must unavoidably endear it to him However there were many Reasons of State which obliged him to make with those Provinces a most strict Alliance And now the King's Departure for England being at hand the Estates General named Mr. De Gent. Deputy of Guelderland Guelderwagen of Holland and Lampsins of Zeland to wait upon the Queen of Bohemia who was then with the King and the Duke of York and Gloucester who Lodged in the Extroardinary Ambassador's House to complement them on the Re-establishment of the King and the Revolution of the Affairs of England and at the same time Mr. Renswonde of Utreicht Ripperdo of Hengelo of Overysel together with Isbrants of Groning were deputed to the same Office by the Princess Royal and the Prince of Orange The King being treated by the Estates General at the Hague he sitting at the middle of the Table-head had on the Right Hand the Queen of Bohemia on the Left the Princess Royal and there the Prince was present a Seat being placed on purpose for him to distinguish his Character though in his tender years from Lords of great Rank and Quality who were present at that splendid Entertainment and this order was observed whenever he Dined publickly with the King which he frequently did as well at the Hague as at other places and when the King left the Hague his Highness accompanied with Prince William of Nassau Governour of Friezeland with sundry Nobles and Gentlemen went before him towards the Ships on which together with his Train he was to embark for England and when he went on Board he was conducted to the Admiral 's Ship by the Queen of Bohemia the Princess Royal and the Prince of Orange to whom at his Departure he returned most obliging Thanks and endearing Expressions of Affection which ended not but with his Life These were the remarkable Passages as I may term them in the Infancy of this great Prince But it is time to go on to those of his riper years A prevailing Faction growing up in the United Provinces managed by Statesmen that ambitiously strove to engross the Power and enrich themselves as much as in them lay to overshadow the Brightness of this Rising Sun to eclipse the Family that had laid the very Foundation of the State and by which Providence would have it supported though at the same time France pressed them with a prevailing Army Amongst those of the Faction the De Wits were very forward for which and some underhand Practices against the Person of the Prince the two Brothers John and Cornelius soon after felt the Rage of the People who out them to pieces however those that remained struggled to keep themselves in Power and the better to doe it disbanded their experienced Forces and Officers putting in their steads the Sons of Burgher-masters and such others as they supposed would stickle for them against the Interest of this Rising Prince however it lasted not for within a while the French taking more effectually the advantage of this oversight swept away divers of the Frontier Towns and entered deep with great ravagement and devastation into some of the Provinces which made the People consider of a General to lead their Forces whereupon in the beginning of the year 1672. the Prince was invested with the Titles of Captain and Admiral General of the United Provinces Honours his Ancestors had a long time meritoriously enjoyed to the extraordinary contentment of the People by having next under God been the chief means of reducing those Provinces from Slavery into a State when his Highness Marching at the Head of a few Troups made good his Post at Nienkop against the violent Attacks and Incroachments of the French and so gallantly ordered Affairs that he made them retire with loss Upon the Ravage the French had made on the Frontiers the people of the Province of Holland grew discontented and displeased with their Magistrates attributing the Misfortune to their neglect so that those of Dort broke into open Mutiny demanding to see the Megazines but being put off or refused suspecting some Treachery they resolved to have the Prince made Stateholder nor would they by any means be appeased till he was sent for and confirmed in that Dignity which being passed into an Act great joy ensued amongst the People and soon after the other Cities and Provinces consented to the like Investment and his Highness took his Place in the Hall of Audience with the Ceremonies the Dignity required Upon these Proceedings and his Highness's returning â—o the Army at Bodegrove the Face of things were changed and the late drooping Provinces seemed to take new Life and Vigour the French were manfully resisted and the Bishop of Munster forced from the Walls of Groning by a slender Garison after the Loss of a great part of his Army so that now the Prince being very powerfull in the Hearts of the people the De Wits were sacrificed to the popular Fury for conspiring against him the Government for the Burghers and others taking Arms and breaking in upon them where Cornelius was imprisoned by the Magistrates and his Brother John at that time come to see him they dragged them thence with great Cries and after a miserable mis-usage hung them up by the Heels in the Market-place and cutting them to pieces sold their Joints and Flesh by piece-meal at great Rates which were carried away by the Buyers in a Triumph of Revenge The De Wits falling thus from their highth of Honour Min Heer Fagel was made Pentionary with the Prince's approbation and indeed deservedly having been the first when only Pentioner of Haerlem to open peoples Eyes upon the inevitable Ruine that must have attended upon the continuance of the De Wits Ministry and thereupon the Elector of Brandenburgh wrote a most obliging Letter to the States to let them know he had received the News of the Prince's Advancement and Settlement in the Honours and Dignities of his Ancestors and to assure them of his Friendship and good Will so that the Provinces within themselves being settled it was thought high time to oppose the Insults of the French whereupon the Prince marched to dislodge their Out-gaurds and came upon them so unexpectedly and with so much terrour as they lay at the Seige of Utreicht that he beat them into their Trenches and took several Prisoners of Note which he commended to be kindly used and sent to Amsterdam And now there being a Rumour that some Attempt was designed against his Highness's Person by some private means so far it wrought that from that time he has been entreated to accept of a Guard for his Person and although the season was far advanced he laid Seige to Woerden a considerable Garison held by the French to the relief of which the Duke of Luxemburgh hasted and was the first time obliged to retire with considerable loss but returning with a great Re-inforcement as the Toown was about to Capitulate after an obstinate Fight
William the III King of England Scot Fran. and Ireland Prince of Orange c. Aetatis suae 38 HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE AN Historical Account OF THE MEMORABLE ACTIONS Of the most Glorious Monarch WILLIAM III. KING of England Scotland France and Ireland Prince of Orange c. Giving a true Relation of all that hapned of consequence since his glorious Expedition into England from time to time as also the happy Arrival of his Royal Consort Queen Mary and their being Proclaimed and Crowned King and Queen of these Realms The whole containing a Summary from his Birth to this day Together with the Names of several of those worthy Persons upon whom he has conferred Honours and places of Trust since his being Proclaimed LONDON Printed and are to be sold by H. Rhodes next door to the Swan Tavern near Bride-lane in Fleet-Street 1689. LICENSED April 24 1689. THE PREFACE TO THE READER THE weight of this illustrious Subject might have required a greater Vndertaker and made me have kept at an awfull distance whilst the most celebrated Pens of Europe had interwoven and enamell'd the Birth and Rising Glories of so great a Prince with all the Rhetorical and Heroick Accents and Expressions that are capable of giving Life and Fire to the Minds of Men and raising their Souls to a highth capable of knowing the Centre of true Greatness but with humble submission not finding any forward in so invaluable an Enterprize I though unworthy have presumed to make this Essay hoping it will not be taken ill since this at least is the Ground-work upon which the most aspiring Historian must build when he consults the Golden Rolls of Fame to raise a Pyramid of lasting Honour to the Memories of the World 's undoubted Worthies In this Book though small to appearance you may find things as vast in Extent as Virtue and Valour can enlarge them and when I tell you it is the Compendium of the Birth and Actions of the Great and Renowned Prince of the House of Orange with what more especially relates to his Redeeming us from Popery and Slavery by his generous Expedition Valour and Conduct I might be silent since the World is sufficiently sensible of what I farther intend yet that Posterity may not forget so great a Deliverance it is fit that it should be Recorded till Time is swallowed up in Eternity You have Reader in this Book an Account of the illustrious Birth of a Prince born to be the Protectour of the true Religion and the Support next the Almighty Arm of Christianity coming nearest to its primitive Purity with his Advancement to early Honours and his memorable Actions from time to time with the various dangers and hazards to which he has exposed himself for the Repose of Christendom but more especially for the securing and promoting the Protestant Religion You have likewise a Discovery of Popish Cruelties in the wretched State and Condition of the Protestants in France under the late Persecution from which you may gather what we might have expected and suffered had not this great Prince at so much Cost hazard of his Person and indefatigable Labour and Industry dispell'd with the Rays of his early and glorious Success the cloudy Tempest that was breaking over our Heads and to be brief you have an Account of all that has memorably passed from his Birth to this day and that more particularly in England upon the ever-to-be-remembered Occasion of his coming over as our Protectour and Deliverer with the indefatigable Industry he has successfully used to infatuate and defeat the Designs of our Enemies and the Returns he has found from a sensible and gratefull People and especially the Wisdom of the Nation Assembled in Parliament in Proclaiming and Crowning him together with his Royal Consort King and Queen of England c. with the manner of the performance and what else can be required to set forth so illustrious an History the Subject of which may some Angel sound with a golden Trumpet to the utmost Kingdoms of the Earth which is the Wish of Your humble Servant S. J. An Historical Account of the Life and memorable Actions of the most Illustrious William Henry King of Great Britain France and Ireland Prince of Orange c. WHen we undertake to Write of illustrious Persons whose great Actions are sufficiently known to the World and whose Vertues and Candour have placed them upon a Pinacle of Fame it is then that Rhetorical Strains or flattering Applause is altogether to be laid aside as vain and useless for true Diamonds require not the Art to set them off like Counterfeits but relying upon their proper Lustre make their value known and shine in a kind of careless Glory wherefore considering the Illustrious Subject I am here to handle waving elaborate Circumstances and Expressions not greatly pertinent to History or Matters of this kind my Care and Endeavour shall be to keep to Truth and Fact and as much as in me lies to give a satisfactory Account of the Birth and glorious Actions of a Prince whose Fame has travell'd with the Sun. WIlliam Henry of the Illustrious House of Nassau our present Sovereign descended from that renowned German Family that has been ever Famous and to which the Empire and all Christendom has been so much beholden Son to William of Nassau Prince of Orange by the Royal Princess Mary Daughter to Charles I. King of England c. was Born on the 14th of November in the year of our Lord 1650. his Father dying the preceding Month after he had been Married about nine Years and done Actions worthy of his high Birth in the Four and Twentieth year of his Age leaving this hopefull Issue to dispell the Clouds of Sorrow that began to spread themselves over most European Courts upon notice of a Death so unexpected and a Loss so important This great Prince at his Baptism had for Godfathers the Lords States of Holland Zealand and the Cities of Amsterdam Delf and Leyden receiving the Name of William Henry and as he increased in years under the Care of the indulgent Princess and such as were appointed to attend and wait upon him he gave early hope of what hath since been sufficiently manifested At five years of Age he came to visit his Uncle King Charles II who then was at Breda preparing for England to take Possession of the Thrones and Kingdoms so long detained from him where the King expressed his extraordinary satisfaction to see the Prince his Nephew and highly welcomed him and soon after the Estates General having a particular Audience of the King recommending the firmness and fidelity of that Republick to his Interest c. his Majesty in the most obliging Terms replyed That the Interest if no other Motives should induce him to it of two Persons so nearly allied to him as the Princess Royal his Sister and the Prince of Orange his Nephew who live in the Estate as part of it
the French King to Reason the English Parliament at the same time declaring strongly for it and offering the King considerable Summes of Mony to carry on the projected Design against the Disturber of Christendom The Alliance was to be carried on in order to the recovering a satisfaction by such means as should be thought most expedient and best agreeable and indeed for a time it was vigorously maintained the Parliament of England pressing it with a more than ordinary Ardour and the King sent the Lord Montague his Ambassadour to France once more to press that King to a Compliance making at the same time new Levies of Horse and Foot However the French King rejecting the Propositions was not idle but made great preparations for War whereupon the King of Great Britain recalled his Forces that were in the French Service who were sent home without their Arrears But whilst the Confederates were agreeing about their Quota's or Levies the French early in the Spring besieged Gaunt which being taken by reason of the insufficiency of the Garison to maintain a place of that vast Circuit they sate down before Ypre which after a resolute defence surrendred These Places thus lost for want of succour made the Confederates draw out from all Parts the Prince of Orange being the first that took the Field and the Duke of Monmouth arrived at Bruges with about 3000 English Horse and Foot but the French King having done as much as he thought convenient at that time putting the greater part of his numerous Armies into Garisons to refresh them he retired to Paris but hearing the League against him continually strengthened by new Alliances and a Prohibition of the growth of his Kingdom he thought it no longer convenient to delay but formed himself a Project of Accommodation to this purpose viz. That the Prince and Bishop of Strasburgh should be entirely restored to all his Territories Honours Prerogatives and Goods and Prince William of Furstemburgh his Brother be set at Liberty That in relation to the Emperour he would stand to his Declarations insisting upon the Treaties of Westphalia offering to restore Philipsburgh or Friburgh That to the King of Spain he would restore Charleroy Aeith Courtray Gaunt Oudenard and St. Guilain together with Chastlerains and all their Dependencies but reserve to himself Conde Bouchain Air Cambray Valenciennes and Saint Omers with all their Castles and Dependencies with La Frenche Conte entire That he would restore Charlemont or Dinant to the Spaniard with the Emperour and Bishop of Liege's consent That the Confines between Spain the Low Countrys from the Sea should be the Meuse Newport Courtray Aeith Dixmund Mons Oudenard Namur and Charleroy and those Bounds to be assured by those Places That moreover to the States General he would restore Maestricht and allow the Commerce as formerly granted That he would restore to the Duke of Lorain according to the Pyrenean Treaty or surrender to him excepting Nancy all his Territories and in lieit of that City he would give him Toul thereby only reserving to himself a free passage into Alsatia And farther demanded satisfaction for his Allies The proposals were not generally liked yet after many Difficulties and Refusals the Treaty was at length signed by the Plenipotentiaries of France and Holland on the 11th of August 1678. yet the delays of the French King proved extremely prejudicial to his Affairs especially in lessening the Reputation his Arms had gained for whilst the Treaty held with indifferency and wavered without any certainty of coming to a conclusion the Prince of Orange having joyned the Confederate Forces they called a Council of War in which it was concluded that seeing Mons a City of the Province of Hainault had been a long time Blocked up by the French and that the Duke of Luxemburgh was on his March with the Army under his Command to prevent any Succours being put into the City that it was convenient to intercept him and with this Resolution the Prince and the Confederate Army set forward about the beginning of August and was joyned in his March by six thousand Munsterians and Brandenburghers under the Command of General Spaen The French upon notice of his Approach removed from Soignes where they had lain for some time encamped where the next day the Prince decamped with the Confederate Army and from thence marched toward Rockless advancing the left Wing as far as the Abby of St. Dennis that Place being the Duke of Luxemburgh's chief Quarters facing with his Right Wing Casteau possessed likewise by the French and although the Passes were extreme difficult which rendred the French more secure yet the Army being embatteled his Highness commanded a Party to drive the French from a Hillock they had possessed which was performed with little difficulty and then he caused the great Guns to play upon the Enemy that had posted themselves near the Cloister adjacent to the Town and though they strove to defend it with their Cannon yet after a considerable Battery a Party of Dragoons advanced and after a sharp dispute drove them thence and possessed the Place when in the mean time Adjutant General Collyer seconded by General Delwick passed the Defiles or narrow dirty Lanes with admirable courage contrary to the expectation of the French and drove them after a strenuous resistence into their own Lines when the Prince accompanied by the Duke of Monmouth who fought by his side that day fell in with great resolution and bravery encouraging by words and actions the Regiments that were advanced and signallizing his Valour above Report which so animated the Regiments of the left Wing that they followed each other till the Evening charging with great resolution and Count Horn bending the Cannon under his Charge against the Battalions of French that were drawn up in the Valley it greatly endamaged them by battering their Ranks The Fight being thus begun was carried on and maintained with much resolution and bravery the Prince forcing his Passage to Casteau which had been Attacked by the Spaniards in the right Wing where his Regiments of Foot-Guards had the Van-Guard under the Command of Count Solms and was seconded by the Regiments of Holstein Roques Sereres and they supported by the English who through the natural aversion they had to the French charged with such fury that the obstinate resistence the Enemy made could not sustain their impetuosity for after five hours dispute the French were driven from their Post by the Regiments of Guards who pursued them to the River Haines on the other side of Casteau And in this Battel it was that the renowned Earl of Ossory who commanded the English signalized his Valour and indeed the whole stress of the Battel lay upon the Infantry the Cavalry not being very serviceable in a Place of such narrow access and so full of precipices Night putting an end to the Slaughter the Duke of Luxemburgh finding his loss great and that he was no longer capable of
himself at his Country Palace when in the mean while the Duke of Monmouth and Earl of Argile going from Holland with an inconsiderable number of Men the former to invade England and the latter Scotland their Expeditions proved altogether successless for being severally routed and taken by the King's Forces they suffered Death together with divers others of their Adherents and Abettors In July 1687. his Highness returning from Hounstyrdyke to the Hague he there gave Audience to several foreign Ministers and then parted thence to visit the Garisons of Maestricht Boisleduck and others belonging to the States and in his Return was met by Her Royal Highness at Loo he having in his Progress given necessary Orders for the well governing and strengthening of those Places In December the Marquess d' Albeville Envoy extraordinary from his Majesty of Great Britain had Audience of his Highness the Prince of Orange and the States of Holland but they adjourning to the 7th of January great preparations of Fire-works were made in the mean while to entertain Her Royal Highness the Princess of Orange on New-years-day representing a Battel with four lines ranged with several Batteries lively expressing the manner of an Engagement Now the foreign Priests coming again into remembrance and being looked upon as Enemies to the Common-wealth notwithstanding the intercession that had been made on their behalf the Court of Justice at the Hague drew up a Decree commanding them to retire out of the Country and never to return again promising a Reward of 100 Ducatoons to any that should make discovery and settling a penalty of 600 Florins upon those that should harbour and conceal any of them for the first time 1200 for the second and corporal punishment for the third Offence whereupon a great many of them fled into England where indeed there was but too many before And now the Spring coming on the Prince and Princess of Orange went to their Palace at Loo The King of England for private Reasons of State being about this time desirous to call home the English Regiments in the Service of the States-General the Marquess d' Albeville made it known immediately to their Lordships but they not willing to part with those Forces he proceeded to put in his Memorials representing not only his Resentment of that Refusal but the danger of Officers and Soldiers might incurr but the States having before-hand disbanded them and listed them under their own Command as many as would enter themselves which was the greatest Part of them as well Officers as Soldiers this business came to nothing and although his Majesty had ordered the Masters and Captains of Ships and Vessels to give such as would return free Passage with promise of Advancement yet not many came over In May the Elector of Saxony was splendidly entertained by his Highness the Prince of Orange at Hounslaerdyke and the next day his Highness accompanied him to Scheveling where they went on Board a small Vessel that carried them to a Squadron of 17 Men of War arrived from Schonevelt under the Command of Vice-Admiral Allemond who sent upon their Approach two light Frigats and a Shallop to meet them and were saluted with the Cannon of all the Ships when having Dined on board the Vice-Admiral they returned to Scheveling and from thence his Electoral Highness of Saxony went to visit Delf Rotterdam Dort Maestricht Leige Aix and Cologne and so returned home by the way of Francfort when in the mean while the Heer Van Diest acquainted the Prince of Orange and the States with the Death of the Elector of Brandenburgh a person most firm to the Protestant Interest and whose Death was regretted by the Protestant Princes and States so that both the Prince and the States of Holland immediately nominated a fit person to go and make their Complement of Condolence to the present Elector The next month the Marquess d' Albeville acquainted the Prince and Princess of Orange as also the States with the News of the Queen of England's being delivered of a Son at their Royal Palace of St. James's on Sunday the 10th of June and soon after the News by sundry Expresses was likewise made known to the King's Ministers in all the Courts of Christendom who at a vast Expence and Magnificence proclaimed it and the Conduits in London were commanded to run with Wine and a Thanksgiving day was likewise held for the Queens safe Delivery Congratulations were made upon this occasion by all the Foreign Ministers and the Infant soon after ordered to be prayed for in the publick Prayers of the Church Some Addresses were likewise presented upon that occasion and the Romanists flattered themselves with a lasting Tranquillity and so sure they thought they were of gaining the point that the Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury the Lord Bishops of Ely Peterborough St. Asaph Chichester Bath and Wells and Bristol who had been committed by an Order of Council to the Tower for humbly beseeching his Majesty by Petition to remit his Commands of enjoyning his Declaration for Liberty of Conscience to be read in the Churches in time of Divine Service were brought to their Tryalls at the King's-Bench Court Westminster where notwithstanding all that was alledged against them and the pressing Arguments of a Popish Judge then upon the Bench their Candour and Innocence so fairly and plainly appeared that instead of their Adversaries proving that Petition a Libel it was evidently demonstrated that they had done nothing but their The Papists to leave no stone unturned that they might secure themselves for the future as well as the present used many Arts and Insinuations to sound the Intentions and thoughts of their Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Orange whereupon Mr. James Stewart took upon him that not without the King's knowledge and approbation as appears by the Letter writ to Minn Heer Fagel Pentionary of Holland and West-Friezeland upon the King 's publishing his Declaration for Liberty of Conscience and intention to take away the Test and Penal Laws which occasioned his Answer in substance this though little to the satisfaction of the Roman Catholicks viz. That their Highnesses have often declared as they did more particularly to the Marquess Albeville his Majesties Envoy extraordinary to the States That it is their Opinion that no Christian ought to be persecuted for his Conscience or be ill used because he differs from the publick and established Religion and therefore they could be content that even the Papists in England Scotland and Ireland might be suffered to continue in their Religion with as much Liberty as is allowed them by the States of the Vnited Provinces and as for the Protestant Dissenters their Highnesses did not only consent but heartily approved of their having an entire Liberty for the full Exercise of their Religion without any trouble or hindrance c. That their Highnesses were ready in case his Majesty of England should desire it to declare their willingness to concurr
confidence they had reposed in him Assuring them that he would never do any thing that might lessen their good Opinion of him putting them in mind of the Allies abroad and the hazard they may run especially Holland unless some speedy Care were taken That a good Settlement was necessary at Home particularly recommending to them the dangerous State of Ireland and the Methods to their spedy consideration On the 2d of February the Lord Bishop on London with the Clergy of the City to the number of an 100 waited on their Majesties with an humble Tender of their Fidelity and Duty and being Graciously received were admitted to kiss their Majesties Hands the King at the same time being pleased to give them a full Assurance of of his great Affection to the Church of England and of all the Protection and Encouragement to them for which he gave them his Royal Word concluding with Assuring them that they should ever find it so and they might depend upon it the Houses resolved into a free Parliament His Majesty went on the 23d of February by Water to the House of Lords attended with the usual Solemnity and being in his Royal Robes with the Crown on his Head seated on the Throne and the Commons being sent for His Majesty gave the Royal Assent to an Act for removing and preventing all Questions and Disputes about the Assembling and Sitting of the present Parliament And having disrobed himself he was attended to the Water-side with the like Ceremony as before and in the afternoon their Majesties went to Hampton-Court On the 28th of February two Proclamations were issued forth by the King and Queen the one at the Request of the Honourable House of Commons to apprehend Robert Brent Gentleman late of the Inner Temple charged with High Treason who procuring himself to be Bailed had left them and fled from Justice with the Reward of 200 l. to any person that should discover or apprehend him and those that should conceal or further his Escape to be proceeded against with the utmost severity according to Law. The other for the bringing in and restoring of Arms that had been Embezled or Lost during the Disorders and Disbandings amongst the Soldiers that had been in pay under the late King James and upon advice that the Earl of Tyrconnel laboured to draw the Irish more and more to his Party and confirm those that were already in Arms with him by laying before them the Danger already incurr'd their Majesties to leave them that should obstinately persist without excuse issued forth a Proclamation offering amongst other things Pardon and Indemnity for all things by those of the Earl's Party if they laid down their Arms and retired themselves to their respective Habitations and Places of Abode and there peaceably behaved themselves as good Subjects ought to doe as likewise that they should upon this ondition enjoy in full freedom their Estates according to Law and those of the Roman Church upon such Consideration to have all the Favour for the private Exercise of their Religion that the Law allows with a promise speedily to call a Parliament in that Kingdom but on the Contrary declaring them Rebels and Traytors c. and their Lands and Possessions forfeited and to be disposed and distributed to those that should be Aiding and Assisting in reducing the Kingdom to its due Obedience This Proclamation 't is thought whether hindred by Tyrconnel's violence from coming to the knowledge of the Vulgar or creating a fear in his followers made him fly to his Last refuge of more strictly disarming the Protestants as well those in Cities that fell into his hands as Gentlemen who were retired to their Houses where his Soldiers committed sundry Outrages of an high Nature Robbing and Pillaging without remorse or pity though under a colour excused himself by giving directions to the Magistrates to see that no wrong should be done however when Complaints were made he urged necessity compell'd his Men to doe what they did yet the Protestants especially in the North stood to their Arms and repelled force by force getting some supplies of Ammunition out of Scotland keeping the Town of Sligo and other places of strength with a Longing expectation of the Arrival of the Forces and necessary Provisions from England to be thereby enable to carry on the War and recover what has been taken from them by the Irish Papists And now the duty of Hearth mony being looked upon by the Commons as a grievance to the Subjects and represented as such to his Majesty the King was pleased to send a message that he left it to their considerations either to regulate it or to take it away which was received with great satisfaction and forthwith the thanks of the House were ordered to be returned his Majesty for his gracious Message and on the 1st of March in the Afternoon the Knights Citizens and Burgesses in Parliament assembled Waited upon his Majesty in the Banqueting-house and and there presented an Address of thanks wherein they expressed the Joy and Satisfaction they conceived at so unpresidented an offer humbly craving leave to present their Assurance that they-would make such gratefull and affectionate returns as were suitable to his Majesties most Gracious Intentions and be so carefull of the Support of the Crown that the World should see to the discouraging his Enemies that his Majesty reigns in the Hearts of his People c. The Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons Assembled in Parliament made likewise and Address to his Majesty expressing therein how highly they were sensible of their great and Signal deliverance c. And that being fully convinced of the restless Spirits and continued Endeavours of his Majesties and the Nations Enemies for the Extirpation of the Protestant Religion and the Subversion of the Laws and Liberties they unanimously declared that they would Stand by and Assist his Majesty with their Lives and Fortunes in Supporting his Allies abroad in reducing Ireland and in defence of the Protestant Religion of the Kingdom To this his Majesty was pleased to return them a very Gracious Answer expressing therein the valuable Esteem he had for Parliaments and especially for this expressing his Satisfaction of the Confidence and Trust they had reposed in him and that it should be his Care never to give any Parliament cause of distrust and withall recommending to them the care of the Allies abroad and minding them of the greate Expence the States of Holland had been at in the Expedition and Zeal they had to promote it and to second his Majesties Endeavours even with a neglect of their own Safety not doubting but their Generosity would not only enable him to make good his treaty with those States and repay what they actually layd out and of which an account should be given but support them to their utmost Ability against the power of their Enemies considering both Interests were upon one and the same Bottom As to safety his
Majesty was likewise pleased to mind them of Ireland and to let them know that in his opinion 20000 men would be required to render the reducing it short and easie as likewise setting out a Fleet which in conjunction with that of Holland might be so entirely Master of the Seas that nothing might be sent from France to Ireland or elsewhere that might give a disturbance to us or our Allies farther recommending to their consideration the settlement of the Revenues that they might be collected without dispute promising that whatever should be given in order to publick ends should be strictly applyed to them with many other Gracious expressions concluding that as they so freely offered to hazard all that is dear to them so he would as freely expose his Life for the Support of the Protestant Religion and the Honour and Safety of the Nation And now the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Commons of the City of London in Common Council assembled as a grateful Acknowledgment to the Lords and Commons for their excellent Conduction in Affairs and especially their resolution to assist and stand by his Majesty in supporting his Allies abroad in reducing Ireland in defence of the Protestant Religion and Laws of the Kingdom drew up two humble Addresses of Thanks one to the Lords and the other to the Commons which were presented and very kindly received the first of these was presented by the Recorder and the last by the Sheriffs of the Honourable City who were dismissed with expressions of high Esteem c. For the said City an Address of Thanks was likewise presented to his Majesty by the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common Council upon his most condescending and unparallell'd Goodness in the Message he was pleased to send to the two Houses in relation to the Duty of Hearth-mony promising as bound in duty and great obligations to be ready to serve and assist his Majesty as far as they were able in the support of his Crown and Dignity and for the maintaining the Protestant Religion and Laws of the Land and the speedy relief of the distressed Protestants in Ireland c. About this time we had News that the greatest part of the Regiment of Foot late commanded by the Lord Dumbarton and some Companies of Fuziliers made a Mutiny near Ipswych and seized on the Money sent down to pay them with four Field-pieces and refusing to obey the King's Orders marched away doing great damage and bringing a greater terrour upon the Country people proclaiming King James c. whereupon both houses Addressed his Majesty that he would be pleased to take such effectual Course as in his Princely Wisdom should be thought fit for the suppressing and bringing them to Justice and that in the mean time he would issue out his Royal Proclamation declaring them and their Adherents to be Rebels and Traitors requiring all good Subjects to apprehend subdue and prosecute them c. To which His Majesty was pleased to answer That he thanked both Houses for their Address and that he had sent a Force of Horse and Dragoons sufficient to suppress them and that he would issue out a Proclamation as was desired On the 16th of March His Majesty went by water to the House of Lords attended with the usual Solemnity and being in his Royal Robes seated on the Throne and the Commons sent for up His Majesty gave the Royal Assent to an Act impowering him to apprehend such Persons as he should find just cause to suspect are conspiring against the Government and to an Act for annulling and making void the Attainder of William Russel Esquire commonly called Lord Russel and then in a gracious Speech amongst other things recommended to them the settling the Oaths to be taken by all persons to be admitted to places of Trust so that Papists might be excluded and room left for all Protestants that are willing to serve the better to strengthen us against the common Adversaries and the same day a Proclamation was signed by His Majesty declaring those mutinous Officers and Soldiers together with their Adherents Rebels and Traitors c. commanding all good Subjects to apprehend subdue and prosecute them as such To shew this was no general defection of the Soldiers but rather these few drawn into so great a folly and over-sight by sinister means the same day an Address was humbly presented to His Majesty signed by the Officers superiour and subordinate with the unanimous Subscriptions of the private Soldiers of the Regiment of Foot under the conduct of the Right Honourable the Lord Mordant expressing therein their unfeigned Loyalty willing Obedience and ready Zeal to serve his Majesty in all places and on all occasions Nor was it long e'er those in Rebellion were brought under for on the 19th of March the Regiments of Horse commanded by Sir John Lanier and Collonel Langston having joined the Dutch Troups of Horse and Dragoons under the command of Lieutenant General Ginkell and being informed that the Rebels were marching towards Seaford they advanced in good Order the Dragoons making the left Wing the Rebels no sooner perceived the Troups but they drew up in Batalia planting their four Field-pieces to the best advantage having on one side a great Hedge and on the other considerable Waters which obliged the Dragoons to swim but perceiving the Resolution of the King's Troups to reduce them to their Obedience they beat a Parly and laying down their Arms surrendred upon discretion so that there were taken the four Field-pieces and twenty Officers and five hundred Soldiers were made Prisoners and sent up to London under a Guard of Horse and there secured in divers Prisons whilst another party of Horse continued to search after such as had dispersed some of which were afterward taken and secured in divers Prisons Sir John Chapman Lord Mayor of the City of London dying on the of March the worthy Thomas Pilkington Esq since being Knighted elected Lord Mayor of that City for the remaining part of this Year was on the 22d presented to the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal and afterwards sworn at the Hustings according to Custome and at five in the Afternoon was sworn without the Tower Gate by the Right Honourable the Lord Lucas chief Governour of the Tower in pursuance of their Majesties Writ to him directed and of the antient usage at such a time as the Exchequer Court is not holden at Westminster Having before made mention of the intended Convention in Scotland and now the time appointed for its sitting being come it will not seem foreign to this History to insert some remarkable passages and Transactions relating to it and the Affairs of that Kingdom On the 14th of March in obedience to the King of England's Letter the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the Commons assembled at Edinburgh in one House as the Custome is and chose Duke Hamilton their President and considering the Duke of Gourdon a Roman Catholick held the Castle whose Cannon
commanded the City they made an Act by which they empowered the Earls of Lothain and Tweddale to repair immediately to the Castle of Edinburgh and to require him and others of his persuasion there in the Name of the Estates of this Kingdom to remove out of that Castle in twenty four hours after notice given and to leave the Charge thereof to the next commanding Officer being a Protestant and that he and those that were with him upon such a compliance should have assurance from the Estates to be secured and indempnified as to any thing they had acted in that or any other Station contrary to Law as being Papists This done they nominated a Committee of Election consisting of 15 persons five of each Estate and after some debate whether the Lords Spiritual were a distinct Estate or only a part of the same Estate with the Lords Temporal which was laid aside by the House inclining to the Negative and rejecting the Protestations against the sitting of the Earl of Argile before his Father's Attainder was taken off A Motion was made that in consideration the City was full of People and many of them armed to prevent disorders it was not inconvenient to command all persons who were not Inhabitants nor immediately belonging to the Members of this Convention to depart the place but it was the Opinion of the House that the Castle in the command of whose Cannon the City was ought to be first surrendered and for their better assurance a Committee was ordered to take care that no violation of the Peace were made And the next day the Duke of Gourdon having sent a Paper by way of Excuse for holding the Castle contrary to the mind of the Estates it was read and advantageous Terms offered him and those with him in consideration of a speedy Surrender but soon after he discovered his Design was only to trifle that he might gain time which obliged them to send for such a competent number of armed Men as was capable to block it up and prevent the Excursions of the Besieged so that small bickerings frequently happened though without any considerable damage In the mean while two Letters came to the Convention one from King William and the other from the late King of which only the first was approved and the Convention proceeded to take measures much like those of England declaring the Throne vacant c. and made preparation in order to fill it suffering Men and Arms from England to enter that Kingdom and it was in fine concluded that King William and Queen Mary should be crowned King and Queen of the Kingdom of Scotland and the Crown offered them with an Instrument of Government to settle and regulate particulars Whilst these things passed in Scotland with others of the like purport a Proclamation by the King and Queen was issued out give to notice to the Peers and such as had any Claim or Right of Tenure that the Royal Solemnity of their Coronation was to be celebrated April 11th 1689. and on the 21st of March his Majesty going to the House of Lords attended in the usual solemnity and being in his Royal Robes seated on the Throne and the Commons being sent for up gave his Royal Assent to an Act for granting a present Aid to their Majesties and on the 31st of March the Right Reverend Dr Gilbert Burnet being before Bishop elect of Salisbury was consecrated according to the form prescribed in the Book of Common Prayer in the Chapel of the Palace at Fulham by the Lord Bishops of London Winchester Landaff St Asaph and Carlisle by virtue of a Commission granted to them by his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury On Apr. 3. his Majesty went by water to the House of Lords attended with the usual solemnity and in the usual manner gave the Royal Assent to an Act for exhibiting a Bill in the present Parliament for naturalizing the most Noble Prince George of Denmark also to an Act for Reviving of Actions and Process lately depending in the Courts of Westminster and discontinued by not holding of Hilary Term and for supplying other Defects relating to Proceedings at Law likewise to an Act for punishing Officers or Soldiers who shall mutinie or desert their Majesties Service and in the Afternoon a Chapter being held of the most noble Order of the Garter Duke Frederick Mareschal de Schomberg General of his Majesties Forces and Master General of the Ordnance and the Right Honourable William Earl of Devonshire Lord Steward of his Majesties Houshold were elected Knight-Companions of the Order and invested with the Garter and George having been first Knighted by the Sovereign with the usual Ceremony and Dr. Burnet Bishop of Salisbury was sworn and admitted Chancellour of that Order On the 5th of April his Grace the Duke of Ormond was installed in St. George's Chapel Knight-Companion of the Noble Order by the Duke of Grafton and the Earl of Rochester two Knight-Companions who were thereunto Commissioned by the Sovereign with the usual Ceremonies which done his Grace entertained the Commissioners together with divers Persons of Quality and the Officers of the Order at a noble Dinner at the middle whereof Garter King at Arms accompanied with the Officers at Arms proclaimed his Grace's Style About this time His Majesty caused notice to be given to all Protestant Officers that had been disbanded in Ireland or lately quitted their Commands they who were not yet employed in his Service to bring in their Names and Certificates of their former Commands in order to their entering into Service and Pay c. and to prevent false and seditious Rumours as to the lessening the Pay of such Soldiers as should be sent over to the Low-Countries His Majesty was pleased to issue forth his Proclamation to assure them of full English Pay and upon the English Establishment as full to all Intents as any other Regiments of his own Subjects of the same Quality remaining in the Kingdom of England The Parliament assembled at Westminster having duly weighed and considered the high consequence as to the security of our Religion Laws c. in the Efficacy of a Coronation an Act being drawn up it passed the Royal Assent the 9th of April in the 1st Year of their Majesties Reigns entituled An Act for establishing the Coronation Oath The Oath in manner and form to be tendred The Archbishop or Bishop shall say Will you solemnly promised and swear to govern the People of this Kingdom of England and the Dominions thereto belonging according to the Statutes in Parliament agreed on and the Laws and Customs of the same The King and Queen shall say I solemnly promise so to doe Archbishop or Bishop Will you to your power cause Law and Justice in Mercy to be executed in all your Judgments King and Queen I will. Archbishop or Bishop Will you to the utmost of your Power maintain the Law of God the true Profession of the Gospel and the Protestant Reformed
in the settling and confirming this Liberty as far as it lay in them and were ready if desired to concurr in the Repealing the Laws provided always that those Laws remain still in their full vigor by which the Roman Chatholicks are shut out of both Houses of Parliament out of all Employments Ecclesiastical Civil and Military as likewise all those other Laws which confirm the Protestant Religion and which secure it against all the Attempts of the Roman Catholicks But that their Highnesses could not agree to the Repealing of the Test or those Penal Laws that tend to the security of the Protestant Religion since the Roman Catholicks receive no more prejudice from these than the being excluded from Parliaments or from publick Employments and that by them the Protestant Religion is covered from all the Designs of the Roman Catholicks against it or against the publick safety and neither the Tests nor those other Laws can be said to carry in them any Severity against the Roman Catholicks upon Account of their Consciences they being only Provisions qualifying Men to be Members of Parliament or to be capable of bearing Offices by which they must declare before God and Men that they are for the Protestant Religion so that all this amounts to no more than a securing the Protestant Religion from any prejudice that it may receive from Roman Catholicks That their Highnesses have thought and do still think that more than this ought not to be asked or expected from them since by this means the Roman Catholick and their Posterity would be for ever secured from all troubles in their Persons or Estates or in the Exercise of their Religion and that the Roman Catholicks ought to be satisfied with this and not to disquiet the Kingdom because they cannot be admitted to sit in Parliament or to be in Employment or because those Laws in which the security of the Protestant Religion does chiefly consist are not repealed by which they may be put in a condition to over-turn it That their Highnesses also believed that Dissenters would be for ever satisfied when they should be for ever covered from all danger of being disturbed or punished for the free Exercise of their Religion upon any sort of pretence what soever These things we find in the Letter of that great Minister of State as the just Sentiments of their Highnesses which did not at all please the Court and perceiving the Wind averse in that quarter Mr. Stewart in his other Letter tells the Pensioner a while after That the Court was quite beyond it and had taken other measures c. About this time an account being given by the persons who had it in charge and for that intent made it their Business to visit the most considerable places in England and Wales how the people stood affected in relation to the taking off the Penal Laws and Tests if they should be chosen Members of Parliament or were qualified for chusing The King being at Windsor the 24th of August he declared in Council That pursuant to his Declaration he resolved to call a Parliament to meet the 27th of November following and ordered the Lord Chancellor to issue out Writs on that behalf the 18th of September after the sitting of that Council and accordingly Writs were prepared but were stopped and recalled upon certain notice that his Highness the Prince of Orange was preparing for England more of which I shall have occasion to mention hereafter About the beginning of September the Prince went to meet the Elector of Brandenburgh going from Loo on the 5th for Minden as also to meet some other Princes and Noble-men of Germany which so allarm'd the French King that the Count d' Avanx the French Ambassadour presented a Memorial to the Sates-General by the Order of his master who mistaking the measures the Prince intended at that time to take complained therein That the King his Master being informed of the motions and Coferences that were made and held towards the Frontiers of Cologne against the Cardinal of Fustemburgh and that Chapter he was resolved to maintain the Cardinal and the Privileges against all those that should go about to trouble them c. No sooner did his Highness return from that Conference to Loo but Orders were taken to draw the Forces together in order to the Encampment upon the Mooker Hyde and the Forces of the other Princes had Orders to be upon their march as those of Brandenburgh Hesse Cassel c. and on the 16th of September the States assembled at the Hague where his Highness the Prince of Orange was present continuing in debating several matters of great weight and consequence but as to the particulars we are wanting however it was generally suspected that the King had Intelligence that the great preparatons of Naval and Land Forces were intended for England when contrary to expectation His Majesty in his Declaration bearing Date the 20th of September relating to the Regulating Elections has this Clause viz We are willing the Roman Catholicks shall remain incapable to be Members of the House of Commons c. and on the 26th an Order was published to restore the Deputy-Lieutenants and such Gentlemen as had been put out of their Offices and Commissions and the next publick account we had was the King's Proclamation bearing Date the 25th of September giving a large Account of his Highness's Intentions to pass the Seas and land in England and the Marquess d' Albeville presented a Memorial to the Deputies of the States-General upon that Subject yet the preparations went on and whilst the Marquess expected an Answer to his Memorial the Troups embarked and her Highness and the Mareschal de Scomberg came to the Hague And so far wrought the News of these preparations that Magdalen College in Oxford was ordered to be restored and settled settled London was likewise restored her antient Charter other Corporations were restored to their Charters and Magistrates and the Church of England had immediately the right hand of Fellowship which made many wonder to see things so suddenly changed the suffering Bishops were received into favour and had leave to make their proposals for the good settlement and constitution of the Government and the Popish Party that was so lately Paramount began to droop so wonderfully wrought the terrour of his Highness's Approach On the 15th of October the Infant who had before been privately Christened was publickly named amidst the Ceremonies and Rites of Baptism in the Chapel at St. James's by the Name James Francis Edward the Pope being God father by his Nuncio and the Queen Dowager God mother the King and Queen with many others assisting And now great preparations were made to take the Field and Sutlers encouraged to attend the Army with more Freedom and Advantage than formerly for News came on the 23d of October that the Troups were all on Ship-board and that his Highness the Prince of Orange would embark so soon as the Ships in
Intentions for the publick Good we shall he ready to doe it as Occasion shall require This was signed by the two Arch-Bishops five Bishops and Twenty two Noblemen and it was there concluded that the Earl of Pembroke the Lord Viscount Weymouth the Lord Bishop of Ely and the Lord Culpepper should forthwith attend his Highness the Prince of Orange with the said Declaration and at the same time acquaint him with what was farther done at that Meeting The Lords having left the Guild Hall the Lord Mayor Court of Aldermen and the Common Council assembled and amongst other Matters it was agreed by Vote that an Humble Address should in their Names and on the behalf of the City be presented to His Highness the Prince of Orange In haec verba May it please your Highness WE taking into Consideration Your Highness's fervent Zeal for the Protestant Religion manifested to the World in your many and hazardous Enterprises which it hath pleased Almighty God to bless you with miraculous success we render our deepest thanks to the Divine Majesty for the same and beg leave to present our humble thanks to your Highness particularly for your appearing in Arms in this Kingdom to carry on and perfect your glorious Design to rescue England Scotland and Ireland from Popery and Slavery and in a Free Parliament to establish the Religion the Laws and Liberties of these Kingdoms upon a sure and lasting Foundation We have hitherto lookt for some Remedy for those Oppressions and imminent Dangers we together with our Protestant Fellow Subjects labour under from His Majesties Concessions and Concurrences with your Highness's just and pious purposes expressed in your Gracious Declaration But herein finding our selves finally disappointed by His Majesties with-drawing himself we presume to make your Highness our Refuge and do in the Name of the Capital City implore your Highness's Protection and most humbly beseech your Highness to vouchsafe to repair to this City where your Highness will be received with universal Joy and Satisfaction This Address being highly approved by all present Four Aldermen and Eight Commoners were appointed to wait upon his Highness and present him with the said Address and accordingly it was presented and very favourably received And the Lieutenancy of the City of London being the same day assembled drew up an Address to be presented to his Highness on the behalf of themselves the Militia c. which being to the same Effect with the former we think it needless to insert This Address was delivered by four of the Members of the Lieutenancy and very kindly received by his Highness By this time the Earl of Feversham then commanding the King's Forces having received His Majesties Letter by which he understood he had withdrawn himself and wherein he received such Orders as the King thought necessary to leave he sent to acquaint his His Highness the Prince of Orange with what had happened in the following Letter SIR HAving received this Morning a Letter from His Majesty with the unfortunate News of his Resolution to go out of England and that he is actually gone I thought my self obliged being at the Head of his Army having received his Majesties Orders to make no opposition against any Body to let your Highness know with the Advice of the Officers here so soon as it was possible to hinder the Misfortune of Effusion of Bloud I have ordered already to that purpose all the Troups that are under my Command which shall be the last Order they shall receive from me c. This Order caused the Troups to fall off and disband as well because they knew themselves without a Head as not knowing how to come by their Pay if they continued in the Service and indeed many of the Foot Soldiers were driven to great extremity being by this Disbanding destitute of Moneys Lodging and other neccessaries and had for a while nothing to subsist but the Charity of the People And although the Irish Battalion seemed for a time obstinate to continue in Arms yet the Commands they received from His Highness the Prince of Orange and the necessity that they felt constrained them to submit This Dispersing of the Solders made his Highness publish a Declaration requiring all Commanders in chief by Beat of Drum or otherwise to call together the several Officers and Soldiers belonging to their respective Regiments Troups and Companies in such places as they should find most convenient for their Rendezvouz and there to keep them in good Order and Discipline And likewise directing and requiring all such Officers and Soldiers forthwith to repair to such places as shall be appointed for that purpose by the respective Collonels or Commanders in chief Whilst these things passed in the Army the multitude got together in divers places spoiling and demolishing the Popish Mass-Houses and Chapels much defacing the Dwelling Houses of several Eminent Papists who were fled for fear of being secured and though the Magistrates laboured to quiet the Tumults and Disorders of this kind yet they found their Authority too feeble till the Mobile had spent their rage in London c. They pull'd down the Convent of Monks in St. John's which had been two Years Building at a vast Expence and Burnt the greatest part of the Timber and Materials in Smithfield having before siezed some of the Goods as they were removing them and burnt them in Holborn They likewise defaced and demolished the Chapels in Lime-strect and Lincolns-Inn Fields with that of the Spanish Ambassadour's at Wild-house where violently breaking into his Excellency's Lodgings they got great store of Plunder in Plate Money and riâ—… Goods c. And in like manner they served the Lodgings of the Resident of Florence in St. James's Hay-Market and offered divers Affronts and Abuses to other Houses gathering in such Numbers from all parts that it is almost incredible insomuch that neither the Watches nor Trained-Bands thought it safe to oppose the Torrent but the next day it was pretty well allayed and then search was made in divers places for such as were fled from Justice and amongst others to the no small wonder of the People the Lord Chancellour Jeffries was taken at a blind House in Hope and Anchor Alley in Wapping disguised like a Sailer and endeavouring to make his escape in a Vessel that lay by the Key for Hamborough and being brought before the Lord Mayor who by reason of an Indisposition that then siezed him not being capable of examining the Matter he was contented to go the Tower to preserve himself from the rage of the Rabble that loudly threatened him with Destruction and being guarded thither with a Detachment of the Trained-Bands was received by the Lieutenant of the Tower to whom upon Notice the Lords at White-Hall sent a Warrant of Commitment to keep the Body of George Lord Jefferies Baron of Wem in safe Custody c. On the 4th of December His Highness the Prince of Orange came to Windsor about
acknowledgement of the care he had taken of the Religion Laws and Liberty of the Kingdom c. intreating him to take upon him the Administration of Government and use to that end the publick Revenues to take speedy Care of the Stats of Ireland and issue out his Circular Letters for the calling a Convention to sit at Westminster on the 22d of January c. Whereupon his Highness was pleased to declare to this effect That being a matter of weight he would consider of it and give them an answer the next day On the 28th of December in the Morning the Lords attended his Highness at St. James's who gave them this answer My Lords I Have considered of your Advice and as far as I am able I will endeavour to secure the Peace of the Nation untill the meeting of the Convention in January next for the Election whereof I will forthwith issue out Letters according to your Desire I will also take care to apply the publick Revenues to the most proper uses that the present Affairs do require and likewise endeavour to put Ireland into such a Condition that the Protestant Religion and the English Interest may be maintained in that Kingdom And I farther assure you that as I came hither for the preservation of the Protestant Religion and the Laws and Liberties of these Kingdoms so I shall always be ready to expose my self in any hazard for the defence of the same The Lords having made their Thankfull acknowledgment for this Speech so suitable to their Desires the Gentlemen who had served as Members of Parliament during the Reign of King Charles II. together with the Aldermen and Common-Council of the City of London waited upon him in the Afternoon to whom his Highness was pleased to give the same answer Nor was there only a Pleasure conceived in England for His Highness's Success and prosperous Proceedings but on the first of January New-Style all the Persons of Quality that were at the Hague appeared at Court to complement her Royal Highness the Princess of Orange and in the Evening their Electoral Highnesses of Brandenburgh arrived there and were conducted to the old Palace which was prepared for them whither her Royal Highness went to visit the Electoress and splendid Entertainments were made upon the occasion On the 30th of December His Highness was pleased to issue out his Declaration for authorizing Sheriffs Justices of the Peace and other Officers and Ministers to Act in their respective Places that were in Office the first of December Papists excepted with a Charge to be carefull and diligent in their Places and Trusts for preserving the Peace and Quiet of the Kingdom and relieving the Poor c. And now the Country People and others scouting abroad had gleaned a great number of Persons whose desire of Safety had caused their withdrawing amongst whom was the Earls of Salisbury and Peterborough Lord Chancellour Sir Edward Hales Sir Thomas Jenner Charles Hales Dr. Obadiah Walker Richard Graham Philip Burton and many others as also nine Jesuites viz. John Leybourn Charles Poulton Ralph Clayton Joseph Gifford Robert Jenison William Locker Francis Calamy and Thomas Kingsley with many more who are in safe Custody and his Highness having issued out his Circular Letters for chusing Members to be present at the Convention the Elections were carried on in most Places as it were with one consent without any appearance of those Strivings and Heats that have too often attended former Elections and that there might no disturbance or hinderance happen upon the occasion of the Soldiers quartering in Cities and Boroughs they were ordered to draw off except Garisons to other Quarters till the Elections were over which was punctually observed with an exact and ready Obedience and soon after his Highness put forth a Declaration for the better quartering of the Forces This Declaration though the people seemed no where unwilling to quarter the Soldiers according to their ability highly satisfied them in the Prince's Justice and good Intentions so that the Association for the preservation of his Person has been promoted in the Signing through all the Countries of England with much freeness and alacrity a Copy of which as it was drawn up and signed at St. James's by the Lords and Gentlemen take in the following Words WE whose Names are hereunto subscribed who have jointed with the Prince of Orange for the defence of the Protestant Religion and for maintaining the antient Government and the Laws and Liberties of England Scotland and Ireland do engage to Almighty God to his Highness the Prince of Orange and to one another to stick firm to this Cause and to one another in defence of it and never to depart from it till our Religion our Laws and Liberties are so far secured to us in a Free Parliament that we shall be no more in danger of falling under Popery and Slavery And whereas we are engaged in this common Cause under the Protection of the Prince of Orange by which means his person may be exposed to dangers and to the desperate and cursed Attempts of the Papists and other bloudy Men we do therefore solemnly engage both to God and to one another That if any such Attempts are made upon him we will pursue not only those that make them but all their Adherents and all that we find in Arms against us with the utmost severities of a just Revenge to their Ruine and final Destruction And that the Execution of any such Attempts which God of his Mercy forbid shall not divert us from prosecuting this Cause which we do now undertake but that it shall engage us to sarry it on with all the vigour that so barbarous a Practice shall deserve His Highness having as is before mentioned been pleased to take upon him the Administration of the Civil and Military Power and by reason of the sudden change and alteration of Affairs the the publick Revenues had been put out of Order as to the method of Collecting and placing and dis-placing the Collectors he issued out a Declaration commanding all Collectors Receivers and Officers not being Papists authorized and employed by the proper Commissioners of the Customs Excise Hearth-money or any other Branch of the Revenue to proceed in the Managing Receiving and Levying the said Revenue as formerly and that all Magistrates and Officers should be assisting to them in their respective Stations the better to enable them to make their due Collections and Receipts And moreover his Highness taking into his charitable Consideration the necessitous Condition of the poor people as well Handicrafts as others destitute of employment out of a sense of their wants caused a considerable Summe of Money to be distributed amongst those of the Out-Parishes of the Cities of London and Westminster But now the Papists notwithstanding a former Declaration commanding them not being House-keepers Merchants or Servants to the Queen Dowager c. to depart the Cities of London and Westminster continuing in contempt
the English Fleet under the Command of the Lord Dartmouth And now the Royal African Company intreated his Highness to doe them the Honour of taking upon him to be their Governour for the ensuing year and made him a Present of 1000 l. in their Stock worth 2000 l. which he very favourably accepted Now the great Convention on which the Eyes of all Europe are fixed drawing near the Members who were chosen and returned came to Town the Houses were prepared for the Reception of the august Assembly and on the 21th of January the High-Sheriff with all the considerable Gentlemen of Estate in the County of Cambridge having unanimously entered into an Association whereby they solemnly engage themselves to stand by His Highness the Prince of Orange with their Lives and Fortunes in his glorious Design of Redeeming these Kingdoms from Popery and Slavery Mr. Cotton of Madingly was to wait upon His Highness and presented it in the Name of the County to which His Highness was pleased to return a very gracious Answer On the 22th of January according to the grand Appointment the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons assembled at Westminster the Lord Marquess of Halifax officiated the Place of Speaker in the House of Lords and the Commons chose Henry Powle Esq to be their Speaker who accordingly took his place After which a Letter from his Hâ—ghness the Prince of Orange was read in both Houses on the Occasion of their Meeting viz. My Lords I Have endeavoured to the utmost of my power to perform what was desired from me in order to the publick Peace and safety and I do not know that any thing hath been omitted which might tend to the preservation of them since the Administration of Affairs was put into my hands it now lieth upon you to lay the Foundation of a firm security for your Religion your Laws and Liberties I do not doubt but that by such a full and free Representative of the Nation as is now met the Ends of my Declaration will be attained and since it hath pleased God hitherto to bless my good Intentions with so great success I trust in him that he will complete his own Work by sending a Spirit of Peace and Vnion to influence your Counsels that no interruption may be given to a happy and lasting settlement The dangerous condition of the Protestant Interest in Ireland requiring a large and speedy succour and the present state of things abroad oblige me to tell you That next to the danger of unseasonable Division amongst your selves nothing can be so fatal as too great delay in your Consultations the States by whom I have been enabled to rescue this Nation may suddenly feel the in Effects of it both by being too long deprived of the Service of their Troups which are now here and of your early assistence against a powerfull Enemy who hath declar'd War against them and as England is by Treaty already engaged to help them upon any such Exigencies so I am confident that their chearfull Concurrence to preserve this Kingdom with so much hazard to themselves will meet with all the Returns of Friendship and Assistence which may be expected from you as Protestants and English men when ever their Condition shall require it This Letter being read and unanimously approved and applauded with the highest satisfaction the Lords and Commons resolved upon an Address to be presented to his Highness of Thanks for what he had done and humbly to desire him to continue the Administration of publick Affairs till farther application should be made by them to his Highness Which Address being presented to his Highness on Wednesday the 22th of January he was pleased to return them this Answer viz. Die Mercurii 23. Januarii 1688 / 9. My Lords and Gentlemen I Am glad that what I have done hath pleased you and since you desire me to continue the Administration of Affairs I am willing to accept it I must recommend to you the consideration of Affairs abroad which maketh it fit for you to expedite your Business not only for making a Settlement at home upon a good Foundation but for the safety of all Europe After this an Order was passed on the same day That no Papist or reputed Papist should presume to come into the Lobby Painted Chamber Court of Requests or Westminster Hall during the sitting of the Convention Then the Speaker of the honourable House of Commons put the House in mind of the present Affairs of the Kingdom recommending the speedy care of providing for its safety to the respective Representatives declaring The danger it was lately in and putting them in mind of the desperate State of Ireland He farther minded them of the growth of France and concluded in recommending these things to their prudent Care and Conduct c. After these and other weighty considerations an Order was made by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons for a publick Thanksgiving for our great and miraculous deliverance from the imminent Danger that so lately hung over our Heads Thursday the 31st of January instant being appointed for the City of London and Ten Miles distance and Thursday the 14th day of February following for the rest of the Kingdom Thus all things concurring towards a happy Settlement and Uniting of Protestants c. in England and Scotland let us look a little into the Affairs of Ireland which as yet has not the like prospect as being very much inhabited by Native Irish Papists devoted Enemies to the Protestant Religion The Earl of Tyrconnel whom the King had made his Lieutenant or Deputy of that Kingdom taking the advantage of the hurry and disorder the Affairs of England had put the People into magnified their Fears and used his endeavours to gain them to a Revolt but finding the Protestants in no wise forward to joyn or take part with him he instantly sent his Letters through all the Provinces and Countries to cause the Gentry and Peasants to take up Arms on the behalf of the King and the defence of their Religion declaring if the King himself should in that juncture desire it he would not deliver up his Sword so that leaving no endeavours to strengthen himself untried he in a short time drew together a formidable Army and secured divers Places of strength fortifying the Houses and Castles of several Noblemen whereupon it was thought fit to send to him and know his Intentions but no farther satisfaction at that time could be gained than that he was resolved to stand for the King's Interest and expect his Commands c. and accordingly upon notice that he upon his a second time withdrawing himself was in France the Report went currant that he sent thither to know his Pleasure in the mean while though he offered no open Hostilities to the Protestants yet in many Places he oppressed them by Quartering his Soldiers at discretion in their Houses seizing their Arms and taking Hostages His Highness the Prince
of Orange having taken upon him at the request of the Lords and Commons the farther Administration of Government in Civil and Military Affairs proceeded to the most effectual meanes for the better setling the Army and taking care for their Payment and the better to assure them and encourage men of worth and true Valour the sale of Offices or Military Employments are laid aside And now the Wisdom of the Nation having thought it as we head necessary to have the presence of her Royal Highness the Princess of Orange in England upon this great juncture of Affairs thereupon a Convoy of Men of War as well English as Dutch was ordered to wait upon her till her Equipage could be got in a readiness and the Wind served to bring over her Highness c. During the Joy of the People in expectation or the Arrival of her Royal Highness and the preparations for her Reception we had News from France that the King and Queen of England were frequently visited by the French Nobility and entertained with the accustomed Grandeur and that the French King gave out that he would have extraordinary Forces in the Field early in the Spring to oppose the gathering Armies of the Confederate Princes and States of Holland promising to himself those advantages which only Time can make out or determine In opposition to which and to disable him in the lessening his Revenues an Address was agreed on by the honourable Convention Assembled at Westminster upon the great emergency of Affairs to desire and intreat his Highness the Prince of Orange to issue out his Proclamation for the prohibiting the Importation of French Commodities and the going out of any Ships hence for France farther recommending the State of Ireland as its present Condition requires to his Care. On Wednesday the 30th of January being the anniversary Solemnity for the Murther of King Charles I. Dr. Sharp Dean of Norwich Preached before the House at St. Margarets Westminster and on Thursday the 31th of January the day appointed for Thanksgiving in the City of London and Ten miles round it for the success of his Highness the Prince of Orange in the miraculous Deliverance he brought this Kingdom c. Dr. Gilbert Burnet now Bishop of Salisbury according to the desire of the House Preached before them in the same Church there being a numerous Assembly who at the close of that Sermon expressed an extraordinary satisfaction the whole course of it being managed with much Learning and Prudence in every respect suitable to the occasion of the day and the Prayers appointed were read in the other Churches with the same acceptation And because the sixth of February was at hand to prevent the Thanksgiving formerly appointed to be held on that day an Order of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal bearing date the second of the same Month was made publick in these words Ordered by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal assembled at Westminster that the Day of Thanksgiving on the 6th of February Instant on which Day the late King James II. came to the Throne shall not be observed in this Kingdom Things being in this forwardness a great many Citizens of London and Westminster appeared in the Court of Requests with two Petitions one to the Lords and another to the Commons both to this Effect viz. That they most humbly desired that his most Illustrious Highness the Prince of Orange might be speedily setled in the Throne by whose Courage Conduct and Reputation the Nation and the Protestant Religion might be defended from Enemies abroad and at home That Ireland might be rescued from its deplorable Condition and finally the Kingdoms setled on a lasting foundation in Peace and Liberty These being received and many weighty Considerations urging it her Royal Highness's Coming over was hastened and being on her Departure for England the States General the States of Holland the Council of State the Courts of Justice and all other Colleges either in Body or by their Deputies made their Complements to her on the Occasion and the like was done by foreign Ministers and all other Persons of Quality and at her Leaving the Hague the Magistrates entreated that the Burghers might attend her in Arms but She excused it however the States of Holland appointed three of their Body to wait upon her Royal Highness to the place of her Embarquing sending Orders to the Sieur d' Allemonde and the Ships under his Command to joyn Admiral Herbert who from England attended her with a Squadron of Men of war and sundry Yatches for the better conveniency of Transportation and having a prosperous Gale on the 12th of February in the afternoon She safely arrived at White-Hall having been saluted by the Guns of the Forts Ships in the road and those of the Tower where the Royal Banner was displayed and by that Example the Ships likewise had put out their Flags and Streamers Great was the Joy upon the safe Landing of her Royal Highness as appeared by the repeated Acclamations of the People and other publick Demonstrations and that Night She received the Complements of the chief Persons of Quality And now the Two Houses thought it no longer necessary to delay Proclaiming the Prince and Princess King and Queen of England so that having at large declared the Reasons for the Abdication of James II. laying down therein the Illegalities in former Proceedings and Miscarriages in Government c. they came to a Resolve That William and Mary Prince and Princess of Orange should be Declared King and Queen of England France and Ireland with all the Dominions thereunto belonging to hold the Crown and Royal Dignity of the said Kingdoms Dominions to them during their Lives and the Life of the Survivor of them and that the sole and full Exercise of the Regal Power be only in and executed by the Prince in the Name of Himself and the Princess during their joynt Lives and after their Deceases the Crown and Royal Dignities of the Kingdoms and Dominions to be to the Heirs of the Body of the Princess and for default of such Issue to the Princess Ann of Denmark and the Heirs of her Body and for default of such Issue to the Heirs of the Body of the Prince of Orange And praying the Prince and Princess to accept this accordingly the following Oaths were appointed to be taken by such Persons of whom the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy might be required by Law and farther that the former Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy be Abrogated After which the Oaths were Enacted viz. I A. B. do sincerely Promise and Swear That I will be faithfull and bear true Allegiance to their Majesties King William and Queen Mary So help me God. I A. B. do Swear That I do from my Heart Abhor Detest and Abjure as Impious and Heretical this damnable Doctrine and Position that Princes Excommunicated or deprived by the Pope or any Authority of the See of Rome may be Deposed or
Murthered by their Subjects or any other whatsoever And I do declare That no Foreign Prince Person Prelate State or Potentate hath or ought to have any Jurisdiction Power Superiority Preeminence or Authority Ecclesiastical or Spiritual within this Realm So help me God. These and others too many to be here inserted being the Proceedings in order to the Proclaiming on the 13th of February the Two Houses went to acquaint the Prince and Princess of Orange in the Banqueting-House with what they had done and having received Their Consent thereto the Lords and Commons about Eleven of the Clock went down to White-Hall Gate where the Officers at Arms Serjeants at Arms Trumpets and other Persons concerned in the Solemnity being assembled by order of the Duke of Norfolk Earl Marshal of England St. Thomas St. George Knight Garter Principal King at Arms having received a Proclamation and the Officers at Arms being Ordered by the House of Lords forthwith to Proclaim it York Herauld after the Trumpets had thrice Sounded Proclaimed it at White-Hall Gate Garter Reading it to him by Periods in the Presence of the Lords and Commons and a great Concourse of People c. and at the end of the Proclamation the Palace and all the adjacent Places resounded with the Eccho of a general Joy and loud Satisfaction and from thence in Excellent Order they proceeded to Temple-Bar where as the Ceremony is in this Case according to Custome finding the Gates shut two of the Officers at Arms attended by a Serjeant at Arms and two Trumpets knocked and thereupon the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex being informed of the Occasion of their Coming Ordered them to be opened and the whole Proceeding entered except the Bailiff of Westminster and his Men who returned as being obliged not to pass the Bounds of their Liberty and here the Lord Mayor Recorder and Aldermen received them in their Formalities and a second Proclamation was made between the two Temple-Gates in the same manner and order and the Lord Mayor Sheriffs Aldermen c. falling into the Proceding they passed to Wood-street-end in Cheapside and there made a third Proclamation and a fourth before the Royal Exchange in Cornhill every time concluding with Shouts and Acclamations of the People who filled the Streets Balconies and Windows in great multitudes and to prevent any Disorder such an Excess of Joy might occasion four Regiments of the City Militia were in Arms to line the Way for the better conveniency of Passage The Pomp of the Solemnity being over and night coming on the Bells and Bonfires made a second Proclamation of the Peoples Satisfaction and the news by the Thundering of the Cannon was in a short time carried by taking the fire of the Guns from one Ship to another beyond the Island it self nor were their curious Fire-works and Devices wanting on this Occasion and the Solemnity was more especially concluded with Magnificent Entertainments at Court and soon after their Majesties with the like Demonstration of Joy were Proclaimed in all the Cities and Principal Burghs Towns of England and Dominion of Wales On the 15th of February His Majesty returned both Houses a very Gracious Answer to their Declaration wherein he expressed Himself highly satisfied with what they had done and was pleased to promised them the utmost of his Care and Protection for the preservation of their Religion Laws and Liberties and that He would be willing to concurr with them in any thing that should be for the Good of the Kingdom and to doe all that in him lay to advance the Glory and Welfare of the Nation About this time a Complaint was made that divers disorderly Persons notwithstanding a former Declaration strictly enjoyning the contrary continued to destroy the Deer Timber and Underwoods in divers Chases and Forrests Farther Notice was published Commanding all Mayors Sheriffs Justices of the Peace and others whom it might concern to seize or cause Persons found offending therein to be seized and proceeded against according to Law without expectation of Pardon if found guilty And farther considering that divers had attempted to escape to Tyrconnel in Ireland to aid him in oppressing the Protestants of that Kingdom Orders were taken for stopping the Ports of Chester Beaumaris and Holy-head and other Ports and Creeks on the Irish Sea and not to susser any Person or Persons whatsoever to go for Ireland unless those by whom a Pass was produced from his Majesty or one of his Principal Secretaries of State. The Recorder Sheriffs and Common Serjeant of London having been to wait on their Majesties by Order of the Lord Mayor and Common Council to beg leave from them to attend their Majesties to Congratulate their happy Accession to the Throne the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Commons went in a Body and had the favour of Waiting upon their Majesties in the Banqueting-House and were Graciously received being admitted to Kiss their Majesties Hands And now we received continual Relations of the Joy that was conceived throughout the whole Shires of England c. Upon the several Proclaimings of King William and Queen Mary Expressed by Ringing of Bells making of Bonfires and drinking their Healths On the 18th of February in the morning the King went from White-Hall in his Barge of State to the Parliament-Stairs where he was received by several of the great Officers and others the Yeomen of the Guards and Gentlemen Pentioners making a Lane from the Water-side to the Door going up into the Prince's Lodgings the Proceedings being in this manner First went the Officers at Arms then the Noble-men bearing white Staves and after them Serjeants at Arms the Garter King at Arms between two Gentlemen-Ushers immediately before the Sword of State which was born by the Duke of Somerset having on the Left hand the Duke of Norfolk Earl Marshal of England with his Marshal's Staff next went the Marquess of Winchester bearing the Cup of State then the King followed by an Officer of the Guards and other Persons of Quality the Gentlemen Pentioners closing the Rear and his Majesty being come into the Prince's Lodging was invested with his Sur-coat and Mantle of Crimson Velvet bordered with Gold-Lace and furred with Ermins as also with the Collar of the Order of the Garter and as soon as the Crown was placed upon His Head the Officers at Arms and the Serjeants at Arms entered the House of Lords and the Noblemen who preceded his Majesty having placed themselves on each side of the Throne and his Majesty whose Train was born up by Noble-mens Eldest Sons being-seated on the Throne the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod was commanded to summon up the Commons who being accordingly introduced into the House of Peers and their Speaker conducted to the Bar with the usual Formalities and the Lords being in their Robes His Majesty made a most Gracious speech in which he was pleased to let them know how sensible he was of their Kindness and how much he valued the
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 Privileges as by Law do or shall appertain to any of them King and Queen All this I promise to doe After this the King and Queen laying his and her hand upon the holy Gospel shall say King and Queen These things which I have here before promised I will perform and keep So help me God. Then the King and Queen shall kiss the book And this Oath by the same Act is to be administred to all the Kings and Queens that shall succeed to the Imperial Crown of this Realm at their respective Coronations by one of the Archbishops or Bishops and to be done in publick Thus every thing being in a readiness and the expected day arrived their Majesties being come from White-Hall to Westminster the Heralds began to put the Proceedings in order the Peers in the Lords House and the Peeresses in the painted Chamber so that about eleven in the morning their Majesties and the whole Proceeding were conducted into Westminster-Hall where at the upper end a Throne being erected their Majesties took their Seats under their Cloath of State on the inside the Table which done the Master of the Jewel-house presented to the Lord High Constable the Sword of State also the Sword Curtana and the two pointed Swords in their order who in the like order delivered them to the Lord Great Chamberlain and he having drawn them out of the Scaboards laid them on the Table before their Majesties as likewise the Spurs After which the Dean and Prebendaries of Westminster bring the Crowns and other Regalia presented them severally and then they were delivered to those Lords whose Office or Trust it was to bear them Then the Proceeding began from Westminster Hall to the Abbey where being entered and each seated or placed in order the Lord Bishop of London began with the Recognition which ending with a general Shout and universal Acclamation of Joy their Majesties offered and the Lords who carried the Regalia offered them at the Altar severally to be there disposed after which the Litany was sung by the Bishops of St. Asaph and Bangor which ended the Communion Service began the Epistle taken out of the 1 Pet. 2. ver 13 17. was read by the Bishop of Carlisle and the Gospel out of Mat. 22. 16 22. was read by the Bishop of St. Asaph after which followed the Nicene Creed and by this time the Bishop of Salisbury being in the Pulpit after repeating the Lords Prayers took his Text 2 Sam. 23.3 4. viz. The Lord God of Israel said the Rock of Israel spake to me he that ruleth over men must be just ruling in the fear of God and he shall be as the Light of the morning when the Sun riseth even a morning without Clouds as the tender Grass springing out of the Earth by clear shining after rain The Sermon which lasted half an hour being ended their Majesties took the new established Oath before mentioned and after Veni Creator was sung and the Holy Oil consecrated their Majesties were conducted to their Royal Chairs placed on the Theatre where the Honourable Members of the House of Commons who with their Speaker were seated in the north Cross might have a full prospect and there being disrobed of their Crimson Mantles their Majesties were solemnly annointed and presented with the Spurs and Sword which being offered up and redeemed by the Earl of Portland their Majesties were invested with the Imperial Robes and Orbs after that with the Rings and Sceptres and about four of the Clock the Crowns were placed on their heads by the Lord Bishop of London assisted by the Lord Bishop of Rochester upon which the Drums beat the Trumpets sounded the great Guns were fired yet were drowned in a manner by the loud shouts and joyfull Acclamations of the People and the Peers and Peeresses putting on their Coronets the holy Bible was presented to their Majesties and after the Benediction they vouchsafed to kiss the Bishops and then Te Deum was sung and they ascended the Throne the Archbishop and Bishops doing jointly Homage and kissed their Majesties left Cheeks and after them the Temporal Peers did the like whilest the Medals were cast about by the Treasurer of the Houshold inscribed on one side Ne totus absumatur and on the other Gulielmus Maria Rex Regina After this began the Communion their Majesties making their second Offering and having received the Holy Sacrament they went in State into St. Edward's Chapel where being divested of the Imperial Palls c. and robed in Purple Velvet returned to Westminster-Hall with their Crowns of State on their Heads the Peers and Peeresses wearing their Coronots where a very splendid Entertainment was furnished at sundry Tables and between the first and second course Charles Dymcke Esq their Majesties Champion came on Horseback completely armed between the Lord High Constable and Earl Marshal both on Horseback and made his Chalenge which was pronounced by York Herald in these words viz. If an Person of what degree soever high or low shall deny or gainsay our Sovereign Lord and Lady King William and Queen Mary King and Queen of England France and Ireland Defenders of the Faith to be rightfull King and Queen of this Realm of England or that they ought not to enjoy the Imperial Crown of the same Here is their Champion who saith he lyeth and is a false Traitor being ready in Person to combate with him and in this Quarrel will adventure his Life against him on what day soever be shall be appointed After which their Majesties Styles were proclaimed in Latin French and English and about eight in the evening they returned to White-Hall This caused great Rejoicing in Holland as well as England the States ordering it to be exprest by Bells Bonfires and Fireworks c. The Convention in Scotland declared their Majesties King and Queen in the following manner viz. After the Vote had passed the Estates assisted by the Ld. Provost Magistrates and Council of Edinburgh attended by Lyon King at Arms Heralds Pursuvants and Trumpets went to the Cross on foot proclaimed their Majesties ' King and Queen of Scotland and deputed some of the Estates to offer the Crown with an Instrument of Government for settling that Kingdom A Table of the chief Ministers of State and Officers of Trust newly made by the King and Queen of England The most Honourable Privy-Council HIS Royal Highness Prince George of Denmark Duke of Cumberland c. Lord A. B. Cant. Marquess of Caermarthen E. of Danby and L. President of the Council Marquess of Halifax L. Privy-Seal D. of Norfolk Earl-Marshal of England Duke of Bolton Marquess of Winchester E. of Lindsey L. Great Chamberlain of Engl. E. of Devonshire L. Steward of his Majesties Houshold E. of Dors Midds Ld. Chamberlain of his Majesties Houshold
Faith is to be kept with Hereticks as they call the Protestants for the same cruelty and inhumanity continued with as great Rage and Fury where there was any plunder to be had or people of Note dwelling In Picardy Normandy Le Berry Campaigne Orleance Neivernois Belessois and the Isles of France nay in Paris it self after the Edict was published the Procurator-General and some other Magistrates sent for the Heads of divers Families and declared to them That it was the King's positive Will that they should change their Religion and that if they would not comply they should be made to doe it and so proceeded by Letters under the Princes Seal to banish the Elders of the Consistory and such persons as they found or at least conceived inflexible One thing is remarkable viz. Monsieur Saignelay Secretary of State having sent for to his House under divers pretences about 100 Merchants and others he caused the Doors to be shut upon them and instead of the business they expected presented them with an Abjuration commanding them in the King's name to sign it declaring with a stern Countenance they should not stir out at the Door till they had done it The purport of it was this That they should not only abjure the Heresie of Calvin and enter into the Catholick Church but declare that they did it voluntarily or without being forced or compelled to it and although they many ways excused it yet being sharply reprimanded and terrified by his Threats not being fore-warned of such a danger and doubting the ill consequence that might attend it they at last not voluntarily but by constraint signed that Abjuration Nor by the power and influence of the Clergy did the Magistrates refrain to take away Children from their Parents to bring up in their superstitious way of idolatrous Worship frequently separating the Man and Wife where they could gain upon the one or the other to Apostatize Nor did they spare to doe this in Orange the sovereign Principality of his Highness the Prince where the French King by Right has no power but taking away the Ministers by force committed them to Prison the Dragoons as it has been already hinted doing there mischiefs much in likeness as in other Places as well to the people as to the Officers of his Highness to whom that Principality belongs And much in this nature the Calamity of the suffering Protestants continued in the Kingdom of France to the year 1685. Nor do they fail at this day to make good as much as in them lies what their Clergy threaten in their Pastoral Letters by making it their study to invent new manner of Torments the Magistrates being ever ready to assist them in the Execution I might go on with this melancholy Story to the swelling of a large Volume and add to it the Cruelty of the Savoyards against the Protestants in the Countries under that Duke whose Miseries equal if not exceed that I have mentioned as likewise in sundry other places and indeed in all places where the Papists have power but that the digression will seem too long and therefore I only give the Reader a taste of what has been served up in full Banquets of Cruelty and Revenge thereby to let those that are at this day un-informed know what they must expect if they come into the hands of such as account it meritorious to destroy Hereticks nor think it any Crime to break the most solemn Oaths and make void all Protestations and Engagements when they suppose it advantageous to their Interest or Church's Cause And note by the way that all of the Reformed Religion who have separated from the Traditions Errours and Idolatrous Worship of Rome pass with them for no other These Proceedings however turned at last to the disadvantage of the Persecutors for though for a time it enriched them yet the number of People that fled or were ruined occasioned the decay of Trade and Commerce so that those Revenues that supplied the French King's Coffers and enabled him to vex all Europe by a tedious War being exhausted notwithstanding he had taken Luxemburgh from the Spaniards he found himself in a low condition for money being the very sinews of War and his Subjects not forward to lend as appears by the Answer of the Bankers of Paris when he sent to them the last year for several Millions of Livres viz That they humbly begged his Excuse forasmuch that if they so far weakened the Bank they could not support their Credit in answering the Bills that should be drawn upon them He then I say found that when by such unjust means he depopulated his Kingdom he fought against himself but to return The Prince of Orange all this while highly disapproved his Proceedings and if in Arms he did not oppose them it was not for want of Will but rather that he on his part would keep the Peace inviolable and rather bear till a farther opportunity the affront and injury done him in the wrong his Subjects of the Principality of Orange had received than involve the States in a new War which might have been justly excused since the French were the Aggressors But to come yet nearer to the purpose Whilst his Highness was diverting and reposing himself from the Toils of War which now ceased by the conclusion and ratifying of the Treaty with France His Majesty of Great Britain King Charles II. after five or six days indisposition departed this Life at his Palace Royal of White-Hall on the 6th of February 1684. not only to the extraordinary Grief of his Subjects but of all Europe their Highnesses more especially bearing a superlative part in the sorrow the loss of that good King occasioned whose Funeral was privately solemnized on the 14th of February towards the Evening in King Henry the Seventh's Chapell where it was interred in Vault under the East-end of the South-Isle Service being ended and the Officers of his Houshold having broke their Staves the Royal Style was proclaimed by another of the Kings at Arms according to the Custome And thus set this great Monarch who had been so usefull and dear to the Interest of Christendom making way thereby for his Brother who was immediately proclaimed c. and accordingly was Crowned at Westminster on the twenty third of April following with much splendour and magnificence as is usual at the Royal Ceremonies of the Coronation of the Kings of Great Britain c. and had the Condolement and Congratulation the one for the Death of King Charles and the other for His Majesty's Accession to the Throne not only from the States-General but from most of the European Princes And now the States of Holland being in frequent Consults about the Affairs of that Republick between the Adjournments his Highness the Prince of Orange diverted himself in visiting the Towns and Fortifications and settling Military Affairs and the better to remove the Melancholy the Death of the King his Uncle had occasioned recreated