Antiquities of the city of Exeter collected by Richard Izacke ...

Regna Regum 11. Charles the 2. An. D. 1659.

Mayors and Bayliffs

• Christopher Clark Jun.
  • William Bruen
  • Paul Draper
  • John Elwill
  • John Guswill

Many of the Commons of this City a∣rose and put themselves in Arms, declaring for a Free Parliament, the tumult appeared so great, as that most of the Shop-windows were not opened for two or three days space, at which time here being several Gentlemen of Quality, of the County of Devon, 'twas by them agreed, that a Remonstrance should be forthwith drawn up and sent to the Par∣liament, which was as followeth.

To the Right Honourable William Le••thall Esquire, Speaker of the Parliament.

We the Gentry of the County finding our selves without a regular Government (after your last interruption) designed a publick meeting to consult remedies, which we could not so conveniently effect till this week of our general Quarter-Sessions at Exon, where we found diverse of the Inhabitants groaning under high oppressions, and a general defect of Trade to the utter ruine of many, and fear of the like to others, which is as visible to the whole County, that occasioned such disorders, as were no small trouble and distrubance to us, which by God's Blessing upon our endea∣vours were soon suppressed and quiet without blood; And though we find since our first purposes an alteration in the State of affairs by your re-establishment at the helm of Go∣vernment, yet conceive that we are but in part redrest of our grievances, and that the chief expedient will be the recalling of all those Members that were secluded in 1648. and sa••e before the first force upon the Par∣liament, and also by filling up vacant pla∣ces, and all to be admitted without any Oath or engagement previous to their entrance, for which things, if you please to take a speedy course, we shall defend you against all oppo∣sers, and future interruption with our lives and fortunes, for the accomplishment where∣of we shall use all lawful means, which we humbly conceive may best conduce to the peace and safety of this Nation.

Which was without delay accordingly sent up and presented by Thomas Bampfield Esquire, and became a Precedent to many other Cities and Towns in England, even to do the like, whereby the Army in and about

London, consisting of 14000. old Foot-Soldiers were dispersed throughout the Kingdom, whereof 1500. were sent hither, and all to prevent the like Insurrections that happened in Exeter, whence ensued an Ordinance of Parliament, that no Soldier should presume to depart five miles from his quarters on pain of losing his arrears, and death. Then marched General Monk into the City of London, with his Army consisting of 7000. old Soldiers, whom God in his wonderful mercy was pleas'd to make instrumental of restoring our So∣veraign Lord King Charles the Second, to his undoubted Dominions after a long and tedious Exile, without the effusion of one man's blood, who landed at Dover 26. Maii, 1660, and came into London the 29. day of the same month, and was Crown∣ed King at Westminster, the 23. day of A∣pril then next following to the great joy of His Three Kingdoms.

On Friday 11. Maii, 1660. Charles the Second was proclaimed King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, at several publick places within this City, viz. At the Guild-hall, the little Conduit in St. Peter's Church-yard, at the Bear-corner in South-gate-street, at the great Conduit, and at St. John's Bow, with great solemnity, during all which time the said Conduits ran with Wine; The Mayor, Aldermen, Common Council-men, Officers and Livery∣men being in their Scarlet and other Gowns, Robes, and Liveries respectively, attended on by a Troop of Horse, com∣manded by Major Hagedott, and the several Companies of the Trained Bands herein, with many thousand Inhabitants on Foot, shouting aloud for joy, the Bells ringing, Canons playing from the Castle, whilst the Soldiers gave many a Volly of shot, and at

night Tar-barrels, and Bonefires capered aloft; al which was thus done with the greatest expression of gladness that possibly could be imagined.