was vacant by the Death of Dr. Gunning, and November the 24th, Dr. Mew, Bishop of Bath and Wells, was tranflated to the Bishoprick of Winchejter, on the Death of Dr. Morley; and Dr. Kenn fucceeded in the See of Bath and Wells. And now we are come to the Period of the King's Reign, for on Monday Morning, February the 2d, 1684-5, the King was fuddenly taken with a Fit of an Apoplexy, but upon Blood-letting, and the Ufe of other proper Remedies, he came to 7 his Senfes, and continued fo, but He left no lawful Iue by his JAMES II. AMES Duke of York, fecond Son of King Charles the First, was born on the 14th of October 1638, and fucceeded his Brother King Charles the Second on Friday the 6th of February, 1684-5, on which Day he was with great Solemnity proclaimed in the ufual Places of the City of London, and afterwards through all England and all the English Dominions. All Offices and Places, both Military and Civil, in England and Ireland being void by the Death of the late King; a Proclamation was iffued to confirm the prefent Poffeffors in them till the King's farther Order. And the Orders and Directions of the Privy-Council of the late King were commanded to be of the fame Validity as in his Life. Which Order was alfo fent to all the Foreign Plantations belonging to the English Crown. The first Time the King fat in the Privy Council, he made a Speech to them to this Effect: That fince it had pleafed God to place him in that Station, he thought fit to declare, That he would follow the Example of his Brother, in Ten dernefs and Clemency to his People. And, at the Request of the Lords The Act of Parliament that im- pay 1684. 1684. in the Life of the late King, to maintain the Fleet for the Defence of the Nation and Security of Trade, till the Parliament that was foon to meet fhould take Care of a fufficient Settlement on the Crown for the Support of the Government. Which although a manifeft Violation of the People's Rights, and an Affumption of arbitrary Power, was at this time taken little Notice of. On the 14th of February, in the Evening, the Corpfe of his late Majefty King Charles the Second was privately interred in the Chapel of King Henry the Seventh in Westminfter Abbey, in a Vault under the Eaft-End of the South Ifle. The Prince of Denmark being the chief Mourner, attended by many Lords and Gentlemen of both the late and prefent King's Servants. The next Day, the Duke of Ormond, the Earl of Arlington, the Lord Viscount Newport, the Lord Maynard, and Henry Savil, Elg: were confirmed in their Places of Lord Steward, Lord Chamberlain, Treasurer, Comptroller, and ViceChamberlain, which they enjoyed in the late King's Time. On the 16th, Laurence, Earl of Rochefter, Lord Prefident of the Council, was made Lord High Treasurer of England; on the 18th the Lord Marquifs of Hallifax was declared Lord Prefident of the Council; the Lord Clarendon Lord Privy Seal; the Duke of Beaufort Prefident of Wales, and the Lord Godolphin Lord Chamberlain to the Queen. Several other Perfons were at the fame time confirmed in the Places they enjoyed in the late King's Reign. The News of the King's Death being arrived at Edinburgh, the Lords of the Privy-Council were immediately called together by the Earl of Perth, Lord High Chancellor, and the Duke of Queensbury, Lord Treasurer, who being affembled, and all fworn a-new, gave Orders for the proclaiming King James; which was accordingly done on the 10th of February with all ufual Ceremonies, their Lordfhips affifting at it. After which, by his Majefty's Command, a Proclamation was published to continue all Officers, Judges, and Magiftrates, in their respective Places, till further Order. This being done, the Lords of the Council fent a Let ter to the King, containing an Ac count of their Proceedings, with Affurances of hazarding their Lives and Fortunes in Defence of his Perfon and Dignity. And at the fame time, the Archbishops and Bithops of that Kingdom fent a Letter to the King, expreffing both their Surrow for the Death of his late Majefty, and their Duty and Affection to himself. On the 11th of the fame Month, the King was proclaimed in Ireland alfo, with no lefs Solemnity and Expreffions of Joy, by his Grace the Duke of Ormond, affifted by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, the Lord-Mayor and Aldermen of Dublin, &c. In the mean Time Addreffes dai ly arrived from all Parts of the Kingdom, congratulating his Ma jefty's Acceffion to the Throne, and to thank him for his Promife maintaining their Religion and Laws: Which were all kindly re ceived by the King; and the A rances repeated. Nor were foreign States wanting in their Respect, each fending then Ambaffadours to congratulate b Majefty's Acceffion to the Throne. The firft of which, that arrive, was the Count Serclais de l who was fent from the Marquis Grana, Governor of the Spa Netherlands, with Compliments Condoleance and Congratulation, and was followed by the rest of the Princes of Europe. In Scotland, on the 20th of February, a Proclamation was published to fummon a Parliament to meet at Edinburgh, on the 9th of April following. And an Addrefs of Congratulation was fent to the King from the Magiftrates and Council of that City, as were likewife others from feveral Corporations in that Kingdom. The King's Coronation being now under Confideration, in order to it, a Proclamation was published on the 6th of March, commanding all those who by Tenure of Lands, & are obliged to claim or affift thereat, to put in their Claims before the Lords thereby authorized to receive them. But before we fpeak of that Solemnity, the Order of Time requires as to look over into Ireland, where on the 21st of March, the Duke of Ormond, Lord-Lieutenant, delivered up the Sword of State to the Lord Archbishop of Armagh, Chancellor of Ireland, and the Lord Granard, whom the King conftituted Lords Juftices for the Government of that Kingdom. And the next Morning the Council being called together, were diffolved, and a new one appointed; the Members of which, that were in or near the City of Dublin, were immediately fworn. 4. D. 1685. On the 23d of April was folemnized the Coronation of the King and Queen. Their Majefties proceeding from WestminsterHall to the Abby Church, attended by the great Officers of State, No. bility, Archbishops, Bishops, Judges, Mafters in Chancery, Lord-Mayor and Aldermen of London, Choir of Westminster, &c. in their refpective Robes, where the Sermon being over, which was preached by Dr. Turner, Bishop of Ely, their Maje flies were crowned with the ufual 1685. On the fame Day that the King That their Zeal and Loyalty, which he had experienced in his Brother's Reign, engaged him to fummon them at the Beginning of his, to give them an Opportunity of demonftrating their own Duty, and to be exemplary to others in their Affections to his Perfon and Service. That what he had now to propose, was for the Security of their Liberties and Properties, more than the Aggrandizing of his Power; though the Prefervation of that would the bettet enable him to preserve them in the quiet Poffeffion of their Rights and Religion, against the Endeavours of the Fanaticks, the restless Enemies of both. That the Importance of the Matters now to be propofed, would have obliged him to have come himself to them had it been poffible at this Jundure of Time; he had therefore inftructed the Duke of Queensbury in all Things relating to his Service and their Happiness; rot doubting of their Compliance and Affiftance. After the reading of the Letter, Lord Chancellor made Speech; wherein, after an Eulgium upon the King, and affuring them of his Majetty's Protection of the Established U 2 1 1685. Eftablished Church, and that he would maintain them in all their Rights according to Law, not fuffering them to be arbitrarily opprefs'd by Soldiers, or others; and further, That the King would condefcend, as far as could be expected, in the Bufinefs of the Excife and Militia; he propofed to them the eftablishing the Revenues upon the King, as amply as his Predeceffors had enjoyed them: And, that effectual Means might be found to deftroy the defperate Fanatick Party, that had brought that Kingdom to the Brink of Ruin. The Lord Chancellor made alfo a Speech to them, wherein he remembered them of the Disorders the Nation had been fubject to, through the reflefs Endeavours of the Fanaticks; and by what gentle Means the King, when he was Lord Commiffioner, had quieted them; and therefore urged them to ferve the King, promote his Intereft, and deftroy that Brood of Villanous Men. Which Speeches being over, the Parliament drew up a Letter to the King, exprefling how fenfible they were of his Remembrance of their former Services, and their Refolutions to exceed what they had formerly done, and be exemplarily loyal in advancing fuch Laws as might fecure his Authority, extirpate the Fanatical Party, and punish the late Confpirators. And foon after, they paffed thefe Four Acts, viz. 1. For jecuring the Proteftant Religion. 2. For annexing the Excife upon Foreign and Inland Commodities to the Crown of Scotland for ever. 3. Concerning Citations and Process of Treafon, ratifying the former Cuftoms of the fuficiaries Proceedings against Pannels already in Prifon, &c. 4. Concern ing Witnefes, That those that are cited to give Teftimony in Cafes of Treafon, and refuse to do so, fhould be proceeded against as guilty of the fame Crime they were to witness. On the 28th of April, a Procla mation was published for putting the Kingdom of Scotland into a Pofture of Defence, against the Enemies of the King and Government, commanding all the King's Subjects to be in Readinefs, and with their beft Arms to affift against any Commotions and Infurrections: And, That Care be taken of the Coafts, and ordering all the Militia and flanding Forces of that Realm. But to return to England. On the 9th of May, Dr. Oates was tried at the King's Bench Bar, upon the two Indictments of Perju ry, preferred against him in the lat Reign, and was found guilty of both. And about the middle of the fame Month, was brought again to the Bar, where the Lord Chief Juftice being on the Bench, he re ceived Judgment, To be divefted of bis Canonical Habit for ever: To be carried round Westminster Hall, with an Infcription upon his Forehead, claring his Crime: Afterwards, t fand in the Pillory; and to be whip. ped from Aldgate to Newgate, and from Newgate to Tyburn. Allo, to fland in the Pillory five times yearly, during his Life; to pay 1000 Marks for each Perjury, and to be imprisoned during Life. And on the 30th of May, Thoma Dangerfield was tried upon an lformation, for writing a Libel cal led his Narrative; and being found guilty, was on the 29th of Jan fentenced to fiand in the Pillory; be whipp'd from Aldgate to New gate, and from Newgate to Tyburn, and fined 500l. He was accordingly whipp'd; but, as he return'd Newgate, was run through the Fre into the Brains, of which Werd he died; and the Perfon that did it was tried, found guilty, and hanged for it. Near the fame time the King conferred fome Honours; viz. Henry Jermayn, Efq; was created Baron of Dover; John Lord Churchill, who had been created Baron of Anmouth in Scotland by King Charles II. in the Year 1683, had the Title of Baron of this Kingdom conferred on him, by the Name and Stile of Baron Churchill of Sandbridge in the County of Hertford; and Sir George Jeffreys, Lord Chief-Juftice, was made Baron of Wem in the County of Salop. an Express was difpatched to the 1685. King. On the 19th of May, the Parliament met at Westminster, where the King being on the Throne, and the Houfe of Commons attending, the Lord Keeper told them, The King would defer speaking to them, till they had taken the Oaths: And that it was his Pleasure they should immediately proceed to make Choice of a Speaker. And they returning to their Houfe, unanimoufly chofe Sir John Trevor, who was that Afternoon presented to the King. And on the 22d the King came again to the House of Lords; whither the Houfe of Commons being come up, his Majefty made the following Speech to the Parliament. But King James was hardly fettled in the Throne, when two Attempts were made to heave him out; one by the Earl of Argyll in Scotland, and the other by the Duke of Monmouth in England. You have." heard that the Earl of Argyll was condemned for High-Treafon in Scotland, but made his Efcape, and My Lords and Gentlemen, Fter it pleased Almighty AGod to take to his Mercy the late King, my dearest Bro- fled into Holland; and that the Dukeable Poffeffion of the Throne of of Monmouth, having been pardoned by King Charles, offending again, was banished the Court. After which he also went over to Holland, where these two meeting, together with feveral others that had been concerned in the Rye-Houfe Confpiracy, and were fled, immediately after the Death of the late King, fet themfelves at work to form a Rebellion, 6 my Ancestors, I immediately refolved to call a Parliament, as the beft Means to fettle every thing upon thofe Foundations which I may make my Reign both easy and happy to you; towards which I am difpofed to contribute all that is fit for me to do. What I faid to my Privy-Council at my firft coming there, I am defirous to renew and refolved to invade both Eng-to you; wherein I fully declarland and Scotland at the fame time. 'ed my Opinion concerning the Accordingly, Arms and Ammuni 'Church of England, whofe Mem tion were bought, and as many Menbers have fhewed themselves fo eminently Loyal in the worst of of the Island, and the News imme-Law established; and as I will diately fent to Edinburg, from whence never depart from the Just Rights U 3 • and |