House they concluded 't was their best course to call and drink there because it shew'd well to the Eye and People all along were very kind to the Souldiers and would make them drink and in many Places eat Hereupon these Straglers went to the House and asked for some Beer and the People there made them eat and drink freely saying Their Master had provided for them After they had eat and drank they hastned towards their Regiments lest the Enemies Party should happen to meet them Being come a little more than a quarter of a mile from the House they grew suddenly so weak and faint that they were not able to go any farther so they lay down under a Tree not suspecting what was the matter As they were in this desperate condition by meer Providence there came a Surgeon-Major that way who espying some Souldiers supposed they were some of the Prince of Orange's Men he went to speak with them and seeing them look so fearfully their Eyes being prodigiously swell'd he ask'd presently What was the matter with them or what did ail them they told him they knew not only they had eat and drank at the Gentleman's House behind pointing to the House The Surgeon having heard of their evil Preparations prepared immediately an Antidote and gave directions what they must do whereupon they presently began to vomit and after some time they waxed a little better and made shift to get to the Waggons which carried sick Souldiers and were under the Surgeon-Major's Hands for some time At the very next Town called Yetminster one Souldier died in the Night and none could tell what was the matter with him being very well when he went to bed which Souldier I buried there according to our Liturgy The others that were poisoned were strangely altered their Eyes being swell'd after an odd manner Now the Army being advanced near Sarum and the first Line being in the City the second at Wiltion and the Towns adjacent and the Rear Line at Tevent and Dinton one Line about two or three miles off the City and the other about seven or eight The Prince of Orange with his Highness the Prince of Denmark his Grace the Duke of Ormond Mareschal Schomberg Count Solms Count Nassau Heer Zulustein Heer Benting Heer Overkirk the Earl of Shrewsbury Lord Viscount Mordant the Earl of Macclesfield Lord Wiltshire Lord Cornbury Lord Colchester and sundry other Lords Sir Will. Portman Sir Rowland Gwynn Col. Sidney and many other Knights and Gentlemen rode into the famous City of Salisbury The manner of their Entrance into this City was far more glorious than that of Exeter For here the Mayor and Aldermen met his Highness the Prince of Orange in all their Formalities First of all marched the Regiment of Foot Guards belonging to Count Solms with their Colours flying Drums beating Hoitboys playing the People thronging in the Street and making great Acclamations Next some Troops of Horse with their Kettle-Drums beating Colours flourishing Trumpets sounding the Officers shewing their Courtesy to the People Then came his Highness the Prince of Orange with the Prince of Denmark on his right Hand and the Duke of Ormond on his Left. Never were Windows more crowded with Faces of both Sexes than here never were Bells ringing more melodiously than now at Sarum never were People shouting and ecchoing forth Huzza's in the Air more than now The Bishop's Palace there being the best and most meet place both the Princes rode thither altho afterwards his Highness Prince George went to the Quarters assign'd him The Princess Ann of Denmark was gone into the North with the Ladys Churchil and Berkley and the R. R. Bishop of London to those Forces there in Arms for the Prince of Orange And hearing that the Army was advanced to Sarum she came unto the City of Oxford where Prince George met her Royal Highness and conducted her safe to London having a Dutch Guard appointed them by the Prince of Orange The late King James's Army was now much broken most of the Protestant Officers and Souldiers come away and join'd his Highness's Forces So 't was apparent to all Men there would be no Field Battel Whilst the Prince of Orange remained in this City there was great resort from all the Country round about to see him who was the Nation 's Joy and the Peoples Delight because he had done so great Things for our Land And such was his exceeding wise Conduct that the the effusion of much Blood was prevented After some stay here the Prince of Orange went to Amsbury attended with the Duke of Ormond and many of the English Nobility and Gentry besides Dutch Scotch and French The first Line was advanced towards the most renowned City of London a considerable way the Roads here being good for marching And as the Regiments marched over the Plains they made pleasant Figures sometimes marching in Battalia and sometimes in a Line The Weather now was very favourable and the way very good And being to march near one of the Wonders of the World called Stonehenge most Regiments made an halt to view this strange Sight none that saw it could render any satisfactory Account concerning it Certain Officers ask'd the Minister of Amsbury what was his Opinion because they presumed 't was within the Bounds of his Parish who told them that he supposed it to be a Trophy or Monument erected in token of some notable Victory which was obtain'd there I must confess this is the general Opinion of the greatest Antiquaries of our Nation The Custom of erecting a Trophy or Monument in token of Victory is of great Antiquity and first began among the Greeks who used in that place where the Enemies were vanquish'd to cut down the Boughs of great Trees and in the Stocks or Bodies of them to hang up Armour or other Spoils taken from the Enemy Others argued strongly that these prodigious Stones were brought out of Ireland by Merlin's Magical Art and so curiously fram'd and put together To corroborate this Opinion they assured us that a piece broken off from these Stones and put into the Wall of any Well or cast into the Water shall for certain kill and destroy all the venemous Creatures therein To proceed the Army moved daily according to the Motion of his Highness who rode from Amsbury unto a certain Gentleman's House near Collingburn The late King James being almost past all hopes sent the Marquess of Hallifax Earl of Nottingham and the Lord Godolphin as Commissioners to treat with the Prince of Orange immediately and a Trumpeter was sent down to know his Highness's pleasure Whether he would admit of them as such And his Highness was pleased to grant them leave The place appointed them was Hungerford His Highness with all his Nobles c. went to Littlecott December 8 and remain'd there the Morrow being the Lord's Day for the Army never march'd on that Day but once in case of Necessity that the Souldiers should
An Exact DIARY OF THE Late Expedition OF His Illustrious Highness THE Prince of Orange Now KING of Great Britain From his Palace at the HAGVE To his Landing at TORBAY And from thence To his Arrival at WHITE-HALL Giving a particular ACCOUNT Of all that happened and every Day 's March. By a Minister Chaplain in the ARMY LONDON Printed for Richard Baldwin near the Black Bull in the Old-Baily M DC LXXXIX Licens'd April 23. 1689. JA. FRASER AN Exact Diary of the late Expedition OF HIS ILLUSTRIOUS HIGHNESS THE Prince of Orange INTO ENGLAND TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE WILLIAM Earl of Bedford WILLIAM Earl of Portland HENRY Viscount Sidney of Sheppy AND Sir JOHN MAYNARD One of the Lords Commissioners of the GREAT SEAL My LORDS WHen I seriously reflect upon the stupendious Providence of the Almighty in bringing to pass the late and unpresidented Undertaking of his Highness the Prince of Orange now King of Great Britain I cannot do less than Commemorate those Noble Persons that both favour'd and joyn'd in so good a Work among whom your Honours had a considerable share which made me prefume to lay this short Compendium of that Expedition at your Feet humbly craving your candid Acceptation and Patronage of it tho' not varnish'd with quaintness of Phrase or Elegancy of Wit and Rhetorick but in a lame and plain Stile Your Honours are not insensible how near we were to Ruine nor how his Sacred Majesty King WILLIAM hazarded all that was dear for our good which should oblige the most ungrateful to make some answerable returns of Gratitude and Loyalty Your Honours have fully convinced the World of your uprightness and steadiness in this Cause All that I can say cannot add to but will rather detract from your Honours innate Worth and Goodness I heartily wish this good Work so far already advanced may be fully compleated so that we may have no reason to fear a relapse And that the God of Heaven may preserve our gracious King and Queen and prosper their good Intentions with suitable success and convert all their Enemies or make them fall before them is the daily Prayers of May it please your Honours your Honours most Humble and most Obedient Servant JOHN WHITTLE AN Exact Diary of the late Expedition OF HIS ILLUSTRIOUS HIGHNESS THE Prince of Orange Now KING of Great Britain HIS Illustrious Highness the Prince of Orange who is of a truth another Joshua in his undaunted Spirit and Magnanimity for the Lord's Cause and prosperous Conduct of his People Israel Another good Josiah in doing that which is right in the sight of God destroying Idolatry while he was yet young Another David or man after God's own heart and a zealous Defender of that Faith which is truly Ancient Catholick and Apostolical receiving an account of the exceeding great Cruelty and Barbarity of Roman Catholicks in France towards all them that professed the true Reform'd Religion or the Protestant Faith in that Kingdom and that indeed without any regard to the Hoary head thô found in the way of Righteousness which is a Crown of Honour without any respect to Sex or poor innocent Babes which could not discern between their right and left hands and not only hearing of their unheard-of Cruelty but even beholding daily at the Court and about his own Sacred Person not a few who had sometime been the Objects of their Direfulness and undergone to their great sorrow their Barbarity among many others a pious aged Minister of the Gospel whom for adhering to the Truth and holding fast the profession of his Faith without wavering these Sons of Belial took and bound fast unto a large Spit and turn'd him as a Pig at a great Fire after a direful manner until he was near half roasted alive insomuch that his Eyes were almost ready to drop out of his Head his Bloud in the Veins much dried his Sinews not a little scorch'd and the poor man a meer Cripple at this very day as may be seen by the curious Inquisitors althô God who is faithful did not suffer him to be tempted above what he enabled him to bear and in his appointed time made a way for him to escape their cruel Hands so much embrued in the Bloud of the Saints and in the Bloud of the Martyrs of Jesus And besides this Minister many of both Sexes who had been tormented by their cruel Hands Men who had been bound fast with Cords while their own Wives were most immodestly used and entreated and then assassinated before their sorrowful eyes Women who had been violently held while the tender Bowels of their own dear Husbands were ript out even before their faces running down with tears and the sucking Infant cruelly murdered in the arms of its Mother that bear it to the breaking of many womens hearts Nay so exceeding great was the Cruelty and Barbarity of these Bloud-thirsty Papists towards the Protestants there that no Pen is able to delineate it or any Tongue express it and very few English hearts capable of conceiving it our Nation God be praised being unacquainted with such abominable Practices Now as was said the Prince of Orange hearing and beholding their cursed Facts was exceedingly concern'd for Jerusalem because he had a real love for her and therefore this good Josiah's heart did even melt within him and he harbour'd and succour'd very many of these poor and deplorable Protestants who were under so sore a Tryal How did he long to have these Sons of Satan vanquisht and the Walls of Jerusalem rebuilt and therefore did not count his own Life dear to him that he might cause the true Spouse of Christ to rest securely And verily we may hope that Babylon's fall draws near and that the Kings of the Earth who have committed Fornication with her shall partake of her Misery and see her Plagues come in one day Death and Mourning and Famine Without doubt those many thousands of Souls under the Altar which were slain for the Word of God and for the Testimony which they held do cry continually with a loud voice saying How long O Lord holy and true dost thou not judge and avenge our bloud on them that dwell on the earth Nebuchadnezzar the Great may before seven times pass over him be driven to confess saying As I have done to the Saints so God hath requited me and the same measure that my cruel People measured to the Protestants in my Land is now meeted to my Popish Realm But for us of this Kingdom and Nation we may well rejoyce in God that made us in God that redeem'd us in God that sanctified us and all his Elect in God who hath so lately delivered us out of the hands of our implacable Enemies when we were as Sheep appointed to the slaughter We ought to extol him that rideth upon the Heavens by his Name Jah and rejoyce before him And well may our Nation be right joyful in our King and Queen by whom Jerusalem
and Exeter about five miles off the City sundry Companies of young Men met them with each a Club in his Hand and as they approched near they gave sundry Shouts and Huzza's saying God bless the Prince of Orange and grant him victory over all his Enemies We are his true Servants and came to fight for him as long as we are able So we all bid them welcome Here the Army passed by a Popish Lady's House which was cruel to all her Protestant Tenants she forced some to turn Papists or Apostates But had the French King's Army passed thus by a Protestant House it should soon have been fired the People put to the Sword or burnt But we have not so learn'd Christ nor been thus taught by his Ministers in our Land for no Man molested this House nor did any visit it unless a Captain and some Gentlemen which would have bought themselves Horses there having lost their own at Sea and so constrained to walk on foot till they could supply themselves with more It must needs be acknowledged by all People that his Highness took special care in marching of the Army that no Disorders should be committed and never better Order could be kept in any Army than in this as all sorts of Men confess Nay they told us at Exeter that when we were there the City was more quiet in the Night and freer from debauch'd and disorderly Persons than 't was before The poor Souldiers began now to grow lame and so marched slip-shod which was irksome After the Prince of Orange had tarried two or three Nights at Sir Will. Courtney's he with a brave Train of Nobles Knights and Gentlemen to attend him rode unto Exeter they long'd much for his coming It was a very wet and rainy Day when he came into Exeter with his Army The manner of his coming into this City being so glorious was long since published so that I shall not speak much about it The Guards rode some before and some behind him with their Swords drawn their Colours flying Kettle-Drums beating and Trumpets sounding joyfully their Officers courteously bowing unto the People all sorts and conditions of Men thronging on each side the Streets making great Acclamations and Huzza's as the Prince passed by The Windows of every House were extreamly crowded and beautified the Bells ringing The Foot Souldiers did not appear well because they were sorely weather-beaten and much dabled in marching in the Dirt and Rain and look'd very pale and thin after such a hard days march which made some People conjecture that they were dull sluggish Men. As the Prince of Orange was riding thus towards the Deanary through the City attended with Mareschal Schomberg Count Solms Count Nassau Heer Zulustein Heer Bentein the Earl of Shrewsbury the Earl of Macclesfield Lord Viscount Mordant Lord Wiltshire Earl of Argile Colonel Sidney Sir Rowland Guyn and divers other Lords Knights and Gentlemen Such was the Resolution and Desire of an old Woman to seé the Prince that she throng'd in amongst the Horse Guards and tho she was divers times in Jeopardy of her Life yet for all says she I will see him tho it cost me my Life so coming at length to him she touched his Hand and said I pray God bless you Sir and so was thrust away by the Guards but as she was going from him she put her Hand to her Heart and spake out aloud Now my very Soul within me is the better for seeing him at which Speech and Humour of this Woman his Highness himself seem'd to smile After the Prince was come unto the Deanary and had refresh'd himself with all his Lords and Gentlemen then was he pleased to go and render his hearty Thanks to Almighty God in the Cathedral Church for his safe Arrival and the whole Fleet. The People thronged the Streets to see him as he went and crouded the Quire where he was to come very much Now there were sundry Men with Holbards who cleared the way besides Sentinels So being conducted to the Bishop's Seat he sat down with about six of his Life-Guar-dMen on his Right-hand and many more before him and about him in the Quire. As he came all along the Body of the Church the Organs played very sweetly tho 't was not the right Organist himself he being gone aside on purpose as I was inform'd there And being sat the Quire began and sung Te Deum for the safe Arrival of the Prince of Orange and his Army in England as also for his whole Fleet After the Collects were ended the Reverend Dr. Burnet began to read the Declaration of his Highness William Henry by the Grace of God Prince of Orange c. Of the Reasons inducing him to appear in Arms in the Kingdom of England for preserving of the Protestant Religion and for the restoring the Laws and Liberties of England Scotland and Ireland c. At the very beginning of which Declaration the Ministers of the Church there present rushed immediately out of their Seats and busled through all the Croud going out of the Church the People remained and were very attentive to the Doctor 's reading and the Declaration being ended he said God save the Prince of Orange unto which the major part of the Multitude answered Amen So his Highness return'd to the Deanary the People ecchoing forth Huzza's as he went along Another Evening at Service one of the Ministers reading that Prayer for the pretended Prince of Wales a certain Noble-Man or two being present stood up at the same and put on their Hats Kneeling down to all the other Collects and this they did to demonstrate their Abhorrence of it The Right Reverend Bishop of this place and Diocess as soon as he had learn'd for certain that the Prince of Orange was-landed with an Army at Tor-Bay in Devonshire took his Coach and came up to give the late King James Information thereof for which he gave him the Bishoprick of York The Reverend Dean likewise took his Coach and went about six or seven Miles in the Country where he remain'd some days but returned unto his own House or Deanary before the Prince came away for we tarried at Exeter many days to refresh the Army after it had been so long on Ship-board and to recover the Horses to their former Strength as also for the Gentlemen of the Country thereabout to come and joyn his Highness there The Train of Artillery Magazine and the whole Baggage of the Army was brought hither by Water there were one and twenty good Brass Pieces for the Field divers of which were too heavy for those Roads and more than sixteen Horses could draw Arms for sundry thousand Men were now given out here which we brought with us out of Holland The first Sunday after the Prince was come unto Exeter being Novemb. 11. the Reverend Dr. Burnet preached before him at the Cathedral Church in the Morning the Quire and Body thereof being extreamly throng'd with
France Governor who was a Prisoner there but a few days before His Highness the Prince of Denmark with the Duke of Ormond came and joined the Prince of Orange at Sherborn-Castle upon Thursday Novemb. 29. about four of the Clock in the Afternoon The Report of which made the Hearts of all the Country People to rejoice as well as our Army and many Person of Quality flock'd to the Prince to join him From Winncanton the first Line of our Army advanced to Mere and the adjacent Towns and Villages the second Line marched to Winncanton and the third or last came to Sherborn Now the Prince of Orange with Prince George of Denmark the Duke of Ormond and very many Lords Knights and Gentlemen came from Sherborn-Castle unto Winncanton and quartered there This was the place where the first Skirmish pass'd between the two Armies the manner of which I shall impartially relate to the candid and ingenious Reader as I received an Account thereof from the Minister Mr. Bulgin and from Mr. VVebb a Cornet of Horse belonging to the late King James who was shot there between his Back-bones and Reins and lay desperately ill when we marched by A Lieutenant having his Post at this Town with about four and twenty Souldiers belonging to the Regiment of the Honourable Major General Mackay hearing that a party of Horse belonging to the late King James were posting thither he was so magnanimous as to resolve to fight them and in order thereto posted his Men as securely as he could in a small Inclosure at the East end of the Town on the left side there was a good Hedg between them and the Road which was to defend them against the Horse and through which they were to fire upon the Enemy but there was a little Gate at one Corner and a weak dead Hedg In this Field he posted most of his Men and on the other side the way just opposite to this place he posted about six Souldiers in a little Garden who had a thick old Hedg to cover them from the Horse and through which they were to fire the Officer himself with four or five Men keeping the Road The Enemies Horse being now advanced within Musquet-shot the Souldiers would have fired upon them but the Lieutenant whose name was Cambel not knowing what they might be whether Friends or Foes would not permit them and the more because a Regiment of Horse belonging to my Lord Cornbury was come in and joined our Forces and so advancing each towards other our Officer first gave them the World saying Stand stand For who are ye To which the Enemies Officer at the Head of the Party of Horse answered I am for King James Who art thou for To which our Officer replied I am for the Prince of Orange God damn me says the Enemies Officer I will Prince thee Whereupon our Officer said Fire and went bodly up to this Popish Officer and shot him in at his Mouth and through the Brains so he drop'd down dead our Souldiers firing upon them through the Hedges on each side maul'd them desperately and kill'd several of them They carried off their Dead presently being ten to one for the Enemies Party was about one hundred and fifty and our Party but five and twenty They rode to find out a Place to break in upon our Men so some Horse broke in at the upper end of the Croft some at the lower Corner and others got in at the little Gate which as is said was open'd by a Towns-man that stood near the Place so that our Men charged as fast as they could to fire upon them but were now surrounded with the Enemy our Souldiers were divers of them kill'd They defended themselves as well as 't was possible for such a handful against so many and one or two of them being shot in five or six places were offer'd Quarter by the Enemy for their great Courage but they would not accept of it from the Hands of Papists and therefore chose rather to die Now the little Company in the Garden fired divers times and the Officer with his Men kept their Ground awhile and then got into the Garden to their own Party The Towns-people were much alarm'd by this Action and came thronging into the Streets and kind Providence having so ordain'd it for the saving our Men else no doubt they would all have been cut off being so mightily overpowred that a certain Miller came riding in at the other end of the Town and hearing of this Skirmish presently reported that he had overtaken a strong Party of Horse belonging to the Prince of Orange and that he believed they were now entring the Town This was brought to the Enemies Ears very quickly and moreover he call'd to them and said Away for your Lives save your selves the Enemies are at hand Now these Souldiers of the late King James seeing the People of the Town so thick in the Streets running here and there judged that it might be so and hereupon they retreated with all speed galloping away in a confused manner however they left more behind them kill'd on their side than they had kill'd of our Men for 't was the Judgment of all here that this handful of Souldiers appertaining to his Highness the Prince of Orange kill'd more of their Enemies than they themselves were in number There were about fifteen tumbled in one Grave together and about eight or nine of our Men the rest being of the Enemies Party Our Officers did most of them visit this Mr. Web Cornet of Horse to hear the manner of this small Action From Mere the first Line of our Army advanced towards Sarum about six or seven miles the second Line advanced to Mere and the third to Wincanton All along the West we dispers'd the Declarations and where we hapned to quarter on Sunday we read it there in the Church as at Beminster Collingburn Kingston and feveral other places Near unto Beminster there lived a Gentleman whose Name I shall forbear but a very rigid Papist and one whom I cannot quite forget because of his unkindness and cursed Intention towards the Army Hearing that some Regiments would pass that way he resolved to give some their last Meat and Drink as his own Neighbours at Beminster informed us when we were there therefore he caused a Beef or two to be kill'd and poison'd the Flesh making it into Pyes and poison'd also a Hogshead or two of Beer and as much of Sider for the hungry Souldiers as he call'd them against they came that way Some of his Neighbours hearing of this cursed Design spread it purposely about the Country to prevent any of the Prince of Orange's Men from being destroyed insomuch that every Regiment was timely warn'd hereof But as in all great Armies there will be some Straglers so there was some in ours tho not many and these not hearing of this Bait accidentally passed that way and as they approached near the
not abide about the Forrest of Windsor because they kill'd the Deer Hence they march'd from Barkham and Arbersield unto Maidenhead December 16 which was the Lord's Day The first Line was now advanced to Newberry the second to Hungerford and the Rear Line to Collingburn Kingstone and the adjacent Villages who on Saturday Night December 8 received an Alarm tho it proved a false One sundry Tradesmen riding home from Hungerford Market late in the Evening were seen by some of our Scouts who presently apprehended them to be a Party of the Enemy's Horse being 't was both late and dark who thereupon speedily made report unto some of the Officers commanding in Chief insomuch that the Souldiers were knock'd up in their Quarters to come presently to their Arms The Country People were thereupon in a great fear not knowing what to do and this Alarm came from one Regiment to another for Colonel Fagell's Regiment sent to advertise the Regiment of Colonel Sidney That they might be ready to receive the Enemy Now they thought this Alarm the rather to be true because they had heard That the late King James's Souldiers were resolv'd to make an Attempt upon those Men with the Artillery and Magazine That if possible they might destroy our great Guns and Ammunition The Souldiers being thus hurried out of their Beds ran here and there to seek the Enemy Thus were they marching to and fro the whole Night in the Rain The Morrow Morning being the Lord's Day divers Officers went to search the Woods near to the place where those Tradesmen were first seen lest they should lie in Ambush till the Regiments were march'd away and then attack the Artillery and Magazine-Forces But none could be found or heard of thereabout only they were now inform'd of these Tradesmen and so they return'd to their Regiments The Commissioners by this time were come to Hungerford and these following Words in Writing were delivered unto the Prince of Orange Sir THE King commanded us to acquaint you That he observeth all the Differences and Causes of Complaint alledged by your Highness seem to be referred to a Free Parliament His Majesty as he hath already declared was resolv'd 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 continued to desire it He hath put forth his Proclamation in order to it and hath issued forth his Writs for calling of it And to prevent any Cause of Interruption in it he will consent to every thing that can be reasonably required for the Security of all those that shall come to it His Majesty hath therefore sent us to attend Your Highness for the adjusting of all Matters that shall be agreed to 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 Hungerford Decemb. 8. 1688. Signed Hallifax Nottingham Godolphin His Highness the Prince of Orange with the advice of his Lords and Gentlemen in answer to the same made these 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 re-called and that if any Persons for having so assisted have been committed that they be forth with 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 equal Number of our Guards Or if his Majesty shall please to be in any place from London at whatever distance he thinks fit 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 Portsmouth 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 Parliament Given at Littlecot Decemb. 9. 1688. W. H. Prince of Orange The late King James perceiving now that he was in an evil Case in relation to sundry Matters thought it high time to secure himself whereupon December 10 he wrote a Letter to the Earl of Feversham now at the Head of his Army signifying his Intention therein And on the Morrow Morning December 11 he withdrew himself in order to his departure out of the Kingdom and being on his Journey near Feversham in Kent was taken in a Disguise and sent back to London The Earl of Feversham having read the Contents of the late K. James his Letter sent another speedily for to advertise his Highness the Prince of Orange that his late Majesty was gone away And that for his own part He would make no Opposition against any and so prevent the Effusion of Blood. The news of the late King James being gone away flew like lightening from East to West and from North to South Our Army was now advanc'd far towards the City of London The first line being March'd from Newberry to Reading Tylehurstone and the adjacent places The second line advanc'd to Newberry and the third line to Hungerford The Prince rode to Henly attended with his Nobility and Gentry sundry Regiments of the first and second Line being marched thither and the Rear Line was come to Newberry Here we received the first positive News of the late King James being gone away As soon as it was certainly known about the City of London that the late King was withdrawn in order to his departure out of the Kingdom the Lords Spiritual and Temporal assembled at Guildhal Decemb. 11. and there agreed upon and signed a Declaration Entituled The Declaration of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in and about the Cities of London and Westminster assembled at Guildhal c. The substance of which being to shew that the late King James was gone away and to declare that they would assist his Highness with their uttermost Endeavours in the obtaining a Free Parliament with all speed and in preserving as much as in them
is made a Praise in the Earth and who are in truth as good as God hath made them great and modestly and justly as far excel all others in Virtue and true Piety as they are above them in Sphere or Station Now his Illustrious Highness the Prince of Orange knowing that the Enemies of the Lord had broken down the Walls of Jerusalem and raz'd them even to the ground in France because the publick and solemn Worship of God in Spirit and in Truth is not to be found in any part of that Kingdom now And seeing that those Engines of Satan were at work in the Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland Kingdoms unto which this great Prince had such a Right and Title not only by Affinity or Marriage of her Royal Highness his most entirely beloved Consort but also by Consanguinity or Birth his Royal Mother deceased being Daughter to K. Charles I. of blessed Memory for such was the Arrogance and Haughtiness of all Papists now in England Scotland and Ireland but especially of the Jesuits and Priests that they consulted how to destroy the Protestants and extirpate the Lord's Inheritance that they should be no more a People here and that their Name should be rooted out Nay so far had they proceeded in this Diabolical Design that even the Popish Kings of the Earth begun now to set themselves and the Rulers took counsel together against the Lord and against his Anointed and the purchase of his Bloud therefore now they began to say of our Sion here Down with it down with it raze it to the ground and suffer not so much as one Heretical Branch to remain But he that sitteth in the Heavens did laugh the Lord had them in derision for he knew well their Fall was at hand and that the Righteous should have cause to rejoyce Nay as if 't were not enough for these Priests and Jesuits to insult over mens Bodies they pretend Authority over mens Souls and frequently would rush into what House they listed in a very impudent manner and molest the dying person with their destructive and pernicious Discourses torment poor Souls departing this life and where they could they forc'd the Breaden or Wafer-God to be received And which was no small aggravation to our misery or addition to our sorrow no part of our Nation was now free from these Ravening Wolves which went about in Sheeps cloathing These Serpents had now crept into every little hole or creek about the Land. And all this came to pass by the great encouragement and protection of the late K. James and Q. Mary persons every man can tell that made it their principal business to abet and protect the Priests and Jesuits enlarge the Kingdom of Antichrist and promote the Interest of Babylon the great Harlot and Mother of all Abomination and Wickedness therefore without all controversie their minds were blinded by the God of this World because of their unbelief lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ who is the Image of God should shine unto them Hence they were wholly given over to a reprobate mind to believe Lyes and Fables and Traditions of men before the pure Word of God and more sure Word of Prophesie which is Truth as Christ himself testifies Therefore they mightily encouraged the Evil and discouraged the Good abetted and protected them who said the Bible was false as Father Peters his Brother publickly preacht against our Bible averring there was several hundred Faults and Contradictions in it c. but suspended and disanimated our Reverend Pious and Learned Clergy who did not walk in Craftiness nor handle the Word of God deceitfully but by manifestation of the Truth commended themselves to every man's Conscience in the sight of God for the Doctrine taught and maintain'd in our Church is sound and uncorrupt and grounded purely on the sacred Scriptures Take but a glimpse of the irregular Zeal of the late K. James to promote the Mother-Church when he said to Father Peters in his Chamber who soon communicated it unto those at Antwerp Keulen and Liege of his own Society and commended his great and fervent Zeal I had much rather reign but one year to an end and then die a Martyr with the Conversion of England Scotland and Ireland to the Roman Faith than reign thirty years prosperously and leave them at my death in Heresie as I found them when I came to the Crown And I presume we may guess readily what would have been our Lot and was intended for us had not the Lord God Omnipotent shew'd himself Elehim in our behalf and remembred us when we were in trouble by that saying of the late Q. Mary unto the Pope's Nuncio I hope to dine all the Hereticks in the Kingdom by such a day naming the day for one Half-crown for even now they know not what to do and are at their Wits end God is always stronger than Men and greater is the Spirit that is in the Children of God than the Spirit that is in the World for when they concluded the Day was their own then were they on the top of the Precipice and all their evil Devices soon confounded Was it then any wonder at all to have our ancient English Laws sacrificed our Rights Liberties and Priviledges destroyed our ancient Charters wrested from us by violence of a Quo Warranto our Colledgians at Oxford turn'd out by a superstitious Mandamus and a Crew of Impostures placed therein The Law of God in effect made void and Popish Legends set up in the place when the late K. James and Q. Mary were fed with corrupt and unsound Food nay when they abetted and protected those who taught them Doctrines of Devils for such is the Doctrine taught and maintain'd in the Church of Rome in these days if we may credit St. Paul's words instead of the sincere Milk of the Word of God and wholsome Food of the Holy Scriptures What could our Nation expect from the hands of Bloud-thirsty Papists and especially Irish had they not been prevented by the goodness of God and the unparallel'd Resolution of the Prince of Orange but Fire and Faggot Wrack and Gibbet when many of them judg'd that to be the only way for to merit the Kingdom of Heaven by breaking Faith with Hereticks and destroying them in such a manner How many pious Lords and virtuous good men have lost their lives by the Papists Subtilty and Juggles thô pretensively by Law when unrighteous Popish Judges tryed and condemned them who had no fear of God before their eyes and whom the righteous Judge will accuse no doubt at the day of Judgment But there is one step higher to ascend and then we have done What was likely to befal us who destroyed Idols and burnt the Groves and sometime since drove out the Priests of Baal when one of that Communion did reign over us and one that thought himself cloathed with a Despotick and Arbitrary Power exercising the same
in Scotland beginning here to do the like And hence he told our Right Reverend Bishops when they waited on him about the reading of his illegal Declaration in the Churches I will make you to know that I am your King and that I must nay I will be obeyed be it at your peril Althô this command was contrary to the holy Word of God the Canons of our Church and the ancient Laws and Statutes of our Kingdom therefore our Right Reverend Bishops were hurried into the Tower. Now when the Priests and Jesuits saw plainly that they could not possibly get such a Parliament which would ease them of the Test and Penal Laws those two intolerable Yoaks as they forsooth called them thô the late K. James himself and all the Romanists within our Land had done their very uttermost using corrupt and unlawful means in order thereunto Then they thought to force us to take away the Test and Penal Laws therefore the late K. James sent out Mandamus after Mandamus but our brave English hearts would not be driven thô they might be won therefore they refused his Mandamus because it was contrary to Law Custom and Priviledge Then he commanded his Declaration to be read in every Church by the Minister after Divine Service and before Sermon and this not taking effect they knew not what to do for very few read his Declaration except some double minded men about our Church which are unstable in all their ways Now those Soul-deceivers about the Court advis'd the late K. James for to send unto Holland and try the inclination of the Prince of Orange and the Princess and desire their assent concerning the taking off the Test and Penal Laws which accordingly was done by his Envoy M. D' Abbeville But these two being like Zacharias and Elizabeth righteous before God and walking in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blamless not only refused to grant their royal Assent hereunto but even sign'd their Abhorrence of such a wicked Fact as appears apparently by the Lord Fagel's defence of himself against some implacable Papists in our Kingdom For which deed they immediately set themselves on work against the very best of Princes and broached the late Queens being with Child and it would certainly be a Prince of Wales But the All-seeing Eye being upon them soon brought to light their hidden work of darkness and raised up a good Josiah to break the power of Idolatry here For his illustrious Highness the Prince of Orance by his most accurate eye and with his profound sagacity soon espy'd the Popish Mystery of Iniquity which was so gloss'd over with equivocation prevarication and mental reservation and saw very plain thrô all the mists of their Roman and Italian Shams and thrô the clouds of their specious Pretences the inevitable ruin and destruction of England Scotland and Ireland if that this suspected Child was not timely prevented Nay he saw in the bottom of this Plot by the Sons of the Kingdom of Darkness the total Subversion of the true Reform'd Church of Christ therefore he judged it high time for the Lord 's peculiar People now to stand up for his Cause for the defence of his Truth and Gospel to resist the Devil and all his Imps now our necks being under oppression by Popish Governours our Inheritance turn'd to Strangers and our Houses to Aliens I mean unto these Soul-deceivers wherewith our Nation did swarm For the Jesuits and Priests of Baal Anti-christ did now feed on the best of the Flock and devour the Fruit of our Land while many able Ministers of the Gospel had scarce Bread left for to put in their mouths I mean those that were suspended by the Bishop of Durham insomuch that the Protestants hang'd down their Heads like a Bulrush and were not a little concerned to see the partial proceedings of the Court and being unable for to bear any longer their most unjust and abominable Actions it pleased our heavenly Father so to rule and guide the Hearts and Minds of the Nobility Gentry and some others of our Land that they join'd together and with one accord earnestly invited and desired his most illustrious Highness the Prince of Orange as being the only Person under Heaven capable of doing it for to give himself the trouble and charge of coming over with an Army here to deliver our Land and Nation out of the hands of all those implacable and blood-thirsty Enemies who long'd now to destroy us as also to free us from a Despotick and Arbitrary Power Therefore the renown'd Prince of Orange who was ever forward to hazard his own Person and venture his Life for the Life of the Gospel to preserve and maintain the Truth and Purity of it against all seducers and opposers did not delay answering their earnest Invitation nor defer fulfilling their cordial Desires Therefore he consulted with the High and Mighty Lords the States of Holland and West-Friezland assembled now at the Hague concerning this great Work and the most proper Methods to be used by him that the glorious deliverance of our Nation thrô the blessing of Almighty God upon his Endeavours might effectually be wrought And the first step thereunto was to make choice of fit Instruments because God works in these days by Means Miracles being long since ceased Hence he commands all the Dutch Forces for to Muster and Encamp about Nimeghen not very far from the Brandenburghers Camp the famous Duke of Brandenburgh being alli'd unto his illustrious Highness The Regiments being all incamp'd according to his Princely Order he was pleased to view them one by one and make choice of the very flower of the Army to serve him in this glorious Expedition He thought it very requisite to carry over into England such a Force with him as might thrô God's assistance and the Protestants concurrence make the enemies of the Lord to flee before him and drive out all the Priests of Baal and cleanse Judah and Jerusalem of Idolatry as good Josiah did for now the Altars of Baal were set up by those cursed Vipers in most places of our Realm as divers were set up in our Metropolitan City of London that renown'd ancient Protestant City to the exceeding great sorrow of our Reverend Clergy and discouragement of our holy Reform'd Church Having now made choice of what Officers and Soldiers he thought most fit here he went unto the great Duke of Brandenburgh's Camp and made choice of what Regiments he pleased there for to take with him into England and then with all the speed that might be he return'd to the Hague It 's certain that very many people thought he took too much trouble upon him to ride thus from one City to another nay to fly as some express'd it because he made such haste and all was for to deliver the true Reform'd Church of Christ out of all her enemies hands and to make the people of God enjoy rest and peace
that every man might sit peaceably under his own Vine and drink the Wine out of his own Cistern Therefore order was sent unto every City in Holland for to make clean their Men of War and fit them out for Sea with all speed that they might be mann'd victuall'd stored with Powder and Ball and all sorts of Utensils for War and be ready to serve his Highness the Prince of Orange in his glorious design for the good of the Protestant Churches of Christ but especially those in England Scotland and Ireland Now according to the Order every City very willingly and indeed with more than an ordinary cheerfulness set their men to work and rigg their Ships paying them double Wages that they might labour day and night until it was done because they now shewed their zeal and did strive which should be soonest prepared with their Vessels for to go out to Sea and serve his Highness the Prince of Orange From Amsterdam were fifteen good Vessels well rigg'd and every thing in compleat order set out to Sea the first Wind that serv'd because every Wind will not bring them out of the Texel it must be an Easterly Wind or else they are block'd up and they would not be hindred or backwards now for never so much so they rode at anchor in the Sea. And from the City of Rotterdam Dort Delph Leyden Harlem and all other Cities were many Vessels fitted out to Sea according to each City's proportion in War and their wonted Custom which Ships join'd the other Ships from Amsterdam Then in Zealand a considerable number of brave Vessels were set out with all things necessary for War As from Middleburgh Vlissingen Vere Tertol c. and these sail'd to the Hollands Men of War and joined them riding at anchor so the Fleet began to compleat Now the Navy rode at anchor about some two or three Leagues from the Brill and there remain'd some days It 's worthy of any man's observation to consider what an universal consent there was unto this glorious Undertaking and Expedition of the Prince of Orange for the welfare of England Scotland and Ireland for this consent and accord was not only generally among the high and mighty Lords the States of Holland and West-Friezland but even among all sorts and conditions of men there was not one person in the Land heard to murmur or speak the least word against it Papists only excepted but all with one accord and one mind and heart endeavoured to forward and expedite this glorious Undertaking nay the very Women Maidens and Children were lifting up their Prayers unto the God of Heaven for to bless the Prince of Orange and crown his designs in hand for the good of the true reform'd Church with success according to the desire of his own heart which thing I duly observ'd and therefore was somewhat confirm'd in my opinion concerning this great Work in hand which caused me to declare publickly That the great Jehovah or living and true God had not only put it into the heart of the Prince of Orange a Prince whom he had raised up to advance his Glory and the Interest of his Church and People and therefore made him so strong for himself so great a terrour to the evil as well as praise to those that do well but that the Lord had also stirr'd up the hearts of all his people to join together as one man and hereupon I could not but judge that God had a delight in this Work and would certainly bring it to pass in his due time not when our silly fancies urg'd it And made it now my work to endeavour for to keep our people that they did not tempt God or limit the holy One of Israel of a truth the Reverend Clergy of the Netherlands are not to be forgotten because they did wrestle with God in their Prayers in the great Congregations and Solemn Assemblies after a most servent manner with Sighs and Tears in the behalf of our Churches in England Scotland and Ireland and mightily encouraged all the Soldiers to shew their courage for the Cause of God against the Children of Babylon and Enemies of his Church and peculiar People So that they have obliged our Nation as the Reverend Dr. Burnet in his Sermon at Exeter-Cathedral said to be kind to the Netherlands for sundry weighty Reasons and amongst others their kindness to us and towards our Land in this happy Expedition The Men of War were riding at anchor in the forementioned place waiting for his Highness the Prince of Orange's Orders what to do or where to go sundry hundred of Merchants Ships Pinks Fly-boats and others were hired for this Service and many immediately sent to the Fleet others went for Men here and there according as they receiv'd order some were to carry Soldiers others to carry Horses some Hay others Artillery or Ammunition and all sorts of Necessaries convenient for the War Many Martscutes and flat-bottom'd Boats which belong to the River only to transport Goods and People from City to City were hired now to transport the Soldiers from Nimighen unto the Men of War and Merchant-Ships Pinks and Fly-boats riding at anchor ready to receive them or any thing that was order'd them to receive by our great Master I shall not retard the candid and ingenuous Reader with an ample Discourse concerning the manner of their coming down the Rhine and Mose or Maze how the Burghers at every City with their Wives Children and whole Houshold came crouding unto the great Head which is without the Ports towards the River a place made purposely for convenience of taking in or shipping off Goods or for commodious lading or unlading Vessels and took their solemn leave most Praying and some Crying for them The Soldiers were some of them playing on the Hoeboys Dutch Flute and other Instruments others were beating the Drums and some sounding their Trumpets which I must confess made no discord in the harmony as they were sailing down the River There are divers pleasant Cities upon the Rhine and Mose between Nimighen and the Brill as all those who have travell'd in the Netherlands know very well Being come unto the Fleet all the Soldiers were presently set on board some to the Men of War some to the Merchant-Ships some to the Pinks and some to the Fly-boats And the Schippers with their Martscutes and flat-bottom'd Boats return'd home The Wind was now Northerly or North-West which is the very worst Wind that can blow for the Coasts of Holland and the Weather waxed daily worse and worse the Winds growing stronger and stronger insomuch that the Seas grew very rough the Waves swell'd and lifted their proud tops towards the Clouds and the poor smaller-Ships were ready to be overwhelm'd shaking their Heads as if they would shake their Sails off and being unable for to endure such Weather long so far in the Sea as they now did ride at anchor without very great hazard and danger
his Highness the Prince of Orange was inform'd thereof who suddenly gave order for all the smaller Vessels to come into Habour The Men of War weighed their Anchors and sail'd to a far more safe and commodious place for anchorage in case of a Storm for every man saw the Weather was unsetled and the Air very troublesom The second place where they rode at Anchor was between Holland and Zeeland about two or three leagues from the shore or coast In this place they did ride at Anchor certain days but while they were here the Weather grew stormy and one night the Winds were so very high and the Air so tempestuous and stormy shaking the very Houses and People in their Beds insomuch that many judged it to be a Earthquake the whole Fleet was in great peril and after this various false Reports were spread all over the Netherlands without all doubt broach'd by the Enemies to this Expedition who trumpetted it about for to amuse the vulgar People That the Anchors and Cables of the Men of War were broken in the Storm as if they had been a needleful of Thread so that all the Ships were driven here and there some to one shore and some on another Coast and as yet they were not heard of Which Fables did startle the poor ignorant sort and they knew not what to judge or say others who were more discreet and understood better the Holland manner of Ships and the Art of Navigation soon made answer to this Sham of the Papists That there was no question by the blessing of God but that the Men of War were all well and safe because they were able to ride the Storm out having good new Anchors and Cables and if any Anchor or Cable should happen to break these Ships could live well enough in the greatest Tempest provided they have but sufficient Sea-room And such was God's good providence that all the Ships receiv'd very little or no dammage only a certain old Fire-Ship which was soon chang'd for another that being sent to be mended The common thing every morning which was most us'd was first to go and see how the Wind sate and if there were any probability of a change When any person came unto a house in the heart of their City concerning any manner of business the very first Question by all was Sir I pray how is the Wind to day Are we likely to get an Easterly Wind ere long Pray God send it and such like The Ministers themselves pray'd That God would be pleas'd for to grant an East wind Others a favourable Wind that might bring his Illustrious Highness the Prince of Orange with his whole Fleet which now attended him unto the desired Haven for nothing could possibly be more desired than a fair Wind for the Navy by all sorts and conditions of men except Papists There was a Report here that the Jesuits had promised the late K. James that the Westerly Wind should continue until Christmas but this was false every man knows After some time that the Weather had been so tempestuous it began for to settle and God sent us an East Wind to the exceeding great joy of all our hearts in Holland and the Vnited Provinces nay it blew a fresh Gale day by day and continued favourable that quarter of the Moon which caused our people to work day and night that we might be under sail The Prince of Orange order'd every Officer now for to go on board the Ships with their Men and expedited every thing to the Fleet with as much speed as men could make but so many things were to be done it was not possible we could be making sail such great Bodies always moving very slowly according to the Saying Some Regiments were expected down the River and those being come every thing was sent to the Fleet as Provision for one month the Artillery Magazine Powder Ball Match Tents Tent-polls Stocking-axes Spades and all sorts of Utensils convenient in War and then Hay and Provender for the Horses Fresh Water and a hundred things more which do not now occur to my memory The Wind continuing East the Horses began to be shipp'd at Rotterdam which was a sign they were almost ready So his Highness the Prince of Orange was pleased to take his leave of the High and Mighty Lords the States of Holland and West Friezland who most heartily desired that God would preserve him and bless him with Victory over his Enemies and give him joyful Success in his great Undertaking for the good of the Protestant Church in general but more especially those in England Scotland and Ireland The people every-where began to be exceeding sorrowful for the loss of so Vertuous and so Religious a Prince from among them and very many would weep bitterly at the thoughts of his departure because all honest good men loved him extraordinarily and now his Health is drank by every Gentleman and Schipper Mate and Boy and his prosperous Voyage The Horses being most of shipped the Guards began to come So upon Friday-night all things were ready on board and the Fleet prepared to sail only it waited for the coming of his Highness The number of our Capital Ships or Men of War was about Fifty which were very well rig'd mann'd and provided with all things requisite the number of our Fire-Ships was about Five and twenty lesser Men of War or Frigats about Six and twenty the number of Merchant Ships Pinks Flyboats and others was about Three hundred and odd so the total number of the Fleet as they sailed from the Brill was about Four hundred and odd Ships But at our setting out the second time at Hellevoot-Sluys there were near an hundred Vessels more which were Schievelingers or Boats which the Fisher-men of Schieveling went to Sea in as we shall shew by and by But to proceed The Prince of Orange having taken his Farewel of the States assembled at the Hague went unto Houslaerdyke where he dined with many of his Lords and after Dinner on Saturday Oct. 19. old stile Oct 29. new stile being unwilling for to lose this fair Easterly Wind which did blow all the week so freshly attended with Mareschal Schomberg Count Nassau Count Solms the Heer Van Zulustein the Heer Bentink the Heer Overkirk the Earl of Shrewsbury Viscount Mordant the Lord Wiltshire Earl of Macclessield Earl of Argyle with many other English and Scotch Dutch and French Lords Knights and Gentlemen he went in a very rich Yacht unto Moseland Sluys Her Royal Highness the Princess of Orange came in another attended with her Ladies of Honour Here his Illustrious Highness took his Farewel of his most entirely beloved Consort the Princess who was not a little troubled and grieved for to part with her dearest Lord and Prince which caused the Tears to distil from her precious Eyes like so many Pearls so she return'd with her Maids of Honour unto Houslaerdyke again but the Prince sail'd unto the
Fleet which made the heart of every man glad because the wind was still East So his Highness went on board a Man of War with Admiral Herbert but that Vessel proving leakie he soon changed and went on board another At this time there was very great resorting unto the Brill from every City and Town in Holland for to see this glorious yet formidable Fleet set out but especially to behold his Highness the Prince of Orange committing himself unto the mercy of the merciless Seas and the courtesie of the unnatural Waves so freely and willingly for the sake of the true Reform'd Churches of Christ but especially those of England Scotland and Ireland The top of the Brill-Church and Steeple was extreamly throng'd and the Beam or place made on purpose to view Ships was almost broken down with the great crowd upon it and every man's Eye was unsatisfied with seeing for the more they looked upon the Navie the more they desired to look His Highness being come on board every Ship weighed Anchor with all the speed possible and made sail the Trumpets sounded Hooboys played and the Souldiers gave a Shout for joy So when the Spectators perceived that the Fleet was under sail they could no longer refrain their Eyes from weeping nor their Cheeks from running down with affectionate Tears and many very fervent Prayers were poured for us all but in an especial manner for the Prince of Orange When we were sail'd so far that they could not see us well any longer then they made use of Perspective-Glasses and sent their hearts and well wishes with us and so each departed to his own Habitation Thus was our Great Prince crossing the proud Waves with all his Fleet round him enjoying a very favourable Wind for England if it had but continued so for some days together It was about four a Clock in the Afternoon on Saturday when the Fleet first weighed their Anchors and made sail upon the coming of the Prince of Orange on board The Evening draw'd on us very fast the days being short and the nights long so when the darkness seized us and night was shutting upon us every Vessel set up a Light in the Lanthorn The Men of War set up two and the Ship wherein the Prince was had three for a mark or distinction After night the Wind began to arise high and the Seas wax'd rough the Waves began to roar and swell lifting up their head aloft and many now began to suspect the Weather as well they might for within a while the Winds turn'd and blew a very dreadful Storm insomuch that all thought we should never see Land more for there were sundry circumstances which did add to the peril of the Storm as many skilful Mariners said The darkness of the night the matter of Carriage Horses which will rowl from side to side if they break their Stays our Pipes of Water Barrels of Powder and Ball and the vast number of Ships together which was worst of all for while the Schipper intended to escape one on his Starboard then is he in no small peril of running against the other on his Larboard-side nay behind and before and all round there were Ships throwing themselves from side to side after an exceeding fearful manner so that no Steer-man knew which way to steer The Winds blew as if they would have blown the very Elements away before them the Seas raged and foam'd being all in white forth for anger the Waves rowl'd one upon the back of another as so many great Mountains the Ships threw themselves and the people in them from side to side and from the fore-part of the Vessel unto the hinder part as if they would have beaten themselves all to pieces and if it had not been the good providence of the Almighty we had most certainly dash'd against each other and so perish one by the other The men of War were better able to live than the rest for they did not shake themselves half so terribly as the Merchantmen and Pinks but especially the poor Flyboats these strain'd their Ribs and hurt their Backs very much because of their hard lading The Wind was now North-West and every Mariner did strive to bear up with that Ship wherein the Prince was but it was impossible for all the smaller Vessels in such a Tempest there 's a huge difference between Ships one will bear a vast Storm another an ordinary Storm endangers nay many can live in the greatest Tempest having but Sea-room enough when some can hardly live in a rough Sea. Now the people being thus toss'd and tumbl'd about the Ship many wax'd exceeding sick and vomitted continually after a dreadful rate you could hear the men groan after a pitiful manner others were sighing and not a few praying and committing their Souls unto God for they thought their Bodies must be Meat for the Fish of the Sea. The Sea-men that did belong to each Ship were almost kill'd in working so hard for to preserve their own and our Lives but now and then they would refresh themselves with a dram of the Brandy-bottle According as the Sea and the Waves roar'd so most Mens Hearts now fail'd them for fear at the apprehension of approaching Destruction A Holy Conscience at this time was a Magazine of Joy and as good as a thousand Witnesses Thus did we tumble and rowl about the Seas and among the unnatural Waves all this Night How desirable was the Day-light which Solomon says is sweet And what a pleasant thing would it have been for our Eyes but to behold the Sun though in the midst of such a dreadful Storm A worse hath not happened for many years as our ancient Ship-Masters and Mariners conclude for Darkness adds terrour to terrour and therefore the fear of death unto many at this time was almost as bad as death it self some Nabal like were dead with fear and their hearts as a stone Many Ships had their Sails blown off others had their Masts broken with the violence of the Storm the Waves often-times rowling themselves over the labouring Ships some had their Main-yards broken the Pipes of Water often-times bursting open the Barrels of Powder and Ball stav'd it cannot be conceiv'd what a dreadful thing it was as also what a strange kind of rattling the Bullets running about the Decks made therefore sundry Souldiers cried out I am sure I can feel the Hole where the Sea comes in at when as in truth it was the Water and Beer together flashing within the Ship for you must know we were most of us all in darkness no Candle being permitted to come under Deck because of the Magazine After we had made our Supplications for our selves and his Highness the Prince of Orange unto the God of Heaven we submitted our Wills to his blessed Will and I am perswaded that many now were willing to die after the thoughts of Death had possessed their mind so long and been impress'd in their
memories so deeply The Morning-light approaching we were all much comforted especially when we saw that our Vessels were whole and sound and very little water in her Pump when it was fathom'd Now we long'd for to hear of our great Master how he did after such a terrible Night which had befallen us The Seas continued raging and the Waves roaring and exalting their tops as they would touch the Clouds and we rowl'd about and could not tell what to do or which way to steer after his Highness the Prince of Orange The High and Mighty Lords the States of Holland and West-Friezland now assembled at the Hague thrô their profound sagacity and in their great prudence concluded that the Fleet must needs be dispers'd and scatter'd one Ship from another and much damag'd by such a terrible stormy and tempestuous Night as that was if not destroyed in a manner so they on the morrow morning which was the Lord's day command the Bow or Messenger which appertains to them for to hasten unto the Brill and give order for all the Lotesmen to go out and cruise all the Seas over between Holland and England and bring into the Haven of Hellevoot-sluys all such Ships as they met with or found These which they call Lotesmen are most skilful Pilots living at the Brill and bred up to the Sea being accustom'd to sound all over the Coasts that so they may know the depth and danger of most places they have Ships made by the Order of the States on purpose to endure a storm as indeed they will the greatest And therefore by Nine or Ten of the Clock there were not a few of these Lotesmen crusing up and down the Sea and all the Ships which they found they order'd for to go into Hellevoot-sluys The Prince of Orange seeing the Winds so stormy and and the Seas so very tempestuous return'd unto the Holland Coasts and came into the Haven of Hellevoot-sluys with a considerable number of Men of War and Merchant-men Pinks and Fly-boats and many Men of War more could have come into the Haven but staid out on purpose to secure the Fleet. When we and other Ships had heard that the Prince of Orange was safe in the Harbour we gave thanks to God and were not a little joyful at this good News and made towards Hellevoot-sluys as fast as we could Many Vessels in this storm were driven near the Coasts of England others towards the North some into the Texel and others into Zeeland and every day they came into the Haven from one place or other The Lotesmen did no small service to the Prince of Orange and the States in giving Ships information where to go for many having no Orders knew not what to do whether they should make for the English Coasts or return back to the Coasts of Holland All those Ships which were any way damag'd in the storm were now order'd to be repair'd here so that the Smiths Ship-Carpenters and others were forc'd to work day and night because they should be ready to go out again the first Wind that serv'd for his Highness was fully resolv'd by the blessing of God for to set to Sea again as soon as all the Ships were come in and made ready The Lotesmen having crused sundry days up and down the Seas between Holland England and France inform'd his Highness that they could not hear of any Ships lost thô driven far away and safe in one Habour or another excepting one Fly-boat laden with Men and Horses which having lost her Rudder in the violence of the storm was driven upon the English Coasts and so taken by the English the Men being made prisoners and the Horses sent to the late K. James The taking of this Vessel we heard made no little noise amongst the Papists in England but especially among the Irish Tories But to return this Hellevoot-sluys is a small Haven or Harbour for the Dutch Ships wherein they keep some of their Men of War and build new Vessels as well as repair old ones Here they keep a good part of their Magazine and Artillery and at Delph Amsterdam and other places there is much more Now this place or Dorp being so very small and every man that could being so exceeding willing to get to shoar after our being so long tumbled and toss'd on the Seas in such a fearful Storm and Tempest was exceedingly throng'd every House in the Dorp being extremely crouded insomuch that Provision grew exceeding scarce and Lodgings could hardly be gotten for Money those that were gotten being excessive dear indeed the people of this place made it their Fair but I must condemn them for imposing and exacting on us all in such a manner after we had been so fateagu'd at Sea certain honourable persons were constrain'd for to seek Lodgings after Night and in the Rain their Servants trying every House insomuch that some worthy Gentlemen resolv'd for to sit up and let these noble persons have their Beds others gave a Duccatoon for sitting up by the Fire all Night and not a few being destitute of Lodgings were forc'd to go into the Villages thereabout Provisions after some days were not to be gotten and that little which was there was very dear therefore many travell'd into the Countrey and bought their Provision at a Boors House that is to say a Countrey-mans House The Weather was tempestuous and the Seas continued very raging however Ships came in daily but people that were on shoar could not get back to their Ships riding now at anchor in the stream before Hellevoot-sluys the Boatsmen durst not adventure to carry them in those little Boats for some had been cast away coming to shoar The Horses were taken out of the Ships and sent here and there unto the Boors houses for to be kept in order to recover them well again and a very great number was taken out of the Ships dead and many died after they were set on shoar others were bruised after a wretched manner so more Horses were sent for from William-Stadt and other places by the Prince of Orange It was order'd here That the Dutch should begin their Prayers in the Church every Morning at Nine of the Clock the English at Ten and the French at Eleven The Dutch begin their Prayers in the Afternoon at Two the English at Three and the French at Four of the Clock which Order was punctually observ'd so long as we were here The Reverend Dr. Burnet now Bishop of Salisbury read the Prayers of of the Church of England according to the Rubrick and daily paraphras'd upon one or two of the Psalms for the day The Dutch they preach'd having divers Chaplains to the Regiments appointed them The French sometimes had a Sermon but generally Prayers Upon Sunday October 28. Old Stile the Reverend Dr. Burnet preach'd in the Morning the Prince being there with Mareschal Schomberg and all the English and Scotch Lords Knights and Gentlemen His Sermon was
very pathetical and very pressing unto a holy life and conversation putting all in remembrance of the great peril we were in so lately at Sea and of the holy Vows and Covenants which says he no doubt most of you did then make to God and therefore he desired that we would not forget our selves any more and told us all in express words That if we were not truly reform'd in our lives and conversations that we should not be thought worthy to be instruments of so glorious a Work notwithstanding the Lord as he had begun would bring it to pass not by us but some others who were more sincere in his Service and in the due observation of his Laws The Air was extreme tempestuous and the Weather very stormy At this very day when I go to my Devotion methinks I see that most pious and exemplary Pattern of his Highness the Prince of Orange before my face how very earnest he was with the Lord in his Prayers here upon his bended knees after a most devout manner causing publick Prayer to be made in the House where he lodged twice a day he was an Example and President unto all about him how duly they ought to remember their Creator The Weather continuing very stormy and tempestuous and little or no probability of a change or alteration the People of this place proceeding still to exact on us all some of our Lords whether Dutch or English it matters not were pleased to inform his Highness thereof who presently sent to the States about it Therefore a positive Order came forth in print what we must pay and no more so much a night for Lodging so much a pound for Cheese Butter Bief Mutton Veal Bacon c. so many Eggs for a Styver and so much to sit up by the Fire Eighteen Styvers for one Night having a fresh pair of Sheets and lodging there no more but if he continued Six Styvers a Night Four Styvers for to sit up by the Fire Ten Styvers a Pound of Butter c. Divers Lords came to visit his Highness after the Storm and her Royal Highness came in her Yacht unto the Brill where his Highness met her with many English Dutch and French Nobles Knights and Gentlemen and having dined together they parted each from the other the Prince returning in the Evening unto his Fleet at Hellevoot-sluys and her Royal Highness the Princess of Orance unto Honslaerdyke People came daily from all parts of Holland to visit their Friends and very many Dutch-women to visit their Husbands but most went to the Brill for Provision and Lodging the Brill is about some four or five English Miles from this place Being noised abroad that we were at Hellevoot-sluys and that all sorts of Provisions were so excessive dear the People came thronging with their Boats and all things within a while was at a very reasonable rate Here we heard that the Priests and Jesuits with the Papists at Antwerp in the Spanish Netherlands sung Te Deum in their Churches because the Hereticks were cast away with their great Conductor and made use of Moses Song when as we were daily rendring our hearty Praises and Thanksgivings unto the Lord our God for his stupendious deliverance of our whole Fleet out of such a storm and all the Churches in the Netherlands did the same His Highness the Prince of Orange was not in the least dismay'd in all the Storm when most mens hearts were as stones dead with fear his Countenance was observ'd not to alter as other mens did but like a true Paul or servant of Jesus Christ he encouraged all in the Ship where he was making them cheerful when their Spirits were dejected saying to some in the Ship these words or to this effect as I received information from one in the same Vessel For my own part I am not in the least doubtful but that we shall do very well I know God is a righteous God and trys the very hearts and reins and sees the very end and bottom of my thoughts He knows my integrity in this Vndertaking that 't is not to get my self a name or for my own sake but for the promotion of his Glory and his Churches good and therefore he will not give his enemies any cause to rejoyce in the destruction of the pure in heart Our Horses dying daily were thrown over-board and every person now begins to think of setting out again all the Ships are revictuall'd with a Month's Provision more besides the old Store which was left so that every Ship must needs have overmuch rather than too little And thô people may speak their pleasure concerning Holland how they feed on Hèrbs and Fish altogether I am sure there were sundry Barrels of good Beef and Pork with sufficient Cheese and Butter as could be eaten on board every Ship. Order was now given unto all the Schievelingers for to come to the Fleet at Hellevoot-sluys and accompany us to England for to set the Horses and Soldiers on shoar with all expedition which the small Ship-boats could not do And according as they receiv'd order so they came and sail'd about from one Ship to another While we were here riding at anchor for we tarried here about eleven days there was a certain Minister went unto the Brill to purchase some things he wanted to take along with him in the Ship for to eat and a Papist seeing him in a Shop and hearing him speak to the people about the Storm whether or no he was a Priest he could not say in a taunting impudent manner began thus Now Sir I suppose the Courage of you all is well cool'd and you are convinc'd that the Lord was much offended and angry with the Prince of Orange and his whole Fleet for this rash Vndertaking and therefore he made the Wind and the Seas to resist them and take his Churches part and it may be a warning unto every one of you that you do not fight against God. Unto which this Divine soon made answer saying Alas you are very much mistaken and far from the truth for by these external Providences and Dispensations of Almighty God no man can judge aright of his love or hatred because himself tells us plainly that God maketh his Sun to rise on the evil and on the good and sendeth rain on the just and unjust St. Paul's Shipwreck was no argument God was angry with him nor was that a sign that he was a murderer because the Viper hang'd on his hand altho' the censorious foolish Barbarians judged so in like manner This Storm coming when our Fleet was at Sea is no argument that God was offended with the Prince of Orange or this Navy for he is a consuming fire when he is provoked And hence we may certainly conclude that it was to prove us not to destroy us for 't is apparent to the World that we are not consum'd Therefore as the Barbarians chang'd their speech when they saw
Paul shake off the venomous Beast into the fire without receiving any harm so may you and all your blinded people learn to judge better seeing our vast Fleet hath been out in such a terrible Storm and Tempest without so much as one Ship lost or cast away This was to give an ample demonstration to the whole World of the power of God and let all men see he could preserve his own children in the greatest of Storms This was to exercise our Faith and Patience and blessed be his holy Name for it that we are living Monuments of his praise All people in the Netherlands were now imploring the Lord for to grant us an Easterly or favourable Wind which might bring the Prince of Orange and his Fleet unto the long desired Haven that so the enemies of the Lord might be found lyars and that the Jaw-bones of those Soul-deceivers might be broken in their mouths And the whole Fleet being once more in a readiness long'd to be under sail so much about Octob. 30. Old Stile and Novemb 9. New Stile the Wind turn'd about and came full East and the Prince of Orange hearing thereof and seeing the Wind blow so fresh was fully resolv'd by the blessing of God to set to Sea on the Morrow not to lose any time and therefore every Ship took care to have all things in a readiness insomuch that many were forc'd to work hard all Night to get Water and other things convenient on board for they had heard that his Highness was resolv'd to tarry for nothing and therefore he would leave all behind which were not ready So upon Thursday Novemb. 1. Old Stile Novemb. 11. New Stile after the Prince of Orange had din'd with all English Dutch Scotch and French Lords Knights and Gentlemen attending his Sacred Person about three or four of Clock in the Afternoon he went on board a new Vessel of about Twenty eight Guns with the Rotterdam's Admiral call'd the Brill as some will have it and being now in his Cabin fired for to give notice unto all the Fleet to weigh their Anchors and make Sail which was accordingly done by every Ship with all possible expedition The whole Fleet was divided into three Squadrons the Red Flag was for the English and Scotch commanded by Major-General Mackay the White Flag was for the Prince's Guards and the Brandenburghers commanded by Count Solms the Blew Flag was for the Dutch and French commanded by Count Nassau Now every Ship had a certain Mark or Token that it might be known unto what Squadron she belong'd So once more the whole Fleet thrô God's blessing was under sail for England with a very favourable East Wind. The darkness coming on us all the Ships set out their Lights which was very pleasant to see and the Ship in which the Prince of Orange was had three Lanthorns the Men of War two and each other Ship one The Tower of Gowre Steeple was seen a great way in the night because of the Fire burning thereon Now the Winds were very prosperous the Seas very calm and the Waves very humble and by the Compass we all pointed towards the North so that many concluded for certain we should land somewhere there It was generally supposed that the Scouts which came to watch us from the English Fleet seeing we all made Northward hastened to acquaint the Lord Dartmouth thereof and after some hours sailing in the night the whole Fleet strake sail and was driven by the Waves On the Morrow-morning Friday November the second old stile the Men of War fled about the Fleet encompassing the scattered Ships for to secure them and keeping all the small Vessels under their protection and by that time all the Ships were come within a reasonable compass it was about ten or eleven of the Clock and then every Vessel made sail and ploughed through the Waves with all speed towards the English Coast. We saw none save only our own Ships It was a very good Wind as could blow and withal a brisk gale When the Evening was come we all strake sail and were driven of the Waves all night as we had done before This driving was not very pleasant the Vessels having no sail would throw themselves from side to side and all the people in them after a sad sort so that this put us in mind of the Storm however there was no peril in this though 't was a little troublesome Many of the Schievéling little Vessels which came out with us were lost on the way in the night I do not mean cast away but broken off from our Ships they were made fast with Ropes to each Merchantman and the tossing of the Waves and rowling of the Ships soon brake the Rope if not prevented in time On Saturday morning November the third old stile as soon as the Sun-beams had dissipated the Mist and dispers'd the Fogg we could discover Land very easily about which men did vary some judging it to be in Essex others in Kent as it was So the Men of War flew round us all as before Now it happen'd that two of our Pinks were driven out from us a vast way as far as ever we could see and making all the sail the Vessels could bear for to come up to the Fleet they were espied by the Men of War who judging these two Ships to be two English Frigats or French Capers because they made all the sail they could Our Men of War making sail hastened to see what they were It would have made a Coward magnanimous for to see how the Men of War fled proudly over the Seas and within one quarter of an hour they had surrounded these two small Vessels and finding them to be of our Society they presently return'd each departing from the other The Wind continued very favourable and withal blowing a good fresh Gale we made all the sail each Ship could bear and now pointed towards the Channel About mid-day we were entring between Dover and Calis Here our Great Master tack'd about for to see the Reer well come up for many Ships will not make speed or sail swiftly with never so much sail It was a very clear and pleasant day as heart could desire The Reer coming up we all made sail again and hastened towards the West of England but between Dover and Callis the Prince of Orange call'd a Council of War and afterwards order'd that his own Standard should be set up whereupon the Men of War set out their Colours and so did every Vessel in the Fleet. The Souldiers were all above Deck for to view the Land on each side and Dover-Castle and the whole Fleet was resolv'd to make a Bravado so each Vessel kept a due distance from the other and bespangled the whole Channel with beautiful Ships and Colours flying Here we made divers Flourishes and no ordinary Figure for the Spectators on the shores it being a Sight worthy of the greatest Monarch to behold Sundry
Men of War sailed very near unto Dover and gave the Town and Castle some Guns others sail'd towards Calis and did the same The Prince of Orange with three Men of War to attend him one at a distance before his Ship and one on each side sail'd forwards before the Navy and the Merchantmen Pinks and Flyboats sail'd next beautifying the Seas with Officers and Souldiers above Deck The main Body of our Men of War were in the Rear for to interpose between us and our Enemies if they had came after us according as we expected The People both at Dover and Calis having discover'd the Fleet were amaz'd at such a glorious Sight yet formidable Navie insomuch that all the convenient places for beholding us were much throng'd especially in and about Dover One man encourag'd another to come and look upon the Fleet how the whole Seas were over-spread with Ships and how each Ship was laden with Souldiers Various was mens opinions concerning the place of our landing for some judg'd in one place and some in another The Evening approaching and it growing dark all our Lights were set out as before Now we could see the Fire on several Towers and places as we sail'd along the Channel towards the West and many thought that these Fires which were only to direct all strange Ships in the Night had been Beacons set up by the Countrey according to the Order of the late King James on purpose to alarum the Land when we had sail'd some hours after Night we all struck sail as we had done before the Weather was very good and the Wind very favourable and most of our Hearts exceedingly reviv'd thereby On the Morrow-morning being the Lord's day Novemb 4. Old Stile which was the happy Birth-day of his thrice Illustrious Highness the Prince of Orange most men were of opinion that we should land either in the Isle of Wight Portsmouth or some other convenient place about which matter they were much mistaken for the Prince of Orange did not sail but observe the duty of the day so all were driven of the Waves Prayers and Sermon being done he went to Dinner with some Nobles attending him and about Four of Clock in the Afternoon made sail all the whole Fleet following the example of his Ship now every Schipper endeavour'd for to keep sight of the three Lanthorns or Admiral of Rotterdam's Ship for the sake of his Highness therein The darkness shutting upon us all our Lights were set out as before It was no ordinary sight for to behold the Seas all cover'd with Lights the Lanthorns appearing at a distance like unto so many Stars in the Water dancing to and fro here and there according to the motion of the Ship but above all the Cabin of that Vessel wherein the Prince was having so many Wax Lights burning within it glittered most gloriously and at a certain distance being well gilt and varnished it seem'd a Paradise for pleasure and delight The Wind was very favourable and we did not drive by the Waves as we had done every Night before but made all the Sail that our Ships could bear to keep in sight of that Vessel wherein our Conductor was Many delighted to be above-Deck it was so exceeding pleasant between the Stars in the Firmament and our Stars the three Lanthorns on the Stern shining with Wax Lights dazled our Eyes and was the only Compass by which most of the Fleet sail'd this whole Night The Wind blowed very fresh which caused our whole Fleet to plow the curling Waves and cross the appeased Seas with very good speed and pleasure and towards the morning all struck Sail excepting those in the Rear which endeavoured to come up to us as fast as they could So when the day began to dawn we found that we were very near the English Shore but whereabout we could not yet tell The Ship in which the Prince of Orange was sailed so near the Shore that with much facility a Man might cast a Stone on the Land we were driven very slowly all our Sails being struck The Morning was very obscure with the Fog and Mist and withal it was so calm that the Vessels now as 't were touch'd each other every Ship coming as near unto the Ship wherein the Prince of Orange was as the Schipper thereof would permit them Here we were moving for a while very slowly by the Shore and could see all the Rocks thereabouts very plain We perceived that we should land thereabout but no place near was commodious for either Men or Horses it being a steep Rock to march up The Ships did all observe the motion of the three Lanthorns which were driven by the Coast of England back again for we had sailed somewhat beyond Torbay And being thus calm'd for a while it afterwards pleased the God of Heaven that he gave us a West or westerly Wind which was the only Wind that could blow to bring us safe into the Bay for even to this place we had an East and South-East Wind which was indeed a good Wind to bring us from Holland and along all the Channel but not to carry us into the Bay there were so many Rocks and Shelves on that side Making some Sail again his Highness the Prince of Orange gave order that his Standard should be put up and accordingly it was done the White Flag being put uppermost signifying his most gracious offer of Peace unto all such as would live peaceably And under that the Red or bloody Flag was set up signifying War unto all such as did oppose his just Designs The Sun recovering strength soon dissipated the Fog and dispers'd the Mist insomuch that it prov'd a very pleasant Day Now every Vessel set out its Colours which made a very pleasant shew By this time the People of Devonshire thereabout had discovered the Fleet the one telling the other thereof they came flocking in droves to the side or brow of the Hills to view us Some guess'd we were French because they saw divers white Flags but the Standard of the Prince the Motto of which was For the Protestant Religion and Liberty soon undeceived them Others more discreet said that it was the Dutch Fleet so much talk'd of in the Nation and so long expected by most People This Day was very remarkable in England before being the fifth of November the Bells were ringing as we were sailing towards the Bay and as we landed which many judged to be a good Omen before we came into the Bays-mouth as we were near the Rocks the People ran from Place to Place after us and we being so near as to see and discern the Habit of the Country People and they able to see us and hear our Voices a certain Minister in the Fleet on board the Ship called the Golden Sun went up to the top of the uppermost Cabin where the Colours hang out a Place where he could easily behold all the People on the Shore and
where they might most perfectly see him and pulling a Bible out of his Pocket he opened it and held it so in his right Hand making many flourishes with it unto the People whose Eyes were fix'd on him and duly observ'd him thereby signifying to the People the flourishing of the Holy Gospel by God's Blessing upon the Prince of Orange's Endeavours and calling out as loud as he was able faid unto them on the top of the Rock For the Protestant Religion and maintaining of the Gospel in the Truth and Purity thereof are we all by the Goodness and Providence of God come hither after so many Storms and Tempests Moreover said he It is the Prince of Orange that 's come a zealous Defender of that Faith which is truly Ancient Catholick and Apostolical who is the Supream Governonr of this very great and formidable Fleet. Whereupon all the People shouted for Joy and Huzza's did now eccho into the Air many amongst them throwing up their Hats and all making Signs with their Hands So after the Minister had given them some Salutations and they returned him the same again he came down from off the upper Deck unto the vulgar one among his Acquaintance who spoke to him about the People on the brow or side of the Mountain 'T is methinks impossible for any Man to be so blinded as not to discern the Finger of God in this Expedition from the beginning to the end thereof for a very favourable Wind now fill'd our Sails and brought us unto the long-desired Haven to the Joy of our Hearts and comfort of England and that the Wind should turn about from East to West when we came to the very place where we were to tack about is not to be forgotten It is in effect as if the living and true God should say unto the Prince of Orange our Joshua As I was with Moses so will I be with thee I will not fail thee nor forsake thee There shall not any Man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy Life I have prov'd thee and thou art not faithless I have weighed thee in the Ballance and thou art not found wanting Behold now will I make the Heavens to rejoice and smile upon thee Now will I turn the Hearts of this great and strong Nation unto thee I will bless thee with my right and left-hand Blessings Enter therefore and possess this good Land and be thou Ruler among my People Israel The Prince of Orange being come into the middle of the Bay called Torbay attended with three or four Men of War only that is to say one or two failing before his Vessel and one on each side the Ship in which he was and all the Merchant Ships Pinks and Fly-boats coming round him as near as they durst for safety the rest of the Men of War being out in the Rear to secure all the little Pinks and Fly-boats and withal to prevent the English Fleet from disturbing us in our Landing Here we all rode at Anchor for a little while before we landed At the upper end of Torbay there is a fair House belonging to one Mr. Carey a very rigid Papist who entertained a Priest in his House This Priest going to recreate himself on the Leads on the top thereof it being a most delightsome day as he was walking there he happended to cast his Eyes towards the Sea and espying the Fleet at a distance withal being pur-blind in his Eyes as well as blinded by Satan in his Mind he presently concludes that 't was the French Navy because he saw divers white Flags come to land the Sons of Belial which should cut off the Children of God or as they call us the Hereticks And being transported with Joy he hastned to inform his own Disciples of the House and forthwith they sung Te Deum This was second grand Mistake the third time will fall to our Lot to sing Te Deum for our safe Landing as the Prince had it done at Exeter Cathedral in the Quire And because false Reports were spread abroad that the People of this House had shot several of the Prince of Orange's Souldiers and thereupon they had burnt down the House I must inform the candid Reader that there was nothing at all in it for our People did not give them one reviling word nor they us some lodged there while we were at Torbay The major part of the Fleet being come into the Bay Boats were ordered to carry the Prince on Shore with his Guards and passing towards the Land with sundry Lords the Admiral of Rotterdam gave divers Guns at his Landing the Boat was held length-ways until he was on Shore So after he had set his Feet on Land then came all the Lords and Guards some going before his Sacred Person and some coming after There are sundry little Houses which belong unto Fisher-men between the two Hills at Tor-Bay where we landed The People of these Houses came running out at their Doors to see this happy Sight So the Prince with Mareschal Schomberg and divers Lords Knights and Gentlemen marched up the Hill which all the Fleet could see over the Houses the Colours flying and flourishing before his Highness the Trumpets sounding the Hoitboys played the Drums beat and the Lords Knights Gentlemen and Guards shouted and sundry Huzza's did now eccho in the Fleet from off the Hill insomuch that our very Hearts below on the Water were even ravished for Joy thereof On this Hill you could see all the Fleet most perfectly and the Men of War sailing up and down the Seas to clear them of all Enemies the Ships in the Rear making all the fail and speed they could The Navy was like a little City the Masts appearing like so many Spires The People were like Bees swarming all over the Bay and now all the Schievelingers are set to work to carry the Men and Horses unto Shore with speed for as yet they had done nothing The Officers and Souldiers crowded the Boats extreamly many being ready to sink under the Weight happy was that Man which could get to Land soonest And such was the eagerness of both Officers and Souldiers that divers jeoparded their Lives for haste sundry Oars were broken in rowing because too many laid hands on them some jump'd up to their Knees in Water and one or two were over Head and Ears Extraordinary pains was now taken by all sorts of Men to get their necessary things to Shore every one minding his own Concern The Night was now as the Day for Labour and all this was done left the Enemy should come before we were all in a readiness to receive them The Country Harmony was ringing of Bells for our arrival The Officers and Souldiers were continually marching up the Hill after the manner of the Guards with their Colours flying and flourishing Hoitboyes playing Drums beating and all shouting and ecchoing forth Huzza's As soon as the Prince had viewed well the
Ground upon the top of the Hill and found the most commodious place for all his Army to encamp he then gave Orders for every thing and so returned down the Hill unto the Fishermens little Houses One of which he made his Palace at that time instead of those at Loo Honslerdyke and the Hague The Horse Guards and some Foot were round about him at other Houses and a strong Guard but a little below the House wherein his Highness was All the Lords were quartered up and down at these Fishermens Houses whereof these poor Men were glad Now the Camp began to be fill'd with Officers and Souldiers for no Officer must move from his Company or Post The Foot Guards belonging to the Prince of Orange did encamp within an Inclosure of plowed Land about which there was a natural Fence good Hedges and little Stone Walls so that no Horse could touch them Count Solms being their Colonel or Commander Count Nassaw's Regiment encamp'd in another Craft or Inclosure joyning to that of the Guards having the like Fence about it as before The Regiment belonging unto Colonel Fagell encamp'd in a Craft or Inclosure next to that of Count Nassau and so all the English Dutch French and Scots encamp'd according to the aforesaid manner The Souldiers were marching into the Camp all hours in the Night and if any straggled from their Companies it was no easy matter to find them in the dark amongst so many thousands so that continually some or other were lost and enquiring after their Regiments It was a cold frosty Night and the Stars twinkl'd exceedingly besides the Ground was very wet after so much Rain and ill Weather the Souldiers were to stand to their Arms the whole Night at least to be all in a readiness if any thing should happen or the Enemy make an Assault and therefore sundry Souldiers went to fetch some old Hedges and cut down green Wood to burn therewith to make some Fire Now one Regiment beginning all the rest soon followed their Example Those that had Provision in their Snap-facks as most of the Souldiers had did broil it at the Fire and others went into the Villages thereabouts to buy some fresh Provisions for their Officers being we were newly come from Sea but alas here was little Provision to be gotten There was a little Ale-house amongst the Fishermens Houses which was so extreamly throng'd and crowded that a Man could not thrust in his Head nor get Bread or Ale for Mony. It was a happy time for the Landlord who strutted about as if indeed he had been a Lord himself because he was honoured with Lords Company On the Morrow after we landed when all the Souldiers were encamp'd the Prince with sundry Noblemen rode and viewed each Regiment and then return'd to Dinner at this little House The Number of his Highness's Regiments landed here at this Bay was about six and twenty the number of Officers about one thousand the number of Field-Officers about seventy eight The number of all his Forces and Souldiers about fifteen thousand four hundred and odd Men. You might have seen several hundred Fires all at once in this Encampment which must needs signify to the Country round about that we were landed The Prince here was pleased to accept of Peoples Good-Will for the Deed because things were not here to be bought for Mony no Market-Town being near Many People from all the adjacent places came flocking to see Prince of Orange The Horses were landed with all the speed that might be and truly were much out of order and sorely bruised not able to find their Legs for some days Every thing that was of present use was posted to shoar but the Artillery Magazine and all sorts of Baggage and cumbersom things were left on Shipboard and order'd to meet us at Exeter Upon Wednesday about Noon Order was given to march towards Exeter and so every Souldier was commanded by their Officers to carry something or other besides his own Arms and Snap-sack and this made many murmur exceedingly Sundry scores of Horses were thrown over-board which died at Sea so that by just Computation the Prince lost about six hundred Horse at the least by the Storm As we marched here upon good Ground the Souldiers would stumble and sometimes fall because of a dissiness in their Heads after they had been so long toss'd at Sea the very Ground seem'd to rowl up and down for some days according to the manner of the Waves Therefore it was the Lord's Goodness that our Foes did not come upon us in this Juncture and unfit Condition The whole Army marched all the same way in a manner which made very ill for the Rear Regiments and cast them much behind Many Country People which met us did not know what to say or think being afraid that we should be served as the D. of Monmouth's handful of Men were Notwithstanding some were so couragious as to speak out and say truly their Hearts were for us and went along with us and pray'd for the Prince of Orange but they said the Irish would come and cut them in pieces if it should be known Some Souldiers asked them if they would go with them against the Papists and many answered they were enough themselves and wanted no more His Highness with Mareschal Scomberg Count Solms Count Nassau Heer Benting Heer Zulustein Earl of Shrewsbury Earl of Macclesfield Viscount Mordant Lord Wiltshire and divers others Knights and Gentlemen came in the Rear of the middle Line for as soon as we could conveniently we were to march in three Lines and the Prince was commonly or always in the middlemost Line which was the meetest place So he went unto a certain Gentleman's House about two little Miles off where the last Line encamp'd the second Night and lodged there his own Guards being with him This first day we marched some hours after Night in the Dark and Rain the Lanes hereabout were very narrow and not used to Wagons Carts or Coaches and therefore extream rough and stony which hindred us very much from making any speed Divers of the Dutch-men being unaccustomed to such bad ways and hard marching in the Dirt wish'd themselves back again in their own Country and murmured because of the Dark and Rain At length we came to the Corn-stubble Inclosures on the side of a Hill where we encamp'd that Night It was a red Clay and it rain'd very hard the greatest part of the Night the Winds being high and stormy Nevertheless the poor Souldiers being much wearied with the Tent-Polls spare Arms and other Utensils for War which they had carried all Day and some hours after Night as well as with the badness of the March lay down to take their Repose and verily the Water run over and under some of their Legs the major part of the Night and their Heads Backs and Arms sunck deep into the Clay being so very wet and soft notwithstanding they slept all Night
very sweetly in their Pee or Campagne Coats The Souldiers here fetch'd some old Hedges and Gates to make their Officers and themselves some Fire as they had done the Night before else would have perished in the Cold being all over in a Froth with Sweat in marching And the old Hedges and Gates not being enough they fetch'd away the new Ones for the Weather was not only raw and cold but we our selves were so too having nothing to eat or drink after so bad a days Journey The Souldiers had some good Holland's Beef in their Snap-sacks which they brought and their Officers were very glad to get part with them so they broil'd it at the Fire some had bought Chickens by the way but raw which they broil'd and eat as a most delicate Dish Sundry Captains offer'd any Mony for a Guide to bring them to a House thereabout where they might have some Provision for their Mony but no Guide could be found it was exceeding dark and being all Strangers and unacquainted with the Country we could not tell where to find one House for those few that were scattering here and there were either in some little grove of Trees and so hid from our Eyes or else in a bottom amongst the Hills and so could not be seen These Quarters did not content our Minds for tho we got as near to the Hedges as we could possible with our Fires yet we could not be warm Many of the Souldiers slept with their Feet in the Ditch and their Heads on the side thereof We thought this Night almost as long as that in the Storm at Sea and judged it to be the dawn of the Day some hours before it was The Morning appearing rejoiced our very Hearts for we thought now we should march presently and we were sure of this that worse Quarters we could never meet with but much better we hoped to find A private Souldier therefore going in the next Croft for to seek a convenient place he found it to be an Inclosure with Turnips so bringing his Burden away with him he came to the Fire and gave those there some telling his Comrades of the Place who soon hastned thereto and brought enow with them Some roasted them and others eat them raw and made a brave Banquet The Souldiers were busy in discharging their Musquets after the Wet and Rain for they drust not trust to that Charge and about 11 of the Clock the Army received Orders to march The Prince of Orange with the Lords Gentlemen rode from this place unto Sir William Courtney's within a Mile of Newton-Abbot the first Line being about Newton and the last on their march thither The Place where we encamped was troden to Dirt and stuck to our Shoes wretchedly Now the Regiments marched sundry Roads of which we were right glad hoping to meet with better Quarters than the Marl and Clay Crofts The People came in flocks unto the Cross-ways to see the Army but especially the Prince We met with much civility on the Road now they began to give us Applause and pray for our Success sundry Persons enquired for the Declaration of his Highness Now being on their march to Newton-Abbot a certain Divine went before the Army and finding that 't was their Market-day he went unto the Cross or Town-Hall where pulling out the Declaration of the Prince of Orange with undaunted Resolution he began with a loud and audible Voice to read as follows William Henry by the Grace of God Prince of Orange c. of the Reasons inducing him to appear in Arms in the Kingdom of England for preserving of the Protestant Religion and restoring the Laws and Liberties of England Scotland and Ireland c. When the People heard the Prince of Orange's Name mentioned they immediately crowded about him in a prodigious manner to hear him insomuch that some jeoparded their Lives The Declaration being ended he said God bless and preserve the Prince of Orange To which the People with one Heart and Voice answered Amen Amen and forthwith shouted for Joy and made the Town ring with their ecchoing Huzza's The Minister nolens volens was carried into a Chamber near the Place the Windows were shut the Doors lock'd and bolted to prevent the Crowd from rushing in The People of the House and others very kindly asked him Sir What will you be pleased to eat or What shall we provide for you Name what you love best it shall be had The Minister answered What you please give me what you will. So they brought forth such as was ready and having eaten and drunk well they desired him to spare them but one Declaration Yes says he for I have enow in my Pocket and pulling them out he gave Three because they were of distinct Parishes He told the People he would go and visit their Minister and cause their Bells to ring because the Prince of Orange was come into the Parish at Sir Will. Courtney's tho not into the Town and says he this being the first Market-Town I cannot but think it much the more proper and expedient Whereupon he went to the Minister's House and enquiring for him he was courteously invited in and disired to sit down The Reverend Minister of the Parish coming presently to him they saluted each other and after some Communications passed between them this Divine from the Army desired the Keys of his Church-doors for to welcome the Prince of Orange into England with a Peal that being the first Market-Town they came to The Minister answered Six for my own part I am ready to serve his Highness any way but of my own accord cannot give the Keys but you know you may command them or any thing else in my House in the Name of the Prince of Orange and then I will readily grant it So the Divine said Sir I demand your Keys of the Church Door only for an hour to give his Highness a Peal and then I will return them safely unto you The Minister presently directed him to the Clerk's house and desired him to come and take a Glass of Wine with him after the Peal was ended but the Ringers coming together they rung sundry Peals and he returned the Keys to the Minister The People of the Town were exceeding joyful and began to drink the Prince of Orange's Health The Country People in the Town were well inclin'd towards us and here was the first favour we met with worth mentioning His Highness was most kindly receiv'd and entertain'd at Sir Will. Courtney's the Souldiers generally well treated by the Vulgar Now the Reverend Dr. Burnet and another old Gentleman rode unto Exeter to prepare Quarters for the Prince of Orange The Bishop's Palace and Deanery being both viewed the Deanery was thought to be the more convenient Place and so concluded upon The Army moved toward Exeter some Regiments being at one Town and some in another And as they were marching over the Heath or Common between Newton-Abbot
People which came to see his Highness some placing themselves in Seats by eight in the Morning When his Highness came he was pleased for to sit in the Bishop's Seat in the Body of the Church as he had done in the Quire before Sundry Sentinels stood just behind him two just before him and many more in the Church-Isle the Doctor 's Text was Psalm 107. 43. Whose is wise and will observe those things even they shall understand the loving Kindness of the Lord. The Doctor very accurately shewed the loving Kindness of the Lord unto the Price of Orange and his Fleet how he caused the Winds to turn at Tor-Bay where the whole Fleet was to tack about to come into the Bay and then shew'd the upright Design of the Prince to promote the Glory of God and good of his Church in England Scotland and Ireland having ended his Sermon he read the Prayer for the Expedition and so concluded with the Blessing c. Some time was passed here before the Gentlemen of the West joyned his Highness but when once they did begin to come in then they came daily The Mayor and Aldermen of the City came to visit the Prince and were busie in their Consultations among themselves The late King James we heard now was advanc'd as far towards us as Salisbury with a very brave Army of about thirty five thousand Men and a prodigious great Train of Artillery which made the poor Country People tremble Moreover we heard that he was fully resolved to encamp his Army about Sarum in the Plain where he intended to fight us Some of our Men being of the Van-guard were advanc'd as far as Wincaunton to provide Carriage at which place there was a small Skirmish or Action between 26 of our Souldiers and about 150 of the late King's Party which you shall have a particular account of by and by We soon receiv'd information of this Skirmish at Exeter Order was now given to get Waggons to carry the Magazine and Baggage of the whole Army together with all sorts of Utensils fit and convenient for War and Horses to draw the Artillery and for the Country People round to bring in their Horses to be sold at Exeter that so the loss of our Horses might be made up here According to which Order the Country People came daily in with their Horses to sell and the Officers gave great Prices for them because they must have them there or now here The Souldiers were ordered to keep themselves and their Arms in good order and to get every thing here which they wanted Much Mony was laid out in this City for all sorts of Commodities which the Officers or Souldiers lacked Here at first the People were scrupulous about the Dutch Mony and many Country People refused it but were forc'd to take it because all the Army had little else but Guineas and Dutch Mony. The People of the City began now to be more and more inclin'd towards our Army and all fear almost of the other Army was banish'd out of their Thoughts so that they would discourse more freely now than at the first The Drums beat for Volunteers and every Regiment of English or Scotch which wanted any Men was now compleated The Regiment of Sir John Guyes and Sir Robert Peyton fill'd up very fast for Men came into the City daily from all Parts to list themselves insomuch that many Captains pick'd and chose their Souldiers Very great crowding was here at the Deanary it being the Prince of Orange's Court by all sorts of People Many coming 20 Miles on purpose to see him and all the People of the adjacent Places were waiting there daily insomuch that the Sentinels could hardly keep them out The Guard was before the entrance into the Deanary and sundry Sentinels two at each Door Now his Highness received Information That the late King James was gone back from Sarum towards London with his whole Army by reason of the false Report of some Tumult in the City made by the Apprentices which News did not in the least discompose us The Weather being somewhat favourable the Prince of Orange with all his Lords and Gentlemen attending him was pleased to ride and view the City and Castle and this Day the Deanary was embroider'd with the Officers in their Gold and Silver-Lace Coats The Country People brought all sorts of Provisions in abundance because it yielded them Money and went off well We heard here that our Friends were up in the North of England as the Lord Delamere Earl of Devonshire Earl of Stamford Earl of Danby Sir Scroop How Sir William Russel with divers others By this time the Gentlemen of Somersetshire and Dorsetshire were coming in to join his Highness and on Thursday November 15 they waited on him at Exeter upon which he was pleased to speak to them as follows Tho we know not all your Persons yet we have a Catalogue of your Names and remember the Character of your Worth and Interest in your Country You see we are come according to your Invitation and our Promise Our Duty to God obliges us to protect the Protestant Religion and our Love to Mankind your Liberties and Properties We expected you that dwelt 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 justify our declar'd Pretentions in order to accomplish our good and gracious Design Tho we have brought both a good Fleet and a good Army to render these Kingdoms happy by rescuing all Protestants from Popery Slavery and Arbitrary Power by restoring them to their Rights and Properties established by Law and by promoting of Peace and Trade which is the Soul of Government and the 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 judg if our Pretentions are not Just Generous Sincere and above Price since we might have even a Bridg of Gold to Return back But it is our Principle and Resolution rather to dye in a Good Cause than live in a Bad one well knowing that Vertue and True Honour is its own Reward and the Happiness of Mankind Our Great and Only Design The late King James coming up towards London the Regiment of Dragoons belonging to the Lord Cornbury came away from him to join the Prince of Orange and the Lord Cornbury with many other Lords Knights and Gentlemen came unto Exeter and attended
on his Highness which made all the Army to rejoice The Prince rode about five Miles out of Exeter to view some new Regiments of Horse which were just come into his Service He gave the Officers and Souldiers a courteous Reception and made a Speech unto them upon which the whole Regiments shouted and Huzza'd for Joy. I preached at St. Carion's Church in Exeter November 18. My Text being in Isa 8. 12 13 14. Neither fear ye their fear nor be afraid Sanctify the Lord of Hosts himself and let him be your fear and let him be your dread And he shall be for a Sanctuary Now the Church-Wardens of this Parish altho there was no Minister to preach were unwilling to give the Keys because they were no true Friends of our good Cause insomuch that I was forc'd to threaten them for their great rudeness The Clerk of the Parish going along with me the Day before for the Key one of the Church-Wardens very rudely broke his Head in sundry places for which intolerable Action I immediately had him brought before the Honourable Colonel Cutts for this bold Fact who upon a due submission and acknowledgment of his Faults dismissed him with a sharp Reprehension For Modesty-sake I conceal his Name hoping that he 's reformed with the Times The late K. James finding his Army begin to moulder away was very much at a stand however he thought to give us Battel with the remaining part whereupon he hasten'd to Sarum a second time which we had notice of before we left Exeter The Army being now well refresh'd and one Man as good as two when we were at Torbay Order was given for the Army to march in three Lines The first Line march'd out of the City as far as St. Mary Ottrie and were Quarter'd in and near that Place The next day the second Line march'd forth of Exeter to the same place and the first Line advanc'd to Axminster The third Day the last Line march'd as before to St. Mary Ottrie the first Line advancing some to Beminster and some to Crookhorn the second to Axminster and the adjacent Towns and the Regiments march'd some one Road and some another as the first Line advanced so the whole Army moved which was always according to the Motion of our great Master For when he remained any where then did the whole Army abide in the same Quarters The City of Exeter was now freed of all its Souldiers only the Regiment of Sir John Guyes which was new raised was order'd to keep this City and he made Governour thereof Now many Oxen being brought into this Town to draw the Artillery and many Horses being come to carry the Ammunition and all things necessary for War appertaining to our whole Army We then were soon on the March A Captain with some other Officers and about a hundred Men came along with it to guard it Here at Exeter was a certain Person kept in Custody some Days for speaking very threatning Words against his Highnese the Prince of Orange but within a while was released Another was apprehended for a Spy because he said he had a Commission from the late K. James to go into any Mans House to search for Goods This Man was also accused for stealing about ten pound from the People of the House where he lodged but no Money could be found about him whereupon he also was dismissed in few Days I suppose our Army was now in Circumference between 20 and 30 Miles The Prince with all his Lords Knights and Gentlemen attending him rode from Exeter unto St. Mary Ottrie the Weather was very Rainy and the Roads bad for Marching however we had time enough for our Stages were not far distant one from the other The places where we Quarter'd were scarce able to receive us insomuch that every House was crowded Our Van-Guard was advanc'd as faras Sherborn who coming into this Townat at one end and a party of Horse belonging to the late King James coming in at the other but hearing of our Men retreated back towards Sarum Our first Line being advanced from Axminster to Crookhorn and Beminster the second to Axminster and Lime and the third Line according to the others Stage before them Then the Prince of Orange rode to Crookhorn with all his Noble Attendance The Country People were exceeding desirous to see the Prince and ran in great numbers from one Town to another when they heard for certain which way he came Here at Crookhorn his Highnese remained the Lord's Day Novemb. 25. And the Gentlemen of the West came and joyn'd him now almost at every Stage On Monday Morning the whole Army March'd The first Line advanced from Sherborn to Wincanton the second to Sherborn and the third to Yetminster The Prince of Orange with all his Nobles and Gentlemen came to Sherborn and lodged at the Castle The two Armies were near each other by this time the late King James lay at Salisbury with his Army and the Prince of Orange's lay about Sherborn advancing towards him with all possible speed The late King James seeing his Army moulder thus away and that Prince George was gone to his Brother with the Duke of Ormond was in such a streight that he knew not well what to do And coming to the Market-place at Sarum he made an Oration to the Citizens telling them that he would spend his Blood for the Protestant Religion whenas he had been seen at Mass all the Morning by many of his Auditors who thereupon derided him in their Hearts No sooner had he ended his Speech but immediately falls to bleeding at his Nostrils very violently as many observed there-about him and his Blood could not be stopp'd any manner of way The Citizens hearing the Army of the Prince of Orange was advanced within a few Miles of their City some Persons coming in at one end of the Town said they saw them not far off which Report being noised about so Alarm'd the late King James and his Army That in the midst of his Bleeding he commanded his Coach to be made ready and drive away towards Windsor with all possible speed which was accordingly done The Foot-Soldiers were ready to desert the late King and many did some left their Baggage and Snapsacks behind them And the Horse likewise being in such a hurry to get away that they were ready to spoil their Comrades and the whole Army was in such a confused manner and marched so disorderly and in such haste that the Country seeing them judged they had been routed in a Battel The late King James began to bleed at Sarum and was observ'd to continue bleeding some days and coming thus hastily to Windsor the Towns-People that saw him judged that he had been overthrown in Battel So coming from Windsor to London he turn'd out Sir Edw. Hales who was Governor of the Tower for he had threatned to Bomb this famous Ancient City and put Mr. Skelton his late Ambassador in
lay the Peace and Security of the Cities of London and Westminster by taking care to disarm all Papists and secure all Jesuits and Romish Priests and in all things endeavour to promote his Highness's generous Intentions This Declaration they ordered to be presented to his Highness by the Earl of Pembrook the Lord Viscount Weymouth the Lord Bishop of Ely the Lord Culpeper The same Day the Lieutenancy of the City of London met there also and agreed upon and signed an humble Address to be presented to his Highness by a Committee appointed viz. Sir Robert Clayton Sir William Russel Sir Basil Firebrass Kts. and Charles Duncome Esq The substance of which Address was to acknowledg the great Danger his Illustrious Highness had expos'd himself to both by Sea and land for the Preservation of the Protestant Religion and the Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom and the happy Relief he had brought to us and therefore they humbly desired that his Highness would be pleased to repair unto the City of London with all the convenient speed he could for perfecting the great Work He had so happily begun to the general Joy and Satisfaction of all The same day the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Commons of the City of London in Common Council assembled agreed on and signed an Address to be presented to his Highness the Prince of Orange the Contents whereof was To acknowledg the peril his Highness had exposed himself to both by Sea and Land and the happy Deliverance he had brought to our Nation and therefore they in the name of their Capital City did implore his Highness's Protection and did humbly beseech his Highness to vouchsafe to repair to the City where his Highness should be received with universal Joy and Satisfaction All which Addresses were presented to his Highness the Prince of Orange by the Persons appointed the 14th of December at Henly being accompanied with a great number of Citizens c. But whilst all this was transacting the late King was surprised at Feversham in Kent in a small Vessel his Guards and Coach was sent for him and he returned to Whitehal Sunday Dec. 16. about six of the Clock in the Afternoon which was some surprise to the Prince of Orange however he pursued his Journey to London and from Henley went to Windsor and set up his Standard where we shall humbly crave the liberty to leave his Highness at this famous Castle with all the Nobility and Gentry attending him and proceed with his Highness's Puissant Army for a while The Rear Regiments coming up some were quartered in one Village and some in another at Tylehurston the Regiment of the Right Honourable Colonel Sidney commanded by the Honourable Colonel Cutts was now alarm'd that the Irish were coming and had burnt Kingston upon Thames putting Man Woman and Child to the Sword and that part of these Tories were gone unto Basing-stoke to do the fame there insomuch that a certain Person who was an Inhabitant of that Town was constrained to keep away from the Place and come to the Regiments There was now riding and posting from one Town to another all the Night long and People every where in a kind of confusion As part of our Regiments of Horse were coming to Reading the Irish Souldiers gave out great swelling Words and lofty Speeehes how they would hack them to pieces there and how they would defend the seven Bridges This was on the Lord's Day and as we were informed there by divers Persons of Credit they designed to massacre the People at their Worship had they not been prevented which obliged the Inhabitants to send to the advanc'd part of the Prince's Army then a few miles distant who readily came to their Assistance being conducted a by-way into the Town and fought so courathat in a few minutes they put the Irish to flight took some and kill'd about 20 upon the place with the loss only of the Officer that led them and the Guide that conducted them into the Town At Maidenhead there was such another Action performed by the Irish as we heard there from a Worthy Divine The Irish perceiving the Army of the Prince of Orange advanced so fast and with such speed towards London perswaded the late King James to fortify Maidenhead-Bridg it being the ready Road and a difficult Post to be taken Therefore in a new Brick House which is built between the Bridg and Town they made sundry Port-holes for their great Guns and put new Pales to blind them and sundry places above to shoot with Musquets And on the middle of the Bridg they planted a great Gun or two and here they were resolved to maul the Prince's Army as they said Indeed those that understand Fortification well have presumed that the Passage there might be so fortified that thousands of Men should not win it because the Water ran in the Road-way a considerable length or some hundred Yards and the Bridg is so narrow that a Man can hardly go along without falling except he hold by the Rails the Water too being up to a Man's middle here in the Road at the lowest Ebb So the Irish bravadoing here at this Post what they would do certain worthy Persons there consulted together how to disperse the Irish or cause them to go away for they perceived well the Hearts of all Protestants were set upon his Highness their Deliverer under God and by his Blessing and the End of their Consultation was this Sundry Persons of Courage and Resolution should go in the Dark about Midnight having each of them an old Barrel or an old Kettle standing at a certain equal distance from each other they should beat the Dutch March Which Stratagem took goodeffect for these Men being got within a small distance of the Irish began to beat a Dutch March they no sooner heard it but were prodigiously surprized crying Hark Hark and another presently made answer God damn my Blood if it be not the Dutch come upon us and forthwith they began to run and hasten away without minding their great Guns or taking away any thing nay happy was that Man that could get before his Comrade and whither they went no Man could tell So the Souldiers belonging to his Highness coming to Maiden-head hearing of this Exploit highly commended both the Contrivers and Actors in it brought away the Guns and all that was left to Windsor-Castle And so I have done with both the Armies in relation to Skirmishes or Actions His Highness being now at Windsor with all his Nobility and Gentry about him the Citizens of London flock'd mightily to visit Him and congratulate his safe Arrival so far The Army being now all about Windsor and the adjacent Towns and Villages the Souldiers through the perswasions of the Country People kill'd and destroy'd hundreds of Deer in the Forest and hundreds more had been destroy'd if so be his Highness had not given out his Royal Order to the contrary The Irish Tories
much abused the worthy Minister of Tylehurston stripping his Rings off his Fingers with the Skin and Flesh threatning his Wife in Bed and undoubtedly had murder'd the whole Family if so be the Maid had not leap'd out of a Window and call'd the Neighbours speedily to assist them for they broke open the Door with on Iron made for the same purpose which they forgot and left behind them with their Dark Lanthorn both which I saw They swore divers times by St. Patrick they would cut them all into pieces if they would not give them Mony for they must shortly be gone and the late King had not paid them So hearing the Neighbours coming they took their Horses and rode away having above thirty Pounds in Mony Plate and Rings for they took the old Gentlewomans Rings off her Fingers December the 18th his Highness parted from Windsor dined at Sion-House and came that Evening to St. James's amidst the loud Acclamations of a vast number of People of all Sorts and Ranks the Bells every-where ringing the Evening concluded with vast Bonsires and such general Joy as can scarce be parallel'd The next day the late King James seeing the Scene of Affairs altered parted from Whitehal went down the River to Rochester and from thence took Shipping for Brest whither the Queen and supposed Prince of Wales was gone before and himself soon after where I 'le leave him Most of the Nobility congratulated his Highness's safe arrival at St James's and on the 20th the Aldermen and Common Couucil of the City of London attended his Highness upon the same account and the Lord Mayor being disabled by Sickness Sir George Treby Kt. Recorder of the Honourable City of London made an Oration to his Highness to this effect Great Sir WHen we look back to the last Month and contemplate the swiftness and fulness of our present Deliverance astonish'd we think it miraculous Your Highness led by the Hand of Heaven and call'd by the Voice of the People has preserved our dearest Interest the Protestant Religion which is Primitive Christianity restored Our Laws which are our ancient Title to our Lives Liberties and Estates and without which this World were a Wilderness But what Retribution can we make to your Highness Our Thoughts are full charged with Gratitude Your Highness has a lasting Monument in the Hearts in the Prayers in the Praises of all good Men amongst us And late Posterity will celebrate your ever-glorious Name till Time shall be no more December the 25th the Lords Spiritual and Temporal asssembled at the House of Lords Westminster and there ageeed upon and signed an Address wherein they humbly desired his Highness in this Conjuncture to take upon him the Administration of Publick Affairs both Civil and Military and the Disposal of the Publick Revenue for the preservation of our Religion Rights Laws Liberties and Properties and of the Peace of the Nation and that his Highness would take into his Care the Condition of Ireland and endeavour by the most speedy and effectual Means to prevent the Dangers threatning that Kingdom All which the Lords Spiritual and Temporal make their Requests to his Highness to undertake and exercise till the Meeting of the intended Convention Jan 22. next Moreover the Lords Spiritual and Temporal assembled at Westminster in this Extraordinary Conjuncture did humbly desire his Highness to cause Letters to be written subscribed by Himself to the Lords Spiritual and Temporal being Protestants and to the several Counties Universities Cities Boroughs and Cinque-Ports of England Wales and Town of Berwick Upon Tweed containing Directions for the choosing in all such Counties Cities Universities Boroughs and Cinque-Ports within Ten days after the receipt of the said respective Letters such a number of Persons to represent them as are of right to be sent to Parliament And the Persons so chosen to Meet and Sit at Westminster on the Two and Twentieth day of January Both which were signed by all the Lords Spiritual and Temporal then Assembled and presented to his Highness the Prince of Orange the same day at St James's All which his Highness was pleased to Do according to their Desires Now the Lords and Commons being Met at Westminster the Two and Twentieth of January 1688 According to the Direction of his Highness's Letters They agreed upon and Ordered That the Thanks of both Houses should be returned to his Highness in the behalf of the whole Nation for his Highness happy Deliverance of this Kingdom from Popery Slavery and Despotick Power and for the Preservation of the Protestant Religion and the Laws Rights Priviledges and Customs of our Land c. And moreover to beseech his Highness to continue the Administration of publick Affairs Civil and Military and the Disposal of the publick Revenue until such time as farther Application be made to his Highness All which his Highness was pleased to do and exercise according to their desire And with all expedition on the 12th of February the Lords and Commons consulted about the Settlement of our Government And agreed that the late King James the Second having endeavour'd to subvert and extirpate the Protestant Religion c. and having abdicated the Government the Throne was thereby become Vacant They did 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 c. On the 12th of February Her Royal Highness the Princess of Orange arrived at Whitehall the welcome news whereof was received with Ringing of Bells Bonfires and other publick Demonstrations of Joy. The next day the Lords and Commons assembled at Westminster attended their Highnesses at the Banqueting-house with their Resolve and received their Consent thereto and about 11 of the Clock proclaimed William and Mary Prince and Princess of Orange King and Queen of England France and Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonging After that their Majesties were Proclaim'd before Whitehall And the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the Famous City of London together with the Sheriffs met the Lords and Heralds at Arms at Temple-Bar and there Proclaimed their Majesties King William and Queen Mary c. And so proceeded to the Royal Exchange where the same was done a third time The day concluding with Ringing of Bells and Bonfires to the General Satisfaction of all After their most excellent Majesties were proclaimed all over England there was great preparation made in order to their Majesties Coronation The Day being come viz. April 11 1689. Their Majesties came from Whitehall to Westminster and the Nobility being put in Order by the Heralds They came down in State into Westminster-Hall where the Swords and Spurs were presented to them Their Majesties being at Westminster-Abby the Right Reverend Father in God the Lord Bishop of Sarum preached the Sermon his Text being 2 Sam. 23 3 4. And after the Ceremonies of the Coronation were finished about four of the Clock the Crowns were put upon their Royal Heads by the Right Reverend Father in God the Lord Bishop of London assisted by several other Bishops At the sight whereof the People shouted the Drums and Trumpets sounded the great Guns at the Tower c. were discharged and the Peers and Peeresses put on their Coronets Their Majesties being Crowned returned to Westminster-Hall And Dinner being ended and the whole Solemnity perform'd with great Splendour and Magnificence about Eight in the evening their Majesties return'd to White-Hall Where I most humbly leave them heartily beseeching Almighty God to bless and preserve their most excellent Majesties that they may long Live and Flourish together To the advancement of his Glory the Good of his Church the Safety Honour and Welfare of their Majesties Kingdoms and the exceeding Joy and Comfort of all Good Protestants As for all their Enemies let then O God be daily discover'd and brought to Shame and Confusion But upon their Sacred and Royal Heads let the Crowns of England Scotland France and Ireland long Flourish FINIS