of Leinster arriving wiâ—h freâ—h Supplies from England and being joyned by a Detachment from the King's Camp under the Command of Lieutenant-General Talmash they marched towards Newport and 4 Regiments were sent to Possess themselves of Furnes which successfuly they did and 2000 Pioneers ordered to fortifie it and soon after Dyxmude fell into our hands with the Villages and dependant Territories and several Skirmishes happened with various success to the end of this Campaign And on the 8th of September 1692 an Earthquake happened in England giving 2 or 3 Quick Shoâ—ks yet with little harm and was felt almost at the same time in Ireland France Holland Flanders and other places it lasted about a minute The King of England was then in his Camp at Grammen in Flanders Dining in an old decay'd house which shook very much and every one apprehendâ—ng it would fall he was Perswaded to leave that Ruin-threatening-Fabrick but the Surprize was soon over and no harm happened there The Campaign now being ended the King by the way of Holland returned to England and found all things peaceable and well Governed by the Queens prudent mannagement not only in England but in the otheâ— two Kingdoms where War and Tumults ceasing Trade began to Flourish Whilst these things passed a very great Fleâ—t of Turkey and Streights Merchants Dutch and English set Sail richly Laden under a Convoy of Men of War Commanded by Sr. George Rook and in the Streights unexpectedly fell in with the French Fleet But though our Ships fell into this Ambush yet ours and the Dutch Men of War behaved themselves with such Conduct and Courage as also did the Merchantmen that whilst the French were making up and the Dispute lasted most the latter by running along the Shore got into Harbours and others came back again with Sir George who made a very good Retreat so that the French got but little though had they not been over hasty in appearing in probability the greater part of them might have been Encompassed by their whole Fleet. The King as is said being returned after Congratulations a day of Thanksgiving was appointed for Gods singular Providence that had protected him in the greatest dangers to which he had exposed his Royal Person for our Safety The Winter was spent in making Levies by Land and great Preparations at Sea The Parliament chearfully giving such Supplies as were necessary to carry on the War Early in the Spring the Streights and Turkey Fleet put again to Sea but entering the Streighte mouth such a violent Storm arose as blew many of the Ships cleaverly out of it and divers were Lost and much damaged yet many got safe to their proper Ports In March the King passed over to hasten an early Campaign and the Elector of Bavaria being appointed Governour of Flanders sent the Duke of Arco to Complement him on his arrival and Parties being abroad divers Skirmishes and Bickerings happened with various Success in a village called Malterne 100 Newburghers took 80 French Prisoners of War and brought them with their Arms Horse and Baggage to the general Rendesvouz However they sent an Army to Ravage the Palatinate and burnt divers places of note and to divert the Spanish Forces in Flanders a vigorous War was pushed on in Catalonia the Duke D' Nouailles Commanding in chief but met there with many Disapointments by our main Fleet 's appearing on the Coast yet drawing off a part of the Army for that Service The Duke of Wirtemburg with a considerable Body of Horse and Foot forced the Enemies Lines and Entering French Flanders for several Miles put the Country under Contribution raising a Million of Livres taking in divers small places and much Booty This Constrained the Duke of Luxemburg General for the French King to Endeavour by one Exploit or other to draw him back and first with 50 Squadrons of Horse and ten Battallions of Foot and some Field-pieces he attempted to fall on a part of the Garison of Liege and Maestrich being about 18 squadrons of Horse and some Regiments of Foot Commanded by Count Tilly but upon notice retired over the River Sare Leaving three Squadrons to secure his Retreat which beat back the French advanced parties But this was only as a Forerunner to greater Action for the King Marching to releive Huy had notice in his way of it's surrender and thereupon Strengthening the Garison of Liege Marched near Hespan and halted to get Intelligence of the Enemies further design and some hours after had notice they appeared from the high Grounds of St. Gertruden-Landen so that upon notice from the Scouts that it was the Vaunt-Guard of their Army all things were ordered to Receive them if they adventured to make any attempt which they soon after did and a terrible fight ensued which lasted from Sun-rising to Sun setting in this Battel the King was in all parts giving the necessary Orders and acted the part not only of a brave General but also of a Couragious Captain but in the Conclusion the Confederate Army being over-powered by Numbers the French being 80000 and the Confederate but 40000 they were forced to retire and left the French Masters of the Field tho' their loss was more than that of the Confederates Such another Encounter the French made in Savoy where Monsieur Catinat Commanded for France in which the Duke of Schomberg fighting Valiantly at the Head of his Battalion was slain and the Savoyards compelled to leave the field but the French notwithstanding this Success found themselves in so bad a Condition that being compelled to pass the Mountains very late for Recruits and Supplies of Necessaries abundance of them were lost in the Snow and deep Pits with Carriages and Cannon Tho' the French on these Occasions boasted of some Success by Land their Naval Forces since the last Overthrow were but slenderly Recruited and Admiral Russel having notice by a Swede there was a great Fleet in Conquet-Bay Laden with Corn and Naval Stores sent Capt. Pickard with another Man of War and a Fire-ship to get an account of them which struck such a Terror they supposing these Ships the Vaunt-Guard of our main Fleet that cutting their Cables they run on the Flats and Rocks into our Hands others sunk by the Shot so that there were computed about 50 Sail to have been Lost and soon after the Admiral had Orders to joyn the Spanish Fleet on the Coast of Catalonia to prevent the French Designs on that side which brought such a Terror on the French main Fleet under the Command of Monsieur Torville that he immediately got into Thoulon and there lay penn'd up not daring to stir till the English Fleet returned Being in those parts they brought a Terror on Argeirs and other Pyratical Governments so that they sent their Submissions and appeared very desirous to be at Peace with England However a sufficient Squadron being left in the narrow Seas Commanded by the Lord Berkly he attempted the French Coast
to divers distressed Princes restoring them to their Principalities upon their submiting to become Tributaries to Rome and that he rather sought Fame and Glory than to Enslave the People he subdued being the greatest Captain that or any former Ages had produced he resolved to cast himself upon him for Protection preferring his Revenge before the Safety of his Country and great was the Destruction and many the Miserie 's the War brought upon it The Young Prince Armed with this Resolution notwithstanding the Grave Counsels of his Fathers Courtiers to disswade him from it laying before him That he ought to submit his Private Injuries to the Publick Peace of all the People of the Nation he took with him his Treasure and some of his trusty Confidents and Sailed in a small Vessel to that part of Gallia now called Normandy where he found Caesar retired from the Toiles of War and setling the affaires of the Country with a design to return to Rome and obtain of the Senate a renewal of his Consulship or longer continuation of his Government When being Introduced by Caesars Lictor's he bending one Knee to the Ground and Rising again Spake in the Gallick Language to this effect Most Mighty Caesar Great Captain of Rome and of the World behold a Distressed Prince of the Britains before you craving your Protection and Imploring a Redress of my Wrongs from you who are the Scourge of Tyrants and ever compassionate to the Injured Caesar wondering at first by the strangeness of his Garb who he should be or to what this Discourse might tend till having heard at large as has been related the cause of his coming and the Fruitfulness of the Country and Thirsting after more Honour to raise his Fame to what it at last aspir'd to viz. The Empire of the World he not only comforted him and â—eated him in his own Pavillion but promised him â—â—stance as Romes Confederate to make War on his â—â—kle so soon as the season would permit and his â—â—â—ires were setled with the Gauls and Germans CHAP. II. 〈◊〉 Account of Julius Caesars Landing in this Island The Battels Fought between Him and the Britains with various Success The British Princes that for the Liberty of their Country withstood him and the succeeding Emperours With Strange Wonders and Prodigies c. WHilst Caesar sent for fresh Legions of Roman Souldiers to reinforce his Army and all Warlike â—â—ovisions to Invade the Britains they had notice of it â—â—â—m the Friendly Gauls which much startled them in 〈◊〉 parts of the Island Yet preferring their Liberty beâ—â—â—e their Lives and finding their Embassy's rejected â—â—less they would become Tributary to Rome they 〈◊〉 General Council of all the Estates Resolved on a â—â—ve Defence And among other Warlike Furniture â—â—ey brought into the Field Five Hundred Waggons â—â—â—led by some Authors British War Charriots These 〈◊〉 fastened to the Sides of them long Sythe-Blades and â—â—â—rp hooked Sickles so rank'd and order'd That if â—â—ey were Worsted they might retire amongst them 〈◊〉 shelter or else drawn with strong Horses break 〈◊〉 among the Enemies Foot and violently hurrying 〈◊〉 cut and tear them in pieces And so Dexterous â—â—ey were in this manner of War That he who manâ—ged or drove it would Run swiftly on the Coppis 〈◊〉 Raile smite his Enemy and return to the Body of 〈◊〉 Waggon or Charriot before he could be Charged 〈◊〉 Annoyed Cassibelan having gotten a numerous Army Fortified as well as he could the Shoars towards France feting a great number of Men on the Chalkie Cliffs to watch and give notice of the Enemies approach So that when Caesar with twelve choice Legions which he brought in 300 Vessels thought to have Landed by Surprise he found himself deceived being beaten off three times by the Britains leaving many Hundreds of his Legionary Souldiers Dead on the Sands and the last time had his own Sword wrested from him by one Scaeva a Britain whom he afterwards Knighted and for his Valour made him a Centurion who did wonders for him in his Wars against Pompey stopping at a Breach a whole Army with his mighty Sword till his Body being stuck with Darts like a Wood after he had Slain a Hundred of his Enemies he fell Dead on the heap of Carkasses and gained a lasting Memory in History Caesar finding the Britains so desperately bent to Sacrifice their Lives for the Liberty of their Country Manned out Open Vessels with Arohers and such as were dexterous at Sling-Stones and Casting-Piles or Roman Darts and lying out of the reach of the Britains Weapons who were not acquainted with that manner of War found them selves obliged to retire from the Shoar Whereupon the Roman Foot-men thrust on Land and made good their Station till the Cohorts of Horse came to assist them Their place of Landing being where the Town of Bright-Hemsted now stands in the County of Sussex Cassibelan perceiving himself at this time over-Match'd made an orderly Retreat to the Fortified Woods of which they had then great numbers sending to the Princes in Confederacy with him for Assistance But more Romans coming from Belgia to Caesars Aid in a Bloody Battel Fought on Barham Downs Anno. Mundi 3873. he overthrew Cassibelan wherein 40000 of his People were Slain and almost as many Romans Among the Slain Britains were found many Women whom the Victor caused to be honourably Interred and then pursu'd the flying Prince who got into Troynovant now called London and Fortified himself causing Stakes to be driven down with Lead about the Heads of them at the places where the Ferrys usually passed to hinder the Enemies Boats For the Thames runing out of its Banks broad and scattering in the Fields was full of Ouse and not passible but at certain places However Caesar who was Fortune's Darling with mighty labour laid over Bridges of Boats and Planks of Timber c. and took the City by Storm yet spared the Lives of the Inhabitants Cassibelan fled to Verulam but Cingitorix King of Kent was made Prisoner And Caravill Taximagul and Segonax Princes of the Southern parts of the Island for siding with Cassibelian had their Countries taken from them Which so startled the Senimagues Cegontians Ancalits Bribrosses and Caffians the States of the Icenians Seeing Caesars swift progress they sent Ambassadors to Treat of Peace and submitted themselves Tributaries to Rome And then he fixed Andrageus in his Principality but he afterwards left it to go with Caesar to Rome and attended him in his Wars abroad Yet Caesar who had seen but a little part of the Country and took it for a Main Continent or as his Soldiers complained when he Encouraged them to Invade the Britains another World different from what they had been in before was no sooner call'd to repass the Seas upon his other affaires but the British Princes joyning together made a great Slaughter of the Roman Souldiers which compell'd him to come over again to quiet them The like upon the same
Aberdeen presented him with 1500 l. which so angered the Estates that they strictly forbid all other Towns under great Penalties to do the like And coming to Edenburg he was a second time Proclaimed King July 16. Anno 1650. But the English overthrowing the Scots Army commanded by Montgomery at Muscleborough his Coronation was put off till January when with much Solemnity he was Crown'd at Scone and setting up his Standard at Aberdeen made him self Generallissimo of the Scots Army and Fortifying Sterling he removed his Court thither Whilst these things passed the English Parliament as they pretended found out several Plots against them for which Sir Henry Hyde and Capt. Brown Bushel were Beheaded and soon after Mr. Gibbons and Mr. Love a Presbyterian Minister Cromwel perceiving he could not draw the Scots to a Battel Transported 1600 Foot and 4 Troops of Horse over the Fife who assisted by Lambert and Okey routed Sir John Brown's Forces killing about 2000 on the place taking him and about 200 more Prisoners and the King perceiving his Enemies prevail so fast in Scotland calling a Council it was agreed he should March into England to try what Friends he had to assist him But they came in very slowly the Parliament having taken care before to prevent it so that in a long March very few joyned him except the Lord Escreek's Son with a Troop of Horse and the Earl of Derby with 250 Foot and 6 Horse but whilst the King lingered by the way Lambert being Guided over the Moors and Dales in Yorkshire got before him and Cromwel pursued hard after yet after a sharp Dispute with Lambert he gained the Pass of Warington-bridge and sent to Coll. Mackworth to Surrender Shrewsbury but he refused it whereupon he marched to Worcester and was recieved with much Joy into that place but whilst he was Fortifying this Place news came that the Earl of Derby who went to raise Forces in Lancashire was overthrown by Lilburn and most of his chief Commanders slain or taken Prisoners and now the Trained-Bands from all parts gathering about Worcester Cromwel and others came up with the Regular Forces and Lambert gained the Pass at Vpton where the Bridge was broke down by swimming the River and rescuing a Party of their Men besieged by Massey in a Church and by this means beat the King's Party and entirely gained the Pass and Cromwel laid a Bridge of Boats over the River but the King scorning to be cooped up with his Army on the third of Sept. 1651 sallyed out of Worcester and gave the Enemy Battle but having Charged several times and two Horses shot under him over-powred by Numbers he was forced to Retreat but was closely pursued by the Parliament Forces who thrust with his into the Town and then the Cry being to Save the King he had the good Luck to get away with the Lord Wilmot and coming to a Farmer 's House on the edge of Stafford-shire disguised himself cutting off his long black Hair with a Knife for want of Scissars and after that was Secured a while in Boscobel-house by the Pendrills Hudstone a Priest and some few others that were thought fit to be made acquainted with his being there but 1000 l. being set upon him and Search almost every where made he narrowly Escaped one Evening by getting out at the Back-door into the Wood whilst the Searchers were entring at the Fore-door and there he made an Oak-Tree his Palace which shelter'd him till the heat of the Search was over And at length by the means of Mrs. Jane Lane for whose Servant he went and passed by some of Oliver's Troopers as such After having escaped many Dangers and passed through many Difficulties he Landed at New-Haven in France from whence he went to his Mother then at the French Court. In this Battle about 3000 were Slain but a far greater Number were taken Prisoners and most of the Scots sold as Slaves here and to the Plantations Their Colours taken were hung up in Triumph in Westminster-Hall and the Earl of Derby who was taken at his Overthrow was Beheaded at Bolton in Lancashire The Marquess of Ormond and Lord Inchiqueen standing out in Ireland levied considerable Forces for the King's Service and the former Besieged Dublin with a Formidable Army but being Negligent and many of them raw Soldiers Collonel Jones the Governour Sallying first with a few and then with the whole Garison raised the Siege and took almost all the Plunder of the Camp afer which several other Towns were taken and Cromwel coming over with a sufficient Force took Drogheda and divers other places in many of which the bloody Irish were put to the Sword unless such as by hiding found means to Escape his Fury and in three Years time Ireland was Quieted and Reduced Scotland and Ireland being thus Reduced to the Obedience of the Common-wealth of England as it was then stiled the Parliament Resolved that Scotland shall be United to England and Monarchy Abolâ—shed also in that Kingdom and that Scotland shoul send up Deputies in such a Proportion as the Parliament should think meet to represent them in the Parliament of England which tho' the Kirk party opposed was notwithstanding done After which follow'd an Act of Grace to all the People of England pardoning whatever they had done and all Hostilities committed against the Parliament provided they take the Engagement which was To be true and Faithful to the Common-wealth of England as then Established without King or House of Lords No sooner were these things over and all things seemed Quiet at Home but our Young Common-wealth found new Occasion for the exercise of their Arms abroad There had been for some time a Grudge between them and the Senior Common-wealth of Holland occasion'd by the Assassination of their Agent Dr. Dorislaus there and afterwards by the Affronts put upon their Embassadors Oliver St. John and Walter Strickland by the common People in Holland insomuch that these Embassadors not thinking themselves sufficiently Vindicated by the States came away in great Discontent and afterwards when the States sent Embassadors here to Excuse themselves and to desire a Pacification they were answer'd with Demands of Reparation for their Herring-Fishing and Question'd about the Business of Amboyna and other things of that Nature which made them go back re infecta Upon this the Hollanders resolving to be as Stout as they set out a great Fleet for the Security of their Trade under the Command of Van Trump with instructions not to strike his Flag to the English Admiral c. Upon which on the 17th of May 1652. Van Trump came into Dover-road with 42 Sail of Men of War and Blake the English Admiral encountred them with a far less Number and tho' there was no great matter done on neither side yet Van Trump had the worst of it having had one Ship sâ—nk and another taken and about 150 men Slain whereas the English had not any Ship
having got the Crown on his Head he held it too precious a Jewel so lightly to part withal so that when the Duke of Normandy sent to demand it putting him in mind of his Oaths and Promises he Reply'd That what was extorted from him in his extremity was not Binding besides the Nobility and Commonalty of his Realm would not consent to his delivering it up to a Stranger as having had sad Experience of the great Mischiefs that had and must consequently again ensue and finally what he demanded of him was not in his power to grant and therefore prayed him to rest satisfied with his own Territories which were sufficiently large enough for any Prince This Answer made the Duke storm and resolve to hazard all rather than miss of his aim whereupon selling his Jewells and Plate he Levyed Men in France Switzerland Germany c. And tho' the Pope strictly forbid him to molest England under pain of Excommunication he took no regard of his Menaces but encreased his Shipping and sent to Norway and those parts from whence the Normans originally descended to stir them up by Landing in the North in savour of his Invasion on the South parts of England and so in order to it continued his Levys making a League with the French King That he should not Invade his Country in his Absence However Harrold having notice of his proceedings raises a great Army which was not long Idle For Tosto Brother to Harrold upon some displeasure flying to Denmark forwarded the Norman Dukes Negotiation so that with a considerable Army they Landed at Richall upon Ouse in Yorkshire and fell to Burning and Plundering whereupon the King Marched his Army towards them who were Advanced to Stanford Bridge built over the River Dâ—rwent upon which Bridge he was stopped with his whole Army by a Single Dane of Monstrous Size who slew Forty of his Men who adventured to remove him and had in all likelyhood prevented his passing at that time over the Bridge had not a Souldier Rowed with a Boat under it and run up his Spear through a crevise into the Danes Body whereupon he fell down Dead and the King hasted with his Army over the Bodies of the slain and falling upon the Danes and Norwegians made of them an incredible slaughter slaying Tosto his Brother and Harfager King of Denmark and Norway Olave the Son of Harfager and Paul Earl of Orkney were taken Prisoners who begging their Lives were suffered to depart with the rest of the Prisoners having only 20 of their 300 Ships left to carry them with the woful News into Denmark the rest being broken on the Rocks by a mighty Storm the day before the Battel happened These Troubles were no sooner over and the Northern parts a little settled but News came posting to the King that Duke William of Normandy was Landed at Pevensey in Sussex on the Eighth of September Anno Dom. 1066 who thereupon caused his Ships to be set on Fire that his Souldiers might take Courage to Fight the more desperately as having no hopes of returning home unless they Conquered and when he first came on Shoar his Foot stuck fast in the Sand so that he fell on his Hands and being perceived by a Knight to bring up a handfull of Earth when he rise he said Now Sir Duke England sticks fast to you and is your own since you have taken Livery and Seizen doubt not but presently to be King thereof By this Time King Harrold was hastily returned to London whither the Norman Duke sent a Message to him to demand a peaceable surrender of the Kingdom for sparing the lives of the People But this Messenger was dismissed with Threats and both Armies advanced towards each other and on a fair Plain in Sussex called from the ensuing Fight Battel-Field the Normans pitched their Tents to expect the King who was about seven Miles from them and some of the Spies he sent being taken Duke William caused them to be carried from Tent to Tent and plentifully Feasted after which he dismissed them So the next Morning both Armies came in sight of each other and drew up in Battel Array where a second time the Duke sent a Monk to the King to demand a peaceable surrender of the Kingdom or otherwise for avoiding the effusion of much Blood to try it by single Combate or else to hold the Kingdom as his Tributary But Harrold would agree to neither of these returning for Answer That more Swords than one should decide the Controversie So that the next day being the 14th of October Anno Dom. 1066 no agreement being in likelyhood to be made between them it was resolved it should be tried by the Sword and so both Armies being Marshalled for the Battel the Trumpet sounded the Bloody Blast and the Kentish-men who claimed it as their Right to Lead the Van-Guard fell on furiously beating down the Normans and putting their Advanced Parties to the Rout keeping close together in thick Ranks and wedging into the Enemies Squadrons and Battallions so that a miserable slaughter ensued tho' on our part The Normans slew many by shooting their Arrows at random in the Air which violently falling on the Heads of such as were unarmed entered their Sculls so that many fell Dead who never struck stroak in the Battel however the Duke who passed through every part of the Army to give necessary orders knowing if he lost the day his Life and Interest went with it perceiving his Men could not break the thick Phalanxes of the English he commanded they should seem to faint and make an orderly Retreat as if they Fled which succeeded to his wish for hereupon the English supposing it had been a real Flight disranked in pursuit of them whereupon the Normans speedily facing about broke with great fury into their loose Array beating down all before them with their mighty Swords and Battel-Axes pouring perpetual showers of Arrows on them so that although the English kept together and â—ought Valliantly about the Kings Standard yet he being Shot into the Brain with an Arrow and falling dead they were so disheartned that the Standard was taken the Kings two Brothers Girth and Leofine in defence of it slain with most of the Nobles and as credible Authors affirm 97974 of the Common sort LEICESTER SHIRE The Duke in this Battel had three Horses slain under him and yet escaped without any hurt in the place where this Battel was Fought he afterwards Founded an Abby which to this day is called Battel-Abby After this the small remainder of the Nobles and Clergy consulted what was to be done but finding their weakness they concluded to submit to the Conquerer having Buried the Body of Harrold at Wadham in Essex when he had Reigned about Nine Months and Nine Days and is accounted the Twentieth Sole Monarch of England whereupon Duke William took possession of the Kingdom Remarks on Leicestershire c. LEicestershire is a very fine Inland
which made them divide into parties to decide their Quarrel by the Sword yet the King fearing this might Involve many of his Subjects in Ruin and shake the Quiet of the whole Kingdom interposed his Authority and Mediation to make them Friends But whilst this was doing Prince Edward the Kings Son taking advantage of their difference departed secretly from Court and consorting with the Earls of Glocester and Warren Sr. Roger Mortimer and others they raised an Army on the Marches of Wales and fell on the Earl of Leicesters Forces with such fury near Eversham in Worcestershire that they totally Routed them and in this Battel the Earl of Leicester Simon his Eldest Son Sr. Hugh Spencer and many others of note were Slain and so enraged were the Soldiers that they dispitefully used the Earls dead Body by cuting off the Head Hands Feet and Privy Members sending them into divers Shires as Trophies of their Victory This turn of fortunate Success so ellevated the drooping King that he resolved utterly to throw off his Fetters and assume his Kingly Authority uncontrouled whereupon whilst his Enemies were full of fear and mistrust and their strength in a manner utterly broken he summoned a Parliament which conforming to his will more through dread of his Anger than voluntarily Repealed the Laws and Ordinances made in the Oxford Parliament disannuling the Authority of the Twelve Peers and all Patents Commissions and Instruments whatsoever that tended to the Establishing and Ratifying those things were by the Kings express Commandment brought forth publickly Cancelled and made void by which means he regained his former Power and Liberty to say and do as he pleased This Parliament was no sooner ended but the King expressed his anger towards the City of London because as is alledged the Rulers and Inhabitants had always despised him and taken part with the Barons against him vowing to consume it with Fire and leave it in a heap of Rubbish as a lasting Monument of their Rebellion to succeeding Ages and so firmly had he determined it That all his Friends and Favorits had much ado to avert him from this purpose nor could it be done till the Citizens caused an Instrument in Writing to be drawn and Ratified it with their common Seal by which they Confessed their Rebellion humbly craving Pardon and without any restraint or exception submitted their Lands Goods Lives and the whole City to the Kings Grace and Mercy Whereupon paying 1000 Marks Fine they were Restored to their Liberties and Customs which had been seized into the Kings hands during which space they had suffered much dammage yet for what Wrongs soever they received they could find no Redress And many Robberies and Piracies during the Wars being committed by the Inhabitants of the Cinque-Ports to hinder his Courts of Justice being pestered with many Complaints he ordered they should be heard in the Courts within the Jurisdiction of those Ports where the Persons agrieved expecting little redress because the Inhabitants were parties few Complaints after that were made Gilbert Clare Earl of Glocester by his revolt from the Barons and joyning his Interest with the Prince expecting high preferment for the success that had given the King all these Advantages and not meeting with it agreeable to his mind grew angry and Meditating Revenge retired from Court into the City where the Citizens forgeting how lately they had been Pardoned and the danger they were in flocked to him in great Numbers and then Sallying through Temple Bar went to the Kings Palace at Westminster which they Rifled with the Houses of many Court Favourites in and out of the City This Outrage made the King pronounce no less than utter Destruction to them But the Prince and Kings Counsellours fearing such severity might renew the Civil War as dangerous as ever with much ado pacified him so far that he Granted a Pardon to the Earl of Glocester and all that had Acted in the late Tumult Yet the Earl finding but cold Entertainment at Court fearing some mischief might befal him at home Made it his request to the King that he would send him with an Army to make War in the Holy Land This motion tho' it tended to much charge and expence pleased the King well for he considered if he continued at home he would still be Plotting but abroad he could little injure the quiet of the Government so that an Army being raised the Earl repented him of his Undertaking and feigned so many causes for delay that the King took the Command out of his hand and gave it to Prince Edward who Transported the Army into Palestine and by his valorous Acts brought such a Terror on the Turks and Sarazens That they seldom if they could avoid it adventured themselves against the Christians in that Quarter where the Prince drew up and the Terror of his coming made them raise the Siege of the City of Acon which they had pressed hardly for a long time with 100000 Men which made them secretly contrive his Death For a Sarazen under pretence of delivering him a Letter Stabbed him in the Arm with an Impoisoned Knife whereupon the Prince struck him down with his Foot and upon the noise his Guards coming in cut the Villan in pieces yet so desperate was the Wound by reason of the venom that the Surgeons declared That unless any at the hazard of their Lives would daily suck the Wound to draw away the Poison his Life could not be saved this when all his Courtiers strained Courtesie to do or utterly refused was undertaken by Elianor his virtuous and loving Wife Sister to the King of Spain who had accompanied him in that tedious Journey and yet she was not at all injured by it And now the King having had some Peace was a little disturbed by a Tumult in Norwich who Burnt the Monastery of the Trinity but he hasting thither they dispersed yet escaped not so for a strict enquiry being made into the matter 50 of the chief Actors were Drawn Hanged and Quartered and their Quarters Burned Soon after this the King fell Sick and Dyed at the Abby of St. Edmund's in Suffolk on the Sixteenth of November Anno Dom. 1275 in the 57th Year of his Reign and 65th of his Age. He was Buried with great Magnificence at Westminster In this Kings Reign an Imposture at the Provincial Synod at Oxford suffered himself to be Wounded in the Hands Feet and Sides saying he was Christ and a Woman that went about with him called herself the Virgin Mary but being taken and closed up between two Walls they there miserably perished On St. Paul's Day in the 15th Year of his Reign such an unusual Thunder and Lightening happened That whilst Roger Niger Bishop of London was at Mass in St. Paul's the Cathedral was so shaken that the People verily supposed it would have falln and that they should have been burned with the flashes of Lightening whereupon all except the Bishop and Arch-Deacon ran
places of England that had risen on this Revolution But Ireland was in a dangerous Condition for the Earl of Tyrconnel had stopped almost all the Ports and was raising numerous Forces of Irish for the Service of King James so that those who would have fled into England or Scotland were for the most part restrained and obliged to continue under the dreadful Apprehensions of another Massacre being every where in the Countrey Robbed and Spoiled of their Substance and a great many Imprisoned The State of which Kingdom the King earnestly recommended to his Parliament desiring them to hasten the raising such Supplies as was requisite in order to reduâ—d it to Obedience The Lord bishop of London with about one Hundred of the City Clergy waiting on the King to tender their humble Duty he gave them an assurance of his Affection to the Church of England and of all Encouragement to them concluding that they might depend upon his Word And an Act passed about Removing and Preventing all Questions and Disputes about the Assembling and sitting of the Parliament and the King issued out his Proclamation to leave the Irish without Excuse That if they would lay down their Arms and Live quietly they should have their Pardon for all things past and enjoy their Estates but if they continued still in Arms declaring them Rebels and Traytors and their Lands and Possessions Forfeited c. But this Proclamation being not Publish'd in Ireland had little effect tho' in the North the Protestants secured London-Derry Sligo and other places in expectation of being Aided from England And now the King to ease his Subjects consented that the Duty of Hearth-Money that had long been a Burden to the Nation might be taken off which was very pleasing to the People Thomas Pilkington Esq who in the late Reign was Fined 100000 l. upon an Action of Scandalum Magnatum brought against him by the then Duke of York was now chosen Lord-Mayor of London in which Honourable station he continued near three Years And now the Coronation being appointed on the 11th of April it was performed with great Splendor and Magnificence occasioning great Demonstrations of Joy in the People and soon after the Crown of Scotland was by the Commissioners of the Estates presented to the King and Queen which was accepted and the usual Coronation Oath of that Kingdom taken And now Admiral Herbert standing with a considerable Squadron to the Coast of Ireland fought with about 40 French Men of War in Bantrey-Bay in this Engagement Capt. George Aylmer of the Portland a Lieutenant and 64 Seamen were Killed and about 240 Wounded the Enemy losing a greater Number And then at the humble Request of the Parliament the King declared War with France In Scotland Duke Hamilton was made High-Commissioner where the Duke of Gourdon held the Castle of Edenborough for King James and the Viscount Dundee had a considerable Force in the Field to second him and many hot Skirmishes were Fought till at last in an Obstinate Fight Dundee was killed upon which the Duke of Gourdon not finding himself longer able to hold the Castle delivered it up to Sir John Lanier upon Articles â—nd tho' Collonel Cannon Buchanon and others kept up the Party in the Field for a while at length they were dispersed and Scotland entirely Quieted On the 24th of July the Princess of Denmark was brought to Bed of a Son and on the 28th he was Christened William by the Bishop of London the King and the Earl of Dorset standing God-Fathers and the Marchioness of Hallifax God-Mother and then the King declared the Young Prince Duke of Gloucester King James being Landed in Ireland with some French Forces and a considerable number of Officers Arms and Ammunition had with a numerous Army besieged London-Derry which was Defended by the Inhabitants and others till it was reduced to the last Extremity by Famine but then Providence so ordered it that Major-General Kirk sending in Shipping with Provision the Siege was raised The Besiegers in lying before it and by the Besieged's falling on the Rear in drawing off having lost 2000 men and Dr. Walker a principal Man in Defending that place coming over the King Ordered him 5000 l. as a mark of his Bounty with an Assurance of greater Advantages And on the 13th of August the Duke of Schomberg Landed with the English Army at Carickfergus in Ireland and soon Reduced divers Places compelling the advanced Parties of the Irish to retreat before him and held a Winter-Camp on the Plains of Dundalk which being Moorish and Foggy many Gallant Men dyed of the Flux and other Sicknesses But the Iniskilling-men who frequently went abroad in Parties did considerable Service by cutting off the Irish Rapparees Whilst these things passed the King for weighty Reasons dissolved his first Parliament and called another to sit at Westminster the 20th of March 1690 and the Commons chusing Sir John Trevor their Speaker the King told both Houses among other things That his Resolution was to go for Ireland his Presence being necessary there for Reducing that Kingdom Signifying it was his Pleasure to leave the Government in the Queen's Hands during his Absence and accordingly before his Departure an Act was passed to that Purpose And the King of Denmark at this time assisted the King with 6000 Danish Soldiers under the Leading of the Duke of Wirtemburg who did notable Service Charlemont having been straightly Blocked up Capitulated and other places were Reduced by Force And now the King having settled Affairs in England left White-Hall on the 4th June and on the 14th Landed at Carickfergus in Ireland and hastened to order the Army and Marching to the Newry had News that the Enemy having set Fire to their Straw had Decamped and quitted that strong Post This at first scarce gained Credit but Scouts being sent out and the Report confirmed the King changed his March and sent Orders to the Forces at Armagh and Fevergee to march by the great Roads towards Dundalk in which some of our Men fell into an Ambush of the Enemy but behaved themselves with that Courage and Bravery that most of them got off having slain the Commander and brought away his Horse and the King marched towards Drogheda where he found the Enemy Encamped along the River Boyn above the Town and as he was viewing them a Six-pounder grazed on his Shoulder which only rased the Skin but as soon as it was Dressed he took Horse and Commanded Count Solmes to find out a Ford above the Enemy and pass the River which he Successfully did and obliged those that Guarded it after a hot Dispute to retire And upon notice of this the whole Army passed at other Fords the Foot wading some to the Arm-pits sustaining all the Enemies Fire and not returning it till they came close up with them and falling furiously on soon gave them a general Rout but in this Encounter Duke Schomberg and Dr. Walker late of London-Derry
were Kill'd and about 300 of lesser Note on our Part The Enemy lost 3000 and were pursued 4 Miles and upon this Defeat Drogheda Surrendred and K. James with part of his broken Army hasted to Dublin and from thence he went to Waterford where soon after he took Ship and Sailed for France and the King of England coming to Dublin was received with all imaginable Demonstrations of Joy and a great many Protestants who had been Imprisoned were set at Liberty the Papists disarmed and the Affairs in those Parts settled and many places that stood out Surrendred The Brass and Copper Money K. James had Coined as passable in that Kingdom was called in or set at the Value of the Metal only Sheriffs appointed and the Face of Justice restored Whilst these things were doing beyond the Seas an Engagement happened between the English and French off Beachy viz. on June 30. in which the Dutch Squadron being forward to gain the Weather-Gage of the Enemy received great Loss many of them being Burnt or so shattered that after the Fight they fell into the Hands of the Enemy the English red Squadron not coming up as was expected for which Miscarriage our Admiral the Earl of Torrington was Tryed but acquitted and after the Fight the French insulted our Coasts burning Tingmouth a Viâ—â—age of Fishers Cots and doing some other Damage after which they retired to their own Coast and one Godfrey Cross an Inn-keeper in Kent for going on Board the Enemy and giving Intelligence was afterward Try'd Condemned and Executed near St. Thomas's Waterings in the Kentish-road from London And this Year the King besieged Lymerick in Ireland but by reason of the Strength of the Place advancing of the Season and great Rains that over-flowed the River Shannon on which it is seated having in vain summoned it he drew off and returned to England But our Fleet standing to that Coast and the Earl of Marlborough on board it with considerable Land-Forces and joyned upon Landing by part of the Army already there they took Cork and Kinsale with little Loss at the Siege of the first the Noble Duke of Grafton amongst others pressing too forwards on the Works was Slain by a small Shot A Plot was soon after Discovered to have set the City of Dublin on Fire and in that Hurry to have fallen on the King ' Forces in Garison there and by a miserable Slaughter to have Surprized it but some Letters intimating the Intention being found by the Care of the Lord Sidney and Conningsby whom the King had appointed Lords-Justices the Mischief was prevented by securing Suspected Persons And now the Parliament of England waited on the King with their humble Addresses of Thanks for the great Things he had done for these Kingdoms and to Congratulate his happy Return and Success and the King was not slow by Marks of Honour and Promotion to Gratify those that had well-behaved themselves in the Service and among others Coll. Cuts was Created Baron of Gowran in the Kingdom of Ireland he also appointed his Privy Council there and all other Officers of State Judges and Magistrates restored such as had been outed and appointed some new Bishops causing a Regulation of the Clergy in General The Winter thus passing on the King prepared to pass the Seas to be at the Congress of Princes and Embassadors appointed at the Hague to Concert the Measures for carrying on the War against France and after he had passed several Acts and Prorogu'd the Parliament he Embarq'd with a splendid Train of Nobility and with great Difficulty by reason of the Ice it being January Landed near Maesland-sluys and being Complemented by the Deputies of the States passed to the Hague where the States General and Council of State with other Colledges made their Complements to him as also the Foreign Ministers and to make his Reception the more Magnificent three Triumphal Arches were Erected one by the States-General and two by the Magistrates with sundry Motto's and Devices Expressing the great things he had done and what more Glorious were Promised from his Heroick Virtues too many here to Enumerate and in the Evening the Cannon Illuminations Fire-works and shouts of the People spoke more loudly the Welcome of a Prince that has so well deserved of that Nation And at his first appearing in the Assembly of the States-General taking his Place at the upper-end of the Table he with many Obliging Expressions declared his Affections and good Inclinations to them in a most Elegant Speech which being deliberated on the Heer Van Wickers President of the Assembly in the name of the rest made a suitable Answer and the Duke of Brandenburg and other Princes being met a League and strict Amity was agreed on for restoring the Peace and Tranquility of Europe in reducing by Arms the Grand Disturber of it to Reason and a Restitution of what he had wrongfully either by Surprize or Vioolence taken from the Confederates for which War had been Proclaimed by them Whilst the King was thus busy beyond the Seas some ill-affected Persons were Designing at home to betray our Strengths into the Hands of the Common Enemy by giving account of the Ports Shipping and what else might facilitate an Invasion and on this account the Lord Preston John Ashton and Edmund Elâ—ot were seized in a Smack as they were passing out of the River of Thames by Captain Billop and Papers of Dangerous Consequence found with which they were designed for France for which the two first being Tryed and found Guilty of High-Treason Ashton was Executed The King having appointed the Baron D' Ginkle chief Commander of his Forces in Ireland having received Supplies and Stores from England he besieged Ballymore which surrendred upon Discretion And having Garisoned it the Army marched and set down before Athlone where they had put up French Colours to make him believe the Garison mostly consisted of that Nation However a Breach being made and succeeded by a vigorous Attack the Base Town was soon won and the other followed the same Fate in a short time tho' their whole Army lay behind it and the Soldiers furiously entring a great many were put to the Sword This was no sooner Repaired and Garisoned but the Army pursued the Retreating Enemy and in a long-Contested Battel at Aghrim gave them a total Rout so that they never considerably appeared in the Field after it St. Ruth the French General was slain with a Cannon-shot at the beginning of the Fight and all their Cannon Baggage Ammunition and Plunder of the Camp fell to the share of our Men. And being Refreshed they marched to Galloway which place after a considerable Battery was Surrendred on Articles and the Garison marched to Lymerick which was the next place besieged but holding out Obstinately and having in it a numerous Garison it was thought fit after a considerable Siege to grant advantagious Articles and as many as would had leave to depart the Kingdom And
with this Town all Ireland was reduced for those few places that held out Surrendred mostly of their own accord And the Lieutenant General having settled the Affairs there and returning to England was by his Majesty Created Earl of Athlone and highly Treated by the City of London c. Whilst this time was taken up in Reducing Ireland the Confederates imployed their Arms to recover the Towns the French had taken in Flanders c. And the Duke of Brandenburg was successful in taking Keyserwart Mentz and Bon places of considerable Strength and Prince Waldeck fought the Mareschal D' Humiers at Forg Village where the English under the Command of the Lord Marlborough did Wonders in stopping of the Torrent of the Enemy who suppos'd to have Surprized the Confederate Camp killing a great many of them and making them Retreat But the French ravaging the Palatinate cording to their wonted Barbarity they burnt Newstadt Frankendale Petersham Lambesham Wachenheim Darmstein and afterward Spires Worms Heidleberg were partly burnt and demolished which hastened the King to head the Army in Flanders And by this time the Duke of Savoy took Carmagnole and gave free Liberty to the Vaudois to Live quietly under his Protection The King by divers Marches and Encampments endeavouring to draw the French to a Battel possessed himself of Beaumont in the sight of their Army Commanded by the Duke of Luxemburg and demolished the Fortifications but with the loss of 400 men they took Montmelian but were beat out by the Cannon of the Castle which they in vain for some time had assaulted and Prince Lewis of Baden Commanding the Emperors Forces gave the Turks a great overthrow in Hungary Killing about 23000 men and taking the greater part of their Cannon and Baggage A Person hired by the Duke of Luxemburg to blow up the King's Bombs and fire the Ammunition Waggons being apprehended and Confessing the Attempt which only fir'd three Bombs had his right Hand cut off then being half Strangled was burnt And as the King was standing under a Tree to view the Enemy a singular hand of Providence appeared in his Preservation for he had no sâ—onâ—r stepped aside to give some Orders but a shot from a Cannon rent the Tree in the Place where a Minute before he had stood And now the French Court which had so often aimed at his precious Life and found it difficult to be attempted in a fair Field practised with divers Villains to compass the King's Destruction by Treachery to which end the Sieur Grandvalle had received several Sums of Money for encouragement of the Marquess of Barbesieux the French King's Secretary and brought two others viz. Dumont and Leafdale into the Conspiracy and often they designed to shoot him as he Rode out to view the Troops and the Duke of Luxemburg had Orders to send a party of Horse to fetch them off when this wicked Deed should be done but God prevented it by a timely Discovery for Grandvalle being Apprehended and Tryed by a Court-Marshal was on plain Proof and his own Confession found guilty of Treason and being Drawn Hang'd and Quartered his Head and Quarters were set up on Poles without the Camp And now our Fleet under the Command of Admiral Russel being sooner abroad than the French expected so that on the 19th of May 1692 the Admiral got sight of the Enemy about six Leagues from Cape Barfleur who not thinking us so strong bore down upon him having the Weather-Gage the Wind at South-west and about Eleven in the Morning Tourville the French Admiral engaged ours who bore upon him with the Red Squadron and the Fight continued hot till about three in the Afternoon when the French being greatly Shattered stood away with all the Sail they could make to their own Coast and being closely pursued the Blew Squadron engaged them again about six that Afternoon which continued till ten at Night when they made a retreating Fight wherein some of their Ships blew up and others sunk and Vice-Admiral Delaval getting in under Cape de Wick with Light Frigats Fire-ships and Armed Boats in spite of the Fire the Enemy made from their Ships run them on Ground Capt. Heath laid the Royal Sun of France on board with his Fire-Ship being a French Admiral of 104 Guns and burnt her Capt. Green burnt the Conquerant of 102 Guns and another of 80 was burnt by the boats in which a great many sick and wounded men Perished And Admiral Russel sending Sr George Rook into La Hogue with light Frigats Fireships and Armed boats he burnt 6 that Night and 6 more the next morning 3 of them being Three-Deck-ships carrying from 60 to 70 Guns and one of 56 Guns was overset and lost and others were destroyed in other parts so that about 21 of their biggest Men of War were burnt and of Crafts Frigats and Transport-ships 30 and this without the loss of one Ship on our part and this was also done in the sight of their Land-Army drawn down on the Coast of Normandy to assist K. James in his then Intended Invasion of England And of note on our side were only Kill'd Rear-Admiral Carter and Coll. Hastings of the Marine Regiment This Victory as it much amazed the French caused great Rejoycing in England yet to repair the Disgrace the Duke of Luxemburg besieged Namur to whose Relief the King prepared to March his Army but in the mean while it Capitulated and Surrendred yet the Castle and new Fort held out a great while longer so that they Lost above 5000 men in the Siege and the King having often dared the French to Battel in open Field they as often declining it by Counter-marches and strong Encampments he agreed to Attack them in their Camp at Enghein tho' by the narrowness of the ways the Passage to it was extream difficult This was vigorously attempted and carryed on by the English and Danes with such Courage and Bravery that the French at first were beaten from Post to Post and we were at the point of forcing an entrance into their Camp had they been timely succoured by other Parties that were appointed to sustain them but did not so that from the Hedges Out-works and Cannon advantagiously planteâ— on the Hills over-powering our Men after a hot Dispute they found a necessity of retreating leaving many Gallant Commanders dead behind them tho' the Enemy had little cause to boast their whole Army narrowly escaping an intire Defeat and their number of Men and great Officers killed wounded and taken Prisoners much exceeding ours for 10 or 12 of the old Regiments suffered extreamly so that they owned to lose 500 Officers and about 5000 private Soldiers And soon after the Prince D'Erichment fell on a French Party sent out of Namur of 300 Foot and 200 Dragoons totally routing them and taking 400 Prisoners among which were 30 Officers which were carryed to Huy and in this Encounter the Marquess De Hâ—câ—uincourt was slain and the Duke