The late history of Europe being a narration of all remarkable actions and other various affairs, both civil and military, that have happened in the several kingdoms and republicks : from the Treaty at Nimiguen in anno 1676 to the conclusion of the late peace at Res-Wick in September 1697 : which makes up a history of one and twenty years : accuratly and succinctly abridg'd / by Captain David Kennendy.

SECT. 5.

[Sect. 5] Now let us return home, And enquire what has been doing in England all this while. In the preceeding year,* 1.1 about the 29 of September 1678. Do∣ctor Oates made a Discovery of a Popish Plot ag••inst the Life of the King, the Protestant Religion, and for the Subversion of the Government, on which Sir George Wakeman the Queens Physician, Coleman Secre∣tary to the Dutchess of York and several Jesuites and Preists, were apprehended and committed; As were, not long after, the Earl of Powis, Viscount Staf∣ford, Lord Arundel of Warder, Lord Petre, and Lord B••asis, these last five, were all committed Prisoners in the Tower of London.

Sir Ed∣mundbury Godfrey, a Justice of peace,* 1.2 who was appointed to Examine the Prisoners first com∣mitted, was Murdered on the 12 of October, which confirmed all Men in beliefe of the Conspiracy, and on the 1st, of November the Parliament (Nemine Contradicente) did declare themselves fully persward∣ed of the same. Soon after, Godfreys Murther came to be discovered by one Bedlow, prompted thereto by his Conscience, on whose evidence (and one Prance's) Green, Berty, and Hul were Convicted and Executed.

Examinations, And farther Inquiries relating to the Plot, going on for two or three Moneths,* 1.3 in all which time the King continued se••mingly doubtful and incredulous of the same, and finding the Parlia∣ment more Zealous and forward in prosecuting that Affair, then he approved of, on the 24th. of January, Dissolves them, after they had sat seventeen Years and above eight Moneths: And called ano∣ther to sit the 6th of March following.

On the 28th. of February, He requires the Duke of York (by a Letter) to withdraw from England,* 1.4 which he obeys, and retires with his Family, first to the Hague, and then to Brussels,

To make all things appear more pausible, The King choses a New Council. viz.

• Names of the Privy Council∣lers.
• 1 Prince Rupert
• 2 Arch Bishop of Can∣terbury
• 3 L. Finch Chancellor
• 4 Earl of Shalsburry Lord President of the Council.
• 5 Earl of Anglesay, Pri∣vy Seal.
• 6 Duke of Albemarle
• 7 Duke of Monmouth, Master of Horse
• 8 Duke of Newcastle
• 9 Duke of Lauderdale, Secretary of State for Scotland.
• 10 Earl of Salisbury
• 11 Earl of Bridgewater
• 12 Earl of Sunderland, Secretary of Stato for England.
• 13 Earl of Essex 1 st. Commissioner of the Treasury.
• 14 E. of Bath, Groom of the Stool.
• 15 Viscount Falcon∣bridge, Viscount Hallifax.
• 16 Lord Bishop of London
• 17 Lord Roberts
• 18 Lord Hollis
• 19 Lord Russel
• 20 Lord Cavendish
• 21 Henry Coventry E∣squire Secretary of State
• 22 Sir Francis North Lord Cheif-Justice of Common Pleas.
• 23 Henry Capel, Knight, of the Bath; and 1st, Commissioner of the Admirality.
• 24 Sir John Ernley Knight Chancellor of the Ex∣chequer.
• 25 Sir Thomas Chichely Knight Mr, of the Or∣dinance,
• 26 Sir William Temple
• 27 Edward Seymor Esqr
• 28 Henry Poule Esqr

Take notice, We have stept back to bring up the the English Plot, and other Affairs of Brittain be∣gun in 1678, and join them now to the year 1679.

The King finding his new Parliament slow in advancing Money for disbanding the Army,* 1.5 and withall, beginning to nible at a Bill for Excluding the Duke of York, first he prorogues them from the twenty seventh of May to the fourteenth of August; and in the mean time, July the twelth, he dissolves them. So as this Parli¦ament proved as short lived, as the former was long. And another Parliament is called to sit the seventeenth of October following.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Popish-Plot in En∣gland ••••p∣tember 29. 1678.
• * 1.2

  Sir Ed∣mundbury Godfrey Murdered.
• * 1.3

  The long Parlia∣ment dis∣solved and and ano∣ther called to sit the 6th. of March.
• * 1.4

  Duke of York leaves England.
• * 1.5

  Parliament dislolved and one called to sit the ••7 of October 1679,