ON Friday night last, (being Christmas Eve) a French man passed through the Watch, and being examined as the manner is, who went there; he answer­ed something chubbedly: but being prest upon the matter where he had been, he said at Summerset-House. And being asked what he did there so late, he answered, that he had been at Masse: then being as ked what he did at Masse so late, he said because it was Christmas Eve; to celebrate the Eve of Christmas, which he said, was a work of the night.

Then they demanded of him, if he had not been about some Popish plot against us; And he made answer peremptorily, That he had been about such a plot as they should hear further on before the Twelve dayes were expired. This man was heard to speak thus by Alderman Towes, and others that [Page 2]were then present; and was therefore committed to the Counter: and the next day being brought before the Lord Major, he was examined, and put in Bail to the Lord Major: upon which he was re­leased, till he be called for again to be further ex­amined.

There were also two Frenchmen coming to London by water, who did discourse in French, now the water-man did undestand French, but took no notice of what they discoursed, but carried himself as if he did not understand any thing at all. Thus he rowed them along: and when he had landed his Fair, and taken his money, he tyed his boat to the staires, and went after them, and caused them to be apprehended, and carried before a Justice: so they went before Sir John Lenton: To whom the water-man did testifie, that they did talk to this effect, that the Catholicks did intend to make Munday and Tuesday to be the bloodiest dayes and nights in the City of London, that ever was in this place; upon this he should have been commit­ted, but he sent for Bail. And so upon securitie for his forth coming, was discharged till be be againe called for.

There was also a letter sent from a Gentleman in France to a Citizen (a friend of his in London) to this effect: That he would desire him to make what speed he could out of England, and especially out of London, as he tendred his life: for he was ve­rily perswaded by the rumours he heard in France, that before Twelft day, there would be bloody designes wrought in this kingdome of England by [Page 3]the Papists, and especially in the City of London, which place the Papists maligne most.

Now the City hath been the more distracted since the placing of Colonell Lunsford to be the Lieutenant of the Tower, which the City did con­ceive to be of dangerous consequence; and that in these and divers other respects.

• 1. Because he is held to be a Papist.
• 2. He hath been Colonell under the King of France.
• 3. He is so desperate a man, that to picke out one to run ine the mouth of a Cannon, or to perform some desperate designe, h [...] is held to be the onely man in the whole kingdome.
• 4. The Ordnance are placed against the City upon the Tower, and want nothing but onely mounting, which with help may be done in two or three houres; and on a sudden (for ought we know) batter down our houses over our heads ere we be aware.
• 5. He hath been a shedder of blood in this Land.
• 6. When the Lord Major that now is, was Shoriffe of Lon­don, he was his prisoner then in Newgate: besides other prisons that he hath been in.
• 7. He is so deboyst a man, that he is generally reported to be as lascivious even as Sir Iohn Suckling, or, &c.

Vpon the great and just complaint against him, it pleased his gracious Majestie to put him out again, and to put in one Sir Johnn Biroon, whom we hope is better affected▪

ON Munday being Saint Johns day, there was a great uprore at Westminster, caused by the aforesaid Lunsford.

About noon the said Munday, the Archbishop of Yorke, the late Bishop of Lincolne, passing to the Parliament House, by many Apprentices of London; some of those Apprentices expressed [Page 4]themselves, that their desires was to have Bishops removed, no Bishops. At which the Archbishop was very, angry; and turning to wards them, seemed as if he would have struck some of them. But they were not any thing daunted with him, but stood to the matter, yet offering him no abuse, onely cry­ing, No Bishops.

Then turned a Gentleman like man and drew his sword, as if he would fall upon them, or to defend the Bishop, lest they should have fallen upon him. The mean while the Prelate gat away. Now whilst this Spark was vapouring with his blade, an honest man, fearing some mutiny might ensue herefrom, laid hands upon him, and with some other aid, he was orderly carried before the House of Commons.

About two or three houres after came Colonell Lunsford, and with him about 30. men more all with Swords and Rapiers, who came in through the great Gate at Westminster Hall; and taking great notice of the Citizens Apprentices, and Say­lers, that were there passed by them quite through to the further doore, and some meanes being used for the shutting of the further doore, returned back again, as if they would have gone forth. But ha­ving passed all the people, they turned back on a sudden, and all drew their swords and Rapiers, and fell upon the people with great violence. The peo­ple being for the most part unweaponed, fled be­fore them, and when they came to the further gate it was shut; and so they could not passe out that way, but were forced some to run into one Court, some into another: others came up staires into the [Page 5]Court of Request, where was Sir Richard Wiseman, who seeing this sudden mutiny, and perceiving how it went, spake most bravely to animate them to return with such weapons as they had. I will (quoth Sir Richard) spend my dearest and best blood in defence of the House of Commons, come (quoth he) fall on; There were Saylers that had good Trunchions in their hands, and Sir Richard with his Sword fell upon them as well as he could. But Sir Richard Wiseman was sore put to it, for hee did not onely hold play with two of them, but a­gaine the third also did run full at him with his Rapier: (but God prevented them) and Sir Richard with his sword strake at the others Rapier, and did make it flie in two peeces.

One of the Sailers was foyled with 4. or 5. of them at once having no other weapon, save only a trun­chion wherwith he quit himsel very stoutly aginst them all.

And (such was the Providence of Almighty God) by this time, those Citizens and Apprentises (ha­ving no weapons about them, had brough downe Brick-battes in the lappes of there clokes, which they had pulled up in the Court of Requests, and with there thowing of the said Brick-bates, did (immediatly) cause Lunsford, and his Company to Retreate, and forced them to flie: But some of them were raken and carried before the House:

Lunsford himself was sain to wade above the deep­nesse of his bootes to take bore and so made an e­scape by water.

Hereupon the City was again distracted, the Train. band [Page 6]and Watch and Ward was raised, the Gates of the City were shut up and every man bestird him self, for his our defence.

There were some 8. or 9. Citizens caried unto the Garchouse by an Officer in Westmilster, but he did foone (again) release them.

On Tuesday being Childermas Day there was some Apprentises in the Abbey at. Westmin­ster, upon whome certaine in the Abbey with some of the Bishop of Yorke, (late Bishop of Lin­coln) his Scollers or Attendants or some appoynted (as it seemes) for that designe.

About 5. of the clock at night they were shut into the Abbey as Prisoners: And what they have done with them, God knowes.

Sir Richard Wiseman and M. Lilhorn and some others hearing of it, went to inquire after them and when they came to the Abbey: Those within the Abbey shot at them, and some of them also came forth with naked swordes and after a cruell and a most Bucherly manner fell upon them, and haue wounded Sir Richard and M. Lilborne and divers others: and what the event will be, God knowes.