Members to reprefent them in the enfuing Parliament, wherein there was much tugging between two Parties, that the whole Kingdom began now to be divided in two; which were afterwards called by the two ignominous Names of Whig and Tory. The former being the Diffenters in Religion from the Eftablished Church, who by pretending an extraordinary Concern for the Proteftant Religion, and by incalcating and magnifying Fears and Jealoufies in the Minds of the People (already terrified with the late Popish Plo:) added to their Party many honeft well meaning Men, that fell in with the Crowd, and Popery being the Cry, they purfued with fuch Vigour, that they over-fhot their Mark, and had almot run down even Monarchy itfelf.

The Tories, as they were called, were the Partizans of the Court, and fuch who though they had true Deteftation of Popery, remembring the Miferies we were fo lately got out of, were unwilling to enter into new Broils, and therefore refolved to ftand by the King, and rather to bear with Faults in the Government, than permit it to be overturned, which in their Apprehenfion would have been the certain Confequence of thofe violent Courses the others would have taken.

The Time of the Parliament's Sitting drawing nigh, his Majesty commanded his Brother the Duke of York to abfent himself, becaufe, as he told the Parliament at the opening of it, He would not leave the nalicious Men room to say, he had not removed all Caufes which could be pretended to influence him towards Popish Councils. And accordingly, the Duke and Dutchels departed from Whiteball March the 3d, and went

to refide at Bruffels in Flanders.

A. D. 1679. But tho' the King hoped by this, and many other Condefcenfions, to difpofe the Houfe of Commons to comply with his Defires, yet they were the fame Men ftill; for fo foon as the ufual Preliminaries were adjufted, they again impeached the Earl of Danby, pursued him fo clofe, that he abfenting and producing a Pardon, they voted against the Validity of it, and drew up a Bill of Attainder against him; but as it was just upon paffing, he came in, and was committed to the Tower, where he continued a long Time with the Popish Lords that were there before. A Bill was voted to be brought in to exclude the Duke of York from fucceeding to the Crown. Addreffes were made to the King to remove feveral of the Minifters of State and chief Counsellors, and all ftanding Forces declared to be a-. gainft Law; a Difpute raifed, and hotly purfued, against the Bishops Power of voting in Capital Cafes; and the Profecution of the Popish Plot began to be neglected; fo that the King perceiving them not in a Temper fit to do the Bufinefs he defired, on the 27th of May prorogued them to the 14th of August.

Before the Prorogation of the Parliament, News came from Scotland, that the Archbishop of St. Andrews was, on the 3d of May, moft barbarously and inhumanly murthered, by a defperate Crew of blood-thirty Villains (being of the Party called Cameronians and Field Conventiclers) who affaflinated him within a few Miles of his own Houfe, as he returned home from Edinburgh in his Coach; and immediately after a Rebellion broke out there: To fupprefs which, the King fent down fome Forces under

the

1679. the Command of the Duke of Monmouth, who in a Battle at BothwelBridge, defeated and totally routed thefe Rebellious Fanaticks.

On the 30th of June, five Jefuits and Popish Priefts, viz. Tho. Whitebread, William Harcourt, John Fenwick, John Gawen, and Anth. Turner, were brought to Trial at the Seffions Houfe in the Old-Baily. Their Crime was High Treafon, in confpiring the Death of the King, and the Subverfion of the Proteftant Religion. The Evidence against them were Oates, Bedloe, Dugdale, and Prance, who fwore, that Whitebread and Harcourt were prefent at the Confult in April, and figned the Refolve for killing the King, as did alfo Gawen and Turner; that Fenwick was privy to the Defign, and carried Letters too and fro concerning it. So they were all found guilty.

The next Day Richard Langborn was for the fame Crime of HighTreafon indicted alfo, and upon the fame Evidence found guilty, for that he likewife was privy to, and affifted in the Defign of killing the King, and had obtained a Commiffion from Rome to be Advocate to the Army they were to raise in England; which Oates faw, with feveral other Commiffions, at Langborn's Chamber. They were all fix accordingly executed at Tyburn, the five Jefuits on the 20th of June, and Langborn on the 14th of July.

July the 12th, the Parliament was by Proclamation diffolved, and another called to fit at Westminster the 7th of October following.

On the 18th of July Sir George Wakeman, Phyfician to the Queen, William Rumley, William Marshal, and James Corker, Priefts, were brought to a Trial at the Old Baily, upon an Indictment of High-Treafon: But now Oates's Evidence loft its Authority, for in this Trial he

ftuck not to charge the Queen her felf with affifting Sir George Wakeman in pifoning the King; and whereas he had before mentioned Sir George Wakeman's Defign as a thing he had heard of only, and acknowledged before the Houfe of Lords that he did not know Wakeman's Hand, and before the Council declared he could charge him with nothing upon his own Knowledge, yet here he fwore that he faw a Letter mentioning the Defign of poiforing the King, which he knew to be Wakeman's Hand, having at another Time feen him write in his Chamber, the fame Hand with that Letter; that he was prefent when Abg offered Sir George 10,000 /. to polfon the King, and that he faw his Hand to a Receipt for 5000/. in part. Bedloe's Evidence was only, That he knew Sir George Wakeman received 2,000l. which was after made up 5,000 /. which Harcourt told him was upon that Account. Again.t the reft it was fworn, that they were privy to a Promise of railing 6,000l. among the Benedi&ines to carry on the Defign, which was not very flly proved; fo that the Jury brought them all four in Not guilty.

Whilft the King was this Summer at Windfor, he fell fick of an Ague, which laited longer than was at first expected; the Duke of York then at Bruffels had notice of it, and on the zd of September unexpectedly came to Windor to fee him; but his Majefty being perfectly recovered, he went over to Flanders again, and having made a fhort Stay there, he returned with his Dutchefs and whole Family to England.

In the mean time the Election for Parliament Men having been carried on with great Warmth by both Par ties, the King put off the Sitting of the Parliament by feveral Prorogati ons to the 21st of October, 1680.

The

The Countess of Powis was on the 4th of November, 1679, accused before the King and Council by Thomas Dangerfield, of feveral treafonable Practices, and committed Prifoner to the Tower. And there began a new Plot; for Dangerfield accufed the Countess of Powis and others, of tampering with fome Perfons to fwear againit Oates and Bedlee, and by that means to invalidate their Tellimony. To which was added, a ftrange Account of a Defign of throwing the Plot upon the Proteftants, by lodging treafonable Papers in their Houtes, which being fought for by Authority, were to be there found, and a Catalogue of their Names was found in a MealTub; which made this be called the Meal-Tub-Plot.

A. D. 1680, the Generality of the new Faction had for a long time eyed the Duke of Monmouth, as a fit Perfon to head a Party, and confequently flattered and cajoled him into a better Opinion of himself and his Intereft, than was fit for him to have entertained: And now nothing elle will serve them but to have him Heir apparent to the Crown; to which End a Rumour was raised of a Black Box, which Sir Gilbert GeTard was faid either to have in Cuftody, or to have feen, containing a Writing that did import a Marriage, or Contract of Marriage, between the King and the Duke of Moncath's Mother. This being confidently reported, the King, on the 26th of April, called together an extraordinary Council, before which Sir Gilbert Gerard appeared, and being examined, declared upon Oath, that he knew not any thing of fuch a Box or Writing. And his Majefty, to prevent the bad Confequences of that bold Calumny, ordered a folemn Declaration, which he then made, and which referred to several former

Declarations, of his never being married to the Duke of Monmouth's Mother, to be printed and published; and in June following commanded the faid Duke to withdraw, and for fome time refide beyond Seas, which he obeyed, and went abroad; but, upon the Duke of York's Return to Court, not long after, came privately over again, and came to London, where his Friends, who had Intelligence of it, received him joyfully with ringing of Bells and Bonfires; whereupon the King was pleafed to remove him from his Offices and Places of Truft. This the House of Commons in January following refented, and voted, That it was done by the Influence of the Duke of York; and ordered an Address to be made to his Majetty, to restore his Grace the Duke of Monmouth to what had been taken from him.

The Time of the Sitting of the Parliament approaching, the King was fo indulgent to the Fears which the People ftill retained of the Popish Plot, that he published a Proclamation, commanding all Papifts, or reputed Papifts, to depart from the Cities of London and Westminster, and from within ten Miles of the fame.

And now the 21st of October being come, the Parliament aflembled, to whom the King made a Speech, intimating, That the Prorogations he had made, had been advantageous to the neighbouring States, and useful to himself, having employed that Time in making an Alliance with Spain, as he had done before with Holland; which being Jo much defired by former Parliaments, he believed muft needs be acceptable to this, as being the best Measures that could be taken for the Safety of England, and Repose of Chriftendom; and could not but attain their Ends, if our Home Divifions did not render our Friend

1680. fhip lefs confiderable Abroad. He gave them all Affurances that nothing fhould be wanting on his Part for the Security of the Proteftant Religion, which he refolved to maintain, and to concur with them in any propofed Remedies that might confit with the preferving the Crown in its due and legal Courfe of Descent; to which Purpofe he recommended to them the fpeedy Examination of the Plot, and that the Lords in the Tower might be brought to their Trials. Then he laid before them the Matter of Tangier, and the Expences he had been at to maintain that Place, upon which he defired their Advice and Affiftance. After which, he exborted them to Union, and to avoid gratifying the publick Enemy by unJeafonable Difputes; which, if they fhould happen, the World would fee was no Fault of his, who had done what was poffible to keep them in Peace; concluding, that from their Prudence and good Affections, he could fear nothing of that kind, but trufied they would use their beft Endeavours to bring this Parliament to a happy Conclufion.

During the Interval of Parliament, Petitions with great Rolls of Subfcriptions, had been prefented to the King for their Sitting: Which his Majetty publickly declaring his Diflike of; Addreffes were alfo made to him by the other Party, teftifying their Abhorrence of them.

The Houfe of Commons, after they had chofen a Speaker, who was William Williams, Efq; and adjufted Preliminaries, immediately fell upon the Matter of Petitioning, and refolved, That it is the undoubt. ed Right of the Subject to petition the King for the Sitting of Parliaments, and redreffing of Grievances; That to traduce fuch Petitioning as a Violation

of Duty, and to reprefent it to his Majefty as tumultuous and feditious, wat to betray the Liberty of the Subject, and contributed to the Defign of subverting the ancient legal Conflitution of this Kingdom, and introducing ar bitrary Power; and appointed a Committee to enquire after all fuch Perfons as have offended against the Right of the Subject. Many Perfons who had appeared against petitioning, being brought before them, were committed to the Searjeant at Arms, where they lay imprisoned at great Expence, till they acknowledged their Fault, and begged Pardon in the Houfe.

The Houfe prefented an Addre's to the King, declaring their Re lutions to defend and fupport the King's Perfon and Goverment, and the Preteftant Religion; and ordered their Votes to be printed. The Exclu fion of the Duke, having from the Beginning of the Seffion been under Debate, on the 2d of November they paffed thefe Votes, That the Duke York being a Papift, the Hopes of bir coming to the Crown bath given the greatest Countenance and Encouragement to the prefent Defigns and ConSpiracies against the King and the Preteftant Religion. Whereupon refolv ed, That in Defence of the King Br. Government, they would ftand by th King with their Lives and Fortanti, and if he came to an untimely Death, they would revenge it upon the Pape And then refolved, That a Bill te brought in to difable James Dakı ? York to inherit the Imperial Cre of this Realm. Which Bill was accordingly brought in, and being paffed, was carried up to the Lord but there rejected.

Next they refolve, That a Bill brought in for the better uniting of t Majesty's Proteftant Subjects; we ca was afterward feconded by a Re

folve, That it is the Opinion of this Houfe, that the Acts of Parliament made in the Reigns of Queen Elizabeth, and King James, against Recufants, ought not to be extended to Proteftant Diffenters. And ordered a Bill to be brought in, to repeal all or any Part of the Act made in the 35th Year of Queen Elizabeth. And farther refolved, That the House be moved that a Bill be brought in, for an Afficiation of all his Majesty's Protefint Sabres, for the Safety of bis Majefty's Perfon, the Defence of the roteftant Religion, and the Prefervation of his Majefty's Protefant Subjects, against all Invasions, and Oppofitions whatsoever; and for preventing the Duke of York, or any Papift from fucceeding to the Crown. Another Vote paffed, That it is the Opinion of this Houfe, that the Profecution of Proteftant Diffenters upon the Penal Laws is at this Time grievous to the Subject, a weakening of the Proteftant Intereft, and an Encouragement to Popery, and dangerous to the Peace of the Kingdom. And an Address was made to the King, to ftop the Proceedings against Diffenters.

The Debates about the Bill of Exclufion, and examining of fome Witreffes about the Plot, and the above-mentioned Votes, with the Debates relating to them, had taken up all their Time; fo that the taking Care of Tangier, which the King in his Speech defired, had been quite omitted; wherefore his Majefty, on the 15th of November, fent a Meffage to the Houfe of Commons to put them in Mind of it.

The Town and Garrifon of Tangier in Africa, which came to the King by his Marriage with the Princefs of Portugal, had for fome time been ftraitly befieged by the Moors, and for want of neceffary Succours and Supplies, in great Danger of be

ing loft; this was a Place which the 1680. preceeding Parliament judged to be of fo great Importance, that a Bill was then ordered to be brought in for annexing it to the Imperial Crown of England; and a Vote paffed, That thofe who did advise his Majefty to part with Tangier to any foreign Prince or State, or were inftrumental therein, ought to be accounted Enemies to the King and Kingdom. But the prefent Parliament believing the Revenue already granted to his Majesty would, with due Application, fuffice for the Prefervation of this Town, inftead of the Supply demanded, in an Addrefs told his Majefty, That though in due Time they should omit nothing for the Prefervation of every Part of his Majefty's Dominions; yet the Dangers they were now under from the Power of Popish Counfels, would not at preJent permit them to enter into Confiderations thereupon.

On the 30th of November, William Viscount Stafford was brought to Trial before the Peers in Weftminfter Hall, being charged with High-Treafon, in confpiring to depofe and murther the King, and extirpate the Proteftant Religion. The Evidence against him were Dugdale, who declared that the Lord Stafford was prefent at a Meeting at Tixall in Staffordshire, where it was refolved to kill the King, and introduce Popery; and that the faid Lord proferred him 500 . to kill the King, faying, That he was an excommunicated Traitor, and an Enemy to Jefus Chrift; Dr. Oates, who depofed, That while he was in Spain he faw feveral Letters from the Lord Stafford, wherein he affured the Jefuits of his Zeal in promoting the Catholick Defigns; that in June 1678, the Prifoner received at Fenwick's Chamber a Commiffion to be Pay-Maller of the Army;

that