lay the Peace and Security of the Cities of London and Westminster by taking care to disarm all Papists and secure all Jesuits and Romish Priests and in all things endeavour to promote his Highness's generous Intentions This Declaration they ordered to be presented to his Highness by the Earl of Pembrook the Lord Viscount Weymouth the Lord Bishop of Ely the Lord Culpeper The same Day the Lieutenancy of the City of London met there also and agreed upon and signed an humble Address to be presented to his Highness by a Committee appointed viz. Sir Robert Clayton Sir William Russel Sir Basil Firebrass Kts. and Charles Duncome Esq The substance of which Address was to acknowledg the great Danger his Illustrious Highness had expos'd himself to both by Sea and land for the Preservation of the Protestant Religion and the Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom and the happy Relief he had brought to us and therefore they humbly desired that his Highness would be pleased to repair unto the City of London with all the convenient speed he could for perfecting the great Work He had so happily begun to the general Joy and Satisfaction of all The same day the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Commons of the City of London in Common Council assembled agreed on and signed an Address to be presented to his Highness the Prince of Orange the Contents whereof was To acknowledg the peril his Highness had exposed himself to both by Sea and Land and the happy Deliverance he had brought to our Nation and therefore they in the name of their Capital City did implore his Highness's Protection and did humbly beseech his Highness to vouchsafe to repair to the City where his Highness should be received with universal Joy and Satisfaction All which Addresses were presented to his Highness the Prince of Orange by the Persons appointed the 14th of December at Henly being accompanied with a great number of Citizens c. But whilst all this was transacting the late King was surprised at Feversham in Kent in a small Vessel his Guards and Coach was sent for him and he returned to Whitehal Sunday Dec. 16. about six of the Clock in the Afternoon which was some surprise to the Prince of Orange however he pursued his Journey to London and from Henley went to Windsor and set up his Standard where we shall humbly crave the liberty to leave his Highness at this famous Castle with all the Nobility and Gentry attending him and proceed with his Highness's Puissant Army for a while The Rear Regiments coming up some were quartered in one Village and some in another at Tylehurston the Regiment of the Right Honourable Colonel Sidney commanded by the Honourable Colonel Cutts was now alarm'd that the Irish were coming and had burnt Kingston upon Thames putting Man Woman and Child to the Sword and that part of these Tories were gone unto Basing-stoke to do the fame there insomuch that a certain Person who was an Inhabitant of that Town was constrained to keep away from the Place and come to the Regiments There was now riding and posting from one Town to another all the Night long and People every where in a kind of confusion As part of our Regiments of Horse were coming to Reading the Irish Souldiers gave out great swelling Words and lofty Speeehes how they would hack them to pieces there and how they would defend the seven Bridges This was on the Lord's Day and as we were informed there by divers Persons of Credit they designed to massacre the People at their Worship had they not been prevented which obliged the Inhabitants to send to the advanc'd part of the Prince's Army then a few miles distant who readily came to their Assistance being conducted a by-way into the Town and fought so courathat in a few minutes they put the Irish to flight took some and kill'd about 20 upon the place with the loss only of the Officer that led them and the Guide that conducted them into the Town At Maidenhead there was such another Action performed by the Irish as we heard there from a Worthy Divine The Irish perceiving the Army of the Prince of Orange advanced so fast and with such speed towards London perswaded the late King James to fortify Maidenhead-Bridg it being the ready Road and a difficult Post to be taken Therefore in a new Brick House which is built between the Bridg and Town they made sundry Port-holes for their great Guns and put new Pales to blind them and sundry places above to shoot with Musquets And on the middle of the Bridg they planted a great Gun or two and here they were resolved to maul the Prince's Army as they said Indeed those that understand Fortification well have presumed that the Passage there might be so fortified that thousands of Men should not win it because the Water ran in the Road-way a considerable length or some hundred Yards and the Bridg is so narrow that a Man can hardly go along without falling except he hold by the Rails the Water too being up to a Man's middle here in the Road at the lowest Ebb So the Irish bravadoing here at this Post what they would do certain worthy Persons there consulted together how to disperse the Irish or cause them to go away for they perceived well the Hearts of all Protestants were set upon his Highness their Deliverer under God and by his Blessing and the End of their Consultation was this Sundry Persons of Courage and Resolution should go in the Dark about Midnight having each of them an old Barrel or an old Kettle standing at a certain equal distance from each other they should beat the Dutch March Which Stratagem took goodeffect for these Men being got within a small distance of the Irish began to beat a Dutch March they no sooner heard it but were prodigiously surprized crying Hark Hark and another presently made answer God damn my Blood if it be not the Dutch come upon us and forthwith they began to run and hasten away without minding their great Guns or taking away any thing nay happy was that Man that could get before his Comrade and whither they went no Man could tell So the Souldiers belonging to his Highness coming to Maiden-head hearing of this Exploit highly commended both the Contrivers and Actors in it brought away the Guns and all that was left to Windsor-Castle And so I have done with both the Armies in relation to Skirmishes or Actions His Highness being now at Windsor with all his Nobility and Gentry about him the Citizens of London flock'd mightily to visit Him and congratulate his safe Arrival so far The Army being now all about Windsor and the adjacent Towns and Villages the Souldiers through the perswasions of the Country People kill'd and destroy'd hundreds of Deer in the Forest and hundreds more had been destroy'd if so be his Highness had not given out his Royal Order to the contrary The Irish Tories
on his Highness which made all the Army to rejoice The Prince rode about five Miles out of Exeter to view some new Regiments of Horse which were just come into his Service He gave the Officers and Souldiers a courteous Reception and made a Speech unto them upon which the whole Regiments shouted and Huzza'd for Joy. I preached at St. Carion's Church in Exeter November 18. My Text being in Isa 8. 12 13 14. Neither fear ye their fear nor be afraid Sanctify the Lord of Hosts himself and let him be your fear and let him be your dread And he shall be for a Sanctuary Now the Church-Wardens of this Parish altho there was no Minister to preach were unwilling to give the Keys because they were no true Friends of our good Cause insomuch that I was forc'd to threaten them for their great rudeness The Clerk of the Parish going along with me the Day before for the Key one of the Church-Wardens very rudely broke his Head in sundry places for which intolerable Action I immediately had him brought before the Honourable Colonel Cutts for this bold Fact who upon a due submission and acknowledgment of his Faults dismissed him with a sharp Reprehension For Modesty-sake I conceal his Name hoping that he 's reformed with the Times The late K. James finding his Army begin to moulder away was very much at a stand however he thought to give us Battel with the remaining part whereupon he hasten'd to Sarum a second time which we had notice of before we left Exeter The Army being now well refresh'd and one Man as good as two when we were at Torbay Order was given for the Army to march in three Lines The first Line march'd out of the City as far as St. Mary Ottrie and were Quarter'd in and near that Place The next day the second Line march'd forth of Exeter to the same place and the first Line advanc'd to Axminster The third Day the last Line march'd as before to St. Mary Ottrie the first Line advancing some to Beminster and some to Crookhorn the second to Axminster and the adjacent Towns and the Regiments march'd some one Road and some another as the first Line advanced so the whole Army moved which was always according to the Motion of our great Master For when he remained any where then did the whole Army abide in the same Quarters The City of Exeter was now freed of all its Souldiers only the Regiment of Sir John Guyes which was new raised was order'd to keep this City and he made Governour thereof Now many Oxen being brought into this Town to draw the Artillery and many Horses being come to carry the Ammunition and all things necessary for War appertaining to our whole Army We then were soon on the March A Captain with some other Officers and about a hundred Men came along with it to guard it Here at Exeter was a certain Person kept in Custody some Days for speaking very threatning Words against his Highnese the Prince of Orange but within a while was released Another was apprehended for a Spy because he said he had a Commission from the late K. James to go into any Mans House to search for Goods This Man was also accused for stealing about ten pound from the People of the House where he lodged but no Money could be found about him whereupon he also was dismissed in few Days I suppose our Army was now in Circumference between 20 and 30 Miles The Prince with all his Lords Knights and Gentlemen attending him rode from Exeter unto St. Mary Ottrie the Weather was very Rainy and the Roads bad for Marching however we had time enough for our Stages were not far distant one from the other The places where we Quarter'd were scarce able to receive us insomuch that every House was crowded Our Van-Guard was advanc'd as faras Sherborn who coming into this Townat at one end and a party of Horse belonging to the late King James coming in at the other but hearing of our Men retreated back towards Sarum Our first Line being advanced from Axminster to Crookhorn and Beminster the second to Axminster and Lime and the third Line according to the others Stage before them Then the Prince of Orange rode to Crookhorn with all his Noble Attendance The Country People were exceeding desirous to see the Prince and ran in great numbers from one Town to another when they heard for certain which way he came Here at Crookhorn his Highnese remained the Lord's Day Novemb. 25. And the Gentlemen of the West came and joyn'd him now almost at every Stage On Monday Morning the whole Army March'd The first Line advanced from Sherborn to Wincanton the second to Sherborn and the third to Yetminster The Prince of Orange with all his Nobles and Gentlemen came to Sherborn and lodged at the Castle The two Armies were near each other by this time the late King James lay at Salisbury with his Army and the Prince of Orange's lay about Sherborn advancing towards him with all possible speed The late King James seeing his Army moulder thus away and that Prince George was gone to his Brother with the Duke of Ormond was in such a streight that he knew not well what to do And coming to the Market-place at Sarum he made an Oration to the Citizens telling them that he would spend his Blood for the Protestant Religion whenas he had been seen at Mass all the Morning by many of his Auditors who thereupon derided him in their Hearts No sooner had he ended his Speech but immediately falls to bleeding at his Nostrils very violently as many observed there-about him and his Blood could not be stopp'd any manner of way The Citizens hearing the Army of the Prince of Orange was advanced within a few Miles of their City some Persons coming in at one end of the Town said they saw them not far off which Report being noised about so Alarm'd the late King James and his Army That in the midst of his Bleeding he commanded his Coach to be made ready and drive away towards Windsor with all possible speed which was accordingly done The Foot-Soldiers were ready to desert the late King and many did some left their Baggage and Snapsacks behind them And the Horse likewise being in such a hurry to get away that they were ready to spoil their Comrades and the whole Army was in such a confused manner and marched so disorderly and in such haste that the Country seeing them judged they had been routed in a Battel The late King James began to bleed at Sarum and was observ'd to continue bleeding some days and coming thus hastily to Windsor the Towns-People that saw him judged that he had been overthrown in Battel So coming from Windsor to London he turn'd out Sir Edw. Hales who was Governor of the Tower for he had threatned to Bomb this famous Ancient City and put Mr. Skelton his late Ambassador in
that every man might sit peaceably under his own Vine and drink the Wine out of his own Cistern Therefore order was sent unto every City in Holland for to make clean their Men of War and fit them out for Sea with all speed that they might be mann'd victuall'd stored with Powder and Ball and all sorts of Utensils for War and be ready to serve his Highness the Prince of Orange in his glorious design for the good of the Protestant Churches of Christ but especially those in England Scotland and Ireland Now according to the Order every City very willingly and indeed with more than an ordinary cheerfulness set their men to work and rigg their Ships paying them double Wages that they might labour day and night until it was done because they now shewed their zeal and did strive which should be soonest prepared with their Vessels for to go out to Sea and serve his Highness the Prince of Orange From Amsterdam were fifteen good Vessels well rigg'd and every thing in compleat order set out to Sea the first Wind that serv'd because every Wind will not bring them out of the Texel it must be an Easterly Wind or else they are block'd up and they would not be hindred or backwards now for never so much so they rode at anchor in the Sea. And from the City of Rotterdam Dort Delph Leyden Harlem and all other Cities were many Vessels fitted out to Sea according to each City's proportion in War and their wonted Custom which Ships join'd the other Ships from Amsterdam Then in Zealand a considerable number of brave Vessels were set out with all things necessary for War As from Middleburgh Vlissingen Vere Tertol c. and these sail'd to the Hollands Men of War and joined them riding at anchor so the Fleet began to compleat Now the Navy rode at anchor about some two or three Leagues from the Brill and there remain'd some days It 's worthy of any man's observation to consider what an universal consent there was unto this glorious Undertaking and Expedition of the Prince of Orange for the welfare of England Scotland and Ireland for this consent and accord was not only generally among the high and mighty Lords the States of Holland and West-Friezland but even among all sorts and conditions of men there was not one person in the Land heard to murmur or speak the least word against it Papists only excepted but all with one accord and one mind and heart endeavoured to forward and expedite this glorious Undertaking nay the very Women Maidens and Children were lifting up their Prayers unto the God of Heaven for to bless the Prince of Orange and crown his designs in hand for the good of the true reform'd Church with success according to the desire of his own heart which thing I duly observ'd and therefore was somewhat confirm'd in my opinion concerning this great Work in hand which caused me to declare publickly That the great Jehovah or living and true God had not only put it into the heart of the Prince of Orange a Prince whom he had raised up to advance his Glory and the Interest of his Church and People and therefore made him so strong for himself so great a terrour to the evil as well as praise to those that do well but that the Lord had also stirr'd up the hearts of all his people to join together as one man and hereupon I could not but judge that God had a delight in this Work and would certainly bring it to pass in his due time not when our silly fancies urg'd it And made it now my work to endeavour for to keep our people that they did not tempt God or limit the holy One of Israel of a truth the Reverend Clergy of the Netherlands are not to be forgotten because they did wrestle with God in their Prayers in the great Congregations and Solemn Assemblies after a most servent manner with Sighs and Tears in the behalf of our Churches in England Scotland and Ireland and mightily encouraged all the Soldiers to shew their courage for the Cause of God against the Children of Babylon and Enemies of his Church and peculiar People So that they have obliged our Nation as the Reverend Dr. Burnet in his Sermon at Exeter-Cathedral said to be kind to the Netherlands for sundry weighty Reasons and amongst others their kindness to us and towards our Land in this happy Expedition The Men of War were riding at anchor in the forementioned place waiting for his Highness the Prince of Orange's Orders what to do or where to go sundry hundred of Merchants Ships Pinks Fly-boats and others were hired for this Service and many immediately sent to the Fleet others went for Men here and there according as they receiv'd order some were to carry Soldiers others to carry Horses some Hay others Artillery or Ammunition and all sorts of Necessaries convenient for the War Many Martscutes and flat-bottom'd Boats which belong to the River only to transport Goods and People from City to City were hired now to transport the Soldiers from Nimighen unto the Men of War and Merchant-Ships Pinks and Fly-boats riding at anchor ready to receive them or any thing that was order'd them to receive by our great Master I shall not retard the candid and ingenuous Reader with an ample Discourse concerning the manner of their coming down the Rhine and Mose or Maze how the Burghers at every City with their Wives Children and whole Houshold came crouding unto the great Head which is without the Ports towards the River a place made purposely for convenience of taking in or shipping off Goods or for commodious lading or unlading Vessels and took their solemn leave most Praying and some Crying for them The Soldiers were some of them playing on the Hoeboys Dutch Flute and other Instruments others were beating the Drums and some sounding their Trumpets which I must confess made no discord in the harmony as they were sailing down the River There are divers pleasant Cities upon the Rhine and Mose between Nimighen and the Brill as all those who have travell'd in the Netherlands know very well Being come unto the Fleet all the Soldiers were presently set on board some to the Men of War some to the Merchant-Ships some to the Pinks and some to the Fly-boats And the Schippers with their Martscutes and flat-bottom'd Boats return'd home The Wind was now Northerly or North-West which is the very worst Wind that can blow for the Coasts of Holland and the Weather waxed daily worse and worse the Winds growing stronger and stronger insomuch that the Seas grew very rough the Waves swell'd and lifted their proud tops towards the Clouds and the poor smaller-Ships were ready to be overwhelm'd shaking their Heads as if they would shake their Sails off and being unable for to endure such Weather long so far in the Sea as they now did ride at anchor without very great hazard and danger
Fleet which made the heart of every man glad because the wind was still East So his Highness went on board a Man of War with Admiral Herbert but that Vessel proving leakie he soon changed and went on board another At this time there was very great resorting unto the Brill from every City and Town in Holland for to see this glorious yet formidable Fleet set out but especially to behold his Highness the Prince of Orange committing himself unto the mercy of the merciless Seas and the courtesie of the unnatural Waves so freely and willingly for the sake of the true Reform'd Churches of Christ but especially those of England Scotland and Ireland The top of the Brill-Church and Steeple was extreamly throng'd and the Beam or place made on purpose to view Ships was almost broken down with the great crowd upon it and every man's Eye was unsatisfied with seeing for the more they looked upon the Navie the more they desired to look His Highness being come on board every Ship weighed Anchor with all the speed possible and made sail the Trumpets sounded Hooboys played and the Souldiers gave a Shout for joy So when the Spectators perceived that the Fleet was under sail they could no longer refrain their Eyes from weeping nor their Cheeks from running down with affectionate Tears and many very fervent Prayers were poured for us all but in an especial manner for the Prince of Orange When we were sail'd so far that they could not see us well any longer then they made use of Perspective-Glasses and sent their hearts and well wishes with us and so each departed to his own Habitation Thus was our Great Prince crossing the proud Waves with all his Fleet round him enjoying a very favourable Wind for England if it had but continued so for some days together It was about four a Clock in the Afternoon on Saturday when the Fleet first weighed their Anchors and made sail upon the coming of the Prince of Orange on board The Evening draw'd on us very fast the days being short and the nights long so when the darkness seized us and night was shutting upon us every Vessel set up a Light in the Lanthorn The Men of War set up two and the Ship wherein the Prince was had three for a mark or distinction After night the Wind began to arise high and the Seas wax'd rough the Waves began to roar and swell lifting up their head aloft and many now began to suspect the Weather as well they might for within a while the Winds turn'd and blew a very dreadful Storm insomuch that all thought we should never see Land more for there were sundry circumstances which did add to the peril of the Storm as many skilful Mariners said The darkness of the night the matter of Carriage Horses which will rowl from side to side if they break their Stays our Pipes of Water Barrels of Powder and Ball and the vast number of Ships together which was worst of all for while the Schipper intended to escape one on his Starboard then is he in no small peril of running against the other on his Larboard-side nay behind and before and all round there were Ships throwing themselves from side to side after an exceeding fearful manner so that no Steer-man knew which way to steer The Winds blew as if they would have blown the very Elements away before them the Seas raged and foam'd being all in white forth for anger the Waves rowl'd one upon the back of another as so many great Mountains the Ships threw themselves and the people in them from side to side and from the fore-part of the Vessel unto the hinder part as if they would have beaten themselves all to pieces and if it had not been the good providence of the Almighty we had most certainly dash'd against each other and so perish one by the other The men of War were better able to live than the rest for they did not shake themselves half so terribly as the Merchantmen and Pinks but especially the poor Flyboats these strain'd their Ribs and hurt their Backs very much because of their hard lading The Wind was now North-West and every Mariner did strive to bear up with that Ship wherein the Prince was but it was impossible for all the smaller Vessels in such a Tempest there 's a huge difference between Ships one will bear a vast Storm another an ordinary Storm endangers nay many can live in the greatest Tempest having but Sea-room enough when some can hardly live in a rough Sea. Now the people being thus toss'd and tumbl'd about the Ship many wax'd exceeding sick and vomitted continually after a dreadful rate you could hear the men groan after a pitiful manner others were sighing and not a few praying and committing their Souls unto God for they thought their Bodies must be Meat for the Fish of the Sea. The Sea-men that did belong to each Ship were almost kill'd in working so hard for to preserve their own and our Lives but now and then they would refresh themselves with a dram of the Brandy-bottle According as the Sea and the Waves roar'd so most Mens Hearts now fail'd them for fear at the apprehension of approaching Destruction A Holy Conscience at this time was a Magazine of Joy and as good as a thousand Witnesses Thus did we tumble and rowl about the Seas and among the unnatural Waves all this Night How desirable was the Day-light which Solomon says is sweet And what a pleasant thing would it have been for our Eyes but to behold the Sun though in the midst of such a dreadful Storm A worse hath not happened for many years as our ancient Ship-Masters and Mariners conclude for Darkness adds terrour to terrour and therefore the fear of death unto many at this time was almost as bad as death it self some Nabal like were dead with fear and their hearts as a stone Many Ships had their Sails blown off others had their Masts broken with the violence of the Storm the Waves often-times rowling themselves over the labouring Ships some had their Main-yards broken the Pipes of Water often-times bursting open the Barrels of Powder and Ball stav'd it cannot be conceiv'd what a dreadful thing it was as also what a strange kind of rattling the Bullets running about the Decks made therefore sundry Souldiers cried out I am sure I can feel the Hole where the Sea comes in at when as in truth it was the Water and Beer together flashing within the Ship for you must know we were most of us all in darkness no Candle being permitted to come under Deck because of the Magazine After we had made our Supplications for our selves and his Highness the Prince of Orange unto the God of Heaven we submitted our Wills to his blessed Will and I am perswaded that many now were willing to die after the thoughts of Death had possessed their mind so long and been impress'd in their
People which came to see his Highness some placing themselves in Seats by eight in the Morning When his Highness came he was pleased for to sit in the Bishop's Seat in the Body of the Church as he had done in the Quire before Sundry Sentinels stood just behind him two just before him and many more in the Church-Isle the Doctor 's Text was Psalm 107. 43. Whose is wise and will observe those things even they shall understand the loving Kindness of the Lord. The Doctor very accurately shewed the loving Kindness of the Lord unto the Price of Orange and his Fleet how he caused the Winds to turn at Tor-Bay where the whole Fleet was to tack about to come into the Bay and then shew'd the upright Design of the Prince to promote the Glory of God and good of his Church in England Scotland and Ireland having ended his Sermon he read the Prayer for the Expedition and so concluded with the Blessing c. Some time was passed here before the Gentlemen of the West joyned his Highness but when once they did begin to come in then they came daily The Mayor and Aldermen of the City came to visit the Prince and were busie in their Consultations among themselves The late King James we heard now was advanc'd as far towards us as Salisbury with a very brave Army of about thirty five thousand Men and a prodigious great Train of Artillery which made the poor Country People tremble Moreover we heard that he was fully resolved to encamp his Army about Sarum in the Plain where he intended to fight us Some of our Men being of the Van-guard were advanc'd as far as Wincaunton to provide Carriage at which place there was a small Skirmish or Action between 26 of our Souldiers and about 150 of the late King's Party which you shall have a particular account of by and by We soon receiv'd information of this Skirmish at Exeter Order was now given to get Waggons to carry the Magazine and Baggage of the whole Army together with all sorts of Utensils fit and convenient for War and Horses to draw the Artillery and for the Country People round to bring in their Horses to be sold at Exeter that so the loss of our Horses might be made up here According to which Order the Country People came daily in with their Horses to sell and the Officers gave great Prices for them because they must have them there or now here The Souldiers were ordered to keep themselves and their Arms in good order and to get every thing here which they wanted Much Mony was laid out in this City for all sorts of Commodities which the Officers or Souldiers lacked Here at first the People were scrupulous about the Dutch Mony and many Country People refused it but were forc'd to take it because all the Army had little else but Guineas and Dutch Mony. The People of the City began now to be more and more inclin'd towards our Army and all fear almost of the other Army was banish'd out of their Thoughts so that they would discourse more freely now than at the first The Drums beat for Volunteers and every Regiment of English or Scotch which wanted any Men was now compleated The Regiment of Sir John Guyes and Sir Robert Peyton fill'd up very fast for Men came into the City daily from all Parts to list themselves insomuch that many Captains pick'd and chose their Souldiers Very great crowding was here at the Deanary it being the Prince of Orange's Court by all sorts of People Many coming 20 Miles on purpose to see him and all the People of the adjacent Places were waiting there daily insomuch that the Sentinels could hardly keep them out The Guard was before the entrance into the Deanary and sundry Sentinels two at each Door Now his Highness received Information That the late King James was gone back from Sarum towards London with his whole Army by reason of the false Report of some Tumult in the City made by the Apprentices which News did not in the least discompose us The Weather being somewhat favourable the Prince of Orange with all his Lords and Gentlemen attending him was pleased to ride and view the City and Castle and this Day the Deanary was embroider'd with the Officers in their Gold and Silver-Lace Coats The Country People brought all sorts of Provisions in abundance because it yielded them Money and went off well We heard here that our Friends were up in the North of England as the Lord Delamere Earl of Devonshire Earl of Stamford Earl of Danby Sir Scroop How Sir William Russel with divers others By this time the Gentlemen of Somersetshire and Dorsetshire were coming in to join his Highness and on Thursday November 15 they waited on him at Exeter upon which he was pleased to speak to them as follows Tho we know not all your Persons yet we have a Catalogue of your Names and remember the Character of your Worth and Interest in your Country You see we are come according to your Invitation and our Promise Our Duty to God obliges us to protect the Protestant Religion and our Love to Mankind your Liberties and Properties We expected you that dwelt so near the place of our Landing would have join'd us sooner not that it is now too late nor that we want your Military Assistance so much as your Countenance and Presence to justify our declar'd Pretentions in order to accomplish our good and gracious Design Tho we have brought both a good Fleet and a good Army to render these Kingdoms happy by rescuing all Protestants from Popery Slavery and Arbitrary Power by restoring them to their Rights and Properties established by Law and by promoting of Peace and Trade which is the Soul of Government and the very Life-Blood of a Nation yet we rely more on the Goodness of God and the Justice of our Cause than on any Humane Force and Power whatever Yet since God is pleased we shall make use of Humane means and not expect Miracles for our Preservation and Happiness let us not neglect making use of this gracious Opportunity but with Prudence and Courage put in Execution our so honourable Purposes Therefore Gentlemen Friends and Fellow-Protestants we bid you and all your Followers most heartily Welcome to our Court and Camp. Let the whole World now judg if our Pretentions are not Just Generous Sincere and above Price since we might have even a Bridg of Gold to Return back But it is our Principle and Resolution rather to dye in a Good Cause than live in a Bad one well knowing that Vertue and True Honour is its own Reward and the Happiness of Mankind Our Great and Only Design The late King James coming up towards London the Regiment of Dragoons belonging to the Lord Cornbury came away from him to join the Prince of Orange and the Lord Cornbury with many other Lords Knights and Gentlemen came unto Exeter and attended
much abused the worthy Minister of Tylehurston stripping his Rings off his Fingers with the Skin and Flesh threatning his Wife in Bed and undoubtedly had murder'd the whole Family if so be the Maid had not leap'd out of a Window and call'd the Neighbours speedily to assist them for they broke open the Door with on Iron made for the same purpose which they forgot and left behind them with their Dark Lanthorn both which I saw They swore divers times by St. Patrick they would cut them all into pieces if they would not give them Mony for they must shortly be gone and the late King had not paid them So hearing the Neighbours coming they took their Horses and rode away having above thirty Pounds in Mony Plate and Rings for they took the old Gentlewomans Rings off her Fingers December the 18th his Highness parted from Windsor dined at Sion-House and came that Evening to St. James's amidst the loud Acclamations of a vast number of People of all Sorts and Ranks the Bells every-where ringing the Evening concluded with vast Bonsires and such general Joy as can scarce be parallel'd The next day the late King James seeing the Scene of Affairs altered parted from Whitehal went down the River to Rochester and from thence took Shipping for Brest whither the Queen and supposed Prince of Wales was gone before and himself soon after where I 'le leave him Most of the Nobility congratulated his Highness's safe arrival at St James's and on the 20th the Aldermen and Common Couucil of the City of London attended his Highness upon the same account and the Lord Mayor being disabled by Sickness Sir George Treby Kt. Recorder of the Honourable City of London made an Oration to his Highness to this effect Great Sir WHen we look back to the last Month and contemplate the swiftness and fulness of our present Deliverance astonish'd we think it miraculous Your Highness led by the Hand of Heaven and call'd by the Voice of the People has preserved our dearest Interest the Protestant Religion which is Primitive Christianity restored Our Laws which are our ancient Title to our Lives Liberties and Estates and without which this World were a Wilderness But what Retribution can we make to your Highness Our Thoughts are full charged with Gratitude Your Highness has a lasting Monument in the Hearts in the Prayers in the Praises of all good Men amongst us And late Posterity will celebrate your ever-glorious Name till Time shall be no more December the 25th the Lords Spiritual and Temporal asssembled at the House of Lords Westminster and there ageeed upon and signed an Address wherein they humbly desired his Highness in this Conjuncture to take upon him the Administration of Publick Affairs both Civil and Military and the Disposal of the Publick Revenue for the preservation of our Religion Rights Laws Liberties and Properties and of the Peace of the Nation and that his Highness would take into his Care the Condition of Ireland and endeavour by the most speedy and effectual Means to prevent the Dangers threatning that Kingdom All which the Lords Spiritual and Temporal make their Requests to his Highness to undertake and exercise till the Meeting of the intended Convention Jan 22. next Moreover the Lords Spiritual and Temporal assembled at Westminster in this Extraordinary Conjuncture did humbly desire his Highness to cause Letters to be written subscribed by Himself to the Lords Spiritual and Temporal being Protestants and to the several Counties Universities Cities Boroughs and Cinque-Ports of England Wales and Town of Berwick Upon Tweed containing Directions for the choosing in all such Counties Cities Universities Boroughs and Cinque-Ports within Ten days after the receipt of the said respective Letters such a number of Persons to represent them as are of right to be sent to Parliament And the Persons so chosen to Meet and Sit at Westminster on the Two and Twentieth day of January Both which were signed by all the Lords Spiritual and Temporal then Assembled and presented to his Highness the Prince of Orange the same day at St James's All which his Highness was pleased to Do according to their Desires Now the Lords and Commons being Met at Westminster the Two and Twentieth of January 1688 According to the Direction of his Highness's Letters They agreed upon and Ordered That the Thanks of both Houses should be returned to his Highness in the behalf of the whole Nation for his Highness happy Deliverance of this Kingdom from Popery Slavery and Despotick Power and for the Preservation of the Protestant Religion and the Laws Rights Priviledges and Customs of our Land c. And moreover to beseech his Highness to continue the Administration of publick Affairs Civil and Military and the Disposal of the publick Revenue until such time as farther Application be made to his Highness All which his Highness was pleased to do and exercise according to their desire And with all expedition on the 12th of February the Lords and Commons consulted about the Settlement of our Government And agreed that the late King James the Second having endeavour'd to subvert and extirpate the Protestant Religion c. and having abdicated the Government the Throne was thereby become Vacant They did resolve that William and Mary Prince and Princess of Orange be and be declared King and Queen of England France and Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonging c. On the 12th of February Her Royal Highness the Princess of Orange arrived at Whitehall the welcome news whereof was received with Ringing of Bells Bonfires and other publick Demonstrations of Joy. The next day the Lords and Commons assembled at Westminster attended their Highnesses at the Banqueting-house with their Resolve and received their Consent thereto and about 11 of the Clock proclaimed William and Mary Prince and Princess of Orange King and Queen of England France and Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonging After that their Majesties were Proclaim'd before Whitehall And the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the Famous City of London together with the Sheriffs met the Lords and Heralds at Arms at Temple-Bar and there Proclaimed their Majesties King William and Queen Mary c. And so proceeded to the Royal Exchange where the same was done a third time The day concluding with Ringing of Bells and Bonfires to the General Satisfaction of all After their most excellent Majesties were proclaimed all over England there was great preparation made in order to their Majesties Coronation The Day being come viz. April 11 1689. Their Majesties came from Whitehall to Westminster and the Nobility being put in Order by the Heralds They came down in State into Westminster-Hall where the Swords and Spurs were presented to them Their Majesties being at Westminster-Abby the Right Reverend Father in God the Lord Bishop of Sarum preached the Sermon his Text being 2 Sam. 23 3 4. And after the Ceremonies of the Coronation were finished about four of the Clock the Crowns were put upon their Royal Heads by the Right Reverend Father in God the Lord Bishop of London assisted by several other Bishops At the sight whereof the People shouted the Drums and Trumpets sounded the great Guns at the Tower c. were discharged and the Peers and Peeresses put on their Coronets Their Majesties being Crowned returned to Westminster-Hall And Dinner being ended and the whole Solemnity perform'd with great Splendour and Magnificence about Eight in the evening their Majesties return'd to White-Hall Where I most humbly leave them heartily beseeching Almighty God to bless and preserve their most excellent Majesties that they may long Live and Flourish together To the advancement of his Glory the Good of his Church the Safety Honour and Welfare of their Majesties Kingdoms and the exceeding Joy and Comfort of all Good Protestants As for all their Enemies let then O God be daily discover'd and brought to Shame and Confusion But upon their Sacred and Royal Heads let the Crowns of England Scotland France and Ireland long Flourish FINIS