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 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
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