IV. The Most Christian King promises upon the Faith and Word of a King not to disturb the King of Great Brittain in the fice possession of all or any of His Kingdoms Dominions c. nor aid or assist any of the saids Kings Enemies who shall offer to disturb or nâ—olest Him directly or indirectly the King of great Brittain being engaged to perform the same Freindship to the Most Christian King V. That there shall be a free Commerce and Trade between the Subjects on all sides without any stop or molestation as their was formerly in time of Peace VI. That the Administration of Justice shal be restored and set up through all the Kingdoms of both Kings to which the Subjects of either may have recourse for reparation if any Damnage or Inâ—thy shall be offered to them VII The saids Kings do mutually promise to deliver up to each other all Countries Islands Forts and Colonies wheresoever situated which were poâ—â—est by either of them before the Declaration of this present War VIII Commissioners shall be appointed on both sides to adjust and determine the Pretensiions which either of the saids Kings hath to the places situated in Hudâ—ons-bay The saids Commissioners to meet in London within three Moneths and to determine the matter within six XI That all Letters of reprisal and marque shall be made null and void and shall not be granted hereafter by either of the saids Kings against the Subjects of the other unless it be first made manifest that right was required and denyed X. Provision is made for preventing any Disputes which may arise concerning the restitution of Ships Merchandises c. which either party may complain of â—aken and detain'd from the other in remoâ—e places after the Peace is concluded and before it be notified there XI That if by Imprudeâ—ceâ— any Subject of either of the Kings shall commit any Act any where contrary to the present â—reaty that Act shall not infringe or make voâ—d the said Treaty only the said person shall Answer for his own Fact and receive â—unishment for the same according to the custom and Law of Nations XII If War happen to break out again betwixt the two â—ings which God forbid tâ—e Goods of the Subjects on either side shall not be conâ—â—scated or stopâ— but six Moneths shall be allowed for removing and carrying off the same XIII The Most Christian King promises in reality to the King of Great Brittain the â—rincipality of Oraneâ— and all otâ—er Lands and Dominions belonging to the said King conform to the separat Article of the Treaty of Nimeguen concluded between the Most Christian King and the States General of the united â—rovinces the 10th of August 1678 together wâ—th all the â—râ—fits and Interest due to him ever since he was dispossessed of the same in tâ—e time of the War which was ended by the Treaâ—y of Nimeguen XIV The Most Christian King ratisies all the Articles made between him and the late Elector of â—râ—ndeâ—burgh at St Germans in Laye the 29th of June 1679. XV. He ratifies also the Treaty and Agreement made between him and his Highness the Duke of Savoy on the 9th of August 1660. XVI Both the saids Kings allow to be comprehended in this Treaty all who shall be named by either Party with mutual consent before the exchange of ratification or within six Moneths after Especially the Serene and Mighty Prince Charles King of Sweden sole Mediator in the Grand Treaty XVII And Lastly Both the foresaid Kings appoint that this agreement and Alliance made in due form shall be delivered on both sides and mutually and duly exchanged at the Royal Palace of Reswick in the Pâ—ovince of â—olland within three Weeks from the day of the â—ubscription or sooner if it may be In ' Testimony whereof the former Articles were Signed by the English and French Embassadors and by the extraordinary Ambassador Mediator INDEX ABdicat debated in Parliament 77 Ackmet Sultan dyes 146 Addressis to King Charles 25 And Rejected Ib. Act of Parliament in England against a Popâ—sh King and Quâ—en 87 Act of Recognition in Scotland 79 Aeth taken by the French 157 Agria yeilded to Count Carassa 65 A brim Battle 114 Alba Regalis and Lippa yeilded to the Emperour 70 Alliance between the Emperour Pole and Venice 36 Altercations about the Basis of the Treaty at Reswick 159 Argyle Earl of convicted of high Treason 31 Makes his Escape 32 Lands in Scotland is taken and Beheaded in Edinburgh 45 He dyed piously Ib. Argos Battle 147 Asoph taken by the Ozar of Moscovie 157 Athlone taken by General Ginkle 113 Ausburg League 35 Auxiliaries Names for the Empeâ—our against the Turks 39 BAden Prince of takes Five Churches Syclos c. 57 Burns â—sseck Ib. Beates Count Teckley out of Transilvania 1â—7 Comes to England 133 Ganonades the Fyench Camp at Newstadâ— 1â—2 Barkan Battâ—e 39 Bavaria Elâ—ctress dyes 127 Belgrade taken by Storm by the Duke of Pavarid 71 Retaken by the Turks 107 Beseiged by the Duke of Croy 132 Berkley Lord of attaques Brest and comes off with loss 134 Bombards Deip c. 136 And St. Malo's 142 And Calais and St. Martins 152 Beverning adjusts the Peace with France 4 Censured for it 12 Bishop of London Suspended 53 Bâ—shops Seven refused to Read King James's Declaration 69 They are Imprisoned tryed and acquâ—tted Ib. Bill of Exclusion rejected by the House of Lords 27 Bonne taken by the Duke of Lorrain and Brandenburgh 84 Boyle Robert Esq dyes 127 Boyn Battle in Ireland 92 Brandenburgh Flector of his Letter to the French King 16 And to the States of Holland 18 His Death 77 Battle at Brâ—d 71 Bouster takes Cochein 83 Brussels bâ—mb'd by Villeroy 142 Butschin taken by Dunewald 64 Buda beseidged by Lorrain 41 Seidge raised lb. Beseâ—dged again by him and taken by Storm 56 C. CAlamburg Battle 38 Cambray Citadel yeilded to the French 3 Cambrun Battle 116 Carricksergus taken by the Duke of Schomberg 81 Carignan Battle 103 Carmagnola yeilded to the French 117 Retaken by Pâ—â—nce Fugine 118 Castlemain Earl of sent to Rome by Ring James 63 Castlenovo taken by General Cornaro 66 Catalonia Insurection 102 Catalonia a Conflict 152 Canissa yeilded to the Emperour 105 Casal yeilded 145 Cessation of Armes betwen France and the Confederates 6 Cessation between the Emperour and the Turks 60 Charles King joins with the Dutch 7 His new Councellors after the Popish Plot 22 Makes Allyance with the Dutch 25 His Death and Character 44 Charter of London made void 32 Charters of all Towns of England questioned 34 Charleroy yeilded to the French 131 Ciclut and Cobluch taken by General Delphino 138 Cochein taken by Bouslers 38 Colâ—â—dge Steven Executed 31 Coloâ—n Elector made Prince of â—â—â—â—â—ge 135 Commission High by King James 35 Commons House voted the Crown vaccant 77 Comâ—â— prodigious 29 Couinsmark defeats the Turks and takes new Novorino 59 Conâ—â—ess at Nameguen 1 Corâ—â—th Sparia Athens taken by Moâ—osini 67
within three Moneâ—â—s and that he himself will ratify is within six Weeks And this ended thus long and bloody War in Europe But with much dissâ—isfaction to almost all the Allies Especidly Denmark and Bâ—andeâ—burg but many wayes advantagious to France and withal not very Honoâ—â—rable to England whose Mediation contiâ—ed even to the last and yet had not the happiness of Signing any one of the Treanes SECT 5. Sect. 5 Now let us return home And enquire what has been doing in England all this while In the preceeding year Popish-Plot in England â—â—ptember 29. 1678. about the 29 of September 1678. Doctor Oates made a Discovery of a Popish Plot agâ—inst the Life of the King the Protestant Religion and for the Subversion of the Government on which Sir George Wakeman the Queens Physician Coleman Secretary to the Dutchess of York and several Jesuites and Preists were apprehended and committed As were not long after the Earl of Powis Viscount Stafford Lord Arundel of Warder Lord Petre and Lord Bâ—asis these last five were all committed Prisoners in the Tower of London Sir Edmundbury Godfrey a Justice of peace Sir Edmundbury Godfrey Murdered who was appointed to Examine the Prisoners first committed was Murdered on the 12 of October which confirmed all Men in beliefe of the Conspiracy and on the 1st of November the Parliament Nemine Contradicente did declare themselves fully perswarded of the same Soon after Godfreys Murther came to be discovered by one Bedlow prompted thereto by his Conscience on whose evidence and one Prance's Green Berty and Hul were Convicted and Executed Examinations And farther Inquiries relating to the Plot going on for two or three Moneths The long Parliament dissolved and and another called to sit the 6th of March in all which time the King continued seâ—mingly doubtful and incredulous of the same and finding the Parliament more Zealous and forward in prosecuting that Affair then he approved of on the 24th of January Dissolves them after they had sat seventeen Years and above eight Moneths And called another to sit the 6th of March following On the 28th of February He requires the Duke of York by a Letter to withdraw from England Duke of York leaves England which he obeys and retires with his Family first to the Hague and then to Brussels To make all things appear more pausible The King choses a New Council viz. Names of the Privy Councillers 1 Prince Rupert 2 Arch Bishop of Canterbury 3 L. Finch Chancellor 4 Earl of Shalsburry Lord President of the Council 5 Earl of Anglesay Privy Seal 6 Duke of Albemarle 7 Duke of Monmouth Master of Horse 8 Duke of Newcastle 9 Duke of Lauderdale Secretary of State for Scotland 10 Earl of Salisbury 11 Earl of Bridgewater 12 Earl of Sunderland Secretary of Stato for England 13 Earl of Essex 1 st Commissioner of the Treasury 14 E. of Bath Groom of the Stool 15 Viscount Falconbridge Viscount Hallifax 16 Lord Bishop of London 17 Lord Roberts 18 Lord Hollis 19 Lord Russel 20 Lord Cavendish 21 Henry Coventry Esquire Secretary of State 22 Sir Francis North Lord Cheif-Justice of Common Pleas. 23 Henry Capel Knight of the Bath and 1st Commissioner of the Admirality 24 Sir John Ernley Knight Chancellor of the Exchequer 25 Sir Thomas Chichely Knight Mr of the Ordinance 26 Sir William Temple 27 Edward Seymor Esqr 28 Henry Poule Esqr Take notice We have stept back to bring up the the English Plot and other Affairs of Brittain begun in 1678 and join them now to the year 1679. The King finding his new Parliament slow in advancing Money for disbanding the Army Parliament dislolved and one called to sit the â—7 of October 1679 and withall beginning to nible at a Bill for Excluding the Duke of York first he prorogues them from the twenty seventh of May to the fourteenth of August and in the mean time July the twelth he dissolves them So as this Parliament proved as short lived as the former was long And another Parliament is called to sit the seventeenth of October following SECT 6. Sect. 6 At this time troubles began to arise in Scotland for on the first of June a great party of the Presbeterions to the Number of fifteen Hunder'd Rendevouz'd under the Command of Robert Hamilton at Lowden-hill and Marching to Glasgow from thence Issued a Declaration Covenanters up in Armes in Scotland giving their reasons for taking up of Armes But this business has been so often and so fully published and so universally known as I think a repetition or a particular Relation of the progress and event altogether unnecessary farther then to tell you that the King sent the Duke of Monmouth speedily down to Scotland who so managed the matter Defeated by the Duke of Monmouth June 22. 1679. that on the twenty second of June Encountering this ill governed multitude at Bothuel-bridge he defeated them totally near eight Hundered being killed and a greater Number taken And so an end was put to this undertaking Tho the main designe was to render the Duke of Monmouth Odious to the Presbiterians Duke of Monmouth declared a Baâ—â—aâ—d by sending him on this expedition yet it proved quite otherwayes for the whole Protestant party were now so affrayed of a Popish Successor that they cast their eyes on Monmouth so favourably as they lookt on him as the only Person after the Kings death to stave off the Succession of his Brother whom they so much dreaded so this project failing the next was to declare him â—llegitâ—â—te which on the third of March following the King did very solemnly giving it in writing with his own hand it these words Given under the Kings hand For the avoyding of any dispute which may happen in time to come Concerning the Succession of the Croun I do hereby declare in the presence of Almighty GOD that I never gave nor made any Contract of Marriage noâ— was Married to any Woman in whatsoever but to my present wife Queen Kathaâ—â—â—e now living CHARLES REX Whitehall March the third 1679. CHAP. V. Anno 1680. An. 1680. Duke of York returns to England About the latter end of August 1680 the King fell sick which the Duke of York heâ—ing of he came to England and on the second of September went to the King at Windsor the Consequent whereof was the Banishment of the Duke of Monmouth Monmouth banished who reteired to Vtrecht and a little after the Duke of York went back to Bruss is but with no design to stay long there for on the twelth of October he with his whole Family arrived at St James's to the astonishment of many And on the twenty seventh of November after Both return soon to England All Monmouths places taken from him the Duke of Monmouth came to London being welcomed by the Citizens with all possible expressions of Joy which so displeased the Court and Irritated the King as all his
places of prosite and trust are Immediatly taken from him And soon after the Duke of York is sent down High Commissioner into Scotland Duke of York goes to Scotland Well the Parliament in England meeting the seventeen of October as was ordered by the King The first Compliment they met with The Parliament proroged 5 times in one year was a prorogation to the twenty sixt of January and from thence to the fifth of April 1680. and from thence to the seventeenth of May and again to the first of July and again to the twenty first of October graciously declaring they should then sit and do business The whole Nation being deeply greived with these strange proceedings especially that of hindering the Parliament to sit several Addresses were made by three or four Counties Addresses from several Counties to the King but all rejected humbly beseeching his Majesty to case them of their greivances but no satisfactory answer was given nor to be expected Things going on at this rate in England and the Duke ruleing all as he pleased in Scotland there could be no serious prosecution of the Popish Hot nay it was so ridiculed by Estrange The Plot ridiculed and others of the Court party as indifferent men began to doubt if any such thing was or no. While in the mean time the Popish Faction began to trump up a new Plott upon the dissenters King Charles finding himself weak at home King Charles makes Alliance with Holland and indeed having made himself so thought it necessary to strengthen himself by some Foreign Alliance And to that end sends Mr. Henry Sidney now Earl of Rumney Embassador to Holland to propose to the States the making a Treaty of Guarranty for the Peace Concluded at Nimeguen The French King hearing of this earnestly indeavours to defate the design and by his Embassador Monsieur D'avaux then resident in Holland proposes an Alliance with them the same being moved at the same time by Monsieur Colbert to the States Embassador in Paris Mr. Sidney gives in a Memorial against this motion with many insinuating Arguments which was answered by Count D'avaux but in more threatening Tearms The States haveing weighed the Arguments on both sides in the Scales of security and interest at last the ballance was cast in favour of England all the Provinces unanimously agreeing thereto except Gronningen and Ommelands who inclined more to the French but being over-ruled by plurality of votes Alliance with England is Concluded The Dauphing Married to the Duke of Bavaria sister The French King failing in this project proposes Alliance with the Duke of Bavaria by Marrying the Dauphin to the Dukes sister which is agreed on and soon-after Consummated SECT 2. Sect. 2 In February 1680. The Emperor and Empyr by several Letters and Memorials acquainted the dyet at Rattibone The Emperour complains of the French Kings breach of the late Treaty that they found themselves aggrieved that the French had already Contraveened the Peace in no less then twelve Material Particulars and that quite contrary to all the Treaties both of Westphaita and Nimeâ—uâ—n And the dyet Examining the matter fully and finding it to be so intreated the Emperor in behalfe of himself and the Empyr by his Letters or Embassie to require reparation of the same from the French King But for all these Remonstrances he was so far from giving the proposed Satisfaction as he began to enlarge his limits in Alsatia And soon after a paper was published as was pretended by the French King bearing that in case the Dauphin were chosen King of the Romans most of the Towns detained from the Emperor should be restored that ane Army of sixty Thousand French should be maintained in Hungary against the Turks without any Charge to the Empyre and a Considerable Fleet should be imployed against the Turks towards the Dardanello's with many other plausible propositions but these being little taken notice of the French King incroaches severely on the Prince Palatine which makes the Emperor and Empyr complain in every Court where there was any hope of releif particularly the States of Holland were solicited to Employ their bâ—st Offices at the French Court that these Contraventions might cease and be abolished but the States finding that notwithstanding all the French Kings Caressess and fair promises that their addresses to him in behalfe of the King of Spain their Alliâ— had taken so little effect they thought it needless to expect any better sâ—ccesse in this and therefore they made no progress in it Flanders and Italy allarmed by the French Nor was iâ— Germany only that thought her self Injured for in the Spring the French made incursions in the province of Nâ—muâ— possessing themselves of above fourty villages and the Princes of Italy were Allarmed also by the French Troops marching to take Possession of Cassâ—l sold by the Duke of Mantua to the French King for four Millions of Livers SECT 3. Sect. 3 About this time King Charâ—es makes an Alliance with Spain as he had done with Holland And at the sitting of the Parliament which was on the twentieth first of October 1â—80 As he had formerly promised he desires Money of them for the releif of Tanâ—â—er and that they should not medle with the Succession of the Croun but to proceed to the discovery of the Hot and Tryal of the Popish Lords Bill of Exclusion by the house Commons The Parliament taking this into Consideration and finding no expedient for securing of the Protestant Religion while the Duke of York had any Prospect of the Crown they resolve on a Bill for his Total Exclusion which passed in the House of Commons the eleventh of November 1680. The bill of Exclusion is so universally known in these Kingdomes as I thought it but needless to insert it here Rejected by the Lords The Bill being presented to the House of Lords was by them rejected and after the first Reading a vote passed that it should not be allowed a second Reading which gave it such a dash as the House of Commons did not farther insist on it Lord Stafford executed And then the Parliament prâ—ceeded to the Tryal of the Lord Stafford who being convicted was Executed on the seventh of December 1680 The next thing they fell on was the prosecuting and displaceing all Abhorrers of petitioning the King for the meeting of the Parliament the Chief of those were Sir Francis Withens Sir George Jeffâ—â—yes Recorder of London Sir Thomas Iones a Judge of the Kings Bench Sir Richard Westone a Barron of the Exchequer and Sir Francis North Chief Jâ—stâ—ce of the Common pleas who for his good service in Sentenceing to Death Steven Colledge at Oxford had the great Seal of England Committed to his Custody As to the Kings demand of Money for releife of Tangieâ— The Commons refuse mâ—ney to the King or what ever pretended occasion the Parliament altogether declined it giving in many
French under the Command of Monsieur Louvois who it is believed had before this time secretly corrupted severals of the Inhabitants of that City He using great diligence and secrecy appears before the Town with a great number of Troops On the 28th of September seizes on the Fort of Kieâ— that guards the Bridge of the City and presently summonds the Magistrates to render the Oath of Fidelity and obedience to the King his Master Whereupon the Magistrates make no hesitation to submit only for formes sake they propose some Conditions which were agreed to and Signed the 30th of September 1681. And tho this sudden and strange Act. Allarum'd both the Empire and the Emporour himself yet the former was so intent on keeping up a suffiâ—ient force against the Incroachments of France And the Latter having all his thoughts busied how to defend himself and the Empire against the Invasion of the Turks which threatned him and came on next year that this business of Strarburg was little minded or regarded at this time CHAP. VII Anno 1682. We return again to England The Ignoramus Bill of my Lord Sâ—astsbury stuck so deep in the Stomachs of the Court faction The Charter of London questioned as they set all their Wits on the Tenter hooks how to take the Election of Sherisls out of the power of the City for doing which no expedient could be found An. 1683. but by taking away their Charter to which end in Hillary Term 1682 they bring a quo warranto against the City Judgement against the City and so the King and the City enter the Lists which occasioned strife Debeats and hard Struglings on both sides for a long time but in Conclusion the Court party prevailing in Trinity-term following Judgement is given against the City to the general astonishment of the whole Nation Prince Ruperts Death On the 29th of November 1692 Dyed Prince Rupert in his House in Spring-Garden in the sixty three years of his Age Beloved generally of all England and his Death bewailed CHAP. VIII Anno 1683. SECT I. Sect. 1 Now the Court frames a new Plot and father it on the Presbyterians of surprizing the Guards Presbyterian Plot of Murdering the King and his Brother on their return from New-mercat and of raising the People at Blackheath on a pretended Foot-Ball match The main design being against the Earl of Essex and the Lord Russel who are presently apprehended and confined in the Tower where in a few days after it was given out Essex murdered in the Tower that the Earl of Essex had cut his own Throat but by many remarkable circumstances and especially the odd proceedings at the Coroners inquest the certainty of this lyes under great suspition and is much doubted of by all impartial and uninterested persons That very day on which Essex Murder happened the Lord Russel was on his Tryal Lord Russel Executed July 21th 1683 and being Condemned was Executed in Lincolnes Inn fieilds a few days after protesting his innocence at his last Hour and leaving a Paper in the Sheriffs Hands to declare the same to the World dated July 21. 1683. But too long to be inserted hero These Tragical Acts were followed with the Execution of Bateman And three more soon after Walcot and Rouse And though some escaped with Life yet they were oppressed with exorbitant Fines from Ten thousand to an hundered Thousand Pounds for Scandalous Words against the Duke of York The next person of quality brought on the Stage was the Honourable Collonel Sidney a Man inferior to few for his Noble Extract Algernoon Siâ—ney Impeached Condemned and Executed but for his excellent vertues hardly to be matcht by any who being ranked in the same Categorie with Essex and Râ—ssâ—â— Conâ—piring to depose the King and stirring up Rebellion is Impeached convicted and Condemned for High Treason and Executed on Tower-hill the 7th of December 1683 making such an excellent Speech on the Scaffold as makes the name and Memory of Algernoon Sidney Savory and famous SECT 2. Sect. 2 Notwithstanding these Bloody proceedings somewhat more was requisite to making the King an absolute Despotical Prince The Charters of all Corporations questioned and that was to ingross the Charters of all the Corporations in England and get them wholly in the Kings Hands as they had that of London knowing that this would quite subvert and alter the constitution of the Parliament For the House of Commons consisting of Five hundered and Thirteen Membâ—rs whereof only Ninety two are Knights of Shires near five parts of six must consist of Burgesses and Citizens and all those if this project take effect must doubtless be of the Kings chusing and must have their dependency on the Court favour and so it may be easily judged where the plurality of Votes would run when matters fell in debate between the Court and its opponents So all the Wits about Court are actively employed in carrying on of this important Affair which by many strange and irregular methods at last they accomplished A farther step the Court made by demolishing and quirting the Garison of Tangier Tangier quitted and demolished and the Forces brought over to Enland the keeping whereof for above twenty years had cost the King an Hundered thousand pound per annum and by bringing over the Forces being most part Papists both Officers and Souldiers and quartering them in the most considerable parts of England In this pitiful state we shall leave England for a while and take a view of the terrible War ensueing betwixt the Emperour of Germany and the Turks The French Kings pretensions in Germany Flanders c. In the mean time take notice that the French King not only Seizes the Towns of Homburg and Bissul the only two places remaining to the Duke of Lor rain of all his Dutchy but ripping up all the old Monuments and Records of the Parliament of Metz he indeavours by them to prove a Title to many Countries and Villages both in Germany and Flanders and actually claymes them This did so allarme all the potentats on the Continent as the Emperour Swâ—dland and the States of Holland Franconia and several other free and Imperial Cities enter into a Mutual League of Defence The league of Ausburg which was called the League of Ausburg In bringing which to pass the Prince of Orarge was Eminently active But the King of England was not at all concerned in this grand affaires on which my Author makes a-severe re-mark SECT 3. Sect. 3 But tó returne to Germany and Hungary take notice of the ground of this War which was occasioned by a discontented party in Hungary of whom Count Teckeley became the sole Head after the fall of Serins several Expedients being proposed for accommodating matters between them and taking no effect nothing would satisfie the mal-contents but the calling in of the Turks to assist them The Emperour finding them resolved on this thought
the Gulf of Prevesa And Landing some Forces raised two Batteries on the East and West sides of the Town which after some resistance He takes Sancta Maura surrendered on Articles about the latter end of July wherein they found Eighty peices of Brass-Cannon and great quantity of Ammunition and Provisions From thence the Captain General Steers towards Prevesa and lays Seige to it the 20th of September And plying it briskly with Cannons and Bombs by Sea and Land till the twenty eight And Prevesa the Enemy desired to Capitulate and Articles being agreed on they Matched out on the 30th of September leaving behind them Fourty four Cannon eighteen whereof shot a fifty pound Ball with a great quantity of Ammunition and Provisions After which the Venetians went to their Winter Quaters at Corsu The Venetian Troops were successful in Dalmatia also this Campaign Venetians successful in Dalmatia for they beat the Turks in several small Rencounters making Incursisions into their Quarters An. 1685. and still returning with Victory and Booty They took in the Isle of Narenta and the Castle of Narim and then retired to their Winter Quarters And so we conclud this year 1684. CHAP. X. Anno 1685 Death of King Ch the 2d The first thing remarkable in the year 1685. is The Death of Charles the 2d King of great Brittain who dyed of an Appoplexy on Saturnday the 7th of February in the 37. year of his Reign after he had lived 54 years 8. Moneths and 8 days passing over the the first part of the Character my Author gives of him I take notice only of the latter part His Character which says he was a Prince the most fit to govern of any other and applyed himself the least to it which was great pity since he had such an insight into Men and things that no Monarch of his Age could pretend to compare with him besides a mild Disposition which made him at his Death be so universally Lamented by all sorts of his Protestant Subjects especially by the Dissenters and that more out of fear of his Successor then any great kindness to him A witty Quaker appearing very jovial and all about him seeming sad was asked his reason for being so who Answered They had two to deal with before and now GOD he thanked they had but one Now the Duke of York ascends the Throne and the same day his Brother dyed King James Speech to the Privy Council Assembled the Council and declared that he intended to follow his Brothers example in clemency and tenderness to his People That he would make it his business to preserve the Government both in Church and State as established by Law he commended the Church of Englands Pâ—inciples and Members and that as he would never depart from the just Prerogatives of the Crown so he would never invade any Mans Property King James being solemnly Crowned at Westminster the twenty third of April 1685 King James Crowned He appoints a Parliament to meet the Twenty second of May after to whom Repeating much of what he had said to the Council His Speech to the Privy Council repeated to the Parliament and his demand of Money he proceeded to the demanding a large supply of Money laying before them many plausible Reasons and Arguments for moving them thereto The Parliament being in a manner fashioned and moulded before to his Inclinations not only settled the Customs and temporary Excise upon him as they were before upon his Brother but laid a new Imposition upon Wines Vinegar Sugar Tobacco and other Commodities so as in short his revenue with the hereditary Excise and other Revenues of the Crown amounted to Two Millions four hundered thousand Pounds per annum Which is granted to which add an Hundered and fifty thousand Pounds per annum which he had when Duke of York the whole amounted to Two Millions and five hundered and fifty thousand Pounds per annum SECT 2. Sect. 2 The King then acquainted the Parliament That he had News from Scotland of the Earl of Argyles Landing in the Highlands Argyle lands in Scotland That he had put out two Declarations one of which he presently communicated to them Which is so generally known in Scotland and elsewhere as saves me the Labour of repeating it here To be short in a few dayes after the Earl's small Forces were dissipated and each Man shifted for himself And he himself falling unhappily into the hands of a Country-man was soon after brought to Edinburgh He is taken and Executed at Edinburgh he dyed very piously where for his former unpardonable Crime reqâ—ireing care should be taken for the Protestant Religion and for explaining himself on taking the Test this brave tho unfortunate Man was beheaded June the 30. But a blacker Cloud appeared about this time in the West of England Monmouth lands in England by the Duke of Monmouths Landing at Lyme in Dorset-shire on the 12. of June where he presently put out an ample Declaration in his own name and the rest of his followers Which Declaration being very large and being generally known all Brittain over I shall now overpass The Prince of Orange hearing of Monmouths Landing in England Prince of Orange offer to King James presently sends over the Six English Regiments in the Dutch Service and Pay and by Monsieur Benting not only offers King James the loan of his Troops but to come in person and command his Army if his Majesty pleased But before Benting reached London Skelton King James Envoy at the Hague had sent the King so bad a Character of the Prince Rejected as he told Benting that their common Interest required the Princes stay in Holland and hinted as much to him as he thought his Zeal for his Service was not seasonable at that time and this was the thanks the Prince had for his Service offered Providence so favoured King James at this time as the Duke of Monmouths Forces are defeated at Sedgemore Monmouth Executed and he being taken soon after was brought to London and Beheaded on the 15. of July Jessereys Bloody Work in the West Hereupon followed the Tragical proceedings in the West The Lord chief Justice Jessereys being cloathed with a Commission of Oyer and Terminer to try and prosecute all who had any way appeared or concurred with Monmouth At Dorchester 30. being Impeached he hang'd Twenty nine of them and again of two hundered and fourty three eighty suffered and almost as many at Exeter at last he finished his Bloody Assizes at Tauntoun and Wells where above 500. were Condemned and of them 239. were Executed Yet for all his Bloody Humour Covetousness put in for a share For he had the Conscience to take Fourteen thousand and Five hundered Pounds for saving the Life of one Man And Kirks also Nor was Collonel Kirk much short of him in Cruelty for at Taunton he caused Ninety
might be published which was done At St. James's about Sixty Peers Sign'd an Association and meeting with the Commons at Westminster on the 25. of December they Sign and present an Address to the Prince desiring him to take upon him the Administration of Affairs both Civil and Military till the Meeting of a Convention the 22d of January which he agreed to And so we conclude this Year with the Death of one of the most generous and bravest Princes in Europe An. 1689 Elector of Brandenburg his Death the Elector of Brandenburg who dyed the 10. of May the Sixty Ninth Year of his Age. CHAP. XIV Anno 1689 SECT 1. Sect. 1 The Convention of Parliament meeting the 22d of January fall presently to their work The Commons Vote the Throne Vacant and the first Vote passed in the House of Commons is as followeth Resolved That King Jame the 2d having endeavoured to subvert the Constitution of this Kingdom by breaking the Original Contract between King and People and by the Advice of Jesuites and other wicked persons having violated tho Foundamental Laws and having withdrawn himself out of this Kingdom hath Abdicated the Government and that the Throne is thereby Vacant Debeat about the word Abdicate This was sent up to the House of Lords who not liking the word Abdicated Erazed it and put in the word Deserted This alteration the Commons would on no terms allow This occasioned a stiffe debate between the Two Houses for several days at last on a inutnal conference held on the 5th of February the Lords agreed to the Vote in the first Terms Voted by the Commons The next thing taken into consideration WILLIAM and MARY Voted and Declared King and Queen was the Form of Government to be established and after Mature deliberation a Declaration is drawn up wherein all King James's Enormities and Miscarriages in Government are fully held forth for which Reasons and because of his Abdicating the Government the Throne is Vacant And finally It is resolved and finally declared that WILLIAM and MARY Prince and Princess of Orange shall be King and Queen of England with the Dominions thereto belonging dureing Their Lives and the Life of the Surviver of them And after their Deceases the Crown and Royal Dignity to be succeeded to by the Heirs of the Body of the said Princesse And for default of such â—ssue by the Princess Ann of Denmark and the Heirs of her Body And for default of such Issue to the Heirs of the Body of the said Prince of Orange And the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons do Pray the said Prince and Princess of Orange to accept of the same accordingly And that the Oaths hereafter mentioned be taken by all persons of whom the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy might be taken in Law in stead of them And that the said Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy be abrogated The Oath of Allegiance I A. B. Do sincerely Promise and Swear That I will bear Faith and true Allegiance to Their Majâ—sties King WILLIAM and Queen MARY So help Me GOD. Oath of Abjuration I do Swear That I do from my Heart Abhor Detest and Abjure as Impious and Heretical this Damnable Doctrine and Position that Princes Excommunicated or deprived by the Pope or any Authority of the See of Rome may be deposed or Murthered by their Subjects or any other whatsoever And I do declare that no Forreign Prince Person Prelate State or Potentate hath or ought to have any Jurisdiction Power Superiority Preheminence or Authority Ecclesiastical or Spiritual within this Realm Soon after the King and Queen are proclaimed and so take peaceable possession of the English Crown SECT 2. Sect. 2 A Convention of the States of Scotland met about this time and the Throne is declared Vacant there also Act of Recognition in Scotland and an Act of Recognition is drawn up which is so generally known as I need nor here repeat it Only the substance of it was to declare the now King and Queen of England c. to be King and Queen of Scotland also And the same Oath of Allegiance as was Sworn in England to be Sworn in Scotland also William and Mary declared King and Queen of Scotland This Act being past The Earl of Argyle Sir John Dâ—lrymple and Sir Robert Montgomery of Skermurly are sent up Commissionâ—rs and on the 11 of May tendered the Coronâ—tion Oath to Their Majesties who holding up their Right Hands repeated it word by word after the Earl And immediatly the Convention was turned into a Parliament Castle of Edinburgh surrendered On the 13. of June the Duke of Gordon Sur rendered the Castle of Edinburgh And on the 16 of July there was an Engagement between Major General Mckay Dundee killed and the Lord Dundee at Kiâ—licrankie where the former was defeated and the latter killed in the Field After whose Death King James's party dwindeled away doing nothing considerable thenceforth For soon after Leivtenent Collonel Cleland with the Earl of Augus's single Regiment engaged with near Four thousand of them at Dunkel and gave them an entire overthrow where the Leivtenent Collonel a very brave Man was unfortunatly killed SECT 3. Sect. 3 Tho matters went backward with King James's party in Scotland Tirconel was Active in Ireland Tirconel Active its Ireland leaving a great many Regiments of the Irish and with all possible Diligâ—nâ—e Arming them and training them up in Martial Exercise to make them capable of Service when ever the late King should hâ—ve use for them The late King bemoaning his Caâ—amity to the Emperour Craved his Assistance Who Answers him with many pertinent and reasonable Exâ—uses Emperors Letter to the late King why he could not be serviceable to him at that time his circumstances being considered and withal gives him a modest but sharp Reprimand for the bad measures he had taken in putting his whole confidence in France and rejecting the offers of such Allies as would have been more freindly and faithfull to him But though the late King had small encouragement from the Emperour Ireland or any other Prince except the French King being informed of Tirconnels diligent endeavours in Ireland The late King goes to Ireland thither he goes with about a Thousand eight hundred French Auxiliaries and landed the 12 of March 1689. and found a great number in Armes for him and almost all the Countrey at his Devotion save a fâ—w in the North who for want of Encouragement and Aid from England were unable to make any considerable debeat and on the 14 of March were defeated by Livetenant General Hamilton at Drumore most of them flying to Londonderry and Inneskillin where they defended themselves with great Bravery till relieved by Collonel Kirks Arrival in the Lough where he lay seven or eight Weeks before he gave any relief to Londonderry being hindered as he alledged by cross Winds though a worse cause was
seize and secure him Montmelian yeilded to the French By this time the Duke of Bavaria with Eight thousand Germans comes up on which Catinat repasses the Po and sends the Marquess de Hoquincourt to beseige Montinelian who took it a trice but the Castle held out still The Dukes of Savoy and Bavaria did what they could to draw Catinat to a Battle which he altogether declin'd And passing the Po Carmagnola taken by Prince Eugina Prince Eugine invested Carmagnola on the 27 of September and on the 8 of October the Garison Capitulat and surrendered on Honourable Terms Montmelian Fortress yeilded to Catinate Not withstanding this Catinat has orders to attack the Fortress of Mountmelian which he did on the 16 of November wherein conflicting both with the rigour of the Season and a desperat Enemy he overcame all with that patience and constancy as the Fortress was Surrendered to him on the 22d of December upon Honourable Terms by which place the French became entire Masters of all the Dutchy of Savoy SECT 4. Sect. 4 In Hungary Hungary Prince Lewis of Baden headed the Imperial Army near Peter Waradin from thence Prince of Paden worsted by the French in August he marched towards the Enemy who encamped at Semom on the Save where he used all means to draw them out of that fastness wherein they were so securely Encamped with a hundred and fifty peices of Cannon all mounted on Batteries which seing he could not effect he retreated towards Salankemen The Turks thinking he fled pursue him which pleased him very well On the 18. of August he posted his Army on all the rising Hills about Salankemen By this time the Turkish Army was come pretty near and in the mean time Buquo's Regiment of Dragoons being detacht to secure two hundred Wagoons who were coming from Peter Waradin was surrounded by the Enemy and after a valiant resistance were all killed and taken and the same day the Recruits of Hoffkirken and Caprara's Regiments fell under the same misfortune all the Women Baggage Waggons and Led-horses were lost with two hundred Waggon load of Provisions and twelve hundred Oxen that drew them In the mean time the Prince observed that the Enemy were posted on much more advantagious Ground than his own Army and finding a necessity either of hazarding to attack them in their Camp or starving in the place his Provisisions being almost exhausted he generously resolved on the former nnd on the next day being the 19 of August he put all things in order to the best advantage The great battle at Salankemen The Prince draws out his Army and with undaunted Courage marches on and attacks the Enemy who received him with great resolution It was near 3 in the afternoon before the Armies were fully Engaged but once Engaged there was Bloody work on all sides till night came on about which time the Turks being over powered with downright force and fury fell in disorder and in short betook themselves to flight the Christians pursued them till it fell dark and all next day killing a great many who had hid themselves in the Boggs and amongst the rushes and then possessed themselves of the feild of Battale and of all their Tents Cannon Baggage Amunition and all other Provisions The Tinks routed The loss on both sides was very great the Conquerors themselves owning that they had near seven thousand killed and wounded and among them many good Officers But of the Turks they reckoned no less then eighteen thousand killed in the Battle and almost all their Officers were killed wounded and taken Prisoners And to compleat the Victory The Grand Visier killed and eighteen thousand Turk not only the Serasquer Basha and the Capital Aga of the samsaries were found amongst the slain but the Grand-Visier Cupergh also who was the most accomplisht person in all the Ottoman Empire Several towns taken all Sclavonia reduced to the Emperours obedience After this General Capraâ—a took Lippa And in Sclavonia The Duke of Croy took Broâ—a Grandisca Possega and Baâ—aros so as all â—clavonia became intirely reduced under the Emperours obedience Yet at great Wâ—raâ—in Seige they had not so good successe for tho the imperial Troops attackt it with much Vigour yet they could not prevail against it so as after all they were forced to turn the Seige into a Blockade with which ended the Campaign in Hungary During which time Sir William Hussey the King of Englands Embassador at the Ottoman Fort was Negotrating a Peace betwen the two Empires tho with little appearance of Successe We do not find any thing dono this year by the Venetians worth mentioning King of Poland marches into Moldavia The King of Poland marched his Army twenty thousand strong once more into Moldavia designing to march that way as far as Budziack But he had not marched far into Moldavia till he heard a great body of Taâ—tars were not far from him against whom ho marched but they retreated so fast as he could not overtake them so he marched to Jassi which the Hospodar had quitted and took possession of it He took also Roman Nimick and Novacran And the â—eâ—son being now far spent retreated homeward with his whole Army On the first of February this year dyed Alexander the 8th Pope of Rome Remarkables on this year 1691. Pope Alexander the 8th Monsieur Louvois after he had sit in the Holy Chaire 15 Months and 21 Dayes To whom succeded Pignatelli the Cardinal being then 76. years and 4 moneths old taking on him the Name of Innocent the 12. On the 16th of July dyed the Cheif Minister and Secretary of State in France Monsieus Louvois Duke of Saxonie all die And on the 2â—d of September dyed at Tubing John George Elector of Saxony he had by Anna Sophia daughter of Fredrick the 3d. King of Denmark John George the 4th who was born on the 17th of October 1668. And Fredrick Augustus who by his Brothers death without Heirs became Elector of Saxony and now chosen King of Poland CHAP. XVII Anno 1692 SECT 1. Sect. 1 We begin this year 1692. conform to our former method with our Affairs at home The King having setled all matters with the Farliament according to his own mind The King goes to Holland on the 5th of March he Adjourn'd them to the 12th of Aprile and so he went to Holland where he Landed the 16th of March and after some stay at the Hague he went to Loo and thence to the Army After the Kings departure the Queen had some notice of an invasion intended from France on which she ordered the hasâ—ning out of the Fleet stopt the Forces designed for Flanders with whom and some other Troops she ordered a Camp to be formed near Portsmouth The late King had at that time a considerable Army posted on the Coast of Normandy ready to be Embarked so soon as the French Fleet could come up
furious assault but were repulsed with great loss The Seige raised And the General being informed that the Grâ—novisier was on his March â—â—wards him with Eighty thousand Men he broke up the Seige and made his Retreat without any loss And so the Campaign terminated for this Year on that side Return we now to England England So soon as the King came from Holland he discovered a great dislike of the Sea proceedings that Summer The Kings Speech to the Parliament and presently restored Admiral Russel to his Command of the â—leâ—t And in his Speech to the Parliament on the 7th of November he extenuated the disadvantages at Land which was to be imputed to the far greater numbers of the' Enemy but the misâ—aâ—â—iages at Sea be resentâ—d extremely and threatnâ—d those who had neglected their Duty with severe punishment But withal told them of the extraordinary provisions a making by the French for the next Campaign wherof the States of Hollana taking notice had ordered suitable preparations to be made on their part which he desâ—ed the House of Commons to take into consideration hoping they would concert and settle all matters with that speed and diligence as so weighty and important Affaires required The House of Commons came quickly to a resolution of complying with his Majesties desire for encreasing the Forces both by Sea and Land Bembow's Bombing and Burning some part of Sâ— Malois about this time Prince Laâ—â—â—s of â—â—den comes to England gave some sort of satisfaction to Mens Minds though it made no repatation of our late great loss at Sea And so we â—â—oâ—e this Year on the last day whereof the brave brince â—â—wis of Baden came to Wuâ—â—ehall and next day went to wait on the King at Kinsington An. 1694 who received him with great civility and kindness CHAP. XIX Anno 1694. SECT 1 Sect. 1 This year begins with the sad disaster befell our Fleet in the Medtterrancam where by a violent storm on the 18. and 19 of February Sir Francis Wheellers ship was Founched himself and all his Men lost Sir Francis Wheeler ship wrackt And besides this 9 English ships and 3. Dutch all of good value were driven a shore on the Est side of Gibraltar and most of the Men were drowned but Admiral Neville and the rest of the Fleet happily escaped Parliament prorogued to the 18th of September The Parliament having ordered all things according to the Kings mind by the midle of April he gave them hearty thanks for their kindness to him this Session and so Prorogued them to the 18. of September and soon after he went for Flanders Admiral Russâ—l was early at Sea with our Fleet which was now in very good condition using all means to draw the French to a Fight which they as carefuly avoided and raither than put it to that hazard being Conscious of their own weaknes they chuse makeing a stop into the Mediterranean whither Admiral Russâ—l followes them but before he went he sent off Captain Pickard with 2 Men of War and one Fireship to attack a Fleet of 55. Sail of French Merchant Men lying then in Bertraume Bay which Pickard performed effectually for he burnt and sunk 35 of the 55 Merchants and run the Man of War there Convoy among Rocks and soon after she blew up The Lord Berkâ—eys attempt on Bresâ— Here followes in course the unfortunate attempt made on Brest by the Lord Berkley Admiral of the blew Squadron with 29 Men of War besides smal Fiâ—gats Fireships Well-boats Bomb vessels c. having with him also a considerable number of Land forces under the Command of the resolute Leivtenant General Talmash A Narrative of this unsuccesful Expedition is fully given by the Marquis of Carmarthen Unsuccessful there present to which I refere the reader having no stomach to make a relation of such an unhappy adventure In short besides the damage done to the Ships there were lost four hundred belonging to the Ships and of the Land Forces seven hundred were killed wounded and taken besides the brave Talmash killed there SECT 2. Sect. 2 We make a step now into Flanders The death of the Bishop and Prince of Leige Death of the Bishop and Funce of Leige had almost made a Rupture amongst the Confederats for the French Kings motion for the Cardinal de Bovillions preferment being rejected by the Chapter one part made choise of the Elector of Cologn Brother to Bavaria and the other of the Grand Moster of the Teutonick order who was Brother in Law to the Emperour Which might have made a Fraction between his Imperial Majesty and the Duke of Bavaria but providence prevented this Elector of Cologn prefered to eige by the death of the Grand Master so as fair way was made for the Elector of Cologn without any difficulty or opposition which strengthned much the Consederats power in Flanders The Army now under the Kings command amounted to thirty one thousand and eight hundred Horse and Dragoons all well mounted Arm'd and equip't and fifty one thousand Foot besides seven thousand under the Command of Count Thun But tho the Dauphines Army was not much inseriour in number he used all indeavours to decline Fighting which when the King could not draw him to he Couped him up under the walls of Huâ— and reduced him to considerable straits for a time Where we shall leave them and look after the English Fleet now in the Channel My Lord Berkley brought the Fleet before Dâ—ip in Normandy on the 12th of July And the Bomb-Galiots taking their proper stations Lord Berkley Bombards Dâ—ep presently began their destructive work for from that evening before 4 the next morning they threw in eleven thousand Bombs and Carcasses Which took so good effect as the whole Town was in a manner reduced to ashes From thence he Sailed to Haver de Grace and on the 26 at even the Bombâ— began and playd till next morning And Havre de Grace and so they left it in little better plight than they did Dâ—â—â— In Flanders I find no memorable Action since we left the Armies near Huy only a hastie march the French Army made to prevent the Confederat Army's getting into French Flanders Huy yeelded by the French as it seems the King had design'd but failing in that he sent the Duke of Holstâ—â—â— Ploen with 16 Regiments of Foot to Beseige Huâ— which was carried on so effectually as on the 27 of September it was yeelded up on Articles that the Garison should be convoyed safe to Namur In Catalonta the French Army consisted of thirty thousand Duke of Noailles takes seâ—â—â—â— under the Command of the Duke of Noaâ—â—lâ—s being much stronger than the Spanish Army and earlier in the Fâ—ild to boot Towns in Catalonta On the 30 of May Noailles Beseiged Palamoâ— which he took on the 7 of June by Storm making Prisoners of War all those who escaped
the Sword Which so terrified the Spaniards as they abandoned the Garisons of S' Felix Quinola and the Castle of St Elme On the 19 Noailles laid Seige to Gironue which tho they made a shew of resistance at first they surrendered on the 29. and on Ignominious Terms â—oo And presently after he took in the Towns of Ostralick and Castle Folet making all the Souldiers therein Prisoners of War SECT 3. Sect. 3 By this time Admiral Russel is gâ—t on the Coasts of Spain and down the Meattervanean couping up Tourvilie in his Harbour of Tholoun Admiral Russel in the Straitâ— from whence he attempted once to make his Escape but Russel watched him so narrowly as he drove him in to his Harbour again and leave we him there in souce for the rest of Winter till we see what is a doing in Germany where we find no great Matters Tourvills couped up in Thoulon by him for the Prince of Baden Commanding the Imperial Army and de Lorge the French the Latter passed the Rhine in Jure and marched towards Haiâ—bâ—on near which the Prince was encampâ—d who went out to meet him but at Lorg considering of it declined Fighting and marched towards Wilâ—â—ock the Prince pursues him and near â—â—â—s loâ—k a sharp skirmish happened between the French and Germanâ— wherein the former lost near three hundred and the latter half as many Both Armies moved again and marched towards Landau where there was great expectation of a full engagement but heavy Rains falling frustrated the design And so the Prince with his Army repassed the Rhine carrying away Fourteen thousand Cattle and destroying a vast quantity of Forrage in the Country and some Magazines of the French and herewith ended the Campaign on this side In Savoy there was nothing done this year worthy of Relation And as little in Hurgary for though the Turks were considerably stronger than the Imperialisls yet the Grand Visier could find no means to force Caprara the General to Fight nor durst he attack him in his Cump at Carlowitz So as on the 1st and 2d of October he drew off his Army and sent them into Winter Quarters and published Eight Causes very reasonable for so doing As to Affairs in Venice Venice Their Captain General and Doge Morosini dyed the 6th of January at Napoli de Romama Death of Morosini Doge of Venice and they made choice of Seigmor Zeno for Captain General in his place About the beginning of June General Delsino with Twelve thousand Foot and a thousand Horse landed on the 15 within a Mile of Ciclut General Delsino takes Ciclut and plying the Town horly with Cannon and Mortar and many sharp Assaults he made himself Master of the Town by the 21. of that Month. The Turks were so vexed at the loss of this place as they presently beseige it with Sixteen thousand men but the Garison Delsino left in it made so stout a defence as the Turkâ— after the loss of Two thousand Men were forced to raise the â—eige Cobluch yeilded to Delphino Soon after this Delphino took Cobluch after a Seige of 9 dayes only And on the 7th of September General Steinau Landed with an Army in the Island of Scio Scio yeilded to General Steinau and on the 9. he seised on the Suburbs of the City the next day he played on the Castle with four Cannon and four Mortars and set it on Fire in several parts and on the 14 they sprung a Mine the hideous noise whereof together with the havock the Bombs had made so terrified the defendents as presently they capitulate and surrendered on condition they should be transported safe into lesser Asia which was done accordingly SECT 4. Sect. 4 The Poles seemed still to be the faintest and slowest of the Allies Pole and tho they had Blockaded Camimeck last year Ta tars routed by the Poles at Caminice they could not find themselves strong enough to hinder the Tartars this year from releiving it with no less than Three hundred Waggons laden with all manner of provisions and guarded with Twenty thousand Tartartan Horse most of whom carryed a Sack of Corn behind them and ravaging all the Country about The Poles being enraged herewith fell upon them Killed Three thousand and drove the rest out of the Country and this was all they did this Summer Death of the Elector of Saxony This year on the 7th of May dyed the Elector of Saxony a young Prince and in the full vigour of his Age he dyed of the small Pox at Dresaan The King at his return from Flanders told his Parliament on the 20th of November that all Affairs both by Sea and Land were in a much better posture than when they parted last as in truth they were which gave a great satisfaction to all Queen Mary's Death But Alas That which happened soon after imbittered all our sweet Morsels for this fatal year made a Mournful conclusion by the Death of our most Gracious Soveraign Lady MARY Queen of great Britain France and Ireland who dyed of the small Pox at her Palace of Kinsungton on the 28 of December Many learned Pens have attemped a Character of Her though all came very short of Her Merit But very remarkable was that Answer of the Kings who knew Her best to the Bishop of Canterbury who went to Comfort Him on that great Loss Who saâ—d He could not chuse but Greive seing She had been His Wife for 17. years and yet He never knew Her guilty of an Indiscretion A general Greif for the Queens Death Hereon followed the Parliaments and the whole Nations Condolence of the King upon this great Loss and their Protestations to stand by Him against all opponents whatsoever both at Home and Abroad And if ever Addresses were unseigned and affectionat they were those made upon this occasion since it has been obvious to any Man of observation that that sad Providence did very much heighten Mens Affections to His Majestys Person which being before as it were divided between Him and that Beloved Princess were now entirely cemented into one and all concentered in Him CHAP. XX. An. 1695. SECT 1. Sect. 1 Notwithstanding the universal Sorrow occasioned by the Death of Our excellent Queen the Parliament went on effectually with their Work tending to the publick well and safety passing several Acts to that end and all agreeable to His Majesties Will and Desire Affairs in Flanders reqâ—iring the Kings speedy repair thither He was pleased before His Departure to appoint Lords Justices for the Administration of the Government during His Absence viz. The Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Lord Justices of England The Lord Keeper The Earl of Pembâ—ook The Duke of Devonshire The Duke of Shrew bury The Farl of Dorset and the Lord Godolphine And so on the 12 of May He departed for Holland Villeroy General of the French Armies after Luxemburgs Death The Famous Luxemburg Dying
of Argos 3000 Turks â—illed and the new General Molino joining their Forces making Ten thousand Foot and Two thousand Horse encountered him and after a Bloody fight for 3 Hours forced him from the feild of Battle with the loss of Three thousand of his Men. And that night he fled out of the Morea with so much haste as he left in his Camp 14 peices of Cannon 2 Mortars mary Bombs and much Provision with 700 Oxen and 320 Camels and Horse as a Booty to the Conquerours who in this Action lost not above Five hundred Men. The King of Poland did nothing considerable this Campaign most of his time bâ—ing taken up in reconciling a Feud between the Bishop of Vilna Pole and the General of Lathuama both his own Subjects this being the bad fate of a Prince who holds a precarious Crown Nor did the Muscovites any thing against the Tartars England but the blocking up of Asoph The King comes to England Parliament dissolved and a new one called We come home now to England The King returning from Flanders in October was received with universal Joy for His great Success that Can paign and on the 11 of October He â—â—sued a Proclamation for dissolving the then Parliament and calling a new one to meet on the 22d of November following At this time came an Envoy from the great Duke of Tuscany to Congratulate His Majestys happy accession to the Throne On which my Author has a pretty drolling remark taken out of Suâ—tonâ—us who sayes the Iâ—â—â—enâ—es coming too late to condole with the Emperour Tibertus for the lose of his Son Diusus who Answered them and I also condole with you the Death of Your great Country-man Hector The Kings Speech to the Parâ—â—ament At the meeting of the Parliament The King made an excellent Speech wherein he highly extol'd the valour of the English in the great Actions of the last Campaign And withal laid before them the necessity of considerable Supplys for carrying on the War and for other indispensable needful uses cautioned them against Heaâ—s and Divisions and exhorted them to that quick dispatch of business as the importance of Affairs required And a little after he ordered Admiral Rooâ— to go into the Straits in room of Admiral Russel An. 1696 now come home with our great Ships Death of the Bâ—shâ—p of Mentz This year on the 30 of March dyed Auselm Francis Frencrick de Angetherm Bishop of Mentz And was succeeded in the Bishoprick and Electorat by Lethaer Francis de Schonborn his Coadjator and â—ishop of Bemberg CHAP. XXI Anno 1696. SECT 1 Sect. 1 England This year began with a great deal of Murmuring and Complaint about reforming the Coin Aâ—dâ—â—â—bâ—e Piâ—t discovered but that Affair was so prudently managed by the Parliament as the querulous humour lasted not so long as the Mal contents desired and endeavoured For the happy and seasonable discovery of their double hellish â—lot of assasinating the King and the Invasion of England from France gave all thinking Men somewhat of greater importance to employ their thoughts on than the inconveniency attending the rectifying of the Coin This wicked project had its first contrivance in the latter end of the year 1694. bâ—t by several turns of a favourable Providence to us was Embarrassed till this time My Author having fully traced this Affair with all its circumstances from first and last I shall only give you a summary account of what I think most material The preparations for the Invasion were carried on in France with that expedition as when the late King came to Catais on the 18 of February he found all in a readiness and immediatly ordered the Troops the Artillery and Stores to be put on board with all possible speed The French Invasion fidstratâ—â— Which the King having notice of ordered Admiral Russel to rendevouse the Fleet in the Downs with all haste in which their was so quick dispatch and celerity used as in 4. or 5 dayes the Admiral had a fleet of near Sixty Men of War in a Line of battle with which he stood over presently for the Coast of Catais and Dunkirk which laid an absolute Embergo on the French Fleet. Where I leave them and return to the Assasins who consulting and proposing several ways and means for accomplishing their Bloody and Villanons design at last concluded on attacking the King at a Bridge between â—rentâ—ord and Turnham-green by which place His Majesty used often to return from Hunting And had so fully conâ—erted and settled the matter in all points as they fixed on a day for putting this Hellish Enterprise in Execution which was to be on the 15 of February But that Providence which has so miraculously and so often preserved His Royal Person prevented His going Abroad that day as he had design'd This unexpected Cross-bite did so daunt 2 or 3 of the Villains as they broke off and abandon'd the design but the Devil was so predominant in the rest of the Desperadoes as they persisted still and on a new meeting and consultation appointed the 22d of February for prepetrating the horrid Fact at the place formentioned The Plot discovered But several days before this heaven had blown up their Plot for on the 14 of February one Mr. Pendergass who was invited into the Assasination but consented not came to the Earl of Portland tho an absolute stranger to him and breifly said My Lord I pray perswade the King to stay at home to Morrow for if he go Abroad he will be Murdered One Mr. De la Rue made the same Discovery a little after And that Night Pendergrass and he being introduced to the King gave a full relation of the whole Conspiracy yet all this while made no mention of the Conspirators Names but the King pressing this home to them his obligeing carriage and Expressions and the weighty reasons he gave for the necessity of that Discovery prevailed so with them as they gave him a List of all their Names whereon he presently issues a Proclamation for their apprehension promising 1000 pound for every one of the Offenders that should be taken and brought to Justice The King made a pertinent Speech to the Parliament on this occasion On which after congratulating His Majesties safety on the 25 of February they enter into an Association to defend His Person and to Revenge his Death and farther they made an Act that all persons who bare any Office of Profite and Trust should besides Swearing the Oath of Fidelity sign this Association otherways to be rendered uncapable of their Employments And in the mean time several of the Assasin's being apprehended Three of the Conspirators Executed Robert Charnock the most wicked and inveterat of them all Edward King and Thomas Keys were Brought to Tryal on the 11 of March And upon full evidence being all found guilty of High Treason were sentenced and upon the 18 of the
the beginning of this Year The French King gave the Command of his Army to the Duke de Villeroy The Confederate Army outnumbering the French this Year by Twenty thousand The King formed his Army into Two Camps one commanded by himself and under him by the Old Prince de Vaudemont And the other by the Dukes of Bavaria and Holstein Plâ—en On the 27 of May the King went from Breda to Ghent and his main design being upon Namure he detached the Earl of Athlone with 40 Squadrons of of Horse thitherward And finding he could not draw the Duke of Villeroy to a Battle he concluded on the Seige of Namure and on the 19 of June he marched to Rosclair where he lest the Army with Prince Vaudemont and went himself towards the Muse And in the mean time sent orders to the Earl of Athione Encamped then at Tilmont to march and invest Namure which accordingly he did but wanting Troops to surround the Town entirely Bousslers took an opportunity to throw himself into the Town with Eight Regiments of his choise Dragoons but sent away most of the Horses Namure beseiged The Duke of Bavaria's Forces coming up all the Posts about Namure were taken and the Seige was compleatly formed by the 23d of June So we reckon from this day the Seige begun And here In the First place My Author gives a particular account of all the defects of the Fortifications of Namure of its Weakness and the disadvantages it ley under when the French took it and of the admirable Enfor ements and improvements they had made in it since to that height as not only themselves but others look't upon it now as impregnable Which gave them the confidence to set up this Inscription over one of the Gates Reddi non vinci potest And all this he Writes in proper military Terms as if he had been an expert profest Engenier In the 2d place Prince Vaudemounts brave Retreat He gives an account of Villeroys design of attacking Prince Vaudemonts Army on the 4th of July which he delayed till the next day but that Night the Prince gave him the Slip marching his Army entirely away with that wonderful secrecy and celerity as by his excellent conduct he made a safe retreat to Ghent by six a clock next morning This was so fine a peice of the art of War as can hardly be parallel'd in History to which the King now the greatest Captain known gave His Testimony by his Letter to the Prince so soon as he heard of his safe Escape And in the 3d. place He goes on with the full narration of the admirable proceedings at this Famous Seige in which truly there are many remarkable Exploits very well worth the Observation and memory of all such as have a Maretal Genius The particulars whereof I hope the Render will not expect from me my proper work being in effect nothing else but as the large Contents of a Chapter so as he must be content at present with this breif accumulative account The Seige beginning on the 23d of June as a foresaid it was carried on with incessant application till the 2d of August whereon The Town of Namure yeilded all things being ready for a General Assault Count Guiscard the Governour gave the sign for a Parley whereon Hostages being exchanged and Honourable Conditions being granted he surrendered the Town on the 4th of August but the Castle held out still SECT 2. Sect. 2 And here we shall allow those Warlike Litigants a little breathing time before the attacking of the Castle and take notice of somethings elswhere The French having no Fleet in our Channel the English and Dutch Fleets had the more liberty to insult them in their own ports St Malo's Bom'd by the Lord Berkeley And first they began with St Malo's Into which the Lord Berkely threw no less then nine hundred Bombs which by the Frenches own confession reduced it almost into ashes But to return to Villeroy Having fail'd of his design on Prince Vandemont he chose rather to play at smal game than ly out and therefore he attacks Dixmude Dixmude and Deixse yeelded to the French and takes it making all the Garison Prisoners of War the sillie defence whereof cost Major General Ellenburg his Head The same fate befel the Garison of Dense From hence Villeroy marches to Brussells where after a Compliment premised of sparing that Lodging wherein the Electress of Bavaria was on the 13 of August he Bombarded the Town seyerely reducing a great part of it to ashes Brussels Bomed by Villeroy After which reinforceing his Army which amounted now to a hundred thousand Men he marches towards Namure in order to raise the Seige whereof he fail'd to his great greife and dishonour However he advanced as far as Flerus He marches to the releife of Namur which obliged the King to leave the care of the Seige to the Dukes of Bavaria and Holstein-Pâ—oen and to repair to his Army to oppose Villeroy who seemed now fully resolved to Fight and in order thereto drew out his Army in formal array Retreats reâ—insectr and attacked the advance Guard of the Confederats Horse but being repulsed by the Hessian Horse he retiered that night sine â—editu The Seige of the Castle was carried on vigorously all this while there being no fewer than a hundred and ninty Cannon and Mortars playing continually upon the Fort and Castle The King finding scarcity to creep into the Camp on the 19 of August Consults Bavaria Vaudemont and other General Officers and a general Assault is resolved on next morning and so the disposition of the several Officers with their Detachments to attack at such and such places is concerted and appointed which I pass over Namur Castle attack't Next morning early the dreadful Assault begins in comparison with which the former Actions about taking the Town were but like pickeiring or skirmishing before a feirce Battle The Fight continued all day and was carried on with incredible valour on both sides till the evening by which time the Confederat Forces had made themselves Masters of several important Lodgements but it cost them dear for besides many Officers some being of eminent Quality they lost near two thousand Men. All this notwithstanding the work goes on next day the Cannon thundering continually against the Castle On the 23d the Beseiged beat a Parly craving a Cessation till they buried their dead which was granted and a little before it ended Count Guiscard came upon the breach and desired to speak with the Elector of Bavaria who coming to him â—e proposed a Capitulation the King coming at that very time from the Camp into the Town consented and so an agreement was made on Honourable Termâ—s and was Signed that night by the Mareschal De Bâ—uffâ—ers And perhaps this was the first Capitulaâ—ion that â—ver was Signed by a Mareschal of France and so much the more to the Honour