Earl's Lady, his Son the Lord Harley, and fome other of the Earl's Relations and Servants, Although these three Coaches went from his Lordship's Houfe near St. James's Palace, up St. James's-Street, and then through Piccadilly, Gerrard Street, Monmouth Street, Holbourn, and other lefs frequented Streets, with Design as 'twas thought to avoid a Crowd, yet were they attended by a great many of the common People, whofe Numbers being much increa fed in their Return from the Tower, they raised an Uprore in the Streets, with their Cry of High-Church, Ormond, and Oxford for ever; and when they came to St. Martin's-Lane, Westminster, fome of them grew fo outrageous as to throw Stones at, and break the Windows of feveral Houfes: Upon which three or four of the Mutineers were by the Conftables and Beadles carried to the Round-Houfe.

On the 15th of July, the Commons in a Committee of the whole House, went through the Bill for preventing Tumults, &c. and the next Day Mr. Attorney-General having reported the Amendments they had made to the fame, the first of them was agreed to; but the further Confideration of the faid Amendments was adjourn'd. After this, the House being inform'd of great Disorders in the County of Stafford, by feveral evil-difpos'd Perfons going from Place to Place in a tumultuous and riotous Manner, and that they had affaulted and wounded feveral of his Majefty's good Subjects without any Provocation; and that one Mr. Bayley was able to give the Houfe an Account thereof, and that he was at the Door, he was order'd to be called in. Mr. Bayley being call'd in accordingly, gave the Houfe an Account of what had happen'd in that County, as follows, viz.

HAT there are three Presbyterian Meeting Houfes, which are not very reproty each other use 6 at Dudley, Weft-Bromwitch and Oldbury. That the Pro، prietors of them, obferving that feveral Meeting-Houfes in that County had been pull'd down by the Mob, they advis'd with Lawyers about the Lawfulness of defending themselves, and then took a Refolution of doing it, and to affilt each other. They procured a Warrant from Sir Henry Gough to the Conftable of West Bromwitch, tơ keep fuch fufficient Watch and Ward as might be able to difperfe tumultuous Rioters. On Tuesday last, the Mob came to Bromwitch, but the brave Men who were fet to guard the Meeting-Houfe beat them off, and with

Hand

Hand-Whips and Cudgels made feveral of them smart, fo that on their Knees they ask'd pardon, pray'd for King George, and promis'd not to offend any more; but like true Facobites broke their Promife, and came next Day in greater Numbers, and with more defperate Weapons; fuch as Scythes, Reaping-Hooks fet in proper Handles about two Yards long; large Clubs, and fome Fire Arms: But as foon they came up to the Guard, their Courage fail'd them, they flung down their Arms, and fled, many of which were pick'd up by Women who came out of their Houfes to that purpose. It was thought proper to take fome of them Prifoners; accordingly they pursued them, and took 36, and placed them in a publick Inn, with a strong Guard upon them, in order to take them before a Juftice of Peace next Day: But that Night about 12 a-Clo k there came a Mob from Birmingham of about a Hundred, intending to release them. They fired upon the Guard without Doors, and at the fame Time attack'd the Houfe and broke it; but the Guard beat them off, and took feveral Prifoners, which were the next Day, with the reft, had before Sir Henry Gough and his Son, who committed Part of them to Stafford-Goal, and bound over others to the Affizes. The fame Day, which was Thursday laft, the Mob came again, and now they came on with more than their ufual Courage, which caus'd the advanc'd Guard to draw back nearer their main Body. The Rebels ftill came on with Fury, and as foon as they came within reach, fired upon the Guard, who then called up their Men, who had Fire-Arms, to their Affiftance, who came, and quickly difpers'd them; a Gentleman had his Horfe fhot dead under him, and another mortally wounded: Some of the Guards are very much wounded, but it's hoped not mortally. They took feveral Prifoners, amongst which are the two Captains, one of which is faid to be the publick Cryer of Wolverhampton. Some of thofe taken appear to be known Roman Catholicks. Whilft the Prifoners were under Examination, being ask'd who encourag'd them on to this Work? Two of them had the Confidence to fay, they were told that two Gentlemen of Note, viz. Mr. Vernon, and Mr. Lane, would give 60 Guineas a piece to encourage the Mob: It is likewife reported in the Country, that the Mob boafted the latter of thefe Gentlemen was to head them.

When

When the Mob pull'd down the Meeting-House at Wolverhampton, one of their Leaders getting on the Top of the fame, flourish'd his Hat round his Head, and • cry'd, G— d-—- K. Gge, and the D. of Marlborough. A Fellow at the fame Place, standing by as an idle Spectator, was charg'd by the Rioters with being a Spy; and to attone for his fuppofed Offence, they made him go down on his Knees, and cry God blefs K. James the Third'

Mr. Bayley being withdrawn, Mr. Bracebridge, a Member of the Houfe for Tamworth in Staffordshire, acquainted them of a Letter wrote from that Country, relating to thofe Difturbrnces, which he read in his Place; and the faid Letter having been order'd to be brought up to the Table, and read, it was refolv'd Nemine contradicente, that an humble Addrefs be presented to his Majesty, that he will be gracioufly pleas'd to give Directions to the feveral Magiftrates throughout the Kingdom, that the Laws be put in a speedy, and the moft vigorous Execution, against all fuch Perfons who fhall be found any way concerned in the late rebellious and tumultuous 'Riots and Disorders committed, and now carrying on, ' in several Parts of this Kingdom, by Persons difaffected to his Majefty and his Government; and that a ftrict Enquiry be made, who are the Promoters and Authors of the faid Tumults and Riots; and that an Account be taken of fuch Juftices of the Peace as have failed in the Discharge of their Duty on thefe Occafions; and that fuch Juftices, who fhall appear to his Majefty to have neglected their Duty, be forthwith put out of the Commiffions of the Peace; and that fuch other Magiftrates who shall appear likewife to have neglected their Duty therein, may be proceeded against with the utmoft Rigour of the Law; and that his Majefty will likewife be pleafed to direct, that an exact Account may be taken of the Loffes and Damages which his Majesty's Subjects have fultained, by reafon of these tumultuous and rebellious Proceed ings; and that the Sufferers may have full Compenfation made them for their Damages; and to affure his ་ Majefty, that all fuch Expences as his Majefty fhall be at on that Account, fhall be made good to his Majefty • out of the next Aids that fhall be afterwards granted by Parliament; and alfo that the Laws againft Papifts and • Nonjurors may be effectually put in Execution.'

Then the Commons refumed the Confideration of the Amendments made to the Bill for preventing Tumults, &c. which,

which, with other Amendments made to them, were agreed to, and the Bill order'd to be engrofs'd.

On Monday the 18th of July, the faid Bill was read the third Time, (and after several Amendments were made to it) pafs'd, and fent up to the Lords. And Mr. Lechmere, Sollicitor General, from the Committee appointed to draw up an Address to his Majefty, having reported the fame it was agreed unto by the Houfe, Nemine Contradicente, being as follows:

Moft gracious Sovereign,

WE

E your Majefty's moft dutiful and loyal Subjects, the Commons in Parliament affembled, being highly concern'd at the continu'd Endeavours of the Enemies of your Perfon and Government, to disturb the Tranquillity and Happiness of your Kingdoms, and to deprive your People of the great Bleflings they enjoy under your aufpicious Reign: And it having appear'd to us, that, by the Encouragement, and the falfe and traiterous Infi nuations of Perfons difaffected to your Title and Government, great Numbers of your poor deluded Subjects have been prevail'd upon, in many Parts of the Kingdom, to affemble together, and in a tumultuous and rebellions Manner, to commit great Disorders, and do great Injuries to others of their Fellow-Subjects and Fellow-Proteftants, we think it our indifpenfable Duty on this Occafion, to exprefs our utmoft Abhorrence of all fuch traiterous Proceedings, and our higheft Refentment against the Authors and Promoters of them; and to renew to your Majefty the hearty and vigorous Refolutions of your faithful Commons, to fupport your Majesty and your Government against all your open and fecret Enemies; and to contribute the utmoft in our Power to the Honour and Safety of your facred Perfon, and the Quiet and Security of your

Government.

And to that End, we crave Leave most humbly to befeech your Majefty, that you will be graciously pleas'd to give Directions to the feveral Magiftrates throughout your Kingdom, that the Laws now in Force may be put in a fpeedy, and in the most vigorous Execution, against all fuch Perfons as fhall be found any Way concern'd in the rebellious and tumultuous Riots and Disorders which have been committed, and are now carrying on, by Perfons difaffected to your Majefty and your Government; and that a ftrict Enquiry may be made to discover the Authors

and Promoters of them, fo as they may be brought to condign Punishment.

And it being apparent, that the Neglect or Misbehaviour of many Juftices of Peace, and other Magiftrates, hath given great Encouragement to the faid Disorders, we crave Leave, in all Humility, to befeech your Majefty, that an Account may be taken of fuch Juftices of the Peace as have fail'd in the Discharge of their Duty on thefe Occafions; and that fuch of them as fhall appear to your Majesty to have neglected their Duty, may be forthwith put out of the Commiffions of the Peace; and that fuch other Magiftrates as fhall likewife appear to your Majefty to have neglected their Duty therein, may be proceeded against with the utmoft Rigour of the Law.

And as your loyal Commons are fully affur'd, that by the Wisdom and Steadiness of your Adminiftration, the Scepter in your Royal Hand will foon become a Terror to all thofe, who, by open or fecret Practices, shall any Way abet the Enemies of your Perfon or Government; fo from our most dutiful Regard to your Majefty, and in Juftice to those of your Subjects, who, for their Zeal and firm Adherence to your Majefty and your Government, have been Sufferers in the faid tumultuous and traitérous Disorders; we do most humbly befeech your Majesty, that you will be moft graciously pleas'd to give Directions, that an exact Account be taken of the Loffes and Damages which any of your Subjects have fuftain'd, by Reason of the faid tumultuous and rebellious Proceedings, and that the Sufferers may have full Compenfation made them for their Damages; your faithful Commons moft humbly affuring your Majefty, that all Expences which shall be incurr'd on that Account, fhall be made good to your Majefty, out of the next Aids that shall be afterwards granted by Parliament.

And for the Security of your facred Perfon, and the quieting the Minds of your faithful Subjects, we do further most humbly advise your Majefty, that you will be graciously pleas'd to give Orders, that the Magiftrates throughout the Kingdom, in their feveral Stations, do fpeedily and effectually put the Laws in Execution against Papists and Nonjurors.

This Addrefs having the next Day (July 19) been prefented to the King by the whole Houfe, his Majefty was pleas'd to return the following moft gracious Answer:

Gentlemen,