thence to Collingburn and so to Littlecot where he came on Saturday Decemb. 8. In the mean time the Lords Commissioners viz. the Marquess of Hallifax the Earl of Nottingham and the Lord Godolphin appointed by the King to treat with the Prince of Orange were come to Hungerford being the Place agreed on for that purpose by the Prince To whom a VVriting subscribed by their Lordships was delivered in these following VVords SIR The King has commanded us to acquaint you That he observeth all the Differences and Causes of Complaint alledged by your Highness seem to be Referred to a Free Parliament His Majesty as he has already declared was resolved before to Call one but thought that in the present State of Affairs it was Advisable to Defer it till Things were more composed Yet seeing that his People still continued to desire it he hath put forth his Proclamation in order to it and has issued forth his Writ for Calling of it And to prevent any Cause of Interruption in it he will consent to every Thing that can be reasonably required for the Security of all those that shall come to it His Majesty has therefore sent us to attend your Highness for the Adjusting of all Matters that shall be agreed to necessary for the Freedom of Elections and the Security of Sitting and is ready immediately to enter into a Treaty in order to it His Majesty proposeth that in the mean time the respective Armies may be Restrained within such Limits and at such Distance from London as may prevent the Apprehensions that the Parliament may in any Kind be Disturbed being desirous that the Meeting of it may be no longer Delay'd than it must be by the usual and necessary Forms In Answer to which these following Proposals were made by the Prince with the Advice of the Lords and Gentlemen Assembled with his Highness 1. That all Papists and such Persons as were not Qualified by Law should be Disarmed Disbanded and Removed from all Imployments Civil and Military 2. That all Proclamations which Reflected upon his Highness or any that was come over to him or had declared for him should be Recalled and if any Persons for so doing had been Committed they should be forthwith set at Liberty 3. That for the Security and Safety of the City of London the Custody and Government of the Tower be immediately put into the hands of the said City 4. That if his Majesty shall think to be at London during the Sitting of the Parliament his Highness might be there also with equal Number of Gards Or if his Majesty should rather chuse to be in any Place from London his Highness might be at a Place of the same Distance 5. That the Respective Armies should Remove 30 Miles from London and no more Foreign Forces should be brought into the Kingdom 6. That for the Security of the City of London and their Trade Tilbury-Fort be put into the hands of the said City 7. That to prevent the Landing of French or other Foreign Troops Portsmouth be put into such hands as by the King and Prince should be agreed upon 8. That some sufficient Part of the Publick Revenue be assigned his Highness for the Maintaining of his Forces till the Meeting of the Parliament The King upon the View of these Proposals Resolved upon a speedy Retreat into France The Prince of Wales so called was sent for before-hand to go thither along with the Queen who accordingly set out December 10. And the next Day early in the Morning the King attended by Sir Edward Hales went away from White-kall Incognito Before his Departure he sent Notice of it to the Earl of Feversham by a Letter framed in these Words MY LORD Things being come to that Extremity that I have been forced to send away the Queen and my Son the Prince of Wales that they might not fall into my Enemies hands which they must have done if they had staid I am obliged to do the same Thing and to indeavour to Secure my self the best I can in hopes it will please God out of his infinite Mercy to this unhappy Nation to touch their hearts again with true Loyalty and Honour If I could have relyed on all my Troops I might not have been put to the Extremity I am in and would at least have had one Blow for it But tho I know there are many loyal and brave Men amongst you both Officers and Souldiers yet you know that both your Self and several of the General Officers and others of the Army told me it was no ways advisable for me to venture my self at their Head or think to fight the Prince of Orange with them What remains is only for me to Thank you and all those both Officers and Souldiers who have stuck to Me and been truly Loyal not doubting in the least but that you will still retain the same Fidelity to Me. And tho I do not expect you should expose your selves by Resisting a Foreign Army and a Poisoned Nation yet I hope your former Principles are so inrooted in You that you will keep your selves free from Associations and such pernicious Things Time presses so that I can say no more J. R. The Earl of Feversham upon the Receipt of the Letter immediately dispatched a Messenger to the Prince to let him know That having received a Letter from the King with the Vnfortunate News of his Going out of England and his Majestics Order as he expresses it to make no Opposition against any body he thought himself obliged to acquaint his Highness with it as soon as it was possible to prevent Effusion of Blood To which purpose he had given the last Order to all the Troops that were under his Command Before the King's Departure several Papists foreseeing the Revolution had withdrawn themselves beyond Sea Now the Priests and Jesuites who expected no Quarter began to shift for themselves and run some one Way some another Those among the Protestants who were the most Obnoxious and had so basely comply'd with the Times were also put to their Shifts Some of both sorts were Apprehended but most made their Escape or lay Undiscovered The Lord Chancellor Jeffreys a Mezzo-tinto Protestant as forward as any Papist to Comply with King James's Designs was taken in a Disguise at Wapping Dec. 12. and committed to the Tower where he pined away and died some time after The Earl of Peterborough being secured in Kent as he was making his Escape was also sent to the Tower In the mean time the Disbanded Army dispersed it self up and down the City and Country in an unusual and unwarrantable manner to the great Disturbance of the Publick Peace and Quiet The Mobile on the other side taking an Advantage of this State of Anarchy fell to work by burning pulling down and otherwise defacing several Houses and publick Buildings of the Roman Catholicks rifling and plundering the same And without any Regard to the Character of Embassadours
you to defend the Laws Liberties and the Protestant Religion and to procure a Settlement in Church and State in concurrence with the Lords and Gentlemen in the North and pursuant to the Declaration of the Prince of Orange And so God Save the King In short the Genius of the whole Nation if you except the Papists and some false Protestants did run that Way and there was no stopping of so strong a Current Which his Highness the Prince of Orange was no sooner satisfied in but he marched from Exeter forward with his Army the Fort of Plimouth being already Surrendred to his Highness by the Earl of Bath At Exeter he only left a new raised Regiment to keep the City under the Command of Sir John Guyes then made Governour thereof The Army marching in three Lines and the Prince in the second Line his Highness marched out from Exoter Nov. 22. and came to Crook-horn on Saturday 24. Then the Gentlemen of the West came in apace and joined him almost at every Stage From Crook horn where he staid the 25th he came the next Day to Sherborn and lodged at the Castle where the Duke of Grafton and the Lord Churchill amongst others joyned him from the King's Army Whereupon the Lord Churchill who lay under particular Obligations to the King wrote a Letter to his Majesty in these following Terms SIR The Lord Churchills Letter to the King Since Men are seldom suspected of Sincerity when they act contrary to their Interests and though my dutiful Behaviour to Your Majesty in the worst of Times for which I acknowledge my poor Services much Over-paid may not be sufficient to Incline You to a charitable Interpretation of my Actions Yet I hope the great Advantage I injoy under Your Majesty which I can never expect in any other Change of Government may reasonably convince your Majesty and the World that I am acted by a higher Principle when I offer that Violence to my Inclination and Interest as to desert Your Majesty at a time when Your Affairs seem to challenge the strictest Obedience from all your Subjects much more from One who lyes under the greatest personal Obligations imaginable to Your Majesty This SIR could proceed from nothing but the Inviolable Dictates of my Conscience and a necessary Concern for my Religion which no good Man can oppose and with which I am instructed nothing ought to come in Competition Heaven knows with what partiality my dutiful Opinion of Your Majesty has hitherto represented those Vnhappy Designs which inconsiderate and self-interested Men have framed against your Majesties true Interest and the Protestant Religion But as I can no longer Joyn with such to give a pretence by Conquest to bring them to effect so will I always with the hazard of my Life and Fortune so much your Majesties Due indeavour to preserve Your Royal Person and Lawful Rights with all the tender concern and dutiful Respect that becomes SIR Your Majesties most Dutiful and most Obliged Subject and Servant CHURCHILL By this Desertion the King grew more and more sensible how little he was to depend upon an Army which daily mouldred away Not for want of natural Affection to his Majesty but only to bring him off from his evil Counsellors and into a necessity of Complying with the general Desire of the Nation to have all Things Rectified by a Free and Legal Parliament Before the King left Salisbury there hapned such a sudden Gust of Wind as hurried down the Crown which had stood many Years upon the top of a Spire of the Cathedral This was lookt upon as an ill Omen to the King And so was his Majesties violent Bleeding at the Nose that could not be stopt for a long time any manner of way The Vangards of both Armies being now near each other a Party of the Prince's appeared not far from Salisbury Upon which King James and his Army thinking the Prince's whole Force were coming upon them took the Alarm so that his Majesty in the midst of his Bleeding ordered his Coach forthwith to be made ready and drive away to Windsor Upon whose Departure his Forces in great haste and disorder marched some one way some another The King being come to Andover which was his first Stage homeward his Royal Highness Prince George of Denmark accompanied by his Grace the Duke of Ormond and the Lord Drumlangrig withdrew from his Majesty in the Night in order to joyn the Prince of Orange at Sherborn which they did the 29th From whence Prince George sent a most tender Letter to the King in these following Terms SIR Prince George his Letter to the King With a Heart full of Grief I am forced to write what Prudence would not permit me to say to your Face And way I ever find Credit with your Majesty and Protection from Heaven as what I now do it free from Passion Vanity or Design I am not ignorant of the frequent Mischiefs wrought in the World by factious Pretences of Religion but were not Religion the most Justifiable Cause it would not be made the most specious Pretence And Your Majesty has always shews too Vninterested a Sense of Religion to doubt the just Effects of it in One whose Practices have I hope never given the World cause to censure his real Conviction of it or his Backwardness to perform what his Honour and Conscience prompt him to I can therefore no longer disguise my just Concern for that Religion in which I have been so happily Educated which my Judgment throughly convinces me to be best and for the Support of which I am so highly interested both in my Native Country and in this your Kingdom Whilst the restless Spirits of the Enemies of the Reformed Religion backed by the cruel Zeal and the prevailing Power of France justly alarm and unite all the Protestant Princes of Christendom and ingage them in so vast an Expence for the Support of it can I act so degenerous and mean a part as to deny my Concurrence to such worthy Indeavours to disabuse Your Majesty by the Reinforcement of those Laws and Establishing of that Government on which alone depends the Well-being of your Majesty and of the Protestant Religion in Europe This SIR is that irresistible and only Cause that could come in Competition with my Duty and Obligations to your Majesty and be able to tear me from You whilst the same affectionate Desire of Serving you continues in me Could I secure your Person by the hazard of my Life I should think it could not be better imploy'd And would to God these your distracted Kingdoms might yet receive that satisfactory Compliance from your Majesty in all their Justifiable Pretensions as might upon the only sure Foundation that of the Love and Interest of your Subjects establish your Government and at strongly Vnite the Hearts of all your Subjects to You as is that of SIR Your Majesties most Humble and most Obedient Son and Servant This
they pulled down and plundered the Spanish Embassadors House whose Damages were afterwards abundantly made up by the Government Thus King James lest his Party to the Mercy of the Rabble whose unaccountable Outrages and Violences could not be prevented in that critical Time Yet their Rage fell much short of what the Papists expected considering their former Provocations for I could not hear of any Hurt they did to their Persons Whereas the major Part of them expected nothing less than Death and Destruction as it had been our Fate had our Case been their own Which piece of Moderation from a loose provoked and mighty Rabble without the Restraint of any Government is not to be parallel'd in History As for the false Alarm which hapned upon it of the desperate Irish Forces Burning and Plundering and putting to the Sword all they met in their Way as Improbable as the Thing was in it self yet it got such Credit all over the Kingdom that the whole Nation was in a ferment upon it and all the Militia in Arms to oppose the pretended Fury of a sort of Men which the Sound of a Horn had newly put to Flight at Reading and that of an old Barrel at Maidenhead But however the Alarm was given it was not without some Design and whatever was in the Top one might easily guess that Policy was in the Bottom For to imagine that four or five thousand Irish should all of a sudden be grown so Desperate as to think to Post away this Nation with Fire and Sword when the very sight of a less Number of resolute Men might have made them shew their Heels was a Thing fitter to laugh at than to be concerned for One Thing is Observable in the King's Desertion viz. the Great Seals being cast into the Thames as it was found out afterwards Which lookt like a wilful Desertion of the Government and an intire Abdication thereof At least he seemed thereby to imply that in case he should Return he was resolved not to Rule by Law of which the Great Seal seems always to carry some Prints King James being thus gone not able to bear the brunt of a Parliament and the Writs prepared for it being stopt made his Way by Water for France with all speed till he hapned to be stopt at Feversham in Kent as we shall see afterwards Upon the News of his being Gone there was a Meeting that very Day at Guild-hall of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in and about the Cities of London and Westminster to the Number of nine and twenty who agreed upon and signed a Declaration In which having first expressed their Zealous Concern for the Nation in this dangerous Conjuncture upon the King 's having Withdrawn himself in order to his Departure out of this Kingdom they Unanimously Declared their Resolution to apply themselves to His Highness the Prince of Orange and to Assist him with their utmost Indeavours in the speedy Obtaining of a Parliament whereby our Laws Liberties and Properties might be Secured the Church of England in particular with a due Liberty to Protestant Dissenters and in general the Protestant Religion and Interest over the whole World might be Supported and Incouraged They further Declared That in the mean time they would Indeavour to Preserve to the utmost of their Power the Peace and Security of London and Westminster and the Parts adjacent And if any Thing more could be performed by Them for promoting His Highnesses generous Intentions for the Publick Good that they would be ready to do it as Occasion should require With which Declaration four of their Body Viz. the Earl of Pembroke the Lord Viscount Weymouth the Bishop of Ely and the Lord Culpeper were desired to attend His Highness Which they did accordingly The same day two Addresses were Agreed upon one from the Lord Mayor Aldermen and the Commons of the City of London in the Common Council Assembled and another from the Lieutenancy of London which were both presented to his Highness at Henly in Oxfordshire Dec. 13. with the Lords Declaration Which Addresses in short contained Their humble Acknowledgment of His Highnesses fervent Zeal for the Protestant Religion and of his Vnparalled Generosity in Exposing his Person to so many Dangers both by Sea and Land to Rescue these Nations from Slavery and Popery With a Declaration that they presumed to make his Highness their Refuge and therefore begged his Protection And at last humbly beseeching his Highness to Repair with all convenient Speed to the Capital City for the perfecting the great Work He had so happily begun The Prince having now a certain Account of the King 's being gone away did put out a Declaration Requiring all colonels and Commanders in Chief of the Regiments Troops and Companies of the Royal Army that had Dispersed themselves to call together by Beat of Drum or otherwise the several Officers and Souldiers belonging to their respective Regiments Troops and Companies in such Places as they should find most convenient for their Rendez-vous and there to keep them in good Order and Discipline And all such Officers and Souldiers forthwith to Repair to such Places as should be appointed for that purpose by their respective Colonels and Commanders in Chief whereof His Highness required speedy Notice to be given unto Him for his further Orders The King in the mean time who was supposed to be near the Coast of France was unluckily stopt in a Smack nigh Feversham by some sturdy Fellows then Jesuite-hunting and was Secured for One till he came to be Known Then he was prevailed upon to Return to White-hall which he did on the 16th Where being Informed of divers Outrages and Disorders that had been committed in his Absence He was pleased that very Night in Council to give Orders for the preventing all such Outrages and Disorders for the future Which proved the last Publick Act of his Regal Power His Highness the Prince of Orange was now come to Windsor where he arived on Friday Dec. 14. From whence he had sent the Sieur de Zulestein to the King who likewise sent the Earl of Feversham to his Highness to Invite him to S. James's But his Lordship was secured in the Castle by the Prince's Order for his late Irregular Disbanding of the King's Forces Decemb. 17. In the Night the King's Gards were changed by the Prince's then arrived at S. James's Park Which Proceeding the Jacobites do exclaim against as a great piece of Iniquity and look upon as unaccountable But as the Case stood the Thing was unavoidable and as I am apt to think the King's Invitation was none of the more Cordial so I presume this Proceeding of the Prince was not free from Reluctancy Upon the King's Going off the Lords Assembled at Guild hall and the City had put themselves under the Prince's Protection as being left in a State of Anarchy and his Highness had now the Command of the King's Forces so that it was in his
power to order them as he thought most sutable to the present Juncture Therefore it did not any way consist with his Honour to suffer this part of the said Forces to act independently from him in so critical aâ— Time which might have occasioned a general Disturbance and Breach of the Peace the Keeping whereof was the principal Care of his Highness Who clapt his Gards upon the King not out of any Design upon his Person but rather to Secure him from any Attempts of a rude and incensed Rabble I would fain know what Harm befell him from this Change It appears on the contrary by what follows that notwithstanding these Dutch Gards the King might dispose of himself as he pleased 'T is for this the Lord without Doors clamoured and kept a heavy Splutter in his Speech to the House of Lords Wherein under pretence that the King was not gone out of his Territories and that he might be where he would in his own Kingdom he concludes there was no Desertion in the Case But this is perfect Shuffling 'T is well known that if he had staid a Parliament must be had and that he dreaded nothing more than a Parliament that would rake up old Sores and find out who made them 'T is well known that his Heart panted after the Queen and that he had no Business at Feversham The Time and Manner of his Setting out are a plain Demonstration that he was quitting a Kingdom which was now grown Uneasy to him and his Casting the Great Seal into the Thames adds much to the Argument Had he but weathered the Point and got clear off out of the River 't is ten to one that he had not been put to the trouble of a second Flight In order to which seeing now his Case desperate and the Prince at his Heels he went about Noon from White-hall Dec. 18. to Sir Richard Head's nigh Rochester still steering his Course towards France That very Day his Highness parted from Windsor dined at Sion-House and came in the Evening to S. James's Where he received the Compliments of all the Nobility and other Persons of the chiefest Quality in Town And at Night the Streets were filled with Bonesires with Ringing of Bells and other Publick Demonstrations of Joy The next Day Decemb. 19. Their Royal Highnesses Prince George and the Princess Ann of Denmark returned from Oxford to the Cock-pit where They were presently after Visited by his Highness the Prince of Orange Who that Afternoon went also to Visit the Queen Dowager at Somerset-House Decemb. 20. The Lord Mayor Sir John Chapman being indisposed the Aldermen and their Deputies with some of the Common Council of each Ward by Order of the Common Council Waited on the Prince of Orange to Congratulate his Highness on his happy Arrival at S. James's Which was performed by Sir George Treby the Recorder in an Eloquent Speech and very favourably received by his Highness The Speech was thus May it please Your Highness Sir George Treby his Speech from the City to the Prince of Orange The Lord Mayor being Disabled by Sickness Your Highness is attended by the Aldermen and Commons of the Capital City of this Kingdom deputed to congratulate Your Highness upon this great and glorious Occasion In which We cannot but come short in Expression Reviewing our late Danger we remember our Church and State over-run by Popery and Arbitrary Power and even brought to the Point of Destruction by the Conduct of some Men our true Invaders who brake the Sacred Fences of our Laws and which was worst the very Constitution of our Legislature So that there was no Remedy left but the last The only Person under Heaven that could apply this Remedy was Your Highness You are of a Nation whose Alliance in all Times has been agreeable and prosperous to us You are of a Family most Illustrious Benefactors to Mankind To have the Title of Soveraign Prince and Stadtholder and to have worn the Imperial Crown are among their lesser Dignities They have long injoyed a Dignity singular and transcendent viz. To be Champions of Almighty God sent forth in several Ages to Vindicate his Cause against the greatest Opressions To this Divine Commission our Nobles our Gentry and among them our brave English Souldiers rendred themselves and their Arms upon your Appearing GREAT SIR when we look back to the last Month and contemplate the Swiftness and Fulness of our present Deliverance astonished we think it Miraculous Your Highness led by the Hand of Heaven and called by the Voice of the People has preserved our greatest Interests The Protestant Religion which is Primitive Christianity restored Our Laws which are our ancient Title to our Lives Liberties and Estates and without which this World were a Wildâ—rness But what Reâ—ribution can we make to Your Highness Our Thoughts are full charged with Gratitude Your Highness has a lasting Monument in the Hearts in the Prayers in the Praises of all good Men amongst us And late Posterity will celebrate your ever glorious Name till Time shall be no more Decemb. 1. The Prince of Orange published an Order for Returning into the Publick Store the Arms of divers Souldiers that were lost or imbezelled since the Disbanding of the Royal Army At the same time he appointed Quarters for the English Scotch and Irish Forces to which all Officers and Souldiers belonging thereto were ordered forthwith to Repair Decemb. 23. Was the Day when the King notwithstanding his Dutch Gards about him made shift to give them the slip So that he got safe into France where the Queen was arrived before with the supposed Prince of Wales Thus he left us again in an unsetled Condition But Care was taken to secure the Peace In this Condition had the Prince of Orange had any Design to take the Government upon him this was the Time He was now come to the Capital City of the Kingdom through a perpetual Croud of Applauses and Benedictions and had the Hearts of all true English Protestants Being a Prince of the Royal Blood that stood so near to the Immediate Succession and having besides a good Army with him he had nothing to do but what he might easily have done that is to make a Party to support his Interest and withstand all Opposition The Law it self could have afforded him a Claim it being an undoubted Maxim among Lawyers That the Success of a Just War gives a Lawful Title to that which is acquired in the Progress of it And as the Learned Bishop of Salisbury says in his Pastoral Letter if at Common Law an Heir in Remainder has just Cause to Sue him that is in Possession if he makes Wasts on the Inheritance which is his in Reversion much more ought the Heir of the Crown to Interpose when he sees him that is in Possession hurried on blind-fold to subject an Independent Kingdom to a Foreign Jurisdiction and thereby to Rob it of it's Glory and Security
upon the account of their Religion even Papists themselves not excepted so that there might be no more Danger of the Nations falling at any time hereafter under Arbitrary Government He further Declares That to this Parliament he would Refer the Inquiry into the Birth of the pretended Prince of Wales and of all Things relating to it or to the Right of Succession And for the Executing of this his just Design He Invites and Requires all Persons whatsoever all the Peers of the Realm both Spiritual and Temporal all Lords Lieutenants Deputy-Lieutenants and all Gentlemen Citizens and other Commons of all Ranks to Come and Assist Him against all such as should indeavour to Oppose Him Whereby all those Miseries might be prevented which must needs follow upon the Nations being kept under Arbitrary Government and Slavery and all the Violences and Disorders which had Overturned the whole Constitution of the English Government might be fully Redressed in a Free and Legal Parliament Then He concludes to this purpose That he would take Care as soon as the Nations were brought to a State of Quiet that a Parliament should be called in Scotland for Restoring the ancient Constitution of that Kingdom and for bringing the Matters of Religion to such a Settlement that the People might live easy and happy and for putting an end to all the Vnjust Violences that had been committed there in a course of so many Years And as for Ireland That he would study to bring that Kingdom to such a State that the Settlement there might be religiously observed and that the Protestant and British Interest there might be secured Finally That He would Indeavour by all possible Means to procure such an Establishment iâ— all the Three Kingdoms that they might all live in a happy Union and Correspondency together and that the Protestant Religion the Peace Honour and Happiness of these Nations might be established upon lasting Foundations This Declaration being Given under His Highnesses Hand and Seal at his Court in the Hague Oct. 10. New-style 1688. was accordingly thus signed William Henry Prince of Orange and by by His Highnesses Command C. Huygens The King having had Notice of the Prince's Design but a Month before his Highness set out from Holland hurried away from Windsor where the Court then was to White-hall and from thence to Chatham to get as much of his Fleet in readiness as could be done in so short a Warning He came to White-hall Sept. 18. and the next Day he went down the River to Chatham the Queen and the Prince of Wales with the whole Couâ—t returning in a great hurry the Day after His Majesty had sometime before signified his Pleasure to Call a Parliament to meet in November next and Writs of Summons were issued out accordingly Upon this Intelligence He did put out a plausible Declaration dated Sept. 21st wherein He declared His Royal Purpose to Indeavour at the next Sessions a Legal Establishment of an Vniversal Liberty of Conscience for all his Subjects together with his Resolution Inviolably to Preserve the Church of England as by Law Established excepting the Penal Clauses And to remove all Fears and Apprehensions that the Legistative Power would be Ingrossed by the Roman Catholicks and turned against Protestants He declared his Willingness that they should remain Incapable to be Members of the House of Commons As for the Election of Members of Parliament His Majesty by this His Declaration gave strict Orders that all Things relating thereto should be done according to Law Immediately after the publishing of the said Declaration the King was pleased to Authorize and Impower the Lords Lieutenants of the several Counties to Grant Deputations to such Gentlemen as had been lately Removed from being Deputy-Lieutenants And His Majesty gave also Directions to the Lord Chancellor to put into the Commission of the Peace such Gentlement as had been laid aside and should be recommended by the said Lords Lieutenants And upon the Attendance of several of the Bishops on the King His Majesty was pleased amongst other Gracious Expressions to let them know That he would signify his Pleasure for taking off the Suspension of the Lord Bishop of London Which was done accordingly Then came out his Proclamation under the Date of Sept. 28th Wherein He first informs his People of a great and sudden Invasion from Holland to be speedily made in a Hostile Manner upon this his Kingdom And then solemnly Conjures all his Subjects heartily to Vnite together in the Defence of Him and their Native Country as the only Way under God to defeat and frustrate the Principal Hope and Design of his and their Enemies But whereas he did intend to have met his Parliament in November next He found it necessary in regard of this strange and unreasonable Attempt from our Neighbouring Country without any manner of Provocation to recall the Writs issued forth with Orders to surcease all further Proceedings thereon Then He proceeds to give the necessary Charge to all Lords Lieutenants and Deputy Lieutenants to use their best and utmost Indeavours to Resist Rebel and Suppress his Enemies who came with such Confidence and great Preparations to Invade and Conquer these his Kingdoms And lastly does most expresly and strictly Injoin and Prohibit all his Subjects from giving any manner of Aid Assistance Countenance or Succour or from holding any Correspondence with these his Enemies or any of their Complices upon Pain of High Treason and being proceeded against with the utmost Severity Within four Days after came out His Majesties most Gracious and General Pardon but with such Intricate Clauses as resolved the Pardon into little or nothing The King upon this having received several Complaints of great Abuses and Irregularities committed in the late Regulaâ—ion of the Corporations Authorized and Required the Lords Lieutenants of the several Counties to Inform themselves of all such Abuses and Irregularities within their Lieutenancies and to make forthwith Report thereof to His Majesty together with what they conceived fit to be done for Redressing the same Whereupon His Majesty would give such farther Orders as should be requisite The next Thing was His Majesties Appointing the Lord Bishop of Winchester as Visior of St. Mary Magdalen in Oxford to Settle that Society Regularly and Statutably Then a Proclamation for Restoring Corporations to their Ancient Charters Liberties Rights and Franchises Followed by an Order from the King and Council under His Majesties Signet and Sign-Manual to Remove Displace and Discharge all manner of Officers and Magistrates of Cities Boroughs and Towns Corporate which had or claimed such Offices or Places by Charter Patent or Grant from the late King or from Him since the Year 1679. Except such Cities and Towns whose Deeds of Surrender were Inrolled or against whom Judgments in Quo Warranto were entred And Oct. 2d the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Sheriffs with several other Eminent Citizens of London attending the King His Majesty was pleased to tell
Night came upon them all the Ships set out their Lights which made a most glorious Shew upon the Sea the Princes Ship having three Lanthorns the other Men of War two each and each other Ship one All which at a distance appeared like so many Stars moving upon the Water The Wind and VVeather continuing Fair on Saturday Nov. 3. about Noon the Fleet got into the Channel sailing VVestward with all their Colours set out and stretched in a Line betwixt Calais and Dover so that it reached within a League of each Place His Highness led the Van attended by three Men of War one at a distance before his Ship and one on each side The Tenders as Pinks Flyboats and other Vessels of this Kind sailed next with their Decks throng'd with Officers and Souldiers the Flanks and Rear being guarded by the Men of VVar but especially the Rear as being most in danger to be followed by the English Fleet. In this great Splendour and Order the whole Fleet sailed with a Kind of Bravado betwixt England and France Drums beating Colours flying the Trumpets sounding and the Hoboys playing for the space of three hours Great was the Concourse of Spectators on both Shores at 20 miles distance from each other to see this glorious Sight worthy of the greatest Monarch to behold The Men of VVar that sailed nearest to Dover gave the Town and Castle some Guns and those that went on the other side did the same by Calais The English Fleet consisting of about 34 Sail under the Command of the Lord Dartmouth lay then in the Buoy of the Nore but did not think fit to stir with a Number so much inferiour and a parcel of Seamen who were Known to be VVell wishers to the Prince The next Day Nov. 4. being the Lord's Day and the Day of the Prince's happy Birth and Marriage the Fleet being now come as far as the Isle of VVight observed the Duty of the Day and did not Sail but all were driven of the VVaves till about four in the Afternoon VVhen the VVind being still favourable and blowing very fresh every Ship made all the Sail she could bear Torbay in Devonshire was the Place intended for Landing But the next Morning Monday Nov. 5 proving very Hazy and Foggy and full of Rain the Fleet hapned to Sail beyond it About Nine of the Clock it cleared up and as Providence was pleased to order it the VVind then choped about and turned VVest South VVest a moderate Gale Which brought them back to Torbay and having executed it's Commission was immediately in another Corner Then by the Princes Order the Standard was put up the White Flag uppermost signifying his Offer of Peace to all that would live Peaceably and under that the Red or Bloody Flag denouncing War to all such as should offer to oppose his just Designs Of all this great Fleet three Tenders only were intercepted by our Men of War One of them a Fly-boat having on Board four Companies of Foot of Colonel Babington's Regiment commanded by Major Collambine This was taken by Captain Aylmer Commander of the Swallow Frigat The other two being a small Pink and a Fishing Boat with 24 Horse separated from the Fleet were taken below Hole Haven by Captain Hastings Commander of the Woolwich Thus the Fleet landed at Torbay on the fifth of November A memorable Day for the Gun-Powder Treason which seems to have been marked out by Providence that Englands Deliverance in the Reign of James II. might begin the same Day that it was designed for Ruin and Destruction in the Reign of King James I. The Year also is memorable this Deliverance falling out in 88. just a hundred Years after England was delivered from the Spanish Invasion in Queen Elizabeth's Reign when it pleased God to confound and disperse that formidable Armada which for its Greatness was in vain called Invincible The Prince of Orange being come into the Bay with the major part of the Floet Boats were ordered to carry his Highness to Shore with his Gards and the Noblemen that were about his Person Who being Landed marched up the Hill some before the Prince and some after Then the Guns fired from the Fleet with the Beat of the Drums the Sound of Trumpets the Musick of Hoboys and the joyful Huzza's of the Fleet and Army the Ships with all their Colours out and the Colours of the Land-Forces that went out with the Prince flying and flourishing before his Highness And whilst he was viewing the Ground on the Top of the Hill in order to Inâ—ampâ—hâ—s Army all hands in the Fleet were at work to carry the Men and Horses with their Necessaries to Shore So that the whole Army was Landed the next Day being Tuesday by three a Clock in the Afternoon the Horse being Landed first and then the Foot But their Cannon and Carriages c. were sent about for Topsham and from thence brought up by Water to Exeter At the upper end of the Bay was a Fair House belonging to one Mr. Carey a Papist who entertained a Priest in his House This Priest having discovered the Fleet from the Leads of the House with the White Flags on some of the Men of War concluded it to be the French Fleet come to Assist King James against the Prince of Orange Transported with Joy at the Conceit of it he without any more ado ordered all the Family to the Chappel to sing Te Deum for the Arrival of the French But he was soon undeceived and thererupon laughed at for his Religious Mistake This House the Prince of Orange upon his Landing commanded to be Searched for Arms and Horses Some Horses and a few Arms were found and brought from thence but without giving any further Disturbance to the House where both the Searchers and the Searched entertained one another with mutual Civility Near the Sea-side were some Thatched Houses belonging to Fishermen one of whom had the honour to Entertain the Prince at his House till the Wednesday following Which Day the Prince rode from this Place to Sir William Courtney's within a mile of Newton-Abbot the first Market-Town the first Line of the Army being about Newton and the last upon their March thither Here a Divine going before the Army went to the Cross or Town-Hall on the Market-day where he read aloud to the People the Prince's Declaration Which ended with their joyful Acclamations and kind Wishes to the Prince followed soon after by Ringing of Bells and Drinking of the Prince's Health And as his Highness was most kindly received and entertained at Sir VVilliam Courtney's so were the Souldiers generally well treated by the Vulgar Here began the Proviâ—ions to abound which hitherto had been very scarce and as they were honestly paid for so the Army was quickly supplyed with what the Coâ—ntry could afford On Thursday Nov. 8th the Lord Mordant now Earl of Monmouth came to Exeter with three or four Troops of Horse and Dr. Burnet
with him But when they came to one of the Gates it was shut against them Upon which the Lord Mordant commanded the Porter on pain of Death to open the Gate Which being open his Lordship commanded him on the same Pain not to shut it again My Lord and the Doctor went to the Mayor to Know if he would meet the Prince at the Gate and govern the City under Him VVhich he excused telling him he was under the Obligation of an Oath to His Majesty and therefore desired the Prince would lay no Commands on him contrary to his Conscience Thus after some Debate of the Matter they parted whilst the Forces kept coming to Town The next Day being Friday Nov. 9th the Prince came into Exeter attended besides his Gards with a brave Train of Nobles Knights and Gentlemen Upon the Road he met with Multitudes of People who welcomed His Highness with their Shouts and Huzza's The same was done at Exeter where the Streets were thronged on each side the Windows beautified and full of joyful Spectators Being come to the Dean's House where He kept his Court He took some Refreshment and then was pleas'd to go and render Thanks to God in the Cathedral Church for his â—â—se Arrival VVhere being sat in the Bishops Seat then Absent the Quire began and Sung Te Deum and after the Collects were ended Dr. Burnet Read the Prince's Declaration Dr. Lamplugh then Bishop of this Diocess was fled to London upon the Prince's Landing at Torbay VVhere having waited upon the King at White-Hall His Majesty was pleased to reward this piece of his Loyalty by Translating him to the Archbishoprick of York which had been a long time Vacant The main Body of the Army marched in the mean time the Horse to the Neighbouring Parishes and the Foot to Clist-Heath where they Incamped Both Horse and Foot look'd very much Disabled and Weather beaten what with the Sea and what with their March hither through bad Ways and in Rainy Weather Their Hâ—râ—â—s were for the most part to Weak that they could scarce stâ—â—d upon their Legs So that if the K ng's Forces had been read at hanâ— it might have gone very hard in case o a Fight with he Prince's Army But it pleased God so to order it that while the King expected the Prince in the North the Prince gave him the Goâ—by and took his Course a grâ—at way to the West that being upon his Landing at a good distance from His Majesties Forces He might have time to Refresh His own before they could come to Action The Prince therefore thought fit to stay a while at Exeter but this was not the only Reason Not a Person of Quality and Interest in those Parts besides Sir William Courtney had joyned Him hitherto which His Highness did much wonder at Only on the Monday Nov. 12 one Captain Burrington came and offered him his Service who was accordingly very kindly received by His Highness But two Days after several noted Gentlemen of Dorset-Shire and Somersetshire came in to Joyn the Prince and waited on His Highness Thursday Nov. 15 To whom He spoke after this manner Gentlemen The Princes Speech to the Gentry that came to Joyn him at Exeter Tho' We know not all your Persons yet We have a Catalogue of your Names and remember the Character of your Worth and Interest in your Country You see We are come according to your Invitation and our Promise Our Duty to God obliges Vs to Protect the Protestant Religion and Our Love to Mankind your Liberties and Properties We expected you that dwell so near the Place of our Landing would have Joyned us sooner Not that it is now too late nor that we want your Military Assistance so much as your Countenance and Presence to justify our declared Pretensions in order to accomplish our good and gracious Design Tho' We have brought both a good Fleet and a good Army to render these Kingdoms happy by Rescuing all Protestants from Popery Slavery and Arbitrary Power by Restoring them to their Rights and Properties established by Law and by Promoting of Peace and Trade which is the Soul of Government and the Life of the Nation yet we rely more on the goodness of God and the Justice of our Cause than on any humane Force and Power whatever But since God is pleased that we should make use of humane Means and not expect Miracles for our Preservation and Happiness let us not neglect making use of this gracious Opportunity but with Prudence and Courage put in execution our so honourable Purposes Therefore Gentlement Friends and Fellow Protestants We bid you and all your Followers most Heartily Welcome to our Court and Camp Let the whole World now Judge if our Pretensions are not Just Generous Sincere and above Price since We might have even a Bridge of Gold to Return back But it is our Principle and Resolution rather to die in a good Cause than live in a bad one Virtue and true Honour being its own Reward and the Happiness of Mankind our great and only Design Both the Clergy and Gentry of this County were uneasy for fear that King James should prevail and therefore backward to declare for the Prince But the People were forward enough For when the Drums beat for Volunteers they came in apace from all Parts of the County insomuch that many Captains pickt and chose their Souldiers Thousands did list themselves to whom Arms were Given and many more would have done the same who were dismissed upon Mareschal Schombergs Advice that there was no need of them Thus the Citizens Fears of King James's Forces lessening every day they began to talk now more freely and to be more and more inclined towards the Prince The Mayor himself and Aldermen much taken up with their Consultations upon the present Juncture came at last to visit his Highness The Lord Lovelace coming through Cirencester in Glocestershire to joyn the Prince at Exeter with near 70 Horse very well appointed had the Misfortune to be stopt at that Town and seized with thirteen of his Party by the Officers of the Militia Who met however with so sharp a Resistance that several of them were killed and others wounded Amongst the first were Lorege Major of the Regiment and his Son Captain Lee a Deputy Lieutenant of the County and Williams a Lieutenant About the same time viz. on Monday Nov. 12 the Lord Cornbury Colonel of the Royal Regiment of Dragoons marched from Salisbury in order to bring over that Regiment and two more of Horse to the Prince of Orange Which two Regiments of Horse were the Royal Regiment and the Duke of S. Alban's then Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Langston They marched together first to Dorcester where they refreshed themselves and then went on to Bridport and Axmister Upon which several Officers mistrusting his Lordship asked him whither they were going Who answered he had the King's Orders to beat up the Enemies Quarters
your Country to your Selves and to your Posterity which You as Men of Honour ought to prefer to all private Considerations and Ingagements whatsoever VVe do therefore expect that you will consider the Honour that is now set before you of being the Instruments of Serving your Country and Securing your Religion And We will ever Remember the Service you shall do Vs upon this Occasion by placing such particular Marks of our Favour on every one of You as your Behaviour at this time shall deserve of Us in which VVe will make a great Distinction of those that shall come seasonably to joyn their Arms with Ours In short you shall find Us to be Your Well-wishing and Assured Friend William Henry Prince of Orange The Prince's Army began now to be in good heart and one Man was as good as two when they came first to Exeter Every day his Highness went out to view the Country with the Mareschal de Schomberg and went once as far as Autry 12 miles from Exeter In the mean time Mr. Seymour was made Governour and one Major Gibson Deputy-Governour For the managing the Revenue here the Lord Wiltshire Mr. Herbord and Mr. Row were appointed Commissioners The Prince's Court began also to swell For besides those great Persons which had attended his Highness from Holland hither viz. Mareschal Schomberg Count Nassaw Count Solms the Lords Zulestein Bentick and Overkirk of the English Nation the Earls or Shrewebury and Macclesfield Viscount Mordant Lord Wiltshire end Colonel Sidney and of the Scotch the Earl of Argile with several other Persons of Quality here came to his Highness the Lord Cornbury the Earl of Abington and the Lord Colchester besides a great Number of Gentry Who all entred together into an Association to Assist the Prince of Orange in the Defence of the Protestant Religion Laws and Liberties of the People of England Scotland and Ireland in these Words An Ingagement of the Nobility at Exeter to stand by the Prince of Orange We do Ingage to Almighty God and to his Highness the Prince of Orange and with one another to stick firm to this Cause and to one another in the Defence of it and never to depart from it until our Religion 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 ingaged in the Common Cause under the Protection of the Prince of Orange by which means his Person may be exposed to Danger and to the desperate and cursed Designs of Rapists and other bloody Men We do therefore solemnly Ingage to God and to one another That if any such Attempts be made upon Him We will pursue not only those that made them but all their Adherents and all We find in Arms against Us with the utmost Severity of just Revenge in their Ruin and Destruction and that the Executing any such Attempt which God of his infinite Mercy forbid shall not deprive Us from pursuing the Cause which We do now undertake but that it shall Incourage us to carry it on with all the Vigour that so barbarbous an Approach shall do serve By this strict Association the Prince saw how well these Noble Lords and Gentlemen were disposed towards his Highness and for the promoting the Good of the Common Cause In the mean time he received Intelligence of the first Skirmish that hapned between the two Armies at Wincanton To which Place a small Party of Major General Mackay's Regiment being advanced to provide Carriage Collonel Sarsfield having Notice of it marched thither with a Detachment of 70 Horse and 50 Dragoons and Granadiers in order to cut them off Who hearing of Sarsfield's Approach resolved upon a stout Defence notwithstanding their small Number being but 25. In order to which Cambel their Lieutenant posted them in a small Inclosure at the East end of the Town where there was a good Hedge between them and the Road. Here they made a vigorous Defence and several were killed and wounded on both sides when of a sudden upon a false Alarm of a strong Party of the Prince's Horse coming Sarsfield and his Men retreated with all speed and in some disorder And tho he had little Cause to boast of this Action yet our Gazette did so magnifie it that by it's Account of it 30 of the Prince's Men were killed out of 25 besides 6 taken and 15 that made their escape One would think the King by this time had done with Proclamations His Majesty was two to one at least as to the Number of Forces and yet to Ingross all to himself he put out a Proclamation at Salisbury Nov. 22. to Intice away all the Prince's Army and so leave him by himself By this Proclamation first He Offers and Grants his Pardon to all his Subjects that had taken up Arms with Foreigners and Strangers against Him and their Native Country And next to all such Foreigners as should come over to Him promising either to Entertain them in his Service or Grant them if they should desire it freedom of Passage and liberty to Return to the Respective Countries from whence they came But this Stratagem would not do And his Highness having now received an Account of the Motions and Proceedings in the North for the Support of the Common Cause prepared all Things for his March towards the King's Army The Lords concerned in the North were the Earls of Devonshire Stamford and Damby the Lord Delamere and others who being met at Nottingham with great Numbers of the Gentry and a competent Force of Horsemen well appointed to repel all Opposers unanimously subscribed to this Declaration Nov. 23. the same Day that the King put out his Proclamation The Declaration of the Nobility and Gentry c. at the Rendezvous at Nottingham We the Nobility Gentry and Commonalty of these Northern Counties assembled together at Nottingham for the Defence of our Laws Religion and Liberties according to those Free-born Liberties and Priviledges descended to Vs from our Ancestors as the Vndoubted Birth-right of the Subjects of this Kingdom of England not doubting but the Infringers and Invaders of our Rights will Represent us to the rest of the Nation in the most malicious Dress they can put upon us do here Vnanimously think it our Duty to Declare to the rest of our Protestant Fellow Subjects the Grounds of our present Vndertaking We are by innumerable Grievances made sensible that the very Fundamentals of our Religion Liberties and Properties are about to be Rooted out by our late Jesuitical Privy Council as has been of late too apparent 1. By the King 's Dispensing at his Pleasure with all the Established Laws 2. By Displacing all Officers out of all Offices of Trust and Advantage and Placing others in their Room that are Known Papists deservedly made Incapable by the Estabished Laws of our Land 3. By Destroying the Charters of most Corporations in
was a strange Time for Flight For whilst the King fled from Salisbury and the Prince of Denmark from the King the Princess also took her Flight from the Cock-pit Her Royal Highness then big of the Duke of Glocester not being able to bear the King's Displeasure upon the Princes account or her own withdrew her self Nov. 26. early in the Morning and went with the Ladies Churchill and Berkley and the Lord Bishop of London to the North where the Forces were in Arms for the Prince of Orange Upon which her Royal Highness left a Letter for the Queen in these following Words MADAM The Princess of Denmark her Letter to the Queen I beg Your Pardon that I am so deeply affected with the surprizing News of the Prince's being gone as not to be able to see Your Majesty However I leave this Paper to express my humble Duty to the King and Your self and to let You know that I am gone to Absent my self to avoid the King's Displeasure which I am not able to bear either against the Prince or my Self intending to stay at so great a Distance as not to Return before I hear the happy News of a Reconcilen ent And as I am confident the Prince did not leave the King with any other Design than to use all possible Means for his Majesties Preservation so I hope You will do me the Justice to believe that I am uncapable of following him for any other End Never was any one in such an unhappy Condition so divided between Duty to a Father and Affection to a Husband that I know not what to do but to follow One to preserve the Other I see the general Falling off of the Nobility and Gentry who avow to have no other End than to prevail with the King to secure their Religion which they saw so much in danger by the violent Counsels of the Priests who to promote their own Religion cared not to what Dangers they exposed his Majesty I am fully persuaded that the Prince of Orange designs the King's Safety and Preservation and hop all Things may be composed without more Blood-shed by the Calling a Parliament God grant a happy End to these Troubles that the King's Reign may be prosperoâ—s and that I may shortly meet You in perfect Peace and Safety Till when let me beg of You the Continuance of that favourable Opinion you have hitherto had of Your Majesties most obedient Daughter and Servant ANNE The same Day the Princess went the King returned to Whitehall from Salisbury Who seeing how Things went first turned Sir Edward Hales out of his Government of the Tower who being a Papist had threatned to Bomb the City and made Colonel Bevile Skelton Lieutenant of the Tower who had been a Prisoner there but a few Days before Then his Majesty gave Order to the Lord Chancellour to Issue out Writs for summoning a Parliament to meet at Westminster the 15th day of January next Which was a great Step towards a Reconcilement if so be the King had really intended it But it proved a meer Amusement For his Heart did beat for Versailles and the Pretence of a Parliament was only to posses the People with an Opinion that he was resolved to be Reconciled with them at any Rate and in the mean time to Prepare himself under hand for a Retreat Nov. 30. He signed the Proclamation for the speedy Calling of a Parliament and ordered it with all speed to be Published Never was false Coin better plated than this Proclamation was worded to amuse the People These are the VVords JAMES R. We have thought fit as the best and most proper Means to Establish a lasting Peace to this Our Kingdom to Call a Parliament The King's Proclamation for the speedy Calling of a Parliament and have therefore Ordered our Chancellour to cause Writs to be Issued forth for Summoning a Parliament to Meet at Westminster upon the 15th day of January next ensuing the Date of this Our Royal Proclamation And that nothing may be wanting on Our part towards the Freedom of Elections as We have already Restored all Cities Towns Corporate and Boroughs throughout Our Kingdom to their ancient Charters Rights and Priviledges so we Require and Command all Persons whatsoever that they presume not by Menace or any other undue Means to Influence Elections or Procure the Vote of any Flector And We do also strictly Require and Command all Sheriffs Mavors Bailiffs and other Officers to whom the Execution or Return of any Writ Summons Warrant or Precept for Members to the insuing Parliament shall belong that they cause such Writ Summons Warrant and Precept to be duly Published and Executed and Returns thereupon to be fairly made according to the true Merits of such Elections And for the Security of all Persons both in their Election and Service in Parliament We do hereby Publish and Declare That all Our Subjects shall have free Liberty to Elect and all Our Peers and such as shall be Elected Members of Our House of Commons shall have full Liberty and Freedom to Serve in Parliament Notwithstanding they have taken up Arms or committed any Act of Hostility or been any way Aiding or Assisting therein And for the better Assurance hereof We have Graciously directed a General Pardon to all Our Subjects to be forthwith prepared to pass Our Great Seal And for the Reconciling all Publick Breaches and Obliterating the very Memory of all past Miscarriages We do hereby Exhort and Kindly Admonish all Our Subjects to dispose themselves to Elect such Persons for their Representatives in Parliament as may not be Biassed by Prejudice or Passion but Qualified with Parts Experience and Prudence proper for this Conjuncture and agreeable to the Ends and Purposes of this Our Gracious Proclamation His Highness the Prince of Orange having staid some Days at Sherborn moved towards Salisbury by the VVay of Mere. At his Entrance into Salisbury which was in great State he was met by the Mayor and Aldermen in all their Formalities the Bells ringing the People shouting and the whole City in a Transport of Joy at the sight of their Deliverer His Highness rode into the City with the Prince of Denmark at his right hand and the Duke of Ormond on his left and took up his Quarters at the Bishop's Palace Here his Highness made a Halt for some Days VVhich the Princess of Denmark having notice of she came to Oxford attended by a select Troop of Country Gentlemen well Armed where Prince George went to meet her Royal Highness All the way the Army marched Care was taken to disperse the Prince's Declaration and where they hapned to Quarter upon Sundays there it was read in the Churches By this time the King's Army was much broken most of the Protestant Officers and Souldiers come away and Joyned his Highnesses Forces So that there was no Prospect of a Field-Battel After some Stay here the Prince came away and marched to Amsbury from
Especially when 't is plain this must occasion the greatest Ruin and Miseries possible to that Kingdom and when a pretended Heir was set up in such a manner that the whole Kingdom believed it Spurious In such a Case it cannot be denied even according to the highest Principles of Passive Obedience that another Sovereign Prince might make War on a King so abusing his Power and that this was the Case in Fact will not be called in question by any Protestant Therefore King James having so far sunk in the War that he both abandoned his People and deserted the Government all his Right and Title did accrue to the Prince in the Right of a conquest over him So that if he had then assumed the Crown the Opinion of all Lawyers must have been on his side And which Way soever King James's Deserting the Government be turned this Argument has much Weight For if he was forced to it then here was a Conquest and if it was voluntary it was a wilful Dâ—sertion But whatever Prospect His Highness might have of a Crown either by the Sword or the Law or both Ways together He chose rather to leave the Matter to the Determination of the Peers and People of England chosen and Assembled together with all possible Freedom Mean while the Lords Spiritual and Temporal Assembled December 25. in the House of Lords at Westminster and at the same time the Members of the Parliaments that had served during the Reign of King Charles 2d met in the House of Commons together with the Court of Aldermen and Common-Council of London Who unanimously Agreed upon a general Convention of the Lords and Commons to Meet on the 22. of Jan. next and pray'd his Highness in the mean time to take upon him the Administration of Publick Affairs both Civil and Military and the disposal of the Publick Revenues till the Meeting of the said Convention In Order to which Meeting He sent at their Request and according to their Directions His Letters throughout the Kingdom Then came out two Dâ—clarations from His Highness One for Authorising Sheriffs Justices of the Peace and other Officers and Ministers not Papists that were in Office upon the first day of December to Act in their respective Places Another for the better Collecting the Publick Revenue Besides an Order for carrying on the Elections for the intended Convention with greater Freedom and without any Colour of Force or Restraint His Highness also took a convenient Care to Restrain the Licentiousness of the Press within the bounds of the Law Then He put forth a Declaration for the better Quartering of the Forces Another to Incourage the Sea-men of the Fleet then labouring under Discontents and absenting themselves upon several untrue and groundless Reports Maliciously spread among them and to warn them at their Peril to return to their Duty A third to the same purpose for the Land Forces Jaruary 22. being the day appointed for the Convention to meet at Wes tminster there they met accordingly Where the two Speakers being chosen viz. the Lord Marquis of Halliface for the House of Lords and Henry Powle Esq for the Commons a Letter from the Prince of Orange was read in both Houses to this effect That he had endeavoured to perform what was desired from Him for the Publick Peace and safety during his Administration and that it now lay on them to lay a Foundation of a firm Security for their Religion Laws and Liberties That he did not doubt but by such a full and Fret Representative of the Nation the Ends of his Declaration would be attained He recommended to them the dangerous Condition of Ireland and also the States of Holland both which required large and speeâ—ly Succours And toâ—d them that since it had pleased God hitherto to bless his good Liteâ—tions with so great Success be trâ—sled in him that he would complete his own Work by sending a Spirit of Peace and Vnion to inflâ—ence their Courseâ—s that so no Iâ—terruption might be given to a happy and lasting Settlement Whereupon the Lords and Commons unanimously resolved upon an Address to be presented to his Highness of â—hanks for what he had done and humblâ— to desire him to continue the Administration of Publick Affairs till farther Application were made by them to his Highness A Day of Publick Thanksgiving to Almighty God was likewise appointed by both Houses for having made his Highness the Prince of Orange a Glorious Instrument of the great Deliverance of this Kingdom from Popery and Arbitrary Power And then the Lords and Commons went in a Body to St. James's to present the fore-mentioned Address to his Highness The State we were in required a speedy Settling of the Government on sure and lafting Foundations and consequently that such Person or Persons should be immediately placed in the Throne in whom the Nation had most reason to repose an intire Confidence It therefore now lay upon the Convention to Make so Judicious a Choice as in all probability might render us a happy People and give our Posterity cause to Rejoyce when they shall read the Proceedings of this Wise and Grand Convention 'T is observed that before the Theocracy of the Jews ceased even in the time of extraordinary Revelations the manner of the Divine Designation of their Judges was by God's giving the People some Deliverance by the Hand of the Person to whose Government they were appointed to submit Thus Othniel Gideon Jephthab Samson and others were invested by Heaven with the supream Authority And tho' Joshâ—a had an immediate Command from God to succeed Moses and an Anointing for that purpose by the laying on of Moses hands yet the Foundation of the Peoples Submission to him was laid in Joraâ—n Now what History can give an Instance since that Theocracy ceased of a Designation of any Person to any Government more visibly Divine than this was To see a Nation of so various Opinions Interests and Factions fall suddenly from a turbulent and fluctuating State into a serene Calm and their Minds so strangely united on a sudden it shews from whence the Nation was Influenced And whoever considers how the Posture of Foreign Affairs which no humane Wisdom or Power could have brought about made way for this Expedition how the Prince's Counsels were all along directed and crowned with Success amongst so many Dangers and Difficulties and that in so little time and with so little Effusion of Blood must needs see plainly the Finger of God in all this pointing out to us what choice we were to make Yet various were the Projects amongst the Members of the Convention Some were for Sending to the King and Treating with him to Return but under such Restraints as they thought should disable him from Invading our Laws Religion and Liberties But what restraint could be put upon a King who was under a Vow of Restoring Popery The Kingly Power one would think was sufficiently limited by the Law so as to
preserve the Religion and Liberties of the People under the Glory and Greatness of a King But the Experince of King James his Reign shewed us sufficiently how easy it was for a King to break through the â—ence of the Laws and that they were but Cobwebs to a Prince whose Zeal or Ambition could not indure any Bounds What Ways could be found out so to â—ye up his Hands as to Secure his Subjects but such as must make him a meer Titular King which had been a greater Affront put upon Majesty than downright Deposing of him He therefore chose rather to quit the Crown than be turned from the sweet Exercise of an Absolute Power to the State of a Baby King to be turned and wound by his Subjects as they pleased to observe their Dictates and submit to their Motions Some were for making the Princess of Orange Regent Others the Prince Some again were for declaring the Crown forfeited or demised and proclaiming only the Princess of Orange Queen Others for making the Prince of Orange only King But the Plurality carryed it first for having the Government Dissolved then making the Prince and Princess of Orange joyntly King and Queen of England c. The publick Acts to run in the Name of Both but the Executive Power to be solely in the King Thus King James II. for having indeavoured to Subvert the Constitution of the Kingdom by breaking the Original Contract between King and People and by Advice of Jesuites and other wicked Persons Violated the Fundamental Laws and having at last Withdrawn himself out of this Kingdom was Voted by the House of Commons to have Abdicated the Government and the Throne to be Vatant And after several Days Debates about it the House of Lords at last fully Agreed all Things in Dispute So that King James having forfeited by his Male-Administration of the Regal Trust of the Executive Power both in himself and his Heirs Lineal and Collateral the same devolved back to the People Who might lawfully dispose thereof by their Representatives according to their good Will and Pleasure for their future Government and Peace Benefit and Security Which was a clear Assertion of the Peoples Right a firm Evidence of a Contract broken and a sure Precedent to all Ages when after a most solemn Debate the Estates of England declare That the King having Abdicated the Government and the Throne thereby Vacant They think fit to fill it again with One who is not Immediate in the Line Fesides that it will be a Caution to succeeding Kings of what satal Consequence a general Derogation from the Laws may be when they find by this Instance the Exercise of the Kingly Office in danger not only with Reference to Themselves but precarious to their Family And now to fill up the Throne what better Choice could the Convention make than of that very Prince who with so great Expence Hazard conduct Courage and Generosity had so wonderfully Rescued us both from Spiritual and Temporal Slavery and Restored us to our ancient Laws Religion and Properties In Prudence Honour and Gratitude they could do no less than Pray him to Accept the Crown Which was done accordingly But the Nation 's Gratitude and Generosity went further by making the Prince and Princess of Orange King and Queen joyntly it being a Demonstration of the Inestimable Value the People had for Her Highness notwithstanding the Male-Administration of her Unhappy Father Thus the Prince and Princess were made equal in Dignity but not in Authority For the Executive Power was solely lodged in the Prince First because two Persons equal in Authority might differ in Opinion and consequently in Command and it is evident no Man can serve two Masters Secondly because a Man by Nature Education and Experience is generally rendred more capable to Govern than a Woman And as the present State of Europe in general so that of these Kingdoms in particular required a vigorous and masculine Administration To recover what was lost to rescue what was in danger and rectify what was amiss could not be effected but by a Prince consummate in the Art both of Peace and War A Prince of known Honour profound Wisdom undaunted Courage and incomparable Merit naturally inclined to be Just Merciful and Peaceable and to do all publick Acts of Generosity for the good of Societies Therefore as the Convention thought fit out of Generosity to declare the Prince and Princess King and Queen joyntly that they might both equally share the Glory of a Crown and we the Happiness of their Auspicious Reign so out of Prudence they lodged the Executive Power in the Prince only as the fittest Person under Heaven to Govern in this difficult Juncture During these Transactions the Princess of Orange arrived from Holland and Landed at White-Hall on the 12th of February the welcome News whereof was received with all manner of Publick Demonstrations of Joy The next Day the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons Assembled at Westminister presented to the Prince and Princess their Declaration by the Marquess of Hallifax Speaker to the House of Lords Which Declaration contained a Sum of the late King James's Trespasses upon the Laws of the Kingdom and the Liberties of the People the Vindication of the Ancient Rights and Liberties of the People by declaring his assumed Power Illegal their Offer of the Crown to Their Highnesies and the new Oaths to be taken according to the late Resolves of the Grand Convention The Offer of the Crown with the Settlement thereof was thus expresied That William and Mary Prince and Princess of Orange be and be declared King and Queen of England France and Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonging To hold the Crown and Royal Digâ—ity of the said Kingdoms and Dominions to them the said Prince and Princess during their Lives and the Life of the Surviver of them And that the sole and full Exercise of the Regal Power be only in and executed by the said Prince of Orange in the Names of the said Prince and Princess during their joynt Lives and after their Deceases the said Crown and Royal Dignity of the said Kingdoms and Dominions to be to the Heirs of the Body of the said Princess and for default of such Issue to the Princess Anâ— of Denmark and the Heirs of her Body and for default of such Issue to the Heirs of the Body of the said Prince of Orange To which his Highness gave this Gracious Answer My Lords and Gentlemen This is certainly the greatest Proof of the Trust you have in Vs that can be given which is the Thing that makes us Value it the more and we thankfully Accept what you have Offered And as I had no other Intention in coming hither than to preserve your Religion Laws and Liberties so you may be sure that I shall indeavour to support them and shall be willing to concur in any Thing that shall be for the Good of the Kingdom and to do
all that is in my power to advance the Welfare of the Glory of the Nation Whereupon the Prince and Princess of Orange were that very Day being the 13th of February 1688 9. Proclaimed at White-Hall and in the City King and Queen of England France and Ireland by the Name of WILLIAM and MARY each Proclamation being Ecchoed with Universal Acclamations of Joy by the Multitudes of People which crowded the Streets Windows and Balconies and the Streets lined all the Way from Temple-Bar to the Royal-Exchange with four Regiments of the City Militia The Night was concluded with Bonfires Ringing of Bells and all other Expressions of Duty and Affection to Their Majesties KING WILLIAM and QVEEN MARY with hearty Wishes for Their long and happy Reign April 11th Being appointed for their Coronation Their Majesties were accordingly Crowned that Day at Westminster with great Pomp and Solemnity by the Lord Bishop of London and the Day kept with great Ceremony in most of the chief Towns of England The Coronation Oath was tendred by the Bishop to the King and Queen in these several Articles Their Majesties giving a distinct Answer to each of them Bishop Will you solemnly Premise and Swear to Govern the People of this Kingdom of England and the Dominions thereto belonging according to the Statutes agreed on in Parliament and the Laws and Customs of the same King and Queen I solemnly promise so to do Bishop Will you to your power cause Law and Justice in Mercy to be executed in all Your Judgments King and Queen I will Bishop Will You to the utmost of your power Maintain the Laws of God the true Profession of the Gospel and the Protestant Reformed Religion established by Law And will you Preserve unto the Bishops and Clergy of this Realm and to the Churches committed to their Charge all such Rights and Priviledges as by Law do or shall appertain unto them or any of them King and Queen All this I promise to do After this the King and Queen laying his and her Hand upon the Holy Gospels said The Things which I have here before Promised I will Perform and Keep So help me God Then the King and Queen kissed the Book In Scotland the same Course was taken for Settling the Government there by a Convention which met at Edenburg upon the 14th of March according to the Direction of the Prince of Orange now King and the Advice of several Lords and Gentlemen of Stotland then at London Which Convention voted also King James by his Misgovernment to have forfeited the Right to the Crown and the Throne to be Vacant For the filling up whereof they conferred the Crown upon WILLIAM and MARY King and Queen of England c. and fetled the Succession in the same manner as our Convention had done with a new Oath of Allegiance to Their Majesties Accordingly on the 11th of April 1689. being their Coronation-day at Westminster Their Majesties were proclaimed at Edenburg King and Queen of Scotland The 1â—th of May next ensuing being the Day appointed for the publick Reception of the Commissioners sent up by the Estates of Scotland viz. the Earl of Argyle Sir James Montgomery and Sir John Dalrymple to Offer the Crown of that Kingdom to their Majesties and tender unto Them the Scottish Coronation Oath they accordingly met at the Council Chamber at Three a Clock in the Afternoon and were from thence conducted by Sir Charles Cotterel Master of the Ceremonies to the Banqueting-House being attended by most of the Nobility and Gentry of that Kingdom then residing here The King and Queen went thither attended by many Persons of Quality the Sword being carried before them by the Lord Cardrosse And Their Majesties being placed on the Throne under a rich Canopy the Commissioners first presented a Letter from the Estates to the King then the Instrument of Government after that a Paper containing the Grievances to be Redressed and lastly an Address to his Majesty for turning the Meeting of the said Estates into a Parliament All which being Signed by his Grace the Duke of Hamilton as President of the Meeting and Read to Their Majesties the King returned to the Commissioners the following Answer When I Ingaged in this Vndertaking I had particular Regard and Consideration for Scotland and therefore I did omit a Declaration in relation to That as well as to This Kingdom which I intend to make good and effectual to them I take it very kindly that Scotland has expressed so much Confidence in and Affection to Me. They shall find Me willing to assist Them in every Thing that concerns the Weal and Interest of that Kingdom by making what Laws shall be necessary for the Security of their Religion Property and Liberty and to ease them of what may be justly Grievous to them This done the Coronation Oath was tendered to Their Majesties which the Earl of Argile spoke word by word distinctly and the King and Queen repeated it after him holding their right Hands up after the manner of taking Oaths in Scotland The Oath was thus We William and Mary King and Queen of Scotland faithfully Promise and Swear by this our solemn Oath in presence of the Eternal God That during the whole Course of our Life we will serve the same Eternal God to the uttermost of our Power according as he has requited in his most Holy Word revealed and contained in the New and Old Testament and according to the same Word shall Maintain the true Religion of Christ Jesus the Preaching of his Holy Word and the due and right Ministration of the Sacraments now Received and Preached within the Realm of Scotland and shall Abolish and Gainstand all false Religion contrary to the same and shall Rule the People committed to our Charge according to the Will und Command of God revealed in his aforesaid Word and according to the laudable Laws and Constitutions received in this Realm no ways repâ—gnant to the said Word of the Eternal God and shall procure to the utmost of our Power to the Kirk of God and whole Christian People true and perfect Peace in all time coming That we shall preserve and keep inviolated the Rights and Rents with all â—â—â—st Priviledges of the Crown of Scotland neither shall We Transfer nor Alienate the same That We shall forbid and repress in all Estates and Degrees Reis Oppression and alâ— kind of iâ—â—rong and We shall command and procure that Justice and Equity in all Judgments be keeped to all Persons without exception as the Lord and Father of Mercies shall be merciful to us That We shall be careful to Root out all Hereticks and Enemies to the true Worship of God that shall be Convilled by the true Kirk of God of the aforesaid Crimes out of Our Lands and Empire of Scotland And We saithfully Affirm the Things above-written by Our Solemn Oath But at the Repeating that Clause in thâ— Oath which relates to the Rooting out of Hereticks