1680 - Aprill

A Brief

Historical Relation

&c.

by Narcissus Luttrell

1680 - Aprill

In which Flying Rumour of a Scandalous Lye.

Aprill: The Turky company haveing chosen the lord Shandois their ambassador to Constantinople, an he acquainting his majestie therewith; his majestie told him he did not think him fitt for that favour, haveing concerned in petitioning; which his lordship acknowledging as a fault, that he was drawn in and misled, but that now he abhorred all such practices, and begging his majesties pardon for what was past; his majestie was pleased to accept his submission, and did approve of him to goe as his ambassador to Turky.

There has been for some time a flying rumour spread abroad of a black box found, wherein was contained a writing importing a marriage or contract of marriage between his majestie and the duke of Monmouths mother; which his majestie hath been pleased to take notice off, and sent for sir Gilbert Gerard to the councill, who was examined about the same (being the person who was reported to have the same,) but he denied on oath his haveing any such thing, or haveing ever seen it; and there is strict enquiry made to find out who was the first broacher of this scandalous lye; 'tis thought to be a popish story raised to scandalize his majestie and the duke.

And since there came out a pamphlet entituled a Letter to a person of quality concerning the black box, which endeavours maliciously to prove the said marriage.

His majestie haveing preferred sir George Jefferyes to the place of cheif justice of Chester, in the room of sir Job Charleton, who is since made a judge of the common pleas, from whence Mr. justice Raymond is removed to the kings bench.

The 30th the king and duke returned from Newmarket to Whitehall; and at night, the king and duke, with severall of the nobility, went into the citty, and did sir Jonathan Raymond, one of the sherifs, the honour to sup with him at Skinners hall, where they were very splendidly entertained.

1680 - Aprill

A Brief

Historical Relation

&c.

by Narcissus Luttrell

1680 - Aprill

In which Persons apprehended under Suspition of Murther

Aprill: His majestie hath given orders to the lord mayor of London, and the justices of peace of Westminster and Middlesex, that they cause strict search to be made in their respective places for popish recusants, and to cause all such as they shall apprehend to be severely prosecuted.

The 17th, Francis Withens esq. (on whom his majestie then conferred the honour of knighthood) presented and addresse to his majestie from the grand inquest for the city of Westminster testifyeing their dislike and abhorrence of the late petition for a parliament that was carried on there.

The 19th the court removed to Windsor; and the 21st his majestie came to town to councill, and returned to Windsor again in the afternoon.

His majestie, for the greater encouragement of the assassinates of Mr. Arnold, hath been pleased to add a reward of 100l. more to such who shall discover the same.

Severall persons have been lately apprehended on suspition of being the assassinates of Mr. Arnold, as two of his majesties life guard men, one Joseph Cruytswelt, and one Richard Kavennach, who haveing been examined gave an account where they were when this barbarous fact was committed, and being carried before Mr. Arnold, he was pleased to clear them; but Richard Kavennach's examination did not agree with the places where he had been, and on other suspitions the councill committed him to Newgate.

The 26th, sir Leoline Jenkins was sworn one of his majesties principall secretaries of state, and received the seals which Henry Coventry esq. then delivered up.

The same day his majestie came to town from Windsor, and went for Newmarket the next day.

1680 - Aprill

A Brief

Historical Relation

&c.

by Narcissus Luttrell

1680 - Aprill

In which Murther! and Just Abhorrence of so Foul a Fact

Aprill: The act of queen Elizabeth, that gives forfeiture of two thirds of papists estates, or 20l. a month to the king at his choice, is goeing to be putt very strictly in execution; the judges have mett and consulted of the same, and there are receiver generalls appointed, who are to convict the papists in such and such counties, and are to gett the processe served and duly executed, and to receive the forfeitures when levied, and to pay it into the exchequer; and they have so much salarie for each county, and so much in every pound they receive, to be paid out of the profits they receive, as was in Olivers daies.

On the 15th, about 9 at night, John Arnold esq., one of his majesties justices of the peace for the county of Monmouth, goeing home to his lodging was sett upon in Bell yard, near Jack-an-apes lane end by three fellows, who dangerously wounded him, endeavouring to cutt his throat; thinking they had killed him they cried, Damme the dog, now pray for the soul of capt. Evans, who was a Jesuite executed some time since in Monmouthshire; which is the occasion that this murther is thought to be committed by the popish party, and the rather for that Mr. Arnold was a very strict prosecutor of the popish party.

And his majestie, out of his just abhorrence of so foul a fact, putt out his proclamation for the apprehending the assassinates, promising a reward of 100l. and pardon to any one who shall discover the same.

His majestie also caused directions to be sent to the company of chirurgeons, to return an account to the councill if any of them have lately dressed any person wounded in the leg; one of the assassinates being wounded by his fellows on mistake in the leg.

1680 - Aprill

A Brief

Historical Relation

&c.

by Narcissus Luttrell

1680 - Aprill

In which Knighthoods, Prorogation and a Devilish Contrivance

Aprill: His majestie hath conferred the honour of knighthood on John Edwards of Heath house in Shropshire; and on Richard Deerham esq.

Severall witnesses came lately from Ireland, as Hubert Bourke, John Macknemarra, Edward Ivy and Thomas Sampson, and they are remanded again to Ireland to give their informations there.

The judges being returned from their severall circuits, appeared the 14th at councill, and gave his majestie and account od what they had done in pursuance of the directions they had, for the more effectuall executing the laws against popish recusants.

The 14th, his majestie conferred the honour of knighthood on capt. William Dodson of London.

The 15th, the parliament mett, and were by commission prorogued to the 17th of May next.

The 16th, the earl of Ossory was sworn one of his majesties privy councill, and took his place at the board accordingly.

On the testimony of the witnesses lately come from Ireland, the councill have declared they are satisfied there is a devilish contrivance carried on by the papists in that kindome.

The words that Mr. Dare of Taunton spoke, and for which he was found guilty, were, that there was but two waies to remedy grievances, by petition, or by the sword.

The bill for high treason hath been found by the grand jury for the county of Stafford, against the lord Aston, sir James Symonds, Mr. Heveningham and others, and tis supposed will be removed by certiorari into the kings bench.

Mr. Bedlow is lately gone into Ireland.

1680 - Aprill

A Brief

Historical Relation

&c.

by Narcissus Luttrell

1680 - Aprill

In which Unwise Drinking and the Prevention of Rump Burning

Aprill: The 2d, the earl of Rothes, lord chanceller of Scotland, the earl of Queensbury and other persons of quality arrived at Whitehall to wait on his majestie.

At the assizes held at Taunton for the county of Somerset Mr. Thomas Dare was indicted for seditious words, and being found guilty received judgement to pay 500l. fine to the king, and to stand bound to his good behaviour for three years.

The parliament who stood prorogued to the 15th Aprill, are further prorogued to the 17th of May next.

Sir William Waller haveing taken one Higgie out of the Gatehouse, where he was committed for treason by order of councill, and kept him drinking all night in a tavern, his majestie has turn'd him out of commission of peace, and ordered the keeper of the prison to be proceeded against.

The grand juries for the counties of Salop, Somersett and Essex did at their severall assizes deliver to the judges that went those circuits, a declaration disclaimeing and renouncing the late petitions that were carried on in those counties in the name of the same.

The 7th came out an order of councill prohibiting the makeing of any bonefires or fireworks on the 29th of May; this was to prevent the prentices &c. design of burning the rump, and the tumults that might happen thereby.

1679 / 80 March

A Brief

Historical Relation

&c.

by Narcissus Luttrell

1679 / 80 - March

In which Executions, Violent Animosities and Seditious Words

March: The 8th was executed at Tyburn twelve men and three women for severall crimes.

The lords commissioners of the treasury have adjourned till after Easter.

Sir Wm. Godolphin, his majesties ambassador in Spain, being accused to be in the plott, was sent for home, but he thinks it fittest to continue there; and we hear since he is made a grandee of that kingdome.

There is a considerable summ of money sent to Portsmouth for the paiment of the ship yards, and the souldiers there in the garrison.

His majestie has been prevailed with by the dutchesse of Portsmouth to remove sir Job Charleton (an old loyall royallist) from the place of lord cheif justice of Chester, and to putt sir George Jefferyes, recorder of London, therein.

Mr. Webb of Peterley in Buckinghamshire was tried this assizes at Ailsbury for harbouring Jane the popish preist, against whom Mr. Dangerfeild was witnesse, but for want of sufficient evidence he was acquitted.

Mr. Roger Lestrange is made justice of peace for the county of Middlesex, and 'tis said his majestie hath settled on him an allowance; this person hath writt many things (as he pretends) for his majesties service, but they have caused most violent animosities amongst his majesties subjects, and will prove very destructive to the protestant interest.

Severall persons attended the councill on an accusation of speaking seditious words, and gave in security to answer to an accusation for the same.

The 31st, their majesties and his royall highnesse returned to Whitehall from Newmarkett, and in the afternoon the lord mayor and sherifs were to wait on his majestie.

1679 / 80 - March

A Brief

Historical Relation

&c.

by Narcissus Luttrell

1679 / 80 - March

In which Rascally Fellows, Hubbub and Tumult

March: The 17th, at the assizes at York, the lady Tempest, Thomas Thwing and Mary Pressick were arraigned on an indictment of high treason for conspireing the death of the king &c.; but they excepting against so many of the jury their tryall could not be proceeded with, but is putt off till next assizes.

On the 21st the vicechanceller and the heads of the colledges came to Newmarket in their formalities, to pay their duty to his majestie, and also waited on the duke and complimented him on his return from Scotland.

The 22nd his royall highnesse came from Newmarket, and the next day the lord mayor and sherifs waited on him; and the next morning the duke returned to Newmarkett.

The 23d, the dutchesse of Modena (mother to her royall highnesse) arrived at St. James.

About this time severall apprentices and rascally fellows had formed a design ( as they pretended) of burning the rump on his majesties birth day, but the real intent was to havemade a hubbub and a tumult, and thereby an insurrection; and one Thomas Alford, who was to have been their captain, being examined by the councill, was by order of the board committed to Newgate for high treason in conspireing to levy war against the king.