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
before to a Committee of the House of Commons who went to Newgate to examine them They were attended by three Jacobite Parsons who were so impudent as to give a full Absolution at the Gallows to those Criminals laying their Hands over their Heads tho they died impenitent of the horrid and hellish Crime they owned themselves guilty of 13. 3. 1696 The English Fleet having been several times forced back from the French Coasts by contrary Winds returned this Day before Calais under the Command of Sir Cloudesly Shovel who ordered Captain Benbow to bombard the Town which he did throwing about 400 Shells into the Town which set it on Fire in three or four Places and burnt several Ships in the Harbour The Enemy made a great Fire upon our Men and yet we had but 3 kill'd and 8 wounded Our Admiral intended to begin afresh the next Morning but he was blown by a violent Storm into the Downs This was done almost in sight of the late King James who since the Discovery of the Conspiracy against King William's Person Febr. 22. continued at Boulogn by Order of the French King in order to make some People believe that their Intended Invasion of England was not grounded upon the Assassination of his Majesty 14. 4. 1675 The Prince of Orange being recovered of a dangerous Distemper the States of Holland send their Deputies to congratulate his Highness upon the same desire him to take a greater Care of his Person and to give them Leave to appoint a Day of Thanksgiving for his Recovery 15. 5. 1675 The Province of Guelderland desired his Highness since he would not accept the Sovereignty of their Province to take on him the Dignity of their Stadtholder and Governour which they had likewise settled upon his Male Posterity for ever which his Highness consented to 16. 6. 1666 The States General of the Seven Vnited Provinces take upon them the Guardianship of the young Prince of Orange and made choice of six Noblemen to take care of his Education This Proceeding of the States was very acceptable to the People who look upon the Princes of the Illustrious House of Orange as their Tutelar Angels 17. 7 169â— This Day a special Commission of Oyer and Terminer was opened in the King's Bench at Westminster and the Jury being sworn they found a Bill of Indictment of High Treason against Major Lowick Captain Knightley Brigadeer Rookwood and Cranburne for imagining and designing the Murder and Assassination of the King After which the Grand Jury made a Presentment to the Court that ... Collier Shadrach Cook and ... Snett Clerks did take upon them to pronounce and give Absolution to Sir Will. Parkins and Sir John Friend at the time of their Execution at Tyburn immediately before they had severally delivered a Paper to the Sheriff of Middlesex wherein they have severally endeavour'd to justify the Treasons for which they were justly condemned and executed and that they the said Collier Cook and Snett have thereby countenanced the same Treasons for which the said Sir William Parkins and Sir John Friend have been executed to the great Incouragement of other Persons to commit the like Treasons and to the Scandal of the Church of England established by Law and to the Disturbance of the Peace of the Kingdom whereupon the Court ordered an Indictment to be preferr'd against them for the same 18. 8. 1696 Sadrach Cook and William Snett Clerks were this Day committed to Newgate for Suspicion of High Treason and Treasonable Practices dit 1691 His Majesty was pleased to create the Duke of Zell Knight of the Garter being then at the Hague and as a Mark of particular Kindness he put the Garter about his Leg with his own Royal Hand the Duke of Norfolk assisting to buckle it 19. 9. 1689 This Day the King came to the House of Lords and gave his Royal Assent to an Act for establishing the Coronation Oath to another for Naturalization of the most Noble Prince George of Denmark and settling his Precedence and to another Act for Naturalizing Frederick Count of Schomberg 19. 9. 1696 His Grace the Duke of Ormond was this Day by his Majesty's Command sworn one of the Lords of the Privy Council and accordingly took his Place at the Board 20. 10. 1689 The King was pleased to create his Royal Highness Prince George of Denmark and Norway Baron of Ockingham Earl of Kendall and Duke of Cumberland 21. 11. 1689 This Day their Majesties William and Mary were crowned King and Queen of England France and Ireland in Westminster-Abbey by the Lord Bishop of London which Ceremony was performed with great Solemnity The Medals of the Coronation had on the Face the Effigies of the King and Queen and on the Reverse Jupiter darting his Thunderbolt at Phaeton with this Motto Ne totus absumatur Orbis To prevent the Ruin of the World or rather of the Liberties of Europe dit 1689 The Committee of the States of Scotland for settling the Government having made their Report and the Grievances and Instrument of Government being read and Histincty considered the whole States except some few that were absent with one Voice declar'd King William and Queen Mary King and Queen of Scotland in the same manner as was done in England and immediately thereafter the States assisted by the Lord Provost and the rest of the new Magistrates and Council of the City of Edinburgh in their Formalities and attended by Lion King at Arms and the Heralds Pursuivants and Trumpets went from the Parliament-House to the Cross and there with great Solemnity Splendor Acclamations and Expressions oâ— Joy proclaimed their Majesties King and Queen of Scotland the Duke of Hamilton the Duke oâ— Queensbury the Marquiss of Athâ—â— and the Marquiss of Douglest and many other Peers being upon the Cross with the Lorâ— Provost and the Magistrates The Evening was conclude with Bonfires c. 21. 11. 1696 Seigniors Soranzo and Veniâ—â— Ambassadors Extraordinary oâ— the Republick of Venice to 〈◊〉 Majesty King William arrived 〈◊〉 London 22. 12. 1689 The House of Commons walked from Westminster to the Banqueting House where they attended their Majesties to congratulate them upon their Coronation dit 1688 The Prince goes to meet the Elector of Saxony at Loo to confer with him about his intended Expedition and the Preparations the French were making to invade Germany 23. 13. 1689 The Convention of Scotland having proclaimed and declared their Majesties William and Mary King and Queen of Scotland a Proclamation was published this Day forbidding the Subjects of that Crown to presume to own or acknowledg the late King James the Seventh for their King or obey accept or assist any Commissions that may be emitted from him or any ways to correspond with him forbidding likewise to presume upon their highest Peril by Word Writing in Sermons or any other manner of Way to impugn or disown the Royal Authority of William and Mary King and Queen of Scotland 24. 14.
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
Members of Parliament in K. Charles's Reign met at Westminster by the Prince's Advice and presented him an Address of Thanks for rescuing the Nation desiring him to take upon him the Government till January 22. and in the mean time to issue out Letters for the Meeting of a Convention and take into his Care the Condition of Ireland 7. 1689 28. 1688 He issues out his Letters for electing Members for the Convention 8. 29.  9. 1689 30. 1688 The Prince puts out his Proclamation authorizing Sheriffs Justices of Peace c. to act 10. 1678 31. 1677 This Day a Treaty between England and Holland was concluded at the Hague in order to reestablish Peace in Christendom and oblige the French King to grant reasonable Terms to the Crown of Spain c.  January  11. 1.  12. 2. 1689 The Prince of Orange publishes a Declaration for the better collecting the Revenue 13. 3. 1689 The Lord Dartmouth brings back the English Fleet into the Downs 14. 4.  15. 5. 1689 The Prince of Orange publishes an Order for the regular Election of Convention Men. dit 1691 King William prorogues the English Parliament 16. 6. 1691 His Majesty sets out for Holland to confer with several Confederate Princes but the Wind turning contrary he is forced to come back 17. 7. 1672 The States General appoint John de Wit Mynheer Beverning and Mynheer Fagel to draw up the Commission of Captain General 18. 8. 1651 The States General meet to dispose of the Places vacant by the Prince of Orange's Death dit 1689 The Prince puts out a Proclamation at London for quartering of Souldiers 19. 9. 1672 The Prince is proclaimed Captain General of Holland and Westfrizeland 20. 10. 1672 The Prince sets out from the Hague to view the Fortresses of the States and order the Magistrates of the several Provinces dit 1689 The Scots Lords present an Address to the Prince to take the Government of their Kingdom upon him till March next and to issue out his Letters for calling the States of Scotland to meet the 14th of the said Month. 21. 11.  22. 12. 1674 The States of Holland encrease the Houshold of his Royal Highness and the Number of his Guards 23. 13. 1673 The Prince presents the States with his tenth Part of all Prizes to be applied to the Defence of the Country 24. 14. 1689 The Prince of Orange being waited upon by the Scots Lords tells them that he has given all necessary Orders for the Security of their Kingdom 25. 15. 1679 He returns to the Hague having visited the Fortifications of Naerden and other Places in the Provinces of Vtrecht and Holland 26. 16. 1691 The King goes on board a second time for Holland attended by the Dukes of Norfolk and Ormond the Earls of Portland Dorset and Devonshire the Bishop of London and other Lords 27. 17.  28. 18.  29. 19. 1675 The States of Vtrecht sent their Deputies to advise the Prince to accept of the Soveraignty of Guelderland and Zutphen 30. 20. 1691 His Majesty comes in sight of the Dutch Coasts with 12 Men of War and 7 Yatchs but the Ships being unable to come nigh the Shore by reason of the Ice he takes a small Shalop to go on shore wherein he continued for 18 Hours together in a dark Night without view of Land or his Fleet exposed at once to die for Hunger to perish with Cold to be drowned at every Stroke his small Pinnace made against the Ice and to be taken Prisoner by every Pirate The Danger his Majesty was exposed to wholly dispirited his Attendants and seeing one of the Seamen who seemed to succumb under the Pressures of Cold Weariness and Fear he rouzed him up with this Expression What! dost thou fear to die in my Company An Expression very like to that used by Cesar in the Sicilian Strait Quid times Caesarem vehis Fortunam Caesaris and which had the same Effect for the Seamen being thereby encouraged surmounted all Difficulties and set his Majesty on Shore 31. 21. 1691 He arrives at the Hague incognito where nevertheless he is received with extraordinary Demonstrations of Joy It was the first time he came thither since crowned King of England and the States designed him the most magnificent Reception these last Ages have seen but his Majesty declined it dit 1697 This Day his Majesty was pleased to create the Honourable Arnold Joost Van Keppel an Earl Viscount and Baron of this Kingdom by the Title and Stile of Earl of Albemarle Viscount Bury and Baron of Ashford   The same Day his Majesty was pleased to appoint the Lord Viscount Gallway one of the Lords Justices of Ireland February   1. 22. 1689 The Convention of the States of England met at Westminster the Marquiss of Hallifax was chosen Speaker by the Lords and Henry Powle Esq by the Commons Both Houses desired the Prince to take on him the Administration of the Government for a farther time and ordered a Thanksgiving day to be kept Jan. 31. Old Stile in London and Feb. 14. throughout England for the Deliverance of the Nation The Prince sent a Letter to the House of Lords about setling the Government 2. 23. 1674 The States of Holland and West-Frizeland declare the Place of Governour Captain General and Admiral of their Provinces possessed by his Highness hereditary in his Male-Posterity   The same Day the States of Zealand did the like and also made the Dignity of first Nobleman bestowed upon his Highness hereditary He was a few Days after complimented thereupon by K. Charles II's Envoy 3. 24.  4. 25. 1677 At the Request of the States General he goes to Groâ—ingen attended by some of their Deputies to compose the Divisions that were in that Town 5. 26. 1679 This Day the Treaty of Peace between the Empire and France was signed at Nimeguen dit 1691 His Majesty was obliged at the States Desires and the Peoples Importunities to make a publick Entry inâ—â—â—he Hague which was performed with all the Solemnity imaginable 6. 27. 1691 He gives Audieâ—ce to several Princes and Deputies of the Cities of Holland 7. 28. 1689 The House of Commons resolves that K. James H. having endeavoured to subvert the Constitution of the Kingdom by breaking the Original Contract between King and People and by the Advice oâ— Jesuits and other wicked Persons having violated the Fundamental Laws and withdrawn himself out of the Kingdom has abdicated the Government and that the Throne is thereby become vacant dit 1691 His Majesty assists at the Assembly of the States of Holland and Westfrizeland of the States General and at the Council of State where he receives extraordinary Marks of Respect dit 1697 Sir John Fenwick Baronet attainted of High Treason for conspiring against the King and betraying his Country to the French was beheaded this Day on Tower-Hill 8. 29. 1689 The House of Lords being in a great Debate on
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