undecent Expressions was by order of the Lords House burnt by the Common Hangman at the Exchange and in the Pallace yard On the 4th of January His Majesty was pleased to send His Message to the House of Commons in Answer to their Address of December 21. abovemention'd in which Message He let them know That he had received their Address with all the disposition they could wish to comply with their reasonable Desires but upon perusal of it he was sorry to see their thoughts so wholly fixt on the Bill of Exclusion as to determine that all other remedies for the Suppressing of Popery will be ineffectual That His Majesty is confirm'd in His opinion against That Bill by the Judgment of the House of Lords who rejected it That He thinks there remains nothing more for Him to say in Answer to the foresaid Address then to recommend to this House the Consideration of all other means for the preservation of the Protestant Religion to which they have no reason to doubt His concurrence whensoever they shall be presented to Him in a Parliamentary way And in conclusion again He urges them to the preservation of Tangeir On the Friday following being the 7th of January the House entred upon the Consideration of the said Message and resolve as the opinion of the House That there is no security or safety for the Protestant Religion the Kings Life or the Well constituted and establisht Government of this Kingdom without passing a Bill for disabling James Duke of York to inherit the Imperial Crown of England and Ireland and the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging and that to rely upon any other means or remedies without such a Bill is not only insufficient but dangerous That till such a Bill be past this House cannot give any Supply to His Majesty without danger to His Majesties person Extream hazard of the Protestant Religion and unfaithfullness to those by whom this House is intrusted That all persons who advised His Majesty in His last Message to this House to insist upon an opinion against the Bill for Excluding the Duke of York have given Pernicious Council to His Majesty and are Promoters of Popery and Enemies to the King and Kingdom And as such they name George Earl of Hallifax Henry Marquiss of Worcester Henry Earl of Clarendon against which as also against Lewis Earl of Feversham and Laurence Hide Esq they Vote an Address to be presented to His Majesty to remove them from all Offices of Honour and Profit and from His Majesties Councils and Presence for ever They further Vote and Resolve the same day That whosoever shall herafter Lend or cause to be Lent by way of advance any Mony upon the Branches of the Kings Revenue arising by Customs Excise or Hearth Mony shall be adjudg'd to hinder the sitting of Parliaments and shall be responsible for the same in Parliament On the Monday following being the 10th of Jan. the King was pleas'd to determin this Session by Proroguing the Parliament to the 20th day of Jan. then next following at the same time passing only Two Publick Bills viz. One about Irish Cattel and One about Burying in Woollen The House of Commons were it seems aware of this Prorogation and therefore that very morning the first thing they did after they were sate and before the Usher of the Black Rod came in they Resolved That whosoever advised His Majesty to Prorogue this Parliament to any other purpose then in Order to the passing of a Bill for the Exclusion of James Duke of York is a Betrayer of the King the Protestant Religion and of the Kingdom of England a Promoter of the French Interest and a Pensioner to France On the 13th of Jan. a Court of Common Council being Assembled in London they ordered to be drawn up and Presented to the King a Petition setting forth That whereas the Parliament had convicted one of the 5 Popish Lords in the Tower and were about to convict the other 4 of High Treason That they had Impeacht the Chief Justice Scroggs and were about to impeach other Judges and all this in order to the preservation of His Majesties Life the Protestant Religion and Government That they were much surprized to see the Parliament Prorogued in the hight of their buisiness That their only hopes were that this was done only in order to bring such Affairs about again as were necessary to the Settling the Nation They therefore pray'd that His Majesty would be pleas'd to let the Parliament sit at the day appointed and so to continue till they had effected the great Affairs before them To this effect were the words of their Petition which was further ordered to be delivered that night or as soon as may be by the Lord Mayor attended with the new Recorder George Treby Esq and certain Members of the Court of Aldermen and Common Council But before the said 20th day of Jan. arrived the King was pleased by his Proclamation bearing date at Whitehall Jan. 18. to dissolve this Parliament and intimate His Royal pleasure and intentions to call an other to sit on the 21st of March following at Oxford Not long after this viz. on the 25th of Jan. the Earl of Essex and other Lords Presented to the King a Petition setting forth That whereas the Nation and His Majesties Person were in imminent danger from the Papists unto which no stop or remedy could be provided unless by a Parliament That several Parliaments being call'd and assembled they were Prorogued and dissolved before any sufficient order could be taken therein c. That His Majesty had been prevailed with to call another at Oxford where neither Lords or Commons can be in safety but will be dayly exposed to the Swords of the Papists and their adherents the liberty of speaking thereby destroyed and the validity of their Acts and proceedings left disputable the straightness of the place unfit for such a Concourse of persons as now follows every Parliament and the Witnesses which are necessary to give Evidence upon the Commons Impeachment unable to bear the charges of such a Journey and unwilling to trust themselves under the Protection of a Parliament that is it self evidently under the Power of Guards and Soldiers They therefore pray that the Parliament may sit at Westminster This was subscribed Monmouth Kent Huntington Bedford Salisbury Clare Stamford Essex Shaftsbury Mordant Evers Pâ—get Grey Herbert Howard Delamer About the same time the King was pleased to displace my Lord Sunderland from the Office of Secretary of State and to confer the said Office on my Lord Conway and several other Members of the Privy Council were then also alter'd And thus concluded the 32d year of His Majesties Reign observable for divers matters but above all for the Transactions of the Lords in Parliament who by their Prudent and Judicious proceedings on the 15th of November defeated the industrious malice of the Dukes Enemies by rejecting the Bill past by the Commons
In fine the same method of proceedings may be made use of against the Commons by the Lords These Inconveniencies the King is Resolved to abolish and hath Commanded me to say to you State super vias antiquas If this Session do not repair the misfortunes and amend the faults of the last it will look like a fatality upon the Nation He whose house is destroyed by Fire would find but little Comfort in saying the Fire did not begin by his means but it will be a perpetual Anguish to him to remember that it lay in his power to extinguish it And so concludes with strong persuasives to Peace and a Composure of all Differences Monday May 27. Resolved in the House of Commons That the House taking into Consideration the State of His Majesties Affairs and the great charge and Burthen that His Majesty and the Nation lyes under by the Army now in Being are humbly of Opinion That if His Majesty please to think fit to enter into the War against the French King this House is and always will be ready to support and assist him in that War But if otherwise That they will proceed to the Consideration of providing for the Speedy Disbanding of the Army The House further Ordered That the Members of this House who are of His Majesties privy Council do acquaint the King with these Votes and pray His Majesties Answer To this the King returned the following Answer which was read in the House of Commons the next day It contained That the French King hath made such offers of a Cessation till the 27th of July as His Majesty doth not only believe will be accepted but will end in a General Peace yet since that is not certain he does not think it prudent to dismiss either Fleet or Army before that time nor doth he think it will add much to the charge in regard the raising Mony and paying them off would take up that time were they to be Disbanded as speedily as possibly In the mean time he desires Mony for their subsistance that as hetherto they have been the most orderly Army that ever came together they may be encouraged to continue so And concludes with reminding the House of the 200000 l. formerly mentioned in His Speech which he wants for His Houshold The next day of sitting being Thursday the 30th of May the Commons Vote unanimously That all Forces rais'd since the 29th of September last except those transported to Forrain Plantations be forthwith paid off and Disbanded and that they Consider of a Supply for that purpose The last of May being the first day of Trin. Term Sir William Scroggs at that time Puisne Judge in the Common-Pleas took his place in the Kings Bench as Lord Chief Justice of England to which he was preferr'd by the Kings especial Favour on the removal of Sir Richard Rainsford who resigned a few days before And was Succeeded in the Common-Pleas by Baron Bartu and Serjeant Brampston promoted to his Place in the Exchequer June 4th the Commons Vote 200000 l. to be raised by a Monthly Tax in Six Months after the Land Tax now in being be expired with a Clause That this be for the Disbanding of the Army by the end of this present June The next day they Voted the King 200000 l. more Towards the Defraying the expences of the Fleet. Soon after which the King sent them a Message by one of the Secretaries of State containing That His mind was still the same with what he delivered the 23 of May last That the Army and Fleet ought to be kept up till the expected Peace be concluded He also recommended to their Consideration whether it were not dishonourable for him to recal His Forces in Flanders from those Towns which he had taken into His Protection before they could provide themselves of other Succours Here upon they extend the time as to the Forces in Flanders to the 27 of July Saturday the 15th of June The Commons Resolved That after Tuesday following no motions should be made for any new Supplys of Money till after the Recess nor any more private Bills brought in till after the said Recess The Tuesday following the King sent for the Commons up to the Lords House and told 'em in a long Speech That the season requiring a Recess by the middle of next Month at farthest it is convenient that we part fairly and with a perfect confidence of one another Therefore he opens His Heart freely to them in some particulars of nearest concern That what he told 'em at the beginning of this Session concerning a Peace seems already to be determined at least as to Spain and Holland in which Peace His part will be not only that of a Mediator but also to give His Warranty in it That Spain writes word that unless England bares the charge of maintaining Flanders even after the Peace they will not be in a Condition to support it long That to this end it is necessary not only to keep up our Navy at Sea but to give the World some assurance of being well United at home That thô the House of Commons may think such a Peace as ill a bargain as War because it will cost them Mony yet if they seriously consider that otherwise Flanders had been lost perhaps by this time He believes they will give much greater Summs than this will cost rather than the single Town of Ostend should be in the French hands and 40 of their men of War in so good a Haven overagainst the Rivers Mouth That we cannot but be pleased to understand the Reputation we have gained abroad by having in 40 days rais'd an Army of 30000 Men and prepaired a Navy of 90 Ships Therefore if they desire to keep up the Honour of the Crown at home and look to the safety of the Balance of Affairs abroad and pursue the War of Algiers if they desire he should pass any part of His life in quiet and all the rest in confidence and kindness with them and other suture Parliaments if so That they must find a way not only to settle for His life His Revenue as at Christmass last but also to add a new Fund of 300000 l. Per annum upon which he will pass an Act to settle 50000 l. upon the Navy and Ordinance and shall be also always ready to consent to all such Laws as they shall propose for the good of the Nation Then he reminds 'em to inable him to keep His word with the Prince of Orange in the payment of His Neices Portion which is 40000 l. the first payment being now due and demanded by him This Speech being ended the Commons returned back and Voted His Majesty the thanks of the House for His gracious expressions in His Speech Yet nothing of importance was done that day but a Denial of the 300000 l. Per annum demanded and not only so but a motion being made for a Compensation on the lost part
of His Majestys Revenue by the Prohibiting Act it was carry'd in the Negative Yeas 145 Noes 202. Saturday the 22th of June the Lords sent down the Bill for Disbanding with an enlargement of the time prefixt for one Month longer to which the Commons would not agree but desired a Conference at which to give their Lordships the reasons why they could not consent to the alteration Monday the 25th of July the Parliament was Prorogued to the first of August the King having then past the following Bills 1. An Act for granting a supply to His Majesty of 619388 l. 11 s. 9 d. for Disbanding the Army and other uses therein mentioned 2. An Act for granting an Additional Duty to His Majesty upon Wines for Three Years 3. An Act to enable Creditors to recover their Debts of the Executors and Administrators of Executors in their own wrong 4. An Act for Burying in Woollen 5. An Act for Admeasurement of Keels and Boats carrying Coals 6. An Act for Reviving a former Act of the 13th of this King ch 2. for avoiding unnecessary Suits and delays and for continuance of an other Act of 22. 23. Car ' 2. ch 10. touching intestates Estates 7. An Act for further Relief and Discharge of poor Prisoners for Debt 8. An Act touching Highways 9. An Act for preservation of Fishing in the River Severn On which said first of August they being again met they were again Prorogued over to the 29th Day of the same Month. Soon after that also there came out a Proclamation requiring a full Assembly at the said 29th Day But in the mean time the French being beaten from the Siege of Mons by the English chiefly under Command of my Lord of Ossery on the part of the Prince of Orange the King Issued out another Proclamation dated the 8th of August whereby reciting the last Proclamation but in regard the State of Affairs abroad was alter'd since then he is pleas'd to Prorogue the Houses over till the first Day of October next requiring then a full Assembly after this it was again Prorogued to the 21st of October In the mean time a Peace is concluded between France Spain and Holland and a Truce for some Months with the Emperor On Saturday Sunday Monday and Tuesday the 28th 29th and 30th of September and first of October the Privy-Council sate twice a Day The business a Popish Plot several were committed and others examin'd among whom Sir George Wakeman Physician to the Queen and Mr. Coleman belonging to Her Royal Highness the Dutchess of York which said Dutchess went with the Lady Ann that very Tuesday Morning to visit the Princess of Orange designing a stay only of 14 Days This Discovery of a Plot opening every Day more and more the aforesaid Mr. Coleman and Mr. Langhorn of the Temple were committed close Prisoners with several others their Studies search'd their Papers seized and sent to Whitehall And now just before the meeting of the Parliament one Sir Edmondbury Godfrey a Justice of the Peace in Middlesex a severe Enemy of the Papists as by some reported was found Dead in a Ditch not far from Hampstead He appear'd to the Coroners Jury to be strangled tho' afterwards his own Sword was run through him and so found with Money in his Pocket This was lookt on by the Town as a Confirmation of the above-mention'd Plot. On the appointed 21st of October the Houses met The Kings Speech contain'd these words and these words only concerning the Plot I have been informed of a Design against my Person by Jesuites of which I shall forbear any Opinion lest I may seem to say too much or too little but leave the matter to the Law The Chancellor on the same Head had these Expressions And tho' His Majesty doth in no sort prejudg the Persons accused yet the strict enquiry into this matter hath been a means to Discover so many other unwarrantable Practices of theirs that His Majesty hath reason to look to ' em The Examination of this Plot and the concurrent Murder of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey employ'd the Commons so assiduously that towards the beginning of this Session they sate whole Days from Morning till late at Night The Product was a Fast Voted the minutes and Votes of the House of Commons forbid to be divulg'd several Lords Committed Bellasis Arundel of Warder Powis Stafford Petre Castlemain c. Soon after this came out a Proclamation appointing a Fast through all England on the 13th Day of November Thursday the 31st of October the House of Commons resolved upon the Evidence that hath already appear'd to this House this House is of Opinion That there hath been and is an Execrable and Hellish Design contrived and carry'd on by Popish Recusants for Assassinating and Murthering the King for Subverting the Government and for destroying the Protestant Religion by Law Establisht The same Day Sir Edmundbury Godfrey was Buried The Solemnity proceeded from Bridewell to St. Martins in the Fields 72 London Ministers Marching two and two before the Body and above 1000 Men in the same Order following after The next Day in pursuance of an Address presented to the King by the Commons the Saturday before came out a Proclamation whereby all Papists or such reputed be Banisht 10 Miles from London and Westminster to remove themselves by the 7th Day of November except Housholders and they to take the Oaths or suffer the Penalties inflicted by Law The same Day the Commons in Parliament resolved That an Address be made to the King that the Trained-Bands of London Westminster and Surry be rais'd for preservation of His Majestys Person and the Parliament during this Session On Munday the 4th of November came out an Order of the King in Council proposing That whoever can Discover any Officer or Soldier in any of the Kings Guards Horse or Foot who has taken the Oaths and Test and since turn'd Papist such Discoverer shall have 20 l. for every Man so Discovered Monday the 4th of November It was moved in the House of Commons that an Address be made to the King to remove the Duke of York from his Presence and Councils but the debate was Adjourn'd over to Fryday next at which time it being again moved the debate was again Adjorn'd over to Thursday following The next Day being Saturday the 9th of November His Majesty went to the Lords House in His Robes and made a Speech to both Houses Wherein after he had return'd them His most hearty Thanks for their very great and extraordinary care for preservation of His Person in this time of Danger He told 'em That he was as ready to joyn with them in all ways and means that may Establish a firm security to the Protestant Religion as their own Hearts can wish and this not only during His Life but in future Ages even to the end of the World And therefore He is come to assure 'em that whatsoever reasonable Bills they shall
Treaty a Determination fitting only for God Almighty since none but He can tell the terms of Peace who knows the event of War You desire him not to suffer a Ship of theirs to come from France under pain of Confiscation not excepting Allies Prince or Ambassadors if any among them that he does not believe any Assembly of Men ever gave so great and publick a provocation to the whole World without so much as considering to provide one Ship Regiment or penny towards justifying it that however if by your assistance he may be put into Armes sufficient for such a Work He will not be weary till Christendom be restored to such a Peace that it shall not be in the power of any one Prince to disturb it that the Rights of making and managing War and Peace are in His Majesty and if you think he will depart from any part of that Right you are mistaken the Reins of Government are in his hands and he hath the same care to preserve them there as to preserve his own Person he keeps both for his Peoples protection and safety and that if this House will encourage His Majesty to go further in Alliances you must consider of raising speedy supplies for from the consideration of those he must take his measures Some things of note however were done before the Supply was concluded The House of Commons took off all written Protections which had been by some Members granted to such as were not really their Servants to an incredible number Voting no Protection allowable to any but their Menial Servants actually in Service and that without a written Certificate And now was the Earl of Shaftsbury releas'd from his Confinement in the Tower where he had been close Prisoner ever since last Spring and restored to his place in Parliament having first made the following Submission at the Lords Bar Feb. 25. viz. 1. I do acknowledge that my endeavouring to maintain that this Parliament was Dissolved was an ill advised Action for which I humbly beg pardon of the Kings Majesty and this most Honourable House 2. I do acknowledge that my bringing a Writ of Habeas Corpus in the Kings Bench was a high violation of your Lordships Priviledge and a great aggravation of my former offence for all which I beg pardon Subscribed Shaftsbury The next Day he sate in the House of Lords On the 27. The City was not a little Allarm'd with the French Kings taking of Ghent and the great danger of several other places of note in Flanders That Night were sent from London 12 Companys of Foot for Ostend follow'd the next Day by the Dukes of Monmouth and Albermarle the Earls of Mulgrave and Plymouth c. most of which Lords soon after return'd About a Fortnight after this a Poll-Bill for raising Monys past both Houses and presently after the Commons express their impatiency for a War their Transactions running in these Terms March 14. Upon several motions made for considering of the deplorable condition of the Nation resolved in a Committee of the whole House That it is the opinion of this Committee that an Address be presented to the King humbly to advise His Majesty that His Majesty to quiet the minds of his Loyal Subjects and to encourage the Princes and States Confederates against the French King would be graciously pleased to proclaim and enter into an actual War with the French King and to give his Majesty assurances that this House will constantly stand by and aid His Majesty in the prosecution thereof with necessary and plentiful suppplies and assistances and that His Majesty will presently dismiss the French Ambassador and recal his from France and Niminghen Which Address was the next Day drawn up accordingly and sent to the Lords for their Concurrence but never proceeded further Wednesday 27th of March the Parliament was Adjourn'd by the Kings Order till the 11th of April being the Week after Easter the King having first Sign'd the Poll-Bill in which was a strict Appropriating Clause for the Mony so Levy'd to be applied to no use but the intended French War also another Clause Prohibiting the Importation of any French Commodities for Three Years Soon after which the French King prohibited ours for Ten Years Thursday the 11th of April the Parliament met again and Adjourn'd to the Monday following at which time by the Kings appointment they chose a New Speaker in the House of Commons Sir Robert Sawyer one of the Kings Council Learned and a great Practicer in the Exchequer and from thence Adjourn'd over to Monday the 29th of April During these Intervals a strict Fast is kept on Wednesday the 10th of April in London and the Wednesday Fortnight following through England to implore Gods Blessing upon His Majesty and his Kingdoms and for the averting of Gods Judgments Monday the 29th of April the Houses met again the King and Lords in their Robes My Lord Chancellor in a long Speech recited all the Addresses that they had made in relation to a War with France what the King had already done in pursuance of the same and joyning an effectual League with the Confederates to that end and how ready the King was to pursue their desires but that now he discovered the Dutch were entring upon a Treaty of Peace with the French King and that without his consent or privity and therefore His Majesty demands the advice of his Houses how to proceed Monday following being the 6th of May Sir Robert Sawyer excused himself in a Letter that he could not attend the House by reason that he was taken very ill of the Stone occasioned by his long sitting last Saturday whereupon the Old Speaker was again chosen and reinstated in the Chair The same Day the King returned a short Answer to an Address of the House of Commons Voted on the said last Saturday which contain'd their humble Advice that he would forthwith enter into the present Alliance with the Confederates and an Actual War with France c. To which this Answer was read by one of the Secretaries of State viz. C. R. HIs Majesty having been acquainted with the Votes of the 4th Instant is very much surprized both with the matter and manner of them but if His Majesty had had Exceptions to neither yet His Majesty having asked the Advice of both the Houses doth not think fit to give any Answer to any thing of that nature till he hath a concurrent Advice of both Houses Among which mentioned Votes of the 4th Instant beside the Advice abovesaid this was past by a majority of 16 Voices That the late Leagues made with the States-General of the United Provinces are not pursuant to the Addresses of this House nor consistant with the good and safety of the Kingdom In the mean time the Commons are not at all discouraged with this Answer but draw up an Address and present it to the King at Whitehall on Saturday the 11th of May in the afternoon
present to be past into Laws to make them safe in the Reign of His Successor so as they intend not to Impeach the Right of Succession nor the Discent of the Crown in the true Line and also as they restrain not any Power or just Right of His Protestant Successor such Bills shall find from him a ready concurrence Soon after this came out another Proclamation whereby all Roman Recusants and such reputed were enjoyn'd under the Penalty of the Laws to repair to their own homes and not to remove more than Five Miles from thence without Licence Excepted out of this Proclamation the Inhabitants of London and Westminster Monday the 18th of November the House of Commons being informed that Sir Joseph Williamson Secretary of State had lately Countersigned several Commissions for Roman Recusant Officers with a Non-obstante to the Oaths and Test he was by the said House Committed to the Tower The next Day the King sent for the Commons to attend him at the Banquetting-House and told 'em That tho' they Committed His Servant without acquainting him yet He intends to be freer with them and acquaint them with His intentions to release His Secretary which accordingly He did that Day About this time a Bill having been sent up from the Commons to the Lords House for Excluding all Popish Members to sit in either House of Parliament it was past in the said Lords House with some little alterations and a Clause in Favour of His Royal Highness and the said Bill being sent back to the Commons it past there also November 21st with the said alterations but not without some difficulty for Sir Jonathan Trelauny and one Mr. Ash being heated in debate and words of reproach passing between 'em Sir Jonathan struck the other a cuff on the Ear which being return'd by Ash over the Face they were both about to Draw but this disturbance being at last quieted by the Speaker Trelauny was sent to the Tower there to remain all this Sessions and Ash received a Reprimande from the Speaker About the same time came out an Order of Council explaining the late Proclamation whereby all Papists were Banisht 10 Miles from London not to extend to Merchant strangers and such Outlandish who repair hither on the account of Travail And now the Commons begin to look towards the Army again resolving November 25. That it is necessary for the safety of His Majesty's Person and Preservation of the Government that the Forces raised since the 29th of November 77. be forthwith paid off and Disbanded and for this the King requires more Mony In the mean time Oats the great Discoverer of the Plot accuses the Queen hereupon the King places a stricter Guard upon him than ever but the Commons Novemb. 29. order an Address to be made to His Majesty That the said Oats be freed from his restraint attended by his own Servants and that a competent allowance be appointed for his maintenance and that the Queen with all her Servants and all Popish Recusants or such suspected be removed from Whitehall Saturday Novemb. 30. the King had two Bills presented to him one of which viz For Exclusion of all Popish Members to fit in either House of Parliament with a Clause in favour of the Duke of York He past The other which was for raising a third part of the Militia to be in constant Arms for a time He refused alledging That that were to put the Militia out of his Power which thing He would not do no not for one hour but if the Parliament will assist Him with Money for that purpose He will take care to raise such a part of the Militia as shall secure the Peace of the Government and His own Person In the mean time while these things are transacting in Parliament one William Staly a Goldsmiths Son a Roman Recusant is Arraigned at the Kings Bench Bar found guilty and condemned of High Treason for speaking certain words against the Kings Life and accordingly was hanged and quartered at Tyburn but on Petition the King granted his Quarters to his Father who abusing the Kings mercy buried him in Covent-Garden Church-yard with too much State and Ceremony for which reason by His Majesties Order his Quarters were that very night taken up conveyed to Newgate and soon after set up on the Gates of London The same week that Staly was executed Mr. Coleman was arraigned and tryed at the aforesaid Bar and condemned of High Treason The Evidence was the aforementioned Oats and one Bedloe and his own Letters but both the aforesaid Tryals being in Print I shall take no farther notice of particulars The King gave back all Mr. Colemans Estate to his Wife and Children and his Quarters to be Buried Thursday December 4 The Commons Impeacht the Lords Arundel of Warder Bellasis Poâ—is Petre and Stafford of Treason other high Crimes and Misdemeanors severally which several Impeachments were carried up by five several Members of the House of Commons Two Days before the said Lords had been found Guilty upon special Indictments to the same purpose by the Grand Jury of Middlesex before special Commissioners sitting at Westminster but now for some Reasons those proceedings were waved and it was thought more effectual to proceed by way of Impeachment before the House of Lords in Parliament Tuesday December the 17th Ireland Pickering and Groves were Condemned of High Treason as Conspirators in the Plot but their Execution was respited for some time At the same time Whitebread and Fenwick were arraigned but their Tryal put off till the 15th of January And now some of the Members of Parliament begin to accuse one another December the 23d Mr. Mountigue Son to the Lord Mountigue and late Ambassador in France now a Burgess for Northampton carries up five Articles against the Lord Treasurer and Sir John Earnly another Member of the House of Commons accuses the said Mr. Mountigue of holding a Correspondence with the Popes Nuncio at Paris In the mean time the Parliament sit incessantly without Adjournment these Hollidays but only for Christmas-Eve and Christmas Day requiring a full appearance of all their Members not disabled as well Lords as Commons enjoyning all in Town not to depart under strict penalties and sending their Messengers for all absent in the Country But it pleas'd the King on Monday the 30th of December to Prorogue both Houses till the 4th of February following Not long before which the Commons had given more Mony for the Disbanding the Army but inserted a Clause in the Bill for the Mony to be paid into the Chamber of London which proviso would not pass in the Lords House and therefore the Bill remain'd abort During this Interval the Reports were various touching the next sitting it being sometimes affirmed that the Session was further Prorogued till the 25th of February then again that the Parliament would certainly meet at the 4th of February the Day first appointed till at last on the 24th Day of
in expressing their Indignation against that most Execrable and Trayterous designed Association lately Discovered by His Majesty which certainly in the Judgment of all good Men may more corrupt the Blood of the wicked Inventers than if they should be discovered and attainted by Law That the said Treason was not only against the King but the Monarchy c. To this purpose were several other Congratulations or Addresses to the King some before some after this of Middlesex viz. from Norwich from Hereford from the Lieutenancy of London c. All which were a Second Edition of Loyalty or a New sort of Addresses circulating from most parts of the Nation a Second time The Conclusion of this Year brought forth a Remarkable passage in the City of London Some unknown but base and malignant hearted Rascal had in the Night cut mangled and defaced the Duke of Yorks Picture which with the Kings both Nobly Painted hung up in Guild-Hall as a signal Ornament to the City Soon after which Action The Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen Publisht in Print a Declaration In which protesting their deep Resentment of that insolent and vilinous Act to be abhorr'd by every good and Loyal Subject and being greatly concern'd and desirous to find out the Author thereof they therefore unanimously Publish and declare That whosoever can discover the Person who Committed that Fact the said Lord Mayor and Aldermen will not only acknowledge the said Discovery as a most acceptable Service to the said City but also pay to such Discoverer the Sum of 500. l. upon the offenders Conviction Dated the 27th of January 33. Car. 2. and Signed Wagstaff In return to which Act of the City his Royal Highness sent a Gentleman out of Scotland to complement the Mayor and Court of Aldermen and thank 'em for their respect and Justice to his Cause Anno 34 Car. 2. Anno Dom. 1682. IN the beginning of this Year a most Barbarous and inhuman Murder was committed on the Person of Thomas Thinne of Longlect Esq a Gentleman of great Quality and Note both in City and Country The Bloody Murderers were Christopher Vratz George â—oroski and John Stern all Forainers and Servants or Dependants on a Swedish Lord called Count Coningsmark which first named three suddainly coming up to Mr. Thirne's Coach as he was passing in it near the Haymarket on Sunday Night the 12th of February one of them shot him into the Body with Two Brace or Bullets The Murderers were soon after apprehended and Committed to Newgate On the 28th of February they were Tryed found Guilty and Condemned and were most deservedly all Three Hanged and one of them Hang'd in Chains on the Road not far from Mile-End In March His Royal Highness Arrived out of Scotland he Landed at Yarmouth on the 10th where he was Treated at Dinner by the Magistrates with all the Ceremonies of Honour they could express and from thence attended by the High Sheriff of Norfolk and a Train of the Neighbouring Gentry to Norwich where again he was Nobly entertain'd by the publick Magistrates with Banquets and Bonfires and lay that Night at the Bishops House the next Day about 6 in the Evening he arrived at New-Market where he was received by both their Majesties with all the Marks of kindness and affection having been met several Miles out of Town by the Noblemen and Gentlemen then attending about the Court. The next Day being the 12th of March the King was Presented at Newmarket with an Address of Abhorrency from the Artillery Company in Bristol of which sort of Address I made some mention towards the end of last year yet because the Association there mention'd is more particularly daecipher'd in this from Bristol than any formaer I have seen I can not omit to observe that the said Loyal Artillery Company in Bristol did by their said Address Express from the bottom of their Souls an utter Abhorrence of all Covenants and Associations whatsoever made against or without His Majesties approbation especially that Treasonable one seized in the Closet of the Earl of Shaftsbury wherein the securing the Protestant Religion and the defence of His Majesties Royal Person and Estate is made the pretence but the subversion of the Establisht Religion and the final destruction of His Majesty and Lawful Successors is the real design and this to be performed by devolving the whole power of His Majesties Crown and Scepter into the Major part of the Members of both Houses subscribing that Association thô dissolved without regard to their quality or number His Majesties Guards for the defence of His Royal Person falsly stiled mercenary Forces and a terror to all the good People of the Land His Majesties Royal Brother to be excluded and destroyed if he comes into England and all who shall oppose that Rebellious accursed hellish and unpresidented Association are to be pursued to dedruction thô in defence of His Majesties Title concluding that they will assert and defend the Rights and Prerogatives of His Majesty and Lawful Successors in opposition to all Unions and Societies made to the Contrary and that they cannot think that Man fit to be a Representative in Parliament who will not disown such Associations These words are contain'd in that Address and by this President we see what good Subjects abhor Not long after this the University of Cambridge sent their Vice-Chancellor Dr. Coga to wait on the King at Newmarket with a Loyal Address of Abhorency at which time also the said Vice-Chancellor waited upon the Duke and in the name of the said University Wellcom'd him into England acknowledging that by his Royal Highness good Conduct the Government of Scotland both in Church and State is settled in Peace and therefore they could by no means doubt but that under His Majesty his Royal Highness ' s presence would have a great Influence in effecting the same here in England by which means all Great Brittain being joyn'd in one the Church of England and Rights of the Crown may for ever flourish To which his Royal Highness was pleas'd to Answer after Thanks for their kind Expressions that he was very glad of this and all other occasions to declare that he would ever stand by the Church of England as now establisht and countenance the Members of it as having seen by experience that they are the best Supporters of the Crown and that he would use his Endeavors and Interest for preservation of the Kings person and the Government in the State and the Church of England as now establisht by Law Several other Addresses also which were made to the King had words in them congratulating the Dukes return into England And when his Royal Highness came with His Majesty to London His Majesty was on the 10th of April attended by the Lord Mayor the Recorder and Court of Aldermen who having paid their Duty to the King they went to St James's where they waited upon his Royal Highness Congratulating his safe
multitudes of His Majesties Subjects which Proceedings being contrary to the Common and known Laws of this Land and tending to promote discontents among the People and to raise Sedition and Rebellion His Majesty doth therefore strictly charge and commad all and every his loving Subjects of what Rank or Degree soever that they presume not to agitate or promote any such Subscriptions nor in any ways joyn in any Petition of that manner to be preferred to His Majesty upon peril of the utmost rigour of the Law that may be inflicted for the same At the same time His Majesty issued out another Proclamation declaring His Resolution to Prorogue the Parliament from the 26th of January to the 11th of November next Notwithstanding the scope of these two Proclamations the business of Petitioning went forwards several were perfected and delivered not long after one from London Subscribed with many Thousands of hands others from York Essex Surrey and Wiltshire all which the King receiv'd but coldly and as appeared afterwards ineffectually for on the 26th of January being the Day to which the Parliament was Prorogued His Majesty was pleased to make a short Speech to both Houses containing That when he declared in Council His Intention of putting off the Parliament to a time so remote as November it was not without mature Consideration That he cannot be perswaded from any thing that has happened since in reference to Affairs within the Kingdom to alter or repent of that Resolution That notwithstanding considering the present danger which threatens some of our Neighbours and Allies He thinks fit to appoint a day for their meeting again in April yet the Distractions and Jealouses at home are of such a nature and so heightned and improved by the malice and and Industry of ill men that he is unalteablylos opinion that a longer Interval of Parliament will be absolutely necessary for composing and quieting of Mens minds in order to which he is afraid the most proper Remedies would prove ineffectual without the assistance of some further time He resolves therefore that on the said meeting in April there shall be a further Prorogation unless the Condition of our Allies abroad do then require our immediate assistance Hereupon he commanded the Lord Chancellor to Prorogue the Parliament to the 15th of April In the mean time Articles of high Misdemeanor were offer'd by way of Complaint to the King and Council against the Lord Chief Justice Scroggs by Oates and Bedloe who had formerly declar'd themselves unwilling to give any Evidence against any Papists or concerning the late Popish Conspiracy in any Court where the said Chief Justice should fit as Judge But the Prosecution of this Affair soon fell and the Cause never came to be heard further than the Chief Justices Answer In the beginning of Hillary Term Sir Thomas Gascoigne a York-shire Knight of 85 years of age was Arraigned at the Kings Bench Bar in Westminster Hall upon an Information of High Treason in conspiring the Death of the King and the Subversion of the Government He was afterwards brought to his Tryal at the same Bar the Jury were all York-shire Gentlemen the Foreman Sir Thomas Hodson The chief Evidence against him one Balron who had formerly been Baily of his Colepits and one Mowbray who had also belonged to his Family but their Testimony it seems not being of that Weight or credibility with the Jury as some expected they brought in their Verdict Not Guilty whereupon the Prisoner was immediately discharged We are now arrived at the end of the 31st year of His Majesties Reign a year observable for many Revolutions thô all concluding peaceably and well through the Mercy of God and the Wisdom of our Superiours the factious Rabble having been never more ready for Combustion since the late Wars of Cursed Memory Anno 32 Car. 2. Anno Dom. 1680. THE Conclusion of the last Year left his Royal Highness in Scotland but the beginning of this must be remarkable for his return to England which healing Action in the entrance will I hope as a good Omen prognosticate Peace and Happiness to the King and Kingdom during the rest of this Thirty second Year of His Majesty's Reign On the 31 of January the Duke acquainted the Lords of the Privy Council at Edinburg That he had received a Letter from the King calling him very speedily to Court That though he did very chearfully obey His Majesty's Commands and went with much joy to attend Him yet he could not part from their Lordships so soon without a great deal of Reluctancy and Trouble having both at his reception and during the short time of his abode there met with all possible demonstration of civility and kindness both from the Nobility Gentry and from the Representatives of the several Bodies of the Nation particularly from the Council of which he had so just a resentment that he could not in all his life forget them and should not fail upon all occasions to meet their great kindness and affection shewn him with all the service he was capable to do them That he would acquaint His Majesty that He had in Scotland a brave and loyal Nobility and Gentry a regular Privy Council and the Judicatures filled with able Persons well affected to His Majesty's Service and Interest That he had observed the disaffected Party were nothing so considerable as their Friends in England studied industriously to represent them to be He then recommended to the Council the setling of the Differences between several Gentlemen of the Highlands whom he had always observed to be firm to His Majesty's Interest The Lord Chancellor in the name of the Council acknowledged the great happiness they had had in hi Presence Conduct and Advice and declared how much devoted they all were to the Service of His Majesty and his Royal Highness and that they could not express the great grief they had to part so soon with him to whose Council and Presence they owe so many Advantages After this the Duke Duchess and all their Retinue began their Voyage by Sea for London where he arrived at the Court Privy Stairs on the 24th of February about Three in the afternoon not without all the due signs of Joy and Welcome There arrived at the same time from the Privy Council of Scotland a Letter full of Loyal Expressions to the Kings Service with abundance of Recommendation and Protestations for the Duke's Interest Two days after his arrival his Royal Highness was attended by the Lord Mayor Court of Aldermen Recorder and Common Council of the City of London at which time the Recorder having in all their names Congratulated his safe arrival they all kist the Hands both of the Duke and Duchess On the 11th of February His Majesty was pleased to declare in Council that He had granted His Secretary Coventry leave to resign his Place of Secretary of State That His intention was to continue him however of His Council And that
He had made choice of Sir Lionel Jenkins to succeed him in the Place of Secretary who was accordingly Sworn of His Privy Council that day and took his place at the Board Before the end of this Hillary Term the Court of Kings Bench produced several remarkable passages relating to the publick For besides the Tryal and Acquittal of Sir Thomas Gascoin of which before on the 9th of February Thomas Whitfield John Smallbones and William Laud having been formerly indicted for a Ryot in tearing a Petition which was some time since carried about to get Subscriptions to it concerning the sitting of the Parliament being now tryed for the same at the Kings Bench Bar they were found Not guilty of the Ryot and onely Mr. Whitfield guilty of tearing the Petition but what offence that action did amount to was not at that time declared by the Court. About the same time several Booksellers were punisht for publishing Seditious and Scandalous Libels but above all the Sentence against Benjamin Harris the Publisher of the Weekly Domestick Intelligence is most observable who having been Indicted Tryed and found Guilty of Vending a Scandalous Libel called An Appeal from the Country to the City had Judgment on the last day of the Term To stand in the Pillory before the Old Exchange on the Tuesday following Imprisonment for One year Three years Good behaviour and Fined 500 l. the said Appeal to be burnt by the Common Hangman On the fifth of March His Majesty was pleas'd to issue out His Proclamation against Highway-men promising thereby the Summ of 10 l. to any one who should discover any such from the date of the said Proclamation until the second of March following which said Summ was appointed to he paid immediately on the Conviction of such Robber by the Sherif of the County and to be allow'd on His Accounts On the ninth of March the King issued out another Proclamation against such who under a vain pretence of Honor take upon them to be the Revengers of their private Quarrels in Duels and single Combat which ought not to be upon any pretence or provocation whatsoever strictly charging and commanding all his loving Subjects of what quality soeve hat they do not either by themselves or others by Message Word Writing or other ways Challenge or cause to be Challenged any Person or Persons to fight in Combat or single Duel nor Carry Accept or Conceal any such Challenge or Appointment nor actually fight any such Duel or as a Second or otherwise accompany or be assistant therein declaring further That He will not grant His Pardon to any Person whatsoever that shall fight or be any way aiding or concerned in such Duel where any Person shall be slain or dye of his Wounds received therein but will leave all such persons to the utmost rigour and severity of the Laws And that He will not suffer or endure any person or persons to be or remain at Court who shall presume to intercede for any person or persons offending against this Proclamation straitly charging and commanding by the said Proclamation all persons whatsoever who shall receive or know of any Challenge sent or delivered as aforesaid forthwith to give notice thereof to some of the Privy Council or some Justice of Peace near the place upon pain of His highest Displeasure and being left to the strictest rigour and severity of the Law On the 15th of April being the day to which the Parliament was formerly Prorogued the King then absent at Newmarket my Lord Chancellor by Commission under the Great Seal Prorogued it further to the 17th of May following the Duke of York being present in the House On the 17th of May it was further Prorogued till the first of July And now it was that those Counties which had been lately so active in promoting Petitions for the sitting of the Parliament began to be ashamed of such Actions and to recant The City of Westminster was the first whose Grand Jury by their publick and formal Act at their Sessions after Easter disown'd the said Action of promoting Petitions and charged it on certain Factious persons unknown to them this and more to this purpose they desired their Steward Mr. Withens of the Middle Temple to represent in their names to His Majesty which he did soon after and was Knighted for his Loyalty by the Name of Sir Francis Withens After this followed the like Addresses from the Counties of Surry Essex Middlesex and Norfolk which last mentioned County of Norfolk had this further Acknowledgment in their Message viz. Their humble thanks to His Majesty for recalling the Duke from Flanders To the same purpose ought not to be omitted what happened in my Lord Shandois his Case who having been elected by the Turkey Company of Merchants to go Ambassador to Constantinople and desiring His Majesty's Approbation the King was pleas'd to reply That he having countenanced and been engaged in the Business of a Petition about the Parliament which His Majesty lookt upon as derogatory to His Prerogative and tending to Sedition He could not think him fit for this Favour Hereupon the said Lord desiring to be called into the Council of Foreign Affairs at Whitehall Apr. 26. did there humbly acknowledge to His Majesty his fault in having been concerned in the said Petition alledging That he was misled and drawn in by being given to understand that that proceeding was for His Majesty's Service but that being since better informed he abhorred and disowned all such Practices and humbly begg'd His Majesty's Pardon for what was past After which the King was pleas'd to receive him into His Favour and confirm his Election to the Embassie About this time it was that a false and dangerous Rumour flew abroad and was spread about the Town concerning a Black Box reported to be found wherein was said to be contain'd a Writing importing a Marriage or Contract between His Majesty and the Duke of Monmouth's Mother which report coming to the King's Ear He was pleas'd to Summon the Council to meet extraordinarily on the 26th of April in which He declared the said report to be altogether false and that He thought Himself obliged in Honor and Conscience to have the matter throughly examined and searched into In order whereunto Sir Gilbert Gerard who was rumour'd to have seen some such Writing being called in was examined in Council his Royal Highness and all the Judges of the Courts at Westminster being present touching the truth of what was reported To which he answered upon Oath That he never had any such Writing committed to his Custody nor did he know of any such thing or had ever seen such Writing To all which he also subscribed his Name His Majesty declaring He resolved to use all means possibly to find out the Author of this Report And accordingly a Committee of Council did sit for a great while afterwards to sift into the Business On the fifth of May all the Judges of