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. 1.

[Sect. 1] We return again to England. The late Parliament being dissolved, the King indeavours to get all the Judges in Westminster Hall to be such as would Justifie all his Actions, so as he might (at least seemingly) have the Law on his side: To which end, he begins to Bargain with them, that they should declare the Kings Power of dispensing with the Penal Laws and Tests, made against Recu∣sants out of Parliament, and manadged this design so, as he brought it a great length.

In the next place, he gives a Commission of Eccle∣siastical Affaires to the Bishop of Chester (the Bishop of Canterbury refuseing the Imployment) and several others of Clargie, and Ley-men; which Commission is to be seen at large in Cokes Detection &c. The first that this Commission fastened upon, was the Bishop of London, whose Crime was, that he did not suspend Doctor Sharp for Preaching in his Parish Church of St Giles, against the Frauds and Corruptions of the Church of Rome, for which he is suspended, ab Offici••, tho the real cause was for moving (in the last Parlia∣ment) that the Kings speech might be Debeated, which stuck in the Kings stomach, and is now remembered to the Bishop.

The next blow the Commission gives, is at the Fellows of Magdalen Colledge in Oxford, for chuse∣ing for their President Doctor Hough, a person very well qualified; and refuseing the Bishop of Oxford, Recommended to them by the King: but after they had chosen the other, for which cause, the Commis∣sioners, not only turns them out of their Fellowships, but makes them uncapable of any other Ecclesiasti∣call Preferments.

Now comes on the stage, Thomas Dangerfe••d, who discovered the Meal-tub-plot, for which he is sentenced to be whip't with Doctor Oats, and at his return from Tyburne towards Newgate, he is run into the eye, with a Tuck on the end of a cane, by Robert Francis a Papist, of which (and the agony of his severe whipping) he dyed soon after. How∣ever Francis is hauged for that base and Barbarous Act.

And Mr. Samuel Johnson a Minister, was Sen∣tenced also to stand 3 times in the Pillory, and to be whip't between Tyburne and Newgate, which was executed severely, his crime being, a humble and hearty addresse, to the Protestant Officers in the Kings Army.

Showing them the sin and danger of Associating themselves with Papists, and ear∣nestly exhorting them to seperate themselves spee∣dily from them.

About this time, The King wrote a Letter to the Council of Scotland, in which he takes no notice at all of Protestant Dissenters, but recommends to them his innocent Roman Catholick Subjects, who with their Lives and Fortunes had been alwayes assi∣stant to the Crown in the worst of Rebellions &c. These he heartily recommended to their Care, that they might have the benefite of his Laws, and that security under his Government, as others of his Sub∣jects had, and that Obligations might not be im∣posed upon them, which their Religion could not admitt of, wherein they would do him most accep∣table Service, &c.

Notes

• England.
• The high Commissi∣on.
• Bishop of London suspended by it.
• Also, the fellows of Magdalen Colledge.
• Danger∣fend killed.
• Mr. John∣son whip't and for what crime
• Kings Let∣ter to Scot∣land. in favour of Papists