L.c.2121: Newsletter received by Gilbert Newdigate, Arbury, 1692 December 15

L.c.2121

London December 15^th 1692

Sir divers of the Irish Mutiniers haue been seized in Munster and both Tryed and executed and there is at present a profound Tranquillity - It is added that a ffrench privatier was Lately drove Ashoar by 2 of their Maiesties ffrigatts and there was ffound on board a pacquett of Letters to some Eminent Irish papists in that Kingdome to excite them to Rebellion promising them Assistance in the Spring as also another pacquett of the Like Tenor designed for Scottland = I am Credibly Informed that his Maiestie designs to go forward with a descent upon ffrance with 50000 of his own subiects all the Regular Troops being to be filled up to a 100 men in a Company out of the Militia of the kingdom giving each a reward that shall voluntarily put Themselves into that service that they shall haue the pay of the Countrey besides that of his Maiestie and assurance that they shall return In a Limited time. The house of Peers haue been further upon examining the papers of the Earl of N- but finding them some thing Intricate they are delivered ^back to his Lordship to put them into a Method and this day Were be in a grand Committee on the same. Upon the Coroners Inquest bringing in their Verdict willfull Murther on the Corps of Mr Mumford both against the Lord Mohun

{and by reason there is something of money raised thereby the house would not allow the Lords the Liberty and so the Bill was Laid aside whereby the Interested Persons Must begin anew ...derers that no Member depart the house without Leave and must Ask the same Between the hours of 11 and 12 and all that are not here this day 7 night be sent for Into Custody = The house resolved into a grand Committee and ordered a Bill to be brought in Pursuant to the rate of 4^s per pound - That all stock and Money except that}

and Captain Hill the Lord Chief Iustice has Issued out his warrants for the Apprehension. Yesterday afternoon was held of Verge at Westminster and adiourned to this day 7 night when Iohn How Esquire pleads his Maiesties pardon for striking and Wounding a person near the Court who had formerly been his servant Sir Henry Bellasis is sent Envoy to the Elector of Bavaria at the Court of Brussells to Complement the Elector on the Birth of his son. The house of Commons yesterday debated the Bill for 5 hours relating to the securing his Maiesties person ^[..] Government by making it Treason to utter words or disperse Libells against it there being an Oath also therein in the Nature of Abiuracion at Length they came to the Question whether it should be committed or not yeas 176 Noes 200 All the Regiments designed for Ireland are Countermanded except the Earl of Meaths on Tuesday Last the Oxford Waggon Was robbed by severall high way men who killed the Master because he made some resistance Dartmouth December 11^th: yesterday a ffrench privatier came to Anchor off the [start] who perceiving a vessell coming from the Eastward hoysted sayl and took her Letters yesterday ffrom Cowes say that 4 shipps are driven a shoar at stoaks Bay

{that allready they began to Carry on the policyes giving 50^li to receive 500^li when King Iames was reinstated on the Throne which in all Governments but this would be severely punished and therefore this was a time of Exigency That a person at a Late Sessions was obliged to take the oath and a stewards told the Iustices he was then as much a Iacobite as before this day the House of Commons read an Engrossed Bill from the Lords about Butter and Cheese}

In the Late storm and tis feared will be Lost Portsmouth 13^th Instant this day their Maiesties ship the Rupert came in here with a ffrench privatier of 16 guns and 100 men which he took off of Alderney and yesterday came in the Sussex Galley from Cruising having spent her Main Mast In the Late Storm - the ships designed for the streights and the West Indies are still at Spithead but will Sayl the first fair wind Last night Sir Robert Henry Master of the Kings Bench Office departed this life yesterday the Debates were Long and strenuous in the house of Commons upon the Bill for securing their Maiesties xi and even by those well Intencioned to the Government alledging that It was too sanguinary and would be a snare for many people and they ought to be very Carefull how they make words to be Treason for otherwise every honest man was at the Lash of a knave and servants if they did not Like their masters [v....e] Corrected by them they would presently swear Treasonable words against them - besides honest men might hear words and perhaps mistake them and then swear positively as he believes he heard them no Averment to the Contrary or the persons to say they did not hear such words spake in the Company would avail

{and It might be of ill Consequence in another Reigne - and as for Oaths they would not bind Ill men for it they took it as Dr Sherlock had deciphered an Oath upon the Landing of King: Iames they would Look upon themselves as no Longer obliged but take part with him as thinking him King de Iure - But it was obiected that the Disaffected party were allmost come to an Open boldness dispersing the Libells in every Corner which did Empoyson the people and were ready to ffly in the face of the Government}

upon Land and household goods be Included Resolved that a million be raised upon the proiect that any person may bring in a 100^li and have 7^li per Centum and that 70000^li upon the hereditary Excise be Appropriated for the purpetuall Interest & that the surveyivor shall Receive the Benefit of those that dye & if the full Summ be not brought in to.ta [heap] the same, which shall be paid next sitting of Parliament: = we hear that 16 high men robbed a Carrier at New Market Townsend Last Munday the Countrey people jumping upon them at the Same time [without] being able to attack them We haue received a fforreign Mayl since my last but the Gazett will furnish you with the most most materiall Occurrences

For Mr Gilbert Newdigate at Arbury, near Coventry 4 Coventry Bagg.

15 December. 92