Charles II: February 1674 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1673-5. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1904.

'Charles II: February 1674', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1673-5, (London, 1904) pp. 132-186. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/domestic/chas2/1673-5/pp132-186 [accessed 19 April 2024]

February 1674


	[Romish.]		[Protestant.]

Feb. 2.	Warrant to John Baker to take into custody—. Crouch, printer, of Red Lion Court in Cock Lane. Minute. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 28, f. 104.]
Feb. 2. Whitehall.	The Duke of York to the Prince of Orange. Availing himself of Sir Walter Vane, the bearer's, going into Holland to assure him of the continuance of his friendship, and that he shall find him on all occasions ready to manifest the real kindness he has for him. Holograph. [S.P. Dom., King William's Chest 3, No. 1.]
1674 Feb. 2. Whitehall.	The King to the Lord Lieutenant. Warrant for passing letters patent appointing Col. William Cecill to be governor of Culmore Fort. [S.P. Dom., Signet Office, Vol. 9, p. 43.]
Feb. 2. Whitehall.	The King to the Lord Lieutenant. Warrant for a grant to Edward Billingsley of the office of Sea[1] master for overseeing all manner of leather dressed or tanned in Ireland. [Ibid.]
	Note by Mr. Harbord to acquaint Lord Arlington that the Lord Lieutenant desires that Cecill and Billingsley be appointed to the above offices respectively. [S.P. Ireland, Car. II. 335, No. 8.]
Feb. 3. Whitehall.	Warrant for a pardon to Sir Edward Baynton, K.B., for killing Nicholas Woodward, granted at the Lord Treasurer's request. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 28, f. 105.]
Feb. 3.	Commission to Jarvis Wharton to be ensign to Sir John Hamby in the Earl of Northampton's regiment. Minute. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 35a, f. 85.]
Feb. 3. Dublin Castle.	[Contains deciphered text] The Lord Lieutenant to Viscount Conway. I have yours of 27 Jan. As to that part which relates to a letter sent to deputy Gouernor of Limrick it was writ upon occasion of a doubt made by him whether the secular priests were concerned in the Proclamation lately issued, for resolution whereof this gentleman writ to me, whose letter I exposed to be read in Council and took their opinion upon it, and indeed, whoever scans the words of the adres can judge no other of it than we have done, viz., that seculars are not comprehended therein, for, if they are, why is the word regular clergya particularly mentioned in the adres which is ever a contradiction to secular ? And upon this advice I ordered Mr Godolphin to let Governor of Limrick know that the seculars were not comprised within the intention of the proclamation, but upon perusal of Mr Godolphin['s] letter, I find he hath much exceeded my directions and inserted many expressions that might better have been spared, but, he not bringing the Earl of Essex his letter for perusal before he sent it, it happened to go in the terms he had penned it, which had the Earl of Essex seen, it would have been altered. I have told you the very truth of this business, and as for Lord Arlington I assure you he hath no part in it at all. Nay I must say further that there being some doubt whether subsherifs were as well in cluded within the adres as sherifs the third article of adres only naming Mayors sherifs and not mentioning at all subsherifs the Earl of Essex writ to Lord Arlington for a resolution on this point and Lord Arlington returned an answer from his Majesty that subsherifs should likewise be Protestants which I have accordingly ordered. That you may further know our proceedings in relation to the banishing these Priests and how exact we are in pursuing our orders, I herewith send you a copy of two letters written on this occasion. What M r Godolphin writ was purely a mistake in him and no other. However, please make my acknowledgements to the Lord Treasurer 75. for his favour. [1½ page. Conway Papers. S.P. Ireland, Car. II. 335, No. 9.]
Feb. 3. Dublin Castle.	The Lord Lieutenant to Williamson. Thanking him for his numerous letters. Though the last received yesterday, dated Cologne 16/26 Jan., does not give so full a hope of peace as letters from England seem to intimate they have there, yet I can collect some better appearances of the likelihood of it than from any of your former. [Ibid. No. 10.]
Feb. 4.	Michael Warton to Williamson. (Printed in Camden, Williamson, Vol. II. p. 136.) [S. P. Dom., Car. II. 360, No. 116.]
Feb. 4. Whitehall.	Warrant for a privy seal to Sir William Temple for 1,500l. for equipage and for 10l. a day for entertainment during his service as plenipotentiary to the States General. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 26, f. 171.]
Feb. 4. Whitehall.	Warrant to the Lord Keeper to put the Great Seal to a commission constituting Sir William Temple Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the States General in order to the conclusion of a peace and for renewing the ancient friendship with them. Minute. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 36, p. 325.]
Feb. 4.	Warrant to Henry, Earl of Peterborough, to be Lord Lieutenant of the west division of Northamptonshire. Minute. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 40, p. 152.]
Feb. 4.	Warrant to Doctor Brady to be Professor of Physic in the University of Cambridge in reversion. Minute. [Ibid.]
Feb. 4. Lisburn.	Sir G. Rawdon to Viscount Conway. It seems very long since we heard from you. Mr. Neill says in the four packets that came over last he saw none from you but a great letter in the first to Sir A. Forbes, which he delivered. The trees came readily from Dublin, but the gardener doubts the growth of some, and wonders Mr. Rose had not put them up better. They were planted here the day after they came, and will be fitter to plant at the Bowling Green next year when borders are made at Portmore. John Totnall is not yet able to venture abroad, but hopes, if the weather be warmer, for at present it is bitter cold, to return to Portmore, where he is greatly wanted. The keepers say they do all they can to save some of the deer by cuttings and lops. I have desired John that some sheaf oats be bought for them, for there is not hay enough for the cattle. I hope to go there myself, if a warm day come, for, since I came from Dublin I have been so indisposed that I have not been on horseback nor anywhere abroad save to Hillsborough twice or thrice in the coach. Mr. Hill will hardly recover, it is thought. Little money comes in, and distresses are not to be taken or preserved alive after, so that here is a great alteration for the worse of late. I hope you will come suddenly to some issue about that office of the Ordnance, which if it succeed and my attendance in Dublin may put it in some order, I hope to be able to travel thither on your advice. Otherwise I intend it not till towards the time my troop is to march thither. I hear your lieutenant is there, and has not been at Drogheda since the troop came back from Dublin. It would be convenient the officers were better pleased with one another. I perceive his Excellency thinks it not fit to take notice of the meetings the Presbyterians have in great numbers at this juncture, for Mr. Godolphin signified his pleasure so to me, and to suspend a warrant I had given out (according to the Act) upon a petition of one of their ministers that had great meetings in Lecale, and seduced many that were conformable, and here in Kilulta there is such a sermon every Sunday in one place or other. I have enclosed these two letters to my sons, desiring you will order their sending forward. We would gladly hear that Arthur has continued well since his sickness at Saumur, and where he is now, and that you are in health, for of late we have had no letters, only Driffeld wrote to his wife that he waited on you, and that above 2,000l. would be paid his pupil Williams. I believe, if you think fit, you may have it and pay him it here in time upon reasonable consideration. If you would incline to buy out Sir W. Petty's rent of 90l. per annum in Kinelarty it would be a great satisfaction to me and an advantageous purchase for yourself. I desire your advice about my son John's proposal. [Conway Papers. S.P. Ireland, Car. II. 335, No. 11.]
Feb. 5. The Angel and Three Crowns, St. Paul's Churchyard.	Dr. Brune Ryves, Dean of Windsor, to the Earl of Arlington. The answer I received yesterday from his Majesty that he would suddenly call a chapter to end the controversy concerning our chapter clerk was most gracious. But he has had too frequent experience how difficult it is to procure a full chapter, though no Parliament were sitting, but now the noble companions being engaged in more weighty affairs that difficulty will be much increased. Therefore, since he is pleased to proceed not by way of his royal prerogative but of distributive justice, therein giving us liberty to plead for our rights, we entreat you to present to him these our just allegations. First the person, who by false suggestions has abused the King and thereby obtained his mandatory letters, is in no measure qualified for such a place. Secondly, whereas he alleges the place is immediately in the sovereign's donation, if he can give one instance of the place thus disposed of by the sovereign since the foundation of the College we will lay down the cause. Thirdly, in the 42nd Statute, the sovereign, having reserved to himself the donation of the deanery and all canonships, grants to the Dean and Chapter the choice of all the other members, as petit canons, clerks, and servants of the College both ecclesiastical and secular, which liberty has remained uninterrupted till this day, the copy of which I have enclosed and shall humbly submit it to his Majesty. These particulars we are ready to make good, and therefore hope that his Majesty will decide this controversy without the concurrence of a chapter, which probably cannot be suddenly had, and leave us our ancient liberty of choosing our own officers. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 360, No. 117.] Enclosed,
Feb. 5. The Angel and Three Crowns, St. Paul's Churchyard.	Attested copy of the said statute. [Latin. Ibid. No. 117I.]
Feb. [5?]	Breviate of the Bill for hindering Papists to sit in Parliament. After a short preamble. 1. That no peer or member of the House of Commons sit or vote in Parliament or come into the King's presence or the Court, not having first taken in open Court at Westminster Hall the two oaths and declaration in term time. 2. Provision for their taking the oaths in vacation, but if so they must take them again in Westminster Hall next term. 3. They may come into the King's presence in vacation, provided they take the said oaths and declaration in Westminster Hall next term. 4. Either House may compel their members to take the oaths and declaration in their respective houses. 5. Where a Member of the House of Commons is by this Act disabled, another shall be forthwith chosen in his place. 6. All offenders are made Popish Recusants convict, and are to suffer the same disability set down in the last Act for preventing dangers from Popish Recusants. 7. The sworn servants of the King, Queen and Duke of York not having taken the said oaths and declaration shall, by virtue of this Act, take them in term next after 4 May, or next after his being sworn a servant. 8. A proviso for licensing such Papists to come to the King for a certain time notwithstanding this Act. 9. Proviso freeing all offenders so soon as they shall take the said oaths and make and subscribe the said declaration. (See Commons' Journals, Vol. IX. p. 303.) [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 360, No. 118.]
Feb. 5.	Commission to John Haward to be ensign to the Earl of Northampton's own company. Minute. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 35A, p. 85.]
Feb. 5. Whitehall.	Warrant to the Lord Keeper to put the Great Seal to a commission constituting himself and others commissioners to treat with the Spanish Ambassador in order to the conclusion of a peace between his Majesty and the States General. Minute. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 36, p. 325.]
Feb. 5.	Privy Seal for 200l. to Sir Gabriel Sylvius for his expenses as Envoy to the Prince of Orange. Minute. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 40, p. 155.]
Feb. 5. Dublin Castle.	The Lord Lieutenant to the Earl of Arlington. Some months since I received his Majesty's letter of 21 Sept. '73, in behalf of Col. Dillon, to grant him a liberty and preference to place deficiencies on the remaining part yet undisposed of the '49 security, and having so placed his deficiencies to pass patents in his name for such lands as he shall discover. Being now pressed to give an answer to it, I think myself obliged to return you a true state of the matter. It stands thus:—The Acts of Settlement and Explanation appoint several lands, houses, and sums of money to the satisfaction of the arrears of such commissioned officers as served his Majesty in this kingdom before 5 June, 1649, out of which those officers, who had received nothing either in land or otherwise for service done since '49, were to be satisfied at the rate of 12s. 6d. per pound, for what was due to them. The remaining part was to be divided among all the commissioned officers who had any arrears due for service done before '49. The arrears of these officers were stated, and appeared to amount to above a million. All the lands, &c., that could at that time be found out were also valued, and it was evident that the security in houses and lands then discovered would hold out but to satisfy about 3s. 1d. in the pound, which was divided into 100 lots, besides the satisfaction in money, which came to about 1s. more. When the said security was thus set out, it was known that all the security belonging to these commissioned officers was not comprised within these 100 lots, but part of it remained undiscovered, and some other part was subject to questions and disputes. It was therefore thought reasonable to make this division and declare an intention of making a further division, so soon as the lands could be ascertained, and to evidence their intention a clause was inserted in every of their letters patent that those certificates and letters patent should be no hindrance to the officers therein concerned in receiving such further satisfaction for their arrears, as upon the distribution of the remaining part of their security should appear due unto them. The King has since, by his letter of 4 June, 1673, declared that all money that shall be recovered in the Exchequer for any debts relating to the said security before the division thereof shall be paid to Abel Ram in trust for the said officers to be equally divided between them. All houses and lands belonging to the said security not comprised in the said 100 lots are now in his Majesty's hands, and ought, as I humbly conceive, to be applied to the uses intended in the Acts, viz., i. Towards the satisfaction of such '49 arrears as were left out of the 100 lots and have not otherwise been satisfied, and these to the value of about 4s. in the pound to make them equal to the other '49 arrears comprised these lots. (This in case there remain any such '49 arrears yet wholly deficient). ii. Towards a further equal and proportionable satisfaction of all the '49 arrears, as the same would hold out to satisfy them.
	But in case the remaining part of the said security should be applied towards the satisfaction only of some of the '49 arrears, which are already satisfied 4s. in the pound, until the 12s. 6d. in the pound be fully completed, and no part thereof towards the satisfaction of the residue of the said arrears that are in the same condition, 'tis humbly offered to his Majesty's consideration:—1. Whether the same be not contrary to common justice and reason that some few of these arrears should be satisfied 12s. 6d. in the pound, others but 4s., and some (if any are omitted in the 100 lots) to have nothing at all. 2. Whether it would not be contrary to the Acts of Settlement and Explanation, whereby all the said '49 arrears are to be equally and proportionably satisfied, so far as the security will hold out. 3. Whether it be not contrary to his Majesty's intention in his forementioned letter of 4 June, '73; the like parity of reason holding for an equal distribution of houses and lands as well as for an equal partition of the money belonging to this security. Lastly, whether it may not occasion an unnecessary distinction between the persons or merits of these '49 officers (which seems not to be warranted or intended by the said Acts) if some should be declared to receive their full proportion of satisfaction, and thereby others be deprived of their dues. I know no man who can better inform his Majesty whether I am in the right, both as to the sense of this Act of Settlement and the inference I draw from it, than my Lord Keeper, and therefore, if your Lordship pleases, I think it not amiss to take his opinion on what I have offered.
	I assure you it is some uneasiness to me to be so often put to appear in opposition of grants of this kind, wherein I am certain I cannot but now and then raise the ill will of several particular persons to me, yet I reckon it so principal a part of a man's business in my station fully to inform himself and truly to represent matters of this nature, that very much of my time has been taken up in it, and if these, his Majesty's, affairs have received any benefit by my care, it is reward enough to me to know that my diligence is well resented, and after a second signification of his Majesty's pleasure I shall not fail to conform myself to the commands transmitted to me. [S.P. Ireland, Car. II. 335, No. 12.]
	Opinion of Sir H. Finch, Lord Keeper. The Commission for execution of the Irish Acts being determined, the lands remaining undistributed may be applied by his Majesty to such uses as by the public trusts of these Acts are appointed to be satisfied. The like may be said of lands hitherto concealed, when discovered. On this ground the King suffers them who purchase deficiencies from Adventurers and Soldiers to apply new discoveries to their satisfaction. By the same reason he may so do to purchasers of interests within the limits of the '49 security, for the King executes his trust still and injures no man by rewarding the pains of the discoverer with a preference in his satisfaction. Nay, 'tis a benefit to all, first to those who sell their deficiencies, which seem to be worth nothing while there is no land discovered to place them upon; secondly, to the purchaser, who knows how to re-imburse himself; thirdly, to the King, who by this discovery gains new quit-rents and great arrears of quit-rents to be charged on the discovery. But it may be fit to limit the discoverer to a certain time and to certain places, that so there may be room for other discoverers as well. I have long since discontinued my acquaintance with the Irish Acts, but as thus advised I should think Col. Dillon's petition may be granted. 24 Feb. [S.P. Ireland, Car. II. 335, No. 12i.]
Feb. 6. London.	Thomas Derham to Williamson. (Printed in Camden, Williamson, Vol. II. p. 138, where, 8 lines from bottom, "imprudently" should be "impudently," and, p. 139, line 6, "acquainted" should be "unacquainted.") [3 pages. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 360, No. 119.]
Feb. 6.	Lord O'Brien to Williamson. (Printed in Camden, Williamson, Vol. II. p. 139.) [Ibid. No. 120.]
Feb. 6. Whitehall.	Sir Gilbert Talbot to Williamson. (Printed in Camden, Williamson, Vol. II. p. 140.) [2 pages. Ibid. No. 121.]
Feb. 6. Spring Garden	Sir Robert Southwell to Williamson. (Printed in Camden, Williamson, Vol. II. p. 142.) [2 pages. Ibid. No. 122.]
Feb. 6.	Sir John Robinson to Williamson. I hope this will not come to your hands but that you will be here suddenly. Yesterday Lords and Commons was with an address to his Majesty for peace. I'll not trouble you with particulars; you'll have it at large. I'll only tell you that your old clan of Parliament men, with whom I dined, drink your health. To-day I dined with the two good ladies, no little lovers of you, the Countess of Thomond and Lady Katharine. With those and above named your health went over and over, and so it did to-night at the Dog Tavern, by an adjournment from Oxford Arms, where we had Mr. Frances to answer all mistaken reports, Sir Thomas Meares chairman. I wrote you of Modyford's petitioning. We were to be heard Saturday last, counsel feed, and witnesses both sides. I gave the House that satisfaction at the petition coming in, that, I believe, they have taken shame to themselves. [Ibid. No. 123.]
Feb. 6. London.	Col. R. Whitley to Williamson. I shall only tell you I dined to-day with Lord O'Brien and his excellent lady, who remembered you with all the kindness imaginable, and the good old lady says, if you return within a month, she hopes to live so long that she may see you once again. The Lieutenant of the Tower was the third man at table, and it cost a bottle extraordinary. [Ibid. No. 124.]
Feb. 6. London.	Lord Aungier to Williamson. I doubt not but ere this you have a confirmation from many other hands of what I wrote in my last, and I must tell you further that yesterday arrived a trumpet from Holland, whose errand without question you have intimation of from better hands than mine. Yesterday both Houses made their addresses to his Majesty and presented their humble advice that he would be pleased to proceed in a treaty with the States General upon their proposals in order to a speedy peace, to which he graciously answered that the best way of expressing his thanks for our advice was speedily to endeavour a peace, in which he doubted not we would enable him. The arrival of the trumpet stopped Sir W. Temple's journey to Holland, in order to which he had received his money and sent away his servants. I am told he follows himself to-morrow. Yesterday the House of Commons presented their address to his Majesty for removing the Duke of Lauderdale from all his employments and from his Majesty's councils and presence for ever, he being a person obnoxious and dangerous to the government, to which his Majesty replied that he would take it into his consideration and return us a speedy answer. This afternoon we did the like for the Duke of Bucks, and had the like answer. These are the chief occurrences since my last, and I now conclude I shall not have occasion of troubling you often in this kind because I expect soon to see you here. Pray tell Sir Lionel Jenkins that this day, by main force upon a division of the House, we carried that six weeks should be added to the time formerly appointed for hearing the merits of his election. Lords Arran, O'Brien, and Carlingford, Sir Trevor Williams and others of your friends are now drinking your health. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 360, No. 125.]
Feb. 6. Whitehall.	Robert Yard to Williamson. I have at last obtained from Mr. Burgesse another particular of what moneys have been paid your Excellencies on this embassy, &c., and you will see by it your moneys have been very punctually paid. I was this morning with Mr. Floyd, and again prayed him to send you an exact account of what moneys he had paid and received for you, which he promised to do. I am ready to go with Mr. Carleton or Mr. Francis to him, but they cannot do more than I have. The great news is of Sir William Temple's being upon going Ambassador to Holland to conclude the peace (interlined "though I hear he does not go"), and with him Sir Gabriel Silvius to compliment the Prince of Orange. People in general are in great expectation of peace, and nothing but peace will be able to satisfy them. The Straits fleet was yesterday still at Spithead but intended to sail to-day. We heard a report that the King had caused 2,000 men to be taken out of them at Portsmouth to be put on board the Royal Charles, so busy is the malice of men to raise reports which may reflect on the King and the present management of affairs. [2½ pages. Ibid. No. 126.]
Feb. 6. London.	Edward Carleton to Williamson. I have observed your commands as to Mr. Lloyd, who tells me he cannot as yet have leisure to make up your account, but that you are near 1,000l. in his debt, he having paid several bills you made on him of late, which he cannot be reimbursed from the Exchequer. I importuned him to appoint me a time to attend him to the several offices, that I might be satisfied particularly and have the whole account adjusted, but he would not set any time. I intend next week to be with him again. I can meet with no ebony boxes so large as your own. Mr. Traherne over against the new Exchange showed me one, which he assures me is of the same size, and that you bought two of him on your going over. The dimensions are 17½ inches long, 12 broad, and 10 high. If this size will please you, I will take care they shall be ready to come with your liveries. I have just come from Lord Arlington, who has been confined to his chamber with gout for these 10 days. There was company with him, so I could not discourse on your concerns. He commanded me to wait on him to-morrow, and then I shall assure him how notoriously false all stories are which he has heard from Cologne, &c., which I know were reported by some unworthy wretches to whom you ever showed the greatest kindness, whilst they were with you. I shall not repeat my trouble for your sufferings by their malice and ingratitude. Methinks they are much hushed of late, and, when I meet any of the parties concerned, they pass by me, being conscious of their own guilt. I am confident these aspersions will turn to your great advantage. I doubt not but you enjoy an inconceivable satisfaction and serenity of soul by your patience, whilst those foul detractors are tormented with horrid disquietudes. I have done very little in my own affairs yet, and doubt the success. Be pleased in your next to let me know how long I may stay before you expect my return. Lord Arlington told me I might stay some time longer, as Mr. Francis was here. Yesterday morning Sir W. Temple went from the King to the States, I cannot say, Ambassador. Some say Sir G. Silvius went with him. We talk here of nothing but peace, and that we are excluding the French. I desire you will do me the favour to write to Lord O'Brien and desire his assistance in getting me my money due from the Duke of Richmond. It is now in his power to do it, and I want interest in him. [2½ pages. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 360, No. 127.]
Feb. 6.	William Chiffinch to Williamson. Thanking him for his letter, and informing him that Mr. Stephkins was joined in patent with his father, and is now settled in his place, that Mr. Pursell has been very kind to him, and has desired the writer to present his humble service to Williamson, as does Mr. Rogers and very many more of Williamson's friends. [Ibid. No. 128.]
Feb. 3–6.	Notes of proceedings in Parliament on those days, of which the substance appears by Lords' Journals, Vol. XII. pp. 625–628 and Commons' Journals, Vol. IX. pp. 302–304. In the notes of the proceedings in the Lords on the 5th it is also noted that the House be in a Committee about the heads of the Popish Bill next Saturday, and that the Committee of Petitions be assisted by two judges when they sit to consider whether the petitions presented be fit for the House's view. Under the proceedings of the 5th in the Commons is given the Test as follows:—"I, A. B., do sincerely from my heart and in the presence of Almighty God, profess, testify and declare that I do not believe in my conscience, that the Church of Rome is the only Catholick or universal Church of Christ, out of which is no salvation, or that the Pope has any jurisdiction or supremacy over the Catholic Church, or that it belongs to the said Church of Rome alone to judge of the true sense and interpretation of Holy Scriptures, or that in the Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist there is made a perfect change in the whole substance of bread into Christ's Body, or of the whole substance of the wine into Christ's Blood, which change the said Church of Rome calleth transubstantiation, or that the Virgin Mary or any other saint ought to be worshipped or prayed unto, and all these aforesaid doctrines and positions I do renounce and disclaim as false, erroneous, and contrary to the truth of God's word and Christian Religion and I do make this recognition and acknowledgement truly, plainly, and sincerely upon the true faith of a Christian, so help me God." [5 pages. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 360, No. 129.]
	Separate copies of notes of proceedings in both Houses on the 5th and 6th. [Ibid. Nos. 130–133.]
	"Powell and Coventry's Test," i.e., form proposed by Mr. Powle and Sir W. Coventry, differing slightly from that given above, dated 5 Feb. [Ibid. No. 134.]
[Feb. 6?]	Form of purgation to be used by a member of the House of Commons, clearing himself from having received since 1 Jan. 1672[–3] any money, pension, reward, gift, pardon of debt, office, or reversion of office, from the King or any one connected with him, or from the agent or minister of any foreign prince except such as he has already acknowledged in writing, and declaring that he does not know of any such gift or promise so given or made since the said date to any other member but what he has also inserted in his said writing, and that he has never given his vote in Parliament for any reward or promise.
	(See Parliamentary History, Vol. IV., column 664, and a passage in Derham's above letter, "that the House are at present very busy about two tests, the one for Catholics . . . the other to try who are or are not honest men, but that . . . goes no further than their own territories.") [Ibid. No. 135.]
Feb. 6. Whitehall.	Proclamation fixing the prices of wines for the ensuing year, as valued by the Lord Keeper and others. [S.P. Dom., Proclamations, Vol. 3, p. 316.]
Feb. 6. Whitehall.	Order in Council on the petition of Daniel de Mazieres des Fontaines which stated he is in arrear of salary for one year due before the last establishment of the Earl of Essex, and since that establishment has remained quite unpaid, which has utterly discouraged him and his associate from establishing a trade in Ireland according to the letters patent of 3 March 1670[-1], and has given occasion to his enemies in France to contrive the ruin of his estate there, and prayed for payment of his arrears, and for letters of recommendation to the Ambassador in France:—that the said petition be shewed to Lord Ranelagh, who is to certify the cause why the petitioner's salary has not been paid, and that one of the Secretaries of State recommend the petitioner's case to Sir W. Lockhart, Ambassador in France, in order to his relief there. [S.P. Ireland, Car. II. 335, No. 13.]
Feb. 6.	Account of the proceedings in the House of Commons that day. (Printed in Commons' Journals, Vol. IX. p. 304.) [Admiralty, Greenwich Hospital, Newsletters, Vol. I. No. 3.]
[Feb. ?]	Valentine Hollifield and Samuel Hirons to the King. Petition stating that at the last Lent Assizes for Warwickshire they had been convicted of horse stealing and sentenced to death, that they had been reprieved and were inserted in the last general pardon for the Midland Circuit on condition of transporting themselves to America within 6 months, before which time by the general act of indemnity passed the last session his Majesty had pardoned the said offences, and praying to be permitted to live in England.
	At the side,
Feb. 7. Whitehall.	Reference thereof to Sir Robert Atkins and his report recommending a pardon to the petitioners as desired. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 360, No. 136.]
[Feb. 7.]	Case of the inhabitants of the parish of Croydon, concerning the great oppressions they lie under by reason of the unparalleled extortions and violent, illegal and unwarrantable prosecutions of Dr. William Clewer, vicar of the said parish, humbly presented to the consideration of Parliament. Relating how during the rebellion he obtained a sequestered living, Ashton, in Northamptonshire, where he behaved himself much unlike a clergyman as appears by the articles exhibited against him by the parishioners. At the restoration the sequestered incumbent recovered the living, and Clewer then obtained the vicarage of Croydon from the Lord Chancellor by the help of a gentleman, to whom he promised a good reward which he has never paid. The vicarage consists only of small tithes, not worth above 80l. This was paid the Doctor for some time, but when he got all the parishioners' names he fell to his old practices of extortion, bringing vexatious suits against them, because they would not comply with his unconscionable demands. They caused him to be indicted in Hilary Term, 1673, for a common barrater, but Clewer by fraud procured a Nolle prosequi. They then petitioned his Majesty to take off the Nolle prosequi, or to hear the case himself and relieve them according to justice, exhibiting articles charging him with various acts of extortion with regard to tithes, burial and marriage fees, &c. Then follows a long narrative of hearings before the Council 21 March, 1672–3, and 4 April and 28 May and 15 Oct., 1673, and of references to the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Lord Chancellor, their appointment of Sir Adam Brown and Sir William Haward as arbitrators, and their award against the Vicar. At the last hearing before the Council, 15 Oct., his Majesty declared that, when the inhabitants of the said parish shall provide 160l. a year as a maintenance for the vicar according to their proposals in their petition, in order to the passing of an Act to confirm the same for ever on the said vicarage, then his Majesty will give effectual order for removing the present incumbent. The parishioners therefore pray the Parliament to enable them by an Act to give such maintenance to a succeeding minister as may be an encouragement to a sober, learned, orthodox and peaceable man to settle amongst them, and to do the Church that right as to remove so wicked and scandalous a person out of it, for the said Doctor is a frequenter of houses of debauchery, particularly a blind beggarly disorderly alehouse in a by place at Newington, infamous for the entertainment of lewd persons, where the officers about midnight found him hid in a garret, and were carrying him to the Counter in the Borough, till he discovered himself to be a clergyman, and besought them not to disgrace him publicly, whereon they released him. (See Commons' Journals, Vol. IX. p. 304.) [Printed. 16 pages. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 360, No. 137.]
Feb. 7.	Warrant to Lord Chief Justice Hale to reprieve Lewis Beaulieu, alias Meupon and John Norman senior and junior, convicted of coining, and to insert their names in the next general pardon, to be put into the clause of transportation. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 28, f. 105.]
Feb. 8.	Pardon to John Booth, for clipping. Minute. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 40, p. 153.]
Feb. 9. Whitehall.	J. Richards to Williamson. (Printed in Camden, Williamson, Vol. II. p. 143.) [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 360, No. 138.]
Feb. 9. London.	Edward Carleton to Williamson. (Printed in Camden, Williamson, Vol. II. p. 143, where, p. 144, line 23, "the liveries" should be "your liveries.") [2 pages. Ibid. No. 139.]
Feb. 9. Whitehall.	R. Yard to Williamson. Apologizing for sending no news, having been detained in his chamber since last Friday by a very great cold. [Ibid. No. 140.]
Feb. 9. London.	Robert Francis to Williamson. I shall not trouble you with news, except that the peace is said to be signed here, and I am expecting my desired return which I hope to obtain in a few days. For what has more particularly related to you, I hope I behaved as became an honest man. If I be dispatched according to my expectation I may possibly be at Cologne as soon as this. [Ibid. No. 141.]
Feb. 7–9.	Notes of proceedings in Parliament on those days, the substance of which appears from Lords' Journals, Vol. XII. pp. 629–631, and Commons' Journals, Vol. IX. pp. 304–305. [Ibid. No. 142.]
	Other copies of the above notes, giving the proceedings of the two Houses separately. [Ibid. Nos. 143–145.]
Feb. 9.	Order, after reciting the petition of Edward Hodges and Dennis Hinde, and the reference thereto of 22 Dec. last to Sir R. Wiseman (calendared ante, p. 67) and his report, that the definitive sentence of the Court of Admiralty at Dover be executed, without granting any new commissions to examine witnesses or any other delay whatsoever. [2 pages. S.P. Dom., Entry Book 40, p. 181.]
Feb. 10. London.	Lord O'Brien to Williamson. (Printed in Camden, Williamson, Vol. II. p. 145.) [Nearly 2 pages. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 360, No. 146.]
Feb. [10 ?]	Heads considered of by the House of Peers and referred to the Committee of the whole House to prepare a digest into a bill or bills for securing the Protestant Religion as it is established in the Church of England. Nine heads, which are printed in Lords' Journals, Vol. XII. pp. 618, 626, 632. [Ibid. No. 147.]
Feb. 10. Whitehall.	Warrant to the Attorney-General to acknowledge in the Court of King's Bench satisfaction for fines of 100l. and 50l. paid by John Walter and Thomas Porter to Col. John Russell, to whom the King had granted the same. With note by John Cooke that this draft warrant was brought from the Attorney General, but that he afterwards wished it to be turned into a warrant for a privy seal, which was accordingly done. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 28, f. 106.]
Feb. 10.	Warrant to the Lord Keeper to put the Great Seal to the ratification of the treaty between his Majesty and the States General and also to the ratification of a secret article concluded at the same time. Minute. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 36, p. 326.]
Feb. 10.	On the petition of James Halsall praying an order for his pay of 6s. per diem as Governor of Calshot Castle from the date of his commission, declaration of his Majesty's pleasure that an allowance and establishment be made to the petitioner as prayed, and direction to the Lord Treasurer to settle the same. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 37, p. 94.]
Feb. 10.	Warrant to the Attorney or Solicitor General to prepare a bill for confirming the charter granted by Queen Elizabeth establishing a free Grammar School of the foundation of John Gamlyn and John Blank at Spalding, Lincolnshire, and for the government thereof. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 40, p. 158.]
Feb. 10.	His Majesty being informed that John Croane, Andrew Frenche, and Nicholas Skiddy are guilty of the piracy wherewith Francis Bodkin is charged, and for which he has been long under restraint in Dublin, order for a letter to the Lord Lieutenant directing that a commission be forthwith issued for the trial of the said four persons, and that, if convicted, they should suffer accordingly, and that the Lord Lieutenant use his utmost endeavours to discover all others who had any hand in the said piracy. [Draft. Noted as given in by W. Harbord. S.P. Ireland, Car. II. 335, No. 14.]
Feb. 10. Whitehall.	Warrant to the Attorney or Solicitor General to prepare a charter of incorporation for the town of Dundalk, saving the rights of Viscount Dungannon, Sir John Bellew, and all others, and with a proviso that the corporation be subject to the rules lately established for corporations in Ireland, and that, if by a trial between the corporation and Viscount Dungannon the corporation shall, by virtue of this grant, obtain a judgment against him for any lands that were in the king's power to grant to the said Viscount, they shall surrender such lands within six months after such judgment into the King's hands, if he shall require the same. [2½ pages. S.P. Ireland, Car. II. 335, No. 15.]
	Another copy thereof. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 40, p. 162.]
Feb. 11.	Dr. Benjamin Worsley to Mr. [Bridgeman]. On behalf of Mr. Smith, who, he is informed, has been twice already accused and was discharged both times. The persons who pursue him, the writer believes, do so more out of malice, and because he has been somewhat forward to discover the undue practices of others, than from any desire to prevent what is illegal or disorderly. Though he may have done something about the printing of his book with less caution than he ought, yet it was not with any evil intention. The writer will be much obliged if Mr. [Bridgeman] can serve him to Lord [Arlington?] or give him any direction for delivering him out of his difficulty. [Numbered 164. With endorsement in Bridgeman's hand. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 360, No. 148.]
[Feb. ?]	Francis Smith to the Earl of Arlington. Petition stating he had formerly an impression of this Treatise of Baptism printed under Dr. Parker's countenance, published in the licensed catalogue of books, that Mr. Mearne saw the second impression and declared it might pass, but, because the petitioner made discovery of the vendors of The Appeal and Narrative of the Sea Fights and The Lady's Calling, Mr. Mearne has refused the entrance of a licensed copy, to the petitioner's great loss; that the petitioner has since been grievously assaulted by two of the said vendors, and yet Mr. Mearne, meeting a printer carrying part of a stolen impression of The Lady's Calling to the shop of one of the assaulters, would not see them; that Mr. Mearne seized 2,000 sheets of the petitioner's book at a printer's where The Lady's Calling was printing, but never meddled with the latter, and that he has also seized at the petitioner's house a quantity of his goods, and 500 of The Treatise of Baptism at the binders, and praying for relief. [Ibid. No. 149.]
[Feb. ?]	Francis Smith to Mr. [Bridgeman]. Thanking him for informing him of the answer Mr. Mearne gave him last night concerning the books, declaring that two of his statements were grossly and positively false, and requesting him to report the matter of fact to Lord Arlington, and to entreat his Lordship that, to take away the dispute, both the Wardens of the Stationers' Company might be sent for before him, and that he himself should also be heard. [Numbered 163. Ibid. No. 150.]
Feb. 11.	Warrant for a grant in reversion to Sir Richard Powle of the manors, &c. specified in the warrant of 22 June, 1673, calendared in the last volume, p. 385. Minute. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 40, p. 156.]
Feb. 11. Whitehall.	The King to the Lord Lieutenant. After reciting letters patent of 20 March, 1664[-5], which directed the Earl of Anglesey, then Vice-Treasurer, and the Earl of Orrery and Viscount Massereene, receivers of the securities for the arrears of the '49 officers, to pay to the said Earl of Orrery 4,000l. as a mark of the King's special bounty, and that he had hitherto received no part thereof, directing him to give orders to the Commissioners of the Treasury, and to Sir Alexander Bence, the receiver of all the moneys payable by the Acts of Settlement and Explanation (quit-rents and other rents therein otherwise reserved only excepted), out of the first moneys that shall come in on the arrears outstanding and payable out of the mesne profits of the said officers to pay to the said Earl 2,000l. in part payment of the said 4,000l., and that the said Sir Alexander (if required) should give good and sufficient assignments for the said 2,000l. to the said Earl or to whom he shall appoint; and further, after reciting that it may be uncertain whether the said funds may be sufficient for the speedy satisfaction of the whole of the said 4,000l, and that the said Earl with Lord Kingston entered into a contract for the Excise and licences of Ireland ending about Easter 1665, whereby they are become indebted to the Crown in the sum of 6,000l. or thereabouts, as remaining unpaid of the rent, directing him to give effectual orders forthwith to the said Commissioners of the Treasury, that out of the said moneys so owing by the said Earl and Lord Kingston they pay the said Earl in full satisfaction 2,000l., the residue of the said 4,000l., and give him effectual acquittances for the same as received in part of what he owes for the said Excise and licences; and further, since the said sum of 4,000l. is to be paid out of debts and funds already granted, by the contract of 4 Aug. 1671, to Viscount Ranelagh and his partners, directing him to allow the said 4,000l., when paid or satisfied to the said Earl, on the accounts of the said Viscount Ranelagh and partners, as so much money paid by them and allowed by the King. [2 pages. S.P. Dom., Signet Office, Vol. 9, p. 45.]
Feb. 12. Whitehall.	William Bridgeman to Williamson. By the last post you will, I presume, have understood that last Monday the peace with Holland was concluded and signed here. The day after, Sir Gabriel Sylvius went away with the ratification, and, I believe, he may be at the Hague to-morrow or Sunday. Lord Arlington has ordered a copy of the articles to be sent you to-night, resolving to send back your express, Mr. Francis, to you. Speaking to-day with my lord at Mr. Bedford's desire concerning the liveries he is preparing for you, he told me he thought your stay was not like to be long at Cologne, and that he believed the King would speedily declare his resolutions accordingly, which I thought might not be amiss to let you know, that you may take your measures accordingly. The Parliament news you will have in the Journals, to which I shall only add that the King has thought fit to suspend the Duke of Bucks from the execution of his place of Master of the Horse, designing it for the Duke of Monmouth, who at present is in great affliction for the loss of his only son, the Earl of Doncaster, who died two or three days ago. We have not had any account from France yet, how this peace is resented in that Court, but Mons. de Ruvigny persuades us that the argument of invincible necessity (which only could make the King quit so considerable an ally) will prevail much with the Most Christian King to the justification of his Majesty's proceedings. I doubt this matter will likewise make you liable to some difficulties where you now are amongst the several ministers, not excepting the mediators, who, if they are of the same temper with the Swedish minister here, will tell you the dissatisfaction they have at the so sudden conclusion of this peace. [2 pages. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 360, No. 151.]
Feb. 12. Whitehall.	Pass for Isaac Foxcroft, who has come into the kingdom pursuant to the declaration of 12 July (June), 1672, in favour of subjects of the United Provinces, to sail with his ship the Carolus Secundus, and goods and his outlandish seamen to Virginia, and there to dispose of his goods, and trade as freely as an English subject, provided he pay duties and observe the laws. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 36, p. 327.]
Feb. 12.	Like warrant for John Harlowe, master of the ship Charitas. Minute. [Ibid. p. 328.]
Feb. 12.	Like warrant for Jewen Jewenson, master of the ship Liefde. Minute. [Ibid. p. 329.]
Feb. 12. Whitehall.	Reference to the Lord Treasurer of the petition of Sir Francis Crompton, to inform himself of the state of the within mentioned Lodge, and to order its necessary repair if he thinks fit. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 37, p. 95.]
Feb. 12. Whitehall.	On the petition of the Earl of Euston praying his Majesty to double to him the favour of those of his quality as an Earl, being to have six tuns of wine every New Year freed of custom, by granting to Mary Bond the like freedom for the like quantity, declaration of his Majesty's pleasure that the Lord Treasurer order that the petitioner may every year have six tuns of wine freed of custom, &c. in like manner as is allowed to those of his quality. [Ibid.]
Feb. 12. Whitehall.	The King to the Duke of Lauderdale, his Commissioner, and the rest of the Privy Council in Scotland. 800 men being wanting of the established number of Lord George Douglas' regiment in the service of the Most Christian King, authorizing them to give warrant to such officers thereof as shall be appointed by the said Lord George to levy 800 men, who shall be willing to enter into that service, and also authorizing them to empower such officers to search throughout the kingdom for the deserters from the said regiment, the number of whom is considerable, and to seize as many of them as can be found and to carry them to serve in the said regiment. [S.P. Scotland, Warrant Book 2, p. 379.]
Feb. 13. Whitehall.	J. Richards to Williamson. (Printed in Camden, Williamson, Vol. II. p. 146.) [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 360, No. 152.]
Feb. 13. Whitehall.	Sir Gilbert Talbot to Williamson. (Printed in Camden, Williamson, Vol. II. p. 147, where, p. 148, line 6, "The prosecution against Lord Arlington darkeneth, but is kept still in check," should be "The prosecution . . . slackeneth, but is kept still in deck.") [1½ pages. Ibid. No. 153.]
Feb. 13. Whitehall.	R. Yard to Williamson. (Printed in Camden, Williamson, Vol. II. p. 148, where p. 149, line 11, "from" should be "for.") [3 pages. Ibid. No. 154.]
Feb. 13/23. Whitehall.	Sir Peter Wyche to Williamson. (Printed in Camden, Williamson, Vol. II. p. 150, where, 4 lines from bottom, "witch" should be "covet.") [1½ page. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 360, No. 155.]
Feb. 13.	James Hickes to Williamson. (Printed in Camden, Williamson, Vol. II. p. 151, where, 8 lines from bottom, "here" should be "nere," and, last word, "trim" should be "times"; p. 152, line 11, "hand" should be "honour," and line 27, "Aresnou" should be "Fresnou.") [Ibid. No. 156.]
Feb. 13.	Lord Carlingford to Williamson. Pacem do vobis, and not upon tedious debates. Sic volo was pronounced, et sine mora factum. Give me such plenipotentiaries, that for making peace or war verbum sufficit. By my son's letter I find you multiply obligations. If I can requite them it will be a pleasure to me, but will be sure always to acknowledge them. The Duke of Buckingham agrotat animo majus quam corpore, yet physicians name it a fever. I fear it's dangerous, having been of late remarkably devout, malum signum. Dux Lathardallensis laborat sub eadem malignitatem (sic) et domus Communis non volunt applicare remedium. Sunt obdurati cordis. [Ibid. No. 157.]
St. Valentine's Eve. [Feb. 13.] Mewes.	Walter Overbury to Williamson. I have not at present any greater news in my sphere than of Teague's playing at blindman's buff with the Duchess, which hath not (you may imagine) a little elevated his Irish apprehension. I have not heard of Mr. Fairfax since his departure, bating that he met with very bad weather, but, so soon as I do, I shall impart your commands to him. Sir Nicholas is gone to Hampton Court to-day, for his Majesty is yet Master of the Horse himself. Sir Robert T[h]omas accused our friend Pepys of Popery and worshipping images in the House, and quoted Lord Shaftesbury and Sir John Bankes vouchers, who disowned the thing. Lady Katharine has effected her business in behalf of her son and herself. The old Countess is very decrepit, and our godson comes on amain. When I read the news of Prince William of Furstenberg, I was in some apprehension for you, and am glad 'tis no worse, since it can be no better. It is generally discoursed upon the conclusion of this (I hope) happy peace, that you are to remove, some say into Spain, some into Swedland, but why I yet apprehend not. I hope I am not yet reckoned to you in the number of those that have been remiss in not expressly and ingeniously contradicting what false reports to my knowledge have been made of you here. If so, I presume you that know me so well will be hard to be persuaded into any such belief. I must confess, Francis did not a little surprise me with some discourse to that effect. No discreet or worthy person will, or, I am sure, can justify it, but many of your friends much the contrary. And some, that it may seem are not so much, have laughed with a kind of unbelief at my affirmation. It adds to my concern that people should be so impertinent to apprehend me in a quality great enough to have false reports raised on me. [2 pages. Ibid. No. 158.]
Feb. 13.	Dr. T. Lamplugh to Williamson. 'Tis a continuance of the late affliction that has been on me to hear you should yet be under the lash of a false tongue. What shall be given or done unto it? But, besides your own innocency, you may comfort yourself in this, that not any of your friends, nay not any sober person, believes a syllable of it. This was the lot of your namesake in Egypt, and I doubt not but the same God will bless you with the same issue. We must go through evil as well as good report, and this last report is so gross that it carrries its own confutation along with it, whithersoever it goes. Yesterday two Parliament [men] dined with me, who told me it signified nothing, and was looked upon as an absurd falsity. Dr. Smith constantly in his letters remembers you, and is very solicitous for your return, and so indeed are all your friends. Dr. Willis and his lady frequently remember you, and so do many other friends. Your letter to the Bishop of Worcester I sent him last night, who is yet at Worcester, indifferent well in health, but so lame that he cannot stir abroad. Now that the peace is concluded we hope to see you shortly in England. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 360, No. 159.]
Feb. 13/23. London.	J. Ellis to Williamson. I find in your letter of the 30th in a few words all I could have desired to appease that disquiet I have lain under ever since I had the misfortune to be falsely impeached to you, and humbly thank you for taking so generous a care to establish my quiet and repose in letting me understand that my endeavours to preserve your good opinion have had a happy effect. I question not but that time will make it appear that this has been a thing I have particularly laboured in, and that I have to the best of my knowledge served you con amore e non con inganno. I have communicated that letter of yours to my brother, pursuant to your commands, and, though I doubt not he will give you an account of his meaning in his late letter, to which this of your lordship's refers, yet I shall tell you he assured me, that what he wrote to you was only meant by way of argument to purge himself, and not of exprobation to you; that the expressions he used were purely as defensive arms, and not intended any ways to offend you. For my own part I am, and have ever been, so far from the thoughts of any expostulations of that nature that I have ever and shall always profess that I have ever received from your goodness all the marks of favour and kindness I could desire. [1½ page. Ibid. No. 160.]
Feb. 13. London.	Thomas Newcombe to Williamson. The 200l. you order me to pay Mr. Terrell will be certainly paid after 3 days' sight. For the other 200l. pray allow me what time you can, since I will be punctual in payment. Mr. Terrell is troubled at Mr. Lloyd's disappointments, as in truth I think he has reason, and I perceive you too are not very well satisfied. 'Tis hard to find a faithful friend. I thought he had reason enough to have served you to the utmost, but 'tis a bitter, ugly, ungrateful age. [Ibid. No. 161.]
Feb. 10–13.	Notes of the proceedings in Parliament on those days, of which most of the substance is given in Lords' Journals, Vol. XII. pp. 632–636 and Commons' Journals, Vol. IX. pp. 306–309. The following however are not noticed in the journals. Lords, Feb. 10. The House being in a Committee about the heads for a bill for securing the Protestant religion, Resolved:—First head. That concerning the education of the Royal Family's children the rule to know who are meant by the Royal Family is the statute of 31 Henry VIII., including females. That the education may be in a separate Court or family. That the King be moved that the children may be under the care of some eminent churchman by the recommendation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Bishops of London and Winton for the time being. That the time of remove be at 5 years of age, and for males to be till the age of 17, and for princesses till marriage or 17. Second head. Concerning marriage of the royal line with Protestants except by advice of Parliament. The limitation of the Royal line to be the same as in the former head. That none of the Royal line shall marry a Roman Catholic without the advice of Parliament. Third head. About disarming of Popish Recusants, that wording it according to the sense of the debate is left to the sub-committee. Feb. 11. An act to prevent the illegal imprisonment of the subject was read the first time. Feb. 12. The Lords went into a Grand Committee, Bridgwater in the chair, and read the 4th head concerning Papists in the Queen's Family and resolved that the word Portugal be altered into foreigners. That no Jesuits be admitted for the future to supply the vacant places of the present priests attending the Queen. That no English priests shall be admitted to attend the Queen, except Mr. Hurdleston (sic), who was eminently instrumental in the preservation of his Majesty after the battle of Worcester. That no Regular priest for the future shall be admitted to supply the places of any of the priests attending the Queen upon their death or removal. As to the Queen's other servants:—That for the future upon the death or removal of her present servants, none be admitted to supply their places but such as are natives of the same country the Queen is of, or of the Protestant religion as it is. That the number of the Queen's servants be according to the last establishment in 1672 or 3. Upon the fifth head how to suppress atheism and profaneness, this to be in a bill by itself. Upon the sixth head it was resolved it should be postponed. Upon the seventh head concerning the education of children whose parents are dead, and were of the Popish religion. Resolved:—That care shall be taken that the children of such persons may be educated by Protestants in the Protestant religion as it is, and shall be committed to the Lord Chancellor or Keeper for the time being, and the Bishop of the diocese, and, in case of difference, they to resort to the King to determine between them. That, in case a Papist die and leave a widow Papist, the children are to be educated in the same manner as above. Feb. 13. The House to attend the King this afternoon with their thanks for the peace. Commons. Feb. 13. The House to attend the King this afternoon with their vote of thanks. (See Ninth Report of the Historical MSS. Commission, Appendix II., p. 42.) [7 pages. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 360, No. 162.]
	Other copies of the notes of the proceedings of the Houses on the above days. [Ibid. No. 163–169.]
Feb. 13.	Heads of the additional bill for paving, cleansing, &c. London, with reasons for each head, the principal provisions being that every inhabitant do pave before his own shop, house, or other interest, and so for the future maintain the same at his own cost, and do sweep before the same, three times a week at least, and that the duty on coals be continued after 1687. Dated and endorsed by Lord O'Brien. [Printed paper. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 360, No. 170.]
[Feb. 13 ?]	Statement (probably to be laid before the House of Commons) that at the Quarter Sessions for Oxfordshire at Easter, 1673, an order was made for putting the laws in execution against Popish Recusants and other Dissenters; that for so doing so Sir Thomas Penyston and other justices were summoned in June before the Privy Council at the instigation of the Earl of Anglesey (see last volume of the Calendar, p. 369), and that the said Earl at the hearing endeavoured to incense his Majesty and the Council against them; that making the said order is warranted by law, that all justices are obliged by their oaths to put the laws in execution in general, and had been lately commanded by a proclamation to put all the penal laws against Popish Recusants in execution, and are liable to a penalty of 100l. if they return not those who do not take the oath of supremacy, or if, on complaint made, they do not put the laws in execution against conventicles, and praying that their Honours will provide for the security and indemnity of all justices in the execution of the laws according to their duties. With memorandum referring to the cases of Penyston Whalley and Sir Robert Shirley (see Calendar, ubi supra). On the back are some notes by Lord O'Brien concerning the bill introduced that day into the House of Commons to enable the Countess of Newburgh, and the Earl, her son, a minor, to sell certain lands. (See Commons' Journals, Vol. IX. p. 308.) [Ibid. No. 171.]
Feb. 13.	Warrant for a grant to Thomas Hawley, on account of his sufferings for loyalty under the usurped powers, of the keepership of the game in Waltham Forest, Essex, surrendered in his favour by Henry Redman, fee 12d. a day. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 36, p. 340.]
Feb. 13.	Warrant to the trustees of the Queen Consort to grant to Dame Mary, the wife of Sir William Killegrew, a lease of the manors of Rosedale and Leven, co. York, for 60 years, at the present rents, the reversion of Prior's Marsh, in Lincolnshire, of which she is lessee, having been otherwise disposed of. [2 pages. S.P. Dom., Entry Book 40, p. 156.]
Feb. 14.	Trial of the Pyx.	l.	s.	d.
	Coined in Crown Gold moneys from 20 Dec. 1672 to 21st Dec. 1673, 2,721lb. 2oz. 18dwt. 23gr., which at 44l. 10s. the pound weight cometh to by tale	121,095	8	7¾
	Coined in silver moneys from the 20 Dec. 1672 to 21st Dec. 1673, 98,364lb. 4oz. 15dwt. which at 3l. 2s. the pound weight cometh to by tale	304,929	12	6½
	Total of gold and silver moneys by tale	426,025	1	2¼
	In the Pyx of the Crown Gold moneys	174	10	0
	" of the silver moneys	327	0	8
	Total	501	10	8
	[S.P. Dom., Car. II. 360, No. 172.]
Feb. 14. Whitehall.	Memorandum that Thomas Rosse, secretary to the late embassy to Sweden, returned to his Majesty's presence 12 May, 1672. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 26, f. 172.]
Feb. 14. Whitehall	Warrant for a grant to Sir Thomas Twysden, Justice of the King's Bench, and his heirs, of the perpetual presentation to the vicarage of East Malling, Kent, he having given for the maintenance of the vicarage, which was very small, almost all the tithes of hay, grass, and clover in the parish, and 100l. to purchase lands or rents for the vicar and his successors. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 27, f. 57.]
Feb. 14. Whitehall.	Reference to Sir Christopher Wren of the petition of John Grove, master plasterer of his Majesty's edifices in England, praying his Majesty to ascertain the arrears of his said place, and where and by whom they were to be paid, to consider the petitioner's grant and the rules of the office relating thereto, and to cause his arrears to be ascertained and to report thereon. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 37, p. 95.]
Feb. 15. Whitehall.	Warrant for a privy seal—after reciting that it had been resolved to send Sir William Temple as ambassador to the States General, and that accordingly he had been at great charges in preparing for his journey thither, and that such resolution had for certain reasons been altered—for payment to him of 1,000l. in recompense and satisfaction of those his charges. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 26, f. 171.]
Feb. 16. Whitehall.	John Richards to Williamson. Since Lord Arlington's last on the 13th by Mr. Francis, no letters having come from you, nor any matter occurred worth a particular letter, his Lordship begs your excuses for his omission by this ordinary. Here is yet no news of Monsr. Sparre. We suppose him in Holland, and that the news he meets there of our agreement with that state may have put some stop to his journey. Our Bordeaux fleet or the greater part of them is safely arrived. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 360, No. 173.]
Feb. 16. Spring Garden.	Sir Robert Southwell to Williamson. I am particularly obliged by your kind letter of the 3/13 instant. As to your money matters, I have twice spoken to Sir Robert Howard since the receipt thereof, in the point of your Council salary. He seems to have all dispositions in the world to do it, but complains that the Lord Treasurer ties him up so close, and cuts the grass so soon under his feet, that 'tis not in his power to do it yet. I spoke with Mr. Floyd to-night, who tells me he meets with so many rubs that he is ashamed to write to you of matters till they grow better. The truth is one Mr. Fleetwood, grown up in that office, has totally eclipsed Mr. Floyd, and his interest is much altered since you went. To both these points I see not any remedy (especially within my reach) but your own speedy return, which, by the course of things here, is not, I think, to be doubted. Only if any prize salary happen, you shall be sure of your right, if I get any. You take notice of the wild reports which have flown about, and I did not doubt but you had those friends your commands had bound to represent these rumours to you. Otherwise I had taken the freedom to touch that string, though it were a tender point. All I can say at present is that things which are easily admitted do as easily vanish, and I plainly perceive that the humour is already spent. You were a happy man, could you imagine to pass the greatest employments without some hard measure. Think on Lord Arlington in a House of Commons and his five days' tempest. The case and the event of it will give you consolation. My wife returns her humble service for your concern in her health, which is now confirmed to her. [2 pages. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 360, No. 174.]
Feb. 16. Tower.	Sir John Robinson to Williamson. I received yours of the 3/13 Feb., and heartily rejoice at your good health, and was glad you own I could do Lord Arlington any kindness. He is very safe by what I can understand, maugre his enemies, and the Modyfords' malice against him and me is not only cried down in Parliament, but all the City over. They have taken such shame to themselves concerning me that they durst not go forward with their business. Enclosed I have sent you my case with them and a copy of their petition. The House is still upon grievances and meddles with little things, and a great many bills are on foot, and a great many people are of opinion that they touch upon the King's prerogative, and a Committee is appointed to examine the laws, whether the King can commit or his Privy Council. The peace is mightily adored here, and the returns of it from Holland are expected in two or three days by Sir Gabriel Sylvius, who went away last Wednesday. We never forget you amongst our old acquaintance in the City. [Sir] T. P[layer] continues a great statesman. I suffer his daily advertisements and rebukes. Pray God send you quickly and safely to us. You have mine and your sister's hearty services. From your nephew at Paris I have great assurance from all coming from thence of his well spending his time and good deportment. [Ibid. No. 175.] Enclosed,
Feb. 16. Tower.	Case of Sir John Robinson v. Charles Modyford. The latter complains in a petition to the House of Commons that, being committed close prisoner to the Tower, 16 May, 1671, Sir John offered to release him for 50 guineas, and did so, 17 Sept. 1671, but a few weeks after invited him to the Tower, and detained him close prisoner again, without any fresh warrant, pretending to have freed him only on parole, and that he had broken it. Sir John, being a member of the House, cannot without their leave be proceeded against by law for false imprisonment, and the petitioner begs for relief, having suffered by his imprisonment more than 5,000l. The case of Sir John Robinson is, that he obtained permission for Modyford on his paying him his fee to go and see his grandmother who was dying, on promise of his return, that Modyford disregarded several letters requiring his return, and that after his discharge, Modyford declared how beholding he was to Sir John, drank his health, and made none of the complaints named in his petition, and kept his wedding dinner in the Tower with Sir John. (See Commons' Journals, Vol. IX. p. 299.) [Ibid. No. 175 i.]
Feb. 14 and 16.	Notes of proceedings in Parliament in these days of which the substance appears by Lords' Journals, Vol. XII, pp. 637–639 and Commons' Journals, Vol. IX, pp. 309, 310, except the following: Lords, 14 Feb. The House went into a Grand Committee upon the bill of Religion and as to the eighth head, that care be taken against the perverters and perverted from the Protestant Religion, it is agreed that as to the perverters of the law it may stand as it is, but the rigour of it be taken off if they abjure the realm. As to the perverted, that there be an addition of pecuniary penalties put upon them, and that without reference to former laws, the Committee to specify the penalty to be inflicted. Ninth head. To prevent the sending children into parts beyond the seas. That the laws already made in this case may be viewed by the sub-committee, which being afterwards reported to the House by the Earl of Bridgwater, they agreed that these heads should be turned into a bill, and that the judges assist the Committee therein. (See Report of Historical MSS. Commission quoted ante, p. 151.) [5 pages, there being two copies of the notes of the 14th. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 360, No. 176.]
	Another copy of the proceedings in each House on the 16th. [Ibid. Nos. 177–178.]
Feb. 16. Whitehall.	Reference to the Lord Treasurer of the petition of Sir Walter Moyle praying that the Lord Treasurer be directed to give him an allowance for 360l. for interest of 1,500l. lent to the Earl of Bath for his Majesty's use, when the Dutch were at Plymouth Sound, and for 250l. for charges he was at for warrants, privy seals, and orders for payment of the said 1,500l. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 37, p. 96.]
Feb. 16.	Statement of the extraordinary expenses incurred by the Earl of Peterborough during his embassy to Modena, from the 25th of February to 25th of November last amounting to 1,441l. 19s. 9d. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 40, p. 159.]
Feb. 16.	Lord Kingston to Lord [Arlington ?]. Praying to show the mistake he conceives his business of reprizals lies under. It is proposed that all grants of land in Ireland be brought before the Lord Treasurer here or the Lord Lieutenant there before the King's signature. He conceives there is no use of such a reference in his case, for he solicits, not for any grant, but for such a debt as his Majesty has obliged himself as a royal trustee to see satisfied. He is well content with part of that debt, the rest to be at his Majesty's dispose. His deficiencies have been examined already by two Lords Lieutenant and two Lord Chancellors, the Commissioners for the settlement of Ireland, Lord Ranelagh, and all the Officers of the Exchequer there, who by their several reports have all reported for him. It is not to be expected he should discover the lands to either the Lord Lieutenant or the Lord Treasurer, and if the former reports be not satisfactory, he has no reason to expect the following ones shall, being only able to prove the same things, which he prays he may not be again exposed to, for the expense in following this reprizal has already cost him more than it, and all the estate he has in the world beside would yield, if sold at ten years' purchase. [S.P. Ireland, Car. II. 335, No. 16.]
[Feb. 16?]	Lord Kingston to the King. In the same words, mutatis mutandis, as the last. [Ibid. No. 17.]
Feb. 17. Whitehall.	Recommendation of the petition of Sir Richard Fisher, Allington Paynter, Herbert Palmer, Roger Coleman, and Thomas Eyre for their arrears as having been of the Gentlemen Pensioners, to the Lord Treasurer, that he may direct some speedy way for their effectual satisfaction. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 37, p. 96.]
Feb. 17.	Reference to the Lord Treasurer of the request of the Earl of Peterborough to be allowed 400l., which he affirms was expended by him in passing his Privy Seal and Exchequer fees and other duties for the sums he has received on his said embassy. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 40, p. 161.]
Feb. 17. Whitehall.	The King to the Duke of Lauderdale, the Earl of Rothes, the Chancellor, and the Senators of the College of Justice. Acknowledging their letter of the 7th concerning the two papers given in to them by Lord Almond containing appeals from them to the Parliament, by which he is convinced both of the illegality and the dangerous and inconvenient consequences of such appeals, as well in regard to his authority and honour as the authority and reputation of the College of Justice and the interest and security of his subjects, declaring his displeasure against such proceedings, and assuring them that he will maintain them in all their privileges, and therefore desiring them to take exact trial of who were the contrivers of this appeal, that he may receive a full account thereof, and he will then declare his further pleasure. [S.P. Scotland, Warrant Book 2, p. 380.]
[Feb. ?]	Sir Maurice Eustace to the King. Petition stating a grant of the mills and fishing weirs of Kilmainham near Dublin, vested in his Majesty by the outlawry for treason of the tenant in tail who held them from the Crown, to Sir Maurice Eustace, Lord Chancellor and then one of the Lords Justices of Ireland, by letters patent in 1661, which letters were confirmed by clause 130 of the Act of Settlement and clause 191 of the Act of Explanation, that the petitioner as assignee to the said Lord Chancellor after six years' law suits, having recovered the premises from persons who got into possession and pretended title thereto, and having expended considerable sums in repairing them, is likely to be put to suit and trouble on pretence of a title thereto still remaining in his Majesty, and is informed a letter is procured from his Majesty in order thereto, which mentions his intentions of annexing the same to the Phœnix Park, and therefore (though the petitioner is advised that his title is very good) praying his Majesty to signify his pleasure to the Lord Lieutenant that no advantage be taken of any defect in the petitioner's title or any further proceedings be suffered on the said letter to the trouble or disquieting of the petitioner's possession. At the side,
Feb. 17. Whitehall.	Reference thereof to the Lord Lieutenant, with declaration of his Majesty's pleasure that in the meantime no proceedings be taken on a late letter directing a trial concerning the premises in order to the asserting of his Majesty's title to the same. [S.P. Ireland, Car. II. 335, No. 18.]
Feb. 18. Whitehall.	The King to the Master and Fellows of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. Recommending Richard Lake, M.A., late scholar in their college, for his piety, progress in learning and other laudable endowments, to be elected and admitted to their next vacant foundation fellowship. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 27, f. 177.]
Feb. 18.	Warrant for a pardon to Tracy Catchmay concerning the killing of Thomas Isaac. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 28, f. 107.]
Feb. 18. Whitehall.	The King to Sir Thomas Chicheley. Ordering him to pay from the ordnance money 500l. to Sir Philip Honywood, as compensation for the loss of his company of foot, which is transferred to the Master General of the Ordnance, a company being ordered to be in garrison under his command in the Tower. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 29, p. 97.]
Feb. 18.	Letter to the Mayor and Corporation of Congleton approving the election of William Hammerby as town clerk, in place of William Spencer, deceased. Minute. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 36, p. 329.]
[1674] [Feb. ?]	Ten papers in the handwriting of Lord O'Brien, apparently notes to be used in the Committee of the whole House on Ireland, which sat on 18 and 20 Feb., or notes taken of or for speeches there.
	Civil Power. 1. That the certificate of receiving the Sacrament, the taking the oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, as also the Test that is or shall be of force here, be observed and taken in Ireland by all those who bear any offices or commands either civil or military (constables and churchwardens only excepted) in the same form and under the same penalties as here.
	2. That no lawyer or attorney be permitted to plead or solicit in any of the Four Courts or any other Court of that kingdom, who produces not proof of receiving the Sacrament, and takes not the oaths and test as above.
	3. That no Papist be permitted to inhabit within the walled towns, especially in Dublin, Limerick, Athlone, and Galway.
	4. That, since most of the Corporation charters there are now void or else called in by the Government, his Majesty would renew those he thinks fit, and that in every one of them a clause be inserted for a general freedom to all persons that will take such test as is or shall be of force here, which makes distinction between the Protestant and Papist.
	5. For settling the minds of the inhabitants there, that a Bill be prepared here to confirm all that was contained in the Acts of Settlement and Explanation to all such, as shall within the space of — take the oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy and the test aforesaid publicly at the Chancery Bar of that kingdom, between the hours of 10 and 12, and those that refuse to take them be left in the condition they now are. [S.P. Ireland, Car. II. 335, No. 19.]
	Religion. To reduce the Romish clergy to the same number as ours, viz., 500, to be registered and to appear at every Easter and Michaelmas Sessions in the respective counties, and there called over, sufficient security to be given for their good and quiet behaviour and not meddling in anything but their proper callings. If any die in the interval of the Sessions the parish or parishes to acquaint the next Justice therewith, who with two more (one to be of the quorum) shall have power to license the priest presented by them, these licensed persons to have a protection from the Bench, sealed with the seal of the County in open Court. All licensed to wear such a habit that they may be generally known. Fixed places to be appointed for their meeting at Mass. Death to any proved by two witnesses to endeavour the perverting any Protestants. All this to be put in execution this next Easter Sessions, and a proclamation to give notice of this forthwith, and also to command all others of the clergy to repair betwixt this and 1 May next to some fixed places, shipping to be provided to carry them where they desire or you appoint. Death to any that obey not, or that return again. All the youth designed for learning to be bred up in Dublin, Oxford, or Cambridge, none to be allowed to be received as a priest that is elsewhere educated. That the Bible and Common Prayer be forthwith turned into Irish, and good numbers of them printed, and that the Bishops be commanded to obey the law concerning their erecting and endowing free schools, and to put able men into them. That care be taken that our ministers constantly perform their duties and functions according to law in their incumbencies, or appoint others to do it for them. That able persons be appointed as lecturers in every county, who shall have fixed places and days for reading in Irish the service of the Church of England and preaching. That the Bishops take care that constant catechising be observed according to the rules of the Church.
	Concerning the Laws and Civil Power. Agreeing with the first two clauses of the last paper with the addition that no sheriff be forced to serve who will swear that he is not worth 100 marks per annum or 800l. in money or money's worth.
	Religion. 1. There being but 500 ministers in Ireland the like number of priests (and those seculars) to be allowed and no more.
	2. That these be registered in every county, and appear at every Easter sessions for their county and take out a licence or protection sealed with the public seal of the county in open Court betwixt 10 and 12 in the morning.
	3. Registered priests to wear a particular habit.
	4. That fixed places be appointed to each priest for holding his conventicles, and that none of them presume to go above five miles from the place where he officiates without leave first obtained under the hands and seals of five Justices of that county.
	5. That, since the proclamation of 27 Oct. last [1673] has not proved effectual for banishing the Romish bishops and regulars, it be considered how to provide for the more speedy clearing that kingdom of them and of all others not licensed as aforesaid.
	6. That the bishops be reminded to erect and endow free schools, as they are obliged by the Act of Settlement, for doing which they, by that Act, had great advantages in their revenues, and that able and learned men be placed in them.
	7. That catechising be observed according to the rules and orders of the Church and that the Catechism be for that use turned into Irish.
	8. That the Common Prayer. Book and Bible be forthwith reprinted in Irish, and that in English character, as Welsh is now printed.
	9. That in regard one-third and more of the Irish Papists speak not, neither understand, the English tongue, that one able minister or more be appointed to read the Prayers on every — at some convenient places appointed for that purpose, and all this in the language of the country. [S.P. Ireland, Car. II. 335, No. 20.]
	Religion. This is a draft of the latter part of the last paper, the most noteworthy difference being that no priest is to be registered unless he takes the oath of Allegiance, and there is a clause that care be taken that ministers may be punished who read not the prayers of our Church appointed every Sunday, as well evening as morning, and preach once if not twice, accidents or sickness excepted. [Ibid. No. 21.]
	That no Papist be permitted to inhabit in the walled towns, &c. as in Paper 1.—That the revenue may no longer be farmed but brought back to the old way of management by Treasurer, ViceTreasurer, &c., and they solely to depend on the King or his Chief Governor.—Army and Militia. That as many forces be kept on foot as the revenue will maintain after the Civil List is provided for. [Ibid. No. 22.]
	Quœre, if the Acts of 17 and 18 Car. I. which passed here when at the same time a Parliament sat in Ireland (sic)? If so, whether the Acts of Settlement of '62 and '65 are sufficient to support the English Protestant interest? That those who have estates by virtue of the Claims may be confirmed by the authority of this Parliament, provided they take the two oaths those that do not to remain as they are. The wealth of Ireland is but 1/15 to that of England. If so, why not 1/15 of the members of Parliament to be sent out of Ireland, and then no laws to govern Ireland but what made here, and this certainly will fix the English Protestant interest there.—The state of religion from Sir W. P[etty]—900 Justices, 2,278 parishes.—Col. Birch to be consulted.—Revenue of Ireland before the war, not 100,000l.; now, 300,000l. Quit, Crown and Composition rents, 70,000l.; Customs and Foreign Excise, 80,000l.; Inland Excise, 55,000l.; Chimney, 25,000l.; First-fruits, casual revenue, aquavitæ, &c., 10,000l. That the people have been harassed, and yet not the Civil or Military List discharged.—Lord Aungier to be called on for account of what subsidies, polls, &c. He and Ranelagh differed on 120,000l. The first declared the King would be in debt 120,000l., the other said he would clear all and give him 80,000l. more, and get 40,000l. for himself.
	1. Whether you will resolve on such an Address as may not prove as unsuccessful as did your last.
	2. Whether you will proceed by Bill.
	3. Or whether you will entertain any thoughts or means of uniting the two kingdoms?
	Seculars	1,600	Ministers	500
	Grey Friars	2,600	Bishops	24
	Black Friars	600	Primate	1
	Jesuits	25	Archbishops	3
	Capuchins	16
	Archbishops	4
	Bishops	24
	Seminaries abroad	2,500
		7,369
	If this great excess on the Catholic clergy's side, was it not a good design to introduce so many Papists into the Commissions of the Peace and also some into the Army? Quœre, whether this Romish plot was not craftily laid, when these new raised troops of Justices were levied for this cause chiefly—to make the inferior clergy submit to their superiors, as when proved obstinate in spiritual affairs they charge him with some false suggestions of theft, &c., to carry him to prison.
	The smoke money of Ireland pays almost one-fifth as much as England or 25,000l. to 140,000l., the value of the houses not one twenty-fifth. [Ibid. No. 23.]
	1. There are 2,278 parishes in Ireland, and in each, one with another, above 100 persons that go to confession once a year at least. None is admitted by the priest to confess before he pays his 3d., and many 6d., 12d. or more, but reckoning but 3d., which the priest demands as his due, it amounts in every parish to 1l. 5s., which in the 2,278 parishes is 2,847l. 10s.
	2. Those that go to confession and no others are admitted to the Sacrament, which being a duty they much covet to perform, it must be concluded that, as many as confessed, viz., 100, so many received. He that offers least pays 12d., which amounts, one with another, to 11,390l.
	3. There are 80 Sundays and holidays on which the priest says Mass, for which he demands and receives from all the communicants, 4 patricks, which makes 2d. English. This from 100 persons amounts to 16s. 8d. per week, and from every parish per annum, 66l. 13s. 4d., which from 2,278 parishes is 151,866l. 13s. 4d.
	4. Committations (as they term it) of penance, for perjury, fornication, adultery, and incest, which is among the vulgar most horridly practised, the bishop has from every one thus offending 10s., and if but two be reckoned for in a parish, though it's frequent to have half a score, it amounts in the 2,278 parishes to 2,278l.
	5. For every christening, wedding, and burial, the Mass priest has 2s., and allow but 10 per annum in each parish, it amounts in the whole to 2,278l.
	6. Let the party that dies be never so mean, it is the custom for the people, not only of the same parish, but those adjacent, to come to the burial, and every one that comes pays 3d. at least to the priest as an offering, and many 6d., and others 12d. It's very rare but at every burial there 200 or more appear, nay at many, one, two or three thousand, and yet, allowing but 200, and those at 3d. per head, and that in every parish there are 4 burials per annum, this amounts to 10l. in each, and in the 2,278 to 22,780l. [S.P. Ireland, Car. II. 335, No. 24.]
	Although I have not had the opportunity, which some now have, and others not long since enjoyed, whereby they are the better enabled to discover to you &c.—His Majesty's commands, to set him right in the hearts, &c.—No way better than to discover the grievances of the people.—I desire not to be mistaken.—I love not corrosives; if the wounds require, &c.—And whether now or not, I shall submit that to the wisdom of, &c.—Other members have spoke. —Grasp at occasions of expressing my duty to my Master, for some that value themselves by slandering, &c.—This, Sir, with natural affection to the kingdoms, perfect respect to this Com[mittee] will induce me to do you the best service I can.—Last address of no use.— To disarm the Papists.—To banish the Regulars.—Put all out of commission, civil or military.—Car I., 17 and 18, Car. II. By Address; by a Parliament there; by Act of Parliament here; by an Union, as you did Wales—2,278 parishes, 500 ministers, and about 4,000 priests, 1,100,000 inhabitants, 3 of 8 Protestants; wealth not 1/15 of England, revenue ¹/6th, smoke money almost ¹/5th, 25,000l. to 140,000l.; rent of their houses not 1/25th, present revenue 250,000l. [against] 100,000l. [formerly.]—Duke's estate once Protestant, now generally Papist. 20,000l. per annum in quit-rents to Papists, rebels restored to above 50,000l. per annum.—Civil and military list not now paid. The army lessened by 6 troops and 10 companies in time of war; two regiments sent hither; at the same time proclamations for permitting Papists into towns, &c., and 100 Justices of the Peace or more, yet Lord Berkeley denied and this man never received such commands. Quœre, who did this? Army disbanded, a marine regiment pretended, other retrenchments.
	To Irish Papists per annum,			3,300l.
	To D. B[uckingham]			2,400l.
	To private uses			13,700l.
				19,400l.
	Those disbanded who were Protestants, the two regiments that came the same. Quœre, who culled them? Officers for petitioning, although with leave, suspended their commands, and afterwards sent over hither in the nature of prisoners; quœre, who contrived it? Some of those afterwards disbanded.—Ranelagh and his partners compound for 12,000l., 53,369l. (53,396l.) 3s. 8d., a just debt to the Crown. Gets the army to be postponed for twelve months. Afterwards his partners or agents compound with the starving soldier for 6 or 7 shillings per pound, contrary to the Lord Lieutenant's proclamation.—A pardon under Great Seal of Ireland to Ranelagh and his partners for 41,396l. 3s. 8d.—All concealed and forfeited interests (of which many) granted away by patent.—Common people depend on the priests, they on their superiors, and they on the French King, who has richly endowed them in France. Keeps above 2,000 youth always in colleges for divinity and law, and has now for the most part in his service all those whose estates were forfeited. Quœre, what's the danger more now than formerly? Visitations, confirmations, &c., most frequent, 2,000 or 3,000 at a meeting. Fifteen year ago not a Mass said openly in the kingdom, now it's common, above 30,000 returned to Mass. Any, who had married soldiers, carried husbands, and consequently the children, with them.—Justice of Peace instrumental to their clergy. Lord D[ongan] at the Naas.—Papists strict, and the French (?) take great care to advance wise men. Protestants remiss, ill men advanced. Bishops mind temporals; schools erected by Parliament, bishops allowed (?) for it's rarely observed. Friars and Jesuits breed up the youth of the kingdom. They persuade the young men to go beyond sea and not to fall into trades, by which the kingdom is greatly damnified, and their affections stolen from the Crown of England and placed elsewhere.—A test to be taken by all who shall have the benefit of the two last Acts, and the test and oaths to all lawyers, &c., and to all officers whatever.—No law to disarm the Papists, no law to banish them without proving they say Mass. [S.P. Ireland, Car. II. 335, No. 25.]
	Another version of parts of the last paper about the Romish clergy's dependence on France, the subservience of the Romish Justices to their clergy, the increase of the Mass, &c. [Ibid. No. 26.]
	1. It is notoriously known that Lord Ranelagh entered into a strict friendship with Col. Richard Talbot [who] came over to negotiate and solicit the affairs of the Popish party in Ireland.
	2. That soon after he effected his farm of the revenue, in compassing whereof he was vigorously assisted by the said Col. Talbot.
	3. That to demonstrate further the association and league betwixt them, Lord Ranelagh, immediately after his entrance into the Treasury, paid the said Col. Talbot 2,000l., which Lord Aungier refused to pay, it being a grant and no part of the establishment of that kingdom, and, since the address of this House to his Majesty against the said Col. Talbot, Lord Ranelagh has procured him another 2,000l.
	4. That as a further evidence of the friendship between them, and their mutual conjunction in promoting the common cause of the Popish party in that kingdom, Lord Ranelagh projected and contrived the making a new establishment there, wherein pensions were granted to several of the most leading men of the said Popish party, who were the chief sticklers for promoting the said Talbot's designs there.
	5. Their getting Papists into the Commission of the Peace there, and their admission into the corporations was the product of this conjunction betwixt the said Lord Ranelagh and Col. Talbot to overthrow and break the Acts of Settlement, in order to which they procured the Commission of Inspection, against which this House made a late address to his Majesty.
	6. Since Lord Ranelagh has had the management of the Treasury, he has monopolised and engrossed the affairs of that kingdom, so that the grievances it lies under are to be attributed solely to his predominant influences and mischievous advices. [S.P. Ireland, Car. II. 335, No. 27.]
	Rebellions in Ireland.—1st, the Geraldine, 2nd, that of Tyrone, 3rd, the universal of '41. In 1650, when Cromwell was following the pursuit of them from place to place, so great was the interest of the Court of Rome over that people that they refused, nay excommunicated, those persons who quitted the Nuncio's army and went to Lord Ormonde, then General for the King. They in all the rebellions have had bulls from Rome, declaring a full and free pardon to all who died in those quarrels, and what love did not affect they resolved fear should. [Ibid. No. 28.]
[Feb. ?]	Charges against Lord Ranelagh and his partners, the Commissioners of the Treasury in Ireland.
	1. That Lord Ranelagh, being Chancellor of the Exchequer and one of the Privy Council in Ireland, was obliged by his oath to discover and prevent any abuses in the revenue; but on the contrary he has used his skill and knowledge in that business to compass a contract with his Majesty to his own private advantage, whereby he has engrossed into his own hands the whole revenue there.
	2. That he and his partners have deceived his Majesty in his said grant by inserting obscure clauses in it to entitle them to defalcations contrary to his first proposals, which, being compared with the letters patent, it will appear that his Majesty is like to lose at least 80,000l.
	3. That in making the said contract he has brought on his Majesty several new charges to which he was not liable, as will appear by the particulars thereof.
	4. That he and his partners on entering into the management of the Treasury for the payment of 12,000l. discharged 53,396l. 3s. 8d. due to his Majesty from some of the partners for rent of the inland excise and for the customs and foreign excise, so that hereby they have remitted of the revenue by private contract among themselves, and to the private advantage of each other, without any order or judgment in the Exchequer, 41,396l. 3s. 2d., and to render it impossible for his Majesty hereafter to receive the said sum, to which they are liable by law till they have performed their undertaking, Lord Ranelagh has unjustly procured his Majesty's letter and directions to the Lord Lieutenant for passing a pardon to himself and partners for the said sum, in case he and his partners should not hereafter perform their undertakings.
	5. He and his partners were by their agreement to pay three months' of the postponed arrears at Christmas, 1672, and so 3 months' every year till the whole 12 months' arrears were paid to the army, but they have since procured those gales to be altered by which they were to pay but one month at Christmas, 1672, and so one month more at the end of every 3 months, till the whole was paid. But, though often called on by the Lord Lieutenant, they have paid very little of these arrears, though 5 gales are now due, and though they have received 4 gales of the reapplotment of the deficiency of the year's value, amounting to 60,000l. besides the most solvent part of the old arrears of the revenue and the constant growing revenue.
	6. That on making the late establishment in 1672, Lord Ranelagh advised and procured of his Majesty to disband 10 companies and 6 troops of the standing army, in a time of war, when they must be much more useful than any new-raised forces, which tended to the great discouragement of the Protestants in Ireland.
	7. That the said forces were disbanded, and many other sums retrenched on the establishment on pretence of lessening the charge, whereas the same is not saved, but employed to private accounts to which his Majesty was not liable before, viz.:—
	Pensions, most of them to several notorious Irish Papists			3,300l. per annum.
	To Lord Ranelagh's patron, the Duke of Buckingham			2,400l. per annum
	To a Marine Regiment, but no such regiment yet in being, and the sum reserved for it mostly applied to private uses			13,700l. per annum.
	8. That Lord Ranelagh, having a hand in advising his Majesty to dissolve the Presidencies of Connaught and Munster, immediately procured a grant to himself and his heirs of the Castle and Town of Athlone, and 500l. per annum belonging to the Presidency of Connaught (to commence after the deaths of Lords Berkeley and Kingston), thereby making himself and his heirs masters of the chief inland fort in Ireland, and the key to two provinces, in case there should be any rebellion.
	9. Lord Ranelagh and his partners by their undertaking are obliged to apply all the revenue they receive to such uses only as are mentioned in their undertaking, and, that it might appear whether they did so, they have undertaken to give an account of their proceedings to the Lord Lieutenant from time to time, as they shall be required, in pursuance whereof the present Lord Lieutenant, has from his first access to the Government from time to time called on the Commissioners of the Treasury for an account of their receipts and payments, that it might appear to him whether they have duly applied all the revenue according to their contract, notwithstanding which they have not to this day given him any such account, but have, to direct (sic) him from pressing for it, procured his Majesty's letter to him to accept of their account in the method they themselves propose it, whereby they so disguise it that it cannot be known whether they observe their said contract, whereby it may be presumed, and by the pells and other circumstances made manifest, that they have a considerable sum of the revenue in their hands, not applied to the uses of their undertaking, which by a moderate estimate may be computed to near 80,000l., and yet very little of the arrears of the army or of some other debts which they contracted to pay, are satisfied, and, though they have received very near all they can justly challenge from the present farmers, yet they have been so far from compliance with their contract, that there is a new arrear due to the Civil and Military Lists, and they have been so negligent in paying the two Irish regiments here, that their failings and disappointments have been the only cause of the complaints made in this House against the said regiments.
	10. That Lord Ranelagh, to deter all persons from making any complaint against his not performing his undertakings, when some of the officers in Ireland with great modesty petitioned Lord Berkeley, then Lord Lieutenant, to prevent their being cheated of 3 months' pay, he represented this to his Majesty as a design to mutiny, and his interest and insinuations were then so prevalent that, though many of them were known to have eminently served and suffered for his Majesty and his father, upon his petition only without any further proof than his producing a pretended copy of the officers' petitions, they were dismissed from their employments and sent for over hither as criminals, where, though nothing criminal could be laid to their charge, at his instance they were detained here a considerable time before they were restored to their commands and at liberty to return.
	11. That he and his partners, that there might be no check on them to discover their undue practices in the management of the revenue, prevailed with his Majesty that Lord Aungier, then ViceTreasurer, should surrender his patent, though no crime was objected against him, and accept 14,000l. in lieu thereof, the greatest part whereof they received out of the said Lord's fees, before he was satisfied, and yet, in consideration of paying him the said 14,000l., they have obtained a grant of the Vice-Treasurer's fees for 8 years, which will amount to above 40,000l., whereby they have so entangled his Majesty that they must inevitably have the management of the revenue there for 3 years after the determination of their undertaking.
	12. When it had been falsely suggested by Lord Ranelagh that the farmers of the great branches of the revenue there had failed much in their payments, they for their own vindication petitioned the Lord Lieutenant and Council that an account of their payments might be taken, whereon Lord Ranelagh procured a letter from his Majesty requiring prosecution to be made against them for their said petition.
	13. The said farmers being by covenant to receive of his Majesty 25 Dec., 1672, 70,000l. which they had advanced, they, knowing the army was much weakened there by the disbanding of several troops and companies, and by the removing of the two Irish regiments into England, and being informed by their partners there of the great danger of that kingdom by reason of the Papists, proposed in the Treasury Chamber here that 50,000l. of the 70,000l. due to them might (at 6 per cent., whereas the current interest there is 10 per cent.) be left in the Chief Governor's hands to answer any emergency, but this fair proposition was opposed and over-ruled by Lord Ranelagh, who forced them against their covenants to let the said sum lie in the hands of himself and his partners.
	14. When the revenue passed in the ancient and usual channel through the Vice-Treasurer's hands, it was always ready to answer his Majesty's occasions, the Vice-Treasurer being obliged to obey the Chief Governor's commands without dispute, whereas now, if any unexpected emergency should happen, that government cannot be supported without the consent of Lord Ranelagh and his partners, they being not compellable, otherwise than by their contract, to advance any sum, and, besides the pretences they will always have to defalcations, it is submitted whether it is fit or safe for his Majesty's affairs there to be under such shackles.
	15. The said Lord and his partners by themselves or their agents have, notwithstanding an express covenant in their contract to the contrary, and a proclamation from the Lord Lieutenant prohibiting all manner of compositions, compounded with several officers and soldiers for their arrears at 6s. and 7s. per pound to the great injury of their creditors in the country where they quartered, who have no other expectation or possibility of their debts being ever paid but out of the said arrears. (fn. 1) [Draft. 4 pages. S.P. Ireland, Car. II. 335, No. 29.]
1678[–4]. [Feb. ?]	Reasons offered to the consideration of Parliament for remitting the prohibition of the importation of Irish cattle.
	1. It has proved very prejudicial to the Customs revenue, not only the duty on cattle &c. imported from Ireland being lost, but also the customs formerly paid on goods imported into England and sent to Ireland in return for their cattle, which formerly paid a custom on importation, another on exportation, and a third in Ireland.
	2. It has greatly prejudiced the landowners in England. (i) Because the breeding lands in England are not able to raise a stock for the feeding. (ii) It makes breeders impose a greater rate for their lean beasts than they can be sold for when fatted, which makes feeding lands worth little or nothing. (iii) It has transferred most of the victualling both for home consumption, foregin trade and naval provisions from England to Ireland, and the places where Ireland sends them, so, though lean cattle be dearer than before the prohibition, fat cattle are cheaper, because we have lost the former consumption of them.
	3. It is destructive to navigation and trade. (i) To Navigation— When they were imported, at least 3 or 400 ships were constantly employed in that trade, but since the prohibition the whole trade is managed in foreign bottoms. (ii) To Trade—(i) Because foreigners who formerly victualled here now victual in Ireland, where they have beef at 12s. a barrel, which is 2½ cwt.; in England 23s. and 24s. a cwt. is paid. (ii) It will not be difficult to prove that Holland has during this war been supplied with their naval provisions out of the King's own dominions for a fourth of the price he has to pay for his; let every one then judge with what disadvantage he has gone to war with his enemies; having provisions so much cheaper, they can sail for less freight and wages, and so have great advantage of us as to trade, and may undersell us. To prevent this, the English now, when they sail on long voyages, only take a month's or 6 weeks' provision here, because in Ireland, Spain or elsewhere they touch at, they can be supplied with Irish provisions much cheaper than in England. (iii) The Irish did not take money for the cattle but English manufactures, by which the poor were employed and spent their earnings on English goods and manufactures, thus keeping up their price, but now the Irish fetch the goods they want from beyond seas, so that the traders in Lancashire and Cheshire and elsewhere where breeding lands lie, lose more for want of consumption of the manufactures there, than the breeders get by the price of lean cattle.
	4. The prohibition has made Ireland lessen their great cattle and increase their sheep, so that they have prodigious quantities of wool, which with their hides and tallow is mischievous to England in three ways. (i) By sending quantities of wool beyond seas unmanufactured, by manufacturing which foreigners grow rich, while the poor here starve for want of the work they formerly had for foreign consumption. (ii) By vast quantities of wool sent to England, bringing down the price of our own. Similar mischiefs attend the importation of their hides and tallow. (iii) By setting up woollen manufactories in Ireland, where having wool, hides and tallow cheaper than we, and all sorts of provisions at a much less rate, they must have workmen for half the price. If then the raw material and the manufacture be cheaper there than here, what shall hinder not only their making woollen and leather manufactures for their own use, but also supplying foreign markets, and then the staple trade and commodities of England will necessarily be undermined, and the many hundred thousands, who depend on the manufactories thereof will be reduced to beggary, and England want the consumption of the provisions and manufactures they spent when employed, which must bring down their price and consequently that of land?
	This prohibition has made Ireland incapable of trading with England, because they cannot pay for what they buy unless they send over money in specie, which tends to ruin that kingdom, or return it by bills of exchange, which costs 15 or 16 per cent., and that is double the advantage the trader gets here by the sale of their commodity, which also forces those who live here, whose estates lie in Ireland, to retrench a 6th of their expenses, which is a further hindrance to the consumption of things grown or manufactured here.
	It has undone many eminent drapers, haberdashers, &c., in London. For, besides the staple commodities sent thither, when fashions were out here, they went to Ireland in return for their cattle, and were as good as new, for want of which utterance, by reason of the often changing of fashions here, many tradesmen have been undone.
	It is likely to prove fatal to the English fishery, for Ireland being thereby put upon industry and parts of it lying nearer to France, Spain, and Italy, than England does, they having salt from France and cask in Ireland cheaper than we have in England, and provisions and wages being cheaper there, they have set up the fishery trade there, whence they need but one wind to carry them to the foreign market, and catching their fish 6 weeks before we take any in England, and lying so many leagues nearer the market, what hinders them from being at market with them sooner and cheaper than we can?
	By reason of the loss of our manufactures our people are removed and removing thither, as combers, weavers, &c., which will prove a great advantage to them, and a greater disadvantage to England than bringing over their cattle.
	If the surcharge on Irish cattle of 20s. a head for customs, freight &c. be not thought sufficient, it is left to the wisdom of Parliament to settle it, so as to be least prejudicial to England.
	The riches of a nation arising from the labourer, artificer and manufacturer, from their labour money is first raised to pay the tenant and through him the landlord; now to check the labourer is to stifle the riches of the nation in embryo, and how much the prohibition has in reality or pretence done this is to be considered. Manufactures and manufacturers are much lessened thereby, the exportation from England to Ireland before the prohibition being 204,000l. per annum, which will now scarce be found above a tenth thereof, which results in a double prejudice.
	1. The manufactures and things of the growth of this nation are much lessened.
	2. The consumption of the nation is lessened, and the labourers left cannot feed so well, since provisions are dearer, and the most minute addition on that amounts to a vast bulk in the total. For, supposing the people of England to be 8,000,000 and to spend one with another 20s. worth of flesh meat, at an average price of 2d. per lb. adding but ¼d. per lb. to the price amounts to a million of money spent more than before, whereas the cattle from Ireland did not amount to above 80,000l. or 90,000l. per annum or thereabouts; and, since those who labour are in number the body of the kingdom, and generally beef and mutton eaters, the dearer that is the more they spend on meat, and the less they have to pay to the tenants and they to the landlords. Further, if riches consist chiefly in the work of hands, and no kingdom is richer for what it consumes in itself, but in what it furnishes abroad, then breeding cattle in England, which requires but few hands, tends to dispeopling the land, and so to the abatement of the riches thereof, and to encourage that with a preference to our manufactures will be quite contrary to the policy of former times, which provided laws principally enjoining tillage and manufactory as the best means to increase the yeomanry, who were deemed the strength and riches of the kingdom, and most certainly the lessening of tillage and increase of breeding abate the tithes thereof. [Printed paper. Endorsed in Lord O'Brien's hand "1673. (fn. 2) Reasons for importing of Irish Cattle." S.P. Ireland, Car. II. 335, No. 30.]
[Feb. ?]	Bill for authorizing the importation of Irish cattle for seven years and from thence to the end of the next session of Parliament. With some notes prefixed in Lord O'Brien's hand of some of the points mentioned in the previous paper, with the addition that "nothing is so great a cause of Popery as to invite this foreign trade." [Draft. Ibid. No. 31.]
[Feb. ?]	"Propositions in Parliament," being observations as to the injury to navigation, the loss to the Irish nobility and gentry living in England, and the diminution of the Customs, resembling those under the same heads in the above printed paper. [Ibid. No. 32.]
[1674 ?] [Feb. ?]	Some of the observations made by W. P. (Sir William Petty) upon the trade of Irish Cattle. 1. The value of the oxen and sheep (their hides, tallow, and skins deducted) ever imported in one year from Ireland into England never exceeded 80,000l., or a hundredth part of the rents of land in England, nor were they above one hundredth part of the butcher's meat yearly spent in England.
	2. That Ireland never did, nor could spare as many sheep and oxen as would maintain a fifth part more people than it now has, that is, than would maintain about 1,300,000 people, of which number there are about 1,100,000 now in Ireland.
	3. Whereas Ireland contains three quarters as much land as England and Wales, and there be above 6,000,000 people in England, it follows that, if Ireland can furnish flesh meat but to 1,300,000, England cannot with equal plenty furnish meat to the said 6,000,000.
	4. The owners of breeding lands have since the prohibition not got above 10s. per head more for their cattle than before it, which the owners of feeding lands have paid them and lost. Moreover, the mariners of England have lost the getting of 9s. 6d. per head for freight and primage, and the people of England have lost 4s. 6d. per head more for driving and grazing. The King has lost 3s. 6d. per head for custom on both sides, besides officers' fees. The traders in hides and tallow have lost what they might have gained out of 15s. per head, and the merchants and artisans have lost yearly what they might have gained by 140,000l. worth of English manufactures. The wool-growers have lost as much as their wool is fallen by reason of the extraordinary sheep-walks now in Ireland. The landlords of Ireland resident in England have lost 5 per cent. extraordinary for exchange. Lastly, the bulk of the people have lost ½d. for every pound of flesh meat they have spent, amounting for all England to about 2,000,000l. per annum, of which great sum the owners of breeding lands have paid three times more in the enhancement of wages and manufactures than they got by the raised rate of their cattle above mentioned.
	5. Since the prohibition the Papists in Ireland, 800,000 in number, have got a dispensation from Rome to eat flesh 5 days a week, whereas formerly they did but four. In which extraordinary day of indulgence there is as much meat spent by them in a year as ever was brought into England.
	6. Although a beast worth 40s. might be brought out of Ireland even to London for about 20s., yet the land of England, generally taken, is worth five times as much, acre for acre, as the lands of Ireland generally taken, neither can the lands of Ireland rise up to a level of value with those in England without the mission of some millions of people more into Ireland than are now there nor without the expense of more millions in buildings and improvements than all Ireland is now worth, nor can the lands of England fall down to a level with those in Ireland without vast depopulations and devastations preceding. Every of the before mentioned particulars can be readily proved from grounds of sense known, granted, or authentic. [2 copies. Printed broadsheet. S.P. Ireland, Car. II. 335, Nos. 33, 34 (fn. 3) ].
[Feb ?]	Proposal of Thomas Sheridan, on behalf of himself and others, for buying all the wool of Ireland for 21 years and for its transportation into England only, to commence from 1 May, 1674.
	The exportation of the wool of Ireland is prohibited. This was done both to hinder foreigners from carrying it away, and to necessitate the Irish to manufacture it at home (which cannot be done without prejudicing England by making any other place the staple for woollen manufactures), yet the Chief Governors have, almost ever since these laws were enacted, given licences to transport the wool into England only, under certain conditions. However many merchants have by stealth transported wool into France and Holland, whereby the English woollen manufactures have been much prejudiced and the foreign advanced, for the exporters, if they succeeded one voyage in three, were considerable gainers, so much were the rates for wool higher in those foreign parts than in England. Forbidding Irish cattle being brought into England necessitated people there to leave off much of their breed of black cattle, and fall into the breed of sheep, whereby that kingdom has much more wool than it ever had before, which is likely to increase every year, so, if some speedy and effectual regulation be not made in the Irish wool trade (the manufacturers there not being able to employ one fourth of it), persons will rather transport it to foreign countries, and run the risk of the law, if taken, than make it a drug at home. Of late the best sorts of wool, which used before the war to yield 10s. a stone in Ireland, when brought to the port to be shipped, have not yielded 7s. to the owners, and proportionably for the less fine. For all the wool masters are either tenants or such proprietors as stock their own lands with sheep, and not being able (as to most of them) to send their wool to England to the best markets, are obliged to sell it to the Irish merchants, who confederate to buy it at their own rates, which are so low that the tenants are not able to live, to sell often to such buyers, nor able to undergo the charge (which is at least 3s. a stone, besides the hazard of the sea) and attendance of carrying their wool to England. The proprietors also who have flocks of sheep are generally subjected to the like inconveniencies, and therefore must come to the merchants or keep their wool in their own hands, and are often forced to barter it at very unconscionable rates, whereby also the Irish wool buyers, having it so cheap, may gainfully undersell the English woolsellers, whereby both the freeholders and tenants of England and Ireland, who are sheepmasters, visibly decay, and the combining merchants only increase, whereas, if it bore a good rate in Ireland, the sheepmasters of Ireland as well as England would be the better, and the inducements to transport Irish wool to foreign parts would be in great measure removed.
	It were therefore to be wished, since none can transport wool out of Ireland to England without a licence, that his Majesty would commission some honest and knowing persons to buy up all the wool that comes to the ports at honest and equal rates between buyer and seller, viz., for the combing wool of Tipperary, Cork, Limerick and Clare 10s. 6d. a stone; the clothing wool being of two sorts, for the best of those counties 7s. 6d., for the worst 6s. 6d.; for the combing wool of Leinster and Waterford 10s., for the best clothing 7s., for the worst 6s.; for combing wool of Ulster, Connaught and Kerry, 9s. 6d., best clothing 6s. 6d., worst 5s. 6d.; for fell wool of Munster, long 9s. 6d., short 6s. 6d.; for long fell of Leinster and Waterford 9s., and for short 6s.; for long fell of Ulster, Connaught and Kerry 8s. 6d., short 5s. 6d.; or, if the people had rather, they will give for the best wool 10s., for the second 8s. 6d., and the third 7s., according to its quality, and for fell wool long 9s., short 6s., according to the depth or fineness of the staple, and shall pay ready money on the wool being weighed and delivered in Dublin, Cork or Waterford, which three ports lie most conveniently for all the wool of Ireland, and shall further allow 2d. a stone for every stone brought above 50 miles to any of the said ports, which rates, besides the payment of ready money, are much higher than those for several years past, though very often at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months' time for payment, and are greater than will ever be given by the particular merchants, and those rates are not to be imposed on the seller, though such as both seller and buyer may thrive by.
	By the nearest computation the stock necessary to carry on this trade must be about 150,000l. sterling. If his Majesty think fit to take the whole wool trade into his own hands for the good of his subjects of both kingdoms, and will advance the necessary stock, and will employ such fit commissioners as shall be humbly proposed to him, they will give sufficient security for the discharge of their trust, and not one stone of wool shall be transported into any country but England, and, at every year's end, all charges defrayed, they will pay into the Irish Exchequer 30,000l. sterling net, besides the groats and usual fees on every stone to the Lord Lieutenant, provided that, if any war happen, they be allowed a sufficient convoy for the wool fleet.
	But, if his Majesty does not do so, others of England and Ireland will advance the sum, if commissionated thereto, no others to be licensed to transport any wool but these undertakers for 21 years from 1 May, 1674. They will give the said rates for the wool, and, if any difference arise in distinguishing the sorts, sworn officers, skilful in wool, may be appointed in every port, whose sentence shall be definitive, both to buyer and seller. They will enter sufficient security that not one stone shall be transported into any country but England, will pay the Lord Lieutenant his groats, and will pay yearly into the Irish Exchequer 10,000l. sterling, provided they are allowed a safe convoy in time of war. The Commissioners or Undertakers will take over any contracts already made for the wool now shortly to be shorn.
	The following advantages will arise from either of these proposals:—
	1. No wool will be transported into foreign parts, whereby their woollen manufactures will be discouraged and those of England flourish, and the Eastland trade, and that with Turkey, Spain, Portugal, and Muscovy will be regained, the French wool being too coarse and the Spanish too fine without a mixture of English or Irish (and they will not mix with each other).
	2. The Irish proprietors and tenants, who are sheepmasters, will be encouraged and able to receive and pay their rents, which will also be no small advantage to the Crown.
	3. The English wool will bear the higher rates, for, if the Commissioners or Undertakers are obliged to give such good rates, they must sell in England proportionably, and that will keep up the price, whereas the Irish merchants by combination buying exceeding cheap in Ireland, can and do undersell the English woolsellers, so that they both in England and Ireland will be ruined.
	4. It seems much for the benefit of England for the Irish wool to bear a good price when to be transported for England, for that will hinder its being manufactured in Ireland, which many years' experience has showed nothing can induce them to, but mere necessity.
	Lastly, the Chief Governor of Ireland loses nothing of his right of 4d. a stone for licensing, and his Majesty gets an annual revenue of 30,000l. if he advance the stock, and 10,000l. if he does not, by what never yielded him any, and what better secures the punctual payment of his revenue in Ireland, and obliges both his English and his Irish subjects, and hinders foreigners from the possibility of growing in the woollen manufactures.
	This cannot be judged a monopoly, since the proposers do not design the woolsellers should be obliged to it, but, if they will sell, they bind themselves to give greater rates than have been given, and, since a monopoly is a restraint of trade without law, the licence is a taking off the restraint laid on by law as to the persons to whom the grant is made, which is in favour of trade, and to an act of favour all people are not entitled, and therefore it may be given to one and not to another without injustice, for his Majesty is not obliged to give licence to any contrary to an Act of Parliament, but, by his prerogative may dispense with that Act, that dispensation being for the good of his subjects, and he may choose whom he thinks fit to distribute his favours to. (fn. 4) [Endorsed in Lord O'Brien's hand, "The Irish Monopoly of Wool." 3½ pages. S.P. Ireland, Car. II. 335, No. 35.]
Feb. 19. Dover.	James Houseman to Col. Roger Whitley. The French begin to be very troublesome and abusive, so that I shall not be able to get men to sail in the packet-boats thither. About a month ago Walter Finnis, master of one of them, being on shore to inquire after passengers and goods, left Thomas Hall, his mate, with the boat, and, many vessels crowding in, he had much ado to keep the boat from damage, and she came foul on a private man-of-war, or a small King's man-of-war of Calais, and touched his rudder, but did him no damage, and yet the captain was so furious that he struck Hall with his antient staff over the arm, and afterwards darted it into his side, which caused him to spit blood and keep his cabin for some days. This put him to much pain, besides charges. After this the captain came to Dover, and Hall arrested him. He compounded the affront for 4l., and promised not to trouble him at Calais. The last voyage Mr. Finnis, being blinded by salt water, was forced to send Hall as master, and at Calais they have arrested him, and would not take bail, but put the poor man to 10s. a day charge. Pray write to Mons^r Delabecque to see Hall have justice done him, and, if you find cause, acquaint Lord Arlington with it, that some course may be taken that those employed in his Majesty's service may not be thus abused. [Copy. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 360, No. 179.]
Feb. 19.	Grant of the office of Porter of the Mint to Captain Gilbert Thomas and Richard Turnor. Minute. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 40, p. 161.]
Feb. 20. Whitehall.	William Bridgeman to Williamson. Yesterday Mr. Smith, your express, returned with your letter of the 10/20th, which Lord Arlington commands me to acknowledge and to tell you that since his last of this day sevennight by Mr. Francis, who carried likewise a copy of the late treaty signed here, nothing of moment has occurred to occasion his writing to you. We have not heard yet of the arrival of Sir G. Silvius at the Hague, nor of the exchange of the ratifications and publication of the peace, which was to be done there, but we are in hourly expectation of letters from those parts. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 360, No. 180.]
Feb. 20.	Lord O'Brien to Williamson. I had yours of the 6/16th for which I thank you, and as for Lord Arlington's concern I think I do nothing therein but justice, the ways of proceeding being considered. As for news, I hope you will not think me so vain as to give you the trouble of mine, when you have it from the head of the fountain. I am sorry I shall not be so happy as to see you now that peace is made, but I wish you all imaginable success in your German voyage, and yet think that your poor friends in Queen Street wish you really as well as any of those that contrive this voyage for you. With postscript by Sir Trevor Williams that he is sorry for Williamson's second voyage. [Ibid. No. 181.]
Feb. 20. London.	Samuel Terrell to Williamson. I have received your letters and accepted all your bills, most of which are satisfied, though Mr. Lloyd highly disappoints me, making me wait on him two or three times every week for money, alleging he has none and cannot yet get the orders out of the Exchequer. This morning he returns me answer that he cannot well assure me when I may depend on any more money. If I had good orders out of the Exchequer, I could find a way to raise money on them, if they fall due in a short time, but to run up and down for 100l. or 200l. weekly, and that without success, tires me. This I leave to your consideration, not that you should doubt of my willingness to serve you. Mr. Newcombe is very punctual. If money were plentiful among the goldsmiths I could raise money, but the bird is flown. [Ibid. No. 182.]
Feb. 17–20.	Notes of proceedings in Parliament, of which the substance appears by Lords' Journals, Vol. XII. pp. 640–646, and Commons' Journals, Vol. IX. pp. 310-313, except as follows:—Lords, 18th. The House went into a Grand Committee about the affairs of Ireland, the Lord Steward in the chair, and resolved:—That an humble address be made to his Majesty from this House that the army for the security of Ireland be reinforced to the numbers at least, horse and foot, that it consisted of before the last establishment made since Lord Ranelagh's contract, and that the persons to be so employed may be of known good affections to his Majesty and the Protestant religion as it is established in the Church of England, and understanding that the militia of Ireland has been discontinued for some time, that his Majesty be humbly desired to give directions for the speedy putting of it into order. And then they proposed the seaports and the Papists inhabiting there, but it was postponed, and that the magistrates there be Protestants, which is also postponed, they to be in a committee again to-morrow on the same business. [3½ pages. Ibid. No. 183.]
	Other copies of the above notes. [Ibid. No. 184-191.]
Feb. 20. Whitehall.	Warrant for a pardon to John Clarke and Francis Grenway, labourer, concerning the killing of Nicholas Woodward, with restitution of lands and goods. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 28, f. 107.]
Feb. 20. Whitehall.	The King to the free imperial City of Bremen. In behalf of Henry Meyer alias Nicholas Fredenap, a native of Bremen, who since 1649 has been an inhabitant of the island of Antigua, and is now detained there by age and infirmity, and who by the will of his mother who died at Bremen 16 years ago is her sole heir, since the executors refuse to deliver the property to his lawful attorney, alleging he must appear in person to receive it, requesting them to cause the said executors to deliver in full to such lawful attorney the property they have so long detained, or, if legal proceedings be necessary, to facilitate them in every way. [Latin. S.P. Dom., Entry Book 31, f. 123.]
Feb. 20.	Warrant for inserting the names of Valentine Hollifield and Samuel Hirons, convicted of horse stealing, in the next General Pardon of the Midland Circuit. Minute. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 40, f. 161.]
Feb. 21	Pass for Francis, Viscount Montagu, with servants, horses, &c., to go beyond the seas and to return. [Ibid. p. 163.]
Feb. 21. Whitehall.	Memorials of protection in the ordinary form to James, Earl of Airlie, — Cleland of Castle Robert, Sir William Douglas of Glenbervie, Hector Douglas of Mulderg, — Johnston of Wamfrey and James Weemes, the younger, of Balfarg, the first for three years, and all the others for two. [S.P. Scotland, Warrant Book 2, pp. 381, 382.]
Feb. 21. Dublin Castle.	The Lord Lieutenant to Lord [Conway]. I have received yours of the 10th containing several particulars relating to the affairs of England. On the whole I find all here much pleased with the peace, and I doubt not but, if it be lasting and trade free, 'twill soon put us into a very good posture. Much of the work at Charlemont done last year is fallen down again. It being raised only of earth, the wet season happening so unluckily before it was settled has demolished it, but a small matter will, I presume, repair it. [Conway Papers. S.P. Ireland, Car. II. 335, No. 36.]
Feb. 21. Whitehall.	The King to the Lord Lieutenant. Warrant for a grant to Mary, widow of the late Lieut.-Col. George Smith, of the pension of 40l. a year enjoyed by her husband, to commence from his death, and to continue during her life. [S.P. Dom., Signet Office, Vol. 9, p. 50.]
Feb. 22. Whitehall.	The King to Lord Holles and the other trustees of the Queen Consort. He authorized them by warrant of 22 June last to grant to Sir Richard Powle, K.B., the manor, park and tolls of Bewdley, co. Worcester, and the manor of Egham, co. Surrey, for 40 years, in reversion after leases already granted by the trustees of the late Queen Mother; but John Thynne, the present possessor of Egham, having petitioned against the said grant, the case was referred to the Lord Privy Seal, Lord Holles, and 3 others, and a stay was meanwhile put to the grant. Sir Richard complains that a stay is also put to the grant of Bewdley, but as the two have no dependence upon each other the latter grant is to be passed as ordered. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 36, p. 333.]
Feb. 23. Whitehall.	John Richards to Williamson. (Printed in Camden, Williamson, Vol. II. p. 153.) [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 360, No. 192.]
Feb. 23. Whitehall.	James Vernon to Williamson. (Printed in Camden, Williamson, Vol. II. p. 153.) [2 pages. Ibid. No. 193.]
Feb. 21 & 23.	Notes of proceedings in Parliament, of which the substance appears from Lords' Journals, Vol. XII. pp. 646-648, and Commons' Journals, Vol. IX. pp. 313, 314, except as follows:—Lords, 21st. The House being in a Grand Committee, the Earl of Shaftesbury reports from the Sub-Committee a bill prepared on three of the heads, concerning the education of the children of the Royal Family, their marriages, and the Queen's priests and servants with this title, An Act for the better securing the Protestant Religion, which being read at the Committee was approved and propounded to the House. Test. I, A. B., do solemnly and sincerely profess, testify, and declare that I do believe and in my conscience am persuaded that the Pope is not head of the Catholic Church, nor hath any supremacy over it; that the Pope is not, either by himself or in or with any consistory or in or with any Council or any other ways infallible; that the Pope hath not, either by himself or in or with any consistory or in or with any Council or any other ways power to pardon sins, grant indulgences or null or dispense with any oath administered according to the laws or statutes of this realm; that praying to, or worshipping or adoring the Virgin Mary or any saint or saints is unlawful and sinful; that the substance of bread and wine doth remain in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper after any consecration whatsoever, and that the doctrine of transubstantiation is false and erroneous; that the not administering or not receiving the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper in both kinds is directly contrary to the institution of Christ. And I do solemnly at the presence of God profess and acknowledge that I make this declaration and every part thereof in the plain and ordinary sense of the words here read unto me as they are commonly understood. (See Ninth Report of the Historical MSS. Commission, Appendix, Part II. p. 45.) [3¼ pages. Ibid. No. 194.]
	Other copies of the above notes. [Ibid. Nos. 195-198.]
Feb. 23.	Commissions to Arthur St. George to be captain in Capt. Alexander Macdannell's place in the Army in Ireland and to Henry St. George and Thomas Maguire to be his lieutenant and ensign respectively. Minutes. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 35A, f. 85.]
Feb. 23.	Commissions to David Buchanan to be lieutenant and to Richard Power to be ensign to Capt. John Bramston in the Army in Ireland. Minutes. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 35a, f. 85.]
Feb. 23.	Commission to Edmund Andros to be major and captain of the Barbados regiment of foot serving in Ireland. Minute. [Ibid. f. 86.]
Feb. 23.	Commissions to Charles Whitaker and George Andros to be his lieutenant and ensign respectively. Minutes. [Ibid. f. 87.]
Feb. 23. Whitehall.	Warrant approving of the appointment of Sir Thomas Daniel, Sir Jonathan Atkins and William Heblethwaite, esq., to be deputy lieutenants for the East Riding of Yorkshire. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 40, p. 164.]
Feb. 23. Whitehall.	Lord Arlington to the Mayor of Harwich. Warrant taking off the stop of passengers from Holland or Flanders, imposed by the order of 11 Jan., 1672-3. [Ibid.]
	Memorandum that letters in the same words were sent to Yarmouth, Aldeburgh, Southwold, Margate, Deal, and Dover. [Ibid. p. 165.]
Feb. 23. Whitehall.	The King to the Lord Lieutenant. Whereas John, Lord Kingston, is greatly deficient of that satisfaction due to him as assignee of several Adventurers and Soldiers, which by the Acts of Settlement and Explanation was provided for him, and, as all the forfeited and undisposed of lands in Ireland by virtue of the said Acts are vested in us for the uses therein declared, which we hold ourselves obliged in the first place to satisfy to such whose duty has more signally merited our special favour, we have therefore thought fit to grant to the said Lord Kingston a further satisfaction out of the said forfeited and undisposed of lands as well as of such as are now in our hands as of any others that shall be discovered which yet remain concealed, and we hereby require you to cause one or more grants to be passed by letters patent to the said Lord Kingston in fee simple or to such persons as he shall appoint, of so many acres of lands in Ireland, whereunto we have any right or title or which are vested in us by the said Acts, or whereof the rents and profits are now or shall be found to be detained, as being computed by like yearly quit-rents as by the said Acts are appointed to be paid by Adventurers and Soldiers in the respective provinces of Ireland shall amount unto the annual rent of 1,200l., to be held by him in fee simple under the like respective yearly quit-rents for each parcel as Adventurers and Soldiers are to pay in the respective provinces wherein the said lands are situate. And whereas the lands formerly assigned to him by several certificates of the Commissioners of the late Court of Claims and by several letters patent confirmed to him towards his satisfaction or some of them, and other the forfeited lands remaining undisposed of have contracted an arrear of rent either by the neglect of the former holders thereof or because they lie waste, or the occupiers thereof are unknown, which said rents and arrears still remain in charge on the said lands, and may become leviable on the said Lord Kingston or his estate, which we judge not reasonable as well for that he had not the rents or profits thereof, as for that he has been greatly damnified by so long delay of his settlement, our pleasure therefore is, that you give effectual orders for the discharge of him, his heirs, executors and assigns, and his and their estates from all rents, payments and demands whatsoever heretofore reserved and payable to us in respect of the said lands, or any of them, or of any other lands that are, or shall be set out or granted him pursuant to the directions in these letters and all arrears thereof (the yearly rents reserved by our letters patent only excepted), and for the charging the said arrears on the respective former occupants of the said lands and their estates for such time as they respectively enjoyed the same, And our further pleasure is, that none of the said lands, whereof the said Lord Kingston or his agents shall present to you any notes or lists of, shall be hereafter granted to any persons whatsoever, And we further require you to cause surrenders to our use to be accepted from him, his heirs or assigns, of the said lands or any part thereof as also of any other lands heretofore passed to him pursuant to the said Acts, if he or they shall desire, and afterwards to regrant the said lands to him, his heirs and assigns, under such respective quit-rents as are before mentioned, and that in any such letters patent grounded on surrenders no mention be made of such surrenders, And we hereby authorize you, where necessary, to cause commissions to be issued for inquiring and finding out our title of all such lands as are concealed and what yearly quit-rents are payable out of each parcel thereof. [3¼ pages. S.P. Dom., Signet Office, Vol. 9, p. 77.]
Feb. 24. London.	Lord Aungier to Williamson. (Printed in Camden, Williamson, Vol. II. p. 154.) [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 360, No. 199.]
Feb. 24.	John Field to John Richards. About the caveat against Mr. Booth's pardon Mr. Cooke says that Mr. Killigrew and Mr. Progers of the Bedchamber some years since begged the estate of this Booth, in case they should convict him of coining, of which he was accused. They have ever since made it their business to prove the fact against him, and have at last done it, so that, sentence being passed upon him, they claim his Majesty's promise for the forfeiture of his estate, and they have been, as they suggest, at charge in bringing it about. Understanding that a pardon was passing for him, they have obtained his Majesty's consent for a caveat to stop it, till they are heard, so that the way to have it taken off is to satisfy these two Bedchamber-men. I desire you to take the first opportunity to ask my Lord for Sir G. Sylvius' letter to Mr. Secretary, which he left with his Lordship, being to be answered by this post, and should be glad to know when you think we might have it. My Lord is now sitting at the Treasury Chamber with the Commissioners of Appeals. [Ibid. No. 200.]
Feb. 24.	Affidavit by Richard Hills of Dover, master of one of the packet-boats, that on the 18th instant Monsr. Dungou, an officer of the French king, came on board his packet-boat with 10 or 12 French seamen, of whom the deponent asked money for the said seamen's passage, who promised at his arrival at Calais to satisfy the deponent. The deponent accepted his promise and transported them to Calais, and meeting the said Dungou there and desiring him to fulfil his promise, he drew his sword on the deponent in the market place, and made several passes at him to the hazard of his life. The Mayor of Calais with others coming to be a spectator and inquiring the reason of the disturbance, the deponent informed him thereof and desired that justice might be done upon Dungou, and that he might be enjoined to pay for his company's passage, but the Mayor said, in regard Dungou was a commissioned officer, he could not interpose therein, it appertained to the DeputyGovernor to redress the injury. The deponent then complained to the Deputy-Governor, who delayed him and put him off from time to time, till Dungou was gone away from Calais. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 360,No. 201.]
Feb. 24.	Notes of proceedings in the House of Commons of which the substance appears by the Journals, Vol. IX. p. 314, except:—A bill for erecting a workhouse in Exeter read, and ordered a second reading. [Ibid. No. 202.]
Feb. 24. Whitehall.	Lord Arlington to —. Commanding them to treat all French subjects and vessels that should come into their port with good usage and to give them assistance and protection. [S.P. Dom., Entry Books 21, p. 132 and 40,p. 165.]
	Memorandum that a letter in the above form was sent to Plymouth, Falmouth, Portsmouth, Weymouth, Rye, Dover Castle, Deal Castle, Margate, Harwich, and Yarmouth. [Ibid.]
Feb. 24. Whitehall.	Warrant for a privy seal containing a warrant to the Lords of the Admiralty to give order to the Navy Commissioners for the speedy delivery of the prize ship Papenburg with what shall belong to her to Francis Bayley, of Bristol, shipwright, to enable him to transport the masts, cables, and other stores belonging to the Oxford, now building there by him for the King's service, at such reasonable rates as they shall be appraised at by the London Sub-Commissioners of Prizes, which he is to pay out of the last money that shall be due to him on account of the Oxford. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 359, p. 19.]
Feb. 25.	Arthur Onslow to the Earl of Norwich. Understanding you intend to go to Albury to-morrow and to Norwich next week, and my occasions calling me into the country very speedily, I know not when I may have an opportunity of waiting on you. Therefore I beseech you to remind Lord Arlington of an address I formerly made to him, that he would move the King on the petition of Sir Thomas Foot, my father-in-law, that the Baronetship conferred on him might descend on me, I marrying his eldest daughter, and he having no son. Therefore, when he was offered to be a baronet, he desired it only on that account, and was promised my name should be inserted in the patent. When he found it not done, he formerly petitioned it might yet be done, and Lord Arlington then said, if I could show but one precedent he would obtain it for me. I was then informed Sir Humphrey Winch had obtained the like, a copy of whose patent Mr. Hay has, and likewise of another that obtained the same favour just before Sir Humphrey. If it be objected there may be inconveniencies in doing it, if it be inserted in the new patent, that it was promised to be in the first patent, and therefore it is his Majesty's pleasure it be supplied in the new patent, by this precedent no man can sue for the like that had not such a previous promise, and besides it is obtainable only by the first grantee, so that the son of a baronet cannot sue for it. Therefore, when the present baronets are dead, who are very numerous, probably very few will be made in the next age, and of those peradventure none that has only daughters, for my father-in-law would not have had it, but on the promise that I or mine should succeed him, for no man will take such an hereditary honour to die with him. For these reasons I hope there will be no inconveniencies in his Majesty's favour to me, none but myself now having solicited since Sir John Napper and Sir Humphrey Winch had the same favour. [1½ page. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 360, No. 203.]
Feb. 25. Whitehall.	Reference to the Attorney-General of the petition of the Mayor and burgesses of Pontefract praying for a renewal and confirmation of their former charters with the alterations mentioned in a paper annexed. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 37, p. 97.]
Feb. 26.	Presentation of Alexander Innes, M.A., to the Rectory of Purleigh, Essex. Minute. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 27, p. 58.]
Feb. 26.	Commission to John Williams to be ensign of the foot company, whereof the Duke of Buckingham was late captain. Minute. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 35A, f. 85.]
Feb. 26. Whitehall.	Order by Secretary Coventry to the clerks of the signet to permit Sir Richard Pigott, clerk for engrossing the patents, to take notes from the signet books of such grants therein as belong to the clerk of the patents to engross, as the said clerks of the patents were formerly allowed to do, since, from some ill use by others, it is now denied him. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 36, p. 332.]
Feb. 26. Whitehall.	On the petition of James Mariot, keeper of the Wardrobe at Hampton Court, praying an order for payment to him of 100l. for having prepared lodgings for three envoys from Holland and their attendants, recommendation thereof to the Lord Treasurer to give directions for the speedy satisfaction of the petitioner. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 37, p. 97.]
Feb. 26.	Approbation of James Bellingham to be deputy lieutenant of Westmorland. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 40, p. 166.]
Feb. 26. Whitehall.	The King to the Lord Lieutenant. Directing a grant to Major William Low erecting his towns and lands of Castletown and lands of Newtown Killevally and other towns and lands containing 4,500 acres or thereabouts in Westmeath into a manor, to be called the manor of Castletown and lands of Newtown Killevally, with power to hold a Court Leet with view of frank pledge twice a year, and a Court Baron as often as the grantee shall think fit with jurisdiction up to 40s., with a grant to the said Low, his heirs and assigns, of the fines and other profits of the said Courts, and with a grant to the same of all waifs, estrays, felons' goods, &c. and with power to keep a weekly market and two yearly fairs at Killevally and to hold a court of piepowder during the continuance of the said markets and fairs with power to levy tolls thereat. [2½ pages. S.P. Dom., Signet Office, Vol. 9, p. 64.]
Feb. 27. Whitehall.	John Richards to Williamson. (Printed in Camden, Williamson, Vol. II. p. 155.) [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 360, No. 204.]
Feb. 27. London.	Samuel Terrell to Williamson. I must acquaint you how negligent Mr. Floyd, or at least the Lord Treasurer, is in passing your warrants to have the money out of the Exchequer. It takes up half my time to follow that business, and now my answer is, they know not when I can get any money, so I am quite tired out. Pray, when you charge any more money on me, send me an effectual letter on those that should reimburse me, that I may not be put off as I have been, and fear I still shall be, if you do not press more vigorously for punctuality. [Ibid. No. 205.]
Feb. 27. Whitehall.	The King to [the Master and Fellows of] Emmanuel College, Cambridge. Dispensing with the statute that but one of a county be fellow at the same time in favour of John Mason, M.A., student of their college, if he prove on examination worthy of a fellowship now vacant, being informed that no other person in the college is so fitly qualified. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 27, f. 178.]
Feb. 27.	Warrant for a grant of pardon to Bartholomew Harvey of North Petherton (? Petherwin), Devon, should he be convicted of subornation of witnesses, he having only paid 6s. to John Webb, a poor man living above ten miles off, whom he sent for to appear as witness for him at Launcheston, Cornwall, the prosecution being malicious. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 28, f. 108.]
Feb. 27. Whitehall.	Commission to Robert Pigot to be captain of the company of foot whereof Capt. John Pigot was captain in the Duke of Buckingham's regiment, being one of the companies in France under the command of Bevill Skelton. Minute. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 29, p. 100.]
Feb. 27.	Commission to Charles Godfrey to be captain in Sir Philip Monckton's place in Col. Russell's regiment. Minute. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 35A, f. 85.]
Feb. 27.	Commission to George Lindon to be Lieutenant to Sir Robert Holmes' company in the Isle of Wight. Minute. [Ibid.]
Feb. 27.	Commission to James Holmes to be Lieutenant to Capt. Christopher Congreve in the Army in Ireland. Minute. [Ibid.]
Feb. 27.	Commission to Thomas Crawley to be captain of the company whereof Lord Widdrington was late captain in the Army in Ireland. Minute. [Ibid.]
Feb. 27. Whitehall.	Warrant for revocation of a grant made 2 Nov. 1670, to Lord Lovelace of the office of keeper of Woodstock park, in so far as concerns the rangership, and for a grant to John, Earl of Rochester, of the said rangerships and of the walk and lodge thereto belonging, lately held by Sir William Fleetwood, deceased. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 36, p. 329.]
Feb. 27. Whitehall.	Declaration that the King has ordered the peace with the States General, whereof the ratifications were exchanged at the Hague, 24 Feb., 1674, to be published throughout his dominions, and that no acts of hostility are to be committed after 8/18 March, from the Soundings to the Naze in Norway; after April 7/17 from the Soundings to Tangier, and after May 5/15 from Tangier to the Equinoctial line, and after 24 Oct./8 Nov. in any part of the world, under any commissions or letters of marque, on pain of the actors making reparation for damage done and being punished as violators of the public peace. [Ibid. p. 337.]
Feb. 27. Whitehall.	Warrant to James, Earl of Suffolk, deputy to Henry, Earl of Norwich, Earl Marshal of England, to issue orders to the kings, heralds, and pursuivants at arms, to appear on 28 February, at 10 a.m., at the gate of Whitehall, where the serjeants at arms and trumpeters are ordered to attend and to publish the peace with the States General there and in all places in London where it has been usually proclaimed. [Ibid. p. 342.]
Feb. 27.	[Secretary Coventry] to the Lord Chamberlain, the Earl of St. Albans. Desiring him to issue orders to the serjeants at arms and trumpeters to appear to-morrow to assist in the publication of the peace with the States General. [Ibid. p. 343.]
[Feb. 27.]	[Secretary Coventry] to the Duke of Monmouth. Desiring him to give orders for a party of the troop of Guards under his command to attend at Whitehall to-morrow as above. [Ibid. p. 344.]
[Feb. 27.]	[Secretary Coventry] to Sir William Hooker, Lord Mayor of London. Desiring him, with the sheriffs and aldermen, to meet at Temple Bar at 10 to-morrow, when the officers at arms will meet them to perform the solemnity of proclaiming the peace. [Ibid.]
Feb. 27.	Licence to John Luddington, High Sheriff of Lincolnshire, to be absent from his county. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 40, p. 166.]
Feb. 27. Whitehall.	Proclamation of the peace concluded with the States General, 24 Feb. last, and ordering satisfaction for any acts of hostility that may be committed after 8 March from the Soundings to the Naes in Norway, after 7 April from the Soundings to Tangier; after 15 May between Tangier and the Equinoctial line, and after 24 Oct. beyond the line. [S.P. Dom., Proclamations, Vol. 3, p. 317.]
	Another copy thereof. [S.P. Ireland, Car. II. 309, p. 378.]
Feb. 27. Whitehall.	The King to the Lord Lieutenant. After reciting that Thomas Wyse, of London, merchant, has represented that in the time of the late rebellion in Ireland an estate devolved on him, to which he exhibited his claim as an innocent, and he was restored thereto by decree of the late Court of Claims, and has prayed him to grant a confirmation of the same, a reference thereof, dated 22 March, 166⁴/5, to the then Lord Lieutenant, and his report that the King might, by letters to the Lord Lieutenant, authorize, in case the petitioner's allegations be true, a grant to him of the lands and hereditaments decreed to him as aforesaid; directing that, if he finds the said allegations to be true, a grant be a passed to the said Wyse of the premises, under such rents and services as were payable and answerable to the late King. [S.P. Dom., Signet Office, Vol. 9, p. 51.]
Feb. 28. Whitehall.	Sir Gilbert Talbot to Williamson. (Printed in Camden, Williamson, Vol. II. p. 156, where, p. 158, line 6, "not rationally" should be "most rationally.") [1½ page. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 360, No. 206.]
Feb. 28. Christ Church	Dr. Richard Allestree to Williamson. When I received your last, I could not but imagine that the cup wherein you wrote you were then drinking to me was the cup indeed wherewith you divined, you hit it so right both in the season your letter arrived, and the thing we were then doing. We were then at dinner with good store of our Windsor friends, and we fulfilled what it directed. All of it was so express, that I conceived I need not write in answer, for the man that knew at such a distance both when, where, and how employed his letter was to find me could not want such notices of my service to him as these little paper intelligences can give. At least I thought to stay till I could have some grounds too to divine upon. Such I thought I had when peace was concluded, for I then believed I might divine I should wait upon you suddenly at Whitehall, but then the news of journeys to Vienna and to Sweden made me think 'twas best not to be forward in my guesses, and such things have since happened here among us, as made me so far unable to look forward that I understand nothing of what is present. [2 pages. Ibid. No. 207.]
Feb. 28.	Arthur Onslow to the Earl of Norwich. Again beseeching him to remind Lord Arlington of the business mentioned in his former letter (calendared ante, p. 179) as he is so laden with business that his promises may slip out of his mind. Postscript.—I acquainting Lord Arlington that Sir Humphrey Winch had obtained such a patent, he said he thought he had not, but, seeing he had, he engaged I should have it. [Ibid. No. 208.]
Feb. 28. Compton.	Robert Hunt to Viscount Fitz-Hardinge at his house in Lincoln's Inn Fields near the Two Black Griffins. Yours of the 24th I received with the unexpected news of the prorogation without the passing of one Act, to sweeten it. It would have been a great kindness and as much charity to this county to have had Irish cattle come in this spring, for the rot has and yet does destroy abundance of oxen and other cattle. Stephen Leversich's wife died about ten days ago, and charged Mr. Richard Maddaux with it. The coroner's inquest find she died by a blow received from him 16 April before. He was yesterday bailed by Sir Francis W[yndha]m and me. I presume he may apply to you for his pardon, which, I suppose, will easily be granted, in respect the woman lived ten months after, and she gave him the first blow. I think he will give you 200l. for it. The peace with Holland and disbanding of the soldiers was a good work. I wish we may have quiet in Ireland and Scotland, and yourself a good journey into the country. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 360, No. 209.]
[Feb. ?]	Sir William Boreman to the King. Petition, praying him to recommend to Dr. Peirse, one of his chaplains, the Latin work of Dr. Robinson, late Archdeacon of Gloucester, whose daughter the petitioner married, entitled the Catholic Annals, which he left unfinished at his death, that Dr. Peirse may complete it, and that, if he shall think it fit for the press, the petitioner may be given the privilege of printing it, and that Dr. Peirse may also assist the petitioner in making orders for the free school in East Greenwich built and endowed by the petitioner. [Ibid. No. 210.]
Feb. 28.	The King to Dr. Pierse. Recommending to him to complete the Latin work containing the Universal Annals of the World left unfinished by Dr. Hugh Robinson, chaplain to the late King and Archdeacon of Gloucester, a thing which the King will ever remember to his advantage, and likewise recommending to him to revise and adjust the statutes of the king's school lately founded at Greenwich. [S.P. Dom., Entry, Book 31,f. 124.]
Feb. 28.	Grant to Lord Treasurer Latimer of the advowson of Harthill parsonage, co. York. Minute. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book. 27, f. 58.]
Feb. 28. Whitehall.	Warrant for a pardon to Robert Halford for killing Edward Selwyn. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 28,f. 109.]
Feb. 28. Whitehall.	Warrant for a commission to Lord Treasurer Latimer, to be lieutenant of the West Riding of Yorkshire and of the City and Ainsty of York, in place of George, Duke of Buckingham. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 29, p. 101.]
	Draft of the above dated the 24th. [Ibid. p. 98.]
Feb. 28. Whitehall.	Commission to William Wycherley to be captain of that company of foot whereof George, Duke of Buckingham, was captain before his regiment was disbanded, and for Ferdinando Hastings to be his lieutenant. Minutes. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 29, p. 99.]
Feb. 28.	The King to the Governor and Council of Virginia. Recommending Sir Henry Chicheley, Deputy-Governor, for an allowance. (Calendared in S.P. Col., America, &c., 1669–74, p. 559.) [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 31,p. 125.]
Feb. 28.	Commission to Sir Henry Chicheley to be Deputy-Governor of Virginia. (Calendared in S.P. Col., America, &c. 1669–1676,p. 559.) [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 35A, f. 85.]
Feb. 28.	Commission to Hugh, Earl of Mount Alexander, to be captain in Capt. Richard Savage's room in the Army in Ireland. Minute. [Ibid. f. 86.]
Feb. 28.	Commission to Edward Widdrington to be lieutenant to Captain Crawley in Ireland. Minute. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book, 35a, f. 86.]
Feb. 28. Whitehall.	Reference to the Lord Keeper of the petition of Henrietta Maria, Lady Wentworth, about the liberties of the manors of Stepney and Hackney in the execution of writs within the said manors by other bailiffs than those of the said manors. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 37, p. 98.]
Feb. 28.	Warrant for a patent to Sir Samuel Morland for the sole use of an engine invented by him for raising water, for 14 years. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 40, p. 166.]
Feb. 28. Whitehall.	The King to the Duke of Lauderdale, and the Privy Council of Scotland. Sending the proclamation of the peace in England and desiring them to publish a similar proclamation in Scotland. [S.P. Scotland, Warrant Book 2, p. 383.]
Feb. 28. Dublin Castle.	[Contains ciphered content] The Lord Lieutenant to Lord [Conway]. I have yours of the 17th, but have yet no knowledge of what passed in the House the day following, an account whereof we do all very much long to hear. A while before I received Mr. Harbord's of the same date, I had one from Sir T. Chicheley, telling me expressly that his Majesty had disposed of the Master of the Ordnance's place here to him, so as, that matter (if Sir T. Chicheley says truth, which I hope he would not be so disingenuous as to do other) being at an end, any representation from me would come too late, and not do you the service I wish. However, there are two letters already written from me to my Lord Treasurer, which are so full in this point, as indeed I can say no more. I am only sorry we have had so ill success. Upon my further opportunity, you may be sure I shall never fail in continuing to perform the utmost offices of friendship towards you. The differences of Lord Treasurer and Sir R. Howard must needs make all matters of the treasury go ruggedly. As for Sir R. Howard I do not much wonder at his misbehaviour, but rather how he kept so long in the station where he is. Mr. Harbord tells me what obligations I have to you in all concerns that any way relate to me in England, for which I give you many thanks. [Conway Papers. 1½ page. S.P. Ireland, Car. II, 335, No. 37.]
[Feb.]	The Bishop of Lincoln to the King. Petition, stating that on a complaint by some of the Fellows of Oriel College to him as Visitor he appointed a visitation, on which the College unanimously drew up orders for regulating their future elections, and submitted them to him, and, while he was considering them, the Provost and some of the Fellows elected to a vacant Fellowship contrary to his special command, and chose one altogether unstatutable; that the Bishop then hastened down his injunctions, which the Provost and some of the Fellows slighted, and having procured his Majesty's letter for the election of Twitty, a person in no way statutable, they made it a matter of triumph that the Visitor's orders were defeated, and praying that his Majesty would recall his mandamus, and leave the College to proceed to an election according to its statutes and the Visitor's injunctions, adducing as a precedent of recalling such a mandamus the case between Mr. Harford and Mr. Hollis concerning the philosophy lecture at Magdalen College. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 360, No. 211.]
Feb. Whitehall.	The King to Oriel College. Recalling the former letters of 28 Jan. in favour of Thomas Twitty, the Bishop of Lincoln, the Visitor, having represented that he is a person in no way statutable, and that such a precedent would be a great discouragement to learning, would much lessen his authority as Visitor, and would prove directly prejudicial to the good government of the college. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 31, f. 123.]
Feb. Whitehall.	Reference to the Lord Lieutenant of the petition of Christopher Carleton praying a pardon for the pretended crime of housebreaking and other trespasses in Ireland. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 37, p. 97.]
[Feb. ?]	"An Humble Proposal whereby his Majesty may raise and extend his credit to the Annual Value of his Revenue without interest or damage to the Kingdom," printed by Thomas Newcome, 167¾. Proposing the erection of Banks in the most convenient places in the kingdom where all receipts and payments by the Crown may be made; that persons receiving money in Bank have liberty to assign over their credits where the same shall be placed to each man's account by way of debt and credit or carry the same away in specie, provided security first be given to make their respective payments there for the value received whenever they have occasion to deliver it out again; that the said credit being made current in all receipts and payments of the Crown, his Majesty shall never be without the annual value of his revenue in cash without taking up the same, as heretofore, on interest; or that in all cases of necessity and in defect of money tallies be struck in the Exchequer, not exceeding the annual value of the revenue, and that there be a public place where the said tallies may be reposited under the care of some banker appointed by authority, who shall cause the same at the proprietors' election to be coined into small bills of credit as low as 5l. or under and delivered out accordingly on demand, which said bills of credit should be accepted in all payments made to the King. These bills of credit should be reckoned a new species of money, and may be distinguished from the general coin of the kingdom and pass under the name of check or bank money. With examples of the working of the project and of the benefits that would arise from it. [12 pages. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 360, No. 212.]
167[4 ?] [Feb. ?]	The King to Trinity College, Cambridge. Recommending William Ellis, M.A., member of the College, to be elected and admitted to the place of Register and Library Keeper, vacant by the death of — Griffith. [Among the entries of Feb. 1674. S.P. Dom., Entry Book 31, f. 123.]