his own example ordered several great Sums of Money to be issued out of his Treasury for that Purpose On the 23d of January being the first day of Hillary Term the Lawyers went over the Ice to Westminster and back again as familiarly as on the Land some on Foot and others in Coaches and there was for above a fortnight together a Fair or Mart kept between the Temple and that part of Southwark which is opposite to it This Year Vienna the Imperial City of Germany was closely besieged and greatly distressed by the Turks who brought it to the very last extremity but were then beaten off and forced to raise their siege by the Blessing of God upon the Valour of the King of Poland and the Duke of Lorrain in which Action the Lord Landsdown Eldest Son to the Earl of Bath behaved himself with so much Valour that he was afterward as a Reward of his Courage created a Count of the Sacred Empire And Tangier having cost the King abundance of Treasure to defend it against the Moors and make the Mole there he now resolved in regard the charges were so very great and the Expectation of Advantage very uncertain to relinquish it and therefore ordered the Lord Dartmouth to repair thither wih about 20 sail of Ships and demolish the Town Castle and Mole choak up the Haven to render it useless to any who might otherwise have thought the Town worth rebuilding and bring off the Inhabitants which was done accordingly About the middle of February 1684. was the Earl of Danby after a long and tedious Imprisonment admitted to Bail by the Eminent and Loyal Sir George Jeffrys who succeeded Sir Edward Sanders in the Lord Chief Justiceship of England all the Judges of the Kings-Bench having first given their several opinions about it and delivered their Reasons why he ought to be bailed and the other four Lords one of them viz. Peters being dead sometime before having just before his Death in a Letter to the King denied upon his Salvation his being any way Guilty of what he stood accused of being within the like Reasons were admitted to the like advantage and so was the Earl of Tyrone who had been almost as long a Prisoner in the Gate-house as they had been in the Tower The King having about the Year 81 appointed under him certain Deputies or Commissioners of Ecclesiastical Offices viz. The Arch-Bishop of Canterbury the Bishop of London the Lord Radnor Hallifax Hide and Mr. Seymor to whom he delegated his Power to dispose of all such Ecclesiastical Preferments as were within his immediate Patronage was pleased this Year to revoke their Commission and take those preferments again into his own immediate disposal as likewise a commission formerly granted to several Persons to execute the Office of Lord High Admiral of Eugland which was now again fully enjoyed and exercised by his Royal Highness Acts of Hostility being this Spring-fiercely pursued between the French and Spaniards by Sea and Land he commanded by Proclamation that being at Amity with both those Nations the Peace should be kept inviolably by them whilst they were in any Roads Creeks and Ports of his Dominions and that his Commanders and Officers should oppose themselves against those who should presume to assault any of the Ships of his Allies in any of his Roads or Places under his Protection Oates the Salamanca Doctor and Plot-Master-General not content with having falsly charged his Royal Highness the Kings only Brother and Heir with divers base and improbable Stories as tho he had plotted with the Papists against the King his Brother suffered his Spleen to boil to such an exorbitant degree that he saucily and impudently abused him with base and scurrilous Language calling him Traytor declaring That he hoped to see him hang'd with divers horrid devilish and abominable Expressions The Dukes patience not being easily provoked bore long with him but finding that forbearance did but render him more bold and increase his malignity at last he brought his Action of Scandalnm Magnatum against him upon which he was arrested at the Amsterdam Coffee-house on the back-side of the Royal Exchange and carried to Woodstreet Compter and from thence removed by Habeas Corpus to the Kings Bench and having let Judgment go in the next Term by default a Writ of Enquiry was issued out and executed before the Lord Chief Justice in the Kings-Bench Court when the Jury upon hearing the Evidence to shew their detestation of such an unheard of impudence gave 100000 Damages The Hambrough Company out of Gratitude for some great Favour received from the King did this Spring erect a most elaborate and curious Statue of him in Gray Marble in the very middle or Center of the Royal Exchange cut by Mr. Grinlin Gibbons the most Famous Statuary that England ever produc'd and equal if not superior to the best at this Time in Europe in the Garb and Habit of a Roman Caesar It was placed upon a curious Pedestal made of the same Marble upon which was the following Inscription Carolo II Caesari Britanico Patriae Patri Regnum optimo Clementissimo Augustissimo Generis Humani Deliciis Vtriusque fortunae Victori Pacis Europae Arbitro Maris Domino Vindici Societas Meâ—catorum Adventur Angliae Quae per CCCC jam prope Annos Regia Benignitate floret Fidei Intemerata Gratitudinis Aeternaâ— Hoc Testimonium Venerabunda posuit Anno sal Humanae MDCLXXXIV The Council sitting on the 28th of May at Hampton Court as it used frequently to do when he was at Windsor as the most convenient place for his coming to it he told them that he thought it fit and did intend his Brother should be present at the Meetings of the Council who accordingly took his Seat that Day and ever after during his Brothers Life And in October following the King made a Review or Muster of his Land-Forces upon Putney Heath where there was a most gallant Military Appearance the Horse consisting of the Three Troops of Guards the Granadeers the Earl of Oxford's Regiment of Horse and the Lord Churchels Regiment of Dragoons and the Foot of two Battalians formed and the Regiment of Guards with their Granadeers one from the Coldstream Regiment of Guards and Granadeers one from the Earl of Dumbartons Regiment and another from the Admiral Regiment with their Granadeers the whole Number of Horse and Foot between 4000 and 5000 being all exactly trained and well cloath'd most of the Horse march'd in the morning in Gallant Order through the Streets of London and so over the Bridg to Putney This Michaelmas Terms several Factious Persons were convicted of speaking scandalous and seditious Words against the Government for which one Best commonly call'd the Protestant Hop-Merchant was fined 1000 l. and ordered to stand in the Pillory
he for an Universal grief possest the minds of all men and like a Cloud suddenly spread it self over the whole Nation upon the arrival of that doleful Tidings He died in the Fifty fourth Year of his Age after he had reigned Thirty six Years and some few days leaving his Kingdom which he found almost ruin'd with a bloody and unnatural War in a state of Tranquility and Peace Which as it magnifies the happiness of his Subjects by comparing their present felicity with their past Troubles so it lays the highest obligation imaginable upon them for ever to entertain the sacred Memory of his Name with the greatest Love and Veneration His redâ—cing a People plnnged and almost â—wallowed up in confusion into a quiet not to be expected and scarcely to be hoped for and asswaging by his incomparable Prudence a Faction blown up into atempestuous flame more violent and deaf than either the Winds or the Seas rendred him the most Glorious and Admired Prince and his Subjects the most happy People in Christendom and therefore in what Words or rather with what Deeds can they ever expect to express a Gratitude any way equal to his merits Statues of Marble and tryumphal Arches may indeed be an acknowledgment of our Veneration but these are Trifles too mean to discharge our debt and therefore all true Englishmen shall raise him a more lasting Monument by entombing him in their Hearts and expressing their love to their Dead Sovereign by their unfeigned Loyalty to their Living One our present Gracious King and Governour James the Second who immediately upon his Death succeeded to his Throne For Nature is not more careful to prevent a Dissolution of being than the Constitution of England to prevent an Inter-Regnum of Government so that the same minute which seems to threaten the involving our Isle in Darkness and Confusion by the setting of one really revives our dying-hopes and dispels our sable Clouds by the rising of another Sun for whom I shall pray as the Israelites did for King Solomon That God by whom alone Kings reign and have their Governments Crown'd with Peace and Felicity may pour upon him the Blessings of Heaven in as great a measure as upon his Royal Predecessor and make his Throne greater than the Throne of our late Sovereign Lord King Charles and grant him long to Live and Reign over us in Peace and Tranquility His Funeral was privately Solemniz'd on the 14th of February with as much Decency and Splendor as the greatness of the Sorrow for his Death would permit His Corps being convey'd sometime before to the Painted Chamber in the Palace at Westminster was carried from thence to the Abby-Church under a Velvet Canopy born by Gentlemen of the Privy-Chamber the Pall being supported by six Earls The proceedings begun with the Servants of the Nobility Their Royal Highnesses the King and Queen the Queen Dowager and His own after whom followd the Barons Bishops and others of the Nobility according to their respective Degrees together with the great Officers and the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury His Royal Highness the Prince of Denmark was chief Mourner supported by the Dukes of Somerset and Beaufort in the Collors of the Order as were all the rest of the Knights of the Garter then present and his Train born by the Lord Cornbury The Assistants to the chief Mourner were sixteen Earls The Crown and Cushion was carry'd by one of the Kings of Arms The rest of the Heraulds and their Officers Attending and Directing the Ceremony which was clos'd with His Majesties Band of Gentelmen-Pensioners and the Yeomen of the Guard As soon as they entred the Church the Dean and Prebends of Westminster with the whole Quire met the Body and went before it to Henry the Sevenths Chappel where it was interr'd in a Vault under the East end of the South Isle THUS have I endeavour'd to present the World with a Brief draught of the Life of this most Excellent King from the Time of his Birtâ— to the never-enough lamented and most deplorable Murder of his Royal Father and of his Reign from that Time until the hour of His Death And having now traced him through all the stupendious Labyrinths and wonderful Revolutions of His Life to his exchanging a Crown of Gold for one of Glory I shall close my History with his Character A Character which were I able therein to represent him to the Life and give him his Just and deserved Praise would not be parallel'd in Ancient and remain a Wonder to all succeeding Generations But his Perfections were so sublime and rare that my Representatious of him will no more bear Proportion to his real worth than the twinkling Figure of the Sun shining in the Water wherein he views himself as in a Looking-Glass is adequate to the Greatness of that real body of Fire and Light whereby he claims the Regency of Heaven This Monarch as to his Person was of a tall and goodly Stature and so exactly form'd that the most curious and penetrating Eye after the exactest Scrutiny could not discern the least Error in his Shape his Countenance very Majestical His Person and the Visage of his Face rather Grave than Severe being very much softned whenever he spake His Complection somewhat dark but much enlighten'd by the brightness of his Eyes that were quick and sparkling His Hair which before he wore a Peruke in great plenty was of a shining black not frizled but naturally Curling into large Rings and very Ornamental But as the Jewel is more valuable than the Casket that contains it so the perfections of his Mind did much exceed those of his Body if we can allow the same Man any Preheminence over himself in respect whereof he seemed to be a perfect Miracle of Art and Nature having in the Mysteries of Both a most capacious and profound Knowledg or one of the best sort of Wonders both in respect of his Virtues and his Fortune a Wonder to Wise men who admired his vast Parts a Wonder to His Enemies who admir'd at His Preservation from their Snares a Wonder to his Friends that admired at the Adversity of his Fortune and the Patience wherewith he endur'd it a Wonder to the World which admired the strangeness of His Restoration and were astonish'd to see him notwithstanding there was at that Time an Army on Foot to keep him out which had been flush'd with so many Victories and as it were by Prescription was able to beat the World or at least had Courage and Confidence enough to attempt it return without spilling one drop of Blood or having an Hand held up against him to oppose his Entrance He had been himself a Sufferer and had thereby learnt to Govern his Subjects with Moderation He had been in Misery and that taught him to be Merciful He had been unjustly dealt with and that made him the more careful to see right done to all men His Justice and measure his
of the Privy Council then present to do so too and had ordered the Original to be kept in the Council Chest where it still remains This Declaration was likewise inserted as it was entred in the Council Books and was as follows For the avoiding of any Dispute which may happen in time to come concerning the Succession of the Crown I do here Declare in the Presence of Almighty God That I never gave nor made any Contract of Marriage nor was Married to any Woman whatsoever but to my present Wife Queen Katharine White Hall the 3d day of March 167 â— â— CHARLES R. And that noâ—e might still remain doubtful or question the Truth of his former Declaration he concluded that Declaration with the following Protestation And we do again upon this occasion call Almighty God to Witness and declare upon the Faith of a Christian and the Word of a King That there was never any Marriage had or made between us and the said Mrs. Walters alias Barlow the Duke of Monmouths Mother nor between Vs and any Woman whatsever our Royal Consort Queen Katharine that is only excepted Requiring and Commanding all his Subjects of what degree soever that they should not presume to utter or publish any thing contrary to the Tenor of that Declaration at their Peril and upon pain of being proceeded against according to the utmost Severity and Rigor of the Law Whereby all the groundless hopes of that Duke and the idle and ridiculous Expectations of many factious and designing Persons were wholly disappointed And he was moreover commanded by the King to depart the Land which he did on the 23d of September and went over to Vtrecbt but returned again privately and without order about the latter end of the next month About this time there was much discourse of a new Plot and several Narratives publisht about it wherein the Papists as was affirmed had contrived to charge the Presbyterians with a conspiracy against the Government the chief Discoverer whereof was one Dangerfield who had formerly been a vile and profligate Fellow and was then newly got out of Newgate Several Persons were accused by him as Conspirators therein the chief whereof was the Countess oâ— Powis Sir Robert Payton Gadbury and one Cellier a Widwife in whose house Sir William Waller pretended to find some Papers that related to the Conspiracy from whence it was called the Meal-Tub Plot and the Effigies of the Pope in all his Pontificalibus was on the Birth-day of Queen Elizabeth which is the 17th of November Burned with much more Pomp and Splendor than it had been in former years it having been a custom for several late years so to do The Effigies of Sir Edmondbury Godfrey was carried on a Horse with a Bell-man to mind the people of his Murder several Priests in Copes with a large silver Cross six Jesuits divers Bishops some in thin Lawn Sleeves and others with their Copes and Miters on and six Cardinals going in procession before him The King having according to his promise called a new Parliament to meet on the 17th of October Prorogues it to the 26th of the following January and toward the latter end of November the Duke of York went into Scotland where his Presence was very acceptable and all Persons declared the great satisfaction they took in having him amongst them The appointed time of the Parliaments sitting drawing near great endeavours were used for the procuring a multitude of Hands to Peâ—itioâ—s which were to be presented to the King for his permitting the Parliament to Sit on the 26th of January according to the last proâ—ogation which petitioning being unwarrantable and tumultuous he order'd the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen to take care for the preservation of his Honour and the Peace and safety of the City and not suffer such Persons that should â—ign such Petitions or go about to get hands to them to escape unpunished and issued out a Proclamation to forbid all such kind of petitioning and another to declare his Resolution for the farther prorogation to the 11th of November notwithstanding which some resolutely went on with their petitioning and not long after one from London subscribed with many Thousand hands and others from York Essex Surrey and Wiltshire were presented to Him which he received indeed but knowing that such kind of Petitions were rather Commands than Requests resolved not to gratifie the unruly Petitioners and therefore on the 26th of January when those Members who were in Town met according to custom at the Parliament-House he acquainted them 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 and that he saw nothing which had hapned since in reference to the Affairs within the Kingdom which gave him occasion to alter or repent that Resolution and that altho he would in regard to the present danger which threatned some of his Neighbours and Allies appoint a day for their meeting again in April yet the Distractions and Jealousies at Home were of such a nature and had been so heightned and improved by the malice and industry of ill men that he was unalterably of an opinion that a longer interval would be absolutely necessary for compoâ—ing mens minds in order to which he feared the most proper Remedies would prove ineffectual without the assistance of some farther time and therefore resolved that at their meeting in April there should be a farther prorogation unless the condition of his Allies abroad did then require their immediate assistance In the mean while Articles of high Misdemeanor were offered by way of complaint to the King and Council against the Chief Justice Scroggs by Oates and Bedlow to which he returned his Answer and so the business fell And in Hillary Term Sir Thomas Gascoigne a Yorkshire Gentleman of 85 Years of Age was arraigned at the Kings Bench Bar on an Information of High Treason the Witnesses against him being Balron and Mowberry two of his own Servants but their Evidence being somewhat doubtful and improbable he was acquitted The King opened the Year 80 which was remarkable for many revolutions though all in the end concluded peaceable and well with calling the Duke out of Scotland who was upon his arrival complemented by the Mayor Aldermen Recorder and Common-Council of London About which time also Secretary Coventry having resigned his office the King made choice of Sir Lionel Jenkins to succeed him and on the 15th of April the King being absent at Newmarket ordered his Chancellor Finch by vertue of a Commission under the great Seal to prorogue the Parliament to the 17th of May from whence it was afterwards prorogued to the first of July And now several Countrys which had been active in promoting petitions began to be ashamed and recant their Actions the City of Westminster leading the way their Grand-Jury by a publick and formal act disowning the Action and charging