making good his Post drew off under the favour of the darkness of the Night in much Silence and Confusion and took a new Post nearer Mons covering his Army with a Wood on the one side and on the other it was secured by a River leaving behind him most of the wounded Men with many Tents and much Baggage and Ammunition The Prince upon this advantage would have pursued the French to have given them a total Defeat and free the Town of Mons from the apprehension of Danger But whilst he was preparing to make a second Attack an Express was sent him that the Treaty was signed between the States and the French King however they congratulated his Highness upon this Success in an extraordinary manner intreating him to be more sparing of their safety than to hazard himself in the midst of danger and the better to demonstrate at how dear a rate they esteemed his preservation they sent to Mr. Owerkirks a Person who had enterposed himself between the Prince and a French Captain that in the heat of the Fight was in a full Carier to charge him at adisadvantage a Sword whose Hilt was of Massy Gold a pair of Pistols inlay'd with Gold and a pair of golden Horse-buckles Upon the News that the Treaty was signed a Cessation of Arms ensued and upon the Duke of Luxemburgh's drawing off to the Country between the Muse and Sambre the Prince marched to Escousines upon the Road to Nivelle and there being no farther Business in relation to warlike Action he came to the Hague where he was received by the People with the highest demonstration of Joy and Acclamation and this last success no doubt hastened the Conclusion of the Treaty between France and Spain which was agreed on the 17th of November following yet it lasted not long before the French King upon the claiming several places in the Spanish Netherlands as Dependencies blocked up Luxemburgh which obliged the King of Great Britain Guarrantee of the Peace to interpose his Authority as likewise did the States by way of Mediation but the French King would not hearken to the quitting the claim he had laid unless the City of Luxemburgh might be put into his Possession with all its Dependencies three Leagues round it which being long debated and the time the French King gave to come to a Resolve being expired without concluding any thing of that Affair the Mareschal d' Humieres fell into the Spanish Provinces with a numerous Army and put them under Contribution making great spoil and ravage in many places and not so contented but upon the Prince of Chimai's Governour of Luxemburgh acting some Hostilities in their Territories the Mareschal laid Siege to and took Courtray burning many places of lesser note constraining others to pay a Ransome for saving themselves from Fire and in conclusion the Mareschal d' Crequi came before Luxemburgh with an Army of 30000 Men and cast a great number of Bombs into that City which burnt and demolished about Five hundred Houses and so retired to put his Army into Winter Quarters and in the mean while the Negotiation continued between the Arbritours to settle the Differences between the two Crowns nor did they spare any Diligence to create a good understanding by proposing Equivalents but the Spaniards at that time were so much averse that the Mediatours began to give over the hopes they had conceived of accommodating Matters in dispute nay the Spanish Ambassadour proceeded so far as to press the King of Great Britain to send over Forces to the Assistence of his Master but the King told him That the urgency of his Affairs at home could not admit of sending Forces abroad but that he was willing to doe the King of Spain all the good Offices that lay in him c. as also to use his utmost Endeavours for the Peace and Repose of Europe But not satisfied with this Answer they again applyed themselves to the States General but they being not willing to enter into any new Engagement of War with France the Ambassadours could not persuade them to make new Levies or to send any Forces to the Assistence of His Catholick Majesty nor could the Emperour give any assistence by reason of the storm that threatened him at that time in Hungary so that indeed the whole State of Europe being unwilling or not in a condition to enter into a new War it was greatly hoped that this would oblige those that stood out to a compliance And the better to perfect an Alliance a general Congress was held at the Hague where it was thought somewhat reasonable that the True of Twenty years which the French King had offered should be accepted including the Allies on all parts which coming to a Resolve and the Articles of Treaty agreed amongst other things it was thought fit that the French King should restore to the King of Spain Dixmuyden and Courtray with their Dependencies having liberty to demolish the Fortifications as likewise the other Places taken by force since the 30th of August 1683. and that in consideration thereof the King of Spain should Surrender to him Beaumont Luxemburgh Chimai and Bovines with all their Dependencies and to this purpose the Articles between the two Crowns were concluded on at Ratisbon And now the French King being at leisure began to grow exceeding troublesome to his Protestant Subjects having during the former Transactions put a very sensible Affront upon his Highness the Prince of Orange for whilst the Differences lasted between the French the Spaniards they extremely wasted his Patrimony in Brabant Burgundy and Luxemburgh where the Prince of Isenguyn supported by the French Interest and Arms had seized upon his Possession of Warnesson Desburgh Vianden St. Vith Budgenback c. yet out of a generosity to his Country in preferring their Peace and Tranquillity before his own interest he forbore at that time to put in for Reparation nor could the Violences the French King unjustly offered in entring upon his Principality of Orange be less resented by which Act he seemed to have this farther design viz. To hinder the Protestant Religion from flourishing there for upon the Persecution he raised in all parts of his own Territories many of the Protestants sent their Children to this Sovereign Principality to be Educated in Learning but this greatly displeasing him he sent his Orders to Monsieur Moran Super-intendent of Provence to March a Body of 2000 Men thither under the Command of his Lieutenant-General in Languedock to command the Magistrates of the Principality of Orange to send away all the Children to their Parents and not for the future to receive any more into their Schools or Academies To this unjust and unreasonable Demand they found themselves constrained to consent promising to give notice to the Parents of the Children that they might send for them home hoping by this means they had given the King satisfaction But what can satisfie an ambitious spightfull Mind for
although this gave the Citizens hope they were in Peace yet it proved not so for soon after Orders came to throw down the Walls of the City and the French Dragoons Quartering upon the Inhabitants committed many Indecencies and Disorders compelling the People to Work in ruining their own Fortifications which being undermined were blown up This News no sooner came to his Highness's Council but they complained of it to the States-General as a breach of the last Peace urging that Reparation might be required for such unjust Proceedings against the Subjects of his Highness in the midst of a general Peace Nor were the States wanting in Writing to the King and letting him know their Resentments for so great an Injury contrary to the Treaty of Nimeguen pressing him for Reparation of the damage his Highness had contrary to Articles sustained in the Violence done to his Subjects But they could get no other Answer from the French Court but that as for the Money extorted from the Inhabitants those that extorted it had no Order for it and he had commanded Restitution to be made and upon the Peoples submitting to his Pleasure he had withdrawn his Forces and restored the Inhabitants their Commerce according to their Desires but as for the rest he alledged he had reason for what he did This Answer though it was neither generous nor pleasing was all that could be got at that time and so the matter continues to a more favourable opportunity The Face of Peace now appearing amongst the Christian Princes and Hungary being the greatest Scene of War the States thought of Disbanding their supernumerary Forces and in order thereto advised with his Highness who assured them that there was no Person more desirous than himself to ease the People of their Contributions and Taxes but in consideration things were scarcely settled and that the nighbouring Countries had not yet Disbanded but were in Arms he thought it the safest way to continue them till they might be assuredly free from the fear or suspicion of any sinister event c. And according to this prudent and grave Counsel they were continued it being resolved by the States-General That the Extraordinary Forces should be kept up to a farther time And now his Highness being more at leisure and desirous to promote the good of his Country betook himself to the reforming the Government of Vtreicht in which during the Series of so tedious a War some Disorders and Irregularities had happened which he redressed by prudently altering such of the Magistracy as were looked upon unfit Persons to manage the Government and put such into their places as he found better capable of managing so weighty a Trust striving to promote and advance the welfare of the People at no small expence of Pains and Treasure contrary to the Methods of the French King who was then Dragooning his Subjects of the Protestant Religion and using all manner of ways to ruine them by Tortures Confiscations and Imprisonments and many such unchristian-like Proceedings And since we are come to this part pardon the Digression if I conceive it not amiss to expose the Methods France has of late years taken to bring over Protestants to the Church of Rome that the Reader may the better distinguish between the Actions of a vertuous Prince who makes it his utmost care and study to preserve and promote those that are under his Jurisdiction and a Prince that labours to ruine and destroy his Subjects I shall not trouble you with the Declaration put out against the Protestants in the year 1669. or hardships they suffered before and since that year in particular till I come to the year 1680. In this year the King issued out his Order thereby depriving them in general of all manner of places of Trust Offices and Services reducing the meaner sort thereby to great distress and disanulling the more wealthy of what they had purchased with their Money and the price of their Bloud And the next year 1681 by a Decree of their Council all Notaries Attornies Solicitors and Sergeants which made profession of the Reformed Religion were rendred uncapable of their Employments and the next year the Lords and Gentlemen were commanded to discharge their Protestant Officers and Servants and in Eighty three all Officers of the King's Household and those of the Princes of the Bloud were commanded to give place to the Roman Catholicks and in a word all manner of Persons of all Professions that were of the Reformed Religion had a Prohibition by those strict Decrees under severe Penalties And so strict were they that the Midwives unless Roman Catholicks durst not but by stealth perform their Office and by this means some were constrained to suffer their Tongue to give their Heart the Lye. These for the encouragement as they pretended of themselves and others being called new Converts were discharged from the Payment of their Debts for the space of three years and this was done the better to disappoint their Creditors of the Reformed Religion with whom they had mostly dealt Nor content with this by another way they quite discharged them of such Debts as those of that Religion had contracted in common These Proceedings served only as a Prologue to that which was afterward acted on the Unchristian-like Stage of France for the Councils influenced by the Priests who aimed more at the Estates of the Protestants than their Religion finding these ways not so effectual as they expected and perceiving that many of the more wealthy made over their Estates and left the Country exhibited a Prohibition of selling or alienating any Estates whatsoever the King annulling and breaking all Contracts and other Acts relating to such Sale or Alienation if it did not appear that after any such Act they did not stay in the Kingdom a whole year so that being deprived of all means to transport their effects and yet not suffered to enjoy them with any quiet many preferring a good Conscience before worldly Riches proposed to leave all they had and with it the Kingdom but this took no effect for hereupon they were forbidden it under severe Penalties which drove them to so great a strait that they knew not what offer or proposal to make finding every thing hazardous and uncertain But they were not long without new Proofs of Roman Severity for though they had already fleeced them yet not so contented the Intendents in their Districts had orders to weigh them down if possible with heavy Taxes by charging them with those of the new Converts who were discharged from paying any in favour of their pretended Conversion or by laying others on them which they termed Duties so that he who was before assessed in the Roll for 40 or 50 Livres escaped well if he came off for 5 or 600 and those that delayed or had not the Money were obliged to quarter Dragoons and suffer Imprisonment till they had made payment And to pass over many things of the like Nature
Services his Highness had done the States by his Valour and Conduct in freeing them from the Danger of their capital Enemies and recovering so many wealthy Towns they confirmed to him the Dignity of Stateholder for the Provinces of Holland and West Friezeland passing a Decree to hold it not only for his Life but to settle it upon the Heirs Male of his Body in lawfull Marriage for ever Upon which his Highness for a time made it his Business with indefatigable care and industry to settle the Province of Utreicht and other Countrys that had been disturbed and put out of order by the Invasion of the French and made such Reformation and good Regulation of a Government that had been shaken and put out of frame by the sundry sudden Revolutions that he settled Matters to the admiration content of all Persons that had to doe in it so that they unanimously voted him Governour-General and Captain-General of the Province of Utreicht and the honour to descend to his Heirs Male lawfully born in Wedlock Whilst these things were doing General Rebenhaupt being aboard with a strong Party took Northom and put a Garison into it beat the Munster Forces that in his absence were endeavouring to re-take it and marched onward stormed Nigenbuys yet the Garison retiring to a little Castle capable of making but a slender resistence were spared upon their throwing down their Arms and begging Quarter But upon his going into Winter Quarters and dispersing his Men General Negal with the Munster Forces under his Command recovered the latter However the Bishop of Munster perceiving the Tempest of War to gather about his Countries and finding the French King no way able to support him he thought it high time to treat of Peace and accordingly clapped up one with the Emperour which more and more discouraged the French so that the Marquess of Belefouds who succeeded the Mareschal d' Humiers in the Netherland Acquisitions thought of nothing more than the deserting the Towns that yet remained And in order to this upon notice that the Prince was marching into Brabant with 30000 Men to joyn the Spanish Forces Tiel Arnheim Zutphen and others were slighted but not without great Summes of Money extorted from the Inhabitants to save them from Plunder and Burning the Bishop of Munster likewise relinquished Devenenter so that all Overysel was at entire Liberty and had those Disorders the Enemy occasioned in Government rectified and restored by his Highness's special Command though for quitting these Towns the Marquess lost the French King's Favour and was for bidden the Court the better to colour the Business which his necessity past all peradventure had obliged him to doe yet to repair this loss he fell into the French Conte and took Dole Malins and Becanson making himself in a short time Master of that entire Province This made his Highness the Prince of Orange repair the sooner to the Army at Bargen Opzoon marching from thence to Mallins guarding the Fronteirs of Brabant so that the French though abroad with two powerfull Armies durst attempt nothing farther on that side The Confederate Armies joyning about the end of July The Generals agreed That Count Souches should lead the Van the Prince of Orange the Main Battel and the Rear-Guard to be commanded by the Count Montery and so they proceeded to oblige the Prince of Conde who lay encamped with the greatest strength of the French power to a Battel but not being able to draw him to it and perceiving the still fortified his Camp the Confederate Armies drew off in order to besiege and take in some Places of Importance which Conde no sooner perceived and understanding the difficult ways they were to pass but he drew out and pursued the Rear-Guard as knowing the Van-Guard and Main Battalia were a great way advanced and charged the Prince of Vaudemont who consisted most of Horse which obliged him to send to the Prince of Orange for two Battalians of Foot who sent him three under the Command of young Prince Maurice of Nassau and soon after the entire Army engaged by degrees in a doubtfull and bloudy Fight near the River Seneff where at first the French had the advantage by reason the Confederate Army being as is said divided could not so soon unite as was convenient however the Prince of Conde in conclusion was obliged to draw off and quit the Field with the loss of about 7000 Men and amonst them sundry great Officers and Voluntiers of note Nor did the Confederates lose less than 6000 and amongst them many Noble-men besides those that were wounded and taken Prisoners on both sides And in this Battel which lasted for about the space of six or seven hours his Highness the Prince of Orange spared not to hazard his Person in the greatest danger labouring with his Voice and Example to encourage his Men and restore the Battel where he found it broken and disordered by rallying the Troups and Battalions causing those that shrunk or gave back to advance and with his Sword in his hand led them on to face the danger omitting nothing that became a great and experienced General insomuch that General Souches a Man of great prudence and large understanding gives a Character of him to the States of Holland in these words I have endeavoured says he to discharge my Duty in attending his Highness the Prince of Orange during the famous though bloudy Battel between the Confederate Army and that of the most Christian King the happy Issue of which has proved very much to the Glory of the Prince who shewed upon that occasion the Prudence of an aged Captain the Courage of a Caesar and the un daunted Bravery of a Marius all which My Lords is delivered by me without Flattery which is contrary to my Nature c. The Fight being over and the Confederates with a strong Party keeping the Field all Night the Prince the next day marched by Mons with his whole Army and was recruited at St. Gilain with five Dutch Regiments and there he Quartered whilst the Imperialists marched to Queverain when soon after General Rabenhaupt laid Siege to the Greves a strong Garison possessed by the French and as stoutly defended insomuch that he had been undoubtedly obliged to quit that Siege had not the Prince of Orange perfected it by the assistence he gave for the Garison consisted of 4000 Foot and 9 Troups of Horse and in it 450 pieces of Cannon a hundred of them mounted besides a large store of Ammunition and Provision yet this strong place yielded to the unconquerable Fortune of the Prince for finding the Imperialists and Spaniards not forward to hazard a second Battel with Conde who was by this time considerably re-inforced leaving the Gross of his Army with Prince Waldeck he came to the Siege of this place with 60 Troups of Horse which so animated the Besiegers and daunted the Besieged that the Marquess De Chamilly Governour of the Town
thence to the Hague accompanied by sundry Noble-men as well English as others and there gave the States an Account of his Conduct with which they were very much satisfied and returned his Highness their hearty Thanks for his weary Enterprizes c. The French not appearing any ways inclinable to Action or undertaking the Siege of any important Place his Highness taking leave of the States embarked for England attended by the Earl of Ossory and divers other Lords and Gentlemen on the Yatches sent for his Accommodation by His Majesty of great Britain King Charles II. and was attended by three English Men of War and a Squadron the States ordered to wait upon him Commanded by Admiral Evertson there was also in his Train the Count of Nassau and Mr. Odyck and proceeding with a prosperous Gale safely arrived at Harwich the 19th of October 1677. where he was received by the Duke of Albemarle and proceeding thence in the King's Coaches to Ipswich he was there very favourably received by his Majesty and a splendid Train of Nobility as also by his Royal Highness with all the Testimonies and Expressions of real Joy and Affection and on the 23d they arrived at White-Hall where his Royal Highness's Lodgings were prepared for his Reception and soon after it was known to what intent his Highness had been invited over nor did he on the 29th of October fail upon the Invitation of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London to accompany His Majesty His Royal Highness and the Court to be a spectatour of the Cities magnificent annual Triumph and was splendidly entertained to his high satisfaction Now the King having chosen his Highness from amongst the Princes of Europe as the fittest Match for his illustrious Neece the Princess Mary for which intent he was invited to Court he on the first of November declared his Intention in Council with which the Lords were extremely satisfied as well in the Merits of his Highness as the security of the Protestant Religion by so agreeable a Match and the better for the conservation of a Peace with the united Provinces whereupon the Council to testifie a farther mark of the contentment they received went in a body to Complement and Congratulate the Princess and then the Prince upon this happy occasion as did afterwards the rest of the Nobility of the Kingdom and others a general satisfaction being every where expressed so that his Highness sent an Express to the States General to acquaint them with what was intended the Summe of which was That in consideration they had by their earnest Wishes to him declared how much they desired to see him Married after he had well weighed the Reasons that had induced him to it in Conformity to their Desires and the Tranquillity of their State he conceived he could not doe better than to address himself to the Princess Mary eldest Daughter to the Duke of York that he had made his Request to have her in Marriage both of the King and the Duke who had condescended to his Proposals and therefore he thought it requisite to give their Lordships notice of it expecting in return their speedy Approbation that he might the sooner hasten again to their Service Upon this notice of his Highness's Intentions the States assembled to consider the weighty Reasons that induced him to make so happy a choice in placing his Affections on the most illustrious Princess in Europe and with much Joy Gratulation approved them testifying by a publick Edict the satisfaction they conceived and declaring the esteem of so great an Alliance made a resolution to observe it to the utmost of their power and accordingly sent their Approbation to his Highness on the 4th of November old Style on which day the happy Marriage was solemnized the Ceremonies performed by the Bishop of London and the King gave the Princess Nor did the News appear in publick but with the greatest Demonstrations of Joy imaginable the Bells every where rang and Bon-fires flam'd in the streets and an universal consent spread over the Kingdom and Congratulatory Poems were made by the best hands upon the occasion But whilst every one was Reveling in Joy and Contentment the Prince had his thoughts employed upon the important Business of the State and having received the farther Complements and Congratulations of the Nobles and Gentry he on the 29th took his leave of the Court together with his fair Princess and with a Train of Noble-men and Ladies took his way to embark for Holland whither he was attended by several Men of War and having a prosperous Passage landed at Ter-heyde and from thence passed to Hounsleyrdyke where for some time their Highnesses continued and received private Visits till the Magnificence that was to attend their publick Entry into the Hague was prepared where upon their Ingress the Bridge was crowned with Garlands of Triumph and under them written Vxori Batavis vivat Nassovius Hector Auriaco Patriae vivat Britanica Princeps Here they found likewise the twelve Companies of Burghers drawn up in Arms and the People every where expressing their satisfaction with loud and joyfull Acclamations and upon passing the Bridge 24 Virgins met them singing Songs prepared for the occasion and strewing the way with fragrant Herbs on each side the Coach wherein their Highnesses were and arriving at the Town-house they found a Triumphal Arch erected through which they passed this Arch was beautified and adorned with a Sylvian Scene and on the top a Hieroglyphick of Amity by the clasping of two hands and a Motto viz. Auriaci his Thalamis Bataevis dos Regia pax est Then crossing the Market-place into the High-street they found another Arch erected with this Motto viz. Ingredere Auspicius Batavis Felicibus Aulam and in the mean time the Cannon was fired from all parts and the Burghers gave several Volleys at Night the whole Country was enlightened with Bon-fires and Fire-works of sundry kinds and forms and so with great joy and satisfaction passed the rest of the Winter little Action happening abroad in that season yet the French King made early preparations against the Spring which obliged his Majesty of Great Britain as he had before designed to labour to compose the unhappy differences that had occasioned the expence of so much Bloud and Treasure and in order to it he sent the Earl of Feversham to the French King with Instructions to negotiate a Peace between that King and the Confederates the purport of his Commission was to propose That the City of Charleroy Aeith Courtray Tournay Conde Oudenard Valenciennes and St. Guilain should be restored to the Spaniards in consideration of which the French King should keep La Frenche Conte intire but this not succeeding His Majesty of Great Britain dispatched a Commission fully impowring the Lord Hide his Ambassadour at the Hague to make Alliance with the States General mutually to stand by and defend each other till they could oblige
he could not in that kind advantage the King's Affairs which were now grown desperate betook himself to his Retirement so that the Militia found themselves disbanded The Noblemen who were sent to treat with his Highness the Prince of Orange about accommodating the affairs of the Kingdom not being able to effect in all points what the King desired the Infant which had been sent to Portsmouth either as supposed the securest place or to pass the Seas was sent for back in great haste and the Priests began to shift for themselves Father Petre was missing with divers others who it is supposed perceiving the desperateness of their condition made an early escape and several Councils were held most of them privately in the King's Closet to advise what was to he done in the Juncture of affairs when on the 9th of December in the Evening News came that greatly allarm'd the Court and put it for the most part in a hurry and consternation viz. That the Prince's Forces had made their way through Reading and gained the Pass of Twyford-bridge without any considerable resistence And thus we find the account of this Action About 1500 Horse and 3 Troups of Irish Dragoons being quartered or posted in the Town of Reading were put into a Consternation upon the Report that a strong advanced Party of the Prince's Army were on their march to beat up their Quarters so that after some Consultation of the Officers it was concluded they should draw off to Twyford-Bridge and there make good their Post which accordingly they did but the Scouts that were sent abroad to discover coming in and giving them an account that the Roads were clear the Commander in chief commanded that Claverhouse Regiment of Scotch Horse and the Irish Dragoons should march back and repossess the Town of Reading which they did on the Eighth of December at Night with Orders to be in readiness and upon their Guards to prevent surprize so that most of them kept on Horse-back some in the Market-place and others at the Posts assigned them but there being yet no news of the advanc'd Party they were commanded by their Officers to alight and refresh themselves and their Horses when at ten of the Clock in the Morning the Trumpet sounded to Horse the Prince's Forces being at the Town 's end almost before they were discovered whereupon a sharp dispute ensued with brisk Firing on both Parties the Irish Dragoons bearing the brunt of the Encounter though the Scotch Horse in small detatched Bodies made some Firings but they were over-powered driven out of the Town and obliged to retreat to Twyford-Bridge and in conclusion many of the King's Party Deserted and the rest were constrained to quit the Pass and make the best of their Retreat In this Skirmish we cannot learn that above Thirty were killed and several wounded But now the King having no considerable Forces especially none capable of making Head against a prevailing Army the Queen who had been at Wind for the day before to fetch the Infant taking her solemn leave of the King crossed the Thames on the Tenth of December about Three in the Morning where her Coaches waited for her and so with the Child and a slender Attendence made for Dover or some Port near it and there took Shipping for France where she soon after landed and had a place of Residence appointed her by the French King. The Queen having left White-Hall as also a great many of the Courtiers the King the same Evening called an extraordinary Council and sent for the Lord Mayor of London and the Sheriffs who waiting upon His Majesty were amongst other things charged to have a Care of the City and keep it in Peace and Quietness as much as in them lay and then were dismissed However the Council held a long Debate and a meeting was appointed the the next Morning but contrary to the Expectation of almost the whole Kingdom the King about Three a Clock in the Night took Barge at the Privy Stairs with a small Equipage and went down the River on his Departure without giving notice to any of the Officers of his Houshold who were then in The King's Departure was no sooner spread abroad but the Lords Spiritual and Temporal that were about Town assembled and finding White-Hall full of Consternation after some Debates they gave order for the dismissing Popish Officers and Soldiers and giving Directions for the keeping of that Palace from Pillage or Spoil which in that Confusion might have happened they adjourned immediately to the Guild Hall of the City of London where by their Order the Lord Mayor had summoned the Court of Aldermen and thither they sent for Collonel Bevil Skelton Lieutenant of the Tower and ordered him to resign up that important Citadel to the Lord Lucas in trust of the City till other Measures could be taken and proceeded to approve and sign the following Declaration viz. We doubt not but the World believes that in this great and dangerous Conjuncture We are Heartily and Zealously concerned for the Protestant Religion the Laws of the Land and the Liberties and Properties of the Subject and we did reasonably hope that the King having Issued out his Proclamation and Writs for a Free Parliament We might have rested secure under the Expectation of that Meeting but His Majesty having withdrawn himself and as we apprehend in order to his Departure out of the Kingdom by the pernicious Counsels of Person ill-affected to our Nation and Religion We cannot without being wanting to our Duty be silent under the Calamities wherein the Popish Counsels which so long prevailed have miserably involved us We do therefore unanimously resolve to apply our selves to his Highness the Prince of Orange who with so great Kindness to these Kingdoms so Vast Expence and so much hazard to his own Person hath undertaken by endeavouring to procure a Free Parliament to rescue us with as little Effusion of Christian Blood as possible from imminent Dangers of Popery and Slavery And we do hereby declare That we will with our utmost Endeavours assist his Highness in the obtaining such a Parliament with all speed wherein our Laws our Liberties and our Prosperities may be secured the Church of England in particular with a due Liberty to Protestant Dissenters and in general the Protestant Religion and Interest over the whole World may be supported and encouraged to the Glory of God the Happiness of the Established Government in these Kingdoms and the advantage of all Princes and State in Christendom that may be herein concerned In the mean time we will endeavour to preserve as much as in us lies the Peace and Security of these great and populous Cities of London and Westminster and the parts adjacent by taking Care to disarm all Papists and secure all Jesuits and Romish Priests who are in or about the same and if there be any thing more to be performed by us for the promoting His Highness's Generous