Newdigate family collection of newsletters

L.c.2131

London January 26th 1692

Sir

yesterday the Conquering book and pastorall Letter were burnt the fformer In the new palace and the other in the old

Sir ffrancis Clinton took his Seat in the house of Lords as Earl of Lincoln but was ordered to withdraw till their Lordships had considered the Validity of his Title

on Tuesday night Admirall Killi -grew - Sir Ralph Delawall - and Sir Clousley Shovell were above 2 hours in Consult with the Commissioners of the Admi ralty upon the Operacion of the Maritime Affairs and Sir Ralph goes down to Chatham to Morrow to hasten the Navall prepa- -=racions and their Commission will pass the seals as Coniunct Admiralls this Week.

The condemned Malefactors suffer to Morrow but tis said Mrs Merry Weather has a reprieve for 10 daies.

Captain Saunders arrived yesterday from ffrance Commander of an English ship gave & gave The Earl of Nottingham an account of what he knew relating to the ffrench affairs he came directly from provence and saith 22 great men of warr were to sail from Thoulon the ffirst of ffebruary and the Fleet at Brest was in great forward -ness except the Want of Money - -and that he Cannot Learn any thing of a designed descent.

all the Lords except the Bishops and another peer came to the same Resolucion with the Commons Concerning the aforesaid book and letter - the Lords of the Treasury haue ordered all the officers of the Revenues to Lay before them their Accounts and especially those Concerned In the [?arth] Money.

Edenburgh 19th Instant the Earl of Melwin is arrived here and hath taken Lodgings near the parliament house from whence tis Coniectured that his Lordship would be Commissioner for the approaching Sessions of parliament. Severall members of which parlia ment are allready coming hither where Duke of Hamilton arrived yesterday and took his seat at the Councell Board being the ffirst time and the Lord Tueedall is made Lord Chancellor

Plymouth 22d Instant yesterday Collonell Lamott one of their Maiesties Enginiers took a view of the Royall Cittadell here as also st. Nicholas Ireland in order to the more regular ffortifying thereof and on Tuesday the Like will be done at pendennis Castle & St Mause

on Tuesday Last 10 highway men robbed Severall Lane men of a considera ble value on ffinchly Common

The same day 3 highway men attempted to robb some passengers in a Coach near Gadds hill but one of them being killed the rest Fledd

allready 100000^li is brought into the Exchequer upon Credit of the Act of 4^s upon the pound

yesterday the Lords of the Admiralty Sir Christopher Wren and the Kings physitians went to Greenwich to view the Late King Charles his house there in order to haue the same Converted into an Hospitall for sick & wounded Seamen & Souldiers

and resolved to go on the same to morrow = a great Number of the Mobility or Rabble appeared yesterday at the burning of the Conquering book and pastorall Letter and greater was the variety of their discourses they Crying out the Bishops Were Enlightened and the Church was on ffire and saints suffering Martyrdom

We heare from Barbadoes that an Englishe ship of 16 gunns Lately mett a ffrench Ship of 24 in those parts and after a sharp dispute boarded and took her killed 44 men in the Fight and Carryed her into Barbadoes

Forreign Letters since my Last say the ffrench king is not sick but on the Contrary is makeing great pre paracions for some Enterprize in fflanders which it's beliewed will be on Huy and CharleRoy that Monsieur Catinat is arrived at Cambray and will suddenly hawe an armey in piedmont of 35000 men -That 22 great ffrench men of warr are ready to saill from Thoulon to Ioin the rest of theffr ffrench ffleet - that a man of warr of Nessmonds squadron was Lately Cast away near Brest - that there is great hopes pf a peace with the Turkes -That Count Soames is made Livetenant Generall of the dutch Armey in place of prince Waldeck Lately deceased

Last night a dreadfull fire happened in a house Adiacent to the May pole in the Strand which consumed that and another one each side and burnt diverse persons 8 being missing but as yet only Three bodyes were ffound

The house of Lords yesterday read a second time the Earl of Devonshires Bill and Oath they Carrying it for Committing by 5 voices

The house of peers haue admitted the new Earl of Lincoln into the house - his Maiestie Came this morning and gaue the Royall Assent to the proiect Milliion Bill as also a Bill for the Kings Speciall Baill in the Countrey = The house of Commons haue been all this day reporting the Bill for Laying an Import on divers Commoditiues and agreed with the report of the Committee besides ordered a further Imposicion on other Merchandises

On Tuesday next will be published the life of the ffamous Count Teckly with one of all his Exploits of the ffamous Cou It is said great Altera cions will be made amongst the ministers of state before the king goes for Holland

To The honorable Sir Richard: Newdigate at Arbury 4 near Coventry

L.c.2132

London Ianuary 28th 92/3

Sir

Yesterday 9 of the Condemned Mallefactors were brought to Tyburn of whom 8 were hanged But Whitney was brought back on reprive Grounded on the great discovery he hath promised to Make of all the Highway men he is acquainted with The places of the reception Inns & haunts & accordingly was last night brought to Whitehall where he continued foure howers under Examination whereby tis hoped the trade of Padding will be in a short time Quashed

Mrs Merrywether Convicted of High treason doth alsoe endevour to Merit his Maiesties Gratious Pardon by Confessing her accomplices

The New Admiralls went down yesterday to Chatham to hasten the preperations of the ffleet Mr Ansdell is appointed to goe secretary to the Admiralls

Plimouth the 24 yesterday came in here his Maiesties ship the Debtford with the Portsmouth Galley from Kingsall & brought with them 2 ffrench Privateers they took in the way hither they have alsoe one and account from the [p.of] of Cornwall that [....] being at Plough and the Boy not driveing to [his kind]

the house of Commons were this Day severall howers Debateing the Bill for tryeniall Parliaments & at Length put the Question whether it should be read a 2d time & Carryed it in the affirmative -the House Read the Orphans Bill & defered the further Debate to this Dayes Night the turkey Merchants received Letters Last Post from Constantinople that the

threw a hatchet at him & cleft his scull which as soon as he perceived took arope and hanged him selfe at the next tree, which his Wife haveing notice off layd her Child on a table & Ran out hastily to save her husband but Came to Late & on her return found the Child dead on the floar haveing broak its neck with the ffall

Yarmouth 28 yesterday sailed hence 25 sail of ships all Laden with Corn for Holland under Convoy of the Warrington Captain Oak Commander

tis said Sir John Cutler has given 3000^li towards fitting up the [Kings] house at Greenwich for our Hospitale for sick & Wounded seamen

Yesterday a Gang of 10 Highwaymen Robbed severall persons between Highgate and Hampstend

fforreign Lettres say the ffrench King will command his forces in person next Campaign in fflanders & the Dauphin on the Rhine

The King: yesterday sent an Order to the Office of Ordnance with all appurtenances as they did Last year for fflanders whereby tis

which makes up Conclude his Maiestie will make a Descent upon France On thursday Night 7 Clippers were seized in the ffad in Kings Riders street & Committed to New Gate - this Day the Lords were Adiusting the preliminaries relateing to the Tryall of the Lord Mahone on tuesday, & have appointed 8 tickets to each Lord to Dispose amonst their ffriends - the scaffolds are built very Large that the Commons may have Roome

concluded the King: has some great Design upon the Enemy

Captain Whitney has [...] in the names of above 50 Highway Men that Robb on the Road at this time together with all the townes and houses they ffrequent And tels of 23 persons of Considerable Note in & about the town that have Robbed in Company with him & as Iam Informed hath tould the secretary somthing relateing to the Robbing of the Portsmouth Mail but as yeat I know not the particulers

I am tould that divers of the accomplices of M^rs Merrywether are fled since her being reprived

Holland one of the 7 Highway Men Executed yesterday appeared verry Peninitent praying above an hower under the Gallows & the rest seemed to have Great remorse upon them

One of Mathewes who had his Chip taken from him in October near Cape Gap is arived from ffrance haveing been with the secretary of state & Confirms all that Captain Sanders Declared two Daies agoe to the Earl: of Nottingam

yesterday the house of Commons

went thro'ugh the heads of the Merchandize and ordered a Bill upon it and [legicon] to raise only 220000^li thereon & goe on further waies and Meanes on Wednesday Next The Earl: of Lincolne being Introduced into the house was yesterday tendered the Oathes which his Lordship took. the house of peers this Day heard only a Private Case - The King: has ordered all the Well Boates to be got ready

Populare understanding that the ffrench: Embassendor is endevouring to Obstruct the Peace begun to be verry Mutinous haveing in one of the Commotions Killed 2 [..aes] & threten all the Ministers of state with the Like ffate if they Give the Grand senior such perailious Councill

28 Ianuary. 92/3

To The honorable Sir Richard: Newdigate Baronet at Arbury 7 near Coventry

L.c.2133

London Ianuary: 31 (92/3)

Sir//

Yesterday one Chalton a Highwan beleived to be one of those who Lately attacqued mr Lamb Goldsmyth Near acton was seized in Channell Row Westminster & Committed to Newgate Another Highway Man being pursued at [Mim Nash] & Quitted his [lu..se] being tyred was alsoe levied & Committed to the same place

Captain Whitney haveing Given Informacion of his Knowledg of a Design to Assasinate the person of his Maiestie and the Lord Cheife Iustice Granted him his reprive but upon Examinacion he not makeing the matter appear [atturviant] is signed for his Execution to morrow tis said near the May Pole in the strand

Plimouth 27 On 25 came in here the Rupert Devon and York ffriggats the two Later haveing brought with them two ffrench privateers one of 16 the other of 24 Guns as alsoe 2 Retaken Ketches -

Weymouth 28 On the 26 the St Gugo a Porteguees ship of 150 tuns Laden with sugger friut &c was staved in peices on Portland Beich & the Longboat oversetting all her men were drowned except 4

Portsmouth 29 Yesterday the Lucas Galley

this Morning Commenced the tryall of the Lord Mahone for Killing Mr Munford the Court being sate the Attorney Gennerall opened the Indictment & Nature of the Offence & then proceeded to call Witnesses but none that did Affect his Lordship as the the actual Ayding or Abetting therein that he and Captain Hill chainged clothes before the ffact & waited for him with their swords drawn

came to Spithead and brought with her affrench Prize of 200 tuns Laden with salt & the Day before came up with a Large ffrench ship off Cape Lahogue which she fought 3 houres & at Last drove her on shoar & being Well Manned the Galley Left her Lying on the Carreen This Day the Weymouth Sloop brought in a ffrench ship of 80 Tuns Laden with salt Iust now came into Spithead 14 English Privateers who brought with them 2 Large ffly boates supposed to be prize

Falmouth 26 the Expedicion pacquet boat is driven back by Contrary Winds On the 24 Cold Lemott his Maiesties Engineer arived Pendemin Castle and finding it much Decayed gave order for the speedy repaireing of it & tis said aWett dock will be made here for shipping

Letters from Plimouth further advise that a Merchant Man of that town is Committed to Exiter Geole for Chipping And Letters from Weymouth further advise that on the 28 affrench Privateer came into that Road under Dutch Coullers and carryed off an English vessell

Yesterday their Maiesties came to the Chappell Royall at Whitehall where the Bishop of Bangor Preached before them on the 10 of Hosea & the 3d Verse

the [tear] had not ensued he had pulled the Pope out of his Chaire 4ly that the ffrench King had noe God but his Interest he forceth his subiects to sacrafice Life Estate & Conscience & tis Impossible to bind him by treaty that breaks thro'ugh all obligations Divine & humane Lastly that of the ffrench King: would restore the Duke: of Lorreign & all that he has taken since the Peace of Munster Re nounce his allyance with the turk bannish King: Iames and his Queen & disavow the Interests ther not till then they may think of makeing Lasting Peace with his Most Xtian Maiestie

A brick Layer being Jmprest for sea & Carryed to the Tower the Lord Chief Justice granted ahabeus Corpus Directed to Captain Cook who had him in Custody but Instead of obeying it spake reproachfully of the Lord Chief Justice upon which a Spetiall Warrant is gon out from his Lordship with a tipstaff Directed to the Sherriffs to raise the Posse against the said Captain if there shall be occation soe it will soon be known whether the Civell or Millitary Power will have the Greater Efficacy

Its advised from Rome that the Pope in severall Audiences has signifyd to the Ministers of the Confederates his desire of aPeace offering these following reasons ffirst that if the Allies were united by makeing a peace with ffrance they might Chace the Turk out of Europe. 2^dly that the whole Confederacy hath not Gained one single point against ffrance by Reason they are seperateing in the Interests & slow in executeing their designes when as ffrance: being absollute [???] resollucions are performed almost as soon as determined 3dly the ffrench: King: is making [????] prodigeous Efforts that he will be able to take one town after another as he did last year [???] Conquering Namur in sight of the Confederates which Consideracion might obleige Spain & Savoy noe Longer to Contend but accept of Peace his Most Xtian Maiestie promiseing to put a blank paper into his hands that they may subscribe such resonable

Condicions as they please Lastly that the Recusant Catholiques may reflect on the danger that Religion will be exposed to in case the Allies should reduce ffrance: to the ffoot they pretend But they Answered the Pope as followes 1st that the ffrench: King: designes to seize the dominions of Spain to secure the succession to the Dauphin - 2dly that the Pope may Consider that the ffrench: King makes an allyance with the turks & supplies them with Men monney & Amunicion 3dly his holiness cannot fforget how the ffrench: King insulted over his preiudice Causeing his Embassendor to enter Rome in aHostile manner & if