The history of England giving a true and impartial account of the most considerable transactions in church and state, in peace and war, during the reigns of all the kings and queens, from the coming of Julius Cæsar into Britain : with an account of all plots, conspiracies, insurrections, and rebellions ... : likewise, a relation of the wonderful prodigies ... to the year 1696 ... : together with a particular description of the rarities in the several counties of England and Wales, with exact maps of each county / by John Seller ...

The Reign of King CHARLES The Second.

KING Charles the First being put to Death, the Relicks of the Parliament began to take out of the way such Nobles and others as they supposed would obstruct their Proceedings; and particularly Duke Hamilton, the Earl of Holland, and the Lord Capel were Beheaded for Treason, pretended against them. And now to make their Power the Stronger, they combined with the Army-Offi∣cers: And tho' Charles, Son to the preceding King, had an undoubted Right to the Kingdom, they proceeded to bar him, and all the Royal Line, as they hoped, from the Crown, or any other from being King or chief Magistrate, unless by Publick Act of Parliament so appointed; and that it should be Treason in any to attempt to further King Charles the Second (by them generally called Charles Stew∣art) in his Designs to possess the Crown, by Proclaiming him, or any Assistance given to him; taking great care not to admit the Secluded Members, lest they should put a stop to the Current of their Proceedings; taking down every where the King's-Arms, and placing the Harp and Cross in their places, called the States Arms, and having taken down the late King's Effigies from the Royal-Ex∣change, they caused to be inscribed in the place where it stood, in Letters of Gold, Exit Tyranus Regum ultimus, Anno Libertatis Angliae, Restitutiae Primo Anno 1648.

Jan. 30. All Titles in Processes of Law were altered; and instead of Carolus Dei Gratia, &c. was put in Cu∣stodes Libertatis Angliae, &c. The King's-Bench was called the Ʋpper-Bench; and a new Stamp was made for Money, having on the one side the Cross, and on the other the Cross and Harp; inscribed, The Common-wealth of England, on the one side, and God with Ʋs, on the other; also a new Great Seal was prepared, with the Cross and Harp on the one side, with this Inscription, The Great Seal of En∣gland; and on the other side, the Picture of the House of Commons, with these Words, In the first Year of Freedom, by God's Blessing restor'd, 1648.

Things being thus Moddelled, whilst King Charles was in France, Solliciting for Aid to possess him of his King∣doms, Fairfax out of some dislike to the Patliaments pro∣ceedings, laid down his Commission, which was given to Oliver Cromwel, who from this time laid the Projection of his future Greatness: And indeed, in his attempts on Ireland and Scotland he was so Successful as to reduce them to the English Obedience, with incredible Slaughter of the Natives. However King Charles was proclaimed by his Friends in England, and Ireland, and soon after in Scotland.

And now Money being wanting to maintain the Parlia∣ments Armies, &c. the Crown-Lands, Dean and Chap∣ter, and Bishops Lands, were Sold, with many stately Houses, and most of the Castles in England Demolished; and all Persons expelled from Places of Trust in Church and State, that Subscribed not to be Conformable to the New-modelled Government.

The Scots all this while were Debating how to Restore the King, who was in the Isle of Jersey, and coming to a Result, sent the Laird Libberton and Mr. Windram to him with Proposals, the Heads being these; 1. That he should Sign the Solemn League and Covenant. 2. That he should Pass divers Acts concluded on in the two last Sessions of Parliament in Scotland. 3. That he should recall the Com∣missions given to Montross. 4. That he should put from him all Papists, and appoint some place in Holland to treat

with their Commissioners and give them a speedy Answer: And Sir William Fleming being sent by the King to the Estates of Scotland, Breda was appointed for the place of Treaty, and Commissioners were sent to represent the Kirk and State, who delivered what they had in Charge to the same Effect as has been mentioned. But whilst the Treaty held, the Marquess of Montross making new At∣tempts, was Surprized in Scotland; where with much In∣dignity he was brought to Execution, and Hanged on a Gibbet of extraordinary height, Dying with a Courage and Bravery suitable to that wherein he had Lived, and Quarters were set up in divers places. This being done in a full Treaty, greatly Displeased the King, because he had his Commission, and had acted in his Cause; but the necessity of his affairs, made him pass it over, and he Condescended to most of the Proposals.

The Parliament of England soon heard of their Treaty, and to prevent its taking effect, sent an Army under Cromwel into Scotland, and manning out a Fleet, Admiral Blake fell in with Prince Rupert's Squadron, sinking and burning most of the Ships he Commanded for the King; however matters being agreed on, the King hastened to Scotland, and Landed at Spey, where several Lords came to him; and the Town of Aberdeen presented him with 1500l. which so angered the Estates, that they strictly forbid all other Towns under great Penalties to do the like. And coming to Edenburg, he was a second time Pro∣claimed King, July 16. Anno 1650. But the English o∣verthrowing the Scots Army commanded by Montgomery at Muscleborough, his Coronation was put off till Ja∣nuary; when with much Solemnity he was Crown'd at Scone; and setting up his Standard at Aberdeen, made him self Generallissimo of the Scots Army, and Fortifying Sterling, he removed his Court thither.

Whilst these things passed, the English Parliament (as they pretended) found out several Plots against them, for which Sir Henry Hyde, and Capt. Brown Bushel were Be∣headed; and soon after, Mr. Gibbons, and Mr. Love, a Pres∣byterian Minister.

Cromwel perceiving he could not draw the Scots to a Battel, Transported 1600 Foot, and 4 Troops of Horse, over the Fife, who assisted by Lambert and Okey, routed Sir John Brown's Forces, killing about 2000 on the place, taking him and about 200 more Prisoners, and the King perceiving his Enemies prevail so fast in Scotland, calling a Council, it was agreed he should March into England, to try what Friends he had to assist him. But they came in very slowly, the Parliament having taken care before to prevent it, so that in a long March very few joyned him except the Lord Escreek's Son with a Troop of Horse, and the Earl of Derby with 250 Foot and 6 Horse; but whilst the King lingered by the way, Lambert being Guided o∣ver the Moors and Dales in Yorkshire, got before him, and Cromwel pursued hard after; yet after a sharp Dispute with Lambert, he gained the Pass of Warington-bridge, and sent to Coll. Mackworth to Surrender Shrewsbury, but he refused it; whereupon he marched to Worcester, and was recieved with much Joy into that place; but whilst he was Fortifying this Place, news came that the Earl of Derby who went to raise Forces in Lancashire, was over∣thrown by Lilburn, and most of his chief Commanders slain or taken Prisoners; and now the Trained-Bands from all parts gathering about Worcester, Cromwel and others came up with the Regular Forces, and Lambert gained the Pass at Ʋpton, where the Bridge was broke down, by swimming the River, and rescuing a Party of their Men besieged by Massey in a Church, and by this means beat the King's Party, and entirely gained the Pass; and Crom∣wel laid a Bridge of Boats over the River, but the King scorning to be cooped up with his Army, on the third of Sept. 1651, sallyed out of Worcester, and gave the Enemy Battle; but having Charged several times, and two Horses shot under him, over-powred by Numbers, he was forced to Retreat, but was closely pursued by the Parliament Forces, who thrust with his into the Town; and then the Cry being to Save the King, he had the good Luck to get away, with the Lord Wilmot; and coming to a Farmer's House on the edge of Stafford-shire, disguised himself, cutting

off his long black Hair with a Knife, for want of Scissars; and after that was Secured a while in Boscobel-house by the Pendrills, Hudstone a Priest, and some few others, that were thought fit to be made acquainted with his being there; but 1000l. being set upon him, and Search almost every where made, he narrowly Escaped one Evening, by getting out at the Back-door, into the Wood, whilst the Searchers were entring at the Fore-door; and there he made an Oak-Tree his Palace, which shelter'd him till the heat of the Search was over. And at length, by the means of Mrs. Jane Lane, for whose Servant he went, and passed by some of Oliver's Troopers as such. Af∣ter having escaped many Dangers, and passed through ma∣ny Difficulties, he Landed at New-Haven in France, from whence he went to his Mother then at the French Court. In this Battle about 3000 were Slain, but a far greater Number were taken Prisoners; and most of the Scots sold as Slaves here, and to the Plantations. Their Colours ta∣ken, were hung up in Triumph in Westminster-Hall; and the Earl of Derby who was taken at his Overthrow, was Beheaded at Bolton in Lancashire.

The Marquess of Ormond, and Lord Inchiqueen stand∣ing out in Ireland, levied considerable Forces for the King's Service, and the former Besieged Dublin with a Formidable Army, but being Negligent, and many of them raw Sol∣diers, Collonel Jones the Governour, Sallying first with a few, and then with the whole Garison, raised the Siege, and took almost all the Plunder of the Camp; afer which several other Towns were taken; and Cromwel coming over with a sufficient Force, took Drogheda, and divers other places; in many of which the bloody Irish were put to the Sword, unless such as by hiding, found means to Escape his Fury; and in three Years time Ireland was Qui∣eted and Reduced.

Scotland and Ireland being thus Reduced to the Obe∣dience of the Common-wealth of England, (as it was then stiled) the Parliament Resolved that Scotland shall be U∣nited to England, and Monarchy Abol••shed also in that Kingdom; and that Scotland shoul send up Deputies, in

such a Proportion as the Parliament should think meet, to represent them in the Parliament of England; which tho' the Kirk party opposed, was notwithstanding done. Af∣ter which follow'd an Act of Grace to all the People of England, pardoning whatever they had done, and all Ho∣stilities committed against the Parliament, provided they take the Engagement, which was, To be true and Faithful to the Common-wealth of England, as then Established, with∣out King or House of Lords.

No sooner were these things over, and all things seemed Quiet at Home, but our Young Common-wealth found new Occasion for the exercise of their Arms abroad: There had been for some time a Grudge between them and the Senior Common-wealth of Holland, occasion'd by the As∣sassination of their Agent Dr. Dorislaus there; and after∣wards by the Affronts put upon their Embassadors, Oliver St. John, and Walter Strickland, by the common People in Holland, insomuch that these Embassadors not thinking themselves sufficiently Vindicated by the States, came a∣way in great Discontent; and afterwards when the States sent Embassadors here to Excuse themselves, and to de∣sire a Pacification, they were answer'd with Demands of Reparation for their Herring-Fishing, and Question'd about the Business of Amboyna, and other things of that Nature, which made them go back re infecta. Upon this, the Hol∣landers resolving to be as Stout as they, set out a great Fleet for the Security of their Trade, under the Command of Van Trump: with instructions not to strike his Flag to the English Admiral, &c. Upon which, on the 17th of May, 1652. Van Trump came into Dover-road with 42 Sail of Men of War, and Blake the English Admiral encountred them with a far less Number, and tho' there was no great matter done on neither side, yet Van Trump had the worst of it, having had one Ship s••nk, and another taken, and about 150 men Slain; whereas the English had not any Ship disabled, and very few Men kill'd. But this bad be∣ginning did not so much Dishearten the Dutch, but in a little time, Van Trump was again at Sea, with 120 Men of War. But for all his haste, Blake was out before him

with 70 Men of War, and Sailed Northward to inter∣rupt the Dutch Fishing-Trade, and to look after five Dutch East-India Ships about that time expected Home: and in the mean time Sir George Ascough arriving in the Downs with the Barbadoes Fleet, brought ten Dutch Merchants Ships, and four Dutch Men of War along with him, whom he had taken in his way. Of which Trump having No∣tice, endeavoured to get between Sir George and the River, but by the changing of the Wind was Disappointed. Whereupon be returned to Holland to convey their East-Land Ships to the Sound; and in his way receiv'd advice that Blake had dispersed their Herring-Fishing, and taken 12 Men of War that Guarded them; upon which Trump sent part of his Ships to Guard the Merchant-men, and with the rest Sailed to find out Blake, who was about the Isles of Orkne••: But a terrible Storm arising, Trump's Fleet was so scattered that he came home but with 42 Sail; tho' most of the rest came in afterwards: But Blake came safe to Yarmouth with all his Fleet, and six of Trump's Fri∣gats that he had met with, and 900 Prisoners. In the Month of August following, Sir George Ayscough and De Ruyter Engaged each other; Sir George had several of his Captains wounded, and some Ships damaged, but not one Ship lost. What Loss the Dutch had, was not known. In October following was another Engagement on the side of the North-Foreland, between the Dutch Admiral De W••••, and Admiral Blake, wherein great Courage was shown on both sides; the Rear-Admiral of the Dutch was Board∣ed and Taken, and two more of their Ships were Sunk, and one Blo••n up: So that the Dutch made what haste they could to get off; and were pursu'd by the English Fleet within 12 Leagues of the Maeze. After which, the English having preserv'd all their Ships, tho' some were much Damag'd, return'd into the Downs in Triumph. The Hogen-Mogeans finding that if they went on at this Rate, they were like to be reduc'd to poor distressed States again, resolve to re-inforce their Fleet considerably, the King of Denmark (whom they had Solicited to take their Part) promising to assist them with 20 Ships of War, provided

they restore Van Trump to his place of Admiral again. Which they readily agreed to, and prevail'd with Trump again to accept it. With this Reinforcement, Van Trump being restor'd to his office of Admiral, got together a Fleet of 80 Men of War, and 10 Fire-ships, with which he Sail'd to the back-side of the Goodwin,; and Blake was in the Downs with few more than 40 Men of War; who hearing that Van Trump was coming to Fight him, resolved not to refuse the Engagement, and therefore Hoised up his Sails to find out Trump, and sent out seven Ships to discover his Fleet, which were met by nine of the Dutch, sent out up∣on the same Errand: These meeting, first began the Fight; and the two Admirals hearing the Cannon, quickly ad∣vanc'd at the head of their Squadrons, the Fight being very furious, and lasting from two in the Morning till six in the Evening, on the 29th of November. Tho' this Battel was fought with much Fury on both sides, yet the Dutch carried the Day by their Numbers: In this Fight the En∣glish had two Ships taken, one Burnt, and three Sunk; the Dutch (who had no great cause to boast) had a Flag-ship blown up, and all the Mariners and Soldiers therein Lost, but two; and several of their Ships very much Damaged. It is said, That upon this Defeat, Van Trump in a Trium∣phant manner, Sailed through the Channel with a Broom on his Main-Top-Mast, as if he had swept the Channel of all English Ships. But it was not long before they were even with him again; for the Parliament having added Ge∣neral Monk and General Dean to Admiral Blake; in Fe∣bruary following with 60 Men of War, fell upon the Dutch who were 76 Men of War, and had the Charge of 300 Merchants Ships to convey home-wards, and a furious Fight for three days Successively, ensued; in which the Dutch lost eleven Men of War, and 30 Merchants Ships; and no less than 1500 Men kill'd: But of the English, many Ships were ••••atter'd, there was but one Sunk (the Sampson) but the Captain and most of the Men Sav'd: The number of the English slain in the Fight, were very near as ma∣ny as those of the Enemy.

About this time the Duke of Glouoester was sent by the Parliament (who had kept him in the Isle of Wight, ever since his Father was Beheaded) to Dunkirk, whence he was Conducted to the Princess of Orange his Sister at Bre∣da; and after he had ben there a little time, he went to Paris to his Brother and his Mother.

On the 20th of April following, General Cromwel, with M. G. Lambert, and M. G. Harrison, and some few more of the Officers of the Army, went to Westminster, and en∣tred the Parliament-House while they were sitting, and after a short Speech made by Cromwel, declaring the Ne∣cessity there was for Dissolving them, he declared them to be Dissolved, and required them to Depart; but the Speak∣er was unwilling to leave the Chair, till Harrison took him out by the Arm, and Cromwel commanded the Mace to be taken away, and not to be carried before him any more; and caused the Doors of the Parliament-House to be Lock∣ed, and a good Guard to be placed there, to prevent the Assembling of any of the Members. And then in the room of this Rump-Parliament thus Dissolved, a Council of State was Constituted, consisting of the chief Officers of the Ar∣my, and such of the Members of the late Parliament as they had a Kindness for; and in this Council of State the Supreme Authority of the Nation was said to Consist, and Obedience thereunto required, as fully as to the Parliament, when Sitting, and Judges, Sheriffs, Justices, &c. and all other Civil Officers, to act in their respective Offices as before, till a new Representative should be chosen.

The Dutch thought this Change might be to their Ad∣vantage; but they found themselves mistaken; for the new Governours omitted nothing that might advance their Ma∣ritime Preparations, and fitted out the Fleet with great application, and with such Success, that tho' one of the English Generals (Dean) was slain in the Fight, yet the Dutch were again Defeated, six of their best Ships being Burnt, and two bl••wn up, and eleven Ships and two Hoys taken; and 1350 Prisoners, whereof Six were Captains of very good Note; and of the Ships that were taken, one was a Vice-admiral, and two were Rear-admirals. The

English had not one Ship lost or disabled; and (except General Dean) but one Captain slain.

And now a new Parliament was Summoned, chosen by Cromwel out of the Several Counties of England, of the most Religious and Sanctified Persons he could Nominate: This was called the Little-Parliament; and indeed they did Little, exept it were making an Act against Tythes, and an Act for Marriages by a Justice of Peace; and then being weary of their Power, they gave it up to Oliver who had given it to them. And now another sort of Go∣vernment comes next: For the Officers of the Army had drawn up a new System, and presented it to Oliver, desi∣ring him to take the Government upon him, under the Title of Protector of the Common-wealth of England, Scot∣land, and Ireland: He at first made a shew of refusing it, (tho' every one believ'd there was nothing that he desir'd more) but being further pressed to it, he accepted of it, and was that afternoon install'd at Westminster.

Tho' the Dutch had been already severely beaten, and were extreamly Solicitous for a Peace, yet that they might get the better Terms, they resolved to try the Fortune of War once more; which yet prov'd more in-auspicious to them than the former, for in the next Battel, which was on the 29th of July, 1653. Admiral Van Trump was Slain, and 33 Sail of Ships sunk to the bottom of the Ocean, out of which 1200 men were Sav'd by the English, taken up out of Boats, and swimming in the Sea. This was so great a Mortification to the Dutch, that the States were afraid of a general Revolt: And therefore they forthwith apply'd themselves to Oliver for a Peace, which in the Infancy of his new Government, he was willing to Grant upon rea∣sonable Terms; tho' they were reduc'd to so low a Con∣dition that he might have made what Terms he pleas'd. The Success the English had against the Dutch, made other Nations fear Cromwel. The Spanish Ambassador coming early to Congratulate his Authority, and the Portugals came in a Splendid Embassy to sue for Peace: Nor were the French backward to own his Power. So that he had now no apprehension of Trouble, but only from the Royalists; to

suppress whom, a Plot was soon after found out of seve∣ral Persons for an intended Assassination of the Protector, and several Persons Executed for it. The King about this time went into Germany, and Solicited several of the Prin∣ces there for assistance, but with little Success. Ireland being wholly reduc'd to Obedience, the Marquess of Or∣mond, and the Lord Inchiqueen having timely withdrawn themselves and Embarqued for France, an Itinerant High Court of Justice was set up, and several of the chief Rebels that began the Massacre in Forty-One, were Try'd and Executed for the same, among which, that notorious Villain Sir Philem O Neal, was Hang'd and Quarter'd, and his Head plac'd upon Dublin-bridge. Some attempts for a ri∣sing having been made by several of the Nobility of Scot∣land, they were utterly Defeated by General Monk, who was made Commander in chief of that Kingdom. And now the Protector having (according to the Articles of Govern∣ment) called a Parliament, who beginning to Question the Power by which they were called, they were soon dis∣solved again, and several of the Royalists taken up about a new Conspiracy. The Protector about this time having a mind to some of the Spaniards Indian-Gold, sent a Fleet and Army to surprize Hispaniola, in the West-Indies, but sailing in that attempt by the ill Conduct of General Ve∣nablers, they went from thence to the Island of Jamaica, which they took, and which has continued ever since in the Power of the English, being now a very rich and flou∣rishing Plantation. And General Blake being with his Fleet in the Streights, and coming before Tunis, and send∣ing to the Governour to demand Satisfaction for the Wrongs done by their People to the English, and that the English Captives there might be deliver'd to him, had return'd for answer, That their Castles of Guletto and Porta Ferina were both well Mann'd and furnished with Ordnance, and therefore they did not fear him: Where∣upon Blake with his great Ships, and their Seconds, came into the Bay of Porta Ferina, within Musquet-shot of the Castle, and fired with such fury upon them, notwithstand∣ing the frequent Discharges of sixty Great Guns upon his

Ships, that in two Hours the Castle was made Defenceless, and all their Guns dismounted; at the same time Burning Nine of their Ships which he found in the Road. This Noble Action strook such a Terror not only upon Tunis, (who were willing then to Submit to Blakes Proposals) but also upon Algeirs and Tri••ol••, that they quickly came to a Treaty, and a Peace was made very much to the Ad∣vantage of the English. About this time there having been an horrible Massacre made upon the Poor Protestants of Piedmont, by the Command of the Duke of Savoy, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the instigation of the Popish Priests and Jesuits; the Protector espous'd their Quarrel, and not only sent to the Duke on their behalf, causing his Edict against them to be recall'd, but likewise caus'd a solemn Day of Humiliation to be kept, and vast Sums of Money Collected throughout all England for their Relief, and sent it (or at least part of it) by Sir Samuel Moreland to them; which made Oliver be look'd upon abroad as the great Patron of the Reformed Religion. Upon the War made with Spain, by the attempt upon H••∣spaniola and Jamaica, before-mentioned, a Peace ensued with France; by which (among other Articles, the King and his Royal Brothers were excluded that Kingdom.) After which, Rear-Admiral Stayner with a part of the English Fleet, set upon eight Spanish Ships within four Leagues of the Bay of Cadiz, the Admirals Ship, in which was General Don Marco del Porto with 600000 pieces o•• Eight, ran ashore in the Bay, the Vice-Admiral Command∣ed by Don Francisco de Esquevel, and having in he•• 1200000 pieces of Eight was taken, as was also another Ship Commanded by Don Rodiques Calderon; both the•• were set on Fire, one by the Spaniards themselves, to prevent their being made Prisoners, and the other by accident▪ Two other very rich Ships were taken and kept; and sever•• of the Spanish Nobles being taken, were brought up t•• London; but Oliver being satisfied with the Treasure tak•• in the Ships, dealt very Generously with the Spanish Noble•• and after a small time of detaining them here, sent the•••• home without Ransom. The next Year General Bla•••• lying with some Ships near Cadiz, to watch for they

turn of the Spanish Plate-Fleet, had intelligence that they were put into the Bay of Santa-Cruz, and sailing thither, he discern'd the Spanish Fleet, to the number of sixteen, bar∣ricado'd in the Bay; but this did not hinder Blake, but that the next Morning he sailed into the Bay, and whilst some of his Ships pour'd their Broad-sides into the Ca∣stles and Forts, he and Stayner fought the Spanish Fleet, and obtained an intire Victory; but perceiving he could not bring away the Spoil, set them all on Fire, but one that was Sunk. But that which is most wonderful in this Noble Action was, That the Wind which blew strong in∣to the Bay, after the Fight was over veer'd suddenly about to the West, and brought out all our Ships safe to Se••. This News was so grateful to Oliver, that he sent Blake a Jewel of 500l. with Gratuities to the rest of the Officers. After this Cromwel called another Parliament, which would fain have had him taken the Title of King upon him; but he declining it, he was by the Parliament solemnly inve∣sted in th Protectorial Dignity in Westminster-Hall. But the Royalists yet gave him some farther Disturbance by their Endeavours to restore the King; tho' they were un∣happily betray'd, and several of them Executed, among whom were Sir Henry Slingsby, and Dr. Hewet, with se∣veral others of less Note. In pursuance of the Peace for∣merly concluded with France, the English and French For∣ces laid Siege to Dunkirk, which the Spaniards endeavour∣ing to relieve, were totally routed, and Dunkirk soon af∣ter taken, and put into the possession of the English. And now on the fatal third of September, in the Year 1658. O∣liver Cromwel Dyed, in the Sixty-third Year of his Age, and the Fifth of his Protector-ship: He was Born in Hun∣tington, and was the Son of a second Brother of Sir Oliver Cromwel, of Huntington-shire; his Mother was the Daugh∣ter of Sir Richard Stewart of the Isle of Ely; and his Wife was Elizabeth the Daughter of Sir James Bourchier: By whom he had Issue three Sons, of which one Died ••oung, and four Daughters. By his Reputation in Arms, he was Courted or Feared by most of the Princes of Eu∣rope; he was a Man of singular Courage and Resolution,

attended with very great Success; and kept his Army un∣der him in so exact and strict a Discipline, that they seem'd rather a Body of well-govern'd Citizens, than an Army of Soldiers: Swearing, Drunkenness, and Profaneness, the common Vices of other Camps, were not to be found in his. His desire of Glory excited him to make attempts in other Countries, by which a great Renown accrued to our Nation in all parts of the World. In short, had he not been a Ʋsurper, he might have been compar'd with the best of our Princes: but his Usurpation, and the in∣direct means he used to obtain his Power, spoil'd all his Good Qualities.

After his Death, his Son Richard was Proclaimed Pro∣tector, but he enjoy'd his Power but a short time, the Army calling again the Rump Parliament, which strait-way put an end to his Protector-ship; and now the Stone began to rowl, it stayed not there, for Sir George ••oth having raised some Forces for the King in Cheshire, and being subdued by Lambert, Lambert turned the Rump out a∣gain, and set up a Committee of Safety in Order to the setting up himself; to prevent which, General Monk in Scotland declares for the Rump, and comes with his Army into England to restore them; and having effected that, brought in again those Members that had been Secluded by the Army before the Tryal of the late King: These Members being restored, issued out Writs for the Calling of a New Parliament, to meet the 25th of April follow∣ing, and so dissolved themselves. The King, who had No∣tice of all these Proceedings, with drew himself out of the Spanish Territories, and went to Breda, from whence (at the opening of Parliament) he sent over a Declaration, promising Liberty of Conscience, Pardon to all Offenders, and Satisfaction to all Interests. Upon the reading where∣of, the Parliament unanimously Voted, That a Message be sent to his Majesty, to thank him for his Gacious De∣claration, and to desire him to return to his Kingdom; which he did upon the 29th of May following, being received with the Universal Joy and Acclamations of his People. Soon after which, several of those that had sate

in the High Court of Justice for the Tryal of his Father, were themselves Tryed and Executed: Of which Num∣ber were Thomas Harrison, Hugh Peters, Daniel Axtell, John Cook, Thomas Scot, Gregory Clemont, John Jones, John Carew, and Adrian Scroop, who Suffered, some at Cha∣ring-Cross, and some at Tyburn. The Bishops were also now restored to their Diocesses, and the Common-Prayer Ordered again to be Read in Churches.

But now an over-cast of Sorrow happened; for the Vir∣tuous Princess, Mary, Princess of Orange, coming over to see her Brother now settled in his Throne, fell Sick of the Small-Pox and Dyed. And in January after the King's Return, one Venner a Wine-Cooper, with divers other De∣sperate Persons, fell upon the City of London, being op∣posed, many on both sides were Slain, and the rest being taken or dispersed, Venner, with eleven more, were Try∣ed, Condemned, and Executed in divers places of the City. And on the 30th of January, the Carcasses of Cromwel, Bradshaw, and Ireton, were taken out of their Graves, conveyed to Tyburn, and Hanged up for several Hours, then their Bodies buried under the Gallows, and their Heads set on Westminster-Hall. And soon after the Duke of Gloucester, the King's youngest Brother, a Prince of great Hopes, and a firm Protestant, Dyed; and on the 23d. of April 1661, being St. George's Day, the King was Crown∣ed at Westminster with much Solemnity and Splendor, ha∣ving the Day before made a magnificent Cavalcade from the Tower of London to White-Hall. The Army here∣upon was Disbanded, and the Parliament in Ireland Dissol∣ved, every thing appearing in a tendency to a lasting Set∣tlement, by a good Understanding between Prince and Peo∣ple: For the Parliament that had been Assembled, being Dis∣solved, and another called, the Peers were restored to their Antient Priviledges, and the Militia declared to be Vested in the King as his right. The like was also declared by the Parliament of Scotland, who resigned the solemn League and Covenant, and passed an Act for the Attainder of the Marquess of Argyle, upon divers Crimes laid to his Charge, whereupon being brought to his Tryal and Condemned,

he lost his Head, much Lamented by the greater part of that Kingdom.

About this time a Convocation in England was assembled to adjust and settle matters of Religion; and soon after the solemn League and Covenant, which the KING had taken in Scotland, was burnt by the common Hang-man in London and Westminster, and then all over the Nation; and a pretended Act for the Tryal of King Charles the first; used in the same manner in Westminster-Hall.

The French and Spanish Ambassadors being at Court, upon Notice of the arrival of the Broh Ambassador, ex∣traordinary from Sweeden with their Coaches went to receive him at his publick Entry on Tower-hill, and con∣tending for precedency, a sharp Encounter happened; some were killed and divers Wounded; The Spaniard obtaining the better, by the help of some English, who for good Re∣wards (tho' the King expresly by his Proclamation forbid any of his Subjects to intermeddle) dressed themselves in Spanish Habits; which Encounter, had not the King inter∣ceeded as Mediator, had at that time in all Likelihood created a War between the two Nations, as being highly Resented at either Court. James, Duke of Ormond, being made Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and another Parliament called there, that long harassed Kingdom, was brought to a good Settlement. And now a Match being Negoti∣ated in the Court of Portugal between the King and Donna Catharina, Infanta of that Kingdom, her Dowry was set∣tled, and in Lieu thereof, the English had Tangier, which became afterwards a great Charge to the Nation, without any Profit: So that the Earl of Peterborough having taken Possession of that place on the Continent of Africa for the King, the Lady came over Royally attended, and the King going to Portsmouth, was there Married to her with much Pomp by the Bishop of London; and afterwards came to White-Hall, and was Joyfully received.

Sir Henry Vane, and John Lambert being Tryed and found Guilty of Treason, for things done before the Re∣storation, being excepted out of the Act of Indemnity, the former was Beheaded, but the latter Reprieved, and

kept in Prison till he Died: and Archibald Johnson, Lord Warrestone being taken beyond the Sea, and brought over, was Sentenced as a Traytor by the Parliament of Scotland, and Executed on a Gibbit at Edenborough 22 Foot high. A Conspiracy being timely Discovered in Ireland, divers were Imprisoned, and some Executed, which altogether dashed their further Intentions and kept the Kingdom in Quiet a considerable time. And in the North of England, another much about the same time being discovered, one Gibbons, and Baker were Tryed, found Guilty, and Ex∣ecuted, whereupon the rest Dispersed.

The Commons in Parliament having Voted the King a Supply of 2500000l, great Naval Preparations were made, which caused our Neighbours the Dutch to fear a Storm, and therefore they thought it convenient to provide for their Safety; and indeed, a Misunderstanding happening between both Nations, an Order of Council was made, giving Letters of Reprisal against them, and about 112 Sail were taken by our Frigats, Men of War, &c. most of them being adjudged Lawful Prizes; and hereupon the King set out his Declaration, touching his Proceedings for Re∣paration from the Subjects of the States: Whilst these things were doing, a Dutchman, under the Disguise of a Sweed, coming from Guinea, publickly reported De Ruyt∣ter the Dutch Commander, had Destroyed all the English in the Factories on that Coast, which for a time caused much Consternation among the Merchants trading thither, but it proving False, he was Sentenced and Whipt through London. However, the Parliament being Prorogued, War was Proclaimed on the 2d of March 1664, and a General Fast succeeded, for a Blessing on the King's Forces to be employed against them; and De Ruyter attempting with his Fleet to Plunder the English Plantation of Barbadoes in the West-Indies, was beaten off; but whilst many En∣counters happened at Sea, a worse Calamity befell at Land; for by reason of the great Heat in the Spring, and but lit∣tle cool breathing Winds to purge and purify the Air, a∣bout the beginning of May, 1665, a Plague began fearful∣ly to Rage, so that in London that Year 97306 Persons of

all Degrees dyed; and of these were accounted 68596, of the Plague. However the War was carryed on with great Vigour, and on the 3d of June, the Duke of York being Admiral of the English Navy, the two Fleets en∣gaged, and after a long and obstinate Fight which conti∣nued many Hours, bloody and doubtful, the Dutch gave way, and such as got off stood to their own Coast: The English having taken, burnt, sunk, and shattered about thirty of their Ships, and slain and taken Prisoners about 8000; tho' not without Loss considerable on our own part, which was chiefly occasioned by most of the great Ships crouding about the Admiral, to screen him from the Fury of the Enemy, and prevent his being laid on Board by Fire∣ships: Those English of Note who lost their Lives in this Engagement were the Earls of Falmouth, Portland, Marl∣borough, and the Lord Muskery, Sir John Lawson dyed of his Wounds soon after, and 2063 Dutch Prisoners were brought to Colchester, whereof 13 were Commanders. Here∣upon a publick Thanksgiving was performed for this Vi∣ctory: the King likewise Conferred the Honour of Knight∣hood on such Sea-Commanders as had eminently Signalized their Courage and Conduct in the Action.

The Plague still continuing to Rage, a Fast was Pro∣claimed solemnly to be held every first Wednesday in the Month▪ till it should cease; and Fires were continued in the Streets of London and Westminster for three Days and Nights, to purify the Air; whilst the King &c made his progress through the greater part of England, the two Houses of Parliament attending him at Christ-Church in Oxford; and upon his laying before them them the ne∣cessity of a supply to maintaine the charges of the War, the Commons Voted him 1250000l. And Michaelmas Term by Proclamation was Adjournd from Westminster to that City: But the Plague abating, the Parliament and Courts of Judicature returned to Westminster, as did the King and Queen.

The French King envying the growing greatness of the English, more than any love he had for the Dutch [as it afterward plainly appeared] Joyned with them and was

soon answered in the same Language at the Instigation of others.

The Fleets being abroad, Prince Rupert, and the Duke of Albermarle, then Joynt-Admirals of the English, the latter with a Squadron of fifty Ships, the former being to the Westward with the rest, engaged 80 of the Dutch on the Coast of Flanders, and maintained the Fight two Days; when on the third, Prince Rupert coming in, the Fight continued very Bloody, till the Evening, with much Loss on both sides; and then the Dutch stood away to their own Coast. In this Fight the Royal Prince was stranded on the Galloper, and burnt by the Dutch: Sir George Ascough, who Commanded her, being taken Priso∣ner and carryed into Holland. About six or seven Weeks after, there happened another Sea-Fight, and the English chased the Dutch to their own Coasts, and on the 7th of August, Sir Robert Holms burnt divers Dutch Merchants Ships in the Fly, and the Town of Baudaris upon the I∣sland of Scheling, and four French Men of War salling in with our Fleet, mistaking it in Foggy-weather for the Dutch, one of them of 54 Guns was taken.

On the Second of September, 1666, being Sunday, began the dreadful Fire of London, at one Faringdons, a Baker's House in Pudding-Lane, the back-side of Fish-street-hill: It continued Burning until Wednesday Night fol∣lowing, and that time destroyed the greatest part of the City. But the best Account of it being Engraven on the North-side of the Monument Erected in the perpetual Remembrance thereof, take as followeth;

In the Year of Christ 1666, the second Day of Sep∣tember, Eastward from hence, at the Distance of Two hundred and two foot (the heighth of this Column) a terrible Fire broke out about Midnight; which dri∣ven on by a high Wind, not only wasted the adjacent Parts, but also very remote Places, with incredible noise and fury. It consumed eighty nine Churches, the City-Gates, Guildhall, many publick Structures, Hospitals, Schools, Libraries, a vast Number of stately Edifices, Thir∣teen thousand two hundred Dwelling-houses, four hun∣dred

Streets. Of the six and twenty Wards it utterly destroy'd fifteen, and left eight other shattered and half burnt. The Ruins of the City were four hundred thir∣ty six Acres, from the Tower by the Thames side to the Temple-Church, and the North-East Gate along the City-Wall to Holbourn-Bridge. To the Estates and For∣tunes of the Citizens it was merciless, but to their Lives very favourable, that it might in all things resemble the last Conflagration of the World. The Destruction was sudden, for in a small space of time the same City was seen most flourishing, and reduced to nothing. Three days after, when this fatal Fire had baffled all humane Counsels and Indeavours in the Opinion of all, it stopt as it were by a Command from Heaven, and was on e∣very side extinguished.

This Dreadful Fire was both begun and carried on by Papists, as appeared by Hubert's own Confession, who was Executed at Tyburn for the same; and also by se∣veral Depositions given in to the Parliament: Where∣upon the following Inscription was Engraven round about the Pedestal of the Monument, viz.

This Pillar was set

[illustration] depiction of a pillar

up in perpetual Re∣membrance of the most dreadful Burn∣ing of this Protestant City, begun & carried on by the Treachery and Malice of the Po∣pish Faction, in the beginning of Septem∣ber in the Year of our Lord, 1666, in Order to the carrying on their horrid Plot, for Extirpating the Protestant Religion, and Old English Li∣berty, and in••••odu∣cing Popery and Sla∣very.

Which Inscription being Razed out in K. James's Reign, was set up again since the late Revolution.

And now large Supplies were Voted the King by the Parliament, and War declared against Denmark, and a ship of 52 Guns belonging to that Crown, taken on the Coast of Scotland, whilst Capt. Robinson took and destroyed three Dutch Men of War near the Tex••l.

A Rebellion breaking out in Scotland, Forces were sent thither, which put 1500 of the Rebels to Rout, and some of the Ring-Leaders being taken were Executed, which put an end to that Disturbance; and an Act passed for the speedy Re-building the City of London. The Dutch at∣tempting Burnt-Island in Scotland were beaten off, but their whole Fleet coming to an Anchor in the Gun-fleet, and finding us altogether unprepared, several of their Fri∣gats entered Chatham, and the Thames River, and burnt several Ships, tho' with the Loss of two of their own: But Sir John Harman with 16 Sail engaged 30 French Men of War near Martinego, and burnt and Sunk the greater part of them. Whereupon at a Treaty held at Breda, all sides grown weary of War, a Peace was Con∣cluded with France, Denmark, and the States General, which was Solemnly Proclaimed, and soon after with Spain And upon the Address of the Commons, the Laws were put in Execution against Recusants, and Assemblies of Noncon∣formists, with much Heats for a considerable time.

In the beginning of 1668, Great Tumults happened in the Suburbs of London, by an Insurrection of Apprenti∣ces, and ill Persons joyning with them, so that much mis¦chief was done under pretence of pulling down Bawdy-H••••¦ses, upon which eight were Condemned for High-Treason and four of them Executed. The Duke of Albemar•••• dying, the King undertook the Charge of his Funeral which was very Magnificent, being Interred in Westmin¦ster-Abbey. And the same Year Dyed Mary, the Quee•• Mo••••er of England, at Columb•• in France; and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Dutchess of Orleance, the King's Sister, coming over to V••¦sit him, after a short stay, she upon her Return dyed at S•• Cl••••s in ••rance.

There being now Peace near Home, the King resolve to Chastize the Algerines for their Insolency, and in O••¦der

to it sent Sir Thomas Allen with a strong Squadron of Men of War, who took and sunk divers of their Ships, and compelled them to renew the Peace they had lately broken, and to deliver up a great Number of the English Captives. And much about the same time Coll. Blood, with other Accomplices Gagg'd the Keeper of the Jewel-House in the Tower, took away the Crown, and had car∣ried it off, had not speedy pursuit been made; and be∣ing Imprisoned for this, whilst the People were expecting what Punishment would be inflicted on him for so unpre∣sidented a Crime, the King freely pardoned him. And now Orders were given out, upon view, for the Repairing and better Fortifying all the Sea-ports; for the King very much resenting some new Affronts put upon him by the States-General of the United Netherlands, a second War began to Threaten; but Money being wanting, which is the main Engine and Sinews of War, the Exchequer was shut up, which caused a general Murmurring, and much Loss to many People. To palliate this, the King decla∣red, That nothing could have moved him to it, but only the looking upon his Government under the Threatning of the States-General and other Neighbouring Princes, without his appearing in the same Posture; but seeing the Necessity was inevitable, It was needful that some extra∣ordinary Course should be taken till Money could be o∣therways procured. After this, the King published a De∣claration of Indulgence, to such as Dissented from the E∣stablished Religion. And now the War being fully resolved on, Sir Robert Holms, who was cruising with five Frigats, about the Isle of Wight, fell in with the Dutch Smyrna-Fleet, and other Ships coming from the Streights under the Convoy of six Men of War, between whom there happened a smart Engagement, upon their refusing to strike and low∣er their Flags, which continued till Night, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the next Morning renewed, and five rich Dutch Merchant-men were taken, and their Rear-Admiral (for want of more Assistance) sunk; and the rest got home. This first blow given, War was Declared, the French King joyning with us in it, being Obliged by the Treaty to send a

Squadron of his best Ships, which was Commanded by the Count d' Estree•• as were the English by the Duke of York; and standing over to the Coast of Holland, a fierce Engagement soon happened, with much Effusion of Blood on both sides; for either part being Emulous of Honour, fought with extraordinary Eagerness, till at last the Dutch stood away to their own Coast, and the English after them as near as they could for the Shallows; but under the shelter of a Fogg they got into their Harbours. In this Fight the English lost the Noble Earl of Sandwich, and the Royal James; and long they had not lain on the Flemish Coast, but the Dutch Recruited and came out a∣gain; but after two other Engagements, with much Loss on either side, a Peace was concluded; and the King here∣upon became Mediator for the like Accommodation between the Crowns of France and Spain, labouring by his Embas∣sadors, to compose the Differences between them, Com∣manding at the same time his Subjects not to enter into the Service of any Foreign Prince without his Leave.

The Parliament now sitting, gave the King 584900l. for the speedy Building thirty Ships of War; whereup∣on he resolved to enter into an Allyance with some Prin∣ces abroad, that they might be able to put a stop to the Torrent of the French King's Conquests in Flanders. And to render the Union stricter, he Married the Lady Mary, his Neice, and eldest Daughter to his brother, to the Prince of Orange, and proceeded to raise Forces; so that in a short time he had a considerable Army on Foot, and the Parliament promised, That if the King would enter into an actual War with the French King, they would stand by him with their Lives and Fortunes. So that finding the French King still went on with his Conquests, King Charles delayed not to send several Regiments to the Aid of th•• Confederates in Flanders, and laid a Prohibition on Fr••••ch Goods. Hereat the French King being some∣what Startled, hoping to break the Measures of England, made Proposals of Peace to the Dutch; and they Under∣standing that the Parliament had taken up a Resolution to give no more Money till Satisfaction was first had, and

their Fears and Jealousies removed; and not thinking for this Cause fit to rely on England, since the Misunderstand∣ings rendred it no longer it self, did clap up a Peace in a very short time; and the rest of the Confederates follow∣ed their Example. However, before the Peace could be Ratified, the French took several Towns, and at last Be∣sieged Mons, this made the King Command the Duke of Monmouth, and Earl of Ossory, to joyn the English Forces under their Command with the Prince of Orange, who so bravely Behaved themselves, that they forced the Duke of Luxemburg's Camp, and raised the Siege, with the Slaugh∣ter of some Thousands of French, and had done greater things if all Hostilities had not thereupon been stopped.

Things being thus settled Abroad, greater Disturbances threatned at Home; for about this time a wicked design was discovered to take away the King's Life, and involve the whole Nation in Blood and Ruin, which was carried on for a considerable time by the Papists. The first Dis∣coverer was Titus Oats, but his Evidence was little Cre∣dited till such time as Sir Edmundbury Godfrey, who had taken Oats's Depositions, was found Murthered at Prim∣rose-Hill with a Sword run through his Body, tho' by a visible Mark about his Neck, it appeared he had been Strangled: So that this giving a sufficient Ground of Belief, (Oats's Evidence being also further Corroborated, by Letters found in the Custody of Edw. Coleman, Secre∣tary to the Duke of York) the Parliament proceeded strictly to Enquire into the matter; so that the Commons often sat from Morning till Night, to Consult how to Prevent the Danger, and make a thorow Discovery; and having Vo∣ted and entred into their Journal, That it was their O∣pinions, that there had been and was an Execrable and Hellish Design carried on by the Papists, for Assassina∣ting the King, Subverting of the Government, and De∣stroying the Protestant Religion. A Proclamation was ••ssued out for Banishing Papists and reputed Papists ten Miles from the City of London and Westminster; and all Roman-Ca∣tholicks were turned out of the Guards, and the Parliament Addressed the King, That the Duke of York might be

removed from his Presence, and Counsels. But the last was not Granted.

And now divers Persons being taken up and Imprison∣ed, on the account of this Plot, one Staly a Goldsmith's Son in Convent-Garden, was first Executed for saying, He would kill the King; then Edw. Coleman, the Duke of York's Secretary; then Ireland, Pickering, Grove, White∣bread, ••enwick, Gawen, Langhurn, and others, as Concern∣ed in the Plot; and Green, Berry, and Hill being ac∣cused by Prance and Bedlow, for the Murther of Sir Ed∣mund-bury Godfrey, were Tryed at the King's-Bench-bar, Condemned and Executed. And then the Commons called the Lord Treasurer to an Account, who had been accu∣sed by Mr. Mountague sometimes the King's Embassador at the French Court, for holding a private Correspon∣dence with France, but he relying on the King's Pardon, the Business ••nded in a long Imprisonment in the Tower, after much stir had been made about it. And the King in Hopes the better to please the Commons, and satisfie the Nation in General, new modell'd his Council, making it to consist of 30 Persons, Fifteen of them to be Certain, and the rest to be Elective at pleasure, ten out of the No∣bility, and five Commoners, besides a Lord-President, a Secretary of Scotland, and such of the Princes of the Blood-Royal as should be at Court; with which the next Day he acquainted the Parliament; and of this Council the Earl of Shaftsbury was made President.

But notwirh••••anding this Alteration in the Council, it had not the desired effect which the King intended; for the Parliament were still solicitous in searching to the bot∣tom of the Popish Plot and the more effectually to do it, voted, That the Duke of York's being a Papist, and the hopes of his coming as such to the Crown, have given the great∣est countenance and encouragement to the designs of the Papists, &c. And therefore ordered a Bill of Exclusion of the Duke of York from the Sucession of the Crown, to be brought in. But the King and the Dukes party were for offering Expedients for securing the Protestant Religi∣on, tho' the Duke should come a Papist to the Crown.

But this would not content the Commons. And there a∣rising some heats between the Lords and Commons about the Bishops Voting in Capital Cases, the King thinking he could expect but little from them, Prorogued them to a more convenient season; but in a little time after dissol∣ved them, and called another, which he hoped to find more to his purpose. But during the interval of the Parliament, Sir George Wakeman was tryed for the Popish Plot, and acquitted, before the Lord Chief Justice Scroges, whose carriage was so different in this Tryal from what it had been in those before, that he was shrewdly suspected to have some very feeling Reasons for it: For after this Tryal, Scrogs was more violent against Oats and the Whigs, than he had been before against the Papists. And now there was set on foot a new Popish Plot to sham the old one, and put a Plot upon the Presbyterians; which was called The Meal-Tub Plot; (the Papers relating to it being found under Madam Celiers Meal-tub) the design whereof was, To leave Papers and Libels of dangerous things against the Government in the Houses of the most Eminent persons active in the Discovery of the Popish Plot, by them called Presbyterians, and then to inform the Go∣vernment that such persons where these papers were left, were dangerous persons to the King and Goverment; up∣on which their Houses being search'd, and these papers found there, it should have been sufficient evidence to condemn them. The Tryal how this would do, was first made upon Colonel Mansfel, a worthy Gentelman, who was Prosecuted for it, but the examination of it being left to Sir William Jones the Attorney-General, his Report was, That Mansfel was innocent, and Dangerfield (at that time the Papists Tool, and who had left the Papers in Mansfels Lodgings) was guil∣ty: Upon which Dangerfield was committed to Prison, where he mad ae thorow discovery of this cursed intreague; and Sir Wil. Jones was turn'd out of his place, for his honest Report. And indeed from this time forward, the Duke of York and his Creatures ruled all things under the King, so that now the whole Design of the Government seem'd to be to sham the Popish-Plot, and set up another in it's room,

against all the honest Gentlemen in the Nation. For the Parliament having oppos'd the Duke's Succession, his De∣sign was to destroy all those Gentlemen that were active against Popery, and to bring Popery in, Per fas & ne fas. And this appear'd plainly, not only in Scotland, where the Duke reign'd as High-Commissioner, and by whose Means the Earl of Argyle was Try'd, Condemn'd and design'd to be Executed, had he not Providentially made his E∣scape, but in England also; as appear'd by Dangerfield's Evidence first, and afterwards by Fitz-Harris his Plot: For after several Prorogations of the Parliament before they sat, viz. from the 17th of October 1679. to the 21th of October, 1680, they then sat; but found things had been carried on so high against the Interest of the Nation, by a sort of Men that were called Tories, and that joyn'd with the Popish Party to stifle the Popish-Plot, and in advancing Arbitrary Power, declaring their Abhorrence of Petitioning the King for the sitting of the Parliament, that they resolved to make Examples of some of them, Voting against Sir George Jefferies, Sir Francis Withens, and some others; who were preferr'd by the Court, for being against the Interest of the People: In this Parlia∣ment, after a full Hearing by the House of Lords, the Lord Stafford, one of the Popish Lords in the Tower, was found Guilty of High-Treason, Condemn'd and Execu∣ted. But the Parliament being high for the Bill of Exclu∣sion, it having Passed the House of Commons, the King first P••orogued, and soon after Dissolved them. But presently issues out Writs for calling another at Oxford the 21th of March following, which was 1681. In the mean time, one Fitz-Harris an Irishman, speaks to Everard his Coun∣trey-man, and one of the Discoverers of the Popish-plot, to write him a villanous Libel against the King and the Duke; this Libel was to be Printed, and put into the Pockets of the most Active Men in the Kingdom against Popery, both Lords and Commons; who were thereup∣on to be taken up, and Try'd for High-Treason; E∣verard writes this Libel, and brings Fitz-Harris to his Chamber to hear it Read; but first Discovers the mat∣ter

to Sir William Waller, and plants him in his Closet, where he might hear the Libel Read, unknown to Fitz-Harris; after having heard the Libel, Everard asks Fitz-Harris how he lik'd it, who told him very well. Upon this, Sir William Waller goes to the King, and discovers the whole matter to him; the King seem'd to be very well pleas'd, and orders Fitz-Harris to be taken up and Committed to Prison, which was accordingly done: Tho' Sir William was afterwards told, when he went from the King, that the King was highly displeas'd with him for this piece of Service, and said he had broke all his Measures. Fitz-Harris being taken and Committed Prisoner to Newgate; he was Examined by Sir Robert Clayton, and Sheriff Cor∣nish, and seem'd willing to discover the whole Design the next Day. But the next Day he was remov'd to the Tower, and there kept a Close Prisoner.

And now the Parliament met at Oxford, where one of the first things they Debated was the Business of Fitz-Harris, who was Impeached by the Commons; but the Lords refused to joyn in the Impeachment; which the Commons look'd upon as a Denyal of Justice; and find∣ing the Design was to stifle Fitz-Harris's Evidence, in whose Plot some Persons of the highest Rank were Con∣cern'd, they Voted against the Tryal of Fitz-Harris by any inferiour Court whatsoever. This being the Posture of Affairs, the King on the 28th of March Dissolves the Parliament, and immediately took Coach and went to Windsor, leaving both Houses in Amaze, and the City of Oxford in great Confusion, as was the whole Nation soon after upon the News of it. This Dissolution was follow'd by a Declaration, as his Father had done before him. This being done, the Business was to bring in a new Plot to destroy the Protestants, but Fitz-Harris must first be taken out of the way, being Try'd before Pemberton (who was made Lord Chief Justice, as was sup∣posed for that Purpose) and soon after Executed at Ty∣burn, with Oliver Plunket, the Titular Primate of Ar∣magh, for the Popish-Plot.

About this time the City of London having chosen

of their Sheriffs, Men of Integrity, to wit, Henry Cornish, and Slingsby Bethel, Esquires, which was a means of ha∣ving Good and Upright Juries, the Enemies of the Go∣vernment could not so well carry on their Designs, which made them uneasie, and resolve to have better for their pur∣pose next Year; but were therein again Disappointed, for the Citizens chose Thomas Pilkington, and Samuel Shute Esquires, two very honest Gentlemen; and this was the Reason that when they design'd to introduce their Protestant Plot by the Tryal of Stephen Colledge, (a Joyner by Trade, but an active Man in the Discovery of the Popish-plot, and therefore most commonly known by Name of the Protestant Joyner) they were disappointed by the Grand-Jury's bringing in the Bill against him Ig∣noramus, it being only sworn to by some Witnesses of the Popish Plot in Ireland, who being Discountenanced were reduc'd to extream Poverty, and now were by the Tories hir'd to Swear for Bread. But the Popish Faction, resolv'd to go on with their Show; and therefore Colledge was Committed Prisoner to the Tower, and soon after a Bill prefer''d against him at Oxford, where they had a Jury to their Mind, who found it Billa vera, where∣upon he was had down to Oxford, and Tryed for a Design to Seiz the King there at the sitting of the Par∣liament; and tho' he made an excellent Defence, not∣withstanding all the Foul play that was offered him, yet he was brought in Guilty, and soon after Execu∣ted, declaring his Innocency, and that he was the first but should not be the last, that suffer'd for his Zeal a∣gainst Popery, in which he was a true Prophet. The Earl of Shaftsbury was next Indicted of High-Treason, but the Evidence against him being only some of those Baffled Witnesses, and other Profligate Persons, whom the Grand-Jury could not believe, and therefore brought in the Bill Ignoramus. This was a great Mortification to the Popish Party, who desir'd nothing more than to take off this Noble Lord; and therefore finding the great Obstacle to their Designs were Juries, it was resolved by the Faction to take away the City Charter, and thereby their Power

of chusing Sheriffs: And accordingly a Quo Warranto was brought against the Charter of London, which was Prosecuted with that Earnestness, that notwithstanding the Learned Pleading of the City Council in the behalf of the Charter, Judgment was given against it, and their Liber∣ties and Franchises seized into the King's Hand. And the Mayor and Sheriffs were appointed by the King, and act∣ed by Commission from him, during his Pleasure. About this time the Duke of York going by Sea (into Scotland, to fetch back his Dutchess whom he had left there) in the Gloucester Frigat, she was unhappily cast away upon the Lemon-Sands, and many Worthy Gentlemen were Lost in her; but the Duke, by the assistance of a Yacht come to help them, got off just as the Ship was sinking, be∣ing, reserv'd by Divine Providence as a further Scourge to these Nations. About this time also two Famous Embas∣sadors came into England from Princes never known to have sent Embassadors here before, the one from the Em∣peror of Fez and Morocco, whose Business was to establish a Peace in relation to Tangier, and the other was from the King of Bantam in the East-Indies, who presented the King with several Diamonds, and other things of great Value.

And now the World began to see the Cause of the City Charter's being taken away; for the Duke of York and his Party, that now ruled all things at their own Pleasure, were resolved to take off all those Gentlemen that were most Zealous for the Protestant Religion, and that in Parliament had been most forward for the Bill of Exclusion. And this was to be done by Pretence of a Plot to take away the Life of the King and the Duke, and alter the Government; and this was pretended to be executed at the Rye-House in Hartfor-shire, as the King should come back from New-market, and was said to be prevented by a Fire happening at New-Market, which caused the King to come away sooner than he intended, and so before the Conspirators were ready. This Plot was Sworn by one Keeling, who had been conversant among the Dissenters. For this pretended Plot the Earl of Essex, the Lord Rus∣sel,

Lord Howard of Escrick, Collonel Sidney, and Mr. Hambden of Buckingham-shire, were taken up; and seve∣ral others of less Note, among whom were Walcot, Rouse, and Hone; which were first Tryed and found Guilty; and soon after Executed at Tyburn; Walcot declared himself Innocent of any design against the King, or his knowledge of any Plot; some Words he Confessed had been spoken in his Company by those that were Witnes∣ses against him, and which he did not discover; Pray∣ing God to forgive those who had Causlesly brought him to that undeserved Death. Rouse spake much to the same Purpose, that he had heard Words about the Feasibleness of seizing the Tower, but knew of no such Design: But these were but Prologues to the more fatal Tragedies that were after to be acted. For the Lord Russel was next brought to his Tryal; where the Lord Howard of E∣scrick and Coll. Rumsey were the principal Witnesses a∣gainst him, the Lord Howard told a story of a Counsel of Six for carrying on the Design, consisting of himself, Coll. Sidney, Mr. Hambden, the Lord Russel, the Earl of Essex, and the Duke of Monmouth; and Rumsey gave an Account of a Declaration taken out of Ferguson's Bo∣som, and read at Shepheards: The Lord Russel answer'd every Particular, and declared his own Inoocency; but while he w•••• at his Tryal, there was News brought that the Earl of Essex in the Tower, struck with the Horrour of a Guilty Conscience, had cut his own Throat; and this was improv'd by the King's Counsel as an Argument of the Lord Russel's Guilt, (as it is believ'd the Plot had been laid before-hand) and accordingly the Jury brought him in Guilty; and he was thereupon Condemned, and soon after Beheaded in Lincolns-Inn-Fields; whose ex∣cellent Speech and Behaviour at his Death, declaring his Innocency to the very last, made very few of the Nume∣rous Spectators, (unless it were those of the Duke of York's Faction) go away with dry Eyes. This Noble Lord was the eldest surviving Son of William Earl of Bedford; and was a Person of great Honour and Inte∣grity, and Zeal for the Protestant Religion; which (what

ever was pretended) was his true Crime, he being the Person that carried up the Hill of Exclusion to the House of Lords; and saying in the House of Commons, when Popery began to be Rampant, If I can't Live a Pro∣testant, I am resolv'd to Dye one. The Proceedings a∣gainst him appear'd so Unjust, and his Innocency so clear, that the Parliament since this last Revolution took off the Attainder against him; and his present Majesty has, since his coming in, Created his Noble Fath••r Duke of Bed∣ford, as some Compensation for the loss of so Incompara∣ble a Son, as the very Words of the Patent has it. Ha∣ving told you how the News of the Earl of Essex's ha∣ving cut his Throat in the Tower, it will be conve∣nient to give some Brief Account of it. That Noble Lord was taken out of his own House at Caisho-Berry near Wat∣ford, and Committed to the Tower upon this Plot, where he sent for his own Servants to attend him, and his own Cook to dress his Meat (being Jealous perhaps of Sir Tho. Overburies Fate) and also sent for his own Wine for his Drinking; and hearing that the Lord Russel was to be Try'd that Day, order'd one of his Servants to go and take Notes of the Lord Russel's Tryal, and bring to him; but so it was, that that Morning that the Lord Russel was Tryed, the King and the Duke went to the Tower, where they had not been for several Years be∣fore; whilst they were there, the Duke was for some time absent from the King; and soon after he was come to the King again, there was News brought to his Maje∣sty whilst he was in the Tower with his Brother, that the Earl of Essex had cut his own Throat; The King was extreamly Surpriz'd at the News, and immediately gave Order to the Lord Allington the Constable of the Tower, that his Lodgings should be shut up, and no one suffered to go in, till the Coroners Inquest had sate up∣on the Body: But notwithstanding this Order of the King's by the Direction of Some Body else, the Body was stript and wash'd, and so was the Room also, be∣fore the Coroners Inquest came, and his Cloathes taken away, which when the Coroners Inquest desir'd might be

brought to them that they might see them, were told, They were to sit upon the Body, and not upon the Cloaths, and so were deny'd the sight of them. And when they were about adjourning till the next Day, before they gave in their Verdict, they were told, they must give it in presently, and not stir till they had done it, because the King stay'd for it: And so they were hurried into a Verdict of the Earl's being Felo-de-se: And when from some Information of a Rasor thrown out of the Window of the Earl's Closet, and some other Concur∣rent Circumstances, one Mr. Lawrence Braddon went a∣bout to Discover that the Earl was Murder'd, and did not Kill himself, he was prosecuted for it with the great∣est Violence imaginable, as if the Discovery of the Earl's Murther, had been the Arraignment of the Government: After this the Honourable Algernoon Sidney was also Try'd as one of the Council of Six, and for Writing and Publishing a Libel, (tho' it was only found in Wri∣ting in his own Closet) and not prov'd to be his own Writing neither, but by the Similitude of Hands; which Writing (had it been prov'd his) was only an Answer to Sir Robert Filmer's Treatise of Absolute Monarchy, (which had been the Design not only of this, but of the two preceding Reigns) yet this Evidence (such as it was) was sufficient with such Juries as then were pack'd for their Purpose, to find the Collonel Guilty, notwithstand∣ing the Learned Defence he made for himself: So that he was Condemned and Beheaded, dying with a Great∣ness of Mind worthy of himself. The Duke of Monmouth, (who was also one of the Lord Howard's Council of Six) had for some time absconded, but now upon his Submission to his Father and his Unkle, was admitted to Court; but being urg'd to make a fuller Discovery and Confession of the Plot, which he affirm'd he knew nothing of, he fell again into his Unkle's Displeasure, and consequently into his Father's, and so was Banished from the Royal Presence. Several others who were said to be concerned in this Plot, fled beyond Seas, and were Out-lawed for not ap∣pearing here in Court; among whom was one Holloway

a Bristol-Merchant, who was taken at Nevis in the West-Indies, and brought over hither: He was wrought up∣on by some of the Duke's Creatures to make a Confessi∣on, and he should have his Pardon; and when he had own'd enough to Hang himself, he was offered the Be∣nefit of a Tryal, which he refused, and flung himself up∣on the King's Mercy, and so was Executed. And not long after Sir Thomas Armstrong, Master of Horse to the Duke of Monmouth, (who upon the Proclamation put out for apprehending him) had fled into Holland, was taken out of Leyden by Surprize, and brought to Lon∣don, and Committed to Newgate, and it being Term-time, was soon after carried to Westminster; where that infamous Wretch, Sir George Jefferies, being at that time Lord Chief Justice, order'd him to be Executed the Friday following, he being already Out-lawed. But Sir Thomas boldly Demanded the benefit of the Law, which was on his side, for by a Statute of the 6th of Edw. 6. it was Enacted, That if any Person Out-law'd for Treason being beyond the Sea, shall within one Year after such Out-lawry render himself to the chief Justice of England, he should Reverse his Out-lawry and take a Tryal; which Sir Thomas then desir'd, it being his Case. But the Cheif Justice over-rul'd it, and would not admit of his Plea, nor let him have Counsel to Argue it: But gave a Rule of Court for his Execution the Friday fol∣lowing; the Impudent Chief Justice charging Richard∣son in a Jeering manner, to see that Sir Thomas had the full benefit of the Law then: And accordingly he was drawn up on a Sledge to Tyburn, and there Executed, Denying his Knowledge of any Plot whatsoever against the King. But Sir Thomas's Death was Voted Murther by the Parliament since this happy Revolution. The pretence of this Plot gave them a specious Ground to Persecute the Dissenters, the Goals throughout England, being at this time filled with them, and Multitudes Cited to, and Excommunicated by the Spiritual Courts, for Nonconformity; Executing upon them all the Vengeance that was possible: Some being punish'd as Rioters; some for Treasonable Words, and some upon

Actions of Scandalum Magnatum, and Fined Exorbi∣tantly, beyond all Law or Reason; of which last Sir Tho∣mas Pilkington and Dr. Oats, were Severe instances, each being Fined 100000l. to the Duke.

But a little before this time, the Vertuous Lady Anne, youngest Daughter to the Duke, was Married to Prince George, the King of Denmark's Brother; the Match being generally liked by the People, he being a Protestant Prince. And the Hamborough Company, in Gratitude for Favours receiv'd from the King in Relation to their Charter, erected his Statue of grey Marble, in the midst of the Royal-Exchange, in the Habit of a Roman Caesar.

This was the State of the Nation, when upon Monday the second of February, 1684/5, the King was taken with an Apoplectick Fit, which if it carried him not out of the World then, 'tis certain it did the Friday follow∣ing; Dying in the 54th Year of his Age, having Reign∣ed 36 Years, and some few Days.

He was a Prince that very much indulg'd himself in taking his Pleasure; and was very unlike his Father in this, That he was a great Lover of Women, and kept variety of them, as the Dutchess of Cleaveland, Nell Gwynn, and the Dutchess of Portsmouth; the last of which was made use of by his Brother, to make the King do whatever he had a mind to have done; for so much was the King taken with her French Charms, that he could deny her nothing: And therefore advancing of Favour∣ites, was done by her Mediation; and even Parliaments themselves Prorogu'd or Dissolv'd, if she had a Mind to have it so: He was not a Prince Bloody or Cruel in his own Nature; yet by the Ascendant his Brother had over him, many worthy Persons lost their Lives in his Reign. He was a Prince of very good Natural Parts, had they not been Vitiated by giving himself up so much to the satisfaction of his Lusts. His making War with the Dutch, and joyning with France against them, weaken'd the Protestant Interest, and has made the French so For∣midable to Europe. And having carry'd on his Brother's Designs in Masquerade, as long as he thought Conveni∣ent,

he dyed of a sudden; but whether Naturally, or by some Foul Play, I will not determine, tho' the latter was much Suspected. However, the Nation had a real Kindness for him, and the News of his Death fill'd all Eyes with Tears, and all Hearts with Sadness, (ex∣cept those of the Papists, and some Tories that were worse than they) But this proceeded chiefly from the Fears and dismal Apprehensions the People had of the ensuing Reign.

In the Eleventh Year of this Kings Reign, a Prodigious Whale came up to Greenwich, and run it self on shore there; soon after which Oliver Cromwel (then Protector) died.

In his 17th Year 3 Blazing Stars appeared, of different shapes and colours, which were look'd on to be the Denun∣tiators of ensuing Judgements.

In his 18th Year, was a great Plague in London, of which died far more than ever did in any Plague before, and in the next Year the greatest part of the City of London was Consumed by Fire.

In the 33d Year of his Reign, on the 18th of May, 1680, a great storm of Hail fell in London and the parts adjacent, the Hail-stones being of an extraordinary bigness, some of them nine inches about, and generally as big as Pullets Eggs, with the figures of Stars, and other curious works upon them, being also very hard: Several Rooks in the Temple-garden being kill'd by them; and many Sky-lights in London bro∣ken to pieces by their violent failing upon them. Soon af∣ter which a Prodigious Blazing-Star appeared in the West for several Weeks together.

In the 37th Year of his Reign there was a great Frost, that continued from the beginning of December to the end of February; in which time the Thames was frozen so hard, that Booths were erected upon the Ice; and all sorts of Commodities sold in them, insomuch that it was called Blanket-Fair: Also a Bull was baited upon the Ice; and Coaches ply'd from the Temple stairs to Westminster in Hillary Term.