into England bringing thence many sick Soldiers which dangerously infected the Nation with a long continuing Plague About the year 1564 the Irish sought to shroud themselves from their obedience unto Queen Elizabeth under the shelter of Shan O-Neal a man cruel by nature and claiming an Hereditary right to the Province of Vlster as the O-Neals formerly had done to all Ireland Against this rebel so great preparations were made that he terrified therewith came over into England and on his knees begged the Queens pardon which she granted him Howbeit not long after he rebelled but at length was slain by some of his own Countrymen A. D. 1567 so great civil dissensions were in Scotland that outrages were not only committed upon the best Subjects but even upon the King and Queen themselves him they barbarously murdred and forced her to leave Scotland Which unhappy Queen having embarqued her self for France Edward Grindal A. B. Cant. hoping there to find many friends was by cross winds drove upon the English Coasts from whence she might not return but was detained Prisoner in England A. D. 1568 by the working Instruments of the old Doctor at Rome there were discontents bred and nourished in some great persons of England as the Earls of Northumberland and Westmerland Leonard Dacres Nevill c. who had in readiness certain English Priests Morton and others with Bulls and Instruments of Absolution Reconciliation and Oaths to be taken to the Pope These Romish rebels raised forces and with Banner displayed entred Burrowbridge old Morton being their Ensign-bearer in whose Colours was painted the Cross and five wounds of Christ But at the approach of her Majesties Forces the Captains of the rebells fled into Scotland and their followers were taken without any resistance Of these Traytors were put to death at Durham by Martial Law an Alderman a Priest sixty-six Constables besides others of them in other places about A. D. 1570 Leonard Dacres of Harlsey renewed the rebellion and had amongst his followers many Women-soldiers but upon a Moor nigh unto Naworth the Lord Hunsdon dispersed them in fight August 22d of this year was the Earl of Northumberland beheaded at York where in his last speech he avowed the Popes Supremacy denied that subjection was due to the Queen affirmed the Realm to be in a Schism and that obedient subjects were no better than Hereticks For you must know that Pope Pius the fifth had by his Bull dated 1569 deprived the Queen of her Kingdoms absolved her subjects of all subjection to her and pronounced all that yielded her obedience accursed Which Bull was privately hung upon the Bishop of London's Palace-gate at the West-end of St. Pauls And such influence it had upon the spirits of many persons disaffected to the Reformed Religion that they sought by divers means to work the Queens destruction Many were the projects and devices to ruin the Church and Queen but by the good providence of Almighty God the projectors were defeated in their purposes and suffered deserved punishment In Norfolk John Throgmorton Brook Redman and others sought to raise a commotion for the which they suffered death Dr. Story executed for his treason 1571. John Sommervil instigated by one Hall a Seminary Priest to murther the Queen was executed John Payn imployed to murther her as she took her recreation abroad was executed so was Edmond Champion a Seminary Priest also executed Francis Throgmorton for endeavouring to procure an Invasion was executed William Parry who purposed to have murdred the Queen was executed Henry Piercy Earl of Northumberland being privy to the Plots of Throgmorton for the bringing in of foreign powers was committed to the Tower where to save the Hangman a labour he shot himself to the heart Thomas Howard being too busie in some Popish designs was also put to death John Whitgift A B. Cant. Other Popish Traytors were likewise deservedly executed whose names facts and places and times of execution for brevities sake are omitted A. D. 1572 Novemb. 18 appeared a strange Star or Comet Northward in the Constellation of Cassiopeia not much less than the Planet Venus never changing place fixed far above the Moons Orb the like to which never did appear since the beginning of the world that we read of saving that at the Birth of Christ A. D. 1573 was built at London the Royal-Exchange so named by her Majesty whose founder was Sir Thomas Gresham A. D. 1576 Sir Martin Frobusher sailed into the Northeast Seas far further than any man before him had done giving to those parts the name of Queen Elizabeths Foreland A. D. 1577 and Novemb. 15 Capt. Drake set sail from Plimouth and in three years wanting twelve days he encompassed the Earth landing again in England on Novemb. 3 1580. In America in the Country which he named Nova Albion the King thereof presented unto him his Network Crown of many coloured feathers and therewith resigned his Scepter of Government unto his dispose The people there so admired the English men that they sacrificed to them as to their gods At his departure from thence he reared a Monument to witness her Majesties right to that Province as being freely given to her Deputy both by King and people The little Ship called the Pelican wherein this admirable Voyage was performed was at her Majesties command laid up in the Dock by Deepford as a Monument of Englands fame and Captain Drake was honoured with Knighthood A. D. 1581 was the motion renewed for a Marriage betwixt Francis Valois Duke of Anjou and Queen Elizabeth and so effectually was the suit moved and acceptably heard of her Highness that the Monsieur came over in person though to the little liking of many of the English Nobles and to the great discontent of the Commons as was made known by a Book written against it which cost William Stubs the Inditer thereof the loss of his right hand About A. D. 1583 the Pope and King of Spain sent supplies to the Irish rebells under the command of Thomas Stukely an English fugitive whom the Pope had stiled Marquess of Ireland These landing in Ireland raised their consecrated Banner built their Fort Del Ore but the Lord Grey of Wilton Lord Deputy quickly put most of them to the sword A. D. 1585 after several suits made unto the Queen by the distressed States of the Netherlands and their Grievances recommended to her by the King of France with promise of his own assistance her Majesty was graciously pleased to undertake their protection sending to their assistance Sir John Norrice with 5000 Foot and a thousand Horse all retained at her Highness pay during those Wars against Spain which monthly amounted to 12526 l. Sterling For which moneys so disbursed the Towns of Flushing and Brill with two Sconces and the Castle of Ramekins in Holland were delivered to the Queens use in pledg until the money was repaid The considerations moving her Majesty to assist â—he United Provinces were The
and hanged at Wapping A. D. 1609 was the New-Exchange built the King naming it Britains-Burse In the same year the King by Proclamation prohibited all foreign Nations from fishing on any of the coasts of England Scotland Ireland or the Isles adjacent without special License from his Commissioners In this year also the King according to an ancient custom had aid of his Subjects through England for making his eldest son Prince Henry Knight A. D. 1610 June 4th all Roman Priests Jesuits and Seminaries as being the Incendiaries of disturbances were commanded to depart the Realm Then the Oath of Allegiance was ministred to all sorts of people His Majesty caused to be built the goodliest Ship of War that had ever been built in England being of the burthen of 1400 Tun and carrying 64 pieces of Ordinance Prince Henry named it the Prince A. D. 1612 The Corps of Mary late Queen of Scotland the Kings Mother was translated from Peterborough to the Chappel-Royal at Westminster On November the sixth following Prince Henry died of a malignant Fever which reigned that year in most parts of the Land Some said that he died by poisoned grapes which he eat others by Gloves of a poisoned perfume given him for a present but be his death by what means it would certain it is that he was infinitely beloved of the people as one that had given great hopes of proving a wise and Martial Prince February 14th the marriage of the Prince Palatine of the Rhyne with the Princess Elizabeth was solemnized in the Chappel at White-Hall She was attired all in white having a rich Crown of Gold upon her head her hair hanging down at length curiously beset with Pearls and precious Stones her train supported by 12 young Ladies all in white In this same year the City of London having before had the Province of Vlster granted them by the King for a plantation sent thither about three hundred persons of all sorts of Handy-crafts-men chiefly to inhabit the Cities of London-derry and Coleraign And for the advancing of this or the like plantation in Ireland the King about this time began a new Order of Knights called Baronets which Order he stinted within the number only of two hundred and as the Issue should fail the Order to cease About this time also an exemplar punishment was imposed upon Sir Peckshall Brockas which was to stand at Pauls-Cross in a white sheet holding a wand in his hand he having been formerly convicted before the High-Commissioners for many notorious adulteries with divers Women About A. D. 1614 Mr. Hugh Middleton Citizen and Goldsmith of London with infinite cost and labour brought the New-river to the City of London from the two great springs of Chadwel and Amwel in Hartfordshire And about the same time was the Moor-Fields by London converted from deep stinking ditches and noisom Common-shores to pleasant sweet Walks A. D. 1615 Smithfield which was before a rude dirty place was paved all over and the middle part thereof railed in September 27th the Lady Arbella the Kings Cousin-German died She had sometime before without the Kings privity secretly married the Earl of Hartfords younger Son for which they were both committed to the Tower Sir Edward Cook the famous Lawyer upon some displeasure was discharged from being Lord Chief Justice In this year was a divorce made betwixt Robert Devereux Earl of Essex and his Countess for his Insufficiency and she left free to marry any other After which divorce Robert Carre Earl of Sommerset took her to Wife But Sir Thomas Overbury the Earls special friend having disswaded the match and perhaps laid some imputation on the Ladies fame according to desert did by this means so incense these Lovers against him that they first made means to have the said ingenious Gentleman committed to the Tower and then by their instruments to have him poisoned some say by a Tansey sent him to eat some by a Clister ministred to him For which fact Sir Gervas Elwes then Lieutenant of the Tower and Mrs. Turner with others were put to death The Earl and his Countess were also arraigned and condemned but had a lease of their lives granted them for ninety-nine years yet so as after never to see the Kings face more This made way for the advancement of Mr. George Villers for this great favourite the Lord Carre being upon this occasion laid aside the said Mr. Villers was accepted in his stead Whom the King first of all Knighted and made Gentleman of his Bedchamber soon after Viscount and Master of his Horse a while after Earl of Buckingham then Marquess of Buckingham and Lord High Admiral and lastly Duke of Buckingham A person 't is said he was of delicate composure of body and of excellent natural parts and one that was very mindful of his Relations and Kindred most of whom he procured to be advanced A. D. 1618 Sir Walter Rawleigh who had lived a condemned man many years in the Tower of London now to procure some liberty propounded to the King a project for the fetching of Gold from a Mine in Guyana and that without any wrong to the King of Spain This the King condescended unto and Sir Walter set forward in his Voyage but when after a real or only a shew of search no treasure could be found he fell upon St. Thome belonging to the King of Spain George Abbot A B. Cant which he plundred and burnt then returned though to his ruin For though Sir Walter sought to excuse his spoiling of St. Thome by alledging that the Spaniards had first assaulted him and moreover that he could not come at the Mine without first winning of that Town yet did the Spanish Lieger Gundamoâ—e so aggravate this his fact and prevailed so with the King who preferred the publick peace before the life of a man already condemned that he gave way to have the sentence of his former condemnation executed upon him And accordingly this man famous for Letters and Arms was beheaded in the Parliament-yard at Westminster In this Year 1618 and March the second Queen Anne died at Hampton-Court and was buried at Westminster The November preceding her death a famous Comet or Blazing-Star appeared A. D. 1620 July the seventeenth Bernard Calvert of Andover rode from St. Georges Church in Southwark to Dover from thence passed by Barge to Callis in France and from thenee returned back to St. Georges Church the same day This his journey he performed betwixt the hours of three in the morning and eight in the afternoon A.D. 1621 Sir Francis Michel a Justice of the Peace of Middlesex was sentenced by Parliament to Ride with his face to the Horse-tail through the City of London for practising sundry abuses in setting up new Ale-houses and exacting monies contrary to the Law This sentence was executed upon him Sir Francis Bacon Viscount St. Albans Lord Chancellor of England was for bribery but it was his servants that were bribed put out
in their service for the Publick Cause should be secured from the injury of their Masters and their time to go on toward their freedom by which means multitudes of Youth forsook their Masters to fight for the Parliament They also invited their Brethren the Scots as they call'd them to come into England to their aid And to animate the people to take up Arms for the Parliament some busie Clergy-men made great not good use of that sacred Text in their Pulpits Curse ye Meroz c. Judges the 5.23 But blessed are the Peace makers saith the Prince of peace About the beginning of March Commissioners were appointed to treat at Oxford in order to a rcconcilation but the Parliaments proposals were so out of reason that the treaty proved fruitless A. D. 1643 in the beginning of the Spring the Queen returned into England bringing with her considerable supplies of Men Money and Ammunition out of France and that year his Majesty became Master of the North and West some few Garisons excepted July the 5th Sir Ralph Hopton with his Cavaliers routed Sir William Waller at Lansdown near Bath and July the 15th he again defeated him at Roundway-hill by the Devizes killing many hundreds in the place and taking many more Prisoners Bristol and Exeter were yielded unto those two Martial Princes Rupert and Maurice Sons of Fredrick Prince Palatine of the Rhine and Elizabeth his Wife Sister to King Charles the first Gloucester the King besieged with a brave Army and the besieged under the command of Colonel Edward Massey defended themselves with great bravery till the Earl of Essex came with an Army and raised the Siege From this Siege the two Armies marched within few miles each of the other without any engagement save a little skirmish by Alborne-Chace till they came to Newbury where a sore Battel was fought On the Kings part were slain the Earls of Carnarvon and Sunderland and the Learned Lord Faulkland Essex lost many of his Officers January the 22 those loyal Members of Parliament who dissented from them at Westminster met at Oxford by the Kings Summons of these besides the Prince and Duke of York the Lord Keeper Littleton Treasurer Cottington Duke of Richmond and Marquess of Hartford there were nineteen Earls and as many Lords and one hundred and seventeen Knights and Gentlemen Other Loyal Lords Knights and Gentlemen Members of Parliament were at this time imployed in the Kings service in divers places of the Nation In this month and year the Scotch Army under the Conduct of the Earl of Leven entred England for the Parliament being about 18000 foot and 2000 horse About this time was Loyal Newark besieged by Sir John Meldram but by Prince Ruperts coming it was relieved and the Parlimentarians forced to march away after great losses on such conditions as the Prince would grant them This year upon a cessation of Arms in Ireland some forces came over to the Kings assistance This year also that Rebellious thing called a Parliament at Westminster and their Adherents and some to save themselves from punishment took the Scottish Solemn League and Covenant with hands lifted up to the most high God swearing to endeavour the preservation of the reformed Religion the extirpation of Popery and Prelacy to preserve the Rights and priviledges of Parliament and liberties of the Kingdom and to defend and preserve the Kings Majesties person and Authority c. All the Parliaments pretence in raising Arms was reformation for the defence of the Kings person to rescue him from his evil Council and to make him a glorious King which at length they did when they deprived him of his natural life A. D. 1644 Sir William Waller defeated Sir Ralph Hopton about Brandon Heath The Lord Fairfax and his Son Sir Thomas took divers of the Kings Garisons in the North. Prince Rupert raised the Siege of Latham-house June the 29 the Kings forces gave a great defeat to Wallers Army at Cropredy-bridge And presently after this the King drove the Earl of Essex up into Cornwall but the Earl deserted his Army passing by water to Plymouth and his horse taking the advantage of a dark night escaped leaving the Foot to shift how they could who capitulated for their lives leaving their Arms Cannon Amunition and Baggage to the Kings disposal Then Ilferdcomb Barnstable and Saltash yielded to the King who now victoriously marched towards London July the third was a great fight at Maston-Moor where the Parliament obtained a very considerable Victory And October the 27th Essex Waller and the Earl of Manchester met the King as he came out of the West at Newbury where a sharp Battle was fought and the Kings part forced out of the field In November Mac-Mahon an Irish Rebel was hang'd and quartered at Tyburn And December 23d Sir Alexander Carew was beheaded on Tower-hill for attempting to give up the Island of Plymouth to the Kings forces January the first Hotham the Son and January the second Hotham the Father were beheaded on Tower-hill for designing to betray Hull to the Royalists and for other treacheries January the 10th William Laud Archbishop of Canterbury was brought to the Scaffold on Tower-hill where he preached his last Sermon taking for his Text Heb. 12. Vers 2 So yielded his neck to the stroak of the Executioner The charge against him was endeavouring to subvert the Laws Religion and Priviledges of Parliament January the 30th by his Majesties procurement a Treaty was held at Vxbridge where the Parliaments demands were That Episcopacy might be extirpated that Presbytery might be establisht and that the King should yield up the Militia solely into the Parliaments dispose which were such unreasonable demands that the King could not yield to them February the 20th the Lord Mac-Guire another of the grand Irish Rebels was executed at Tyburn About this time was the Parliaments Army new-moduled The Earl of Essex and the other Commanders who were Parliament-men Oliver Cromwel was excepted were by the self-denying ordinance lately made to attend in Parliament in whose steads other and more active persons were appointed Sir Thomas Fairfax was constituted Captain-General Oliver Cromwel then the Sectaries Darling was made Lieutenant-General Henry Ireton Commissary-General c. After which model the Kings affairs of the Nation began fatally to decline A. D. 1645 His Majesty drew his Army out of Oxford in order to relieve his Nothern Counties and Garisons but after he had stormed and taken Leicester in his way he was called back to secure Oxford which the Parliament Army threatned with a Siege This while Sir Thomas Fairfax had intercepted a Letter of the Lord Gorings to the King wherein that Loyal Subject had desired of his Majesty to forbear engaging with the Enemy till he could be joyned with him Hereupon Fairfax left his Siege afore Oxford and made directly towards the King with a purpose to fight him before that addition of strength should come in And at a place near
his Kingdoms his Majesty was pleased to dignifie him with the honour of being Knight of the Garter Master of his Horse Duke of Albemarle Earl of Torrington Baron Monk of Potheridg c. Chief General of all his Land-forces in the three Kingdoms and one of his Privy Council May the 29th His Majesty made his Triumphal Cavalcade through the City of London whither he was welcomed with all the expressions of Joy possible And being come to White-hall he there in his Presence-Chamber offered the Sacrifice of Peace and Thanksgiving unto Almighty God for his wonderful reffauration Then applied himself to the ordering of his Court and appointed the chief Officers of State His Highness James Duke of York he invested with the Office of Lord High Admiral Sir Edward Hide whose Daughter the Duke of York married he constituted Lord Chancellour The Earl of Manchester Lord Chamberlain The Lord Worthsley Earl of Southampton Lord High Treasurer Sir Edward Nicholas and Sir William Morrice chief Secretaries of State c. And others who had been constantly Loyal to him or had performed any eminent good service for him he advanced to places of High trust and dignity in the Court and Commonwealth But because the persons were numerous that had in an extraordinary sort been serviceable in promoting the Kings interest and his Majesty had no other way to express at present his gracious acceptance thereof to many of them he therefore honoured their name and family by conferring on them according to their merit the Titles of Duke Earl Viscount Baron Knight Jun. 6. the Parliament set forth a Proclamation wherein it was declared That all such of the late Kings Judges as would not render themselves within so many days to their mercy should be excepted out of the general pardon then preparing whereupon 20 of the Regicides came out of their coverts and presenting themselves to the Speaker of the House of Commons were committed to custody In August following the long expected Act of Indempnity was passed by which all that had been any ways engaged against the King were pardoned save the Regicides and a very few others and amongst those there were three who were freed in respect of life liberty and estate because they had given evident signs of their hearty sorrow for that crying sin It was also Enacted that the 30. of January should to all Posterities be observed a day of Humiliation for that great wickedness of murdering Gods Vicegerent the King Also that May 29. should in all succeeding ages be observed a day of Thanksgiving for the Kings peaceable Restauration to the actual possession and exercise of his Legal authority over his Subjects An Act for Pole-money was likewise passed and an Act for enabling Soldiers of the Army to exercise Trades in any Corporation that thereby they might be in a capacity of living honestly and comfortably after their disbanding September the thirteenth That hopeful Prince Henry Duke of Gloucester departed this life and on the same day the Parliament was adjourned to the sixth of November following In October Major General Harrison Mr. John Carew and other of the Regicides were arraigned at the old Bayly in London where they were all found guilty and condemned to die the death due to Traytors Of the Regicides now condemned were hang'd and quartered at Charing-Cross Harrison Carew Cook Peters Scot Scroop Jones and Clement and at Tyburn Hacker was hanged and Axtel a busie promoter of the Kings death was hanged and quartered All save Hugh Peters dyed very resolutely The persons whose names follow had the favour to be reprieved after Condemnation because they delivered themselves to the Parliaments mercy upon their Proclamation Hardres Waller Wait Tichburn Marten Pennington Row Holland Downs Garland Temple Millington Hevingham Lilburn Fleetwood Smith Meyn and Hulet This last was accused to be one of those two which in a Frock and Vizard assisted in the horrid execution of the King but because the evidence against him seemed to the Judges not sufficiently clear he had his reprieve December the 24th Mary the Princess of Orange dyed at White-Hall and on the 29th of the same month was buryed at VVestminster and the Parliament on the same day dissolved At the dissolution whereof the King gave His Royal consent to these Acts amongst many others viz. An Act for granting to the Kings Majesty 400000 l. by Assessment of 70000 l. per mensem for six months for disbanding the Army and paying the Navy And an Act of Attainder which was made to attaint the Judges and other Actors in the murder of the late King Cromwell Ireton Bradshaw Pride and all the rest of the Regicides deceased are adjudged to be convicted and attainted of High Treason to all intents and purposes as if they and every of them respectively had been attainted in their life-time And all persons fled for that Treason that is to say John Lisle VVilliam Say John Berkstead Valentine VValton Edward VVhaley Edmund Ludlow Sir Michael Levesey John Okey John Hewson VVilliam Goff Thomas Challoner VVilliam Cawley Miles Corbet Nicholas Low John Dixwell Daniel Blagrave Andrew Broughton Edward Dendy and every of them stand and be adjudged convicted of High Treason c. After his Majesty had given his Royal assent to the Acts presented him he made a Speech to both Houses wherein he used these memorable expressions That this Parliament should be called to all posterity The Healing and the Blessed Parliament In the beginning of January Following whilst his Majesty was accompanying his Royal Mother and Sister Henrietta Maria part of their Journey to France an inconsiderable number of the fifth Monarchists raised a great disturbance in London killing some of the City-watch and two nights with great desperateness opposing the Trained-bands and other force till at length divers of them being wounded and others slain the rest that could made their escape And in a few days after was Captain Vennor and twelve more of them executed in Coleman-street over against their meeting-house and other parts of London January the thirtieth were the dead bodies of those infamous Traytors Cromwell Ireton Bradshaw all buried at VVestminster taken out of their Coffins and drawn upon Hurdles to Tyburn they were hang'd by the neck for some hours then had their heads chopt off which were perched upon VVestminster-hall and their bodies thrown into a hole under the Gallows This Year of Jubilee were the lands of the Kings Loyal Subjects restored to them that had been unjustly taken from them by the late Usurper the Bishops Deans and Chapters lands were likewise restored to the use of these Church-men A. D. 1661. The entrance of this Year was made famous by the magnificent Coronation of King Charles the Second who was Crowned at VVestminster on St. Georges day by the hands of Dr. Juxon Archbishop of Canterbury May the eighth according to His Majesties summons the Parliament met at VVestminster and elected Sir Edward Turnor for their Speaker May the
twentieth by order of Parliament was the Scots Solemn League and Covenant that had been imposed on the Kings Subjects without his consent burnt in London by the hand of the common Hangman May the 27th James Marquess of Argile for his former disloyal and treasonable practices was beheaded at the City of Edenbrough in Scotland November the 26 John James a Fifth-monarchist was drawn hanged and quartered at London for speaking certain Treasonable words January the 27th the Lord Mounson Sir Henry Mildmay and Mr. Wallop three instruments in procuring the death of the late King were shamefully drawn upon Hurdles from Newgate to Tyburn and from thence back again February the eighth hapned a most violent Wind the like to which had not been known in the memory of any then living it did very much harm in many parts of the Nation by tearing up of Fruit and Timber-Trees and ruining Houses This year the Book of Common-Prayer was restored to the Church and confirmed by Act of Parliament A. D. 1662 and April the 19th three of the Regicides namely Berkstead Okey and Corbet were drawn upon Hurdles from the Tower to Tyburn and there hang'd and quartered May the 14. Katharine the Infanta of Portugal arrived at Portsmouth where she was married to Charles the Second King of England Scotland c. May the 19th at the Prorogation of the Parliament was the Bill for Hearth-money signed In the beginning of June was Sir Henry Vane and Lambert tryed at the Kings-Bench Bar for formerly disturbing the peace of the Nation c. and were found guilty of Treason and condemned and on June the 14th was Sir Henry Vane beheaded on Tower-hill but through his Majesties Clemency Lambert had his life respited On St. Bartholomew day did many Ecclesiastical persons relinquish their benefices rather than conform to the Church-discipline and declare their unfeigned assent and consent to all and every thing contained and prescribed in and by the Book of Common-Prayer and subscribe the following acknowledgment Viz I do declare that it is not lawful upon any pretence whatsoever to take Arms against the King and that I do abhor that Traiterous position of taking Arms by his Authority against his Person or against those that are Commissionated by him c. That I will conform to the Liturgy of the Church of England as it is now established by Law And I do declare that I hold there lies no obligation on me or any other person from the Oath commonly called the Solemn League and Covenant to endeavour any change and alteration of Government eitheir in Church or State and that the same was in it self an unlawful Oath and imposed upon the Subjects of this Kingdom against the known Laws and Liberties thereof A. D. 1663. and May the 31 dyed that reverend Prelate Dr. Juxon Archbishop of Canterbury into whose See the Learned Dr. Sheldon Bishop of London was Translated A. D. 1664 Numerous complaints being made unto the Parliament of the many injuries and depredations done by the Dutch to the English Nation they freely declared that they would with their lives and fortunes assist his Majesty to the redressing of his Subjects wrongs and to the curbing again of that ungrateful people In order to which great preparations were made to furnish out a gallant Fleet and War was proclaimed against the Vnited Netherlands And that nothing might be wanting to further this great undertaking the House of Commons voted His Majesty a supply of Two Millions five hundred thousand pounds to be raised in three Years time And to hasten the Naval preparations the City of London lent him Majesty 100000 l. December the 24th a Blazing-Star appeared and two others shortly after darted down their malign influences upon London and other places in England March the 7th the London Frigat as she was coming up to Lee was fired to supply which loss the City of London speedily built another this his Majesty was pleased to name the Loyal London A. D. 1665 and in the month of May began that transending Plague in London whereof dyed in little more than a years space near 100000 persons many other places of England were sorely visited at this time with that dreadful Judgment of God the Pestilence June the 3d. was that eminent Victory obtained upon the Dutch Fleet. October the 3d. The Parliament met at Oxford by reason of the infection at London A. D. 1666 and in the month of June was the second great Fight betwixt His Majesties Naval Forces and the Dutch which took up part of the 1 2 3 and 4. days of the said month July the 2d was the 3d. great Fight wherein the Duke of Albemarle through the great number of his enemies Ships was very hardly tasked till Prince Rupert with a squadron came in to his aid unlooked for but then the Dutch were soon sent home In this War the Dutch were assisted by the French CHARLES II. UPon the Second of September about two of the Clock in the Morning began that dreadful Fire in London which lasted till Thursday following the Sixth of the same Moneth It began in the House of one Fariner a Baker in Pudding-lane near the Bridge and spread it self in length besides breadth from the Tower of London to St. Dunstans Church near Temple-bar in Fleet-street by which according to the Computation of Surveyors were consumed 373 Acres of Building within the Walls of London and 63 Acres 3 Roods without the Walls 87 Parish Churches 6 Consecrated Chappels the Royal Exchange the Guild-hall of the City with many stately Halls belonging to several Companies and according to the best accompt Thirteen thousand two hundred Houses The total of the loss sustained by these devouring Flames was valued to be Nine millions and nine hundred thousand pounds Sterling That the hand of God for the punishment of the sins of this City and Nation was visible in this Fire no man will deny but whether carelesness or design were the immediate occasions of it is variously believed and discoursed of As it happened in the time of a War with the French and Dutch so many at that time did conclude it to be a treacherous Act of one or both of these People especially seeing one Hubert a crazy-brain'd melanchollick French Man confessed he did the Fact by putting a Fire-ball into the House of the Baker where it began and was therefore hang'd at Tyburn But of late one Mr. Oats of whom more particular mention shall be made hereafter lays the guilt of this merciless Action on a knot of Jesuits Friers and Irish men in all to the number of 80 or thereabouts who having laid the project long before could not conveniently put it in execution till this unlucky time This fatal Accident the fore-runner of many more of the same kind that happened in His Majesties Dominions afterwards gave the King a sad opportunity of exercising His Compassion and Care towards many distressed and distracted Families who then lodged
arising between the two Houses concerning an Appeal made by one Sherley to the Lords His Majesty upon the 9th of June prorogued them till the 13th of October following There happened this year a dangerous Plot carried on with great secrecy by the Blacks of Barbadoes against the English which upon the very nick of being put in execution was detected and the Conspirators punished The Natives of New-England under the command of King Philip Hegamore rose likewise against the English and did them considerable damage but were in a short time curbed from their insolencies and driven to their skulking holes In September most part of the Town of Northampton was by a dreadful Fire burnt down nothing left standing except a few Houses in the out-skirts of the Town The Parliament met again at the prefixed time but the former difference between the Houses being revived they were upon the 22th of November prorogued again till the 15th of February 1676. In the French Army this year the Champion of France the renowned Marshal Turenne as he was viewing a Pass maintained by the Germans fell by a Cannon Shot fired by a Battery raised by Montecucully the Imperial General to the great grief of his Master the French King On the Fifth of March 1675 6 Sir John Narborough concluded an honourable Peace and of great advantage to the Trade of this Nation with the Government of Tripoly The French last Campagne lost their famous Mareschal Turenne Anno 1676. and the Dutch Marine Expeditions are this year ushered in with a fate as unlucky to the States for their Darling Admiral De Ruyter on the twenty ninth of April died of his Wounds which he had received some days before in an Engagement with the French in the Bay of Augusta on the Coast of Sicily But to return home The first thing we meet with this year of note is a dreadful Fire which happened the 26th of May in the Burrough of Southwark It began about four in the Morning and continued all day and part of the night and notwithstanding the indefatigable pains and diligence of his Grace the Duke of Monmouth of the Earl of Craven and Lord Mayor yet about 600 Houses were burnt and blown up by this sad accident His Majesty for securing Trading to and from his Ports which was much disturbed by the insolency of Dutch Spanish and French Privateers amongst whom the War still continued on the second of June caused a Proclamation to be published declaring all Ships of what party soever that should put into any of his Ports to be under his protect on during their stay there commanding His publick Officers and all other His Majesties Subjects to use their best endeavours to hinder the roving of any private Men of War so near his Coasts as might give apprehensions to Merchant Men That if a Man of War of one party and one or more Merchant Men of another should come into His Majesties Ports the Merchant Men should have the priviledge to sail out two Tides before the Man of War That none of his Seamen should presume to enter and list themselves on board of any Foreign Man of War or any Ship designed for Traffick or the Fishing Trade without His Majesties leave first obtained with several other Rules relating to the securing of Trade and His Majesties Sovereignty in these Seas in pursuance of which Proclamation several Privateers were stopt and detained in many of the Ports of this Kingdom August 20th her Royal Highness was brought to Bed of a Daughter Christened by the Name of Isabella the Lord High Treasurer being Godfather and the Dutchess of Monmouth and Countess of Peterborough Godmothers October 26th His Majesty passed an Order in Council That none of His Subjects except the Queens Domestick Servants should repair to her Majesties Chappel or to the Houses or Chappels of any Foreign Embassadors or Agents there to hear Mass or English Sermons upon pain of having the Laws severely executed against them and His Majesty appointed Messengers of the Chamber and other Officers to wait without at the Houses of Foreign Embassadors and Agents and to take notice of such of His Subjects as should come out of the said Chappels from Religious Worship and bring them or their Names to the Council Board The Principal Secretaries of State were by His Majesty likewise required to repair to the said Embassadors and Agents and in His Majesties Name acquaint them with His Royal Pleasure in executing His Laws that they might have no Cause to complain of disrespect offered to their Character or of any purpose of infringing their Priviledges February 15th 1676 7 the Parliament pursuant to their last Prorogation met at Westminster Anno 1677. April 16th His Majesty in His Royal Robes with the usual Solemnities came into the House of Lords whither the House of Commons being called several Bills were passed amongst others an Act for raising the sum of Five hundred eighty four thousand nine hundred seventy eight pounds two shillings and two pence half peny for the speedy building of thirty Ships of War another for an additional Excise upon Beer Ale and other Liquors for three years and a third for erecting a Judicature to determine differences touching Houses burnt and demollished by the late dreadful Fire in Southwark and then both Houses adjourned till the 21th of May following This Month the Duke of Newcastle and Earl of Danby Lord high Treasurer of England were installed Knights of the Garter at Windsor May 21th Both Houses according to their last Adjournment met again at Westminster His Majesty having before by Proclamation required all the Members to be present in order to the debating of Matters of great importance In this Session the House of Commons made an Address to His Majesty that he would be pleased for the security of the Nation and repressing the growing greatness of France to enter into some Leagues proposed by them in their Address to which on the 28th of the same month he gave them His Answer at the Banquetting House which Answer being made publick in Print we shall refer you to the Answer it self His Majesty farther told them that it was His pleasure the House should be Adjourned to the 16th of July following and that if he intended they should sit again before Winter he would give them notice by His Proclamation Accordingly both Houses were adjourned till the 16th of July ensuing July 16th both Houses met again pursuant to their last Adjournment and forthwith Adjourned again according to His Majesties Direction till the third of December following August the fourth His Grace the Duke of Ormond Lord Lieutenant of Ireland began his Journey for that Kingdom And now His Majesty thinking it fit to put a stop to the French Victorious Proceedings in Flanders bethought himself of entering into Alliances with some Princes and States abroad and began to raise Forces for that purpose of whom the year following will afford more matter of
Discourse October the ninth The Prince of Orange landed at Harwich and went from thence directly to Neir-Market in His Majesties Coaches that attended His Highness there The 26th of the same month His Majesty issued out a Proclamation for the Adjournment of the Parliament from the third of December till the fourth of April ensuing Sunday November the fourth The Marriage between her Highness the Lady Mary and his Highness the Prince of Orange was privately celebrated at St. James's by the Bishop of London in the Presence of His Majesty their Royal Highnesses and some of the chiefest of the Nobility And on Wednesday following Her Royal Highness was brought to Bed of a Son who was Christened by the Name of Charles but died in December following November the 11th About nine a Clock in the Morning their Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Orange parted from Whitehall in order to their imbarking in the Yachts appointed to transport their Highnesses to Holland His Majesty and His Royal Highness having accompanied them to Erith where their Highnesses went on Board The two Houses of Parliament meeting on the third of December in order to the Adjourning of themselves according to the Kings Proclamation received a Message from His Majesty That upon weighty Consideration His Majesty thought fit to meet them sooner and that therefore His Majesties Pleasure was they should Adjourn to the 15th of January following which was accordingly done This month was the celebrated Town of Stetin in Pomerania surrendred to the Elector of Brandenburgh by the Swedes a Town which having so couragiously maintained so long and bloody a Siege to the admiration of all and shame of some of its Neighbours deserves an honourable mention in the Histories and Annals of all Europe The Parliament pursuant to their last Adjournment having met at Westminster received an Intimation from the King That His Majesty had matters of very great Importance to communicate to both Houses in order to the satisfaction of their late Addresses for the preservation of Flanders but matters not being then ripe enough it was His Majesties Pleasure they should be Adjourned till the twenty eighth of the same month and accordingly they were Adjourned At the prefixed time they met again and the King in a gracious Speech acquainted both Houses to this purpose That according to His Promise to them that He would do somewhat for their satisfaction before they met again he had made Alliances with Holland for the preservation of Flanders which if seconded by plentiful Supplies from them and due Care from the Spainiards for their own Preservation might be able by Arms to restore such an honourable Peace to Christendom as might not be in the power of one Prince alone to disturb which he had endeavoured to do by a fair Treaty That He had married His Niece to the Prince of Orange and so engaged himself to maintain his Interest and having laid before them the expences He had been at and what an actual War would needs require with very pressing considerations His Majesty demanded of them answerable Supplies March the 20th 1677 8 Amongst other Bills in Parliament there passed an Act for raising Money by Poll and otherways to enable His Majesty to enter into an Actual War against the French King with a Prohibition of all French Commodities Many of the Forces raised by His Majesty since September last Anno 1678. being already in Flanders and more going over daily His Majesty that he might put himself in a posture of acting by Sea as well as Land caused a Proclamation to be published the beginning of this year strictly charging all Seaman His Subjects who had lifted themselves in the service of Foreign Princes or States forthwith to with draw and return home and that none for the future should presume without permission from His Majesty to engage in any such service About this time at Bruges in Flanders happened a great Disorder occasioned by a rude Action of a Burgher who in time of a Procession struck a Dutch Captain with a lighted Torch over the Face because he did not uncover himself so soon as the Townsman would have had him this occasioned presently the drawing of many Swords and the English being falsly accused of the Tumult some Soldiers were killed in the Streets but by the care of the Magistrates and Officers the Stir being quieted and the truth of the matter discovered the Magistrates of the Town imprisoned and punished some of the Authors of the Tumult and to satisfie their trouble at the accident treated the English Officers and Soldiers and published a Placaet in their Justification charging all Persons to use the said Soldiers with all kindness and civility On Saturday April the 13th A Woman of Swansey was brought to Bed of a dead Female Child which had two perfect Heads and Necks upon one Body with all the parts of each Head exact and the Members of the Body perfect May the 13th His Majesty being come into the House of Lords with the usual Solemnities and the House of Commons being sent for His Majesty was pleased to give His Royal Assent to several private Acts and then commanded the Lord Chancellour to prorogue the Parliament till the twenty third of this moneth and accordingly the Parliament was prorogued The Parliament pursuant to the last Prorogation having met the 23d of May and continued sitting till the Fifteenth of July following His Majesty that day in His Robes came into the House of Lords and there gave His Royal Assent to several Acts amongst which to one for raising Money for Disbanding of the Army a great part of which was now in Flanders another for granting an Additional Duty to His Majesty upon Wines for three years a third for burying in Woollen and a fourth for the relief and discharge of poor distressed Prisoners for Debt After which the Lord Chancellour by His Majesties Command acquainted the two Houses That His Majesty had thought fit in the present Conjuncture of Affairs to prorogue them to the first of August following and so to keep them in call by short Prorogations His Majesty not knowing how soon He might have need of their farther Service and Assistance but that His Majesties intention was they should not meet till towards Winter unless there were occasion for their Assembling sooner of which he would give them timely notice by Proclamation And accordingly the Parliament was prorogued till the first day of August In pursuance of this Prorogation the Parliament met at Westminster the first day of August and were then by Commission Prorogued till the 29th of the same Month at which time his Majesty being willing they should meer and continue Sitting for the dispatch of weighty Affairs did issue out a Proclamation requiring all the Members to give their Attendance at Westminster the said day But the face of Affairs abroad being much altered by the conclusion of the Peace betwixt the French King and the States
Twenty Pounds to those that should Discover any Officer or Souldier of his Majesties Guards who having formerly taken the Oaths of Allegiance Supremacy and the Test had since been perverted or should hereafter be perverted to the Romish Religion The Ninth of November his Majesty came in his Robes into the House of Lords whither the Commons being called his Majesty made a Gracious Speech thanking both Houses for the Care they shewed for the safety and preservation of his Person promising the like on his part for them and offering his ready Assent to the passing into Laws all such Bills as might secure their Religion not only during his own Reign but also in the Reign of His Successors provided they did not impeach the right of Succession in the true Line nor restrain the power and just rights of His Majesty or His Protestant Successors Shortly after His Majesty issued out several Proclamations as one for confining all Popish Recusants within five miles of their respective dwellings another for apprehending some persons therein named who were accused of the hellish Plot and a third promising a present reward of twenty pounds to any that should discover and cause to be apprehended any Popish Priest or Jesuit except those that were priviledged by the Law of the Land or that of Nations as serving the Queen or Foreign Ministers November 21 One William Staley a Goldsmith being indicted at the Kings Bench Bar of High Treason for Treasonable words against His Majesties Life was convicted and condemned to be drawn hanged and quartered which sentence was on the 26th of the same month executed at Tyburn November 27th Edward Coleman Esq who on Friday before had been arraigned at the Kings Bench Bar for High Treason in conspiring the Death of the King subverting His Government and extirpating the true Protestant Religion came to his Tryal and being upon full evidence convicted had Sentence pronounced against him next morning to be drawn hang'd and quartered which was accordingly executed on the third of December following he being the first that suffered for the Plot whereof many besides himself were and stand still accused November 28th His Majesty at the humble request of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal assembled in Parliament was pleased by Proclamation to declare That if any Person or Persons should before the twenty fifth day of December following make any further discovery of the horrid Design against His Majesties Sacred Person and Government he or they so discovering should not onely have the reward of two hundred pounds for every such discovery upon due proof thereof but if guilty of the said Design or otherwise of concealing it they should have His Majesties Pardon November 30th His Majesty in the House of Lords gave His Royal Assent to an Act for the more effectual preserving the Kings Person and Government by disabling Papists from sitting in either House of Parliament and in December following put out a Proclamation for disarming and securing all Popish Recusants or justly so suspected December 30th His Majesty present in the House of Lords was pleased to Prorogue the Parliament till the fourth of February following which was afterward by Proclamation January 25th dissolved and a new Parliament summoned to meet the sixth of March 1678 9. January 17th 1678 9 William Ireland a Jesuit Thomas Pickering a Lay-brother of the Benedictin Monks and John Grove an Ale-house-keeper were arraigned and convicted at the Old Bailey for having conspired the destruction of His Majesties Royal Person the subversion of the Government and extirpation of the Protestant Religion The chief evidence against them were Mr. Oats Mr. Bedlow and one who had been a Serving Maid to Grove they had Sentence pronounced against them to be drawn hang'd and quartered and accordingly January 24th Ireland and Grove suffered at Tyburn Pickering lying still reprieved in New-gate His Majesties Forces that were recalled from Flanders began this month first to come over again Monday the 10th of February 1678 9 Robert Green Henry Berry and Lawrence Hill three of the murderers of Sir Edmondbury Godfrey were brought to their Tryal at the Kings Bench Bar for the said murder the main evidence against them were the above-named Bedlow and Praunce the first declaring that he had seen the dead Body and the other confessing he had had a hand in the murder which was briefly thus committed Praunce with the aforesaid Green Berry and Hill and some others having laid their design before and several times dogg'd Sir Edmondbury Godfrey on Saturday night the twelfth of October finding him in the Strand as he was returning home upon a plausible pretext of keeping the peace between two Gentlemen that were as they made him believe a quarrelling wheadled him into Somerset-house and there with a twisted Hankerchief clapt about his Neck some of them strangled him whilst Praunce and Berry watched at the Gates His dead Body they lodged in Somerset-house till Wednesday following and then carried it out in a Sedan as far as Sohoe where they mounted the same on a Horse and so conveyed it to the Ditch leaving it there barbarously pierced through with a Sword Vpon this evidence they were found guilty condemned and executed At this time Sir Joseph Williamson haveing resigned the Seals of Secretary of State into his Majesties hands the Right Honourable Robert Earle of Sunderland was in his place made one of the Principal Secretaries of State and accordingly took place at the Council Board The time of the Sitting of the New Parliament drawing near his Majesty that he might remove all Jealousies from the minds of his Subjects thought fit to command his Royal Highness the Duke of York to absent himself who with his Dutchess in obedience of his Majesties Commands on the third of March took leave of his Majesty in order to their going beyond Sea where now they are at Bruxelles in Flanders Thursday March the sixth the lately Summoned Parliament met at Westminster The King thinking it fit to wave the Solemnity of Riding used at the Opening of the Parliaments of England went in his Royal Barge to the House by Water and there in a gracious Speech which was enlarged by the Lord Chancelour His Majesty told both Houses what he expected and the Countrey stood in need of from their unanimous and wise Deliberations And now that the Joynt and Healing Councils of his Gracious Majesty and this present Parliament may so effectually operate in composing the Divisions uniting the Minds and settling the Peace of the People of this Nation as may afford many Volumes of Noble Acts at present to be transmited to grateful Posterity no other ways than by hearty Wishes it is and ought to be the fervent Prayer of all who truely fear God honour their King and desire the Wellfare and Prosperity of his Kingdoms Mayors and Sheriffs of LONDON to the 31th Year of His Reign In his First Year 1649. Thomas Foot was Mayor Christopher Pack Rowland Wilson died in