Brandenburg into the Countries of Oldenburg and Delmenhurst which put all the Country under Contribution and wrought such an Effect upon the Danish Envoy at Paris that the Treaty was fully concluded between France Sweden and Denmark on the 2d of Sept. at St. Germains M. Pompone having full Power from the French King to that Purpose The Treaties of Roscheld Copenhagen and Westphalia were the Ground-work of this Peace with Denmark as will better appear by this Abstract I. THAT there be a firm Peace between the said Kings and all Things during the War to the Offence of either forgotten II. That all Alliances made by either of the Three Kings to the Prejudice of the other shall cease and be abolished and they shall not make any which may be so for the future III. That Hostilities do cease within a Fortnight reckoning from the Day of the Signing except in Norway where 3 Weeks shall be allowed because of the Distance IV. That the Treaties of Roscheld Copenhagen and Westphalia shall be confirmed with all the Instruments to them appertaining V. The King of Denmark promises to restore whatever he hath taken from the Swedes during the War viz. Landscroon Helsenburg Monstrand and Wismaâ— with the Isles of Rugen and Gothlaend and all their Dependances VI. In like manner the King of Sweden promises to restore what he has taken from Denmark during the War VII That Commissioners shall be appointed by the Two Northern Crowns who shall meet within 6 Months a Minister from the most Christian King being present and shall endeavour to compose all Differences arisen on occasion of Priviledges and Immunities which the Swedes pretend to in the Sound and the Baltick provided that the said Priviledges and Immunities do remain in full Force and Vigour the Abuses only to be corrected VIII The Places to be restored to Sweden shall be delivered up in the same Condition as they are at present viz. Helsenburg Landscoon and all other Places possessed by the King of Denmark in Schonen Pleiâ—ing and Holland together with Carelstadt and the Fort on the River Swinge within 2 Weeks Wismar and the Isle of Rugen within 3 Marstrond and the Isle of Gothland within 4 Weeks to be reckoned from the Day of the Exchange IX The King of Denmark may take out of the Places to be restored what Cannon he caused to be brought into them since they were in his Possession but the Cannon that were in the Places when taken and still remain there to be restored with the Places But if the King of Denmark hath formerly taken out of those Places the Cannon that belonged to the Swedes he shall restore the one half thereof X. All Goods and Estates confiscated during the War shall be restored XI All Persons shall be restored to the Rights and Priviledges they enjoyed before the War XII The Country of Rixengen belonging to the Count Ethlefelt Chancellor of Denmark confiscated during the War shall be restored to him XIII All Prisoners to be set at Liberty XIV All such Princes as desire it shall be comprehended in this Treaty XV. The most Christian King promises that the King of Sweden shall ratifie this Treaty within 3 Months XVI The most Christian King promises to ratifie the same within 6 Weeks But of all other Points conceded by the Dane in this Treaty none seemed so hard as this last relating to the Duke of Holstein Gottorp who for being an Ally in this War to the Swede Denmark had stripped of all his Dominions but is now forced to re-instate him in as ample Form as could be and he pretend to unless it were the Damage which his Territories had sustained during the War by the vast Sums of Money which the King of Denmark had raised therein as being one of the best Countries in all the North. And thus ended this long and bloody War in Europe but with as much Dissatisfaction to almost all the Allies as it was advantageous to France who was left in a Condition by it to do what she would as we shall have occasion to note hereafter It was very hard upon all the Allies harder yet to the Elector of Brandenburg but to none more than the King of Denmark who had no manner of Compensation for all the Conquests he had made in the Course of it and I think was no less dishonourable to England every way whose Mediation though continued even to the last yet through some evil Aspect or other had not the Happiness of Signing any one of the Treaties And as for the Duke of Lorrain as he had nothing in Possession so he lost nothing but his Expectation which in the Sequel appeared to be ill grounded tho' upon the direct and frequent Engagements both of the Confederates and Mediator And so that noble tho' unfortunate Prince was wholly left out of the Treaty and without any visible Hopes of ever recovering the Dominion of his Ancestors And here we shall at present leave it and return to see what has been doing all this while in England About the 29th of Sept. the preceding Year which was 1678 Dr. Oats seconded after by Tongue and Kirby made a Discovery of an horrid Plot carried on by Jesuits and others of the Roman Communion against the Life and Person of the King Protestant Religion and Established Government and for a further Confirmation of his Testimony Oats referred himself to Coleman's Papers who was Secretary to the then Dutchess of York But though the Court could not but enquire into the Truth of this yet they made such slow Paces in it that Coleman had time enough to convey away all the Papers of the 2 last Years with his Book of Entries of them However those Letters that were found amazed the major part of the Council and thereupon several Persons were examined and committed viz. Sir George Wakeman the Queen's Physician Coleman Langborn of the Inner-Temple Tho. Whitebread Provincial of the Jesuits in England James Corker and Thomas Pickering all Jesuits Priests and Monks with divers others And not long after William Earl of Powis William Viscount Stafford Henry Lord Arundel of Warder William Lord Petre and John Lord Bellasis were sent Prisoners upon the same Account to the Tower of London But tho' these and other Circumstances made the Matter pretty clear yet the Murder of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey a Justice of the Peace before whom some of the Depositions had been taken and who appear'd zealous against all Male Practices against the King and Government soon after viz. on the 12th of Oct. rendred the Conspiracy in the Sight of most Men to be past all doubt And therefore the Parliament who met upon the 21 st of Oct. after having appointed a Secret Committee to enquire into the Bottom of the Plot did upon the 1st of Nov. following come to this Resolution Nemine Contradicente That upon the Evidence that hath already appeared to this House this House is of Opinion that there
hath been and still is a damnable Hellish Plot contrived and carried on by Recusants for assassinating and murdering the King subverting the Government and rooting out and destroying the Protestant Religion I am not insensible what Artifices have been used to ridicule this Plot in all the Parts of it and particularly so far as it relates to the Murder of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey But there are some Things so particular herein for evincing That that Gentleman fell a Martyr through Popish Cruelty and yet not commonly known that I shall take notice of them in this place There was one Prance a Papist by Religion and a Silversmith by Trade living near Covent-Garden and one that wrought for the Priests and others in Somerset-House who some time after the said Murder being observed to abscond from his House for several Days by his Neighbours some of them represented the same to some Parliament-Men with other circumstantial Suspicions they had of the said Prance and thereupon there was an Order got to seize him and he was referred to the Examination of Sir Richard Everard and Sir Charles Harboard Now before the Murder Le Pair Pritchard and some other Priests had treated with bedlow to be assisting in it which he at first assented to but after relented and did not come But the Monday after the Fact was committed which was Octob. 14. meeting with La Faire in Red-Lyon-Court he charged him with being worse than his Word but engaged him to meet him at 9 a Clock in Somerset-House where he was told by La Faire That though he was not assistant as he promised in killing Sir Edmund yet if he would be helpful to carry him off he should have 2000 l. Reward Hereupon Bedlow desiring to see the Body Le Faire shewed it him and then they advised together about the Disposal of it Bedlow being of Opinion it were best to sink it in the River with Weights which was not agreed to But in seeing the Body Bedlow saw Pranoe in the Company too yet did not know him before This being done Bedlow went to Bristol but finding himself much troubled in Conscience having twice taken the Sacrament to conceal the Business God put it into his Heart that some Murders being past and to prevent greater to come he was convinced it was his Duty to return to London to reveal what he knew which he did and went to the Lobby of the House of Lords in order to it In the mean time Sir Charles Harboard and Sir Richard Everard having examined Prance and the House being set left him to the Care of the Constable of Covent-Garden who brought him to the Lobby of the Lords House where Bedlow seeing him but never before save the foresaid Time in Somerset-House he charged the Guards to seize him for that reason saying He remembred him well he having when they viewed Sir Edmund ' s Body a black Perruke on but now none Hereupon search being made the Perruke was found And hence it was that Prance became an Evidence in this Discovery and on whose Evidence chiefly Green Berry and Hill were convicted and executed I shall not enter into any more Particulars of this Plot as being already sufficiently treated on by divers Authors and not falling directly under under the Course of our present Design but there is one Thing very remarkable attending it and such I think as can hardly be parallel'd in any other Story and that is that there should be so many and such clear Proofs to Murder the King's Person and yet that he should be solâ—ittle apprehensive of it But it may be as Tom. Killigrew was said to have told him He knew more of the Plot than any Body else and his Discovery of it would quickly have satisfied his People But whether it were my Lord Treasurer Danby's Business or the Popish Lords in the Tower or the Affairs of the Plot in general the King having on Monday the 30th of Dec. last Prorogued both Houses to the 4th of Feb. did on the 24th of Jan. Dissolve his once Darling Long-lived but now Expiring Parliament which had been continued by several Prorogations and Adjournments 17 Years 8 Months and 17 Days being first called on the 8th of May 1661. And issued out Writs to call another to Sit at Westminister on the 6th of March following but thought â—it on the 28th of Feb. in the Interim to direct a Letter to the Duke of York his Brother to command him to withdraw beyond Sea to this Effect I Have already given you my Resolves at large why I think it fit that you absent your self for some time beyond the Seas I am truly sorry for the Occasion so may you be sure I shall never desire it longer than it shall be absolutely necessary for your Good and my Service In the mean time I think it proper to give it you under my Hand that I expect this Compliance from you and desire it may be as soon as conveniently you can You may easily perceive with what Trouble I write this to you there being nothing I am more sensible of than the constant Kindness you have ever had for me I hope you are as just to me to be assured that no Absence nor any Thing else can ever change me from being truly and kindly Yours C. R. The Duke with his Dutchess and Family in pursuance to this Command within a few Days withdrew accordingly and for a while retired to the Hague and from thence to Brussels while the King in the mean time that he might let the World see how he was otherways as well as therein become a new Man for the future did upon the 20th of Apr. make a Declaration to this Purpose in Council and in his new Parliament and afterward Published it to the whole Nation How sensible he was of the ill Posture of his Affairs and the great Dissatisfactions and Jealousies of his good Subjects whereby the Crown and Government were become too weak to preserve it self which proceeded from his use of a single Ministry and of private Advices and therefore professed his Resolution to lay them aside for the future and to be advised by those whom he had chosen for his Council in all his weighty and important Affairs together with the frequent Advice of his great Council in Parliament The Members that composed which Council because of the great Worth of most of them we shall give the Reader a List of His Highness Prince Rupert William Lord Archbishop of Canterbury Henry Lord Finch Lord-Chancellor of England Anthony Earl of Shaftsbury Lord President of the Council Arthur Earl of Anglesey Lord Privy-Seal Christopher Duke of Albemarle James Duke of Monmouth Master of the Horse Henry Duke of Newcastle John Duke of Lauderdale Secretary of State for Scotland James Earl of Salisbury John Earl of Bridgwater Robert Earl of Sunderland one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State Arthur Earl of Essex First Lord-Commissioner of
the Treasury John Earl of Bath Groom of the Stool Thomas Lord Viscount Falconberg George Lord Viscount Hallifax Henry Lord Bishop of London John Lord Roberts Denzil Lord Hollis William Lord Russel William Lord Cavendish Henry Coventry Esq one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State Sir Francis North Knight Lord Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas Sir Henry Capel Knight of the Bath First Commissioner of the Admiralty Sir John Ernle Knight Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir Thomas Chichely Knight Master of the Ordinance Sir William Temple Baronet Edward Seymour Esq Henry Pawle Esq But notwithstanding this Appearance of so mighty a Change in the King and the Profession of his Readiness to give way to any Law that might secure the Protestant Religion so as the Succession were not altered yet the same Temper and same sort of People still remained at Court and they were a very chargeable Crew wherefore Money was craved at that time tho' under pretence of providing a Fleet for our common Security now as Mr. Coke says in time of such a Peace as the French King had granted Christendom after King Charles had taken his Money to join in it and after he had taken the Parliament's Money to enter into an actual War against France and after the Parliament had twice given Money for Disbanding the said Army But this the Parliament however did not appear very forward to give being mightily troubled with the Prophet at the Bleating of that sort of Cattle but more that they could not have the same Answer concerning them from the King as Saul made That he reserved them for a Sacrifice and intended to deliver them up to please his People The Effects of this Procedure was at first a Prorogation of both Houses on the 27th of May to the 14th of Aug. and the Dissolving of them upon the 12th of July and so much the sooner without doubt because they had begun this Sessions to nibble at a Bill for Excluding the Duke of York from inheriting the Imperial Crown of England So that this Parliament proved to be as short-lived as the other had been durable and lasting but another was called to meet the 17th of Oct. While England was in this â—ottering and uncertain Condition Scotland was not a whit the better settled the Feuds between the Episcopal and Presbyterian Party increasing daily which at last on the 3d of May this Year brake out into a very barbarous Act by the Murdering of Dr. Sharp Archbishop of St. Andrews by a Party of Covenanters who besides the severity he used towards them since his exaltation to that Dignity made himself the more obnoxious to their Rage because that having once been a great Zealot for Presbyterian-Church-Government they esteemed him now for no other than a Perjured Apostate Prelate a Villain Persecutor of the Godly and a betrayer of Jesus Christ and his Church This was only a general Accusation but some of that Nation have farther confidently affirm'd That the King having sent down a Pardon to some Offenders and the same falling into Sharp's Hands he villanously concealed it till Execution was done upon them And that the Friends of the deceas'd having not been able to procure Satisfaction from him according to the ordinary Course of Law he by his Interest and Authority being now about it were necessitated to have Recourse to this extraordinary Method But tho' things did begin here they did not end so this Fact proving a Prelude to what followed for upon the 29th of the same Month a Party of about 80 of these Covenanters met at a place called Rugland well Mounted and Armed and when they had first Proclaimed the Covenant they burnt the following Acts viz. The Act concerning the King's Supremacy the Recessory Act whereby all the Laws made during the King's Exile were Repealed the Act for Establishing Episcopacy and the Act appointing the Anniversary of the 29 th of May. On Sunday June the 1st they rendevouz'd about 1500 Men upon Snouden-Hill their Foot being commanded by one Wyer and their Horse by Robert Hambleton one Parron with the Assistance of Balfour and Hackstock which two last were of the Number of those that had Assassinated the Archbishop From hence they proceeded and took the City of Glascow where they published Two Proclamations which were to this Effect WE the Officers of the Covenanted Army do Require and Command you the Inhabitants of the Burgh of Glascow to furnish us with 24 Carts and 60 Horses for removing our Provisions from this Place to our Camp where-ever we shall set down the Same and to abide with us for that End during our Pleasure under Pain of being reputed our Enemies and proceeded against accordingly The other was WE the Officers of the Covenanted Army do Require and Command the Magistrates of Glascow to extend and banish forth thereof all Archbishops Bishops and Curates their Wives Bearns Servants and Families and Persons concerned in the King's Army within 48 Hours after Publishing hereof under highest Pains And they published a long Declaration of their taking up Arms for a free General Assembly and a free Unlimited Parliament to redress the manifold Grievances therein enumerated and humbly requested his Majesty to restore all Things as he found them when God brought him Home to his Crown and Kingdoms In the mean time the Council at Edenburg were not idle but raised an Army and quartered it at a Place called Black-burn to prevent the Covenanters approach to Edenburg and gave the King an Account of all that passed expecting his Majesty's further Orders thereupon Whereupon the King dispatch'd away the Duke of Monmouth into Scotland who with wonderful Celerity having joyned the Army did on the 22th of June approach towards that of the Covenanters who lay in the little Park at Hamilton and thereabouts having chosen very advantageous Ground there being no Passage to it but over a Stone-Bridge called Bothwel-Bridge which they had barricadced and well-lined with Musketeers They had no notice of the Duke's March which was in very good Order and in great Silence but their Guards having at length discovered the lighted Matches they took the Alarm and thereupon put themselves in a fighting Posture Major Oglethorp with the Dragoons had Orders to post himself near the Bridge while the Duke drew up the Army upon the Hill that fronted Hamilton-Park the River being between him and the Enemy about a Mile from the Bridge The Covenanters were drawn up in Two distinct Bodies about a Mile asunder the smallest whereof lay near the Bridge and the other hard by their Camp Being in this Posture on each side the Duke was no sooner come to Oglethorp's Post but there came over to him one David Hume from the Covenanters and presented him with their Declaration together with a Petition signed by Robert Hamilton in the Name of the Covenanted Army then in Arms wherein they prayed that the Terms of their Declaration might be
be adjudged to hinder the Sittings of Parliaments and be responsible therefore in Parliament Things being brought to this desperate pass between them without any visible Hopes of a better Understanding the Thoughts of the Court now began to think of a Prorogation or Dissolution and the Commons were it seems aware of it For on Monday Jan. the 10th before the Usher of the Black-Rod came into the House to command their Attendance on the King in the House of Lords they had resolved That whosoever advised the King to prorogue this Parliament to any Purpose than in order to the Passing of a Bill for the Exclusion of James Duke of York was a Betrayer of the King the Protestant Religion and of the Kingdom of England a Promoter of the French Interest and a Pensioner to France Which was no sooner done but they were Prorogued to the 20th of Jan. and upon the 18th he Dissolved them And so ended this Sessions of Parliament with which having run out a few Days into the new Year we conclude the Year 1680 only we shall note first two or three Particulars On the 30th of July this Year died at Whitehall the Right and truly Honourable Thomas Earl of Ossory Son and Heir apparent to his Grace the Duke of Ormond after some few Days sickness of a violent Feaver whose Heroick Bravery and forward Zeal to serve his King and Country on all commendable Occasions was manifested by many brave and generous Actions Which as they made him be honoured and esteemed by all while living made him dying to be as generally lamented He was the Father of his Grace the present Duke of Ormond who to his great Glory has been so far from degenerating from him that he hath to the Height express'd his Vertues and Excellencies both in Peace and Way and is a Person that deserves as much and if all Circumstances be considered a great deal more of his Country than any other Nobleman whatsoever Sept. following was remarkable for the Death of Two Electors of the Empire viz. on the 2d John George Duke of Saxony dying at Friburg after a long Indisposition in the 68th Year of his Age leaving only one Son by his Wife Magdaline Sibille of Brandenburg Ansbach John George the Third of that Name who succeeded him in his Dominions and Dignities And but 5 Days after departed also this Life Charles Lovis Count Palatine of the Rhine suddenly in the Way between Manheim and Frankendal after a light Indisposition of 2 or 3 Days he was 63 Years old and left by his Wife Charlotte Daughter of William Landgrave of Hesse one Son Charles then in England and to whom an Express was immediately dispatch'd to give him advice of his Father's Death and a Daughter Charlotte Elizabeth Wife to the now Duke of Orleans And towards the middle of Nov. appeared a Comet with a prodigious Stream of Light in the West The Star from which the Blaze proceeded was but small and when first discovered seemed to be not much above the Horizon but every Night afterward it appeared higher and higher in the Beginning of the Night and consequently setting latter and latter its Magnitude and Lustre also proportionably decaying year 1681 The Nation at the Dissolution of the last Parliament upon the 18th of Jan. as already mentioned were strangely amazed and began now in general to be very doubtful of any good Issue in their common Concerns which the Court was not unaware of and therefore in some measure to allay Things the King summoned another to meet on the 21st of March following at Oxford which was no sooner publickly known but it rather heightned than alleviated the Jealousies of the more intelligent Persons that there might be some hidden Design nourished in the Court that might have dangerous Influences both upon the Nation and Parliament Whereupon several of the Nobility after mature Consideration of the Matter resolved to petition the King against the Meeting of the Parliament at the forementioned Place which Petition was delivered by the Earl of Essex with which he made a short pithy Speech and both which we have hereunto subjoined May it please your Majesty THE Lords here present together with divers others of the Peers of the Realm taking notice that by the late Proclamation Your Majesty has declared an Intention of calling a Parliament at Oxford and observing from History and Records how unfortunate many Assemblies have been when called at a Place remote from the Capital City as particularly the Congress in King Henry the II's Time at Clarendon 3 several Parliaments at Oxford in Henry the III's Time and at Coventry in Henry the VI's Time with divers others which have proved fatal to those Kings and have been followed with great Mischief on the whole Kingdom And considering the present Posture of Affairs the many Jealousies and Discontents that are among the People they have great Cause to apprehend that the Consequences of a Parliament now at Oxford may be as fatal to Your Majesty and the Nation as those others mentioned have been to them Reigning Kings And therefore we do conceive that we cannot answer it to God to Your Majesty or to the People if we being Peers of the Realm should not on so important an Occasion humbly offer our Advice to Your Majesty that if possible Your Majesty may be prevailed with to alter this as we apprehend reasonable Resolution the Grounds and Reasons of our Opinions are contained in this our Petition which we humbly present to Your Majesty TO THE KING'S most Excellent MAJESTY The Humble PETITION and ADVICE of the Lords undernamed Peers of the Realm Humbly Sheweth THAT whereas Your Majesty hath been pleased by divers Speeches and Passages to Your Houses of Parliament rightly to represent to them the Dangers that threatned Your Majesty's Person and the whole Kingdom from the mischievous and wicked Plots of the Papists and the suddain Growth of a Power unto which no Stop or Remedy could be provided unless it were by Parliament and an Union of Your Majesty's Protestant Subjects in one Mind and one Interest And the Lord-Chancellor in pursuance of your Majesty's Commands having more at large demonstrated the said Dangers to be as great as we in the midst of our Fears could imagine them and so pressing that our Liberties Religion Lives and the whole Kingdom would be certainly lost if a speedy Provision were not made against them And Your Majesty on the 21st of Apr. 1679 having called unto Your Council many Honourable and Worthy Persons and declared to them and the whole Kingdom that being sensible of the evil Effects of a Single Ministry or Private Advice or Foreign Committee for the general Direction of Your Affairs Your Majesty would for the future refer all Things unto the Council and by the constant Advice of them together with the frequent Use of Your Great Council the Parliament Your Majesty had hereafter resolved to govern the
all Places of Trust That it was as much in the Power of the People to depose a Popish Possessor as a Popish Successor and seeing there was no Hopes the Parliament when they met at Oxford could do any Good the People were bound to provide for themselves This was no sooner ended but they agreed to meet the next Day there again And Everard sent Sir William Waller a Letter to be present secretly and to whom Everard upon his coming gave 2 Copies of the Instructions abovesaid which Sir William marked Sooner after came Fitz-Harris who enquiring of Everard what he had done he answered He had drawn 2 Copies of the Business and prayed Fitz-Harris to see how he liked them Who upon perusal altered one of them yet thought it not full enough but would have it fair wrote over for the French Embassador's Confessor After this Everard desired him to give him Instructions in Writing which Fitz-Harris did and in which Paper he wrote this Passage That it was in the Peoples Power to depose a Popish Possessor as well as a Popish Successor and other Treasonable Headâ— and left the same with him but came next Day again for a Copy fair writ out which Everard delivered to him who thereupon promised him a Recompence which was to be the Entrance into the Business And that he should be brought into the Cabal where several Protestants and Parliament-Men were to give an Account to the French Embassador of what was transacted But before Fitz-Harris was to receive the Libel he was to go to my Lord Howard of Escrick between whom before this and the Dutchess of Portsmouth he had carried several Messages and went a great way to bring my Lord over to the Court-Interest But for the Reader 's farther Satisfaction and for fear the Libel it self might be lost I shall adventure to give it place here TREASON in GRAIN That most Traiterous Paper or Libel of Fitz-Harris whereby he design'd to raise a Rebellion amongst us the better to make Way for a French Invasion and our utter Destruction as it was Read in both Houses of Parliament at Oxford and upon which the House of Commons Impeached him of High-Treason Falsly and Malitiously called by him The True English-man speaking plain English in a Letter from a Friend to a Friend I Thank you for the Character of a Popish Successor which you sent me wherein our just Fears and the Grounds of them are justly set out But I am in a greater Fear of the present Possessor Why do we frighten our selves about the Evil that is to come not looking to that which is at hand We would cut off the Budding Weeds and let the Poysonous Root lie still we would stop the Channel of our Evils and let the Fountain still run My Meaning is this Can Pylades Know and Act all these bloody Conspiracies and not impart them to his dear Orestes if James be Conscious and Guilty Charles is so too Believe me these Two Brethren in Iniquity they are in Confederacy with Pope and French to introduce Popery and Arbitrary Government as all their Actions demonstrate The Parliament Magna Charta and Liberty of the Subject are as heavy Yoaks which they would cast off to be as Absolute as their Br. of France and if this can be proved to be their only Aim and Endeavour why should not every True Britain be a Quaker thus far Let the English rise and move as one Man to Self-defence to open Action and fling off their intolerable Riders Blow the Trumpet stand on your Guard and withstand them as Bears and Tygers And since there can be no Trust given to this goodly Couple of Popish Brethren nor no Relief expected from a Parliament Trust to your Swords in Defence of your Lives Laws Religion and Properties like the stout Earl of Old who told a King That if he could not be defended by Magna Charta he would be relieved by Longa Spada Yet to convince the World that this Scottish Race is Corrupt Root and Branch and Popish from the very Beginning be pleas'd to consider these Reasons following The Grandfather of these Men James the Scot was of no Religion at the Bottom but entred by a Pretence of a Sham-Plot of the Papists against his Life whilst really he collogued with the Popish Party under-hand his Mother his Kindred and Companions were French and Papists when he came into England he wrote to the Pope with great Submission yet afterwards thinking it for his Purpose to Cajole the Parliament and write against the Pope and Cardinals he sends a Scot's Bird to blind the Eyes of the Vatican Keeper with Money and to steal his Letters from off the Roman File and then he crows as boldly as an unsuspected Harlot for the Protestant Religion and Interest That Man's Son Charles the First held a Secret Correspondency with the Pope calling him his Dear and Holy Father as is to be seen in his Letters recorded in Rushworth's Collections Did he not countenance and promote the Rebellion in Ireland as the Irish Grandees and his very Commissions testifie and declare Was there not a Popish Plot and an Universal Conspiracy of the Papists discovered to him and his Confessor Laud And did they not piously stifle it left they should have discovered the Nakedness of their Mother-Church Whilst that goodly Protestant Prince pretended to relieve the poor besieged Protestants at Rochel by his Confident Buckingham Did he not hold Correspondence with the French Cardinal how to betray them for a Sum of Money which his Obstinacy with his Parliament made him stand in need of But they who so ill approved themselves to be Heads of the Protestant Church Charles and Laud Did they not loose their own Heads by a manifest Judgment of God And was not the false Heart of their Emissary Buckingham found out by an Assassine's Knife But to come nearer to our Purpose these Two goodly Imps of our Days are stark naught arrived at the Heighth of Wickedness and of professed Arbitrariness and Popery As for James he was a Papist whilst he had a Regiment in the French and afterwards in the Spanish Service beyond Seas And for Charles he was reported e're he came into England to have been reconciled to the Church of Rome in one of the French King's Country-Houses and since they came in How have they wheedled and played Fast and Loose in their Profession of Religion as Occasion and their Affairs requir'd Have they not all along maintained Secret Correspondence with France and Rome As Coleman's Letters may sufficiently instruct such who have not seen more Secret Memoirs But let us come to Examine their Actions which are a better Proof of their Hearts Were not the Duke's Servants and Confidents all Papists Witness his Talbots Patricks and other Irish Teagues Were not the Duke and such of his Creatures as were known Papists promoted to all Publick Offices of Trust both at Sea and Land Witness Bellasis
Graham's Business to find out good Jury-Men and then the Sheriffs would be sure to return them In these Plots my Lord H seemed to have the greatest hand But more particularly Rumsey was the Evidence in respect to that of the Seizing the Guards Lee and Goodenough in that of Black-Heath Rumball at whose House they said the Rye-Plot was to be acted denied at his Death he ever knew any But the great design was against the Earl of Essex the Lord Russel and such great Patriots who had shewed themselves zealous Protestants upon all Occasions and constant Opposers of the designs of Popery and Arbitrary Power As for the first of these two Noble Persons he never absconded but was presently confined Prisoner in the Tower where in a few Days after it was given out he had cut his own Throat and to satisfie the Nation of the Truth of the Report and Sincerity of the Government therein the Business was so ordered year 1683 that before the Jury was Impannelled and the Coroner's Inquest sate the Earl's Body was taken out of the Closet where it was pretended he had laid violent Hands upon himself and stripp'd off his Cloathes which were carried away add the Closet washed And when one of the Jury insisted to see my Lord's Cloaths in which he died the Coroner was sent for into another Room and upon his Return he told the Jury it was the Body and not the Clothes they were to lit upon And a Motion being made that the Jury should adjourn and give my Lord's Relations notice that if they had any thing to say in my Lord's Behalf they should do it within such a time it was answered That the King had sent for the Inquisition and would not rise from the Counâ—il-Board till it was brought But whether it proved to His Majesty's Satisfaction I will not take upon me to determine though it was reported he seem'd much concern'd at the Misfortune saying My Lord of Essex needed not to have despaired of Mercy since he owed him a Life Be it as it will his being that Day in Person accompanied with his good Brother in the Tower where neither of them had been for near 15 Years before set People's Tongues loose to Censure and so much the more when it was known that particular care was taken to give immediate Notice to the Court at the Old-Baily of the Earl's Disaster that in the worst Sence Use might be made of it by the King's Council against my Lord Russel then upon his Trial as the Council did accordingly and which had the design'd Effect upon that Noble Person who some days after suffered innocently in Lincolns-Inn-Fields after he had made a Speech and left a Paper in the Sheriff's Hands to declare the same to the World both which lest forgot by any true English-man and particularly the last I have thought fit to subjoin because it carries in it in my Opinion a perfect Confutation of that Sham-Conspiracy and gives a true Idea of whatever Meeting he had been at with other Men of Quality to discourse of the Affairs or their Countrey and how if possible in a just Way to prevent it Ruin both in Religion and Liberty JULY 12th 1683. Mr. Sheriff I Expected the Noise would be such that I could not be very well heard I was never fond of very much speaking much less now therefore I set down in this Paper all that I think sit to leave behind me God knows how far I was always from Designs against the King's Person or of altering the Government and I still Pray for the Preservation of both and of the Protestant Religion I am told that Captain Walcot has said something concerning my Knowledge of the Plot I know not whether the Report be true or not but I hope it is not for to my Knowledge I never saw him to speak with him in my whole Life And in the Words of a Dying Man I profess I know of no Plot either against the King's Life or the Government But I have now done with this World and am going to a better I forgive all the World and I thank God I die in Charity with all Men. And I wish all sincere Protestants may love one another and not make room for Popery by their Animosities The PAPER delivered to the Sheriffs I Thank God I find my self so composed and prepared for Death and my Thoughts so fixed on another World that I hope in God I am quite from setting my Heart on this Yet I cannot forbear now the setting down in Writing a farther Account of my Condition to be left behind me than I will venture to say at the Place of Execution in the Noise and Clutter that is like to be there I bless God heartily for those many Blessings which he in his Infinite Mercy has bestowed upon me through the whole Course of my Life That I was born of worthy good Parents and had the Advantages of a Religious Education which are invaluable Blessings For even when I minded it least it still hung about me and gave me Checks and has now for many Years so influenced and possessed me that I feel the happy Effects of it in this my Extremity in which I have been so wonderfully I thank God supported that neither my Imprisonment nor fear of Death have been able to discompose me in any Degree but on the contrary I have found the Assurances of the Love and Mercy of God in and through my Blessed Redeemer in whom only I trust And I do not question but that I am going to partake of that Fullness of Joy which is in his Presence The Hopes therefore do so wonderfully delight me that I think this is the happiest Time of my Life though others may look upon it as the saddest I have lived and now am of the Reform'd Religion a true and sincere Protestant and in the Communion of the Church of England though I could never yet comply with or rise up to all the Heighths of many People I wish with all my Soul all our differences were removed and that all sincere Protestants would so far consider the danger of Popery as to lay aside their Heats and agree against the Common Enemy and that the Church-men would be less severe and the Dissenters less scrupulous for I think bitterness and Persecution are at all times bad but much more now For Popery I look on it as an Idolatrous and bloody Religion and therefore thought my self bound in my Station to do all I could against it And by that I foresaw I should procure such great Enemies to my self and so powerful ones that I have been now for some time expecting the worst and blessed be God I fall by the Ax and not by the Fiery Tryal Yet whatever Apprehensions I had of Popery and of my own severe and heavy share I was like to have under it when it should prevail I never had a Thought of doing any thing
against it basely or inhumanely but what would well consist with the Christian Religion and the Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom And I thank God I have examined all my Actions in that matter with so great Care that I can appeal to God Almighty who knows my Heart that I went on sincerely without being moved either by Passion By-Ends or ill Design I have always loved my Countrey much more than my Life and never had any Design of changing the Government which I value and look upon as one of the best Governments in the World and would always have been ready to venture my Life for the preserving it and would suffer any Extremity rather than have consented to any Design of taking away the King's Life Neither had any Man the Impudence to propose so base and barbarous a thing to me And I look upon it as a very unhappy and uneasie part of my present Condition that there should be so much as Mention made of so vile a Fact though nothing in the least was said to prove any such Matter but the contrary by my Lord Howard Neither does any Body I am confident believe the least of it So that I need not I think say more For the King I do sincerely pray for him and wish well to him and to the Nation that they may be happy in one another that he may be indeed the Defender of the Faith that the Protestant Religion and the Peace and Safety of the Kingdom may be preserv'd and flourish under his Government and that himself in his Person may be happy both here and hereafter As for the Share I had in the Prosecution of the Popish Plot I take God to Witness that I proceeded in it in the Sincerity of my Heart being then really convinced as I am still that there was a Conspiracy against the King the Nation and the Protestant Religion And I likewise profess that I never knew any thing directly or indirectly of any Practice with the Witnesses which I look upon as so horrid a thing that I never could have endured it For I thank God Falshood and Cruelty were never in my Nature but always the farthest from it imaginable I did believe and do still that Popery is breaking in upon the Nation and that those that advance it will stop at nothing to carry on their Design I am heartily sorry that so many Protestants give their helping hand to it But I hope God will preserve the Protestant Religion and this Nation though I am afraid it will fall under very great Trials and very sharp Sufferings And indeed the Impiety and Profaneness that abounds and appears so scandalously bare-faced every where gives too just an Occasion to fear the worst thing that can befal a People I pray God prevent it and give those who have shewed a Concern for the publick Good and have appeared hearty for the true Interest of the Nation and the Protestant Religion Grace to live so that they may not cast a Reproach on that which they endeavour to advance which God knows has often given me sad Thoughts And I hope such of my Friends as may think they are touched by this will not take what I say in ill Part but will endeavour to amend their ways and live suitable to the Rules of the true Reformed Religion which is the only thing can administer true Comfort at the latter end and relieve a Man when he comes to die As for my present Condition I bless God I have no reâ—pining in my Heart at it I know for my Sins I have deserved much worse at the Hands of God so that I chearfully submit to so small a Punishment as the being taken off a few Years sooner and the being made a Spectacle to the Worlâ— I do freely forgive all the World particularly those concerned in taking away my Life and I desire and conjure all my Friends to think of no Revenge but to submit to the Holy Will of God into whose Hands I resign my self entirely But to look back a little I cannot but give some touch about the Bill of Exclusion and shew the Reasons of my appearing in that Business which in short is this That I thought the Nation in such Danger of Popery and that the Expectation of a Popish Successor as I have said in Parliament put the King's Life likewise in much Danger that I saw no way so effectual to secure both as such a Bill As to the Limitations that were proposed if they were sincerely offered and had passed into a Law the Duke then should have been excluded from the Power of a King and the Government quite altered and a little more than the Name of a King left So I could not see either Sin or Fault in the one when all People were willing to admit of the other But thought it better to have a King with his Prerogative and the Nation easie and safe under him than a King without it which bred perpetual Jealousies and a continual Struggle All this I say only to Justifie my Sâ—ir and not to enâ—lame others Though I cannot but think my earnestness in that matter has had no small Influence in my present Sufferings But I have now done with this World and am going to a Kingdom which cannot be moved And as to the conspiring to seize the Guards which is the Crime for which I am Condemned and which is made a Constructive Treason for taking away the King's Life to bring it within the Statute of Edw. 3. I shall give this true and clear Account I never was at Mr. Shepheard's with that Company but once and there was no undertaking then of securing or seizing the Guards nor none appointed to view or examine them Some Discourse there was of the feasibleness of in and several times by Accident in general Discourse elsewhere I have heard it mentioned as a thing might easily be done but never consented to as a thing fit to be done And I remember particularly at my Lord Shaftsbury's there being some general Discourse of this kind I immediately flow out and exclaimed against it and asked if the thing succeeded what must be done next but mastering the Guards and killing them in cold Blood which I looked upon as a detestable thing and so like a Popish Practice that I could not but abhor it And at the same time the Duke of Monmouth took me by the Hand and told me very kindly My Lord I see you and I are of a Temper did you ever hear so horrid a thing And I must needs do him Justice to declare that I ever observed in him an Abhorrence of all base things As to my going to Mr. Shepheard's I went with an Intention to taste Sherry For he had promised to reserve for me the next very good Piece he met with when I went out of Town And if he recollects himself he may remember I asked him about it and he went and fetch'd a Bottle but
and all the Errors of my past Life and that Thou wilt not lay my secret Sins and Ignorances to my Charge but wilt graciously support me during that small Time of Life now before me and assist me in my last Moments and not leave me then to be disordered by Fear or any other Temptations but make the Light of thy Countenance to shine upon me Thou art my Sun and my Shield and as thou supportest me by thy Grace so I hope thou wilt hereafter Crown me with Glory and receive me into the Fellowship of Angels and Saints in that blessed Inheritance purchased for me by my most merciful Redeemer who is I trust at thy Right Hand preparing a â—lace for me and is ready to receive me into whose Hands I commend my Spirit But though this gallant Man ended his natural Life with a Death in it self ignominious yet his Memory shall always be retained by every good English Man After the Death of these Noble Persons the Remainder of the Game was play'd almost without Rub Bateman the Chyrurgeon Captain Walcot and Rouse followed all for Treason and all of different Complections and where Treason could have no Colour actually to take away the Life of those that were Opponents to Popish Tyranny and Arbitrary Government Misdemeanours were set on foot to take away their Means of Living by Fines from 10000 to 100000 l. for Words against his Royal Highness tho' by Magna Charta a Salvo Contenemento is reserved for Misdemeanors against the King And you may be sure from what has been said before that Jury men could not be missed off and Sheriffs to return them that would effectually do the Work But tho' I do readily confess I have no great Stomach to rake any further into the cursed Designs of our then Court in setting up Conspiracies for the Ruine of the Protestant Religion and our Civil Rights in these Kingdoms yet give me leave to say somewhat for the Reader 's Satisfaction of the Honourable Colonel Sidney who for his noble Extract and Quality was inferior to few but for his excellent Vertues hardly to be match'd by any which last was especially a constant Eye-sore to our Court and therefore he must be hooked Neck and Shoulders into the Conspiracy But though otherwise he was a Person of admirable Parts yet he said not much at his Tryal as believing whatever he should say would signifie nothing with that Judicature whom he thought had already prejudged him and so it was really in effect for as the Learned Mr. Hawles judiciously observed He was meerly talked to Death under the Notion of a Commonwealths-man and found Guilty by a Jury who were not much more proper Judges in the Case than they should have been if what he had writ had been done by him in Syriac or Arabick It 's observable the Indictment against him was never presented to the Grand Jury before they came into the Hall and yet they found it immediately and was in substance like the rest For a Conspiracy to Depose the King and stirring up Rebellion and as an Addition for writing a Libel to that Purpose The greatest part of the Evidence as it was in my Lords Russel's Case was only Hear-say nay West whose Evidence was once rejected must be admitted now and that to tell a long Story of what he had heard from one and another Person the rest viz. Rumsey and my Lord Howard's with his Council of 6 were much of the same Stamp only my Lord was very Rhetorical even to Pedantry upon the Matter according to his vain though usual Custom But to clench the Matter there was a Paper found in the Prisoner's Study said to be his Writing the Substance whereof was An Enquiry into the several Forms of Government and Reasons of their Decay together with the Rights of the People Bounds of Sovereignty and Original Power wherein among other Things were these Expressions The King is subject to the Law of God as he is a Man to the People that made him such as a King And wherein there are Examples cited how evil Princes had been sometimes destroyed by a Popular Fury as others had been deposed But where was the Treason of all this Or if it had been so why did they not prove that it was his Hand-writing But in short so far as any Man of impartial Principles and good Sense has heard of them Papers they contained in them a great deal more Learning and rectified Principles than the Chief Justice Jeffreys had Manners when without any Regard to the Noble Family and the Name of the Sidneys he said the Prisoner was born a Trayâ—or It will be too long to run through all the Particulars And therefore I shall and can only gratifie the Reader with something that was his own and that is his last Speech at his Execution upon Tower-Hill Dec. 7. 1683 after I have first premised that King Charles shewed his usual Gratitude to Mr. Sidney now the Right Honourable the Earl of Rumney the Colonel's Brother in cutting him off for so trivial a Crime if it was any for having not long before taken so much Pains to bring the Defensive League about with Holland which his Majesty valued himself so much upon in Parliament to say nothing of his Majesty's many other Obligations to that Noble Family Men Brethren and Fathers Friends Countrymen and Strangers IT may be expected that I should now say some great Matters unto you but the Rigour of the Season and the Inâ—irmities of my Age encreased by a close Imprisonment of above 5 Months doth not permit me Moreover we live in an Age that maketh Truth pass for Treason I dare not say any Thing contrary unto it and the Ears of those that are about me will probably be found too tender to hear it My Tryal and Condemnation doth sufficiently evidence this West Rumsey and Keyling who were brought to prove the Plot said no more of me than that they knew me not And some others equally known unto me had used my Name and that of some others to give a little Reputation unto their Designs The Lord Howard is too infamous by his Life and the many Perjuries not to be denied or rather sworn by himself to deserve mention and being a single Witness would be of no Value though he had been of an unblemish'd Credit or had not seen and confessed that the Crimes committed by him would be pardoned only for committing more and even the Pardon promised could not be obtained till the Drudgery of Swearing was over This being laid aside the whole Matter is reduc'd to the Papers said to be found in my Closet by the King's Officers without any other Proof of their being written by me than what is taken from the Suppositions upon the Similitude of an Hand that is easily counterfeited and which hath been lately declared in the Lady Car's Case to be no lawful Evidence in Criminal Causes But if I had
repeated much the same Things as he had told the Council before he proceeded to tell them That after having given them such Assurances he could not doubt but of a suitable return on their part and particularly in what related to the settling of his Revenues as he called it as it was in his Brother's time That he might use many Arguments to them for enforcing his Demand from the benefit of Trade supply of the Navy the necessity of the Crown and the well-being of the Government it self which he was not to suffer to be precarious That he foresaw there was one popular Argument which might be used against what he asked from the inclination Men had for frequent Parliaments which some might think would be best secured by feeding him from time to time by such proportions as they should think convenient But that Argument it being the first time he spake to them from the Throne he would answer once for all that that would be a very improper Method to take with him that the best way to ingage him to meet them often was to use him always well and therefore he expected a speedy Compliance with his Demands now that he might meet them again to all their Satisfactions But tho this was a very odd way of caressing a Parliament yet they being in a manner fashioned before to his hand they were so far from taking notice of it and what was more of the most grievous and dangerous State of the whole Nation as it was left by King Charles that instead of representing the same to the now King or redressing any Grievance they immediately gave him a Revenue to enable him to ruin the Church and State upon the Foundation his Brother had laid for him for besides their settling the Customs and Temporary Excise upon him as they were before upon his Brother They laid a new Imposition upon Wines and Vinegars made an Act to lay more Custom upon Sugars and Tobacco another laying an Imposition upon all French Linnens and all East-India Linnen and several other Indian Manufactures also upon French Wrought Silks and Stuffs and all Brandies And that there might be a nearer Conjunction between His Majesty and France tho the Nation thought them always before too great the Act for prohibiting the Importation of French Wine Vinegar Brandy Linnens and Cloth Silks Malt Paper or any Manufacture made or mix'd with Silk Thread Wool Hair Gold or Silver or Leather being of the Growth or Manufacture of France was now fully repealed There was also five Shillings per Tun granted upon every Voyage which any foreign Ship should make from Port to Port in England and Twelve-pence per Tun for every Voyage which a Foreign built Ship not free should make so that in short this Revenue with the Hereditary Excise and other Revenues of the Crown have been computed to amount to 2400000 l. per Annum to which if you add 15000 per Annum which the King had when he was Duke of York the whole will amount to 2550000 per An. which was 3 times more than any King of England except Henry VIII had before the King's Brother But before this Sessions was over they heard of something not only from the North but also from the West that did not a little terrifie the greatest part of them The King in the Close of the fore-mentioned Speech the very Day of the Opening of the Parliament told them That he had News that Morning from Scotland that the Earl of Argyle was Landed in the West Highlands with the Men that he had brought along with him from Holland and that there were Two Declarations Published one in the Name of all those in Arms there and the other in his own He said in general of both that he was charged in them of Usurpation and Tyranny but gave no Particulars of the Former the Court contenting themselves to put it by piece-meals into the Gazzette with what Animadversions they pleased but the last of them he presently communicated unto them and was in Substance this that follows A DECLARATION of Archibald Earl of Argyle Lord Kintyre Cowall Campbell and Lorn Heritable Sheriff and Lieutenant of the Shires of Argyle and Turbette and Heritable Justice General of the said Shires I Shall not Publish my Case Published already in Print in Latin and in Dutch and more largely in English nor mean I to repeat the Printed Declaration emitted by several Noble Men Gentlemen and others of both Nations now in Arms because the Sufferings of Me and my Family are therein mentioned I have thought it fit for me to Declare for my Self that as I go to Arms with those who have appointed me to Conduct them for no Private and Personal End only for those contained in the said Declaration which I have concerted with them and approved of so I do claim no Interest but what I had before the pretended Forfeiture of my Family and have a sufficient Right to And that I do freely and as a Christian forgive all Personal Injuries against my Person and Family to all that shall not oppose but joyn and concur with us in our present Undertaking for the Ends mentioned in the said Declaration and hereby I oblige my self never to pursue them in Judgment nor out of Judgment And I do further declare That obtaining the Quiet and peaceable Possession of what belonged to my Father and my Self before our pretended Forfeitures I shall satisfie all Debts due by my Father and my Self as any Heir or Debtor can be obliged And as my Faithfulness to his late Majesty and his Government hath sufficiently appeared to all unbyassed Persons void of Malice so I do with Grief acknowledge my former too much complying with and conniving at the Methods that have been taken to bring us to the sad Condition we are now in though God knows never concurring in the Design I have now with God's Strength suffered patiently my unjust Sentence and Banishment 3 Years an half and have never offered to make any Uproar or Defence by Arms to disturb the Peace upon my private Concern but the King being now dead and the Duke of York having taken off his Mask and abandoned and invaded our Religion and Liberties resolving to enter into the Government and exercising it contrary to Law I think it not only just but my Duty to God and my Country to use my utmost Endeavours to oppose and repress his Usurpations and Tyranny And therefore being assisted and furnish'd very nobly by several good Protestants and invited and accompanied by several of both Nations to lead them I resolve as God shall enable me to use their Assistance of all kinds towards the Ends exprest in the said Declaration And I do hereby earnestly Invite and Obtest all honest Protestants and particularly all my Friends and Blood Relations to concur with us in the said Declaration And as I have written several Letters so having no other way fully to
and would gain his Point in favour of Dissenters at leastwise as to the gaining his Prerogative in Westminster-Hall and when he thought he had gone pretty far that way he granted a Commission of Ecclesiastical Affairs which yet was not opened till the 3d of Aug. though it had been Sealed some Months before But at last out it came and whereas I have never yet seen it Printed but once and lest the same should be forgotten I shall insert it in this place and it runs in the following Terms JAMES the Second by the Grace of GOD King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. TO the most Reverend Father in God our Right Trusty and Right Well-beloved Councellor William Lord Archbishop of Canterbury Primate of all England and Metropolitan and to our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Councellor George Lord Jefferies Lord Chancellor of England and to our Right Trusty and Right Well-beloved Councellor Lawrence Earl of Rochester Lord High-Treasurer of England and to our Right Trusty and Right Well-beloved Cousin and Councellor Robert Earl of Sunderland President of our Council and our principal Secretary of State and to the Right Reverend Father in God and our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Councellor Nathaniel Lord Bishop of Duresme and to the Right Reverend Father in God our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Thomas Lord Bishop of Rochester and to our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Councellor Sir Edward Herbert Knight Chief Justice of the Pleas before us to be holden assigned Greeting We for divers good weighty and necessary Causes and Considerations Us hereunto especially moving of our meer Motion and certain Knowledge by Force and Virtue of our Supream Authority and Prerogative Royal do Assign Name and Authorize by these our Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England you the said Lord Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Chancellor of England Lord High-Treasurer of England Lord President of our Council Lord Bishop of Duresme Lord Bishop of Rochester and our Chief Justice aforesaid or any three or more of you whereof you the said Lord Chancellor to be one from time to time and at all times during our Pleasure to Exercise Use Occupy and Execute under Us all manner of Jurisdiction Priviledges and Preheminences in any wise touching or concerning any Spiritual or Ecclesiastical Jurisdictions within this our Realm of England and Dominion of Wales and to Visit Reform Redress Order Correct and Amend all such Abuses Offences Contempts and Enormities whatsoever which by the Spiritual or Ecclesiastical Laws of this Realm can or may lawfully be Reformed Ordered Redressed Corrected Restrained or Amended to the Pleasure of Almighty God and encrease of Vertue and the Conservation of the Peace and Unity of this Realm And we do hereby Give and Grant unto you or any Three or more of you as is aforesaid whereof you the said Lord Chancellor to be one thus by Us Named Assigned Authorized and Appointed by Force of our Supream Authority and Prerogative Royal full Power and Authority from time to time and at all times during our Pleasure under Us to Exercise Use and Execute all the Premises according to the Tenour and Effect of these our Letters Patents any Matter or Cause to the Contrary in any wise notwithstanding And we do by these Presents give full Power and Authority unto you or any three or more of you as is aforesaid whereof you the Lord Chancellor to be one by all lawful Ways and Means from time to time hereafter during our Pleasure to enquire of all Offences Contempts Transgressions and Misdemeanors done and committed contrary to the Ecclesiastical Laws of this our Realm in any County City Borough or other Place or Places exempt or not exempt within this our Realm of England and Dominion of Wales and of all and every of the Offender or Offenders therein and them and every of them to Order Correct Reform and Punish by Censure of the Church And also we do Give and Grant full Power and Authority unto you or any three or more of you as is aforesaid whereof you the said Lord Chancellor to be one in like manner as is aforesaid from time to time and at all times during our Pleasure to enquire of search out and call before you all and every Ecclesiastical Person or Persons of what Degree or Dignity soever as shall offend in any of these Particulars before-mentioned and them and every of them to Correct and Punish for such their Misbehaviours and Misdemeanours by Suspending or Depriving them from all Promotions Ecclesiastical and from all Functions in the Church and to inflict such other Punishment or Censures upon them according to the Ecclesiastical Laws of this Realm And further we do give full Power and Authority unto you or any three or more of you as is aforesaid whereof you the said Lord Chancellor to be one by Virtue hereof and in like Manner and Form as is aforesaid to enquire hear determine and punish all Incest Adulteries Fornications Outrages Misbehaviours and Disorders in Marriage and all other Grievances and great Crimes or Offences which are punishable or reformable by the Ecclesiastical Laws of this our Realm committed or done or hereafter to be committed or done in any Place exempt or not exempt within this our Realm according to the Tenour of the Ecclesiastical Laws in that behalf Granting you or any three or more of you as is aforesaid whereof you the Lord Chancellor to be one full Power and Authority to order and award such Punishment to every such Offender by Censures of the Church or other lawful Ways as is abovesaid And further We do give full Power and Authority to you or any three or more of you as is aforesaid whereof you the said Lord Chancellor to be one to call before you or any three or more of you as aforesaid whereof you the said Lord Chancellor to be one all and every Offender and Offenders in any of the Premises and also all such as by you or any three or more of you as is aforesaid whereof you the said Lord Chancellor to be one shall seem to be suspected Persons in any of the Premises which you shall object against them and to proceed against them and every of them as the Nature and Quality of the Offence or Suspicion in that behalf shall require and also to call all such Witnesses or any other Person or Persons that can inform you concerning any of the Premises as you or any three or more of you as is aforesaid whereof you the said Lord Chancellor to be one and them and every of them to examine upon their Corporal Oaths for the better Tryal and Opening of the Truth of the Premises or any part thereof And if you or any three or more of you as is aforesaid whereof you the said Lord Chancellor to be one shall find any Person or Persons whatsoever obstinate or disobedient in their appearance before you or any three
King's Foragers which greatly perplexed him So that understanding at last that the main Body of the Tartars commanded by Sultan Nuradin was come near his Camp yet without being able precisely to learn the Place where they were he caused it to be published among the Moldavians That whoever brought him certain Intelligence of them should have the Reward of 200 Crowns Whereupon one that was well acquainted with the Country went into the Enemies Camp and having observed it returned and gave the King an Account that they lay within a Mile of his Army and that a Party of 4000 Tartars was advanced at some distance from the rest The King being thus informed of the Posture the Enemy were in detached the Court-Marshal and the Court-Treasurer about Midnight to attack those advanced Troops and followed himself with the whole Army This Detachment with the Help of the Moldavian who was their Guide came upon the Enemy before they had time to retire to their main Body and after a sharp Dispute entirely routed them taking about 300 Prisoners among whom were several Murza's and other Persons of considerable Note among the Tartars While this was doing the King also advanced and attacked the Serasquier and Sultan who not knowing of the Defeat of their advanced Troops expected they would have fallen upon the Poles in their Rear and Flank and with this Encouragement they put themselves into a Posture to oppose him However they were deceived and after a short fight were routed and forced to flee leaving a great many Slain and Prisoners behind them but not without Loss also on the Poles side there being several Officers and Persons of Quality and particularly the Palatine Podolskie among the Number of the Slain But while these Things were doing by the Polish Army abroad the Country nearer Home was cruelly ravaged by the Garrison of Caminiec who made frequent Incursions into the Polish Territories Which together with the King 's marching homeward after this last Action and demolishing the fore-mentioned Forts in his Return which he had raised as he went onwards made this Expedition to be little thought of and as little Advantage to redound to the Poles from it as they hitherto had reaped by their Alliance with the Moscovites who made a mighty Smoak this Campaign but very little Fire of whom we shall have more Occasion to talk hereafter year 1687 Now we are come to another Year and the Affairs of England fall of Course under our Consideration And as we left off with taking Notice of the King's Kindness to his Roman Catholick Subjects in a more particular Manner in the Letter he wrote to the Parliament of Scotland we are now to tell you of a more general Act of his and that was upon the 12th of February to issue out his Proclamation for a Toleration of Religion unto all Wherein by the by you are to observe that he exerted his Absolute Power which he said his Subjects ought to obey without Reserve But the Toleration he allowed his Roman Catholick Subjects in Scotland he would scarce allow to his Protestant Subjects in Ireland for Tyrconnel so did Talbot merit for reforming the Army was not only made an Earl but Lord-Lieutenant in Ireland to boot in the room of my Lord Clarendon and one Fitton an infamous Person detected for Forgery not only at Westminster but Chester too was brought out of the King 's Bench Prison in England to be Chancellor and Keeper of the King's Conscience in Ireland Sir Charles Porter being turned out to make way for him Now Talbot being thus advanced in Honour and Office began to exert his Authority and his first Proclamation towards the End of Feb. imported a Promise to defend the Laws Liberty and Established Religion but fairly left out the Preservation of the Act of Settlement and Explanation However though at first he only left them out being resolved to out the Protestants first and to let the Irish into their Forfeited Estates yet he did not stop there We told you last Year what Efforts were made to propagate the King's Power in Westminster-Hall and what Instructions the Judges had in their Circuits to dispense with the Penal Laws and Tests against Dissenters from the Church and now these Things being brought pretty well to bear upon the 25th of April out came the King's Declaration for Liberty of Conscience which was conceived in the following Terms His MAJEETY's Gracious DECLARATION to all His Loving Subjects for LIBERTY of CONSCIENCE JAMES R. IT having pleased Almighty God not only to bring Us to the Imperial Crown of these Kingdoms through the greatest Difficulties but to preserve Us by a more than ordinary Providence upon the Throne of Our Royal Ancestors there is nothing now that We so earnestly desire as to Establish our Government on such a Foundation as may make Our Subjects happy and unite them to Us by Inclination as well as Duty which We think can be done by no Means so effectually as by granting to them the free Exercise of their Religion for the Time to come and add that to the perfect Enjoyment of their Property which has never been in any Case invaded by Us since Our coming to the Crown Which being the Two Things Men value most shall ever be preserved in these Kingdoms during our Reign over them as the truest Methods of their Peace and Our Glory We cannot but heartily wish as it will easily be believed that all People of Our Dominions were Members of the Catholick Church yet We humbly thank Almighty God it is and hath of long time been Our constant Sense and Opinion which upon divers Occasions We have declared that Conscience ought not to be constrained nor People forced in Matters of meer Religion It has ever been directly contrary to Our Inclination as We think it is to the Interest of Government which it destroys by spoiling Trade depopulating Countries and discouraging Strangers and finally that it never obtained the End for which it was employed And in this We are the more Confirmed by the Reflections We have made upon the Conduct of the Four last Reigns For after all the frequent and pressing Endeavours that were used in each of them to reduce this Kingdom to an exact Conformity in Religion it is visible the Success has not answered the Design and that the Difficulty is invincible We therefore out of Our Princely Care and Affection unto all Our Loving Subjects that they may live at Ease and Quiet and for the Increase of Trade and Incouragement of Strangers have thought fit by Virtue of Our Royal Prerogative to issue forth this Our Declaration of Indulgence making no doubt of the Concurrence of Our Two Houses of Parliament when we shall think it convenient for them to meet In the first Place We do declare That We will Protect and Maintain Our Archâ—bishops Bishops and Clergy and all other Our Subjects of the Church of England in the free
Doge who shall have 500 Ducats a Month and Entertainment and shall act and do as the Doge may do receiving his Revenues defraying his Charges and reserving what shall be due to him till he returns But as if Fortune had been now glutted in heaping up of her favours upon Morosini by adding to the many Victories and Conquests he had made the highest Dignity his Country could confer upon him he did nothing that was memorable this Campaign having been beyond most Mens expectations extreamly baffled in the Enterprize he undertook upon Negropont nor indeed ever after this comparatively to the great feats he had done in the preceding part of his life So that besides the taking of Chir in Dalmatia by General Cornare about the beginning of Sept. and that small Victory which the Albanians who had now put themselves under the protection of the Republick got over some thousands of Turks Commanded by the Basha of Scutari and their taking the Town of Maduna thereupon there was nothing else of any great consideration that fell out on that side And as for Poland he that can find any thing extraordinary there for the breaking up of the Diet held at Grod now this Year in Confusion and the Incursion of the Turks into the Province of Pocusia I do not take to be such let him do it and I shall pass on to somewhat of greater Moment Now it may be remembred in what uncertain state and imminent danger we left both the Civil and Religious Rights of Britain there were some concurring causes that made those of Europe appear to be little less so France by the Interval of the Peace was grown wonderfully potent and if the Altercations between the Imperial and French Ministers about the later's Fortifying of Traerback foreboded no good to the Empire the Death of the Elector of Cologn which hapned June 2d this year manifestly tended to an open Rupture The two Candidates for the Electorate were young Prince Clement of Bavaria the Elector's Brother of that Name whose interest was supported by Germany and the Cardinal de Fustemburg whose pretentions were backed by the Crown of France But though the former made a shift to carry it and that his Election was confirmed afterwards by the Pope who was at no good terms with France at this time yet the French K. concerned himself so far in the matter as to make it an occasion to begin the cruellest War that ever happn'd in this part of the world this was seconded with a Manifesto from the French K which indeed in the right course of things should have been first setting forth the Justice of his cause But I hope the world is still at liberty to believe as little of it as they please However it cost Germany this Season besides the incredible sums paid for Contribution no less than the loss of the Fortress of Phillipsbourg taken by the Dauphine in Person Manheim Spire Mentz Creusenack Baccarack Heidelburg and several other places as far as Hailbron besides Bonn secured by the Cardinal de Furstemburg towards the beginning of the dispute about the Election But before all this happened and even soon after the foresaid Elector's Death there was an interview and even a long Conference held at Minden in Westphaliâ— between the Electors of Saxony and Brandenburg the Landâ—grave of Hesse Cassell the Princes of the House of Lunemburg and the P. of Orange under pretence of the Affair of Cologn as it was in part but much more about concerting methods to divert the Storm hanging over our British Isle without disjoynting of which from the French interest and securing of its Religion and Liberties there was but little likelihood of preserving the rest of Europe and confining France to the Bounds set unto it by former Stipulations and Treaties The Consequence of this Interview was the making mighty Preparations in Holland both by Sea and Land without any visible Appearance who they designed to make War upon And tho' it was said the Heer Van Citters the States Ambassador at London assured the King England had nothing to fear from it and did insinuate that France had much more Reason to be allarm'd than he the Design was penetrated into another way Mr. Skelton while Ambassador in Holland had gained some Glimmering of it by the Interception of some Letters to a certain Person in the Family of the Princess of Orange But being soon after sent in the same Quality to France he got a much clearer Light thereof from one Verace a Genevese by Birth The Story whereof is such as deserves a more particular Recital This same Person had been formerly Captain of the Guard to the Prince of Orange but happening to kill a Man in a Duel he was put out of his Master's Favour However Mr. Skelton found a Way by the Interest of the Earl of Clarendon who had bred up his Son my Lord Cornbury at Geneva and was obliged to Verace for many Services he had done him there to make his Peace again The Genevese being thus re-established in his Master's Favour he had a greater Share of it than ever and was more particularly intimate with Monsieur Bentink the Prince's Favourite I could never learn how he put himself out a second time But so it was that he withdrew and was upon his Journey to Geneva when upon the Noise of the Preparations in Holland he writ to Mr. Skelton then at Paris that he had something to communicate to the King his Master that concerned nothing less than his Crown and to let him know a Son-in-Law whom he was not mistrustful enough of But for the rest he would not explicate the Secret to any other than the King himself if he were pleased to send him Orders to come and wait upon him Upon this Mr. Skelton writ several Letters to England but did not receive an Answer suitable to the Occasion which made both himself and the French Court much concerned at it Yet when they had in a manner entirely acquiesced and left the King to take his own Measures since he seemed to reject theirs and the Assistances offered him it hapned one Day that Monsieur de Croissi being in Discourse with Mr. Skelton and interrogating of him concerning the then State of Things in England the other answered He had nothing more to do in the Matter and durst not inter meddle any farther But added That he believed if the Most Christian King would order his Ambassador to declare to the States the Part he took in the Affairs of the King his Master and to threaten to attack them in case they attempted any thing against him that he would quickly put a Stop to them and break the Measures of the Prince of Orange thereupon c. Monsieur de Croissi took the Proposal presently and he no sooner acquainted the King with it but he sent Orders to the Count d' Avaux to acquaint the States-General with his Mind And this occasioned
Order they shall receive from Feversham This was directly a clear and full Abdication or Desertion of the Army which unavoidably necessitated them to submit to the Prince of Orange they having no Body to lead or head them against him And it is not conceivable how they could avoid entring into an Association or Oath of Allegiance to the Prince now the King had left them without exposing themselves by resisting a Foreign Army and a poisoned Nation For neither would the Nation continue long without a Prince nor would any Person who should have succeeded in that Capacity have suffered them to live within his Government without giving him Security by Oath for their Submission and Loyaly to him So that the whole Design of this Letter seems to be the Sowing Division in the Nation that when he left us we might not unite or settle our selves under the other but be divided by our Principles that so we might the more easily reduce us again into the State we are in when the Prince first designed his Expedition against England The King being gone as above-said Decem. 11. in the Morning the Principal Officers of the Army about the Town thereupon met about 10 a Clock at Whitehal and sent an Express to the Prince of Orange to acquaint him with the Departure of the King and to assure him that they would assist the Lord Mayor to keep the City quiet till his Highness came and made the Souldiery to enter into his Service Much about the same time the Lords Spiritual and Temporal about the Town came to Guildhal and sending for the Lord Mayor and Aldermen made the following Declartion The Declaration of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in and about the Cities of London and Westminster Aâ—â—â—mbled at Guild Hall the 14th of December 1688. VVE doubt not but the World believes that in this great and dangerous Conjuncture we are heartily and zealously concerned for the Protestant Religion the Laws of the Land and the Liberties and Properties of the Subject And we did reasonably hope that the King having issued out his Proclamation and Writs for a Free Parliament we might have rested secure under the Expectation of that Meeting But His Majesty having withdrawn himself and as we apprehend in order to his Departurâ— out of this Kingdom by the pernicious Counsels of Persons ill affected to our Nation and Roligion we cannot without being wanting to our Duty be silent under those Calamities wherein the Popish Counsels which so long prevailed have miserably involved these Realms We do therefore unanimously resolve to apply our selves to his Highness the Prince of Orange who with so great Kindness to these Kingdoms so vast Expence and so much Hazard hath undertaken by endeavouring to procure a Free Parliament to rescue us with as little effusion of Christian Blood as possible from the eminent Dangers of Popery and Slavery And we do hereby declare That we will with our utmost Endeavours assist his Highness in the obtaining such a Parliament with all speed wherein our Laws our Liberties and Properties may 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 may be supported and encouraged to the Glory of God the Happiness of the Established Government in these Kingdoms and the Advantage of all Princes and States in Christendom that may be herein concerned In the mean time we will endeavour to preserve as much as in us lies the Peace and Security of these great and popalous Cities of London and Westminster and the parts adjacent by taking care to disarm all Papists and secure all Jesuits and Romish Priests who are in or about the same And if there be any thing more to be performed by Us for promoting his Highnes's Generous Intentions for the Publick Good we shall be ready to do it as occasion requires Signed W. Cant. T. Ebor. Pembrook Dorset Mulgrave Thanet Carlisle Craven Ailesbury Burlington Sussex Berkeley Rochester Newport Weymouth P. Winchester W. Asaph F. Ely Thoâ— Roffen Tho. Petriburg P. Wharton North and Gray Chandois Montague T. Jermâ—n Vaughan Carbery Culpeper Crewe Osulston Whereas His Majesty hath privately this Morning withdrawn himself we the Lords Spiritual and Temporal whose Names are hereunto Subscribed being Assembled in Guild-Hall in London having agreed upon and signed a Declaration of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in and about the Cities of London and Westminster Assembled at Guildhall the 11th of Decemb. 1688. do desire the Right Honourable the Earl of Pembrook the Right Honourable the Lord Viscount Weymouth the Right Reverend Father in God the Lord Bishop of Ely and the Right Honourable the Lord Culpeper forthwith to attend His Highness the Prince of ORANGE with the said Declaration and at the same time to acquaint his Highness with what we have further done at this Meeting Dated at Guild-Hall Decemb. 11. 1688. The same Day the Lieutenancy of London signed this following Address to the Prince of Orange at Guild-Hall and sent it by Sir Robert Clayton Kt. Sir Will. Russel Sir Basil Firebrace Kts. and Charles Duncomb Esq May it please your Highness VVE can never sufficiently express the deep Sense we have conceived and shall ever retain in our Hearts that your Highness has exposed your Person to so many Dangers by Sea and Land for the Preservation of the Protestant Religion and the Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom without such unparalleled Undertaking we must probably have suffered all the Miseries that Popery and Slavery could have brought upon us We have been greatly concerned that before this Time we had not any reasonable Opportunity to give Your Highness and the World a Real Testimony That it has been our firm Resolution to venture all that is dear to us to attain those Glorious Ends which your Highness has proposed for Restoring and Settling these Distracted Nations We therefore now unanimously present to your Highness our Just and Due Acknowledgments for that happy Relief you have brought to us and that we may not be wanting in this present Conjuncture we have put our selves into such a posture that by the Blessing of GOD we may be capable to prevent all ill Designs and to preserve this City in Peace and Safety till your Highness's happy Arrival We therefore humbly desire that your Highness will please to repair to this City with what convenient speed you can for the perfecting the Great Work which your Highness has so happily begun to the general Joy and Satisfaction of us all The Prince of Orange in the mean time finding the Kings Troops now without Head to commit many Disorders put forth the following Declaration By the Prince of Orange A Declaration VVHereas We are informed That divers Regiments Troops and Companies have been incouraged to disperse themselves in an Vnusual and Vnwarrantable Manner whereby the Publick Peace is very much disturbed We have thought fit hereby
to require all Colonels and Commanders in Chief of such Regiments Troops and Companies by Beat of Drum or otherwise to call together the several Officers and Soldiers belonging to their respective Regiments Troops and Companies in such Places as they shall find most convenient for their Rendezvous and there to keep them in good Order and Discipline And We do likewise direct and require all such Officers and Soldiers forthwith to repair to such Place as shall be appointed for that purpose by the Respective Colonels or Commanders in Chief whereof speedy Notice is to be given unto Vs for our further Orders Given at Our Court at Henly Decemb. 13. 1688. Prince of ORANGE From Henly he advanced by easie Marches towards London being invited thither as already noted by diverse Noblemen and Citizens as the King was also by some Lords to return which he did on Sunday the 16th in the Evening a Sett of Boys following him through the Streets and made some Huzza's while the rest of the People silently looked on But before the King's Return the Privy Council and Peers met and made this Order on the 14th VVE the Peers of this Realm Assembled with some of the Lords of the Privy Council do hereby require all Irish Officers and Soldiers to repair forthwith to the respective Bodies to which they do or did lately belong and do hereby declare that behaving themselves peaceably they shall have Subsistence pay'd them till they shall be otherwise provided for or imployed And the said Officers and Soldiers are to deliver up their Arms to some of the Officers of the Ordnance who are to deposite the same in the Stores in the Tower of London And We do require and command all Justices of the Peace Constables and other Officers whom it may concern that they apprehend and seize all such Soldiers as shall not repair to their respective Bodies and that they be dealt with as Vagabonds Given at the Council Chamber at Whitehal the Fourteenth of Decemb. 1688. Tho. Ebor. Hallifax Dorset Carlisle Craven Nottingham Rochester N. Duresine P. VVinchester North and Gray J. Trevor J. Titus It was high time to put out this Order for on Thursday Dec. 13. about Three in the Morning there was a terrible Allarm That the Irish in a desperate Rage were approaching London putting Man Woman and Child to the Sword which made the People all rise placing Lights in their Windows from top to bottom and every Man guarding his own Door with his Musquet charged with Powder and Ball and all the Traindbands of the City were in Arms so that there was nothing heard but Shooting and Beating of Drums all Night And what is very strange this Allarm spread it self over the face of the whole Kingdom and all that were able to carry Arms vowed the Defence of their Lives Laws Religion and Liberties and stood resolved to destroy all the Irish and Papists in England in case any Injury were offered them but few Papists suffered in their Persons only their Houses were generally rifled under a pretence of searching for Arms and Ammunition The Prince who was now at VVindsor had sent M. Zulestein to the King to desire him to continue at Rochester but missing him the King came to VVhitehal and from thence sent the Lord Feversham with a Letter to the Prince to VVindsor to invite him to St. James's with what number of Troops he should think convenient to bring along with him But the Prince referring the Consideration of the Subject-Matter of the Letter to the Peers about him they concluded that the shortness of the Time could admit of no better Expedient that the King might be desired to remove with a reasonable Distance from London and Ham an House belonging to the Dutchess of Lauderdale was pitch'd upon and a Note or Paper dâ—rawn up to that purpose which was ordered to be delivered after the Prince's Guards were in Possession of the Posts about VVhitehall the Substance whereof was as follows WE desire you the Lord Marquess of Hallifax the Earl of Shrewsbury and the Lord Delamere to tell the King That it is thought convenient for the great Quiet of the City and the great Safety of his Person that he do remove to Ham where he shall be attended by his Guards who will be ready to preserve him from any Disturbance Given at VVindsor the Seventeenth Day of December 1688. VV. Prince de Orange The Guards who were commanded by Count Solmes made it 10 a Clock at Night before they could reach London And the Kings Guards then on Duty not being very forward to dislodge it was Twelve before the Lords could deliver the said Paper of which they first sent this Account to Secretary Middleton My Lord THere is a Message to be delivered to his Majesty from the Prince which is of so great Importance that we who are charged with it desire we may be immediately admitted and therefore desire to know where we may find your Lordship that you may introduce My Lord c. Hallifax Shrewsbury Delamere He accordingly presently introduced them the King being by that time in Bed where they made an Apology for coming at so unseasonable a Time and delivering him the Paper the King read it and said He would comply with it Upon this the Lords humbly desired he would remove so early as to be at Ham by Noon to prevent Meeting the Prince in his Way to London where he was to come the same Day His Majesty readily agreed to this too and asked whether he might not appoint what Servants should attend him To which the Lords replied That it was left to him to give Order in that as he pleased and so they took their Leave of him When they were gone as far as the Privy-Chamber the King sent for them again and told them he had forgot to acquaint them with his Resolutions before the Message came to send my Lord Godolphin next Morning to the Prince to propose his going back to Rochester he finding by the Message M. Zulestein was charged with the Prince had no Mind he should be at London and therefore he now desired he might rather return to Rochester than go to any other place The Lords replied That they would immediately send an Account to the Prince of what His Majesty desired and they did not doubt of such an Answer as would be to his Satisfaction Accordingly they sent to him who was then at Sion-House and before 8 next Morning there came a Letter from M. Bentink by the Prince's Order agreeing to the King's Proposals of going to Rochester Hereupon he went the Guards being made ready and Boats prepared that Night to Gravesend in his own Barge attended by the Earl of Arran and some few others The same Day being Dec. 18. about Three in the Afternoon His Highness the Prince of Orange came to St. James's attended by Monsieur Schomberg and a great Number of the Nobility and Gentry and was entertained with
pretty flat The King gave order that the Counterscarp should be attackt that Afternoon and had it not been for one Errour which yet could not well be avoided the place had been infallibly carried However to shew you the bravery of our Men upon this occasion we will give you a few particulars About half an Hour after 3 the signal being given by firing 3 Pieces of Cannon and the Granadeers standing in the furthermost Angle of the Trenches they leapt over and ran toward the Counterscarp firing their Pieces and throwing in their Granadoes which gave the Irish the Allarm who had all their Guns ready and discharged great and small Shot upon them as fast as possible who were not behind with them in either so that in less than 2 Minutes there was such a terrible Noise that you would have thought the Skies ready to rent in sunder Captain Carlile of my Lord Drogheda's Regiment ran on with his Granadeers to the Counterscarp and though he was wounded twice between that and the Trenches yet he went bravely on and commanded his Men to throw in their Granadoes but leaping into the dry Ditch under the Counterscarp an Irish Man below shot him dead However the Lieutenant encouraged the Men and they boldly mounted the Counterscarp and all the rest of the Granadeers were as ready as they which so daunted the Irish that they began to throw down their Arms and ran as fast as they could into the Town our Men perceiving this entred the Breach with them pell-mell and above half the Earl of Drogheda's Granadeers with some others were actually within that Place and they had certainly carried it had not the Regiments that were to second the Granadeers upon the Counterscarp stopt there as having no orders to go any farther For the Irish were all running from the Walls quite over the Bridge into the English Town but seeing there were but a few of the English that entred they were with much a-do perswaded to rally And those that were in finding themselves not seconded and their Ammunition spent thought of nothing now but to retreat But some were shot others taken and very few of the rest who came out again but were wounded which so elaâ—ed the Spirits of the Irish that they ventured upon the Breach again and from the Walls and every other where did so pester our Men upon the Counterscarp that after nigh 3 Hours resisting Bullets Stones broken Bottles from the very Women who daringly stood on the Breach and were nearer our Men than their own and whatever else could be thought on to destroy it was at last thought safest to return to the Trenches But this was not our only Loss for while this Work was at the hottest a Brandenburg Regiment who behaved themselves very well being got upon the Black-Battery the Enemies Powder happened to take fire which unhappily blew up a great many of them the Men Faggots Stones and what not flying into the Air with a most terrible Noise and tho' my Lord Cuts who was commanded by the Duke of Wirtemberg to march towards the Spur at the S Gate beat in the Irish that appeared on that side yet he lost several of his Men and was himself wounded For he adventurously approaching within half Musket-shot of the Gate all his Men lay open to the Enemies Shot who lay secure within the Spur and the Walls The Danes demeaned themselves also gallantly at their Post but the mischief on 't was there was but one Breach The Action was very brisk every where and there was one continued fire both of great and small Shot from half an hour after 3 till 7 insomuch that the Smoke which went from the Town reached in one uninterrupted Cloud to the Top of a Mountain at least 6 Miles off The King who stood nigh Cromwel's Fort all the time when the business was over return'd to his Camp very much concerned at the Disappointment as indeed was the whole Army where a mixture of Anger and Sorrow might be seen in every body's Countenance as foreseeing the taking of the Place and the Reduction of the Kingdom would cost the Charge and Fatigue of another Campagne to say nothing of the present Loss which amounted at least to 500 slain upon the Spot besides wounded which were not less than double the number Wherefore the King resolved to raise the Siege and to that purpose after he had constituted the Lord Sidney and Thomas Conningsby Esq since Lord Conningsby Lords Justices of Ireland left the Command of the Army to Count Solms who some time after going for England it was conâ—igned into the Hands of the brave Lieutenant-General Ginkle He embarked with the Prince of Denmark and several other Lords at Duncannon on the 5th of 〈◊〉 arrived the next day in the Evening in Kings-Road near Bristol and on the 9th aâ— Windsor not without a more than ordinary Joy all over the Kingdom leaving the Army in Ireland to march into their Winter-Quarters and so at present we shall leave them and see what was doing in England all this while The Apprehensions of the Disaster that befel us from the French Fleet was no sooner over but the Queen set all hands on work and in a very short time fitted up such a Fleet of Men of War that the Enemy were so far from looking it in the Face upon the Main that they began now to be very apprehensive of their own Coast And indeed it was a general Supposition in England that there were some Designs formed at that time upon France it self and it might for ought I know be contrived so on purpose to amuse such as wished us not well For I remember very particularly that People were somewhat surprized to hear that the Fleet was arrived in Cork-Harbour in Ireland and that my Lord of Malburrough was landed there the 21st of Sept. with the Forces under his Command where on the day following 5 or 600 Seamen and others of the Marine Regiment were imployed to draw the Cannon along and to mount them before the Town which they did with great Cheerfulness and Bravery with the Duke of Graâ—â—on at the Head of them tho' 2 Troops of Dragoons and a Body of Foot appeared without the Town who upon our Mens firing some Field-pieces upon them retired The Eaâ—l was to act upon this Expedition in Concert with some other Troops that were towards that Part of Ireland before and therefore that very Day the Duke of Wirtemberg sent Dean Davis unto him and to Major-General Scravenmore to whom my Lord upon his Arrival had dispatch'd an Express that he would forthwith joyn him to give them an Account that he was upon his March to joyn them with a Detachment of 4000 Foot And because there was a Report that the Duke of Berwick design'd to raise the Siege Major-General Scravenmâ—re sent the Dean back to hasten the Duke's March and the day following ordered a Party of Horse to go and
to bethink themselves of a new Captain General and this Trust and Honour they unanimously devolved on the serene Doge Morosini who had formerly served the Republick so successfully and which nothing now but his great Age made him seem unwilling to accept of As for the Polish Army I think they made a shift to get into the Field by Sept. and in Oct. to block up Caminiec and 't is well had they done that to purpose for as to any thing else they never went about it And now having run thro' the several Transactions of Europe it 's time to close this Year with a few Particulars About the beginning of the Year died the famous Robert Boyle Esq who was a Philosopher under a particular Character as being addicted to the Study of Natural Philosophy and perhaps never any Man dived so deep into the Knowledge of Nature as himself which yet was so far from being attended in him with that Atheism that is too too usual for such speculative Heads that he was always in his Life time esteemed a very pious Man and sincere Christian of which he gave a most convincing Testimony at his Death by the Legacy he left to have a Monthly Sermon preached against Atheism On the 7th of June hapned a most terrible Earthquake in the Island of Jamaca in the West-Indies which did most prodigious Damage especially at the Town of Port-Royal the best of all the English Plantations and the greatest Mart in that part of the World which was in a manner entirely ruined and not only so but 't was computed no less than 1500 People perished in it And upon the 8th of Sept. following about 2 a Clock we felt an Earthquake also in England and particularly in London the like no Man living knew before but blessed be God it did no harm with us nor upon the Continent where it was felt in the same time and manner On the 24th of Dec. died the most serene Electress of Bavaria at Vienna in the 23d Year of her Age after she had undergone several Discomposures from the 28th of Oct. when she was brought to bed of an Electoral Prince This Year was also fatal to Prince Waldeck Camp-Master-General to his Imperial Majesty and the States and on whom the Emperor conferred the Dignity of a Prince by reason of his Merit for he was a Politick and Able as he was unfortunate and the Services he had done him in Hungary and other places but the same died with him Neither ought we to forget that this Year the Duke of Hanover a Protestant Prince had been advanced to an Elector of the Empire and so a Ninth Electorate constituted thereby year 1693 It may be remembred we left King William in the close of the Campaign going to his Diversions in Holland from whence he returned into England before whose Arrival things were so managed in Ireland by my Lord Sidney Lord Lieutenant of that Kingdom that the Parliament there made not only an Act of Recognition of their Majesty's title to that Crown and another to get other Protestants to settle in that Kingdom but one for an additional Duty of Excise upon Beer Ale and other Liquors for the Support of the Government And Scotland seemed very zealous and forward to contribute new Levies or whatever else their Majesties desired And to be sure the Parliament of England that had hitherto on all occasions been ready to promote the King's just designs would not be behind-hand now but took his Majesty's Speech so effectually into their Consideration that before the end of Jan. they passed the Act of Granting to their Majesties an Aid of 4 s. in the Pound for carrying on a vigorous War against France and soon after another that granted certain Rates and Duties of Excise upon Beer Ale or other Liquors for securing Recompences and Advantages in the said Act mentioned to such Persons as should voluntarily advance 1000000 l. for the purposes declared in the Act by paying into the Receipt of his Majesties Exchequer the fore-mentioned Summ before the 1st of May 1693. upon the terms expressly mentioned in the said Act neither did they stop their Handâ— here but proceeded chearfully to other Methods for compleating the necessary Supplies and by the 14th of March the King among others signed two Mony Acts more viz. An Act for Granting to their Majesties certain additional Impositions upon several Goods and Merchandizes for prosecuting the present War with France and an Act for a Review of the Quarterly Pole granted to their Majesties the last Session of Parliament After this the King made a Speech to thank them for what they had done to recommend the Publick Peace to them and Equity in levying what they had so freely given then prorogued the Houses to the 2d of May and in the mean time went himself for Holland But before his Departure did by what Advice I will not determine lay aside Admiral Russel who had beaten the French Fleet last Year and received the Thanks of the House of Commons for it whereof he was then a Member but since made a Peer by the Stile and Title of Earl of Oxford and last Year one of the Lords Justices of England and constituted Henry Killigrew Esq Sir Ralph Delavall and Sir Clovesley Shovel to command the Fleet this Summer The Fleet was numerous and ready pretty early as was also a great Fleet of Merchant-men near 400 Sail in all of English Dutch Hamburgers c. prepared to sail to the Streights under the Convoy of Sir George Rook with a strong Squadron of Men of War with whom the grand Fleet was to keep company till they came to such a Latitude or as was given out in those times by some till they had certain Information where the French Fleet was Which made their Orders discretionary and Sir George who seemed to have some foresight of the Danger exprest himself very loath to part with them But however seeing he could not help it he sailed on and leaving by the way the Vessels bound for Bilboa Lisbon Sr. Tubes and other Ports under Convoy of 2 Men of War which made Sir George have no more with him than 21 now The account of his Expedition as himself sent an Express of it was briefly thus That indeed he had discovered the French Fleet about 20 Leagues short of Cape St. Vincent which made him call a Council of War wherein it was resolved that the Wind being fresh Westerly and giving a fair opportunity to hasten their Passage to Cadiz the Merchants should make the best of their way That upon the Discovery of the Enemies whole Fleet upon the 16th he brought too and stood off with an easie Sail to give what time he could to the heavy Sailors to work away to the Windward sending away the Sheerness to order the small Ships that were under the Shore that they should endeavour to get along the Shore in the Night
little that we were in a manner left disconsolate and next to Despair And what could that be alas but the Death of the best of Queens the best of Wives nay the best of Women our most Gracious Sovereign Lady Mary Queen of Great Britain France and Ireland which happen'd on the 28th of December at her Palace of Kensington after she had lain some few Days sick of the Small-Pox To attempt her Character would be Arrogance in me since it has been done so well by so many learned Pens But I cannot omit remarking the Answer as I have heard His Majesty who knew her best was pleased to make the Archbishop of Canterbury when he went to comfort him for his great Loss That he could not chuse but grieve seeing she had been his Wife for 17 Years and yet he never knew her guilty of an Indiscretion And to add what most People are apt to pass over untouched That she was certainly a Princess of real Piety which I should not say if I had not known some Circumstances my self concerning her upon that Account that were evident tokens of it Wherefore I shall end this unhappy Year with the Parliament and Nation 's Condolance of the King upon this great Loss as himself was pleased to express it and their Protestations to stand by him against all Opponents whatsoever both at home and abroad And the Truth of it is if ever Addresses were real and unfeigned they were those made upon this Occasion since it has been obvious to any Man of Observation that that sad Providence did very much heighten Men's Affections to His Majesty's Person which being before as it were divided between him and that beloved Princess were now entirely cemented into one year 1695 But tho' the Nation laboured under this great Sorrow for our unretrievable Loss as we did also from the Badness of our Coin which had been a long growing Evil upon us and began now to be very intolerable yet there was no going back And therefore the Parliament went roundly to work and besides some other useful Bills had by the 11th of Feb. prepared for the Royal Assent An Act for Granting 4 s. in the Pound to His Majesty And for Applying the Yearly Summ of 300000 l. for Five Years out of the Duties of Tunnage and Poundage and other Summs of Mony payable upon Merchandizes Exported and Imported for Carrying on the War against France with Vigour But what Zeal soever the two Houses in general shewed for the common Cause there was such a Brangle at this time among them especially in the Upper House about sending of the Fleet to the Streights that tho' some under the specious Pretence of Good Will towards the Government took upon them to shew the Inconvenience of it Yet the major part of that most honourable Assembly shewed themselves to have far different Sentiments by their Address of Thanks to the King for so ordering it And it happen'd â— little favourably as if it had been a Confirmation of their Lordships Judgments that News came soon after which gave an Account that some Frigats which Admiral Russel had sent out to cruise had taken 2 French Men of War of the bigger Size near Messina So that the other Party was now obliged to acquiesce and the Lovers of the Government to go on with the King's Business But it was the middle of April or thereabout before there were any more Mony-Bills ready when His Majesty signed among divers others An Act for enabling such Persons as had Estates for Life in Annuities payable by several former Acts therein mentioned to purchase and obtain farther and more certain Interests in such Annuities And in Default thereof for Admitting other Persons to purchase or obtain the same for Raising Moneys for Carrying on the War against France An Act for Granting to His Majesty certain Rates and Duties upon Marriages Births and Burials and upon Batchellors and Widowers for the Term of 5 Years for Carrying on the War against France An Act for Granting to His Majesty several Additional Duties upon Coffee Tea Chocolate and Spices towards Satisfaction of the Debts due for Transport-Service for the Reduction of Ireland And then he was pleased to tell them that the season of the Year was so far advanced and the circumstances of affairs so pressing that he very earnestly recommended unto them the speedy dispatching of such business as they thought of most importance for the publick good because he was to make an end of the Sessions in a few Days which was done accordly after the signing of some other Bills which the Parliament had dispatched and among the rest An Act to grant unto the King certain Duties upon Glass-wares Stone and Earthen Bottles Coal and Culm for carrying on the War as before Then it was that he told them the necessity there was for his Presence abroad but that he would take care to have the administration of Affairs during his Absence put into such Persons hands on whose care and fidelity he could entirely depend and that he doubted not but they both Lords and Gentlemen in their several Stations would be assisting to them and that what it was he required of them was to be more than ordinarily vigilant in preserving the publick Peace In pursuance to this His Majesties Resolution he was pleased before his Departure which was on the 12th of May to appoint in Council the Lord Archbishop the Lord Keeper the Earl of Pembrook the Duke of Devonshire the Duke of Shrewsbury the Earl of Dorset and the Lord Godolphin to be Lords Justices of England for the Administration of the Government during his Absence beyond the Seas where as before he was Commander in Chief of all the Confederate Forces which were this Campaign very strong and out-numbred the French 20000 Men which yet was no such odds as to act offensively as they did as the Duke de Villeroy was over the Armies of France in the room of the Duke of Luxemburg who died towards the beginning of this Year There were two Camps formed for the Confederate Army the one was at Arseel to be commanded by the King in Person and under him by the old Prince de Vaudemont to whom His Majesty had given last Winter the Command in chief of his Armies and the other at Ninove under the Elector of Bavaria and the Duke of Holstein Ploen The King after his usual Divertion went on the 27th of May from Breda to Ghent where the Inhabitants made great preparations to receive him with demonstrations of Joy suitable to what they owed to so great a King and the Protector of their Country and could not have done more to their own Sovereign the King of Spain had he come among them But though the King ordered the Rendesvouz of his Army in the foresaid place and that the Elector himself advanced towards the Scheld yet it is very likely that at the very beginning of the Campaign His
resolved to Execute their Bloody Project on Saturday the 22d of February The Forenoon of that Day was spent in a tedious expectation of News that the King was gone Abroad when one of their Orderly Men which they lodged at Kensington to give them Notice when the King went out tells them that the Guards were all come back in a Foam and that there was a muttering among the People that a Damnable Plot was Discovered and this unexpected News dispersed all the Conspirators and drove them to shift for themselves by a speedy Flight Nor were their apprehensions of a Discovery groundless for the Plot and the Progress that was made in it from time to time had been Discovered by Richard Fisher to the Right Honourable the Earl of Portland a considerable time before any other Person Discovered it and as things ripen'd for Action his Lordship was a cquainted with the Particulars On the 10th of February he acquainted that Noble Lord how far it was advanced and promised to wait upon his Lordship with a further Account in a few Days accordingly he did On February the 13th he gave his Lordship a full Account of the Design it self and the Time Place and Manner of its Execution but refusing to give to his Lordship the Names of the Conspirators made his Discovery suspected till the Addition of other Witnesses gave an unquestionable Authority to the Truth of it Mr. Pendergrass who was wholly ignorant of this Barbarous Design till he was sent for to London and there acquainted with it being struck with Horror and Astonishment at the first Proposal of it even then took a Resolution to preserve His Majesty's Life and Discover the Conspiracy Accordingly on February 14th he waited on the Earl of Portland at his Lordship's Lodgings at White-Hall and being admitted to Privacy with his Lordship though wholly a Stranger without further Address accosts his Lordship with this surprizing Request Pray My Lord perswade the King to stay at home to Morrow for if he goes abroad to Hunt he will be Murdered to this he subjoined a Relation of the whole Plot as it had been Communicated unto him by the Confederated Assassines which he said he would have told the King himself but that he durst not go to Kensington for fear of the two Orderly Men which were kept as Spies there to give Intelligence of what occurred in that Court He was introduced that Night to the King though very late and there in his whole Deportment shew'd himself to be a Man of Honour neither was Mr. de la Rue short of Mr. Pendergras in making a discovery of the intended Assassination though his Friend Brigadeer Lewson who he designed should acquaint the King with it being then out of Town makes his Information appear somewhat latter then the former For as he is a Man of too much Honour to be engaged in a Murder so his concern to discover it was from the beginning though he did not declare it till his Discovery might be serviceable to His Majesty and then as soon as he had opportunity to impart the Secret he did it and Brigadier Lewson much about the same time acquainted the King that Mr. de la Rue informed him of a Design carrying on to Assassinate His Majesty and had given him a particular Account by what methods it was design'd to be accomplished and proposed a way if the King thought 〈◊〉 how all the Conspirators might be taken in Arms when they thought to attempt it But that which seems strange in all these Discoverers though they punctually agreed and in the Circumstances yet they all peremptorily refused to name the Conspirators which might have been of fatal consequence if the Earl of Portland had not found out the happy expedient to prevent it by perswading His Majesty to give himself the trouble to examine Mr. Pendergrass and Mr. de la Rue in his Closet His Majesty being overcome by the Reasons alledged by that Noble Peer condescended to his Request and examined them both seperately At Mr. Pendergrass's Examination was present the Earl of Portland and the Lord Cuts and Mr. de la Rue's Examination was heard by the same Noble Earl and Brigadier Lewson After the Examination His Majesty shewed himself extreamly well satisfied in the Truth of their Discoveries and in a very obliging manner expressed his Resentments to of their great Care and Zeal they shewed for the preservation of his Life and the safety of the Kingdom and at last gave them such unanswerable Reasons why as Men of Honour and lovers of their Country they should compleat their Duty and Kindness in discovering the Names of the Conspirators that quite subdued their former Obstinacies and prevailed upon them to make a full and true Discovery of the Assassins under the promise of not being made use of as Evidences But Mr. Pendergrass hearing that Mr. Porter who engaged him in it had Discovered and Accused him he thought himself Discharged from any Obligation of Honour in concealing it and therefore afterwards as an Evidence for the King freely told all he knew at Charnock's Tryal Pag. 40. The King having now a perfect knowledge of the Conspiracy and the Names of the Conspirators His Majesty Issues out his Royal Proclamation requiring all his Loving Subjects to Apprehend the Conspirators promising 1000 l. reward for every Offender that should be taken and brought to Justice And here give me leave to take notice of the extream Fury Madness and Bigottry of Mr. Charnock who meeting with Mr. Bertram accidentally at Lincolns-Inn Back-gate told him That Warrants were out against them as he heard and they had as good if he would come to his Lodging go up to Kensington and do the Work at once and take off the Spark and then they should be all at quiet and have the King peaceably here What a strange infatuation this ingenious Man was under is a wonder to all that knew him Immediately after the Proclamation was out Mr. George Harris one of the Persons that was sent out of France to obey the Orders of Sir George Barclay and was actually engaged in the Assassination resigned himself to the Right Honourable Sir William Trumbal one of His Majesty's principal Secretaries of State and generously convinced him of the reality of the Assassination and invasion Plots though he was not able to declare the particular Circumstance◠that attended them His Majesty being now fully convinced on all hands both of the Conspiracy and intended Invasion used no delay in sending for a sufficient number of Troops over as he gave all necessary Orders to Arm the Fleet Admiral Russel being immediately ordered down to Chatham for that purpose and the Rendesvous appointed in the Downs where all the Men of War we had in the Sea-ports were ordered to come and join the Admiral that with such Dispatch and admirable Celerity and that in 4 or 5 days time the Admiral had a Fleet of near 60 Men of War in
Entire and Leaving them so to Posterity The Hearty Addresses of Both Houses to his Majesty hereupon could not be more acceptable to him than it was then strange to the generality of People to read it in our Gazette that his Majesty had received Letters from the French King and the Dauphine acquainting him with the Duke of Burgundy's Marriage and that the Duke of St. Albans was thereupon ordered for France to return the Complement seeing there had been no Communication between England and France now for so many Years and such a rooted Enmity between both Nations to say nothing of those at the Head of them that the so sudden disappearances of it made it to vulgar Minds in some sort unconceivable And as the Year thus happily began to close in England it did the same also in Ireland where after that Parliament had past divers good Bills and among others one for granting an Additional Duty upon Tobacco besides a supply granted to his Majesty by way of a Poll they were Prorogued to the 10th of May ensuing And for Scotland all things went there also Easy and Peaceable So that we have nothing more to observe save two Things the Death of Queen Eleanor Dec. 17th in the 45th Year of her Age She was Married to Michael Wisnowiski King of Poland and afterwards to the late Duke of Lorrain She was Daughter to the Emperor Ferdinand III. and Sister to the Emperor now Reigning it was the Conjecture of some that the Grief She conceived to find her Son the young Duke was not to be restored to the Inheritance of his Ancestors in as ample a manner as She expected might hasten her End but however it were She died lamented by all for her rare Qualities and Endowments 2d The Czar of Muscovy Peter Alexowitz his beginning his Travels into Forreign Courts this Year for the Improvement of himself and too barbarous Subjects in Arts and Sciences a rare Example in a Prince but whether a Pattern for other Princes to follow I cannot determine but of this Prince we shall have occasion to say some more before we close up this Treatise year 1698 It was some mortification to us the beginning of this Year to have one of the King's Pallaces consumed for on the 4th of January White-Hall by what accident is vaâ—iously reported took Fire in one of the Lodgings in the Body of the Structure and in a short time got to such an Head that it could not be mastered till the whole Body of the Pallace with several other adjoyning Lodgings was laid in Ashes However this was but a Flea-bite to what the Nation had gone thro' in the course of the War and so our Parliament went tightly to work upon the Affairs of the Nation and finding the business of our Coin pretty well remedied as also the currency of any hammered Silver Mony would be any longer a grievance they made an Act to prevent it and for the Recoining of such as was then in being as also for making out new Exchequer Bills where the former Bills were or should be filled up by Endorsements It was moreover farther considered by them that whereas now by the Peace there would be a free intercourse between England and France it was enacted there should be no Correspondence held with the late King nor his Adherents upon any account They also took care to discharge and satisfie the Arrears of several Annuities that incurred between the 17th of May 1696. and May 17th 1697. But that you may not think they forgot the disbanding of the Army paying of Seamen and such things they gave to his Majesty no less than the Sum of 1484015 l. 1 s. 11 d. 3 1 f. to which we may add the granting of several Duties upon Coal and Culm The Continuation of Duties upon Coffee c. to pay off the Transport Debt for the Reduction of Ireland Besides a great many other useful Bills They further settled the East-India Trade and thereby raised two Millions of Money at 8 per Cent. and that in less time than any Nation in Europe could pretend to at that time of day And that all due regard might be had to his Majesty's Honour and Support they granted a Subsidy upon Tunnage and Poundage for the raising of Seven Hundred Thousand Pounds a Year for the Service of his Houshold Abundance of other Business was indeed done by this Sessions which terminated upon the 5th of July When his Majesty was pleased to tell them he could not take his leave of so good a Parliament without publickly acknowledging the Sence he had of the great things they had done for him and his People recapitulated to them what every Session had done by the Association Remedying the Coin restoring such Supplies for the War as produced an honourable Peace Provision for satisfying the publick Debts with as little burden as could be All which would give a lasting Reputation to that Parliament and be the Subject of Emulation to them that should come after He thanked the Commons also for the Establishment of his Revenue profess'd the Esteem and Love he had for his People for whose Sakes he had avoided no Hazzards in War and should make it his Study and Care to continue unto them the Advantages of Peace This being done the Houses were for the present prorogued and July 7th dissolved by Proclamation another Parliament being at the same time called to meet at Westminster August the 24th but by several Prorogations they did not sit till November But while these things were transacted mutual Embassies passed between England and France in which last Country no Embassador perhaps ever carry'd it with greater Prudence Honour and Magnificence than my Lord Portland did or was ever so much carress'd and respected And the French themselves instead of pretending that Count Tallard ever came up with him have endeavoured occasionally to put it off with siftless Excuses The Business of Parliament was but a few days over when his Majesty was pleased to declare in Council his Intention of going for a short time into Holland and constituted the Abp. of Canterbury the L. Chancellor the L. Privy Seal the L. Steward of his Houshold the Earls of Dorset Marlborough Romney and Orford with Mr. Montague first Commissioner of the Treasury to be Lords Justices of England for the Administration of the Government during his Majesty's Absence On the 21st of July his Majesty landed safe in Holland from whence we leave him to go to and return from the Court of Zell and will not pretend to unravel the Mystery of that Journey being content to esteem it as a performance of a Promise the King had made to visit the old Duke who he was wont to call Father tho' by the Orders given the French Embassador here to attend him it should seem they should suspect some-what more than that in it but return to tell you that in the mean time viz. July
enters into the Confederacy c. 387 c. His Articles with the Emp. 389 c. with the King of Spain 390 c. invades the Dauphinate 472. His Sickness and recovery 473 c. His Letter to the States of Holland 533. Makes a separate Peace 563. His Envoy's Harangue to the late King James 574 c. Saxony the Elector of his death 96. Another General of the Confederates on the Rhine dies 457. Another's death 507. Fights the Turks 577. Chosen King of Poland 594. His Letter to the Polish Republick 638. His Declaration to his Saxon Subjects 639 c. Schultz General successful in Vpper Hungary 160. Defeats Count Teckley ibid. Schomberg Duke of lands in Ireland 324. Scinta a Battle there 215. Scio taken by the Venetians 506. quitted 536. Scotland an Insurrection there 77. Covenanters murder the Archb. of St. Andrews ib. Their Proclamations 78. Proposals to Monmouth ib. are routed 79. Segedin besieg'd by the Imperialists 214. surrendred 215. Serasquier his Letter to the Duke of Lorrain 189. Shaftsbury the Earl of committed to the Tower 111. Sidney Mr. his Embassy into Holland and for what 83. His Memorial to the States 84. Makes a defensive League with 'em 86. Sidney Col. his Trial 124. Execution and Papers to the Sheriff 125 c. Sign besieged by the Venetians and taken by storm 220. Besieg'd by the Turks and relieved by the Venetians 238. Skelton Mr. discovers the Pr. of Orange's Intention 258. Solyman made Em. of the Turks 238. Spaniards sign the Peace with France 41. Their Ambassador resents the States Answer about Maestricht 70. Prevail in Catalonia 531 c. Staremberg Count Governour of Vienna prepares for its Defence 135. His Letter to the Duke of Lorrain 139. His other Letter to the Duke of Lorrain 141 c. States General their answer to the French King's Letter 20. displease the Confederates ib. Order their Embassador to sign the Peace 21. Exclaimed against by the Northern Confederates 38. their Answer to the Elector of Brandenburgh's demands 68. To the Spaniards for Maestricht 69. A Letter from an unknown hand to them 83. Their resolution as to the Invasion of England 283. Steenkirk the Battle there 462 c. Stetin taken by the Brandenburghers 12. Strasburg how possest by the French 112. Sunderland Earl of his Letter to a Friend 264 c. Syclos taken by the Imperialists 213. T. TAlbot Col. disbands the Protestant Army in Ireland 182 c. Tartars attack the Germans Baggage 133. ravage Poland 415. Teckley Count makes himself P. of Transilvania 409. Themeswaer besieg'd by the Imperialists 576. Tyrconnel Earl of made Lord Lieutenant of Ireland 223. His Proceedings ibid. dies at Limmerick 434. Toleration of Religion to Papists in Scotland 205. in England 223. Tour the President de la his Speech to King VVilliam 407. Transilvania revolts from the Emperor 233. reduced 234. Truce signed between France Denmark and Brandenburg 63. expired 64. between France and Spain c. for 20 Years 150 c. Turks advance to Austria 132. waste the Frontiers of Hungary and Austria 134. besiege Vienna 135. beaten from before Vienna 145 c. routed at Barkan 147. beaten at Gran 187. routed at Scinta 215. beaten at Chialafa by the Venetians 216. defeated at Navarino 217. Reasons of their not succeeding against the Germans 504. Turkey the Revolution there 253 c. V. VAlentia besieg'd by the French and Savoyards 575. Vallona besieg'd by the Venetians 418. deserted by the Turks 419. Vaudemont Prince his gallant Retreat 515. Vaudois persecuted 397. rout the French 356. Venetians make Incursions into the Turkish Territories 162. take the Isle of Narenta c. 164. possess themselves of the whole Province of Mayna 195. rout the Turks 241. their Letter to the new Doge and Instructions 255 c. beat the Turks at Sea 419. defeat the Turks at Argos 537. beat the Turks by Sea 580. Verace discovers the P. of Orange's Designs upon England 258. Vicegrade besieged and taken by the Imperialists 154. taken by the Turks 187. Vienna in great Consternation 133. besieged by the Turks 135. a Journal of the Siege 136 c. it siege continued 142 c. relieved 145. Villeroy Marshal de his Letter to the Governour of Brussels 521. fails to relieve Namur 529. Virovitz taken by the Imperialists 159. Vrgel taken by the French 448. W. VVAisen surrendred to the Imperialists 155. Walcour the Action there 329. Waterford surrendred to the English 377. Weesell a Conference there between the Allies 10. Wheeler Sir Francis cast away in a Storm 492. Whitchal burnt 673 c. Widin surrendred to the Imperialists 354. surrendred to the Turks 411. William III. King his Speech to the Parliament 358. lands in Ireland 366. wounded 368. Victorious over the Irish Army at the Boyn 370 c. his Proceedings in Ireland 378 c. goes for England 383. his Speech to the Congress 421. his Speech to the Parliament 457 c. his Speech to the Parliament 491. signs several Bills 493 his Letter to Prince Vaudemont 514 c. his Speech to the Parliament 538 c his Speech in Parliament concerning the Assassination 550. another Speech to the Parliament 582 c. his Speech at the Conclusion of the Peace 670 c. another Speech 674. goes for Holland 675. Y. YOrk Duke of withdraws to Flanders 75. returns 81. sent High Commissioner into Scotland ib. his cruelty to the Earl of Argyle 111. Z. ZEnta the great Battle there 633. FINIS July 1676. Maestricht besieg'd by the Prince of Orange Siege raised Philipsburg surrender'd to the Imperial Army The Demands of the several Princes Valenciennes besieg'd The Battle of Mount-Cassel The Fr. K.'s Letter to K. C. 11. Ghent besieg'd and taken K. Charles II. tempted with Moncy by France The States Answer The Confederates angry with the States The Dutch order their Embassadors to Sign the Peace The Peace obstructed The Treaty of Alliance between England and Holland Du Cross's Message The Peace between France and Holland Signed The Battle of Mons. Mr. Hyde's Memorial to the States Prince of Orange's Censure of the English Court. Articles against Mons Beverning The Conferences renewed Rugen taken Denmark and Brandenburg's Remonstrance to the Imperial Embassadors The Imperial and French Embassadors agree to Sign the Peace The Abstract of the Imperial Articles of Peace The Elector of Brandenburg's Demands of the States The Spaniards demand Maestricht of the Dutch The States Answer The Spaniard rejoinâ— The Spanish Ambassador resents it Popish Plot discovered Godfrey murdered K. Charles II's Letter to the Duke of York K. Charles II chooses a new Council Insurrection in Scotland The Scotch Rebels Proclamation Their Second Proclamation They make Proposals to the Duke of Monmouth The Duke of Monmouth fights and routs the Covenanters The Story of the black Box. K. Charles II. disclaims any Marriage with the Duke of Monmouth's Mother K. Charles II. sick and the Consequence of it Duke of Monmouth
out of favour K. Charles II's different Carriage to the Addressors Mr. Sidney sent Embassador into Holland and for what K. Charles makes a Defensive Alliance with Holland The Dauphine intended to marry Dauphine married to the Princeâ—â— of Bavaria The Emperor's Memorial to the Diet at Ratisbone concerning the French Infractions The Result of the Diet. The Empire complain of France Parliamenâ— met The Bill of Exclusion The Bill thrown out of the House of Lords The Parliament prosecute the Abhorrers of Petitioning The Resolution of the Commons against lending the King Money The Earl of Ossory's Death The Death of the Electors of Saxony and Palatine The Earl of Essex's Speech to the King The Lords Petition to the King Fitz-Harris his Libel The Oxford Parliament dissolved The King's Declaration after the Dissolution of the Parliament Stephen Colledge Try'd The Earl of Argyle's Case Articles granted Strasburg Protestant Dissenters Prosecuted The Charter of London questioned The pretended Presâ—byterian â—ior Earl of Essex's Death Lord 〈…〉 Speech Col. Sidney Try'd Col. Sidney's Paper Methods used to get the Charters of Cities surrender'd The League of Ausburg The Carriage of the French upon the Turks invading Hungary The Emperor prepares against the Turks Newheusel besieged by the Imperialists The Siege raised The Turks advance to Austria The Tartars attack the Germans Great Consternation at Vienna The Turks form the Siege of Vienna A Journal of the Siege from the Beginning to the End Count Staremberg's Letter to the Duke of Lorain The Battel of Barkan Gran besieged by the Germans 〈…〉 K. Charles contemptible abroad Luxemburg besieged by the French and surrender'd The 20 Years Truce Genoa bombarded by the French Fleet. Vicegrade besieged and taken by the Imperialists The Siege of Buda The D. of Lorain's Letter to the Emperor concerning the beating of the Turks Army The Siege of Buda raised Count Lesley routs the Turks in Selavonia and takes Virovitz The Emperor's Forces successful against the Turks in Vpper Hungary 〈…〉 The Campaign in Poland The Venetians take Sancta Maura The Venetians make â—ncursions into the Turkish Territories The Venetians besiege Prevesa Prâ—vesa surrendered The Death of King Charles II. K. James 〈◊〉 Speech to the Council◠〈…〉 K. James II Crownâ—d and his Speech to the Parliament The Parliament gives him a great deal of Money The Earl of Argyle's Declaration Argyle taken and beheaded K. James his Practices against the Duke of Monmouth D. of Monmouth lands in England His Declaration The P. of Orange's Offers to King James rejected The D. of Monmouth's Letter to K. James Monmouth Beheaded The cruel Executions in the Wâ—st Mr. Cornish Try'd Mr. Cornish Executed K. James's Proceedings in respect to Ireland Talbot's Villany K. James's Speech to his Parliament The Lords Voted Thanks for the Speech The Commons debated it and addrest the King to turn our the Popish Officers Parliament dissolved Neuheusel Besieged by the Imperialists The Turks Besiege Gran. The Battel of Gran. Vicegrade taken by the Turks Neuheusel taken by Storm The Serasquier's Letter to the D. of Lorain Esperies besieged by General Schultz Surrendred The Siege and Battel of Coron Coron taken Dr. Hough chosen President of Magdalen Collede The Fellows of Magdalen College turn'd out Dangerfield Sentenced and kill'd Mr. Johnson's Sentence K. James's Letter to the Scotch Parliament Buda besieged The Battel of Buda The Siege continued Buda stormed Buda taken Five Churches besieg'd Surrender'd The besieging and taking of Syclos Darda abandon'd by the Turks The Pr. of Baden burns the Bridge of Esseck Segedin besieg'd The Battel of Scinta Segedin surrender'd to the Imperialists Chialafa besieged by the Turks The Turks beaten and raise the Siege Old Navarino besieged and taken New Navarino besieged New Navarino surrender'd Modon besieged by the Venetians Surrendred Napoli di Romania besieged The Turks defeated Napoli di Romania taken Sign besieged Sign taken The King of Poland invades Moldavia The Hospodar's Message to him and his Answer The King of Poland routs the Turks and Tartars A Proclamation for a Toleration of Religion in Scotland Tyrconnel made Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland and other Proceedings there The Duke of Lorrain towards 〈◊〉 The Battel of Mohatz Transilvania revolts Butschin besieged by the Imperialists Esseck abandoned by the Turks Transylvania reduced by the Imperialists Arch-Duke Joseph crowned K. of Hungary Agria surrender'd to the Imperialists The Revolution of the Turkish Empire ended with the Deposing of Mabomet IV. and advancing his Brother Solyman to the Throne Sign besieged by the Turks and relieved by the Venetians Castlenovo besieged by the Venetians The Turks routed by the Venetians The Turks abandon Patrass Lepanto c. Corinth abandoned by the Turks and several other Places Atâ—ens quitted to the â—enetians 〈…〉 K. James his Declaration of Indulgence commanded to be Read in Churches The Bishops Petition The King's Answer The Bishops sent to the Tower Tryed and Acquitted Alba Regalis surrendred to the Germans Lippa besieged and taken by the Imperialists Illock and Peter-Waradin deserted by the Turks Belgrade besieged by the Imperialists Belgrade taken by Storm The Battel of Brod. The Affairs of Venice and Poland The Bishop of Bath VVells ☞ ☜ The Prince of Orange lands in England P. George's Letter to the King The Princess Ann's Letter to the Queen â—ivers â—â—aces seized for the Use of the Prince of Orange The P. of O's Third Declaration K. J's Proposals to the Pr. of Orange The Prince's Answer K. J's Letter to the E. of Fevâ— rsham The E. of Feversham's Letter to the Pr. of Orange P. of Or. his Declaration The P. of 〈◊〉 Message to the King K. James's Reasons for withdrawing himself The English Declaration of Right P. and P. of Orange proclaimed K. and Q. or England The Scot. Declarat of Right P. and P. proclaimed in Scotland K. and Q. take the Scotch Oath Dundee slain Tyrconnel sent for K. James to Ireland The Emperor's Letter to the late K. James The late K. James lands in Ireland Protestants disarm'd in Ireland The Irish routed by the Iniskillingers and Mackarty made a Prisoner D. Schomberg lands in Ireland Carrigfergus bâ—sieged Carrigfergus surrendred D. Schomberg marched towards Dundaâ—k A Conspiracy discovered among the French in the English Army The Iniskilliners defeat the Irish near Sligo The Irish take Sligo The English at Dundalk die â—pace Keyserwaert besieged by the Duke of Brandenburg â—eiserwater surrendred Mentz besieged by the Confederates Mentz surrendred The French burning and ravaging the Palatinate Bonne besieged by the Elector of Brandenburg Bonne besieged Bonne surrendred to the Confederates Prince Lewis of Baden made General in Hungary The Battel of Patochin French make Peace with the Algerines Baden routs the Tarks near Nissa Nissa taken by the Imperialists Widin surrendred to the Imperiaâ—iâ—ts The Turkish Embassadors press for a Peace Napoli di Malvasia blockaded bâ— the Venetians The Vâ—udois pâ—rsecution at an end The death of Innocent XI Laws made agaiâ—st Popish Succesâ—ors