De Witt an Antient Burgomaster of the Town returning at the same time indisposed from the Fleet and being desired to sign the said Act replied He would never do it nor could all the perswasions of his Friends nor the menaces of the multitude who were ready to break into his house nor the tears of his Wife who was sensible of his danger prevail upon his obstinate temper till she threatned to shew her self to the People and declare her own and Childrens Innocency and abandon him to the fury of the ungoverned Populace which soon after occasioned his Tragical Death for they being fully perswaded that he and his Brother John were real Enemies to the Prince and a certain Surgeon having charged Cornelius that he had made a private Proposal to him to take away His Highness Life he was thereupon imprisoned and upon Trial was sentenced to forfeit all his Dignities and Imployments and to be for ever banished out of the Territories of Holland and Westfriezeland The People who accounted the Prince to be their Protector and Deliverer believed his Judges to be partial in punishing so great a Crime with so easie a Judgment and the Trained Bands at the Hague being in Arms they presently ran to the Prison where while they were got together it happened that John de Witt came in his Coach to fetch his Brother out of Prison Upon which one of the Burgesses cryed out Now the two Traitors are got together and it is our fault if they escape us This had been enough to inflame the multitude but a greater motive happened for while they were all expecting the coming down of the two De Witts an unhappy report was raised that above a thousand Peasants and Fishermen were upon their March to plunder the Hague upon which another Burger cryed out Come Gentlemen let us pull these Traytors out by the Ears do but follow me and I will lead the way These words with their great affection to the Prince and the ruin of their Countrey to both which they accounted the De Witts to be the greatest Enemies compleated their Rage so that they Immediately broke open the Prison doors and sorced down the two Brothers into the Street where they were soon dispatcht by the multitude who after they had laid the Pensionary John De Witt sprawling on the ground cryed out See there the Traytor that has betrayed his Countrey Thus fell John and Cornelius de Witt two violent Enemies to the House of Orange It is said that John was the Contriver of those Acts whereby His Highness was secluded from all the Great Imployments which were due to him from his Predecessors and that a certain Ambassador being in private discourse with him said Most Illustrious Sir I have heard much of your singular prudence and unwearied diligence but far less than what I now observe from whence I dare assuredly pronounce that either you will be the ruin of the Prince or else that one day for his sake you will come to destruction It is likewise reported that when he was a Youth of about eighteen years old a certain Advocate being desired by his Father to examine him gave this account of him That he found in him those great Parts and that ripeness of Wit which was rarely to be seen in others And afterwards when he was made Pensioner of Holland and Dort the same Advocate presaged of him That he would never die a natural death Thus saith a worthy Person ended one of the greatest Lives of any Subject of our Times in the 47th year of his Age after having administred in that State as Pensioner of Holland for about eighteen years with great Honour to his Countrey and himself It must be remarked that the present War with the States General was commenced in concert between the French King and Charles II. in a time of the greatest peace and security on the Dutch side so that when the English fell upon their Smyrna Fleet no clap of Thunder in a Frosty morning could be more surprizing both to the Hollanders and the rest of Christendom Yea the Court of France it self could scarce believe that we would run so great an Adventure though our Court had obliged themselves thereto And though in the Declaration of War which the King published the Dutch are charged with making abusive Pictures and denying the right of the Flag which was an undoubted Prerogative of the Crown of England yet the Parliament and People were of opinion that this War was made in pursuance of the Instructions of the French King sent over to Dover by the Dutchess of Orleance whereby the destruction of the Common-Wealth of Holland is declared to be the only means to settle Arbitrary Government and Popery in these three Nations Upon our Declaration of War the French King began to march with his Vast Army into the Netherlands which he over-ran with such a rapid motion that the People were astonished and the States knew not what course to take to prevent it which occasioned those Commotions aforementioned But his Highness the Prince of Orange being advanced to the Stadtholdership the face of affairs began to alter and their Courage was revived Monsieur Fagel succeeded De Wit as Pensioner and the Prince presently resolved to be upon action rejecting all the applications made to him by the two Kings of making him Soveraign of the Provinces with such disdain and greatness of Soul as is scarce to be matcht always declaring That he would never betray a Trust that was given him nor ever sell the Liberties of his Countrey that his Ancestors had so long defended In pursuance of this generous Resolution his Highness took the Command of the Army upon him who were more animated at the thoughts of being under the Conduct of so gallant a General So that at Bodegrave an handfull of men twice repulsed above five thousand of the French from the Walls of Ardenburg and besides the slain took five hundred Prisoners with several Commanders and Persons of Quality through the extraordinary valour of no more than two hundred Burgers and one hundred Garrison Souldiers only that they were affisted by the Women and Children the Women filling the Bandilcers and the Children brought Bullets to their Parents Soon after the Seige of Groningen which had been beseigned with near three thousand men by the Bishop of Munster was by the Courage of the Citizens raised with the loss of half the Enemies Army and a prodigious quantity of Ammunition spent in vain in reduceing thereof to which his Highness care in furnishing them with all necessaries for desence was highly contributing About the same time the Prince resolving to dislodge the Outguards of the French gave a strong Alarm to them and without moving from his Saddle all night drove them to their Trenches before Utrecht and cartied several Lords Prisoners to Amsterdam His Highness then resolved to attempt the reducing of Woerden and after a bloody and obstinate Fight wherein
to hazard a Battel with the Prince after two such great losses for fear of a third insomuch that he suffered Binch to surrender to his Highness at discretion it being a Garrison of 350 men and had great quantities of Provisions even in the sight of his Army But it appeared afterward the Count had positive Orders not to engage the Confederates so that his Highness finding Winter approaching broke up his Army and returned to the Hague The King of France at this time seemed very desirous of Peace his Subjects being wearied and ruined with the charge of the War and several Princes offered to interpose in the matter and the King of England continuing still in the French Interests seemed very zealous therein and took upon him to be a Mediator between that King and his Enemies At length in 1676 a Treaty was begun at Nimegen whither the Pleinpotentiaries from all parts repaired as to the General Rendesvouz But the preparations for War went on as vigorously as ever and his Highness was throughly imployed to get his Army ready early in the Spring considering the formidable Musters the French made under Marshal Crequi near Charleville and Marshal d' Humieres having got together a Body of 15000 Men fell into the Country of Alost and the Spaniards being too weak to resist him put all the Countrey under Contribution Hereupon His Highness marched with all speed to join the D. of Villa Hermosa at Cambron which he did April 26. But before this Marshal Crequi had surrounded the City of Conde with 16000 men and the K. of France and D. of Orleans upon notice thereof joined him with 10000 more who incessantly batter'd the Town four days together with much fury insomuch that they were forced to surrender at Discretion though his Highness was marched as far as Granville for their Relief After this the King of France sent the D. of Orleans to besiege Bouchain with some of his Troops it being a strong Fortress of considerable consequence the K. posting his Army so as to hinder the Prince from relieving it but his Highness strugling through all difficulties of the Season and want of Provisions and Magazines in Flanders marched with his Army in view of the French King facing him several days together and at length was resolved to have attackt him with a Detachment of 12000 Men and to endeavour to have relieved the Town but understanding the place was taken he altered his resolution Nor would his Highness stir till the French K. first decamped leaving to the Prince the honour of having dared the whole Power and Fortune of France so that if the Confederates lost a small Town the French lost the greater Honour of accepting so brave a challenge The K. of France returning home and leaving his Army under the Command of Marshal Schomberg His Highness concluded with the Spaniards and the German Princes of the Lower Rhyne to set down before Mastricht which though strong before yet had been extreamly Fortified since possest by the French and had now a Garrison of 8000 choice men under Calvo a resolute Catalonian To divert this Siege Schomberg sends the Marshal de Humieres with 15000 men to besiege Aire a City in the Province of Artois and strongly incompast on three sides by a Marsh the only way to approach it being defended by a strong Fort with five Bastions and a Mote but the Fort not having men sufficient to defend it against the great numbers of the French who likewise threw Bombs incessantly into the Town and fired the Houses the Townsmen grew so impatient that they beat a Parley and the Articles were soon agreed by the French because they heard the D. of Villa Hermosa was coming to relieve it and the Governour was forced to surrender the Town His Highness continued the Siege of Mastricht all this while with much vigor and the latter end of July the Trenches were opened his Highness assigning to every one their Quarters and among the rest the English under three Collonels Fenwick Widdrington and Ashly consisting in 2500 men besides Reformades and Volunteers who presented a Petition to his Highness wherein they humbly desired That all of their Nation might be assigned a particular Quarter and be commanded apart that if they behaved themselves like Men they might have the honour due to their Courage but if they did ill that they only might bear the disgrace of their Cowardice there being no reason they should suffer for the miscarriages of others The Prince readily granted their request and ordered them a separate Post under Fenwick the Eldest Collonel and they accordingly signaliz'd their valour during the Siege Which was carried on with the utmost Conduct and Resolution his Highness continually animating his Souldiers by his Presence and teaching them by his example to contemn danger Many of the Outworks were taken with great slaughter on either side but were again supplied by the unwearied industry of the Besieged In one of these Assaults his Highness who continually exposed his Person received a Musket Shot in the Arm but to prevent his Men from being discouraged he pluckt off his Hat with the same Arm and waved it about his head But the Confederate Army being weakened both by sickness and the many Attacks against the Town and the Germans not bringing in their promised supplies a Council of War was called in the Princes Camp and there being advice that Monsieur Schomberg was coming with all the French Forces for the relief of the Town it was concluded to raise the Siege and so this Campaign ended without success occasioned by the weakness of the Spaniards and the uncertainty of the German Councils and soon after his Highness finding that Schomberg was satisfied with relieving Mastricht and not to be brought to a Battel He returned back to the Hague where in a General Assembly of the States he gave an account of the Summers Expedition so much to their satisfaction that he received their Congratulations and new returns of thanks for the many toils hardships and dangers to which he had exposed his Person for the preservation of his Country In September following his Highness received an account that the Imperial Army had taken Philipsburg for want of being well provided which was as unexpected as the raising the Siege of Mastricht The following Winter was spent in Treating the Peace at Nimegen which the Common People of Holland were very desirous of the War being a great hindrance to their Trade but the French insisted upon such high Terms that his Highness opposed it to the utmost though K. Charles II. was still very earnest to bring his dear Ally out of his Troubles But still the French pursued the War with their usual application for in February 1677. though it were in the depth of Winter their Forces marched into the Spanish Netherlands and having provided sufficient Magazines they in a manner blockt up Valenciennes Cambray and St. Omers at a distance giving
then King Charles and the States General would unite their Forces to compel him to reason The French rejected the King's Propositions continuing his mighty Warlike Preparations Upon which King Charles recalled his Forces out of the French Service who had often occasioned his gaining many considerable Victories and the Parliament meeting soon after the King acquainted them That he had made an Alliance with Holland to compel the King of France to a reasonable Peace Upon which the Commons gave Money for raising 30000 Land Souldiers and a Fleet of 90 Men of War Though it appeared afterward the Court never intended any War but to have used these Forces to far worse purposes even to the advancing Arbitrary Government and Popery in these Kingdoms of which the Dutch were so sensible that much doubting the sincerity of K. Charles his Negotiations they were at last constrained to make Peace with the French upon disadvantagious Terms to pacifie the Factions and Discontents of the People The French King in March this year came before Gaunt with an Army of 80000 Men and by inceslant Batteries and Stormings took it in nine days time having drawn the Spanish Forces toward Mons under pretence of Besieging it And then fell upon Ipre with such rapid violence that he soon reduced that likewise though with such loss of Officers and Souldiers that he put his Army into Garrisons and then returned to Paris This gave such a mighty Alarm to the Hollanders that all things drove on violently for a Peace Which the French King being sensible of and having now gained his point in Flanders to prevent the English from being in earnest against him He sends an Imperious Project of a Peace declaring he would admit of these conditions and no other which the Dutch were obliged to accept of since they could obtain no better But before the Peace was ratified the French made several Pretensions and Delays in performing even what themselves had agreed to as his Highness the P. of Orange foresaw and foretold they would do insomuch that they blockt up the City of Mons a chief Frontier of Flanders Upon which his Highness resolved to march to the relief of it great preparations being made to that purpose and understanding that the Confederates had joined the Holland and Spanish Forces that lay near the Canal of Brussels he departed by Night from the Hague and marching toward Mons with his Armv being accompanied with the Duke of Monmouth he fell upon the Duke of Luxemburg with such fury that he forced him to retire and animating his Souldiers with his Eyes sparkling like Fire they despised all danger by their gallant Generals example who in the midst of Fire and Smoak and Bullets flying thick as Hail adventured so far that he had been in eminent danger had not Monsieur Overkirk opposed himself against a daring Captain that was just ready to charge the Prince with a full Career laying him dead on the place The Horse all this while were lookers on not being able to advance into the the narrow Passages and steep Descents so that all the weight lay on the Foot and Dragoons Night coming on the Duke of Luxemburg drew off in great silence and confusion leaving to his Highness as certain marks of Victory the Field of Battel his Tents Baggage wounded Men store of Powder and other Ammunition The States General appointed Commissioners to congratulate his Highness for this Victory gained with so much reputation and glory beseeching him withal to be careful of his Illustrious Person considering the Tranquillity of his Countrey and the repose of the Church and Protestant Religion depended so much thereon The very day this memorable Battel was fought the Peace between the Dutch and French was signed at Nimegen of which intelligence was brought to his Highness the next morning who would else have pursued the advantages he had gained to the full relief of the Town having already in spight of so many disadvantages from an Army so suddenly drawn together and so hasty a march as that of the Dutch taken divers Posts fortified with so much skill and industry by the French and attacqued them with a resolution and vigor that at first surprized them and after an obstinate and bloudy Fight so disordered them that though the night prevented the end of the action yet it was verily believed that if the Prince had been at liberty next day to pursue it with 7 or 8000 English which were ready to join his Army he must in all appearance not only have relieved Mous but made such an impression into France as had been often design'd but never attempted since the War began Upon which a French Officer present said That he esteemed this the only Heroick Action that had been done in the whole course and progress of it The Prince having received advice of the Peace sent a Deputy with the News to the Duke of Luxemburg who desired to see the Prince and accordingly met him in the Field in the Head of his Chief Officers where all Civilities passed between them proper for the occasion and the French with great cariosity crowded about this young Prince who had the day before ingaged in such a desperate Action as that of St. Dennis was esteemed to be So that his Highness could not have ended the War with greater Glory nor with greater spight to see such a great occasion wrested out of his hand by the sudden and unexpected signing of the Peace which he had assured himself the States General would not have consented to without the Spaniards Yet upon the certain News of it he drew back his Army returned to the Hague and left the States to pursue their own measures in order to finish the Treaty betwixt France and Spain During which the King of England sent over a Perfon of Honour to the States General to acquaint them how much he was surprized at the news of their signing a particular Treaty with France even without the inclusion of Spain declaring that if they would refuse to ratifie what their Ministers had signed at Nimegen His Majesty would immediately declare War against France and carry it on with all vigour pursuant to the Treaty lately entred into with them All men were much amazed at this sudden Turn of the Court of England and the Prince complained That nothing was ever more hot and cold nor any Councils ever more unsteady than those of England since if this Dispatch had come twenty days before it might have changed the face of Affairs in Christendom and have obliged the French to such Terms of Peace as should have left the World in quiet for many years to come but would now have no effect at all Which happened accordingly for at last it appeared to proceed only from the discovery of the Popish Plot which extreamly alarm'd the People and Parliament who were much disturbed at the Treacherous Designs of our Court in promoting the Popish and French
Interest and thereby forcing the Dutch to comply with that King almost upon his own Terms and therefore to divert the humour King Charles pretended to be in earnest for engaging in a War against France which for some time hinder'd the Ratification of the Treaty and English Forces were daily transported into Flanders as if the War were really to have been carried on which encouraged those that were against the Peace in Holland and occasioned the Spaniards to use their utmost endeavours to prevent the concluding it But the French King being unwilling to lose the great Advantages he had obtained by this Treaty resolved to remove all difficulties and satisfie the States in their demands Yea he dispatched Ambassadors to the Hague with full Authority to remit all the differences about the Treaty with Spain and himself to their Determination which raised in the States such a good Opinion of the sincerity of that Kings proceedings that they quickly adjusted all matters in contest between the two Crowns so that the Treaty was signed September 20. 1678. The other Confederates as the Emperor the King of Denmark the Duke of Brandenburg c. were very much inraged that they were left to treat singly with their potent Enemy who demanded very severe Conditions from them so that the Ratification of the Treaty with Spain being hereby delayed the French King to quicken it sent Marshal de Humieres with a great Army into Fianders plundering and burning all before them and putting these Countries under Contribution with so much fury and insolence that the common people complained heavily of the Calamities and Miseries which they undeservedly suffered by the flowness of the Spanish Conncils so that at length both the Spaniard and Emperor were obliged to comply with the offers of France who else threatned in a few days to make the Terms much higher The other Princes though they very much resented this sudden Conclusion of a Peace at such disadvantage yet knowing their own inability were forced to be contented to make a separate Peace for themselves The King of England observing that he could not hinder it sent his Plenipotentiaries again to Nimegen to sign the General Treaty but in the interval some new pretences arising between the Spaniards and French the States General were very diligent to compose them the Transactions being seldom managed by them but in the presence of His Highness the Prince of Orange whose prudence was still consulted in matters of gre atest difficulty he himself discovering an extraordinary Generosity that while others preferr'd Points of Honour before the publick Peace His Highness quitted his own Interest in post-poning his demands for Reparation of the devastations in his own Estates and Territories so as not to impede the Tranquillity of his Countrey many of his Lands being ruined and destroyed in the Spanish Netherlands and other adjacent parts Of which and several other injustices in seizing upon His large possessions in other places though the Provinces of Guelderland Zealand and Utrecht made loud complaints against the French in his Highness behalf yet could the Prince obtain no satisfaction But the States and their Subjects being quite tired out out with the War the General Peace was signed in January 1678. And the English Mediators were called home by that King who was fully imployed at home about the matter of the Popish Plot which both Houses of Parliament and the generality of the Nation believed to be real though the King and some of the Court credited no more of it than what themselves were concerned in and the Prince of Orange at that time told a publick Minister That He had reason to be confident that the King was a Roman Catholick though he durst not profess it Thus Europe for the present was left in a General Peace though the French King soon after made such shameful pretences to the Dependancies upon his late Conquests both in Flandets and Germany that he gained more after the Peace than by his Arms in the War no Prince nor State being either willing or able to oppose him therein These disputes began in 1681 and continued some years at which time that King likewise began to raise a violent Persecution against his own Protestant Subjects proceeding from the Perfidiousness and ingratitude peculiar to Lewis the XIV For it is well known that for the signal Services which they performed to Henry IV. His Grand-Father in asserting the Rights of the Crown against the Papists who were then in rebellion against him that great Prince in acknowledgment thereof confirmed to them an Edict for the free exercise of their Religion which was called the Edict of Nants whereby they were to enjoy all Liberties and Priviledges both in Religious and Civil matters and to be as capable of all Offices and Imployments as his other Subjects This he declared should be inviolable and it was accordingly confirmed both by his Son Lewis XIII and likewise by the present King upon a very remarkable occasion For he being very Young when he ascended the Throne the Prince of Conde soon after raised a Civil War in the Kingdom against him but the Protestants by their unshaken Loyalty to him defeated the designs of his enemies and setled that Crown upon His Head which he wears this day of which eminent Service he seemed to be so sensible that in 1652. he made a publick Declaration of it at St. Germans and every one endeavoured to exceed in proclaiming the merits of the Protestants the Queen Mother her self acknowledging that they had preserved the State But since by the Maxims of the Roman Religion No Faith is to be kept with Hereticks the Jesuits and Ministers of State endeavoured to instil into the Kings mind this Treacherous Notion That since the Protestants were so potent to advance the King they might likewise upon another occasion remove him again from this infernal reasoning without their having given the least umbrage or suspition of disloyalty it was resolved they must be supprest and ruined Therefore so soon as the Kingdom was setled in Peace the Protestant Towns of Rochel Montauban c. Which had shewed the greatest Zeal for the Kings service were plundred by the Souldiers and otherwise impoverisht Then their Churches and Exercises of Religion were prohibited them under false pretences that they exceeded the Grants allowed them Yea in matters of Law Religion was urg'd by the Advocates at the instigation of the Priests so that they cryed out I plead against a Heretick an enemy to the State and to the Kings Religion whom he would have to be destroyed So that the Judge durst not do them justice for fear of being counted a Favourer of Hereticks and upon complaint they were told You have your remedy in your own hands why do not you turn Catholicks This was succeeded by Processes throughout the Kingdom to inquire what the Protestants had said or done for twenty years past about Religion or other matters and there being no
Dispensing and Suspending Power and the Ecclesiastical Commission to promote his future Designs when he had once baffled the Prince of Orange the Nation saw through the Project and he lost all As for the English in general their Interest Centers in the maintaining the Rights and Franchises of their Kingdom which renders them this Day the freest Nation in Europe A Character so far from supposing them to be like other Nations a People Head-strong and unconstant that it shews them to be the most Considerate and Understanding People in the World in short though the example of a Neighbouring Prince had served for a Platform for other Crowned Heads to enlarge their Power beyond the Limits prescribed by the Constitutions of the Kingdom We see that at the very Moment that the King began to act like his Neighbour they presently put a Sâ—op to his Designs without the least respect to his Dignity They saw how Soveraign Authority Reigned in France as Independent from the Laws as in Turkey They beheld the face of the Kingdom of Sweden and Denmark changed by Introducing Hereditary Succession whereas they were Elective before They viewed the Face of the Kingdom of Hungary heretofore the Seat of Liberty Disfigured by the same Innovation and Poland that boasts to have preserved the Ancient Laws entire has notwithstanding suffered Injurious Alterations In short which way soever we cast our Eyes we shall find Attempts of the same Nature prosper only in England they have failed whence we may conclude that maugre all which has been said of the English Nation they are the Wisest and most Prudent People that we know of under the Sun THE HISTORY OF King William Queen Mary King William and Queen Mary being Proclaimed in all the Counties and chief Cities of England with the general Joy of the People Addresles were daily presented them from several Parts to testifie their extream Satisfaction and Content in their being advanced to the Throne and the Convention being by an Act figned by the King turned into a Parliament in the same manner as the Convention was upon the Restoration of Charles II. 1660. They proceeded to enact several Laws for setling the Government upon its true and ancient Basis and several vacant Offices and Imployments were supplied by their Majesties and Dr. Gilbert Burnet was made Bishop of Salisbury in the room of Dr. Seth Ward Deceased I have been very brief upon the Affairs in England till the Happy Revolution in 1688. because I have lately Published a Book of the same value with this Intituled The History of the two late Kings Charles II. and James II. being an Impartial Account of the most Remarkable Transactions and observable Passages during their Reigns and the secret French and Popish Intrigues managed in those Times Neither shall I inlarge upon the Affairs of Ireland intending suddenly to publish the History of that Kingdom from the first Conquest thereof by King Henry II. to its total Reduction by the Arms of their present Majesties And now both Houses of Parliament present an humble Address to his Majesty about the speedy relief of Ireland in pursuance whereof the King sent over a Proclamation of Pardon to all the Irish Papists that would lay down their Arms and live Peaceably under the Government with the full enjoyment of their Estates and the private Exercise of their Religion which if they refused they were declared Rebels and Traytors to the Crown of England and their Estates to be forfeited and distributed among those that should and and assist in reducing them to Obedience but Tyrconnel endeavoured to hinder the effect thereof by promising them speedy succors from France and that King James would come in Person with a numerous Army to their Assistance and sent several Detachments of his tattered Regiments to seize divers considerable Protestants in their Houses who upon notice escaped into the North and strengthned their Party the Priests stirr'd up these Raseally Vermin that were armed with Pitchforks Bills Staves and other weaponâ— to commit all manner of outrages to the damage of some Papists as well as Protestants and it was reported that at a Consult in the Council wherein some Popish Bishops assisted it was moved that the only way to clear the Countrey of Hereticks was by a general Massacre but Tyrconnel opposed it In March the late King James took Post from Paris to Brest and soon after landed in Ireland with a numetous Train of Officers but very few Souldiers The Estates of Scotland met the same Month at Edenburgh in pursuance of his Majesties Circulary Letters and King William sent them the following Letter MY Lords and Gentlemen We are very sensible of the kindness and concern which your Nation has evidenced towards us and our undertaking for the Preservation of your Religion and Liberty which were in such imminent danger Neither can we in the least doubt your Confidence in us after having seen how far so many of your Nobility and Gentry have owned our Declaration countenancing and concurring with us in our endeavours and desiring us that we would take upon us the Administration of Affairs Civil and Military and to call a Meeting of the Estates for securing the Protestant Religion and the ancient Laws and Liberties of that Kingdom which accordingly we have done Now it lies on you to enter upon such Consultations as are most proper to settle you on sure and lasting Foundations which we hope you will set about with all convenient speed with regard to the publick good and to the general Interest and Inclinations of the People that after so much Trouble and great Suffering they may live happily and in Peace and that you may lay aside all Animosities and Factions that may impede 10 good a Work we are glad to find that so many of the Nobility and Gentry when here in London were to much inclined to a Union of both Kingdoms and that they did look upon it as the best means for procuring the Happiness of both Nations and setling of a lasting Peace among them which would be advantagious to both they living in the same Island having the same Language and the same common Interest of Religion and Liberty especially at this Juncture when the enemies of both are so ressess in endeavouring to make and increase Jealousies and Divisions which they will be ready to improve to their own advantage and the ruin of Brittain we being to the same oprnion as to the usefulness of this Union and having nothing so much before our eyes as the Glory of God establishing the Reformed Religion and the Peace and Happiness of these Nations are resolved to use our utmost endeavours in advancing every thing that may conduce to the effectuating the same So we bid you heartily Farewell From our Court at Hampton March 7. 1689. This Letter being read Commissioners were named to draw an Answer full of Acknowledgment and Respect the late King James had likewise sent a Letter
willing to assist them in every thing that concerns the Well and Interest of that Kingdom by making what Laws shall be necessary for the Security of their Religion Property and Liberty and to ease them of what may be justly grievous to them After which the Coronation Oath was tendered to Their Majesties which the Earl of Argile spoke word by word distinctly and the King and Queen repeated it after him holding their Right Hands up after the manner of taking Oaths in Scotland The Meeting of the Estates of Scotland did Authorise their Commissioners to represent to his Majesty That that Clause in the Oath in relation to the rooting out of Hereticks did not import the destroying of Hereticks and that by the Law of Scotland no Man was to be Persecuted for his private Opinion and even Obstinate and Convicted Hereticks were only to be Denounced Rebels or Outlawed whereby their Moveable Estates are Confiscated His Majesty at the repeating that Clause in the Oath did declare That he did not mean by these words that he was under any Obligation to become a Persecutor To which the Commissioners made answer That neither the meaning of the Oath or the Law of Scotland did import it Then the King Replyed that he took the Oath in that Sense and called for Witnesses the Commissioners and others present and theâ— both their Majesties Signed the said Coronation Oath After which the Commissioners and several of the Scotch Nobility Kissed their Majesties Hands The Parliament in England proceeded to enact many Laws for the ease of the People and Security of the Kingdom One for taking away the Revenue arising from the Hearth-Money by his Majesties own desire who willingly resigned up his Right therein because it was found grievous to the People though it occasioned a great Diminution to the Revenue of the Crown another Act was passed for exempting their Majesties Protestant Subjects Dissenting from the Church of England from the Penaltier of certain Laws another for Abrogating the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance and appointing other Oaths another for Prohibiting all Trade and Commerce with France with divers more and about the same time the House of Commons presented His Majesty the following Address We your Majesties most Loyal and Dutiful Subjects the Commons in Parliament Assembled most Humbly lay before your Majesty our earnest Desires that your Majesty would be pleased to take into your most Serious Consideration the Destructive Methods taken of late years by the French King against the Trade Quiet and Interest of your Kingdom and particularly the present Invasion of your Kingdom of Ireland and Supporting your Majesty Rebellious Subjects and we not doubting in the least but through your Majesties Wisdom the Alliances already made as well as those that may be hereafter concluded on this occasion by your Majesty may be effectual to Reduce the French King to such a Condition that it may not be in his Power hereafter to violate the Peace of Christendom nor prejudice the Trade and Prosperity of this your Majesties Kingdom To this end we most humbly beseech your Majesty to rest assured upon this our Hearty and Solemn Promise and Ingagement That when your Majesty shall think fit to enter into a War with the French King we will give your Majesty such Assistance in a Parliamentary way as may enable your Majesty under the Protection and Blessing that Almighty God has ever afforded you to support and go through with the same To this Request and Resolution of the House of Commons which was so graceful to the Nation in general his Majesty was pleased to return this Answer Gentlemen I receive this Address as a Mark of the Confidence you have in me which I take very kindly and shall endeavour by all my Actions to Confirm you in it I assure you that my own Ambition shall never be an Argument to incline me to ingage in a War that may expose the Nation either to Danger or Expence but in the present Case I look upon the War so much already declared in effect by France against England that it is not so much an Act of Choice as an inevitable necessity in our own Defence I shall only tell you that as I have ventured my Life and all that is Dear to me to rescue the Nation from what it suffered so I am ready still to do the same in order to the preserving it from all its Enemies and as I doubt not of such an Assistance from you as shall be Suitable to your Advice to me to Declare War against a powerful Enemy so you may Rely upon me that no part of that which you shall give for the carrying it on with Success shall by me be Diverted to any other use Soon after a Declaration of War was published against France and the Reasons thereof Namely The unjust Methods of the French King these late years to gratifie his Ambition by Invading the Territories of the Empire now in Amity with us and in manifest Violation of the Treaties Confirmed by the Guaranty of the Crown of England His Majesty therefore can do no less than joyn with his Allies in Opposing that Kings Designs as the Disturber of the Peace and the Common Enemy of the Christian World Likewise the many Injuries done to his Majesty and his Subjects are a sufficient Justification for their taking Arms since they have called upon his Majesty so to do and though no notice has been taken nor Reparation demanded of late years for Reasons well known to the World yet his Majesty will not pass them over without a publick and just Resentment of such Outrages Also the Incroachments and Invasions of the French on our Trade and Fishing of Newfound Land and their Hostilities upon the Charibbee Islands New York and Hudsons-Bay Seizing the Forts burning the Houses Robbing the English of their Goods imprisoning some inhumanly killing others and driving the rest to Sea in a small Vessel without Food or Necessaries and this even at a time when that King was Negotiating a Treaty in England of Neutrality and good Correspondence in America also his Countenancing the Seizure of English Ships by French Privateers His Disputing the Right of the Flag in the Narrow Seas which in all Ages has been asserted by his Majesties Predecessors and which he is resolved to maintain for the Honour of the Crown and of the English Nation And that which most nearly touches his Majesty is His Unchristian Persecution of many English Protestants in France contrary to the Law of Nations and express Treaties forcing them to abjure their Religion by strange and unusual Cruelties imprisoning some English Masters and Seamen and Condemning other to the Gallies upon pretence of having on Board either the Persons or Goods of some of his own Miserable Protestant Subjects Lastly as he has for some years past endeavoured by Insinuation and Promises of Assistance to overthrow the Government of England so now by Open and Violent Methods
and the actual Invasion of Ireland and Supporting the Rebels there he is promoting the utter Extirpation of the Protestants there His Majesty being therefore thus Necessitated to take up Arms and Relying on the help of Almighty God in his just undertaking hath thought fit to declare War against the French King and will in Conjunction with his Allies vigorously prosecute the same by Sea and Land since he hath so unrighteously begun it being assured of the hearty Concurrence and Assistance of his Subjects in Supporting of so good a Cause forbidding all Correspondence or Communication with that King or his Subjects and that all the French Nation in his Majesties Dominions who shall Demean themselves Dutifully and not Correspond with his Enemies shall upon the Kings Royal word be safe in their Persons and Estates and free from all Molestation and Trouble of any Kind About the same time the King of Spain proclaimed War against France and the Emperor of Germany sent a Letter to his Majesty wherein after he has returned thanks to the King for taking care that no Violence should be offered to the Roman Catholicks he promises the same thing in respect to the Protestants His Majesty gave Advice to the Switzers of his Advancement to the Throne So that now King William and Queen Mary were acknowledged for lawful Soveraigns of Great Brittain by all the Protestant and the greatest part of the Roman Catholick Princes and States for besides the Emperor and the King of Spain the Duke of Bavaria the three Ecclesiastical Electors the Duke of Newburg the Elector Palatine and the Bishops of Leige and Munster all Roman Catholicks declared themselves Enemies to France and by this we may observe that the French Polititians were greatly deceived in their Measures for upon notice of the Prince of Oranges Expedition into England it is reported some of them thus Discourst King Lewis Sir said they There is a Civil War kindling in England which will last this two or three years and Disable that Island and the United Provinces from Acting In this time your Majesty will have Conquered all or the greatest part of Germany If King James has the worst we will perswade all the Catholick Princes to Unite and Restore him All this while your Majesty will be Head of the League will preserve your Conquests and King James cannot refuse you Ireland or any other portion of his Kingdom for the Expences of the War This done your Majesty shall fall upon Holland which will be weak and unprovided of Men and Money and shall be able in a little time to oppress the Remainder of the Protestanâ—s and so become Emperor of all Europe But unfortunately for them King James II. too soon forsook his Country and then they cryed Religion is ruined unless all endeavours are used for his Restoration Upon which some would fain know what Religion the French King is of who persecutes and invades Papists as well as Protestants and think that he must be either a Pagan or Mahumetan or else of a Christianity all of his own Contriving to carry on his Perjuries and Usurpations upon his Neighbours May 1. A Squadron of English Men of War under Admiral Herbert Sailing toward the Coast of Ireland to prevent the French from Landing Forces and Provisions there understanding they were got to Sea under favour of the Night they got sight of them lying in the Bay of Bantree in the West of Ireland and resolved to Attack them with Nine Ships in the Harbor they being about 44 Sail in all whereupon the next Morning the Fight began we continued Fattering upon a Stretch till five in the Afternoon when the French Admiral Tackt from us and stood farther into the Bay In this Action Captain Aâ—lmeâ— and 94 Seamen were killed and about 250 wounded but the Enemy were Reported to have 200 Slain and many more Wounded and having Landed some few Men for fear of a second Ingagement Retreated after which our Squadron returned to Portsmouth whither His Majesty came soon after and declared his Royal Intention of Conferring the Title of Earl upon the Admiral and accordingly he was afterward Created Earl of Torrington Baron of Torbay c. and the Captain Shovell and Ashby were Knighted and Ten Shillings a Man was given to those Seamen that had been ingaged against the French King James found himself at this time greatly mistaken in Scotland which he called his Ancient Kingdom where he thought himself absolute Master by making so many Creatures and Friends whereas that Kingdom in general now owned King William and the Rebels whose number is inconsiderable and Discovered and Secured The Lord Dundee only escaped who roam'd about the North parts with some few followers and General Mackay at his Heels Letters about this time were intercepted from the late King and his Secretary Melfort to the Lord Belcarris and others wherein were some Expressions that highly incensed the Scots against them You will ask me without question says Melfort to Claverhouse How we intend to pay our Army but never fear that so long as there are Rebels Estates we will begin with the Great Ones and end with the Little Ones In another Letter to Belcarris says he The Estates of the Rebels will Recompence us Experience hath taught our Illustrious Master that there are a good Number of People that must be made Gibeonites because they are good for nothing else you know there are several Lords that we markt out when we were both together that deserve no better These will serve for Examples to others after the Reading of these Letters the President of the Convention Addressing himself to the Members of the Assembly You hear Gentlemen said he Our Sentence Pronounced and that it behoves us either to Defend our Selves or Dye Upon which the Lords Belcarris and Lochore and Lieutenant Colonel Balfour were Committed to Prison and being thus forewarned they Resolved to keep the Army afoot which they thought of Disbanding As to the Hopes of the Enemies of that Kingdom that the Abolishing of Episcopacy may occasion another Revolution there is no reason to believe it since the late Carriage of the Scotch Bishops has utterly Alienated the Affections of the greater part of the People from them so that if they were Protestants at the bottom of their Souls yet they appeared to be Men of no Policy nor Conduct For they sent an Address to King James wherein they Highly Congratulated the Birth of the pretended Prince of Wales they read that Kings Declaration for Liberty of Conscience in favour of the Papists and for the Abolition of Penal Laws and how could they imagine that when they knew it was a long timebefore they could gain that single Point of the Superiority of Bishops above private Ministers that the Scots would ever endure Popery and Arbitrary Power to Domineer over them Experience shews us that they only wanted a Leader before this time So that when the Prince of Oranges Design
Limerick which was also invested the latter end of August upon which Lieutenant General Sarsfield who was retired to the Mountains with 4000 Horse and Dragoons resolved to return to that City but was met by General Ginkle and a Party of the English who so vigorously charged them that they instantly fled and were pursued to the very Gates of the Town above 600 Irish being slain and 70 Officers taken Prisoners The Besieged seeing themselves shut up within the Walls of one single Town which was now almost battered down about their Ears hopeless of Succour and reduced to the last extremities Oct. 13. Surrendred up Limerick upon Articles whereby all Ireland was wholly reduced to their Majesties Obedience In Flanders Sept. 19. there happened an Ingagement between the French and Confederate Armies in the absence of the King of England who finding he could not oblige the Enemy to a Battle departed to Brussels and from thence to Loo in order to his return for England leaving the Command of the Army to Prince Waldeck who decamping from Leuse to retire to Cambron the Enemy having notice thereof detached about 30. Squadrons who marched all Night and by the favour of a thick mist unexpectedly fell upon 15. Squadrons of the Confederates Rereguard the conflict was very Sharp and though Inferiour in number yet the Allies made a vigorous Defence till several other Regiments came up to their relief which caused the Enemy to retreat The French lost near 700 men with many Officers and the Confederates about the same number after which both Armies went into Winter Quarters The English and Holland Fleets under the command of Admiral Russel had in vain sought to ingage the French this summer at Sea and having lain some time on the Coast of Ireland to prevent the French from sending Forces thither came now into Harbour after a very tempestuous Season and the Holland Fleet separated and safely arrived in their several Ports and the French Fleet returned to Brest His Majesty being returned to England Oct. 19. and the Parliament sitting the King declared himself to them who thereupon unanimously resolved to raise such supplies as should inable him to continue the War with France and in March following His Majesty arrived again in Holland and from thence went to Loe where several Princes met him to concert the Affairs of the next Campaign He having an Army of 30000 English in Flanders this Summer March 26. 1692. The Elector of Bavaria who was made Governour of the Spanish Netherlands during Life arrived at Brussels being received there with much Joy and Solemnity His Majesty having designed to make a Descent upon France this Summer the News so alarm'd the French King that he resolved to land some Forces in England and King James in the Head of them some Jacobites and Discontented People here having given him Assurance of joining with him upon his Landing to which end the French King supplied Ships Troops and Lovis d'ores so that nothing was wanting but to cross the Seas and a Squadron of sixteen Ships and two Bombing Vessels were sitting at Toulon under Count d'Estree to convoy the Transport Ships thither under the Protection of the French Fleet commanded by Vice Admiral Tourvile in the Channel to prevent the joining of the Dutch and English Fleets and to fight all that should oppose their Passage but Providence ordered the Winds and Recks to fight D' Estree he losing two of his largest Ships near Centa on the Coast of Africa and the rest miserably shattered went to Portugal to refit so that instead of being at Brest the beginning of April he did not arrive there till the beginning of July and came a minute too late as he said to join Torville The Q. of England upon notice of the imbarking of so many men gave out all necessary Orders for securing the Coasts and several Horses were seized whose owners designed to have join'd the Enemy upon their Descent which was intended to be about Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight K James with his Irish Forces were come to Cherbourg upon the Ceast of Normandy and Monsieur Torville had great Confidence in the Courage of his French Marriners upon King James assurance that the English would not fight but be Spectators only The English and Dutch Fleets being happily joined without any Obstruction from the Enemy Admiral Russel set sail from St. Hellens and May 19. get sight of the French Fleet near Cape Barfleur Admiral Torville having the Wind hastned up to the English but the Wind slackning the French Vanguard of 15. great men of War could not come up to the English till Eleven next Morning five of the fifteen did their Duty but the other ten kept out of Cannon shot the Dutch were not able to come up the Wind being in their Teeth the fight lasted between them that could ingage about three hours and then the French made all the Sail they could to get away and the Dutch bad much ado to turn their Ships to follow them by Reason of the Calm during which the two main Bodies of the Fleet laâ—oured to the utmost to come up with the Enemy and being happily got up with them ingaged resolutely for four hours and then Torville as his Vanguard had done before retreated with all speed and by the favour of a Mist got out of sight in the Afternoon the English Blew Squadron which could not come up for the Calm fell upon the Blew French Squadron where the most obstinate fight was maintained till the Night and Mists gave opportunity to the Enemy to hasten toward their own Coasts The next day being clear Admiral Russel discovered them two Leagues off but could not come up by Reason of a sudden Mist about eleven at Night the French weighed Anchor by Moon light and the Confederates pursued them who to save themselves ventured among the Rocks of Jersey and Guernsey May 21. The Admiral discovering several men of War upon a Bank near Cape Barfleur detacht Vice Admiral De la Val with eight or nine Vessels and three Fireships to set fire to them which the next day was happily effected the Royal Sun that magnificent Ship commanded by Admiral Torville which was the wonder of the World both for the exquisiteness of her carving and the beauty of her Shape being 20 Years in Building by the most skilful Shipwrights in Europe carrying 110 Guns the Admirable of 102 and the Strong of 80 Guns with two less Frigates and three Transport Ships were all sacrificed to the Flames and the next day 12 more were burnt in a Bay behind the Isle of Aldernay and this without the loss of one English or Dutch Ship the rest of the French Fleet fled to Brest St. Maloes and Other Ports to secure themselves King James was upon a Hill and through a Perspective Glass saw the fight and upon the first firing of the English he declared that it was only a Signal for them to
want of perjured Villains to swear what was absolutely false the Judges though sensible of it incouraging them therein the Prisons were soon filled and many innocent and virtuous Persons were whipt and sent to the Gallies for Slaves Next they were deprived of all publick Offices and imployments contrary to an express Article in the Edict of Nants yea were forbid to exercise several Arts and Trades for maintaining their Families This was in 1669. and in 1680. all Lords and Gentlemen were commanded to discharge their Protestant Officers and Servants Nay they would not suffer Protestant Midwives to do their Office but expresly ordained That no Woman should receive any assistance in that condition but from Popish Midwives And to consummate their miseries they were forbid under severe penalties to go out of France to get their bread in other Countreys whereby they were under the horrible necessity of perishing for hunger in their own They laid severe Taxes upon them raising the sum from fourty or fifty Livers to seven or eight hundred and Quartered Dragoons upon them till it was paid Then an Edict was published that Children of seven years old should abjure their Religion forcing their Parents to give them allowances beyond their abilities taking them away and suffering them to see them no more even Persons of the best Quality were thus used Protestant Schoolmasters were prohibited and three Universities supprest though absolutely granted by the Edict of Nants Papists were forbid to marry Protestants or Ministers to hinder People directly or indirectly from turning Papists These and a multitude of other cruel and barbarous oppressions they greaned under when the Elector of Brandenburg being pleased to interceed on their behalf the King assured him He was very well satisfied with the behaviour of his Protestant Subjects and that so long as he lived no wrong should be done them And yet at the same instant with his usual sincerity he gave order for demolishing several of their Churches and shutting up others imprisoning their Ministers and using divers manifest injustices against those he pretended to protect At this time some of the Persecuted People sent their Children to Orange as being a Soveraign Principality to finish the course of their Studies in security But this so displeased the King that He sent a Body of two thousand men under his Lieutenant General in Languedock who positively commanded the Prince of Oranges Magistrates to send away all the Children home again and not to receive any more for the future into their University or Schools which though it appeared very unreasonable yet the magistrates to prevent further mischief complyed therewith and thought they had thereby given full satisfaction to his demands but were strangely surprized to hear that during the Capitulation the Lieutenant General still approached with his forces nearer the City and that he had absolute Orders to demolish their Walls In short he advanced and Quartered eight Companies of Dragoons in the Citizens Houses where they committed many disorders constraining as well the Inhabitants as the other Subjects of His Highness in the Villages round about to assist at the ruine of their own Walls and Towers which were blown up At which the People laboured the more earnestly to be the sooner rid of those Arbitrary Guests who were said to have already vitiated several Virgins The Prince having news hereof represented their Case to the States General as a breach of the last Peace desiring them to signifie their just resentment of these unreasonable proceedings of the French King and to demand reparations for such horrid violations instantly upon concluding a General Peace and without the least provocation given The States accordingly by their Ambassador represented it as an Infraction of the Peace of Nimegen and required satisfaction for the damages which the Prince and his Subjects had so Illegally and contrary to the Faith of Treaties and Leagues sustained But could have only this answer from the French Court That as to the money extorted from the Inhabitants it was done without the Kings Order and he had commanded restitution to be made That upon the submission of the People to his will and pleasure he had withdrawn his Forces out of the Principality and restored free commerce to the Inhabitants according to their desires And for the rest he had reason for what he had done After the Peace was concluded his Highness applyed himself to reform the Government of Utrecht and other Towns and likewise to concert matters with the States General for the future security of his Countrey against the Treacheries and false pretentions of France The Prince being usually present in the Principal Debates of the Assembly both as to Peace and War who always appeared no less prudent and vigilant to prevent disorders at home than to repel Forreign Hostility In July 1681. His Highness came over into England and arriving at Whitehall Dined at Sir Stephen Foxes and then went to Windsor where the Court then was and having continued here about Ten Days returned back to Holland In the Interval of Affairs his Highness retired to Dieren or Soestdyke to divert himself and at other times made progresses to take a review of the Frontier Towns belonging to the State who in 1682. had ordered the Towns of Breda Grave and Naerden to be strongly fortified and it was proposed in the Assembly of the States to raise 16000 men and incorporate them with the Old Regiments and to add a New Squadron of twenty four Men of War both to prevent any sudden Insults of the French upon their Territories and to assist the Spaniards if they should commit any Acts of Hostility which was much to be suspected considering the shameful pretensions that King set up of Dependancies in the Spanish Netherlands In 1682. the Marquess of Grana was made Governour of Flanders of which he gave notice to the States General and the Prince and soon after His Highness had an Interview with the Marquess between Breda and Antwerp where they entred into Conferences about their future managements of Affairs His Highness likwise visiting the Fortified Places in Flanders belonging to the States being accompanied with the Princess who was received with all kind of Respect and Splendor by the Cities of Brussels Antwerp c. About this time the Count de Avaux the French Ambassador arriving at the Hague put in a Memorial to the Assembly of the manner how he expected to receive Audience But the States replyed That the things which he desired were wholly new and never practised before and therefore they can in no wise comply with them Whereupon his Audience was put off till he was willing to receive it upon the former Terms In November this year the Envoy of Moscovy came to wait upon the Prince then at Soestdyke to give an account that the great Czar was dead and that the two Princes now reigning were advanced to the Throne In the end of 1683. The K. of Spain being no
had largely promised the Protection of both And at the same time seeing Popery and Arbitrary Power hovering over their Heads and ready to seize on their Liberties and Properties and that both were designed to be perpetuated and enâ—ailed upon them and their Posterity by a succession of Popish Princes Mrs. Cellier having declared in Print before the pretended Birth That it would be a Prince and that the Queen would likewise bring forth a Duke of York and a Duke of Glocester After several consultations whither to fly for succour at length they resolved to apply themselves to His Highness the Prince of Orange to whose Illustrious Family it had been an Inherent Glory for some Ages to relieve the Distressed and support the Protestant Cause His Highness they saw inherited all the surpassing Qualities of his Ancestors Their matchless Prudence Justice Courage their Truth and Magnanimity and besides all these excellent Endowments they were well assured of the fair Title he had to the Crown it self To him therefore the Lords Spiritual and Temporal with a great number of the Chiefest Gentry of the Kingdom make their application and in an humble Memorial represent their Grievances to their Highnesses to this effect That their Highnesses cannot be ignorant that the Protestants of England who continue True to the Government and Religion have been many ways troubled and vexed by many Devices and Machinations of the Papists carried on under pretence of Royal Authority and things required of them unanswerable before God and Man Several Ecclesiastical Benefices of Churches taken from them without any other Reason given than the Kings Pleasure themselves Summoned and Sentenced by Commissioners appointed contrary to express Law deprived of their free choice of Magistrates divers Corporations dissolved The Legal Security of their Religion and Liberty established by King and Parliament abolished and taken away by a pretended Dispensing Power New and unheard of Maxims broached That Subjects have no Right but what is founded and derived from the Kings Will and Pleasure the Militia put into the Hands of Persons unqualified by Law and a Popish Mercenary Army maintained in the Kingdom in times of Peace directly contrary to Law executing of ancient Laws against several Crimes and Misdemeanors obstructed and prohibited and the Statutes against corresponding with the Court of Rome against Papal Jurisdictions and Popish Priests suspended in the Courts of Justice those Judges displaced who acquit any whom the Court would have condemned as happened to the Judges Holloway and Powel for acquitting the seven Bishops the free choice of Members of Parliament wholly taken away notwithstanding all the Care and Provision made by the Law in that behalf by the Quo Warranto's against Charters and proposing ensnaring Questions all things levell'd at the Propagation of Popery for which the Courts of England and France have now for a long time so strenously bestirr'd themselves Endeavours and Practices used to perswade their Highnesses to Consent to the abolishing the Penal Laws and Tests though herein disappointed The Queens being with Child first Proclaimed and Divulged by Popish Priests and in the Sequel thereof a Child produced without any clear Proof or Evidence of sufficient and unsuspected Witnesses besides that it cannot be believed that the said Child was ever born of the Queen by Reason of her known Sickness and Indisposition and many other Arguments as not being confirmed by any certain foregoing Signs of Conception the place of her lying in being often changed and her pretended Delivery Celebrated in the absence of the Princess of Denmark and while the English Ladies were at Church in a Bedstead which was provided with a Convenient Passage in the side of it by which means the Child was conveyed to the Queen by the Ladies L' Abadie and Teurarier that these be matters left to the Discretion of a Free Parliament and that in the Name of your Highnesses and the whole Nation the Queen may be desired to prove the real Birth of the pretended Prince of Wales by a competent number of credible Witnesses of both Sexes or in Case of a failure herein that the reports of any such Birth may be supprest for the time to come That they humbly crave the Protection of their Highnesses in this matter as well as with respect to the Abolition and Suspension of the Laws made to maintain the Protestant Religion their Civil Rights Fundamental Liberties and Free Government and that their Highnesses would be pleased to insist that besides the business of the Child the Government of England according to Law may be restored the Laws against Papal Jurisdiction Priests c. be put in Execution the Suspending and Dispensing Power be declared Null and Void and the Priviledges of the City of London Free Choice of Magistrates and all the other Liberties as well of that as other Corporations be restored and maintained Their Highnesses with no less Willingness than Generosity and out of their Zeal for the Protestant Religion and Compassion of the Oppressed listned to their Complaints And his Highness well weighing the justness of their Requests and the Reality of their Grievances instantly began to take Measures in Order to their Deliverance And soon after his Highness went to meet the Elector of Brandenburgh and some other Princes and Noblemen of Germany at Minden which so alarmed the French King that Monsieur D' Avaux his Ambassadour presented a Memorial to the States General intimating that the King his Master being informed of the Motions and Conferences that were made and held towards the Frontiers of Cologne against the Cardinal of Furstemburgh and the Chapter He was resolved to maintain the Cardinal and their Priviledges against all those who should go about to trouble them but herein the Politicks of King Lewis fail'd him his Highness the Prince of Orange managing his Affairs with such an exact Secrecy that neither that King nor his Sagacious Council could penetrate into the Design till it was upon the Point of Execution and out of danger of being Defeated For upon his Highness return from that Conference to Loe Orders were given for drawing the Forces the States had raised for his Highness Assistance and incamping them upon the Mocker Hyde and the Forces of those other Princes whom his Highness had ingaged to aid him in this Glorious Expedition had Orders to be upon their March as those of Brandenburgh Hesse-Cassel c. And the States General assembled at the Hague where his Highness was present and their Debates and Consultations having been kept very Private for some days at length they published the following Manifesto That the States had resolved with their Ships and Men to assist the Prince of Orange who being invited by the Reiterated Importunities of the Nobility and Gentry of England to oppose that Arbitrary Government which His Britannick Majesty is designing to introduce into that Kingdom has fully determined to go over to that Countrey as well for that Reason as to save
full Redress and Remedy therein Having therefore an intire Confidence That his said Highness the Prince of Orange will perfect the Deliverance so far advanced by him and will still preserve them from the Violation of their Rights which they have here Asserted and from all other Attempts upon their Religion Rights and Liberties the said Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons Assembled at Westminster do Resolve That William and Mary Prince and Princess of Orange be and be Declared King and Queen of England France and Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonging to hold the Crown and Royal Dignity of the said Kingdoms and Dominions ' to them the said Prince and Princess during their Lives and the Life of the Survivor of them And that the sole and full Exercise of the Regal Power be only in and executed by the said Prince of Orange in the Names of the said Prince and Princess during their joint Lives And after their Deceases the said Crown and Royal Dignity of the said Kingdoms and Dominions to be to the Heirs of the Body of the said Princess And for default of such Issue to 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 to accept the same accordingly And that the Oaths hereafter mentioned be taken by all Persons of whom the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy might be required by Law instead of them And that the said Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy be Abrogated I A. B. Do sincerely Promise and Swear That I will be Faithful and bear true Allegiance to Their Majesties King WILLIAM and Queen MARY So help me God I A. B. 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 Murdered by their Subjects or any other whatsoever And I do Declare That no Foreign Prince Person Prelate State or Potentate hath or ought to have any Jurisdiction Power Superiority Preeminence or Authority Ecclesiastical or Spiritual within this Realm So help me God This Declaration being Presented to their Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Orange in the Banqueting House at White-Hall on Wednesday Feb. 13. 1688. and their Consent thereunto Received they were both the same Day Proclaimed King and Queen of England France and Ireland c. at White-Hall Gate Temple-Bar and the Royal Exchange many of the Lords and Commons attending and the People proclaiming their Joys by Repeated Shouts and Acclamations The Tenor of the Proclamation was as followeth Whereas it hath pleased Almighty God in his great Mercy to this Kingdom to vouchsafe us a Miraculous Deliverance from Popery and Arbitrary Power and that our Preservation is due next under God to the Resolution and Conduct of his Highness the Prince of Orange whom God hath chosen to be the Glorious Instrument of such an Inestimable Happiness to us and our Posterity And being highly Sensible and fully perswaded of the Great and Eminent Virtues of Her Highness the Princess of Orange whose Zeal for the Protestant Religion will no doubt bring a Blessing along with her upon this Nation and where as the Lords and Commons now Assembled at Westminster have made a Declaration and presented the same to the said Prince and Princess of Oranâ—e and therein desired them to accept the Crown who have accepted the same accordingly We therefore the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons together with the Lord Mayor and Citizens of London and others of the Commons of this Reaim do with full Consent Publish and Proclaim according to the said Declaration William and Mary Prince and Princess of Orange to be King and Queen of England France and Ireland with all the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging who are accordingly so to be owned Deemed and taken by all the People of the afore said Realms and Dominions who are from hence forward bound to acknowledge and pay unto them all Faith and True Allegiance Beseeching God by whom Kings Reign to Bless King William and Queen Mary with long and Happy Years to Reign over us God Save King William and Queen Mary John Brown Clericus Parliamentorum It is Reported that his Majesty should thus generously express himself upon this Occasion That though the Regulations seem'd somewhat harsh they were easy to him that desired only to be a great King But in respect to one that Aim'd to be a Tyrant they were not strict enough Having thus brought their Majesty to the Throne let us make a few Remarks upon this Wonderful and Unparallel'd Revolution and so conclude the History of the House of Orange Had a Prince of less Secresie Prudence Courage and Interest undertaken this mighty Affair it might probably have miscarryed but as his Cause was better so his Reputation Conduct and Patience infinitely exceeded that of King James He would not stir till he saw the French Forces sit down before Philipsburg and that he was sure France and Germany were irrecoverably ingaged and that he should have no other Opposition than what the Irish and English Roman Catholicks could make against him For no English Protestant would fight his Country into Vassalage and Slavery to Popish Priests and Italian Women when a Parliament sooner or later must have Determined every thing in Controversy except they were Resolved once for all to have given up their Religion Laws Liberties and Estates to the Will of their Arbitrary Kings and submitted for ever to a French Government and indeed a Nation of less Sense than the English might have been imposed upon Of less Bravery and Valour might have been frighted Of a more Servile Temper might have neglected their Liberties till it had been too late to recover them again And none but a parcel of Jesuits unacquainted with their Temper and Constitution would ever have hoped to have carryed two such things as Popery and Arbitrary Power both at once upon a People so Jealous as the English are and who hate Idolatry and Tyranny above any Nation in the World As for King James II. had he undertaken any thing but these two his vast Revenue his Reputed Personal Valour and the Fame he had gained both at Home and Abroad by the Defeat of Monmouths Invasion would have gone near to have effected it And after all if he had in the beginning of October freely granted all the Proposals made him by the Nobility and suffered a Parliament to have met and given up his Evil Ministers to Justice and permitted the Birth of the pretended Prince of Wales to have been freely Debated and Determined in Parliament it would in all probability have prevented this Expedition of the Prince of Orange But whilst he thought to preserve the pretended Succession the
shilling XVIII THe Kingdom of Darkness Or the History of Demons Specters Witches Apparitions Possessions Disturbances and other wonderful and supernatural Delusions Mischievous Feats and Malicious Impostures of the Devil Containing near Fourscore memorable Relations Forreign and Domestick both Antient and Modern Collected from Authentick Records Real Attestations Credible Evidences and asserted by Authors of Undoubted Verity Together with a Preface obviating the common Objections and Allegations of the Sadduces and Atheists of the Age who deny the Being of Spirits Witches c. With Pictures of several memorable Accidents Price One Shilling XIX SUrprizing Miracles of Nature and Art in two parts containing 1. The Miracles of Nature or the wonderful Signs and Prodigies Aspects and Appearances in the Heavens Earth and Sea with an account of the most famous Comets and other prodigies from the Birth of Christ to this time 2. 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Price one shilling XXI MArtyrs in Flames or Popery in its true Colours being a brief Relation of the horrid Cruelties and Persecutions of the Pope and Church of Rome for many hundred years past to this present time in Piedmont Bohemia Germany Poland Lithuania France Italy Spain Portugal Scotland Ireland and England with an Abstract of the cruel Persecutions lately exercised upon the Protestants in France and Savoy in the years 1686. and 1687. Together with a short account of Gods Judgments upon Popish Persecutors Price one shilling Miscellanies XXII DElights for the Ingenious in above Fifty Select and choice Emblems Divine and Moral Ancient and Modern Curiously Ingraven upon Copper Plates with Fifty delightful Poems and Lâ—ts for the more Lively Illustration of each Emblem Whereby Instruction and good Counsel may be promoted and furthered by an honest and pleasant Recreation Collected by R. B. Pr. 2 s. 6 d. 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Price bound one Shilling Divinity XXVI THE Divine Banquet or Sacramental Devotions consisting of Morning and Evening Prayers Contemplations and Hymns for every day in the Week in order to a more Solemn Preparation for the worthy Receiving of the Holy Communion Representing the several steps and degrees of the Sorrow and sufferings of our blessed Saviour till he gave up the Ghost Together with brief Resolutions to all those Scruples and Objections usually alledged for the omission of this important Duty With Eight curious Sculptures proper to the several parts with Graces Imprimatur Z. Isham R. P. D. Hen. Epis Lond. Ã Sacris Price One Shilling XXVII A Guide to Eternal Glory Or brief directions to all Christian how to attain everlasting Solution To which are added several other small Trâ—sts Price One Shilling XXVIII YOâ—â—ths Divine Pastime containing torty remarkable scripture histories turned into common English Verse with forty Picture proper to eaâ—â— story very delightful for the vertuous imploying the vacant â—ours of young persons and preventing vain and viâ—ions divertisements Together with several scripture hymns upon diverse occasions Price 8d XXIX THE young mans calling or the whole duty of youth in a serious and compassionate addres to all young persons to remember their Creator in the days of their youth Together with remarks upon the lives of several excellent young persons of both Sâ—xes as well ancient as modern who have been famous for virtue and piety in their Generation c. With twelve curious Pictures illustrating the several histories Price 1s 6 d. XXX THE vanity of the life of man represented in the seven several stages thereof with pictures and poems exposing the follies of every Age. Price eight pence XXXI MOunt Sion or a draught of that Church that shall stand for ever together with a view of that World wâ—â—â— shall be broken in pieces and consumed By William Dyer Author of Christs famous Titles and a Believers Golden Chaiâ— Pâ—â—â—e one shilling XXXII DIstâ—â—ssed Sion relieved or the Garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness A Poem Wherein are discovered the grand causes of the Churches trouble and misery under the late dismal dispensation with a compleat history of and lamentation for those renowned Worthies that fell in England by Popish rage and cruelty from the year 1680. By Ben. Keach Price 1s XXXIII ANtichrist stormed or the Church of Rome proved to be mystery Babylon the Great Whore Rev. 17. by many and undeniable arguments answering all the objections of the Papists and all others Together with the Judgment of many ancient and modern Divines and most eminent writers concerning the rise and final ruine of the Beast and Babylon proving it will be in this present Age. By Ben. Keach Price One shilling XXXIV THE Devout Souls daily Exercise in Prayers Contemplations and Praises containing Devotions for Morning Noon and Night for every day in the week with Prayers before and after the Holy Communion And likewise for Persons of all Conditions and upon all occasions With Graces and Thanksgivings before and after meat By R. P. D. D. 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