States Dominions Powers and Principalities by setting up a Sham-Prince who being upon the Throne must be lookt upon and respected as a great King and a lawful Prince in all their Treaties and Negotiations with him But what is not a blind Zeal capable of To Settle a Popish Successor in these Kingdoms was such a piece of meritorious Service to the Church of Rome that nothing could indear the King more to her than the doing of it What Issue he had then alive were too much dipt in Heresy and nothing could bring them off from it no not so much as to consent to the Repealing of those two Bug-bears the Penal Laws and the Tests But suppose this Prince were really born of the Queen against which there are so many strong Presumptions 't is a Thing unaccountable why the Queen should be so shy all the time of her Child-bearing to give that publick Satisfaction about it which was reasonably expected from her Majesty The Nation was possessed it was all but a Trick It had been therefore but common Prudence in the Queen to Undeceive us as far as it lay in her power even for the Child's sake in her Womb. If her Majesty had Milk in her Breasts what diminution to her Glory had it been to let her Protestant Ladies see but some Drops of it If when the Child stirred in the Womb but two or three true-hearted Protestant Ladies had been admitted to feel those Motions it had gone a great way to silence all Gainsayers and to quicken the very Nation into another Belief When Her Majesty was near the time of her Travel to what purpose was the Place appointed for her Lying In so concealed that no Protestant could tell where to find Her And why must a Room at last be chosen at S. James's with a private Door within the Ruel of the Bed leading into another Room which alone was enough to create a Suspicion To which add a total Neglect and absolute slighting of all the necessary Rules of Law and Justice about needful Witnesses of the Birth of a Prince and Heir to the Crown So that supposing this pretended Prince to be really born of the Queen it must be granted that Things were so managed from the beginning to the end as if the Court intended to make the Thing still more doubtful and the Suspicion the stronger And if that was their Aim they have hit the Nail on the Head Thus the Birth of this supposed Prince not being lawfully Witnessed Her Royal Highness the Princess of Orange had no Reason to depart from her Claim of Heiress apparent to the Crown or to Resign it to him But rather to complain to the World of the Wrong done her by suffering a supposed Child to steal upon her Right and assâ—â—me the Name of Prince and Heir apparent to the Crown Nor was it her part to prove him a Counterfeit it being a Rule by the Laws and Customs of all Civil Governments for any one that claims to be the lawful Son of a family to being in legal Proofs for it Her Royal Highness had been hitherto acknowledged to be the Heiress apparent of the Crown and nothing could legally debar her from that Claun but a true born Prince with such Legal Witnesses as would satisfie the Nation that it was so The Want of which in this Case lâ—ft the Princess of Orange in her full Claim to the next Succession To vindicate which Claim and to Secure withal the Protestant Interest in these Kingdoms His Highness the Prince of Orange upon the earnest and humble Application of several of the Lords both Spiritual and Temporal came over from Holland with a competent Force Which leads me to my Third Part. THE HISTORY Of the LATE REVOLUTION PART III. Shewing Our Wonderful Deliverance by our present King William and our Great Happiness therein THings were now brought to an Extremity and nothing but a miraculous Providence could Rescue us from our Enemies To which end it pleased God to raise His Highness the Prince of Orange A Magnanimous Wise and Religious Prince whose Illustrious Family seems to have been appointed by Providence ever since the Reformation for the Preservation of God's Church and a Check to Tyranny This Prince being penetrated with the dismal Account he â—iâ—y Zeaâ—ed of the French Persecution and possessed with a and King 〈◊〉 Sâ—inst the Known Combination of King James the Reformation for the Inslaving all Europe and Rooting out to oppose their Ambâ—â—â—d with God's help in so just a Cause that had been hitherto the 〈◊〉 Idolatrous Designs England King's Greatness was the most likely Instrument of the French 〈…〉 reduced to its proper and natural Course to influence and procure his Fall The Provocations were great on King James's side by his Arbitrary Methods of Government contrary to Law and the Subjects Liberty by his Attempts upon their Religion and by Imposing upon them a Successor justly suspected of being a Stranger to the Royal Blood For the Redressing which Abuses by a Free and Full Parliament His Royal Highness undertook the late famous Expedition which God was pleased to Crown with Glory and Success to the Amazement of all Europe the Joy of all rational Men and the Terrour of Tyranny In order to which suitable Preparations had been made in Holland both by Sea and Land to defend his Highness from the Violence of all such as should oppose Him Which were carried on with that wonderful Secrecy tho' the Secret was dispersed amongst many that the Sagacious Count D' Avaux the French Embassador at the Hague could not sift out the Meaning of it till all Things were in great forwardness and the Prince almost ready to take Shipping Whose Forces consisted of about 13000 Men Horse Foot and Dragoons and which is remarkable a good part of them Papists For the Transporting whereof with all Things necessary there were 300 Fly-boats Pinks and other Vessels under the Convoy of 50 Capital Men of War 26 Smaller and 25 Fire-ships But before his Setting out He published a Declaration to satisfy the World with the Justice of his Undertaking Wherein having fairly shewn the manifest and undeniable Invasion of the Laws and Liberties of England Scotland and Ireland by the Kings The Sum of the Prince of Orange's Declaration Evil Counsellors He Declares That Vpon the most earnest Sollicitations of a great many Lords both Spiritual and Temporal and of many Gentlemen and other Subjects of all Ranks for the Relief of these Three Kingdoms He thought sit to 〈◊〉 over into England with a Force sufficient by the Blaâ—â— intended to defend him from Violence That his Expedâ—â—wful Parliament for no other End but to have a Free Secure to the whole Na-Assembled as soon as possible in Laws Rights and Liberties â—â—â—tion the free Injoyment of â—â—vernment to preserve the Protestant under a Just and 〈◊〉 such as would live peaceably under the Government Religion 〈…〉 as becomes good Subjects from all Persecution
preserve the Religion and Liberties of the People under the Glory and Greatness of a King But the Experince of King James his Reign shewed us sufficiently how easy it was for a King to break through the â—ence of the Laws and that they were but Cobwebs to a Prince whose Zeal or Ambition could not indure any Bounds What Ways could be found out so to â—ye up his Hands as to Secure his Subjects but such as must make him a meer Titular King which had been a greater Affront put upon Majesty than downright Deposing of him He therefore chose rather to quit the Crown than be turned from the sweet Exercise of an Absolute Power to the State of a Baby King to be turned and wound by his Subjects as they pleased to observe their Dictates and submit to their Motions Some were for making the Princess of Orange Regent Others the Prince Some again were for declaring the Crown forfeited or demised and proclaiming only the Princess of Orange Queen Others for making the Prince of Orange only King But the Plurality carryed it first for having the Government Dissolved then making the Prince and Princess of Orange joyntly King and Queen of England c. The publick Acts to run in the Name of Both but the Executive Power to be solely in the King Thus King James II. for having indeavoured to Subvert the Constitution of the Kingdom by breaking the Original Contract between King and People and by Advice of Jesuites and other wicked Persons Violated the Fundamental Laws and having at last Withdrawn himself out of this Kingdom was Voted by the House of Commons to have Abdicated the Government and the Throne to be Vatant And after several Days Debates about it the House of Lords at last fully Agreed all Things in Dispute So that King James having forfeited by his Male-Administration of the Regal Trust of the Executive Power both in himself and his Heirs Lineal and Collateral the same devolved back to the People Who might lawfully dispose thereof by their Representatives according to their good Will and Pleasure for their future Government and Peace Benefit and Security Which was a clear Assertion of the Peoples Right a firm Evidence of a Contract broken and a sure Precedent to all Ages when after a most solemn Debate the Estates of England declare That the King having Abdicated the Government and the Throne thereby Vacant They think fit to fill it again with One who is not Immediate in the Line Fesides that it will be a Caution to succeeding Kings of what satal Consequence a general Derogation from the Laws may be when they find by this Instance the Exercise of the Kingly Office in danger not only with Reference to Themselves but precarious to their Family And now to fill up the Throne what better Choice could the Convention make than of that very Prince who with so great Expence Hazard conduct Courage and Generosity had so wonderfully Rescued us both from Spiritual and Temporal Slavery and Restored us to our ancient Laws Religion and Properties In Prudence Honour and Gratitude they could do no less than Pray him to Accept the Crown Which was done accordingly But the Nation 's Gratitude and Generosity went further by making the Prince and Princess of Orange King and Queen joyntly it being a Demonstration of the Inestimable Value the People had for Her Highness notwithstanding the Male-Administration of her Unhappy Father Thus the Prince and Princess were made equal in Dignity but not in Authority For the Executive Power was solely lodged in the Prince First because two Persons equal in Authority might differ in Opinion and consequently in Command and it is evident no Man can serve two Masters Secondly because a Man by Nature Education and Experience is generally rendred more capable to Govern than a Woman And as the present State of Europe in general so that of these Kingdoms in particular required a vigorous and masculine Administration To recover what was lost to rescue what was in danger and rectify what was amiss could not be effected but by a Prince consummate in the Art both of Peace and War A Prince of known Honour profound Wisdom undaunted Courage and incomparable Merit naturally inclined to be Just Merciful and Peaceable and to do all publick Acts of Generosity for the good of Societies Therefore as the Convention thought fit out of Generosity to declare the Prince and Princess King and Queen joyntly that they might both equally share the Glory of a Crown and we the Happiness of their Auspicious Reign so out of Prudence they lodged the Executive Power in the Prince only as the fittest Person under Heaven to Govern in this difficult Juncture During these Transactions the Princess of Orange arrived from Holland and Landed at White-Hall on the 12th of February the welcome News whereof was received with all manner of Publick Demonstrations of Joy The next Day the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons Assembled at Westminister presented to the Prince and Princess their Declaration by the Marquess of Hallifax Speaker to the House of Lords Which Declaration contained a Sum of the late King James's Trespasses upon the Laws of the Kingdom and the Liberties of the People the Vindication of the Ancient Rights and Liberties of the People by declaring his assumed Power Illegal their Offer of the Crown to Their Highnesies and the new Oaths to be taken according to the late Resolves of the Grand Convention The Offer of the Crown with the Settlement thereof was thus expresied 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 Digâ—ity of the said Kingdoms and Dominions to them the said Prince and Princess during their Lives and the Life of the Surviver 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 joynt 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 Anâ— 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 To which his Highness gave this Gracious Answer My Lords and Gentlemen This is certainly the greatest Proof of the Trust you have in Vs that can be given which is the Thing that makes us Value it the more and we thankfully Accept what you have Offered And as I had no other Intention in coming hither than to preserve your Religion Laws and Liberties so you may be sure that I shall indeavour to support them and shall be willing to concur in any Thing that shall be for the Good of the Kingdom and to do
of England Party which stood stifly for the Succession The Tide now began to turn and the Popish Party to have a fair Prospect The Duke was called home and His Majesty disbanded Parliament after Parliament in hopes to get a healing one But failing thereof he published a plausible Declaration touching the Causes that moved him to Dissolve the two last Parliaments Which being read in all Churches and Chappels did very much strengthen the Court Party and turned the Hearts of many People against the late Proceedings of the House of Commons as having over-short the Mark. Which House consisting most of Dissenters gave a Jealousy to the House of Lords and indeed to all the Church-Party that under colour of rooting out Popery they design'd nothing less than the Ruin of the Church and so to kill two Birds with one Stone The Dissenters on the other side seeing the Church Party so stiff for the Dukes Right to the Succession tho upon the Grounds of Justice and Equity fail'd not to clamour against them as Abettors of Popery and Papists in Mascarade In short the Fewd grew so great between both Parties row distinguished by the Nicknames of TORIES and WHIGS that had not his Majesty who now bestirred himself in these difficult Times prevented it by his great Care and Wisdem it had certainly broke out into a Flame In the mean time these unhappy Differences gave fair play to the Papists who know best how to fish in troubled Waters The Popish Plot grew now out of date and lost much of its Credit Then up starts another called the Presbyterian Plot which proved fatal to several Persons of Quality and others of a lower Rank The King now exasperated in the highest degree against the Dissenting Party ordered the Penal Laws to be put in execution which made the Breach so much the wider betwixt Them and the Church Party And whilst the poor Dissenters lay under the lash an officious sort of Church of England Ministers made it their business to preach the stupid Doctrine of Non-Resistance with as much Zeal and Fervency as if there had been no Salvation without it Which some were hired for with a Promise of Church-Preferment whilst others did it meerly to shew their Parts but all wonderfully to the purpose of the Roman Catholick Party and to help forward the Designs of the next Reign The City of London which had strongly appeared against the Dukes Interest was now called to an Account and a Writ of Quo Warranto a dreadful piece of Latin before which no Reason could stand issued out against them to take away their Charter which was accordingly done Then other Corporations were prevailed upon fairly to surrender their Charters in expectation of new ones whereby all their Magistrates and Officers were dependant upon the King 's Will. And by the Duke's Interest many false Protestants were got into Places of Trust who upon the push would be ready to join with the Papists and lend them their helping hands Thus all Things were finely prepared against his Majesties Exit to make room for his Brother And which is observable at the very time when the King was resolved to sift out some Miscarriages and much inclined to call a new Parliament an odd kind of Fit seiz'd upon him which in four days time bereav'd him of his Life and Crown Thus died King Charles a Prince who was neither a sound Papist nor a zealous Protestant Admired for his great Sagacity beloved for his Clemency and the fittest Prince in the World to Reign had not his over-Indulgence to Ease and Pleasures made him averse from Business In which unhappy Temper he was too much followed by his Subjects of both Sexes THE HISTORY Of the LATE REVOLUTION PART II. Shewing Our Imminent Ruin in the Reign of the late King James With an Account of the suppos'd Great Belly KING Charles being dead the Lord knows how some wept upon his Tomb for Joy but most for Sorrow The Popish Party were the most concerned in the first and the Protestants whatever he was in the last We were but threatned before with the Danger of a Popish Succession now we had it The Papists had a blessed but doubtful prospect of it and now they were in possession To Secure which the Blood of the deceased King was hardly chilled in his Veins when his next Successor James Duke of York was Proclaimed King at White-hall and in the City in great haste that no Man might pretend Ignorance So that King Charles was scarce gone off the Stage when his Brother to play the last Act enters and ascends the Throne No Prince more courteous more obliging or more promising at first than he was to his new Subjects but particularly to the Church of England Party He came in like a Lamb but reigned like a Lion and followed in all things the Steps of King Lewis Not but that he had innate Vertues of his own but none that could stand proof against the precipitate Suggestions of the Roman Clergy and the irresistible Influence of those hot-brain'd States-men the Jesuites So great was the Opinion of his Justice and Valour when Duke of York that many Protestants durst rely upon his Justice and most promised themselves great Matters from his Valour Especially when upon his Accession to the Crown he declared to his Council that he would protect and favour the Church of England for her unshaken Loyalty and to his Parliament that he would carry the Glory of England beyond all his Predecessors Upon these Assurances he allayed for some time the Fears of his Protestant Subjects but especially the Church of England which thereupon Addressed him from all Parts of the Kingdom as their Tutelar Angel In short so great on a sudden were the Hopes of this King that Edward III and Henry V. the most glorious Monarchs of England were like upon his Account to be hissed out of our English Chronicles But it was not long before he pulled off the Mask And first to gratifie the Roman Catholick Party he declar'd himself of their Communion and made open Profession of it Which some Protestants lookt upon as a good Omen and the product of a generous Soul above Dissimulation whilst others more clear-sighted lookt upon it as an effect of a wilful Nature that thought it needless to Dissemble now the Power was in his own hands To Establish his Religion here was I confess a difficult Task considering how small the Popish Party was the Protestants then by the best Computation being reckon'd 200 to one But the Advantage of a Crown is a great Bait and has a mighty Influence The Hopes of worldly Preferment and the Dread of Majesty would in all probability draw in a great Party Besides what was expected by way of Persuasion from the Industry and Activity of Popish Emissaries Nor do I doubt but the King promised himself great Matters from the Church of England Party which having ventured so much to secure his
Succession would not as he thought recoil and leave him now in the lurch who so lately had made unto them new Protestations of his particular Favour and Protection The Dissenters were then under the lash of the Law and not without some apprehension of the French Thus with this prospect of Things the King fell presently to work by feeling first under-hand the Pulse of Men in Credit and Authority amongst his Protestant Subjects But whilst he was taken up with these gentle Motions a Storm was raised all of a sudden in Scotland by the late Earl of Argile and at the same time another in the West of England by the late Duke of Monmouth Who both appeared in Arms with their Parties in their several Stations but so unsuccessfully that after the loss of many Mens Lives in the Field they lost their own upon the Scaffold These two Rebellions which startled so much the Popish Party till they saw the Issue of it gave them a great Advantage and raised their Expectations of Success to an Infallibility The King had now a great Army on foot And tho the VVork was done for which the same was raised yet he would not part with it but kept it still on foot contrary to Law for his further Designs and to keep the Nation in aw For the Preservation of our Laws Religion and Liberties it was provided by the Wisdom of our Parliaments upon the Growth of Popery in the late King's Reign That all Persons appointed to bear any Office in Church or State should declare themselves to be not Papists but Protestants by taking the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy and the Test and receive thereupon the Sacrament according to the Church of England But upon the Raising of the foresaid Army the King was pleased to protect against those Laws many Popish Officers that served in the Army without taking the Oaths And in his Speech to both Houses of Parliament on the 9th of Novemb. 1685 he told the Parliament in plain words That though the said Officers were not Qualified according to the late Tests for their Employments yet he would neither expose them to Disgrace nor himself to the Want of them And tho the Parliament did highly except against it as an open Violation of those Laws which were our main Bulwark against Popery yet his Majesty would by no means recede from his Word A Debate was held to dispence those Unqualified Officers then actâ—ally in Service with the Fenalty of the Law provided no more were admitted But this would not serve the King's turn Who to prevent any further Heats about it prorogued the Parliament tâ—ll Feb. 10 following and so put it off by further Prorâ—gations till it was at last Dissolved Mean whiâ—e he made it his business to New-model his dearly beloved Army now consecrated to more pious I ses and kept on foot to accomplish the great Work of resturing Popery Both Officers and Soulâ—iers were Reformed and such of both sorts put in as would incourage and promote the Design â—o lose no Time whole Sholes of Priests and Jesuits with Multitudes of Lay-Papists came over daily from France and other Parts as often as the Wind would permit some to Convert us and others to Cut our Throats The first like the Pharisees came over by Sea and Land to make Proselytes and liked England so well that they stuck to it like Burr Whilst poor Lapland and other wretched Countries are left to their Temporal and Spiritual Darkness seldom visited by those Lights of the Roman Church And first to take off from our Minds the frightful Notions we had of Popery they laid aside the old way of Controversies from Scripture Tradition and Reason and so new-vamped their Roman Tenets after the Bishop of Meaux late invented Dress that it was hard to discern at first view the Popish from the Protestant Religion Such was their Resemblance that it was Alter Ego But the Cheat was quickly found out and hissed at here by all Men of Reason and Understanding Then was held a Disputation at White hall in the King's Presence wherein his Party came off so shamefully that his Majesty was fain to excuse their Weakness by saying That a good Cause might be baffled Yet notwithstanding these Repulses the Popish Emissaries having now contrary to Law the liberty of the Press ply'd it hard to get Proselytes but still with little Success Providence had so ordered it that the Church of England was never stocked with so many Sound Pious and Learned Divines as we had in this Juncture So that this Spiritual War begun by Priests and Jesuits ended to their Confusion The Church of England bore the brunt of it all and the Dissenters would not meddle for fear of giving Offence nor was there any need of it The King found by this time how little was to be expected from Roman Emissaries and that Compulsion at last must do the Work France shewed him the Way where the holy Design was now ripe for Execution without any fear of a Check from England For now King Lewis fairly pulled off the Mask and by his Edicts Anno 1â—85 told the World in plain terms that his Design of Reconciling his Protestant Subjects to the Holy Church was from his Coming to the Crown that all his former Edicts in their behalf his Acknowledging and Registring in Parliament their great Services to the Crown and his Advancement of many of them to the highest Dignities Civil and Military were but so many Blinds to cover his Design for which he calls God to witness to abolish their Religion by degrees And to shew what Opinion he had of Protestants he declared them Incapable to claim the benefit of Treaties Promises or Oaths made to them by the Papists According to these his Vnchristian Principles he broke the sacred Ties of Religious Oaths by Revoking his Protestant Subjects grand Charter of Priviledges the famous Edict of Nantes which from its very Foundation was counted Irrevocable and by forcing his Religion upon them through the miraculous Virtue of his Apostolick Dragoons Who 't is true had no Commission to take away their Lives but all the Comforts thereof by Want and barbarous Usage Spoiling and Plundering dark Prisons and loathsom Dungâ—oâ—s by parting the Husband and Wife and robbing Parents of their dearest Children But lest the VVorld should think that the French King's Zeal was confined within the Bounds of his Dominions he lost no Opportunity to make it known that his Design was against the whole Body of Protestants and first against the English whose Conversion would much facilitate that of other Protestant Nations This appears by that noted Speech made to him at Versailles in the Year 1685. by a French Bishop in the Name of the whole Clergy of France VVherein the Bishop having magnified the King for his Zeal in Suppressing the Protestant Religion in his Kingdom tells him that England offered to his Majesty one of the most glorious Occasions
Peer who made publick Profession of the Popish Religion and who at the time of his first professing it declared that for a great while before he had believed that to be the only true Religion 'T was by virtue of this Illegal Commission that the Lord Bishop of London was Suspended only because he refused to obey an Order sent him to suspend Dr. Sharp then Rector of S. Giles without so much as Citing him before him to make his own Defence or observing the common Forms of Process By the same Court was Dr. Hough President of Magdalen Colledge in Oxford turned out tho' duly chosen by the Fellows of the said College and afterwards all the Fellows of the said College only for refusing to chuse for their President a Person recommended to them by the Kings Evil Counsellors Iustigation Tho' the Right of a Free Election belonged uâ— oubtedly to the said Fellows and that it is expresly provided in Magna Charta that no Man shall lose Lâ—fe or Goods but by the Law of the Land More than that the said College was wholly put into the hands of Papists who by the Law of the Land and the Statutes of the College are altogether Incapable of such Imployments By the King's Declaration for Liberty of Conscience His Majesty Commanded the same to be Read in all Churches and Chappels whereby he would have the Clergy to be his Cryers to proclaim his pretended Power to Suspend at once the Force and Use of our Penal Laws made for the Security of our Religion and Property And when the late Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and six other Bishops offered His Majesty an humble Petition in Terms full of Respect containing in short the Reasâ—ns why they could not Obey the Order sent them to appoint the Clergy to read the Declaration in their Churches the said Bishops were Committed to the Tower and afterwards brought to a Tryal whose Crime was only a due Regard to the Laws They were Acquitted and for that piece of Justice Judge Holloway and Judge Powel were Displaced And because their Acquittal had caused an universal Joy some were brought into Trouble for their innocent Expressions of it Then came out an Order from the Lords Commissioners requiring all the Chancellors and Arch-Deacons of England to return the Names of all such as had read the King's Declaration for Liberty of Conscience and of those that had not read it whether they were injoyned or not injoyned to do it by their respective Bishops And 't is observable that in the Bishoprick of Durham the Bishop whereof was one of the Commissioners near 200 Ministers were Suspended for not Reading the Declaration Hitherto the Court had carried on their Interest bare-fac'd at least since the Ill-tim'd Rebellion of Monmouth and Argile and Dissimulation unless it were to Dissenters had no share in their Transactions But whilst the Church of England was under Persecution it was thought convenient to Protect such of the French Refugees as ventured to fly hither from the now raging Persecution in France Insomuch that notwithstanding King James's strict Friendship and Correspondence with the French King His Majesty Protected them with his Favour and Relieved them with his Royal Briefs But the Reason of the Thing is plain The Court of France were got over the Dissembling Part and all Things there were ripe for Action Whereas in England the Persecution of some was thought fit for a while to be Palliated by the Toleration of Others though all equally design'd for Destruction The same however of this Indulgence to the French Protestants invited Multitudes of them hither to feel the benefit of it in their distressed Condition The Sight whereof stirred the Compassion of most People even of Sober Papists whilst the Plurality of them made it their business all over the Kingdom to stem our Charity by crying down the Persecution Which as fam'd as it was all over Europe for the unparallell'd Cruelty of it these Men had the Face to deny representing the Poor Refugees as so many Cut-throats and Vagabonds whom we must be forsooth aware of A base Inhumane Thing it was thus to insult over the Oppressed and to add so cruelly Persecution to Persecution But this is true Roman Zeal Two Things did prompt them to it First their just Apprehension that this Spectacle would be a Caution for us to look to our selves and stand upon our Gard. Secondly That such an Addition of incensed Protestants to so great a Party as that they must struggle with was not at all agreeable to their Interest The Truth is we ought to admire the singular Providence of God in our behalf that this French Persecution should be so timed as to give us a seasonable Alarm to prevent the same here that our Persecutors Precipitation and Folly should be so great as to open their wicked Designs so early and to send us over so many Thousands of Witnesses as it were to awaken us and to let us see what we ought to look for whenever their Bloody Religion should come to prevail among us Whereas 't is probable otherwise that the good Nature of some and the Weakness and Corruption of others had put us to use Dr. Burnet's Words to a more melancholy and troublesome After-game In the mean time Nothing was omitted to Incourage Popery upon all Accounts tho' never so much against Law New Popish Chappels and Mass Houses were set up New Popish Schools and Monasteries Erected four Popish Provincial Bishops establish'd Priests and Jesuits so Incouraged that England swarmed with them as Egypt did of old with Frogs Lice and Locusts the Privy Council made up of Popish Lords and some Protestants not much better the Jesuit Father Petre a Member thereof and the chief Director of the Cabal Council a Nuncio admitted and a solemn Embassy sent to Rome in the person of the Earl of Castlemain All this in open Defiance to the Laws Such was besides the Corruption and Depravation of Justice in the Courts of Judicature that the Judges must either be biassed by the King's Will or expect a Quietus est as in the Case aforesaid of Holloway and Powel The Juries commonly returned by secret Contrivances and illegal Nominations being neither as the Law Requires of the most sufficient nor most indifferent of the nearest Neighbours to the Facts in question nor by sworn Sheriffs So that any Mans Life or Estate not well affected to the then Government was in great Jeopardy if called into Question Besides that by putting the Administration of Justice into the hands of Papists all Matters of Civil Justice were brought to great Uncertainties Who being under an Incapacity by Law there lay no obligation upon any Man to acknowledge or obey their Judgments and all Sentences by them given were null and void of themselves Thus in few years the Popish Party being become Masters of the Affairs of the Church of the Government of the Nation and of the Course of Justice subjected them
all to a Despotick and Arbitrary Power that by the Assistance of the Army they might be able to maintain and execute their wicked Designs by establishing Popery and Slavery But if our Case was desperate here it was rather worse in Ireland Where the whole Government was put into the hands of Papists and all the Protestants there under a perpetual sear of a new Massacre such as they fell under Anno 1641. Which made great Numbers of them leave that Kingdom and abandon their Estate in it As for Scotland the King declared himself to be cloathed with Absolute Power and all his Subjects there bound to obey Him without reserve and accordingly assumed an Arbitrary Power both over the Religion and Laws of that Kingdom Whereby it plainly appeared what we must look for in England as soon as Matters were duly prepared here But during these Transactions the Popish Party grew Sensible that the Dispensing Power being raised but upon a weak Foundation would quickly sink and that they could not be safe unless the Penal Laws and the Tests were abrogated by the Authority of a Parliament or Something like it The King therefore made it his business to get such a Parliament as would bring this to pass 'T is well known that about four parts in five of the Members of the House of Commons are to be chosen by Cities and Boroughs To destroy therefore their Customs Priviledges Charters and Governments and to substitute therein such Magistrates as would either ignorantly or corruptly serve the Kings Designs Writs of Quo Warranto fell like Thunder upon those Corporations Which were seconded by Instruments appointed to terrifie the Magistrates thereof with the King 's severe Displeasure if they dared to insist upon their legal Right and contest with the King at Law He had Agents appointed to fright them with the vast Charge they must be at in case they would be so bold as to stand it out to possess them that it was to no purpose since he was resolved to have their Charters at his Command to tempt them with a Promise of New ones if they would but Resign their Old into his hands and to threaten them that the Names of all that refused it must be returned to the Attorney General Besides that Judges were prepared to damn the Pleas of all such Cities and Towns as would stand upon their Right Witness the Cities of Oxford and Winchester and the Borough of Tâ—tness which were declared to be Dissolved at the King's Pleasure whereby their respective Citizens and Burgess s were Disfranchised and divested of all their ancient Customs Freedoms and Priviledges This terrified most Cities and Boroughs into voluntary surrenders of their Charters which brought them to that condi ion as to have no Magistrates or Officers but at the Kings Will and during his Pleasure But this Proceeding of the King seemed the less strange it being but a Copy of what had been already done in the Reign of King Charles And whereas the Election of Members of Parliament ought to be Free and Indifferent without Pre-ingagement of the Electors by Bribes Promises or Threats infinite were the Tricks and Artifices used to get such a Parliament as would serve the King's turn Yet none more busie than the King himself in continual Attempts upon the personal Freedom and Indifferency of all the Electors for Parliaments throughout the Kingdom Such were his Personal Sollicitations in secret to accept of such for their Deputies in Parliament as were fit for his Designs that his Closetting of Electors was become a By-word amongst the People Nor was it possible for Persons that held Offices and Imyloyments of Profit and Trust to continue in the same but by their Concurrence therein with his Majesties Pleasure Witness his second Declaration for Liberty of Conscience under the Date of Apr. 7. 1688. wherein he declared his Mind that none ought to be Imployed under him in the Kingdom but such as would contribute to chuse such Members of Parliament as might do their part to finish what he had begun That in pursuance thereof he had turned out by his Absolute Will many Civil and Military Officers And that he lookt upon all Refusers as neither good Christians nor Lovers of their Countries Good To further this Design the Lord Lieutenants were ordered by the King to Summon in his Name the Chief Officers and Gentlemen in their respective Counties and to lay the Case before them so as to flatter or terrify them out of the Use of their Freedom in Electing for Parliament And Marks of the King's Displeasure were put upon those that resolved to keep their Freedom and Indifferency to Elect worthy and fit Deputies according to their Judgments and Consciences Another sort of Men were Commissionated to the same purpose Known by the Name of Regulators Amongst which several Anabaptist Preachers were imployed with good Weekly Allowances who were sent all over England to delude People by Caresses or Threats into a fatal Compliance with the King By which Illegâ—l Practices it appears how eager the Court was to introduce the Româ—n Religion and Laws by indeavouring to free the Papists and Popish Emissaries from the Punishments of our Penal Laws against such manifest Aâ—tempts upon the Freedom Properties and Rights of the Realm Which tended to nothing less than First to subject the Laws of the Realm and consequently the very Rights of the Crown to the Canons of the Church of Rome which Rights our ancient English Papists before the Reformation always indeavoured to maintain against the Inchroachments of the Papal See Secondly To declare all the Power of Magistracy in Protestants hands to be unlawful and all Right and Title to their Estates forfeited by their being Protestants to the Papists Thirdly To own and justify all Dispensations from Rome with our Obedience to all such Laws of the Realm as should be thought derogatory to the Popes Interest or Authority And Fourthly to hold Communion with the Church of Rome the French and all Foreign Papists tho professed Enemies to the Religion and Power of the Protestants so as to contrive with them the Suppressing or Extirpating of them out of the Realm Thus the Ax was laid to the Root and the Train laid to blow up our Laws Religion and Liberties Which was Provocation enough for a Free People that have a share in the Legislative Power to stand up for their Rights and Priviledges thus invaded and to oppose the Exorbitâ—nce and Abuses of an Executive Power which shaked the very Foundation of this ancient Monarchy Yet all was husht and these Things born with extraordinary Patience in hopes of a Redress upon the next Succession whilst the Princess of Orange now our gracious Queen was the Heiress apparent But to cut off at once these only remaining Hopes who should be now with Child but the Queen after she had been Childless several Years and very much decayed and weakned with Sickness Which unexpected Pregnancy some
all that is in my power to advance the Welfare of the Glory of the Nation Whereupon the Prince and Princess of Orange were that very Day being the 13th of February 1688 9. Proclaimed at White-Hall and in the City King and Queen of England France and Ireland by the Name of WILLIAM and MARY each Proclamation being Ecchoed with Universal Acclamations of Joy by the Multitudes of People which crowded the Streets Windows and Balconies and the Streets lined all the Way from Temple-Bar to the Royal-Exchange with four Regiments of the City Militia The Night was concluded with Bonfires Ringing of Bells and all other Expressions of Duty and Affection to Their Majesties KING WILLIAM and QVEEN MARY with hearty Wishes for Their long and happy Reign April 11th Being appointed for their Coronation Their Majesties were accordingly Crowned that Day at Westminster with great Pomp and Solemnity by the Lord Bishop of London and the Day kept with great Ceremony in most of the chief Towns of England The Coronation Oath was tendred by the Bishop to the King and Queen in these several Articles Their Majesties giving a distinct Answer to each of them Bishop Will you solemnly Premise and Swear to Govern the People of this Kingdom of England and the Dominions thereto belonging according to the Statutes agreed on in Parliament and the Laws and Customs of the same King and Queen I solemnly promise so to do Bishop Will you to your power cause Law and Justice in Mercy to be executed in all Your Judgments King and Queen I will Bishop Will You to the utmost of your power Maintain the Laws of God the true Profession of the Gospel and the Protestant Reformed Religion established by Law And will you Preserve unto the Bishops and Clergy of this Realm and to the Churches committed to their Charge all such Rights and Priviledges as by Law do or shall appertain unto them or any of them King and Queen All this I promise to do After this the King and Queen laying his and her Hand upon the Holy Gospels said The Things which I have here before Promised I will Perform and Keep So help me God Then the King and Queen kissed the Book In Scotland the same Course was taken for Settling the Government there by a Convention which met at Edenburg upon the 14th of March according to the Direction of the Prince of Orange now King and the Advice of several Lords and Gentlemen of Stotland then at London Which Convention voted also King James by his Misgovernment to have forfeited the Right to the Crown and the Throne to be Vacant For the filling up whereof they conferred the Crown upon WILLIAM and MARY King and Queen of England c. and fetled the Succession in the same manner as our Convention had done with a new Oath of Allegiance to Their Majesties Accordingly on the 11th of April 1689. being their Coronation-day at Westminster Their Majesties were proclaimed at Edenburg King and Queen of Scotland The 1â—th of May next ensuing being the Day appointed for the publick Reception of the Commissioners sent up by the Estates of Scotland viz. the Earl of Argyle Sir James Montgomery and Sir John Dalrymple to Offer the Crown of that Kingdom to their Majesties and tender unto Them the Scottish Coronation Oath they accordingly met at the Council Chamber at Three a Clock in the Afternoon and were from thence conducted by Sir Charles Cotterel Master of the Ceremonies to the Banqueting-House being attended by most of the Nobility and Gentry of that Kingdom then residing here The King and Queen went thither attended by many Persons of Quality the Sword being carried before them by the Lord Cardrosse And Their Majesties being placed on the Throne under a rich Canopy the Commissioners first presented a Letter from the Estates to the King then the Instrument of Government after that a Paper containing the Grievances to be Redressed and lastly an Address to his Majesty for turning the Meeting of the said Estates into a Parliament All which being Signed by his Grace the Duke of Hamilton as President of the Meeting and Read to Their Majesties the King returned to the Commissioners the following Answer When I Ingaged in this Vndertaking I had particular Regard and Consideration for Scotland and therefore I did omit a Declaration in relation to That as well as to This Kingdom which I intend to make good and effectual to them I take it very kindly that Scotland has expressed so much Confidence in and Affection to Me. They shall find Me willing to assist Them in every Thing that concerns the Weal 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 This done 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 Oath was thus We William and Mary King and Queen of Scotland faithfully Promise and Swear by this our solemn Oath in presence of the Eternal God That during the whole Course of our Life we will serve the same Eternal God to the uttermost of our Power according as he has requited in his most Holy Word revealed and contained in the New and Old Testament and according to the same Word shall Maintain the true Religion of Christ Jesus the Preaching of his Holy Word and the due and right Ministration of the Sacraments now Received and Preached within the Realm of Scotland and shall Abolish and Gainstand all false Religion contrary to the same and shall Rule the People committed to our Charge according to the Will und Command of God revealed in his aforesaid Word and according to the laudable Laws and Constitutions received in this Realm no ways repâ—gnant to the said Word of the Eternal God and shall procure to the utmost of our Power to the Kirk of God and whole Christian People true and perfect Peace in all time coming That we shall preserve and keep inviolated the Rights and Rents with all â—â—â—st Priviledges of the Crown of Scotland neither shall We Transfer nor Alienate the same That We shall forbid and repress in all Estates and Degrees Reis Oppression and alâ— kind of iâ—â—rong and We shall command and procure that Justice and Equity in all Judgments be keeped to all Persons without exception as the Lord and Father of Mercies shall be merciful to us That We shall be careful to Root out all Hereticks and Enemies to the true Worship of God that shall be Convilled by the true Kirk of God of the aforesaid Crimes out of Our Lands and Empire of Scotland And We saithfully Affirm the Things above-written by Our Solemn Oath But at the Repeating that Clause in thâ— Oath which relates to the Rooting out of Hereticks
A COMPLETE HISTORY Of the LATE REVOLUTION FROM The first Rise of it to this present Time In Three Parts SHEWING I. The Growth of Popery in England under the Reign of the late King CHARLES By his Connivence French Intrigues c. II. Our Imminent Ruin in his Popish Successor King JAMES his Reign By his Invading of our Laws Religion and Liberties With a Particular and Impartial Narrative of the fictitious Great Belly III. Our Wonderful and Happy Deliverance by the PRINCE of ORANGE Our present King 's famous Expedition over into England With an Account of the late King James's Desertion and Abdication of Their Majesties happy Succession to the Throne of Great Britain and of Their prosperous Reign hitherto by Defeating the Jacobites dark Plots in England by Suppressing their open Rebellion in Scotland and by the Total Reduction of Ireland To Which is Added A Postscript by way of Seasonable Advice to the Jacobite Party LONDON Printed for Samuel Clement at the Lute in St. Paul's Church-Yard 1691. THE HISTORY Of the LATE REVOLUTION PART I. Shewing the Growth of Popery in England under the Reign of the late King Charles TO demonstrate the Growth of Popery in this Kingdom as the first Occasion of all our late Distractions I shall begin at the Head and come up to the Original Cause All the World knows that the Ruin of the Protestants and the Inslaving all Europe have been the two grand Designs of the Reign of Lewis XIV the first influenced by an infused blind Zeal and the last being the product of his own insatiable and boundless Ambition To the first he was prompted by those Spiritual Engineers the Jesuits who ever made it their business to set the World in a Combustion And the last he attempted to please his own Humour and gratifie his excessive Pride The Holy Cabal had resolv'd upon the Extirpation of the Protestant Heresie And such has been the effect of their Inchanting Eloquence and reputed Skill in Politicks that they are in a manner become Companions for Princes and Crowned Heads of the Roman Communion In point of Conscience they are their usual Directors and their Decisions are to them as Laws and Oracles 'T is therefore no wonder that the French King being inspirited by these Men should follow their Directions Whose Confessors being of that Order always indulged him in his Criminal Courses with Assurances of Salvation if he did but apply himself with Zeal and Fervency to so meritorious a Work as the Extinguishing the Protestant Heresie This forsooth would make him the Favourite of Heaven and an Immortal Prince on Earth Infatuated with these Delusions he struck in with the Society subscribed to their Dictates and resolved upon their Project In short he dispos'd all things to purchase Heaven with a Hellish Zeal and to improve his Fame upon Earth with the infamous Character of a Tyrant and Persecutor His Protestant Subjects to whom he owed his Elevation on the Throne he undermined during several years and by degrees weakened their Party till he thought fit at last to pull off the Mask and to fall foul upon them Abroad he had his Agents to inspire other Princes with the same Unchristian Zeal and put them upon the same Methods of Cruelty for promoting of a Religion whose Principles chiefly tend to make the Clergy Great and the Laity Slaves Hungary Bohemia Poland and Piemont not long since have felt the fury of this Spirit of Persecution And England by his means was like but few years ago to feel the same Calamity so near it was to fall a Sacrifice to the ambitious Designs of Popery and with its fall to carry the Ruin of all the Protestant Interest in Europe That the Design was laid in the Reign of King Charles is apparent by the Growth of Popery here whilst he swayed the Scepter And for this we may thank our unhappy Civil Wars in the Reign of King Charles I. when that good King being put to death by a prevailing Party and the Royal Family dispersed thereupon into Popish Countries the Princes of the Royal Blood were easily poysoned with Popish Insinuations that the only Way for their Restauration and to Reign Arbitrarily was to imbrace or at least to favour the Roman Religion Tho' I am not fully satisfyed that King Charles II. was ever actually Reconciled to the Roman Church whatever has been reported to the contrary but rather that he was too clear-sighted to think well of her Principles yet it is plain by the whole Series of his Reign that he made his Government as easy and favourable to the Roman Party as his Circumstances would allow and that he gave 'em all possible Incouragement But as he was a Prince naturally inclined to Clemency and abhorrent from Cruelty so this Proceeding of his was rather look'd upon as an Effect of his good Nature than of any Design upon the Protestant Interest of these Kingdoms If we reflect upon the Course of his Life during his Reign it seems his Aim was to please all Parties that he might injoy himself and Reign in Quietness But still he kept to an outward Profession of the Reformed Religion as by Law established and from time to time soothed up his Parliaments with solemn Protestations of his faithfulness to their Religion and Liberties Such was the Posture of Affairs in his Reign that tho' he would not himself bring in Popery downright yet he made the way smooth for it For whilst he minded his Amours more than the Government the Thieves stole in and grew upon us Who being countenanced by his Brother the Duke of York a Prince more daring and gone over to the Roman Church began now to build all their Hopes upon him The King having no Issue by the Queen and in process of time no hopes of any by her the Duke remained the Heir apparent and was consequently lookt upon as the Rising Sun On whom His Majesty too much given to Ease and Pleasure disburdened himself of the active and troublesom part of the Government which he left in a great measure to his Care Thus his R. H. had a fair Opportunity to gratifie the Roman Party and improve their Interest here whilst the King connived at iâ— And tho' â—e did not openly profess himself a Papist his forsaking at last the Church of England wherein he was bred and born and espousing so much as he did the Popish Interest sufficiently evidenced his being of that Communion The King being a Prince bigotted to no Religion but linked to the French Interest gave him a great Latitude And this was so far improv'd by the French King that in the Interview which happened at Dover Anno 1670 between our King his Brother and their Sister the Dutchess of Orleans a Treaty was there managed by the Dutchess between both Kings whereby the French King did promise King Charles to Subject his Parliament to him and to Establish the Roman Religion in his Kingdom In
that he could wish for and that his British Majesty wanted nothing but his Protection and the Support of his Arms to settle the Catholick Religion in his Dominions This Speech was published by the French King's Authority and the Translation of it suffered to come over freely into England VVhich lookt something odd and beneath a King of England to be thus expos'd to the VVorld as a Prince to come under the Protection of a King of France over whose Kings and Kingdom his Ancestors had so often Triumphed But nothing it seems was to be thought Inglorious that might serve the Popish Design of Rooting out the Protestant Religion Such was King James his Zeal for Mother Church that according to Father Peter's Relation his Majesty told him in his Chamber That he had rather Reign but one Year to an end tho in Troubles and die with the Conversion of England Scotland and Ireland than to Reign prosperously 30 years and leave them in Heresy as he sound them at his Accession to the Crown A Zeal in some sense like that of Moses who to save the People under his Government was willing to be blotted out of the Book of Life By this Saying and his Proceedings with the French King's Assistance we may guâ—ss what he intended for us To convert us he went about to subvert the Laws and to make us good Christians after his own Way he made his Will the measure of his Government without any regard to his Oaths and Promises to Justice or Equity However to colour what he did with some shew of Justice he set up a new Claim a Thing called the Dispensing Power unknown to former Ages and now suddenly started up as a Branch forsooth of the King's Prerogative By which means he threw aside those two great Stumbling-Blocks the Penal Laws the Tests being all our legal Securities for the Preservation of our Religion and Liberties and so shook the very Foundation thereof that we had no Security lest against his Will and Pleasure 'T is not denyed that in the Cases of Treason and Felony the King of England may by vertue of his Prerogative Pardon the Punishment that a Transgressor has incurred But it cannot be with any colour of Reason inferred from thence that the King can intirely-suspend the Execution of those Laws relating to Treason or Felony unless it is pretended that he is Cloathed with a Despotick and Arbitrary Power And as no Laws can be made but by the joint Concurrence of King and Parliament so likewise Laws so Enacted which secure the publick Peace and safety of the Nation and the Lives and Liberties of every Subject in it cannot be Repealed or Suspended but by the same Authority 'T is true the Judges declared this Dispensing Power to be a Right belonging to the Crown But before that pernicious Judgment could be obtained first the Opinion of the Judges was privately examined Such of them as could not in Conscience concur in so pernicious a Sentence were turned out and others substituted till by the Changes which were made in the Courts of Judicature that Judgment was at last obtained to give some Credit to the Cause And amongst those that were raised to these Trusts some were professed Papists and consequently Incapable of all such Imployments However it does not appear how it is in the Power of the Twelve Judges to offer up the Laws Rights and Liberties of the whole Nation to the King to be disposed of by Him at his Will and Pleasure 'T was by vertue of this Imaginary Power which made the King break loose upon the Laws and govern by his Will that He imposed upon his Subjects such Magistrates as he thought fittest for his turn some true Papists and others false Protestants such as would go a great way if not through-stitch to serve his Popish-Designs And tho' they were admitted without taking the Oaths in that Case provided and consequently no lawful Magistrates yet all were threatned vexed and prosecuted who durst but say that they had no lawful Authority By Virtue of the same Power the Kingdoms Military Defence was put into such Hands as by many express Laws were Incapable of them Which justly gave the Protestants sad Apprehensions of imminent Danger seeing themselves put into the Power of Men that publickly professed to be in Union and Communion with the Church of Rome declaring themselves to be mortal Enemies to Protestants and bound upon their Salvation to seek their Ruin and Destruction if they persisted in their Religion Thus an Army of Papists and Mercenaries was maintained and dispersed through the Kingdom in full Peace to the great disquiet and terrour of the Protestants Who contrary to the Ancient Laws of the Kingdom and the express Words of the late Statutes were constrained to receive those Souldiers into their Houses whereby they were deprived of their Peace and Security at home of a free Converse abroad and of the Advantages they might make otherwise in their Ways of living The Church of England was by this time grown out of Favour with the King for her Steaâ—iness to the Laws and strong Zeal against Popery And who should now grow into favour with his Majesty at least in outward appearance but the Dissenting Party the Object of his Resentment and Indignation when he came to the Crown The King knew how to turn the stream of his Kindness and to shift from one Side to another that losing one Party he might make sure of another 'T is true some Leaders amongst the Dissenters made an advantage of this Turn for their private Interest but the thinking Part of them who knew where the Snake lay did not build much upon it Not could the King expect much from them considering how lame and falsify'd were most of the Addresses His Majesty receiv'd from that Party The King to aw the Church erected a Court of Commissioners for Ecclesiastical Affairs whose Commission was to proceed with a Nonâ—bstante that is without and against the Rules of our Laws And to please the Dissenters He put out a Declaration for Liberty of Conscience to all sorts of Persuasions with a secret Intent that none should have it at last but the Papists The First was by Commission so far from any Colour of Law that it was against most express Laws to the Contrary and the extent of the Commission was to take Cognizance and Direction of all Ecclesiastical Matters The Illegality and Incompetency whereof was so notoriously known and the Design of it against our Religion so plain that the late Arch-Bishop of Canterbury being one in the Commission refused to fit or concur in it For the chief Design of this Court was to Raise none to any Church Dignities but such as had no Zeal for the Protestant Religion who cloaked their Unconcernedness for it with the specious Pretence of Moderation and to oppress such of the Clergy as were of eminent Learning Vertue and Piety In this Commission was a Noble
them That out of his Concern for the Peace and VVelfare of the City and as a Mark of the great Confidence He had in them at this time that the Kingdom was threatned with an Invasion He had resolved to restore to them their Ancient Charter and Priviledges and to put them into the same Condition they were at the time of the Judgment pronounced against them upon the Quo Warranto that so they might be better enabled to serve him with that Duty and Loyalty which they had given the King his Brother and Himself so many Testimonies of and upon which His Majesty did depend VVhereupon the King was pleased to give express Commands to the Lord Chancellor of England and the Attorney General to prepare such Grant or Instrument of Restauration and Confirmation as should be requisite and that the same should be forthwith Dispatched Thus having been Exercised to the Right and to the Left Backward and Forward We found our selves at last much As we were at first And had there been any rational Hopes of Continuing thus without any further Breach these gentle Methods tho upon a forced Put would have gone perhaps a great way to turn the Stream and to quiet the People But what Assurance could be had of having these our Rights continued to us any longer than what would serve our Enemies Turn The Prince therefore hearing of these Retractations which proceeded more from Fear than any Principle of Justice published an Additional Declaration Given under his Hand and Seal at his Court at the Hague the 24th being our 14th of October The Prince of Orange's Additional Declatation in these following Words After VVe had prepared and printed Our Declaration VVe have understood That the Subverters of the Religion and Laws of those Kingdoms hearing of Our Preparations to assist the People against them have begun to Retract some of the Arbitrary and Despotick Powers that they had assumed and to Vacate some of their unjust Judgments and Decrees The Sense of their Guilt and the Distrust of their Force have induced them to Offer to the City of London some seeming Relief from their great Oppressions hoping thereby to quiet the People and to divert them from demanding a secure Re-establishment of their Religion and Laws under the shelter of our Arms. They do also give out that we intend to Conquer and Iâ—slave the Nation Therefore We have thought fit to add a few VVords to our Declaration We are confident that no Persons can have such hard Thoughts of Vs as to imagine that We have any other Design in this Vndertaking than to procure a Settlement of the Religion and of the Liberties and Properties of the Subjects upon so sure a Foundation that there may be no danger of the Nationâ— Relapsing into the like Miseries at any time hereafter And as the Forces We have brought along with Vs are utterly dispropertioned to that wicked Design of Conquering the Nation if We were capable of intending it So the great Numbers of the Principal Nobility and Gentry that are Men of Eminent Quality and Estates and Persons of known Integrity and Zeal both for the Religion and Government of England many of them being also distinguished by their constant Fidelity to the Crown who do both accompany Vs in this Expedition and have earnestly sollicited Vs to it will cover us from all such malicious Insinuations For it is not to be imagined that either those who have Invited Vs or those that are already come to assist Vs can joyn in a wicked Attempt of Conquest to make void their own lawful Titles to their Honours Estates and Interests We are also confident that all Men see how little weight there is to be laid on all Promises and Ingagements that can be now made since there has been so little Regard had in time past to the most solemn Promises And as that imperfect Redress that is now offered is a plain Confession of those Violations of the Government that We have set forth so the Defectiveness of it is no less apparent For they lay down nothing which they may not take up at pleasure reserving intire and not so much as mentioned their Claims and Pretences to an Arbitrary and Despotick Power which has been the Root of all their Oppression and of the Total Subversion of the Government And it is plain that there can be no Redress nor Remedy offered but in Parliament by a Declaration of the Rights of the Subjects that have been invaded and not by any pretended Acts of Grace to which the extremity of their Affairs has driven them Therefore it is that we have thought fit to Declare that we will refer all to a Free Assembly of the Nation in a Lawful Parliament King James having notice of these Declarations which touched him to the quick and made him very uneasy His Majesty forthwith put out a Proclamation dated Nov. 2d to forewarn all his Subjects not to publish disperse repeat or hand about the said Treasonable Papers and Declarations or any of them 〈◊〉 any other Paper or Papers of such like nature Nor presume to Read Receive Conceal or keep them or any of them without Discovering or Revealing the same with all speed to some of the Privy Council or to some of the Judges Justices of the Peace or other publick Magistrates upon Peril of being Prosecuted according to the utmost Severity of the Law A Fortnight before this a Proclamation was come out strictly charging all the Lords Lieutenants and Deputy Lieutenants of the Counties adjoyning to the Sea and all other Officers Civil and Military within the said Counties to cause the Coasts to be carefully watched and upon the first approach of the Enemy to cause all manner of Cattel sit for Burden and Draught and not actually imployed in His or the Countrey 's Service to be Driven and Removed by the space at least of twenty Miles from the Place where the Enemy should attempt to Land and to secure the same in such effectual Manner that they might not fall into the Hands or Power of any of His Enemies Another Proclamation was set forth under the Date of Octob. 26. to Restrain the Spreading of false News in this time of publick Danger by Charging all Officers and Magistrates whatsoever to take effectual Care for the speedy Apprehension Prosecution and severe Punishment of all Offenders herein Lastly there came out a Declaration dated Nov. 6. wherein His Majesty after some grievous Reflections on this pretended Vnchristian and Vnnatural Attempt of the Prince of Orange to Invade his Kingdoms and the many Mischiefs and Calamities which an Army of Foreigners and Robels must unavoidably bring upon His People Charges His Highness with Assuming the Regal Style in his Declaration by Requiring therein the Peers of the Realm c. to Obey and Assist him in the Execution of his Designs whereas the words are to Come and Assist him which alters the Case very much and makes the
Exception void Then He exclaims upon the Prince's Calling in question the Legitimacy of the Prince of Wales his Son and Heir apparent notwithstanding there were at his Birth so many Witnesses of Vnquestionable Credit And whereas the Prince of Orange had Declared that he would submit all to the Determination of a Free Parliament His Majesty by this his Declaration indeavours to possess his People that a Parliament could not be free so long as there was an Army of Forreigners in the Heart of his Kingdom and declared his Resolution to caâ—l one as soon as his Kingdoms should be delivered from this Invasion with Assurances of Receiving and Redressing all the Just Complaints and Grievances of His good Subjects and of Maintaining them in their Religion Liberties and Properties Vpon which Considerations and the Obligations of their Duty and natural Allegiance He promises Himself that they will readily and heartily Concur and Joyn with him in the intire Suppression and Repelling of those his Enemies and Rebellious Subjects coming to Disturb the Peace of these his Kingdoms The King had hitherto turned every Stone to bring off his People from Joyning with the Prince with daily Retractations Promises and Threats Proclamations and Declarations Nay some few Addresses were procured full of horror and amazement at this intended Invasion as they called it and of the Subscribers Impatience to shew their Zeal for the King's Service by Sacrificing their Lives and Fortunes for the support of his Crown and Dignity Such was the humble Address of the Justices of the Peace for the County of Cumberland subscribed unto by several other Gentlemen of the said County Another from the Mayor Aldermen and Common-Council of Exeter A third from the Mayor Aldermen Bailifs and Citizens of the City of Carlisle And by Sir Thomas Haggerstons Report then Governour of Berwick the People of that Place were so transported with Loyalty to the King and possessed with such a Detestation and abhorrence of this Invasion that they not only Resolved to venture their Lives and Fortunes in the Defence of the King's Person and Government but desired withal that His Majesty would be graciously pleased to send down Commissions for the Raising a Regiment of Inhabitants to be assisting to the King 's standing Forces there as Occasion should offer All this the Gazets took great care to acquaint us with as also to let us know those Noble Peers and others who upon the News of this miscalled Invasion humbly offered their Services to His Majesty Amongst which was his Grace the late Duke of Newcastle to whom the King gave a Commission to raise a Regiment of Foot The King had a gallant Army but most of them were Protestants and not a few true English Men readier to draw the Sword for the Defence of the Protestant Religion and the Liberty of England than for the Maintenance of those two Inseparable Monsters Popery and Slavery The People generally waited for the Princes Coming with great Impatience and could not conceal the Joy which the Expectation of him had diffus'd over and the Kingdom So that if this were an Invasion one could every where read Treason in their Faces and a Man could scarce turn about but he met with a Traytor They that knew not the North from the South or the East from the West fell learning of the Compass to find out how the Wind fat whilst they longed for that Wind which must bring over the Prince So mindful were the People of the late Attempts upon their Religion Laws and Liberties that they look't upon Him as their Saviour whom the Court Party called Invader Such was the state of Things here when the Prince of Orange having long waited for a favourable Wind did at last set out from Holland with His great Fleet which lay in the Flats near the Brill This was October 19. old Style 1688 when his Highness attended by Mareschal de Schomberg as General with many other great Officers and Persons of Quality of several Nations set Sail about four a Clock in the Afternoon Nothing could be more glorious than his Setting out but nothing more dismal than what followed soon after So furious a Tempest did arise in the Night as wholly dispersed that prodigious Fleet and gave great Apprehensions of its Loss VVhen Holland that had seen but the day before the whole Fleet sail together in the greatest Splendour saw now but seattered Ships return into its Harbour not without some Damage Which proved for some time a great Mortification to the Protestant Party whilst the Roman Catholicks lookt upon it as an Indication of God's Anger an ill Omen to the Prince and a terrible Warning to His Highness not to Attempt any Thing against the Church Interest In short they presently concluded his Highness must let fall his Design And 't is observable that upon the News of it here there was a Demurr put upon the Business of Magdalen Colledge which shewed still what they would be at if the Prince had any way failed in his Design But the whole Fleet came at last to several Ports of Holland without so much as one Ship cast away Only one Man and 4 or 500 Horses were lost which were thrown Over-board So that his Highness admiring God's Providential Goodness in so great a Trial resolved to pursue his Heroick Design with the first Opportunity And whatever Application might be made unto him to dissuade him from any further Attempt he declared That his Word was too far ingaged and his Honour lay too much at Stake for any Danger to deter him from the Performance of the first or from Saving the last as far as it lay in his power That as He was satisfied with the Justice of his Undertaking so He was fully convinced of God's merciful Goodness in Saving the whole Fleet from so apparent a Danger which he took as a good Omen Accordingly He ordered all Things to be got in reaâ—iness and a speedy Recruit of Horses to be made About Octob. 30. the Wind turning Easterly and blowing fresh Orders were given to Set out with all Speed And two Days after Nov. 1. about Three in the Afternoon the whole Fleet now increased to a greater Number did set Sail. Which being commanded by Admiral Herbert was divided into three Squadrons the Red White and Blue according to the Colour of their respective Flags The Prince was in the Brill a new Ship of about 3â— Guns Whose Flag was English Colours with this Motto impaled thereon The Protestant Religion and Liberties of England and underneath I Will Maintain It. To the Red Squadron belonged the English and Scotch Forces consisting of six Foot Regiments commanded by Major General Mackay To the VVhiâ—e the Prince's Gards and the Brandenburghers under the Command of Count Solms And the Blue Squadron contained the Dutch and French Forces commanded by Count Nassaw Every Ship had a distinctive Mark whereby it was Known unto what Squadron she belonged And when
Night came upon them all the Ships set out their Lights which made a most glorious Shew upon the Sea the Princes Ship having three Lanthorns the other Men of War two each and each other Ship one All which at a distance appeared like so many Stars moving upon the Water The Wind and VVeather continuing Fair on Saturday Nov. 3. about Noon the Fleet got into the Channel sailing VVestward with all their Colours set out and stretched in a Line betwixt Calais and Dover so that it reached within a League of each Place His Highness led the Van attended by three Men of War one at a distance before his Ship and one on each side The Tenders as Pinks Flyboats and other Vessels of this Kind sailed next with their Decks throng'd with Officers and Souldiers the Flanks and Rear being guarded by the Men of VVar but especially the Rear as being most in danger to be followed by the English Fleet. In this great Splendour and Order the whole Fleet sailed with a Kind of Bravado betwixt England and France Drums beating Colours flying the Trumpets sounding and the Hoboys playing for the space of three hours Great was the Concourse of Spectators on both Shores at 20 miles distance from each other to see this glorious Sight worthy of the greatest Monarch to behold The Men of VVar that sailed nearest to Dover gave the Town and Castle some Guns and those that went on the other side did the same by Calais The English Fleet consisting of about 34 Sail under the Command of the Lord Dartmouth lay then in the Buoy of the Nore but did not think fit to stir with a Number so much inferiour and a parcel of Seamen who were Known to be VVell wishers to the Prince The next Day Nov. 4. being the Lord's Day and the Day of the Prince's happy Birth and Marriage the Fleet being now come as far as the Isle of VVight observed the Duty of the Day and did not Sail but all were driven of the VVaves till about four in the Afternoon VVhen the VVind being still favourable and blowing very fresh every Ship made all the Sail she could bear Torbay in Devonshire was the Place intended for Landing But the next Morning Monday Nov. 5 proving very Hazy and Foggy and full of Rain the Fleet hapned to Sail beyond it About Nine of the Clock it cleared up and as Providence was pleased to order it the VVind then choped about and turned VVest South VVest a moderate Gale Which brought them back to Torbay and having executed it's Commission was immediately in another Corner Then by the Princes Order the Standard was put up the White Flag uppermost signifying his Offer of Peace to all that would live Peaceably and under that the Red or Bloody Flag denouncing War to all such as should offer to oppose his just Designs Of all this great Fleet three Tenders only were intercepted by our Men of War One of them a Fly-boat having on Board four Companies of Foot of Colonel Babington's Regiment commanded by Major Collambine This was taken by Captain Aylmer Commander of the Swallow Frigat The other two being a small Pink and a Fishing Boat with 24 Horse separated from the Fleet were taken below Hole Haven by Captain Hastings Commander of the Woolwich Thus the Fleet landed at Torbay on the fifth of November A memorable Day for the Gun-Powder Treason which seems to have been marked out by Providence that Englands Deliverance in the Reign of James II. might begin the same Day that it was designed for Ruin and Destruction in the Reign of King James I. The Year also is memorable this Deliverance falling out in 88. just a hundred Years after England was delivered from the Spanish Invasion in Queen Elizabeth's Reign when it pleased God to confound and disperse that formidable Armada which for its Greatness was in vain called Invincible The Prince of Orange being come into the Bay with the major part of the Floet Boats were ordered to carry his Highness to Shore with his Gards and the Noblemen that were about his Person Who being Landed marched up the Hill some before the Prince and some after Then the Guns fired from the Fleet with the Beat of the Drums the Sound of Trumpets the Musick of Hoboys and the joyful Huzza's of the Fleet and Army the Ships with all their Colours out and the Colours of the Land-Forces that went out with the Prince flying and flourishing before his Highness And whilst he was viewing the Ground on the Top of the Hill in order to Inâ—ampâ—hâ—s Army all hands in the Fleet were at work to carry the Men and Horses with their Necessaries to Shore So that the whole Army was Landed the next Day being Tuesday by three a Clock in the Afternoon the Horse being Landed first and then the Foot But their Cannon and Carriages c. were sent about for Topsham and from thence brought up by Water to Exeter At the upper end of the Bay was a Fair House belonging to one Mr. Carey a Papist who entertained a Priest in his House This Priest having discovered the Fleet from the Leads of the House with the White Flags on some of the Men of War concluded it to be the French Fleet come to Assist King James against the Prince of Orange Transported with Joy at the Conceit of it he without any more ado ordered all the Family to the Chappel to sing Te Deum for the Arrival of the French But he was soon undeceived and thererupon laughed at for his Religious Mistake This House the Prince of Orange upon his Landing commanded to be Searched for Arms and Horses Some Horses and a few Arms were found and brought from thence but without giving any further Disturbance to the House where both the Searchers and the Searched entertained one another with mutual Civility Near the Sea-side were some Thatched Houses belonging to Fishermen one of whom had the honour to Entertain the Prince at his House till the Wednesday following Which Day the Prince rode from this Place to Sir William Courtney's within a mile of Newton-Abbot the first Market-Town the first Line of the Army being about Newton and the last upon their March thither Here a Divine going before the Army went to the Cross or Town-Hall on the Market-day where he read aloud to the People the Prince's Declaration Which ended with their joyful Acclamations and kind Wishes to the Prince followed soon after by Ringing of Bells and Drinking of the Prince's Health And as his Highness was most kindly received and entertained at Sir VVilliam Courtney's so were the Souldiers generally well treated by the Vulgar Here began the Proviâ—ions to abound which hitherto had been very scarce and as they were honestly paid for so the Army was quickly supplyed with what the Coâ—ntry could afford On Thursday Nov. 8th the Lord Mordant now Earl of Monmouth came to Exeter with three or four Troops of Horse and Dr. Burnet
at Honiton But finding the Royal Regiment of Horse and several Officers of the Dragoons did more and more suspect him his Lordship marched with the Officers and Dragoons that would follow him towards Honiton Lieutenant Colonel Langston marching before with the Regiment of S. Albans As for the Royal Regiment of Horse and the rest of the Dragoons they marched back towards Bridport being very much wearied by their long Marches and put into some Disorder by so great a Surprize Salisbury Plain was the Place of Rendez-vous for the Kings Army consisting of above 30000 Men with a Great Train of Artillery under the Command of the Earl of Feversham and all the Forces drew that Way in order to a Battle Mean while to bring Things to an Accommodation and prevent Effusion of Blood a Petition for the Calling of a Free Parliament Subscribed by Nineteen Lord both Spiritual and Temporal was presented to the King by the Lords Spiritual viz. the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury the Arch-Bishop of York Elect the Bishop of Ely and the Bishop of Rochester in these Words May it please your Majesty The Lords Petition for a Parliament We your Majesties most Loyal Subjects in a deep Sense of the Miseries of a War now breaking forth in the Bowels of this your Kingdom and of the Danger to which Your Majesties Sacred Person is thereby like to be exposed and also of the Distractions of your People by reason of their present Grievances Do think our selves bound in Conscience of the ' Duty we ow to God and our Holy Religion to your Majesty and our Country most humbly to offer to your Majesty That in our Opinion the only visible Way to preserve your Majesty and this your Kingdom would be the Calling of a Parliament Regular and Free in all its Circumstances We therefore do most earnestly beseech Your Majesty That You would be Graciously Pleased with all Speed to call such a Parliament VVherein we shall be most ready to promote such Counsels and Resolutions of Peace and Settlement in Church and State as may conduce to Your Majesties Honour and Safety and to the Quieting of the Minds of Your People VVe do likewise humbly beseech Your Majesty in the mean time to use such Means for the preventing the Effusion of Christian Blood as to Your Majesty shall seem most meet And Your Petitioners shall ever Pray c. The King's Answer To which the King gave this Answer My Lords VVhat you ask of Me I most passionately desire And I promise you upon the Faith of a King That I will have a Parliament and such an One as You ask for as soon as ever the Prince of Orange has quitted this Realm For how is it possible a Parliament should be Free in all its Circumstances as you Petition for whilst an Enemy is in the Kingdom and can make a Return of near an hundred Voices This was the King's Pretence for shunning a Parliament Which being Regularly chosen would in all probability call his evil Counsellors to an account whom He thought himself bound in Honour to Protect and strictly Inquire into the Birth of the pretended Prince of VVales the Questioning of which was a Stab at his Heart A Parliament that would probably bind up the Prerogative pull down the Dispensing Power and damn that Beast with Seven Heads the Ecclesiastical Court A Parliament that would prove fatal to his dearly beloved Priests and Jesuits and that would have pulled down all their Schools and Chappels had they not been prevented by the unaccountable Zeal of the Mobile Lastly The King foresaw that the Prince would have demanded some Forts to be put into his Hands and the Parliaments for their Security So that He expected in case of a Free Parliament to be but a Nominal King and an unhappy Instrument of the Ruin of his Child Friends and Religion And rather than do that He chose to Perish On the other side He might flatter himself with hopes 1. That we should never be able to Agree after he had made it impossible for us to have a Legal Parliament 2. That when the Fear and Disorder were over the Church of England Principles would form a great Party for him in the Nation 3. That the French King would Assist him with Forces and Mony and if he should prevail by Force then by a Popish Army he would for ever Insure the Slavery of England The only Advantage we could pretend to have by the Coming over of the Prince of Orange with an Army was to force the King to what he would never have yielded without that Force And had the Prince gone back Re infecta 't is not likely the King would have then granted us what he would not do now Suppose he had called a Parliament what Assurance could we have of their Sitting as long as he should have no Occasion to Fear Then to be sure he would have disbanded the Protestants of his Army and supply'd their rooms with Irish Papists to have at last a Parliament if a Parliament must be had of their making This being at that time the Posture of our Affairs that the Prince referred all to a Parliament and the King would have none before he had quitted the Kingdom all Things seemed disposed to the Decision of a Bettel In order to which his Majesty accompanied by his Highness Prince George of Denmark parted upon Saturday Nov. 17. from VVhite-hall for VVindsor where he lay that Night and the next Day continued his Journy to Salisbury whither he came the 19th About this time appeared a Letter from the Prince to the King's Army in these words Gentlemen and Friends The Prince's Letter to the English Army We have in Our Declaration given you so full and so true an Account of Our Intentions in this Expedition that We cannot doubt but that all true Englishmen will come and concur with Vs in our Destre to Secura these Nations from Popery and Slavery We are come to Preserve your Religion and to Restore and Establish your Liberties and Properties 'T is plain that you are only made use of as Instruments to Inslave the Nation and Ruin the Protestant Religion And when that is done you may judge what your selves ought to expect both from the Cashiering of all the Protestant Officers and Souldiers in Ireland and by the Irish Souldiers being brought over to be put in your places You know how many of your Fellow Officers have been used for their standing firm to the Protestant Religion and to the Laws of England and you cannot flatter your selves so far as to expect to be better used if those who have broke their VVord so often should by your means be brought out of those Straits to which they are now reduced VVe hope likewise that you will not suffer your selves to be abused by a false Notion of Honour but that you will in the first place consider what you owe to Almighty God and your Religion to
thence to Collingburn and so to Littlecot where he came on Saturday Decemb. 8. In the mean time the Lords Commissioners viz. the Marquess of Hallifax the Earl of Nottingham and the Lord Godolphin appointed by the King to treat with the Prince of Orange were come to Hungerford being the Place agreed on for that purpose by the Prince To whom a VVriting subscribed by their Lordships was delivered in these following VVords SIR The King has commanded us to acquaint you That he observeth 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 to Call one but thought that in the present State of Affairs it was Advisable to Defer it till Things were more composed Yet seeing that his People still continued to desire it he hath put forth his Proclamation in order to it and has issued forth his Writ for 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 shall come to it His Majesty has therefore sent us to attend your Highness for the Adjusting of all Matters that shall be agreed to necessary for the Freedom of Elections and the Security of Sitting and is ready immediately to enter into a Treaty in order to it His Majesty proposeth that in the mean time the respective Armies may be Restrained within such Limits and at such Distance from London as may prevent the Apprehensions that the Parliament may in any Kind be Disturbed being desirous that the Meeting of it may be no longer Delay'd than it must be by the usual and necessary Forms In Answer to which these following Proposals were made by the Prince with the Advice of the Lords and Gentlemen Assembled with his Highness 1. That all Papists and such Persons as were not Qualified by Law should be Disarmed Disbanded and Removed from all Imployments Civil and Military 2. That all Proclamations which Reflected upon his Highness or any that was come over to him or had declared for him should be Recalled and if any Persons for so doing had been Committed they should 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 shall think to be at London during the Sitting of the Parliament his Highness might be there also with equal Number of Gards Or if his Majesty should rather chuse to be in any Place from London his Highness might be at a Place of the same Distance 5. That the Respective Armies should Remove 30 Miles from London and no more Foreign Forces should be brought into the Kingdom 6. That for the Security of the City of London and their Trade Tilbury-Fort be put into the hands of the said City 7. That to prevent the Landing of French or other Foreign Troops Portsmouth be put into such hands as by the King and Prince should be agreed upon 8. That some sufficient Part of the Publick Revenue be assigned his Highness for the Maintaining of his Forces till the Meeting of the Parliament The King upon the View of these Proposals Resolved upon a speedy Retreat into France The Prince of Wales so called was sent for before-hand to go thither along with the Queen who accordingly set out December 10. And the next Day early in the Morning the King attended by Sir Edward Hales went away from White-kall Incognito Before his Departure he sent Notice of it to the Earl of Feversham by a Letter framed in these Words MY LORD Things being come to that Extremity that I have been forced to send away the Queen and my Son the Prince of Wales that they might not fall into my Enemies hands which they must have done if they had staid I am obliged to do the same Thing and to indeavour to Secure my self the best I can in hopes it will please God out of his infinite Mercy to this unhappy Nation to touch their hearts again with true Loyalty and Honour If I could have relyed on all my Troops I might not have been put to the Extremity I am in and would at least have had one Blow for it But tho I know there are many loyal and brave Men amongst you both Officers and Souldiers yet you know that both your Self and several of the General Officers and others of the Army told me it was no ways advisable for me to venture my self at their Head or think to fight the Prince of Orange with them What remains is only for me to Thank you and all those both Officers and Souldiers who have stuck to Me and been truly Loyal not doubting in the least but that you will still retain the same Fidelity to Me. And tho I do not expect you should expose your selves by Resisting a Foreign Army and a Poisoned Nation yet I hope your former Principles are so inrooted in You that you will keep your selves free from Associations and such pernicious Things Time presses so that I can say no more J. R. The Earl of Feversham upon the Receipt of the Letter immediately dispatched a Messenger to the Prince to let him know That having received a Letter from the King with the Vnfortunate News of his Going out of England and his Majestics Order as he expresses it to make no Opposition against any body he thought himself obliged to acquaint his Highness with it as soon as it was possible to prevent Effusion of Blood To which purpose he had given the last Order to all the Troops that were under his Command Before the King's Departure several Papists foreseeing the Revolution had withdrawn themselves beyond Sea Now the Priests and Jesuites who expected no Quarter began to shift for themselves and run some one Way some another Those among the Protestants who were the most Obnoxious and had so basely comply'd with the Times were also put to their Shifts Some of both sorts were Apprehended but most made their Escape or lay Undiscovered The Lord Chancellor Jeffreys a Mezzo-tinto Protestant as forward as any Papist to Comply with King James's Designs was taken in a Disguise at Wapping Dec. 12. and committed to the Tower where he pined away and died some time after The Earl of Peterborough being secured in Kent as he was making his Escape was also sent to the Tower In the mean time the Disbanded Army dispersed it self up and down the City and Country in an unusual and unwarrantable manner to the great Disturbance of the Publick Peace and Quiet The Mobile on the other side taking an Advantage of this State of Anarchy fell to work by burning pulling down and otherwise defacing several Houses and publick Buildings of the Roman Catholicks rifling and plundering the same And without any Regard to the Character of Embassadours
Especially when 't is plain this must occasion the greatest Ruin and Miseries possible to that Kingdom and when a pretended Heir was set up in such a manner that the whole Kingdom believed it Spurious In such a Case it cannot be denied even according to the highest Principles of Passive Obedience that another Sovereign Prince might make War on a King so abusing his Power and that this was the Case in Fact will not be called in question by any Protestant Therefore King James having so far sunk in the War that he both abandoned his People and deserted the Government all his Right and Title did accrue to the Prince in the Right of a conquest over him So that if he had then assumed the Crown the Opinion of all Lawyers must have been on his side And which Way soever King James's Deserting the Government be turned this Argument has much Weight For if he was forced to it then here was a Conquest and if it was voluntary it was a wilful Dâ—sertion But whatever Prospect His Highness might have of a Crown either by the Sword or the Law or both Ways together He chose rather to leave the Matter to the Determination of the Peers and People of England chosen and Assembled together with all possible Freedom Mean while the Lords Spiritual and Temporal Assembled December 25. in the House of Lords at Westminster and at the same time the Members of the Parliaments that had served during the Reign of King Charles 2d met in the House of Commons together with the Court of Aldermen and Common-Council of London Who unanimously Agreed upon a general Convention of the Lords and Commons to Meet on the 22. of Jan. next and pray'd his Highness in the mean time to take upon him the Administration of Publick Affairs both Civil and Military and the disposal of the Publick Revenues till the Meeting of the said Convention In Order to which Meeting He sent at their Request and according to their Directions His Letters throughout the Kingdom Then came out two Dâ—clarations from His Highness One for Authorising Sheriffs Justices of the Peace and other Officers and Ministers not Papists that were in Office upon the first day of December to Act in their respective Places Another for the better Collecting the Publick Revenue Besides an Order for carrying on the Elections for the intended Convention with greater Freedom and without any Colour of Force or Restraint His Highness also took a convenient Care to Restrain the Licentiousness of the Press within the bounds of the Law Then He put forth a Declaration for the better Quartering of the Forces Another to Incourage the Sea-men of the Fleet then labouring under Discontents and absenting themselves upon several untrue and groundless Reports Maliciously spread among them and to warn them at their Peril to return to their Duty A third to the same purpose for the Land Forces Jaruary 22. being the day appointed for the Convention to meet at Wes tminster there they met accordingly Where the two Speakers being chosen viz. the Lord Marquis of Halliface for the House of Lords and Henry Powle Esq for the Commons a Letter from the Prince of Orange was read in both Houses to this effect That he had endeavoured to perform what was desired from Him for the Publick Peace and safety during his Administration and that it now lay on them to lay a Foundation of a firm Security for their Religion Laws and Liberties That he did not doubt but by such a full and Fret Representative of the Nation the Ends of his Declaration would be attained He recommended to them the dangerous Condition of Ireland and also the States of Holland both which required large and speeâ—ly Succours And toâ—d them that since it had pleased God hitherto to bless his good Liteâ—tions with so great Success be trâ—sled in him that he would complete his own Work by sending a Spirit of Peace and Vnion to inflâ—ence their Courseâ—s that so no Iâ—terruption might be given to a happy and lasting Settlement Whereupon the Lords and Commons unanimously resolved upon an Address to be presented to his Highness of â—hanks for what he had done and humblâ— to desire him to continue the Administration of Publick Affairs till farther Application were made by them to his Highness A Day of Publick Thanksgiving to Almighty God was likewise appointed by both Houses for having made his Highness the Prince of Orange a Glorious Instrument of the great Deliverance of this Kingdom from Popery and Arbitrary Power And then the Lords and Commons went in a Body to St. James's to present the fore-mentioned Address to his Highness The State we were in required a speedy Settling of the Government on sure and lafting Foundations and consequently that such Person or Persons should be immediately placed in the Throne in whom the Nation had most reason to repose an intire Confidence It therefore now lay upon the Convention to Make so Judicious a Choice as in all probability might render us a happy People and give our Posterity cause to Rejoyce when they shall read the Proceedings of this Wise and Grand Convention 'T is observed that before the Theocracy of the Jews ceased even in the time of extraordinary Revelations the manner of the Divine Designation of their Judges was by God's giving the People some Deliverance by the Hand of the Person to whose Government they were appointed to submit Thus Othniel Gideon Jephthab Samson and others were invested by Heaven with the supream Authority And tho' Joshâ—a had an immediate Command from God to succeed Moses and an Anointing for that purpose by the laying on of Moses hands yet the Foundation of the Peoples Submission to him was laid in Joraâ—n Now what History can give an Instance since that Theocracy ceased of a Designation of any Person to any Government more visibly Divine than this was To see a Nation of so various Opinions Interests and Factions fall suddenly from a turbulent and fluctuating State into a serene Calm and their Minds so strangely united on a sudden it shews from whence the Nation was Influenced And whoever considers how the Posture of Foreign Affairs which no humane Wisdom or Power could have brought about made way for this Expedition how the Prince's Counsels were all along directed and crowned with Success amongst so many Dangers and Difficulties and that in so little time and with so little Effusion of Blood must needs see plainly the Finger of God in all this pointing out to us what choice we were to make Yet various were the Projects amongst the Members of the Convention Some were for Sending to the King and Treating with him to Return but under such Restraints as they thought should disable him from Invading our Laws Religion and Liberties But what restraint could be put upon a King who was under a Vow of Restoring Popery The Kingly Power one would think was sufficiently limited by the Law so as to
the King Daclared That he did not mean by these Words that he was under any Obligation to become a Persecutor To which the Commissioners Authorized thereto by the Estates of Scotland made Answer That neither the Meaning of the Oath nor the Law of Scotland did impâ—â—â— it Then the King replied That he took the Oath in that sense and called for Witnesses the Commssioners and others present And then both Their Majesties signed the said Coâ—onation Oath After which the Commissioners and several of the Scottish Nobility kissed Their Majesties Hands Thus WILLIAM and MARY Prince and Princess of Orange were by the Grace and Providence of God for the good of these Kingdoms made King and Queen of Great Britain in Opposition to all Malecontents A Race of Men content in no Condition who in a State of Slavery are eager for Liberty and when set at Liberty are again for Slavery These are the Tools hitherto made use of by King Lewis to distract these Kingdoms under the specious Pretence of Restoring the late King James to the Throne by their dark Plotting here against the Government and their open Rebellion in Scotland Where the Duke of Gourdon Governour of Edenburg Castle held it out for King James till the 13th of June and the Lord of Dundee at the Head of an Army of Rebels was killed in a Field-fight on the 1st of August From which time the Rebels there never thrived but were glad at last to imbrace Their Majesties most Gracious Pardon The greatest Difficulty was to Reduce Ireland then in the hands of Papists fortifyed with a great Army assisted by the French King and influenced by the late King James Who look'd upon ireland as a Back-door for him to return into England with a Crucifix in one hand and a Sword in the other Ireland that had been so often Conquered by the English was now to Conquer England and the Irish did not by their Shouls consider whether it was for King James or King Lewis They were pleased with the Notion of an Infallible Conquest and before they had drawn the Sword they fell forsooth dividing the Spoil amongst themselves Incouraged by King James's Presence now come from France to Dublin about the beginning of the Year 89 nothing was to stand before them London-Derry in the North of Ireland was the only place of Note that stood out for Their Majesties The French and Irish being resolved to reduce it by Fire Sword and Famine sat before it and brought it to that extremity that good part of the Town was by French Bombs reduced into Ashes and above 5000 of the Inhabitants died for want of Provisions Yet under these dismal Circumstances the Town held out under the Conduct of that Martial Clergy-Man the Reverend Dr. Walker till it was Relieved by Major General Kirk July 31. 1689. What happened since all the World knows The famous Battle at the River Boyne fought the next Year after is an eternal Monument of King William's incomparable Valour and Conduct and of God's wonderful Providence over his Royal Person By this Battle wherein he was blessed with a glorious Victory he drove King James with full speed out of Ireland he got possession of the Capital City of Dublin besides Drogheda Wexford Waterford and other places of less note so that two parts in three of Ireland were in a manner Reduced in one Campaign Afterwards Cork and Kingsale were happily Recovered by the Earl of Marlborough And this Years Expedition under the Chief Conduct of that Valiant Fortunate Wise and Skilful General the Baron de Gâ—â—okle will be eternally famous for Compleating so Successfully the Reduction of that Kingdom by the Surrender of Ballymore the Taking of Athlone by Storm the great Victory at Aghâ—im the surrender of Galloway and Slâ—gâ— and at last that of Limerick a Place lookt upon as almâ—st Impregnable So that we see now a Kingdom which besides its own Strength has been power-fully Assisted by the French and Countenanced by the late King James intirely Reduced to their Majesties Obedience at the end of two Campaigns Which I hope may convince the most Obstinate especially after a long Chain of unaccountable and unlookt for Providences that this great Revolution is not only by the Will or Permission of Almighty God but that it is his own Work who is free to dispose of Crowns and Kingdoms to shew Mercy and Judgment upon whom he pleases And if it be so I cannot imagine how Intailed Kings good or bad can be more de Jâ—â—e Divino than our Great King William Thus we see King James II. an Unfortunate Prince who might have been a most glorious Monarch fal'n with the Loss of three Crowns a Sacrifice to Priests and Jesuits and fain to creep under the Shelter of a King who is not like to hold out long himself if he must give an Account to God and Men of the abominable Transactions of his Reign Thus is the Curse of King James I. come upon King James II which he solemnly pronounced upon any of his Posterity that should forsake the Church of England to imbrace that of Rome And yet had it been possible for him to keep within some reasonable Bounds and his Religion to himself without trampling as he did upon the Laws he might have hitherto sat upon the Throne and 't is like the Nation upon his account would have been very Indulgent to the Roman Catholick Party But he would never be advised to Moderation and no Counsellors were welcome to him but such as prompted him to Violence The Issue whereof proved accordingly All Covet all Lose And 't is observable that as great as King James was with King Lewis yet the Court of France was allowed openly to declare his Errors to the World and passed this Verdict upon him That his whole Conduct had been very little Judicious The Emperor on the other side could not forbear in his Letter to him dated April 9. 1689. amongst his tender condoling Expressions to remind him of some of his false Politicks I am heartily sorry for his Fate but it is better so than to see three Kingdoms perish I remember one of his Expressions at his first coming to the Crown that he would carry the Glory of England beyond all his Predecessors which he has made good in some sense For by his Iâ—legal and Arbitrary Methods he has given us an Opportunity after some Years of tiresom Passive Obedience of shâ—wing to the World how loth we are to part with our Laws Religion and Liberties and impatient of that uneasy double Yoak which other Nations groan under Therefore far from deserving the Censure of Mankind we are applauded for it all the World over by all disinterested sensible and rational Men. And after two weak esseminate and inglorious Reigns which had sunk the Reâ—â—tation and Honour of this Nation and made us all over Europe an Object of Scorn and Contempt we have by this way of Reprisal recovered our Credit and