L.c.2156: Newsletter received by Richard Newdigate, Arbury, 1693 March 25

L.c.2156

London March 25th - 93

Sir//

Edenburgh the 18th the Councill have Remitted some of the apprentices that were in the Late Ryott to the Lords of the Institiary to be tryed The Magistrates this Day were Considering the manner to build the Guard house which is to be 2 stories higher with a Plattform on the top & 6 small Cannon there on with aWall about aBrest High soe that the souldiers may in case of any Tumult ffire upon the Rabble And all the Windowes are to be strongly ffortifyed with Iron Grates. Here is aflying report that 9 of the transport shipps that Lately went from Leith with the Recruites for fflanders are taken by the ffrench but there being noe Visible Ground for the same Its supposed to be Invented by the Iacobites

Plimouth the 21th there remaines still in this Port their Maiesties Shipps the Deptford and Iames Galley with two Dutch Men of War with the Bilboa ffleet as alsoe severall Merchants shipps bound for Mallaga Allicant &c

Portsmouth the 23d Yesterday came in here aPortugees Shipp and this Day arived another whereby wee are Informed that athird was taken by a ffrench Privateer

his Maiestie is Landed in Holland or fflanders & then will reside at Whitehall Count Soliuds is Continued Gennerall of the English fforces in fflanders The Lord Lansdown has Given up his Commission of Lord Livetenant - Yesterday the Princes ..... of Denmark Miscarryed of aDaughter The New Lord Keeper made Great Interest to be Excused alledging that

Some Day Next week Secretary Iohnson sets forward for Scotland with aCommission Constituteing Duke: Hamelton High Comissionor dureing the Parliment which is to sitt the 18 of aprill and to Continue 40 Daies And tis said his highness has in Commission to Demand monney of that Kingdom towards Carying on the War against ffrance

On Thursday Night it was ordered in Councill that Maior Gennerall ......... be made Governor of the Isle of Weight & that the Lord Catts ^be Governor of Portsmouth & tis still said the Duke: of Lenister will command the fforces here

On Thursday Night his Maiestie Ordered the Lievtenant of the Ordnance to get ready 3 traines of Artillery viz one at Plimouth- another at Hull & a3d at Berwick

ffive Regiments to be Employed in the Discent upon ffrance are ordered to be transported with all speed from Ireland hither viz Briggadeer Stewards. Collonel Rowses & Collonel Hamelton with 2 others and Iam assured that the King- will return from fflanders about 6 Weekes hence to head the Discent which will be made some time in Iune Next

The Lord Cheife Barron Atkins Speaker of the house of Lords has Layd Down

Sir Scroop How is made Comptroler of the Excise Office

and Collonel Churchill as Maior Genneralls and the Lord Cutts Sir Thomas. Levison Collonel Lumley and Sir David Collier Briggadeer Genneralls to Command the Discent fforces Tis Gennerally said the King has ordered the Creation of 4 Dukes viz the Marques of Camarthen Earles of Bedford Devonshire and Clare which ... tis beleived will be Don when the Queen enters upon the Goverment which will be as soon as she heares

The Commissioners for transportacion being Ordered to take up severall thousand Tunns of shipping [Mord] haue this week taken up 120 Colliers for their Maiesties Service & the Masters are ordered to Clear them with all Speed

My Last Left the Councill Sitting late at Kensinton where Sir Iohn Summers was Called in and Sworn thereof and took his place as Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England and had the Mace [Purgh] & Seal delivered to him being the Ensigns of that high Office Sir Iohn Grenehard was alsoe Called in & sworn of the Councill & had the seales of the Secretarys Office [d..] to him Since which these 2 Great & worthy Gentleman have been Complemented by most of the Nobillity & Gentry His Maiestie was pleased when he Declared Sir Iohn Summers Lord Keeper to promise him 4000^li Per annum when Displaced

Sir Iohn Treundham Chosen with Bridgmanan & Mr Prodtrey his under secretaries-

Sir Thomas: Trevor Solliscitor Gennerall is made Attorney Gennerall & Mr Ward of the Exchequer Solliscitor Gennerall.

Sir William Woogan one of the Serients at Law is appointed Chiefe Iustice of Chester in Roome of Sir Iohn Trenchard

There is noe Tresurer nor Master of the Ordnance as was Expected would be Declared last wek

Yesterday Morning about [9] a Clock his Maiestie accompanyed by the Queen & attended by aGreat many of the Nobillity set forward for Harwich in order to his Embarquement for Holland her Maiestie went 2 stages Dined with and parted from the King at Wickham and returned in the Eavening His Maiestie was pleased before his Departure to Nominate the Lord Colechester Collonel Levison Collonel Rumsey

that Great Office would Incapascitate him for Repleading at the Bar upon which the King Granted him aPattent for the Estate afore Mentioned Wee want 6 fforeign Mails

25 March. 1693.

To the honorable Sir Richard: Newdigate Baronet at Arbury near Coventry 2