L. c. 646 June 24th 1678 Commons Thursday 20 June +Ordered that the Committee of Elections & priveledges doe proceed No farther In any Cause before them during this sitting & all witnesses to be dismist A Message from the Lds to desire A Conference which being had mr Powell Reports the Conference vizt What the Ld treasurer had told the Lds before Concerning the ffrench K declaring they would Not Restore any places In fflanders till the sweds were Reinstated A Message sent from the Lds to mind them of the supply bill The house in A Grand Committee Resolved That the Impost on wines & vinegars be granted [his] Maty from the ffirst August Next for 3 yeares on such wines as may be Imported by law The question being put whether the words for the Better Enabling of his Maty to maintaine his Navy should be Added passed In the Negative yeas 127 Noes 176 Commons ffriday 21 June +The Hemp & fflax bill Read & ordered A 2d Reading The bill to prevent the Removall of suites out of Inferior Courts ordered to be Engrost The Bill for Burying In woollen past +The Election of westbury Reported & Resolved That mr Bertie is duely Elected +The house In A Grand Committee Resolved That A supply Not Exceeding 400014 L be granted to his Maty for paying off the Extrary Charge of the Navy & ordnance & for paying the princesse of Oranges portion & for the Repayment of the 200000 L borrowed on the Excize The house to be In A Grand Committee to morrow to Considder of the Meanes of Raiseing the same The Lords being this day upon the supply bill Resolved that the army be kept till the 27 July & the forces beyond sea till 24 August satureday 22 June +The supply bill sent downe from the Lds with some Amendmts as to the time of disbanding the Army to which this house disagree & have Appointed A Committee to drawe up Reasons for such their disagreement L. c. 647 June 27th 1678 Commons satureday 22d June +The supply bill sent down from the Lds with some Amendmts as to the time of disbanding That the army be kept up till the 27 July & the forces beyond sea till the 24 August +To which the Commons disagred & Appointed A Committee to draw up Reasons Whitehall 25 June +The ffrench Ambrs at Nimeghen haveing declared to the dutch that the Intention of the K their Master was Not only Not to Restore the places In fflanders but Even Not Maastricht, till sweden had their Entire satisfaction but that he should have occasion to make use of the last place perticularly In the warr that Its [sic] most likely will be Continued by the Elector of Brandenburgh The dutch Ambrs thought this A point of so greate Importance that upon it they Refused to signe the treaty & sent An account thereof to the states who approved what their Ambrs did & seem to think this New pretension of the ffrench so unreasonable that If they persist In It; Its Believed It may occasion A greate Change In affaires sr Wm Temple his Matys Ambr hereupon is hastning to the Hague The ffrench letters Come In this day say that they had Advice from the M: de Crequis campe of the l7/27 Instant that the 24th the Imperial Army decamped from Bucken & marched towards the valley of Walkirke, That M: de Crequi thereupon sent some troops to skirmish with their Rear but that the sd troops were ordered soon after to Rejoine the Army for that the Imperiallists Maine body turned upon the ffrench Right wing & Attacked the Church at Langerdents Lingen In which were 100 musketteers & had planted 3 or 4 peeces of Cannon against It, But M: Crequi having sent severall battalions thither the Germans Retired & Continued their March Commons Monday 24 June +Resolved In A Grand Committee that 200000 L of the 4000l4 L to be given his Maty shall be Raised upon New ffoundations Commons Tuesday 25 June +A Conference had with the Lds In which they give them to understand that the Commons disagreed to their Amendmts but after A proviso that If the Army Cannot be disbanded by the last of this moneth It be within 30 dayes after The house disagrees with the vote of the Committee yesterday Concerning the Charge to be layd upon New ffoundations Then In A Grand Committee Resolved the 400014 L shall be Raised by A subsidy which being Reported to the house the farther debate was Adjourned till to morrow L. c. 648 June 29th 1678 +On the 21st the Commons ordered A petition of the Inhabitants of ffowey Newe In Cornwall to be Referred to the stannary Committee & Appointed A 2d Reading to the bills for Encouraging the sowing Hemp & fflax ordered the bill to prevent the Removall of suites of Inferior Courts to be Engrost & past the bill for Burying In woollen & then In A Committee of the whole house they Resolved that A supply Not Exceeding 414000 L be granted his Maty for paying the Extrary Charge of the Navy & ordinance & for paying the Princesse of oranges portion & for Repayment of the 200000 L borrowed on the Credit of the Excize On the 22d the Commons ordered the bill for Hindering papists to sitt In Either house of Parliamt to be Engrost & past the bill for Admeasuring of Keeles & boates The Lds sent downe the supply bill with Amendmts as to the time of disbanding to which the Commons disagreed & ordered A Committee to draw up Reasons for it On the 24th the Commons were In A grand Committee Upon the Manner of Raiseing A supply & the New buildings & Review of the Poll bill were offered They ordered A 2d Reading to the bill for Granting An Imposition on wines & vinegars & the Engrost bill sent from the Lds for Reviveing an act for Avoydeing Unnecesary suites & delayes & for Continuing another act for the better setling Intestate Estates, Committed the Bill for Reverseing outlawries In the Kings bench, Gave A 2d Reading to the bill for Reliefe of poore prisoners & Adjourned A debate Arrising therein to that day sevnight & past the Bill for Encouragemt of Woollen Manufactures On the 25th the Commons ordered A 2d Reading to An Explanatory bill for prohibiting ffrench Commodities Committed the fflax & Hemp bill, past the bill for High wayes, layd aside the Vote of the Committee for laying 200000 L on New buildings & Resolueing Into A Committee voted the whole 414000 L to be Raised by the old way of subsidy A Conference had with the Lds wherein the Commons declared they find themselves oblidged to disagree to their Ldships by Reason of the Method & Rights of their house In A Matter Very tender to them, but for Answering the Ends which their Ldships seem to Aime at they offer An Expedient by A proviso that If the army Cannot be disbanded by the last of this moneth It shall be within 30 dayes after, upon debate of which the Lds disagree to the proviso offered by the Commons & Appointed A Committee to draw up Reasons On the 26th the Commons Committed the Pawnebroakers bill layd aside the Manner of Raiseing the 414000 L by subsidy & In A Grand Committee Resolved that It be Raised by 12 moneths tax after the Rate of 34410 L 9 s 6 1/2 d p moneth to Commence from the 24 feb Next On the 27th the Commons agreed with the Committee for A land tax & ordered A 2d Reading to the bill; & Committed the Explanatory bill for ffrench Commodities & the bill for granting An Additionall duty upon wine & Resolved on A ffree Conference with the Lds to morrow morning at 10 A Clocke They write from Paris dat July 1st there were orders for more forces to be sent to the d of Navailles The gallies & squadron under M Quesne were gone to Tripoly to bring them to Reason They had Advice from Martenico dat Aprill 24th that Count de Estrees was Gone with 8000 men & 4 moneths provision to make A descent at st domingo The Hague letters dat June 1st Advise that they had A peremptory declaration from the ffrench Ambr at Nimeghen Importing that their King would Neither allow A Neutrality for Cleves &c or make any Restitution Either to the states spaine or P of Orange Nor permitt any ffishing or Commerce till Entire Restitution be made to the sweds, alledging that though they should be Content to part with some places In order to A peace It should Not Consist with the glory of their Master that they [Swedes] should be loosers of one Inch of Ground by the warr This vigourous language & Law did so discompose the states & Irritate Most of the provinces that It was believed they would Refuse to signe the peace upon those tearmes +Nor were they lesse Allarmed at this Newes at Brussells where out of A Confidence that the ffrench would performe their part they had layd aside preparations for warr & dismist their traine of Artillery & Ammunition waggons The Earle of Ossory is upon his Returne to Holland & so is the Ld Ambr Temple The Earle of sunderland is going from his Maty for ffrance +Whitehall 26 June, It Not being Knowne what things may Come to Abroade seeing the states persist that they will Not signe the peace unlesse ffrance agree to Restore Maastricht & the places In fflanders Immediately & to grant A Neutrality to the Country of Cleves &c & the ffrench on the other hand threatening they will Renew the Hostility, His Maty has ordered 2000 men to post Immediately to bruges & 3000 to Newport for the security of those places +The letters from Vienna say that the Emperor Inclines to accept the peace L. c. 649 July 1st 1678 Whitehall June 29th 1678 +The ffrench Ambr haveing on Thursday night last Recd A Courrier ffrom ffrance wee are told that the Contents of the letters he Recd by it was That the ffrench K is Resolved Not to depart from the demand he has Made to Keep Maastricht & the places In fflanders till sweden be Entirely satisfied so That In all probability things are going to take A Greate Turne This day was held A Rendevous of the Army on Hounslow heath Our letters ffrom Paris on Wednesday last say That the Imperiall & ffrench armies had made severall Motions that on the 30th past hapned A Rencounter between 2 Considderable parties, Two ffrench Regemts were Routed but two other Repaired their fault & treated the Imperiallists very smartly & tooke severall prisoners The M: de Crequi when the letters Came away besieged Rheinfield & the d of Lorraine was hastning thither being Resolved to fight him & Relieve the place That King had sent orders to his forces In fflanders to Renew Hostilities upon the the spaniards & the M: de schomberg is to Come with his Army Into fflanders to Reinforce them so that Now all thoughts of peace seem to be layd Aside Commons ffriday 28 June +A Bill to prevent the Exportation of wooll Revived & Committed A bill sent downe from the Lds to Enable Creditors to Recover their debts of Creditors &c A Conference had with the Lords on the subject Matter of the last Conference L. c. 650 July 4th 1678 Lds ffriday 28 June 1678 +An Act to prevent the unlawfull Courseing, Hunting, Killing, selling or buying of deer The Commons being Come to A ffree Conference the house Adjourned dureing pleasure, The ffree Conference being Ended & the house Resumed then the Ld privy seale Reports the Introduction to A ffree Conference by sr Thomas Meeres & others that passed there Upon Considderation thereof and of the house of Commons Not agreeing to the Lds Amendmts & Adhereing to their Proviso, Question was put whether the Lds will Adhere to their Amendmts Resolved In the Affirmative A Message to the house of Commons by sr William Low & sr William Child to desire A present ffree Conference In the painted Chamber Upon the matter of the last ffree Conference An Act for preventing abuses In Returning Jurors Committed, And Adjourned till Monday Lds Monday 1 July +The bill Concerning the Killing of deer Reported with Amendmts which being twice Read the bill is ordered to be Engrost with the Amendmts The question being put whether the bill shall passe Resolved In the affirmative +A Message to the house of Commons by sr Edward Low & sr John ffranklyne to Carry downe the bill & desire their Concurrence A Message from the Commons with An act for Regulating Pawne broakers And to desire A ffree Conference upon the subject matter of the last Conference To which Answer was Returned the Lds will give A ffree Conference & Appointed it to be to morrow at 11 of the Clocke In the Painted Chamber. Commons Monday 1 July +The Committee for the bill Concerning Maintenance & Champerty Revived A petition of severall Merchants Concerning the Makeing of searges Read Resolved that No farther proceedings shall be made by the Hamburg Company before A Recesse A bill to Enable Creditors to Recover their debts of the Executors & Administrators of Executors Read A 2d time & Committed Whitehall 2d July +The five Regemts I told you were designed for fflanders will Embarke In A day or two The King was Extreamly pleased with the forces on satureday last at Hunslow they being all brave men & In Excellent order wee are Expecting o[u]r fforreigne letters which will doubtless bring some Newes of Moment Commons 2d July +The bill for preventing Maintenance & Champerty Read A Message from the Lds with 4 bills A ffree Conference had with the Lds on the subject matter of the last Conference Resolved that the Members who mannaged the Conferences doe prepare & draw up A state of the Right of the Commons In granting of Money with the Reasons & proceedings that were offered at the Conferences to be Entred Into the Journall of this house & they are to Considder how the Rights of this house may be Ascertained & also of the Method & Manner of proceeding upon bills In Conferences between both Houses L. c. 651 July 6th 1678 +On the 28th the Commons Readmitted the bill to prevent the Exportation of wooll ordered A 2d Reading to the bill sent from the Lds to Enable Creditors to Recover their debts of the Execrs & Administrators of Execrs & had Conference with the Lds about the subject Matter of the last Conference On the 1st the Commons Committed the bill Concerning Maintenance & Champerty, Read A petition of severall Merchants Concerning makeing searges & Committed the bill to Enable Creditors to Recover their debts of the Execrs & Admrs of Executors On the 2d the Commons were at A Conference with the Lds Upon the supply bill for disbanding the Army In the painted Chamber & Not agreeing left the bill there which since is Missing They Returned to the house & ordered the members who Mannaged the Conference to draw up the state of the Case with their proceeding &c to be Entred Into the Journall, They also Recd A Message from the Lds with bills to prevent unlawfull hunting killing buying & selling of Deer [and?] for Returning able Jurors & for Registring the decease & Buryall of the Nobility & Gentry, The bill to prevent Maintenance & Champerty was ordered to be Engrost On the 3d the Commons Committed the bill for Avoydeing unnecesary suites & delayes & for better setling Intestate Estates & past the poore prisoners bill They Resolved that all Aides & supplies Granted to his Maty In Parliamt are In the sole Gift of the Commons & all bills for granting such Aides & supplies ought to begin with them & It is the undoubted Right of the Commons to direct lymitt & Appoint In such bills the Ends purposes Considderations Conditions limitations qualifications & Grants which ought Not to be Changed or altered by the house of Lds & farther Resolved that A provision be made In the bill for Raiseing 414000 L for Raiseing 206462 L: 17 s: 3 d for disbanding the Army On the 4th the Commons Committed the supply bill & the house to be In A Grand Committee to morrow upon the same, & ordered A 2d Reading to An Additionall bill for makeing wayes out of Chancery lane & other places On the 29th his Maty tooke A Review of severall of the New Raised Regemts at Hunslow Heath & was Extreamly pleased with them The Hague letters Give us the unamimous Resolution Not only of all the provinces but of all the townes In Holland to take up armes againe if the ffrench persist to Refuse the Restitution of places, which Resolution they have sent to Nimeghen with orders to Require a finall Answer of the ffrench; since the Receipt of the ffrench Kings last letter deliberations have been held with greate secresy which they Intend to Continue & to that purpose haveing doubled the Number of their deputies for secret affaires from 7 to 14 they have Empowered them to dispatch all buisnesse that Comes from Nimeghen without Communicating it to the assembly But the Paris letters dat 8th say that the day before A Courrier was dispatched thence who Carried as they thought An Expedient that might Compose the New diference which some tell us is that Immediately upon the Ratification of the treaty Gaunt oudenard & Cotrick shall be delivered Into the spaniards hands & the ffrench fforces drawne from the spanish dominions upon their owne ground Whitehall 4 July 1678 +The letters wee had yesterday ffrom Holland brought not anything of Moment, things as to the peace Continuing In the same posture the dutch Refuseing to signe the peace & the ffrench Ambrs saying They have Not yet their order upon this New dificulty Concerning the quitting the townes In fflanders, Wee are yet without o[u]r fflanders letters of ffriday last they perhaps may bring us something New +The 5 Regemts designed for fflanders will Certainly Embarke this weeke which are the Ld Marpeths Coll leggs, Coll sidneys sr Hen: Goodricks & sr John ffenwicks, Its said 4 more have orders to be In A Readinesse +The ffrench letters speake of An action between An Imperiall detachmt & part of the body Commanded by Choiseull Neer Rhinefeldt In which the former they say sustained Greate losse they speake of A bridg that broke as 2 Regemts of Curiassers were passing over it & by that meanes many of them were lost. They Say the Imperiallists were 6000 horse that they were totally Routed 900 Killed upon the place besides those drowned (among which is Count staremburg) & the prisoners; M Crequi it seemes Got between them & home, But all this Comes only from ffrance & Its hoped will Not prove true at least In all its perticulers L. c. 652 July 8th 1678 Whitehall 6 July 1678 +By the fflanders letters of yesterday seavennight wee have an account that though the hostilities were Not yet Renewed yet they were In Exspectation of it, 5000 men which were ordered towards Germany being Returned towards the d of Luxemburghs Camp & those which he had sent to Aeth were likewise brought backe The dutch Army Consisting In 22 battalions of foot & 6000 horse was Encamped at vilvord Not haveing orders to Advance farther, The states it seemes being unwilling to Renew the hostilities on their side Wee heare as yet Nothing farther of what I told you In my last of the action between the Imperiallists & the ffrench the former being A detachment of 6000 horse which the d of Lorraine had sent to Relieve Rhinefeldt who are said to have been quite Routed 900 Killed upon the place & drowned & 500 prisoners taken & after all wee must Exspect to heare farther The letters from above Add That It was believed the P of Orange would Not Come to the Army till the states had Recd the french Kings finall Resolution as to the quitting the places In fflanders, That Mons was Not In so greate streight as hath been said Neither the governour Nor the Majestrates haveing as yet opened their stores & that they wanted Nothing so much as wood & salt Mareshall schomberg Continues Encamped at Gulpen Neere Aix la Chapelle where he layes up greate Magazines +Mareshall d Humieres is drawing men out of all the ffrench Conquests In fflanders to Reinforce his Army Commons 6 July some private bills Read +The house Resolved Into A Committee of the whole house to Considder of the bill for Continuing the Impost on wynes & vinegars & ordered it to be Reported on Wednesday next The supply bill Reported & ordered to be Engrost Adjourned till Monday [Handwriting changes here just for rest of letter.] +The report of ye surpriseing The Ld Midleton &c: is not yet Confirmd +Mr Combe of Stratford dyed in London on Wednsday last & Comes home to morrow to be interrd L. c. 653 July 11th 1678 +Whitehall 9 July 1678 +The letters which Came In on sonday from ffrance Confirme the Newes they gave us by the last post of the defeate of 6000 Imperiallists being all horse & dragoons who were sent by the d of Lorraine to Cover Rhinefeldt, The ffrench tooke them at An Advantage & Charged them as they were passing A Narrow lane & put the whole body to the Route 800 Killed 800 prisoners & almost the Number drowned, all their baggage taken, and Many persons of quality killed & taken, but hitherto wee have No account from the other side of this action, so that wee are yet to Exspect how the Imperiallists will Relate it On sonday arrived An Expresse from Nimeghen which brought An account that the ffrench Ambrs had declared that the King their Master would not depart from his Resolution he had taken to Retaine the places In fflanders till sweden be Restored to what It hath lost In the warr And yesterday morning Came In the letters from Holland which say that there being now no other appearance but of warre the P of Orange was Hastning to the Army, And the Earl of Ossory haveing by this post Received letters from his Highnesse is Returning this Evening for Holland There Comes greate Complaints from Holland of the ill usage of the English soldiers there Commons Monday 8 July +The bill for An Additionall duty upon wynes & vinegars Reported & ordered to be Engrost +The bill touching Executors In their owne wrong Read A 3d time & past +The Affidavitt bill Reported & ordered to be Engrost +The bill to prevent the Exportation of wooll Reported & ordered to be Engrost The supply bill Read & past +By the ffrench post Comes A letter from Lisle which sayes that they of Mons had made A greate sally & done greate Execution Upon the ffrench the Confirmation & perticulars wee must Exspect +Commons July 9 Tuesday The bill for Continuing the Impost on Wyne & vinegars Read A 3d time & past & sent up to the Lds A bill to prevent the Exportation of wooll Read A 3d time & past +The Hearth Money bill Reported & Recommitted Adjourned till thursday L. c. 654 July 13th 1678 +On the 5th the Commons In A Committee Resolved the supply bill & ordered It to be Reported on the 6th On the 6th the Commons ordered the supply bill to be Engrost On the 8th the Commons past the bill touching Executors In their owne wrong & the supply bill & sent it up to the Lds & ordered the affidavitt bill to be Engrost On the 9th the Commons ReCommitted the hearth Money bill & past the bill to prevent the Exportation of wooll & the bill for Continuing the Impost on wynes & vinegars & sent it to the Lds On the 11th the Commons ordered A 2d Reading to A bill for Reliefe of poore protestant strangers & In A Conference with the Lds Adhered to the Amendmts to the bill for burying In woollen The Ld Ambr Temple went for Holland on the 2d & with him the Myn Heer Lewen the late Envoy Extrary from thence. On the 6th the Ld Ambr Mountague arrived from ffrance Tis said that the governour of Maastricht had seized the deputies of Liege going to Nimeghen & had sent to the King his Master to Know how he shall dispose of them They write from Coppenhagen dat 5th that Kimstrop was taken & the Garrison Carryed prisoners of warr to Landscroon, And that the sweds had made An Assault upon Christianstadt & were Repulsed with the losse of 500 men & that some boates were got Into there with provisions +On the 10th his Maty R Highnesse & severall of the Commons (the house Not sitting that day) went to deptford to see A 3d Rate ship Launched, The ship was Very much Commended & Named Hampton Court They write from Vienna dat June 30th That mr Cracan Returned thither the Monday before being sent by the Elector of Brandenburgh to disswade the Emperour from makeing A peace with ffrance, which he & the Envoy from denmarke did what they Could to prevent, It was Reported that the Emperour Insisted to have Nancy Restored to the d of Lorraine & that Phillipsburg & ffriburg may be dismantled. But on the other side it was talkt That the Electors Palatine saxe & Bavaria had writt to the Emperour to dispose him to peace or otherwise they should be forced to Enter Into A league with some other princes of the Empire whereby the westphalia treaty might be preserved, which with the prsent ill posture of their affaires, The Rebells being strong & haveing so good Artillery as that they feare will beseige Caslaw zalmar or Esperies hath so far prevailed upon the Emperor That they write he dispatched the Monday before A Courrier with orders for A Cessation of Armes Brussells 15 July +yesterday his Excye was Advertized by Mounsrs Boreell & Dickfield That the states haveing Recd the ffrench Kings Answer by his Ambrs at Nimeghen that their Master would deliver no townes till sweden were Entirely satisfied, The states thereupon tooke their finall Resolution for Continuing the warre +This Resolution of theirs has put his Excye upon A Necesity of makeing all the preparations he Can for warr & has Caused him to send Expresses to spaine England Vienna & all the Confederate Princes to Animate them to Continue the warre, To which End he Called yesterday all the Confederate Minesters together, Told them the Condition he was In & the Resolution he had taken desireing them to Communicate it to their Respective masters & to posesse them with An Absolute Necesity of Continuing the warre since the ffrench would give them no peace The P of Oranges Army Continues Encamped on the other side of vilvord & is about 15000 men The D of Luxemburghs Army Continues Encamped at Lember keeping A strong guard at Hall which they Intend to secure till they are Masters of Mons which wee are much affraide will fall Into their hands Wee have letters from Mons of the 12th Instant which give an account that the ffrench Endeavouring Every day to shut them up Closer & Closer have posessed themselves of A Church hard by the towne whence they sent out their small parties to hinder the Reapers who are gathering In the Corne very Neer the towne. The governour on the other side sent out men to protect the Reapers, whereupon the Baron de quincy Comes with A stronger party of horse & foot to the Reliefe of ffrench upon which more men Came out of the towne & A very briske skirmish was maintained for some time till the french were forced to Retire haveing lost 3 or 400 men The body of A Coll & Another officer was brought Into the towne & the Chevaleir de Momma Capt of dragoons with some other were taken prisoners the losse on the spaniards side haveing been very Inconsidderable The German letters Come In this day speake of An action that has hapned between the Imperiallists & the ffrench Neer Rhinefeldt, The Relations wee have as yet are very uncertain the Imperiallists aswell as the ffrench pretending to have the victory: M: Crequi has Advanced with his Army towards Basle & the d of Lorraine kept Close to him being Advanced beyond Newburgh which the ffrench were passed before L. c. 655 July 15th 1678 Commons Thursday 11 July +The Amendments sent to the Lds to the bill for Admeasuring Keeles & boates Not agreed to A present Conference had with the Lds about the bill for Burying In woollen Resolved +That this house doe Adhere to their owne Amendments on the said bill Commons ffriday 12 July 1678 +The bill for Avoydeing unnecesary suites & delayes past +The bill for Reliefe of poore protestant strangers sent downe from the Lds & Rejected as also that to prevent the unlawfull Hunting of deer A Message from the Lds to Acquaint the house that their Lordships have agreed to the bill for Repealing A Clause In the act for High wayes with some Amendmts A Conference had with the Lds about 5 A Clocke Post Meridiem +The Amendment In the poor prisoners bill agreed to In A Conference had with the Lds Whitehall 13 July 1678 +yesterday morning Came In o[u]r letters from Holland which told us that sr William Temple arrived at the Hague on Wednesday last was seavennight & that the states had Appointed deputies to treate with them upon the subject of his Errand to them +That the P of Orange Intended to part from the Hague to the Army on Tuesday last, That his ffirst Entriprize would be to Relieve Mons They have Not yet any account In Holland of the action Neer Rhinfeldt The ffrench letters Arrived this Evening say they had an account from Germany of Another action which hath happened between the ffrench & the Germans they say to the disadvantage of the latter, They had Not yet the perticulars but acknowledg to have lost A greate Many brave officers & persons of quality The Marquesse de Rannes Generall of the ffrench dragoons & Lieutenant Generall of the Army is slaine [Handwriting changes here just for rest of letter.] +one of our men of warr has brought in 2 french officers belonging to a french man of warr, who would not strike saying they had orders to strike to none but to force all to strike to them, Except ye English. L. c. 656 July 18th 1678 Monday 15 July 1678 Lds His Maty being seated In his Royall Robes In his throne & the H of Commons attending, The speaker In A short speech prsented the 2 Money bills which with the other publicke & private bills passed the Royall assent after which the Ld Chancellor by his Matys Command Expressed the sence his Maty had of the service the Parliamt had done him him & that his Maty was willing they should Refresh themselves, but In Regard he Knowes Not how soon he may be Engaged In A warr he Cannot spaire them for A long time Relying on their service & Assistance & therefore (Though his Maty Intends they shall not sit till towards winter) must Keep them In Call by severall short Prorogations & for that Reason doth at prsent Resolve to Prorogue the Parliamt till the ffirst of August And if there be occasion for their sitting sooner then winter he will give timely Notice by his proclamation & accordingly the Parliamt was Prorogued till that time Whitehall 16 July +Wee have o[u]r fflanders letters of this day seaven night They give us an account of the defeate of Count staremberg after which the ffrench had Burnt stockingen one of the fforest townes, That the Engagemt was very sharpe on both sides 3 Imperiall Battalions were Retired Into the vineyards to secure the Retreate of their Cavalry & dragoons & being ouerpowered In Number & Charged on all sides by the ffrench dragoons were all Cut In peeces or prisoners The Cavalry Retireing In the Meane time to the Bridg of Rhinefeldt where they behaved themselves very bravely, The Count de Mercy Maintaining it so long as was posible he set fire to it when most that were thereon were Either Burnt or drowned Among the latter was the prince of Baden, That the M: de Crequi was Encamped Neer Rhinefeldt with Intention to beseige it haveing layd A bridge ouer the Rhine at Basle & had with his Cannon & Bombes burnt severall houses In the towne In which were 3000 who were Resolved to defend it to the last, That the d of Lorrain was Marching towards Rhinefeldt being Resolved to fight the Enemy or Relieve the place That they had An Account from Lisle & Ghent of A 2d Engagmt between the d of Lorrain & the M: de Crequi & that the ffrench were Intirely Routed which wants Confirmation M: de schomberg had with his Army passed the Meuse & as was believed would passe towards Mons, Count Waldeck was Come to the P of Oranges Army In order to the Reliefe of it which would In few dayes be 30000 Effective Not Reckning 10000 of the Confederates The ffrench troops on all the frontiers began to march towards Mons & it was believed the King would Come thither In person The letters wee Receive[d] this Evening from ffrance say Not one word in one of the last action[s] between the ffrench & the Germans which showes sufficiently that it hath Not been very Advantagious to the ffrench They only say that the M: de Crequi after the Engagemt with Count staremberg Neer Rhinefeldt arrived thither with his whole Army & had attacked that place with his Cannon 2 dayes together & vpon the Approach of the d of Lorrain (who hath posted himselfe Between seckingen & Lauffen) & at the Instances of the swissers had quitted that designe & was going to passe the Rhine & that some of his troops & his Cannon have Already done it +The ffrench King will it was said Returne to fflanders to Command his Army In person L. c. 657 [Handwriting and size of paper change here.] [No date] +Then the Lord Chancelor Made A speech +My Lords &c +His Majesty doth very graciously Accept the service you have done him this Session and is as well pleased with your worthy and dutifull Carriage towards him as with the noble and Liberal present you have made him: He doth now consider that some recesse is necesary for your healths and refreshment after all your Labours though he would bee glad it might bee for some Longer time then His affayrs at present will admitt for His Majesty doth not know How soon He may bee ingaged in a warre and when he shall bee soe He is sure that He can by noe meanes want the Councill and Assitance of His Parliament and therfore He is resolved never to put off this Parliament too farre from him: ffor this Cause His Majesty Hath resolved To keep His parliament alwayes in view by Making severall but more short prorogations but with an intention However that the parliament shall not sitt untill towards winter unlesse His Majestyes pressing and important occasions shall Call for your advice sooner and If they doe soe His Majesty will bee sure to give notice thereof by His proclamation to the end there may bee a full appearance +Sr/I was not Under A Mistake as to Sr Robert Townsend for He was att Rews Coffey House yesterday and is just Now from whence I had intelligence [In margin and in another hand appear a date and label for this letter:] 15 July. 78. Ld Chancellors/speech at proroguing the/Parl. [These words and figures appear in another hand on outside of letter:] Breaking Kerf 2f - 6in deep 1p of B & Q 9 -- long reckning of time 27. allowing once 4 . 6ye 1/2f for care 2 - 3 1/2 Quarters 33 - 9 ye quartering. 11 - 3. ye other quartering 2 both -------- 22 - 3 56 Severall Kerfes 24 - 6 of Boards & Qu. 9 9 17.10 / 160.6 / 276. 9 / 220.6 / 4 - 6 153. / 380.0 / 220 - 6 7.6 / 56 160 -6/ 447 [a sum] Breaking Kerfe 2 - 8 43/1 Peice of 12. 12/Bords & qus 24-0 85/12 foot long 6...2 32 43 32. 48 516 16. 80 80 48 596. Tot: [More words and figures appear, but are very difficult to read.] L. c. 658 [Handwriting and size of paper change here.] July 20th 1678 +The George arrived At Bristoll from Virginia In 5 weeks left that Countrey In perfect peace the disturbance occasioned by the Indians Killing 4 or 5 of the English was fully Appeased the Indians haveing delivered up the offenders to the English who Caused them to be Executed according to Law The Primrose Arrived from Jamaica left them there fortifying & makeing preparation for defence There Run severall discoures about A ffrench man of warr Refuseing to strike of which wee Recd this account ffrom Portesmouth dat 14th That his Matys ship the Dover In her passage ffrom Jersey & Guernsey on the 10th discovered 5 saile with ffrench Coulours to whome shee ffired A Gun to make them strike upon which all strucke but one who was A Kings man of Warr upon whose Refusall the dover fired About 20 guns which obliged the Lieutenant of the ffrench ship to goe aboard the dover to Demand the Reason The Captain told him because they did Not strike he Replyed they strucke to Noe Nation but made all strike to them Except the King of Englands ships, which being Not satisfactory the dover made after her & shot about 60 or 70 guns but Not being able to ffetch her up brought the Lieutenant & 2 others to spithead on ffriday In the afternoon, The ffrench fired Not one gun all the time The dutch letters dat 19th tell us don Emanuell de Lyra had by desire of the states sent for men to spain & preparations were makeing as In Certain prospect of warr, only some of the Common people who hankered after peace Conceived some small hope of obtaining it Upon the Comeing of the Heer Oliverhwants the swedish Ambr who they fancy will Encline to some Reasonable Conditions that might End In An accomodation On the 17th the Right Honrble the Ld George Berkeley was sworne & Admitted of his Matys privy Councill A personage soe very worthy of so greate A trust soe perticularly Adapted thereunto for his greate Industry & Knowledg In trade & Commerce things absolutely necesary to the fflourishing Condition of the Kingdome The dutch letters dat 22d tell us the ffrench Ambrs had delivered A Memoriall to the dutch Ambrs at nimeghen to Justify their Kings proceedings as to the Resolveing Not to quitt the places In fflanders & Challenge An Engagemt from the states by their haveing accepted his proposalls to suffer his procureing the satisfaction of sweden by his Armes Unlesse they will propose Any other way of secureing it, which they were Invited to doe Either by A perticular Negotiation to them the ffrench Ambrs at Nimeghen or by sending to their King or sending some Commissioners to Ghent for that purpose But they are so far from submitting to the ffrench Kings Law That they have sent for his finall Resolution haveing In the Meane time proceeded In such Negotiations as may secure themselves & Give the spaniards such powerfull assistance as may preserve them from the Jawes of their Enemyes The Brussells letters of the same date say they & the dutch are Resolved to Relieve Mons or perish In the Attempt & the P of Orange was Exspected that night at vilvord Coaches being layd for him The Earle of sunderland is going Ambr Extrary for ffrance The Earle of ffeversham is going over to the D de Villa Hermosa & with him the Marquesse de Burgamerino the spanish Ambr +Whitehall 19 July 1678 The ffrench Ambrs at Nimeghen In their memoriall to the dutch Ambrs In the Close of all offer for An Expedient that ffrance will Restore the sd places If the states will Undertake that sweden be satisfied which the states Reject as signifying that they should Joyne with ffrance to Expell denmarke & Brandenberg. +Wee are told his Maty has ordered More forces to passe over Into fflanders Immediately there being already 11 or 12000 men & that orders are given for 8 Companies of sr Tho: slyngsbyes Regemt to goe forthwith for fflanders & more will suddenly follow Coll Legg is gone over to Newport to see his Regemt there but Returnes againe, sr Hen: Goodriche went yesterday to stay with his Regemt which is at Bruges, The Earle of Mulgrave & Sr Tho: slingsby goes hence to day or to morrow [Handwriting changes here just for rest of letter.] +tis said Mr Montague is turnd out of all places, that of Master of ye Horse to [b]e given to ye Earle of Plimth & that in ye Wardrobe to ye Ld Dunslane. Our soulders in france Consisting in 32 Companys are said to be dismist & have to come home but a very small allowance to bring them L. c. 659 July 22d 1678 Whitehall 20 July 1678 +Wee have An Account from Ostend & Newport of the Arrivall there of the Regemts of Coll Legg Coll sidney & the Ld Marpeth & that severall Vessells were then Comeing Into the Roade who had on board the Rest of the troops Yesterday about Noon Arrived here from Holland the secretary of his Matys Ambr & brought over as wee are told A treaty Concluded by sr Wm Temple with the states Wee Are farther told That the P of Orange who In this last turne of affaires gained himselfe A greate Reputation & Esteem In the severall Townes & Established his Interest & Authority In the state more then Ever parted on Tuesday last from the Hague to the Army being Resolved to use all Endeavours for the Reliefe of Mons, he will with the Confederates have An army of 40000 men Wee have o[u]r fflanders letters of Tuesday last They tell us that the d of Luxemburgh Continues Encamped with his Army (which is 50000 Effective) at Limbert where he is dayly Reinforced haveing strongly fortified the severall passes In the way to Mons had sent Away his sicke & Heavy baggage & his Carriages & put himselfe Into A posture of fighting & had with him 70 peeces of Canon That they Expected the P of Orange at Vilvord That night & that the Army would march In A day or Two to the Reliefe of Mons That M: schomberg who Commands the ffrench army on the Meuse had passed it & would as believed march to Joyne the d of Luxemburgh, That the Confederate troopes followed him 100 of which Advancing too far & fearing to be Cut In peeces In Case they should Retreate Resolved to Attacke the vantguard of the ffrench as if they would be Assisted by more troops which they did & forced them to Retire with the losse of 30 Killed & wounded That they had letters from Alsace which said That the ffrench were posted at Buckem opposite to Rhinefeldt from whence they had with their Cannon burnt some part of it, That the d of Lorrain haveing Marched though the Mountaines to Come downe on the side of Rhinefeldt & viewing from the hills the ffrench Army before him Turned to the left hand & passed the Rhine at Lauffenburgh The Marquesse de Rannes In the meane time Remounting some part of his Army & Caused them to Retire with losse to the Maine body, But the Marquesse de Rannes In his Retreate was Slaine & the Count de Plessey wounded The M: de Crequi had sent A detachment to hinder the Imperiallists from Returning who are said to be In A good Condition [Handwriting changes here just for rest of letter.] +the Earle of Plymth is marryed to ye Ld treasure[r]s youngest Daughtr The Earle of Lindseys sonn is marryed to sr Richard Winns Daughter a very great fortune. +Tis said both Bruges, Ostend, & newport are to be put soleley into ye hands of ye English, & that they are all to be quitted by ye other forces, by ye 7th of August & that ye states have resolvd to prohibit all trade for a yeare +The Convention of scotland have Resolvd to give ye King 30000 L p ann for 5 yeares for maintaining a Regmt of foot, & some troops of Horse. [A few figures appear in another hand on outside of letter.] L. c. 660 July 25th 1678 Whitehall 23d July 1678 +There are 2000 horse & dragoons ordered to passe Immediately over Into fflanders & A squadron of 100 horse out of the guards which will be gone the latter End of this weeke or the beginning of the Next. It seems the dutch have given the french till the 1/11 August to have their last & positive Answer Concerning the quitting the places In fflanders On sonday & yesterday wee had Newes at Court which Came by the ffrench letters that the M: de Crequi after his haveing been forced to quitt Rhinefeldt & Comeing backe to Newburgh he Resolved to surprize Offenburgh where the Imperiallists had A very greate Magazine The d of Lorrain haveing Notice of it As he lay Neer Luxemburgh marches himselfe Immediately with 6000 horse & dragoons, Repasses the Rhine, Takes his way between the Mountains & ffriburgh & uses so much dillig[ence] that though the ffrench were A dayes march before him he got to Offenburg A day before them & haveing Reinforced the garrison he posts himselfe with the Rest of his troops Neer the place & Entrenches himselfe M: Crequi Comes downe with part of his Army & Attacks Lorrain In his Entrenchmts who finding himselfe overpowered quitts it & Retired towards the Mountains & the grosse of his Army which had followed him, The ffrench pursue him & Kill him 4 or 5000 men, But on the other side that M: de schomberg is wounded & taken prisoner by which & other Circumstances (however the ffrench tell the Story) it Rather seems the Germans had the Advantage, It Appeares they gained the Maine point In saveing Offenburgh A place of greate Importance. L. c. 661 July 27th 1678 +On the 24th his Maty went downe to woolege to see A New 3d Rate ship Launched & Named Capt Bridges is sworne groome of his Matys Bedchamber In place of Mr Godolphin & Mr Godolphin Upon the Resignation of Mr hide is to be made Mr of the Robes On the 18th his Maty was pleased to declare that he will Not have the peace at sea made the 28th August 76 with the Emperor of Morocco to Continue any longer then 28 August 78 when the 2 yeares Expire according to the Capitulation Our letters from Newport give account of the Kind Reception the English had there, The spanish Governour Recd them at the watergate on foot & had made proclamation that No man should give them any offence & Caused the walloon & Italian Regemts to march out to make Roome for the English, There were most of Coll Leggs Coll sidneys & Coll ffenwicks Regemts 2400 Effective & Not above 200 of the K of Spains standing souldery In the garrison The Privateers of sweden haveing formerly taken & Carried to straalsond 22 ships bound for Amsterdam which were sold by Count Conningsmarcke to pay his Army The states by their Ambrs at Nimeghen acquainted the swedish Ambrs that they Exspected Reparation as being A breach of the treaty of Commerce made 2 yeares before as also punishmt to be Inflicted on the offenders or otherwise they shall take such satisfaction that they shall find most meet The Paris letters dat 30th tell us the E of sunderland was Exspected there that night +They write from the Hague dat 29th that the states are Come to A Resolution about the Number of forces demanded of them by the P of Orange & have agreed to maintaine 16000 foot In Garrisons & An Army In the field of 27000 men, They have also Recalled A Placaert which did forbid their subjects to Make prize of the ffrench At sea which was done at the Instance of zealand who Complained of severall losses from the ffrench & have Now permission to Revenge themselves They Resolve In Case of A warre to prohibitt all ffrench Commodities In the same Manner that England hath done, The states Generall have signed the treaty with England, Its said that butter is sold at Mons for a peece of Eight pd & No wine In the towne & their windmills broke downe by the ffrench Canon some of their letters say Mounsr Oliverhrants the swedish Ambr hath Acquainted the states that the King his master finding his Concerne to be the greate obstruction of the peace was willing for the generall benefitt of Christendome to quitt some of his owne perticular Rights Whitehall 25 July 1678 +Our fflanders letters of ffriday last Come In this Morning tell us that the P of Orange arrived on tuesday In his Campe at Vilvord & the Next morning was visitted by the d de villa hermosa who acquainted him with the state & Condition his affaires were In The Next morning his High: went to Brussells [and?] was In Councell with the d about An houre & they have Its said Resolved on the Enterprize of Mons which they Intend to Relieve Cost what it will & In order thereunto the Army was to March on satureday last & would be Joyned by the Lunenburgh troops Commanded by Mounst Chauvet the Next day at Enghien Though it was believed his High: would Continue In his quarters till the Arrivall of the Brandenburghs Commanded by Generall spaen & then they Compute his Army to be stronger then the Enemy Especially In horse being In all 40 Regemts of foot & 120 squadrons horse That M: schomberg was marching to Joyne with the d of Luxemburgh who on wednesday last decamped from Limber & is Now Neer soignes & when schomberg has Joyned him his Army will Consist In 66 battalions & 126 squadrons & lyes so posted that If the Confederates Advance to the Reliefe of Mons he is Ready to Receive them or fall Upon their fflanke on which side soever they passe And to put their Army to yet greater Extremities has Commanded all the fforrage & standing Corne on both sides his Campe to be burned (Unheard of Cruelties Never practised but among Infidells) designing the Entire Ruine of those Countries, But their greatest Advantage is that Mons is Not In that Extremity it was believed the governour assureing the d de villa hermosa his Condition was Not yet In so much danger if he Could be Relieved In any Reasonable time, That some believed that since the ffrench Kings Resolution would be Knowne by 1/11 August the P would not hazzard his Army Unlesse some Extrary Necesity Requires it because by that time they would be Assured of A peace or of the Continuance of the warr, If the latter they hoped for Assistance from abroade & In the meane time If they should have ill successe They Should Not only loose Mons but also that whole Countrey & bring their affaires which are Now very hopefull Into A desperate state, & therefore the P would march up very Neer the Enemy but be very Cautious of Giving them any Advantage +They tell us of A sad mischance which happened Neer Malines the passage boate going from thence to Antwerp was blowne up & about 60 persons drowned among whome were severall officers & persons of Note & 30 saved, by what accedent they Know not though it was belieued to be A designe to have destroyed the ships at Malines laden with the Princes Ammunition which (had it taken Effect) would Certainly have destroyed the Citty Their letters from Germany say that the armies Especially the germans were In A sad Condition, some letters affirme that Mons is actually beseiged by 54000 ffrench & 60 peeces of Canon This Evening Arrived an Expresse ffrom ffrance which brought the ffrench had taken the fort which guards the bridg of Strasburgh by a storme which lasted 6 houres, That the Germans which were In garrison defended it well & the ffrench have lost 4 or 500 men & many officers L. c. 662 July 29th 1678 Whitehall 27 July 1678 +wee have Nothing abroade since my last but what I told you of the ffrench haveing taken the fort of straasburg seemes of very greate Importance & will very much Affect the Imperiall Army who hath Its greate Magazine Especially of Bread at straasburgh The D of Lorrain was at offenburgh & haveing ffriburgh on side & his Comunication with strasburgh Cut off on the other side will find himselfe much streightened The 2000 horse & dragoons which will Embarke this Next weeke for fflanders will be Commanded by sr John Langer late Coll of the D of Monmoths Regemt In ffrance Wee have this Evening o[u]r letters from Holland of Tuesday last they say That the ffrench Ambrs at Nimeghen had given In another Memoriall to the Dutch In answer to that they Recd from them In which they say that their King is very much Inclined to Remove the dificulties that at prsent hinder the peace & If the states will send deputies to st Quentin the King will come thither In person or If they Chose to send to Ghent as being Neerer he will send likewise thither on his part who may treate About Remooveing the sd dificulties aswell as about A farther Cessation of all hostilities The letters from straasburgh by the way of Holland are of the 15/25 Instant They tell us that the M: Crequi beseiged Offenburg haveing his Heavy Cannon from Brisac That the D of Lorraine had Indeed put 3000 men Into the place under the Command of Count starenberg & had himselfe who followed with 4 or 5000 men & 2 peeces of Cannon A sharpe Rencounter with the ffrench In which being overpowered he lost 3 or 400 men, however the ffrench had some losse too seeing that the Marquesse de schomberg was taken prisoner +The letters Add that Just before their Comeing away they had A Report from straasburgh that the ffrench had taken the Counterscarpe of offenburgh & that the sieur de Monclar was posted with A body of Men Neer the fort of Kiell which guards their bridge By this Way of Holland wee have Newes likewise that the ffrench have formally beseiged Mons with 45000 men & had Begun their lines of Circumvallation &c By A vessell Come In from Brest wee have an account That 2 men of warr were Arrived there from the West Indies being of the squadron of the Count de Estrees the Rest of which vizt 8 men of warr & 6 greate Merchantmen fitted out for men of warr & In them Neer 10000 men were Perrished In A Hurricane In those parts, The Count de Estrees is said to be Aboard one of those ships Come to Brest Another vessell Come In from Lays brings Advice of A Combate on the Coast of Catalonia between the Dutch squadron Commanded by the sieur Evertron & the ffrench Commanded by the sieur de quesne, That the latter was quite beaten but that the sieur Evertrons owne ship was lost & he In it but that will Need Confirmation This Evening about 150 soldiers of the D of Monmoths Regemt In ffrance Came up by water Just Now Comes In the fflanders letters they say nothing of Mons Being beseiged The 2 Armies were posted Not far from Brussells [New letter starts here, but Folger Library does not so number it.] August 1st 1678 Whitehall 30 July 1678 +The Newes wee have from Brest of the losse of the ffrench fleet In the West Indies is Related so positively & with so many Circumstances that wee have all the Reason In the world to give Credit to it On sonday In the Evening his Grace the Duke of Monmoth parted hence for fflanders Wee heare dayly of More troops that are appointed to be sent over & more horse & dragoons, And 200 of the Guards are drawne out to forme a squadron And 100 Grenadiers on horsebacke which will Embarke Its said In few dayes About 400 of the D of Monmoths Regemt In ffrance are Come over & severall hundreds more are Exspected These Complaind very much of their ill usage sr John Arrundell has the place of Master of the horse to the queen In the Roome of mr Mountague Wee want o[u]r fforeign letters [Handwriting changes here just for rest of letter.] +Tis said that ye Marquess de Burgemanero ye spanish Amb is gone over wth ye Duke of MunMouth to give him ye Keys & possession both of Bruges, Newport, & Ostend, that ye Duke of yorke will follow himselfe suddenly wth a Considerable body both of Horse & foot & that ye Earle of Ossory is got into Mons wth 3 or 4000 English. That Lorrain is drawne up in Batalia resolveing to fight Crequi, & that ye Earle of ffeversham is returnd whose answere seemes not to tend much to peace, that ye french Kings subjects are soe Weary of their taxes that that King has sent a Regemt into Normandy, another into Brittany, & another into Picardy, by fforce to Leavy their severall Contributions. / you may please to credit what you please of this till tyme makes it more Authentick for I dare not give it you all as soe yet L. c. 663 Aug: 3d 1678 +On the 21st at night A fire happened by the Neglegence of A Boy In the Torrinton Merchant when shee was Ready to goe to sea & In A short time was Burnt to the Water But the Wind being very Calme the Care of the people preserved the other ships from Mischeife although Many & some very Neer The smirna fleet & streights fleet are safely Arrived The Deputies of zealand seem to have A prospect of A through warr & In order to it have proposed to the states to prohibitt trade with the swede aswell as ffrance which is Appointed to be taken Into Considderation & their principles to be Consulted In it some Paris letters date 4th tell us that straasburgh Bridg was to be burnt by orders from M: Crequi & that they Justify the seizeing the fort of Kiell to be No breach of Neutrality alledging some of the D of Lorrains soldiers In it The King hath sent to M: quesne which is about Corsica to Joyne the Gallies of Porto fferrarro & Go before Genova where they Refuse to give the ffirst salute to show upon the Towne There were on board de Estrees fleet 8000 men & Its Confidently said their designe was on the Havanna The Hampshire Arrived at Allicant from the Coast of Algeir left there vice Admirall Herbert & sr Roger strickland, The Corsayres were all layd up Except 3 gone to the Westward & they are Inclinable to peace sr Jo. Narborough was 8 leagues to the Westward takeing In water On the 28th the D of Monmoth went for fflanders & the 29th the E of ffeversham Returned who gave his Maty an account of his Negotiation On the 29th the D of Monmoth Arrived At deale In A yatcht where the Soldiers attended on him as A Convoy to Ostend The d of Albemarle has made all preparation & is this day going for fflanders, you had formerly the Names of 6 Leiut Generalls & Now there are made 2 Major Genlls The Ld Allinton & Coll Trevers The George of London George Bricholt Commander arrived at Waymouth Report that the Algerines abroade have taken 2 English ships the one of London the other of Bristoll that is that ship that In the same voyage outward bound met A turks man of warr of 44 guns was boarded & put them off with Much losse to the Turks & little to themselves Wee heare dayly of More troops that Are Appointed to be sent over, 4 Regemts of foot are Now ordered to be sent & more horse & dragoons & 200 of the guards are drawne out to forme A squadron & 100 Grenadiers on horsebacke who will Embarke Its said In few dayes & all the horse have orders to be In Readinesse About 400 of the D of Monmoths Regemt In ffrance are Come over & severall hundreds more are Exspected these Complaine very much of their ill usage Its said don ffrancisco de Mello the Portugall Ambr is dead & that sr John Arrundell is made master of the horse to the queen In the Roome of mr Mountague Whitehall 1 August 1678 +by the ffrench letters Come In this morning wee have the Confirmation of the losse of the ffrench ffleet In the West Indies The Names follow ships lost Commanded by The Terrible 64 guns The Count de Estrees The Thunderer -64 mr de Grancey The warrior 64 Mr de Nemon The prince 54 mr de St Aubris The Bourbon 54 The defence 54 The Hercules 54 +fflyboates, The Conception The Jambonne the little ffluives [?] The King david which served for the Magazine & the Cocke which served for the Hospitall ships saved The duke --50 guns The vigelant 36 The Brillant 40 The Mercury 36 The starr 40 The Tempest 28 This last The lyon 40 brought the Newes to Rochell +fireships The Serpent The Windmill the fireship & 2 fluives They were it seems through the Ignorance of the pilotts driven by the Currant against Certain Rocks Neer Currassaw & most of the Men drowned, The Count de Estrees himselfe Escaped & is Come home The said letters add that all the discourse at the ffrench Court was that there would be A peace of which they Exspected however In few dayes to speake with of More Certainty +The Account wee have from Germany by these ffrench letters of the 29 July from Straasburgh That Aswell the ffrench as Imperiall armies were Encamped Neer Offenburgh The one on the one side & the other on the other That what was said of the M: Crequi haveing Beseiged that place proves A Mistake That If he designed it The Approach of the D of Lorrain had made him alter it & Content himselfe with the takeing of the fort de Kiell which Mr Monclar Began to Attacke the 25 July at Night & tooke it by Assault the 27th In the Evening. The Garrison that was there after haveing made A Brave defence Retireing by the bridge to the Two forts that the Towne of straasburgh still holds on the other side the Rhine, of the sd Garrison 120 swissers & 100 soldiers were Killed with severall officers & about 20 taken prisoners besides the Wounded, which it may safely be believed had put the Citty straasburgh Into a Great Allarme which was Encreased by Mr Monclar Causeing severall troops to passe the Rhine In designe to Attacke the sd 2 forts which the Citty has on the side of Alsace if Not the Citty it selfe, whose safety only Consisted In the protection of the Imperiall Army, The 28th the M: Crequi sent to straasburgh the prisoners & wounded men & at the same time signified to the Majestrates that if they would make good their Neutrality for the future he would forget the past & be their very good ffreind But the sd Majestrates thinke of Nothing but how they may Recover the fort of Kiell which they batter very furiously from the 2 forts above Mentioned, wee are Not told the perticulers of the french losse In the takeing the fort but you may be sure it was very Considderable, This Morning the Parliamt mett & was prorogued till the 29th by Commission L. c. 664 August 5th 1678 Whitehall 3d August 1678 +His Maty was pleased yesterday In Councill to declare the Parliament should sitt the 29th Instant being the time Appointed by their Prorogation & accordingly A proclamation is prepareing for Calling the Members by that time On Wednesday Arrived 7 ships from the East Indies In the Downes Richer then any of A long time Wee are Exspecting to heare what the finall Answer of the ffrench K will be upon the last memoriall about the quitting the Townes In fflanders which Answer the Dutch Exspected by the 1/11 Instant, It is said that the sweds have desired the ffrench Not to delay the peace upon their account but to Restore the sd places which makes people thinke ffrance will Comply In the point though the last letters from ffrance said That that King whatever he does with the other places will Not part with Maastricht Nor Charleroy till there be A Generall peace because of the use those places will be to him In the Warr he must Continue against Germany Wee have o[u]r fflanders letters of yesterday seavenight they tell us That that day the P of Orange Retired with his Army within 2 [?] leagues of Brussells That the day before A party of his High: horse Encountred 2 squadrons of ffrench whome they defeated & Killed 20 upon the place & 13 or 14 were taken prisoners & 2 Cornets though with the losse of as many of the dutch. The d of Luxemburgh hath sent severall detachments from his Army, one of 4000 to Reinforce Gaunt & severall others for the security of Aoth Oudenard & other places that lye Naked & Exposed That In Germany the Imperiallists were In A very bad Condition which with the takeing of the fort of Kiell Renders the Citty of straasburgh Almost desperate L. c. 665 August 8th 1678 Whitehall 6 August 1678 +yesterday Morning by A yatcht that Returned from Ostend wee have An Account that the d of Monmoth haveing drawne out of Bruges Newport & Ostend 8 Battalions of English 800 In A Battalion was Marched with them to Joyne the P of Oranges Army They takeing their way by water to Antwerpe On sunday morning Came In o[u]r Dutch letters which said That the ffrench Ambrs at Nimeghen had declared that the K their Master at the desire of the sweds did desist from his pretension of deteyning the Townes In flanders till sweden be satisfied but that he desired the states would send deputies Either to him at st queintin or to Ghent to treate about Restoreing of sweden And In the Evening Arrives An Express from Nimeghen with An account that the 31st past the Dutch Ambrs had signed the peace with the ffrench But that the spaniards had Not yet signed it Nor had any part In it The Troops Commanded for fflanders as wee are told are to pursue their orders & this day 2 Battalions one of villers & the other of Monmoth Embarke In order to their passing over Our fflanders letters of this day seavenight Come In this Morning tell us that the P of Orange (whose army was 43000 Effective all Brave men In good order & So unanimously Resolved to fight or Relieve Mons that those people were Almost Confident that An Army of that force will be able to goe through with any Enterprize) was Encamped at Enghien No day passing without Rencounters In which they were alwayes sucsesfull, And the ffrench who were about 40000 at soignes secureing all passes to hinder the Reliefe of Mons That at Ghent the ffrench have planted severall peeces of Canon In the Market places & other places to prevent any Insurrection of the Burghers of whome they are very Jealous That In Germany Crequi was Advanceing Either to fight the d of Lorraine or hinder his passing the Rhine which he was Resolved to doe to Regaine his Communication with straasburgh & had sent to Encourage the Majestrates In defence of their Citty which they are Resolved upon & have sent A fflat Answer to Crequi of their desisting [sic] A Neutrality, And Crequi according to the Advices wee have this Evening from ffrance had Resolved to demolish the fort of Kiell & accordingly had Began to doe it & to Burne the houses that were there They say the Imperiall army was In A very ill Condition & that the d of Lorraine was going to Repasse the Rhine Its said the peace above mentioned was signed soe privately by the Dutch Minesters that None of the Rest suspected it till it was done when the Dutch gave this Reason for it that they were Reduced to so low A Condition that they were Necesitated to it, so that Its believed that Except spain be Comprehended wee shall Ere long declare warr against ffrance on the spaniards account whome wee are Oblieged to protect In order whereunto both men provisions & Ammunitions are dayly sending over as Briskly as Ever & Its said his R Highs is Resolved to goe over speedily for which preparations are makeing & that 15 ffresh Regemts shall be forthwith Raised for which Commissions are prepareing & Most of the officers already Nominated. L. c. 666 August 10th 1678 [First paragraph is almost the same as that of L. c. 665.] Our horse are Not yet shipt off but all In Readinesse to goe upon the first Notice most of them In places Convenient for their transportation, sr ffrancis Compton is Made Lieut Coll of the E: of Oxfords Regemt & takes Ranke as his Matys Lieut Coll of horse Coll Worden & sr Jo: Lanier have Commissions of all the Bregadiers of horse On the 2d Arrived at spithead 8 of his Matys men of Warr under sr Jo: Holmes & Joyned the Rest of his Matys fleet under Sr Thomas Allen On the 30th July the Ld Willoughby Eldest son to the E of Lindsey was Married to the sole daughter & heire of sr Richard Wynn deceased Wee shall have for A while A Cessation at Court the Councill & treasury being Adjourned till the 29th They write from scotland that the d of Lauderdale haveing setled the affaires of that Kingdome did Intend to Begin his Journey for England on Monday last +They write from Rome dat 23d July that A Courrier Arrived from Poland who brought Newes of A Rupture that was likely to Ensue betwixt them & the Turks Notwithstanding the treaty was so far Advanced, & that the Pope had been Moved to send them succours In Case of A warr & he had hopes In Case An Accommodation should be made at Nimeghen that A greate part of the Christian forces Now In Armes will be perswaded to take up the quarrell against the Common Enemy They speake of About 6000 of the Rebellious Messineuses all In greate want there who dare Not Adventure home out of A feare they had offended beyond Mercy & Among the Rest was the Eldest son of him who was Employed as their Ambr to the ffrench K so miserably poore that he would have perished for want of Bread had he Not Recd Reliefe from the Convent of the Crucifary to whom his family had been bountifull benefactors The perticulers of the treaty between the Dutch & ffrench are Not Communicated, some Report the Dutch have signed A treaty offensive & defensive with ffrance which is so far from truth that the ffrench In their proposalls Required No more then A Neutrality that they might Not hinder the progresse of their Armes to force In those that will stand out & that they should use all faire Meanes to perswade the Confederates to A generall accommodation +A ship lately Arrived att southampton Reports that In her way home shee mett 2 East India ships Each of 500 tuns who dispatched some letters by her but went themselves North about for their security Whitehall 8 August 1678 +Our letters from Nimeghen said that they hoped that the spaniards would In 5 or 6 dayes be brought likewise to signe the peace & that In order thereunto A Conference was to be held between the Dutch ffrench And spanish Ambrs on ffriday last, And If the spaniards Came In the peace it was Not doubted but the Emperour would follow their Example being his Army [?] In Germany is In A very ill Condition & is one third weakened since It Came Into the field The 2 Battalions of villers & Monmoth which were ordered to Embarke on Tuesday for fflanders are Countermanded till farther orders His Maty upon the greate Change of Affaires Abroade within those few dayes has altered his mind as to the sitting of the Parliamt & has this day In Councill ordered A proclamation to be Issued out giveing Notice that the Parliamt should the 29th be prorogued till the 1 october Next Our letters from fflanders of the 2/12 Instant tell us that the P of Orange haveing Called A Councill of Warr It was Resolved to march Immediately towards the Enemy but upon the Notice he had they were Decamped his High: made A Hall & sent out severall parties who Returned with Newes that the Enemy were Returned to their Campe at soignes whereupon his High: went & Encamped At steenbecke & Commanded his Dragoons & A Detachment of Infantry to passe the River of that Name The former to post themselves In A Church & the latter In the woods for the security of his March being Resolved to Relieve the place or fight the Enemy of which he had Given Notice to the governour of Mons who promised him If his High: should Attacke them Neer that place he would sally with 12000 men & Just at the Comeing away of those letters Certain Newes was brought to Brussells that the ffrench were Marched away & had left the way open to Relieve Mons That In Germany the Imperiall Army was In An Ill Condition & that the Majestrates of straasburgh had quitted their Neutrality & declared for the Emperor. L. c. 667 [Handwriting changes here.] Aug ye 12th 1678 +Wee have not any of our fforeigne letters wch were due this day, but this morning Coll Macarty who Came in a yacht yesterday from Callais says that he haveing made a Visit to ye Duke of Sharroy Governr of Callais, his Excellency told him he [?] had yesterday in ye morning letters from Lisle wch gave an account that ye two armies in flanders had engaged, that ye fight had bene most furious & bloody, but said nothing of any pticulers This is a peice of news wee know not here what Credit to give to or by ye last post from flanders wee Recd letters from ye Princes army dated on fryday last in ye afternoon soe that this fight must consequently have bene on saterday or sunday, before wch tyme tis Impossible but ye Generalls must have Knowne of ye peace signd ye Wednesday before between ye french & ye Dutch & on ye other side some Consideration must be had of ye person from whom it comes vizt ye Governr of Callais Just now wee have ye Confirmation of the above mentiond news by Our ffrench letters newly Come in wch say that on sunday about 3 [?] a clock in ye afternoon the Prince of Orange attaquet ye french in their Camp & beat them quite out of their lines, wch ye french say they recoverd againe towards Night. the fight lasted till 10 at night, when ye night parted them. the maine bodys of ye army Could not engage but Onely in detached bodys. the next day the 2 armies were drawne up in Battalia ready to Engage againe Just as these letters Came away. The ffrench Owne to have lost a great many brave Officers, & betweene 3 & 4000 men, but say they have taken 2 field peices, some Collours & prisoners & that ye Duch have lost as many in Number as they. On sunday Night they had a Truce to burry their dead. the English Comanded by the Earle of Ossory bore ye greatest brunt of ye day & behavd themselves wth great Bravery. The Duke of Munmouth & ye rest of ye English were not Come up to them. some letters say that ye next morning as ye 3 Armies were goeing to renew ye fight ye Prince of Orange recd by Express an account of ye peace & some againe say that he Knew of ye peace but for that it was concluded wthout his Consent or knowledg he would take noe Notice of it. +Next Weeke the King Queen & Court goe to Windsor to spend about a moneth there. there is much discourse of a Mariage sudenly to be Concluded betwixt ye King of Spaine & ye Lady Ann Daughter to his Royll Hs L. c. 668 [Handwriting changes here.] Aug 15th 1678 Whitehall Aug 13th 1678 +Besides what you will see In the Gazett of the late action In fflanders which is Indeed very greate & Extreamly to the honour of the P of Orange Considdering upon what disadvantage he Attackt the Enemy who lay posted In such A Manner That A Mareshall of ffrance said some dayes before the fight That although the ffrench were but 10000 he would defye An Army of 50000 In that Campe where the D of Luxemburgh was +I can only Add That wee have letters from the Princes Campe of the 6/16 Instant which say, That the P had Indeed Recd An Account of the peace being signed between the states & the ffrench but had not orders to Cease Hostilities And that he was Resolved to Attacke them againe as on Wednesday or Thursday last In Case they hindered his passage to Mons which he was Resolved whatever It Cost to Relieve, & by that time It is hoped o[u]r 8 or 10 English Battalions who went from Bruges Ostend &c had got up to the Army & that they have had A part In the 2d Action of which wee have the More Reason to Exspect A good successe Considdering the greate Heart the Princes Troops were In upon the former Wee have o[u]r letters from Holland of ffriday last which say That the states had letters from the P of Orange of the 7/17 Instant In which he gives them an account That upon the Knowledg he had of the peace being Signed he had Sent to the d of Luxemburgh to give him Notice of it & to Know what he Intended to doe In Relation to Mons, That the sd D Answered he understood from Nimeghen that the peace was made but that he had Not any orders about permitting any Reliefe going to Mons but offered to write to the K About it & that there might be a Cessation for 48 houres to have his Answer In, which the P agreed to & that the Cessation was to begin on the 17th & End on ffriday at the same time The said Dutch letters say that they had Advice from Germany That the ffrench did Attacke the Citty of strasburgh & that the d of Lorraine had passed the Rhine In order to Its Reliefe This Afternoon Arrives An Expresse from fflanders with letters of the 10/20 Instant which say that the d of Luxemburgh upon the orders he had Recd from his K had proposed A Cessation for 5 weeks In fflanders which the P had agreed to, That the 2 Armies were to draw off the 11/21 Instant A ffree passage being left open to Mons to Carry thither what provisions & other Necesaries they wanted & that the P of Orange was the same day Returned to the Hague Just Now are Come o[u]r ffrench letters they say very little of the fight In fflanders But by letters from strasburgh of the 13th they give us An Account that the M: de Crequi had on the 12th taken the 2 forts which were on the same side the Rhine as is the Citty of strasburgh & that the D of Lorrain Endeavouring to passe the Rhine at Lauterburgh the ffrench had defeated 1200 Imperiallists who were already on this side L. c. 669 August 17th 1678 +ffrom yarmouth Lynn & those parts they tell us Their Island & North seamen Come dayly home haveing made very good voyages, The North seamen such as have not been Knowne these many yeares both for the quantity & Largeness of their fish The Case of strasburgh has Been Represented to the states of the Empire who are willing to Assist & have sent to the Emperor In their behalfe who may now be In A Better Condition since Its said By letters from vienna dat 4th That the Elector of Bavaria will Now not only Give his quota of Men to the Army of the Empire but declares himselfe wholly for the Emperor if the war Continue & that the Emperor has upon that Electors Request given his Consent that his 2d son shall be Coadjutor of the Bishopricke of Heising The English Battalions that went from Bruges &c Consisted of his R High: Regemt & the Ld Howards Coll leggs Coll sidneys & sr Tho: slingsbies Regemts And 8 Companies of the E of Cravens Regemt & 8 Companies of the E of Mulgraves Regemt +Its Advised from the Hague date 9/19 That the spaniard has Not yet signed the treaty with the ffrench & that the ffrench had Given them farther Cause of persisting In their Refusall by New demands they had made to have Bromes In the Countrey of Liege & the County of Beaumont yeilded to them which manner of proceeding the states had taken so ill that they had Resolved Not to Ratify their treaty till the Spaniard be Included In the peace The Ratification of the late treaty between his Maty & the states was Exchanged at the Hague on the 5/15 On the 13th the Ld Ambr Hyde went for Holland There was offered An Expedient at Nimeghen In order to An Accomodation between the Emperor & the ffrench K In the diference between them That Phillipsburgh & ffriburgh should both be dismantled & the fort Jucalions Razed The former to be Rendred to the Bishop of spire & the other to the Emperor & the fforrest townes to be dismantled & left open They write from Naples date 26th that the Viceroy of scicily had Appropriated the publicke Rents of Messina to the Royall Chamber & had put the Common people upon A New ferment who began Already to pretend to their old priveledges & to Claime 2 Castles to be put Into their hands discovering some Inclination to Mutiny, That the viceroy had sent over to Reggio for some Regemts to be sent him thither to Keep them In obedience The warr is likely to breake out Againe with A Greater heate then Ever betwixt the Turks & the Polanders who have Not perfected the peace which was Carryed on so far betwixt them & upon this account the Muscovites & them are In A faire way of Agreement that they may act vigorously against the Turks whose armyes threaten them being on their march A vessell Arrived from Guernsey at Southampton Reports they had Advice of some Turks men of warr washing & tallowing at Brest Isle Whitehall 15 Aug: 1678 +In my last I told you there was Concluded A Cessation of Armes for 5 weeks In fflanders & that by it Mons was Relieved to which Its Certain the ffrench would Not have Consented had they not been Induced to it by the late Engagemt & that they Knew 8 or 10 English Battalions were Comeing up who would have Joyned the Army In A day or two at farthest, The d of Monmoth is Comeing for England & is Exspected on satureday or sonday, Notwithstanding which orders are given for 2000 horse & dragoons whose march was once stopt to passe over with all dilligence & they will Embarke to morrow or Next day by which It seems the peace is Not Certain Yesterday the K went hence for windsor whither the queen goes to morrow His Maty Intended to have gone on the 12th to Portesmouth to take A view of the fleet & Garrison but the late Important Advises put A stop to it. [A few figures in another hand appear on outside of letter.] L. c. 670 August 19th 1678 Whitehall 17th Aug 1678 +Wee have this day our Dutch letters of Tuesday last They give us An account that the P of Orange was Returned to the Hague & had given the states an account himselfe of the Cessation of Armes he had made with the ffrench for 5 weeks which is the Remaining Tearme that the peace between the Hollanders & ffrance is to be Ratified In That accordingly the 11/21 Instant the 2 Armies Drew off from Mons which was done at the very same time, The ffrench Insisting that the Baron de Quincy should have Continued with his troops A day or Two longer about Mons for the Honor of it but the P would not allow of it, so the ffrench drew of towards the sambre & the Dutch towards Nivelle, And Mons is now as ffree & as open as Ever it was to the greate disappointment of the ffrench who had Raised very strong works & lines about the Citty The letters from strasburgh are of the 5/15 Instant Then the ffrench Continued In the Neibourhood of strasburgh Continually Allarmeing that Citty Into which the D of Lorrain had put 5000 men under the Command of the Count de Mercy who had made severall salleys & had taken the ffrench waggons of provisions, The d of Lorrains Army is said to be In A very ill Condition & Cannot yet Get on this side the Rhine the ffrench haveing hindered him from laying A bridge over & Especially at stolhoffen where they defeated 400 of his men as hath been already told you +Wee Exspect Every moment the d of Monmoth backe from fflanders This day the E of ffevershams Regemt of Dragoons Embarked The Cessation above mentioned was agreed between the d de villa Hermosa & the D of Luxemburgh & Approved by the P of Orange, It tooke place the 10/20 Instant the Armies marcheing out the Next day & Its not only to Continue for 5 weeks but untill the peace between ffrance & spain be Concluded & Ratified The Armies were both to march off at one Instant upon the signall of the discharge of 3 peeces of Canon, The d of Luxemburgh attended by severall hundreds of ffrench officers had An Interview with his Highnesse between whome passed the usuall Complements The P upon his Arrivall at the Hague was Complemented by A deputation from the states by whome they gave him their thanks for what he had done with so much glory to himselfe L. c. 671 August 22d 1678 Whitehall 20 August 1678 +In my last I told you that the P of Orange Arrived at the Hague That day the letters Came away & the Heer Van Benenring one of the states Ambrs at Nimeghen had made A Report to the states which was Recd so Coldly & with so many Reflections upon his Conduct In it that the Ambr Immediately Retired In much dissatisfaction to his Countrey house & Could hardly be hindered by the perswasions of his ffreinds from giveing up his Commissions & medling no more In publicke affaires upon the whole Its Believed that the states will not Ratify their treaty with ffrance till spain has likewise Concluded theirs, seeing without that they shall loose the Greate point of all which they so long Contested about vizt the Immediate Restoreing the places In fflanders to the spaniards There are at prsent some proposalls on foot at Nimeghen for the makeing A Generall Cessation of Armes between all the parties for some moneths which the Imperiallists doe perticularly promote Considdering the ill posture of their Affaires In Germany for wee are assured that the D of Lorrain has lost alone halfe his Army & that he has not at prsent above 15000 men when on the other side the M: de Crequi is dayly Reinforced & will be more by A ffrench detachmt which is sent from fflanders since the Cessation there On sonday his Grace the D of Lauderdale Arrived from scotland at Windsor & was most Graciously Recd of his Maty +This day about Noon Arrived the D of Monmoth ffrom fflanders he went Immediately to Windsor Wee want all o[u]r fforreign letters L. c. 672 Aug 26: 1678 Brussells 30 Aug 1678 +Our Armies (which are at prsent at Gennep) are only Employed In finding forrage & subsistance while the Cessation lasts & the ffrench are on the sambre where they are Reinforced with ffresh troops & have stopt the detachment sent towards Germany In feare least the peace should Not succeed Our letters from strasburgh of the 24th tell us That the ffrench army (which was Neer saverne & Hagenaw) It was supposed had A designe upon the fort which guards the Bridge of Phillipsburgh for the security of which the d of Lorraine had sent A strong detachment that way staying himselfe on the other side the Rhine till he be Reinforced with severall ffresh Regemts that are Comeing to him from Treves & other places The ffrench of Maastricht have Made An Incursion Into the Countrey of Juliers & Burnt severall villages In Hungary things grow worse & worse which Inclines the Emperor very much to A peace of which wee have No other account from Nimeghen save that the diferences between the ffrench & the spaniards Continue to hinder the Conclusion of the treaty Hague 30 Aug: 1678 +Wee are told that 5 of the 7 provinces have declared that they will Not Ratify the late Treaty signed by the Ambrs of the states unlesse spaine May make the peace upon the first Conditions offered by the ffrench In Aprill last & Consequently unlesse ffrance depart from the New demands of Beaumont &c. The last account wee had from the Army was That 8 English Battalions under the Command of the Ld Howard had Joyned, & that the D of Luxemburgh had stopt the detachment designed for Germany Not Knowing what things may yet Come to on this side Whitehall 24 Aug +The troops I told you were ordered for fflanders vizt 27 troops horse 12 of dragoons & the Battalions of Monmoth & villers doe Certainly Embarke on Monday [Handwriting changes here just for rest of letter.] +The Ld Leift of Ireland has sent up 16 acts for his Matys approbation amongst wch One for giveing his Maty 120000 L &c: +Tis said the places of ye great Wardrobe shall be managed by 2 Comissrs +There is a discourse of a new project betwixt france & spain The former to quitt intirely, Cattalonia Rousillon & all his pretensions in alsace &c: in Consideration of haveing ye spanish Netherlands. +The spanish Amb here declares that his Masters Ministers at Nimeghen have absolutely refusd to signe ye peace Tis said Genell schultz has fallen upon the french forragers taken 1000 & Kild many L. c. 673 August 29th 1678 Paris 31 Aug +There is at prsent very little to write from hence The last letters wee had from Alsace are of the 23d Instant, They only tell us that the M: de Crequi Continued Encamped from Brumpt to Hockenfelden on the sarre Ruineing And destroying all the Countrey Round to deprive the Imperiallists of subsistance, That he had burnt the severall villages belongeing to strasburgh which did more & more Exasperate that Citty against the ffrench, And that the M: de Crequi had sent 3 detachments one to Montzenaw The other of 5 squadrons & 2 Battalions to Blobsheim to guard the Bridge they have there & the third Consisting of 3000 men towards saverne to secure that passage, And In the meane time the d of Lorrain Continued on the other side of the Rhine Exspecting the Comeing up of severall troops of the Circles But that he had Caused A small body to passe the Rhine at Jorkenen where he had made A bridge At strasburgh 2000 men are Continually at worke upon the fortifications strasburgh 26 Aug +yesterday the ffrench Army decamped from Brumpt & marched to daffenhoven with designe as is believed to attacke A body of Imperiall troops who are at prsent Neer Landaw under the Command of Genll Caprara who have within these 2 dayes been Reinforced with 6000 men from Hesse saxe Eysenach &c The Imperiall Army marches likewise In order to their passing the Rhine so that wee may Chance to heare of some fresh action Prince Herman of Baden Continues here still On Tuesday some troops of this garrison beate A french party Killed severall & brought In 22 prisoners Hamburgh 30 August +The daneish fleet is Come againe upon the Coast of Rugen & all the Brandenburgh troops are marching that way In order to the attacking that Island Hague 3d september +The states wee are told have sent orders to their Ambrs at Nimeghen to presse those of ffrance to quitt their New pretensions about Beaumont &c & to Conclude the peace with spaine upon the Tearmes offered by them In Aprill which spain then accepted, otherwise that they the states Cannot Ratify their late treaty, It was it seems proposed In the states that Ambrs should be sent In the meane time to ffrance to Negotiate this Matter In that Court but five of the provinces were against it & so it was layd aside On the other side the ffrench Ambrs at Nimeghen have offered that they will Immediately put the places that are to be Restored to the spaniards when they shall come Into the peace Into the hands of the states to be Kept by them In the meane time but this the states have absolutely declined [Handwriting changes here just for rest of letter.] On saturday One Nullet a Parliamt [man?] was Comitted to ye Tower for Treasonable words L. c. 674 Aug 29th 1678 +At the Cessation it was agreed that both Armies should march off togather at the discharge of 3 peeces of Canon After which there was An Interview between the D of Luxemburgh & the P of Orange which was held & Complements past marching along for some miles In the Midst of 1500 horse of A side, Its said Among other discourses the D desired of the P the faivour of A question whether he Knew of A peace before he attempted that bold action & that the P assured him that he did not One of the ffrench officers told A Dutch officer that of the ffrench were Killed & wounded 500 officers & 6000 men The Paris letters dat 24th give account that the ffrench K is much troubled at the Baffle his Army Recd at st dennis as what Confutes the oppinion he would have the world Entertaine of them that they were masters of the field & that they gave the peace (as they Phrase it) Rather then any wayes Constrained thereunto, And his passion upon that occasion doth so far transport him that he Cannot at some times forbeare to discover his Resentments Endeavouring to blast that Brave Action with Reproachfull Expressions the Easyest of which is that It was An Unseasonable surprizall The Dutch letters dat 26th tell us that the P of Orange doth Every day gaine A greater Esteem & Reverence among the people On the 20th the D of Monmoth Arrived & went that day for Windsor A squadron of ships were sent out some dayes since from spithead haply In quest of some Turkey Piratts that were said to be Cruiseing that way The virginia Mirth of Barnstable Arrived on the 14th In 6 weeks from Maryland laden with tobacco gives Notice of A Greate Crop like to be there this yeare The Malaga letters dat Aug 2d tell us that on the 31 July sr Jo: Narborrough Arrived there with 14 men of warr & 50 merchants & haveing washed sailes the Next day to the streights mouth, That place is now freed from the suspition of the plague They tell us from Marselles dat 16th that the Gallies were Come Into that port but Mr du quesne with 13 men of warr & 2 fireships lay before Genova to hinder all vessells from Comeing In or going out & that there is A Continuance of the Negotiation between ffrance & Savoy which may give genova A Just Apprehension They write from vienna that the grand seignior upon the Instance of the Emperors minesters who acquainted him that the P of Transilvania & some of his Basas had Assisted the Rebells, had given A streight Charge to them to forbear it Upon paine of death & upon this the Rebells finding their Confedracy began to breake has (as they write from Cologne) published An Edict wherein after A preamble of the violation of their priveledges they say That the Most Christian King In Compassion of their sufferings had taken them Into his protection & therefore In the vaile [?] of all summons In all, Threatening to prosecute the Newtors Even with fire & sword Brussells 24 Aug 1678 +On satureday o[u]r 8 English Battalions passed through this Citty & Encamped by Anderleeke, They are Extreamly Applauded by all that saw them march, On sonday the P of Orange tooke A view of them In his passage towards the Hague The D of Monmoth saluted his Highs at the head of them with A pike In his hand The d of Luxemburgh has sent 18 Squadrons & 36 battalions towards Alsace Here is published A Relation of the victory obtained by o[u]r Army the 14th Instant In which Its said that the ffrench had 8000 Killed & Wounded & among them 500 officers & of o[u]r side wee lost 2500 But from more Impartiall hands wee are assured that of o[u]r Army there Could Not be lesse then 6000 Killed & Wounded & about that Number of the Enemy because wee made o[u]r Attacks with so prodigious A disadvantage of Ground, Its Certain that if the Attacke upon the Abbey of st dennis had been made halfe An houre sooner they had taken Luxemburghs baggage who was at dinner when the Canon began to play & Could Not believe the P Intented to Attacke him till he saw the Dutch troops began to Approach, At the Interview after the Cessation Luxemburgh very Highly Complemented the P saying he had done a very glorious action Brussells 26 Aug 1678 +Wee talke here much of the peace but there seems yet some Rubbs In the way for the states they say will Not Ratify their treaty with ffrance till the spaniards have made theirs & the spaniards will Not Consent to the New demands the ffrench make of Beaumont Chimay & Bovines The ffrench Army is Not yet Removed far from Mons for which Reason o[u]rs which was once as far as Escaussins marches Now to Mariemont Neer Binches By the Articles of Cessation both Armies ought to Continue within their owne territory +The troops of the allies who together make 16 or 17000 men Intend to quitt o[u]r Army & to post themselves neer Namur to take their farther Measures according to the detachmts which the D of Luxemburgh sends towards Germany The D of Lorrains army is Certainly In A very ill posture & In want of many things, Care haveing Not been taken to supply him with moneys & other Necesaries which ought to have been & besides his Marches have lost him many men, And In Hungary the Rebells are to strong for the Imperiall troops & have taken Esperies A place of Greate Importance +Whitehall 22 Aug 1678 yesterday Embarked 12 troops of dragoons vizt 6 troops of sr Jo: Talbotts Regemt & 6 troops of the Royall Regemt, There will Embarke to day or to morrow 30 troops of horse being out of Each Regemt 6 troops, And Coll villers Regemt of foot & some other Companies of foot. L. c. 675 Aug 31st 1678 +On the 25th died John Lord Berkeley of Stratton On the 29th the Parliamt was P[r]orogued by Commission till the 1st october where were many Peers prsent & Among them the D of Buckingham which I the Rather mention because there were some wagers on it They write from Portesmouth dat Aug 25th that money was brought downe to pay off the Royall Charles the Charles & the Royall James & that they would begin to pay on the Morrow, There was A draught Appointed of 14 out Every Company for fflanders but there went 14 voluntiers out of Each Company without staying till the officers made Choyce In fflanders the Countrey is Generally sickly though it is Not so mortall as Reported they accounted no lesse then 15000 sicke at one time In Antwerpe The garrison of Maastricht have lately burnt 6 villages In the Country of Juliers which severity there & In Germany is pretended by the ffrench to make them more desirous of peace but it Rather Exasperates them to Revenge The states upon Complaints made of severall losses suffered by their people from those of Algeirs have given orders to Admirall Evertron to employ the squadron under his Command against the Algerines to bring them to Reason The Pope doth by his severall Nuncios presse zealously for A peace Especially In the Imperiall & ffrench Courts hopeing by that meanes that the Christian armies will act with one Consent against the Turke their Common Enemy, The Nuntio at Nimeghen proposeth A general Cessation which is Relished by all parties well Enough Except the dane & Brandenburgh who Exspect Advantages by the prsent posture of their Affaires The Coppenhagen letters Dat Aug 27th say the sweds fleet was at Colmar sund & the Danes at the Isle of Rugen & had greate Numbers of fflat bottomed boates &c for An Attacke of which they Exspected the successe The Elector of Brandenburgh haveing sent out Coll Trefferfield with 300 horse & 200 dragoons to surprize the suburbs of straelsond he performed it with successe & made himselfe master of it haveing Killed & taken prisoners most of those on the guards & gave such an Allarme to the towne that some within thought It had been taken In the Meane time some passengers from Riga to Luber Affirme that the sweds Lyvonian Army Consisting of 15000 men were on their March & have passage permitted them by the D of Curland & that mr de Bethuns forces In Poland were Ready to Joyne them They write from Rome dat 13th that the diferences at Messina were over being begun by the Inhabitants of A small village neer them who pretended their liberties were Enfringed by A New Impost which being taken off they Ceased That Morning the Genova Resident had Audience of the pope upon the ffrench assaulting them Cardinall Pio the Imperiall Agent In that Court haveing had Audience of the Pope upon the birth of the Emperors son, The Pope was upon the Nomination of A person to Carry the swadling Clouts to him & It was thought that don Benedetto Pamphilo brother to the prince of that Name would be pitched upon if his Minority doth Not Render him Uncapable of Being An Archbishop which is A dignity Necesary for the person Employed In that function An Envoy is Arrived at the ffrench Court from Genova to Endeavour to take away the offence that King has taken which if he Cannot prevaile Its said he has orders to Con[tinue?] for England to desire his Matys faivour In it & then to goe for Nimeghen to procure that the diference may be Composed at the genll peace Whitehall 29 Aug: 1678 +ffrom the Northerne quarters wee have An Account of A New treaty Concluded betwixt the K of denmarke the Elector of Brandenburgh the Bp of Munster & the d of zell for Carrying on the warr against sweden by which It seems those princes are wholly set upon Continuing the warr on that side although there should be A peace on this, And at Nimeghen upon the proposalls that were made of A generall Cessation of Armes the Brandenburgh minester said he was willing to consent; but for what Concerned sweden In it he had no orders +This day fortnight the Tearme for Exchangeing the Ratifications of the late treaty between ffrance & Holland Expires & hitherto the states have Not given any orders In it; but on the contrary seem Resolved & have so declared to the ffrench Ambrs at Nimeghen that they Cannot proceed to Ratify till Spain have likewise Concluded their treaty (which is only hindered by the New demands of the french) seeing without that they shall Misse their maine Aime which was to make [about five letters blurred] the Barriere in fflanders by the Restitution of those places to spain The states have finally with the good likeing of the P of Orange Resolved to Reforme 235 Companies of foot & 35 troops of horse & when that is done they will have left 60000 men In their pay This Reduction will only Reach the officers for the Common soldiers will be taken Into such Companies as are Defective +The ill posture of the Emperors affaires makes the princes of the Emperor Extreamly desirous of A peace & to presse the Emperor very much In this point yesterday the Earle of ffeversham Parted for fflanders where he is to Command the Kings forces, The Ld Howard of Estricke who had that trust being taken with A sudden defluxion of Rheume at Brussells is given over by his Phisitions & some say he dyed on satureday last L. c. 676 sept 2d 1678 Whitehall 31 Aug: 1678 +This Morning wee have o[u]r Dutch letters of Tuesday last They tell us that some of Those dificulties that hinder the Conclusion of the treaty between spain & ffrance had been Removed The ffrench haveing quitted the demands they made of [about seven letters smeared] & Aigemont & that the dificulties that Remained Concerning Beaumont, The Chastelline of Aoth & the Comprehending In the treaty the Messineuses that are fled their Countrey which is stifly Insisted upon by the ffrench & as stifly Refused by the spaniards, But after all these are points which Its believed will Not be lookt upon by the parties of so greate Importance as to hinder the peace which it seems to be Not only much desired by the Dutch but Even by the spaniards whose affaires are Certainly in the worst Condition In the world The letters wee have this way from Germany say That the M: Crequi had Caused A Manifesto to be published declareing warr against the Citty of strasburgh & that he Continued on the 19/29 Instant at Werdt, That the Cavalry of the Imperiall Army had passed the Rhine Neer Phillipsburgh & that the Infantry were following The Northerne letters say that the K of denmarke was highly offended at the losse of Christianstadt the fault of which was layd upon his Generall Arensdorfe who was put out of his Command & was to be Tryed by A Councill of warr The sweds army which is stronger then the danes was Advanced within 2 leagues of Landscroon with designe as is believed to Attacke the danes who are Encamped Neer that place mr Knight the Kings Chirurgeon & others to Assist him is gone over to fflanders to take Care of the English that are sicke there The Battalion of Monmoth Embarked yesterday L. c. 677 sept 5th 1678 Whitehall 3 sept 1678 +The Easterly winds has hindered the departure of the Troops designed for fflanders, The vessells lye In the River Ready to saile with the ffirst faire Wind You have heard of the death of the Lord John Berkeley, On sonday Morning dyed the Ld O Bryan who Came sicke from fflanders Wee have our Dutch letters of ffriday last They tell us as to the greate Matter of the peace, That things Continued yet In suspence. That the ffrench Ambrs had sent A Courrier to their Court upon whose Returne It would be Knowne what the Issue of things would be The Citty of strasburgh has put out A Contra Manifesto In Answer to that of the M: de Crequi In which they show how faithlesly the ffrench have all Along proceeded with them Especially at A time when they promised them all ffreindship & Amity, But In the meane time that Citty is Every day more & More streightened & the ffrench have Now lately posessed themselves of A small Isle In the Rhine Neer the Citty by which it will be likewise shutt upon that side as it is by the ffrench troops on the other The ordinary letters from ffrankfort of the 31 Aug: say That the Imperiall Army was about Philipsburgh Committing A Thousand spoyles & Ravages In the Palatinate to the very walls of Heydelburgh. But ffrom the Hague they write That the Imperiall Minester there had Advice That the said Army has passed the Rhine but It is Not seen what they will be able to doe for ffirst They are In an ill Condition hardly 15000 fighting men & some dissatisfaction among the Generalls who Complaine That the d of Lorraine since his Marriage to the Emperors sister has quite Changed his Carriage towards them In the Next place the ffrench Army which is Come as low as Landaw destroys all the Countrey Round that they will Not be able to subsist The Electors of Bavaria of saxony & the Palatinate presse the Emperor Extreamly to the peace perticularly to Consent to the Cessation of Armes that is proposed L. c. 678 sept 7th 1678 +Our men are dayly going for fflanders & severall are drawne out of those Companies that Remaine here for the Recruiteing those that went over formerly some of them being taken off by sicknesse that hath generally spread it selfe over all those Countries & with them are sent A Competent Number of Phisitions & Chirurgeons to Apply Necesary Remedies for the preservation of the soldiers And Indeed the severall Advices from the parts of England Complaine of A More then ordinary sickly time among them & some of them that they have Not had A More sickly time these 20 yeares Though London God be praised stands In good health & their bills of Mortality doe Not Exceed what may be Exspected this season On the 30th was finished the Payment of the st Michaell R Katherine Rainebow & Unicorne at Chattham where there is A very good 3d Rate ship that will be Ready to Launch the latter End of this moneth the other ships proper for the Approaching sea [illegible word of about six letters] still to Continue in service A ffrench ship arrived at dartmouth on ffriday last Reported that 3 dayes before he saw 7 turks men of warr about 30 leagues off scilly which finding him ffrench left him, The Crosse winds Kept long backe 10 Men of warr under sr Robinson or Else by this wee might have some account of the Turks who adventure so neer us ffrom Cologne They write that the ffrench have burnt 7 more Townes In the Countrey of Juliers & that In 6 moneths the ffrench have burnt them downe 60 townes & they are Terrified with the Apprehension of more being told that one st Louis the Cheife of those Incendiaries had orders from the King to lay the whole Countrey wast without Regard whether they pay Contribution or noe On the 1st dyed the Ld O Bryan of A feavour he brought with him from fflanders The Plymouth letters dat 27th say The streights ffleet were 30 of them In sight of that harbour & past them that Afternoon to the Eastward Upon Notice of the death of sr Wm swan his Matys Resident at Hamburgh, His Maty has granted that Employmt to sr Peter wych formerly Envoy from his Maty to the Emperor of Russia K of poland &c At Paris all the discourse is of A generall peace although there were outward simptoms of warr for the drums which for A while had laine quiet made A Noyse againe In the streets & were beating Affresh for voluntiers The Dutch letters dat 28th tell us the states had Not ye Ratified the treaty although the ffrench K had omitted Nothing to them for he had promised to supply those things that were omitted when they signed & offered farther to Remit the Moety of what they had paid for the duty of ffrench Comodities for severall yeares past, But It seems what he gives overplus to the dutch he would Gaine from the spaniards for it But there are those at the Hague which doe not only presage A good Issue of this but talke of A Genll peace & In order unto it they are Now upon A 6 moneths Cessation & tell us of proposalls for the Satisfaction of other princes & that the Emperor shall have Phillipsburgh & ffriburgh demolished & put Into the hands of the Elector palatine or Bp of Tryer, The K of denmarke shall Restore Wismar & Keep schonen Gotland and Maarstrand, The Princes of Lunenburgh & Bp of Munster shall have 2 Millions of dollars for what they posesse of the sweds & the Elector of Brandenburgh upon the Restoreing of domin & Amklam shall Keep stetin & Wolgast with the dependancies Whitehall 5 sept 1678 +The last letters from Holland say that there was greate Appearance the diferences depending between the ffrench & spaniards At Nimeghen would be at Lengh overcome, There Remained only 3 The 1st Concerning Beaumont The 2d Concerning Comprehending the Messineuses & the 3d about the Chastelleine of Aoth which is to be Restored togather with that place to the spaniards the diference is this The ffrench since their being masters of Aoth have taken away part of that Chastelleine which was very greate & Anexed it to that of Tournay. The ffrench will Restore it as It is Now The spaniards demand it as It was before the peace of Aix la Chapelle, But the Conclusion of all Its thought will be that the ffrench will Referr these diferences to the Arbitration of the states Genll as its said they have already done. But the spaniards are Not willing to it, But the tearme In which the dutch are to Ratify their treaty with ffrance drawing towards An Expiration wee shall quickly see what the states will doe +The fflanders letters Come In this morning dated on ffriday last say That on that day the dutch Army had been drawne up In Battalia In order to the makeing the Reduction Resolved by the states, That 16 Colonells with their subalterne officers were to be Reformed but most of the men would be put Into other Regemts, Two dayes before the D de villa Hermosa tooke A Review of the whole Army & was perticularly pleased with the English battalions The letters speake of peace +In Germany the Armies doe quite Ruine & destroy all the Countrey the ffrench on the one side & the Imperiallists on the other side the Rhine, But If those latter doe not find A way to Relieve strasburgh that Citty will Ere long be Reduced to greate Extremities The Ld Marpeth lyes dangerously sicke here In towne L. c. 679 sept 9th 1678 Whitehall 7 sept 1678 +This afternoon arrived our Dutch letters of ffriday last, They say that aswell the spaniards as the ffrench had Consented to Referr the 3 points In diference between them to the Arbitration of the states Genll & that the sieur D'Avauxe one of the ffrench Ambrs at Nimeghen parted from thence on Monday last on his way to the Hague In Germany the d of Lorrain finding In Case he passed the Rhine his army would Not be able to subsist In Alsace was marching backe towards strasburgh & offenburgh & perhapps would take this time to beseige ffriburgh, & the M: de Crequi was thereupon marching likewise backe towards the upper Alsace the Hamburgh letters brought yesterday an account by letters of the 27th past from straelsond In these Tearmes yesterday the Danes Attempted twice upon Rugen but were Repulsed the ffirst time with the losse of 3 & the second time of two sloops & Many men, The 3d time they landed with 37 sloops which Count Conningsmarke permitting Commanded some troops to lye In Ambuscade till they were all landed after which the sweds fell upon them, Killed A greate Many & tooke the Rest prisoners [Handwriting changes here just for rest of letter.] +Three persons were Condemned this last sessions for their attempt on Mrs [?] Hide, but are reprievd till next sessions L. c. 680 sept 12th 1678 Whitehall 10 sept 1678 +The Dutch letters wee Recd yesterday tell us that the ffrench finding No force able to prevaile upon strasburgh But on the Contrary were Much Incommoded by the garrison had offered to Revoke their late Edict & be ffreinds with them againe, but those people have Resolved Never to trust them more, That the ffrench had quitted the little Isle In the Rhine & that It was posessed by the Imperiallists whose army is Neer Philliipsburgh & the ffrench Army Neer Weissenburgh & both of them Continue In A Most Lamentable Manner to destroy the Countrey on both sides the Rhine ffrom Hamburgh of the 3/13 wee are told that the Elector of Brandenburgh had landed 7000 men upon Rugen & that they had taken post there but It needs Confirmation ffrom Nimeghen they write that the ffrench had quitted the demand of Beaumont &c so that Nothing more Remained between ffrance & spayne but that they proceed to Conclude their treaty & then Its believed that the dutch would Ratify theirs, That In the Meane time A Cessation is Endeavouring to be made between the other parties to which the Imperiallists are willing to Consent for 8 weeks But the sweds & danes Ambrs say they wanted order from their Kings That the Imperiall & spanish Minesters Endeavoured to get the Reformed soldiers Into their service, But the peace between spayne & ffrance & Holland being lookt upon as good as Concluded Its believed the Emperor will follow their Example to which he is very Earnestly pressed by most of the princes of the Empire who are not able to suffer the devastations of the Warr & that with so little Advantage to the Common Cause The D of Monmoths Battalion which was Embarked In order to Its passing for fflanders is Come Ashoare againe & Marches to its former quarters L. c. 681 sept 14th 1678 +Our last letters from Leghorne tell us of the sad Condition of the people thereabout who are Afflicted with Extrary sicknesses occasioned as they suppose from the hardships the people generally Endured the last yeare for want of Corne & that which Adds more to their Affliction is that this yeare there is A greater Appearance of death then there was the last The Terrour of the ffrench is so much upon them that they let them lye within their ports who when they see A Genoesse or whome Else they have A Mind to Meddle with passing by, They presently send out after them & fetch them In as If it were their owne home. No one offering to dispute it with them or so much as aske them A Reason Coll stapleton his Matys governour In the Island of st Christophers hath Entred Into A treaty with the ffrench Governour In the said Island & they have sent it over hither & Into ffrance for Ratification whereby they stand obliged to observe An Exact Neutrality whatever may happen In Europe some ships lately Arrived from Nevis say there was A greate Crop of sugars there this yeare Its Reported by 2 vessells lately Arrived at ffalmouth from Cadiz that the Phenix Cruiseing Espied A vessell under the land to the Eastward of Tangier & makeing up to her shee proved A turks man of warr of 20 guns who got their men Ashoare & set the ship on fire upon the Death of the Ld Howard, Coll Clerk is Made Lieut Coll of his Matys owne Regemt of foot guards Coll John stroud Governour of Dover Castle Major, Coll Jeffreis Capt of his Maty owne Company, Capt saunderson (who was Capt Leut) Captain of the Ld Howards Company & one Corbet Capt leut dr Morgetson late Archbp of Armagh & prince of Ireland is dead who shall succeed him is Not said The Emperor since the Routeing of the Rebells In Hungary has offered them Mercy In this time of their distraction & has againe published A Genll act of oblivion & Its Not doubted but the greater part of them will Returne to their obediance to their lawfull soveraigne Its said at Windsor that upon the 25th Instant his Maty Intends to Returne to Whitehall The Battalions of Monmoth &c designed for fflanders are Marched backe to their quarters The states have Recd Complaints of severall of their subjects that their ships had been taken by the Capers of st sebastian & Confiscated for which they Could have No Redresse at Madrid & desire letters of Reprizall, The states thinke good before the granting thereof to write once more In very Earnest tearmes to the K of spaine for obtaining Restitution to the Injured parties At the Reformeing of the Dutch Army the E of Ossory ordered to discharge all that were Not Really his Matys subjects out of those 6 Regemts that beare that name On the 3/13 The E of ffeversham Arrived at Brussells The Paris letters dat 14th tell us that the drums beate In all the southerne parts of ffrance for New leavies Whitehall 12 sept 1678 +Wee are Exspecting Every houre to have an account from Holland that the treaty between ffrance & spaine is signed which was Intended to be done as on satureday or sonday last, all the Articles of the treaty haveing been Adjusted before the last letters Came away & all that Remained being to write them over faire & translate them Into spanish, yesterday the Tearme Expired In which the Ratifications of the treaty between ffrance & Holland were to be Exchanged & wee doubt not but wee shall heare they are Exchanged before the Expiration for Now the spaniards are Come Into the peace the dificulties which the states made to Ratify their treaty are taken away The parties have all Consented to A Cessation of Armes but they Cannot agree the time It is to last, The Confederates propose it may be for 6 moneths but the ffrench & sweds thinke 8 weeks is sufficient +the letters wee have ffrom fflanders tell us that of the Reformed dutch troops 2 Regemts Each 25 companies had taken service with the spaniards & that severall others would doe the like with the Emperor, That In fflanders the spaniards are Considdering how to Raise A Considderable army That the Countrey was willing to Maintaine 30000 foot & 5000 horse Each towne being willing to pay their owne garrison or more as they shall be able Though at the same time they were In hourely Exspectation to heare that the peace is signed That ffrom spaine they had An Account that the queens party In opposition to don Juan Encreased dayly & that for that Reason Don Juan & those of his faction whatever their outward Countenance may be are very desirous of a peace that so they may be more at leasure to strengthen their owne Interests at home L. c. 682 sept 16th 1678 Whitehall 14 sept 1678 +Last Night Arrived An Expresse from Nimeghen with an Account that the treaty between ffrance & spaine was signed on satureday last, And this Morning Came In o[u]r fflanders letters which say that there was greate Rejoyceing among all sorts of people at the Newes of the peace but that the generall Cessation was Not yet agreed on, The allies had allowed the sweds 3 weeks to write to their Court about It, But they had declared that If the Danes went on with their Enterprize upon Rugen & succeeded they would Not consent to any Cessation The dutch Army haveing Eaten up all the fforrage Round their Campe at Gennep Intended to decampe as on Wednesday last & to goe & Encampe between Glemblours & Tirlemont they Resolveing to Keep the field till the peace is Ratified & the places In pursuance thereof Evacuated The Munster Troops Commanded by Major Generall Montaigne who are at prsent about Ruremond Committ A Thousand violences Not to be suffered They had Nothing of Moment from Germany [A few figures in another hand appear on outside of letter, as do the names "Mr Dashwood, Mr Hopton, Mr Brookes, Mr Brome Clark of Skinner."] L. c. 683 sept 19th 1678 Whitehall 17 sept 1678 +This morning wee Recd our dutch letters of ffriday last, They tell us that the 10/20 Instant the Ratifications of the peace between ffrance & Holland were Exchanged at Nimeghen, And that between ffrance & spaine would be Ratified within 6 weeks to Commence from the 7/17 Instant, That the peace would be published at Paris & at the Hague as on to morrow & that A more generall & formall publication would be made the 5th of october throughout ffrance & the united provinces, And that the sieur d'avaux the ffrench Ambr would make his sollemne [entry?] Into the Hague that day where they began already to make preparations to solemnize it with bonefires & feastings which would be suitable to the Joy the Conclusion of the peace gives them In Holland, That the states were dispatching 3 or 4 Ambrs to be sent Immediately to the ffrench K, That the Next worke would be for the ffrench to deliver up Maastricht, But because they are by the treaty to Keep all the Artillery & Ammunition that is there The states are sending A person to Maastricht to tre[at] with the governour about buying some of the Canon to Remaine there That the Bp of Munster died at Swol the 9/19 Instant The letters from Hamburgh say that the Brandenburghs had not yet made the Intended Attempt upon Rugen, That an Interview was to be within few dayes between the K of Danemarke the Elector of Brandenburgh & the dukes of Luxemburgh In order to the Converting that or some other designe The letters from the Rhine say that the Imperiall troops Continue their Ravages In the Palatinate, That the D of Lorraine was going to passe the Rhine to Joyne Caprara & schultz, And Crequi had thereupon Commanded Monclar to Come & Joyne him leaveing garrisons In the forts of the Bridge & In A small Isle In the Rhine & was Marching lower [?] towards spire The Electors of Bavaria, saxony & the Palatinate presse the Emperor Extreamly to A peace My Ld Ambr Hyde & the E of Ossory arrived here on satureday last from Holland. L. C. 684 sept 21st 1678 +On the 19th Instant Dom Carlos E of Plimouth was Married to the Lady [space for about four letters left blank] second daughter to the Ld High Treasurer at Wimbleton The Dutch have Ratified their Treaty with Condition that the Ratification should be voyd if the ffrench doe Not Ratify the spaniards treaty & deliver up the townes &c according to the Articles they had made The d de villa Hermosa that he might oblige those whome the states have Reformed to Enter Into the spanish service hath promised them they shall Not be disbanded In 16 monthes & that for the security of their pay they shall Receive it from those townes where they are put In garrison, he wanting many men for the security of his garrisons, when the Army shall be drawne off & therefore Its said he will make use of the English forces that are there & place them In those townes which the french shall Restore to spain & which make up the Barrier between ffrance & them, These being the places that In Case of Any quarrell are likeliest to be first Attacqued The people about the Maas who are dependants of Maastricht & so become againe subjects to the states have already made their Earnest Applications to them Complaining of the Contributions Exacted of them by the forces of Brandenburgh Munster &c & the states have taken Notice of it as their Lords acquainted the Minesters of the Allies that unlesse they prevent It they shall make stoppage of the subsidies due to them A ship arrived at ffalmouth on the 8th from Havre de grace Reports greate Joy there at the proclamation made for A free trade betwixt them & Holland +Its writt from Vienna that the Emperor is Every day more & more Inclinable to peace upon the perswasion of the d of Newburgh who omitts No arguments that may Induce him to it, The Newes of the successe of the Muscovites against the Turks is lookt upon as very uncertain sr Palmes Harbon being made Commissary of the victualls, Coll dungan is to be deputy governour of Tangier & Coll Macarty to have Coll dungans Regemt The Genova letters of the 7th suppose sr Jo: Narborrough to be with his whole squadron before Algeir which is by all accounts said to desire his Returne In order to An Accommodation our ffrigotts In those parts giveing such terrour that most of them are layd up & murmuring for wante of their former liberty, The Genovesse are In good hope of An Accommodation with ffrance being told that the King will yeild that the diferences be Referred to the Popes Nuncio Both sweds & danes Refuse the Cessation In hopes of gaining Advantages of Each other, That which Encourageth the Danes is his late accession of above 5000 men from Norway & besides those he has Recd Elsewhere that he Resolved to march up to the sweds who were Encamped within 2 leagues of Landscroon & push on for A Battle On the other side the swede is Encouraged by the Returne of his forces that have Raised the seige of Bakus & the swedish Admirall haveing secured his fleet at Colmar had drawne out his men & Added them as A Reinforcemt to that Kings army so that he seemed In A good Capasity to Entertaine them Whitehall 19 sept 1678 +Our fflanders letters of ffriday last say the d de villa hermosa was still In the field & would Continue there till the places that are to be Restored to spaine are actually Evacuated which are the Citty & Dutchy of Limburgh, Charleroy, Aoth, Courtray Oudenard, st Ghislain, which is to be demolished & Ghent with all their Castellaines dependancies & Appurtenances, which will be done so soon as the Ratifications are Exchanged for the doing of which 6 weeks time is allowed them And the ffrench letters which Came In yesterday said that the King had already sent orders to withdraw the Canon Amunition & other provisions of warr out of the said places which by the treaty is to Remaine to the ffrench, But for Every thing Else the places are to be Restored In the same manner they were before the warre of 1667 In the same Manner Maastricht is to be Restored to the dutch who are therefore about buying of the ffrench the Canon that are In that place which the ffrench will perhapps make the lesse dificulty to part with because aswell the Dutch as the spaniard have obliged themselves by their severall treaties Not to Assist directly or Indirectly the Enemies of the ffrench or of their allies, which It was thought the spaniard would Not have been brought to seeing the Emperour with whome they have so Neer A Union & still Continues [?] In the warr but It seems they have The people In Holland aswell as In fflanders are Extreamly Joyed at the peace, Though for no other Reason then that It putts an End to the heavy burthen that has laine on them dureing the warr the latter haveing most Cause who have Been quite Ruined by the Armies that have Now so long lived upon them Wee have seen A Memoriall prsented In the Names of the Electors Palatin Bavaria & saxony to the Emperor In which very pressing Instances are used to perswade him to Come Into the peace & Not to delay it In Considderation of Denmarke Brandenburgh &c Nor for the sake of the Emperor or Empire to make Conquests of which they have made Enough to obtaine A good peace when they please It is Certain that the K of denmarke & Electors of Brandenburgh are Extreamly offended with the dutch for their proceedings with Relation to the peace & their Minesters at Nimeghen & Elsewhere have given In very sharpe Memorialls on that subject The Court Returnes from Windsor on Wednesday or Thursday Next [A few figures appear in another hand on outside of letter.] L. c. 685 [Handwriting changes here.] Whitehall 21 [and 23] Sept 1678 +There is not anything from abroad since Wensday and wn the letters doe come we cannot expect any great matters by them +on tuesday or wensday next his Matie & the whole Court returnes from winsor +The parliement will certainly meet & continue to sitt at ye time appointed, wch I mention because some reports have bene abroad, as if a farther Prorogation was intended +I was told that Sr Thomas Meeres is dead at his hous in the Country L. c. 686 [Handwriting changes here.] sept 26th 1678 strasburgh 23 sept 1678 +the Imperiallists haveing posessed themselves of severall small Islands In the Rhine Neer Goldtsheim they had the good lucke to Intercept 14 ffrench vessells which Came downe from Brisac with provisions & Ammunition for the french Army, two others made A shift to get by But one of them was so shattered by the Imperiallists shott that shee sunke prsently after, In those they tooke they found 1123 sacks of Corne Each Containing 200 weight, 20 fatts of Wine, 800 paire of shooes, 2000 paire of Boots, 10 fatts of Brandy wine A greate quantity of Bread & other provisions & 18000 Rix dollars In specie, The boates were guarded by 2 Companies of ffoot whereof severall were Killed 80 taken prisoners with two Lieutenants 2 Ensignes &c, the Capt that Commanded them being Killed Hamburgh 23 sept +Wee have letters from Pomeren of the 20th Instant which said that the Brandenburgh troops were all shipt [seal spoils about four letters] Attacke was Intended to be made on Rugen the night before That there would be 3 Reale Attacks & severall false ones & that the K of denmarke was Exspected every houre & perhapps might Come time Enough to be prsent at it Nimeghen 25 sept +All the parties have Consented to the Cessation proposed & Its probable they would agree about the time it is to last But the demand of the sweds that things may be In the same state they were before the first of this moneth putts the whole at A stand Hague 27 sept +The states of Holland wee are told Concluded last satureday by the voyces of all the townes That the disposall of all Matters both Civill & Military at Maastricht should be left wholly to the P of Orange +The Bp of Munster who was 74 yeares old & governed 28 being dead, The Bp of Paderborne who was his Coadjutor succeeds him In that Bishopricke, A prelate of A More quiet temper & More given to study then his predecessors, L. c. 687 sept 28th 1678 +On the 24th the queen Returned from Windsor & his Maty Returned on the 25th & on Tuesday Next goes to Newmarket & may Returne about A fortnight hence On the 24th the body of the Ld Howard of Estricke who died In fflanders being brought over In one of his Matys yatchts was Attended by A greate Number of Coaches suiting his quality & 10 Companies of his Matys guards from the Piazza In Covent garden to st Martins In the fields where he was Interred The death of the late Ld Primate hath given way to the promotion of these very worth persons dr Boyle Chancellor of Ireland & Archbp of Dublin to be Ld Archbpp of Armagh & primate dr Parks Archbp of Elfin to be Archbp of Dublin & dr very Bp of Limerick to be Archbp of Elfin & dean digby Bp of Limerick By the deale letters of the 18th all the streights fleet with their Convoy that way bound were Arrived on the 17th, The Portesmouth fregot Hapned to be A ground on the goodwin sand But all the Deale seamen going off Imediately & the men from the Kings ships In the downes they staved the beer & water tooke out her upper tyre of guns & gott her off In the afternoon without any dammage to the ship On the 21st Mr Michaell Waller was Comitted prisoner to the tower They write from vienna dat 8/18 That the P of Newburghs marriage with the Emperors sister is deferred the Reason Not said Generall Wirmal [?] with designe to surprize the Rebells marched 3 dayes with much disadvantage the water being dryed up by the greate heate that they wanted both for their men & horse so that many of them were lost & when they Came Neer the place were Informed the Rebells were Retired Into Transilvania It is thought that since spaine has Complyed the Emperor may be Induced to A peace though great offers are made to him by the d of Brandenburg & princes of Brunswicke to Continue the warr Whitehall 26 sept 1678 +The letters which Came by the last Dutch post from Nimeghen said that the Imperiall Ambrs did Every day more & more shew their disposition to A peace which Its probable they may make seperate without the Northern allies In the meane time they presse the Cessation which only sticks with the sweds who Its Believed will Not Consent to it being the Brandenburghs &c as landed on Rugen The Armies In Germany have quite Consumed their forrage where they are & must Remove to other quarters & so the Campaigne is like to be Ended & not at all to the honour of the D of Lorraine at least his Enemies make Reflections on his Conduct & they write from vienna that if the warr should last another yeare Montecuculi as old as he is would goe Into the field with the army The last letters from spaine said that the Court had sent orders to their Ambrs at Nimeghen to make the peace upon the Conditions offered by the ffrench so that it is Not doubted but what they have done will be very acceptable to Don Juan & the Minesters there The Bp of Paderborne who was Coadjutor to the late Bp of Munster Refuses to be his successor because he sees he shall not be able to succeed to his Bprick without succeeding likewise to greate troubles & diferences with the dukes of Brunswicke about the dutchy of fferden which they have posessed themselves of &c The D of Newburgh labors to get his 2d son (whome he likewise Endeavors to make Coadjutor of Cologne) Chosen by the Chapter of Munster The french & Dutch begin already to Complemt Each other by Revokeing severall Edicts made to the prejudice of trade on both sides The Point of the Neutrality of Cleves which the Dutch oure [?] Insisted on as Necesary for their owne security on that side haveing been left by them out of the treaty which they Concluded with so much precipitation, They are Now Endeavouring to Recover it & are treating now with the ffrench Ambr at the Hague about it In which they will Not only doe A greate Kindnesse to themselves But also to the Elector of Brandenburgh who will otherwise be very much Exposed on that side Especially at this time that the D of Luxemburgh is past the Meuse +The Cardinall d'Estrees has been for severall moneths at the Court of Bavaria to Keep him from yeilding to those Advantagious offers made him on the part of the Emperor & to that End to feed him with the hopes of the Marriage between the Dauphine & the Electors Daughter [Note in another hand on outside of letter:] Mem. speak/to Joseph Mason/ & Harry/S. M./Mr. St. G. L. L. c. 688 [Handwriting changes here.] Whitehall 28 sept 1678 +The Earle of ffeversham Earle of Midleton and sr John ffenwick and others are arrived from fflanders, haveing left ye English troops in severall Garisons the King continues his resolution of parting hence for Newmarkett on Wednesday next +Duke Hamilton and the Earle of twedeaile &c who came from scotland since ye late Convention of the steates there, are at Court and have been very gratiously received by his Matie [Handwriting changes here just for rest of letter.] +we have not any letters from abroad since Wednesday Tis said that in ye streights the french put up Algerine Collours & take the English they meet wch sr John Norbrough haveing Notice of Made ready 14 ships, Causeing all the guns & tokens of men of Warr to be taken in; & sent in quest of them till refreshing [?] ye french ships makeing up to them he put forthe his guns wch ye other perceiveing & finding them men of [war?] stood off again & saild away The ffrench King has set forth proclamations in all places signifying ye peace & prohibiting any further Hostillities either by sea or land, either toward ye subjects of spain or ye states L. c. 689 October 3d 1678 Whitehall october 1st 1678 +You will without Doubt heare from all hands of A Plott that hath been discovered against the Kings prson & Exspect to have An Account of A thing of that Importance, All I Can tell you is That the Lds of the privy councell upon the Informations that have been Given have Caused severall persons to be Apprehended & Committed to Newgate, for High treason In Conspiring against the life of the King And that their Ldpps sate on satureday forenoon & afternoon to Examine the prisoners Informations &c The Chiefe actors In this horrid designe were according to the Informations to have been Certain priests & Jesuits of whome some are apprehended & others not yet found The K parted this morning very early for Newmarket It seems her Royall High: The Lady Ann & the dutchesses of Monmoth Richmond & Buckingham are going to make A step over for Holland to give the princesse of Orange A vissitt Wee had yesterday o[u]r letters of this day seavennight They tell us that the Next day was to be the greate day of Rejoyceing at the Hague for the peace That the Minesters of the Allies because they would Not be prsent at it were gone out of Towne, That the D of Luxemburgh Continued to Allarme the Lower part of Germany & Even the Citty of Cologne to whome he had sent to demand 40000 Crownes seized there by the Imperiallists when the treaty of peace was Kept In the Citty & they feared he would follow himselfe some thinke he may have An Eye Upon Liege neer which place he was with his Army when the last letters Came from those quarters the Germans had passed the Meuse at Ruermond That the Chapter of Munster had Admitted the Bp of Paderborne Into that see That severall dutch Regemts lay Ready to march Into Maastricht so soon as the french were Ready to give it up ffrom Hamburgh wee have An Account that the sweds In Rugen had upon the Landing of the Brandenburghs without makeing any greate opposition Retired towards the old Veer schans where Count Commingsmarke Embarked with part of his troops for straelsond, That the Brandenburghs who followed them found In their march many waggons Armes & deserters & In Some Small Skirmishes with the sweds they tooke 300 prisoners Killed 60 & A Capt And Advanced to the old Veerschans which they forced & found therein besides the Garrison which Consisted of 1000 men besides their officers many Canon &c, Besides these they tooke 3000 horses 4 peeces of Canon many Colours & prisoners after which they advanced to the New Veerschans to storme it whereupon the garrison threw downe their armes & Compelled the Governor to surrender & that the Danes were going to Attacke A small Isle between Rugen & straelsond [Handwriting changes here just for rest of letter.] +The persons in hold are One Dr ffogarty Wm Ireland John ffennick John Grove Tomas Pickering &c One White & one Conyers are sought for but not found Mr Coleman late secretary to ye Duchess is sent to ye Tower, The Only thing yet appearing agst him is a suspitious letter intercepted goeing for france Dr Tongue & one Oates are said to be ye first discovery of ye plott wch Its said was to have Kild ye King &c: to have fired ye Cittys of London & Westminster &c L. c. 690 October 5th 1678 +A dangerous Conspiracy against the life of his sacred Maty haveing been made out upon oath before his Maty In Councell severall persons of the Popish Religion have been Examined thereupon & these Comitted to Custody, Jo: Grove, Wm Ireland Jo: ffenwicke, Tho: Pickering, dr ffogarty John smith & Tho: Jennison, white & Coniers 2 priests for whome warrants are likewise out are fled & therefore orders have been sent to all part to have A strict Eye on all persons that would goe beyond sea, mr Coleman is likewise In the Custody of A Messenger The guards have been Doubled to prevent disturbances & there went on the 2d with his Maty to Newmarket besides his usuall guards of horse 3 troops of the New Raised horse & 3 of dragoons His Maty went hence about 4 In the Morning & got to Audley Inn about 10 where he dyned with the E of suffolke & went to Newmarket at A quarter after 11 Wee are god be praysed In pretty good health about us the decrease of the Bills of Mortality being last weeke 52 & this weeke 43 The treaty between the ffrench & spaniard haveing not yet been publicke I shall give you the most Materiall Articles The ffrench K is upon the Exchange of the Ratifications to Restore Charleroy Binches Aoth, Oudenard, Cambray with the dependancies as they were held in the yeare 1667, Except Conde & the district of Momon [?], Also the towne & dutchy of Limburgh, Ghent & the fort of Rodenhais, The Countrey of Waas, st Leewe, st Ghislain But the last place demolished And Puysarda In Catalonia with all the dependancies as also all places that may be taken since the Conclusion of the treaty & shall Renounce his pretensions to the sluys of Newport The ffrench K shall Keep the ffranche Comte Besancon, valenciennes, Boucham, Conde, Courtray with Cambresis, Air, st Omer, Ipres, Wanup [?] Warmeton on the Lys, Popering Boullant Cassell Bovoy Maulberg with all the Rights & dependancies spaine shall Keep Charlemont but Endeavor to gaine of the Emperor & Empire to passe over their Right to dinant, Artillery & Ammunition to be Carried out of the places Restored & the Piren[ees] treaty & that of Aix la Chapelle to be observed In all things Not Contrary to this Both Kings to Endeavour Reciprocally A Genll peace & spaine promiseth not to Assist any against ffrance dureing the warr The Marquesse de grana takes Into the Emperors service all the Reformed Germans & obligeth the Capts to Carry their Companies to Ruermond Each 75 Effective he paying 150 all winter on Condition they Carry so many Effective Into the field the Next Campaigne & all the Lunenberg troops Enter Into the same service & In order thereunto are to be put Into good winter quarters which is A signe the Emperor Intends not A peace but on Honble Tearmes +A ship from the Barbados Arrived at Bristoll Adviseth that about the middle of July the E of Carlisle was as far as Barbados where he only stayd whilst sr Jonathan Atkins the governour went on board & paid him A vissitt & the Next day sailed for Jamaica At Genova they have with much Joy Recd the Confirmation of the Composeing of the late diference between france & them by the Popes Nuncio at Paris & Now some french gallies are to goe thither with A french vice admirall to Receive the first salute, They haveing past A decree to salute the popes french & spanish gallies first if they Come with An Admirall or viceadmirall They write from Marselles sept 27th that A Majorca satia had taken A vessell of that place Comeing from smirna of A Considderable vallue At Toulon were 3 Algeir men of warr to Adjust with that Government the setling of A New Company at Bastion & paying Arrearages They write from Paris the d of Luxemburghs Army quarters by Brigates In the Countrey of Liege & strucke A terrour In the Countrey of Juliers Treves & those of Bonne But some thinke their fury will be poured out upon Juliers to whome they will not admitt of any offers tending to An accomodation but designe them wholly to destruction whitehall 3 october 1678 +The persons who are apprehended for High treason In Conspireing against his Matys sacred person haveing been Examined before the Lds of the pryvy Councill are Recommitted to Newgate In order to their tryall Her Royall High: The Lady Anne & the Dutchesse of Monmoth Richmond & Buckingham with A small trayne Embarked on Tuesday on the yatchts at Greenwich for Holland to give the princesse of Orange A vissitt & the wind being very tame Its supposed they are by this time at the Hague +Our last letters from Nimeghen said that the sweds Ambr upon the Newes of the losse of Rugen did now absolutely Refuse to agree to any Cessation unlesse that Isle were first Restored, That the Imperiall & french Ambrs had frequent Conferences & that It was the oppinion of Every body A peace would be Concluded this winter between the Emperor & france Just Now Came In o[u]r ffrench letters they tell us That the Imperiallists had taken A greate many waggons & horses laden with provisions that were going to M: de Crequis Army Neer Landau haveing deserted [?] their Convoy which Consisted of 200 men, That M: de Crequi was Removed towards saverne That the d of Luxemburgh was Encamped along the Meuse but wanted forrage That Mounsr Calvo was prepareing to Evacuate Maastricht L. c. 691 [Handwriting changes here.] Whitehall Octr 5 1678 The same orders yt have been sent downe into ye Contry for ye disarming all Roman Catholicks & all yt are reputed to bee soe, were yesterday begun to be executed in London & ye Suburbes. Mr White who it seems is provinciall of ye Jesuites, & hath lived many yeares at ye Spanish Ambrs & one concernd in the perniscious designe Informd of lyes dyeing & coniers another of yt Society has it seems made his Escape, The rest who are 8 in all 4 of wch [?] Preists & all prisoners in new gate & in chanes Tis said yt a Constable serching yesterday for armes in St martins lane found accidentally some papers hid in a Ceileing, & that they have given light to ye discovery of other papers, soe yt ye councell sate last night till 9 a Clocke, & yt Mr Coleman is committed close prisoner to new gate L. c. 692 [Handwriting changes here.] October 10 1678 Hague 11 october 1678 +The Princes Continued absence suspending all Resolutions here In matters of any moment or at least Retarding them here is very little to write at prsent, His Highs is Exspected backe here this day upon the Notice given him from hence of her R Highss & the Lady Anns Intention to Come over suddenly upon A vissitt to the Princesse Her Highs hath ordered the Princesse dowagers house to be furnished (which is accordingly doing) for lodging her R Highs & her Company Mareshall de Humieres is said to be now Joyned with the d of Luxemburgh In the Countrey of Liege where their army Consists of at least 30000 men it is Not yet Knowne where the Storme will fall but Its said here are some still violently suspecting they may begin upon the Citty of Liege, They have lately desired some hundreds of horses from hence for their money to draw their Canon from Maastricht pretending want of water In the Maas which is lookt upon by many As A designe to delay the Evacuation of the place I doe not heare the horses are yet granted them & some thinke they will be Refused least they Should be made use of to draw their Canon for some other designe, The Jealousy that the ffrench may possesse themselves of Liege does arise In part from this that all the Magazines that have been drawne from Maastricht lye In boates before that Citty Whitehall 9 october 1678 +ffrom Hamburgh they write that the Citty of Straassond had upon the Incowragemt of Count Commingsmarke Recd all his troops Into the Towne & planted their Red flags upon the walls & fired their Canon upon the Brandenburghs as a token of their Resolution to defend themselves to the utmost & that the Brandenburghs were going to Invest the place In order to a formall seige L. c. 693 Oct 10 78 The name of those that were to have bene Commissioned by ye Pope in case ye Plott had taken Effect to many of whom Mr Oats has sworne hee has declined Commissions from ye Pope for ye same places & yt they had Reced them very willingly & this day there is my Ld Bellassis Arrundell, Peters, Powis, Stafford, & Castlemaine sent to ye Tower & many others to other prisons, The Parliamt are wholly taken up abt Secureing ye King & Kingdom agst popish Conspiracies Ld Bellassis genll Ld Peters Lieut: genll Ld Arrundel of Wardour Ld L Chancillor his son Comiberg [?] genll Ld Powis Ld Treasurer Sr will: godolphin Ld privy seale Ld Stafford pay master of ye army Ld Baltimore a Regemt of horse Off [?] dLassells a Regimt Lambert Ajutant genll Mr Cerrill a Regimt Langhorne Judge advocate Coll Thomas Howard a Regimt Coleman Secretary of State Sr ffrancis Ratcliffe Major Genll Sr George Wakeman phisitian genll Mr Roper a Regimt his Sonn a Capt Coll Tasott genll for Ireland ffrench officers for ye fleet Midburne a Capt: Panny a Capt Townely a Capt Bpps ffather Talbott Primate of Ireland Cardinell Howard Arch Bpp of Canterbury ffather Whitebread Bpp of winchester ffather voter Bpp of London ffather coniers Bpp of Sarum ffather vincent Bpp of Ely The Comissons are under ye hand of Pantus [?] Johannes de Oliva provinciall genll of ye Jesuites The murthers of Sr Edmond Berry Godfrey are not yet discovered L. c. 694 October 12th 1678 +the Councill haveing been very zealous In Peereing Into the Bottom of the Confedracy & that Nothing may be wanting that may tend to the preservation of his Maty orders are given for disarmeing the Papists In all parts Mr Edward Coleman who was for some dayes only In the Custody of A Messenger was on the 4th sent to Newgate where the Rest are, And the Councill Continue very busy In makeing farther Searches Into the Conspiracy & have sent mr Richard Langhorne of The Temple to Newgate Its Confidently said that Coniers (one of the Chiefe of the Confedracy) was taken In or about Whitchurch going for Ireland & is secured In Shrewsbury Goal The tell us from ffeversham of A Horrid Murther Committed Neer that place on A woman greate with Child & A Child of hers about 14 yeares of Age The Child Choaked with A Cloth & the Woman strangled & stabd with A Knife In the Belly, The Murtherer as supposed is Apprehended his Cloathes being found bloody & some peeces of Money about him which will be proved to have been the Womans By A ship Arrived sept 17th At Leghorne from Tunis Its Advised tha that sr Jo: Narborrough was before Algeirs with 25 men of warr he had Retaken An English ship with sugars from Lisbon, forced the 2 Algerines which tooke her Ashoare & Burnt them he had also burnt severall of their barks laden with Corne & some of his men landing In the night had seized A Caravan of about 80 of the Camells laden with oyle & provison for Algeirs, he had made above 6000 shott upon the Towne to their very greate damage but they had not then made any overtures of peace by Reason that the Greate Men most Concerned were then In the Army The Brussells letters dat 9th tell us the ffrench have already shipt all their Canon & Ammunition at Maastricht & are sending already from Charleroy & other places to be delivered to the spaniards The English are Now well setled In Garrisons & Recover apace, some dispute there was at Lyme where the burghers stood upon their priveledge being free from quartering & the soldiers upon their orders, But by the Prudence of sr sam Clarke who succeeded the Ld Howard the heats were allayed & they lived quietly together They dayly Exspected the Ratifications from spaine The Paris letters date 15th say that A detachment of M: Crequi had taken the towne of Liechtenbergh & on the 8th M: Crequi had made A Lodgment on the Conntrescarpe of the Castle & that whilst he was giveing orders for the Carying o[ut] the seige The Count de Montpeiron & 3 other officers to whome he was shewing what he would have done were wounded, The ffrench have lately burnt the Bailewicks of Randerath & Hemsburgh & the Townes of Aldenhove & Gilenkirke In the Countrey of Juliers with severall villages thereabout, The Rest Exspect the same usage the ffrench haveing declared that they will lay the whole Countrey desolate & not leave one ston[e] on another The M: Crequi since strasburgh has been taken off from their Neutrality has been forced to send such large Convoys as has sensibly weakened his Army, which the d of Lorraine takeing Notice of had Resolved to push him on to A Battle, But the Mareshall Removed farther where the d Cannot well deale with him But it was said that if the D Could get some more foot of which he stood In greate want he should after him & yet force him to an Engagemt The ffrench try all wayes to bring the Citty of strasburgh to A Complyance & have lately Confiscated all the goods lands & Revenues that belong to the Citty or any of the Inhabitants thereof which Insteed of bringing them to A Complyance animates them to Revenge, Its said that they have thoughts of Recommending their Cause to the Arbitration of the Mediators The ffrench K has put In Execution his designe of Reformeing his Army to 45 In A Company Its Advised from Madrid dat sept 13/23 that they had notice that the spanish Galleons & fleet made the Canary Islands the 23 July +The dutch letters are full of the Joyes they & the ffrench made [of?] the peace, The wine Ran from A fountaine at the ffrench Ambrs all the Afternoon both of them had severall Representations & the ffrench among the Rest A sun with A globe under it on the one side & on the other A bunch of arrows the states Armes with An Inscription Quis separabit Its Remarkable that as all the minesters of the Allies desired of the states that no materialls should be sent them for bonefires so the spanish Ambr did the same because the spanish peace is Not yet Ratified, Also the states ordered that the Minesters at the Courts of the allies should only give notice of the peace without makeing any publicke Rejoyceing & at Nimeghen the Dutch forbore bonefires & only declared the peace by their officers +A house which belonged to the Princesse dowager was prepareing for the Reception of the dutchesse of yorke &c +Last night being the 9th one [space for about four letters left blank] Peters was sent prisoner to Newgate L. c. 695 October 19th 1678 +His Maty God be praysed Returned safe to Whitehall on the 16th Wee have No more of the takeing of Conyers at Whitchurch & therefore shall put that to the Rest of the stories that have past so Briskly about Towne The Towne is full of discourse about the absence of sr Edmund Berry Godfrey who being the Justice of peace before whome mr Oates Made his deposition upon his discovery & haveing now been wanting since satureday morning without any Notice given to his servants or Relations In which he was alwayes observed to have been punctuall they Entertaine hard thoughts of the Roman party, A little time may better Informe us Our letters from the Ports give an account of very Tempestuous weather but little losse The High winds have Kept above 100 ships In the Downes outward bound On the 9th at Night A fire broke out In A ship at the Ballast Key In yarmouth In the Midst of about 30 sayle who all lay board or board the other & the wind being so very High made the people feare the losse of the whole fleet, But the tyde Comeing In the ship on fire floated so they got her from the Rest & Cutting holes In her Hold sunke her without the losse of any other The Holland letters Date 21st tell us the states are Not well satisfied with the ffrench delayes to deliver up Maastricht & take it No lesse ill that the ffrench have broken & taken away all the wood In the Mynes under the fortifications & Batteries by which they are sunke In & Ruined & besides they have plundered the Countrey of Over=Maas of all which they had sent to their Ambrs at Nimeghen to make Complaint demand full Reparations as they have likewise done of Monsr D'Avaux A Memoriall is lately put In by Mounsr Campricht Requireing the Arreares of subsidies from the states to the Emperor & Elector of Treves upon which they had sent to the Severall provinces that are behind to bring In their quota The Garrison &c of Maastricht It is thought will be sent to Aix la Chapelle which yeilded upon the first summons haveing In Confidence of A due observation of the Neutrality Neglected their meanes of defence And Now Cologne have Resolved to offer the 50000 Rix dollars demanded by the ffrench & glad if that Can make their Composition The ffrench letters tell M: Crequi gone backe againe towards strasburgh & that It was generally thought In the Army that If A Truce were not made speedily he would lay seige to that Citty for that the Troops who were In Lorraine & those under the Comand of M: schomberg were on their March to Joyne his Army & others from ffranche Conte sent to the places In Lorraine It is generally believed the Turks Encouraged the Rebells of Hungary to their late Incursion because they gave them ffree passage by New haussell & through part of their Countrey & denyed it to the Emperors forces by which meanes the Rebells In one dayes March haveing that Advantage proceeded as far as the Emperors going about Could doe In 6 The Hamburgh letters Dat sept 30th tell us the Luxemburgers were decamped from Braushagen & Marching towards straelsond to assist the Brandenburgers In the seige of that place That they were makeing A fort upon Dane danehohne & Raiseing 3 batteries against the towne with 27 guns & 13 greate Mortar peeces to throw their bombes & that those of straelsond the Elector of Brandenburgh was before the place In person +His Maty hath not been pleased to Nominate any one successor to dr Broadeoake late Bp of Chichester L. c. 696 October 21st 1678 Whitehall 19 october 1678 +The vienna letters dat 9th tell us the Rebells haveing made themselves Masters of severall passes were advaunced to the ffrontiers of the dukedome of densen In silesia where the Inhabitants heareing of their Approach gathered togather 15000 well armed which not only hindered their progresse but Caused them to Retire, ffather Joshua with his squadron Marching & plundering the Countrey of Mitria was pursued & surrounded by Count Andredi & after A sharpe fight taken prisoner, But A party upon the borders of Ternavia have forced severall of the Inhabitants to take their side & put themselves under their protection, A party of Rebells In sight of the Citty of Emperies drove many Cattle whome Bargotzi pursued with 60 Musquetteers & advanceing too far with some few before the Rest was taken prisoner & tyed up with Cords but Immediately Rescued by the Rest the Cattle Retaken & all the Rebells to 7 Killed or taken, Genll Lesly In the meane time has made An Inroade Into Transilvania Burning & plundering severall villages & Among others Paul Vetelius Castle where some transilvanian horse were got togather but defeated by the Imperiallists though to the losse of the Major of Palfys Regemt & severall soldiers +By the Paris letters of the 22d the Castle of Liechtenberg Capitulated the 15th & surrendred the 16th upon Honble Articles, The Army of M: Crequi was Moveing towards Molshein & A detachment sent to the Baron de Monclar who was decamped within two leagues & A halfe of strasburgh Her R Highness the dutchesse of yorke &c Landed safely at Merget In the Isle of Thanet on the 15th & Came safe to whitehall on the 16th at Night Maastricht being suddenly to be delivered to the Dutch Don Emanuell de Lyra the Envoy Extrary from spaine hath by memoriall demanded that It may be put Into his Masters hands by vertue of the 4th Article of A treaty made betwixt spaine & them In the yeare 1673 +The delay of the Ratification of spaine hath given occasion of discourse as if that King scompelled [?] the Article of being obliged Not to give assistaunce to the Emperor On Thursday last about 6 at Night the body of sr Edmond Bery Godfrey was found with his owne sword through It In a byy [?] field Neer Marybone his Money &c In his pocket but upon Inquisition it is believed Murther & by A Circle about his Necke that he was strangled L. c. 697 [Handwriting changes here.] October ye 22d 1678 +yesterday the Parliamt being met his Maty sent for ye Commons to ye Ld hous where he maid a very gracious speech to them telling ym he thought the time long since he saw ym Last yt he had not deferrd their meeting by soe many prorogations if he Could have met ym sooner that he Judgd they were not unsencible how great a share he had borne in ye greate acomodation of his neighbors & how Instrumentall his arming had bene thereto wch had bene a vast charge to him beyond wt they Imagined wch he hopes they would consider, for yt the Polle Bill had fallen much short of Expectation & that his Revenue was much Clogd & anticipated &c & that as to ye army he left it to ym to consider of & whether they thought it Expedient to lay it down in this Juncture acqu[a]inted them wth a discovery of a great designe agst his person wch he would say ye less about because he would leave it wholly to ym & to the law &c & in ye close requireing them to Consider of a supply and that they would looke into the Condision of his Revenue wth duty & affect[i]on all wch was enlarged uppon by ye Ld Chanceller +after wch the Comons returned to yr hous recd some bills & petitions Concerning undue Elections appoynted Comitteess for severall occasions as to take care for the security of his Maties person to enquire into ye Murther of sr Edmund Berry Godfrey &c +Ordred an address to his Maty to cause all Papists to depart the City of London &c & none to continue wthin 20 miles thereof, Orderd an address for a generall fast & sent for Mr Rich: Mallet (a member) from the Tower whither he was againe remanded, & this day after some private buisness & reading some Peticons they were Orderd to attend his Maty in the banquetting house to their address for a fast &c L. c. 698 [Handwriting changes here.] October 26th 1678 +On the 17th at Night the body of sr Edmund Berry Godfrey was found with his owne sword through it Neer Marybone In A place Covered with Brambles, his Belt scabbard & Glooves In An open place which served as directions to find him, his Money &c In his Pocket, But upon Inquisition made of his death his Neck was found Broke so that It Could Not be believed An act of his owne but An Horrid Murther His Maty hath by proclamation promised A Reward of 500 L to him that shall discover the Murtherers & If one of the Murtherers shall discover the Rest he shall have his pardon & the said Reward the Parliament Being Mett, Both houses on the 21st fell upon the Matter of the Designe & the Lds Appointed A Comtee to Inquire Into it & that his Maty be desired to Communicate such papers to them as he should thinke fitt & sent to the Commons for their Concurrance In A fast The Commons appointed A Comtee to Consider of Remedyes for the Better preservation of his Matys person, Agreed an Addresse to be prsented to his Maty that popish Recusants may be Removed 20 miles out of Towne & ordered A Comtee to make Inspection Into the death of sr Edmund Berry Godfrey as also An Humble Addresse to be prsented to his Maty to desire the Communication of the Paper to that house Concerning the Plott & Conspiracy against his Matys person & Govermt On the 22d the Commons spent the Morning In private businesse mr Mallet one of their Members was by their order brought to the house but they Came to No Result about him so he was Carryed backe to the Tower In the Afternoon both houses attended his Maty Concerning the fast The Jamaica letters dat July 31st tell us of the Arrivall & greate welcome the E of Carlisle the gouvenour had there of the Inhabitants +The dutchesse of yorke &c Returned to whitehall on the 16th The Paris letters Dat 26th talke as if the Archbp of Cologne would accept of A Neutrality They tell us of A Delugue which hath Ruined severall places In Rousillon &c & that one of the Bastions of villa ffranca was Carryed away by it & Lymours had about 300 houses washed downe & more falling, Breaches were made upon the New Channell which is to Joyne the 2 seas In severall places & so much sand & Rubbish throwne In that It will Require In some part of it as much labor as when it was first made +They write from Rostcoke [sic] that on the 21st they saw at straelsond The Church of st Nicholas the Towne house the Magazine & Most part of the Towne on fire & some Hamburgh letters say it was surrendred on the 22d The Dutch letters of the 28th say the states had notice from Brussells that the Ratifications were arrived, Maestricht being to be delivered to the dutch don Emanuell de Lyra the Envoy Extrary of spaine hath by Memoriall demanded it may be put Into his Masters hands by vertue of the 4th Article of A treaty between spaine & them In the yeare 1673 The Count d'Avaux the ffrench Ambr at the Hague has argued for the surrender of Hassell Into his Masters hands for that they stand obliged to give no assistaunce to the Enemies of his Master & ought Not to Keep that place It being A towne of the Empire, To which the states answer That they first put forces Into Hassell to secure the lands of their dominions thereabouts & Not In the least In faivour of the Empire & that the states had been at very greate Charges In fortefying it & therefore did believe his Maty would Not oblige them to Abandon it +The ffrench doe also desire severall things In faivour of the Chapter of Maastricht & for the ffreer Exersize of the Roman Religion In the Countrey of OverMaas, To which the states answer that they shall punctually observe the treaty with his Maty & that It is Not their Custome to give their subjects any trouble for the Exersize of their Conscience but that they should not Establish the Roman Catholicke Religion In places where they were Not obliged to doe it or suffer it +Whitehall 24 october 1678 Both houses have been Much Busyed about the Conspiracy, The Lds have ordered An Addresse that No papist may goe above 5 miles from his owne house The Commons this day have sent to the Lds for their concurrance In An Addresse to Remove all papists 10 [20?] miles from the towne & that London Westminster Middlesex & surrey trayne bands may be on their guards +mr Oates has been upon Examination yesterday & this day before the Commons, They ordered Benedictine Muncks & preists to be apprehended by warrants from Justices of peace which was done & 2 taken His Matys Answer to the Addresse for A fast was that he would give order speedily & Its said the 13th November is appointed L. c. 699 Nov 1st 78 Commons 23d october 1678 +Ordered that the Deane of st Paulls be desired to preach before this house on the fast day & the deane of Canterbury on the 5th of November Commons 25 october 1678 +sr John Trevor Reports from the Comtee which are Appointed to search Counceller Langhornes Chamber That the same was full of papers & writings which would Require greate time to puruse, But that they had found some papers already which did give some light to what mr Oates had Related Commons 26 october 1678 +Ordered that his Maty be humbly Entreated that the papers of mr Coleman Concerning the Plott be Communicated to the house +Ordered that A Comtee be Appointed [to] take Information of Dr Tong Concerning fireing of the Citty of London Commons 28 october 78 +mr speaker acquaints the house that mr Oates had Buisness of Moment to Communicate to them Ordered that mr Oates be sent for to Attend & give Information at the Barr of the house The house being Informed that there was A designe to Blow up both houses of Parliament with gunpowder on this day ordered that Coll Birch &c doe goe Into the seller under the house & make dilligent search the Knight Marshall Reports mr Oates Information against mr Weld A bill for hindering papists for sitting In Either house of Parliamt Read A 3d time & passed Ordered that the Members of this house that are Justices of the peace for Middlesex doe forthwith take the Information of mr Oates against sr Wm Goreing sr Jo Cage & the Dutchesse of Mazarine & that No other member be prsent at the Examination Whitehall 29 october 1678 +On the 24th at Night the E of sunderland his Matys Ambr In ffrance Arrived at dover & went the Next morning for London, sr Ellis Leighton Comeing over In the same yatcht & Not goeing Ashoare was fetched In prisoner to dover Castle till farther order His Maty upon the Addresse of his 2 houses of Parliamt ordered his proclamation to be Issued forth Comanding all papists or so Reputed upon paine of his Matys Highest displeasure & the Execution of the Lawes against them to depart they & their families from whitehall somerset house & st James the Cittys of London & Westminster & all places within 10 miles other then householders being traders & Exersizeing some trade or Manuall occupation & setled for 12 moneths last past In houses of their owne not haveing An Habitation Elsewhere Giveing In the Names of themselves & their families to the 2 Next Justices of peace, As also Enjoyneing all Constables Churchwardens & all other parrish officers Immediately after the time lymitted for departure to take the Names of all papists so suspected & to Carry them to the 2 Next Justices of peace who are to tender them the Oaths of Alleigance & supremacy & upon Refusall to Committ them to prison till the Next sessions And then proceed against them according to Law & that No lycence be granted but at the Councill board & signed by 6 privy Councellors of which the Ld Chancellor Ld treasurer or A principall secretary of state to be one His Maty likewise In pursuance of the other part of the Addresse has given order to the Ld Chamberlaine &c for takeing Care that No suspitious persons be suffered to Come Neer his person, As also to the Ld maior & Lieutenancy of London the Ld Lieut of Middlesex &c for Appointing guards of trayne bands dureing this session of Parliamt One Thompson is secured who is by profession A Milliner But tradeing In popish Books of which A Loade or two was Carryed from his house In Eagle Court +severall Lds went to Newgate to Examine mr Coleman vizt: the Ld treasurer E of shaftesbury E of Essex Ld Hallifax & Bp of London mr Rosewell the Chiefe schoolemaster of Eaton is made prebendary of Windsor In the place of the Bp of Chichester deceased His Matys letter is gone Into Ireland for dr Michaell Ward provost of Trinity Colledg Neer Dublin to be Bp of Ossory & for dr Narcissus March to be provost L. c. 700 Nov 2d 1678 +On the 29th the solemnity of the Ld Maiors day was performed with all the Grandeur these distracted times Could permitt only they wanted that which was to Render it Compleate, The presence of his sacred Maty the queen his Royall Highs &c whose persons It Could In no Reason be Exspected should be Exposed to the hazzard of so Numerous & Mixte Multitude whilst good Cause is found to shutt up all the doores of st James Parke & the Passages to Whitehall where were then Double guards is Kept & none suffered to be Admitted but such as they have that Knowledg of which may take off all Kind of Jealousy The Brussells letters dat 4th [?] tell us the Ratifications arrived not within the time lymitted (whether the fault of the Courrier who made not due hast thither or that they past not their Resolution In Hast In A matter of so very High Consequence) But An Extraordinary arrived with An Assurance that A very few dayes would produce it, with which Advice the d de villa Hermosa dispatched A Courier with all Expedition to the Hague where the spanish & dutch Minesters Improved it with their utmost Endeavour with mounsr d'Avaux but nothing Could stay the ffrench from the Rigour of the forfeiture That 200 troops of horse are let loose upon them who are said to Exact of those Inhabitants 100000 guilders A day The Townes of Lubec Hamburgh as also Bremen have desired to be Comprized In the 19th Article of the states treaty of peace, but it is Not said they have yet agreed to doe it for any of them but Lubeck They seem very positive for the Includeing the D of Newburgh Into their treaty which the ffrench Ambrs at Nimeghen haveing made dificulty to Admitt they Complained to Mounsr de Avaux of it & told him they lookt upon it as An Infraction of the peace & therefore Required satisfaction for it which Monsr de Avaux Made them promise that they should have Not only Cologne But the Electors of Mentz & Treves are said to have made A seperate peace with the ffrench, And No wonder if after all this the Emperor has as some with Confidence Affirme it to have been Certainly done Agreed the Alternative with the ffrench which is the Rather Believed for that the ffrench have quitted the places they had about strasburgh with Ruine sufficient they being observed Not to Leave any place they have once seized without lasting marks of their Tallons how far the Power of the Northerne Princes may be able to withstand them haveing Now wholly unroosted the swede from Germany or whether they also how Resolute soever they yet seem will Not be Inclinable to Accomodation some short time may discover, But If they succeed In it they are like to be more beholden to their scituation then the Constancy of their Allies +There is Not any yet Come In that makes discovery of the death of sr Edmund Berry Godfrey Notwithstanding his Matys late declaration In Assuraunce of what he has offered In his proclamation The Corps of sr Edmund Berry Godfrey was Interred In st Martins In the feilds Attended thither ffrom Bridewell Hall In London with all due solemnity by about 100 of the Clergy & many hundreds of Gentry & Citizens, The house of Comons have ordered that No more Journalls of the transactions of their house shall be Communicated Especially dureing this grand Affaire Now before them & have unanimously Resolved that It Appeares to them that there has been A Most Horrid & Hellish plott for the destruction of the Kings person & govermt Religion &c, Both houses sitt Close In Examination of Oates & all Circumstances Relateing to his Information Its said the E of shaftesbury has procured 3 Blanke warrants from the Lds to seize 3 persons he desires Not yet to Name L. c. 701 Nov 4th 1678 Commons october 30th 1678 +Ordered that Captaine Richardson Keeper of Newgate doe forthwith attend the house mr secretary Williamson acquaints the house that he did attend his Maty & that his Maty was pleased that those papers of mr Colemans which have been sorted & purused by the Clerke of the Councill should be Communicated to the house & that those which are not sorted & purused should be delivered over to A Comtee or otherwise as the house appoints to translate & Examine the same Ordered that the Clerke of the Crowne doe give an account to morrow to this house of all writts Ishued by him for Electing members to sit In parliamt & how the same had been disposed Commons 31 october 1678 +the house being Resolved Into A Comtee of the whole house Resolved, that upon the Evidence that hath appeared to this house they are of oppinion that there is & hath been A damnable Hellish plott contrived & Carryed on by the Popish Recusants for Assassinating & Murthering the King, subverting the govermt & destroying the protestant Religion Now by Law Establish, Nemine Contradicente Commons 1 Nov 1678 +The house Considering that greate danger may happen to his Maty by this Conspiracy discovered Resolved That the Trayned bands of London Westminster & surrey be Raised for the defence of his Maty & the 2 houses of Parliamt dureing this session Then the house proceeded upon Colemans letters & papers & Resolved That the letters Concerning the 3 last yeares proceedings about the Plott be Entred Into the Journall of this house A Motion being heard that A Noyse had generally been heard of digging under the Parliamt house Ordered that A Comtee be Appointed to search the same & to Examine what the Cause of the Noyse was A Message sent to the Lds to desire A Conference with them about the vote yesterday for preservation of his Matys person & Govermt Afterwards the Lds sent A Message to the house for another Conference In which they were acquainted that the Lds unanimously Concurred & were Joyfull to see the Commons soe zealous In that Matter And that they would Considder proper Remedyes & Give notice thereof to this house & desired the like Care of them, That they had also ordered to sit de die In diem about the said Matter Ordered that Articles of High treason be drawne up against the Ld Arrundell of warder Whitehall 2d November 78 +On the 31 october the Ld vicount stafford the Ld Bellacise, Coll Roper & his son & mr Ratcliffe prisoners In the Kings bench for Treason were Removed from thence to the Tower at the desire of the Lds The Ld Castlemaine was Removed the same day from the gatehouse (where he was prisoner for Treason of the Highest nature) to the Tower A Warrant is signed for the Removeing of sr Wm Goreing & sr John Gage prisoners In the Kings bench for treason to the Tower with order that aswell the Ld Arrundell as the said sr wm Goreing & sr Jo: Gage be Kept Close prisoners & Not suffered to come neer Each other, nor suffered to have pen Inke Nor paper till farther orders this was also done at the desire of the Lds Our last letters from vienna dat 13/23 give still A worse account of the Emperors Affaires with the Rebells for it seems he had Recd Newes they had made themselves masters of the Principle townes where the gold & silver mines are vizt, scheminth, Creminth, Nazoll & oldzoll which is of so much more perplexity to the Emperor as that the Revenue of those places were paid Into his owne privy purse & the Ld treasurer was heard to say the Emperor had better had lost the province of Moravia & It seems the Emperor takes it so much to heart that In some passion he Burst out that he was never let to understand the truth of the buisnesse but perswaded they were only an Inconsidderable Rabble The last Hamburgh letters haveing given the perticulers of the takeing of straelsond add this that among the greate desolation which the fire made the whole magazine of Corne & their mills were Consumed so that the sweds must have been forced to surrender through famine The places which the ffrench have powred their fury on In the spanish Netherlands are the Chastellanes of Aoth Oudenard & Courtray the vienburgh of Ghent & Countrey of Alost where their men live at discretion Exacting what they please from the Inhabitants Alledging they doe it to Hasten the Comeing of the Ratifications they being ffree to doe with their owne Countrey what they please as long as it is theirs & this occasions greate Clamour against the spanish Minesters Especially among those who have any Interest In those parts L. c. 702 Nov 7th 1678 Commons 2d Nov 1678 +Resolved that An Addresse be made to his Maty that A proclamation be Ishued out against simonds Beddingfields Coniers & Catway demanding them to Render themselves by A day Certain Imposeing A penalty on any that shall Entertaine them And promiseing A Reward to any that shall discover them & that his Maty would give order for secureing the sea ports & that A Comtee be appointed to draw up the same Ordered that the Clerke of the Councill doe attend with what letters & papers are before the Councill Relateing to the plot A Message from the Lds to acquaint the house That they had Information upon oath that the Roofe of their house was so Ruinous that any wind Endangered the falling of it & If the house thought fit his Maty would fit up the Court of Requests Ordered that mr speaker be desired to goe to Newgate to Examine mr Coleman upon the whole matter now before the house & assure him of the Intercession of this house to his Maty for his pardon upon his full discovery which if he Refused he should heare no more from them In that way And that An Addresse be made to his Maty that he will grant A pardon under his signe Manuall to mr Coleman In Case he will make a Confession satisfactory to both houses Adjourned till 8 Monday morning Commons 4 Nov 1678 +mr speaker made Report that sr Hen Capell sr Tho: Leigh & mr Cambden had been yesterday with mr Coleman & shewed him the order of the house & the Kings warrant for A pardon if he would Confesse but all they Could get of him was That he was so unfortunate as that they Knew so much of him as would hang him, but he Confessed he had Recd money from the ffrench & spanish Ambrs for promoteing the Catholicke Cause which he had disposed of accordingly Then A Motion was made for An Addresse to the King that the d of yorke should be Removed from his Councells & presence which after A long debate was Adjourned till friday Next Adjourned till 8 to morrow Whitehall 5 November 1678 +the dutch letters dat 11th tell us that upon the Continued delay of the spanish Ratifications the ffrench Ambrs at Nimeghen began to Enter their Complaint Alledging that the spanish Ambrs Must have Recd them & that they kept them as an Artifice to gaine the better tearmes to the spaniard Thus occasioned some Conferences & that Conference begat A greate Confidence Insomuch that the ffrench K had prolonged the Tearme for the Exchange of the Ratifications till the End of this Month The states doe frequently urge the 19 Articles of their treaty to the ffrench Ambrs by which it is agreed that all princes &c who shall desire to be Comprized shall be Recd In A time Certain which time is Not Expired & though the states make such use of it as to picke out whome they please for their faivour accepting Lubeck & Rejecting Hamburgh yet doe they with all Earnestnesse presse for the d of Newburgh And Its said that the Towne of Amsterdam have been so hardy as to desire Mounsr Dickfeild to Entreate the ffrench K Not to thinke of Advanceing his designes against them by Intrigues In which he would find himselfe mistaken for though they were sometimes devided upon domesticke accounts he should find them alwayes well united for the Common Interest On sonday seavenight Maastricht was surrendred to the dutch who were now sending all sorts of provisions of warr to make it tenable since the surrender of straelsond the K of denmarke makes dificulty of Granting passports for Transporting the swedish Cannon some of them being Cannon peeces taken at Rugen the Emperor is at last disposed to give satisfaction to the Rebells In point of Religion he hath given safe Conduct to their deputies & Appointed Comrs to treate with them but the Bp of Grava their Chiefe persecutor is the Chiefe In the Commission +His Maty has Commanded An order of Councell to be printed Granting 20 L to any one that shall make discovery of any officer or soldier In his horse or foot guards who since the oaths & the Test hath been perverted or hereafter shall be perverted to the Romish Religion Both houses are wholly Intent day by day upon farther discovery of the horrid Conspiracy, This day being the Solemnity for the preservation from the gunpowder treason the lds as usually Kept it at westminster & the Commons at st Margaretts L. c. 703 Nov 9th 1678 Commons 6 Nov 1678 +Ordered that the Matter of the Returne for the borrough of Northampton be Examined at the barr of this house on Monday Next & that the high sheriffe & undersheriffe of that County & the Maior of that Borough doe attend the Clerke of the Crowne with the Returne Ordered that the thanks of the house be given to dr Tillotson & that he be desired to Cause his sermon to be printed Ordered that the 10 letters from st Germains directed to mr Coleman be forthwith translated & unciphered, That an Addresse be made to his Maty that mr Colemans letter of the 29 sept 1675 & the Next following letter acknowledging the Receipt of that letter may be printed That the Translators of the Gazetts Into ffrench & the printer be summoned to attend this house to morrow Comons 7 Nov 1678 mr Powell Reports the Addresse for printing Colemans letters Ordered that the Lds Concurrance be desired & their Ldships put In mind of the Bill to hinder popish Recusants to sit In Either house of Parliamt Ordered that mr Moranvile translator of the Gazetts Into ffrench be Committed Into the Custody of the serjt of Armes & that his house be forthwith searched & his papers seized & that he togather with the Printer Attend the Comtee Appointed to Examine them farther this afternoon Whitehall 7 Nov 1678 +The ffrench K pretends by the treaty with the Emperor that his Imperiall Maty shall not directly or Indirectly assist those that are Enemies to sweden & that he shall Not grant them any winter quarters In the Empire & shall Recall those troops which he has Already sent to their succour, but it is alledged the Contrary & that the Emperor is Not by any former proposall obliged from sending what succours he shall thinke meet The ffrench K will also have the d of Holstein Gottorp Restored to all his Estates as before the warr, as also Prince william of ffurstenburgh to be set at Liberty & he with his brother the Bp of strasburgh to be Restored to their former Rights & dignities, he pretends also to ffriburgh & the County & A way Royall betwixt that place & Brisack mr Coleman hath been severall times Examined & his papers Inspected by which & other Evidences appeareing to the house It is Judged to be A damnable & An Hellish plott by the Romish Recusants for Murthering his Matys sacred person subverting the govermt & destroying the protestant Religion There is a wonderfull Concurrance betwixt the Lds & Commons In this affaire & they are unanimous In all their Conferences & have No other Contention then who shall shew the Most zeale In it They Kindly Communicate Each to other what is offered to them Relateing to the Conspiracy & have agreed to Sit forenoon & afternoon till they have brought it to some period There are some that say the Emperors pleinipoteniaries have gone so far as to accept the alternative that the ffrench shall Keep Brisack & the Emperor Phillipsburgh L. c. 704 Nov 11th 1678 Nov 8th 1678 +Ordered that there be A New Election of A New Member In the Roome of mr Wood for Dunwich +mr soliciter Reports the Addresse against Beddingsfeild simons Gattaway & Coniers +Ordered that the Lds Concurrance be desired thereunto & that the Clarke of the Crowne doe attend this house with A list of the Names of all the Justices of peace within England & wales that have been turned out of Commission & Within 7 yeares last past Ordered that Coll Macharty & such other popish Recusants as are Now waiteing In the Court of Requests In Westminster Hall & places Adjacent be forthwith sent for Into Custody of the serjt at Armes to attend at the barr of this house Ordered that Coll Macharty doe Imediately withdraw himselfe 10 miles from London In pursuance of his Matys proclamation ordered that the Considderation of the debate touching the Addresse for Removeing his R Highs from his Matys presence & Councells be adjourned till thursday Next Ordered that An Addresse be prsented to his Maty by such members as are of the privy Councill to desire his Maty to give order that perticuler prayers may be Composed for the Churches of London & Westminster Relateing to the plot Contrived & Carryed on by the popish Recusants against his Matys person & Govermt On the 9th his Maty made this speech to both houses +MY LORDS & GENT, I am so very sencible of the greate & Extraordinary Care you have Already taken & still Continue to shew for the safety & preservation of my person In these times of danger that I Could not satisfie myselfe without Comeing hither on purpose to give you all my hearty thanks for it nor doe I thinke it Enough to give you my thanks only but I hold myselfe obliged to let you see withall that I doe as much studdy yo[u]r preservation too as I Can posibly & that I am as Ready to Joyne with you In all the wayes & meanes that may Establish As firme A security of the protestant Religion as your owne heart Can wish & this not only dureing my time (of which I am sure you have No feare) but In all future ages Even to the End of the World & therefore am Come to assure you that what Reasonable bills you shall prsent to passe Into Lawes to make you safe In the Reigne of my successors so as they tend not to Impeach the Right of succession nor the descent of the Crowne In the Right Line & so as they Restraine Not my power Nor the Just Right of any protestant successor you shall find from mee A Ready Concurrance & I desire you will withall thinke of more Effectuall meanes for the Conviction of popish Recusants & to Expedite your Councills as fast as you Can that the world may see o[u]r unanimity & that I may have the oppertunity of shewing you how Ready I am to doe anything that may give Content & satisfaction to such Loyall & dutifull subjects Whitehall 9 Nov 1678 +That which at prsent makes the greate Noyse about towne is the discovery of the death of sr Edmund Berry Godfrey by one Bedno This man as Reports speake him is A person seduced to the Romish Religion about 4 yeares since, standing Enough to put such An Employmt upon as to assist In the Carrying of the Murthered body In A Chaire & yet it seems they had not that Confidence In him but that they would Conceale as much as they Could Conducting him only with A small thread of Light through A Lanthorne from A Chamber In somerset house The poore Wretch had Not so far Unlearned his former principles but that haveing done his part In this Trajady he was smitten In Conscience & being sencible of the danger he had Incurred made to his Mother about bristoll, His mother quickly Read by his Countenance that all was Not well within & urgeing him still with the greatest Importunity to Ease his mind to her, The meeting with his Matys proclamation which opened a way to pardon Confessed how far he had been an actor In it & Came Imediately to whitehall surrendred himselfe & gave the account you have heard he being only brought for the latter part & Cannot but by heresay give any account of the former but he is still under Examination sr Ellis Leighton is brought prisoner from dover Castle to Newgate for holding forreigne Correspondance for the Advancemt of popery In this Kingdome severall vessells arrived from Nantes & Burdeaux at ffalmouth bound for Holland Report the vintage very good but that the people In ffrance are much troubled at the prohibition of Carrying their goods Into England +The Monmoth & Henrietta were lately Layd up & paid off at Chattam there was lately Launched there A very good 3d Rate ffregot The peace between the Emperor & ffrance is as good as Concluded The spanish soldiers are In such want of bread that they are like to desert their garrisons somerset house has been searched by order L. c. 705 Nov 14th 1678 Commons 9 Nov 1678 +Ordered that mr speaker Returne the thanks of this house to his Maty for the gracious Expressions In his Matys speech Ordered that An Addresse be forthwith prsented to his Maty to Cause Comissions speedily to be Ishued to the Justices of peace for Imposeing the oaths upon popish Recusants In pursuance of the late proclamation Ordered that mr Beddow doe attend the house to morrow to be farther Examined as to the discovery of sr Edmund Berry Godfreys murther Commons 11 Nov 1678 +Resolved that mr Montague is duely Elected to serve In parliamt for the Borough of Northampton Ordered that the High sheriffe of Northampton shire be forthwith Comitted to the Custody of the serjt at Armes The Lds doe desire A prsent Conference with this house In the painted Chamber touching the subject matter of the Conference mr powell Reports from the Conference that A message be sent to the Lds to Remind them of A bill for the more Effectuall preserveing the Kings person & Govermt & hindering papists to sit In either house of parliamt it being A bill upon which the safety of the King & Kingdome & the protestant Religion doe depend Comons 12 Nov 1678 +Ordered that mr Atkins be Examined by A Comtee touching the plott & the Murther of sr Edmund berry Godfrey Ordered that mr Justice Rose [?] be ordered to attend at this house touching the Examination Concerning the fire In sr Geo: downings stables on sonday last Ordered that An Humble Addresse be prsented to his Maty for Recalling sr wm Godolphin his Matys Ambr In spaine to Answer to an accusation against him of High treason & that A speciall Comission be Ishued out for tendring the oaths of alleigance & supremacy to all the servants of his Maty & his R Highs & to all other persons other then her Matys portuguese & that there be A Comission also for tendring the sd oaths to all persons within the Innds of Court Chancery & sergeants Inns Whitehall 12 Nov 1678 +The Warmth & zeale with which his Maty Calld upon his 2 houses of parliamt In his speech to them the 9th Nov for the security of the protestant Religion Not only dureing his time but In all future ages even to the End of the world had such due Impressions on both the houses that they Could Not Confine so greate Joy within their owne breasts but Communicated it to the Citty & people about who were so transported that they Immediately went to Ringeing bells & makeing bonefires You have formerly heard of the greate want of Corne at Leghorne & the places thereabouts the people there Exspecting A very greate mortality for want of bread but o[u]r last letters tell us they had Recd such quantities not only from England but from all other parts who were able to send any thither that they had already began to put A stop to their takeing In more store so that those that are likely to goe hereafter shall find bad Marketts The ffrench K has lately been very severe In makeing Inquisition Into duells & has sent Into the severall provinces to have An account brought him of all within 10 yeares past Resolveing to Make Examples of all who have been any wayes guilty, The M: Crequis Army are to be quartered part at ffriburgh part on the saar & the Rest on the Moselle The generall discourse here is of the Advance of the peace with the Empire which they doubt not will be obtained within A moneth for though the Emperor doth not want powerfull applications to divert him yet there is not doubt but he will be prevailed upon by the d of Newburgh & D of Lorraine whose Interest for Regaining their Countries oblige them to A peace & whose Relation will over power all Endeavors to the contrary when this shall be over The ffrench K they say will disband 60000 men & In person Give A vissitt to the seaports +His Maty hath Caused A proclamation to be Ishued out Commanding all popish Recusants to Repaire to their usually places of Abode & if they have none to the place where their ffather & mother lives & Not Remove above 5 miles from thence upon paine of fforfeiting all their goods & Chattells their lands tennants &c dureing their lives provided it shall Not be Construed to Command any person to their places of Abode within 10 miles of London or westminster +A Congere Eshere [?] is passing for makeing the Bp of Bristoll Bp of Chichester +upon the desire of the H of Lds that his Maty would be pleased to grant mr oates his pardon his Maty hath signed A Warrant to mr Atturney to prepare his pardon accordingly Enquiry is made after one mr powell A Merchant who has been missing ever since satureday L. c. 706 Nov 16th 1678 Mr. Bedowes Confession before his Maty of the Murther of sr Edm: Berry Godfrey 7 Nov 1678 +he sayth that on the satureday sr Edmund berry Godfrey was Missing about 2 In the afternoon as he was going home 2 or 3 Gent mett him & told him they Could discover some persons neer the strand Bridg that were Adjutators In the plott upon which sr Edm: shewed greate Readinesse but they desired him to walke In somerset house yard till the Constable & warrant were got Ready But sr Edm: had scarse made 2 or 3 turnes but severall persons Rushed upon him & stopped his Mouth 2 ffryars & some of my Ld Belasis servants Executing the same & haveing Carryed him Into An Inner Chamber demanded mr Oates his depositions of him & promised to save his life if he would Render them yet their designe was to have taken away his life though he had done it sr Edm: told them the K & Councill had them & therefore he Could Not posibly doe what they desired upon which Expression they began to use their Inhumanity towards him & most barbarously used him Kneeling on his Breast till they thought he was dead, But opening his Bosome they found his heart panted then they tooke A Crevatt & tyed it hard about his Necke & so Ended his life He further sayth that he Came too late to be assistant In the Murther but he found him strangled & lying upon the floore but prsently Recd An account from the actors In what manner it was performed, His Corps were layd under the High Alter In the queens Chappell & Continued there till they had Consulted A way of Removeing them thence, He farther sayth that 400 Guineys was the Reward promised Amongst the undertakers & on Wednesday following it was Conveyed In A sedan to the Ld Belasis house & thence Carryed In A Coach to the place where it was found He also acquainted the Lds that he had severall things to Communicate to them Relateing to the plott & that he was able to Confirme severall passages which mr Oates had discovered but he desired Leave to give his testimony In writeing that so he might make no other discovery then what he was able to Justifie On the 14th the Commons ordered the thanks of the house to be given to dr stillingfleet & that he be desired to print his sermon before them yesterday & ordered that the Chancellor of the dutchy of Lancaster doe give an account of all the Justices of peace within that Dutchy & the names of such that have been turned out of Comission In 7 yeares past mr secretary acquainted the house that his Maty had sent letters of Reveration [sic] to sr Wm Godolphin A person In his Eye & hath ordered speciall Comissions to be ishued out accordingly +Resolved that A further Addresse be prsented to his Maty that the oaths of Alleigance & supremacy be tendred to all the Meniall servants of her Maty & her R Highs Except the portugalls & ordered A Message to be sent to the Lds to Remind them of the Addresse before their Ldships for printing Colemans letters & Resolved that an Humble Addresse be prsented to his Maty for A Genll palrdon for mr Bedowes & Resolved that the farther Considderation of the Addresse to be prsented to his Maty for Removeing his R Highs from his councells & presence be Reserved till Monday Next Whitehall 14 Nov 1678 +The deputies of the d of Newburgh doe with fresh memorialls presse the states Concerning their Masters affaires declareing that Notwithstanding their offering of A Neutrality & their accepting of it & Recomending It In vertue of the 19 Article of the treaty to the ffrench K, The ffrench had Contrary to their treaty spoyled the Countrey of Juliers & were still makeing farther wast at discretion, The states made this Knowne to Mounsr de Avaux the ffrench Ambr with much Earnestnesse pressing for Redresse who Replyes it Can no wayes Consist with the honour & Justice of the K his master to let the swede suffer In the least & therefore must have a passage through the Countries of the princes of Germany to send them succours The states upon the Rendition of Maastricht have Resolved to quitt it to the spaniards by vertue of the 18 Article of the treaty between them on Condition that the spaniards pay all the Arreirs due to them A price which Its supposed the spaniards will hardly be willing to pay yet that they might take no offence the prince hath only disposed the Charges there till may Next at which time upon payment they may take posession The K of denmarke is so ill satisfied with the Articles given to Count Conningsburgh that he hath sent men of warr to Intercept the swedish Cannon The Reason that makes mr Powell the more Enquired after is that he told his wife on friday last that he had been In Company with some papists to whome he had spoken words too large that he was Afraide they might take Revenge of him, since which time he hath not been heard of L. c. 707 Nov 18th 1678 Commons 15 Nov 1678 +Ordered that the Clarke of the Crowne doe bring In the Names of all the Justices that have been turned out In 7 yeares past mr secretary Williamson acquaints the house that his Maty had very Readily Granted mr Bedlow A pardon & had already Given order for the drawing it up Resolved that an Humble Addresse be prsented to his Maty that A speciall Commission of Oyer & Terminier be Ishued out for trying Charles Mahane & ffloyd as popish preists Commons 16 Nov 1678 +mr Knight Reports severall of mr Colemans papers The Addresse for A speciall Commission of Oyer & Terminier for trying some persons as popish preists Reported & Agreed to An Addresse to be prsented to his Maty for A proclamation whereby Incouragemt may be Given to such persons as shall make A further discovery of the plott A Message ordered to be sent to the Lds to Remind them of the Bill depending before them Whitehall 16 Nov 1678 +A Minester from the Bp of Basell haveing made Complaint at paris that the ffrench In the Neiburhood threaten to take winter quarters In the Bishopricke desired to be Exempted from them declareing that otherwise the Catholicke Cantons would be obliged to oppose any such Attempt to which he had No other Answer then that he should doe all things fairely but that the Bp was A prince of the Empire, Besides the ffrench make pretension to A place Called Neufschastell & to A part of Walshe Jurisdiction of Berne which belonged to the d of Longeville who left them by A Testament to the ffrench K, But those of Berne alledge that the protection of that territory belonged to them & that the d would Not make any disposall of it to their prejudice The vienna letters Nov 6 say that A Gent Arrived from the d of Brandenburgh & aquainted the Emperor with the takeing of straelsond & that Griswold Could Not long hold out which being once over he would furnish his Imperiall Maty with A Considderable Army to be Employed as he pleased, What the Emperors Answer will be is Not Knowne, But he seems not wholly to have layd Aside the thoughts of Warr for he has offered to Genll Montecuculi the honour of being made prince of the Empire at the End of the Next Campaigne provided he will goe if the Warr Continue & Command the Army & In Case he miscarries that the same Dignities may be Conferred on his son One stalley A young man was lately taken Into Custody haveing been accused for speakeing Treasonable words against his Maty Bedloes pardon is prepareing which when fully past Its said he will make further discoveries The Paris letters of the 18th tell us that A Cessation of Armes is Granted to the Towne of Juliers & that they make no doubt of the spanish Ratifications & An agreemt with the Emperor & so are talkeing of A Greate Reforme of their troops & sending Greate Numbers to quarter on the Coast of Normandy L. c. 708 Nov 21st 1678 Commons Monday 18 Nov 1678 +Ordered that mr Bedlow be sent for to attend this house That mr Colemans papers be delivered backe to the Clerke of the Councell In order to his tryall That An Addresse be prsented to his Maty to give order for the Raising the 3d part of the Militia throughout England for secureing the peace of the Kingdome & the sheriffs to be Ready with A posse Comitatus In Case of An Insurrection & likewise that the Comtee doe bring In A bill to make the Militia more Usefull In time of danger Ordered that mr Lock mr Howard sr Cecill Howard & mr Kingdome doe attend this house to morrow morning That the Adjourned debate Concerning the duke be also Adjourned till Thursday Next Commons tuesday 17 Nov 1678 +Ordered that An Humble Addresse be prsented to his Maty Giveing the Reasons that Induced this house to Committ mr secretary Williamson to the Tower & that his Maty be Humbly Addressed Not to Release him from his Imprisonment & that his Maty would be pleased to Recall all Commissions that have been Granted to any papists or Suspected papists within the Kingdome of England & Wales Ordered that A Bill be brought In to make it more penall for any person being A popish Recusant to Receive any Commission & that the persons may take their Oathes & Test & bring A Certificate thereof before their Commission be delivered & that there may be A penalty Inflicted on the officers through whose hands such Commissions passed without such Certificate Ordered that mr Lock mr Kingdome & the 2 Howards attend to Morrow againe Adjourned till 8 to morrow White hall Nov 19th 1678 +his Maty hath Ishued forth A proclamation Commanding George Coniers symonds Charles Walsh Lepham Pilchard [?] & Biston Alias Beeston late servant of the Lady Belasis to Render themselves before the 10th of december to the Ld Chiefe Justice which If they should not doe A Bill is to be prsented to the Lords for Attainting them of High treason & A Reward of 100 L to be given to any one that shall discover any one of them The proclamation doth also Charge all officers belongeing to seaports to use their utmost dilligence In Apprehending the Popish preists & all whome they suspect to be Romish Recusants going In or out of the Realme On the 18th mr secretary Williamson was by order of the H of Commons sent to the Tower for Granting Commissions to popish officers Wee are Its said this Terme to have the Tryall at the Kings bench Barr of staley & Atkins the former for Treasonable words the other for the Murther of sr Edmund Berry Godfrey Some ffrench letters make the Agreement with the Emperor & the D of Lorraine as good as done & on these Tearmes ffriburgh to Remaine to the King The Treaty of Munster to be Executed In all points, Bishop of strasburgh to be Restored, prince of ffurstenburgh set at Liberty the d of Lorraine to have the Citty of Toul but not to be fortifyed any more, Nancy to Remaine to the King All the passes Le Bavose to be Restored to the duke of Lorraine & he not to have A force of above 200 horse & 200 foot +the Imperiallists not to assist the Enemies of sweden Nor the ffrench K the Rebells In Hungary +It is Exspected that Griswald is before this surrendred the time that they desired being Expired which was the 21 Instant The ffrench have granted yet further time till the End of the Moneth for the spanish Ratifications Every day brings ffresh & ffresh discoveries of persons Concerned In the Conspiracy & In Consequence severall are still dayly Apprehended +This day his Maty was pleased to signe A Warrant to discharge mr secretary Williamson & to send for the House of Commons to the Banquetting house to give them the Reason of it telling them that what he had done In signing Warrants &c was by his order for that they were only to such persons who left the ffrench Kings service In obedience to his Commands & the parliamts desire & had his promise of Employmt here & were to passe Into fflanders to the assistance of his allies, Its said the Lds have past the Bill against papists sitting In Either house but so as whoever shall Refuse the Test shall only Incurr A premunire & Not loose their priveledg of Sitting In parliamt L. c. 709 Nov 23d 1678 Commons Wednesday 20 Nov 1678 +A Complaint being made of A Breach of priveledg by Arresting of Timothy Remington A Meniall servant of sr philip Monckton Ordered that the speaker be desired to Examine the Matter of the Complaint & Report the same to the house Ordered that mr Troy & mr foule be sumoned to attend at the Barr of this house That the Lds Concurrance be desired to the Addresse for A Reward & pardon of any person that shall make any further discovery of This plott Commons Thursday 21 Nov 1678 +Ordered that A Comtee be appointed tp puruse & Examine mr Bedloes pardon & to Report their oppinion thereof to the house A message from the Lds with the Bill for hindering papists to sit In Either house of parliament with A proviso that nothing therein Conteyned shall Extend to hinder his R Highnesse to which the house agreed upon the question the yeas being 158 & the Noes 156 Ordered that A Comtee be appointed to draw up the Reasons to be offered at A Conference to be held with the Lds why the house Cannot agree with the Lds [on?] the Amendments Relating to her Maty & her R Highs A Breach of the peace happening In the house between sr Jonathan Trelany & mr Ash Ordered that sr Jonathan Trelany & mr Ash be secured by the serjt at Armes untill this house have Examined & determined the Matter Resolved that this house will to morrow morning take Into Considderation his Matys speech to both houses of parliamt Resolved that Sr Jonathan Trelany be sent to the Tower there to Continue dureing this session of parliamt mr Ash being Called In & Reprehended was discharged & the house Enjoyned both not to prosecute the quarrell Adjourned till 8 to morrow Whitehall 21 Nov 1678 +mr Oates & mr Bedlow have both their pardons delivered to them under the greate seale On the 20th mr Coleman & Mounsr Colombriere were under the Examination of the Lds On the 10th at Noon A 2d Rate ffregott was Launched at portesmouth, The men of warr Continue still at spithead On the 21st staley was Arraigned & the bill found against him by the Jury It is Reported at the Hague Its not to be doubted but Grisswald is In the Elector of Brandenburghs hand but whether by force or Composition is Not said Though the spanish Ratifications are not yet Come the ffrench K Consents to act nothing upon any strong place In the spanish neatherlands provided they likewise attempt nothing upon the Conquests Reserved to him by the Treaty The greate point Controverted at Nimeghen is about liberty to be left to the ffrench troops of passing through the Territories of the Emperor towards the assistance of the sweds & which hath hitherto obstructed the Conclusion of A peace between the Emperor Empire & ffrance which seems now to be almost determined the ffrench K haveing declared The K of Denmarke hath sent 10 men of warr to stop the passage of Count Conningsmarke with his Guns &c so that unlesse the Count shall Remitt of the Articles Granted to him by the Elector of Brandenburgh which there is Noe probability that he will doe there is greate likelihood that the Elector will have Count Conningsmarke & his forces to be his Guests this winter at his owne Charge At paris they make noe doubt of A peace between the Emperor & that Crowne Nay some write that the Count de Estrades had sent A Courrier with Newes that all the Articles of peace between the Emperor & france are agreed & want only to be digested Into forme One Beeston Came In upon the proclamation but is now Owned by Bedloe to be the person Concerned In the murther of sr Edm: Berry Godfrey +mr Carrill who was Committed by the Ld Chiefe Justice to Newgate for Treason is Removed thence by his Matys warrant to the Tower [Handwriting changes for next sentence and last sentence in letter:] Powell ye mercht is at Worcester haveing it seems left here upon some private discontent This day staley the son of mr staley the goldsmith In Covent garden was Condemned to be drawne Hanged & quartered for High treason he haveing spoken words Expressing his Intention to take away the life of his sacred Maty. The Ld Carrington is in Custody of ye black Rod upon Bedloes accusation & yesterday mr Ral: sheldon was Carryd to Warwick Gayle by the Ld Ch: Justices Warrant L. c. 7l0 Nov 25th 1678 Commons ffriday 22d Nov 1678 +Ordered that the secretary of the Admiralty doe on tuesday Next bring In A list of all his Matys ships abroade & their Comanders & A list of all the Commanders of those ships now In Harbour The petition of mr James siddall & mr Rogers was Read & they being Called to the barr Recd A Reproofe from mr speaker for A breach of priveledge Committed on the Ld scudamore & were discharged Orderd that the Concurrance of the Lds be desired by the Members of the privy Councill to Cause mr Bedloes pardon to be more Effectuall Ordered that the Coppy of mr Bedloes Examination be made out & delivered to the Ld Chiefe Justice The house then Resolved Into A Comtee of the whole house to Considder of fitt Remedyes to secure the protestant Religion against the danger of popery & have made some progress thereon & are [to] be in a Comtee to morrow morning That An addresse be made to his Maty touching the accesse & Recesse [?] of fforraigne Ambrs Adjourned till 8 to morrow Commons satureday 23d 1678 + A bill for Raiseing the Militia In England & wales Read & ordered A 2d Reading Resolved that on Monday next the house will take Into Considderation the state of the Nation In Relation to the Army A message from the Lds for A present Conference Concerning the Addresse for Raiseing the Militia Mr secretary Coventry acquaints the house that his Maty had sent his Answer to the addresse of this house for not dischargeing of mr secretary Williamson A Message from Lds with A bill Entituled An act Requireing the persons therein Named to Render themselves to Justice & In default thereof to be attainted of High treason which was Read & ordered A 2d Reading Ordered that the Knights of the shire doe on Tuesday Next Come seannight bring In A list of all papists & so Reputed being of Note & Resident haveing Considderable estates In their Respective Counties & that the Minesters of Each County & borough doe meet togather & agree upon the Returne & signe the lists That the house be Called over on Monday next Come seanenight & that mr speaker be desired to write letters to the sheriffs of Each County Requireing them to send to all Representive[s] In parliamt who are now absent that they doe Imediately Repaire to the service of this house & none to depart without leave had after 10 of the Clocke The house will on Thursday next take Into Considderation his Matys Answer to the adresse of this house Concerning sr Jos: Williams[on's] Commitment Adjourned till 8 Monday Whitehall Nov 23d 1678 +The Portesmouth letters of the 21st give us the name of the ship Launched to be the Vantgaurd & that she promiseth to be as good as any of that Rate Mounsr Campricht the Emperors Resident at the Hague has presented A memoriall to the states by which he tells them that whilst they were at warr with ffrance which put them to great Expence his Maty had forbore to presse for the Arreirs due to him for subsidies of which they had made payment to him only till 1674. But that Now since they had made peace with ffrance & so were now In better Capasity to make payment he desired they would make speedy payment of the subsidies due since that time He Required further that they would draw their troops out of the Country of Leige as well those In the garrison of Hassell & Mayseck as In other places for that haveing the garrison of Maastricht Restored to them they had not now the same pretension to Keep them & they further Required that they would In future forbeare any more Contributions there as being places belongeing to the Empire The ffrench looking upon the peace with the Emperor now as good as made begin to talke of A treaty with the Northerne princes & the Citty of Munsicke [sic] shall be the place for Negotiating the treaty & Cardinall de Estrees sent to assist on the part of that Crowne +There haveing been A violent presumption that mr powell the Merchant hath been Murthered by persons Unknowne, His Maty hath been pleased to Ishue forth his Royall proclamation promiseing 200 L to any person that shall make any discovery of the Murther & if any of the murtherers the same Rewards with his pardon since which he is found to be at Worcester & left his home upon some private discontent +The bill for hindering papists to serve in either house of parliamt is sent downe by the Lds to the Commons with A proviso for his R Highs & some Amendments. The proviso was agreed to but a Comtee appointed to draw up Reasons for not agreeing to Amendments & A Conference desired to be had with Lds thereupon. L. c. 711 Nov 28th 1678 Commons Monday Nov 25 1678 + A bill for Raiseing the Militia was Read the 2d time & Committed to A Comtee of the whole house & ordered to be Engrost +A message from the Black Rod to mr speaker that the King Commanded the house to attend him Immediately In the house of Peers And accordingly mr speaker with the house were to attend his Maty where his Maty made the following speech +My Lords & Gent I told you in the beginning of this sessions how much I had been obliged to hold up my forces in fflanders that without it o[u]r neibours would absolutely have dispaired & by this meanes whatever hath been saved there is acknowledged wholly to have been due to my Interposition & I assure you with all at last I have been forced to Employ the money that hath been Raised for disbanding those troops for the Continuance of them to gather & Not only so but that I have been much out [of] purse for that service, A service by which the honour & Interest of the Nation hath been so far Improved that as I was Confident that no man would Repine at it so I did not doubt but you would all be willing to supply it. I have Now undergone An Expence A long time so that I find absolutely Impossible to support the Charge any longer & did therefore thinke of putting An End to the Charge by Recalling my troops with all posible speed which are already Exposed to all the utmost Extremities of want & misery because without any prospect of any future pay or subsistance +And whilst I was about this I have been Importuned by the spaniard to Continue them A little longer untill the Ratifications of the peace were Exchanged without which they say all that hitherto hath been done will be utterly lost & that which hath been hitherto saved of fflanders will Immediately fall Into the hands of the Enemy. And now between their Importunity to Keep up those troops & my owne Inability to Keep them any longer I find myselfe In Greate Dificulties to Resolve If you doe not thinke that the publicke saftey may Require their Continuance I doe wish as heartily as any man that for the publicke Ease they may speedily be disbanded & paid off I have thought fit thus to lay the matter before you haveing acquitted myselfe to all the world by askeing your advice & assistance which I desire may be speedily without delay. +Commons Ordered that A Comtee be appointed to Considder of A proper way for superseding the Commission of Roger Bradshaw A member of this house High sheriffe of Lancaster That the Considderation of the state of the nation In Relation to the army be adjourned till to morrow +sr Edw: deering Reports to the House of Lds the Reason why the house of Commons Cannot agree with them In Relation to the queens servants Adjourned till 8 tomorrow Commons Tuesday 28 Nov 1678 +The Militia bill was read A 3d time & passed +Ordered that mr Bedloe be Immediately sent for That An Humble Addresse to be prsented to his Maty by the members of this house that are of his Matys privy Councill to desire his Maty that mr Bedloes Pardon may Extend Relate [sic] to this time Inclusive mr secretary Coventry Reports to the house he had acquainted his Maty with the addresse Relateing to mr Bedloes pardon & that his Maty was pleased to say he would Considder of it & Returne them An answer That the Considderation of the state of the Nation In Relation to the army be adjourned till to morrow Ordered that mr Bedloe doe attend this house at 3 A Clocke In the afternoone & the house adjourned till that time Whitehall 26 Nov 1678 +On the 23d Coleman was Arraigned at the Kings bench barr where the bill was found against by the grand Jury & his tryall ordered on Tuesday next whilst he was In Court the Ld Cheife Justice gave his warrant to the sheriffe of Middlesex for Executing of staley on the 26th in Tyburne There having been some defect found In Bedloes pardon A warrant is granted In makeing In [it?] more ample & In all points Effective +Wee have Now A discovery of Powell by letters from Worcester which give this account that on Wednesday last the guard at one of the gates stopt a man upon A little horse with A small burdeing peece & sent him to the Maior & Majestrates to be Examined were he Confessed himselfe to be the Powell Mentioned In the gazett to be missing & that he was going to one mr sherrard an acquaintance of his who Kept An Inne at Leominster The majestrates thereupon with the Consent of Powell sent that night to mr sherrard who Came the Next day & Affirmed that he Knew the sd Powell very well & the place In London where he lived & that he was the same Mentioned In the gazett to have been missing mr sherrard went on ffriday for London to give his wife an account of him In the meane time he is here under Custody though he hath the Liberty of the city with A follower On the 26th staley was according to his sentence drawne Hanged & quartered at Tyburne. [A few figures in another hand appear on outside of letter.] L. c. 712 Nov 30th 1678 Commons Tuesday Nov 26th: 1678 afternoon +That the house doe agree with the Lds Amendmts as to the queens servants +That the house doe disagree with the Lds amendmts as to the dutchesses servants +CR his Maty haveing Recd the addresse of the Commons desireing his Maty that mr Bedloes pardon may extend & Relate to this time Inclusive his Maty is pleased that this answer be Returned That mr Bedloes pardon of this 1st novembr is as full to all offences as Can be desired. If any offence has been Committed since that time his Maty ought to Know it before he pardon it for a pardon for a whole day Inclusive (Amounts to) when it is granted before the day be Expired will not be good In Law Commons Wednesday 27 Nov 1678 +The house was Informed that mr Bedloe had something of moment to Impart Relating to this preservation of his Matys person & secureing the safety & peace of the govermt & Concerned himselfe In danger for Concealing the same Therefore this house doth humbly desire that his Maty will graciously be pleased to grant his pardon for misprision of Treason till the time of such discovery that he may not lye under any dificulty or danger In discovering the matter Mr secretary Coventry acquaints the house that his Maty was attended & would take time to Returne an Answer The Reasons for A Conference with the Lds Reported & agreed to & A Conference had thereupon touching the bill to hinder papists to sit In parliamt A message from the Lds to acquaint this house that they had agreed to the bill Concerning the Militia without any amendmts as likewise to what was offered at the last Conference & to addresse his Maty to give assent to the said bill Resolved that It is Necesary for the safety of his Matys person & preserving the peace of the govermt that all the forces that have been Raised since 29 sept 1677 & all that have since that time have been brought over from fforraigne service be forthwith disbanded Resolved that it is the humble petition & desire of this house that the forces which be now In fflanders be Immediately called over In order to their disbanding & that the members of the privy Councell doe prsent the same On Thursday the house sate so late that Noe Journall was made out but you may Exspect something Extraordinary by the Next Whitehall 28 Nov 1678 +staleys deportment was such as became his condition I doe Not find that he said much he denied not the words but seemed to Excuse any Intention In him to have done the thinge sr Peter wych his Matys Resident at the Hans Townes has taken his Leave & is gone to Hamburgh to officiate In that Imploymt Among other matters of Treason that were proved against Coleman one was that he said that If he had a thousand lives & A sea of blood he would spend them In this designe & for destroying all Heretick princes And another that he hired 4 Ruffians to Kill the King at Windsor & paid them 80 L In mr Oates sight about the 20th August last which when mr Coleman had made exception & Called In witnesse that he was out of towne his witnesse Could only say that he was out of towne for some time but they Could not say but that hee was In Towne the 20th August This day the sentence of A Traytor was passed on him the time of his Execution is not yet Knowne His Maty hath been pleased to give leave that the quarters of mr staley Recieve buriall L. c. 713 dec 2d 1678 Commons 28 Nov 1678 +mr secretary Coventry acquaints the house that his Maty hath granted mr Bedloes pardon for misprision of Treason untill the time of such discovery mentioned In the addresse & that his Maty would advise with the H of Lds before he will Recall his troops from fflanders A message from the Lds with a bill Entituled an act for the Better discovery & speedy Conviction of popish Recusants which was Read & ordered A 2d Reading Resolved that an Humble addresse be prsented to his Maty by such members as are of the privy Councill to desire his Maty that mr Oates may be under noe manner of Restraint whatsoever & that he may be allowed his owne servants to attend him & the liberty of provideing his owne Necesaries & that his Maty would be pleased to order that he may have A prsent summe of Money In hand & A Competent summe of Money weekly for his Maintenance & that his ffreinds & Relations may have ffree accesse unto him & that mr Oates his pardon may Extend & Relate to this day for misprision of Treason Resolved that An Humble addresse be prsented to his Maty to desire that the queen & all her family & all papists & suspected papists be forthwith Removed from his Matys Court of whitehall Commons 29 Nov 1678 +Resolved that the Comissary bring In A list of all the men that have been Raised or Come from fforreigne parts since 29 sept 1677 & when they Entred Into pay Resolved that it is the opinion of this Comtee that the house be moved to order the paymaster of the army to bring In an account of what moneys hath been payed to Every troope of the forces Raised or Come from fforreign parts since 29 sept 1677 & what is due & In arrier to them since that time As also to order the auditor of the Exchequer to bring in an account of what money he hath Ishued to the paymaster of the army to the sd forces since that time As also that the house be moved that the Comissary Genll of the Musters doe bring In A list of all such forces as are Now In fflanders or have Come ffrom fforreigne parts since 29 sept 1677 Also it is the opinion of this Comtee that what money shall be Raised for Redisbanding the Army shall be paid Into the Chamber of London That It is the opinion of the house that this money shall be Ishued out by Comrs to be named In the act & that the Comrs shall Not Exceed 3 In Number & that the house be put in mind to Appoint a Comtee to prepare Instructions for disbanding the Army Commons 30 Nov 1678 +His Maty sent for mr speaker & the H of Comons to Attend him in the H of Lds where his Maty was pleased to say that he did passe the bill for Raiseing the militia because it put the militia out of his owne power for A time for though it was but for halfe an Houre It was the same thing, for the Right of the militia being In the Crowne he would not Consent to any act that he might put it out though it be for halfe An Houre but If he might be Enabled with money he would Raise such A part of the militia as should serve the peace of the Kingdome & his owne person As to the other bill he said it was A bill of greate Importance & might hereafter be of greate Consequence, But nevertheless for allaying the prsent apprehensions & Jealousies & secureing the people against their feares he was Content to passe It Into A Law & Now he haveing done so much for the satisfaction & desire of his people he did Exspect they would take Into their serious Considderation what he had ffreindly Communicated to them this sessions & answer his desires Whitehall 30 Nov 1678 +His Maty hath been pleased at the Instance of his 2 houses of Parliamt to Ishue forth A proclamation that if any shall before the 25 december Next make any further discovery of the late horrid designe against his Matys person he shall not only Receive the Reward of 200 L but be they principall or accessory shall have his Matys pardon for the Ridding of Papists out of the fleet the officers & soldiers at the spithead neer Portesmouth were all ordered to Receive the sacrament aboard on the 24th The ffrench haveing demanded Contribution of the Countrey about the Maas as being under the Empire the states have at the desire of the P of Orange had A Conference with mounsr de Avaux about it to Represent to him that all his Highs demesnes where ever they are ought to be Comprehended In the peace upon which Mounsr de Avaux sent to the ffrench Commanders to suspend the Execution of the sd Contribution The Imperiallists had proposed A Cessation for 4 months between the Northerne princes dureing which Endeavors may be used for Adjusting their peace. The ffrench Its said seemed willing to accept the proposall but the sweds haveing Refused it the peace between the Emperor & ffrench seems further off than before The Holland letters dat dec 6th tell us Mounsr de Avaux had Nov 30 given In A memoriall to the states wherein he told them that his master had no Reason to believe that the spaniards haveing suffered so much time to Elaspe had any Intentions to Exchange the Ratifications yet he would give them to the 15th Instant wich past he would be at liberty to take what measures seems best to him to bring the spaniards to performe their words yet that he should not In the least doe anything Contrary to what he had promised the states & that he would give them what security he desires Not to fall upon the ffrontier places; but Its Confidently affirmed that the Ratifications are arrived The other ffrench Ambrs at Nimeghem gave In A memoriall to the mediators that If the Emperor & the allies accepted Not the peace offered to them before the End of the yeare & which the Emperor promised to accept that his Maty would not afterwards be obliged to give them the like favourable Tearmes Some dayes since one Macarta A priest was stopt at Thetford where haveing the oaths of alleigance & supremecy tendred him he Readily tooke them & so had been dismist, but that one Espying his sleeve somewhat bulky seappled [?] it where among other things he had his orders from the Church of Rome. [Figures and a list of names in another hand occupy about a third of outside of letter.] L. c. 714 dec 5th 1678 Commons 2d dec 1678 +Ordered that mr Oates doe forthwith attend this house Mr secretary Coventry acquaints the house that he had attended his Maty with the addresse Relating to mr Oates & his Maty was pleased to returne this Answer CR His Majesty haveing Received the addresse from the house of Commons dated Nov 28th last hath thought fit to Returne this Answer That his Maty will give pardon to mr Oates for misprision of Treason from the beginning of the World till the 28th November last That he shall have Liberty to walke where he pleased In Whitehall & st James & Enjoy all the liberties of writeing & Converseing which he had In Whitehall before the 24th of the said November He shall have an Allowance of all things Necesary for him but his guards his Maty doth not thinke fitt to withdraw In respect to the safety of mr Oates his person Resolved that an Humble addresse be made to his Maty Containing A Representation of the prsent state & danger of the nation 2dly That It may be made part of the addresse to lay before his Maty the Misrepresentation that has been made to his Maty of the dangers that have or may Arise from private advice Contrary to the Councells of Parliamt 3dly The private dangers the Nation lyes under by the growth of Popery 4thly The dangers that Arise to his Maty & the whole Nation by the violation of the Lawes for the preservation of the peace of the Kingdome mr Oates being called In delivered In A Coppy of the Narrative of his writeing under his hand Relating to the queen Adjourned till 8 to morrow Commons Tuesday 3d dec 1678 +Coll. Birch Reports from the Comtee Appointed to prepare Instructions for the disbanding the Army to which the house agreed Ordered that the Comtee that prepared the Instructions doe bring in A bill pursuant to the same That A Change be Inserted In the bill To make it Penall for persons to Continue togather In Armes after the time of disbanding A Clause of Indemnity to those that have Continued In Armies Contrary to the late act for disbanding Ordered that the bill against the growth of popery be Read to morrow morning Adjourned till 8 to morrow Whitehall 3d dec 1678 On the 30th of the last both houses proceeded to take the oaths of alleigance & supremacy & to subscribe the declaration mentioned In the said act for hindering Papists to sit In Either house of Parliamt The Commons were so zealous In it that they mett on sonday december the 1st & then tooke the oathe & subscribed &c There is A pretty story they write from Holland sent to the states by their minester at ffrankfort date Nov 20th that A Jesuite Comeing some dayes before from Rome Arrived at Basill with Intention to goe for England & that In discourse he told some merchants there that something was contrived In England against the King which he thought to heare the effect of before he Ended his Journey & that for the Mannagement of it above A thousand Jesuits were Employed, but before the discourse was over the post brought the Newes that the Conspiracy was dicovered In England upon which the Jesuite withdrew himselfe & would not be heard of after The Hamburgh letters say that the Liefland Army stand on the ffrontiers of Prusia who with the Polanders destroy all that they Come Neer & that the K of denmearke had tooke shiping to have A Conference with the Elector of Brandenburgh to adjust the diference about the swede &c The Brussells letters date dec 6th say the people in fflanders were very much troubled when they heard tha Ratifications were not Imediately Exchanged as Knowing the ffrench will Improve the occasion nay some say that they have Charged the Citty of Ghent afresh with 128 guilders A moneth though they have paid the 20th peny 7 times The ffrench K has lately granted An order absolutely prohibitting any farmer of the Revenue to Employ any as Comissioners or In any Employmt or place who is of the Reformed Religion This day Coleman was according to his sentence drawne hanged & quartered L. c. 715 dec 7th 1678 Commons Wednesday 4 dec 1679 A message from his Maty by mr secretary Coventry CR His Maty to prevent all misunderstanding that may arise for not passing the militia bill was pleased to declare That he would Readily assent to any bill of that Kind that shall be tendered to him for the publicke security of the Kingdome by the Militia so as the whole power of Calling Continuing & not Contin[u]ing them togather after the time limitted be left to his Maty to doe therein as he shall find it most Convenient for the publicke affaires Ordered that A Comtee be appointed to Inspect presidents touching the methods & proceedings In passing of bills & whether according to the method of parliamt A bill may be brought In for making the Militia more usefull & to Report their opinion to the house Ordered that mr Kingdome doe attend the Comtee for disbanding & give A perticular account to what time Every perticular Regent & troope is paid & to Compute what the Charge of Keeping up the forces till the 1st of January Next will Amount to +Mr Williams reports the addresse for apprehending all popish Recusants & persons so reputed to which the house agreed & ordered that the Lds Concurrance be desired therein That both bills for secureing the protestant Religion against the growth of popery be Read to morrow morning Adjourned till 8 to morrow Commons Tuesday 5 dec 1678 +The house ordered mr Williams to Carry up the addresse to the Lds for secureing the protestant Religion A bill to secure the protestant Religion against the growth of popery Read & ordered A 2d Reading Resolved that the house proceed by way of Impeachment of Treason & other high Crimes & misdemeanors against the Lds Arrundell of Warder Ld powis Ld peters Ld Bellasis & Ld stafford That A Comtee be Appointed to prepare Articles of Impeachment against the aforesaid Lds & that the sd Comtee doe attend his Maty to desire that all papers In Relation to the plott now under Examination may be delivered up to them That sr Trevor Williams doe Repaire to mr Oates to Know of him how far his Matys Commands for taking off Restraints are observed +That the vote for proceeding Against the aforesaid Lds by way of Impeachment be Immediately Communicated to the house of Lds Adjourned till 8 to morrow Whitehall dec 5th [?] 1678 +Upon the best Enquiry I Can make Concerning mr Coleman how far he would discover himselfe I find that he Confessed that the sentence past Upon him was Just according to the Law but would not acknowledg that he knew anything of any Conspiracy against the King His Maty being Informed In Counsell that the body of mr staley was buried in state & not with that privacy which became his Condition was so Incensed that his Maty should In that nature be so abused that an order of Councell past that his body should be taken taken up againe his head set upon London bridge & his quarters upon the gates of the Citty which was accordingly Executed The Commons have desired the Lds Concurrance to an addresse to be presented for Apprehending disarmeing & secureing all popish Recusants Convict & all that may Justly be suspected papists & them to oblige In Recognizance with sufficient bayle to Keep the peace & be of good behaivour & In default thereof to Committ them to prison The Portsmouth letters of the 3d tell us the Oxford & dover were gone out to Cruise There Arrived from New England A greate fflyboate laden with 14 greate masts for his Matys use & 3 Greate yardes for the New ship The German letters tell as that they make so sure of peace there that they begin To talke how to Employ their forces & that It will be best whilst their Army is togather to Employ them against the Turks In whose Countenance they Can Easily Read that they only want An oppertunity to fall upon them haveing Notwithstanding all their faire provences all along abetted the Rebells against them +There is lately taken one mr green said to be guilty of the Murther of sr Edm: Berry Godfrey Wee have had no fforrgeign letters this weeke [Handwriting changes here just for rest of letter.] +the persons that carryed up the Impeachmt agst ye Lds were Mr Wharton Mr Maynard Mr Thynn sr Phillip Warwick & sr Scroop How, who at ye Barr of the Lds House in ye name of ye House of Comons Impeacht Early [?] the severall Lds Mr Colemans Quarters were with his Matys leave privately buryed by his freinds that day he was Executed Bedloe has desired to take ye Oathes & test & be instructed in ye Doctrine of ye Church of England. Dr Lloyd of st Martins is appoynted to that purpose [On outside of letter in another hand appears a short tally that has to do with killing sheep.] L. c. 716 dec 9th 1678 Commons ffriday 6 dec 1678 +A bill for the more Easy & speedy Conviction of popish Recusants & for the more Effectuall Execution of lawes against them was Read & ordered A 2d Reading mr Williams Reports that he had attended the Lds with the addresse for secureing all papists In England & Wales for their Ldships Concurrance Resolved that the house being Informed that Notwithstanding his Matys gracious Condiscention to the addresse of this house In Relation to mr Oates he hath been deprived of the benefit thereof That It is the humble desire of this house that mr Oates have full liberty to Converse with all persons In private & that he may not be Interupted or overheard by any of the guard or any other persons whatsoever & that all Restraints may be taken off from him Unless the guard that may attend him for the security of his person only without his chamber Ordered that this addresse be prsented to his Maty by the members of this house that are of the privy Councell A message from the Lds to acquaint the house that their Ldships have agreed to the addresse for secureing the popish Recusants so Reputed Commons saturday 7 dec 1678 +mr speaker acquaints the house that his Maty was pleased to tell him that he had 5 or 6 dayes since given order for Recalling his forces from flanders In order to their disbanding & that mr Oates shall have the liberty of Converse with all persons In private & that the guard shall attend without his chamber doore only for the security of his person A bill for the better dicovery & Conviction of popish Recusants & for the more Effectual Excecution of the Lawes against them was Read A 2d time & Committed Ordered that A Clause be Inserted In the bill to make it felony for popish Recusants Convict & all fforreigners to Receive Commissions or appeare In armes & that all Commissions granted or to be granted to popish Recusants Convict shall be declared voyd & that no such persons shall have any pardon but by act of parliamt for that purpose A message from the Lds to acquaint the house that his Maty hath appointed 3 of the Clocke In the afternoon In the Banquetting house to attend him Concerning the last addresse where he told them he would grant what they desired & Ishue out Commissions accordingly That on Monday Next the house will Resolve Into A Comtee to Considder of the Report made Upon mr Kingdoms accounts of A way for Raising money for disbanding the Army which Its said will amount by the 1st of January to 148000 L p an & 33000 L for Cloths That on Wednesday Next the house will Enter upon Considderation for securing the protestant Religion In Case another prince of Another Religion should succeed Adjourned till 8 on Monday Whitehall 7 dec 1678 +Both houses are very Intent Upon such ways as may best serve the protestant Religion & In order thereunto they have bills before them that tend to the suppression of popery for the finishing of which the Commons are so very zealous that the Committee will not sitt to leave & determine Elections till after Crismas Next They write from Portsmouth dec 4th that A vessell going from Southampton for guernsey was seized haveing been found upon search to have Coombed wooll One arrived there from Ireland Reports that the garrisons there Kept dilligent Watch Upon account of the Conspiracy & that A day prefixt upon which all the papists were to depart from the garrisons of that Kingdome All things are Now hastning for the tryall of the Rest that now stand accused of the late Conspiracy The Impeachmt against the 5 Lds was Carryed from the Commons by 5 of their members vizt mr Wharton mr Maynard sr philip Warwick sr scroop How & mr Thin who at the barr of the Lds house In the name of the Commons of England severally Impeached the 5 Lds formerly mentioned adding that the Commons would suddenly send up their Articles against them & Its said some of them will be brought upon Tryall Next weeke, The scaffolds that are building In westminster hall being Almost finished A grant is passing Constituting the Right Honble William Ld Allinton Lieut of his Matys Tower of London On the 6th mr Powell who was secured at Worcester was before his Maty In Councell where he was Examined Concerning his absence of which he Could give no very good account more than that he was under a Malancholly Humour & Knew not well what he did +severall persons of quality & some of the queens servants have lately obteined passes to goe beyond the seas +The quarters of mr Coleman were by his Matys leave privately Enterred by his ffreinds In st Giles the same day he was Executed Its said the Ld Bindenell [?] upon discourse with dr Tillotson has Renounced the popish Religion & was on sonday last at Lincolns Inne Chappell Bedloe has its said desired of the Lds that he may take the Oaths & test & have A protestant divine to discourse & Instruct him In the doctrine of the church of England & dr LLoyd of st Martins is appointed for that purpose [Handwriting changes here just for rest of letter.] +One Ensigne Danyloss [?] is sent for from Ware for saying the people of England would repent what the parliamt are now doeing & that wthin 14 days would be ye Greatest observation that England Ever yet saw they write from the West of severall familys that have renounct ye popish Religion, taken ye sacramt, & Come to Church L. c. 717 dec 12th 1678 Commons Monday 9th dec 1678 +Resolved that the money for paying & disbanding the forces be Raised by A land tax Resolved that tax shall Commence from the 29th of November last to be Raised after the Rate of 17205 L 4 s 9 d 4 [?] p Moneth for 12 moneths Ordered that a bill brought In pursuant to the said vote A petition of sr Jonathan Trelany Read Ordered that sr Jonathan Trelany in order to the Recovery of his health shall have liberty to goe into the Countrey dureing pleasure of this house giving security for his Returne to the Lieutenant of the Tower when the house shall signifie their pleasure therein Adjourned till 8 to morrow Commons Tuesday 10th dec 1678 +Ordered that mr speaker doe Ishue forth A new writt for Electing A new member to serve for Towne of Mongomery In the Roome of mr Harbert Called up to the house of Lds An Engrossed bill sent from the Lds for the better discovery & speedy Conviction of papist Recusants Read A 2d time & Committed An Engrossed bill from the Lds for preventing the protestant Religion against the growth of popery Read A 2d time & Committed Ordered that A Clause be brought In for the better Enabling the Universities to Recover their Right to the adverson of the presentation of liveings that are In the hands of papists Adjourned till 8 to morrow morning +dr ffogartty A phisitian died lately at Newgate whither he was sent prisoner on account of the Conspiracy The vienna letters tell us of A Cessation of Armes between the 2 Armies In Hungary to last whilst the deputies of the Rebells treated an accomodation at the Court they haveing delivered all the Berge Townes to the Imperiallists & the mines In good Condition The Emperor In order to what his Ambrs had declared at Nimeghen about Restoreing the house of ffurstemburgh had begun already to put prince Egon of ffurstemburgh prince williams Nephew Into posession of all his Estate which hath been Kept & sequestred since he married Madomoiselle de Ligni Its writt from Holland that when the utmost of time was Come & not till then vizt the [illegible number] Instant the spaniard gave In the Ratifications which delay is generally believed to have been In faivour of the Emperor & German princes that the whole ffrench force should not fall on Germany & now they say the Imperiall plenipotentiaries have offered A new project which is like to take vizt The Exchange of phillipsburgh for ffriburgh & the treaty to be at the same foot with that at Munster however they are In such likelihood of Agreement thaat the Elector of Brandenburgh & Dukes of Lunenburgh dispairing of their holding at long are said privately to Endeaver to make their peace The Duke of Newburgh hath sent to the states genll to desire them to put garrisons on Juliers & dusseldorp that they might not disoblige the ffrench so much as to appeare In it The Bp of Munster has demanded of the states the money due to his predecessor for subsidies but was answered that his predecessor has forfeited whatever was due to him In that Kind forasmuch as a little before his death & whilst he stood obliged to assist the states it being then the Criticall time & doubtfull whether the states should agree with the ffrench The said bishop Contrary to his faith did underhand deale with the ffrench & In Case of A Rupture promise upon Considderation to send 20000 men against the states +On Monday last the 9th Instant at Weedon Neer daventry In Northampton shire A very sad fire happned which began about Eleaven at Night In A Carriers Inne & burnt In A little space 3 Innes to the ground with severall other houses as many as Its said Contained 19 families with 27 Carriers packs & some horses L. c. 718 The Examination of Roland Gastrill of the grange in Gloucestershire sworne the 20th dec 1678 before the Bp of London +This deponent saith that In the yeare 1675 he traivelled to Rome & being there he was by many accts & perswasions Inveagled to the Romish Religion Afterwards he was Entertained by Cardinall Barbereno as one of his Gent where (after he had Continued about 5 moneths) he was prevailed upon by severall English there & by the Cardinall to put himselfe Into the English seminary where he Continued 2 yeares & A halfe but whilst he Continued In the said Colledge (vizt In lent last) discourseing with Gerrard Ireland & wm denmore Preists (Now In England[)] The said Ireland told him the Catholicks In England had Exspected long Enough from his Maty without any Effect & that It was In vaine to Exspect any longer That the King had been much obliged to the Catholicks but that he had now forgot their Kindnesses & did not deserve to be A King & was A shame to all princes & that It was noe sin to kill him To which one sergeant A scollar replyed why The said Ireland Answered him because it would be for the good of the Catholicke Church for If the King were dead the Catholicke Religion would soon be brought Into England And discourseing farther of their go[i]ng Into England the said Ireland & denmore said they hoped Either of them to get good fat personages there The deponent farther sayth that haveing an Audience of the pope In Company of 4 preists (all students of the same Colledge) & 2 secular gents the pope understanding that they were going for England desired to know their severall states & Conditions & being Informed by Campion who Conducted them to the pope that 2 of them were seculars he asked the said seculars what was their designe of going Into England & whether they designed to be souldiers for that they were fit for the same This deponent saith that In the beginning of may last A few dayes before his Comeing from Rome upon Cardinall Barbarino who lay then sicke In bed when he bid the deponent at parting (The Rector being present) take to the true & faithfull & serve the d of yorke which the said Rector also desired him to beare In his mind That the Cardinall afterwards (applying himselfe to the said Rector) said If the Catholicke Religion were brought Into England notwithstanding his greate age he would give men Leggate de Latere Roland Gastrill Whitehall 4 Jan: 1678 The ships that were from the downes to fetch the English souldiers over from fflanders were forced backe againe by Contrary winds but want for the first oppertunity The Comtee of Councell that are Employed to search Into the plott sit dayly & have serve for severall persons In order to A more full discovery On the 30th James Earle of salisbury was sworne & tooke place of A privy Councellor to his Maty The Paris letters of the 10th tell us That Its said Mareshall schomberg is to Command A greate Army for the swede Consisting of 38 battalions 12000 horse & 3000 dragoons & they doubt not but they will make their way Into Cleves Thence Into Bremen & thence Into the dukedome of Verdon They speake also of A very Considderable fleet set out at brest & other parts on that Coast where they are to take In A greate Army Commanded by Mounsr Bellefonds to make A descent Into Holstein +The penzance letters tell us of A ship lately arrived there from Havre de grace which gives an account of 6 ships of between 40 & 50 guns fitting out there but upon what designe they Could not learne They say further that they are fortifying all their ports & fortresses on the sea Coasts They write from Cologne dat dec 30th of their apprehensions that the ffrench will Erelong attack them, Their horse beginning to move that way & Its supposed they will passe the Rhine & burne the Elector of Brandenburghs Countrey & those townes of the duke of Newburghs that Refuse Contribution The Treaty between the Empr and the Rebells is so far advanced as they are like to have an act of Indemnity +The Cadiz letters of the 19th make us doubt of the former account of 5 Algeir ships being taken by the English & brought In there being they give noe mention of them L. c. 719 dec 14th 1678 Commons Wednesday 11 dec 1678 +A bill for granting A supply to his Maty for disbanding the Army was Read & ordered A 2d Reading to morrow Ordered that the house will Adjourne for Crismas Eve & Crismas day and noe longer during the holy dayes Ordered that the house be Called over on Wednesday Next & that the members that are then absent shall be sent for Into Custody & shall not sit In the house until they have paid the serjeant his fees & Charges severall members Committed Into Custody for disparting the house without leave Commons Thursday 12 dec 1678 +A bill for granting A supply to his Maty for the speedy disbanding the Army was Read A 3d time & Committed to A Committee of the whole house A Message from the Lds to remind this house of the Engrossed bill sent from their Ldships for the more speedy Conviction of popish Recusants Leave given to sr Wm smith & sr John Otway to goe Into the Countrey The house then Resolved Into A Comtee of the whole house upon the supply bill & have gone through part thereof & are to be In A Comtee againe to morrow morning Whitehall 12 dec 1678 +The Ld Herbert of Cherbery being lately dead his brother mr Henery Herbert Burgesse for the Towne of Montgomery succeeds him & is Called up to the house of Lds +Wee had yesterday A strange Allarme of war [that the] french landed In the Isle of purbeck which lasted till this morning & they give the occasion of the Mistake to be That sr John strouds House was on fire & severall both horse & foot flocking to give their Assistance, some whose feares would not suffer them to goe neer seing such Numbers at A distance & at the same time some ships In the Roade were strongly posest that they were french landed & by Express posted away their Apprehensions as Reall truth sr Ellis Leighton has been Examined in the house of Lds mr Oates being present where no Extraordinary matters proved or yet appeareing against him he has his liberty upon bayle One Oneale was this weeke seized In the Temple & Committed to prison being said to be the person designed to have killed the Earle of Ossory A servant of the Ld Arrundell of warder being accused of haveing too solicittously Enquired after parliament Mens Names Habitations & Lodgings upon Examination & search A list was found upon him of the Names & dwellings &c of severall members for which he giveing no good account was Committed to the gatehouse One ffrench is Comeing from Ireland being sent by the d of Ormond to make A further discovery of the plott L. c. 720 dec 16th 1678 Commons ffriday 13th december 1678 +Ordered that mr Pitt sr Jo: stroude & mr ffowle haveing departed this house without leave be sent for Into the Custody of the serjeant At armes But if they appeare before the Riseing of the house the warrant shall be Respited That sr Wm Beckett & sr Jo: steward have liberty to goe Into the Countrey That mr Remington A meniall servant of sr Philip Moncton be by mr speaker discharged of his Imprisonment The house then Resolved Into A Comtee of the whole house & went through the bill for disbanding the Army & ordered the Report thereof to be made Next morning A Message from the Lds with an Engrossed bill for disabling all popish Recusants to use or Exercize Certaine professions or trades & Compelling them to Remove from London & westminster, Adjourned till 8 to morrow Commons satureday 14th dec 1678 Ordered that sr John salisbury & Coll sands have liberty to goe Into the Countrey The bill for granting his Maty A supply for paying off & disbanding the forces Reported & ordered to be Engrost A petition of Edwards Giles was Read & Resolved That the petitioner attend on Monday next & owne his petition & that the Considderation thereof be adjourned till that time Ordered that the paymaster of the Army doe Immediately make up his books of the forces to be disbanded within 20 miles of London Adjourned till 8 Monday Whitehall dec 14th 1678 +Coll Birch sr Gilbert Gerrard & Coll whitley are appointed by the bill to be Comrs for disbanding the Army Its advised from Tangier upon the Earnest desire of the Alcaid of Alcazar to treate A peace with the garrison the Earle of Inchequin had sent mr John Wollaston & mr William ffitzgerald to him with Commissions to adjust it which done will be of very greate advantage to that place where within 15 days about 10000 L worth of Barbary goods were Exchanged for English Commodities The Paris letters of the 16th tell us that Mounsr O dicke and of the Ambrs of Holland meeting at versailles on his day of Audience the Marquesse of Montbas who is much An Enemy to the P of Orange broke out Into Reproachfull language of him to which the Marquesse only Answered that were it not for his Regard to the place he Knew how to answer him which the King haveing heard of sent to the states genll to doe him Reason They write from Vienna dat dec 1st that the buisnesse with the Rebells was not then adjusted & that they declare that if the Emperor Agree not speedily they will take protection under the Turks A party of the Turks of 2000 foot & 1000 horse made an Incursion Into the Countrey about Raab tooke greate quantity of Cattell & many Christians but In their Returne were fought by some Hussars at A passe who Recovered the booty Rescued the Christians defeated the whole Infantry the horse only Escapeing & tooke severall prisoners of quality They write from Genova that on the 28th of Nov sentence was passed In the senate on the d of somersettes murtherers The younger brother was Condemned to the gallows the Elder to the gallies for 10 yeares the sentence not to be Remitted without the Consent of the dukes Relations & 4/5 of the senates Consighells [?], The window whence the shott was made to be Closed up & A ston of Ignomy fixt on the place On the 14th one mr Whitticar was Committed by the house of Lds to Newgate for saying there were but 5 protestant bishops In the house [Handwriting changes here just for rest of letter.] +Its said a vessel arived from Legorne has brought letters relating to a farther discovery of ye plott L. c. 721 dec 19th 1678 Commons Monday 16 dec 1678 +Ordered that sergt Hardis sr Jo: shaw & mr Henery Bertie haveing departed the service of this house without leave be sent for into the Custody of the sergt at Armes Daniell Giles was Called In & owned his petition delivered In on satureday last A petition of severall Hamburgh Merchants Concerning prohibitted goods Read & the Considderation thereof Adjourned to a day Leave given to mr Williams to goe Into the Countrey The bill for granting A supply to his Maty Read A 3d time & passed & sent up to the Lds Commons Tuesday 17 dec 1678 +Ordered that sr Jo: Hatton being departed the service of this house without leave be sent for Into the Custody of the serjt at Armes Ordered that sr Robert southwell doe forthwith Repaire to mr Atturney Genll with the 5 letters dirrected to mr Beddingfeild at windsor Ordered that sr Philip Harcourt & mr Monaton have liberty to goe Into the Countrey mr speaker being Indisposed Adjourned till 8 tomorrow Whitehall 17 dec 1678 The ffirst 13 of the Comtee for drawing up the Impeachmts against the 5 Lds are to be made A Comtee of secrecy Wee were here under A greate mistake In the account of the Purbecke Allarme for the letters from those parts tell us there was no fire as was Reported but that it was an Unusuall appearance most horse [sic] that misled some good men Into that opinion +Old Biernsley A preist brought from Worcester was by the Lds Remanded backe to the goale to be Kept there In Custody till delivered by due Course of Laws On the 16th upon petition of Peter Middledorpe & other Hamburgh merchants to the house of Lds that the prosperous of London by them & their agents laden at Roan In ffrance & designed for Hamburgh but comeing Into one of the seaports of this Kingdome was by A verdict of the Court of Exchequer Condemned Judgment therein Entred, The petitioners have leave given to prepare A bill to be prsented to the house for their Releife The Lds have Committed one Nevill alias Paine to Newgate The Lds proceed so fast In the bill for disbanding the Army that this day they gave It A 2d Reading This day Pickering Ireland, grove, whitebread & ffenwick (their severall Impeachmnts being found before by the grand Jury) were arraigned at the old Baily where the 3 ffirst were Convicted & the 2 last Reserved till further time The Yorke merchant of Hull Come home on the 13 Reports that shee left Hamburgh but 6 dayes before & that at his Comeing away he had it from severall Merchants that the sweds had taken Konningsberg Upon mr Malletts petition to his Maty to goe Into the Countrey for his health his Maty was pleased to give him leave but to Render himselfe upon Demand L. c. 722 dec 21st 1678 +Commons Wednesday 18 dec 1678 +A bill Entitled an act for preventing of the Children of popish Recusants for going beyond the seas out of the Kings protection The names of such members who have not attended the service of this house this sessions were Called over Ordered that such absent members whose Excuses are not allowed of be sent for Into the Custody of the serjt of Armes That all the defaulters who have Not taken the Oaths Nor subscribed the declaration be Read over & that all the defaulters be sent for Into Custody A message from the house to acquaint the Lds that they have buisnesse of greate moment before them & therefore Intended to adjourne only for Crismas Eve & Crismas day dureing the holy dayes Adjourned till 8 to morrow On the 17th sr George Jeffries Recorder of London past sentence upon Ireland, Pickering & Grove to be drawne hanged & quartered They were Condemned for haveing attempted to take away the life of the King which was fully & Amply proved against them, Grove & Pickering were lured to doe the Execution, Grove was to have A reward of 1500 L & pickering to have as much In masses at the Rate of 12d A Masse Pickering was In st James Parke with Resolution to have pistolled his Maty as he was walkeing In the Pal mall but finding his flint of his pistoll when he was going to us it somewhat loose he would not that time attempt it The Lds have Read the bill for disbanding the Army the 3d time but have not past it The Paris letters of the 23rd say Mounsr Colbert has Raised A fond of 12 millions to Carry the warr In succour of the swede they Continue to furnish their Arsenalls & put stoores In their magazines upon the Coasts & though they Reforme severall of the Regemts they doe not meddle with the officers March Mounsr du quesne hath not for some dayes appeared at Court which though his Indisposition is given as the Cause yet Its thought to have A further Reason They are sending A fleet to be sent to Tripoli to Reduce them to Reason who of all the piratts are the only people with whome they are not In League There still Remaine obstacles which hinder the finishing of the Treaty betwixt the Emperor & them but they doubt not but the Spaniard haveing Concluded they also will suddenly Come In The Honble the Earle of Carnavon was lately married to A lady sister to the Ld Norris L. c. 723 dec 23d 1678 Commons Thursday 19 dec 1678 +sr Edmund Windham Complained of A breach of priveledg upon his servant Ordered that the Comtee of priveledges Report the same sr ffran drake & the Ld Longford have leave to goe Into the Countrey The bill from Lds for the Effectuall preventing the Children of popish Recusants for going beyond the seas out of the Kings protection Read & ordered A 2d Reading mr Christopher Pluck High Constable was Called In who Informes the house of A Riott Committed by souldiers Commanded by A Capt upon the watch at Hamersmith last night, ordered that A Comtee Examine & Report the same A message to [from?] his Maty by the Chancellor of the Exchequer CR That his Maty haveing Recd Information that his late Ambrs In ffrance mr Mountague A member of this house did hold severall private Conferences with the popes Nuncio there has to the End that he may discover the truth of that matter given order to seize mr Mountagues papers That the house Cannot proceed to make any Judgment Either In Relation to their members or to the priveledg of this house which may be In greate measure Invaded without Knowing whether the sd Information were upon oath or of what nature of offence the Matter was mr Mountague Informes the house that he had In his Custody papers of very high Concerne & hoped that they were Not yet seized +Ordered that the Ld Cavendish Ld Russell sr Hen: Capell & mr Herbert goe to fetch them The addresse being prsented by the Ld Cavendish sr Jo: Earnly & sr Tho: Meers his Maty Returned this answer That his Maty was busy & wished them to Come again after the house was up Then mr Mountagues Papers being brought Into the house mr mountague produced 2 letters which were Read & after A long debate the house came to this question Whether there be matter Enough In those 2 letters to Impeach Tho: Earle of danby Ld High treasurer of England Upon this the previous question was put whether the question should not now be put & it was Carried In the affirmative, Then the Maine question being put it was Carried In the affirmative Ordered that A Comtee be Nominated to draw up the Impeachmt with power to Receive further matter to send for persons papers & Records That the 2 letters of mr Mountague be left In the hands of the Ld Cavendish & that he bring them Into the house to morrow to be Entred Into the Journall booke Ordered that mr speaker doe not adjourne the house without the question put If desired Commons ffriday 20 dec 1678 +The Bill for the more Effectuall preventing of the Children of popish Recusants for going beyond the seas out of the Kings protection Read A 2d time & Committed other bills against popery & A bill to hinder popish Recusants from Exersizing severall professions & occupations Committed to the same Comtee +mr speaker Informes the house that he had Read A letter from the Ld Treasurer Intimatimateing [sic] that he had sent him 2 letters amongst many of mr Montagues for his owne Justification The one was signed & dat January 11th 1678 which was ffirst Read The other was not signed but dated 18th Jan: 1678 which was Read by mr Mountagues desire Commons satureday 21 dec 1678 +The Lds Returned the bill for disbanding the Army with severall Amendments most of which were to order the payments of money Into the Exchequer & not Into the Chamber of London to most of which the Commons did agree Ordered that A Comtee draw up Reasons for Conference with the Lds That sr Jo: Talbott be sent to desire the Lds to sit this afternoon sr Jo: Talbott Reports that the Lds will sit this afternoon mr Williams Reports six Articles of high treason against the Earle of danby Ld High treasurer of England Upon A long debate of those articles the question was put whether they should be Recomitted & It passed In the Negative That he had traiterously assumed to himselfe A Regall power to make peace of himselfe without Knowledg of the privy Councell Ordered that the Comittee have power to send for persons papers & Records & to Receive any further Information that shall from time be given them Whitehall 21 dec 1678 on the 16th there were In ffalmouth Roade upward of 60 sayle of ship outward & homeward bound from ffrance The masters Report A very good vintage but A sad Complaint amongst the poore people for want of tradeing with the English by Reason of the prohibittion There was lately An Allarme about Hull occasioned by the deposition of A Countrey man that he had seen upon Buforth moor about 10 miles thence 80 men & horse well Armed but upon Inquiry it proved to be 2 juries from 2 Townes adjacent with some other persons that accompanied them +One Orante is taken upon the Murther of sr Edmund Berry Godfrey whome Bedloe sweares positively to have been one of the number Wee have fflanders letters but 4 dayes old & then the ffrench had not Evacuated any garrison [Outside of letter has some words and figures in another hand on a rental agreement on Sir Richard's estate.] L. c. 724 dec 26th 1678 +On satureday last mr Williams Reports to the house the articles of High treason against Thomas Earle of Danby Ld High treasurer of England 1 That he Traiterously assumed to himselfe A Regall power In treating with fforreign Princes & giveing Instructions to Ambrs 2 That he had Endeavoured to alter the Auncient forme of govermt & to Introduce military power & hinder the disbanding of the Army 3 That he is popishly affected, withdrawing Evidences against the Popish Traitors & discountenanceing witnesses against them 4 That he has Endeavoured to subvert Parliamts by procureing greate summs of money from the ffrench King 5 That he hath wasted his Matys treasure by vast & unnecesary pensions 6 That he had procured unto himselfe vast grants of his Matys lands & Hereditamts Contrary to the late Acts of parliamt Commons Monday 23rd dec 1678 Leave given to sr ffrancis Wagman to goe Into the countrey for 20 dayes In order to the Recovery of his health sr Jo: Earnly acquaints the house that his Maty had ordered to prsent them severall letters for their Information In Relation to the addresse & desired they might be Read +Ordered that A Comtee be appointed to Examine the Engrossed articles with the Originall The Clause of saveing A liberty to the Commons of Exhibitting further articles & Replying to the Answers of the Ld treasurer were Read twice & upon the question agreed to & ordered to be Engrost Ordered that sr William Hickman be sent to acquaint the Lords that the house doe Intend to sit this afternoon & to desire that their Lordships would doe the like Ordered that An Humble addresse be prsented to his Maty humbly to desire his Maty to take greate Care of the safety & preservation of his person & that the members of this house that are of the privy Councell doe Imediately Attend His Maty to Know when the house shall attend him with the addresse The debate Arrising In the house Concerning the delayes In not Executing severall persons Condemned for high treason Ordered that the further debate be adjourned till thursday next 10 of the Clocke That the Comtee appointed to draw up the articles against the 5 Lds doe goe to Newgate to take the Examination of mr Pranse Concerning the Plott & the murther of sr Edmundbury Godfrey Adjourned till 4 afternoon Post Meridian +sr Hen Capell went up to the Lds with the articles of High treason against the Ld treasurer. The Reasons to be offered at A Conference with the Lds why this house should not agree to their Ldships Amendmts to the bill for granting A supply to his Maty for disbanding the Army Reported & A prsent Conference with the Lds Concerning the same desired The Lds have agreed to A Conference on Thursday next at 10 of the Clocke Adjourned till 10 Thursday Whitehall december 24th 1678 +The Circumstances of Taking Pranse are very Remarkable, On the 20th the day before his apprehension as Bedloe was walkeing along the stre[et] with his guard, Pranse severall times made towards him & once pressed so Rudely that his brother who alwayes accompanied him thrust him off & told him that If he offered to doe the like againe he would breake his pate, But this while Bedloe himselfe going on minded it not At night his Brother Related to him the passage & then he wished he had seen him The Next day being the 21st this Pranse was taken Into Custody of A Constable upon Information of his being absent from home 8 dayes & nights at the time when sr Edm: Bury Godfrey was murthered & being Carried to westminster to the same place where Bedloe was His brother Espyed him & told Bedloe that there was the man that the day before past so much by him Bedloe Imediately Knew & discovered him Upon which he was Carried to A Comtee of Lds Examined & sent to prison Whitticar who spake so scandalously of the Bishops upon his humble petition & Begging his pardon upon his Knees at the barr of the Lds house had an order to be discharged of his Imprisonmt +On the 23d In the afternoon sr Hen Capell by order of the house Carried up to the Lds the Impeachmt against the Ld High treasurer demanding that his Ldship be sequestred from his seate & his person secured upon which the Lds had A very long debate whether his Ldship should be now Removed & It was Resolved that his Ldship should not be now Removed +On the 23d at night the porter of somerset house with 2 other over the stables & some In other places were taken Into Custody On the 24th Pranse was brought before the Councell where his Chaines were ordered to be taken of & meate & wine sent for to Refresh him L. c. 725 Dec 28th 1678 Commons Tuesday 26th dec 1678 +Resolved that the Conference of the Lds Amendments to the disbanding bill be perticularly Committed to the Care of mr Powle mr Powle Reports that he mett the Lds At A Conference & left the bill & Amendmts togather with the Reasons with their Ldships sr Jo: Trevor Reports from the Comtee of secresy that they had take the Examination of mr Prance & had apprehended severall persons upon that Information Ordered that the Recorder of the Citty of London doe attend this house to morrow & give this house an account why he doth not Ishue out the warrant to Execute the 2 persons that were Condemned the last sessions upon account of the plott That the Comtee to whome the bills against popery stand Committed be Revived & doe sit de die In diem till they have perfected their Report That the officers of the green cloth & the queens Vicechamberlain doe Returne to the house the names of all such papists as are Resident & such others as Inhabitt within whitehall somerset house & St James That the Comtee Appointed to Considder of A proper way to supersede the Commission of sr Roger Bradshaw A member of this house High sheriffe of Lancaster be Reviewed & doe sit this afternoon In the place appointed Adjourned till 8 to morrow London dec 26th 1678 +On satureday last one Prance A silver smith being accedentally seen by mr Bedloe was Charged by him but stoutly denyed it so he was Committed to Newgate but being afterwards prevailed with by A Comtee of Lds to make An Ingenious Confession of the whole upon promise of pardon he Confessed That himselfe was one of the Murtherers of sr Edmund Berry Godfrey he with 2 others haveing for 2 dayes waited his Comeing by somerset house & on satureday In the afternoon perceiveing him they hurried him downe the Backe way which heads to the water side, Its said they killed him In the stable & afterwards Carryed him Into the Lodge one Green that was lately taken he sayes stamped upon his Breast ffrom thence they Carryed him to one hills house A shoemaker Jesuite, But fearing he was not safe they removed him Into the Chamber where Bedloe saw him & Pranse with A darke Lanthorne shewed the Corps to severall ladyes & other[s] Concerned therein +ffrom thence they Carryed him In A sacke to the place where he was found, This Prance haveing A horse for that purpose besides this he tells greate matters of the plott & who were the principall actors In this Murther One Everard Come from Ireland is this day to be Examined before the Lds about A further discovery & another is Come from Bristoll upon the same account letters this post ffrom Ireland give us this Relation That one Jepson A youth In dublin whose ffather was Executed some yeares since In the duke of ormonds time fell In Love with A papist maide The preists & Jesuits Incouraged him In it promiseing that they would not only procure him the same Maide but A portion also but he must ffirst Revenge his ffathers death by Killing the duke, They Caryed him often to their Masse & with their Jesuiticall policy at Length Ensuent [?] the youth Gave him often money & Instructed him In the method of his acting In it & being just upon the point of putting it Into Execution A letter was found that one Jesuite sent to another about the Murther which was accedentally lost the whole Buisnesse being therein Contayned so that Jepson was secured & after some time Confessed it accuseing one Burnet A preist Plunket A Jesuite & one Owen A preist with some others These 3 were Committed to prison A letter writt from London to Albert Hawkins of Newcastle dated 14 dec 1678 through A Mistake was Carryed to Hoskins & by him sent up hither, That if there were A glorious saint In Heaven Co: was for he Continued faithfull to the death If B. and W: doe soe too wee doe not feare successe but that wee shall yet triumph over the Hereticks The staires were Happily Removed the day before the search & the Armes are yet safe, Continue stedfast & be Corragious, ffather P hath A dispensation for all oaths & Tests, Oates will be dispatched within A weeke by S Con [?] Waites at S and is Carryed of at scarbrough Many other Circumstances but those are the most materall L. c. 726 dec 30th 1678 Commons ffriday 27 dec 1678 +mr Barrowes petition for faivour as to his Recusancy Rejected mr Recorder of London being Called In acquainted the house that the Next day after the sentence had passed upon the prisoners for high treason he had attended his Maty to Know his positive pleasure therein & that his Maty was pleased to let him Know that he would Considder of it & that In the meane time he should suspend Execution A question Arriseing In the house whether mr Recorder had done his duty In deferring Execution after some debate thereof the further Considderation thereof was adjourned till Monday Adjourned till 8 to morrow Commons saturday 28 dec 1678 +sr Jo: Morton Informes the house that severall papers of Concernment were found at Dullidge & In sr Cha: Herberts hands sr Cha: Herbert Informes the house that he had such papers of Concernment but had delivered them to the secret Comtee appointed to draw up the Evidence against the Lds Ordered that sr Jo: Earnly doe Immediately Carry An addresse of this house to his Maty that his Maty would be pleased to Ishue out A Commission of Oyer & Terminier for the tryall of the 3 last persons taken for the Murther of sr Edmundbury Godfrey sr Jo: Earnly Reports that he had waited upon his Maty & that his Maty was pleased to answer that he would Immediately ishue out his Commission for their tryall A message from the Lds desireing A present Conference upon the subject matter of the last Conference mr Powle Reports the Lds Reasons at the Conference, The Commons agree not to one of them but have ordered A Comtee to draw up Reasons for A Conference Ordered that mr Bennet goe to desire the Lds to sit this afternoon which the Lds Consented to Adjourned till 4 afternoon Whitehall dec 28th 1678 +Prance Confesseth himselfe one of the Murthers of sr Edmundbury Godfrey as also Hill, Green & Berry & 2 Preists named ffitzgerald & Kelly That they had A fortnight before sought his death Resolveing to Kill him with the ffirst opportunity That the satureday of his [?] they had doggd him, set him about the May pole & betwixt 8 or 9 at Night Trapanned him Into somersethouse yard by desireing his assistance to part 2 fighting & In A house neer the stables strangled & Broke his Necke In that night they put him In lodgings Kept by Hill & Removed him to severall places In somerset house till Wednesday night when they Carryed him In A Chaire to the townes End & thence on horsebacke to the place where they left him haveing ffirst Run his sword through him On the 26th Information was given to the Lds of A Jesuits Colledge at Combe In Herefordshire & A library discovered fitt for the use of one Harcourts A popish Preist In Hereford Goale who is sent for up The Hague letters of the 20th tell us of A greate summe demanded of the spaniards by the ffrench for arreirs of Contributions of Noe lesse the[n] 1700 guilders, A summe which the spaniard is In no way able to pay & yet without which the ffrench say It Cannot be Exspected the King should withdraw his fforces out of the Countrey They add that the Brussells letters of that day advised that the ffrench pretend to detayne 2 places till the payment of those arriers upon which the proclaimeing of the peace appointed on the 25th was put off till further time They had Advice from denmarke that Mounsr Pomponne had obteyned A free passage for the ffrench letters too & from sweden by Elsenburgh for the facilitation of the peace between the Northerne princes & some say further that at the late Interview between the King of denmarke & Elector of Brandenburgh the King had proposed the exchange of Wismar for straelsond without which the Island of Rugen was not tenable but that the Elector was very bold In it & that the ffrench did worke upon this occasion to Improve A misunderstanding betwixt them +The ffalmouth letters of the 23rd tell us of the fflying dragon of ffluffen Arrived In 14 dayes from ffaro John Prophett Master, sayes that the day before he Came thence A dutch ship Come thence from Cadiz told him the English had brought 5 Algerines Into Cadiz vizt the Greyhound 42 guns the Kings son admirall the 5 starrs 36 guns, Another Algerine 36 guns the golden Tyger 34 guns & the New fountaine 34 guns +The Lds were upon the further debate of the Impeachment against the Ld Treasurer on the 27 & the question being put whether his Lordship should be Committed ordered that he should not be Committed & that he should have A weeks time to put In his Answer L. c. 727 Jan 2d 1678 Whitehall 31st dec 1678 +A Commission of Oyer & Terminier is prepareing for the Immediate tryall of the persons for the Murther of sr Edmundbury Godfrey On the 30th Prance was before the Councell where he denyed what he Confessed before The same day his Maty about 11 A Clocke Came Into the house of Lds & sent for the Commons & declared his mind to both houses In A short speech as followeth +My Lords & Gent, It is not without greate greife that I come this day to prorogue you but all of you are witnesses that I have been ill used The perticulars of it I Intend to acquaint you at A more Convenient time I ashure you I will Immediately Enter upon the disbanding of the Army & let all the world see there is nothing I Intend but the safety and welfare of the Kingdome & will use all posible dilligence to search the bottom of the plott & to bring the Instruments of it to punishment & will use all dilligence to preserve the protestant Religion as by Law & Established +My Lords & Gent I have no more to say to you at this time but leave it to my Ld Chancellor to prorogue you +Ld Chancellor/ his Maty Commanded the Parliamt to be prorogued to the 4th of ffeb Next & the Parliamt is prorogued accordingly Wee have Now from denmarke & Hamburgh A full account of the sweds stranding at Borneholme In their voyage from Pomeren by which 1000 were drowned & 3000 made prisoners of warr with all their baggage & Artillery ffour danish men of warr & other vessells are ordered to goe for Borneholme to fetch the Prisoners & some of the sweds officers were already at coppenhagen That which added to their destruction was that the Countrey Militia Apprehensive of their Numbers fell upon them at Landing & killed many before they Could make Knowne their Misfortune Our fflanders letters dated the 3rd of January tell us on the 29th peace was proclaimed at Brussells & other places between ffrance & them, Limberge & Lewewere were Already surrendred & they Exspected that Charleroy, Binches Beaumont & Chimoy would follow & also Aoth Oudenard Gaunt & at last Courtray And yet wee have no more from Nimeghen of the peace between the Emperor & ffrance then what wee are told some weeks before, though the Vienna letters tell us that the people thereabouts were much Joyed at the arrival of the last Courrier there who gave an account that the plenipotentiaries were so neer an agreement that there was noe doubt but that the Emperor would put an End to it The ffrench however Insist still upon the point for ffree passage through the Empire to bring In those that shall stand out which is the greatest If not the only Remaining dificulty of Importance In the meane while they tell us from Cologne dec 30th that the ffrench were putting themselves In A posture to passe the Rhine with the ffirst hard frost & that they had cut off the Course of the River which worke the mill at Julieres L. c. 728 Jan 4th 1678 +His Maty haveing thought fitt to prorogue the Parliamt on Monday last to the 4th of ffeb next The Next day he sent for the Ld Maior & aldermen to attend him at Whitehall where his Maty made A speech In substance to that he made to the Parliamt willing them to Rest satisfied & forbeare Irreverent discourses of his proceedings That he would bring the plotters to Justice & secure the protestant Religion disband the Army & doe all other matters that can be Exspected from him & gives them liberty Either to Increase or decrease the militia as best liked them They being Returned ordered 4 aldermen to Returne the Cittyzens thanks for his gracious Expressions & Care over them Capt wetwang & 11 men of warr went on the 30th to ostend as Convoy to severall flyboates to fetch over the souldiers In order to their disbanding sonday last Prance being brought before the Councell to be further Examined denyed all that he had before Confest & was ordered to newgate but hath since with A greate deale of Reluctancy Confest againe but though this may seem to be some disreputation to his testimony yet agreeing with mr Bedloes & A greate likelihood In it as to the Circumstances will not Invalidate it Monday night ffather Benningfeld prisoner In the gatehouse on account of the plott dyed & mr Oates was sent thither to give his testimony that he was the right person +Last weeke the d of Albemarle haveing some notice of A greate summe of money brought from Harwich hath seized the same & Its supposed it may be 10000 L & Its said that it was Exprest that It was the last summe to make up the 200000 L but mentions not to whome it belongs Tis believed to belong to papists to Carry on the designe letters from Herefordshire tell us of A discovery of A Jesuits Colledge & that there were others In the Kingdome they give an account of the manner of seizeing it. That the Jesuits were Escaped but they found greate quantities of popish books & many preists vestments & A Catalogue of their Names, who was their founder & Benefactors & A booke of the disbursments of the Colledge with Its Revenue +Staffordshire/ The Information of stephen dugdale gent late servant to the Ld Aston of Tipenhall Concerning the plott against the King 1 This Informant sayeth that prsently after one Howard almoner to the queen went beyond seas he was told by George Hobson servant to my Ld Aston that there was A designe then Intended for the Reformation of govermt to the Romish Religion 2 He Informeth that the beginning of sept 1678 he mett at Tipenhall neer the Lds gate the Ld stafford who said to this Informant It was said that they were troubled that they Could not say their prayers but In A hidden manner, But suddenly there would be A Reformation to the Romish Religion, and upon the 20th sept last the Ld stafford told this Informant that there was A designe In hand & If the Informant would undertake it he should have A good Reward & make himselfe famous 3 That upon the aforesaid day Immediately after this Informant went Into the Chamber of mr ffrancis Vrie Alias Ever A Jesuite In Tipenhall & asked him what the Lds stafford meant by those words & after that hee had made him sweare secrecy on his Knees he told him he might be A person Employed In the worke & have A good reward that would make him faimous & then told him he must be Instrumentall with others In takeing away the Kings life & that It should be done by shooting or otherwise & that this Informant need Not feare for the pope has Excomunicated the King & that all that were Excommunicated by him were Hereticks & that they might Kill them & be Canonized for saints for soe doing 4 This Informant sayeth that the said Evers & Hobson both said that their designe was as well to Kill the d of Monmouth as the King 5 That George North (Nephew to Pickering & servant to the Ld Aston) lately told this Informant that they taken his uncle (meaning Pickering) & put him Into Newgate & that he thought the King deserved such An Execrable death as was Intended against him because of his whoreing & debauchery 6 That mr Evers said mr Benefeild had A pacquett of letters delivered to him from the posthouse which he feared the Ld Treasurer had notice of & therefore he delivered them to the d of yorke & the duke delivered them to the King & the King delivered them to te Ld treasurer after he had Read them & therefore it was happy for if they had been throughly beleived the plot had been discovered 7 that he had Recd Many Pacquetts for Evers some of which this Informant opened & found to be & tend to the Establishmt of the Romish Religion 8 That he had Recd severall summs of Money himselfe & Knew of divers others that were Employed to put forth Moneys which is & was for the Jesuites +Taken upon oath the 24th dec 1678 stephen before Tho: Lane: Jo: Vernon dugdale +Whitehall Jan: 2d 1678 The deputies of the Rebells In Hungary find Not that dispatch In their Negotiation as they Exspected & they begin to smell out the successe thereof depends much upon that of the treaty of nimeghen so that if that take they looke for Tearmes hard Enough The likenesse of peace to Ensue between the Emperor & the ffrench give the Notherne princes apprehensions what may become of them & Jealousies one of another In perticuler the Brandenburgh Minesters are Jealous of the danes for that their minesters at Nimeghen have lately held Conference with the ffrench there more then they thinke Needfull for Carrying on their Joint Interest The letters from the Notherne Ports tell us of the greate Care taken by them according to their orders for makeing strict Enquiry what persons take shipping least any guilty of the plott should that way Escape The Vienna letters dat dec 15/25 tell us A Courrier was sent thence with orders to the Emperors plenipotentiaries to Conclude & signe the peace with ffrance [On outside of letter in another hand appear a few figures and this note:] Mem. Barretts Rate Tith./Widow Crab. [and] Hyat./Wm Heritage/Sh. & B./Pres: for a L. L. c. 729 Jan 9th 1678 Whitehall Jan 7th 1678 +sr ffrancis Winington solicittor Genll is put out & mr ffinch the Ld Chancellors son is put In his Roome & mr May the Recorder of Chichester is made the d of yorke solicittor In mr ffinches place On ffriday last the attorney Genll & all Judges were Consulted before the K & Councell whether by Law the Lds In the Tower Could be tryed upon an Indictment dureing the Intervall of the sessions of Parliamt. They all agreed that Lawfully they Cannot but that they must be tryed by parliamt upon their Impeachment which Cannot be done but when the parliamt is sitting The Judges also gave their opinion that the 3 persons In Newgate Vizt Ireland Pickering & Grene had A faire tryall & Its thought will be Executed this weeke The duke of Ormond is sent for from Ireland the K desireing his advice & the Ld Ossory is gone to remaine there dureing the dukes absence Tis supposed there will be A proclamation for A full parliamt to meet upon the 4th feb next The King hath Encouraged mr Oates saying he shall not want anything There are 3 Regemts of horse to be disbanded this weeke Vizt the d of Monmouths & of Albemarles & Ld Gerrards There is A person of quality who hath made affidavitt that there are severall persons that have designed to Kill the E of shaftesbury E of Essex & Ld Hallifax +His maty had appointed sr Gulston to be bishop of Bristoll In place of dr Charleton who was lately Removed to be bishop of Chichester By the Brussells letters dat 10th Its advised that sieur samiento went that afternoon to take possesion of Charleroy which was to be put Into his hands on the 12th & that Aoth, Oudenard & Courtray would quickly follow & that Gaunt was to be given up on the 26th being told that the affaires of the Contribution were to be adjusted, They are told that the duke of Newburgh has sent to offer to the ffrench out of his Townes upon the Rhine to be admitted to A peace The English forces haveing Recd money hence are prepareing themselves for their Comeing over those that are In fflanders wee must Exspect first In Regard that the d de villa Hermosa absolutely Refuseth to permitt the Troops that are In Brabant to march through their Countrey & the Extreame frosts haveing Closed up the River they must Exspect till the weather prove more faivourable L. c. 730 Jan 11th 1678 Whitehall Jan 9th 1678 +On Monday last sr Wm Waller A Justice of peace apprehanded one Marshall A Benedictine & since Another & by his Extrary dilligence he found out A Colledge of them at the savoy & has taken 30000 Papist books, Their Reliques, The Name of their founder Many Thumb screws, and many other Popish Inventions, And since searching Pickerings Lodgings amongst A pile of Billitts found An Italian gun Richly Inlaid of A greate Thickness with an Antient Locke its believed It will Carry A Bullet 400 yards it was loaded with 11 bulletts & that which is observeable is that it was found with 5 bulletts In the Roome of the powder but powder In the pan Tis Judged to have been done by mistake it being the gun designed to Kill the King On ffriday last the Judges gave In their opinion that though A prorogation Cutts of all Parliamt proceedings unassented to, yet In A matter of Impeachment of so Criminall A nature it has noe Influence Especially being Carryed up to the house of Lds & there Recorded & that house being the supreame Judicature it Cannot be Transferred therefrom but Must be Tryed In A parliamentary way And for the 3 Condemned persons They had A faire Tryall, full Evidence & A Just sentence so they will be Executed so soon as his Maty shall thinke Convenient yesterday the d of yorks Regemt under the Command of my Ld peterbrough were disbanded at Hampton Court A Carriage of money being sent thither the Night before for the purpose His Highs gave 100 L to be distributed among the Troops besides their pay. Their quarters were wholly paid off & all the souldiers under the degree of A Capt but the Rest have Ticketts to be paid thereafter Tis said that the Bankers will Lend 100000 L upon the hearth & Excise money security On sonday last one mr Harcourt was brought to Towne & Examined by my Ld Cheife Justice but denyed all & so was sent to Newgate Also A sergeant of the trayned bands was sent to Newgate for speakeing very presumptuo[u]sly of the prorogation of the parliamt The guards of the Citty will be reduced to halfe their number One Lun is Come out of the Countrey & hath made affidavitt that watching his wood he heard some persons speake of Killing the E of shaftesbury E of Essex & Ld Hallifax On the 8th his Maty was pleased to order A proclamation Commanding the Immediate Returne of all his Matys subjects as are In any fforreign seminary & also Requireing their Respective parents & guardians to take the most Effectuall Care for their Returne & his Maty is graciously pleased to promise his Royall pardon to such as shall In obedience to his proclamation make their speeddy Returne & straitely forbidds all his subjects for the time to Come for going to or Residding In any of the said seminaries or any of his subjects to send or maintaine any In the said seminaries mr Dugdale hath been Examined before the Lds where after he had Informed them of severall matters. The safety of his person was Committed to the d of Monmouth who uses him very Kindly & takes Care that noe ill people may Come to Tamper with him Letters In 28 dayes from Cadiz mention nothing of the 5 Algerines but that the algerines have taken 2 of o[u]r merchants ships seperated from their Convoy The Island of Majorca is Almost depopulated through the plague & famine +The ffrench are makeing Ready A considderable fleet & Entertaine all disbanded souldiers that will serve them +There are greate Animosities between the K of poland & his Nobility assembled at the diet of that Kingdome Letters from Venice say That one Mounsr Brasier Reports that he is of the family of Valois & Right heire of the ffrench Crowne but the french K Keeps it from him by force The ffrench Resident there has given In A Complaint against him desireing that he may be seized & has writt to the K his master about it The ffrench seem Intent upon the Assistance of the sweds & have ordered those regemts that were Raised by mounsr Bethaume to assist the rebells In Hungary to withdraw from them & to Joyne the sweds under the Generall Horne & to Attacke the ducall Prusia +On the 8th Monday Henery Earle of Clarendon was sworne & tooke his place In his Matys privy Councell L. c. 731 Jan 13th 1678 Whitehall Jan 11th 1678 +Money is sent Into Buckinghampshire for the disbanding of the Ld Gerrards Regemt of horse & to Chelmsford In essex to disband the d of Albemarles horse & Next Coll douglasses Regemt lyeing In Cambridgeshire Hartfordshire &c is to be disbanded The order for disbanding the horse are that 2 or 3 of the deputy Lieutenants meeting the Regemts at the place appointed doe first see their quarters discharged which done & their Carabines & pistolls being layd downe they are to Receive the Remainder the day of their disbanding The Non-Commission officers & souldiers to be permitted to Carry away their Cloth & Equippage, The Carabines & pistolls to be delivered to an officer appointed by the master of the ordinance. Those who brought their owne horses Into the Kings service to Carry them away, where the horses were provided by the officers they to have them, The Non=Commission officers & Troopers to have their horses or 8 L allowed by the King to be paid downe Immediately at the choyce of the Captains & all disputed to be determined by the deputy Leiutenants & upon their declareing them to be disbanded they are to dispearse to their habitations On the 9th arrived at Portsmouth some officers who brought over 4 Companies of sr Jo: ffenwicks Regemt they Came In the Rose who by stresse of weather was forced In thither & is very leaky. They were bound for Harwich or yarmouth The Kings men of warr were at spithead under the Command of sr Robert Robinson A Breviate of mr Prances Examination +he sayeth that 14 dayes before the Murther of sr Edm Godfrey he was made acquainted of the designe of Killing him by fitzgerald & Kelly 2 Irish preists who invited him Into it & told him godfrey was one that loved not the queen Nor the Catholicke Religion & It was A merittorious act to Kill him Besides which they should have A good Reward from my Ld Bellasis That the day he was murthered one Greene A Cushen layer at the Chappell Came & told him & one Hill who Keeps an Alehouse In stanhope street, Berry the porter of somerset house ffitzgerald & Kelly that he had housed sr Edm & would have them be ready against his Comeing backe That after 8 at night the sd Green gave Notice to them that he was Comeing & as he Came to the watergate of somerset house the said green bolted out upon him & said Oh Good sr Edm: you are fortunately mett for there are 2 men quarrelling In the yard & I am afraide that Murther may happen but your presence may prevent it to which he Replyed what have I to doe with A Couple of Idle fellows but was prevailed with to goe In & the gates being shut he Entred In at the Wickett which he had noe sooner done & that shutt but green with An handkercheife provided for that purpose seized upon him & twisted it about his necke & soe pulled him downe backwards & stifled & strangled him with the helpe of the Rest Prance saith he was appointed to guard that gate & when he Came from that duty to the staires that leads Into somerset house sr Edmund was not quite dead for that he saw him stir his leggs That he was put In A Roome of Hills when dead & thence Into severall Roomes In somersethouse where severall persons saw him & thence Carryed In a Chaire as far as the greeke Church & then mounted before the said Hill on A horse & Carried to the ditch where gerrald thrust the sword through him Prance Chargeth all the Lds Except the Ld stafford with the plott & saith that Ireland grove & ffenwick were often speaking of A glorious designe they had on foot for promoteing the Catholicke Cause & If Need Required they should not want the assistance of 40 or 50000 to be headed by the aforesaid Lds & sayes that he was to Rouse A Certain Number of men In the plott & hath seen severall commissions And that Conners [?] was At his house within 10 dayes of his being apprehended His Maty here upon hath ordered mr Bedloe his 500 L promised by his proclamation The Hague letters of 7/17 tell us that the ffrench doe not now Insist upon the Evacuation of Hassell & Maysecke but were positive that all the dutch Troops should quitt the quarters they hold In the bishopricke of Leige or otherwise that Mounsr Calbo should drive them out by force & the states have sent to their Ambrs to get that order Repeated alledging they Cannot preserve Communication with Maestricht nor will their garrisons be of use to them If they have not quarters In the dependancies +They thinke A peace between france & the Emperor is not far from a Conclusion for though ffrance demands 7 places Vizt 3 on the Meuse & 4 on the Rhine till the swede be satisfied They say the D of Newburgh is of oppinion that it is better to deliver him so many at one time than to loose all by peecemeale Amonge the greate Number of popish books found at the savoy there are severall Catechismes In which among the questions there is one Doe you Beleive that it is lawfull to take away the life of Hereticks Excommunicated by the pope for the speedy settlemt of the Romish Religion To which the Answer is I doe Beleive it +Tis also observeable that breakeing open A wall neer the place where the things were found they discovered A long gallary with many Bedsteds standing like an Hospitall where the priests lay & while the search was makeing there was A man Intrudeing himselfe amonge the Constables & was very Busy often telling them that it was In Vaine to looke any further for there Could be working In this or that place upon which one of the Constables said what are you that are so busy heare whereupon he seeming somewhat blanke they sent him with A guard to mr Oates who Calling him by his name said I am glad to see you well he denyed his name or that did he ever see mr Oates before. Upon which Oates said see the Confidence of this man who is A Benedictine ffryar & that you may the Easyer beleive it he hath on the backe of his towards his necke A white locke of haire so they pulling of his perewig found it so & he was Comitted to prison +Notwithstanding One discourse of A proclamation to require the members to meet on the 4 feb wee have noe Certainty of it L. c. 732 Jan 16th 1678 Whitehall 14 Jan 1678 +A petition has been fraimed by the Citizens of London to be prsented to his Maty Consisting of severall heads [Note in upper left margin of first recto in another hand:] From the 13th of Jan: 1678/9 to the [sic] 1 That his Maty would be pleased to take A greater Care of his Royall person In which their safety is so neerly Concerned 2 That he would be pleased to hasten the execution of the 3 Condemned persons 3 That he will be pleased to take the advice of his parliamt In these times of danger 4 That none of the popish officers or souldiers that are now to be disbanded may be suffered to Come neer the Citty of London &c Which petition Tis said was signed by neer 20000 Citizens & many of the Common Councell but being brought to the Court of Aldermen to be signed the Ld Maior opposed it so farr that it was throwne out of that Court Tearming it Lilburnisme which occasioned so greate dispute between the Ld Maior & Common Councell that their sitting was Interupted There is A strong Report that the Ld Treasurer shall be layed aside & his place be supplyed with Either the d of Bucks duke of Ormond Earle of salesbury Bedford or Essex or the speaker of the house of Commons some say the place shall be mannaged by 3 Comrs vizt the Earles of salesbury Bedford or Essex & that the Treasurer himselfe shall goe Ambr Into spaine In Roome of sr Wm Godolphin & some say he is not to stir or be Removed but will stand upon his vindication Oates & Bedloe are now very well treated & have very good tables allowed them at whitehall & A weekly allowance of Money Dugdale has given the King & Councell greate satisfaction In his Information Insomuch that his Maty declared that he Beleived it A most damnable Hellish plott & that there were few Catholicks but had A hand In it. Dugdale has been face to face with the Ld stafford whome he Charged so home & plainely that his Lordship Could make but A slight defence & is Committed to Close Custody he perticularly Chargeth him with offering him 500 L to be Concerned In Killing the King for which Evers the preist should have been security. he also accuses mr Weedon & mr Howard as Concerned In the plott & also mr ffowler who he sayes knew of it but Refused to act In it, his Maty hath ordered mr dugdale his pardon Prance is Returned to his former mind, stands to his first Confession & hath discovered yet much more so that A warrant is sent to mr Attorney Genll to draw A new pardon for him also The ffrench are prepareing with all Expedition A very powerfull fleet et Brest Havre de grace &c as also A very Considderable Army to goe aboard them their designe is Not Certainly Knowne their Collour is for the assistance of the swede against the dane some suspect otherwise however they looke for the King to be with them about the beginning of ffebruary to give them orders being by that time to have all things fitted for sea The ffrench have made more new demands but not so greate as may hinder the Cunclusion of A Treaty , such are, That the prince of Baden shall satisfie the princesse his mother for 2 yeares due to her That the prince de solms shall not be disturbed In the Right to the principality of solms by the d of Lorraine & all the decrees past heretofore to that purpose made voyde & the d of Lorraine shall pay to the prince all that is due to him upon this demesne of Lorraine. That the Elector Palatine shall Restore to Marshall schomberg the Baylywicks of Altenheim & Newstead to Enjoy them till such time as his Highness shall have paid the whole for which the Baylywicks are Engaged &c Mounsr pompone has signified to the states Ambrs by his masters orders that whereas after Mounsr Monbas had made his Escape out of Imprisonment upon the first sentence against him In Holland & after he was Entred Into the Kings service Another sentence Condemning him to death & to be hanged In Effigies was past upon him by A Councell of warr which sentence, being then that Kings subject & out of the Territories & power of the Councell of warr was not agreeable to the former, His master desired the said sentence might be taken off & Remaine noe longer In force against him to which the states is Exspected This post hath brought little of Newes from the ports only the losse of the Katherine of London who was of about 300 Tuns & 24 guns bound for the Barbados but run Ashoare at dartmouth sands all the men saved to the Masters Make though they had many passengers +The fleet of Merchantmen homewards bound were on the the 12th upwards of 100 saile at Cowes L. c. 733 Jan 18th 1678 +mr dugdale hath been Examined before the Councell & there gave such A Rationall account of the plott that Tis said severall Lds smote their hands On their breasts & Exprest greate satisfaction In his Testimony he being A person of a Cleane Reputation & makeing it soe demonstrative that it put all things out of question. He backed his testimony by Nominating severall but Especially one ffowler A person of A Considderable Estate & Repute who he said had been dealt with by the preists & Jesuits but Refuseing to Joyne with them In murthering the King they had him Excommunicated & Knowing mr ffowlers Integrity he doubts not but he will Continue the same & he is with Impatience Exspected & Harrinton is sent for upon the same account mr dugdales Evidence will be of greate validity Especially agt my Ld stafford & Tis said he is more feared then all the other by all the Rest of the Conspirators, The d of Monmouth has taken him Into his Lodgings & there was A greate deale spoken In faivour of him Tis said that sr Jo: Goodriche will goe Ambr Into spaine In the Roome of sr Wm Godolphin deceased The 3 Regemts of horse under the d of yorke d of Albemarle & Ld Gerrard are disbanded & the dragoons begin to follow & my Ld douglasses Regemt are to have their quarters paid off but to march for scotland to be disbanded there & Care is taken to Lodge money to disband the whole Army successively Prance gives A sober account to the Councell of his Repeated Confession & denyall he being then not weaned from his Religion his wife with the Terrour of damnation Terrifying him who by the pressure of his Chaines & Coldnesse of his Lodgings was Costive for 8 dayes & A Kind of feavour seized him which Caused his disquitnesse but now being Recovered has made A larger Confession which is that sr Jo: Arrundell sr Richd Beeling & mr Mead persons In service under the queen Complotted sr Edm Godfreys death & sate Judicially upon him this is much Credited because the sd 3 persons upon the ffirst discovery Retired beyond seas. He also sayes that 4 were to Kill the e of shaftesbury one being already taken named prawser as also another silversmith & Tis said he named staley that was executed for one, His pardon is prepareing his fetters are taken off & he has the best accomodation the presse yard Can afford sr ffran: Mannet being In Custody at Bury A person In disguise of A country man pretending to be his Tennant Came to the Keeper & desired Admittance & useing A Country simplicity had leave to goe to him but the Keeper listning to their discourse found that he was A preist that Came to Comfort him telling him that the plott would yet take Effect but as he was going out the Keeper secured him In another Roome & soe discovered him sr Charles shelley A greate Romanist In sussex is lately Retired & severall others of Considderable quality Tis said the d of Norfolke is gone for Italy John George Esqr the Eldest member of Parliamt aged 98 yeares died on friday last at Bainton In Gloucestershire he haveing been A member In the Reign of K James There is A discourse againe of the Execution of the 3 persons Condemned Tis Credably Reported that the Parliamt will sit at the time appointed In the meantime nothing is omitted for the discovery of the plott On the 14th his Maty sent orders Into Ireland to disband Coll Macartys Regemt lately Raised there The ffrench are makeing A way from grenoble to Pignerolle by which Cannons Coaches & waggons may passe with hast which is A designe of very greate Charge but will be of greate advantage to the Communication of Italy They are also makeing severall New ports to the sea haveing found very many situations Capable of it which may be of greate use to them Either In peace or warr The Vienna letters tell us they there Exspected an account of the peace between the Emperor ffrance & sweden the ill posture of the Emperors affaires obligeing him to do those things which at other times he might not be so well satisfied with sr Wm Waller found In the Colledge at the savoy 45000 papist books & severall writeings that Related to the plott & A list of all those they had made prose[lytes?] & seized A greate many superstitious Reliques as the girdle of st ffrancis the pretended Milke of the Virgin Mary & also severall Nayles & splinters of o[u]r saviours Crosse & aboundance other popish Credulities also the seale of the Colledge of st Benedict with his Motto Miserecordia super Exaltat Justiciam, And searching pickerings Lodgings found An Italian gunn Richly Inlayd worth 20 L with A letter that the gun was Consecrated & fit for his purpose mr Oates mentioned A gun & An attempt of shooting the King but it would not goe off & this is beleived to be the very gun it being Charged with 5 Bulletts In the Roome of the powder & 6 above & fflax between & Judged A greate providence it was so Charged. since which sr Wm Waller has taken A preist In his habbitt an old woman Confessing her sins to him at the same time The Cambe [?] In Herefordshire hath about 50 L p Ann belongeing to it It hath faire Chambers & to Each belongs A studdy as is Usuall In Colledges & A faire library of books which may Compare with some In Colledges In Either University of about 300 folios, some Manuscripts lately written, many English books about o[u]r protestant writers as Laud Chillingworth stillingfleet &c not bound up & many papist Catechisms. There were many papers which mention their society the society of Jesus & the Colledge of Xaverines in England & some paper & Instructions for Jesiuticall Mission. There is one faire Volloume printed at st Omers wherein it was Informed that there are 3 Jesuits Colledges In England Vizt one of Ignatius In London of Xaverines In Herefordshire & st Alotius In staffordshire or Lankensharre with severall houses & Rents belongeing to them There was found A booke with a list of their benefactors to this present yeare Their Insense potts Masse belles &c There are scarse any faimous Jesuiticall divines or Casuists whose works are not there & about 30 printed books that Contain only orders decrees & Rules of the Jesuits mr oates Bedloe dugdale & prance have been all Examined by the Comtee of Lds their Informations are Kept with the greatest secrecy but thus farr wee Know of the Effect that the Lds Bellasis Arrundell & stafford are made Close prisoners & one has been apprehended for Endeavuoring to Kill the E of shaftesbury L. c. 734 Jan 20th 1678 +The greatest discourse at present is what the ffrench King designes by his Armado which will be Ready to put sea the middle of ffebruary for as it is not Now, soe probably it will not then be A fitt time for A designe In the Balticke sea In Aide of the swede therefore he Conjectured he Intends for some strong Port or Island about England or Ireland The West Country men are bigg with feares as lyeing Neerest to Brest where the ffrench fleet are sr Wm Waller went the other day with A Constable and A file of Musquettiers to Apprehend A preist that Lodged In A house next to the spanish Ambrs but there being A backe doore that opened Into the Ambrs house the preist fled thither & the Ambr protected him of which sr William Waller hath Complained to the King & Councell There is one Kirke An Irish taken the next doore to the Coffee house In old southhampton biuldings who was one of the 4 designed to Kill the King at windsor who when he found that he was surprized Cryed out that he was A dead man Greate Cooke of Norfolk son In Law to the Ld Treasurer is lately dead of the smallpox & soe is mr Charles Bartues lady secretary to the sd Treasurer who was widdow to sr samuell Jones & had 800 L p Ann Jointure for her life The Marchionesse of dorchester sister to the now E of darby is also dead Wee doe not heare that mr ffowler hath been Examined before the King & councell though tis said he is Come to Towne In the house of mr Arthur A merchant In London was lately found 3 Chests of papers & letters Concerning preists & Jesuits their Revenues & their Returne of moneys (he being our A factor for them) which were hid In the Ceeling of the house which had A doore Into it out of the Chimney & though the house had been twice searched before by the Lord Maior they were not found till Bedloe Came and pointed out the place The diferences between the Pope and the Republicke of Venice is after all the Endeavors for An Adjustment lookt upon as Irreconcileable and therefore the letters from Rome of the 24th december say that the Chevalier Zeno designed Ambr thither will be Recalled, But our last Venice letters say he is Recalled Already by A courier The pope still Refuseing to Receive him In that quality so that dureing the life of this pope there is like to be Noe Ambr at Rome for Venice But the affaires of the Republicke to be Negotiated by A secretary as it was In the time of Urban the 8th when there also hapned A disgust between the pope & the venetians The d of Lorraine hath sent severall times to the Emperor for Regemts for his Army but hath Not been Answered In his designe Either from A necesity of the Emperor or his Confidence of A peace but the ffrench are as active as if there were not likelihood of An agreement putting all things In order for the Execution of some greate designe & Are gathering togather their troops from ffranch Comte & Lorraine who are Ready to march Into Alsatia so soon as the Marquesse d' Lovoy shall have taken A view of them The rebells In hungary are In greate perplexity how to behaive themselves In this Conjuncture for though the Tearmes now offered them are not soe large as they promised to themselves yet they must Run A greate Garraid In not accepting them Insomuch that they feare that the ffrench who have hitherto discouraged them In opposition of the Empire will upon A peace with the Emperor wholly abandon them +His Maty upon Information given upon Oath that ffrancis Evers alias Enrike Alias Ireland of Tipenhall John Garen Late of Wolverhampton One Vavasor Alias Clifford of Boscobell Edward Levson of Wilmott all Jesuits & one Broadstreet of Hoare Crosse A popish preist all of the County of stafford are guilty of the late damnable & Treasonable plott hath Ishued forth A proclamation for their discovery & A Reward of 100 L to him that shall discover the ffirst & 50 L to him that shall discover any other +The 4 Companies of Coll ffenwicks Regemt that Came from fflanders In the Rose were landed on the 15th & went Into the Countrey to quarter about Chichester. On the 16th about 300 of the same Regement Arrived at Harwich and were to be sent to stowmarket & the same day the James of yarmouth arrived with the Armes of 8 Companies belongeing to the E of Mulgraves Regemt +Contrary to the Exspectation of all people here The Parliament is to be further prorogued to the 25th of ffeb Next to which purpose A proclamation is gone to the presse L. c. 735 Jan 23rd 1678 +By the last saturday post wee gave you advice that it was Resolved that the parliamt should be prorogued till this 25 feb Next & that the proclamation was prepareing for the presse all which was true for the Attorney Genll had orders to draw up the same & mr Johnson Clerk of the pattents had it In hand & it was exspected out on Monday morning but the debate of the prorogation being Re=assumed at the Councell board sonday night there is greate hopes that it will be stopt before it Come to the presse Tis not Convenient to Expresse what the discourses of people are Concerning the prorogation On satureday last Oates haveing private Information given him by a woman that there was A trunke of writeings hid under ground In one Jollies house A Taylor In Drury lane which did belong to the Ld Arrundell tooke a guard & went accompanied with A Justice A Constable & halfe A dozen men with Pickaxes & shovells & when they come to the floore where the trunke was hid being paved with Tile set the men on worke where after digging deep they found the Trunke which being opened there was A box of gold therein & the popes seale to A paper of greate Concerne & other things of moment The King & Councill have sent to the spanish Ambrs to let him know how ill they take his permitting English priests to Run Into his house & there to protect them & have ordered that the Ambr shall have but 2 wayes of passage Into his house & that the doores of all the other houses that open Into that house garden or stables shall be stopt up The papists that went out of towne upon the ffirst proclamation are Returned In greate numbers Till money Can be obtained (which is now hard to get) the King Cannot proceed Effectually to disband the Rest of the Army from thence some doe apprehend the parliamt will yet meet the 4th february next the Necesity for money is soe greate The ffourscore scotts that Came In A ship from Edinburgh Into the River Thames to be sold for Barbados as slaves, severall shipmasters Refused to Carry them because they said they went against their wills & for no other Reason then for meeting In A feild & there praying togather soe one Griffith who bought them finding himselfe at A losse happened to say that if he had but part of his money againe he would not meddle with them soe A purse was made for A Collection & asmuch money obteyned as Griffith desired to have soe the scotch ship that brought them let them goe Ashoare some are gone to ffreinds & some to other places to subsist till they Can Returne to scotland The last weeke some dirty Idle boyes that lye about the horse guards & Mewes & Ride horses to water (Comonly Called the blacke guard) held A sessions & there Arraigned 4 of their Company representing 3 Lds In the Tower & one out of the Tower & he out of the Tower was first brought to Tryall & Condemned to dye soe they tooke that boy that represented that Lord & hanged him up But A Coachman Comeing In & Laying about him with his whip they all Run away forgetting to Cut him downe soe the boy was hanged Indeed almost to death but some say he is Recovered The Brussels [letters] of the 29th tell us That the d de villa Hermosa has yielded to the Reiterated Instances of o[u]r Resident & given leave to o[u]r English souldiers In Brabant to passe by land to Ostend & that they are to begin their March In 2 or 3 dayes at furthest Oudenard was delivered & they hoped to have A good account of Ghent which was to be delivered the Thursday following the Matter In diference between that Citty & the ffrench K about the 228000 Guilders being Composed it being moderated lesse than one halfe The Hague letters date 24th Complaine that Mounsr Lovoy had ordered the ffrench Mailes Not to passe through fflanders but from dunkerk by sea which will much Retard the Comeing of their letters The dutch Ambrs give little hopes of Moderating the Tearmes of peace with the emperor which not accepted the ffrench King will fall upon Germany In the spring with 100000 men & though he formerly desired the Interposition of the states for the peace he now takes it ill that they meddle in it as that which gives encouragemt to the Empire The sweds still make prize of the Hollanders of which they have writt to the K of sweden but at the same time they desire Mounsr de Avaux his good offices to him Learneing that If they should take their owne Revenge without Communicating the Justnesse of their Cause to him ffrance might take offence The prince & Councell of state have demanded 75000 Livers [f]or maintaining the fortifications this yeare His Maty hath given order for the Repaire &c of the ffortification of Portesmouth +Every day brings in discoveries of priests Lurkeing about this Citty & scarse any day passes but some are apprehended mr ffowler hath been with the Lds appointed to Examine the plott & given them A satisfactory account The talke now is that 2 at the least of the 3 persons Condemned shall be Executed this weeke The Ld Aston is Committed prisoner to the Tower L. c. 736 Jan 25th 1678 +They write from Paris that Greate designes are In hand but will not be discovered till after the peace The ffrench King has given order for makeing seaports In the Channel because there are but few on his Coasts. Many people are set on worke In the Haven at calais which tis beleeved will be Capable of Receiveing the Greatest ships, Mounsr de Vanbrun Cheife Engineer of ffrance hath the Oversight of this worke & Mounsr Signelin hath sent for all his Maritime officers & given them orders to put to sea speedily & has Commanded them from the King to maintaine the honour of their fflag & not to strike or to shun the meeting of any ship whatsoever The ffrench K begins to make A diference In point of Religion haveing Commanded the sieur ffoubert (who Kept an accademy at Paris & whither all the English gentry did generally resort to performe their Exercise) to leave off his Employmt & hath also set forth an order of Councill forbidding any protestant to Keep any accademy In any part of his Kingdome, all the protestant procters belongeing to the Court at Montpelier are forbid & throughout all Languedoc there are to be Noe protestant Consulls +The Lady Crane sister to the Ld Widrington is seized some discovery being made that shee danced about the corps of sr ed: Godfrey after he was so Barbarously Murthered One Carne An Irishman is taken some discovery being made that he was to oversee the 4 Ruffians at Windsor who were to Kill the King There was found In the house of mr Arthur the merchant A Buffe Coate & 5 pistolls & writeings of dangerous Consequence & therefore he is Closely Confined & the Lieutenancy of London have been sent for to Court & Highly Reprehended for not makeing dilligent search for Armes & for not putting In Execution his Matys late proclamation for hindering the Returne of popish Recusants There were 3 Trunks found under ground at mr Jollies In drury lane In one a gold bow with a Ring & the pretended Armes of our saviour In another Aboundance of pardons &c & severall deeds, & settlemts of above 40000 L for the ffranciscan order & the woman that gave the Information saith that they had some time before burned some writeings which shee supposed to be commissions haveing greate seales anexed to them +One Hall is sent to Newgate it being discovered that the preists & Jesuits In the Night got Into st paulls & Consecrated the Building In their habitts sprinkeling it with holy water &c & after they Kept the Consecration supper at this halls house he being A Cooke In Ivy lane mr dugdale & Prance have their pardons sent them Prance is about takeing the sacramt In the protestant forme dr LLoyd haveing much wrought upon him by his good Admonitions mr ffowler Came to Towne on sonday last & that Night Kissed his Matys hand & on Monday was examined but made not so full a discovery as was Exspected he saith the priests & Jesuits would have given him the Oath of secresy to Joyne with them but he Refused it Two of the 3 Condemned persons will be Executed on ffriday The 3d is Reprieved for some time he being the person that should have Killed the King In hopes he will Confess the Circumstances of it Upon Report of the parliamt being prorogued mr Mountague late Ambr In ffrance fearing a dissolution would follow & there being Messengers abroade from Whitehall to apprehend him he Repaired to the seaside to get passage Into fflanders or Holland but was stayd there upon the generall order that none should goe to sea without leave & is Returning thither The Archbishop of dublin is confirmed Ld primate of Ireland & the Ambr of Tuan [?] is made Archbp of dublin & the Bp of Limericke made Archbp of Taun & dr digby Bp of Limericke More of the English forces are lately Come from fflanders for some of sr Hen: Goodrichs the Ld Marpeths Regemts are arrived +Letters from Algiers say sr Jo: Narborrough had been seen off there with 20 saile of ships but had not brought them to A peace the people there being Exceedingly Heightened with the late successe, severall English ships have been sent In Hither & among the rest one bound for Virginia which had 100 English men & more aboard most of their ships were abroade lookeing after purchase +Last night the debate Concerning the further prorogation of the parliamt being againe Reassumed at the Councill board A stop was put to the Intended proclamation for the prorogation soe that now it is Concluded the parliamt shall sitt the 4th ffebry L. c. 737 Jan 27th 1678 +Wee have hitherto Remained In greate doubt as to the time of the parliamts meeting whether on the ffirst or 2d prorogation but now the question is out of doors for the proclamation is Come out to dissolve this prsent parliamt & order is given for Ishuing out of writts for A parliamt to meet the 6th march next. This startles people much many of the Members are hasting out of towne But that which troubles people most at this juncture of time is the K of ffrance his greate preparations to hasten out his fleet before the End of the Next Moneth And they write from Nimeghen that after all the doubts & dificulties which had happened In the Negotation of the peace between the emperor & the ffrench Kings plenipotentiaries they were at last Come to an accomodation soe that all the differences were Composed & the peace appointed to be signed betwixt them the 4th ffeb: nor was it doubted but Care is taken that the princes of the North may Not be Exposed to Ruine but have their share also of quiet In future the severall minesters of those Respective princes being gone to Paris for that purpose Yesterday 2 of the 3 Condemned persons vizt Ireland & grove were Executed at Tyburne, & their quarters being begged were Enterred neer mr Colemans In st Giles Churchyard Pickering hath discovered something Considderable & is therefore Reprieved & A further discovery is expected from him I Cannot yet learne what Ireland & Grove said at their Execution only one passage I Cannot omitt That one over prest with zeale prest towards Ireland & Bid him aloud pray for him whither he was going for which some of them who guarded the prisoners tooke him Into Custody & did him In it A Considderable Kindnesse by Keeping him from the fury of the people who would have given severe usage Now that there is noe parliamt In being the Lds In the Tower may be tryed by A Comission under the greate seale directed to A Certain Number of Lds to try them if the King shall soe thinke fitt Notwithstanding the Impeachment of them In the last parliamt but some are of A Contrary opinion mr Mountague late Ambr In ffrance who stayd at dover Intending to goe beyond sea seing that the 2d prorogation would beget A dissolution is now nevertheless at liberty & his owne coach is gone for him The Ld Brudenell being A prisoner In the Kings bench upon the first discovery of the plott was yesterday upon his Habeas Corpus was permitted upon Baile of my Ld Westmorland & others to be at Liberty The Earle of Castlemaine is likewise to appeare the Next weeke upon his Habeas Corpus There is Confirmation Come of the losse of 41 saile of Merchantmen most of them being Newfoundland men but some are Virginia & Barbados ships all which were taken by the Turks Notwithstanding sr Jo: Narborrough being In the streights it is Computed that there is about 400 English that are now made slaves +On the 21st the dunkerke ffregot went to anchor at spithead to Joyne the Rest of his Matys ships there & all the rest of the fleet In the downes will goe thither so soon as they shall have brought over the English souldiers from fflanders The dutch letters of the 31st speake of the Instances of their Ambrs at the Court of ffrance to Gaine A Neutrality for Cologne & to get the order Reversed that is sent to Mounsr Cob [?] to force their troops out of the open Countrey of Leige & for the Restitution of their Greenland ships destroyed at st Malo &c but that they find but little hope of success Wee want o[u]r letters ffrom fflanders but the dutch letters of the 31st tell us that the ffrench have not Evacuated Ghent according to their promise Mounsr Vanbrun allegding that he Could not Carry off till the waters were open but the duke de Villa Hermosa did not take that for good Reason to Retard the Execution of the peace In regard he offered them to guard their magazines with as many as they desired L. c. 738 Jan 30th 1678 +On sunday last mr Oates preached at A Church In London & gave dr Tong & those parrishioners A sermon the Church was very full & hundreds of people Could not get In, His text was out of the 10th of Mathew Concerning those that did beleeve In Christ & he shewed how far the papists In their superstitious wayes are from True beleeveing In God The same Night there was A greate Allarme throughout the Cittyes of London & Westminster by Reason of the drums beating In the Night & A violent fire that broke out In the Middle temple which begun about 10 or 11 A Clocke at Night & Continued till 10 A Clocke the Next morning In which time the Middle Temple was all burnt Except the Hall That is to say, Vine Court, Pumpe Court, Elm Court, Hare Court, Essex Court, & part of ffigtree Court The Devill Taverne was twice on fire but with much labour was preserved which if it had taken fire would much have Endangered all the Timber Buildings In fleetstreet neer the barr Bell yard sheer lane & other Buildings without the barr Considdering how the wind stood with A Continued blast without Intermission yet In the Temple the fire burnt both wayes & Came backe from Pumpe Court where it first begun as far as the Cloysters neer the Temple Hall & Church both which were once on fire but with greate Industry were put out againe The hall was somewhat damnified but the Church is not In the least spoyled & the lane Leading towards it stands well There was greate want of water by Reason the Thames was frozen & the Ice driven to the Temple shore that Noe water Could be had there & though the pipes In fleetstreet were broke up yet by Reason of the greate ffrost they afforded little water so that they were forced to make use of about 100 barrels of Beer out of the Temple sellers & Devill Taverne to supply the Engines When the fire first broke out it was apprehended to be In pursuance of A plott but afterwards it appeared to be by the Carelesnesse of A woman who makeing A fire In A Gentlemans Chamber left it burneing & the sticks falling down began it The d of Mommouth was there assoon as the Noyse of the fire Reached him & he with the Ld Crane did what posible Could be for stopping the flames by blowing up severall places & such was the fiercenesse that it overleapt many of those Gapps. The E of ffeversham being with them Recieved such A Bruse on his head by the fall of some Timber that his freinds feare his Recovery & many others were hurt Alderman How one of the sheriffs of London on satureday Night last going In the street neer the Poultrey 3 fellows like souldiers seized on him & Endeavoured to pull his Gold Chaine over his Necke but he Calling out; people got about him & he holding the Chaine In his hand they were glad to let it goe & Crying an Arrest they Escaped but tis said 2 of them were since taken The Clerke of the petty bagg is makeing out writts for new Elections & Messengers are to Carry the writts to the severall Corporations which doth A little Moderate peoples discourse as to the sudden dissolution of the Parliamt Yesterday the Corps of Greate Cooke of Norfolke was Carried out of Towne atended with above 100 Coaches with 6 horses apeece The dutch upon their Complaint In ffrance against the sweds for breakeing the Treaty of Comerce made between them In visitting their ships & takeing Danes goods whereas that treaty made ffree ships ffree Goods have at last Gained this Answer that the K had sent to his Ambrs at Nimeghen to tell those of sweden that they would doe well to Adjust the diference with the states as one might oblige them to use their good offices In makeing up the peace with the princes of the North but withall told them that the sweds Ambrs Affirme that the states were the Cause of the breach of that treaty & that the Ambr would Give In A Memoriall to that purpose of which he Exspected A Coppy. Severall Persells of ffrench Wines have been staved at Waymouth haveing been Condemned according to the late acct & more there are that Waite A Condemnation Upon the promotion of mr ffinch to be Attorney Genll sr George Jeffries Recorder of London is made soliciter to his Royall Highs +On the 25th John Gaven A Jesuite one of the 5 pursued by the late proclamation with the Reward of 50 L to any that shall apprehend him was taken disguised under An Ambrs Livery & sent prisoner to the Gatehouse L. c. 739 [Handwriting changes here.] [No date] C. P. R. C P of W the Reg: of ye Ks of E S F & I & yer Dom. thereunto belongeing; & to all his Ms subjects of What degree so ever, greeting; As soon as we Conducted by ye providence of God arrived in S, & were rejoynd by A Handfull of our Fa[the?]rs faithfull subjects, our first care was to make publick his most Gra__s Declar[atio]n; & In consequence of ye large Powers By him vested in us in Quality of Regt, We also Emitted our Manifto Explaining & Enlargeing ye promises formerly made, According as we came to be better Acquainted with ye Inclination of ye People of S. Now that it has pleased God so far to smile upon our Undertaking as to make us Mas[te]r of ye Ancient Kingd: of S. wee judgd it proper in this manner to make Manifest wt ought to fill ye hearts of All his Ms Subjts of wt nation or Province soever with Comfort & Satisfaction +We Therefore hereby in his Majs Name declare that his sole Intention is to reinstate all his Subjts in ye full Enjoyment of their Religion, Laws & Libertys; & that ye present Attempt is not undertaken in order to Enslave a free people but to redress & remove ye Encroachments made upon them: not to Impose upon any a Religion wch they dislike but to secure them all in ye enjoymt of those wch are respectively at present establishd among them, Either in E. S. or I. & if it shall be deemd proper that any farther security be given to ye Establishd Church or Clergy, we hereby promise in his Name, yt he shall pass any law that his parlt shall judge necesary for yt purpose +In Consequence of ye Rectitude & of our R Frs intentions we must further declare his sentiments with regard to ye Natl. debt. yt it has been contracted under an Unl. Go[v]t, Nobody can disown, no more than yt it is a most heavy load upon ye Natn; yet in Regard yt it is for ye greatest part due to those very Subjs: whom he promises to protect cherish & defend, he is resolvd to take ye advice of his Par[liamen]t concerning it in wch he thinks he acts ye part of a just P. who makes ye good of his peo[p]le ye sole rule of his actions +Furthermore, we here in his name declare yt ye same rule laid down for ye Funds shall be followed in respect to every law or act of Pt. since ye Res[toratio?]n; & in so far as in a free & legal Pt. they shall be approved, we will confirm them. With respect to ye pretended Un[io]n of ye two Nns, the K cant posibly ratifie it since he has had repeated remonstrances against it from each Kin_n [?] & since it is inconceivable, yt ye principal point then in view was ye exclusion of ye R-- Famy from their undoubted Rs, to ye C for wch purpose ye greatest corruptions were openly practiced but whatever may be hereafter advised for ye joint benefit of both N[atio]ns, the K will most read[ily?] comply wth the Request of his Pt. L. c. 740 [Handwriting changes here.] ffeb 1st 1678 Whitehall Jan 30th 1678 +mr Oates & Bedloe have lately been to vissitt the prisons lurkeing there In and about London to see if they Could Espye any of the Conspirators as it lately hapned at the Marshalsea where one of the Ruffians who had undertooke to Kill his Maty at Windsor tooke refuge. He went In thither upon A feigned Action of 6 L but his pocketts were soe well filled with money & he lied at such A Rate that those of the prison quickly perceived that he needed not se[rve?] there for soe small A summe & this gave the Cause of suspition & upon further Enquiry of discovery tis said mr Oates his sermon is sent to the presse Tis the Common discourse that Evers who was first Named In the late proclamation is taken with another Jesuite at Leverpoole & that there is found among the papers of my Ld Aston A letter from my Ld stafford which gives A greate light In the Conspiracy but I have noe better Authority for those then Common Report Severall of the prisoners on account of the plott have this Terme desired their Habeas Corpus of his Matys Court of Kings bench In order to their Enlargemt upon baile which hath been granted to the E of Castlemaine Reed [?] Ld Brudenell mr Daniell Arthur & Capt spalding who are now at liberty yesterday mr Tasbrough & mr price being brought by Habeas Corpus desired the same liberty upon baile but was refused it, & severall others have moved for Habeas Corpus which is granted them but what successe they will have wee must Exspect Tis said mr Oates has put In A ffresh Information against the E of Castlemaine soe that tis thought he will be Recomitted Neither his Maty nor his R Highs will write or suffer to be sent any Recommendary letters for Chooseing Parliamt men resolveing this shall be an Entire free Election sr Wm Waller sr Wm Poultney sr Tho: Clarges & sr Jos: williamson stand for Westminster tis thought that the 2 first will Carry it & that sr Jos sheldon sr Tho Player sr Nath: Herne & Alderman Love are like to to be Chosen for the Citty of London The women said to have left the fire In the Chambers where [?] the late fire broke out upon Examination have sworne they left noe sparke of fire In the Roomes A petition was delivered on Wednesday night by the severall Relations of the Imprisoned Lords to his Maty to bring them to A speedy tryall but it was Rejected The fforreigne letters being not Come may Excuse the shortness of the letters L. c. 741 ffeb ye 3 1678/9 Upon Enquiry Made there are Many Circumstances that doe give occasion to believe that the late fire In the Temple was Treacherously designed for mr Thornbrough In whose Chamber the fire began & his Laundresse haveing been both Examined before his Maty have made oath of those perticulars That there was but A very little Cole fire In the Grate the woman & her boy being both In the Chamber shee left her son Asleepe & went forth leaveing the Chamber doore open & Comeing up againe mett A man Comeing downe staires whome shee spoke to, He Returning some Churlish Answer went away & Immediately after the Next Roome was all on fire & they doe Affirme that it was Imposible that so little fire as that was & being upon A large ston harth should doe that Mischiefe A gentleman gives Evidence that goeing along fleetstreet about 10 at night he heard one person aske another if the fire were Kindled he tooke it then to Relate to ordinary discourse till he heard that the fire were broke out & then he declared the same Another saith that A person Came to him In Hast about that time thinkeing that he had been his Companion saying they had done bravely but finding his Error made away as fast as he Could +mr Bedloe sayes that the jesuits had A designe upon that place out of Revenge for that the Templers Usually burnt the pope before their Gate The further discovery must be left to time Tuesday last his Maty was let blood & is now blessed be God perfectly Recovered The Army still goes on to be disbanded there being Now 30000 L ordered to mr Kingdome to pay of some more Regemts soe that tis supposed that the Army will be disbanded by that time the parliamt meets Yesterday A gentleman was found dead In A feild neer the Citty & A bloody Knife put Into his hands as if he had done it himselfe but it is Judged it was done by some other hand by Reason the Knife was loose in his hand for tis supposed if he had done it himselfe he would have grasped it hard that being the quality of A dyeing man They write from deale January the 30th that 10 of his Matys fregotts were going over to Ostend to fetch over the Remainder of the English soldiers that are yet In fflanders mr ffoukes the Shropshire minester that was Condemned to dye last sessions for Cutting the throate of his Bastard Child went Yesterday In A Coach A Cart going before to Tiburne he had time given him till then for space to Repent dureing which time he was vissitted with severall of the Ablest divines about Towne & very frequently by that soe learned & good A man dr Lloyd deane of Bangor who delights In those greate works of Charity & doubtless he had good success being he made A long prayer & gave good Exhortation to the people lamenting the Sinfulness of his life & said nothing strucke so much to his heart noe not Adultry or murther as that he had been A Hippocrite In soe High A degree & delivered A writing to the sheriffe which he had prepared for the presse that it might be printed so he dyed & though none Could but abhor the fact yet Every one pittied the person not without hope that how wicked soever he had been In his life he might be happy Even In that death On the 31 mr Sheldon was by Habeas Corpus brought to the Kings bench but whether the Returne was well made or what Else he was Remanded They say the Court will baile none Committed upon account of the Conspiracy untill they have first been with mr Attourney to acquaint him with it that so he may be able to Informe the Court with the Nature of the Crimes +The Lds Comrs for Examination of the Conspiracy Continue their sitting Every morning On the 31 mr John Garen was before them who was after Examination sent backe to the Gatehouse On the 1st one Anthony Turner was brought before them who did Confesse himselfe A Jesuite & did voluntarily deliver himselfe into the hands of A Constable & is at prsent sent to the Gatehouse +The E of ffeversham is In soe hopefull A way of Recovery are not [sic] In that feare of him as they lately were The proclamation for priceing of wines is published Canary at 36 s p pipe & 12 d the pint Retaile Trits [?] & Malagas at 30 s the butt & 10 d A pint Retaile Allicant sherries & Muscadells at 27 s the butt & 9 d A pint by Retaile Rhenish wines at 9 s p Aulne & 18 d the quart by Retaile Wee have Received noe fforeigne letters this weeke L. c. 742 ffeb 6th 1678 Whitehall feb 4th 1678 The Genova & Leghorne letters tell us that sr Jo: Narborough was with 15 men of warr Careening at Port Mahoone [?] which done he will Returne to Algeirs to try what he can bring that people to Capt: Herbert was said to be gone towards Sally to looke after the Admirall of Algeirs who was gone to provide A New foremast his former being lost In A Contest with An English merchantman Wee were In greate hopes to have seen suddenly our forces from Brabant haveing gained the leave of the d de villa Hermosa by land to Ostend, But some part of the way appointed being of the Territory of Ghent they thought themselves obleiged to acquaint Mareshall de Humieres & Mounsr de Monbras with it who Refused it without perticular order from the King soe they must Waite till the Evacuation of those places or til the frost be gone that they Can passe by water In Billanders to be Embarked Nor are the ffrench as the Brussells letters of the 7th tell us likely or willing to leave Ghent haveing of late demanded a New Tax of 24000 Crownes to be paid In 10 dayes & that for the good orders Kept since they have been masters there Their Cologne letters say the ffrench were marched with Cannon &c for A seige It was thought to Attacke Bonne & that the Confederate troopes were In motion on the other side to hinder their passage Wee have Now Recd 3 ffrench Mailes to ffeb 7th And A good hand upon notice of the jealousies here gives this account, That there were at Toulon 8 men of warr & 28 Gallies all Ready to put to sea, 3 of the men of warr to Attend Mounsr Gallivray to goe An Ambr to Constantinople & the rest with the gallies to goe against Tripoli That In Brittany there were 5 men of warr at Brest & 5 at Rochfort all Ready with whome tis said 15 others to Joyne to make up A fleet of 28 In assistance of the sweds That it was true that the sea Commanders had orders to Repaire Immediately to their ships for that it was the Custome of those Commanders to Repaire to the Court every January the King In that Moneth disposeing all those Commands for the yeare following & that done to order them to their Charges which is done every yeare thuogh Noe perticular Notice is taken of it His Maty upon Complaint that severall Justices of peace had Neglected to put his proclamation for security of his person & the true protestant Religion In Execution was pleased to signifie his just displeasure therein & In Councell to order all Justices to use all Care to direct the Ld Chancellor upon due Complaint of Neglect to put such Justices out of Comission & to put In others likely to act with more vigor L. c. 743 ffeb 8th 1678 Whitehall ffeb 6th 1678 +On saturday last mr Price was set at liberty upon baile but Medburne the the player was refused sr Henry Tichburne was set ffree but 2 of mr Prices sons being In the Tower Could not obteine the faivour & mr sheldon & mr Vaughan likewise got their ffredome many others endeavoured the same but Could not procure it because the Evidence against them was more Cleare Yesterday wee Recd 5 fforeign posts but 7 are yet wanting they were of such old dates that there was nothing Considderable In them save only that the ffrench make Many unnecesary delayes for Evacuating the townes to the spaniards & that sr samuell Clarke going to Ghent to take shipping with the English Regemts to Come for England the ffrench Refused them passes & turned them backe so that they were forced to hire vessells to Carry them downe the Rivers Wee Exspect letters from Nimeghen with greate Impatience to know the Certainty of the peace which will be of Concerne to our affaires at home the preparations of the ffrench being Conjectured to looke towards us If the peace be Concluded +The hague letters of the 10th Confirme the peace signed between the Emperor & the ffrench at Nimeghen which is lookt upon As A neer forerunner of A generall peace there being that Honble opinion of the Emperor that he would not Comply with A peace for himselfe & leave his allies In that Condition that they might wholly to seeke for an accomodation The states are Informed that they might have peace with Algiers by sending A few men of warr to appeare before the place & have Committed the Consideration of it to the Admiralties Mounsr d' Avaux hath acquainted the states that he had Recd orders from the King his Master to Insist upon the Re-establishment of the Roman Catholicke Majestrates at Maastricht The Revocation of the sentence of death against Mounsr Monbas In 1673 & to acquaint them that if the Majory of Bous lerdur [?] In the County of Quich the Marquisate of Bergen op zoome & the Barony of Breda did Not pay the Arrears of Contributions or give good & sufficient security that they must Use the Extremity & take them by force The letters from Prusia of the 27th of the last say That Count Carelson Naturall son of the late King of sweden going to Joyne Marshall horne was taken prisoner & Carried to Conningsburgh The Pole is Highly Counted both by the swede & Brandenburgh for his Assistence both of them makeing large proffers The swede to gaine it offers to deliver him all the ducall Prusia assoon as he shall have Conquered it & the Brandenburgh offers that assoon as he shall have beaten the swede out of prusia that he will not leave him till he have beaten him out of Lyvonia & that done he will deliver it Intirely Into the hands of the pole To which of those the Poles will harken or whether to Either of them wee must Exspect Letters this post from Leghorne tell us that A french ship put In there saith that shee mett with some of o[u]r ffregotts who told her the Rupert Capt Herbert Commander had stranded 2 Algiers men of warr Vizt the Canary & whitehorse And A letter from Malaga Relates almost the same but with this difference that the Canary was stranded the other being A prize was Retaken This Newes is hoped to Come Confirmed from other parts On Tuesday last mr Prance the silversmith was brought In A Coach to westminster Hall & appeared before the Grand Inquest sr Phillip Mathews being foreman The Clerke of the peace delivered In A bill against 6 of the supposed Murthers of sr Edmundbury Godfrey Vizt Green the Chappell Keeper Berry the porter Hill the Jesuite shoomaker ffitzgerard an Irish Teag or rebell Kelly A preist & Another, Prance gave In the Charge very positive & Circumstantiall & told the jury the substance of the Evidence & though he had before A little Blurred his testimony by Confession & denyall yet now he Chargeth them with greate Constancy & Resolution & will give such Undeniable Evidence as will be sufficient to Convict them On Monday Next they will be tryed L. c. 744 ffeb 10th 1678 Whitehall ffeb 8th 1678 +Wee had severall posts yesterday from Holland ffrance & flanders they Confirme to us the peace was Certainly Concluded the 3d Instant at Nimeghen between the Emperor & the ffrench & that the Negotiation for the d of Lorraine was In all points agreed to but about perfecting some affaires between the Emperor & sweden they must have some small time longer about it but it is soe far advanced that tis not doubted but it will be Confirmed In some few dayes sr Wm Temple being sent for to be present Untill Concluded on. The ffrench Ambr Refuses to Receive the Congratulation for the former greate Endeavours Used to Compose the diference of the North tis said that the ffrench K hath Expended In the warr 500 millions of Livers & has 80 millions still In banke The ffrench doe still very much distress Lorraine & the parts adjacent burning & destroying severall small villages & the Rhine being frozen they have pulled downe some houses that with the Materialls they may make A bridge that on the other side they may likewise be masters & Exact Contributions from those miserable people which are In A greate measure Ruined already +letters from Coppenhagen tell us that the danes are provideing A greate fleet for the Next summer they have given order for 107 saile of men of warr greate & small which will carry 2328 peece of ordinance They say they will not part with any of their Conquest but by the same way they became Masters of them The d of Brandenburgh is advanced Into prusia Upon which the sweds have quitt Requests & have set severall places on fire, one of our letters mention that they have had an Rencounter & that the sweds are much worsted our Next letters will give us A more ample account of that affaire Generall Cob is dead In Hungary The ffrench begin to be very Rigorous against the protestants the Jesuiticall party Endeavouring asmuch as they Can to Ruine them Those people doe shamfully abuse us haveing formed A play & In acting it seized A person for haveing stole A man of warr of 80 guns Running away with it Under his Cloake the person pleads A greate deale of Innocence saying that those Circumstances were utterly Impossible but for answer he was told he should have A faire tryall & they doubted Not but to prove the fact against him for they would send for mr Oates & mr Bedloe out of England who would sweare home to the point +mr Anthony Turner A preist Resigned himselfe the other day to A Justice of peace saying he would submitt himselfe to the Mercy of the King upon which he was Committed On the 7th one Calcan was brought by Habeas Corpus to the Kings bench as severall others have been but all Except the 4 formerly mentioned have been Remanded to prison ffrom Harwich they tell us that the Building of the shipps goe very well in that A large 2d Rate ship would be Ready to Launch the latter End of the Next Moneth & that there was A 3rd Rate In good forwardnesse The Paris letters say the Dutch are not like to to shew their fine lyveries at publicke Entries the points of honour being not yet adjusted The Dutch pretend to the Right of Crowned heads to have A prince to conduct them to their audience & to have the drumms to beate at their Arrivall which though the ffrench acknowledg that they grant to Venice yet they denye it to the Duke of savoy who yet pretends to A precedency of the states Generall By the letters from Conningsberg tis advised that the Elector of Brandenburg haveing sent out Lieutenant Generall Gorsby with 4300 horse & dragoons & Coll Teffenfelt with 800 horse & 300 dragoons they first on January 30th defeated 6 squadrons of dragoons & A Regemt of horse of the sweds & an houre after defeated the Right wing of their Army & tooke severall prisoners Kettle drums & horse C[ollars?] with store of Baggages the Elector stayd for his foot and Artillery to Come to him & Intended ffebruary the 1st to attacke the grosse of their Army at Tyelse +The Cologne letters say Monsr Calvo had declared the Citty Enemy & seized some of their burghers & sent them to Zons [?] Upon which they have made prisoner 10 ffrench who came thither to buy provisions Tis writt from Vienna that some Turks had made an Incursion as farr as Zarketon but they were stopt there & Repulsed with the losse of 13000 +On the 8th sr Wm Goreing was brought to the Kings bench Upon Habeas Corpus & the Court Admitted A Baile for him. The same day mr Atkins was brought & Arraigned at the Kings bench barr & tis said will be brought to his tryall on Monday Kept with those for the Murther of sr Edm: Godfrey One dr Needham A dr of Phisicke In the County of stafford is Come voluntarily In & surrendered himselfe tis said he will discover the the whole Conspiracy as far as it was Carried on In that County, he hath obteined his pardon L. c. 745 ffeb 15th 1678 +mr Needham being Examined before the King & Councell hath Confirmed all mr dugdales Information & besides declares That the persons Condemned for the Murther of sr Edm Godfrey were talked on by the Papists In darbishire to be designed for the fact before it was put In Execution One mr Ravenscourt makeing A greate Bussle In the Court at their Tryall being asked who he was & Giveing noe good account had the Oaths tendred him which he refuseing to take was secured Two ships being bound for sr Jo: Narborrough with provisions One of them was stranded upon our Coasts part of the provisions being saved was put aboard another ship & soe they were gone on their voyage. Care is likewise taken for victualling the ships In the downes & other places about hence [?] On satureday night there was A man taken In ffleetstreet with A bagg of Powder about his middle he was secured In Bridewell that night & on sunday was Carried to A Justice of peace & Refuseing the Oaths was sent to Newgate. The same night another was taken upon suspition of going about to fire the Bull Head Taverne In ffleetstreet & is secured In Bridewell Tis said that Green Hill & Berry will be Executed on Monday next +The Election of Parliamt Members goes on apace of which wee have this following account darbishire Ld Cavendish mr sacheverill darby Antichell Gray George Vernon Esqr Hartfordshire Coll Titus ffreeman Esqr st Albans mr Gape Mr Blunt [This name is in Hartford sr Clarke Cesar sr Tho: Byde another hand.] Cambridg Towne mr Russell mr Partridge Cambridg University sr Tho: Eaton James Vernon Esqr Northampton sr Hugh Chomley sr Wm ffarmer Stamford mr Bertue Notingham Richd slater Esqr Pierpont Esqr Newarke Ld Dainton sr Robt Markham Abington sr Jo: stonehouse Redding mr Blagrave mr Knight Wallingford Jo. stone Esqr mr Knight Bucks mr Wharton mr Hambden Junior Emersham sr Wm drake Roger Hill Esqr Aylesbury sr Tho: Lee sr Richd Ingoldsby Wendover Alderman Bakewell Hambden senior Wickham sr Tho: Burlane mr Lewis Tewkesbury sr Hen: Capell ffrancis Russell Esqr Chichester Richd May Esqr Major Braman Harwich samll Pepis Esqr sr Anthony deane Evesham sr James Rushant mr Parker sussex sr Tho: Pelham Jo: Lukenar Esqr Branche [?] Henery Goreing Esqr Anthony Eveffortis Norfolke sr John Williamson steyning Sr Hen Goreing sr Jo: ffagg Newcastle Upon tine sr Wm Blacket sr ffran Anderson Newcastle Under tine sr Tho: Bellott Lovesten Gower Grantham sr Wm Ellis sr Jo: Newton Sandwich sr James Oxenden mr Thurland Huntingdonshire Ralph Montague Robert price Rutland Tho: Mackworth Esqr Tho: sherwood Lin [sic] Regis mr Taylor Capt Turner Chippenham sr Edw: Hungerford sr Jo: Talbott Hatchbury mr Ash Esqr mr Ash Esqr Marlbrough Edw. Goddard Esqr Tho. Bernet Esqr Brackley Capt Lisle mr Pickering Colchester sr Harbottle Grimston sr Walter Clarges salop County sr Vincent Corbett Richd Newport Esqr salop Towne sr Richd Corbett mr Kinaston Wroton Basset Lawrence Hide Esqr Jo: Bledwell Crichlade Edw: Webb Hungerford durch Marlbrough sr James long Escutt Esqr Bodwin Coll devereux stonehouse Esqr Cheshire sr Philip Egerton mr Booth Denizes sr Walter Early sr Edw: Bainton Castle Rising sr Robert Howard Oaste Esqr The Hague letters say that Notwithstanding the peace is signed between the Emperor & the ffrench K The ffrench did still Reinforce their troops In Germany & had sent Armes & Cloaths to the foot & 50000 Crownes to make recruites & to the horse 500000 Crownes +Upon the Imperial Ambrs Motion of A cessation The denmarke & Brandenburgh Minesters are said Not to have Consented as haveing Recd noe Instructions from their Masters but those of Zell were willing to A peace & Munster & Osnaburgh were Upon Treating tearmes of peace & some say it was Already agreed for A summe of money +The ffrench King is going to take A progresse for 50 dayes In which time he will see how the Canall is carried on &c The denmarke & Brandenburgh Minesters at Paris act their Masters affaires & tis not doubted but both of them are In A faire way of Agreemt it being Impossible they should stand the force of ffrance when seriously Carried on against them +A vessell Arrived on the 10th at southampton from Guernsey Reports that there & at Jersey they had Recd Late advices from ffrance that the ffrench did still Continue their preparations & were fitting out A greate fleet pretended for the Balticke L. c. 746 ffeb 18th London 11 ffeb 1678 +On sunday morning sr Jos Williamson secretary of state was Required by the King to give up the seales of his office & the King Imediately delivered them to the E of sunderland to be secretary In his stead various are the discourses what the occasion of this Change might be time will discover more Now the report is Revived againe that the d of Monmoth shall be Immediately made Constable of the Tower & Capt Tho: Clarke to be Leiutenant Yesterday Berry Green & Hill 3 of the persons accused of the Murther of sr Edmund Godfrey were tryed at the Kings bench barr where there was A Greate appearance of people as hath been seen upon such an occasion & they had as faire A tryall as men Could posibly Exspect & there were Circumstances made which did much Confirme the Testimony of prance & the other witnesses & when the Jury brought In their Verdict the Ld Cheife Justice told them they had done like honest men for never was there more apparent proofe of An Horrid Murther then there was of this +Prance did publickly declare In Court how long this Murther had been Contrived how often they had watched the house &c That all men were well satisfied with the Verdict but the papists who if an Angell should Come from Heaven & tell them that sr Edm: Godfrey were Murthered they would not believe it mr Atkins was also tryed for the same murther but the Evidence not being Cleare against him he was acquitted The queen for 3 dayes past hath Retired to somersethouse it being supposed that those Horrid murtherers would according to Custome be Executed neer the place where the fact was committed Unless to Avoyde giveing an affront to the queen it be otherwise ordered This morning there was found A paper set upon somersethouse Entitled thus This present of Tuesday the 4th ffeb will be acted the 2d part of the Tragedy of sr Edm: Godfrey by the queens servants where all that will come may see it for nothing On the 9th sr Wm Waller made A search In the Marquess dowager of Worcesters house & brought away 2 preists & hath lately taken 3 more besides & on the 4th there was burnt A Cart loade of popish books with Aboundance of Crucifixes &c +dr Gulston Bishop of Bristoll was on the 9th Consecrated at Lambeth There are some letters tell us of A very considderable losse the Muscovites had lately suffered from the Turks who had lately taken Leichen & put the whole Garrison which Consisted of 17000 to the sword which had put the whole Countrey to so greate A Consternation that the Vizier might make A very Considderable Advantage if the Coldness of the Climate should not put A stop to his progresse Tis Confirmed by severall letters that the d of Brandenburgh is succesful against t[he] sweds & is In pursuite of them & that the Countrey people doe much Rejoyce at it & assist him all they can. Brandenburgh overpowers the swede In horse & the K of swedens Councellors Repent their bringing their yonge King Into A Conjunction with ffrance being Pentioners to the ffrench king & Bribed with Money to Betray their Master All the swede Could doe for Himselfe or the ffrench Ambr In poland for him Could not bring the K of poland over to their party nor hinder but that the King hath sent to the Brandenburgh Ambr to assure him that he wuold still preserve his Ancient amity with the Elector & would act nothing prejudiciall to his progresse The dutch letters of the 17th tell us the Imperiall Ambrs at Nimeghen had proposed A Cessation for 4 months & doe what they Can to bring it to A peace but the ffrench seeme unwilling to have the Cessation continue any longer then the End of Aprill However A treaty is like to be Carried on In the meane time the ffrench seem ill satisfied with the Conduct of the sweds & to discover their Resentments that the sweds have severall times Refused to very many Reasonable tearmes & withstood Even the Cessation learning too much & pressing to hard upon the ffrench sr Lionell Jenkins is Called home & did not signe the Treaty because the ffrench would not agree that his Name should be set Equall with the Emperor & the ffrench K In one direct line but be writt underneath which he refused to yeild to L. c. 747 Whitehall 15 ffeb 1678 +Count Egmont & Marquess Burgamanier the spanish Ambrs have put In A memoriall In Behalfe of their subjects that they may be Exempted from takeing the Oaths Notwithstanding an order of Councill that has passed that those their subjects shall for 2 Months be free from takeing the Oaths & those that are In prison shall be Released but this time is allotted them to dispose of & sell their Estates & draw off the Effects & then to Retire themselves out of the Kingdome otherwise to be proceeded against as his Matys proclamations have directed One mr Prince the dutchesse of yorks Gentleman being In Company with some merchants & Dicourseing about the [?] 3 persons Condemned for the Murther of the sr Edm: Godfrey said that it would be found that he was Murthered by the ffanaticks & that this Nation would not long Enjoy their liberties with other Contemptuous words & being asked what he thought of the plott said he beleeved there was noe such thing & that Ireland & Grove were hanged to please A ffanatick Citty They answered that his Maty Called it A Hellish plott In his proclamation he Replyed true he did soe but Laught at it afterwards Oaths being made of this A warrant is ordered for his apprehension mr Bedloe hath been sharpely Reprehended for some Indiscretion that he has been guilty of In words Relating to the d of yorke +The d of Norfolke is Retarded from going beyond sea there being some Censure of him In Relation to sr Edm The popes Nuncio at Nimegen Endeavours to hinder sr Lionell Jenki[n]s for signing the peace unless the title of defensor ffide be left out The sweds In Prusia are totally defeated scarse A 1000 Escaped which are driven Into woods all their baggage & Ammunition taken & tis said that Brandenburgh hath not lost scarce 100 men The ffrench King hath Caused to be formed A large Meddall of Gold wherein he stands Enamelled In the rayes of the sunn Environed with Clouds, thunder & Lighting darting from him on every side which dissipates it selfe Into these words Ortus Est Sol The states that opposed him are Represented by A Hydra with 7 heads with A lyon & an Eagle with these words Congregata sunt Adversus me, Underneath In the ocean & on the further shoare meaning England there is A lyon dormant & A dogg with these words probaverint [?] Et Viderunt & there is scattered all over the Meddall branches of Olives & round about it this Haughty Expression Venite et Videte opera domini qui posuit prodigia super Terram Auferento bello. On the 4th were burnt at the New palace westminster A Cart loade of books Crucifixes &c which were taken from popish houses by sr Wm Waller +sr Henry Goodriche is prepareing to goe to the Court of spaine whither his Maty sends him In the Nature of Envoy Extrary The Barnstable merchant arrived heare from Oporto Reports that shee was six weeks on her voyage & saw noe algerins by which they suppossed the Coast to be Cleare of him A small boate from Aldeney Island Came there on the 4th to southampton Reports that they Came Acrosse A Greate fleet of merchant ships bound towards the downes but it being night & they puzled the Cleare [?] their Vessell Could give noe account from what Countrey they Came The letters from the westerne parts say our ships are fitting apace for Newfoundland & that their advices from st Malo were that they had sent thence & were sending A greate fleet of Merchant ships thither to ffish them Usually On the 12th sr Joseph Williamson was married to the Lady dowager O Brien The Brussels letters dat 14th tell us that the ffrench had not yet Evacuated Ghent & that the Count de Montbruns last orders were only to leave the place so soon as the Rivers were open his pretence being that he cannot otherwise Carry off his Ammunition unless the d de Villa Hermosa will furnish them with waggons to Tournay which tis thought he will Rather doe then longer Keep such guests They had sent to Lisle to Adjust the Tearmes for the Arreares of Contribution which the[y] had more Reasonable hope they might bring to an agreemt In Regard the Intendant Pelitier had promised to be Reasonable In that Afaire But at Bruges as by letters thence dated 18th they are much Allarmed at A message which the Majestrates of the ffree Recd from Marshall Humieres Governour of Lisle by which he demanded the payment of 1200000 guilders which the Countrey & lands of Mons & Namur owe for Contribution to the King his Master & if they failed In makeing payment had orders from his master to Come with 4000 horse & quarter of the lands of the said ffree In the meanetime the ffree had deputed of their Colledge to goe to Lisle & Expostulate the Matter with M: de Humieres & withall to let him Know they had much adoe to pay their owne Contribution without paying for others & since the peace made they hoped for faire Usage +The Buisness of the Rebells In Hungary seem In A ffaire way of accomodation their deputy haveing In A letter to the Archbishop of Hungary said that he hoped to be very shortly at Vienna with such proposalls as the Emperor might Undoubtedly accept of & Recieve them againe Into his Grace & faivour