Old Hampshire Mapped
Cox's Hampshire
Transcription (52)Charles I
Villiers, George
Buckingham, Duke of
Felton, John
Civil War
Charles II
Katherine, Queen
James II
In King Charles I.'s Reign, George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham coming hither to embark on his second Expedition against the French, was stabbed by John Felton, a Lieutenant in the Army, instigated to it by his private Resentments, for being neglected in the Preferment that had lately faln, of which he had some Promises made him by the Duke, who being no Favourite of the People, tho' he was of the King, he thought he should have the common Applause for so wicked a Piece of Revenge.
The Parliament, during the Civil Wars, against King Charles I. having the Fleet on their Side, easily secured all the Sea Port Towns of England, and this among the rest; but that they had a Principle of Loyalty, which Force had smothered only, and not extinguished, appeared by their so easily declaring for General Monke in 1659, when he was advancing the Restoration of King Charles II.
After the Settlement of that Prince on the Throne, Queen Katherine arrived here from Portugal, May 14, 1662, the Mayor, Aldermen, and principal Persons of the Town waiting upon her at her Landing, in all their Formalities. She stayed here five days before the King came to her, but the next Day after his Arrival they were joined together in Marriage in this Town, where it was also consummated.
In the Reign of James II. the Officers of his Army began in this Place first of all to shew their Dislike of that Prince's Proceedings in favour of Popery; for Colonel Beaumont, who commanded the Duke of Berwick's Regiment in his Absence, and five other Captains, refused to admit the Irish Papists, according to that Duke's Order, which bold Step gave King James a Taste for what Obedience he was to expect from Protestant Captains in a Popish Cause. These Officers were all imprisoned, and had not the Revolution freed them from the Danger they were in, it might have cost them their Lives; for the Authority then reigning would not have born such Opposition.
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