|
Sept. 1. Twickenham. |
Mrs. M. Hammond to Francis Royley. Declining to take his
house, since it cannot be made fit for a new tenant, with sketch of
Royley's answer that he and his daughter desire to wait on her at
Twickenham, believing that a meeting would produce a better
understanding. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 37.] |
Sept. 1. [Received.] |
Dr. Richard Raines to [Secretary Jenkins]. About a fortnight
since came here Sir Henry Ingoldsby, his son, and a Mr. Thompson,
whom seeing at prayers and knowing Thompson, I took them to
my lodgings, where I understood they were going by easy journeys
to Lord Macclesfield. Last week, keeping the Bishop's visitation
at Shrewsbury, Lord Paget and Mr. Swinfin lighted at the inn
where I was, who said they were going to a horse race to be, as
is said, at Chester about a fortnight hence. I suppose they and
others are going to the same place. It is said that the Duke of
Monmouth is coming and I was told by an honest clergyman that
he has sent to Mr. Leveson Gore [Gower], who, the same person
told me, will not refuse to entertain him, though he could wish he
would not come. Last week the Dean here is gone into Cheshire,
but surely not on the same account. Several gentlemen in these
parts pretend they are for, and come to the service of, the Church of
England, yet they are attended with, and chiefly employ, Fanatics,
by which means they may be more effectual in bringing on those
confusions, which we hope God will prevent. 'Tis certain their
power and interest in this county or Shropshire and Chester
is not great. I am this morning going to keep my Lord's visitation for Derbyshire and hope to return here Saturday next.
[Ibid. No. 38.] |
Sept. 1. Windsor. |
Commissions to Anthony Gibbon to be ensign to Capt. Ralph
de la Vall's company and to Francis Russell to be captain of the
company whereof Edward Russell was late captain, both in the
first regiment of Foot Guards commanded by the Duke of Grafton.
Minutes. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 69, pp. 2, 4.] |
Sept. 1. Whitehall. |
Commission to Thomas King to be ensign to the Earl of
Mulgrave's own company in the Holland regiment. Minute.
[Ibid. p. 4.] |
Sept. 2. Windsor. |
The King to the Lord Lieutenant and the Lord Deputy or
either of them. Warrant, after reciting the letter of 29 Jan.,
1673–4, for a grant to Col. Cary Dillon of forfeited lands for the
satisfaction of 1,200l. per annum [calendared in S.P. Dom.,
1673–75, p. 123] and that he has represented by his petition
for a renewal of the above letter that he has received no benefit
thereof by reason of his having waited till the Duke of York had
completed his reprizals, a report of the Lord Lieutenant in favour
of the petitioner and a report of the Lords of the Treasury, dated
29 Aug., 1682, that by the Acts of Settlement and Explanation
there appears due to the petitioner 233l. 6s. 8d. per annum, being
two thirds of 350l. per annum, the value of what he lost as a
soldier, that he is deficient for other lands taken out of his
possession, which were assigned to him either from Soldier or
Adventurer, 350l. per annum and that he had purchased 5,200
acres, for which he never had any reprizal, and recommending a
grant to him and his heirs of 600l. per annum out of such forfeited
lands in Ireland as he shall discover, which they conceive may be
a reasonable satisfaction to him at present, and that there may
still remain to his Majesty wherewith to gratify others, who may
have the like pretensions: for, according to the said letter, a
grant to the said Col. Cary Dillon and his heirs of so much forfeited
lands as he shall discover of the said value of 600l. per annum
above reprizals which are in the King's hands and applicable
to the uses of the said Acts or such as he shall have agreed for
with the persons in possession of the same, at the quit rents
payable thereout by the said Acts. [3¼ pages. S.P. Dom.,
Signet Office 1, Vol. 11, p. 97.] |
Sept. 3. Yarmouth. |
Sir Thomas Medowes to Secretary Jenkins. Giving the result
of the elections for bailiffs and other officers there with the names
of those elected.—It has been as successful for his Majesty's
interest as could be desired and I am in great measure assured
that the charter may be laid at his Majesty's feet to attend his
determination for the future government of this town. [S.P.
Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 39.] |
Sept. 3. Chester Castle. |
Sir Geoffrey Shakerley to Secretary Jenkins. I am informed
that the Duke of Monmouth is at Trentham at Mr. Leveson
Gore's [Gower's] and thence comes to Nantwich on Friday and that
60 ordinaries at 2s. 6d. and 150 at 1s. 6d. are bespoke against his
coming. Thence he comes to Chester and stays at the Mayor's
till Monday, the race being not till Tuesday at Wallasey. Neither
Capt. Nott nor his company are come hither, nor can I hear anything of them. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 40.] |
Sept. 3. Windsor. |
Reference to the Lords of the Treasury of the petition of Henry
Sclater, praying his Majesty to empower him to execute an office
in the Custom House, which he has found out, useful to his Majesty
and of great convenience to the merchants and masters of ships.
[S.P. Dom., Entry Book 55, p. 208.] |
Sept. 4. Windsor. |
Warrant to Col. George Legge, Master General of the Ordnance,
after reciting that one foot company has been ordered to march
to Chester Castle to reinforce the garrison there and that Sir
Geoffrey Shakerley, the governor, has represented that the
bedding in store there is rotten and altogether unfit for the soldiers'
use, for causing 28 beds, with such bedding as is usual for soldiers,
to be sent there and delivered to the said Sir Geoffrey for the use
of the said company. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 69, p. 3.] |
Sept. 4. Windsor. |
The King to the Lord Deputy. Warrant, after reciting the
report of the Lord Lieutenant in Council, dated 31 Jan., 1680[–1],
on the reference to him of the petition of Walter Gallwey of
Youghal, merchant, that a French privateer brought the Golden
Salmon, a Dutch prize, into Youghal when there was actual war
between the French and Dutch and that the Judge of the
Admiralty Court in Ireland adjudged her to the French as a lawful
prize and that, after her being so condemned, the said Gallwey
bought nine-tenths of her from the French commander and the
other tenth from the officers of the Admiralty, as he conceived
it was lawful for him to do, and was at great charges in fitting
and rigging her, and loaded her for foreign parts, but she, being
ready to sail, on petition in the name of Cornelius Thenispeck,
from whom she was pretended to be taken, was by the Lord
Lieutenant's Order in Council secured by the Mayor of Youghal,
till it should appear to whom she properly belonged, and the
matter was heard by him in Council and on 12 Feb., 1679[–80],
the Order in Council was produced with a report of Sir Leoline
Jenkins, Judge of the Admiralty in England, a copy of which
was ordered to be given to the said Gallwey, and on 20 Feb.,
as it appeared that the said Thenispeck was owner of the said
ship and goods and that the same by the 21st article of the treaty
with the States General ought to be restored to him, the Lord
Lieutenant, in pursuance of the said Order in Council and to
prevent any difference between the King and the States General,
ordered restitution thereof to the said Thenispeck, to which
Order the said Gallwey paid ready obedience, though he observed
to the Lord Lieutenant what Sir L. Jenkins seems to allow of in
his report, viz., that the said Gallwey could not be well outed
of his possession by due course of law, that he had deposed that
he had no notice of the said treaty with the States General till
after the said ship was stopped as aforesaid and that, if there
were any error in him, he was led into it by the Court of Admiralty,
which condemned her notwithstanding any articles to the contrary,
and that the said Gallwey's losses by the said ship's being stopped
and continued under restraint has been to his damage of 3,300l.
besides other great inconveniencies in relation to his trade and
credit as a merchant, and the Lord Lieutenant offered that the
said Gallwey may be repaired by the King in such manner as shall
be thought fit, a further reference to the Lords of the Treasury
and their report dated 23 Aug., 1682, that they had considered
the said petition and a draft letter approved of by Sir Robert
Sawyer, the Attorney-General, and had no objection to his
Majesty's signing it, provided a clause be in it that the petitioner
deliver a list of the lands pretended to be discovered by him
before the grant pass, and that therefore the King judges it reasonable and just that the said Gallwey should be some way repaired
his great losses sustained by the said Order in Council to
prevent any difference between the King and the States General
on account of the said ship and therefore gives him a grant for
concealed and forfeited lands in Munster to the value of 330l.
sterling per annum: requiring him with preference to these letters
before all other royal letters whatever to cause grants to be made
to the said Gallwey in fee simple of so many lands in Munster
vested in the King by the Acts of Settlement and Explanation
or in right of the Crown of the clear yearly value of 330l. sterling
per annum over and above the quit rents and Crown rents and
all charges and incumbrances thereon in full reparation for the
damages and losses he has sustained as aforesaid, and further
authorizing him to admit the said Gallwey to place deficiencies on
such lands, to be enjoyed by him under the like respective quit
rents as Adventurers and Soldiers are to pay in the counties
wherein the lands so granted lie, and such other of the discovered
lands as belong to the King in right of the Crown and have been
concealed under the ancient Crown rents payable for the same
in 1641, provided that the said Gallwey deliver a list of the
lands he shall discover before his grant pass. [6 pages. S.P.
Dom., Signet Office 1, Vol. 11, p. 91.] |
Sept. 4. Windsor. |
The King to the Lord Deputy. Warrant for a grant during
pleasure to Col. Cary Dillon of the office of Commissary General
of the Horse of the Army in Ireland, void by the death of John,
late Lord Kingston. [Ibid. p. 101.] |
Sept. 4. Windsor. |
The King to the Lord Deputy. Warrant, after reciting that
by letters of 2 Sept., 1681, he had signified his pleasure that
Robert Fitzgerald be discharged from further attendance at the
Council there and that he had thought fit to restore him again,
for causing the said Fitzgerald to be re-admitted and sworn one
of the Privy Council of Ireland. [S.P. Dom., Signet Office 1, Vol.
11, p. 102, and S.P. Ireland, Entry Book 1, p. 25.] |
Sept. 5. Windsor. |
The Earl of Conway to Secretary Jenkins. I communicated
yours of the 4th to his Majesty, who said little to it. I asked
him whether he had any information or any apprehension of
tumults and rising amongst the Whigs. He said none that he
believed, so I had nothing in command from him and can add
little news more than that his Majesty is gone a-hawking and
will be at Whitehall next Sunday afternoon. [S.P. Dom., Car. II.
420, No. 41.] |
Sept. 5. Queen's College, Oxford. |
Dr. Timothy Halton to Secretary Jenkins. I understand that
the charter of Andover is surrendered and a new one granted
and therefore trouble you in behalf of the University in general
and my own College in particular that no damage may be done
either of them about removing the fair at Wayhill. The concern
to either body is very great. I shall on any notice come to
attend that affair myself. [Ibid. No. 42.] |
Sept. 5. Rye. |
William Williams to the Bishop of Chichester. The spirit of
anarchy and sedition has prevailed amongst the generality of
our people, who were formerly taught and influenced by Jeake,
a long time town clerk and since to this day preacher to the
seditious conventicle here, who with about 13 more, mechanics,
sent a petition to the then Parliament for the murder of the late
King, which they called bringing him to justice. His employment gives as great advantages for seducing the inhabitants from
their duty to the King and Church as his preaching, for he is an
amphibious creature between an attorney and a scrivener and
has for many years been employed in most of the contracts and
conveyances of the town and adjacent country and credited not
only with the cash of the living put out to usury but also with
the estates of widows and orphans, whereby he is become master
of soul and estate. To prevent the mischiefs from the popular
esteem he had gained, our loyal magistrates with Mr. Hall and
others endeavoured to fix the government of the town in good hands
and the choice of Parliament men on loyal persons, but Jeake
endeavoured to obviate the design by making parties for both
Mayor and Barons and gained to his party Thomas Turney,
late town clerk and a jurat here, and left him to manage the
Commonwealth's interest under the notion of being well-affected
to both King and Church. This Turney set up for Mayor here
last August twelvemonth. What followed till the close of last
term I gave you in a paper sent by Archdeacon Sayer. Last
term, the Lord Chief Justice being biassed as we suppose by Sir
John Fagg and our own counsel, being either underfee'd by us
or fee'd on the other side, throwing down their briefs and giving
up the cause on a suggestion of Mr. Williams of Chester who was
against us, without one of our evidence being examined, though
we had many, a verdict was passed that Turney was the right
Mayor, who presently enters pragmatically on his office, turns
out all the old officers, chooses disaffected persons in their places,
makes 14 new freemen contrary to the charter and usages of the
town, imprisons the town clerk for executing his office, first in
the gaoler's house and then in the gaol, where he was used with
more severity than any traitor or murderer in Newgate, commits
Lewis Gillart, a jurat, for opposing his arbitrary proceedings,
causes him to be torn by force from the Bench, claps him up into
prison, places a guard on him there, suffers no person to speak
to him, refuses obedience to a Habeas Corpus for removing him,
though repeated three times, claps up one of the constables for
giving obedience to his own command for other crimes we know
not of, sends for all the loyal freemen he could find but the least
pretence against and binds them over. This was his justice
towards us and he publicly charged me in court with being the
author and promoter of the differences in the town. I returned it
upon him and among others charged him with allowing one of the
jurats, Mr. Burdett, to act in conjunction with him as a Justice,
who was guilty of speaking, if not treasonable, yet very seditious
and dangerous words against the King. I produced proof on
oath and demanded that he should be committed, which Turney
not only then but several times since has refused and still continues
him to act as a Justice. The words he is accused of are that the
rebels at Bothwell Bridge were honest men, they did but their
duty in rising up for their liberty and to preserve themselves from
arbitrary power and their consciences from being invaded. The
28th ult. we chose Mayor again; two were chosen, Turney by
the Whigs, Sir John Fagg being industrious at that election,
and Mr. Radford by us. I enclose the whole state of that election. You will find by this how pleasant my life must be here,
yet I will oppose the design of these ill men to the utmost of my
power, if the contrary be not commanded me by your lordship.
[2½ pages. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 43.] Enclosed, |
Account of the election of a Mayor at Rye. On 28 Aug., the
day of election, Sir Denny Ashburnham, Thomas Frewen
and Roger Shosewell, three neighbouring Justices, being also
freemen of the town, repaired thither, intending to endeavour
to persuade the inhabitants to a better unity than they had
had for some time. |
When they came, they heard there were two competitors, Thomas
Torney, the late Mayor, and Lewis Gillart. Torney, who came
into the office on a late verdict in the King's Bench, was very
vindictive to all that opposed him, who were all of the most
loyal of the town, and imprisoned some considerable inhabitants on very slight pretences, though by the charter
of the ports a Mayor has no power of imprisonment for
misdemeanours, unless the offender cannot find sureties for
good behaviour. The said Torney and his partisans, in
order to compass their design of making him Mayor, had
made several freemen against the consent of the rest of the
freemen contrary to the custom of the corporation and some
but a few days before the election, as it is said, against a by-law
that no freemen be made 40 days before the election of a Mayor
or Baron. When the Mayor and freemen were assembled,
Sir D. Ashburnham and the rest of the Justices, observing
that Gillart, who was designed to be chosen Mayor by the
loyal party, had been very unjustly imprisoned by Torney
and apprehending that he might therefore have animosity
against him and that thereby the differences might be increased,
proposed that both he and Torney might be laid aside and
some third person, against whom no exception could be justly
made, might be chosen Mayor, but the disaffected party
would hear of no accommodation, being animated thereto
by Sir John Fagg and Sir John Dorrell. |
The Justices and the loyal inhabitants, though they saw no
disposition to peace in Torney or his party, resolved to pursue
their first intention and in order thereto proposed Joseph
Radford, a quiet, peaceable and indifferent person, but the
others would have nobody but Torney, so a poll was demanded
and it appeared that the majority of just and unquestionable
voices was for Radford, and the senior jurat in the presence
of the rest of the jurats and freemen tendered him the oath
of Mayor, which he took, and was proceeding to give him
the oaths of allegiance and supremacy, but Sir John Fagg
whispered in Torney's ear and then he went away abruptly
and with him all the jurats but one and many of the freemen,
yet the oaths were given him by the Justices, who are qualified
in the absence of jurats. Torney, in his passage from the
hall, assumed the quality of Mayor, though he was not then
sworn, and carried a white wand in his hand and had the
mace borne before him and was saluted as Mayor by a factious
rabble prepared for that purpose and, as it is believed, is
since sworn by some of the jurats that abet his practices and
accepted as Mayor by all his party. |
The late verdict in the King's Bench has much encouraged the
aversion of those men to his Majesty's government and
increased the difference in the town, for, the question at that
trial being whether five freemen put out by the Commissioners
for regulating corporations were well displaced, the verdict
went against it and they are thereby admitted to great trusts
in the corporation without being bound by any obligation
to the government. [2 pages. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 420,
No. 43 i.] |
Sept. 5. |
Christopher Fogg to Lord—. 6 Oct., 1679, I was taken
by the Turks and endured above 20 months' cruel slavery. When
his Majesty granted a brief for redemption of poor captives, my
friends entered my name in the list and, being advised I should
receive the allowance of 40l. towards my redemption, applied
to Mr. Nutt, who wrote to his correspondent in Algiers to compound for my ransom. But unfortunately the books were not
opened for subscription so soon as was expected and I was released
three days before the subscription was made. I was subscribed
for five days before I arrived on a Christian shore, till when I
could not say I was free. I am indebted a considerable sum for
my ransom, of which I am unable to pay any part without the
allowance of 40l., but am likely to be cast into prison and there
perish, to prevent which I beg your favour in obtaining the said
40l. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 44.] |
Sept. 5. Windsor. |
Reference to the Attorney or Solicitor General of the petition
of Thomas Jones and Henry Griffith, Samuel Harrison and George
Naires, three late lieutenants in the royal regiment of Dragoons,
and now all four of the Horse Guards, praying that, his Majesty
having about 21 years since granted a patent to Joseph Burton,
deceased, for searching, supervising and inspecting into the
deceits practised by tanners, curriers and workers of leather and
divers misdemeanours being daily committed for want of such
persons, that his Majesty would renew the same to them. [S.P.
Dom., Entry Book 55, p. 205.] |
Sept. 5. Windsor. |
Reference to the Earl of Arran, Lord Deputy, of the petition
of Sir Gerard Aylmer for a grant to him and his heirs of certain
lands in Ireland, decreed to him in tail by the Court of Claims
as innocent. [Ibid. p. 208.] |
Tuesday, Sept. 5, 6 p.m. |
Secretary Jenkins to the Common Serjeant. Being told that
Mr. Box has submitted to a fine and is to pay it to-day, a gentleman
of very good understanding in the City affairs suggests it is very
material that the words of the acquittance the Chamberlain
shall give him be "Received . . the sum of . . . as a forfeiture
for not holding the office of sheriff of Middlesex for the year ensuing."
This I leave you to consider. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 68, p. 121.] |
Sept. 5. Whitehall. |
Secretary Jenkins to the Bishop of Bristol. Thanking him
for his letters of the 28th and 30th.—I am glad the proceedings
at your assizes have been so much to public satisfaction. It is
in a manner impossible it should be otherwise, when Lord Chief
Justice North gives the rule. I have moved his Majesty on
your letter about the fines and he refers the matter to the Lords
of the Treasury. I would therefore advise Mr. Helyar to send
me a petition such as he would think fit to have presented to his
Majesty in behalf of himself and such others as have title to be
re-imbursed of the charges and pains they have been at in the
public service. I am very glad you have prevented the dispute
that might have happened between the clergy and the city
about the bearing up of the Mayor's swords in your cathedral. I
think his Grace of Canterbury may be very fit to be advised with
in order to the settling of that point and the preserving of the
rights of the Church. [Ibid. p. 122.] |
Sept. 5. Whitehall. |
Secretary Jenkins to the Earl of Winchilsea. Signifying his
Majesty's pleasure that he make Archibald Kinkard [Clinkard],
the present high sheriff of Kent, of whose loyalty he has received
a good testimony, one of his deputy lieutenants for that county.
[S.P. Dom., Entry Book 68, p. 123.] |
Sept. 5. Whitehall. |
Secretary Jenkins to Mr. Southing. The address Capt. Greenstreet entrusted to my care was presented yesterday to his Majesty.
He accepted it and commanded me to thank you and the rest
of the subscribers and to tell you that, as he is resolved to govern
by law, so he shall look on them as good subjects that shall show
a due regard to the ancient rights and legal custom of the Cinque
Ports. [Ibid.] |
Sept. 5. Whitehall. |
Secretary Jenkins to the Bishop of Bath and Wells. Thanking
him for his account of the assizes.—I am sorry I have not leave
to comply with your lordship's desire so as to order the remonstrance of the Grand Jury to be printed. The King is pressed
so often and so much in such matters, which belong properly to
the judges to determine, that he leaves them to find their way
to the public light by some of the ordinary prints. However,
your paper deserves to be publicly known and his Majesty judged
so of it, for it points out the care of our mischiefs. [Ibid. p. 124.] |
Sept. 5. Whitehall. |
Secretary Jenkins to Walter Chettwind at his house near
Stafford. His Majesty, finding a great concourse of people is
designed to rendezvous at the horse race of Wallasey not only
from the neighbouring counties but from very distant parts of
the kingdom, has commanded me to endeavour by my friends in
those parts to get the best account I can of that meeting both
as to the persons that shall assemble there and as to the ways
they shall take to go and come and as to the numbers they shall
appear to be, both in coming and going as well as on the place,
and he desires to know particularly what is done or spoken
as to the regard due to the Government and as to the danger
the public peace may be in on the measures that may be there
(or elsewhere with relation to that meeting) entered into to disturb
or affront it. |
|
I have named you to his Majesty as a person fit to be entrusted
with the management of this piece of secret service and one that
will be sure to give a faithful account of what comes to your
knowledge, not that I wish or desire you should appear in person
at the meeting,* I know the great distance you are from the place
and the little disposition you have to be seen in such company,*
but that I hope you will employ a discreet and trusty person
(the least subject that may be to suspicion) to go to that meeting
and to observe narrowly what passes and to inform you (and by
your conveyance to let me know not from him but from you)
punctually what shall fall under his observation of things done
or spoken in the way to and from that place as well as on the
place itself and particularly where the leading men shall have
made their stages going and coming and how they are attended
in their way and who they are that affect to be seen waiting on
them or to distinguish themselves as of a party not satisfied with
the Government. |
|
I shall re-imburse your charges on such a messenger very
punctually, but I desire that neither such a messenger nor any
one else whatever know that this moves or comes to you by his
Majesty's command. 'Tis for the good of this service. I have
commission to bear their charges, if you should employ two or
three, provided you judge them such as will give a good account
of themselves in that service. I desire to hear from you frequently
and with the soonest. There cannot be an end more public nor
more justifiable than that his Majesty proposes to himself in
giving you this trouble nor can there be anything I shall be bound
to acknowledge with more hearty thankfulness. [Over 2 pages.
S.P. Dom., Entry Book 68, p. 124.] |
|
Memorandum that duplicates of the above letter were sent to
Dr. Fowler and Peter Shakerley, for the words between asterisks
being substituted in the first "I know how undecent and unpracticable that thing is in your circumstances," and in the other
"unless you be already under some engagement to do it." [Ibid.
p. 126.] |
Sept. 6. Windsor. |
The Earl of Conway to Secretary Jenkins. His Majesty is
very glad to see by yours of the 5th the steadiness of the Lord
Mayor and the good resolution of all his friends in the City. He
also approves of your design to have the next Common Hall
to-morrow sennight, at which time he will be returned from his
voyage down the river. He was a-hunting this morning and is
now a-hawking this afternoon. |
|
The German letters give us account of the war broke out
irrecoverably between the Emperor and the Turks, who carry
all before them in Hungary with three armies under three Bashaws
in the assistance of Tekeli. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 45.] |
Sept. 6. |
Certificate by Richard Dumaresq, minister, and Lewis Delafaye
and T. Gaudin, churchwardens, that Andrew Lortie, late minister
of Rochelle, Mary, his wife, Andrew, his son, and his three
daughters are French Protestants and of the number of those
that fled from France to avoid the persecutions and that the
said Lortie and his son, since their coming to England, have
lived as such, hearing sermon and receiving the Holy Communion
on occasions. [Ibid. No. 46.] |
Sept. 6. Whitehall. |
Warrant to Robert Steevens, messenger in ordinary for the
Press, to take into custody and bring before Secretary Jenkins,
to answer to what shall be objected against him, Benjamin Motte,
printer, for printing certain papers pretended to be proceedings
before his Majesty in Council and not licensed, and also to seize
and bring before the Secretary all papers and prints containing
such pretended proceedings. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 54, p. 139.] |
Sept. 6. |
Secretary Jenkins to —. Though I cannot be so
vain as to think my letter can do the bearer Robert M
any great service, yet, when I find not only the V but
the Lord Lieutenant and county of so generally
concerned for him, I cannot but join with them that he may
succeed his father as P in your C, he being
son of a person that is said to have so constantly adhered to the
King's interests. I am told he and three more children besides
an aged mother will, if he be set aside, very sensibly miss the
support of the said place. I have been pressed very earnestly
to move his Majesty for his letter in the young man's behalf,
but I have excused myself, not only on the great principle I
have that the V and their C may be in
such places left to their entire liberty but also on my confidence
that you will very maturely consider whether this party has
not some right in equity to be preferred before any other that
may be less valued by the county and the C. That
you may see how invidious a thing it may prove, in case he should
be put by, I give you a copy of Lord's letter to me.
Though it be but a place, yet I see it will be made
matter of reflection one way or other on the conduct of Churchmen in general in their temporal concerns. I am sorry Lord
C is not in town, that I might have taken his excellent
judgment and great charity with me in this point. If he had
apprehended things otherwise than I, I should have retracted
what I have written. [1½ page. S.P. Dom., Entry Book 68,
p. 129.] |
Sept. 6. Whitehall. |
Secretary Jenkins to Thomas Newcombe, one of the King's
printers. Desiring him to deliver to the adjutant of the first
regiment of Foot Guards so many copies as he shall desire of a
little book called An Abridgement of the English Military Discipline.
[S.P. Dom., Entry Book 69, p. 2.] |
Sept. 7. |
Certificate by James Arderne, Dean, and five prebendaries of
Chester, that Thomas Burton of Chester was a stout and valiant
soldier for the late and present Kings, whereby he became so
wounded that he is disabled from maintaining himself, and that
he is a man of a sober, loyal conversation and pious life and that
they beg he may be admitted almsman in the next vacant place
in Chester Cathedral. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 47.] Annexed, |
Request to Secretary Jenkins to forward the reading of this
petition to his Majesty. [Ibid. No. 47 i.] |
Sept. 7. Whitehall. |
Secretary Jenkins to Sir Courteney Pole. I thank you for
your letter of the 4th with an enclosed presentment of the Grand
Jury. Lord Chief Justice North sent me some days before a copy
of it, which I laid before his Majesty, who was very well pleased
with the account therein of the present state and loyal disposition
of that county. When his lordship comes to town, I will join with
him in the delivery of the original to his Majesty and take care,
as you desire, that the names of all the gentlemen, who have
concurred with you, may be laid before him. I must commend
your care and zeal for promoting the King's service in the station
you are in and am only sorry it has proved so great an expense
to you. I hope it will be in his Majesty's power to make you
amends. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 68, p. 127.] |
Sept. 7. Whitehall. |
Secretary Jenkins to Sir R. Hart. His Majesty is fully sensible
how much it is for the quiet of Bristol and for the service of the
government that a Mayor be chosen there who will be true and
firm to his Majesty's interest, which is the same as that of the
established religion and the public peace. He is informed that
your credit with all sorts of men there will outweigh in the election
of a Mayor all that the restless spirits can do to the contrary.
Therefore I have a special command from his Majesty that you
would be not only watchful but active for choosing the best man
in that place of trust. Capt. Easton has been mentioned to his
Majesty as the fittest man. Pray therefore engage your friends
for the choosing of him. Sure I am that it will be an eminent
piece of service to his Majesty to have a good man in so great
a trust. [Ibid. p. 128.] |
Sept. 7. Windsor Castle. |
Warrant for a gift of the office of Treasurer Deput of Scotland
to John Drummond of Lundin during pleasure. [3½ pages.
S.P. Scotland, Warrant Book 7, p. 342.] |
Sept. 7. Windsor Castle. |
The King to the Archbishop of St. Andrews. Having called
the Bishop of Edinburgh hither to give us an account of the
state of the Church in Scotland, we are very well pleased with
his representation of its present peace and quietness and of the
great progress for curing the irreligious schism which rends the
Church there by the prudent and happy conduct of our most
dear brother, the vigilant and impartial execution of our laws,
the unwearied diligence of our State ministers and the zeal and
faithfulness of yourself and the other bishops to promote religion
and the unity of the Church with the security, succession, and
all other sacred interests of the Crown. |
|
We are well satisfied with the good services to us of the Bishop
of Edinburgh as well here as in Scotland and have him under
our particular care and favour, whom therefore we have commanded in our name to assure you and all the other bishops that
we will stand by you and them against all your adversaries, as
being sufficiently convinced that our monarchy and your sacred
order have the same friends and enemies. We desire you to
communicate this our letter to the rest of the lords of the clergy.
[Ibid. p. 346.] |
Sept. 7. Windsor Castle. |
The King to the Marquess of Queensberry, Treasurer Principal,
and John Drummond of Lundin, Treasurer Deput. Warrant,
after reciting that by a gift of mortification of 1 Oct., 1668, the
King mortified 200l. sterling yearly for the entire maintenance
of the professors of the Oriental tongues and the mathematical
sciences erected by him and for the better maintenance of the
principals and professors of the philosophy colleges of the
University of St. Andrews, payable to the Rector thereof, to be
distributed by him amongst the said persons, and that the said
mortification was duly ratified by the Parliament 11 Sept., 1672,
but that notwithstanding, besides an arrear of 2½ years, the said
mortification is entirely left out of the lists lately signed as the
rules of future payments of fees, pensions and other allowances,
for continuing the payment of the said mortification of 200l.
sterling yearly to the said Rector for the uses aforesaid, beginning
the first half year's payment thereof for the term of Whitsunday
last. [1¼ pages. S.P. Scotland, Warrant Book 7, p. 347.] |
Sept. 7. Windsor Castle. |
The King to the Lord Provost, the Baylies and the rest of
the magistrates and Town Council of Edinburgh. Letting them
know his good opinion of them and assuring them of his protection.—You have so well begun in raising that company that
we will not doubt your effectual perfecting and establishing of it.
We earnestly recommend to your care and as certainly expect
from your loyalty the effectual suppression of all seditious disturbances of the government and of all fanatical schismatics
by a prudent and steady execution of our good and wholesome
laws. [Ibid. p. 349.] |
Sept. 7. Windsor Castle. |
Warrant to the Treasurer Principal and Treasurer Deput for
payment of 215l. sterling out of the money appointed for defraying
the incident charges of the dispatch of affairs relating to the
service of the Church to the Bishop of Edinburgh for the expenses
of his journey to England undertaken by the King's special
command. [Ibid. p. 350.] |
Sept. 7. Windsor Castle. |
The King to Sir George Gordon of Haddo, Chancellor, Sir David
Falconer of Newtoune, President, and the remanent Senators of
the College of Justice. After reciting the commission dated
14 Oct. last to Sir George Mackenzie of Tarbett to be Clerk Register
[calendared in the last volume, p. 513] and that the said commission is conceived in general terms, signifying his pleasure that
he enjoy the said office with the privileges, emoluments and
casualities thereof and particularly with power to constitute deputs,
and, seeing that the security and preservation of the records is
a matter of high importance, requiring them to give all due
assistance to the Clerk Register for bringing in all registers and
records as were or ought to have been filled up before his entry
to the said office. [1¼ pages. Ibid.] |
Sept. 7. Windsor Castle. |
The King to the Marquess of Queensberry, Treasurer Principal.
Similar letter to the last on behalf of the Clerk Register. [S.P.
Scotland, Warrant Book 7, p. 352.] |
Sept. 7. Windsor Castle. |
The King to Sir George Gordon of Haddo, Chancellor, and the
rest of the Privy Council of Scotland. After reciting the gift
dated 17 March last of 500l. sterling yearly to Sir Allan McClean
of Dowart [calendared ante, p. 130] and that he is yet a minor,
appointing Sir George Gordon of Haddo, Chancellor, and six
others overseers of the affairs and estate of the said Sir Allan
and remitting to them to determine what proportion of the said
rent shall be allotted to the said Sir Allan's mother during her
lifetime. [1¼ pages. Ibid. p. 353.] |
Sept. 7. Windsor Castle. |
The King to the Duke of Hamilton, heretable keeper of the
palace of Holyrood House. Warrant for settling Sir George
Mackenzie of Tarbett Clerk Register, in the lodgings appointed
to him in Holyrood House, lately possessed by the Earl of Roscommon and Mr. Graham, keeper of the privy purse to the Duke
of Albany and York. [Ibid. p. 354.] |
Sept. 7. Windsor Castle. |
The King to Sir George Gordon of Haddo, Chancellor, Sir
David Falconer of Newtoune and the remanent Senators of the
College of Justice. After reciting the appointment dated
17 March last of Sir Alexander Gibson and two others to be
trustees of the estate of the late Earl of Argyle [calendared ante,
p. 130] and that he desires to be liberated from the said trust,
declaring his pleasure that he be exonerated from the said trust
and appointing in his place Sir David Thoires, advocate. [1¼ pages.
Ibid. p. 355.] |
Sept. 7. Windsor Castle. |
Warrant for a charter to Donald McDonald of Moydart of
divers lands. (The purport appears from the ratification printed
in The Acts of the Parliament of Scotland, Vol. VIII, p. 546.) [2½
pages. Docquet. Ibid. p. 356.] |
Sept. 7. Windsor Castle. |
Warrant for payment to Sir George Gordon of Haddo, Chancellor,
of 250l. sterling, being a half year's pension due to him as President
of the College of Justice from Mertinmes, 1681, to Whitsunday,
1682. [Ibid. p. 359.] |
Sept. 8. Windsor. |
The Earl of Conway to Secretary Jenkins. I received yours
of the 7th with the enclosures as his Majesty was walking to
the tennis-court, so he read them and was not much edified,
there being less in Lord Preston's letters than in the Gazette
à la main. I asked him what answer he would give to Lord
Preston's desire of coming to England. He said it should be
considered when he came to London. |
|
The Duke had a mighty hard chase yesterday and did not
return till 11 at night. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 48.] |
Sept. 8. Dover. |
Col. John Strode to [Secretary Jenkins]. This day, being the
election for a Mayor, the poll was between Capt. George West
and Nicholas Cullen, who was formerly turned out by the regulators of the Corporation Act in 1662 and has been Mayor here
for the last three years, a great favourer of the Fanatics and
now under an information at the assizes in Kent. On the poll
(with excommunicated and others not freemen) he had the major
number by a few. Though it is not according to the ancient
custom of this place, he having been Mayor three years together,
he was sworn Mayor and at the same time Capt. West was also
sworn Mayor, so that now we have two Mayors, which is like to
continue till it come before his Majesty in Council, where I believe
Cullen will be set forth in his proper colours and hope his Majesty's
friends will not be discountenanced. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 420,
No. 49.] |
Sept. 8. Faversham. |
Capt. Michael Greenstreete, George Allen and Robert Hamblenton to Secretary Jenkins. Thanking him for his letter.—Finding
our Mayor so hardy as to dare approach his Majesty, we, by this
messenger on purpose, beg your favour to mind us and, because
we are acquainted with his false pretensions, we present you with
our case, which we could have drawn up much more to the disadvantage of him and his accomplices, one whereof was formerly
turned out by his Royal Highness for having set his hand to the
late King's death, with order not to be elected again, though
by that party he is got in again. We beg your advice and assistance to obtain a new order or to show his Majesty our case, or
what else you shall think fit. [Ibid. No. 50.] Enclosed, |
The said case. Mr. Hamblenton petitioning his Majesty
about his imprisonment and being put by his juratship by
the present Mayor, Mr. Waterman, and others, it was ordered
in Council, 10 Feb., 1681[–2], that the Mayor should forthwith elect Hamblenton a jurat and Justice, by adding him
to the then number of jurats, which the Mayor promised
to do, but he forthwith swore Mr. Watson and Mr. Heeler
as jurats on pretence of their having been formerly elected.
Mr. Watson, if ever elected, was chosen 5 or 6 years ago
and Mr. Heeler only nominated in Mr. Allen's time. These
two, at those several times, were urged to take their oaths,
but absolutely refused and were excused, and other jurats
chosen in their room and no record made of these elections,
though now, to overbalance the King's party, they have come
in and been sworn. We are advised that swearing them is
contrary to law, unless they had been new elected. For remedy
of this and other irregularities, as his breaking open the chest
for the town seal and using it without the leave of the corporation, we can appeal to none but his Majesty, who acts
now as Lord Warden, for all freemen are sworn to maintain
the privileges of the ports, one whereof is that all causes
arising in the liberty of this town be tried before the Mayor,
and by order of Guestling we are fined by the whole ports,
if any portsman sue another in the foreign for any matter
triable here, so that the Mayor will be judge in his own case,
for he already with the help of these two new jurats practises
to be Mayor again next year, and so he or one of them will
be Mayor, till we are past time of relief, unless his Majesty
will hear us again or depute somebody to hear and determine
it. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 50 i.] |
Statement of the case (at great length) between Hamblenton
and Waterman, whereby it appears that Hamblenton was
elected jurat by the casting vote of the Mayor and that Waterman had committed him to prison for acting as jurat, alleging
that he had not been legally elected. [Ibid. No. 50 ii.] |
Summary of the arguments on either side in Hamblenton v.
Waterman, Wade and Blanckett before the Council. [Ibid.
No. 50 iii.] |
Sept. 8. Windsor. |
Reference to the Committee for Trade of the petition of Robert
Barclay, showing that, a tract of land in America called East
New Jersey being by several conveyances devolved to 24 proprietors in and about London, whereof the petitioner is one,
they are desirous to devolve the government of it on him and his
heirs and praying his Majesty to confirm to the said 24 proprietors their interest in the soil of that province by patent and
to grant him and his heirs the government of it. [S.P. Dom.,
Entry Book 55, p. 205.] |
Sept. 8. Whitehall. |
Secretary Jenkins to the Earl of Bridgwater. His Majesty has
readily consented to your making young Mr. Fleetwood, as his
father in his life was, one of your deputy lieutenants in Buckinghamshire. You may therefore send him your commission with
all convenient speed. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 68, p. 129.] |
Sept. 8. Whitehall. |
Secretary Jenkins to Lord Finch. Some months ago George
Batchelor petitioned you and the Board for a storekeeper's place
at Woolwich, but was dismissed with hopes of being considered
another time. The Clerk of the Survey's place at Deptford being
now vacant, some friends of mine have prevailed with me to
desire your favour that he may succeed to it. I have a good
assurance that he is an honest man and has served near 12 years
in the said yard and is every way well qualified. [Ibid. p. 131.] |
Sept. 8. Windsor Castle. |
The King to Sir George Gordon of Haddo, Chancellor, and the
rest of the Privy Council of Scotland. Warrant for a proclamation
further adjourning the Parliament to 15 March next. [S.P.
Scotland, Warrant Book 7, p. 360.] |
Sept. 8. Windsor Castle. |
Warrant, after reciting in consideration of the services of
James and William, Dukes of Hamilton, a grant, dated 20 Dec.,
1667, to Susanna Hamilton, daughter of the said Duke James,
now Countess of Cassileis, of a yearly pension of 500l. sterling,
of which arrears for many years are still due to her, for payment
to her yearly during pleasure of 300l. sterling, beginning the
payment of 150l. sterling to her for the term of Whitsunday last.
[1¼ pages. S.P. Scotland, Warrant Book 7, p. 361.] |
Sept. 8. Windsor Castle. |
The King to Sir George Gordon of Haddo, Chancellor, Sir
David Falconer of Newtoune, President, and the remanent
Senators of the College of Justice. Warrant for admitting the
Earl of Perth, Justice General, to be one of the extraordinary
lords of Session, the place of one of the extraordinary lords being
now vacant by the death of the Duke of Lauderdale. [Ibid.
p. 362.] |
Sept. 8. Windsor Castle. |
The King to the Duke of Hamilton, heretable keeper of the
palace of Holyrood House. Warrant for settling the Earl of
Perth, Justice General, in the lodgings appointed to him there,
lately possessed by Col. Churchill and Sir Alexander Bruce. [Ibid.
p. 364.] |
Sept. 8. Windsor Castle. |
Warrant for a gift, during pleasure, to John Drummond of
Lundin, Treasurer Deput, of a yearly pension of 600l. sterling to be
paid at Whitsunday and Mertinmes by equal portions, the first
payment to be at Mertinmes next, over and above another yearly
pension of 200l. sterling formerly granted him. [1½ pages. Ibid.] |
Sept. 8. Windsor Castle. |
Warrant to the Duke of Hamilton, heretable keeper of the
palace of Holyrood House, for settling John Drummond of Lundin,
Treasurer Deput, in the lodgings there lately possessed by the
Countess of Peterborough. [Ibid. p. 366.] |
Sept. 8. Windsor Castle. |
Warrant for a gift of the place of Master of the Ordnance in
Scotland, vacant by the preferment of John Drummond of
Lundin, to Lieut.-General William Drummond of Cromlicks
with a yearly salary of 150l. sterling. [2¼ pages. Ibid.] |
Sept. 8. Windsor Castle. |
Warrant for a gift during pleasure to Lieut.-General William
Drummond of Cromlicks of a yearly pension of 150l. sterling to
be paid at Whitsunday and Mertinmes by equal portions, the
first payment to be at Mertinmes next. [1½ pages. Ibid. p. 369.] |
Sept. 8. Windsor Castle. |
Instructions to Lieut.-General William Drummond of Cromlicks,
Master of the Ordnance in Scotland. 1. You are to take the
command of all officers and others belonging to the artillery in
Scotland and see that every one of them be diligent in performing
his duty. Such of them as have a commission you are, on their
committing faults, to suspend from their offices and inform us
that we may signify our pleasure. Such as have not commissions
you are to cashier or punish. |
|
2. You are to receive the moneys due to all the persons in the
establishment of the artillery and see every one paid accordingly,
and, if you shall see cause to alter any part thereof, you are to
acquaint the Treasurer Principal and Treasurer Deput and receive
their approbation before any such alteration. |
|
3. You are to take into your care all things belonging to the
artillery and keep lists thereof and of the sizes of guns with their
carriages and furniture and of the places where they lie. |
|
4. When you shall go into the field, you are to obey all orders
you shall receive from us or from the Commander in Chief of the
forces there. |
|
5. You are, notwithstanding the former instructions to Mr.
Slezer, lieutenant of the artillery, to employ the brass of the old
guns in Stirling and Dunbarton Castles as may be most advantageous, you being accountable for what you do therein to us or
to the Treasurer Principal and Treasurer Deput. |
|
6. On the death of any person belonging to the artillery you
are to inform us thereof and, if you know any fit person for
succeeding him, to recommend him to us, but on the death of
any, not having a commission, you are to establish a qualified
person in his place, and you are once a year to return an account
of the state of the artillery that we may from time to time give
such orders as we shall find expedient. |
|
7. You are to establish the train in Edinburgh Castle and
thereafter we shall dispose of it as we shall find most convenient. |
|
8. You are to receive all instructions already given concerning
the artillery as if they had been directed particularly to you,
especially those relative to the letter of 10 July, 1680, to the
then Lords of the Treasury, and obey them accordingly, except in
so far as there is any alteration thereof by these presents. |
|
9. You are to take into your care all the magazines and be
accountable for them. |
|
10. You are to take command of the army in Scotland as
youngest Lieut.-General. |
|
11. You shall present these instructions and such others as
you shall receive to the Treasurer Principal and Treasurer Deput,
whom we hereby order to record the same in their books or the
books of the Exchequer as they shall judge most proper. [2 pages.
S.P. Scotland, Warrant Book 7, p. 370.] |
Sept. 8. Windsor Castle. |
Warrant for a gift during pleasure to the Earl of Erroll, heretable
Constable of Scotland, of a yearly pension of 100l. sterling over
and above a yearly pension of 200l. formerly granted him, to be
paid at Whitsunday and Mertinmes by equal portions, the first
payment to be made at Mertinmes next. [1¼ pages. Ibid. p. 372.] |
Sept. 8. Windsor Castle. |
The King to the Marquess of Queensberry, Treasurer Principal.
Warrant for the delivery up to Sir John Drummond of the back
bond granted by him at the passing in the Exchequer of the
charter of 22 July last to him [calendared ante, p. 308]. [Ibid.
p. 374.] |
Sept. 8. Windsor Castle. |
Warrant for a gift during pleasure of a yearly pension of 200l.
sterling to Kenneth, Earl of Seaforth, in consideration of the
loyalty of himself and the deceased Earl with their and their
family's great losses and sufferings during the late usurpation,
to be paid at Whitsunday and Mertinmes by equal portions, the
first payment to be made next Mertinmes. [1¼ pages. S.P.
Scotland, Warrant Book 7, p. 375.] |
Sept. 8. Windsor Castle. |
Warrant for payment to Sir Allen and Sir Peter Apsley,
treasurers to the King's brother, of 1,002l. 10s. sterling in London
free of exchange, being the price (including 7l. 10s. for some small
charges) of 350 large foot tents and 250 horse tents lately sent
to Scotland by his order. [Ibid. p. 376.] |
Sept. 8. Windsor Castle. |
Warrant for expeding a grant of the forfeited estate, real
and personal, which formerly belonged to Thomas Turnbull of
Standhill, Roxburghshire, to William Trotter, a lieutenant in
the Earl of Mar's foot regiment. [Ibid. p. 377.] |
Sept. 8. Windsor Castle. |
Warrant for a charter to Robert, Viscount Arbuthnett, his
heirs male and assigns, of the Shaddow half of the lands of Arrot
and Lightoun hill, with the salmon fishing of the said lands on
the water of Southesk in the lordship of Brechin and shirefdome
of Forfar and with the pertinents of the said lands in the parochin
of Eglisgreig and shirefdome of Kincardine, with a new gift and
with a change of the holding from simple ward to taxt ward.
[1½ page. Docquet. Ibid. p. 378.] |
Sept. 8. Windsor Castle. |
Warrant for a presentation in favour of William Smart, student
in divinity, to be minister at the parish church of Eclesmachan
in the diocese of Edinburgh. [Docquet. Ibid. p. 379.] |
Sept. 8. Windsor Castle. |
Warrant for a presentation in favour of John Findlay, student
in divinity, to be minister at the kirk of Gordon in the diocese of
Edinburgh. [Docquet. Ibid. p. 380.] |
Sept. 9. Ingestre. |
Charles King to Secretary Jenkins. When your letter came to
Mr. Chetwynd, he was under so great an indisposition by a fever
that he could not open it. Though he is somewhat better, yet
he is scarce able to write his name. He has therefore commanded
me, his chaplain, to certify you of his sickness, that you might
not impute his omission to any other cause and to assure you
that, when God shall restore him sufficient strength, he will return
you his thanks for your letter. |
|
The Duke of Monmouth came yesterday from Coventry, where
he lay on Thursday night, about 1 to Lichfield and, though there
was then in the town a numerous assembly of gentlemen of quality,
who came to a horse race there, and many of them in the house
where he lighted, not one of them waited on him. From thence
with his whole retinue, which consisted of no more than 8 or 9
persons, all except Sir Thomas Armstrong and Mr. Charleton of
Shropshire being servants, he passed on post horses to Stone,
not one gentleman of the country waiting on him on the way.
At Stone he was received by Mr. Leveson Gower, who waited his
coming with a considerable number of gentlemen, among which
were Mr. Offley of Madeley, Mr. Ralph Sneyd of Bradwall, Mr.
Crompton of Stone Park and many more. Thence he went in
Mr. Leveson Gower's coach to Trentham, where he supped and
lay that night. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 51.] |
Sept. 9. Chester Castle. |
Peter Shakerley to Secretary Jenkins. I received yours of
the 5th Thursday night and in obedience to your command
dispatched a messenger to a friend of mine in the country, from
whom I expect to have some account of that business this evening,
at which time the Duke of Monmouth and several of quality
attending on him are expected here. The discourses of the
manner of his reception are so various that I can write nothing
certain of it, but shall by Monday's post. A friend in town just
now sends me the enclosed. [Ibid. No. 52.] Enclosed, |
John Hutton to Peter Shakerley. Yesterday I heard that some
barrels of strong beer would be placed at Boughton to entertain
the rabble and gather them together to shout in the Duke.
At night I had it confirmed by Prebendary Thompson, who
had it from one of that party, and that they were to tell it to
one another and meet at Boughton in their best clothes. He
asked the fellow, Who gave the drink? He replied, I think
Alderman Street. I think it will be requisite to have persons
in every place about Boughton to wait their coming and to
observe their drawing up and how they order themselves and
who there heads the rabble. Sept. 9, 1682. [Ibid. No. 52 i.] |
Sept. 9. Whitehall. |
The deposition of Edward Eccleston, bookbinder. Some days
after Midsummer Day Samuel Birch, a scholar in Newington
School, whereof Moreton is master, came to his house at the
Peacock in Little Britain, but, not finding him at home, asked his
servant where he was gone, who answered, to Guildhall. Birch
further asked whether he was a Whig or a Tory. The servant
replied, a Tory. Birch then said he would endeavour to meet
him at the Guildhall. |
|
Some short time after, Birch found the deponent at home
and entered into smart discourse with him about his opinions,
telling him that those were the only true Protestants that voted
for Dubois and Papillon, whereon, the deponent bidding him
meddle with his own affairs, he departed. |
|
After Mr. North was confirmed and Mr. Box elected, Birch
came again to the deponent's to fetch six paper books then binding
for him, but, he not being able to speak out as usual, the deponent
asked him the reason. He confessed he had been so zealous in
making a noise for Dubois and Papillon that he had broken a
vein and Dr. Cox told him he should not be his own man again.
The deponent asking him what he had to do at the Common Hall
and if any more of his fellow scholars were there ? he answered
that all the school were there and that they had reason to be so,
for, though they were no liverymen nor freemen, their lives,
liberties and fortunes lay at stake. The deponent saying, Suppose
you had been seized, as not being of the liberty, he replied he
should not have cared, for they could have made him pay but
5l., which he would as freely have done as pay for the binding of
his books. At taking leave the deponent said, I suppose I shall
lose your custom. No, he said, but I could wish we had one of
our own judgment. |
|
The deponent believes that logic and other university learning
has been taught at the said school at Newington for about the last
7 or 8 years. He has bound several manuscripts and printed
books, being all philosophical tracts, for the scholars thereof,
whom he supposes to be about 25 or 30 in number. He understood by often conversation with them that on Tuesdays they
come usually to Islington, where they observe a fast and have
some kind of lecture, exercise or preaching on pretence of religious
worship. [3 pages. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 53.] |
Sept. 9. |
Secretary Jenkins to Alderman Moreton of Newcastle. Mr.
Bethell, late sheriff of London, has, I am told, been lately at
Durham and has since passed to Newcastle. Knowing his disposition and not knowing what business (though he be a Northern
man) he may have had at Newcastle, I must entreat you to inform
yourself as particularly and yet as privately as you can what
brought him thither. By this you will enable me to give his
Majesty an account of him and pray add what you can learn
of those he has communicated or conversed with. Pray keep
this to yourself. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 68, p. 131.] |
Sept. 9. Whitehall. |
Secretary Jenkins to Sir Thomas Earle, Mayor of Bristol.
Requesting him to employ his interest in behalf of Capt. Easton,
who has been recommended to his Majesty as very deserving to
succeed in the mayoralty of Bristol. [Ibid. p. 132.] |
Sept. 9. Whitehall. |
Secretary Jenkins to Sir Robert Cann. Similar letter to the
last. [Ibid.] |
Sept. 9. Whitehall. |
Secretary Jenkins to the Bishop of Bristol. I have written
to the Mayor, Sir Robert Cann and Sir Richard Hart. I must
depend on you to secure their secrecy so as not to let anybody
know I write on this occasion, not that I fear anything but the
King's prejudice. [Ibid. p. 133.] |
Sept. 10. Queen's College, Oxford. |
Dr. Timothy Halton to Secretary Jenkins. The removing the
fair of Andover from Wayhill is so very prejudicial to the
University that I beg your assistance, if there be any possibility
to retrieve it. The part of it, which was kept on the ground
belonging to Ewelme Hospital and annexed to the Regius Professor of Physic, is estimated at 150l. per annum and that kept
on the glebe belonging to Wayhill rectory, whereof Queen's is
patron, was rented by myself for 65l. per annum. What adds
to my trouble is the nigh approach of the time for keeping that
fair, which is Michaelmas. You see how deeply both bodies
are concerned. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 54.] |
Sept. 10. Vale Royal. |
C— M— to Thomas Cholmondeley at a stationer's
near the Savoy. Saturday about 12 came the great man to
Nantwich, having lain the night before at Mr. Leveson's, whose
coach brought him thither, attended by the following, Sir Thomas
Armstrong being the only person that came through with him:—
Lords Macclesfield and Brandon, Sir R. Cotton in his coach,
Mr. Offley and Sir Thomas Armstrong in his coach, Mr. Leveson
and the Duke in his coach, Sir Willoughby Aston, Sir J. Bowyer,
the Mr. Lawtons, father and son, Roger Mainwaring, Sir Henry
Slingsby (of Leicestershire, I think), Henry Booth, Sir Thomas
Bellott, John Mainwaring and Thomas Whitley, all four finely
mounted with rich embroidered saddles. |
|
When he came within a mile of the town, the company appearing,
he mounted Lord Brandon's horse, his own being not ready.
He was met short of Chester by Lord Colchester, Sir Thomas
Mainwaring in his coach, Sir J. Crewe, Col. Whitley, Mr. Bryan
of Stapleford, Mr. Lea of Darnhall, Mr. Nathaniel Booth, Mr.
George Booth, prothonotary, Mr. Roger Whitley, Mr. Hurlston
and his son and Alderman Street, the only alderman. The
Mayor came to the bars without his aldermen, stayed a while
and went back. There were some Welsh gentlemen, whose names
we know not. The bells rang at Nantwich and the rabble made
great shouting, but at Chester the Dean took away the keys of
the churches, so no ringing there. 'Twas said he was to preach
before him to-day. His Grace paid half a crown for his ordinary
at Nantwich and 5s. at Chester. [2 pages. Ibid. No. 55.] |
Sept. 10. |
Certificate by Thomas Pallfrey, vicar of Luppett, and three others
to James Harris of the acreage and rental and other particulars
of Bywood farm in the parishes of Dunkswell and Luppett, Devon,
with proposals by Harris for the sale thereof and with a detailed
survey thereof. [2 pages. Ibid. No. 56.] |
Sept. 10. Whitehall. |
Warrant for inserting in the next general pardon for poor
convicts of Newgate, but leaving him out in the clause for
transportation, Roger Bolton, who at the Chelmsford assizes in
Aug., 1681, was convicted of the manslaughter of Roger Bridges
and received judgment, but was granted a pardon with a proviso
of transportation, the King being given to understand that he
has a wife and many children, who will be in danger of perishing,
should he be transported, and a person of quality assuring him
that he is industrious and of honest conversation. [S.P. Dom.,
Entry Book 54, p. 140.] |
Sept. [10–]20. Paris. |
Viscount Preston to Secretary Jenkins. I hope my last was
safely delivered you, in which I acquainted you that Everard or
one who impersonated him had demanded a passport from me.
I expected he would have come next day for it, but he did not.
Last Thursday Shelton asked me if he had yet been with me.
I told him, No, and that it gave me some suspicion I was not
well dealt with. He said he would inquire after him, but I have
not heard of either of them since. He told me that Everard was
certainly to go in a very few days, and, as soon as I know anything
certainly concerning him, I shall acquaint you. If he should
go over and be known at his landing, I propose whether it would
not be the best way not to seize him immediately, but to order
some person to observe him and, if possible, accompany him to
London without giving him suspicion and notice where he goes
and to whom he applies on his arrival and then take him into
custody. I offer this, because I do not think he will dare charge
himself with many letters and because thus some judgment may
be made of the truth of the information, if he goes to anyone
mentioned in it. But, if he should be apprehended on his landing,
it would not be amiss to notice whether he yields himself with any
willingness, for, if he does (he being so criminal, as I am told, and
so obnoxious to the laws), it may give reason to suspect that there
may be a contrivance amongst those men to get money or pardons
by informing. I must confess that, if this information should
not prove true, I cannot think it unlikely that this King should
have a design on that kingdom, considering the great advantage
he might reap by being master of it, for, he having now so great
a number of ships which he cannot use in these seas and that
island affording so many good ports, if he once became possessed
of it, he would think to have the absolute empire of the sea and
consequently that of commerce, which would also facilitate to
him the conquest of the West Indies, which is no modern project
of this Court. I hope you will pardon me for presuming to advise.
I assured the captain that all care is taken for concealing his
name and neither he nor I think of his going over till his Majesty
order it. I have sent you three informations given in to me
since my second dispatch, viz., of 31 Aug. and 9 and 15 Sept., N.S.,
all signed by Capt. Sheldon, whom I sent for to give his Majesty
satisfaction in the points proposed in your last. I represent the
matters and his answers faithfully. |
|
1. He was induced to believe that the extraordinary Council
of 27 Aug. was called on this affair, because Kennedy told him
it was to meet and afterwards, meeting him in a room not far
from the Council Chamber, he told him he was to go in with the
Chancellor, which he saw him do. It was after the return of
Kennedy from Ireland and he knew he was with the Cardinal
till 12 the night before. |
|
2. I asked why the plotters proposed the Duke of Luxembourg
to be their leader (and informed myself by other hands whether
he was restored to the King's favour and find he was not). His
answer was that they, viz., himself, R. Bourke, Kearney and
Lord Castleconnell's son, proposed him, because they knew he
was exiled from the King's graces and could then be spared. |
|
3. I asked whether Col. Maccarty was proposed by the plotters
to the Cardinal by any commission from himself and whether he
went by their advice to England so soon after he had spoken with
the Cardinal and whether any of them heard from him or spoke
with him since he spoke with the Cardinal. He says he was not so
intimate with Col. Maccarty as to know much of what he designed
then, for all that was then done or is now doing passed betwixt
him and Mr. Lacy, junior, who received all letters from him. |
|
4. He assured me that he knew from Lacy, junior, that his
father had accepted the proposition he made him and that
he has a pension now paid him in England. |
|
5. I told him he had said that since the voyage of Strasbourg
they had considered of it otherwise and asked him who they were,
whether it was formed before Kennedy went for Ireland or since
his return ? Whether the Cardinal was privy to this new plan ?
and, now that Kennedy is gone to Catalonia and not like to return
in haste, whether anybody be entrusted to give the signal he has
given ? He says it was Mr. Lacy by letters from Col. Maccarty
and his father, who considered of it otherwise, and that the
Cardinal knew of it and that it was formed before Kennedy went
for Ireland. As to the last query, he does not yet know whether
anybody be appointed to give the signal or not. |
|
6. He had declared that the way proposed to the King by Col.
Lacy was to seize on the three towns, &c. I asked him whether
Lacy proposed it himself to the French King or to the Cardinal
or to the plotters. He says Lacy proposed it to the Cardinal,
for it was but of late he had access to the King. About three
weeks ago he, standing accidentally where the King passed
to Mass, heard him say to Lieut.-Col. Lacy, I am very sorry I
have not found an occasion before of being kind to you. |
|
7. He said he had not heard anything lately concerning the
breaking of the Irish regiment nor does he know whether it would
be or not, but he was very sure it was proposed. If this happens,
I shall advise his Majesty with all speed and secrecy when and
where it is to be done and also how the officers and soldiers dispose
of themselves. |
|
I have endeavoured to inform myself of all the circumstances
of Glesan and have this account from one whom the King knows
very well and whom he will trust that he is a very extraordinary
rogue and fit to undertake any mischief. I cannot find that
any chaplains in other French regiments have such pensions,
when reformed, nor is it to be imagined they should have such
good payment for doing no service, when few of them have above
100 crowns, besides meat and drink, when they are actually
attending on their regiments. Capt. Shelton says that before
this business Glesan never had any acquaintance with the Cardinal
but that now he is very often with him. He is looked on as a
very cunning fellow and not to want wit. He is very well known
here. He has been concerned in Sir G. Hamilton's business
since his death and has had occasion often to address to my lady,
who is now married to Col. Talbot. He converses most now with
Dr. Smith, an English physician here. Shelton tells me his chief
correspondent is Col. Maccarty. He entertains a correspondence
also with Mr. Lacy, senior, Lord Castleconnell's son, R. Bourke's
brother, Macnamara and O'Shaughnessy mentioned in the
informations and with several others. He assures me that Col.
Maccarty has his pension yet continued him, which was told him
by M. Fleury, commis to M. Fremont. There is a M. Fremont,
father-in-law to Marechal de l'Orge and one of the General Farmers,
and I have ordered one to inquire whether he has any such commis.
Thus I have at length laid before his Majesty everything I can
learn of this business. [12½ pages. S.P. Ireland, Car. II. 343,
No. 59.] |
Sept. 10. Jersey. |
Sir Philip Carteret to [Secretary Jenkins]. Acknowledging his
letter of 15 Aug., received the 5th instant, when he admired the
marks of his extraordinary goodness.—I have made it my business
since I have been here to inquire after the state of things on our
neighbouring coast and settling such correspondencies as may
inform me of what passes there, but that requires some time
where great secrecy and confidence are requisite, but I hope to
make so good a progress as to be able to satisfy you in a short
time. At present nothing is stirring towards these parts. All
the ships of St. Malo are abroad on trade, the classis is not stopped,
which is the first thing done when there is a naval preparation.
There are no land forces on these coasts of Normandy or Brittany,
but the ordinary inconsiderable garrisons. I shall take all the
care I can that nothing be stirring but that you may be informed
of it and, if necessary, I shall send somebody there that may
give me particular informations. [S.P. Channel Islands 1,
No. 112.] |
Sept. 11. Ingestre. |
Charles King to [Secretary Jenkins]. Since the last post Mr.
Chetwynd has received a more particular account of the Duke
of Monmouth's reception at Stone, which he has commanded me
to communicate to you. |
|
Betwixt 6 and 7 on Friday night he was met, before he came
to Stone, by Mr. Leveson Gower of Trentham, Mr. John Offley
of Madeley and Mr. William Forrester of Dothill in Shropshire
in their coaches, attended by William Sneyd of Keele, Ralph
Sneyd of Bradwell, his son, Mr. Crompton of Stone Park, Mr.
Unwin, Mr. Bagnall of Barlaston, Mr. Edward Short and Mr.
Jervis of Mayford, the parson of Stone and many others of inferior
rank, among which were the Mayor of Newcastle and as many
of that borough as could be furnished with horses. He was
received into Mr. Leveson's coach, in which he passed to the
Crown in Stone, where he made a very short stay, whence he
went in the same coach to Trentham, whither he was attended
by the fore-mentioned company and there met in the dark by
a multitude of the commonalty of Newcastle and several of the
neighbouring villagers on foot. At Trentham he with the company were entertained with a great supper. He and the gentlemen
lay there that night and a great number of inferior rank waited
all night to get a sight of him in the morning. Next day after
breakfast he went thence before 8 in Mr. Leveson's coach towards
Nantwich, where, 'tis said, a dinner was bespoke for him and the gentlemen that should come with him, he declaring his intention to go
to Chester that night. [1½ page. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 57.] |
Sept. 11. Chester Castle. |
Sir Geoffrey Shakerley to Secretary Jenkins. I have received
the commission constituting me governor of this castle and I
beseech you to return my most humble thanks to his Majesty.
Enclosed is the best account I can get of the Duke of Monmouth's
reception here. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 58.] Enclosed, |
Last Saturday the Duke came here, attended by the Earl of
Macclesfield and his two sons, Lord Colchester, Col. Whitley
and his two sons, John Mainwaring, Henry and Nathaniel
Booth, Sir Thomas Mainwaring, Sir Robert Duckenfield,
Sir John Crewe, Sir Thomas Bellott, Legh of Booth, Legh
of Swinhead [Swineyard], Capt. Hurleston and his son, Lee
of Dernhall, Mainwaring of Cullingham [Carincham ?],
Davenport of Bromhall, Davenport of Woodford, Glegg of
Grange, Mainwaring of Calveley, Legh of High Legh, all of
this county, Sir Henry Ingoldsby, Mr. Leveson Gower, Mr.
Offley out of Staffordshire, Mr. Foster and two Charletons
out of Shropshire, Sir Thomas Armstrong and Alderman
Lewison of London, Sir John Guildham of Flintshire, and
about 60 citizens on horseback. The whole train were about
200 on horseback, 2 coaches with 6 horses, one Sir T. Mainwaring's and the other Col. Whitley's, all the bells except the
Cathedral and St. Peter's ringing, a great number of rabble
and boys shouting before them and throwing up hats, and
that night several bonfires were made. The bells, bonfires
and rabble, 'tis supposed, were encouraged by the Mayor, at
whose house the Duke lodged. The whole carried on by the
Presbyterians. The Mayor having a daughter to be bap.
tized, the Duke was godfather and she named Henrietta.
The Duke, 'tis said, goes to-day to Wallasey and so to
the race to-morrow, to-morrow at night at Brombrough, a
house of Col. Whitley, Wednesday at Rocksavage, Thursday
at Dunham, Friday at Gawsworth and there stays till Monday
and so for London. [Ibid. No. 58 i.] |
Sept. 11. Chester Castle. |
Peter Shakerley to Secretary Jenkins. Last Friday night came
to Nantwich the Earl of Macclesfield with about 100 horse with
many more dropping in after till 9. After supper 'tis true the
King's health was drunk, but the company so dispersed one would
have thought it did not well savour. The protesting Earl went
to his lodgings, the rest or most of them to the tavern, where
they drank so long that they were near becoming honest, mistaking
one Duke for the other. All their care was for making ready
in the morning, which was done at the commands of Gen. Gerard.
At 10 on Saturday the body appeared before the Earl's lodgings,
where he readily received them and marched before them 3 miles
out of town, where his Grace met them with several of the Staffordshire gentry, of whom Sir John Bowyer was one. He came to
Nantwich with a train which, the rabble reckoned in, made a
great body. Shouting and throwing up hats before him so
employed the multitude that not one word could be heard but,
Monmouth. He dined, but what happened there I am yet to
learn, only I have this for certain, that many pretended to wait
on him by the testimony of your great Don, who avouched he
was almost as near in the King's favour as ever. At Crislington,
a mile and a half out of this town, Sir Thomas Mainwaring and
Col. Whitley with their coaches and six met him. The Colonel
bowed so low that some affirmed he kissed his hand on his knee.
A great rabble went from here to meet him and to mount them
all the country butchers' horses, it being market day, were hired.
At Boughton a little tailor of this town met the Duke with a
bottle of sack, drank to him and told him he was in danger of
being killed for offering to pledge his health. The Duke took
the bottle, pledged him and gave it to a gentleman near him.
Four or five of the aldermen went out to meet him, but the Mayor
only met him at his door (being advised to do so against his
inclination). At the entrance of the town Mr. Henry Booth and
Lord Brandon ushered his Grace, his lordship waving his hat
and encouraging the rabble to shout, which they did plentifully,
having had their throats well washed by some barrels of beer
Alderman Street had placed at Boughton. His Grace lighted
at Mr. Mayor's without any entertainment in the streets as he
passed except a few tinkling bells (for the great ones stirred not),
the shouts from the rabble and the favourable looks of the ladies.
Sir T. Mainwaring, Col. Whitley and Mr. Hurlston brought up
the rear in Sir Thomas's coach, Col. Whitley's coach and six
following empty. His Grace supped at the Feathers in Bridge
Street, attended thither by the Mayor, Lord Macclesfield and the
rest of the few gentlemen who attended him to town. What
passed at supper or after I cannot yet learn. Sunday his Grace
came to the quire, attended as overnight. One of the petty
canons preached the sermon, which was well approved of by all
honest men. He dined with the said gentlemen attending close
at the Feathers, where no peeper could be admitted. He came
again to church after dinner. The sermon was preached by
Dr. Fogg, one of the prebendaries now, but one who forsook the
parsonage of Hardin [Hawarden] on account of Nonconformity.
In his prayer afore sermon he omitted to pray for the Queen and
Duke of York, which at other times he has been accustomed to do,
and prayed only for the King and the Royal Family, not regarding
the 55th Canon. Sermon ended, he went to the Mayor's and was
godfather to his child and supped at the Feathers as on Saturday.
To-day he goes to Wallasey, where I intend to be, but am so well
known amongst our Whigs that I am doubtful I shall not know
any of their private intrigues. [2 pages. S.P. Dom., Car. II.
420, No. 59.] |
Sept. 11. Chester. |
[Mr. Thompson] to Owen Wynne. I had yours of the 7th instant
and shall attend to its directions. The Duke came into Chester
at about half past 6. 'Tis thought they made it so late because
their company was smaller than expected. Mr. Secretary will,
I doubt not, have a particular account from Sir Geoffrey Shakerley
or his son, who sent for me Saturday and yesterday to consult.
The whole company of horse that came with him are computed
not to exceed 150, most of them noted Dissenters and such
ordinary mean persons as they could procure. They came in
shouting with a company of foot rabble whom they had invited
to meet by providing them with drink. The bells rang except
at the Cathedral and St. Peter's, my church. Some bonfires
were made by the Dissenters. The Duke went first to the Mayor's,
where he stays, and then to the inn, where he and the gentlemen
ate at an ordinary, their chaplain Dr. Fogg, one of our prebendaries,
a non-addresser. The Duke was yesterday at the Cathedral,
where was preached a sermon not very pleasing to him or his
associates, and in the afternoon stood godfather to a child of
the Mayor's baptized privately. He goes towards Wallasey
to-day before dinner. The innkeeper complains she shall be a
great loser, having made preparation for many more than attended.
'Tis almost certain there will be a far greater concourse of loyal
gentry, clergy and others at the race on the Forest than will be
with the Duke, both races being on the same day. Our session
is to-day. [Ibid. No. 60.] |
Sept. 11. 9 a.m. Whitchurch. |
Dr. Matthew Fowler to Secretary Jenkins. Though I live 24
miles from Wallasey, I shall readily pursue your directions, so
far as a sickly old man of 65 can. I have a nephew of good parts
and equal discretion. Him I have sent with the best instructions
I can give him, who will give me the best account he can of the
young gentleman's proceedings, who, I fear, came not hither
barely on the account of a horse race. From Trentham last
Saturday he came to Nantwich about 10, accompanied with at
least 120 horse, all armed and well mounted. Four or five boys
came before him one after another as harbingers to signify his
approach and make way for it. The hedges were lined on both
sides with the multitudes of the gaping rabble for about 2 miles.
When he entered the town, Lord Brandon, young Mr. Booth and
another marched before him as his forlorn hope and encouraged
the beasts of the people to shout for joy at his coming, which
was done in such great volleys that the streets and country round
about were deaf with the confused noise, neither the Duke nor
any other forbidding the use of such popular applauses as wanted
nothing but a Vive le Roy to complete a rebellion. After Brandon
comes the Duke alone and next behind him the Earl of Macclesfield and then the rest of the horse. The Duke rode in a coach
till within a mile of the town and then mounted an excellent
courser of the Earl of Macclesfield. The rabble saluted him on
their knees with many strange acclamations. He caressed them,
as he rode, with kind expressions and courteous behaviour. The
streets were so thronged that there was hardly any passage,
the windows and housetops crowded. The minister and churchwardens refused to have the bells rung, but one of the gang
suddenly whipped the key of the church out of the sexton's hand
and in they went and the bells trolled full merrily all the time of
his stay. The disaffected persons of note with him were Macclesfield, Brandon, Colchester, Sir Willoughby Aston, Whitley, Booth,
Wilbraham and young Cotton of Combermere, besides Offley and
Gower that attended him out of Staffordshire. There were
many more, but my intelligencers being strangers in Cheshire
did not know the gentry. They dined at the Crown. The
Duke's stay was not above two hours and then he was for Chester
with all his retinue. How they behaved there I cannot yet
learn. The Mayor is very naught and the city rotten at the heart
and they have neither Bishop nor Dean among them to moderate
their rashness. If the castle be not yet in safe hands, I wish it
were. To-morrow, being the race day, there will be a meeting
of the loyal gentry of Cheshire and these adjacent parts of Salop
on the Forest of Delamere about 8 miles from Wallasey. They
meet under colour of hunting and race matches, but the design
is to be in a readiness to prevent any ill attempts. God give them
wisdom and sobriety that they may manage their meetings
to his Majesty's advantage. They will have their spies on the
races at Wallasey, from whom I am promised the best account
they can get, but I hear lately that the Duke intends to put off
Wallasey race till Thursday and to come and hunt with the
gentlemen in the Forest. God keep them from quarrels, for,
though the gentlemen know how to behave to a person of his
high quality, yet, I am sure, they love not his company under
his present circumstances and, since it is too late to wish he had
not come, we heartily wish we were well freed from him. [S.P.
Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 61.] |
Tuesday, Sept. 12. |
Edward Everard to Secretary Jenkins. Though I have been
silent, I have not been unmindful of diving further into the matters
I formerly intimated. |
|
I find Robert Murray has been of late in France with a Mr.
Vane, and the English ambassador there charged him with such
things concerning commissions from Shaftesbury that he was
fain to come over, so he is now at his former lodgings in Holborn
Court, Gray's Inn, whereof Berry, the stationer, can give notice
to any that will come in a discreet way. I sent him word that
I was still so far in his former interest that I had some things
to impart that were for Lord Shaftesbury's interest and his,
in such manner that he is now secure as to anything he may fear
from me, therefore I leave it to you to take the best time and
course, &c. |
|
I made my peace with Lord Howard of Escrick, Shaftesbury,
Dr. Cox, Chamberlen, Rouse and the Salutation Club, who are
the leading persons of the Whigs. If you desire to take Hetherington, I shall give directions to my trusty messenger of all his new
haunts. |
|
I have some further matters that came to my mind concerning
Col. Mildmay, Major Manley, &c., which I shall send you on
Thursday or Friday by number 6, if he calls at the Pope's Head
and sends for me in the morning to the place I left directions
in my last papers. As for myself, considering the loss and risk
I run by my father-in-law and others in entering into the King's
service, I commit myself wholly to your discretion and intercession. |
|
M. Aubert, the French minister who writ the Socinian papers
directed to the Morocco ambassador, which are in your hands,
desires after some serious conferences with myself and others
to enter into the communion and ordination of the Church of
England, which I mention for the service I am confident he is
able to render to the Church of England against Dissenters,
both in the chair and by pen, and I put it on the issue of what
any of our bishops or divines shall find on examination touching
his parts and of that esteem he desires you to conceive of him,
on whom he is very ambitious to wait. Noted (in a later hand?),
as enclosed in Everard's French information. [2 pages. S.P.
Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 62.] |
Sept. 12. 10 p.m. The Red Lion in Forest Street, Chester. |
Matthew Anderton to Sir Philip Egerton. Coming from the
Forest I saw bonfires and, inquiring the reason, had no other given
but, A Monmouth, a Monmouth, and being happily in this house
with my son and daughter and some friends and John Maddock,
the city crier, I am credibly informed by them there is a great
riot here, 500 men, as says a constable, throwing stones particularly
at my windows, and as the cryer, who was in my dining room,
believes, 500 stones are thrown into it. The rioters have broken
St. Peter's Church windows to ring the bells and I am told they
made some use of the firebell. Where this will end God knows.
I dare not go home and I appeal to the Lieutenancy for relief.
You have a full number with you. I implore your aid for his
Majesty's service and the preservation of this city and the peace
thereof. That what I write is true I have desired my friends
with me to join their signatures. [Signed by 7 of his friends.
Ibid. No. 63.] |
Sept. 12. |
Secretary Jenkins to Lord Chief Justice North. I wrote to you
once already to-day. The occasion of this second trouble is that
there is a surmise blown about in the City with extreme confidence
that Sheriff North is gone on the sudden out of town to take advice
from you how to get off from his sheriffwick; that, just as he was
going, he told a confidant of his that he would not hold. My lords
that meet about the King's business every day do not believe
anything of this, yet they hope that I may receive a line or
two from you or else from Mr. Sheriff by way of confutation.
[S.P. Dom., Entry Book 68, p. 134.] |
Sept. 12. |
Memorandum of summonses to the Lord Chancellor, the Lord
President and Mr. Solicitor for Thursday at 10 and to Lord Chief
Justice North for a week before Michaelmas. [Ibid.] |
Sept. 13. Badminton. |
The Marquess of Worcester to Secretary Jenkins. Having since
my return from Ludlow been at Bristol, where I had appointed a
general muster on purpose for an opportunity to promote a good
election of magistrates for next year, I have so far succeeded by
strengthening some and fixing others that I heard to be doubtful
that, though all his Majesty's friends there are not quite so well
united as I could wish, yet I have prevailed with them to join
unanimously in the choice of Capt. Easton for Mayor, who is
allowed by all to be a very loyal man, and I doubt not they will
carry it for him as well as for two good sheriffs, though in both we
have the disadvantage of being forced to leap over the heads of
some that in course should go before them. [S.P. Dom., Car. II.
420, No. 64.] |
Sept. 13. |
Statement by John Cooke. Mr. Dowling of Andover having
been with Secretary Jenkins on Monday, 28 Aug., was directed to
make what haste he could to Andover and get a surrender of their
charter, Mr. Secretary telling him I should be at Windsor Tuesday
night. Tuesday I went to Windsor with the bill for Derby charter,
which his Majesty signed that night, with two or three other warrants. I took with me a warrant for a new charter to Andover, in
case Dowling came with the surrender of the old one. I did not offer
it to his Majesty, because Dowling was not come, but about 7 on
Wednesday night the Clerk of the Signet in waiting came to my
lodging with Dowling, who had, as he said, since he left Whitehall
on Monday, been first at Andover, got the surrender voted and
past under the seal of the corporation, and then went to the
Attorney General's house in Berkshire, who, as he said, had on his
assurance of a warrant signed the bill for a new charter, which
Dowling had got prepared before he went to Andover. From Mr.
Attorney's house he came to Windsor with the surrender of the
old charter and the bill for a new one ready for his Majesty's
signature, with which the Clerk of the Signet desired me to attend
his Majesty, that being the last night but one of the month and,
if the bill were not signed that night, the benefit of it would go to
the Clerk of the Signet for next month. Hereupon I laid the
warrant and the bill before his Majesty, who signed both that night. |
|
I have since been told that Mr. Saunders drew or approved the
warrant, and caused the bill to be prepared accordingly, on
confidence whereof Mr. Attorney signed the bill before he had the
warrant which remains in my hands. |
|
I hear it is said we have been corrupted, 200l. having been given
to pass the charter in this manner. I beg that this report may be
thoroughly searched into for the vindication of Mr. Secretary's
honour and my probity, not one penny having been given in the
office to my knowledge but the ordinary fees. [1½ page. S.P.
Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 65.] |
Sept. 13. Chester. |
Matthew Anderton to Col. Robert Worden. Yesterday the loyal
gentry meeting at a hunting and other sports in the forest, myself
and several loyal citizens went there. We found a very great
appearance, Lord Kilmorey and at least four score baronets,
knights, esquires and gentlemen of good quality and, I believe,
2,000 of the vulgar. After hunting they dined in tents and after
dinner was a horse match. Mr. Warburton got the race. After
that a foot race. Sir Philip Egerton's boy got the tumbler and
the Black the velvet cap with the King's colours in it. Then I
returned for Chester about 8 and saw the city as it had been in a
flame. The occasion was that the Duke of Monmouth had won
the plate at Wallasey. The bonfires got the rabble together. They
broke the windows of St. Peter's church to get to the bells, broke
down two doors belonging to the steeple to get to the ropes and
then rang the bells and among them the firebell. Then the rout
got into the streets, crying, A Monmouth, a Monmouth, and at
several loyal persons' doors sang a ballad, Long live the Duke of
Monmouth, &c. 500 of them, as I am credibly informed, while
the ballad was a-singing at my door, at the end of every verse
threw stones and shot guns at my windows. I, hearing of this
uproar, stayed in Forest Street, my friends advising me to stay
there for my own safety. When the day appeared, the rioters
dispersed. The Mayor is with the Duke at Wallasey and neither
Justice nor Constable, except 3 of the latter, appeared, but they
could do no good. I hope to find out some of the rioters and hope
also for justice, though I doubt whether I shall have it from —.
You see how necessary it is to have a garrison, a few soldiers would
soon have dispersed the rioters. Our militia cannot come without
the deputy lieutenants' orders and we have none within 10 miles
of us. Our Mayor is the Duke of Monmouth's creature and Col.
Whitley like to succeed him. God help the poor cavaliers that
must live here. Really there will be no abiding here for the King's
friends, if bonfires must be permitted on every idle occasion and
the rabble encouraged in their insufferable licentiousness. Postscript, that a similar letter has been sent to Mr. [James] Clarke,
the Duke of Ormonde's Comptroller. [See Historical Manuscripts
Commission, Ormonde Manuscripts, New Series VI, p. 444.]
[Ibid. No. 66.] |
Sept. 13. Chester. |
Mr. Thompson, Vicar of St. Peter's, to Owen Wynne. (Describing the trial of Birkenhead on Monday for leaving a seditious paper
at Alderman Wilcock's coffee-house, his acquittal, the bias of the
Recorder in his favour, &c.) |
|
The Duke of Monmouth went Monday morning to Wallasey.
The Mayor with about 40 horse went after him Tuesday morning.
As many or more of the loyal went the same day to the Forest.
Wednesday [rectius Tuesday] about 7 at night news came the
Duke had won the race, at which began shouting and bonfires.
The Mayoress began the first (as good reason, her daughter, that
the Duke was godfather to last Sunday, being to have the plate,
as herself declared). Several others immediately followed. Shortly
after in the centre of the city near the Cross a great company of
the rabble gathered at a fire, made a tumult and broke into St.
Peter's Church through the windows. Presently the church was
filled with the rascally sort. They rang the firebell, so called,
because it is rung when a fire or an uproar breaks out. Afterwards
they broke the steeple door to the bells and rang them till they
had overturned them. Between 10 and 11 they left the church
with the doors open. Their envy to that church was because
those bells did not ring when the Duke came in. Another company
at a bonfire made by a great Presbyterian broke the glass windows
of an honest Churchman opposite them. They abused and beat
all that went in or out of the house. Few Justices were in the
town besides the Recorder and he not known to be in town till this
morning. We shall endeavour to find out what evidence we can,
take their depositions and advise how to prosecute them. No
hopes of punishing them here; the carriage of our Mayor and
Recorder rather encourages the rabble. As great care as can be
is taken to observe the Duke, but no news yet from Wallasey. [1½
page. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 67.] |
Sept. 14. Whitehall. |
Reference to the Lords of the Treasury of the petition of Margaret
Hartigan, widow of Teague Hartigan, one of his Majesty's footmen,
for a grant of some yearly pension to maintain her and her children.
[S.P. Dom., Entry Book 55, p. 206.] |
Sept. 15. Wroxton. |
Lord Chief Justice North to Secretary Jenkins. I was from
home when your letters were brought hither and returned not
till late last night. |
|
My brother, the sheriff, came hither purely out of kindness on
an old appointment and returned to London last Monday. His
visit had not been so short but for his engagement to that office,
which he does in no sort decline. He knows me too well to expect
assistance in anything dishonest or dishonourable, and I know him
so well that I can assure you he is a very honest man and can
hardly be deceived or frighted out of the principles he has taken
up to serve the King and the City. I intended to be in town on
Tuesday before Michaelmas Day, but, in regard to your commands,
I shall set forward on Friday and be there by Saturday at noon and
will wait on you as soon as I can. I hope that will be enough. It
is not possible for me to leave this place before. [S.P. Dom.,
Car. II. 420, No. 68.] |
Sept. 16. Bristol. |
Sir Richard Hart to Secretary Jenkins. I forbore answering
your letter of the 7th, though I have been active to prosecute your
commands, till now. Our election was yesterday. Capt. Easton
is chosen Mayor and George Hart, my brother, and John Combs
sheriffs. The loyal party carried it without much struggling. In
the hurry of your business I doubt you forgot the petition delivered
you in behalf of the merchants of Bristol touching the taxes of
sugar, the prayer whereof is that we may be allowed the same with
them of London. The matter is of little moment to the revenue,
the whole under 100l. per annum. It is certainly a great discouragement to the loyal merchants here that they should be distinguished from them of London. My humble request is that you
will afford a line in this particular. [Ibid. No. 69.] |
Sept. 16. |
Charles King to Secretary Jenkins. The hand from which you
should have received this being still disabled, I am commanded to
send you the enclosed paper. When you write hither again, please
mention how many letters you have received of this hand and how
they were sealed and for the future give leave that letters sent
hence for you may be directed to another person. [Ibid. No. 70.] |
Sept. 16. Wrexham. |
Sir George Jeffreys to Secretary Jenkins. I doubt not you have
had an account of the Duke of Monmouth's reception at Chester.
The pretence of his honouring these parts was, you know, a race,
and the loyal gentlemen to divert company, which that design
aimed at, ordered another meeting and published the enclosed
paper, which had that good effect that there was 10 to 1 on our
side, but his Grace won the plate to the joy of all true Protestants,
for which bonfires have been made in Chester and most of the
honest people's windows broke, and the plate bestowed on the
Mayor's child, which his Grace has christened Henrietta. Applications are daily made to me about these outrages, being now at
Wrexham within 8 miles. I am next Monday for Holywell, where
I expect the continuance of clamour. But there is an accident
that may be useful to his Majesty's service. Chester has not the
power of trying treasons. There are at present three persons in the
city gaol for clipping. If a commission of Oyer and Terminer might
be expedited presently (I begin my circuit there Monday sennight
and continue a week) and directed as was about '63 for treasonable
words (the Clerk of the Crown has the precedent) and name not the
Mayor nor any those rascals concerned in this pageantry, it may
bear up the honest party of the town at present dispirited. (Suggesting persons proper to be put in the commission.) If this came
to me next week, before the assizes were ended, which is also the
fair time, I hope I could manage it for my master's service. [Ibid.
No. 71.] |
Sept. 16. Chester Castle. |
Peter Shakerley to [Secretary Jenkins]. Last Monday afternoon
his Grace came to Wallasey accompanied with most of those few
gentlemen who came with him to Chester from Nantwich, viewed
the course and went to supper. I went as an attendant amongst
them but by those of the county was soon distinguished to be none
of their herd. Mr. Booth singled me out and held me some time
in a frivolous discourse, with intent to sham me off. That device
failing, I went to sup at the ordinary with his Grace but Thomas
Whitley, Fitton Gerard and others came out and said there was
no room at that table, so we supped in another room. The Duke
of Monmouth's health was the first named by them, after that the
King's. Supper ended, John Corbett, John Mainwaring, Mr.
Stafford, one Thomson, as they called him, and others came in
with a plain design to quarrel with me, but I beforehand resolved
to take all things patiently except blows. After some of their
accustomed healths, such as confusion to Popery and to all those
that would not be enemies to the Duke of York, they began to
manifest their great dislike of the sermon preached before his
Grace in this guise and in general exclaimed against the clergy.
Having spit their venom that way without the satisfaction of one
syllable from me they fell to magnify the last Parliament at
Westminster and their votes. I asked them their opinion of that
vote which would not that the King should raise money off his own
revenue by anticipation. Fitton Gerard, Thomas Whitley and
John Mainwaring asserted it was an excellent good vote and Mr.
Thomas affirmed that he was a traitor that should lend the King
any money, the Parliament not sitting. They then went to the
Exclusion Bill. I told them they troubled themselves to no
purpose with that, his Majesty having declared to the Commons
that he would not press it. Fitton Gerard and John Mainwaring
replied that the King was good-natured and might yet be prevailed with to pass it; nay a friend of mine affirmed to me that
he heard Lord Brandon say, the King must and would part with his
brother. The meeting of a great many gentlemen that day the
race was at Wallasey caused some further discourse to these
gentlemen, who said it was very unmannerly to appoint such a
meeting at that time when they should have paid their respects to
the King's son, and Fitton Gerard said he was a peer and not so
much out of the King's favour as was reported, witness, said he,
the 4,000l. per annum settled on his son, Lord Doncaster, and his
Majesty's intention of conferring the Garter on him, and that his
Majesty would not take it well from those who did not show him
respect. |
|
Tuesday his Grace rid for and won the 12 stone plate. As he
went up the course to ride, Henry Booth, who rode Mr. Bould's
horse, was observed to ride up, bow and say something to him, on
which he embraced him very kindly. Lord Derby, who a fortnight
or three weeks before the race came to Wallasey with Lord Brandon
to order a tent and provision to entertain his Grace, came not to
Wallasey that day till after dinner. He did not go to his Grace,
but his Grace rode up to him and they only civilly saluted each
other. That day's sport being ended, his Grace and all his company went over the water to Liverpool. The bells were then out
of order, so stirred not; some few little guns (muskets, some think)
from some ships and shouts from the rabble, which was great,
welcomed his arrival. At his inn the Mayor and five of the
aldermen waited on him and invited him to the Change, but he
went not, some think, because the invitation was not consented
to by the whole body. However he yielded to be made free of the
town and then the bells rang. The rabble had got some muskets
and gave him some volleys. Nathaniel Booth was seen by a friend
of mine to give one of them money to buy powder. His Grace
supped with Macclesfield, Brandon, Colchester, &c. at an ordinary,
but great care was taken that nothing of a Tory or any not well
known to be of their party should come near them, so what passed
I know not. About 10 his Grace went to his lodgings at Alderman
Chorley's; the rest went, some to drinking, some to gaming. Lord
Derby lodged at a private house; 'twas said he was with his Grace
till 3 in the morning. I went purposely over the water to inquire
the truth and was told by one I take to be an honest gentleman,
who was with his lordship till 3, that Lords Brandon and Colchester
and two or three more came and stayed a little time with his
lordship, but that he was not in company with his Grace while he
stayed at Liverpool, nor did he come or go thence with his Grace
to Wallasey, which, I hear, has disgusted some persons. |
|
Wednesday his Grace came to Wallasey again with the company
that went with him to Liverpool, only Macclesfield went off
homewards. His Grace stayed the heats for the second plate,
which Mr. Booth won, and then went away immediately, crossed
the water at Liverpool and so to Rocksavage that night, Lord
Brandon, Whitley, John Mainwaring and others of that party
accompanying him. Mr. Booth, having another race with Lord
Derby that day, did not go with his Grace, but went that night
with his uncle, Nathaniel Booth, to Warrington, in order to meet
his Grace on Thursday, who was then expected at Dunham, where
he was to stay that night, Friday to dine with Mr. Booth at Mear
and that night to lodge at Lord Macclesfield's house, Gawsworth,
where to-day a great many gentlemen are invited to a dinner. A
friend of mine has promised me an account of passages and discourses there. The enclosed is a list of all the gentlemen I observed
to wait on his Grace. I very well know the principles of some of
them to be destructive of Monarchy and heartily pity the misfortune of his Grace to be thus misguided by them. I am certain
they design him no good, for not one of them will in the least assert
his legitimacy. I hope he'll hearken to the advice of some friends
ere long, which would presently stagger the hopes of and shake the
faction to pieces. There were some few Roman Catholics from
Staffordshire, Lancashire and this county, I think the whole of
any note might be about 10 or 12. [3 pages. S.P. Dom.,
Car. II. 420, No. 72.] Enclosed, |
|
List of the persons observed at Wallasey race to wait on the Duke
of Monmouth, most of whom are mentioned in this and previous
letters. Sir St. John Gwilliams, whom some think to be Dick
Cromwell, went not to Wallasey but stayed at Chester. On the
back are various extracts from letters about the Duke; among
them, The ordinary people all and many of the gentry showed
their zeal to the Duke on account of the assurance given them
by the Earl of Macclesfield and others that he was in the King's
favour. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 72 i.] |
Sept. 16. |
Dr. Matthew Fowler to Secretary Jenkins. Describing the Duke's
reception at Nantwich, Chester, Wallasey, and Liverpool, as in
other letters, adding:—The rabble broke the windows of Nantwich
church, being denied by the officers the liberty of the bells, into
which at last they made a forcible entry and rang at their pleasure.
—At Chester the Dean sent for the keys of the churches, but the
rabble broke into St. John's Church on Saturday through the
windows and rang the bells.—The loyal gentry of Cheshire had a
very splendid meeting at the Forest of Delamere. They were,
besides footmen and spectators, about six score gentlemen well
attended, which made up the number of 500 horse. They pursued
their game very quietly, dined together on the Forest and so very
civilly parted. [Ibid. No. 73.] |
Sept. 16. Chester. |
Extract of Chester news. Several are committed to prison
about the bonfires. |
|
There were two races at Wallasey for plates; the first on Tuesday
of 60l., for which ran the Duke of Monmouth, who got it, next him
young Whitley and Henry Booth on Bold's horse, Bellingham last.
Then a made match between Henry Booth, who won, and
Bannister. |
|
On Wednesday a plate of 30l., won by Henry Booth; the rest
were Lord Derby, Lord Molineux' son and Bellingham. Then a
foot race for a guinea (20 roods) betwixt the Duke, who won, and
Mr. Cutts of Cambridgeshire. |
|
Kit Bannister, who is very infirm, had set up a high seat on the
course, which was in the night sawed down. The Duke blamed
the action but his followers pleaded ignorance of it. |
|
Young Shakerley was much blamed for dining with the Duke,
especially by Sir John Corbett of Salop. |
|
The Duke offered to lay 1,000l. on his horse, but nobody would
take him. He said, if the King had forbidden this journey, he
would not have come. He talked and drank little; no healths
but the King's and his entertainers'. (About his movements after
Liverpool as in previous letters.) |
|
The Duke on the race at Wallasey read a letter from Nantwich,
complaining much of Mr. Stringer, the minister there, that he
"was to inform against the Duke and his followers, that he
preached against tumultuous gathering of the people and that he
said it looked like the beginning of the last rebellion." |
|
A Whig gentleman told me he heard Shakerley asked among
them whether he thought the Duke legitimate, adding that, if he
had put the question to him, he would have broke his pate. |
|
Another Whig said it was better for the Duke that the Exclusion
Bill did not pass, for then the Crown would have been entailed on
the Duke of York's issue. |
|
The Earl of Derby did not dine with the Duke, but rode by his
side about a mile. He is now gone towards Court. [3 pages.
S.P. Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 74.] |
Sept. 16. Whitehall. |
Warrant to Simon Winslow, messenger, to search for in all places
and especially at post stages between Rye and London an ancient
little man of low stature who speaks several languages and goes by
the name of James Vandeven, he being suspected of dangerous and
treasonable correspondences, and apprehend him and bring him
before Secretary Jenkins to answer to what shall be objected against
him; and also to search on the same road for a man of about 30,
who goes by the name of John James Grene, who with the said
Vandeven landed yesterday morning at Rye, and apprehend and
bring him also before the Secretary to answer as aforesaid. [S.P.
Dom., Entry Book 54, p. 142.] |
|
Instructions to Simon Winslow for executing the above warrant.
You are to go in all haste from the post house in Southwark to the
next stage on the Rye road, where you are to inquire diligently
for the two persons, and, if you find them not in that stage, you are
to ride in all haste to the next and so on if you meet not with them
till you come to Rye. |
|
At Rye you are to show your warrant to Mr. Edgar, the searcher,
and Mr. Darrington, Mr. Hall's deputy, and follow their directions
for apprehending the two men. |
|
If you meet with the little old man between any of the stages,
you are to turn and follow him aloof, till he come to his lighting
place, where you are to execute your warrant, taking with you, if
you find an opportunity, a constable or the master of the house,
but you are not to suffer him to go out of your sight, when you have
lodged him, nor suffer anybody to speak with him. |
|
You are further to inquire at all the baiting and lodging places
of the stage coaches from Rye to London and to view all the
passengers narrowly. |
|
If you find that either of the above persons has hired horses or
gone post any other way than the direct road to London, you are
to pursue them with all haste the road you shall be told they went
and you are to execute your warrant wherever you overtake them. |
|
Memorandum that James Vandeven goes by other names,
particularly Everard and Woodford. [Ibid.] |
|
Further instructions. You are to go in all diligence to Rye and
on the way observe in all places whether there be any passengers
resembling the old man and you are to acquaint Mr. Edgar and
Mr. Darrington that Vandevenne, that landed near Rye on Friday,
is not the person inquired after, therefore they are to continue
their watchfulness in that post and so are all the postmasters
between Rye and London. 18 Sept. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book
54, p. 143.] |
Sept. 16. Whitehall. |
Order to all postmasters between Southwark and Rye. You
are to aid Simon Winslow in searching for and apprehending
Vandeven and Grene. |
|
If they or either of them arrive at any of your houses after the
sight of the said warrant you are to require the constable or other
head officer of the place where you are to apprehend them or him
and keep them in safe custody. On apprehending either of them,
you are to send Secretary Jenkins notice by express. [Ibid. p. 144.] |
Sept. 16. Whitehall. |
Secretary Jenkins to the Earl of Yarmouth. This morning I
read to his Majesty your letter of the 13th and the enclosed
information. I also acquainted him with what the Countess of
Yarmouth had said and writ relating to the same matter. He
has commanded me to let you know that Mr. Cradock has had no
commission from him to oppose the surrender of Norwich charter
nor does he remember that he was spoke to by Mr. Cradock or any
other in his behalf nor that he knew anything of his going down
to Norwich. He therefore advised you to go on with your usual
zeal and discretion in that city and county. It cannot be avoided
but that, in such a change as the renewing the charter of Norwich
would be, some men must be displeased in their interests or
relations, but his Majesty is satisfied that you have nothing in your
view but the public good and (which is all one) the service of the
Crown. I have orders to send for Mr. Cradock and object to him
the matters in your letter and to give his Majesty an account of
what he shall answer. It is matter of great wonder to his Majesty
how Alderman Aldridge should take upon him to know his Majesty's
will as to the surrender of the Norwich charter. He looks on the
presumption of saying so, if that Alderman said it, as impertinent
and undutiful, but, proceeding, as you do, in all things legally and
affectionately in carrying on his Majesty's service, you have no
cause to heed what malice or envy opposes against you. [Nearly
2 pages. S.P. Dom., Entry Book 68, p. 135.] |
Sept. 16. Whitehall. |
Secretary Jenkins to the Earl of Shrewsbury. I have moved
his Majesty on your letter of the 8th. He thinks Mr. Ward a very
fit person to be your deputy lieutenant in Staffordshire and therefore commands me to write to you to give him a commission. As
to the other gentleman named by you, he has reserved it to further
consideration, because he conceives that his estate in that county
is not such as may qualify him beyond exception for his Majesty's
service in that station. [Ibid. p. 136.] |
Sept. 16. Whitehall. |
Secretary Jenkins to [the Marquess of Worcester]. I read to
his Majesty your letter of the 13th at length and he was very well
pleased with the account in it. I did not send to him all your
former letters. I chose to give him a summary account of what
you had done at Ludlow with great applause. I left the other
part to a better season or till you repeat your commands. The
reason I will with your leave keep to myself, till I wait on you.
[S.P. Dom., Entry Book 68, p. 137.] |
Sept. 16. London. |
Newsletter to John Squier, Newcastle. Last Tuesday the Duke
of Monmouth was at a race at Wallasey, where he ran for a plate
himself with his own horse worth 50l., which he won and presented
to Mistress Mayoress, to whose child he was godfather. Several
foot races were made for him. One or two he ran against several
gentlemen of the county and won them both. |
|
We are advised from Coventry that Alderman Haryman escaped
with his life from the rabble. They pursued him to his house,
where, not being able to get at him, they broke all the windows
to pieces. Several of them were taken and committed to gaol and
indictments are drawing against them in order to prosecute them
next sessions. |
|
His Majesty goes not to Newmarket till after Michaelmas, by
which time the sheriffs will be chosen and sworn, but in truth who
they will be is not only uncertain but all the discourse of this town
is of nothing else, the Lord Mayor being resolved to maintain the
rights of the Chair and the people as eagerly contesting about their
privilege, as they term it. Tuesday will be a great day here and
I fear the heats and animosities of those parties are so great that
the consequences may be fatal. |
|
About 12 or 1 on the 14th sailed through the Downs from Dieppe
for Deptford the Suadadoes, Capt. Trevanion commander, who put
the Earl of Feversham on shore at Dover in order to his going for
London, and Lord Culpeper will be at Deal on the 25th to meet the
Mermaid to go for Virginia. |
|
We have had the following account of Sir Henry Goodrich's
proceedings. A gentleman being arrested within the precinct of
his house, his domestics rescued him from the officers. On their
complaint he committed them and erected a gibbet, which his
servants said was to hang the King of Spain's offenders on. This
news was got to the King's palace, who ordered his guards to pull
the engine down and sent one to command him to depart in 24
hours, which he did. The King has writ to our King to send
another in his place. |
|
The Earl of Anglesey was printing his vindication against the
Duke of Ormonde in two several presses, but they were seized at
both, but 'tis believed we shall shortly have it published. Several
of the petitioning party have been at counsel, who advised them to
stand upon their first election of Dubois and Papillon, but, if they
cannot carry it, to put up one they are sure will carry it and let
him fine. Next Tuesday is the day a whole regiment is ordered
on the guard. |
|
This evening an express from Bristol brings news that the
loyal party have chosen Sir John East [rectius Thomas Eston] for
their Mayor and Arthur [rectius George] Hart and John Combes for
their sheriffs in opposition to the discontented party. [3 pages.
Admiralty, Greenwich Hospital, News-letters, Original, 2, No. 43.] |
Sept. 16. Whitehall. |
The King to the Lord Deputy. Warrant for a grant to Edward
Tyrell and his heirs for the creation of the castle, town and lands of
Miltown, Westmeath, which he has purchased from Adventurers and
others, with the other lands mentioned in the annexed schedule into
the manor of Miltown with the powers and privileges usual in the
creation of manors and with a grant of two fairs yearly, one to be
held from 7 to 9 July and the other from 3 to 5 Oct., and of a weekly
market every Monday, if it shall appear that such fairs and market
may be granted without damage to the Crown or other neighbouring fair or markets. [Nearly 3 pages. S.P. Dom., Signet Office 1,
Vol. 11, p. 102.] Annexed the said schedule. [Ibid. p. 105.] |
Sept. 17. At Sir Robert Leicester's at Tabley. |
Thomas Saywell to Secretary Jenkins. I have delivered four of
your letters, viz., Sir R. Leicester's, Sir Philip Egerton's, Mr.
Ayre's and Mr. Oldfield's, they all being mighty willing to obey
your commands. In order thereto they intend to meet to-morrow
to consult. |
|
I heard at the towns I came through that at Lichfield not one
went to meet the Duke and, notwithstanding about 30 of the
gentlemen of the county happened to be at the post house at dinner
when he came, not one went out of the room to see him or took any
notice of him. (Further account of his subsequent proceedings as
in previous letters.) [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 75.] |
Sept. 17. Chester Castle. |
Sir Geoffrey Shakerley to Secretary Jenkins. (Describing the
riot on Tuesday night and the attack on Mr. Anderton's house.)
Mr. Anderton said, before the Duke came, if the Duke came in at
one gate, he would go out at another, and indeed stayed with me
in the castle while the Duke was in town. His going to meet the
loyal gentry in the Forest gave occasion to the rabble to fall on his
house in particular. He has bound 5 over to the next sessions,
where he intends to indict them and who else he can find out was
in the riot. The company intended to reinforce this garrison is
not yet come nor do I hear they are on their march. Mr. Anderton
deserves encouragement. He having no counsel here to advise
with, I purpose to recommend him to Sir G. Jeffreys now at
Wrexham. 'Tis to be feared the Mayor and Recorder will be kind
to the rioters. [Ibid. No. 76.] |
Sept. 17. Whitehall. |
The King to the Bayliff and Burgesses of Droitwich. Recommending them to elect and admit at the next Great House to be a
burgess of that corporation George Harris, secretary of Jamaica,
who, having obtained special leave to execute that office by deputy
and to remain in England, has been for some years and now is an
inhabitant in that corporation. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 66,
p. 136.] |
Sept. 17. Whitehall. |
The King to the Mayor and Corporation of Limerick. Recommending to them Charles Porter, solicitor to the Duke of York, to
be elected and admitted a freeman of the said city. [S.P. Ireland,
Entry Book 1, p. 26.] |
Sept. 18. |
John Peate to the King. Petition for a further reprieve till next
assizes, the petitioner being now under sentence of death in
Montgomeryshire for clipping but reprieved for 15 days by Sir G.
Jeffreys, he having made a discovery which may be of great use
to his Majesty. He was furnished with money by rich persons and
sold the clippings to rich goldsmiths, who combine to use their
utmost endeavours to hang him that his discovery may be hushed
up. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 77.] |
Sept. 18. London. |
Sir John Moore to Secretary Jenkins. I am sorry I was out of
the way when you sent for the Middlesex papers. I send them
herewith. Pray let none of them be lost. I hope you remember
the letter spoken of. |
|
I wanted 18 or 19 of my brethren at the chapel yesterday. My
small and thin attendance gives all Dissenters great encouragement
and weakens the hands of such as are loyal. Some say I have not
courage enough, others, I have too much and am drunk with
passion and revenge, so that on every side I am severely censured.
My zeal for his Majesty's service and to discharge my duty against
unreasonable men has created me many enemies amongst whom
I live, who are ready to ruin me, had they power. [Ibid. No. 78.] |
Sept. 18. Paved Alley, St. James'. |
James Harris to Secretary Jenkins. I enclose what I collected
since I last waited on you, not doubting you will communicate to
the King what you judge most material. It's important at this
juncture that special care were taken for the safeguard of his
Majesty and his Royal Highness, lest that dangerous vermin should
attempt Whitehall, whilst they threaten you and others in the City.
[Ibid. No. 79.] Enclosed, |
O how execrable are those verminian glubbers, and what strange
machinations are quotidianly invented by them to incite the
mobile to assist them. By the right paw of the Great Bear is
meant the King and his Royal Highness, by the city Gemini is
meant London, where they place the plague for the year '83,
in which year they say the mole (i.e. the King) shall be laid in
his grave, then the young mole (i.e. the Duke of Monmouth)
and the old lion (i.e. his Royal Highness) will contend for a
crown, but that after two battles a sort of people will come out
of the wood (i.e. London) with a dead man out of the grave
(i.e. Ludlow) (who, I judge, is in the City), who shall head
these clubbers and their retinues, and they and the dead man
shall end the strife between the mole and lion and then there
will be long peace in the land of Aries, for neither the mole nor
lion shall ever obtain the crown. Without question many of
these papers are sent to the country by the clubbers. |
9 Sept. I came betimes to Mr. Rouse's. Shortly after came in
Mr. White, whom I understood by Rouse to be an honest alderman of Gravesend, which I found as Rouse and suchlike mean
honesty. He proved an old Oliverian by his discourse, for he
said he never thought in '42 that ever Popery should ride
admiral, as at present it does. I answered, You may complain
to the King and Council, which he said was to no purpose. I
replied, Then make your remarks thereof and reserve them for
the Parliament. Then White asked Rouse for news, who
answered, Papillon and Dubois shall be sheriffs. I said they
might in time but not now, as Mr. North was nominated and
had sealed his bond. He asserted they should be this Michaelmas in spite of all at Whitehall. Says White, The great ones
have prevented you. Says Rouse, They shall stand in spite of
the King, the Duke and all other rogues, Papists and Jesuits. |
The 13th or 14th I found at the Salutation in Lombard Street
Rouse, a Scotsman who is a liveryman of the City, Mr. Snow
and a captain of Mr. Snow's acquaintance, who said, The
Devil rules in Scotland. Rouse answered, 'Tis too true, for
the Duke of York rules there, but our Whiggish friends are
like to petition him. Aye, says Rouse, whereby we may send
him the sooner to Purgatory; the Tower and Tyburn are
ready for him and the rest, for Parliament will and shall sit
next December. |
The 16th. I found at Mr. Rouse's him and Mr. Snow. I told
him I called there the day before, when were some of his
Whiggish friends, but was not admitted. He answered, They
were treating on some important affair, wherefore they would
not your company without I were present, but most of them
were well acquainted with Ruddon, your predecessor. All
three of us went to drink our morning draught, when I craved
their names. Rouse answered, there were the Jamaica merchant, the counsellor and a Tripoli merchant with others, &c.,
whereby I understood that Mr. Snow understood whom Rouse
meant thereby, by token he said he did not fancy the counsellor,
since his advice was or was like to prove fatal to many. Rouse
said the election day for sheriffs was next Tuesday, but the
Lord Mayor had been at Whitehall lately, when he desired
that some of the Life Guard may be in the City on that day and
that the City militia should attend, but Rouse hoped they would
not be so mad as to supply him, for, if any of them or the
militia or any of the Tower should shoot a gun or pistol that
day in the City, it's present death for hundreds of them, for we
shall have thousands to stand by us here and elsewhere. My
friends were treating about the election when you called, and,
when I returned, they were busy in consultation how we might
usher in our sheriffs (viz., Papillon and Dubois). Some
advised they might come on horseback to the Hall. One
honest blunt man, but as stout as any in England, said, One of
them shall be helped on my shoulders and the other on the like
trusty friend and we will make an outcry that these are the
true elected sheriffs, who are ready to seal their bonds, and, if
they refuse them, let them take what follows, for the public view
of them above others will animate us all and seeing the sense of
all our friends and mobile they will pass for elected, let others
do what they can. |
Rouse has a pair of pistols with powder, shot and bullet purse.
They with his sword are in his parlour with more arms in the
house. Search with discretion. That Capt. Ralph Alexander,
alias Love, has made many pistol-proof coats of mail is most
certain. Rouse, Alexander, Ford and many of the witnesses
for College often meet at a club in the Salutation tavern, the
habitation of Rouse's Ignoramus godfather. Col. Danvers,
Major Massie, Capt. Thymbleton, old Oates, Capt. Spurraway
and Smith, the Baptist bookseller, who sold and printed Vox
et Lacrimæ Anglorum, Vox Populi, the Account of the
Sheriffs' Election and the Remarks on the Comet this last
August are grand intimadoes, frequent meeters and distributers
of the like factions new to most counties in order to animate
the mobile to join with them. All of them with others, whom
my wife will willingly nominate, were manifestly concerned
in the intended insurrection in her former husband's time,
who gave them a repulse by saying she would find an expedient
to acquaint his Majesty with their designs. Blood and Jones,
main instruments to promote that insurrection, obtained
pardons for all or most of the above-named, shortly after his
design about the crown. None of these (except Jones, who is
now, I am informed, a divine of the Church of England) have
since received the Sacrament or have been at divine service.
It's much to be feared that Capt. Nicholas, quondam governor
of Chepstow and indeed Monmouthshire, is now in town and
intimate with all the above-named. If diligent search be made
in the houses of the above-named and of their Baptist congregations and in the counties of Dorset, Devon, Somerset,
Gloucester and Monmouth and in Bristol I believe dangerous
news and arms may be found, and it is most expedient to search
in all at the same time. I attended most of this day but could
not discourse Rouse nor any of the clubbers. [Nearly 6 pages.
S.P. Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 79 i.] |
Sept. 18. 1 o'clock. Coventry. |
John Ramsey, serjeant at arms, to Secretary Jenkins. I came
here last night without any other notice of my party than the flockings of the mobile about him at the places on the way. But here, I
understand, it was rather a people formed than a tumult, they being
grown so hardy and the nursery so forward that the least encouragement would give it the stamp of rebellion. I have stayed till
this hour here to assure myself from his correspondent here what
security I might be under as to his return, but that, not being to
be had by a direct way, has delayed me some hours, and yet I hope
not to the prejudice of my affair, understanding that he lies to-night
at Mr. Leveson Gower's and designs to-morrow for this place, where
his rabble and their encouragers have proposed mighty things for
him. I conclude Lichfield, to which I am now going, a proper
place to intercept him in, that city having ever appeared of a far
different stamp from this, and so the temper of the inhabitants
continues, for no party can be forwarder than this place affords
to countenance anything that a people bred up to rebellion can be
supposed to undertake. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 80.] |
Sept. 18. Chester. |
[Mr. Thompson] to O. Wynne. When the jury found for Birkenhead, the Recorder was so far from giving him any check for what
he had done or caution against publishing treason for the future
that he and Col. Whitley immediately put off their hats to him,
as if they congratulated his deliverance. |
|
It was deposed on oath that at their bonfires here they shouted,
Let Monmouth reign, let Monmouth reign. The whole song I
cannot yet procure. Last Wednesday two persons that broke
into St. Peter's Church the night before were committed to prison
by Alderman Simpson but the Mayor and Recorder on Friday
released them on bail to answer at the next sessions, which will
be on the 25th. I expect not to have them punished here according to their crime. I think it would be for the public good to
have them prosecuted in some superior and honester court. On
Wednesday about thirty, who had been to visit the two in prison,
came in a body through the streets shouting, A Monmouth, a
Monmouth, and threatened to knock down and kill some they met,
calling them Tories. That night also the Duke's running horse
with another of Col. Whitley's son's was led through the streets by
an unusual way, there being another as near, by which such horses
used to go to avoid the stones. The rabble took that for an
occasion to make bonfires again, where was some disorder and one
committed to prison by an alderman going to disperse them, who
tells me they struck him and that one at the bonfire said he cared
not a f— for the King or Parliament, God save the Duke of
Monmouth. On Friday several were bound to the sessions for
breaking Mr. Anderton's windows, but the rioters fear not to
appear there. 'Tis certain the rabble take courage from their
opinion of the Mayor's and Recorder's inclination. I cannot prove
they have encouraged them, for it is not yet discovered who
encouraged to that uproar and to commit such outrages. Several
apprentices and sons of Dissenters were seen amongst them shooting guns. I have and shall endeavour to persuade the better
aldermen to try if they can find it out. I have been earnest with
them to examine the ringleader, him that went first about the
streets on Tuesday night, shouting, A Monmouth, a Monmouth,
as if he had been ordered to do so to gather company. I know
Mr. Shakerley has or will give an account of the race as much as
'tis possible for any to do of such noted loyalty, for the Duke's
company were very cautious who came amongst them. I am
assured the Earl of Derby at the race after a salute had no
familiar converse with the Duke, he immediately drawing out of
the Duke's company and riding by himself with his retinue and
friends. They both went over to Liverpool on Tuesday night,
but lodged not in the same house, nor, that I can hear, were they
together there. The town treated the Duke and made him free.
They came back on Wednesday to the races, that night went to
Earl Rivers' house at Rocksavage. Thence he went to Dunham.
On his way he was met on a heath by as many as Henry Booth
could procure of his tenants and others out of Warrington with
bottles of wine and biscuit to treat the Duke and company. Thence
he went to the Earl of Macclesfield's, whither our Mayor, who also
waited on him to Liverpool, went on Saturday to attend him and
is not yet returned. The Duke seemed pleased with the rabble
shouting, A Monmouth, a Monmouth, putting off his hat to such,
and his company called on them to shout. He has not such
encouragement in this city or county as the Dissenters expected,
though 'twas not believed by well-wishers to the King and Government that he would have been permitted to come. |
|
The company is not yet come into the castle. I wish Sir G.
Shakerley's commission be so large that he may suppress tumults
in the city. Our Trained Band is of no use, should there be any
sudden occasion, being first to receive orders from the Lord
Lieutenant, the Earl of Derby, or 3 deputy lieutenants before they
can act. 'Twould be more useful in my opinion and more acceptable to the city, were the governor of the castle with 2 or 3 of our
best aldermen empowered to give them orders. 'Twas much
observed and discoursed among the loyal gentry at the Forest
that Dr. Fogg, who preached in the afternoon before the Duke,
did not pray for the Queen or the Duke of York. |
|
Desiring that Mr. Secretary would not trouble to write in his
behalf to the Bishop, Dean or Chapter, one to the Bishop of St.
Asaph for a sinecure when any should be vacant might do him
more kindness or a word of Mr. Secretary to the Commissioners
for disposing of livings. The church of St. Peter not being all
endowed, he may live there and hold another without any special
qualification. [2 pages. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 81.] |
Sept. 18. |
— to Capt. John Clerke in St. Paul's Churchyard. I
received yours of the 12th last Friday and have not since been
negligent to acquaint myself with the motions and behaviour of
the great man who is come into the country. (Describing his
proceedings at Nantwich, Chester, Wallasey and Liverpool.) |
|
On Thursday he came to Dunham, Lord Delamere's house,
where he was visited by vast companies and received a very
splendid entertainment which was very open to the populace also
that came to see him, and, as an acknowledgement of the people's
kindness, a quantity of blue ribbon was distributed amongst them
so that almost every one more one away, but by whose order it
was given or by whom delivered I am yet to learn. That evening
Newton, the postmaster in Stockport, who has been a great
spreader of seditious news and pamphlets and therefore should be
posted out of his office, with two more of the blue ribbon principle,
having their zeal a little warmed by the sight of the Duke at
Dunham, coming home with their favours in their hats rode up
the street shouting, A Monmouth, a Monmouth. That night the
Duke lay at Dunham and on Friday he dined at the house of Mr.
Henry Booth, one of the knights for Cheshire in the late Parliaments, but with what passed there I am not able to acquaint you.
That evening about 7 he came with a considerable company of
gentlemen to the Earl of Macclesfield's house, Gawsworth, where
I have employed a trusty friend to be a constant observer and the
best account he can yet give is that there has been during the
Duke's stay there a very great concourse of gentlemen. Many
of them were strangers whose names, notwithstanding the intimacy
he had got with the Duke's and the Earl's servants, he could not
learn. Gentlemen there were to the number of 40 or 50 and I
know they were of several countries as Sir Thomas Armstrong,
Mr. Cutts of Cambridgeshire, the old colonel, Sir Henry Ingoldsby
and his son and Sir [John] Corbett of Shrewsbury. Of Staffordshire
there were that he knew Sir John Bowyer, Mr. Offley, with whom
he is reported to dine to-day, and Mr. Gower of Trentham, with
whom he is said to lodge to-night and so to-morrow to go away post
straight for London. Of Cheshire were Lord Colchester, Mr. Booth,
with whom he dined, Sir Thomas Bellott, late burgess for Newcastleunder-Lyme, Sir Peter Stanley of Alderley, who gave him an
invitation to dine, but he had not time to accept it, Sir Robert
Duckenfield, son of the old colonel, Sir John Crewe of Utkinton, Mr.
Booth of Mottram, Lord Delamere's brother, and Mr. Davenport
of Bromhall, both the last Justices for the county, the Mayor of
Chester, Mr. Mainwaring, eldest son of Sir Thomas, a son or two
of Col. Whitley and several more of the above gentlemen's sons.
A couple of considerable clergymen were there too, who have
formerly gone to Chester voting for Mr. Booth, viz., the rectors of
Alderley and Wilmslow. The greatest part of these and many
more met the Duke at Nantwich. Sir Robert Cotton has likewise
been his almost constant attendant. No skill was wanting to
make it publicly known that on Saturday a brace of bucks would
be run down at Gawsworth and that the Duke would ride a hunting.
To augment the sport the Earl procured the young men of the
country, to whom the Duke gave 5 guineas, to play at prison bars
on a plain near the house, which, with the greater influence of the
Duke's presence, procured such a confluence of people as has been
rarely known in this country, there being, as I am told by very credible persons, at least 5 or 6,000 people, who at the Duke's coming
back from hunting gave him a great shout, as they did at other times
when he publicly came amongst them, but I take notice of one
above the rest. About 1 or 2, when Mr. Henry Booth came to
wait on the Duke, as he passed by the crowd they shouted, A
Booth, a Booth, as if they had been again choosing him a member.
The Duke's deportment was extremely humble and pleasing to
the mobile, though he said but little to them, and what the discourse of his retirements was is too great a mystery for me yet to
learn. Among other questions, my friend asked the Duke's
servants why he that saw himself so well beloved would leave his
friends so soon and not accept the invitations given him? The
answer was that his Majesty had limited him a time, which he
would by no means exceed. [1¼ page. S.P. Dom., Car. II, 420,
No. 82.] |
Monday, Sept. 18. 9 a.m. |
Dr. Matthew Fowler to Secretary Jenkins. Giving the account
he had received of the Duke of Monmouth's proceedings at Wallasey
and Liverpool from Peter Shakerley as in the latter's letter calendared ante, p. 396, except the following.—The Duke, having won
the plate and two foot races of about 12 score, which he ran, first
stripped and after in his boots with the same gentleman and beat
him both times, desired the rabble to leave off their shouting. A
trumpeter, offering to sound, was by his command immediately
silenced.—Giving an account of his subsequent progress to the
house of Lord Macclesfield.—I doubt he will receive no good
advice from that ungrateful malcontent, who uses to ride abroad
in a warlike posture with 16 or 20 men at his heels armed with
sword and pistol, which, I conceive, is more than becomes a subject
in times of peace.—Correcting his mistake in his former letter
about the Earl of Derby's conduct.—You may be assured there
was more in this meeting than a horse race, but, if their cabals
were managed with no better prudence than outwardly appeared
in their behaviour, I suppose within this month they will be
ashamed of themselves. They would fain do something to
persuade or rather force the King to pass the bill against his
brother, but 'tis certain the Forest meeting did mightily gravel the
faction, where his Majesty had many faithful subjects, that will
withstand all their wicked designs to the utmost. Give me leave
however thus far to express my thoughts that by this progress of
the Duke, though accompanied with much vanity and folly, it
appears to me that the crown will sit very uneasily on the head
of His Royal Highness, if ever he attain to it, unless he return to
that religion, for which his royal father was crowned with a glorious
martyrdom. [1½ page. Ibid. No. 83.] |
Sept. 18. Whitehall. |
Warrant to the lord of the regality of Dunfermline for the
delivery to any person authorized by the Earl of Perth, Justice
General, of Alexander Gilmore, now a prisoner in Dunfermline
tolbooth, lately sentenced to die for stealing a horse, he being now
appointed to be disposed of as the said Justice General shall think
fit. [S.P. Scotland, Warrant Book 7, p. 381.] |
Sept. 18. Westminster. |
The King to Ralph Montagu, Master of the Great Wardrobe.
Warrant for the delivery to Charles Villiers, clerk of the cheque
to the Yeomen of the Guard, of liveries in the same words as the
warrant of 29 Oct., 1677, calendared in S.P. Dom., 1677–78, p. 431.
[S.P. Dom., Signet Office 1, Vol. 11, p. 106.] |
Sept. 19. |
The Commissioners of the Customs to the Lords [of the Treasury].
Forwarding a complaint of John Imber, their officer at Christchurch, that the officers are refused the liberty of searching Hurst
Castle, which they are informed is a place of great smuggling.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 84.] |
Sept. 19. |
The information of Samuel Carr and Edward West. On
Tuesday, 19 Sept., on the hustings at Guildhall, Benjamin Tooke
asked Sheriff Pilkington by what authority he held the poll there,
who replied, By the authority of the Common Hall, the greatest
authority in London. [Ibid. No. 85.] |
Sept. 19. Rye. |
Robert Hall and Miles Edgar to Secretary Jenkins. We are today informed by Mr. Simon Winslow that the two persons we gave
you an account of are not those that are sought after and that we
continue our diligence. But, should we have any occasion of a
magistrate, the confusion of our town is such that at present
justice is hardly to be had, occasioned by Thomas Tournay, who
will be both Mayor and Town Clerk, notwithstanding according to
the ancient custom we chose Joseph Radford, a very honest and
loyal man, by a majority of votes and swore him, who is hindered
by the said Tournay by clapping locks on the Townhall door, not
suffering Radford, the present Mayor, to keep his Majesty's court.
A petition of this, I am informed, is presented to his Majesty and
an account given to several of the Privy Council of the proceedings
at the election by Sir Thomas Clarges, who was then in town,
especially to Lords Halifax, Clarendon and Hyde, whose assistance
we hope to have with yours. [Ibid. No. 86.] |
Sept. 19. Liverpool. |
Dr. Richmond to Secretary Jenkins. Your letter found me last
night under a great indisposition of body, which yet shall not hinder
me from answering your queries honestly. To the first, What
company there was at Wallasey? I answer there is usually at
that course the Earl of Derby with most of the principal gentry
of Lancashire and Cheshire, but I must add that last week there
were greater numbers than ordinary, most of them country men
and women, who were supposed to come with a desire to have a
view of the Duke of Monmouth. To the second, Who sent to
Liverpool to a hostess there for the reception of 1,000 men? I
neither know nor have heard of any who sent hither to prepare
entertainment for any such number. I saw indeed a letter from
Lord Brandon to Mrs. Atherton, who keeps a tavern here, to bid
her prepare a dinner for about 40 gentlemen to be eaten in the
running ground and further I know not. To the third, Who were
the abettors of the riot and unlawful assembly at Wallasey? I
do not know of any riot there otherwise than the said peaceable
meeting there at horse races nor did I observe the least disturbance
among them nor any discourse that tended to anything more than
bets and friendly communication. I hope I may add that the
Duke lodged one night here at a private house and the Earl of
Derby the same night at mine, so there was no intercourse of visits
here between them. I pray you to believe that, if any passage had
occurred to my notice tending to the prejudice of my sovereign
or his government. I would have given an account of it. [S.P.
Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 87.] |
Sept. 19. Whitehall. |
Warrant for the reprieve of John Peate, a prisoner in Montgomery gaol, who was at the late assizes for Montgomeryshire
condemned for clipping, but stands reprieved for 15 days, which
are almost expired, he having promised to discover divers rich
persons who furnished him with money to clip, if he shall be
reprieved till the next assizes. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 54, p. 141.] |
Sept. 19. Whitehall. |
The Earl of Conway to the Lord Chancellor. The Clerk of the
Crown having prepared a commission of Oyer and Terminer for the
county palatine of Chester, which the King has approved of,
signifying his pleasure that his lordship cause all possible dispatch
to be given it. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 56, p. 63.] |
|
Memorandum of another letter to Mr. Frowde to dispatch it
by that night's post to Chester and to take care it be delivered to
Sir George Jeffreys. [Ibid.] |
Sept. 19. Whitehall. |
The Earl of Conway to the Mayor of Winchester. Sending him
a copy of Edward Harfield's petition, who has applied for a letter
mandatory to Winchester that he may be admitted a member of
that corporation, and desiring him to return his opinion speedily
thereon. [Ibid. p. 64.] |
[Sept. ?] |
Edward Harfell [Harfield] of Winchester to the King. Petition
to the effect stated in the above letter. Was proposed as a bencher
of the corporation by the Mayor but is opposed by some of the
disaffected in the corporation. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 88.] |
Sept. 19. Whitehall. |
The Earl of Conway to the Commissioners of the Admiralty.
Signifying his Majesty's pleasure that they give order immediately
to the captain of the frigate appointed to carry Lord Culpeper to
Virginia that, in case he be not already embarked, he do not
receive him on board and that, if any of his goods or servants are
taken on board, they be likewise put on shore. [S.P. Dom., Entry
Book 56, p. 64.] |
Sept. 19. London. |
Newsletter to John Squier, Newcastle. Foreign letters arrived
yesterday say that in the late progress of Monsr. Louvois he left
word at Strassburg, Nancy and Metz that they should provide
cannon, carriages and all things necessary for a siege. Some people
say it will be either Luxemburg or Philipsburg, most people believe
the latter, because 400 boors are daily employed in clearing the
ways and removing all impediments to that place. |
|
The French King has sent to the Bishop of Basel, requiring him
to recall his minister from Frankfort and swear allegiance to him,
otherwise he will seize his territories. The Bishop answered he
would recall his minister, but could not disown being a subject
to the Empire. |
|
The Earl of Feversham and Col. Graham sent by his Royal
Highness to the French King to congratulate him on the birth of
the Duke of Burgundy are returned, being presented with that
King's picture set with diamonds. |
|
To-day at a Common Hall the Whigs and Tories appeared in
great numbers, one for choosing a sheriff to hold with North and
the other for opposing it. About 10 the Lord Mayor came on the
hustings and the Common Crier made the usual proclamation but,
before he had finished, there was such a confused noise of, No North,
No Hall, that he could not be heard. However he went on and
finished it and then the Lord Mayor retired to the Council Chamber
and left the hustings to the sheriffs, who put the following question
to the Common Hall: As many as are for confirmation of Papillon
and Dubois, hold up your hands, on which there was a great shout.
Then they went off the hustings and acquainted the Lord Mayor
with what they had done, who came down immediately and ordered
the Common Crier to command silence, and then the Common
Serjeant put up Capt. Rich, M.P. for Southwark, for sheriff to hold
with North, who was immediately chosen by the Common Hall,
no one opposing him, which the Lord Mayor seeing immediately
declared him sheriff and then adjourned the court and went home.
I am told that Capt. Rich has already signed his bond. What the
Whigs will do I know not, but find by most I converse with that
they have been over-reached and that the sturdiness of the Lord
Mayor has brought them into several errors. However, after the
Lord Mayor and the loyal party were gone out of the court, the
other party remained, to whom about 12 the sheriffs came and
going on the hustings declared, We are come to this place according to promise, though not so soon as we appointed, to take the
poll; therefore as many of you as are of the affirmative to have
Papillon and Dubois sheriffs, come on and give your names as also
those that are of the negative, on which a great shout was given
and several books delivered to have the names taken. The
sheriffs divided themselves, Mr. Pilkington kept the hustings and
Mr. Shute went to the other end of the hall, called the Sheriffs'
Court, where none of the loyal party appeared to enter one name.
Secretary Jenkins stayed at the Lord Mayor's till he had understood how the proceedings went and were still carrying on and
then went to Whitehall to give his Majesty an account thereof. At 5 this evening the Lord Mayor went to the Guildhall
and on the hustings commanded silence, but, the noise continuing, he was forced to the Court of Aldermen and after
some stay sent Sheriff Shute to tell the people no more business
would be done this day and therefore they should depart immediately, no time being fixed for their meeting again. [3
pages. Admiralty, Greenwich Hospital, News-letters, Original, 2,
No. 44.] |
[Sept., before the 20th.] |
Brief on behalf of Samuel Dobree, respondent, against Peter
Monamy, heir of Andrew Monamy, appellant from a judgment
of the court of Guernsey, given 8 June, 1680, at the Council Board.
Setting forth at great length the proceedings in the suit which
began 17 March, 1661[–2], by Samuel putting in suit against Andrew
Monamy and Ann Millet, relict of Peter Dobree, deceased, a bill
obligatory dated 25 Dec., 1656, by which Andrew Monamy and
Peter Dobree promised to pay 3,362 livres, 17 sols, 3 deniers to
William Dobree due on balance of accounts, whose assignee
Samuel Dobree is. (The suit was finally heard 20 Sept., 1682: see
Privy Council Register [P.C. 2], Vol. 69, p. 548.) [3 pages.
S.P. Channel Islands 1, No. 113.] |
|
Case of the above appellant. [Ibid. No. 114.] |
|
Answer on behalf of Samuel Dobree to objections of Peter
Monamy. [Ibid. No. 115.] |
|
Some observations by way of answer to an unsigned paper
lately given in to the Committee for Jersey and Guernsey by
Samuel Dobree. (Affixed is a copy of the last paper.) [3 pages.
Ibid. No. 116.] |
|
Translation of the above-mentioned bill obligatory. [Ibid.
No. 117.] |
Wednesday, Sept. 20. 9 p.m. Coleshill. |
John Ramsey, serjeant at arms, to Secretary Jenkins. I was
after my departure from Coventry under great uncertainty which
way the Duke would move. At last messengers sent abroad fixed
him certain at Trentham on Tuesday night, but, he having been
that day at Newcastle after a splendid dinner and entertained
there by Mr. Sneyd and coming back very late, I thought not fit
without any officer or person living to second me, nay being jealous
of my postboy, to attack him there, and the rather because I
became assured that his Grace had accepted as this day an invitation from the mobile, not the Mayor, of Stafford of an entertainment; and so riding back, attending him thither in the great crowd
of his friends, I was forced to inform him of my business, which,
against my motion, he made public among his friends there, and,
submitting to the authority, is come thus far, to-morrow intending
as he says to Towcester and, I fear, not till Saturday to London.
This delay is, I conceive, occasioned, because, on his being secured,
Mr. Leveson Gower, Mr. Offley, Mr. Cutts, Mr. Forester and others,
with all manner of testimonials for his Grace's good behaviour, are
determined to appear also and take his fortune. Hard riding and
a tumult about us give me just reason to beg your pardon, all
particulars being ready for you at my return. [1½ page. S.P.
Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 89.] |
Sept. 20. Stafford. |
[Sampson Byrch, Mayor ?] to [the Duke of Monmouth]. I am a
Protestant of the Church of England, as by law established, not
inclining on the one side to Popery nor on the other to Fanaticism,
one that has suffered under that usage which the King has called
arbitrary, one that has addressed the King by way of thankfulness
for his late gracious declaration, one that has abhorred all traitorous
associations against the King and one that, as the King's deputy
here, will recede neither from these my professions of loyalty nor
the trust reposed in me and lastly one that will serve your Grace
in anything not inconsistent with the good liking of my sovereign.
[Presumably the enclosure referred to in Sampson Byrch's letter of
the 25th: see post, p. 427.] [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 90.] |
Sept. 20. Chester Castle. |
Peter Shakerly to Secretary Jenkins. Cousin Cholmondely
tells me by last Monday's post that you had not heard from me.
I shall be very much troubled if my letter of the 11th is miscarried,
but I hope my cousin meant that you had not a letter by the post
following. The reason was my being at Wallasey, from whence I
could not conveniently write, but by last Saturday's post I gave
you a full account of what came to my knowledge there and at
Liverpool and I deposed before Leftwich Oldfield, a Justice, what
I had heard and seen myself and what I had heard from others
that might be material, which will be sent you by the King's
messenger with the depositions of several others. The Saturday
the Duke came here I furnished Capt. Samuel Terrick and his son
with a couple of horses and ordered one to go and take a particular
account of what persons met, where they met, how attended and
what were most active in ordering the men in their march to
Chester. The other was only to observe their numbers. Both are
now in London and I doubt not cousin Cholmondeley can tell you
where they lodge. My friend from Macclesfield is not yet come
home. What has passed at Rocksavage, Dunham and Mear I
am assured you'll have from Sir Robert Leicester and Leftwich
Oldfield by the messenger. [Ibid. No. 91.] |
Sept. 20. Liverpool. |
James Vernon to Secretary Jenkins. I, having more than
ordinary occasion to attend affairs in the Custom-house here, was
not at Wallasey the day of the race and therefore to the first
question, What company were there? can only say there went over
the water here the Earl of Derby with some Lancashire gentlemen
that usually attend him on such occasions. To the second, a
letter was writ from Lord Brandon to Mrs. Atherton, that keeps
a tavern here, to provide entertainment at Wallasey race but for
what number I cannot learn. To the third, I cannot answer who
the abettors of that assembly were, neither having been there nor
had any communication with them. After the race the Duke
came over here and was entertained at supper at Mrs. Atherton's
house, called the Tower, and lodged at a private house, Alderman
John Chorley's. Who came over with him or attended him I cannot
certainly come to the knowledge of. The day after he came,
before he went over again, he was entertained by the Mayor and
made free, who, to vote him free, could scarce get a Council, being
forced to make use of one of the Council, who acted, as I am informed, though he has not taken the requisite oaths. The second
day he came over again but made no stay at all in the town and
was followed out of it by some acclamations of the vulgar sort of
people. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 92.] |
Sept. 20. Whitehall. |
Secretary Jenkins to Sheriff Pilkington. Signifying his Majesty's
pleasure that he and his colleague, Sheriff Shute, immediately on
sight thereof repair to Whitehall to attend his Majesty. [S.P.
Dom., Entry Book 68, p. 138.] |
Sept. 21. |
[Secretary Jenkins] to Viscount Preston. I thank you for your
advice in cipher that there was a man taken on the road from Rye.
He answered the description in your letter strangely, but proved
to be an old rambling tric-trac player of Antwerp known to the
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and others here. He was immediately
dismissed and our friends at Rye set on their guard again. Noted,
as sent in cipher. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 93.] |
Sept. 21. 9 a.m. Coventry. |
John Ramsey, serjeant at arms, to O. Wynne. I am thus far
returned with the Duke. Yesternight Sir Thomas Armstrong
went secretly from me at Coleshill post, pretending to them that
saw him take horse he determined only to come to Coventry, but,
as soon as he came there, he immediately took post for London, so
I conclude he will be there this afternoon. Please communicate
this to the Secretary, the notice I chiefly take of it being his
attempt to blind me that I might not guess at his sudden journey.
[Ibid. No. 94.] |
Sept. 21. |
P.— H.— to Peter Shakerley. The observations I made
myself and the account I had from others of the Duke's reception
in the corporations and towns he passed through in, or rather out
of, his way to Gawsworth may not be unacceptable to you. The
first day of our Chancellor's visitation, Monday the 11th, we came
to Warrington and there stayed that night. I made it my business
to play the good fellow that night that I might get into the
company of some of the townsmen I knew to be sufficiently
tainted with Whiggism. After a while we fell on the common
text and handled it seditiously enough. I dissembled as long as
I could, but they ran so high that my passion would conceal my
principles no longer. I pursued them from one argument to
another, till at last one of them urged the damnable position, so
taking to ordinary capacities, that the Duke was the King's
primogenitus and, if the marriage was not according to the law of
this land, yet in foro coeli, it went far with them. This argument
occasioned some heats, because they would not receive such an
answer as naturally offered itself to all rational men. The Thursday after the Duke came from Rocksavage to go for Dunham.
As he passed over Stocken Heath, a mile from Warrington, that
party had got a number of people together on the Heath and
received him with shouts and acclamations of joy and gave him a
treat. At Dunham the company was great, where on Friday
morning he was guarded from the hall to the stables, the rabble
being placed in two files, he with the rest of the gentlemen passing
through the midst of them. He took horse in the stables and so
rid away to Mear Hall, where he dined, and afterwards set forward
for Gawsworth. As he rid through Higher and Lower Knutsford
he had his usual entertainment of shouts from the rabble, he
himself, as I was told, being all or most of the while bareheaded.
When he came hard by Gawsworth, he was met with a great multitude. One who was there told me at Macclesfield he judged
them to be 3,000. On Saturday morning he with the gentlemen
that attended him went a-hunting. The remaining part of the
day he was diverted with a prison bar playing. The sport was so
taking with him that he gave 5 guineas to the runners and one to
the drummer. On Sunday he went both ends of the day to
Gawsworth Church, where Mr. Marsden of Walton in Lancashire
preached, being sent for on purpose by the Earl of Macclesfield.
The Duke's entertainment there by the description of some that
were present was very splendid and great. Monday morning he
went thence to be at Trentham that night. Not only the rabble
was again gathered to a vast number, but all the Earl's tenants
were obliged by special command from him to attend, who accordingly did so. Some of them were churchwardens and were to
appear that day at Macclesfield to give in their presentments.
They sent one to excuse for them, but the court at first denied,
till the man said, they durst not disobey their landlord (note by P.
Shakerley, and, as I am informed, the Duke, asking who they were,
was answered that they were Mr. Booth's tenants and friends).
In his way to Trentham he rode through Congleton and Newcastle,
both corporation towns, where he was received after the usual
manner. I was told they strewed the streets at Congleton with
sand. His reception at Newcastle was above that at any other
place I yet heard of, for the gentry and young freemen of the town
all went on horseback out of town to meet him, and the Mayor and
aldermen and the rest of the town received him at the town's end
on foot. The bells rang all night and many bonfires were made,
but I do not much wonder, for that town has ever been seditious
and there are small hopes of amendment. |
|
The growing mischief of the Duke's appearance in this country
I fear will be in the ordinary sort of people, who must do the
business, if an occasion offers, for I could not on my journey meet
with any of those persons that I did not on discourse find mightily
for the Duke's interest, alleging for themselves that the King had
taken him into favour again and given him leave to come down.
This project, you know, has been laid with us at Chester, which
worked so far with some that they met the Duke. Otherwise, I
am sure, they would have disappeared. [This appears to have
formed the enclosure in Peter Shakerley's letter of the 23rd: see
post, p. 420.] [3 pages. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 95.] |
Sept. 21. Whitehall. |
Warrant on the surrender by the town and county of Nottingham
of their lands and charters for a charter re-incorporating the said
town and county and for a re-grant of the said lands with a clause
relinquishing one fair held yearly there on St. Matthias' day and
continuing 8 days and in lieu thereof granting them two new fairs
to be held yearly there, the first to begin 23 April and the other
1 Nov., each to continue for 8 days respectively. [2 pages. S.P.
Dom., Entry Book 66, p. 139.] |
Sept. 21. |
Secretary Jenkins to Sir George Jeffreys. My lord (for so I
must call you, now that this script is to find you in your scarlet
robes), your letter from Wrexham was read to his Majesty and
the lords that attended him last Wednesday. I put it into Lord
Hyde's hands to produce, for I was in the City part of the day in
your house. I had sent for Mr. Graham overnight to receive the
orders his Majesty should give. The issuing of the commission
or not was referred to the Lord Chancellor. You may assure our
friends at Chester that his Majesty is very well pleased with those
that gave no countenance to the riotous and dangerous concourse
that attended the Duke of Monmouth's coming into those parts
and that it is his express desire to have the laws put in execution
with vigour against those that were guilty of any disorder, wherein
he is assured you will do your part. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 68,
p. 138.] |
Sept. 21. London. |
Newsletter to John Squier, Newcastle. A report having been
spread on Tuesday night that there would be a Common Hall
early on Wednesday morning, the Whiggish citizens thronged to the
hall and tarried there till 9, when the Lord Mayor came. As soon
as he lighted out of his coach, he turned to the people and desired
to know what was the meaning of their meeting. Some replied
that they were informed there was to be a Common Hall, but the
Lord Mayor immediately answered that there was to be none and
that he scorned to put such a trick on the City and therefore
commanded them to repair to their own homes. From the hall
he went to the Council Chamber, where several aldermen attended
him, with whom after some stay he went to Whitehall to acquaint
his Majesty with the proceedings of the Common Hall on Tuesday.
Several persons, whose names he had taken, made oath before the
King and Council that amongst other irregularities of Sheriff
Pilkington he replied to one that demanded of him by what
authority he held the poll, By order of the Common Hall, which
was the supreme authority in London. On these depositions an
order was made for sending for the two sheriffs to attend them in
the afternoon, where they defended themselves so ill that 'twas
believed they would have been sent to the Tower, but, they having
been there so lately, the Council took bail for them. Now they
are bound each in 1,000l. recognizance and have given in 10
sureties bound in 500l. apiece that they shall appear to answer all
such things as shall be laid against them by the Attorney-General.
(Names of the sureties.) |
|
To-day Sheriff Pilkington invites all his bail to dinner and at 3
this afternoon one of the Clerks of the Council comes to take their
bonds. |
|
The body of Lord Berkeley, who died on board the Tiger, being
brought hither, will be interred at Twickenham. |
|
At Dover two Mayors are chosen but Capt. Roberts and Mr.
Denen are come to the King to decide the difference. |
|
The Earl of Sunderland was by his Majesty's command on
the 20th readmitted a Privy Councillor. [3 pages. Admiralty,
Greenwich Hospital, News-letters, Original, 2, No. 45.] |
Sept. 21. Whitehall. |
Warrants for commissions during pleasure to William, Marquess
of Queensberry and to Andrew White, major of the Earl of Mar's
regiment, to be governor and lieut.-governor respectively of
Edinburgh Castle. [S.P. Scotland, Warrant Book 7, p. 382 and
p. 385.] |
Sept. 21. Whitehall. |
Commissions to the said Marquess and the said Andrew White to
be captain and lieutenant respectively of the foot company in
garrison in Edinburgh Castle. [Ibid. p. 384 and p. 387.] |
Sept. 21. Whitehall. |
The King to the States General of the United Provinces. Letters
credential for James Kennedy appointed Conservator of the
privileges of the Scotch merchants there and Resident for Scotch
affairs. [French. Ibid. p. 388.] |
Sept. 21. Whitehall. |
Similar letters in favour of James Kennedy to the Marquis de
Grana, governor of the Spanish Netherlands, and to the Maréchal
d'Humieres, governor of the French conquests in the Spanish
Netherlands. [The first in Latin, the second in French. Ibid.
pp. 389, 390.] |
Sept. 21. Whitehall. |
Warrant for a charter to Patrick McKie of Auchleane, his heirs
and assigns, of the ten merkland of Auchleane in the parochin
and shirefdome of Wigton, which formerly pertained to Alexander
McCulloch of Drummorall and Margaret Gordon, his spouse, and
are now fallen into his Majesty's hands by reason of recognition,
with a new gift and a change of the holding from simple ward to
taxt ward. [Docquet. Ibid. p. 391.] |
Sept. 21. Whitehall. |
Warrant for a charter to David Cairnes, portioner of Luthrie,
his heirs and assigns, of the lands of Baledmouth and other lands
in the shirefdome of Fife, which pertained to David Young of
Kirktoun or James Young, his son, and now are fallen into his
Majesty's hands by reason of recognition, with a proviso that the
said Cairnes give a back bond that he, being paid the debts,
principal and interest, and expenses owing to him for himself and
as having right from Sir David Arnett of that ilk and others by
the said David and James Young or either of them, with the
expenses of this gift, shall be holden to denude himself of the
surplus benefit of this gift in favour of the other creditors.
[Docquet. S.P. Scotland, Warrant Book 7, p. 392.] |
Sept. 21. Whitehall. |
Protection in the new form to John Maxwell of Mebie for two
years. [Ibid. p. 393.] |
Sept. 21. Whitehall. |
Memorials of protections in the new form to — Campbell of
Crunan, — Cant, Lady Comiestoun, John Maxwell, merchant
in Paisley, and James Barclay of Abernait for two years respectively. [Ibid. pp. 394, 395.] |
Friday, Sept. 22. |
The Earl of Nottingham, Lord Chancellor, to Secretary Jenkins.
The advice given and, as I think, agreed on was that the serjeant
should only summon him to attend the King and not offer to seize
his person but in case of refusal. Had this advice been followed,
there had been no occasion for the present question, for, when a
man is not taken into custody, there can be no pretence for a
Habeas Corpus, but, since a contrary course has been followed,
it is not to be doubted there is as much to have a Habeas Corpus
directed to a serjeant at arms as to any other gaoler, and the law
was always so long before the new Act, though the execution and
return of the writ was not so speedy. Nor does this prevent the
examination of the prisoner but hastens it, for he may be examined,
as soon as he is brought before the judge, by him or any officer of
State who shall be directed to be present, nor can the judge use
any delay in this matter above three days. I have not yet seen
the judge, but, when he comes, I shall be of the same opinion.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 96.] |
Sept. 22. 10 p.m. St. Albans. |
John Ramsey, serjeant at arms, to Secretary Jenkins. By my
last I gave an account how I met with the Duke and troubled Mr.
Wynne next morning with a few lines that he might acquaint you
how slily Sir Thomas Armstrong was gone for London, who tonight has brought hither a writ of Habeas Corpus from Justice
Raymond, which to the best of my judgment is within the intention of that Act and so not to be disobeyed. I had intended to
come hence in the Duke's coach, which with those of two other
of his friends meets him here, but, thinking it necessary to send
this messenger for instructions, I will ride the rest of the way and
call for the bearer at the Gatehouse at Highgate, in hopes there
to receive your commands. His Grace tells me he will not go
hence till 8, so that 10 may be esteemed a good hour for the
messenger's return to Highgate, but, lest they may move earlier
to prevent my instructions, of which they are not however to my
knowledge the least suspicious, I beg he may be dispatched as
soon as possible. [Ibid. No. 97.] |
Sept. 22. Baguley. |
Edward Legh to Secretary Jenkins. I received your letter by
the messenger. As I live at a considerable distance from the
places where the Duke of Monmouth has been I cannot give you
the account which some of my fellow Justices may have done.
Only, when he came to Dunham on Thursday, the 14th, I heard
he dined there and received a splendid entertainment. He stayed
there all night, most of which time, 'tis said, was spent in dancing.
(About his dining with Mr. Booth and going to Gawsworth.) At
Dunham, I am certainly informed, few of the county gentry were
with him, for I heard of none except Sir John Crewe, Nathaniel and
Henry Booth and Mr. Ashton of Ashley. Some considerable
numbers of the common people, they say, were there, whose
manner it is to come to great houses at such meetings to see sights.
I could not send for some that were there to examine them, because
they lived so far off. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 98.] |
Sept. 22. Leftwich. |
Leftwich Oldfield to Secretary Jenkins. I received on the 18th
by Mr. Saywell his Majesty's commands in yours of the 15th and
return by the same messenger the examinations of 11 persons
(giving their names). Had not liberty been given by the question
of other occurrences at the close of the 4 interrogatories, it would
have been very difficult to have gained any material account of
proceedings here and, though many things in the depositions seem
trifling by themselves, yet imagining they may give light or piece
to some other evidence, I could not omit them. [Ibid. No. 99.] |
Sept. 22. |
Deposition of Samuel Seward and Stephen Hackluite of Leominster that immediately after the dissolution of the Oxford
Parliament they heard John Dutton Colt say that the Duke of
York was a Papist and that, before any such Papist dog as he
should be successor to the Crown, he himself would be hanged at
his own door and also that he would venture his life and fortune
to prevent the same. [Ibid. No. 100.] |
Sept. 23. Chester Castle. |
Sir Geoffrey Shakerley to Secretary Jenkins. In pursuance of his
Majesty's commands in yours of the 15th I have with the other
gentlemen of the county you wrote to done my utmost to answer
his expectation. The transactions about that affair are sent by
the messenger. |
|
His Majesty having given me his commission for governor of
this castle and to command the garrison by myself or deputy, I
have constituted my son Peter deputy, which I hope will be acceptable. Capt. Nott with his company arrived here this morning and
are received into this castle. [Ibid. No. 101.] |
Sept. 23. Chester Castle. |
Peter Shakerley to Secretary Jenkins. Again expressing his
uneasiness at not having heard of the receipt of his letter of
the 11th. |
|
The enclosed is my friend's account of what he gathered from
certain intelligencers in Macclesfield and elsewhere, as he went the
visitation circuit, being a proctor in the spiritual court. You may
rely on it for truth. I directed my kinsman, Leftwich Oldfield,
and Mr. Saywell to Oliver Lime, an honest gentleman in Liverpool,
from whom I endeavoured an account when I was there, but Mr.
Lewis and others attended me so diligently I could not get it.
Two stories were affirmed to me for truth. At Nantwich, his
Grace being on horseback ready to come away for Chester, the
women of the town flocked about him so that happy she esteemed
herself who could but attain to kiss his horse's tail, but an elderly
woman had the good luck to get a kiss of his knee and looking up
at him cried, Ah pray God in heaven bless you; you are so like
your father that I am sure you are no bastard. |
|
The other is. Tom Whitley of Aston, Col. Whitley's elder
brother's son, being at Wallasey was drunk to the Duke of Monmouth's health, which he readily pledged, and immediately drank
to the same person the Duke of York's health, which he refusing
to pledge, says Tom, If thou'll not take my Duke, take thou thine
again, and so, putting his finger in his mouth, threw him out on him. |
|
To-day Sir George Jeffreys comes here. So will Capt. Nott and
his company, they quartering last night but 5 miles out of town.
(About his being made deputy governor by his father.) [The
enclosure referred to appears to be P—H—'s letter of the
21st: see ante, p. 415.] [1¼ page. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 420,
No. 102.] |
Sept. 23. Chester Castle. |
Peter Shakerley to [O. Wynne ?]. Some think Lord Derby will
return, but others have some doubts of it whilst the militia in this
county continued in so bad order and 20 barrels of powder, removed from the castle by his order, being the ammunition for the
county, are lodged in a weak place in this city. I forgot in my
letter by this post to acquaint Sir Leoline with this. [Ibid. No.
103.] |
Sept. 23. Chester. |
Five Justices of Chester to Secretary Jenkins. Pursuant to his
Majesty's command signified in his letter of the 15th sending up
by the messenger several depositions about the disorders there at
or since the Duke of Monmouth's coming. [Ibid. No. 104.] |
Sept. 23. 5 p.m. Chester. |
Sir Robert Leicester and 7 other Justices of Cheshire to Secretary
Jenkins. His Majesty's commands in yours of the 15th we
received by Mr. Saywell, in obedience whereto the examinations
herewith, all we could gather in the short time. Though we have
sometimes varied from the interrogatories, yet we found we could
not otherwise have sent any considerable account and we are
apprehensive that more yet lies hid than at present appears, for
we find most people unwilling or afraid to give proof of what they
know, being strangely influenced by their terror on the hectoring
and riotous proceedings, wherein all sorts of Fanatics concurred
with inexpressible boldness, bringing a strange awe on many and
shaking the allegiance of others. In the meantime how requisite
it may be to render our militia useful by calling them together
some times, at least once a year or at this juncture, as likewise of
what dangerous consequence it may prove to suffer the gentry
heading and promoting such tumultuous meetings to ride so armed
as they do with their retinues as also to keep such quantities of
arms, as some are reported to have, though we can get no positive
proof, we submit to his Majesty's wisdom. We shall not fail to
give you a speedy and faithful account of any further notable
occurrences and shall behave in all things as becomes our duty. |
|
As to our militia, we wrote about the middle of August to the
Earl of Derby for raising it, being suspicious that at the Duke of
Monmouth's coming there might be some riots. All the deputy
lieutenants signed the letter but three, viz., Sir Richard Brook,
Mr. Nathaniel Booth and Sir Willoughby Aston (and Sir Robert
Cotton, who was then out of the country). The sum of it was to
acquaint him with the state of our militia and what we then
judged necessary to make it useful, but he gave us no answer but
that he would consider of it and from that time to this we have
heard nothing. The Act allows the deputies, as we conceive,
little or no authority, while the Lord Lieutenant resides in his
lieutenancy, so we hope his Majesty will order what he expects to
be done, for since the last muster we have had alterations in both
the county and the city, but the militia has not met in either that
the officers might better undertake and know their charge, some
of whom have at present no commissions. [S.P. Dom., Car. II.
420, No. 105.] |
Sept. 23. |
— to Capt. John Clerke. I have not yet discovered myself
mistaken in any particular of my last, save that what I doubtfully
spoke of the Duke's lodging on the Wednesday at Sir Willoughby
Aston's proves false, for he lay that night at Rocksavage and on
Thursday went to Dunham, where something remarkable passed,
which is that, as he sat at meat, the doors were set open and the
rabble suffered not only to gaze into the room but to come in and
view the Duke, entering at one door and going out at another, and
so the mobile passed and repassed the greatest part of dinner.
I am likewise told, but have it not for certain, that the names of
the most considerable people that came thither were taken in
writing. Thence he went on Friday to dine with Henry Booth
where there dined 41 (I tremble to remember that fatal number)
at the best table, whereof about 10 were women, and there likewise
was liberty given to such a proportion of the rest as the capacity
of the place would reasonably admit to come in and walk and stand
about the table, whilst the rest without doors shouted, A Monmouth, a Monmouth! After dinner the Duke danced and that
day Mr. Booth's servants wore the Duke's colours in their cravats.
The entertainment being over, but not the whoopings of the people,
he departed for Gawsworth. As he passed through Knutsford,
the streets were strewn with sand and flowers, sure to make his
station more pleasant whilst he received a treat from Harrison,
a feltmaker, and, as he rode along the way, which was for the most
part lined with great numbers, some were sent before to instruct
them how to know him and the gentlemen that rode with him
frequently called on them to shout, in which they were forward
enough. When the Earl of Macclesfield sent to the young men
to play at prison bars, he promised them a piece of plate to play
for. The Duke came out to see the sport, but stayed not
long. Some persons, but unknown, among the crowd were heard
to say they would not have a Papist to inherit and that they
would venture their lives for the Duke of Monmouth, yet, notwithstanding this and the riots on the other side of the county,
there was on this, that I can hear of, not so much as a single breach
of the peace amongst them. The Earl of Macclesfield invited a
considerable number of his neighbours and tenants to wait on the
Duke last Monday as far as Congleton, where the Duke and his
friends received an entertainment from the Mayor and likewise
the compliment of having the streets strewn with sand as at
Knutsford. Thence he went to dinner at Madely Manor. It was
observed that the greatest part of the gentlemen of the country,
who attended him while at Gawsworth, not only rode with sword
and pistols themselves, though many of them were not wont to do
so, but were attended by more servants than their accustomed
number, all accoutred as well as their masters. [S.P. Dom.,
Car. II. 420, No. 106.] |
Sept. 23. |
The examination of Jacob Pattison. One that goes by the name
of James Carroll at his house on the 22nd at night began to discourse of a plot he had discovered in Ireland and that thereby he
had preserved the lives of all in his company as well as this whole
kingdom and he likewise told the examinant that within a month
a disturbance or rising would happen in the City of London.
[Ibid. No. 107.] |
[Sept. 23 ?] |
Narrative describing the cold reception of the Duke of Monmouth
at Lichfield and his warm reception at Stone, Nantwich and
Chester, as in other letters. |
|
Going from Wallasey to Liverpool, a man brought a child into
the boat, which had the evil, to be touched by the Duke and he
laid his hand on it and said, God bless you. (About his reception
at Liverpool and other places, as in previous letters.) |
|
When he was taken he sent Sir T. Armstrong post for London,
who met him at St. Albans and brought a lord with him, which
lord came with the Duke to London in a little chariot. [23 Sept.]
Endorsed, "Mr. Shakerley's private advice." [Ibid. No. 108.] |
Sept. 23. |
Secretary Jenkins to the Earl of Yarmouth. The news in your
letter to his Majesty, which I presented to him this morning, was
very welcome. He commanded me to give you his hearty thanks
for your care and conduct in relation to the city of Norwich;
I say the good of that city, for so he reckons the surrendering of
their charter to be, he being resolved to abridge them in nothing,
but to grant them everything that is for their good, and, if he
retrench them in anything, it will be only in those things that do the
community no good and yet breed disturbance to the public and
are dangerous to the peace of the kingdom. With all my heart I
congratulate with you in this happy success. The thing in itself
is not only good service to the Crown and great reputation to you,
but the example is of universal influence on all corporations. His
Majesty has been so busy all this day that he has not been at
liberty to spare one minute for less public affairs than those before
him. I hope with Tuesday's post to give you an account of what
is to be done further. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 68, p. 139.] |
Sept. 23. Whitehall. |
The King to the Marquess of Queensberry, Treasurer Principal,
John Drummond of Lundin, Treasurer Deput, and the remanent
lords and others of the Exchequer of Scotland. Warrant, after
reciting the warrants of 13 Aug., 1679, and 4 March, 1680–1
(calendared in S.P. Dom., 1679–80, p. 217, and in S.P. Dom.,
1680–81, p. 197), for causing the heirs and executors of Sir William
Steward of Kirkhill to subscribe a back bond, according to the
tenor of the said two warrants, for being comptable for the
benefit of the escheat of John Steward of Kettlestoun, his uncle,
notwithstanding the answer formerly sent to the said two warrants. [S.P. Scotland, Warrant Book 7, p. 395.] |
Sept. 23. Whitehall. |
Protection in the new form to Sir Donald Macdonald of Slaite
for two years. [Ibid. p. 396.] |
Sept. 23. Greenwich. |
Sir William Hooker to Secretary Jenkins. Informing him that
James Carroll was brought before him on a drunken quarrel, whom
he found to be a discoverer of plots and fit for that purpose, as he
was poor and could easily swear what should be dictated to him,
and desiring his opinion whether he should punish him or let him
go. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 109.] |
Sept. 24. |
The information of Capt. Michael Browne of Hampton Wafer,
Herefordshire. About 3 weeks before the sitting of the Oxford
Parliament the informant several times heard Thomas Coningesby
of Hampton Court in Herefordshire and John Dutton Colt of
Leominster say that every member would come very nobly attended to Oxford with good horses and arms, and thereupon Coningesby
asked the deponent, his brother-in-law, to lend him his pistols and
said he would furnish his servants with arms of his own, which
would do good execution, if the King should bring any of his
guards there to disturb them. A letter afterwards came, as the
deponent believes, by post from Oxford directed to Ferdinando
Gorges at Hampton Court, which came to Coningesby's wife, who
is daughter of the said Gorges. She opened it and said it was her
husband's handwriting and read it to the deponent. The purport
was that, instead of sitting like a free Parliament of England, he
thought they sat more like a company of slaves in a garrison and
the King was come to town with all his red coats. He further
said that he thought, if ever they, meaning the Guards, were
routed, it would be before the then Parliament went from Oxford,
the said Coningesby then declaring before the said Colt that the
King's Guards were the greatest grievance of the nation, to all which
the said Colt seemed to the deponent to consent. |
|
In the said letter he further wrote that he thought to confront
the said Guards at Oxford there would be in 8 or 10 days gentlemen
and farmers out of all the counties of England to the number of
2,000 at their own charges to assist the Parliament, if needful, and
that he thought that every Parliament man, one with another, had
five followers or servants no worse fitted with horses and arms
than their masters. |
|
The said Coningesby and Colt at their return from Oxford after
the dissolution of the Parliament railed against the King and
Queen and said that the Duke of York, the Marquess of Worcester,
Lord Halifax, the Lord Chancellor, Sir L. Jenkins, Lord Hyde,
Mr. Seymour and several others had given the King evil counsel
and further said that it would not be long before the King was
necessitated to call another Parliament, which, they hoped, would
be quick enough for the King and his pocky cavaliers the next
time they sat, being well assured the King should repent him of
his dissolving of Parliaments, but the next Parliament, Colt said,
he was sure would not be so served. |
|
Some short time after the dissolution of the last Parliament
there was a private cabal at Hampton Court appointed by Col.
John Birch, who failed to appear, but there were at it the said
Thomas Coningesby, Sir Edward Harley, Paul Foley and John
Dutton Colt, and at dinner, before they went in private to their
cabal, they discoursed concerning Lord Scudamore, how timorous
he was that morning Lord Shaftesbury visited him at his lodgings
at Oxford, after the King had dissolved the Parliament, where all
or most of the Parliament men of Herefordshire were present to
wait on Lord Shaftesbury, who told them, as they said then, that
he thought them all gentlemen of interest in their county and that
it now behoved them all every man to make haste to his own home
and to acquaint all poor countrymen in what a sad condition they
were, if they did not stand up for such a Parliament as this was,
who had so vigorously stood up for them, with their lives and
fortunes, and that he further said that he thought there would be
something to do in England before another Parliament sat and
that those members, though dissolved, should take upon them the
peace and government of their several counties and that he hoped
to see them all commission officers, nominating Lord Scudamore,
Col. Birch and Sir Edward Harley for colonels, and Thomas
Coningesby, Paul Foley and John Dutton Colt for captains. On
this discourse Lord Scudamore then asked the Earl from whom
he should have his commission, who answered, from those who
had power in their hands to do it. Lord Scudamore thereupon
said he would never fight against the laws of the land and told the
said Earl that, though he had given his vote against the Duke of
York in the two last Parliaments, yet, if he should be so unfortunate
as to lose the King, he would never lift up his hand against his
brother. On this answer of Lord Scudamore's the said Coningesby,
Harley, Foley and Colt discoursed that he was a person of a poor or
low spirit or words to the same effect. |
|
Some time after the dissolution of the last Parliament the said
Sir Edward Harley, Coningesby, Foley and Colt being at Hampton
Court, Sir Edward said that he thought this nation had already
suffered too much slavery and injustice by being tyrannized over
by those great persons that his Majesty entrusted in so weighty
a concern and declared there was not, as he believed, one Lord
Lieutenant or militia officer in England but what was a damned
Papist, naming the Marquess of Worcester, Lord Peterborough
and several others, and then further said that, if they (meaning the
last Parliament) had been so fortunate as to have sat but three
months, they would have reformed all the officers in all public
employments in England, to which words of Sir Edward's the said
Coningesby, Foley and Colt consented and unanimously approved
of, and then further said that, if they had but so much as
dreamt of so sudden a dissolution, they would have been better
provided, for they were sure that the hearts and hands of all the
countrymen in England would have peaceably assisted them.
[6 pages. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 110.] |
Sept. 25. Ingestre. |
W. Chetwynd to [Secretary Jenkins]. I had yours by last post and
am glad none of my letters miscarried. The enquiry arose from an
information that about 10 days since several letters were found
on the road not far from hence, which were lost by the Stone
postboy. |
|
I am at present confined to my chamber and have no other
intelligence than common report. What happened lately at
Stafford you will know from Serjeant Ramsey and the Mayor.
The late hurry has caused such a fermentation in these parts as
will, I fear, not suddenly be allayed and has given such encouragement and advantages to the other party that, should his Majesty
call a Parliament shortly, I fear we should make but an ill choice
in these parts. The borough of Newcastle invited the Duke and
declared themselves unanimously his servants and, though the
Mayor and aldermen of Stafford are (most of them) truly loyal,
yet the inferior burgesses so far outnumber them that my old
fellow member Sir T. Armstrong may with reason expect to carry
the election there against all opposition. I am told that corporation have resolved to surrender their charter, if his Majesty
shall think it worth sending for, otherwise not. [3 pages. Ibid.
No. 111.] |
Sept. 25. Chester. |
Sir George Jeffreys to Secretary Jenkins. I received the commission of Oyer and Terminer and since that yours of the 21st. I
arrived here last Saturday and was welcomed by most of the loyal
gentlemen of the county and imparted yours to the loyal gentlemen
of the county, which was very grateful, and the commission came
here in the nick of time. I ordered precepts to the sheriffs of the
city to prepare a Grand Jury against to-morrow and hope give you
a good account per next. I expect some dispute betwixt the
Mayor, the Recorder and myself about the extent of the commission, they being very unwilling that any stranger should intermeddle in their late disorders, to which they themselves so much
contributed, especially the Mayor and Alderman Streete, who, I
could have wished, had not been in the commission, by reason he
is a pestilently troublesome fellow. The greater part, I hope, are
of our side. The parsons yesterday did their parts, for which I
gave them public thanks, which, I hear, has offended the Mayor.
I wish you all good success on Friday. My house is yours. [S.P.
Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 112.] |
Sept. 25. Chester Castle. |
Peter Shakerley to Secretary Jenkins. Your letter by last post
has extinguished my doubts of my letter's miscarriage. I'll do
my best to send what gleanings I can, but, having writ you last
post the best additional account I could get and having also seen
some collections sent you by Mr. Saywell, I believe the harvest
has been so clean that it is not worth while to delay the thrashing.
As for the bill you mention, I wholly exclude it from my thoughts. |
|
I am credibly told that Lord Colchester with a very extraordinary
deep sigh expressed his grief when he heard the sudden cause of
his Grace's departure from Stafford and the Whigs here seem much
disheartened by it. (Sending the names of five justices or deputylieutenants and of T. Whitley, the colonel's eldest son, who is
captain of a militia company in Wales, who took part in the Duke's
reception.) [Ibid. No. 113.] |
Sept. 25. Stafford. |
Sampson Byrch, Mayor, to [Secretary Jenkins]. This town being
incorporated by the name of Mayor and Burgesses, a number of
the inferior burgesses went the 17th to the Earl of Macclesfield's
to the Duke of Monmouth without my privity or consent. What
passed there I know not. The 18th one of them came back and
told me the Duke remembered his love to his friends in Stafford
and that Lord Brandon and Sir T. Armstrong would be in Stafford
on the 19th, and said their coming was to find the inclination of
the town and how affected to treat the Duke and he was urgent
with me to prepare a public entertainment for him, which I
positively refused. After I had ended the courts held here the
18th, I went to attend and blood Mr. Chetwynd of Ingestre and
stayed with him all that night and returned not home next day,
because I would not be in the way of Lord Brandon and Sir Thomas,
but instead of them came a Mr. Marshall to my house and left me
word from the Duke that he would come through Stafford on the
20th and desired to see me then. I being not at home, Mr. Marshall
went to Ingestre and told Mr. Chetwynd the message he had left
for me, which he should of right have delivered to myself. I was
gone from Ingestre that 19th to visit another gentleman and
promised to return there next morning and then Mr. Chetwynd
related to me what Mr. Marshall had said from the Duke. My
wife sent me word the morning of the 20th that the vulgarity of
the town threatened to make my house and windows pay for the
absence of the Tory Mayor, so by Mr. Chetwynd's advice I returned
home, both to secure the peace of the town and to make due
observations of persons and passages and to avoid being rude to
the Duke, our High Steward. When I came home, Serjeant
Ramsey sent to speak with me at a private gentleman's house,
when he took me aside and told me his business and enjoined my
secrecy as well as my assistance, if needful, which I promised him.
He would appear in the public room to the Duke and the rest, so I
went with my staff and the mace to the door, where the Duke, our
High Steward, was to come, and moved a little further in the street
to meet him. I did my obeisance to him and he put me to go
before him into the room, where I spoke the words in the enclosed
paper. When I spoke of abhorring the traitorous association, he
said all good men should abhor it too. Then I drank a health to
the King, as the Duke desired me, which he pledged and prayed
God to bless his Majesty. Immediately after this Serjeant
Ramsey came in and produced his warrant, at sight whereof the
noise of the place was abated. I placed the three constables at
the door to keep all quiet, so all present were peaceable and calm
for ought I can say. |
|
The most remarkable persons that came with the Duke were
Lord Brandon and his brother, Sir Thomas Bellott, Sir John and
Sir Richard Corbett, Sir John Crewe, Sir Thomas Armstrong, Mr.
William Forrester, Mr. Charlton, and of Staffordshire gentlemen
Mr. Leveson Gower, Mr. Offley, Mr. Edwin Skrimsher, Mr. William
Crompton, Mr. Unwin, Mr. William Nabbs, Mr. Thomas Foden an
attorney, Mr. William Southall and Mr. Peplow, the fanatical parson
of Penkridge, besides the men of Stafford, which were very numerous
and as many as could procure horses (except all the best rank of
loyal men of the town, which refused to ride out or contribute
to the treat). The treat was biscuits, wine, neats' tongues, anchovies, pickled oysters and sturgeon. It was promoted by John
Wilson and William Feake, deputy steward to the Duke, and by
their order a collection was made of many the inferior inhabitants
without my knowledge or appointment. The bells rang and
bonfires were made notwithstanding my command to the contrary.
The rabble maintained them. Two loose young ruffians beat
drums. I commanded them to stop. They, encouraged by the
crowd, beat a second and a third time. The noise and number of
the vulgarity I am not able to relate, but I have watched my house
each night since. |
|
I have moved our brotherhood formerly and last Saturday to
give up our charter as a voluntary offering to his Majesty, the
violation whereof I am sufficiently conscious of and have been
long so, to which they returned that, if he signified his desire to
have it so, they would obey, else they were not forward to offer it,
because there would be charges in procuring a new one. [The
enclosure referred to is presumably that calendared ante, p. 413.]
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 114.] |
[Sept. 25.] |
John Ramsey, serjeant at arms, to Secretary Jenkins. The
Duke has counsel that met him, who will not suffer him to go to
any place but Judge Raymond's chamber, to which the writ
immediately directs. I have been arguing as to the indifference
of it, but nothing will serve them but a compliance. I, not being
able by any arguments to overrule this obstinacy, would not suffer
his Grace longer to stay here, but have carried him to Judge
Raymond's chambers where I wait till I may be enabled to execute your commands. [Ibid. No. 115.] |
Sept. 17–25. |
Memoranda by Serjeant Ramsey of his journey to the North.
17th in the morning I went from London and that night came to
Coventry. 18th. I received from Sir Robert Townsend and others
a relation of the riot there. Afterwards I went to Lichfield. 19th.
Being informed by my messengers of his Grace's being at
Trentham I went that night to Stone. It being confirmed by a
messenger of my own and by many other hands that his Grace
had sent to Stafford that he would next day accept of an entertainment they had invited him to, the 20th I went to Stafford, to
which I observed him come with a great crowd of gentlemen
mounted and of the mobile on foot, crying, A Monmouth, a
Monmouth. As soon as he had alighted and was receiving the
compliments of the company I went and did my duty according
to my warrant, leaving it to him to make it public or not. But
he disposed to the first and, having demanded a copy of the
warrant and that allowed him, he caused it to be read aloud in the
company. He, I observed, twice evaded giving submission to the
warrant in direct words, but, when I again urged it, he submitted.
(Names of people with him, mostly the same as in the last letter.) |
|
20th. That night I returned with the Duke and many of the
said gentlemen to Coleshill. 21st. Coming through Coventry,
notwithstanding all possible care beforehand to prevent a tumult,
a rabble to the number of 6 or 700 met on a sudden, waiting on him
through the town, Mr. Hopkins, late member for that city, being
with him, crying out, A Monmouth, and so that night we lodged at
Towcester. 22nd. We came to St. Albans, where I was met by Sir
T. Armstrong with a writ of Habeas Corpus and that night came
thither Lord Grey. 23rd. I found the Duke had sent away Mr.
Rowe early, who with Mr. Thompson met us at Kentish Town, and
so we came to London, his Grace being constantly attended by
the company that came up with him, viz., Lord Grey, Sir T.
Armstrong, Mr. Leveson Gower, Capt. Gower, Mr. Offley, Mr.
Charlton, junior, Mr. Cutts, Mr. Forrester and Mr. Rowe, and was
visited that day by the Earl of Shaftesbury, Lord Herbert, Lord
Russell, Mr. Charlton, senior, and others unknown to me, Mr.
Thompson still continuing with him, and that night he came to
my house. 24th, He was visited by Capt. Philip Howard, Mr.
Poultney, Mr. Baker, Sir T. Player, Mr. Overton, Col. Godfrey,
Lord Houghton, Sir W. Scott, Col. Tulmach, Mr. Frampton, Mr.
Charles Chetwynd, Mr. How and others unknown. 25th. That
morning he was visited by Capt. Gibbs and most of the above
persons. That morning I carried him before Mr. Justice Raymond
and there charged him with both my warrants from Mr. Secretary
and, having made a return to the Habeas Corpus of both the
warrants, his Grace gave bail by two recognizances, one to answer
the riot, the other to keep the peace.—The Duke himself in 10,000l.
in each recognizance, the Earl of Clare, Lord Russell, Lord Grey,
Mr. Leveson Gower and Mr. John Offley in 2,000l. in each recognizance. [2 pages. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 116.] |
Sept. 25. |
Return by Serjeant Ramsey to the writ of Habeas Corpus,
citing the two warrants of 16 and 23 Sept., with note of the bail,
one recognizance being to appear in the King's Bench the first
day of next Michaelmas term. [3 pages. Ibid. No. 117.] |
Sept. 25. Whitehall. |
Reference to the Lords of the Treasury of the petition of James,
Earl of Arran, and Theophilus Oglethorp for a grant of the estate
of James Forbes, late rector of Duloe, Cornwall, a bastard, who
died intestate, having neither wife nor child. [S.P. Dom., Entry
Book 55, p. 206.] |
Sept. 25. Whitehall. |
Reference to the Commissioners for Ecclesiastical Promotions
of the petition of Charles Montague for a mandate to Trinity
College, Cambridge, to elect him into one of the two Fellowships
now void. [Ibid.] |
Sept. 26. London. |
Sir John Moore, Lord Mayor, to Secretary Jenkins. Enclosing
a copy of what was presented to the Court of Aldermen that day
by many hundreds of citizens, as they call themselves (few of them
being known to the Court), offering the same things their former
papers had done. The Court gave their former answer and, after
their speaker, Pickett a dyer, had spent some time, he flew out into
unbecoming language. I commanded him to forbear and to
withdraw and so they did. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 118.]
Enclosed, |
The said paper addressed to the Lord Mayor and Court of
Aldermen. |
The citizens of this city have made frequent applications, particularly the 5th, 12th and 14th instant, that right may be done
them in calling Thomas Papillon and John Dubois to enter into
bonds and take on them the office of sheriffs, to which they were
duly elected. Instead of granting such just requests and
demands, your lordship and part of the court seem to endeavour
to put Mr. North and Mr. Rich into the office, though neither
of them were ever elected. We therefore mind you that your
lordship and every alderman are bound by your oaths to
maintain the rights and privileges, of this city and we conceive
that, if you and this court shall administer the oath of sheriffs
to North and Rich directly contrary to the suffrages of the
three Common Halls, it will be the most notorious violation of
the ancient and known rights and privileges of this city that
has ever been committed by any Lord Mayor and aldermen.
Therefore we again in behalf of ourselves and fellow citizens
request and of right demand that your lordship and this court
cause the said Papillon and Dubois to be called to take upon
them the said office. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 118 i.] |
Sept. 26. |
Dr. John Lloyd to Secretary Jenkins. Informing him of his
election to the office of Vice-Chancellor for the following year.—
I was under great assurances when I went for the country from my
lord of Oxon, Mr. Vice-Chancellor and indeed from the person
himself that was designed for the place that I was secure at least
for this year. Had I had the least thought things would prove as
they have done, I would have desired your assistance in getting
me excused. [Ibid. No. 119.] |
Sept. 26. Whitehall. |
Reference to the Lords of the Treasury of the petition of Abraham
Carter praying that, he having married Madam Civell, to whom a
great arrear was due, and his Majesty having ordered payment of
450l., part thereof, which is not yet paid, and his wife having since
died for want of bread and himself being in a very poor condition
and in debt by her, his Majesty would order payment of that sum
or that he may be otherwise provided for. [S.P. Dom., Entry
Book 55, p. 207.] |
Sept. 26. Whitehall. |
Secretary Jenkins to the Earl of Yarmouth. His Majesty leaves
it wholly to your discretion and to that of the citizens of Norwich
to make the surrender of their charter at such time and place as
may be most convenient for them. One thing may not be amiss
to advertize you of, that the town of Nottingham made a surrender
which proved afterwards insufficient for want of a clause passing
their lands by way of grant to the King to the end that he might
grant the same to them again. This was not perceived till the
other day and, now that the blot is hit, the town is put to the
trouble of going through all the offices and passing the seals again.
I now enclose the last form of surrender that all the King's counsel
agreed to in order to set the Nottingham men right again. You
may compare it with that I sent them and, if the first be not full
to the purpose, as I am afraid it is not, you may get another surrender passed again, for 'tis good to be sure in such things. [S.P.
Dom., Entry Book 68, p. 141.] |
Sept. 26. |
Secretary Jenkins to the Earl of Derby. His Majesty is informed that 20 barrels of powder, part of the ammunition of the
county palatine of Chester, are removed out of Chester Castle,
where they were lodged, to a place in the city not in several respects
so convenient, I beseech you in a line or two to enable me to give
his Majesty an account whether this was done by your order and,
if so, on what reasons. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 68, p. 141.] |
Sept. 26. |
Secretary Jenkins to the Duke of Newcastle. His Majesty,
having been informed that great disorders are broken out at
Nottingham and that the public peace is in danger to meet with
more and more violences, desires you to give all effectual orders
you can to quiet that place and that you would remove to your
castle at Nottingham till this disorder be over. [Ibid.] |
Tuesday, Sept. 26. London. |
Newsletter to Roger Garstell, Newcastle. The Duke of Monmouth, having been taken into custody at Stafford by Serjeant
Ramsey, came to town last Saturday and was immediately visited
by the Earls of Essex and Shaftesbury, Lord Russell, &c., who
forthwith went with the Duke to Judge Dolben to give bail, but
the Judge desired till Monday to consider thereof, after which the
Serjeant carried him to his house in York Buildings in the Strand
and went to Whitehall and acquainted Secretary Jenkins therewith and then returned to the Duke, showing him an order from
the Secretary to bring him to that office, but he refused to go,
alleging that, as he was a peer, the Secretary had neither power
to commit nor to command him thither, unless for treason, &c. |
|
This answer being made known, the Serjeant returned with a
verbal message that his Majesty desired to speak with him, on
which he immediately went, but found there Mr. Secretary only
(his Majesty, the Marquess of Halifax, Mr. Seymour and others of
the Council being in an adjacent apartment), who told his Grace
he was commanded to examine him, which the Duke also refused
and demanded if any informations, as the warrant intimated, had
been sworn against him, that, if any were, he might hear them
read thereby to know of what and by whom he was accused. The
Secretary then withdrew and in half an hour returned and after
some discourse read an information that he entered Chester with
about 700 horse, where in a tumultuous manner the people cried
out, A Monmouth, a Monmouth, No York, &c. Then Mr. Secretary
began to interrogate, but the Duke refused to answer any of his
questions, on which he told the Duke, he must find sureties to
appear the first day of next term and to be of good behaviour.
The Duke replied that he neither had nor intended to break his
Majesty's peace and that he knew not of any crime he had committed and therefore would not find any sureties. Mr. Secretary
withdrew a second time and at his return acquainted the Duke
that he was discharged, but he was not so far as Whitehall Gate
when a messenger took him, which he immediately obeyed and
returned to the Secretary, who acquainted him that there was
another warrant to take him into custody, which was done, the
warrant differing from the former, this saying, for committing a
riot, on which he was detained till yesterday afternoon, when on
a second Habeas Corpus he was bailed by Mr. Justice Raymond,
his sureties being the Earl of Clare, Lord Grey, Lord Russell, Mr.
Leveson Gower and Mr. Offley. |
|
To-day at Guildhall was another Court of Aldermen and a fifth
paper presented, containing a repetition of the papers of the 5th,
12th and 14th for calling Papillon and Dubois, and they understand the Lord Mayor and some aldermen designed to impose on
them North and Rich, which will be a greater violation of the City
privilege than was ever offered, that the Lord Mayor and aldermen
by their reiterated oaths were as much obliged to maintain the
City privilege as any commoner, that they afresh demanded the
calling for Papillon and Dubois and much more to that effect.
Being commanded to withdraw, about half an hour after they were
called in and the Lord Mayor gave them answer as formerly, that
that Court would take such should take on them the office of
sheriff as were duly elected, &c. |
|
One Pickett stood up and said it was no answer at all and made
a very sharp speech to the Lord Mayor, reciting their charter, how
granted and how confirmed, that by that charter they had chosen
Papillon and Dubois and must answer if they did ought amiss,
that, if any took that office who were not duly elected, they came
in as thieves and robbers, at which some halloed in commendation,
others inveighed against it and all in confusion were dismissed.
[Nearly 3 pages. Admiralty, Greenwich Hospital, News-letters,
Original, 2, No. 46.] |
Sept. 26. Whitehall. |
Warrant for a patent constituting Charles, Earl of Middleton,
conjunct Secretary of State for Scotland with the Earl of Moray
with half of the fees, profits, benefits, casualities, liberties, privileges, dignities and immunities, which formerly belonged to the
office of sole Secretary of State, excepting only the Earl of Moray's
yearly pension of 1,000l. sterling, which is wholly reserved to
himself. [Nearly 3 pages. S.P. Scotland, Warrant Book 7,
p. 397.] |
Sept. 26. Whitehall. |
Warrant for payment to the Earl of Perth of 300l. sterling
towards defraying the charges of his late journey hither, his stay
here and his return to Edinburgh about matters of great importance to the King's service. [Ibid. p. 400.] |
Sept. 26. Whitehall. |
Warrant for payment to Sir George Mackenzie of Tarbett, Lord
Register, and to John Drummond of Lundin, Treasurer Deput, of
200l. sterling each towards defraying the charges of their late
journeys hither, their stays here and their return to Edinburgh
about matters of great importance to the King's service. [Ibid.
pp. 401, 402.] |
Sept. 26. Whitehall. |
Warrant for a gift to Christian Hay, daughter of Col. Patrick
Hay, deceased, of his escheat, ordaining that she give backbond
that she, being satisfied her expenses in prosecuting the said gift
and the debts and sums contained in the letters of horning therein
mentioned, shall apply the benefit of the said gift, so far as may
be extended to the sums recovered from the Senate of Hamburg,
for the use of her mother, herself and the remanent children
according to the agreements among them concerning the said
sums and shall oblige herself to be accomptable to the creditors
and nearest of kin to the said colonel for the remanent benefit of
the said gift so far as it may comprehend any other escheatable
sums or goods. [S.P. Scotland, Warrant Book 7, p. 402.] |
Sept. 26. Whitehall. |
Protection in the new form to Lord Bamff for two years. [Ibid.
p. 403.] |
Sept. 26. Whitehall. |
Memorials of protections in the new form to Adam Maxwell
sometime of Hiefield and — Home of Woolstruther for two years
respectively. [Ibid. pp. 404, 405.] |
Sept. 27. Chester. |
Thomas Cholmondeley to Secretary Jenkins. I understood it
was his Majesty's pleasure to have a new commission of the peace
for leaving out those that had appeared with the Duke of Monmouth, but I find none is come to our Chief Justice, which causes
me to give you this trouble, conceiving that, if his Majesty continue
his resolution, the sooner it is effected the better. Our quarter
sessions will be 10 Oct. and, if you think fit, remind his Majesty
of it, that a commission may be sent down by that time and also
directions to our Lord Lieutenant that whoever his Majesty removes
out of one commission may not be continued in the other. The
names remain with you. What else has happened here I know
you have from other hands. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 120.] |
Sept. 27. Chester. |
Dr. James Arderne, Dean of Chester, to Capt. John Clarke. I
am much obliged that you have well accepted and represented
my endeavours to serve the King and Government. I perceive you
received but two from me, whereas I wrote two on the Wednesday
after the Monday I had yours and a third the following Saturday.
The rest of the intelligence I bespoke is turned into evidence,
being taken by Mr. Oldfield. The riot here will be tried by commission to our judges and other gentlemen this week, being our
assizes, when I gave them a sermon against popularity and of this
vice could find no so great instance as Absalom. We have a Grand
Jury of persons of quality, amongst which above 12 are very trusty.
My brother, Sir John, is foreman. They and I only dine with the
judges this noon, where I intend to propose an address to his
Majesty to acquit the county from favouring the Duke and his
party's actions among us with a disclaimer of the least pretence of
his title to succession. By a London contagion we have got here
an Ignoramus jury on the riot, many refusing to find it on the only
indictment exhibited by Mr. Matthew Anderton. However there
is this favourable circumstance that the time allotted to that
grand inquest is Thursday, being to-morrow, and then, if need be,
a fresh one will be drawn at our assizes, which end not till Saturday.
Our Chief Justice is very brave and resolute and in his proceedings
concurs with what he said to me on my sermon that, though it
was sharp, yet the time required it. [Ibid. No. 121.] |
St. Michael's Eve. [Sept. 28.] Paved Alley in St. James'. |
James Harris to Secretary Jenkins. Enclosed is a letter from
William Raddon to Anne Stogdell, who protests she never wrote
him a letter in her life nor does she know any Daniel Parsons. By
the superscription she thought it had been from my wife, but
Pearce, a coffeeman by the Exchange, can testify that this Raddon
wrote news to many Baptists and other Dissenters in Bristol,
Devon, Dorset and Somerset for nine months from Pearce's house
about the time the plot broke out and that he was very intimate
with the old and young Oates. I hope any impartial loyalist will
grant that such a one is neither to seek for fictitious names nor
fallacious correspondents, especially since Raddon hereby apparently designs to stifle the evidence of my wife and her two sons and
daughter against him. He writes that process is granted against
them and I presume that Sir Thomas Putt, who was so earnest
for the Exclusion Bill and against the Marquesses of Worcester
and Halifax and yourself, will sway with other justices to
give him credit for the present, since I acquainted Sir Thomas
that he was little better than forsworn for acting against the Duke
of York. |
|
My information against Raddon has been by you these nine
weeks. Pray send for Pearce, who can justify much against
Raddon. My wife and myself with her two sons and daughter,
being brother's children to this Raddon, can justify my information
against him and Thomas Parsons, his comrade, wherefore I desire
you would write to Sir Peter Prideaux, Edmund Walrond and
William Drew to take recognizance from Raddon, Parsons and John
Rowde, all of and near Devon, for their appearance before the
Privy Council to answer my information against them. Let the
appearance be as speedy as you please, I will forthwith enter into
recognizance that my wife, her two sons and daughter shall appear
and justify my information against Raddon and Parsons. Raddon
writes there shall be hues and cries against me in England and
Wales, but you know that I lodge in Paved Alley and, if any new
inventions of Raddon be certified to you, I shall wait on you at the
least word. Rouse and Capt. Alexander still threaten and will be
animating the mobile these two days, in which time they may be
easily secured, if you grant your warrant. I durst engage my life
they may be taken. |
|
Mrs. Stogdell will wait on you when you please and will make
oath that she never wrote to Raddon in her life and never received
any letter from him save the enclosed. [2 pages. S.P. Dom.,
Car. II. 420, No. 122.] Enclosed, |
|
W. Raddon to [Anne Stogdell]. Private affairs. I desire you to
pay Henry Snook, a castor maker at the Three Hats in Tooley
Street, 40s., that is 21 s. 6d. for a hat sent for my wife to William
Browne in Honiton, which he is not to part with without the
money be paid him or we have Snook's order to him. My
daughter, who is about 16, wants a good castor hat of about 18s.
price, which will be but 40s., carriage and all. Sept. 23,
Stockland. [2 pages. Ibid. No. 122 i.] |
Sept. 28. [Received.] |
Minute to Secretary Jenkins for a letter to the Lord Mayor and
Aldermen. His Majesty, being satisfied that the Mayor and
Aldermen ought to present all new elect mayors to him before
they be sworn or admitted, expects they should do their duty
herein and accordingly requires them to present to him the person
chosen to be Mayor. On their application to the Lord Chancellor
he will let them know the time when his Majesty will be waited on.
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 123.] |
Sept. 28. Lincoln. |
Thomas Kent and Stephen Lodington, sheriffs, to the Treasurer
and Barons of the Exchequer. Informing them that they had
appointed Walter Wallinger and Joseph Cranmer their attorneys
to render their accounts as sheriffs on the morrow of Michaelmas.
[Latin. On parchment. S.P. Dom., Car. II. Case G, No. 16.] |
Sept. 28. Whitehall. |
The King to the Governors of the Charterhouse. Whereas by
letters of 28 Feb. last we recommended Erasmus Henry Dryden
to be elected and admitted one of the children of that foundation,
on the first vacancy, and whereas other letters of 12 July last have
been procured in behalf of Henry, son of William Levett, directing
that he be elected on the next vacancy notwithstanding any letters
formerly obtained for the like places, we never intended by these
last letters to prejudice the former grant to Dryden, who, if
Levett be preferred before him, will in all probability be superannuated before another place in our disposal be void, and therefore
our pleasure is that you elect and admit the said Dryden one of
the children of that foundation on the first vacancy in our disposal
notwithstanding the said letters of 12 July last or any other letters
or orders for any other whatsoever. [2 pages. S.P. Dom., Entry
Book 53, p. 512.] |
Sept. 28. Whitehall. |
Reference to the Lords of the Treasury of the petition of Henry
Howard and the report thereon of the Lord Deputy on the reference to him [calendared ante, p. 216] dated 22 June as follows, that
he had referred the matter to William Robinson, Surveyor General,
Capt. William Wright, commander of the Portsmouth yacht, and
James Tanner, surveyor of this port for the Farmers, whose report
he transmits, with which he fully agrees, and, in regard the
City of Dublin alleges that the soil of the whole strand to the bar
of Dublin has been formerly granted to the said city, he is of
opinion that the petitioner should make agreement with the city
in that particular to which, as he is informed, the city is inclined.
Enclosed, |
The said report certifying that the harbour of Dublin has for
many years suffered great damage by throwing gravel into
the river and by the irregular taking of ballast therein and
especially within these few years the shipowners, being under
no restriction, have taken their ballast from the south bank of
Salmon Pool, which bank receiving the strength of the ebb
tides, the sand being made loose by digging the bank is carried
downward and lodged in Poolbeg and on the bar, insomuch
that the said bar has increased almost 2 feet in height in the
last 6 years and the pool become so shallow that ships of
small burthen ground at low water, where less than 10 years
ago ships of 400 tons have lain afloat, all which damage daily
increasing in this and all other harbours round this kingdom,
'twill certainly ruin the same, if not suddenly prevented,
which, they conceive, cannot be better done than by erecting a
ballast office, wherein fit persons may be employed to preserve
the rivers and harbours and to direct where ballast ought to
be taken, the rates whereof, they conceive, ought not to exceed
the rates taken in the Thames by the Ballast Office there.
June 20. [Nearly 2 pages. S.P. Dom., Entry Book 55,
p. 209.] |
Sept. 28. Whitehall. |
Reference to George Legge, Master General of the Ordnance, of
the petition of George Evans, Surveyor of the Meltings and Clerk
of the Lieutenancy, for payment of money disbursed in repairing
the lodgings belonging to his place and, they being now rendered
useless by making a platform in the Mint for planting guns and
himself at a charge for lodgings, praying that the remnant of the
house may be made fit for him. [Ibid. p. 210.] |
Sept. 28. |
Commission to Francis Bramstone to be ensign in the room of
Hugh Everard to Capt. George Bowes' company in the first
regiment of Foot Guards. Minute. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 69,
p. 4.] |
Sept. 28. Whitehall. |
The King to the Lord Lieutenant and the Lord Deputy.
Warrant, after reciting the letter of 12 Jan., 1680–1 [calendared
in S.P. Dom., 1680–81, p. 133], which declared that the sums then
issued for uses relating to the late plot should not be reckoned as
part of the 4,500l. a year for concordatums and that further sums
have since been issued for similar uses amounting to 822l. 9s. 10d.,
for reckoning none of the said sum as part of the said 4,500l. a
year but for taking it as issued out of such other moneys as have
been or shall be saved on the establishment. [S.P. Dom., Signet
Office 1, Vol. 11, p. 107.] |
Sept. 29. Nottingham |
William Toplady, Mayor, three aldermen and four others to
Brother Hall. About 11 to-day we received his Majesty's charter,
in pursuance whereof Mr. Wylde (then Mayor) sent for Alderman
Greaves, Alderman Edge and Serjeant Bigland, our Recorder,
to advise on this day's election, who all refused to come. After
this Mr. Wylde repaired to the Council House in the Town Hall
in order to be sworn himself and the rest of the officers, at which
time Alderman Greaves and a few burgesses (the most considerable
of which were no inhabitants in town), viz., Sir Thomas Parkins,
William Sacheverel, Charles Hutchinson, Richard Slater, George
Gregory, Mr. Thinne, a stranger, and Ralph Edge were with
Alderman Greaves at St. Mary's Church, whom the said gentlemen
and some other Dissenters declared they would set up as Mayor
in opposition to the new charter, and sent word to the Mayor that,
if he would not come to them to St. Mary's, they would proceed
to elect officers according to the old charter without him and
immediately after they came to the old Mayor into the Council
House to elect Alderman Greaves Mayor for the succeeding year,
though the old Mayor desired to be sworn according to the new
charter, which in a riotous manner they decried, saying, A Greaves,
a Greaves, No new charter, no new charter, and violently seized
the Mayor's books and Sheriff Malyn's mace, which they still
detain. After this disturbance the old Mayor retired into the
Common Hall in order to be sworn and, whilst the oath was in
reading to him, Charles Hutchinson came to tell him that the
gentlemen in the Council House, viz., Alderman Greaves and his
Dissenters, desired him to come and see Alderman Greaves sworn,
which the said Mayor refused, whereon the rabble became so
strangely tumultuous and riotous that the Mayor was forced to
withdraw to his own house and there to swear his officers. In the
meantime the said Dissenters proceeded to elect Mayor, sheriffs
and chamberlains without any Mayor or Council duly authorized
and proclaimed them publicly at the Cross in opposition to his
Majesty's officers by virtue of the new charter. After the Mayor
had sworn his officers at his own house, thither came Charles
Hutchinson, George Gregory, Samuel Richards and Arthur
Riccards and in an insolent saucy manner demanded the mace of
him, which he refused, but, as the manner is, the old and new
Mayors with the Council went to the week-day Cross to proclaim
the officers. As the proclamation was reading, John Sherwin and
Robert Green with a crew of Dissenters at their heels appeared
in the street and in a riotous manner made loud outcries, No new
charter, A Greaves, a Greaves, by all which you may perceive
who foments faction here. We desire that these offenders may
be called to answer these misdemeanours before his Majesty and
Council. [Nearly 2 pages. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 124.] |
Sept. 29. |
Surrender by the Mayor, sheriffs, citizens and commonalty of
Norwich to the King of all their manors, lands and hereditaments
and also of all their franchises and charters. [S.P. Dom., Entry
Book 66, p. 195.] |
[Sept. ?] |
Thomas, Lord Windsor, George Pitt and Cresheld Draper to the
King. Petition for a patent for 14 years for their invention of
making wet harbours and docks so as to take the greatest ship 10,
20, 30 or 40 feet above high water mark out of the Thames and
by the same means deliver it into the Thames again. At the foot, |
Sept. 30. Whitehall. |
Reference thereof to the Attorney-General. On the back,
His report in favour of making the desired grant. 1682, Oct. 4
[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 125.] |
Sept. 30. Chester. |
Dr. James Arderne, Dean of Chester, to Capt. John Clarke. Our
assizes concluded this morning and yesterday the commission
about the riot here. The Recorder, Williams, denied the authority
of the Oyer and Terminer, alleging that by their charter riots ought
to be tried by them of the corporation exclusively, yet he did not
quote any words of their charter that imported more than that
such a power was communicated to them without debarring the
Crown. Our Chief Justice, Jeffreys, replied that London had as
large a charter and yet such commissions were commonly and
without resistance issued thither, to which his fellow judge, Warren,
well added that the King and his Council well understood their
charter, the counterpart of it being kept among the records,
and their constant tenderness of everyone's right argued this
was no invading of the city's, to which the Recorder did
not rejoin any thing expressly, but addressed himself to the
people in a very factious harangue, telling them that their
privileges were wounded and that none should be like vipers, &c.
Notwithstanding, the Chief Justice commanded the court to
proceed and a very sufficient and honest jury found the riots on
St. Peter's Church and Mr. Anderton's house and a dull seditious
song with its author mentioning pulling down altars and that
Monmouth shall reign next. The verdicts will be removed by
certiorari to the King's Bench, where, as the Chief Justice told me,
full justice will be done. If they believe what they allege of their
charter, it will be pleaded in that court, which yet I do not expect,
seeing, if they had been clear in that point, the turbulent hardiness
of the Recorder would have directed to omit the necessary preparations on the city's part for the Commissioners' proceedings. |
|
I told you I would propound to the Grand Jury of the county
an Address, which was done with good liking. All they objected
was that they would want time to draw one, so I gave them the
enclosed, which, when theirs is published, you'll find altered, but
not much in sense. Of the jurors there was but one dissenter, a
lesser Mainwaring, he of Calveley. |
|
In a little time a new Mayor will be chosen here. The candidates
are Sir Peter Pyndar, the present sheriff of the county, and Col.
Whitley. The election is like to fall on the latter to the harm of
the Government. If there be occasion to bring a Quo warranto,
I doubt not Sir Geoffrey Shakerley and I can give an account of
several facts which amount to a forfeiture of charter, though
indeed a very great, though not the greater, part of that corporation deserve well of the King. I have something to offer this
evening to the honest aldermen and sheriffs which may give you
the trouble of another letter next Monday. [1½ page. S.P.
Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 126.] Enclosed, |
|
The said draft Address, the purport of which sufficiently appears
from the Address printed in the London Gazette, No. 1764.
[Ibid. No. 126 i.] |
Sept. 30. Chester. |
Thomas Cholmondeley to Secretary Jenkins. In my last I
mistook the day of our quarter sessions, yet, if the commission
come by the 16th, we have occasion so long to adjourn them. I
conceive, if his Majesty resolve any alteration, it will be much more
for his service to do it then because I find many are, by what has
happened to the Duke of Monmouth, brought to consider and
some to repent of what they did and, to hold them on in a good
way, the removing from employment of such as encouraged them
to wander may be a good inducement. The commission for
trying the rioters directed to our Chief Justice and others, amongst
whom to our great admiration Alderman Street was one, who was
one of the principal men in entertaining the Duke, received great
opposition from Mr. Recorder and that worthy alderman, the rest
seemed all agreeing with the judges. The ground of exception
was the charter, which, the Recorder affirmed, gave them power
to try all crimes below treason, and that by negative words all
others were excluded and the King could not empower the trial
of any offence contrary to the words of their charter, which, he
said, other judges had in the like cases carefully observed, and he
hoped those would follow their example. He minded the citizens
of their oaths as freemen, by which they were bound to defend
their just liberties, and hoped no such vipers were bred within
themselves as would suck the blood out of their own veins. He
showed how dangerous it was to invade ancient rights, enlarging
in as popular expressions as ever I heard, which so encouraged his
hearers that they began to hum and would have been plainer but
that the Chief Justice immediately stood up and prevented it by
telling them that they did not come there to infringe their charter
but by a commission empowering them to inquire into divers offences, in which riots were included, that the jury were there
sworn to inquire into them and, if evidence came, were under the
obligation of an oath to find accordingly. As to what was urged by
Mr. Recorder relating to their charter, that was only his discourse,
for, nothing appearing further, they were not to prefer that before
their oaths. Other arguments he used which satisfied the jury
and all reasonable men. Then Alderman Street minded them of
their oaths to the city, which, he said, they were bound first to
observe. Mr. Justice Warren gave a full answer to what he had
said and the sheriffs, being honest men, had returned a very
good jury, who found all the bills brought before them as far
as the evidence would reach, and so the commission ended. |
|
Of the Grand Jury that subscribed the enclosed only one refused,
a man of small estate and quality. Mr. Recorder, before the Chief
Justice came in, was liberal in his discourse with the jurymen, as
I have heard, in relation to the new commission, letting them know
he should be Recorder, when that commission was over, and must
look to defend the rights of the city. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 420,
No. 127.] |
Sept. 30. |
Charles Speke to Lawrence Brome. Requesting him to pay
the remainder of his bill, which, as he remembers, is about 8l. Will
come to Isle Brewers next week any day he appoints. Has
great occasion for money at present. [Ibid. No. 128.] |
Sept. 30. |
The speech of the Recorder of London on the presenting of
Dudley North and Peter Rich, the sheriffs, in the Exchequer
Chamber, with Baron Crawley's reply. [Printed. S.P. Dom.,
Car. II. Case G.] |
Sept. 30. Whitehall. |
The King to the Governors of the Charterhouse. Signifying his
pleasure that they elect and admit to the first pensioner's place in
that hospital which shall become void and in the King's disposal,
notwithstanding any letters or orders granted to any other person
whatsoever, Col. Henry Farr, who is now about 85 and who has
spent his very considerable estates and his whole life in the service
of the late and present Kings and was condemned to death by the
rebels at Colchester after they had taken that town. [S.P. Dom.,
Entry Book 53, p. 510.] |
Sept. 30. |
Post-warrant to John Sayer, his Majesty's master cook, and his
servant to ride in post to Newmarket and back. [S.P. Dom.,
Entry Book 66, p. 141.] |
Sept. 30. Whitehall. |
Secretary Jenkins to the Lord Chancellor. Signifying his
Majesty's pleasure that Nathaniel Booth, Sir John Crewe, Sir
Robert Cotton and Mr. Davenport of Bromhall, all Justices for
the County Palatine of Chester, Henry Booth, Custos Rotulorum
and Justice for the same county and also for Lancashire, and Sir
Willoughby Aston, Justice for the same county and also for
Newcastle, Staffordshire, be left out of the commission of the peace
and quorum at the next renewing thereof for the respective counties
and corporations that they now act for. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book
68, p. 140.] |
Sept. 30. Whitehall. |
Warrant to Col. John Strode, Lieutenant of Dover Castle, for
swearing and admitting Walter Barker to be under-porter of Deal
Castle in the room of Richard Knevinson, deceased. With note
that this warrant had no effect, Barker dying, so a similar warrant
was signed 28 Feb., 1682–3, for swearing and admitting John Brett
of Deal. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 359, p. 104.] |
Sept. 30. London. |
Newsletter to John Squier, Newcastle. The great business of
the sheriffs being now over and they completely settled and having
received the keys of the gaols, they proceeded to choose an undersheriff and have chosen Mr. Hastings in the room of Mr.
Goodenough. Yesterday they waited on the Lord Mayor from
his own house to the Guildhall, where, having stayed some time,
they waited on him and the Court of Aldermen from thence to
Bow Church, where an excellent sermon was preached by Dr. Dove
on Titus 3, v. 1. Sermon ended, they came again to the Guildhall
where, the Lord Mayor being seated in the chair on the hustings,
they proceeded to choose a Mayor for the ensuing year. All the
aldermen below the chair were put up and the sheriffs judged the
election to fall on Sir William Prichard and Sir Thomas Gould and
they were accordingly returned to the Lord Mayor and the Court
of Aldermen, but the Whig party demanded a poll for four and
the Lord Mayor appointed the sheriffs to take it for Sir W. Prichard,
Sir John [rectius Henry] Tulse, Sir T. Gould and Mr. Cornish. It
continued about 2 hours and the Court was adjourned till about 9
on Monday by the Lord Mayor. |
|
(News from Brussels and Vienna as in the London Gazette, No.
1760.) |
|
This morning the new sheriffs, attended by the old ones and the
Lord Mayor and some aldermen, went to the Chequer Chamber at
Westminster, where the former were sworn and the latter gave up
their charge, after which the new sheriffs treated the Barons of
the Exchequer, the attorneys and the Lord Mayor and aldermen
at a very splendid dinner at Drapers' Hall. [3 pages. Admiralty,
Greenwich Hospital, News-letters, Original, 2, No. 47.] |
Sept. 30. Whitehall. |
The King to the Marquess of Queensberry, Treasurer Principal.
Warrant for clearing the accounts of John Drummond of Lundin
as late Master of the Ordnance and for paying to him whatever
balance may be found due to him. [S.P. Scotland, Warrant Book
7, p. 405.] |
Sept. 30. Whitehall. |
The same to the same. Warrant for continuing the payment
to Lieut.-General William Drummond, appointed Master of the
Ordnance in Scotland, of the allowance formerly granted to the
artillery attenders as mentioned in the establishment of the forces
there dated 25 Nov. last. [Ibid. p. 406.] |
Sept. 30. Whitehall. |
The King to Ernest Augustus, Duke of Brunswick and Luneburg.
Commending to his favour John Ramsay, brother to the Earl of
Dalhousie. [Latin. Ibid. p. 407.] |
Sept. 30. Whitehall. |
Warrant for payment to Anne, Countess Dowager Marischal,
of 100l. sterling next Mertinmes. [Ibid. p. 408.] |
Sept. 30. Whitehall. |
Warrant, after reciting the petition of Alexander Swintoun, son
to John Swintoun of that ilk, deceased, which represented that
the said John Swintoun was arraigned before the Parliament of
Scotland in 1661 and was ready to answer the charge against him
but that the Parliament did not proceed to any sentence of forfeiture but after his second appearance ordered him to answer
further both to the then present indictment and to any former
sentence said to have been passed in absence against him, and that
afterwards during this dependency a gift of forfeiture was elicited
from his Majesty, as if a sentence had been passed, to the ruin of
his wife and children and the extreme damage of his creditors,
for a commission to Sir George Gordon of Haddo, Lord Chancellor,
and 9 others to inquire into the whole procedure relating to the said
John Swintoun's forfeiture. [Over 2 pages. Ibid. p. 409.] |
Sept. 30. Whitehall. |
Warrant for a patent constituting Sir Robert Sibbald, M.D.,
his Majesty's Geographer for Scotland for life with full power to
make maps and descriptions of the several shires and of the
kingdom in general and to exerce all acts belonging to his Majesty's
Geographer and specially commanding him to publish his descriptions both of the Scotia Antiqua and Scotia Moderna, where the
ancient monuments, inscriptions and plans of camps are set down,
and of his Natural History of the said kingdom, with liberty to him
to print them either in Latin or English or both and in what form
he pleases, the whole or the prodromus or any parts of them, and
to employ what printers he pleases, with prohibition to all other
printers in Scotland to print for 10 years the whole or any part of
them without his consent. [3 pages. S.P. Scotland, Warrant
Book 7, p. 411.] |
Sept. 30. Whitehall. |
Warrant for a patent constituting Sir Robert Sibbald, M.D., one
of his Majesty's physicians in ordinary in Scotland during his life.
[Ibid. p. 414.] |
Sept. 30. Whitehall. |
Warrant for a patent constituting William Turner, D.D., his
Majesty's Historiographer in Scotland, the place being vacant by
the decease of James Crawford, D.D. [2 pages. Ibid. p. 416.] |
Sept. 30. Whitehall. |
Protection in the new form to Lord Cardrosse for two years.
[Ibid. p. 418.] |
Sept. 30. Whitehall. |
Protection to Sir Robert Creichton, alias Murray, for two years,
he being under divers processes of horning, &c. mainly on account
of his engagements for the sometime Earl of Annandale, in consideration that the said Earl had designed to settle his estate on
him, whereof he is now disappointed after being at a vast charge
in maintaining the right which he had from the said Earl. [Ibid.
p. 419.] |
Sept. 30. Whitehall. |
Warrant for a presentation in favour of John Liddell, student
of divinity, to be minister at the parish church and parochin of
Hopkirk in the shirefdome of Tweeddale, presbytery of Jedburgh
and diocese of Glasgow. [Docquet. Ibid. p. 420.] |
Sept. 30. Whitehall. |
The King to Sir George Gordon of Haddo, Chancellor, and the
remanent Lords of the Privy Council of Scotland. After reciting
that there are now two Secretaries of State, signifying his pleasure
that for all warrants and other papers hereafter signed by the King
in favour of any persons (those only excepted that are of immediate
concern to him or his royal brother) the ordinary fees be punctually
paid before their delivery and that for all papers passing the
Signet the ordinary fees be paid, excepting as is above excepted.
[1½ page. Ibid. p. 421.] |
[Sept.] |
Theobald, Baron of Brittas to the King. Petition for a letter
to the Lord Deputy requiring him to bring the petitioner to a
speedy trial or for a warrant to the Attorney-General of Ireland
to enter a nolle prosequi on the indictment for high treason against
him on account of the late pretended Popish plot in Ireland, the
petitioner being on bail and unable to get himself tried. At the
foot, |
Sept. 30. Whitehall. |
Reference thereof to the Lord Deputy and Council of Ireland
who are desired to afford the petitioner such speedy relief as
they shall find agreeable to law. [S.P. Ireland, Car. II. 343,
No. 60.] |
Saturday night, Sept. 30. |
Theobald, Baron of Brittas to Secretary Jenkins. Since it is my
misfortune that it does not stand with the King's convenience
either to bring me to trial or admit a nolle prosequi to be entered
on my behalf and that I must, of so many who were indicted as
my accomplices, be the sole that's leaned on by the iniquity of the
times, I submit to the King's pleasure and pray, since his Majesty
has already in a letter to the Lord Deputy notified his willingness
to have me bailed and his letter met with a severer construction
than I am confident he intended, the Lord Chief Justice binding
me over to appear from term to term at the Court of King's Bench
there, a prejudice equal to my confinement, my residence being
so far from Dublin that my small fortune could not answer the
charges I must be unavoidably at by such attendance, that his
Majesty would order my being bailed here to appear there when
summoned and in the meantime the cancelling of such recognizance
as I entered into before the Lord Chief Justice. [Ibid. No. 61.] |
[1682 ?] [Sept.] |
Capt. Bernard Strode to the King. Petition for his arrears and
for some subsistence or command. He left his company in
Holland in 1671 in obedience to the proclamation and was made
lieutenant to Sir Edward Charleton, who, being sickly (the petitioner being at sea), sold this company to Major Widdrington,
for above 200l., who sold it not long after to the petitioner for the
same sum. He was commanded to Ireland and was there above
a year till for his health he was obliged to ask licence to go to
England. The Countess of Essex being angry with the petitioner's
wife, the Earl gave away his company. About a year and a half
ago his Majesty and his Royal Highness commanded him to attend
in Ireland for a company, where he has been ever since. He has
laboured under this injustice and sickness these 7 years. [See
the Ormonde Papers, New Series, Vol. VI. p. 462.] [Ibid. No. 62.] |
1682. [Sept. ?] |
Lieut.-Col. Roger Moore on behalf of himself and many hundreds
of poor men, widows and orphans in Ireland to the King. Petition
stating that they have waited for the satisfaction of those small
arrears due to some of them as soldiers (and that on their disbanding), to others for provisions furnished to soldiers in their quarters
and other accounts, most of which were mentioned in a contract
between his Majesty and the Earl of Ranelagh and his partners,
and now seven years have elapsed since the utmost time given for
the petitioners' satisfaction, that the petitioners have just cause
to fear from so long delays that their sad condition and sufferings
are forgot and therefore set forth that of the arrears due to the
army commonly called the 10 months' arrears, amounting to
80,000l. and upwards, the said contractors covenanted to pay one
moiety but inserted the words, Not exceeding 20,394l. 19s., which
is but a quarter of the said arrears, but they have not satisfied one
penny thereof, that of the other arrears commonly called the
postponed 12 months' arrears and to the Civil List 26,000l. and
upwards are still unpaid, that of those arrears which the contractors
pretend to have paid and have brought to account as paid above
20,000l. are still owing to the petitioners, for which they delivered
up their debentures and vouchers as the manner of proceedings
then required and have nothing to show for this greater part of
their just debts but assignments on the collectors, which were
neither accepted nor paid, and that of the 100,000l. provided by
the Act of Settlement to be paid among the '49 officers above 6,000l.
are still due to the petitioners and praying that a speedy course may
be taken for the petitioners' satisfaction. Noted, |
"Copie to Earl Ranelagh requiring an Answer from his
Lordship." [S.P. Ireland, Car. II. 343, No. 63.] |
[Sept.] |
Henry Keymer, aged 72, to the King. Petition that he procured
his Majesty's letter [22 June, 1678], whereof a copy is annexed, to
the governors of Sutton's Hospital for a scholar's place there for his
grandson Henry Keymer, which will not come due to him till Allhallentide next, 4½ years after the letter, and that Mr. Dryden has
procured a special letter for his son to be admitted before all others,
whereby the petitioner's grandson has lost his admittance and
will be past age before his Majesty's turn will come again, and
therefore praying a letter to the said governors for the admittance
of William Stone in the place of his said grandson at the time he
should have been according to the former letter. Annexed, |
A copy of the letter of 22 June, 1678 [calendared in S.P.
Dom., 1678, p. 238]. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 420, No. 129.] |
[Sept.] |
Col. Henry Farr to the King. Petition for a pensioner's place
in the Charterhouse, where he may end his days, having spent both
his person and estate in his Majesty's service. [Ibid. No. 130.] |
[Sept.] |
Jean Cottereau, a French merchant, to Secretary Jenkins.
Petition for a passport and a commission from his Majesty appointing him his commissioner in France for the purchase of wines,
fruits, liquors, flowers and the like. He specially desires because
his ordinary abode is at Marseilles where there are only about 25
or 30 Protestant families and he will be thereby protected from the
trouble he fears on account of his religion. [French. Ibid. No.
131.] Annexed, |
Two drafts, one fuller than the other, of the passport he desires,
one dated Sept. 1682. [Ibid. Nos. 131 I, 131 ii.] |
[Sept.] |
Memoranda (under 6 heads) by Secretary Jenkins of various
business, among which are Cottereau's passport, Col. Farr and
Dryden to the Charterhouse and the Mayor of Stafford's letter,
whether the King will accept the surrender. [S.P. Dom., Car.
II. 420, No. 132.] |
[Sept.] |
John and George Hilton to the Privy Council. Complaint that
the complainants, going about to deliver warrants for suppressing
unlawful conventicles and likewise sending their servants about
the same, were seized by 8 constables (giving their names) with a
great many more on the 9th instant, Sept. 1682, who carried one
of them up and down the city to show him and with whoops and
halloos to incense the rabble cried, Informer, informer, all along
from justice to justice, till they brought him to Sir John Frederick,
who bound him over to answer the next sessions, and praying for
redress. Addressed to the Marquess of Halifax. [Ibid. No. 133.] |
[Sept. ?] |
Some queries concerning the present election of sheriffs. The
right of electing one of the sheriffs by the Lord Mayor by virtue of
that mystical ceremony of drinking a glass of wine to a gentleman
so eager to pledge him that, to make his zeal more apparent, he
was content to give security to pay off all scores before the rest
of the company had so much as called for a reckoning is now so
miserably baffled and put out of countenance both by reason and
laughter that the first promoters of it really deserve compassion
and therefore I shall rather choose to imitate the new mode of
instruction lately made current by the healing Observator and
peaceable Heraclitus by proposing a few queries to all citizens,
whether Whigs or Tories, who have any stock left in them of the
Protestant religion, moral honesty, wit, money or credit. |
|
1. Whether the late practices of our great magistrate in relation
to the present election be not as opposite to his native temper as
unstable and contradictory to each other and, if so, whether anything can be plainer than that he is under a secret influence? |
|
2. Whether it be not as plain what that influence is by his
forsaking the conversation of his fellow citizens and diverting
himself with secret twilight visits to the other end of the town and
receiving such from thence, especially if it be true that a great Earl
has bottomed the establishment of his present greatness and
future hopes on his sole management of our present election, which
no doubt on the day of our election occasioned the happy meeting
of so much good company at the house of the bashful pleader ? |
|
3. Whether the shamming intriguing trickiness of this new
influence meeting with some remains of a citizen's education and
plain dealing in our great magistrate may not per antiperistisin
and opposition of qualities have occasioned this vertigo in his
actions and whether it be most likely that the citizen shall at last
disgorge the Earl or the Earl digest the citizen ? |
|
4. Whether the venomous defamations of a hackney tongue,
maliciously suggesting that our King cannot have justice amongst
us, the officiousness of a party-per-pale citizen in entering into a
bond to hold an office before he was called to it, to which good and
honest citizens can hardly be courted, with the arbitrary precept,
the unaccountable windings and turnings in the management of
our election and the infinite concern of some great men to promote
those irregularities and hinder our free election do not sufficiently
declare the design to be, either to make way for the pageantry
of justice in prosecution of an imaginary Protestant plot and to
elude the strokes of vengeance on the cursed authors of a real
Popish one, or at least to divide us amongst ourselves and to make
the powers of our government in the city oppose one another,
thereby to give better colour to proceedings on a Quo warranto ? |
|
Lastly, whether the King's Bench has not hitherto been
accounted a proper court to determine all allegations of riots,
breaches of the peace and the like and whether the lawbooks have
not been very unkind to us in not warning us of the seasons when
these suggested crimes become matters of state and government,
distinct from offences against the law, which in its true interpretation never makes the same thing a bridge for one man and a pit
for another, and whether the late misfortune to our worthy sheriffs
and to us in them does not only open but even give eyes, ears and
tongues to those that had none before ? [2 pages. S.P. Dom.,
Car. II. 420, No. 134.] |
[Sept. ?] |
"The Duke of Monmouth's Case, with all The very strange
Crimes, and great Misdemeanors Alledged against his Grace, in a
whole Dozen of Articles," arguing the absurdity of the Tories in
accusing a person who has borne such a figure in the world of a
riot and of some being fain to render him also to be a traitor, who
is rather like the young Scipio ready to rescue his father or Æneas
to carry him from a burning city, &c., and giving a pretended list
of accusations of his being greeted by thousands on the way to
Chester, winning a race plate from Tory gentlemen, declaring he
would lay down his life to preserve the King's person and government, and believing in a Popish plot, but not in a Protestant one, as
the Tories pretend—to which allegations he gave the bail of Lord
Russell and 4 others, for keeping the peace, to avoid committal.
[2 pages. "London, Printed for J.C." Ibid. No. 135.] |
[Sept. ?] |
List of the deputy lieutenants of Lancashire and Cheshire.
Among the latter are Viscount Kilmorey and Sir T. Grosvenor
[appointed 17 June, 1682] and there are marks against Sir Robert
Cotton, Sir Willoughby Aston, Sir Richard Brooke and Nathaniel
Booth, probably meaning that they were to be removed. [See
letter of 30 Sept. to the Lord Chancellor, calendared ante, p. 441.]
Among the former, similar marks appear against Sir Ralph
Ashton and Richard Atherton. [Ibid. No. 136.] |
[Sept. ?] |
Secretary Jenkins to John Starky, chamberlain at the Spur
inn at Southwark. Whereas I am informed that a trunk was
brought to the inn by a fisherman of Rye and about 4 this morning
delivered by a woman to you, which you put into the hands of
Thomas Cocket, a porter at the said inn, you are to require him
forthwith to bring it to my office, assuring him he shall be reasonably paid for his pains. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 54, p. 145.] |
Sunday evening, Oct. 1. Paved Alley, St. James. |
James Harris to Secretary Jenkins. I met Mr. Rouse about
4 on Michaelmas day. We went to a coffee-house at Moorgate,
where he told me that, if they would poll till 12 at night, his friends'
swords and his own should effect their designs, for the King, Lord
Mayor, North and Gould never answer their proceedings in the
election, and, viewing his sword by his side, I asked whether our
friends were about the Guildhall. He answered, Not but few; all
the rest lie perdu before notice to them, but, if they should adjourn,
we are resolved to put our Association covenant in speedy execution and to that end the Club, myself and others must meet in
several places to-morrow to conclude the manner and time. Then
I desired to be present. He answered, It's not convenient, for
Capt. Alexander doubts you, because your wife prevented her
former husband, himself and others of their design in '66, &c. I
answered, I am resolved to be true to you and them. Rouse said,
Then give me your hand that you covenant to be right to us and
not divulge to any whatever, which I thought it expedient to do,
whereupon he told me I must dine with him to-day at his own
house, when and where I should understand the issue of their consultation. I was with him where he showed me a paper to this
purport, that the Duke of Monmouth was right for them as appears
by the last article against him and that A. A. C[ooper], the clubbers
and himself are resolved to prosecute the Association with all
courage and to secure the King, till he signs it, and if James, Duke
of York makes an insurrection he shall die by the sword or law.
Much more to this purpose was in a paper enclosed by Rouse in
the printed articles against Monmouth and he laid them in a cupboard in his wainscot, where the searchers will certainly find it.
That will fully declare their most dangerous resolutions, which,
if I mistake not, they intend to put in execution this night. Four
bills were sent by me to deliver to Plant, a Baptist minister at
Redcross Street. There were several armed at his meeting. I
stayed till it was over, and heard some of them, who were armed,
say, God with us. Note, signed by Jenkins, |
"1° Oct. 82 Jacobus Harris juratus fuit super Veritate
premissorum coram Me." [1¼ page. S.P. Dom., Car. II.
420, No. 137.] |