Fasti Gulielmi Tertii OR AN ACCOUNT OF THE Most Memorable Actions Transacted during his Majesty's Life both before and since his Accession to the Crown WITH The Days Months and Years wherein the same hapned LONDON Printed for John Barnes at the Crown in the Pall-Mall and sold by Richard Baldwin near the Oxford-Arms in Warwick-lane MDCXCVII STAND FAST The honble Allexander Grantt younger of that ilk To the Right Honourable ARNOLD EARL of Albemarle Viscount Bury and Baron of Ashford Master of his Majesty's Robes c. My LORD DID this Book treat of any other Subject I should begin with asking Your Lordship's Pardon for the Liberty I take of prefixing your Name to it but since it is an Abridgment of the Actions of our August Monarch I dare assure my self that I need no Apology on that account For what more acceptable thing could one offer to your Lordship whose Zeal and Affection to his Majesty can hardly be parallel'd I likewise think I may dispense with another usual Method of Dedications and therefore I shall not attempt your Lordship's Character nor speak of your Valour Generosity Civility and innate Inclination to do Good to Mankind These and many other excellent Qualifications are so conspicuous in your Lordship that those who know you would take it ill from me to insist on a Truth they are already convinced of And for others who know your Lordship only by Fame they cannot but have a great Idea of your Merit when they consider that the most Judicious as well as the most Glorious Prince that ever wore a Crown finds you worthy of his Esteem and Confidence of which the great Titles of Honour he has lately conferred upon You are a publick Demonstration I beg your Lordship to excuse the Ambition of this Address and to give me leave to assure You that I am with a most profound Respect My Lord Your Lordship 's most Humble and most Obedient Servant The PREFACE THIS Book does not need a long Preface The Title is sufficient to recommend its Vsefulness and as to the Performance no body would take my word for it and therefore I submit it to the Judgment of the Reader The Design I owe to Father Coronelli Cosmographer to the Republick of Venice but he being a Stranger and having written upon false Memoirs committed so many Faults that I have received very little Assistance from his little Almanack that was printed here in English in one single Sheet which by the by was worse than the Original Tho I have had better Memoirs and do know many things I relate upon my own Knowledg I dare not presume to say I have committed no Errors but I hope they are not material and am more afraid of Omissions than Mistakes but whatever they be I shall endeavour to mend them in a second Edition and therefore shall take it kindly if any body will impart to me their Remarks and Corrections This Book tho very small contains not only the bare Heads of things from the Year 1672. down to this time but also a short yet exact Account of Battels and Sieges c. and several Original Pieces at length which being scatter'd in loose Papers I thought fit to collect in this Treatise I relate few Events before the Year 1672. on purpose to avoid mentioning the Wars between England and Holland in which so many Worthies of both Nations perished tho they were at War without being angry that Quarrel being rather the Ministers than the Peoples I have endeavoured to do Justice to all Men but if any thinks himself wrong'd I desire him to be perswaded that I have had no ill Design and shall always be ready to correct my self I have taken care to avoid that common Vice of the French Writers who never dare approach their King without a Censer in their Hands and therefore I have fairly related the Actions his Majesty has been concerned in either successful or not without any Flattery nay without giving him the Commendations his Archievements require being sensible that tho Heroes are ambitious to deserve Praises yet they cannot bear them I have taken notice of several great Events in which his Majesty was not directly concerned by reason of their being very memorable and therefore fit to be inserted here The Observation of the English and Roman Account will I hope prove very useful at least I am certain that to find out those Dates has cost me a great deal of Trouble ADVERTISEMENT LEST the Method of this Kalendar should surprize any the Reader must know these two things 1. That I begin the Year upon the 1st of January tho I know it begins with us only in March and that because of the late horrid Conspiracy I have followed the Leap-Year allowing 29 Days to February 2. That in relating the Events contained in this Book I don't follow the Series of the Year's beginning in 1650 and so down to this time but I only observe the Series of the Days and Months and therefore whatever thing has been transacted in January tho of this very Year is here related before what happens in February without any respect to the Years set down in one of the Columns Roman Account English Account Fasti Gulielmi Tertii OR An Account of the most Memorable Actions of His Majesty WILLIAM III. King of Great Britain c. January December  1. 1679 22. 1678 THE Ministers of Spain and Holland being in Negotiation at Nimeguen for restoring Mastricht to the King of Spain the Prince of Orange opposes it till he has received Satisfaction from that Crown for his Pretensions dit 1689 1688 King James being sailed for France the Lords Spiritual and Temporal met at Westminster on the present juncture of Affairs 2. 1689 23. 1688 The Prince of Orange orders the French Ambassador to leave England 3. 1662 24. 1661 The Provinces of Overyssel and Zealand resolved to bestow upon him the Place of Captain General which their Pensionaries acquainted him with but hearing that very Day that his Mother was ill he fell sick himself 4. 1689 25. 1688 The Peers of England present to the Prince of Orange two Addresses the first of Thanks for having undertaken to relieve the Nation in time of Need and to desire Him to accept the Government till Jan. 22. next the second to issue out Letters to the Coroners to chuse Members for the Convention to sit upon the said January 22. O. S. 5. 1671 26. 1671 The Prince comes from Oxford and Windsor where he was most nobly entertained by King Charles II. and interposes His Mediation between His Majesty and the States General and on that Occasion gives extraordinary Proofs of his great Genius as well as of His Affection for the States dit 1689 1688 The Aldermen and Citizens of London agree to the Lords Address for desiring the Prince of Orange to take upon him the Government of the Nation 6. 1689 27. 1688 A great many Gentlemen who were
the State of the Nation the following Question was proposed Whether a Regency with the Administration of Regal Power under the Name and Stile of King James the Second during the Life of the said K. James be the best and safest way to preserve the Protestant Religion and the Laws of the Kingdom Upon which the House divided Contents 48 Non Contents 51.   February 11. 1. 1661 Charles II. demands from the States some Papers which the Princess of Orange his Sister had committed to his Care by her Will till the young Prince should come to Age but the States refused it as being themselves Guardians to the Prince This was the beginning or Pretence of a Breach between them 12. 2. 1651 The States General the Provinces of Holland and Zealand and the Cities of Amsterdam Delst and Harlem are desired to stand Godfathers to the Prince of Orange dit 1689 The Convention forbids the keeping of the 6th of February a Thanksgiving-Day as it was before it being the Day that K. James was proclaimed   The same Day a prodigious number of People go to Westminster to desire the Convention to crown the Prince and Princess of Orange 13. 3. 1689 The Prince sends 12 Men of War for Holland to bring the Princess into England 14. 4.  15. 5. 1689 The Commons desire a Free Conference with the Lords concerning the Abdication of King James II. and the Vacancy of the Throne which was long debated between the two Houses 16. 6. 1691 The Electors of Bavaria and Brandenburgh the Duke of Zell the Landgrave of Hesse Cassel the Marquiss de Gasbanaga Governour of the Spanish Netherlands and several other Great Lords come to the Hague to wait on his Majesty and confer together about the Affairs of the Alliance Never was a more illustrious Assembly there being about 50 Princes or Generals of Armies 14 English Lords above 30 Ambassadors and a great number of Princesses and other great Ladies 17. 7. 1689 The Lords agree with the Commons that King James has abdicated the Government and that the Throne is vacant dit 1676 The Elector of Brandenburgh proposes to the Prince a Match between his Highness and the Princess of Radzevill nearly related to the Elector who had a vast Fortune 18. 8.  19. 9. 1674 This Day was concluded a Treaty of Peace at Westminster between K. Charles II. and the States General of the United Netherlands The Marquiss del Frezno Ambassador of the King of Spain was Plenipotentiary for the Dutch 20. 10. 1675 The Prince being arrived at Arnhem where the Nobility and States of Guelderland were assembled he went to their Assembly and returned to them his Thanks for the Offers they had made unto him of the Sovereignty of those Provinces with the Title of Duke of Guelderland and Count of Zutphen for fear as he was pleased to express himself of occasioning Mistrust and lest his Enemies should accuse him of acting only for his own private Interest dit 1675 The States of the said Province elected his Highness their hereditary Governour which he accepted 21. 11. 1671 The Dutchess of York being brought to bed of a Girl the Prince of Orange is desired to stand her Godfather 22. 12. 1689 The Princess of Orange lands at Whitehall being received by several Lords and Ladies with the Acclamations of the People and all Demonstrations of Joy 23. 13. 1689 The Lords and Commons attend the Prince and Princess of Orange at the Banqueting-House at Whitehall and offer them the Imperial Crown of England and Ireland and all other Dominions thereunto belonging which being accepted they were the same day proclaimed in the Cities of London and Westminster with the usual Ceremonies by the Name of William and Mary 24. 14. 1689 King William makes choice of his Privy Council dit 1671 The Prince sets out from London for Holland attended by the Earl of Ossery dit 1672 He accepts the Dignity of Captain General of the Vnited Provinces dit 1689 King William puts out a Proclamation for the collecting of the Publick Revenue 25. 15. 1672 He took the Oath before the States General as Captain General dit 1696 A Company of Villains sent from France resolve to assassinate his Majesty in a narrow Lane near Turnham-Green as he should come from Hunting but by the good Providence of God his Majesty did not go out this Day as he used to do 26. 16.  27. 17. 1674 The Prince having considerably encreased his Army obliges the French to abandon Nimeguen Zutphea Arnhem Till and the Fort Schenck 28. 18. 1689 King William made a Speech to the Lords and Commons at Westminster it being the first time that he appeared as King in the House of Lords March   29. 19.  1. 20.  2. 21. He sent back part of the Dutch Forces for Holland 3. 22. 1689 King William issues out a Proclamation ordering the Irish Rebels to lay down their Arms by April next following dit 1696 The King having notice of the Design of the Conspirators against his Sacred Person forbears to go a Hunting They had resolved to murder his Majesty in a narrow Lane at Turnham-Green and were commanded by Sir George Barclay sent over by King James and the French King for that Villanous Design 4. 23. 1689 The King gives his Royal Assent to the Bill to declare the Convention a Parliament and for the Sitting of the same 4. 23. 1696 Several Warrants are issued out for apprehending a great many Villains who had conspired to assassinate the King the 15th Instant and afterwards the 22d About eleven of them were seized in the Morning and brought to the Horse Guard dit  An Express arrived from the Duke of Wirtemberg and brought Advice that the French had a great number of Transport Ships at Calais with 14000 Men ready to go on Board and that King James was arrived at Calais on the 2d of March New Stile or the 21st Febr. Old Stile and that they expected there a great Blow in England His Highness acquainted his Majesty that he had caused thereupon several Battalions to draw near Ostend to be ready to go on Board upon any Occasion and that the French gave out that He was very ill some others dead and others that he had been kill'd a-hunting A great Council was held at Kensington where it was resolved that Admiral Russel should immediately go on Board the Fleet the Earl of Rummey to Dover and raise the Militia and the Earl of Dorset in Sussex 5. 24. 1696 An Express arrives from the Elector of Bavaria with the Confirmation of the great Preparations the French were making at Calais and that King James was there dit  The King goes to the House of Lords and the Commons being sent for up his Majesty acquainted his Parliament with the Danger his Person had been nearly exposed to as well as the Kingdom that there was a Design of Assassinating his Person and at
three Hours and the English Captain was kill'd but Robert Sincock the Boatswain having taken upon him the Command of the Ship there being no Lieutenant on board continued the Engagement with such Bravery that the two French Men of War were taken and brought into Plymouth 23. 13. 1696 This Day Peter Cook Esq Son to Sir Miles Cook was tried at the Old Baily for conspiring with Sir William Parkins Sir John Friend Charnock the Earl of Ailesbury and several other Traitors the Subversion of the Government by a French Army It was fully proved that he was at the Meeting wherein it was resolved to send Charnock into France to propose the sending over of an Army and resolved to join them at their Landing whereupon the Jury â—ound him guilty and he receiv'd Sentence of Death as the â—aw directs in such Cases dit 1695 The King set sail from the Buoy of the Nore for Holland attended by a Squadron of Men of War commanded by Sir â—â—eorge Rook. 24. 14. 1690 The Garison of Charlemont consisting of about 800 Men having capitulated the 12th Instant marched out this Day in the Presence of the Duke of Schomberg   The same Day Colonel Woolsley took a strong Castle called Ballingargy with the Loss of 47 Men and 43 wounded dit 1695 The King landed at Oranje Polder and arrived at the Hague where he was received with great Acclamations of Joy 25. 15. 1689 This Day the King went on board the Elizabeth at Portsmouth where he was most splendidly entertained at Dinner by Admiral Herbert His Majesty was pleased to declare then his Royal Intention of confirming the Title and Dignity of an Earl of this Kingdom upon the said Admiral and knighted Capt. John Ashby and Cloudesly Shovel and to incourage the Seamen his Majesty was pleased to bestow upon such of them who were in the late Engagement with the French at Bantry-Bay a Donative of 10 Shillings a Man dit 1692 The Fleet riding at St. Helens waiting only for a favourable Wind to go in quest of the French Admiral Russell acquainted the Flag-Officers and others that he had received a Letter from the Queen wherein her Majesty was pleased to tell him that she was informed that there was a false and malicious Report spread abroad that some of the Officers of the Fleet were disaffected and that she had ordered the Discharge of many of them from their Employments but that she was satisfied that this Report was raised by the Enemies of the Government and that she reposed so entire a Confidence in their Fidelity and Zeal that she was resolved not to displace any one of them Whereupon they made a very Loyal Address which was immediately sent up and presented to the Queen by the Lords of the Admiralty 26. 16. 1689 This Day the King was pleased to create Frederick Count de Schomberg late Mareschal of France General of his Majesty's Forces Master General of the Ordnance and one of the Privy Council a Baron Earl Marquiss and Duke of the Kingdom of England by the Name and Title of Baron Teyes Earl of Brentford Marquiss of Harwich and Duke of Schomberg dit 1692 A Proclamation was published this Day declaring that the Parliament which was to sit the 24th Instant shall be further prorogued to the 14th of June their Sitting being not judged necessary because of our Fleet being then at Sea in a condition to oppose the designed Descent of the French   At the same time a Declaration of the late King James was dispersed both in London and the Country containing a great many fair Promises and a general Pardon to his former Subjects some few excepted and amongst others the poor Fisherman Hunt of Feversham who there stopp'd King James when he was going for France 1688. dit 1695 This Day the Parliament of Scotland signed an Address of Condolence to the King upon the Death of that incomparable Princess the late Queen Mary a Loss as they express it that can never be too much nor too long lamented 27. 17. 1692 Admiral Russell sailed this Morning from St. Helens with the English and Dutch Fleet under his Command in order to fight the French Fleet commanded by Count Tourville which had been for some Days in the Channel   The King having Advice that the French King had caused Namur to be invested the 25th in the Morning and the Mareschal de Luxemburgh was posted at Gemblours to cover the Siege His Majesty deâ—amped from Diogem with the Confederate Army and marched towards Lovain to endeavour to relieve the Place 28. 18. 1658 A Painter who pretended to Prophecy drew the Prince of Orange's Picture with 3 Crowns upon his Head The Picture is still to be seen at the Hague dit 1689 A Proclamation was published this Day for prohibiting the Importation or retailing of any Commodities of the Growth or Manufacture of France 29. 19. 1692 About three in the Morning the Scouts of the English and Dutch Fleet commanded by Admiral Russell made the Signal that they discovered the Enemy about 7 Leagues off Cape Barfleur The French who had the Weather-gage bore down to the Allies and engaged at some Distance about 11 a Clock The Fight continued till half an Hour past five in the Evening the Britannia on board which was Admiral Russel and the Royal Sun the Admiral of France being then within less than Musquet-shot distance The French finding the Place too hot towed away with all their Boats and the English and Dutch after them About 6 there was a fresh Engagement between the Blew Squadron and the French which lasted not long It was calm all the Night and the French took the Opportunity of a great Fog to tow away their Ships and run away Three French Ships blew up in the Engagement 30. 20. 1692 The English and Dutch Fleet got sight again of the French Fleet but they could never come up with them nearer than a League and all were forced to come to an Anchor dit 1690 The King came to the House of Lords and gave the Royal Assent to an Act for the Exercise of the Government by the Queen during his Majesty's Absence and to another for reversing the Judgment in a Quo-warranto against the City of London and for restoring the said City to its antient Rights and Privileges dit 1696 Alexander Knightley one of the Conspirators against his Majesty's Person was brought to the King's Bench Bar at Westminster in order to be tried for that horrid Crime but the Prisoner delivered a Paper to the Court owning that he had been concerned both in the Design of assassinating the King and in the intended Invasion of the French and begg'd the Court to intercede with the King for a Pardon 31. 21. 1692 A Conspiracy against the King's Person was discovered in Flanders That Design was carried on by one Chevalier de Grandval a Captain of Dragoons in the French Service and one Dumort a Walloon who had
last Year agreed together to kill the King and for that purpose went to Loo while his Majesty was there but not meeting with an opportunity they return'd to Paris They were again set on foot by the greatest Men in the Court of France as the Marquiss de Barbezieux c. and encouraged by King James and the French King himself and so they came again into Flanders to put in execution that devilish Design and the better to succeed they engaged one Leefâ—ale a Gentleman near Bosleduc hoping to remain in those Parts undiscovered but the Providence of God brought that execrable Conspiracy to Light and Grandval was apprehended The French King thought then to inslave Europe and to cut off with one stroke all the Hopes they had to preserve their Liberties for he was ready in Flanders upon the Death of his Majesty to invade the Netherlands and King James expected at the Hogue that satal Blow to make a Descent in England dit  Admiral Russâ—l and Admiral Allâ—moâ—de continued this Day to chase the scatter'd French Ships whereof some run into the Race of Aldernay others run a-shore at La Hogue and the Admiral with two others and two Frigats in the Bay of Cherburg June   1. 22. 1692 Vice Admiral De La Val having the Day before followed the French Admiral and some other Men of War into Cherburg-Bay ordered this Morning three Fireships to burn them and went himself in his Barge with all the Boats of his Ships to protect the Fireships because there was not Water enough for the Men of War The French defended their Ships for some time but at last were forced to leave them One of our Fireships commanded by Captain Heath burnt the Royal Sun Captain Greenway burnt the Conquerant and the Admirable was burnt by our Boats We took a great many Prisoners in that Action and lost but very few Men. The Royal Sun Admiral of the French Fleet carried 104 Guns and was one of the richest Ships that ever was built insomuch that the French said that she was amongst the other Ships what the Sun is amongst the other Planets The Conquerant and the Admirable were the seconds to the Admiral the first carrying 80 Guns and the last 102 two Frigats and three Ships of lesser Rank were burnt at the same time 2. 3. 1692 Admiral Russel having penn'd up in the Bay of La Hogue 15 French Ships sent this Afternoon Vice-Admiral Rook with several light Frigats and Fire-ships together with all the Boats of the Fleet well arm'd to burn the said Ships The Attempt was very dangerous and difficult for it was performed in sight of the French and Irish Army commanded by King James who caus'd several Batteries to be made to protect the Men of War but such was the Conduct and Resolution of our Men that they took Possession of several of the Enemies Ships and beat the French with their own Guns from their Platforms on the shore They burnt six Men of War in the Evening and had burnt the rest had not the Night obliged them to retire till the next Morning dit 1690 The King came to the House of Lords and having given the Royal Assent to an Act for the King and Queen's Majesty's most gracious general and free Pardon both Houses adjourned to the 7th of July dit 1693 An Act of Parliament was pass'd in Scotland making it Treason for any Scots man going to or staying in France after the 1st of August following and making likewise Treason all Correspondence and Commerce by Letters with France without the King's Permission 3. 24. 1689 This Day the King came to the House of Lords and gave â—he Royal Assent to an Act for exempting their Majesty's Protestant Subjects diffenting from the Church of England from the Penalties of certain Laws This Act was the first Fruit of the late happy Revolution and put an end to a very unnatural Persecution which one time or other could not but be fatal to Great Britain dit 1692 Admiral Russel sent again this Morning Sir George Rook with the Long Boats of the Fleet to burn the rest of the Men of War that lay in La Hogue Bay and which they could not destroy the day before by reason of the Night coming on They burnt six others and a great many French Seamen perish'd in the Flames A French Ship of 56 Guns was also overset and utterly lost The French made a great Fire from their Batteries on the shore but however did the English little Damage They burnt also 20 of the Enemies Transport Ships 4. 25. 1690 The French Army commanded by Mousieur de Catinat being enter'd into Piemont and threatning Hostilities in case the Citadels of Turin and Verrue were not immediately delivered up to them The Duke of Savoy declared War this Day against France and sent to the Governour of Milan the Swiss Cantons the Emperor the King of England and the States General to acquaint them with the Posture of his Affairs and desire their Assistance He set at liberty the Vaudois who had vigorously forced their way into their own Vallies through the French and the Duke of Savoy's Forces and ordered them to join with his Troops to oppose their Common Enemy dit 1692 Admiral Russel having destroyed all the French Ships in the Bay of La Hogue sailed thence towards the Coasts of England having sent Sir John Ashby with many Fireships to destroy the French Transport Ships at Havre de Grace if he found it practicable dit 1692 This Day Great Waradin surrendred to the Imperialists commanded by General Heusler 5. 26. 1692 The Town of Namur surrendred this Day to the French King the Garison retiring into the Castle 6. 27. 1689 Messieurs Van Engellenburg Van Witsen Van Odick Van Citters and Dickvelt Ambassadors extraordinary from the States General of the United Provinces to congratulate their Majesties upon their happy Accession to the Crown made this Day their publick Entry They were received at Greenwich by the Earl of Sussex Sir Charles Cotterel Master of the Ceremonies and six Gentlemen of his Majesty's Privy Chamber and brought up the River in the King's Barges At their Landing at the Tower the Standard being displayed they were complimented by the Lord Lucas Governour thereof and saluted with a Discharge of the Cannon From thence being attended by 16 Pages on Horseback and 60 Footmen in splendid Liveries they were conducted in their Majesties Coaches followed by 6 very rich Coaches of their own and above 50 others belonging to the Nobility with 6 Horses apiece to Cleveland-house at St. James's appointed for their Entertainment where their Excellencies were complimented from the King by the Lord Cornwallis from the Queen by Sir Edward Villers from the Queen Dowager by Mr. Sayers her Vice-Chamberlain from Prince George of Denmark by the Lord Cornbury and from the Princess by Lieutenant Colonel Sandys dit 1692 This Day being appointed by Admiral Russel to give Thanks to
sick His Highness exposed himself very much in the Attacks and obliged the French to pay to the Inhabitants what was due to them 14. 4. 1674 The Prince of Orange having refreshed his Army for some time after the Battel of Seneff sat down this Day before Oudenarde 15. 5. 1690 Our Army being retired in good Order from before Limerick his Majesty left it under the Command of Count Solmes and having appointed the Lord Viscount Sidney and Thomas Coningsby Esq to be Lords Justices of Ireland he imbarked this Afternoon at Duncannon-Fort with his Royal Highness and landed the next Day in King's Road not far from Bristol 16. 6. 1673 The Prince of Orange received a Letter from the Emperor wherein his Imperial Majesty gave him the Title of Royal Highness the Queen of Spain did also the like but tho the Prince had a better Claim to it than the Duke of Savoy being descended from an Emperor of Germany and Grandson to Henry the IVth King of France and to Charles I. King of England he never for ought I know assum'd it but contented himself with the bare Title of Highness which no body could deny him 17. 7. 1676 The Town of Philipsburgh surrendred this Day to the Allies and the French marched out to the Number of 2000 Men. dit 1689 The Duke of Schomberg having secured Carickfergus resolved to march directly towards Dublin and came this Day to Newry which the Irish quitted the Day before tho it was such a Pass that General Rozen who commanded in Ireland for the French King said that with 10000 Men he would stop there 100000. They burnt the Place which so incensed the Duke that he sent a Trumpet to the Irish to let them know that if they burnt any more Towns he would give no Quarter to those of their Army who should fall into his Power 18. 8. 1692 This Day about 2 in the Afternoon happened in this City an Earthquake which lasted about a Minute It was felt in most Parts of England and in Flanders The King being incamped at Gramen was then at Dinner in an old decayed House which shaking very much his Majesty was obliged to rise from Table and go out of the House We received no Damage by that Earthquake neither in the City nor in the Country 19. 9.  20. 10. 1688 The late King James having formed the Design to subvert the Laws of England together with the Protestant Religion and being sensible that a Protestant Army was not very fit for that Service resolved to fill it with Irish Men as devoted entirely to his Service and accordingly ordered the Duke of Berwick to put into his Regiment 30 Gentlemen of that Nation but his Lieutenant Colonel Beaumont the Captains Paston Simon Parke Thomas Orme Will. Cooke and John Post generously refused to comply with their Colonel's Desire at which the Court was so enraged that they were tried in a Court-Martial and cashiered this Day dit 1688 The Prince set out for Minden to confer with the Electors of Saxony and Brandenburgh the Landgrave of Hesse Cassel and the Princes of the House of Lunenburgh It was there that in Offensive and Defensive League between those Princes was concluded and then was laid the Foundation of that great Alliance which appeared soon after and whereby England and the Liberties of Europe have been preserved As that Affair required a great Secrecy none of the Ministers of those Princes were acquainted with it and to avoid the Disorder and Slowness that commonly attend the Confederate Armies when they are commanded by several Generals of an equal Dignity the chief Command of the Troops of those Princes was conferr'd without any Competition on his Highness the Prince of Orange and they gave Order to their respective Forces and Generals to be ready to march at his first Orders It was observed that that Day was the most stormy and rainy Day that had been seen for many Years past and some time after one of the Courtiers of the Elector of Brandenburgh complaining in his Presence of the Fatigues and of the bad Weather he met with that Day the Elector inrerrupted him and said that it was the finest Day for Europe that ever shone dit 1690 His Majesty returned this Evening to Kensington from Ireland and was received with all possible Demonstration of Joy The Streets of London were filled with Bonfires the Houses illuminated and the People omitted nothing that might testify the extraordinary Joy they had of his Majesty's safe Return dit 1691 The Mareschal de Luxemburgh having notice that the King had left the Confederate Army under the Command of Prince Waldeck and that the said Army was marching from Leuze to Cambron thought it a favourable Opportunity to attack them and accordingly parted from his Camp with 40 Squadrons of Horse and Dragoons in which were the Troops of the Houshold with a Design to charge our Rear There happen'd this Morning 〈◊〉 pretty thick Fog which was the Reason that his March was not discovered and about Noon just as our Rear was passing a little River and Defile near la Catoire the French charged them with such a Vigour that some Squadrons were put into Disorder but being supported by the Foot who in the mean time had lined the Hedges they maintained their Post till they were reinforced by some other Troops who had already pass'd the Desile and after a sharp Dispute repulsed the Enemy Prince Waldeck caused the Army to stand in Battalia till 4 in the Afternoon and then continued his March to Cambron The Action was vigorous on both Sides and about 1000 Men in all lost their Lives in that brush The French took some Prisoners and the Allies did the like and amongst them a Major of the Life-Guards We lost also 7 Standards and took 5 of theirs 2 of which did belong to the 2 Troops of Guards du Corps commanded by the Duke of Lorges and Duke of Noailles The young Prince of Anhalt and Count Benthem were killed on our side and Count Maulevrier Count Mouthrun Lieutenant Generals Count de Forghes and Count Mortagne were killed on the side of the French and a great many Persons of Note in both Armies were wounded dit 1695 His Majesty having left the Command of the Army to the Elector of Bavaria arrived this Day at Loo and the Mareschal de Boufflers having given his Parole that the Garisons of Deinse and Dixmude should be released as soon as he should come to Dinant his Majesty gave him leave to depart and accordingly he set out from Mastricht where he was Prisoner the 17th Instant N. S. 21. 11. 1673 The States sent Monsieur Fagel to compliment his Highness on the taking of Naerden dit 1674 The Prince of Conde knowing the Extremities Oudenarde was reduced to marched to relieve it and came in sight of the Allies the 20th who resolved to attack them the next Day The Prince of Orange called a Council of War wherein
away their Arms. King James himself was startled at it and 't is believed that this hastened his Resolution to leave the Kingdom 18. 8. 1688 This Day King James's Army retired in great haste from Reading upon a false Alarm that the Dutch were near that Place but as they endeavoured to regain that Post the next Day a Party of the Prince attacked them and slew about 50 Dragoons tho they were more numerous than the Dutch dit  King James seeing that all the Nation declared for a Free Parliament and that the Prince and his Party were already Masters of the most important Places was prevailed upon to try the last Remedy and to send Commissioners to treat with the Prince of Orange He made choice of the Marquiss of Hallifax the Earl of Nottingham and the Lord Godolphin whom he thought the fittest Men to manage the Treaty who having obtained leave of the Prince to come to him at Hungerford presented this Day the following Proposals to his Highness   Sir   THE King commanded us to acquaint you that He observes all the Differences and Causes of Complaint alledged by your Highness seem to be referred to a Free Parliament His Majesty as he has already declared was resolved before this to call one but thought that in the present State of Affairs it was adviseable to defer it till things were more composed yet seeing that his People still continue to desire it he has put forth his Proclamation in order to it and has issued forth his Writs for the calling of it And to prevent any Cause of Interruption in it he will consent to every thing that can be reasonably required for the Security of all those that come to it His Majesty has therefore sent us to attend your Highness for the adjusting of all Matters that shall be agreed to be necessary to the Freedom of Elections and the Security of Sitting and is ready to enter immediately into a Treaty in order to it   His Majesty proposeth that in the mean time the respective Armies may be retained within such Limits and at such Distance from London as may prevent the Apprehensions that the Parliament may be in any kind disturbed being desirous that the Meeting may be no longer delayed than it must be by the usual and necessary Forms Signed Hallifax Nottingham Godolphin Hungerford the 8th of December 1688. dit 1688 The pretended Prince of Wales was brought back this Evening from Portsmouth where he had been sent to be carried into France under Convoy of some Men of War but the Lord Dartmouth positively refused to obey the King's Command in that point This sheweth how little Sincerity there was in King James's Offers for at the same time his Commissioners were negotiating a Treaty with the Prince he was meditating his Retreat into France dit 1694 His Majesty was pleased to nominate the Right Reverend Father in God Dr. Thomas Tenison Lord Bishop of Lincoln to be Lord Archbishop of Canterbury 19. 9. 1688 His Highness having examined King James's Proposals returned this Day the following Answer   WHereas on the 8th of December 1688. at Hungerford a Paper signed by the Marquiss of Hallifax the Earl of Nottingham and the Lord Godolphin Commissioners sent unto us from his Majesty was delivered to us We with the Advice of the Lords and Gentlemen assembled with us have in answer made this following Proposal   1. That all Papists and such Persons as are not qualified by Law be disarmed disbanded and removed from all Imployments Civil and Military   2. That all Proclamations that reflect upon us or any that have come to us or declared for us be recalled and that if any Persons for having assisted us have been committed that they be forthwith set at liberty   3. That for the Security and Safety of the City of London the Custody and Government of the Tower be immediately put into the Hands of the said City   4. That if his Majesty should think fit to be in London during the sitting of the Parliament that We may be there also with an equal number of our Guards and if his Majesty shall be pleased to be in any Place from London whatever Distance he thinks fit that We may be at the same Distance and that the respective Armies do remove from London forty Miles and that no more foreign Forces be brought into the Kingdom   5. That for the Security of the City of London and their Trade Tilbury-Fort be put into the Hands of the City   6. That a sufficient part of the Publick Revenue be assigned us for the Support and Maintenance of our Troops until the sitting of a Free Parliament   7. That to prevent the Landing of the French or other foreign Troops Portsmouth may be put into such Hands as by his Majesty and Us shall be agreed on Given at Littlecot December 9 1688.   If the Jesuit who has written the History of the Revolution of England had transcribed this Answer he would not have imposed on his Readers that the Proposals of the Prince were so hard as not to be accepted and that his Highness deferr'd several Days to return an Answer to the King's Commissioners since this was delivered to them the next Day King James expressed himself thus on this Occasion That the Proposals of the Prince were fairer than he could or did expect 20. 10. 1672 This Day the strong Fortress of Coeverden was retaken by a Stratagem of General Rabenhaut with the Loss of about 50 Men. The Garison consisted of near 800 Men provided with all Necessaries and yet they were forced in less than 2 Hours time to surrender Prisoners This Place had been taken from the Dutch by the Bishop of Munster who had made therein a prodigious Magazine for the Invasion of Groninguen and Frizeland and he thought it impregnable because it had formerly maintained a Siege of 31 Weeks dit 1688 This Morning between three and four of the Clock the Queen the pretended Prince of Wales with Count Lauzun and several other Persons crossed the Water at Lambeth in three Coaches each of six Horses and with a strong Guard went to Greenwich where her Majesty imbarked for France having ingaged the King by Oath to follow her and not to trust himself in the Hands of his Parliament She carried away the Great Seal of England with her but as she crossed the Thames it fell into the Water and was since found out by a Fisherman The Romantick Account the Author of the Revolutions of England gives of the Queen's Evasion is I think a very good Remedy for such as are troubled with the Spleen   The same Day in the Evening King James ordered all those Writs for the sitting of the Parliament that were not sent out to be burnt and a Caveat to be entred against the making use of those that were sent down
being in this Realm may be comfortable and easy to them   The same Day was published another Proclamation prohibiting the Importation of all sorts of Manufactures and Commodities whatsoever of the Growth Production or Manufacture of France dit 1691 His Majesty was pleased to fill several vacant Bishopricks and other Ecclesiastical Dignities and the Learned Dr. John Tillotsoâ— Dean of St. Paul's was promoted to the Archbishoprick of Canterbury dit 1694 This Day the King came to the House of Lords and having given the Royal Assent to several Acts made a gracious Speech to both Houses of Parliament and prorogued them to the 18th of September   The Right Honourable Charles Earl of Shrewsbury principal Secretary of State was elected Knight Companion of the most noble Order of the Garter and in the Evening was created Marquiss and Duke of this Kingdom by the Name and Stile of Marquiss of Alton and Duke of Shrewsbury   The same Day John Earl of Mulgrave was created Marquiss of Normanby and Henry Herbert of Ribbesford in the County of Worcester Esq Baron Herbert of Cherbury in the County of Salop   His Majesty was also pleased â—o appoint the Right Honourable Edward Russel Esq Sir John Lowther of Whitehaven Henry Priestman Robert Austen Esqs Sir Robert Rich Sir George Rook and Sir John Houblon Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral of England and Ireland and of the Dominions thereunto belonging 6. 26. 1669 Monsieur Zuilychem first Minister of his Highness having appointed this Day to receive the Oath of Fidelity of the Inhabitants of the Principality of Orange the Parliament and all other Magistrates attending in the Moment they were reading a general Pardon of the Prince a Crown was form'd in the â—ir which sat upon the Chair of State or Throne of the Prince This wonderful Phenomenon was seen by above 8000 Persons both Protestants and Papists Monsieur Zuilychem was so surprized that he writ the following Verses the same Day   Dum stat Arausiacae confirmatura Coronae Antiquam Populi laeta Corona fidem Non dubiè Coelo placuit quod utrique Coronae Tertia de Coelo missa coronat opus dit 1689 This Day the Knights Citizens and Burgesses in Parliament assembled presented an Address to the King in the Banqueting-House at Whitehall for declaring the War against the French King which is worthy to be recorded to Posterity   WE your Majesty's most loyal and dutiful Subjects the Commons in this present Parliament assembled most humbly lay before your Majesty our earnest Desire 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 this your Kingdom and particularly the present Invasion of the Kingdom of Ireland and supporting your Majesties rebellious Subjects there   Not doubting in the least but that through your Majesty's Wisdom the Alliances already made with such as may hereafter be 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 Majesty's Kingdom   To this end we most humbly beseech your Majesty to rest assured upon this our solemn and hearty Promise and Engagement that when your Majesty shall think fit to enter into a War against the French King we will give your Majesty such Assistance in a Parliamentary Way as may enable your Majesty under that Protection and Blessing God Almighty has always afforded you to support and go through with the same   To this kind Address the King returned the following Answer   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 engage 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 properly 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 this Nation from what it suffer'd 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 sutable 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 be diverted by me to any other Use dit 1680 The States of Zealand and the Merchants concerned in the Trade of the East-Indies being in Dissension about the Choice of a Director of the Company referr'd the same to the Prince of Orange to name to that Dignity whom his Highness should think fit 7. 27. 1674 General Rabenhaut presented to his Highness seven Standards and several Colours taken by the Dutch Forces in an Engagement with the Munsterians dit 1676 His Highness and the Duke of Villa Hermosa march'd from Mons with the Dutch and Spanish Forces to oblige the French to raise the Siege of Bouchain and came in sight of the French Army near Valenciennes dit 1696 The King came this Day to the House of Peers and the Commons being sent for his Majesty gave the Royal Assent to several Acts and having made a Speech to both Houses the Lord Keeper prorogued them to the 16th of June following But that Speech relating to the Proceedings of the Parliament after the Conspiracy against his Majesty's Life it is thought fit to insert it here as a very extraordinary Piece   My Lords and Gentlemen   YOU have shewn so great Concern for my Person and Zeal for my Government and have done so much for the Preservation of the one and for the strengthning of the other by the good Laws which have been made and by the Supplies you have provided for the several Occasions of this Year that the late Designs of our Enemies are by the Blessing of God like to have no other Effect than to let them see how firmly we are united and to give me this Occasion to acknowledg your Kindness and to assure you of all the Returns which a Prince can make to his People   My Lords and Gentlemen   The Necessity of Affairs requiring my Absence out of the Kingdom for some time I do earnestly recommend to you that in your several Stations you will be assisting to those whom I shall leave to administer the Government and that you will