Bill

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Second Reading

About Thomas Wriothesley (4th Earl of Southampton, Lord Treasurer 1660-7)

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He was a man [The Earl of Southampton] of great vertue, and of very good parts. He had a lively apprehension, and a good judgment. He had merited much by his constant adhering to the King's interest during the war, and by the large supplies he had sent him every year during his exile, for he had a great estate, and only three daughters to inherit it. He was Lord Treasurer: But he grew soon weary of business; for as he was subject to the stone, which returned often and violently upon him, so he retained the principles of liberty, and did not go into the violent measures of the Court. When he saw the King's temper, and his way of managing, or rather of spoiling business, he grew very uneasy, and kept himself more out of the way than was consistent with that high post. The King stood in some awe of him; and saw how popular he would grow, if put out of his service: And therefore he chose rather to bear with his ill humour and contradiction, than to dismiss him. He left the business of the treasury wholly in the hands of his secretary, Sir Philip Warwick, who was an honest, but a weak man, understood the common road of the treasury, he was an incorrupt man, and during seven years management of the treasury made but an ordinary fortune out of it. Before the Restoration the Lord Treasurer had but a small salary, with an allowance for a table; but he gave, or rather sold, all the subaltern places, and made great profits out of the estate of the Crown: But now, that estate being gone, and the Earl of Southampton disdaining to sell places, the matter was settled so, that the Lord Treasurer was to have 8000 l. a year, and the King was to name all the subaltern officers. It continued to be so all his time: But since that time the Lord Treasurer has both the 8000 l. and a main hand in the disposing of those places.
---History of His Own Time. G. Burnet, 1724

About Sir Richard Willis

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There happen'd at this time the discovery of a vile Treachery which had done the King's Affairs much harm; and had it been longer concealed, would have done much more. From the death of Oliver, some of those who were in the secretest part of his Affairs, discern'd evidently, that their new Protector would never be able to bear the burthen and so thought how they might do such service to the King, as might merit from him. One who had a part in the Office of Secrecy, Mr. Moreland, sent an Express to the King, to inform him of many particulars of Moment, and to give him some advices, what his Majesty was to do; which was reasonable and prudent to be done. He sent him word what Persons might be induced to serve him, and what way he was to take to induce them to it, and what other Persons would never do it, what professions soever they might make. He made offer of his Service to his Majesty, and constantly to advertise him of whatsoever was necessary for him to know; and, as an instance of his fidelity, and his usefulness, he advertised the King of a Person who was much trusted by his Majesty, and constantly betrayed him; "that he had receiv'd a large Pension from Cromwell, and that he continually gave Thurlow Intelligence of all that he knew..."
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The Gentleman accused, was Sr Richard Willis; who had from the beginning to the end of the War, except at Newark, given testimony of his Duty and Allegiance, and was universally thought to be superior to all temptations of infidelity. He was a Gentleman, and was very well bred, and of very good parts, a courage eminently known, and a very good Officer, and in truth of so general a good reputation, that, if the King had professed to have any doubt of his honesty, his Friends would have thought he had receiv'd ill infusions without any ground; and he had given a very late testimony of his sincerity by concealing the Marquis of Ormond, who had Communicated more with him, than with any Man in England, during his being there. On the other side, all the other informations, and advices, that were sent by the Person who accused him, were very important, and could have no end but his Majesty's Service; and the Offices that Gentleman offer'd to perform for the future, were of that consequence, that they could not be overvalued. This Intelligence could not be sent with a hope of getting Money; for the present condition of him who sent it, was so good, that he expected no reward, till the King should be enabled to give it; and he who was sent in the Errand, was likewise a Gentleman, who did not look for the Charges of his Journey.
---The History of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England, v.3 part 2. Edward Hyde Earl of Clarendon, 1707.

About Jacob Obdam

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When the Dutch war began, in 1664, the earl of Sandwich went heartily into the measure, as conceiving it for the honour and interest of England; and when the duke of York took upon him the command of the fleet as high admiral, his lordship commanded the Blue squadron, and by his industry and care, abundance of the enemy's ships were taken, and the best part of their Bourdeaux fleet. In the great battle, fought on the 3d of June, 1665, wherein the Dutch lost their admiral Opdam, and had eighteen men of war taken, and fourteen deftroyed, a large share of the honour of the victory was justly given to the conduct of the earl of Sandwich; who, about noon, fell, with the Blue squadron, into the center of the enemy's fleet; and thereby began that confusion which ended, soon after, in a plain flight.
---Lives of the Admirals and Other Eminent British Seamen. John Campbell, 1750.

It was the Battle of Lowenstoft, http://www.pepysdiary.com/encyclo…

O whither, whither, Opdam, dost thou flie?
Can this rash Valor please the pow'rs on high:
It can't, it won't -- or woud'st thou proudly die
By such a mighty Hand? no Opdam, no:
Thy Fate's to perish b'yet a nobler Foe.
Heav'n only, Opdam shall thy Conqu'ror be,
A Labor worth its while, to conquer thee.
Heav'n shall be there, to guard its best lov'd House,
And just Revenge inflict on all your broken Vows.
---Abraham Cowley, 1708

About Wednesday 16 May 1660

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The once and future opponent. Opdam will once again meet "my Lord" at the battle of Lowestoft in June 1665.

About Tuesday 15 May 1660

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I don't understand the disdain of Morland. He was a secretary to Thurlow (Cromwell's spymaster) and he spied on Thurlow himself for Charles. Charles knighted him at Breda. Isn't this a good thing (for the King)? Maybe all spys are knaves.

About Sir Samuel Morland

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At last, when the plot was laid among the Cavaliers for a general insurrection, the King was desired to come over to that which was to be raised in Sussex: He was to have landed near Chichester, all by Willis's management: And a snare was laid for him, in which he would probably have been caught, if Morland, Thurlo's under secretary, who was a prying man, had not discovered the correspondence between his Master and Willis, and warned the King of his danger. Yet it was not easy to persuade those who had trusted Willis so much, and who thought him faithful in all respects, to believe that he could be guilty of so black a treachery: So Morland's advertisement was look'd on as an artifice to create jealousy. But he to give a full conviction observed where the secretary laid some letters of advice, on which he saw he relied most, and getting the key of that cabinet in his hand to seal a letter with a seal that hung to it, he took the impression of it in wax, and got a key to be made from it, by which he opened the cabinet, and sent over some of the most important of those letters. The hand was known, and this artful but black treachery was discovered: So the design of the rising was laid aside. Sir George Booth having engaged at the same time to raise a body in Cheshire, two several messengers were sent to him to let him know the design could not be executed at the time appointed: But both these persons were inspected by some garrisons thro' which they must pass, as giving no good account of themselves in a time of jealousy, and were so long stopt, that they could not give him notice in time: So he very gallantly performed his part: But not being seconded he was soon crushed by Lambert.
---History of His Own Time, v.1. G.Burnet, 1724.

About Cuddy

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Cuddy, in a first Rate Man of War, is a Place lying between the Captain and Lieutenant's Cabbin, under the Poop, and divided into Partitions for the Master and Secretary's Officers.
---Glossographia Anglicana nova. 1707.

About Patches, Black

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This was just as if a Building should be nothing but Ornament, or Cloaths nothing but Trimming; as if a Face should be covered over with black Patches, or a Gown with Spangles, which is all I shall say of it.
---Miscellanea. G. Temple, 1697.

About John Okey

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"changing his apron in those desperate times for a buff-coat"

I've been thinking about that patronizing description of John Okey and I've decided that Our Sam's Diary is turning me into a "commonwealths-man"! I'm sorry it didn't turn out better...

About John Okey

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Col. Okey was also a citizen of London, and one of those who appeared early in the service of the parliament. He had been first a Captain of foot, then a Captain of horse, and afterwards Major in the regiment of Sir Arthur Haslerig. In the year 1645, at the time when the army was new modelled, he was made Colonel of a regiment of dragoons, which was afterwards converted into a regiment of horse. In these employments he distinguished himself by his courage, conduct, and fidelity; and, during the usurpation of Oliver Cromwel, was dismissed from his command in the army, on account of his affection to the commonwealth. He was chosen by the county of Bedford to represent and serve them in the convention that was called by Richard; and, after the restitution of the great parliament, they restored him to his command in the army. Being ready to suffer for that cause which he had strenuously defended, he said in the presence of many witnesses, that if he had as many lives as he had hairs on his head, he would willingly hazard them all on the same account. The sentence against these three Gentlemen having been executed on the 19th of April 1662, the King bestowed the body of Col. Okey upon his wife, to dispose as she thought fit. Upon which she ordered him to be interred at Stepney, where his first wife lay in a vault that he had purchased for himself and family. But the report of this funeral being spread among the people, several thousands of them assembled themselves in and about Newgate market, where the body lay, resolving to attend it to the grave. And though they behaved themselves with decency and modesty; yet the King, upon notice of this appearance, was so alarmed, that he revoked his grant to the Colonel's wife, dispatched orders to the Sheriff to disperse the company, and commanded the body to be interred in the Tower.
---Memoirs of Edmund Ludlow, Esq., 1751

About John Barkstead

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Col. John Barkstead was a citizen and goldsmith of London, who, being sensible of the invasions that had been made upon the liberties of the nation, took arms among the first for their defence, in the quality of Captain to a foot-company in the regiment of Col. Venn. He had not been long in this employment, before his merit advanced him to the degree of a Major; in which station he was made Governor of Reading: and afterwards being preferred to the command of a regiment, he was constituted by the parliament, in consideration of his services, Lieutenant of the Tower of London. When he was brought to confirm with the testimony of his blood that cause for which he had fought, he performed that part with chearfulness and courage, no way derogating from the character of a soldier and a true Englishman.
---Memoirs of Edmund Ludlow, Esq., 1751

About Miles Corbet

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Mr. Miles Corbet was a Gentleman of an ancient family in the county of Norfolk. He had applied himself with diligence to the study of the laws of England in the society of Lincoln's-Inn; and, for the space of thirty seven years, had been chosen to serve his country in the several parliaments that were called. Being appointed one of the high court of justice for the trial of the late King, he appeared not among the judges by reason of some scruples he had entertained, till the day that sentence was pronounced. But, upon more mature deliberation, finding them to be of no weight, he durst no longer absent himself; coming early on that day into the court, that he might give a public testimony of his satisfaction and concurrence with their proceedings. He was afterwards by the parliament made one of their commissioners for the civil government of Ireland; in which employment he manifested such integrity, that though he was continued for many years in that station, yet he impaired his own estate for the public service, whilst he was the greatest husband of the treasure of the commonwealth. The day before his death, he assured his friends, that he was so thoroughly convinced of the justice and necessity of that action for which he was to die, that if the things had been yet entire, and to do, he could not refuse to act as he had done, without affronting his reason, and opposing himself to the dictates of his conscience; adding, that the immoralities, lewdness, and corruptions of all sorts, which had been introduced and encouraged since the late revolution, were no inconsiderable justification of those proceedings.
---Memoirs of Edmund Ludlow, Esq., 1751

About Saturday 12 May 1660

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Tonyel, probably both reasons, but I think lots of people are crossing the Channel independently. A veritable hoard I would imagine.

About John Okey

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John Okey was born of mean parents, who brought him up in the occupation of a drayman, He afterwards got to be a stoaker in a brewhouse at Islington, near London; and then a poor chandler near Lion key in Thames street in the said city. But, changing his apron in those desperate times for a buff-coat, he rose by degrees to be a Colonel of dragoons; a Judge in the pretended High Court of Justice to try his Sovereign; and he contented to, and signed the warrant for his murder; as it was proved at his trial, but was denied by himself at the place of execution; when, amongst other particulars to alleviate his crimes, he declared, "I was none of the Council within or without; neither did I know any thing of the trial of the King, or who were the Judges, till I saw my name inserted in a paper, and I did sit there but once or twice."
He was much infected with the enthusiasm of those times; and loved to speak much, and acquired such an ecclesiastic cant, suitable to that generation, that the rulers at Oxford complimented him with the degree of Master of Arts. But his antimonarchical zeal carried him to such lengths, that, when he discovered Oliver's inclination to seize, and to place himself on the throne, he deserted his interest, and sided with the anabaptists and fifth-monarchy men; which brought him into disgrace with the usurper, deprived him of his regiment, and excluded him from all further favours under the Protectorship.
At the approach of the restoration, he fled into Holland, and was taken at Delft, as he skulked under the name of Frederic Williamson, by the diligence of Sir George Downing formerly an independent preacher, and chaplain to this very man Okey, but now employed by King Charles II. as his Resident in Holland who sent him with Berkstead and Corbet, seized at the same time, to England, where they were executed on the 19th of April, 1662, after they were permitted to speak and pray as much as they desired.
---The Universal Magazine, Volume 9, 1751