he was received with all kind of Respect and Submission by the Mayor and Aldermen in their Formalities and Congratulated in an Elegant Speech the Prince of Denmarks Lodgings being provided for his Reception whilst his Highness was preparing for London he had notice that the King designing to pass the Seas in Disguise having betaken himself accompanyed only by two or three Persons in a small Vessel to Sea was forced by foul Weather upon the Coast of Kent near Feversham and as soon as he came to that Town was seized upon by the Multitude there being a Report at that time that several Persons were making their Escapes out of the Land and being ignorant who he was they carryed him to a House in the Town rifling him of some Jewels a considerable quantity of Gold and his Crucifix which he very much valued but at last the King being known by a Gentleman who came to see the Prisoners they had taken and fell on his Knees to pay him Duty the Common People were strangely Surprized a great number instantly retiring and others begged his Pardon offering to restore what they had taken from him but the King refused to take his Gold again giving it them freely However his Person was detained till the News of his being there could be carryed to London The Lords who first Assembled in the City being then at White-Hall and having notice of it sent the Lords Feversham Alesbury Yarmouth and Middleton to the King with their earnest Desires that he would be pleased to return to his Royal Pallace at London to which though at first he shewed some unwillingness yet being pressed thereto he at length Condescended the Servants of his Houshold who went along with the Lords having brought him Money and Cloaths those he had being Old and rent in the Searching him before he was known But His Highness the Prince of Orange being fully Determined to come to London with all speed it was upon Consultation thought very inconvenient in regard it might Create daily Disputes and Quarrels between the Souldiers of both Parties and in divers other Respects for the King and himself to be there at one and the same time therefore upon notice of the Kings returning Monfr Zalestein was sent to meet him on the way and to intreat him to return to Rochester which the King would certainly have done had not Mounsieur Zulestein missed him by taking another Road So that the King Arrived at White-Hall on Sunday Dec. 16. in the Evening attended by three Troops of the Life-Guard and a Troop of Granadeers a Set of Boys following him through the City and making some Huzza's while the rest of the People silently looked on From thence the King sent the Earl of Feversham to the Prince then at Windsor to invite his Highness to come to St. James's and take that Pallace as his Residence with what number of Troops he thought Convenient The Prince Deliberating with the Lords about this Message was advised by no means to accept of this Invitation and there being a necessity his Highness should be in Town the next Day the following Paper Signed by the Prince was ordered to be carryed the King the next day by the Lords therein mentioned We Desire you the Lord Marquess of Hallifax the Earl of Shrewsbury and the Lord Delamer to tell the King that it is thought Convenient for the greater Safety of his Person that he do remove to Ham where he shall be Attended by Guards who will be ready to preserve him from any Disturbance Given at Windsor Dec. 17. 1688. And further to prevent the possibility of any disturbance it was resolved that his Highnesses Guards should be possest of all the Posts and Avenues about White-Hall before the Paper was delivered and it was Computed that these Guards might have reached White-Hall by eight a Clock at Night but they were so hindred by the foulness of the ways that it was past ten before they arrived and there being difficulty made of withdrawing the Kings Guards so much time was spent that the Lords could not proceed in their Message till past twelve so that the King was in bed but to preserve Decency and Respect and not break hastily in upon him they sent the Lord Middleton his Principil Secretary of State the following Letter 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 immedlately admitted and therefore desire to know where we may find your Lordship that you may introduce My Lord your Lordships most humble Servants c. The Lord Middleton upon the Receipt hereof came and introduced them to the King and their Lordships having made an Apology for coming at a time that might disturb him the Princes Message was delivered to the King who reading it said that he would readily comply the Lords as they were directed humbly desired that if it might be with his Majesties Conveniency he would be pleased to remove so early as to be at Ham by Noon thereby to prevent his meeting the Prince in his way to London to this the King readily agreed and asked if he might not â—ppoint what Servants should attend him The Lords replied it was wholly left to his Majesty The Lords then took their leaves but were instantly sent for back by the King who told them He had forgot to acquaint them with his Resolution before the Message came to send the Lord Godolphin the next Morning to the Prince to propose his going back to Rochester he finding by the Message Monsieur Zulestein was charged with that the Prince had no Mind he should be at London and therefore he now desired that he might rather return to Rochester The Lords replied that they would immediately send an account to the Prince and doubted not of an Answer to his Satisfaction and accordingly disparching a Messonger to the Prince who was then at Ston House the Sieur Benting by eight next Morning sent a Letter by the Princes Order agreeing to the Kings Proposal and the Guards and Barges being prepared to attend him and his Coaches and Sumpters to follow he reached Gravesend on the eighteenth in the Evening and passed over Land in his Coach attended by the Earl of Arran and several others and made his Residence in Sir Richard Heads House In the Afternoon of the same day his Highness with a very splendid Equipage and a numerous attendance arrived at St. Jameses and received the Congratulations of all the Nobility and Persons of Chiefest Quality in the Town the People crowding to see their Deliverer and expressing their Satisfaction at so Happy a Revolution by Ringing of Bells Bonfires and all the publick Demonstrations of joy imaginable A Remarkable Accident happened between the Kings first going to Rochester and his return to London a general Alarm being given one Night about Midnight at almost one and the same time in the
lay such Motives and Arguments before him as by the Blessing of God might bring him back to the Communion of the Church of England into whose Catholick Faith he had been Baptized Not long after the Lords Spiritual and Temporal presented the King the following Petition VVE your Majesties most Loyal Subjects in a deep Sence of the Miseries of a War now breaking forth in the Bowels of this your Kingdom and of the Danger to which your Majesties Sacred Person is thereby like to be Exposed and also of the Distractions of your People by Reason of their present Grievances do think our selves bound in Conscience of the Duty we owe to God and our Holy Religion to your Majesty and our Countrey most humbly to offer to your Majesty That in our Opinion the only visible way to preserve your Majesty and this your Kingdom would be the Calling of a Parliament Regular and Free in all its Circumstances We therefore do most earnestly beseech your Majesty that you would be graciously pleased with all speed to Call such a Parliament wherein we shall be most ready to promote such Counsels and Resolutions of Peace and Settlement in Church and State as may conduce to your Majesty's Honour and Safety and to the quieting the Minds of your People We do likewise Humbly beseech your Majesty in the mean time to use such means for the preventing the Effusion of Christian Blood as to your Majesty shall seem most meet And your Petitioners shall ever Pray c. W. Cant. Grafton Ormond Dorset Clare Clarendon Burlington Anglesey Rochester Newport Nom. Ebor. W. Asaph Fran. Ely Tho. Roffen Th. Petriburg T. Oxon. Paget Chandois Osulston Presented by the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury the Arch-Bishop of York Elect the Bishop of Ely and the Bishop of Rochester the 17th of November 1688. To which the King returned the following Answer My Lords VVHat You ask of Me I most passionately desire And I Promise You UPON THE FAITH OF A KING That I will have a Parliament and such an One as You ask for as soon as ever the Prince of Orange has Quitted this Realm For How is it possible a Parliament should be Free in all its Circumstances as You Petition for whilst an Enemy is in the Kingdom and can make a Return of near an Hundred Voices His Highness lay some days at Exeter expecting that such Gentlemen as resided nearest his Court should have come to him sooner than those at a Distance but finding something of an unexpected slowness he could not forbear to signifie some little Resentment to some of the Principal Gentlemen of Somersetshire and Devonshire that came to join him Nov. 15. 1688. in the following Speech THo' we know not all your Persons yet we have a Catalogue of your Names and remember the Character of your Worth and Interest in your Countrey You see we are come according to your Invitation and our Promise Our Duty to God obliges us to Protect the Protestant Religion and our Love to Mankind your Liberties and Properties We expected you that dwels so near the Place of our Landing would have join'd us sooner not that it is now too late nor that we want your Military Assistance so much as your Countenance and Presence to justifie our Declar'd Pretensions rather than accomplish our good and gracious Designs Tho' we have brought both a good Fleet and a good Army to render these Kingdoms Happy by Rescuing all Protestants from Popery Slavery and Arbitrary Power by Restoring them to their Rights and Properties Established by Law and by Promoting of Peace and Trade which is the Soul of Government and the very Life-Blood of a Nation yet we rely more on the Goodness of God and the Justice of our Cause than on any Humane Force and Power whatever Yet since God is pleased we shall make use of Humane means and not expect Miracles for our Preservation and Happiness Let us not neglect making use of this Gracious Opportunity but with Prudence and Courage put in Execution our so honourable purposes Therefore Gentlemen Friends and Fellow-Protestants we bid you and all your Followers most heartily Welcome to our Court and Camp Let the whole World now Judge if our Pretentions are not Just Generous Sincere and above Price since we might have even a Bridge of Gold to Return back But it is our Principle and Resolution rather to die in a Good Cause than live in a Bad one well knowing That Virtue and True Honour is its own Reward and the Happiness of Mankind our Great and Only Design But quickly after his Highness found the English Nobility and Gentry no less faithful to him than he had been to them and that His several Declarations had the wished Effect the Lord Wharton and the Lord Colchester with a strong Party marched through Oxford to his Highnesses Camp without Opposition The Lord Lovelace with another Party out of Oxfordshire got as far as Cirencester but were opposed and himself taken Prisoner by the County Militia yet his whole Party except four or five that were slain or maimed in the Skirmish broke there way through and his Lordship was soon after released out of Glocester Prison by a Young Gentleman of that County who took up arms for the Prince and drove out all the Popish Crâ—â—â— that were setled in that City the Lord Delamere having raised a Considerable Force in Cheshire advanced to Nottingham to join the Gentlemen of that County who were ready to receive him And Nov. 22. at the Rendezvous there the following Declaration was publisht VVE the Nobility Gentry and Commonalty of these Northern Counties Assembled together at Nottingham for the defence of the Laws Religion and Properties according to those Free-born Liberties and Priviledges descended to us from our Ancestors as the undoubted Birth-right of the Subjects of this Kingdom of England not doubting but the Infringers and Invaders of our Rights will represent us to the rest of the Nation in the most malicious dress they can put upon us do here unanimously think it our Duty to declare to the rest of our Protestant Fellow-Subjects the Grounds of our present Undertaking We are by innumerable Grievances made sensible that the very Fundamentals of our Religion Liberties and Properties are about to be rooted out by our late Jesuitical Privy-Council as hath been of late too apparent 1. By the Kings Dispensing with all the Establisht Laws at his Pleasure 2. By displacing all Officers out of all Offices of Trust and Advantage and placing others in their room that are known Papists deservedly made incapable by the Establisht Laws of our Land 3. By destroying the Charters of most Corporations in the Land 4. By discouraging all Persons that are not Papists preferring such as turn to Popery 5. By displacing all honest and conscientious Judges unless they would contrary to their Consciences declare that to be Law which was meerly Arbitrary 6. By branding all men with the Name of Rebels that but
whom now were a great part of the Nobility He recalled his Remainder of them with the Train of Artillery and upon his return to White Hall he appointed Colonel Beril Skelton to be Lieutenant of the Tower in the place of Sir Edward Hales and in pursuance of the Advice of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal Ordered the Chancellor Jefferies to issue out writs for summoning a Parliament to sit Jan. 15. following the Bishop of Exeter who left that City upon the approach of the Prince was likewise nominated Arch-Bishop of York which had been vacant for some time and was thought to have been designed for Father Peters if things had gone on But the King Affairs growing daily more desperate and the Prince of Orange marching forward with his Army and being advanced to Hungerford after a Consultation with the Queen and the Jesuits it was resolved to send the following Proposals of Accommodation to his Highness which were soon after published with the Princes Answer thereto VVHEREAS on the 8th of December 1688. at Hungerford a PAPER Signed by the Marquess of Hallifax the Earl of Nottingham and the Lord Godolphin Commissioners sent unto US from his Majesty was Delivered to US in these Words following viz. SIR The King Commandeth us to acquaint You That he observeth all the Differences and Causes of Complaint alledged by Your Highness seem to be referred to a Free-Parliament His Majesty as He hath already Declared was Resolved before this to call one but thought that in the present State of Affairs it was adviseable to defer it till things were more Compos'd Yet seeing that His People still continue to desire it He hath put forth His Proclamation in order to it and hath Issued forth His Writs for the calling of it And to prevent any Cause of Interruption in it He will consent to every thing that can be reasonably required for the Security of all those that shall come to it His Majesty hath therefore sent Us to attend Your Highness for the adjusting of all Matters that shall be agreed to be necessary to the Freedom of Elections and the Security of Sitting and is ready immediately to enter into a Treaty in Order to it His Majesty proposeth that in the mean time the Respective Armies may be Restrained within such Limits and at such a Distance from London as may prevent the Apprehensions that the Parliament may in any kind be disturbed being desirous that the Meeting of it may be no longer delay'd than it must be by the usual and necessary Forms Signed Hallifax Nottingham Godolphin WE with the Advice of the Lords and Gentlemen Assembled with US have in Answer to the same made those following PROPOSALS 1. That all Papists and such Persons as are not qualified by Law be Disarmed Disbanded and Removed from all Employments Civil and Military 2. That all Proclamations which Reflect upon Us or any that have come to Us or declared for Us be recalled and that if any Persons for having so Assisted have been committed that they be forthwith set at Liberty 3. That for the Security and Safety of the City of London the Custody and Government of the Tower be immediately put into the hands of the said City 4. That if His Majesty shall think fit to be at London during the Sitting of the Parliament that we may be there also with an equal Number of Our Guards Or if his Majesty shall please to be in any place from London at what-ever distance he thinks fits that We may be at a place of the same distance And that the respective Armies do remove from London Thirty Miles and that no more Foreign Forces be brought into the Kingdom 5. That for the Security of the City of London and their Trade Tilbury Fort be put into the hands of the said City 6. That to prevent the Landing of French or other Foreign Troops Port mouth may be put into such hands as by Your Majesty and Us shall be agreed upon 7. That some sufficient part of the Publick Revenue be Assigned Us for the Maintaining of our Forces until the Meeting of a Free Parliament But these Proposals of the Prince proving of too hard Digestion at White-Hall the Offer of Accommodation was thought to be Designed only to gain time and the Romish Councellors perceiving that this would not obtain began to think of other measures So that the Child being sent for back from Portsmouth to White-Hall in great haste the Queen having made up her Equipage Dec. 10. took her Solemn Leave of the King and with the pretended Prince of Wales and her Attendants whereof it is said Father Peters was one but it was thought with a large proportion of Treasure and Jewels She Crossed the Water at Lambeth where three Coaches with Six Horses awaited them and with a Strong Guard went to Greenwich and so to Graves-End where she and her Retinue Imbarked in a Yatch for France and Landed the next Day about four a Clock in the Afternoon the Queen and several Courtiers being gone the Popish Priests began to shift for themselves and the same Night the King called an Extraordinary Council and sent for the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs of London Charging them to preserve the Peace and Quiet of the City as much as in them lay after which they were Dismist But the Council continued their Debates upon the present Exigency of Affairs a great while longer and were ordered to meet again the next Morning when to the Surprize of the City and Kingdom About three a Clock in the Morning the King took Barge at the Privy Stairs with a small Equipage and went down the River without being so much as known to many of the Officers of his Houshold who were then in waâ—ing whose sudden Departure may be supposed to be occasioned by the News that Alarm'd the Court the Day before that the Princes Forces had made their way through Beading and gain'd the Pass of Twyford-Bridg without any Considerable Resistance for about 1500 Horse and three Troops of Dragoons being Quartered in the Town of Reading they had notice that a Detatchment of the Princes Army were Marching up towards them which put them into such a Consternation that not finding themselves strong enough to maintain the Town the Officers upon Consultation Concluded to draw off and make good their Post at Twyford-Bridge out their Scouts coming in with News that the Roads were clear the Commander ordered a Scoten Regiment of Horse and the Irish Dragoons to march back and Repossess themselves of Reading which they did and were placed in the Market-place and other Posts continuing on Horseback most part of the Night to prevent Surprize yet hearing no more of the Princes Advanced Party their Officers ordered them to alight and refresh themselves and their Horses But about ten in the Morning the Trumpet Sounded to Horse the Princes Forces being at the Towns-end almost before they were Discovered and thereupon sharp Firing began on both
to the Estates but before they proceeded to read it they passed an Act that notwithstanding any thing that might be contain'd in the Letter for Dissolving or impeding their Procedure yet they were a Free and Lawful Meeting of the States and would continue undissolved till they had setled the Government which done the Letter was read but the Convention took so little notice of the late Kings Exhortations to declare for him that the Messenger was first secured and then not being thought worthy detaining dismist with a Pass instead of an Answer After this Commissioners were chosen for drawing up the Settlement of the Government out of which the Bishops were lest as having disgusted the Generality of the States by their Prayers at the beginning of the Session That God would have Compassion on King James and restore him and other Passages which discovered their disaffection to their Majesties and the Government then about to be erected The Duke of Gordon who had the Command of Edenburgh Castle after he had for sometime amused the Convention by his delays so soon as he heard the late King was arrived in Ireland set up his Standard to signifie his Resolution to hold out that place and fired all the Cannon without Bullets to the gâ—â—â—â— Terror of those that lay under the Mercy of his great shot Aâ—â— 12. Both Houses of Parliament in England presented an humble Address to the King wherein they declare that being highly sensible of their late great Deliverance from Popery and Arbitrary Power whereof it had pleased God to make his Majesty the glorious Instrument and desiring to the utmost of their abilities to express their Gratitude for so great and generous an Undertaking no less necessary for the support of the Protestant Interest in Europe than for recovering and maintaining the Civil Rights and Liberties of these Nations so notoriously invaded and undermined by Popish Councils and Counsellors and being likewise fully convinced of the restless Spirits and the continued endeavours of their Majesties and the Nations Enemies for the Extirpation of the Protestant Religion and the Subversion of our Laws and Liberties unanimously declared that they would stand by and assist his Majesty with their Lives and Fortunes in supporting His Alliances abroad in reducing Ireland and in desence of the Protestant Religion and of the Kingdom In answer hereto the King assured them of his great esteem and affection for Parliaments especially for this which would be much increased by the kindness they shewed to him and their zeal for the publick good and that he would never abuse the Confidence they put in Him nor give any Parliament cause to distrust Him because he would never expect any thing from them but what it was their Interest to grant that He came hither for the good of the Kingdom and since by their desire he was in that Station he would full pursue the same ends that brought him that God had been pleased to make him instrumental to redeem them from the Ills they feared and it was still his desire as well as his duty to endeavour to preserve their Religion Laws and Liberties which were the only inducements that brought him into England and to those he did ascribe the Blessings that had attended this undertaking he then remainded them of Assisting his Allies especially the Dutch and to consider the Deplorable Condition of Ireland which by the Zeal and Violence of the Popish Party and the Assistance and Incouragement of the French required a considerable force to Reduce it c. and that a Fleet may be likewise provided which in Conjunction with the States might make us entire Masters of the Seas and as they freely offered to Hazard all that is dear to them so he should as freely expose his Life for the Support of the Protestant Religion and the Safety and Honour of the Nation In Scotland the Viscount Dundee having made his escape from Edinburgh went to the North where he stirred up the Highlanders to joyn with him and declare for King James upon which the Convention ordered a number of Horse Foot and Dragoons to march against them and in the mean time the Lord Ross who was sent with a Letter to King William in England returned and brought an answer thereto After which the Estates drew up an Instrument of Government for Setling the Crown upon King William and Queen Mary Wherein they Recapitulate their Grievances and propose Remedies for the same And then declare That King James the 7th being a professed Papist did Assume the Royal Power and acted as King without ever taking the Oath required by Law and hath by Advice of Evil and Wicked Councellers Invaded the Fundamental Constitutions of the Kingdom and altered it from a Legal Limited Monarchy to an Arbitrary Despotick Power and did exercise the same to the Subversion of the Protestant Religion and the Violation of the Laws and Liberties of the Kingdom inverting all the ends of Government whereby he hath Forefaulted the Right to the Crown and the Throne is become Vacant And they do pray the King and Queen of England to accept the Crown and Royal Dignity of the Kingdom of Scotland c. And an Oath of Allegiance was drawn up to be taken by all Persons to them together with a Coronation Oath and April 11. being the Day of the Coronation of their Majesties at Westminster they were Proclaimed at Edenburgh with universal Joy and Acclamations Commissioners were also Dispatcht for London that is the Earl of Argyle Sir James Mountgomery of Skelmerly and Sir John Dalrymple of Stair younger from the meeting of the Estates with an offer of the Crown of that Kingdom to their Majesties and May 11. 1689. They accordingly at three of the Clock met at the Council Chamber and from thence were Conducted by Sir Charles Cottrel Master of the Ceremonies attended by most of the Nobility and Gentry of that Kingdom who resided in and about this place to the Banquetring-House where the King and Queen came attended by many Persons of Quality the Sword being carryed before them by the Lord Cardross and their Majesties being placed on the Throne under a rich Canopy they first presented a Letter from the Estates to His Majesty then the Instrument of Government thirdly a Paper containing the Grievances which they desired might be Redressed And lastly An Address to his Majesty for turning the Meeting of the said Estates into a Parliament All which being Signed by his Grace the Duke of Hamilton as President of the Meeting and Read to their Majesties the King returned to the Commissioners the following Answer When I Engaged in this Undertaking I had particular Regard and Consideration for Scotland and therefore I did emit a Declaration in relation to that as well as to this Kingdom which I intend to make good and effectual to them I take it very kindly that Scotland hath expressed so much Confidence in and Affection to Me They shall find me
to their Majesties then called and known by the Names and Stile of William and Mary Prince and Princess of Orange being present in their proper Persons a certain Declaration in writing made by the said Lords and Commons Of which you have already an account Upon which their said Majesties did accept the Crown and Royal Dignity of these Kingdoms according to the Resolution and desire of the said Lords and Commons contained in the said Declaration and thereupon their Majesties were pleased that the Lords and Commons being the two Houses of Parliament should continue to sit and with their Royal Concurrence to make effectual Provision for the settlement of the Religion Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom so that the same for the Future might not be in danger again of being subverted Now in pursuance of the Premisses the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons in Parliament Assembled for the Ratifying Confirming and Establishing the said Declaration and the Articles Clauses Matters and Things therein contained by the Force of a Law made in due Form by Authority of Parliament do pray that it may be Declared and Enacted That all and Singular the Rights and Liberties Asserted and Claimed in the said Declaration are the true Ancient and Indubitable Rights and Liberties of the People of this Kingdom and so shall be esteemed allowed adjudged deemed and taken to be and that all and every the particulars aforesaid shall be firmly and strictly holden and observed as they are expressed in the said Declaration and all Officers and Ministers whatsoever shall serve their Majesties and their Successors according to the same in all times to come and do further declare that King James II. having Abdicated the Government and their Majesties having accepted the Crown and Royal Dignity as aforesaid did become were are and of Right ought to be by the Laws of this Realm our Soveraign Leige Lord and Lady King and Queen of England France and Ireland c. And for preventing all Questions and Divisions by Reason of any pretended Titles to the Crown and to preserve a certainty in the Succession the Lords and Commons beseech their Majesties that it may be Enacted Established and Declared that the Crown and Royal Dignity shall be and continue in their Majesties during their Lives and the Life of the Survivor of them and after their Deceases to the Heirs of Her Majesty and in default of Issue to the Princess Ann of Denmark and her Heirs and for default of such Issue to the Heirs of the Body of His Majesty and that the Parhament in the Name of the People will submit themselves and their Heirs and Posterities for ever and stand by Maintain and Defend this Limitation and Succession of the Crown to the utmost of their Powers with their Lives and Estates against all that shall attempt any thing to the contrary and whereas it hath been found by Experience that it is inconsistent with the Safety and Welfare of this Protestant Kingdom to be governed by a Popish Prince or by any King or Queen Marrying a Papist they do further pray that it may be enacted that all Persons that are or shall be reconciled to or hold Communion with the See of Rome or shall profess the Popish Religion or shall Marry a Papist shall be Excluded and be for ever uncapable to possess inherit or enjoy the Crown and Dignity of this Kingdom or Ireland c. And that in all such Cases the People are absolved from their Allegiance and the Crown shall descend to the next Heir being a Protestant as should have inherited and enjoyed the same as if the Person so reconciled or marrying were naturally dead and that every King and Queen that shall succeed hereafter shall on the first day of the meeting of their first Parliament sitting on the Throne in the House of Peers in the Presence of the Lords and Commons or at their Coronation which shall first happen audibly repeat the Declaration in the Statute of the 30 King Charles II. Intituled an Act for the more effectual preserving the Kings Person and Government c. But if such King and Queen shall be under the Age of Twelve years then to perform the same the first Parliament after that Age all which are by their Majesties by and with the Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons declared Enacted and Established to stand remain and be the Law of this Realm for ever About this time the Queen of Spain was Convoyed by a Squadron of English Men of War from Holland to the Groin in Spain Feb. 6. The Parliament was Dissolved and another summoned to appear at Westminster March 20. following who accordingly met and confirmed all the Acts of the Preceding Parliament passing many others both for raising Money for carrying on the present War and for the Benefit of the People in Scotland some attempts were made by the Rebels for in May 1690 the Colonels Bucan and Cannon being with 2000 men which they expected to be 4000 in a few days at their Rendevous at Stratspey Sir Thomas Levingstone upon notice thereof Marched toward them with his Forces and surprizing them in the Night in their Camp killed 400 and took 100 prisoners most Gentlemen and Officers Bucan and Cannon hardly escaping upon which the Castle of Lethindy in which the Enemy had a Garrison under Colonel Bucan's Nephew surrendered at Discretion in which was found store of Arms and Ammunition with 400 Bolls of Meal and the Standard designed to have been set up by the late King James and yet in this whole Action it was very remarkable that the English lost not one man and had only four or five wounded In Ireland Affairs proceeded very successfully for May 11 the strong Garrison of Charlemont surrendered upon Articles the Governor Teage of Regan and the Irish about 800 strong havingal most consumed all their Provisions marched out leaving a good quantity of Ammunition 17 Brass Cannon and two Mortars the King now resolved if possible to make a sudden Feduction of Ireland that it might no longer be a Diversion from his attacking the French vigorously in Flanders and in pursuit of this â—agnanimous design his Majesty concluded to go thither in Person by his Presence and Conduct to facilitate the same and accordingly June 4 1690 with a splendid Equipage parted from Whitehall and coming to Chester Embâ—â—â—ed on the Fleet attending him and June 14 landed at Carickfergus being received by Duke Schomberg the army and all the Protestants with general Joy and loud Acclamations and from thence His Majesty marched with his Forces in two bodies and incamped at Dundalk intending to go for Dublin or else oblige the Enemy to a battle which the late King James was aware of and therefore with his Army which consisted of about thirty-six thousand Irish and French besides 15000 in Garrisons He marched from Dublin towards Drogheda but seemed to distrust his success for to provide for the
THE HISTORY OF THE House of Orange OR A Brief Relation of the Glorious and Magnanimous Atchievements of His Majesties Renowned Predecessors and likewise of His own Heroick Actions till the Late Wonderful Revolution Together with The HISTORY of William and Mary King and Queen of England Scotland France and Ireland c. Being an Impartial Account of the most Remarkable Passages and Transactions in these Kingdoms from Their Majesties Happy Accession to the Throne to this time By R. B. LONDON Printed for Nath. Crouch at the Bell in the Poultrey near Cheapside 1693. TO THE READER I Am very sensible that the greatness of the Subject is a sufficient reason to deter me from adventuring to publish my mean endeavours in Relating the Glorious and Magnanimous Atchievements of His Majesties Renowned Ancestors as well as His own Or of the excellent Conduct of Their Majesties since Their happy Accession to the Throne But because we have such a furious Generation of Murmurers who if they had their desires would ruine both themselves and their Countrey and reduce us to French Popery and Slavery It may seem to be the Interest of every man to strive to undeceive those whom these Miscreants would delude since both our Eternal and Temporal happiness very much depends upon the supporting the present Government against all its Forreign and Domestick Enemies A Government founded upon Law and Justice A Government calculated for the support of the Protestant Interest throughout the World wherein we have a King and Queen of the same excellent Religion with our selves a happiness which we have been deprived of for almost an Age past Princes of such exemplary Virtue and Piety that they discourage Vice and Prophaneness and constantly endeavour to support Goodness and Modesty which seem'd lately designed to be hissed out of the Nation God grant that our ingratitude and impenitence may never deprive us of such inestimable blessings and that we do not fall a Sacrifice to our stupendious folly and discontents THE HISTORY OF THE House of Orange THE Family of Nassau from whom our Gracious Soveraign is descended is not undeservedly accounted one of the most Antient and Honourable in Europe not only for its great Allianceâ— and Branches but also by the Advancement of one of this House to the Empire of Germany Adolphus Nassau by name about the Year 1200 and that there has been a Succession of the Family in a direct Line for above a thousand years past and among them OTHO Count of Nassau who lived about six hundred years since and had two Wives with the first of whom he had the Province of Gueldres and with the other that of Zutphen About three hundred years after a second Count OTHO of Nassau married the Countess of Vranden whereby he became possest of several other Territories in the Netherlands In the Year 1404. Engilbert who was his Grandchild married the Heiress of the Town of Breda and Loeke and was Grandfather to Engilbert 2d Earl of Nassau who in 1491. was by Maximilian King of the Romans going into Hungary made Governour Lieutenant and Captain General of Flanders and afterwards in 1501. Arch-Duke Philip going into Spain constituted him Governour General of the Netherlands an experienced Prince both in War and Peace but dying Childless left his Brother John his large Territories this John had two Sons upon Henry the eldest he bestowed all his Possessions in the Low-Countries and to his youngest Son William he bequeathed all his Inheritance in Germany By the earnest Endeavours of Henry Nassau Charles the 5th was advanced to the Empire against the pretensions of Francis I. the French King and at his Coronation placed the Crown on his Head And yet when upon concluding Peace between these two Monarchs Henry was sent by the Emperor to do Homage to King Francis for the County of Flanders and Artois that Prince forgetting former differences and being fully sensible of his extraordinary Merits married him to Claudia only Sister to Philibert Chalon Prince of Orange by which Marriage his only Son Revens of Orange and Chalons became Prince of Orange William Earl of Nassau Brother to Prince Henry profâ—ssed the Protestant Religion and expell'd Popery out of his Territories and was Father to the great William of Nassau who attained to be Prince of Orange and Lord of all the Possessions of the House of Chalens by the Last Will of Revens de Nassau who died Childless The Emperor Charles the 5th having a favour for the House of Orange and received great services from them was concerned that the young Prince William should be educated in the Reformed Religion and therefore took him with much regret from his Father and endeavoured to instruct him in the Romish Faith but afterward the former Opinions which he had suckt in with his Mothers Milk prevailed upon him so that he became an earnest Professor of Protestantism William Count of Nassau his Father had five Sons and seven Daughters by Juliana Countess of Stolberg WILLIAM the eldest was born in 1533. at the Castle of Dillemberg in the County of Nassau and being taken from his Father by the Emperor Charles as we said he became a great Favourite by his extraordinary Wisdom and Modesty so that the Emperor confest this young Prince often furnisht him with notions and hints he should else never have thought of and upon giving of private Audiences to Ambassadors when the Prince would discreetly offer to withdraw the Emperor mildly remanded him saving Stay Prince and it was admired by the whole Court that a Prince not above twenty years old should be intrusted with all the Secrets of the Empire and carry the Imperial Crown upon his resignation to his Brother Ferdinand though the Prince with some reluctancy seemed to refuse the Imployment by alledging That it was no ways proper for him to carry to another that Crown which his Uncle Henry of Nassau had set upon his Head Yea the Emperor had so much confidence in his Conduct that in the absence of the D. of Savoy his General of the Low Countries though the Prince were not above 22 years old yet contrary to the Advice of all his Council rejecting all other experienc'd Generals he constituted him Generalissimo who managed that great Imploy with such discretion and courage that he caused Philipville and Charlemont to be built in the fight of the French Army which was then commanded by Admiral Castillon that great Captain These Magnanimous actions caused the Emperor to recommend the Prince of Orage to Philip II. his Son but his Virtue and Courage were so emulated by the Spaniards that all his most innocent words and actions were misinterpreted and the opposition that the Provinces made to the Kings Will and Pleasure in defence of their Priviledges were attributed to his contrivance which King Philip made him sensible of when he was imbarking from Flushing for Spain charging him with preventing all his private Intrigues with a furious countenance And when
and against the Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge and the Follows of Magdalen Colledge in Oxford this year were such evident breaches of his Indulgence to Tender Consciences that it gave still greater dissatisfaction to the Nation and portended some sudden alteration The Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge being deprived of his Office and suspended of his Headship or refusing to admit one Alban Francis a Benedictine Monk to be Master of Arts without taking the Oaths by virtue of the Dispensing power though contrary to the Statutes which he was sworn to maintain And the fellows of Magdalen Colledge in Oxford being 26 in number for refusing to admit one Farmer a scandalous Popish Priest to the Presidentship of that Colledge and Electing Dr. Hough were pronourced guilty of disobedience to his Majesties Commands and deprived and expelled from their respective Fellowships And the Bishops judging that their distributing the Declaration would be an owning and asserting the Kings assumed Dispensing Power and foreseeing the pernicious consequences thereof the Archbishop of Canterbury and six others drew up a Petition in behalf of themselves and their Brethren setting forth the Reasons why they could not comply therewith This was so ill resented by the King and his Popish Councellors that the Petition was judged Tumultuary and all the seven Bishops were committed Prisoners to the Tower And now the Jesnits acted their Master piece of Policy as they imagined though it proved very fural to them For knowing that the King grew old and that on his life the hopes of Restoring their Religion depended since the Heir Apparent was a Protestant who would soon ruin all their Machinations They resolved if possible to advance a Popish Successor and thereby ensure Popery and Slavery to the Nation Hereupon they raised a report sometime before that the Queen was with Child though the People did not believe it and several Lampoons were made upon that Subject And the Bishops being now secured this was thought the proper time for the Queen to fall in Labour and accordingly June 10. 1683. It was published that she was Delivered of a Frince for which the King ordered all signs of rejoicing to be made and a day of Thanksgiving was appointed as being a thing of mighty consequence for advancing the Catholick Cause though the joy was somewhat abated by the Acquittal of the seven Bishops five days after who being Tried at the Kings Bench Bar were brought in Not Guilty at which the People yea the Kings own Army at Hounslow Heath shouted for joy to the severe mortification of the Court. The King having declared that he intended to call a Parliament to turn his Declaration of Liberty of Conscience into a Law and likewise to abrogate all the Penal Laws and Tests both against the Dissenters and the Roman Catholicks the Jesuits had a great desire to sound the intentions and thoughts of their Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Orange upon that Subject To which purpose Mr. James Steward undertook to write a Letter to Pensionary Fagell not without the knowledge and approbation of the King which occasioned Minheer Fagels answer to this effect That Their Highnesses had often declared as they did more particularly to the Marquess Albeville His Majesties Envoy Extraordinary to the States That it is their Opinion that no Christian ought to be persecuted for his Conscience or be ill used because he dissers from the Publick and Established Religion and therefore they could be content that even the Papists in England Scotland and Ireland might be suffered to continue to their Religion with as much Liberty as is allowed the by the States of the United Provinces And as for the Protestant Dissenters Their Highnesses did not only consent but heartily approve of their having an Intire Liberty for the full exercise of their Religion without any trouble or hindrance That Their Highnesses were ready in case His Majesty of England should desire it to declare their willingness to concur in the setling and confirming this Liberty as far as it lay in them and were ready if desired to concur in Repealing the Laws provided always that those Laws remain still in their full force and vigor whereby the Roman Catholicks are excluded out of both Houses of Parliament and out of all publick Imployments Ecclesiastical Civil and Military as likewise all those other Laws which confirm the Protestant Religion and which secure it against all the attempts of the Roman Catholicks But that Their Highnesses could not agree to the Repealing of the Tests or those Penal Laws that tend to the security of the Protestant Religion since the Roman Catholicks receive no other prejudice from these than the being excluded from Parliaments or from Publick Imployments and that by them the Protestant Religion is covered from all the designs of the Roman Catholicks against it or against the publick safety and neither the Tests nor those other Laws can be said to carry in them any severity against the Roman Catholicks upon account of their Consciences they being only Provisions Qualifying men to be Members of Parliament or to be capable of bearing Offices by which they must declare before God and Men that they are for the Protestant Religion so that all this amounts to no more than a securing the Protestant Religion from any prejudice that it may receive from the Roman Catholicks That Their Highnesses have thought and do still think that more than this ought not be asked nor expected from them since by this means the Roman Catholicks and their Posterity would be for ever secured from all Troubles in their Persons and Estates or in the Exercise of their Religion and that the Roman Catholicks ought to be satisfied with this and not to disquiet the Kingdom because they cannot be admitted to sit in Parliament or to be in imployment or because those Laws wherein the security of the Protestant Religion chiefly consists are not repealed by which they may be in a condition to overturn it That their Highnesses also believed that the Dissenters would be for ever satisfied when they should be for ever covered from all danger of being disturbed or punished for the free Exercise of their Religion upon any pretence whatsoever This was the substance of the Letter written by that Great Minister of State as discovering the just sentiments of Their Highnesses which did no ways please the Papists who had high expectations of carrying all before them and therefore Mr. Steward in his second Letter to the Pensioner a while after says That the Court was quite beyond it and had taken other measures And what they were soon after appeared namely to defeat their Royal Highnesses of their just Interest and Right to the Succession of the Crown by pretending that the Queen was delivered of a Prince of Wales But the Nobility and Gentry of England beholding the deplorable State of the Nation and foreseeing the subversion of their Ancient Laws and Established Religion to be designed by him who
the English Religion which his Majesty has also resolved to destroy Both which enterprises being so contrary to the Laws of God and Man and particularly of those of the Kingdom of which they threaten the utter Subversion the Prince of Orange instigated by the Motives of his own innate Piety which will not permit him to suffer the ruine of Religion nor the overturning of so fair a Kingdom has resolved to call a Free Parliament c. For which Reasons and because the Design of the King of England is manifestly apparent by the striâ—t Alliance which he has Contracted with the most Christian King who bears no good will to the United Provinces and whose Proceedings are justly therefore by them to be suspected so that if His Britâ—â—niek Majesty should be suffered to become Absolute in his Dominions the United Provinces could no longer be in Security and therefore it being their Interest that the Fundamental Laws of that Kingdom and the English Religion should be preserved they hoped that God would bless the Prince of Orange with Happy Success King James though at first he would not believe that the Vast Preparations in Holland concerned him though the French King had given him notice of them some time before was now fully convinced thereof by this Mâ—nifesto and all of a sudden the Bells 〈◊〉 to ring 〈…〉 at White-Hall and the first Nâ—â—â— we heard of thâ—â—â— disturbance was a Proclamatiâ—n 〈…〉 28 1688 by which it was intimated That the King had received undoubted Intelligence that a great and sudden Invasion from Holland was to be speedily made in an Hostile manner upon this Kingdom under the false pretences of Liberty Prop my and Religion but that an absolute Conquest of his Kingdoms and the subduing him and his Dominions to a Foreign Power c. However relying upon the Ancient Courage Faith and Allegiance of his People as he had formerly ventured his Life for she Honour and Safety of the Nation so he was now resolved to Live and Dye in Defence thereof against all Enemies whatsoever c. After this the King published a Proclamation of General Pardon with some few Exceptions Restored the injured Gentlemen of Oxford and Cambridge to their Rights Dissolved the Ecclesiastical Commissions Vacated the Quo Warranto against the City of London and issued forth a Proclamation for restoring all Corporations to their Ancient Charters Liberties Rights and Franchises In short He undid almost in one day all that he had been doing since his first coming to the Crown Yet such was the Folly of the Romish Party in the midst of this Consternation that the show of the Prince of Wales still went on and Oct. 15 the â—hild was Christned the Pope represented by his Nuncio being God-father and the Queen 〈◊〉 onâ—ger God-mother and two days after the King to secure his Territories commanded his Lord and Deputy-Leiutenants and all other Officers concerned to cause the Coasts to be strictly Guarded and that upon the first approach of the Enemy all the Oxâ—n Horses and Cattel which might be fit for Draught should be driven twenty Miles from the Place where the Enemy should attempt to Land Oct. 22. The King commanded a particular Assâ—mbly of his Privy Council and sent for all such Peers Spiritual and Temporal as were in Town together with the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London the Judges and several of his Council Learned in the Law telling them That he had called them together upon a very extraordinary Occasion but that extraordinary Diseases must have extraordinary Remedies that the Malicious Endeavours of his Adversaries had so poysoned the Minds of some of his Subjects that very many of them did not believe that the Child wherewith God had blest him was his but a supposed Child However he could say that by a particular Providence scarce ever any Prince was born where there were so many Persons present that he had taken time to have the matter heard and examined expecting that the Prince of Orange with the first Easterly Wind would Invade the Kingdom and therefore as he had often ventured his Life for the Nation before he came to the Crown so he thought himself more obliged to do the same being King and did intend to go against him in Person by which in regard he might be exposed to various Accidents he therefore thought it necessary to have this done first to satisfie his Subjects and prevent the Kingdoms being ingaged in Blood and Confusion after his Death After this the Affidavits of several Ladies were produced of which some swore that they saw Milk upon her Majesties Smock for they did not think fit to mince the matter others that they saw the Midwife take the Child out of the Bed another that she stood by the Bedside when her Majesty was delivered of the Prince another swore that having had the Honour to put on her Majesties Smock she saw the Queens Milk another deposed that she saw the Queen in Labour and heard her cry out much another that she saw the Midwife give the Prince three drops of the Blood of the Navel-string mixt with Black Cherry-water with a great deal of other Nauseous stuff Then the Affidavits of the Lords were produced among whom one swore that he saw Mistris Labadie carry the Child into another Room whither he followed her and saw the Child when she first opened it and that it was Black and Reeking another swore that he saw the Child and that it had the Marks of being new Born another that he heard the Queen make three Groans or Squeeks and that at the last of the three the Queen was delivered of a Child the Physicians swore what was proper but not fit to be repeated However the whole was at length published to the shame and scandal of all modest Eyes and Ears And now my Lords said the King after all the the Depositions were read although I did not Question but that every Person here present was satisfied before yet by what you have heard you will be the better able to satisfie others Besides could I and the Queen have been thought so wicked as to impose a Child upon the Nation we saw how impossible it would have been neither could I my self have been imposed upon having constantly been with the Queen during her being with Child and the whole time of her Labour and therefore there is none of you but will easily believe that I who have suffered so much for Conscience-sake cannot be capable of so great a Viliany to the prejudice of my own Children I thank God that those that know me know well that it is my Principle to do as I would be done by and that I would rather die a thousand Deaths than do the least wrong to any of my Children Yet this Zealous Harangue had but little Influence upon the Generality of the People with whom the King by his late Actions had wholly forfeited his Reputation who
offered to justifie the Laws in a legal Course against the Arbitrary Proceedings of the King or any of his corrupt Ministers 7. By Burthening the Nation with an Army to maintain the Violation of the Rights of the Subjects 8. By discountenancing the Establisht Reform'd Religion 9. By forbidding the Subjects the Benefit of Petitioning and Construing them Libellers so rendring the Laws a Nose of Wax to serve their Arbitrary Ends. And many more such like too long here to enumerate We being thus made sadly sensible of the Arbitrary and Tyrannical Government that is by the Influence of Jesuitical Councels coming upon us do unanimously declare That not being willing to deliver our Posterity over to such a Condition of Popery and Slavery as the aforesaid Oppressions inevitably threaten we will to the utmost of our Power oppose the same by joining with the Prince of Orange whom we Hope God Almighty hath sent to rescue us from the Oppressions aforesaid will use our utmost Endeavours for the recovery of our almost ruin'd Laws Liberties and Religion and herein we Hope all good Protestant Subjects will with their Lives and Fortunes be assistant to us and not be bugbear'd with the Opprobrious Terms of Rebels by which they would fright us to become perfect Slaves to their Tyrannical Insolencies and Usurpations for we assure our selves that no rational and unbyassed Person will Judge it Rebellion to defend our Laws and Religion which all our Princes have Sworn at their Coronations which Oath how well it hath been observed of late we desire a Free Parliament may have the Consideration of We own it Rebellion to resist a King that governs by Law but he was always accounted a Tyrant that made his Will the Law and to resist such an one we justly esteem no Rebellion but a necessary Defence and in this Consideration we doubt not of all Honest Mens Assistance and humbly hope for and implore the great God's Protection that turneth the Hearts of his People as pleaseth him best it having been observed That People can never be of one Mind without his Inspiration which hath in all Ages Confirmed that Observation Vox Populi est Vox Dei The present restoring of Charters and reversing the oppressing and unjust Judgment given on Magdalen Colledge Fellows is plain are but to still the People liâ—e Plums to Children by deceiving them for a while but it they shall by this Stratagem be fooled till this present storm that threatens the Papists he past affoon as they shall be resetled the former Oppression will be put on with greater vigour but we hope in vain is the Neâ— spread in the sight of the Birds For 1. The Papists old Rule is That Faith is not to be kept with Hereticks as they term Protestants tho' the Popish Religion is the greatest Heresie And 2. Queen Mary's so ill observing her Promises to the Suffolk-men that helpt her to her Throne And above all 3 The Popes Dispensing with the breach of Oaths Treaties or Promises at his Pleasure when it makes for the Service of Holy Church as they term it These we say are such convincing Reasâ—ns to hinder us from giving Credit to the aforesaid Mock-Shews of Redress that we think our selves bound in Conscience to rest on no Security that shall not be approved by a freely Elected Parliament to whom under God we refer our Cause The Lord Delamere being assured of the Resolution and Couragious Zeal of all his Followers continued a while in those Parts to watch the Morions of the Papists in Lancashire who began to take Arms under the Lord Molineux and for a time assisted to Guard Chester for the King but upon the surprizal of that Garrison for the Prince were soon after beaten or rather run away out of the Town and disbanded of themselves In the North the Earl of Danby the Lord Fairfax and other Persons of Quality seized upon the City of York and turned out the Lord Mayor and other Magistrates that were Papists or ill-affected Collonel Copley the Deputy Governour of Hull seized upon all the Guards of that Garrison and with the Assistance of some of the Townsmen and some Seamen made the Lord Langdale the Governour and the Lord Montgomery the Marquess of Powis his Sons Prisoners till he had secured the Citadel wherein was a plentiful Magazine of Powder and all sorts of Provisions with a Train of Artillery ready fixed to be drawn out into the Field Plymouth also with the Earl of Huntington and all the Popish Officers and Souldiers was seized by the Earl of Bath for his Highness and at the same time all the chief Sea-Port Towns in Cornwal declared for the Prince so that there was no Enemy behind him to disturb the Râ—re of his advancing Army But the King being as yet in hopes to force his way through all the great Opposition made him by the whole Kingdom having sent his Army before to Salisbury goes thither to them yet before he went he thought it requisite to provide for the Safety of the pretended Prince of Wales and not daring to trust to the Validity of the forementioned Affidavits for more Security he sent him away with a strong Guard to Portsmouth that if things went ill he should be conveyed over to France when the King came to Salisbury he began to bleed at the Nose and was observed to continue bleeding for some time which seened at that time Ominous to him But in the midst of these sarprizes more ill News arrives to increase his Astonishment for besides the Lord Cornbury who had carried off a consideraâ—â—â— Party of Horse to the Prince some time before several other Regiments of Foot had now Deserted and were gone the same way upon His arrival near to Salisbury he was met by the Duke of Berwick the Earl of Feversham and several other Officers on Horseback and by them attended to the Gates of the Town being met by the Mayor and Aldermen in their Formalities and Conducted to the Bishops Pallace but these flatteâ—ing appearances soon vanisht He quickly perceiving that his English Forces were generally dissatisfied and seem'd unwilling to engage in Civil Bloodshed against their own Countreymen and of their own Religion which was to Fight with their Bodies against their Consciences and likewise discovered the Discontents of the People who supplied the Machels very sparingly for his Army so that not judging himself safe among them and upon a false Alarm that Marshal Schomberg was within thirty or twenty Miles of him he returned back in all haste to Windsor and from thence to London being extreamly discouraged that Prince George and the Lord Churchil were gone both to the Prince and that the Princess Ann of Denmark was also retired from the Court The Prince of Denmark and the Lord Churchil left each of them the following Letters behind them directed to the King SIR with a Heart full of Grief am I forced to write that Prudence will not permit me
full Redress and Remedy therein Having therefore an intire Confidence That his said Highness the Prince of Orange will perfect the Deliverance so far advanced by him and will still preserve them from the Violation of their Rights which they have here Asserted and from all other Attempts upon their Religion Rights and Liberties the said Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons Assembled at Westminster do Resolve That William and Mary Prince and Princess of Orange be and be Declared King and Queen of England France and Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonging to hold the Crown and Royal Dignity of the said Kingdoms and Dominions ' to them the said Prince and Princess during their Lives and the Life of the Survivor of them And that the sole and full Exercise of the Regal Power be only in and executed by the said Prince of Orange in the Names of the said Prince and Princess during their joint Lives And after their Deceases the said Crown and Royal Dignity of the said Kingdoms and Dominions to be to the Heirs of the Body of the said Princess And for default of such Issue to the Princess Ann of Denmark and the Heirs of Her Body and for default of such Issue to the Heirs of the Body of the said Prince of Orange And the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons do pray the said Prince and Princess to accept the same accordingly And that the Oaths hereafter mentioned be taken by all Persons of whom the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy might be required by Law instead of them And that the said Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy be Abrogated I A. B. Do sincerely Promise and Swear That I will be Faithful and bear true Allegiance to Their Majesties King WILLIAM and Queen MARY So help me God I A. B. Do Swear That I do from my Heart Abhor Detest and Abjure as impious and Heretical this damnable Doctrine and Position That Princes Excommunicated or Deprived by the Pope or any Authority of the See of Rome may be Deposed or Murdered by their Subjects or any other whatsoever And I do Declare That no Foreign Prince Person Prelate State or Potentate hath or ought to have any Jurisdiction Power Superiority Preeminence or Authority Ecclesiastical or Spiritual within this Realm So help me God This Declaration being Presented to their Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Orange in the Banqueting House at White-Hall on Wednesday Feb. 13. 1688. and their Consent thereunto Received they were both the same Day Proclaimed King and Queen of England France and Ireland c. at White-Hall Gate Temple-Bar and the Royal Exchange many of the Lords and Commons attending and the People proclaiming their Joys by Repeated Shouts and Acclamations The Tenor of the Proclamation was as followeth Whereas it hath pleased Almighty God in his great Mercy to this Kingdom to vouchsafe us a Miraculous Deliverance from Popery and Arbitrary Power and that our Preservation is due next under God to the Resolution and Conduct of his Highness the Prince of Orange whom God hath chosen to be the Glorious Instrument of such an Inestimable Happiness to us and our Posterity And being highly Sensible and fully perswaded of the Great and Eminent Virtues of Her Highness the Princess of Orange whose Zeal for the Protestant Religion will no doubt bring a Blessing along with her upon this Nation and where as the Lords and Commons now Assembled at Westminster have made a Declaration and presented the same to the said Prince and Princess of Oranâ—e and therein desired them to accept the Crown who have accepted the same accordingly We therefore the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons together with the Lord Mayor and Citizens of London and others of the Commons of this Reaim do with full Consent Publish and Proclaim according to the said Declaration William and Mary Prince and Princess of Orange to be King and Queen of England France and Ireland with all the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging who are accordingly so to be owned Deemed and taken by all the People of the afore said Realms and Dominions who are from hence forward bound to acknowledge and pay unto them all Faith and True Allegiance Beseeching God by whom Kings Reign to Bless King William and Queen Mary with long and Happy Years to Reign over us God Save King William and Queen Mary John Brown Clericus Parliamentorum It is Reported that his Majesty should thus generously express himself upon this Occasion That though the Regulations seem'd somewhat harsh they were easy to him that desired only to be a great King But in respect to one that Aim'd to be a Tyrant they were not strict enough Having thus brought their Majesty to the Throne let us make a few Remarks upon this Wonderful and Unparallel'd Revolution and so conclude the History of the House of Orange Had a Prince of less Secresie Prudence Courage and Interest undertaken this mighty Affair it might probably have miscarryed but as his Cause was better so his Reputation Conduct and Patience infinitely exceeded that of King James He would not stir till he saw the French Forces sit down before Philipsburg and that he was sure France and Germany were irrecoverably ingaged and that he should have no other Opposition than what the Irish and English Roman Catholicks could make against him For no English Protestant would fight his Country into Vassalage and Slavery to Popish Priests and Italian Women when a Parliament sooner or later must have Determined every thing in Controversy except they were Resolved once for all to have given up their Religion Laws Liberties and Estates to the Will of their Arbitrary Kings and submitted for ever to a French Government and indeed a Nation of less Sense than the English might have been imposed upon Of less Bravery and Valour might have been frighted Of a more Servile Temper might have neglected their Liberties till it had been too late to recover them again And none but a parcel of Jesuits unacquainted with their Temper and Constitution would ever have hoped to have carryed two such things as Popery and Arbitrary Power both at once upon a People so Jealous as the English are and who hate Idolatry and Tyranny above any Nation in the World As for King James II. had he undertaken any thing but these two his vast Revenue his Reputed Personal Valour and the Fame he had gained both at Home and Abroad by the Defeat of Monmouths Invasion would have gone near to have effected it And after all if he had in the beginning of October freely granted all the Proposals made him by the Nobility and suffered a Parliament to have met and given up his Evil Ministers to Justice and permitted the Birth of the pretended Prince of Wales to have been freely Debated and Determined in Parliament it would in all probability have prevented this Expedition of the Prince of Orange But whilst he thought to preserve the pretended Succession the
Dispensing and Suspending Power and the Ecclesiastical Commission to promote his future Designs when he had once baffled the Prince of Orange the Nation saw through the Project and he lost all As for the English in general their Interest Centers in the maintaining the Rights and Franchises of their Kingdom which renders them this Day the freest Nation in Europe A Character so far from supposing them to be like other Nations a People Head-strong and unconstant that it shews them to be the most Considerate and Understanding People in the World in short though the example of a Neighbouring Prince had served for a Platform for other Crowned Heads to enlarge their Power beyond the Limits prescribed by the Constitutions of the Kingdom We see that at the very Moment that the King began to act like his Neighbour they presently put a Sâ—op to his Designs without the least respect to his Dignity They saw how Soveraign Authority Reigned in France as Independent from the Laws as in Turkey They beheld the face of the Kingdom of Sweden and Denmark changed by Introducing Hereditary Succession whereas they were Elective before They viewed the Face of the Kingdom of Hungary heretofore the Seat of Liberty Disfigured by the same Innovation and Poland that boasts to have preserved the Ancient Laws entire has notwithstanding suffered Injurious Alterations In short which way soever we cast our Eyes we shall find Attempts of the same Nature prosper only in England they have failed whence we may conclude that maugre all which has been said of the English Nation they are the Wisest and most Prudent People that we know of under the Sun THE HISTORY OF King William Queen Mary King William and Queen Mary being Proclaimed in all the Counties and chief Cities of England with the general Joy of the People Addresles were daily presented them from several Parts to testifie their extream Satisfaction and Content in their being advanced to the Throne and the Convention being by an Act figned by the King turned into a Parliament in the same manner as the Convention was upon the Restoration of Charles II. 1660. They proceeded to enact several Laws for setling the Government upon its true and ancient Basis and several vacant Offices and Imployments were supplied by their Majesties and Dr. Gilbert Burnet was made Bishop of Salisbury in the room of Dr. Seth Ward Deceased I have been very brief upon the Affairs in England till the Happy Revolution in 1688. because I have lately Published a Book of the same value with this Intituled The History of the two late Kings Charles II. and James II. being an Impartial Account of the most Remarkable Transactions and observable Passages during their Reigns and the secret French and Popish Intrigues managed in those Times Neither shall I inlarge upon the Affairs of Ireland intending suddenly to publish the History of that Kingdom from the first Conquest thereof by King Henry II. to its total Reduction by the Arms of their present Majesties And now both Houses of Parliament present an humble Address to his Majesty about the speedy relief of Ireland in pursuance whereof the King sent over a Proclamation of Pardon to all the Irish Papists that would lay down their Arms and live Peaceably under the Government with the full enjoyment of their Estates and the private Exercise of their Religion which if they refused they were declared Rebels and Traytors to the Crown of England and their Estates to be forfeited and distributed among those that should and and assist in reducing them to Obedience but Tyrconnel endeavoured to hinder the effect thereof by promising them speedy succors from France and that King James would come in Person with a numerous Army to their Assistance and sent several Detachments of his tattered Regiments to seize divers considerable Protestants in their Houses who upon notice escaped into the North and strengthned their Party the Priests stirr'd up these Raseally Vermin that were armed with Pitchforks Bills Staves and other weaponâ— to commit all manner of outrages to the damage of some Papists as well as Protestants and it was reported that at a Consult in the Council wherein some Popish Bishops assisted it was moved that the only way to clear the Countrey of Hereticks was by a general Massacre but Tyrconnel opposed it In March the late King James took Post from Paris to Brest and soon after landed in Ireland with a numetous Train of Officers but very few Souldiers The Estates of Scotland met the same Month at Edenburgh in pursuance of his Majesties Circulary Letters and King William sent them the following Letter MY Lords and Gentlemen We are very sensible of the kindness and concern which your Nation has evidenced towards us and our undertaking for the Preservation of your Religion and Liberty which were in such imminent danger Neither can we in the least doubt your Confidence in us after having seen how far so many of your Nobility and Gentry have owned our Declaration countenancing and concurring with us in our endeavours and desiring us that we would take upon us the Administration of Affairs Civil and Military and to call a Meeting of the Estates for securing the Protestant Religion and the ancient Laws and Liberties of that Kingdom which accordingly we have done Now it lies on you to enter upon such Consultations as are most proper to settle you on sure and lasting Foundations which we hope you will set about with all convenient speed with regard to the publick good and to the general Interest and Inclinations of the People that after so much Trouble and great Suffering they may live happily and in Peace and that you may lay aside all Animosities and Factions that may impede 10 good a Work we are glad to find that so many of the Nobility and Gentry when here in London were to much inclined to a Union of both Kingdoms and that they did look upon it as the best means for procuring the Happiness of both Nations and setling of a lasting Peace among them which would be advantagious to both they living in the same Island having the same Language and the same common Interest of Religion and Liberty especially at this Juncture when the enemies of both are so ressess in endeavouring to make and increase Jealousies and Divisions which they will be ready to improve to their own advantage and the ruin of Brittain we being to the same oprnion as to the usefulness of this Union and having nothing so much before our eyes as the Glory of God establishing the Reformed Religion and the Peace and Happiness of these Nations are resolved to use our utmost endeavours in advancing every thing that may conduce to the effectuating the same So we bid you heartily Farewell From our Court at Hampton March 7. 1689. This Letter being read Commissioners were named to draw an Answer full of Acknowledgment and Respect the late King James had likewise sent a Letter
willing to assist them in every thing that concerns the Well and Interest of that Kingdom by making what Laws shall be necessary for the Security of their Religion Property and Liberty and to ease them of what may be justly grievous to them After which the Coronation Oath was tendered to Their Majesties which the Earl of Argile spoke word by word distinctly and the King and Queen repeated it after him holding their Right Hands up after the manner of taking Oaths in Scotland The Meeting of the Estates of Scotland did Authorise their Commissioners to represent to his Majesty That that Clause in the Oath in relation to the rooting out of Hereticks did not import the destroying of Hereticks and that by the Law of Scotland no Man was to be Persecuted for his private Opinion and even Obstinate and Convicted Hereticks were only to be Denounced Rebels or Outlawed whereby their Moveable Estates are Confiscated His Majesty at the repeating that Clause in the Oath did declare That he did not mean by these words that he was under any Obligation to become a Persecutor To which the Commissioners made answer That neither the meaning of the Oath or the Law of Scotland did import it Then the King Replyed that he took the Oath in that Sense and called for Witnesses the Commissioners and others present and theâ— both their Majesties Signed the said Coronation Oath After which the Commissioners and several of the Scotch Nobility Kissed their Majesties Hands The Parliament in England proceeded to enact many Laws for the ease of the People and Security of the Kingdom One for taking away the Revenue arising from the Hearth-Money by his Majesties own desire who willingly resigned up his Right therein because it was found grievous to the People though it occasioned a great Diminution to the Revenue of the Crown another Act was passed for exempting their Majesties Protestant Subjects Dissenting from the Church of England from the Penaltier of certain Laws another for Abrogating the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance and appointing other Oaths another for Prohibiting all Trade and Commerce with France with divers more and about the same time the House of Commons presented His Majesty the following Address We your Majesties most Loyal and Dutiful Subjects the Commons in Parliament Assembled most Humbly lay before your Majesty our earnest Desires that your Majesty would be pleased to take into your most Serious Consideration the Destructive Methods taken of late years by the French King against the Trade Quiet and Interest of your Kingdom and particularly the present Invasion of your Kingdom of Ireland and Supporting your Majesty Rebellious Subjects and we not doubting in the least but through your Majesties Wisdom the Alliances already made as well as those that may be hereafter concluded on this occasion by your Majesty may be effectual to Reduce the French King to such a Condition that it may not be in his Power hereafter to violate the Peace of Christendom nor prejudice the Trade and Prosperity of this your Majesties Kingdom To this end we most humbly beseech your Majesty to rest assured upon this our Hearty and Solemn Promise and Ingagement That when your Majesty shall think fit to enter into a War with the French King we will give your Majesty such Assistance in a Parliamentary way as may enable your Majesty under the Protection and Blessing that Almighty God has ever afforded you to support and go through with the same To this Request and Resolution of the House of Commons which was so graceful to the Nation in general his Majesty was pleased to return this Answer Gentlemen I receive this Address as a Mark of the Confidence you have in me which I take very kindly and shall endeavour by all my Actions to Confirm you in it I assure you that my own Ambition shall never be an Argument to incline me to ingage in a War that may expose the Nation either to Danger or Expence but in the present Case I look upon the War so much already declared in effect by France against England that it is not so much an Act of Choice as an inevitable necessity in our own Defence I shall only tell you that as I have ventured my Life and all that is Dear to me to rescue the Nation from what it suffered so I am ready still to do the same in order to the preserving it from all its Enemies and as I doubt not of such an Assistance from you as shall be Suitable to your Advice to me to Declare War against a powerful Enemy so you may Rely upon me that no part of that which you shall give for the carrying it on with Success shall by me be Diverted to any other use Soon after a Declaration of War was published against France and the Reasons thereof Namely The unjust Methods of the French King these late years to gratifie his Ambition by Invading the Territories of the Empire now in Amity with us and in manifest Violation of the Treaties Confirmed by the Guaranty of the Crown of England His Majesty therefore can do no less than joyn with his Allies in Opposing that Kings Designs as the Disturber of the Peace and the Common Enemy of the Christian World Likewise the many Injuries done to his Majesty and his Subjects are a sufficient Justification for their taking Arms since they have called upon his Majesty so to do and though no notice has been taken nor Reparation demanded of late years for Reasons well known to the World yet his Majesty will not pass them over without a publick and just Resentment of such Outrages Also the Incroachments and Invasions of the French on our Trade and Fishing of Newfound Land and their Hostilities upon the Charibbee Islands New York and Hudsons-Bay Seizing the Forts burning the Houses Robbing the English of their Goods imprisoning some inhumanly killing others and driving the rest to Sea in a small Vessel without Food or Necessaries and this even at a time when that King was Negotiating a Treaty in England of Neutrality and good Correspondence in America also his Countenancing the Seizure of English Ships by French Privateers His Disputing the Right of the Flag in the Narrow Seas which in all Ages has been asserted by his Majesties Predecessors and which he is resolved to maintain for the Honour of the Crown and of the English Nation And that which most nearly touches his Majesty is His Unchristian Persecution of many English Protestants in France contrary to the Law of Nations and express Treaties forcing them to abjure their Religion by strange and unusual Cruelties imprisoning some English Masters and Seamen and Condemning other to the Gallies upon pretence of having on Board either the Persons or Goods of some of his own Miserable Protestant Subjects Lastly as he has for some years past endeavoured by Insinuation and Promises of Assistance to overthrow the Government of England so now by Open and Violent Methods
and the actual Invasion of Ireland and Supporting the Rebels there he is promoting the utter Extirpation of the Protestants there His Majesty being therefore thus Necessitated to take up Arms and Relying on the help of Almighty God in his just undertaking hath thought fit to declare War against the French King and will in Conjunction with his Allies vigorously prosecute the same by Sea and Land since he hath so unrighteously begun it being assured of the hearty Concurrence and Assistance of his Subjects in Supporting of so good a Cause forbidding all Correspondence or Communication with that King or his Subjects and that all the French Nation in his Majesties Dominions who shall Demean themselves Dutifully and not Correspond with his Enemies shall upon the Kings Royal word be safe in their Persons and Estates and free from all Molestation and Trouble of any Kind About the same time the King of Spain proclaimed War against France and the Emperor of Germany sent a Letter to his Majesty wherein after he has returned thanks to the King for taking care that no Violence should be offered to the Roman Catholicks he promises the same thing in respect to the Protestants His Majesty gave Advice to the Switzers of his Advancement to the Throne So that now King William and Queen Mary were acknowledged for lawful Soveraigns of Great Brittain by all the Protestant and the greatest part of the Roman Catholick Princes and States for besides the Emperor and the King of Spain the Duke of Bavaria the three Ecclesiastical Electors the Duke of Newburg the Elector Palatine and the Bishops of Leige and Munster all Roman Catholicks declared themselves Enemies to France and by this we may observe that the French Polititians were greatly deceived in their Measures for upon notice of the Prince of Oranges Expedition into England it is reported some of them thus Discourst King Lewis Sir said they There is a Civil War kindling in England which will last this two or three years and Disable that Island and the United Provinces from Acting In this time your Majesty will have Conquered all or the greatest part of Germany If King James has the worst we will perswade all the Catholick Princes to Unite and Restore him All this while your Majesty will be Head of the League will preserve your Conquests and King James cannot refuse you Ireland or any other portion of his Kingdom for the Expences of the War This done your Majesty shall fall upon Holland which will be weak and unprovided of Men and Money and shall be able in a little time to oppress the Remainder of the Protestanâ—s and so become Emperor of all Europe But unfortunately for them King James II. too soon forsook his Country and then they cryed Religion is ruined unless all endeavours are used for his Restoration Upon which some would fain know what Religion the French King is of who persecutes and invades Papists as well as Protestants and think that he must be either a Pagan or Mahumetan or else of a Christianity all of his own Contriving to carry on his Perjuries and Usurpations upon his Neighbours May 1. A Squadron of English Men of War under Admiral Herbert Sailing toward the Coast of Ireland to prevent the French from Landing Forces and Provisions there understanding they were got to Sea under favour of the Night they got sight of them lying in the Bay of Bantree in the West of Ireland and resolved to Attack them with Nine Ships in the Harbor they being about 44 Sail in all whereupon the next Morning the Fight began we continued Fattering upon a Stretch till five in the Afternoon when the French Admiral Tackt from us and stood farther into the Bay In this Action Captain Aâ—lmeâ— and 94 Seamen were killed and about 250 wounded but the Enemy were Reported to have 200 Slain and many more Wounded and having Landed some few Men for fear of a second Ingagement Retreated after which our Squadron returned to Portsmouth whither His Majesty came soon after and declared his Royal Intention of Conferring the Title of Earl upon the Admiral and accordingly he was afterward Created Earl of Torrington Baron of Torbay c. and the Captain Shovell and Ashby were Knighted and Ten Shillings a Man was given to those Seamen that had been ingaged against the French King James found himself at this time greatly mistaken in Scotland which he called his Ancient Kingdom where he thought himself absolute Master by making so many Creatures and Friends whereas that Kingdom in general now owned King William and the Rebels whose number is inconsiderable and Discovered and Secured The Lord Dundee only escaped who roam'd about the North parts with some few followers and General Mackay at his Heels Letters about this time were intercepted from the late King and his Secretary Melfort to the Lord Belcarris and others wherein were some Expressions that highly incensed the Scots against them You will ask me without question says Melfort to Claverhouse How we intend to pay our Army but never fear that so long as there are Rebels Estates we will begin with the Great Ones and end with the Little Ones In another Letter to Belcarris says he The Estates of the Rebels will Recompence us Experience hath taught our Illustrious Master that there are a good Number of People that must be made Gibeonites because they are good for nothing else you know there are several Lords that we markt out when we were both together that deserve no better These will serve for Examples to others after the Reading of these Letters the President of the Convention Addressing himself to the Members of the Assembly You hear Gentlemen said he Our Sentence Pronounced and that it behoves us either to Defend our Selves or Dye Upon which the Lords Belcarris and Lochore and Lieutenant Colonel Balfour were Committed to Prison and being thus forewarned they Resolved to keep the Army afoot which they thought of Disbanding As to the Hopes of the Enemies of that Kingdom that the Abolishing of Episcopacy may occasion another Revolution there is no reason to believe it since the late Carriage of the Scotch Bishops has utterly Alienated the Affections of the greater part of the People from them so that if they were Protestants at the bottom of their Souls yet they appeared to be Men of no Policy nor Conduct For they sent an Address to King James wherein they Highly Congratulated the Birth of the pretended Prince of Wales they read that Kings Declaration for Liberty of Conscience in favour of the Papists and for the Abolition of Penal Laws and how could they imagine that when they knew it was a long timebefore they could gain that single Point of the Superiority of Bishops above private Ministers that the Scots would ever endure Popery and Arbitrary Power to Domineer over them Experience shews us that they only wanted a Leader before this time So that when the Prince of Oranges Design
was once Discoursed of it caused an Universal Joy over Edenburgh and the whole Kingdom only the Prelates writ to King James That they looked upon this Enterprize as a Detestable Invasion and after the same manner they behaved themselves to the end some Absenting from the Convention others attending only to Thwart their Proceedings and shew their Disaffection by their publick 〈◊〉 So that some wise Men have affirmed Had thâ—â—â—â—hops of Scotland shew'd the same Constancy 〈◊〉 those of England their Zeal and Virtue had gain'd the Hearts of the Scots and given them opportunity to continue Episcopacy but their ill Conduct during the two last Reigns in their Obstinate Supporting the Roman Catholick Party that had already Invaded all the Liberties of the People annull'd their Priviledges and changed a Government limited by Law into Arbitrary Power rendred them the Abomination of the People who were convinced that their Dignities were the only things they regarded which made them deviate from the Rules of the Gospel looking no farther then their present enjoyments little minding the betraying the Interests of Religion and the Kingdom out of a Treacherous Compliance with the Will and Pleasure of a Popish Court to whom they made themselves Slaves June 15. The Estates of Scotland met after their late Adjournment and the Duke of Hamilton acquainted them that his Majesty had been pleased to send him a Commission to represent his Royal Person and that he had Orders to give his Consent to an Act for the turning the Meeting of the Estates into a Parliament which was done accordingly and soon after they made an Act for Recognizing and Asserting their Majesties Royal Authority and Right to the Crown and another for all Persons to take an Oath of Faith and Allegiance to them and about the same time the English Forces under General Mackay and others being entred that Kingdom the Duke of Gordon who till this time had Possession of the Castle finding no hopes of Relief surrendred it upon Articles to Sir John Lanier and so that important place which so long had been a Terror to the City of Edenburgh was put into safe hands the Duke casting himself upon the Kings Mercy without making any Article for himself and it was reported he said That he had so much respect for all the Princes of King James VI. line as not to make Conditions with them for his own particular Interest after this a Reward of 18000 Marks was by Proclamation promised to those that should apprehend Dundee dead or alive and indeed he survived not long after for July 26. Major General Mackay Marching from St. Johnstown with 4000 Foot and 4 Troops of Horse and Dragoons and coming within two Miles of the Blair of Athol had notice that Dundee advanced toward him with 6000 Foot and 100 Horse the Fight began between four and five of the Clock in the Afternoon and lasted till Night with great Courage and Resolution on both sides but at length Mackay's Forces being over-powered with number he retired toward Sterling with a Body of 1500 men in good Order many were killed on both sides but the Enemies loss was greater by the Death of Viscount Dundee who charging furiously in the Head of the Highlanders to inconrage them was slain with a shot though he had Armour after which a Division happened between the Lord Dumfermling and Colonel Cannon who shall succeed in the Command of the Rebel at which time Major General Mackay hearing that 500 of their Foot and two Troops of Horse were sent to St. Johnstown to surprize the Stores of Provisions there resolved to be revenged for his late loss and Marching out of Sterling with a Party of Horse and Dragoons met the Rebels and gave them a total Rout killing and taking Prisoners the greatest part of them and Captain Hacket their Commander Soon after another Defeat was given to Collonel Cannons men consisting in about 4000 with the Addition of the Countrey by the Earl of Angus his Regiment under Lieuterant Colonel Cieland who after three hours sherp dispute forced the Rebels to fly back with the loss of aboâ—e 300 and not above thirty of the Kings men among whom was the Liâ—utenat Collonel this Defeat put an effectual stop to the Incursions of the Highlanders who lost all their Courage with the Death of their Commander being never able to make any considerable Head afterward and though the Earl of Damfermling pretended to manage them yet several of the Câ—ief Nobility and Gentry came in and craved the Benefit of the Proclamation of Indemnity which the King had Published some time before to all those who before September third should lay down their Arms and swear Fidelity to King William and Queen Mary and Colonel Cannon who only maintained the Interest of the late King retreated with his few Followers to the Isle of Mall doubtful whether to continue longer there or return to Ireland Lieutenant General Mackay having put a Garrison into the Castle of Blair returned to Edenburgh where several Earls that were in Prison had their Liberty giving sufficient Security for their Peaceable Behaviour so that several Troops of the Kings Forces in that Kingdom were embarkt for heland and about the same time the Parliament there pussed several Acts which were touched with the Royal Scepter by the Lord High-Commissioner and among others An Act for abolishing Prelacy purporting That whereas the Estates of the Kingdom by their Claim of Right April 11. last had declared That Prelacy and Supremacy in any Office in the Church above Presbytery had been a grievous burden to the Nation ever since the Reformation That therefore the King and Queens Majesty did abolish Episcopacy c. and would establish that Church Government which was most agreeable to the People And now the Parliament of England having given the King plentiful supplies for the Reduction of Ireland the Army Marcht from all Parts toward Chester and Highlake to imbark under the Duke of Schomberg consisting in near 30000 men with great store of all sorts of Ammunition and Provisions and considerable summs of Money and His Majesty appointed a Camp on Hounslow Heath for the Remainder of the Forces Aug. 14. which continued only two or three days and in the mean time a Declatation of War was Published against France in Scotland and now several English Protestants in the North of Ireland having got Possession of the Isle of Innis-killing and the City of London-Derry they resolved to defend them against King James and his Army of Irish Papists who were Marching from Dublin against them and hearing that Lieutenant General Macarry was abroad with a strong Detachment Plundering and Ravaging the Countrey Lieutenant Collonel Berry fell upon them with such Vigor that it is judged 3000 of the Irish were slain and drown'd in the Lough near Newton-Butler into which they desperately threw themselves to escape the Sword King James arriving at London-Derry imagined the Terror of his Arms would
worst he sent an order to Waterford to prepare Ships for carrying him off June 31 King William resolving to force the Enemy to Fight or Retreat marched by break of day from his Camp at Ardee toward Drogheda and found the Irish Army encamped along the River Boyne above the Town and according to his usual Conduct with undaunted Resolution he passed the River notwithstanding the utmost Opposition of the Enemy and fell upon them with such fury that in a few hours their whole Army were utterly routed and dispersed about 3000 being killed and divers Prisoners of Note taken most of the Enemies Baggage as Chariots Tents Arms Cannon Ammunition and Provisions and some Money falling into the Hands of our Soldiers the late King James who had stood at a distance to see the fight perceiving the defeat of his Forces fled with all speed toward Dublin with a very few Attendants and having staid there one Night filling the place with Fear and Confusion upon an Alarm that King William was on his way thither accompanied with the Duke of Berwick the Marquis of Powis and some others he left the City and hastened to Waterford where a Ship lay ready for him having neither slept nor eat till he got out to Sea and stood away for France Upon this the Protestants at Dublin who were imprisoned had their Liberty and a few days after the King arrived there to the unspeakable Joy of the People The loss of the English in obtaining this great Victory was not considerable only Duke Schoniberg and Doctor Walker were both slain after this Waterford Wexford and several other places were reduced and upon a Proclamation of Pardon many of the Irish laid down their Arms and returned to their former Places of abode This Glorious success was somewhat clouded nearer home for the French King to favour his design in Ireland had now set forth the greatest Fleet that ever sailed on the Ocean out of France and stood toward our Coast as if they designed to fight our Navy under the Earl of Torrington who June 24 Sailed from St. Hellens toward them they were seen the Night before off of Fresh-water gate in the Isle of Wight but the Wind taking them short the Admiral came to an Anchor off Dunnose five Leagues off the French so that a battle was soon expected which the Enemy did not seem to decline the English Seamen were also full of Courage and desirous to ingage but the French being much stronger both for number and bigness of Ships consisting in 82 Men of War besides Fire Ships and Tenders it was not thought fit to fight in the open Sea so that the Earl of Torrington avoided it till he was came to Bevesire off Beachy which was favourable for his purpose and there he received the Queens Orders not to delay ingaging if the Wind and Weather would permit which was the Reason that we went to seek the Enemy who expected us in Order of Battle and about nine in the Morning the Ingagement began the Dutch that had the Vanguard fought bravely and both sides fired desperately three hours till the French not liking their entertainment bore away with all speed but about one a Clock there happened a Calm which not only prevented the Hollander pursuit but put them into a little disorder the French not being able to get away were constrained to begin the Fight again which lasted till five in the Evening with extraordinary fury as for the English some few fought well but the Admirals unexpected standing away prevented them from seconding the Dutch so that the rest stood Lookers on while the main Body of the French fell into the Rear of the Dutch who having fought from Morning till Night and defended themselves so long against a prodigious number of the Enemy that assailed them on every side they were so much battered that hardly three were capable of making any defence which constrained them to make their way through the French Fleet to the Coast of England The Hollanders lost two Admirals and a Captain and some of their Ships that could not be got off were burnt the English lost two Sea and two Marine Captains Admiral Evertson declared that all the Dutch Officers and Seamen had done their Duties and had ours ingaged Heartily no doubt the French had gone home in a worse Condition than the Spaniards did in 1588. After the Fight the French Fleet sailed Westward and sent their Boats Ashore at Tingmouth a small Village of Fisher Mens Cotts which they set on Fire with two or three small Vessels in the Harbour and stealing a few Sheep after having lain some time on our Coast to little purpose they returned to Brest At the time the French lay off the Coasts of Kent one Godfrey Cross an Innkeeper in that County was seen to go aboard one of their Boats which carried him to the Fleet whereupon at his return he was seized and Treasonable Letters being found about him he was committed Prisoner and soon after tryed for High Treason at the Kings Bench Bar Westminster and being Convict was Hanged and Quartered for the same and care was taken by Her Majesty in whom the Regency resided during the Kings absence to put the Militia of the Counties into such a posture as to defeat any evil designs of the Enemies to the Government and the Militia of London consisting in about ten thousand men made a gallant appearance before her Majesty at Hyde Park and declared their Chearful Resolution to defend their Majesties and the Government against all its Opponents and the whole Militia of England computed to be about one hundred and fifty thousand Horse and Foot shâ—wed he same forwardness Upon Complaint against the Earl of Torrington for the Miscarriage of the Fleet he was committed by the Council to the Tower after the French had quitted our Câ—â—sts and were gone into Harbour the Militia were discharged and all diligence wâ—s uâ—s ed to repair and equip the Fleet to Sea About this time wâ—â—h 〈◊〉 News of the great Success of the English against the French in the West Indies having beaten them out of St. Christophers and many other considerable places and taken great Bâ—â—tieâ— of Cattel Corn and other Stores and Provisions and that we had reduced the Fort in the Island of Statie and two of our Privaters falling in with twelve French Merchant men bound for St. Maloes under the Convoy of a Frigate of 12. Guns took four of them forcing the rest ashoar about Cherbourg where they were all shipwrackt except the Frigat and most of the men drowned The Rebels in Scotland promising themselves great advantages from the French being on our Coasts and being deceived by false reports 1500 of them got together in the County of Murray under Bucan and Cannon threatning the People to burn and destroy their Houses and Goods if they did not join with them but Sir Thomas Levingstone advancing by speedy Marches came upon them so
surprisingly that they made little Resistance but fled with all imaginable Confusion and being pursued 400 of them were kill'd and the rest totally routed and taken Prisoners with a great quantity of Claret and other Provisions and a great number of Officers were brought to Edenburg and committed to the Tolbooth soon after the remaining Rebels who escaped designed to have surprized the Garrison of Inverness but were happily prevented and deseated by the Earl of Drumlanerig and Major General Mackay In Ireland the King having secured Dublin in safe Hands caused his Army to march toward Limerick where Tyrconnel and Lauzun had drawn together the late Kings broken Forces and having made their approaches against all Opposition His Majesty ordered the Trenches to be opened and planted several Batteries of Cannon which made great breaches in the Walls and a general Assault was expected but Aug. 28. at Night the Rains fell so excessively that the Rivers overflowed and the Garrison being extream strong the King to spare his Men and to avoid the many Inconveniences of the approaching Season was pleased to Order the raising the Seige and refer the reducing the City till a more favourable opportunity after which His Majesty returned for England and was received with all imaginable Expressions of Joy throughout the Kingdom About this time a Fleet was prepared by His Majesties Order consisting in thirty two English and twenty eight Dutch men of War aboard of whom were imbarked eight Regiments of Foot besides the Marine Regiments commanded by the Earl of Marlborough as General and Mr. Trelawny as Major General who Sept. 21. arrived at Cork in Ireland which was obliged to surrender upon Articles and soon after Kingsale ran the same Fate an horrible design of the Irish was now discovered to have set the City of Dublin on Fire but it was happily discovered and prevented In October the Parliament met again at Westminster and Congratulated His Majesties safe return and likewise returned their humble acknowledgments to Her Majesty for Her Goodness Wisdom and Courage manifested in the greatest Dangers even when a powerful Enemy was upon the Coasts the Earl of Torrington was tryed on board the Kent in the River Medway by a Jury of Sea Captains and after a long hearing of the Witnesses and his Defence upon a long debate he was acquitted The Parliament continued to sit and passed many Acts both for supplying His Majesty for the War and setling the Kingdom to whom the King gave an account that the posture of Affairs abroad required his Presence at the Hague and accordingly Jan. 6. His Majesty left White-Hall attended by the great Officers of his Household and divers others of the Nobility and Gentry and soon after arrived in Holland though with some difficulty by reason of the Ice at the Hague His Majesty was received with great Joy which they exprest by erecting several Triumphal Arches redounding to the Glory of his Gallant Achievements since His Majesty left that Countrey And now a Conspiracy was discovered managed by several Persons for introducing our former Bondage and Slavery and the Lord Preston John Ashton and Edmond Eliot were seized as they were designing to go for France with Letters and Papers of Pernicious Consequence and Jan. 17. the Lord Preston was Tryed for High Treason at the Old-Bailey and two days after Mr. Ashton and were both found Guilty and Mr. Ashton was Executed for the same but the Lord Preston was Reprieved together with one Crone formerly Sentenced upon the same account and the Trial of Eliot was deferred after which a Proclamation was issued out for apprehending Dr. Turner late Bishop of Ely William Pen and James Graham Esquires The Duke of Savoy whose Family had for above an hundred years past been trampled on by France and would at this day have been entirely enslaved by that King took this favourable occasion to set himself at Liberty while all Europe almost lends him a helping hand and thereupon some Months since he declared openly against that Crown and Released and gave Liberty to all his Protestant Subjects and entertained them into his Service entering likewise into the Confederacy with the Princes and States of Christendom now in Arms to reduce that Grand Vsurper to Reason and incapacitate him from being any longer dangerous to his Neighbours and in the latter end of 1690. His Highness sent an Envoy to Congratulate their Majesties Accession to the Throne and to express his Passionate desire to unite himself to His Majesties Friendship by an indissoluble Vnion Vpon the Kings Arrival at the Hague several Princes daily came thither as well to have the Honour to wait upon his Majesty as to confer about the state of Affairs March 5. the King accompanied by the Duke of Zell and several of his own Nobility departed for Loo and by the way had news that the French had invested the City of Mons the day before upon which his Majesty ordered the Dutch Troops to march immediately into Flanders to the general Rendezvous and soon after followed in Person being received in the Camp with extraordinary Joy that they should fight under the Banners of so undaunted a Prince the French King arrived before the Town five days after the Siege began having amassed all his Forces together upon this Enterprize leaving only sufficient to defend their Garrisons so that by their continual firing and attacks and the Folly of the Burghers who would not admit above 6000 men into the Town whereas they ought to have had at least 4000 Horse and 10000 Foot this important Place was taken in eight days time the Governor not being able to make such vigorous Sallys as he might have done because he was willing to spare his men but the Burghers being by this means stronger than the Garrison obliged the Prince of Berghes to a surrender before the Confederates could â—ossibly have leisure to relieve the Town after which the French King returned to Versailles and King William came back to England viewing some part of the Fleet in his return and arrived safe at White-Hall where His Majesty nominated several new Bishops to succeed those that had forfeited their bishopricks by refusing to swear Allegiance to their Majesties he likewise took a view of the Troops that were to go to Flanders and having provided for the Security of the Kingdom and happily settled all affairs in Scoland and Ireland His Majesty declared his Resolution of returning into Flanders and arrived May 2 1691. in the Army Encamped within two Miles of Brussels being about 70000 strong and the French under the Duke of Luxemburg no less numerous And in July Baltimore and Athlone in Ireland were taken by General Giukle and the Prince of Wirtemburg Monsieur St. Ruth the French Kings General being killed in the great Battle at Agram soon after with the loss of 7000 of the Irish and the taking of Galloway which followed with most of the other Forts and Castles and Towns except
Limerick which was also invested the latter end of August upon which Lieutenant General Sarsfield who was retired to the Mountains with 4000 Horse and Dragoons resolved to return to that City but was met by General Ginkle and a Party of the English who so vigorously charged them that they instantly fled and were pursued to the very Gates of the Town above 600 Irish being slain and 70 Officers taken Prisoners The Besieged seeing themselves shut up within the Walls of one single Town which was now almost battered down about their Ears hopeless of Succour and reduced to the last extremities Oct. 13. Surrendred up Limerick upon Articles whereby all Ireland was wholly reduced to their Majesties Obedience In Flanders Sept. 19. there happened an Ingagement between the French and Confederate Armies in the absence of the King of England who finding he could not oblige the Enemy to a Battle departed to Brussels and from thence to Loo in order to his return for England leaving the Command of the Army to Prince Waldeck who decamping from Leuse to retire to Cambron the Enemy having notice thereof detached about 30. Squadrons who marched all Night and by the favour of a thick mist unexpectedly fell upon 15. Squadrons of the Confederates Rereguard the conflict was very Sharp and though Inferiour in number yet the Allies made a vigorous Defence till several other Regiments came up to their relief which caused the Enemy to retreat The French lost near 700 men with many Officers and the Confederates about the same number after which both Armies went into Winter Quarters The English and Holland Fleets under the command of Admiral Russel had in vain sought to ingage the French this summer at Sea and having lain some time on the Coast of Ireland to prevent the French from sending Forces thither came now into Harbour after a very tempestuous Season and the Holland Fleet separated and safely arrived in their several Ports and the French Fleet returned to Brest His Majesty being returned to England Oct. 19. and the Parliament sitting the King declared himself to them who thereupon unanimously resolved to raise such supplies as should inable him to continue the War with France and in March following His Majesty arrived again in Holland and from thence went to Loe where several Princes met him to concert the Affairs of the next Campaign He having an Army of 30000 English in Flanders this Summer March 26. 1692. The Elector of Bavaria who was made Governour of the Spanish Netherlands during Life arrived at Brussels being received there with much Joy and Solemnity His Majesty having designed to make a Descent upon France this Summer the News so alarm'd the French King that he resolved to land some Forces in England and King James in the Head of them some Jacobites and Discontented People here having given him Assurance of joining with him upon his Landing to which end the French King supplied Ships Troops and Lovis d'ores so that nothing was wanting but to cross the Seas and a Squadron of sixteen Ships and two Bombing Vessels were sitting at Toulon under Count d'Estree to convoy the Transport Ships thither under the Protection of the French Fleet commanded by Vice Admiral Tourvile in the Channel to prevent the joining of the Dutch and English Fleets and to fight all that should oppose their Passage but Providence ordered the Winds and Recks to fight D' Estree he losing two of his largest Ships near Centa on the Coast of Africa and the rest miserably shattered went to Portugal to refit so that instead of being at Brest the beginning of April he did not arrive there till the beginning of July and came a minute too late as he said to join Torville The Q. of England upon notice of the imbarking of so many men gave out all necessary Orders for securing the Coasts and several Horses were seized whose owners designed to have join'd the Enemy upon their Descent which was intended to be about Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight K James with his Irish Forces were come to Cherbourg upon the Ceast of Normandy and Monsieur Torville had great Confidence in the Courage of his French Marriners upon King James assurance that the English would not fight but be Spectators only The English and Dutch Fleets being happily joined without any Obstruction from the Enemy Admiral Russel set sail from St. Hellens and May 19. get sight of the French Fleet near Cape Barfleur Admiral Torville having the Wind hastned up to the English but the Wind slackning the French Vanguard of 15. great men of War could not come up to the English till Eleven next Morning five of the fifteen did their Duty but the other ten kept out of Cannon shot the Dutch were not able to come up the Wind being in their Teeth the fight lasted between them that could ingage about three hours and then the French made all the Sail they could to get away and the Dutch bad much ado to turn their Ships to follow them by Reason of the Calm during which the two main Bodies of the Fleet laâ—oured to the utmost to come up with the Enemy and being happily got up with them ingaged resolutely for four hours and then Torville as his Vanguard had done before retreated with all speed and by the favour of a Mist got out of sight in the Afternoon the English Blew Squadron which could not come up for the Calm fell upon the Blew French Squadron where the most obstinate fight was maintained till the Night and Mists gave opportunity to the Enemy to hasten toward their own Coasts The next day being clear Admiral Russel discovered them two Leagues off but could not come up by Reason of a sudden Mist about eleven at Night the French weighed Anchor by Moon light and the Confederates pursued them who to save themselves ventured among the Rocks of Jersey and Guernsey May 21. The Admiral discovering several men of War upon a Bank near Cape Barfleur detacht Vice Admiral De la Val with eight or nine Vessels and three Fireships to set fire to them which the next day was happily effected the Royal Sun that magnificent Ship commanded by Admiral Torville which was the wonder of the World both for the exquisiteness of her carving and the beauty of her Shape being 20 Years in Building by the most skilful Shipwrights in Europe carrying 110 Guns the Admirable of 102 and the Strong of 80 Guns with two less Frigates and three Transport Ships were all sacrificed to the Flames and the next day 12 more were burnt in a Bay behind the Isle of Aldernay and this without the loss of one English or Dutch Ship the rest of the French Fleet fled to Brest St. Maloes and Other Ports to secure themselves King James was upon a Hill and through a Perspective Glass saw the fight and upon the first firing of the English he declared that it was only a Signal for them to
come over to the French but he soon found himself deceived and that it was Admiral Russell he had to do withal and that the Intriagues of his Jacobites had not succeeded Thus it pleased Heaven to Crown their Majesties Navy with a Glorious Victory and to preserve us from the Chains prepared for us by the two dear Allies for notwithstanding the specious Declaration published by King James upon his Assurance of being restored yet we have all the Reason in the World to believe his Pardon would not have secured the Nation from Popish Vengeance but that we should have all felt the utmost effects of his Rage and Fury as well as the Honourable and Worthy Persons following whom he excluded from all hopes of Mercy that is the Duke of Ormond the Marquis of Winchester the Earls of Sunderland Bath Danby and Nottingham the Lords Newport Delamere Wiltshire Colchester â—â—â—â—bury Dumblane and Churchill the bishops of St. Asaph and London Dr. Tillotson and Dr. Burnet Knights Sir Ro. Howard Sir J. Worden Sir S. Grimston Sir S. Fox Sir George Treby Sir Baâ—il Dixwel and Sir John Oxenden Esquires F. Russel R. Levison J. Trenchard C. Duncomb Citizens of London Edwards Napleton and Hunt Fishermen with all others that offered Indignities to him at Feversham with Ashton and Crosses Judges and Jurymen also all Spies and those that have betrayed his councils in his absence May 15 1692. The French Army after having made many Marches and Countermarches invested the strong Fortress of Namur being incouraged thereto by the treacherous Baron de Bersey who being born a Subject of Spain and having received some disgust from that Court was corrupted by the French and making his escape out of the Town informed the Enemy of the Condition thereof which he had got full Information of by his Intimacy with the Governour the Prince of Brabancon so as to inform them of the best places for the attack which was strong and which weak so that the Town was surrendered in five days and awhile after Williams Fort and the Castle were likewise delivered up It is very well known that the King of England took all the pains imaginable to get his Army of several Nations together before the Siege and that the Duke of Luxemburg who lay with a strong Detachment to cover the Besiegers used all manner of Caution to avoid a Battle by Incamping in places where he could not be assaulted being sufficiently acquainted with the temper of King William to whom it was natural to despise danger and who pushed onthe relief of the Place to the utmost for as soon as be came to Mehaine he instantly caused Bridges to be built in the Night to cross the River next Morning and to attack Duke Luxemburg in the Morasses which he had certainly done if a very extraordinary Rain had not fallen and if all the Generals had not unanimously dissuaded him from it because of the impossibility of forming a Line of Battel in a place so full of Water after the surrender of Namur the King being informed that the Duke of Luxemburg was upon his March from Enguien resolved to advance with all speed to the same place but the French got there before him and posted themselves between that place and Steinkerken among Hedges and Woods however King William resolved to attack him there which much surprized Luxemburg who upon view of the advantageous Seituation of his Camp had said That none but an Alexander or a Caesar durst attack him in that place but it was William the Great who performed that part and marching silently all Night fell upon the French with such fury next Morning that in a few hours above 7000 of the Enemy were slain with a great number of Nobility and Officers and afterwards retreated at leisure the French not having the Courage to follow them So that the attack and retreat were equally Glorious the King having exposed himself amidst the Cannon and Muskets shots where the fight was hottest riding continually from one end to the other to give necessary Orders so that it was next to a Miracle that his Sacred Person was preserved among so many imminent dangers Thus His Majesty gloriously ended this Campaign by a Signal Victory over the French at Sea and by having several times braved his Enemies by land harassing them by his continual Marches and attacking them in their Retrenchments seeking only an opportunity of putting an end to the War by a General Battle and so to procure to Europe a solid and durable Peace On the Contrary the French King dares never to appear in the Head of his Troops but endeavours to make himself renowned by Treachery and Violation of Oaths These are his Fortress and Assassinations and Poisonings are Crimes which in that Court are not prohibited Witness the Valet de Chambre who poisoned the Duke of Lorrain the French Cook who at the Instigation of the French Ambassador poisoned Mr. Harbord at Belgrade for being vigorous in procuring a Peace betwixt the Emperor and the Turks and lastly the Sieur de Granval who with some others was hired by the Marquess of Barbesieux Secretary to the French King to Murder King William being also incouraged hereto by K. James and his Queen who told him If you and the rest do me this service you shall never want but this horrid Villany being happily discovered Granval was about this time deservedly executed for the same In October His Majesty returned again to England and the Parliament being met he made a Gracious Speech to them after which they unanimously Voted a supply of near five Millions for carrying on a vigorous War against France Having thus given a brief account of the most considerable Transactions in these Kingdoms till the beginning of the year 1693. and the fifth of their Majesties Happy Reign I shall here conclude and that they may continue to Reâ—gn long and prosperously over us ought to be the Prayer of every good Protestant throughout these three Nations FINIS A Catalogue of Books Printed for N. Crouch at the Bell in the Poultrey near Cheapside History I. ENglands Monarch Or A Compendious Relation of the most remarkable Transactions from Julius Caesar to this present adorned with Poems and the Picture of every Monarch from King William the Conquerer to the third year of K. William and Q. Mary With a List of the Nobility the Knights of the Garter the number of the Lords and Commons who have Votes in both Houses of Parliament and many other useful particulars Price One Shilling II. THE Wars in England Scotland and Ireland containing a particular and Impartial Account of all the Battels Sieges and other Remarkable Transactions Revolutions and Accidents which happened from the beginning of the Reign of K. Charles I. 1625. to His Majesties happy Restauration The illegal Tryal of K. Charles I. at large with his last Speech at his suffering and the most considerable matters till 1660 with Pictures of several accidents
Price One Shilling III. THE History of the two late Kings Charles the Second and James the Second Being an Impartial Account of the most Remarkable Transactions and observable passages during their Reigns and the secret French and Popish Intrigues and Designs managed in those times Together with a Relation of the Happy Revolution and the Accession of their present Majesties King William and Queen Mary to the Throne Feb. 13. 1688 9. Price One Shilling IV. THE History of Oliver Cromwel being an Impartial Account of all the Battels Sieges and other Military Atchievements wherein he was ingaged in England Scotland and Ireland and particularly all the Sea Fights with the Dutch and French with the Siege and taking of Dunkirk and likewise of his Civil Administrations while he had the Supream Government of these three Kingdoms till his Death Relating only matters of Fact without Reflection or Observation R. B. Price One Shilling V. HIstorical Remarks and Observations of the Ancient and Present State of London and Westminster shewing the Foundations Walls Gates Towrs Bridges Churches Rivers Wards Halls Companies Government Courts Hospitals Schools Inns of Courts Charters Franchises and Priviledges thereof with an account of the most remarkable accidents as to Wars Fires Plagues and other occurrences for above 903 years past in and about these Cities to the year 1681. Illustrated with Pictures Price one shilling VI. ADmirable Curiosities Rarities and Wonders in England Scotland and Ireland or an account of many remarkable persons and places and likewise of the Battles Seiges prodigious Earthquakes Tempests Inundations Thunders Lightnings Fires Murders and other considerable Occurrences and Accidents for many hundred years past Together with the natural and artificial Rarities in every County in England with several curious Sculptures Price One Shilling VII THE History of the Kingdom of Scotland Containing An Account of the most Remarkable Transactions and Revolutions in Scotland for above 1200 years past during the Reigns of 69 Kings from the year of the our Lord 414 to this present Intermixt with Variety of Excellent Speeches and several Prodigious Accidents and other Matters both Delightful and Prefiâ—â—â—le with a List of the present Scots Nobility Illustrated with Pictures Price one Shilling VIII THe History of the Kingdom of Ireland being a Succiâ—ct Relation of the most considerable Passages and Occurrences in that Kingdom since the Conquest thereof by King Henry II. With an Account of the Rebellion and Horrid Cruelties of the Irish in 1641. Likewise the late Battles of the Boyne Aghrim c. With the Seige of Lymerick Price one Shilling IX THE English Empire in Ameriâ—â— or a prospect of His Majesties Dominions in the West-Indies namely New-sound-land New England New-York New Jersey Pensylvania Mary-land Virginia Carolina Bermudas 〈◊〉 Anguila Monserrat Dominica St. Vincent Antego Mâ—vis or Nevis St. Christophers Barbadoes and Jamaica With an account of their Discovery Scituation and product The Religion and Manners of the Indians and other excellenâ—â—s of these Countreys Illustrated with Mapâ— and Pictures Price one Shilling X. A View of the English Acquisitions in Gâ—inea and the East-Indres With an account of the Religion Government Wars strange Customs Beasts Serpents Monsters and other Observables in those Countties Together with a description of the Isle of St. Helena and the Bay of Souldania intermixt with pleasant Relations Price one Shilling XI THE English Herce Or Sir Francis Drake Revived Being a full Account of the dangerous Voyages admirable Adventures of that Valâ—ant and Renowned Commander As I. His Voyage in 1572. to Nombre de Dios in the Wâ—st Indies where they saw a Pile of Bars of Silver near 70 foot long 10. foot broad and 12. foot high II. His incompassing the whole World in 1577. gaining a vast quantity of Gold and Silver III. His Voyage into America in 1585. and taking the Towns of St. Jago St. Domingo Cartragena and St. Augustine IV. His last Voyage into those Countreys in 1595. with the manner of his Death and Burial By R. B. Price One Shilling XII TWo Journeys to Jerusalem Containing first the Travels of two English Pilgrims some years since and what Admirable Accidents befel them in their Journey to Jerusalem Grand Cairo c 2. The Travels of 14 English Merchants in 1669. from Scanderoon to Tripoly Joppa Ramah Jerusalem Bethlehem Jericho the River of Jordan the Lake of Sodom and Gomorrah and back again to Aleppo To which is added a Relation of the great Council of the Jews assembled in the Plains of Ajarday in Hungary 1650. to examine the Scriptures concerning Christ By S. B. an English-man there present With the notorious Delusion of the Jews by a false Christ at Smyrna in 1666. Lastly The Extirpation of the Jews throughout Persia in 1666. Price One Shilling XIII EXtraordinary Adventures of several Famous Men with the strange Events and signal Mutations and Changes in the Fortunes of divers Illustrious places and persons in all Ages Being an Account of a multitude of stupendious revolutions accidents and observable matters in divers States and Provinces throughout the whole world With Pictures Price One Shilling XIV THE History of the Nine Worthies of the World Three whereof were Gentiles 1. Hector of Troy 2. Alexander the Great 3. Julius Caesar Three Jews 4. Joshua Captain General of Israel 5. David King of Israel 6. Judas Maccabeus Three Christians 7. Arthur K. of Britain 8. Charles the Great K. of France 9. Godfrey of Bullen King of Jerusalem Being an account of their Lives Victories and Deaths With Poems and the Picture of each Worthy By R. B. Price One Shilling XV. FEmale Excellency or the Ladies Glory Illustrated in the Worthy Lives of Nine Famous Women As I. Deborah II. Judith III. Q. Esther IV. Susanna V. Lucretia VI. Voadicia Q. of Britain VII Mariamne Wise to K. Herod VIII Clotilda Q of France IX Andegona Princess of Spain Adorned with Poems and Pictures to each History By R. B. Price One Shilling XVI VVOnderful Prodigies of Judgment and Mercy discovered in above 300 memorable Histories containing 1. Dreadful Judgments upon Atheists Blasphemers and perjured Villains 2. The miserable ends of many Magicians c. 3. Remarkable predictions and presages of approaching death and how the event has been answerable 4. Fearful Judgments upon bloudy Tyrants Murderers c. 5. Admirable Deliverances from imminent dangers and deplorable distresses at Sea and Land Lastly Divine goodness to Penitents with the Dying Thoughts of several famous Men concerning a future State Price one shilling XVII UNparallell'd Varieties or the Matchless Actions and Passions of Mankind displayed in near four hundred notable Instances and Examples discovering the Transcendent Effects 1. Of Love Friendship and Gratitude 2. of Magnanimity Courage and Fidelity 3. Of Chastity Temperance and Humility And on the contrary the Tremendous consequences 4. Of Hatred Revenge and Ingratitude 5. of Cowardice Barbarity and Treachery 6. Of Unchastity Intemperance and Ambition Imbellished with proper Figures Price one
to say to your Face And may I e're find Credit with your Majesty and Protection from Heaven as what I now do is free from Passion Vanity or Design with which Actions of this Nature are too often accompanied I am not ignorant of the frequent Mischiefs wrought in the World by Factious Pretences of Religion but were not Religion the most justifiable Cause it would not be made the most specious Pretence And your Majesty has always shewn too uninterested a Sence of Religion to doubt the just Effects of it in one whose Practices have I hope never given the World cause to censure his real Conviction of it or his backwardness to perform what his Honour and Conscience prompt him to how then can I longer disguise my just concern for that Religion in which I have been so happily Educated which my Judgment throughly convinces me to be the best and for the Support of which I am so highly interested in my Native Countrey and is not England now by the most endearing Tye become so Whilest the restless Spirits of the Enemies of the REFORMED RELIGION back'd by the Cruel Zeal of France justly Alarm and Unite all the Protestant Princes of Christendom and engage them in so vast an Expence for the Support of it can I Act so Degenerous and mean a part as to deny my Concurrence to such worthy Endeavours for disabusing of your Majesty by the Re-inforcement of those Laws and Establishment of that Government on which alone depends the Well-being of your Majesty and of the PROTESTANT RELIGION in Europe This Sir is that irresistible and only Cause that could come in Competition with my Duty and Obligations with your Majesty and be able to tear me from you whilst the same Affectionate Desire of serving you continues in me Could I secure your Person by the Hazard of my Life I should think it could not be better employed And wou'd to God these your distracted Kingdoms might yet receive that satisfactory Complyance from your Majesty in all their justifiable Pretentions as might upon the only sure Foundation that of the Love and Interest of your Subjects establish your Government and as strongly unite the Hearts of all your Subjects to you as is that of Sir Your Majesties most Humble and most Obedient Son and Servant The Lord Churchil's Leâ—ter ran thus Sir Men are seldom suspected of Sincerity when they Act contrary to their Interests and tho' my dutiful Behaviour to your Majesty in the worst of times for which I acknowledge my Poor Services much over paid may not be sufficient so incline You to a Charitable Interpretation of my Actions yet I hope the great Advantage I enjoy under Your Majesty which I can never expect in any other Change of Government may reasonably convince Your Majesty and the World that I am acted by a higher Principle when I offer that Violence to my Inclination and Interest as to desert Your Majesty at a time when your Affairs seem to challenge the strictest Obedience from all Your Subjects much more from one who lies under the greatest personal Obligations imaginable to Your Majesty Thiâ— Sir could proceed from nothing but the inviolable Dictates of my CONSCIENCE and necessary concern for my RELIGION which no good Man can oppose and wiâ—h which I am instructed nothing ought to come in Competition Heaven knows with what Partiality my dutiful Opinion of Your Majesty hath hitherto represented those unhappy Designs which inconsiderate and self interested Men have framed against Your Majesties true Interest and the Protestant Religion But as I can no longer joyn with such to give a pretence by Conquest to bring them to effect so will I always with the hazard of my Life and Fortune so much Your Majesties due endeavour to preserve Your Royal Person and Lawful Rights with all the tender Concern and dutiful Respect that becomes Sir Your Majesties most dutiful and most obliged Subject and Servant The Princess Ann of Denmark likewise directed the following Letter to the Queen upon her withdrawing Madam I beg your Pardon if I am so deeply affected with the surprizing News of the Princes being gone as not to be able to see You but to leave this Paper to Express my humble Duty to the King and your Self and to let You know that I am gone to Absent my self to avoid the Kings Displeasure which I am not able to bear either against the Prince or my Self And I shall stay at so great a distance as not to return before I hear the Happy News of a Reconcilement And as I am Confident the Prince did not leave the KING with any other design than to use all possible means for his Preservation so I hope You will do me the Justice to believe that I am uncapable of following him for any other End Never was any one in such an unhappy Condition so divided between Duty and Affect on to a Father and a Husband and therefore I know not what to do but to follow one to preserve the other I see the general falling off of the the Nobility and Gentry who avow to have no other end than to prevail with the King to secure their Religion which they saw in so much danger by the Violent Counsels of the Priests who to promote their own Religion did not care to what dangers they exposed the King I am fully perswaded that the Prince of Orange designs the King's Safety and Preservation and hope all things may be Compâ—sâ—d without more Bloodshed by the Calling a Parliament God grant a Happy end to these Troubles that the King's Reign may be prosperous and that I may shortly meet You in perfect Peace and Safety till when let me beg You to continue the same favourable Opinion that You have hitherto had of Your most Obedient Daughter and Servant Ann. The King now issued out a Proclamation of Pardon to all his Subjects that had taken up Arms under the Prince if they returned in twenty days but very few or none came back and about the same time a Party of the Princes Men being abroad and advancing beyond their Strength were pursued and charged by Collonel Sarsfield with seventy horse and thirty Dragoons and Granadiers who overtaking them at Wincanton they posted themselves behind the Hedges Whereupon the Kings Party dismounted and marched up to them and they began to Fire â—riskly several being killed and wounded But â—olonel Sarsfield getting into the Field with his Horse and Charging them in the Reer they were most of them killed or taken Prisoners Lieutenant Cambel who commanded them being slain and of the Kings Party four were killed and Cornet Web mortally wounded This slender success was soon damped by an Address from the Fleet for a Free Parliament which now began to grow Cold in his Service and the continual Desertions of his Army So that the King not thinking it Convenient to hazard a Battel with them upon the approach of the Princes Forces with