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.

1679 / 80 - February

A Brief

Historical Relation

&c.

by Narcissus Luttrell

1679 / 80 - February

In which Petitions, Pillory and Injustice

February: There have been of late severall alterations of the privy councill; many that were in at first, who were inclined to the country ineterest are since removed, and others better affected to the court putt in, and their number at present is above 30 more than they should be by his majesties declaration that dissolved the last and called this privy councill.

About this time many libells are thrown about to disaffect the king and his people, and turn all to 41.

The 12th, sir Robert Peyton and lady Powis come into the kings bench court, and were admitted their liberty on very good bail.

The same day Benjamin Harris came up to receive his judgment, and was sentenced to stand in the pillory, to pay 500l. fine to his majestie, and to give good security for his good behaviour for three years: in which he had very hard measure; for he was not the first publisher of it, but one Nathaniell Thompson, who was never prosecuted for the same; but this Harris bore all.

His majestie hath appointed sir Robert Southwell his envoy extraordinary to the elector of Brandenburgh, for which he is preparing.

Sir Francis Pemberton, one of the judges of the kings bench, hath received his quietus: he was too much opposite to the court interest.

On an information against Thomas Dare, for speaking dangerous words, he is sent into custody.

As also one Richard Pepper was the 20th committed by the councill to Newgate for endeavouring to corrupt the kings evidence against Thomas Thwing, preist, and Mary Pressick, now in Newgate.

And one Phillip Bisse was sent to the Gatehouse for dangerous words.

In and about this time many petitions have been presented to his majestie from severall parts of this kingdome, desireing him to call his parliament; but these kind of proceedings are not very gratefull to his majestie.

His majestie hath appointed sir Palmes Fairborne lieutenant governour of Tangier in the room of col. Duncan.

They are now beating up for volunteers to recruit the English regiments in the service of the Dutch.

His majestie lately received a letter from his privy councill of Scotland, expressing the joy they had since their royall highnesses comeing into that kingdome, wishing them all the prosperity imaginable, since his majestie hath sent for them home.

His majestie hath granted a breif  for making charitable collections for the redemption of the captives at Argiers.

The 24th, their royall highnesses arrived in their yachts at Deptford from Scotland, where they took their barges and came up the river to Whitehall, where they were kindly received by his majestie, and were complimented by the nobility and gentry on their safe arrivall.

The 26th, the lord mayor and court of aldermen were to wait on their royall highnesses, and congratulated them on their safe arrivall, and were admitted to kisse their hands.

There have been very great alterations in the commissions of the peace in severall counties; those had been for petitioning, or opposed the duke of Yorks succession or the court interst, are left out, and many clergy men putt in.

The lord Bodmin is goeing his majesties envoy extraordinary to the king of Denmark.
And sir Gabriell Sivius his envoy extraordinary to the dukes of Brunswick and Lunenburgh.

1679 - 80 - January

A Brief

Historical Relation

&c.

by Narcissus Luttrell

1679 / 80 - January

In which the King prefers Absolute Monarchy to Parliament

January: His majestie hath been pleased to grant a generall pardon unto Mr. Robert Boldron, of Skipton, and Mr. Lawrence Mowbrey, of Leeds in Yorkshire, being witnesses against sir Thomas Gascoign and others for the plott.

The 7th, his majestie conferred the honour of knighthood on Edward Deering esq., younger son of sir Edward Deering, lately deceased.

The same day were read in councill the instructions to the justices of the peace in the severall counties, for executing the lawes against the papists; and the same were approved and ordered to be sent to the severall counties.

The 9th, Mr. Gadbury and Mrs. Cellier were examined in councill, and declared severall things against sie Robert Peyton on oath, but he denied them; on which he was by warrant of the board committed prisoner to the Tower for high treason in conspireing to levy warr against the king.

The 13th, sir Gilbert Gerard, accompanied with 9 other gentlemen, presented to his majestie a petition for the sitting o the parliament, subscribed by severall thousands of London and Westminster. His majestie was pleased to answer, He look't on himself as the head of the government, and that he would doe what he thought most for the good of himself and his people.

The 14th died sir George Carteret, vice-chamberlain of his majesties household.

We have advice from severall places that petitions had been perferr'd there for the sitting of a parliament, but that they were rejected; as at the citty of Wells, Salisbury, in Essex, Dorsetshire, Hartfordshire, Darbyshire, &c.

1679 - December

A Brief

Historical Relation

&c.

by Narcissus Luttrell

1679 - December

In which Boston Burns and Dryden is Sett Upon

December: Letters from New England inform us of the great fire that has lately happened at Boston in New England, haveing consumed above two hundred houses, and severall ships and barks that lay near the dock, the tide being then out: tis thought to have been done on purpose.

His majestie hearing of the arrival of the duke of Monmouth, hath signified his displeasure thereof, by refusing to see him, and forbidding him to come within the verge of the court; yet the people were well pleas'd at his comeing, testifyed by their ringing of bells and makeing bonefires at night.

The beginning of this month, the two cheif justices, the lord Shaftsbury, Huntington Gray and others dined with the lord mayor, where they drank very plentifully; and some words were spoken about the acquittall of sir George Wakeman, which occasioned much heat, Scrogs taking it as a reflection on him.

Sir Phillip Lloyd, sometime since suspended from his place as clerk of councill, is now again restored.

The lord Francis, youngest son to the duke of Monmouth, is lately dead, and buried at Westminster.

Mr. Hobbs of Malmsbury died the middle of this month, being 92 years old; he was a very learned man, but broacht severall pernicious principles destructive to religion and government.

About the same time Mr. John Dryden was sett on in Covent Garden in the evening by three fellowes, who beat him very severely, and on peoples comeing in they run away: 'tis thought to be done by order of the dutchesse of Portsmouth, she being abused in a late libell called an Essay upon satyr, of which Mr. Dryden is suspected to be the author.

Severall persons have promoted petitions for the sitting of the parliament; which were dasht again with the comeing out of the proclamation against petitions, but are now carried on more earnestly then before.