he late tumults of the
'prentices at Easter are condemned to die.

[Four were executed on May 9th, namely, Thomas Limmerick, Edward
Cotton, Peter Massenger, and Richard Beasley. They were drawn,
hanged, and quartered at Tyburn, and two of their heads fixed upon
London Bridge ("The London Gazette," No. 259). See "The Tryals of
such persons as under the notion of London Apprentices were
tumultuously assembled in Moore Fields, under colour of pulling down
bawdy-houses," 4to., London, 1668. "It is to be observed," says
"The London Gazette," "to the just vindication of the City, that
none of the persons apprehended upon the said tumult were found to
be apprentices, as was given out, but some idle persons, many of
them nursed in the late Rebellion, too readily embracing any
opportunity of making their own advantages to the disturbance of the
peace, and injury of others."]

6th. Betimes I to Alderman Backewell, and with him to my Lord Ashly's,
where did a little business about Tangier, and to talk about the
business of certificates, wherein, contrary to what could be believed,
the King and Duke of York themselves, in my absence, did call for some
of the Commissioners of the Treasury, and give them directions about the
business [of the certificates], which I, despairing to do any thing on
a Sunday, and not thinking that they would think of it themselves,
did rest satisfied, and stayed at home all yesterday, leaving it to do
something in this day; but I find that the King and Duke of York had
been so pressing in it, that my Lord Ashly was more forward with the
doing of it this day, than I could have been. And so I to White
Hall with Alderman Backewell in his coach, with Mr. Blany; my Lord's
Secretary: and there did draw up a rough draught of what order I would
have, and did carry it in, and had it read twice and approved of, before
my Lord Ashly and three more of the Commissioners of the Treasury, and
then went up to the Council-chamber, where the Duke of York, and Prince
Rupert, and the rest of the Committee of the Navy were sitting: and I
did get some of them to read it there: and they would have had it
passed presently, but Sir John Nicholas desired they would first have it
approved by a full Council: and, therefore, a Council Extraordinary
was readily summoned against the afternoon, and the Duke of York run
presently to the King, as if now they were really