kingdom, we find, that under pretence of taking away abuses, there hath been a general forbidding, not only of ordinary meetings, but of the feasts of the dedication of the churches, commonly called Wakes. Now, our express will and pleasure is, that these feasts, with others, shall be observed, and that our Justices of the peace, in their several divisions, shall look to it, both that all disorders there, may be prevented and punished; and that all neighbourhood and freedom, with manlike and lawful exercises be used. And we farther command our Justices of assize, in their several circuits, to see that no man do trouble or molest any of our loyal and dutiful people, in or for their lawful recreations, having first done their duty to God, and continuing in obedience to us, and our laws. And of this we command all our Judges, Justices of the peace, as well within liberties, as without, Mayors, Bailiffs, Constables, and other officers, to take notice of, and to see observed, as they tender our displeasure. And we farther will, that publication of this our command be made, by order from the Bishops, through all the parish churches of their several dioceses respectively.

"Given at our palace of Westminster, the eighteenth day of October, in the ninth year of our reign."

ORIGINAL LETTERS of KING CHARLES I. affording historical Evidence of two interesting Events in the reign of that unfortunate monarch.

THE following letters have remained, from the remote period in which they were written, among the family documents of the late Henry Fotherley, Esq. of Whitfield, of the Bury, in the parish of Rickmansworth, in the county of Hertfordshire, whose ancestor Sir Ralph Whitfield, (who married Dorothy, daughter of Sir Henry Spelman, the ce lebrated antiquary,) was prime serjeant to King Charles the First:

"CHARLES R.

"Right trusty and well-beloved Councillor, We greet you well. Whereas (in regard of our residence) Wee have thought fit to have the next Terme kept in this our Citty of Yorke; our will and expresse command therefore is, that you forthwith give order that Trinity Terme next bee adjourned to this our Citty, to be holden at the usuall time; and that the writts of adjournment bee issued forth accordingly, under our Greate Seal, for doing thereof. And that a proclamation bee presently sent out, to give timely notice, in the several counties of this our kingdome and dominion of Wales; and for the more orderly and formall performance hereof, Wee will that you advise with our Judges, soe that all things neces

sary for the premisses bee timely and effectually performed; for which this shall bee your warrant*.

"Given att our Court at Yorke, the 14th of May, 1642.

"I expect your obedience in this, without reply, and with as much secresie as the business can aford. "C. R. "To our right trusty and well-beloved Councellor, Edward Lord Littleton, Keeper of our greate seale of England."

"MY LORD KEEPER,

"I cannot say that your last letter of the 13th of May is the cause of this (the necessitie of my affaires being the only trew motive of it); but I asseure you it gives me the more confidence to beleive that what I command in this will have the more willing obedience. It is this: I fynde an absolute necessitie (the particular reasons I have not tyme to show you), that you and my Great Seale should wait upon mee heere with all possible speede, bothe for your good and myne; therefor my expresse will and pleasur is, that immediatlie after the receipt of this you take your jurnie hither, with as much diligence as your boddie will permitt

* Le Roi voulut aussi transfèrer les cours de justice de Westminster à Yorck; et il envoya même une proclamation sur ce sujet, du garde du Grand Sceau, avec ordre de la faire publier: mais le Parlement en ayant ètè informê, lui defendit de executer cet ordre.— Rapin, vol. viii. p. 288.

Translation. The King wished also to transfer the courts of jus~ tice of Westminster to York; and he even sent a proclamation on this subject, under the great seal; but Parliament being informed of it, forbade him to execute the order.

you. Now, because I cannot expect you shall make such haste, but that an order of Parlament must overtake to stop you (if they have a mynd to it); therefor I have commanded this bearer, my servant, Tho. Elyot, to receave the Greate Seale from you, and to bring it to me with all possible speede*; in all which as I command your reddie and punctuall obedience, without delayes or reply; so I do asseur you, upon the faithe of a Christian, that I have not the least thought of keeping it from you; but, on the contraire, not only to returne it to you, how soone ye cum hither, but also I meane to show you, that heerin I intend your particular good, as well as my owen service, for you shall fynde me really to be your constant frend, "CHARLES R.

"Secresie in this is requisit, as well as obedience; therfor I command you as few as may be know of your jurnie, but none except this bearer (if it bee possible) that the Great Seale is sent before you. "C. R.

"Yorke, 19 May, 1642.

"In this if I fynde in you a cheerfull obedience, I shall put on your fidelitie such a marke of my favor, as shall testifie the great estimation I have of your person and services. "C. R."

* Le 22 de Mai, le Lord Littleton livra le Grand Sceau pour etre portè au Roi, et le suivit lui-même dès lendemain, avant que le Parlement en eut aucune connoissance.-Ib. p. 332.

Translation. May 22, Lord Littleton gave up the great seal to be carried to the king, and followed it himself early the next morning, before the Parliament were aware of it, &c.

304

ANECDOTES RELATIVE TO THE MASKED EXECUTIONER OF CHARLES I..

Ir, is universally known, that, at the execution of King Charles the First, a man in a vizor performed the office of executioner. This circumstance has given rise to a variety of conjectures and accounts. In the Gentleman's Magazine for November 1767, and January 1768, are accounts of one William Walker, who is said to be the executioner. In the same magazine for June 1784, it is supposed to be a Richard Brandon, of whom a long account is copied from an Exeter newspaper. But William Lilly, in his "History of his Life and Times," has the following remarkable passage:-" Many have curiously enquired who it was that cut off his [the King's] head: I have no permission to speak of such things only thus much I say, he that did it, is as valiant and resolute a man as lives, and one of a competent fortune." To clear up this passage, we shall present our readers with Lilly's examination (as related by himself) before the first parliament of King Charles II. in June 1660.

"At my first appearance, many of the young members affronted me highly, and demanded several scurilous questions. Mr. Weston held a paper before his mouth; bade me answer nobody but Mr. Prinn; 1 obeyed his command, and saved myself much trouble thereby, and when Mr. Prinn put any difficult or doubtful query unto me, Mr. Weston prompted me with a fit question. At last,