A seal this day; mostly pardons and discharges of Knight Baronets' fees, which having been passed over for so many years, did greatly disoblige several families who had served his Majesty. Lord Tyrconnel gone to Ireland, with great powers and commissions, giving as much cause of talk as the camp, especially nineteen new Privy-Councillors and Judges being now made, among which but three Protestants, and Tyrconnel made General.
New judges also here, among which was Milton, a Papist (brother to that Milton who wrote for the Regicides), who presumed to take his place without passing the Test. Scotland refused to grant liberty of mass to the Papists there.
The French persecution more inhuman than ever. The Protestants in Savoy successfully resist the French dragoons sent to murder them.
The King's chief physician in Scotland apostatizing from the Protestant religion, does of his own accord publish his recantation at Edinburg.
11th June, 1686. I went to see Middleton's receptacle of water at the New River, and the New Spa Wells near.
20th June, 1686. An extraordinary season of violent and sudden rain. The camp still in tents.
24th June, 1686. My Lord Treasurer settled my great business with Mr. Pretyman, to which I hope God will at last give a prosperous issue.
25th June, 1686. Now his Majesty, beginning with Dr. Sharp and Tully, proceeded to silence and suspend divers excellent divines for preaching against Popery.
27th June, 1686. I had this day been married thirty-nine years—blessed be God for all his mercies!
The new very young Lord Chief-Justice Herbert declared on the bench, that the government of England was entirely in the King; that the Crown was absolute; that penal laws were powers lodged in the Crown to enable the King to force the execution of the law, but were not bars to bind the King's power; that he could pardon all offenses against the law, and forgive the penalties, and why could he not dispense with them; by which the Test was abolished? Everyone was astonished. Great jealousies as to what would be the end of these proceedings.