1671. n Captain Beach being in the Streights with four English Frigats, met a Squadron of feven Algier Ships of War, well mann'd, gave them Battle, and after a fhort Difpute, forced them all afhore, where two of them were burnt by themselves, and the reft by the English; moft of their Men were loft, and 250 Chriitian Slaves fet at Liberty. In October the Parliament met again, according to their Adjournment, and then was the Peace between England and Spain beyond the Line concluded and ratified. The Prince of Orange came this Year into England, and having vifited both Univerfities, after a fhort Stay he returned. During this Seffion of Parliament, the Lords and Commons having humbly reprefented to his Majefty, their Fears and Jealoufies of the Growth of Popery, the King by Proclamation commanded all Jefuits, and English, Irish, and Scottifh Priests, and all others that had taken Orders from the See of Rome, except fuch as were to wait upon the Queen and foreign Ambaffadors, to depart the Kingdom, upon Pain of having the Laws and Statutes of the Realm put in Execution against them. A. D. 1671, in the Beginning of this Year died at St. James's her Royal Highness Anne, Dutchefs of York, Daughter to the Earl of Clarendon; and was shortly after privately buried at Westminster. She was educated a Proteftant, but turned Papift. The Parliament ftill fat, and amongst others, having paffed an Act for an Addition to the King's Revenue, by an Impofition on Proceedings at Law, by an humble Addrefs they petitioned his Majefty, That he would be pleas'd by his Royal Example to encourage the wearing of the Manufactures of his own Kingdom, and to discountenance the Ufe of foreign; to which the King having graciously condefcended, they were prorogued till the 26th of April enfuing. In June Sir Edward Sprague, Admiral for the King in the Mediterra nean Sea, burnt and took under the very Guns of the Caftle of Bugia, nine of the best Men of War of Algier. This News fo incensed that People, that in a tumultuous Manner they cut off the Head of their King; the Aga having done the like to their General, and forced their newcreated King to make a Peace much to the Advantage of England. This Year his Majefty was plea ed to honour the City of London with his Prefence at the Lord-Mayor's Feaft, being the firft that fince the Fire was kept at Guildhall, af ter it was advantageously repaired. The King having long conceal'd his juft Displeasure against the Dutch, and his Refentments of their unwor thy Dealings towards him, intends now an open War with the United Provinces. In order thereunto, in January 1671, his Majesty declared, That feeing his Neighbours were making great Preparations, both by Sea and Land, he looked upon himself as obliged to put himfeif in fuch a Poffure, as might bet fecure his Government and People: And that feeing Money, which was abfolutely neceffary for that End, was wanting, he was unavoidably forced (which otherwife he would not have done) to put a Stop to the Payment of all Monies brought in, or to be brought in, to his Exchequer, for the Space of one whole Year. In the mean Time, Sir George Downing, his Majelly's Ambail dor in Holland, preffed the States hard with the Bufinefs of the Flag; but finding his Demands fhifted off with Delays, and his Negotiation like to prove fuccefslefs, he returned back in a fhort time to England, where he was committed to the Tower for not having punctually obeyed his Inftructions. And foon after, Sir Robert Holmes with five Men of War, cruifing near the Isle of Wight, met the Dutch Smyrna Fleet convoyed by fix Men of War, of whom he demanded the Flag; which they refufing he fet upon them March the 13th, and maintain'd the Fight all Night; The next Morning three other Frigats coming in, the Fight was continued to the great Damage of the Dutch, whofe Rear-Admiral was funk, and five of their best Merchant-Men taken. And then open War was proclaimed against Hol land. One Mrs. Jones, of Monmouth, or fome adjacent Parish, was murthered; for which cursed Fact, her Son, a Lawyer by Profeffion, was preffed to Death, the Maiden-Daughter burnt, and the Servant-Boy, who did the Fact, was hanged at Monmouth. The Son refufed to plead, the Daughter fled, and the Boy, upon Examination, confeffed the Fact. A. D. 1672, the French King now being joined with the English in War against the Dutch, in the Beginning of this Year, marches at the Head of his main Army to the Frontiers of the United Netherlands, and fends his Fleet to join the Englifb. In May both Fleets were joined at Sea, under the Command of his Royal Highness the Duke of York, making all together about 160 Sail. They had often Sight of the Dutch, but no Engagement till the 28th of this Month; and then in Southwold- 1672. Bay a fharp Fight began, about five of the Clock in the Morning, and was obftinately maintained on both Sides till Night; the Dutch then bore away, and the Duke ftood after them, keeping within Sight of the Lights all Night. In the Engagement died the Earl of Sandwich, Captain Digby in the Henry, Sir John Cox hard by the Duke in the Prince, Sir Frefcheville Hollis, and Monfieur de la Rabiner the French Rear-Admiral. Several other Officers were flain and wounded, about 700 common Seamen loft, and as many wounded; the Royal James burnt and the Katharine taken, but by her own Men refcued again. On the Dutch Side were killed Admiral Van Ghent, and Captain Brackhell. Their great Ships were fadly fhatterred, two funk, one taken, and one burnt; many others were miffing, whereof no Account could be given, and a great many of their common Seamen killed and wounded. The French at the fame time, to increase their Lofs, took feveral of their Towns and Forts by Land. Next Day after this Engagement, the Duke of York put twice out his bloody Flag upon Sight of the Dutch, but was as often prevented from engaging them by thick Fogs and Mifts, which gave the Dutch Opportunity to retreat; and fo no more confiderable Action was performed this Year. The States being thus preffed (in all Probability) above the Strength of fo fmall a Republick; having the French on the one Side, the Bifhop of Munfter on the other, by Land, and the English by Sea, to deal with, were not able to fupprefs the Tumults and Infolencies of the exasperated People. The Burghers of Dart, in a tumultua ry be diffatisfied with the King's Indulgence and Toleration to Dif fenters; though his Majefty, by a gracious Answer to an Addrefs of theirs, endeavoured to remove that Scruple. A. D. 1673, to prevent Dangers which might happen from Popifh Recufants (Romih Emiffaries being at that Time, and for fome Years paft, having been more than ordinarily busy to feduce the King's 1673. rý Manner, got the Prince of Orange created Stadt-holder, which was afterwards confirmed by the States. And at the Hague, not long after, a mafterlefs Rabble haled out of Prison the Ruart van Putten, and his Brother De Witt, who had been condemned to lofe their Dignities and be banished, for fome Defigns against the Prince, and barbarously murthered them, dragging their Bodies through the Streets, hanging them on the Gal-good Subjects, and having been too lows by the Heels, and afterwards fuccessful, efpecially among the inhumanly tearing and cutting them Great Ones) it was enacted, Tha: to pieces. all, as well Peers as Commoners, that fhall bear any Office, Civil or Military, or fhall receive any Pay, Salary, Fee, or Wages, by reafon of any Grant or Patent from his Majefty, or fhall have any Place or Command from or under the King, or be of his Houfhold, or in his Service, or the Duke of York's, fhould take the following Oath in open Court, viz. I A. B. do declart, That I do believe that there is m any Tranfubftantiation in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, or in the Elements of Bread and Wine, at r after Confecration thereof, &c. This Year was the Earl of Effex fent into Ireland, to fucceed the Lord John Berkley, as Lieutenant of that Kingdom. The Lord-Keeper of England, Bridgman, now aged and infirm, having refigned his Place, the Earl of Shaftsbury was made Chancellor of England, and Thomas Lord Clifford Lord High-Treasurer. Towards the Beginning of Dr cember, the Duke of Richmond, who had been this Year fent Ambaffador Extraordinary into Sweden, died in his Calafche, as he was upon his Return to Ellenore, from being a board of the Yarmouth Frigate. No other Reafon could be given for the Suddenness of his Death, but the extreme Coldness of that piercing Air, to which his Body was not accustomed. The Time of Prorogation being expired, the Parliament met again; and upon their Removal of Sir Ed ward Turner, their Speaker, to be Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer, Sir Fob Charleton was made Speaker; but he fhortly after falling fick, Edward Seymour, Efq; fueceeded. This Seffion of Parliament voted the King a Supply of eighteen Months Affeffment, not exceeding 70,000 . a Month, but began to The Ifland of Tobago was this Year taken by the English from the Dutch, in Exchange whereof the Dutch took St. Helena from the English; which might have proved of very bad Confequence to the English Eaft-India Trade, had it not been retaken by Captain Manán, with three Dutch Eaft-India Ma chant-Men befides, which fall paid the charges of its Reprizal. For this good Service Captain Ma day was knighted. The Dutch this Year were fril Sea, and attempted a vain Proje of ftopping up thofe narrow Chanels that gave Entry to the Rive of Thames. Prince Rupert, whe Commanded the English Fleet, put out to encounter them; but they retreating to their own Shoar, the Prince flood to the Weftward, that he might join the French and Part of the English Fleets. This being Shortly after done, the whole Fleet made toward the Coaft of Holland; and the Prince finding them before Schonwelt, fecured by their Banks and the Shallowness of the Water, on the 28th of May detached a Squadron of 35 fmall Frigats to provoke them to an Engagement. The Dutch, contrary to Expectation, came forth in good Order, and engaged. The French and English, emulous for Honour, fought with extraordinary Eagernefs, and fomewhat entangled each other; but at length, after a fharp Difpute, the magnanimous Prince forced the Enemy to run, and followed them as far as the Sands and Water did permit, till Night put an End to the Conflict, and the Dutch regained their Station. The English loft but a few common Seamen, and not one Ship; Captains flain, were Forules, Finch, Tempeft, and Woorden. On the Dutch Side were killed Vice-Admiral Schram, RearAdmiral Vlugh, and fix Captains more. They loft confiderably in Men, but only one Ship, that was named the Deventer. On the 24th of June happened another Engagement, wherein no great Execution was done on either Side, it being managed at great Distance, and most part in the Night-time. And that the Series of this Year's Warlike Actions may be continued without Interruption, on the 10th of Auguft both Fleets met again at Sea, and gave the laft Stroke to his War. The Dutch being about the Goree, got the Wind of the English, and bore briskly down up. 1673. on them; the Fight was obftinate and bloody on both Sides, efpecially between Sir Edward Sprague and Van Trump; but the French making as if they flood off for the Wind, did it in Reality, that they might have the Conveniency of being Spectators. Prince Rupert and De Ruyter, who had been engaged together all Day, finding themselves at Distance from their refpective Squadrons, ftood back again to their Affiftance; and De Ruyter, defigning to have cut off the Blue Squadron from the reft of the Fleet, was fo fmartly charged by the Prince, that he was fain to give way; fo that had the French made ufe of the Wind they had, the Dutch had certainly fuftained far greater Lofs than they did, and not fo eafily drawn off by Favour of the Night. In this Engagement, Sir Edward Sprague, as he was shifting from one Ship to another, had his Long-boat, by a Random-fhot, fhivered to Pieces under him; and fo, to the Grief and Regret of all that knew him, was drowned; his Ship, ftrangely disabled, was by his valiant Second, the Earl of Oory, brought off. Cap. tain Neeve was flain, Reeves and Heywood died of their Wounds, and Marte! only of the French was killed. The Lofs of common Seamen was not very great on the Engli Side. The Dutch loft two FlagOfficers, feveral Captains, and about 1000 common Seamen. About the Middle of June the Lord Clifford refigned his Treasurer's Staff; and Sir Thomas Ofborn, created Viscount Ofborn of Dumblain in Scotland, and afterwards Earl of Danby in England, was made Lord High-Treafurer. And this Year alfo Sir Heneage Finch, Bart. was made Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, and 1676. and created a Baron by the Style of Lord Finch, Baron of Daventry in the County of Northampton. The King iffued out his Proclamation, requiring all Judges and Juftices of the Peace, effectually to profecute the Laws against all Papifts and Popith Recufants. About the latter End of November, his Royal Highness the Duke of York was married to the Princefs of Modena, a Roman Catholick, after the Parliament had ufed great Endeavours to prevent it. Though the Preparation for War went on vigorously, both on the English and Dutch Sides, yet Overtures of Peace were ftill fet on foot; and his Majefty condefcended to a Treaty at Cologne, which took no Effect. The Dutch, in the mean time, thought it not fit to defift; but by another way of Negotiation, that is to fay, by Intercourfe of Letters, they at length prevailed fo far, as to receive a condefcending Letter from the King of England, in February 1673, which was fhortly after followed by a Conclufion of the Peace by them fo much defired. His Majefty having been pleafed to accept of the Freedom of the City of London, and of the Goldmiths Company, was, in December, by Sir Robert Viner, LordMayor, in the name of the City, prefented with the Copy of the Freedom in a large fquare Box of masfy Gold, the Seal appending being in a Box of Gold, fet all over with large Diamonds. About the Beginning of January 1674, her Royal Highness was brought to bed of a Daughter, chriftened at St. James's by the Bishop of Durham, by the Name of Katharina Laura ; the Duke of Monmouth being Godfather, and the Lady Mary and Lady Anne Godmothers. A. D. 1675, there happened this Year a dangerous Plot carried on with great Secrecy by the Blacks of Barbadoes against the English, which upon the very Nick of being put in Execution was detected, and the Confpirators punished. The Natives of New-England, under the Command of King Philip Hegamore, rofe likewife againt the English, and did them confiderable Damage; but were in fhort time curbed for their Infolencies, and driven to their Sculking A. D. 1674, Peace being now concluded, this Year affords no great Tranfaction of Importance; the Confultations of Government holes. being chiefly directed to the Prefervation of Quietnefs and Unity at Home, in order to which his Majefty published several Proclamations against the Papifts and Jefuits. The Duke of Monmouth, upon Refignation of the Duke of Buckingham, was chofen Chancellor of the University of Cambridge. The Earl of St. Albans giving up the Staff of Lord-Chamberlain of his Majefty's Houfhold, his Place was given to the Earl of Arlington, to whom Sir Jofeph Williamfon fucceeded as Principal Secretary of State. In September most part of the Town of Northampton was by a dreadful Fire burnt down; nothing let ftanding except a few Houles in the Outskirts of the Town. On the 5th of March 1675, Sir John Narborough concluded an honourable Peace, and of great Advantage to the Trade of this Nation, with the Government Tripoly. A. D. 1676, the French in the laft Campaign loft their famou Marthal Turenne; and the Da marine Expeditions are this Year ufhered |