Chap. V. "I!Je HISTORY of the Pu~ITANS. 59 I of their own communion, to congratulate his majefl:y's reil:oration, and to King fi ·r f h · 1· · Charles II. prefent their humble fupplications for the r~e exer~11e o t e1r re 1g10n, 1660 . purfuant to the articles of 1648, whom .the k10g receive? very favo~rably, \.../"'~ , and encouraoed to hope for an accomphfl1ment of their requells In due time. Such ;mazing changes happened within nine months after the king's arrival at Whitehall. The only perfons who under pretence of religion attempted any thing fnjitrrellion againll the government, were fmall number ofenthulialls, who faid they oj the fifth were for king 'Jifus: Their leader was Thomas Vemzer a wine-cooper, monarchy who in his little conventicle in Coleman-Street,' warmed his admirers with men: paffionate expectations ofa fifth univerfal monarchy, under the perfonal reign ofking'Jifits uponearth, and that the faints were to take the kingdom themfelves. To introduce this imaginary kingdom, they marched out of their meeting-houfe towards St. Paul's Cburch-rard, on Sunday 'Jan. 6, to the number of about fifty men well armed, and with a refolution to fubvert the prefent government or die in the at tempt. They publiihed a declaration of the defign of their rifing, and placed centinels at proper places. The lord mayor fent the trained bands to difperfe them, whom they quickly routed, but in the evening retired to Cane Wood, between High-gate and Hampjlead. On Wedm:Jaay morning they returned and difperfed a party of the king's foldiers in Threadneedle-Street. In Wood-Street they repelled the trained bands, and fome of the horfe-guards; but Vamer himfelf was knocked down, and fame of his company il ain; from hence the remainder retreated to Cripplegate, and took polfeffion of an houfe, which they threatened to defend with a defperate refolution, but no-body appealing to countenance their frenzy, they furrendered after they had loll: about half their number; V enner and one of his officers, were hanged before their meeting-houfe door in Coleman-Street, 'Jan. I 9, and a few days after, nine more were executed in divers parts of the city. This mad infurrecl:ion gave the court a handle for breaking through the Confiqumces. late declaration of indulgence, within three months after it was publiihed; of Venn~r's. for 'Jan. 2 there was an order of council againll: the meetings of fecb- mjurrcllron, ries in great numbers, and at unufua] times; and on the roth of 'January a proclamation was publifhed, whereby his majell:y forbids the ana. baptijls, quakers, andjifth m?narchy men, to a!femble or meet together under pretence of worthipping God, except it be in fame parochial church, or chapel, or in private houfes by tbe perfons there inhabiting. All meetings in any other places are declared to be unlawfiil and .riotous. And his majefl:y .commands all mayors, and other peace- officers, to fearch for fuch conventicles, and caufe the perfons therein to be bound over to the next feffions. Upon this the indepefldents, baptijls, and qttakers, who diifented
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=